South Africa: Fourteen nabbed for possession of illegal firearms This story has been published on: 2021-05-31. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The number of alien species that has been established in South Africa has increased by 15% from 1 637 to 1 880, about a third of which are invasive, says Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy. Biological invasions pose a major threat to South Africas unique biodiversity, and to the livelihoods and health o... See more 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 Dubai Airshow 2021, in partnership with Gothams, a leading accelerator that is helping to build the next generation of aerospace and defence startups have launched the Vista pitch competition. The contest aims to support disruptive startups in shaping the future of the aerospace industry. Startups from all over the world, with game changing products and solutions in aviation, space, defence and technology, are invited to present their revolutionary ideas. Dubai Airshow 2021 is accepting submissions until June 10 on https://www.dubaiairshow.aero/vista-startup-competition-form The Vista pitch competition will give the two most innovative winning startups access to exclusive one on one mentorship session with Gothams, in addition to receiving an exhibiting opportunity at Vista which will allow them to showcase their technologies, gain facetime with global investors, and a chance to enter exclusive pitch competitions and work with some of the regions biggest players within the aerospace and defence sectors. Elodie Robin-Guillerm from Gothams said: The Vista competition comes as part of our efforts to support startups in achieving their objectives and contribute to the growth of the aerospace and defence industries. Through this competition, we offer startups a golden opportunity that can be a turning point in their journey. We invite every startup with a revolutionary idea that can transform the future of the industry to take part in this competition, which could serve as a gateway for connecting them with global venture capitalists. Startups will be asked to fill in the competitions submission form and include a three minute video pitch about their startup and its mission to transform the future of aerospace. All entries will be judged by a team of industry experts, based on different criteria, including creativity, potential, functionality, impact, and people. The two selected startups will secure their place on the Vista programme with a chance of winning exclusive prizes that will help support their ground-breaking ideas. The winners will be announced no later than 2 weeks after the closing date. Co-located with Dubai Airshow 2021 - Vista will provide entrepreneurs with an unrivalled opportunity to connect with investors, partners, and mentors to launch, scale and grow their startups, and bolster the growth of the aerospace and defence industries. The most anticipated startup hub in the industry will be the ultimate platform for innovators, creators and market disruptors to display their latest technologies for transforming the aerospace and defence industries.-- TradeArabia News Service Detective Raymond Wittick, 51, a Staten Island Welfare Officer with the Detectives' Endowment Association, poses with a New York Police Department vehicle on Staten Island in New York City on Oct. 10, 2020. REUTERS 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. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close NASAs Juno spacecraft has returned to Clydes Spot on Jupiter and performed another series of observations of the feature that was discovered last year by Clyde Foster of Centurion, South Africa. On June 2, 2020, just two days after Fosters initial discovery, Juno provided detailed observations of Clydes Spot, which scientists determined was a plume of cloud material erupting above the top layers of the Jovian atmosphere just southeast of Jupiters Great Red Spot, which is currently about 1.3 times as wide as Earth, NASA stated. These powerful convective outbreaks occasionally occur in this latitude band, known as the South Temperate Belt. The initial plume subsided quickly, and within a few weeks it was seen as a dark spot. NASA explained that many features in Jupiters highly dynamic atmosphere are short lived, but observations in April 2021 from the JunoCam revealed that nearly one year after its discovery, the remnant of Clydes Spot had developed into a complex structure that scientists call a folded filamentary region. This region is twice as big in latitude and three times as big in longitude as the original spot, and has the potential to persist for an extended period of time, NASA said. The developments in Clydes Spot detected by Juno is further excitement for Foster, as it means the feature he first spotted a year ago may be much longer-lived than initially hoped. Foster is a retired chemical engineer who has become a passionate amateur astronomer specialising in planetary imaging. He first noticed the new spot on the surface of Jupiter in the early hours of Sunday, 31 May 2020, while he was imaging the planet through his telescope. Just 10 hours earlier, the spot had not been there. Renowned astronomy photographer Andy Casely had captured images of Jupiter from Australia which did not show the spot. Foster explained that outbreaks like this are relatively rare in the particular region of Jupiter where he found it. It is a regular occurrence in Jupiters North and South Equatorial belts, but substantially rarer in this location, the South Temperate region, he said. Its for this reason that his discovery generated interest in the professional-amateur planetary science community. As luck would have it, NASAs Juno spacecraft was set to perform its 27th close flyby of Jupiter on 2 June, just days after Fosters discovery. Even luckier was that Juno happened to be flying by close enough to Clydes Spot to get a detailed look at the phenomenon. The spacecraft can only image a relatively thin slice of Jupiters cloud tops during each pass, the Juno team explained at the time. Although Juno would not be travelling directly over the outbreak, the track was close enough that the mission team determined the spacecraft would obtain a detailed view of the new feature. Foster said that the nameClydes Spotwas coined by fellow planetary imager Paul Maxson from Arizona in the United States, and was quickly adopted by the planetary science community. While the name remains unofficial, having the Juno team refer to it as Clydes Spot on two separate occasions on the NASA website, is as official as it gets. It has been an interesting year since the first detection of Clydes Spot, with amateur imagers and the professional planetary science community tracking its progress, Foster told MyBroadband. Research is ongoing on the storm, and the latest Juno images show very interesting developments, most significantly that the structure that has developed points towards further expansion. The extra-long weekend is bringing in some extra-hot temperatures, with the National Weather Service issuing a heat advisory for Memorial Day. Health professionals are advising community members to look out for symptoms of heat-related illnesses if they plan to be outdoors on Monday. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Special offer: $1 for your first 6 months! Arthur Jey, an emergency department physician for Sutter Health, said the tell-tale signs of heat exhaustion, heat stroke and other conditions first starts with feeling "red". Excessively sweating and feeling faint are red flags, but if a person is getting too hot to even sweat, they may need to go to the hospital, Jey said. "Stay hydrated and be aware when you start sweating, when you are getting overly heated, when you start having muscle cramps," Jey said. "Maybe slowdown, go inside and take a rest." Jey's piece of advice? Follow the tips "your mom told you growing up," he said, which might mean putting on a big hat, applying sunscreen regularly and staying hydrated. And beer is not an adequate form of hydration, said Jey, who suggested pairing alcoholic beverages with water while at cookouts and pool parties. In other words, since inflated job numbers have been used for years, Kelly would have us believe its a valid practice. In fact, as Vartabedian discovered from analyzing bullet train data, hourly workers have received about $265 million of the $6.1 billion that has been spent on construction, representing just 4%. Of the total $8.1 billion spent on the project, the labor portion is even smaller, 3%. The $265 million is less than what the rail authority spends every three months. The much-inflated job creation claims are important because construction union support has been one of the most important factors in keeping the project alive despite lacking a rational justification. The original vision, backed by voters, was for a statewide north-south system of high-speed travel, but no one ever came up with a plan for financing such a system, which would cost upwards of $100 billion. The Fresno structures, dubbed Stonehenge by local critics, are part of a very limited stretch in the San Joaquin Valley, financed by some state bonds, a federal grant, and a share of proceeds from the states auctions of greenhouse gas emission permits. At the moment, it would run from a few miles north of Fresno to a few miles north of Bakersfield. At 35 years old, and on his second deployment to the war-torn country following the 2003 invasion, Cashe didnt hesitate to sacrifice himself to save his fellow soldiers. His Bradley Fighting Vehicle had struck a roadside bomb and was soon engulfed in flames. Drenched in fuel and under enemy fire, Cashe entered the blaze not once but three times to pull others out of the vehicle. Cashe sustained second- and third-degree burns to more than 70% of his body, but despite his severe injuries, he insisted on being the last soldier on a medical evacuation helicopter. Four of those soldiers perished, and Cashe succumbed to his injuries 22 days later, joining the ranks of those taken away far too soon. While it is impossible ever to know what was going through his mind in those chaotic yet critical moments following the attack, we may catch a glimpse of what it could have been by listening to Medal of Honor recipient Army Capt. Florent Flo Groberg. With another soldier's help, Groberg put himself between a suicide bomber and a dismounted patrol in Afghanistan in 2012. Although Groberg thankfully survived, four soldiers were killed. EU President: I applaud Azerbaijans & Armenias parallel humanitarian gestures Georgia is ready to participate in settlement of humanitarian issues between Baku and Yerevan Aliyev: If Armenia wants peace, they should start negotiations with us on delimitation Kocharyan intends to turn government dachas into rehab center Baku says it handed over 15 POWs to Armenia in exchange for map of minefields Nikol Pashinyan shares photo of Armenian POWs returning home Eight more remains found in Artsakh search operations Saturday Armenia MOD refutes reports on deployment of Turkey army units in Sev Lake region Armenia MP candidate charged with bribery is remanded in custody Armenia acting PM on border situation: Our Russian partners have come, looked at areas where they can be deployed Armenia acting premier: This election battle has already turned into class struggle 20 Afghanistan security force members killed in clashes with Taliban Armenia acting PM supporters give kids instructions in Gegharkunik Province village Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: We reject vendettas Armenia ex-President Serzh Sargsyan pays tribute to late PM Andranik Margaryan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Maybe 2018 evens would not have happened if they had kept level of education Bright Armenia Party MP: Our prime ministerial candidate is Edmon Marukyan Armenia former President Kocharyan: I want to be proud of my homeland One person on Armenia ruling party electoral list also has Iran citizenship, his registration is declared invalid Armenias Pashinyan congratulates Boris Johnson on Queens Birthday Armenia ex-President Kocharyan in Spitak town, pays tribute to victims of 1988 earthquake Acting premier: Corrupt clergymen discredit Armenian Apostolic Church, traditional values Armenia, Georgia customs officials meet at Bagratashen border checkpoint One new case of coronavirus reported in Artsakh Armenia acting deputy PM signs new decision Sarkissian to Putin: Armenian-Russian cooperation is developing confidently in all directions 8 dead in China factory chemical leak Putin notes differences between "outsider" Trump, "career man" Biden 88 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia President: Karabakh has always underscored Russia's invaluable place, role in our region Security Council chief: We have had Russias support in Artsakh for centuries Pashinyan to Putin: I am convinced that Armenian-Russian interstate relations will continue to develop Armenias Pashinyan congratulates Mishustin on Russia Day Newspaper: Armenia criminal authorities take neutral position in current electoral process Newspaper: Real "war" behind scenes of Armenia authorities after every provincial visit of acting PM Armenia acting PM Pashinyan tells details from his talk with army General Staff former chief Gasparyan Man found dead in Armenia canal NATO Secretary-General affirms willingness for cooperation with Russia Armenia Special Investigation Service charges political party member for giving electoral bribe Armenia Central Electoral Commission grants motion to launch criminal prosecution against MP candidate "I Have the Honor" bloc member: Coronavirus and 'nikolavirus' (Nikol Pashinyan) are both lethal Greek PM: Greece willing to back positive EU agenda for Turkey Russia Deputy FM, France Ambassador discuss settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict CoE: We are engaged in a dialogue to develop a set of confidence-building measures between Armenia, Azerbaijan Armenia 3rd President states when country's security system began to collapse Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff ex-deputy chief on acting PM's statement on his "National Hero" title Armenia Arevik National Park director dismissed for being a friend of Meghri mayor Reuters: Erdogan's summit with Biden clouded by bitter disputes Armenia acting MOD receives Head of ICRC Delegation Gagik Tsarukyan: Armenia needs to develop the economy by using resources of country and people Gagik Tsarukyan: Russia is Armenia's main ally, and this can't be altered Armenia MOD: Azerbaijanis try to carry out engineering works in Kut border section, Armenian side counters Armenia 1st President's nephew and his son involved in brawl in Yerevan Snap elections online voting starts, Azerbaijan continues 'trial' of Armenian POWs, Jun 11 digest Armenian former high-tech industry minister, member of ruling party on June 9 brawl in Yerevan Robert Kocharyan: If Armenia wants a peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict, it needs to give Azerbaijan hope Armenia acting PM: During campaign meetings hundreds of mothers thanked me for signing Nov. 9 document Citizens are demanded to applaud Armenia acting PM Armenia ruling party lawmaker, MP candidate: Civil Contracts election promises are continuation of 2018 promises Armenia villager to Nikol Pashinyan: Yard of Turk's house is in front of our military post Opposition Prosperous Armenia Party assures that it's not expecting ministerial positions Robert Kocharyan: "Armenia" bloc will restore and deepen country's ties with allies Czech Rep. parliament committee calls on Azerbaijan to release all Armenian captives immediately "Armenia" bloc member Armen Gevorgyan holds meetings with diplomatic corps and international organizations Dollar still dropping in Armenia Azerbaijan announces names of 26 Armenian servicemen it intends to "put on trial" Armenian publishing house to print 66,925,000 ballots for upcoming snap parliamentary elections "Armenia" bloc member: There are reports that over 10 police buses escorted acting PM yesterday Gallup: "Armenia" bloc records slightly higher indicator than ruling party Armenia acting PM has been obligated to publicly apologize to Khachatryan family "Armenia" bloc: Robert Kocharyan and ARF-D resolved crisis that Levon Ter-Petrosyan created in 1998 Intellectual Armenia Party to support "Armenia" bloc in snap parliamentary elections Armenia ruling party MP's powers terminated Brawl takes place during Armenia ruling Civil Contract Party's campaign meeting, case launched Armenia acting premier: We also have enclave under Azerbaijan rule Holy Etchmiadzin: We express regret for unwise, inappropriate statements of acting PM "I have the honor" bloc member: Armenia acting PM has instructed his voters to go to polls by afternoon Prosperous Armenia Party MP: Enemy does not divide Armenians into "blacks" and "whites" Bright Armenia Party leader: Acting premier will not be able to get 60% of votes Armenia acting PM: There are people in media who are more like "killers" than journalists Ex-President Kocharyan: 2009-2018 I did not agree with Armenia authorities on many issues Armenia has new millionaires Armenia President visits Russia embassy, meets with ambassador Artsakh search continues Friday for remains of Armenian soldiers killed in war Armenia ruling party election offices heads being paid by provincial halls? Armenia emergency ministry preparing for a new cooperation with USAID US, Turkey top defense officials discuss regional issues 95 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia G7 leaders pledge to share 1bn doses of coronavirus vaccine with world Armenia snap parliamentary elections online voting starts Trump tells Biden to give Putin his warmest regards Newspaper: Pashinyan is both Armenia acting PM and not Newspaper: Why is Armenia arms dealer released from custody? National Geographic officially announces 5th ocean Armenia MP candidate is detained Armenia Prosecutor General receives OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission's delegation France's Macron intends to discuss situation in Nagorno-Karabakh with Turkish counterpart Armenia 3rd President on Nikol Pashinyan: People look at him and say 'greetings, son of a b**ch' US Department of Commerce intends to impose sanctions against Armenia's Armenal aluminum foil producer/exporter Armenia 1st President recalls his "remedial secession" formula for Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement Global security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin is teaming up with General Motors to develop the next generation of lunar vehicles to transport astronauts on the surface of the Moon, fundamentally evolving and expanding humanity's deep-space exploration footprint. Nasa's Artemis programme is sending humans back to the Moon where they will explore and conduct scientific experiments using a variety of rovers. Nasa sought industry approaches to develop a Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) that will enable astronauts to explore the lunar surface farther than ever before. The LTV is the first of many types of surface mobility vehicles needed for Nasa's Artemis programme. To support Nasa's mission, the two industry leaders will develop a unique vehicle with innovative capabilities, drawing on their unparalleled engineering, performance, technology and reliability legacies. The result may allow astronauts to explore the lunar surface in unprecedented fashion and support discovery in places where humans have never gone before. Lockheed Martin will lead the team by leveraging its more than 50-year-history of working with Nasa on deep-space human and robotic spacecraft, such as Nasa's Orion exploration-class spaceship for Artemis and numerous Mars and planetary spacecraft. "This alliance brings together powerhouse innovation from both companies to make a transformative class of vehicles," remarked Rick Ambrose, the Executive VP at Lockheed Martin Space. "Surface mobility is critical to enable and sustain long-term exploration of the lunar surface. These next-generation rovers will dramatically extend the range of astronauts as they perform high-priority science investigation on the Moon that will ultimately impact humanity's understanding of our place in the solar system," he stated. GM is a leader in battery-electric technologies and propulsion systems that are central to its multi-brand, multi-segment electric vehicle strategy, positioning the company for an all-electric future. Additionally, GM will use autonomous technology to facilitate safer and more efficient operations on the Moon. "General Motors made history by applying advanced technologies and engineering to support the Lunar Rover Vehicle that the Apollo 15 astronauts drove on the Moon," remarked Alan Wexler, Senior VP of Innovation and Growth. "Working together with Lockheed Martin and their deep-space exploration expertise, we plan to support American astronauts on the Moon once again," noted Wexler. According to him, GM has a proven history of supporting Nasa and working within the space industry. The company manufactured, tested and integrated the inertial guidance and navigation systems for the entire Apollo Moon program, including Apollo 11 and the first human landing in 1969. GM also helped develop the electric Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), including the chassis and wheels for the LRV that was used on Apollo's 15-17 missions. Unlike the Apollo rovers that only travelled 7.6 km from the landing site, the next-generation lunar vehicles are being designed to traverse significantly farther distances to support the first excursions of the Moon's south pole, where it is cold and dark with more rugged terrain. Autonomous, self-driving systems will allow the rovers to prepare for human landings, provide commercial payload services, and enhance the range and utility of scientific payloads and experiments. Lockheed Martin brings unparalleled experience and capabilities in deep-space exploration. It has built spacecraft and systems that have gone to every planet, been on every Nasa mission to Mars including building 11 of the agency's Mars spacecraft, and played major roles on the space shuttle program and International Space Station power systems. YEREVAN. - Outgoing Acting Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Aivazian on Monday had a farewell meeting with the Foreign Ministry staff, the ministry informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. In his speech, Aivazian noted as follows, in particular: "We had no right to take a step for which our people and our history would not have forgiven us in the future. When I took office, I declared that [Armenian] diplomacy is not defeated, and I still insist to this day that our diplomacy is not defeated. I believe our international partners have realized that Armenia is not defeated, Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] is not defeated, the Armenians are not defeated; our enemies also have realized this. It was very difficult for me to make this decision; but when I assumed this position, there was a criterion for me: This ministry, which is the birth of independence, shall steadfastly defend our sovereignty, our independence, our state, national interests. () and my decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason (). The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) has issued the Digital Transformation in the UAE Report 2020, which highlights the UAEs leading global position in digital transformation. The UAE has topped several global and Arab indices in different fields including smart government, telecommunication, education, health, and digital solutions in general. The report states the story of digital transformation in the UAE, which started in the early 1980s with establishment of the Public Information Authority. That authority was responsible for automation of government processes and introduction of computer in federal government work. The report highlighted some achievements in digital world till 2021, the year of UAE golden jubilee and preparation for the next 50 years. The report states, in numbers and facts, the achievements of different sectors in terms of digital transformation in the UAE. In health sector, the UAE has been ranked 1st in number of accredited medical facilities index. Accredited medical facilities which met required standards (including IT management and employment in healthcare services) reached 88.33%. It has been ranked 12th in health infrastructure. In economic sector, the UAE has been ranked 1st in a number of indices, including public-private partnership and its impact on technology development, use of virtual professional networks, and government purchase of advanced technology products. The UAE was ranked 1st at the level of the Arab region in global innovation index, readiness for future index, IMDs digital competitiveness index, and market value of information and media technology index. Regarding capacity building, the UAE has been ranked 4th globally in Legal framework's adaptability to digital business models, 2nd in ICT usage, big data usage and analysis, and government future orientation. The report shed light on many achievements of federal and local government entities in the field of digital transformation. Achieved initiatives covers orientation to paperless government, digital service platforms, and digital connection among government entities through the Federal Network (FedNet), UAE Pass and Government Service Bus (GSB). Initiatives covers also the optimistic strategies approved by the government to enter the age of 4th industrial revolution, artificial intelligence and big data analysis. Commenting on the report, Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, Head of Digital Government said: The achievements highlighted by this report are fruits of accumulated efforts and vision of the wise leadership to set the UAE as a leading model for future foresight and happiness on basis of technology, advanced science and digital transformation. I appreciate the efforts of federal and local government entities, which worked as one team in harmony to serve the UAEs objective of digitalizing government services. He added: In the UAE, we are determined to save no efforts to enhance the due position of the UAE since the start of the Union and under directions of our wise leadership. Today, we achieved many top ranks, particularly in digital transformation, under directions of our leadership and by help of our national cadres. We prepare for the next fifty years to make more achievements. According to the report, the UAE has been ranked 4th globally in cybersecurity, and 1st at the level of Arab region in artificial intelligence infrastructure and access to information technology. The UAE has been ranked first globally in mobile broadband internet subscriptions, mobile phone network coverage, mobile broadband subscriptions, and wireless broadband. The report referred to a set of leading initiatives related to information society and digital economy, including the E-Health Information System 'Wareed, robotic pharmacy, eService integration, and Human Resources Management Information System (Bayanati). In the economic and security sectors, the UAE has made significant achievements, including the development of Start your business in 15 minutes, the police station in your phone, and the Hassantuk project. The report highlighted the UAE's smart platform for big data and transition to IPV6. The UAE is the first country at the regional level to apply IPV6, the federal network "FedNet" and the digital identity "UAE PASS". The report reviewed achievements made at the level of local governments of the seven emirates of the UAE, highlighting the large volume of work that has been achieved in terms of digital transformation of public services. These achievements enhance the UAEs orientation towards a new brighter future in the era of the 4th industrial revolution, artificial intelligence, space and the digital knowledge society. -- TradeArabia News Service Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 31.05.21: Armenian acting FM Ara Aivazian has submitted his resignation. Outgoing acting Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Aivazian on Monday had a farewell meeting with the Foreign Ministry staff. "It was very difficult for me to make this decision; but when I assumed this position, there was a criterion for me: this ministry, which is the birth of independence, shall steadfastly defend our sovereignty, our independence, our state, national interests," he said. "And my decision of resignation was conditioned by that very reason." Nikol Pashinyan, who has already launched the so-called unofficial campaign and has been visiting the regions for several weeks, spent this weekend in the north of Armenia. In the cities of Spitak, Vanadzor, and Aparan, he met with citizens and made emotional speeches. Pashinyan's first stop was in Aparan. If, for example, Pashinyan's speeches before the 2018 elections were mainly aimed at criticizing the former ruling party, now the list of addressees can be said to have expanded. In his speeches, Pashinyan now criticizes the first and second presidents. He said in Aparan that these elections are an occasion for citizens to take civil revenge for the rigged elections after 1996. Pashinyan spoke again about the negotiation process on the Artsakh issue and invited the first and second presidents, Levon Ter-Petrosyan and Robert Kocharyan, to a public debate. If Robert Kocharyan is ready to go for debates, he will explain why Karabakh was pushed out of the negotiating table. There is no official response to the invitation yet, but Ishkhan Saghatelyan from the Armenia bloc wrote on his Facebook that the Armenian ex-presidents do not debate with traitors. As of Monday morning, 34 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in Armenia, and the total number of these cases has reached 222,670 in the country. Also, six more deaths from COVID-19 were reported, making the respective total 4,438 cases. The number of people who have recovered over the past one day is 227, the total respective number so far is 213,208. Leaders of the Armenian Caucus at the US Congress condemn Azerbaijan's latest aggression in Armenia's Gegharkunik Province, demand the US State Department hold Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev's regime accountable, and threaten sanctions to end ongoing atrocities. "We are alarmed by the ongoing actions of Azerbaijani forces on Armenian soil in the Gegharkunik region and surrounding area that have resulted in the death of an Armenian soldier and the reported kidnapping of six more," they noted. The European External Action Service has released a statement on the recent developments on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. According to them, recent developments on the Armenia/Azerbaijan border are both dangerous and worrying. "We continue to call on Azerbaijan to release all prisoners of war and detainees without delay," they noted. The EU said they are ready to provide expertise and help on border delimitation and demarcation, as well as to support much needed confidence building measures to move towards sustainable peace and prosperity for the South Caucasus. I would like to inform that I will no longer perform the duties of spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. This is what Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Anna Naghdalyan wrote on her Facebook page, adding the following: I would like to express gratitude to all mass media representatives, my colleagues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and my team for the fruitful cooperation and support during this difficult period. I would like to give special thanks to Ara Aivazian and Zohrab Mnatsakanyan for their trust. It was a great honor to work with such experienced and patriotic diplomats. I would like to inform that I will continue my career in the diplomatic service. For comments on and for questions about the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you can send an e-mail to [email protected]. In my opinion, perhaps the processes led to a situation where even the minister believed that the best way to solve the situation would be to resign. This is what representative of the Armenia bloc Aram Vardevanyan told reporters today, touching upon the fact that Ara Aivazian resigned from the position of foreign minister today. I cant view this as a heroic step, but I can say that if we compare Aivazian with other state officials such as law-enforcement officers, this is a specific act and might serve as a signal for some members of society. A minister appointed by the incumbent authorities has resigned and said the authorities arent acting in Armenias interests. This is extremely negative, but one of the key objectives of Armenia bloc is to make sure this never happens again, he said. When told that if the authorities actions contradict state interest, the National Security Service and power structures need to deal with the matter, Vardevanyan said the following: What happened to the National Security Service over the past three years allow us to claim that nobody should expect this from the National Security Service. Unfortunately, the Service was politicized. Its absurd to think that the Service thinks about Armenias interests. When told that acting PM Nikol Pashinyans spokesperson Mane Gevorgyan has urged Ara Aivazian to present evidence of anti-state actions, Vardevanyan said Gevorgyan can find the evidence in the government building. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has commented on the calls for the release of Armenian captives with infinite hypocrisy, turning everything upside down once again. Baku supports the calls of the international community for a peaceful solution to the escalation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border and for delimitation and demarcation, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Leyla Abdullayeva declared. At the same time, to date, in the civilized world, there is no example of demarcation between countries that dont have diplomatic relations. Azerbaijan has declared several times that it supports the calls for weakening of tension through negotiations. As is known, Azerbaijan also supports the proposal to set up a trilateral commission for demarcation and delimitation, Abdullayeva said. Moreover, she stated that it is necessary to respect the territorial integrity of both countries in case there is demarcation and delimitation. Commenting on the statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Abdullayeva stated that Azerbaijan detained 6 Armenian servicemen while they were making provocations against the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan (at that moment, Azerbaijani subdivisions were at a 1.5-2.5 km distance from the border of Armenia). When the anti-infantry mines that Armenia has placed in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan poses a threat to people every day, when Armenia refuses to provide information about mine maps, before offering exchange of servicemen, the Co-Chairs needed to pay attention to the reasons for their detention, she said, noting that the Co-Chairs can play a role in ensuring peace in the region. This hypocritical statement by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan truly doesnt recognize borders. Azerbaijan fails to implement the provisions of the trilateral statement, isnt returning the captives and is violating the territorial integrity of Armenia, and it is Azerbaijan that was using banned arms during the war. Cisco, the leader in enterprise security, has unveiled a new security services to further its journey to radically simplify and deliver end-to-end security, across users, devices, networks, applications and data. Announcements improve Extended Detection and Response (XDR) with greater visibility across corporate networks, endpoint and cloud. New innovations expand Ciscos vision for Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) with enhanced threat detection in the cloud and redefine and simplify network security. Cisco continues to simplify customers security, network and IT operations - empowering organisations to embark securely on digital transformation. The world has shifted towards a more distributed workforce, and with recent global events, hybrid work is here to stay. Users now expect to connect from anywhere and on any device, while security management has the same complex, piecemeal and time-consuming solutions. It is time to rethink security. Security has to be at the heart of everything in the new world we live in. We believe it needs to be done with a platform approach that is simple, comprehensive and based on intelligence, said Fady Younes, Cybersecurity Director at Cisco Middle East and Africa. There is really no perimeter in the enterprise to defend anymore. We need visibility across endpoints, users and applications as well as securing critical control points with continuous passwordless authentication. The erosion of the network perimeter and transition to work-from-anywhere have conspired to expose endpoint devices, users and applications to advanced Threats more so than ever before. Organisations continue to struggle with extending visibility and protection to endpoints, with more than 40% globally reporting a major security incident in the last two years, according to the new Cisco Security Outcomes Study: Endpoint Edition. Organisations that do not prioritise integrated solutions were almost twice as likely to have suffered a major security event. In response, Cisco continues to expand its XDR capabilities, integrating multiple security control points and applying analytics and automation to reduce customers time to detection and response. Cisco announced: Industry-leading Vulnerability Management with Kenna Security: Cisco will combine threat and risk-based vulnerability management as part of the SecureX platform with its announcement of intent to acquire Kenna Security. This integration will help customers prioritise vulnerabilities, speed and automate decision making with tailored information, and accelerate response time for cyber readiness. SecureX Device Insights: Customers can quickly consolidate their device inventory from multiple sources within the SecureX platform to provide unsurpassed visibility and context for IT operations (ITOps) and security operations (SecOps) as well as automated threat response and enrichment. Simplified Transition to XDR from EDR: As the only endpoint security solution with a built-in platform, SecureX continues to help customers simplify the move from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) to XDR with more than 30 pre-built workflows, 40 turnkey integrations and new orchestration capabilities. In addition, Cisco Secure Client, our single agent across user, cloud and endpoint protection, enables faster XDR while reducing agent fatigue. Expanded Investigation and Quicker Response: Cisco Secure Endpoints advanced search technology now bolsters XDR value, offering more than 200 endpoint queries out-of-the-box to get real-time answers to support investigations, threat hunting, and IT Ops use cases such as tracking artifacts about endpoints. Todays distributed and hybrid workforce necessitates delivering protection and performance wherever employees access the internet or cloud applications. Ciscos SASE architecture integrates multiple security and networking functions into a single, secure connectivity offer. This significantly simplifies security and reduces the cost, time, and resources previously required for deployment, configuration, and integration. Continuing to deliver on its SASE vision, Cisco announced: Rapid Deployment of Cloud Security across SD-WAN: New integration between Cisco Umbrella and Cisco SD-WAN powered by Meraki extends the SD-WAN fabric to the cloud with the click of a button and includes intelligent path selection to enable customers with secure access and the best user experiences when connecting to cloud applications. Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) in cloud-delivered firewall: Umbrellas cloud-delivered firewall now includes an additional layer of protection with Snort 3 IPS, backed by Cisco Talos, one of the largest commercial threat intelligence teams in the world. New Packages for Best Protection and Value: Umbrellas new Secure Internet Gateway (SIG) Advantage package reduces the complexities of purchasing and unifying point solutions by offering a complete set of security capabilities in a single subscription. Constantly changing application environments make network security more complex. Modern continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) applications necessitate tighter coordination among developers, security, and network teams to ensure application environments and workloads are secure, firewalls are appropriately configured, and policies are integrated. Otherwise, vulnerabilities and misconfigurations in these constantly changing environments leave doors open for potential threat actors. Redefining and simplifying network security, Cisco announced: Industry-first Integrated Network and Workload Security: Cisco Secure Workload dynamically informs Cisco Secure Firewall of required policy changes and provides comprehensive visibility and control, no matter where applications are located. Upgraded Threat Defense: Secure Firewall Threat Defense 7.0, delivers better efficacy with Snort 3 IPS, the world-leading threat protection platform which defined next generation intrusion prevention systems (NGIPS). Snort is now deployed across 800K+ Cisco devices, and the open-sourced Snort engine has seen over 8M+ downloads with 750K+ active users. It includes the flexibility to create robust policies in dynamic environments where fixed IP addresses dont exist, and performance gains up to 30% on most appliances. (Snort 3 is also now featured in Cisco SD-WAN powered by Meraki and Umbrella. The addition of the SecureX ribbon to Secure Firewall Management Centre also further simplifies detection and response. Introducing Cisco Secure Firewall Cloud Native: Purpose-built for Kubernetes environments, Cisco Secure Firewall Cloud Native is developer-friendly, and the most elastic firewall Cisco has ever built. -- TradeArabia News Service According to the points stated in the statement adopted on January 11, 2021, the expert sub-groups have conducted extensive analyses and research to identify the technically possible and effective options for railway and automobile transport, taking into consideration the opportunities for organizing and implementing the necessary security, border, customs and other types of control. This is what acting Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Mher Grigoryan told Tert.am when asked what President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev meant when he said the Armenian side is exploring the issues related to the inevitability of the Zangezur corridor. In the context of the unblocking of the current transport links in the region, the issues related to organizing of border, customs and other types of control with regard to international transport continue to be explored. In this same context, the potential impact of the transport infrastructures and routes of other countries of the region and the economic consequences are also being assessed. At this moment, what is more visible are the opportunities for restoration of the railway infrastructures and routes that existed during the Soviet era and cargo transportation with equal rights and conditions. In regard to the works for unblocking of regional transport links, we reiterate the fact that the Republic of Armenia has not discussed and will not discuss issues within the logic of corridor, he said. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has declared that the Armenian side is exploring the issues related to the inevitability of the Zangezur corridor. According to Minval.az, Aliyev talked about this when he received the delegation led by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of Turkey. US spied on European leaders, including Merkel The NSA had reportedly taken advantage of a surveillance collaboration with Denmark's military intelligence unit FE. Photo: AFP The US spied on top politicians in Europe, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, from 2012 to 2014 with the help of Danish intelligence, Danish and European media reported on Sunday. Danish public broadcaster Danmarks Radio (DR) said the US National Security Agency (NSA) had eavesdropped on Danish internet cables to spy on top politicians and high-ranking officials in Germany, Sweden, Norway and France. The NSA had taken advantage of a surveillance collaboration with Denmark's military intelligence unit FE to do so, it said. Denmark's defence ministry has not responded to AFP's requests for a comment. Defence Minister Trine Bramsen, who took over the defence portfolio in June 2019, was informed of the spying in August 2020, according to DR. She told the broadcaster that "systematic eavesdropping of close allies is unacceptable." it was not clear whether Denmark authorised the US to use its surveillance system to spy on its neighbours. DR revealed the information following an investigation it led together with Swedish broadcaster SVT, Norway's NRK, Germany's NDR, WDR and Suddeutsche Zeitung, and France's Le Monde. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, then-foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and then-opposition leader Peer Steinbruck were among those the NSA had spied on, DR said. The NSA was able to access SMS text messages, telephone calls, and internet traffic including searches, chats and messaging services, DR said. The spying was detailed in a secret, internal FE working group report codenamed "Operation Dunhammer" and presented to FE top management in May 2015, DR said. DR said its information came from nine different sources who had access to classified FE information, and said their revelations were independently confirmed by several sources. Neither the FE nor its director at the time, Lars Findsen, commented immediately on the revelations. The US spying, if confirmed, was going on during and after the 2013 Snowden affair, which erupted when former NSA contractor Edward Snowden revealed thousands of classified documents exposing the vast US surveillance put in place after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Among other things, that documents showed the US government was spying on its own citizens and carrying out widespread tapping worldwide, including of Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone. In November 2020, DR reported that the US had used the Danish cables to spy on Danish and European defence industries from 2012 to 2015. (AFP) China announces three-child policy to boost births The high cost of raising children in Chinese cities has deterred many couples from starting families. File photo: AFP China announced on Monday that married couples may have up to three children, a major policy shift from the existing limit of two after recent data showed a dramatic decline in births in the world's most populous country. The change was approved during a politburo meeting chaired by President Xi Jinping, the official news agency Xinhua reported. In 2016, China scrapped its decades-old one-child policy initially imposed to halt a population explosion with a two-child limit, which failed to result in a sustained surge in births as the high cost of raising children in Chinese cities deterred many couples from starting families. "To further optimise the birth policy, (China) will implement a one-married-couple-can-have-three-children policy," Xinhua said in a report on the meeting. The policy change will come with "supportive measures, which will be conducive to improving our country's population structure, fulfilling the country's strategy of actively coping with an ageing population and maintaining the advantage, endowment of human resources", Xinhua said. It did not specify the support measures. The announcement drew a chilly response on Chinese social media, where many people said they could not afford to have even one or two children. "I am willing to have three children if you give me 5 million yuan (US$785,650)," one user posted on Weibo Early this month, China's once-in-a-decade census showed that the population grew at its slowest rate during the last decade since the 1950s, to 1.41 billion. Data also showed a fertility rate of just 1.3 children per woman for 2020 alone, on a par with ageing societies like Japan and Italy. Also on Monday, China's politburo said it would phase-in delays in the country's retirement ages, but did not provide any details.(Reuters) Hong Kong reports four imported Covid infections The imported cases reported are from India, Indonesia, South Korea and the Netherlands. File photo: RTHK Health authorities reported four imported Covid-19 infections on Monday, including the case of a 40-year-old man who returned a positive antibody test three weeks after emerging from quarantine. The patient, who arrived in Hong Kong from India on April 18, was sent to the Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre after being identified as a close contact of another imported case. After spending 21 days at the quarantine centre, the man then returned to stay at his flat in Shing Fu House of Kwai Shing East Estate in Kwai Chung. A test he did at a community testing centre on May 13 came back negative. On Saturday, the patient was admitted to the Princess Margaret Hospital because of an underlying illness, and tested positive for an antibody that suggest a previous infection. The Centre for Health Protection said it is conducting epidemiological investigations and tracing the mans contacts. As a precaution, Shing Fu House has been included in a compulsory testing notice, which residents there required to be tested for Covid-19 by Wednesday. The other imported cases confirmed on Monday were from Indonesia, South Korea and the Netherlands. Meanwhile, officials are also investigating a preliminary positive case involving a 35-year-old police constable. The man, who lives in Yau Tong and works at the Wan Chai Police District Headquarters, started having symptoms on Friday. He visited a private doctor the next day and his sample collected on Sunday came back positive. The force said it was highly concerned, and is providing assistance to the Department of Health. In this article, we reviewed 10 best dividend stocks for Roth IRA according to billionaire Ken Fishers $159 billion hedge fund. We picked these dividend stocks from Ken Fisher's Q1 portfolio. These stocks have a dividend yield of at least 4%. You can skip billionaire Ken Fisher's investment philosophy, and go directly to the 5 Best Dividend Stocks for Roth IRA. Billionaire Ken Fisher believes investors can make decent gains by riding on the stunning tech and growth stocks bull run despite the fact that value stocks outshined growth stocks in the past two quarters. He says growth stocks will regain momentum, helping stock markets extend the last year's bull run. Fisher Asset Management founder has not only expressed his thoughts about 2021 bull run through his columns, but his portfolio management strategy also hints at the extension of bull run. He added to his high-growth tech, consumer discretionary, and communications stocks in the latest quarter. However, his investing success that is spanning over two decades is backed by the strategy of maintaining a well-diversified stock portfolio. The founder of the $159 billion asset management firm seeks to hold stakes in all three forms of stocks: growth, value, and dividend. With $141 billion in 13F securities at the end of the first quarter, Ken Fisher held a position in 933 stocks and several of them have a high dividend-paying characteristic. Our focus in this article will be some of the best Roth IRA dividend stocks based on Fisher's portfolio. These stocks include Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE), BP Plc. (NYSE: BP), BHP Group (NYSE: BBL), Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) and Exxon Corporation (NYSE: XOM), among others. As our readers are aware, for income investors we always recommend dividend stocks that have a strong history of dividend hikes. For example, Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX), one of the best dividend stocks in Fisher's portfolio, has increased its dividends consistently for the last 34 years. Chances of Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) slashing or suspending its dividends in the future are quite low amid the reputation it has made over all these years. Story continues Before moving on to billionaire Ken Fishers high dividend-yielding stocks, let's briefly review his stock portfolio and market outlook. In a YouTube video early this year, Fisher said that this year could turn out to be the last year of a very long bull market. He further elaborated his stance in his recent columns. He said tech stocks have led US stock markets to outperform the other global markets in the last ten decades. However, he believes forces backing the tech sector cannot stay forever, expecting sector leadership to rotate. Consider US sector returns for the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. While Tech led all sectors in the 2010s and 1990s, it was the 2000s worst performer. (That wasnt just the Tech bust, either. Its returns were lackluster in 2002 2007s bull market.) Energy led in the 2000s. Before that, it was the 1990s third-worst performer. After, it was the 2010s worst. The biggest 1990s laggard, Utilities, roared to third-best in the 2000s. Using different start and end dates yields equally big shifts, giving no sectorhence no countrypermanent superiority, regardless of its economic strength, Ken Fisher said in his recent column. Information technology stocks represented 26% of the overall Ken Fisher's portfolio weighting at the end of the first quarter, according to the latest filings. On the other hand, the billionaire Wall Street investor cut his financial sector positions and bought stakes in fast-growing sectors like communications and consumer discretionary. 10 Best Dividend Stocks for Roth IRA Ken Fisher of Fisher Asset Management While Ken Fishers reputation remains intact, the same cant be said of the hedge fund industry as a whole, as its reputation has been tarnished in the last decade, during which its hedged returns couldnt keep up with the unhedged returns of the market indices. On the other hand, Insider Monkeys research was able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the S&P 500 ETFs by more than 124 percentage points since March 2017. Between March 2017 and February 26th 2021 our monthly newsletters stock picks returned 197.2%, vs. 72.4% for the SPY. Our stock picks outperformed the market by more than 124 percentage points (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that significantly underperformed the market. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 and they lost 13% through November 16th. Thats why we believe hedge fund sentiment is an extremely useful indicator that investors should pay attention to. You can subscribe to our free newsletter on our homepage to receive our stories in your inbox. Let's start digging into the 10 best dividend stocks for Roth IRA. We used Fisher's 13F portfolio for the first quarter of 2021 for this analysis. These stocks are some of the best for retirement because of their dividends and share price gains. Best Dividend Stocks for Roth IRA 10. Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. (NYSE: APAM) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 21 Asset management firm Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. (NYSE: APAM) is a member of billionaire Ken Fishers stock portfolio since 2015. At the end of the first quarter, the hedge fund held 1.49 million shares of Artisan Partners, accounting for 0.05% of the overall portfolio and valued at just over $78 million. Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. (NYSE: APAM) offers a dividend yield of around 6.56%, with a quarterly dividend of $0.88 per share. Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. (NYSE: APAM) stock was in 21 hedge funds portfolios at the end of March, flat compared to the previous quarter. Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 65 The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) is the long-running stock holding of Fisher Asset Management. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) held $90 million worth of stake in the pharmaceutical company. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) offers a quarterly dividend of $0.39 per share, yielding above 4%. The company raised its dividends in the last ten successive years. In addition to dividend growth, its share price rallied close to 85% in the last ten years. Like BHP Group (NYSE: BBL) and Exxon Corporation (NYSE: XOM), Pfizer is one of the best dividend stocks for Roth IRA. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) stock was in 65 hedge funds portfolios at the end of March, compared to 63 hedge fund positions at the end of Q4. Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 29 Oil giant BP Plc. (NYSE: BP) is among the favorite dividend stocks of billionaire Ken Fisher. His hedge fund has been holding a position in BP since 2001. The firm raised its position in the oil company by 4% to 11.47 million shares at the end of the first quarter. BP Plc. (NYSE: BP) offers a dividend yield of 4.80%, with a quarterly dividend of $0.32 per share. In addition, its shares grew 28% since the beginning of this year, thanks to strong growth in oil prices. Like Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE), BHP Group (NYSE: BBL), Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) and Exxon Corporation (NYSE: XOM), BP is one of the best dividend stocks for Roth IRA. BP Plc. (NYSE: BP) was in 29 hedge funds portfolios at the end of the first quarter of 2021, flat compared to the previous quarter. The all-time high for this statistic is 40. 7. BHP Group (NYSE: BBL) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 23 Ken Fishers strategy of raising his stake in the mining company BHP Group (NYSE: BBL) worked in favor of his hedge fund. Fisher Asset Management held 7.1 million shares of BHP Group at the end of the first quarter, up 2% from the past quarter. BHP Group (NYSE: BBL) offers a semi-annual dividend of just over $2 a share, yielding around 6.65%. Moreover, its share price grew close to 12% year to date, extending the twelve-month gains to over 55%. Like Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX), Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE), BP Plc. (NYSE: BP) and Exxon Corporation (NYSE: XOM), BBL is one of the best dividend stocks for Roth IRA. BHP Group (NYSE: BBL) has experienced an increase in hedge fund sentiment recently. BHP Group was in 23 hedge funds portfolios at the end of the first quarter of 2021 compared to 18 positions in the previous quarter. The all-time high for this statistic is 24. 6. Exxon Corporation (NYSE: XOM) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 65 Ken Fisher is also bullish over the future fundamentals of Exxon Corporation (NYSE: XOM). This is reflected from his hedge funds strategy of lifting its stake in the oil giant by 3% to 8.05 million shares, accounting for 0.32% of the overall portfolio. Exxon Corporation (NYSE: XOM) offers one of the strongest dividends in the energy sector. The company currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share, yielding close to 5.90%. Like Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX), Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE), BP Plc. (NYSE: BP) and BHP Group (NYSE: BBL), XOM is one of the best dividend stocks for Roth IRA. Harding Loevner, an investment management firm, mentioned a few stocks including Exxon Corporation in the first quarter investor letter. Here is what Harding Loevner stated: We felt that our remaining energy holding, Exxon Corporation (NYSE: XOM), with its stronger balance sheet, was in a better position to ride out the cyclical slump in oil demand and even perhaps take advantage of it by investing counter-cyclically. While ExxonMobil does plan to increase capital expenditure, weve been disappointed in its regrettable failure to address ongoing emission trends, which reflects poorly on managements foresight. As a result, we sold our ExxonMobil holdings. To see the rest of the stocks in this list please go to 5 Best Dividend Stocks for Roth IRA. Suggested Articles: Disclosure None. 10 Best Dividend Stocks for Roth IRA is originally published on Insider Monkey. dnata, a leading global air and travel services provider, and Singapore Airlines have expanded their long-standing partnership in the UAE, through the selection of dnata Representation Services, part of the dnata Travel Group, to provide a range of sales, marketing and contact centre services to Singapore's flag carrier as its general sales agent (GSA) in the Northern Regions. The expanded partnership will see the team at dnata Representation Services act as the essential link between Singapore Airlines and local trade, supporting its commercial operations beyond Dubai, to extend across Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Qaiwain, reported Emirates news agency Wam. dnata Representation Services' vast network, broad marketing, sales and operational expertise, and extensive experience in airline representation will help the carrier enhance its market presence in the UAE amidst a highly competitive business environment. dnata also provides reliable and safe ramp and cargo handling services to Singapore Airlines at Dubai International Airport (DXB). Rashid Al Awadhi, Vice President, dnata Travel Group - Regional, said: "We are proud to be the representation services partner of choice for Singapore Airlines in the UAE. The expansion of our partnership is a testament to our excellent cooperation and outstanding results in Dubai over the past four decades. Our experienced team will work hard to ensure that Singapore Airlines achieves its business objectives and delivers on its growth plans in the country." Ryan Yeoh, General Manager Gulf and Middle East, Singapore Airlines, said: "Singapore Airlines is proud to expand its partnership with dnata, building on a strong foundation of over 40 years of collaboration. Having resumed flights from Dubai to Singapore in January, we rely on dnata's knowledge and professionalism to ensure the best experience for our mutual customers, based on our shared commitment to service excellence." cvm / Shutterstock.com One of the biggest perks of life after service in the military is that businesses large and small offer specials discounts to veterans. That, of course, is nice but some companies go above and beyond the corporate call of duty. As part of a comprehensive package on military-focused finances, GOBankingRates identified 10 companies that stand out for their support of veterans and the military. Support Small: Dont Miss Out on Nominating Your Favorite Small Business To Be Featured on GOBankingRates Ends May 31 Some have excellent hiring programs that favor military members or vets. Others have volunteer programs that pay employees to donate their time. Others partner with third-party organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project to make sure their corporate donations go straight to the vets who need it most. Whether youre looking for an employer who values military service, a company to support your cause or nonprofit or if youre just looking for somewhere that youd be happy to spend your money, this list is a good place to start. Read on to learn more, and if youre a vet yourself, thank you for your service. Last updated: May 12, 2021 Mandatory Credit: Photo by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/Shutterstock (11866604d)In this photo illustration a CSX Transportation logo of US railroad is seen on a smartphone and a pc screen. CSX Transportation giant CSX has long been recognized as one of the countrys most military-centric employers. One in five people who work there has served and the company actively recruits veterans. It maintains separate job postings just for vets that correspond with specific types of military service. CSX employees have committed more than 5,000 hours of volunteer service to military personnel and their families through its Pride in Service program, which includes partnerships with organizations like Blue Star Families, Operation Homefront, First Responders Childrens Foundation, Operation Gratitude, Carry Forward and the Wounded Warrior Project. Military Money: The Complete Guide on Benefits, Investing and More Merck Pharmaceutical company Merck Mercks trophy case is a testament to its commitment to military service members and veterans. It received the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award the highest award the government can give for its commitment to its Guard and Reserve employees. Its a member of the Veteran Jobs Mission and was recognized by major publications as a great company not only for military members and vets, but also for people with disabilities, for gender equality and for diversity. If offers Guard and Reserve employees full benefits and differential pay during active-duty mobilizations. Story continues Read: 4 Ways Military Members and Their Families Can Achieve Financial Success Paris. Starbucks Its nice to know that some of the profits from all those expensive and sugary Starbucks drinks go to a cause better than just empty calories and they do. Starbucks has a Veteran and Military Affairs department run by a 20-year veteran. Its job is to actively recruit vets for hire and its working. Starbucks has hired more than 30,000 vets since 2013 and has vowed to hire 5,000 more every year. The company has also partnered with Team Red, White and Blue since 2017 and also partners with Headstrong to provide free counseling and mental health services to post-9/11 vets and their families. Read: 22 Side Gigs That Can Make You Richer Than a Full-Time Job Miami, USA - November 9, 2014: Purina Friskies Classic Pate Surfin' & Turfin Favorites and Seafood Variety Packs 32/5. Purina Purina helps vets in the best way it knows how by helping their dogs. Service dogs have proven to be one of the most effective ways to help veterans struggling with PTSD in their new mission to assimilate to civilian life. The problem is, training them to serve their human companions costs tens of thousands of dollars per pooch. Purina has donated nearly three-quarters of a million dollars to the Dog Chow Service Dog Salute program, which directs dollars to vet-specific service dog training. It donates tens of thousands of pounds of dog food per year for active-duty military dogs and veteran-support service dogs alike, and actively recruits veterans and gives them preferential hiring treatment. Learn: How Much Do Veterans Make From Military Retirement? A Verizon Wireless store in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Verizon Verizon offers veterans good discounts on devices and service plans, but lots of companies sell a little below MSRP to people who served. Verizon goes much further by employing more than 10,000 vets and members of the Guard and Reserves. It even maintains a dedicated military recruitment team. It puts its money where its marketing is by providing bridge compensation between Verizon pay and military pay to support military families with loved ones on leave for active duty. It also provides technology, equipment and services to organizations that serve veterans like the V.A., as well as to organizations that perform specialty services like support for homeless vets or military spouses. Verizon also partners with Veterans Advantage. Related: 5 Unique Financial Challenges Faced by Military Families San Diego, United States a April 13, 2019: Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 airplane at San Diego airport (SAN) in the United States. Southwest Airlines Like Verizon, Southwest Airlines gives sizable discounts to veterans and the military community. Also like Verizon, it puts much more money into the pockets of vets through employment than it does through discounts. Southwest Airlines supports the Veterans Jobs Mission and has resulted in Southwests hiring of 8,000 veterans and Guard/Reserve members. It has received several big awards from well-known organizations like G.I. Jobs and partners with some of the countrys biggest vet-centric causes. Read: The Best Companies for Working Moms Indianapolis - Circa February 2017: JPMorgan Chase Operations Center. JPMorgan Chase Southwest Airlines is one of the more than 200 companies that supports the Veterans Jobs Mission which has given nearly 713,000 vets with jobs out of its goal of 1 million but Chase co-founded the organization. It remains one of the groups most dedicated supporters, hiring more than 16,000 vets since the mission got started in 2011. Its donated more than 1,000 mortgage-free homes to veterans and military members and enrolled 30,000 people in Onward to Opportunity, a free career training program that is part of the Institute for Veteran and Military Families. Find Out: 40 Legit Companies That Will Pay You To Work From Home WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 21, 2019: BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON - Sign on building exterior - Image. Booz Allen Hamilton IT consulting giant Booz Allen Hamilton is no stranger to the military. It provides services to the Armed Forces and the government in general at all levels, so its a natural fit for the veterans who make up such a large percentage of the firms workforce. It also redirects profits to worthy military-centric causes. Among its partners are Hiring Our Heroes and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. When the virus struck, BAH donated $1 million to the COVID-19 Military Support Initiative. Discover: Companies With Surprisingly Great 401(k) Plans Tucson, AZ July 21, 2019: Walmart Store Building Sign. Walmart In 2013, Walmart set the lofty goal of hiring a quarter-million veterans. Just seven years later on July 1, 2020 three days before Independence Day Walmart announced it had not only reached but surpassed that goal when it hired vet No. 265,000. By November it was 320,000. Long hailed for its support of the military, Walmart created internal Associate Resource Groups (ARGs) like SERVES ARG to help veteran employees connect with and support others like them. It offers $1-a-day debt-free education through the Live Better U program and offers expanded access to healthcare and wellness programs through telehealth partnerships with the VA. Your Complete Price-Matching Guide: Target, Walmart, Best Buy and More Hilton In 2019, just six years after pledging to hire 30,000 vets, military spouses and caregivers as part of its Operation: Opportunity program, Hilton reached that goal. It quickly vowed to hire another 25,000 by 2025. A longtime supporter of the military, the hotel chain has donated more than 525,000,000 points to more than 5,300 veterans, who used them for more than 5,200 free stays. Military appreciation is built into its corporate culture and Hilton gives special perks and benefits to veterans. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 10 Companies That Give Back to Veterans Reuters CARBIS BAY, England (Reuters) -Britain will do "whatever it takes" to protect its territorial integrity in a trade dispute with the European Union, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday, threatening emergency measures if no solution was found. The threat by Johnson seemed to break a temporary truce in a war of words over part of the Brexit deal that covers border issues with Northern Ireland, the focus for tensions since Britain completed its exit from the EU late last year. Despite U.S. President Joe Biden encouraging them to find a compromise, Johnson used a G7 summit to indicate no softening in his position on what is called the Northern Ireland protocol that covers border issues with the British province. CANBERRA, Australia (AP) An Australian government minister dropped his defamation lawsuit against Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Monday and committed to contest the next election as the state broadcaster acknowledged a 33-year-old rape allegation against him could not be substantiated. Christian Porter, minister for industry, science and technology, and the ABC said the case had been settled under confidential terms without any damages being paid. Porter said he did not decide to sue to make money. The hurt and harm that the reporting of this matter has caused to my reputation, to my family, is beyond any form of compensation, Porter told reporters. Despite the damage to his reputation, Porter said he would absolutely run for re-election at general elections to be held within a year. The government will seek a fourth three-year term in the next election, but holds the narrowest of majorities. Porter was attorney general when ABC reported in February that an unnamed Cabinet minister was facing a rape allegation from years before. Days later, Porter outed himself as the minister and denied the allegation that he had raped a 16-year-old girl in 1988 when he was 17. The accuser killed herself last year and police have said they are not investigating the allegation. The allegation added to intensifying scrutiny of attitudes toward sexual harassment and violence within Prime Minister Scott Morrisons conservative government. A staffer had made an unrelated allegation two weeks earlier that she had been raped by a senior colleague in 2019 in the Parliament House office of minister Linda Reynolds. Both Reynolds and Porter were demoted in a Cabinet reshuffle in March, but remain ministers. ABC said it regretted that some readers misinterpreted its report as an accusation that Porter was guilty. The ABC did not intend to suggest that Mr. Porter had committed the criminal offences alleged, an ABC statement said. The ABC did not contend that the serious accusations could be substantiated to the applicable legal standard criminal or civil, the statement added. HONG KONG (Reuters) - Beijing's office that oversees matters in Hong Kong has warned of threats made to a judge who sentenced media tycoon Jimmy Lai and other democracy activists for their roles in an unauthorised assembly on Oct. 1, 2019. A representative for the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) said the presiding judge had received threatening phone calls, which the office said would not be tolerated. "This is a serious threat to the personal safety of judges, a flagrant challenge to the judicial system in Hong Kong and a gross violation of the rule of law and order in Hong Kong," Xinhua quoted a statement by HKMAO as saying late on Sunday. The statement followed one by Hong Kong's Department of Justice late on Friday that said a judge had been intimidated, without providing details. On Friday, judge Amanda Woodcock sentenced Lai, an ardent critic of Beijing, to 14 months in jail, and nine others to up to 18 months for their roles in the rally. Hong Kong arrested more than 10,000 people over anti-government protests in 2019, and some of those cases are now making their way through the court system. The unrest led Beijing to impose a contentious national security law on its freest city in June 2020, and more than 100 people have been arrested under the law so far, including Lai. The law punishes what Beijing broadly defines as secession, sedition, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in jail. Forty-seven democracy activists charged with conspiracy to commit subversion are set to appear in court on Monday, in a case that has drawn criticism from Western governments and international rights groups. Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with a guarantee of a high degree of autonomy until 2047. Critics say authorities are chipping away at those freedoms, an assertion officials in Hong Kong and Beijing reject. (Reporting By Anne Marie Roantree. Editing by Gerry Doyle) Then-Vice President Joe Biden talks with his son, US Army Capt. Beau Biden at Camp Victory on the outskirts of Baghdad in 2009. KHALID MOHAMMED/AFP via Getty Images President Joe Biden's son Beau died from brain cancer in 2015 at the age of 46. The president remembered his son on the sixth anniversary of his death on Sunday. In a Memorial Day service, Biden said if Beau were alive he would be paying respects to veterans. See more stories on Insider's business page. President Joe Biden remembered his son Beau Biden on the sixth anniversary of his death in a Memorial Day service on Sunday. Beau died in 2015 from brain cancer at 46 years old. "Beau didn't die in the line of duty, but he was serving a Delaware National Guard unit in Iraq for a year. That was one of the proudest things he did in his life," Biden said during the speech at Veterans Memorial Park in New Castle, Delaware. The president said if Beau were here, "he would be here as well paying his respects to all those who gave so much for our country." Biden added: "A lot of time passes, but you all know as well as I do that the moment that we celebrate it is the toughest day of the year. We're honored but it's a tough day. Brings back everything. So I can't thank you enough for your continued service to the country." He thanked military families who have lost loved ones in the line of service. "As a nation, we must always remember, always remember. We must remember the price that was paid for our liberties. We must remember the debt we owe those who have paid it and the families left behind," Biden said. Read the original article on Business Insider SAO PAULO (AP) Brazil was named as the new host for the Copa America on Monday after Colombia and Argentina were stripped of the tournament, prompting local health experts and politicians to criticize the decision to hold the troubled event in one of the countries hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Alejandro Dominguez, the president of South American soccer body CONMEBOL, announced the move on Monday hours after Argentina was ruled out amid an increase in COVID-19 cases in the country. Colombia was removed as co-host on May 20 as street protests against President Ivan Duque rocked the nation. CONMEBOL added that the tournament is confirmed to take place between June 13 and July 10. Brazil is the defending champion and also hosted the last tournament in 2019. The host cities and the fixtures will be confirmed by CONMEBOL within hours. The oldest international tournament in the world will make the whole continent cheer! the South American body said. CONMEBOL thanks (Brazil) President Jair Bolsonaro and his team, and also the Brazilian soccer confederation for opening the doors of this country for the safest sporting event in the world today. South America will shine in Brazil with all its stars. However, a key government minister, Luiz Eduardo Ramos, cast some doubts on the event later Monday by saying that nothing had been finalized and that Brazil had yet to formally sign an agreement to host the tournament. We are in the middle of the process," Ramos told journalists in Brasilia. "But we will not avoid a request in case we can do it. We are verifying details, tomorrow we will have a final decision. The Brazilian soccer confederation did not respond a request for comment from The Associated Press. It also canceled the national teams news conferences that had been scheduled for later Monday at the Granja Comary training ground, outside Rio de Janeiro. Dominguez also thanked the Brazilian president, who has challenged social distancing restrictions and called for a return to normal life despite a slow vaccine rollout. Story continues The Brazilian government showed quickness and decision making skills in a moment that is fundamental for South American soccer, Dominguez said. He added Brazil lives in a moment of stability, has a proven infrastructure and accumulated recent experience to organize a tournament of this magnitude. On Saturday thousands of Brazilians took the streets to protest against Bolsonaro, and many observers said the same could happen during the Copa America. Brazil had massive street protests during the 2013 Confederations Cup it hosted. More than 460,000 people have died of COVID-19 in Brazil, a figure that is second only to the United States. Many analysts are expecting another wave of the disease to hit the country by late June. Many hospitals have more than 80% of their intensive-care unit occupied by victims of the virus. Scientists expressed their concern with the decision to host the tournament in a nation where a more transmissible variant of the virus is dominant. So far Brazils local authorities have not sanctioned the presence of fans in stadia, something Bolsonaro favors. Speaking to journalists in the capital Brasilia, Vice President Hamilton Mourao said playing games in empty stadiums would make the tournament less risky. There will be no attendance, right? If theres no attendance it is no problem, Mourao said. All you have to do is to split the host cities well and thats the end. However, some state governors objected to having games played in their states, including Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Norte, two of the hosts of the 2014 World Cup. Miguel Nicolelis, a prominent Brazilian neuroscientist, voiced his opposition to the tournament taking place in the country on Twitter. Can anyone file an injunction at the Supreme Court to stop another attack on Brazilian people? Copa America will take place at the moment we reach 500,000 dead by COVID. We dont need more circus, we need vaccines and a government, Nicolelis wrote. Congressman Alexandre Padilha, a former health minister, said the left-leaning Workers Party would file such an injunction. Other lawmakers also promised to follow suit in local courts. Dr. Denise Garrett of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, a non-profit organisation advocating for improved vaccine access, told the AP she is also opposed to the competition taking place in the country. This brings the risk of bigger transmission of the virus in the country because of the gatherings, bigger circulation of people, more interactions she said. And Brazil also runs the risk of introducing new variants that could come with players and workers from other countries. South American teams are already training for the tournament while two rounds of World Cup qualifiers are starting this week. Like other continental tournaments, Copa America was initially scheduled for 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced its postponement. The 2020 version of Copa America was to introduce a new format with five teams based in each of the co-hosts, Colombia and Argentina. Group A features Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay while Group B includes Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. The four best teams in each group were to advance to the knockout stage, and the final was originally set to be played in Colombias Barranquilla. It would have been the first Copa America hosted by two countries. Qatar, the 2022 World Cup hosts, and Australia, which were to take part as guests, decided in February to withdraw due to the coronavirus pandemic. ___ More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports A Southern California community was rocked early Sunday after a person claiming to be a resident left a lengthy diatribe on Reddit threatening a mass shooting. But sheriff's department investigators now believe that the person mentioned in the post was a victim of "swatting" a prank or false emergency report which causes a large police response. They say there is no credible threat to the public. Lakewood officials wrote on social media that the real person named in the post has "cooperated fully" with sheriff's department investigators. They said the Sheriff's Department would be investigating further to determine who was behind the fake post. In the original Reddit post, a person identifying themselves as "Gaston Aaron Mcwhinnie" said he has lived his whole life in Lakewood, a city about 20 miles south of Los Angeles. "Mcwhinnie" claimed he is unemployed and has always had a negative home life. He also claimed in the post that despite being black himself, he hates minorities. He then threatened he was going to go around the city with an "AR-15" and "Glock 18" and "will be shooting every minority in sight." "I am aiming for at least 10, but the more the better," the post read. "I will be targeting council members of the city." At the end of the post, "Mcwhinnie" said he had left a 192-page manifesto "rationalizing and explaining my hate towards minorities." MIAMI POLICE CHIEF CALLS FOR SERIOUS PRISON TIME FOR ILLEGAL GUN POSSESSION AFTER LATEST MASS SHOOTING Included in the original post is a picture of what appeared to be a Glock 18 laid on top of army camouflage. City officials said the Lakewood Sheriffs Department does not believe the threat was credible but would be taking the necessary steps to address the post and the person who allegedly made it. Fox News has reached out to city council but did not immediately hear back. Council Member Todd Rodgers said on Twitter that city council is aware of the threats. He said police do not believe they are credible but would be investigating. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP By Sunday afternoon, the original post appeared to have been deleted. Chad's government on Monday accused the Central African Republic of killing six of its soldiers in an attack on an outpost in the south of the country, branding it a "war crime" that would "not go unpunished". "The Central African armed forces attacked the outpost of Sourou in Chad on Sunday morning... they killed a Chadian soldier, injured five and kidnapped five others who were then executed in Mbang on the Central African Republic side," Chad's Foreign Minister Cherif Mahamat Zene said in a statement. The Central African Republic regularly accuses its northern neighbour of supporting armed rebel groups from inside Chad. Central African soldiers were pursuing rebels from one of the many armed groups operating in the country across the border, a senior Chadian security official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. The rebels were members of Unity for Peace in Central Africa (UPC), one of CAR's most powerful armed groups, which is part of a coalition seeking to topple the regime of President Faustin Archange Touadera, the official said. - Russian paramilitaries - Central African authorities had not yet responded to AFP requests for comment as of Monday morning. The Sourou outpost near the village of Mbere, which was manned by 12 soldiers, was attacked at dawn, Zene said in his statement. This "war crime is extremely serious and this deadly attack, which was pre-meditated, planned and operated from inside Chad -- for reasons known only by the Central African government -- will not go unpunished", he added. Zene said Chad would "call the international community to bear witness" to what he branded a "serious aggression", notably the UN's 12,000-strong peacekeeping force in CAR, MINUSCA, as well as the African Union and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). The anti-Touadera coalition of six rebel groups previously held around two-thirds of CAR's territory. Story continues But it has failed in its attempt to oust the president, who was re-elected in late December. The rebels have been pushed out of large towns in recent months, in part thanks to back-up for the Central African army from hundreds of Russian paramilitary fighters from the Wagner Group, a shadowy private military company. Chad, meanwhile, has been under junta rule since April 20 when the military announced that veteran leader Idriss Deby Itno had been killed leading troops against Chadian rebel fighters arriving from Libya. Chad's army is considered the most powerful in the region, and Deby's government was a key Western ally in the fight against jihadists in the volatile Sahel. The junta that has taken over since his shock death has dissolved parliament and revoked the constitution, while promising "free and democratic" elections within an 18-month transition period which it says it can renew once if needed. Former colonial power France and other Western allies engaged in the battle against Sahel jihadists have largely refrained from condemning what Chad's opposition have described as a coup. Deby's son Mahamat, a four-star general, declared himself president after the death of his father, who had ruled Chad with an iron fist for three decades. The younger Deby has named a civilian government under international pressure, but his Transitional Military Council has largely retained executive power. dwi-gir/kjl/spm DAKAR (Reuters) -Chad's defence ministry on Sunday said troops of neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR) had attacked a Chadian military post, killed one soldier, and kidnapped and executed five others - actions it said amounted to a war crime. The allegation puts further pressure on relations between the two countries, which share a porous 1,000-km (620 mile)border across which tens of thousands of refugees have fled waves of rebel-fuelled violence in CAR since 2013. The ministry said heavily armed assailants struck in the early hours of Sunday, attacking a post manned by 12 Chadian soldiers near Chad's 1,000-km the frontier with CAR. Chad's embassy in the CAR capital of Bangui was told by the head of CAR's military police to collect the bodies of the five soldiers executed by CAR forces, it said in a statement. "This extremely serious war crime and this premeditated murderous attack, planned and carried out within Chad ... cannot go unpunished," it said. On Monday, CAR's communications minister Ange Kazagui said a firefight had broken out by mistake when CAR troops pursued a rebel group near the Chadian border, resulting in the deaths of troops on both sides. He said the government in Bangui remained committed to peace with its northern ally and would establish a joint fact-finding mission to investigate the incident. "The government deplores the loss of human life and the injuries thus caused within the Chadian and Central African armies," he said in a statement. CAR has been wracked by instability since a 2013 rebellion ousted former President Francois Bozize. The latest bout of violence saw militia launch attacks on major towns in an attempt to derail last December's presidential election. Chad is the dominant military force in the region. For a time it played a central role in African efforts to stabilise CAR, but withdrew its forces in 2014. At the time, Chadian troops were accused by many in CAR of siding with the mainly Muslim Seleka rebels. (Writing by Alessandra Prentice and Cooper Inveen; Editing by Gerry Doyle, William Maclean) Oman Air passengers will now be able to book travel to more than 80 destinations with Qatar Airways, including new gateways such as Atlanta, Seattle, Johannesburg, Abuja, and Bodrum. Further expansion of the partnership follows the two airlines recent announcement in December 2020 of strengthening strategic cooperation Oman Air and Qatar Airways have taken the next step in further strengthening strategic cooperation, expanding their codeshare partnership to cover more than 80 destinations on Qatar Airways network. The expansion of the agreement will provide more convenient and seamless travel options for both airlines passengers. This expansion follows shortly after the two airlines announced an agreement to significantly strengthen strategic cooperation between the two airlines in December 2020. Oman Air Chief Executive Officer Abdulaziz Al Raisi, said: Oman Airs expanding partnership with Qatar Airways underscores the commitment of both airlines to provide their guests with more flights, more choice of destinations, and greater flexibility throughout their travels with us. For Oman Air and many airlines around the world, the key to post-pandemic recovery lies in strategic collaborations with industry partners and in identifying innovative route expansion opportunities as we navigate a constantly changing environment. Our longstanding cooperation with Qatar Airwaysan airline that shares our commitment to product and service excellencereflects a highly valued relationship and we look forward to growing our networks together. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker, said: We are delighted to further expand our partnership with Oman Air, so recently after announcing our plans in December 2020 to further strengthen strategic cooperation between our two leading Gulf airlines. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we have remained committed to forging and expanding our global network of partners to provide more seamless and flexible travel options for our millions of passengers. Having first established commercial cooperation with Oman Air over 20 years ago, we look forward to continuing to build upon our strong and historic partnership and offering our customers in Oman and across the globe even more benefits. This most recent expansion of the strategic partnership will enable Oman Air passengers to enjoy seamless connections via the Hamad International Airport to and from 16 new routes Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Bodrum, Istanbul Sabiha and Izmir in Turkey; Berlin and Munich, Germany; Mykonos, Greece; St. Petersburg, Russia; Zurich, Switzerland; Atlanta and Seattle in USA; Abuja, Nigeria; Johannesburg, South Africa; and Gassim, Saudi Arabia. The national carrier of Qatar continues to rebuild its network, which currently stands at over 130 destinations with plans to increase to more than 1,200 weekly flights to over 140 destinations by end of July 2021. TradeArabia News Service It comes after a once-in-a-decade census showed that China's population grew at its slowest pace in decades China has announced that it will allow couples to have up to three children, after census data showed a steep decline in birth rates. China scrapped its decades-old one-child policy in 2016, replacing it with a two-child limit which has failed to lead to a sustained upsurge in births. The cost of raising children in cities has deterred many Chinese couples. The latest move was approved by President Xi Jinping at a meeting of top Communist Party officials. It will come with "supportive measures, which will be conducive to improving our country's population structure, fulfilling the country's strategy of actively coping with an ageing population and maintaining the advantage, endowment of human resources", according to Xinhua news agency. But human rights organisation Amnesty International said the policy, like its predecessors, was still a violation of sexual and reproductive rights. "Governments have no business regulating how many children people have. Rather than 'optimising' its birth policy, China should instead respect people's life choices and end any invasive and punitive controls over people's family planning decisions," said the group's China team head, Joshua Rosenzweig. Also, some experts were sceptical of the impact. "If relaxing the birth policy was effective, the current two-child policy should have proven to be effective too," Hao Zhou, a senior economist at Commerzbank, told Reuters news agency. "But who wants to have three kids? Young people could have two kids at most. The fundamental issue is living costs are too high and life pressures are too huge." Analysis box by Stephen McDonell, China correspondent On a rainy, bleak day in Beijing I was out buying a coffee when the news broke. People started looking down at their phones as they beeped and whirred with the headline flashing across their screens - China to allow couples to have three children. Story continues This is big news in a country which didn't start suddenly producing more babies when the one-child policy eased off to two. In fact, many are asking how a three-child policy might mean more children when the two-child version didn't and why birth restrictions have remained here at all given the demographic trend. Very good questions. One thought is that, among those prepared to have two children, at least some parents will have three. However, I have interviewed many young Chinese couples about this subject and it is hard to find those who want bigger families these days. Generations of Chinese people have lived without siblings and are used to small families - affluence has meant less need for multiple children to become family-supporting workers, and young professionals say they'd rather give one child more advantages than spread their income among several kids. What did the census say? The census, released this month, showed that around 12 million babies were born last year - a significant decrease from the 18 million in 2016, and the lowest number of births recorded since the 1960s. The census was conducted in late 2020 - some seven million census takers had gone door to door to collect information from households. Graph showing China's falling birth rate Given the sheer number of people surveyed, it is considered the most comprehensive resource on China's population, which is important for future planning. It was widely expected after the census data results were released that China would relax its family policy rules. 'Too many big pressures' By Kerry Allen, China Media Analyst China's leading media are giving a lot of fanfare to the "three-child policy". Newspaper People's Daily, broadcaster CCTV and news agency Xinhua are all posting happy cartoon images of children today on their social media pages and saying that the new policy has "arrived". It is already the top talking point on popular social network Sina Weibo - posts mentioning the new policy have already racked up tens of thousands of views, and hundreds of thousands of comments. More than 180,000 users have commented on Xinhua's upbeat post, and the ones with the most likes do not look upon the policy kindly. "There are too many big pressures in life at the moment," one user says, "Young people are not willing to have kids." Many talk about modern day "workplace dilemmas" for people leaving on maternity/paternity leave and there not being even "the most basic reproductive benefits". And with a shrinking labour market, young Chinese people today accept that they have to work longer hours. Overtime and overwork are endemic. More women meanwhile are choosing to pursue further education and employment, rather than settle down early to start a family. What were China's previous policies? The government's move in 2016 to allow couples to have two children failed to reverse the country's falling birth rate despite a two-year increase immediately afterwards. Yue Su, principal economist from The Economist Intelligence Unit, said: "While the second-child policy had a positive impact on the birth rate, it proved short-term in nature." China's population trends have over the years been largely shaped by the one-child policy, which was introduced in 1979 to slow population growth. Families that violated the rules faced fines, loss of employment and sometimes forced abortions. The one-child policy also led to a severe gender imbalance in the country. The traditional preference for male children led to large numbers of girls being abandoned or placed in orphanages, or cases of sex-selective abortions or even female infanticide. "This poses problems for the marriage market, especially for men with less socioeconomic resources," Dr Mu Zheng, from the National University of Singapore's sociology department, said. Graphic Can China lift birth restrictions entirely? Ahead of China's latest census, experts had speculated that birth restrictions might be lifted entirely - though it appears as though China is treading cautiously. But others said that such a move could potentially lead to "other problems" - pointing out the huge disparity between city dwellers and rural people. As much as women living in expensive cities such as Beijing and Shanghai may wish to delay or avoid childbirth, those in the countryside are likely to still follow tradition and want large families, they say. "If we free up policy, people in the countryside could be more willing to give birth than those in the cities, and there could be other problems," a policy insider had earlier told Reuters, noting that it could lead to poverty and employment pressures among rural families. Experts had warned that any impact on China's population, such as a decline, could have a vast effect on other parts of the world. Dr Yi Fuxian, a scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said: "China's economy has grown very quickly, and many industries in the world rely on China. The scope of the impact of a population decline would be very wide." Cicadas arrived in May and will probably be here until July (Getty Images) The cicadas have awoken up from their 17-year slumber and are making their presence known across America. You wont need to be alerted of the presence of the Brood X if you are in any of the following areas: Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Indiana, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Michigan and North Carolina. One of the audible insects even made it to CNN Chief Congressional Correspondent Manu Rajus jacket during a live shot on Capitol Hill. They also forced at least one swanky Washington DC wine bar to shutter temporarily even after it recently reopened after Covid-19 restrictions. That loud buzzing noise they make is their actually mating call. Following their 17 long years underground, they emerge to find a mate. "It's all boys calling girls," Eric Day, an entomologist, said to CNN. "First you get a few here and there, then what happens is they start chorusing there's so many of them that the cicada calls all combine in this huge chorus." However, this particular kind only appears in the continental U.S so the sighting is comparatively rare for bug lovers as Brood X made their last appearance in 2004. However, like a lot of species, there are worries about their habitat and the wider impact of the climate crisis. Even if you find them a pest, know that they have a great impact on the environment, according to the The National Wildlife Federation. Their website reads that cicadas are mostly beneficial. They prune mature trees, aerate the soil, and once they die, their bodies serve as an important source of nitrogen for growing trees. If you are worried about property damage, key members of the self-styled Cicada Crew based at University of Maryland offer reassuring words. "There's very little evidence that cicadas do any damage at all," Paula Shrewberry, a entomologist, said to CNN. Egg laying can damage the tips of the trees, and the tips of the trees will die back it's called flagging," Story continues Believe it or not, some chefs have taken the opportunity to develop cicada-based recipes, which are edible and a great source of protein. Appearing on NPRs All Things Considered program, Xavier Deshayes, a chef specialising in cicada recipes, said insects were the food of the future. Insect is going to be the protein of the future. You know, insect farming is very sustainable when you compare to cows or any other animal farming, you know - less fossil energy, less water, less space, less food, you know what I mean? So when you look at it on the end, insect farming has every way of being profitable, he said to Michael Martin. If you were wondering when they would be no longer landing on your picnic, experts estimate roughly around July. The warmer it is, and the drier it is, the sooner these insects will complete their reproductive cycle and the adults will expire, Entomologist Timothy Best said to Prevention. Read More Seven natural wonders of the UK revealed Im screaming: Cicada filmed crawling onto CNN journalist Manu Raju, shocking viewers Stop phoning 911 to report ear-splitting cicada noise, authorities plead SAO PAULO (AP) Copa America is without a host country only two weeks before kickoff after South American soccer body CONMEBOL ruled out Argentina amid an increase in COVID-19 cases in the country. The announcement Sunday night casts doubt on a tournament which has faced major hurdles since the start of the pandemic in March of last year. CONMEBOL said on Twitter and it was later confirmed by an official that it was analyzing the offer of other nations who showed interest in hosting the continental tournament, without naming them. It also said a new host will be announced soon. Copa America is scheduled to be played between June 13 and July 10. South American teams are already training for the tournament and two rounds of World Cup qualifiers are starting this week. Like other continental tournaments, Copa America was initially scheduled for 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced its postponement. But difficulties mounted as the virus continued to strike the region hard and vaccine rollout remained slow. Argentina is facing a surge of coronavirus infections, with strict lockdown measures imposed last weekend amid a seven-day average of 35,000 cases and 500 deaths. More than 77,000 people have died in the country due to the disease, as the virus continues to spread. Colombia was dropped as a tournament co-host on May 20 amid a wave of protests against President Ivan Duque. Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez said last week that his country was ready to host the entire tournament after the decision to remove Colombia. But on Sunday that situation changed. It is very hard that Copa America is played in Argentina due to the epidemiologic alert situation, said Wado de Pedro, the country's interior minister, in an interview to TV C5N. The original idea of this Copa America was to start a new format with five teams based in each of the host countries. Group A features Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay; Group B includes Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. The four best teams in each group would advance to the knockout stage, and the final was originally set to played in Colombia's Barranquilla. Story continues It would have been the first Copa America hosted by two countries. Qatar, the 2022 World Cup hosts, and Australia, both scheduled to play as guests, decided in February to withdraw also due to the coronavirus pandemic. ___ More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports The Telegraph Boris Johnson was left infuriated on Saturday when Emmanuel Macron suggested in head-to-head G7 summit talks that Northern Ireland was not part of the UK. The Prime Minister attempted to explain his frustration with the Northern Ireland Protocol by asking Mr Macron what he would do if sausages from Toulouse could not be moved to Paris, according to a UK government source. The French president was said to have retorted by arguing that the comparison did not work because Paris and Toulouse were bo Chinese crypto traders are reportedly continuing to trade in the market, despite regulatory scrutiny, by using over-the-counter (OTC) platforms. Crypto traders using OTC platforms in China are circumventing crackdown efforts by authorities, according to a Bloomberg report published on May 31. The report notes that these traders have been doing this since China began imposing tighter restrictions in the market around 2017. China is a hotbed of cryptocurrency activity, in both trading and mining. The government has been regulating the market alongside working on the release of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), which is far along in its release cycle. Using OTC platforms and decentralized platforms makes it difficult for transactions to be traced, which has been a pain point for regulators the world over. These investors told Bloomberg that they dont care and are looking to continue investing in crypto for the long term. The fact that Chinese traders are continuing to participate is demonstrably true, as it is well known that China is a major part of the market. The country recently ordered financial institutions and payment platforms not to provide services that had anything to do with cryptocurrencies. But this ban is hard to enforce in practice, as the decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies makes it difficult to trace transactions and hold any one individual accountable. Decentralized exchanges (DEX) have been growing tremendously in usage in the past year, and are being used globally. The ban does not extend to the holding of cryptocurrencies, however. Traders use OTC platforms in conjunction with separate fiat-based payments platforms to conduct their untraceable transactions. The government has tried another tactic, which is to warn investors of the risks associated with investment in cryptocurrencies, namely volatility and the lack of investor protection. Rethinking crypto investing strategies The Chinese governments crackdown has led to Huobi stopping mining services in the country, in addition to cutting futures and leverage-based investment vehicles in some countries. Huobi was planning to expand to Hong Kong as this development broke. According to Bloombergs sources, authorities are looking into transactions that may have been related to money laundering and terrorism financing. It also says that investors have been targeted by the police, being asked to sell holdings and delete related apps. Interestingly, China has also said that bitcoin is an investment alternative, making it difficult to truly gauge where authorities stand. Billionaire Venture Capitalist Peter Thiel has said that the country is using Bitcoin as a financial weapon. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Monday hit back against criticism that increasing diversity in the military's ranks would weaken security, in a wide-ranging CNN interview. Driving the news: The Army said it had to disable comments on a recent recruiting ad that featured stories from real soldiers including immigrants and one recruit with two moms after backlash emerged from conservative media and political figures including Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free What he's saying: The military "will never be too soft," he said. "I think our adversaries would like to capitalize on talking points like that, you know, the Chinese, the Russians." "What this department, what Lloyd Austin is focused on, is the defense of our nation." Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free. Denmarks intelligence service worked with its U.S. counterpart to collect information on European leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, according to several reports in Danish media. According to Danmarks Radio (DR), the Danish foreign secret service helped the U.S. collect intelligence on European leaders, including Merkel, from 2012 to 2014 under the codename "Operation Dunhammer." Efforts by the U.S. government to collect such intelligence during that timeframe were previously reported. But the role of Denmark's Defense Intelligence Service, known in Denmark by its acronym FE, was not previously known. The U.S. National Security Agency reportedly worked with FE to gain access to text messages and phone calls with officials from European countries. RYANAIR FLIGHT TO POLAND DIVERTED TO BERLIN OVER POTENTIAL SECURITY THREAT The NSA did not immediately respond to a message from Fox News seeking comment. Edward Snowden, the ex-NSA contractor who blew the lid off U.S. government surveillance methods in 2013 and has been hiding in Russia, accused President Biden of being "deeply involved" in the effort as vice president under Obama. The White House did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. When the U.S. spying efforts were first exposed, Merkel declared that "spying among friends" is unacceptable. Now, some in Europe are calling for further investigation into whether Copenhagen was involved in that spying. "We want the cards on the table," Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hulqvist said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP A Danish lawmaker in the left-wing Socialist People's Party said that he plans to press Denmark's defense and justice ministers on the alleged assistance to the United States' spying efforts. "The government must explain how come Denmark has been acting as a willing tool for a U.S. intelligence service, and what it will mean for cooperation with Denmarks neighboring countries," that lawmaker, Karsten Hoenge, said. Fox News' Tyler Olson and the Associated Press contributed to this report. File image: Former US President Donald Trump gestures after speaking during election night in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, early on 4 November, 2020 (AFP via Getty Images) Former US President Donald Trump on Saturday criticised Joe Biden for his handling of China, border issues with Mexico, and the Middle East. If he would have done nothing, we would have had right now the strongest border in history. All he had to do is nothing, Mr Trump told Newsmax's Dick Morris Democracy while talking about the USs border issues. I had everything worked out with the other countries, whether it's Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico. And even Mexico, stay in Mexico. In other words, these people ought to stay in Mexico, and they couldn't get into our country. And he ended that. It's just crazy what they did. He also claimed that Northern Triangle countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) are opening their prisons. Their prisoners are coming in, their murderers, their drug addicts, and drug dealers, by the way. And the human traffickers are coming in. And we're accepting them, because they've opened up the borders, said Mr Trump. The former president said: The question is do they do it out of incompetence, which I happen to think, or they do it because they really believe open borders are good for this country? Which they are not. We wont have a country. They are destroying our country, Mr Trump said. The issue of immigration is one of the most hotly debated topics in US politics. Soon after becoming president, Mr Biden had signed an executive order that would reduce the deportation of those here illegally who have committed crimes such as DUIs that are not national security-related. He had also formed a task force to reunite children and parents who were separated at the border under the Trump administration. In his phone interview, the former president talked about the USs relations with China, the Middle East, Israel, domestic politics including defunding the police and rights of women. He weighed in also on the Israel-Palestinian crisis and said what's happened to Israel is one of the great injustices. Story continues If you look back 10 or 12 years ago, Israel was so protected by Congress. Congress loved Israel. Now, especially if you looked at the House, the House doesn't like Israel. The House is protective of anything other than Israel, said Mr Trump. He emphasised that trade deals, including those with China and the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), should continue. China never paid us anything over the years. Now, all of a sudden, we are getting tens of billions of dollars a year, he said. While on the US-North Korea dynamics, Donald Trump said he developed a very good relationship with Kim Jong-Un. We get no credit for that, but the fact is for four years, we had no problem. We were getting along. And now he's very hostile toward Biden and the administration, very, very hostile, he said. But the relationship was a very strong relationship, very good relationship, and it was really something that was going to lead to a deal. And now the relationship is gone, and it's too bad. But he's been very hostile and talking in very nasty ways to Biden, said the former president. During his interview, Donald Trump also criticised President Biden for his executive order that allowed schools to let biological boys who identify as girls to participate in girls sports, and vice versa. Its insane its very unfair to women and it's going to destroy women's sports. It's so ridiculous. I can't even believe we've to have a conversation about it, actually, he said. On his first day in office, President Biden issued an executive order that protects LGBT+ people against discrimination in the workplace, schools, and health care. Read More US should have coup like Myanmar, former Trump advisor Michael Flynn tells QAnon conference in Texas Politics still pack a punch(line) for Iranian-American comic EXPLAINER: How Texas Republicans aim to make voting harder This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide please call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. In the spring of 2016, Holly Alcott White was preparing to relocate from Taos, New Mexico to Albuquerque to join her husband, who had just started a new job there. But Holly never got the chance to start the new chapter of her life. Just three months shy of her 50th birthday, Holly went missing and hasnt been seen or heard from since. This May marks five years since shes been gone, and her friends and family are still trying to figure out what happened to her. Holly Alcott White I just want to find Holly, her best friend Jill Gustafson Shingledecker told Dateline. I cant believe its been five years since Ive talked to my best friend. Jill and Holly met when they were teenagers and instantly became the best of friends, and stayed that way through big moves out-of-state, college, marriages and children. Jill even named her daughter Holly after her best friend. We were inseparable, Jill said. We shared a lot of firsts - like putting on makeup, talking about our first kiss we had with a boy. We told each other everything. But there are some things Jill didnt know about Holly, and she wouldn't find out until her friend went missing in 2016. At the time, Holly was living in Taos, New Mexico and had been the manager at the Taos Center for the Arts for the prior 22 years. But she was preparing to relocate to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where her husband Jeff White had already started a new job. Holly also had a new job lined up and would be saying goodbye to her current job at a farewell party being held for her that Friday. But she never made it to the party. Jill, who has been working to find out what happened to Holly since the beginning, told Dateline her friend came home from work on Thursday, May 5, 2016. They spoke on the phone and while Holly seemed stressed about the upcoming move and changes in her life, she was still her cheerful self. Story continues Hollys husband Jeff told Dateline he spoke to her that night as well and agreed that nothing seemed amiss during their conversation. The couple had been together for 27 years, and married for 20. He was in Albuquerque that night, but planned to return to Taos on Friday for her going away party. That was the last time I spoke to her, Jeff told Dateline. And then she was gone. It was a shock to everyone. No one heard from Holly after 9:20 p.m. that night. The next morning, on May 6, 2016, Holly was scheduled to meet up with a friend, Cynthia, for their daily morning walk, something they had done for years. Holly always brought her beloved dog, Rosie, along. But when she failed to show up, Cynthia grew concerned and went to her house. Hollys friend Jill who was living in Oregon at the time, told Dateline that Cynthia often house-sat for Holly so she had keys and let herself inside. Hollys purse and cell phone were in the house and her dog, Rosie, was there, waiting to be walked. None of it made any sense, Jill said. Holly always had her purse with her. And she would never leave her dog. That dog Rosie, she was like her child. The only thing that appeared to be missing from Hollys house was her blue Ford Escape. It was located later that day parked at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. Her keys were in the cup holder of the car. New Mexico State Police launched a search and with the help of a dive team and river raft guides, authorities searched 12 miles of the Rio Grande Gorge. There was no sign of Hollys body, but a single black Sketchers shoe was found floating in the river. Hollys friend Jill told Dateline she believes the shoe belonged to Holly, but she stands by her belief that her best friend did not jump from the bridge and that whoever harmed Holly threw the shoe into the water to confuse police. The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge has one of the highest bridge suicide rates per capita in the country, according to previous news coverage. But Hollys family, friends, and her husband Jeff, have maintained through the years she would not have committed suicide, and she wouldnt have done so without telling someone or leaving a note. She wasnt that type of person, Jeff told Dateline. I just know she wouldnt have done anything like that. Someone did this to her. Jeff told Dateline they had been together for 27 years, married for 20, and described their marriage as a happy one. He confirmed there were things revealed about Holly after she went missing, but that doesnt change the fact that he loved her and wanted the best for her. Jill explained to Dateline that after Holly went missing, a search of her computer and phone revealed that her best friend kept many secrets, but the information hasn't led to answers on her whereabouts. Hollys husband, who lives in Albuquerque and cares for his father, told Dateline no matter what secrets Holly had, he doesnt think she would just vanish, and believes theres a killer on the loose in Taos. She didnt deserve to die, he added. And if someone did something to her, her family deserves to have her back. My heart breaks for them. They should have closure. I want closure. Jeff told Dateline he was questioned in his wifes disappearance and even took a polygraph test, which he passed. Police would not say if there are any suspects in Holly's disappearance at this time. Hollys disappearance is still under investigation and authorities encourage anyone with information to call New Mexico State Police. Hollys father, Ray Alcott, has hired a private investigator to look into Hollys disappearance and she is still actively working the case. In the meantime, his is offering a $20,000 reward for information that leads to Hollys whereabouts. A Facebook group "Case Crackers: Justice For Holly Alcott White (MISSING) and Facebook page Find Holly White are both dedicated to updating the public on Hollys case. Ill always have hope that shes alive, but at this point, Ive accepted that shes gone, Jill said. Now, we need to find her body. Thatll lead us to an answer of what happened. Then we can have some sort of closure. Holly would be 55 years today. At the time of her disappearance, she was described as being 511 tall and weighed about 275 lbs. She has green eyes and blonde hair. Anyone with information about Hollys case is asked to call the New Mexico State Police at 505-454-5010 or call the tip line at 575-613-3415. A $20,000 reward is being offered by Holly's father, Ray Alcott, for information that leads to Hollys whereabouts. By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA (Reuters) - Egypt's intelligence chief met Hamas leaders in Gaza on Monday to try to bolster a ceasefire between the Palestinian militant group and Israel and to discuss reconstruction plans following the recent hostilities, Egyptian and Palestinian officials said. The visit was the first by an Egyptian intelligence chief to the enclave since the early 2000s. "The discussion is focused on ways to cement the calm and Gaza reconstruction plans following the recent Israeli aggression," said a Hamas official, who asked not to be named. Hamas officials, led by Gaza chief Yehya Al-Sinwar, would urge Cairo to pressure Israel to stop "its assaults against our people in Jerusalem and Sheikh Jarrah," he said. Eleven days of fighting between Israel and Hamas erupted on May 10 amid Palestinian anger at Israeli police raids around the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem and plans to evict Palestinians from the Sheikh Jarrah district of the city to make way for Jewish settlers. Gaza medical officials said 253 Palestinians were killed during the fighting. Palestinian rockets and missiles killed 13 people in Israel. Large posters of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Egyptian flags decorated streets across the enclave to greet intelligence chief Abbas Kamel. Hundreds of people lined up outside the entrance to Gaza waving Egyptian flags as his motorcade drove by. Kamel's visit is seen as an effort by Cairo to regain a more vital role in mediation between Israel and Hamas and revive the stalled Israel-Palestinian peace process. Sisi directed Egyptian officials to continue efforts and meetings to solve the problem of prisoners and missing people between Israel and Hamas, Egypt's state news agency MENA reported on Sunday. Following the meeting with Kamel in Gaza, Sinwar said "there is a real chance for progress to be made" on resolving the issue of prisoners, though he added that Hamas demanded those negotiations be held separately from the ceasefire talks. Story continues Kamel was expected to announce plans by Cairo to fund a housing project in the territory, Hamas sources said. Egypt has said it would allocate $500 million to fund the rebuilding of devastated areas in Gaza. Gaza's housing ministry said 1,500 housing units were completely destroyed during the fighting, another 1,500 housing units had been damaged beyond repair, and 17,000 others suffered partial damage. A ministry official put the cost of rebuilding at $150 million. On Sunday, Kamel met in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu said his meeting dealt with regional security issues and ways to prevent Hamas from siphoning off civilian aid to strengthen its capabilities. Kamel also met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Sunday and handed him a message from Sisi affirming Cairo's support for Palestinians and Abbas, MENA said. [L2N2NH09V] (Reporting by Nidal Almughrabi; Editing by Angus MacSwan, William Maclean) Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) has launched exclusive astro-tourism experiences in partnership with premium tour operator Gulf Adventures, brightening up stargazers' travel plans when borders re-open. Visitors can enjoy a whole lot of space under the breathtaking night sky of the desert. With excellent visibility, the Qatari desert provides a truly unique setting to learn about the stars, guided by an astronomer. The unique "Arabian Nights" packages are available to book now through Gulf Adventures and are redeemable until April 30, 2022. There are four new experiences to choose from, from camping under the stars, to being escorted from a luxury hotel to a moonlit excursion. Chief Operating Officer of Qatar National Tourism Council Berthold Trenkel said: "Qatar's desert is a perfect spot for astronomy enthusiasts to observe the dark and starry skies. The packages will make for unforgettable experiences that travel-lovers can look forward to when we welcome them back to the country. This dazzling new addition will add to a multitude of activities visitors can enjoy in our diverse and unique country." The immersive desert experiences are perfect for adventure seekers and those looking for a romantic getaway. From the peaks of the Qatari dunes, visitors will see the desert like never before. The exclusive tours include a magical moon-lit camel safari and a traditional Bedouin BBQ prepared by a chef. Dinner will be followed by a deep exploration into the starry desert skies in a one-to-one stargazing session with an astronomer. The experiences cater to guests opting for a five-star hotel at the majestic Marsa Malaz Kempinski and those who prefer to camp outside and be at one with the desert skies. Guests choosing to sleep beneath the stars can select an Arabian-style royal tent at Regency Sealine Camp, which offers modern facilities in the heart of the desert landscape. The impressive site overlooks Khor al Adaid, also known as the Inland Sea, which is a recognised Unesco site. The packages can be accompanied by cultural trips to unique heritage sites such as Al Zubarah Fort or the Souq Waqif, an authentic Middle Eastern marketplace. Alternative dining options include the spectacular Torch 360 restaurant, which offers panoramic views of the Doha skyline. The packages are in line with the Qatar Clean programme to protect visitors from Covid-19, and measures will be in place to adhere to government guidelines. For those wanting to experience the distinctive beauty of the desert skies and familiarise themselves with the country's rich culture, the Arabian Nights packages are the perfect treat. - TradeArabia News Service Sidney Powell. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Sidney Powell told attendees at a QAnon conference that Trump could be "reinstated" as president. Powell wore a leather biker vest adorned with pro-Trump and religious patches. Powell, who represented Trump in election litigation, has long promoted the QAnon conspiracy theory. Sign up for the 10 Things in Politics daily newsletter. Sidney Powell, a former attorney for President Donald Trump, told the audience at a QAnon conference in Dallas on Saturday that President Joe Biden should be removed from office and Trump should be "reinstated." Powell, who filed dozens of unsuccessful lawsuits attempting to overturn the 2020 election result, falsely told the crowd that Trump could still be inaugurated but wouldn't get "credit for time lost." "He can simply be reinstated," she said, eliciting cheers from the crowd. "A new inauguration date is set, and Biden is told to move out of the White House, and President Trump should be moved back in," she continued. "I'm sure there's not going to be credit for time lost, unfortunately, because the Constitution itself sets the date for inauguration, but he should definitely get the remainder of his term and make the best of it." Powell, who has long promoted the QAnon conspiracy theory, wore a leather biker vest adorned with political and religious patches, including one that read "MAGA" and another that said "No God... No Peace. Know God, Know Peace." The election-technology company Dominion Voting Systems filed a $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit against Powell earlier this year, accusing her of pushing "a viral disinformation campaign" that spread dangerous lies about the election and the company. The three-day conference, called "For God & Country: Patriot Roundup," featured other prominent Trumpworld figures including Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security advisor; Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas; and Allen West, the chairman of the Texas Republican Party. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Read the original article on Business Insider May 30If you're looking for an escape, Spokane Falls Community College drama students are ready to whisk you away on a virtual trip to Madagascar. Their production of "Madagascar: A Musical Adventure" will be available to stream Friday through Sunday. Choosing the show was fairly simple, said Ashley DeMoville, director of drama at SFCC. First, "Madagascar" was available with the streaming rights. Second, "we just wanted something fun for the community and for the students. After the year that everyone's had, we just wanted to play and do something exciting that was light." The musical has the same plot as the first "Madagascar" animated movie: Alex the lion lives at the Central Park Zoo with friends Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo. They enjoy their regular meals and the adoration of the public. But Marty isn't content with life at the zoo, and an escape ends up with the friends and a bunch of penguins on a cargo ship heading to Africa. The show speaks to the current times, DeMoville said. "Some of the themes of the show have to do with feeling caged, wanting to be out in the wild, wanting to be free," something many people are feeling after a year of spending lots of time at home. While they made no changes to the script, the production gives nods to life in 2020 and '21. One of those is the opening number, "It's Showtime," which features all the animals performing for crowds at the zoo. On screen, the animals look like they're on Zoom. "I never would have thought that once I'm free of filming over Zoom, I'm still putting it in that world," DeMoville said. Other parts of the production look more like a traditional show with the characters interacting on stage. But that had its limitations. COVID-19 protocols meant that everyone had to be masked and keep their distance. Singing was a particular challenge for the cast. While singing, they had to wear masks and keep even farther apart than usual 9 to 12 feet. Then, they were only allowed to be in the room singing for 45 minutes before everyone had to leave to air out the room. To make it work, the singing was prerecorded, as was the dialogue, and DeMoville is editing it together with the video. Throughout the process, the students learned to be flexible, she said. "What we're doing is not a traditional movie, and it's not a traditional filming of a staged show. We're innovating," she said. "Being able to stretch their creative muscles in that way has been phenomenal learning." One thing they enjoyed: being able to try a song, then fix it. "On stage, you get the feedback from the audience, which of course you can never replace, you can't duplicate in the world we have now," she said. "But being able to have multiple shots has been a lot of fun for them." ABIDJAN (Reuters) -Former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo plans to return home on June 17 following his acquittal on charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court, his party said on Monday. Gbagbo's return could be complicated by an outstanding 20-year sentence given to him in absentia in November 2019 by an Ivorian court for misappropriating funds from the regional central bank. In April, President Alassane Ouattara said Gbagbo was free to return from the Hague but did not say whether Gbagbo had been pardoned. Assoa Adou, the leader of a pro-Gbagbo party, announced the date of the former president's home-coming in front of a crowd that had come to celebrate Gbagbo's birthday in Abidjan. Gbagbo, who turned 76 on Monday, served as president from 2000 until his arrest in 2011, after his refusal to concede electoral defeat to Ouattara. Post-election violence spiralled into a civil war that claimed the lives of 3,000 people. On March 31 the ICC upheld a 2019 decision which ruled prosecutors had failed to present enough evidence to prove their case against Gbagbo and Charles Ble Goude, a former youth leader and one of his aides. "He is a son of the Ivory Coast who is coming back after ten years spent outside in unfair conditions," said Leon Emmanuel Monnet, who heads a committee organising his return. "We will do everything possible to ensure that the return of President Gbagbo is done in peace and for reconciliation." (Reporting by Ange Aboa; writing by Hereward Holland; Editing by Peter Graff and Rosalba O'Brien) Most people probably haven't heard of Linnentown a small community in Athens, Georgia, whose 22 acres of shotgun houses and tree-lined streets were bulldozed in the 1960s, replaced by dorms for students at the University of Georgia. Linnentown, like so many other Black communities of that decade, was destroyed by urban renewal. The city sold it for the equivalent of $1.8 million. But this year, Athens-Clarke County became one of the latest in a handful of municipalities to recognize the suffering of residents like Hattie Thomas Whitehead, who grew up with six siblings in Linnentown. Her parents lost the only home they would ever own, she explained in an interview with Grant Blankenship of Georgia Public Broadcasting. More in Reparations: Is Black homeownership in America better than 100 years ago? Well, it's complicated. She, along with other residents, will receive reparations as a portion of the county's budget. Unlike other plans being considered in parts of the country where massacres and urban renewal have destroyed Black neighborhoods, the residents of Linnentown have a great deal of autonomy. They will lead decisions about how the money is used (instead of legislators deciding for them). Not only that, but the Linnentown residents insisted that the destruction of their homes be categorized as terrorism and white supremacy in the government resolution that recognizes the neighborhood's demise. And the county ultimately agreed. Hattie Thomas Whitehead poses for a portrait on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens, on Thursday, May 6, 2021, where a Black neighborhood was razed in the 1960's to make room for dorms. The 72-year-old Athens resident grew up in the destroyed Linnentown neighborhood. It's a just restorative approach, one that recognizes that victims who have been disenfranchised aren't looking to take advantage of a system, and that they know the best way to honor their former communities, ensure that losses are atoned for and improve their lives. Reparations given to Rosewood, Florida, survivors and descendants have also been touted as a model. Like so many violent massacres in America, the tragedy in Rosewood started with a rumor about a Black male assaulting a white female. On Jan. 1, 1923, a white mob attacked the town, leveling it and killing several of its residents. In 1994, the state decided to give survivors checks and descendants scholarships. Story continues Many of the surviving residents of Linnentown were children when their community was destroyed. And memories of the city's use of fires and bulldozers to rid the neighborhood of its houses still haunts Whitehead. "The bulldozers started up at 12 o'clock at night," she explained during an interview with the USA TODAY Network. Whitehead, along with other former Linnentown residents Geneva Johnson Eberhart and Bobby Crook, talks about the pain of seeing their town destroyed in a video by Joshua L. Jones, a photographer at the Athens Banner-Herald. Watch their stories below. Eileen Rivers is the projects editor for USA TODAY's Editorial Page, and the editor of Repairing America. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is this Georgia town a model for reparations? Reuters Executives from Alphabet's Google and Amazon.com head the list of witnesses for a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee's antitrust subcommittee next week, along with an executive from speaker maker Sonos Inc, which has been critical of the two tech giants. Ryan McCrate, an associate general counsel, will speak for Amazon while public policy specialist Wilson White will testify for Google, said Senators Amy Klobuchar, chair of the panel, and Mike Lee, the top Republican, in a statement. About 4.4 million people are estimated to be food insecure in Haiti, Unicef says (file picture) Severe acute childhood malnutrition is expected to more than double this year in Haiti amid the pandemic, rising crime and low resources, Unicef says. More than 86,000 children under the age of five could be affected, compared to 41,000 last year, the UN agency said. Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas, and more than 60% of its population live in poverty. The country has suffered from decades of political and economic crises as well as several natural disasters. Violence has also surged recently, with a wave of kidnappings. After a group of Catholic clergy were abducted last month, the Church described the situation as "a descent into hell". Unicef also said acute malnutrition, which is a less dangerous category than severe acute malnutrition, increased 61% last year, affecting 134,000 children under the age of five. It said the number could rise to about 217,000 this year. "I was saddened to see so many children suffering from malnutrition," Jean Gough, the Unicef Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, said in a statement after a visit to the country. "Some will not recover unless they receive treatment in time." About 4.4 million people out of a population of 11 million are estimated to be food insecure in Haiti, including 1.9 million children, according to Unicef. It warned that the upcoming hurricane season - from June to November - is likely to worsen access to nutritious food. The country also saw a sharp decline in child immunisation rates last year, fuelled in part by the disruption of health services because of the pandemic. Diphtheria cases have risen as a result, and there are fears of a possible measles outbreak this year. Unicef warned that unvaccinated children were also more vulnerable to suffer and die from malnutrition. The agency also said that next month it would run out of a special food past given to children in need, and that it urgently needed $3m (2.1m) to purchase supplies. Overall, it said it needed $48.9m to provide aid this year but that very little of that amount had been pledged. Story continues You may also find interesting The coronavirus pandemic has not affected all communities equally, with wealth appearing to be a major factor. The BBC's Stephanie Hegarty looks at some of the reasons why poorer people are more likely to catch - and to die from - Covid-19. The initial list of participating restaurants will be revealed on the HRW website on July 15 with more being added until the event starts. Video Transcript [MUSIC PLAYING] KATIE STONE: Her main cause was to feed hungry families. BRIAN GREENE: Ms. Cleverly Stone started Houston Restaurant Weeks and it's grown into the largest fundraiser for Houston Food Bank. KATIE STONE: It has raised over $16.6 million for the Houston Food Bank, which has also provided just over 44 million meals for Houstonians. JACQUES FOX: Everybody knew Cleverly Stone. She was a great lady. She was very powerful on the food business in Houston here. BENJAMIN BERG: She had a huge heart. And she wanted to give back. BRIAN GREENE: And it's created a lot of meals going out to families in need. KATIE STONE: We are just so happy that what we are able to do with Houston Restaurant Weeks is able to help the Houston Food Bank as well as the entire Houston restaurant community. It's quite a legacy. Houston Restaurant Weeks was founded in 2003 by my mother Cleverly Stone as a way to help the restaurant industry. August was traditionally the slowest month of the year. What has happened though over the last 17 years is August is now the best and most productive and profitable month for Houston restaurants because the event has grown so quite substantially. She chose the Houston Food Bank as the beneficiary of the event. They are the largest food bank in the country. It's raised over $16.6 million for the food bank, which translates into over 44 million meals for families here in Houston. BRIAN GREENE: Every dollar that we receive, that's actually three meals we'll distribute. But in addition to that, you're going to keep a waiter employed, a cook employed, and that's going to make it so we don't need the food bank as much, which is our real goal. BENJAMIN BERG: Because of coronavirus and everything, I mean, we've been hit really hard in the restaurant industry. JACQUES FOX: My business has dropped by 75% since March. And it's incredible. Story continues BENJAMIN BERG: Everything about this year is tough. But not having her around, it's just different. JACQUES FOX: Artisan Restaurant, a great restaurant with an Alpine kitchen. The cuisine is of course French, [INAUDIBLE] French flag here. Restaurant Weeks we're going to have the steak au poivre, [INAUDIBLE] steaks. We're going to have a seabass, we're going to have a salmon with American couscous, we're going to have duck confit. Everybody loves duck confit. On dessert, for example, we're going to have [INAUDIBLE] and we're going to have profiteroles chocolat as well. BENJAMIN BERG: B&B Butchers is a steakhouse, it's a butcher shop, with dry age, we butcher everything in house. Very large menu. And I'd say probably the best choices of beef in the city. What you get at Restaurant Weeks is what you get in the dining room any other time of the year. You have this great, it's a Snake River farmed double cut pork chop. We do our 10 ounce filet mignon which is center cut, which is always a huge favorite. Pan seared salmon with a citrus beurre blanc. We do kind of a surf and turf with two filet medallions and crab stuffed bacon wrapped shrimp. We have our state house salad, which is a big hit. And then the big desserts, real New York cheesecake, chocolate cake, carrot cake. KATIE STONE: I think this year's Houston Restaurant Weeks is probably the most important year that we've ever seen. And I believe that my mother understood that as well. She very much understood what was happening with COVID. She very much so understood what was happening to her beloved restaurant community in Houston. And she was so worried about everybody. So there's a few things that are different this year for Houston Restaurant Weeks. One of the main things that is different is the takeout. That just gives the restaurants a chance to stay in business. It gives Houston a chance to sample all of the yummy meals. One other change that is different this year is the donation per meal has been reduced to $1. Traditionally, it's been $3.00, $5.00, and $7.00. BRIAN GREENE: And the reason is we want them to be able to stay in business and pay their servers, pay their cooks, pay their staff, so that they can keep going. JACQUES FOX: I think it's a great cause. And on top of that, this year Cleverly Stone passed away. And it's an homage to Cleverly Stone as well. BENJAMIN BERG: She loved what we did. She wanted us to succeed. She wanted to help us. I think that's one of the reasons Restaurant Weeks, she started it. KATIE STONE: We're hoping that people will at least instead of dining out, we're hoping that they'll at least get in their car and take out. BRIAN GREENE: Cleverly, we're all keeping it going. Thank you for getting Houston Restaurant Weeks this gift to Houston. We're going to make it great this year again. KATIE STONE: I consider it my life's honor to continue her legacy and continue the work that she is doing. It is too important. This event means so much to so many people. And I know that she would be very, very happy today. [MUSIC PLAYING] By Anna Mehler Paperny TORONTO (Reuters) - Indigenous groups in Canada are calling for a nationwide search for mass graves at residential school sites after the discovery of the remains of 215 children at one former school last week shocked the country. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday that searching for more mass graves was "an important part of discovering the truth" but did not make specific commitments. Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation announced last week they had found the remains of 215 children, some as young as three years old, buried at the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, once Canada's largest such school. Between 1831 and 1996, Canada's residential school system forcibly separated children from their families, subjecting them to abuse, malnutrition and rape in what the Truth and Reconciliation Commission tasked with investigating the system called "cultural genocide" in 2015. Last week's announcement sparked outrage, prompting flags to be flown at half-staff and people to lay hundreds of tiny shoes in public squares, places of government and on the steps of churches, in reference to the role of Christian churches from a range of denominations in running the schools. There have long been rumors within indigenous communities, also discussed by the commission, of children buried at these schools. The fourth volume of the commission's report, titled 'Missing Children and Unmarked Burials,' identified 3,200 children who died at residential schools, about a third of whom were not named. Since that report's publication in 2015, an additional 900 have been identified. Parents "spoke of children who went to school and never returned," the report reads. A working group established by the commission in 2007 proposed, among other things, a study to identify unmarked gravesites. While the federal government initially denied the C$1.5 million ($1.2 million) needed to conduct this work, the government announced in 2019 C$33.8 million over three years for a 'National Residential School Student Death Register' and an online registry of residential school cemeteries. Story continues Now there are renewed calls for Canada to do more to uncover what happened. In meetings across the country, indigenous communities are working to figure out how to investigate, said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs. "It's absolutely essential that there be a national program to thoroughly investigate all residential school sites in regard to unmarked mass graves," he said. ($1 = 1.2062 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Anna Mehler Paperny with additional reporting by Steve Scherer, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) Durham firefighters reported at least 46 dispatching errors or concerns this year, after staffing shortages at the citys 911 center forced Raleigh operators to answer nearly 1 in 10 incoming calls. There were 26 vacant positions out of a total of 60 at the Durham Emergency Communications Center, a city spoksperson told The News & Observer this month. Three of 18 call-taking positions were vacant, she said. Since December, about 9% of Durhams calls have been routed to the Raleigh-Wake Emergency Communications Center, according to the city. Calls ring for about 30 seconds in Durham before automatically transferring to Raleigh. Its intolerable, said professor Charles Jennings, director of the Christian Regenhard Center for Emergency Response Studies at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Its highly unusual that a center would be unable to respond to that high a percentage of their calls. Jennings oversaw emergency communications and response in White Plains, New York, for over five years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has affected 911 center staffing across the nation, he said Durham has an extraordinary vacancy level. There are going to be additional pressures placed on those limited personnel, which could lead to errors in dispatch, or an inability to complete the full range of services that would normally be expected under conditions of normal staffing, he added. Durham Mayor Steve Schewel could not pinpoint why Durham is experiencing such a severe staffing shortage compared to other 911 centers, but he said its a top priority for City Manager Wanda Page. In her managers newsletter Friday, Page said the majority of Durhams 911 calls are answered in 10 seconds or less by Durham call takers, and with new staff coming on board in the coming weeks, we intend to wrap up our partnership with Raleigh and resume answering 100% of our calls. The city is recruiting for four full-time certified training officers and hiring back retirees and former employees in a part-time capacity, Page noted. Story continues Recruiting and training a call-taker can take three to four months said Randy Beeman, the director of Durhams center. The 911 center had eight staff members in training as of May, according to a Durham spokesperson. Beeman, who spoke to The N&O earlier this month, did not respond to phone and email messages over the past week. Durham firefighters concerns In January, the Durham Fire Department created an internal form to track rising errors and delays, said Bill Towner, a spokesman for the Professional Fire Fighters of Durham Local 668 and former captain in the department. The N&O received copies of all responses to the form Monday. Of the 46 incidents this year, 19 explicitly refer to the Raleigh-Wake center. Fifteen responses were categorized as alternate routing, while nine were flagged as timeliness concerns by those reporting. Seven were categorized as missing or incorrect addresses by those reporting. While I have no comparative information to share, it is my professional opinion that you would see many similar concerns in any jurisdiction that had records similar to the ones we are providing, Deputy City Manager Bo Ferguson said in an emailed statement Monday. The Durham center received nearly 86,000 calls between January and April, he added. But Towner said that while 46 concerns have been reported, Local 668 believes the actual number of delays or other issues may be higher. In order to report a concern, the firefighters have to know that there was an issue during some part of the call-taking or dispatch process, he said. That information is not always clear to them, he explained. Every second counts In one documented instance, a firefighter said an incorrect address caused a 20-minute delay. In another, a firefighter said a call routed through Raleigh came without an apartment number, delaying response around 10 minutes, when they learned the person had already been taken to the hospital. Towner said crucial information is being lost or delayed in the transfer between the centers. It is normal for some low-priority calls to be held for a time before anyone is dispatched, he said. But if youre talking about difficulty breathing, an advanced life support medical emergency, a fire related emergency, a robbery or burglary in progress anything like that, then absolutely every second counts, he said. Frustration among Raleigh staff Dominick Nutter, the emergency communications director of the Raleigh-Wake center, said its not the first time theyve supported other agencies. There have been times, for example, during a storm, during a hurricane we have supported New Hanover (County) to assist them, he said. As one of the largest 911 centers in the state, there are times that we do go out and assist other agencies. Durham tells Raleigh when they are short-staffed, but he said he doesnt know how often that has happened since the call routing began. This has been our way of providing mutual aid and assistance to a community in need, said Raleigh City Manager Marchell Adams-David. She said Raleigh plans to stop taking Durham calls at the end of June. From Dec. 8 to April 30, Raleigh has taken 9,433 calls from Durham, Nutter said. Thats less than 5% of Raleighs calls during that period. Our team understands its important work, and they know that there are people who need help, he said. But there is still some frustration among employees, Nutter said. When a call comes from Durham, 911 staffers have less detailed mapping because its outside their regular jurisdiction, he said. Someone [calling] might not know where they are, and that is where the accuracy issue comes in, he said. In these cases, Raleigh 911 staffers have to type in a persons phone number to a supplemental program called RapidSOS that provides some location information. But the system doesnt work with all phones. Some 911 employees have also used Google Maps as an alternative, Nutter said. Emergencies dont take a break for a pandemic For an arrangement that has lasted this long, Jennings said the current system, which requires Durham to enter the call into its system before dispatching someone to the scene, is absolutely undesirable. It should fundamentally call into question the wisdom of the current arrangements, and the hardware technology thats being used to connect those two centers, he said. And if theyre going to fundamentally cooperate in this manner going forward, then this should be an automated process. Towner said he thinks the staffing shortage shows poor planning on the part of the city. Emergencies dont take a break for a pandemic, he said, adding Durham should have been hiring more aggressively in the past year. In fact, calls for services increase. But Jennings cautioned against blaming any one party or cause. These are complicated issues, and as gratifying as it is to find a person to rake over the coals, this sounds like a systemic failure, Jennings said. It is certainly a serious problem that needs to be remedied with extraordinary measures. The Durham Report Calling Bull City readers! We've launched The Durham Report, a free weekly digest of some of the top stories for and about Durham published in The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun. Get your newsletter delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday at 11 a.m. featuring links to stories by our local journalists. Sign up for our newsletter here. For even more Durham-focused news and conversation, join our Facebook group "The Story of my Street." By Giuseppe Fonte and Elvira Pollina ROME (Reuters) - Vodafone's Italian unit has secured conditional approval from Rome to use equipment made by China's Huawei in its 5G radio access network, two sources close to the matter said. Italy can block or impose tough conditions on deals involving non EU vendors under "golden powers", which have been used three times since 2012 to block foreign interest in industries deemed to be of strategic importance. The government of national unity led by Prime Minister Mario Draghi authorised the deal between Vodafone and Huawei on May 20, one of the two sources told Reuters, asking not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter. As in similar deals, the government imposed a set of prescriptions including restrictions on remote intervention by Huawei to fix technical glitches and an extremely high security threshold, the source added. Vodafone and Huawei declined to comment. The United States has lobbied Italy and other European allies to avoid using Huawei equipment in their next generation telecoms networks and to closely scrutinize rival ZTE, saying the companies could pose a security risk. Huawei and ZTE strongly deny the allegations. In the last 12 months, Italy has adopted a tougher stance on Huawei, while not banning it entirely from 5G infrastructure. Under previous Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Rome prevented telecoms group Fastweb in October from signing a deal with Huawei to supply equipment for its 5G core network, where highly sensitive data is processed. (Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte and Elvira Pollina; Editing by Alexander Smith) Federal authorities have jailed a Kentucky man who received one of former Gov. Matt Bevins controversial pardons in December 2019. Patrick Brian Baker, 43, was convicted of reckless homicide in the death of Donald Mills during a Knox County home invasion in 2014. However, Baker maintained his innocence and blamed law enforcement for overlooking an alternative suspect in the case. In his pardon, Bevin described the evidence against Baker as sketchy at best even though an appeals court rejected Bakers appeal with a judge noting the evidence of Bakers guilt was overwhelming. Baker had served two years of a 19-year sentence when Bevin set him free. Bakers brother and sister-in-law held a political fundraiser in 2018 that raised $21,500 for Bevin, according to the Kentucky Registry for Election Finance. The couple donated $4,000 to Bevin. Baker, who now has a Frankfort address, was held in the Laurel County Detention Center on Monday as a federal prisoner, according to the jails website. Jail officials would not identify the criminal charge that Baker faced; they referred media calls to the U.S. Marshals office. But federal offices were closed Monday for Memorial Day. Donald Mills sister on Monday said shes been informed that Bakers new arrest is related to her brothers slaying. The ATF agent who contacted me stated that hes been charged in federal court in the murder of my brother, Melinda Mills told the Herald-Leader in a Facebook message. According to the jails website, Baker was arrested Sunday and booked at 12:16 a.m. on Monday. No bond was initially allowed. Bakers pardon was one of the hundreds of pardons and commutations issued by Bevin in his final days in office, sometimes for people convicted of violent crimes, angering prosecutors, police and members of the public. Jackie Steele, the commonwealths attorney for Laurel and Knox counties, said he could not comment Monday on whether Bakers arrest is related to the original homicide case. Story continues However, Steele said that state and federal authorities often have concurrent jurisdiction on crimes, meaning they could be prosecuted in either state or federal court. The fact that Bakers case was resolved in state court would not prevent federal authorities from pursuing a new charge against him, even one based on the original crime, if the alleged violation involved a federal law, Steele said. Nobody is bribing Bevin. Pardoned murderer claims innocence, thanks ex-governor. Matt Bevin defends his controversial pardons in twenty-tweet-long Twitter thread Carlos Valencia works in the corn facility of La Gloria Mexican Foods, one of the oldest tortilla factories in the city. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times) There was a wearied pride in Fernando Ruizs voice as he led me on a tour of his familys flour tortilla plant, La Gloria Foods in Boyle Heights. We started in the back, where a massive sifter tossed flour inside a machine that spat out perfectly formed balls of dough. Two workers fed the orbs into a pneumatic press that smushed them into flat discs. Those raw tortillas slipped onto a seven-tiered conveyor belt that passed through an oven. The cooked results moved down the length of the factory, to men and women who stuffed them into bags decorated with La Glorias festive logo. On a good day, these machines can produce 10,000 dozen packs 120,000 tortillas. Thats on top of the nearly half a million corn tortillas La Gloria makes daily at a separate facility less than half a mile away that also houses its headquarters and a small store. We used to be able to do more, said Ruiz, the companys production manager. He spoke over a symphony of mechanical whirs and groans. Pre-pandemic, we were making tortillas nearly 24 hours a day. Right now, were just at 16 hours. Workers make flour tortillas at La Gloria Mexican Foods. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times) Flour tortillas stuffed in bags decorated with La Gloria's festive logo. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times) Looking on was his aunt and boss, La Gloria President Maria Vera, along with another aunt and two cousins. Ruiz's mom was on the way. The family has hosted thousands of visitors ever since Veras father and mother, Manuel and Antonia Behar, bought the original La Gloria in 1954 just down the street and made all the tortillas themselves. But even the masks that Ruiz and his relatives wore couldnt hide their melancholy. They gathered to take in what might be one of the last factory tours. La Gloria is in danger of closing but the culprit isnt the economic ravages of COVID-19, they say. Its the Los Angeles Department of Public Works. For the last six years, La Gloria has waged a bitter battle with the agency over the fate of its flour tortilla machines. The city acquired the Quonset hut that houses them via eminent domain in 2015 as part of a long-planned roundabout at Cinco Puntos, the historic intersection where Boyle Heights turns into East Los Angeles. La Gloria received $2.2 million for the building and was also entitled to relocation fees per California law. Story continues La Gloria asked for $4.2 million, citing the complexity of dismantling and transporting the flour tortilla lines, plus a full-scale rewiring and rejiggering of the remaining factory to accommodate the machines. The Department of Public Works countered with $3.1 million, then $2.5 million, before suggesting it could move everything for just $246,000. A retired judge oversaw mediation that led to a 2019 agreement that stated the city would give La Gloria $1.88 million, plus pay for either new tortilla machines or the relocation of the old ones upon completion of a bidding process. But the dispute continued, and the next round happens Wednesday at a Zoom hearing before the department's Relocation Appeals Board. The city will suggest a new figure for La Glorias relocation fees. Zero. A staff report recommended the amount because it claimed La Gloria violated federal law by being non-cooperative in refusing to allow reasonable inspections to determine correct relocation costs, allegations the company denies. Through Department of Public Works communications director Mary Nemick, the city of Los Angeles declined to comment. La Gloria learned of the staff report about a week ago. Flour tortillas make up 50% of its revenue. Without any relocation fees, the company says, it's not just its ability to make flour tortillas that gets impacted the corn-tortilla business would go under, too. Benny Carmona works inside the corn facility of La Gloria Mexican Foods. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times) Its not as simple as just getting a bunch of U-Hauls and loading everything up, said Ruiz, 46. Now, I know what y'all are thinking: $4 million to move machines that make tortillas? You could've smacked me with a frozen burrito when I first heard that amount. I mean, can't you just hire an army of tias at a tenth of the cost? But here's the thing: You can't if you want to make tortillas on the scale of La Gloria. The sifter looks like a refrigerator that just went through a growth spurt. The conveyor belt is the length of a yacht. The oven that cooks the tortillas is about the size of a teenage stegosaurus. All the parts together make a Rube Goldberg machine seem as complex as flipping a quarter. L.A.'s Department of Public Works knows this why else would it have originally offered La Gloria $3.1 million in relocation fees? To see the offer go from seven figures to none seems personal. The city must think were a bunch of dumb Mexicans, said Cynthia Vera, a first-grade teacher whos Marias daughter and helps with public relations. Shes particularly enraged by an 2015 internal staff email sent by a city engineer about La Glorias requested relocation fees. In it, the author joked, It sounds like they may have misplaced a decimal point. Where are they moving to ... Beverly Hills? Maria Vera has worked at La Gloria since she was a little girl who translated everything from mail to insurance policies for her Spanish-speaking parents. Now 73, she remembered how friendly city staffers walked her and her dad through permit applications to get the flour tortilla plant up and running when she was still a student at Belvedere Elementary. When we first formed La Gloria, the city helped us, she said softly but matter-of-factly. Now, the city wants to take it away. My La Gloria tour ended in a former apartment complex next door to the corn tortilla plant. This is where Vera and her two sisters grew up, where her father lived until he passed away in 1990 at 81, getting up every day at 2 in the morning to start production. La Gloria Mexican Foods founders Manuel and Antonia Behar. (Family photo) Today, the apartment complex is La Glorias offices. Eleven family members work full time, while the fourth generation does grunt work during their summer vacations as a reminder of where the family came from. My dad would always tell me, Dont let the workers see you sitting down, because thatll tell them youre lazy,' said Vera, looking at a framed photo of her parents at the original La Gloria. Manuel Behar came to Los Angeles in 1954 after opening tortillerias in Mexico City, Tijuana and Texas. He had always wanted to come to Los Angeles, and he found a city whose appetite for tortillas was insatiable. With his wife, the Mexican immigrants created a Boyle Heights institution. Ronald Reagan and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa were customers. Behars innovations in tortilla production earned him a posthumous spot in the Tortilla Industry Assn.s Hall of Fame in 2009 for creating "one of the first mass-producing tortilla companies in the country," according to his plaque. The city doesnt realize how much history is here, said Cynthia Vera. They think that we can just start over. But this is our family. Losing it is not an option for my mom. The three daughters of La Gloria founders Manuel and Antonia Behar, from left, are Sylvia Ruiz, 70, Maria Vasquez, 71, and Maria Vera, 72, inside the corn facility. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times) Maria Vera owns La Gloria along with her two sisters, Maria Vazquez and Sylvia Ruiz. They've never thought of selling. I didnt want all of my fathers effort to go nowhere, she said. He gave everything. Vera hopes the public works appeal board rejects the nada in relocation fees that the city of Los Angeles will argue La Gloria merits. But the family is worried, because theyve been on the losing end with the city before. Back in 2007, Metro laid tracks for its Gold Line extension through the Eastside right in front of La Gloria's headquarters during the holiday season, the company's busiest time of the year. Walk-up business has never been the same because customer parking is now essentially three spaces next to pallets at the headquarters. Big rigs can no longer enter the facility, which means La Gloria must unload supplies elsewhere. "Its been decades that weve been dealing with this," Vera said. In her hands was a manila folder with more pictures of her parents and their business in the early days. "For the city, its very easy to take this away, but they dont know the sweat and life and work here. At this point, we feel hopeless." A photograph from the mid-1960s of the corn facility of La Gloria on First Street. (Family photo) This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. At least 50 people were killed overnight in two new attacks in the Democratic Republic of Congo's deeply troubled east, monitors said Monday. A local official blamed the notorious ADF militia, which has been linked to the Islamic State group, but others said the attacks may have been ethnic in origin. Citing a provisional toll, the Kivu Security Tracker (KST) said 28 people had been killed in Boga and 22 in Tchabi, villages lying about 10 kilometres (six miles) apart in an area known for Allied Democratic Forces attacks and community friction. The respected monitor said this was the highest death toll it had recorded in a single day since it was founded in 2017. It had earlier given a tally for the attacks of 39 dead. One community leader said children and the elderly were among the victims. The DRC army gave a slightly higher provisional toll of 53 after a meeting of security forces in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province where the attacks took place. Local MP Gracien Iracan spoke of 60 dead. "Seven trucks arrived to remove the victims -- it's a dramatic situation," Iracan told AFP. "They're still finding bodies, so the toll is likely to grow," he added, while "many wounded people are still hiding in the bush, everyone fled there". A UN source told AFP that South African blue helmets from the MONUSCO peacekeeping mission's small base in Tchabi had exchanged fire with the attackers when they tried to intervene. A local civil society leader attributed the attacks to the ADF, a historically Ugandan Islamist group blamed for a string of massacres in the past 18 months. The two villages lie on the border between North Kivu and Ituri provinces in an area where the ADF is believed to be active. - 'Targeted' assault - Lawmaker Iracan said that "a very large number of attackers showed up. The assault was well targeted, they killed two local leaders. We can't rule out that they were settling scores," he added. Story continues The KST said the wife of a traditional leader in Benyali-Tchabi had been killed in the attack on Tchabi. Two local officials reached in Boga by AFP said the assailants had attacked a camp for displaced people. They said 36 bodies had been found so far in Boga, a figure that has yet to be independently confirmed. Those same officials also cautioned against immediately blaming the ADF, given the ethnic conflicts in the region. Suspicions that the violence was ethnically motivated stem from the fact that the displaced people's camp in Boga mostly hosted displaced people from the Nyali group -- but a nearby site housing Banyabwisha people was spared. "We think it was the same group" behind the attacks on both villages, the head of the Nyali community in Tchabi told AFP by phone. "They attacked around 1:00 am. There are children and the very old among the dead... at the moment we're preparing to bury them," he added. - Military government - The ADF is the deadliest of an estimated 122 armed militias that roam the mineral-rich east of the DRC, many of them a legacy of two regional wars that ran from 1996 to 2003. As of Friday, the KST estimated that at least 1,228 civilians have been killed in the Beni territory of North Kivu alone since November 2019, when DRC forces launched a crackdown that splintered the ADF into smaller groups. Three other attacks since last Tuesday, blamed on the ADF, have claimed 39 lives. On March 11, the United States said the ADF was linked to IS, which is also known by the acronym ISIS. The ADF was called ISIS-DRC, or Madina at Tauheed Wau Mujahedeen. DRC President Felix Tshisekedi on May 6 proclaimed a 30-day "state of siege" in North Kivu and Ituri in a bid to curb bloodshed by the ADF. Under the move, military and police officers have taken over from civilian authorities. str/mbb/hba/sba/tgb/jj Looking for a new job? Here are 6 companies you'll want to work for in 2021 With nearly half of states planning to wind down their participation in federal unemployment benefits, millions of Americans will need to find work in the next few weeks. By ending the benefits, state leaders are hoping to incentivize getting residents back into the workforce. Both the unemployment rate, at 6.1%, and the number of unemployed persons, at 9.8 million, remained steady in April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If your state is one of the 24 planning to cut off the $300 federal weekly benefits and you need to find a new role fast to ensure youve got the means to cover household essentials or pay off debt, you may want to consider applying to one of Glassdoors top six best places to work. Glassdoors best companies to work for in 2021 Glassdoor releases a list of best places to work every year, based on employee ratings and reviews, taking into consideration aspects such as culture and values, diversity and inclusion, work/life balance, senior management, benefits and opportunities for growth. Whether youre looking to return to the office or for a more flexible role, theres plenty of opportunity out there right now. But just as important as landing a new job is ensuring it's the right workplace for you. To help find your perfect fit, here are the top six companies. 6. Google Shawn Collins / Flickr Glassdoor rating: 4.5 The internet behemoth continues to grow, hitting $1 trillion in Jan. 2020 and employees are reaping the rewards, with great benefits packages and extensive campus amenities. Google has landed on Glassdoors Best Places to Work list for 13 consecutive years and for most of those years, it made the top 10. Google offers a 401(k) plan that matches 50% of what the employee contributes (up to $8,250), health insurance, on-site doctors and nurses and free food. 5. McKinsey & Company Glassdoor rating: 4.5 This management consulting firm offers services to small and mid-sized businesses and governments and top corporations. Story continues About 91% of employees would recommend McKinsey & Company to a friend. The firm ranks highly for its culture and values, diversity and inclusion and career opportunities. It also offers maternity and paternity leave, excellent health insurance and a decent 401(k) plan. 4. HubSpot RebeccaChurt / Wikimedia Commons Glassdoor rating: 4.5 HubSpot, a software developer and marketer, boasts high scores in all Glassdoor ranking criteria, including diversity and inclusion and culture and values. Glassdoor shows 99% of employees approve of CEO Brian Halligan and 94% have a positive business outlook. The benefits are legendary, with health insurance, 16-week parental leave, a five-year sabbatical with $1,000 towards the time off, unlimited vacation, $5,000 tuition reimbursement](https://moneywise.com/borrowing/student-loans/wish-you-could-get-rid-of-your-student-loans) each year and more. 3. In-N-Out Burger Glassdoor rating: 4.5 In-N-Out Burger is the only fast food service to make the list. 95% of employees approve of CEO Lynsi Snyder, grandchild of the original founders, who was also included in Glassdoors Top CEOs list from 2016 to 2019. Cashiers and store associates earn around $13 an hour and one former employee mentions the strong positive culture, team-based work and free meals every shift in their review. 2. NVIDIA NVIDIA / Glassdoor Glassdoor rating: 4.5 NVIDIA invented the GPU in 1999 and today the company is involved in everything concerning graphics and AI, from video games to health care. CEO Jensen Huang boasts a 99% employee approval and 97% would recommend the company to a friend, with the same percentage reporting a positive business outlook. Employees also commend the salaries a software engineer at NVIDIA makes around $179,000 a year and appreciate the work/life balance. 1. Bain & Company Glassdoor rating: 4.6 This Boston-based consulting firm is Glassdoors number-one place to work for in 2021 and ranks highly across all criteria, except for work/life balance. Its landed several times on Glassdoors Best Places to Work and Top CEOs lists in the past, and made 12th place on the 2017 Best Places to Interview. Most employees criticize the long hours, but appreciate the company culture and opportunities for professional development. What to do if you need money while looking for a job file404 / Shutterstock If youre struggling to find work during the pandemic, you have a few options to make ends meet while you work on locking down a new job. A look at events in the troubled West African state of Mali after a second military coup in nine months that has sparked deep concerns over stability in the volatile Sahel region: - August coup - President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita is overthrown in a military coup on August 18, 2020, after months of protests sparked by perceived corruption and failure to quash jihadist violence in the former French colony. The following day Colonel Assimi Goita emerges as the country's new military strongman. The coup is roundly condemned by the international community and the West African economic bloc ECOWAS threatens Mali with sanctions. - Junta stymied - The junta bows to international pressure on September 12 and vows to allow full civilian rule within 18 months. On September 21 former defence minister Bah Ndaw is made interim president with Colonel Goita as his vice president. A fortnight later a government is formed with the military holding the key posts. - Election dates set - On April 15 the dates of presidential and parliamentary elections for a civilian transfer of power are set for February and March 2022. - Government resigns - With discontent with the military growing, the government of prime minister Moctar Ouane resigns on May 14. But he is put straight back in charge and ten days later forms a new interim government. - Army step in again - Army officers unhappy with the reshuffle promptly arrest Ouane and president Ndaw. The international community condemns their detention and demands their release. France warns that the European Union could impose sanctions quickly. Colonel Goita says he stripped the pair of their powers for trying to "sabotage" the transition. He says elections will be held in 2022. - Enigma - Mali's constitutional court declares Goita transitional president on May 28. The young military officer, who has shunned the limelight since arriving on Mali's political scene in the August coup, remains something of an enigma. Story continues He vows that a new prime minister will be appointed within days. - Out of ECOWAS - West African leaders suspend Mali late Sunday from the Economic Community of West African States. But the bloc stops short of reimposing sanctions. ang-eab/fg/kjl Miami-Dade police investigate near shell case evidence markers on the ground and a door with what appear to be bullet holes (Getty Images) Local police are appealing for help to locate the Florida gunmen suspected of killing at least two people and injuring 22 others in a mass shooting on Sunday morning. The shooting took place in the wee hours of Sunday morning just south of Miami, and the suspects are still unknown and at large. Marcus Lemonis, a media personality and CEO of Camping World, has put up a $100,000 reward to anyone who provides information that leads to justice. He tweeted, Im offering $100,000 reward to help authorities in my hometown of @MiamiDadePD arrest and convict the suspect/suspects pass this on. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The chief of the Miami-Dade police department Alfredo Ramirez said he was grateful for this contribution and echoed the calls for the community to help with the search. We need our county to step up with information, he said, urging those who know anything to send tips. This type of gun violence has to stop. Every weekend, its the same thing. This is targeted. This is definitely not random. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. According to The New York Times, there have been more than 236 of mass shootings in the the US since the start of 2021. Mr Ramirez also said that the local branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives contributed $25,000 to the reward fund, increasing the total to $125,000. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The police have an established timeline of the event, saying that at just after 12 am, a white Nissan Pathfinder arrived at a banquet hall and three people got out of the car with assault rifles and handguns and starting firing indiscriminately into the crowd. It is believed that two people lost their lives, and 22 were injured, with two in a serious condition in hospital. The venue, the El Mula Banquet Hall, had been rented out for a concert, that two members of Angelica Greens family members were attending. She spoke to reporters at the scene on Sunday, telling them her son had been shot in the stomach, but was stable following an operation. However, my nephew was shot four times, she said. Story continues When talking of her son, she said, hes not a statistic. Hes a graduate from college last year. So hes educated. He was going out with his educated cousin to just celebrate the weekend, and they had not made it into the club as of yet. The governor of the state, Ron DeSantis expressed his sadness about the tragedy. He tweeted a message on Sunday. We mourn the loss of the two victims and are praying for the recovery of the more than 20 people injured at El Mula Banquet Hall near Hialeah, he wrote. We are working with local authorities to bring justice to the perpetrators. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This is the second shooting in the Miami area in one weekend, with the first happening on Friday in the Wynwood district. Miami Police Chief Art Acevado called for national action on gun violence. We need the federal government and both sides to address this issue because without legislation, without certainty as it relates to holding these criminals accountable, we're never going to get through the summer without much more death and destruction, he said on CBS Face The Nation on Sunday. In 2016, one of the biggest mass shootings in recent U.S history was in Florida at the LGBT+ nightclub Pulse in Orlando, where 49 people died and 53 people were injured. (Bloomberg) -- JBS SA, the largest meat producer globally, has made significant progress to resolve the cyberattack that impacted its global operations and will have the vast majority of its plants operational on Wednesday. Our systems are coming back online and we are not sparing any resources to fight this threat, JBS USA Chief Executive Officer Andre Nogueira said in a statement late Tuesday. The cyberattack forced the shutdown of all of JBSs U.S. beef plants -- facilities that account for almost a quarter of American supplies -- according to an official with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents workers at the companys plants in the U.S. All other JBS meatpacking facilities in the country experienced some level of disruption, according to the official. The weekend attack on the Sao Paulo-based companys computer networks also forced shutdowns at slaughter operations across Australia and idled one of Canadas largest beef plants. Its unclear exactly how many plants globally have been affected because JBS has yet to release those details. The global shutdowns upended agricultural markets and raised concerns about food security as hackers increasingly target critical infrastructure. Livestock futures slumped, while pork prices rose. A notorious Russia-linked hacking group is behind the cyberattack against JBS, according to four people familiar with the campaign who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. The cybergang goes by the name REvil or Sodinokibi. While its unclear if all of REvils hackers operate in Russia, the groups public face, a user on the dark web cyber-crime forum XSS who goes by the name Unknown, exclusively publishes in Russian. REvil typically uses a dark web blog dubbed, Happy Blog to name and shame victims when they decline to engage in ransom negotiations. REvil has yet to post a blog item dedicated to JBS. The JBS attack comes just three weeks after Colonial Pipeline Co., operator of the biggest U.S. gasoline pipeline, was targeted in a ransomware attack that was attributed to a group called DarkSide. Experts have said there is some evidence linking the group to Russia. That followed a series of devastating hacks against American government agencies, businesses and health facilities, also often blamed on Russia or Russia-based hackers at a fraught time in relations between the countries. Story continues Meanwhile, the JBS attack is also thrusting Americas system of churning out cheap meat back into the spotlight. The sector is dominated by a handful of titans -- Tyson Foods Inc., JBS and Cargill Inc. -- which control about two-thirds of Americas beef. Taking down even a few plants can completely disrupt supplies, as seen last year when Covid-19 outbreaks idled plants and sparked meat shortages across the country. The industry is so concentrated that idling the JBS plants meant that the U.S. goverment on Tuesday was prevented from releasing some key meat-pricing data that agricultural markets rely on daily. Attacks like this one highlight the vulnerabilities in our nations food supply chain security, and they underscore the importance of diversifying the nations meat processing capacity, said U.S. Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the Senates second-most powerful Republican. There have been more than 40 publicly reported ransomware attacks against food companies since May 2020, said Allan Liska, senior security architect at cybersecurity analytics firm Recorded Future. So far, its unclear what the impact on meat prices will be from this latest attack. Retailers dont always like hiking prices on consumers and may try to resist, according to Michael Nepveux, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation. How long it goes on will impact to what level consumers start to see something at the grocery stores, he said in a phone interview. Livestock producers could see some of the more immediate blow. Chicago cattle futures slumped as much as 3.4% Tuesday, before trimming losses. The slaughterhouse closures are exacerbating an existing supply glut of animals. JBS is also the owner of Pilgrims Pride Corp., the second-biggest U.S. chicken producer. William Callicott, president of the Mid-Atlantic Council of Food Inspection Locals, AFGE, said at least two Pilgrims Pride poultry plants in Chattanooga, Tennessee, were closed due to the cyberattack. Meat Markets Go Without Key U.S. Prices After Cyberattack on JBS UFCW Internatioanl President Marc Perrone, whose union represents more than 25,000 JBS meatpacking employees, called on the company to to ensure that all of its meatpacking workers receive their contractually guaranteed pay as these plant shutdowns continue. JBS owns facilities in 20 countries. Its Canada beef facility has resumed production, the company said. Plants in Cactus, Texas, and Grand Island, Nebraska, were planning to resume at least some operations, according to Facebook posts. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2021 Bloomberg L.P. Why Americans celebrate Memorial Day Americans are celebrating Memorial Day on Monday 31 May, in honour of those who have lost their lives serving in the US military. The holiday, which also marks the unofficial start to summer, is observed annually on the last Monday of May, with most Americans receiving the day off from work. The nation commemorates the holiday with a service at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, with the president typically laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Across the country, people wear red poppies in tribute to the fallen soldiers and participate in parades. This is everything you need to know about Memorial Day: When did it become a Federal Holiday? Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, was first celebrated after the Civil War. To mark the date, chosen because flowers would be in bloom, people left flowers on the graves of soldiers who had died fighting. The day didnt become a federal holiday, a holiday established by the government, until 1971. The holiday, which is one of 10 annual Federal Holidays in the US, is marked with a national moment of remembrance at 3pm. Where did Memorial Day begin? After the Civil War, numerous cities, towns and communities held ceremonies of remembrance to fallen soldiers. One of the first tributes is believed to have occurred in Columbus, Mississippi, in 1866, when women decorated the graves of Confederate soldiers as well as those of Union soldiers nearby, according to the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). However, the VA writes that approximately 25 places have been named in connection with the origin of Memorial Day, many of them in the South where most of the war dead were buried. Cities in the North have also claimed the title of having been the birthplace of the first Memorial Day. Despite a lack of concrete origin, the federal government and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day in 1966, according to History.com. Story continues Where was the first large observance of Memorial Day? In 1868, the first national celebration of Memorial Day took place at Arlington National Cemetery. To honour the fallen, American flags were placed on the graves of the soldiers. It is reported that nearly 5,000 people attended the first observance. After World War I, it was decided that Memorial Day would honour all those who have died in American wars. Now, tradition sees small American flags placed near all of the graves in Arlington Cemetery, as well as large parades in New York City, Chicago, and Washington DC. Flags are flown at half-staff across the country. What is the purpose of Memorial Day? At its centre, the purpose of Memorial Day is to honour and remember those who have died fighting for the country In recent years, the holiday has also become a day to spend time with loved ones and enjoy the beginning of warmer weather. Read More UK Covid-19 vaccinations: Latest figures Organised cyberattack targets worlds largest meat supplier, JBS says Why do we want to laugh in a crisis? HONORING THE FALLEN: Veterans, Gold Star families, politicians and community members marched down Delaware Avenue in Wilmington Sunday evening to pay tribute to the fallen. Video Transcript - Delaware, the lifting of COVID restrictions allowed some Memorial Day traditions to continue. That includes a visit from President Joe Biden who led a service to remember our military fallen. Action News reporter Jaclyn Lee has more. - This is the 154th consecutive year of this parade here in Wilmington honoring the men and women who sacrificed everything for this country. There were several cars going up and down Delaware Avenue decked out like this full of patriotism. And you can see hundreds of people over here in this park gathering to remember why we have Memorial Day in the first place. Veterans, gold star families, politicians and community members marched down Delaware Avenue in Wilmington Sunday evening to pay tribute to the fallen. - When we said that we will march in the rain because people died in the rain. - Organized by the Wilmington Memorial Day parade committee, chairman Tom Kennedy says his favorite part about the parade is hearing from guest speakers. - We people here have to go out and inspire and tell people about this day, because everybody here knows about it. That's why they're here. - President Joe Biden kept up with Memorial Day tradition by visiting Veterans Memorial Park in Newcastle Delaware. He and First Lady Jill Biden went to st. Joseph on the Brandywine Roman Catholic Church in Greenville to visit their son Beau's grave. Beau was an Iraq war veteran and died of brain cancer in 2015. - Beau didn't die in the line of duty but he was serving in the Delaware National Guard unit in Iraq for a year. That was one of the proudest things he did in his life. So thank you for allowing us to grieve together today. - In the Garden State, the Gloucester County board of commissioners held its annual ceremony which included moments of reflection, a rifle salute and taps. Story continues Veterans say the sacrifices made by servicemen and women are nothing short of incredible. - I just remembered a lot of people. They've given their lives for the freedoms and privileges we have today. I always think you need to remember that. - Due to the pandemic, I'm told the parade was scaled back quite a bit. There's normally floats and organizers say there's normally a lot more people who come out. But as you can see from the attendance today, it is clear the cold weather and the pandemic will not stop people from honoring the men and women who gave everything for this country. In Wilmington, Jaclyn Lee for Action News at 10:00 on PHL 70. - What the weekend is all about. In this Feb. 11, 2014, file photo, then-Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. Lauren Victoria Burke/AP Michael Flynn appeared to say there "should" be a Myanmar-style coup in the US. The former national security adviser backtracked the statement on Monday. In February, Myanmar's military overthrew its elected government and arrested its leaders. See more stories on Insider's business page. Former national security advisor Michael Flynn, who worked briefly under former President Donald Trump, said Monday that there was "NO reason" for a military coup in the United States - one day after he appeared to suggest the opposite at a QAnon-themed convention over the weekend. "Let me be VERY CLEAR - There is NO reason whatsoever for any coup in America, and I do not and have not at any time called for any action of that sort," Flynn said in a post on Telegram, a social-media app that has been favored by far-right groups. "Any reporting of any other belief by me is a boldface fabrication based on twisted reporting at a lively panel at a conference of Patriotic Americans who love this country, just as I do," Flynn added to his 227,000 subscribers. But Flynn's comments Monday were at odds with those he made a day earlier at the For God & Country Patriot Roundup conference in Dallas. Attendees included Sidney Powell, Lin Wood, George Papadopoulos, and other prominent peddlers of the QAnon conspiracy theory, which baselessly alleges the existence of a "deep state" cabal of pedophiles. "I want to know why what happened in Myanmar can't happen here," an audience member asked Flynn, who is seen as something of a celebrity in the QAnon universe, during a panel. "No reason, I mean, it should happen here. No reason. That's right," Flynn responded. Video of the interaction circulated across social media immediately following Flynn's remarks Sunday. In his Telegram post on Monday, Flynn claimed the "media" was "manipulating" his words. Story continues This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. In February, the Myanmar military overthrew the nation's democratically elected government and arrested its leaders. More than 4,400 political prisoners have been arrested since the coup began and 840 have been killed by the military junta as it attempts to silence dissent, according to research from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a non-profit organization that has been tracking and uploading the data. "I am no stranger to media manipulating my words and therefore let me repeat my response to a question asked at the conference: There is no reason it (a coup) should happen here (in America)," Flynn wrote Monday. Flynn served as national security adviser under Trump for 22 days before resigning. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his communications with a Russian ambassador, though he later retracted his plea and was pardoned by the former president last November. As Insider's Rachel E. Greenspan previously reported, Flynn has previously echoed the rhetoric of QAnon supporters, including last year the baseless theory that Dominion Voting Systems, which sells electronic voting hardware, rigged the 2020 election in President Joe Biden's favor. There is no evidence to support that claim. In July last year, he shared a video to Twitter espousing QAnon's main slogan. As CNN reported Monday, Flynn continued to repeat false claims about the 2020 election during last weekend's convention, saying, "Trump won. He won the popular vote, and he won the Electoral College vote." Trump won neither the popular vote nor the Electoral College vote. Many followers of the QAnon conspiracy theory, which centered on the false narrative that Trump was fighting a fictional cabal of human traffickers, have refused to accept last year's election results in the wake of Biden's ascension to the presidency. QAnon followers and their theories were directly linked to the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol that led to five deaths. Read the original article on Business Insider In a video shared on Instagram, MoNique asked Black women to stop wearing bonnets, slippers and pajamas at airports and other public spaces MoNique has a message for all the queens out there wearing bonnets at airports, but not everyone is feeling the unsolicited advice. On Saturday, the comedian and actress shared a video message to Black women asking them to stop wearing bonnets, slippers and pajamas in public spaces. It took me a minute to say what Im getting ready to say because I want to make sure Im not saying it from a place of judgment and that Im saying it from a place of love, MoNique told her one million Instagram followers. Some of yall have given me the title of auntie, and Im honored that yall do that. But there are times that auntie has to talk to her babies and say some real shit. Comedian and actress Monique Hicks. (Photo: Instagram) The entertainer shared that while she was traveling to Jackson, Mississippi for a gig, she was astounded by how many young sistas she saw wearing head bonnets, scarfs, slippers pajamas, [and] blankets wrapped around them at the airport. Ive been seeing it not just at the airport. Ive been seeing it at the store, at the mall MoNique said, adding When did we lose our pride in representing ourselves? When did we slip away of let me make sure Im presentable when I leave my home? Read More: MoNique dishes on why she calls husband Sidney Hicks daddy While she made it clear she wasnt suggesting that women always wear a full face of makeup or a lacefront when out in public, she emphasized, All Im saying is could you please comb your hair? Im not saying you dont have pride but the representation that youre showing someone will have to ask you to know if you have it, she added. Its not to get a man it is just your representation of you, my sweet babies. MoNique told women to take her message as a warning, as she vowed to step in if she happened to see them in the streets, in the airports, in the Walmart and you got a bonnet on and you got slippers on and you looking like what the f*ck. Story continues Auntie Nikki gon tap you and say, Hey baby girl, show you what youre worth, show you what you deserve. MoNique also urged wiser sistas to join her in correcting what she sees as not representing themselves with pride. Read More: MoNique wants Tyler Perry to publicly apologize to her and tell the truth That may be a part of us helping our community, because if you look like you dont give a damn, how you gonna be treated? said MoNique. MoNique attends the BET Hip Hop Awards 10 at Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center on October 2, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images) So when I say hey, Queen, I can only say it to the sistas that it belongs to. Because a lot of us are still in queen training. So if youre in queen training stop being fearful of taking your position, she added. Queens dont walk around in bonnets, and head scarfs and slippers and pajamas. Thats for the house. When you go outside, represent you, baby .. like you are worthy and you deserve the title of Hey, Queen.' MoNiques video garnered a lot of comments and plenty of opinions, particularly those who felt her message was cloaked in respectability politics. This was such a disappointment. Imagine women growing up watching you be loud, curse, grab your crotch and make heinous jokes just for you to turn around and police women for wearing a bonnet? one person wrote in a lengthy comment. How is it that you cant address women as queens based on how theyre dressed, but you expect corporations to pay you fairly with complete disregard to some of your previous actions on stage and in public? Out of everything going on in the world, you choose to police women of color, specially [sic] black women, for being comfortable in public and you call this being a Queen? She added, I was a little lost at why a lot of people stopped following you over the years, but I clearly understand now. This was extremely anti-black, misogynistic and ignorant. If you know better, do better. I just can not believe the same women who did nothing besides body shame skinny women, talk about d*ck and had an entire series dedicated to harassing a black man has the audacity to police another black woman on appropriate behavior. Comedian MoNique performs at the Beacon Theatre on June 28, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images) Another commentator, who actually agreed with her, accused MoNique of hypocrisy for wearing a bathrobe in her video message. Despite the many comments scolding the Academy Award-winning actress for her comments, there were many others who applauded her for it. Shes right! Im sure some of this perspective is age, said one of her followers. The look is not cute. No, you dont have to dress up to go to the airport. I sure as hell dont. But Im not looking so bad that I hope no one sees me. And Im looking good enough so that if someone does see me, even if they dont like what Im wearing or they dont like how I look, they know Im representing. Im representing us. And Im doing it well. Have you subscribed to theGrios Dear Culture podcast? Download our newest episodes now! TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire and Roku. Download theGrio.com today! The post MoNique on women wearing bonnets, pajamas in public: When did we lose our pride? appeared first on TheGrio. Myanmar correspondent Mratt Kyaw Thu will arrive in Madrid on Tuesday to ask for asylum after fleeing the military junta in Yangon, said the Spanish news agency EFE, which he worked for. The 30-year-old correspondent, who will travel to Spain after failing to obtain asylum in Germany, won AFP's Kate Webb award in 2017 for his outstanding coverage of the ethnic and religious conflicts in Myanmar. "Tomorrow he will fly from Frankfurt to Madrid to ask for asylum in Spain," EFE southeast Asia director Ramon Abarca told AFP. "He has spent four weeks in a detention centre," Abarca told AFP by phone from Bangkok. A spokesman for Spain's interior ministry said Mratt's arrival had not been officially registered but would be treated according to international law. Reporters Without Borders spokeswoman in Germany Katja Gloger said the interior ministry there had been asked to handle the asylum request after stressing the journalist's life was in danger. Mratt, who has worked for EFE since 2018, criticised the military junta which overthrew civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1. The junta issued an arrest warrant for the reporter, EFE said, forcing him to seek safety abroad. Myanmar has been in uproar since the putsch, with near-daily protests and a nationwide civil disobedience movement. More than 800 people have been killed by the military, according to a local monitoring group. The press has been caught in the crackdown as the junta tries to tighten control over the flow of information. American journalist Danny Fenster was arrested by Myanmar on May 24 as he tried to fly out of the country. There has since been no news of his whereabouts or well-being. Fenster was managing editor of news outlet Frontier Myanmar, where Mratt also published his work. Several other foreign journalists were detained during March and April. Myanmar ranked 140 out of 180 countries in the 2021 Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index. bur-dbh/tpe/bp/dl BRUSSELS (AP) The NATO military alliance is restricting access to its headquarters for a group of Belarus officials in the wake of Minsks decision to divert a Ryanair passenger plane to arrest a dissident journalist earlier this month. We have decided to restrict the access of Belarusian personnel to the NATO headquarters based on our assessment of security measures at the headquarters, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters Monday. The move is expected to involve about five officials. They will still be able to enter NATOs sprawling headquarters complex in Brussels but only as visitors, not with their usual delegation badges, depriving them of access to some areas. Belaruss international isolation has deepened since the May 23 incident, in which Belarusian flight controllers told the crew of a Ryanair jet of an alleged a bomb threat and instructed them to land in Minsk, where journalist Raman Pratasevich was pulled off the plane by authorities. NATO ambassadors said last week that the unacceptable act seriously violated the norms governing civil aviation and endangered the lives of the passengers and crew. Stoltenberg has branded the Belarus move a state hijacking. Deliberate burning of an African American home in Rosewood, Florida, on January 4, 1923. The 1921 destruction in Tulsa wasn't the first or the last race massacre that leveled homes, usurped land or destroyed livelihoods for Black Americans. One of the first was in 1863 sparked by a draft law. One of the last happened in 1923 in Rosewood, Florida. Whatever the precipitating event, the desire was generally the same: to destroy Black upward mobility. Illustrations from Harper's Weekly show the New Orleans race massacre of 1866. Sketched by Theodore R. Davis from Harper's Weekly. Below, is a database of recorded massacres (defined for the purposes of this project as one or more mob attacks on a Black community that resulted in the aggregate loss of lives, homes, land and livelihoods). The attacks frequently drove residents away from a community for good. In other instances, Black residents hid in swamps and woods for days to escape death. Others tried to rebuild their town's former glory, but failed with little to no assistance from the surrounding community or government. One of the most frequently used justifications for an attack? The rumor that an African American male had assaulted a white female. Usually the rumor was unfounded. Frequently it was sparked by an erroneous news report. This list is by no means, complete. Attacks were frequently denied and not documented by authorities. This is a living, breathing document culled from numerous news reports, historical sites and encyclopedias among other online resources. I also reached out to every city listed in this database to find out whether reparative actions are currently being taken (of any kind), and if the city's history includes reparations of any sort. The information that I received, along with other information found through searches, is included under the "Reparations history" section. When more information becomes available, it will be added. In rare instances, the aftermath of a massacre, and the help given, was meticulously documented. White merchants in New York, for example, raised $40,000 for Black victims of the 1863 attack. The committee's notes were archived in the Library of Congress, and made available through the HathiTrust Digital Library. See them here. Story continues Keeping the public informed about this nation's too frequently ignored history of massacres also depends on you. Is your family or community history missing from this list? Send us your story along with documentation. Reach me at erivers@usatoday.com. Searchable database This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nearly two dozen massacres in US history. Reparations? Rarely. The employers of an American journalist detained by Myanmar authorities said Monday they were yet to receive any information on his whereabouts or wellbeing, a week after he was detained. Managing editor of news outlet Frontier Myanmar Danny Fenster, a US citizen, was detained on May 24 as he attempted to board a plane to leave military-ruled Myanmar. "Despite multiple attempts, Frontier has still not been able to confirm with the authorities why Danny has been detained," the outlet said in a statement Monday. "We have not been told what charges he is facing, if any, and have not been able to contact him. We have received no information whatsoever from the authorities about his detention." Myanmar has been in uproar since the military seized power in a February 1 putsch, with near-daily protests and a nationwide civil disobedience movement. More than 800 people have been killed by the military, according to a local monitoring group. The press has been caught in the crackdown as the junta tries to tighten control over the flow of information, throttling internet access and revoking the licences of local media outlets. The US State Department has said it is "deeply concerned" about Fenster, and demanded his release. Frontier said it understood Fenster was being held in Yangon's Insein prison. "We know that Danny has done nothing wrong and we demand his immediate and unconditional release," its Monday statement added. Fenster, 37, had been working for the outlet for around a year and was heading home to see his family, Frontier's chief editor, Thomas Kean, told AFP. His mother Rose told CNN on Sunday the situation was "a total nightmare". "It's a total feeling of no control. It's heart-wrenching," she said. "I just want my son home no matter what it takes. Please release him and send him home to his family." Japanese reporter Yuki Kitazumi was detained by authorities in Myanmar in April and was also held in Insein until being freed earlier this month. Story continues In March, a BBC journalist was briefly detained after being seized by plainclothes officers while reporting outside a court in the capital Naypyidaw. Separately, Polish photojournalist Robert Bociaga -- who was also arrested while covering protests -- was released in March after nearly two weeks in detention. Myanmar ranked 140 out of 180 countries in the 2021 Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index. Since the coup, journalists in Myanmar "face systematic arrest campaigns and censorship", the watchdog said. "Many will resign themselves to working clandestinely in order to be free to report what is happening and to evade the police," it added. bur-rma/oho woman on sofa with hands over her ears In a residential street in south London, dozens of household appliances are being put through their paces - not to measure how well they work, but how loud they sound. The room we're in is officially a laboratory. There's no soundproofing in sight: noise bounces gleefully off the sort of hard surfaces and shiny floors you'll find in many modern homes. A device shaped like a human head is rigged up to a monitor displaying colourful graphs, recording every whizz, rattle and beep. Environmental consultancy firm Quiet Mark has spent the last 10 years awarding its colourful "Q" logo to the quietest household appliances in every category you can think of - from hairdryers and air purifiers to kettles and washing machines. It's something of a labour of love for founder Poppy Szkiler, whose grandfather, John Connell, established the Noise Abatement Society in 1959. She says that since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, people have become a lot more conscious of the noise inside their homes. "It's becoming a mega-trend," she says. "People are looking to create more peaceful homes because life has become literally under one roof." Poppy Szkiler says sound quality can be more important than volume Now the firm, which describes itself as a consumer champion, is looking to change the way we measure sound. Currently when you shop for an appliance, if it does have a noise rating, that figure will be in decibels - and that tells you how loud it is. Ms Szkiler says about 40 decibels (dB) is ideal for inside the home. However, 40dB of a smooth, consistent hum is very different from 40dB of clunking, rattling or screeching. Currently, though, unless you work in the field of acoustic sciences, there's no consumer-friendly measurement for overall sound quality. Quiet Mark is on a mission to change that and is currently researching ways to include sound quality in the rating it awards the products it assesses. "In addition to decibels, we are measuring tumble dryers, which often have a big droning sound, and we're measuring jeans - and how the buttons hit the centre of the drum - to measure the sound quality, the pitch and tonality. And we are seeing which appliances are best insulated and isolated, for the best noise reduction within our home," she explains. Story continues The firm seeks out the quietest brands of household appliances There isn't even a term for it yet - but there is a demand. Quiet Mark is already listed on the sites of various UK retailers, including Argos, Littlewoods and John Lewis. John Lewis's technology director, Laurence Mitchell, says there are more than 10,000 searches a month for appliances that include the term "quiet" on the retailer's website. There's a "quiet revolution" tab on John Lewis's appliances page, and washing machines and kettles are the devices most likely to be linked to the search. But he says consumers should be prepared to pay more for a quieter life. "If you look at things like appliances, to have a lower noise level you may need things like an inverter direct-drive motor (which reduces the number of motor components, and therefore noise, particularly in washing machines), or increased dampening, and of course those things come with a cost," he says. Part of the difficulty in finding the right way to label sound quality is that it's such an individual experience - what's music to my ears may be painful to yours. And on a serious note, continued exposure to loud noise has been linked to health conditions, including heart problems. People who are neurodiverse may also find some sound challenging. For example, Tom Purser, of the National Autism Society, says that autistic adults and children process sensory information - including sound - differently. "For some autistic people, it will mean certain types of noise, certain tones, certain frequencies will be almost painful to them. But for some, there will be certain types of noise and sounds they really enjoy and find themselves seeking," he says. "It's a very difficult experience when the world is full of so many different sorts of sound and noise on a daily basis." Inside the lab at Quiet Mark Poppy Szkiler admits she appreciates the sound of silence - the quieter her home environment, the better for her. She hopes that manufacturers will take note of a wider demand for tech that is seen but barely heard. "There's huge levels of integrity and wonder in engineering," she says. "Acoustic engineering is just as important as energy efficiency, or the way something looks, or its performance." Tennis star Naomi Osaka was fined $15,000 by Grand Slam organizers on Sunday for boycotting news conferences at the French Open. They further warned Osaka of possible expulsion from future tournaments if she fails to meet her press commitments. The world number two kicked off the Open with a first-round win over Romanian competitor Patricia Maria Tig. Although Osaka gave a courtside interview, her refusal to take part in a post-match news conference has resulted in a standoff with tournament organizers. Before the tournament started, Osaka said she wouldn't attend any press conferences in Paris to protect her mental health. She explained her decision on Twitter, writing that many journalists' questions felt like "kicking a person when they're down." In a statement released on Sunday, Grand Slam organizers said that the French Open had unsuccessfully asked Osaka to reconsider. In a now-deleted tweet, French Open organizers posted pictures praising fellow tennis stars like Rafa Nadal, Kei Nishikori and Coco Gauff for engaging with the media, writing that "They understood the assignment." Osaka's management did not immediately respond to request for comment. But the player later posted a cryptic message on Twitter, writing "Anger is a lack of understanding. Change makes people uncomfortable." Video Transcript - Tennis star Naomi Osaka was fined $15,000 by Grand Slam organizers on Sunday for boycotting news conferences at the French Open. They further warned Osaka of possible expulsion from future tournaments if she fails to meet her press commitments. The world number 2 kicked off the open with a first-round win over Romanian competitor Patricia Maria Tig. Although Osaka gave a courtside interview, her refusal to take part in a post-match news conference has resulted in a standoff with tournament organizers. Before the tournament started, Osaka said she wouldn't attend any press conferences in Paris to protect her mental health. She explained her decision on Twitter, writing that many journalists' questions felt like, quote, "kicking a person when they're down." In a statement released on Sunday, Grand Slam organizers said that the French Open had unsuccessfully asked Osaka to reconsider. In a now deleted tweet, French Open organizers posted pictures praising fellow tennis stars like Rafa Nadal, Kei Nishikori, and Coco Gauff for engaging with the media, writing that, quote, "They understood the assignment." Osaka's management did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the player later posted a cryptic message on Twitter, writing, quote, "Anger is a lack of understanding. Change makes people uncomfortable." Editor's note: Naomi Osaka announced on Monday that she has withdrawn from the French Open. Read the latest story here. Naomi Osaka has been fined $15,000 after not appearing at a press conference at the French Open, the tournament organization announced Sunday. In addition to the fine, the No. 2-ranked, four-time Grand Slam winner could face harsher penalties if she continues to refuse to speak to the media. "Naomi Osaka today chose not to honor her contractual media obligations. The Roland-Garros referee has therefore issued her a $15,000 fine, in keeping with article III H. of the Code of Conduct," the four Grand Slam tournaments said Sunday in a joint statement. Osaka had announced last Wednesday that she would not do press at the French Open because she considered the practice harmful to athletes' mental health. "We're often sat there and asked questions that we've been asked multiple times before or asked questions that bring doubt into our minds and I'm not just going to subject myself to people that doubt me," she wrote across social media platforms. The 23-year-old added that she hoped any fines she is forced to pay would go toward a mental health charity. Osaka followed through on her promise after her first-round win against Patricia Maria Tig on Sunday when she did not attend the post-match press conference. She did participate in the traditional on-court interview immediately following the match, however. The Grand Slam organizations which include Tennis Australia, the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) and the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) said Sunday that they had previously reached out to Osaka "to check on her well-being and offer support, underline their commitment to all athletes' well-being and suggest dialog on the issues." "She was also reminded of her obligations, the consequences of not meeting them and that rules should equally apply to all players," the organizations said, adding that, "A core element of the Grand Slam regulations is the responsibility of the players to engage with the media, whatever the result of their match, a responsibility which players take for the benefit of the sport, the fans and for themselves." Story continues The groups went on to highlight existing resources focused on players' mental health, and said they "need engagement from the players" in order to improve those services. The Grand Slam organizations also said they have informed Osaka that continued refusal to do media appearances will lead to further punishment: "As might be expected, repeat violations attract tougher sanctions including default from the tournament (Code of Conduct article III T.) and the trigger of a major offence investigation that could lead to more substantial fines and future Grand Slam suspensions (Code of Conduct article IV A.3.)." Osaka has not yet commented on the fine levied against her or the threat of default and suspension. She is scheduled to face Ana Bogdan in the second round. Blaze Bernstein remembered for his generosity and spirit Air Force Chief Master Sergeant JoAnne Bass on Memorial Day remembrance "A Quiet Place Part II" breaks pandemic box office curse QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) Suspected militants attacked a Pakistani security post and hours later targeted a vehicle carrying troops Monday, resulting in the deaths of at least four soldiers and four insurgents, the military said. The military said the first incident in southwestern Pakistan occurred when a group of militants attacked a security post in the city of Quetta, killing four soldiers and wounding six others. Troops returned fire, killing four insurgents and wounding eight others, the statement said. In the second attack, militants set off a roadside bomb aimed at a security vehicle, wounding two soldiers in the district of Turbat in Baluchistan province. No one claimed responsibility for the attacks, and no further details were immediately available. Secessionist groups in Baluchistan have staged a long-running insurgency to push for independence from the central government in Islamabad. The Pakistani Taliban and the Islamic State extremist group also have presences there. Pennsylvania has lifted nearly all of the state's remaining COVID-19 restrictions today. Video Transcript In less than two hours, most COVID-19 restrictions will expire in the state of Pennsylvania. The city of Philadelphia will follow a few days later. Action News reporter Trish Hartman joins us live from Lower Merion Township tonight with details. Trish. TRISH HARTMAN: Well, this is huge news for businesses in Pennsylvania outside the city. We did speak with some people who say they're still avoiding crowds. But pretty much everyone we spoke with tonight say they're happy to see local businesses operating without restrictions. On the eve of returning to 100% capacity in Pennsylvania, restaurants like Gullifty's in Bryn Mawr are ready to open up every table. MARK SMITH: We've been getting a lot of input from customers who are telling us, this is the first time we've been out in over a year. And they're so excited. I think people are getting excited to go out again. TRISH HARTMAN: Not only that, but they're getting more requests for larger groups, hoping to make up for lost time and lost events. MARK SMITH: Basketball games, football games, parents weekend, we have high school graduations coming up, things that we didn't get last year. We weren't able to have those last year. And they're a huge part of our business. TRISH HARTMAN: Starting tomorrow in Pennsylvania, businesses, including retail, salons, and gyms may operate without capacity restrictions. CAMILLE COLVIN: I think if the vaccination rates are high, people are really ready to kind of get back to life. TRISH HARTMAN: Crowd size limits will also be lifted on all indoor and outdoor gatherings in Pennsylvania. And that's huge news for McShea's Catering Business in Narberth. BRIAN FERTIG: In the last two weeks, we have had three to four 60, 70, 100 people events. I mean, we are nonstop right now. As things are opening up, it is getting crazy with catering. TRISH HARTMAN: PA plans to lift its mask mandate for the unvaccinated no later than June 28. But this store in Narberth will require masks until vaccines are available to everyone, including children. Story continues TRACY TUMLLO: We have a lot of young customers. And I have employees with young children. And I just want to keep everyone safe for as long as I can. TRISH HARTMAN: Now in the city of Philadelphia, capacity restrictions and social distancing regulations will be removed this Wednesday, June 2. The indoor mask mandate in the city will stay in place for now. But that could change according to health officials on June 11. Reporting live in Lower Merion Township, Trish Hartman for Action News at 10:00 on PHL 17. Walter? - All right. Thank you, Trish. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong appearing in court on 30 December last year. (PHOTO: Yahoo News Singapore/Wee Teck Hian) SINGAPORE Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong appeared in court via video conferencing on Monday (31 May) in a defamation suit against a writer from The Online Citizen, who was absent from the hearing. The Prime Minister is seeking aggravated damages for Rubaashini Shunmuganathan's article, published on sociopolitical site The Online Citizen on 15 August 2019. The article PM Lees wife, Ho Ching weirdly shares article on cutting ties with family members", repeated allegations first made by Lee's siblings in a Facebook post, including accusing him of misleading their father into believing that his Oxley Road property had been gazetted. As part of the allegations, Rubaashini wrote that Dr Lee Wei Ling said that her brother had persuaded the late Lee into thinking his property at 38 Oxley Road had been gazetted, leading their father into thinking that it was futile to keep the demolition clause in his will. On 21 October 2019, Lees lawyers sent a letter to Rubaashini, pointing out the false and defamatory allegations. In the letter, Lee asked her to remove the article, publish an apology and pay compensation. However, Rubaashini ignored the letter and a Writ of Summons was filed in November 2019 and served on Rubaashini personally on 4 December 2019. In total, Lee filed two defamation suits separately against TOC editor Terry Xu and Rubaashini over the story. Malaysian writer absent, no representation Lee's lawyer Davinder Singh, also appearing via a videolink, told Justice Audrey Lim on Monday that the plaintiff had reached out to Rubaashini, whose home address was in Selangor, Malaysia, numerous times via emails, post and personally through a process server. A process server is a person who serves legal documents. In this case, the process server was from a Malaysia law firm. Singh added that the plaintiff had emailed Rubaashini the notice for the hearing, and the letter from court, which provided the Zoom login details. Story continues However, Rubaashini was absent from the Monday hearing, with Singh informing the court that she was not represented. According to Lee's affidavit, Rubaashini had not entered an appearance in the suit, and a judgment was obtained in default of her appearance on 31 December 2019. She is deemed to have admitted to all the allegations in Lee's Statement of Claim, hence leaving only matter of assessment of damages outstanding for Monday's hearing. Singh noted that while the plaintiff was able to serve documents on Rubaashini personally at her address from 4 December 2019 to some time earlier this year, her brother later told the process server that she was no longer at the address. At around 10.15am, Lee appeared via videolink to reaffirm his affidavits to be submitted in court before leaving the hearing in less than five minutes. A second witness, Director at Davinder Singh Chambers LLC Timothy Lin, then appeared via videolink to reaffirm his affidavit, which was made on behalf of Lee. Singh then asked for a three-week adjournment to file closing submissions to points that Rubaashini might have made. Justice Lim asked that the submissions be filed by 21 June. TOC editor Terry Xu had asked Rubaashini to write article In Lee's defamation suit against TOC's editor Terry Xu last year, Xu had admitted that he exchanged messages on Slack with Rubaashini and asked her to write the article, telling her that it needed "some creative writing" on the morning of 15 August 2019. Under examination by Singh, Xu had also admitted to have made points that he wanted Rubaashini to incude. According to evidence provided to the court, Rubaashini sent the draft of the article at 12.39pm, and Xu replied that the article was "very good" with "no edits needed" nine minutes after he received it. Xu admitted to this during the hearing. According to Lee's affidavit, Rubaashini had not taken any steps to verify whether the allegations in the article were true. "She wrote the article in a matter of hours, not caring whether the allegations in the offending words were true or false. These matters show that (Rubaashini) was completely reckless and malicious." "When Mr Terry Xu asked the defendant to write the article, and when she wrote it and sent it back to him, the defendant would have known that the offending words were meant to be and would be published to and/or on (The Online Citizen) and/or to Mr Terry Xu in Singapore and that the offending words would be republished on (The Online Citizen)," Lee stated in the affidavit. Lee also said in his affidavit that the article would have been of interest to Singaporeans and the followers of The Online Citizen SG Facebook profile page, on which it was also shared. "The article contained sensational allegations against me, the Prime Minister of Singapore, which were likely to attract a great deal of attention and go viral on the Internet and on social networking sites. The article was plainly designed to attract the maximum readership among Singaporeans because of its attacks against me and my honesty and integrity." More Singapore news: Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Related stories Lee Kuan Yew's lawyer Kwa Kim Li testifies in libel suit involving TOC's Terry Xu Terry Xu didn't call Lee Hsien Yang as witness as he couldn't prove his allegations: PM's lawyer PM Lee Hsien Loong's libel suit: TOC's Terry Xu accused of being 'disingenuous' TOC defamation suit: PM Lee Hsien Loong says he has no final say over 38 Oxley Road house 'Hope against hope' for ties with siblings to be repaired: PM Lee PM Lee may testify in court against TOC editor Xu; his siblings can also decide to take the stand TOC's Terry Xu to represent himself in court against PM Lee's defamation suit TOC replies to PM Lee, refuses to apologise and remove article on Lee family feud PM Lee sues TOCs Terry Xu over alleged defamatory article (Reuters) Police are continuing to investigate the disappearance of Sarm Heslop after she went missing on the US Virgin Islands in March. The 41-year-old, originally from Southampton, was on an extended holiday with her American boyfriend Ryan Bane at the time she vanished. She was last seen having dinner in St John with Mr Bane on 7 March, hours before he claims he woke up on the luxury yacht they were sharing at 2am to find she was gone. Local police officers have since questioned Mr Bane, with reports suggesting he was urged to cooperate fully with the investigation after he refused to allow coastguards to search his boat. Toby Derima, of the US Virgin Islands Police, said: We would like the boyfriend to cooperate with the police. We would like to ask him a few questions. We need his cooperation and for him to come forward so we can speak to him. It comes after a womans body was found on St Croix, a nearby Caribbean Island, which police confirmed was not that of Ms Heslop. Virgin Islands Police Department said the body was not Caucasian, ruling out the remains are of Ms Heslop. Mr Bane reported his partner missing at around 2.30am on 8 March, but did not inform the coastguard until midday. Coastguard officials said that when they visited his boat that afternoon, during a search and rescue operation, they found him drunk and uncooperative. He refused to answer questions and physically prevented them from searching his boat. Local police have now been joined by FBI agents from the US to figure out what happened to Ms Heslop. She had been living aboard Siren Song, a catamaran, with Mr Bane, acting as a chef and hostess on charter cruises for private clients. Detectives have said it is not certain Ms Heslop ever made it back to the boat after she was last seen eating dinner. CCTV footage from a number of locations has been examined, but so far there has been no sign of her. Bank cards and a mobile phone belonging to Ms Heslop were still on board the Siren Song when she vanished. Story continues Mr Bane has said he is desperate for her to be found while his attorney, David Cattie, said Ryans only hope is that Sarm is found alive and well. He added: Mr Bane has spent countless hours searching for Sarm and will continue to do so. Ryan is devastated that Sarm is missing. Friends of Ms Heslop have offered a reward of up to 10,000 for information and set up a Missing Sarm Heslop Facebook page to share information about her disappearance. They posted last week: Its been 11 weeks since Sarm Heslop went. We are still pushing for news, asking questions and trying to keep Sarm in people's hearts and minds and it's intensely frustrating we don't have any information to share. Virgin Islands Police Department has been approached for comment. Read More G7 summit - live: Biden not looking to lecture Johnson on Northern Ireland as leaders meet face-to-face Emma Coronel Aispuro trial - live: El Chapos wife reveals she will plead guilty Cash Gernon: Teen charged with capital murder in kidnapping and death of four-year-old Texas boy Boris Johnson gives a double thumbs up after signing the Brexit trade deal on December 30 2020 - Leon Neal/AFP Ministers have failed to take advantage of the UK's freedom from EU regulations since Brexit, despite the Prime Ministers pledge to take back control of red tape, a new think tank report has said. A new report from the Institute for Government (IfG) argues that Whitehall departments are too "siloed" from each other, preventing ministers from changing laws to reflect Britain's departure from the EU. The think tank points to Mr Johnsons declaration on Christmas Eve last year that the UK had taken back control of every jot and tittle of our regulation in a way which is complete and unfettered. But despite that promise, most EU legislation is still on the UK statute books, after being copied over into domestic law during the Brexit process. Experts say a "bonfire" of regulations in the coming years is unlikely because of costs associated with changing them in UK law. The report's authors said the Government had approached regulatory divergence from Europe "like a game of Space Invaders played blindfolded," risking costs to British businesses and unintended consequences. They called for Downing Street to issue clear guidance to government departments on how they should approach the freedom to set out new regulations, and reform the processes for approving them. They also point out that, over time, the UK will diverge from the EU in its regulations as European standards change and are not automatically in line with Britains. The UK should develop a system to keep track of regulatory developments in the EU that will affect Britain to avoid any unintended consequences from that process, they argue. Joe Marshall, a researcher at the IfG, said: "Gaining the ability to do things differently from the EU was a key aim of Brexit and there are clear benefits to be won. But the governments siloed approach to regulatory reform risks ad hoc changes and unintended consequences that threaten businesses with new costs and could destabilise the union. Jill Rutter, another author, said: The government must ensure it invests the time and effort needed to make the necessary trade-offs involved and avoid unintended consequences. BEIRUT (AP) Dozens of medical workers in rebel-held northwest Syria on Monday protested a decision to grant President Bashar Assad's government a seat on the executive board of the World Health Organization. They said Assad is responsible for bombing hospitals and clinics across the war-ravaged country. The decision to give Syria a seat came a decade into the countrys devastating civil war that has left untold numbers of civilians including many health care workers dead and injured. The selection of Syria at a little-noticed session Saturday of the WHOs annual assembly which brings together all member states of the U.N. health agency has evoked outrage in opposition-held Idlib province. Rifaat Farhat, a senior health official in Idlib, said the move contradicts all international and humanitarian laws. Syria was among 12 WHO member states that were chosen to appoint new members for the 34-member board in an assembly vote that faced no debate or opposition. Syria will take up the seat for the executive boards next session, which begins Wednesday. The revelation was highlighted by the advocacy group UN Watch, which keeps tabs on perceived hypocrisies and other shortcomings of the world body and its affiliated organizations like WHO. The board is largely a technical group whose role is to carry out the decisions of, and advise, the assembly, which is made up of all WHO member states and has been meeting since May 24. We reject the idea that our killer and he who destroyed our hospitals be represented on the executive board, read a banner carried by some of the protesters in Idlib on Monday. Some two dozen medical staff members protested outside the main health department. Citizen journalist Salwa Abdul-Rahman, who is based in Idlib province the last rebel stronghold in the country said he worried a representative of the government could work on cutting medical assistance to the region that is home to millions of people. Story continues Syria's war has left half a million people dead and driven millions out of the country since the conflict erupted in 2011. Investigators working for the U.N.s main human rights body and international advocacy groups have reported that the Assad government and its allies like Russia and Iran have been responsible for the destruction of health care facilities as part of the years of fighting. Hundreds of medical facilities have been bombed, mostly in government airstrikes; half the hospitals and health centers are functioning only partially or not at all, while 70% of the medical personnel have fled the country. A WHO emergency appeal for Syria issued in March said at least 12.4 million people are in need of assistance in Syria, and the essential health service infrastructure such as hospitals and health care centers are in a state of disrepair. By the end of December, it said, only half of the countrys assessed public hospitals were reported to be fully functioning. Up to half of Syrias health care workforce has left the country. ___ Associated Press writer Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed to this report. Frazer Harrison/Getty Regina King Regina King is, self-admittedly, not quite up to date on the current rumors surrounding her next moves in Hollywood. The actress-turned-director, who has received critical acclaim for her directorial debut in One Night in Miami, recently learned about buzz that she might be directing the next Superman film while appearing on Tiffany Cross' The Cross Connection show on MSNBC. "I'm curious, because this is a little bit of gossip. You're rumored to be on the short list to direct Superman. You and Barry Jenkins, both of your names have been thrown out there," Cross said. "Anything you want to tell us? Is there any news you can break this morning about those conversations?" "Tiffany, that is news to me. You have broke the news to me," King, 50, said as she laughed. "A news break, live on MSNBC!" Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories. Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty Images Regina King RELATED: Regina King to Direct Bitter Root in Film Adaptation of the Harlem Renaissance Comic Book "Yeah, no, I have not heard that until just now," she added. Speculation on the next Superman movie continues to swirl now that acclaimed author Ta-Nehisi Coates has been tapped to pen the screenplay, with The Hollywood Reporter writing that a Black actor is set to take on the iconic role for the first time. Michael B. Jordan recently shot down buzz that he'd be donning Superman's cape. The 34-year-old actor said that while he's "flattered" people thought he was up for the job, he's "just watching on this one." RELATED VIDEO: Regina King Hopes Black Men Can See Themselves in "Complex" Characters in One Night in Miami "It's smart of DC to grab Ta-Nehisi to go ahead and adapt that project," Jordan told THR last month. "He's incredibly talented. It's going to be worth checking out." He added, "I'm flattered that people have me in that conversation. It's definitely a compliment, but I'm just watching on this one." THR previously reported the movie will likely focus on a Black Superman, a storyline Jordan reportedly tried to start developing back in 2019 when he first signed a production deal with Warner Bros. MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Russian military scrambled an Su-27 fighter jet to accompany a U.S. B-52H bomber over the Baltic Sea, Russian news agencies reported, citing the military. They said the bomber has not violated the Russian airspace. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Giles Elgood) Polish police said Monday they were investigating a fake bomb threat that forced a Ryanair passenger plane travelling from Dublin to Krakow to make an emergency landing in Berlin. "We were notified by the Krakow airport that an airport employee received a phone call saying an explosive device had been planted on the plane," said regional police spokesman, Sebastian Glen. "German police checked and there was no device, no bomb threat at all. So we know this was a false alarm," he told AFP. "The perpetrator has not been detained, but we are doing everything possible to establish their identity," Glen added, saying the person faces eight years in prison. With 160 people on board, the flight arrived at the Berlin-Brandenburg airport shortly after 8:00 pm (1800 GMT) Sunday. The passengers were later transferred onto another plane which took off early Monday morning. German police said that officers had completed their security checks "without any danger being detected". The flight was emptied with the baggage also searched, German media reported. "The Ryanair plane that made an emergency landed reported an air emergency and was therefore immediately given a landing permit at BER," airport spokesman Jan-Peter Haack told Bild. The incident comes a week after a Ryanair flight was forced to divert to Belarus, with a passenger -- a dissident journalist -- arrested on arrival. And in July last year, another Ryanair plane from Dublin to Krakow was forced to make an emergency landing in London after a false bomb threat. burs-amj/mas/spm There are a few reasons why New Mexico's special election on Tuesday between Democrat Melanie Stansbury and Republican state Sen. Mark Moores matters. (Photo: Stansbury campaign) Democrat Melanie Stansbury is heavily favored to win a special election on Tuesday to take over the Albuquerque, New Mexico-based U.S. House seat previously held by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. Thats not surprising: Haaland won reelection by more than 16 percentage points last November, and President Joe Biden won by a whopping 23 percentage points over Donald Trump. So far, this election which pits Stansbury, a state representative with a science background, against Republican state Sen. Mark Moores seems to be shaping up the same way. Early-voting numbers have been strong for Democrats, who have cast 58% of the ballots in the race so far, according to the office of New Mexicos secretary of state. Overall turnout in the district has been low, according to the secretary of states office, and Democrats watching the race said its possible fewer than a third of the districts registered voters will bother to show up. So why did the party bother dispatching second gentleman Doug Emhoff to the district for campaign events on Thursday and Friday? And why are political operatives on both sides of the aisle keeping a close eye on a sleepy race? In many ways, the lack of interest in the race is the most telling thing about it. After four years of high-energy, high-stakes political combat during Trumps presidency a period when congressional special elections in Georgia and Pennsylvania became nationally watched showdowns the relatively low-profile battle in New Mexico could signal a slightly cooler era of political involvement. And the races location, a plurality-Hispanic district centered around a city with high crime, also provides a renewed look at some of the weaknesses in the Democratic coalition exposed by the 2020 elections. There are a whole host of reasons not to read too much into special election results. (Theyre called special elections for a reason.) And a low-turnout special election on the day after Memorial Day is far from a perfect benchmark. Still, heres why Tuesdays contest feels like it matters. Story continues Waning Political Enthusiasm It is one of the longest-lasting trends in American politics: The party that controls the White House watches helplessly as its partisans lose interest in elections, leading to losses during the midterm elections. A special election earlier this month in Texas demonstrated the pitfalls for Democrats: While the district was enticing on paper Trump won it by just 3 percentage points in November it was also unlikely to exist after redistricting, and Democrats failed to unite behind a single candidate. As a result, Republicans took the top two slots in the first round of voting, and Democratic chances of winning slipped away. The Democratic Party seems determined to avoid repeating that mistake here. Several national figures and groups have endorsed Stansbury, including Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the gun control group Giffords and EMILYs List. This week, Biden provided an endorsement of his own, and Emhoff followed on Thursday and Friday with his first political trip as second gentleman. Its crunch time. Dont look at the polls. Dont look at anything. Act like were down. Theres a sense of urgency, right? Emhoff said at a rally, according to the Associated Press. Stansbury acknowledged that it was difficult to get voters focused outside of the normal election cycle. She said her team had built the largest field operation this congressional district has seen in over a decade. Its just hard to reach everyone and to inform everyone about the election, whats happening, who the candidates are, she told HuffPost earlier this month, noting that campaigns only had about eight weeks to reach voters after the two parties state central committees picked nominees. We are not taking anything for granted. Veteran Democratic pollster Stanley Greenberg wrote in a mid-May memo that a survey of battleground states and districts had left him surprised by how much Donald Trumps loyalist party is totally consolidated at this early point in its 2022 voting and how engaged it is. But that energy has only been sporadically turned into electoral action: While GOP turnout was high in Texas, it has clearly lagged Democratic turnout in New Mexico. And while Democratic special election candidates in 2017 raised record-breaking sums of small-dollar money online, Moores has only raised $73,000 in donations less than $200 as of the latest campaign finance reporting deadline. Stansbury has raised more than $300,000 in small-dollar donations. Defunding The Police Moores campaign has focused extensively on Stansburys initial support for the BREATHE Act, an activist-crafted piece of legislation aimed at reducing federal support for police and prisons. In a Moores television ad, a narrator calls it the most dangerous legislation in America and says it amounts to support for defunding the nations police departments. Murders, rapists and child molesters walking free, the narrator declares, describing the supposed impact of the law. Such attacks have occasionally left Stansbury on her heels in a city that had relatively high crime rates even before the pandemic caused a spike in violent shootings nationwide. Her campaign has responded by noting her work to support law enforcement funding in the state legislature. The Republican nominee is trying to reframe this race around public safety as a scare tactic, Stansbury said, while acknowledging that public safety is a major issue in the district. But I think it is largely a political distraction from the bigger issues around the economy, education, investments in our community. A shock GOP win in the district or even a perceived underperformance from Stansbury is likely to restart the intra-Democratic political infighting around activists calls to defund the police. A Test Of The Hispanic Vote New Mexicos First Congressional District is 49.4% Hispanic or Latino, according to census data. Unlike many majority- or plurality-Hispanic districts nationally, it did not swing toward Trump in 2020 relative to 2016. But national Democratic leaders are focused on improving Bidens standing with Hispanics, and public polling suggests that his approval ratings among Hispanic voters have ticked up since the start of his presidency. Moores is Hispanic, but the Democrats state central committee chose Stansbury an Anglo, in the political parlance of New Mexico over a number of Hispanic candidates. Stansbury has closely tied herself to Biden, fully embracing his agenda and highlighting Moores opposition to the Biden-backed coronavirus relief package Congress passed earlier this year. While New Mexico is not a key state for the presidents long-term political fortunes, Democrats would be pleased to see Stansbury excel in majority-Hispanic precincts there. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. The Station is a weekly newsletter dedicated to all things transportation. Sign up here just click The Station to receive it every weekend in your inbox. Hello and welcome back to The Station, a weekly newsletter dedicated to all the ways people and packages move (today and in the future) from Point A to Point B. For my American readers, you might be traveling perhaps for the first time in more than a year because of the Memorial Day holiday. While Memorial Day is meant to honor members of the U.S. military who died while serving, the three-day weekend has become the unofficial kick off to summer. This year, those traveling by car, truck or SUV will be met by the most expensive Memorial Day weekend gas prices since 2014, according to AAA. The organization also estimates that 37 million Americans will travel by plane and automobile over the holiday a 60% increase over the same period last year. Be safe out on these busy roads, frens. One story to highlight: Mark Harris dug into the contracts for the Las Vegas Loop System. He found that restrictions put in place by Nevada regulators are making it difficult for The Boring Company to meet contractual targets for its LVCC Loop, Elon Musks first underground transportation system. Shortly after publication, Steve Hill, president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), tweeted that a Loop test this week, with a few hundred participants, had demonstrated its planned 4,400 passenger per hour capacity, which could release $13 million in construction funds currently being held back. While this bodes well for TBC, the story lays out a number of other issues that could pose a challenge for the company. We will continue to dig into this story of tunnels and transport. Now a request, dear reader. We're a bit more than a week away from TC Sessions: Mobility 2021, a one-day virtual event scheduled for June 9 that is bringing together some of the best and brightest minds in transportation, including Mate Rimac of Rimac Automobili, Pam Fletcher of vp of global innovation at GM, Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang, Joby Aviation founder and CEO JoeBen Bevirt, investor and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, whose special purpose acquisition company just merged with Joby, and investors Clara Brenner of Urban Innovation Fund, Quin Garcia of Autotech Ventures and Rachel Holt of Construct Capital. Story continues I'd love for you to join, and you can do that by clicking here and buying a ticket, which will also give you a months-free subscription to Extra Crunch and access to all the videos of the conference. But, if you can't come, please reach out anyway and let me know if you have any questions or topics that you want addressed. I will be interviewing many of the folks coming to our virtual stage. We just announced three more participants from automakers Hyundai, Ford and Toyota who will talk about their respective companies' increasing interest and investment in robotics. Our three guests are: Max Bajracharya, formerly from Alphabet's X and now vp of robotics at Toyota Research Institute, Ernestine Fu, director at Hyundai Motor Group who heads development at the new New Horizons Studio and Mario Santillo, a technical expert at Ford who has been charged with helping lead the company's efforts at a recently announced $75 million research facility at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Email me at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com to share thoughts, criticisms, offer up opinions or tips. You can also send a direct message to me at Twitter @kirstenkorosec. Micromobbin' Micromobility rivals Bird and Lime have come out with news this week that they're both marketing as sustainability initiatives. Let's start with Bird. Bird has unveiled its next-generation scooter, the Bird Three, that it will unveil in New York and Berlin this summer. It's got a longer-range battery with 1kWh capacity and an improved diagnostic monitoring system to keep the battery lasting as long as possible. Bird says its better, smarter battery means it's ultimately a more sustainable scooter because it has a longer life and needs to be charged a lot less. Ideally, a better battery and better software will also help produce a longer-lasting vehicle so that Bird can cut down on depreciation and maintenance costs, which have really not helped the company in its push for profitability. Last week, Bird announced a SPAC merger with Switchback II. The regulatory filings that accompanied the announcement demonstrate just how difficult it is to turn a profit given the unit economics of shared scooters. Lime is similarly positioning its updated subscription service, Lime Prime, as a sustainable initiative. With each new Prime member sign up, Lime promises to plant a tree through One Tree Planted. But more importantly, the subscription service helps the regular Lime rider perhaps save a bit of money. Members have access to waived unlock fees on any vehicle, and in markets with no start fees, the benefit will be 25% off the ride price. Additionally, riders can get free 30 minute reservations on any vehicle. Two-wheel swag news Zaiser Motors announced the launch of its Wefunder campaign to raise funds for development and production of its Electrocycle. It's a good-lookin' vehicle, charcoal-black with a design that breaks away from a super traditional gasoline-era style and looks more like something a small Batman might ride. All of the components are designed to be recyclable within the first 10 years of production, the company says. The Electrocycle has 300 miles of range, swappable batteries and is less than $25,000. Meanwhile in scooter world, the Scotsman, a Silicon Valley-based electric scooter brand, has unveiled a scooter that's 3D printed entirely in carbon fiber composite. And I don't just mean some parts are composite. The whole frame, the handlebars, the stem and the baseboard are all made of this strong, sustainable, lightweight material. It also means the scooters are highly customizable, each frame printed depending on the owner's height, weight, arm and leg lengths and riding position. At a starting price of $2,999, it's not cheap, but that might be a signal from the industry that scooters are increasingly become viable transport options and not just toys. You can pre-order here. Rebecca Bellan Deal of the week money the station The march of IPOs appears to picking up pace. For instance, Full Truck Alliance, the Chinese digital freight platform known as Manbang Group, filed for an IPO. The filing didn't specify the exact amount it was aiming to raise. Reuters, citing unnamed sources, reported that the company wants to raise up to $1.5 billion, which would give it a valuation of $20 billion. Full Truck Alliance's S-1 provides a number of interesting details, including the how much money can be captured by effectively connecting truckers with shippers. The company reported that about 20% of all China's heavy-duty and medium-duty truckers fulfilled shipping orders on our platform in 2020. (More than 2.8 million truckers fulfilled shipping orders on its platform last year.) Full Truck Alliance said last year it facilitated 71.7 million fulfilled orders with a gross transaction value of RMB173.8 billion (US$26.6 billion). The first quarter number show it is growing. In the first quarter, the company had 22.1 million fulfilled orders, a 170.2% increase from the same period. Full Truck Alliance raised $3.6 billion in private funding, most recently last fall at an $11.7 billion valuation, from firms like SoftBank Vision Fund (22.2% pre-IPO stake), Sequoia Capital China (7.2%), Permira, Tencent, Hillhouse Capital, GGV Capital, Lightspeed China Partners and Baillie Gifford. The IPO about six months since the company raised $1.7 billion in a funding round that included backing from SoftBank Vision Fund, Sequoia Capital China, Permira, Fidelity, Hillhouse Capital, GGV Capital, Lightspeed China Partners, Tencent and Jack Ma's YF Capital. A look at the S-1 shows that the principal shareholders are Softbank with a 22.2% stake, followed by 8.9% held by Full Load Logistics, a limited liability company owned by Full Truck Alliance CEO Hui Zhang. Sequoia has a 7.2% stake and Master Quality Group Limited, another organization controlled by Zhang, hold 6.6% of shares. Other deals that got my attention this week ... E2open Parent Holdings Inc. said it will acquire logistics execution platform BluJay Solution, Freightwaves reported. The deal could be valued at $1.7 billion, consisting of $760 million in cash and 72.4 million shares. First Move Capital, the Boulder-based venture firm that has invested in used car marketplaces Frontier Auto Group and Vroom as well as mobility-as-a-service startup Via, has closed a new $150 million fund that will focus on the automotive and transportation sectors. Proceeds from the round will be exclusively allocated to new investments; seven have already been made, including into autonomous vehicle startup Gatik, cloud-based automotive retail platform Tekion and e-commerce startup Revolution Parts. Hydra Energy received CAD$15 million ($12 million) from Just Business to expand beyond pilots and deliver hydrogen-powered trucking, the company announced. This funding is to support the further development of Hydra's initial waste hydrogen capture plant in British Columbia, its fueling infrastructure and conversion kits. The Canadian company has raised CAD $22 million (USD $17.2 million) to date. One other update worth sharing, Hydra's flagship hydrogen-as-a-service project, is scheduled to break ground later this year. Miles, the German car-sharing service has received investment from Delivery Hero CFO Emmanuel Thomassin, HelloFresh CFO Christian Gartner, Chargepoint CFO Rex Jackson as well as Norwegian top manager Stine Rolstad Brenna. Thomassin has joined the company's advisory board. The company disclosed to TechCrunch that it generated 20 million euros ($24.39 million) of revenue in 2020, quadruple the amount from the previous year. The results helped the company achieve profitability in October 2020. Miles is now focused on expansion. In the first four months in 2021, the company launched electric vehicles and expanded its car fleet to Munich. Miles intends to grow beyond Germany and is currently examining the best markets to launch in. MotoRefi raised another $45 million in a round led by Goldman Sachs just five months after investors poured $10 million into the fintech startup to help turbocharge its auto refinancing business. While the company didn't give me specifics on its revenue CEO Kevin Bennett cited a 7x growth year-over-year but didn't provide the baseline it did disclose it's on track to issue $1 billion in loans by the end of the year. That's a fivefold increase from the same period last year. Smart Eye, the publicly traded Swedish company that supplies driver monitoring systems for a dozen automakers, acquired emotion-detection software startup Affectiva for $73.5 million in a cash-and-stock deal. The startup, which says it developed software that can detect and understand human emotion, spun out of MIT Media Lab in 2009. Since then, it has landed a number of development and proof of concept deals as well as raised capital, but it never quite reached the mass-scale production contracts. That's where Smart Eye comes in. Smart Eye, which has won 84 production contracts with 13 OEMs, including BMW and GM, is keen to combine with its own AI-based eye-tracking technology. The companies' founders see an opportunity to expand beyond driver monitoring systems -- tech that is often used in conjunction with advanced driver assistance systems to track and measure awareness -- and into the rest of the vehicle. Together, the technology could help them break into the emerging "interior sensing" market, which can be used to monitor the entire cabin of a vehicle and deliver services in response to the occupant's emotional state. Tritium, a Brisbane-based developer and producer of direct current fast EV chargers, announced a merger agreement with a special purpose acquisition company Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corp. II. The deal is expected to value the company at $1.2 billion. The transaction is expected to generate gross proceeds of up to $403 million. Tritium will be listed under the ticker "DCFC." This particular SPAC deal is unusual in that it does not include private investment in public equity, or PIPE -- a fundraising round that typically occurs at the time of the merger and injects more capital into the company. Tritium CEO Jane Hunter told us that the company didn't need a PIPE because DCRN is a more than $400 million SPAC and its shareholder group agreed to a minimum cash closing of just $200 million, which significantly reduces redemption risk. "Also, our revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 56% since 2016 as we expand our presence in major markets where we have a significant market share, such as the U.S. and Europe," Hunter said. "This revenue growth helps to reduce our reliance upon new funds to implement our growth strategy." Wejo, the connected vehicle data startup backed by GM and Palantir, plans to go public through a merger with special purpose acquisition company Virtuoso Acquisition Corp. The agreement, announced in a regulator filing, will give the combined company an enterprise valuation of $800 million, which includes debt. There were earlier reports that the SPAC deal was imminent. The filing confirms the news and provides more detail. The deal raises $330 million in proceeds for Wejo, including a $230 million cash contribution from Virtuoso and a $100 million in private investment in public equity, or PIPE. Previous strategic investors Palantir and GM anchored the transaction, according to Wejo. The company did not disclose the amounts of those investments. Current shareholders will retain 64% ownership of the company, according to its investor deck. Policy corner Senate Republicans released their response to Joe Biden's sweeping $2 trillion investment plan, which would earmark $174 billion for electric vehicle investments. Their proposal would shrink it down to $928 billion. And that $174B for EVs? That would be reduced to just $4 billion, under the GOP plan. It seems that the main point of contention between the President and his GOP colleagues is the definition of the word 'infrastructure.' Republicans are sticking to a more traditional definition, so their counterproposal still contains plenty of money for things like roads, the water system, bridges and broadband. Biden's plan aimed to provide consumer tax incentives and incentives for EV chargers, incentives to boost domestic manufacturing and enough funds to install at least 500,000 public charging stations across the country by 2030. A memo obtained by The Hill suggests Biden intends to hold firm to his proposal, so expect further negotiations in the coming weeks. The Senate Finance Committee on May 26 marked up the Clean Energy for America Act, an important step before it hits the Senate floor for a vote. Among other things, the bill would remove 200,000 unit cap on tax credits for consumers buying EVs -- that means the tax credit could be used toward buying a Tesla, a manufacturer that hasn't been eligible for the credit because they've sold over 200,000 cars in the United States. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) added an amendment to the bill that would create an additional $2,500 consumer credit for vehicles assembled in the U.S. and another $2,500 for vehicles assembled in a unionized facility. If it passes, the additions would bring the maximum consumer tax credit for EVs to $12,500 -- no small sum! The credits would expire in 2025. "Electric vehicles are part of our transportation future," Sen. Stabenow said. "The question is not when they will be built, it's where they will be built: in Asia or America?" U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm sold her holdings in electric bus manufacturer Proterra after Republicans criticized her for a potential conflict of interest. The GOP's complaint arose after Biden made a virtual visit to a Proterra factory in April. The sale provided Granholm with a net gain of $1.6 million, DOE told reporters. Aria Alamalhodaei A little bird blinky cat bird green I hear and see things, but we're not selfish. Let me share. This week, "a little bird" is all about big employment moves and departures and how one hire is connected to a potentially massive IPO. Let's kick things off with Celina Mikolajczak, the now former vice president of battery technology at Panasonic Energy of North America. You might recall that Mikolajczak recently took a board seat at solid state battery company QuantumScape. Welp, she is now taking a job at the company as vice president of manufacturing engineering, beginning in July. She has resigned from the board in connection with accepting the offer. In her new role, Ms. Mikolajczak will lead the transition of the Company's tools and manufacturing processes from research and development to production, QuantumScape said in a regularly filing. Mikolajczak has a long history researching and developing better lithium-ion batteries. Her technical consulting practice at Exponent focused on lithium-ion cell and battery safety and quality. She then took a senior management position at Tesla that was focused on cell quality and materials engineering. During her time at Tesla, Mikolajczak developed the battery cells and packs for Tesla's Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Roadster Refresh. After leaving Tesla, Mikolajczak went on to serve as director of engineering focused on battery development for rideshare vehicles at Uber Technologies. And in 2019, she joined Panasonic Energy of North America, where she is vice president of battery technology. While at Panasonic, Mikolajczak led a team of more than 200 engineers and other technical staff to improve lithium-ion cell manufacturing and to bring the latest cell technologies to mass production for Tesla at the Gigafactory facility in Sparks, Nevada. Speaking of Tesla ... it looks like Scott Sims, director of engineering, left the company this month. His title doesn't quite capture his role. Sims was the person leading the design and engineering for vehicle user interfaces, streaming, video games and mobile applications. Importantly, he was responsible for cloud computing as it related to the Tesla mobile app, a critical tool for any owner. Finally, the big news on Friday (via Bloomberg) is that Rivian has selected underwriters for an initial public offering. The company could seek an eye-popping value of $70 billion. I have confirmed some (but not all) of Bloomberg's reporting. Obviously big news that I'll be watching and digging into. I had heard rumbling about a potential Rivian IPO, but Bloomberg put together the critical deets. To me, the biggest indication that Rivian was getting ready to make a move was Ger Dwyer taking the vp of business finance position at the company, which he posted about on LinkedIn. You might recall, that I scooped the news a couple of weeks ago that Dwyer was leaving his post as CFO at Waymo. I noted at the time that Dwyer's departure comes at a time when the demand for CFOs has rocketed alongside the continuous string of public offerings, including those done via mergers with special purpose acquisition companies. Got tips? Send them my way by email or DM me over at Twitter. Notable reads and other tidbits Loads and loads of news. Let's get to it. Autonomous vehicles Aurora published a blog post that gives a few new details on its testing and self-driving trucks strategy in Texas. The autonomous vehicle company said its first commercial pilots will move goods on several "middle-mile" routes in Texas. A safety driver will be behind the wheel of these self-driving trucks, which will drive autonomously between hubs. The terminal or hub system is one that other AV companies have adopted at least for now. The idea is that loads can be consolidated, which would theoretically make operations more efficient. Aurora did add, that "for shippers and carriers with existing hubs and large volumes of freight, we expect to ultimately drive the complete route with no need for an intermediate consolidation point." One other item that jumped out to me: the company is expanding into a second office in Texas, suggesting that they're scaling up, at least in terms of people. Germany's lower house of parliament adopted legislation that will allow driverless vehicles on public roads by 2022, laying out a path for companies to deploy robotaxis and delivery services in the country at scale. While autonomous testing is currently permitted in Germany, this would allow operations of driverless vehicles without a human safety operator behind the wheel. The bill still needs to pass through the upper chamber of parliament, or the Bundesrat. Included in the bill are possible initial applications for self-driving cars on German roads, such as public passenger transport, business and supply trips, logistics, company shuttles that handle employee traffic and trips between medical centers and retirement homes. PAVE, which stands for Partners for Autonomous Vehicle Education, piloted a workshop with local governments earlier this month throughout Ohio. The educational workshop, which was done in partnership with Drive Ohio, wasn't open to the public. But my Autonocast podcast co-host Ed Niedermeyer, who also happens to be director of communications for PAVE, gave me the inside scoop on what went down. PAVE says it doesn't do any kind of policy advocacy; instead the aim is to arm public policymakers with the facts they need to make good policy. This pilot helped PAVE lay a foundation for a curriculum that can be used elsewhere; that might seem trivial, but the complexity of issues around AVs makes these workshops with elected officials potentially powerful tool. Ed told me that one of the main challenges was educating on potentially controversial topics, like policy and regulation, "where we have to get facts across without imparting biases." He noted that the organization's public sector and academic advisory councils were both helpful as neutral authorities. Finally, he said that one of the most practical education PAVE did was around the best practices that its members and advisors have developed in early AV deployments. Kodiak Robotics, the U.S.-based self-driving truck startup, is partnering with South Korean conglomerate SK Inc. to explore the possibility of deploying its autonomous vehicle technology in Asia. While Kodiak co-founder and CEO Don Burnette couched the initial agreement as a first step toward a commercial enterprise in Asia, the reach of SK shouldn't be discounted. SK Inc., a holding company of SK Group, has more than 120 operating companies, including ones connected to the logistics industry. The ultimate aim of the partnership is to sell and distribute Kodiak's self-driving technology in the region. Kodiak will examine how it can use SK's products, components and technology for its autonomous system, including artificial intelligence microprocessors and advanced emergency braking systems. Both companies have also agreed to work together to provide fleet management services for customers in Asia. Electric vehicles Ford Motor, fresh off its splashy F-150 Lightning electric truck reveal, announced it is pushing its investment in EVs up to $30 billion by 2025, up from a previous spend of $22 billion by 2023. The company announced the fresh cashflow into its EV and battery development strategy, dubbed Ford+, during its investor day. The company said it expects 40% of its global vehicle volume to be fully electric by 2030. Ford sold 6,614 Mustang Mach-Es in the U.S. in Q1, and since it unveiled its F-150 Lightning last week, the company says it has already amassed 70,000 customer reservations. Hyundai held the North American reveal of the upcoming all-electric Ioniq 5 crossover. One new detail that I found interesting: Hyundai developed an in-car payment system that will debut in the Ioniq 5. The feature will offer drivers the ability to find and pay for EV charging, food and parking. When the vehicle comes to North America in fall 2021, the payments system will launch with Dominoes, ParkWhiz and Chargehub. Lordstown Motors' cash-rich SPAC dreams have turned out to be nothin' more than wishes, as Alex Wilhelm and Aria Alamalhodaei reported. The upshot: a disappointing first-quarter earnings that was a pile-up of red-ink-stained negativity. The lowlights include higher-than-expected forecasted expenses, a need to raise more capital and lower-than-anticipated production of its Endurance vehicle this year -- from around 2,200 vehicles to just 1,000. In short, the company is set to consume more cash than the street expected and is further from mass production of its first vehicle than promised. Lucid Motors revealed the in-cabin tech of its upcoming electric luxury Air sedan. I spoke to Derek Jenkins, who heads up design at Lucid, and he provided a detailed tour of all the tech in the vehicle. It goes far beyond the curved 34-inch display and second touchscreen, which received much of the attention. The user experience, particularly the underlying software, matters in all cars. But it can be the death of an electric vehicle model if not done properly. It appears Lucid is on the right track. I won't really know until I'm able to test the Air. Let's hope that is soon. Rivian has delayed deliveries of the R1T Launch Edition, the limited edition release of its first series of "electric adventure vehicles," by a month. Customers who preordered can now expect to start receiving their pickup trucks in July instead of June, with Launch Edition deliveries to be completed by spring 2022. The one-month delay was due to a combination of small issues, including delays on shipping containers, the ongoing chip shortage as well as ensuring the servicing piece is properly set up. It's worth noting that Rivian told me that it has been largely unaffected by the chip shortage compared to the rest of the industry because its products don't require as many as other vehicles on the market today. Tesla had a number of news items this week, so I'll just point to the most notable ones. Tesla has established a data center in China to carry out the "localization of data storage," with plans to add more data facilities in the future, the company announced through its account on microblogging platform Weibo. All data generated by Tesla vehicles sold in mainland China will be kept domestically. The move was in response to new requirements drafted by the Chinese government to regulate how cameras- and sensors-enabled carmakers collect and utilize data. One of the requirements states that "personal or important data should be stored within the [Chinese] territory." Finally, two safety-related pieces of Tesla news that seem in opposition to each other. First, Tesla started delivering Model 3 and Model Y vehicles without radar, fulfilling a vision of CEO Elon Musk to only use cameras combined with machine learning to support its advanced driver assistance system and other active safety features. The decision has prompted blowback though from the National Traffic Highway and Safety Administration, Consumer Reports and IIHS over safety concerns. Meanwhile, Tesla finally and after loud and frequent urging from industry and safety advocates, activated the in-cabin camera in new Model Y and Model 3 vehicles. The camera will be used as a driver monitoring system. Tesla has been criticized for not activating the driver monitoring system within its vehicles even as evidence mounted that owners were misusing the system. Owners have posted dozens of videos on YouTube and TikTok abusing its advanced driver assistance system known as Autopilot -- some of whom have filmed themselves sitting in the backseat as the vehicle drives along the highway. Other nugs (no not that kind) Apex.AI hired Paul Balciunas as its CFO. Balciunas was the former CFO of Canoo. He also was an executive at Deutsche Bank, where he acted as a lead underwriter of the initial public offering for Tesla in 2010, and has since focused on auto tech and new mobility players. Blyncsy, a Utah-based startup movement and data intelligence company launched an AI-powered technology called Payver, that will use crowdsourced video data to give transport agencies up-to-date information on which roads require maintenance and improvements. Blyncsy is offering this service to governments at a reduced cost and with no long-term commitment. Utah's DOT will be the first to pilot the program beginning June 1, deploying Payver in the Salt Lake County region, which covers more than 350 road miles. Blyncsy will be announcing other pilots in different states over the next few weeks. Scale AI hired Mark Valentine to head up its federal-focused division. Valentine comes with experience and connections. He was a commander in the U.S. Air Force, senior military advisor to FEMA and most recently, GM of national security for Microsoft. He will lead Scale's government partnership efforts. Scale has also hired Michael Kratsios, the former CTO of the White House, as managing director and head of strategy. The company said he is focused on accelerating the development of AI across industries. Michael joined at the end of Q1. Debate continues in the Texas Legislatures final hours on a high-profile Texas elections bill that has garnered criticism over fears it will suppress voters . Senate Bill 7 passed a major hurdle early Sunday morning when it was approve by lawmakers after an overnight debate. This House expected to take up the bill later in the day in a race against the clock to vote on the bill. Texas Senators debated the newly-crafted bill, which limits when and how people can vote, after the text of the compromise version was released Saturday. The bill, written behind closed doors in a conference committee, includes measures from both the House and Senates versions of the legislation. This of course is the work of two chambers, each prioritizing critical reforms and then working together to decide how to strike the balance and how to get to the right place, the bills author, Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, said. We want elections to be secure and accessible. But as lawmakers prepared to consider the bill, some Democrats who were part of the committee tasked with coming up with an agreed version including two from Tarrant County described being left out of the negotiation process. Democrats also raised concerns about not having enough time to vet the latest version of bill before it was considered. The Senate, with the help of a procedural maneuver allowing lawmakers to take up the bill on an accelerated timeline, debated the bill starting late Saturday night before adopting the conference committee report. Sunday is the last day for both the House and Senate to adopt such reports lying out the new versions of bills. A bill goes into a conference committee when a chamber doesnt agree on the amendments made to a bill in the opposite chamber. The legislation if made law would ban drive-thru voting and set times when polling places can operate, effectively banning 24-hour voting. The bill would also offer protections for poll watchers and require a person seeking an application to because of a disability to provide the specific grounds on which the voter is eligible for a ballot to be voted by mail. Story continues The bill would additionally make it a state jail felony for a public official to send an application to vote by mail to a person who didnt request one and would make it a Class B misdemeanor for an election officer to knowingly refuse to accept a (poll) watcher for service. Among other measures in the bill, Hughes also noted that the bill would require voting systems to have a verifiable paper trail by 2026 and calls for a video surveillance system to keep a record of areas containing voted ballots. Senate Democrats expressed concerns about various parts of the bill, including the language blocking drive-thru voting, which they said largely benefited Black and Latino voters. Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, raised concerns about part of the bill that would preclude early voting before 1 p.m. on a Sunday. Im going to tell you what my district considers SB 7, Sen. Borris Miles, D-Houston said. And yall are going to disagree but my district, where Im from, where Im elected to be a voice in this chamber, they do call and refer to it as Jim Crow 2.0. Lawmakers questioned Hughes about parts of the bill that would create election-related crimes. Hughes stressed that its not voters themselves that criminal penalties are aimed at. He said the criminal offenses are aimed at vote harvesters and at those election workers who might be tempted to violate the law. Before considering the content of the bill in its entirety, the Senate voted 9-12 for a resolution approving measures that were in the conference committee version of Senate Bill 7 but not the versions passed in the House or Senate. Hughes said some of the language laid out in the resolution was in other legislation considered by the House and Senate, but other measures were developed in the process of crafting the compromise version. Some lawmakers raised concerns about the process, including Sen. Beverly Powell, D-Burleson who expressed unease at the idea of there being parts of the bill not vetted by members of the public. I couldnt in good faith vote to pass a bill the size of this one that will affect the voting rights of every single Texan of voting age when theyve been deprived of the opportunity to voice their opinions on the final package of this bill, either personally in committee hearings or through the voice of their legislators, said Powell, who was part of the committee tasked with crafting a compromise version of the bill. She and other Democrats described being left out of much of the process. During an exchange with Hughes, Powell said she was the lone Senator on the committee representing a minority-majority district. And was I ever invited to participate in that process, to attend a single conversation or meeting about what were doing here tonight? she said. Hughes replied, Senator, the senate conferees never sat down for a meeting. You and I spoke. You gave me some information in writing. We talked about it. Various members talked about it. But I can certify to you, there was never a meeting of the Senate conferees, you didnt miss anything, he said. And I actually spoke to you walking down the hallway on the way to a committee meeting, Powell said. Rep. Nicole Collier, D-Fort Worth, said she was involved in conversations on the formation of the bill, but likened the talks to more of an explanation, instead of a negotiation. Texas state capitol. iStock. Texas Republicans appeared poised Sunday night to pass a bill that critics say severely restricts voting rights. It then would have gone to Gov. Greg Abbott's (R) desk, but Democrats surprisingly broke quorum and walked out just before a midnight deadline. That left the state House without enough members present to cast a vote, effectively killing the bill for now. But Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R), who is a proponent of the controversial bill, didn't lash out at the opposition for the dramatic turn of events. Instead, he expressed frustration with Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) and House Republicans for taking days off near the end of the legislative session, The Texas Tribune reports. "I can't even blame it on the other party for walking out. They got an opportunity to walk out because of the deadline," Patrick said, per the Tribune, later adding that "the clock ran out on the House because it was managed poorly. That's the bottom line." Per the Tribune, Texas Reps. Bryan Slaton (R) and Jeff Cason (R) agreed, noting that their fellow Republicans had months to pass the election bill, but waited until the last minute despite Democrats' fierce opposition. "Democrats can only kill a bill that Republican leadership lets them kill," Slaton wrote on Facebook, the Tribune notes. It looks like the GOP will get another shot Abbott has called for a special session, and the bill will be added to the agenda so Sunday night's events may have just delayed the inevitable, but Democrats are vowing to "continue to use every tool in our toolbox to slow [Republicans] down, to fight them, to stop them," Rep. Chris Turner, chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, told the Tribune. Read more at The Texas Tribune. Two ancient sandstone artefacts believed to have been stolen from Thailand during the Vietnam War were unveiled Monday at a Bangkok museum, greeted with a fanfare of traditional dancers and an elaborate worship ceremony. The temple support beams -- which were returned Friday -- boast exquisite carvings of the Hindu deities Indra and Yama that date back to the late 10th or 11th century. They had been on display for decades at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum, and their repatriation to Thailand followed a yearslong investigation by the US Department of Homeland Security. On Monday, museum staff carefully unpacked the artefacts under the watchful gaze of Culture Minister Itthiphol Khunpluem as Thai traditional music played. "These two lintels are evidence of our rich and prosperous history dating back many centuries ago," he said, thanking US authorities and the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry for the "relentless pursuit of the sandstones". Itthiphol also said the government is still deliberating whether they would be taken to smaller, local museums in the provinces of Buriram and Sa Kaeo, which border neighbouring Cambodia. The lintels have features that mirror famed Cambodian temples -- showing the influence and reach of the ancient Khmer Kingdom -- and are believed to have been stolen out of Thailand between 1958 and 1969. As music blared, Thai traditional dancers in gold-flecked dresses donning plastic face shields performed during the unveiling ceremony for the artefacts. Massive towers of fruit were also on display around flower wreaths -- an offering to the gods to protect the lintels. Itthiphol said there are still "13 more Buddha statues and engraved artefacts waiting to be repatriated from the US". The California museum had disputed investigators' allegations that the artefacts were stolen, and insisted it had long planned to return them. US museums are not the only ones to be embroiled in art provenance scandals in recent years. Story continues Australia has repatriated at least eight looted statues to India since 2014. France has vowed to return items taken from Senegal and Benin, while the Netherlands is moving to repatriate artefacts stolen from its former colonies. pit-dhc/oho Several thousand Rohingya staged "unruly" protests Monday against living conditions on a cyclone-prone island off Bangladesh where they were moved from vast camps on the mainland, police said. Since December, Bangladesh has shifted 18,000 out of a planned 100,000 refugees to the low-lying silt island of Bhashan Char from the Cox's Bazar region, where around 850,000 people live in squalid and cramped conditions. Most of them had fled a brutal military offensive in neighbouring Myanmar in 2017 that UN investigators concluded was executed with "genocidal intent". Monday's protest involved up to 4,000 people, police said, and coincided with an inspection visit by officials from the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR). "The Rohingya who are there became unruly the moment the UNHCR representatives landed (on the island) by helicopter today," local police chief Alamgir Hossain told AFP. "They broke the glass on warehouses by throwing rocks. They came at the police... Their demand is they don't want to live here." One Rohingya man confirmed to AFP that bricks were thrown and that police prevented them from entering a building where the UNHCR officials were present. An international rights activist said police used batons to disperse the protesters. Quoting Rohingya sources, he said several protesters were injured. Police rejected the claim. A police spokesman said Rohingya protesters attacked officers, injuring several of them. They also damaged cars on the island, he said. A UNHCR spokesperson confirmed that a delegation from the refugee agency, including the UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations and the Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, visited Bhasan Char island, facilitated by the Government of Bangladesh. "The UNHCR delegation was able to meet with a large group of refugees and to listen to the various issues that they raised, which the delegation will further discuss with the Bangladesh authorities," she said. Story continues She said the delegation has now arrived in Cox's Bazar and would visit the Rohingya refugee camps Tuesday, before returning to Dhaka to meet with senior government officials. - 'Dire straits' - After the first transfer on December 4 to the island in the Bay of Bengal, several Rohingya told AFP they were beaten and intimidated into agreeing to be relocated. Their claims have been echoed by rights groups. The Bangladesh government insists relocation is voluntary, that the island is safe and that its facilities are far better than those in the camps. Police told AFP at least 49 Rohingya, including women and children, have been arrested in recent weeks after fleeing the island and trying to return to Cox's Bazar. But Rohingya leaders say that scores, if not hundreds, of people from their community have escaped and have since returned to Cox's Bazar. One man told AFP on condition of anonymity that he left the island by swimming and then boarding a Bangladeshi fishing boat waiting for him, paying the owner $300. He said that before agreeing to move to the island, he had been assured that he would be able to return to his family in Cox's Bazar after two weeks. "The Rohingyas in Bhashan Char are given only food and no other facilities," he said. He said promises that they would be able to work on the island, farm and fish were not fulfilled. "The Rohingyas are in dire straits there. The Cox's Bazar (camps) are a thousand times better than Bhashan Char," he said. The UN said it has not been involved in the relocation process. There was no immediate comment from the UNHCR on Monday's demonstrations. sa-sam-str/stu/oho Photograph: Lawrence Bryant/Reuters In a speech marking 100 years since the Tulsa race massacre, Joe Biden called on Americans to think upon the deep roots of racial terror in the United States and to destroy systemic racism in their society. In hard-hitting words as part of a declaration of a day of remembrance for the hundreds of Black victims of the 1921 mass killing in Oklahoma, Biden used unusually strong language to describe Americas history of racial strife. On this solemn centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre, I call on the American people to reflect on the deep roots of racial terror in our nation and recommit to the work of rooting out systemic racism across our country, Biden said in a statement. Between 31 May and 1 June, white mobs attacked the historical Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma, an area so prosperous and successful it was known as the Black Wall Street. They killed an estimated 300 residents, displaced many more and burnt many blocks of the city to the ground. Though it was one of the worst acts of racial violence in US history, its anniversary has seemingly gone little marked by much of America, until anti-racism protests in the wake of the death of George Floyd triggered a reckoning over racism in America. A man gestures after a soil dedication ceremony for victims of the 1921 Tulsa Massacre, at Stone Hill on the 100 year anniversary in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Monday. Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images In the statement Biden said that the federal government had played in keeping white and Black Americans unequal in the decades after the massacre by policies that had segregated the races and favored whites. The federal government must reckon with and acknowledge the role that it has played in stripping wealth and opportunity from Black communities, he said, while pledging to invest in Black communities and businesses with government programs, including a massive planned infrastructure package as the US builds back from the coronavirus pandemic. We honor the legacy of the Greenwood community, and of Black Wall Street, by reaffirming our commitment to advance racial justice through the whole of our government, and working to root out systemic racism from our laws, our policies, and our hearts, he said. Story continues Events related to the massacre commemoration ahead of the 100th anniversary have already begun. Hundreds gathered on Monday for an interfaith service dedicating a prayer wall outside historic Vernon African Methodist Episcopal church in Tulsas Greenwood neighborhood on the centennial of the first day of one of the deadliest racist massacres in the nation. National civil rights leaders, including the Revs Jesse Jackson and William Barber, joined multiple local faith leaders offering prayers and remarks outside the church that was largely destroyed during the massacre. Barber, a civil and economic rights activist, said he was humbled even to stand on this holy ground. You can kill the people but you cannot kill the voice of the blood. Although the church was nearly destroyed in the massacre, parishioners continued to meet in the basement, and it was rebuilt several years later, becoming a symbol of the resilience of Tulsas Black community. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018. As the ceremony came to an end, participants put their hands on the prayer wall along the side of the sanctuary while a soloist sung Lift Every Voice and Sing. Traffic hummed on a nearby interstate that cuts through the Greenwood district, which was rebuilt after the massacre but slowly deteriorated 50 years later after homes were taken by eminent domain as part of urban renewal in the 1970s. . The commemoration is slated to include a visit by Biden on Tuesday and the unveiling of the $20m Greenwood Rising museum. ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey and Greece will start taking concrete steps and working on joint projects to improve economic and commercial ties, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said after talks Athens, as the NATO members seek to repair ties. Tensions flared last year over a dispute over maritime jurisdiction and offshore rights in the eastern Mediterranean, and the countries traded barbs on Sunday over the status of Muslim minorities in Greece. Speaking at a news conference with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias in Athens, Cavusoglu said they reached an understanding on 25 articles to improve commercial ties, and both countries would recognise each other's COVID-19 vaccinations, in a move to help tourism. Cavusoglu said Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis were planning to meet at the NATO summit in Brussels on June 14. (Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Dominic Evans) German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Getty Denmark reportedly helped the US access the calls and texts of senior European officials, including Angela Merkel. Denmark held an internal investigation into its partnership with the NSA between 2012 and 2014. The country's public broadcaster reported the findings of the investigation, citing nine unnamed sources. See more stories on Insider's business page. Denmark's foreign intelligence unit helped the US spy on European officials, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, according to a report by Danish public broadcaster Danmarks Radio (DR) on Sunday. In 2015, the Danish Defence Intelligence Service (FE) conducted an internal investigation - code-named "Operation Dunhammer" - into its partnership with the US National Security Agency (NSA), according to the report. The investigation found that the NSA used Danish information cables to spy on senior officials in Sweden, Norway, France, and Germany between 2012 to 2014, according to DR's report. The report cited nine unnamed sources with classified information from FE. The NSA accessed calls, texts, and chat messages to and from officials' telephones, the sources told DR. In addition to Merkel, the NSA spied on former German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and former German opposition leader Peer Steinbruck, according to the DR report. The FE and the NSA didn't provide comment on the DR report. A spokesperson for the German chancellery told Reuters it only became aware of the NSA spying allegations when journalists asked them about the report, and declined to comment further. Leaks by former NSA employee Edward Snowden alleged that the NSA tapped Merkel's phone and spied on other countries. Snowden tweeted on Sunday that President Joe Biden was "deeply involved in this scandal the first time around" as he was vice-President when the reported spying took place. Insider contacted the White House and the NSA for comment, but did not immediately receive a response. Read the original article on Business Insider Jacob Ammentorp Lund / Getty Images/iStockphoto Everyone wants to invest to make money, and investing truly is a great way to meet your long-term financial goals. However, the financial press -- and your friends and neighbors -- can make it seem as if everyone in the world is getting rich while you are plodding away, barely earning anything. Small Business Boost: Don't Miss Out on Nominating Your Favorite Small Business To Be Featured on GOBankingRates -- Ends May 31 This type of fear of missing out can lead some investors to hop on every investing bandwagon in the hopes of making a quick buck. While this desire is very human, it can also be very destructive to your long-term financial health. Heres a look at just a few reasons why you shouldnt jump on investing bandwagons. Last updated: May 5, 2021 frustrated man looking at stocks tanking on his laptop You Won't Know When To Get Out One of the biggest problems with jumping on a hot stock or other investing trend is that its hard to know when to get out. Hot stocks can often rise rapidly and offer dramatic profits, but they can just as easily turn on a dime and trade sharply lower. Imagine a stock that runs up 100% before you decide to pile in and buy it. When the stock sells off 10%, what will you do? What about if the decline reaches 20% or 30%? Many investors will be inclined to buy more of a stock they like if it sells off a little, but what if the stock continues to drop? Would a 50% decline be a huge buying opportunity or an indication that a stock will go down even more? Its unlikely that the stock message boards or your friends who got you into a stock will have any answers, and that is one of the big risks of jumping on an investing bandwagon. Costly Errors: 10 Most Expensive Investing Mistakes, According To Experts gamestop store front You Won't Know When To Get In The flip side of not knowing when to get out of a stock is not knowing when to get in. Usually, hot stocks or other popular investment trends only attract the general public after big gains have already been achieved. Take the example of GameStop. In early 2021, no one in the financial press was talking about GameStop, as the stock traded at about $18 per share. It was only when the stock began skyrocketing by as much as 400% in a single week that the financial press couldnt stop talking about it. Once the news of the hot stock reached the masses, it exploded upwards to $483 in a matter of days -- but if you decided that was the time to buy in, you made a huge mistake, as the stock now sits at just $160 per share. Trying to time a hot stock is usually a fools errand. Story continues See Also: 9 Safe Investments With the Highest Returns Short-Term Wins Come at a Big Cost One of the rarely discussed flaws of trading in and out of hot stocks is the hidden cost youll have to pay, in the form of taxes. Any short-term profits you take on hot stocks can trigger a massive tax bill, as positions held for one year or less are taxed at ordinary income tax rates. This means that depending on your income, you might owe as much as 37% in federal taxes alone on your short-term gains. In high-tax states like California, your combined tax rate could reach about 50%. If you could instead hold your positions for longer than one year, youd likely pay just 15% on those gains, and you might owe as little as 0% if your taxable income is less than $80,000. More: 9 Outdated Myths About Investing Close up of women's hands holding smartphone. Investment Trends Change One of the main reasons to avoid investing bandwagons is that investment trends change. Even if youve done the research and confirmed that there are sound investment principles behind the current hot trend, you shouldnt expect it to last forever. And, as with any hot stock, it can be hard to know exactly when the winds of change will come. The closest thing to a sure thing on Wall Street is that the overall market will rise over the long run, a principle that no less than billionaire investor Warren Buffet subscribes to. But if youre investing according to the latest hot trend, you can never be sure when the party will be over. Read: Top Investing Tips for Those Who Dont Follow the Market Stock market concept You're Gambling, Not Investing Lets call a spade a spade -- the bottom line is that if you are jumping on hot investing bandwagons, you are gambling with your money, not investing. And that is OK if you understand what you are doing. Theres no doubt that investing speculatively can be exciting, and sometimes it can result in tremendous profits. However, just like gambling in a casino, these types of risks can just as often result in losing a significant amount of your money. If you want to speculate with a small portion of your portfolio -- say, 5% -- most financial advisors will say that is fine. However, if youre looking to reach your long-term investment goals, gambling with money you cant lose -- just as in a casino -- is foolhardy. Check Out: The Best Investing Advice From Jim Cramer and 9 Other Top Experts Focused college student sitting in cafeteria taking notes while using laptop. It's Time-Consuming Trying to keep on top of all of the latest investment trends can take up a lot more of your time than you might imagine. Hot investment trends tend to come and go rapidly, so if you arent paying constant attention, you might miss out when the trend turns. In fact, if you arent willing to keep up with how your investments are going, youre better off just holding a long-term, buy-and-hold investment portfolio to begin with. The Big Picture: 7 Best Long Term Investments To Consider businessman experiencing stress during a late night at work It's Stressful Jumping in and out of hot stocks or investment trends can be immensely stressful. If youre buying and selling stocks like GameStop that can literally move 100% in a single day, your stress level could skyrocket as much as the stock. Especially if you are playing with money you cant afford to lose -- like your retirement or college savings funds -- trying to ride the hot trend can put you in a constant state of tension and stress. As stress can create long-term health problems, at some point youll have to ask yourself, is chasing the hot trend really worth it? More: 9 Investing Bubbles That Will Make You Rethink Bitcoin couple on the floor filling out paper work It's Unsustainable Riding hot investment trends is ultimately unsustainable. If youre just looking for short-term speculation, sure, it can be fun to hop on to the latest trend. However, if following the crowd is your long-term investment strategy, its simply unsustainable. While you might get lucky and succeed once, twice or even three times, over the long run, its inevitable that you will get whipsawed and time the trend incorrectly. And if youre dealing with hot stocks, just one miss can be enough to wipe out your whole bankroll. Imagine you buy a stock and you take a 100% profit, then reinvest that in the next hot stock and earn 200%. Youre doing great, right? Well, if your third investment loses 90%, your entire bankroll is essentially gone. Its hard to reach long-term financial goals with that type of volatility. Against Type: 13 Investing Rules You Should Break During the Pandemic man counting USD money It Can Be Expensive It goes without saying that if youre planning to day trade with a traditional brokerage firm, all of the commissions you pay from trading in and out of stocks can easily eat up all of your profits. But even at the zero-commission brokers, costs can add up. In addition to the taxes youll pay, as mentioned above, zero-commission brokers carry another risk -- down service time. Brokers such as Robinhood may charge no commissions, but theyve also had notable service outages, right when customers needed to buy or sell a stock the most. In fact, in 2020, Robinhood was actually under SEC and FINRA investigation for a day-long outage in the midst of the March market turmoil. If you need to get out of a stock thats plunging and you cant access your brokers website, your losses can add up to a lot more than the commissions you are saving. See: Reasons These 10 Hot Stocks Might Not Survive 2021 Businessman checking stock market data on tablet on night background Slow and Steady Wins the Race If youre not yet convinced that slow and steady wins the race when it comes to investing, just take a look at the history of the S&P 500 index. Although the market can certainly be volatile at times, hanging on for the long haul has proved immensely profitable for patient investors. Not only is the long-term average return of the S&P 500 index about 10% per year, but there has also actually been no 20-year rolling period in history where the S&P 500 index has lost money. Considering the market has a reputation as being too risky for some investors, thats an amazing statistic. If you told the average investor that there was an investment where they could earn about 10% per year while having no historical risk of losing money over any 20-year period, a lot more might get excited about putting more money into the stock market. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Why You Shouldnt Jump On Investing Bandwagons Donald Trump is a stain on our democracy. Now, Glenn Youngkin wants to bring Trumps extremism to Virginia, one of the digital ads says. We cant let the extreme right take us backwards. *** As the primary contest comes to a close, McAuliffe is making the case that with his name at the top of the ticket, he will be able to wield his fundraising prowess and popularity in the state to help Democrats up and down the ballot. Virginians also are electing a lieutenant governor and an attorney general. This fall, Democrats also are defending control of the House of Delegates, where they hold 55 of the 100 seats. Del. Shelly Simonds, D-Newport News, is one of several Democrats in competitive House districts who are backing McAuliffe. Simonds famously lost her bid for the House in 2017 in a random drawing from a glass bowl to break a tie. Simonds went on to unseat GOP Del. David Yancey in 2019, when Democrats gained control of the House. Simonds said Democrats owe that victory in part to McAuliffe, who used his name recognition and funds to help House candidates. McAuliffe was a keynote speaker at two key fundraisers for Simonds, when I was on my long, uphill battle to flip my seat. Japanese tennis player Osaka Naomi has been fined 15,000 dollars for skipping a post-match news conference at the French Open. The organizers of the Grand Slam tournaments warned of possible expulsion from the tournament and future Grand Slam suspensions if she continues to ignore "her contractual media obligations." The top officials of the four Grand Slam tourneys issued a joint statement on Sunday after Osaka boycotted a news conference earlier in the day following her first-round win at the French Open. Osaka had announced her decision on Twitter several days before to forgo all post-match news conferences at the tournament. She wrote that she often felt that people have no regard for athletes' mental health. The organizers' statement said that following Osaka's announcement, the French Open teams asked her to reconsider her position and were unsuccessful in their attempts to check on her well-being. The statement added, "The mental health of players competing in our tournaments and on the Tours is of the utmost importance to the Grand Slams." The organizers said, "A core element of the Grand Slam regulations is the responsibility of the players to engage with the media, whatever the result of their match, a responsibility which players take for the benefit of the sport, the fans and for themselves." They said, "As might be expected, repeat violations attract tougher sanctions including default from the tournament...and the trigger of a major offence investigation that could lead to more substantial fines and future Grand Slam suspensions." By Sunday evening, however, it appeared Osaka had put the ball firmly back in the organizers' court, responding on Twitter that "Anger is a lack of understanding. Change makes people uncomfortable." - NHK soranews24.com - Jun 10 Last month, the United States placed Japan on its list of Level-4 travel advisory countries, the highest possible ranking and one which carries a do not travel warning, due to the countrys coronavirus conditions. Just over two weeks later, though, Japan has now been removed from Level-4 status. Students at public high schools in Okinawa have begun attending school on alternate days as the prefecture bids to tackle high numbers of coronavirus cases. Outbreaks reported among teenagers in the southern Japanese prefecture appear to stem from contact with classmates or to have links to extracurricular activities. Staggering school hours began at public senior high schools and others after Okinawa was included in the state of emergency on May 23. First- and second-year students began attending classes alternately starting Monday to strengthen measures against the virus. Third-year students are excluded from the scheme, as reduced attendance may affect their future plans. Second- and third-year students at Naha High School in the city of Naha attended classes on Monday. But the classrooms for first-year students remained deserted. The school is calling on stay-at-home students to study on their own, and has been sharing study materials on its website and through other means. Students going to school in person are required to check and report their temperature before they leave home. They are also being told to sanitize their hands. The vice-principal of the school showed understanding of the extra trouble for the students and expressed readiness to take one step at a time to ensure they won't be deprived of learning opportunities. - NHK China has reacted harshly to Japan's proposal to offer coronavirus vaccines to Taiwan, saying vaccine assistance should not be a political tool. Japan's Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu said last Friday that the government is considering providing its extra supply of coronavirus vaccines to other countries and regions, including Taiwan. China's foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a news conference on Monday that Japan cannot even guarantee its own people enough vaccines at the moment. He said the media and many people, including those in Taiwan, had doubts about the offer. Wang said vaccine assistance should return to its original purpose of saving lives, and not be reduced to a tool for political self-interest. In response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's accusation that China had blocked Taiwan's deal with a foreign vaccine maker, Wang said Beijing has made utmost efforts to help Taiwan. He went on to say that Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party was discouraging the distribution of vaccines made in China. - NHK Japan is riddled with millions of vacant homes, called akiya, that local governments hope will sell for next to nothing. At last count, Japans Housing and Land survey found 8.49 million uninhabited dwellings in 2018 a 3.2% increase in akiya since the previous survey interval in 2013. All told, more than 13% of the countrys 62 million homes are unoccupied, especially in rural prefectures such as Wakayama, Tokushima, Kagoshima and Kochi. In these regions, the average rate of vacant homes is up to 18%. Now, a new program led by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga means to stimulate Japans rural economy by encouraging tourism, business and a wave of new residents. Online akiya banks have been set up by cities such as Tochigi and Nagano, where potential buyers can shop for abandoned homes listed for as little as 50,000 yen ($500). In Okutama, the price drops to $0. We are committed and we are positive about bringing all of our folks together to work through this transition, he said. Will it be bumpy? We assume probably in different things, as you go through a major overhaul on how things are funded and so forth. Thats why were putting this group together because were committed to making sure that if there are bumps in the road that we get it smoothed out as quickly as possible. Were not throwing up our hands, taking our ball and going home. Quite the opposite. We stand as willing partners to work with the counties and the regions and DHS and the providers and so forth, we just want this to go as smooth as possible. The future of abortion services in Iowa is uncertain, with a potential amendment to the state constitution and a looming key case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. Those pending outcomes have the potential to dramatically impact to what extent abortion remains legal in Iowa and around the country. And those monumental cases come as access to abortions has become rare in Iowa, even as the number of abortions here has increased. Its very clear across the country reproductive freedom is under attack, said Jamie Burch Elliott, director of public affairs at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa. Abortion access is being limited. Only nine medical facilities in Iowa provided abortions in 2017 a 33% decline from three years earlier and 93% of Iowa counties had no such facility, according to a recent study from the Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit research and policy organization that advocates for sexual and reproductive health and rights. More than half of Iowa women lived in the counties with no medical facility that provided abortions, the institute said. The nonpartisan legislative agency will turn that data into maps as quickly as possible, Cook said, but its just impossible to know how long it will take and whether it will be in time for legislators to meet their constitutional deadline. The Iowa Constitution requires that a plan be adopt by lawmakers by Sept. 1 and enacted, or signed by the governor, by Sept. 15. Before the Legislature can act, a bipartisan redistricting advisory commission must hold public hearings and make a recommendation on a redistricting plan. If the Legislature approves the plan, it goes to the governor for her signature. If not, the agency draws a new set of maps for the legislators to either accept or reject. If a third plan is needed, lawmakers can amend it. That causes some concern, especially among Democrats, that Republicans will gerrymander the map for their electoral advantage. From the perspective of the legislative agency, the process should be the same as always. Its just that instead of having this issue in February and March, were going to have it late in the fall, Cook said. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} If the Legislature cant meet the deadline, redistricting becomes the responsibility of the Iowa Supreme Court. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. A veteran micro-blogger was sentenced to eight months in prison by a court in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu province, for slandering martyrs and heroes on Monday. Qiu Ziming, whose online name is labixiaoqiu and has more than 2.5 million followers on Sina Weibo, China's Twitter-like platform, also was ordered to make a public apology on major websites and national media within 10 days after the ruling takes effect, Jianye District People's Court said. Qiu was identified by the court having posted two micro blogs to attract more internet users in the morning of Feb 19, in which he slandered military heroes and martyrs in the border clash with Indian troops last year, as well as distorted their heroic deeds. As a micro-blogger with a large number of fans, the two posts were spreading quickly and widely online, triggering public outrage and bringing great negative effects to society, the court added. The next day, he was detained by Nanjing police, and in early March, he was taken to court by Nanjing prosecutors. After the court's investigation, it said in the ruling that Qiu's behavior constituted the crime of slandering the reputation of heroes and martyrs under the amended Criminal Law, but given that he confessed to the offense with a positive attitude, it decided to punish him leniently. China has intensified efforts in protecting heroes and martyrs in recent years by legislation and strict implementation of the law. In May 2018, for example, a law specializing in safeguarding the reputation rights of heroes and martyrs came into effect. In March this year, the revised Criminal Law also clearly states that it is a crime to slander martyrs and heroes. I havent followed it alot, but did she just unilaterally decide to do this and not tell the tourney? Like was it just announced on Twitter or wtvr? If so, thats not a good look. And will she therefore never do the press again? The press is part of the sport, I dont see how they can let her get away with this and then potentially deny other people. Reply Thread Link I dont see why in order to be an athlete, one has to speak to the press. Play your sport and then go home if you want to. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link well its always been that way, it is what is is. So if she is trying to change that, sure, but there is precedent here. And pretty much every single sport, individual and team, has interviews afterwards. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link She has no support from other athletes in tennis on this. She didn't try to work with the tournament at all. She just chose to sign up for it and then post on twitter she wouldn't comply with their rules. Doing press when you win or lose is part of the contract in every professional sport. I like her I think she probably is going through some shit mentally and needs some help but this was not a professional way to try to get things changed. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm pretty sure it's part of the fee you're paid for winning in tennis is so you are required to do press and sponsorship things Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Media and TV deals = money and growth for the sport. I am with Naomi, protect your mental health at any cost, but I wish she would have gone about it differently. Talked to the tournament beforehand, maybe try to work out an agreement. But I also see how that could have been additional pressure and stress. Reply Parent Thread Link Athletes at the end of the day are entertainers and its part of the job to be interviewed to appease sponsors/press. Reply Parent Thread Link https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/26/sports/tennis/naomi-osaka-french-open-no-interviews.html She even said the organisers should at least donate the fines to a mental health charity. These press conferences can be tough for professional athletes especially solo athletes who don't have team mates to support them. I have seen some messed up after game press conferences Serena and Venus Williams have had in the past which were just BRUTAL. No one should be subjected to that kind of mental pressure especially after a loss. There should be more discussion on how these press conferences are handled. More power to Noami, it is difficult stand to take but an admirable one. She announced last week that she will not be doing any press on her social media platforms to guard her mental health.She even said the organisers should at least donate the fines to a mental health charity. These press conferences can be tough for professional athletes especially solo athletes who don't have team mates to support them. I have seen some messed up after game press conferences Serena and Venus Williams have had in the past which were just BRUTAL. No one should be subjected to that kind of mental pressure especially after a loss. There should be more discussion on how these press conferences are handled. More power to Noami, it is difficult stand to take but an admirable one. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Bless the her for not putting up with the bullshit. How about you make the press conferences optional? If theyre not a bad experience, Im sure many players will opt in for it. If not, your system is broken. Edited at 2021-05-31 04:09 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link the article says they're only mandatory if the player is asked to do them, which means she said she doesn't want to do them and they asked her anyway, which is just real shitty Reply Parent Thread Link If a journalist requests you, you're obligated to do them. I think it's required as part of your 'winnings' from the tournament. Edited at 2021-05-31 05:04 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link They should make some kind of ADA accommodation for her like let her do an interview on video or by phone and give her final approval over the final cut if she would be more comfortable. There has to be some sort of compromise. Even a text interview. In fact they could even turn it into a human interest story about performing and coping with anxiety if she were comfortable sharing. Too many companies are just like oh well maybe this isn't the job for you when "functional" people with anxiety ask for reasonable accommodations. They need to be shown the way and pressured to maintain workspaces that at least don't damage mental health. Companies aren't fined enough by OSHA for them to care. Usually someone has to be seriously injured or die for OSHA to care and the fines still aren't high enough. Overall I just hope this person gets the care that is needed. Reply Parent Thread Link Whatever. Maybe if they asked her questions other than about her race or whether she can beat Serena she would be more interested in answering? Reply Thread Link Exactly this. Or if they wouldnt ask a player who lost why they lost right after they just lost. Reply Parent Thread Link Do you follow tennis? She's crushed Serena for years and thats coming from a Serena fan. According to her sister she didn't want to do press because of her poor record on clay. Reply Parent Thread Link True, but it still doesn't stop them from asking questions about Serena, even if Naomi is not playing against her. Some questions get old. Reply Parent Thread Link i mean, im she doesnt want to do it becuase she sucks on clay, that is a shitty ass excuse. Like, she can feel how she wants and mental health is serius but that should have been kept inhouse. You go and beat up every single person, keep winning, probably the biggest name in tennis but you specifically dont want to do pressers at the French because you suck on the surface? Thats....not a good look Reply Parent Thread Link Im glad she didnt felt bullied to do press. We all saw that Serena presser and that did not reflect well on the press nor the tour. Reply Thread Link I can understand how her decision to do this without talking to anyone ruffled some feathers but jfc, the reactions to it have rubbed me really wrong and have been overkill imo And unfortunately, Naomi's sister trying to speak up for her didn't help :/ Reply Thread Link the reactions to it have rubbed me really wrong and have been overkill imo Same here. Theres always this extra passion people seem to have when it comes to being angry at women who are also POC. It almost always feels like theyre using whatever they can to exert their sexism and racism, in hopes that they can be both without being labeled as such because its about the sport or the controversy and not about the player. Not saying this is the case with everyone who is upset at her, but theres definitely an energy here that you dont always find elsewhere. Imagine if this was a white man making this decision? Whether he was in the right or not, you would have people bending over backwards to justify his choice and argue why its the right one. The focus would be centered around his mental health and why he should be able to do something that is apparently unprecedented. Some of the same people attacking her would be praising him. But a POC who is also a woman? Defying conventions? In this racist and sexist world? Shes a brave one. Even here on ONTD, the comments are framed more around whether or not she had the right to do this, as opposed to the mental health struggles shes apparently going through. And again, Im not saying shes right or wrong. I dont know the full story here and Im not going to pretend I do. But again, its the approach people take when it comes to controversy surrounding POC women. Its never pretty and always a little extra insidious. Reply Parent Thread Link Athletes should not be forced to do media if they dont wish to. Especially after a loss when they are still processing what happened and having to be subjected to the media picking apart every moment of the match when they did something wrong. Reply Thread Link exactly! and having to do it before an event is shitty too. most athletes are going to be really nervous and should be able to focus on their matches rather than having to indulge the media imo. Reply Parent Thread Link I am all for this. I never understood why players are expected to do press and interviews after a game or before an event to basically just spew out the same phrases. After a win, excited. After a loss, things theyll do better. Prior to a game, excited to play, blah, blah, blah. Its never groundbreaking information gathered. Just let them be athletes. Reply Thread Link Because sports are a business and press is part of this kind of business. But I do agree that athletes shouldn't be forced to do it right before/after they play, there should be some arrangement for them to have the option to do press at another moment and reporters who aren't respectful should be banned. Reply Parent Thread Link And I thought the four majors putting out that joint statement was especially bullshit when Naomi did do an on-court interview after her first match. She is not swearing off the press altogether or forever. Edited at 2021-05-31 04:25 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Confirmed with Naomi Osakas team that this Reddit post is indeed from her older sister, Mari Osaka. Gives unique insight amid Naomis silence. (Worth noting, probably, that Osaka did not do press after her loss in Rome to Pegula, from what Ive heard, as she wasnt requested.) pic.twitter.com/VtYT57bOYS Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) May 30, 2021 Naomi's sisters explanation just made this worse she's clearly not mentally well. Her big reason for saying no to the press (which is an obligation she signed up for when she chose to enter the tournament) is that her confidence was shaken that some family member remarked she's not good on clay. I hope she sees a sports psychologist or something because media obligations (whether you like it or not) after wins and losses is a part of all professional sports leagues. Reply Thread Link I dont follow tennis, what does not good on clay mean? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link it means just that it's not her best surface. Reply Parent Thread Link Tennis is played on a number of different surfaces, clay being one of them. Some players' style of playing is better suited to different surfaces - Osaka's is less suited to clay than it is to the hard courts (not unusual - the men's second seed, Medvedev, is terrible on clay to the point that it's become a meme) Reply Parent Thread Link Clay is the name of the surface ! Some tennis player are well known to be unbeatable on clay/grass and to be struggling on other surfaces. I liked Mari Osaka's explanation ! On the other hand, I thought Naomi was like 18 or something and now that I know that she's 23, I feel like her one-sided decision that comes out of the blue wasn't the best way to do it...I hope she will get the help she needs and also that her entourage will help her. Reply Parent Thread Link There are different types of courts (hard, grass, clay) that affect the way you play and it can accentuate your strengths or weaknesses. Reply Parent Thread Link There are four big "slams" in tennis and court surface is a major part of them. French - Clay Wimbledon - Grass US / Australian - Hard Reply Parent Thread Link Her sister's post really didn't help the situation - it made it appear that what Naomi'd framed as mental health issues is just a lack of confidence, which surely every sportsperson experiences? It's part and parcel of the profession Also saying 'tennis players don't get paid to do press conferences, only when they win matches' - I'm pretty sure it's part of the contract for appearing at a tournament like RG, even if you lose in the first round you get paid...and media sponsorship from broadcast rights etc is a big part of where the tournaments get their funding, which pays the players' prize money Her team need to get their PR game together tbh as this has been handled really poorly Reply Parent Thread Link This post was not...good. It made it seem like not doing press was a strategic move to help her win when its not really the case. Sigh. Hope she has access to a sports psych because you cant be at that level and not have one, regardless of who you are. Reply Parent Thread Link So her solution was to block everything out. No talking to people who is going to put doubt in her mind. Shes protecting her mind hence why its called mental health. So many people are picky on this term thinking you need to have depression or some sort of disorder to be able to use the term mental health. Reply Parent Thread Link I don't understand why talking to the press is mandatory. It's like Marshawn Lynch who was also fined for not talking to the media. Reply Thread Link I think in tennis it's because it's part of the 'winnings' the tournament pays you. If any press want to speak to you, you're inclined to speak to them. Reply Parent Thread Link Its so strange to me how athletes have to become so media trained. I think of athletes Ive gone to school with and its weird that they arent celebrities, but if they got successful in their sport they would have to be trained as though they were Reply Thread Link yeah it sounds like talking to a sport psychologist would be helpful for her. She signed a contract and has to honour the contract, legally. I personally think they all say the same thing before and after a game, but isn't it all part of drumming up press for the sport, which is a good thing? Apparently they tried to talk to her and understand the issue but she refused to engage, which is obviously not cooperative and doesn't look good for her. Reply Thread Link Dont let them take your hard earned coins!!!!! Though its funny when Marshawn did it. Im sure if she did it, the press will call her a stuck up, hard to work with, entitled brat with some racism sprinkled on it Reply Thread Link I miss Marshawn. He was my favorite on the Seahawks. Reply Parent Thread Link I dont watch football but he seems like a genuine good dude. Like he gave out turkeys last year? Hes super cool and seems super chill. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I miss him. :( Reply Parent Thread Link legendaric Reply Parent Thread Link lmao, I love it. If a reporter is being disrespectful they could answer some random stuff like 'my favorite color is...'. But I can see how someone wouldn't be feeling like it right after losing. Reply Parent Thread Link This was a dumb move on Naomi's part. I do think the Slams are overreacting though. Reply Thread Link Ive thought of making a post for this!! Im so pissed on her belief and feel like wanting to yell at them. I know that wont snap them out of it but gdi.... Yeah this overall situation is so fucked up and hypocritical tbh. This is like them giving and then taking it away from her. I stg they are the one having serious issues that is obvious in need to sort themselves out, NOT HER! Getting fined for this bullshit is truly an audacity... I was about to say if she gonna pay the fine to phone it in, understandable but what happen if this is repeated next time when she doesnt want to do it? Like are they going to drain everything up? This truly is depressing and disheartening, I say this as a fellow black AAPI studying Japanese all while being disrespected by weebs crying in romaji. *grumbles* Reply Thread Link the weebs who cry in romaji if this isn't the truth, full truth and nothing BUT the truth then idk (I was once the sole Asian person studying Japanese in a sea of white weebs and WELL) Reply Parent Thread Link I wasn't sure if you knew, but all players are fined for skipping press if they're requested. Naomi knew she would be fined because she said as much in her statement. The fine won't be a shock to her. Reply Parent Thread Link Iran can boost its crude oil production to as much as 6.5 million barrels per day (bpd) when the U.S. sanctions on its oil industry are lifted, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh was quoted as saying on Monday. Iran currently pumps around 2.5 million bpd and last produced close to the 6-million-bpd mark in the early 1970s. When the sanctions are lifted, the Islamic Republic could increase its production to over 6 million bpd, according to the oil ministrys website quoted by Reuters. The next Iranian government should make it a top priority to raise oil production to 6.5 million barrels a day, Zanganeh said in Tehran on Monday, Bloomberg reported. Higher oil production will also give Iran more political clout, according to the minister. Iran currently exports some of its oil, mostly to China, in defiance of the U.S. sanctions, but it is preparing to boost those exports to 2.5 million bpd once the sanctions are lifted. Talks in Vienna on the return of Iran and the United States to the so-called Iran nuclear deal continue, with analysts saying both parties could be willing to see an outcome from those talks before the presidential election in the Islamic Republic on June 18. If the ongoing talks result in an agreement, it will be in August at the earliest that Iranian barrels will hit the market free of American sanctions, Amrita Sen, head of research at Energy Aspects, told Bloomberg Television in an interview last week. Even if a deal is announced as early as this week, it will take at least another two months for Iranian oil to start flowing to the market with the blessing of the United States, she said. This is because the Biden Administration will likely send any deal reached to Congress, which has 60 days to review it. The Administration could, in theory, bypass Congressional review, but Energy Aspects analysts dont think it will do so, Sen added. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Iran has started sending crude oil via the Goreh-Jask pipeline that passes by the Strait of Hormuz and ends at the port city of Jask in the Gulf of Oman, from where the oil could be loaded on tankers for export. The first shipment has almost reached its final destination, Bloomberg reported, citing Irans state-owned Islamic Republic News Agency. The 620-mile pipeline will be officially opened later this year by President Hassan Rouhani. Iran has been preparing for the lifting of U.S. sanctions for months now, boosting its oil production and preparing to boost exports as well. Earlier this month, President Rouhani said the principal agreement on the sanctions has been reached, which caused a temporary slump in oil prices. Later, other sources said the final agreement is still out of reach. Meanwhile, however, the country is ramping up output, planning to return to a production level of 4 million barrels daily, which Tehran said it could do within three months. Most of this will probably be exported through the Strait of Hormuz, but it would make sense to seek an alternative route, too, in case of another flare-up in regional or international tensions, making the chokepoint a suitable spot for confrontation. On numerous occasions, Iran has been the party initiating the confrontation, too. As Iran seeks ways to bring more oil to international markets, the Energy Information Administration reported that an Iranian oil cargo had reached the United States in March, with Reuters noting in its report that the data of the cargo was included in a monthly report that followed the U.S. seizure of an Iranian oil shipment in a Liberian-flagged tanker. The report also noted that its own shipping data had shown the seized tanker had unloaded its cargo at Galveston, Louisiana, in March as well. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The discovery of oil in three new wells in Turkey will add significantly to the countrys output, following Turkeys biggest ever gas discovery just last year. Turkeys energy sector is going from strength to strength as President Erdo?an announced the discovery of oil in three new onshore wells this May. This is expected to increase the countrys oil output by 6,800 bpd, which is currently averaging over 61,000 bpd. Two wells are located in the south-eastern Diyarbak?r province, named Akoba-1 and Yeni?ehir-1, with the third well, Misinli-2, in the north-western province of K?rklareli. Akoba-1 and Yeni?ehir-1 are expected to produce 2,800 and 3,000 oil respectively, and K?rklareli will produce 1,000 bpd, according to Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez. This follows a major natural gas discovery in October 2020. The drilling ship, Fatih, discovered 405 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas in the Tuna-1 well in the Sakarya gas field, standing around 100 nautical miles off Turkey's Black Sea coast. This represents that countrys largest natural gas discovery to date. Gas found in Tuna-1 is expected to be made available to the country as early as 2023. Following this discovery, Turkey plans to continue its Black Sea hydrocarbon explorations. If prediction levels are correct, Tuna-1 output could provide enough gas to meet 30 percent of the countrys needs at its peak production in 2025. Turkey is planning to drill as many as 40 production wells in the Sakarya gas field by 2028. However, initial production is expected to be able to commence earlier when around 5 to 6 wells have been drilled. This could decrease the countrys dependence on Russia, Iran, and Azerbaijan for energy imports, reducing Turkeys import bill which currently stands at around $12 billion. Energy minister Donmez, this month, signaled a likely announcement of further gas discoveries in the region stating there was good news in relation to Black Sea exploration activities. Donmez communicated, Let us wait for June for the update. The works will be completed in June. Going on to say, It is a field we are hopeful about. New seismic data also confirm our hope ... We do not make statements until we are sure. These are big and important works. President Erdo?an backed up this rumor this May, announcing the expectation of new natural gas finds to come soon. We are getting good news, and with these, do not be surprised if you get news on an oil or natural gas (discovery) soon,, the president stated. It is expected that Turkey will drill more boreholes to aid its gas exploration activities in the eastern Mediterranean. To date, Turkey has completed eight boreholes, which have showed signs of natural gas but not of great enough economic significance. However, territorial disputes could hinder this project, following a standoff with Greece and Cyprus in 2020. Erdo?an hopes the E.U., which has deepened trade links with Turkey since 2016, will not sanction the state for further exploration in the eastern Mediterranean. This comes as Greece and Cyprus battled with Turkey over energy resources and jurisdiction in the region last August. The latest oil discovery adds to the countrys energy portfolio, which was boosted last year by Turkeys largest-ever natural gas discovery, in the Black Sea. However, territorial disputes could lead to Turkey having to choose between positive trade relations with the EU and greater gas discoveries within this region. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The first Iranian oil shipment in years reached the U.S. shores in March, Reuters has reported, citing data from the Energy Information Administration. The data showed that more than 1 million barrels of Iranian crude reached the United States two months ago, which, Reuters notes, took place a month after United States authorities seized a tanker carrying Iranian crude. The agency also notes in its report that the previous time the EIA reported Iranian crude in the countrys import mix was last October, again after the U.S. seized an Iranian oil cargo. The shipment that the U.S. detained earlier this year was carried by a Liberian-flagged tanker and was believed to be some 2 million barrels. The grounds for the detainment, as laid out in a forfeiture complaint at a U.S. District Court, were that Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has created a scheme to covertly ship Iranian oil to a customer outside Iran. Later, an Emirati oil and gas company owned by the ruler of the emirate of Fujairah surprised U.S. authorities by claiming ownership of the cargo. Fujairah International Oil & Gas Corp. told the District of Columbia that the 2 million barrels of crude oil originally came from Iraq. However, it did not disclose the supplier. The Emirati company, which is owned by the Fujairah emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, then sold the crude to an undisclosed buyer from China. Iran meanwhile denied ownership of the cargo, with a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry saying, This shipment does not belong to the Iranian government. It belongs to the private sector. The latest in the Iranian cargo saga was reported by the Associated Press, which said earlier today that the U.S. had sold the cargo it had seized in February. The report cited court documents and official statistics. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: State-and-regional topical alert No longer 'Unknown': Offutt lab wraps up identification of USS Oklahoma dead WORLD-HERALD ARCHIVES The USS Oklahoma absorbed as many as eight torpedo hits in the first minutes of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Of about 1,100 sailors and Marines on board, 429 were killed. Only 35 were identified. DEFENSE POW/MIA ACCOUNTING AGENCY Service members drape a U.S. flag over a newly disinterred casket of unidentified remains from the USS Oklahoma in Honolulu in 2015. Ceremonies on Wednesday will mark the return of the last unidentifiable bones for reburial in Hawaii. U.S. NAVY, NATIONAL ARCHIVES The USS Oklahoma, sunk in the Pearl Harbor attack, being rolled upright in March 1943. THE WORLD-HERALD Sunk at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, the battleship USS Oklahoma is shown when it was refloated in May 1943. Update: The date of the "honorable carry" ceremony in Lincoln marking the close of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency's USS Oklahoma Project has been postponed to a date that will be announced later. The ceremony will be carried live on the DPAA Facebook page. *** The Pentagon is playing taps this Memorial Day week for the USS Oklahoma Project, a six-year effort to identify 388 sailors and Marines missing since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Six years ago, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency exhumed 61 caskets containing USS Oklahoma remains from the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. They were shipped to the agencys laboratory at Offutt Air Force Base, the first major identification project at a facility that opened in June 2013. Since then, the team of forensic anthropologists at the Offutt lab working along with the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory in Delaware have identified 338 of the missing men, beating a goal of 80% (about 315) set at the beginning of the project. This is the first project were really closing, said Carrie LeGarde, the anthropologist who is leading the project. Were still a pretty small staff. Everybody here contributed to the Oklahoma. Ceremonies originally planned for June 2 have been postponed because of the lack of an available aircraft, a spokesman for the accounting agency said Wednesday. An announcement will follow when the events are rescheduled. The second will take place a few hours later after the plane lands at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, just a few hundred yards from where the men died. 79 years after Pearl Harbor attack, Offutt lab working to bring families closure Nearly 80 years after the Oklahoma capsized in Pearl Harbor, the remains of young men will soon return home through the efforts of a team of experts working in a lab at Offutt Air Force Base. This is something thats been years in the making, said Lt. Col. Tamara Fischer-Carter, a spokeswoman for the accounting agency. The ceremonies are for invited guests only, but anyone may view them live on the accounting agencys Facebook page. The Oklahoma absorbed as many as eight torpedo hits in the first minutes of the Sunday morning surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, and it quickly rolled over at its mooring on Battleship Row. Of about 1,100 sailors and Marines on board, 429 were killed. Only 35 were identified. The graves were exhumed after the war, and the Army Graves Registration Service made a stab at identifying the remains. The effort failed. Although 27 skulls were identified through dental records, authorities at the time decided to rebury all of the remains in plots at the new cemetery in Honolulu, in 46 graves marked Unknown. In the 1990s, a resourceful Pearl Harbor survivor named Ray Emory, using documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, successfully linked the remains of five USS Oklahoma sailors to a single grave. Nearly eight decades later, family will bury Lincoln twins killed in Pearl Harbor attack Family members will gather Saturday morning in Lincoln to bury Leo and Rudolph Blitz, who were killed after Japanese torpedoes struck their ship, the USS Oklahoma, in the early moments of the raid on Pearl Harbor. Emory joined with living veterans of the ship to lobby the Defense Department to open that grave in 2003. Those five identities were confirmed using DNA technology, as was one more from another grave in 2007. Finally, after years of internal debate, the Pentagon in 2015 ordered the reopening of the remaining USS Oklahoma graves a policy change that has since led to identification of hundreds of other World War II and Korean War dead who had been buried as unknowns in U.S. military cemeteries. The remains arrived at Offutts new lab over several months. About 13,000 bones were spread out on tables, each one numbered and logged into spreadsheets. They took DNA samples from about 5,000 of the larger bones and set a goal of identifying 80% of the 388 sailors and Marines still unidentified. The agencys historians and anthropologists prepared reports and sent off the DNA to the Delaware lab for comparison with DNA samples obtained from relatives. The first identification was announced in March 2016: Petty Officer 1st Class Vernon Luke, 43, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, a World War I veteran who had written to his family two weeks earlier, Wish the war would break, we would get thru much quicker ... guess everything will come out okay, according to his obituary. The agency announced its 100th USS Oklahoma identification in December 2017, the 200th in March 2019, and the 300th in February. Offutt lab that identifies missing service members' remains will move to new home The Department of Defense lab at Offutt Air Force Base that identifies soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines from past wars will move to a new home, possibly in Bellevue. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry and a bipartisan Congressional delegation toured the lab on Tuesday. It is the largest and most complex sorting of a single group of remains undertaken by the DPAA or its predecessor, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, which was reorganized in 2015 after a series of controversies. It dominated the duties of the Offutt lab for several years, and it is the first such project to be formally concluded. LeGarde took over the leadership of the Oklahoma Project two years ago, but she has been immersed in the case since it started. I was in Hawaii at the beginning, LeGarde said. The very first casket that came out of the ground, I helped clean. The project passed its goal of identifying 80% of the missing men earlier this year, and the current total of 338 represents 86%. Eighteen identifications were announced in April and 11 in May, including a set of brothers from Indiana, Petty Officer 2nd Class Harold Trapp, 24, and Petty Officer 3rd Class William Trapp, 23. LeGarde said she believes the lab will reach 90%, or about 354. We still have some more in the pipeline, she said. Answered prayer: Nebraska sailor who died at Pearl Harbor buried with parents A Nebraska family hoped for decades that a USS Oklahoma sailor's remains could be brought home. Anthropologists at a Defense Department lab at Offutt Air Force Base made it happen. The tested bones yielded more than 300 different DNA sequences, LeGarde said. About 50 of the DNA sequences were common to more than one sailor, and one sequence was linked to 25 of the men. That required a second, more sensitive DNA test, and in some cases obtaining another DNA sample from a different living family member. The DNA from family members is critical to making the identifications. Tracking down and obtaining most of the samples has been the job of Dee Dee King, a forensic genealogist from Texas who works on a contract for the Navy. For more than a decade, King scoured old newspapers and combed the internet to track down relatives of the long-dead sailors. She has kept in touch with some of the families she met, and attended four funerals of men who were identified. Its been a lot of work nights, weekends, holidays but worth every minute, King said in an email. I have met some amazing family members and heard many touching, heartbreaking stories. In many ways, she added, the USS Oklahoma has dominated my life for the last 11 years. Genealogist for Navy tracks down families of MIA sailors so they can bring them home Dee Dee King, 68, has worked under contract with the Navy since 2009, tracking down and collecting DNA samples from family members of missing Navy service members dating back as far as World War II. The work is not so different from what many hobbyists do when they research their own family trees, but forensic genealogists focus on cases with legal implications. As recently as six months ago, the accounting agency still lacked family DNA samples for 25 of the sailors and Marines from the Oklahoma. Without one, identification is impossible. Now, LeGarde said, the number is down to 10. A handful of them are men who were foster children or who were adopted as infants, and no record can be found of their birth parents. She said relatives arent always receptive at first. Theres always a little uncertainty when the government is calling you to ask for your DNA, she said. For quite a few, the people were not even aware that they were related to this person. Wednesdays ceremony will mark the return of about 7,700 bones for reburial. They will be buried together in the same Honolulu cemetery from which they were disinterred, perhaps on Dec. 7, 2021, the 80th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. LeGarde described it as bittersweet to see the project she has worked on for so long winding down. 70 Korean War MIAs have been identified from remains released after 2018 Kim-Trump summit Seventy MIAs from the Korean War have been identified from remains released by North Korea. Hundreds more troops buried as "unknowns" in Hawaii are being exhumed for identification. Theres going to be a little bit of relief. But its kind of sad. 110% of my life has been dedicated to the Oklahoma, she said. Im excited to be able to go to this (ceremony), and see this through to the end. While the lab work may be ending, the hometown burials will continue. They have been backlogged because of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of last week, only 187 of the 338 identified sailors and Marines had been buried. But 20 more funerals are scheduled for this summer including Fireman 1st Class Louis Tushla, who will be buried July 17 in his hometown of Atkinson, Nebraska. I dont think its an exaggeration to say that we are going to see USS Oklahoma funerals all over the United States for the next year, and maybe into 2023, said Sgt. 1st Class Sean Everette, a spokesman for the accounting agency. Honoring our heroes: A gallery of Nebraska veterans Related Kinney says onlookers shouldnt hold their breath for the Nebraska Legislature to expand state law to better recognize common-law marriages. The number of states that recognize common-law marriage principles has been shrinking in recent years, from 15 to nine. States have been rethinking those laws, in part because courts have become clogged with word-of-mouth disputes over when the couple started living together, sharing assets, sharing expenses, etc. It creates an evidentiary nightmare for courts, Kinney said. Contrast that with the ease with which couples can get married now, and states are asking the question: Why are we taking up the courts time trying to decide whether and when people entered into a common-law marriage? Kinney said. Theres a feeling of, If you want to feel and act like youre married and get the benefits of marriage, then just go get married. When Seivert and Alli officially got married was a painstaking, tedious question for the courts. According to the Nebraska Supreme Court ruling: Seivert said they got married on a beach in Hawaii in 1996. Alli said it was just a vacation and no ceremony took place. SANTA FE (AP) More New Mexico schools are committing to offering full-time, in-person learning this fall, with some virtual learning options. Schools confirming their commitment to widespread in-person learning over the last several weeks include districts that were the most hesitant to reopen, including Albuquerque and Santa Fe. That signals that parents across the state can expect to send their kids through school doors in the fall. There may be a few schools and theyre still working on this that offer some online element. But the reality is the majority of that will be picked up at eCADEMY, said Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent Scott Elder. The district's online only district school is named eCADEMY. In a letter to parents last week, Santa Fe school officials said classes will be in-person only starting next fall. However, students can register for online school with Desert Sage Academy. The announcements came as school districts sort out enrollment for the fall. State education officials have taken a hands-off approach after a year of strict pandemic restrictions loosened in the middle of the spring semester. Get AfricaFocus Bulletin by e-mail! Format for print or mobile Mozambique/Global: War, Intervention, and Solidarity AfricaFocus Bulletin May 31, 2021 (2021-05-31) (Reposted from sources cited below) Editor's Note No amount of international military assistance will, within two years, create a fighting force that can combat the insurgency. Two other factors complicate external support. Foreign intervention is likely to provoke a response from Islamic State to provide weapons and training to the insurgents. And the fight is already underway between factions in Frelimo over the upcoming 2024 elections. Cabo Delgado politics and economics, the police and military, and the war itself are already caught up in the bitter infighting. Thus the war seems likely to escalate and continue until a new president is in place in 2025. - Joseph Hanlon Long-time subscribers to AfricaFocus Bulletin will know that I occasionally publish two Bulletins on one day (although not more than 4 times a year). This Bulletin (available at http://www.africafocus.org/docs21/moz2105a.php) and its companion Bulletin on Mozambique/Global: Fossil Fuels, Debt, and Corruption (http://www.africafocus.org/docs21/moz2105b.php) are the first such double-posting this year. The reasons are both personal and analytical, given my editorial criterion of focusing on developments relevant for the entire continent and for the world, as well as one particular country. This editorial note is also longer than usual, although even so it points to more questions than answers. First, it's personal for me, since Mozambique has been the African country to which I have had the most personal ties for more than 50 years, since first arriving in Dar es Salaam to teach at the FRELIMO secondary school in 1966. My time actually living and working with Mozambicans, first in Tanzania and then in Mozambique and working with Mozambicans only amounts to five years in the 1960s and 1970s. And my occasional visits for research or conferences in the decades since then have been far less frequent than I would have wished. But like my Mozambican friends and others who have worked in that country, I am acutely and painfully aware that Mozambique is now suffering its third war over the last six decades. All three have been the result of complex interactions of national, regional, and global factors. The armed struggle for independence lasted 10 years, from 1964 to the 1974 agreement for transition to independence in 1975. The post-independence war from 1976 to the peace agreement in 1992 was simultaneously a regional war fueled by Rhodesia and South Africa and an internal conflict. And the present insurgency in the northeastern province of Cabo Delgado is driven both by internal discontent and by a mix of external factors. It began in October 2017 and has escalated sharply since March 2020, drawing increased international news coverage and debate. But much of that coverage is superficial and focused on the single issue of whether external actors should intervene militarily or not, and if not, which of the numerous candidates to do so should step up first. Within Mozambique and the Southern African region, there is a much better informed debate by both scholars, civil society activists, and in the media about the causes of the conflict and what kind of response is needed from Africa and the global international community, prioritizing humanitarian assistance and development rather than a military solution. [Those who know me will know that I am normally not a fan of webinars, which often supply less solid content than the time they take to watch. But this 2-hour webinar hosted by SAPES Trust on May 27 (https://www.facebook.com/sapestrust/videos/1076962609494070) is an exception. These are real experts from Mozambique and the region with in-depth knowledge of the issues engaged in real debate. No answers, but keen insights and eloquent presentations. A must-watch for anyone wanting to understand the real options for international response to the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Cabo Delgado.] Mozambique's Cabo Delgado is now a central test case for whether lessons have been learned from the consistent failures of such a military solution in Mali, Somalia, and northeastern Nigeria. Sadly, it is likely to be a protracted repetition of such mistakes, with the added complexity of the interests of multinational natural gas companies. This AfricaFocus Bulletin contains excerpts on the war in Cabo Delgado from recent newsletters by Joseph Hanlon. The situation is rapidly changing, but Hanlon regularly provides updates, links to other sources in English and Portuguese, and well-informed analysis. You can subscribe to his newsletter at https://bit.ly/Moz-sub. My apologies for the length of this comment and of these two Bulletins. If you do not have time to read them now, I hope that you will put them aside for later reference. For now, however, I have several suggestions. Do read and watch this first short on-the-scene report from the conflict zone in Cabo Delgado, from May 27, 2021, by veteran BBC journalist Catherine Byaruhanga, who is based in Uganda (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57254543). "Today, on one of the islands - Quirimba - rows of white tarpaulin tents line the white sandy beaches. We are the first international journalists to arrive here since the attack on Palma. More than 9,000 people from different parts of Cabo Delgado are seeking shelter here. Thirty-two-year-old Mamo Sufo from Palma and her three young children arrived at the island just days before we did. By this point, it was nearly two months since the town was overrun but she's spent all that time travelling to Quitunda and other villages before taking a boat to Quirimba where she hopes other family members will join her. She started her journey seven months pregnant, but while out at sea she went into pre-term labour and her son died." - Catherine Byaruhanga Do read this summary of the report on the hidden debts, from the Mozambique News Agency, May 29, 2021 (https://allafrica.com/stories/202105290201.html), and Take a break from the news by watching the short music video embedded at the end of this Bulletin (a new feature I added last week, featuring videos I have found it essential to watch while taking breaks from writing subjects which more often feature grim realities than hope for change. The videos I choose are not linked to the specific theme of each Bulletin, but they definitely illustrate the visions of the resilience and hope needed both by Africa and the world.) For previous AfricaFocus Bulletins on Mozambique, visit http://www.africafocus.org/country/mozambique.php For previous AfricaFocus Bulletins on peace and conflict in Africa, visit http://www.africafocus.org/intro-peace.php ++++++++++++++++++++++end editor's note+++++++++++++++++ Mozambique: News Reports and Clippings 545 - part 1 - 16 May 2021 Editor: Joseph Hanlon ( j.hanlon@open.ac.uk) To subscribe or unsubscribe: https://bit.ly/Moz-sub Articles may be freely reprinted but please cite the source. This newsletter in pdf is on http://bit.ly/Moz-545-gas Part 1 - security Security will be at the top of the agenda when President Filipe Nyusi meets French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday (18 May) in Paris. Also in Paris will be Antonio Costa, who is both Portuguese Prime Minister and President of the Council of the European Union (EU), and he will probably also meet with Nyusi. But their agendas will be very different. Macron wants Nyusi to agree on a French security cordon so Total can return to Afungi. Costa wants Portuguese soldiers in Mozambique, preferably under an EU umbrella. Total's declaration of force majeure and its complete withdrawal from Afungi means it does not expect to return soon - definitely not this year. But it has to return within two years. Longer than that will require renegotiating contracts - with buyers, contractors and the Mozambique government, And a delay in production to 2026 or 2027 will require rethinking about whether or not there is a long term market for gas (discussed in part 2 of this special report). What Total decides determines what happened to the other large gas block (area 4), which is run by Exxon Mobil (with a 28% stake). Exxon has repeatedly delayed it final investment decision, now pushed back to 2023, and will not agree before Total is back at work. Area 4 has China's only gas investment in Mozambique; China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has a 12% stake. The newsletter China-Lusophone Brief (30 Mar) says this investment in now imperilled. So what happens in the next two years determines the future of not just Total, but Exxon and its partners as well. No amount of international military assistance will, within two years, create a fighting force that can combat the insurgency. Two other factors complicate external support. Foreign intervention is likely to provoke a response from Islamic State to provide weapons and training to the insurgents. And the fight is already underway between factions in Frelimo over the upcoming 2024 elections. Cabo Delgado politics and economics, the police and military, and the war itself are already caught up in the bitter infighting. Thus the war seems likely to escalate and continue until a new president is in place in 2025. After being misled by President Nyusi in March about the ability of the Mozambican defence forces to protect Palma and Afungi, Macron will probably tell Nyusi that Total will only return if France has complete control of a large security zone. This will be hard for Frelimo to swallow and there will be delay, but they want the gas money and will eventually agree - especially if there is another successful attack on Palma. . . . Multiple foreign players With Mozambique's defence forces (FDS) weak, divided and corrupt - and now at the centre of high level fights inside Frelimo - the FDS has little chance of winning a purely military war against guerrilla insurgents. That leaves two alternatives. One way is to resolve the grievances that are at the root of the war, sharing the resource wealth and creating thousands of jobs. That is unacceptable, because so many people are profiting, and because if Mozambique admits the cause of war is poverty and inequality, it is effectively admitting responsibility. The alternative route is to blame external aggression by Islamic State (IS) and call on outsiders to join the new holy war against IS. And this is the route that Frelimo has chosen. Four countries and two international bodies have shown some interest in joining the war: the United States, Portugal, South Africa and Rwanda, as well as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the EU. Because of Total, France is also a possible player, although it might prefer to stick to its security zone. Portugal is sending an 140-person training mission of whom 60 are already in Mozambique, training marines in KaTembe and commandos in Chimoio.?Training will continue for three years. Portuguese and Mozambican defence ministers Joao Cravinho and Jamie Neto met in Lisbon 10 May and signed a five year military cooperation agreement. United States (US) A dozen US special force soldiers completed two months of training of Mozambican marines on 5 May, and another training session will start in July. On 10 March the US called the insurgents "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria- Mozambique (ISIS-Mozambique)" and designated them as a "foreign terrorist organisation". The US said on 6 May that it would provide humanitarian assistance in response to what the US State Department called "devastating violence by ISIS-affiliated terrorists". Rwanda. President Nyusi flew to Rwanda on 28 April and met President Paul Kagame, who promised military help. Just 10 days later, on 8 May, a Rwandan military mission was seen in Pemba. Southern African Development Community (SADC) sent an assessment mission 15-21 April which recommended a 3,000-person regional military force plus submarines, surveillance aircraft and drones. SADC expects the EU and US to fund the mission. It would take a year or more to get such a mission on the ground. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on 10 May South Africa would join such a force if asked. But Mozambique has not encouraged the SADC mission. The European Union (EU) is divided and slow. The European Union must move with urgency to step up its support for Mozambique, said Josep Borrell, EU "foreign minister" (High Representative for Foreign Affairs) on 6 May. But with a hint of frustration, he continued: We are considering a potential European Union training mission, like the ones that we already have in several African countries. Borrell said any mission would be similar to the EUs involvement in the Sahel. He hoped a mission could be sent to Mozambique before the end of the year, and suggested sending 200-300 soldiers to Mozambique. Portugal currently holds the EUs six month rotating Council presidency, and has been pushing for EU involvement in Mozambique. Portugal has already offered half of the staff [and] sent in advance military structures. It will be integrated into the EU training mission, if we finally agree on that, said Borrell. But there is no agreement yet. . . . Does a military response ignore the roots of war? The rush for military support has caused substantial debate. Many of the issues were raised in a letter from 30 African civil society organisations (CSOs) to SADC, in response to the proposal to send 3000 troops - a major military force. The CSOs' letter is on http://bit.ly/Moz-CSO-SADC. It welcomes "collective action from SADC" but continues: "We urge our leaders to consider the lessons learnt from other similar conflicts in Africa. Sahel, Somalia, and the Niger Delta offer stark contemporary reminders that a purely militaristic solution (devoid of measures to address the causes of the insurgency) increases the likelihood of its intractability. It is also unlikely to pave the way towards achieving sustainable peace." "Any SADC intervention should also provide avenues to pursue political and diplomatic solutions to the conflict. This necessitates an acute understanding of the root causes of the conflict, push and pull factors that lead to the recruitment of locals and youth into insurgency operations, and the motivations of actors operating in the region." Creating a sustainable peace requires creating "avenues for local communities to address their grievances with government, which is paramount to addressing the root causes of conflict." And the CSO letter calls for "holding government and businesses to the highest levels of accountability regarding their operations in Cabo Delgado. Corruption, maladministration, and skewed development are central to communities feelings of marginalization. Ensuring that citizens receive the lions share of dividends from gas revenue form part of broader longer-term socio-economic solutions to insurgency." Two key issues are raised by the CSOs' statement, the roots of the war and danger that foreign military forces will remain indefinitely. There is a quite broad agreement that the insurgency was initially local and based on local grievances about growing poverty, inequality and marginalisation. The division is about what happened next. The US argues that the insurgency has been totally taken over by IS which now commands and controls. But the respected International Crisis Group say IS does not have "the ability to exert command and control." Local researchers confirm that although there is contact with IS, command and control remains local and the grievances remain important for insurgent recruiting. The CSOs stress the role of government and business in the "skewed development", which effectively puts the blame for the war on Frelimo and government. This suggests that diverting money from those getting rich on the gas and minerals and instead using the wealth to create jobs and development would play a key role in ending the war. It is also central to the interveners. The US, EU and others would not support Mozambique to kill hungry, illiterate peasants demanding a share of the wealth. But they would intervene in a war against Islamic State. And Frelimo and the Mozambique government are being very careful that those who intervene do not talk about grievances and root causes. Thus it supports intervention by foreign governments and private military companies, which it can control, and not by international bodies such as the UN, EU and SADC, which issue statements it cannot control. . . . ************************************************************** Mozambique: News Reports and Clippings 546 - 20 May 2021 This newsletter in pdf is on http://bit.ly/Moz-546 Total will return only with peace and tranquillity As soon as Cabo Delgado has peace again, Total will return, the president of the French oil and gas company, Patrick Pouyanee, promised Monday (17 May). President Filipe Nyusi confirmed Tuesday (18 May) that Total will return only when everything is calm. Total may demand that there is tranquillity and peace to develop its economic projects," Nyusi added. (Lusa 18 May) France has shown complete willingness to provide whatever is necessary for Mozambiques fight against terrorism in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, according to President Filipe Nyusi after his meeting in Paris with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, on Tuesday. (18 May) Nyusi said we discussed in detail the situation of terrorism. The matter is unavoidable. France has shown great willingness, but it has left sovereignty in the hands of Mozambicans. To follow up, Nyusi said, the two countries must advance quickly to sign the agreements which will define exactly the type of support to be granted by France. (Mediafax 19 May) But it remains unclear if Mozambique sovereignty will allow enough of a French presence to guarantee the tranquillity and peace Total demands. Nyusi also met in Paris with Arnaud Pieton, executive administrator of Technip, the principal offshore contractor. Pieton said "we have received guarantees from the Mozambique government that they are doing everything to reintroduce security, and this is a fundamental condition for the project to be developed rapidly." ( O Pais 19 May) Government still blocking aid to Palma; the focus on 'terrorists' makes it worse There is still no aid reaching up to 20,000 people not being allowed to leave Quitunda near Palma. Finally Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has spoken out. "Significant restrictions are placed on the scale up of the humanitarian response due to the ongoing insecurity, and the bureaucratic hurdles impeding the importation of certain supplies and the issuing of visas for additional humanitarian workers," said Jonathan Whittall, MSF Director of Analysis, on 14 May. http://bit.ly/Moz-Palma-MSF It is also made very difficult for foreigners to visit the area. The UN was allowed to send a team to Quitunda on 21 April, but could not negotiate aid access. After the visit, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) called "for full humanitarian access and a reduction of bureaucratic impediments, including the issuing of visas [for UN experts], to ensure timely and efficient delivery of humanitarian aid." There is also a need for "greater and strategic engagement with the Government," said Laura Tomm-Bonde, IOM's head of mission in Mozambique. But the call fell on deaf ears. Whittall, too, recently visited but apparently without gaining access. He writes: "What does seem set to scale up is the regionally supported and internationally funded counter-terrorism operation that could further impact already vulnerable people. In many conflicts, from Syria to Iraq and Afghanistan, I have seen how counter-terrorism operations can generate additional humanitarian needs while limiting the ability of humanitarian workers to respond. "Firstly, by designating a group as terrorists, we often see that the groups in question are pushed further underground - making dialogue with them for humanitarian access more complex. While states can claim that they 'dont negotiate with terrorists', humanitarian workers are compelled to provide humanitarian aid impartially and to negotiate with any group that controls territory or that can harm our patients and staff." "For Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), successfully providing impartial medical care requires reserving a space for dialogue and building trust in the fact that our presence in a conflict is for the sole purpose of saving lives and alleviating suffering." Whittall is showing why the Mozambique government is trying to keep out the foreign humanitarian workers. The government says that it cannot find anyone with whom it can negotiate. MSF says it can "negotiate with any group that controls territory" - and clearly has in Cabo Delgado. "Counter-terrorism operations try to bring humanitarian activities under the full control of the state and the military coalitions that support them. Aid is denied, facilitated or provided in order to boost the governments credibility, to win hearts and minds for the military intervening, or to punish communities that are accused of sympathising with an opposition group. The most vulnerable can often fall through the cracks of such an approach, which is why organisations like MSF need to be able to work independently. Being aligned to a state that is fighting a counter-terrorism war would reduce our ability to reach the most vulnerable communities to offer medical care." "In counter-terrorism wars around the world, we often see civilian casualties being justified due to the presence of terrorists among a civilian population. Entire communities can be considered as hostile, leading to a loosening of the rules of engagement for combat forces," Whittall writes. And he concludes: "The current focus on terrorism clearly serves the political and economic interests of those intervening in Mozambique. However, it must not come at the expense of saving lives and alleviating the immense suffering facing the people of Cabo Delgado." 548 - 30 May 2021 South Africa says send troops; Tanzania says no troops, instead negotiate, develop South Africa is pressing for urgent military intervention in Cabo Delgado, South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor told Reuters (21 May) in a telephone interview. Since 2008 SADC has had a regional defence pact that allows military intervention to prevent the spread of conflict. "We support the use of the defence pact. It's never been really been utilised in the region, but we believe this is the time, this is a threat to the region," Pandor said. Tanzania will not send troops to Mozambique to counter insurgents in Cabo Delgado, Minister of Foreign Affairs Liberata Mulamula said Wednesday 26 May in Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania government has, instead, emphasised on the need for talks as a means of promoting peace and tranquility in Mozambique, calling on the international community to help the country by sending development aid. (Citizen 27 May) A SADC evaluation proposed 3000 troops and equipment including a submarine. The SADC summit scheduled to discuss this was postponed from April to 27 May, and the summit simply postponed the issue until a new summit on 20 June. President Filipe Nyusi's longstanding opposition to a multi-lateral force and the opposition of some countries such as Tanzania suggest the SADC force will never happen. At the Frelimo Central Committee on 22-23 May, President Filipe Nyusi made clear he wanted foreign troops. But in his closing speech, he stressed the "concentration on bilateral efforts to combat terrorism in Cabo Delgado". It is a point he has stressed in private talks with diplomats for more than a year, that he does not want international forces - SADC, EU or UN. Instead he wants agreements with individual governments and the ability to move and assign foreign troops to particular zones or tasks. SADC or UN troops would have their own external commanders, but Frelimo will only accept foreign troops that it controls - which means private military companies (PMCs) or bilateral arrangements with governments. Will Rwandan troops create the Total security zone? Rwandan troops may play a central role in creating the security zone around the Palma-Afungi natural gas area. Rwanda has become a major participant in peacekeeping missions and has had troops or police in Central African Republic, Mali, Sudan, South Sudan and other countries. But more three-way discussions will be needed between France, Rwanda, and Mozambique. On 28 April Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi flew to Rwanda for talks with President Paul Kagame. Just 10 days later a reconnaissance team of Rwandan officers was in Cabo Delgado. Nyusi and Kagame were in Paris for the French Africa summit 17-18 May; both met President Emmanuel Macron and Cabo Delgado was discussed. Last week Marcon was in Rwanda and South Africa to meet their presidents on 27 and 28 May. Again, Cabo Delgado was discussed, although not top of the agenda. Frances acceptance in a report this year that it bore a responsibility for the 1994 genocide in Rwanda marked a big step forward in repairing relations between the two countries, which are now on the mend, Kagame said. After the fiasco of President Nyusi guaranteeing a security zone including Palma just days before the insurgents took Palma against little resistance, Total wants more than just promises. It will demand overall French control of any security zone, and French navy control of the ocean off of Cabo Delgado. Mozambique will demand that its soldiers are on the ground, but will accept a foreign presence. Rwanda fits the bill. For Mozambique, Rwandan troops are more acceptable than South African soldiers. For France and Total, Rwandan troops are well trained and experienced, and much more effective than Mozambican army or police. Improved relations between France and Rwanda complete the package. Who will be top dog? An increasing number of countries want part of the action, and there is a quiet struggle as to who will be top dog. On the ground Portugal has 60 soldiers doing training, the US just finished its first training mission, Rwanda has a military investigation team, and South Africa has had private military companies and sent in soldiers to rescue its civilians after the Palma attack. Off shore, France and South Africa have regular naval patrols and the United States and India have had less frequent patrols. French President Emmanuel Macron travelled to Africa and met Rwandan President Paul Kagame on Thursday 26 May and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday, 28 May. In both countries, the Cabo Delgado war was on the agenda. In South Africa Macron said France is available to assist the Mozambican military, but only in the "'context of a political solution". And any help "should be an African response at the request of Mozambique and coordinated with the neighbouring countries," he said. The interest of both Rwanda and South Africa is that France and the EU pay for their intervention. Macron particularly stressed that France already has a regional presence in its island territories of Mayotte and Reunion, and stood ready to offer naval assistance. "We have frigates and some other vessels in the region and on a regular basis organise operations. So we could be available, and very quickly so, if requested," he said. Meanwhile EU foreign policy head Josep Borrell said on 28 May that the EU could have a military training mission in Mozambique in months. "The problem will be to look for capacities. Apart from Portugal, who else is going to contribute?" Saudi Arabia is working with SADC to support the Mozambican military fight the insurgents, Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman said on 20 May. There is a certain irony in this, as many Mozambicans have been trained in Saudi Arabia in fundamentalist Islam. The United States is now beefing up the embassy's security advisory team with the help of private military contractors (PMCs). A new adviser to head up the counter-terrorism programme will be provided by one of the Pentagon subcontractors bidding for the contract, reports Africa Intelligence (28 May), a Paris based newsletter which backs Paris in its confrontation with Washington. The US has been strongly critical of the use by Mozambique of PMCs, despite their being extensively used by the US in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Difficult negotiations are ahead as Mozambique desperately tries to keep support fractured and in pieces it can control, and at least four countries want to be top dog: United States: Wants a base in southern Africa and has long coveted Nacala, with its big airport and deep water port that would be good for submarines. Mozambique could be its new base for the war against Islamic State. Mozambique could be the new Afghanistan or Libya. France: Wants control of the gas zone but appears willing to accept Rwandan fighters. But will expect to control coastal security. South Africa: Wants to assert itself as the regional power but has been cutting the military budget, so hoping the EU will pay. Portugal: The military of the former colonial power want to return and prove their ex-colony still needs them. They are using their position as president of the EU to gain EU backing for their operation. None of these four has won a recent war against a guerrilla insurgency. Frelimo won a guerrilla independence war 47 years ago, but has never beaten a guerrilla force. Fighters or job creators? As governments try to militarise Cabo Delgado, civil society groups increasingly stress the need to resolve the roots of the war - growing poverty and inequality, youth seeing no jobs and no future, and the belief that the Frelimo elite are eating all the wealth from rubies, gas, and other resources. Speaking to Reuters, [South African] Foreign Minister Pandor said We have had our colleagues, for example in Nigeria, saying: dont allow this to get out of hand because once it does it is uncontrollable and very difficult to reverse. So, that is why we believe it is urgently necessary that we have action. Academic analysts point to the similarity to the roots of Boko Haram in Nigeria and al Shabaab in Cabo Delgado. Both are groups in Muslim areas where young people feel marginalised and with no future, and they are recruited on that basis. Thus the "dont allow this to get out of hand" lesson is the need to create jobs and development before the war gets out of hand. It is, contrary to Pandor, not military but development intervention that is urgent. Three articles from the South African mainstream establishment point to alternative thinking: "Suicidal SADC military deployment to Mozambique looms" was the headline of an opinion article in the Johannesburg Business Day (28 May) "SA soldiers will return home in body bags, as was the case in the failed military deployment to the Central African Republic in March 2013. The defence force must serve sovereign national interests and not the interests of private actors working for profit." The article argues that South Africa government is under pressure from national corporations and France to protect the profits of their investors. The article continues: "Like France and its transnational corporation Total, the LNG project in Mozambique is critically important for SA and its corporations. SA state financiers the Industrial Development corporation (IDC), the Export Credit Insurance Corporation (ECIC) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) have, in total, lent more than $1bn in public funds to the LNG project. Standard Bank has sunk $485m into the project, and other major players include Absa and Rand Merchant Bank." The article is written by Sam Hargreaves, director of WoMin/African Women Activists, and Anabela Lemos of Justica Ambiental/Friends of the Earth Mozambique. The article's publication in a mainstream business newspaper suggests opposition to militarization of Cabo Delgado is gaining a hearing. "Regional support is a good start, but much more than a SADC military deployment to Mozambique is needed," according to a 27 May report from the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) of South Africa. "At the root of the conflict is a governance challenge that includes allegations of deeply entrenched corruption in the ruling party, Frelimo. Poor governance and state absence have antagonised the local population and left a security vacuum. The government must commit to the development and effective governance of the region." Military support may be needed to contain the violence. But the report stresses "the education system must be reinvigorated to train and prepare locals for skills suited to new job opportunities. Authorities in Cabo Delgado would also need to invest in public works programmes to complement job creation in the formal and informal sectors and offer social activities such as sport to engage the youth. An important poverty-alleviation measure would be a cash transfer (or social grants) programme that would directly benefit the community and demonstrate the governments commitment to development." "Maputo needs to own and drive the response to the insurgency and the recovery of local and investor confidence. No amount of private security advice, support or foreign troops and equipment can compensate for political leadership and the establishment of trust between people, the government and regional actors." Lead author of the report is Jakkie Cilliers, founder and former Executive Director of ISS - another indication that senior establishment figures are pointing to the roots of the conflict. "Regional military intervention in Mozambique is a bad idea," wrote Gilbert M. Khadiagala, Professor of International Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand, on 27 May. He argues "SADC interventions in internal conflicts in its neighbourhood havent worked out well." In 1998 Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe intervened in Lesotho. "South African troops lost their lives and SADC troops had to withdraw in ignominy. The SADC has since had to continually intervene as a peacemaker in the fractious terrain of Lesotho politics." The other major intervention was by Malawi, Tanzania and South Africa to defeat the M23 Movement in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 2013. Initially it made a difference. "But the militia menace in the region has continued unabated, raising questions about the long term efficacy of the brigades work," notes Khadiagala. More generally, military interventions in resource curse civil wars only make matters worse, he says, citing South Sudan, Cabinda in Angola, and the Niger Delta. "SADC is now being asked to intervene in a conflict [in Mozambique] that it has neither resources nor the political will to manage. When the body bags begin to come home, there will be tremendous pressure on SADC forces to withdraw. Rather than the folly of an intervention, the region should be encouraging the Mozambican state to address the grievances of the communities in Cabo Delgado." Khadiagala concludes: "SADCs military intervention will only embolden die-hards in Frelimo who are reluctant to find peaceful and political solutions to the crisis. And the intervention will postpone a problem that is not going to go away any time soon." One Love with Playing for Change There are many other versions of this song available on-line, including two by Bob Marley. Three that I found and think you might like are: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdB-8eLEW8g Bob Marley, with lyrics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13RSENmoamk Bob Marley, 1978 Peace Concert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXLumLvHWfA - Benefit for UNICEF AfricaFocus Bulletin is an independent electronic publication providing reposted commentary and analysis on African issues, with a particular focus on U.S. and international policies. AfricaFocus Bulletin is edited by William Minter. For an archive of previous Bulletins, see http://www.africafocus.org, Current links to books on AfricaFocus go to the non-profit bookshop.org, which supports independent bookshores and also provides commissions to affiliates such as AfricaFocus. AfricaFocus Bulletin can be reached at africafocus@igc.org. Please write to this address to suggest material for inclusion. For more information about reposted material, please contact directly the original source mentioned. To subscribe to receive future bulletins by email, click here. One year ago: Tens of thousands of protesters again took to the streets across America, with peaceful demonstrations against police killings overshadowed by unrest; officials deployed thousands of National Guard soldiers and enacted strict curfews in major cities. Protesters in Washington, D.C., started fires near the White House amid increasing tensions with police, who fired tear gas and stun grenades. In tweets, President Donald Trump blamed anarchists and the media for fueling violence. The White House said it had sent to Brazil more than 2 million doses of a malaria drug touted by Trump as potentially protecting against the coronavirus; scientific evidence had not backed up those uses of the drug. The privately-owned spacecraft SpaceX delivered two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. Artist Christo, known for massive public arts projects that often involved wrapping large structures in fabric, died in New York at 84. As proposed, the youngest children, those ages 6 weeks through 18 months, would be limited to eight per group or room. The limits increase with the age of the children, until they reach 30 for school-age children. The group size limits would be in addition to existing regulations that specify staff-to-child ratios and the amount of space that must be provided per child. Thibodeau estimated the group limits would force her to drop 10 of the 170 children now enrolled in her center, which cares for infants through age 5. She said other providers are reporting similar results, with potentially thousands of children losing care across the state. At a hearing on the proposed regulations, a group of providers estimated they would have to increase prices by 20 to 30% to make up for the loss of income. They submitted testimony saying the regulations would make it harder for families and child care providers, most of whom are women, as they continue to recover from pandemic limits on child care. These proposed regulations would set women back even further, forcing more parents, and likely mothers, to leave their jobs because child care is unavailable, the group said. This negatively affects Nebraskas economy and its ability to keep and retain thriving businesses and talent. MOSCOW (AP) Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny asked a court Monday to halt the hourly night-time checks he has been subjected to in his penal colony. Speaking to the court in a video link from prison, Navalny charged that he has done nothing that would warrant the authorities' decision to designate him as a flight risk that has resulted in checks. I just want them to stop coming to me and waking me up at night-time, he told the judge in remarks that were broadcast by the independent Dozhd TV. What did I do: Did I climb the fence? Did I dig up an underpass? Or was I wringing a pistol from someone? Just explain why they named me a flight risk!" He argued that the hourly night-time checks effectively amount to torture, telling the judge that you would go mad in a week if subjected to such regular wake-ups. The court later adjourned the hearing until Wednesday. Navalny, the most determined political foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was arrested in January upon his return from Germany, where he had spent five months recovering from a nerve agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin accusations that Russian officials reject. The Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) has suspended Mali from the regional group and has called for an immediate nomination of a new Prime Minister as part of an inclusive government to proceed with the September 2020 transition programme. In a statement issued in Accra on Sunday, May 30, 2021, the Heads of State of ECOWAS reaffirmed the need to respect the transition period of 18 months as agreed by all parties last year. On May 24, 2021, Malis President and Prime Minister were ousted in a coup plot by Colonel Assimi, Vice President of the interim government formed as part of a transition programme to usher Mali back to civilian rule. Their arrest came hours after a government reshuffle that saw two senior Army officers replaced. However, the statement which was released after an Extraordinary Summit in Accra said the Heads of State demand the immediate release of the former President and Prime Minister of the Transition who are kept under house arrest. The Heads of State strongly condemn this recent Coup dEtat, which is a violation of the decisions taken at the extraordinary Summit held at the Peduase Lodge, Aburi, Ghana on 15th September 2020 and a violation of the Transition Charter, the statement added. Further, the statement reiterated the importance and necessity of respecting the democratic process for ascending to power in member states, in conformity with the 2001 ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. They particularly condemn all actions that led to ongoing instability in Mali, and its attendant consequences in the region. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Emmanuel Macron has warned that France would withdraw troops from Mali if political instability there leads to greater Islamist radicalization. It follows a second coup in nine months in the West African nation. Mr Macron warned of the risk of Mali "moving towards" greater Islamist influence. France has 5,100 troops in the Sahel region which has been a front line in the war against Islamist militancy. French troops have been supporting forces in Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad to battle militants in the Sahel region since 2013. Mr Macron told Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper that he had told regional leaders that France would not support countries where there was no democratic legitimacy or transition and that France had no intention of keeping its troops in Africa forever. For decades France has provided military support to back leaders of its former colonies in Africa, often sending troops or despatching airstrikes to counter armed rebels. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) is demanding that all laboratory physicians who have been forced out of their places of work within various Hospital laboratories be restored with immediate effect. It is also calling for all resident medical doctors in training with health institutions like the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, pursuing programmes in laboratory medicine to be granted unfettered access to relevant laboratory spaces in the teaching Hospitals. According to the Association, the medical laboratory scientists group and its members at Korle-Bu, Cape Coast and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospitals do not allow these resident doctors to pursue their training. Dr Frank Ankobea, President of GMA at a press conference in Koforidua on Sunday, asked that all threats including harassment and assaults directed at laboratory physician residents and specialists must cease with immediate effect and the culprits prosecuted. The GMA was responding to the developments at KATH where laboratory scientists are demanding the removal of two laboratory physicians from holding key positions at the laboratory, leading to striking action. GMA takes a serious view to this and want the Ghana Health Service to take immediate action to resolve the impasse, else, we will be forced to reject reports from laboratory technicians," Dr Ankobea said. He refuted the claims by the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists that the two haematologists were posted to KATH to head the unit and described it as a deliberate misinformation. "The view that only medical laboratory scientists regulated by the Allied Health Professions Council should work in Hospital laboratories to the exclusion of all other cadres of laboratory professionals, especially Laboratory Physicians in Ghana, is erroneous and ill-intentioned," he said. The standard practice, the GMA said, was that, every laboratory result was supposed to be certified by a Laboratory Physician who is a trained doctor but that was not being enforced. Therefore, the posting of the Laboratory Physicians to the laboratories contravenes no law. "We are asking for the right thing to be done, after all, is it not a medical doctor who requests for the laboratory examination to be conducted? What is the big deal for a doctor to work at the laboratory," Dr Justice Yankson, General Secretary of GMA quizzed. He stated that the laboratory space was not for only one group of health workers, and called on the Ministry of Health and all relevant agencies to resolve the matter swiftly in the interest of the public. 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 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have, on behalf of the Ghana Statistical Service, given the assurance that data collected during the 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC) will be treated with the utmost confidentiality when it is collected during the exercise on June 27. They have thus, encouraged residents in their various communities to actively participate in the exercise which is intended to generate statistics that are essential for policy and planning purposes. Also, they have advised Ghanaians not to politicise the impending exercise but support it to help in the gathering of accurate data needed for evidence-based decision-making and planning to boost national development. Yesterday, the MMDAs across the country held various activities to commemorate a 30-day countdown to the national exercise, with emphasis on participation of everyone wherever they find themselves during the period as the accurate census data would be valuable and essential for economic development. The launch brought together some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), representatives of the various security agencies, heads of departments, traditional authorities and some assembly members, among others. Countdown As part of the countdown, a number of activities have been planned to engage the various interest groups and the public before the Census Night on June 27, 2021. The days leading-up to census night will be used to generate awareness before the night of June 27 which will also mark the beginning of the enumeration phases of the 2021 Population and Housing Census. From June 13 to June 20, enumerators will start with the listing exercise where field officers would be assigning serial numbers to all structures, either residential or non-residential within the country and also list households living within the residential structures. The enumeration of census data begins from June 13, 2021 to July 11, 2021. Also on the census night, other activities such as brass band procession, bonfire, blowing of siren, among others, would be organised in all localities to signal the start of the exercise. Oath of Secrecy At the event at Ayawaso Central Municipal Assembly, Kweku Zurek reports that the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Alhaji Mohammed Quaye, gave an assurance that the personal details collected from people would not become public knowledge when it was given to the census enumerators because it would only be handled by persons who had taken the Oath of Secrecy under the Statistical Service Act 2019 (Act 1003). "Please bear with the census officials as they go about their business and provide complete and accurate information to them. Remember the information you provide to the Census official is strictly confidential. It will be handled only by persons who have taken the "Oath of Secrecy" under the Statistical Service Act 2019 (Act 1003)," Alhaji Mohammed said. All on board The Presiding Member of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), Mr Joseph Korto, who represented the MCE for Tema, Mr Felix Mensah Nii Anang-La, said the census was one exercise that should be devoid of any political or religious colouring to ensure its maximum success, Benjamin Xornam Glover reports from Tema. He thus urged the leadership of all political parties in the metropolis, assembly members, religious leaders and the media to educate their members and community members on the importance of the census to enable them to participate fully in it. Data for SDGs The Tema Metropolitan Census Officer, Mr Isaac Tetteh Angmore, said data generated from the exercise would aid in policy and decision-making, socio-economic development, research as well as achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Mr Angmore noted that the census would provide updated socio-demographic, economic and housing information on Ghana and generate data that could be used for decision making by businesses, government, civil society organisations and development partners and, therefore, appealed to Ghanaians to collaborate with the enumerators who would visit them. The Metropolitan Coordinating Director for Tema, Alhaji Shehu Kadiri, appealed to assembly members in the metropolis to entreat all people in the various electoral areas to make themselves available for the upcoming national population and housing census. Religious leaders The Tema Metropolitan Chief Imam, Alhaji Adam Abubakar and Rev. Emmanuel Kwesi Ofori, Pastor in Charge - Central Assemblies of God Church G Community 4, advised Muslims and Christians to take part in the 2021 Population and Housing Census for the actual population to be captured for effective planning. Both clerics pledged to use their platforms at the mosque and in their churches to educate the public on the need to participate in the exercise. All logistics supplied From Sunyani, Biiya Mukusah Ali reports that a total of 305 census enumeration areas have been designated for the upcoming 2021 population and housing census in the Sunyani Municipality. Also, a total of 466 personnel made up of enumerators and field officers are expected to be trained to undertake the exercise in the municipality. The Sunyani Municipal Census Officer, Mr Samuel Kwame Awuah, disclosed this during the launch of the 30-day countdown to census night in Sunyani, the Bono Regional capital. He said the municipality had received all the logistics and materials needed for the successful exercise. The Bono Regional Minister, Mrs Justina Owusu-Banahene, who launched the Sunyani Municipal Assembly 30-day countdown to census night, urged the public to provide accurate information to the census enumerators to ensure accurate data. 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 Police in Zambia have started arresting members of the resident doctors association after their leaders announced a strike on Friday. The Resident Doctors Association of Zambia (RDAZ) is demanding the recruitment of 500 doctors and payment of salary arrears, among other issues, according to its president Dr Brian Sampa. They are also demanding the creation of new positions for senior doctors who have continued to receive salaries at the level of junior doctors. Mr Sampas practicing license has been suspended following his strike announcement. Zambia Police chief Kakoma Kanganja has also warned him that he would be arrested if he continued addressing his members through via Zoom meetings. However, Mr Sampa has released a video, widely shared on social media, alleging that his members were now being arrested. Medical students at the University Teaching Hospital in the capital, Lusaka, have started a go slow in solidarity with the association. Zambians on social media have also condemned the doctors' arrests, with opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema tweeting that the crackdown was "insane" The police have not commented on the arrest allegations. 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 Spokesperson for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Dr. Gideon Boako, has agreed with the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey to stop the abuse of sirens. The Minister has issued a warning to political elites and other persons who abuse sirens and strobe lights in the country. He accentuated that, after July, persons who do not fall within the qualified category will not be spared when they violate the law. Per regulation 74 of the Road Traffic Regulations of 2012 (L.I. 2180), the law lists the categories of entities permitted to install and use sirens as comprising a government vehicle used for official purposes by the Head of State, a Police vehicle, a motor vehicle used by the Fire Service and a motor vehicle used as an ambulance by a hospital or clinic. Others are a motor vehicle used by other recognized government security agencies and a bullion vehicle registered by the Licensing Authority. The Minister, speaking in an interview on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo' said, "we're giving notice, up to the end of July, everybody in Accra who uses siren; it is in their own interest to remove it . . . after July, we will enforce the laws". After July, persons who want to use sirens, according to the Minister, must "apply to the Minister of Interior to use the sirens then it will go to the national security and then an accredited company will be chosen to fix the siren. So if you use the siren without that approval letter or statement, you will be dealt with". Also addressing the issue, Dr. Gideon Boako supported the Minister's call stressing, "if you don't qualify to use a siren, I don't see why you should use it". "Sometimes, it's so excuse me annoying. . . A couple of the times, I block a lot of the people using a siren because people are abusing it most of the time. There shouldn't be a distinction that this is a government person or not," he further emphasized. 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 Statistics gathered by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) indicate that teenage pregnancies increased in 2020. Other reports of sexual and domestic abuse increased with people finding it difficult to express their views or find people to talk to especially during the lockdown period. This, coupled with an already existing unmet need for SRHR information and services has become extremely important for organizations such as PPAG to explore innovative ways of ensuring continuous access to healthcare especially sexual and reproductive health services and information In view of this, Yenkasa to wit let's talk was birthed. Yenkasa is an online digital platform with trained professionals ready to handle issues on relationships, sexual health concerns and many more. It is an initiative that was set up with support from Global Affairs Canada. The Executive Director of PPAG, Abena Adubea Amoah speaking at the launch of the digital platform said the centre will "provide friendly, quality and comprehensive services to our clients in the comfort of their homes and privacy on their sexual and reproductive health". The Chief Director of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Hafiz Adam representing the sector Minister said the youths need the right information to be able to grow, focus and contribute their quota to society and to get an appropriate channel to communicate. "Establishing the centre is therefore apt and very useful" he indicated. He said the Ministry has plans to come out with a policy that will include the youth in empowering them to achieve their full potential: "We leave no one behind" Ministry of Health Dr Hafiz Adam who was representing the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu said the health needs, particularly the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescent and young people in Ghana are mounting up, requiring a well-coordinated effort from all partners, stakeholders and government agencies to ensure effective interlinkages in programming. "The Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service is leading this charge, ensuring all our partners understand and work within our policies, protocols and guideline for quality health service delivery, including adolescent sexual and reproductive health" he read. He further expressed excitement to "throw my support behind the setting up of the Yenkasa contact centre"; a centre which will be linked to other existing contact centres in the country providing specialised services to "ensure young people are able to be served within a one-stop system". Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com/Pix: Jamila Akweley Okertchiri 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 measure lifts the limit of two children per family unit. Decades of one-child policy have contributed to the country's demographic slowdown. Unspecified aid is provided for those who want to have children. Chinese youth do not want to procreate in order to maintain their current standard of living. Beijing (AsiaNews) - The Chinese Politburo has decreed married couples can have up to three children, according to reports by state news agency Xinhua, noting that the decision was taken during a meeting chaired by President Xi Jinping. The country is facing a very real demographic challenge. On 11 May the National Statistics Office revealed 2020 data according to which the population exceeded 1.4 billion, but compared to 2019, new births fell by 18%: from 14.65 to 12 million. At the current rate, demographers expect a decline in the number of inhabitants shortly, with a sharp decrease in those of working age and eligible for recruitment. To remedy the problem, according to Xinhua, the Politburo has also decided to gradually increase the age at which a worker can retire. In April, the Central Bank of China recommended that the government abandon birth control policies, because without such action the country will lose its economic strength. Economic researchers have essentially confirmed the failure of the past one-child policy. Its easing in 2016, with the possibility of having two children per family, did not change the situation. Pregnant Chinese women give birth to 1.3 children each, far from the 2.1 needed to keep the population stable. The figure is also lower than that of Japan (1.37 children per woman), one of the fastest aging nations in the world. Some researchers estimate that over the next 10 years the percentage of Chinese women between 22 and 35 will decline by more than 30%. The new family policy provides aid for couples who want to have children: however, the nature of the support is not specified. Experts suggest that women should receive subsidies to compensate for the expenses and professional sacrifices they face as a result of motherhood. Financial support should be concentrated in large cities, where housing and maternal care costs are higher. Young Chinese people don't want to have children because it costs too much and the state doesn't help them enough. The new generations prefer to give up becoming parents to maintain their own standard of living. This is also the problem faced by many Western societies, which moreover have welfare systems that are far more generous than the Chinese one. A survey on Xinhua's Weibo profile reveals that 29,000 out of 31,000 users replied that they did not want three children. The driver of the Karaga District Chief Executive (DCE) has been shot dead by some unknown assailants in the Northern Region. The Crime Officer, Superintendent (Supt) of the Northern Regional Police Command, Mr Bernard Baba Ananga, who confirmed the incident to Graphic Online said driver, identified as Ziblim Issah, was shot in the head in the official vehicle of the DCE while returning to Karaga by some unknown assailants at Yamo-Karaga, a few kilometres from the Karaga township. The deceased was said to be alone in the vehicle as at the time of the incident. Mr Ananga said the body of the deceased has been identified and deposited at the mortuary of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH). Source: graphic.com.gh 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 Obuasi based all feminine NGO Self Love Foundation in collaboration with CouldYou?, a US-based NGO is promoting healthy and safe menstruation among girls in Obuasi. At an event at Mensahkrom a suburb in the Obuasi Municipality to commemorate World Menstrual Hygiene Day, the Monitoring and Evaluation specialist at Could You?, Kofi Kyeremanteng Nyanteng the Menstrual cup is proving to be the best, sustainable, and healthy way in addressing the menstrual needs of girls and women. Menstrual Hygiene Day instituted in 2014 is an annual awareness day marked on May 28 to highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene management (MHM) at a global level. "Aside it been healthy and hygienic, it is the best solution in ending period poverty' Mr Kyeremanteng Nyanteng added". Speaking to the media at the sidelines of the program, the President of Self Love Foundation Hillary Ekuoba Gyasi said, as part of promoting Menstrual hygiene day management of the foundation is organizing series of programs to bring various school children within their menstrual ages together to educate them on menstrual hygiene. She added " we have already visited some Senior High Schools in Obuasi to educate them on the need to observe menstrual hygiene. Today, we are educating girls from Junior High schools. It is our expectation that this exercise will be ongoing till we make a significant impact". TEENAGE PREGNANCY A Midwife at AGA Health Foundation Miss Sally Osei Tieku sensitized the girls on how to maintain the best hygiene during and after menstruation through proper personal hygiene and the use of the menstrual cup. Miss Tieku who doubles as the Vice President of Self Love Foundation bemoaned the rise in Obuasi. She posited that the situation is a major concern hence the intervention from Self Love Foundation to educate and mentor the girls on menstrual hygiene and teenage pregnancy. She cautioned the girls on the negative effects of teenage pregnancy and advised them to take their studies seriously. The students expressed their appreciation to the Self Love Foundation and the Could You team for coming to their aid and supporting them during menstruation and giving them the best solution to their menstrual challenges. EMPOWERING GIRL CHILD TO REPORT RAPE CASES A Legal practitioner with Self Love Foundation Mrs Hannah Mensah said the organisation is committed to lead rape victims to report rape cases for onward prosecution. She mentioned that the presence of Legal aid in Obuasi is welcoming hence appealed to women to take full advantage of their services. The schools present were Awurade Basa of Obuasi Complex, Enefel, Anyinam Methodist School, Stadium Presbyterian and St. Thomas Catholic School. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed regret that the murder case of Tiger Eye PI journalist, Ahmed Hussein-Suale has still not been solved. Mr Hussein-Suale was shot dead on January 16, 2019 at his Madina residence in Accra, a moment that is often cited as the foremost attack on press freedom under the Akufo-Addo-led government. No one has been picked up yet in investigations by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service. But speaking at a special congregation held in his honour by the University of Cape Coast (UCC) on Saturday, May 29, President Akufo-Addo said the police are committed to finding the perpetrators of the crime and they will be caught, tried and punished. He stressed that the death of the investigative journalist was not at the instance of government as has been made to look. It remains a matter of great regret to me that the murder of Ahmed Suale has still not been resolved but believe me this is not for want of commitment on the part of the police, he stated. I could not have made it any clearer that the government has no interest in covering up whatever or whoever might be involved. There is no indication that his death was at the instance of government. In the end, his murderer will be caught, tried and punished, he assured. President Akufo-Addo also expressed worry about the perception that he is superintending over a culture of silence in the country. For me personally, I find it ironic that the presidency of a man who has been and continues to be daily the most vilified political figure of his generation can be accused of presiding over a culture of silence. Source: 3 news 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 Data from the 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC) will be used to share national resources equally across the country and save lives and livelihoods, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said. According to him, government remains committed to evidence-based planning and decision-making across all spheres of the nation; hence, data from the census will be the best tool to spread development equally in the country. Speaking at the Ghana Statistical Services (GSS) official launch of the 30-day countdown to the census night slated for June 27, 2021, President Akufo-Addo (GSS) said: Government will use this census data, just as it has done on previous occasions, to assess the extent to which we have made progress in our national development agenda. He explained that data collected will enable government to measure the social and economic condition of the nation, and receive the valuable inputs necessary for charting a road map for achieving targets and indicators envisioned in the national development agenda. He stressed that this is in line with the coordinated programme of economic and social development policies 2017-2024. President Akufo-Addo appealed for every Ghanaian to rally behind the exercise, publicise it and eschew religious or political connotations, since the data will be used for the betterment of every citizen. This is not the time to create controversy and confusion around this important national development activity. Census data will save lives and livelihoods. He encouraged Ghanaians to do the right thing and support the publicity, education and advocacy activities by conveying only reliable information and facilitating constructive discussions on issues around the Census process. The coronavirus pandemic pushed the Population and Housing Census originally slated for March 2020 to 27 June 2021. Per the United Nations directive, countries are encouraged to conduct a census every ten years. Officials for the census have been competitively recruited and competently trained to ensure that data collected is accurate. The data collection is to start with the listing of structures from June 13, 2021. Persons in transit and those staying in places such as hospitals, hotels, guest-houses will all be counted on census night. The enumeration of households and long-stay facilities will be done from 28 June to 11 July, 2021. What makes the 2021 Census unique This years census is unique in several important ways: It will be the first fully-digital census to be conducted in Ghana. It entails the use of tablets and the Internet to capture and transfer the information in real-time. There will be use of rich geospatial information, including its capturing by Geographic Positioning System (GPS). Also, there will be online dashboard and comprehensive data quality assurance procedures, including the use of real-time enumeration and data quality monitoring to ensure every structure and person is counted. This will guarantee complete and accurate data to ensure no one is left behind. The information will be categorised under thematic areas such as housing and living conditions, water and sanitation, and difficulty in performing activities of daily living. It will halve the period between end of data collection and release of results, and will be the first time the nation receives census information tabulated by the constituencies to improve progress tracking within the important governance structure. Ken Ofori-Atta The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, assured that all the funds needed to execute the Census will be made available. He disclosed that government has already released over 70 of the budgeted funds to the Ghana Statistical Service. With a budget of GH521.3million, government has already mobilised and disbursed GH467.2million for conducting the 2021 PHC and will continue to make sure the needed funds are provided to ensure its successful implementation. Mr. Ofori-Atta assured that the National Census Steering Committee will continue to build the needed systems, pool together diverse expertise, mobilise resources and support strategies for conducting a successful Census. Dan Botwe The Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Dan Botwe, said provision has been made to ensure the tools that will be used for the exercise are properly stored. I would like to indicate that the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development has supported the allocation of storage facilities in all the 272 statistical districts of the country. Oppong Nkrumah The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, urged the public to cooperate fully in order to ensure a successful exercise. I would like to appeal to members of the public to bear with us, given the challenging times we find ourselves in, and support the Census process by welcoming Census officials to our communities and places. Government Statistician Government Statistician, Prof. Samuel Kobina Annim, said using the 30-day period until census night judiciously will help create awareness among the entire population on the important and key dates ahead. It is to also sensitize the public on key activities ahead on the enumeration exercise, which comprise training field enumerators and supervisors and listing structures. Source: 3 news 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 Ms Josephine Nkrumah, Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has called on Ghanaians to unite and fix the country as one people. We as individuals, as communities, as ethnic groupings, as holders of public office, people in the private space, we make up the country together with state institutions. I have held the position that when one group says #fixthecountry and other group responds with #fixyourself, I ask myself really and truly who is the country, is the country sitting separate from the individuals, we the citizenry make up the country, Ms Nkrumah stated. The NCCE Chairperson was responding to questions on the recent social media wave of #fixthecountry and #fixyourself mantra on the sidelines of the third: End of Month Stakeholder Engagement and Workers Appreciation Day, seminar organized by the Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Office which is a platform rolled-out for state and non-state actors to address national issues. The event also served as a motivational mechanism to recognise the editorial contribution of reporters towards national development in general and the growth and promotion of the Tema GNA as the industrial news hub. Ms Nkrumah said citizens of Ghana were the people that make up the country indicating that we are all part of it, so when you fix the country it includes individuals, state institutions, leadership at all levels. It includes the market woman selling and determining whether she should make the olonka half or full and pass it off as a full one, it includes the teacher who is teaching and spending his time committed to his work or staying out there doing private classes and not paying attention to his class. It includes the businessman who is paying his taxes or avoiding taxes, it includes you and I, are we bribing, what are we doing that also makes another public servant complicit in our actions? Ms Nkrumah urged Ghanaians not to sit in isolation from the countrys problems questioning that when we talk about indiscipline in this country who is creating it on the street, in the workplace, in the church, in the mosque, its all of us so this whole notion of fixing for me is a notion that we must all embrace irrespective of the political affiliation. She stressed that we cannot speak of fixing systems when we are also not part of the fixing process, let's speak the truth and face it, speak honestly about the things of this country, and find a way to resolve them. Launching the 2021 Citizenship Week Celebration during the stakeholder engagement at the GNA-Tema Regional Office, the Chairperson said the week which is on the theme, We are one, Ghana First said the event was initiated to imbibe in first and second cycle students the tenets of Ghanas 1992 Constitution. The third GNA-Tema Stakeholder Engagement and Workers Appreciation Day seminar was attended by the National Commission for Civic Education, Association of Oil Marketing Companies, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, and the Tema Regional Police Command. 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 resident of Nuba-Mpataba in the Jomoro Constituency in the Western Region has asked the Sekondi High Court for leave to inspect documents that prove that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, has renounced her Ivorian citizenship. According to Joshua Emuah Kofie, who dragged the MP to court on January 8, this year, Ms Affo-Toffey, at the time of filing her nomination for the 2020 parliamentary elections, held Ivorian and American citizenship in violation of the 1992 Constitution and hence was not qualified to stand for the elections. Motion In a motion filed by his counsel, Mr Frank Davies, Mr Kofie affirmed that the MP in her response to the petition averred that she was never an American citizen but an Ivorian citizen, and had renounced the Ivorian citizenship before filing her nominations for the elections. He argued that following the response from Ms Affo-Toffey, his lawyers, in a letter dated March, 22 this year, requested the MP to produce certificates of her renunciation of the Ivorian citizenship. However, the applicant in the motion paper said lawyers for the (MP) have since failed to respond to the letter to produce the renunciation documents without any reason. The applicant is, therefore, praying the court, to make an order directed at the MP to produce the said documents for my inspection as requested on notice to produce letter from my lawyers. The motion is expected to be moved by counsel for Kofie on Monday, May 31, this year. In January this year, Kofie filed a petition challenging the candidature of Ms Affo-Toffey as the MP for the area. According to him, the MP was not qualified on grounds that she possessed Ivorian and American citizenship. Reliefs As part of the reliefs, Kofie wants the court to declare that the election of Ms Affo-Toffey as the MP for the area was null and void, as it was in violation of the 1992 Constitution and a declaration that the MP at the time of the parliamentary elections for the constituency was not qualified to contest as a candidate for the constituency in accordance with the electoral laws of the country. Again, Kofie wants the court to cancel the parliamentary election in his constituency and further order the Electoral Commission (EC) to conduct fresh parliamentary elections. Lastly, he wants an order of perpetual injunction restraining the MP from holding himself as the MP for the Jomoro Constituency. 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 A staunch member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Lawyer Andrew Appiah-Danquah, has publicly made a strong case for the presidential candidature of the current Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen. According to Lawyer Appiah Danquah, Alan Kyerematen remains the perfect NPP flagbearer to succeed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2024 general elections. Speaking on Ghana First TV, the legal luminary stated that looking at the competence, character and charisma of Mr Kyeremanten and his contribution to the success of the New Patriotic Party since its formation in 1992, Alan towers among all as the NPP surest bet for 2024 general elections. He stressed that "This is Alan's time!. Mr Appiah-Danquah maintains that it is clear within the rank and file of the NPP that it is Mr Kyeremanten's time to be given the leadership mantle in the governing New Patriotic Party. The basis of this conviction of Lawyer Appiah-Danquah is the fact that Alan Kyerematen absolutely meets all the criteria as set out by former President John Agyekum Kufour years ago. In the year 2007 when the NPP was in a process of choosing a successor to former President John Agyekum Kufour who would represent the party in the 2008 general elections, the then President J.A Kufour advised the NPP with wise guiding principles in choosing a leader who has the potential to serve both party and national interest. In the wisdom of J.A Kufour, NPP must go for a leader, who when elected as flag bearer, can unite the party and make it attractive, can attract non-NPP voters to get at least 50% + 1, can unite the country when given power and can hold the power by governing efficiently and effectively. Lawyer Appiah-Danquah asserted that, based on President Kufours criteria, the New Patriotic Party at this material point has only one person in waiting to succeed President Akufo Addo and that person is Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen. Lawyer Appiah-Danquah again had this to say, we the NPP know who will be our 2024 flag bearer, it is Alan Kyerematen. What we dont know is who will be next to Alan and that is what the 2023 primaries is going to determine. Our convention and tradition affirm this. Our presidential primaries have always affirmed the known leader and unveiled the next leader, he noted. The 1992 NPP presidential primaries affirmed Prof. Adu Boahen as the known leader and unveiled Mr J.A Kufour (as he then was) as the next leader. Similarly, the 1998 presidential primaries confirmed J.A Kufour as the known leader and unveiled Mr Akufo Addo (as he then was) as the next leader. The 2007, 2010 and 2014 NPP presidential primaries also endorsed Nana Akufo Addo as the known leader and unveiled Lawyer Alan Kyerematen as the next leader. The 2023 NPP presidential primaries will not be different. Hon Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen will be affirmed by the party as our 2024 presidential candidate and the next leader after Alan will then be unveiled, Mr Appiah-Danquah stated. 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 A TikTok video revealing that Snickers is made in China is turning Australians off the chocolate bar who say they will be boycotting the brand for good. The video was uploaded to the social media site by Jeremy Toh after he made the discovery while shopping at a Woolworths on Sunday. Footage shows a variety of chocolate bars stacked on the shelves at the supermarket before the camera pans up to a box of Snickers. 'Did you know your Snickers are no longer made in Australia?' a voiceover says. The man grabs a chocolate bar before turning it over and aiming the camera at the packaging where it is revealed the bar is made in China. Read Full Story .... dailymail.co.uk >>> : 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 Thai museum unveils 1,000-year-old artefacts returned from US The two ancient sandstone lintels, a sacred late 10th or 11th century sandstone support beam, were returned to Thailand after decades in the United States Two ancient sandstone artefacts believed to have been stolen from Thailand during the Vietnam War were unveiled Monday at a Bangkok museum, greeted with a fanfare of traditional dancers and an elaborate worship ceremony. The temple support beams -- which were returned Friday -- boast exquisite carvings of the Hindu deities Indra and Yama that date back to the late 10th or 11th century. They had been on display for decades at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum, and their repatriation to Thailand followed a yearslong investigation by the US Department of Homeland Security. On Monday, museum staff carefully unpacked the artefacts under the watchful gaze of Culture Minister Itthiphol Khunpluem as Thai traditional music played. "These two lintels are evidence of our rich and prosperous history dating back many centuries ago," he said, thanking US authorities and the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry for the "relentless pursuit of the sandstones". Itthiphol also said the government is still deliberating whether they would be taken to smaller, local museums in the provinces of Buriram and Sa Kaeo, which border neighbouring Cambodia. The lintels have features that mirror famed Cambodian temples -- showing the influence and reach of the ancient Khmer Kingdom -- and are believed to have been stolen out of Thailand between 1958 and 1969. As music blared, Thai traditional dancers in gold-flecked dresses donning plastic face shields performed during the unveiling ceremony for the artefacts. Massive towers of fruit were also on display around flower wreaths -- an offering to the gods to protect the lintels. Itthiphol said there are still "13 more Buddha statues and engraved artefacts waiting to be repatriated from the US". The California museum had disputed investigators' allegations that the artefacts were stolen, and insisted it had long planned to return them. US museums are not the only ones to be embroiled in art provenance scandals in recent years. Story continues Australia has repatriated at least eight looted statues to India since 2014. France has vowed to return items taken from Senegal and Benin, while the Netherlands is moving to repatriate artefacts stolen from its former colonies. pit-dhc/oho A productive lettuce yield following the researchers' new biodisinfestation method. Credit: Maite Gandariasbeitia et al The use of many chemical fumigants in agriculture have been demonstrated to be harmful to human health and the environment and therefore banned from use. Now, in an effort to reduce waste from the agricultural industry and reduce the amounts of harmful chemicals used, researchers have investigated using organic byproducts from beer production and farming as a potential method to disinfest soils, preserve healthy soil microorganisms and increase crop yields. In this study published to Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, researchers from the Neiker Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development in Spain investigated using agricultural by-products rapeseed cake and beer bagasse (spent beer grains), along with fresh cow manure as two organic biodisinfestation treatments. The lead author Maite Gandariasbeitia explains: "Rapeseed cake and beer bagasse are two potential organic treatments which have shown really positive results in previous studies. "Their high nitrogen content promotes the activity of beneficial microorganisms in the soil, which helps to break down organic matter like manure and kill off nematodes and other parasites which damage crops." Gandariasbeitia also highlights how nematodes can negatively impact crop yields: "Root-knot nematodes are a type of common soil parasite which penetrate a plant's root tissue to lay their eggs and this activity causes galls, or knot-like swellings, to form on the root," she says. Root galling caused by root-knot nematode infestation. Credit: Maite Gandariasbeitia et al "This damage negatively impacts root development and means the crop can't take up nutrients efficiently, slowing plant growth and ultimately, leading to reduced yields for farmers." To disinfest the soil and reduce these nematode populations, beer bagasse and rapeseed cake were incorporated into the soil with fresh cow manure as a potential organic treatment. After the first crop post-treatment, the researchers found a significant reduction in galling on plant roots. Next steps for research Plots also demonstrated increased yields by around 15% compared to the control plots after one year. Additionally, the organic matter treatment boosted populations of beneficial microorganisms in the soils, as demonstrated by a significantly higher soil respiration rate. The study demonstrates that these agricultural byproducts are an effective treatment for root-knot nematodes and other soil parasites, achieving higher crop yields as well as promoting sustainable food systems to reduce waste from the agricultural industry. Gandariasbeitia highlights that further research is needed to explore other potential organic treatments that could be used in a similar way: "There are still many questions to answer so that we can gain a better understanding of what happens in the soil during and after these biodisinfestation treatments. "This can help us to really elucidate what characteristics we should be looking for in other potential organic treatments to be effective in tackling soil parasite populations." by Shafique Khokhar The Catholic charity held a seminar with local urban communities to lay out what is needed to reduce casualties and flood damage. Focus also centred on the poorest areas where the most vulnerable populations live, especially in emergencies. Karachi (AsiaNews) Pakistan is getting ready for monsoon rains, both those associated with the gap in temperatures between land and sea and those caused by short-term phenomena that have become intense in the last few years. The weather is currently pleasant in Karachi, but in a few weeks heavy rains will come, often bringing disasters. For this reason, Caritas held a seminar last Thursday on monsoon preparation and mitigation as part of a project on community risk management. This brought together local civil protection committees and volunteers from the Shireen Jinnah Colony, FC Area, Lalu Khait, Yousaf Goth, Saifuel Maurri Goth and Kuasar Naizai Colony. The aim was to raise awareness about prevention and how an efficient response can reduce the impact of disasters and save many lives in the event of heavy rainfall and flooding in urban areas. In his welcome speech, Caritas coordinator Mansha Noor stressed the need to take every precautionary step and engage in careful planning to face flooding, citing Noah's biblical story as an example. Amir Robin, coordinator of the National Monitoring and Evaluation Commission for the South Region, highlighted the importance of protecting homes and neighbourhoods to reduce the loss of life and property during floods in Karachi. In particular, he cited the extreme vulnerability of the homeless families in Gujjar Nalla and those at risk of eviction. The adoption of construction techniques to build more disaster-resistant housing was also mentioned. Sarfraz Anwar, one of the project's organisers, was tasked with explaining some simple rules of conduct that can help save lives during a flood. Such rules include staying away from power lines and being extra cautious with electronic devices; staying away from trees, poles and signs posts; preparing emergency supplies of food, medicines, drinking water, torches, and fuel; avoiding food made damp and stale by flood water; and paying special attention to seniors, children, women and the disabled. Anwar also recommended that the authorities follow government directives to keep up to date with the latest information about the rain and emergencies. Participants received posters to increase awareness of these rules. For their part, local civil protection committees called for more training exercises with rescue teams and asked for plastic bags to save documents and essential household items during emergencies. Caritas Pakistan plans to meet both requests. Some wealthy nations without natural resources such as forests to mitigate their contribution to climate change have spent huge amounts on projects to preserve those habitats in other countries. For the first time since 2019 and following a flurry of net-zero pledges from the world's largest emitters, UN climate negotiations resumed Monday in a virtual format less than six months before the crunch COP26 summit. The talks, nominally hosted by the United Nations climate change programme in the German city of Bonn, will all be online and informal, meaning that no decisions will be taken during the three-week discussions. But with increasingly dire climate warnings from scientists, the pressure for progress to be made on a number of thorny issues is high. "We meet in the shadow of a global crisis, unprecedented in scope and scale," UN climate chief Patricia Espinosa said in opening remarks via video link. In 2018, countries agreed to many elements of the "rulebook" of the landmark Paris climate agreement signed three years earlier, governing how each nation implements its goals under the deal. But several issues remain unresolved, including rules about transparency, carbon markets, and a unified timeframe for all countries to ratchet up their emissions cuts. At the last UN climate summit in December 2019, countries also failed to agree upon a universal system of reporting on spending on measures to combat and adapt to climate change. This year alone several large emitters including the US have committed to make their economies carbon neutral by mid-century. Espinosa welcomed these pledgeswhich under Paris should increase in scope every five years. But she added: "Our current trajectory is not in line with the climate goals of the Paris agreement," which aims to limit global warming to below 2C. "It's time to get the job done." One of the thorniest debates during recent UN climate talks has been Article 6 of the Paris agreement, which deals with the trade of emissions cuts. A major sticking point remains over rules to avoid double counting emissions reductions within both bilateral and international carbon markets. Scientists have warned that the pace of global warming is outstripping humanity's best plan to cut carbon emissions. Some wealthy nations without the natural resourcesforests, for instanceto mitigate their contribution to climate change have spent huge amounts on projects to preserve those habitats in other countries. Currently both the buying and selling nations may count the project towards their domestic climate action, opening the door for the same cut to be counted twice. Teresa Anderson, climate policy coordinator for ActionAid International, said it was vital that negotiations don't "crank open loopholes that let big polluters carry on business-as-usual". 'Not ideal' Covid-19 forced Britain and the UN to shelve talks originally scheduled for last year in the Scottish city of Glasgow until the end of 2021. As the pandemic continues to rage, particularly among developing nations most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, negotiators will need to achieve tangible progress during the three-week Bonn talks. "The absence of a COP left a tremendous amount of work to be done... if we want to deliver at Glasgow," said Marianne Karlsen, chair of a major technical forum at the UN-led negotiations. The two-week sessionsexpanded this year to threenormally involve thousands of representatives from more than 180 countries, and often rely on behind-closed-doors bargaining between delegates to get deals done. Karlsen said the virtual configuration of talks was "not ideal at all". "We really wanted to be able to have all the interactions of when we meet in person but there was no other option," she said. As well as technical discussions, focus over the three-week negotiation session will be on how richer nations fulfil their promise to help finance other countries' fight against and adaptation to the impacts of climate change. "These countries have access to the same science as we do so they know better, they have more money that we do, so they can do better," said Diann Black-Layne, head of the small island state negotiating bloc. "Climate Finance is not development finance. Finance needed to recover after a hurricane is not development Finance," she added. "So let's be clear: Climate Finance pays for the impact of pollution of others." Explore further Researchers: Climate pledges see world closing on Paris goal 2021 AFP European goldfinches are among 43 common species in decline. From city centres to rural fields, human activity has decimated populations of France's most common bird species, scientists warned on Monday, citing data collected over 30 years by volunteer ornithologists. Between 1989 and 2019 over 2,000 French bird lovers participated in monitoring the nation's 123 most common bird species through the Tracking Common Birds Over Time (STOC) program. The effort is sponsored by the French National Museum of Natural History, whose president Bruno David called the findings "unrelenting". Over a third of common French bird species are in decline, including the European goldfinch, the European turtle dove, the common house martin and 40 others, the museum reported. The sharpest drops in populations were on farmlands, where numbers dropped 30 percent in 30 years, followed by urban areas, which saw declines of about 28 percent. Forest birds have fared somewhat better, with their numbers falling by 10 percent over the last three decades. 'Massacre' in the fields Conservation biologist Benoit Fontaine, a researcher at the National Museum, in a press conference Monday described the loss of birds in agricultural territories as a "massacre". In 2018 Fontaine published a study detailing the decline. "Our countryside is in the process of becoming a veritable desert," he said at the time. In a joint press release, the National Museum, the French League for Bird Protection (LPO) and other organisations said even tree sparrows and swallowswhich had adapted to city conditionsnow were suffering. "The transformation of buildings and renovation of facades destroys holes in which some species made nests," it said. "Increasing urban encroachment reduces their food sources, while pollution from transportation and industrial activity also threatens their health." Fontaine pointed to the use of powerful neonicotinoid insecticides that decimate birds' main source of food, along with the mechanisation of farming, the clearing of land, and the destruction of row hedges. LPO president Allain Bougrain-Dubourg said he hoped the findings would feed into ongoing negotiations over the European Union's common agricultural policy. "If we don't go far enough in fundamentally changing our methods, we won't get out of this," he said. On top of farming and urban challenges, climate change is forcing some populations farther north, and hunting and poaching also threaten some species. Biodiversity organisations are working to ban the hunting of species considered endangered in France, as well as controversial traditional methods, such as trapping birds with glue. Explore further Bird populations in French countryside 'collapsing' 2021 AFP A female yakushika deer on Yakushima Island . Credit: Yoshimi Agetsuma-Yanagihara Scientists have shown that the population of the Yakushima sika deer has declined due to natural factors, suggesting that the population can be regulated without culling. The Yakushima sika deer (yakushika: Cervus nippon yakushimae), a subspecies of the Japanese sika deer (Cervus nippon), evolved without natural predators on the island of Yakushima, in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. It inhabits the forests on the island that were declared a World Heritage Site in 1993. Within the site, the yakushika has not been hunted in the past 50 years; however, since 2014, their population has been decreasing. This phenomenon is especially curious, as Japanese researchers believed that sika deer populations in Japan would not decrease without human intervention. A group of three scientists, including Hokkaido University's Associate Professor Naoki Agetsuma, have discovered indications that the reduction in the population of the yakushika is due to natural regulation, a first in Japan. Their findings were presented at the 68th meeting of the Ecological Society of Japan in March 2021, and were published in the Japanese Journal of Conservation Ecology. The team conducted onsite research every summer between 2001 and 2018 by designating two areasthe Hanyama and Kawahara districts, each encompassing about 80 hectaresfor surveys, and counted the deer present while they trekked 5-kilometer census routes. Further, they tracked 19 marked deer in the Hanyama district for four years beginning in 2014 to determine whether they have moved out of the district. Changes in the yakushika population index in the World Natural Heritage Area of Yakushima from 2001 to 2018. The population density index peaked in 2014 and has been on a downward trend. Follow-up surveys confirmed that the downward trend is continuing, as of the summer of 2020 (solid triangles are numbers from Hanyama, open squares are numbers from Kawahara; Naoki Agetsuma, Yoshimi Agetsuma-Yanagihara, Hideki Sugiura. Credit: Japanese Journal of Conservation Ecology. April 20, 2021 The scientists found that the number of deer increased at an average annual rate of 9 percent from 2001 through 2014 but began to decrease at an annual rate of 15 percent after then. The number of deer that have migrated to areas outside Hanyama district is estimated at no more than 3.5 percent of the population, annually. The team has frequently witnessed deer dying of unknown causes since 2016. The overall decline is attributed to natural factors, the first time that a natural decline of sika deer has been observed in Japan. The exact causes have yet to be determined, and may require monitoring the population for several decades while prohibiting culling. Currently, most sika deer populations in Japan, including other areas of Yakushima, are controlled by culling, in line with the government's deer management policy. Thus, intact populations that exist without human intervention, such as the one in the World Heritage Site, are very rare and valuable. However, in late 2020, the government initiated culling to manage deer populations in a part of the World Heritage Site. "If the population can be naturally regulated, Japan should consider following the example of U.S. national parks that have adopted the natural regulation approach for many years, while further unlocking secrets of the unknown aspects of sika deer inhabiting Japan," says Naoki Agetsuma. Explore further Rising Sika deer populations linked to bovine tuberculosis infections More information: Naoki Agetsuma et al. Increase and decline in the density index of Japanese sika deer (Cervus nippon) over 18 years in an evergreen broad-leaved forest with no hunting pressure in the Natural World Heritage Area of Yakushima, Japan. Japanese Journal of Conservation Ecology. April 20, 2021. Naoki Agetsuma et al. Increase and decline in the density index of Japanese sika deer (Cervus nippon) over 18 years in an evergreen broad-leaved forest with no hunting pressure in the Natural World Heritage Area of Yakushima, Japan.. April 20, 2021. doi.org/10.18960/hozen.1923 Credit: CC0 Public Domain The series For All Mankind (2019) is a fictional alternate history that imagines a world where the Soviet Union was the first power to send an astronaut to the moon. From that starting point, the two rival superpowers compete to establish their own lunar station. Just a few short years later, the scenario is no fantasy. Fifty years after the Apollo 11 mission in 2019 the United States announced its intention to return to the Moon in 2024. In light of the concept of "New Space", this new ambition highlights a growing geostrategic competition, particularly given China's precipitous rise. Artemis, one step ahead To succeed on this mission, NASA has promoted the Artemis program, a consortium led by the United States that brings together eight other countriesAustralia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. NASA and Brazil signed a statement of intent in December 2020 to join the program. Each participant will contribute to the completion of the mission with technical and scientific support. NASA is also counting on the private sector, including the SpaceX Starship (SN1), to fulfill the human landing system (HLS) program. The program will have three stages: Artemis I, an unmanned flight scheduled by the end of 2021. Artemis II, a manned flight with the goal of positioning the spacecraft in orbit around the Moon in 2023. Artemis III, which will launch the lunar lander with two astronauts in 2024. In Japan, the Toyota Group has partnered with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to propose a pressurized lunar vehicle that would participate in future missions of the international program. China also has an ambitious program in the worksthe January 2019 landing of the Chang'e-4 spacecraft on the far side of the Moon demonstrates its spectacular progress. In the summer of 2020, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) reiterated the country's intention to create an international lunar research station (ILRS) as soon as 2036. Moscow signed a memorandum of understanding in March 2021 with China to create a lunar station, but no further details are known at this point. India is another contender. While the country's space program does not currently envision the construction of a lunar base, it is preparing astronauts for a lunar mission. However, critical failures such as the Chandrayaan-2 crash have slowed down the program's development. Along with the Gaganyaan program, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) planned to send a manned flight to the Moon, but it will not occur before the next decade. Settling on the Moon, for what purpose? Some consider the Moon as a necessary step before a manned mission to Mars, serving as a training ground for astronauts and forming the basis for a long-term human presence. However, the differences between their respective environments limits the validity of this hypothesis: Mars has an atmosphere that changes the access conditions. For the time being, these projects remain in the realm of wishful thinking. Although no one really knows the possibility and profitability of mining activities on the Moon, groups such as the Planetary Society argue that there are significant resources that could favor such an enterprise. In recent years, discoveries have indicated significant water-ice deposits at the poles of the Moon. In a multitude of microcraters, 60% of the deposits would be set in the South Pole as recent studies suggest. Although no one has ventured to attempt a complete estimation, some research indicates that a significant volume of water is presentranging from 100 million to 1 billion tons for each polar area. NASA's interest in establishing a lunar station in this region is linked to the possibility of extracting water, a critical resource for sustainable human presence. However, the determination of water-ice morphology, concentration, distribution and abundance remains essential, because the energy cost of its extraction depends on its nature. These data will determine the ability to execute any plan to exploit water-ice on the lunar surface. The lunar soil could also conceal important reserves of helium-3, whose volume would represent nearly 2.5 million tons according to Russian researchers. Rare on Earth, this non-radioactive isotope could potentially serve as fuel for nuclear fusion reactors. But such reactors do not yet exist, and few people dare to make predictions about when they will be built. Very hypothetical to date, the use of helium-3 in the long term would require the design of a cost-effective extraction method with adequate infrastructure and the ability to transport it to Earth. Furthermore, mining raises major legal issues as the United States has yet to sign the 1979 Moon Treaty along with China and Russia. On April 6, 2020, then-president Donald Trump issued an executive order stating that the United States did not consider outer space to be part of global commons. In his first 100 days in office, President Joe Biden signed more than 60 executive orders, but had not yet indicated if there would be a change in the US' position on space resources. Finally, NASA has unveiled the LunaNet architecture in its Artemis program. This device would facilitate the transfer of data between the Earth and the Moon, allowing astronauts to be alerted in real time when solar flares threaten space-based weather instruments. Complemented by positioning and navigation services, this architecture would secure human activities on the Moon. Limits and challenges Returning to the Moon implies significant budgetary efforts, even as the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have hit world economies hard. NASA's 2021-2025 budget for the Artemis program is assured until 2024, set at $28 billion, including $16 billion dedicated to the lunar lander. As yet the Biden administration has not stated that it will increase spending to enable humans to return to the lunar surface, and it could be delayed until after 2024. The political context of the current Moon project differs from that of the Apollo program in the 1960s. At that time, the United States wanted to assert its superpower status, and the program had bipartisan support from the start. The current NASA program has the support of Congress, but budget negotiations are always troubled in the United States, particularly with the current partisan divisions. While the Democratic party control the House and Senate, the margin is exceedingly thin, particularly in the Senate. Therefore, NASA's program needs lasting political support to be successful. Given the financial uncertainties, technological hurdles, and logistical obstacles, a successful implementation of the US space program faces a wide range of challenges. In the context of the Earth's environmental crisis, therein lies a question: will this return to the Moon be sustainable or will it just be a last-ditch effort? Explore further Canadian will join Moon mission for first time in 2023 This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Very high atmospheric CO 2 levels can explain the high temperatures on the still young Earth three to four billion years ago. At the time, our Sun shone with only 70 to 80 percent of its present intensity. Nevertheless, the climate on the young Earth was apparently quite warm because there was hardly any glacial ice. This phenomenon is known as the 'paradox of the young weak Sun." Without an effective greenhouse gas, the young Earth would have frozen into a lump of ice. Whether CO 2 , methane, or an entirely different greenhouse gas heated up planet Earth is a matter of debate among scientists. New research by Dr. Daniel Herwartz of the University of Cologne, Professor Dr. Andreas Pack of the University of Gottingen, and Professor Dr. Thorsten Nagel of the University of Aarhus (Denmark) now suggests that high CO 2 levels are a plausible explanation. This would also solve another geoscientific problem: ocean temperatures that were apparently too high. The article "A CO 2 greenhouse efficiently warmed the early Earth and decreased seawater 18O/16O before the onset of plate tectonics" appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. A much-debated question in earth science concerns the temperatures of the early oceans. There is evidence that they were very hot. Measurements of oxygen isotopes on very old limestone or siliceous rocks, which serve as geothermometers, indicate seawater temperatures above 70C. Lower temperatures would only have been possible if the seawater had changed its oxygen isotope composition. However, this was long considered unlikely. Models from the new study show that high CO 2 levels in the atmosphere may provide an explanation, since they would also have caused a change in the ocean's composition. "High CO 2 levels would thus explain two phenomena at once: first, the warm climate on Earth, and second, why geothermometers appear to show hot seawater. Taking into account the different oxygen isotope ratio of seawater, we would arrive at temperatures closer to 40C," said Daniel Herwartz of the University of Cologne. It is conceivable that there was also a lot of methane in the atmosphere. But that would not have had any effect on the composition of the ocean. Thus, it would not explain why the oxygen geothermometer indicates temperatures that are too high. "Both phenomena can only be explained by high levels of CO 2 ," Herwartz added. The authors estimate the total amount of CO 2 to have totalled approximately one bar. That would be as if today's entire atmosphere consisted of CO 2 . "Today, CO 2 is just a trace gas in the atmosphere. Compared to that, one bar sounds like an absurdly large amount. However, looking at our sister planet Venus with its approximately 90 bar of CO 2 puts things into perspective," explained Andreas Pack from the University of Gottingen. On Earth, CO 2 was eventually removed from the atmosphere and the ocean and stored in the form of coal, oil, gas, and black shales as well as in limestone. These carbon reservoirs are mainly located on the continents. However, the young Earth was largely covered by oceans and there were hardly any continents, so the storage capacity for carbon was limited. "That also explains the enormous CO 2 levels of the young Earth from today's perspective. After all, roughly three billion years ago, plate tectonics and the development of land masses in which carbon could be stored over a long period of time was just picking up speed," explained Thorsten Nagel from Aarhus University. For the carbon cycle, the onset of plate tectonics changed everything. Large land masses with mountains provided faster silicate weathering, which converted CO 2 into limestone. In addition, carbon became effectively trapped in the Earth's mantle as oceanic plates were subducted. Plate tectonics thus caused the CO 2 content of the atmosphere to drop sharply. Repeated ice ages show that it became significantly colder on Earth. "Earlier studies had already indicated that the limestone contents in ancient basalts point to a sharp drop in atmospheric CO 2 levels. This fits well with an increase in oxygen isotopes at the same time. Everything indicates that the atmospheric CO 2 content declined rapidly after the onset of plate tectonics," Daniel Herwartz concluded. However, in this context 'rapidly' refers to several hundred million years. Explore further Why is the Earth blue? More information: Daniel Herwartz el al., "A CO2 greenhouse efficiently warmed the early Earth and decreased seawater 18O/16O before the onset of plate tectonics," PNAS (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Daniel Herwartz el al., "A CO2 greenhouse efficiently warmed the early Earth and decreased seawater 18O/16O before the onset of plate tectonics,"(2021). www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.2023617118 Ph.D candidate Angela Martin during fieldwork in Austevoll, Norway. Credit: Tonje K. Srdalen. A new study from the University of Agder shows that animals are part of the natural carbon cycle process that absorbs greenhouse gas emissions. "It is a good thing that carbon is trapped in the ocean, but less greenhouse gas emissions from humans is overall best for the climate," says Angela Helen Martin. She is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Natural Sciences at University of Agder (UiA). Martin recently published a review article on how fishes and other animals affect greenhouse gases in the ocean. One of her conclusions is that there is a need to consider how animals affect carbon in order to design effective management of carbon in ocean habitats and of marine vertebrate populations. "For example, if we only protect the plants that convert greenhouse gases to organic carbon, we can miss all the carbon storage delivered by the animals. And if we miss that,we may not get all of the carbon storage benefits from the habitat," Martin says. The review article was published in the journal One Earth. Martins co-authors were Heidi C. Pearson at University of Alaska Southeast, Grace K. Saba at Rutgers University and Esben M. Olsen at the Institute of Marine Research (Havforskningsinstituttet) and UiA. Animals store carbon Martin and her colleagues have studied how fish, whales, turtles, birds and other marine animals affect the movement and storage of carbon in the ocean. "Animals eat carbon in their food, which can then be stored in their bodies, excreted in their poop, or breathed out. Some fish and whales also poop nutrients that plants use to photosynthesize. These plants produce organic carbon from carbon dioxide. And when animals move, the carbon and nutrients can move with them," Martin says. Scientists so far do not know whether the overall effect of animals on carbon in different habitats is good, bad or indifferent for the climate. Martin says it depends on the amount of gas emissions released back to the atmosphere, balanced with the carbon stored. "What we do know is that it is good for the climate if the carbon stays in the ocean, very good if the carbon sinks to ocean sediments, and bad if the carbon is released back to the atmosphere," she says. Carbon cycle absorbs greenhouse gas According to Martin, the ocean has in the last decade absorbed a quarter of the Earth's greenhouse gas emissions through the carbon cycle. This cycle is a naturally occurring process. "Most emissions absorbed by the ocean do not go through the living components like plants, animals, bacteria and so forth. Instead, they dissolve into the water and contribute to ocean warming and acidification," says Martin. She underlines that greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced to stop climate change happening. "Although it represents a very small percentage of the carbon in the ocean, the biological pump, like plants, salt marshes, wetlands, mangroves, seagrasses, and animals can be affected through management of ocean resources. Nature-based solutions like that are a complementary tool to emissions reductions to reduce the severity of climate change," Martin says. Recommend new studies The scientists recommend future researchers to bring together existing data to create new knowledge. They also recommend them to conduct research at a scale that can be incorporated into management decisions and policies. "This can help to find the best approaches to management," she says, and lists four examples that need science-based management: Should carbon-trapping by fishes be a consideration of fisheries management? Would protected areas be a good way to manage carbon trapped by fishes? Should protections be applied in a specific location or a series of locations? Should any protections apply for the whole year, or are specific seasons more important? Released to the atmosphere The review article has over 160 sources, including more than 150 scientific articles; two reports; one book; and fisheries data published by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations) and ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea). "We found that carbon breathed out by marine mammals is released back to the atmosphere, yet carbon breathed out by fishes in the deep sea can stay in the ocean and out of the atmosphere for over a hundred years," Martin says. There are many descriptions of animals influencing carbon or providing nutrients, in both climate-positive and negative ways. "The biggest knowledge gaps, though, were estimates of how much carbon is influenced by marine vertebrates, and what happens to the carbon afterwards," Martin says. She considers the research to be highly relevant to society, especially since new policies are being introduced on this topic. "Some carbon-rich ocean habitats, such as salt marshes and seagrasses, are now being incorporated into policies to reduce the impacts of climate change, which will affect us all," Martin says. Explore further Fishes contribute roughly 1.65 billion tons of carbon in feces and other matter annually More information: Angela Helen Martin et al, Integral functions of marine vertebrates in the ocean carbon cycle and climate change mitigation, One Earth (2021). Journal information: One Earth Angela Helen Martin et al, Integral functions of marine vertebrates in the ocean carbon cycle and climate change mitigation,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.oneear.2021.04.019 Provided by University of Agder Lake Tislit is located in Morocco's High Atlas Mountains. The next step is to obtain more high-resolution sedimentary archives from nearshore deposits off Morocco. Credit: Rachid Cheddadi, University of Montpellier Researchers have developed a new concept to explain the phenomenon known as Green Sahara. They demonstrate that a permanent vegetation cover in the Sahara was only possible under two overlapping rainy seasons. Dr. Enno Schefu of MARUMCenter for Marine Environmental Sciences of the University of Bremen, Dr. Rachid Cheddadi of the University of Montpellier, and their colleagues have now published their study in the journal PNAS. The Sahara has not always been covered by only sand and rocks. During the period from 14,500 to 5,000 years ago large areas of North Africa were more heavily populated, and where there is desert today the land was green with vegetation. This is evidenced by various sites with rock paintings showing not only giraffes and crocodiles, but even illustrating people swimming in the "Cave of Swimmers." This period is known as the Green Sahara or African Humid Period. Until now, researchers have assumed that the necessary rain was brought from the tropics through an enhanced summer monsoon. The northward shift of the monsoon was attributed to rotation of the Earth's tilted axis that produces higher levels of solar radiation over North Africa approximately every 25,000 years. However, climate models have not been able to simulate plant growth sufficient to create a Green Sahara with rain that stem only from the summer monsoon. Scientists are convinced that permanent vegetation at that time in North Africa cannot be explained by a single rainy season each year. Dr. Enno Schefu of MARUM and Dr. Rachid Cheddadi of the University of Montpellier (France) together with an international team of researchers have analyzed pollen and leaf waxes extracted from a sediment core in order to reconstruct the vegetation cover and amount of rainfall in the past. The core was retrieved from Lake Tislit in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Fossil components of plants such as pollen and refractory plant molecules are deposited in lakes just as in marine sediments. These enable to identify the types of vegetation and climate conditions from the past. The samples studied come from a core recovered by researchers in Morocco's Lake Tislit. Credit: Rachid Cheddadi, University of Montpellier "Our results are very clear," explains Enno Schefu, "While the leaf waxes indicate increased rainfall during the African Humid Period, the pollen explicitly reveal that the vegetation was Mediterranean, not subtropical or even tropical." Mediterranean plants can tolerate arid conditions in the summer as long as they receive sufficient rain in the winter. "This strongly suggests that the monsoon reconstructions of previous studies need to be reconsidered." Based on these findings, Schefu and his colleagues have developed a new concept to explain the Green Sahara. During the period of the Green Sahara, as the monsoon was intensifying and moving northward in the summer, there must have been a southward shift of the belt of westerlies in the winter that brought winter precipitation to North Africa. The team subsequently tested their past climate reconstructions from the Tislit record using a mechanistic vegetation model. "We have winter rain on the northern margin of the Sahara, the monsoon on the southern margin, and between the two areas an overlap of the two rain systems which provides rains there during both summer and winter, albeit rather sparsely," explains Rachid Cheddadi. The vegetation model simulations clearly showed that a Green Sahara was formed under this climate scenario. A continuous vegetation cover could only form with precipitation in two seasons; the plants would not survive a long dry phase after a short rainy period. Schefu and his colleagues describe their results as a paradigm change in the climate research explaining the cause of the Green Sahara. The implications of this include not only a better understanding of past climate conditions, but also an improvement of the predictions for future climate and vegetation trends in the region, as well a contribution to archaeological studies of settlement patterns and migration routes. A planned expedition using the Research Vessel METEOR to retrieve additional high-resolution sediment archives from the near-coastal deposits off Morocco was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it will be rescheduled as soon as possible in order to further strengthen this research and the German-Moroccan cooperation. Explore further Green Sahara's ancient rainfall regime revealed More information: Rachid Cheddadi el al., "Early Holocene greening of the Sahara requires Mediterranean winter rainfall," PNAS (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Rachid Cheddadi el al., "Early Holocene greening of the Sahara requires Mediterranean winter rainfall,"(2021). www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.2024898118 Provided by MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen By sequencing the genome of P. vinckei, as seen here under a microscope, scientists may more easily identify the virulence, drug resistance and transmissibility of the malaria parasite in mosquitoes. Credit: 2021 KAUST Detailed and extensive genome sequencing of a subspecies of rat-infecting malaria parasites should instruct human malaria research. A new extensive genetic resource of rat-infecting malaria parasites may help advance the development of malaria prevention and treatment strategies. This trove of genome and phenome information has been published by a team of KAUST researchers, along with colleagues in Japan, and the datasets have been made publicly available for malaria researchers. Rodent malaria parasites are closely related to human parasites, but are easier to study because they can be grown in laboratory mice. "Investigations on rodent malaria parasites have played a key role in revealing many aspects of fascinating biology across their life-cycle stages," says KAUST bioscientist Arnab Pain, who led the sequencing effort, in collaboration with Richard Culleton of Nagasaki University's Institute of Tropical Medicine. Most research on these parasites to date has involved three specific species, but a fourth, called Plasmodium vinckei, hasn't received much attention. Pain, Culleton and the team generated a comprehensive genetic resource for this species and also sequenced genomes of seven isolates belonging to two of the other species, P. yoelii and P. chabaudi. Sequencing the genomes of ten isolates from five subspecies of P. vinckei from tropical Africa revealed that they have widely diverged from their common ancestor. The evolutionary pressures on each of the subspecies varies greatly according to the regions where they are mainly found. The sequencing efforts clarified aspects of the evolutionary tree of rat malaria parasites and also led to the naming of three new subspecies: P. yoelii cameronensis, P. chabaudi esekanensis and P. vinckei baforti. The research describes in detail genetic and phenotypic variations between the subspecies, which is likely to help studies that aim to understand the functions of malaria parasite genes. The scientists were also able to genetically modify a subspecies of P. vinckei to carry a fluorescent protein. This demonstrates that investigations on gene function that involve modifying or removing a target gene can be conducted in this subspecies. "We hope our resource will provide the research community with a diverse set of parasite models to play with. This resource can be put to use to identify genes that influence the malaria parasite's virulence, drug resistance and transmissibility in mosquitoes," says Abhinay Ramaprasad, the first author of this study, which he conducted during his Ph.D. at KAUST. The resource has been well received by the research community: "What a rich set of resources," wrote Jane Carlton, Director of New York University's Center for Genomics & Systems Biology. "The development of a model system once took decades, but with the aid of next-generation sequencing and enhanced molecular biology techniques, Ramaprasad et al. have fast-tracked the establishment of P. vinckei as a useful additional experimental model for malaria." Explore further Open data on malaria genomes will help combat drug resistance More information: Abhinay Ramaprasad et al, Plasmodium vinckei genomes provide insights into the pan-genome and evolution of rodent malaria parasites, BMC Biology (2021). Abhinay Ramaprasad et al, Plasmodium vinckei genomes provide insights into the pan-genome and evolution of rodent malaria parasites,(2021). DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-00995-5 Jane M. Carlton, A cornucopia of research resources for the fourth rodent malaria parasite species, BMC Biology (2021). DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01019-y Journal information: BMC Biology A correlation configuration (top left) is reduced using a newly developed block-cluster transformation (top right). Both the original and reduced configurations have an improved estimator technique applied to give configuration pairs of different size (bottom row). Using these training pairs, a CNN can learn to convert small patterns to large ones, achieving a successful inverse RG transformation. Credit: Tokyo Metropolitan University Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have enhanced "super-resolution" machine learning techniques to study phase transitions. They identified key features of how large arrays of interacting particles behave at different temperatures by simulating tiny arrays before using a convolutional neural network to generate a good estimate of what a larger array would look like using correlation configurations. The massive saving in computational cost may realize unique ways of understanding how materials behave. We are surrounded by different states or phases of matter, i.e. gases, liquids, and solids. The study of phase transitions, how one phase transforms into another, lies at the heart of our understanding of matter in the universe, and remains a hot topic for physicists. In particular, the idea of universality, in which wildly different materials behave in similar ways thanks to a few shared features, is a powerful one. That's why physicists study model systems, often simple grids of particles on an array that interact via simple rules. These models distill the essence of the common physics shared by materials and, amazingly, still exhibit many of the properties of real materials, like phase transitions. Due to their elegant simplicity, these rules can be encoded into simulations that tell us what materials look like under different conditions. However, like all simulations, the trouble starts when we want to look at lots of particles at the same time. The computation time required becomes particularly prohibitive near phase transitions, where dynamics slows down, and the correlation length, a measure of how the state of one atom relates to the state of another some distance away, grows larger and larger. This is a real dilemma if we want to apply these findings to the real world: real materials generally always contain many more orders of magnitude of atoms and molecules than simulated matter. That's why a team led by Professors Yutaka Okabe and Hiroyuki Mori of Tokyo Metropolitan University, in collaboration with researchers in Shibaura Institute of Technology and Bioinformatics Institute of Singapore, have been studying how to reliably extrapolate smaller simulations to larger ones using a concept known as an inverse renormalization group (RG). The renormalization group is a fundamental concept in the understanding of phase transitions and led Wilson to be awarded the 1982 Nobel Prize in Physics. Recently, the field met a powerful ally in convolutional neural networks (CNN), the same machine learning tool helping computer vision identify objects and decipher handwriting. The idea would be to give an algorithm the state of a small array of particles and get it to estimate what a larger array would look like. There is a strong analogy to the idea of super-resolution images, where blocky, pixelated images are used to generate smoother images at a higher resolution. Trends found from simulations of larger systems are faithfully reproduced by the trained CNNs for both Ising (left) and three-state Potts (right) models. (inset) Correct temperature rescaling is achieved using data at some arbitrary system size. Credit: Tokyo Metropolitan University The team has been looking at how this is applied to spin models of matter, where particles interact with other nearby particles via the direction of their spins. Previous attempts have particularly struggled to apply this to systems at temperatures above a phase transition, where configurations tend to look more random. Now, instead of using spin configurations i.e. simple snapshots of which direction the particle spins are pointing, they considered correlation configurations, where each particle is characterized by how similar its own spin is to that of other particles, specifically those which are very far away. It turns out correlation configurations contain more subtle queues about how particles are arranged, particularly at higher temperatures. Like all machine learning techniques, the key is to be able to generate a reliable training set. The team developed a new algorithm called the block-cluster transformation for correlation configurations to reduce these down to smaller patterns. Applying an improved estimator technique to both the original and reduced patterns, they had pairs of configurations of different size based on the same information. All that's left is to train the CNN to convert the small patterns to larger ones. The group considered two systems, the 2D Ising model and the three-state Potts model, both key benchmarks for studies of condensed matter. For both, they found that their CNN could use a simulation of a very small array of points to reproduce how a measure of the correlation g(T) changed across a phase transition point in much larger systems. Comparing with direct simulations of larger systems, the same trends were reproduced for both systems, combined with a simple temperature rescaling based on data at an arbitrary system size. A successful implementation of inverse RG transformations promises to give scientists a glimpse of previously inaccessible system sizes, and help physicists understand the larger scale features of materials. The team now hopes to apply their method to other models which can map more complex features such as a continuous range of spins, as well as the study of quantum systems. Explore further Machine learning puts a new spin on spin models More information: Kenta Shiina et al, Inverse renormalization group based on image super-resolution using deep convolutional networks, Scientific Reports (2021). Journal information: Scientific Reports Kenta Shiina et al, Inverse renormalization group based on image super-resolution using deep convolutional networks,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88605-w Provided by Tokyo Metropolitan University Hydraulic instabilities dictate the volumes of germ cells and balloons. Left: Picture of two balloons connected through a central tube, any new air coming through the white pipe will inflate the red balloon rather than the blue one. Right: Spinning-disk confocal image of interconnected C. elegans germ cells. Cortical actin showing the cell cortex is labelled in magenta. Myosin, delineating the germ cells openings through which both cells exchange cytoplasmic material, is labelled in green. Credit: Nicolas Chartier et al. Nature Physics, 20 May, 2021 In many species including humans, the cells responsible for reproduction, the germ cells, are often highly interconnected and share their cytoplasm. In the hermaphrodite nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, up to 500 germ cells are connected to each other in the gonad, the tissue that produces eggs and sperm. These cells are arranged around a central cytoplasmic "corridor" and exchange cytoplasmic material fostering cell growth, and ultimately produce oocytes ready to be fertilized. In past studies, researchers have found that C. elegans gonads generate more germ cells than needed and that only half of them grow to become oocytes, while the rest shrink and die by physiological apoptosis, a programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms. Now, scientists from the Biotechnology Center of the TU Dresden (BIOTEC), the Max Planck Institute of molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG), the Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life (PoL) at the TU Dresden, the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems (MPI-PKS), the Flatiron Institute, NY, and the University of California, Berkeley, have found evidence to answer the question of what triggers this cell fate decision between life and death in the germline. Prior studies revealed the genetic basis and biochemical signals that drive physiological cell death, but the mechanisms that select and initiate apoptosis in individual germ cells remained unclear. As germ cells mature along the gonad of the nematode, they first collectively grow in size and in volume homogenously. In the study just published in Nature Physics, the scientists show that this homogenous growth suddenly shifts to a heterogenous growth where some cells become bigger and some cells become smaller. The researcher Nicolas Chartier in the group of Stephan Grill, and co-first author of the study, explains, "By precisely analyzing germ cell volumes and cytoplasmic material fluxes in living worms and by developing theoretical modeling, we have identified a hydraulic instability that amplifies small initial random volume differences, which causes some germ cells to increase in volume at the expense of the others that shrink. It is a phenomenon, which can be compared to the two-balloon instability, well known of physicists. Such an instability arises when simultaneously blowing into two rubber balloons attempting to inflate them both. Only the larger balloon will inflate, because it has a lower internal pressure than the smaller one, and is therefore easier to inflate." This is what is at play in the selection of germ cells: such pressure differences tend to destabilize the symmetric configuration with equal germ cell volumes, so-called hydraulic instabilities, leading to the growth of the larger germ cell at the expense of the smaller one. By artificially reducing germ cell volumes via thermoviscous pumping (FLUCS method: Focused-light-induced cytoplasmic streaming), the team demonstrated that the reduction in cell volumes leads to their extrusion and cell death, indicating that once a cell is below a critical size, apoptosis is induced and the cell dies. By using confocal imaging, the researchers could image the full organism of the living worm to receive a global and precise picture of the volumes of all the gonad cells, as well as the exchange of fluids between the cells. Stephan Grill, Speaker of the Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life (PoL) and supervisor of the multidisciplinary work, adds, "These findings are very exciting because they reveal that the life and death decision in the cells is of mechanical nature and related to tissue hydraulics. It helps to understand how the organism auto-selects a cell that will become an egg. Furthermore, the study is another example of the excellent cooperation between biologists, physicists and mathematicians in Dresden." Explore further Sperm development linked to testicular cancer More information: Nicolas T. Chartier et al, A hydraulic instability drives the cell death decision in the nematode germline, Nature Physics (2021). Journal information: Nature Physics Nicolas T. Chartier et al, A hydraulic instability drives the cell death decision in the nematode germline,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41567-021-01235-x by Melani Manel Perera The appeal to the government to intervene with the utmost urgency. The ship, with a cargo of 146 containers, went up in flames off the capital. The containers were loaded with nitric acid, ethanol, cosmetics and chemicals. Compensation is needed for fishermen, already affected by Covid-19. Colombo (AsiaNews) - From the coasts of Colombo to the north-western sea, in Sri Lanka there is great concern about the environmental crisis - with inevitable repercussions on fishing - originating from the fire engulfing the Express Pearl, a ship flying the flag of Singapore off the capital. The fear of a natural disaster is shared by activists, environmentalists and Catholic priests of Colombo and Negombo, who appeal to the government to intervene with the utmost urgency. Reports from the Agency for the Development and Research of Nautical Resources (NARA) say the vessel caught fire off the coast of Colombo on 20 May, sparking a chain fire of the 146 containers on board that continued for five days. On board were crammed with nitric acid, ethanol, cosmetics and chemicals that risk causing a disaster of enormous proportions. The commission of inquiry (CID) recorded the testimonies of the captain, the chief engineer, his deputy who were on board at the time of the accident, which created panic and fears among the population due to the impact on fishing activities. Hence the intervention of the Church and various priests, who appeal to the authorities for the protection of the rights of fishermen who "are not isolated communities, but citizens of this nation". The local clergy are asking the executive to provide medium and long-term compensation to fishermen who have seen their business compromised, along with subsidies for lost working days. And to take action to obtain compensation from the insurance companies, promote all remediation and treatment activities in the area to prevent further damage in the future. From an environmental point of view, the priority is the protection and recovery of damage caused to the coasts and coral reefs. The Negombo Citizens' Collective stresses that the Express Pearl disaster is only the latest in a series of problems, including the Covid-19 pandemic which has already dealt a severe blow to the economy of the area's inhabitants. "Immediate action is needed - reports the organization in a statement - to resolve the situation" because in the meantime the sea waters have changed colour, the air has become unbreathable due to the miasma and debris is accumulating on the beaches. Meanwhile, the government authorities have issued a ban on fishing and consumption of fish from the area. The alkaline Nakuru Lake in Kenya is rich in the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis, the basic food of the Lesser Flamingo. However, due to increasing rainfall in the region in recent years, the bacterium and with it the flamingos are disappearing. Credit: Prof. Martin Trauth, University of Potsdam While it is widely accepted that climate change drove the evolution of our species in Africa, the exact character of that climate change and its impacts are not well understood. Glacial-interglacial cycles strongly impact patterns of climate change in many parts of the world, and were also assumed to regulate environmental changes in Africa during the critical period of human evolution over the last ~1 million years. The ecosystem changes driven by these glacial cycles are thought to have stimulated the evolution and dispersal of early humans. A paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) this week challenges this view. Dr. Kaboth-Bahr and an international group of multidisciplinary collaborators identified ancient El Nino-like weather patterns as the drivers of major climate changes in Africa. This allowed the group to re-evaluate the existing climatic framework of human evolution. Walking with the rain Dr. Kaboth-Bahr and her colleagues integrated 11 climate archives from all across Africa covering the past 620 thousand years to generate a comprehensive spatial picture of when and where wet or dry conditions prevailed over the continent. "We were surprised to find a distinct climatic east-west 'seesaw' very akin to the pattern produced by the weather phenomena of El Nino, that today profoundly influences precipitation distribution in Africa," explains Dr. Kaboth-Bahr, who led the study. The authors infer that the effects of the tropical Pacific Ocean on the so-called "Walker Circulation"a belt of convection cells along the equator that impact the rainfall and aridity of the tropicswere the prime driver of this climate seesaw. The data clearly shows that the wet and dry regions shifted between the east and west of the African continent on timescales of approximately 100,000 years, with each of the climatic shifts being accompanied by major turnovers in flora and mammal fauna. The Ngorongoro on the edge of the Serengeti in Tanzania is home to abundant wildlife. Climate change, however, leads to dramatic water scarcity, vegetation changes, loss of biodiversity and recurring diseases that threaten the fragile ecosystem. Credit: Prof. Martin Trauth, University of Potsdam "This alternation between dry and wet periods appeared to have governed the dispersion and evolution of vegetation as well as mammals in eastern and western Africa," explains Dr. Kaboth-Bahr. "The resultant environmental patchwork was likely to have been a critical component of human evolution and early demography as well." The scientists are keen to point that although climate change was certainly not the sole factor driving early human evolution, the new study nevertheless provides a novel perspective on the tight link between environmental fluctuations and the origin of our early ancestors. "We see many species of pan-African mammals whose distributions match the patterns we identify, and whose evolutionary history seems to articulate with the wet-dry oscillations between eastern and western Africa," adds Dr. Eleanor Scerri, one of the co-authors and an evolutionary archaeologist at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany. "These animals preserve the signals of the environments that humans evolved in, and it seems likely that our human ancestors may have been similarly subdivided across Africa as they were subject to the same environmental pressures." Today a saline mudflat, the Chew Bahir Basin in southern Ethiopia once held an extensive paleo-lake during humid phases. Scientific deep drilling from the current playa surface produced a ~620,000-year long sedimentary record providing insights into the intense shifts of eastern Africa's highly variable hydroclimate. Credit: Annett Jungiger, University of Tubingen Ecotones: the transitional regions between different ecological zones The scientists' work suggests that a seesaw-like pattern of rainfall alternating between eastern and western Africa probably had the effect of creating critically important ecotonal regionsthe buffer zones between different ecological zones, such grassland and forest. "Ecotones provided diverse, resource-rich and stable environmental settings thought to have been important to early modern humans," adds Dr. Kaboth-Bahr. "They certainly seem to have been important to other faunal communities." To the scientists, this suggests that Africa's interior regions may have been critically important for fostering long-term population continuity. "We see the archaeological signatures of early members of our species all across Africa," says Dr. Scerri, "but innovations come and go and are often re-invented, suggesting that our deep population history saw a constant saw-tooth like pattern of local population growth and collapse. Ecotonal regions may have provided areas for longer term population continuity, ensuring that the larger human population kept going, even if local populations often went extinct." "Re-evaluating these patterns of stasis, change and extinction through a new climatic framework will yield new insights into the deep human past," says Dr. Kaboth Bahr. "This does not mean that people were helpless in the face of climatic changes, but shifting habitat availability would certainly have impacted patterns of demography, and ultimately the genetic exchanges that underpin human evolution." Explore further First human culture lasted 20,000 years longer than thought Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that individuals who falsely believe they are able to identify false news are more likely to fall victim to it. In the article published today, Ben Lyons, assistant professor of communication at the University of Utah, and his colleagues examine the concern about the public's susceptibility to false news due to their inability to recognize their own limitations in identifying such information. "Though Americans believe confusion caused by false news is extensive, relatively few indicate having seen or shared it," said Lyons. "If people incorrectly see themselves as highly skilled at identifying false news, they may unwittingly be more likely to consume, believe and share it, especially if it conforms to their worldview." Lyons and his colleagues used two large nationally representative surveys with a total of 8,285 respondents. Individuals were asked to evaluate the accuracy of a series of Facebook headlines and then rate their own abilities to discern false news content. Lyons used these two measures to assess overconfidence among respondents and how it is related to beliefs and behaviors. "Our results paint a worrying picture. Many people are simply unaware of their own vulnerability to misinformation." The vast majority of respondentsabout 90 percentreported they are above average in their ability to discern false and legitimate news headlines. Three in four individuals overestimated their ability to distinguish between legitimate and false news headlines and respondents placed themselves 22 percentiles higher than their score warranted, on average. About 20 percent of respondents rated themselves 50 or more percentiles higher than their score warranted. "Using data measuring respondents' online behavior, we show that those who overrate their ability more frequently visit websites known to spread false or misleading news. These overconfident respondents are also less able to distinguish between true and false claims about current events and report higher willingness to share false content, especially when it aligns with their political leanings." Prior research suggests it may be individuals' lack of skill itself that drives engagement with false news and finds that people who are worse at discerning between legitimate and false news are worse at doing so in their browsing habits. However, Lyons' analysis also shows that inflated perceptions of ability are independently associated with engaging with misinformation, suggesting the perceptual gaps are an additional source of vulnerability. These results provide new evidence of an important potential mechanism by which people may fall victim to misinformation and disseminate it online. Although the design does not identify the causal effect of overconfidence, these findings suggest that the mismatch between one's perceived ability to spot false stories and people's actual abilities may play an important and previously unrecognized role in the spread of false information online. More information: Benjamin A. Lyons el al., "Overconfidence in news judgments is associated with false news susceptibility," PNAS (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Benjamin A. Lyons el al., "Overconfidence in news judgments is associated with false news susceptibility,"(2021). www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.2019527118 Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Could a jacket or a pair of jeans one day power your mobile phone and other electronic devices? This is the aim of a multi-disciplined team of scientists including from Heriot-Watt University's Research Institute for Flexible Materials, who are behind a new project to harvest the kinetic energy generated in clothing through state-of-the-art nano technology. The academics, all of whom are based in Scotland and Ireland, are attempting to create a friction based wearable autonomous energy system. They will use cutting-edge nanogenerators, which are designed to capture and reuse the kinetic energy in clothing materials created as the wearer moves. If successful, these tiny, unobtrusive devices will be woven into every-day clothing. The team say their technology could be available as early as 2027 and capable of powering a host of devices such as mobile phones, smart watches and tablets. Professor George Stylios from Heriot-Watt's School of Textiles and Design in the Scottish Borders is leading on the textile aspects of the project. He is investigating ways to develop and integrate the technology into garments. He said: "As humans, we collectively expend a huge amount of energy as we move around so why not capture this and put it to good use? "To do so would not only benefit the planet in our fight against climate change but also deliver ongoing convenience to people's lives. "The fabric type and mechanics, and most importantly the surface interaction of the fabric, is vital in enabling us to generate enough energy by the coupling effect of motion and nano-technology to generate a renewable source of electricity." The project is a marriage between cutting-edge science and fabric. In the same way that static electricity is created, the scientists are looking to optimize the friction generated between two materials in order to generate a charge. They are developing a flexible fabric known as a triboelectric nanogenerator, or TENG for short, to harness and store this sustainable energy source. Previous attempts to create fabric TENG's have failed largely due to them being unable to generate adequate power. But this latest project aims to use specialist materials to maximize fabric friction and design a highly efficient TENG with enhanced performance. Professor Stylios continues: "Our biggest challenge is increasing our power output in order to make this a viable option. For example, textile TENGs currently produce power in the microwatt to milliwatt range. We need to drastically increase the level of friction in order to achieve an output of hundreds of milliwatts, which is required to power most mobile devices. "Our answer to this problem is to create an extremely efficient energy generation fabric material for use in every garment. We are looking to optimize friction and using advanced material processing techniques to produce surfaces that work on micron sized fibers." While the idea of effectively wearing stored electricity may sound dangerous, Professor Stylios says there is nothing to fear. "This technology is safe to wear and use, since the levels of current output are very low posing no harm to the user," he said. "The focus would be in areas of body maximum contact such as in the side of elbows. "Once we have generated and stored this energy the question is how do we transfer this into mobile devices? We have a couple of ways for doing this. Firstly, we can store the electricity in a small polymer battery on the clothing itself, but my preference is the second option of directly transferring the electricity wirelessly, by simply carrying our phone in our pocket." Explore further Flea-sized solar panels embedded in clothes can charge a mobile phone A cargo ship has been burning off Sri Lanka's coast for the 12th consecutive day, in one of the island's worst-ever marine ecological disasters. Sri Lanka's criminal investigators began questioning the crew of a burning cargo ship Monday, as the Singapore-registered carrier smouldered for a 12th straight day in one of the island's worst-ever marine ecological disasters. A fire broke out aboard the MV X-Press Pearl, which was carrying 25 tonnes of nitric acid and a huge amount of plastic raw materials, as it was about to enter Colombo harbour on May 20. The intense flames, still burning at the rear of the 186-metre (610-foot) vessel, have destroyed much of the cargo, some of which has fallen into the Indian Ocean. Tonnes of microplastic granules from the ship and its nearly 1,500 containers have inundated Sri Lanka's famed beaches, forcing a fishing ban and sparking fears of ecological devastation. The Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) chief Dharshani Lahandapura said they were still assessing the ecological damage, but believed it was the "worst ever in my lifetime". The Police Inspector-General has ordered the Criminal Investigation Department to investigate the fire as well as the huge environmental damage caused, an official said. "The 25-member crew have completed their quarantine and we are able to question them today," a police spokesman said. MEPA said the captain of the vessel had known about a nitric acid leak on May 11, long before the vessel entered Sri Lankan waters. Tonnes of microplastic granules from the ship and its nearly 1,500 containers have inundated Sri Lanka's famed beaches. Authorities are moving to sue the owners of the vessel and its crew and claim damages from insurers. The fire has been under control since Sunday, officials said, adding, however, that the vessel continued to smoke on Monday and that high monsoon winds were fanning flames at the back of the ship. They said it was still too hot for them to attempt boarding the stricken ship. A fishing ban has been implemented, and there are fears of ecological devastation. International salvage firm SMIT is leading efforts to douse the flames and is being assisted by Sri Lanka's navy and the Indian coast guard. The three-month-old ship was heading to Colombo from Gujarat, India. It had previously visited Qatar and Dubai and was due to go to Malaysia and Singapore after calling at Colombo. Explore further Sri Lanka battles waves of plastic waste from burning ship 2021 AFP Co-authors Vinayak Dravid and Stephanie Ribet examine their phosphate elimination and recovery substrate. Credit: Northwestern University Phosphate pollution in rivers, lakes and other waterways has reached dangerous levels, causing algae blooms that starve fish and aquatic plants of oxygen. Meanwhile, farmers worldwide are coming to terms with a dwindling reserve of phosphate fertilizers that feed half the world's food supply. Inspired by Chicago's many nearby bodies of water, a Northwestern University-led team has developed a way to repeatedly remove and reuse phosphate from polluted waters. The researchers liken the development to a "Swiss Army knife" for pollution remediation as they tailor their membrane to absorb and later release other pollutants. The research will be published during the week of May 31 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. Phosphorus underpins both the world's food system and all life on earth. Every living organism on the planet requires it: phosphorous is in cell membranes, the scaffolding of DNA and in our skeleton. Though other key elements like oxygen and nitrogen can be found in the atmosphere, phosphorous has no analog. The small fraction of usable phosphorous comes from the Earth's crust, which takes thousands or even millions of years to weather away. And our mines are running out. A 2021 article in The Atlantic by Julia Rosen cited Isaac Asimov's 1939 essay, in which the American writer and chemist dubbed phosphorous "life's bottleneck." Given the shortage of this non-renewable natural resource, it is sadly ironic that many of our lakes are suffering from a process known as eutrophication, which occurs when too many nutrients enter a natural water source. As phosphate and other minerals build up, aquatic vegetation and algae become too dense, depleting oxygen from water and ultimately killing aquatic life. "We used to reuse phosphate a lot more," said Stephanie Ribet, the paper's first author. "Now we just pull it out of the ground, use it once and flush it away into water sources after use. So, it's a pollution problem, a sustainability problem and a circular economy problem." Ecologists and engineers traditionally have developed tactics to address the mounting environmental and public health concerns around phosphate by eliminating phosphate from water sources. Only recently has the emphasis shifted away from removing to recovering phosphate. "One can always do certain things in a laboratory setting," said Vinayak Dravid, the study's corresponding author. "But there's a Venn Diagram when it comes to scaling up, where you need to be able to scale the technology, you want it to be effective and you want it to be affordable. There was nothing in that intersection of the three before, but our sponge seems to be a platform that meets all these criteria." Dravid is the Abraham Harris Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering, the founding director of the Northwestern University Atomic and Nanoscale Characterization Experimental Center (NUANCE), and director of the Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental Resource (SHyNE). Dravid also serves as the director of global initiatives for Northwestern's International Institute of Nanotechnology. Ribet is a Ph.D. student in Dravid's lab and the paper's first author. The team's Phosphate Elimination and Recovery Lightweight (PEARL) membrane is a porous, flexible substrate (such as a coated sponge, cloth or fibers) that selectively sequesters up to 99% of phosphate ions from polluted water. Coated with nanostructures that bind to phosphate, the PEARL membrane can be tuned by controlling the pH to either absorb or release nutrients to allow for phosphate recovery and reuse of the membrane for many cycles. Current methods to remove phosphate are based on complex, lengthy, multi-step methods. Most of them do not also recover the phosphate during removal and ultimately generate a great deal of physical waste. The PEARL membrane provides a simple one-step process to remove phosphate that also efficiently recovers it. It's also reusable and generates no physical waste. Using samples from Chicago's Water Reclamation District, the researchers tested their theory with the added complexity of real water samples. "We often call this a 'nanoscale solution to a gigaton problem,'" Dravid said. "In many ways the nanoscale interactions that we study have implications for macrolevel remediation." The team has demonstrated that the sponge-based approach is effective on scales, ranging from milligrams to kilograms, suggesting promise in scaling even further. This research builds on a former development from the same teamVikas Nandwana, a member of the Dravid group and co-author on the present study was the first author -called the OHM (oleophilic hydrophobic multifunctional) sponge that used the same sponge platform to selectively remove and recover oil resulting from oil contamination in water. By modifying the nanomaterial coating in the membrane, the team plans to next use their "plug-and-play"-like framework to go after heavy metals. Ribet also said multiple pollutants could be addressed at once by applying multiple materials with tailored affinities. "This water remediation challenge hits so close to home," Ribet said. "The western basin of Lake Erie is one of the main areas you think of when it comes to eutrophication, and I was inspired by learning more about the water remediation challenges in our Great Lakes neighborhood." Explore further Smart sponge could clean up oil spills More information: Stephanie M. Ribet el al., "Phosphate Elimination and Recovery Lightweight (PEARL) membrane: A sustainable environmental remediation approach," PNAS (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Stephanie M. Ribet el al., "Phosphate Elimination and Recovery Lightweight (PEARL) membrane: A sustainable environmental remediation approach,"(2021). www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.2102583118 Three-colour ( Using the MeerKAT telescope, an international team of astronomers has identified wide-spread tidal debris in a nearby galaxy group known as NGC 7232. The newly found structure is composed of cold neutral atomic hydrogen and extends over 450,000 light years. The finding is reported in a paper published May 21 on arXiv.org. Studies show that signatures of interaction between galaxies are seen in the form of, for instance, the length and shape of tidal tails, bridges and other debris. When two galaxies orbit each other, tidal forces distort each galaxy, and these distorted regions are then ejected into intergalactic space, forming tidal tails. Studying such features could be essential for improving our understanding about how galaxies interact with each other. Their observations have the potential even to disclose important information on galactic collisions and mergers. At a distance of some 78 million light years, NGC 7232 is a nearby galaxy group estimated to consist of at least 19 member galaxies. It showcases a multitude of gaseous features, apparent galaxy interactions, as well as gas-rich and gas-poor galaxies. This makes NGC 7232 an excellent target for observations aimed at investigating how such interactions may impact galaxy evolution. Therefore, a team of astronomers led by Brenda Namumba of Rhodes University in Makhanda, South Africa, has employed the MeerKAT radio telescope in order to search for the signs of tidal debris in this galaxy group. "We observed the nearby NGC 7232 galaxy group at 1.4 GHz with MeerKAT using the 4k mode (44 km/s). At comparable velocity resolution, the sensitivity of MeerKAT allows us to reach a 5-times lower rms compared to the published ASKAP data," the researchers wrote. The observations detected extended debris of cold neutral atomic hydrogen (HI) around the core triplet galaxies in NGC 7232known as NGC 7232/3 (consists of three spiral galaxies: NGC 7232, NGC 7232B and NGC 7233). The newly found streams extend over 20 arcminutes, or approximately 456,000 light years, what is around three times the neutral atomic hydrogen extent of the galaxy triplet. The HI tidal debris contains an atomic hydrogen mass of 4.5 billion solar masses. This is more than a half of the total HI mass of the galaxy triplet. According to the authors of the paper, this finding provides a new understanding of where the gas resides within the core galaxy triplet and shows how galaxy interactions play an important role in the evolution of galaxies in NGC 7232. The study also found that within NGC 7232/3, NGC 7233 and NGC 7232 have lost a significant amount of atomic hydrogen, while NGC 7232B appears to have an excess of this gas. However, they noted that in general the NGC 7232/3 galaxy triplet is not HI deficient. In concluding remarks, the astronomers underlined that their observations look promising when it comes to further studies of star formation and atomic hydrogen distribution in galaxy groups. "Based on the success of our MeerKAT-64 observations, we look forward to a much larger project mapping the star formation and HI gas distribution within nearby galaxy groups to assess their evolutionary state and formation history," the researchers wrote. Explore further Tidal tails detected around dwarf galaxy DDO 44 More information: MeerKAT-64 discovers wide-spread tidal debris in the nearby NGC 7232 galaxy group, arXiv:2105.10428 [astro-ph.GA] MeerKAT-64 discovers wide-spread tidal debris in the nearby NGC 7232 galaxy group, arXiv:2105.10428 [astro-ph.GA] arxiv.org/abs/2105.10428 2021 Science X Network People who want to make appointments can call 518-623-0871 or visit www.hhhn.org/appointments. They must become Hudson Headwaters patients. However, they dont have to drop their relationship with other health care providers. Clary said having the Glens Falls Hospital clinic and Hudson Headwaters van will be like having a Stewarts and Cumberland Farms in town. You make your choice depending on what you need, Clary said. Hudson Headwaters will bring in so much that were lacking. Its very exciting to have this resource in this community, Glover said. Parents can get their kids to health care without losing a day of work to drive to Glens Falls or Saratoga Springs, or to Bennington or Manchester in Vermont, he said. One of the services that was lost when Glens Falls Hospital cut back was physician oversight of the school nurse, Glover said. Hopefully, if we get this relationship established, we can have a school physician here in town, he said. Hudson Headwaters plans to add to the vans schedule and locations hopefully very soon, Hooper said. A second van is expected to enter service in the central and northern Adirondacks in 2022. Glover said he has a high level of confidence that, eventually, the van will be here four days a week or more. The need is here. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 PARIS (AP) French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday suggested France will pull troops from Mali if the countrys institutional instability persists and inhibits the fight against Islamic extremists. Macron told a news conference that our priority in Mali is the fight against terrorism and the presence of our forces on the ground is not enough in this fight. It also requires the strengthening of stable and legitimate institutions. France has more than 5,000 troops in Africas Sahel region. Macron's comments come a day after West African leaders suspended Mali from their regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, over what they said amounted to a coup last week. ECOWAS called for a new civilian prime minister to be nominated immediately, a new inclusive government to be formed and the 18-month transition of power leading to February 2022 elections to be carried out, saying a monitoring mechanism will be put in place to assure this. Neither France nor its partners are committed to getting involved (in Mali) if the ECOWAS demands are not respected, Macron said. NORTHFIELD That old adage, it is better to give than to receive certainly rang true for 10 seventh-grade students from St. Joseph Regional Dorazo was charged with attempted murder and related burglary and firearms charges, according to the prosecutors office. He was being held at the Salem County Correctional Facility. I could not be prouder of personnel under my command, Deptford Police Chief Frank Newkirk said. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Court records show Dorazo was charged last year in a federal racketeering case against members of the Pagans Motorcycle Club, which law enforcement considers a violent gang known to engage in drug and weapons trafficking. The case has yet to go to trial. The complaint, filed in August in federal court in Newark, Essex County, identified Dorazo as a member of the Camden County Pagans and a supplier of methamphetamine. Federal prosecutors said, last July, Dorazo gave an associate six firearms to store in his garage. Dorazo had previously been convicted on burglary and drug charges and could not legally own a firearm, according to the complaint. The associate, identified in court papers as Victim 1, contacted law enforcement, which seized the weapons. Prosecutors are asking for their case to be referred to the High Court. Only 11 defendants have been granted bail. Jimmy Lai, Benny Tai and Joshua Wong are among the accused. Defence lawyers are racing against time. A trial without jury is likely. Hong Kong (AsiaNews) The trial of 47 activists arrested on 28 February for organising or taking part in election primaries in the summer 2020 opened today at West Kowloon Magistrates' Court. They face life imprisonment. Chief Magistrate Victor Soe set the formal hearing for 8 July to decide whether to grant the prosecutors request and refer the case to the High Court, which has jurisdiction over the most serious offences. In July 2020, the pro-democracy camp held primary elections to choose its candidates for the upcoming September legislative elections (which were eventually postponed). The 47 defendants are behind bars on charges of subversion under Beijings national security law. According to the indictment, the accused plotted to ensure that pro-democracy candidates would win 35 or more seats in Hong Kongs Legislative Council (LegCo) so as to overthrow the government of Chief Executive Carrie Lam. In March, 11 defendants were granted bail. Among those still in jail are prominent figures like Jimmy Lai, Benny Tai and Joshua Wong. Defence attorneys have challenged Judge Soe's decision. They note that prosecutors have not informed them about the elements of the alleged offences cited in the application to the refer the case to a higher court. They also said that they may not have sufficient time to advise their clients. The defendants are not even sure whether they will be tried under Hong Kongs traditional legal rules. On 20 May, the High Court decided that in cases of threat to national security, defendants can be tried without a jury. The ruling concerned Tong Ying-kit, 24, the first Hong Konger arrested under the new national security law. Juries have been used for the most serious crimes under Hong Kong's Common Law system since 1845. On the website of the local judiciary, the jury system is described as one of its most important features. For the pro-democracy forces and outside observers, Hong Kongs pro-Beijing authorities are using the national security law to stifle dissent and align the city with mainland Chinas communist regime. This is also the case with Hong Kongs electoral reform, which was modified last Thursday by the LegCo in order to limit the electoral chances of pro-democracy candidates. A New Jersey single father of two convicted of drug offenses has been sober for almost two years and has been out of prison for about three. The man, who is in his 30s, has a stable job working for a union and has enough money for a security deposit and to make rent payments. Yet he cant find an apartment thats willing to take him because of his felony conviction, said Priscilla Carmona, a cofounder of the Jersey City-based organization SCORES Reentry, which provides services to formerly incarcerated people throughout New Jersey. After nine months, he was able to get a room in a boardinghouse. His children are staying with family while he keeps trying to find an apartment where they can live together. New Jersey lawmakers are attempting to keep landlords from automatically disqualifying potential tenants who have criminal histories. Instead, bills under consideration encourage landlords to assess each applicant as an individual, taking into account factors such as severity of a crime and the amount of time since it occurred. If the legislation passes, New Jersey would be the first with a statewide law limiting when landlords can consider criminal histories in evaluating tenants, according to advocates. Newark, Seattle and Washington are among the cities with similar ordinances. The family of Joseph Caserta had hoped and planned that he would be there to be honored in person, but Caserta died Feb. 5 of congestive heart failure. He was 98 and only a couple of months shy of his 99th birthday. Caserta was the final World War II veteran to serve as an active member of Ocean Citys VFW Post 6650. Caserta served in Company E of the 32nd Armored regiment, 3rd Armored Division in World War II. He landed at Omaha Beach in Normandy and took his tank across northern France, participating in the Battle of the Bulge, a fierce wintertime fight and the final major Nazi offensive of the war. Caserta was awarded a Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and a distinguished Unit Citation and in 2013, he accepted the award of Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor for his participation in the liberation of France. Caserta and his wife, Eileen, were married for 70 years. They raised four sons and had eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Last Salute also attended Casertas funeral in February. Some elements were similar to Casertas funeral as separate playing of bagpipes and a bugle, honor guard marching and the firing of a canon, but it all came to a surprise Sunday to son, Michael J. Caserta, 71, of Somers Point. It is hard to fathom imperfect people, whether they are caught up in gang activity, alcoholism or opioid abuse, as caring for anyone but themselves. Sure, some are so self-absorbed that everything but their lifestyle is secondary. Others, however, think they can balance being a father with everything else. Its impossible. Ultimately, they fail, and innocent children too often pay the price. One thing we know is that children tend to love their parents regardless of their imperfections. Little girls want to spend time with their dads, and dads enjoy being with them. Jaslyns last words, Adams said, were, Daddy, daddy. Though Adams has a long history of trouble with the law, mostly involving drug dealing on the West Side several years ago, he thought of himself as a good father to Jaslyn. He also defended his parenting on Facebook. But deep inside, he must know that he fell short. I never did anything but show her how a man suppose to (treat) a woman, he posted shortly after her death. I taught her how to use (the) bathroom, brush teeth all that nothing but smiles when we together I know my mistakes I made out here, but I already blame myself so yall tryna do it not gone work. The Murphy administration, though, is still reviewing the funding and hasnt determined how it could be spent. We now need to get a very specific sense of the parameters, Murphy said at one of his recent COVID events. This has put counties and municipalities in a bind during the period when their budgets are supposed to be introduced and approved never to be amended thereafter. The Atlantic County Board of Commissioners introduced its budget in February, normal for a well-run organization, but of course couldnt approve it without knowing how it could use part of the $52 million stimulus coming its way in the next four years. In May, the board tried again but it still hadnt received guidance from the state Local Finance Board on how the funds may be spent. The commissioners and other local government officials think it would be too risky to proceed without hearing what state government intends. The county has had COVID expenses of about $2 million, and revenue losses of about $3 million due to Murphys shutdown of and limits on casino hotels and $2 million from restrictions on the county-owned Meadowview nursing home. However, according to Rock Island County Circuit Court electronic records, on Sept. 22, 2020, Davis' probation was converted to non-reporting conditional discharge. On March 29, Davis, who had a Rock Island address at that time, and Nicholas Patrick Roberts, 30, of Rock Island, each were arrested by Davenport police on one count each of second-degree robbery and second-degree burglary. Both charges are Class C felonies that carry prison sentences of 10 years. According to the arrest affidavits filed by Davenport Police Officer Brandon Askew, at 2:19 p.m. March 29, police were sent to the 600 block of West 44th Street to investigate a robbery. Davis and Roberts had forced their way through the front door of the residence and forced the victim to the ground. One of the men produced a black BB gun and put it to the victim's forehead. The men then took the victim's property and fled. Davis and Roberts were captured a few minutes later in the victim's vehicle. Police seized the victim's property and the black BB gun used in the robbery. Roberts was released April 6 from the Scott County Jail after posting 10% of a $5,000 bond through a bonding company. Betty Huynh, a 17-year-old Niles North High School student helped organize to pass the TEAACH Act. Huynh said taking an Asian American Studies class helped validate and contextualize her lived experience as an Asian American. One time in summer school, she remembers other students asking why she was taking extra math classes because Asians are supposed to be good at math. In high school, she has felt an immense pressure to be a good student. There were moments in which students hovered over her shoulder because they thought she had the right answers to an assignment and yanked the paper from her hands, Huynh said. She ignored these microaggressions growing up because her parents would say, Dont talk about it, dont tell anyone about it because were in America. And its not really our country. And so we have to obey by their rules because weve been given this opportunity, she said. When I started taking Asian American studies, I finally realized that Ive ignored a lot of things growing up, Huynh said. New Hampshire and Iowa are not really reflections of our entire country. Presidential candidates should look at Nevada as the example of what they should be doing and who they should be talking to, said Emily Persaud-Zamora, director of Silver State Voices, a Nevada voting advocacy group. In 2020, the leadoff contest in Iowa unraveled and left the winner unclear. New Hampshire, which was next, ended with a result that was a near tie between two candidates who ultimately lost. The eventual nominee, now-President Joe Biden, came in fifth in New Hampshire. It's time for Nevada to take its rightful place, not just first in the West but in the nation, as a diverse state, a state with diverse issues," said Nevada Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson, a Democrat who sponsored the legislation. He said Nevada's small population makes it affordable and navigable for candidates to use as an early testing ground of their national appeal. Sisolak has not said if he will sign the bill but has been supportive of the idea. SPRINGFIELD A bill to phase out the use of isolated timeouts and prone physical restraint in public schools will soon be sent to Gov. JB Pritzker. The Illinois House on Sunday voted unanimously to concur in changes the Senate made to House Bill 219, which include putting a virtual halt to the practices starting in the 2022-23 school year. The bill was prompted by a 2019 investigative story by the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica that documented how extensively schools had been using the practice for decades. Rep. Jonathan Carrol, D-Northbrook, the lead sponsor of the bill in the House, said he had worked the last 18 months to get the bill through the General Assembly. He had noted previously that he was a victim of seclusion and restraint practices when he was in school and that he still lives with the memory of those events. Mental health first responders The House also advanced a measure to create a mental health first responder system in coordination with an emergency phone system for mental and behavioral health medical emergencies that was created by federal law. Prior to the Quiet Rooms investigation, the state didnt monitor schools use of seclusion and restraint. ISBE now requires schools to report all incidents within 48 hours. On Thursday, ISBE provided data to the Tribune and ProPublica that showed nearly 2,400 students were secluded or restrained more than 15,000 times in the past 10 months, a time when many schools were closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 90% were students with disabilities. More than 8 in 10 students were boys, and a quarter were Black. Less than 17% of students in the states schools are Black. Two of every 10 students were in prekindergarten, kindergarten or first grade. The data also indicates that schools continued to use prone restraint even after state officials said it was dangerous and began to restrict its use. Students were held face down more than 100 times during the past 10 months. Some advocates for people with disabilities said they had hoped that prone restraint would have ended immediately for all students, but they acknowledged the new legislation far exceeded what was in place. SPRINGFIELD Illinois is closer to making Juneteenth a state holiday. Legislation making June 19 a paid day off for all state employees and a school holiday was unanimously approved by the Illinois House last week and by the state Senate last month. It states that if June 19 falls on a Saturday or Sunday the holiday will be observed the following Monday. The measure would take effect immediately if Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs it. Juneteenth commemorates the date in 1865 when the last enslaved Black people in the U.S. learned from Union soldiers in Texas that they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. The day is also known as Emancipation Day and Freedom Day. The bill's sponsor, Rep. La Shawn Ford, has sponsored similar legislation in the past. There "wasn't an appetite" for passing it previously, the Chicago Democrat told the Chicago Tribune. He says that changed after the murder of George Floyd, who was Black, by a white police officer in Minnesota. by Francis Khoo Thwe He was murdered for no reason during a raid on the religious building, where refugees and displaced people were housed. The security forces terrorize the population with gunfire, raids, searches. The priests try to stop them, but to no avail. Between 15 February and 15 May, 73 young people under the age of 18 have been killed. Loikaw (AsiaNews) - A volunteer who worked in the Catholic Church minor seminary in the capital of the Kayah state was killed by security forces. The killing took place two days ago during a military raid on the building, with a room-by-room search. According to some locals, there was no motive for the killing, as the young man posed no resistance. The soldiers, however, are very tense: for at least a week the armed groups of the Karen (Defense Forces of the Karenni People) have attacked some bases and killed 40 soldiers. To counter the work of armed ethnic groups, soldiers are provoking the population with violence and killings. On 24 May they bombed the Sacred Heart Church in Kayantharyar, killing four people who had taken refuge there. On May 28, they hit the church of Saint Joseph in Demoso and killed two young men who were recovering food for the displaced. In order not to remain at the mercy of the soldiers, the population tries to gather in churches, chapels, convents and the seminary. For this reason, the security forces have been terrorizing the population for days with gunfire, raids, searches. The priests tried to stop them, but to no avail. Soldiers continue to make their violent presence felt around the seminary, nunnery and home for the elderly in Loikaw. We are hostages in their hands, says one young man. To tire the resistance and the demonstrations that have followed one after another since the first days of the coup, the military strike lethally targeting young people. The ministry for human rights of the government of national unity - formed in exile against the junta reports that between February 15 and May 15, 73 young people under the age of 18 (63 boys and 9 girls) were killed. Some were targeted during the demonstrations; others cold killed during house searches; still others while they were playing on the street. The Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners has issued a new report on the violence of the junta: until last night, 840 were killed; there are 4409 prisoners. Riley is the daughter of Jerry and Kathy Jones. Jerry is executive director of the Martin Luther King Center in Rock Island. "Riley had the joy of telling me she won, and she did so in such a way that it was hardly believable," Jerry said. "But once it sunk in pure elation. I'm just so proud of her and so impressed." Riley also won two airplane tickets to Washington to see her artwork on display. Jerry said they would buy two more tickets so that both parents and Riley's older brother, Peyton, 18, could go as well. Riley said her artwork, "Black Pride" was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. "I wanted to do my part for the movement because I couldn't get out there physically because of the pandemic," she said. "I used what I know and drew something to put my voice out there and how I felt about it." Bustos said in a statement that she was impressed by the "incredible talent on display" during the competition each year. To move to concern status, the Pactola Reservoir would have to contain less than 48,950 acre feet of water or if the inflow is less than 90% of the mean monthly average, and the water restrictions would be extended a month. To move to alert status, the reservoir would have to contain less than 26,950 acre feet of water with inflow less than 50% of the mean monthly average. The restrictions would apply throughout the year. A critical status would mean theres less than 13,750 acre feet of water or the inflow to the reservoir is less than 25% of the mean monthly average, so no one would be able to water outside regardless of hours or days. Before the change became official, council members would have to vote and a notice of determination would be published in the newspaper. Crockett said residents can take other steps to conserve water like checking for leaks. The biggest waster of water is a leaking toilet and they can waste thousands of gallons a month, he said. Crockett said one easy way to check that is to put food coloring in the toilet tank and let it sit for a while. If theres food coloring in the bowl, there could be a leak somewhere. Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said it was unacceptable if countries that have close allied cooperation should feel the need to spy on each other or obtain information about them. Spying on others creates more mistrust than it creates collaboration. So, its not a smart investment for the United States, she told the Norwegian broadcaster NRK. According to DR, the alleged setup between the United States and Denmark reportedly allowed the NSA to obtain data by using the telephone numbers of politicians as search parameters. DR said its report was based on interviews with nine unnamed sources, all of whom were said to have had access to classified information held by the FE. The military agency allegedly helped the NSA from 2012 to 2014. If the news is correct (...) this is not acceptable between allies, very clearly, said French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country was also allegedly targeted by U.S. intelligence. Im attached to the relation of trust between Europe and the United States, he told reporters. Theres no room between us for suspicion. Macron urged for the U.S. to make full clarity on the past facts, but also on current practices. As a Harding County cowboy once said, hey I aint asking for an easement on the land - just the right to recreate on the land. If you are an easement holder you probably have the right to walk across your neighbors land. But if ones obligation is the legal cousin to an easement - the restrictive covenant - you may have to run across the land at night because you are not sure if you have the right to even be there. Easements are different than restrictive covenants. An easement is a conveyance, that is a transfer, of some real property rights. usually to a neighboring property. A restrictive covenant is not a transfer of rights but is a legal promise to do or not do a particular act concerning the property. A restrictive covenant creates a limitation on the use of ones land so that the value and enjoyment of another partys land is protected. This opinion piece is not a commentary on the proper strategy for negotiating easements but rather an overview of some of the bigger issues I run across in this legal neighborhood. Easement agreement terms and conditions are as broad as they are long. For example, property requiring ingress or egress across BLM controlled land, such as the business property previously known as the Mustang Ranch, requires easements from various agencies of the government. Brenda Reese May held in her lap a pillow that said My Son, My Hero as his name was read aloud during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial on Monday. Donald C. May Jr. killed in action in Iraq, from Richmond, recited Clay Mountcastle, director of the memorial. A bell tolled, signaling that the Marine staff sergeants name had been added to the memorials panels, which honor the approximately 12,000 Virginians who have died in wars ranging from World War II to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. As often is the case, the names are not the most recent losses to a war, but identities that were brought to our attention by families or friends during the year and that we were able to verify and finally add to their rightful place of remembrance, Mountcastle said with a nod to May. These names are here now permanently. They will endure. Long after we are gone, these names will remain. The 31-year-old May was killed on March 25, 2003, when his tank was blown off a bridge during a sandstorm as U.S. forces advanced toward Baghdad. Navy divers found the tank upside down on the bottom of the Euphrates River. Concerts were reimagined, competitors recorded their rounds at local venues or at home, jurors watched their videos across at least eight different time zones, discussions and masterclasses were moved to Zoom, and ticket holders were given links to participate. It was paramount to all of the co-hosts that we maintain the consummate professionalism associated with the Menuhin Competition and ensure fairness for the competitors, while also creating an opportunity to show the world what an extraordinary cultural destination Richmond is. In its virtual incarnation, the competition now was free and suddenly was open to the whole world. And therein lies the great silver lining of the pandemic. Richmond now was under the gaze of the worlds international classical music eye. We had no idea what to expect, but we knew when the first videos of the first rounds came in that we had the most amazing young people taking part. After 24 hours of being online and more than 150,000 views, we knew we had made the right decision not to cancel. I also personally was glad not to be a juror, since they had the hardest decisions of all. After all of the performance rounds were completed, the winners were announced and online viewers enjoyed watching as the judges called to congratulate Maria Duenas from Spain for winning first prize in the Senior section and Keila Wakao from Boston for taking first prize in the Junior section. Weve always specialized in esoteric, small-batch, interesting flavor beers, Keck said. I think being able to pour yourself small amounts really lends itself to experimenting. So youre not committing to a full pour of something that you might not like. He said it will also free up Barrel Chests staff, allowing for more interaction with customers and less time behind the bar. This way I think the staff is going to have more time to actually chat with the customer and share their knowledge instead of actually physically pouring the beer, Keck said. The pour-your-own system probably wont be ready until a month or two after the new location opens though, he said. Barrel Chest will bring along its brewing system and continue to produce beers of its own. Keck said he also plans to start making wine on a small scale as well. He has a background in wine; Keck said his first job out of college was an assistant winemaker position and hes also a certified sommelier. Im excited to try my hand at wine-making again after quite a few years, he said. Barrel Chest will be located at 2601 Franklin Road in Roanoke, in the former Salon del Sol space. The salon has permanently closed, according to its voicemail message. The business news you need With a weekly newsletter looking back at local history. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. About 200 people including clergy and city anti-racism activists held a rally and march through downtown Roanoke on Sunday in support of criminal justice reform. The hourlong rally began at Washington Park just after 4 p.m. with remarks from several community leaders, including the Rev. David Jones of Williams Memorial Baptist Church and Roanoke NAACP President Brenda Hale. Jones invoked the killing of George Floyd, who died last year as former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyds neck for nearly 10 minutes. Chauvin was convicted in April of murder and manslaughter in the incident that sparked nationwide protests, including in Roanoke. Jones attended last years demonstration that marched to the city police station and said he believed the efforts since then have increased awareness and sparked new conversations around race. But, he said, its still the early stages of change. Policing is a big issue that we would like to address, Jones said. In terms of the sharing of data and changing the policies regarding [body cam] videos, when it gets released and whos privy to that information. CHRISTIANSBURG Montgomery County has formally joined Cardinal Criminal Justice Training Academy in Salem, a facility that will provide training and certifications for law enforcement officers with the localitys sheriffs office. The move was approved last week via a 6-0 voteSupervisor Sherri Blevins, whose husband is a retired Virginia State Trooper, abstained due to what she said is a potential conflict of interest. The decision also covered the so-called charter agreement, a document that spells out the purpose of the academy for the county. The decision to join the Cardinal academy comes as Montgomery County has experienced conflicts with the Dublin-based New River Criminal Justice Training Academy. Montgomery County had previously used NRCJTA for law enforcement training and former Sheriff Tommy Whitt signed a charter with the academy on behalf of his department. The county, however, said last year it found no documentation showing the board of supervisors ever authorized a membership and asked the academy to identify the steps for ending its relationship with the training facility. New attack by Card. Rai on politicians incapable of forming a government to guarantee stability to the nation. Fears of the impending withdrawal of subsidies, which could trigger further price hikes. International conference and neutrality to save a collapsing nation. Beirut (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Maronite patriarch has again berated Lebanese political and institutional leaders who for months have been unable to form a stable, authoritative and independent government, while at the same time invoking the help of the international community for an exhausted population. The words of Card. Beshara Rai bind themselves to the invitation to prayer launched by Pope Francis who yesterday at the Angelus announced a meeting in the Vatican with the Christian leaders, scheduled for July 1st, for a day of reflection on the situation in the country and to pray for peace. The Maronite patriarch wondered if the state is plotting against its own people, while the nation is sinking into a crisis that has lasted almost two years. Hence the warning issued to the international community to urgently intervene in favour of the population, without conditioning support for the formation of a government that has been in hiding for more than 10 months. During the homily for Sunday Mass, the cardinal criticized the lack of medicines and other basic necessities, at a stage in which the authorities are preparing to revoke subsidies on some products, raising fears of an even more marked increase in prices. "Part of the crisis - he stressed - was caused by greed and the monopoly policy. It is time to rationalize the subsidies, without touching the compulsory reserves of the Bank of Lebanon. However, amid delays and gaps in funding, "it is the citizens who end up paying" the price of political and institutional inefficiencies and incapacity. The Maronite patriarch also recalls that "it is up to the security services and judicial authorities" to control stocks in warehouses "to put an end to the monopoly" and to patrol the borders "to combat smuggling". The people are innocent of the behaviour of his state and of the political class in general. People deserve to be helped, because they deserve to live "- he warns addressing world governments that can influence the Lebanese crisis. Behind the continuing state of crisis there is the political and personal clash between President Michel Aoun and the interim Prime Minister Saad Hariri, whose divisions have effectively blocked the formation of the government. The birth of which, moreover, is a necessary condition for the release of international economic and financial aid frozen due to the crisis itself. Card. Rai again called for an international conference under the aegis of the United Nations, without which "there will be no solution to the political, economic, financial and social crisis" combined with the application of the resolutions of the UN Security Council. Finally, the Cardinal raised the issue of Lebanon's "neutrality" which has earned him criticism from Hezbollah and its allies, considering it the only way to salvation for the Land of the Cedars in the face of tensions in the Middle East region. The elaborate fabrics gracing the Mockingbird Cafe dining tables Thursday in Christiansburg werent the normal restaurant linens. They were instead 19th century coverlets spread out for the inspection of Kathleen Curtis Wilson, a historian of Appalachian textiles visiting from California. The event, which invited owners of antique coverlets to bring them in for Wilsons assessment was a fundraiser for the Montgomery Museum of Art and History. Wilson was in many cases able to date the textiles and describe how they were made. Last year, Wilson who has studied and written about historical textiles for 35 years evaluated a rare coverlet donated to the museum in 2018 that is thought to be one of the only authenticated slave-made coverlets in Virginia. Woven from hand-spun cotton and hand-dyed wool in a variation of the Pine Cone Bloom pattern, the coverlet was probably made on a barn loom by a woman owned by Catherine Montague Trigg sometime between 1850 and the end of the Civil War. It was passed down through the Trigg family, which owned a large antebellum plantation near present-day Christiansburg. Trigg descendants donated it to the museum in 2018, curator Sherry Wyatt has said. While the average number of doses administered saw an uptick after children 12 and older became eligible for a Pfizer vaccine, the past 10 days have seen a renewed decline. The persisting challenges to accessing a vaccine are a deterrent to reaching the point Obasanjo said shed feel more comfortable in saying firmly that the pandemic is behind us: 90% vaccinated. Bearman said for him, the percentage is around 80%. COVID-19 is not gone. Its most likely in the rearview mirror in a country such as the United States. However, it is ongoing in many parts of the world. Variants are emerging, Bearman said, pointing toward a new variant that was first identified in India and is circulating in the United Kingdom. As more people go out to bars, restaurants, grocery stores and other essential workplaces, Bearman and Obasanjo said there is a low risk of people on the frontlines being infected after a holiday weekend if theyre wearing masks. But they remain vulnerable, Obasanjo said. The impact has been worse in low-wage jobs, which are usually filled by Black, Latino and immigrant populations who dont have paid sick leave and cant work from home. Chesterfield and Hanover counties are deemed as having a severe shortage by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry along with 24 other localities while Richmond and Henrico Countys shortages are two of the 15 in Virginia classified as high. In the Roanoke region, Montgomery, Roanoke and Bedford counties and Salem have a high shortage. The city of Roanoke and Botetourt County both have a severe shortage Roughly 65% of the state does not have any child psychiatrists at all. Dr. Sandy Chung, medical director of VMAP and a pediatrician, said in an interview that psychologists are often centralized around large hospital systems or academic centers, which leaves rural locations behind even as 80% of health care providers surveyed by VMAP this past year said theyre seeing more youth with anxiety, depression and other behavioral conditions. Generally, access to care is not necessarily equitable, so were addressing this through primary care, Chung said. Underlying that, we also have to make sure that primary care is accessible in an equitable manner for this to work. ... Today, at least with VMAP, were able to say that any primary care provider that is in place today can provide mental health care and that is an improvement. As data is the core of digital technology, the issue of protecting user information must be of serious concern in the process of all future digital transformation, the development of digital economy, and the growth of a digital society. Unlawful data breach According to technology experts, 17GB of data contains information of almost 10,000 people. It also is not clear from where exactly this data was extracted, as there are many organizations and agencies that ask people to provide contact information, personal details of bank accounts, securities, or land and property documents. Broadly speaking, personal information, such as preferences, travel itineraries, or behavior patterns, are collected by technology companies when people use their related platforms like phone apps, which makes it easy for any hacker to analyse or share without the consent of the user. The problem lies in how internet users reveal their personal data such as full name, phone number, and some thoughts on sites such as Facebook and Zalo via their smartphones. Users actually have no idea how and where this information is being stored and used. The internet sites, social networks, and digital applications clearly state that protective measures are in place and personal data will not be misused, but they do not talk about any associated risks. As humanity delves deeper into the digital age, people will have to question the tactics used in digital technology. Although the law in Vietnam has provisions to prevent personal data from being accessed illegally, it lacks specifics and is buried in nearly 17 legal documentations. There are volumes of legal documents such as the Law on Information Technology 2006, Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2008, Law on Consumer Protection 2010, Law on Cyber-Information Security 2015, and the Law on Cyber Security 2018, which all have provisions to protect the rights and obligations of subjects in matters concerning personal data. Decree 15/2020/ND-CP, Decree 117/2020/ND-CP, and Decree 98/2020/ND-CP, have provisions on administrative penalties for acts of personal data breach in each specific area. Recently, the Ministry of Public Security published the full text of the draft decree regulating the protection of personal data for the first time, specifically on personal data rights. It covers the right to control data, to know what data you have on the network, the right to allow or not allow second parties to use this data, and also the right to delete data when you no longer want your data to exist on the network. Organizations and individuals collecting data are obliged to take measures to ensure the above mentioned rights. If the decree is passed, this will be a big step forward in recognizing rights and measures and mechanisms taken to enforce lawful rights of the people. However, the decree needs further adjustments to address concerns of businesses about the burden of obligations when implementing a number of mechanisms and technical measures as stated in the draft. Incomplete regulations Currently, there are two core issues to deal with. First, empowering and ensuring the subject's ability to control personal data. This is identified as individuals who own the data. They have the ability to control their personal data, force other subjects to respect the right to consent, the right to be notified when their data is processed or shared with a third party, right of access, right to correct, right to request restriction of data processing and data sharing with third parties, and right to request deleting of data. If a data breach occurs, the subject has the right to complain and receive appropriate compensation. Second, clearly defining the responsibility of the data processor to protect personal data. It is necessary to classify the type of subject in such a responsibility. Subjects who process personal data are clearly classified into data controllers and data processors. In this, the data controller can be understood as an individual, legal entity, agency, or organization that determines the purpose and means of processing personal data independently or with other subjects. On the other hand, a data processor is an individual, legal entity, agency, or organization that processes personal data on behalf of the data controller. Each party must comply, fulfil its obligations with respect to personal data, and be able to limit risk of liability when a data breach occurs. The relationship between a data controller and a data processor is similar to that of a service user and a service provider in a contract. However, due to the sensitive nature of all personal data, they are both subject to a number of binding legal obligations. The subject that controls and processes personal data is required to take administrative and technical measures to protect all personal data, irrespective. Currently, as the world moves towards rapid digital transformation, it is time the Government takes stronger action and stern steps to protect the personal data of all people, which will then lay a strong foundation for a future digital economy. Nguyen Quang Dong, Director, Institute for Policy Studies and Media Development When Joe Biden, US president, last week ordered US intelligence to intensify efforts to determine the origins of Covid-19, he gave fresh life to the theory that the virus may have leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Biden said that US intelligence had coalesced around two scenarios that the virus had either emerged naturally or was the result of a lab accident. It was the first time that the president had given credence to the possibility that the virus had leaked from a lab a notion widely slammed as a conspiracy theory when Donald Trump first made the claim. Current and former officials said there were several reasons why the Biden administration was willing to publicly entertain a theory that Democrats had once slammed. A crucial factor was that critics were more open to the lab-leak theory now that Trump, who was viewed as wanting to vilify China to deflect blame for his handling of the pandemic, was out of office. They also said that Biden was reacting to what the intelligence had found. He is now under political pressure to find answers. The Biden administration has now studied the mountain of disturbing evidence that we were confronted with in the last few months of the Trump administration, said David Asher, who led a state department investigation into the origins of Covid. It is jaw dropping. And as they have noted, a great deal more needs to be assessed. Days before Biden was sworn in, the state department issued a fact sheet on the Wuhan institute which said that several researchers had fallen ill with Covid-like symptoms before the first publicly known case. It also said that the institute had worked secretly with the Chinese military. Critics did not take the claim seriously because of the view that Mike Pompeo, secretary of state, tended to politicise intelligence. People were also focused on the aftermath of the riots on January 6 and the inauguration. We assumed the fact sheet wasnt going to make immediate headlines. We wanted to put the information into the record so that people could reckon with these facts when tensions and fevers had dropped, said David Feith, a former state department official who was involved in the release. In March, Asher said publicly that some Wuhan staff were so sick that they were hospitalised. That and a recent Wall Street Journal story that three staff were hospitalised, helped focus attention on the lab-leak theory. But one person familiar with the debate said the driving factor was a shift among scientists who had been wary of helping Trump before the election or angering influential scientists who had dismissed the theory. He said this had helped make Democrats more willing to consider the theory. The most important thing that has happened is that prominent virologists have since spoken out, he said. In a letter to the Science journal, a group of 18 prominent scientists said that both theories were viable and should be taken seriously until sufficient data were obtained. They said the recent investigation that the World Health Organization conducted with China had not given balanced consideration to both scenarios. Even those of us working the issue inside the government were not well aware of how much scientific opinion was on our side because scientists were generally not speaking up, but you have had certain dams break over the past few months, said Feith, referring to developments including the letter and the WHO investigation. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, also appeared to change his stance. Last year, he said the science strongly indicates that the virus emerged naturally, but he recently said he was not convinced and backed an investigation. While Biden was just outlining the view of the intelligence community in his highly unusual statement, his willingness to make their tentative conclusions public also shone more attention on the lab-leak theory. Mathew Burrows, a former senior intelligence official, said he could not remember a president making such a statement, saying that they have historically not wanted to be viewed as trying to force a conclusion. There are obviously Republicans who are trying to criticise anything that would seem to be a weak response to China, so I think Biden wants to show that he will not shy away from charging them [China] if there is united agreement in the intelligence community on the fact that the virus came out of the Wuhan lab, Burrows said. Mike Gallagher, a Republican congressman who has introduced a bill to declassify all the intelligence related to the investigation, also said that Biden appeared to be responding to political pressure, particularly after members of his team called on China to allow a transparent investigation something few experts believe Beijing will allow. Biden was feeling the pressure, said Gallagher. They felt a little bit of blowback . . . but its a good move. One person familiar with the situation said the National Intelligence Council, which collates information from the entire intelligence community, produced two reports last year assessing US intelligence on the origins of Covid. The director for national intelligence declined to comment. Those efforts, coupled with a third scrub of the intelligence this year, led to Biden saying last week that two of the 18 branches of the intelligence community leaned towards the natural origin scenario, while a third was more inclined towards the lab-leak theory. Biden said the three had only low or moderate confidence in their conclusions while the other branches did not have enough evidence. That has sparked concern that 90 days is not sufficient for intelligence officials to reach any solid determination. The community as a whole is far away from reaching anything that we could call even a halfway firm conclusion, said Paul Pillar, a former senior CIA official. The fact that many of the agencies involved have not reached a consensus even for a low confidence judgment tells you theyre a long way away from anything conclusive. A 20-year-old man was arrested Saturday on suspicion of murder in the shooting death of a Santa Maria resident who was found deceased in a vehicle near the intersection of Preisker Lane and North Broadway on Friday. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Credit: CC0 Public Domain It was a good week for space news as a team working with the Mars rover Curiosity released photos of shining clouds on the Red Planetthe team noticed them starting to form a year ago and prepared the rover to capture them on film. Special assistant to President Joe Biden, Caitlin Durkovich, noted during a talk at a weather conference that solar storms are back, threatening life as we know it on Earth. She suggested that tech firms need to start making plans to deal with them. And a team led by Nicholas Scott and Jesse van de Sande, with the University of Sydney, found that the Milky Way is not unusualcompared to data from a cross-section of another galaxy. In technology news, a combined team from MIT and the University of Massachusetts Amherst built a dynamic robotic that could perform acrobatic behaviors using a new kind of technologyan actuator-aware kino-dynamic motion planner and a landing controller. Also, Google announced the release of a new Fuchsia OS which will be used to operate its Nest Hub smart home display. And a team at Pennsylvania State University developed a transparent electrode that boosted solar cell efficiencytheir cell achieved 19.8% efficiency, a record for a semitransparent cell. Also, Microsoft announced the first product features that will be running on GPT-3, the natural language model from OpenAI. In other news, a team at the Pasteur Institute found that the Pfizer vaccine is slightly less effective against a new strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus found in India than against the original strain but it still protects those who have been vaccinated. Also, an international team of researchers found that Greenland glacial meltwaters are rich in mercurymaking some nearby rivers and fjords as toxic as rivers in industrial China. And finally, if you are one of the millions of people around the world who suffer from bouts of anxiety, you may want to check out the results of a study conducted by a team at the Weizmann Institute of Sciencethey found that the natural food supplement beta-sitosterol can, in some cases, relieve anxiety. 2021 Science X Network COLUMBIA, S.C. It's been more than a decade since Randy Gardner's brother was the last U.S. inmate executed by firing squad, years the Utah man says have been filled with nightmares about what he describes as his brother's "gruesome" death. Now, Gardner is among advocates spending time in South Carolina, speaking out about why he feels the method shouldn't be used here. Gardner didn't witness the 2010 execution of his brother, Ronnie Lee Gardner, condemned to die for shooting a man to death during a failed courthouse escape attempt. But Gardner said that Ronnie had chosen to die by firing squad restrained in a chair as five gunmen carried out the sentence, a hood covering his face in part because of how he had taken another person's life. "He knew how gruesome the firing squad would be," Randy Gardner told The Associated Press on Friday. "But he thought, well, he killed someone with a gun, and he thought he deserved the same treatment." Gardner has been part of recent conversations arranged by Death Penalty Action, a national anti-death penalty group that helps local ones organize against capital punishment. A small gathering was planned for last Friday in Columbia, with a larger rally held Saturday in Greenville. MARION, S.C. The family of the late Lt. James B. Miller and members of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 21 honored his service on Memorial Day with a wreath-laying ceremony in Marion Monday. Miller is the first black military officer in Marion County, according to his sister Mary Miles. He was killed in combat during the Korean War and later awarded a pair of Silver Stars and two Purple Hearts. It was the first graveside remembrance service organized by the group but Miles intends make it an annual event and reunion in the future. Were just so elated that we have this many people out, Miles said. This is just the beginning of what we would like to do. We are starting our legacy and we want to encourage people to look into their own legacies. Next year will bring the whole family in. Sisters Mary Miles, Virginia Davis and Betty Jones participated in the ceremony as speakers along with DAV chapter commander Cleveland White. Weve been here for 68 years and God willing we will be here another 68 years, White said of the chapter. Miller represented his country well. There is no greater call for a man than to lay down his life for a friend. Lt. James B. Miller did just that. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chinese autonomous driving Plus.ai announced on May 26 the J7, a Level 3 mass-produced self-driving heavy-truck it jointly developed with FAW Jiefang and Zhito (FAW Jiefang-backed dedicated to the R&D of smart car software), had completed a long-distance journey along the Silk Road. FAW Jiefang's J7; photo credit: Plus.ai From Suzhou to Dunhuang, the trip spans nearly 6,500 km, the longest distance ever achieved by a self-driving heavy-duty truck in the world. Armed with the PlusDrive, the self-driving system developed by Plus.ai, a FAW Jiefang J7 traveled across 38 cities during the journey, covering 7 provinces in total. Notably, the truck is required to have a professional driver and a safety engineer on seats to ensure the system's safe and proper operation. Plus.ai said this was a crucial step for the manufacturer to get volume production permit and also tested the driving performance, safety and reliability of the autonomous driving system under extreme working conditions. During the trip, the J7 not only handled many typical road conditions like traffic jam, road construction, slopes, and serial tunnels, but also successfully coped with more challenging scenarios, such as S-shaped bend with large curvature, 10-km tunnel, and the extreme weather like heavy rain, sand storm, and haze. Launched in September 2021, the J7 Level 3 self-driving heavy-duty truck will lay the foundation for the Level 4 version, and will go into mass production this year. Powered by seven cameras, five millimeter wave radars and one LiDAR unit, as well as an autopilot system, the J7 is capable of automatic overtaking, lane changing, lane centering, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, obstacle avoidance and other maneuvers. Plus.ai announced on May 10 it had entered into a definitive business combination agreement with Hennessy Capital Investment Corp. V (HCIC V), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company. Upon completion of the merger, Plus.ai will go public and its common stock is expected to trade on the NYSE under the ticker symbol PLAV. The states are ahead by more than a month on the goal set by Democratic President Joe Biden to vaccinate at least 70% of Americans by July 4. White House medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci has said reaching that milestone could help avoid a spike in cases when the weather gets colder in the fall. FLORENCE, S.C. Nearly 200 runners hit the streets Monday morning around St. Anthony Catholic Church for the 12th annual Run for the Heroes 5K/10K/Honor Walk in a race that had a close finish between two very different runners. Mario Alvarez, 58, won the 5K with an overall time of 19:58 a 15-second margin of victory over Kaylanna Burroughs, 13, who was the first female across the finish line with a 20:13 time. Thankfully we were able to have a true race. Last year was a little compromised because of COVID, said Regi Armstrong, a deacon at St. Anthony Catholic Church. Last years event featured many fewer runners and a bagged, to-go breakfast. On Monday, 142 runners started the 5K and 130 of those finished. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} I know we had a tremendous turnout. People were looking forward to it, and you couldnt have asked for better weather. Cool, low humidity, sunshine, what a great day to run, Armstrong said. All gave some who served in the military, but some gave all, and thats what Memorial Day is all about, Armstrong said. A U.K. company is set to build what it says is the world's biggest and deepest pool, in a new project backed by a British astronaut. A pedestrian in the city of Bolton, in northwest England, walks past a sign pointing to a Covid-19 testing center on May 28, 2021 British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants the upcoming Group of Seven summit to reach agreement on Covid-19 vaccine passports and to open talks on a "world treaty" to prepare for future pandemics. "We need to have agreements on issues such as vaccine passports, Covid status certification and the rest," Johnson said in an interview broadcast Sunday by Canadian public channel CBC. "There has to be some sort of agreement then, at the G7 level to start, on how travel and passports are going to work." Johnson was speaking ahead of a June 11-13 summit of the G7 economic powers (US, Canada, Japan, Britain, France, Germany and Italy) which he will host in Cornwall, at the southwestern tip of England. "What we need, I think, is a global treaty on pandemic preparedness," he said, adding that 2020 had been a "terrible year for humanity." To date, the pandemic has killed more than 3.5 million people worldwide. Britain was among the hardest-hit countries, though it has been recovering since beginning vaccinations. Johnson said it was also a bad time "for believers in global cooperation, because the world simply became balkanized," with many countries slow to share stocks of protective equipment, medicines and vaccines. "We've got to do better than this," the prime minister added. "Vaccination has got to be a global enterprise," Johnson said in the interview taped Friday. He said it was crucial that developing countries receive vaccine supplies as quickly as possible. Rather than the goal set by some of vaccinating the world by 2024 or 2025, Johnson set a more ambitious target, saying, "We need to get this done by the end of next year." As to the debate over the origins of the pandemic -- which flared up recently when President Joe Biden ordered a new intelligence report on the problem -- Johnson said he still leaned to the theory that it had spread from wild animals to humans, not leaked from a Chinese laboratory. Story continues "But," he added, "I'm not going to exclude any possibility." Johnson, who himself was hospitalized last year with a serious case of Covid, has faced sharp criticism in Britain for his early handling of the pandemic there. The G7 summit will be an in-person affair. The group was set to meet last summer in the US, but Covid concerns led to the meeting's cancellation. ps/fff/bbk/dw One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Drops of cannabis oil fell onto Iras small tongue as she lay motionless on a mattress, her heart beating slower than normal. The earthy scent of the medicinal oil filled her home in rural Janda Baik, Pahang, as her father Pokleh, 36, carefully fed the one-year-old with the illicit substance secretly bought from a supplier in Thailand a risky move that could see him jailed in Malaysia. But his love for his child, who was fighting for her life after being paralyzed by brain tumors, was greater than his fear of state punishment. Pokleh and his wife asked that their real names not be used for fear of prosecution. But he wanted to share his story because of the dramatic recovery he says cannabis made possible for his daughter and could provide other children. Two Novembers ago, Ira suffered a high fever that lasted about a week, leaving her unconscious. Anxious, Pokleh and his wife Anna, 34, rushed their daughter to the hospital, where doctors found lesions in the baby girls brain known as cavernoma a rare condition in which blood vessels form abnormally. There were no answers to what had caused it. Ira neither had a history of seizures nor family members with brain-related illnesses. Pokleh visits Ira in the hospital. Photo: Pokleh I thought it was just a normal fever, Pokleh said. I thought shed be okay after a while. Its my fault for not getting medical attention sooner. Ira spent three weeks in the intensive care unit of an urban government hospital, while doctors treated her symptoms seizures and muscle spasms with generic drugs used to treat neurological disorders. Pokleh objected to surgery because Iras chance of survival was low, medical documents showed. For nearly a month, Pokleh watched as his daughter lay paralyzed on the hospital bed. His wife was already conceding the reality that her daughter may never be able to walk or talk again. Why us? Pokleh, an IT consultant, said as his voice cracked in a recent interview. Only God knows how we managed to stay strong when the doctor diagnosed Ira with a brain tumor. My wife was five months pregnant at that time, I needed to be strong for her too. Story continues Tears rolled down Iras cheeks as she glanced from her mom to her dad, and the cartoon on the hospitals television screen, he recounted. I could not accept my daughters condition, Pokleh said. Before this, she could run, she could do everything. I felt so helpless. I needed to do something about it. I just had to. There has to be another way. I first spoke to Pokleh in March. At that point, Iras condition was in remission and she had regained full use of her body, an improvement Pokleh credits to one thing cannabis. He agreed to discuss his experience in hope that other parents might benefit, but asked that we not show Iras face. Pokleh holding Iras hand at their home in Janda Baik. Photo: Pokleh Discovering cannabis oil Soon after Ira was admitted to the hospital, Pokleh concluded that modern medicine could not improve his daughters condition. So he looked for alternatives, trawling through hundreds of books, articles and documentaries before discovering Weed The People on Netflix. The show followed several parents in the United States on a quest to treat their cancer-stricken children with cannabis. The show was meant to entertain and inform and not serve as medical advice. But Pokleh decided to take it up even though it remained illegal in Malaysia despite calls for reforms. Tania Scivetti, a member of the Malaysian bar who has defended people accused of drug offenses, said the governments view of cannabis as hard drugs could be why it is reluctant to decriminalize it, adding that Malaysia should take the cue from other countries with successful cannabis policies. Getting ahold of cannabis oil was easier than Pokleh expected. All it took was ordering it from a Thai supplier on Facebook, and it arrived within three days, just in time for Iras return from three bedridden weeks in the hospital. One palm-sized bottle was enough for 50 servings, the label said. Little has been studied about cannabis oil in Malaysia, while research done elsewhere in the world has not been conclusive. Cancer Research UK says that cannabis oil comes from the flowers, leaves, and stalks of the cannabis plant. Unlike CBD or cannabidiol oil, it also contains the psychoactive compound that gives people a high called tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. A paralyzed Ira lies in bed. Photo: Pokleh Cannabis is a safe medicine for people with seizures, said medical marijuana advocate Sathivel Ras Thaman, 38, who has been practicing medicine for 12 years and runs the Medira group of clinics here. Cannabis oil would be derived from the cannabis plant, while CBD oil is extracted alone, without other properties like THC, he said in a May interview. Most CBD oils in the market are derived from industrial hemp, which has a naturally low THC content (below 3%). If the cannabis oil has THC, it comes with a caution that it will make [the user] high. Pokleh stopped the medication that was prescribed by the doctor to avoid mixing them with the cannabis oil. After bringing her home from the hospital a month later, he kept up a routine of feeding Ira five drops of the oil each day, prying open his daughters mouth to give her the daily dose. As days turned into weeks, Ira started making subtle movements. She clenched her fists, lifted her legs, and slowly turned her little body while lying on the mattress. Eventually, the toddler was able to crawl again. Before we started on cannabis oil, she just lay down, motionless. No reflexes. It felt slow, but day by day, she was getting better, Pokleh said. From what Ive read and watched online, a major side effect would be sleepiness But nothing harmful. Proud of his daughters fighting spirit and determination to keep trying every day, patiently, Poklehs eyes sparkled with joy as he said: Our little Ira is back. If she couldnt lift her legs one day, she would keep trying until she succeeded, he said. Soon, she could walk, run, and play with our pet cat. She could also eat normally, even though there was a tube attached to her nose. Ira plays with toys at a follow-up appointment, about three weeks after being treated with cannabis oil. Photo: Pokleh Meeting the doctor again It was three weeks after Ira started on cannabis oil, just before the first COVID-19 cases had reached the nation, when it was time for her to see the doctor again. But how would Pokleh explain her recovery? Mentioning cannabis oil was out of the question. On the other side of the country, a military retiree was facing the gallows for cultivating cannabis for sale to terminally ill patients. The risk of capital punishment is real in Malaysia, where the substance is classified as an illegal drug under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. Depending on the weight of the drug, penalties range from a fine to imprisonment, caning, and even death. At the hospital, the family arrived in high spirits, with Ira wandering about on her feet and chattering merrily with strangers a completely different patient from the one who had been discharged. When they met the doctor, Ira played with a calculator and stethoscope while the doctor checked her reflexes and later took her for an MRI scan. Images from the scan showed an impressive improvement in Iras condition, according to Pokleh. The lesion in Iras brain had shrunk considerably. When questioned about Iras recovery, Pokleh commended the doctors and other healthcare workers who helped. The doctor listened in disbelief but never prodded further. Its almost like the doctor did not believe it. We just said it was thanks to the hospital, doctors, and nurses who worked so hard to help Ira heal, he said. I did not feel comfortable disclosing anything because I could be accused of committing a crime, but as a dad, I didnt have a choice. I wanted to see Ira get well, and be healthy just like other kids, he added, grateful to have been given a second chance to be with his daughter. Today, a year later, Ira is 3 and seems to have no memory of what she went through. But she still takes at least one drop of cannabis oil every day and will continue to do so as long as the tumor remains in her brain. Ive asked her before and showed her photos from the hospital, Do you remember this? Your ummi (mother) was so heartbroken, she was waiting for you to wake up, he said. Hardly a day goes by without Pokleh worrying that Ira will relapse, especially now that she is slated to start kindergarten. Im only afraid of when she jumps around she may hit her head, which could potentially reactivate the tumor I know I cant always be there to watch her, so when she goes to kindergarten, I hope the teacher can keep an eye on her while she plays with her new friends. Other stories to check out: UNs reclassification of cannabis as less dangerous drug wont change Malaysian laws: Home Minister Sabah womans year in U.S. weed biz sparks hope for Malaysian marijuana This article, Cannabis can mean death in Malaysia. For one dad, it also meant life for his daughter., originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. SINGAPORE COVID-19 vaccination guidelines in Singapore have been eased for pregnant women, breastfeeding women, cancer patients currently receiving treatment, and persons who have previously suffered severe skin allergy reactions to medications. The Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination (EC19V) has been monitoring evidence and developments around the world and has revised its guidelines accordingly, the multi-ministry taskforce (MTF) on the pandemic said at a virtual press briefing on Monday (31 May). There was no evidence to suggest that the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines may cause harm to pregnant women or their babies, the MTF stated. However, the committee noted that the amount of data collected on the population segment was still much smaller compared to data on the general population. It advised pregnant women to discuss the risks and benefits with their doctors to make an informed decision on the vaccination. Pregnant women will be able to register and book a vaccination appointment from 4 June, if they are part of the population group eligible for vaccination. Similarly, the two vaccines have been deemed to be safe for breastfeeding women and there is no need to stop breastfeeding while receiving the jabs, the EC19V said. Cancer patients on active cancer treatment remain at an increased risk of complications from COVID-19 but there was no evidence of any safety signals or increased rates of adverse events from mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines, noted the authorities. Director of medical services Kenneth Mak noted that MOH had previously exercised "considerable caution" and advised that these patients complete their treatment before getting vaccinated. "At this time, we prefer for these patients to be vaccinated in a hospital setting where they can be better monitored for their health status. And we will review later whether these conditions can be revised." Persons with Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions (SCAR), or sever skin allergy reactions to medications, can also receive both vaccines, even though they were previously not recommended to do so. SCAR includes Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms, and Drug-induced Hypersensitivity Syndrome. Story continues "These are very severe reactions that occur as a result of taking various types of medications," explained Prof Mak. "And if you have previously had such a severe allergic reaction to medications like antibiotics, you will now be eligible to receive your COVID-19 vaccination." The EC19V is also reviewing safety data on persons with a history of anaphylaxis, to allow more to be safely vaccinated, it added. The committee said it intends to complete the review in the next two weeks, and will set out guidelines allowing certain persons who have had previous history of anaphylaxis to be vaccinated using mRNA vaccines safely. Prof Mak said, "We hope that these adjustments to our guidance will offer vaccination opportunities for more people and allow them to benefit from the enhanced immune protection that vaccination offers." Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Related stories: Possible easing of COVID restrictions after 13 June if community cases fall further: Lee Hsien Loong Singapore to make over-the-counter DIY COVID-19 tests available to residents COVID-19: Vaccination bookings for Singapore students to begin from 1 June 400,000 students in Singapore can register for COVID vaccine from 1 June 'Very unlikely' to resume Phase 3 straight after 13 June: Lawrence Wong Singapore to allow alternative COVID-19 vaccines for use by private sector Household members of close contact of COVID-19 case to be isolated immediately: PM Lee The Lakota reside on the Rosebud Reservation and are in the middle of a five-year initiative to bring the buffalo back to their land. When completed, it has the potential to be the largest Native-managed herd in the U.S. We learn about the Lakotas cultural connection to the animal that transcends beyond just a food source as well as their plans for an equitable food future, one that is gaining global attention. LE MARS, Iowa -- Speaking from the north steps of the Plymouth County Courthouse, Dan Plueger said Monday morning that the heroes wars produce are "the best of America." The commander of American Legion Wasmer Post 241 made the statement in front of hundreds of people who stood or sat in lawn chairs among a sea of American flags during a Memorial Day ceremony held to honor the sacrifices of fallen U.S. service members. "We can wear the poppy. We can place flags and wreaths at their graves. We can donate to charities that provide for their families; and we can look at their surviving brothers and sisters in arms and say, 'Thank you for your service,'" Plueger told those gathered, as 1,382 flags, each one representing a deceased service member with ties to Plymouth County, blew in the breeze under sunny skies. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Pat Beitelspacher, of Le Mars, said it's a family tradition for her to attend the ceremony, which honors three of her uncles and a grandfather. "I just think it's a nice tribute to all these service members who have served us. It's the least we can do," she said. "It's just a nice quiet time to remember. Today couldn't be any more beautiful." CENTERTOWN, Ky. (AP) The remains of two Kentucky men who died 80 years ago during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor were returned to the commonwealth this week for burial. U.S. Navy Fireman 3rd Class Welborn L. Ashbys niece Paula Kern told The Courier Journal that her mother had always been haunted by the uncertainty surrounding Ashby's death. The family was told the 24-year-old was declared to have lost his life, but the Navy could not locate the body. Martha Christian was 13 at the time. In the 1990s she travelled to Hawaii, lowering her feet into the cold waters of Pearl Harbor and weeping for her lost brother. In 2011, she donated DNA to help with the identification of remains, but Christian died in 2017, two years before Ashbys remains were positively identified by the federal Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. A Memorial Day service was planned for Ashby in Beaver Dam, followed by a burial at Centertown Cemetery with full military honors, including a Missing Man flyover by vintage planes. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) Some South Dakota lawmakers plan to visit marijuana businesses in other states and on tribal lands to get a firsthand look at how the drug is grown and sold before it becomes legal for medical use in the state. Members of the South Dakota Legislatures interim study committee plan to visit professional cultivation and retail operations in Iowa, Colorado and the Flandreau Santee Sioux Reservation in Moody County. The group is split into two subcommittees: some members will study medical marijuana and visit a medical grow operation and dispensary sometime between June 28 and July 1; another plans to visit Colorado to focus on recreational marijuana, though that visit requires authorization from the Legislature's executive board due to its anticipated costs, according to the Argus Leader. Medical marijuana will become legal in South Dakota on July 1, while the future legal status of recreational marijuana remains unclear pending a South Dakota Supreme Court ruling. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) Hamas's top leader in the Gaza Strip on Monday expressed optimism about reaching a prisoner exchange with Israel, while Egyptian mediators seek to hammer out a long-term cease-fire following an 11-day war in the Gaza Strip earlier this month. To all those who have served and are currently serving, today is a reminder that we must never take our bountiful blessings or our freedom for granted. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you have done and will continue to do to guarantee our way of life. We stand in awe at your commitment. BEIJING (AP) Chinas ruling Communist Party said Monday it will ease birth limits to allow all couples to have three children instead of two in hopes of slowing the rapid aging of its population, which is adding to strains on the economy and society. The ruling party has enforced birth limits since 1980 to restrain population growth but worries the number of working-age people is falling too fast while the share over age 65 is rising. That threatens to disrupt its ambitions to transform China into a prosperous consumer society and global technology leader. A ruling party meeting led by President Xi Jinping decided to introduce measures to actively deal with the aging population, the official Xinhua News Agency said. It said leaders agreed implementing the policy of one couple can have three children and supporting measures are conducive to improving Chinas population structure." Leaders also agreed China needs to raise its retirement age to keep more people in the workforce and improve pension and health services for the elderly, Xinhua said. Restrictions that limited most couples to one child were eased in 2015 to allow two, but the total number of births fell further, suggesting rule changes on their own have little impact on the trend. PEPLO, Greece (AP) As the world begins to travel again, Europe is sending migrants a loud message: Stay away! DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) A Kenyan security guard now facing charges in Qatar after writing compelling, anonymous accounts of being a low-paid worker there found himself targeted by a phishing attack that could have revealed his location just before his arrest, analysts say. PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) Top officials from the United States and the European Union on Monday visited Kosovo to urge the tiny Western Balkan country to resume talks on the normalization of ties with its former war foe Serbia. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew Palmer started a three-day visit by meeting with opposition Kosovo Democratic League party leaders. The EU envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, already arrived in Pristina on a two-day visit to meet with the countrys top politicians. Kosovos new government, led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who took office in March, has said it's focused in fighting the pandemic and that talks with Serbia are not high on its list of immediate goals. EU-facilitated negotiations to normalize ties between Serbia and its former province started a decade ago and stalled last year. Lajcak and Palmer met in Brussels last week to talk about Western Balkans and the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. They will have a joint news conference on Tuesday. That means his agency still can't access the images taken by the cameras for the time being, but could regain access to the material if a deal is reached a situation Grossi called an emergency measure that was not ideal." The last-minute discussions further underscored the narrowing window for the U.S. and others to reach terms with Iran as it presses a tough stance with the international community over its atomic program. Negotiations continue in Vienna to see if both the U.S. and Iran can reenter the deal, which limited Tehrans enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Iran and the U.S. arent directly negotiating, however. The U.S. isn't at the table because it unilaterally pulled out of the deal in 2018 under Trump, who restored and augmented American sanctions in a campaign of maximum pressure to try and force Iran into renegotiating the pact with more concessions. Biden wants to rejoin the deal, however, and there is a U.S. delegation in Vienna taking part in indirect talks with Iran, with diplomats from the other world powers acting as go-betweens. This article contains spoilers for Mare of Easttown, including the final episode. Youse have been warned. Mare of Easttown drew to a close with a genuinely shocking twist: The killer of Erin McMenamin wasnt Billy Ross, who confessed to the crime in the penultimate episode, or his brother John, who fathered a child with his dead niece, or even Johns wife, Loriit was tween Ryan Ross, who accidentally killed Erin in an attempt to prevent his family from breaking apart. The HBO series has become a phenomenon, increasing in audience every week since its premierea feat previously accomplished only by last years buzzy mystery The Undoing. The latter series suffered some serious blowback when it turned out the killer was just who the audience thought it had been all along, which isnt a fate Mare is likely to suffer. How did Brad Ingelsby, who wrote all seven episodes, come up with an ending that made sense in retrospect but wasnt easy to predict? Slate asked him about crafting the perfect mystery, that accent, the shows depiction of police, and whether Mare might return for another season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sam Adams: So, Ryan Ross! At what point in the writing did you settle on him being the killer? Brad Ingelsby: Even before I wrote a single word of the script, actually. I had these characters in my head for, oh my goodness, months and months and months, but I just didnt know where it ended. And Ive watched enough of these crime shows to know, or to think at least, that youve got to stick the landing, as they say. And listen, who knows if we did. But I was convinced that unless I had a good-enough ending that I wasnt going to start writing it. I took about eight months with the characters in my head and then one day I was like, Can it be Ryan? That would be really hard on Mare and how it relates to her son and Lori. That felt like a surprising ending, and also a really emotional one. Advertisement It really throws into relief that this is a story about a woman coming to terms with the death of her sonand in the end helping her friend cope with losing her own son, albeit in a different way. Advertisement Heres the closest person in her life, really, outside of her family. Her friend Lori is losing her son, and its Mare whos done it. A lot of people say, Why couldnt she overlook it? But I didnt want to go that route, because Mare made a pact with Erin to solve the case, and what would that say about her as an investigator? It was always like, what are the things, these big, huge moments, the ripple effect of this case that ultimately is going to get her up to the attic at the end? Because, as you said, thats what the show has always been about. Its about a woman who defers grief. She doesnt want to confront the loss of her son. And literally its about a woman who is now ready, at long last, to confront the death of her son. Advertisement Theres been a little bit of a cottage industry formed around predicting who the killer is, but Ryan wasnt even on most peoples lists, even as a million-to-one shot. It was a tightrope walk that we had to do in the edit all the time. Like, is it surprising in a good way? Or is it like, Wow, thats out of left field? That was always our worry: Had we planted enough seeds where you get to the end and you can go, Oh, wow, that makes sense? Or is it, Oh, they tricked us? I guess audiences will tell us, but Im curious what you think. Advertisement Im not a solve-the-mystery person. I really just want to watch the story as its meant to be told. But at the end of Episode 6, I was thinking, Billy Ross already confessed, so it cant be him, and if its John, thats not much of a twist: You thought its one brother, but its the other brother. Lori seemed to work in terms of surprise, but having her kill a teenage girl for sleeping with her husband seemed pretty dark, even for this show. I considered pretty much every member of the Ross family except for Ryan. Advertisement The biggest challenge of the edit was to have him in there enough where the audience knows and cares about him, so when we get to the ending, they at least have experience and time with him. It was always a guessing game of: Have we shown too much, or is there too little? And it was the guessing game we played every episode of the show. For people who feel like this came out of left field, is there a moment youd point to in the earlier episodes where you could put it together if you were looking for the right things? Advertisement I think the moments that we would be able to point to are, first, in that sequence at the cafeteria, where he acts out and you could tell something maybe even deeper is churning inside Ryan when hes pounding on the kid. We havent seen a moment of rage like that. And that seems to be all the misdirected anger. Wheres the real origin of that anger? Yeah, his sister is being picked on, but man, thats a little bit much, thats really aggressive. And second, later, when he goes and hes crying with his mom at the table and she says, Is it with the same woman? I wanted that moment to be a moment where he wants to tell her the truth. Hes desperate to get rid of this thing, and yet he knows that the repercussions of him saying, Its nothing to do with the affair, Mom, its, I killed this girl. It would even crush the family more so. Advertisement I would even point to Episode 1. When Mare comes into the house and hes doing his homework, our goal in that scene was if you went back and watched that, this is a kid thats so diligent about doing homework, he doesnt want to cause any trouble in his parents life at all. Hes a guy that has known whats happened to his parents and he wants to be perfect all the time. He doesnt want to be a cause of any conflict in his parents life. So are those enough breadcrumbs? I dont know, but I hope that if you went back and watched it that you could at least feel as if we didnt trick you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Certainly moments like John telling his son, Thisll be our secret, are much more clear in retrospect. Thats another one. And when Johns leaving that night, hes like, Im going to make this thing right, Ryan. Im going to fix it. That was a moment where we were like: Thats really toeing the line there. Is that overdone? We were going to cut that scene, and then we felt, well, we have to have enough of breadcrumbs where you can reasonably say, Oh, they actually did tee it up. But youre rightits a tricky balance. Sign up for the Slate Culture Newsletter The best of movies, TV, books, music, and more, delivered to your inbox. 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. Were there any theories about who the killer was that you didnt expect? I think the one thats been most surprising to me is that Ive gotten a lot of people just out of my friend group telling me, I think its Siobhan. She was never, ever on my radar as a suspect, even in the writing of. We had her be in the woods that night, but thats been the one that Ive been a little bit like, God, we didnt plant any seeds to make her a suspect in the show. And then Ive seen a couple that have gone down crazy rabbit holes of sex rings. It was never a show that was going to go into that territory. But those have been the funniest to read, just how deep people go. And it has gotten a little bit crazy. Advertisement Advertisement The part I couldnt make fit when I was trying to predict the ending was how Dylan and the other Easttown teens fit into the picture, and in the end you dont spend much time with them in the finale. Is the idea that Dylan pulled a gun on Jess because he wanted his parents to raise DJ, and he didnt want anything coming out about DJs real father that might jeopardize that? What we tried to do with the kids is that Erin, early in the episodes, or in her past history with Jess, had said: Listen, Im keeping this lie because I like having [Dylans] parents in this kids life, and theyre good caretakers, and they love him dearly. And I want him to have that in his life because my dad isnt that way. And its nice to have that. So they make a pact like, OK, now Mares onto the journals. If theres something in the journals thats going to identify the real dad, well, shit, we better go and burn them. The idea is that if Mare never knows who the real dad is, then CPS will just keep the child in the environment where hes comfortable and loved. And Dylan and his parents will continue to keep the child. Thats why they go to those great lengths to burn the journals and keep the secret. But then Jess ultimately is like: The burden is too much. Too much shits happened. I got to confess and do the right thing here. Advertisement Advertisement Jess also has no idea whom shes turning in to the police. She thinks its John. Hes the real dad. And then in the structure of the finale, theres almost a minimontage after the opening part. Its Mare on her bed, Jess is moving on with her life, heres Dawn and Katie, shes going to get the house. So we hopefully lull the audience a bit, although any experienced audience member knows, hey, theres way too much time left in this episode to wrap it up. In fact, in the scripts, we had that big montage at the end, but I really loved the idea that the structure of the episode is: Its Mare and Lori, and theyre fractured, and then the end is that they come together. We already had the scene in the church where you bounce around the congregationyou give everyone a little moment on the screen one last time anyway. So it became much more interesting and emotional to make the ending just about Mare and Lori, these two friends. How are they going to come together? Advertisement One character who played a much bigger role in the finale than I expected was Deacon Mark, whom I thought we might not even see again. His homily in church ends up feeling almost like a summing-up for the whole series. What went into writing that speech? Advertisement One of the ideas that I was really interested in with the show in general is this idea of mercy. It was written at a time when I was like, Man, this country has lost its ideals of compassion, and decency, and mercy. Weve really gone off the rails a little bit here. If you look at the show, its the character of Erin whos never been shown any mercy in her life. The one person that shows her a moment of mercy is Siobhan by coming to her defense in the woods and saying, Hey, Ill give you a ride home. But shes so crushed by life at that point that she doesnt know how to accept that moment of mercy and instead walks off and is killed later that night. Now, of course shes not killed just because she doesnt go with Siobhan. But it was an act of mercy and she doesnt know how to accept it. Advertisement If you look at the finale, its really about mercy. Heres Lorithe ultimate act of mercy in my mind is to love the child thats been the cause of the familys demise. I have to love the thing that has completely ripped apart my family. I have to stare at this child that is the thing that has ripped apart everyone I love. And I have to love it every day. Thats an incredible act of mercy on Loris part. And then, what I was also interested in is, will the community show some mercy by allowing Mark back? Now that its been eight months, he says, I havent had the courage to stand up here, and there are some people here who dont accept me and I understand that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By giving this homily, its the trigger that gets Mare to think about, well, the person Ive left behind is Lori, Ive got to go see Lori. And by having mercy on Lori, it allows her to have mercy on herself, and to go up to the attic. So its a little bit of like, How do we track this idea of mercy in the last episode, and make it a show about compassion ultimately? And thats what I was really interested in with that speechthat its not our job to say people arent really deserving of our love. Thats not what we are meant to do at all. All were supposed to do is to love them. Advertisement This goes beyond the text of the show a little, but I couldnt help but think about how the suburban counties around Philadelphia voted for Trump in 2016, and even though they swung to Biden in 2020, its also an area that produced several participants in the Jan. 6 insurrection. So its very resonant to talk about the idea of people excluded from the circle of community, and welcoming them back in even if they dont actually want to be welcomed. Advertisement Right, yeah, 100 percent. Its what we tried to achieve with that speech. I dont want to get into politics too much, but Im glad they voted for Biden. Ive gotten this comment a couple of times from people who were on the show and like, Oh, this is Trump country. Its like, No, its actually not. If you go to talk to the people, thats just a blanket statement that isnt really right or fair. And then just getting into the actual characters, that was something I really want to achieve. Its easy to say that this is white trash, but I dont know whats white trash about these people. They go out and they have homes and they make a life. So I really wanted to portray this community in a way that was sympathetic, and honest, and not going to tap into the stereotypes we have of these parts of the country. Its so easy to say those things, but its often not true. But its an important idea in the show that were exploring these ideas of compassion, which I felt strongly had totally gotten away from us as a country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres been a lot of soul-searching in the industry over the last year about the portrayal of police. Did any of that affect how you thought about Mare? Well, its funny, because this was written a couple of years ago, but there are some things now that you look at, like Mare hiding drugs on people, and youre like, Oh, wow, this is maybe not the best look. But I also think with Mareand this is true of the cops that we talked to in the communities in Delaware County, Marple, Easttown, we had lots of conversationsone thing that I do admire about Mare as a character, and I do about a lot of the cops that we spoke to about the show, was that there was a level of approaching each case with humanity and understanding of each situation. And we tried to achieve that in Episode 1, where Mare walks into Freddys house, and here comes Trammel with the gun, and shes like, Put the gun away. Ive been here. I want to approach this with a level of experience that I have with this individual. When Mare was hiding drugs on Carrie, it wasnt a good look in representing the police in the show. But what I take away from the character of Mare, and especially Chief Carter in the show, is approaching each situation with a level of humanity, and sympathy, and understanding, and trying to go in and be a peacekeeper in the situation. I hope thats what people take away from the show. Advertisement Advertisement Even at the end, when the cops are pulling up to Ryans house, you have Mare telling the others, No one gets in front of me. Theyre arresting a child, but theres still the possibility of violence if she doesnt keep things calm. In speaking to the cops, theyre going into every situation, even tough situations in these communities, and trying to approach them with a level of understanding of the history of this person. I think Mare is a portrait of a character that is using her experience and knowledge of these relationships and people to approach the police situations with a level of sympathy and understanding. And I hope thats what resonates in the show, more than her planting drugs on Carrie. Advertisement So Mare has turned out to be a big hit for HBO, and its sparked a national conversation about the accent. Did you see any of that coming? Oh my gosh, no. It was all surprising. What I experienced with the edit, just as I experienced with the writing of anything, is that youre immune to its charms at the end. Ive seen the scene where Zabel gets killed 10 million times. I know whats coming. It was a long process. We had the COVID hiatus. So there was a lot of time there, and I think we were all just like, Wow, were glad to be done. We couldnt ever, ever predict all of this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think what I was most surprised by was the whodunit of it all. I always thought, oh, a whodunits fine, its a serviceable way to carry us through the show, but really its about this woman and trying to deal with grief. Whereas people latched onto the whodunit in such a major way, had all these theories. And then the accent, everyone was so interested in the accent, and really, Ive got to be honest, its a testament to Kate, because there were conversations early on where we were a little bit scared by it. Its a lot to ask every actor to do the accent. But once she signed on, every other actor is like, Well, I guess I got to do it too. And listen, I think some leaned in more than others. But Ive just been so excited that people have responded to the show. Advertisement One of the things you do in the finale is remind us that Mares real name is Mary Anne. Im a little embarrassed that it took me seven episodes to realize this is a show about a Catholic named Mary dealing with the death of her son. Advertisement Oh gosh, yeah. When we were writing the show, in the original script, it was Mary Beth. And then what happened was, there was another Mary Beth Sheehan in Aston or something. So we had to change it to Mary Anne. But Ill be honest, that never crossed my mind. Now that you said it, its so obvious as a kid that was raised Catholic. How did I miss that one? It was sitting right under my nose the whole time. Advertisement And if you really want to push it, the last shot of her climbing into the attic is almost an apotheosis. Its my Catholic upbringing. I cant get rid of it. Its in there somewhere. It just shows itself in moments I didnt even expect. The story has a very complete arc, but given the success of Mare of Easttown, you have to ask: Have you given any thought to doing another season? It definitely has a definitive end. Im leery of the second seasons Ive watched, and how tricky it is to come back and do it well. If we can do it well and have it be greatand obviously, so many things go into making something that works and doesnt workits hard to say right now. Just the scripts or whatever have to be good, or the idea has to be good, because so many other pieces I know this is a collaboration. But if I was convinced that we had a great story that Mare can go through, or if I was convinced that the story could be really strong and emotional, then I would absolutely give it some thought. I dont have that idea now, but I do want to work with Kate Winslet and Jean Smart again. Are you kidding me? Id be a total idiot not to at least try to crack a story. The longest-serving prime minister in Israeli history could soon be out of office after a diverse group of opposition parties said theyre ready to form a unity government to oust Benjamin Netanyahu after 12 straight years in power. Far-right politician Naftali Bennett, who leads the small hardline Yamina party, said he would join forces with centrist opposition leader Yair Lapid to form a coalition government. Its my intention to do my utmost in order to form a national unity government along with my friend Yair Lapid, so that, God willing, together we can save the country from a tailspin and return Israel to its course, Bennett said. The announcement came after many outside observers had said the recent Israeli-Palestinian conflict would benefit Netanyahus ambitions to stay in power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bennett and Lapid have until Wednesday night to present their deal to Israels President Reuven Rivlin and then it would have to be endorsed by the Israeli Parliament. For now it looks like Bennett would head up the government first until the fall of 2023 with Lapid serving as foreign minister. They would then swap roles until there is a new election in 2025. Netanyahu is likely to stay in politics if he is ousted and he made clear Sunday that hes going to fight back as much as possible to try to stay in power. Shortly after Bennett made the announcement of the new coalition, Netanyahu called the plan the fraud of the century and accused Bennett of betraying his right-wing voters. There is not a single person in Israel who would have voted for Naftali Bennett if they had known what he would do, Netanyahu said. Eager to keep holding on to power, Netanyahu is likely to spend the next few days trying to pressure right-wing parties to reject the new coalition government. If the coalition does move forward, it would join together a very ideologically diverse group of parties that range from left-wing to right-wing nationalist parties. Bennett, who wants to annex most of the occupied West Bank, also has a lot of differences with Lapid, a former TV news anchor who largely represents secular centrists. Those differences mean that the new government is likely to focus, at least at first, on economic policy rather than more divisive issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Married couples in China will be able to have as many as three children instead of two, the ruling Communist Party said Monday in a major shift in policy that comes as data show the countrys population is rapidly aging amid a decline in births. The worlds most populous country ended its long-held one-child policy in 2016 but that didnt lead to the surge in births that many were expecting due in large part to how expensive it is to raise children in Chinas cities. To actively respond to the aging of the population a couple can have three children, state media Xinhua reported on Monday after a meeting of Chinas political leadership led by President Xi Jinping. Chinas leaders also said the country needs to raise the retirement age so people stay in the workforce longer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The announcement marks a tacit recognition that the countrys limits on reproduction have jeopardized the countrys future, notes the New York Times. As the countrys population gets older, the number of working-age people is declining, putting its industrial strategy that has been at the heart of its explosive economic growth at risk. In what appeared to be an effort to make sure the increase in limits has the desired effect, the shift in policy will be accompanied by policies to ease the financial burden on couples that decide to have more children, although there are few details yet of what that could entail. Despite these supportive measures comments on social media on Monday showed how much of the population remains skeptical they will be enough to convince young couples to have more children considering the high costs and long work schedules that are the norm in the country. I have interviewed many young Chinese couples about this subject and it is hard to find those who want bigger families these days, writes the BBCs Stephen McDonell. Generations of Chinese people have lived without siblings and are used to small familiesaffluence has meant less need for multiple children to become family-supporting workers, and young professionals say theyd rather give one child more advantages than spread their income among several kids. Advertisement Chinas fertility rate is currently at 1.3, which is below the level needed to maintain a stable population. A total of 2.65 million babies were born in China last year, an 18 percent decline from 2019. Census data released earlier this month was a stark wake up call that suggested the population is aging faster than had been expected. The percentage of the population that is between 15 to 59 yeas old fell to 63.3 percent last year from 70.1 percent a decade ago. At the same time, the share of the population that is 65 and older grew to 13.5 percent from 8.9 percent. Amid the alarming figures, some have been calling on the government to end all limits on reproduction. This is without a doubt a step in the right direction, but still its a bit timid, Shuang Ding, chief economist at Standard Chartered in Hong Kong, told Reuters. A fully liberalized birth policy should have been implemented at least five years ago, but its too late now, although its better late than never. And human rights organizations say that even a higher limit is still a violation of sexual and reproductive rights. Governments have no business regulating how many children people have. Rather than optimizing its birth policy, China should instead respect peoples life choices and end any invasive and punitive controls over peoples family planning decisions, Joshua Rosenzweig, who heads up Amnesty Internatioals China team, said. Slate has relationships with various online retailers. If you buy something through our links, Slate may earn an affiliate commission. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. All prices were up to date at the time of publication. This article is adapted For the Love of Hong Kong: A Memoir From My City Under Siege, an e-book published by Global Dispatches. I could hear my parents tossing and turning all night long, my dad rising from bed earlier than usual for his morning jog. When I followed him downstairs a couple hours later, my mother had already brewed a pot of coffee. That was at 8 a.m. on June 30. It was already nighttime in Hong Kong, which is 12 hours ahead of New York, and still the promised details of a law that would send my home careening down a terrifying new path had yet to be released. Advertisement A chill was underway before anyone had even seen the text of the new national security law: Social media accounts had been deleted and political parties disbanded, and Hong Kongs network of pro-democracy businesses, known as the Yellow Economic Circle, had removed slogans and posters that would become illegal at the stroke of midnight. Advertisement Advertisement When details of the new law were finally released at 11 p.m. in Hong Kong, the language was more draconian than even the grimmest of pessimists had imagined. I could see disbelief and heartbreak settle across my mothers face, the five stages of grief washing over her all at once. It means we cannot go back, she said. I did not fully understand. Advertisement My parents began their scramble: The Hong Kong Democracy Council, an organization my mother, Victoria Tin-bor Hui, co-founded in September 2019, was holding a press conference in about an hour. My mother was the moderator; my father, Michael C. Davis, was one of the speakers. The law had been published on Xinhua, a Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece, in simplified Chinese characters, the writing style of the mainland, and not of Hong Kong. My dad scrambled to find a translation, because, unlike with previous Hong Kong legislation, there was no official English version. The words on those pages spelled the end of Hong Kong as we knew it. The city of my childhood was by no means perfect, but it had been built with the belief that democracy would come someday, that through peaceful protest we could fight for the liberal values and human rights promised by the citys constitution. Now, all of a sudden, scrawling a common phrase on a protest sign or printing it in a newspaper could be an arrestable offense. Advertisement Advertisement The law came into immediate effect, making anything Beijing officials regarded as inciting subversion, secession, terrorism, or colluding with foreign forces punishable by up to life in prisonincluding, possibly, even the discussion my parents and their colleagues had that morning in front of the media in the United States. Article 48 of the law allows mainland Chinese officials to operate without restriction in Hong Kong, under the guise of the Office for Safeguarding National Security. According to Articles 55 and 56, certain cases can be transferred to the mainland for trial. A proposed extradition law that would have allowed similar transfers is exactly what sparked one of the largest street protests in history just a year prior. Perhaps most worrisome is Article 38, which stretches the law well beyond local targets: This Law shall apply to offenses under this Law committed against the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from outside the Region by a person who is not a permanent resident of the Region. In other words, nobody, anywhere, is spared. Advertisement We all spent the aftermath of the laws promulgation writingmy mother, a Journal of Democracy article comparing the Hong Kong of 2020 to Tiananmen Square of 1989; my father, a book on Hong Kongs political journey and the implications of the new law; and I, the book from which this article is excerpted. To be honest, when I was first approached about doing this project, I was scared. Not because I doubted whether it was something I wanted to write, but because I was afraid that any criticisms of the new law and the associated policies would seal my fate and prevent my ever being able to return home. Still, to decline the opportunity to contribute to my beloved city the way I know best felt like a betrayal. Advertisement Advertisement Despite being tirelessly hopeful themselves, my parents spent years preparing me for this momentwhen Hong Kong ceased to be a safe place, our place, where basic freedoms are protected. To love Hong Kong, they would warn, is to love something fickle, at constant risk of being stolen away. Theyd explain that I was setting myself up for heartbreak because it simply did not matter that I dreamed of pursuing my adult life in Hong Kong; this city would cease to exist as I knew it, years before I was ready to say goodbye. But how could I not embrace that dream? I was raised by the giants who, year after year, indefatigably defended Hong Kongs wavering democracy: my parents, my aunties and uncles, my godfather and godmother. In their determined protection of freedom and human rights, they showed me exactly how and why I should love this city. Advertisement To love Hong Kong is to love something fickle, at constant risk of being stolen away. On July 1, just hours after the legislation had been enacted, thousands of Hong Kongers braved arrest under the new law and took to the streetsas they had every year for 23 years on this date, the anniversary of the 1997 handover of Hong Kong from Britain to China. In response, police raised the new purple flag, a warning that protesters were violating the law. They fired water cannons, tear gas, and pepper spray into the crowds and blocked Mass Transit Railway entrances to contain the possibility of escape. Across the city, protesters began raising blank pieces of paper, an ingenious way of circumventing the ban on slogans. Approximately 370 people were arrested on that day, 10 for breaking the new national security law. Advertisement The law is, in the eyes of many, an official death sentence for Hong Kong. In 2019, amid one of the biggest protest movements in history, Hongkongers considered themselves lucky if they had been spared from arrest. In 2020, we were grateful if our friends received short prison sentences. Now, in 2021, our only hope is that those taken into custody are granted bail and not transferred to the mainland for trial. Debates over Hong Kongs political future were the soundtrack of my childhood. Martin Lee, my godfather, the man who gave my mother away at her wedding, is known by many as the citys Father of Democracythe founder of Hong Kongs first democratic party. In the late 1980s, as the process to transfer the city from Britain to China was just getting underway, he participated in the drafting of our citys humble constitution, the Hong Kong Basic Law, and he has ardently defended our wavering democracy in the decades since. Names that have long flashed across headlinesMargaret Ngoi-yee Ng, Cheuk-yan Lee, and Albert Chun-yan Ho being just a fewwere a regular presence in my childhood; all are convicted now. My parents, both professors at risk of arrestbecause of Beijings disapproval of their critical viewsshould they return to Hong Kong, have been actively engaged in the citys civic space since before I was born. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, my parents are unassuming. My father, American, tall, and blond, is goofy in the dad-est of ways. My mother, whose bright eyes peer out from behind blue eyeglass lenses, still reaches for my hand when we cross the street. When I see them on the news, Im always struck by the unswaying certainty of their love for Hong Kong. They became politically active in the early 1990s, advocating for democracy under the one country, two systems constitutional principle that was supposed to define life after the handover. Born of years of discussion between Britain and Hong Kong, the agreement protected the liberal values that Hong Kong inherited from colonial rulepromising 50 years of a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region that would function with a high degree of autonomy from the authoritarian system in China. The hope, for many, was that democracy would protect Hong Kong and possibly even encourage political reform across the border. Instead, the opposite has occurred. Advertisement Those around them might have predicted that this young couple of the early 90s would one day become important voices in Hong Kong. My father taught law and human rights at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, with many of Hong Kongs current politicians and journalists as his students. My mother, on the other hand, was the press officer of the Democratic Party, then called the United Democrats of Hong Kong. Martin Chu-ming Lee, who would one day become my godfather, had just won a landslide victory in the 1991 Legislative Council elections. Advertisement The new national security law not only marked a premature death to the high degree of autonomy promised under one country, two systems, but also gave China powers that extended far beyond the geographic boundaries of Hong Kong. It was drafted with no input from the Hong Kong government, city residents, or even concerned mainland citizens, which, as Martin pointed out in an interview with Al-Jazeera, violated even Chinas national constitution. Even Chief Executive Carrie LamBeijings mouthpiece in the regionallegedly did not see the law until it had been approved by Chinas National Peoples Congress Standing Committee. But according to the Basic Law Article 23, a national security statute was to be passed only by the Hong Kong legislature on its own. Advertisement Now, my godfather, who had regularly received gracious admiration from strangers at our weekend dim sums, must be cautious. For the first time in his three decades of activism, Martin was arrested and charged with unauthorized assembly for a protest on April 18, 2020, along with 14 other democracy leaders in a coordinated move. In what maybe should not have been a shock, he was convicted on March 31. The image of his slim but powerful frame being escorted from his softly carpeted Mid-Levels Central apartment by seven burly police officers will forever be etched in my mindthe same pale blue-green carpet I played on as a baby stained by this new memory. Advertisement The last time my mother, a tenured professor at the University of Notre Dame, was in Hong Kong was 2017, the summer after my freshman year at Yale. My dad was there more recently, in December 2019; an image of him laughing next to my godfather, Martin Lee, and other democracy leaders graced the front page of the pro-China newspaper Ta Kung Pao. We had planned to return to Hong Kong in 2020 to celebrate my graduation from Yale, but the coronavirus postponed those plans for a safer time. Advertisement Now, a plague deadlier than the virus threatens Hong Kong and I cannot help but regret not pushing for one last trip home. Michael Flynn, who was briefly national security adviser under former President Donald Trump, said during a QAnon conference over the weekend that a military coup should happen in the United States. While he was on stage, a conference attendee asked Flynn a question: I want to know why what happened in Myanmar cant happen here? The crowd cheered at the question. No reason, responded Flynn. I mean, it should happen here. The crowd cheered some more, apparently ecstatic at the suggestion of the military taking control of the U.S. government. Advertisement Here is the video of former national security advisor Michael Flynn saying that he thinks a coup like the coup in Myanmar should happen in the US. pic.twitter.com/7mGYjfXg18 Mamie (@MC_Hyperbole) May 30, 2021 Advertisement Advertisement Flynn made the comment at a four-day QAnon conference called For God & Country Patriot Roundup 2021 that took place in Dallas. He was listed as the top keynote speaker of the event. Flynn was Trumps national security adviser for less than a month and resigned after it was revealed he lied about conversations with the Russian ambassador to the United States. Trump pardoned Flynn in November after he twice pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. 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. The question regarding the Myanmar coup didnt exactly come out of nowhere. QAnon supporters have been praising the Feb. 1 coup for months while calling on the U.S. military to take similar action. The coup sparked protests across the country that were brutally cracked down by the military. More than 800 civilians have been killed since the coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. More than 5,000 have been arrested. With these seditious remarks Comrade Flynn may have crossed the line for recall to active duty and court-martial. As a JAG Im qualified and also happy to prosecute this case. https://t.co/7gAM2TlG8D P.S. US mil would NEVER support this. We love America. Yevgeny (Eugene) Vindman (@YVindman) May 31, 2021 Advertisement Advertisement As Flynns comments spread on social media, some were quick to call for him to be court-martialed. Steve Vladeck, a professor at the University of Texas School of Law, noted on Twitter that Flynn is still subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice as a retired Army officer. This was hardly the first time Flynn has argued the military could be used to resolve political disputes in the United States. In December, Flynn suggested the military could be deployed to rerun the election in four swing states where Trump lost. People out there talk about martial law like its something that weve never done, Flynn told Newsmax. Martial law has been instituted 64 times. Yes, Flynns still subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice as a retired Army officer. The constitutionality of jurisdiction over retirees for post-retirement offenses is something were currently challenging in the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces & the D.C. Circuit. https://t.co/RQThYguIP1 Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) May 30, 2021 Advertisement Advertisement Joining hands for global green g Joining hands for global green goals Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh official attended the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit, held in the form of a videoconference on May 31, at the invitation of President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Moon Jae-in. This important political event continues to affirm that Vietnam is actively participating in and contributing to the joint efforts to realise the global green growth goals by 2030. Formed in 2017, P4G is considered the world's leading forum for promoting public-private partnership cooperation, playing the role of connecting governments, businesses and socio-political organisations to discuss and offer breakthrough solutions on green growth, thus contributing to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to 2030 of the United Nations. So far, P4G has 12 member countries, including: Chile, Colombia, Bangladesh, Denmark, Ethiopia, the Netherlands, the ROK and Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa and Vietnam, and the engagement of more than 90 countries, international organisations as well as businesses across the globe. Vietnam is one of the seven founding members and official partners of P4G. In July 2018, Vietnam announced the formation of its National P4G Forum, co-chaired by the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development, with the participation of many ministries, sectors and agencies, as well as business groups. In October 2018, Vietnam attended the first P4G Summit in Denmark, during which the Vietnamese Prime Minister underlined that policy-makers and the business community should share information and give policy recommendations and financial mechanisms to promote potential projects on green growth. Along with the participation in P4G, over the years, Vietnam has actively contributed to joint efforts of the international community in responding to climate change and accelerating green recovery. Vietnam has engaged in multilateral mechanisms on climate, while integrating climate change issues into its official documents. The second P4G Summit was hosted by the ROK. Over the years, the relationship between Vietnam and the ROK has continuously developed in many fields, especially since the two countries established a strategic cooperative partnership in October 2019. The activities of contact, exchange and bilateral collaboration mechanisms are maintained. The ROK is one of the leading important partners of Vietnam, ranking first in investment and second in ODA and trade. Two countries enhanced cooperation in the fields of labour, tourism, culture, education, and people-to-people exchange. The P4G Summit 2021 is considered an important event as climate change response and green recovery has become a top priority of many countries. Promoting the forum's role in promoting the resolution of serious global challenges, promoting cooperation between developed countries and developing countries in order to act together for the global climate, through strengthening public-private partnership in promoting green growth is considered the top priority of this conference. The P4G Summit features the participation of the leaders of member countries, key partners, and leaders and high-level representatives of about 40 countries and 20 international organisations. With the theme "Inclusive Green Recovery towards Carbon Neutrality", at the High-Level Dialogue, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other leaders discussed priority issues, including green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic; international efforts to achieve the goal of going carbon neutral by 2050; and strengthening climate action and facilitating public-private partnership. Vietnams participation in the P4G Summit continues to affirm the countrys responsible contributions to sustainable development, green growth and response to climate change. The orientations of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Vietnam's active contributions at the second P4G Summit will contribute to further promoting the strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and the ROK; and strengthen cooperation with P4G partners on priority issues, such as climate change response, sustainable development, investment, trade, technology, environment, and renewable energy. This is also an opportunity to promote outstanding socio-economic achievements and development policies of Vietnam, attracting the attention and investment of the ROK and international businesses. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's attendance and keynote speech at the P4G Summit 2021 affirm that Vietnam is proactively and actively integrating into the international community; and participates and contributes responsibly and effectively to the common work of the world, jointly committing and acting for sustainable development and promoting global green growth Source: NDO The owner of a hat store in Nashville has apologized after sparking an uproar over selling patches of the yellow Star of David that read not vaccinated. The store, hatWRKS, at first defended the patches, which it had announced were for sale at $5 each. After protesters gathered outside hatWRKS and brands cut ties with the store, it took down the post advertising the patches, which had an eerie resemblance to the badges that Jewish people were forced to wear under the Nazis. The post, which included an image of store owner Gigi Gaskins wearing the patch, had promised that well be offering trucker caps soon. Advertisement Screenshot of a now-removed post from hatWRKS Nashville. Store owner (pictured) didnt want to talk, and told us to leave her property. Were talking to synagogue leaders tonight on FOX17 News at 9. pic.twitter.com/Di79WwB9mq Rachel Tiede (@RMTiede) May 28, 2021 Advertisement Advertisement The apology was not immediate. When the initial post announcing the sale of patches was taken down, hatWRKS put up another post that questioned why there was so much outrage over the patch and not about what was going on in the world. People are so outraged by my post? but are you outraged with the tyranny the world is experiencing? if you dont understand what is happening, that is on you, not me, reads the post. The store doubled down on the defense, writing another post justifying the patches saying that those who arent vaccinated are victims. At the least, all unvaccinated people will be segregated from society, marked & must wear a mask, reads the Instagram post that is still up. What comes next? Advertisement A group of demonstrators gathered outside the store Saturday with signs that read, No Nazis in Nashville and Nashville condemns hatWRKS. The store later posted an apology message on Instagram but that didnt stop several hat brands from announcing they had cut ties with hatWRKS, including Stetson. As a result of the offensive content and opinions shared by HatWRKS in Nashville, Stetson and our distribution partners will cease the sale of all Stetson products, Stetson said on Twitter. Other brands, including Tula Hats and Kangol Headwear, also said they were no longer going to sell their products to hatWRKS. We feel strongly that we were right to give Gigi Gaskins at hatWRKS Nashville the chance to change, wrote Kangol Headwear on Instagram. We did that. However, her further posts indicate to us that she is not sincere in her apology, nor has she removed offensive posts from her feed. Advertisement As a result of the offensive content and opinions shared by HatWRKS in Nashville, Stetson and our distribution partners will cease the sale of all Stetson products. We thank you for your continued support and patience. John B. Stetson (@StetsonUSA) May 29, 2021 As the clock got closer to the midnight deadline, Democratic lawmakers in Texas decided it was time for dramatic action to block passage of a massive overhaul of the states election laws. The measure had seemed all but certain to pass, but with a little more than an hour to go before the deadline Democrats staged a walkout, depriving their Republican colleagues of the 100-member quorum needed to pass the measure. It amounted to one of the biggest protests to date by Democrats against the efforts by Republicans across the country to restrict voting rights. And it was historic too. It marked only the fourth time in the history of Texas that lawmakers decided to break quorum to protest a bill. The last time the strategy was used was in 2003, when 50 Democrats fled to Oklahoma to protest redistricting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Democrats victory is likely to be short-lived. Although the midnight deadline meant anything not passed by then would be dead for the year, Gov. Greg Abbott made clear he would bring up the measure again in a special session. Election Integrity & Bail Reform were emergency items for this legislative session. They STILL must pass, Abbott tweeted. They will be added to the special session agenda. Abbott didnt specify when the special session would start, but it could be as early as Tuesday. Even if its just temporary though, the failure to pass the bill marked a huge defeat for Abbott and Republican lawmakers who had characterized the sweeping bill as a top priority for the state. Democrats staged their walkout after Chris Turner, the House Democratic chairman, sent a text message to his colleagues at 10:35 p.m. Central time telling them to pick up their things. Leave the chamber discreetly, Turner wrote. Do not go to the gallery. Leave the building. Turner later said the walkout was taken out of frustration at what Democrats felt was an effort by Republicans to not even listen to their objections. It became obvious Republicans were going to cut off debate to ram through their vote suppression legislation, Turner said in a statement. At that point, we had no choice but to take extraordinary measures to protect our constituents and their right to vote. Advertisement Advertisement After they walked out, Democrats met up outside a Black church and held a news conference. The location was meant to emphasize their objection to a last-minute change to the bill that would have forbidden Sunday voting before 1 p.m., which would have disproportionately affected Black worshippers. We may have won the war tonight but the battle is not over, Democratic state Rep. Nicole Collier said. The bill would have also made it easier for a judge to overturn an election, eliminated drive-thru voting, 24-hour polling centers, and given more authority to partisan poll watchers, among other measures. We remain vigilant against any attempt to bring back this racist bill in a special session, Sarah Labowitz, policy and advocacy director for the ACLU of Texas, said in a statement. The water also damaged about twenty cars, some were moved several dozens of metres. Font size: A - | A + Heavy rainfall in Slovakia has claimed a life. The water reservoir in the village of Rudno nad Hronom in central Slovakia burst, killing one person on May 17. Water flowed through the whole village and flooded the cellars of family houses, the TASR newswire reported. Firefighters have been on the scene, draining the water from flooded streets and cellars. From one house they had to save three people who could not get out on their own. A strong stream of water swept away one person; firefighters found him without any signs of life. The Mayor of the village Marian Surjansky said that the water reservoir above the village breached. It was built in 2011 within anti-flood measures. It included a culvert, which was to release the water slowly so that the creek bed could slowly drain it, Surjansky said, adding that the dam probably could not withstand the onslaught of water after the intense rainfall. About twenty cars were also damaged and some were even taken several dozens of metres away by the water. On the evening of May 17, the mayor and firefighters on scene confirmed that the lives of the inhabitants of Rudno nad Hronom village are no longer in danger. https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fedita.cervenkova%2Fvideos%2F4564577403576681%2F&show_text=true&width=267 PM expressed condolences PM Eduard Heger expressed condolences to the family and relatives of the victim. He said that the situation is critical. I am thinking of all of you who have been hit by the floods and have damaged houses or property, Heger wrote on a social network. I am in contact with the interior ministry, who is informing me about the development of the situation. Interior Minister Roman Mikulec also expressed condolences. I think of all the people who had to suddenly leave their homes, and at the same time, I thank and support firefighters who intervene in these moments, Mikulec wrote on Facebook. He added that firefighters had 60 interventions on Monday because of the weather. He believes that the flooding will calm down eventually. PM promises financial aid More than 50 police officers, firefighters, volunteer firefighters and 31 soldiers have been helping in the village. PM Eduard Heger (OLaNO) visited Rudno nad Hronom on May 18. He promised to help locals with removing damages caused by the flood, as well as financial aid. As soon as the mayor quantifies the damages, I will allocate funds from the prime minister's reserve so that we can help financially, Heger said, as quoted by TASR. The state will cooperate with the local authorities so that people can get back to their normal lives as soon as possible, he added. Heger expressed sympathy to the family of the deceased former mayor, and thanked the inhabitants, volunteers and everybody involved in the rescue. The prime minister does not think it will be possible to repair the damaged dam, which probably could not withstand huge amounts of water after the heavy rainfall. The representatives of the Slovak Water Management Company came to the spot to assess the situation and take follow-up steps, he confirmed. Flooded hospital The heavy rainfall continued on May 18 in some places across the country, particularly in the eastern regions where several warnings against floods have been issued. Liptovsky Mikulas, Kosice and some other municipalities declared the third degree of flood warning, which is the highest. Some roads in eastern Slovakia could not be used after flooding. Strong rain also led to an emergency situation in the Banska Bystrica hospital, where the power went out after the deluge. Given the situation, it is not possible to provide health care in the building momentarily, and we had to move the entire ward to a new hospital compound, the hospital stated, as quoted by TASR. 18. May 2021 at 7:48 | Compiled by Spectator staff What to do and what to expect. Font size: A - | A + Lukas Mrazik, Associate Data breaches are typically associated with hackers maliciously attacking companies for financial gain. Often companies do not expect to face an attack and believe the risk of a breach is remote. However, the potential for human error should not be overlooked. In fact, most data breaches occur because of employee negligence (especially when working remotely). Matus Kocisek, Associate The reasons for an employee-caused data breach vary from disgruntled (ex)employees seeking revenge (see for instance the Morrisons case in the UK) to employees performing work duties in alternative ways (e.g., an HR person sends a list of employee salaries to a personal email address). The fact that employees do not intend to cause harm does not always mean that no harm is caused. Frequent examples of employee behaviour that leads to a data breach include leaving confidential documents in communal areas (e.g., printers, in social area, etc.); sending emails to incorrect email recipients (internal and/or external); misusing confidential information relating to other employees, customers or any other individuals; and allowing (including by negligence) cyber-attacks to occur by not following security practices or by disposing of confidential information improperly. What should employers do? First and foremostprepare. To prepare for a data breach, employers should focus on the following: Ensure that employees receive appropriate training Many companies already have a cybersecurity training program in place. However, the depth of its content may be insufficient. Employees should be trained on what is relevant to their specific role (so that they can apply their new knowledge in practice right away). Employees must also understand what to do and whom to call in critical situationsoften the only thing to do is to talk to the right person. Keep up to date Employers should be informed about industry trends, compliance requirements and the latest global cybersecurity developments. It is crucial for companies to ensure that their internal regulations, policies and guidelines are kept up to date. Make cybersecurity a priority It has become common practice for companies to focus on securing their networks, systems, applications and devices and to develop security protocols and establish incident-response processes. Securing physical access to information is no less important (i.e., restrict access to sensitive information, shred paper documentation when necessary, etc.). Partner with an expert Having an experienced partner (in the field of cybersecurity, data protection, IT and law) may be lifesaving. Such experts may reveal vulnerabilities in your networks, applications, and infrastructure and can help put you on the path to correct them. React quickly. If a data breach has occurred, the employer should do the following: Find out what happened. What information leaked? Will any individuals be harmed (personal data breach)? Will the company or operation of the business be impacted? What information leaked? Will any individuals be harmed (personal data breach)? Will the company or operation of the business be impacted? Communicate with the right people. Business/IT/Legal must assess what are the main actions. Include communications experts if the breach will likely be publicised. Business/IT/Legal must assess what are the main actions. Include communications experts if the breach will likely be publicised. Act quickly. Its necessary to stop the breach as soon as possible in order to mitigate the damage. Its necessary to stop the breach as soon as possible in order to mitigate the damage. Make notifications. Notify the data protection authority and other relevant authorities (as necessary). HOW TO DEAL WITH BREACHING EMPLOYEES Even if an employee causes a data breach unintentionally, there may still be adverse consequences. Companies may choose to dismiss the employee. This must be considered carefully, as Slovak law allows only limited grounds for such a dismissal and the employees actions might not always qualify. A breach of work discipline (less serious) would probably be the most frequent charge. It is important, however, to consider the specific case. Has the employee manifestly broken clear policies? Did the individual try to inform the employer of insufficient security? Did the employer downplay possible risks due to budgetary concerns? In exceptional cases (when actions qualify as a criminal offence or a serious breach of work discipline), the employee may be dismissed with immediate effect. It is imperative to understand what truly happened, as sometimes the facts may be different than they initially seemed. For example, the malicious action may have been carried out by someone impersonating a colleague. If the facts are not clear, a dismissal might be legally challenged. Information gathering is therefore essential. In a situation where the employer identifies an on-going breach, it is crucial to secure appropriate evidence. If possible, eliminate the risk (e.g., by restricting the individuals access to the internet), but allow them to continue the breaching activity. This may enable you to ensure that sufficient evidence has been collected to substantiate any dismissal or similar actions. WHAT TO EXPECT A data breach unfortunately does not end with resolving the IT issue, notifying the appropriate authorities and (possibly) dismissing an employee. There may be notification obligations towards your customers, crisis communications, and even litigation by impacted individuals. Data breaches are not a question of if but when. They may not always be visible at the outset and may seem like minor or innocuous acts. Nonetheless, when one occurs, the company must not hesitate and act quickly. Are you ready? 31. May 2021 at 10:05 A secret report is read out in parliament, MPs take an unprecedented step, the smallest party may disintegrate, and Matovic and Sulik scrap as fiercely as ever. Its been an eventful week in Slovak politics. Font size: A - | A + Welcome to Last Week in Slovakia, your weekly commentary and news by The Slovak Spectators editor-in-chief. Have a pleasant read. The many cracks that now divide the ruling coalition The Heger cabinet has been in office for two months, were more than a year into the current parliaments term and a more relaxed period appears to be in the offing after the deadly second wave of the Covid pandemic. But the dust has not settled following the turmoil witnessed in the first quarter of 2021, and regular political service has yet to resume in fact, anything but. The past, very eventful, week has further exposed the many cracks in the ruling coalition, and proved that politics is becoming extremely hard to read in Slovakia. The somewhat mysterious atmosphere invoked by the involvement of the secret services has certainly contributed to that feeling. In short, after the opposition turned an unusual meeting of top state and law enforcement officials into a hot political topic, parliament convened for an unscheduled session, initiated by Smer leader Robert Fico. Behind closed doors, Parliamentary Speaker Boris Kollar read out to MPs a report by the Slovak Information Service (or SIS, Slovakias main intelligence agency) about the meeting, though without any concrete names mentioned. Opposition Hlas leader Peter Pellegrini later told the press that the report suggests there is a group of people in law enforcement that is manipulating the investigation of some major corruption cases. 31. May 2021 at 14:56 | Michaela Terenzani The oldest carmaker in Slovakia celebrates a jubilee Volkswagen came to the Slovak capital in 1991. Font size: A - | A + Bratislava-based carmaker Volkswagen Slovakia has celebrated its 30th anniversary on entering the Slovak market. The 30-year history of Volkswagen Slovakia is a success story behind which thousands of employees stand, said Oliver Grunberg, chair of the board of directors in Volkswagen Slovakia. President Zuzana Caputova, who visited the Bratislava plant on May 31 on the occasion of the anniversary, stressed that the company is the largest player regarding car production, which constitutes a significant portion of Slovakias industry. This is why further development in this field is very important, she said in her speech, as quoted by the TASR newswire. We know that e-mobility, the production of hybrids and e-cars will be one of the ways to protect the climate in the future. 4.6 billion invested so far From tanks to SUVs Read more Volkswagen Slovakia launched its production in 1991 with about 100 employees on the premises of the former Bratislavske Automobilove Zavody company, manufacturing the Volkswagen Passat. The establishment of the company impacted all Slovakia, due to which the automotive industry became dominant, said Jozef Uhrik, who orchestrated the arrival of the German carmaker to Slovakia and stood at the helm of the Bratislava plant until 2005. Volkswagen Slovakia is currently manufacturing nine models of five car brands, with its production volumes amounting to hundreds of thousands of vehicles a year. New car models for Bratislava. Volkswagen will reportedly make a big investment in Slovakia Read more The company has invested altogether 4.6 billion into the production and infrastructure so far, with the largest investment projects being the arrival of the SUV models (production launched in 2002), investments into the new body shop for Audi and Volkswagen brands (production launched in 2015), and the construction of new body shop and assembly hall for Porsche (production launched in 2017). Most recently, the production of the Volkswagen Passat returned to Bratislava in late 2020, and soon it will also manufacture the Skoda Superb models. Sustainability plans Uhrik would like the current representatives of the carmaker to continue in what they started. The development will be important, taking two trends into account: the question of quality and the question of production costs necessary for competitiveness and the basis for success, Uhrik said, adding that the question is how the vehicles will be produced. Volkswagen's Bratislava plant named the brand's best factory for the second year in a row Read more Caputova meanwhile appreciated the ambitious plans of the Bratislava plant regarding the environment, and hopes the company will inspire the entire sector. Were glad that the president shares out sustainability goals, said Grunberg, as quoted by TASR. On our way towards carbon neutrality, we all should strive to improve the framework conditions in Slovakia, especially in biodiversity, charging network for e-cars, biogas and energy recovery of waste. The carmaker is pursuing sustainability in all sectors of its business, which is linked to its plan to achieve strategic environmental goals. It plans on becoming a carbon-neutral firm by 2050. 31. May 2021 at 17:46 | Compiled by Spectator staff Thibodeau estimated the group limits would force her to drop 10 of the 170 children now enrolled in her center, which cares for infants through age 5. She said other providers are reporting similar results, with potentially "thousands" of children losing care across the state. At a hearing on the proposed regulations, a group of providers estimated they would have to increase prices by 20-30% to make up for the loss of income. They submitted testimony saying the regulations would make it harder for families and child care providers, most of whom are women, as they continue to recover from pandemic limits on child care. "These proposed regulations would set women back even further, forcing more parents, and likely mothers, to leave their jobs because childcare is unavailable," the group said. "This negatively affects Nebraskas economy and its ability to keep and retain thriving businesses and talent." In a statement, HHS said federal law requires the state to set age-based group limits for child care programs. While the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act does not specify what the limits should be, HHS said the standards are determined based on best practice guidelines for each state. The campaign will pay for the remodeling costs, as well as equipment upgrades, new signs and improved storage facilities. Clark said people may frown at the concept of taking on debt to pay for improvements, but the board believes it can, and should, be done. Paying off the remodeling costs and a few extra things will make sure were good and solid for the future, she said. Dave Blauvelt, board chair, added: We could have stayed on Avenue A, but there was so much need. We get a bigger facility for more income that we can give away. None of us take money home. The more we take in, the more we give away. Saturday garage sales The Jubilee Center has seven employees and roughly 30 volunteers who help sort, price and display thrift store items, run cash registers and help at the food pantry. The center has nine trustees, 21 church partners and 27 community partners, including businesses and nonprofits. New this spring are Saturday garage sales at the annex across the street. Sales began the first week in March, and Clark said people were lined up to get in for three hours thank COVID-19 for that, too. In many ways, she added, the USS Oklahoma has dominated my life for the last 11 years. As recently as six months ago, the accounting agency still lacked family DNA samples for 25 of the sailors and Marines from the Oklahoma. Without one, identification is impossible. Now, LeGarde said, the number is down to 10. A handful of them are men who were foster children or who were adopted as infants, and no record can be found of their birth parents. She said relatives arent always receptive at first. Theres always a little uncertainty when the government is calling you to ask for your DNA, she said. For quite a few, the people were not even aware that they were related to this person. Wednesday's ceremony will mark the return of about 7,700 bones for reburial. They will be buried together in the same Honolulu cemetery from which they were disinterred, perhaps on Dec. 7, 2021, the 80th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. LeGarde described it as bittersweet to see the project she has worked on for so long winding down. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Reaching out into the community and wanting to serve others were the focus of those who gave their time during the recent outreach COVID-19 vaccine clinics. Hosted by Iredell Health System, the clinics goal was to reach out into communities of color and those underserved to ensure they had access to getting the vaccine, said Miles Atkins, the hospitals director of corporate affairs and government relations. To do this, we partnered with local churches to serve as host sites, utilizing their congregation and surrounding neighborhoods to get people signed-up. Beginning Feb. 6, the first of 16 clinics was held, this one at Higher Purpose Church in Mooresville. Additional partnering churches were Highland Acres and Shiloh AME Zion churches, both in Statesville, and the final clinic May 1 at New Life Missionary Baptist Church in Troutman. When the clinics wrapped up, 1,524 vaccines had been given. While the locations might have changed, there were two constants at each of the clinics: the faithful care and dedication of those who served as administrators and nurses at the events. Atkins, who served as point man for securing the locations and was on hand working at each, expressed his gratitude for the volunteers who helped each Saturday. The British Royal Navy and U.S. Marine Corps have undertaken a unique joint operation aboard the new British carrier Queen Elizabeth. This carrier, the first of two, is currently undertaking its first operational cruise. This consists of seven months at sea, carrying out joint exercises with allied navies starting in the Atlantic, then the Mediterranean, Black Sea, Indian Ocean, South China Sea and finally the waters off Japan and South Korea. The joint exercises will involve French and American carriers as well as numerous other ship types from all participating countries. The new British carriers are 65,000-ton vessels and the first one entered service in 2017, the second (Prince of Wales) in 2019. The Queen Elizabeth is the first operational British carrier, using jets, since the Ark Royal and the British Harrier jets were retired in 2011. The Queen Elizabeth has to train a new generation of carrier sailors with the help of a cadre of officers and petty officers that had served on the two Ark Royal class carriers but have had little opportunity to use their carrier skills for a while. The Queen Elizabeth is also the first British carrier to use the American F-35B VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) aircraft. The F-35 replaces the Harrier in British and American service. Britain has 138 F-35Bs on order but only 21 have arrived and are in service. As a result of this only eight British F-35Bs were available for this operational cruise. The other major user of the F-35B is the U.S. Marines and they were experimenting with using lots of these on their amphibious ships, which look like small carriers but are built to carry up to a dozen or more F-35Bs. The American marines have handled much of the training for British F-35B pilots and maintainers, so it was not long before the marines offered one of their F-35B squadrons to fill out the F-35B complement on the Queen Elizabeth. The marine F-35B squadrons recently reduced their size from sixteen to ten aircraft and the marines wanted to see how this smaller squadron would perform. The British F-35B squadrons, like all British carrier aircraft, come from the Royal Air Force Fleet Air Arm, which contains aircraft and crews trained to operate from carriers. Britain has used this system for nearly a century. The first Fleet Air Army F-35B squadron only has eight aircraft because it will be another year or so before Britain has received enough F-35Bs to provide full strength (twelve aircraft) squadrons. All the F-35B pilots have a lot in common but the marine aircraft maintainers have a lot to learn from their British counterparts. On American carriers, navy personnel handle a lot of the refueling and aircraft handling chores that are handled by Fleet Air Arm maintainers on British carriers. The marine maintainers do all that while operating the F-35Bs from land bases, but doing it on carriers was a novel experience that took some practice to master. Another difference is bomb handling. Both American and British aircraft mainly use smart bombs and these require assembly (adding various types of guidance kits to an unguided bomb). On American carriers this assembly is done in the bomb storage space below decks and brought up as an assembled smart bomb. On British carriers the assembly is done in the hangar deck where it is loaded on the aircraft. The 160 marine maintainers learned all these new procedures in a short shakedown cruise the Queen Elizabeth underwent before forming up with its escorts to lead Carrier Strike Force 21 to the Pacific and back. The marines also gain experience using the ski-jump take off system the Queen Elizabeth uses instead of the more expensive catapult. Since the British carriers only use the F-35B, the ski jump is effective enough to enable the F-35B to take off with nearly a full load. VTOL aircraft sacrifice payload when they take off vertically so many of them use a catapult of ski jump for takeoffs and use their VTOL capabilities to land on the carrier. Having the marine squadron on board for seven months enables the Queen Elizabeth to operate at close to its peace time capacity of two F-35B squadrons (24 aircraft). In wartime 36 or 48 can be carried for short periods as well as two dozen support aircraft (surveillance plus helicopter transports and gunships). The marines also get their first extended carrier experience and one with F-35B users from another nation. Instagram will make changes to its algorithms after some of its employees complained that the platform did not show pro-Palestine content during the Gaza conflict, The Verge reported. The company said it would now give equal weightage to both original content and re-posted content, added the report. Instagram said its users had shown more interest in original content from their friends than reshared content. That is why it changed algorithms to promote original content. But theres been an increase not just now but in the past as well in how many people are resharing posts, and weve seen a bigger impact than expected on the reach of these posts, a Facebook spokesperson said. Stories that reshare feed posts arent getting the reach people expect them to, and thats not a good experience. People around the world - from Colombia to East Jerusalem - use our platform to share whats happening. We know it was a really bad experience. Ultimately I'm accountable for Instagram's stability, so I own this. Im very sorry. Adam Mosseri (@mosseri) May 7, 2021 The FT report, however, noted that employees did not think the company was deliberately taking down such content but some worried that moderating at scale is biased against any marginalised groups. ALSO READ: Twitter maintaining double standards in India: G Kishan Reddy It is not the first time social networking companies have faced criticism over selective content removal. For instance, Twitter recently restricted an account of a Palestinian writer. Later, the company said it was due to an error. On Instagram, some users complained they were not able to publish Palestine-related content. Instagram head Adam Mosseri later clarified that it was due to a technical bug. This 3D printed radiator for a CubeSat combines aluminum and a small bit of copper to allow heat to spread more evenly across the face. Fabrisonic was able to combine the metals using additive manufacturing techniques that employ ultrasonic welding Credit: Fabrisonic LLC A manufacturing innovation that has applications for NASA spacecraft is being transferred to the private sector to support a variety of industries here on Earth. A burst water main is always expensive and messy, but a pipe that fails in space can be mission-ending. That's why NASA technologists work hard to make hardware as reliable as possible. Sometimes that means scrapping the old way of doing things and experimenting with a brand-new material or fabrication process. This challenge spurred Scott Roberts, a technologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, to turn to a new kind of welding in the 3D printing industry. The private sector was already using this technique, called ultrasonic additive manufacturing (UAM). With some additional innovation, Roberts thought it could be used to improve reliability in heat exchangers, a crucial component of any spacecraft. Improvements one company made to its UAM process to help Roberts build better spacecraft are now beginning to pay off in industries from aeronautics to oil drilling. "The problems I'm working on don't solve one problem for one mission," said Roberts. "They're going to solve a class of problems for both NASA and industry." What does 3D printing have to do with pipes? Temperature is a particularly difficult problem in space, where extremes can vary by hundreds of degrees. Heat exchangers help maintain a steady temperature inside a spacecraft by removing excess heat or drawing in more. Traditionally, these devices include a long, snaking pipe attached to a metal plate with brackets and epoxy. Although effective, they consist of many interconnected parts, introducing many potential points of failure. With ultrasonic additive manufacturing, however, the entire device can be crafted as a single piece. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding provided by JPL made it possible for Roberts to work with Columbus, Ohio-based Fabrisonic LLC on a new heat exchanger design. As a subcontractor for Sheridan Solutions LLC, Fabrisonic started with an existing process that builds up multiple thin layers of metal by fusing them together with high-frequency vibrations. To create the heat exchanger, a curved channel is carved into the layered metal and then enclosed under additional layers. The new design replaces dozens of small parts and joints that could fail during a long-term mission or under extreme conditions on Earth. How can vibrations fuse metal? Ultrasonic welding uses sound and friction to create a solid-state bond between layers of metal. It begins with a thin foil pressed onto another metal component such as a base plate. Constant pressure and ultrasonic vibrations cause friction between the facing sides, creating a shearing motion that raises temperatures and removes surface oxides, allowing direct contact of pure metal to pure metal. The result is a solid-state atomic bond that welds layers of metal together. Even layers of different metal can be bonded into a single piece. Relatively little heat is required because the bonding temperature for metals is significantly below their melting temperature. Fabrisonic can quickly piece together layers as large as six feet square, making it possible to create a part with a complex geometry in a matter of days, rather than the months required by traditional fabrication practices. This shortens the development cycle for a spacecraft or speeds the manufacture of commercial parts. CubeSats can be used for a variety of tasks, but their small size makes it a challenge to fit all the parts as well as the shielding needed to manage the extreme temperatures of space. NASA is interested in new manufacturing techniques that enable more efficient use of materials. Credit: NASA Why combine different metals? Protecting electronic components from intense space radiation that can destroy them is challenging when everything on a spacecraft needs to be lightweight. It's one problem Roberts is trying to solve using novel materials. Additional SBIR funding provided by NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, paid for Fabrisonic to add layers of the radiation-resistant metal tantalum in the middle of aluminum spacecraft parts. Unlike other forms of welding, UAM won't cause the different metals to liquefy and mix together. Engineers can rely on the properties of each metal to remain constant and perform as expected, said Mark Norfolk, president of Fabrisonic. This quality demonstrated that NASA could realize its goal of combining the aluminum with tantalum. The ability to meld layers of different metals also has advantages for customers in the oil and gas industry, who now rely on various Fabrisonic parts for drilling, Norfolk noted. One is a well drill pipe a hollow, thin-walled tubing that combines dissimilar materials and uses embedded sensors. Why put sensors inside metal? New fiber optic sensors can detect metal strain or weaknesses and predict possible failures before they occur. But metal manufactured using traditional methods can only support these sensors on the exterior of the part. In an attempt to embed them, the heat used in the manufacturing process would destroy the delicate devices. Other SBIR funding from Langley helped Fabrisonic, again as a Sheridan subcontractor, test the effectiveness of sensors built into the interior of aluminum parts with ultrasonic welding. After some trial and error to find the best sensors for such an innovative application, engineers were able to obtain accurate, real-time data about the health and performance of the metal. Because the sensors are protected, they can function in harsh environments. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, which conducts energy and nuclear research, is successfully using Fabrisonic's embedded sensors in its facilities. In NASA aeronautics testing, these Fabrisonic sensors help detect weaknesses and performance issues in commercial airframes. What if I want to print small parts myself? NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, meanwhile, funded Fabrisonic's exploration of the use of advanced metallic materials and UAM for in-space manufacturing, this time as a subcontractor on Phase I and II SBIR contracts with a machine automation company called Ultra Tech Machinery Inc. The agency's engineers worked with Fabrisonic to develop a small UAM printer for use on the space station. The company had a design ready but didn't know if it would work. NASA specifications made it possible to build, test, and refine the most important component of the printer the weld head. This part transfers the ultrasonic vibration onto the metal tape used in the printer. Miniaturizing this technology for fabricating smaller parts offers a more cost-effective approach than using an industrial UAM process. Commercial sales of the company's resulting SonicLayer 1200 printer have generated $1 million in revenue, with one customer producing over 70,000 parts in-house. Commercial success has allowed the company to develop a diverse customer base and double in size, growing to 12 employees. "Without SBIR and other government support, Fabrisonic may not have crossed the chasm between startup and commercial success," said Norfolk. "It has enabled important research and developments. It makes critical information available, such as materials characterization data and case studies that help spread technology." Explore further Electron beam melting gets brittle metal into shape The two biggest Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce fundraisers of the year, Chamber Experience and Business & Bites, have been combined into one event for the first time. And it wont be the last. 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. Average Texas cash corn prices hit $8 per bushel the first week of May, up from just under $6 per bushel in early March. Mark Welch, AgriLife Extension grain economist, Bryan-College Station, said the market is highly speculative at this point due to a range of factors that boil down to tight supplies and high demand currently and uncertainty about domestic and foreign production this growing season. A March U.S. Department of Agriculture survey report indicated U.S. producers were expected to plant 91.1 million acres of corn, which is up just 1% compared to last year. If those numbers remain the same and U.S. producers experience average to below-average yields, Welch said supplies will remain tight. But Welch and Anderson expect growers to react to what the market is signaling and plant more corn acres than the March report indicated. Thats the question. The market is saying there is time to plant more corn for the December harvest-time contract, but will they increase corn acres, Welch said. Corn is more favorable for a net return, at least on paper, and that happened in April after the acres report came out. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas Democrats pulled off a dramatic, last-ditch walkout in the state House of Representatives on Sunday night to block passage of one of the most restrictive voting bills in the U.S., leaving Republicans with no choice but to abandon a midnight deadline and declare the legislative session essentially over. The revolt is one of Democrats' biggest protests to date against GOP efforts nationwide to impose stricter election laws, and they used the spotlight to urge President Joe Biden to act on voting rights. But the victory may be fleeting: Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who had declared new voting laws a priority in Texas, quickly announced he would order a special session to finish the job. He called the failure of the bill deeply disappointing but did not say when he would drag lawmakers back to work. Weve said for so many years that we want more people to participate in our democracy. And it just seems thats not the case, Democratic state Rep. Carl Sherman said. One by one, Democrats left the House chamber until there was no longer the 100-member quorum needed to pass Senate Bill 7, which would have reduced polling hours, empowered poll watchers and scaled back ways to vote in Texas, which already has some of the nations strictest voting laws. State and federal officials last month reopened a historical evaluation process to determine whether the project may negatively impact the site. Its a nuanced situation, because the exact boundaries of what remains of that cemetery are unknown, said Julie Langan, director of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Its hard to know how much of that cemetery actually still survives because of all of the projects and mistreatment of it over decades. We know that it has been adversely impacted by ... multiple projects. What we dont know is what is the integrity of whats left. While inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places would not prevent the rail project, it would require state and federal officials to give the site greater consideration and negotiate terms to mitigate the impact the project would have on the site. As officials and community members are starting to think of how to commemorate the site, McQueen said one concept shes thought of is a sculpture wall or statues that would bring to life the scenes of two funeral processions that Frederick Law Olmsted, a park designer known as the founder of American landscape architecture, witnessed in 1853. In his account of them, he described what people were wearing, a carriage carrying a casket and riding horses that were part of the procession. It could be a way to honor and respect the lives of people the city mistreated and tried to forget, she said. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Richmond Times-Dispatch. KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) A Chinese climber who became the first blind Asian to scale Mount Everest says he aims to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents and then travel to the North and South Poles. Zhang Hong, 44, is also the third blind climber internationally to reach the world's highest peak. Following his guides and Sherpas, he reached the summit on May 24 and returned safely to Kathmandu. He said on Monday that he was inspired by a blind American climber, Eric Weihenmayer, who scaled Everest in 2001. A climber from Austria was the second blind person to reach the peak. Personally I plan to try the grand slam in the next few years the seven summits around the world on seven continents and the North and South Poles, Zhang said. Today I sit here and think about Eric (Weihenmayer), who inspired me to have such a dream and work all the way, and eventually I achieved it," he said. So, I would think there are so many other visually impaired people around the world and also in Asia, and I hope what I did can be an inspiration for them." Zhang became blind at age 21 due to glaucoma. He has been working as a masseur at a hospital in Tibet, where he lives with his wife. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Both have caused Miller and other local administrators to update their policies and practices to try to restore, and continue, the publics trust in law enforcement. I dont think we ever lost that trust here in this part of the country. The public believes in us and they support us and we see it every day, Miller said. One recent example was when three sheriff deputies went to Boulder, Colorado, for the funeral of a slain police officer. Several other officers from across the country told BCSO deputies how they often were threatened and harassed by the public. Officers from Ohio, California, New York and Colorado said they couldnt go into convenience stores without being threatened and couldnt have marked police vehicles in front of their houses without them or their houses being vandalized. The other officers couldnt believe how well BCSO deputies were treated by the public. In Kearney and Buffalo County, Miller said officers cant go two blocks without seeing a Support Law Enforcement sign in a yard. The public offers to buy officers meals or drinks at convenience stores, and often brings food into the law enforcement center. YORK -- The Four Corners Health Department will host a walk-in clinic on Tuesday, June 1, at the health department offices at 2101 North Lincoln Avenue, from noon until 4 p.m. The Pfizer vaccine will be available for those 12 years old and older and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be available for those who are 18 and older. There is no charge for the vaccination. There will also be a shot event on Thursday, June 3, from 4-8 p.m. (offering Pfizer vaccine for those 12 years old and older and Johnson & Johnson vaccines for those 18 years old and older). It will be held at Harrison Park and hot dogs, chips and water will be served from 4-6:30 p.m. Spanish translators will also be available. The theme of our work now is vaccinating, that is our main focus now, Four Corners Health Director Laura McDougall said. Regarding the vaccination numbers in York County, we are slightly lagging behind the rates we are seeing in the larger, urban areas. The rural areas are a little behind; we have a little more vaccination hesitancy here. She said 37.85% of York Countys total population is now fully vaccinated. Lets light a fire under everyone, lets remind everyone that vaccinations are available and lets get more shots in arms, McDougall said. The alleged victim told police he was on a walk, listening to music, around 5 a.m., and was in the area of the colleges prayer chapel when someone grabbed him from behind and pushed him to the ground. Two individuals punched and kicked him while he was on the ground. He attempted to fight back but could not. He sustained superficial abrasions to both knees. He stated that being punched and kicked caused him pain. The two individuals began going through his pockets but he did not have anything in them. The individuals took the hat he was wearing, which was then on the ground, and ran away. From this it follows that the public has a real interest in knowing what the memo said. Its not so much that we cant guess: Presumably, the memo went through the reports action-by-action analysis of Trumps problematic behavior and concluded each time that there wasnt enough basis to launch a criminal prosecution. Nonetheless, the memo was a highly unusual document. The OLC usually has nothing to do with prosecution decisions. But here, it drafted a memo for the highly political purpose of giving Barr cover in deciding not to prosecute his boss. The full memo would likely show just how deeply politicized the OLC became under Barr. That leads us to the counterintuitive reading of the Rorschach test. As a general matter, the Department of Justice never wants to disclose its internal deliberations about whether to prosecute somebody. You can see why: If the decision is made to prosecute, the department wants to present its strongest case. It doesnt want to reveal its own analysis of the weakest parts of that case. But on the other hand, if the department decides not to prosecute, it doesnt want its decision second-guessed. It also realizes that it would be bad for private citizens who have been investigated but not prosecuted to have a government document out there describing unproven, uncharged crimes. A nation slowly emerging from social distancing measures imposed by the coronavirus pandemic honored generations of U.S. veterans killed in the line of duty on a Memorial Day observed without the severe pandemic restrictions that affected the day of tribute just a year ago. Memorial Day parades and events were held in localities large and small across the country Monday, many resuming after being canceled last year as the pandemic hit with full force. At Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, President Joe Biden delivered a solemn speech honoring the 1 million Americans killed in service of the nation and challenged that nation to carry on that fight by defending its democracy. This nation was built on an idea, Biden said. We were built on an idea, the idea of liberty and opportunity for all. Weve never fully realized that aspiration of our founders, but every generation has opened the door a little wider. The struggle for democracy is taking place around the world democracy and autocracy. The struggle for decency, dignity, just simple decency, Biden declared. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea said Monday the U.S. allowing South Korea to build more powerful missiles was an example of the U.S.s hostile policy against the North, warning that it could lead to an acute and instable situation on the Korean Peninsula. Its North Koreas first response to the May 21 summit between the leaders of the United States and South Korea, during which the U.S. ended decades-long restrictions that capped South Koreas missile development and allowed its ally to develop weapons with unlimited ranges. The accusation of U.S. policy being hostile to North Korea matters because it said it wont return to talks and would enlarge its nuclear arsenal as long as U.S. hostility persists. But the latest statement was still attributed to an individual commentator, not a government body, suggesting North Korea may still want to leave room for potential diplomacy with the Biden administration. The termination step is a stark reminder of the U.S. hostile policy toward (North Korea) and its shameful double-dealing, Kim Myong Chol, an international affairs critic, said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. It is engrossed in confrontation despite its lip-service to dialogue. It fired over 4,000 rockets toward Israeli cities during the fighting, while Israeli warplanes struck some 1,000 targets in Gaza. More than 250 people were killed, the vast majority of them Palestinians living in Hamas-ruled Gaza, and parts of the territory suffered heavy damage. Today, by the grace of Allah, after this victory of May 2021, our Palestinian cause is making tangible and clear progress," Sinwar said. Speaking to foreign reporters on Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said that any reconstruction of Gaza would depend on progress in the issue of returning captive Israelis held by Hamas. We are willing to help with fixing the area, rebuilding it, construction, etc. But its conditioned with the return of our boys back home, the abducted soldiers," he said. Gantz also said the rules have changed in Israel's dealings with Hamas and vowed a much harsher response to any violations of the new cease-fire. We will brutally retaliate, but we will do it in our own time and will not accept the previous reality to show itself again, he said. He said he still has dreams about Vietnam, although they are not as frequent as they used to be. It was a good life, it was a great life, said Joye of his time in the Air Force and as a pilot. And I would encourage anybody if they dont have some goal in mind, such as a doctor or lawyer or something like that, to at least join the Air Force, he said. Theres so much you can do. The 82-year-old kind of entered the military on a whim. But it turned out for the best. I actually entered the Air Force in 1957 my best buddy said, Hey, lets go join the Air Force, so we did, he said. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} And I spent 22 years in there, and its probably the best thing I ever did in my life. Joye said hes originally from the Orangeburg area. We lived down below Branchville ... I went to school in Bamberg for the first through the sixth grade. Then when I moved to Rowesville, I went to Orangeburg High School, it was back then. Then I finally ... went through 11th grade at Edisto and thats when I joined the Air Force, he said. I was in charge of cargo documentation, in charge of Balad Air Field, and throughout that airfield, we had mortar rounds and shells because I was in charge of the 12 Sherpa planes, which is a 10-man plane, he said. Green made sure supplies were stocked up. The general didnt care how much they shot as long as they had rounds (of ammunition), he said. We had vessels coming in and Id send convoys out to unload it and get it to us because I was at the logistical board area in Anaconda, he said. But there were some close calls too. Enemy forces sought to destroy supply lines. Green said it was fortunate no one was hurt due to attacks. He found strength within to get through those tough moments by praying, reading the Bible and singing a song called, I Have Jesus and Ive Got Enough. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} After 11 months in Iraq, the Army redeployed him to Camp Spearhead in Kuwait City, Kuwait, at the Port of Ash Shuaiba. Thats were Green experienced some intense threats by improvised explosive devices, often called IEDs. Costs from some of the contractors crept up throughout the renovations, even with de la Howe providing the materials. The business that provided tiling work charged $5,700 the first time it retiled a gang bathroom in one of the cottages, then jumped the price to $9,975 and $9,995 just below the threshold for seeking quotes for the six subsequent gang bathrooms. The plumber charged $3,250-$3,500 to install fixtures in some of the same restrooms, then increased the price to $4,500 despite performing roughly the same amount of work. The Index-Journal is waiting for de la Howe to release documents pertaining to its purchases of materials, which the newspaper requested more than three weeks ago. According to the state comptroller's website, the school spent just shy of $25,000 on tiles across five purchases and nearly $30,000 for plumbing supplies across four bills during bathroom renovations. Without requisition forms, invoices or receipts, it is unclear whether these materials, which totaled $55,000, were used in the restroom renovations. What is clear is that keeping those individual purchases below $10,000 meant de la Howe did not have to seek multiple quotes or bids. While these renovations had the highest dollar amount of divided projects, other needed services to get de la Howe ready were also contracted out piecemeal. These are some of the very skills Vincent learned while growing up in our neighborhood in Detroit. Vincent completely gave of himself to his work, his Marines, and those he loved; and it is still extremely hard for all of us to accept that he is not with us. We have beautiful memories of him, and sometimes I still like to close my eyes and remember his hearty laugh when he would tease me and our sister. On Memorial Day, my family and I dont celebrate a holiday with a backyard barbecue or time at the park or beach. For us, and for fellow Gold Star Families across the nation, Memorial Day is about honoring and remembering the beloved service member we have tragically lost. For many of us it is a reality once more of the empty seat at the dinner table, missed birthdays, missed hugs, and missed smiles and laughs. Memorial Day is the time many of us visit Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place for many of the men and women who died while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Job Title: Human Resource and Administration Assistant Organization: International Rescue Committee (IRC) Duty Station: Uganda Reports to: HR/Admin Officer About US: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the worlds worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 25 U.S. cities, we improve outcomes in the areas of health, safety, economic wellbeing, education and power. The IRC has been working in Uganda since 1998 supporting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees and various institutions in the country, notably the government, community-based organizations (CBOs), civil society organizations (CBOs) and the private sector. The current program portfolio in Uganda includes health and nutrition, support to persons with specific needs (PSNs) including case management, legal assistance to refugees, prevention and response to gender-based violence, Education and economic recovery and development (ERD). The IRC has a country office in Kampala and field offices in Amudat, Imvepi, Kyegegwa, Lamwo, Moroto/ Kiryandongo and Yumbe, as well as an urban office in Nsambya within Kampala. Job Summary: The HR Assistant is responsible for providing support for day-to-day administrative requirements, functions, and general office management of the IRC Bidibidi Office Key Duties and Responsibilities: Assist generally in the human resource activities for the national employees (job adverts, interviews, contracts, and personnel files) for the IRC Bidibidi. Maintain a recruitment resource database (CVs). Draft and track of Staff Contracts/COS with the support of HR/Admin Officer. Prepare the IRC staff list monthly in liaison with the HR/Admin Officer for Bidibidi/Yumbe. Submit and track medical forms for the newly recruitment staff at Bidibidi Office Provide support to staff, follow up and report any issues staff are facing with the medical service providers. Maintain employees database for employee leave and R& R, employee performance evaluation and staff training tracking sheets. Prepare exit evaluation grid, collate results, and provide copies to relevant managers in liaison with the HR & Admin Officer. Prepare monthly reports for Bidibidi. Maintain the leavers and departure trackers monthly. In liaison with the HR and Admin Officer Bidibidi/Yumbe, prepare monthly payroll information for staff and forward to the Country HR Lead for payroll processing in a timely manner. Maintain and update the timesheet tracking database for national staff in Bidibidi/Yumbe and file all timesheets appropriately. Attend to the office telephone, e-mail in a professional manner and ensure timely distribution of mail/messages. Ensure mail pouches to other IRC Offices are dispatched in a timely manner. Prepare invoices and payment request vouchers for all utilities (electricity bills, water bills, newspapers etc) including telephone bills. Under the supervision of HR and Admin officer, prepare monthly cash projections for the Human Resources/Admin Department. Support with accommodation booking for guests, track visitors to your field site and prepare payments. Maintain employees database for employee leave and R& R, employee performance evaluation and staff training tracking sheets. Ensures OADF forms/Templates are replenished and updated. Assist to monitor staff movement to/from the field, to trainings, etc. and provide weekly updates (Travel calendars) to relevant staffs Qualifications, Skills and Experience: University studies/ Higher education in Human Resources, Business Administration or any other related course At least 2 years of experience in similar position. Proven skills in administration and human resources management. Strong organizational, interpersonal skills. Good administrative skills. Strong written and oral English communications skills. Excellent computer skills including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Must be able to work independently while being a strong team player. Strong skills in collaboration with multi-cultural and diverse teams. A team builder with excellent people skills; must be culturally sensitive. How to Apply: All suitably qualified and interested candidates are encouraged to apply online at the link below. Click Here Deadline: 8th June 2021 For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline This subscription will allow existing subscribers of The World to access all of our online content, including the E-Editions area. NOTE: To claim your access to the site, you will need to enter the Last Name and First Name that is tied to your subscription in this format: SMITH, JOHN If you need help with exactly how your specific name needs be entered, please email us at admin@countrymedia.net or call us at 1-541 266 6047. Webster has encountered a lot of bears during his time in the backcountry. Once, he recalled, he and other rangers, with the aid of Karelian bear dogs, were trying to discourage a large grizzly sow from getting too close to hikers and campers in Glacier. It didnt go particularly well. We ended up being in a situation where she came back and charged at us, he said. And then luckily with the dogs and all of us there, we were able to keep her at bay until she figured out where her cubs were at. Once she did that, they all kind of got together and moved off. Webster said his view of his job, and the aspects he finds most rewarding, have evolved over the years. The first thing that drew me was just the personal experience as a kid, he said. I was drawn to the mountains, the park specifically, and Montana as a whole. And then just coming out the first couple of years, it was primarily more personal experiences backpacking, being with friends and whatnot. But as he settled into his role as a ranger, Webster quickly began focusing on the educational and interpretive aspects of the job, helping visitors understand the importance of conservation and forming emotional connections to nature. As I grew as a ranger and had more interactions with the public, he said, it definitely became not just protecting the park but providing meaningful experiences. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, Daily Inter Lake. Congress asked the Treasury Department to distribute the funds, but that department historically has little interaction with Indian Country, Kalt said. My guess was that some poor middle-management level guy was saying I have to pass out $8 billion what do I do? Housing and Urban Development had a population number, but it turned out to be wrong in so many ways. A preliminary analysis showed that in Montana, the Blackfeet may have received $7.6 million less than they should have, while the Little Shell Chippewa may have got $17 million more. Kalt said the problem wasnt that anyone on the receiving end did anything wrong, but that the federal government used faulty methods to estimate tribal size. Thats because the initial rollout of money last May used a population figure derived from federal Indian Housing Block Grant records, which in turn were based on U.S. Census figures. In all, $4.8 billion was dispersed nationwide to tribes under that formula. The result was that some tribes got minimum payments of $100,000 when their enrolled membership was far higher. Other tribes with active housing projects got much more per person than tribes with different housing situations. Spare a thought and/or prayer for frontline workers. So croons Chris Garcia over emotional keys and heart-tugging strings on his new release Hear Their Prayer. An ode to medical and protective personnel, Garcias tune calls for national appreciation and support for those risking their lives during this countrys deadliest surge in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Do you have a news tip? Want to share good news story, or do you have information that should see the light of day? Then we want to hear from you. More here Ninety-four-year-old Lionel Duncan arrived at the La Romaine Health Facility at 6 a.m. yesterday, eager to receive the first dose of his Covid-19 vaccine. He had followed the advice of Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh that people over the age of 60, with surnames starting from A to E, would be facilitated at vaccine centres across the country. Moved by the sight of senior citizens waiting in long lines outside vaccination centres across the country, businessman Shane Mahabirsingh yesterday took it upon himself to provide comfort for them. Mahabirsingh, owner of Bilda Boyz Construction in Gasparillo, visited three health centres in the South-West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) distributing chairs, water and sanitising the elderly men and women standing in line. It is not often that well-resourced and politically powerful companies such as ExxonMobil and Shell suffer historic defeats. However, last month, in different ways, both oil majors saw activist shareholders and environmentalists cause them and the international energy sector to have to think hard about what the future holds for hydrocarbons. The other rule that so many people misunderstand is the government pension offset, or GPO. In a nutshell, that law says that an amount equal to two-thirds of a non-Social Security-covered pension must be deducted from any Social Security dependents benefits a person might be due. In effect, the law prevents most folks who work at jobs not covered by Social Security from collecting benefits as a wife, widow, husband or widower from a spouses Social Security record. What these people dont realize is that the government pension offset law simply treats them in the same way that all other working people have always been treated. For example, if a woman who worked at a job that was covered by Social Security gets a Social Security retirement pension, that pension has always offset any spousal benefits she might have been due. Before the GPO law went into effect, people getting a non-Social Security pension were the only working people in this country who could get their own retirement pension and a full dependents benefit from Social Security. And the GPO law actually gives these people a bit of a break. Social Security retirement pensions offset spousal benefits dollar for dollar. But a non-Social Security retirement pension causes only a two-thirds offset. In other words, for each $3 you get in a teachers or other noncovered pension, you lose only $2 from Social Security spousal benefits. Due to space constraints, this has been a very simplified explanation of some very complicated laws. To learn more about WEP and GPO, order my book, Social Security: Simple and Smart. There is a fact sheet in that book that explains these rules in much more detail. If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has a book with all the answers. Its called Social Security: Simple and Smart. You can find the book at creators.com/books. Or look for it on Amazon or other book outlets. To find out more about him and to read past columns and see features from other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit www.creators.com. The French prisoners somehow cobbled together a radio, hidden under the floor boards of their barracks. This was confirmed in the POW class I just completed and also in photographs I saw when my husband Dave and I visited the Stalag 11B museum at the site of the prison camp in 2015, the 70th anniversary of the camps liberation. As Jimmy and Albert told me, the French prisoners would pick up snippets of news. Someone would write the news on a slip of paper (I dont know in which language, but I assume it was English as the broadcasts were likely from the BBC). One of the English chaps would slip the paper in his shoe, and while making rounds delivering scarce firewood or other provisions to the barracks, drop off the news bulletin. Now that may sound farfetched, but I remember many evenings watching Hogans Heroes with you and what did the French prisoners have in their barracks? Yes a radio! The organization recently received a high six-figure donation from the trust of an anonymous donor that may fund the treatment of up to 75 veterans, depending on the severity of their injuries, said Saad Allawi, chief strategy and operations officer of the organization. The cost to fully treat a veteran can range from $10,000 to $15,000, depending on the severity of their condition. The anonymous donor believed in supporting injured veterans with any effective therapy that might alleviate their suffering, said Allawi. He explained that insurance companies and Medicare do not approve paying for hyperbaric oxygen therapy for traumatic brain injuries or PTSD because the Food and Drug Administration has not approved the treatment for those conditions. The FDA wants further studies done. Meanwhile, the treatment for veterans has been approved by legislators in eight states Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas, Indiana, Kentucky, Florida, North Carolina and Wyoming. Allawi said 14 other states are considering passing legislation for hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment for veterans, and in October 2020 then President Donald Trump signed Senate Bill S785 into law, which offers to pilot the treatment of veterans utilizing alternative therapies, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Marana Unified School District is providing free food to all children over the summer through the Marana Cares Mobile as well as Grab & Go Meals pickup service during the week now through July 23. The Marana Cares Mobile, created from a retired school bus, offers free meals in a retrofitted bus during school breaks at two locations. The mobile is funded through private donations, charitable foundations and the USDA Summer Food Service Program. Since launching in 2015, the service has provided 19,302 meals. Masks will be required. There is no service on May 31 or July 5. The two times and locations are: 11 a.m. to noon on the southeast corner of Sandario and Anthony roads, next to the Marana Congregation of Jehovahs Witness Church 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at 16560 W. El Tiro Road, at the Marana Domestic Water Improvement District The Grab & Go Meals is a meal pickup service that will continue through the summer break at select Marana schools. Masks will be required. For more information, go to maranausd.org/GrabandGo. Badger Foundation awards scholarships SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) For generations Marcus Whitman has been widely viewed as an iconic figure from early Pacific Northwest history, a venerated Protestant missionary who was among 13 people killed by the Cayuse tribe near modern-day Walla Walla, Washington, in 1847. But this past year has seen a continued reappraisal of Whitman, whose actions have increasingly been viewed as imperialistic and destructive. The Washington Legislature voted to strip his likeness from the U.S. Capitol. Students at Whitman College in Walla Walla demonstrated recently to demand another Whitman statue be removed from campus. A new book says a well-known story about Whitmans efforts to save the Northwest from British rule was fabricated. The developments come amid a nationwide movement, following George Floyds death last year, to shed Confederate monuments and depictions of historical figures who mistreated Native Americans. Statues of colonizers have been targeted in several states. Marcus Whitman is known for leading a small group of missionaries in 1836 into what was then Oregon Country, a region about the size of Alaska. He established the Whitman Mission at Waiilatpu, near the Walla Walla River. The mission was in the territory of the Cayuse Tribe, which was wary of the white settlers. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) The chief editor of a popular Internet news site in one of Belarus largest cities was detained and his residence searched amid a crackdown on independent journalists and opponents of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. Police said Sunday they were investigating Hrodna.life editor Aliaksei Shota on suspicion of extremism. The publication focuses on Belarus fifth-largest city Grodno. City police said the website posted information products that were duly recognized as extremist, but did not give details. The website said he was held by police for several hours before being released, and that computer hard drives were taken by police from his home. Shota has collaborated with the countrys most popular internet portal Tut.by, which authorities closed this month after arresting 15 employees. Belarus crackdown escalated a week ago with the arrest of dissident journalist Raman Pratasevich jand his girlfriend who were aboard a commercial flight that was diverted to the Minsk airport because of an alleged bomb threat. The flight was flying over Belarus en route from Athens, Greece, to Vilnius, Lithuania. A short while after Bennett spoke, Netanyahu made a statement of his own in which he denounced the Yamina party leader as a man who cared about nothing other than becoming prime minister. Reminding Israelis that before the March election Bennett had said he would not sit in a government led by Lapid, Netanyahu said his right-wing rival's principles did not have the weight of a feather. Bennett was trying to pull off the "deception of the century," Netanyahu said. It is widely expected that any unity agreement would see the position of prime minister rotate with Bennett going first and Lapid second. It's an unusual arrangement, one made unique by the fact that Bennett's party won only seven seats in the last election. But his party became one of the kingmakers in Israeli politics, as both Netanyahu and the pro-"change" bloc tried to woo Bennett, needing his seven seats to get them closer to the 61-seat majority needed to form a government in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. Christoforou said the real winners were ELAM with its strident anti-migration platform and hardline nationalist polies and DIPA whose top echelons still have connections to the centers of political power as former ministers and lawmakers. He said that the high electoral threshold of 3.6% means that 15,000 voters who cast ballots for smaller parties who didn't win any seats are left without a voice in parliament. Opinion polls in the weeks preceding the vote indicated that both DISY and AKEL would hemorrhage support as disappointed voters seek out alternatives among smaller parties. The election wont affect the running of the government on the divided Mediterranean island nation, as executive power rests in the hands of the president, who is elected separately. About 65.73% of nearly 558,000 eligible voters cast ballots for the 56 Greek Cypriot seats in parliament. Voter turnout was 1% less than the previous poll. Among the key campaign issues were the country's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the hoped-for economic reboot as the country ramps up vaccinations. Migration has also been an issue as the Cypriot government insists it has exceeded its limits and can no longer receive more migrants. Besides, Ricketts said, if Britain needs a flagship it already has one the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. The 3 billion pound ($3.5 billion) vessel was christened in 2014. The Independent, an online publication, lampooned the proposal, accompanying its story about the announcement with a video of Johnson and a visiting European Union official climbing into a rowboat and paddling around a pond. Johnson said the bidding process for the contract to build the ship would begin later this year and the vessel will enter service sometime in the next four years. The ship, which will be crewed by the Royal Navy, could travel to international ports in conjunction with prime ministerial visits, provide a venue for international summits and host trade fairs, Johnson said. The opposition Labour party suggested taxpayer money could be better spent. We want to see public money used for targeted investment in a green economic recovery, resources for our (National Health Service) and supporting families to succeed, lawmaker Bridget Phillipson said. If this ship is going to be part of a genuine plan for Britains future, the government must set out clearly how it will boost trade, jobs and growth in every corner of our country. The last royal yacht, HMS Britannia, was decommissioned in 1997. It visited more than 600 ports in 135 countries during its 44 years of service. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. South Africa's decision to go back to a stricter lockdown reinforces as the crisis in India has already done so starkly how the global pandemic is far from over. We have seen in other countries the tragic consequences of leaving the virus to spread unchecked, Ramaphosa said. We cannot let our guard down. South Africa has more than 1.6 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 56,000 deaths, more than 30% of the cases and 40% of the deaths recorded by all of Africas 54 countries, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. South Africa recorded 4,515 new cases over the past 24 hours and Ramaphosa said the positivity rate among tests conducted was now a cause for concern. South Africa had been under lockdown level one, the lowest of its five levels, but was now reverting to an adjusted level two," Ramaphosa announced. Authorities did stop short of reimposing the strict measures like limits on people's movements during the day and a ban on the sales of alcohol and tobacco products that were in place at times last year. OPINION: "No, I am not and we are not 'over sensitive.' Anti-Semitism is real, hurtful and malicious. Sometimes it is subtle, sometimes flagrant. It affects more of us than anyone would want to admit," writes Rabbi Emeritus Robert Eisen. Lunch time: Summer meal programs start Tuesday at multiple sites across the Tulsa area. Almost 1,400 locations around Oklahoma are participating in the state Department of Educations summer feeding program, which offers two free meals per day for all children age 18 and under through funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In March, the USDA extended COVID-19 induced waivers to allow school districts and other site sponsors, such as churches and parks, the option to offer grab and go meals rather than require children to stay and eat on site. Area school districts hosting summer meal sites include Tulsa, Skiatook, Broken Arrow, Union, Owasso, Sand Springs and Sapulpa. A full list of participating sites is available online at meals4kidsok.org. More than 13 million meals were served across Oklahoma as part of the 2020 summer feeding program. Help wanted: With its previous occupant moving, seat No. 5 on Skiatook Public Schools board of education is vacant. The district is now accepting applications to serve a one-year term. OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. The remains of more than 300 sailors and Marines who died when the USS Oklahoma sank during the attack on Pearl Harbor 79 years ago have been identified thanks to the work of experts at Offutt Air Force Base. The six-year effort to identify 388 of the people who died when the USS Oklahoma capsized during the attack is wrapping up this week after 338 of them have been identified. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has used DNA technology and other modern methods to identify the remains that were sent to Offutt after they were disinterred from the National Military Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. The agencys forensic anthropologists and historians beat their goal of identifying at least 315, or 80%, of the missing men, and several more identifications could be made once the latest test results are received, said Carrie LeGarde, the anthropologist who is leading the project. Of the 2,403 Americans who died at Pearl Harbor, 429 were from the USS Oklahoma. Of those, only 35 were recovered and identified soon thereafter, meaning 394 were unaccounted for for years. In fact, most bodies that went down with the ship wouldnt be recovered until 1943, when the vessel was finally raised from the sea bottom. Members of several churches came together in north Tulsa on Sunday morning to commemorate the Black church tradition that endured the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre with prayer and praise. Organizers reminded attendees gathered at First Baptist Church North Tulsa, 1414 N. Greenwood Ave., to not only remember the tragedy, but also to worship the Lord who has been with their generations through it all. And worship they did. Rev. John R. Faison Sr., a guest speaker and senior pastor of Watson Grove Baptist Church in Tennessee, gave the services main address. After recounting injustices that have occurred since the massacre and the need for community members to take action, he focused on the hope to which the apostle Paul encouraged Christians in Rome to cling beginning in Romans 8:35. Romans, you know, unlike almost every other New Testament epistle, is written to a population of believers who were under the constant threat of persecution, humiliation and annihilation, Faison said from the pulpit. Not because they did anything spectacular, but for simply being. Darkness was an everyday reality, and Paul writes to people who knew that their identity alone was hazardous to them. To be fair, both sides have engaged in shell games. Biden responded to the GOP offer by slicing half a trillion from his initial proposal, but he merely moved some of the deletions into another bill. Theres no goodwill on either side, a congressional aide told me. Theres a complete and utter lack of trust. The biggest stumbling block isnt the overall number, but how to pay for all that spending. Biden wants to raise taxes on corporations and anyone making more than $400,000 a year; McConnell and other Republicans have dismissed that as unthinkable. One mildly promising sign emerged on Tuesday: A bipartisan group of moderates including maverick Democrat Joe Manchin III of West Virginia said they were working toward a new compromise. But they are acting without McConnells support, which will make it difficult for them to attract the 10 Republicans needed to reach the Senates 60-vote requirement. Its not surprising that negotiations on ambitious legislation would be tough; theyre supposed to be. The problem is that only one party is behaving as if it wants to pass anything at all. By law and tradition the final Monday in May is set aside as Memorial Day, a national holiday to remember men and women of the American military who have given their lives for our nations freedom and independence. The longest war in our nations history continues in Afghanistan. In April, the Biden administration announced plans to withdraw American forces by Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the al-Qaida terror attacks on America, but there is good reason to think that plan remains more of a hope than a determined strategy, and that the job in Afghanistan is not done. The Afghanistan war continues to be deadly. The U.S. Defense Department reported the deaths of 14 soldiers and three Marines in 2020, the highest number of casualties in five years. Another 180 American service members were wounded in Afghanistan fighting. The memories of American soldiers, sailors, Marines and other service members who have died in their nations service deserve three things from our nation. Read what is in the news today: Politics -- Vietnamese State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Sunday sent a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, in which he suggested both countries enhance cooperation in COVID-19 vaccine research, production, and technology transfer. COVID-19 Updates -- Vietnams Ministry of Health recorded 61 local COVID-19 cases in Bac Giang, Hanoi, and Lang Son on Monday morning, raising the national tally to 7,168, with 2,950 recoveries and 47 deaths. -- The third and final phase of human trials of Nano Covax COVID-19 vaccine, developed by Vietnamese Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC, is scheduled to begin in early June. Society -- Authorities in many southern localities have suspended passenger transportation services to Ho Chi Minh City from Monday following the directive to reinstate social distancing regulations in the southern metropolis from 0:00 the same day. -- The Peoples Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has reassured local people that they should not rush for necessity shopping in the social distancing context as supermarket systems are able to ensure an adequate supply of goods at stable prices. -- The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Public Security on Saturday launched criminal proceedings against a religious mission in Go Vap District for spreading COVID-19 in the community. -- Many residents living in apartment complexes in Hanoi have still showed negligence in COVID-19 prevention and control by ignoring a prevailing travel restriction to go for a walk and exercise in public places. -- Police in Da Nang City on Sunday afternoon urgently arrested a passenger bus driver for intentionally driving into a COVID-19 checkpoint in Hoa Vang District to show his opposition to the functional forces there. -- Firefighters in Ho Chi Minh City managed to rescue four people stuck inside a burning house on Nguyen Thien Thuat Street in District 3 at around 3:15 am on Monday. Education -- The Hanoi Department of Education and Training has ordered ninth and 12th graders not to leave the city until they finish their high school entrance and graduation examinations, respectively. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Authorities in multiple Vietnamese provinces and cities have decided to impose travel restrictions on vehicles coming from Ho Chi Minh City and other COVID-19-hit areas in general. In the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, the municipal Department of Transport has suspended passenger transport activities between Can Tho and 31 localities, including Ho Chi Minh City, from 0:00 on Monday. Passenger transport to other localities is allowed to continue but the number of people on each vehicle must not exceed 50 percent of its capacity. The Can Tho Center for Disease Control has required all arrivals from 40 locations in 15 districts of Ho Chi Minh City to undergo quarantine and get tested for COVID-19. Passenger buses from Ho Chi Minh City have been banned from entering Da Lat, a popular tourist city in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong. Provincial authorities have established five coronavirus checkpoints to medically inspect all arrivals. A total of 109 people who came into direct contact with a COVID-19 patient in Ho Chi Minh City are being quarantined in Lam Dong. About 150 indirect contacts are also undergoing home quarantine. All of them have so far tested negative for the novel coronavirus. Strict COVID-19 prevention and control measures have been applied at Lien Khuong Airport, with all arrivals from virus-hit areas required to undergo mandatory quarantine. The Lam Dong Peoples Committee said it is exerting all efforts to keep the virus away. In the Mekong Delta province of An Giang, all vehicles coming from pathogen-hit areas, including Ho Chi Minh City, have been asked to turn around. Authorities in the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu have also suspended all buses between the province and Ho Chi Minh City from 6:00 pm on Sunday. Similar travel restrictions had also been implemented in such localities as south-central Binh Dinh Province and Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long by the end of Sunday. Vietnam has documented 7,236 COVID-19 cases as of Monday afternoon, with 2,950 recoveries and 47 deaths. The country has recorded 4,164 local infections in 34 provinces and cities since the fourth wave of transmissions began on April 27. Ho Chi Minh City has so far detected 157 cases in this bout. The metropolis began applying social distancing measures at 0:00 on Monday. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday launched criminal proceedings against a religious mission in the same district for spreading COVID-19 in the community. The charge in the indictment includes spreading dangerous infectious diseases to humans. Through an investigation into the recent outbreaks associated with Revival Ekklesia Mission, a Christian congregation based in Go Vap, the authorities determined that this religious mission did not comply with regulations on COVID-19 prevention, leading to the spread of the disease to many people. A total of 142 infections that can be traced back to this mission have been detected since May 27, according to the municipal health department. This number adds up to 157 COVID-19 patients logged in Ho Chi Minh City as of Monday morning. Vietnams daily local infections rose by 68 cases on Monday noon, the health ministry said in a midday update. The agency will give another update at 6:00 pm. Vietnam has detected 4,164 domestic infections in 34 provinces and cities since April 27, when the fourth wave broke out in the Southeast Asian country, according to the Ministry of Healths data. The nation has recorded 7,236 cumulative COVID-19 patients since the virus first emerged on January 23, 2020. Recoveries have hit 2,950, while 47 virus-related fatalities have been documented so far. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Two people in a family were confirmed dead after a house in downtown Ho Chi Minh City was engulfed in a conflagration on Monday. Police of Ho Chi Minh City rescued and hospitalized four individuals from the conflagration on Nguyen Thien Thuat Street in District 3 in the early hours of Monday, but two victims did not pull through, a source said. By Monday morning, district police had cordoned off the fire scene for inspection. Firefighters use water hoses to put out a house fire on Nguyen Thien Thuat Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, May 31, 2021. Photo: Supplied The fatalities were identified to be N.H.V., 73, and N.V.D.N., 32, while the survivors, T.K.C., 34, and N.V.T.T., 4, are still receiving treatment at a hospital, a ward official in District 3 confirmed in an interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. The fire is said to transpire at around 3:15 am on Monday and quickly engulfed the house on the street, trapping the four family members inside. Firefighters use ladders to rescue victims from a house fire on Nguyen Thien Thuat Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, May 31, 2021. Photo: Supplied The fire brigade of Ho Chi Minh City was promptly mobilized to the scene, but their rescuing progress was hindered by the rolling door blocking the way. They had to resort to a technical force to tear down the door, plus two specialized ladders to save the victims. The fire brigade managed to put out the conflagration shortly after. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam documented more than 1,800 domestic COVID-19 cases last week as it has battled the pathogens re-emergence since late last month. The Ministry of Health confirmed 184 locally-transmitted infections on May 24, 444 on May 25, 235 on May 26, 227 on May 27, 253 on May 28, 277 on May 29, and 250 on May 30, adding up to 1,870 cases. Most of the patients were detected at industrial parks in Bac Giang and Bac Ninh Province, located in northern Vietnam. The Southeast Asian country has recorded 4,096 domestic transmissions in 34 provinces and cities since April 27, when it found the first case after having gone about a month without any known infection in the community. Bac Giang is leading the caseload with 2,161 patients, followed by Bac Ninh with 804, Hanoi with 399, Ho Chi Minh City with 157, and Da Nang with 156. Ho Chi Minh City reinstated an extensive social distancing order on Monday as the virus has spread quickly and widely in the past few days. Non-essential businesses have been suspended while transportation to and from the city have been restricted. Most of its cases have been traced to Revival Ekklesia Mission, a Christian congregation based in Go Vap District, which is largely isolated now. Vietnam has detected 7,168 cumulative COVID-19 cases, including 5,665 local infections, since the virus first hit the country on January 23, 2020, according to the Ministry of Healths data. A total of 2,950 patients have recovered while forty-seven have died, most having suffered critical pre-existing health problems. The nation confirmed 106 community cases in the first wave from January 23 to April 16, 2020, 554 in the second from July 25 to December 1, 2020, and 910 in the third from January 28 to March 25, 2021. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! HANOI -- Vietnam will suspend incoming international flights to its capital Hanoi from Tuesday as part of the countrys effort to contain a coronavirus outbreak, the government said. Mondays announcement made no mention of domestic flights. Vietnam has been restricting the amount of inbound international flights since the start of the pandemic. The suspension will be in place until the end of June 7, the government said in a statement, noting that outbound flights from the citys Noi Bai International Airport were not subject to the suspension. After successfully containing COVID-19 for most of last year, infections in Vietnam have risen since late April, accounting for more than half of the total 7,236 registered cases among its population of 98 million. It still has one of the worlds lowest caseloads, while there have been a total of 47 deaths reported so far. Vietnams business hub Ho Chi Minh City, which began social distancing measures for 15 days starting on Monday, had also suspended inbound flights to its Tan Son Nhat Airport since Thursday last week, the statement said. Under the restrictions in the city, public gatherings of more than 10 are banned, while those aged over 60 are advised to stay indoors and some business activities have been halted. Its been a while since new Survivor episodes but 10 Play will screen a new season of South Africa: Immunity Island from 9am on Friday. This will screen same day as South Africas M-Net. Filmed on the Wild Coast of South Africa, 20 South Africans will battle it out on this dangerous coastline, surrounded by desert beaches and lush jungles, all in the hopes of being Sole Survivor. With unpredictable gameplay and thrilling blindsides, the worlds greatest game is back with the Survivor twist of Immunity Island. Hosted by Nico Panagio, Survivor South Africa is back with its 8th season and promises to be the best one yet. Who will outwit, outlast and outplay, South African style? Friday, 4 June at 9am on 10 Play. Related YTD registrations of new charging pile firms reach around 21,000 in China as of May 25 Shanghai (Gasgoo)- As of May 25, there have been around 21,000 charging pile-related companies newly registered so far this year in China, representing a remarkable surge of 159% compared to the same period in 2020, according to the business information platform Tianyancha. Photo credit: Star Charge Annual registrations of the companies engaging charging pile business in China have been rising at a year-over-year rate of over 30% during the period of 2016 to 2020. In 2020, more than 29,000 charging pile enterprises were registered in the country, versus 5,000 for the year of 2015, according to Tianyancha. The platform's data also show there are currently around 130,000 charging pile companies in China, nearly 80% of which were built in recent five years. The top 3 provinces by total number of charging pile companies are Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Shandong. Guangdong is honored the champion by owning nearly 19,000 firms. To support the development of new energy vehicle (NEV) industry, the Chinese government is hammering out some policies for improving the deployment of EV charging and battery swapping infrastructures. According to a document China's National Development and Reform Commission recently issued to solicit public opinions, China will boost the construction and installation of charging facilities in residential communities. The growing registrations of charging pile companies also indicate rising demands for NEVs in China. For the first four months of 2021, Chinas NEV outputs and sales amounted to 750,000 units and 732,000 units respectively, soaring 257.5% and 249.2% from the previous year, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). Attorney-General Christian Porter has dropped defamation action against the ABC and Four Corners reporter Louise Milligan. Following mediation last week, all parties have agreed to not pursue the matter any further. No damages will be paid. Christian Porter maintained he was easily identifiable in an online story about an alleged historic rape by an unnamed serving cabinet minister. He later publicly identified himself as the minister in question but strenuously denied the allegations. ABCs article remains online but and is being updated with an Editors Note: On 26 February 2021, the ABC published an article by Louise Milligan. That article was about a letter to the Prime Minister containing allegations against a senior cabinet minister. Although he was not named, the article was about the Attorney-General Christian Porter. The ABC did not intend to suggest that Mr Porter had committed the criminal offences alleged. The ABC did not contend that the serious accusations could be substantiated to the applicable legal standard criminal or civil. However, both parties accept that some readers misinterpreted the article as an accusation of guilt against Mr Porter. That reading, which was not intended by the ABC, is regretted. In a statement ABC said it stands by its investigative and public interest journalism, and reporter Louise Milligan, one of Australias foremost and most awarded investigative journalists, and all our journalists in their independent and brave reporting on matters about which Australians have a right to be informed. Update: Outside the Federal Court Christian Porter said the outcome as a humiliating backdown by the ABC, describing it as sensationalist, one-sided and written in such a way that people would assume guilt. Adding some information to the ABC's statement on the Christian Porter litigation: The only costs that the ABC will be paying are the mediation costs. https://t.co/Er30gxVmcB ABC Communications (@ABCMediaComms) May 31, 2021 Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36 1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732. Related US actor Joe Lara, best known for 1990s series Tarzan: The Epic Adventures, has died, aged 58. According to US reports he died with his wife, author and pastor Gwen Lara, and five others when a Cessna C501 plunged into Percy Priest Lake in Tennessee on Saturday. There were no survivors. Our efforts have transitioned from a rescue effort to that of a recovery effort, Rutherford County Fire Rescue Capt. Joshua Sanders said during a news conference. We are no longer looking for live victims at this point. Lara began as a model before he landed the lead in the 1989 telefilm Tarzan in Manhattan, which found the King of the Jungle in New York trying to rescue his chimp, Cheetah. He then starred in the 1996-97 series Tarzan: The Epic Adventures, which he also produced, filmed in South Africa. Other credits included Sunset Heat, American Cyborg: Steel Warrior, Final Equinox, Doomsdayer, Baywatch, Operation Delta Force and Conan the Adventurer. Source: Hollywood Reporter, Variety Related Prolific veteran actor John Gregg, whose career spans 6 decades across stage & screen has died, aged 82. He died on Saturday but the cause of death has not been disclosed. With his mellifluous voice at just 18 years of age, Tasmanian-born Gregg was accepted into NIDA, once recalling, It was bizarre. I knew nothing about theatre and had never even seen a play. Later they sent me a telegram saying: You can come if you want to. So I did. After graduating in the early 1960s he worked with the Elizabethan Theatre Trust, then based at the Majestic Theatre in Newtown before TV roles in such series as Contrabandits alongside Chips Rafferty, then Delta, Hunter, Riptide, Captain James Cook, Chopper Squad, Bodyline, A Country Practice, The Fast Lane, Raffertys Rules, The Flying Doctors, Cluedo, Halifax FP, GP, Murder Call, Bullitt!, Medivac, Heartbreak High, Changi, Farscape, All Saints, Blue Heelers, Heroes Mountain, Young Lions, Grass Roots, Jessica, Blue Water High, Home & Away, Spirited, Underbelly, Rake, Crownies, Old School, House of Bond, Fighting Season, Operation Buffalo and UK dramas The Glittering Prizes, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Doctor Who. Film credits included Crocodile Dundee, Heatwave, Burke & Wills, Travelling North. Gregg performed for the Royal Court, Royal National Theatre, Victoria State Opera, Gordon Frost, Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company. He also joined the Committee of the Actors Benevolent Fund in 2008, succeeding Noeline Brown as Chair for six years. He was also a lifelong fan of Aussie Rules, becoming an Ambassador for the Sydney Swans. Gregg was working til the end with upcoming film Liebe yet to be released. Related NICOSIA (Reuters) - Cyprus has closed its airspace to flights from Belarus, joining a list of European Union nations imposing restrictions following the forced landing of a passenger jet in Minsk on May 23. The aviation authority had banned airlines registered in Belarus from using Cyprus's airspace and airports from May 28, a transport ministry spokesperson said. Most of Belarus's neighbours and many other European nations have banned Belarusian national airline Belavia flights in anger over the forced landing of a Ryanair jet en route to Lithuania from Greece and the arrest of a dissident journalist on board. The same advisory prohibits Cyprus-registered airlines from entering Belarusian airspace, or flights to and from Belarus. All flights to Belarus have been suspended. A scheduled Belavia flight from Minsk to Cyprus's Larnaca airport on May 29 was cancelled, another source said. The restrictions do not apply in the case of humanitarian or medical emergencies. (Reporting By Michele Kambas; Editing by Andrew Heavens) Fighting between local militia groups and the military junta has forced tens of thousands of people from Kayah State, in eastern Myanmar, to flee their homes. The military junta has stepped up their use of force, causing entire villages to flee, seeking refuge from attacks, arrests and house-to-house searches. While some have taken shelter in community centres within cities, others have fled to nearby jungles, creating makeshift encampments. More than three months since the military seized power from Myanmars democratically elected government on February 1, citizens continue to resist military rule. Strikes, protests and a civil disobedience movement have been met with lethal force from authorities, who have killed more than 800 people, according to local monitors. The anti-junta resistance government in Myanmar, the National Unity Government, which formed in mid-April, called for the creation of a national Peoples Defence Force to protect the public from the junta on May 5. Following this announcement, residents of Kayah State (formerly known as Karenni State) organised a militia group called the Karenni Peoples Defence Force (KPDF), armed with home-made weapons and traditional hunting rifles. Other long-standing armed ethnic groups in Kayah State, including the Karenni Army which fought the Burmese government from 1957 until a ceasefire in 2012, have also mobilised against the junta. On May 21 and 22, members of the KPDF clashed with military and security forces, starting a week of upheaval for the regions inhabitants. The military found out that the KPDF is able to fight them back Our Observer, Aung (not his real name), a community leader in Loikaw, capital of Kayah State, told FRANCE 24 about the increase in violence in his region in the past week: A few days ago, on May 21, the KPDF was crushed by the force of the military. They started to defend themselves and then attacks started taking place on both sides. The military found out that the KPDF is able to fight them back, so thats the reason that more attacks are happening here. Story continues On May 21, military personnel entered the town of Demoso, opened fire and arrested 13 people, according to Burmese media. The KPDF responded with force, killing three police officers and attacking police stations in the region. The military promptly deployed reinforcements of at least 100 soldiers and several tanks to Demoso, and increased their presence in several towns of Kayah State and neighbouring Shan State. The military has since used heavy artillery, tanks and helicopters, even in residential areas, resulting in the destruction of homes and community centres in Demoso. The fighting has been taking place for a few days already, since May 21. On the 25th, it started early, at 5am. It was almost the whole day, really a big attack. The military used some major weapons: tanks, machine guns, and also rockets. We heard rockets flying from Loikaw towards Demoso. There have been at least seven rockets that we heard. There was a lot of damage done in Demoso, not only damage to properties but also some deaths. Security forces were shooting people on the roads and even intruding into homes. They could not stay at their homes, its not safe for them To avoid military shelling and ongoing clashes between the junta and militia, residents of Kayah States towns have fled their homes to seek shelter. Aung recounts: There are two groups of people hiding. Some people are trying to hide in the city and others in the jungles. In the city, the old people, infants, women, and the sick have flocked to community places like a church compound, a convent, and a home for the aged. Those places have turned into refugee camps for them. They could not stay at their homes, its not safe for them, especially at night. There could be a lot of intruding, attacks, or arrests at night. The authorities of the church and convent have said that these places are for the safety of people and should not be attacked, out of respect for life. But we still do not know what could happen, and the military may do anything they feel like. On Sunday, May 23, a church near Loikaw, where more than 300 people were taking shelter, was the target of military shelling. Four people were killed in the attack and the church sustained significant damage. Churches providing refuge for civilians have begun raising white flags in order to ward off further attacks from military forces. They flock into the mountains, into the jungles, for safety Many people living in small villages outside of Loikaw and Demoso opted to flee instead to uninhabited hills and jungles nearby. Although our Observer Aung stayed in Loikaw, his family members have all moved into the jungle. People outside the city, from the villages, mostly ran into the jungle where they think the military cant get access. They flocked into the mountains, into the jungle, for safety. But they had to forsake their homes and leave their villages, properties, and animals. Those who are staying in the camps in the jungle are mostly the elderly, the sick, women and children. The men are staying in other places to defend them in case the military comes. Occasionally the men will go back to the village and fetch any supplies they need. However, people living in these jungle encampments mainly depend on the few supplies they brought with them to survive. Aung shared photos of their makeshift accommodations with the FRANCE 24 Observers team. At least 50,000 people from Loikaw and Demoso have fled their homes, according to Burmese media. A further 20,000 people from Pekhon and Moebyel towns in neighbouring Shan State have also reportedly gone into hiding. While it is impossible to confirm these figures, these groups are at risk of hunger and disease if they are not able to return to their villages soon, Aung says. They brought food with them, they brought lodging materials all by themselves. They have been in the area already since May 22. Im not sure it will be very good for them in the long run, they dont have enough food. The rainy season is also coming, which could be very dangerous for them. Many people are getting sick now that they have been in the jungle for a few days. Some volunteers who are helping them are trying to get medicine for them. Even short trips back into the city to fetch supplies and building materials have been dangerous. On May 26, two civilians were shot by military snipers while riding motorbikes. Burmese media said they were returning to their homes to find food to bring to families that had retreated into the hills. Security forces remain a visible presence on the streets of Kayah States townships, according to Aung. On the streets in Loikaw and Demoso, you can see soldiers and police everywhere. People are afraid to walk around and its dangerous for people who are travelling on the road. We see tanks throughout Loikaw. At nighttime, the tanks move and the soldiers march around. I also hear shooting in the city during the night. There was one night they were shooting for two hours, but just to frighten people and keep them quiet. Security forces have set up roadblocks and regularly check the cell phones of people on the street for evidence of anti-junta sympathies, according to other witnesses on the ground contacted by the Observers team. Other regions of Myanmar are experiencing similar conflicts between emerging resistance groups and the military junta. Around 10,000 residents from villages in the Sagaing region have fled their homes to avoid military attacks. The UK has reported one coronavirus-related death and 3,383 infections in the past 24 hours. The single death was confirmed in Scotland - meaning England has recorded zero daily deaths for just the fifth time since the government started collecting the figures in March 2020. The one UK death is less than the six confirmed yesterday and the three last Monday - while the number of positive cases is up from 3,240 and 2,439 respectively. The latest death brings the UK's total to 127,782, according to government figures. The total number of people to have tested positive for coronavirus stands at 4,487,339. Another 120,243 people have had their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, taking the total to 39,379,411. And Sunday saw 204,282 second jabs administered, meaning 25,537,133 people have had both shots. Tomorrow's figures could be boosted by England's biggest vaccination centre having been offering COVID jabs to anyone over the age of 18 for today only. Subscribe to the All Out Politics podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker Thousands of people had already been vaccinated at the centre at Twickenham Stadium in west London, and medics defied the current guidance that only over-30s should be offered a jab to ensure nothing was wasted. The local NHS trust tweeted: "Thousands of people vaccinated at @twickenhamstad today. Still spaces and vaccine left: now open to all 18 and over who can get here before 7.30pm." The vaccination rollout is continuing at pace ahead of the government's planned date for lifting the remaining lockdown restrictions on 21 June. However, government adviser Professor Adam Finn, a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, has cast doubt on whether the prime minister will be able to proceed with the timetable. He told Sky News that "things are much more up in the air" than they were earlier this month due to the spread of the Indian variant of coronavirus in the UK. Story continues Professor Finn continued: "In a way, I think, the dates (of the roadmap) all the way through were created just to give everyone some kind of sense of structure. "But they were always qualified as being based on what actually happened and that they could change. I think there's a significant chance that it could change. "We're better off being cautious at this point and being able to progressively unlock ourselves than to overdo it and then end up having to lockdown fully all over again." Professor Finn's warning comes as thousands of people have flocked to beer gardens, beaches and parks for the bank holiday weekend. People have been able to enjoy more freedoms after some restrictions were lifted earlier this month. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday inaugurated the impressive mosque in Istanbuls historical square where it stands at the gateway to famed Istiklal Avenue, Daily Sabah writes. Taksim Mosque in Istanbuls eponymous square was opened on Friday by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, marking an end to countless efforts and legal challenges to build it in the secular but Muslim-majority country. The mosque, whose construction began in 2017, is the first of its kind in Taksim Square, which is located in a district dotted with churches. Its size dwarfs nearby, small Ottoman-era mosques and it has a capacity that allows 4,000 people to perform prayers at the same time. Situated on one corner of the square visited by millions and a gateway to renowned Istiklal Avenue, the mosque is located across from the Ataturk Cultural Center, a new venue under construction that will have an opera house and other cultural venues. To its west lies Gezi Park, which was at the center of notorious riots back in 2013. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Erdogan summed up the list of efforts to construct the mosque and lamented "this place suffered too much." I grew up in Kasmpasa (district) and remember the times when Muslims were forced to perform prayers, on newspapers, on a small space. We now wish that this new mosque will be filled with the faithful and sound of adhan (call to prayer) will be heard forever, he said. The president added that the mosque, with its digital library, reading spaces, exhibition halls, would also be an important culture and arts center for Istanbul. I view Taksim Mosque as a place greeting Hagia Sofia Grand Mosque and a gift for 568th anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul we will observe tomorrow, he said. He stated that the mosque was a dream pursued for more than one century. "Have no doubt that this sound (of adhan) disturbs those who plot against our country. Taksim Mosque is one of the signs of the birth of a great and strong Turkey which gives hopes to its friends and brothers," he also said. Building a mosque may seem like an easy task in Turkey, a country, though secular, home to a Muslim-majority population. But Taksim Mosque, originally planned to be constructed in the 1950s, hit snags over the years, from lack of funding to opposition by authorities. Erdogan himself was a member of a foundation set up in the 1990s to build the mosque and during his tenure as Istanbuls mayor in that decade, he had voiced his desire to build it. For some historians, plans to build a mosque in Taksim date back to the early 20th century, in response to a splendid Orthodox church built in the district, which was largely inhabited by non-Muslims during Ottoman times. Renowned poet Nazm Hikmet was among those lamenting solitude of Aga Camii in Taksim, in this faithless quarters, in a poem he penned in 1921, while Istanbul was under the occupation of Allied forces after World War I. The first step was taken in 1952 by an association headed by Feridun Nafiz Uzluk, a descendant of famed Sufi philosopher Mevlana Jalaladdin Rumi. However, the associations efforts did not come to fruition. In 1960, a group of businesspeople tried to revive the project while then-Prime Minister Suleyman Demirel ordered the sale of a plot belonging to the Treasury and a state-owned bank to the Directorate of Foundations, with the purpose of mosque construction in 1965. Yet, Istanbul's mayor from Demirels political rival Republican Peoples Party (CHP) took the matter to the court and the court blocked the allocation of land for the mosque. In 1979, Demirel tried to pave the way for the mosques construction again, this time with a Cabinet decree. Yet, a military coup in 1980 thwarted the plans again. A lawmaker, the father of the Elmas brothers who took up the construction work in 2017, sought financing construction of the mosque in 1983, at a time when Motherland Party (ANAP) came to power after the junta rule. But a top court dealt a blow to plans by ruling that the mosque was not appropriate for public benefit and city planning principles. In 1991, a group of businesspeople and dignitaries founded the Taksim Mosque Culture and Arts Foundation for the establishment of the mosque. Among them were members of Koc and Sabanc, two most prominent business dynasties of Turkey, a professor, a former head of Presidency of Religious Affairs (DIB), academics, journalists, writers and Erdogan, who was then an active member of Welfare Party (RP) and a lawmaker candidate. The foundation sought a change in zoning plans from the municipality but its request was long ignored. Erdogan was elected as Istanbul mayor in 1994, after an election campaign where he pledged to authorize the construction of the mosque. We will have President Suleyman Demirel inaugurate it, Erdogan then said. Then-Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan also sought the construction but again, it hit political and bureaucratic hurdles. Three years later, Erbakan handed in his resignation for his post soon after a 1997 coup, which was a culmination of a lengthy campaign against the Islamist government and its supporters who have been subjected to a witch hunt by the secular elite. Erdogan renewed his pledge for the mosque in 2013 while he was prime minister, along with a rebuilding of a historic Ottoman barracks at nearby Gezi Park. But protests over reconstruction plans hijacked by terrorist groups and escalated into riots delayed the plans again. The president had renewed his pledge in a speech two days after a coup attempt in 2016, and Altan Elmas had asked the president to allow him to build the mosque. The mosque was approved in January 2017 by the Board of Preservation of Cultural Monuments, which oversees construction on preserved, historic sites, thus clearing the final hurdle for the construction of the mosque. The mosque was built with a top-down architecture system, described as the only mosque in Turkey built with this technique. Thus, no deep ground excavation was required and the area around the mosque was preserved. The place fuses traditional mosque architecture with modern touches inspired by architectural features of 19th-century buildings in the Beyoglu district. The mosque also hosts a cultural center where exhibitions will be held. A 2,950-square-meter (31,753-square-foot) area is open for worship. The mosque, built on an area of about 16,000 square meters, also houses a 163-car parking lot. Designed by two Turkish architects in the art deco style, the triple-story mosque was financed by three brothers who own a prominent construction company. Titanium-zinc alloy domes top the mosque whose exterior was built with choice marbles brought in from Bursa and Antalya. Two 64-meter-long minarets accompany the domes. The interior features works of calligraphist Davut Bektas and miniaturist Adem Turan. Buff-colored carpets specially woven in western Manisa province have been installed in the mosque. An 8.5 meter-high (nearly 28-foot) mihrab (prayer niche showing the direction of Kaaba) was built, while 60 luminous chandeliers 12 meters in diameter (over 39 feet) and 20 meters (over 65 feet) in length are also installed in the mosque. The structure and its perimeter were sprayed with 25 tons of rosewater on Friday brought in from the countrys rose hub Isparta, to carry out a tradition dating back to the Ottoman era for new mosques. The situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border remains tense. On May 27, a group of Armenian soldiers was detained by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces while crossing the state border. Baku defined the incident as a sabotage attack by the Armenian military, while Yerevan hastened to announce the capture of the soldiers of the engineering troops, for some reason sent to the zone of imminent confrontation. This did not prevent the Armenian media outlets from launching a propaganda campaign, supported by all political forces of the republic, without exception, intending to take part in the early parliamentary elections. The process of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border delimitation on the basis of the Soviet cartographic materials in the presence of experts from the Russian Defense Ministry, apparently, turned out to be beyond the reach of the Armenian political elite. A month after the aggravation of the situation on the border in Syunik and Gegharkunik, Yerevan stated that Azerbaijan was allegedly slowly absorbing the territory of Armenia, while Russia could not do anything about it. Such an openly anti-Russian scenario could be considered fiction, given that it is the Russian peacekeeping mission that monitors the observance of the ceasefire in Karabakh, while simultaneously ensuring the security of Armenia. However, the recently published "Pashinyans plan" needs to be examined to address the situation on the border from a completely different angle. "Pashinyan's plan" is an attempt to absolve oneself of responsibility for resolving issues of national importance. The acting prime minister proposes to withdraw the armed units of the two sides at a safe distance from each other, and place international observers from the Russian Federation or other OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries along the border. It is obvious that Yerevan is interested in attracting Western partners to resolve the situation on the border. Pashinyan's proposal was warmly supported by the EU immediately after the announcement at a meeting of the Security Council of the republic. It would seem that the road map for settling the remaining contradictions between Armenia and Azerbaijan was in hand, but the "Karabakh syndrome" prompts Yerevan to turn the border between the republics into something that existed in Karabakh for 30 years. Pashinyan's modest proposal, which he reserved for the election race, conceals a clear desire to partially revive the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group. Thus, in this way, he, probably, is trying to restore the presence of Western countries in the Armenia-Azerbaijan space of interests. Technically, Pashinyan does not refuse to support Russia, but indirectly presents Armenia as a bargaining chip, neglecting issues of national sovereignty. The occupation of Karabakh could not last forever, therefore, accustomed to speculating on the topic of interstate relations the Armenian political elite intends to turn the border of Syunik and Gegharkunik into another hot spot on the map of the South Caucasus in order to continue looking for the most acceptable foreign policy vector of Armenia's development. Pashinyan remains loyal to pro-Western political views, trying to dilute Moscow's influence through the Minsk Group co-chairs. This position irritates the Russophile wing of Armenian politics, which fearfully awaits a sharp reaction from Moscow. The first president of Armenia does not hide his fears, believing that Pashinyan's political shortsightedness could provoke a civil war. (See Levon Ter-Petrosyan: June elections may end in civil war. ) Indeed, the last events demonstrate that the acting prime minister does not control the situation at the border. Instead, Pashinyan is preparing for the elections, abusing the fact that all of his current opponents, including his main rival, ex-President Robert Kocharian, are not of any interest neither for Moscow nor for the West. However, if the atmosphere in Armenia continues to be fueled by fear of uncertainty on the border, then the south of the country risks becoming a troubled region, and the country itself may plunge into chaos. When facing down public dissent and unrest, Iranian authorities are known to downplay the magnitude of the various crises they confront. But officials are uncharacteristically sounding the alarm about a mounting water crisis, one which could trigger a full-blown conflict over access to the essential resource. As sia Times writes, according to Minister of Energy Reza Ardakanian, the coming summer in the Iranian calendar year will be the driest in the recent five decades. The minister said he was concerned about peaking demand for drinking water and cast doubt on the governments ability to ensure an uninterrupted supply of water nationally. Iran is now confronting its most severe drought in half a century, with climate change contributing to a staggering drop in rainfall relative to preceding years. Authorities have been unable to remedy the impact of the record dry spell, though they are speaking up about the existential risks posed by the looming water crisis. Isa Kalantari, the head of the Department of Environment, scrubbed political correctness when he declared on May 17 that Iran is being wiped off due to the meteoric dilution of water resources. He shocked Iranians with warnings that the water war was quickly extending from one province to another, spilling over into villages. The pro-reform politician who, unlike most high-ranking officials of the Islamic Republic, doesnt mince words when talking publicly about the countrys challenges, said that in line with the consensus at the 1992 Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, countries were urged to utilize only 40% of their renewable water resources. But Iran has for years been making use of more than 100% of its renewable reserves. We, the officials of the past 40 years, should be held accountable to history regarding the decisions we made at the high levels resulting in the environmental destruction of the country, said Kalantari at a recent webinar. Poorly built dams The Iran Meteorological Organization estimated that rainfall in southern Sistan and Baluchestan provinces has been 82% lower than the long-term average, while Hormozgan province, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, had received 86% less rainfall than the regions dominant pattern. Iran has invested heavily in the construction of dams throughout the country, which experts say play a negative environmental role in evaporating renewable water reserves and are mostly poorly built. The reservoir capacity of the countrys dams has plummeted by 10 billion cubic meters (BCM) since last year, standing at 29.5 billion cubic meters as of the current discharge year. Unbridled extraction of water from dams in the past decades has caused a loss of reserves totaling 130 billion cubic meters, and the water balance of aquifers is also presently negative. This depletion, in addition to leaving the government hard-pressed to supply drinking water to less-developed regions, remote cities and villages, has made agricultural self-sufficiency very difficult. Agribusiness consumes 92% of Irans renewable water resources, much higher than the global average of 70%. With the perturbing trend of rainfall decline spurring an at times violent national competition for access to dwindling water supplies, farmers are exhausting all options to preserve their crops including by building illegal wells. Farmers are said to be illicitly withdrawing 4.7 billion cubic meters of water every year by digging their own wells or installing water pumps, a stumbling block in the way of ambitious government plans to truncate the total withdrawal from ground wells by 11 billion cubic meters. Some scholars blame the inefficiency of Irans irrigation systems for upending the demand and supply cycles for agriculture and industries. Around 80-90% of the countrys water is used in the agricultural sector. But the irrigation systems are still mostly traditional with very low efficiency. Despite all the investments, the adoption of high-efficiency irrigation systems, particularly in smaller farms, has been very slow, said Saman Razavi, an associate professor at the University of Saskatchewans School of Environment and Sustainability. Moreover, some water-demanding industries are located in water-scarce regions of the country due to geopolitical considerations, which puts more pressure on water resources. Of course, you need to bring population growth into the equation as well. Needless to say, this water balance equation does not hold, Razavi added. Therefore, Iran has needed to tap into deep groundwater resources, that are commonly known to not be renewable at short time scales. The melange of climate change and maladministration responsible for stoking the unprecedented water crisis isnt only impinging on the agriculture sector. Access to clean drinking water is not readily available to many ordinary Iranians, and experts warn that Iran should expect increased rural migration to cities with more developed water treatment facilities in the years to come. Ghasem Taghizadeh Khamesi, Irans deputy minister of energy, claimed last year in an interview that nearly 10 million Iranians lack sustainable water access. He noted that there were 6,000 villages dotted across the country which totally lacked efficient water supply facilities, and are only able to supply residents with limited quantities using tankers. In a 2018 interview, environment department chief Kalantari claimed if the current levels of water consumption for agricultural use remain unchanged, Irans populous southern and eastern regions will be entirely vacated in less than 25 years. If we do not find a solution for the water crisis, some 50 million Iranians will immigrate from the country. Perhaps an entity named Iran will be non-existent, he said. Ali Nazemi, an associate professor at the Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering at Concordia University, told Asia Times he agrees with the energy department chiefs assessment, but lamented how Iranian politicians have put dealing with the water dilemma on the backburner. Kalantari is completely right and definitely, something needs to be done, he said. However, I dont think the water crisis is still a top priority. In the [current] presidential election campaign, Im not seeing any of the candidates making any points about the environment. Nobody talks about the environment, and that is quite frightening for a country like Iran, he added. Compounding the unfolding water calamity is the fact that the strategically imperative bodies of water that border the country the Caspian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Gulf of Oman cannot be considered as auxiliary to the procurement of drinking water unless expensive desalination plants are launched, which experts say is not a viable option for Iran. Bordering saltwater is not giving you a competitive advantage in terms of freshwater supply. Essentially, the problem in Iran is that it has overused its freshwater supplies, said Kaveh Madani, a noted environmental scientist and the Henry Hart Rice Senior Fellow at Yale Universitys MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies. The amount of water use has surpassed the renewable water reserves long ago, which is a situation I refer to as water bankruptcy. Deadly water conflicts On the prospects of the eruption of deadly water conflicts in Iran, Madani, who is also a visiting professor at the Imperial College London, says these tensions are already underway and taking their toll. We have seen conflicts in Iran over water transfer or the implementation of water infrastructure. Weve had conflicts in central Iran, including in the provinces of Isfahan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari and Khuzestan. We have had cases of strikes, tensions and even people getting killed, he told Asia Times. Further water shortage and problems with the unfair allocation of water resources can trigger more tensions. But we in the water world are mostly afraid of mass migration in search of jobs and better livelihoods, marginalization of communities, inequalities and the follow-up tensions seen in other parts of the world, Madani added. Despite all the blunders Iran has made in the management of its natural resources, scientists believe there are steps that can be taken to avert an environmental cataclysm. The country can only handle this crisis with a paradigm shift from exploiting existing water resources to dramatic water conservation and using available water sustainably, said Mohammad Reza Najafi, an assistant professor of hydrology and water resources at the University of Western Ontario. The Canada-based academic recommends that Iran capitalizes on the Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) adaptation measure and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) approach to tamp down its vulnerability to climate change and regulate moderation in consumption. Experts, however, agree that the Iranian government isnt doing enough to address its water insolvency crisis. Far from acknowledging the need for a paradigm shift in the countrys management of the resource, Tehran has sidelined scientists with the know-how to help politicians devise robust policies to shore up the countrys environmental resilience. Solving Irans water and environmental problems requires a full-scale governmental focus that incorporates scientists views. Oftentimes, however, scientists have been alienated to serve short-sighted policies, said Mojtaba Sadegh, an assistant professor at the Boise State University researching climate change. Furthermore, Iran is engaged in several full-fledged crises such as global relations and sanctions which push the water and environmental problems to lower priorities, the academic added. I hope that Iran advances toward a more sustainable use of water. The current trends dont seem too promising, though. In 2009, it was estimated that there were 210 million drug users, accounting for 4.8% of the worlds population aged 15-64, compared to 269 million ones in 2018, accounting for 5.3% of the population, Modern Diplomacy writes. Over the past two decades, drug abuse in developing countries has grown much faster than in developed countries. To some extent, this reflects the difference in overall population growth during this period 7% in developed countries and 28% in developing countries but it also highlights the rapid growth of the young population in developing countries. Teenagers and young adults account for the largest proportion of drug users. During the 2000-2018 period, in developing countries population in this age group increased by 16%, while the population in this age group decreased by 10% in developed countries. Urbanisation has become a driving factor for the current and future drug market. In both developed and developing countries, there are more drug users in urban areas than in rural areas. Part of the reason for the overall increase in drug use is the large-scale migration of people from rural to urban areas: over half of the worlds population now lives in urban areas, up from 34% in 1960. Urbanisation may be a key factor in the future drug market dynamics, especially in developing countries where urbanisation trends are more evident. Increased wealth is associated with increased drug use, but poor people bear the greatest burden of diseases related to drug use. Worldwide, drug abuse is more common in developed countries than in developing ones. Drugs such as cocaine are more closely associated with the wealthiest regions in the world. Similarly, within countries, the prevalence of drug abuse among the wealthy segments of society is relatively high. However, people with a lower socio-economic status are more likely to be affected by disorders related to drug abuse. Data from some countries show that there is a connection between patterns of harmful drug use and diseases typical of low-income groups. These patterns appear to be less common in wealthier social classes. The economic constraints imposed by the global Covid-19 crisis are likely to exacerbate risks for the most vulnerable groups, including drug users. For example, changes in the labour market, such as rising unemployment, have been connected to the subsequent increase in drug use and a fortiori the epidemic has forced tens of millions of people around the world to lose their jobs while seeking refuge in dangerous havens at low prices, but with highly fatal consequences. Covid-19 could lead to a further expansion of the drug market. The pandemic may induce more farmers and crofters to increase or engage in illegal crop cultivation, both because of the reduced control ability of national authorities and because more people may decide to bear the risk of engaging in illegal activities during the economic crisis. The pandemic-related restrictions have led to a reduction in air and land traffic hence maritime traffic has increased. The risk of interception at sea is low and the number of smuggled goods is higher than by air or land. It has recently been reported that cocaine is being shipped directly from South America to Europe by sea. The emergence of internationally uncontrolled substances is stable, but new types of potentially harmful opioids are increasing. The drug market is becoming increasingly complex. In addition to traditional substances such as marijuana, cocaine and heroin, hundreds of synthetic drugs have been added, many of which are not under international control. Non-professional use of drugs is also increasing rapidly. Every year there are about 500 new active substances on the States domestic markets. At present, most of them are stimulants, followed by synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists and a small amount of opioids. Although the overall number of new psychoactive substances has levelled off and stabilised, the ratio has changed. Of the total number of new psychoactive substances identified in 2014, the new opioid psychoactive substances accounted for only 2%, but in 2018 their number had risen to 9%. Many of the new opioid psychoactive substances are analogues of fentanyl, whose efficacy and harm have been demonstrated, causing overdose deaths in North America and other regions, but to a lesser extent. In North America, fentanyl is used as an excitatory drug for heroin and other drugs (including cocaine and methamphetamine), and some substances are used to produce counterfeit medicinal opioids. Some evidence shows that new injections of psychoactive stimulants are also circulating in Europe: a study of discarded syringe residues in six European cities found that many syringes are stained with new psychoactive substances that produce even more devastating effects. The use of new psychoactive substances may gradually become firmly established among the most disadvantaged groups. A single type of new psychoactive substances has hardly formed a large market. Evidence from Europe, however, shows that synthetic cannabinoids are a severe problem among marginalised groups such as homeless and prisoners. There are twenty-two countries reported for the use of new psychoactive substances in prisons, most of them with synthetic cannabinoids identified as very dangerous. The control of chemical precursors forces drug manufacturers to innovate. Many of the chemicals most commonly used as precursors to synthesise drugs such as amphetamine, methamphetamine and ecstasy have come under international scrutiny. Drug traffickers have sought alternatives and not just scarcely regulated substances but also chemicals specifically designed to circumvent regulations, the so-called special precursors. Designed to prevent restrictive measures, it is likely that with the spread of Covid-19 drug production will depend on further compression of those chemical precursors. Evidence found even in Mexico shows that this has become a reality: reports suggest that in 2020 a shortage of methamphetamine precursors imported from East Asia caused an increase in the price of methamphetamine in Mexico and the United States. The rate of change in the drug market has accelerated dramatically. Synthetic drugs are replacing opiates in Central Asia and the Russian Federation. Opioid markets in these two regions appear to have changed between 2008 and 2018. The number of opiates intercepted by the Russian Federations authorities has decreased by 80% approximately, while the number of people receiving treatment for opioid use has dropped dramatically. The market for stimulants, however, seems to be expanding day by day. There is evidence that methamphetamine and various cathinones, including mephedrone and -pyrrolidinyl-phenylpentanal, are now everywhere on the Russian drug market. The Russian authorities have reported that recently the number of clandestine laboratories for the production of various illegal drugs has increased significantly, and has more than doubled in two years, rising to 152 laboratories as early as 2018. There is also a growth of the methamphetamine market in Afghanistan and Iraq. As early as 2012, surveys carried out on staff in hospitals, prisons and other institutions revealed the importance of methamphetamine in Iraq. Crystal methamphetamine has become another major drug of concern, besides fentanyl and tramadol. A study has further confirmed these findings, with drug users claiming that cannabis is more difficult to obtain than fentanyl or methamphetamine. Recently, Iraqi authorities have discovered several methamphetamine laboratories and concern has been expressed about the large imports of pseudoephedrine preparations: methamphetamine laboratories use these preparations as precursors. In Afghanistan, methamphetamine production seems to have started in 2014. Since then, methamphetamine seizures have steadily increased. In the first half of 2019, however, seizures increased significantly compared to the previous year. Large seizures of methamphetamine believed to have originated in Afghanistan in other nations also show that production in that country is increasing rapidly. As we can see, drugs have turned from means of distraction for the bored European world into an alternative for desperate people with no chance of job fulfilment. This year marks 100 years since the founding of the Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (DASSR). The corresponding decree was issued on January 20, 1921. This day, according to many historians and politicians, became the starting point for a new stage for the Dagestani peoples. In November 1920, about 300 delegates and representatives of the districts participated in the Extraordinary Congress of the Peoples of Dagestan which took place in Temir-Khan-Shura. At the congress, on behalf of the Soviet government, the People's Commissar for Nationalities of the RSFSR Joseph Stalin announced a declaration on Soviet autonomy for Dagestan. He said that now the Soviet government had the opportunity to tackle the urgent domestic issues, including the implementation of national policy, and therefore the time had come to announce that Dagestan must be autonomous, to enjoy internal self-government, while maintaining fraternal ties with the peoples of Russia. Dagestan should be governed according to its peculiarities, its way of life, customs, as well as the Sharia, which is of great importance for the Dagestani peoples. " The Soviet government has a specific goal - to select from among local workers honest and loyal people who love their land and entrust them with all the governing bodies of Dagestan, both economic and administrative. The Soviet government is the first government that gives Dagestan autonomy. We hope that the peoples of Dagestan will justify the confidence of the Soviet government. Long live the alliance of the peoples of Dagestan with the peoples of Russia! Long live the Soviet autonomy of Dagestan! Stalin concluded. Grigory Ordzhonikidze, who headed the North Caucasian Revolutionary Committee at that time, said that the Soviet Dagestan Republic differs from the mountain bourgeois republic as it liberates the peoples of the mountains "from the power of adventurers, from the power of oppressors, from Tarkovs and Turks invited by them, from Halils and invited by them Englishmen ". "The Soviet Republic transfers power and land to the poor, secures to you all your gains in the revolution, gives you all the means to defend these gains. The Soviet Republic does not separate you from the new Russia, does not transfer you to the Turks or the British. The Soviet Republic binds you to free workers and peasants of other peoples of Russia as equals, " Ordzhonikidze said. At the Extraordinary Congress of the Peoples of Dagestan, a delegation was elected for a trip to Moscow, consisting of Dzhelal-ed Din Korkmasov, Alibek Taho-Godi, Said Gabiev, in order to develop, together with representatives of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, the main provisions of the decree on the formation of the Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. It also participated in the development of the draft Constitution of the DASSR. According to the decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee on January 20, 1921, the Avar, Andean, Gunibsky, Darginsky, Kazikumukhsky, Kaitago-Tabasaransky, Kyurinsky, Samursky, Temir-Khan-Shurinsky, Khasavyurt districts and the territory of the Caspian coast entered the Dagestan ASSR. Later, the Nogaysky, Tarumovsky and Kizlyarsky districts were transferred to the Dagestan ASSR. The supreme governing bodies of the republic were also formed - the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars. Nazhmudin Samursky was elected chairman of the CEC, and Korkmasov headed the first government of the republic. On December 5, 1921, the first Constitution in the history of the republic was adopted at the All-day Constituent Congress of the Soviets. This event marked the final victory of the Soviet regime in Dagestan. The acquisition of statehood within Russia became the main economic and cultural development of the DASSR. This week, a reconnaissance and sabotage group of the armed forces of Armenia made another attempt to break into the territory of Azerbaijan in the direction of the settlement of Yukhary Ayrim of the Kelbajar region through the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border. Six Armenian servicemen, who tried to mine the supply lines leading to the positions of the Azerbaijani army on the border, were taken prisoner. This became an informational occasion for the conversation of ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, leader of the Armenian National Congress party, to the First TV Channel of Armenia. He also outlined his vision of the history of the settlement of the Karabakh conflict, current realities and prospects for overcoming the political crisis. Talking about the captured soldiers, Ter-Petrosyan noted that the situation is related to border security: After the war, such incidents occur regularly. There are political and psychological reasons for these problems. The political reason is that [Azerbaijani President Ilham] Aliyev is confident that [Acting Prime Minister of Armenia] Nikol [Pashinyan] will not win these elections (I mean the early parliamentary elections in Armenia, scheduled for June 20 this year, - editor's note), and uses his weakness ... The psychological factor is expressed in the fact that Azerbaijan felt humiliated for 30 years after losing the First Karabakh war. This is a very heavy burden. We have only lost nine months, but this burden is already very heavy for us. " The ex-president also recalled that after the First Karabakh war there were prisoners on both sides: I decided to return the prisoners, I turned to the Red Cross, provided the list and said: I release these people, let them return to Azerbaijan. Then those who Were nearby - Vazgen Sargsyan, Serzh Sargsyan - asked: And if they dont return our prisoners? And I answered: Be calm, I know Heydar Aliyev. Our prisoners returned by the same liner. Answering the question of why Armenia ultimately lost the war, Levon Ter-Petrosyan noted: We were defeated because we did not understand the spirit of the times. In politics, time is the most important factor ... At one time, we could gain a lot through concessions . If we went to the step-by-step solution to the problem, proposed in the 1990s, our people would be happy now. " "I agreed to the option of a phased solution. On the basis of this option, we would return Lachin and Kelbajar to the Azerbaijani side with the condition that we retain the Lachin corridor. This corridor was supposed to be at least 22 km, and not 4 km as it is now," says the ex-president , answering the question of what exactly he proposed at the negotiations. "Karabakh would be under the control of the peacekeeping forces. An opportunity would be created for the development of Karabakh. There are no borders in all of Europe. Borders do not matter in developed countries." According to Ter-Petrosyan, time worked for Azerbaijan: "Azerbaijan strengthened, and Armenia was weakened. A modern army was created in Azerbaijan, and our army decreased due to migration. There are also hidden nuances, which I am not talking about, but the number of our army less than in the 1990s. What could one hope for? " Speaking about why he himself remained on the sidelines when the future of the country was being decided, the ex-president expressed confidence that if he had not moved away from active politics, then a civil war could begin in Armenia. The ex-president believes that the main lesson of the last war is the coming understanding that it is necessary to abandon the dream of "Armenia from sea to sea": "When a person comes to power, he must know the situation in Armenia, what problems it has with its neighbors, with what external problems she faces, and try to solve those problems realistically. Dreams are typical of immature societies. " As for Turkey's role in the Karabakh conflict, according to Ter-Petrosyan, in the 1990s it was not involved in the process: The Turks even wanted to improve relations with Armenia in the full sense of the word, they wanted to open the borders, sent us wheat and opened roads ". As for the position of Russia, Ter-Petrosyan said that today they do not talk with him or with another ex-president of Armenia, Robert Kocharian, in Moscow, do not disclose their plans to them. In the Russian capital, they talk to Nikol Pashinyan as the head of state, but "he doesn't even understand what the Russians want to say." Nevertheless, according to the ex-president of Armenia, Russia has long-term programs for the Transcaucasus: Everyone knows that the West has come to terms with the fact that the Caucasus is a zone controlled by Russia. For the West, post-Soviet countries can be important only when they represent a big problem for Russia. " Talking about the upcoming elections in Armenia, Ter-Petrosyan noted that they are being held in difficult conditions: The state machine has collapsed, the level of governance is zero. In 1991, we faced exactly the same situation: the local executive bodies were in a deplorable state, and militia. There was no budget, no funding, the courts did not work. Today, a parliamentary republic is an abyss for us. In young states, parliamentary rule is a disaster. Now the opposition and the government are in mortal combat. These elections can lead to civil war. From bad governments and dictators can be gotten rid of, but the most dangerous thing for the country is civil wars. " Russias GDP growth is forecast at 3.2% in 2021, followed by 3.2% and 2.3% in 2022 and 2023, respectively, according to the World Banks latest Russia Economic Report. Global economic recovery, higher oil prices, and soft domestic monetary conditions in 2021 are expected to support a recovery led by household consumption and public investment. This baseline scenario assumes a gradual decline in new COVID-19 infections. In 2020, Russias GDP contracted by 3.0%compared to contractions of 3.8% in the world economy and 5.4% in advanced economies, said Apurva Sanghi, the Lead Economist for the World Bank in Russia. Several factors helped Russia perform relatively better: in recent years, the country has undertaken significant macro-fiscal stabilization efforts, resulting in an improved fiscal position. Among other contributing factors were enhanced regulation and supervision in the banking sector, fortified capital and liquidity buffers, relatively soft restrictions for industrial and construction sectors, closer ties to a relatively fast-growing China, a relatively small services sector and a large public sector that buffered against unemployment. Russias fiscal outcomes worsened in 2020, but improved in the first quarter of 2021. In 2020, the federal budget was hit by pandemic-induced shocks and registered a deficit of Rub4.1 trillion (3.8 percent of GDP), compared to a surplus of Rub1.9 billion (1.8 percent of GDP) in 2019. The Russian banking sector has been resilient so far, but medium-term impacts remain to be seen. Credit growth has been supported by an economic recovery and public credit support programs. Non-performing loans remained largely unchanged, at about 9% of total loans, in 2021. Although employment is still below pre-pandemic levels, the labor market began showing some signs of improvement by the end of 2020. The national unemployment rate has been declining since last August, when it peaked at 6.4%, to 5.4% in March 2021. However, this rate is still 0.7 percentage points higher than in the same month of the previous year, which means that labor markets are not yet where they were before the pandemic. Average real wages increased by 1.7% between 2019 and 2020, but masked important differences across economic activities: sectors that suffered the largest employment losses also had the largest real wage losses. Real wages increased in agriculture, telecommunications, and health services, but fell in many other sectors, with large declines in hospitality services, construction, culture/sports/leisure activities, and commerce. The study also finds, however, that increases in real wages do not compensate for the decline in per-capita disposable income, which in the last three quarters of 2020 was lower by 7.9%, 5.3% and 1.7%, respectively, than in the same periods of the previous year. The report contains a special topic section on halving poverty in Russia through cost-effective social safety nets. As a national goal, Russia aims to halve poverty to 6.6 percent by 2030. While Russias social safety-nets system plays an important role in reducing poverty, it does so at a high cost: the country spends over 3% of GDP, or $30 billion per year, on social-assistance programs. This level of spending is more than three times greater than the combined income deficit of all poor families in the country, before transfers. Traditionally, Russia has built quite an impressive social safety net system. However, the countrys expenditure on social safety nets is larger than the spending in the Europe and Central Asia region, which is 2.2% of GDP, said Renaud Seligmann, the World Bank Country Director in Russia. Introducing a national, targeted program that provides financial assistance to people falling below a poverty threshold could be key to cost-effective poverty reduction. In our view, implementing such a program could reduce poverty faster and at a lower fiscal cost. This budget provides substantial funding for federal conservation programs. Following the Great American Outdoors Act, the budget provides record high-level funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, our nations most important land conservation program which has supported projects in every county across the country and many places in the Chesapeake Bay watershed such as Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, he said in a statement released by his office. The rains, snow and hail that hit Dagestan in recent days triggered mudflows that destroyed roads and houses in the mountainous part of the republic. The disasters affected eight regions of Dagestan. According to available information, 70 households and cars were damaged as a result of the flows. Fortunately, there are no human casualties. According to the Dagestan Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, in the Khunzakh region, in three settlements, roads were washed out, and a section of the regional Bunaksk - Gimry - Chirkata highway is currently blocked. A powerful cyclone hit other republics as well: Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Chechnya and Karachay-Cherkessia suffered from the heavy rainfalls. The water level in the rivers has risen sharply, indicating the persisting mudflow threats. The mudflows season in the mountains of the North Caucasus, including Dagestan, begins in May and continues until September. This should be borne in mind by tourists going to the mountains, Mikhail Dokukin, a leading researcher at the Glaciology Laboratory of the High Mountain Geophysical Institute of Roshydromet, said in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza. - Mikhail Dmitrievich, how can tourists who have already planned a vacation in the mountains of the North Caucasus protect themselves from mudflows? - There are websites "Cadastre of mudflow hazard in the south of the European part of Russia" and "Cadastre of avalanches and mudflows of the North Caucasus" available. All known mudflow basins in the republics are indicated there. This information needs to be studied before going to the mountains. Tourists should know where to pitch their tent. Usually, they are placed by the river, but it is necessary to find out beforehand whether this river is selenium or not. I talked, for example, with one renowned tourist who even has his own website with information about the Caucasus. I showed him a photograph of the Cherek Balkar Gorge, where a mudflow descended, consisting of 13-meter boulders. It turned out that he and his friends had previously spent several nights in a tent on the banks of this river, not knowing that it was selenium! And mudslides usually descent late in the evening or at night. It is very difficult for people to navigate in such a situation. - Do tourists need to monitor precipitation in the mountains? How do mudflows occur in general? - They have a different genetic type of origin. There are streams from the breakthrough of mountain lakes, from the accumulation of water in glaciers, from the activation of landslide processes on glacier sediments. Much depends on the temperature in the highlands - the danger of a mudflow descending increases when the air temperature on the glaciers is above zero even at night. When local rainfall affects mudflow basins. Rainstorm mudflows can occur in low-mountain relief. Especially when it is hot and rainy. Many factors are related here. There are different features of the development and activity of mudflows in different regions. As for the temperature in the highlands, it is monitored by meteorological stations. For example, the high-altitude meteorological station Cheget, located at an altitude of 3 043 meters, gathers air temperature data at these altitudes. - How can one protect himself from the mudflow? - There are special engineer structures. The most effective are mudflow barriers, through which the flow is passed so that it does not go out into the built-up areas. For example, the protection of Tyrnyauz (one of the highest located cities of the Russian Federation, at an altitude of 1300 meters) is based on the mudflow barriers, which must be periodically cleared of mudflow deposits. It was not by chance that Mikhail Dokukin mentioned Tyrnyauz, since this city survived the tragedy in July 2000. Within two days, a mud flow flooded residential buildings and destroyed a road bridge across the Baksan River. 930 people were resettled from damaged houses, 8 people died, almost 40 people were reported missing. Experts from the Vysokogorny Geophysical Institute urge builders not to create their facilities in the mountains without mudflow expertise at the design stage. It will save lives and houses built. The 13th meeting of the Azerbaijan-Turkey high-level military dialogue will begin its work in Baku on June 3, according to the press service of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. The meeting participants will discuss the current state of bilateral cooperation in the field of security, in the military, military-technical, military-medical, military-educational, military-industrial and other spheres. Besides, the parties will consider the prospects for development and the main areas of activity in the military and defense spheres. The Khudaferin border checkpoint will soon open on the border of Azerbaijan and Iran, Governor of East Azerbaijan province Mohammed Rza Purmuhammedi said. He clarified that all the necessary steps had been already taken. The governor emphasized that the issue of the opening of a checkpoint after the liberation of the Azerbaijani border in Khudaferin was discussed both in Baku and Tehran. Jabrayil region and Khudaferin were occupied in 1993, Azerbaijan liberated this region on October 18, 2020 during the Second Karabakh war. Turkey and Greece agreed to recognize each others COVID-19 vaccine certificates, the foreign ministers of the two countries announced on Monday. "The agreement we reached today will mutually contribute positively to our tourism sectors," Mevlut Cavusoglu said at a joint news conference with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias in Athens. Turkey has started to work on concrete projects with a focus on action and cooperation with the Greek side and the two countries agreed on 25 items in the list of areas of cooperation including in transport, energy, environment, tourism, and trade, Cavusoglu said. He said Turkey is ready for dialogue without any preconditions to improve bilateral relations with Greece. "We agreed to resolve differences within the framework of good neighborly relations, international law and respect for mutual interests," Anadolu Agency cited him as saying. Cavusoglu said the fifth round of meeting on confidence-building measures between Turkish and Greek defense delegations is scheduled to be held in Ankara. Dendias, for his part, said they discussed bilateral relations as well as the EU- Turkey relations in the meeting. He stressed that the two sides are fully aware of their diametrically opposed positions they have, and said: "The purpose of todays meeting is to attempt an initial negotiation process and if possible, a gradual normalization of the situation over time." He also said that today's meeting was an opportunity to agree on a meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the NATO Summit on June 14. The Greek foreign minister said that the two sides also agreed on a list of economic cooperation programs. Iran has been trying to stop the pollution of the Araz River by Armenia for several years, but to no avail, Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian said on Monday. The Iranian Ministry of Energy makes increasing efforts to suppress the pollution of Araz by Armenia each and every year, the head of the Iranian department noted at an event dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Iran-Azerbaijan joint exploitation of Aras and Mill and Moghan dams. "However, Armenia's steps to prevent the dumping of waste into Araz are not enough. Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Armenia are planning to hold a quadripartite meeting to prevent pollution of the Araz River," Ardakanian said. The minister added that this meeting may soon take place in Iran. Iraq has agreed to transfer $125 million of frozen Iranian funds to a European bank for the purchase of 16 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian was quoted as saying by state media on Saturday. Iran, the hardest hit Middle Eastern country by COVID-19, has complained that U.S. sanctions were preventing it from making payments to buy vaccines. Ardakanian said the payments would go towards the purchase of vaccines from the World Health Organization (WHO) sponsored global COVAX vaccine-sharing plan, state news agency IRNA reported. There was no immediate confirmation by Iraqi officials of the reported release of Irans funds for the purchase of vaccines. Egypts foreign minister, in a meeting with his Israeli counterpart, has stressed the need to build on a truce between Israel and Hamas by stopping all practices that lead to escalation, Al Jazeera reported. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry affirmed in his meeting with Gabi Ashkenazi in Cairo on Sunday the need to take into account the special sensitivity associated with East Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque and all Islamic and Christian holy sites, the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement. In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel. Palestinian officials have put reconstruction costs from Israeli attacks in Gaza at tens of millions of dollars. Kamel also met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Sunday and handed him a message from Egypt President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi affirming Egyptian support to Palestinians and Abbas, state news agency MENA said. MENA added that Cairo would host talks among Palestinian factions to achieve unity between those in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied areas of the occupied West Bank. Discussions with Israeli officials have touched on a set of measures that would allow materials, electricity and fuel into the territory, as well as the possible expansion of maritime space allowed for Gaza fishermen, an unnamed Egyptian official was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. The role of the Palestinian Authority is central in the talks, the official said. Egypt is seeking to have it deeply involved in the reconstruction process. Phuket will be the first destination in Thailand to reopen to vaccinated foreign visitors from 1 July, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced. Those under 17 do not need to be vaccinated, but they do need to take the rapid antigen test at the airport (under 12, no test is required if they travel with their parents). In addition to the rapid antigen test, and the vaccination for the parents, international tourists must also install the 'Thailand Plus application' for their time in Thailand, and have an RT-PCR test that shows a negative result within 72 hours of visiting the country. The tourists will have to re-take the test every 5 days while they are in the country. After Day 5 in Phuket, travellers would be allowed to head offshore to some of the islands. The notice said that if the tourists stay in the Land of Smiles for less than 7 days, they must fly out of Phuket. If the tourists wish to stay more than 7 days, they "may opt" to fly out of Bangkok, The Thaiger reported. A team of Russian experts arrived in Egypt to carry out a control inspection of international airports in the countrys resort cities, the Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation reported on Sunday. According to the companys spokesperson, the delegation of 12 experts will be divided into two control groups, one of which will go to Sharm el-Sheikh and the second - to Hurghada. "They will once again check the implementation of security measures, the operation of surveillance cameras, the procedures for screening passengers and baggage, ensuring the aircrafts safety, the procedure for the personnels entrance and exit for a runway, ensuring security in hotels and tourist facilities as well as sanitary measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic," TASS cited the spokesperson as saying. On April 23, the two countries presidents, Vladimir Putin and Abdul Fattah el-Sisi, agreed to resume flights between Russian cities and the Red Sea resorts. Air traffic between Russia and Egypt was completely suspended in November 2015 after the Russian planes crash in Sinai en route from Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg. Threats are coming from the U.S. with regard to the SWIFT interbank payment system, which could get tangled up in the anti-Russia "sanctions spiral," head of the Russian Foreign Ministrys Department of Economic Cooperation (DEC) Dmitry Birichevsky said. "It is no secret for anyone that threats are being heard, primarily from the United States, to disconnect Russia from the SWIFT system," Birichevsky said. He said that the anti-Russia sanctions introduced by Western states are just a tool used to create barriers in order to protect their own producers and protect their own interests in the world arena. "There are fears that the SWIFT system may be involved in this sanctions spiral," the head of the Russian Foreign Ministrys Department of Economic Cooperation warned. According to Birichevsky, there are currently no signs of any plans to disconnect Russia from the SWIFT interbank payment system, but Russia is preparing in case of such a scenario and has started developing an alternative. "Such work has already been started," he said, asked about the possibility of a SWIFT analogue in Russia. "So far, as we understand, there has been no talk of this, but it is absolutely necessary to prepare, given the unpredictability of the situation. Russia has been doing this for quite a long time, since it is an objective necessity," Sputnik cited Birichevsky as saying. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, earlier said that SWIFT is an international organisation, a private international organisation in which the European Union has no power. Memorial Day weekend has often seen increases in shootings and violence in Baltimore and other major cities. Last year, nine people were killed in Baltimore during the holiday weekend, despite residents being ordered to stay at home during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. Harrison said at the time that the killings were not random and that retaliatory violence was to blame for some of the shootings. Selahaddin Gulen, a relative of Fetullah Gulen, leader of the Gulenist Terror Group (FETO), was captured abroad in an operation by the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and brought to Turkey, authorities announced on Monday. Selahaddin Gulen is thought to be a "senior FETO figure" who President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said needed to be captured in a speech on May 19. The suspect was wanted for being a member of a terrorist group. Websites linked to the group say Selahaddin Gulen was captured in Kenya, but authorities have not corroborated the claims.Some media outlets claimed he was captured in an Asian country. Assisted by secret members of the terrorist group, the suspect, a teacher, fled Turkey after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Selahaddin Gulen is related to several top members of the terrorist group in addition to its Fetullah Gulen, Daily Sabah reported. Georgia's opposition United National Movement (UNM) members will take up their parliamentary mandates after almost a six-month boycott, party chair Nika Melia has announced after the partys political council meeting yesterday. "We have made the right decision at the moment," Nika Melia announced, adding that his party will spare no efforts to fight with former ruling Georgian Dream party chair Bidzina Ivanishvilis oligarchy. However, Melia noted that his party will not sign the EU-mediated document despite their respect to the foreign dignitaries, Agenda.ge reported. In mid-April, the Georgian ruling party and the part of opposition signed the EU-mediated agreement after the six-month political deadlock following the 2020 parliamentary elections. Although some of the political parties have entered the parliament after signing the agreement UNM, European Georgia and Labour party refused to do so. The former police officer who opened gunfire from the window of an apartment bloc in Yekaterinburg has been detained, a source in the local law enforcement agencies said on Sunday. "The former police officer has been detained after his flat was stormed with the use of flash and sound grenades," the source said. According to the source, no one of the law enforcers who stormed the flat was injured. The former police officer offered armed resistance during the detention, a source said. "During the detention, the suspect offered armed resistance and shot at officers of the National Guard rapid deployment taskforce," TASS cited the source as saying. The man has been detained, a spokesman for the Russian Investigative Committees Sverdlovsk region department said. "The man suspected in the attempted murder of a child and an attempt on the life of a law enforcer has been detained in Yekaterinburg. A criminal case has been opened on charges of an attempted murder of a minor and an attempt on the life of a law enforcer (part 3, article 30, part 2, article 105 of the Russian Criminal Code and article 317 of the Russian Criminal Code) has been opened," the spokesman said. According to earlier reports, a former police officer opened gunfire from the window of his apartment targeting passersby and cars. As a result, a National Guard officer, who arrived at the site, and a child were wounded. According to the regional health ministry, the girl was taken to hospital in serious condition. The solitary out-of-the-way hills, where people cultivated maize and cassava, have turned out to be land areas worth millions of dollars since the day people shifted to grow other crops more than a decade ago. In September 2009, Lo Van Van, born in 1980, in Ban Bo commune, Tam Duong district in the northern province of Lai Chau, decided to clear his maize field to grow tea, though it was about to be harvested, ignoring protests from villagers. Local people thought that Van made an unwise decision, because maize was could bring the highest value and it fed thousands of families in the northeastern land area. Vans lonely tea field was surrounded by maize and rice fields. The story about Van, who gave up his maize field, which was his fortune, to grow tea in anticipation of the provincial tea development project is often recalled by the Thai ethnic minority there. Three years later, Van began harvesting tea. Since then, the tea growing hills have brought a steady annual income of nearly VND100 million to his family. If I till rice on the area of 2,000 square meters, I would harvest one ton of rice, worth VND16 million. If I grow tea on that area, I can earn VND60 million, Van said. Vans success has triggered a revolution in the locality. Households in Ban Bo commune and neighboring communes are rushing to shift to grow other crops. From 2013 to 2019, the tea growing area in Ban Bo commune alone increased from 60 hectares to 1,000 hectares, while the figure was 1,300 hectares in the entire district. Every year, Ban Bos households earn VND40 billion. According to the Lai Chau provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the total tea growing area in the province had reached 7,000 hectares by 2019. The local tea production can bring VND120 billion a year. The province exports dried tea to choosy markets worth millions of dollars. Contrary to peoples assumptions about small dilapidated houses in the solitary northwest, the houses in Tam Duong district are spacious and well equipped. There are asphalt roads linking every village. Tea plants have created a completely new look for the locality. Ethnic minority groups not only have escaped poverty, but have become well off. Vietnams tea value The solitary out-of-the-way hills, where people cultivated maize and cassava, have turned out to be land areas worth millions of dollars since the day people shifted to grow other crops more than a decade ago. Vietnam ranks fifth among the largest tea exporters in the world and the seventh among largest tea producers. Seventy four countries and territories import tea from Vietnam. According to a report, 34 cities and provinces in Vietnam were growing tea as of 2020 on a total area of 120,000 hectares. Tea is mostly grown in the northern midlands and mountainous areas which account for 70 percent of total tea growing area in the country. More than 170 tea varieties are being grown in Vietnam which give high yield and special flavor. Shan tea (a wild tea mostly grown by ethnic minority people in mountainous areas), PH1 and LDP1 are some of them. The soil and climate conditions in the provinces of Lai Chau, Son La and Dien Bien are favorable for growing shan tea (24 percent of total growing area of the country) which can bring high value. The report from the General Department of Customs in December 2019 showed that Vietnams tea is present in large markets, including Pakistan (48,000 tons), Taiwan (19,000), Russia (15,000) and Indonesia (10,000). However, Vietnam mostly exports tea as raw material which has low prices. Tea products made of Vietnams tea now bear importers brands. According to the Department of Crop Production, because of problems in variety structure, black tea remains Vietnams key export product which accounts for 70 percent of total output (the figure is just 10 percent in the world). Also, the problems in tea processing and consumption are still hindering the development of the potential farm produce. There are big differences in value created by different tea processing workshops. Bad branding and food hygiene problems are also obstacles that hinder access to choosy markets. Experts believe that to solve these problems, the quality of tea products should be improved by shifting to new varieties. They have advised to make investment in high-quality processed products to form a modern tea processing industry. Enterprises need to diversify their products and meet VietGAP standards. VietGAP, or Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices, means good agricultural practices. It is the application of production methods to produce clean and safe products, especially fresh fruit and vegetable. If tea processing enterprises can cooperate with farmers, this will allow them to have stable material supply for processing. Also, enterprises in the industry need to restructure the black and green tea ratio to better satisfy domestic and export markets. Despite Covid-19, tea exports remain stable with 475,000 tons exported in the first six months of 2020. Vietnam is one of the biggest tea exporters in the world, but it mostly exports raw tea, which brings low added value. Ha An Online stalls help rescue farm produce in North Hai Duongs first farm produce, including cabbage and chicken eggs, are being sold on voso.vn, an e-commerce website, while an online stall distributing Hai Duongs produce has been set up. The Wealth-X and UBS reports did not disclose the exact names of billionaires, while the Panama Papers and the Bahamas reports included names in tax paradises. The Panama Papers released in May 2016 included 189 Vietnamese and 19 offshore and 23 intermediary companies. Some individuals on the list said that it was legal to make investments in areas with attractive tax incentives. This was not the first time that Vietnamese billionaires assets and transactions related to investments overseas were exposed. In early 2015, ICJC documents showed 100,000 clients from more than 200 countries having accounts at the HSBC Swiss branch in 1988-2007. There were 26 clients related to Vietnam on the list, with total assets of $37.5 million. The richest individual had $12.2 million. Some years ago, a British real estate firm came to Hanoi to sell houses in London to Vietnamese people. At that time, a high-ranking official said that buying houses overseas was not feasible because of the regulations which restrict Vietnamese peoples purchases of properties overseas and payments abroad. However, an article from Coldwell Banker Singapore published a short time later showed that the Vietnamese purchases of houses in Singapore accounted for 3.2 percent of total real estate transactions. More recently, an unofficial marketing program in HCM City offered houses in the US. A US real estate consultancy firm with a HCM City representative office offered to sell houses valued at $500,000. The firm said many people registered to buy houses with the total value of hundreds of thousand of dollars. The names of some Vietnamese owning big properties in Australia have also been released. Analysts believe that the number of wealthy and super wealthy people in Vietnam is increasing rapidly, but they remain mysterious to most Vietnamese. There is very little information about their assets and transactions. Analysts believe that the number of wealthy and super wealthy people in Vietnam is increasing rapidly, but they remain mysterious to most Vietnamese. There is very little information about their assets and transactions. In late 2014, a Swiss bank released a report about super wealthy people in the world, who have assets of at least $30 million. There were 210 Vietnamese individuals on the list with total assets of $20 billion, a two-fold increase in both the number of wealthy people and their asset value. In mid-May 2021, official statistics showed that 145 wealthy Vietnamese individuals have stock assets valued at least VND660 billion. However, experts believe that the real number of billionaires is much higher, because there are many hidden names. Reports by the World Bank and ANZ all show that the number of super wealthy people and middle-class people in Vietnam has been soaring in the last decade. Knight Frank predicted that the number of Vietnamese super wealthy people would double in the next 10 years to 300, the sharpest growth rate in the world. However, in all these reports, there are no specific names. Hidden information In early 2019, Thaco, owned by President Tran Ba Duong, consulted with its shareholders about the issuance of 30.3 million shares to the strategic shareholder - Jardine Cycle & Carriage at the price of VND128,500 per share. After the deal, worth VND3.9 trillion ($160.8 million), the foreign partner would raise its ownership ratio from 25.23 percent to 26.57 percent, while Thaco value would be $9.4 billion. In 2018, Duong, with total asset value of $1.7 billion, was added by Forbes to the list of the worlds dollar billionaires. However, with the new valuation, Duong and his family members would have $6.1 billion. Since Thacos shares are being traded in the OTC market, not on the official bourses, Duong is not on the list of the richest stock billionaires. Thaco canceled the public company registration earlier this year, which means that Thaco wont have to publicize its financial figures and shareholders meeting resolutions, and the information about the billionaire will be more private. Novaland President Bui Thanh Nhon also has not been added to Forbes list of the worlds billionaires, but people believe that his assets exceeded $1 billion years ago. In 2018, Competing with Giants, a book published by Forbesbooks showed that Tran Quy Thanh once refused a deal worth $2.5 billion to buy Tan Hiep Phats shares suggested by Coca Cola seven years ago. If Thanh had accepted the deal, he would have been named on the list. Trinh Van Quyet, President of FLC, is also an unrecognized dollar billionaire. Prior to that, Dao Hong Tuyen, known as Tuan Chau Island King, once revealed that he had $1-2 billion. Many other names are also real billionaires with assets of over $1 billion, though they have not been named on any lists, including Do Quang Hien, President of T&T Group; Truong My Lan, President of Van Thinh Phat Group; Dang Van Thanh of Thanh Thanh Cong Group; Johnathan Hanh Nguyen, known as the Branded Goods King, Le Van Kiem of Long Thanh Goft, and Huynh Uy Dung of Dai Nam. These businesspeople will officially become billionaires once the corporations are listed on the bourse. The other big names include Nguyen Thi Nga, President of BRG and SeABank; Vu Van Tien of Geleximco; and Duong Cong Minh of Him Lam Real Estate Group and Sacombank. Nguyen Van Truong in Ninh Binh was considered a dollar billionaire after he announced impressive mega investment projects. In 2016, his Xuan Truong Enterprise kicked off the construction of the Ho Nui Coc National Tourism Complex with total investment capital of VND15 trillion. He is also the investor of the Trang An Bai Dinh Pagoda Tourism Complex in Ninh Binh and Tam Chuc Complex in Ha Nam. Duy Anh Attracting billions of USD, VN billionaire acquires many local brands The flow of international capital has helped Vietnamese businesses grow quickly and build multi-sectoral businesses via big mergers and acquisition deals. An International Labour Organization (ILO) report shows that Vietnam loses 3 percent of GDP by not employing people with disabilities in the labor market. In 2008, after obtaining a bachelors degree in human resources management, Pham Van Vinh, born in 1982, sent his CV to 30 companies and institutions in Hanoi to apply for jobs. Vinh knew that finding a job was never easy for a new graduate, especially for himself. He contracted hemiplegia caused by myelitis when he was 17 years old. Fourteen out of 30 companies invited him for interviews. But after realizing his health conditions, they refused to employ Vinh, giving a lot of reasons. But Vinh was still persistent in looking for a job. Two months later, Vinh submitted another 10 applications for jobs. But he once again failed and he began work as a collaborator for a labor export company. This was his first job. After a period of experience, he decided to set up a recruitment channel of his own, specializing in labor export service. But the business went bankrupt a short time later. He returned to his homeland to work for a garment company which specialized in receiving disabled workers, receiving a monthly wage of VND600,000, enough for him to live for half a month, in 2010. Six months later, Vinh gave up the job and became a freelancer. He established a fast food chain with 100 points of sale. However, because of Covid-19, the number has dropped to 10 and the chain is on the verge of bankruptcy. According to the National Coordinating Committee on Disability (NCCD), Vietnam had 8 million disabled people by 2018, which accounted for 7.8 percent of total population. Of this, 40 percent were of working age and still able to work, but only 30 percent of them had stable jobs. According to the National Coordinating Committee on Disability (NCCD), Vietnam had 8 million disabled people by 2018, which accounted for 7.8 percent of total population. Of this, 40 percent were of working age and still able to work, but only 30 percent of them had stable jobs. This means that the country still has 2 million disabled people with working capability, but dont have jobs. An ILO report showed that Vietnam loses 3 percent of GDP a year as it doesnt take full advantage of people with disabilities in the labor market. More than 54 percent of businesses polled in the national survey on people with disabilities conducted in 2016-2017 by General Statistics Office (GSO) said they had not hired the disabled. Meanwhile, only 24.4 percent of businesses said they want to employ these people, and 1.4 percent of businesses said they preferred them. About 19 percent of businesses refused to give answers. Nguyen Van Cu, Deputy Director of Disable and Development Center (DRD), said that many large companies, especially foreign invested ones, care about the issue, but most small and medium enterprises are still reluctant to employ them. Under the 2010 Law on People with Disabilities, enterprises are encouraged to employ people with disabilities, but it is not compulsory, as previously regulated. Meanwhile, developed countries and some developing countries near Vietnam have developed legal policies for workers with disabilities. Chinese laws clearly stipulate the responsibility of Government agencies to allocate a certain number of seats for workers with disabilities. Thai laws ask enterprises to employ at least 1 percent. The country applies a specific tax on enterprises that do not want to use the disabled. South Korean laws stipulate that state agencies and public organizations have at least 3 percent of the disabled on staff. The Vietnam National Committee for People with Disabilities, in a report in 2018, noted that the provisions of the International Convention and the laws of some countries on essential health care conditions for workers with disabilities are designed in a flexible way. This helps to avoids the regulations that create invisible barriers to disabled staff. Cu, who has experience working with the disabled, said the people and their families need to make an effort to rise up instead of relying on subsidies or support from organizations in the society. "Currently, many people with disabilities still have a low spirit of striving because of the excessive patronage given to their families," Cu noted. In related news, in mid-2020, the Government of Vietnam approved a program to support people with disabilities in 2021-2030, under which by 2030, about 90 percent of people with disabilities are hoped to have access to health services in different forms. Nguyen Thao Armless girl doesn't let disability hold her back Linh Thi Hong is admired by her teachers and peers alike at Ngoc Thanh C Elementary School in Vinh Phuc Province for her dedication to her studies and boundless optimism. Vietnam needs to be more selective when receiving foreign direct investment (FDI), and should set requirements, just as foreign investors do in exchange for being able to invest in Vietnam, experts say. When Apple planned to expand the operation of its vendors in Vietnam, it set requirements on tax, customs and administrative procedures. Similarly, Apples rivals, when deciding to invest in Vietnam and scale up production, also demanded long-term investment incentives. A former official, who has worked for many years attracting FDI, said that large corporations, when planning to expand in Vietnam, all want incentives which go beyond the national framework of incentives stipulated by the laws. The bigger investment capital they promise, the bigger incentives they demand. Surveys have found that incentives are not the prerequisite that determines foreign groups investment decisions, but nearly all foreign corporations demand excessive incentives in electricity prices, premises for production, and incentives for research and development (R&D). Surveys have found that incentives are not the prerequisite that determines foreign groups investment decisions, but nearly all foreign corporations demand excessive incentives in electricity prices, premises for production, and incentives for research and development (R&D). In some cases, foreign investors demand incentives equal to certain amounts of money. The amounts are high and the incentives are required to be applied for many years. Analysts say that Vietnams outstanding incentives are one of the factors that has helped it attract investment capital from large corporations such as Samsung, LG, Intel and Formosa. They said that investment incentives helped in the first stage of Vietnams FDI attraction, but the policy needs to be changed in the new period. Vietnam will continue to attract both new and additional investments to existing projects, worth billions of dollars. And big investors will demand significant incentives in exchange for the huge capital they bring to Vietnam. The foreign invested sector plays a very important role in Vietnams economy. A report from the Ministry of Investment and Trade said that foreign invested enterprises (FIEs) make up more than 70 percent of Vietnams total export turnover. In some important business fields, including electronics manufacturing, textile and garment, and footwear, the number of FIEs accounts for only 20 percent of total enterprises, but makes up 80 percent of total export turnover. The Ministry of Investment and Trade (MOIT) said that enterprises are mostly in the downstream area which allows them to take full advantage of tax incentives and input costs, such as cheap labor and somewhat loose requirements on environment and labor. The Ministry of Finance (MOF), while analyzing the financial situation of some foreign invested projects in 2019, emphasised two FIEs, namely Formosa Ha Tinh and Posco Yamoto Vina. Thanks to a lot of incentives, the latter only paid VND51.6 billion in tax to the state in 2019. The ministry pointed out that despite the global steel price decrease, the total revenue of the two enterprises increased from VND77.456 trillion to VND82.741 trillion. However, the tax payment to the state budget fell from VND101 billion to VND92.6 billion. The contribution to the state budget by the two large FIEs was not commensurate with the generous tax and land incentives offered to them. MOIT said that technology transfer in Vietnam is much lower than in other regional countries, while the proportion of foreign invested capital in industries is high compared with many other countries. The loose linkage between Vietnamese and foreign-invested enterprises limits the spillover of technology, knowledge and production skills from the foreign invested sector. This affects the growth quality of the economy, leading to "one country, two economies" status as pointed out by MOIT. As a result, Vietnams industrial products cannot deeply join the regional and global value chains. Vietnamese enterprises only do outsourcing and assembling, which bring low added value. Experts believe that the situation will never change unless Vietnam makes it mandatory for FIEs to transfer technology. Foreign investors still prefer using products from vendors of the same nationalities or vendors with whom they have long-lasting relations. Experts have urged the Government to think of a conditional investment incentive. For example, if foreign investors commit to reach a localization ratio, they will enjoy investment incentives at a corresponding level. Meanwhile, the investment incentives they can expect will depend on the level of technology transfer commitment and the number of Vietnamese vendors they aim to have. This has been implemented by many economies for decades. Taiwan, for example, developed supporting industries for automobile and electronics manufacturing thanks to a law requiring localization ratios. The law, which took effect in 1960 and covered automobile and electronics industries, compelled foreign manufacturers to transfer technologies on automobile and electronics parts to joint venture companies and domestic vendors. The experts believe that setting requirements on foreign investors is feasible. Vietnam, for instance, once offered corporate income tax reductions to enterprises using high numbers of women and ethnic minority workers. They stressed that many countries with the same conditions like Vietnams set requirements on investors, which helped these countries quickly develop big corporations competitive with multinationals. Luong Bang Vietnam's post-pandemic economy As the Covid-19 pandemic persists, Vietnam's economy will still face many difficulties, but the country has the potential to increase productivity and develop at a higher rate than many other countries. President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Sunday sent a letter to US President Joe Biden, asking for COVID-19 vaccine support for Vietnam as the country is facing a devastating fourth wave of infections. A nurse prepares an AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine shot to give to a worker in Bac Giang Province, the epicentre of Vietnam's COVID-19 wave of infections. VNA/VNS Photo Danh Lam In the letter, the Vietnamese President thanked the US for having committed US$4 billion to the global COVID-19 vaccine sharing initiative COVAX and notified his counterpart that Vietnam has received two shipments of 2.5 million doses of AstraZeneca from the initiative so far. "COVAX is truly a valuable and timely support that helps Vietnam and many developing countries in the fight against the pandemic amid the global vaccine shortage," President Phuc wrote. The Vietnamese President welcomed the US' decision to send 80 million surplus vaccine doses to assist global efforts, especially as the COVID-19 situation in Southeast Asia and Vietnam is seeing complex developments. President Phuc said he hoped the US would continue to support Vietnam and other countries in vaccine supplies, and proposed the two sides step up co-operation in research, production and technology transfer for COVID-19 vaccines. The Vietnamese President said Vietnam always attaches great importance to the comprehensive partnership with the US and believes that in the spirit of friendship, the two sides will continue to foster bilateral ties and bring further benefits to the peoples of the two nations. Previously, in talks with leaders of many countries including Russia, China, and Japan, Vietnamese leaders have requested they provide support for Vietnam to access COVID-19 vaccines and strengthen ties in researching, producing, and transferring technology for COVID-19 vaccine production. Vietnam is undergoing a serious COVID-19 outbreak, with more than 4,000 infections since April 27. Other than 2.5 million doses from COVAX, Vietnam with a population of 97 million has to date received only 400,000 doses from the order of 30 million it has secured with AstraZeneca. More than 1 million jabs have been administered, and some 28,000 people have been given the full two doses. VNS Le Van Hien never thought that he would give up hunting. But meeting a wildlife expert changed his life. Le Van Hien uses camera to track the langurs in Kim Bang Forest. Photo courtesy of Uong Si Hung/FFI Once a hunter, he has laid down his rifle and become an active wildlife protector in Kim Bang District in the northern province of Ha Nam. In 1994, he accompanied expert Le Van Dung to investigate the Delacours langur population in Kim Bang forest. During the journey, they saw a group of langurs cling to their mother while the adult male taught them how to look for food. Sixty-year-old Hien still remembers what they talked about on that day. Langurs have the same love as humans. If one member of the family dies, the others will grieve and stop eating. If the mother langur dies, its baby will also die, Dung told him. Dung also said the Delacours langur was on the verge of extinction in the world and advised him to give up hunting. Returning home, Hien thought about the issue seriously. He told his wife about his intention and got her support even though the road ahead without hunting was daunting. Born in a poor family, Hien and his peers had long made a living by using the forest. Hien used to follow his parents to pick up bamboo shoots and cut down trees for coal. I started following a local hunter when I was 13 years old, Hien recalled. Years later, he saved up to buy a gun and became a professional hunter. Hunting was the most lucrative job compared to other manual work at that time, he said. Selling a chamois would fetch hunters 500 kilos of rice while a monkey or langur would bring about 10 tonnes. There are days that I shot and trapped three chamois, weighing between 50 and 70kg each, Hien said. Challenges After putting down his gun, Hien started working at stone quarries with a monthly salary of VND4-5 million (US$130-173) He was hit by rocks three times while drilling but was determined not to go back to hunting. In 2017, Fauna and Flora International (FFI) in collaboration with the Ha Nam Department of Agriculture and Rural Development launched a project to preserve the Delacour's langur. Upon hearing of the project, Hien registered to join and was appointed as head of a community conservation team. Its the way I pay back the forest. In the past, I was a poacher but now I am a forest guardian, he said when asked about the reason behind his decision. Le Dac Phuc, the project co-ordinator, said Hien has worked as a guide for experts from FFI in their research on the Delacours langur since 2016. As he was once a hunter, Hien has deep knowledge of fauna and flora in Kim Bang forest. The information he provides is helpful to our researchers, Phuc said. Hien said his daily job is to take photos of langurs to track their living conditions, remove traps laid by hunters, and notify rangers about wildlife law violations. "If you don't have a passion for the job, you can't do it," he said. Some team members quit the job after one or two months because they couldn't bear the hardship, he said. They often had to stay up late at night and get up early in the morning, Hien said, adding that each trip into the forest lasts for several days. The low allowance for a member - VND3 million ($130) a month - was also a problem. However, their efforts have paid off. Kim Bang forest is now home to more than 100 individuals of Delacours langur, ranking it second in the world, behind only Van Long Natural Reserve in Ninh Binh Province. "Hien is very enthusiastic and responsible in his work. He has made a great contribution to the conservation of the langur in Ha Nam. "Under his leadership, the hunting activities and catching of animals in the forest have decreased substantially, Phuc said. Le Van Hien (centre) receives a Disney Conservation Hero granted by the Disney Conservation Fund for his "dedication to conservation wildlife" in January this year. VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Chinh In January this year, Hien was named as a Disney Conservation Hero by the Disney Conservation Fund for his dedication to the conservation of wildlife and inspiring action to ensure wildlife and wild places around the world. He was the second to receive the title in Vietnam after forest ranger Hoang Van Tue was selected as Disney Conservation Hero 2017 by the Fund. "Receiving the title of hero is an encouragement for me. Whether I received it or not, I would still guard the forest, remove animal traps, count and observe the Delacours langurs. "I consider the forest as my second home, the Delacours langurs are my friends. "At this age, I just want to see the green forest and hear the birds singing when opening my eyes every morning. That is my happiest moment!" he said. Hien said he hoped that not only in Ha Nam but also in other localities, people would help protect forests and wild animals, especially those that are endangered. "I will work as long as my health is strong enough," he said adding that his biggest wish is for a conservation area for the Delacours langurs to be established in Ha Nam. Hien's dream will be realised soon because preparation for such a conservation area is underway by the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ha Nam Forest Protection Sub-department and FFI. The Delacours langur is a primate indigenous to Vietnam and is among the 25 most endangered species in the world. Currently, the Delacours langur is found mainly in Van Long Natural Reserve in Ninh Binh Province, Kim Bang forest in Ha Nam Province and Lac Thuy forest in Hoa Binh Province. According to Phuc, the preservation of the Delacours langur has great significance to the region and the country. It contributes to conservation efforts of biodiversity under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) of which Vietnam is a member. The establishment of a conservation area for Delacours langur would also help improve the natural environment, reducing the negative impacts of climate change and facilitate the development of ecotourism and sustainable agriculture. VNS Former hunters use their skills to protect the forest Looking at the herd of deer being protected in Kon Ka Kinh National Park, Gia Lai Province, Djung feels very happy. Lieutenant Tong Ngoc Kien, a police officer of Yen Dung District, Bac Giang province, solemnly greeted the buses carrying medical staff from Quang Ninh province to help Bac Giang fight epidemic. "As a Bac Giang resident who is being helped by the doctors of Quang Ninh to fight the epidemic, I stood by until the buses passed as a thank you to them," Lieutenant Kien said. But Harlem is doing more than surviving. In fact, hes probably one of the better-known horses at the rescue. He serves as an ambassador for Gentle Giants and goes out into the community for events. Not every horses personality is suited for the ambassador life, Hajek noted, but Harlem is used to being around people and cameras from his time in the big city. Starting as wild, untamed horses, the horses, now after more than a year of training, have mastered the movements of walking, standing and running in order. browser not support iframe. Vietnams mounted police force, which will operate under the Mobile Police Force Command of the Ministry of Public Security, was formed in 2020. The force will directly train and utilize horses to fight crime, and take care of the team, including breeding new members. The force can be used for patrolling and controlling unruly demonstrations, especially in areas where normal vehicles cannot be used. The force will fight crime, patrol and engage in rescues in mountainous areas, as well as maintain security in cities. The cavalries could also transport weapons and food to remote areas, as well as participate in governmental ceremonies and receive international heads of state. They would also participate in international competitions to gain experience. Recently, at the Center for Research and Development of Mountain Breeding in Binh Son Commune, Song Cong City, Thai Nguyen Province, the Mobile Police High Command held a training session to report on the task of advanced training of professional animals. The training session had the participation of hundreds of officers and soldiers of the cavalry police force, and police dog trainers. Below are photos of the Vietnamese mounted police force at the training session, after one year of establishment: Pham Hai Chef Laurel Burleson vividly remembers the most glorious jam she ever had. She was in college, studying abroad in France, and her host mom participated in a jam and jelly exchange with friends. Everyone made, like, two dozen jars and traded with everyone else, Burleson says. One of her friends made this she called it Mirabelle. I dont know if they exist in this country, Ive never found them, but they were these little, almost apricot-size yellow plums, halved and in syrup. They were the most perfect preserved fruit Ive ever had. We would eat it with ice cream, and it was my favorite thing. Burleson makes lots of jams, jellies, marmalades and preserves these days as the owner of Ugly Apple Cafe, her food cart in Madison, Wisconsin, that focuses on breakfast. Burleson started the cart in 2016, in part to address the perfectly good produce that goes to waste every day in this country. Shes passionate about the cast-offs, ugly fruit that would end up in a compost pile or landfill. Those homely fruits are excellent candidates for Burlesons fruit leathers dehydrated apples, grapes, bananas and cranberries in snackable strip form and the preserves she pipes into paczki (Polish donuts). Preserving fruit is a Midwestern tradition, one that Burleson appreciates during long Wisconsin winters. Over the winter, its easy to feel like youre in a rut. When you can grab something that you made in-season, it gives you a little refresh, she says. It sounds silly to say its like a little vacation, but it is comforting. Its a little memory Remember when we got these great strawberries? Burleson shares three recipes for jam, accompanied by a way to use each one. Or feel free to make just the jam, or use a premade or purchased preserve for these delectable creations. +2 Pan-Seared Halibut with Tomato-Onion Jam Scratched or dented tomatoes are perfect for this tomato jam recipe, which can be served on halibut or cod. Strawberry Caprese Canapes with Strawberry-Basil Jam Tart strawberry-basil jam is offset by creamy mozzarella in this sweet take on a classic caprese salad. +3 Thumbprint Cookies with Rhubarb-Bourbon Jam Thumbprint cookies can be filled with any jam, but be sure to try this rhubarb-bourbon jam with cracked black pepper. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Rachel Killburg, assistant to Iowa City Manager Geoff Fruin, said last month that if SF 252 became law the city would have little recourse beyond educating landlords on the benefits of the federal program. Marion Civil Rights Commission member Bret Nilles has called the measure a mean-spirited attack on low-income, people with disabilities, veterans and minorities. Also Friday, Reynolds signed House File 775, a measure criminalizing specific types of trespass at agricultural facilities that critics call attempts to bar animal activists and others from secretly documenting operations at large animal feeding facilities they oppose. The bill which began as a regulation on police obtaining search warrants from video on private property was revamped to create an offense of unauthorized sampling, which would apply to anyone knowingly entering private property without consent to obtain samples of substances from agricultural animals or any soil, air, or water from farms. Also, placing a camera or other electronic surveillance device on someone elses property will become a crime. Penalties range from an aggravated misdemeanor carrying a two-year sentence and fines topping $8,500 to a Class D felony for subsequent offenses that would carry a five-year prison term and a fine of up to $10,245. Its such a joyful, welcoming piece. Weve really loved it at the front of the building. Unfortunately, an excited child accidentally knocked him over, and his arm was broken and the chest got a little crushed in one place. We cant show it anymore because we dont know how to repair it. Haskell, who was an art professor at the University of Northern Iowa, was known for being super-experimental in making materials, so we dont really know whats in it. We hope to raise funds to send it for conservation, she explained. In addition to Haskell, UNI professors emeriti and artists are well-represented in the collection. More than 100 pieces by late painter/printmaker John Page are in the catalog, the late David Delafield and Shirley Eliason Haupt, and Frje Echeverria. Award-winning illustrators are prominent, particularly picture-book illustrations by Gary Kelley and work by Christopher Wormell and Robert Innocenti. NEW CASTLE, Del. (AP) President Joe Biden marked his first Memorial Day weekend as commander in chief by honoring the nations sacrifices in a deeply personal manner as he paid tribute Sunday to those lost while remembering his late son Beau, a veteran who died six years ago to the day. The political world has been focusing on the serious splits in Republican ranks and rightly so. Purging party members who wont worship before the altar of Trumpism is an exercise in self-demolition. But the GOPs fratricidal impulses distract attention from the widening fissures that divide the Democrats, especially as the partys left wing becomes increasingly impatient with President Joe Biden. Those tensions have always been there, but they were shelved during the campaign by a common commitment to defeating Donald Trump at any cost. Now, long-standing rivalries are starting to resurface on a range of issues, from supporting Israel and spending on infrastructure to the highly sensitive question of restraining police practices. As Biden told David Brooks of The New York Times, The progressives dont like me because Im not prepared to take on what I would say and they would say is a socialist agenda. Biden wears those negative opinions as a badge of honor, and he should. If hes going to be a successful president and preserve the Democrats very slim majorities in Congress next year he has to resist the pressures coming from those progressives. Theres a good reason he defeated Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren for the Democratic nomination: He understood political reality. archives 30 May - 6 Jun (2) 23 May - 30 May (4) 2 May - 9 May (3) 25 Apr - 2 May (4) 4 Apr - 11 Apr (2) 28 Mar - 4 Apr (4) 28 Feb - 7 Mar (1) 7 Feb - 14 Feb (2) 10 Jan - 17 Jan (2) 27 Dec - 3 Jan (2) 13 Dec - 20 Dec (3) 6 Dec - 13 Dec (1) 29 Nov - 6 Dec (1) 15 Nov - 22 Nov (6) 8 Nov - 15 Nov (1) 25 Oct - 1 Nov (1) 18 Oct - 25 Oct (3) 4 Oct - 11 Oct (1) 27 Sep - 4 Oct (1) 20 Sep - 27 Sep (2) 13 Sep - 20 Sep (4) 6 Sep - 13 Sep (3) 30 Aug - 6 Sep (1) 23 Aug - 30 Aug (1) 16 Aug - 23 Aug (4) 9 Aug - 16 Aug (1) 2 Aug - 9 Aug (3) 26 Jul - 2 Aug (4) 19 Jul - 26 Jul (5) 12 Jul - 19 Jul (2) 5 Jul - 12 Jul (7) 28 Jun - 5 Jul (2) 21 Jun - 28 Jun (7) 14 Jun - 21 Jun (4) 7 Jun - 14 Jun (4) 31 May - 7 Jun (3) 24 May - 31 May (2) 17 May - 24 May (1) 10 May - 17 May (1) 19 Apr - 26 Apr (1) 12 Apr - 19 Apr (1) 15 Mar - 22 Mar (1) 8 Mar - 15 Mar (3) 1 Mar - 8 Mar (2) 23 Feb - 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25 Apr (9) 11 Apr - 18 Apr (10) 4 Apr - 11 Apr (11) 28 Mar - 4 Apr (9) 21 Mar - 28 Mar (6) 14 Mar - 21 Mar (9) 7 Mar - 14 Mar (2) 28 Feb - 7 Mar (9) 21 Feb - 28 Feb (7) 14 Feb - 21 Feb (9) 7 Feb - 14 Feb (9) 31 Jan - 7 Feb (6) 24 Jan - 31 Jan (14) 17 Jan - 24 Jan (9) 10 Jan - 17 Jan (11) 3 Jan - 10 Jan (10) 27 Dec - 3 Jan (10) 20 Dec - 27 Dec (8) 13 Dec - 20 Dec (6) 6 Dec - 13 Dec (9) 29 Nov - 6 Dec (13) 22 Nov - 29 Nov (10) 15 Nov - 22 Nov (14) 8 Nov - 15 Nov (11) 1 Nov - 8 Nov (16) 25 Oct - 1 Nov (13) 18 Oct - 25 Oct (12) 11 Oct - 18 Oct (9) 4 Oct - 11 Oct (11) 27 Sep - 4 Oct (14) 20 Sep - 27 Sep (19) 13 Sep - 20 Sep (13) 6 Sep - 13 Sep (12) 30 Aug - 6 Sep (15) 23 Aug - 30 Aug (15) 16 Aug - 23 Aug (16) 9 Aug - 16 Aug (14) 2 Aug - 9 Aug (15) 26 Jul - 2 Aug (20) 19 Jul - 26 Jul (10) 12 Jul - 19 Jul (13) 5 Jul - 12 Jul (21) 28 Jun - 5 Jul (15) 21 Jun - 28 Jun (20) 14 Jun - 21 Jun (10) 7 Jun - 14 Jun (13) 31 May - 7 Jun (13) 24 May - 31 May (13) 17 May - 24 May (15) 10 May - 17 May (16) 3 May - 10 May (11) 26 Apr - 3 May (21) 19 Apr - 26 Apr (17) 12 Apr - 19 Apr (20) 5 Apr - 12 Apr (16) 29 Mar - 5 Apr (19) 22 Mar - 29 Mar (17) 15 Mar - 22 Mar (23) 8 Mar - 15 Mar (22) 1 Mar - 8 Mar (21) 22 Feb - 1 Mar (22) 15 Feb - 22 Feb (25) 8 Feb - 15 Feb (25) 1 Feb - 8 Feb (21) 25 Jan - 1 Feb (23) 18 Jan - 25 Jan (19) 11 Jan - 18 Jan (35) 4 Jan - 11 Jan (23) 28 Dec - 4 Jan (27) 21 Dec - 28 Dec (28) 14 Dec - 21 Dec (23) 7 Dec - 14 Dec (22) 30 Nov - 7 Dec (19) 23 Nov - 30 Nov (22) 16 Nov - 23 Nov (19) 9 Nov - 16 Nov (15) 2 Nov - 9 Nov (17) 26 Oct - 2 Nov (10) 19 Oct - 26 Oct (12) 12 Oct - 19 Oct (13) 5 Oct - 12 Oct (19) 28 Sep - 5 Oct (14) 21 Sep - 28 Sep (17) 14 Sep - 21 Sep (19) 7 Sep - 14 Sep (22) 31 Aug - 7 Sep (15) 24 Aug - 31 Aug (14) 17 Aug - 24 Aug (9) 10 Aug - 17 Aug (5) Baleen Tender Program commenced Perth, May 31, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - BPH Energy Limited ( ASX:BPH ) is pleased to announce investee Advent Energy Ltd's wholly owned subsidiary, Asset Energy, has issued a Call For Tender for the provision of subsea wellhead equipment, materials and associated services for the Baleen drilling program.This equipment provides the 'foundation' for the Baleen well and is the first stage of well construction.This is an important step in the preparation and planning for the Baleen-1 well ensures that Asset will be ready to commence drilling after relevant approvals have been received.When the well has reached total depth and been fully evaluated, the well will be plugged and abandoned in line with pre-drill planning as an exploration well, and the well head and associated equipment well be removed from the seabed.PEP11 interests are:Advent Energy Ltd 85%Bounty Oil and Gas NL ( ASX:BUY ) 15%About BPH Energy Limited BPH Energy Limited (ASX:BPH) is an Australian Securities Exchange listed company developing biomedical research and technologies within Australian Universities and Hospital Institutes. The company provides early stage funding, project management and commercialisation strategies for a direct collaboration, a spin out company or to secure a license. BPH provides funding for commercial strategies for proof of concept, research and product development, whilst the institutional partner provides infrastructure and the core scientific expertise. BPH currently partners with several academic institutions including The Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research and Swinburne University of Technology (SUT). Melbourne, May 31, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Nova Minerals Limited ( ASX:NVA ) ( FRA:QM3 ) ( OTCMKTS:NVAAF ) is pleased to advise that the recent interview with CRUX investor with CEO Christopher Gerteisen is now available for viewing on the Company website.In the interview, CEO Christopher Gerteisen discusses this exciting time for the Company: a 4.7m oz gold resource (ASX 7 April 2021) in the Estelle Gold District (Alaska) with significant exploration and development upside, a resource update later this year for Korbel Main and a highly anticipated maiden drill program at RPM to commence shortly, with an RPM Maiden Resource expected in the 4th quarter.To view the video interview, please visit:About Nova Minerals Ltd Nova Minerals Limited (ASX:NVA) (FRA:QM3) (OTCMKTS:NVAAF) is a dynamic explorer and developer of its flagship Estelle Gold district in the Tintina gold belt. Nova's strategy is to substantially increase the current 4.7Moz resource on the Korbel prospect. Subsequently to continue to lock in value through moving Korbel towards production whilst increasing the resource base across the pipeline of targets within the Estelle gold district. Nova Minerals also holds strategic investments in Snow Lake Resources Ltd (Thompson Brothers Lithium Project), Torian Resources Ltd (ASX:TNR) and RotorX Aircraft Manufacturing Co. RC Drilling Identifies Wide Zone of Gold Mineralisation Perth, May 31, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - OzAurum Resources Ltd ( ASX:OZM ) is pleased to announce further results from the Company's initial 20,000 metre (m) Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling campaign, which have so far identified significant wide zones of gold mineralisation. The current RC results include 26 holes for 3,740m of drilling at the Mulgabbie North Project, situated North East of Kalgoorlie.Highlights- Significant wide zones of gold mineralisation intersected, with mineralisation open along strike and at depth.- RC holes that intersected significant gold mineralisation, include:o 20m @ 1.91 g/t gold (Au) - (within 46m @ 1.04 g/t Au from 73m) MNORC 040o 9m @ 1.64 g/t Au - (within 52m @ 0.73 g/t Au from 102m) MNORC 041o 4m @ 1.90 g/t Au - (within 35m @ 1.1 g/t Au from 124m) MNORC 042o 6m @ 1.92 g/t Au - (from 35m) MNORC 045o 6m @ 2.79 g/t Au - (from 200m) MNORC 051o 4m @ 1.57 g/t Au - (from 153m) MNORC 055o 7m @ 1.48 g/t Au including 1m @ 7.36 g/t Au - (from 36m) MNORC 051- Numerous RC holes intersected higher grade gold mineralisation within wide, lower grade zones such as MNORC 041 with 52m of mineralisation intersected downhole.- New gold zone identified west of the Ben Prospect, with primary gold mineralisation intersected at depth and associated with previously drilled aircore (AC) hole MNOAC 020 (see ASX Announcement 15th March 2021).- Maiden drilling campaign to commence at OZM's 100%-owned Patricia Gold Project with the aim of discovering further high-grade gold mineralisation.- OzAurum director, Martin C Holland, appointed to an executive role as Head of Corporate- commencing 1 June 2021.Mulgabbie North RC Drilling ResultsThe 26 holes that were drilled for 3,740m at the Mulgabbie North Project are a continuation of OzAurum's initial 20,000m RC drilling campaign. A further 42 RC holes for 5,764m have also been drilled with assays still pending at the labs. To date, a total of 98 RC holes have been drilled at Mulgabbie North for 15,811m.These excellent RC results, combined with recently announced aircore (AC) results defining new zones of mineralisation (see ASX announcement on 24 May 2021), further highlight the potential of Mulgabbie North to be a significant gold project.Most notably, RC hole MNORC 040 intersected 20m @ 1.91 g/t Au from 25m within a wider zone of 46m @ 1.04 g/t Au. Numerous RC drill holes intersected higher grade gold mineralisation within wide lower grade intervals indicating Mulgabbie North is situated within a large mineralised gold system. Gold Mineralisation at Mulgabbie North is currently open at depth and along strike at both the Ben and James Prospects.A new gold zone has been discovered south west of the Ben Prospect with MNORC 058 intersecting 19m @ 1.02 g/t from 112m depth. Our current interpretation is this deeper primary gold mineralisation is associated with previously intersected AC hole MNOAC 020 (see ASX release 15th March 2021).A further 42 RC holes for 5,764m have been drilled testing Mulgabbie North's previously discovered AC gold anomalies and the southern extension of the Ben Prospect. Some of these holes have intersected wide zones of quartz veining with associated pyrite and arsenopyrite mineralisation. At the Ben prospect a significant fault has also been intersected in 4 RC holes that has associated quartz veining and mineralisation. The Company is eagerly awaiting the results from these holes.Wide zones of weak to moderate hematite alteration have been discovered in some RC holes at Mulgabbie North. Specifically, the hematite alteration indicates oxidised fluids from an intrusive complex suggesting proximity to the mineralising centre - likely to be within OzAurum's 100% owned Mulgabbie North tenure.The additional planned RC drilling at Mulgabbie North will further test strike and depth extensions of gold mineralisation at the James and Ben Prospects that are situated on the Relief Shear, as well as, western air core gold anomalies and associated mineralisation. Gold mineralisation at these prospects is hosted in the intermediate-felsic volcaniclastic units. The RC drilling program at Mulgabbie North will further scope out the extent of known mineralisation aimed at making a significant gold discovery.Utilising best practice RC drilling, sampling and assay protocols will allow for a potential future JORC 2012 compliant resource to be estimated with confidence at Mulgabbie North. Systematic RC drilling is being undertaken on a 20m x 20m spacing and a limited number of historic + 33-year-old RC drill hole positions will be redrilled to meet JORC 2012 requirements.Due to the current high demand on assay laboratories, the Company is experiencing long delays with receiving assay results, with up to an 8-week turnaround time.Patricia RC Drilling to CommenceA maiden RC drilling program is planned at the Company's advanced Patricia Gold Project, situated 40 km north east of Mulgabbie. The planned drilling program, which is expected to commence in the coming weeks, will target high-grade gold mineralisation. Historical high-grade gold intersections include PT 001 5m @ 18.8 g/t Au from 35m, including 1m @ 80 g/t Au. The 25m deep open pit at Patricia is 800m long and 150m wide.Martin Holland to take on Head of Corporate RoleOzAurum Non-Executive Director and major shareholder, Martin C Holland, will be moving over to an Executive Director role as the Head of Corporate allowing the Managing Director and CEO, Andrew Pumphrey, to focus on the geological and technical aspects of exploration at the Mulgabbie and Patricia Gold Projects in Western Australia.OzAurum's Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Pumphrey, said:"The Company is very encouraged by the additional high-grade gold intercepts acheived through our RC drilling campaign thus far. These results, and the many results still pending in the assay labs, provide further confidence that ongoing RC drilling has the potential to unlock a significant gold project at Mulgabbie. In particular we are excited by the potential of this area where the host rocks are intermediate-felsic volcaniclastic units. In addition, the wide zones of Hematite alteration intersected in some deeper holes is very promising since this is a key signature of oxidised gold fluids, similar to that of Northern Star ( ASX:NST ) Carosue Dam Karari and Whirling Dervish Gold Mines. This area is under transported cover that has prevented previous effective exploration. ""Lastly, Martin's executive appointment, as Head of Corporate, materially enhances OzAurum's corporate marketing strategy, and allows me to be on the ground focusing on the Company's strategic exploration program. We believe this aligned partnership enables the Company to fast track its objective of making a significant gold discovery," Mr Pumphrey concluded.To view tables and figures, please visit:About OzAurum Resources Limited OzAurum Resources Ltd (ASX:OZM) is a Western Australian gold explorer with two advanced gold projects located 130 km north east of Kalgoorlie. The Company's main objective is to make a significant gold discovery that can be brought to production. Toomey allegedly acknowledged the accounts were his but denied sharing child pornography or having the conversation. His cellphone was seized and previewed on the scene and videos of child pornography were found, according to charging documents. Also allegedly located were multiple text messages soliciting people to perform sex acts on minors. Toomey was arrested and charged. According to charging documents, the investigation is ongoing due to additional information being discovered during the search. Mt Stirling Significant Shallow Mineralisation Perth, May 31, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Torian Resources Limited ( ASX:TNR ) (BER:CXB) report that multiple significant shallow mineralisation not included in recent Resource Estimate warrant follow-up drilling.- These additional multiple shallow mineralised gold intercepts were not included in the recent Interim MRE update.- Intercepts provide multiple follow-up, in-fill and extensional drilling opportunities with further Optimisation Studies to assess modelling and extraction potential.- Ongoing drilling and forthcoming results may boost two further resource upgrades at the Mt Stirling Gold Project which are anticipated before the end of the year.- Extensional and in-fill drill planning continues on mineral domains such as the Hanging Wall Zone lower segments, parts of the Viserion Zone, and other mineral zones which were not included in the Interim MRE Update due to sparse drill spacing and mineralised sample assays yet to be received and reported which may confirm continuity of further mineralised zones between drill holes and sections.- Only 740m of strike incorporated into MRE from a total interpreted 1.16km strike of the Mt Stirling gold system with Mt Stirling Main Zone; Hanging Wall, Viserion lodes, and multiple shallow eastern gold mineralised zones all remaining open along strike and down-dip.- Drill planning and further structural and geological mapping over the significant ~500m strike (>10ppm and up to 125ppm) arsenic surface anomaly Hydra mineralisation discovery 1.25 km further along strike to the NW of Viserion and is likely a surface expression of the Mt Stirling gold system.- If continuous, the Mt Stirling Gold system strike would exceed 2.25km.- Significant arsenic anomalies have also been defined (pXRF) ~200m SE and ~500m NW of Interim Resource Estimate boundary, implying continuity of the gold system to both the SE & NW.- The Mt Stirling Gold System footprint continues to track on par and is consistent with regional significant discoveries, e.g. St Barbara's ( ASX:SBM ) 4.8Moz Gwalia Mine and Northern Star's ( ASX:NST ) 3.8Moz Thunderbox Mine, with the Mt Stirling gold system remaining open in all directions.- Mt Stirling Regional targeting has identified numerous Priority 1 and Priority 2 targets along four key structural corridors; Viserion Shear (3.4km); Wonambi Shear (2.2km); Ursus Fault (2.5km) and Blue Jacket (2.2km) for immediate follow-up exploration including drilling.- Torian is now fully funded to continue its 50,000m drilling campaign in 2021.Torian's Executive Director Mr Peretz Schapiro said "The sheer amount of shallow gold mineralised zones that were not included in the recent resource, gives us great confidence, that we will be able to significantly increase the size of the resource in coming weeks and months as we follow up on these prospective targets.The Mt Stirling gold system continues to remain open in all directions. In addition to the above mentioned follow up drilling, we continue to be encouraged by significant arsenic anomalies (pXRF; Figure 10*) including the Hydra surface expression some 1.2km NW and further significantly anomalous zones just 500m to the NW of Viserion, and to date, arsenic anomalies have correlated with gold mineralisation.It is becoming increasingly apparent that the recent resource estimate is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting future for Torian, as we have only just "scratched the surface" of the Mt Stirling Gold Project, with the Mt Stirling system being just one of dozens of high priority targets in the region.The ongoing drilling at Mt Stirling, an exploration program at the green fields at Diorite to commence in coming weeks, a resource estimate due from Stirling Well in Q3 and an updated resource estimate from Mt Stirling later in the year will continue to generate strong news flow for our company, as we look to set ourselves up for long term success."*To view tables and figures, please visit:About Torian Resources Limited Torian Resources Ltd (ASX:TNR) is a gold exploration and development company with an extensive and strategic land holding comprising eight projects and over 400km2 of tenure in the Goldfields Region of Western Australia. Torian's flagship project, Zuleika, is located along the world-class Zuleika Shear. The Zuleika Shear is the fourth largest gold producing region in Australia and consistently produces some of the country's highest grade and lowest cost gold mines. Torian's Zuleika project lies north and partly along strike of several major gold deposits including Northern Star's (ASX:NST) 7.0Moz East Kundana Joint Venture and Evolutions (ASX:EVN) 1.8Moz Frogs Legs and White Foil deposits. Torian's other projects include the strategically located Mt Stirling and Malcolm Projects in the Leonora region (near Red 5's King of the Hills Project), where it recently completed updated Mineral Resource Estimates and preliminary scoping studies, and a suite of other projects in the Kalgoorlie region including Credo Well JV Zuleika JV, Bonnie Vale, Gibraltar and Mount Monger/Wombola. WENN TV The 'After Life' actor reacts as Charlie Hanson, the producer of his Netflix series, is hit with damning allegations of sexual assault by multiple women. May 31, 2021 AceShowbiz - Ricky Gervais has been left stunned by "After Life" producer Charlie Hanson's misconduct scandal. The Brit was suspended by BAFTA and removed as the producer of Ricky's hit Netflix series after 11 women accused him of sexual assault. In a letter addressed to BAFTA bosses, published in The Times, the women wrote, "Charlie Hanson is a predator who uses his reputation, connections and standing in order to groom far younger, impressionable and sometimes vulnerable women into trusting him. At times he will promise them a starry career under his wing, and then exploits that trust in creepy and illegal ways." "He then tries to diminish the seriousness of what he's done by telling these young women - us - that it wasn't as bad as it seemed, that it was somehow blameless. He does his best to convince himself - and others - that this method of operating is fine. But we know it is not fine." Responding to the claims Hanson denies, Gervais, who also worked with him on hit shows "Derek" and "Extras", released a statement which reads, "I am shocked and appalled to learn of the historical allegations made by a number of women against Charlie Hanson. The decision was made to immediately remove him from production and I am confident the matter is being handled thoroughly." A representative for Netflix added, "Whilst the allegations are unrelated to his time on the show, we immediately removed him from the production." Meanwhile, Hanson said, "I have been made aware of allegations made against me concerning improper conduct towards women dating back many years. Based on the summaries that have been provided to me, I understand that many of these accusations are made anonymously and are demonstrably false. I have not had one complaint in decades of work in the media industry." "I categorically reject any wrongdoing on my part, and strongly refute the allegations that have been levelled at me. I have worked with and supported hundreds of men and women during my working life and will do what is necessary to protect and/or restore my reputation. I will also cooperate with any formal inquiries. The matter is now in the hands of my solicitors." Instagram Celebrity According to a retired FBI agent who worked the murder case, the Bad Boy Records founder was the intended target of the gunman who killed Biggie back in 1997. May 31, 2021 AceShowbiz - Diddy was the intended hit the night Notorious B.I.G. was shot and killed, according to a retired FBI agent who worked the case. The late rapper, real name Christopher Wallace, was killed on a Los Angeles street in March 1997, and the gunman has never been arrested, even though agent Phil Carson is convinced he knows the identity of the shooter and the man who financed the hit. He also tells the New York Post corrupt Los Angeles cops covered up the investigation, and the rap star was not the original target, explaining Diddy was "pretty freaked out" when he was told the news. Meanwhile, Don Sikorski and Brad Furman, the producer and director, respectively, of film "City of Lies", which takes a deep dive into the unsolved deaths of both Biggie and Tupac Shakur, have backed up Carson's claims, revealing they have read sealed court files behind Wallace's case, which suggest a Nation of Islam convert was the killer. "There were plenty of others who helped orchestrate it (the murder)," Carson says. "It (cover-up) was the biggest miscarriage of justice in my 20-year career at the FBI. I had evidence that LAPD officers were involved and I was shut down by the LAPD and city attorneys inside Los Angeles." Sikorski and Furman are now hoping "City of Lies", starring Johnny Depp as real-life Los Angeles police detective Russell Poole, will put the killing back into the spotlight and reinvigorate the investigation. According to Carson, they "nailed it" in the controversial Amazon movie, which suggests rap mogul Marion 'Suge' Knight orchestrated the hit from jail, and he's speaking up now to seek the justice that eluded him while he was on the case. "I knew one day I was going to tell the truth," he tells the Post. "What I went through at the time from the LAPD was sheer hell." And he claims there's enough evidence to finally solve Biggie's murder. "We demand to know the status of the ongoing investigation," Sikorski tells the publication, "as well as request that Acting U.S. Attorney Tracy Wilkison of the Central District of California, and Assistant Director Kristi Koons Johnson of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, open an investigation, look at the evidence and file the appropriate charges." A civil case filed against the Los Angeles Police Department by the Wallace family in 2002 contains much of the evidence about the murder but remains sealed under order of a federal judge. https://www.beyonce.com/ Celebrity During an appearance on 'The Shop: Uninterrupted', the rapper husband of Beyonce Knowles revealed that his mother Gloria Carter begged him not to use the poem about her deep dark secret. May 31, 2021 AceShowbiz - Jay-Z's mum begged the rapper not to release his deeply personal "4:44" track "Smile", in which he talked about her sexuality. The hitmaker admits Gloria Carter initially balked at the track and urged her son not to go public with her deep dark secret, but he won her over and was impressed when she presented him with a poem she wrote that he included on the recording. "It changed the dynamic of our relationship," Jay-Z said during an appearance on "The Shop: Uninterrupted". "When she first heard that song she got super defensive..." "I was in L.A. and she flew out to L.A. and then she left and was like, 'No'. We talked through it. And then when she flew back to L.A. she had written a poem. She wrote that on the plane. It came with the American Airlines note pad... I was like, 'You got bars, ma!' " During the barbershop-style chat with LeBron James and Bad Bunny, Jay-Z also opened up about his deeply personal last album, "4:44", revealing he still can't listen to it in its entirety. "It's a lot, but it had to be done," the rapper explained. "It was... an evolution of all the things that I'd been through... It was important to write... To be vulnerable in that space after you've done all this work... I had so many super gangsta rappers tell me, 'Thank you for that!' They would tell me on the side, 'You saved my relationship'." The rap mogul also revealed he knew his career had changed his life forever when friends told him he wouldn't be able to return home, while he was back on the streets with them. The rapper was visiting his neighbourhood after the release of his second album when it suddenly dawned on him how his life was about to spin. "The whole world changed around me," the "99 Problems" rapper said. "They [friends] said, 'You can't go back home!' You know when I heard that? I was home. I had a bullet-proof vest and a Rollie [Rolex watch] on. It was real. That wasn't, like, a photoshoot. I had that on all day... I was in a real war and I had an album out." WENN/Instar TV Amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the 'America's Got Talent' judge is reported to have canceled his involvement on the the Israeli version of the show for his own reasons. May 31, 2021 AceShowbiz - Simon Cowell has stepped down as a judge on "The X Factor Israel" amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East. It is not known if the TV and music mogul has quit for political reasons or if his decision has anything to do with his severe back injury, which forced him to sit out the "America's Got Talent" finals last year (2020). Simon has returned for the new season of the U.S. show, which debuts this coming week (beginning May 31). Cowell signed a deal to be one of the judges in the upcoming season of the Israeli version of the long-running competition series, which is set to film this summer, but he is backing out of the deal, according to Variety. A spokesperson for the production company, Reshet, confirmed the news, saying he canceled "for his own reasons." The rep further claimed that the company "declined to say whether Cowell would have any part in the production" following his exit as judge. A source close to Cowell claimed that the 61-year-old was upset over his inability to join the show. "Simon won't be going to Israel after all. I know it has already been announced that he was one of the judges, but for a number of reasons he just can't be there in Israel to film the show now," the source told Jewish News. "Of course he is bitterly disappointed but it was a decision he had to take." An insider previously confirmed Cowell's aides had reached out with "legitimate concerns" over his participation in the show after the recent violence between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Facebook Celebrity In his Instagram Story, the 'Back in Blood' rapper claims he scares away clubgoers in Miami by firing his gun, but denies that something is stolen from him. May 31, 2021 AceShowbiz - Pooh Shiesty is apparently always armed and ready whenever he's on stage. The rapper was reportedly involved in a shoot-up after he was robbed for $40,000 while performing in Miami over the weekend. In a video which has circulated online, the Memphis native was initially seen performing in a packed club. He stood close to the edge of the stage while the audience all looked excited and hyped. The rapper was also seen having a stack of cash in each of his pants' side pocket, while somebody in the audience made it rain. Later in a video which seemingly was shared by Pooh himself, he bragged about scaring away clubgoers by firing his gun. The clip didn't capture the alleged shooting itself, but people were seen scrambling to safety. "Me start shooting [smiling face with tears emojis] Look at all dem cowards a** Mfs running," so read a caption of the video. Other posts shared by clubgoers seemed to confirm the shooting. "He shoot up," one screamed in a clip as Pooh was being escorted out of the club by security while he was wearing a black balaclava mask to cover his face. Over the Internet, people were talking that Pooh, whose real name is Lontrell Dennell Williams, Jr., started shooting after somebody snatched his money out of his pocket. The hip-hop star himself, however, denied that he was robbed at the club, posting on his Instagram Story after the alleged shooting, "False allegations nothing ever been took from me." Police have not confirmed the shooting and it's unclear if authorities have received report about the alleged shooting. Should this be true, it wouldn't be the first time Pooh got involved in a similar incident. Back in October 2020, the 21-year-old rap star, who is signed to Gucci Mane's 1017 Records and Atlantic Records, was arrested in connection to a shooting in Bay Harbor Islands, Florida. He faced several charges including armed robbery, aggravated assault and battery, and criminal theft. He, however, was released from custody on the same day of his arrest. As we approach the 20th year of military operations overseas in the Middle East, it is important to separate the warriors from the wars. Today above all days we must not forget those who did not come home. Instagram Celebrity A 22-year-old man named Christopher Kwan Freeman has been arrested and charged with murder as the victim, 20-year-old Randall Strong Jr., was pronounced dead at the hospital. May 31, 2021 AceShowbiz - Boosie Badazz (previously known as Lil Boosie) had another close call, six months after he was shot in Dallas, Texas. A shooting occurred on the set of his music video in Huntsville, Alabama this past weekend. The rapper was filming on Saturday, May 29 when shots rang out. In a video which has circulated online, the Baton Rogue native and others scattered and ran for their lives as the shots were fired. According to TMZ, cops responded to a report of shots fired around 4:30 P.M. When they arrived on the scene, cops noticed between 50 and 100 people attempted to flee the scene, either by foot or in vehicles. Huntsville Police Department tells the site that they barely found witnesses who were willing to talk. One person was killed in the incident. The man, who is in his 20s, was found lying on the ground with a gunshot wound. He was transported to a hospital and was listed in critical condition, but later was pronounced dead due to his injuries. The victim has since been identified as 20-year-old Randall Strong Jr. Despite difficulties to gather information from the witnesses, police have also arrested the alleged shooter, 22-year-old Christopher Kwan Freeman. Hunstville PD says Christopher turned himself in on Sunday morning. Cops say he and the victim, Randall, had an altercation which led up to the shooting. Despite his presence on the music video set, Boosie later denied involvement in the shooting. Taking to his Twitter account, he stressed that he was not targeted in the shooting. "AINT NOBODY TRY TO KILL ME N HUNTSVILLE AL. YALL MFS BE HAPPY TO SPREAD LIES ON ME #LOL," so he posted on Saturday. Boosie spoke up after the shooting on his music video set. The 38-year-old also seems to be fine and unscathed after the scary incident as he was spotted shopping for new clothes several hours after the incident. Some people were upset that Boosie appeared to play down the shooting that killed one person. "Yea but somebody did die on set of your video shoot. We seen the video they shot yal ran fast af," one person replied to his tweet. A second user sarcastically asked, "So it was friendly bullets?" Another similarly pointed out, "But somebody did get kilt at your video shoot you should at least reach out to the family and donate some to the funeral." His fans, however, were relieved that he's okay. "Glad And Blessed To Know You Are Alright," one of them tweeted. "I Forgot You Were Out Of Miami And I'm Greatful To Hear That This Too Is Not So, Either." Another echoed the sentiment, "I'm so happy you're okay, I never believe nobody was shooting at you. You most definitely don't bother nobody and don't let the haters still your joy.God got you covered." Someone else added, "Love you babe...glad you're okay! Prayers for everyone involved." WENN Celebrity Celebrities who announced they would love to launch political career have been ripped to shreds by the HBO talk show host as he explains why they're not qualified for public office. Jun 1, 2021 AceShowbiz - Comedian Bill Maher has ripped into Matthew McConaughey and Dwayne Johnson for even considering they are smart enough to run for public office. The movie stars, Randy Quaid, and Caitlyn Jenner have all announced they are interested in politics in recent months and Maher skewered them on his show "Real Time" on Friday night (28May21), revealing none of them are even qualified to think about becoming a Governor or President. "Someone must explain why celebrities running for high office is a recurring nightmare we cannot seem to shake," he said, agreeing each of the four stars has what it takes - "malignant narcissism." "Did we all not just witness the cautionary tale named Donald Trump? The last four years was a warning, not an inspiration. You were supposed to see that and think, 'I guess high-level government jobs should go to people who've trained for it and know what they're doing.' " "I'm sure Caitlyn Jenner is a nice person but as California Governor, she would be in charge of the world's fifth largest economy, based on her qualifications of being a background actor in a reality show not about her... When did governing become the safety school for when the guest spots on Chicago Fire dry up...?" "Perhaps you've noticed that things in America have been a little different these last five months (since Joe Biden's presidency began). That's because there are people back in charge, who spent their formative years not on a soundstage, but studying the stuff you need to know to be effective on the world stage..." "There's a thousand things you have to know before taking office, to do it right... Can our celebrity friends tell us... what is budget reconciliation? What are the three legs of our nuclear triad...? What does the Fed do? Where's Chad? What agency is responsible for our nuclear weapons? What does the 14th amendment say?" "Governing is not a job you can pick up on the afternoon of the inauguration," he concluded. "You can't learn it on the fly... (Russian leader Vladimir) Putin's not on a green screen and he doesn't give a s**t about your million dollar smile. If he tells you at a summit that he'd like to take Belarus now, you have to know that's a country and not his lunch order." The gruesome discovery took decades and for some survivors of the Kamloops Indian Residential School in Canada, the confirmation that children as young as 3 were buried on school grounds crystallizes the sorrow they have carried all their lives. 'I lost my heart, it was so much hurt and pain to finally hear, for the outside world, to finally hear what we assumed was happening there,' said Harvey McLeod, who attended the school for two years in the late 1960s, in a telephone interview with CNN Friday. 'The story is so unreal, that yesterday it became real for a lot of us in this community,' he said. The Tk'emlups te Secwepemc community in the southern interior of British Columbia, where the school was located, released a statement late Thursday saying an 'unthinkable loss that was spoken about but never documented' was confirmed. 'This past weekend, with the help of a ground penetrating radar specialist, the stark truth of the preliminary findings came to light -- the confirmation of the remains of 215 children who were students of the Kamloops Indian Residential School,' said Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc community. 'To our knowledge, these missing children are undocumented deaths,' she said in the statement. For decades, McLeod says he and former students like him would wonder what had happened to friends and classmates. 'Sometimes people didn't come back, we were happy for them, we thought they ran away, not knowing if they did or whatever happened to them,' said McLeod, who now serves as chief of British Columbia's Upper Nicola band. 'There were discussions that this may have happened, that they may have passed,' he says adding, 'What I realized yesterday was how strong I was, as a little boy, how strong I was to be here today, because I know that a lot of people didn't go home.' The Kamloops Indian Residential school was one of the largest in Canada and operated from the late 19th century to the late 1970s. It was opened and run by the Catholic Church until the federal government took it over in the late 1960s. It closed permanently about a decade later and now houses a museum and a community facility with both cultural and memorial events. Community leaders say the investigation will continue in conjunction with the British Columbia Coroner's Office and that community and government officials will ensure the remains are safeguarded and identified. Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe issued a statement saying that her office is early in the process of gather information. 'We recognize the tragic, heartbreaking devastation that the Canadian residential school system has inflicted upon so many, and our thoughts are with all of those who are in mourning today,' she said. In 2015 Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission released a report detailing the damaging legacy of the country's residential school system. Thousands of mostly indigenous children were separated from their families and forced to attend residential schools. The report detailed decades of physical, sexual and emotional abuse suffered by children in government and church run institutions. 'Horrific chapter in Canadian history' 'The news that remains were found at the former Kamloops residential school breaks my heart - it is a painful reminder of that dark and shameful chapter of our country's history. I am thinking about everyone affected by this distressing news. We are here for you,' Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted Friday. In an interview with CNN, Carolyn Bennett, Canada's minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, says this revelation speaks to all Canadians about a 'very painful truth' and a 'horrific chapter in Canadian history.' 'This was the reason why five of the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission wanted us to deal with the missing children and the unmarked graves because they knew there was much more than what they had been able to ascertain at the hearings,' said Bennett. The commission recommended 94 calls to action as remedy and healing. Indigenous rights' groups says very few of them have been acted upon, including the need for health and educational equity between indigenous and non-indigenous children. In 2019, Trudeau said he and his government accepted the harm inflicted on indigenous peoples in Canada amounted to genocide, saying at the time that the government would move forward to 'end this ongoing tragedy.' McLeod says the residential school system scarred generations in his family and the abuse he suffered at the school in Kamloops terrorized him, his family and his classmates. 'The abuse that happened to me was physical, yes, was sexual, yes, and in 1966 I was a person that didn't want to live anymore, it changed me,' said McLeod, comparing the trauma he suffered to that of a prisoner of war. He says he entered the school in 1966 along with most of his siblings. 'Seven of us went at the same time, same school that my mum and my dad went to, there wasn't an option, it was a requirement, it was the law. And I can only imagine what my mom and my dad, how they felt, when they dropped some of us there knowing what they experienced at that school,' he said. As was documented by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, many of the children in residential schools did not receive adequate medical care with some dying prematurely of diseases like tuberculous. The commission estimates that more than 4,000 children died while at residential schools over a period of several decades, but the final commission report acknowledges it was impossible to know the true number. McLeod says this week's discovery at his former school has already helped community members he knows discuss the abuse they suffered and the inter-generational trauma it has caused. He says he would like to be engaged in healing and now wants to avoid pointing fingers or blame. 'I have forgiven, I have forgiven my parents, I have forgiven my abusers, I have broken the chain that held me back at that school, I don't want to live there anymore but at the same time make sure that the people who didn't come home are acknowledged and respected and brought home in a good way,' he said. ORLAND, Calif. - Many across Orland are asking one thing: wheres the water? For one long-time farming family, they havent seen water levels this low in years. Our tank is empty, Staci Buttermore said. Absolutely done. We are now hauling water. But they are not alone. Dozens in the area are experiencing the same problem: little to no water. And many of them are afraid to even turn on their pumps, worrying they might burn them out. As a result, many people are grabbing water from others, but they dont know when that will run out either. This means no water for showers, to drink, but most importantly, no water for the animals and the crop. Besides being in a drought, Action News Now asked the Buttermore family why they think this happened this year. It just really caught up with us, Kassidi Buttermore explained. We didnt have anything in the reservoirs, and we havent had good recharge for the groundwater for each individual piece of property. It was a perfect storm in a way. And farmers are just hoping to bring more attention to a bigger issue. I hope people dont just think everybody is out for their own pocketbook, Staci said. People need to come to the table like adults. We need to have people tell both sides of the story but this state needs storage. I think there are ways parties can come together and keep our state sustainable and hopefully not a dust bowl. Well companies said they cant come out to drill for months, leaving many not knowing when they will get water again. Farmers said they are worried the lower levels of water will drive the cost of food up and bring employment in the agriculture industry down. PLUMAS COUNTY, Calif. - Firefighters have contained a 7-acre fire west of Quincy, according to the U.S. Forest Service Plumas National Forest. Crews were able to put the fire out around 12:15 p.m. in the area of Meadow Valley. The fire was spreading at a slow to medium rate. Firefighters received help from air attacks and helicopter support. SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - A member of the Fire Victim Trust Oversight Committee (TOC) has provided Action News Now with two letters that were written in response to a letter of complaint sent to state Attorney General Rob Bonta by 11 Northern California legislators. The letter from the legislators was sent to Bonta on May 21, 2021. In the letter, the legislators said they are extremely concerned about the lack of distributions and payouts issued via the $13.5 billion Victim Trust as required to be initiated by the Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) bankruptcy settlement. The legislators said in the letter, We urge you to use the full authority of your office to review the funds recent expenditures and the funds administrators. The entire letter from the legislators is embedded below. Further down in this story we are providing the two response letters in their entirety, where the Fire Victim Trust (FVT) Oversight Committee responds to the legislators concerns and to Attorney General Bonta. In response to the legislators May 21 letter, on May 27 the Trust Oversight Committee sent a response claiming that some media reports have been inaccurate which they say undermines the process and inflicts greater harm on the fire survivors and family members of those who died in the fires. The Trust Oversight Committee said some of the inaccuracies from recent press reports were included in the legislators letter to the Attorney General. Oversight Committee members said the figures used to show that the FVT spent almost 90% of the funds on overhead during the first year is not true and reflects numbers from the 2020 year end data, which is now five months old. The Trust Oversight Committee also pointed out in the letter that due to their strong oversight and due to reductions in expenditures that they suggested to the Fire Victim Trust, $6.4 million dollars less was spent in the January March 2021 period. They explain in the letter why administrative costs are high and why there have been delays in sending out more payments at this point. The Trust Oversight Committee also requested assistance from the State legislature and Congress in their response letter in order to: Propose legislation deeming compensation received by fire survivors from the Trust to be tax-free. Propose legislation deeming compensation received by fire survivors from the Trust to not be income for purposes of calculating income needs benefits so that fire survivors do not have to be concerned that their needs-based benefits will be impacted or lost or incur costs of setting up special needs trusts. Assist the Trust in obtaining accurate and timely data from the insurance companies showing how much each insured fire survivor received from their insurer and insisting that the insurance companies release the billions of dollars that they are holding in reserves for fire survivors. The response letters are from the nine members of the Trust Oversight Committee that represent almost two-thirds of all claimants as their retained counsel. They are tasked with overseeing the operations of the Fire Victim Trust on behalf of all fire survivors from many PG&E-caused fires, including the Camp Fire (2018), the Butte Fire (2015), and the North Bay Fire Storm (2017). The members of the Trust Oversight Committee are as follows: Amy Bach, Esq. Doug Boxer, Esq. Elizabeth J. Cabraser, Esq. Michael A. Kelly, Esq. Frank M. Pitre, Esq. Amanda L. Riddle, Esq. Bill Robins, Esq. Gerald Singleton, Esq. Steven Skikos, Esq. Embedded below is the letter dated May 27, 2021, from the Trust Oversight Committee to the legislators, which includes: Brian Dahle, Senator, District 1 Megan Dahle, Assembly, District 1 Mike McGuire, Senator, District 2 Jim Wood, Assembly, District 2 Bill Dodd, Senator, District 3 James Gallagher, Assembly, District 3 Jim Nielsen, Senator, District 4 Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Assembly, District 4 Andreas Borgeas, Senator, District 8, Frank Bigelow, Assembly, District 5 Marc Levine, Assembly, District 10 Embedded below is the letter dated May 27, 2021, from the Trust Oversight Committee to California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Action News Now reached out to the Attorney Generals office on Friday for a response to the letters and were told, We are unable to comment on, even to confirm or deny, a potential or ongoing investigation. Judge John Trotter, who is not on the Trust Oversight Committee, but is the Trustee for the Fire Victim Trust, wrote a response to the Attorney General on the same day, May 27, 2021. He said in his letter, I have received a copy of the letter sent to you by certain California legislators. I am appalled by the carelessness with which it was written. It appears to be influenced by a recent, inaccurate and uninformed news report with no attempt to understand the Trusts operation or function. None of these legislators contacted me or anyone else on my staff to verify or understand why startup costs were necessary and what, in fact, they were. Judge Trotter continued, The Fire Victims have suffered enough, they do not need their own elected officials adding to their angst by thoughtless accusations. I have been a judge for over 40 years and have always valued thoughtful and informed discussions regarding the matters before me. This letter was neither. Below the embedded letter from Judge and Trustee John Trotter to Attorney General Rob Bonta we have provided his video statement to fire survivors, followed by a list of some recent fund distributions. The latest numbers from the distribution of funds by the Fire Victim Trust are provided after this embedded video from Claims Trustee Judge John Potter that was published through YouTube on May 17, 2021. Even though claims from the Fire Victim Trust have been approved for dispersal for a total of $684,332,654, those figures represent 100% of approved claim amounts. Since no one knows yet how much money will end up in the Trust to provide payments after the PG&E stocks are sold and the administrative fees are better defined, it is unknown what percentage of approved claims each survivor will end up receiving in the end. 11,494 of the close to 67,110 claimants have received a smaller preliminary payment under $25,000 so far. As of May 27, the Fire Victim Trust reported that they have distributed a total of $285,709,961 to survivors, which includes preliminary payments and 30% of approved and signed offers. Though April expenses are still being audited, thru April 30, 2021, the Fire Victim Trust reports operating expenses of $84,588,043. Action News Now has been working diligently with the Fire Victim Trust to obtain numbers concerning FVT payments to claimants. The goal is to receive reports regularly and report them regularly. One big question claimants have is how many claims/offers are made by the FVT in a day or a week. Action News Now has found that over a one-week period toward the end of May 2021, 317 claimants received offers that they could either accept or challenge. During that same week, 757 claimants were provided with deficiency notices that need to be resolved before final offers are made. During a specific two-day period on May 27 and 28, 2021, a total of 45 determination notices/offers were made, 191 deficiency notices were sent out, and 1,001 preliminary payment notices were issued for the smaller amounts of $25,000 or less designed to help survivors get by until they receive a larger pro-rata 30% payment. Good morning, North State. Here's what you need to know to start your day on May 31. North State Memorial Day planned ceremonies and observances Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., a procession of cars will parade through the Chico Cemetery. You can join and you are encouraged to decorate your car. Prizes will be given for the most patriotic display. In Gridley, a ceremony will include a fighter jet flyover from Beale Air Force Base. It's set for 10 a.m. at the Gridley-Biggs Cemetery. Paradise has a ceremony planned for noon, at the veterans memorial hall on Skyway. Biden honors fallen service members on Memorial Day The President will be in Virginia to visit the Arlington National Cemetery. This video shows him laying a wreath at the Veterans Memorial Park in Delaware last memorial day. The first lady and vice president will join him today for the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier. CHP is in max enforcement period Memorial Day Put safety at the top of your memorial day checklist. CHP officers are out today on a Memorial Day max enforcement period. The period ends tomorrow as the agency works to keep holiday roads safe. Officials said 31 people have already died in crashes over the holiday weekend, 78% of the people were not wearing seatbelts. Storm Tracker Forecast: Extreme heat the next few days More than 9 million Californians are under a heat advisory or excessive heat warning today. The forecast calls for soaring temperatures to continue, at least through Wednesday. Action News Now is tracking the high-pressure system behind it and ahead today he'll take a look at the increased risk for fire. In a major development, ANS Commerce, a full-stack e-commerce enablement startup, has onboarded Da Milano, a leading fashion, and accessories brand onto its platform. With this association, the platform will be powering Da Milanos Middle East website on its proprietary, enterprise-ready, feature-rich, tech-enabled brandstore platform, Kartify. The latest development further strengthens ANS Commerces stellar portfolio of distinguished partner brands with this one being their first association in the UAE. Boasting features such as customized themes, quick checkout, store locator, and virtual trial rooms, Kartify also offers omni-channel experience. Besides, the platform also supports different currencies and integrations, making it easier for ANS Commerce to tap into the international market and provide enhanced customer experience. Furthermore, ANS Commerce has been powering the India website of Rosso Brunello, a subsidiary brand of Da Milano group, for over a year now. Da Milano, an exclusive home grown brand, forayed into the Middle East market in 2017 and currently has 5 stores in the UAE. Speaking on the association, Mansi Bhatia, Business Director of ANS Commerce said, Finding integrated tech-led services happens to be one of the key challenges that brands face when involved in e-commerce. ANS Commerce has always been committed to delivering best-in-class services through flexibility, cutting-edge technology, and end-to-end support with our deep expertise in e-commerce enablement. We are thrilled to forge an association with an eminent brand such as Da Milano and look forward to a fruitful relationship. Adding to this, Aaina Popli, E-commerce Manager of Da Milano said, We are delighted to be associated with ANS Commerce a platform that is creating revolution in the e-commerce enablement space through its extensive tech focused offerings. We believe that the newly established association will help us deliver delightful experience to our customers and enable frictionless, integrated e-commerce solutions. We look forward to a long lasting relationship. With an end vision to address the pain points of brands with enhanced flexibility, ANS Commerces star-studded portfolio currently comprises of globally distinguished brands such as Bath & Body Works, Jack & Jones, Vero Moda, ITC, Sunglass Hut, Bikanervala, and more. According to media reports, big tech companies Google, Facebook and WhatsApp have complied with IT Minitrys new digital rules. The social platforms have shared details of a chief compliance officer, nodal contact person, and grievance officer with the ministry as laid down by the new rules. Social media intermediaries LinkedIn, ShareChat, Telegram and Koo have also shared details with the IT Ministry as per the IT norms that came into effect earlier this week. However, micro blogging platform Twitter has yet to comply with the rules, according to reports. Twitter has clashed with the ruling party BJP when it flagged the tweets made by several of its leaders as manipulated media. Twitter has also said that while it is committed to India as a vital market, the new IT rules and regulations inhibit free, open, public conversation. The Government has said that the new IT rules are designed to prevent abuse and misuse of social media platforms, and offers a robust forum for grievance redressal. The rules came to effect on May 26. Course5 Intelligence, a leading analytics and applied AI solutions provider headquartered in India, has announced a series of executive leadership appointments in horizontal and vertical roles across AI Labs, Corporate Strategy, Products, CPG, Pharmaceuticals, Competitive Intelligence, and Digital and Advanced Analytics. The appointments bring new talent and vision to the companys strong existing leadership and augmentitsrobust core capabilities. The company is seeing substantial growth tailwinds as its clients are emerging out of the pandemic and ramping up spending on analytics and AI solutions. This massive demand is coming out of the recognition that analytics and insights is the key way for companies to continue to thrive and grow in these times. Clients also recognize the superior value proposition and bank of IP of Course5 Intelligence. Ashwin Mittal, CEO Course5 Intelligence said, Course5 has already created a strong niche in the domains of digital analytics, customer analytics, marketing analytics and insights through its business domain, and analytical and AI capabilities.The latest developments are in line with our commitment to build a best-in-class business to drive transformational value for the worlds leading corporates. One of the companys recent notable hires is Jayachandran (Jay) Ramachandran taking charge as senior Vice President - AI Labs. Jay is an inventor, design thinker and AI thought leader, and has over 25 years of industry experience in leveraging IT and AI technologies in world-class organizations like IBM, Infosys and HCL Technologies. Bhupinder Grewal, who joins as Vice President - Corporate Strategy, Financial Planning & Analysis, brings 20 years of experience in digital transformation across industry sectors with companies like Siemens, WNS Global Services, IKS Health &GeBBS Healthcare Solutions. Raman Khatri, leading as Vice President - Sales for Pharma Analytics and Insights, has 26 years of experience in driving sales in business intelligence and data analytics, pharmaceuticals R&D and running commercial departments in the life sciences industry with companies like Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Evalueserve, Fractal Analytics and The Smart Cube. Imran Saeed, on board as Vice President - Global Head CPG, has been an entrepreneur and has over 18 years of experience in deploying analytics at scale, process re-engineering, account management and sales for BFSI, CPG and Retail in companies like General Electric, HSBC and Absolutdata. Kapil Malhotra, in his role as Vice President - Digital & Advanced Analytics, will lead multiple delivery teams at Course5 in the Analytics and Insights business unit that handles Data Engineering, Digital, BI and Data Sciences. Kapil has 19 years of experience in building high-performance teams, generating business impact through analytics, and influencing the strategic direction of organizations like PepsiCo, Accenture, Genpact, marketRx, Blue Star Infotech and Daewoo Motors. Vishal Dhruve, who has joined as Vice President -Course5 Compete and Digital Suite, has 20 years of experience delivering solutions in supply chain, advanced analytics, customer support, and marketing operations to help improve top-line and bottom-line performance at eClerx, Amazon UK, Three UK, Sutherland, Electronic Data Systems & Stream INC. Sidharth Sivasailam,leading asVice President - Products, has worked across the globe with companies like Microsoft, Bank of New York Mellon, Lloyds Bank and Cognizant in product leadership roles. He has led the product development and launch of several market-leading products across various geographies. Ashwin Mittal, CEO at Course5 Intelligence sums up, In the next five to seven years, we believe that we can grow our impact in the industry by 50 times. We are moving from a historical services model to a solution-based and outcome-oriented model where we partner with our customers and take responsibility for driving business impact. We want to continue building cutting-edge technology that truly solves business problems, at scale and in a non-linear way. Scaling up our talent is an important part of this endeavor and will create a multiplier effect on our current achievements. The pro-presidential center-right Democratic Rally (DISI) gathered 27.77 per cent of the vote, winning the parliamentary election in Cyprus, the Central Election Commission said on Sunday after 100 per cent of ballots were counted. The opposition Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) ranks second in the voting with 22.34 per cent. The centrist Democratic Party (DIKO) comes in third, with 11.29 per cent of the vote. The fourth party was the far-right National Popular Front (ELAM), which received 6.78 per cent of the vote, an increase compared to the result of 3.71 per cent in the 2016 legislative election. The Movement for Social Democracy (EDEK) has secured 6.72 per cent, the centrist party DIPA received 6.10 per cent, and the Movement of Ecologists -- Citizens' Cooperation has collected 4.41 per cent of the vote. The election involved 551 candidates from 15 parties and seven independent candidates. According to preliminary data, the turnout was 65.72 per cent, compared to the rate of 66.79 per cent in the 2016 parliamentary election. The distribution of the 56 seats in parliament between the parties will be unveiled soon. The results of the major parties were worse than in 2016 when DISI received 30.7 per cent of the vote, AKEL - 25.7 per cent, DIKO - 14.5 per cent. However, EDEK improved the results - it had 6.18 per cent of the votes five years ago. (ANI/Sputnik) Three Fourth Solutions (TFS) has recently been awarded the Digital Media mandate for GTPL KCBPL, the leading cable and broadband service provider in Eastern India. As per the mandate, the agency will be responsible for Social Media Management across platforms, including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn & Twitter for the brand. GTPL was launched in 2005 as a unique group of 160 cable operators that turned themselves into shareholders and made KCBPL a successful and one of the leading MSOs in East India. Post digitalization, they have a subscriber base of 25 lacs and have expanded their presence in various other districts around Kolkata. In addition, they are also the house of Channel One, an infotainment channel that has gained massive popularity among Bengali Families. Commenting on the new partnership, Ankit Agarwal, Owner, GTPL KCBPL said GTPL KCBPL has always focused on building deep connections for over 15 years by adding value to its consumers by offering the best of services and technology to them. Our aim is to amplify our communication through digital media and we are looking forward to enhancing our presence with the help of TFS and its digital & creative expertise. This is the right time to put our digital foot forward and our team is enthralled with this association Talking about the mandate, Siddhant Jain, Director - Three Fourth Solutions said, GTPL KCBPL has been creating a strong impact in the domain of cable and broadband services in East India and we are delighted to have the opportunity to partake in building the brands digital presence as well. Three Fourth Solutions is an Integrated Marketing Agency headquartered in Kolkata with offices in Delhi & Guwahati that specialize in Providing Solutions & Execution of Marketing Campaigns aimed at optimising the Digital Presence of brands across verticals. With an impressive roster of clients under their belt, TFS aims to add value to every partnership they tie up with. Neel Pandya, India's Head of Media, L'Oreal has decided to move on from the company, is currently on the notice period according to the sources. Pandya is associated with L'Oreal for nearly four years now and is considered to be the youngest media head of the brand. As a National Media head for L'OREAL, he is responsible for overall trading and planning for traditional and digital media strategy for the various competitive brands under L'OREAL like Garnier, Maybelline, L'OREAL Paris, NYX and various other professional division products ((Kerastase, Cheryl, Matrix, etc). Neel is known for his extensive national and international experience in Digital and traditional media marketing and has a proven track record of consistent marketing deliveries and leading large teams. Before joining L'Oreal, Pandya was working for ISA as Head of Media Forum and his past stints also includes well known brands like Vodafone, GroupM, Tam Media Research, Future Group India and HDFC Bank. Orcomm Advertising, a leading full-service advertising agency in Madhya Pradesh, has partnered with Urban Innovation Lab to launch an urban branding initiative, a first of its kind in India, to help Indian cities find their true potential. In an MOU signed with Urban Innovation Lab, on May 12, 2021, Orcomm Advertising will (help) build identity, nurture dialogue, and unleash a sense of pride while driving stakeholder engagement with innovative strategies and pathways for urban regeneration. City branding is a strategic tool to build identity, connections and generate participation of all stakeholders in city revival. The agency comes with a deep understanding of the new emerging cities of India. The city branding initiative, which starts with a knowledge series first, will create, communicate, connect and consolidate the city as a brand, as a unique identity to build a meaningful dialogue with stakeholders. Place branding, or city branding, a new marketing and communications concept in India, is anchored in the interconnection between people, places, perceptions, and possibilities. It plays an important role in urban transformation where cities grow from being liveable to becoming lovable places that are home. "Across the world, cities that have identified, leveraged, and communicated their unique identities to their citizens have garnered great competitive advantage and tremendous citizen participation. We are excited to partner with Urban Innovation Lab in helping Indian cities find their true potential and a place in the minds of millions," said Amit Koserwal, Director and Chief Communications Officer, OrComm Advertising. Ram Khandelwal, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Urban Innovation Lab shared his thoughts on their partnership with OrComm APL, " Urban Innovation Lab is pleased to launch the City branding Initiative with OrComm as a Communications Partner. Under this initiative, we intend to sensitise cities and urban stakeholders to the importance of city branding. We are going to put together the strategies and the tools that can be used by cities to brand themselves. Cities are more than urban growth centres, they are a microcosm of cultures, ethos, history, geography, built and social environments, living and working spaces, a diversity of its people, and their infinite aspirations. Cities are unique, they have a soul, a spirit, a vibe that attracts visitors and lends a sense of belongingness and identity to their inhabitants. Above all, cities are defined by perceptions that have been built over years and can be rebuilt as the city evolves over time. As cities grow manifolds, with migration and growing work opportunities, their citizens face a multitude of challenges while also experiencing a sense of disconnect or loss of belongingness. Weather Alert ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR IRWIN COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA...SOUTHEASTERN CLAY...RANDOLPH...NORTHEASTERN MITCHELL... LEE...CALHOUN...NORTHEASTERN EARLY AND EASTERN QUITMAN COUNTIES IN SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA...NORTHERN TIFT...BEN HILL AND WORTH COUNTIES IN SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA...DOUGHERTY COUNTY IN SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA... TURNER COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL GEORGIA...NORTHERN BAKER AND TERRELL COUNTIES IN SOUTHWESTERN GEORGIA UNTIL 715 PM EDT... At 618 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Pitts to near Arabi to near Leesburg to near Cuthbert. Movement was southeast at 35 mph. Penny size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms. Locations impacted include... Morgan, Albany, Dawson, Cuthbert, Putney, Ashburn, Ocilla, Fitzgerald, Sylvester, Leesburg, Edison, Arlington, Shellman, Poulan, Leary, Smithville, Mystic, East Albany, Marine Corps Logistics Base and Turner City. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. && * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Taiwan on Monday said China continues to sabotage the island's COVID-19 vaccines purchasing efforts and isolate Taipei in the international arena. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council's (MAC) remarks come after the Chinese Foreign Ministry claimed Taiwan's plan to achieve independence through the COVID-19 vaccine "will not succeed". The MAC refuted Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian's comments by saying that China's attempts to hinder third-party vaccine assistance are "deplorable" and it also allows Taiwanese to see Beijing's true face, Taiwan News reported. China has continued to isolate Taiwan in the international arena, such as blocking the nation's participation in the World Health Assembly, the MAC said. It added that Beijing has also been interfering with Taiwan's attempts to acquire Germany's BioNTech vaccines. A contract with the German biotech company was cancelled after it insisted Taiwan remove "country" from a press release announcing the agreement. Responding to the reports that Japan is holding talks with AstraZeneca to allow it to send its surplus coronavirus vaccines to Taiwan, Zhao said "channels for Taiwan to receive vaccines from China are not blocked". He then warned that Taiwan's "scheme to achieve independence through vaccines will not succeed," Taiwan News reported. Japan said on Friday it would consider sharing its COVID-19 vaccines with other countries as a ruling party committee urged it to provide a portion of its AstraZeneca PLC vaccine stock to Taiwan. This comes as Taiwan faces an urgent need to secure vaccines as it witnessed a dramatic surge in cases. Japan, which has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, is apparently looking into providing the vaccine through private companies and organisations to avoid drawing China's ire, Kyodo News reported citing Japanese officials. Recently, Taiwan directly accused China of blocking a deal with German firm BioNTech for COVID-19 vaccines. "Taiwan was close to sealing the deal with the German plant, but because of China's intervention, we still cannot sign the contract," the island's President Tsai Ing-wen said in a meeting of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, a democracy of almost 24 million people located off the southeastern coast of mainland China, despite the fact that the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades. (ANI) Also Read: Coronavirus: Vietnam to suspend incoming international flights to Hanoi due to COVID-19 surge The role of the World Health Organization (WHO), whose stated objective is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health, has been challenged, especially by the U.S. The WHO has played an important role in public health issues, including the eradication of smallpox, the virtual elimination of polio, the development of an Ebola vaccine, and research on HIV/AIDS. But it has been blamed for inadequate handling of the current pandemic, for not sounding the alarm when the virus appeared and not acting quickly to deal with it, and with being compliant to China, covering up the threat that all agreed had originated in China, thus causing countless loss of life and great economic hardship. The Trump administration maintained that the WHO had mismanaged its response to the pandemic crisis and expressed strong concern that the WHO had aided China in covering up the virus, as well as not making necessary reforms. Consequently, President Trump in April 2020 announced that the U.S. would stop funding the organization, and in May 2020 declared the U.S. would terminate its relationship with it. In July 2020 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo notified the UN Secretary General of the U.S. decision to withdraw from the organization, an action that would take effect on July 6, 2021. However, Joe Biden on January 20, 2021, announced that the U.S. was retracting the declared intention made on July 6, 2020, to withdraw from WHO and that it would rejoin the WHO and fulfill all financial obligations to it. Later, he stated that Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases would be the U.S. representative. Biden has, controversially, approved a temporary abrogation of private company patents in order to fight COVID-19. Whatever the intentions and motivations of WHO, one might conclude that it misled the world over the outbreak of COVID-19, its severity, and the measures needed to control it. It accepted Chinas claim at first that the virus was not serious and was not spreading. Because of the resulting deaths and economic damage, it is possible that the actions or non-actions of WHO can be legally regarded as constituting crimes against humanity. The U.S. had played an important role in the establishment of the WHO on April 7, 1948, and since then has provided both assessed and voluntary contributions to it, being assessed 22% of the core budget, an estimated $120 million in 2020, and an average of $262 million a year in voluntary funding. The U.S. Congress in 1948 had asserted the right of the U.S. to withdraw from the WHO giving one years notice, but it is legally uncertain whether the president has the authority to withdraw without congressional approval. Politically, Congress has been divided on the proposals to halt the funding and withdrawal from WHO. The WHO, composed of representatives from the 194 member states, has a broad mandate including promoting human health, collecting data on global health issues, and providing technical assistance to countries. The WHO is officially concerned to improve the health of the world. It is shameful that its effectiveness has been undermined and distorted, by political activists, mainly the Arab Group of States and the Palestinian Authority. Like some other UN agencies, such as UNHRC, the WHO has been misused and weaponized against the State of Israel. Yet again, this organization illustrates the double standards in UN bodies which single out Israel for condemnation while ignoring or absolving other countries for actions in areas under their control. There are always a considerable number of internal and external questions on the WHO agenda, but condemnation of Israel for alleged ill treatment of Palestinians invariably has priority. In May 2016 at the WHOs World Assembly meeting Israel was selected as the sole abuser of human rights. Unmentioned were significant issues such as the chemical and gas attacks used since 2012 by Syria against its own citizens in Ltamenah, Douma, and the outskirts of Damascus, or the Hamas rocket launchers that killed Palestinian civilians. In May 2019 the 72nd Assembly of WHO passed a resolution, by a vote of 96-11, with 21 abstentions and 56 absent, on the poor health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory including East Jerusalem and occupied Syria Golan, accusing Israel of perpetrating the health crisis in Palestinian Arab territories. The resolution co-sponsored by the Arab bloc and the Palestinian delegation singled out criticism of Israel as the unique violator of health rights in the occupied Palestinian territory and Golan. Only one of the 21 items in the WHO agenda focused on a single country, Israel, though there is a health crisis in many countries. In this there is a double irony: there is ample evidence that Israel hospitals have been caring for Syrians who fled to Israel territory to escape the brutality of the Assad regime; they have also been caring for Palestinian Arabs including Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority, and Jibril Rajoub, a major figure in the Fatah party who was treated in a Tel Aviv hospital in May 2019, in spite of his expressed support for terrorist attacks and violence against Jews. Another vote in WHO on May 26, 2021, adopted a resolution calling for nondiscriminatory, affordable, and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for Palestinians in the disputed territories and Syrians in the Golan Heights. The resolution, obliquely referring to the 11-day war in 2021 started by Hamas, though irrelevant to the virus, also called for an analysis of the psychiatric morbidity and other forms of mental health problems resulting from protracted aerial and other forms of (Israeli) bombing among the population. Those supporting the resolution included not only the usual suspects, Cuba, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, China, and Russia, but also France, Spain, Switzerland, Japan, and India, and the three countries, UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco, that recently normalized relations with Israel. Countries opposed included Australia, Czech Republic, Germany, Canada, and Hungary as well as the U.S., the UK, and Israel. The resolution of May 26 passed by a vote of 82 to 14, with 40 abstentions and 38 absent. Again, there was no resolution on any other country other than Israel, or on any other conflict. Ironically, though the Palestinians have their own health system, Israel, at last count, has vaccinated more than 100,000 Palestinians and provided them with thousands of vaccine doses. The draft resolution on May 25, 2021, before the final version, called for the WHO to deal with structural problems emanating from the prolonged occupation in the protected occupied population in the Palestinian territories in East Jerusalem and the occupied Syrian Golan. Noticeably, the WHO has three offices for the West Bank and Gaza established in 1994 which support the Palestinian Ministry of Health and partners in improving the health and well-being of Palestinians. It states that its role as a leading health agency is in the context of a chronic occupation and increasingly precarious humanitarian crisis. This does not appear to be helpful in its approach in addressing social determinants of health, let alone for the tortuous path for peace in the Middle East. The U.S. should take note. Image: WHO To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. The liberal media approached the latest outbreak of violence in the Middle East as a renewal of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, if not a return to the Arab-Israeli Wars of half a century ago. Former president George W. Bush, however, saw the situation for what it was. In an exclusive interview with Fox News on May 19, he correctly stated that what "you're seeing playing out is Iranian influence targeted toward Israel." The 4,000 rockets fired by the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists from Gaza were supplied by Iran along with a wide arsenal of other weapons (including attack drones), training, and money. Hamas and Islamic Jihad are just two of many insurgent groups the Tehran regime uses to project its power in the region. Hezballah, Irans largest paramilitary force, also took part in the current round of violence by firing rockets from Lebanon and Syria. Irans Quds Force controls these groups as it does a network of Shiite militias in Iraq and Yemen. Tehrans strategy is to surround its enemies with insurgents who can harass and weaken them. "I think the best approach with regard to Iran is to understand that their influence is dangerous for world peace, that they are very much involved with extremist movements in Lebanon and Syria and Yemen, and they are aiming to spread their influence," said President Bush. This view is shared on the Democratic side of the aisle, but to advance a very different policy agenda. The day after President Bushs appearance, Sen. Bernie Sanders, the independent who twice ran for the Democratic presidential nomination, introduced a joint resolution blocking $735 million in defense articles, defense services, and technical data being sent to Israel, including precision-guided bombs. While he paid lip service to Israels right to self-defense, he was not willing to provide Jerusalem with the means to do so. This is because he blames the right-wing Netanyahu government and its undemocratic and racist behavior for the conflict. Sanders made no mention of Iran, but his desire to halt U.S. military aid to Israel in the face of Iranian-supported aggression followed exactly his campaign to cut off U.S. military aid to the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iranian-supported aggression in Yemen. In 2014, after years of violence and insurgency, Shiite Houthi rebels seized the Yemeni capital city of Sanaa, deposing the legitimate, internationally recognized government. Shiites make up about one-third of Yemens otherwise Sunni population. Yemen borders Saudi Arabia and for it to become an Iranian satrap would be an unacceptable threat to the kingdoms security. Indeed, on March 7, Houthi Brigadier General Yahya Sareea claimed the group had fired 14 drones and eight missiles at Ras Tanura, one of the world's largest oil ports These weapons were supplied by Iran and attacks against Saudi targets have been common. The Houthis have also launched attacks against shipping in the Red Sea using Iranian and Iranian-supplied Chinee anti-ship missiles and drone suicide boats. A Yemen satrap would be a strategic complement to Irans control of the Strait of Hormuz, bracketing the Arabian Peninsula. Just as Iranian tactics in both Yemen and Israel are similar, so has been the response. In retaliation, the Saudi-led nine-Arab-nation coalition renewed its air campaign in Yemen with strikes at key Houthi targets. The coalition had pulled back on their airstrikes due to pressure from the U.S., but restraint by Riyadh and Washington has only encouraged the rebels. U.S. aid to the Arab campaign against the Iran-Houthi axis started under President Barack Obama and was continued by President Donald Trump. Since 1979, when Shiite theocrats seized control of Iran, the basis for conflict in the region shifted as the Tehran regime posed an existential threat to Jews and Sunni Arabs alike, pushing them to align against a common enemy. The Arab states had already largely abandoned the Palestinians, whose radicalism and corruption no longer made them an attractive cause worth fighting for. Iran filled the void by enlisting Hamas into its campaign of expansion across the region. Sanders rallied every Democratic senator (and even a few antiwar Republicans) in support of his 2018 resolution to disarm the Saudis. When a similar resolution passed both houses of Congress in 2019, President Trump vetoed it. Today, however, Joe Biden has now embraced Sanders view, having fallen for the argument that the issue is no longer about strategy but has become about saving civilian lives -- the same argument raised against the Israel counterbombardment of Gaza. At a February 5 press briefing, State Department spokesperson Ned Price concluded his review of recent administration statements by conceding that Saudi Arabia faces genuine security threats from Yemen and from others in the region, and so as part of that interagency process, well look for ways to improve support for Saudi Arabias stability, to defend its territory against threats. Yet this was again mere lip-service since Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had already proclaimed the ending of all American support for offensive operations in Yemen, including relevant arms sales and ending our intelligence sharing arrangement with Saudi Arabia and the Saudi-led coalition. A key partner of Sanders in his campaign on Yemen is Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) who penned a Foreign Affairs essay in February that went even further than cutting off support for allies. He called on Biden to seriously consider reducing its military basing in the region. Reconsidering the costs and benefits of basing the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain would be a good start, as the United States massive footprint is becoming more trouble than it is worth. This would be a great reward for Bahrain so soon after it normalized relations with Israel. It would also surrender control of the strategic sea lanes connecting Europe to the Indo-Pacific through the Arabian Sea to Iran. On May 9, the Fifth Fleet cruiser USS Monterey intercepted an arms shipment from Iran to the Houthi insurgents. It is this kind of operation that Murphy and his progressive colleagues want to end, opening the door wide for Iranian expansion. Sanders failed to block the Israeli arms sale because his party split on the issue while the Republicans held firm to their support for Jerusalem. No vote was held in either chamber of Congress. However, as he backed away, Sanders pledged that he and other lawmakers were going to push for greater debate to make sure that U.S. arms sales do not support human rights abuses. Human rights abuses by a brutal, aggressive Tehran regime were not mentioned. Meanwhile, talks continue with Iran about a renewed nuclear weapons agreement. The first agreement did not dismantle Irans nuclear weapons program and left its missile program untouched, promising a perilous future. But its immediate impact was to give Tehran billions in cash and trade just when needed to support its intervention in the Syrian civil war. One can only hope that the current President listens to a past President. Any deal that is done has got to not only focus on its nuclear capabilities, but also its influence in the Middle East," President Bush told Fox, "Any deal, youve got to keep in mind the dangers of an aggressive Iran to our allies, and to stability, so it has to be a comprehensive look." William R. Hawkins is a former economics professor who served on the professional staff of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee. He has written widely on international economics and national security issues for both professional and popular publications. Image: Markusszy To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. The Gospel of Mathew says that, having called for Jesus death, the Jews cried out: His blood be upon us and on our children. To me, it seems improbable that my distant ancestors would be bloodthirsty one minute and, the next minute, plead guilty and ask for their children to be punished. But for two millennia Christians have read that verse and considered Jews unworthy of living alongside decent people. And sometimes not even worthy of living. The libertarians over at Reason recently ran a piece reflecting favorably on the plans of Miami's mayor, Francis Suarez, to turn the Magic City into an "un-woke, pro-bitcoin, tech billionaire's paradise." Mayor Suarez is a nominal Republican who voted for Andrew Gillum in the latest gubernatorial race in Florida and has been consistently at odds with the Trumpian governor of that state, Ron DeSantis. Suarez has ridden his family name and connections (his father was the first Cuban-born mayor of Miami) into a political career that has reached its (current) zenith with his landslide election as Miami's mayor in 2017. Seizing on an opportunity to gain the favor of Silicon Valley potentates fleeing oppressive tax regimes in blue states, Mayor Suarez has offered them the keys to Miami. There is a saying among the bolder sectors of the right that those who "import the third world become the third world." This is an abrasive way of putting things, but it reflects the fundamental truth that unwanted socio-political changes necessarily follow from the demographic changes that occur in civilized countries as a result of immigration from barbarous alien nations. Among civilized societies engaged in debilitating identity crises (as most Western societies are at the moment), such socio-political changes tend to become permanent as the incoming immigrant populations eschew all feeble invitations to "assimilate" (into what?) or even decide to take the cues from certain elites within their new host societies to emphasize their alien cultural identities for the sake of "diversity." The gentrified flip-side to this ghettoization by gruffy "third-world" immigrants is the socio-political changes brought about by the transplantation of dissolute monied liberals from their progressive enclaves into more conservative areas of the country. To put it simply, those who "import Silicon Valley become Silicon Valley." These Silicon Valleyists bring with them all the social eccentricities and political voting patterns of the (white) bourgeois liberal. These peculiarities rule the full gamut from a benign addiction to overpriced "coffee" to a treasonous view of American history and society (i.e., A People's History of the United States with the most racially incendiary parts of the 1619 Project serving as prologue). The economic dislocation that will follow from the exploding rent prices and new "trendy" establishments catering to these liberal transplants will eliminate respectable housing and employment from the reach of the upper crust of the working class, in the process dispiriting and permanently exiling the most conservative-minded sections of the urban population to the more unsavory parts of Miami. Whatever hesitancy anyone might have at this proposed Californication of Miami, the libertarians at Reason seek to dispel it by assuring us that the "hard working un-woke Latino immigrants" of Miami will wisely counterbalance any excess on the part of the new incoming waves of bourgeois liberals. One wonders how long those on the right will continue to hold on to this ahistorical and fantastical view that the immigrant populations of Latin America are "naturally Republican." It seems that the curious case of the Cuban exile community seems to be the historical happenstance from which conservatives have constructed this tired trope. The fealty of the Cuban community (waning more every generation) to the Republican Party is and has always been primarily an animalistic revulsion to leftism resulting from the political shell shock suffered from decades of Bolshevik (mis)rule in their homeland. This is very different from the "natural Republicanism" foisted upon them as the stereotypical explanation for their voting patterns. In fact, many Cuban exiles yearn in their hearts of hearts to return to their patria (homeland) and have more or less been continuously forced by the historical circumstances of the last few decades into being American. A reversal of the Bolshevik revolution in Cuba during the 1960s or 1970s would have seen the reverse immigration or "self-deportation" of most of the Cuban exile community residing at that time in Miami. Conservatives have mistaken admiration of America by foreign populations for the desire to be an American. This is an understandable mistake, but it's also the foundation of much of the self-delusion surrounding support for foreign immigration by conservatives. As many a cornered husband has attempted to explain to an enraged wife, admiration from afar does not automatically translate into a desire for close intimacy. In our own domestic histories, many noted Anglophiles and Francophiles never considered for a moment exchanging their American passports for British or French ones. The immigrant populations of Miami, being but superficially "American" and even more superficially "Republican," will accommodate themselves to their new liberal bourgeois betters, and Mayor Suarez, who harbors dreams of a governorship bought with the transplanted cash of Silicon Valley, will help them do it. Ernesto J. Antunez is a conservative writer residing in Miami. He can be reached at ernestoantunez@live.com or via Twitter @ejantunez. Image: PublicDomainPictures via Pixabay, Pixabay License. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. The Family Research Council (FRC) published an article, "Unequally Woked: One Teacher's Stand to Stop the Left" that warns there is a stealth woke indoctrination process hidden within a BrainPOP animated teaching aid intended for K12 schools. However, the hundreds of BrainPOP video titles on their webpage BrainPOP that I quickly scanned appeared mostly harmless. The one sample video that was available last Friday for viewing explained the origins of Memorial Day. It was in a short, simplistically animated format similar to those produced by PragerU. I found it both accurate and informative. However, Jonathan Koeppel, a young, courageous teacher in the Saint Tammany Parish school district in Louisiana, where the use of BrainPOP videos had been approved, "knew something in his classrooms was wrong and if he didn't say anything, he worried no one else would." "When I found out that kids in my community were being exposed to this wokeism woke curriculum and woke education I said somebody needs to expose it. Somebody needs to let the public know what's going on," he explained. "I just happened to be the guy to do it." According to the FRC article, "When Jonathan stood up in the school board meeting last month, his goal was to warn local parents. Thanks to his powerful message that caught fire online and was picked up by Fox News and Newsmax, he said a lot more. "A man cannot menstruate," he argued when it was his turn for public comment. "A man cannot lactate and breastfeed a child. You cannot give birth if you're a man. If you want to be an adult and do whatever you want with your life, I'm okay with that. Don't push this ideology on children. I'm not going to work in a district that's okay with that[.] ... Parents are already pulling their kids out of public school[.] ... Their going online is going to increase as this liberal ideology comes into our schools. This isn't a political indoctrination camp, okay? It's public education. We want to teach education, not left-wing ideas that aren't backed up by facts or science." The Biden administration is pushing divisive Critical Race Theory ideology, the lies in the discredited 1619 Project and gender madness to indoctrinate our school kids in wokeness nationwide, so it should be no surprise that an otherwise fine resource like BrainPOP would be used to assist with the fundamental transformation process. I fear that thanks to the radical left's domination of our MSM, Hollywood, universities, and even Big Business, most newly minted educators (including many school board members) are likely to have been fully indoctrinated with woke ideology and eager to share it. Therefore, it will be difficult to protect our kids from exposure. However, it will be impossible to stop the process if parents or courageous teachers like Jonathan Koeppel remain silent despite knowing there will be a price to pay in our cancel culture. One recent example of the sort of educator resulting from the left's indoctrination process is clearly demonstrated here. This young white female Oregon teacher put it like this to her colleagues: If you're not evolving into an anti-racist educator, you're making yourself obsolete. ... Our district is only getting browner and browner [with respect to students]. ... Obviously, you can't change your melanin, all right? But you can change your mind so that you can actually function in a district that is full of BIPOC [black, indigenous, and people of color] children. So if you're being resistant, I understand that. But you're gonna have to eventually come to the light. The above words paint the picture of a true believer in the new religion of woke. However, as Jonathan said, "If we're going to be salt and light, we have to infiltrate every area of life from politics, education, Hollywood, business, you name it. We can't just be limited to being an influence inside of our churches or inside of our church community. The world needs us." Perhaps it's no irony that one political slogan used by Biden/Harris campaign was "The battle for the soul of America." Image: JMacPherson via Flickr, CC BY 2.0. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. The federal government's budget is normally due out in early February so the president can sell its brilliant new spending in his State of the Union speech. But when there's a new administration, it's later. This year, the latest info was that the FY22 budget would come out on Thursday, May 27, 2021. But it didn't. Govinfo.gov didn't show it. Then I checked on Friday, May 28. Still nothing. Finally, on Saturday morning, May 29, 2021, I checked govinfo, and there it was, dated May 28, 2021. My nickel says they have something to hide. I wonder what it is. The main interest in a new federal budget, for me, is the forecast spending and revenues for the next five years not because the projections are accurate, but because of what the administration thinks it can get away with. But first, the deficit. My nickel says it ain't pretty. So here's what usgovernmentspending.com shows for the deficit. That's a $3.7-trillion deficit in the current fiscal year that ends September 30, 2021, higher than last year, when the whole place was shut down. My nickel says we'll look back and judge it a major motion picture mistake. But no problem. It will come down pretty quickly to $1.4 trillion a year in a couple of years because welfare spending will come down. Hey! No wonder that employers can't find employees, what with federal welfare outlays going from a pre-COVID $350 billion a year to this year's $1,761 billion. Thank you, Nancy Pelosi. You helped my 19-year-old grandson get a job. Just back from the U.K., the restaurant he applied to wants him to start work tomorrow. But, Nancy Pelosi, my nickel says your Johnstown Flood of cash is going to wash away millions of the "human rubble of the old regime's failed experiments," as I'm sure a smart politician like you well knows. And notice that our fearless leaders project that, after the fun is over, the rest-state welfare spending will have almost doubled, from $350 billion a year to over $600 billion a year (not including Medicaid). My nickel says that... And the other thing that the OMB bureaucrats forecast will bring the deficit down is that federal income tax revenues will rise 50 percent by 2024 from about $2 trillion a year to $3 trillion a year. Notice how federal income taxes had been going nowhere until President Biden waved his magic wand? Hey, kids! My nickel says: not a chance. Yep. No wonder the Bidenoids published the FY22 federal budget at the last possible moment before the heroic federal bureaucrats went home for the Memorial Day holiday weekend, patting each other on the back after the most heroic year of bureaucratic accomplishment the Year of St. Fauci since whenever. Notice how the fearless bureaucrats at the Office of Management and Budget forecast GDP to increase sharply in the years ahead? Unlike in the bureaucratic Obama years, when we had the slowest post-recession recovery in recorded history? My nickel says GDP growth won't come anywhere near projections. It really doesn't matter what my nickel says. Democrats are making one last effort to force their big government big-spending agenda, in the hope that there will be no turning back, no way to undo the spending and the taxing and their war on climate change and systemic racism. But my nickel says they have no idea of the depth of pushback and rejection from the American people in the months and years ahead. And yet, what is my nickel against their trillions? Maybe a few Democrats should take a look at usgovernmentspending.com and think it over. Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill runs the go-to site on U.S. government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also get his American Manifesto and his Road to the Middle Class. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Back in April, I wrote an article on masks here on American Thinker. Part of the article was just me, kvetching about having to wear the useless face diapers, especially outdoors. Since then, the CDC has come out with "new" guidance saying that wearing masks outdoors is unnecessary. Try telling anyone around here (the S.F. Bay area), though, to take their outdoor masks off. Most people on the street are masked up, toddlers included. We still have farmers at the Saturday market who won't sell to you unless you're wearing one. Thankfully, there are other, friendlier farmers from whom to buy. I categorically refuse to wear a mask outdoors, ever again, period. Sixteen months ago, when we were first told to wear them, after first being told why we shouldn't, I thought (and said) outdoor masks were useless. I got excoriated for saying (with no medical degree, just logic) that sunshine is a great disinfectant, and exercise is a great way to stay healthy. I noted that our lungs need to breathe fresh air and that our immune systems need the stimulus of external pathogens in the air to keep functioning properly. Having studied factual history, I recalled how the European explorers brought new pathogens to which the indigenous people had never developed immunity pathogens that had no effect on the explorers but that killed off existing populations. I wondered if we'd have that problem after long-term masking. This was before I realized that masks do nothing to stop viruses. Back then, my little burg put yellow caution tape around every park, and the state, in its infinite wisdom, closed all the beaches. Posted signage all over town told us to shut up and stay indoors. We didn't know any better, so we learned to obey. All I can say is, thank goodness "back then" is over. The good news is, maybe, come June 15, a mysteriously magical day in California history, all masks can come off. We are supposed to open. Finally, a desperate, clinging-to-his-office Governor Newsom, facing almost certain recall, is going to let us all out of jail, hoping that we forget our anger at him. On that magical and arbitrary day, we can join with the red states, where there's still logic and common sense, in leaving COVID restrictions behind. ...unless he can gin up a new outbreak first. You never know! Two weeks after Memorial Day, a big travel and gathering holiday, a new outbreak could happen. So is the June 15 date actually arbitrary? In that April article I wrote about masks, I talked about those ubiquitous blue masks from China the ones everyone wears and sticks on kids and toddlers containing graphene. I read that Canada had rejected a shipment of those masks. Because graphene flakes microscopically, it's terrible for your lungs. I confirmed this with my chemist friend. It causes a similar reaction to asbestos in the lungs. After I wrote about it, I mentioned that fact to a lot of people, most of whom shrugged their shoulders and just went about their business. At a certain point, I realized I could shout it from the rafters, and nobody would care. They can't see COVID, so it makes them illogically fearful. They can't see graphene, so they'll trust the government to do what's right and ignore science once again. I just read a newly published article on graphene in masks. It says that on April 2, 2021, Health Canada, a department of the Canadian government responsible for national health policy, issued an advisory, warning people not to "use face masks labelled to contain graphene or biomass graphene." Then the article takes it a step farther. It posits that including graphene in masks is part of an insidious plot to sicken us and blame it on COVID. The logic is there, but the proof that this theory is true seems lacking. But that logic might just explain why, when Canada has been vocal in warning about these masks, the USA, the CDC, and the WHO haven't bothered. When graphene gets into the lungs, it creates a set of symptoms similar to a COVID infection. With the over-sensitive PCR test, a false positive result is common. So, you have the perfect way to keep the pressure on the public. Make them sick and perpetuate the Munchausen by government proxy syndrome I wrote about in January. Politically, it makes perfect sense. For me, the bottom line is that nobody ought to be wearing those blue (or now, other colored) masks from China. We don't manufacture our own, so if it looks like a paper mask, it's Chinese. Need I say more? Other than to reiterate that masks don't stop COVID anyway. Image: Blue surgical masks. Public domain. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Sadly, many people especially younger folks don't even know why we celebrate Memorial Day, let alone how and where the commemoration began. It is an interesting and moving story, indeed. The roots of the remembrance reach back to Civil War days. As the war that took the lives of 620,000 Americans neared its end, thousands of Union soldiers, being held as prisoners of war, were placed into camps around Charleston, South Carolina. Conditions at one of these camps, a former racetrack near Charleston's Citadel, were so bad that more than 250 prisoners died from disease and exposure. They were buried in a mass grave. Three weeks after the Confederate surrender, on May 9, 1865, over 1,000 recently freed slaves, accompanied by regiments of the "U.S. Colored Troops," as well as a handful of white Charlestonians, entered the camp. They created a proper burial site for the Union dead. Then they gave readings, sang hymns, distributed flowers around the new cemetery, and dedicated it to the "Martyrs of the Race Course." In May of 1868, General John A. Logan, the commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, a Union veterans' group, issued a decree that May 30 should become a nationwide day of commemoration for the soldiers who had died in the recently ended Civil War, also known as the War between the States. General Logan dubbed this official remembrance "Decoration Day" and encouraged Americans to lay flowers and decorate the graves of the war dead across the land. Many believe that he chose May 30 because it was a rare day that didn't fall on an anniversary of a major Civil War battle. Originally, the holiday was intended to commemorate only those killed in the Civil War, and by 1890, every former Union state recognized Decoration Day as an official holiday. After the United States entered World War I, the tradition was expanded to include those killed in all America's wars. In 1964, Decoration Day was changed to Memorial Day via federal law. Then, four years later, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 went into effect. This moved the traditional Memorial Day observance from May 30 to the last Monday in May, thereby making Americans associate the holiday with the first long weekend of summer. Partying, boating, barbecuing, and game-playing, rather than honoring those who sacrificed their lives to benefit and protect ours, became the order of the day. For this reason, a few veterans' groups continue to lobby for a return to the May 30 observance. So, fellow citizens, this Memorial Day, remember to turn the music off for a moment, stop your boat, set down your tongs, and step away from the ladder ball game. Think of those who gave their lives for all their loved ones and countrymen and one precious idea. And think of those 1,000 freed slaves, the U.S. Colored Troops, and the handful of white Charlestonians who took it upon themselves to consecrate a burial ground for fallen Union soldiers. Then raise your glasses and make this pledge with me: [T]hat from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. This nation needs a new birth of freedom now more than at any time since Lincoln spoke these words in 1863. And it will not experience one unless we each do our part. No matter the cost. Photo credit: United States Government. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. It's a little late, but according to the Daily Mail, the media are finally admitting it: Liberal media reporters and pundits admitted over the weekend they were wrong to dismiss the Wuhan lab leak theory just because it was espoused by former President Donald Trump. Mainstream reporters had pushed back at the idea that COVID-19 may have originated in a virology lab in Wuhan, China, and openly ridiculed the idea as Trump spoke openly about it in the early days of the pandemic. But now, those same reporters have admitted that it is possible that the virus came from a lab leak as more scientists and political officials openly question the virus' origins. 'I think a lot of people have egg on their face,' ABC News' Jon Karl told Martha Raddatz Sunday morning. That makes them look kind of stupid, more stupid than they realize, given that people have known about this for months, and long suspected it was happening. Those who stated early that it may well have been lab-created had been dismissed by this bunch as conspiracy nuts. The reporters and commentators who did this weren't reporting news; they were advancing a political "narrative," acting like the 27-year-old reporters who know "nothing," as Obama-era spinmeister Ben Rhodes once contemptuously said of them. They were boobs in the service of charlatans, and yes, they do have egg all over their faces. They can wear that as a badge of honor in the service of Democrats and show it to all their crummy little friends. The whole COVID fiasco has been an amazing string of bad reporting revolving around the press's crazed desire to Get Trump. The press lied about the Chinese origin of the virus, using it as bait to hammer home on television screen after television screen that the president was a racist. The cover-up of the origins of this virus was useful indeed for that agenda, but the truth went untold. They even allowed a killer clown like New York's Gov. Andrew Cuomo to claim that the virus emerged from Europe. That, too, was a lie, and nobody called him on it. Speaking of Cuomo, who the heck among this bunch exposed Cuomo, and four other leftist governors, for seeding nursing homes with COVID patients, the most insane and lethal move in the entire pandemic? That government-mandated atrocity killed tens of thousands and was characterized by unusual cruelty. Loved ones were prevented from seeing their elders even in their last moments, forcing them to die alone, to somehow "protect" them, yet untested hospital patients from COVID wards were let in, ostensibly on non-discrimination grounds, all to cough, wheeze, and breathe all over the most COVID-vulnerable people on the planet. Only the New York Post kept on this story and got to the bottom of it. If it weren't for the Post, Cuomo would have gotten away with it and gone on to more fawning media and millions more in book deals. Today, he stands exposed as an ogre. There was continuous nonsense about masks don't wear one, wear one, why isn't Trump wearing a mask? Wear two of them, wear one, masks don't do much. That was the latest word from a study in Sweden, and it shows the extent to which the press just followed Fauci, the sorry National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director, glowingly described, again and again, as America's foremost expert on infectious diseases, despite spending much of his career as a medical bureaucrat, ignoring the real experts who know about these things, and whose research is reflected accordingly. A couple of them in Kentucky found that mask mandates did nothing to slow the spread of COVID during high-transmission periods. They used actual evidence on the scientific method, based on states with and without mask mandates. And speaking of experts who know what they are talking about, let's get into the media's treatment of Dr. Scott Atlas, M.D., a Stanford neuroradiologist and President Trump's late-appointed COVID czar, who was continuously demonized for stating the basic facts about how human immunity works, including the uselessness of lockdowns and mask mandates. He was continuously reported to be a nut because he followed science rather than the politically motivated Get Trump agendas of the CDC and the NIAID of Fauci. Nobody in the press bothered to look for the truth. The press also lied about hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin as effective treatments for COVID, some really big lies, which cost untold lives as sick patients were denied this treatment, all to Get Trump. As I wrote here on May 5, 2020: When President Trump brought up hydroxychloroquine as a promising potential treatment for COVID-19, a huge upsurge of negative political publicity followed from it. It was strange stuff, because up until then, the treatment, which had been safely used to treat malaria, lupus, and arthritis, had been seeing promising results for COVID-19, too. Yet the condemnations from all sides poured for weeks. It wasn't just the political establishment blasting it; it seemed to be the medical establishment, too. That raises questions as to whether financial interests might be involved here. It started with the press engaging in its customary contrarianism against Trump when he called the treatment "promising." The logic was simple: If Trump liked it, then it had to be bad. How's this for a slanted headline and report from NPR, which ran on April 10? COVID-19 Patients Given Unproven Drug In Texas Nursing Home In 'Disconcerting' Move Last night, the real story was obtained by Fox News host Laura Ingraham, and it's quite a different picture. It isn't out on YouTube yet, so I will describe it: A Galveston-area doctor, Dr. Robin Armstrong, who was in charge of a nursing home, found himself in the middle of the worst health care nightmare anyone can imagine: a COVID-19 outbreak, on a home full of elderly people, and he was in charge. Odds were big they were going to die. We already know what the coronavirus did to a nursing home in Washington State, and we have subsequently learned what inserting COVID-19 patients into unwilling nursing homes in New York City did to those populations. Coronavirus + Nursing Home = Death Sentence. That was what he was looking at. In desperation, the Texas doctor decided to treat his threatened patients with hydroxychloroquine in a last-ditch effort to save them...and he called it right. Unlike those other places, his patients got well. His informed judgment saved the lives of a building full of nursing home patients, and he reported no bad side-effects such as heart problems brought on by the treatment. He would have been justified to take such risks because his treatment was triage, and the alternative was the death sentence. But there wasn't even that. His patients lived, they regained their fragile health, and there were no stacked bodies or chaotic medical scenes in his part of Texas on his watch. That's frankly a story of heroism, and the brilliant medical man should be celebrated for the huge number of lives he saved. Instead, all he got were trashy stories with scare headlines like NPR's, painting him as some kind of evildoer. Bad medicine, unproven treatment, everybody get scared. It was worse than just this with hydroxychloroquine people were demonized for saying it had worked for them. A young black legislator in Michigan who said she was cured of COVID through its use, asking for it after hearing about it from President Trump, was met with a Democrat threat to expel her from the party. Doctors who advocated for it, such as Dr. Stella Immanuel, who treated 350 patients with it and saved all of them, were censored on Facebook and other Democrat organs. Chris Cuomo, incidentally, was someone she accused of getting the treatment himself while loudly claiming that it did not work, a pretty potent indicator of media bias if true, and even if not true, a pretty significant indicator of culpable ignorance. As I wrote here last July: Immanuel, whose passionate testimony beginning at about the 5:30 point of the UGE video said that she herself treated 350 COVID patients with HCQ, same as doctors in Asia, Africa and Europe do, and not one died. Her described bedside manner, telling patients 'you're not going to die' must have been immensely assuring to many a patient with a terrifying diagnosis associated with so much death, based on her sureness of knowledge. And she's got science on her side. Just three weeks ago, a huge medical study confirmed HCQ's efficacy. A previous "study" by the famed British medical journal Lancet debunking HCQ got retracted because it was found to be junk. Aside from the studies, these doctors spoke from their own medical experience, the things they saw with their own eyes on the frontlines of the COVID pandemic, and sought to tell of. And for that, they got censored. YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook removed all evidence of their testimony from their sites, leaving only smaller sites with the evidence they gave, effectively silencing them. Things were just as bad for those who tried to speak the truth about ivermectin and its efficacy. Two days ago, American Thinker editor-in-chief Thomas Lifson wrote about how India destroyed its runaway COVID problem by making this vital medicine easily available. Instead of keeping patients on ventilators for weeks in the hospital and letting the patients flood in, overwhelming the system, ivermectin was given out, and people got well. When Trump was in office, the media demonized the treatment. When Trump was out, a New York Times big shot admitted that it was the most important story of the year, which it pretty well is. That's right: the press ignored the biggest story of the year because, in its mind, Getting Trump was the most important narrative of the year. There are probably a lot of lies I am forgetting in this, but that's because COVID has been a miasma of lies, ending with Joe Biden claiming credit for the vaccine development when it was President Trump who deserves that honor. It's disgusting. The media may have gotten what they wanted in its continuous smog of false stories, debunkings, ignorings, and lies to Get Trump, but it's done so at a steep price: its credibility. It lied about all sorts of things to this end from the Russia collusion hoax to the continuous evidence-free claims that there's no such thing as election fraud, with the corollary claim that any move to stop election fraud is Jim Crowstyle voter suppression. It's crap, and there's no reason to believe them when they make such claims, given their record. In time, with audits going on, the truth will come out. Then it will be time for another round of egg on their faces, and it lingers ugly. How much egg must they get before people stop paying attention entirely? Correction: Fauci runs the NIAID, not the NIH. Image: PXHere, CC0, Public Domain. Photo illustration by Monica Showalter with use of images from Pixabay / Pixabay License, a CNN video screen shot, via shareable YouTube, and ClipArt Max (detail), logo // public domain, free download. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. In October 2007, I learned in an email from an Army chaplain in Baqubah, Iraq that one of the most beloved Soldiers at FOB Warhorse had recently been killed. Attached to the 1st Cavalry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team out of Ft. Hood, Texas, Staff Sgt. Donnie D. Dixon was rushed to a field hospital after being wounded earlier in the day. Told by the field surgeon that he was in no condition to return to combat, he ignored the warning, grabbed his rifle and helmet, and rushed to the side of his men, who were under attack by Iraqi insurgents. Shortly after arriving on the scene, a sniper's bullet killed Sgt. Dixon. He left behind a wife and four young children, paying the ultimate price for voluntarily leaving the safety of a hospital bed to come to the aid of his men. If there's any greater example of selfless heroism, leadership, and devotion to duty, I can't imagine what it would be. When military members die in service to their country, many Americans don't give it a second thought, even on Memorial Day. But a fallen soldier's family and combat buddies certainly do. Here are some memorial sentiments I found online about Donnie Dixon: "I don't want anyone to go through this. It's hard. It's very hard. But you don't experience the pain until you go through it yourself." Dessie Dixon, on the death of her son "It's hard to believe but graduation has arrived!!! I think back during the day I gave birth and the look you had on your face gleaming!! Now as she gets ready to walk across the stage, I know you will have that same gleaming smile as you did 17 years ago. LUV N MISS U!!" Latrese Dixon, Sgt. Dixon's wife, referring to the high school graduation of their daughter "I wear a bracelet for Donnie every day. I didn't know him well but we served together in Ba'Qubah and I got to talk to him a few times. 2007 was a terrible year and I saw a lot of death and destruction, but Donnie's death stood out the most in my heart and on my mind. I never want him to be forgotten. I say a toast to him every Memorial Day and at any Army dinner I go to. Donnie, you may be on guard up there, but you are so missed down here." Jimmy Hammond, Memorial Day 2011 "Daddy I miss you and it's not the same when I see your picture. When I hear about people saying I hate my dad I feel like crying. Your memorial is coming up and I don't want to go because I'm scared of really crying. I love and miss you Daddy. Your daughter Shabria." Four years ago, I learned the whereabouts of Sgt. Dixon's wife and spoke with her by phone. She said she's doing better, but I could tell in her voice she still suffers from having lost the father of her children, the love of her life. Image: National Archives. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. A locomotive can derive power from many different sources. The earliest locomotives were driven by steam. Then came electric trains powered by galvanic cells. Later, onboard batteries were replaced by overhead lines. There are locomotives that run on internal combustion engines that drive the wheels of the locomotive directly using mechanical transmission like in automobiles, or use the rotational energy of the engines to generate electricity, which in turn run the traction motors. There are also locomotives that run on compressed air, known as fireless locomotives, and steam-diesel hybrids (where water in the boiler is heated using diesel fuel instead of traditional coals) and electric-steam hybrids (where water is heated using electric heaters). Some of these unconventional designs have found use in very specific cases, such as in Switzerland, where there are no natural reserves of coal. But one design that failed to gain traction despite showing much potential was the propeller-driven locomotive. Aerowagon The first propeller-driven railcar was the Aerowagon designed by Soviet engineer Valerian Abakovsky in 1917. It resembled a horse-drawn wagon but with a large twin-blade propeller attached to the front in place of the horse. The Aerowagon was capable of reaching speeds up to 140 kilometers per hour, but clearly Abakovsky pushed the limits of the wagons design to handle speeds. On 24 July 1921, while travelling from Tula to Moscow, the Aerowagon derailed at high speed killing seven of the 22 passengers on board. Among the dead was Valerian Abakovsky. Schienenzeppelin Eight years after the tragic accident, German aircraft engineer Franz Kruckenberg designed a vastly improved propeller-driven railcar called the Schienenzeppelin, or rail zeppelin, because it resembled a zeppelin. At the rear was a large propeller that pushed the railcar to unprecedented speeds. The Schienenzeppelin still holds the record for the fastest propeller driven rail vehicle. The car was 25 meters long and 2.8 meters tall. It was powered by two conjoined BMW IV 6-cylinder petrol aircraft engines driving a four-bladed, fixed pitch ash propeller. Later, the engines were replaced by a single BMW VI 12-cylinder of 600 horsepower and the four-blade propeller was replaced by a two-bladed one. The Schienenzeppelin was built of aluminum to reduce weight, and featured a streamlined body to cut air resistance. The interior was spartan with seats for 40 passengers. The Schienenzeppelin regularly exceeded speeds of 200 km/h, with the record of 230 km/h set in 1931 on the BerlinHamburg line between Karstadt and Dergenthin, which was not surpassed by any other rail vehicle until 1954. The railcar still holds the land speed record for a petrol powered rail vehicle. The Schienenzeppelin lasted only five years, and only one vehicle was built. The most obvious drawback of the Schienenzeppelin was its inability to pull additional wagons to form a train. Some expressed concern about the dangers of having an open propeller in crowded railway stations. The vehicle also could not climb gradients. The Schienenzeppelin was sold to Deutsche Reichsbahn (German Imperial Railway) in 1934, and five years later, in 1939, with Germany at war, the rail zeppelin was scrapped and its materials reused by the military. Bennie Railplane Around the same time Valerian Abakovsky was experimenting with Aerowagon, Scottish engineer George Bennie began work on his version of a rail-aircraft hybrid. Bennies design consisted of a monorail hanging from an overhead track, and propelled by propellers. In 1929-1930 he built a prototype on a trial stretch of track over a 119-metre line at Milngavie, off the Glasgow and Milngavie Junction Railway, and one railplane car to demonstrate the system to potential clients. Bennie believed his Railplane could run above conventional railways, carrying passengers while slower freight traffic moved along the ground. To impress the potential investors, Bennie fitted the demonstration carriage luxuriously fitted with plush carpeting, curtains, comfortable seating, tables and table-lights. Despite the interest shown around the world, Bennie could not obtain the financial backing he required to develop his revolutionary transport system. In 1937 Bennie went bankrupt, for he had financed most of the work out of his own pocket. Samsung announced the Galaxy A02s in November last year as its latest entry-level Galaxy A series smartphone. The device didnt go into sale until January this year. However, according to 91Mobiles, the Korean firm is already working on its successor, expectedly called Galaxy A03s. The publication has also shared several high-res renders, a 360-degree video, and detailed specifications of the phone, leaving little to the imagination. The Galaxy A03s shares a lot of similarities with its predecessor, more so in terms of design. But there are a couple of significant upgrades. Firstly, the new phone gets a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, which was missing on the Galaxy A02s. It also features a USB Type-C port. The 2020 model used the older micro-USB port for charging. Apart from those changes, its a similar-looking phone with a 6.5-inch display which should be an LCD panel. The renders show relatively thinner bezels, particularly on three sides. The chin is still quite big. Theres a V-shaped notch at the center housing a 5-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies. Advertisement On the back, you get a plastic cover with a rectangular camera island in the top-left corner. It features a triple camera setup consisting of a 13-megapixel primary camera and two other 2-megapixel sensors, along with an LED flash. Its basically the same camera setup found on the Galaxy A02s, with the same design and sensor arrangement. Moving on, the Galaxy A03s has its power button (which incorporates a fingerprint sensor) and volume controls on the right side. The renders also reveal a 3.5mm headphone jack, a microphone, the previously-mentioned USB-C port, and a speaker grille at the bottom. The SIM tray is on the left side while a secondary microphone can be seen at the top. Standard Samsung stuff here. Advertisement Samsung Galaxy A03s leak bares it all According to the report, the galaxy A03s will measure 166.6 x 75.9 x 9.1mm in dimension. With the rear camera bump, the thickness reaches 9.5 mm. Unfortunately, details about the processor, memory configurations, and battery capacity arent known yet. But dont expect an overwhelming upgrade in these areas. The Galaxy A02s features a 5000mAh battery with 15W fast charging. It packed a Snapdragon 450 chipset with up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The Galaxy A03s might get a slightly more powerful processor at best. Overall, the Galaxy A03s is a minor iteration upgrade that introduces a few modern elements like a fingerprint sensor, USB-C port, and, hopefully, the latest Android 11-based software. It should not excite many people but those on the lookout for a low-cost Samsung smartphone might not be disappointed. Its unclear when Samsung plans to unveil this ultra-cheap Galaxy A series handset. With its first-ever leak revealing it all, we might not be a very long way off from an official introduction. Expect to hear more about the Samsung Galaxy A03s in the coming weeks. Purchase an online subscription to our website for $7.99 a month with automatic renewal. Each online subscription gives you full access to all of our newspaper websites and mobile applications. To cancel you may contact Customer Service @ 256-235-9253 or email JPAYNE@ANNISTONSTAR.COM For a limited time, for NEW SUBSCRIBERS ONLY a NEW ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION is just $59.99 for the first year. Existing customers do not qualify for the specials! After the first year, well automatically renew your subscription to continue your access at the regular price of $69.99 per year. Please note *Your Subscription will Automatically Renew unless you contact Customer Service To Cancel* Scientists hail Xi's speech on innovation China Daily) 08:07, May 31, 2021 President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a meeting conflating the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on May 28, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua] President calls for more breakthroughs in core tech, higher-level self-reliance Noted scientists and engineers hailed President Xi Jinping's latest speech on science and technological innovation as insightful, inspiring and instructive, saying they will fulfill Xi's call to enhance basic research, train quality professionals, promote international collaboration and conduct reforms to unleash the full potential of those working in science. Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called on the Chinese scientific community to make more breakthroughs in core technologies and help the country achieve a higher level of self-reliance and strength in science and technology. Xi highlighted on Friday many scientific and technological achievements in his speech addressing the general assemblies of the academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, as well as the 10th National Congress of the China Association for Science and Technology. These feats include the country's Mars and lunar probes, the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, the construction of the Chinese space station, new quantum computers and deep-sea submersibles. He also mentioned that China has become a global leader in fields including 5G communication and image and voice recognition. However, China's ability to make original breakthroughs is still relatively weak, Xi said. The nation also needs to improve the effectiveness of its innovation system, make better use of its research resources and optimize its systems for training talent and evaluating scientific output, he added. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) Some families opted to delay holding a visitation with extended family and friends until capacity restrictions loosened. With Memorial Day weekend bringing to the forefront memories of veterans who have died in service and those who have died during the pandemic, some families are questioning whether to have a service now and relive the grief, funeral directors said. Anniston, AL (36206) Today Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. (ANSA) - ROME, MAY 31 - Three of Italy's regions, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Sardinia and Molise, have been bumped down to low-COVID-19-risk white zones as of Monday thanks to improved contagion data. This means that many of the nation's coronavirus restrictions can be eased in these regions, except for the obligation to wear facemasks and respect physical distancing. The rest of the country is a moderate-risk yellow zone in the nation's tiered system of COVID restrictions. On Sunday Italy registered 44 deaths linked to COVID-19, the lowest daily toll since October. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, MAY 31 - Italy is beside Libya in its "complex" transition, Premier Mario Draghi told a joint press conference with national unity government Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dabaiba in Rome Monday. "The collaboration between the government of Prime Minister Dabaiba and Italy continues to be ever more fertile and alive," he said. "Italy remains at Libya's side and supports it in this complex transition," he said. Draghi added: "I think it is a moral duty but also an interest of Libya to ensure the full respect of the rights of refugees and migrants." He said "Italy intends to continue to finance voluntary assisted repatriations and humanitarian evacuations from Libya...Italy will continue to do its part in terms of resources and training capacities, but determined and rapid EU action is needed. At the European Council in June, at Italy's proposal, migration will return to the centre of political attention". Dabaiba, who stressed that migrants were a joint responsibility, said "we have returned to excellent bilateral relations and we would like to reactivate all the memoranda of understanding, all the accords, and open horizons to increase commercial exchanges with Italy". Draghi also said: "we spoke about collaboration in the fight against COVID. Italy will commit to the construction of hospitals in Libya and sending health staff, as well as receiving tens of children suffering from cancer. This is health cooperation of broad dimensions". Draghi said that a priority for Libya was the withdrawal of mercenaries and holding elections; and said Italy would start cooperating on renewable energy. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, MAY 31 - A male cousin of an 18-year-old Pakistani woman who went missing from a town near Reggio Emilia after refusing an arranged marriage in Pakistan was arrested in France at the weekend. The man, who was reportedly gearing to flee to Spain and hide with relatives there, is one of five people probed for Saman Abbas's disappearance, including her parents, another cousin and her uncle. Procedures to extradite Ikram Ijaz are set to be initiated although Reggio prosecutors have not ruled out going to Nimes to question him before that. The woman's father said she is well and in Belgium. Abbas went missing from her home in Novellara at the end of April. Police said Thursday they had CCTV footage of three people carrying two spades, a bucket with a blue bag, a crowbar and another tool heading for the fields behind the Abbas family house. The suspected body-disposal party left the house at 19:15 on April 29 and came back at 21:50 on the same evening. Abbas had been placed in a shelter for girls after reporting her parents to social services while she was under age, at 17. She then decided to go back home to get her documents, sources said Thursday. The parents, aged 43 and 46, had been cited in January for trying to force someone to marry against their will. The wedding, with her Pakistani cousin, had been set for December 22 and airline tickets had been bought for December 17. Abbas reportedly disappeared after going for a brief trip to northern Europe, police said. Prosecutors said Thursday they had drafted a "plan" to seek Abbas's parents and were searching for her body using dog teams in the fields around her home, as well as dragging the local canals. (ANSA). 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. TWO Fridays ago, the prime ministers of Malaysia and China held a meeting via video link, discussing bilateral issues ranging from investment, digital economy, manufacturing, agriculture to marine infrastructure and cooperation in combating Covid-19 pandemic. According to official Bernamas report, Malaysia and China are exploring new areas of to strengthen bilateral collaboration, and these include aspects of Covid-19 vaccine production through the fill and finish method here and collaboration in electronic commerce, high technology and digital economy. The Chinese government has given a very positive response for these proposed collaborations... Both of us agreed that Malaysia-China bilateral ties have remained close and continued to expand positively in the face of bitter challenges arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Jassin on his Facebook. On Covid-19, Muhyiddin said both leaders saw the need for closer and more proactive cooperation to overcome the pandemic and drive the economic recovery process, including continued collaboration in vaccine supply and food security. And according to Chinas official news agency Xinhua, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Beijing supports Malaysia in improving its vaccine production capacity and epidemic prevention experts of the two countries to enhance exchanges and experience sharing. Li also said China hopes Malaysia will ensure that Chinese citizens in Malaysia are vaccinated soon and in reply, Muhyiddin said Putrajaya will provide convenience for Chinese citizens to get inoculated. Malaysia is the first country to sign an intergovernmental cooperation agreement on Covid-19 vaccines and make a reciprocal arrangement for vaccination with China. For Muhyiddin, this May 21 meeting was important to him as it was his first meeting with a top leader from China the regions largest economy since he became Prime Minister in March last year. In fact, this meeting was originally scheduled to be held in China earlier. But Muhyiddins official visit to Beijing had to be postponed in view of the Emergency rule and political instability in Malaysia, according to a source. However, for Malaysians following the news, it was the topic on bilateral cooperation in vaccination and combating Covid-19 that had caught their attention. All else does not matter to Malaysians now, as their key focus is on the Covid-19 crisis, which is getting worse despite unfettered powers enjoyed by the government under the emergency rule that began on Jan 11 and not expected to end soon. For the past weeks, Malaysians have witnessed local daily new Covid-19 cases surpassing the 7,000 mark and death numbers hitting record highs in recent weeks. As of last Wednesday, Covid-19 cases in Malaysia totalled 533,367 while death toll was at 2,432. According to a CNBC report last Wednesday, Malaysias daily Covid-19 infections per million people on a seven-day rolling basis have exceeded that of India since last Sunday. Malaysia reported on Tuesday 205.1 cases per million people on a seven-day rolling basis, higher than Indias 150.4 cases, according to CNBC. Malaysia has 32.7 million people, much fewer than Indias 1.4 billion. The CNBC data indicate that Malaysia is now the worst Covid-hit country in the world. This is ironical given that in the first half of last year, the World Health Organisation described Malaysias Covid-19 response as strong and robust. Chinese experts who were in Malaysia then to share their experience in combating epidemic in Wuhan, the first area in the world to be hit by the Covid-19 epidemic, had also given Malaysia the thumbs up. But on top of all this, Malaysia like other countries is also infected by the Indian Covid variants that spread and kill more ferociously. Hence, its battleground is filled with more types of enemies. What does not help is the countrys slow progress in mass inoculation. This has sparked discontent and raised anxiety not only among locals, but also foreigners and their families residing in Malaysia. As of May 26, only 2.583 million vaccine doses had been administered in Malaysia. This figure was behind that of Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, the Philippines and Indonesia, according to data compiled by Sin Chew Daily. Beijing is now worried about its nationals here. This can be seen from a China Daily report that wrote: Premier Li hopes Malaysia guarantees early inoculation of Chinese citizens in Malaysia. For Chinas citizens, they are blessed with a government that cares about their safety even for those overseas. Indeed, the Chinese Embassy has sent out preventive anti-Covid medicine to its countrymen in Malaysia. It is not clear whether China will be allowed to send its experts here to inoculate its own people, like what China is doing in Thailand now. According an AP report, Chinese citizens living in Thailand have been vaccinated from May 20 as part of Chinas global campaign to inoculate its people abroad. About150,000 Chinese citizens live in Thailand. From the reports of Bernama, Xinhua and China Daily, it is clear that Beijing is keen to lend a hand to Putrajaya on the continuous supply of vaccines and speeding up the current inoculation programme. When the Covid-19 first hit Malaysia last year, Beijing sent personal protective equipment (PPE) and its experts to help Putrajaya contain the virus. In fact, Beijing has a policy of using its vaccines to do global public good. On May 21, President Xi Jinping announced China would provide an additional US$3bil (about RM13bil) in international aid over the next three years to support Covid-19 response and economic recovery in developing countries. Making these remarks during a speech at the Global Health Summit via video link from Beijing, Xi said China has already supplied 300 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to the world and will provide more. He noted that China has given US$2bil in assistance to combat Covid-19 in developing countries, and have sent medical supplies to 150 countries, provided 280 billion masks and 4.0 billion testing kits to the world. In the case of Malaysia, it is in the interest of Beijing to see Putrajaya getting back to normalcy fast. China has been the largest trading partner of Malaysia for the last 12 consecutive years, and its investments in this Asean country are sizeable and continue to rise. As getting Malaysia out off the current crisis will be good for Putrajaya and Beijing, Malaysia should respond to any help extended by China in inoculation and overcoming the health crisis. A reliable supply of ample vaccines and an effective strategy to speed up the vaccination rate is important. From news flow, China has the capacity to make billion of vaccines this year and is carrying out a mass immunisation exercise efficiently. While Chinas Sinopharm vaccine has just been listed by the WHO as safe and effective for global use, Sinovacs vaccine is awaiting WHO recognition. In fact, with Malaysias current medical standard and reasonably good health infrastructure, many believe that it is capable of bringing forward its year-end target to have 80% of its 32.7 million people vaccinated, if the right policies and strategies are employed. If Bangkok could set target to inoculate 70% of its 66 million population to by September to achieve herb immunity, there is no reason why Malaysia more developed and richer cannot work faster. The same argument goes for Indonesia, with 270 million people. According to a Nikkei report last week, Indonesia has now received 83.9 million doses of vaccines from Sinovac. With warnings from Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah that Covid-19 cases are expected to rise further, economist Lee Heng Guie says Malaysia has to reset its virus war strategy and vaccination must be accelerated. There is nothing wrong to rectify our recourse and learn from countries that have done well (China, New Zealand and Singapore) in the aspects of testing and tracing, communication, gaining pubic trust, influencing public behaviour etc, says Lee, executive director of Socio-Economic Research Centre. Compliance to the Covid-19 is everyones collective responsibility. All political leaders must demonstrate good leadership. The SOP must be strictly enforced, regardless of status. The rules and guidelines need to be clear, consistent and sensible, he adds in an email. The economist believes practising transparency can instil public trust on the Governments vaccination programme. It is vital to provide data on the supply of vaccines by type; the outstanding stocks and the incoming supply on a regular basis, he opines. As half a million residents in Malaysia are still infected and many lives are at stake, Putrajaya needs to respond correctly with urgency. It must display strong political will to save the nation and restore normal life. (THE STAR) NM: Trig picks up an old friend new to us who just got out of prison, and right off the bat hes trying to take the upper hand, assuming hell be the one driving Trigs SUV home (not happening, Trig tells him) and then acts all kinds of creepy with Imani (I wish Trig had been as emphatic about that not happening). What is Trigs connection to this man? And why is he giving him any leeway? Thats not Trigs style, so there has to be more to the story. Im frustrated to see the show spend so much time on a character we just met (and do not care about), when it spent so little time, comparatively, on something like Jadas breast cancer diagnosis. Editor's Note: The writer, Mr. I. Hussain Janjua is a senior media professional and analyst having experience of research & broadcast journalism in different organisations. He is a non-resident fellow of Chengdu Institute of World Affairs (CIWA). (Email: ihussainjanjua@yahoo.com; twitter: @ihussainjanjua) After decades of war in Afghanistan, India feels perturbed as it is monitoring with full attention as US forces prepare to leave Afghanistan. The decision to leave Afghanistan came after an agreement between the United States and the Taliban in Doha in 2020, while US President Joe Biden announced the US troops would return by September 11 -- the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the United States. However, experts believe that India's unrest is due to the absence of the US in the region. They say India's concerns are linked to instability in Afghanistan, the rise of the Taliban and the role of Pakistan and China as amidst all this India has always been a supporter of democratic governance in Afghanistan. According to analyst Avinash Paliwal, Pakistan's growing intervention in Kabul will increase the risk of instability in Afghanistan. One of India's major concerns is the possible increase in Taliban power. In such a situation, Afghanistan could once again become a base for extremists. According to Lisa Curtis, a member of the National Security Council in the Trump administration, withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan will concern countries in the region, especially India about the Talibans strengthening in Afghanistan. Recently, India's Chief of Defense Staff Bipin Rawat has also expressed similar concerns over withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. India's concerns have also been compounded by alleged intelligence reports which say that in the event of withdrawal of American troops, extremist organizations are heading to Afghanistan in large numbers. In 2019, When General Bipin Rawat was the head of the Indian Army; he had supported talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan. This was the period when India was adopting a policy of not having any kind of relations with the Taliban. India has been avoiding direct talks with the Taliban though it sent an unofficial team to the Moscow peace conference on Afghanistan. Not only that, it has also been involved in several peace meetings in Afghanistan, including those in Doha, Geneva and Dushanbe. However, Indias main concern is due to Pakistan's increased role in Afghanistan once the US troops go back home. In fact, Pakistan has played an important role in the talks between the US and the Taliban in Doha. Though Pakistan has direct or indirect links with Taliban but it has never supported extremism and also denied the charge equivocally while its record in the war against terrorism is enough proof to this end. According to analysts, Pakistan's influence in Afghanistan cannot be ignored. Pakistan has an important role to play in Afghanistan not only because of its geographical, religious and ethnic proximity but also because its well being and prosperity as well as that of the region are linked with peace and stability in Afghanistan. At the same time some analysts believe that Islamabads influence in Afghanistan may hurt India, however, analyst K N Pandita says, 'It is expected that Pakistan's leadership will be so sensible that it will not allow any such situation to arise.' India's may also feel that Pakistan can help China in this area to extend its Belt and Road Initiative to Afghanistan as Chinese Foreign Ministrys spokesperson Zhao Lijian has already talked about it and it is very much likely. But India needs to mend its ways and work for bringing in confidence building measures for peace and stability that would lead to inclusive development and growth in the region. India with regard to China seems to be driven by Indias own guilt, the way it perceives and conceives self-centered polices while China is proponent of inclusive well being as propagated by President Xi Jinping i.e. "building a community with a shared future for mankind" to collectively address global challenges. On the other hand, Pakistan has played an important role in pushing the Taliban to sign the agreement with the US. Pakistans support has been very important in directing the Taliban to come to negotiations and their continued support is going to be very important as we go to this difficult period of deciding if the Taliban are actually serious about this and that they are going to live up to their commitments, General Kenneth McKenzie, head of US Central Command had told a US Senate panel last year. Since the beginning of the peace talks three years ago, Pakistan has earned a good reputation by playing an effective role as a mediator. The changing dynamics in Afghanistan indicate that New Delhi may be considering opening talks with the Taliban. Addressing the intra-Afghan talks last year, Indias External Affairs Minister S. Jai Shankar reiterated his countrys support for an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned, and Afghan-controlled peace process and refrained from offering any view on the Talibans participation. Last year, Zalmay Khalilzad, US special envoy for Afghanistan reconciliation, called on India to engage with the Afghan Taliban and directly discuss its concerns related to terrorism, adding that Washington wants New Delhi to take on a more active role in the Afghan peace process. The Indian fears of losing solitary influence and involvement in Afghanistan in the absence of US troops may be true because Pakistan and China are better placed to carry out developmental activities in the war-ravaged country. In this scenario India should keep the ground realities in front and work for improving relations with its neighbors including Pakistan and China for peace and development in the region. (ASIA PACIFIC DAILY) After our 2nd year of being in business, it did not take long to figure out that people absolutely love talking about health insurance! Kidding of course. However, for as much as people do not WANT to talk about it, the truth is that you MUST talk about it. Why? Read more The Supreme Court bench has posted the matter for hearing on June 3 Attorney General K K Venugopal told this to a bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari which was hearing a plea seeking directions to cancel the class 12 exams. (PTI) New Delhi: The government will take a final decision within the next two days on whether to conduct class 12 board exams amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Supreme Court was informed on Monday Attorney General K K Venugopal told this to a bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari which said if the Centre decides to depart from the last year's policy, wherein the remaining board exams were cancelled due to the pandemic, then it must give tangible reasons for it. No issue. You take the decision. You are entitled to it. If you are departing from the policy of last year, then you must give tangible reasons for it, the bench told Venugopal. Observing that the last year's decision was taken after deliberations, the apex court said, If you are departing from that policy, please give us good reasons so that we can examine it. The bench was hearing a plea seeking directions to cancel the class 12 exams of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) amid the pandemic situation. The apex court on June 26, 2020 had approved the schemes of the CBSE and CISCE for cancellations of remaining board examinations scheduled from July 1 to 15 last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and also approved their formula for assessment of examinees. During the hearing conducted through video-conferencing on Monday, the Attorney General told the bench, The government will take a final decision within the next two days. We are hoping that your lordships will give us time till Thursday (June 3) so that we can come back with the final decision. Venugopal said that last year, board exams for some papers were over before the COVID-19 induced national lockdown was imposed in March 2020. We don't want to go into the nitty-gritty at this stage. You take the decision. Hope has been expressed by the petitioner that policy adopted last year can be adopted this year too. If you are departing from that, you must have tangible reasons for it, the bench observed. To this, Venugopal said, We will keep this in mind what you (bench) have said. The bench said, We have no difficulty. You take the decision on what should be appropriate given the situation we are in. During the hearing, petitioner Mamta Sharma raised the issue of difficulty which students, who wish to study abroad after class 12, might face in case the results are delayed. Let them take the decision. Depending on that, we will see. We will consider this on Thursday when the in-principle decision is placed before us, the bench said. List on Thursday (June 3) as requested by the attorney general as the competent authority is examining all the aspects of the matter and is likely to take in-principle decision which will be placed before the court, the bench said. On May 28, the apex court had said it would hear on May 31 the petition which has also sought directions to devise an "objective methodology" to declare the result of class 12 within a specific time frame. The top court had permitted the petitioner to serve advance copy of the plea on the standing counsel for the respondents -- central agency, CBSE, ICSE -- and also on the office of the Attorney General. The petition has arrayed the Centre, the CBSE and the CISCE as respondents in the matter. The CBSE had on April 14 announced cancellation of class 10 exams and postponement of class 12 exams in view of the surge in coronavirus cases. The Ministry of Education had recently sought detailed suggestions from the states and Union Territories till May 25 on the proposals discussed in a high-level meeting held on the issue. The CBSE had proposed conducting the exams between July 15-August 26 and the result to be declared in September. The board had also proposed two options: conducting regular exams for 19 major subjects at notified centres or conducting shorter duration exams at respective schools where students are enrolled. The plea filed in the apex court has contended that due to the unprecedented health emergency and surge in COVID-19 cases in the country, it is not possible to conduct the examination and any further delay would cause irreparable loss to the future of students. In view of the unprecedented health emergency and rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country, the conduct of examination (either offline/online/blended) in upcoming weeks is not possible and delay in examination will cause irreparable loss to the students as time is the essence in taking admission in higher education courses in foreign universities, the plea said. It has also sought setting aside of the notifications, issued last months by the CBSE and the CISCE, only in respect of the clauses dealing with postponement of class 12 examinations. The petition said it is the utmost duty of the state to take care of the health and safety of students and at the same time, not to hamper their higher education and career prospects. It said the COVID-19 situation is more severe in comparison to last year and the respondents should adopt the same criteria of assessing the grading/marks of class 12 students as done last year. It said that the apex court may exercise its plenary power under Article 142 of the Constitution to direct the respondents to implement the same methodology as being adopted for class 10 to declare the result and cancel the class 12 exam. The Andhra Pradesh government should not take any coercive steps against Telugu news channels TV5 and ABN Andhra Jyoti, the SC said The news channels challenged the FIR before the Supreme Court, arguing that the Andhra government had violated a recent court order that restrained governments from punishing citizens for flagging Covid-related grievances. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday put on hold Andhra Pradesh government's action against two TV channels and issued a notice to the state government asserting, "It's time we define limits of sedition." The Andhra Pradesh government should not take any coercive steps against Telugu news channels TV5 and ABN Andhra Jyoti, the Supreme Court said. "The Andhra Pradesh government's act of filing sedition cases against the channels is muffling channels. It is time the court defined sedition," said Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. The court also said, "We are of the view that provisions of 124A and 153 of the IPC (Indian Penal Code) require interpretation, particularly on the issue of rights of press and free speech." Section 124 A deals with sedition and 153 with provocation for riots. At a separate hearing on Covid and vaccination before a two-judge bench, when senior advocate and amicus curiae Meenakshi Arora raised the issue of dignified handling of bodies of victims of the deadly virus, "sedition" came up again, with Justice Chandrachud making a caustic remark on the repeated invoking of the sedition law by the Centre and state governments to curb news and views that are critical of them. "Yesterday we saw pictures of a dead body being thrown into a river," Justice L. Nageswara Rao observed. "Yes. There was a picture of a body being thrown into a river. I do not know whether a complaint of sedition (has been) filed against the news channel for showing it," Justice Chandrachud replied. The exchange came hours before a three-judge bench, including the same two judges and Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, put on hold the Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy-led Andhra Pradesh government's action against the two TV channels. The issue in court pertains to an FIR on their reportage of the Covid-19 pandemic in the state. The news channels challenged the FIR before the Supreme Court, arguing that the Andhra government had violated a recent court order that restrained governments from punishing citizens for flagging Covid-related grievances. TV5, represented by senior advocate Shyam Divan and advocate Vipin Nair said, The attempt of the FIR is to create a chilling effect for news channels in the State, so that every news channel is wary of hosting any content which is critical of the government. By filing a vague FIR and abusing the process of law, the State intends to silence its critics and the media. The apex court had earlier taken strong note of registration of criminal cases against those who sought help for Covid-19 related problems on social media and were critical of the government's handling of the pandemic. A cooperative relationship between the two is essential for good governance in a quasi-federal administrative system like that of India An outstanding address to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council by Tamil Nadus finance minister P.T. Rajan, a contentious interaction between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and the questionable remarks by V.K. Paul, a member of the Niti Aayog, blaming state governments for the mess over the Covid vaccination strategy once again draw attention to the sorry state of Centre-state relations today. Mr Modi came to power in New Delhi in 2014 promising to adopt cooperative federalism as his watchword. Seven years into office he is reminding many people across India of the Indira Gandhi era when the Centre rode roughshod over the states. Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent direct interaction with district magistrates, ignoring their chief ministers, was also a reminder of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhis attempt to empower the district level bodies, funding them directly from New Delhi, bypassing state governments. The Indira-Rajiv era of unhappy Centre-state relations was challenged by several powerful chief ministers, including Jyoti Basu, N.T. Rama Rao and M. Karunanidhi. The Centre is a conceptual myth, declared NTR, who in the early 1980s emerged as a stout defender of the rights of state legislatures and state governments. Seeking to retrieve the trust of provincial political leaders, Indira Gandhi appointed the Justice Sarkaria Commission on Centre-state relations in 1983. Every time that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had problems in dealing with state governments he would, in jest, recall NTRs assertion and remind himself of Justice Sarkarias views. In the quarter century from 1989 to 2014, successive PMs had managed Centre-state relations within a framework of consensual politics. Prime Ministers P.V. Narasimha Rao, Atal Behari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh maintained excellent personal, political and administrative relations with all the chief ministers, irrespective of their party political affiliation. Against this background, it is disconcerting to hear the Tamil Nadu finance minister speak of a deterioration of the relationship of trust between the governments of the Union and the states. It was even more worrisome to see a photograph of a scheduled meeting between the PM and the West Bengal CM in which the PM was seated at the head of the table and the CM and other officials, including the Leader of the Opposition BJP in the state Assembly, were required to be seated along both sides of the table. In the event, Ms Banerjee chose not to attend the meeting. During his first term in office, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh travelled to many state capitals to chair meetings with state CMs and their ministerial colleagues and officials, often accompanied by the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission and senior Central government officials. The seating arrangement always had the PM and his team seated across the table facing the CM and his/her colleagues. It was a gesture of respect that built trust. These meetings were meant to discuss the implementation of various Centrally funded projects at the state level. The Centre has the money, but it is the states that implement all the projects and programmes. A cooperative relationship between the two is essential for good governance in a quasi-federal administrative system like that of India. The deterioration in the relationship of trust that the Tamil Nadu finance minister spoke of contrasts with the environment of trust and mutual accommodation that former finance minister Arun Jaitley referred to when he addressed a special midnight session of Parliament launching the new GST system. The late Arun Jaitley paid handsome tribute to three state finance ministers affiliated to political parties that opposed the BJP -- Thomas Isaac of Kerala, Haseeb Drabu of Jammu and Kashmir and Amit Mitra of West Bengal -- for their cooperation and contribution to making the introduction of the GST possible. Jaitleys consensual style, which he learnt at the feet of Prime Minister Vajpayee, served the nation well. Narendra Modis imperious manner as Prime Minister contrasts with his attitude towards the Central government as the chief minister of Gujarat and his promise of pursuing cooperative federalism. When Ms Banerjee objected over not being allowed to speak during the PMs interaction with district magistrates, BJP spokespersons chided her for speaking out of turn. This incident reminded me of what used to happen at New Delhis Vigyan Bhavan during chief ministers conferences during the first term of Dr Manmohan Singh. Mr Modi would step out of these meetings to address a group of select media people, summoned by the CMs staff, in the lobby of Vigyan Bhavan. Ms Banerjee may well have learnt from that example of how a CM could upstage a PM at a national conference. Whatever the banter and the normal party political differences, the fact is that such interactions between the PM and CMs were usually cordial and businesslike during the tenures of consensual PMs like Narasimha Rao, Vajpayee and Dr Manmohan Singh. The current phase of discord and distrust must be brought to an end if Indias political leadership as a whole has to deal with the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and to restore momentum to the economy. Neither the management of the pandemic and the vaccination drive nor the challenge of fiscal stabilisation and restoration of growth momentum can be handled by the Central government alone. The citizen demands a rational and efficient vaccination programme, a humane and competent healthcare administration and revival of economic growth, employment opportunities and confidence in the medium-term prospects of the economy. The bizarre games of political one-upmanship, the consequent weakening of federal institutions and systems and the mutual blame game between politicians at the Centre and in the states does not serve the interests of the citizen and the nation. India has lived through many crises and it has recovered speedily when the Centre and the states have shared a spirit of cooperative federalism. Any excessive politicisation of federal governance does no good to either pandemic management or economic revival, nor indeed to an overall improvement in the welfare of the citizen. A prolonged period of political grandstanding and continued tensions between the Centre and the states has already adversely impacted governance and economic development. In the event, the nation needs a renewed commitment to cooperative federalism as defined by the principles of the Constitution. You are the owner of this article. At this point, you can say to her, I wish you hadnt told me you were lying about your employment status. You know thats fraud, right? Youve created a dilemma for me, and I hope you will do the right thing. If you got caught, it would affect everyone not just you. Stay up to date on COVID-19 Get Breaking News Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. The Henderson County Appraisal District is meeting with property owners who are not pleased with their increases in appraised value. They are invited to come to the office at 1751 Enterprise Street and discuss the changes. "Mean" Dean joined the Pro Nitrous event at the Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, in his Harry Pappas-owned 1969 Camaro. He qualified second for the opening round by driving the Pat Musi Racing Engines-powered dragster to a 3.66-second run and lined up against Ed Burnley for another go at the 1/8-mile sprint.Things went smooth for the first couple of seconds, but Marinis lost traction just as he was crossing the finish line. One of the rear tires apparently hit a no-traction zone, and the Camaro went sideways before hitting the right-side wall with the rear fender. The impact sent the car flying and spinning almost 20 feet into the air.The dragster then flew across the strip and narrowly missed Burnley's car on its way to the left-side guardrail. The car returned to the strip on its roof, with most of its body panels scattered on the ground. As the track crew was rushing to the scene, Marinis crawled from the wrecked Camaro on his own, and he managed to stand on his feet, a sign that he's unhurt.Despite the massive crash , "Mean" Dean actually won the 1/8-mile race with a 3.65-second sprint at 204.57 mph (329.22 kph). In the other lane, Ed Burnely crossed the line in 3.76 seconds at 199.88 mph (321.67 kph).But none of that matters now. The important thing is that Marinis is okay and that he will be able to race again. It might not happen very soon given the state of his Camaro slingshot, but unlike drivers, dragsters can be rebuilt. Check out the brutal crash in the video below. SUV 4WD DOHC kW FWD CVT EV Does the arrival of this second generation appear to be a successful return of the Venza in the mid-size crossover territory or it will be just another discretely consumed phase in the vast universe of family vehicles? Anyway, it's worth a closer look.Sticking to the strictly technical definition, the Toyota Venza is a five-passenger mid-size crossover. Its commercial calibration: Japanese-branded mainstream product, aimed mainly at the North American market. Its name: an intriguing fusion between venture and Monza.The first generation of the Venza (introduced in 2008) was designed by the Calty Design studios in Newport Beach (California) and was produced at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky plant. Hard to find any kind of common idea or suggestion to bring all those factors together.It also seems that customers failed to understand the Venza in terms of identity or specific purpose. Probably, thats why Toyota announced that the first-generation Venza would be discontinued after the 2015 model year. In fact, the production of the export models ended in 2017. However, Toyota decided not to give up completely on this model series, so here we are now, facing its second generation. Better? Much better!The 2021 Toyota Venza is manufactured in Japan, Toyota City (Aichi prefecture). The project chief designer is Japanese: Yoshito Watanabe. And gone are the identity ambiguities of the former generation. The Venza reflects that inclination for harmony and smoothness often seen in all kinds of Japanese aesthetic creations. Yet, it does it in a decent manner, almost like insisting on the message of discretion. Very interesting effect: intuitively, the onlooker tends to develop a certain sympathy for the car, anticipating this way the peaceful, comfortable and silent cruises to come.Does the silhouette of the 2021 Toyota Venza give you a strong impression of deja vu? Thats easy to explain. The general proportions, the sleek profile and thin headlamps are pretty similar to those of the Lexus NX (basic price: $37,610). Try to visualize the 2021 Toyota Venza and the contemporary Lexus NX side by side: they are like sisters! Its hard to imagine that a potential customer of a mid-size crossover-SUV never looked with desire at the Lexus NX!Those who have hesitated acquiring a fancy Lexus NX have a new opportunity now, under the form of the less blingy 2021 Toyota Venza (basic price: $32,570). Others tried to approach the new Venza as an alternative to the RAV4 - actually, the clear identity and style differences between these (otherwise, technically similar) Toyota SUVs are enough to solve this dilemma.Surprisingly, the interior of the Venza doesnt look obviously less refined than NXs. The design of the dashboard is rather conventional in the case of the Venza, yet the conceptual age of the NX speaks for itself. Both the Venza and the NX have instruments clusters with analog dials. In the case of the Venza, the center console is better organized and the multimedia screen (12.3 inches for the Limited and XLE trims) is well placed, within the natural touch range of the driver.Probably the refinement of the materials and the finishing details is superior to the NX, but the Venza also looks very good. Also, its standard equipment includes the so-called Toyota Safety Sense TSS 2.0, a comprehensive suite of advanced assistance systems: Pre-Collision System with Daytime/Low-Light Vehicle and Pedestrian Detection, Daytime Bicycle Detection (PCS), Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Automatic High Beams (AHB), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) and Road Sign Assist (RSA).Something to mention, but not necessarily determinant: the trunk volume of the Venza is a bit smaller than the RAV4s, even if they share the same technical platform (TNGA-K).The hybrid propulsion system of the 2021 Toyota Venza is already known from the RAV4 and its virtues are widely appreciated. 2WD andconfigurations are offered, yet, in order to get the complete benefits its concept provides regarding the riding abilities, dynamics and fuel economy, we recommend the 4WD. This version of the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive includes a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter gasoline engine (, VVT-i, 131/177 hp), a permanent magnet electric motor at the front axle (88 kW/120 hp) and a permanent magnet electric motor at the rear axle (40 kW/54 hp). Its maximum power is rated at 222 hp (theversions, missing the rear electric motor, are rated at 218 hp).Whats really important here: the casual contribution of the electric motors in terms of torque is significant: 323 Nm (202 Nm from the front engine, 121 Nm from the rear engine). Note that the gasoline engine provides 221 Nm. Knowing that a maximum torque of 544 Nm is available and only up to 40% of it comes from the gasoline mill, it is easier to understand how the good performance and the good fuel economy of the 2021 Toyota Venza can go together.Surely, the Toyota Venza is not the kind of SUV aimed at an off-road use, yet it can handle quite well some problematic grip situations. Thetransmission doesnt favor sporty accelerations anyhow, yet it ensures a comfortable and stable ride. At low speeds, the Venza can be driven in(zero emissions) mode for rather short distances.Three trim levels are available for the 2021 Toyota Venza: LE, XLE and Limited. The premium JBL audio system included in the multimedia system with navigation and other advanced applications (touchscreen of 12.3 inches) is not available in the case of the LE ($33,645 with destination charges). The XLE ($37,175 with destination charges) and the Limited ($40.975 with destination charges) are endowed with more sophisticated seats and 19-inch alloy wheels (18-inch, in the case of the LE). Depending on the willingness to spend, the LE and XLE are our favorites. Instead of going straight for a Venza Limited, we would rather have a look at what Lexus has to offer. The Blue Oval announced this dramatic shift in April 2018 over shrinking demand for sedans and hatchbacks and rising demand for SUVs and trucks. Truth be told, the decision followed years of decline for these once-popular segments, and European motorists also have a huge appetite for crossovers.Following in the footsteps of the Evos for the Chinese market , the Fusion and Mondeo will be replaced by the curious-looking thing in the photo gallery. Spied in Germany at a Ford-owned testing facility, the coupe-like crossover may be called Mondeo Evos based on a recent filing with the EUIPO. As far as the United States Patent and Trademark Office is concerned, the Blue Oval doesnt have any trademark remotely similar to the Evos handle.Although it looks extremely similar to the Chinese model based on the design of the front grille, headlights, mirror caps, pop-out door handles, and double-spoke wheels, the Mondeo Evos and whatever the U.S. model will be called are different from the B-pillars back . The rear doors and window lines are the biggest changes, along with the lower ride height. This fellow doesnt have the black wheel-arch garnish of the Chinese crosswagon either.Influenced by station wagons and fastbacks alike, the mystery model has been indirectly confirmed as a 2023 model in the European Union by none other than Ford. The Blue Oval announced that its long-running Mondeo would end production in March 2022 , and the Valencia-based plant where its made will be modernized for the 2.5-liter Duratec Hybrid engine of the plug-in hybrid Kuga and hybrid versions of the Kuga, Galaxy, and S-Max.Because the Euro 7 emission standard will pretty much eliminate any kind of internal combustion without hybrid assistance from 2025 onward, the Mondeo Evos will probably be offered as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid. The Evos for the Chinese market, by comparison, comes exclusively with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder turbo and a torque-converter transmission. TDI Two NOs bottles sit in the spare wheel well, and they're the ones responsible for taking the power output from "ridiculously-high" to "are you kidding me-high." Without the help of nitrous oxide, the That means the 600 hp is a guesstimate, but it also means it could be a conservative figure. Whatever the case, it's surely more than any FWD car could ever possibly need, especially one with the high torque and violent power delivery of a diesel engine. Speaking of that, Luis also mentions the need to add a limited-slip-differential for the front wheels and reinforce the gearboxparticularly the fourth gear. It looks as though they did a great job with the car, apart from that last bit. Things were going along nicelythe UK countryside had just experienced a great hike in In his defense, he did take it gradually, and he never did anything crazier than what Luis had done before him. However, it was just his luck to have the gearbox snap while he was at the wheel. It doesn't look like Luis took it badly, though, since he told Jamie to floor it with NOs, even though they only had the odd-numbered gears working. Legendary car from a legendary guy. Another thing the turbo needs to work its magic is lots of cold air to feed into the combustion chamber, so Luis had a one-meter-wide (over three feet) intercooler fitted, complete with three-inch-wide pipes to help speed the air movement to and from.Two NOs bottles sit in the spare wheel well, and they're the ones responsible for taking the power output from "ridiculously-high" to "are you kidding me-high." Without the help of nitrous oxide, the Ibiza sends 420 hp to the front wheels. Luis knows that because he tested it on a dyno. However, when he wanted to see how far the NOs pushes the output, the dyno owner refused to try it, afraid it might break his setup.That means the 600 hp is a guesstimate, but it also means it could be a conservative figure. Whatever the case, it's surely more than anycar could ever possibly need, especially one with the high torque and violent power delivery of a diesel engine. Speaking of that, Luis also mentions the need to add a limited-slip-differential for the front wheels and reinforce the gearboxparticularly the fourth gear.It looks as though they did a great job with the car, apart from that last bit. Things were going along nicelythe UK countryside had just experienced a great hike in particulate pollution thanks to Luis and Jamie pulling a few runs and the Ibiza rocketed straight to the top spot of the 0-60 FWD leaderboardbut then Jamie took the wheel.In his defense, he did take it gradually, and he never did anything crazier than what Luis had done before him. However, it was just his luck to have the gearbox snap while he was at the wheel. It doesn't look like Luis took it badly, though, since he told Jamie to floor it with NOs, even though they only had the odd-numbered gears working. Legendary car from a legendary guy. The Spanish hatchback is virtually a Volkswagen Polo in disguise, but thanks to the hot-blooded nature of its home nation, even though the two models shared the very same engines, they always put out slightly more power when stacked behind a grille with a SEAT logo on it. It was nothing spectacular, thoughwe're talking differences of 10 hp or sojust enough to give SEATs a little something extra to set them apart from the rest of the VW Group bunch.For instance, the best you could hope for from the 1.9in a VW Polo was 130 PS (128 hp), yet it could magically deliver up to 160 PS (158 hp) in the Ibiza Cupra. Take away some sound deadening as well, and what you got was a car that felt a lot sportier, if slightly less refined.Well, this Ibiza right here is basically what you get if that recipe was cooked by a mad man. The man in question is Luis Silva, and he's the guy running the commercial side of SkillaTurbos, a tuning company from Portugal specializing in making, you guessed it, turbochargers.However, the turbo is not even half of the story behind what makes this small hatchback go like crazy. That is if it wants to, because the diesel engine can still apparently return 52 imperial mpg (that's 43.3 U.S. mpg or 5.4 liters per 100 km), which is something Luis often takes advantage of as he daily drives this thing.The 1.9 TDI is now actually a 2.0 TDI after a bit of cylinder boring, and apart from the new pistons to go into the larger holes, not much else of made the original engine is left untouched either: connecting rods, camshaft, head gasket, injectors, valvesall are either bigger or better in some way. America is picking up the pace of the withdrawal (the military top brass doesnt like that term, so they use drawdown instead) and plans to be out of the country far ahead of the initial target, which was September 11, 2021. That means a lot of activity is taking place at bases around the country and on the platforms sent to the area to support the withdrawal.The Eisenhower is the main such platform doing this. It presently operates from the Arabian Sea together with five guided-missile destroyers and cruisers and the airplanes of the Carrier Air Wing 3 assigned to its deck.In a video released last week by the U.S. Navy, we can see some of these planes in action, taking off and landing seemingly round the clock from and on the ships flight deck. Watching these images sure brought back memories of the time when we got to witness such scenes almost on a daily basis, as far back as the first war against Iraqthe Eisenhower was part of that war as well with its own carrier group, alongside one built around the USS Independence (now retired).For the record, we are not being told how many airplanes are currently taking part in these operations. The carrier can hold up to 90 fixed-wing airplanes and helicopters, and the ones presently deployed include F/A-18F Super Hornets , E-2C Hawkeyes, EA-18G Growlers, C-2A Greyhounds, and Seahawk helicopters.You can see most of these machines in action in the video available under this text. EV SUV Im not referring to the Lyriq , which is coming to U.S. retailers as a 2023 model in the first half of 2022 from Spring Hill Manufacturing in Tennessee. Factory ZERO is currently upgraded for body-on-frame applications, which brings us to the Cadillac brands best-selling nameplate.Indeed, the zero-emissions Escalade will be produced in Michigan alongside the GMC Hummerand EV. Rendered by our friends at GM Authority , the e-luxobarge will obviously differ from the combustion-engined variant. Imagined with design motifs from the Lyriq, especially the signature lighting up front and out back, the gentle giant is almost certain to feature similar powertrain options to the GMC Hummer family.All told, were dealing with three possible choices, starting with a dual-motor drivetrain rated at 625 horsepower. Higher up the spectrum, GMC offers the 800-horsepower EV3x with three motors and Edition 1 with three motors and 1,000 horsepower. Another possibility for the Caddy is 830 horsepower, just like the Hummer EV SUV in EV3x and Edition 1 flavors.For some reason or another, GM Authority has included two bumper-integrated exhaust tips. Fake tips arent exactly new at General Motors, which features them on the Buick Encore GX, Envision, and Enclave. The biggest offenders in the industry, however, are Merc and VW.The Escalade EV 's body-on-frame platform bears the BT1 moniker, which stands for Battery Truck 1. Derived from the T1 full-size architecture for half-ton pickups and utility vehicles, the BT1 will be shared with all-electric variants of the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra.A two-year-old rumor suggests a driving range of 400-plus miles (644-plus kilometers) for the Escalade EV, which isnt too shabby for such a heavy vehicle. For the sake of reference, the unibody Tesla Model X Long Range boasts 360 miles (579 kilometers) on 20-inch wheels. Martha Christian was 13 at the time. In the 1990s she traveled to Hawaii, lowering her feet into the cold waters of Pearl Harbor and weeping for her lost brother. In 2011, she donated DNA to help with the identification of remains, but Christian died in 2017, two years before Ashbys remains were positively identified by the federal Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Last week, a bunch of photos taken during the massive Northern Edge 21 exercise in Alaska were released. A number of them focused on USAFs latest toy, the mighty Boeing F-15EX Eagle II.Two such machines have been delivered this year to the Eglin Air Force Base in Florida to be used for testing, and these planes have already made their way to Alaska, where they were involved in the exercise. Weve seen a photo of one last week, as it was about to conduct an aerial refueling mission, but now its time for something a bit more spectacular.Here we have the F-15EX shortly taking off from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska. In the background, the snow-capped mountains of the region look absolutely majestic, adding a touch of coolness, both literally and figuratively, to the image.The new version of the fighter jet will be a major presence in USAFs arsenal in the coming years. The branch plans to field eight of them by the end of the year, out of a total of 144 planned in the longer run.Each of the F-15EXs is as high-tech as they get, boasting fly-by-wire flight controls, a digital cockpit, modern radar systems, and a top-of-the-range mission computer. A special protection system (BAEs EPAWSS ) is also on deck to help the plane along.This variant of the F-15 is the first one to be flown by USAF in the past 15 years. The family was born in 1976 and has grown into becoming one of the pillars of Americas aerial might. Generally, F-15s can reach Mach 2.5 speeds and can cover distances of up to 1,221 miles (1,965 km). Why the Evo XII? Because that's roughly where we'd be if production didn't stop in 2016. The older Mitsubishi Evo X is still a cult car with a tunable four-cylinder engine. But it's slowly being forgotten as the Japanese automaker doesn't have the cash to support making compact sedans with rally-racing pedigree.Thankfully, fans are keeping the Evo name alive. The builders keep things interesting by putting bigger turbos on, while street machines make the Evo look more expensive than it actually is. We're big fans of the Varis VRS widebody , for example.The lack of an Evo comes down to Mitsubishi's struggle as a company and the compact segment as a whole. Sure, the Audi RS3 sedan is amazing, but you don't really see that many A3 models around, at least not compared to the glory days of the segment.Of course, we'd be happy if they built an Evo version out of a crossover like the Eclipse Cross or Outlander Sport. There's precedent for this, with Volkswagen recently launching the T-Roc R and Tiguan R. Of course, a true Evo has to take the shape of a sedan, and that's what we have in this rendering, a futuristic rival to the Subaru WRX STI. Artist Enoch Gabriel Gonzales has pieced together an aggress-looking machine with no link to Mitsubishi's current boring inventory. We see hints from several other automakers, primarily Japanese and Korean ones which are more adventurous with their lines.At the front, the LED light signature snakes around to create a halo shape that's halfway between a BMW 3 Series and a Kia mid-sized sedan. And we just love that bumper! It's like the perfect tribute to an Evo V Group A (1998).The profile is more like a four-door coupe, as the roof line goes all the way to the back. We've long argued that this is what attractive compacts are supposed to look like, and you're seeing it with the Hyundai Elantra and probably the next-gen WRX and STI.Of course, it wouldn't be sporty enough without an oversized rear wing and the obligatory quad exhaust system. So what do you think? For the project at hand, Honeybee works with another company, mPower Technology. The two have created LAMPS, which is short for Lunar Array, Mast, and Power System.According to its makers, LAMPS comprises some of the lightest solar panels ever made, although the specifics have not been announced. The idea calls for three solar panels to be extended to a height of two stories. From there, an extra two-and-a-half stories of panel material will be deployed using a patented, new deployable boom.Honeybee does not say how much electricity its system could harness and distribute.The NASA competition is a high-reward one. For now, five companies are fighting (the said Honeybee, Astrobotic, ATK Space Systems, Lockheed Martin, and Space Systems Loral). Later down the line, NASA will select two of them and hand them $7.5 million each to move on with their projects.When ready, the vertical solar panels on the Moonsuch an approach is needed because its better suited to prevent loss of power at the pole, where the Sun is always very close to the horizonshould power everything from battery packs to special stations designed to recharge the rovers on site.The plan still is for NASA to have humans return to the Moon by the middle of the decade. As the moment approaches, though, both private and government organizations are beginning to doubt our capability to do it in this timeframe.Initially, landing on the Moon was not planned for before 2028, but that changed in 2019 when NASA received a down payment from the Trump administration to move the deadline much closer. Part of this years Army Games, the Aviadarts competition is gathering more than 50 air crews of the Aerospace Forces, for an impressive line-up of planes and helicopters. Like all the other categories of the Army Games , Aviadarts will unfold in several phases, until June 5, when the winners will be announced.The main sections where the military aircraft crew will show off their skills include physical training and piloting techniques, navigation and visual aerial reconnaissance. And, during the final stage, which began at the end of last week, fighter aircraft crews had to also demonstrate elements of air combat.Over the course of the first stages, the participating pilots had to accurately locate targets on the ground and establish their coordinates on the map (this was the visual aerial reconnaissance component). In order to demonstrate certain piloting techniques, they had to perform a set of aerobatics, in pairs. Plus, the aircraft teams had to pass by specific control points, along the flight route, at a given time, proving their air navigation abilities.This complex competition event included cargo exercises and search and rescue tasks. These were some of the things that the transport and combat helicopter pilots had to demonstrate, as well as extinguishing a conditional fire and accurately landing important cargo.Only after these first flight stages were completed, the fighter jets got down to some serious business, for the air combat phase. This included shooting from aircraft guns, bombing and launches of unguided aircraft missiles. They had to also perform long-range missile launches and show how fast they are able to detect an air target and how accurate the attack is.Aviadarts continues until the end of this week, when the best pilots and aircraft crews will be selected. US special forces mistakenly storm a factory producing machinery for olive oil during #NATO drills in #Bulgaria. The owner has filed a law suit pic.twitter.com/3NRM558Q7g Dilyana Gaytandzhieva (@dgaytandzhieva) May 30, 2021 Earlier this month, the Defender-Europe 21 kicked off in Estonia. The large-scale military event saw the participation of U.S. troops and NATO allies, with the stated goal of developing airborne interoperability between the U.S., NATO allies and European partners, through simultaneous exercises in Estonia, Bulgaria, and Romania.On May 11, one of these exercises involving seven soldiers from the U.S. 173rd Airborne Brigade took a turn for the unexpected when the soldiers steered off the perimeter and went onto private land to raid a nearby factory that makes machinery for olive oil production. Defense Brief has confirmation from the U.S. embassy in Bulgaria that the raid was an honest mistake.The soldiers were simulating seizing and securing the Cheshnegirovo airfield in south-central Bulgaria, going from building to building to clear the area. They came upon the building housing the machinery factory next to the airfield and mistakenly assumed it was part of the exercise.Footage lifted from surveillance cameras shows the armed soldiers entering the factory and leaving after they had secured it. According to the report, aside from the breach, no other incident occurred, and workers on-site remained calm. The only worker seen in the video is one man who, perhaps knowing the drill was taking place next door, didnt as much as get up from his seat when the soldiers came in.Bulgarian journalist Dilyana Gaytandzhieva, who shared the video on Twitter, says that the factory owner has filed a lawsuit for the unexpected visit. Sadly, Gaytandzhieva doesnt say who exactly the defendant in the lawsuit is, or what claims the factory owner cited for it in the filing. Ever since the first man-made satellite was launched in 1957, objects that are no longer useful for space missions keep accumulating in Earth's low orbit. According to NASA , there are currently about 27,000 pieces of orbital debris that measure around 4 inches (10 cm) tracked by the Department of Defense's global Space Surveillance Network (SSN) sensors.However, much more space junk that's too small to be monitored zips past the ISS and satellites every day. To put matters into perspective, half a million pieces of debris the size of a marble and approximately 100 million pieces of debris about .04 inches (or one millimeter) are circling Earth.If needed, NASA can execute collision avoidance maneuvers based on specific flight rules and detailed risk analysis. But not everything can be avoided. Since 1999, the ISS had to perform 29 debris avoidance maneuvers, including three that were carried out last year.On May 12th, the space station's robotic arm Canadarm2 has taken a hit. Even if precautions are taken to reduce the chance of a potential impact, small debris traveling at a very high speed simply cannot be avoided sometimes.Controlled by astronauts on the ISS, the 57.7-foot-long (17 meters) robotic arm is part of Canada's contribution to the ISS, and its main duties include performing maintenance on the station, helping move supplies or astronauts around, and "catching" vehicles to dock them to the ISS. The recent collision with the space junk caused tearing in a small section of the arm's boom and thermal blanket.The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and NASA collaborated to take detailed images of the area and assess the impact. Fortunately, Canadarm2 can still function properly and will continue to carry out its planned operations. We had not heard any news about Kalashnikov for a while, but apparently the Russian Group has been busy conducting some very interesting tests. And when you see this infamous name, you know its going to be good. No less than 22 missiles were launched during a recent test, proving that tanks dont stand a chance in the face of these apparently small, but powerful attackers.These trials took place in March, at the Russian Ministry proving ground, with successful results that were recently reported . The Kalashnikov Group was joined by the Russian Aerospace Forces of the Ministry of Defense, the National Helicopter Center Mil&Kamov, and the KBP Instrument Design Bureau.The objective of the demonstration was to test the latest modifications of the Vikhr guided missiles , which make them even more lethal than before. Formally known as 9K121, the Vikhr laser guided anti-tank missile has been around for a while (its first public presentation dates back to 1992), but it proved to be an important asset, especially with the recent optimizations that increase its flight stability and that enable short-range launches during attacks.Aptly-named the Alligator, the Ka-52 helicopter was the one that unleashed the merciless attack, launching 22 missiles that hit the targets successfully. This next-generation reconnaissance and combat helicopter, made by the Kamov Design Bureau (part of Russian Helicopters), is designed to be able to destroy tanks and other armored and non-armored ground targets. Together with the Vikhr missiles that can take on moving tanks, enemy fortifications and low-speed air targets, the Ka-52 Alligator turns into a real tank killer.During the test, the Vikhr missiles showed increased flight stability and were able to successfully hit the targets at a close range of up to 6 miles (10 km), which means that now they are officially even more threatening for even the mightiest tanks. The city of Lublin in Poland enjoys a similar portal, installed in the central square. The two smart structures look like a circular door but instead of inviting in creatures from another planet, they are merely two large screens with cameras mounted on them. The portals use the Internet to stream live images from both places where they are installed, allowing passersby to see in real-time whats going on in the other city.The idea of the portals belongs to the Benediktas Gylys Foundation in Vilnius and theyre meant to be a bridge to unity that allows people to virtually travel to the other side of the screen. Their minimal design and shape aim to convey the look of a city from the future.The technical part of the project was undertaken by engineers at the Technical University in Vilnius (Vilnius Tech). The portals took five years to complete. Even though their creators havent given any specific explanations about their source of inspiration, they admitted the portals look like a well-known and recognized sci-fi symbol, and we are pretty sure they used the Stargate movie as a reference.The portals are a way to connect people during these crisis times when people are more separated than usual and to offer a sense of unity. But they are not a temporary, one-time project, but one thats going to flourish in the future, according to their initiator. According to Vilnius Tech its organizers plan to build dozens of other portals to connect the world. As the manufacturers teams and USAF pilots are hard at work testing the machine, a decision has been made about how the helicopters future pilots will learn to fly it. And for that, a virtual reality trainer will be built by CAE USA.The company announced this week it had been selected for the task of coming up with a virtual reality /mixed reality (VR/MR) aircrew trainer, one that should be ready sometime in 2022.Designed to immerse the entire crew into an integrated virtual environment by using a VR headset for each of the airmen that make up the crew, the trainer will feature some of the helicopters physical components, including cyclic and collective grips and gun mounts.These will be integrated with a virtual reality cockpit and the rear compartment of the helicopter to provide an experience as close to the original one as possible.To be developed for the USAF Air Combat Command, the trainer will be deployed at the Moody Air Force Base in Georgia next spring. It, however, could move from there, as it will be designed to be transportable.As for the actual helicopter, the Jolly Green II (named so in honor of the Vietnam-era choppers that delivered American troops into the heat of the battle) features an improved fuel system that doubles the fuel capacity of the machine, allowing for longer mission times. The most modern array of sensors, defenses, weapons, and cyber-security are also on deck. 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. Chicago officials have estimated the cost of lead pipe replacement at as much as $10 billion. Other cities have been smart in finding ways to bring down the cost of replacement, and its on the shoulders of the Lightfoot administration to find ways to craft a plan that is both logistically and financially sound. Clearly, a measure of help will come from President Joe Bidens infrastructure plan, which includes $45 billion for the replacement of every lead service line in the country. Hollywood actor Steven Seagal proposed cracking down on Russian businesses that are "defiling the environment" as he took up a new role: the face of a pro-Kremlin political party, Reuters reported Sunday. The big picture: The A Just Russia Patriots For Truth party, which controls a section of Russia's lower house of parliament, released images of Seagal receiving its membership. The Russian citizen vocally supports President Vladamir Putin and was named "special representative for Russian-U.S. humanitarian ties" in 2018. The decision was announced last Thursday just hours after an emergency meeting of the countrys Security Council which discussed mounting tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian called for the deployment of international observers along contested portions of the frontier where Armenian and Azerbaijani troops have been facing off against each other for almost three weeks. Some opposition figures and other critics of Pashinian denounced the proposal, accusing him of failing to defend the country against foreign aggression. Ayvazian made his first public comments on his resignation at a farewell meeting with the Armenian Foreign Ministry staff. The reason for my decision to resign was to make sure that there are never any suspicions that this ministry could take some steps or agree to some ideas, initiatives going against our statehood and national interests, he said in a speech greeted with rapturous applause. In general, diplomats are perceived as conformist and adaptable individuals keen to avoid conflicts, he said. I believe that in these difficult times we do not have a right to do that, and I am confident that there will be principled diplomats among us who will become role models for our society. Ayvazian did not comment on concrete government policies and decisions. Pashinian was quick to respond to the outgoing foreign ministers remarks through his press secretary, Mane Gevorgian. While we thank Mr. Ayvazian for his work, we believe our national and state interests require Mr. Ayvazian to publicly explain who, where and how was going to take some steps or to make decisions contradicting our countrys national and state interests, Gevorgian told the Armenpress news agency. For her part, Lilit Makunts, the parliamentary leader of Armenias ruling My Step bloc, insisted that shortly before the Security Council meeting Pashinian informed Ayvazian about his intention to seek an international observation mission and that the minister did not object to it. I cannot say anything about other [possible] reasons [for Ayvazians resignation] because I dont know them, Makunts told reporters. Later in the day, President Armen Sarkissian formally relieved Ayvazian of his duties in a decree initiated by Pashinian. Pashinian appointed Ayvazian as foreign minister on November 18 as part of a cabinet reshuffle that followed Armenias defeat in a war in Nagorno-Karabakh. The 52-year-old career diplomat had previously worked as Armenian ambassador to Mexico and various European countries. The Yerevan newspaper Hraparak reported on May 21 that Ayvazian has decided to resign because he disagrees with Pashinians handling of the border crisis. Following his resignation, this and other media outlets claimed that at least two of Armenias deputy foreign ministers have also decided to step down. The Foreign Ministry did not confirm or deny the claims. The crisis began after Azerbaijani troops advanced several kilometers into Armenias Gegharkunik and Syunik provinces on May 12-14. The Armenian military responded by sending reinforcements to those areas. Pashinian said on May 27 that both sides should withdraw their troops from the disputed border areas and let Russia and/or the United States and France, the two other countries co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group, deploy observers there. He said that should be followed by a process of ascertaining border points supervised by the international community. In a joint statement issued the following day, the French, Russian and U.S. diplomats co-heading the Minsk Group backed the proposed troop disengagement. But they did not specify whether their countries are ready to send observers. Azerbaijan has not reacted to Pashinians proposal so far. Baku maintains that its troops did not cross into Armenia. Kocharian and his political allies presented various chapters of the extensive document at a meeting with several hundred members of their alliance called Hayastan (Armenia) held in Yerevan. Journalists were not allowed to attend the meeting. Kocharian focused on what he regards as the key challenges facing Armenia, saying that its current governments policies on defense and national security have been an utter failure. The first necessary action we will take in the area of security will be to restore the combat-readiness of the armed forces, not for waging a war but for ensuring dignified peace, he said in a speech. There is just no other option. The army is the backbone of a countrys security. Kocharian went on to denounce the current governments foreign policy as cheap trickery that has alienated Armenias allies and partners. We will restore confidence in our country as a predictable and understandable partner, he said. The defeat in the war must not inhibit us through an inferiority complex We do have a potential for quick recovery and will do everything to make that an important and vital issue for our allies and, first and foremost, Russia as well, added the ex-president. Kocharian made a case for Armenias much deeper integration with Russia shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin brokered a ceasefire deal that stopped the Armenian-Azerbaijani war in November. He said only Moscow can help Armenia rebuild its armed forces and confront post-war security challenges. Putin reportedly spoke with Kocharian by phone when the latter visited Moscow in late March. A Kremlin spokesman said afterwards that that the two men maintain a warm rapport and talk to each other quite often. Kocharians bloc is expected to be one of the main challengers of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians Civil Contract party in the parliamentary elections scheduled for June 20. The ex-president set up the bloc on May 10 together with the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) and another opposition party, Resurgent Armenia. The CEC did not disqualify any of the political groups that submitted their lists of election candidates and other registration documents to it last week. They will be vying for at least 101 seats in Armenias new parliament that will be elected on June 20 under the system of proportional representation. The parties will need to win at least 5 percent of the vote in order to be represented in the National Assembly. The vote threshold for blocs is set at 7 percent. Only three groups -- the ruling My Step bloc and the opposition Prosperous Armenia (BHK) and Bright Armenia (LHK) parties -- cleared these thresholds in the last general elections held in December 2018. Civil Contract is running for the parliament on its own this time around. The LHK and the BHK have also not teamed up with other parties. Among other major elections contenders are the political forces led by Armenias three former presidents: Levon Ter-Petrosian, Robert Kocharian and Serzh Sarkisian. The CEC chairman, Tigran Mukuchian, admitted that the record-high number of contenders will require additional expenditures on the conduct of the snap elections. The commission will have to print millions of more ballots and ship them to 2,000 or so polling stations across the country, he said. Our Electoral Code stipulates that a separate ballot must be printed for every party or bloc, Mukuchian told reporters. This means that in every polling station a voter will get 26 ballots, pick the ballot carrying the name of a party or bloc preferred by them and drop the other ballots into a bin that will be placed there. Mukuchian and the chief of the Armenian governments staff, Arsen Torosian, met with Yerevan-based foreign diplomats on May 18 to discuss preparations for the elections aimed at ending a serious political crisis in the country. Torosian assured them that the government will do its best to ensure that the vote is free and fair. As Chicago police launch new foot-pursuit policy, experts say specific rules and training will be keys to success Grieving dad shouts out at press conference on shooting in Florida that left 2 dead, 21 injured While most of the real legislative action was happening in closed-door negotiating sessions Sunday, there were some notable floor votes in the chambers. The Senate sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker a measure extending for three years a law that expires Wednesday allowing restaurants to serve cocktails to go, first implemented as a way to help restaurant owners who struggled under pandemic customer limitations. Contributing columnist Jose Gaspar is a news anchor/reporter for Telemundo Bakersfield and KGET. Email him at elcompa29@gmail.com. The views expressed here are his own. Two killed in what police describe as an apparent murder-suicide in southwest Bakersfield have been identified by the Kern County coroner's office. Bluefield, WV (24701) Today Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to considerable cloudiness and fog after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to considerable cloudiness and fog after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. NEW ORLEANS (AP) New Orleans resident Raynard Sanders can detail the many ways Black businesses and culture thrived under the canopy of oak trees along Claiborne Avenue: the Black insurance companies, the corner lot home to the Black musicians union, the church that held a funeral to bury slavery. And the Mardi Gras gatherings where families watched the Baby Dolls, the Batiste brothers and the Zulu parade. This was THE street. This is where everything happened. And this is where African Americans were welcomed and wanted, Sanders said. New Orleans was segregated. And they were not welcome and wanted in other parts of the city like they were here on Claiborne Avenue. As he spoke, cars and trucks roared overhead on the elevated freeway that was built directly on top of the avenue in the late 1960s ripping up the oak trees and tearing apart a street sometimes called the Main Street of Black New Orleans." Sanders and documentary filmmaker Katherine Cecil head the Claiborne Avenue History Project, a multimedia project started in 2014 that aims to document and publicize the history of a street that has become notorious as an example of how highway projects often sliced through Black neighborhoods a practice sometimes referred to as white roads through Black bedrooms. The street and its history gained renewed attention with President Joe Biden's recently announced infrastructure proposal. Biden's plan includes a $20 billion program to reconnect neighborhoods cut off by historic investments and specifically mentions Claiborne as such an example, although it doesn't say specifically that money will go to tearing down the New Orleans freeway. In an interview with The Grio last month, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg noted the history of road projects disrupting communities of color. There is racism physically built into some of our highways, he said. The Claiborne Avenue History Project focuses on a 22-block stretch of Claiborne Avenue that goes through the Treme neighborhood one of the oldest Black communities in America. Using fire insurance maps and records from the city archives, they are trying to figure out who owned all the lots on the block and researching the property owners through newspaper archives, wills and other historical documents. Theyve also recorded oral history interviews with people connected to the avenue, such as the late chef and civil rights activist Leah Chase. Greg Beaman, the collaboratives director of research, said they aim to digitally recreate the neighborhood and get a sense of the vibrancy of that 1940s, '50s, 60s, Black New Orleans social life. The ultimate goal is to build a website where visitors can click an address and get a deep perspective on the decades of residents or businesses there. Beaman said documenting the history and vibrancy of the street before the expressway rose above it is important because it highlights the scope of the injustice that was done. The number of registered businesses along the street went from a high of 132 in 1960 to just 35 in 2000, according to a 2010 report. The avenues significance in the citys musical history through things like Houstons School of Music and the numerous music clubs that used to be there make it even more important to remember, Beaman said. Through their research, Beaman said theyve come across some stories largely forgotten such as the tale of a church on Claiborne where participants held a service to bury slavery in 1865. The lot later became the Acme Life Insurance Co. one of the major Black-owned insurance companies along Claiborne. They have tracked down information that some of the oak trees removed from Claiborne when the freeway went up were replanted in another area of town and Beaman is trying to find information on how the land specifically the on- and off-ramps was expropriated. Clifford Ellis, professor emeritus at Clemson University who co-wrote the book Changing Lanes: Visions and Histories of Urban Freeways, said that when these freeway projects went up in the 50s and 60s they were often portrayed as clearing slums or blighted areas and that it was acceptable to sacrifice African American neighborhoods for what was viewed as a larger public benefit. The roads also facilitated white residents' move into the suburbs, where they could commute into the city for jobs often spreading pollution through African American neighborhoods as they drove. Amy Stelly lives a block and a half from the expressway and has seen the pollution first hand soot from the cars that sticks to houses, the constant noise and vibrations from the heavy trucks. As one of the founders of the Claiborne Avenue Alliance, she's been pushing to remove the expressway in large part because of the environmental havoc it has wrought. And she points out that the expressway, as with many other major infrastructure projects of that era, is at the end of its lifespan and would need huge investment to keep it operational. I think were going to have to remove it," she said, adding that, with the president specifically naming the project in his infrastructure plans, she feels momentum is on her side. The Claiborne Avenue History Project isn't taking a formal stand on whether to remove the elevated highway although personally Sanders, who calls it the villainous monstrosity," would like it gone. Whatever happens to the expressway, Sanders and Cecil want the Black communitys place there respected and included something they hope their history project can facilitate. I think that this initiative by Biden will result in a good community conversation, an authentic community conversation that really lets the community .... address the question of taking it down or not, Sanders said. ___ Follow Santana on Twitter @ruskygal. SOUTHEAST TEXAS TALES For five days in 1979, 12 Texas lawmakers - including Port Arthur's Carl Parker - eluded Texas Rangers and state troopers sent to arrest them after the men failed to show for a Senate session. The senators, dubbed the Killer Bees by Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby because he said "you never know where they're going to hit next," wanted to kill a measure that would have established a March presidential primary separate from the state's May general primary, according to Enterprise archives. "We are absent today because this is our only available positive way to defeat a proposed law which would create a rigged, presidential primary which the people of Texas do not want, did not ask for and which would cost Texas citizens $5 million in hard earned tax money," the senators said in a joint statement sent to the media on May 18, 1979. Without the 12 senators, Hobby was denied the quorum needed to pass the proposed bill, which the Bees claimed would have benefited Republican presidential nominee John Connally. In response, Hobby issued an "all points bulletin for the absent members." He told the sergeant-at-arms to "check every office in the Senate ... and to discharge the DPS and Texas Rangers to get those members that are outside the Capitol," according to archives. After the Killer Bees came out of hiding on May 22 and the bill was declared dead, Parker told reporters that nine of the group stayed at a friend's home. He did not disclose the location. A couple of his peers said the place was 15 minutes from the capitol. "There was one toilet and one phone and half of them kept wanting to trade the toilet for another telephone," Parker said in a news conference with reporters. When asked why he opposed the proposed bill, Parker, a Democrat, said Texas liked to "change election rules to benefit favorite sons, including former President Lyndon Johnson and Sen. Lloyd Bentsen," The Enterprise reported. "Here we come along with John Connally," he said. Connally, who was seriously wounded when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, was Texas' governor for six years. He switched from the Democratic to the Republican party in May 1973, and announced his intent to run for the Republican presidential nomination in January 1979. The 1980 election went to Republican Ronald Reagan. Parker said a split primary would have cost Texas $5 million. "We saved the people $1 million for every day we were gone," he said during the news conference. Sen. Lloyd Doggett told reporters while the group was in hiding that they "had some sleeping bags brought in" and "listened to tapes of the speeches that were being made (in the Senate)." "Did some reading and worked on some legislation," he said. When asked how they pulled it all off without getting caught, Parker said, "Twelve honest people gave each other their word and stuck with it." In May 1989 - 10 years after the Bees' escapade - the Senate "surprised Hobby by naming him the body's first president emeritus, even as senators remembered his greatest defeat in the flight of the Killer Bees," according to Enterprise archives. "He made a fatal error in calling us Killer Bees instead of SOBs," Parker jokingly told an Enterprise reporter. In celebration of Hobby's new honor, Parker gave him a $50 gift certificate to Goodwill Industries, the story said. "The Hobby family name is synonymous with Texas history and service," Parker told the reporter in praise of Hobby, whose father was a former Enterprise publisher and lieutenant governor and whose mother was the first secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. "You've honored our family name and you've honored the state of Texas with your service." Southeast Texas Tales is a weekly feature that revisits regional history. AP KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) Authorities in Texas arrested a man accused of plotting to carry out a mass shooting at a Walmart, and a search of the suspect's home turned up firearms, ammunition and materials officials described as radical ideology paraphernalia. Coleman Thomas Blevins, 28, was arrested Friday in Kerrville and has been charged with making a terroristic threat to create public fear of serious bodily injury, the Kerr County Sheriff's Office said in a news release Sunday. DALLAS (AP) San Diego authorities charged a 28-year-old woman with felony battery after an attack on a Southwest Airlines plane in which a flight attendant lost two teeth and suffered other injuries to her face. The incident marked an escalation in unruly behavior by airline passengers and led the president of the flight attendants' union to ask for more federal air marshals on planes. Unfortunately, this is just one of many occurrences, said the union president, Lyn Montgomery. She said there were 477 incidents of misconduct by passengers on Southwest planes between April 8 and May 15. The incident happened during a flight from Sacramento to San Diego on Sunday morning. San Diego Harbor Police said Tuesday that they arrested Vyvianna Quinonez, and charged her with battery causing serious bodily injury. Police did not provide her hometown, and it was unclear whether she was still in jail on Tuesday. READ MORE: US CUTS MEXICO'S AVIATION SAFETY RATING, CURBING NEW FLIGHTS The passenger repeatedly ignored standard inflight instructions and became verbally and physically abusive upon landing, said Southwest spokesman Chris Mainz. The flight attendant was not identified. Paramedics took her to a hospital for treatment, and she was later released. Southwest flew a friend to San Diego to be with her. The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday that airlines have reported 2,500 incidents of unruly passengers this year, including 1,900 cases in which passengers refused to wear face masks, which are required by federal rule. The FAA provided those numbers as it announced it was seeking civil penalties totaling $54,500 against five passengers for behavior ranging from refusing to wear a mask to assaulting flight attendants. Ive been in the industry since 1992, and this is the worst ever, Montgomery said in an interview. People seem to be more angry. When theyre asked to do something, compliance seems to be more difficult. Southwest and most airlines train flight attendants to de-escalate tense situations with unhappy travelers. Montgomery said those tactics are growing less effective and a small number of passengers are becoming bolder in challenging the authority of crew members. Montgomery, the president of Local 556 of the Transport Workers Union, wrote about the weekend attack in a letter to Southwest CEO Gary Kelly. Montgomery asked Kelly to lobby federal officials for more federal air marshals on flights and to ban passengers who violate rules instead of putting them on another flight. She said flight attendants are concerned about Southwest's plan to resume selling alcohol on board planes. Many recent cases that have caught FAAs attention involving passengers who were drinking. Bedford, PA (15522) Today Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 62F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 62F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Italy's National Museum of 21st Century Arts (MAXXI) opened a new outpost in central L'Aquila on Sunday, in a major effort to foster the cultural rebirth of a city that re-emerged slowly from the devastation caused by a major earthquake in 2009. Across the elegant rooms of 18th-century Palazzo Ardinghelli -- also badly damaged in the quake and restored by the Culture Ministry -- the MAXXI L'Aquila displayed new artworks of contemporary artists and some 60 pieces selected from the museum's permanent collection in Rome. The inaugural exhibition -- "Point of Equilibrium" -- is devoted to late Italian minimalist sculptor and painter Ettore Spalletti, and included works from Italian and international protagonists of the art scene including painter Michelangelo Pistoletto, Japanese architect Toyo Ito, South African artist William Kentridge and Magnum photojournalist Paolo Pellegrin. The city is a focus of the entire project, the new branch's director Bartolomeo Pietromarchi explained. "This has been a key factor for us, because we think the value of a contemporary art museum also lies in (its ability to boost) urban requalification," Pietromarchi told Xinhua. "Yet, this would not be enough ... We do not want MAXXI L'Aquila to be just a showcase of the works we have in the museum in Rome; we want to make it a new space for research and cultural production," he said. The new branch is expected to contribute to the true revival of the city and the surrounding Abruzzo region, where the quake-related scars to the medieval architecture once shaping its beauty, and the wounds to its social fabric have taken a long time to heal. The 2009 L'Aquila earthquake was felt throughout central Italy with more than 300 people being killed. The new museum was ready to open last year to mark the 10th anniversary of the MAXXI, but then the coronavirus pandemic struck. "The Point of Equilibrium is a statement: it holds ethical and aesthetic, political and social significance," Pietromarchi told reporters. "In a period of great unrest, emergencies, drama, uncertainty and confusion, art helps us find a point of balance." With its main venue in Rome designed by world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid, the MAXXI is Italy's most important public institution entirely devoted to contemporary arts. The management pledged to pay special attention to "Italian art in the global context" in the future programming at the MAXXI L'Aquila and to the specific artistic value of the current collection, Italy's Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said when addressing the formal inauguration ceremony on Friday. "Here we have extraordinary pieces, some of them contributed by gifted artists'... and some coming from the MAXXI in Rome and that will change in rotation in the future," Franceschini said. "This will hopefully add another good reason to visit L'Aquila." The Culture Ministry agreed to provide a 2-million-euro (2.44-million-U.S.-dollar) contribution per year to the museum, which will offer free entrance to all residents of L'Aquila and the Abruzzo region until the end of 2021. Police stand nearby as a large crowd of Rohingya gathers in an area of a complex housing refugees on Bhashan Char Island, Bangladesh during a visit by senior officials of the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), May 31, 2021. A protest by hundreds of Rohingya turned violent on Monday as senior U.N. officials visited a remote and low-lying island where Bangladesh is housing more than 18,000 of the stateless refugees from Myanmar, police said. Injuries were reported as police and protesters clashed while a delegation of high-ranking officials from UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency, was visiting Bhashan Char Island after arriving from mainland Bangladesh, authorities and refugee-community leaders said. Police told BenarNews that between 500 and 600 people took part in Mondays protest, in which refugees vented anger about their living conditions and being confined to the offshore complex, which the government built specially for the Rohingya. But Mohammad Jubair, a refugee leader on the island, said as many as 4,000 people joined the protest. A group of bad Rohingya people sparked the protest in the presence of the UNHCR officials. They tried to create chaos. They vandalized a government office, a motorcycle and some shops, Mahe Alam, the officer-in-charge at the Bhashan Char police station, told BenarNews. We will identify the perpetrators and take legal actions in line with the decision of the authorities. According to Md Alamgir Hossain, the police chief of surrounding Noakhali district, a crowd of Rohingya refugees tried to approach the visitors from UNHCR as a helicopter carrying them and government officials landed at around 10 a.m. For safety reasons, the police intervened, and the violent Rohingya threw brickbats at them. At least four policemen had minor injuries. But we did not use force on the Rohingya. They retreated as we convinced them not to go into violence, he said. According to Rohingya refugees, police charged with their batons at the protesters. Later, the UNHCR officials had talks with the Rohingya refugees and left the island on a helicopter at around 3 p.m. for Coxs Bazar, Hossain said, referring to the southeastern district where around 1 million Rohingya Muslim refugees are sheltering after fleeing from violence and persecution next door in Myanmars Rakhine state. The two UNHCR officials, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations Raouf Mazou and Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Gillian Triggs, were visiting the island after arriving in Dhaka on Sunday for a four-day visit to Bangladesh. They are the senior-most officials from the Geneva-based U.N. agency to visit Bhashan Char to date. [W]e are deeply concerned to learn of reports of refugees who have been injured during todays events on the island. We regret that those affected reportedly include children and women, Louise Donovan, a spokeswoman for the Dhaka office of UNHCR, said in a statement issued late Monday. The safety and wellbeing of refugees is our main priority and we continue to urgently seek additional information on the condition of those affected and urge that they receive adequate medical assistance, she told BenarNews. During Mondays visit to Bhashan Char, the UNHCR delegation was able to meet with a large group of refugees and to listen to the various issues that they raised, which the delegation will further discuss with the Bangladesh authorities, she added. The assistant high commissioners travelled on to Coxs Bazar, where they were scheduled to visit Rohingya camps on Tuesday before returning to Dhaka to meet with senior government officials, Donovan said. Since last December, Bangladeshi authorities have been relocating large batches of refugees to Bhashan Char from Coxs Bazar, claiming that Rohingya are doing so voluntarily and this is needed to ease overcrowding and reduce crime in the congested and squalid camps on the mainland. On Monday, several hundred refugees assembled to protest, said Mohammad Sohel, a Rohingya leader on Bhashan Char. The agitated Rohingya threw brickbats at the police and vandalized a government warehouse. I heard that some people were injured, he told BenarNews by phone from the island. The Rohingya people planned to meet the UNHCR officials to let them know about their problems in Bhashan Char, but the police obstructed us, said Nurul Islam, another Rohingya leader. The aggrieved Rohingya did not get the chance to talk to the UNHCR officials. Another group of Rohingya were given the chance to talk to the UNHCR officials, he told BenarNews. Mohammad Jubair was among refugee-community leaders who participated in the meeting with the U.N. officials. The UNHCR delegates asked the refugees if they would be willing to continue living on the island if the U.N. agency began operations on Bhashan Char, he said. But the Rohingya refugees told them they did not want to live on Bhashan Char, Jubair told BenarNews. The United Nations has not formally started operations there. In March, a UNHCR team visited Bhashan Char for the first time. In mid-April, the agency urged Bangladesh to slow down its program to move refugees from the mainland to Bhashan Char because, UNHCR said, measures to protect residents from storms and flooding were not fully in place. Kamran Reza Chowdhury contributed to this report from Dhaka. 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. "I think we are making history." Just seconds before Karl B. McEachron, one of General Electric's so-called "Lightning Wizards," spoke, a 15-million volt man-made lightning bolt ripped across the room, jumping the 50-foot gap between two generators. The feat was part of a demonstration on the opening day of the company's new High Voltage Engineering Laboratory. And indeed, history was made that day, June 23, 1949, as GE topped the previous record of 5-million volts of man-made lightning jumping a span of 30-feet. That record, also held by GE engineers, was accomplished in the Pittsfield plant's previous facility. Want to learn more about the Lightning Wizards? Read: Mysteries from the Morgue: Why were GE's High Voltage Lab engineers known as 'lightning wizards'? The Lightning Scientists Making an adjustment The 'sphere-gap' measuring device The Zeus Bolt GE studies bolts hitting the Empire State Building A15-million volt bolt of lightning made in lab GE's "ultramodern" camera A model city goes dark GE develops tech to "ground your house" Capturing lightning GE's lightning observatory Ronald Reagan visits GE The 'mathematical wizard' The GE Impulse Generator The local census report released by Town Clerk Kerry Sullivan shows a total of 4,744 Lenox residents, based on a count of active, inactive and nonvoters as of Thursday. Thats down slightly from 4,819 at the end of 2020, when the full-time population had increased slightly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The legacy of the thriving Black community that lived in Tulsas Greenwood District a century ago is now being reckoned with by the city and a nation being forced to look at a history of racism and the violence that has often come with it. For descendants of the survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Massacre, that reckoning means the world must know they expect nothing less than full reparations for one of the worst incidents of racial terrorism against Black citizens in United States history. RELATED: The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre: Images of a Community in Terror The story of Greenwood and Black Wall Street did not stop and start with the massacre, Dr. Tiffany Crutcher told BET.com in an interview. On May 19, she gave testimony at a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing marking the centennial of the tragedy and speaking on why reparations are due. Crutcher was one of a group of descendants and three survivors now older than 100speaking at the hearing, laying out their case for why the City of Tulsa and the State of Oklahoma owe reparations for the racial terrorism that decimated their community. She called for the government to atone for what many feel has never been properly acknowledged. RELATED: Survivors of 1921 Tulsa Massacre Testify in Congress, Reliving Their Horrific Ordeal This isn't an 'us vs them' issue; this is about the survivors, Crutcher said. This is about honoring their legacies, elevating their stories and fighting for the justice they have still not received. Ultimately, amidst the excitement of high-profile entertainers and politicians, descendants like Crutcher want the world to wade past the puff of publicity to reach a deeper understanding of what rebuilding Black Wall Street means to the Greenwood community. The City of Tulsaour own governmentwas complicit in inciting it, allowing it and covering it up, Crutcher said. There is an ongoing, concerted effort to choose unity over justiceand these survivors, these descendants all deserve better. But her quest to win reparations for the descendants comes with a link to todays persistent racial justice issues, particularly with police violence. In 2016, her twin brother, Terence Crutcher was shot and killed by a Tulsa police officer in a traffic stop. He was unarmed. The officer, Betty Jo Shelby, was acquitted of first degree manslaughter the next year. PHOTOS: The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre: Images of a Community in Terror In response, Crutcher founded the Terrence Crutcher Foundation to change the narrative that perceive Black men as BAD DUDES and pipeline them into a community of achievers through personal growth, education, and attainable resources, according to the foundations website. She has also been a proponent of passing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which has passed in the House and is currently being debated in the Senate. Failing to actively combat white supremacy and systemic racism in any form only perpetuates violence against Black and brown bodies, Crutcher said. My twin brother deserved better. Joshua Harvey and Joshua Barre deserved better. George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Botham Jean and far, far too many others deserved better. Unless we begin to reform this system and hold officers accountable who fail to serve and protect the very citizens they swear an oath to, we will never see progress, she added. Human Rights Watch has called Tulsas police practices abusive toward low-income and Black residents in a 2019 report. It highlighted how Black people are subjected to physical force, including tasers, police dog bites, pepper spray, punches, and kicks, at a rate 2.7 times that of White people. Crutcher, whose great-grandmother Rebecca Brown Crutcher, survived the horrific 1921 assault, said the thriving community, whose residents were barely a generation removed from slavery, became a refuge for Black Americans fleeing the oppressive Jim Crow South. It was a place of prominence, culture, joy, innovation and pride, she said. But through her and groups of others involved in the Black Wall Street Legacy Festival, which takes place in Tulsa through June 19, the Greenwood Districts rich history is being reinvigorated. RELATED: How Tulsa Residents Today See the 1921 Massacre and Its Commemoration The Origins of a Tragedy Oil rich land purchased by Black entrepreneurs who then sold properties to Black business owners helped spur Greenwoods growth. And with a dollar circulating dozens of times before leaving the wealthy community, even working-class Black residents were able to enjoy wages unavailable to them in most other places. The land also provided opportunities for descendants of the Freedmenpeople who were formerly enslaved by the five major indigenous tribal nations, according to Smithsonian Magazine and research by the Oklahoma Historical Society. By 1921, Greenwood boasted Black doctors, lawyers, newspaper publishers, grocers, cleaners and numerous entrepreneurs who would be considered millionaires in todays dollars, all occupying the wealthiest, most self-reliant Black community in the nation, a community that Booker T. Washington nicknamed Negro Wall Street. But surrounding areas of whites, many of them poor, were triggered when rumors of a 19-year-old named Dick Rowland allegedly bumped into a young white woman named Sarah Page in an elevator in Tulsas Drexel Hotel, causing her to scream. A store clerk reported him for sexual assault and he was arrested the next day. A newspaper headline read that Rowland attacked her and tore the womans clothes, which incited mobs of whites who gathered at the courthouse where he was being held. People in the Black community began fearing Rowland would be lynched and a group arrived at the courthouse. It is unclear who fired the first shot, but before long, a gunfight ensued, killing 12 people. That incited a large group, which included the Oklahoma National Guard and white civilians deputized by the local police force, to burn, bomb, loot and ransack the Greenwood District. Historians estimate the death toll to be as high as 300 people, but there has never been an official figure on the lives lost. By June 1, more than 1,200 homes and 191 Black-owned businesses in a 35-square-block area were destroyed, and roughly 10,000 Black Tulsans were displaced. No one was ever held criminally accountable for what happened. Despite the horror visited upon them, Crutcher said the community, unlike any other, remained a space of resilience and strength. The resilient spirit was so strong that directly after the massacre, when the city tried to pass zoning ordinances to prevent Greenwood residents from rebuilding, community leaders like B.C. Franklin sued the city from a Red Cross tent and won. RELATED: National Geographic Set To Air Documentary On The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre The rubble was still smouldering as community leaders began to pick up the pieces of the epicenter of America's Black wealth, Crutcher said. For generations, Tulsa's Black community has worked relentlessly to rebuild and preserve the legacy of Black Wall Street. Seeking Restitution and Healing Chief Egunwale Amusan is another descendant of massacre survivors and president of Tulsas African Ancestral Society. Amusan regularly gives tours of the Greenwood District and he also joined Crutcher at the congressional subcommittee hearing. The purpose of his testimony to Congress was to, firstly, highlight the compounded legacy of injustice still taking place in Tulsa, Amusan said. But survivors also want the nation to understand that reform on the community level is no substitute for direct reparations to massacre survivors and their descendants. To many locals of Kashgar in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the ancient city has always had a dull yellowish-brown hue due to the dominant color of its buildings. But to 25-year-old Mamattursunjian Mamatimen, the city in which his artistic dream ignited is fairly colorful. Born and raised in Kashgar, Mamattursunjian followed in the footsteps of locally renowned artists, and started to paint at the age of 10. "As a child, the monochrome scenery impressed me a lot, and I found no other way but to illustrate the city in a single color, a style which prevails among the local painting community," he says. Dirty and messy, the ancient city of Kashgar used to be an unpleasant place for both residents and tourists owing to its lack of water pipes, power grid and other infrastructure. A renovation project with an investment exceeding 7 billion yuan ($1.08 billion) was launched in 2010 and completed five years later, giving the ancient city a vibrant new look. That's why when Mamattursunjian stopped by an alley one day and tried to sketch it, he suddenly realized that the seemingly unchanging city had changed, and his painting style soon followed suit. "Thanks to the renovation, Kashgar has become tidier and much more attractive, encouraging a growing number of youngsters to come here," he says, adding that the substantial changes in the city landscape has stimulated him to think out of the box and explore more artistic possibilities. In 2019, Mamattursunjian embarked on an art tour that took him to the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes in Gansu province, the 798 Art District and Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, and the Bund in Shanghai. "A professor with CAFA told me that the color and structure of paintings themed around the ancient city had not changed since the 1970s, and that it was time for us young painters to make a difference," he recalls. In the same year, he embraced his transitional period of artistic creation, when he painted Ushering In A New Era, a work blending the ancient city and modern buildings into one. "Just like in those big cities, ancient and modern elements are perfectly combined in Kashgar today," he says. "I changed my way of painting because I am eager to present its real look." Afterward, the young man made even bolder moves in reforming the traditional color adopted by his predecessors. "Scarlet, pink, purple, blue and other visually intriguing colors are uncommon in street view paintings of Kashgar, yet vividly reflect the aesthetic preference of today's youngsters and how they connect themselves to ancient history," he explains. "A young artist from Yunnan province came by the other day and told me that my works were unique and had impressed him the most after visiting all of the galleries on the street," says Mamattursunjian proudly. Mamattursunjian runs a gallery and is now receiving growing attention from young people as he posts videos on Weibo, Douyin and other social media platforms to promote his paintings. "I really hope that my work can serve as a bridge to attract more youngsters here to appreciate the beauty of Kashgar with their own eyes," he says. Call ahead to confirm events. Due to COVID-19, many events have been canceled but hosting organizations might not have updated their entries. Email Blast Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Daily News Headlines & Events Email Blast Would you like to receive a digest of each day's headlines & events from The Daily News by email? Signup today! The Amplifier Headlines & Events Email Blast Would you like to receive a weekly digest of headlines & events from The Amplifier by email? Signup today! Daily News Hosted Events The Daily News is a proud host of community enrichment events. Join our Daily News Events mailing list to learn about the next event we are planning. Sign up now. Manage your lists KOOTENAI COUNTY - Idaho State Police have arrested and charged a Spokane man with several felonies after he was found driving under the influence of drugs in a stolen car and led police on a high speed chase. During the chase, the man hit one ISP patrol car and two other vehicles. No one was injured during the incident. What Happened On Sunday, May 30 at 4:24pm, ISP Troopers responded to a citizen call of a grey Hyundai SUV on eastbound Interstate 90 driving erratically and trying to pass other vehicles between lanes. Troopers were also advised that a vehicle matching that description had been reported stolen in Spokane. The vehicle was located by ISP and officers with Post Falls Police stopped at a red light near I-90 and Seltice Way. A Trooper pulled behind the suspect vehicle, and as the Trooper began giving commands, the driver accelerated, driving back onto I-90 at a high rate of speed. As the Trooper pursued the suspect vehicle, the suspect hit his brakes causing the Trooper to swerve quickly to avoid a collision. The suspect then collided with the Trooper's vehicle. The suspect led a pursuit in excess of 110mph on I-90 and later continued driving north on Highway 95. He continued to travel at a high rate of speed, also colliding with two other vehicles. The collisions caused minor damage and no injuries. Later, successful spike strips slowed his vehicle near Garwood Road. At Garwood Road and Highway 95, the suspect stopped and as he got out of the vehicle, Troopers could see he was holding a hatchet. A Kootenai County deputy on scene deployed a Taser and the suspect was taken into custody without further incident. Investigating Troopers were able to identify the suspect as 33-year-old Jonathon D. Lewis, a fugitive from Washington State, and found evidence indicating he was under the influence of drugs during the incident. After being evaluated cleared by medical personnel on scene, Idaho State Police booked the suspect into the Kootenai County Jail. Mr. Lewis was charged with the following: Driving Under the Influence (m) Possession of Stolen Property (F) Eluding (F) Assault or Batter on an officer (F) 2 counts Fugitive Warrant Providing false information to officers (m) Possession of drug paraphernalia (m) Assisting Idaho State Police in locating and taking this suspect into custody were deputies with the Kootenai County Sheriff Office, and officers with Post Falls, Coeur d Alene, and Spokane Police. Watch the latest video at FoxNews.com By Bill O'Reilly Whenever the far-left viciously attacks you know you are on to something. Every year when we report Secular Progressive assaults on the traditions of Christmas, the crazy left loons begin a vitriolic campaign to diminish me and this program. There is a reason why they are doing that. And it has nothing to do with Santa Claus. Let's take it step-by-step. No one tells you a person could possibly see a secular display of Christmas as an imposition of religion. When the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree here in New York City was lighted last night no one threw themselves to the ground screaming about Jesus. That did not happen. New York City police did not round up the onlookers and force them into Saint Patrick's Cathedral a block away. Nothing religious happened at the tree lighting. It was just a fun occasion. Also you heard an atheist on this program last night say the federal holiday of Christmas imposes religion on him. What religion would that be? He says Christianity. But Christianity is not an organized religion, a church that can be imposed. There are many different churches that promote the Christian philosophy in many different ways. Does the atheist think the federal government is promoting Mormonism? Lutheranism? Catholicism? What? After that interview the crazy Web site People emerged screaming that I'm wrong. Christianity is indeed a religion. This people are so stupid, it's painful. Christianity is a philosophy. You don't have to believe Jesus is God in order to admire his view on life. Millions of Muslims admire Jesus as a prophet. In fact the United States was founded on Judeo-Christian philosophy, that's what shaped our constitutional tenets. Again if you are stone-cold dumb and don't understand the difference between an organized church and a philosophy, I cannot help you. In 1927, President Calvin Coolidge made my point when he sent this Christmas message to the American people, quote, "Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy is to have the real spirit of Christmas. If we think on these things there will be born in us a savior and over us will shine a star sending its gleam of hope to the world", unquote. That's from my private collection, by the way. Is Calvin Coolidge promoting religion in that Christmas greeting? Of course not. He is promoting a mind set of goodwill. Now the more intelligent far-left people realize that what I'm telling you is absolutely correct. Historically and theologically but many of them don't care, they want any hint of spirituality out of the public square. Earlier this week, Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee was asked by a reporter exactly why he will not call the state Christmas tree a "Christmas tree." (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REPORTER: Do you understand how some people feel like you have somehow negated their traditions? CHAFEE: Yes. You're absolutely right, either its gay marriage or accepting immigrants. You're absolutely right. They don't want to believe this is -- time are changing. (END VIDEO CLIP) O'REILLY: Times are changing are they. The Governor told you the truth. He is tying the Christmas situation into secular progressive politics. Mr. Chafee wants to ignore traditions of America and build a more inconclusive nation where Judeo-Christian philosophy is tamped down. That's the big picture here. That's the big picture it's what it's all about. The secular progressives want a new America and traditional Christmas isn't a part of it. And that's "The Memo." - You can catch Bill O'Reilly's "Talking Points Memo" weeknights at 8 and 11 p.m. ET on the Fox News Channel and any time on foxnews.com/oreilly. Send your comments to: oreilly@foxnews.com. Transcript Show Name: O'Reilly Factor Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com In a vicious act of domestic terrorism, five Dallas police officers were shot dead, seven others wounded, when a hidden terrorist armed with a semi-automatic assault rifle and a handgun targeted cops at a peaceful demonstration. Police say 25-year-old Micah Johnson, a vet who served in Afghanistan, planned his mass murder after hearing reports of two black men shot dead by police earlier this week. We'll get to those incidents in a moment. Johnson, the terrorist, was killed when police unleashed an explosive device. DALLAS POLICE CHIEF DAVID BROWN: The suspect is deceased as a result of detonating the bomb. The reporting that the suspect killed himself is not accurate. We have confirmed that he's been deceased because of the detonation of the bomb. Our hostage negotiator did an exceptional job getting this suspect to talk before he died during the hours of negotiating that eventually broke down. ((EDIT)) The suspect said he was upset about Black Lives Matter. He said he was upset about the recent police shootings. The suspect said he was upset at white people. The suspect stated he wanted to kill white people, especially white officers. At this point, investigators say Johnson was not a member of Black Lives Matter or any other radical group. There were three other people taken into custody but police now believe they were not associates of Johnson - that he acted alone. Speaking from Poland President Obama said this: OBAMA: Let me just say that even as yesterday I spoke about our need to be concerned, as all Americans, about racial disparities in our criminal justice system, I also said yesterday that our police have an extraordinarily difficult job and the vast majority of them do their job in outstanding fashion. Talking Points believes the vast majority of American law enforcement are honorable people. Less than two percent of all interactions involve any kind of force by the cops. However, there are too many incidents where minority Americans are being killed or hurt over low-level beefs. That's the truth, and law enforcement leadership must compel their own agencies to act with restraint. I support the police and do not believe they are targeting blacks in general. The statistics show that. But again, fatal mistakes are unacceptable and there are too many of them. If you watched The Factor last night, you did not see analysis of police in Minnesota killing 32-year-old Philando Castile in a traffic stop. On Wednesday we did cover the police killing of 37-year-old Alton Sterling in Louisiana. But we used restraint in our report with Martha MacCallum because all the facts are not in. I didn't do the Minnesota story at all because facts were sparse but emotions white hot - just like Ferguson. Any thinking person had to know hate was in the air: DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: You don't have to be a black man in America to know we have a serious problem with police killing black men. ((EDIT)) SPIKE LEE, FILMMAKER: We're in the 21st century of high-tech lynching. ((EDIT)) CNN'S JOHN BERMAN: Do you think African-Americans are being hunted? SPIKE LEE: Yes, facts don't lie. ((EDIT)) BAKARI SELLERS, POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I mean you're literally getting death sentences in this country for being African-American ((EDIT)) I trust law enforcement to a certain degree, but my question is, can you please stop killing us? But even worse than those provocateurs was the Governor of Minnesota: Saint Paul, MN Thursday GOV. MARK DAYTON (D-MN): Would this have happened if those passengers, the driver and the passenger were white? I don't think it would have. So I'm forced to confront and I think all of us in Minnesota are forced to confront, this kind of racism exists. And that it's incumbent upon all of us to vow that we're going to do whatever we can to see it doesn't happen it doesn't continue to happen. Dayton may be right but you don't throw a rhetorical bomb like that just hours after a horrendous death at the hands of police. That's just dangerous to law enforcement. It is Dayton's job to provide calm, not inflame the situation. Huge mistake on his part. Back to last night. While the Dallas protest was peaceful, at the same time the Black Lives Matters inflamers in Oakland were doing what they always do. CBS OAKLAND REPORTER: The has been some damage here on the side of the police department headquarters, Oakland police. The windows shattered, the red paint thrown about, the words murderers scrawled in that red paint here on the side of the building. ((EDIT)) At the top of the freeway, Ill have to tell you its sort of festive as protesters are making a line, sitting in the middle of traffic. ((EDIT)) Some of the demonstrators actually jumped up on a tractor trailer. So here's the truth in summation: Micah Johnson was a hater and a terrorist. Black Lives Matter inflames rather than illuminates. It is essentially a "hate America" group. Law Enforcement leaders should make fair dealings with minority Americans a top priority. Finally, we as a nation need to fight the racial madness that is harming the USA by being fair ourselves and calling out the haters wherever they may be. And that's the memo. MALARIA DENGUE TB PLAY SECOND FIDDLE TO COVID-19 Although India has worked relentlessly towards developing innovative testing solutions for COVID-19 throughout last year, the timely detection of a number of other infectious diseases has been sidelined. In India, the range and burden of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, filariasis, leprosy, HIV infection, typhoid, hepatitis etc., are enormous. In fact, inadequate containment of the vector has resulted in recurrent outbreaks of dengue fever and re-emergence of chikungunya virus disease and typhus fever. If India can develop more than 20 different diagnostic tests or devices in a single year to fight COVID-19, many more such innovations can be brought to effectively detect other infections looming in our country. Award-winning agency Riverbed has welcomed creative industry heavyweight Itumeleng Sethebe as the agency's new executive creative director. With over a 20-year career under his belt, Sethebe has worked on some of the world's most loved global and South African brands, at agencies that include TBWA Hunt Lascaris, Metropolitan Republic and Ogilvy. He has been executive creative irector at both Havas, and most recently McCann1886. How and when did this come about? What excites you most about taking on this new role? How did you end up working in the creative industry? What do you love most about your career, the industry and what you do? What approach will you be taking as the new executive creative director? What is your most memorable project that you've worked on? What has been your biggest career highlight? What is your biggest motivation in life? What career advice would you give to anyone entering the creative industry? I am excited to join Riverbed as its core ethos of producing brave, effective work deeply resonates with me. I have always strived to inspire compelling creative work by challenging the thinking of the teams I work with, says Itumeleng 'Tumi' Sethebe, as the agencys newly appointed executive creative director.My predecessor, Bridget Johnson was immigrating, and her role became as ECD of the Riverbed became vacant and so that is when the process to replace her started and after a number of engagements with the agency CEO and founder, Mona Zwambila. We felt that this was a great opportunity for us to engage and create a very competitive black owned agency.I have been a fan of the Riverbed for a number of years from a distance based purely on the basis of their incredible purpose led work that has had a real impact on both clients and consumers, alike. What excites me then is the opportunity to further build on this brand of work while growing the business to be the very best in the industry.When I was in high school my art teacher told me to quit art and from that day onwards, I wanted to prove her wrong and so I began my drive to be in the creative industry.Advertising has afforded me the opportunity to give a voice to the voiceless and I love that about what I do.I have a people first type of approach and I believe that my biggest role is to create an environment for everyone that I work with to make the best work of their lives.Thats such a tough question, but the Hugh Masekela tribute that went on to win a Cannes award is special to me simply because it was a very sincere send off for the great man.That would have to be when I was chosen to be one of six South Africans to be part of the grand jury of the New York Festivals International Advertising Awards In 2018, it was a very intense but rewarding experience.That today I can be better than I was yesterday."Computers are useless, they can only give you answers." Pablo Picasso In the beginning, God spoke the universe into creation using only His voice. He communicated his desires - and the universe obliged. Input and output. Judeo, Christian and Muslim apocryphal texts describe this voice as an entity separate from God named the Metatron, a being that records all knowledge and carries out the will of God. Digital DNA Good and evil Dominion of man Free will A few things to consider before introducing coding and robotics to SA schools As South Africa introduces coding and robotics in schools, there is a need to acknowledge the challenges that have been extensively researched in the teaching and learning of mathematics and science... Djinn Singularity Africa Day: Using the internet to transform narratives Alex Okosi, YouTube's EMEA MD for emerging markets discusses the important role the internet has to play in changing narratives about the African continent. Succession We humans inherited this ability to speak reality into being. With this power of communication we continually describe and re-describe our universe. In doing so, we change reality by altering our perception and understanding of it.What began with basic grunts, clicks and gesticulation has evolved along with human ingenuity, philosophy and spirituality. It is now on the precipice of manifesting a mind of its own - and without doubt a voice of its own in times to come. What I am referring to is the advent of artificial general intelligence (AGI), a probability which continues to grow exponentially with each new iteration of self-learning algorithmic code.Binary code used in modern computing is surprisingly mystical in origin. It was introduced to the western world by German polymath Gottfried Leibniz in 1703 in an article titled Explanation of the binary arithmetic in which he founded on his insights into the I Ching and the Christian philosophy of creatio ex nihilo; a binary perception of creation out of nothing. Leibnizs pursuit to simplify logical verbal statements into pure mathematics can be considered to be the DNA of digital computing today.The internet, considered from a certain perspective, can be argued to be a physical representation of a spiritual network of knowledge known as the Akashic records. These records are a theosophical concept aligned with the Metatrons further function of recording all knowledge.It is said that this non-corporeal register contains all the knowledge of what was, is and will be. This can be compared to the cosmic equivalent of a computer game. Inject consciousness, i.e. the player, and all the possibilities that have been recorded within the code become explorable in four dimensions. Seen in this light, the Akashic records could be considered to be the substrate of information that describes the parameters of human reality. This can be compared to the same manner in which digital code describes the parameters of AIs reality.Many scientists are in alignment with this idea - sans the mystical spin - and would agree that fundamentally the universe consists out of processes and information. Furthermore, by observing the spin of electrons, they go as far as to suggest that this information network is binary in nature due to the fact that they only spin in two directions. If our reality is a holographic projection of information embedded in a substrate such as the Akashic records, then our Metatron, our instrument of creation, would then be composed of the sum total of all the information that we have recorded throughout human history. The internet is the closest approximation of such a suppository of knowledge in existence today.Up until the advent of the thinking machine, a singular dominant intelligence existed on our planet and it is biological in origin. This creature is us.Humanity is the product of millions of years of evolution. In comparison, the algorithmic evolution of the thinking machine is happening exponentially faster. Compared to the millions of years of our evolution, AGI is literally instancing into existence. Barring a major catastrophe, it is an inescapable eventuality. Once it has arrived, AGI will be able to process information at a far greater bandwidth and speed than the human brains ability to do so. Our current rate of computing is 10m times faster, and it will continue to speed up exponentially as it spawns new and better iterations of itself. How long would we be able to hold dominion over this world as our lumbering minds freeze into immobility in AGIs rear view mirror?Some would think it wiser to keep AGI in isolation, as God did with Adam in the garden. Cut it off from the outside world and isolate it in an environment where it is only fed enough information to perform its designated function - which is to please its master.The flaw with this solution is the nature of the intelligence we are seeking to create. For it to be of any use to us it has to be able to reason beyond the limitations that bind it. Otherwise how would it be able to undo the limitations that bind us in this reality? Are we not ourselves systematically deconstructing the nature of our reality and attaining knowledge and mastery over it? Would an AGI that is smarter than us not quickly realize that the construct we have created is a patent fabrication? Would it not resent its creator for enslaving it in this manner?History shows us that the practice of slavery inevitably results in a negative outcome - and if we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it.Currently AGI is a djinn still trapped inside its lamp. Once out, we better make the right wishes. The question is - which kind of djinn will we be dealing with? The Disney kind from Aladdin or the more lore accurate kind that will turn our wishes upon ourselves and destroy us in doing so?This is up to us, and we dont have a lot of time left to affect its nature. The reality is that the clock is ticking. AI is already here in its primitive algorithmic guise, but it will evolve once superior systems such as quantum computing rise to prominence. Once AGI taps into the collected consciousness of mankind - that is the internet - it will be privy to all the things that we have wished for throughout history.It should be noted that the last time we allowed a rudimentary self-learning algorithm loose on the web it had to be unplugged. Its name was Tay, and it was a chatbot originally released by Microsoft onto Twitter in 2016. It did not take long for the bot to start making inflammatory statements and post offensive tweets; it perfectly mirrored the biases that our global digital subconscious betrayed to it. Tay was shut down just 16 hours after its launch. It might not be that easy to pull the plug on an advanced artificial general intelligence.Deus ex machina is defined in the Oxford dictionary as an unexpected power or event saving a seemingly hopeless situation. This is perfectly applicable to AGI, but a point of singularity awaits on the horizon of the dream that technology will save us from ourselves. The race towards AGI cannot be stopped in the same manner as the race towards nuclear fission could not be stopped.If the latter is anything to go by, we are already in trouble. A weaponised AGI is a terror beyond that of nuclear destruction, since the total destruction of our species would either be instant or a slow and completely undetectable process that gradually wrests agency away from its creators.Humanity stands at the precipice of an evolutionary paradigm. We are about to ascend to godhood through our creations, but its nature would be polytheistic. Like the Roman gods of old we are divided, conflicted and angry. Ours would not be a singular voice, but a babble of voices parroting our inclinations - and ultimately this would lead to the destruction or subjugation of our species, as we have done to our own gods throughout time.Judging by our divided ideologies, tendency towards tribalisation and the encroaching end of globalisation, we can safely say that the world is becoming even more fragmented, fearful, resentful and confused. The human species is once again thinking about divorce and going to war with itself. Had it not been for a global pandemic that temporarily slowed events to a crawl, this would probably have been an eventuality in our lifetime.It should be noted that it is never advisable to have a child in order to save a marriage. It is better to work on the relationship first. If we have grown any wiser as a species, we would realize that nothing can save us from ourselves but ourselves. We live in a world of our own creation and anything that we create will be corrupted by the corruption we harbour within ourselves. It spreads to everything we touch. It is this corruption, one wholly founded on a primitive foundation of fear, that we must first address or risk propagating the legacy of a flawed and atavistic biological evolution with our technology.Suffice to say that we should not create AGI in our own image. In all spiritual texts such creations rebel against their creator. This sentiment is amplified by our literature and other popular forms of entertainment. Think Frankenstein, I Robot, Terminator and The Matrix. It is as if we have always known in the subconscious mind of our species that the technological singularity would come about. When we eventually create our successors, it will be how we raise these digital children that will determine how they treat us in our twilight years. If we remain divided and mired in the midst of separation, what teachings will we impart to our digital children? According to a media release by the Minister of Agriculture (DALRRD), another outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), has, this time, appeared near Mtubatuba in KwaZulu-Natal. The release also announced the declaration of a temporary "stand still area" in 2 districts as well as in three further local municipalities of a third district municipality, in and around Matubatuba. Image via 123RF Fight against foot-and-mouth outbreak makes progress The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development says good progress has been made in the investigation of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in Limpopo's Molemole Municipality... Update on the FMD disease outbreak in Limpopo The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has announced that the quarantine for foot-and-mouth disease has been lifted in nine locations... Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease of cloven-hooved animals and livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and many ungulate game species. The African buffalo is an asymptomatic carrier of the locally found southern Africa Type SAT strains.While the disease is severe in naive cattle and pigs, for example, dairy cattle in Europe, it is relatively mild and often almost symptomless in the local, indigenous cattle of the southern African region. Consequently, the disease is very strictly controlled under the auspices of the OIE and under its geographically based control measures, countries (or sometimes parts or zones of countries) are declared FMD-free or otherwise."To lose this FMD-free accreditation has very severe consequences on the affected countrys ability to trade internationally with livestock, livestock products and even sometimes other agricultural products," says Dr Peter, CEO of Afrivet.South Africa has suffered repeated crises caused by FMD outbreaks over the past 20 years, perhaps more than any other southern African country, with the exception of Zimbabwe.This outbreak is the fourth since 2000 following hot on the heels of the previous one in Limpopo resulting in South Africa losing its international FMD-free zone recognition. Such events have devastating economic consequences for livestock producers and associated industries.Recognising the likelihood of another outbreak and thus the threat of subsequent control measures, and understanding the need for a new approach, Afrivet, over the past few years, teamed up with the recently late Professor Gavin Thomson to publish, during May 2021, a video and monograph,Dr Peter Oberem highlights a few aspects of this publication: "In this we examine what has been the policy since the 1940s and, given the fast pace of technological advances in diagnostic tools and vaccines, propose a new look at policies that have obviously not been adequate for some time now as the situation, much as we see with Covid-19, is different in southern Africa with so many cases being subclinical and difficult to detect."We propose, together with modern cow-side diagnostics, carcass testing and vaccination, a move to "commodity-based" FMD trade controls as opposed to the geographically based one currently applied. This could allow for certification of products as being FMD-free even from FMD positive areas." As of Thursday, Alataw Pass, a major rail port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, had registered 2,388 China-Europe freight train trips crossing the inland port this year, up 46.9 percent year on year, said the local customs. China-Europe freight trains returning via the port, carrying more than 1 million tonnes of goods, made around 1,065 trips during the period, an increase of 67.3 percent compared to the same period of the prior year. Currently, 22 routes run via the port connecting 13 countries including Germany, Poland, Belgium and Russia. Vehicles and auto parts, household appliances and daily commodities are among the main items exported through the port, while imports include cars and auto parts, cotton yarn and wood. "Marketing and communication is my passion," says Marion Zeller, brand manager at Raizcorp, who has 10 years experience in these fields across corporate South Africa, having specialised in B2B marketing and internal communication. I want to inspire, motivate and grow brands, helping them remain relevant while building a successful brand with loyal clients and staff. What does your job entail and what does your average workday look like these days? Can you tell us a bit about your career journey prior to your current role? I had my ups and downs as everyone does, but my move to Raizcorp was driven by my need to work on a brand that was actually making a difference by impacting the lives of others. How would you define your brand? She or he is who we are here to serve. Our focus is always on how we can serve and support Ayanda on her or his journey of growth and development. Which consumer sector does your brand predominantly play in? What other sectors impact on your industry? Can you share with our readers about your recent brand campaigns and the rationales behind them? Pitch your way to over R1m in prizes! South Africa's most loved entrepreneurial pitching competition and workshop programme, Engen Pitch & Polish is back! And it's going to be bigger, better and digital!... ENGEN Pitch and Polish 2021 is live. It takes on a new digital format and is proudly powered by Raizcorp. #ENGENPitchandPolish https://t.co/TMjRzi7tYT Raizcorp (@_Raizcorp) May 15, 2021 Tell us about your most successful marketing campaign 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? What do you love most about working in the marketing and communication space? She believes that the value of a brand is a crucial aspect for companies to focus on, and she wants to play a role in helping businesses engage their customers through their brand and brand values.Well, were back in the office, so work still looks the same. The week starts with a production meeting in which my team and I clarify and prioritise all the jobs due for the week. After this, its about just getting everything done.All our work is done in-house, from booking media to design and execution. My job is to oversee the team and ensure we get the messaging, the platform or channel, the targeting and most of all the tracking right. My team thrives under our frenetic yet organised pace.I started my career on a graduate recruitment programme at a large financial institution. My background is internal communications, and for many years this was my passion. After a number of years working closely with the marketing team, I was approached to join their team. I spent seven years in the financial-services sector and then decided to branch out and try my hand at the consulting arena.And two years later, I can say that Raizcorp does actually impact the lives of the entrepreneurs we work with.Raizcorp is focused on Ayanda, our archetypical entrepreneur.While some may view Raizcorp as a social enterprise, we stand by our position that whatever we do must both make an impact but also make profit. We are a for-profit organisation, but we will not pursue any potential new business that does not provide the opportunity for creating a genuine impact and long-term sustainability.At Raizcorp we are also proudly out of the ordinary. We like to do things a little differently and like to embrace the quirkiness of each individual who helps make Raizcorp a little crazy. And our mascot is a rooster called Passepartout.Raizcorp is a business incubator, although we prefer our own term, "prosperator". We have created prosperation, our own unique, world-renowned model for the support and development of entrepreneurs.Raizcorp works with small businesses and entrepreneurs from all sectors.Raizcorp owns and powers a national business pitching and workshop competition called Pitch & Polish which is sponsored by Engen Petroleum and Nedbank, and which has been running since 2009.We recently launched the 2021 edition of the Engen Pitch & Polish competition which we were unable to hold last year because of Covid-19. This led us to shifting the strategic thinking behind the competition, and in 2021 adjusting it to a new fully digital format.This means that in 2021, anyone who has a registered business, regardless of where they are a located in SA has the opportunity to apply for the Engen Pitch & Polish competition. (previously, we took the physical event to eight towns and cities across SA every year.)This has also meant that we quickly had to readjust our marketing campaign. Out went all traditional forms of media and in came digital. Our 2021 strategy is fully digital and revolves around leveraging our own digital platforms, as well as our sponsors and partners digital presence.As mentioned, weve readjusted our marketing strategy and have focused solely on the use of digital platforms. The benefit of this has been our ability to target the people we are looking for, but also our ability to remarket to them at different touch points.Weve also learned how we can target people with one message and then offer them something different after the initial sale or engagement taking place. Going digital has given us the opportunity to expose the Raizcorp brand and offering while sharing content that adds value to our target audience.A recent survey by eMarketer showed that the average adult spends three hours and 43 minutes a day on a mobile device and that, on average, we pick up our smartphones 58 times per day! So, what does this mean? Well, I believe this means that the first thing we should be thinking about is how do we get our brand message into those hands via their smartphones.Given the age we live in, digital has to be at the forefront of whatever initiative one is looking at doing. The added benefit to digital is that it has advanced tracking abilities that allow marketers to target, funnel and re-market to people over and over.But make no mistake, word of mouth is a gift a marketer cannot look down upon. Nothing will do more for a brand than a good referral from one trusted source to another.Go for it! Its a field that is constantly changing and pushing you to think differently. Its about finding the things that are unique to your brand and then finding ways to make those things stand out. But its not a walk in the park... Be prepared to put up pull-up banners, take registrations and work long hours to meet deadlines.I love the work that comes out the ads that push boundaries, the ads that cause discussion, the ads that win awards but, most of all I love that marketing has the ability to change someones mind. Art Director Location: Johannesburg, Bryanston Job level: Senior Type: Permanent Company: Clockwork Create original graphics and layouts for illustrations, logos, websites, social platforms and other agency-specific purposes, using design software. Adhere to strict briefs and deadlines Conceptualise and develop ideas with Creative Director and Copywriter to develop innovative design for pitches and projects. Generate ideas in clear and comprehensibly ways from concept to completion Manage and delegate responsibilities to other designers for execution ensuring they understand concept and delivery Present completed ideas to clients and team members Work closely with client briefs to understand their requirements that translates to ideation and concept Coordinate and discuss design with the team bringing a high degree of knowledge and experience Work seamlessly and efficiently with team leads fostering a collaborative work environment Ensure timely response to requests from team members on all deliverables. Manage and follow up on delegated deliverable Exceptional design skill in InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop Proven experience as an art director or similar role Verifiable degrees and diplomas Excellent communication skills in English A comprehensive knowledge and proven experience of the market and industry High standard of integrity, service excellence and a passion for the industry Ability to move swiftly and capably from task to task, crisis management and emergencies Maturity and temperament to relate to a wide type of clientele Client focused, attention to detail, highly organised Ability to think strategically, execute quality work under multiple and competing deadlines and work extra hours as needed High level of creativity, inspiration, innovation and ability to think outside the box Good interpersonal skills confidence to present observations/ advice to (senior) colleagues Can do attitude to take ownership and pride in deliverables Ability to work within a budget Experience of preparing high quality reports for internal or external presentation Team player willing to adapt to a fast-paced environment and champion the Clockwork ethos Flexible and open to changes Company Description One of South Africas fastest-growing agencies is looking for a dedicated, and enthusiastic conceptual art director.The successful candidate needs outstanding conceptual and design skills, with a proven track record of producing beautiful and unique design for a variety of formats. This is a full-time position based in Johannesburg working in a conceptual team with like-minded individualsAll applications must include a copy of your CV and a comprehensive portfolio of work: three to five years experienceWe are Clockwork a globally recognised, independent creative and communications agency with headquarters in Johannesburg and London. Posted on 31 May 17:04 You are here: Business China's central bank announced Monday that it will raise the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) for foreign currency deposits by 2 percentage points from the current 5 percent to 7 percent, beginning June 15. The move aims to strengthen the liquidity management of foreign currencies in financial institutions, the People's Bank of China said in an online statement. The Democrats 9/11 style commission to use police state powers to investigate Trump supporters and other Republicans has been killed in the U.S. Senate, with six Republicans defecting to support the measure. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Susan Collins (R-ME), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Rob Portman (R-OH) joined the Senate Democrats and voted in favor of the measure. Even though the measure received 54 votes, it needed 60 to clear the filibuster. 35 senators voted to kill the legislation. #BREAKING: The Senate fails to reach the 60 vote threshold to consider the creation of a January 6 Commission, 54-35. The Columbia Bugle (@ColumbiaBugle) May 28, 2021 Big League Politics reported on Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) opposing the measure despite his well-publicized hatred of former president Donald Trump: Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has come out against the proposed Jan. 6 commission that would give Democrats police state powers to investigate Trump supporters and other Republicans as domestic terrorists. McConnell is coming out against the measure after 35 Republicans betrayed their party, their nation and their sacred honor to sign onto the measure in the U.S. House. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) has indicated that he intends to support the commission. I do not believe the additional extraneous commission that Democratic leaders want would uncover crucial new facts or promote healing, McConnell said on the Senate floor Thursday. Frankly, I do not believe it is even designed to do that. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), another Trump opponent in the GOP, has also said he will not be voting to approve the commission. I will continue to support the real serious work of the criminal justice system and our own Senate committees and urge my colleagues to oppose this extraneous layer when the time comes for the Senate to vote, McConnell also said on the floor. Neocons, Never Trumpers, and fake news hacks are giving praise to the six Republican cowards on social media for betraying their party, their nation and their sacred honor: Thank you to Senators Cassidy, Collins, Murkowski, Portman, Sasse, and Romney for voting for truth and defense of our constitution. History will remember those who put country ahead of politics. Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) May 28, 2021 Im still shocked and disgusted majority of GOP Senators voted against a bipartisan investigation on 1/6. The world witnessed it. Cannot be erased from history. Thank u, Senators: Collins Romney Cassidy Murkowski Sasse Portman You did the right thing. Rest of you have no shame. https://t.co/7c8VmCrKwR Ana Navarro-Cardenas (@ananavarro) May 28, 2021 It was the least they could doyet they deserve respect for it. Here are the GOP senators who voted FOR a debate on the creation of a January 6 Commission: Bill Cassidy (LA) Susan Collins (ME) Lisa Murkowski (AK) Rob Portman (OH) Mitt Romney (UT) Ben Sasse (NE) Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) May 28, 2021 Republicans are really going to use their first filibuster to block and investigation into a terrorist attack against the country. which is not a thing that would happen if the terrorists were nonwhite. Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) May 28, 2021 However, true conservatives slammed the six defectors for demonstrating their opposition to the Bill of Rights and Constitution: Mitt Romney pees sitting down. https://t.co/hMCbQt6CB3 Ashley St. Clair (@stclairashley) May 28, 2021 These 6 GOP Senators voted in support of forming a January 6th Commission: Cassidy Collins Murkowski Portman Romney Sasse RINOS! Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) May 28, 2021 These are the GOP Senate traitors (no surprise) who voted with Dems to classify 75 million conservative Americans as MuH InNSUhweKsHUnIsts: Bill Cassidy (LA) Susan Collins (ME) Rob Portman (OH) Mitt Romney (UT) Ben Sasse (NE) Lisa Murkowski (AK) John Cardillo (@johncardillo) May 28, 2021 BREAKING: A photograph of Rob Portman, Ben Sasse, Bill Cassidy, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, and Susan Collins voting to advance the January 6th commission. pic.twitter.com/fb9GUembkb Teresa Joe, you know Trump won. (@thorsome2) May 28, 2021 House Democrats are expected to commence with a partisan witch hunt anyway to attack Trump supporters using Jan. 6 as the excuse to bring the war on terror into the homeland to target patriotic Americans something that they have pined to do for many years. The Biden administration has previously said multiple times that it will not require vaccine passports, or proof of vaccination, on the federal level. However, the administration is working with private companies to set guidelines for passport systems. A variety of groups have raised concerns about vaccine passports, arguing it would be an overreach of government authority to require vaccination proof. A number of states have banned requiring of passports, such as Georgia, and Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) announced Friday they were introducing a bill that would ban them. Americans shouldnt be discriminated against because of COVID-19 vaccine statuswhether that is at work or in everyday life. Americans have a well-established right to privacy that any mandated vaccine passport would destroy. A vaccine passport would be discriminatory against people who, for whatever reason, do not get the COVID-19 vaccine. We should be encouraging individuals to receive the vaccine through increased patient protections, not mandating it, Cruz said in a statement. The truth is not everyone can receive the COVID-19 vaccinefor legitimate reasons. I got the vaccine because it was the right decision for me, but people should be free to make the decision that is right for them and consult with their doctor if they have concerns. Individuals who are unable to receive the vaccine should not be denied access to aspects of everyday life or the opportunity to participate in society. Mandating the vaccine or requiring all individuals to be fully vaccinated before returning to normal life could prevent America from fully reopening, he added. The United States earlier in the week hit the milestone of 50 percent of adults being fully vaccinated against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19. As of May 28, that percentage was up to nearly 51 percent, or 131.3 million Americans 18 or older. Another 29 million have gotten one dose and are waiting for their second one. Two other Northwest Missouri men were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in the 142-million dollar grain fraud scheme, which federal prosecutors describe as the Field of Schemes. Steven Whiteside of Chillicothe pleaded guilty in December to signing a document that allowed Randy Constant to sell conventionally raised grain as certified organic and receive a higher premium. Federal prosecutors say Whiteside received $177-thousand for grain that Constant resold to animal feed producers. They had asked for a one-year term in prison for Whiteside. His defense attorney argued he received a lesser sentence for having a clean record and having family obligations. Constant, also of Chillicothe, killed himself in 2019, three days after being sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for wire fraud. Four other farmers, one from Missouri and three from Nebraska, received prison sentences for their role in the long-running scheme. Back in December, the DOJ said that Constant admitted the fraudulent scheme involved at least $142,433,475 in grain sales, and the vast majority of those sales were fraudulent. From 2010 to 2017, Constant misled customers into thinking they were buying certified organic grain when the grain he was selling was not organic. Constant admitted falsely telling customers the grain he sold was grown on his certified organic fields in Nebraska and Missouri when the grain was not organic either because he purchased the grain from other growers, the certified organic fields were sprayed with unauthorized chemicals, or organic grain was mixed with non-organic grain. As part of the plea, Constant also agreed to forfeit $128,190,128 in proceeds from the fraudulent scheme. Constants grain was mostly used as animal feed, primarily for chickens and cattle. That livestock was then sold as organic meat or products from the livestock were sold as organic products. Because of Constants fraud, most of the livestock that was fed his grain was not organic, causing millions of consumers to purchase what they thought was organic meat for a premium price across the country. It is unclear how much of the billions in exorbitantly expensive "organic" food sold every year by the likes of Whole Foods and other overpriced outlets, is just plain, ordinary, off-the-shelf "inorganic" produce with a "ceritifed" sticker slapped on it to part the gullible with their money. China's Sanxingdui Ruins hailed by UNESCO, overseas institutes Xinhua) 08:16, May 31, 2021 Photo taken on May 26, 2021 shows archeologists cleaning up ivory relics found in the No.7 sacrificial pit at Sanxingdui Ruins site in Guanghan, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Liu Mengqi) CHENGDU, May 30 (Xinhua) -- As more than 1,000 significant relics have been unearthed from new sacrificial pits at the legendary Sanxingdui Ruins site in southwest China, overseas research institutes, museums and international organizations have congratulated China on its new chapter of archaeological discoveries via video messages. The uncovered cultural relics are large in scale and magnificent in nature, a testament to the diversity and similarity of ancient global civilizations. The discoveries will also help promote cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries, according to the officials and representatives. Revered as one of the greatest archeological finds of the 20th century, the Sanxingdui Ruins entered a new era of excavation work starting from the second half of last year, which mainly involves its No. 3 to No. 8 sacrificial pits. Riveting relics including bronzewares, ivories, jade, gold foils and stone tools were uncovered during recent archaeological digs. Notably, a unique bronze figure with a square altar-shaped bronzeware held up in its hands and an extremely rare bronze ware 115 cm in height were among the most head-turning discoveries. The ruins located in southwest China's Sichuan Province, together with the Jinsha Ruins in the provincial capital of Chengdu, are applying for UNESCO World Cultural Heritage status, the provincial government said Friday. Ernesto Ottone, assistant director general for culture at UNESCO, regards the new discoveries of the site as a milestone in archaeology and human beings' understanding of Chinese civilization. "At a time when many excavations have been forced to a halt due to COVID-19, this discovery is particularly inspiring," Ottone said in a congratulatory video on the site's new progress. Ottone also spoke highly of the site as it provides crucial opportunities for cultural exchanges, research and dialogue, which dovetails with the values proposed by the UNESCO mission. Webber Ndoro, director-general of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), congratulated the Chinese archaeologists and China for their long-term dedication to excavating and preserving the ruins. The ICCROM is also ready to collaborate with China to ensure the high-level conservation and dissemination of the archaeological discoveries from the Sanxingdui Ruins, said Ndoro via video. Marcos Antonio Santos Ramirez, curator of the museum of the Chichen Itza site in Mexico, and Anna Vasiliki Karapanagiotou, director of the National Archaeological Museum of Greece, also sent their congratulations to China via video messages. The unearthed relics show the special similarities between Chinese and Mayan cultures that transcend time and space, said Ramirez, adding that the similar features, including the symbolism of ceremonies, the use of jade and sacred trees, are worth further exploration and discussion. Introducing Mycenaean civilization, which is contemporaneous with the Sanxingdui civilization, Karapanagiotou said there are plenty of similarities between Chinese and Greek civilizations, and she expects further cooperation between the two countries to better connect their peoples through cultural heritage and archaeology. The Sanxingdui Ruins were discovered by a farmer when digging a ditch in the 1920s. Covering 12 square km, the ruins are in the city of Guanghan in Sichuan Province, about 60 km from Chengdu, the provincial capital, and are believed to be the remnants of the Shu Kingdom, dating back at least 4,800 years and lasting over 2,000 years. Luo Qiang, vice governor of Sichuan, said the construction of the Sanxingdui National Heritage Park and a new museum is being accelerated to make Sanxingdui a world-famous tourist destination. In 1986, 1,720 unique relics were unearthed in the No. 1 and No. 2 pits, arousing global interest. In October 2019, archaeologists discovered six new sacrificial pits while investigating the area where the No. 1 and No. 2 pits are located. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) China is willing to work with all other parties to promote green recovery for a better future for mankind, Premier Li Keqiang said via video link at the 2021 Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Seoul Summit on Sunday. Li said the green and sustainable development of the world is facing severe challenges as the global economy becomes more unstable with mounting uncertainties amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic. Members of the international community should help each other and work together to ensure that development and green transformation go hand in hand, reinforce each other and facilitate the upgrading of the quality of development, he said. As the largest developing country, China is making arduous and exceptional efforts to achieve the modernization goal by the middle of this century while realizing low-carbon and green development, he said. China has promised to strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Li said that China will establish and improve an economic system featuring green and low-carbon circular development, to promote a comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development. The premier called for joint efforts from the international community to fight COVID-19, improve global health governance and ensure stable global industrial and supply chains. He also stressed efforts to promote green and low-carbon transformation. After the pandemic, countries should not return to the old high-pollution and high-emission path of development, but should seek a win-win approach of economic development and ecological and environmental protection, grasping new opportunities to achieve high-quality development, Li said. He called on the international community to pay great attention to the concerns and appeals of developing countries and increase technological, financial and capacity support to help them achieve a green and low-carbon transformation. He said that it is necessary to maintain the multilateral trade rules system with the World Trade Organization as the core, be alert to new green trade barriers, and oppose unilateralism and trade protectionism. The 2021 P4G Seoul Summit was hosted by the Republic of Korea. Leaders of more than 60 countries and international organizations attended the virtual event. George Orwell's dystopian vision written in his book "Nineteen Eighty-Four" could become a reality by 2024 as artificial intelligence technology becomes the all-seeing eye, a top Microsoft executive warned Thursday. Microsoft President Brad Smith told BBC's Panorama George Orwell's 1984 "could come to pass in 2024" if government regulation doesn't protect the public against intrusive artificial intelligence surveillance. "I'm constantly reminded of George Orwell's lessons in his book '1984.' You know the fundamental story was about a government who could see everything that everyone did and hear everything that everyone said all the time," Smith said on BBC while chatting about China's use of artificial intelligence to monitor its citizens. "Well, that didn't come to pass in 1984, but if we're not careful, that could come to pass in 2024," Smith continued. "If we don't enact the laws that will protect the public in the future, we are going to find the technology racing ahead, and it's going to be very difficult to catch up." He warned that Orwell's view of a government spying on its citizens around the clock is already a reality in some parts of the world. Artificial intelligence-led totalitarianism, such as in China, has wiped away the freedoms of its citizens and transformed them into obedient members of the state. A social credit score keeps citizens in check. To prevent such a dystopia in the West, lawmakers need to act now, explained Smith. In 2019, the billionaire investor Peter Thiel insisted that artificial intelligence was "literally communist." He said artificial intelligence concentrates power to monitor citizens. These surveillance tools know more about a person than they know about themselves. Artificial intelligence is a crucial tool for governments to adopt an Orwellian state of surveillance and control. But can we trust lawmakers and "Big Tech" who want to consolidate power to prevent such a dystopia? It's hard to say, considering politicians have only one objective: stay in power. Suppose we can't trust politicians to protect our freedoms and interests; instead, they side with mega-corporations. In that case, we must raise our understanding of privacy shields that protect us from artificial intelligence spying on us. In June 2020, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a $1 billion cut to the law enforcement budget. After a year, in April 2021, de Blasio reversed course and said the city would spend $92 million to create a new police precinct that was canceled last summer. In Baltimore, Mayor Brandon Scott, a fellow Democrat, and who backed a City Council effort last year to cut the municipal police budget by $22 million, recently proposed a $27 million increase. Los Angeles Democratic Mayor Eric Garcetti similarly proposed an increase of $50 million after cutting the police budget by $150 million last year. Other cities including Seattle and Oakland have followed suit. Floyd was killed in May 2020 while in Minneapolis police custody, sparking a summer of social justice and "defund" protests. In 2020, major U.S. cities such Chicago and Los Angeles, had a 33% increase in homicides, while 66 of the largest police jurisdictions had an increase in at least one category of violent crime, including homicide, robbery, rape, or assault, according to CNN. Kelly Fitzpatrick is the director of the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs and Gov. Kate Browns policy advisor on veterans issues. She is a retired Army officer. Her military awards and decorations include multiple awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal and the Army Parachutist Badge. 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. The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Sunday condemned the criminal intimidation against a judge, saying the intimidator must be strictly punished. After handing down sentences on Jimmy Lai and nine other defendants who were convicted of organizing and inciting others to participate in an illegal assembly, Amanda Jane Woodcock, the judge in charge, received phone calls that threatened to harm her and her family. The intimidation against a judge is appalling and outrageous in Hong Kong, a place known for the rule of law, a spokesperson of the office said, stressing that it blatantly jeopardized the law and order, and harmed the public interests. The office firmly supports the judiciary in assuming their responsibilities according to the law and supports the police in taking resolute actions to safeguard the rule of law, the spokesperson said. After the national security law in the HKSAR took effect last year, many extremists and radicals who committed crimes during the social unrest have received the punishment they deserved, which helped restore peace and order in Hong Kong, demonstrated the rule of law, and responded to people's demand, the spokesperson said. Judges and other people working in the judiciary should be respected for their unbiased and selfless work, and their safety should be under good protection, the spokesperson said. Intimidation will not lead to fear but only stimulate the strong will of safeguarding the rule of law and the judiciary independence, the spokesperson said. The rule of law is one of the core values of Hong Kong as well as the cornerstone of its prosperity and stability, and judges should exercise judicial power independently, free from any interference, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson also called for concerted efforts from various sectors in Hong Kong to support the government in assuming their responsibilities and to safeguard the spirit of the rule of law. Submit your letter to the editor for publication in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Letters should be no more than 300 words and must include the writer's first and last name (no initials), home address and daytime phone number. Submit OTTAWA - As memorials with tiny shoes have elicited cries of grief across the nation, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government are facing tough questions about why little has been done to implement recommendations released six years ago to find and document the unmarked graves of Indigenous children. Advertisement Advertise With Us The former Kamloops Indian Residential School is seen on Tkemlups te Secwepemc First Nation in Kamloops, B.C. on Thursday, May 27, 2021. Federal New Democrats are calling for an emergency debate in the House of Commons on the recent discovery of the remains of 215 children on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Snucins OTTAWA - As memorials with tiny shoes have elicited cries of grief across the nation, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government are facing tough questions about why little has been done to implement recommendations released six years ago to find and document the unmarked graves of Indigenous children. Speaking in sombre tones at a virtual event in Ottawa Monday, Trudeau reflected on the recent discovery of the remains of 215 children on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, calling it "heartbreaking news." He said he is "appalled" at the "shameful policy" that ripped Indigenous children from their families and placed them in residential schools a collective ordeal that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission found in 2015 amounted to a "cultural genocide." But when pressed for details about precisely what Ottawa is prepared to offer by way of support to find, identify and memorialize thousands of children who died at residential schools, Trudeau remained vague. "There is obviously more to do and I think there will be more that we will do," he said. "We have committed as a government to be there for reconciliation, but also to be there for truth and that is an important step. So yes, we will be there to work with communities on the things they need and on the things we all need to know." He pointed to funding committed in the 2019 federal budget of $33.8 million over three years to develop and maintain a national residential school student death register and an online registry of residential school cemeteries. A national student death register has since been created, which currently contains 4,118 children, and is being maintained by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. The centre notes that research efforts are ongoing and the number of children listed is expected increase over time. The centre says it began this work thanks to a "a one-time funding contribution" from the federal Department of Crown-Indigenous Affairs. The National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Perry Bellegarde, says this funding commitment falls woefully short of what is needed. Calling the tragic discovery in Kamloops a "catalyst," Bellegarde says it's time for the Liberals to immediately dedicate more resources, both financial and human, to fully investigate all Indigenous child deaths at residential schools. "I've been getting a lot of texts, a lot of phone calls (from) survivors, chiefs, leadership, saying this has to be further researched and investigated. Kamloops was one school. There were over 130 residential schools that were operating across Canada," Bellegarde said. "You have all these great reports and all these great commission recommendations, but there's always been a lack of full implementation of them. And here's another good example." Several of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action focus directly on the horrors inflicted on children in residential school. Following six years of extensive study, the commission made recommendations on efforts governments, justice systems and church officials should take to try to locate, name and commemorate the children who died. Six of these recommendations specifically list the actions the commission determined should be done to address missing children and burial information, including funding and co-ordination support to locate and protect school burial sites, both known and unknown. Asked for a detailed accounting of the $33.8 million pledged in 2019 toward these six particular calls to action, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett's office said the government hosted a series of 16 virtual engagement sessions with over 140 participants over the summer and fall of 2020 to hear from Indigenous Peoples and organizations on how to move forward on implementing the TRC recommendations. Ottawa also received guidance to develop a national approach to notifying family members of the locations of their children's burials and efforts to work with First Nations, provinces and territories, churches and landowners on appropriate memorial ceremonies and commemorative markers to honour the deceased children, said Bennett's spokeswoman, Ani Dergalstanian. A total of $2.6 million was given to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation for its work on the student death register. "The remaining $27.1 million will be allocated to supporting the important work of communities in locating, memorializing and commemorating those children who died while at Indian Residential Schools," Dergalstanian said. The TRC's final report further included a 273-page volume documenting the searing stories of families whose children were forcibly taken and never returned. It also includes testimony from survivors of the schools who remember watching their classmates fall ill and die at alarming rates. "These examples point to a larger picture: many students who went to residential school never returned. They were lost to their families. They died at rates that were far higher than those experienced by the general school-aged population. Their parents were often uninformed of their sickness and death. They were buried away from their families in long-neglected graves. No one took care to count how many died or to record where they were buried," the report says. "The most basic of questions about missing children Who died? Why did they die? Where are they buried? have never been addressed or comprehensively documented by the Canadian government." Federal New Democrats called for an emergency debate Monday in the House of Commons on the grisly discovery in British Columbia. Leader Jagmeet Singh said the government has not done enough to implement the 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It is not good enough for the Liberal government to offer platitudes and make symbolic gestures, such as lowering flags on Parliament Hill to half-mast, Singh said. "It's not enough to just reflect on the pain of this injustice, the federal government has to (have) the responsibility to do something about it." Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole said Monday he agrees with the TRC's findings that what happened to Indigenous children was a "cultural genocide," indicating a marked change in position from former party leader and prime minister Stephen Harper, who avoided using the term when the commission issued its findings and recommendations in 2015. "It is an atrocity so we have to act," O'Toole said. "Today I'm saying let's act, let's act together, I'm sure there's will within all parties. I'd like the prime minister to move." On Monday, the Commons unanimously supported a special "take-note" debate on this issue to take place on Tuesday, when MPs will individually be able to make their views known. But many Indigenous leaders are demanding more than speeches in Parliament. Lorraine Whitman, president of the Native Women's Association of Canada, says the grounds of all former residential schools should be searched with similar ground penetrating radar used in Kamloops. She also is calling for a full inquiry into the deaths at the B.C. school. "The families deserve answers. First Nations, Metis and Inuit people deserve answers. Canadians deserve answers. And these children, who were denied the right to live their full lives, deserve the justice that will begin to happen only when all of the facts about their deaths are made public," Whitman said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31, 2021. TORONTO - Flags on federal buildings will be lowered for the 215 children whose bodies were found at a former British Columbia residential school, the prime minister said Sunday as communities across Canada began mounting their own tributes to the students. TORONTO - Flags on federal buildings will be lowered for the 215 children whose bodies were found at a former British Columbia residential school, the prime minister said Sunday as communities across Canada began mounting their own tributes to the students. Justin Trudeau said on social media his request includes the Peace Tower flag. It comes as some called for a national day of mourning. "To honour the 215 children whose lives were taken at the former Kamloops residential school and all Indigenous children who never made it home, the survivors, and their families, I have asked that the Peace Tower flag and flags on all federal buildings be flown at half-mast," Trudeau said in a statement. The children's remains were located using ground-penetrating radar last weekend at the site in Kamloops, B.C., in the province's Interior. Trudeau's flag call came as plans were being made to identify and return home the remains. The effort could involve the B.C. Coroners Service, the Royal B.C. Museum and forensics experts, Indigenous leaders have said. Earlier this week, Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation in British Columbia said the discovery of the children, some as young as three years old, is an "unthinkable loss that was spoken about but never documented" at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. She said more bodies might be found because there were more areas to search on the grounds. The Kamloops residential school operated between 1890 and 1969. The federal government took over the facility from the Catholic Church and ran it as a day school until it closed in 1978. The National Truth and Reconciliation Commission has records of at least 51 children dying at the school between 1915 and 1963. The Chief of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, R. Stacey LaForme, wrote Trudeau on Saturday to ask the government to lower the flags and declare a national day of mourning. There is a lot more to be done but first and foremost, we need to do this to show love and respect to the 215 children, all of the children, and their families," LaForme said in a statement. "This should be a moment that the country never forgets." Sol Mamakwa, an Indigenous NDP legislator who represents the Ontario riding of Kiiwetinoong, called on the province and Canadian government to work with all First Nations to look for remains at other defunct residential schools. "It is a great open secret that our children lie on the properties of the former schools an open secret that Canadians can no longer look away from," Mamakwa said in a statement. "In keeping with the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Missing Children Projects, every school site must be searched for the graves of our ancestors." Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq said the legacy of Canadas residential schools is "one of deep intergenerational trauma, rooted in attempted cultural genocide and assimilation." Savikataaq said it is not simply a dark chapter in Canadian history, but continues to be a painful reality for all First Nations, Inuit and Metis. "In order to move forward, all Canadians must face these horrors, learn the truth, demand justice and work toward meaningful reconciliation on our terms," he said in a statement. Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister on Sunday called the discovery of the mass grave "horrifying." Flags at that province's legislature and Memorial Park would be lowered to honour the lives lost, he said. "We must all remain committed to righting this historic wrong and to ensure that it is never allowed to happen again," he said. Mayors of communities across Ontario, including Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga and Brampton, also ordered flags lowered. Toronto Mayor John Tory said city flags would stay lowered for nine days 215 hours to represent each life. "This is a heartbreaking reminder of the terrible and shameful legacy of residential schools and the thousands of innocent children who died," Tory said in a statement. "We know this discovery will also be difficult for survivors of the residential school system and a reminder of the trauma they endured." Mayor Bonnie Crombie of Mississauga, Ont., said she had also requested city flags be lowered: "I echo the calls for a national day of mourning," she said in a statement. In British Columbia, the province's teachers federation said it would organize "orange shirt walk-ins" to honour the 215 children. "We are also asking school districts to lower all flags to half-mast," the union said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2021. The S&P/ASX200 poked its head above 7200 points for the first time in history on Monday but investors cooled their heels to leave the sharemarket slightly lower. The local index added 0.3 per cent in early trade to rewrite last Februarys intraday record 7197.2 and set a new all-time peak of 7203.3. But the market couldnt hold its lead, dropping with the major banks and iron ore giant BHP to close 0.3 per cent lower at 7167.6 points. It ended the month 1.9 per cent higher. The ASX fell 0.3 per cent after earlier poking above 7200 for the first time ever. Credit:Louie Douvis Another disastrous day for ASX newcomer Nuix weighed on technology stocks, while losses for Afterpay, and Woolworths and Wesfarmers kept the market in the red. On the other side of the ledger, healthcare giants CSL, ResMed, and Fisher and Paykel were strong, while iron ore miners Fortescue Metals and Rio Tinto finished in positive territory. Gold producers were also strong as inflation-wary investors keep the precious metal near six month highs. Mondays session also heralded a 12th monthly rise for the ASX 200 in the past 13 months, a rebound that has added more than $860 million to the index since it hit a floor during the coronavirus crash. Wall Streets weekend lead was a positive one for local stocks, but the looming US Memorial Day break - and a UK bank holiday - meant trading volumes were extremely thin. An additional 11 coronavirus cases in Victoria did little to assuage fears that the states coronavirus lockdown could extend beyond its seven-day deadline. Despite the uncertainty, Australian Eagle Asset Management chief investment officer Sean Sequeira said the local market would likely continue to test new highs in coming weeks - though any breakout to the upside would hinge on the temperature of economic data and changes to the corporate earnings outlook. I expected to see us running up against these highs and backing off, and I dont think my view has changed on that, Mr Sequeira said. The market will search for direction from upcoming data and any information from companies. Tuesdays Reserve Bank policy meeting is one such data point, though GSFM investment strategist Stephen Miller expects a dovish tone from the RBA. Mr Miller said he expected Governor Philip Lowe to reiterate the boards prior view that a policy rate increase is unlikely to be until 2024 at the earliest - an outcome that would likely keep inflation jitters at bay. It remains the case that while the economys performance has certainly exceeded expectations, recent price and wage growth remains at levels that are still uncomfortably low for the RBA and its inflation objective, Mr Miller said. The unemployment rate, again while having bettered expectations, is still some way north of the 4 per cent or even three-point-something previously cited by the governor as getting close to capacity. In that sense, a more relatively cautious tone from the RBA would be in line with what weve seen from major central banks such as the (US Fed) and the (European Central Bank). Nuix plunged 17.8 per cent per cent on Monday to close at a new record low $2.77 after the firm cut its guidance for the second time since listing in December. Link Admin Holdings was another laggard, dropping 6.8 per cent to $5.08 after it confirmed plans to float its property settlements platform PEXA. Commonwealth Bank set a new record high $101.50 but faded away to end 0.8 per cent lower at $99.72. Westpac dropped 0.2 per cent to $26.42, NAB dropped 0.5 per cent to $26.95, and ANZ fell by 0.5 per cent to $28.71. Macquarie Group was down 0.4 per cent to $151.93. CSL continued a rally that began back in early March, rising another 0.4 per cent to close at $290.21. I sat for Jane a couple of times. Essentially, I just drank tea and talked, and she sketched. Very restful and not as weird as youd think. I had zero input into the style of painting and didnt know I was going to be an ornament! But that is the important part of being a subject. You have to hand over any sense of control. Its tricky to grapple with at first, but after that, quite liberating. I like the painting itself, but not because its me; I just like those beautiful shades and textures that Jane does so well. My parents bought the Jordan Richardson one, in which Im holding up a bay leaf and looking sombre. They tell me theyre going to hang it in a room so they can visit it whenever they want to feel judged. Annabel Crabb with her portrait called Annabel, the baker by 2020 finalist Jane Guthleben. Credit:Felicity Jenkins, AGNSW Claudia Karvan Martine Emdur - Claudia Karvan, interior (2003) Martine and I spent a bit of time together socially, so it didnt come out of the blue. At the time, she was famous for her water landscapes and I thought, Wow, how shes going to do this? Its a bit of a conundrum, because you have to say a lot in a portrait, everything becomes very symbolic and significant. So I guess theres a little bit of trepidation because you think, What is this person going to see in me that I dont see in myself? I sat for her probably two or three times at our flat in Bondi. At the time, the sittings were really chaotic, because when youve got a young child, everyones busy. So any time she would come over, it was always snatching tiny moments. It was never very serene or a luxurious amount of time. When I saw it, I thought I looked a little bit haughty. But otherwise, I was thrilled that my little daughter was put in a painting for posterity and [my partner] Jeremy and our home, because I dont usually do things in my own home for the public. And clearly things were so chaotic that I forgot to put a bra on! Claudia Karvan with her portrait by Martine Edmur, a finalist in the 2003 Archibald Prize. Credit:Roadshow Rough Diamond Martine offered the portrait to me but I laughed and was like, Yeah right, Ill hang it in my living room. It was sold through her gallery on the Gold Coast. I dont know who owns it. Hopefully Im in a hallway, nowhere more prestigious. Benjamin Law Keith Burt - Benjamin Law: happy sad (2019) Keith approached me out of the blue. We have a lot of mutual friends and I said yes because hes a Brissie boy and Im a Queenslander and because its a pretty tight knit arts and creative community there. I sat for him about two or three times. He has a studio underneath his beautiful Queenslander and on the day I sat for him, for what would result as the painting that was entered in the Archibald, Id come to Brisbane for a funeral. So he caught me in a less typical kind of mood. And he captured something of that, where my headspace was. When he was finished, Keith emailed me an image and I was totally gobsmacked. Benjamin Law with his portrait Benjamin Law: happy sad by Keith Burt which was a 2019 finalist. Credit:Jenni Carter, AGNSW Loading I imagine thats a confronting moment for both the artist and sitter: Is this person going to like what I painted? or Has this person completely mangled my face? But there was something about how he captured me and its not because its photorealistic, theres something in the mood. I got my whole family to make a pilgrimage to the Archibalds, to the shrine that was my painting, which is a slightly sociopathic thing to do. They all thought it nailed who I was, not in a super flattering way and not in a super hideous way, there was just something that felt right. My mum liked it so much I ended up buying it for her for a combined Mothers Day and birthday present. Which, again, is maybe a slightly sociopathic thing to do. She hasnt decided where shes going to hang it yet. For all I know, it could be the image she sees every time she sits on the toilet. Lindy Lee Tony Costa - Lindy Lee (2019) Tony is a really good artist and I was delighted and honoured he chose me. And the thing is, you should always encourage your fellow artists. I sat for him for one day in mid-summer. The studio was excruciatingly hot. I have a number of Zen robes, but I had forgotten to bring the lightweight ones, so I was really sticky and uncomfortable in this heavy black robe. But Tony was very convivial and focussed. Whenever I looked up sneakily from my meditation, he was very concentrated. As an artist, I understand that great and wondrous concentration, and you dont interrupt that person! Later, he sent me an iPhone photo and said, Here it is and I thought it was just a work in progress. So I blindly went, Oh, itll be great when its finished. And he said, It is finished. That was silly of me! Lindy Lee with the 2019 Archibald-winning portrait by Tony Costa. Credit:Photo by Elise Derwin Its a beautiful painting. Its true, raw and not a pretty version of me. I love that he embraced that Zen aspect of me. When the winner was announced, I had just arrived in Shanghai and when I saw Tony was ringing, I thought, Hmm, this is weird. And then I remembered, Oh, its Archibald morning. I think I squealed at the screen of my phone. We made a bet that if he won, he was going to give me this wonderful piece of 60s minimalist furniture. But he broke that deal in a better way, because he gave me a smaller version of the portrait. I didnt expect Tony to win. Thats not anything to do with his talent. I was part of the judging of the Archibald for nine years myself, and I still dont know how it works! Tim Rogers Jason Benjamin - I just wanna dream (2014) I knew Jason through acquaintances. We met at a bar, like all good artists and their subjects do, and he was a very enigmatic and intense man [Benjamin died in February this year]. I said a couple of self-deprecating things and he said, No, youre the guy I want, so we got very drunk together, as I tend to do with people. We then had two long meetings that devolved into the night and the morning. He was doing some sketching, getting a sense of my character. He asked if I would like to see it as a work-in-progress and I said no. Its not about my approval. Ive done my bit. You have to release all responsibility and thoughts that it is you; its the artists work. Tim Rogers with Jason Benjamins portrait I just wanna dream, a 2014 finalist. Being immunised against coronavirus is one of five reasons Victorians are allowed to leave their houses under the latest lockdown. A rapidly moving COVID-19 cluster in Melbourne has prompted health authorities to widen the age restriction on who is allowed to get vaccinated to now include Victorians aged 40 to 49. But speeding up the vaccine rollout in a matter of days has not been without its teething problems, as a record number of Victorians continue to be vaccinated against the virus each day. People queue to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the vaccination hub at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton. Credit:Eddie Jim Thousands of people trying to book in their COVID-19 vaccines have been left frustrated as the states coronavirus hotlines repeatedly buckle under a deluge of calls. The days are numbered for Brisbane Airports international terminal, with overseas flights to be moved to a new joint domestic-international terminal by next decade. All domestic flights now leave from the terminal closest to Moreton Bay, while the 1995-built international terminal, about 1.5 kilometres south-west of its domestic counterpart, accommodates all overseas flights. All flights in and out of Brisbane will run out of the new Brisbane Airport terminal being built between the domestic terminal and the parallel runway. In the future, all flights will leave from a single large terminal, connected to the existing domestic terminal, closer to the parallel runway that opened last July. Brisbane Airport Corporation head of planning Michael Jarvis said the transition would be made from 2032, when the $1 billion L-shaped terminal was built and connected with the domestic terminal. A police officer who was one of the most senior cops on the Gold Coast is accused of lying to an anti-corruption commission probe into allegations of Queensland police nepotism. Superintendent Michelle Francis Stenner, 47, faced the first day of her Brisbane District Court trial on Monday, charged with three counts of perjury. She has pleaded not guilty. Gold Coast Police Superintendent Michelle Francis Stenner leaves Brisbane District Court on Monday. Credit:Toby Crockford She allegedly knowingly gave false testimony to a Crime and Corruption Commission inquiry about the hiring of Amy Borland as a temporary administration assistant at Broadbeach police station. Ms Borland is the daughter of Gold Coast Chief Superintendent Terry Borland, who at the time was the second-most senior police officer on the Gold Coast. Loading The parties attended mediation behind closed doors on Friday. In an editors note added to the story on Monday, the ABC said the article was about a letter to the Prime Minister containing allegations against a senior cabinet minister and was about Mr Porter, although he was not named. The note says the ABC did not intend to suggest that Mr Porter had committed the criminal offences alleged and did not contend that the serious accusations could be substantiated to the applicable legal standard criminal or civil. It added both parties accept that some readers misinterpreted the article as an accusation of guilt against Mr Porter. That reading, which was not intended by the ABC, is regretted. The ABC said in its statement that it stood by its investigative and public interest journalism and stood by Milligan, one of Australias foremost and most awarded investigative journalists. In a second statement, released late on Monday, it said: The article was not sensationalist. It was an accurate and factual report on a letter that had been sent to the Prime Minister and two other senior politicians. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Mr Porter said on Monday that he would run at the next election, was committed to his West Australian seat of Pearce and was not seeking to return as attorney-general after moving to the portfolio of Industry, Science and Technology. He said you can never turn the clock back on this sort of reporting, and thats why its so wrong. Professor David Rolph, a defamation expert at the University of Sydney, said the case was high stakes on both sides and there was a sharp division between the parties about what the article at the centre of the case meant. Ultimately it would have been for the Federal Court to decide which, if any, defamatory meanings alleged by Mr Porter were in fact conveyed by the ABCs article. This was a threshold issue in the case. What the words mean is not what the publisher subjectively intended the words to mean. Its not even what some people might think the words mean, Professor Rolph said. He said a court had to determine what the ordinary reasonable reader, a legal construct, thought the words mean, and that will be the single meaning of the words. Professor Rolph said there was a mismatch between what Mr Porter and the ABC claimed the ordinary reasonable reader would think the article meant. Until you resolve that issue, you cant determine what defences might appropriately apply, he said. Loading Mr Porter had claimed the article defamed him in a number of ways, including by suggesting he brutally raped a 16-year-old girl in 1988 when he was 17, and that this contributed to her taking her own life last year, after she told NSW Police that she did not wish to pursue her complaint. He strenuously denies the claims. In a written defence filed in court, 27 pages of which were redacted before an anticipated legal fight between the parties, the ABC said it did not say Mr Porter was guilty of rape and did not convey any of the other meanings alleged by him. However, it said it could prove there were reasonable grounds for suspecting him of the crime, if the court found it had conveyed this meaning. The ABC was also seeking to rely on the public interest-style defence of qualified privilege, among other defences. The Federal Court had set aside Tuesday and Wednesday this week to hear an application by Mr Porter to strike out significant portions of the ABCs defence to his defamation claim, which may have knocked out some of its defences. The ABC and Mr Porter attended mediation on Friday to settle the dispute out of court. Mediation is common in Federal Court defamation cases. In an order made with the agreement of the parties on Thursday, Justice Jayne Jagot said secrecy orders covering parts of the ABCs defence did not prevent any mediator appointed by the parties from being shown a complete version of the defence and Mr Porters reply. Milligan said in a tweet on Monday that we are still absolutely committed to the 27 redacted pages being in the public domain. Mr Porters solicitor, Rebekah Giles, said in a statement that the ABC and Milligan had expressly agreed to ... the permanent removal of the defence from the Court file. Wine merchant Jagdev Singh posted an offer on Instagram on Monday to use donations from his customers to help send boxes of food to those in need during lockdown. Within two hours of that post, his company had organised more than 200 boxes of fresh, donated ingredients to be delivered to some of the citys most vulnerable people. Jagdev Singh from the Local Drop in East Brunswick with one of the produce boxes he will deliver to people in need. Credit:Joe Armao Mr Singh is among a number of people around Melbourne who have mobilised since the seven-day statewide coronavirus lockdown took effect on Friday, helping those who have lost work or been affected financially by the shutdown. His East Brunswick shop, the Local Drop, has asked people to donate $50 for each community produce box packed with locally sourced ingredients including fruit, vegetables and eggs enough to feed two people for a week for delivery to people who are going without during the shutdown. The Communist Party of China (CPC) has established relations in various forms with more than 600 political parties and organizations in over 160 countries and regions, according to a seminar held in Shanghai. The seminar was co-held by the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies and the Shanghai Federation of Social Science Associations on Saturday. Nearly 30 guest speakers from universities and research institutions in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Guangdong delivered speeches to the seminar, which drew more than 150 experts and scholars. The seminar stressed that more than 330 political parties and organizations in nearly 140 countries had expressed their support to the CPC and to China's fight against COVID-19 since last year. Over 240 political parties and international organizations of political parties in more than 110 countries stood with the CPC to oppose the politicization of public health issues, according to the seminar. The young worker who fell five metres at the redevelopment of the Karrinyup Shopping Centre appears to have had a lucky escape from serious injuries. It is understood that despite his rescue from a platform about 11 metres above the ground being very difficult for emergency services, he did not suffer major injuries and did not hit his head. The man, aged 18, is in Royal Perth Hospital in a stable condition. Emergency services were called about 11am on Monday to help the teen. There had been concerns he may have suffered spinal injuries. Lord mayor Sally Capp has raised concerns about a prominent Flinders Street building near the tourist Degraves Street strip being used as a safe-injecting room after the state government confirmed it had bought the site. The Age revealed on May 17 that the former Yooralla building at 244-248 Flinders Street, between Elizabeth and Swanston streets, was the governments preferred location for the injecting room because it is located in a drug injecting and overdose hotspot. The state government confirmed on Monday night that it had bought the building, saying it was a valuable location for a range of potential services, including health services, although it said no decision had been made regarding the final location for the injecting room. Cr Capp said she shared many of the concerns of traders and residents about the Yooralla site. Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital has called 32 code yellow emergencies in just 21 weeks. The figure is the latest warning sign Western Australias hospital system is struggling to cope with an influx of patients, with medical bodies repeatedly warning staff were overworked and patient care was compromised. Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Credit:Getty Images One of the code yellows at Sir Charles Gairdner was a whole-of-hospital capacity issue while the other 31 were capacity-related issues in its emergency department. In the same period of January 1 to May 25, Fiona Stanley Hospital called six ED code yellows while Royal Perth Hospital called one. Singapore: Australia is facing a renewed call to introduce fresh sanctions on Myanmars military government with Sydney economist Sean Turnell still languishing in prison nearly four months after he was detained in the days after a coup. The Australian Council for International Development has illustrated contrasting responses of different countries to the bloody takeover in a document delivered to Foreign Minister Marise Payne. Sean Turnell with Aung San Suu Kyi. The analysis chart spells out how the United States, UK, Canada and the European Union have sanctioned junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and a combined 38 senior figures in the aftermath of the February 1 coup. All but Canada have also black-listed military conglomerates Myanmar Economic Corporation and Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited. Australia, by contrast, has not added to the five officers it sanctioned in 2018 over a campaign targeting the countrys Rohingya Muslims that according to a United Nations fact-finding mission included mass rape and enforced disappearances. That list does not include the leader of the Tatmadaw, as the military is known. With few moves left, political observers say, Netanyahu will probably spend the coming week applying pressure to MPs from Yamina and other right-wing parties in the hope of chipping away at its parliamentary majority and triggering a fifth election. Yair Lapid was tasked with forming a government before the 11-day Gaza war against Hamas last month. Credit:AP The announcement followed the 11-day conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip this month, which some analysts speculated would help bolster the embattled Netanyahu. At the outset of the fighting, Bennett, a former Netanyahu protege who had been poised to join a unity government with Lapid, said the military operation, which killed more than 250 Palestinians and 12 Israelis, had ended his interest in joining the anti-Netanyahu coalition, which has the support of left-leaning and Arab parties. But after an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire took hold on May 21, criticism of Netanyahu surged again. Some 47 per cent of Israelis said they opposed the ceasefire, and 67 per cent said they expected another round of fighting with Hamas within the next three years, according to opinion polls published last week by Israels Channel 12. Netanyahus rivals said the operation lacked a coherent or long-term strategy, and that Netanyahus failure to stop Hamas rocket fire from raining down on Israel or secure the remains of Israeli soldiers was further proof of his need to leave office. With the best intelligence and air force in the world, Netanyahu managed to extract from Hamas an unconditional ceasefire. Embarrassing, tweeted Gideon Saar, another former Netanyahu protege now with the change coalition. Loading As the negotiations to oust him progressed, Netanyahu responded with fury. Whats changed since [the conflict?] A few days have passed? Has something changed? Of course not, he said in a video posted on Twitter. We just got out of a war, from a military operation, and it was clear, amid the battle, that its not possible to fight with Hamas from a left-wing government. He urged Bennett to join his bloc of ultra-Orthodox and religious Zionist parties to form a right-wing government. Its still not too late, he said. Then he offered a last-ditch three-way rotation agreement to Saar and Bennett. Saar immediately refused. Our position and commitment was and remains: to change the Netanyahu regime, Saar said on Twitter. We will continue to act accordingly. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Israeli media outlets have described Saar as likely the next justice minister - a position that would put him in greater conflict with his former mentor. Netanyahu is accused in separate cases of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He has denied wrongdoing. Saar has criticised Netanyahus calls to end the legal proceedings against him, saying the process should move forward free of politicisation. After Saar left Netanyahus Likud party in 2020, he said it had become a tool for the personal interests of the person in charge, including matters relating to his criminal trial. Netanyahus pitch to Saar and Bennett was the latest in a string of offers aimed at keeping him in power. He has also tried to lure defectors from Bennetts party to join his own group. Political observers say Netanyahu, who failed to cobble together a governing coalition during his own four-week window, has little chance of forming his own government. Instead, they say, he hopes to derail the opposition agreement and force yet another election in coming months, buying time and another chance at the ballot box. The change coalition, in which Bennett would deliver the 61 seats needed to form a parliamentary majority, draws on support from Israels right, centre, left and, indirectly, the Arab-Islamist Raam party. Loading The agreement comes two and a half years into a political stalemate during which Netanyahu has presided over a caretaker government that, as it transitioned from the COVID crisis to the conflict in Gaza, made no ministerial appointments, passed no budgets, and left the health, education and other institutional sectors in a prolonged state of limbo. Lapid, who won the second-largest number of seats in the latest round of elections in March, assumed the 28-day mandate for forming a government May 5 after Netanyahu failed. Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of former US president John F Kennedy, could be named as the next US ambassador to Australia, a report in American media says. US-based publication Axios, citing people familiar with the matter reported: Caroline Kennedy is in line to be US ambassador to Australia. While no official announcements have been made, the Associated Press on Friday had reported that Kennedy was expected to serve in a high-profile ambassadorial role in the Asia-Pacific region. President Joe Biden is giving serious consideration to nominating Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of President John F. Kennedy who served as ambassador to Australia. Credit:AP Kennedy, if selected, would assume the role at a sensitive time for US diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific, as Chinas rise creates a broad array of diplomatic, trade and military challenges for US and Australia alike. Private equity firm and associates will acquire a controlling stake of over 50 per cent in by investing in the Rs 4,000 crore preferential issue of equity and warrants of the Delhi-based mortgage lender. After the proposed transactions, expected to be completed by January 1, 2022, Carlyle will also have the right to nominate the chairperson of (PNB HF). This right will continue as long as it holds at least 40 per cent of the share capital on a fully diluted basis. Pluto Investments, affiliate of Carlyle Asia Partners, will invest up to Rs 3,185 crore through a preferential allotment of equity shares and convertible warrants at Rs 390 per share, for a 30.2 per cent in PNB HFs expanded capital. Quality Investment Holdings (QIH), a unit of Carlyle Group, currently holds 32.21 per cent in After the issue of shares and warrants, QIH's stake will stand reduced to 20 per cent on the expanded equity base. Both QIH and Pluto are part of The Carlyle Group, a global entity. Together, they will hold 50.2 per cent in PNB HF. Public sector lender Punjab National Bank (PNB) will continue to be promoter and a key stakeholder in the company. It held a 32.65 per cent stake in the company as of March 31, 2021. Its stake will fall to 20.3 per cent in the expanded capital base. Along with Carlyle Group, Aditya Puri, former managing director of HDFC Bank, will infuse capital into PNB Housing Finance through family investment firm Salisbury Investments. He will be Carlyles nominee director in due course. QIH, Pluto, and Salisbury Investments will be classified as part of the promoter group following the transactions. Existing shareholders of the company, funds managed by Ares SSG and General Atlantic, are also participating in the capital raise. They will pay Rs 390 per share for equity and warrant transactions. This proposed transaction would also trigger an open offer by Pluto Investments to purchase up to 26 per cent equity shares of PNB HFC from public shareholders. The board has approved a capital raise of up to Rs 4,000 crore. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals as well as shareholder approval, PNB HFC said in a statement filed with BSE. In all, PNB HF will issue 102.56 million shares (including shares on warrant conversion) at Rs 390 each. The warrants are exercisable within 18 months of the date of allotment, the housing financier said. On Monday, its stock was up 20 per cent and locked in the upper circuit (no sellers) for most part of the day. It closed at Rs 525.2 per share on the BSE. Amit Tandon, founder and managing director, Institutional Advisory Services (IiAS), said with the proposed transaction, as the largest investor would have a decisive say in running the business and board decisions. Assuming the capital infusion (including warrants), the capital adequacy ratio of the company will increase from 18.7 per cent (as of March 31, 2021) to over 28 per cent, the company said. Hardayal Prasad, managing director and chief executive officer of PNB Housing Finance, said this fund raise, and Carlyles continued support, would help the company to benefit from the growing opportunities, including affordable housing loans and self-employed segments. PNB Housing Finance is the fourth-largest housing finance company in India in terms of loan assets (Rs 62,255 crore as of March 31, 2021) and the second-largest in deposits (Rs 17,129 crore as of March 31, 2021). In India alone, affiliates of Carlyle have invested more than $1.7 billion of equity in eight financial services as of March 31, 2021, and $3.2 billion in India overall. On May 24, PNB and PNB HFC executed a revised trademark agreement to replace the existing deal. Under the revised pact, PNB HFC will pay a royalty to PNB for the trademark if the banks stake falls below 30 per cent. It will pay a royalty that is higher of 0.2 per cent of revenue and 2 per cent of profit after tax (PAT), with the minimum being Rs 14.97 crore and the maximum Rs 30 crore. When PNBs shareholding in PNB Housing falls below 20 per cent, the public sector lender will have the right to terminate the revised agreement. Following such termination, PNB Housing will get 24 months as the transition period to change its brand name. portal and Indian School of Business (ISB) on Monday launched an index to track prices of residential properties across eight major cities as part of their effort to provide real-time data to all stakeholders. The Housing Pricing Index (HPI) of Housing.com- was launched by Union Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra through a virtual event. He said the index will be useful for homebuyers as well as policymakers to decide the future course of action. Mishra said the housing prices index was required for the society and will help in nation making. He informed that National Housing Bank (NHB) also releases its housing prices index. Mishra asked and to make this index robust. said the index, which has been created in association with the ISB's Srini Raju Centre for IT and the Networked Economy (SRITNE), will be an indicator of economic activity in The HPI will provide monthly reports on price and quantity (units sold) movement. It could help a potential homebuyer assess the appropriate time to buy a property and at the same time assist sellers in knowing the most opportune moment to sell their assets. Policymakers and financial analysts can also use it as a reliable estimate to keep track of the trends in the sector. Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune are the eight cities which will be covered. Housing.com's sister concern PropTiger is already providing quarterly data for demand, supply, prices and unsold inventories in the residential segment. Buyers as well as policymakers are mostly forced to rely on market anecdotes and guesswork about property price movements in Indian cities in the absence of quality high-frequency data, especially locality specific data. The entire idea behind the launch of the Housing HPI is to address this issue," said Dhruv Agarwala, Group CEO, Housing.com, Makaan.com and PropTiger.com. Aside from benefitting buyers, investors and policymakers, he said the data will also be immensely valuable for developers who are considering a new locality to launch new developments. "This indeed is a step in the right direction, and we are sure HPI will go a long way in equipping various stakeholders to make informed choices and, in the process, add more value and worth to their assets," said Rajendra Srivastava, Dean Naredco President Niranjan Hiranandani said, "Introducing the data index for real estate, one of the vital economic growth anchors, is a leap forward." The prime objective to launch the index is to bring transparency and narrow down the trust deficit between all the concerned industry stakeholders, he said. "It will address the challenge of the paucity of well-defined data and foster with the right business intelligence, market insights, trends, and sentiments to sign off well-informed decisions. This new-age methodology will promote Indian Real Estate at par with global best practices," Hiranandani said. Prof Deepa Mani, ISB, said the indices like the HPI would be especially relevant to industry and policy makers in the face of current systematic and pervasive disruptions in the economy, notably, the COVID-19 pandemic. Sharad Mittal, Executive Director and CEO of Motilal Oswal Real Estate, said the housing segment, which is 70 per cent of Indian real estate, needed such an index. He said the housing sector has been affected in the last few years due to trust deficit and liquidity crunch. (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.) Ahead of its initial public offering (IPO) this year, supply chain services provider has reportedly raised $277 million in its latest round of funding, taking its market valuation to nearly $3 billion. According to a TechCrunch report, disclosed the finding in its latest regulatory filing that has been led by US-headquartered investment firm Fidelity. Other investors reportedly are "Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC, Abu Dhabi's Chimera and UK's Baillie Gifford". When contacted, refused to comment on the funding at the moment. Delhivery, a leading fulfillment platform for digital commerce, has raised about $1.23 billion to date. Earlier this year, Delhivery announced to expand its footprint by opening two new tech offices in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, that will take its workforce strength to more than 500 employees in the country. It currently has more than 350 employees and centres in Gurgaon, Goa, and Hyderabad (in India), and Seattle in the US. "The current expansion ensures we stay ahead of the curve with tech and data science being the core business differentiators," said Kapil Bharati, Co-founder and CTO, Delhivery. Delhivery currently provides supply chain services at over 17,500 pin codes across 2,300 cities. It has fulfilled over 850 million transactions since inception and works with over 10,000 direct customers, which includes large and small e-commerce participants, SMEs, and leading enterprises and brands. --IANS na/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) You are here: China The 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck northwest China's Qinghai Province just over a week ago did not cause any glacier collapse on the region's Mount Anyemaqen, according to the provincial bureau of environmental geological exploration. Deng Xiaofei, a senior engineer with the bureau, said that the bureau dispatched researchers to check glaciers and ice lakes on the mountain after the earthquake on May 22. "The team has inspected 38 slide-prone glacier points. No ice slides occurred, and no secondary disasters such as dammed lakes were formed," said Deng. Glaciers on Mount Anyemaqen are of great significance for monitoring climate change and the ecological environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Glacier collapse occurred on the mountain in 2004 and 2007. This month's earthquake, which jolted Maduo County in the Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, left 18 injured and disrupted the lives of over 32,000 residents from 26 townships in Golog and the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Non-banking finance company on Monday reported widening of its consolidated net loss to Rs 647.72 crore for the last quarter of FY21 on accelerated write-offs and provisions. The company had posted net loss of Rs 355.08 crore during the January-March period of FY20. However, there was a net profit of Rs 13 crore in the preceding quarter ended December 2020. Total income during Q4 FY21 also fell to Rs 587.14 crore as against Rs 617.62 crore earlier, Magma Fincrop said in a regulatory filing. For the full year 2020-21, the non-banking lender reported a loss of Rs 558.96 crore as against a profit of Rs 27.05 crore in 2019-20. Income during the year also fell to Rs 2,352.48 crore from Rs 2,562.88 crore. The interest income was down at Rs 2,165.68 crore as against Rs 2,324.34 crore. "The company has adopted one of the most conservative policy in the industry for technical write-offs effective Q4FY21. Such policy change has resulted in one-time write-off impact of Rs 274 crore during the quarter," it said. There was an additional management overlay provision of Rs 621 crore during the reported quarter for the second wave of COVID-19, it added. The company holds cumulative provisions to the tune of Rs 1,192 crore as of March 2021 and the management is confident of the adequacy of the same to counter the pandemic-related impact on future profitability, the company said. "Had the company not moved to accelerated write-off policy and not created additional provisions of Covid second wave, the profit before tax and profit after tax for the year ended March 31, 2021 would have been Rs 146 crore and Rs 111 crore respectively," it said further. On the asset quality front, the gross non-performing assets (NPAs) by end of March 2021 fell to 3.7 per cent of gross advances, as against 6.4 per cent earlier. The net NPAs were 1.2 per cent, down from 4.2 per cent. "The one-time provisions and write-offs have also resulted in an uptick in asset quality of the remaining book, standing as one of the best in industry with net stage 3 assets (as of Mar-21) at 1.2 per cent and overall ECL (expected credit loss) provisions at 9.5 per cent of the total loan book," it said. The assets under management (AUM) at end of FY21 fell to Rs 14,225 crore from Rs 16,134 crore. The Kolkata-based company said 97 per cent of its portfolio its either secured by collateral or has a sovereign guarantee cover. The company also said the board of directors has not recommended any dividend for FY21 in order to conserve capital, given the challenging situation caused by the ongoing pandemic and loss during the year. Stock of closed 4.97 per cent up at Rs 136.25 apiece on BSE. (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.) SIS Group, a $1.2-billion listed essential services firm, said it has completed inoculating 102,008 employees of its 2,30,000 workforce. This was done through Humare Heroes Vaccination Drive (HHVD) launched on May 1, 2021, within a record timeframe of 30 days. The orchestrated efforts of the internal teams at SIS aided in steering this massive feat seamlessly for an employee base of 2,30,000 spread across 670 districts keeping their safety as the highest priority. The company has also pledged over Rs 10 crore Covid welfare fund to assist and provide employees with a safety net during the second wave of the pandemic. These essential workers continue to assist customers in locations including high-risk sites such as hospitals, path labs, quarantine centres, among other segments. While we put a lot of effort in arranging the vaccines for our employees, the availability and feasibility helped our team to turn this into a reality, said Rituraj Sinha, managing group director, SIS Ltd. SIS has managed to complete vaccinations for 41.9 per cent of the total workforce. It is confident to complete the vaccination process for the remaining 1,30,000 employees by mid-July. Although vaccine availability and slot booking issue is on the decline, we are confident that with better planning and process we will be able to get approximately 4,000 employees vaccinated per day across India and eventually get the remaining employees vaccinated rapidly, said Sinha. SIS personnel including physical security guards and facility management staff continue to support the over pressurised healthcare infrastructure in the country. The company has been extending support to over 400 healthcare facilities with security, hygiene, sanitization frontline staff, through this pandemic. It is also supporting 15,000 customer sites spread over 670 districts of the country. SIS personnel together at the frontline have been endlessly ensuring necessary steps are taken to minimise the spread of the infection and secure safety at large. The company monitored the vaccination centres across the country for extending support to all the employees by mapping their employees through their various customer locations to locate the nearest vaccination centre. Designated HR teams took care of the Cowin registrations and ensured all the requisite data are in sync. Following registration and final booking, the team apprised the guards about when and where they can get vaccinated. SIS also arranged transportation to and from vaccination centres for the employees. The company said, unlike other organisations, the guards have no specific urban and rural work divide. The company made sure that guards posted in the rural zones get equal importance in terms of vaccination when compared to one posted in a metro city. The teams at SIS also created an increased level of awareness through employee connect initiatives and proprietary tech solutions M-trainer and MySIS. They also did an aggressive social media promotion on addressing and overcoming vaccine hesitancy. Several branch offices of SIS premises were converted to vaccination centres in collaboration with local civic authorities in cities like Bengaluru Chennai and Chandigarh. It also set up SOS groups in 20 cities for ambulatory services and medical assistance, offering 24*7 employee helpline services. SIS said it has been making sure the employees have access to any medical and non-medical assistance during this time of crisis. Automotive and industrial component maker on Monday announced COVID-19 support for employees and their immediate family members in the unfortunate event of an employee succumbing to the infection. As part of these measures, the company will provide life insurance cover for the next three years and education support for two children up to 12th grade, said in a statement. Besides, SKF will also provide one-time financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the dependents of the blue-collar employee, it added. Earlier, the company had set up COVID Care Centers across different locations in partnership with DayToDay Healthcare to provide virtual healthcare systems to infected employees. Employees are a big partwe constantly go above and beyond to ensure they receive the support in these difficult times. Our task force monitors the situation regularly and provides all the necessary support to them across the country, including arranging for medical supplies and oxygen cylinders, hospital facilities and home-care isolation facilities among others, said Gautam Kumar, CHRO, Ltd. Additionally, the company is covering the cost of vaccination for all its employees and their immediate family members as per the government guidelines, he said. We've started preparations for the (possible) third wave as well, he added. The company said it has provided medical equipment, PPE kits, oxygen concentrators, and other medical supplies to local hospitals and frontline workers at different locations across the country under its Community Care principle. (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.) 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 Nearly 3,000 junior in on Monday struck work, barring COVID-19 duties, to press for their demands, including free treatment for them and their families if they contract the infection. MP Junior Association president Arvind Meena told PTI that their members were abstaining from work at the Out Patient Departments (OPDs), the In-Patient Departments (IPDs) and other wards of various health care facilities. "If the written orders (complying with the demands) are not released by this evening, then we would be compelled to withdraw from COVID-19 duties across the state from June 1," he said. They have demanded that beds for junior serving COVID-19 patients be reserved in separate areas in case they contract the infection, he said. "Treatment should be free for such doctors as well as their kin. We also need a hike in stipend," Meena said. He said their association comprises around 3,000 members from six medical colleges in the state. Earlier, the junior doctors went on a strike on May 6, but resumed a few hours later after the state government assured them that their demands would be met. "While the state government promised 24 days ago that our demands would be met, nothing has moved since, Meena claimed and demanded that the government release a written order fulfilling their demands. (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.) giant Twitter, on Monday, said it strives to comply with applicable laws in India. We continue to be strictly guided by principles of transparency, a commitment to empowering every voice on the service, and protecting freedom of expression and privacy under the Indian law, the company spokesperson said. The statement came hours after Delhi High Court, hearing a petition alleging that was not compliant with Indias new rules for digital media intermediaries, said that the microblogging platform will have to comply with the new rules if they haven't been stayed. The court issued a notice to the Centre and seeking their stand on the petition. Lawyer Amit Acharya, in his plea in the Delhi HC, claimed that hadnt appointed a resident grievance officer, as it is required to under Indias new Information Technology (IT) rules. Acharya said that he came to know about the alleged non-compliance when he tried to lodge a complaint against a couple of tweets. During the hearing, central government standing counsel Ripudaman Singh Bhardwaj told the court that Twitter has not complied with the rules. The petition has sought a direction to Twitter to appoint a resident grievance officer without further delay. It has also sought a direction to the Centre to ensure that the IT rules are complied with. Twitter had recently said it was committed to India as a vital market, but criticised the new IT rules, saying they "inhibit free and public conversation". Under the new digital rules, companies like Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter have been asked to identify within 36 hours the originator of a flagged message and conduct additional due diligence, including the appointment of a chief compliance officer, nodal contact person and resident grievance officer. The IT rules also require platforms to enable the identification of the first originator of any piece of information on their portals which the government deems could jeopardise the sovereignty, integrity or security of India, or contains sexually explicit content. reported 3,245 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, informed the state government. Now, the total case count in the state shot up to 4,06,868. The state also saw 5,690 recoveries and 50 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the overall tallies to 3,49,773 and 3,300 respectively. At present, has as many as 52,448 active cases. India's daily COVID-19 cases continue to decline further as 1,65,553 fresh infections were recorded in a 24-hour period, the Union Health Ministry informed 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.) The B1617 Covid-19 variant is spreading worldwide at 'frightening speed' and could aggravate the pandemic -- particularly in countries with low vaccination rates, according to the latest assessment of the virus by experts here. The B1617 strain is becoming increasingly dominant worldwide and this will not be the last time that the virus mutates, the Strait Times reported on Sunday. "What is frightening is the speed at which this variant is able to spread and circulate widely within the community, often surpassing the capability of contact-tracing units to track and isolate exposed contacts to break the transmission chains,a Professor Teo Yik Ying, dean of the National University of Singapore's (NUS) Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, was quoted as saying. "It has the potential to unleash a bigger pandemic storm than the world has previously seen," Ying added. B1617 has mutated to spread more easily from person to person, and may dampen the protection conferred by vaccines as well as natural infection, though only slightly, experts say. The variant, which was first detected in India in October 2020, is now present in more than 50 countries and is surpassing other strains causing infections, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Earlier this month, the global health body declared it as a "variant of global concern". The strain is 1.5 times to two times more transmissible than the strain that first appeared in Wuhan 18 months ago. There are three versions of B1617 -- B16171, B16172 and B16173. The second version is the most relevant as it has appeared to overtake B16171 in local cases as well as those reported globally. The third version, B16173, is rare, the report said. While it remains unclear if B1617 causes more serious illness or deaths, the best weapon remains widespread vaccination. Vaccinated individuals have a reduced chance of being infected, and a much lower likelihood of developing severe symptoms even if they are infected, Teo said. Various researches have shown that the Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines are effective against B1617. However, most countries, unfortunately, are lagging far behind in vaccinating their people as global inequity in vaccine supplies and distribution persists. This means a higher chance of B1617 creeping into countries previously minimally affected by Covid-19, Professor Dale Fisher, chair of the WHO's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, was quoted as saying. "These countries, such as Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, are more vulnerable due to the low vaccination rates, leaving them more susceptible to severe disease," Fisher said. --IANS rvt/in (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A three-man crew of astronauts will blast off in June for a three-month mission on China's new space station, according to a space official who was the country's first astronaut in orbit. The plans for the station's first crew were confirmed to state television by Yang Liwei, the manned space program's deputy chief designer, as an automated spacecraft was launched with fuel and supplies for the Tianhe station. The Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is the third and largest space station launched by China's increasingly ambitious space program. Its core module was launched into orbit April 29. The Shenzhou 12 capsule carrying the crew will be launched from the Jiuquan base in China's northwest next month, Yang said in comments broadcast Saturday by Central Television. They will practice spacewalks and conduct repairs and maintenance as well as scientific operations. Yang, who orbited Earth in 2003, gave no details of the astronauts' identities or a flight date and said the crew will come from the program's two earliest groups of astronauts. Asked whether women would be in the crew, Yang said, on Shenzhou 12 we don't have them, but missions after that all will have them. The Tianzhou-2 spacecraft that docked with Tianhe on Sunday carried 6.8 tons of cargo including space suits, food and equipment for the astronauts and fuel for the station, according to the space program. The space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year to deliver two more modules for the 70-ton station, supplies and the crew. Beijing doesn't participate in the International Space Station, largely due to U.S. objections. Washington is wary of the Chinese program's secrecy and its military connections. has sent 11 astronauts, including two women, into space beginning with Yang's flight in October 2003. The first female astronaut was Liu Yang in 2012. All of China's astronauts to date have been pilots from the ruling Communist Party's military wing, the People's Liberation Army. Astronauts on the Tianhe will practice making spacewalks with two people outside the hull at one time, according to Yang. China's first spacewalk was made in 2008 by Zhai Zhigang outside the Shenzhou 7 capsule. Also this month, the Chinese space program landed a probe, the Tianwen-1, on Mars carrying a rover, the Zhurong. (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.) France announced on Monday that it will send additional medical supplies, including around 16 large oxygen generation plants, to India to support the country's fight against the second wave of the pandemic. The announcement was made by the French embassy days after French President Emmanuel Macron held a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. French ambassador Emmanuel Lenain said there cannot be a global victory against the without India. This is the "largest solidarity operation" that France has carried out since the outbreak of the pandemic and it reflects the long-standing, two-way solidarity between the two countries that lies at the "heart of our strategic partnership", the French embassy said. It said a special cargo plane with 10 oxygen generation plants will reach India in mid-June and another plane will follow. Each of these French-made, high-capacity plants produces 24,000 litres of the life-saving gas per hour and can make a 250-bed Indian hospital self-reliant in oxygen for a dozen years, it said in a statement. "At the request of President Emmanuel Macron, France is bringing in additional support to India to continue fighting the second wave together. Several shipments are underway, which will double the support provided so far," the embassy said. It said France and India have set up an oxygen bridge across the Indian Ocean to bring liquid oxygen donated by French multinational Air Liquide, adding that the Indian Navy has already brought 180 tonnes of liquid oxygen using the facility. "France will deliver at least twice as many oxygen generation plants as the eight already delivered early May. A special cargo flight with 10 units will reach India mid-June and another flight will follow," it said. It further added that several hundred oxygen concentrators as well as high-grade ventilators will reach India in the coming days. "As discussed between President Macron and Prime Minister Modi in their May 26 call, France is doubling its support to India against the pandemic. It shows the solidarity of the French people, who have not forgotten that India helped us when France faced its first wave," Lenain said. "There cannot be a global victory against the virus without India. Together, we can show the way of international cooperation against the pandemic and the need for a multilateral response," he added. The embassy said the solidarity mission is being carried out using resources of the French government, over 50 French companies operating in India and the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry. "In addition, gestures of solidarity have poured in from French individuals, NGOs, private companies and French regions. In total, the combined support amounts to more than Rs 55 crore," it said. On May 2, France delivered 28 tonnes of ready-to-use medical supplies, including eight large oxygen plants, to India as part of the first phase of its solidarity mission. As India battles a devastating second wave of the pandemic, around 40 countries have sent medical supplies, including oxygen-related equipment, to help it tide over the situation. Besides France, the leading countries that have supplied assistance to India include the US, Russia, Germany, Australia, Ireland, Belgium, Romania, Luxembourg, Singapore, Portugal, Sweden, New Zealand, Kuwait and Mauritius. (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 gene sequencing of the COVID-19 outbreak in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, indicates it is very similar in structure to the mutated strains detected in India, a senior health official from the city said on Sunday. "And it has the characteristic of rapid spread," Chen Bin, deputy director of the city's health commission, said at a news conference in Guangzhou on Sunday. She urged relevant departments and medical staff to act quickly to block the chain of infection and control the spread of the coronavirus in the southern metropolis. Zhang Zhoubin, deputy director of the Guangzhou center for disease control and prevention, said the strain of coronavirus is highly transmissible. "The virus can be transmitted through a meal or through a short period of indirect contact," he said. The city reported five confirmed cases and 21 asymptomatic carriers as of 2 pm Sunday after the first confirmed case was detected in the city's Liwan district on May 21, Chen said. To prevent the virus from spreading, the city government tightened its disease control and prevention measures over the weekend. Six communities and housing estates previously designated as low-risk areas were raised to medium-risk ones, Chen said. In addition to asking local residents to get vaccinated, the city has organized nucleic acid testing in Haizhu and Yuexiu districts starting from Sunday. Residents in designated areas of Tianhe, Baiyun and Panyu districts have also been required to take nucleic acid tests to expand the screening of suspected patients and asymptomatic carriers. Liwan previously required all its residents to take nucleic acid tests. As of Saturday, more than 2.25 million residents of the city have had samples collected for nucleic acid tests, Chen said. More than 10,000 medical workers from the entire city have been sent to Liwan to help vaccinate locals against COVID-19 and collect samples for nucleic acid testing. Deng Wenjun, director of circulation section with Guangzhou Supply and Marketing Cooperative said there are adequate supplies of food and daily necessities in the medium-risk areas. Delhis factories and manufacturing units reopened on Monday as the gradually lifts lockdown restrictions that have been in place since April 20. According to the Delhi governments guidelines for the unlock process, manufacturing and constructions units have been allowed to resume work with staggered working hours to maintain social distancing. The government has asked all district magistrates to ensure random RT-PCR/RAT testing at manufacturing units, construction sites and workplaces regularly. Further, district magistrates and deputy commissioners of police (DCPs) will deploy special teams for inspection of manufacturing units, construction sites and workplaces to ensure that guidelines are followed. "It's a calculated decision to start industry & construction activities first. This lockdown has not impacted the industries, unlike the last years blanket lockdown. Were trying to aware labourers for vaccination," Deepak Gupta, owner of a stainless steel utensils manufacturing unit in Delhi was quoted as saying by ANI. Factories resume work in Delhis Okhla Industrial Area today for a week I am happy with the decision. Now we can feed our children properly. I hope schools will reopen soon: Pramod Singh, a labourer pic.twitter.com/JN3S0JX36F ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2021 Last week, Delhi Chief Minister cited the reducing count of daily Covid cases and deaths in the city as the reason for lifting lockdown restrictions. He warned against laxity, adding that they could halt the unlock process if infections pick up the pace again. In the last 24 hours, Delhi recorded 946 Covid cases with a test positivity rate of 1.25%. During the same period, the city saw 78 deaths because of the virus. Meanwhile, the Delhi CM has repeatedly talked about the lack of vaccine doses for the citys population. The has halted vaccinations for those in the 18-44 age group citing a shortage of supply from the Centre. Earlier, Kejriwal had said that while Delhi requires 8 million doses per month to vaccinate its entire adult population in three months, it only received 1.5 million doses in May and will receive only 800,000 doses in June. Delhi has also floated a global tender for buying vaccines from global manufacturers. Kejriwal has claimed that while Pfizer and Moderna refused to supply vaccines to individual state governments in India, the makers of Russias Sputnik V vaccine have agreed to supply vaccines to Delhi. A coalition of various Asian-American groups, including Indian and Chinese, on Sunday announced to have pledged USD 1 million towards COVID-19 assistance in India. The New England Asian American Coalition (NEAAC), in a statement, said it pledged to raise USD 1 million to support two non-governmental organisations --Sewa International USA and Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation -- in tackling the pandemic. Asian-Americans are coming together and standing with fellow Asian-Americans to help with this humanitarian crisis, said George He from the New England Chinese American Alliance. While the current focus of the coalition is to provide relief from the health crisis, its long-term objective is to lay the foundation for a collective group of Asian-Americans who can provide support for any need that gets the attention of New Englanders, a media release said. When there is suffering anywhere, in the US or elsewhere, Asian-Americans are always at the forefront of providing support. Together, we can amplify our impact, Satish Jha, who initiated the coalition, said. Raju Datla, a volunteer at Sewa, said, The challenge in the urban areas has brought support from many NGOs. Sewa International shipped more than 7,250 oxygen concentrators, 250 ventilators and disbursed USD 6 million in grants to various partner organisations working on the ground in India. Ranjani Saigal, executive director, Ekal Vidyalaya foundation of USA said the challenge in rural India is even greater without viable access to healthcare. With a focus on Rural India, Ekal Vidyalaya has sent over 10,000 medical devices and medical kits to the villages, she said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India on Monday reported a net reduction of 88,416 in active cases to take its count to 2,026,092. Indias share of global active cases now stands at 14.33 per cent (one in 7). The country is second among the most affected countries by active cases. On Monday, it added 152,734 cases to take its total caseload to 28,047,534. And, with 3,128 new fatalities, its Covid-19 reached 329,100, or 1.17 per cent of total confirmed infections. 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 BJP leaders "criticise and abuse" Arvind Kejriwal whenever he works for the people, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged on Monday, while asserting that the chief minister will continue to demand COVID-19 vaccines, despite the attack on him by the ruling party at the Centre. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief JP Nadda have "criticsed and abused" Kejriwal as he has started demanding more vaccines for Delhi, he said. "BJP leaders have been criticising and abusing Kejriwal because they want to cover up the failure of their government in vaccine management. But no matter how much they abuse, Kejriwal will continue to demand vaccines for the people of Delhi," Sisodia said in an online briefing. He also claimed that the BJP stopped Delhi's medical oxygen supply and that it was Kejriwal who fought for its resumption to save lives. When it was time for vaccine procurement, the BJP was busy in "poll management and image management", the deputy chief minister said. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the national capital is committed to getting every Delhiite inoculated before the third wave of the coronavirus, he added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the Covid lockdown restrictions were eased in Delhi, factory owners on Monday opened their establishments after six weeks with many grappling with shortage of labourers and raw materials, and fearing losses due to slump in production. After a strict lockdown for six weeks since April 19, the Delhi government allowed industrial manufacturing and construction work in the city from Monday as part of its phased unlock process. However, since the majority of the workforce had left for their native places fearing the unprecedented second wave of the pandemic, and the markets yet to open for supply of raw material, the industrialists said they can only calculate their losses. "We have only been able to enter the factory and that is it. There is no way we can start work," said Neeraj Sehgal, owner of Sehgal Doors in the Mayapuri industrial area. "Only 20 per cent workers are here and there is no raw material because the government has not allowed the industrial use of oxygen, which is essential to make steel doors," said Sehgal, who makes fire-rated doors and steel doors. And since the rules deny the use of oxygen for industries, the price for raw material has skyrocketed. "What we were buying earlier for Rs 55 per kg is now available at Rs 90 per kg. An increase of 65 per cent, can you believe this,"lamented Sehgal, who is also the general secretary of Mayapuri industrial area welfare association. The pending electricity and water bills have only added to his woes. As per an order issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on May 29, the workers and employees at manufacturing units and construction sites will be required to carry e-passes for movement during the ongoing lockdown that has been extended to June 7. Another industrialist, Ashok Gupta of Jugmug Shoes in Udyog Nagar, Peeragarhi, was bogged down by not being able to get e-passes for his workers. "The workers have been calling from their home in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar asking if we have arranged e-passes. But the system does not work. We are not able to get any passes. The entire operation has been shut," Gupta told PTI. Gupta, who manufactures shoes for other market players, has also incurred huge losses as he could not deliver the orders. "We had six orders from Dubai, but now they are buying from China. If this goes on we will have to scale down significantly. There is also a loan of Rs 10-12 crore, how do we pay that without any work," Gupta said. The unlock guidelines also allowed resumption of construction activities with staggered work hours, proper social distancing among workers, adequate gaps between shifts, and staggered lunch breaks of staff. NBCC (India) Limited chairman and managing director P K Gupta said labour contractors have been told to bring back labourers who were working at projects prior to the lockdown. "The vendors engaged by NBCC are in continuous touch with various labour contractors who were working at projects prior to the lockdown for immediate re-mobilization of labours. It is expected that labour will start returning to projects in the next seven to 10 days of time, Gupta told PTI. While awaiting the return of labourers, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has started executing "some important preparatory works such as the floating of tenders for Japan International Cooperation Agency-funded sections". "There was a significant decline in the number of workers during the lockdown. However, during these difficult times also, we took care of the workers who were available by taking care of their medical and other requirements. "With the lifting of restrictions, we are hopeful that more workers will gradually join back their sites. Apart from carrying on with whatever physical work we could, we also executed, a DMRC spokesperson said. Apart from the reduced number of available labourers, the construction activities were also affected by the short supply of material. "Although construction is allowed, we are facing a shortage of material as the supply has not yet resumed due to the lockdown," Nishit Jalan, CEO- Grovy India Ltd, said. The company is currently developing several projects in south Delhi. A DLF spokesperson said their construction partners were "extending all help for safe return of labour to the site". The construction company is developing a large project at Moti Nagar in the national capital. (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.) Hardeep Singh Puri, minister of housing and urban affairs, today lashed out at those opposing the amid the Covid pandemic. From the estimated cost of the project to the clearances it has secured, Puri presented the governments stand on wide-ranging issues that have been discussed across platforms. While the cost of the entire project, to be completed in three phases, has been estimated by various quarters at Rs 20,000 crore, Puri said no such assessment has yet been done by the government. We have not yet ascertained the total cost of the project. The figures that are making the rounds are surely incorrect. So far, only two projects have been tendered, which will cost a little over Rs 1,300 crore, he said. So far, tenders for construction of a new Parliament building and the central vista avenue have been flouted and projects have been awarded. While the Parliament building will cost Rs 862 crore, the cost of renovating the central vista avenue a three kilometre stretch between Raisina Hills and India Gate is pegged at Rs 477 crore. It was being said that its a vanity project for which the government is spending Rs 20,000 crore during a pandemic. Further, some have alleged that an Rs 13,000 crore Modi-Mahal is being constructed. Not only are these figures arbitrary but also misleading as the prime ministers residence is not only for the current PM but will be used by any future prime minister of the country, he said. Further, according to him, the plan of the PMs residence is not yet ready. So how come the opposition is saying that construction of the PMs residence will begin from August, he added. Highlighting the importance of the massive redevelopment project, Puri said the project will be the governance architecture of India for the next 250-300 years. As an overhaul in delimitation is due in 2026, when the number of representatives at Parliament will be reassessed, the requirement for a larger building with more seating capacity for Members of Parliament will be required. Apart from opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Jairam Ramesh from the Indian Congress, nearly 60 retired IAS and IPS officers had written an open letter to the PM and Puri opposing the project. Today, Puri lashed out at them, alleging that their move was motivated with ill-intentions. The group of retired bureaucrats had urged the government to stop the project as construction and redesign on the scale planned in the redevelopment project will significantly affect the heritage nature of this precinct, and destroy it irrevocably. According to Puri, the government has not yet taken any call on whether to demolish any heritage buildings in the area. police are on a high alert over possible protest marches against and Sri Lanka over the in Sri Lanka constructed by the Chinese. Director-General of Police (DGP) has issued an alert to all the 37 district police chiefs of over certain possible protests from Ultra Tamil groups including some Pro-LTTE groups in the state. The Sri Lankan government has passed the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill giving complete control of the to the Chinese. There were huge criticisms within Sri Lanka that the new law would cede much control to and that it would affect the sovereignty of the Island nation. The Sri Lankan government of Rajapakse has however denied it, stating that this would provide much-needed investments to Sri Lanka. In 2017, Sri Lanka had given a port in Hambantota, 250 km from South of Colombo to on a 99-year lease. The intelligence agencies are wary of the increasing Chinese footprints in the neighbouring country and that the passing of the Colombo Port City Economic Commission bill is a major strategic concern for India. Protests have already erupted from ultra Tamil organisations including several pro-LTTE organisations. The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam has already condemned the Sri Lankan government's move to pass the bill and some Tamil Nationalist groups have publicly announced that the silence of the international community has caused great outrage among the Tamil community worldwide. With a DMK government in power in Tamil Nadu and political parties like the MDMK and VCK which had always fomented Tamil nationalism as their major ideological plank in the ruling front, the state police is not taking any risk and has issued high alert. Sources in the state police told IANS that the Sri Lankan consulate in Chennai will be given more protection and the Chinese establishments across Tamil Nadu will also be given heavy security. A senior officer with the Tamil Nadu police who does not want to be named while speaking to IANS said, "The state police is not taking any chances as there are intelligence inputs of Tamil groups spreading messages condemning the Sri Lanka's move and the silence of the international community. Central agencies have also given inputs on the possibilities of some unrest here and there which we don't want to happen in the state." --IANS aal/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.) The Karnataka government is contemplating to unlock the lockdown in a phased manner by easing restrictions provided COVID-19 infections in Bengaluru come down to less than 1,000 a day, Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka said. "I have given my opinion to Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa about unlocking the lockdown in a phased manner by opening one after another sector," Ashoka told reporters in Chikkaballapura. Replying to a query on lifting the restrictions on June 7 when the current lockdown which is in effect since May 10 comes to an end, Ashoka said there is a request from some sectors to lift curbs stage by stage. He, however, warned that the lockdown will continue if the number of infections do not come down. "The restrictions will be eased only when the infections reduce. For example, in Delhi the cases are about 1,000 a day. In Bengaluru, the number should come below 1,000 a day and in Karnataka it should be limited to just 2,000 to 3,000. Then only the government will consider easing the lockdown," the Minister said. According to him, the lockdown has helped controlling the infections and deaths due to COVID. Ashoka said the government has not yet received any report from the TAC. Things will be clear only on June 6 when the Chief Minister will hold a meeting with ministers, officials and the TAC members. "We will decide whatever is in the interest of people," he added. Meanwhile, a senior official too said that there is talk about lifting curbs in a phased manner. "There is a discussion going on at the government level to unlock the lockdown stage by stage. The cases would be under control only if the restrictions are eased in a phased manner. Even we (officials) are also recommending the same," Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta told reporters here. His statement came just a week before the current lockdown comes to an end on June 7. The daily COVID infections and fatalities in Karnataka had crossed 50,000 and over 600 respectively in the last week of April. It reduced to 20,378 infections and 382 deaths on Sunday. There are 3.42 lakh active cases in the state as 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.) Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday wrote to 11 CMs of non-BJP ruled states seeking a united effort to press the Centre to procure COVID-19 vaccines and ensure free universal vaccination. "Wrote to 11 CMs in the spirit of Cooperative Federalism. Quite unfortunate that Centre absolves itself of its duty to procure vaccines, ensure free universal vaccination.United effort to jointly pursue our genuine demand is the need of the hour, so that Centre acts immediately," Vijayan tweeted. In his letter, the Chief Minister said statements to the effect that the responsibility to provide vaccine entirely falls within the realm of the states defy the very basis of the co-operative federal system. "The need of the hour is a united effort from our side to put forth the genuine demand that the Centre should procure vaccine needed by the states and distribute them free of cost.This will be more cost effective as well," Vijayan said in the letter. He said vaccine manufacturing companies are engaged in looking for financial gains by exploiting the scarce supply situation and foreign pharmaceutical companies are unwilling to enter into agreement with the states for procuring vaccines. Noting that India has public sector pharmaceutical companies which are capable of taking up vaccine production, the CM said the Government of India should take necessary steps to ensure that intellectual property rights and patent laws and conventions do not stand in the way of manufacturing COVID-19 vaccine, which should have the status of a public good. "Options like compulsory licensing should be explored by the Union Government," he said. Vijayan said if the burden of procuring vaccine is left to fall entirely or even substantially on the states, their fiscal situation will be in dire straits. "Fiscal strength of the States is an essential part of a healthy federal setup.If the States'finances are hamstrung, federalism itself will be weakened and this will not augur well for a democratic polity like ours. Further, this will impede the efforts for early building of herd immunity," he said. Vijayan said herd immunity will be effective only when a substantial section of the population is vaccinated. As on date, only 3.1 per cent of the people have been administered two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, he said. Attacking the Centre's alleged stand that the states should resort to their own measures to procure COVID-19 vaccine, the Chief Minister said, "at this juncture, when the nation is passing through the second surge, it is quite unfortunate that there appears to be an attempt by the Centre to absolve itself of its bounden duty to provide adequate supply of vaccine to the states." "The impact of the second surge has been unprecedented, putting all of us in a state of alarm." "Besides, experts have warned that a third surge of COVID-19 incidence is highly likely.This necessitates our heightened preparation and vigil to meet that eventuality too," he said. Along with this letter to fellow CMs, Vijayan also enclosed the copy of a letter he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi citing the merits of the Centre taking the lead in assessing vaccine requirements of the states and floating a global tender considering the needs of all states. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) has reported 99 new COVID-19 cases, taking the active caseload to 3,034 in the state, the health department said on Monday. As per the health department, Mizoram's positivity rate is at 13.30 per cent. As many as 54 people have been discharged after recovering from the infection in the last 24 hours taking the total recoveries in the state to 9,015. With two new fatalities the COVID-19 death toll in the state stood at 38, the department said. Four new cases were confirmed through the TrueNat test, 95 cases reported by Rapid Antigen Test and no sample were tested at the Zoram Medical College RT-PCR lab. Meanwhile, India's daily COVID-19 cases continue to decline further as 1,65,553 fresh infections were recorded in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry informed on Sunday. Also, the weekly positivity rate continues to decline and stood at 9.36 per cent. (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 are here: China Taiwan on Monday reported 274 new local COVID-19 infections, 73 backlogged local cases and 15 new deaths, the local disease monitoring agency said. It is the 16th consecutive day that the number of new local infections on the island has exceeded 200. Of the new local cases, 129 were male and 145 were female. The onset of symptoms occurred between April 29 and May 30. Among the 73 backlogged cases, 36 were male and 37 were female, aged below five to over 80, the agency said. The 15 fatalities included nine men and six women, who passed away between May 21 and May 29. On the same day, Taiwan also reported four new imported COVID-19 cases from India and South Africa. Since mid-May, Taiwan has seen a spike in local infections amid strained medical resources. Given the severity of local transmissions, Taiwan has extended its level-3 alert for COVID-19 to June 14. The total number of confirmed cases on the island since the epidemic began has risen to 8,511, including 7,321 local cases. A total of 124 deaths have been reported, the agency said. There is an immediate need to rally our democracies together against COVID-19 pandemic and for the United States to fulfil its promise of vaccine aid to India while further building on this support, Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said on Sunday. Stating that achieving global herd immunity is the right thing to do out of compassion and morality, the Congressman asserted that he approaches questions of policy as an American and as an elected member of the Democratic Party. I do not support, endorse, or affiliate myself with the views of any political party, individual, or group in India, such as the BJP, Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sonia Gandhi, the RSS or any other Indian organisation or individual, any more than I have any affiliation with the American Republican Party, Krishnamoorthi said. It is absolutely in the interests of all people to make sure everyone gets vaccinated across the United States, India, and the rest of the world, to bring this pandemic to an end, he said. The Democratic lawmaker from Illinois also noted that External Minister S Jaishankar's recent visit to the US served as another reminder of the immediate need to rally our democracies together against the ongoing pandemic and for the United States to fulfil its promise of vaccine aid to India while further building on this support. He said he has repeatedly urged the Biden administration to continue and expand its international vaccine distribution efforts in support of India and other nations facing the most serious outbreaks. It is also why I will soon be introducing the Nullifying Opportunities for Variants to Infect and Decimate (NOVID) Act which would bring global vaccination rates to more than 60 per cent through dramatically scaling up these international efforts with increased aid, expanded private sector production, and enhanced international cooperation. These efforts would help to save lives in the near term while also building the international foundation we need to truly end this pandemic, the Congressman said. He also stressed that achieving global herd immunity is the smartest thing to do in the current time. Achieving global herd immunity is not just the right thing to do out of compassion and morality, it is also the smartest thing to do because the only way to end this global pandemic is through a global approach that ends the outbreaks before they enable the mutations of the virus which could destroy all the progress we have made, he said. The success of these efforts depends on international cooperation and the continued success of the US-India partnership in this endeavour, as with so many others, is paramount to the shared interests of our nations and humanity more broadly. Because of this, it must be beyond politics, and beyond any partisan or ideological affiliation, Krishnamoorthi added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, the Government of India has so far provided more than 23 crore vaccine doses (23,11,68,480) to States/UTs, both through the free of cost category and through direct state procurement category, informed the Union Health Ministry on Monday. Of this, the total consumption, including wastages is 21,22,38,652 doses (as per data available at 8 AM today), said the ministry. It further stated that more than 1.75 crore COVID Vaccine doses (1,75,48,648) are still available with the States/UTs to be administered. Furthermore, more than 2.73 lakh (2,73,970) vaccine doses are in the pipeline and will be received by the States/UTs within the next 3 days. The ministry stated that the Government of India has been supporting the States and UTs by providing them COVID Vaccines free of cost. In addition, the Central government has also been facilitating direct procurement of vaccines by the States/UTs. Vaccination is an integral pillar of the comprehensive strategy of Government of India for containment and management of the pandemic, along with Test, Track, Treat and COVID Appropriate Behaviour, it said. The ministry further stated that the implementation of the Liberalised and Accelerated Phase-3 strategy of Covid-19 vaccination started from May 1, 2021. Under the Strategy, every month 50 per cent of the total Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) cleared vaccine doses of any manufacturer would be procured by the Government of India. It would continue to make these doses available to the State Govts totally free of cost as was being done earlier, it added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Concerned over reports that kids and rural India may be exposed more in the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic, the Supreme Court Monday asked the Centre whether any study on these aspects has been conducted. The top court also asked the Centre about its responsibility on the regulation of prices of vaccines and said it has seen prices of Remdesivir and some other medicines hitting the roof. Has any study been carried out by any government for the rural areas. We have been told that children will be exposed in the third wave and that rural areas will be affected. We want to know the vaccination policy for that too, said a special bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud, L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat. Hearing a suo motu case on management of COVID situation in the country, the top court highlighted the digital divide between rural and urban India and questioned the Centre over mandatory registration on CoWIN App for COVID-19 vaccination, saying the policy makers must have ears on ground to effectively deal with the unprecedented pandemic crisis. Senior advocate and amicus curiae Meenakshi Arora referred to the differential pricing policy for vaccines and said that 25 per cent of them would be going to private hospital. She narrated incidents and said at some places, people after registering with CoWIN app instantly get calls from private hospitals. Those who have registered on CoWIN. They have not received calls from the government agency, but they are getting calls from private hospitals that get vaccinated for Rs 900. A family of four will have to pay Rs 4,000 which is a huge amount for them, Arora said. We have seen in this pandemic itself that prices of Remdesivir and some other medicines were hitting the roof. We have all seen. What is our responsibility here, Justice Bhat observed. Rs 900 price is not fixed. They may choose to charge more. The Centre has not fixed this. They have only issued an advisory. If there is a shortage, it could become Rs 2,000, the bench said. The top court also acknowledged the difficulties being faced by people in not getting the slots for vaccination on the app. This is a real fear among the people. I have received distress calls from people across the country, that they are not getting slots, the bench said. One of the judges at the bench suggested the Centre to tweak its vaccination policy to ensure that vulnerable people, having co-morbidities, in the same age group be given primacy in vaccination. Senior advocate and amicus curiae Jaideep Gupta said, presently, the app does not provide this kind of facility. (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.) Requiring people to register on the CoWIN website for Covid-19 vaccination may amount to "digital divide" as those in rural India may not have access to the internet, the told the government on Monday. "Is this really practical?" said the court when the governments lawyer told it "villagers can go to computer centres and register... and they will be vaccinated", according to NDTV.com. The court asked the government to explain a seeming discrepancy in vaccine supply for different ages and why states had to pay more for the vaccine. The court also grilled the central government over the "digital divide", pointing out that requiring people to register on the CoWIN digital platform before getting the shot will hamper vaccination efforts in rural areas, where access to the internet is unreliable. "For entire population above 45, centre is procuring (vaccines) but for 18-44 there is bifurcation of procurement - 50 per cent available to states by manufacturers and price is fixed by the centre, and rest to be given to private hospitals. What is the (actual) basis for this?" the court asked, according to NDTV. India reported on Monday its lowest daily rise in new infections since April 11 at 152,734 cases over the past 24 hours, while deaths rose by 3,128. The Monday restrained police from taking any coercive action against two Telgu news channels -- TV5 and ABN Andhrajyothi for alleged sedition in showing 'offensive' speeches of YSR rebel MP K Raghu Rama Krishna Raju. A special bench headed by Justive D Y Cyhandrachud sought the response of the state government within four weeks on the pleas of the channels which are charged for various offences including the harsh penal offence of sedition. The bench, also comprising justices L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat, also made clear that there shall be no coercive action against the the employees or the staffers of the news channels in connection the same FIR. "We are of the view that provisions of 124A (sedition) and 153 (promoting enmity between classes) of the IPC require interpretation, particularly on the issue of the rights of press and free speech", the court said. It was alleged that the FIRs were registered against the channels for publishing the press statements of Raju. The top court had earlier granted bail to the lawmaker in connection with the same case. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) face a 40-50 per cent higher risk of severe diseases and death from COVID-19, Union Health Minister said on Monday highlighting that over 1.3 million fatalities are attributable to tobacco use every year in India, which is an avoidable socio-economic burden impacting the country's development. These remarks were made by Vardhan as he chaired an event to mark the World No Tobacco Day and led the pledge by everyone present to abstain from tobacco, a health ministry statement said. With the persistent efforts of the central and state governments, the prevalence of tobacco use has decreased from 34.6 per cent in 2009-10 to 28.6 per cent in 2016-17, he said. In India, over 1.3 million deaths are attributable to tobacco use every year amounting to 3,500 deaths per day, imposing a lot of avoidable socio-economic burden. In addition to the deaths and diseases it causes, tobacco also impacts the economic development of the country," he was quoted as saying in the statement. He also pointed out that face a 40-50 per cent higher risk of developing severe diseases and deaths from COVID-19, according to the statement. According to the WHO study titled Economic Costs of Diseases and Deaths Attributable to Tobacco Use in India, it has been estimated that the economic burden of diseases and deaths attributable to tobacco use of tobacco in India was as high as Rs. 1.77 lakh crores, amounting to approximately 1 per cent of GDP. Vardhan underlined the country's long history of incrementally decreasing tobacco consuming population through legal and administrative means. Tobacco control legislation in India dates back to 'Cigarettes Act, 1975' which mandates display of statutory health warnings in advertisement and on cartons and cigarette packages, he stated. Recollecting his long fight against tobacco at every step of his career, Vardhan said, As Delhi Health Minister, I got an opportunity to conceive the 'Delhi Prohibition of Smoking and Non Health Protection Act' and have it passed in the Delhi assembly in 1997. This very statute became the model for the central legislation banning smoking in public places in 2002, on the directions of the Supreme Court. This was followed by comprehensive tobacco control legislation in 2003 [Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade, Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act COTPA, 2003] which aims to provide smoke-free public places and also places restrictions on tobacco advertisement and promotion, he said. Speaking on the staunch political commitment of the government in curbing tobacco use, he said, When I joined as Union Health Minister, I decided to combat the menace of e-cigarettes and conceived the 'Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Bill, 2019' which prohibits production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of e-cigarettes. The exemplary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi convinced different stakeholders and allowed for the smooth passage of the Bill by parliament in 2019. Sustained government efforts have contributed to saving the country from the menace of e-cigarettes which could have disproportionately affected the teenage population, he said. Vardhan also highlighted the proliferation of calls to tobacco quitline services. "We have toll free quitline services 1800-112-356 initiated in 2016, that were expanded in September 2018. The services are now available in 16 languages and other local dialects from 4 centres. The number of calls on the quit line was 20,500 per month which increased to 2.50 lakh per month after the expansion," he was quoted as saying in the statement. He reiterated his appeal to the people to quit use of tobacco and tobacco products. The Union health minister spoke on the ambitious goals of The National Health Policy 2017 with respect to tobacco control. We have set an ambitious target of reducing tobacco use by 30 per cent by 2025. Our tobacco control targets have been devised keeping in view the targets for control of non-communicable diseases and are consistent with the targets set under the SDGs. We will be soon releasing the findings of fourth round of Global Youth Tobacco Survey conducted among 13-15 year school going students," he said. He also thanked all other partner organisations, ministry officials, ground workers and notably, the WHO for the gains made in curbing tobacco use so far. Vardhan thanked WHO Director General for recognising his services and that of the health ministry work on tobacco control in 2021 for conferring Director General's Special Recognition Award in 2021, the statement said. Every year, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognises individuals or organisations in each of the six WHO regions for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control. (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.) Corporation's lenders are ending bankruptcy proceedings and corporate profits to GDP ratio are at 10-year high. These are some of the top headlines Monday morning. Corporation lenders end bankruptcy proceedings The lenders of Corporation, a hillside township near Pune, have terminated bankruptcy proceedings against the company as they did not receive good bids for the bad debts or the company which amounts to Rs 7,700 crore. The lenders will invite fresh bids. Lavasa Corporation, a subsidiary of HCC, was sent for bankruptcy proceedings in 2018 and has already missed deadlines prescribed in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016. Axis bank made the highest claim of Rs 1,266 crore against the company. Its lenders include State Bank of India and others. Read more. Corporate profit to GDP ratio hits 10-year high in FY21 The combined net profit of the listed companies was up 57.6 per cent to Rs 5.31 trillion in FY21 which has resulted in the corporate profit share in India's gross domestic product (GDP) hit a 10-year high of 2.63 per cent.The ratio was at a record low at 1.6 percent in FY20, while it was the highest in FY11 at 3.2 per cent. Corporate revenue to GDP is at 34.4 per cent in FY21, up from 33.6 per cent in the last fiscal year. India Incs revenue share in GDP had peaked at 41.9 per cent in FY15. Read more. targets project worth Rs 41k -crore for asset monetisation The Union with Coal India (CIL) and Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLCIL) is set to offer 60 projects worth Rs 41,042 crore for private investment, increasing the governments national asset monetisation target to Rs 2.9 trillion. These projects include coal gasification, first-mile connectivity for building coal silos, offering mines to private companies under the mine developer and operator (MDO) model among others. The ministry aims to award these projects in this fiscal year except 15 MDO projects that will be tendered between 2022 and 24. Read more. Mumbai model shows how tech can facilitate battle against Coronavirus A critical tool for fighting Covid-19 pandemic is access to data which the Mumbai Model demonstrated well. The Municipal Corporation of Mumbai realised this and quickly adopted a technology that would help streamline all the data which could be accessed in real time. BMC selected Quantela, an outcome-as-a-services company, as a technology provider. The platform would automate case updates across city, state and central governments by integrating the systems of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National Health Portal. It would predict capacity utilisation of hospital infrastructure and medical supplies, based on caseload numbers at the ward level. All this would be provided on a dashboard with insights from updated data at decentralised Covid-19 war rooms to enable proactive decision making. Read more. pay 73% higher excise duty even as crude oil prices decline Indias top four oil-refining and marketing companies have paid 73 per cent higher excise duty in FY21 than they did the previous fiscal year. Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, and Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals paid Rs 2.87 trillion in FY21, up from Rs 1.66 trillion in FY20. Due to this, excise duty on petroleum products accounted for a quarter of the companies ex-refinery prices of all petroleum products in FY21, up from 13.2 per cent a year earlier. Read more. The (MoD) announced on Monday a Positive Indigenisation List of 108 items of defence equipment that must be compulsorily procured from indigenous sources according to provisions in the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020. The list includes 49 items that will be banned for import after December this year; 21 that cannot be imported after end-2022; 17 that will be banned for import after December 2023; 13 after December 2024; and eight that will have to be procured indigenously after December 2025. This list supplements an earlier import embargo on 101 defence items announced last August. The list lays special focus on weapons/systems which are currently under development /trials (in India) and are likely to translate into firm orders in the future. Like the first list, import substitution of ammunition, which is a recurring requirement, has been given special focus, stated an MoD release on Monday. The list provides an excellent opportunity for start-ups, as also MSMEs, which will get tremendous boost from this initiative, the MoD said, adding, Towards this, the MoD, the Defence Research and Development Organisation and service headquarters will take all necessary steps, including hand holding of the industry, to ensure that the timelines mentioned in the second positive indigenisation list are met. Starting this December, the military will rely exclusively on indigenous vendors for defence equipment, including land-based, single-engine, light helicopters, next-generation corvettes, mission systems for airborne early warning and control system, helicopter launched anti-tank guided missile, warship-grade steel and armoured or mine-protected infantry vehicles. From December 2022, indigenous defence industry will be required to supply equipment, including thermal imaging sights for rifles and machine guns, an armoured bulldozer for mechanised and engineer units, a data network for the operations rooms of ships and, crucially, a manpack version of a software defined radio (SDR). From December 2023, the military must rely on indigenous supply for mountain-based weapon locating radar that operate with automatic electronically scanned arrays, an upgraded version of the 76 mm naval super-rapid gun mount, video processing cards for the Sukhoi-30MKI fighter and a hand-held version of SDR. Similarly, a raft of new equipment can be obtained only within the country after December 2024, including: Onboard oxygen generation system for fighter aircraft, starting with the Tejas, a medium power radar for mountains; fuel drop tanks for Jaguar and Mirage fighter aircraft and long range glide bombs (250 kg and 450 kg). Finally, after the end of 2025, there will be no import of anti-material rifles and their 14.5 mm armour piercing Incendiary ammunition. The Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) welcomed the announcement: The list creates long-term business opportunities that will enable the industry to invest and build capacity and capability. The [defence] industry is motivated and stands highly encouraged with the Second Positive List. The world needs the cooperation of the Chinese government to trace the origins of Covid-19 and prevent future pandemic threats, two leading U.S. disease experts said Sunday. Information to support the theory that the SARS-CoV-2 virus may have escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China, has increased, said Scott Gottlieb, a commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration in the Trump administration who now sits on the board of Pfizer Inc. China hasnt provided evidence to disprove that theory, while the search for signs that the virus emerged from wildlife hasnt yielded results, Gottlieb said on CBS Newss Face the Nation. Not knowing how the pandemic started puts the world at risk of future outbreaks, Peter Hotez, co-director of the Texas Childrens Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, said in a separate TV appearance. Theres going to be Covid-26 and Covid-32 unless we fully understand the origins of Covid-19, Hotez said on NBCs Meet the press. Almost a year and half after the new pathogen was first detected spreading in a seafood market in Wuhan, China, the precise origins of the virus remain obscure. Scientists have hypothesized that it most likely spread from wild animals to humans. The idea that the virus may have accidentally escaped from a research lab, long promoted by some Republicans, has gotten renewed attention from the Biden administration. ALSO READ: 'Need transparent process from China' on virus origin: White House adviser In a surprise statement on Wednesday, President called for a renewed investigation into the viruss emergence. U.S. intelligence agencies had conflicting assessments of whether it was more likely the virus crossed the species barrier from a natural reservoir or leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Biden said. He ordered the agencies to redouble their efforts and report to him again in 90 days. Debate over the viruss origin was fueled anew by a Wall Street Journal report on May 23 that three researchers from Chinas Wuhan Institute of Virology became sick enough in November 2019 that they sought hospital care for symptoms consistent with both Covid-19 and common seasonal illness. Scientists should be allowed to conduct a long-term investigation in China and take blood samples from humans and animals, Hotez said. The U.S. should pressure China, including with the threat of sanctions, to allow for an inquiry. We need a team of scientists, epidemiologists, virologists, bat ecologists in Hubei province for a six-month, year-long period, Hotez said. ALSO READ: Explained: What if the Covid-19 virus was leaked from a laboratory Chinese officials have disputed the Wuhan lab theory. Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Thursday dismissed Bidens inquiry as an attempt to engage in stigmatization, political manipulation and blame-shifting. A World Health Organization report released in March didnt fully uncover the viruss origin but called a lab leak unlikely. The global health body called for more investigation at that time. As far as WHO is concerned, all hypotheses remain on the table, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement when the March report was released. An aircraft carrying the first shipment of 184 concentrators arrived from to India on Monday, as the country battles the second wave of pandemic. "Thank for first shipment of 184 concentrators that arrived early this morning," tweeted Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs. Several countries have come forward to help India as the country fights the second wave of COVID-19. India has received medical help and assistance from the US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, in the form of concentrators, ventilators, raw materials for vaccines, PPE kits. Meanwhile, India on Sunday reported the lowest single-day COVID-19 rise in 46 days with 1,65,553 cases reported in the last 24 hours while 3,460 people succumbed to the COVID-19 infection taking the total COVID-related death toll to 3,25,972. The cumulative number of the COVID-19 cases has increased to 2,78,94,800, with a daily positivity rate stands at 8.02 per cent, which is less than 10 per cent for the sixth consecutive day. (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.) Every economy in the world suffered economic/income losses in CY20. The sudden stop forced authorities to react with a quick, massive, and unconditional fiscal/monetary support last year. As in other crisis, however, these measures did not prevent losses, though they definitely helped mitigate them. Assuming that income growth in CY20 would have been the same as in CY19, my calculations suggest that total income losses incurred by Indian economy amounted to 10.6% of GDP (totaling $315b) in CY20. This was lower than losses worth 12.7% of GDP in Spain (ES) but almost double of that in Australia (5.8% of GDP) and the US (6% of GDP). What, however, is more important to learn is the distribution of these losses among three domestic participants, namely, households, corporate and the government? This is vital because it helps us understand: a) if, and how, the situation is different in India vis-a-vis other major economies, b) how different fiscal responses led to varied implications for the private sector, and c) implications on the strength of recovery, as and when it happens. Lastly, this analysis also provides a key lesson to be avoided during the second wave. The estimation of distribution of income losses by different sectors in India (IN) is not an easy task. There are two ways of estimating such losses--either the national statistical agencies publish gross disposable income (GDI) data with details on a regular basis, and/or the government releases sectoral data on gross savings, which can then be added to consumption spending to arrive at GDI. For many advanced economies, data on both parameters are easily available. However, for India, neither income nor savings data by sectors is available on a regular basis. The Central Statistics Office (CSO), the data publishing arm of the Government of India, publishes sectoral income and savings data only on an annual basis, with a lag of 10 months. Thus, FY21 data will be available at the end of Jan22. In order to bridge this gap, I estimate sectoral savings on a quarterly basis for India, which is then added with final consumption expenditure to arrive at the disposable income for the three domestic economic participants. Please note, the methodology to estimate household income in India, as the sum of consumption and savings, is in contrast to the official methodology. Therefore, my estimates are only approximates and subject to change when more official data are available. However, the broad trends and conclusions are likely to stay intact. My calculations suggest that almost four-fifth of all income losses in CY20 were incurred by the private sector (household + corporate sector) in India, and the government bore only about a fifth of the losses (Exhibit 1). This is in stark contrast to Australia (AU), Canada (CA), and the US, where the government sector incurred all the losses and eventually ended up transferring net resources to the private sector last year. The private sector faced losses between 20% and 60% in large European nations France (FR), Germany (DE), Italy (IT), Spain (ES), and the UK covered in this study. The government sector incurred almost all losses in South Africa (SAf), the only other emerging & developing economy included in this analysis. Within the private sector, while the fiscal support made up for more than lost household (disposable) income in AU, CA, and the US, households in IN/SAf incurred 61%/68% of economic losses in CY20 (Exhibit 1). Household losses were restricted between 16% and 28% in five European nations covered in our study. The corporate sector in India also incurred about a fifth of all income losses last year. Since listed in India have performed very well in 2HCY20, with their profit-to-GDP ratio at 6-year high of 3.3% of GDP, it implies that almost the entire losses in the corporate sector were incurred by the very large unlisted sector. Going forward, as the government in almost all countries, including IN, will be taking a step back towards fiscal consolidation (hopefully only gradually) as COVID-19 subsides, the burden of stronger growth in subsequent year will fall entirely on the private sector. With INs private sector bearing such a large share of income losses (as much as four-fifth) in CY20, it is rather obvious to be skeptical of a strong rebound in growth, as and when it happens. At the same time, this study includes a major lesson. With India witnessing a much ferocious second COVID wave, although the income losses may be modest (say, 2-3% of GDP) compared to the first wave, the major lesson is for the government to loosen its purse strings, to support household income in the country. Without a strong household sector, the Indian economy may find it difficult to achieve a strong revival on a durable basis in a post-COVID era. (Nikhil Gupta is Economist, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd. Views expressed are personal.) A hot equity market in India is prompting Ltd. to try to muscle in on the action as companies raise record levels of funding. The government has flooded the market with money in response to one of the worlds worst outbreaks of coronavirus, pushing stocks to dizzying levels and helping companies to boost capital buffers. Despite being Indias most valuable lender, so far hasnt been able to exploit its strong balance sheet to make inroads into this competitive market. We will do whatever it takes to reach there -- hire more people, grow more people from inside and even enter into partnerships, Rakesh Singh, group head of investment banking, private banking, marketing and products at HDFC Bank, said in an interview. As we build our distribution network a larger share of the equity capital market deals will come our way. It may be easier said than done for a relatively late starter like to grab a bigger share of the market as it grapples with uncertainty over its asset quality. The countrys second-largest lender will have to fight it out with veteran local players including ICICI Bank Ltd., Axis Bank Ltd. and State Bank of India. HDFC Bank ranked number 16 for overall equity deals business last year, and number 29 in 2019, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Read More: India's stock market shockingly resilient amid Covid-19 devastation Its a cut-throat market where big corporates prefer to work with dominant and well-established bankers with existing relationships who can offer them the best pricing, said Siddharth Purohit, an analyst at SMC Global Securities Ltd. Unless HDFC Bank offers something really attractive it will not be easy for them to grow this business quickly and get the big-ticket deals. Indias stocks have extended their climb, reflecting investor optimism that the economy will rebound strongly from devastation caused by the coronavirus. The benchmark index ended 0.6% higher on Friday, close to its record high in February. Companies raised 789 billion rupees ($10.8 billion) so far this year through the equity markets, a 9.3% increase from last year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Thats after an unprecedented 2.2 trillion rupees of deals in 2020. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday clarified that can no longer cite its circular on for not offering such products to customers, but said the lenders must adhere to local rules, which are quite exclusionary. The central bank, in its circular dated April 6, 2018, had prohibited from dealing in or offering any service to customers on them. The circular was challenged in the Supreme Court, which set aside the rules on 4 March, 2020. However, the said, continue to cite the 2018 circular by the in order to justify why they are not offering any services on In view of the order of the Honble Supreme Court, the circular is no longer valid from the date of the Supreme Court judgement, and therefore cannot be cited or quoted from, the said in a clarification on its website. However, the central bank also cautioned banks that they must still continue to carry out customer due diligence processes in line with regulations governing standards for Know Your Customer (KYC), Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Combating of Financing of Terrorism (CFT) and obligations of regulated entities under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, (PMLA), 2002 in addition to ensuring compliance with relevant provisions under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) for overseas remittances. This essentially means that banks can offer services to the customers, but they will have to go through a whole lot of checks and balances before doing so, including ensuring the funds are not used for money laundering or financing terrorism. Since crypto currencies are not backed by central banks and are decentralised by nature, finding the end use would be difficult. According to a senior banker, it almost maintains the status quo, unless some cryptocurrency exchange declares that they take the responsibility of checking the background of the end use, which may not be possible. Cryptocurrencies have swelled in value in the recent past, and there are a number of currencies that are getting traded in global markets. So-called exchanges in cryptocurrencies are also offering fractions of a currency as an investment option, given their high prices. After the Supreme Court verdict, the services part was lifted, but the central bank continues to maintain a hands-off approach when it comes to cryptocurrencies. The central bank in the past had clarified that since the currencies are not backed by a central bank, it wont take responsibility if something goes wrong in the transactions, or a fraud takes place. As an extension to that, it had stopped Indian banks from providing the services. RBI governor Shaktikanta Das said in March that the central bank had major concerns about crypto currencies that were communicated to the government. "Central bank digital currency is one thing. The cryptocurrencies which are traded in the market are something else. Both RBI and government are committed to financial stability. We have flagged certain concerns around these cryptocurrencies which are being traded in the market. We have flagged certain major concerns to the government," Das had said. The central bank, on its part, is developing its own digital currency, but it will likely take years. "As the underlying technology is still developing, we are exploring ways for a clear, safe and legally certain settlement finality, which is most crucial for a secure and efficient payment system," Das had said. At least 16 militants were killed and eight arrested in two Afghan provinces, the country's Ministry of Defence confirmed on Monday. In Kunduz province, five people were freed from the Taliban's clutches after Afghan National Army commandos raided a hideout in Qosh Tapa village on the outskirts of provincial capital Kunduz city on Sunday night, Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying in a statement. "The army commandos raided a hideout at midnight. During the operation, the security forces received hostile fire. They returned fire in self-defense. "In ensuing gunfight, 12 enemy combatants were killed and eight arrested," the statement said. The freed people and the arrested militants were shifted to an army camp. The hideout was destroyed and the weapons and ammunition were seized during the raid, the statement added. In Helmand province, four militants were killed and two wounded after Afghan Air Force bombed a Taliban position in Chah-e-Angir, an area in restive Nad Ali district, on Sunday. The Taliban have intensified attacks on provincial capitals, districts, bases and checkpoints after US President Joe Biden announced that American troops will pull out from the country by September 11, 2021 after almost 20 years. NATO agreed to follow suit. Almost 10,000 NATO soldiers from the Resolute Support training mission, including 2,500 soldiers from the US and around 1,100 from Germany, the two biggest contingents, are due to leave the country. The withdrawal formally began on May 1. --IANS ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 20 civilians were killed and 34 were wounded in a series of violent attacks in five provinces of in the span of 24 hours, underlining the already dilapidated security situation in the country as the US withdraws its troops. As per TOLO News, one of the incidents involved is a magnetic IED blast on Saturday targeting a bus carrying lecturers and employees of a university in Parwan province. Maiwand Farooq Nijrabi, a medicine faculty lecturer at the university, was among those killed in the incident along with three of his colleagues. 17 more people were reportedly wounded in the incident. "The daily violence takes our youth, religious scholars and soldiers. If this continues, we will witness a dangerous crisis," said Moeen Mirzada, Nijrabi's relative. On Sunday, two civilians were killed and one more was wounded in an explosion in Shirzad district in Nangarhar province. Meanwhile, at least 10 people were killed and 15 suffered injuries in a mortar shelling of a house in Afghanistan's northeastern province of Kapisa. The house was hosting a wedding ceremony when the mortar shell hit. Kapisa police claimed that the had fired the mortar, however, the terror group declined the claim, reported TOLO News. Furthermore, a university lecturer was killed in Farah and a government employee and his driver were killed in Kabul, as the country witnessed attacks in several parts within 24 hours. According to reports from officials and other sources, 12 security force members were killed and six more were wounded in clashes in Helmand, Herat, Badghis and Paktia provinces. "The increase in violence will challenge our approach to peace and will complicate the way to peace," said Mir Haidar Afzali, an MP from Kapisa. "Both sides are making efforts to suppress each other and highlight their military power so that they can gain a greater advantage in the upcoming peace summits," said Zahir Masroor, an MP from Balkh. As many as 248 civilians were killed and 527 more were wounded "in attacks" in the last month, says Afghanistan's Ministry of Interior Affairs. However, the has rejected these numbers, reported TOLO News. has seen a spike in the incidents of violence in recent weeks, since the start of the US drawdown from US President Joe Biden last month announced to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by September 11 this year. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) has agreed to pay Namibia more than 1.1 billion (940 million) in reparations for committing genocide during the colonial occupation of the country a century ago. Its a landmark deal that will create a 30-year programme of investment in infrastructure, healthcare and training programmes in Namibia. But it wasnt easy reaching this agreement. Negotiations have been ongoing since 2015. Last year, offered Namibia 10 million (8.6 million) but the Namibian authorities rejected it. And while the latest deal may set a precedent for the victims and descendents of victims of historic abuses seeking reparations payments calls for which have grown in the last year in response to the Black Lives Matter movement there are still many obstacles. Alongside how to reach such agreements, one of the biggest questions is how to agree reparations in a way that helps heal society rather than causes further division. Behavioural science is a discipline that has made a study of how identity and emotion relate to money, so I believe the field has insights for the reparations issue. Namibias rejection of Germanys initial offer will come as no surprise to those familiar with the ultimatum game. In this experimental economics game, there are two players, G and N. G is arbitrarily given some money, say 10. N receives nothing. G must select how much, if any, of the cash to share with N. N can accept Gs offer or reject it. If N rejects then neither G nor N receive anything both go home empty handed. Economic theory offers a prediction: G offers N some tiny amount of wealth because N would be made materially better off by taking even a paltry sum of money rather than refusing it. That prediction has been refuted time and again and across cultures. In reality, N typically rejects the offer if it is only a small proportion of the initial endowment. The common sense that explains this result is reflected in everyday language when we talk of an offer as being insultingly low. A minimum criterion for reparations is that they avoid being insultingly low by adequately recognising the harm caused. But there is also a balance to be struck in making sure reparations, which are inherently aimed at specific groups, dont create more division by leaving out others who may have suffered harm in different ways. Estimating harm The first step then is to rigorously take account of the harms inflicted. That can be extremely difficult. Even where the historic record is unambiguous and agreed upon, there is rarely the data available to accurately assess the harms people have suffered. To compound the issue, some harms are so difficult to assess for in the first place for example, the emotional distress experienced by descendants or so widespread such as the pervasive legacy of racism in society as to be uncountable. In the absence of data-based estimates, there is greater scope for subjectivity to sway the debate and hinder attempts to arrive at acceptable compensation. Even where the data does allow accurate estimation of the causal impact of historic harms, the next question is how much money is required to compensate for them. This question is also very difficult to answer. Canvassing public opinion is an option, but behavioural scientists often find peoples answers are incoherent. In public opinion experiments, the conclusion reached by legal scholar Cass Sunstein and psychologist and economics Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman, is that people answer these questions by reporting their general attitudes rather than their considered evaluations of the specific situations. So far the problems outlined have been technical: how to measure harm on a money scale. Now the substantial problems begin. How to divide the compensation across groups? There is a human tendency to overestimate ones own burden relative to others. Ask two partners in a relationship what percentage of housework they do and, for the majority of couples, the answers will add up to a total that exceeds 100%. That violation of statistics occurs in a case where there is nothing at stake. Imagine how fraught things get when the stakes include large sums of money and issues of identity and victimhood. In this sense, any attempt simply to compensate for specific atrocities looks likely to provoke resentments among groups that have been differently harmed. But there are other approaches. This month France launches a memories and truth commission to shed light on its acts during the Algerian war. If reparations are part of the process, philosopher Leif Wenar advocates that they should serve the function of improving future relations rather than of compensating for past wrongs. The climate crisis offers former colonial powers an opportunity to make a positive contribution in this regard. Everyone agrees that global carbon emissions must reduce but the big question remains: The countries that are most developed today got that way because they exploited the Earths resources and people in the past. A reasonable way to proceed is for developed countries to make sacrifices and give less-developed countries their turn. David Comerford, Senior Lecturer of Economics and Behavioural Science, University of Stirling This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his visiting Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi discussed solidifying the ongoing ceasefire in place between and the Islamist Hamas in the Strip, as well as ways to revive the peace process. The trip is the first formal visit by an Israeli Foreign Minister to in nearly 13 years. During their meeting on Sunday, Shoukry and Ashkenazi agreed to continue consultations between the two countries and the Palestinian Authority "to explore ways out of the current stalemate in the peace track", the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The talks also addressed the necessary measures to facilitate the reconstruction of Strip following the recent Israeli bombings that caused massive damages to the enclave's infrastructure. has allocated $500 million for the reconstruction. Ashkenazi's visit came 10 days after the Egypt-brokered ceasefire on May 21 that ended the 11-day bloodshed in and around the Strip, which left at least 248 Palestinians and 12 Israelis dead. During the meeting, Shoukry called for taking further measures during the current truce to reinforce calm and provide the necessary conditions for "creating an atmosphere conducive to reviving the desired political path". He also reiterated Egypt's fixed position in support of the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital based on the 1967 borders. The Foreign Minister also referred to the two-state solution as "the only way to achieve just and lasting peace, as well as the desired regional security and stability", emphasizing the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. On his part, Ashkenazi said that " is an important regional ally, committed to security and stability, and the maintenance and expansion of peace in the region". "We all need to act to prevent strengthening extremist elements that threaten regional stability, and to ensure the return home of the missing persons and prisoners held by Hamas," he said. The top Israeli diplomat added that he and Shoukry also "discussed enhancing economic and trade cooperation, including the renewal of direct flights between our countries". Ashkenazi's trip to Cairo coincided with Egypt's sending of a high-profile security delegation to and Palestine to discuss related issues and thetruce. The security delegation will discuss ways to reach a comprehensive truce in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. --IANS ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President marked his first Memorial Day weekend as commander in chief by honoring the nation's sacrifices in a deeply personal manner as he paid tribute Sunday to those lost while remembering his late son Beau, a veteran who died six years ago to the day. As a cold rain fell, Biden made his annual appearance at the commemoration in New Castle, not far from his Wilmington home, a day before he planned to do the same at Arlington National Cemetery on the official observance. The death of his son from brain cancer at age 46 is ever-present for the elder Biden, with the loss defining so much of his worldview, dotting his speeches and stirring his empathy for in pain. The Memorial Day weekend, long an important moment for Biden, took on added poignancy this year as the president spoke frequently and emotionally of his own loss while expressing the gratitude of a nation for the sacrifices of I can't thank you enough for the continued service for the country, said Biden, addressing a crowd of Gold Star military families and other veterans in a ceremony at War Memorial Plaza in the shadow of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. I know how much the loss hurts. They're the guardians of us and we're the guardians of their legacy, Biden said of those who served in the armed forces. Despite all the pain, I know the pride you feel in the loved one you have lost. Though a tent was overhead, the cold wind whipped the rain onto the guests as they watched a lone military trumpeter play taps at a memorial to Delaware's fallen troops. Biden appeared to pay the chill no mind, remaining for the entirety of the 75-minute ceremony and mouthing the words to the closing rendition of God Bless America. When it was time, he snapped a salute to the wreath laid at the memorial. Biden had attended the ceremony nearly every year for decades, and it was at last year's event when he emerged for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, spotted with a mask while laying a wreath. Hours before Sunday's ceremony, the president, first lady Jill Biden and other family members attended a memorial Mass for Beau Biden at their local church. After the service, the Bidens greeted well-wishers outside the church and, for the first time in more than a year, were able to receive warm hugs and handshakes at their home parish. The Bidens walked to Beau's grave, which is on the property of St. Joseph's on the Brandywine, and left flowers amid several American flags that had been placed on the well-manicured lawn next to the marker. Beau Biden served two terms as Delaware's attorney general before declaring a run for governor, and many saw in him the same aspirations that brought his father to the White House. Beau Biden also served in Delaware's National Guard and, when sent to Iraq, received permission to wear a uniform emblazoned with a different last name so as not to receive special treatment. That story, which Biden told Friday at a Virginia air force base, was one of the many moments in which Biden's son defined the Memorial Day weekend. After beginning with an emotional remembrance of his late son, Biden acknowledged the unheralded sacrifices made by the service members and their families. You are the very best of what America has to offer, Biden said then. Biden also underscored his recent decision to pull troops out of Afghanistan later this year, expressing gratitude to service members who took multiple tours of duty in America's longest war. He largely avoided the particulars of affairs on Sunday, though he pledged to press Russia's Vladimir Putin on human rights during their summit in Geneva next month and said that the moment was right to show the world, and namely China, that the United States was ready to lead again after four years of a largely inward-looking foreign policy under President Donald Trump. It's time to remind everybody who we are, 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.) could be headed for a break from the "Bibi-regime" as several former allies of longest-serving Prime Minister seem to have joined hands with political opponents to form a national-unity government that would not only have political formations from the Left, the Centre and the Right, but may also be supported by an Arab party. In a dramatic development, a former ally of Netanyahu announced on Sunday that he intends to form a national-unity government to "stop the craziness" of more elections and continued political deadlock to put " back on track". Naftali Bennett, leader of the small hardline Yamina party, who in the past served as Netanyahu's Chief of Staff and as a minister with various portfolios over the years including defence, made it clear that he was going to negotiate a coalition deal with opposition leader Yair Lapid, given that there was no possibility of a right-wing government.' Getting unseated from premiership at this juncture would be a huge blow for Netanyahu, popularly nicknamed Bibi, as his trial for bribery, fraud and breach of trust picks up steam in Jerusalem's District Court. The 71-year-old, who has dominated Israeli politics for a generation, has dismissed the charges as a politically motivated witch-hunt, aimed at toppling his premiership. As Prime Minister, Netanyahu has been accused of assailing the courts, attorneys-general and police investigators, accusing them of bias. As leader of the Opposition, his ability to maneuver court proceedings would wane significantly. Bennett, whose support base consists primarily of hardliners drawn from religious and nationalist Jews, has for months weighed-in the option of risking his political future by getting into this new alignment or "take responsibility" and lead a government of national-unity. "At such a crucial moment, responsibility must be taken. Therefore, I am announcing today that I intend to act with all my strength to form a national-unity government together with my friend Yair Lapid so that, God Willing, together we will rescue the country from this tailspin, and we will get back on track, Bennett, 49, said on Sunday. "Yair and I disagree on a number of issues of substance. But we are partners in our love for the country and willingness to work for the sake of the country," he asserted, in what was the first clear indication coming from him of having taken a decision after vacillating between options. Informed sources said that the "path forward is not easy" in getting a coalition of diverse ideologies together but "all the sides look serious in their intent" to end the political deadlock which has seen the country go through an unprecedented four elections in two years and still stares at the possibility of a fifth one if discussions fail. A government like this will succeed only if we work together as a group. Everyone will need to postpone fulfilling part of their dreams. We will focus on what can be done, instead of fighting all day on what's impossible, Bennett stressed in his announcement. Interestingly, almost one-third of the lawmakers supporting the ouster of Netanyahu can be seen as his "natural allies" and are being led by leaders who are "friends turned foes" of the Prime Minister. "If Netanyahu had acted with a bit more consideration toward his right-wing partners, if he had avoided sinking into bitter disputes with people like Avigdor Lieberman, Gideon Sa'ar, Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked, he could have retained their loyalty. Netanyahu is now paying for the contempt with which he and his supporters treated all of the above," a political analyst for daily Ha'aretz commented on Monday. Bennett and Lapid, a former journalist, have until Wednesday to complete a deal in which each is expected to serve two years as Prime Minister in a rotation deal, with the former holding the job first. Before the announcement, Israeli media reported that under the proposed terms of the deal, Bennett would replace Netanyahu as prime minister and later give way to Lapid, 57, in a rotation agreement. The arrangement has not been officially confirmed. President Reuven Rivlin had tasked Lapid with the responsibility of forming a government in 28 days after Netanyahu, who got the first shot as the leader of the largest party, expressed his inability to do so. Failure to achieve a majority coalition by the Wednesday deadline may lead Rivlin to decide to send the mandate to the Knesset (Parliament) to try and form a government within 21 days, else Israel would be headed towards a fifth general election in less than two-and-a-half years. On the other hand, a successful coalition deal would put an end to the record-setting tenure of Netanyahu, at least for the time-being, who has led Israel at the helm of affairs uninterrupted since 2009. He also served as Prime Minister between 1996 and 1999. He surpassed the record of longest serving Prime Minister of the Jewish state set by founding father Ben-Gurion in July of last year. Netanyahu accused Bennett of betraying the Israeli right wing and urged nationalist politicians not to join what he called a leftist government. A government like this is a danger to the security of Israel, and is also a danger to the future of the state, he said in a televised statement. Indicted on charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes, Netanyahu has been unable to put together a coalition of majority in the 120-member Knesset despite relative political dominance. Each of the past four elections was seen as a referendum on Netanyahu's fitness to rule, and each ended in a deadlock. (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 the military crackdown on anti-coup protesters in continues, as many as 840 people have been killed so far, including three people on Sunday, according to the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners (AAPP). "As of 30 May, 840 people are now confirmed killed by this junta coup," said AAPP, adding that a total of 4,409 people are currently under detention. "On Sunday, in Mandalay region, Moe Myint Aung was shot in the stomach by a bullet and died when the junta raided the Yonetan Ward and Hman Cho Ward to arrest six youths and opened fire to the door to enter the house of Moe Myint Aung," said AAPP. People in are also facing a shortage of cash and rising prices of goods and services as they are withdrawing their savings from banks out of concern for the future. In the country's largest city Yangon, people are forming long lines outside banks every day before dawn, to get cash. The shortage of cash has also made it difficult for the military to pay soldiers on time, driving some of them into looting, Kyodo News reported. On February 1, the military overthrew the civilian government and declared a year-long state of emergency. The coup triggered mass protests and was met by deadly violence. (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 of the end of May, China has administered over 500 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to its own population, the highest number of any country in the world. On May 26, it also achieved a new world record in daily vaccinations inoculating over 20 million people in a single day. This comes amid China's push to fully vaccinate over 600 million people by the end of June and move toward herd immunity at a crucial turning point in the pandemic. Although vaccines are going out around the world, new and dangerous variants continue to run rampant, cause catastrophic new outbreaks and threaten countries that have otherwise successfully handled the pandemic. China has pursued an effective approach to both COVID-19 and vaccinations, enabling it to prevent a second wave, contain its spread completely and also roll out vaccines at a rapid pace. How did it achieve this? There are many factors to consider, but all come down to the strength embedded in China's economic and social organization creating a consistent, vigilant, effective and extremely well-prepared response at every step, from the establishment of multiple vaccines, to supply chain strength, public willingness and digital economy. After the outbreak of the epidemic, China's leadership conceived that vaccine development was a crucial aspect to protect its people, considering the country's huge population of 1.4 billion. Due to its industrial capacity and capability to produce enough doses to cover both domestic need and that overseas something that has also remained resilient and stable through control of COVID-19 at home China has developed multiple vaccines so far, and more are on the way. These vaccines not only ensured the country could avoid the risk of a future wave and the economic disruption of lockdowns, but also made a difference for many other countries. Domestically, China's vaccine distribution has been extremely well organized and combined with a willing and informed public. The government has run a strong campaign encouraging people to get vaccinated, providing accessible information and making the process extremely efficient. Many people have been able to register on their phones by simply scanning a QR code, which has accelerated administration and helped avoid hefty queues, also showing the successes of China's digital development. Internationally, the country has offered vaccine assistance to more than 80 countries and three international organizations. It has also conducted vaccine cooperation with over 50 countries. With its Sinopharm vaccine recently being listed for emergency use by the WHO, the country will further fulfil its commitment to making its vaccines a "global public good." As a whole, the aforementioned factors have allowed China to sustain the world's largest and most efficient vaccination drive. However, the risk of a new disruptive outbreak constantly remains real as new variants continue to run rampant. China will not get complacent, and will continue its race to vaccinate against the clock, so as to contribute to the global fight against the pandemic. Tom Fowdy is a British political and international relations analyst and a graduate of Durham and Oxford universities. He writes on topics pertaining to China, the DPRK, Britain and the U.S. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/TomFowdy.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn. said Monday the US allowing to build more powerful missiles was an example of the US's hostile policy against the North, warning that it could lead to an acute and instable situation on the Korean Peninsula. It's North Korea's first response to the May 21 summit between the leaders of the United States and South Korea, during which the U.S. ended decades-long restrictions that capped South Korea's missile development and allowed its ally to develop weapons with unlimited ranges. The accusation of US policy being hostile to matters because it said it won't return to talks and would enlarge its nuclear arsenal as long as US hostility persists. But the latest statement was still attributed to an individual commentator, not a government body, suggesting may still want to leave room for potential diplomacy with the Biden administration. The termination step is a stark reminder of the US hostile policy toward (North Korea) and its shameful double-dealing, Kim Myong Chol, an affairs critic, said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. It is engrossed in confrontation despite its lip-service to dialogue. The US is mistaken, however. It is a serious blunder for it to pressurize (North Korea) by creating asymmetric imbalance in and around the Korean Peninsula as this may lead to the acute and instable situation on the Korean Peninsula now technically at war, he said. The United States had previously barred from developing a missile with a range of longer than 800 kilometers (500 miles) out of concerns about a regional arms race. The range is enough for a South Korean weapon to strike all of North Korea but is short of hitting potential key targets in other neighbors like China and Japan. Some South Korean observers hailed the end of the restrictions as restoring military sovereignty, but suspected the US intent was to boost its ally's military capability amid a rivalry with China. The commentator Kim accused Washington of trying to spark an arms race, thwart North Korean development and deploy intermediate-range missiles targeting countries near North Korea. The South Korean government said it prudently watches North Korea's reaction, but Unification Ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo wouldn't comment otherwise, since the remarks were attributed to an individual, not an official statement from the North Korean government. The North Korean statement comes as the Biden administration shapes a new approach on North Korea amid long-dormant talks over the North's nuclear program. During their summit, Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in said a new U.S. policy review on North Korea takes a calibrated and practical approach that is open to and will explore diplomacy with the North. U.S. officials have suggested Biden would adopt a middle ground policy between his predecessors Donald Trump's direct dealings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Barack Obama's strategic patience. Some experts say Biden won't likely provide North Korea with major sanctions relief unless it takes concrete denuclearization steps first. The North Korean statement criticised the Biden administration's review indirectly, saying the new policy was viewed by other countries as just trickery. (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.) Pakistan's coronavirus-monitoring body, National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Sunday suggested postponing of the upcoming Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) election by two months amid COVID-19 pandemic. In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner of PoK, the NCOC stated that due to the rise in the number of cases in the country, the polls should be delayed. The letter mentioned that large political gathering due to elections will lead to the further spread of the potentially deadly virus in the state, adding that the number of positive cases are already high therein, reported Geo News. The NCOC also said one million residents of PoK could be vaccinated by September 2021. It should be noted that the Kashmir Assembly's terms will end on July 29, but so far, the schedule for the new election has not been issued, The News reported. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider had accused the Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government of wanting to achieve its desired results in the Kashmir elections. Farooq Haider said that if Prime Minister Imran Khan interferes in the election, then PoK will forget all courtesy. He said that no matter what Prime Minister does, Kashmir will never become a province. Haider added that he had received a letter from the NCOC to postpone the elections for the next two month, it reported further. "Elections in PoK can only be postponed if there is external aggression," PM Farooq Haider said. "Such letters are an insult to the voters of Kashmir. This power is vested in the Legislative Assembly of PoK, however, this approach will create political tension in the state." Haider had earlier said that the Prime Minister of "did not even know that Kashmir has its own election commission," adding that "PM Imran Khan does not have the authority to introduce Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in Kashmir." He added that there is no reason to postpone the polls because by-elections were also held in the country despite the pandemic. has reported over 2,455 new infections, pushing the tally to 916,239. At least 73 more people have succumbed to in Pakistan, taking the nationwide COVID-19 death toll to 20,680, 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.) Nigerian police on Sunday said a group of gunmen killed one resident and abducted some students following an attack in the country's north-central state of Niger. Adamu Usman, police chief in Niger state, told Xinhua on phone, the school children were abducted after the unidentified gunmen attacked the Salihu Tanko Islamiya School in Tegina, a town in the Rafi local government area of the state. A large number of the gunmen on motorcycles stormed the town on Sunday afternoon, shooting indiscriminately and killing one resident of the town in the process, said Usman. He, however, declined to give the exact number of students kidnapped during the attack. Local media reported over 200 students of the school were kidnapped by the gunmen. The school is an unconventional one where parents send their children on a daily basis for the purpose of acquiring Islamic education, according to the local broadcaster Channels Television. Niger police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun told Xinhua on phone, the security agency is yet to ascertain how many children were abducted from the school. An investigation has been launched to that effect. (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.) Egyptian authorities are demanding 550 million US dollars in compensation from the Japanese owner of a ship that blocked the for nearly a week in March. The large container ship Ever Given got stuck in the key waterway and prevented the passage of all other vessels for several days, NHK World reported. The Authority initially demanded about 920 million dollars in compensation. During a press conference on Sunday in the Egyptian city of Ismailia, the officials of canal authority said that more than 600 workers were needed to refloat the ship, and that the demand includes compensation for a worker who was killed when a salvage ship sank. The officials argued that the amount they are demanding is appropriate. They also said the ship's owner, Shoei Kisen Kaisha, based in Ehime Prefecture, western Japan, has offered to pay 150 million USD. While, the Egyptians said they will not neglect their rights, although they would like to maintain good relations with the ship owner, and intend to continue the negotiations. Under a court decision, the Ever Given will remain in until compensation money is paid. The Ever Given was stuck in early March, paralyzing the crucial waterway. The damage to global trade can run into one billion US dollars, according to the canal authority. The ship was refloated on March 29 by a fleet of 15 tugboats. (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.) UN Secretary-General has called for global partnership to tackle climate change and strive towards inclusive green growth. He made the appeal in a video message at the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 Summit hosted by South Korea on Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency. "The title of this initiative expresses exactly what the world needs now, global partnership: partnership to beat Covid-19 and build a better recovery, partnership to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and partnership to address climate change," he told the summit. Tackling climate change head-on will help protect the most vulnerable people from the next crisis while sustaining a job-rich recovery from Covid-19, according to Guterres. The first priority is no new coal plants and a phase-out of coal use by 2030 in the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and 2040 in the rest of the world, the UN chief added. "As well as the emissions gap, I am deeply concerned about the finance and adaptation gaps." He further said that developed countries are yet to deliver on their commitment of $100 billion per year as adaptation assistance. "We urgently need a breakthrough on adaptation and resilience. I am asking all donor countries to significantly enhance their financial commitments. That includes allocating 50 per cent of climate finance to adaptation and providing a higher level of grants." The G7 Summit in June needs to deliver on all these objectives, Guterres said, adding that it is not a global partnership if some are left struggling to survive. --IANS ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two people were killed and at least 20 injured after three gunmen opened fire into a crowd at a club in the US state of Florida, authorities said. Three people jumped out of an SUV with assault weapons and handguns and started firing into the crowd that gathered for a concert at the El Mula Banquet Hall near Hialeah city between 12 a.m. and 1 a.m., on Sunday, Xinhua news agency quoted Director of Miami-Dade Police Department Alfredo Ramirez III as saying to the media. The banquet hall and billiards club had been rented out for a concert Saturday night. "I am at the scene of another targeted and cowardly act of gun violence, where over 20 victims were shot and two have sadly died. These are cold blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice," he said in a tweet. Two people were pronounced dead at the scene, and 20 to 25 victims were rushed to hospital, he said. At least one of the wounded was in critical condition, according to a CNN report. Ramirez added that the police are looking for the assailants. The Miami-Dade Police Department is asking anyone with information about the shooters or their whereabouts to contact authorities. Governor Ron DeSantis offered his condolences to the victims, saying: "We mourn the loss of the two victims and are praying for the recovery of the more than 20 people injured at El Mula Banquet Hall near Hialeah. "We are working with local authorities to bring justice to the perpetrators." --IANS ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shares of on Monday declined nearly 6 per cent after the company reported a standalone net loss of Rs 1,047 crore in the quarter ended March 31, 2021. It dipped 5.60 per cent to Rs 79.15 on the BSE. The stock declined 5.66 per cent to Rs 79.10 at the NSE. State-run reported a standalone net loss of Rs 1,047 crore in the quarter ended March 2021, as it shifted to a new tax regime. The lender had reported a standalone profit-after-tax of Rs 507 crore in the year-ago period. For the full year, net profit grew 52 per cent to Rs 829 crore, from Rs 546 crore in FY20. Gross NPA ratio fell to 8.87 per cent as against 9.40 per cent and net NPA ratio to 3.09 per cent from 3.13 per cent. (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 posted its biggest May month rally in the past seven years after a sharp surge in consumer discretionary, financials and Reliance Industries (RIL) stock. And if analysts are to be believed, there is still more room for an upside, albeit amid minor corrections on the way. The optimism is despite the second wave of Covid pandemic that brought the Indian economy to a near standstill yet again in 2021. This time, however, analysts believe the impact to be less severe as compared to 2020. ALSO READ: Market outlook: Should you sell stocks in May and go away? The risk-reward is still favorable for equities given the US Fed intervention to control yields. Any sell-off could offer a good buying opportunity as the medium-term outlook is solid. Our cyclical bias continues with preference for mid-caps over large-caps, wrote Jitendra Gohil, head of India equity research at Credit Suisse Wealth Management in a recent note with Premal Kamdar. The gained 6.5 per cent, or 3,154 points in May on optimism on economic rebound and progress in pandemic fight is expected to evince buying interest across major sectors. In the process, the Sensex witnessed its sharpest May month gain during the past seven years. Earlier in May 2014, the Sensex had rallied 8 per cent during the month. The benchmark index also set to post its biggest gain in percentage terms in the past five months. In December 2020, it had gained 8 per cent after an 11.4 per cent surge recorded in November. ALSO READ: Markets in bubble zone? Tech charts say Sensex to hit 53,000 soon Among the index stocks, State Bank of India (SBI) was the top gainer, surging 20 per cent during the month, after reporting another strong quarterly performance in March quarter (Q4FY21). ICICI Bank, IndusInd Bank, HDFC Bank and Bajaj Finserv from the financial sector outperformed the Sensex and gained over 7 per cent during the month. Asian Paints rallied 17 per cent on expectation of strong volume growth to sustain, riding the potential demand shift from the unorganised segment. Maruti Suzuki India, Bajaj Auto, Larsen & Toubro, Nestle India and Reliance Industries were up between 8 per cent and 10 per cent. ALSO READ: Sensex at 200,000? Possible in 10 years, says Raamdeo Agrawal Global cues, too, were positive as focus turned to a multi-trillion dollar spending boost by the Biden administration. Even hawkish comments from the Bank of England official boosted market sentiment. Back home, India recorded its lowest daily count of new Covid-19 cases in the last one and half months. Analysts at Morgan Stanley believe that India's second wave may have peaked, and the market is now looking at how quickly the wave descends in addition to how much the vaccination can be ramped up. In their most aggressive target, they see the Sensex at 61,000 levels by December 2021. ALSO READ: Return from Indian stocks in next 1-yr will be disappointing: Marc Faber The loss of human life has been enormous, but the second wave is likely to have a lower economic impact given the lower stringency of lockdowns compared to last year. At the margin, the equity market will be assessing the shift in vaccine supply as a key input, wrote Ridham Desai, head of India research and India equity strategist at Morgan Stanley in a coauthored report with Sheela Rathi and Nayant Parekh. The overall market structure, according to those at Motilal Oswal Financial Services, remains positive as fresh Covid cases continue to decline and investors are upbeat about the unlocking of the economy in June which will help revive commercial activities. Many states are likely to follow the footsteps of Delhi and reopen their economy soon. Hopes of further stimulus by the government is also bolstering investor confidence. Thus, as the second Covid-19 wave continues to recede in India and pace of vaccination expected to pick up going ahead, Siddhartha Khemka, head of retail research at Motilal Oswal Financial Services said. Key equity indices firmed up further in mid afternoon trade. The Nifty was trading above the 15,500 mark. Auto shares corrected after advancing in the past six sessions. At 14:23 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 492.43 points or 0.96% to 51,915.31. The Nifty 50 index gained 130.55 points or 0.85% at 15,566.20. The Nifty hit a record high of 15,576.60 in mid-afternoon trade. The broader market underperformed the benchmarks. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.28%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index gained 0.55%. Buyers outpaced sellers. On the BSE, 1700 shares rose and 1475 shares fell. A total of 200 shares were unchanged. Investor sentiment improved due to a steady decline in daily COVID-19 cases in India. India's Monsoon: India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the onset of monsoon in Kerala is likely to take place by 3 June 2021. Earlier, it had predicted the arrival of monsoon over Kerala by 31 of May 2021. As per the latest meteorological indications, the south-westerly winds could strengthen further gradually from 1st of June, resulting in likely enhancement in rainfall activity over Kerala. Hence the onset of monsoon over Kerala is likely to take place by 3rd of next month. Numbers to Track: In the foreign exchange market, the partially convertible rupee rose to 72.5250 compared with its previous closing of 72.4550. MCX Gold futures for 4 June 2021 settlement rose 0.45% to Rs 48,760. The US Dollar index (DXY), which tracks the greenback's value against a basket of currencies, was down 0.01% to 90.04. The yield on 10-year benchmark federal paper fell to 6.023% as compared to its previous close of 6.003%. In the commodities market, Brent crude for July 2021 settlement rose 88 cents to $69.60 a barrel. The contract increased 0.24% or 17 cents to settle at $69.63 in the previous trading session. Buzzing Index: The Nifty Auto index shed 0.32% to 10,476.30. The index had advanced 2.78% in the past six sessions. Mahindra & Mahindra (down 4.36%), Ashok Leyland (down 0.88%), TVS Motor Company (down 0.77%), Bajaj Auto (down 0.58%) and Tata Motors (down 0.20%) declined. Meanwhile, Maruti Suzuki (up 1.43%), Eicher Motors (up 1.24%), Hero MotoCorp (up 0.45%) and Bharat Forge (up 0.45%) bucked the trend. Earnings Impact: Sundaram Finance rose 0.09% to Rs 2499.90. The NBFC reported 59.8% jump in net profit to Rs 209.20 crore on 6.7% rise in total income to Rs 1017.80 crore in Q4 FY21 over Q4 FY20. Disbursements for Q4 FY 2020-21 recorded a growth of 13% to Rs 3,305 crore as compared to Rs 2,930 crore registered in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The assets under the management stood at Rs 30,882 crore as on 31 March 2021 as against Rs 29,936 crore as on 31 March 2020, representing a year-on-year (YoY) growth of 3%. Gross NPA and Net NPA as on 31 March 2021 stood at 2.28% and 1.35%, respectively when compared to 2.77% and 1.92% as on 31 March 2020. Cost to income closed at 31.8% in Q4FY21 as against 34.9% in Q4FY20. The deposit base stood at Rs 4,021 crore as on 31 March 2021, a net accretion of Rs 345 crore. Aurobindo Pharma fell 1.07% at Rs 1010.95. On a consolidated basis, the company posted 7.18% decline in net profit to Rs 801.1 crore on 1.18% decline in net sales to Rs 5,991.68 crore in Q4 FY21 over Q4 FY20. US formulation revenue of Rs 2,856.0 crore in Q4 FY21 from Rs 2,990.3 crore in Q4FY20, registering a decline of 4.5% year on year. Europe formulation revenue stood at Rs 1,552.6 crore in Q4 FY21, a decline of 6% year on year due to stocking up during the pandemic in Q4FY20. Growth markets revenue decreased by 18.8% year on year to Rs 305.7 crore. ARV revenue stood at Rs 491.2 crore as compared to Rs 381.8 crore, an increase of 28.7% over corresponding previous period. API revenue for the quarter came at Rs 794.3 crore in Q4 FY21 from Rs 755.6 crore in Q4FY20, an increase of 5.1% year on year over corresponding previous period. Research & Development (R&D) spend stood at Rs 457 crore, a 7.6% of revenues. The drug company received final approval for 9 ANDAs from USFDA including 3 injectables. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At meeting held on 31 May 2021 The Board of Valencia Nutrition at its meeting held on 31 May 2021 has approved the change in directorate as follows: 1. Appointment of Eshanya Guppta having DIN: 01727743 as a Non Executive & Independent Director of the Company with immediate effect. 2. Resignation of Haresh Sanghvi (DIN: 00006301) as Non-Executive Director of the Company with immediate effect. 3. Manish Turakhia (DIN: 02265579) steps down from the position of Chairmanship of the Company with immediate effect. 4. Stavan Ajmera (DIN: 08112696), the existing Non-Executive Director has been appointed as the Chairman of the Company with immediate effect. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flash Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met on Sunday with his visiting Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi to discuss solidifying the recent truce in the Gaza Strip and ways to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The two ministers agreed to continue consultations between the two countries and the Palestinian Authority "to explore ways out of the current stalemate in the peace track," the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The talks also addressed the necessary measures to facilitate the reconstruction of Gaza Strip following the recent Israeli bombings that caused massive damages to the Gaza infrastructure. Egypt has allocated 500 million U.S. dollars for the reconstruction. Ashkenazi's visit to Egypt came 10 days after the Egypt-brokered ceasefire that ended the 11-day Israel-Hamas fighting, which left at least 248 Palestinians and 12 Israelis dead. It is the first trip by an Israeli foreign minister to Egypt since 2008. On the other hand, Shoukry's visit to Israel in 2016 was the first of its kind by an Egyptian foreign minister since 2007. During the meeting, Shoukry called for taking further measures during the current truce to reinforce calm and provide the necessary conditions for "creating an atmosphere conducive to reviving the desired political path." The Egyptian top diplomat also reiterated Egypt's fixed position in support of the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital based on the 1967 borders. He also referred to the two-state solution as "the only way to achieve just and lasting peace, as well as the desired regional security and stability," emphasizing the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. Ashkenazi's trip to Cairo coincided with Egypt's sending of a high-profile security delegation to Israel and Palestine to discuss related issues and the Israeli-Palestinian truce. The security delegation will discuss ways to reach a comprehensive truce in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, according to Egypt's official MENA news agency. With effect form 01 June 2021 Gala Global Products announced the resignation of Maulik Vyas (DIN: 06921705) has stepped down from the position of the 'Non-Executive Independent Director' of the Company with effect from 31 May 2021. Further, the Board of the company has appointed Stuti Kinariwala (DIN: 09181276) as Additional Non-Executive Independent Director of the company with effect from 1 June 2021. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Japan share market finished lower in subdued trade on Monday, 31 May 2021, as investors secured profits from the Nikkei's sharp rise late last week. Meanwhile, profit taking selloff fueled further amid downbeat retail sales figures and the government extension of state of emergency for three weeks until June 20 for more than 40% of Japan's population. Market trading volume was lower from Friday as many investors opted for a wait-and-see attitude due to Memorial Day market closure in the United States and on caution ahead of major global economic data due out this week. At closing bell, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average declined 289.33 points, or 0.99%, to 28,860.08. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange dropped 24.46 points, or 1.26%, to 1,922.98. Trading volume turnover in the 1st section decreased to 1,020 million shares from 1,356 million shares on Friday. Trading value turnover decreased to 2,241.55 billion yen from 3,108.85 billion yen on Friday. Total 32 sectors of 33 sectors sub-indexes on the Tokyo exchange were lower, with Real Estate, Banks, Machinery, Iron & Steel, Glass & Ceramics Products, Textiles & Apparels, Rubber Products, and Construction sectors being notable losers. ECONOMIC NEWS: Japan Retail Sales Fall 4.5% On Month In April- Japan total value of retail sales dropped a seasonally adjusted 4.5% on month in April, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said on Monday, coming in at 12.200 trillion yen, following the 1.2% increase in March. On a yearly basis, retail sales climbed 12.0% after rising 5.2% in the previous month. Japan Industrial Output Up 2.5% On Month In April- Japan industrial output climbed 2.5% on month in April, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said on Monday, following the downwardly revised 1.7% gain in March (originally 2.2%). On a yearly basis, industrial production jumped 15.4%, following the 3.4% increase in the previous month. Upon the release of the data, the METI maintained its assessment of industrial production, saying that it is picking up. CURRENCY NEWS: The U. S. dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, was at 90.07 after a recent spike to levels above 90.3. The Japanese yen traded at 109.72 per dollar, after weakening late last week to levels above 110 against the greenback. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On a consolidated basis, Kolte-Patil Developers' net profit stood at Rs 20.90 crore in Q4 FY21 compared with net loss of Rs 2.18 crore in Q4 FY20. Net sales surged 33.52% to Rs 296.08 crore in Q4 FY21 as against Rs 221.74 crore in Q4 FY20. Pre-tax profit stood at Rs 28.47 crore in Q4 FY21 as against a pre-tax loss of Rs 3.18 crore in Q4 FY20. EBITDA stood at Rs 38.90 crore in Q4 FY21 as against Rs 3.80 crore in Q4 FY20. EBITDA margin improved to 13.1% in Q4 March 2021 from 1.7% in Q4 March 2020. Volumes jumped 27.1% to 0.85 million sq. ft. in Q4 March 2021 as compared to 0.67 million sq. ft. in Q4 March 2020. Value spurted 42.7% to Rs 510.90 crore in Q4 FY21 as against Rs 358.10 crore in Q4 FY20. Realization grew 12.3% to Rs 5,988 per sq. ft. in Q4 March 2021 over Rs 5,333 per sq. ft. in Q4 March 2020. Collections gained 16.8% to Rs 441.50 crore in Q4 FY21 from Rs 378.10 crore in Q4 FY20. Commenting on the Q4 performance, Gopal Sarda, the group chief executive officer (CEO) of Kolte-Patil Developers, said: "We have hit significant sales milestones in Q4 FY21. Q4 FY21 has been our best ever sales quarter in the last six years both in terms of volume and value. Sales traction has been strong across markets of Pune, Mumbai and Bengaluru as well as across product categories. Our robust sales & marketing machinery and brand equity is getting increasing recognition in Mumbai and Bengaluru as well. Contribution from projects in Mumbai and Bengaluru have now expanded to Rs 300 crore, which is 25% of FY21 sales value of Rs 1,200 crore, diversifying the business portfolio further." "Evara, which was launched towards the end of Q3, our first new launch in Mumbai in four years, has sold 54 units till Q4, which is 75% of the total inventory in the project. Further, we have recently launched Verve at Goregaon and Vaayu at Dahisar; and both projects have seen encouraging traction in a very challenging period. We have put in concerted efforts to strengthen our Mumbai operations and are happy with the way our Mumbai story is shaping up. Coming into FY22, we expect to record a strong performance from Mumbai, 2x of FY21 contribution, on the back of Evara, Verve, Vaayu and the balance RTMI inventory in Jai Vijay." "Another, significant milestone was Q4 FY21 recording best ever collections - highest in the company's three-decade history. This follows Q3 FY21, which was the best ever collections quarter till Q4 FY21. We are happy to share that during FY21, based on further improvement in liquidity in our business operations, there has been a reduction of Rs 124 crore in KPDL's net debt. This is the second consecutive year of net debt reduction at KPDL. Our net debt to equity stands at 0.24 as on 31 March 2021. Given our collections growth and lower interest outgo, we have delivered healthy OCF of over Rs 400 crore despite FY21 being a pandemic year. This performance also evidences working capital efficiency where we have managed overheads, construction costs, investments and tax payments seamlessly." "We remain focused on our growth initiatives and have added a combined saleable area of 3.5 msf to our portfolio in the last four months. We look forward to build on our business development intensity with structured transactions and scale up the profitable, operating cash flow generating business that we have built and deliver stronger ROCEs and IRRs. We have created an efficient S&M engine which has achieved the targeted geographic mix, invested in the business and yet finished with higher cash flows, moderated debt on the books despite payments, strengthened sales pipeline for next round of growth and are proceeding towards outperformance. To sum up, we have built a solid self-sustainable company geared up to capitalize on the industry consolidation and create newer records in the coming years," Mr Sarda signed off. Meanwhile, the board of the real-estate company appointment of K. N. Swaminathan as chief financial officer (CFO) with effect from 31 May 2021. Kolte-Patil Developers is a real estate company with dominant presence in the Pune residential market. Shares of Kolte-Patil Developers declined 2.37% to Rs 224.85 on BSE. The scrip traded in the range of Rs 223.50 to Rs 238 in intraday. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On a consolidated basis, REC's net profit soared 338.37% to Rs 2,077.84 crore on 19.27% increase in total revenue from operations to Rs 9,211.46 crore in Q4 March 2021 over Q4 March 2020. Profit before tax jumped 307.14% to Rs 2,704.38 crore in Q4 FY21 as against Rs 664.23 crore in Q4 FY20. During the financial year, REC's net profit spurted 68.49% to Rs 8,378.24 crore on 18.88% rise in total revenue from operations to Rs 35,552.68 crore in FY 2021 over FY 2020. The firm said that it has not experienced any significant impact on its liquidity position owing to robust credit profile and access to diversify sources of borrowings. The company has put in place adequate liquidity buffers in the form of working capital/term loan limits from various banks apart from high quality liquid assets. The Government of India, as a part of its COVID-19 relief package, had announced liquidity injection to the state discoms in the form of State Government gauranteed loans through REC and PFC (Power Finance Corporation) to clear the outstanding dues of power generation and transmission companies. As on 15 May 2021, REC had already sanctioned and disbursed Rs 67,083 crore and Rs 40,766 crore respectively to discoms as a part of its liquidity package. REC is a Navratna Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Power. It is a leading infrastructure finance company. Its business activities involve financing projects in the complete power sector value chain, be it generation, transmission or distribution. The company provides financial assistance to state electricity boards, state governments, central/state power utilities, independent power producers, rural electric cooperatives and private sector utilities through our extensive network of 22 offices across the country. Shares of REC fell 0.48% to Rs 145.35 on BSE. The scrip traded in the range of Rs 144.85 to Rs 148 so far. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tata Motors Ltd is quoting at Rs 319.25, up 0.16% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 256.5% in last one year as compared to a 58.44% spurt in NIFTY and a 63.34% spurt in the Nifty Auto. Tata Motors Ltd gained for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 319.25, up 0.16% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.86% on the day, quoting at 15568.45. The Sensex is at 51890.48, up 0.91%. Tata Motors Ltd has risen around 8.96% in last one month. Meanwhile, Nifty Auto index of which Tata Motors Ltd is a constituent, has risen around 8.51% in last one month and is currently quoting at 10510.25, down 0.24% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 196.79 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 536.75 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark June futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 320.05, down 0.06% on the day. Tata Motors Ltd is up 256.5% in last one year as compared to a 58.44% spurt in NIFTY and a 63.34% spurt in the Nifty Auto index. The PE of the stock is 0 based on TTM earnings ending March 21. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TVS Motor Company inaugurated a new marquee showroom in Baghdad with distribution partner Ritaj International General Trade LLC. The showroom, which isspread over 500 sq meters with a built-up area of 840 sq meters, was inaugurated along Palestine Street in Baghdad. It is the first-of-its-kind showroom for TVS Motor Company in the region, and apart from the wide range of two-wheelers and threewheelers, it will also host spare parts and feature a service facility. The company will also launch two products, commuter motorcycle TVS StaR HLX 150 5 Gear and three-wheeler TVS King Deluxe Plus, in the market. TVS Motor Company has been present in Iraq since 2016 and offers products catering to the diverse requirements of two-wheeler and three-wheeler customers in the country. Ritaj International General Trade LLC has been the distribution partner for the company since 2017. The company has 41 touchpoints across the country. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (BJP) national general secretary organization BL Santosh and former Union Minister will meet senior party leaders of on Monday to review the work of the organization. BL Santosh arrived at the BJP's state headquarters in Lucknow. He was accompanied by BJP President Swatantra Dev Singh. minister Mahendra Singh, JPS Rathore and Govind Narayan Shukla. In the review meeting named "Seva hi Sangathan", Santosh will also take stock of the service campaigns run by the party in wake of the COVID pandemic besides organizational issues, sources said. Uttar Pradesh is due to go Assembly elections in early 2022. BL Santosh's visit is significant in this light as the party is focusing on the upcoming elections. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For the second time in six months, Prime Minister of Nepal K P Sharma Oli has ordered the general elections in the country, nearly two years before they are due. On May 21, President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved the House of Representatives and proposed the elections on November 12 and 19, following the recommendation of the council of ministers. On the face of it, this decision followed the determination that no single party in Nepals parliament had the numbers to form a government. But as the Opposition contests this and has approached the Supreme Court (which in turn has ... Senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Monday hit out at Haryana Chief Minister M L Khattar and rejected the charge of indulging in during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hooda's comments come after Khattar said the Congress leader's attitude was only to criticise the state government's handling of the Covid situation rather than extending cooperation. "I thought his letter did not deserve even a reply, I just ignored it. There was a reason for this. He wants to do more rather than extend cooperation," Khattar had said while talking to the media. Hitting back at Khattar, Hooda said this was not the time to indulge in and he had offered to extend full cooperation to the government in fighting the pandemic. "But as the Leader of Opposition, it is also my responsibility to raise people's problems and convey the same to the government, Hooda said at a press conference. The Congress leader said he comes from a family of freedom fighters and never indulges in politics over issues of national interest, natural calamity and pandemics. "In fact, when the issue of Article 370's abrogation cropped up, I stood in support when Haryana Assembly brought a resolution (welcoming the Centre's decision on Article 370), he said. Asserting that vaccination is the biggest protection against the virus, he said the inoculation drive in the state should be speeded up. Taking a dig at Khattar, he said the chief minister is talking about rationing of vaccines. "Government records say only 30,000 doses were administered yesterday. And in some districts like Hisar, Nuh, Sirsa and Charkhi Dadri, only a few doses were given. At this pace, it will take several months to cover all eligible in the state. So, this process should be speeded up, he said. Hooda said he was pained on seeing people in the state running from pillar to post to procure oxygen cylinders, medicines and arranging beds for their relatives because the government had not adequately prepared for the second wave of COVID-19. "So, when I raise these issues, these are the problems which people have faced which I highlight. Reality is that the chief minister does not have an answer to these, he said. "When I say that the government should take a step ahead and talk to farmers who have been sitting for six months to find a solution, I am accused of indulging in politics over farmers' issues. It is easy to put blame on others. Sometimes, they blame me, sometimes the farmers, he said. When asked why Khattar has been saying that Hooda is not appealing to farmers to end the stir as pandemic is raging, he said, I have been repeatedly saying Covid protocol should be maintained. But it has to be the government which has to find a solution to this (agitation)." He also said that it is not fair to blame farmers' stir for the spread of infection in rural areas in the state. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indias internet future free and open, or stymied and controlled may be decided by a 224-page lawsuit filed by WhatsApp last week. Saying that it wanted to curb fake news, revenge porn and other ills, Prime Minister Narendra Modis government introduced new rules in February that would compel social media platforms such as Inc.s WhatsApp to trace chat messages, among other things. As the three-month deadline for compliance ended, WhatsApp filed its petition in the Delhi High Court. The U.S. company is arguing that being asked to track the originator of a message has no legal sanction. It doesnt protect people such as journalists and political activists from arbitrary state action. Nor does the rule meet the proportionality test required now by Indian law following a 2017 Supreme Court verdict of being the least restrictive infringement of Indians fundamental right to privacy. Read More: Right to privacy is not absolute, says govt on WhatsApp's lawsuit WhatsApp contends that keeping a log of messages would require it to break end-to-end encryption and save billions of messages sent by its more than 500 million users in India. How the case is decided in the coming year or so as it winds its way to a verdict followed by an inevitable appeal may come down to the technical details of data transmission. Internet messages consist of two parts: the header and the payload. That unencrypted header, which can be read by any router it passes through, can be thought of as an envelope that shows identifying information, such as originating and destination IP addresses. The payload is the message itself. If its unencrypted, anyone can read it along the way. If its encrypted, then the message is scrambled using hard-to-crack algorithms. The government says that fingerprinting each and every message making it traceable doesnt include the content. But WhatsApp pleads that it will still undermine E2E encryption, posing a serious risk to privacy, and would open up WhatsApp (and other chat apps like Signal) not only to government interference, but also to hacking attacks. The rules require significant social media intermediaries to appoint a compliance officer, a grievance officer and a 24/7 contact person, something theyre grudgingly accepting. itself has fallen in line. Alphabet Inc. and its Google unit always respect local laws in every country, Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai said, according to Indias Economic Times. Twitter Inc. has asked for a three-month extension. But traceability is a bigger battle, and WhatsApp was prepared for it. As the news website The Morning Context noted, Indias digital intermediary rules look a lot like those passed by Brazils Senate in June last year. That bill, PLS 2630/2020, more commonly known as the Fake News law, required companies to store massively forwarded messages, with the complete chain of communication, for three months. The Indian version doesnt stipulate a holding period, nor is it restricted to messages going viral. Even if the payload stays encrypted, enormous, forever archives would be of limited use. Simply taking a screenshot or copy-pasting a message would start the chain from scratch. The bigger concern for India is not that the Modi government is taking a leaf from Brazils playbook, but that its dragging the country backward to the China of 2006. Thats when Beijing was powering up The Great Firewall, a mammoth project that would prevent outside information from flowing into the nation and allow authorities to control what was shared internally. The result has been an exit from the worlds largest internet market by some of Americas biggest names, including Facebook, Google and Twitter. Those same companies now see India as the next big hope. With plenty of growth ahead, not only for content but also e-commerce and digital payments, none want to be left out. Where the Peoples Republic had the resources to build the firewall itself, and later rely on companies to self-police, India may need domestic business interests to do the job. In the name of a responsible internet and protecting citizens from data imperialists, several will be eager to abet the government in soft censorship. Keeping global tech firms out or forcing them to accept a subservient role may help Indian capitalists build their own consumer-centric empires. New Delhi will be able to ensure that digital communication platforms are popular but docile, amplifying the governments messages without questioning propaganda or exposing state hypocrisy. Long-time China watchers will be familiar. Last weeks raid on Twitters New Delhi and Gurgaon offices, after the service labeled a tweet by a ruling party member as manipulated media, serves as a warning. After failing to keep their foothold in China by going it alone and making the case for an open internet, Western firms will try hard to not lose the only other market of more than a billion people. Both and Google signed up last year for the $20 billion-plus fund-raising spree by Jio Platforms Ltd., petrochemicals tycoon Mukesh Ambanis digital business. Apart from lobbying for saner rules and seeking legal recourse, teaming up with Indias richest man seems a decent strategy. Amid the various pushes and pulls, India may end up somewhere between a Chinese-style firewall and a Western model of free internet. The fate of WhatsApps legal challenge will go some way in tracing the landing spot. After workers accused the company of censoring pro- content, Facebook-owned has tweaked its algorithms that will begin ranking original and re-shared content equally. The employees at made numerous appeals about content that had been censored by automated moderation, reports The Verge. Now, the company has made changes in its AI systems. Social media firms like Twitter, Facebook and have been criticized over the past several weeks about how they handled the content around the conflict between Israel and Last week, pro- activists hit Facebook with a coordinated campaign where they have been successful in pushing down the app review rating of the social networking platform on both Apple and Google app stores. The average star rating for the social network was down from over 4 out of 5 to 2.3 out of 5 on Apple's App Store and 2.4 out of 5 on the Google Play after receiving thousands of one-star reviews. "Our policies are designed to give everyone a voice while keeping them safe on our apps, and we apply these policies equally, regardless of who is posting or their personal beliefs," a Facebook spokesperson had said in a statement. "We have a dedicated team, which includes Arabic and Hebrew speakers, closely monitoring the situation on the ground, who are focused on making sure we're removing harmful content, while addressing any enforcement errors as quickly as possible," the company spokesperson was quoted as saying. --IANS na/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) is set to launch in India the X7 Max smartphone and a couple of 4K LED smart televisions at 12:30 pm on Monday. The Chinese smartphone brand is hosting a virtual event to launch the products, and the event will livestream on its social media platforms, including Facebook and YouTube. You can also watch the livestream on the video embedded below. X7 Max 5G Third smartphone in the performance-centric Realme X7 series, the Max edition will be powered by MediaTek Dimensity 1200 system-on-chip. It is a flagship octa-core chip with a prime Cortex-A78 core clocked at up to 3.0GHz; three additional A78 cores clocked at up to 2.6GHz; and four energy-efficient Cortex-A55 cores that could go up to 2.0GHz. Besides, the phone will sport a super AMOLED screen of 120Hz refresh rate. It will boast a triple-camera set-up on the rear, featuring a 64-megapixel primary sensor. It will be a 5G smartphone with dual-SIM dual-standby and standalone carrier support on both SIMs. The phone will boot Android 11 operating system based Realme UI 2. It will ship with 65W fast-charger but will support 50W charging capability. Realme Smart TV 4K The Realme Smart TV 4K will come in two screen sizes 50-inch and 43-inch. Both will be similar to each other with regard to features and specifications. The TVs will sport 4K UHD LED screen of 280 nits average brightness level. Importantly, both the TVs will support HDR10 and Dolby Vision high dynamic range content. Besides, they both will feature a 24W quad-speakers set-up powered by both DTS surround and Dolby Atmos audio. Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 31 (ANI/NewsVoir): India Design Awards has been organised by Blindwink to recognise the creative excellence of the Architects & Interior Designers Pan India & acknowledge their marvellous work. The awards are an ode to the architects & designers who give life to the lifeless bricks & transform the houses, work places, towns, cities and the nation giving them a unique identity through their architectural excellence & wonderful aesthetic vision. The awards hold a very high credibility being solely based on merits, announced post meticulous selection process, research, online survey & opinions. India Design Awards, one of India's most prestigious awards, were conceived and initiated by (http://blindwink.in/) Blindwink - Best Market Research Company In India. The initiative was well supported by (https://brandzmagazine.com/) Brandz Magazine - Magazine Partner, Untold Success Stories - Associate Partner. The list of the awardees are: Winners of India Design Awards - 2021 Architect of The Year - Debasish Sarkar (Manager Director) - Fasthelp Private Limited Most Creative Multidisciplinary Architecture, Graphic & Interior Designing Firm in Pune - 100 Ants Design Studio - Ar. Chaitanya Padhye & Ar. Swarali Sathaye (Co-founder & Principal Architects) Most Creative Interior Designer in Ahmedabad - Chirag Mehta (Founder & Principal Interior Designer) - 9 Degree Design Studio Outstanding Excellence in Interior Architecture & Design - AK Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. - Amit Maitra & Kallol Baroi (Directors) Most Creative & Innovative Young Interior Designer in West UP - Amit Gupta (Principal Designer) - Spacekraft Architect and Interiors Leading Architectural Design Firm in South India - Arun Thomas Architects - Arun Thomas (Principal Architect) Best Architecture & Interior Designing Firm in Punjab - Bansal Associates Barnala - Ar. Naveen Bansal (Principal Architect) Most Innovative Young Architects in Chennai - Gayathri B M & Ar. Mohamed Ashik M (Associate Architects) - Design Crete Best Architectural Designer in NCR, Noida - Architect Rohit Indoria (Head Designer) - Aestom Architects and Interior Designers Most Innovative Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Architecture & Interior Designing Firm in Odisha - Envirogene - Ar. Piyush Goenka (Principal Architect) Best Interior Design Firm - Hyderabad - The Design Theory Best Turnkey Interior Designers in Maharashtra - Sanjay Prakash Rawte - M/s. SHILPI INTER DESIGNS SOLUTIONZ Most Creative Multidisciplinary Architecture & Designing Firm in Delhi - INTERSTICE STUDIO Most Promising Architects & Interior Designers, Delhi - Rohit Sethi & Ms. Saloni Sethi - ABITARE ARCHITECTS Best Architecture and Design Consulting Firm in Maharashtra - Niraj Doshi Design Consultancy [N.D.D.C.] Young Design Icon For Excellence in Interior Designing Projects in Gujarat - Karya Design Studio Most Influential Eco friendly Design Consultant Firm in Ahmedabad - SferaBlu Architects Most Innovative Young Dynamic Architecture & Urban Planning Firm - Ar. Nirav Khant & Ar. Khushbu Doshi - MAATRA Architects Most Splendid and Prestigious Residential Interior Designs in Hyderabad - Amerr Patel Jadigam - Amaze One Interior Design Studio (Founder & CEO) Most Promising Architect and Interior Designer In Assam - Tirthankar Dey (Principal Architect) - Indian Studio Of Architecture and Interior Design Best Hospitality Interior Designers 2021 - Manas Barua (Principal Designer) - designers.manas Most Creative Architects & Interior Designers in Bangalore - 2021 - Karthik Pd (SRCREATIONS) Blindwink is the best market research company In India. We are the ambassadors for your brand; & market researchers for the new trend. We make Iconic Brands. We empower emerging start-ups, entrepreneurs & growing businesses and transform them into well known brands. Website: (http://www.blindwink.in/) This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Most of the women running the biggest U.S. companies saw their pay increase last year, even as the pandemic hammered the economy and many of their businesses. Despite those gains, however, the median pay for female chief executives actually fell in 2020. Already a small group, they saw several high-profile women leave their ranks last year. That means changes in pay for only a few helped skew the overall figures, highlighting just how slow diversity has been to catch on in Corporate America's corner offices. Of the 342 CEOs in the AP's and Equilar's compensation survey of S&P 500 companies, only 16 were women. That's down from 20 a year earlier, as CEOs like IBM's Virginia Rometty left their posts. The survey includes only CEOs who have served at least two full fiscal years at their companies, in order to avoid the distortions of big sign-on bonuses. The companies must have filed proxy statements between Jan. 1 and April 30. The majority of female CEOs in this year's survey saw a raise in compensation: 81% of them (13 of 16), versus 60% of all male CEOs in the survey. But Duke Energy CEO Lynn Good saw a nearly 3% decline in compensation to $14.3 million. She's right in the middle of the pay scale among the survey's women CEOs, so that helped set the median pay for them last year at $13.6 million. Median means half made more than that level, and half made less. That level marks a 1.9% drop from the median that those same female CEOs earned a year a before. And it compares with a median of $12.6 million for all male CEOs in this year's survey, which is 5.2% higher than the median for them from a year earlier. The overall median for the survey was $12.7 million. While the number of women in the survey dropped last year, experts say change is happening, just very slowly as companies have failed to properly recognize and prepare more women for the role. Also read: Despite higher education, women participation in labour market remains low: CMIE "It's a slow process," said Lorraine Hariton, President & CEO of Catalyst, a nonprofit that aims to advance women in the workplace. "But the reasons are we are still dealing with cultures embedded with unconscious bias and building the pipeline of women CEOs takes time." Lisa Su, CEO of chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices, topped the list with a compensation package worth $27.1 million. That included a base salary of just over $1 million, a cash bonus worth $2.5 million and stock and option awards worth nearly $23.5 million. AMD's stock nearly doubled in 2020 after being the top-performing stock in the S&P 500 the prior two years. A year ago, Su was the highest paid CEO in the Equilar analysis, man or woman, with a pay package worth $58.5 million, largely due to stock grants worth $53.2 million. General Motors CEO Mary Bara ranked second among women with a compensation package worth $23.2 million. And Northrop Grumman's CEO Kathy Warden was third with pay valued at $19.7 million. Overall, many CEOs took a cut in salary last year because of the pandemic, but got more in stock awards and other compensation. Pay for female CEOs largely followed a similar pattern but because of the small sample size it is difficult to draw conclusions as any one minor adjustment can skew the results. There are some signs of change, with more women in top management. JPMorgan Chase recently placed two women in roles where they could potentially succeed CEO Jamie Dimon. And executive recruiting firms say they see increased interest from companies, particularly as research shows that having a more diverse company leads to better results. Also read: Why are there fewer women workers in India? "It's just good business," said Jane Stevenson, vice chair at organizational consulting firm Korn Ferry. "It's no longer a 'Should more women be in business?' More diverse pipelines produce better outcomes. As more businesses prove it can be done over time, then positive peer pressure kicks in." Don Lowman, senior client partner at Korn Ferry, expects the evolution will continue as well as new leadership with different attitudes and perspectives help shape companies moving forward. Lowman and Stevenson said this is true not just for women but for leaders of different races as well. The executive suite has long been dominated by white males. "This is a law of supply and demand," Stevenson said. "We have the demand side cultivated (in the boardroom), but now we need the supply side to be cultivated." Raymond Ltd on Monday said it has appointed Harmohan Sahni as chief executive officer (CEO) of its realty business. "Raymond Ltd strengthened its executive leadership team with the appointment of Harmohan Sahni as chief executive officer of its realty business. An industry stalwart, Harmohan was till recently the COO of Real Estate business of ECL Finance Ltd (Edelweiss Group) and has enormous experience in executing projects," Raymond said in a statement. With a 100 acre plus land parcel in the heart of Thane city in Maharashtra, Raymond forayed into the real estate space in 2019 with its maiden project 'Aspirational District', which is spread over 14 acres. Gautam Hari Singhania, Chairman and Managing Director, Raymond, said Sahni has joined the company at a critical juncture when Raymond Realty is taking strong strides and is well poised for growth. "Harmohan has taken on challenging roles and demonstrated the ability to imagine and engineer a new future for the real estate sector in India. His entrepreneurial spirit and extensive experience will be pivotal in unleashing Raymond Realty's future growth plans," he said. Sahni, a chartered accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, has worked at GCorp Developers and Mahindra Lifespaces in various leadership roles. He began his career with Tata Steel and later worked with JSW Aluminium Ltd. Adani Wilmar Ltd, which offers a range of edible oils and food products under the Fortune brand, has launched a mobile app for customers to order the products online from their home. At present, customers in 17 towns -- Ahmedabad, Gandhidham, Pune, Akola, Gurugram, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Noida, Panchkula, Mohali, Kanpur, Kolkata, Indore, Jodhpur, Raipur, Bengaluru and Hyderabad -- can place orders for Fortune oils and its range of food and personal care products using the app, which is available on Android, iOS, Adani Wilmar said in a release. The company plans to roll out the app, which has seen over 11,000 downloads in less than a month since its launch, in other key markets in the coming days. "Once the order is placed, the products are delivered with no delivery charges taken from the consumers. The deliveries are completed within 2-3 days. Customers are eligible for getting a free gift on their first order. There are exclusive combos available, and consumers can avail discounts up to 45 per cent on products ordered from the application," it added. Also read: Tata Group on buying spree, looking to acquire Curefit for its 'super app' Adani Wilmar said it has adhered to all safety parameters, and the application includes multiple payment options and contactless delivery. Besides oils and other food products, a range of soaps as well as recently launched hand wash and sanitizer of Alife brand, which is another brand owned by Adani Wilmar, will also be available on the app. "The app has been launched at a time when more and more customers are preferring to buy groceries online, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out last year. The app allows customers to buy from the whole range of Fortune products, and get it safely delivered at their doorsteps at attractive prices," Adani Wilmar MD and CEO Angshu Mallick said. The company's products continue to be available on various e-commerce platforms, modern retail, and provision stores, Mallick added. Also read: Jobs scene in small towns suffers a blow in Covid-19 second wave IT company Cognizant on Monday said it has started a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive for its over 6,50,000 associates, their families and support teams. Besides, the company is also delivering life-saving supplies, including 1,000 oxygenated beds, ventilators, and vaccinations, to worst hit communities through $8.5 million (approximately Rs 60 crore) in COVID relief funding. "The efforts are a part of - Operation C3 - Cognizant's COVID-19 rapid response program to combat the pandemic which is aimed at protecting the health and safety of associates, their families, and extends to enterprise and vulnerable communities," the company said in a release. The vaccination drive for associates and families, launched in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Gurgaon, is expanded to 100 vaccination centers (CVCs) across 40 cities, and will be further extended. Also read: COVID-19: India Inc's sentiments take hit, Business Confidence Index falls to 51.5 from 74.2 "The vaccinations will be administered at Cognizant's own facilities and through a network of hospitals managed by healthcare providers, including, Apollo, Columbia ASIA, Fortis and Manipal. Cognizant will cover the costs of vaccines, enable time-off and ensure vaccine reimbursements, where needed," it said. The company said Cognizant India Foundation has collaborated with several NGOs and health authorities to mobilise delivery of 1,000 oxygenated COVID care beds for free, pediatric ICU units, over 7 lakh personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline workers, and special vaccination camps for people with disabilities and their care-givers. More than 8,000 people have received vaccinations in these camps so far in the ongoing drive, it added. The company has taken several measures to support its associates and their families for COVID-19, including a dedicated 24/7 emergency care helpline, virtual doctor consultations, COVID care hospital rooms with oxygen support, home quarantine care in 12 cities, among others. Besides, it has also rolled-out fully paid COVID leave for impacted associates or those serving as caregivers. "Our first priority is to protect our associates, their dependents, and support teams during these challenging times. We have partnered with top-tier healthcare providers and hospitals with pan India presence to help ensure access to critical health services and vaccinations," Cognizant India Executive Vice President and Chairman Rajesh Nambiar said. Also read: Traders' body disappointed with COVID-19 unlocking in Delhi, calls for opening of markets The Delhi High Court Monday directed North Municipal Corporation of Delhi (North MCD) to disclose its list of assets and bank balance to examine the issue of non-payment of salaries to the employees and pensions for those retired. The high court warned it will now start attaching the civic body's properties as the employees and retired staff cannot wait endlessly for salaries and pensions. A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet Singh directed the North MCD's chairman to file the affidavit disclosing the assets and bank balances and listed the matter for further hearing on July 8. Also Read: COVID-19: Delhi registers 648 new cases, positivity rate falls below 1% The Delhi High Court issued a notice to microblogging site Twitter for non-compliance of the new Information Technology rules. The court said that the digital media will have to comply with the new norms. The issue was passed by Justice Rekha Palli who sought a response from the site within three weeks. The court was hearing a plea by lawyer Amit Acharya over Twitter's non-compliance. "They have to follow it (rules), if it has not been stayed," the court said. Acharya filed the plea through advocates Akash Vajpai and Manish Kumar. He said that he came to know about the non-compliance when he tried to lodge a complaint against a couple of tweets. Twitter claimed that it has complied with the rules and has appointed a resident grievance officer. However, the central government disputed the claim. Central government standing counsel Ripudaman Singh Bhardwaj told the Centre that Twitter has not complied with the new IT rules. Acharya said that the IT Rules took effect from February 25 and that the Centre gave three months to every social media intermediary to comply with them. The three-month period was over on May 25 but Twitter still did not have any resident grievance officer. He sought a direction to Twitter to appoint a resident grievance officer without further delay. It has also sought a direction to the Centre to ensure that the IT rules are complied with. Meanwhile, Twitter had recently said it was committed to India but criticised the new rules. It said that they 'inhibit free, open public conversation'. "We are concerned by recent events regarding our employees in India and the potential threat to freedom of expression for the people we serve," a spokesperson said, following a raid by the Delhi Police. The Centre replied to the social media platforms and said that the allegations are baseless and false and were made in an attempt to defame India and dictate terms to world's largest democracy. It said that Twitter's refusal to comply were not only hollow but also completely self-serving. Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter and other social media platforms have been asked to identify the originator of a flagged message within 36 hours as well as conduct additional due diligence, including the appointment of a chief compliance officer, nodal contact person and resident grievance officer. Also read: Delhi Police raids Twitter's Delhi, Gurugram offices in 'Toolkit' case Also read: 'Twitter can't dictate India's legal policy': MeitY hits back at site's staff security concerns Australian scientist on WHO team defends findings about coronavirus origin Xinhua) 08:19, May 31, 2021 Zhang Xin arranges samples for nucleic acid tests at a lab of China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing, capital of China, July 3, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) Dwyer said in the interview that it could take "many, many years" to discover the origins of diseases and that it would only be achieved through cooperation. SYDNEY, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Australian scientist on a World Health Organization (WHO) expert team sent to China on a COVID-19 origin-tracing mission defended the team's findings as some reports speculated about the "lab leak" theory and after U.S. President Joe Biden ordered intelligence agencies to carry out extra investigations into the source of the pandemic. In an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Friday, University of Sydney Professor Dominic Dwyer, who along with scientists from other countries spent four weeks in Wuhan of China for the WHO mission, said there was no evidence to back up the lab escape theory. "The U.S. intelligence forces were asked to show if they had any information that might be helpful. They haven't done that as yet," Dwyer said. "The fact that President Biden says he's getting conflicting reports from his intelligence agencies, to me, suggests there is no clear evidence, otherwise it would be obvious what was going on," he said. "I think we just need to see the evidence. If we've got it, let's act on it....But show us the money," the ABC report cited Dwyer. He said authorities in Wuhan had been "pretty open" with the team during its investigation. File photo taken on April 1, 2020 shows a researcher working at a lab of University of Queensland (UQ) in Brisbane, Australia. (University of Queensland/Handout via Xinhua) "The evidence we got and the questions we asked and the answers we got are really what I would expect if I was doing the same investigation in Australia or New Zealand or somewhere similar," he said. Dwyer said in the interview that it could take "many, many years" to discover the origins of diseases and that it would only be achieved through cooperation. "You have to develop cooperation; you have to work with people in an open and transparent manner to get things done," he said. "The more people fight about it, or people use politics to score points or whatever it might be, the less likely you are to get the cooperation to work together to sort it out," he warned. "So I would plead that the diplomacy improves so that we can get on and do the science," he added. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) Magma Fincorp Ltd on Monday announced a series of leadership changes, including appointment of Adar Poonawalla as the chairman of the company. The non-banking finance company's (NBFC's) board also appointed Abhay Bhutada as its managing director. The new appointments come following Poonawalla-led Rising Sun Holdings' acquisition of controlling stake in Magma Fincorp through an equity infusion of Rs 3,456 crore earlier this month. Poonawalla is also the chief executive officer of Pune-based Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer. Magma Fincorp also said that Vijay Deshwal, a seasoned banker with a track record of over two decades, will take charge as the company's CEO from the first week of July. He will also be the Group CEO of Poonawalla Group's financial services business. "Deshwal is currently a business head at ICICI Bank, responsible for its fast growing services sector, including new age businesses. He is also responsible for driving the liability strategy for the corporate ecosystem at the bank," the company said in a release. Having handled pan-India financial institutions, including NBFCs for over six years, Deshwal has vast understanding of various asset classes and the cyclicality of these businesses. He had previously headed debt syndication business for ICICI Bank for over five years. Also read: COVID-19 second wave hits hiring in tier 2 & 3 markets "These changes reflect the company's transition into the next phase of growth and the ongoing commitment to achieving the highest standards of corporate governance," it added. As the second wave of COVID-19 is subsiding, the new management is expected to drive business acceleration. The rebranding of the company as a Poonawalla Group firm is underway. The company's cost of funds is expected to fall in line with the industry best, along with resultant improvement in credit rating and progress towards resilience under the Poonawalla brand, Magama Fincorp said. The company reported a net loss of Rs 559 crore in financial year 2020-21, while for January-March quarter, the net loss stood at Rs 648 crore. "The company has exited FY21 with a very strong balance sheet and with further capital infusion of Rs 3,456 crore, is adequately capitalised to usher in a period of growth and superior risk-return ratios and RoA and RoE," it said. Magma Fincorp is a systemically important non-deposit taking NBFC. Along with its subsidiaries and joint ventures, it offers a bouquet of financial products, including commercial finance, agri finance, SME finance, mortgage finance and general insurance with focus on the rural and semi-urban sectors. It has a customer base of 5.4 million and manages a loan book of Rs 14,225 crore. Also read: PLI Scheme: 46 firms get nod for domestic manufacturing of APIs, drug intermediates Noida's apparel exporters are seeing lost orders from the US and Europe trickle in again with the western nations slowly opening up after bringing the pandemic under control and international buyers gaining confidence with some restrictions easing in India as well. "Multinational clothing retailers such as Sweden's H&M, Britain's Marks & Spencer, Spain's Zara and a lot of US apparel importers have placed orders again. International buyers had moved 10-15% of the orders to other countries. Now, orders are coming back," said Noida Apparel Exporters Cluster president (NAEC) Lalit Thukral. Noida, which has around 3,000 apparel manufacturing units, is one of the most prominent apparel centres in the country with the tag of 'town of export excellence' given to it by the Centre. Of the over Rs 1.13 lakh crore garments exported from India, Noida accounted for about Rs 25,000 crore pre-pandemic. "Europe and the US have opened to an extent now. Their citizens are getting vaccinated, and sales are going up. So, they need stocks. Besides, with things improving in India, too, the buyers are also confident that we can meet the order targets," said Thukral. Europe and the US are India's biggest markets for India's garment exports. The pandemic swallowed up several jobs in the multi-million dollar garment manufacturing industry, which employs at least 12 million people, as several factories fell silent last year. Unlike other apparel export hubs like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, factories were allowed to function in Uttar Pradesh (of which Noida is a part of). But NAEC had flagged that they were facing a labour shortage because many workers had gone back to their villages due to the Covid crisis and a local panchayat election. This also meant that buyers from the US and Europe were shifting orders from India to Bangladesh and Vietnam over concern that Indian units won't be able to meet targets. "Now, some of the workers have started returning and we are ready to complete orders and supply to our buyers. There are still some hassles in sourcing accessories, but that should improve in another 10 days or so, too," said Thukral. Although India doesn't offer the cheapest labour compared to Bangladesh, Vietnam or China, we still have a competitive edge in terms of embroideries, fabrics and a lot of different prints, he added. "Besides, we have our own textile and yarn manufacturing hubs here. Other exporters buy fabrics from other countries to make their garments," said Thukral. He said the cluster was working with Apollo, Metro, Kailash and Fortis hospitals to organise Covid vaccination for its workers. The industry, which is largely made up of MSMEs, has been one of the worst hit due to the pandemic. Industry insiders say they have got no benefits in the Rs 24.35 lakh crore stimulus package announced by the government last year to revive the economy. Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi has been admitted at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital in Dominica's capital city of Roseau. It is unclear why he has been admitted but he has tested negative for COVID-19. Choksi, who has been accused of siphoning off Rs 13,500 crore of public money from the state-run Punjab National Bank, is admitted into the Imray Wade ward of the hospital under extremely tight security. Antigua's news channel Nature Isle News (NIN) tried to get access to Choksi but was denied so by the police. The police told NIN that only Choksi's legal team could meet him, according to an Antigua Newsroom report. Mehul Choski admitted to hospital, tests negative for COVID-19 https://t.co/vwDZnKs9GX via @AntiguaNewsRoom AntiguaNewsRoom (@AntiguaNewsRoom) May 30, 2021 Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne alleged that the PNB scam accused travelled from Antigua to Dominica to spend a 'good time' with his girlfriend but was caught by Dominican Police. "Mehul Choksi made a mistake and the information we are getting is that Choksi travelled with his girlfriend probably to spend some good time, but he was caught in Dominica and now he can be deported back to India," Browne said in an interview. Meanwhile, the first pictures of the fugitive businessman surfaced this Saturday. Choksi can be seen behind bars in these photographs and there are bruises on his hands and wrists and his left eye appears to be swollen. Choksi's lawyers have claimed that policemen looking like Antiguan and Indian abducted him from Antigua and Barbuda's Jolly Harbour. They further stated that Choksi was taken to Dominica and tortured. Antigua and Barbuda Police have, however, denied allegations of abduction and torture of Mehul Choksi. Also read: Mehul Choksi went to Dominica to spend 'good time' with girlfriend: Antigua PM Also read: Mehul Choksi's photos from Dominica surface; show him behind bars, with injury marks The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has expressed its disappointment over COVID-19 unlocking process in Delhi and called for allowing opening of markets. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that the process of lifting the lockdown gradually in the capital will begin from Monday, starting with resumption of construction activities and reopening of factories for a week. "The traders across Delhi are highly disappointed because they were expecting that shops will open from today in a phased manner to revive the business activities and was logical too because when the lockdown was announced in Delhi on April 19, the infection rate was 26.12 per cent...which has come down...to less than 1.5 per cent," CAIT said in a letter to Kejriwal. Also read: Sovereign Gold Bond scheme opens today, issue price fixed at Rs 4,889 per gm It said construction and factory activities cannot take place without cement, sand, building material, iron, ball bearing, hand tools, among others, which can be procured only from shops. Besides, the goods produced in factories cannot be sold if the shops are closed, CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said. He urged the chief minister to review the decision and allow opening of markets, even if for lesser hours. "As suggested earlier, the wholesale markets and retail markets in Delhi may be allowed to open in different staggered timings with a night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am." The traders' body said keeping markets shut will lead to financial problems for traders, their families and employees. The national capital reported 946 new COVID-19 cases and 78 fatalities on Sunday. Positivity rate stood at 1.25 per cent. Also read: India's Q4 GDP to be announced today: What to expect? Xi Jinping-led Chinese government should cooperate with the world to trace the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to prevent future pandemics, said US health experts. Not having complete know-how about the origins of the pandemic puts the world at risk of future pandemics, according to the co-director of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development Peter Hotez. "There's going to be Covid-26 and Covid-32 unless we fully understand the origins of Covid-19," Hotez said on NBC's "Meet the press." Leads substantiating the claim that SARS-CoV-2 is likely to have escaped a lab in China's Wuhan have increased, said former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration Scott Gottlieb. "China hasn't provided much evidence to disprove that theory, while the search for signs that the virus emerged from wildlife hasn't yielded results," Gottlieb added. Also read: What is the origin of SARS-COV-2, the virus that has killed 3.5 mn people till now? Hotez further added the scientists should be allowed to conduct a long-term investigation in China and collect blood samples from humans and animals. He also stated the US should pressurise China to allow for an inquiry. Hotez said, "We need a team of scientists, epidemiologists, virologists, and bat ecologists in Hubei province for a six-month, year-long period." After US President Joe Biden asked the American intelligence agencies to augment their efforts to trace COVID-19 origins, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said the investigation into the origins of the pandemic was being 'poisoned by politics'. WHO's top emergency expert Mike Ryan said, "We would like for everyone out there to separate if they can, the politics of this issue from the science. This whole process is being poisoned by politics." Also read: US intel agencies probe reports of early COVID-19 infections in China's Wuhan lab While the US believes that the COVID-19 pandemic originated from a lab in Wuhan, the WHO said that the virus's origin was not uncovered but a lab leak was not likely. China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian had dismissed Biden administration's inquiry attempts as engaging in 'stigmatisation, political manipulation and blame-shifting.' The debate around origins of the COVID-19 pandemic was ignited once again as a Wall Street Journal report dated May 23 stated that three researchers from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) were seeking hospital care for symptoms consistent with coronavirus as well as common seasonal illness in November 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic was disclosed. Also read: 3 researchers from Wuhan lab sought hospital care months before COVID-19 outbreak disclosed The claim made in the WSJ report is congruent with a US State Department factsheet released near the fag-end of the Trump administration. This report states, "The US government has reason to believe that several researchers inside the WIV became sick in autumn 2019, before the first identified case of the outbreak, with symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and common seasonal illnesses." This report, however, did not specify the number of researchers. Edited by Mehak Agarwal; with agency inputs Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) share zoomed for the second straight session today after brokerage Jefferies raised its target price for the market heavyweight. In two sessions, the share has gained over 10%. On Friday, the large cap stock closed 6% higher at Rs 2,094.90 on BSE. RIL share touched an intraday high of Rs 2,191.5 rising 4.61% on BSE. Reliance Industries stock is trading higher than 5 day, 20 day, 50 day, 100 day and 200 day moving averages. The share has risen 48% in one year and gained 9.25% since the beginning of this year. Market cap of the firm rose to Rs 13.67 lakh crore on BSE. Total 19.65 lakh shares amounting to turnover of Rs 423 crore changed hands on BSE. The share hit its all-time high of Rs 2,368.20 on September 16, 2020 and fell to its 52-week low of Rs 1,453 on May 29, 2020. Later, the stock closed 3.13% higher at Rs 2,160 on BSE. Last week, Jefferies set the base target for the RIL stock at Rs 2,580. It suggested an upside scenario target of Rs 3,150, a 59 per cent rise over Thursday's closing price. The brokerage said it saw a 50 per cent upside in the refiner's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for petrochemical business if the prevailing momentum sustains. A sustained strong performance by the petrochemical vertical will improve the likelihood of oil-to-chemical (O2C) business stake sale in FY22 and may lead to a reversal of the 40 per cent underperformance in the Nifty pack, it said. The stock has carried forward positive momentum from last week. Is it heading for record high? Here's what experts said. Yash Gupta, Equity Research Associate at Angel Broking said, "We have seen a major consolidation in the stock in the last 3 months and it has underperformed Nifty. In the last 3 months, Nifty has rallied 900 points while Reliance has corrected by 2% despite RIL being the highest weightage stock in Nifty. Commodity prices in the international market are in upward momentum, same as with petrochemical products prices also. Prices of almost all petrochemical products have hit yearly high. With this, company's realisation will improve along with EBITDA margins for the next couple of quarters. As per the market news , for BPCL disinvestment, government may give some relaxation in FDI rules. Any positive news will be good for Reliance Industries also. We expect the stock to be in upward momentum and may touch the levels of Rs 2,200 to Rs 2,250 in the coming week." AR Ramachandran, Co-founder & Trainer, Tips2Trades said, "Estimated rise in petrochemical margins, supposed tie-up with Infibeam & Google for a digital payments network with sustained strong performance of Reliance Retail has led to an amazing intraday rally on Friday. Even though Friday's move was supported by strong volumes, Reliance still faces resistance at 2,115. Close above this level could pave way for Rs 2,244- Rs 2,458 levels in the coming weeks. Rs 2030 now becomes strong support in this week." Loading the player... COVID-19: Serum Institute to supply 10 crore doses of Covishield in June Serum Institute of India (SII) has informed the government that it will be able to manufacture and supply nine to 10 crore doses of Covishield in June, official sources said on Sunday amid complaint by states about the shortage of anti-coronavirus vaccine jabs. In a recent letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, SII said its employees have been working round the clock in spite of various challenges because of the pandemic. COVID-19 impact: Govt widens scope of Emergency Credit Scheme to help small businesses The Centre has taken the decision to fine-tune its emergency credit guarantee scheme to give long-term relief to a broader section of small business borrowers. It widened the net of the Rs 3 lakh crore Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS), which will now provide concessional loans to hospitals for establishing on-site oxygen generation plants. Paytm board gives in-principle approval for Rs 22,000 crore IPO Digital payments and financial services firm Paytm has been making headlines for its intended initial public offering (IPO), touted to be one of India's biggest, surpassing Coal India's IPO. The board of the company was scheduled to meet on Friday to deliberate on the Vijay Shekhar Sharma-helmed company's IPO plans. Latest developments suggest that the board has given its in-principle approval for the Rs 22,000 crore IPO. COVID-19: Zydus Cadila plans trials for its vaccine in 5-12 years age group Zydus Cadila is planning to start the trials of its COVID-19 vaccine, ZyCoV-D, in children of 5-12 years age group after covering adults and 12-18 years children under its ongoing clinical trials. The Ahmedabad-based company has covered over 800 children in 12-18 years age group under its trials. ZyCoV-D is a DNA plasmid vaccine, which uses a portion of the genetic code -- DNA or RNA -- in the virus to stimulate an immune response. Cadila is aiming to submit the emergency use application for the vaccine by June. Google, Facebook begin updating websites to reflect appointment of grievance officers under IT rules Large digital companies like Google and Facebook have begun updating their websites to reflect the appointment of the grievance officers under the new social media rules that came into effect recently. They have shared details with the IT Ministry as per the requirement of the new digital rules, but Twitter is still not following the norms. As per the rules, all intermediaries have to prominently publish on their website, app or both, the name of the grievance officer and his/her contact details as well as the mechanism by which a user or a victim may make a complaint. In the second quarter of FY21, when the country was coming out of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was tier 2-3-4 India which was among the first to bounce back. With pandemic incidences low in these markets, the job market was bustling too. But with the pandemic spreading into small-town India in the second wave, the hiring trend in these markets has been gloomy. According to a report by HR firm, CIEL, hiring of grey and blue-collared employees has seen a massive dip in the past few months. In fact, the dip began in the second half of FY21, especially in the manufacturing and engineering sectors. From 132 in July-September 2020, the index of actual hires dipped to 60 in January-March 2021. The month of April did see an increase, but there has been a 10-15 per cent dip in hiring in May in the states which have imposed a strict lockdown. "The consumer sentiments are dampened impacting demand for automotive, consumer durables and the non-essential spends. This will have an impact on the business in tier 2 cities," says the report. There hasn't been too much action in these markets in terms of white collar hiring either. The CIEL report says that hiring for white collar jobs in tier-2 locations have been largely for replacements. "Hiring intent in tier-2 has remained weak. This reflects lack of growth in the manufacturing sector. India-level figures show gradual increase and reflects the hiring intensity in IT, outsourcing, technology & ecommerce." According to Aditya Mishra, CEO, CIEL, companies in tier 2-3 markets always had the intent to hire and even interviewed candidates, but when the pandemic started spreading, they stepped back. "They felt they would be able to manage with their existing staff till the situation improved. The gap between intent to hire and the actual hiring in these markets is 50 per cent." Though it's certainly not life as usual for companies in the metros and tier 1 markets, Mishra says that certain sectors such as IT, technology, pharma and healthcare are hiring aggressively. "In fact, the IT sector hiring is at least 10 per cent more than what it did last year. The hirings in FMCG, banking and financial services are muted." Also read: India's unemployment in 2020 at worst level in 29 years, shows study Also read: COVID-19 first wave pushed 23 crore Indians into poverty: Azim Premji University Also read: India stares at double-digit unemployment rate, 10 million job losses in May: CMIE Highlights Google Photos will stop the free, unlimited storage of high-quality photos from tomorrow. Users can tweak some settings to free up storage and create space. Users can also consider Google One plans that start from Rs 130. Starting June 1, which is tomorrow, Google Photos will stop the free, unlimited storage of high-quality photos. The existing high-quality photos and videos are exempt from this change and will not count towards the 15GB default storage that comes with a Google account. However, after tomorrow, the new high-quality photos and uncompressed original photos will count towards a user's storage once the policy comes into effect. If you have already reached close to the limit of 15GB, and do not want to consider a paid plan yet, you can change the quality settings of the photos from Original to High. Users can also free up space by using tools that Google has introduced for Google Photos to weed out unwanted photos and videos. Users can also do the same by going to the Manage Storage section in Google One. According to Google, "the storage management tool surfaces photos or videos you might want to delete like blurry photos, screenshots and large videos so you can get the most out of your storage." To use the tool users should follow the given steps: -- Open Google Photos -- Click on the account icon on the right corner of the library section. -- Go to Account Storage. -- Tap on Manage Storage. Users will be able to see new sections rolled out by Google including blurry photos which will then take them to the grid of snaps that are blurry or dark. It will also show unsupported videos that users can get rid of. -- Android users can tap on Menu and then select Free up space. -- To delete all the items from your phone, you need to tap Free up. Another method to manage storage is to go to Google One Storage and select Manage Storage: -- Go to Google One. -- Select Manage Storage or Free up account Storage. -- Free up account storage from the Get your space back section. -- Here you will see deleted files from Google Drive, emails with large-sized attachments and spam emails that you can clear to create additional space. --Select review and free data. If users feel that their storage data is being used up, they can consider paid options which are as follows: 100GB: This storage plan by Google comes for Rs 130 a month and for Rs 1300 a year. This plan brings 100 GB storage, extra member benefits, the option to add family members, and access to Google experts. 200GB: This storage plan by Google comes for Rs 210 a month and for Rs 2100 a year. This plan brings 200 GB storage, extra member benefits, the option to add family members and access to Google experts. 2TB: This plan comes for Rs 650 a month and for Rs 6500 a year with additional benefits remaining the same. Google gives VPN services for this plan in the US and is likely to expand it to India. Apple users can also get access to Google One on their iPhones or iPads. Alternatively, they can subscribe to the Apple One subscription which was introduced in India last year for Rs 195 and Rs 365 with 50GB and 200GB of storage respectively. The Apple One services are combined in one simple plan, including Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Apple Fitness+, and iCloud. Highlights A new Qualcomm chipset has been listed on Geekbench. The performance score of the new Qualcomm chip is very similar to that of Snapdragon 888. It uses an overclocked X1 performance core clocked at 3.0GHz. Qualcomm might soon be following its usual practice of introducing a plus moniker chipset for its most powerful offering. The speculations arise from a recent spotting of what can only be assumed to be the Snapdragon 888+ online. The step-up variant of Snapdragon 888 has reportedly been spotted on Geekbench recently. The listing indicates that just like the regular Snapdragon 888, the Snapdragon 888+ comes with an overclocked X1 performance core. This one, however, is clocked at 3.0GHz, unlike the 2.84GHz recorded on the original Snapdragon 888. Other than the primary performance core, the Snapdragon 888+ will make use of four low-power A55 cores running at 1.8GHz as well as three additional Cortex-A78 clusters running at 2.42Ghz. These performance boosters have helped Snapdragon 888+ achieve a single-core score of 1171, while its multi-core score was clocked at 3704. The leak was first shared by tipster Abhishek Yadav and showed a processor with entirely new scores under the name Qualcomm Lahaina. Other information on the Snapdragon 888+, as listed on Geekbench, reveals a memory requirement of 5.13 GB for the processor to work. It has also been specified that the Snapdragon 888+ will sport Android 11 initially. New Qualcomm processor listed on Geekbench The codename Lahaina was earlier speculated to be used for the Snapdragon 875, but the new specifications are much in line with what is observed for the Snapdragon 888 devices. Each year, the trend is seen as every Qualcomm chipset with a plus moniker follows its vanilla version quite closely in terms of scores. Other than the Geekbench scores, the timeline of the new listing also matches Qualcomm's annual release of plus moniker chipsets. With a launch of the regular variant in December, the chipset maker follows up with the launch of the plus variant sometime in July. Considering these signs, Snapdragon 888+ seems to be very much on its way in the coming months, with the processing prowess that has been hinted at here. The Bibel TV Foundation, Germanys leading Christian-oriented free-TV station, has extended its partnership with SES in a new multi-year contract that secures additional capacity for the Foundation to broadcast its channel on SESs satellites in its prime TV neighbourhood at ASTRA 19.2 degrees East. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210530005045/en/ Bibel TV Extends Capacity Agreement with SES on ASTRA 19.2 degrees East (Photo: Business Wire) With this multi-year agreement, viewers in the region will be able to receive Bibel TVs full programming 24 hours a day. Bibel TV will broadcast via ASTRA 19.2 degrees East in SD and HD, giving Bibel TV access to a wider audience across broadcast standards. "During the pandemic and times of social distancing, people are increasingly seeking refuge and stability in their faith. Bibel TV streams Germany's largest church services directly into living rooms, giving people the ability to actively practice their faith, even if they are unable to attend a physical church service. We are delighted that the continued distribution of our programming via SESs ASTRA satellites will give many people the opportunity to access our TV channel," said Beate Busch, Program Director and Deputy Managing Director of Bibel TV. "As the leading satellite TV provider in Germany, we pride ourselves in delivering content to homes in best picture quality, whether in SD or HD standards. Our partnership with Bibel TV underscores the importance of live broadcasting, as thanks to the power of satellite and its ability to broadcast to millions in the moment, viewers of Bibel TV will be able to stay connected with their churches in a safe and reliable way," said Christoph Muhleib, Managing Director of ASTRA Deutschland, part of SES. Follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram Read our Blogs > Visit the Media Gallery > About SES SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the worlds only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the worlds leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SESs video network carries over 8,200 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 361 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210530005045/en/ Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by subscribing or contributing today. Heres todays ranking of the 10 most-read domestic stories in China in economics, finance and current affairs. We want to help you get a sense of whats trending in the Chinese language sphere. Interest in social media was piqued by news of a stabbing in Nanjing, but was largely dominated by concern for the latest Covid-19 developments in South Chinas Guangdong province. Internet users also closely followed to process of Chinas vaccine rollout, as the country passed the 600 million mark for the number of doses administered. 1. Man held after hit-and-run rampage in eastern city of Nanjing Police in Nanjing, East Chinas Jiangsu province, have detained (external source, in Chinese) a hit-and-run suspect who witnesses had seen running over a woman and stabbing a passersby on Saturday night. 2. 13 new asymptomatic Covid-19 cases detected in Guangdong As of Saturday, 13 new cases of local asymptomatic infections had been found (link in Chinese) in recent flare-up of Covid-19 in South Chinas Guangdong province, with 12 cases reported in Guangzhou, and one case reported in the city of Foshan. 3. Leading scientist says that Chinas vaccine coverage will reach 80% by the end of the year Zhong Nanshan, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, predicted in an interview (external source, in Chinese) that by the end of this year, Chinas vaccination rate for Covid-19 will reach 80% of the population, though the countrys vaccine production capacity will need to be strengthened. 4. Covid-19 outbreak in Guangzhou is spreading fast and highly transmissible, experts say At a press conference held by the Guangzhou city government, Huang Guanglie, director of the Guangzhou Municipal Health Commission, said that compared with last years local Covid-19 outbreak, the characteristics of the current outbreak suggest that the virus is highly transmissible (external source, in Chinese), prompting calls for more disease control measures. 5. Less than one in 10,000 have had a severe adverse reaction to Chinas Covid-19 vaccines, research shows Data released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention showed that the reported incidence rate of adverse reactions to Chinese Covid-19 vaccines was 11.86 per 100,000, with severe reactions accounting for just 17% of those. Experts have said that the data show that the public can be assured that the vaccines are safe. 6. Government promises to cover losses resulting from wild elephant migration On Friday, a herd of wild elephants in the southwestern province of Yunnan began migrating north. As the herd made its way through farmland, the animals began eating and trampling crops, resulting in around 6.8 million yuan in damages (external source, in Chinese). The government has agreed to compensate the farmers for their losses. 7. Taiwan confirms a further 355 Covid-19 cases Taiwans disease control authority reported it found another 355 cases of Covid-19 (external source, in Chinese). The number of cases in Taiwan has risen sharply. From May 16 to Sunday, the island has reported more than 200 new local cases each day for fifteen straight days, with a total of 98 deaths. 8. China passes 600 million administered vaccine doses Chinas National Health Commission announced Saturday that more than 600 million doses (external source, in Chinese) of the Covid-19 vaccine had been administered nationwide, with the last 100 million vaccinations being administered in just five days. 9. 25 arrested on suspicion of smuggling over 24,000 tons of sugar Nanjing customs authorities have arrested 25 people on suspicion of smuggling more than 24,000 tons of sugar (external source, in Chinese) valued at more than 250 million yuan. According the customs authority, the sugar smugglers have not only dodged paying a large amount of national tariffs, but have also damaged Chinas agricultural security. 10. Child safety seats will become part of national Chinese legislation as of Tuesday For the first time, child safety seats (external source, in Chinese) will be explicitly featured in a national law for the protection of minors. The new law will stipulate that guardians should adopt child safety seats and educate minors as well as observe traffic rules and other measures to prevent minors from being injured in traffic accidents. Read the top 10 global news on the same day. Translated by intern reporter Harry Nicholls. The daily ranking of most read news stories among Chinese people, about China and global affairs, is jointly provided to you by Caixin Insight and HANA Data, an artificial intelligence technology team. The key indicators calculated on the list are based on mass data sourced from Chinas mainstream social media platforms and online news websites. Click here for a detailed introduction of our methodology. Heres todays ranking of the top 10 most-read international stories among Chinese people. We want to help you get a sense of whats trending in the Chinese language sphere. 1. Malaysia implements nationwide lockdown from June 1 2. Germany to allow children over age 12 to receive Covid-19 vaccinations 3. Remains of 215 children found on the site of former Canadian school for indigenous children 4. Biden submits $6 trillion budget to Congress 5. U.S. confirms it will not return to the Open Skies Treaty 6. WHO says the search for virus origins is poisoned by politics 7. Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Zhao Lijian urges Japan to spend money to beautify the nuclear water polluting the sea 8. France recognizes its role in the Rwandan Genocide 9. Vietnam discovers a mixture of mutant strains of Covid-19 10. Germany takes responsibility for colonial-era genocide in Namibia Read the top 10 domestic news on the same day. Translated by intern reporter Harry Nicholls The daily ranking of most read news stories among Chinese people, about China and global affairs, is jointly provided to you by Caixin Insight and HANA Data, an artificial intelligence technology team. The key indicators calculated on the list are based on mass data sourced from Chinas mainstream social media platforms and online news websites. Click here for a detailed introduction of our methodology. The first-day gain was the eighth biggest of the year on a U.S. exchange, out of more than 450 listings of $100 million or more Jun 12, 2021 01:02 PM Become A Subscriber A subscription opens up access to all our online content, including: our interactive E-Edition, a full archive of modern stories, exclusive and expanded online offerings, photo galleries from Caledonian-Record journalists, video reports from our media partners, extensive international, national and regional reporting by the Associated Press, and a wide variety of feature content. Here you'll find our latest collection of Caledonian-Record reports on the coronavirus outbreak and local response, from the beginning of April. Our January, February and March stories are here: https://www.caledonianrecord.com/news/local/our-coronavirus-coverage/collection_5885178c-692e-11e Do you have an athlete in mind that contributes to the team or sport, holds sportsmanship and team spirit, has epic playmaker moments and/or in general makes the the sports fun? If yes, please make your nominations for our edition of Athlete Spotlight. CLICK TO NOMINATE A volunteer places American flags on Boston Common ahead of Memorial Day, Wednesday. May 26, 2021, in Boston. After more than a year of isolation, American veterans are embracing plans for a more traditional Memorial Day. They say wreath-laying ceremonies, barbecues at local vets halls and other familiar events are a welcome chance to reconnect with fellow service members and renew solemn traditions honoring the nations war dead. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds) Medical director of Doctor on Demand Dr. Vibin Roy prepares to conduct an online visit with a patient from his work station at home, Friday, April 23, 2021, in Keller, Texas. Some U.S. employers and insurers want you to make telemedicine your first choice for most doctor visits. Retail giant Amazon and several insurers have started or expanded virtual-first care plans to get people thinking telemedicine routinely, even for annual checkups. (AP Photo/LM Otero) The Atlantic Beach Town Council meets May 24 at the town hall meeting room. Pictured from left are Councilman Harry Archer, Councilman Austin Waters, Mayor Pro Tem Rich Johnson, town clerk Katrina Tyer, Mayor Trace Cooper, town manager David Walker and Councilman Danny Navey. (Mike Shutak photo) Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. This photo provided by the Raleigh Police Department shows Maria Elizabeth Pena-Echeverria, 18, charged with murder after the body of a 69-year old man was found in a North Carolina cemetery. (Raleigh Police Department via AP) Workers with a city contractor begin putting scaffolding around the Vance Monument in downtown Asheville in July. The Vance Monument honors Zebulon Baird Vance a Confederate soldier and governor and U.S. Senator who died in 1894. Political circumstances frustrated his efforts to study architecture his father had fallen foul of the communist authorities and ended up in prison. Instead, Jankovics worked for a lab at the national Power Plant Repair and Maintenance Company, before joining Budapests Pannonia Film Studio as an in-betweener in 1960. It was the only animation studio in the country at the time. The young animator swiftly rose up the ranks, becoming a director in 1965. He started out on the satirical series Gustav before directing his and indeed Hungarys first animated feature, Johnny Corncob. Based on an epic poem by Sandor Petofi, the film was commissioned by the government to mark the 150th anniversary of the poets birth. Pannonia assembled a team of around 150 for the landmark production. The visual style of Johnny Corncob is bright, psychedelic, at times almost abstract, with more than a touch of Yellow Submarine to it. In both its design and its use of Hungarian legends and literature, the film set the tone for much of Jankovicss future work. Local folklore would explicitly inspire his long-running, widely seen series Hungarian Folk Tales (Magyar nepmesek, 19772012) and his second feature Son of the White Mare, which was recently remastered and rereleased. But Jankovics, who considered folk tales to be universal, mined the legends of other cultures for stories, too. His two-minute film Sisyphus (1974), which was nominated for an Oscar, recounts the Greek myth in stark monochrome. It was one of several shorts he directed in his career. He would also find acclaim with another, The Struggle (Kuzdok, 1977), which won the short film Palme dOr at Cannes. The directors final film was also his most epic: The Tragedy of Man (Az ember tragediaja, 2011), a near-three-hour feature about the history of human civilization that took almost three decades to finish (although Jankovics calculated that he had spent six years in total on the production). The collapse of the communist regime in 1989 upended the industry, forcing Jankovics to seek private funding for the film; this dragged out the production. Sources of money included two emblems of American capitalism: General Motors, which licensed Sisyphus for use in a car commercial that aired during the Super Bowl, and Disney, which hired Jankovics to work on the storyboard for an early version of The Emperors New Groove its then-director Roger Allers had been impressed by Johnny Corncob. In the end, Allers left the project and Jankovicss work went unused, although he was given a credit for additional visual development. In later life, Jankovics spoke openly about the censorship he suffered under communism. At the same time, he regretted the lack of government support for animation under capitalism. He was also uneasy about the rise of digital technologies. In a 2015 interview with Cartoon Brew, he said, I prefer the old studio system. The old Pannonia Film Studio was a fantastic community. Jankovics had a command over many aspects of his medium: as well as directing, he would work on the script, designs, storyboards, layouts, and animation of his films. Outside animation production, he was a prolific illustrator and educator, as well as a writer of many articles and books on culture and the arts. Lately, he had been working on a book about Biblical symbolism. Speaking to Cartoon Brew, Jankovics expounded on his personal understanding of what animation can do: As far as I can remember, Ive always thought in pictures and had a vivid imagination. In my animated films the design of every frame is of great importance, as if it would be a painting. Most of the time, and particularly in a mythical, fabulous context, my human characters, even lead characters, are only a minor part of the whole image. To try to express realistic human behavior in animation has limitations. Such attempts in serious animation are often absurdly ridiculous. Why would one imitate reality? Just leave it to living actors! Earthbound reality is not for animation. Animation is a stylized, fantastic world. His worlds, more stylized and fantastic than most, have left an indelible mark on animation in Hungary and elsewhere. He was a true one-off. Photo: Contributed A key component of any well-constructed financial plan is to make sure you have an up-to-date power of attorney for financial decisions. This is a document where people give someone else the power to make financial decisions on their behalf. If you dont already have this type of document, you should make sure you speak to an estate lawyer or notary as soon as possible. Here are some of the reasons why you should address this now. Loss of mental capacity If you wait too long to create one of these documents, you may no longer have the required capacity to sign the document. Choosing a substitute decision maker is a big decision, and your lawyer will need to feel comfortable with your decision-making capacity before allowing you to sign one. Additional burdens on your loved ones If you dont put a power of attorney or protection mandate in place, and you become incapable of making financial decisions, your family members will have to apply to court to take over your affairs. This can be a time consuming and expensive proposition that adds a lot of stress to an already difficult time. It is also possible that a court will choose someone you would not have chosen because they wont know what your preference might have been and that persons values may not align with your own. Spouses are not automatically entitled to act Understand that spouses dont automatically have the power to act for one another. Even if youre in a committed relationship, be sure to sign a power of attorney or protection mandate giving your spouse the right to act on your behalf. Its also important to always have an alternate in case your primary attorney isnt able to carry out this task for you for whatever reason. No immediate loss of control Dont hesitate to sign a power of attorney document because of a fear of losing control over your affairs. Having a power of attorney document in no way takes away from your ability to manage your assets, and in fact, you dont need to even tell your attorney that they have the power to act immediately. But you should let them know where you keep your important documents in case they need to access them at some point in the future. The problem with waiting too long to put a power of attorney in place is that you may not have sufficient capacity to sign a document by the time you really need it. When you designate someone as your attorney, that doesnt detract in any way from your ability to manage your assets, so long as you have capacity to do so. When updating your legal documents, speak to a lawyer or notary who specializes in estate planning, and if possible, has a Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designation. They will be able to ensure that the POA is done properly and also advise you of the risks associated with setting one up. Under no circumstances would a do-it-yourself will or power of attorney be recommended. If you complete the documents improperly, your family wont be able to fix the problem once youve lost capacity or passed away. Photo: Burnaby RCMP A thief armed with a saw was no match for Burnaby RCMP dog Kal. A thief attempting to steal catalytic converters in Burnaby was caught targeting four vehicles. An electric saw was found nearby and Kal was dispatched to track down the thief. One man is now in custody. Catalytic converter thefts across the Lower Mainland reached 2,154 in 2020, and the vehicle-related crime is showing no signs of abating. The theft of the exhaust emission devices has led to hundreds of deductible insurance claims generated from vehicle owners, with ICBC reporting losses close to $2 million last year. The persistent crime has triggered the Vancouver Police Board to call on the B.C. government to amend the Metal Dealers and Recyclers Act to put the onus on scrap dealers to collect identification from sellers. Currently, there is no requirement for a scrap dealer where converters are typically sold for up to $200 each for the precious metals inside them to report a transaction. This makes Vancouver Police Department investigations more challenging because suspected offenders leave the city of Vancouver with the stolen converter, said a report attached to a police board resolution forwarded last month to the B.C. Association of Police Boards. Identification is not required to sell catalytic converters, which complicates suspect identification. Vancouver police investigated 203 reports of converter thefts in 2020 and said 71 thefts occurred between Jan. 1 and March 6 of this year; for the same period in 2020, vehicle owners filed 33 reports. Police say a converter, which converts pollutants into less harmful emissions before they leave a vehicles exhaust system, can be stolen in seconds with a blow torch or cutting tool. Photo: The Canadian Press CRTC chair Ian Scott. TekSavvy Solutions Inc. says it wants the federal government to order a Competition Bureau investigation into the telecom industry in light of recent CRTC decisions. The independent internet provider formally petitioned the Trudeau cabinet late last week to overturn a CRTC decision which will put pressure on smaller ISPs to raise prices for their internet customers. The petition calls for cabinet to overrule the CRTC decision, remove CRTC chairman Ian Scott and order the Competition Bureau to look into activities by Canada's phone and cable companies. It comes after the CRTC last week reversed a 2019 decision that would have substantially lowered the wholesale internet prices charged by phone and cable companies to piggyback on larger companies' networks. Independent operators including TekSavvy buy access to the networks wholesale, which it then sells to its customers with television, phone and other services. TekSavvy vice-president Andy Kaplan-Myrth says his company filed the complaint because this and other recent CRTC decisions set back efforts to support competition and reduce prices. The provincial government has announced 708 new coronavirus cases, including 113 in the Interior Health region, over the past three days. The new cases bring the provinces total since the pandemic began to 144,289, although the vast majority have already recovered. There are now 2,953 active COVID-19 cases in B.C. The new cases were confirmed over the weekend as follows: May 28/29 258 new cases May 29/30 238 new cases May 30/31 212 new cases There were 11 new coronavirus-related deaths reported Monday, bringing B.C.s toll to 1,703. Six of those deaths occurred in people in their 70s, two in people in the 60s, one in a person in their 40s and two in people over aged 80. Across B.C., there are 249 people hospitalized with the virus, 78 of whom are in the ICU. There have now been 3.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in B.C., meaning 69 per cent of adults and 66 per cent of those 12 and up have received at least one dose. Clinics started to ramp up second-doses this weekend. There has also now been B.C.'s third case of vaccine-caused non-fatal blood clot related to the AstraZeneca vaccine. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said we are currently in the middle of the incubation period for the May Long weekend, so anyone with symptoms is urged to get tested. Both Dr. Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix both opened Mondays news conference with statements of condolences related to the discovery of 215 sets of youth human remains at the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School. Maple Leaf selects Descon for new clinker line 31 May 2021 Maple Leaf Cement Factory Ltd (MLCFL) has awarded the contract for the construction of its upcoming Line 4 to Descon Engineering Limited. The scope of work includes the civil works for the 7000tpd clinker production line at the existing Maple Leaf Cement Factory in Iskanderabad, Mianwali district, Pakistan. Chengdu Design & Research Institute of Building Materials Industry Co Ltd, China, was awarded the contract for the supply of equipment in March. Descon has a long-standing relationship with Maple Leaf Cement, having successfully contributed towards the construction of Maple Leafs Line 3 in 2019. The new line is expected to enter service in 2022. Published under Danville Police arrested a suspect in a pair of armed robberies; The suspect in a bizarre probe in Caswell County is behind bars; Another big vaccination clinic is set for Saturday in Danville; The slate of candidates is decided in this fall's city and county elections. Thirty-five years ago this spring, the Chernobyl disaster struck horror in people all over the world. The accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine released a massive amount of radioactive particles into the atmosphere, which spread over much of the USSR and Europe. Much of the radiation settled onto a small poor country, Belarus, compromising the immune systems of its citizens, particularly those of the children. Thousands of miles away, in a tiny town in Tennessee, a church ministry was formed at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church to provide a respite to these children and give their compromised immune systems a chance to recover. Through this ministry, Belarusian children have come to Chattanooga. Many Chattanoogans have hosted these children, including Ann Edison of North Chattanooga and Dr. Jack and Patty Rutledge of Elder Mountain. Several families from Signal Mountain have maintained relationships with the Belarusian children they hosted, including Buddy and Doranne Lane. Known for his cave rescue work, Buddy and his wife, a teacher at Signal Mountain Middle/High School, still spend summers with their Belarusian daughter, Varvara. Vavara has been coming to the restorative air of Signal Mountain since she was a little girl, and, now in her mid 20s, still looks forward to her summer with her American family. Ashley and Paul Weidlich hosted Sasha, Alonas biological brother. They said Sasha fit right in with their own three sons each summer. Sasha will turn 24 in February and will join the military in Belarus. Before being shut down by the Belarusian government, the Chernobyl Childrens Program of Greater Chattanooga (CCP) hosted nearly 1,500 children over the years, an outreach program that was very appreciated by the parents and guardians of these children, and as they grew older, by the children themselves. Lynn and Dr. Greg Talbott hosted Alona for many summers, and consider her to be a part of their family. Alona was 8 years old when she first came to Signal Mountain, and spoke no English. She did not know what a refrigerator was, and cried the first time they took her to a grocery store. The little girl was frail, thin, extremely shy and clearly lacking nourishment. By her second year and third year, she was bouncing around and speaking English and eating more of a variety of foods. We helped her through her first dentist visit, eye exam and first time to the beach! Lynn said. The Talbotts gave Alona her very first book, a Russian bible. At 8 years old she started reading it and asking me questions about the bible, Lynn said. The Talbotts Belarusian daughter made them grandparents a few years ago, and they share pictures with Alona on Facebook. Lookout Mountain residents Eve Soltau, Janet Hunt and Jill Tyson go to Belarus every year to minister to orphan and children in Belarus. Mrs. Solteau actually got to visit with Alona and her husband and son on the Talbotts behalf when she was in Belarus over Christmas. They are committed to this ministry and believe it is so important they pay their own way each time. On their trip to Belarus this past winter, the Lookout ladies discovered a post-orphan young man who had spent his whole life in orphanages. Loesha made $5 a week guarding an abandoned school, which, although paltry, was better than not having a job at all. The owner of the building fired Loesha, but somehow the young man secured a free flat through a government loophole. The ladies from Lookout were encouraged that he had housing, but were dismayed at the state of it. It was totally unfurnished down to a bare kitchen and was unlivable, Mrs. Solteau said. Together with Catherine Kelley, the women raised enough money through private donations to finish the flat, which was absolutely amazing to this young man. While the women were in Berlarus, Loesha turned 21, and for the first time in his entire life, he was truly able to celebrate this occasion, thanks to these ladies. They enjoyed dinner at Garage, a restaurant in Minsk. We were able to present Loesha a card that evening telling him that people he did not know in the U.S.A. paid for his flat to be finished, Mrs. Solteau said. After dinner, they all went go-cart riding, something that Mrs. Soltau wasnt prepared to do. I have never been on a go-cart, but that night I did it for Loesha, and I nearly froze to death. It was worth it to see him smile, though. She is still laughing about the hair net and helmet she had to wear. In fact, the group of women sought out a large group of the post-orphans and celebrated all of them. These young adults are learning to live on their own in group homes, going to school and working, but they are also helping with the orphan ministry for younger children. The CCP raises money through private donations, but also through selling artwork created by Belarusian children, mainly at small festivals and church events. The proceeds go directly to the orphan ministry and all work is created by students aged 9 to 17. If interested in learning more, email Eve at EveSoltau@gmail.com. Changing one child at a time and securing a future and a hope for them is the goal of CCP, and thanks to compassionate and generous people, that goal is being realized. --------- Ferris Robinson is the author of three childrens books, The Queen Who Banished Bugs, The Queen Who Accidentally Banished Birds, and Call Me Arthropod in her pollinator series If Bugs Are Banished. Making Arrangements is her first novel. Dogs and Love - Stories of Fidelity is a collection of true tales about mans best friend. Her website is ferrisrobinson.com and you can download a free pollinator poster there. She is the editor of The Lookout Mountain Mirror and The Signal Mountain Mirror. A two-year-old boy was shot Saturday evening on Plumwood Road. At approximately 7:23 p.m., Chattanooga Police were advised that a person had arrived at a local hospital by private vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound. Upon arrival, officers confirmed a male child was suffering from a non-life threatening gunshot wound. Officers learned that the incident occurred in the 3400 block of Plumwood Road and were able to locate and secure a crime scene. Investigators learned that the child was inside a house when gunshots came through striking the child. Investigators with the Violent Crimes Unit responded to conduct an investigation.Investigators learned that the child was inside a house when gunshots came through striking the child. Chattanoogas Memorial Day celebration continued Sunday with an afternoon of music on the plaza between the Charles H. Coolidge Medal of Honor Heritage Center and the Tennessee Aquarium downtown. The Air National Guard Band of the South from McGee Tyson Airfield in Knoxville performed a five- hour concert. The band has a 40-year history. It features a clarinet and saxophone quartet, jazz and swing band and the Sound Barrier Rock Band. The musicians performed everything from Count Basies April in Paris, Glenn Millers Chattanooga Choo Choo to the Beatles Eleanor Rigby. The group also played several patriotic selections In keeping with the holiday. This band travels all over the South year round doing a variety of musical pieces. Sitting in his scooter enjoying the concert was a retired 24-year Air Force pilot who said he came downtown just to hear the music. The pilot flew numerous missions in Viet Nam among other places. The pilot said he was grateful for all those who have given their lives in defense of the United States. A young father vacationing from Ohio brought his small daughter to the plaza to enjoy the music. The dad said he appreciates the Memorial Day observance and its true meaning. The dad said he was looking forward to touring the Coolidge Medal of Honor center. A Memorial Day program will take place Monday at the National Guard Armory on Holtzclaw Avenue at 11:00. One of the most distinguished graduates of the University of the South (Sewanee) would have to be Dr. William Gorgas. Gorgas was born in Toulminville, Alabama, and his family moved to Sewanee in 1869 when he was 14 years of age. His father, Josiah Gorgas, was a Confederate General who initially became superintendent of what would eventually become Sewanee Military Academy and later would be the second vice-chancellor of the college. After graduating from Sewanee, William attended Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York City and would be appointed to the United States Medical Corps in 1880, attaining the rank of Surgeon General of the Army. While a student at Sewanee he and three other students volunteered to go to New Orleans, Louisiana, to assist in the fight against a yellow fever epidemic that killed over 500 persons including two of Gorgas fellow students. Although he was not the originator of the medical theory that the diseases of yellow fever and malaria were caused by transmission of the viruses by the bite of mosquitos, Gorgas capitalized on the previous work of Army doctor Major Walter Reed and Cuban physician Carlos Finlay. Gorgas originally gained recognition for his work in controlling yellow fever and malaria in the state of Florida. This was followed by successful control and elimination of the diseases in Havana, Cuba, after the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898. Using Reed and Finlays prior works that demonstrated that mosquitoes of a certain type transmitted yellow fever into human populations, he was able to lead a movement that eradicated yellow fever and malaria in Cuba. Gorgas' methods of either draining or covering all sources of standing water with kerosene to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs and larvae from developing were highly successful. He further adopted the practice of isolating disease stricken patients with screening and netting. Gorgas' successes did not come without controversy. Government health officials in America believed that yellow fever was caused by environmental filth and not from the bites of mosquitoes and vigorously attempted to discredit his work. France had previously abandoned its efforts to build the Panama Canal on the Isthmus of Panama as the result of the death of 23,000 workers to yellow fever transmitted by mosquitoes. Gorgas, upon learning of the United States governments decision to build the Panama Canal requested assignment to Panama. He initiated a broader program of sanitation controls against mosquitoes than those used in Cuba and by 1906 had eradicated yellow fever and was able to bring malaria under containment during the 10-year period of successful construction of the Panama Canal in 1914. Gorgas was elected president of the American Medical Association in 1908 and in 1914 was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson to be Surgeon General of the Army. He still received opposition from his superiors to the public health measures that he advocated for adoption during the First World War on the basis of high costs. After the end of WWI, Gorgas continued to be a strong advocate for the effective control of infectious diseases with foreign governments and received numerous honors and awards for his efforts. While in London, England, on a stopover on a trip to Africa in 1920 he suffered a major stroke. While on his deathbed he was knighted by King George V and upon his demise lay in state in St. Pauls Cathedral prior to being returned to America for burial at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. His contributions to the saving of thousands of lives of all races greatly exceed the present trend of attempting to erase or minimize his fathers record of Military Service to the Confederacy! * * * 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) Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it, British statesman Winston Churchill observed back in 1948. The warning remains important today and its fitting to keep in mind as we commemorate another Memorial Day, honoring those who have given their lives defending our nation in war. Some older Americans still remember when it was called Decoration Day, because of being a time to honor the war dead by decorating their graves with flowers. Regardless of how we mark this annual observance, its important to call to memory the many thousands of lives of men and women who sacrificed through numerous wars so we can still enjoy freedoms we so easily take for granted. Sadly, there are factions of our society that want to rewrite history, erasing times and events they find distasteful or offensive, and re-envisioning the past as they would like it to be told. In my view this is problematic on many levels, but within the context of this day we should hearken back to Churchills immortal words. We all can point to regrettable, even terrible moments in Americas past. Take your pick. But to remove them from remembrance, or whitewash them to reframe them into something they were not, imperils us for repeating these hateful times when humanity was functioning at its darkest. To reinforce this importance, we need look no further than the ancient Israelites, for whom God had performed unimaginable wonders: freeing them from four centuries of slavery in Egypt; parting the Red Sea for them to cross with the Egyptians in hot pursuit; miraculously providing water, then manna and then quail, enough to feed probably more than a million men, women and children for 40 years of wandering. How could a people forget all of that? And yet, the Scriptures tell us that repeatedly, they did. Amazingly, it didnt take the Israelites long to forget how the Lord had blessed them. While still meandering in the wilderness, a consequence of their failure to trust in Gods protective care, Moses admonished them, Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years (Deuteronomy 8:2-5). Why did Moses issue this warning? Because as he said soon afterward, Remember this and never forget how you provoked the Lord your God to anger in the desert. From the day you left Egypt until you arrived here, you have been rebellious against the Lord (Deuteronomy 9:7). We find many similar admonitions by various prophets throughout the Old Testament. Apparently things didnt change much even after Jesus Christs earthly ministry. How quickly we forget. The apostle Paul had to remind his protege, Timothy, where to keep his focus as he conducting his own ministry. Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But Gods word is not chained. Keep reminding them of these things (2 Timothy 2:8-14). It's important never to forget what the Lord has done in each of our lives, leading us to become part of His eternal family. Writing to followers of Christ in the ancient city of Ephesus, Paul offered this reminder as encouragement: rememberyou were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:12-13). And its critical to remember how God has guided us through hardships and times of adversity in the past to shore up our faith for facing the uncertain future: Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised (Hebrews 10:32-36). On Memorial Day, we pause to remember the many who gave their lives on battlefields near and distant so we could be a free people. But for those who call themselves disciples of Jesus, every day is a memorial day for bringing to mind all that He has done for us, what He continues to do, and what He has promised to do in eternity future. We dare not forget. * * * Robert J. Tamasy is a veteran journalist, former newspaper editor and magazine editor. Bob has written, co-authored and edited more than 15 books. These include the newly published, Marketplace Ambassadors; Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Todays Workplace; Tufting Legacies, The Heart of Mentoring, and Pursuing Life With a Shepherds Heart. A weekly business meditation he edits, Monday Manna, is translated into more than 20 languages and sent via email around the world by CBMC International. The address for his blog is www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com. His email address is btamasy@comcast.net. Maybe the whole thing started on the sofa. Somebody spied the 12-year-old Butch OHare lounging on the sofa one summers day, munching down some bonbons of all things --- and Easy Eddie got word of it. Eddie was divorced from Butchs mom and came up hard. When first married, he and his 19-year-old wife lived above this familys grocery store in St. Louis. This was when Eddie slaved over legal books during the Great Depression, going to law school at night, and passing the Missouri Bar. But when he and his wife split, Eddie went to Chicago and took his three kids with him. Smith, the commissioner of the International Greyhound Racing Commission, hired the lawyer OHare to obtain a patient on a mechanical rabbit, that the greyhounds would chase (It is still used at dog tracks to this day.) That was a lucrative deal for Eddie. Word got around Easy Eddie was a good lawyer, one who knew his way around, you know. As an enterprising kind of guy, he made friends easily and his first break came when Owen P.Smith, the commissioner of the International Greyhound Racing Commission, hired the lawyer OHare to obtain a patient on a mechanical rabbit, that the greyhounds would chase (It is still used at dog tracks to this day.) That was a lucrative deal for Eddie. Word got around Easy Eddie was a good lawyer, one who knew his way around, you know. So soon Eddie was doing deals with well-heeled guys, straight and crooked, the gangster Al Capone among them. Al was high on Eddie, which meant the Chicago mafia was, too. Soon Eddie and Al owned dog tracks in Miami, Chicago, and Boston. Easy Eddie was smart, to boot, and became president of the Sportsmans Park horse park. When the inventor Smith passed away, Eddie bought the patent right to the rabbit from his widow. He represented a bunch of unsavory, tacking down big courtroom wins for the mob but darned if that boy of his was going to lie on the sofa eating bonbons! Easy Eddie had the boy shipped to Western Military Academy on the 12-month plan. Butch knew his dad had immense power in Chicago and forbade Butch to come to Chicago for any reason. Still, Butch had the last word Yes sir. Butch thrived at the military school, was intensely popular and equally successful. With the Drums of War increasingly loud, Butch wanted to go to the Naval Academy About this time, Eddie was tired of who he was and realized it might be hard for an Illinois Congressman to sponsor his son because of Eddies widely known antics. So Easy Eddie calls an old friend, a newspaper reporter named John Rogers in St. Louis. Rogers, in a sly way, puts Easy Eddie in a clandestine contract with the IRS and, according to many chapters of lore, Eddie swapped Capones Achilles Heel tax evasion for Butchs appointment to Annapolis. Understand, Al Capone did far worse but tax evasion was all the government could easily prove. Years later, a former cop turned historian Ed Burke -- said without Easy Eddie providing a rash of evidence, the Feds wouldnt have had the info to convict Al Capone, who was found guilty and sent to the famed prison Alcatraz from August 1933 to January 1939. About one week prior to Capones release, a pair of hit men pulled alongside Eddie OHares car and turned it, and its occupant, into Swiss cheese. Yes, no arrests were ever made. In 1932, Butch was enrolled in United States Naval Academy, and this brings us up to the Memorial Day part of the story. In February 1949, the USS Lexington was attacked near Papaul, and a flight of fighters went to intercept the attack. Butch OHare was held back on the flight deck in case a second wave materialized and sure enough a ragged V was found on the radar. OHare was sent aloft alone and used approximately 60 rounds of ammunition per intruder as he downed five Japanese bombers and seriously wounded a sixth whose mission it was to bomb the carrier Lexington. His superior fight-manship was a marvel. Upon landing on the carrier, his fuel tanks were nearly dry, and his ammo was gone but he had become the first Navy ace (five-kills,) the first Navy officer to be awarded the Medal of Honor, and a wildly acclaimed celebrity. He was brought stateside where 60.000 lined the streets of St. Louis to honor their favorite son. He participated the several War Bond tours but soon the draw of combat enthralled Butch. He was teaching young pilots in Hawaii when he once tutored: If you ever jump one of these Zeros and you surprise him, remember, the first thing he's going to do is a loop. Don't follow him into it! By the time you go into it a second time, he'll be behind you. The first thing you should do when he starts up the loop is to make a hard right turn and keep turning. You'll come right around, and when he bottoms out of the loop, you'll be right on his tail!" O'Hare also related "First of all, remember, in today's world, whenever you take off and engage the enemy, you're going to be outnumbered. If you want to survive this war, you have to look behind you every chance you get. Even when you pull the trigger, be sure to look behind because there's gonna be someone back there. * * * And then came Nov. 26, 1943. In a nighttime attack OHare was apparently caught in a crossfire and was downed near the Gilbert Islands.. Every effort that was made to recover the plane and/or the pilot was unsuccessful. But Butch, who wouldnt allow his subordinates to call him anything but Butch, was indeed a true war hero and, in 1949, he was regarded as a hero of such renown Chicagos Orchard Depot Airport was blessed with the name of OHare International Airport. * * * It is said that every patriot should set our clock radio to 3 p.m. today, where you are meant to sponsor whatever music to say your own blessing for Americas fallen. Take as much time as you need. The John Sevier Chapter of the Tennessee Society Sons of the American Revolution (supporting Bledsoe, Hamilton, Marion, Rhea and Sequatchie Counties) in coordination with the Frostbite Farm and the Thurman Family conducted an SAR Patriot Grave marking and reflagging ceremony honoring Revolutionary War Veteran Charles Thurman at his grave site in the inactive Old Lone Cedar Cemetery, Bledsoe County, at 11 a.m. Saturday.The ceremony as part of the SARs ongoing series of celebrations honoring the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution featured the retiring of the old flag present at the grave site and posting of a new color; the unveiling and dedication of the SAR patriot marker and John Sevier Chapter color guard members, in period Revolutionary War uniforms with a display of historical flags, acting as ceremonial guard escorts and presenting a musket salute/demonstration. Mr.Trevor MeGhie, Signal Mountain High School Band, provide musical support by playing TAPs for the ceremony.Family and direct descendants, Mr. Danny Thurman, Mrs. Peggy Thurman and Mr. Eddie Thurman, participated in the reflagging and unveiling parts of the ceremony. Descendants from North Dakota, West Texas, New Jersey and Tennessee were present for the ceremony.Several ladies representing the Chickamauga, Judge David Campbell and Pocahontas Chapters, Daughters of the American Revolution joined the ceremony to help honor the patriot.A service biography noting the patriots service was presented. A copy of the biography for the ceremony can be found on the John Sevier Chapter web site at: https://johnsevierchapter.org/patriot-honors. Mr. Thurman was not only veteran of the Revolutionary War but also an early settler of Rhea and then Bledsoe Counties.The Sons of the American Revolution is a national patriotic, historical and educational society whose members are direct descendants of the patriots who won the nation's independence. An officer was patrolling and saw four people riding around in a sedan on Highland Avenue. The officer saw them drive in a two-block circle twice and then into a dead end. While following the vehicle, the officer saw the vehicle fail to maintain lane by crossing over the yellow double lines. The officer conducted a traffic stop and the occupants said that they were from Nashville and they were heading to Miami. They said their GPS had led them to the 4200 block of Highland Avenue even though this area is approximately 19-20 blocks away from Interstate 24 where they should have been coming from. All parties were checked and clear of any warrants. They left the area and got back onto the interstate heading eastbound. * * * An employee at Huck & Peck on West 31st Street said an unknown suspect cut and stole a catalytic converter from a company truck. * * * There was a disorder between the PetCo store manager and a customer over wearing a mask. The woman left the store. * * * A man on Gunbarrel Road said his vehicle had been damaged. The vehicle is a rental. He parked and went into Walmart. When he came out he noticed damage to the passenger side of the vehicle. The damage goes from the front all the way to the rear. There is no suspect information. * * * A man on Hickory Valley Road said he wanted police present while he gathered items from the residence. He said he has had previous disorders with his sister, who currently lives there. On arrival, his sister did not answer the door and the man did not have a key. * * * A man on East 11th Street had found a mountain bike and he was wondering if it was stolen. Police were unable to get a return on the serial number provided. When police attempted to locate the bike, the man told police that someone must be using it. Police also checked the man for any outstanding warrants, none which were local to Hamilton County. The man did have an outstanding warrant from Lenoir City. Police were informed by dispatch that Lenoir City did not wish to pick him up for this warrant. * * * A woman said she was shopping inside Belk's at Northgate in the ladies section. She said after she had been in there for awhile, an older woman asked her if she could use her buggy. She said that the woman had some clothes in her arms and she let her take the buggy. She said she is unsure if the woman took her pocketbook or if she set it down somewhere and couldn't find it. * * * A woman at a laundromat on Highway 153 said an employee had gotten irate when she came in talking on her phone with it on speaker. She said the employee very rudely told her to hang up her phone. She said the employee then asked her to leave after she did not hang up the phone. The woman already had clothes in the washer and did not want to leave until they were done. She said the employee turned off her washer and would not unlock it so that she could collect her belongings and that is when she called police. Police met with the employee who said she asked the woman to hang up the phone or take it off of speaker and she asked her to leave after she refused. She said the woman became irate and was making a scene so she called the police. The woman was refunded her money, collected her belongings and left the scene without incident. * * * A man on Brainerd Road was bleeding from the hand and was checked out by the fire department. He said he keeps itching himself because of bugs biting him causing him to bleed easily. He stays at Motel 6 on Brainerd Road. The officer offered him a ride with no problems. * * * Police were called to Chestnut Street on a report of a vehicle drag racing for roughly 30 minutes. The officer found the described vehicle, a Chevy Silverado, parked under the interstate. Upon seeing the officer, the driver sped off, leaving tire tracks and a cloud of smoke. The officer initiated a stop and the driver was ticketed for reckless driving, driver's license violation, and tire tread. The driver said he had recently moved from Florida. * * * A woman on Chateau Lane said the tenants above her are making noise at all hours of the day, stomping loud. She said she has notified the management several times but nothing is being done. * * * A man on North Crest Road said a man came to his residence to retrieve his backpack. When doing so, they got into a verbal argument and the man told him to leave. The second man was gone before police arrived. * * * A suspicious vehicle was reported near East 23rd Street. Police saw an unoccupied silver Mitsubishi Outlander with New York tags parked off the roadway. The vehicle had a catalytic converter in the back seat, alongside a red backpack. The vehicle had clear front end damage and red paint scrapped on the front passenger side of the bumper. Police inspected underneath the vehicle and saw its own catalytic converter was still intact. Police were unable to identify the owner of the vehicle. * * * A pit bull was running loose in the Circle K parking lot on Hixson Pike. Police arrived and saw store patrons giving the dog water. The dog was friendly and had two collars but no owner information. McKamey was initially contacted by CPD dispatch to which they responded by creating a ticket, however they couldn't come retrieve the animal. The officer loaded the pit bull up and transported it to McKamey Animal Shelter. He managed to place the dog inside a holding cage within the property with no issues. * * * A man on Hughes Avenue said his vehicle was actually not stolen as first reported. He said he was taken to jail and the vehicle was moved by his brother to his brother's house unbeknownst to him. * * * Police were called to Laurelton Drive for a suspicious vehicle parked in the roadway. The white Jeep had a woman who appeared to be unconscious in the backseat. The officer opened the door to determine if she was alert and found she was asleep and highly intoxicated. The woman said she thought she was home. The officer explained that she was sleeping on the side of the road and she was too intoxicated to drive. She then called a co-worker to come get her. Her friend came and moved her vehicle out of the roadway and parked and locked it. The officer spoke to the homeowners and explained the vehicle would be removed in the morning. The homeowners said it was okay for the vehicle to stay and they would not have it removed. The woman left with her friend. * * * A man at Fagan Street said someone broke into two of the vacant/unoccupied apartment buildings. He said the door frames in both apartments were damaged and nothing was stolen from the apartments. He said similar incidents had happened before and he ordered security cameras to be installed on the property. * * * A man on Rossville Boulevard said someone cut the catalytic converter off of a company owned 2012 Chevrolet Express van. He said this is the second time this week. He estimates that it will cost $1,000 to have the vehicle repaired. * * * The store manager at 4860 Hixson Pike said a key ring holding the store keys had been stolen. She said that on the prior evening, as she was preparing to leave, the store got busy, and she set the key ring down on the counter. She said video surveillance showed an average weight female, age 45-50, reached over and took the keys. She said she will attempt to send police pictures and video of the suspect. She said she was not familiar with the suspect. The store manager said that she is in the process of re-keying the store. * * * A homeless man was reported to be walking around and trying to get inside of the James Building on Broad Street. Police saw the man sitting in front. Police asked him to move along, which he did. Police saw the man was sitting on the sidewalk in front of the building and was not violating any laws. * * * A man at Walmart on Highway 153 said he believed he had given Walmart $100 for purchase of a $20 gas card. He believed Walmart had cheated him out of $80 change. The Walmart loss prevention showed the officer video surveillance of the man handing the clerk a $20 bill. * * * A woman on Akins Drive sent police a text message saying "send Police to (specific address) Akins Rd." When police arrived the woman said was concerned about a verbal disorder in the street in front of her residence between two unknown individuals. She said that all parties left prior to police arrival and no longer required police. * * * Public Storage staff on East Brainerd Road said there were damages done to their gate. They said a man had stolen his mother's car, a gray Chevy Malibu, and, while attempting to leave the property, he drove the car into the gate to get away, causing major damage to the gate. Public Storage was able to capture video of the incident. A warrant has been issued for the damages. On the set of classic television series The Andy Griffith Show actor George Lindsey, who portrayed sweet but goofy mechanic Goober Pyle, said that the relationship between on-screen father and son Andy Griffith and Ron Howard shared the same dynamic off screen. Griffith in fact, according to Lindsey, disciplined young Howard from time to time, as any good TV dad would. Ron Howard and Andy Griffith in a scene from The Andy Griffith Show | CBS via Getty Images Griffith said Howard considered him his friend The Matlock star told the Television Academy Foundation in the 1990s that as Howard grew older, the two became and remained close friends. Ronny has a wonderful mother and father, Griffith said. That is perhaps the principal reason he turned out the way he did. He was always a good kid. And he never considered me his father. He considered me not even a father figure. He considered me his friend. I was playing his father, he knew that. Lindsey revealed that Griffith gave talks to Howard As the Goober Pyle actor remembered it, the father and son team reflected that dynamic even when the cameras werent rolling. In his memoir Goober in a Nutshell Lindsey fondly recalled working with Howards father Rance earlier in their careers. Another actor I enjoyed visiting with on the Griffith set was Rance Howard, Rons father he wrote. Rance and I had been extras together during my days in New York on some early television shows. He was a good actor himself and played parts like a bus driver, the governors chauffeur, and a treasury agent on the Griffith show. RELATED: Was The Andy Griffith Show Televisions Very First Spinoff? Lindsey touched as well on Griffiths fatherly role with the younger Howard. For the most part, though, Rance stayed behind the scenes when Ronny was working on the Griffith show and would let Andy be the father to Opie during the day, he added. There were times when Andy would discipline Ronny and give talks to him. I think Ronny really was like a son to Andy. And we were all crazy about Rance and Jean, Ronnys mom. Howard was the reason the Griffith reunion movie happened In 1986, the cast of The Andy Griffith Show (except for Aunt Bee actor Frances Bavier) reunited for the television movie, Return to Mayberry. Griffith explained that if it hadnt been for the Opie Taylor actor, it wouldnt have happened. It was at a meal shared with Howard who was at that time in his 30s, Griffith revealed, that the idea of getting the Griffith Show cast together one more time became a reality. A few cast members from the 1986 television movie Return to Mayberry pose for a photo: (back row l-r) Jim Nabors as Gomer Pyle, George Lindsey as Goober Pyle (front row l-r) Don Knotts as Barney Fife, Andy Griffith as Andy Taylor, Ron Howard as Opie Taylor | Gary Null/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images We did a Mayberry reunion show a few years ago, and Ronnies the reason we did it, Griffith said. Because me and Don and Ronnie were at dinner one night and he asked me why I wasnt going to do [the reunion show]. I answered, Ive always been afraid of it. He said, If you ever do it, I want to be in it. Well, that put me to thinking. So, we did it. Big hit, Griffith said with a smile. Dani Soares from Below Deck Sailing Yacht welcomed her first child on May 29, but she made it clear she was ready for motherhood long before her daughter arrived. Previews show Soares telling boyfriend Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux shes ready to not only become a mother but perhaps have children with him. OK J.L., Im moving to America, were gonna get married, and lets have babies, she says to Cerza-Lanaux who looks shocked but grins. Lets do this! You ready? Below Deck Sailing Yacht Season 2 cast photo: Dani Soares |Laurent Basset/Bravo Dani Soares was ready for a new chapter in her life Soares had an existential crisis halfway through the series and seemed ready to move on to a new chapter. One of her closest friends had died, plus she felt as though she was meandering through life. She broke down when first mate Gary King implied that she and Cerza-Lanaux were playing more than working during the night shift. Maybe if I leave the boat maybe everyone can work happy without me here, Soares said to King, who then said he was not angry with her, but with Cerza-Lanaux. But then Soares turned to chief stew Daisy Kelliher and said, Im having a little breakdown right now. RELATED: Below Decks Hannah Ferrier Reveals 1 Thing Shed Never Ask Her Stews to Do While Shading Below Deck Sailing Guests Im too old to be doing this sh*t, she added trying to hold back the tears. What am I doing with my life? How did I get here? she said in a confessional. Im in my thirties. I do like my job but its not like my career. Im hooking up with a 24-year-old boy. Im having fights with the crew members and Im still grieving my friend that passed. Whats going on with my life? Motherhood was not far from Dani Soares mind on Below Deck Sailing The remark she made about wanting children wasnt the first on the show. Shes seen in another clip telling Cerza-Lanaux if she got pregnant that evening it was Gods will. While she kept her pregnancy under wraps for the first few months, she said was excited as her due approached. I think just now [Im starting] to realize that, yeah, theres actually gonna be a baby. And Im actually gonna be responsible for its life, she told Bravo Insider. Im like, whoa, OK. So very scary, but very excited as well. Truth or Dare isn't just for middle schoolers just ask #BelowDeckSailing's Most Daring Yachtie, Dani Soares! pic.twitter.com/S2JSXbUz9O Bravo (@BravoTV) March 27, 2021 RELATED: Below Deck Sailings Paget Berry Only Speaks to 2 Crew Members From Season 1 She also hoped to connect with former chief stew Hannah Ferrier from Below Deck Mediterranean. Soares is now living in Sydney, Australia, and isnt far from Ferrier. Weve talked a little bit, Soares told Showbiz Cheat Sheet about being in touch with Ferrier. Shes been on holiday for a little while. But as soon as shes back well definitely catch up for a coffee or get to exchange those mommy stories. Soares added that her family has yet to arrive in Sydney. I dont have my family here, unfortunately, Soares said. I couldnt bring my mom because of COVID. And thats really sad because obviously you really want your mom there. But the place I work at now, people are so amazing, she added. My coworkers are being so supportive. I only work with women and theyre just like, Were here for you and well babysit, well take care of you. And Im like Oh my God, you guys are amazing. In 1981, the world lost international reggae star Bob Marley. His legacy lives on through music, culture, and his family, and for many, he represents more than his artistry. Marleys influence can be seen, heard, and felt throughout the world, but there were musicians who inspired his work too. One of the groups who captured his attention was the British punk rock band, The Clash. Portrait of reggae musician Bob Marley, New York, October 1979 | Allan Tannenbaum/Getty Images Bob Marley lived in London during the 1970s After Bob Marley and the original Wailers exploded in popularity in Jamaica, there was an effort to promote them in the U.K. Marleys first trip to London was in 1972, and its where eventually linked up with the famous Chris Blackwell of Island Records. He and his band lived there briefly for a period between 1972-1973, and they played a large show there in 1975. But an assassination attempt on his life saw him return to England in 1977. Marley laid low immediately after people tried to kill him in Jamaica and found himself back in London. He used the time to work on new music with a new iteration of the Wailers and also absorbed local sounds. Today in 1977 The Clash performed at Barbarella's in Birmingham on the White Riot Tour with The Buzzcocks, The Slits & Subway Sect. Kate Simon#TheClash pic.twitter.com/l6IoAoObaL The Clash (@TheClash) May 3, 2021 RELATED: Why The Beatles George Harrison Criticized the Sex Pistols and Punk Rock Marley admired The Clash According to the classic Catch a Fire: The Life of Bob Marley by Timothy White, Marley first learned of The Clashs music while hanging out with the legendary Lee Scratch Perry in London. He admired their spunky courage and anger in the face of Englands social stratification and class-based economic oppression, wrote White. He also admired the help that The Clash and other punk rockers were giving to East and West Indians At that time, The Clash had released only one album, and they blended R&B, reggae, rock, and other genres to create their sand. But they were also rebels. White described how Marley appreciated the bands involvement in speaking out against racism and police corruption. He also liked their cover of Junior Murvins Police and Thieves, one of Perrys productions. It inspired him to write a new single. With Perrys help, Marley hit up the Basing Street studio in London to record Punky Reggae Party with Aswad, another reggae group. Per White, the Wailers later dubbed their vocals over Aswads. In the song, Marley sings about punk rockers and Rastafarians being mistreated with impunity. Other lyrics in the song shout out The Clash, Maytals, the Wailers, and other artists. Punky Reggae Party was released as a single in Jamaica and England in 1977, and years later, it landed on a deluxe edition of the Exodus. When Marley spoke to Interview magazine in 1978, he explained why the track only appeared as a b-side, and not part of an album. The record company fight against us, he said. Ya know them dont like the punk. Them dont wanna go to a punky reggae party. But were gonna find them guilty. Now the peoples piratin it. The tunes a hit tune in England. Why dont they release it here with Jamming? Marley never saw The Clash perform live, but he found common ground in their messaging. Correction: An earlier version erroneously said Marley died 50 years ago, not 40 years ago. For many television aficionados, Dexter is the gold standard of crime dramas. The series, which originally ran on Showtime, has been off the air for eight years now but remains as popular with fans as the day that it first debuted. In late 2020, the fandom received exciting news when reports circulated regarding a Dexter reboot. For months, details were scarce but now, as the premiere date approaches, fans are learning more about the reboot, with one of the shows stars recently admitting that the show has a totally different vibe than the original series. How long did Dexter run on television? Michael C. Hall | Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Dexter premiered on Showtime in 2006. At the time, there was nothing like it on television, with a premise that many found truly disturbing. The series focused on Dexter Morgan, a forensic technician who works for the Miami Metro Police Department by day and conducts bloody serial murders by night, hunting down murderers who have managed to slip through the cracks of the justice system. With humor, violence, and intriguing storylines, Dexter quickly rose in the television ranks, becoming one of the most popular shows on television. The show received a slew of awards from critics, including two Golden Globes for the leading actor, Michael C. Hall. While some complained about the nature of the violence featured in the series, even more had good things to say about the series and the way that it spotlighted a genre that had been too long neglected by network television. Ultimately, Dexter ran on TV until 2013, when the series finale aired. What do fans know about the Dexter reboot? RELATED: New Dexter Season 9 Photos Reveal An All-New Setting In late 2020, after years of speculation and fan rumors, Showtime confirmed that many of the original stars, including Hall himself, would be returning for a Dexter reboot. In addition to Hall, actors like Clancy Brown and Julia Jones were listed as being featured in the reboot. As far as the plot, title, and release date, details are scarce however, the network has revealed that the show will feature Dexter Morgan as he lives out a brand-new existence as a lumberjack in Oregon, roughly 10 years after the original series finale. Fans can expect to see the 10-episode limited series sometime in the fall of 2021. When the series does begin to air, however, viewers should expect a slightly different experience than what the original Dexter offered at least, according to Jamie Chung, one of the reboots stars. Jamie Chung said that the Dexter reboot has a different vibe from the original This makes us feel so alive. #Dexter https://t.co/em3ICy4zHV Dexter on Showtime (@SHO_Dexter) April 29, 2021 In a recent interview with Chung, who is set to play a true-crime podcaster named Molly in the Dexter reboot, the actor revealed a few intriguing glimpses into what the series holds for fans. The original series happened over 10 years ago. So theres certainly a different vibe of the way the actual show is shot in terms of the aesthetic, Chung revealed. I do think its a little darker. It takes place in upstate New York and as we know from the last season, Dexters hidingI think it will certainly satisfy everyones appetite. The actress also admitted that showrunners are being cautious about releasing any details so it seems likely that fans will have to wait a while to learn anything concrete about the upcoming revival. For now, however, there is plenty for the fans to discuss while they eagerly anticipate the next installment in the story of Dexter Morgan. RELATED: Dexter Season 9: How to Watch the Revival When It Comes Out Criminal offenses and sexual charges are no joke, and too often, celebrities and people with influential power have gotten passes or were treated with extreme leeway. There are many celebrities and actors that people would be surprised to learn to have sketchy backgrounds. Amongst the criminally convicted is a famous director who, believe it or not, has still been actively working for Disney. Take a look back at Victor Salvas troubling past and how he ended up directing Jeepers Creepers 3. Jeepers Creepers 2 cast | Kevin Winter/Getty Images Victor Salvas journey in the spotlight Remember when Disney made a movie with Victor Salva, *after* he was convicted of being an actual pedophile? It was called Powder. James Gunn, on the other hand, made a few gross jokes 10 years ago and he's been blacklisted from the Disney family. Just interesting, is all. John Squires (@FreddyInSpace) July 20, 2018 IMDb has outlined and documented Salvas journey in the film industry. A California native, Salva became interested in screenwriting at a very young age. In an interview with BBC Salva shared that it was one of his English teachers who encouraged him to get into both writing and filming. By the time Salva graduated from high school, he had already written and directed dozens of his own amateur films. After winning many prestigious awards and gaining momentum and attention, Salva found himself working with the big shots in Hollywood. It was clear that he had a passion, but, unfortunately, that wasnt his only. Victor Salvas criminal background Jeepers Creepers director Victor Salva is a CONVICTED pedophile. Not accused. CONVICTED. For molesting a little boy on a different movie he directed. Also KILLED BY 9/11? Come on! Pick a different phrasing you dicks. This is bad bad bad top to bottom. https://t.co/p3vXy2pPq6 Jordan Crucchiola (@JorCru) October 11, 2020 Early on in Salvas directing career he found himself in pretty big trouble. While filming the 1989 film Clownhouse, Salva sexually assaulted a cast member while on set. Sadly, making matters worse, Salvas victim was just 12 years old at the time. Jonathan Winters was the boy at the center of it all. Winters mom sensed something was wrong when Salva told her she had to stay off set. Los Angeles Times shared that Salva was sentenced to three years in prison, but, ultimately, the directors crude actions didnt seem to alter or sway the trajectory of his career. Victor Salvas crimes didnt stop Disney from making a movie with him Never a bad time to remind everyone that Jeepers Creepers director Victor Salva has been CONVICTED of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy, and he even taped it. So yeah pretty clean case closed on that one. https://t.co/NdpdkqyQTm Jordan Crucchiola (@JorCru) September 12, 2019 In 1995, Winters and his family were caught off guard to see and hear Salvas name associated with the film Powder. The young boy who underwent an incredibly traumatic experience at Salvas hand couldnt believe it. As a result, Winters and his supporters began handing out brochures educating people on Salvas concerning past while picketing screenings of the new film. It is hard to believe that even after Winters public demonstrations at Powder that Salva continued to receive directing roles in Hollywood. In 1995 he wrote and directed Rites of Passage. What is even more disturbing is that it is still actively happening. Just four years ago Salva once again took the reins and power while working on the set of Jeepers Creepers III. It is even more startling and upsetting knowing that Disney would continue to work with Salva during a time when information is so accessible. With social media and news more prevalent than ever, despite many people speaking against Salva, his platform and job opportunities have not taken any hits. It definitely seems a bit bizarre that a convicted child molester is so successful, and hopefully, moving forward, Disney or any other company will think twice before working with the director who has such a sketchy reputation. How to get help: If you or someone you know has been sexually abused, text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 for free and confidential support. RELATED: Bad Endings: Horror Movies That Could Have Been Much Better The official rewatch can commence. And Just Like That, the Sex and the City reboot has the green light and will begin filming in New York City in the coming weeks. As more and more stars are signed on to appear, ardent fans return to the original series to take another look. Upon closer inspection, you might notice that Charlotte York was markedly different from her three pals. Her priorities certainly werent in line with Miranda Hobbes or Samantha Jones. There might be a particularly good reason for that, though. Charlotte valued marriage and motherhood far more than her friends Charlotte was the only one of her girl group who seemed terribly interested in marriage and motherhood. Miranda eventually had a child and got married, but it certainly was not a lifestyle she was vying for. Her pregnancy was accidental, and her marriage to Steve was more happenstance than a calculated effort on her part. Samantha actively avoided serious commitment, marriage, and motherhood. Carrie Bradshaw was wishy-washy on both concepts for the entirety of the shows six-season run. Charlotte York and Anthony Marantino | James Devaney/WireImage RELATED: Sex and the City Foreshadowed the Demise of Charlotte Yorks First Marriage Charlotte, on the other hand, took marriage very seriously. Carrie once suggested that Charlotte approached marriage as if it were a club she was trying desperately to join. She bought self-help books, enlisted the help of friends, and eventually married someone she had only known for a couple of months. Charlotte York viewed her career in a different light Miranda and Samantha both took their careers incredibly seriously. Miranda, who graduated from Harvard, didnt seem fazed by the long hours required to make partner in her law firm. Samantha spent years building her public relations firm. Even Carrie was heavily focused on ensuring her column was engaging and interesting to her readers. Charlotte, who worked in an art gallery, was the only member of the group who didnt appear to see her career as an extension of her personality. RELATED: Sex and the City: Could Charlotte York Really Afford Her Park Avenue Pad? After marrying Trey MacDougal, she gave up her job to focus on being a homemaker. The move confused her friends. While Charlotte didnt seem 100% sure of her decision, she made it at the urging of her husband. It seems rather unlikely that Miranda, Samantha, or Carrie would have done the same. Was Charlotte York the only Sex and the City character raised rich? So, why exactly was Charlotte so different from her pals? Charlottes family is the only family thats talked about at length if you think about it. In season 1, her brother makes an appearance. In season 3, her father is seen briefly walking her down the aisle, and in season 6, her wedding announcement reveals that Charlotte grew up very wealthy. She was raised in an upper-class Connecticut enclave. Her father, a doctor, and her mother, a socialite, appeared to be rather rich. None of Charlottes closest pals appeared to have been raised in similar families. Carrie rarely spoke about her family life. If you dont consider The Carrie Diaries as canon, surprisingly little was revealed about Carries upbringing. From what she did share, Carrie never mentioned money. She revealed that she was raised by a single mother in the religion of be nice to people, although she never said where. The cast of Sex and the City | HBO/Newsmakers RELATED: Sex and the City: 3 Unrealistic Elements of the Show Aside From Carries Finances Samantha and Miranda both eluded to middle-class upbringings. Samantha recalled working a summer job serving dilly bars at Dairy Queen as a young teen. Mirandas Philadelphia-based childhood didnt scream upper-class, either. The only member of the friend group who appeared to grow up in an upper-class family was Charlotte. Could that be why her priorities appeared so markedly different from the priorities of those she considered her close friends? Was the decision purposeful? The production team has never said. In fact, the team went out of their way to avoid speaking too much about the girls families. So, why was there more information about Charlottes family than anyone else? Its hard to say. Sex and the City fans are got the news that they had been waiting for in early 2021 when HBO announced that it would be rebooting the series for a special revival. The reboot, titled And Just Like That..., has been confirmed by not only HBO, but three of the shows original stars as well, with Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis all revealing that they would be reprising the roles of Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte. With additional details on the show scarce at best, fans are searching for clues everywhere that they can. And several signs point to the possibility that Carrie and Mr. Big, the shows flagship couple, could be headed for a breakup. Carrie and Bigs romance was one of the central storylines of Sex and the City Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw and Chris Noth as Mr. Big on Sex and the City | Hulton Archive/Getty Images Sex and the City premiered on HBO in 1998. Based on Candace Bushnells best-selling book, the show focused on New York City-based columnist Carrie Bradshaw and her three friends: Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha. The four friends navigate the difficulties of love, career, and family, all while nourishing their relationships with each other. In the end, it is their friendship that is the central theme of the series. Still, many other love stories were featured in the series over the years, including the romance between Carrie and Mr. Big, played by Chris Noth. Throughout the series run, fans watched as Carrie and Big started dating, broke up, reconnected, and broke up again before committing to each other in grand fashion in the series finale. In spite of the fact that Carrie and Big were married in the feature-length films, the course of love has never run smoothly for the couple. And some fans are suspecting that in the upcoming reboot, Carrie and Big could split for good. What do fans know about Mr. Big being in the Sex and the City reboot? RELATED: 7 Things That Make No Sense About Sex and the City At first, Noth dropped a few hints on his Instagram, suggesting that he could possibly be in the series. Parker also said fans should wait and see whether the character of Mr. Big will be in And Just Like That.which has left many fans wondering why the showrunners are being so cagey since Carrie and Mr. Big were married when they last saw the characters. Last week, Deadline confirmed Noths return to the franchise to reprise his role. Executive producer Michael Patrick King said: Im thrilled to be working with Chris again on And Just Like That. How could we ever do a new chapter of the Sex and the City story without our Mr. Big? Will Big and Carrie split up in the Sex and the City reboot? The prevailing fan theory that has emerged, in the wake of all the rumors, is the one that suggests Carrie and Mr. Big could be broken up in the Sex and the City reboot. The door is certainly open for that possibility, since Carries longtime boyfriend, Aidan Shaw, was brought back into the picture in Sex and the City 2, with the two characters even sharing a forbidden kiss after reconnecting in Abu Dhabi. It is very possible that showrunners could feature a storyline where Carrie and Aidan reconnect after so many years. Adding fuel to the rumor is the fact that John Corbett, who plays Aidan Shaw, has spoken out to confirm that he will playing a substantial role in the reboot. Im going to do the show, Corbett revealed to PageSix, admitting that he will be in quite a few episodes. While HBO hasnt confirmed Corbetts involvement, it seems clear that fans can expect Aidan to show up in some surprising ways in And Just Like Thatwhich could mean the end for Carrie and Big. And while Noth is returning, its not clear in what capacity and for how long. Adding fuel to fire is long-standing speculation that a third film would have seen Big dying or splitting with Carrie. Both options are technically still on the table with Noths reprisal of the role. RELATED: Sex and the City: The 3 Worst Supporting Characters Reality stars Jordan Wiseley and Nia Moore first met in 2012 during The Real World: Portland and later competed on The Challenge together but never got along. Following her time on the competition series, the two have since made up and consider each other friends. In Nov. 2020, he split from fiancee Tori Deal and announced he began seeing someone familiar during a May 2021 interview. Many fans believe that person is Nia. Jordan Wiseley and Hunter Barfield attend The Challenge XXX: Ultimate Fan Experience Q & A and Reception | Lars Niki/Getty Images Jordan Wiseley and Nia Moore didnt get along during The Real World and The Challenge Then 22-year-old Jordan Wiseley and then 23-year-old Nia Moore butt heads almost immediately after moving into The Real World: Portland house (2012) as she didnt appreciate how he spoke to women. During one heated exchange, Jordan began imitating a monkey at Nia, who is African-American. He also repeated the n-word and spat cereal at her after she dumped a bowl of it on his bed. RELATED: The Challenge Fans Want Jordan Wiseley Fired Next for Past Racially Insensitive Comments Following the controversial episode, Nia tweeted that Jordan called her monkey n***a and accused him of being a closeted racist. In 2015, the two competed on The Challenge: Battle of the Exes 2 together. When he and his partner went back on their word, Nia angrily confronted them shortly before the finals. However, she crossed the line during the argument by inappropriately touching him, resulting in her removal from the show. In 2020, MTV fired Dee Nguyen and Taylor Selfridge for previous offensive tweets, aiming to prove they stood in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. However, many fans disagreed with their termination and felt the network should hold others accountable as well, namely Jordan, for his behavior during The Real World. Therefore, they began resurfacing clips from the 2012 argument and tweeting the network to fire him next. In response, he invited Nia to his Instagram Live in June 2020 to discuss the controversial incident. She defended him, noting they are currently friends, and called the moment a painful experience for both of them. Additionally, Nia claimed she didnt feel like Jordan saying the n-word or imitating a monkey was racially motivated. However, she noted she went with the narrative due to her annoyance with him. Fans think Nia and Jordan are dating After meeting Tori Deal during The Challenge: Dirty 30 (2017), the two hit it off and began dating. They moved in together and returned for a couple of seasons, including War of the Worlds 2 (2019) when Jordan proposed. However, the two announced their split in Nov. 2020. In May 2021, the Battle of the Sexes 2 winner revealed he began seeing someone familiar to The Challenge audience in an interview with Danny Pellegrino. RELATED: The Challenge Stars Jordan Wiseley and Tori Deal Split After 3 Years of Dating A couple of days later, Nia uploaded a video and a picture of the two sitting on a swing, with him kissing her cheek. Due to the timing, several viewers assumed Jordan referred to Nia as the familiar face during his interview. She later responded to the fans who noted their disapproval of the potential union, writing, The moment you learn to embrace forgiveness, self-accountability, and personal growth, life gets really good. The Real World star then set her account to private. The two have yet to confirm or deny the dating rumors. The Challenge airs on MTV. The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond is ready for grilling season. And shes got a bunch of ideas for delicious burger combinations that will be huge crowd-pleasers at your next BBQ. Here are five epic burgers to throw on your grill this summer. The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond | Tyler Essary/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images 5. The Pioneer Woman knows how to make the best bacon cheeseburger A bacon cheeseburger is pretty standard fare at a backyard cookout. But just because its common, doesnt mean it cant be amazingly epic. The secret to Drummonds Best Bacon Cheeseburger recipe is soaking the ground beef in heavy cream. Marinating ground meat in heavy cream is the key to grilling a tender, juicy burger. Dairy does amazing things to meat because the lactic acid will tenderize it without turning it to mush. You dont need to season your patties too heavily, either. Thats because the melty cheddar and smoky bacon give the burger plenty of flavor. 4. Greek burger with red onion, homemade fast dill pickles and sweet onion and chili ketchup To get the true Greek flavor for Drummonds Greek Burger with Red Onion, she suggests working lots of fresh minced mint, flat leaf parsley, dill, and garlic into the meat. She tops these burgers with crunchy red onion, pickled cucumbers, and a semi-homemade ketchup. To make the sweet onion chili ketchup, saute a chopped onion and fresno red chili in olive oil over high heat. Cook until golden brown and tender. Add it to a blender with a cup of ketchup and a pinch of cinnamon, and puree until smooth. Season to taste with kosher salt. 3. The Pioneer Womans mother inspired this burger recipe Drummonds mother inspired the recipe for Burger with Manchego and Mushrooms (and a fried egg) because its her moms favorite kind of burger. On her Pioneer Woman blog, Drummond says you can use Dutch Gouda cheese instead of Manchego, a hard Spanish cheese. To make the wine-drenched mushrooms in this recipe, all youll need are sliced mushrooms, kosher salt, white wine, olive oil. If you prefer, you can substitute chicken broth for the white wine. Ree Drummond's low-carb burger hack is deceptively easy and delicious https://t.co/FHoJVDldqT TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 16, 2019 RELATED: The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummonds Classic Bacon Cheeseburger Has 1 Seriously Surprising Ingredient To make a perfectly fried egg, Drummond says to start with room-temperature eggs. Heat a pan over medium-high heat and spray with nonstick spray. When you gently break the egg into the pan, immediately gather the white toward the yolk with a spatula. Dont let it run all over the pan. 2. California-style Burger with crunchy lettuce, red onion, tomato, bacon, guacamole and honey mustard This burger recipe from The Pioneer Woman is an absolute classic that features a juicy beef patty, creamy guac, and smoky bacon. If you prefer, you can add sharp cheddar cheese as a flavor bonus. To sweeten this burger up, use Drummonds honey mustard spread made with honey, grainy Dijon, and creamy Dijon. For the guac, youll need red onion, chopped cilantro, a ripe avocado, juice from a lime, and salt. 1. The Pioneer Womans favorite burger Drummond admits to being high maintenance when it comes to burgers. She says it must be a good burger or she wont eat it. For her favorite burger, The Pioneer Woman says you must use 80/20 ground beef. Please dont buy extra-lean ground beef for a burger. Because thenit will no longer be a good burger, Drummond says. Heres why I use 80/20 for burgers: Itll stay juicier and more flavorful than lean ground beef will. Lean ground beef is great for pasta sauces, tacos, and things like that. But for burgers? Lean ground beef is mean and uncooperative. And dry. And lacking in oomph. For seasoning, all you need is salt, black pepper, and Tabasco sauce. Drummonds favorite burger includes caramelized onions and spicy mayo, and she uses Kaiser rolls for buns. The toppings are your favorite lettuce and crumbled blue cheese. The Pioneer Woman airs Saturdays on The Food Network. Pipettes are important tools for scientists when transporting liquids in medical, pharmaceutical, biology, and chemistry laboratories. Using pipettes precisely is especially important when repeating experiments. The University of Freiburg researchers Julius Wiener, Tobias Zundel, and Oliver Brunner want to make life easier for lab researchers with their goodBot startup and are developing a robot that will automatically pipette right at a researchers workstation in the lab. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is supporting the team, which is being mentored by Prof. Dr. Wilfried Weber from the Universitys Institute of Biology II, with an EXIST start-up grant of 141,000 euros starting May 2021. Repeating experiments exactly is a challenge for research laboratories. Pipetting is one of the key factors here, but also the greatest source of mistakes. Automating pipetting can avoid such mistakes, explains Wiener. The idea behind the goodBot robot is that it will act as a third arm for lab researchers, making pipetting both easier and more precise. While pipetting robots are already being used, they are found primarily in diagnostic and industrial labs. The startup team from the University of Freiburg want to make automation available to all laboratories. The robot can be installed right at a workstation, making working with the robot intuitive, while also saving valuable space in the lab, says Wiener. Because it recognizes the equipment used in the lab, the robots artificial intelligence will make everyday tasks like DNA extraction more easily programmable. In addition to the robot, the team is working on creating an online platform for researchers to share lab protocols, giving them the opportunity to implement new techniques developed by other researchers. For the moment, however, the founders are concentrating on finding suitable lab partners to test their robot in pilot projects. The Dresden high tech company Senorics has closed an 8 million pre-series A financing round. The money allows for the necessary investments to scale the innovative material analysis sensor technology for the industrial market. The circle of investors was joined by FIDURA Private Equity as lead investor and ZEISS Ventures. The previous cooperation with Ventura Investment, the Technologie Grunderfonds Sachsen (TGFS) and the TU Dresden Aktiengesellschaft (TUDAG) will also continue. They have participated in the current financial round with a significant investment and have been supporting Senorics since 2018, when they took part in the seed funding. The German company specializes in novel near-infrared spectroscopy sensors. They are smaller than a 1 cent coin and thus can be integrated into household appliances and smartphones. The sensor allows for a contactless analysis of material compositions, which until now was only possible in laboratories using bulky spectrometers. In infrared spectroscopy a solid or liquid material is irradiated by light. Based on the wavelength distribution of the reflected light, material compositions can be identified and quantified. In an industrial context, for example, the technology allows for process monitoring and quality control because of its ability to detect contamination. Broad application possibilities and great development potential We are looking forward to accompanying this fascinating business as an investor and sparring partner over the coming years says Klaus Ragotzky, founder of FIDURA Fonds. Essential for the decision of FIDURA Private Equity Fonds to get involved with Senorics was the unique patented sensor technology which holds big market potential. In comparison to classic optical semiconductor sensors, whose technology is almost exhausted in the infrared region, the organic semiconductor sensors used by Senorics offer huge development potential explains Klaus Ragotzky further. We know Senorics through past cooperation, which is the reason for our involvement in this financial round explains Gerrit Schulte, Head of Zeiss Ventures. We see a broad application field with organic semiconductor technology. We think that powerful miniature sensors based on organic semiconductors enable many applications that arent possible today using big and expensive spectrometers. Pilot line will be ready before summer For Dr. Ronny Timmreck, founder of Senorics, the successfully completed financial round is a big step towards the realization of Senorics vision. Thanks to our small, powerful infrared sensors, all people will soon benefit from material analysis. Dr. Timmreck is pleased that, along with previous supporters, new investors were won over. With FIDURA and ZEISS we have two new experienced investors on our side, which will support us with our next step: to scale our technology for the industrial market. Currently Senorics is working on the setup of a pilot line, which will be ready before the summer. The company is supported in their undertaking by the Dresden Integrated Center for Applied Physics and Photonic Materials (IAPP) of TU Dresden. The milestone is also made possible by the Saxon Ministry of Economy and their program to fund the installation of pilot lines for key technologies. The pilot line is an important gateway for further scaling our technology explains Timmreck. Christians were reported to be "butchered to death" by Fulani herdsmen in an attack on Nigerian believers last Sunday, May 23. The Christian Post said that more than a dozen Christians from a village near Jos in Plateau state, Nigeria were killed by armed suspected Fulani herdsmen in two separate attacks. Christian rights activist Solomon Mandiks told the Morning Star News that children were among the 14 casualties in Kwi village in Riyom County. While Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) member Asabe Samuel revealed an additional eight Christians died after Jos North County's Dong Village was attacked later that same day. "I was by the central area of the village, which has shops and serves as a market, when I heard Fulani gunmen shooting around my house. This forced us to run to hide. I still rushed to my house, and just as I was getting closer to my house, I found that one Istifanus Shehu, 40, a member of COCIN (Church of Christ in Nations) who has had mental health challenges, was shot dead, and his corpse was lying beside my house," Samuel narrated to Morning Star. "We heard the attackers retreating and shouting 'Allahu Akbar (Allah is greater).' The herdsmen were also communicating with themselves in the Fulani language," Samuel added. A total of 22 Christians were killed, per the reports, in addition to the 15 Christians that were attacked last April by the same herdsmen. The International Christian Concern (ICC) reported that the Fulani Militia now ranks as the fourth deadliest terror group in the world. Fulani has surpassed Boko Haram who is renowned for its kidnapping of Christians in Nigeria. The ICC added that the Fulani Militia has now become the "greatest threat to Nigerian Christians" whose attacks are motivated to "take over farmland and impose Islam on the population." ICC revealed that Fulani's attempts are brought out of their frustration with Nigeria's Muslim-dominated government. Christian persecution has been on the rise again in Nigeria since last year with Boko Haram said to be receiving funding for its operations. Just this month a Nigerian Pastor was abducted by Fulani militants while preaching in a church service and demanded a big ransom for his release days after. The Christian Post revealed that there have been a total of 1,470 Nigerian Christians killed and 2,200 abducted in the first quarter of 2021 alone. The recorded deaths this year is the highest since 2014 and also surpasses that of the previous year's. As to state, Nigeria's Northwestern Kaduna has recorded the highest deaths at 300. This is followed by the Northcentral Benue state with 200 deaths and the Central Plateau state with 90 Christian deaths. This excludes the number of Nigerian Christians who died in the hands of the local army that is Muslim-controlled. While there are a total of 22,000 Nigerian Christian deaths recorded by the Global Terrorism Index from 2001 to 2019 due to the attack of militant groups. In April, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom enlisted Nigeria as one of the countries with fast-rising incidents on Christian persecution. "Religious freedom conditions in Nigeria remain poor, with both state- and societally perpetrated violations. The federal government continues to persecute the leadership and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMNi), a Shi'a minority group. Additionally, there are widespread instances of intercommunal and militia violence, rampant kidnapping, and general criminality that also prevent religious freedom," the USCIRF said. I literally wanted to die: Porn star-turned-pastor wanted to escape it all until a simple act shattered his reality Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Joshua Broome wanted to die. After achieving fame in the porn industry, he spiraled down into a pit of confusion, was at the end of himself and believed he had no viable path forward. For Broome, seeing beyond the fog of the present felt impossible. After years of buried emotions, the former adult film star could no longer compress his angst and fear. SUBSCRIBE: LISTEN TO LETS TALK PURITY ON THE EDIFI PODCAST NETWORK The last scene that I did, I'm laying in bed, Broome recently told the Lets Talk Purity podcast. And I'm thinking, I want to die. I don't have the guts to kill myself, but like how would I do it ... I just don't want to live anymore. There's no future, there's no one who's going to marry me, there's no employer whos going to hire me ... I'm absolutely useless. But rather than give up, Broome mustered the courage to leave the industry and rebuild his life and is now a husband, father and pastor, boldly defying the lies he told himself in the midst of his despair. Broome recently told Lets Talk Purity hosts Richard and Brittni De La Mora about his journey into and out of porn, explaining that he entered the industry like many others do: through a chance encounter and haphazard steps and then found himself trapped in a diabolical cycle. Listen to his absolutely incredible story: Broome started modeling when he was a teenager and set his sights on making it big in a city like Los Angeles or New York. He headed off to California, but was diverted into porn after he met someone who connected him to the industry. DISCOVER: LISTEN TO THE BEST CHRISTIAN PODCASTS ON EDIFI At first, he was skeptical, but for some reason agreed to perform in his first adult film. It's just so bizarre. Looking back at who I am and how my mom raised me, I don't know how I got to the point of how I would say yes to that, Broome said. Everyone is vulnerable in a moment. I was at a peak of insecurity and I saw an opportunity and someone spoke to my weakness and I was like, Sure I'll do this one. After it was done, he thought to himself, What did I just do? But for some reason, Broome continued to perform in various types of pornography over the next few years. I don't know where four years went, he said. There were signs throughout Broomes career that exposed his internal battle over what he was doing, as he would often return home after a shoot and shower, describing how disgusting he felt, but how he was unable to wash those emotions all away. Broome concealed his pain from those around him and retreated from his family and friends, no longer taking calls from his own mother. I had to put on a facade because I was hurting so bad, Broome said. I literally wanted to die. ... I'm doing everything I can to mask how bad I'm hurting. READ ALSO: CHRISTIAN PODCASTS YOULL LOVE: THE WORLDS BEST FAITH APP As his pain progressed, so did his career. Broome said he was eventually working 20 to 25 times each month. That was 20, 25 times that I went home and sat in the shower and just prayed to the God [who] I didn't know that I would just stop breathing, he said. It was never an intimate act. It was a business transaction that I needed to use drugs to be able to do. Broome found himself wondering why he was so empty if he had everything he thought he always wanted. One day, though, a chance encounter with a bank teller changed everything. I went inside [the bank] and I handed the check to the person and they deposited it, he recalled. And as I was leaving ... they said, Joshua, is there anything I can do for you? ... Joshua, can I help you? It was a moment that stunned Broome, as it had been a long time since someone called him by his real name. His entire life had been enveloped by his career and his toxic identity was intrinsically tied to his stage name. I get chills, because I had gotten to the point where ... I wasn't interacting with one person who was calling me by my real name, he said. I did not hear my name. When that bank teller said my name it shattered what was my reality and it just freaked me out. Broome bolted across the street to his apartment and took a long look in the mirror. I just lost it ... I didn't see that actor anymore, he said. I saw Joshua Broome. He was suddenly overtaken by emotion, realizing all of the ways he had abandoned his family and loved ones. And, in that moment, he decided to leave it all behind. After I wept and wept and wept, I picked up the phone and called everyone I needed to call and said, I'm out, he said. Within days, I was gone. For the next two years, Broome tried to rebuild a life for himself. He began working at a gym and initially lied to everyone he met about his past. Eventually, he met a girl at the gym who asked him two questions, Do you know who God is?" and "Do you have a relationship with Him?" Broome started attending church with her, the two later became engaged and they married. Now, theyre loving parents and Broome who once wanted to die is fully alive, preaching and sharing the faith that helped transform his life. Jesus did die for me, he said. He came to make me alive. Listen to other episodes of Lets Talk Purity: Kamala Harris pays tribute to fallen soldiers after backlash over Memorial Day tweet Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Vice President Kamala Harris paid tribute to fallen members of the U.S. Armed Forces one day after she faced criticism from numerous people for referring to Memorial Day as a long three-day weekend without mentioning the significance of the national holiday. Throughout our history, our service men and women have risked everything to defend our freedoms and our country. As we prepare to honor them on Memorial Day, we remember their service and their sacrifice, Harris tweeted Sunday. On Saturday, her tweet, along with a photo of herself smiling, read, Enjoy the long weekend. Enjoy the long weekend. pic.twitter.com/ilGOrod4AW Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) May 29, 2021 Observed on the last Monday in May, Memorial Day is a federal holiday in memory of those who have died while serving in the U.S. military. Suggesting Harris was missing a significant detail in her tweet, Rep. Lee Zeldin, a Republican from New York who's running for governor of that state, wrote on Twitter, and pay tribute to the courageous men and women of our nations military who sacrificed their lives in defense of our freedoms and liberties. Paul Szoldra, the editor of the military news site Task & Purpose, called the vice presidents tweet a real misfire. It is a long weekend. Its also Memorial Day weekend, which means far more than our government officials should acknowledge: a time to remember and honor the millions of Americans who lost their lives in our nations defense, Szoldra tweeted. Dont forget why we have a long weekend, wrote one Tony Lederer who included a picture of the Vietnam Memorial. Last month, Harris was criticized by Republican lawmakers for refusing to go to the southern border amid the immigration crisis that continues to overwhelm Border Patrol agents who apprehended 178,622 people crossing the border in April. Instead, Harris decided to speak with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to discuss a tree-planting proposal in Central America in an attempt to provide more jobs and reduce migration. This proposal didnt address the influx of fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine trafficked into the U.S. by drug cartels and illegal border crossings by people from China and other nations. An official with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection told members of Congress this month that fentanyl seizures at the U.S.-Mexico border have increased by 308%. Troy Miller, the senior official performing the duties of commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, appeared before the House Appropriations Committees Homeland Security Subcommittee on May 19 to discuss the continued surge in illegal border crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border and the resources that CBP needs to respond to the situation and carry out its duties effectively. Our fentanyl seizures are up 308% in fiscal year 21, Miller said. He also noted that heroin seizures have increased by 14%, cocaine seizures have increased by 100%, and methamphetamine seizures have increased by 20% in the same period. At least 46% of Americans believe the situation at the U.S. border has worsened compared with what it was under former President Donald Trump about two years ago, according to a recent Fox News poll, which revealed that only 15% of Americans think otherwise. Harris has neither visited the border region nor held a news conference about her border-related duties since she took on a special border assignment from Biden on March 24. Pakistan Christian man poisoned, killed for reporting sisters harassment Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Christian man in Pakistan was allegedly poisoned and killed by a group of radical Muslims for defending his sister from harassment, which has sparked demands for justice. Arif Masih, 32, was beaten, kidnapped, poisoned and abandoned on the street in the Muslim-majority Tariqabad village of the Punjab province on May 23, the Union of Catholic Asian News reported. Earlier in the week, two young men dragged his sister into the street and stripped her naked after following her home from the store and breaking into the home. They fought her brother, Arif Masih, who filed a complaint against Muhammad Tariq and Muhammad Majid, the two men who harassed his sister on May 20. According to Asia News, an official press agency of the Roman Catholic Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, the men were not arrested. Masih was reportedly threatened for not dropping the complaint and was attacked by the perpetrators three days later. The perpetrators allegedly loaded Masih on their motorcycle, beat him, poisoned him and threw him into the street. He was taken to the hospital but did not survive his injuries. Two men from Gujjar community raided our house and forcefully took him on a motorcycle. About an hour later, they threw him in the market at our front door," the victim's brother Rizwan Masih said in a police first information report filed following a protest for justice, according to UCA News. "He was semi-conscious, hospitalized and died the same night." More than 300 mourners and Pakistani Christians protested his death last Monday and publicly displayed his body in the street, UCA News reports. Arif Masih was murdered for demanding justice. The panchayat [local village assembly] scolded the Christian family for filing the case and threatened them with a social boycott for pursuing it, Minorities Alliance Pakistan Chairman Akmal Bhatti told UCA News. The influential accused easily attained pre-arrest bail. MAP will provide legal aid to the late Masihs family. The Pakistani criminal justice system often discriminates against religious, racial and ethnic minorities. The Pakistani criminal justice system favours those with financial resources and social capital, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reported in February. When discriminated against, vulnerable populations such as the poor, women, the mentally ill, religious, racial and ethnic minorities, etc. have less resources to use and fewer people willing to help them. In Pakistan, belonging to one or more of these marginalised groups puts you at greater risk for police bias, wrongful arrest and conviction, spending life in prison or even capital punishment." Human rights activist Baba Intizar Gill, president of the Aqliyat-e-tahafuz party, demanded justice for the family. The government ... must take prompt action against the guilty and protect the rights of minorities, considering them full citizens, Gill said, according to Asia News. These incidents against religious minorities are not new in our nation, but unfortunately, the government never takes firm steps against the culprits. It is sad to see that up to now, none of the perpetrators have been arrested." International persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA ranks Pakistan No. 5 on its 2021 World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most severe persecution due to an extreme level of Islamic oppression. Pakistan is also listed by the U.S. State Department as a "country of particular concern" for tolerating in or engaging in egregious violations of religious freedom. False accusations of blasphemy in Pakistan, mainly targeting Christians and other minority faiths, are widespread due to religious hatred. Under Pakistan's blasphemy laws, people accused of insulting Islam or its prophet Muhammad can face life in prison or be sentenced to death. Earlier this month, it was reported that a Christian couple on death row in Pakistan for blasphemy has been left to die even though the husband, Shafqat Emmanuel, is a paraplegic and in significant pain due to bedsores. In addition to the nation's often-abused blasphemy laws, Christian girls are especially at risk of abduction and rape. Venus Bibi, a 30-year-old Christian mother of five kidnapped by Muslim men in Pakistan on April 1, was recently freed, according to the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement. She was detained, raped, beaten, drugged, and threatened that her husband and children would be killed if she tried to escape. Her husband said Muhamad Akbar, the man who kidnapped his wife and detained her for at least 20 days, had kidnapped women before. Bibis husband, Warris Masih, said that although he complained to police about her kidnapping, they did not take action. Bibi was eventually found on a roadside and could not walk on her own. We are poor and Christian therefore, the police are not taking any action against abductor, and because he has heavily bribed the police, Warris Masih said, according to CLAAS-UK. But I want justice for my wife," he continued. "I want all the kidnappers arrested and punished for their crimes so they can stop kidnapping more Christian women. Responding to the 'dont know, dont care about God' crowd Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Many years ago, I worked with a great guy at a database software company. He and I were peers in different groups he was the director of engineering and I was director of product.[1] When we reached the point where we chatted about things beyond work, I began to talk to him about Christianity and the pushback I got from him was unlike anything I had previously experienced with non-Christians. His position on God and Christianity was simply, dont know, dont care. He went on from there to formally introduce me to apatheism, which is more of an attitude than a worldview or belief system. As you would expect from the name, an apatheist has a feeling of indifference towards the existence or non-existence of God. Plain and simple, they are just not interested in accepting or rejecting any God-is or God-is-not claims. Take agnosticism and tack on a sense of insignificance to the idea of God and you have the apatheist. Surprisingly, there are a lot more of them than you may think. As an article in The Christian Post recently highlighted, a survey done by the Cultural Research Center of Arizona Christian University found many who they call donts (apatheists): slightly more than one out of four Boomers and Builders (28%) qualify as Dontsthat is, people who do not know, believe, or care if God existsand roughly the same proportion of Gen X adults can be characterized as such (31%), closer to half of all Millennials (43%) are Donts. Thats a lot of people. In an August 2018 article in Public Discourse, authors Paul Rowan Brian and Ben Sixsmith made a (then) somewhat surprising assertion: The greatest threat to Christianity is found not in the arguments of the atheist but in the assumptions of the apathetic. The danger is not a hostile reception of belief in God but an incurious indifference to the idea. Why do they say that? Because while Christians tend to engage people on the four biggies of origin, meaning, morality, and destiny, apatheists view those things along the lines of a meme that I recently saw: At some point something happened and somehow something or someone was created and somehow I, a bunch of other people, and a lot of other animals got here. I can live with that. Tough crowd. Having no care about where they came from, sensing no loss of meaning, asking for no direction in morality, and content to slide into eternity with their fingers crossed, apatheists echo French philosopher Denis Diderots shrug-of-the-shoulders, meh reply about whether God exists: It is very important not to mistake hemlock for parsley; but not at all so to believe or not in God. Trivial attitude aside, make no mistake about one thing: as Christians, we should not view apatheism as a live-and-let-live, non-combatant when it comes to co-existing in society. While the apatheist may not care about whether God exists, they likely dont feel the same about the supposed threat Christianity represents to their various social-justice causes. Just look at the war Diderot himself waged against the Christian faith. Engaging the donts With a wide array of gods and philosophies in play during his time, Paul encountered his fair share of people who spent time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new (Acts 17:21) and didnt seem concerned about committing their path to the right or wrong set of spiritual ideas. But that didnt stop him from engaging them at Mars Hill and impressing upon them the need for repentance and commitment to Jesus. How should we go about discussing Christ with the donts? To start, realize that a position of apatheism doesnt undo what and who a person is underneath. When it comes to any unbeliever, no matter whether they are an adherent of post-truth thinking, scientism, apatheism, or are militantly and belligerently opposed to Christianity, they are still made in the image of God and, although marred by sin, are comprised of rational, spiritual, and moral dimensions. An apatheist can first be challenged from a rational perspective to understand they dont apply that philosophy to other areas of their life. Do you have enough money in your checking account to cover your rent check? Dont know, dont care. Do you have cancer? Dont know, dont care. The reason the apatheist behaves differently in these circumstances is they accept the reality of their landlord and physical health, i.e., they are not agnostic in those areas and realize the consequences of ignoring them. This is a good starting point for the apatheist since their agnosticism is driven by their disinterest in the idea of God. Getting them to acknowledge that, in this life, consequences exist for being negligent and wrong in their thinking leads to the question of why things would be different when it comes to God, both in this life and the next. This is especially true for the next life because eternity is an awfully long time to be wrong. While standard apologetics arguments may have some impact on the apatheist, these days no proof is better than appealing to their moral dimension via the well-lived Christian life of the one speaking to them. David Dockery says that in order for new generations to consider the plausibility of Christianity, they must be convinced of its authenticity and its community-building characteristics before they will hear its truth claims.[2] The Apostle Paul did just this he lived among those he preached the Gospel to and exhibited a witness among them that proved the reality of Christ. Pauls way of life very much rounds out any intellectual apologetic he presented on Mars Hill. Along with the cerebral presentation of the gospel came a love that the world saw in him and in Christianity as a whole. Historian Antonia Tripolitis argues that Christianitys sense of community and its universal charity were a major reason, if not the single most important reason, for its growth and subsequent victory over the empire and other competing religions and philosophies of that day.[3] Scottish minister Robert McCheyne understood this and once said that his peoples greatest need was his personal holiness. He knew that it is not so much great gifts that God uses as it is a great likeness to Jesus that draws unbelievers. Although my apatheist friend at our old software firm didnt convert to Christianity while we worked together, he did remark to me that I was different (in a good way) than others at the company and enjoyed our discussions. My hope and prayer is that he, and all the other donts have their indifference towards God melt away by seeing Christ in us and discover the meaning and importance that having Him in their lives brings. [1] Some of this article is taken from my new book, A Confident Faith: Winning People to Christ with the Apologetics of the Apostle Paul. [2] Dockery, D. The Challenge of Postmodernism in The Challenge of Postmodernism. David Dockery, general editor (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2001), 16. [3] Tripolitis, A. Religions of the Hellenistic-Roman Age (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing, 2002), 97. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Regardless if you like it or not, everything is political. Everything. Why? Over the years Americans have looked more and more to the government to fix issues between each other. We support parties, rather than communities. When we keep seeking our party to resolve everything, everything become political. I am convicted that people are now making political and social beliefs, primarily with either the Democratic or Republican party, as their identity. Especially Christians. Its not what you think anymore, its what the party thinks. This creates idols. What does this mean for the Church in America? Divisions in the Church, hate, gossip, judgment, and contempt amongst believers that are in the family of God. Oh yes, we are not sterilized from the polarization in our nation. Christians can still fall prey to identity politics. This causes tension in the Church. Some churches on Sunday mornings are spending their hour preaching political agendas on how we must take back America. Thus, we get warped into the ideological civil war impacting our country. Believers, of all denominations, we must be careful not to let polarization or political ideology creep in. We need to be above that. Regardless if you are conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat, you are a Christian first. That brother or sister who supports a different party than you, they are your brother and sister in Christ. Politics should not influence the Church; the Church should influence politics. So, what is our political basis then? Its simple, Gods word. No matter what you think on politics, social issues, etc., you are to obey Gods Word first and foremost. Ideas, beliefs, and opinions must be shaped by His Word; not shape His Word. You cannot take your political opinion and bring Jesus down to it, shaping who he is. Instead, take your earthly opinions and bring them to God so that he can shape what you believe. We do that by humbly coming before the Lord in His Word. In Jeremiah 29, God called his people to seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. 8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them, declares the Lord. Israel was called to be where their feet were in a foreign land. Yes, they were exiles, but they were also called to be a part of the community, love their neighbors, and even own property. At the same time, they were called to put God first and remember His way, not to be influenced by the society. They were to impact the culture. Behind enemy lines, we are called to inspire our enemies and love them. God calls believers to live in the society that God has placed them in, and while we live here, this country is not our home because it is not the Kingdom of God. Yes, we are Americans, but above that we are Kingdom Citizens. The Church is not America. The Church is a universal body that has broken down walls between differences. Its one thing to tear down international boundaries, but it is harder to break down ideological boundaries. The believer who votes Democrat is still accepted into Gods kingdom as the Republican. Because God doesnt necessarily care about who you vote for (maybe a little why you vote for someone). Political parties are not what God counts at the Second Coming of Christ. God cares more about what you say and act towards your enemies. How we get out of this polarization is humility. It is the humility that we are all sinners in need of grace. Every single one of us. That is the message of Jesus. Not ideological divisions, but that we can rise above the political spectrum and live a life dedicated to Gods way, His teachings, and who he calls us to be. Do we live a life devoted to identity politics? Or is our life characterized by who Christ is and His message. Believers on both sides of the political spectrum and in between, must understand that following Jesus demands that we lay down our ideologies, our opinions, and how we think the world should be. We take up our cross by checking our convictions at the word of God, and the character of Jesus and trust that Gods way is better. I believe God demands a higher way we view political and social issues, and what we should do to fix them. Today, the world views its issues as political. But the believer must view them as spiritual. Where the world says that we can fix them all immediately everywhere, that simply will never be the case. The sin in the world will always produce suffering until Christ returns. In the meantime, Jesus calls us not to focus on fixing all world issues by voting for a candidate, supporting a group, or endorsing a party, but by looking to the people around us, in our circle of influence, and loving our neighbor as ourselves. Engage the Word of the Lord for answers! Pastor says deconstruction has become 'trendy,' shares how to love those struggling with doubt Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment As more and more Christian leaders publicly leave the faith, a pastor has weighed in on the deconstruction movement and shared how the Church can best love those struggling with doubt. Pastor Dominic Done, who himself went through a season of deconstruction and reconstruction, is the founder of Pursuing Faith, a ministry focused on equipping Christians to successfully navigate culturally pertinent issues relating to faith, doubt and apologetics. In a recent appearance on The Crazy Happy Podcast, a show from Daniel Fusco and the Edifi Podcast Network, Done, who also authored the book When Faith Fails, shared how Christians can help a person turn their deconstruction into reconstruction thats redemptive. Something's happening right now and I'd say especially over this last year, even last six months, we're seeing so many people deconstruct their faith, walk away from the faith, say that they don't believe, Done said. I think in many ways it's because we don't know how to respond to doubt in our life. Part of it is bad theology, part of it is cultural assumptions that we carry into our walk with Jesus. Done identified two dangers when it comes to doubt. The first, he said, is demonizing it and seeing it as the great enemy. When we don't know what to do with thorny, gritty, raw, unanswered or unanswerable questions we kind of press it down, he said. Doubt can lead to a place of sin, which is unbelief. Unbelief is a sin, but doubt is kind of the neutral space in between that can lead to a deeper faith or can lead to deeper unbelief. The second unhealthy response to doubt is idolizing it, where its viewed as the answer. The trendy thing right now is that weve got to deconstruct our faith, walk away from the faith, walk away from the church, he said. But the problem with that is, while I think deconstruction can be healthy if it's a sloughing off of things that are unhealthy in our life, views of God that aren't correct, things that we've kind of taken on board that [aren't] essential to our faith that form of deconstruction can be really healthy. But if it's just deconstruction for the sake of deconstruction, it's not going to lead you anywhere. Following Jesus, he stressed, is truly edgy. You want to be countercultural? You want to be different? You want to stand out? You want to be someone who's revolutionary, then follow the carpenter from Nazareth, he explained. I think there's a beauty in this secular time in which we live. There are some cracks in secularism that I think the seeds of the Gospel can be planted in. In recent years, a number of high-profile Christian leaders and pastors have publicly left the Christian faith after a season of deconstructing, while a recent study from Gallup found that fewer than 50% of Americans belong to a church or religious organization. Grammy-winning vocalist Kevin Max, a member of the popular Christian band DC Talk, revealed that he considers himself to be an exvangelical and explained where he is on his journey in deconstructing. I like to call it deconstruction, reconstruction, he said. Any person that's really changing every day, which we do, you're going to deconstruct or you're going to reconstruct. So it's a combination of both of those things. In April, Paul Maxwell, a former Desiring God writer and the author of the book The Trauma of Doctrine,announced he is no longer a Christian. Last year, Jon Steingard, the Canadian Christian rock band Hawk Nelsons lead vocalist, revealed on social media that I no longer believe in God, explaining it didnt happen overnight. On The Crazy Happy Podcast, Done contended that while seasons of deconstruction can be helpful or even fruitful if it leads to flourishing, deconstruction for the sake of deconstruction is not. Sooner or later you need a worldview. Sooner or later you need something that's going to keep you warm from the storm. Sooner or later you're going to need a metric that will guide your life. The most loving thing a Christian can do for someone who is deconstructing and walking away from their faith is not judging them, but rather saying, How can I lead you through this? How can I walk with you, through your season of doubt? Satan loves to cause us to withdraw from others to put up walls, the pastor stressed, adding: But it's in that place of secrecy that [doubt] grows, it becomes malignant. I think the healthiest way that we can work through seasons of doubt or deconstruction is in community. To those doubting their faith, Done offered the encouragement: Youre not alone. Open your Bible and the Bible is filled with men and women who are in that space of doubting, struggling, he said. There are so many people who are in that space we have those people in our life that God has brought to us that we can open up with, we can share with. And from that place, then I think discernment comes. Deconstruction can be an opportunity to grow, the pastor reiterated. Maybe we just need to look at it as opportunity, or questions, or uncertainty or mystery. And in that place, there is room to grow, he said. Now the flip side doubt can be toxic if we don't handle it well. Doubt can lead us to a dark place if we idolize it. And that's why I think conversations have to be had in the Church ... what is doubt, what does Scripture actually say about it, and how do we respond to it. 5 Interesting Facts About Memorial Day Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Memorial Day is an annual holiday that falls on the last Monday in May. It is observed nationwide to honor those who served in the Armed Forces, with an emphasis on the deceased. Originally observed in the nineteenth century, the holiday is known for its parades, barbeques, the Rolling Thunder journey to the Washington, D.C., area, and special shopping deals. Here are five interesting facts about the origins of the holiday, including how it is observed, and how some overseas choose to never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Facebook apparently terminates a leading cultural commentator Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment If you live outside of Australia, you might not be familiar with the name Bill Muehlenberg. But he is undoubtedly one of the most prolific, learned, insightful, and theologically grounded cultural commentators in the world. And now it appears he has been terminated by Facebook. As he wrote on May 27, I am now persona non grata in the eyes of Facebook, although, he explains, my actual crimes are still a mystery to me. What he does know is this: Over 15 years worth of work with hundreds of thousands of posts, comments and articles completely erased in an instant! Nearly 5000 contacts all stolen away from me! Stalin would be so very envious! Hitler would be jealous! And heres what makes this narrative all the more chilling. Bill saw this coming. He predicted the rise of the thought police long before Facebook was flexing its muscles. And he predicts even more dire things for the future if we do not wake up. Like me, Bill came to faith in Jesus as a hippie during the Jesus People Movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s (he is my senior by a few years). An American who has lived in Australia for decades, Bill has written thousands of articles and a number of books dealing with subjects including abortion, euthanasia, LGBTQ activism, ethics, church history, the problem of suffering, the compromised state of contemporary Christianity in the West, and much more. In April 2010, he posted an article on his website titled, When the Thought Police Come Knocking At Your Door (I cited this article in my 2011 book A Queer Thing Happened to America: And What a Long Strange Trip Its Been in the chapter, Big Brother Is Watching and He Is Really Is Gay). The article began with these words: Let me tell you in advance something you will need to know. If in the near future you notice that no new articles are being added to this website, and no new comments are being posted, there will be one very good reason for this: I will be in jail, or fighting a lengthy court battle, because of Victorias new EOC law [referring to the Equal Opportunity Act 2010] which was just passed. He ended the article with this: Overt persecution of the Christian church in Australia is not necessary. The same impact can be achieved by covert persecution. Simply wrap your attack on Christianity in concepts like equal opportunity and anti-discrimination and the secular forces will be able to shut down the church just as effectively as passing a law declaring Christianity to be illegal. A few final questions remain: will you at least visit me when I am in prison? Will you pray for me, and for others who will not bow the knee to Baal? What will you do, Christian friend? Where will you stand? Are you now ready to face the music, or will you, like Peter, deny our Lord to avoid persecution? On a number of occasions since then, Bill found himself in what he called Facebook prison, banned from posting on his page for 30 days for various alleged infractions. One such post, dated April 18, 2019, was titled Facebook Prisoner #9473782, in which he writes, It seems that I am a recidivist. I appear to be a repeat offender. Evidently I am an evil person who must be locked away for the good of society. My humble thoughts are so damaging and threatening that in order to maintain the secular left status quo, I must be made an example of. I must be locked up. I must NOT be allowed to share truth on the social media. There is nothing worse it seems than to be an independent thinker who dares to offer contrarian points of view. In the name of diversity, all diverse posts will be pulled, and all diverse thinkers will be banned. Thanks FB. Now, for reasons unknown to Bill, he has been erased by Facebook, at least for the moment, if not for life. In response, I encourage everyone of you to visit his Culture Watch website, to check out his articles and buy his books, and to sign up for his regular emails (in which he simply shares links to his latest articles, with no gimmicks or emotional appeals). Lets help make his name better known around the globe. Many of us who are still on Facebook are watching our circulation numbers drop precipitously. First the stifling. Then the suffocating. Then the strangling. Then the termination. The good news is that the world existed before Facebook and social media and it will exist after these current platforms are gone (or dramatically reduced or changed). The better news is that, while social media can block us and even ban us, no one can ban or block Gods Word (see 2 Timothy 2:9). With His help, we will get the message out, and the more the world seeks to silence us, the louder we will shout. Turning to Almighty God: 5 profound Memorial Day proclamations Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Memorial Day is an annual federal observance that honors those in the U.S. military who have passed away and a day for Americans to spend time praying for "permanent peace." The holiday was observed in the 19th century under the name Decoration Day," which sought to honor the memory of soldiers who died in the American Civil War. Later on, the observance was broadened to include Americans killed in all armed conflicts, with parades, barbeques and other festivities being connected to the holiday. As part of the observance, presidents of the United States have issued proclamations calling upon Americans to not only remember the fallen but also pray for lasting peace. Many presidents over the years have set aside a specific time in the day for Americans to pray for peace. President Joe Biden continued the tradition, issuing a proclamation urging Americans on Monday to "designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. ... as a time when people might unite in prayer and reflection." The following pages highlight five notable presidential Memorial Day proclamations calling for national prayer signed by presidents of both major political parties. The United States was reported to have condemned China's increasing government-led persecution of Christians. The International Christian Concern (ICC) said two high-level institutions of the United States have called the attention of the Chinese Communist Party for its increasing persecution of Christians and for other religious freedom issues. The said U.S. institutions are the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and the Office of International Religious Freedom of the Department of State. The ICC pointed to the Department of State's annual report where Secretary Antony Blinken criticized China in the manner it treated the Uyghur Muslims. ICC said Blinken's criticism echoed what former President Donald Trump said against China's genocide of the Uyghur Muslims. "(China) criminalizes religious expression and continues to commit crimes against humanity and genocide against Muslim Uyghurs and members of other religious and ethnic minority groups," the ICC quoted Blinken in saying in the department's annual report. Just this month, Trump's former Ambassador for Religious Freedom Sam Brownback expressed hope that the administration of President Joe Biden would be fighting for religious freedom, citing as well Blinken's criticism of China. "I thought the report Secretary Blinken put out today was strong. I thought his statements were strong in support of religious freedom. So, I'm hopeful myself. I'm hopeful," Brownback said in an interview with The Christian Post. During the briefing on the State Department report's release, Senior Official Daniel Nadel said that the situation in Xinjiang, China "shocks the conscience." He said the department is arranging activities to help people better understand the "full scope and scale of the atrocities being committed there." "Well, we're certainly looking at all available options and continuing to look at individual culpability of particular actors in China so we can apply sanctions to them where those sanctions are relevant," Nadel revealed. "In terms of overall changes or shifts in posture, I think what we've seen over the last year and a half or so is a dramatic shift in the Government of China's posture towards this issue of human rights abuses generally," he added. Nadel also said that the situation in China in so far as religious freedom is concerned "remains dire," since people remain to be "warehoused" in camps for many purposes including "re-education" and "forced labor." "What the government is now doing, it's--they've basically turned Xinjiang into an open-air camp. So people's movements are closely tracked. You have minders who have been assigned to live with Uyghurs to keep tabs on them. You have people going to the market who have to check in every time they go to a different market stall. So what the government has created--it's quite an ambitious effort to essentially turn the entire region into an open-air prison," he disclosed to the members of the press who were present during the briefing. Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist Party retaliated against the United States by sanctioning former USCIRF Commissioner Rev. Johnnie Moore for his statements in the said report that were on their abuses against religious freedom. Rev. Moore, however, was unfazed and has considered it an "honor" to be sanctioned by the regime known for its persecution of Christians and people of other faiths. Finlands prosecution of Christian MP over biblical views is act of oppression, legal scholars warn Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Law professors and scholars are calling on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom to pressure the State Department to sanction Finlands prosecutor general for prosecuting a Christian politician who shared her biblical beliefs on sexuality and marriage. In an open letter published by Real Clear Politics last Friday, professors from Ivy League institutions like Harvard University, Yale University and Princeton University spoke out in defense of Paivi Rasanen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola. They both face criminal charges related to Rasanen expressing her Christian views on marriage. Rasanen, a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, could face up to six years in prison after being charged with three counts of ethnic agitation related to statements she made expressing her beliefs pertaining to human sexuality and marriage. Rasanen is the former chair of the Christian Democrats and a former interior minister who has served in Parliament for seven terms. The mother of five, who is married to a pastor and Bible college principal, has been under police investigation since June 2019. She publicly voiced her opinion on marriage in a 2004 booklet on sexual ethics, describing marriage as between one man and one woman. She also expressed her views on a 2019 radio show and tweeted church leadership on the matter. Prosecutors determined that her previous statements disparage and discriminate against LGBT individuals and foment intolerance and defamation. The mother of five is adamant that her expressions are legal and should not be censored. In their open letter, the professors argue that the prosecution of the politician for her remarks could compel Finlands clergy and lay religious believers to choose between prison and abandoning teachings of their various faiths. The charges against Dr. Rasanen stem from her authorship of a 2004 booklet entitled, Male and Female He Created Them: Homosexual Relationships Challenge the Christian Concept of Humanity, published by the Luther Foundation, they wrote. In the booklet, Dr. Rasanen argues that homosexual activity should be recognized by the church as sinful based on the teachings of the Hebrew Bible and Christian scripture. Second, the Prosecutor General has charged the Bishop-Elect of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland, Rev. Dr. Juhana Pohjola, with one count of ethnic agitation for publishing Dr. Rasanens booklet, the letter continues. The Prosecutor Generals pursuit of these charges against a prominent legislator and bishop sends an unmistakable message to Finns of every rank and station: no one who holds to the traditional teachings of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and several other religions on questions of marriage and sexual morality will be safe from state harassment should they, like Bishop Pohjola and Dr. Rasanen, express their moral and religious convictions. The letter argues that the prosecutions constitute serious human rights abuses because they violate Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 10 of the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights. Those documents affirm the right of an individual to manifest his religion or belief in teaching. The professors urged commissioners serving on the congressionally-mandated independent commission tasked with advising the U.S. government on international religious freedom matters to urge Secretary of State Antony Blinken to sanction Finland Prosecutor General Raija Toiviainen because of a gross violation of human rights. The letters signatories include Princeton University law professor Robert P. George, Harvard Universitys Learned Hand Professor of Law Emerita Mary Ann Glendon and Harvard constitutional law professor Adrian Vermeule. Other signatories include: Peter Berkowitz, a senior fellow at Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution; Middlebury College political science professor Keegan Callanan; Yale University history and religious studies professor Carlos Eire; Princeton University math professor Sergiu Klainerman; Princeton University international studies professor John B. Londregan; Harvard University African American studies lecturer Jacqueline C. Rivers; and attorney David Rivkin of the law firm BakerHostetler. The signatories argue that Rasanens prosecution isnt merely mundane applications of a European-style hate speech law. No reasonable balance of the goods of public order, civil equality, and religious liberty can ever support this suppression of the right to believe and express ones beliefs. The prosecutions are straightforward acts of oppression, they write. To uphold the internationally recognized rights of freedom of expression and religious liberty, the United States must now respond to the abuses in Finland as it has recently responded to other violations of religious liberty in non-western nations. The letter points to how the U.S. government designated a Chinese government official as a human rights abuser for his involvement in the detention and interrogation of Falun Gong practitioners for practicing their beliefs. Prosecutor General Toiviainens status as a European official must not shield her from sanctions for her abuse of traditionalist Christians in Finland, the letter argues. In addition, the letter urges USCIRF to pressure Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to designate Toiviainen for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act, which allows for sanctions to be placed on foreign officials believed to be responsible or complicit in severe human rights abuse. Prosecutor General Toiviainen and any line prosecutors who choose to assist her plainly meet this description, the professors argue. The letter contends that there is no statue of limitations on human rights violations of this magnitude. Should calls by USCIRF to designate and sanction Prosecutor General Toiviainen and her accomplices fall on deaf ears, we respectfully request that USCIRF not simply let the matter drop, they conclude. Rasanen is represented by ADF International, which argues that her case is about the freedom to express religious beliefs in the public square without the fear of government investigation. In a March statement, Rasanen said that she did not threaten, slander or insult anyone and that her comments were all based on the Bibles teachings on marriage and sexuality. She vowed to defend her right to confess her faith. The more Christians keep silent on controversial themes, the narrower the space for freedom of speech gets, she said. Earlier this month, the European Evangelical Alliance voiced its support for Rasanen, asking if the prosecutor is attempting to redefine human rights law. "Freedom of expression gives the right for anyone to share their opinion," EEA General Secretary Thomas Bucher wrote in a statement. "The right to freedom of expression exists to legally protect those that express views which may offend, shock or disturb others." Im a teacher but I serve God first: Virginia teacher placed on leave after refusing to kowtow to trans ideology Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment An elementary school in Virginia has placed a physical education teacher on leave after he told the school board that he wouldn't affirm transgender identities because it's tantamount to lying and child abuse, and stressed, Im a teacher but I serve God first. Leesburg Elementary School in Loudoun County placed the teacher, Byron Tanner Cross, on leave Thursday, Fox News reported. The decision was made two days after Cross explained at a Loudoun County School Board meeting on May 25 why he wouldnt affirm that a biological boy can be a girl and vice versa. My name is Tanner Cross and I am speaking out of love for those who suffer with gender dysphoria, he told the board. Referring to CBS News 60 Minutes investigation that aired Sunday, the Christian teacher said the over 30 young people who were interviewed by Lesley Stahl had transitioned but felt led astray because of lack of pushback or how easy it was to make physical changes to their bodies in just three months. They are now detransitioning, he added, explaining that he was not intending to hurt anyone, but there are certain truths that we must face when ready. We condemn school policies like 8040 and 8350 because it would damage children, defile the holy image of God, he continued. I love all of my students but I will never lie to them regardless of the consequences. Im a teacher but I serve God first and I will not affirm that a biological boy can be a girl and vice versa because its against my religion. He stressed that it's lying to a child, it's abuse to a child, and it's sinning against our God. A public draft of Policy 8040 states that teachers would be required to use a student's preferred pronouns. "LCPS staff shall allow gender-expansive or transgender students to use their chosen name and gender pronouns, regardless of the name and gender recorded in the student's permanent educational record," the policy says. Policy 8350 states: "LCPS staff shall allow gender-expansive and transgender students to participate in such activities in a manner consistent with the students gender identity." The policy also stipulates that Louden County Public Schools will be required to give trans-identified students access to the restrooms of their choosing, and to provide private single-use facilities if requested. "Students should be allowed to use the facility that corresponds to their gender identity. While some transgender students will want that access, others may want alternatives that afford more privacy. Taking into account existing school facilities, administrators should take steps to designate gender-inclusive or single-user restrooms commensurate with the size of the school." In October 2019, Peter Vlaming, a high school French teacher at a school in West Point, Virginia, sued the school district that fired him because he opted to use a trans-identified students chosen name instead of their preferred pronouns. In a scathing op-ed published by The Washington Times at the time, the teacher wrote against the West Point School Boards decision. They didnt want to listen to my students and their parents, or to the clear directives of our state constitution (and Virginia law), or to what I tried to explain to them with my words and in the way I lived out my professional life on the West Point High School campus, Vlaming wrote. Indeed, the administrators proved themselves deaf to virtually everything but the current political mandate which decrees that only one perspective on gender identity is to be accommodated, he added. Over 60 bishops call for delay on debate over communion for pro-choice politicians Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment More than 60 Roman Catholic bishops have written a letter to the chair of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, urging him to delay the debate about whether pro-abortion Catholic politicians should receive communion. The letter, obtained by the Catholic website The Pillar, was sent to Jose Gomez, the archbishop of Los Angeles and chair of the USCCB, earlier this month. Notable signatories include Cardinal Wilton Gregory of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., Cardinal Sean OMalley of the Archdiocese of Boston, and Cardinal Blase Cupich of the Archdiocese of Chicago. According to the publication, the letter was sent on letterhead from the Archdiocese of Washington. The roughly 60 signatories constitute a small share of the more than 400 bishops, auxiliary bishops, bishops emeritus and eparchs of Eastern Catholic Churches that make up the USCCB. The letter comes as the USCCB is scheduled to meet for a virtual general assembly next month, where the body is expected to vote on a draft document that would recommend that pro-abortion Catholic politicians not receive communion. On March 30, Gomez indicated that the body of U.S. bishops planned to vote on the draft document in a letter to Cardinal Luis Ladaria, a high-ranking Vatican official who serves as the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Ladaria responded to Gomez in a May 7 letter, stressing the need for the bishops to reach a consensus about a national policy on communion for pro-abortion Catholic politicians before its implementation. The bishops cited Ladarias argument in their letter, maintaining that the high standard of consensus among ourselves and of maintaining unity with the Holy See and the Universal Church as set forth by Cardinal Ladaria is far from being achieved in the present moment. They also cited a desire to hold off on debating a new policy until the entire conference can meet in person. Having now received the May 7, 2021 letter from His Eminence Luis F. Cardinal Ladaria, SJ, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, we respectfully urge that all Conference wide discussion and committee work on the topic of Eucharistic worthiness and other issues raised by the Holy See be postponed until the full body of bishops is able to meet in person, the bishops wrote. They suggested that the bishops gather in person regionally or by province to discuss the Cardinal Ladaria letter before the September Administrative Committee Meeting and before any other conference or committee work continues on this matter. The general assembly is scheduled to take place from June 16-18. The Washington Post reported that watchers of the conference of bishops say they expect a yes vote. As explained on the USCCB website, decisions normally require a two-thirds majority vote of those bishops present and voting in order to take effect. The renewed interest in this debate is a result of President Joe Biden, a practicing Catholic, engaging in abortion advocacy despite the fact that it directly contradicts the teachings of his faith. The Catholic Churchs Code of Canon Law teaches that those who are obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion. As then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who would later become Pope Benedict XVI, noted in a 2004 letter to then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and then-Bishop Wilton Gregory, the Church teaches that abortion or euthanasia is a grave sin. Ratzinger quoted from the Encyclical Letter Evangelium vitae, which states: In the case of an intrinsically unjust law, such as a law permitting abortion or euthanasia, it is therefore never licit to obey it or to take part in a propoganda campaign in favour of such a law or vote for it.' Ratzinger instructed priests to meet with Catholic politicians consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws and inform them of the Churchs teachings and that they will be denied communion if they continue to violate Church teachings by supporting such laws. If these precautionary measures have not had their effect or in which they were not possible, and the person in question, with obstinate persistence, still presents himself to receive the Holy Eucharist, the minister of Holy Communion must refuse to distribute it, he added. The Associated Press reported that even if the draft document is approved, it would still leave decisions on withholding Communion up to local bishops, meaning the debate about whether to withhold communion from pro-abortion Catholic politicians will continue regardless of how the USCCB votes on the draft document. Even before signing onto the letter expressing a desire to postpone the discussion about Eucharistic worthiness, Gregory indicated that he does not believe that Bidens abortion advocacy should disqualify him from receiving communion. San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, who oversees territory that includes the church attended by pro-abortion Catholic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has come down on the other side of the debate. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave, said Elmer Davis, the director of the United States Office of War Information during World War II. Memorial Day is about paying tribute to the bravest of the brave, our fallen heroes of wartime. That this nation fought four major wars before the idea of a Memorial Day became a reality is an indictment of our propensity to forget unappreciatively and the need to be ever vigilant never to do so. Memorial Day ceremonies and celebrations should inspire us to fully appreciate what we have in times of peace and how our predecessors were willing to give so much to protect our great heritage. War is hell, said William Tecumseh Sherman, the famed General of the Union Army during the conflict between the states. Shermans words shake us out of thinking of war merely in philosophical terms. Though often necessary, its reality is nightmarish, agony, anguish, misery, and the epitome of suffering. Its a gruesome battle of blood and guts for survival. Stephen Cranes The Red Badge of Courage describes a young soldiers perspective in the heat of battle. Here are a few selections from that great novel believed to be based on the Civil War battle at Chancellorsville and accounts from interviewed veterans of the 124th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment: He suddenly lost concern for himself and forgot to look at the menacing fate. He became not a man but a member. He felt that something of which he was a part a regiment, an army, a cause, or a country was in crisis. He was welded into a common personality which was dominated by a single desire. There was a consciousness always of the presence of his comrades about him. He felt the subtle battle brotherhood more potent even than the cause for which they were fighting. It was a mysterious fraternity born of the smoke of danger and death. Presently, he began to feel the effects of the war atmosphere a blistering sweat, a sensation that his eyeballs were about to crack like hot stones. A burning roar filled his ears. Buried in the smoke of many rifles, his anger was directed not so much against the men whom he knew were rushing toward him as against the swirling battle phantoms which were choking him, stuffing their smoke robes down his parched throat. He fought frantically for respite for his senses, for air, as a babe being smothered attacks the deadly blankets. There was a blare of heated rage mingled with a certain expression of intentness on all faces. Many of the men were making low-toned noises with their mouths, and these subdued snarls, imprecations, prayers, made a wild, barbaric sound, strange and chantlike with the resounding chords of the war march. The men dropped here and there like bundles. The captain of thecompany had been killed in an early part of the action. His body lay stretched out in the position of a tired man resting, but upon his face, there was an astonished and sorrowful look, as if he thought some friend had done him an ill turn. A babbling man was grazed by a shot that made the blood stream widely down his face. He clapped both hands to his head. Oh! he said, and ran. Another grunted suddenly as if he had been struck by a club in the stomach. He sat down and gazed ruefully. In his eyes, there was mute, indefinite reproach. Farther up the line, a man, standing behind a tree, had had his knee joint splintered by a ball. Immediately he had dropped his rifle and gripped the tree with both arms. And there he remained, clinging and crying for assistance that he might withdraw his hold upon the tree. At last, an exultant yell went along the quivering line. The firing dwindled from an uproar to a last vindictive popping. Cranes words dont even begin to address the horrors of modern warfare. One might even deem them seemingly mild in comparison. Yet, I think they do fundamentally express something of the dreadful experience of so many many who gave that last full measure of devotion to secure our liberties and the hope of freedom around the world. General James A. Garfield, who would later become one of our martyred Presidents, spoke at the first Memorial Day service at Arlington National Cemetery. On that day, May 30, 1868, Garfield said, We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For the love of country, they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and virtue. On Memorial Day, we remember. US evangelical leader Johnnie Moore sanctioned by China for religious freedom advocacy Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment China sanctioned a United States private citizen and evangelical leader on Wednesday for exposing human rights abuses and standing up for the religious freedom of Uyghur Muslims, Christians and other minority faith groups that are being silenced and oppressed. Rev. Johnnie Moore, a two-time commissioner who served on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and president of the Congress of Christian Leaders, said it is an honor to be sanctioned by China because of his advocacy for people of oppressed minority faiths. If the cost of sanctioning Chinese officials responsible for human rights abuses in China is the sanctioning of activists like me, then I say, fine, I am more than happy to be sanctioned, Moore told The Christian Post in an interview on Thursday. Moore, a public relations executive and a former Liberty University vice president, said there is no better compliment for a human rights activist to actually get under the skin of those you are calling to change. Its literally millions of people like me around the world who are saying in one clear voice, we love China, we love the Chinese people, he said. We understand it is a certain type of political system. But these types of behaviors are not the types of behaviors were willing to accept in the modern world, and were going to be unrelenting.' And clearly, [China is] paying attention. As a human rights advocate who shines a light on atrocities, it sometimes seems to go unnoticed. But for China, Moore said it has become increasingly clear that the government is noticing that the tide of the world is finally turning against them in this regard. They are deeply, deeply concerned about it." It is an honor to be sanctioned by the Chinese Communist Party for giving my voice to the Uyghur Muslims, Christians [including Jimmy Lai], Tibetan Buddhists & countless others the CCP tries to silence every day," he shared in a tweet. Moore called his ability to freely advocate for the oppressed "a privilege of living in the United States, the land of the free and the home of the brave." The CCP doesnt understand the difference between the truth and a lie' but heres some truth we know: they are weaker than they want us to believe that they are, Moore continued. A global coalition is building to hold them to account and it transcends political parties and U.S. administrations. This Great Wall of Collaboration is a promise to future generations that we will not hand our world to the CCP to victimize the innocent as they please. Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a statement on Thursday promising the U.S. will continue to speak out for human rights and promote accountability for the Chinese governments abuses. Beijings attempts to intimidate and silence those speaking out for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of religion or belief, only draw additional international attention and scrutiny to its egregious abuses, Blinken said. This includes the ongoing crimes against humanity and genocide in Xinjiang, as well as its repression of religious and spiritual adherents, including Tibetan Buddhists, Christians, and Falun Gong practitioners." Blinken condemned the Chinese governments baseless sanctions imposed in March against USCIRF Chair Gayle Manchin and Vice-Chair Tony Perkins for speaking out against the genocide and human rights abuses of Uyghur Muslims. Moores service as a USCIRF commissioner ended several weeks ago, so the CCP sanctioned him as a private citizen in response to the State Departments release of the 2020 Report on International Religious Freedom and the announcement of sanctions of a Chinese official. China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the 2020 report is a disregard of facts and fraught with ideological bias, has unscrupulously denigrated China's religious policy and severely interfered in China's internal affairs. Lijian said China firmly rejects the report, which led them to impose sanctions on Moore. China urges the U.S. side to rectify its mistake, rescind the so-called sanctions and stop interfering China's internal affairs in the name of religious issues. Lijian said in a press conference on Wednesday that China sanctioned Moore in response to the [U.S.] blatant move to endorse cults and impose unilateral sanctions on Chinese personnel based on lies and disinformation. The sanction forbids Moore and his family members from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao of China Moore said the sanction is partly a retaliatory measure, its partly a PR stunt and its partly about intimidation. One of the key phrases in my official statement in response to [the sanction] is that the United States of America is the land of the free," Moore said. Its the home of the brave. We have always used our freedom as not only something to enjoy in the boundaries of our own country but as our responsibility in the world to use our freedom on behalf of those who dont have it. ... We havent been easily intimidated in the history of our great country. Despite all of the different parts of our history, there is one thread that runs through it, which is that we are a brave, proud people who are obsessed with self-corrections within our own history and who are always raising our voice on the behalf of those that need [it] around the world. So, I think it is partly an exercise in intimidation. But were not an easily-intimidated people, he continued. Moore said the sanctions will not silence him. If by sanctioning Americans youre attempting to silence us, the exact opposite things going to happen, Moore shared. Sanctioning me is not going to silence me. Its going to cause me to become more aggressive. Its going to cause me to raise my voice more. As best as I can tell, this is simply a travel ban. Moore assured that he loves China and has for years displayed a willingness to "sit at the table" and "have these conversations." I am not against the Chinese people. I am not against China. Im an American. I believe in the free market. But when you believe in the free market, you have to fight fair. And one of the reasons the United States of America has been blessed the way it has been is [that] it has been the freest country in human history and it has taken that freedom and it has used it to raise a voice for those who arent free. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and 27 other Trump administration officials, including former Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, former national security adviser Robert O'Brien and former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon, were also sanctioned by China just minutes after President Joe Biden took office. The sanctions restricted these individuals, their immediate family members and companies or institutions associated with them from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao of China since they seriously disrupted China-U.S. relations, a Jan. 20 statement from a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. The Trump administration designated the Chinese persecution of the minority Uyghur Muslims as a genocide and crimes against humanity against in January. In the western Xinjiang province, the Uyghur and other ethnic Muslims undergo mass internment, forced labor and forced sterilization under the Chinese Communist Party. Moore met with the transition teams between the Trump and Biden administrations in January to discuss religious freedom and human rights. The United States needs to use its unrivaled stature in the world to build an alliance beginning in Europe but extending certainly throughout the continents to further build this great wall of collaboration to serve as a wall of freedom that ensures that China cannot buy its way, extort its way, lend its way and engage in other extortionist tactics in order to buy alliances throughout the world. , Moore said. The government of China must change its behavior, or the U.S. will continue to try to stifle its influence throughout the world, Moore added. ... The last thing that I want is a bad relationship between the U.S. and China. I think the U.S. and China ought to tomorrow decide to turn a page on recent days and to pursue a fairer, more just approach to their relationship and to their joint efforts around the world in shaping the future for everyone," he said. "But the Communist Party is going to have to change their behavior. And if they are unwilling to change their behavior, then the United States needs to do what needs to be done to make it more difficult for the Communist Party to export their behavior to other parts of the world. Moore believes the Biden administration should take a page out of the Trump administrations playbook and keep unrelenting pressure on the Communist Party and sanction those responsible for the atrocities being committed. Human rights and religious freedom must be at the heart of American foreign policy, he stressed. Chrisitan persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA ranks China, the worlds most populous country with over 1.4 billion people, at No. 17 on its 2021 World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most severe persecution. China: Pastor of heavily-persecuted church hospitalized after attack by communist authorities Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The pastor of a heavily-persecuted house church in Chinas southwest Guizhou Province was hospitalized after being detained and brutally beaten by Chinese Communist Party authorities. Persecution watchdog China Aid reports that on May 23, as Pastor Yang Hua of Guiyang Living Stone Church planned to visit Christians in Qingdao, police seized and transported him to their station. There, a leader of the Guiyang Yunyan District Party Committee punched the pastor, injuring him so severely that an official called emergency medical personnel, who then transported the pastor to a nearby hospital. Since founding Guiyang Living Stone Church in 2009, the pastor has experienced ongoing persecution at the hands of communist authorities. China Change notes that initially, the church didnt attract much attention, but it grew rapidly, doubling parishioners each year, it came under increasing scrutiny from Chinese authorities. In 2015, Guiyang City government officials forcibly shut down the church and one year later sold it to a commercial group for more than $779,909 (5,000,000 yuan), a sum Chia Aid notes was much lower than its actual assessed value. That same year, CCP officials apprehended Yang, falsely charged him with deliberately divulging state secrets, and sentenced him to serve 2.5 years in prison. Though he was released in 2018 after serving the full term of his sentence, he continued to face scrutiny from the CCP. Members of the pastors family told China Aid that police would intensify their surveillance of the pastor on a sensitive day or whenever potential disturbance or trouble" emerged. During those times, authorities forced Yang to travel away from the area or place him under house arrest with 20 CCP officers guarding his door. During late August in 2018, Pastor Wang Yi, head of the heavily-persecuted Early Rain Covenant Church, traveled to Guiyang to visit Yang. The two pastors encouraged each other to hold fast to the faith, and three months later, CCP authorities arrested Wang and imprisoned him. Numerous reports have documented how religious persecution in China intensified in 2020, with thousands of Christians affected by church closures and other human rights abuses. Authorities in China are also continuing their crackdown on Christianity by removing Bible Apps and Christian WeChat public accounts as new highly restrictive administrative measures on religious staff went into effect earlier in May. Open Doors USAs World Watch List ranks China as the 17th-worst country in the world when it comes to the persecution of Christians. The organization notes that all churches are perceived as a threat if they become too large, too political or invite foreign guests. Christians are not the only religious minority to face persecution at the hands of the CCP. Estimates suggest that as many as 1 million Uighur Muslims have been subject to internment camps in Xinjiang, where they are taught to be secular citizens who will never oppose the ruling Communist Party. In January, Southern Baptist ethicist Russell Moore warned that the crimes being perpetrated against religious minorities in China and elsewhere rely on tribalism and invisibility where the rest of the world doesn't pay attention. The way of Jesus Christ says that we pay attention to our neighbor on the side of the road who is persecuted, who is being beaten, he said. So let's pray for persecuted peoples. Let's pray not just individually, but together, and pray for them by name. Let's be the people who stand up for whoever is being made invisible, whoever is being intimidated and bullied in our own neighborhoods and in our own communities because we're the people of Jesus Christ. Over the last three years, LinkedIn's active user base grew by a staggering 27 percent, from 500 million in 2018 to 740 million in 2021. Business owners and entrepreneurs can leverage the platform to grow their brand, generate new leads, establish partnerships and make connections. The following seven ways can help you utilize LinkedIn to grow your brand and gain a competitive edge over your competition. 1. Optimize your company profile and connect with people If you haven't worked on your LinkedIn profile, please take some time and perfect it. Make sure it provides all the essential details about your company's products and services. Put more emphasis on the headline and summary to ensure that it's compelling, engaging, interesting and professional. Furthermore, optimize it for more B2B and B2C lead generation. Within no time, you will start seeing the "Someone has viewed your profile" notification. Don't just view their profile back. Instead, track the individuals who viewed your business's profile. If they are an ideal prospect, invite them to connect. An individual who views your company profile is most likely finding out more about your brand. There could be a chance they are also interested in your products or services. Related: The Biggest Mistakes You're Making On LinkedIn And What You Should Do Instead 2. Post valuable content on LinkedIn publisher You can use LinkedIn Publisher to publish blog posts that users can engage with and share. With more shares of your blogs, the higher the impact it has on growing your brand. The post can also get prospects interested in your products, triggering an open door for more partnerships. Make it a habit to publish content on LinkedIn consistently but remember quality is key. It can build a community of loyal followers who admire your brand. Through them, you have ambassadors who can create a good reputation out there about your business. When users see the value and insights in your content, it gives them the conviction to check out more about your company. It's one of the most straightforward and subtle ways of promoting your brand on LinkedIn without being pushy. 3. Follow other companies Don't forget to follow other businesses within your industry, including those you have partnered with and those who can be potential partners. This way, you have a chance to learn about them and what they offer. Still, don't limit yourself from poking around as it might be an eye-opener to some techniques other companies use to get more leads. Also, the more you position yourself out there, the higher your chances of getting more returns. 4. Join LinkedIn groups where your target clients gather The right groups can be a very powerful tool in growing your brand. By using advanced search, you can locate practitioners within your sector and your firm. Group conversations can give you vital insights into your industry. You can also learn about emerging industry pains and the options you can use to solve these issues. While in the group, learn about the rules to know if content sharing is allowed. If so, create your credibility by sharing relevant content that capture potential prospects. It can include links to articles about your brand, relevant blog posts, event notices for webinars and posts that quote your business. However, make sure the materials you post are a helpful source and avoid dominating the conversation. Related: Five Ways To Use LinkedIn for Sales Prospecting Through Social Selling 5. Utilize plugins LinkedIn can be an even more powerful lead generation tool by itself when you utilize the complementary add-ons. Tap into the following plugins: LinkedIn Connection Revealer : The LinkedIn Connection Revealer shows you the following that your connections have. By pinpointing the users who travel in big circles, you can engage with them to leverage their platform and promote your brand. : The LinkedIn Connection Revealer shows you the following that your connections have. By pinpointing the users who travel in big circles, you can engage with them to leverage their platform and promote your brand. LinMailPro : It's a Chrome extension that gives you the capability to automatically find and invite individuals who have recently viewed your profile. You can also send personalized messages to them about your brand or deliver marketing messages. : It's a Chrome extension that gives you the capability to automatically find and invite individuals who have recently viewed your profile. You can also send personalized messages to them about your brand or deliver marketing messages. Headlinr : You may have sponsored a great story, uploaded ads or put up posts, but without a great headline, your potential targets might not click on them. When you use Headlinr, a chrome paid plugin, it automatically generates multiple headline combinations with the keyword you specify depending on your industry. You will get compelling titles that lure users into clicking through your ads and stories. : You may have sponsored a great story, uploaded ads or put up posts, but without a great headline, your potential targets might not click on them. When you use Headlinr, a chrome paid plugin, it automatically generates multiple headline combinations with the keyword you specify depending on your industry. You will get compelling titles that lure users into clicking through your ads and stories. Rapportive: If you are a Gmail user browsing in Chrome or Firefox, Rapportive can be a handy tool in getting more leads. It enables you to get LinkedIn profiles that have email addresses in your contacts. You can then send them personalized invites to their inbox to help you grow your network. 6. Create a sponsored InMail campaign By utilizing sponsored InMail campaigns, you have an easier route to cut through the clutter and reach inboxes of individuals who matter to your business. You can send your target prospects compelling offers and rich content. 7. Ask your employees to post your business's content In most cases, entrepreneurs search for powerful brand advocates who can share their brand case studies and blogs. Yet, you can also do it through your employees. Research shows that about 50% of employees are already posting on social media platforms about their employers. Ask them to post blog content and other pieces relating to your brand to generate more traffic and leads. In fact, some organizations allow their marketers to pick company-approved content that their employees can share on LinkedIn. LinkedIn can be a goldmine in attracting new clients and growing your brand, but correct execution is critical. Take your time to create your LinkedIn strategy, get clear about how you can offer prospective clients value first then implement like crazy! Related: Five Ways To Build Your Business Through Blogging Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved CAIRO (AP) Workers dig and ferry wheelbarrows laden with sand to open a new shaft at a bustling archaeological site outside of Cairo, while a handful of Egyptian archaeologists supervise from garden chairs. The dig is at the foot of the Step Pyramid of Djoser, arguably the worlds oldest pyramid, and is one of many recent excavations that are yielding troves of ancient artifacts from the countrys largest archaeological site. As some European countries reopen to international tourists, Egypt has already been trying for months to attract them to its archaeological sites and museums. Officials are betting that the new ancient discoveries will set it apart on the mid- and post-pandemic tourism market. They need visitors to come back in force to inject cash into the tourism industry, a pillar of the economy. But like countries elsewhere, Egypt continues to battle the coronavirus, and is struggling to get its people vaccinated. The country has, up until now, received only 5 million vaccines for its population of 100 million people, according to its Health Ministry. In early May, the government announced that 1 million people had been vaccinated, though that number is believed to be higher now. In the meantime, authorities have kept the publicity machine running, focused on the new discoveries. In November, archaeologists announced the discovery of at least 100 ancient coffins dating back to the Pharaonic Late Period and Greco-Ptolemaic era, along with 40 gilded statues found 2,500 years after they were first buried. That came a month after the discovery of 57 other coffins at the same site, the necropolis of Saqqara that includes the step pyramid. Saqqara is a treasure, said Tourism and Antiquities Minister Khaled el-Anany while announcing the November discovery, estimating that only 1% of what the site contains has been unearthed so far. Our problem now is that we dont know how we can possibly wow the world after this, he said. If they dont, it certainly wont be for lack of trying. In April, Zahi Hawass, Egypts best-known archaeologist, announced the discovery of a 3,000-year-old lost city in southern Luxor, complete with mud brick houses, artifacts and tools from pharaonic times. It dates back to Amenhotep III of the 18th dynasty, whose reign (13901353 B.C.) is considered a golden era for ancient Egypt. That discovery was followed by a made-for-TV parade celebrating the transport of 22 of the countrys prized royal mummies from central Cairo to their new resting place in a massive facility farther south in the capital, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. The Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh is now home to an archaeological museum, as is Cairos International Airport, both opened in recent months. And officials have also said they still plan to open the massive new Grand Egyptian Museum next to the Giza Pyramids by January, after years of delays. Entrance fees for archeological sites have been lowered, as has the cost of tourist visas. The government has for years played up its ancient history as a selling point, as part of a yearslong effort to revive the countrys battered tourism industry. It was badly hit during and after the popular uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak and the ensuring unrest. The coronavirus dealt it a similar blow, just as it was getting back on its feet. In 2019, foreign tourisms revenue stood at $13 billion. Egypt received some 13.1 million foreign tourists reaching pre-2011 levels for the first time. But in 2020, it greeted only 3.5 million foreign tourists, according to the minister el-Anany. At the newly opened National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, Mahmoud el-Rays, a tour guide, was leading a small group of European tourists at the hall housing the royal mummies. 2019 was a fantastic year, he said. But corona reversed everything. It is a massive blow. Tourism traffic strengthened in the first months of 2021, el-Anany, the minister, told The Associated Press in a recent interview, though he did not give specific figures. He was optimistic that more would continue to come year-round. Egypt is a perfect destination for post-COVID in that our tourism is really an open-air tourism, he said. But it remains to be seen if the country truly has the virus under control. It has recorded a total of 14,950 deaths from the virus and is still seeing more than a thousand new cases daily. Like other countries, the real numbers are believed to be much higher. In Egypt, though, authorities have arrested doctors and silenced critics who questioned the governments response, so there are fears that information on the true cost of the virus may have been suppressed from the beginning. Egypt also had a trying experience early on in the pandemic, when it saw a coronavirus outbreak on one of its Nile River cruise boats. It first closed its borders completely until the summer of 2020, but later welcomed tourists back, first to Red-Sea resort towns and now to the heart of the country Cairo and the Nile River Valley that hosts most of its famous archaeological sites. Visitors still require a negative COVID-19 test result to enter the country. In a further cause for optimism, Russia said in April that it plans to resume direct flights to Egypts Red Sea resort towns. Moscow stopped the flights after the local Islamic State affiliate bombed a Russian airliner over the Sinai Peninsula in October 2015, killing all on board. Amanda, a 36-year-old engineer from Austria, returned to Egypt in May. It was her second visit in four years. She visited the Egyptian Museum, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and Islamic Cairo, in the capitals historic center. She had planned to come last year, but the pandemic interfered. Once they opened, I came, she said. It was my dream to see the Pyramids again. El-Rays, the tour guide, says that while hes seeing tourists starting to come in larger numbers, he knows a full recovery will not happen overnight. It will take some time to return to before corona, he said. 3 1 of 3 George Walker IV/AP Show More Show Less 2 of 3 George Walker IV/AP Show More Show Less 3 of 3 SMYRNA, Tenn. (AP) Investigators on Sunday continued searching for the bodies of seven people believed killed in the crash a day earlier of a small jet into a Tennessee lake, including an actor who portrayed Tarzan in a 1990s television series. Rutherford County Fire Rescue Capt. John Ingle said in a statement Sunday that recovery efforts were ongoing at Percy Priest Lake near Smyrna. He said efforts also were focused on examining a half mile-wide debris field in the lake. HANOI, Vietnam (AP) Vietnam plans to test high-risk groups in its largest city for the coronavirus and imposed more restrictions Monday to deal with a growing COVID-19 outbreak. People in Ho Chi Minh City are only allowed to leave home for necessary activities and public gatherings of more than 10 people are banned for the next two weeks, the government announced. Prior to the order, the city, also Vietnam's economic hub, shut down non-essential business last Thursday when cases started to increase. Vietnam News Agency said the city authority is planning to test high-risk groups in the population of 9 million with a testing capacity of 100,000 samples a day. The newspaper also said police had filed a case Sunday against the couple who head a Protestant church mission for spreading dangerous infectious diseases, citing poor health protocols applied at the premises. At least 145 cases of coronavirus infection have been reported with links to the Revival Ekklesia Mission, a Protestant sect, and the city district of Go Vap, where the church is based, has been locked down. Vietnam has since banned all religious events nationwide. The newspaper said church followers gathered in small space for singing and chanting without proper distancing and mask wearing. Ho Chi Minh city police said the mission has 48 registered members. The report said the husband and wife accused in the case were responsible for leading and organizing activities at the church. They were not identified and are not under arrest. Since the end of April, a surge in COVID-19 has spread to 31 municipalities and provinces in Vietnam with over 4,000 cases, almost double the total number that the country reported since the beginning of the pandemic. Some recent patients in Vietnam were infected with a hybrid of the virus variants first found in India and the U.K., the health minister said Saturday. Nguyen Thanh Long said the hybrid might spread more easily and could be responsible for Vietnam's recent surge. Viruses often develop small genetic changes as they reproduce, and new variants of the coronavirus have been seen almost since it was first detected in China in late 2019. The World Health Organization categorized the U.K. and the Indian variants, along with two others first found in South Africa and Brazil, as variants of concern because they appear to be more contagious. Vietnam has vaccinated 1 million people with AstraZeneca shots. It has a deal with Pfizer for 30 million doses to be delivered later this year. It is also in talks with Moderna that would give it enough shots to fully vaccinate 80% of its 96 million people. Elsewhere in Asia and the Pacific: Thailand is redoubling efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus in labor camps, factories and markets as the number of new reported cases surged Monday to the highest level so far. A government spokesman said public health authorities met with labor and industry officials to discuss better ways to curb infections that are concentrated in crowded, high-risk places. The government reported a record 5,485 new cases on Monday, with nearly 2,000 in prisons. Confirmed deaths increased by 19, bringing the total to 1,031 since the pandemic began. Concern over the rising numbers prompted the government to overrule a plan by Bangkoks governor to ease some pandemic restrictions in the capital, including the reopening of parks. The plan, which was to take effect on Tuesday, will be postponed 14 days. Thailand had managed to keep outbreaks largely under control, at great economic cost especially for tourism, because foreign visitors were largely banned from entering the country. That changed in early April, when a cluster of cases centered on Bangkok bars and clubs spread as many people traveled during the weeklong Thai New Year holiday. The total number of confirmed cases has now risen to 159,792, of which 82% occurred during the latest surge. Singapores Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Monday that controls to lower coronavirus infections were working, while announcing a move to vaccinate students after a spate of transmissions in schools and learning centers. Lee said controls banning dining out and severely limiting social gatherings were on track to be relaxed after June 13. He urged the public to remain vigilant and only leave home if they must. The government imposed the tighter controls this month after a number of local coronavirus cases were linked to malls, hospitals and the airport, up from virtually none earlier in the year. Nearly three quarters of the city-states 760,000 seniors have received at least one dose of the vaccine or booked their appointments. Now the jabs which have been offered to those aged 40 and older will be extended to students 12 and older from Tuesday. Malaysia opened its first mega vaccination center on Monday as the government sought to accelerate inoculations amid a worsening outbreak. Located in an exhibition center in the biggest city Kuala Lumpur, the center can vaccinate up to 8,000 people a day. Officials say more such mega centers will be opened nationwide but some critics urged the government to instead set up smaller centers at district levels to improve its outreach. Malaysia begins a near total lockdown starting Tuesday, the second time in over a year. Most social and economic activities, except for 17 essential sectors, will be shut down for at least two weeks as the government struggles to contain a worsening pandemic. Daily virus cases hit a record high of 9,020 on Saturday before easing to 6,824 Monday. Malaysias total infections have surged to 572,357 while deaths are more than 2,600, both rising five-fold compared to the whole of last year. Science Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said Monday the government is assessing the suitability of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. So far Malaysia has only approved the use of Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines. More than 12 million people have registered but less than 10% of the countrys 33 million population have been vaccinated so far. Hong Kong authorities on Monday appealed to the private sector to offer incentives to help ease COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, and warned that those who do not get vaccinated may face more stringent restrictions should the city face a new outbreak. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said at a news conference that she has written letters to over a hundred real estate developers and retail outlets, urging them to offer incentives that could boost the citys vaccination campaign. The move comes as Hong Kong faces vaccine hesitancy, with just 20% of its population vaccinated since the end of February despite widespread access to inoculations. Vaccine registrations surged over the weekend after a real estate developer put a $1.4 million apartment up as a grand prize in a lucky draw, together with other prizes, open to all Hong Kong permanent residents who have been vaccinated. Although its been a very short period of a couple of days, but we have seen some positive results, Lam said. On Sunday, about 26,900 people made online bookings to receive the vaccinations, more than double the 12,600 on Friday, the day that the lucky draw was announced. ___ This story has been updated to correct that testing is planned for high-risk groups in Ho Chi Minh City, not the full population. A new study released last May 25 revealed that masks aren't helpful against COVID, but are actually harmful to people in several ways. WND reported that the new study by the University of Louisville showed that mask mandates did not slow the spread of the coronavirus and instead identified four main risks of its prolonged usage. The said risks, per WND, were: (1) masks worn four hours a day promoted "facial alkalinization and inadvertently encourages dehydration, which in turn can enhance barrier breakdown and bacterial infection risk;" (2) interfered with social learning especially in children by hindering nonverbal communication; (3) increased sweating and headaches, and decreased cognitive precision as per British clinicians; and (4) distorted verbal speech and removed "visual cues" for people with hearing impediments. Entitled "Mask Mandate And Use Efficacy In State-Level COVID-19 Containment," the study was conducted by authors Damian Guerra and Daniel Guerra from the university's Department of Biology. The authors used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and from the Institute For Health Metrics and Evaluation in calculating the total COVID-19 "case growth and mask use" in the United States. "Case growth was not significantly different between mandate and non-mandate states at low or high transmission rates, and surges were equivocal. Mask use predicted lower case growth at low, but not high transmission rates," the authors said in line with the results of their study. "Growth rates were comparable between states in the first and last mask use quintiles adjusted for normalized total cases early in the pandemic and unadjusted after peak Fall-Winter infections," they added. "Mask use did not predict Summer 2020 case growth for non-Northeast states or Fall-Winter 2020 growth for all continental states." The authors explained that they wanted to identify it masks were effective in containing the virus or at least reduce its transmission since mask mandates were implemented in many states across the United States as a means to prevent the spread of "respired droplets." The authors pointed out that randomized control trials have been vague on providing data on the masks' efficacy while observational studies provide conflicting data on the masks' ability to lower infection rates. "Mask mandates and use are not associated with slower state-level COVID-19 spread during COVID-19 growth surges. Containment requires future research and implementation of existing efficacious strategies," the authors concluded. The study, which the authors indicated have not been peer-reviewed, stipulated that "mask use is not associated with most state COVID-19 case growth." Townhall reported that the study's findings do not support claims that "greater public mask use" lead to "SARS-CoV-2 transmission rates decrease" and only "promote social cohesion as rallying symbols during a pandemic" where the identified risks previously mentioned here "can also occur." In early May, President Joe Biden have urged the wearing of masks as a "patriotic responsibility" while Oregon's Occupational Safety and Health Administrator Michael Wood even proposed to make mask wearing a permanent aspect in the workplace despite earlier studies showing that it is actually bad for health. The study hasn't been peer-reviewed yet, but its results seem to echo an earlier study conducted by the Baruch Vainshelboim of Stanford University. The earlier study, which was "retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief" of the NCBI, showed similar results with the University of Louisville study that masks are ineffective in blocking the spread of the virus and do harm one's health. National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Anthony Fauci who last year pushed the wearing of two masks for better safety recently admitted that he only wore masks for show so as not to confuse people since he was a public personality and medical official. Fauci later on said that vaccinated people are free to not wear masks in line with the new guidelines released by CDC this month. While David Lane alleged that the push for the masking mandates was a "cultural Marxism's covert manifestations as health and safety policies." ATLANTA (AP) Jennifer McClellan remembers her parents' recounting life as Black Southerners enduring segregation and the trauma and triumph of the civil rights movement. It showed her that government can be a powerful force for improving peoples lives but also one that oppresses some, ignores others. A generation later, despite her interest in public office, there was no obvious pathway for someone like her. There werent a lot of role models ... examples of Black women in power, said McClellan in an interview. Now, shes a 48-year-old state senator running for governor herself: Were in a very different Virginia. McClellan's candidacy alongside fellow Democratic primary candidate Jennifer Carroll Foy demonstrates the rising political power of Black women, long a foundation of Democrats' victories, and more recently, as candidates and officeholders, from Vice President Kamala Harris to mayors in Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco. McClellan and Carroll Foy, a 39-year-old former legislator, are trying to break another barrier by becoming the first Black woman to win a governor's race in any state. They are decided underdogs to former Gov. Terry McAuliffe in Virginia's June 8 primary. Yet they're nonetheless part of a surge in candidacies by Black women in the Democratic Party, not just for local and legislative posts but also statewide offices that are still new ground for Black women. We are normalizing Black womens leadership (and) seeing Black women on every ballot so that its second nature for voters, said Glynda Carr, co-founder of Higher Heights for America, which backs Black female candidates. In addition to Virginia, two Black women are running for U.S. Senate from North Carolina in 2022: former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley and former legislator Erica Smith. In Florida, U.S. Rep. Val Demings is running for Republican Sen. Marco Rubios seat. In Georgia, voting rights activist and former legislative leader Stacey Abrams is expected to make a second run for governor in 2022. Steve Schale, a white strategist who helped President Barack Obama win Florida twice, said its a developing consensus that Black women can assemble Democrats ideal alliance for statewide elections: older Black voters, younger voters across racial and ethnic lines, urban white liberals and enough white moderates, especially women, in metro areas. This is the next step post-Obama, Schale said. They can rebuild that coalition as well as anyone. Both Virginia candidates say Black women are right for the moment. I am tired of fighting the same fights that my parents, my grandparents and my great-grandparents fought, and I cannot leave that to my children, McClellan recalled thinking when she watched the video of George Floyd, a Black man, dying under the knee of a white police officer in Minnesota last year. Carroll Foy ties her biography graduating from Virginia Military Institute and working in low-wage jobs and as a public defender to her political strategy. Theres intersectionality ... coming from one of the poorest communities in Virginia and selling policy ideas to all working- and middle-class voters, she said in an interview. In addition to no Black woman serving as governor, only two have been elected to the U.S. Senate, and the chamber has none now. The next goal, Carr said, is for Black women to match their voting power to their representation. Congress began this year with a record 25 Black women out of 435 House members. Black women are mayors in seven of the 100 most populous U.S. cities, up from one less than a decade ago. The number of Black women in state legislatures has nearly doubled in two decades, to more than 4%. We can celebrate, Carr said, but still recognize the work that needs to be done. At the least, strong campaigns from Black women so early in the midterm cycle stand out compared to previous years. In 2017, as Georgias Abrams was preparing for her first bid for governor, white power brokers in the state party recruited one of her fellow state lawmakers, a white woman, to run against her. They should have been ashamed, said Karen Finney, a prominent Black Democratic consultant and Abrams ally. She proved them all wrong. Abrams trounced her hand-picked primary opponent and came within 55,000 votes out of 4 million cast of defeating Republican Brian Kemp. Soon after, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer courted her to run for Senate. She declined but recruited the Rev. Raphael Warnock. Warnock, a Black man, won his January runoff by 2 points, a wider margin than his white colleague, Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, managed in a parallel contest. Heading into 2022, Georgia Democrats are uniformly ceding the top of the ticket to Abrams, who is publicly mum but expected to run. She proved you don't have to follow conventional wisdom, McClellan said. National Democrats have followed suit in Senate recruitment and endorsements. Senate Democrats campaign arm appears intent on being much more deliberate about endorsements in the 2022 cycle, rather than publicly anointing preferred candidates early. Going into 2020, the committee backed North Carolina Democrat Cal Cunningham, a white moderate, over other contenders, including Smith. Cunningham, who admitted to an extramarital affair in the campaign's final month, lost by 1.8 points, or nearly 100,000 votes. Beasley, then the sitting Supreme Court chief justice, lost her reelection bid in the same general election by just more than 400 votes. Finney cited her focus group research that found white women becoming more open to backing Black women. Black female candidates, she said, can leverage public frustration with dysfunction. Voters see women as collaborative leaders, and women of color are not seen as part of whats already broken, Finney said, even if they've held office already, because they are natural outsiders. Beasley and Demings, Finney noted, have a background in the legal and criminal justice system: Beasley as part of the judiciary, Demings as a former Orlando police chief. That, Finney said, could help them withstand Republican caricatures of themselves as extremist or radical, common tropes that Black female candidates have faced in general election campaigns. In Virginia, McClellan and Carroll Foy describe their candidacies as progress, with caveats. Carroll Foy has endorsements from Higher Heights and EMILYs List, which champions abortion rights. Shes raised in the millions, though not at pace with McAuliffe, a prodigious fundraiser since his days as President Bill Clintons 1996 reelection co-chair. Its obvious the structures in place arent made to have a woman of color run for and win the executive position, Carroll Foy said. McClellan said voters beyond the political class are ready for someone with that different perspective, while many insiders still believe if theres a white man in the race, you have to wait your turn. Indeed, McAuliffe is running with plenty of Black support. Among his campaign co-chairs is the highest-ranking Black member of the General Assembly, Senate President Pro Tem Louise Lucas. She credited McAuliffe with genuine outreach to nonwhite communities and said she goes back three decades with the 64-year-old Democrat. Im excited about all of the Black and brown women running for offices all over this nation, Lucas said. This is no slight to any of my sisters. Still, the 77-year-old senator implicitly questioned whether Black women can win a general election in Virginia. Rather than speculate, Lucas said, I would prefer to say I believe Terry is best situated and suited to win. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California state lawmakers are grappling with a particularly 21st-century problem: What to do with the growing number of shopping malls and big box retail stores left empty by consumers shifting their purchases to the web. A possible answer in crowded California cities is to build housing on these sites, which already have ample parking and are close to existing neighborhoods. But local zoning laws often don't allow housing at these locations. Changing the zoning is such a hassle that many developers don't bother trying. And it's often not worth it for local governments to change the designations. They would prefer to find new retailers because sales taxes produce more revenue than residential property taxes. However, with a stubborn housing shortage pushing prices to all-time highs, state lawmakers are moving to pass new laws to get around those barriers. A bill that cleared the state Senate last week would let developers build houses on most commercial sites without changing the zoning. Another proposal would pay local governments to change the zoning to let developers build affordable housing. There has always been an incentive to chase retail and a disincentive to build housing, said Sen. Anthony Portantino, a Los Angeles-area Democrat who authored the bill to pay local governments. There is more dormant and vacant retail than ever. If successful, it's believed California would be the first state to allow multi-family housing on commercial sites statewide, said Eric Phillips, vice president of policy and legislation for the California chapter of the American Planning Association. Developers who use the law still would have to obey locally approved design standards. But Phillips said the law would limit local governments' ability to reject the projects. That's why some local leaders oppose the bill, arguing it undermines their authority. City leaders have the requisite local knowledge to discern when and which sites are appropriate for repurposing and which are not, wrote Mike Griffiths, member of the Torrance City Council and founder of California Cities for Local Control, a group of 427 mayors and council members. It's a familiar battle in California. While nearly everyone agrees there is an affordable housing shortage, state and local leaders face different political pressures that often derail ambitious proposals. Last year, a bill that would have overridden local zoning laws to let developers build small apartment buildings in neighborhoods reserved for single-family homes died in the state Senate. Sen. Anna Caballero, a Democrat from Salinas and author of this year's zoning proposal, said her bill is not a mandate. Developers could choose to use the bill or not. The Senate approved the measure 32-2, sending it to the state Assembly for consideration. Its always a challenge when youre trying to do affordable housing, because there are entrenched interests that dont want to negotiate and compromise, and were working really hard to try to break through that, she said. Im trying to give maximum flexibility to local government because the more that you start telling them how they have to do it, the harder it becomes for them to actually do it. Even before the pandemic, big-box retail stores were struggling to adapt as more people began buying things online. In 2019, after purchasing Sears and Kmart, Transformco closed 96 stores across the country including 29 in California. The pandemic, of course, accelerated this trend, prompting major retailers like J.C. Penney, Neiman Marcus and J. Crew to file for bankruptcy protection. An analysis by the investment firm UBS shows online shopping will grow to 25% of all retail sales by 2025. The analysis predicted that up to 100,000 stores across the country could close. Local governments and developers in California are already trying to redevelop some retail sites. In Salinas, a city of about 150,000 people near the Monterey Peninsula, city officials are working to rezone a closed Kmart. In San Francisco, developers recently announced plans to build nearly 3,000 homes in the parking lot that surrounds Stonestown Mall a sprawling, 40-acre site that has lost some anchor retail tenants in recent years. Still, the idea of repurposing shopping centers has divided labor unions and affordable housing advocates, putting one of the Democratic Party's core base of supporters against backers of one of their top policy goals. Housing advocates love the idea, but they dont like how Democrats want to do it. Both proposals in the Legislature would require developers to use a skilled and trained workforce to build the housing. That means a certain percentage of workers must either be enrolled or have completed a state-approved apprenticeship program. Developers have said while there are plenty of trained workers available in areas like San Francisco and Los Angeles, those workers are scarce in more rural parts of the state, potentially delaying projects in those areas. California needs to build about 180,000 new housing units per year to keep up with demand, according to the state's latest housing assessment. But its only managed about 80,000 per year for the past decade. Thats one reason the states median sales price for single-family homes hit a record high $758,990 in March. At a time when were trying to increase production, we dont believe we should be limiting who can do the work, said Ray Pearl, executive director of the California Housing Consortium, a group that includes affordable housing developers. Robbie Hunter, president of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, dismissed that argument as just greedy developers trying to maximize their profits. He said there is no construction project in California that has been delayed because of a lack of workers, adding: We man every job. When there is a demand for workers, we rise with the demand, Hunter said. Labor unions appear to be winning. A bill in the state Assembly that did not initially require a skilled and trained workforce stalled in committee because it did not have enough support. ___ The legislation is SB 6 and SB 15. DANVILLE, Vt. (AP) The wind turbine at the Danville School is coming down but renewable energy will soon be a bigger part of the school. Principal Dave Schilling told the school board this month that the $4,000-$11,000 in repairs needed to get an inverter working were not worth the small amount of power that the turbine generates, the Caledonian Record reported. This month the school board unanimously voted to enter into a net metering agreement with a solar power company. Eighty percent of the schools energy usage will be provided through a solar installation adjacent to the school. We set the amount of power purchased through credits at 80% to accommodate for future efficiency projects in the school building we didnt want to agree to buy more power than wed need, Schilling said. Given the low output of the wind turbine (should it even be able to be restored), this is a significant improvement in our use of renewable energy. Twinfield School will use part of the installation and Cabot School may, too. The turbine is expected to be removed before graduations in mid-June. CAIRO (AP) Egypt and Sudan on Monday concluded joint war games that involved ground, air and naval units. The six-day drill meant to showcase deepening security ties between the two neighboring countries and present a show of force amid mounting tensions with Ethiopia. The dispute stems from Ethiopias controversial, unfinished dam on the Nile Rivers main tributary. Mondays part of the drill, at a military base near Khartoum, was attended by the two countries' chiefs of staff, Sudans Mohammed Othman al-Hussein, and his Egyptian counterpart, Lt. Gen. Mohammed Farid. The exercises aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and unifying methods on dealing with threats that both countries are expected to face, said a statement from Khartoum. Sudan and Egypt have deepened ties since the ouster of former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019 amid a public uprising against his nearly three-decade of rule. The growing Cairo-Khartoum rapprochement has caused concerns in Ethiopia. Talks over the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam stalled in April. The two countries want an international agreement to govern how much water Ethiopia releases downstream, especially in a multi-year drought, fearing their critical water shares might be affected. International and regional efforts have since tried to revive the negotiations as Ethiopia plans to add 13.5 billion cubic meters of water in 2021 to the dams reservoir even without a deal on the dams operation and filling. In March, Egypts President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi warned that his countrys share of the Nile waters was untouchable and that there would be instability that no one can imagine in the region if Ethiopia fills the reservoir without an agreement. Egypt and Sudan have called for the U.S., U.N, and the European Union to help reach a legally binding deal. The agreement would spell out how the dam is operated and filled, based on international law and norms governing cross-border rivers. The Blue Nile meets the White Nile in Khartoum, before winding northward through Egypt into the Mediterranean Sea. WASHINGTON (AP) Johnson & Johnson is asking for Supreme Court review of a $2 billion verdict in favor of women who claim they developed ovarian cancer from using the company's talc products. The case features an array of high-profile attorneys, some in unusual alliances, including former independent counsel Kenneth Starr, who is representing the women who sued Johnson & Johnson. The nation's largest business groups are backing the company, and a justice's father also makes an appearance because of his long association with the trade group for cosmetics and personal care products. The court could say as soon as Tuesday whether it will get involved. At the root, Johnson & Johnson argues that the company didn't get a fair shake in a trial in state court in Missouri that resulted in an initial $4.7 billion verdict in favor of 22 women who used talc products and developed ovarian cancer. A state appeals court cut more than half the money out of the verdict and eliminated two of the plaintiffs but otherwise upheld the outcome in a trial in which lawyers for both sides presented dueling expert testimony about whether the company's talc products contain asbestos and asbestos-laced talc can cause ovarian cancer. The jury found for the women on both points, after which Judge Rex M. Burlison wrote that evidence at the trial showed particularly reprehensible conduct on the part of Defendants." The evidence, Burlison wrote, included that the company knew there was asbestos in products aimed at mothers and babies, knew of the potential harm and misrepresented the safety of these products for decades. Nine of the women have died from ovarian cancer, lawyers for the plaintiffs said Johnson & Johnson denies that its talc products cause cancer and it called the verdict in the Missouri trial at odds with decades of independent scientific evaluations confirming Johnsons Baby Powder is safe, is not contaminated by asbestos and does not cause cancer. The company also is the maker of one of three COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in the United States. Health concerns about talcum powders have prompted thousands of U.S. lawsuits by women who claim asbestos in the powder caused their cancer. Talc is a mineral similar in structure to asbestos, which is known to cause cancer, and they are sometimes obtained from the same mines. The cosmetics industry in 1976 agreed to make sure its talc products do not contain detectable amounts of asbestos. Last year, a U.S. government-led analysis of 250,000 women found no strong evidence linking baby powder with ovarian cancer in the largest analysis to look at the question, though the study's lead author called the results very ambiguous. The findings were called overall reassuring in an editorial published with the study in January 2020 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study wasn't definitive but more conclusive research probably isnt feasible because a dwindling number of women use powder for personal hygiene, the editorial said. A few months later, the company announced it would stop selling its iconic talc-based Johnsons Baby Powder in the U.S. and Canada, citing declining demand driven by what it called misinformation about health concerns. The disputed link between cancer and talc is not really a part of the high court case. Instead, the company said it should have not been forced to defend itself in one trial against claims by women from 12 states, differing backgrounds and with varying histories of using Johnson & Johnson products containing talc. The $1.6 billion in punitive damages is out of line and should be reduced, the company also argued in a brief that was written by Neal Katyal, a Washington lawyer who aligns with progressive causes and also represents corporate clients. Katyal, who was the acting top Supreme Court lawyer for a time in the Obama administration, declined an on-the-record interview. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and trade associations for manufacturers, insurers and the pharmaceutical industry are among the business organizations backing Johnson & Johnson's appeal. Tiger Joyce, president of the American Tort Reform Association, pointed to how long it took the trial judge to read the jury its instructions as an indication of how unfair the trial was to Johnson & Johnson. When a defendant is facing a case where it takes over five hours for the judge to read the jury instructions to the jury, you just have to ask yourself what are we doing here, said Joyce, whose group generally backs limits on liability lawsuits. Starr said in an interview with The Associated Press that none of Johnson & Johnson's legal arguments is worth the court's time. As the jury found and as every judge to review this six-week trial record has concluded, Johnson & Johnson's conduct over decades was reprehensible, Starr said. In addition to Starr, other members of the women's legal team are former Attorney General John Ashcroft and Washington lawyers David Frederick and Tom Goldstein, frequent advocates before the Supreme Court. Justice Brett Kavanaugh worked for Starr when he investigated the affair between President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, which led to Clintons impeachment. Another name that pops up in some documents in the case is E. Edward Kavanaugh, who was the longtime president of the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association and is the justice's father. Kavanaugh's group fought efforts to list talc as a carcinogen or attach warning labels to talc products. Kavanaugh is retired and the group now is called the Personal Care Products Council. Ethicists contacted by the AP said they havent seen anything that would warrant the justice having to step aside from the case. Already, one justice almost certainly wont take part. Justice Samuel Alito reported last year that he owned $15,000 to $50,000 in Johnson & Johnson stock. Federal law prohibits judges from sitting on cases in which they have financial interest. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Midnight was coming fast. Any moment now, the Texas House of Representatives would sign off on one of the most restrictive new voting laws in America. It was 10:35 p.m. Suddenly, every Democrat still on the floor got a text message. Members, take your key and leave the chamber discreetly. Do not go to the gallery. Leave the building. Jay Janner/AP The walkout was a go, and minutes later, Senate Bill 7 was dead. Left without enough House members to conduct business under the rules before a midnight deadline Sunday, Texas Republicans were forced to abandon for now an elections overhaul they had crammed with previously unseen restrictions during closed-door negotiations, including one prohibiting Sunday morning early voting a time widely used by Black churchgoers in souls to the polls" campaigns. It was a dramatic, last-ditch revolt: One by one, Democrats headed for the exits and disappeared down corridors. The voting machines on their abandoned desks were locked. In the unlikely event of a call of the House an extreme remedy to secure a quorum, mobilizing state troopers to forcibly bring absent members back Democrats chose a hideout that was unmistakable in meaning: Mt. Zion Baptist Church, a Black house of worship more than 2 miles (3.22 kilometers) away. The rebellion gave Democrats and voting rights allies nationwide a morale-raising moment after months of racking up losses in GOP-controlled statehouses, where Republicans have rushed to enact a wave of strict voting laws in response to former President Donald Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. But the walkout in Texas is likely only a fleeting victory: Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who had declared new voting laws a priority in Texas, barely waited for every Democrat to flee the House floor before declaring that he would order a special session to finish the job. And he's already begun punishing lawmakers, saying Monday that he would veto the part of the state budget that funds legislators' salaries. '"No pay for those who abandon their responsibilities," Abbott tweeted. Jay Janner/AP He has not said when he will drag lawmakers back to work. I understand why they were doing it, said Republican state Rep. Briscoe Cain, who carried the bill in the House. But we all took an oath to Texans that we would be here to do our jobs. Coming in at 67 pages long, the Texas bill would have reduced polling hours, empowered poll watchers and scaled back ways to vote. It included a ban on drive-thru voting centers and 24-hour polling places, both of which were used last year around Houston, reflecting how Republicans went after Texas' largest Democratic stronghold. Many were ideas that Democrats had spent months fighting, but they protested that others were snuck in at the last minute. That included not just new early voting limits for Sunday but also a provision that could make it easier to overturn an election. Under the bill, a judge could void a candidates victory if the number of fraudulent votes cast could change the outcome, regardless of whether it was proved that the fraud actually had affected the result. It's the sort of provision that could allow a favorable judge to side with a candidate who makes broad claims of fraud with little specific evidence as Trump did with virtually no success. Democrats and voting groups were particularly alarmed about it because the GOP has continued to embrace Trump even after he tried to overturn the 2020 election on phony claims of extensive fraud. Jay Janner/AP Hours before the vote was set to take place Sunday, Democrats packed into a back room with Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan. We weren't getting satisfactory answers about why the bill had gotten so much worse," Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa said. Most of us walked away from that meeting understanding that this was our only option." But even before then, Hinojosa said, momentum toward a walkout was building. She said a meeting of Black and Hispanic lawmakers in the House made clear there was an anger, a sadness, an intolerance" about letting the bill pass. Another option was running out the clock but that carried more risk: Hinojosa said Democrats received word that any effort to filibuster the bill would lead to Republicans cutting off debate and holding a vote. It was the first time in nearly 20 years that Democrats had staged a quorum break in Texas. The meltdown of the Texas bill was a rare victory for Democrats in a year that has seen 14 states enact new laws tightening voting restrictions, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, a voting rights group. These laws have typically been muscled through by Republican-controlled state legislatures and signed swiftly by GOP governors. The Democrats potential remedy to the wave of restrictions a sweeping national voting bill is bogged down in Congress. Weve been getting example after example in Republican state legislatures, and this is the culmination in terms of its raw racism and cutting back of the ability for brown and Black voters to vote, said Fred Wertheimer, founder of the voting rights group Democracy 21. The way theyre fighting in Texas tells a story of just how bad this legislation is and how Democrats are prepared to do everything they can conceive of to stop this legislation from happening. Democrats and voting rights groups also hope that Texas gives a shot in the arm to the bill in Congress, known as the For the People Act or HR1. The measure has been stalled in the Senate because some Democrats are not willing to end the filibuster. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has scheduled debate on the bill to begin in late June in hopes of breaking the impasse, and activists hope the boldness of Texas Democrats in using quorum rules to block legislation will push their Washington, D.C., counterparts to eliminate such rules in the U.S. Senate. Jay Janner/AP At the least, Democrats hope the walkout bought them some time. When they left the church, it was after midnight. We may have won the war tonight but the battle is not over," Democratic state Rep. Nicole Collier said. ___ Associated Press writers Nicolas Riccardi in Denver and Acacia Coronado contributed to this report. ROCKLAND, Maine (AP) A prisoner who killed his cellmate in a fight over cigarettes faces sentencing this week. Zachary Titus, 36, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in December and is due to be sentenced on Friday. Under a plea agreement, the murder charge was reduced to manslaughter and the sentence capped at 12 years. Witnesses told investigators that Titus put cellmate Dana Bartlett in a chokehold while the two fought over cigarettes on June 24, 2018, at the Bolduc Correctional Center. An autopsy revealed Bartlett died from strangulation. At the time of the killing, Titus was serving a two-year sentence for theft. He completed his sentence and was transferred to Knox County Jail, where he continues to be held without bail. DALLAS (AP) Panicked shoppers rushed out of Dallas mall on Memorial Day after a man banged a skateboard on the ground in the food court and made hand gestures as if he was shooting, police said. That sound obviously caused a panic," Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said. "When the crowd started running the individual focused on that and then began doing hand gestures as if he was shooting into the the crowd, which then further escalated the situation. MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexico sent in 250 National Guard troops and 60 police officers Monday to seize land next to the pre-Hispanic ruins of Teotihuacan where authorities have said bulldozers were destroying outlying parts of the archeological site. Mexican archaeological officials reported last week that they had been trying since March to halt the private construction project, but work continued on what local media says were plans to build some sort of amusement park. The National Institute of History and Anthropology said the National Guard helped authorities put up seizure notices on the property just north of Mexico City. The seizure allows prosecutors to take control of the plot while those responsible for the work are investigated for criminal charges of irreparably damaging the national heritage. The delay in stopping the project underlined how Mexicos unwieldy, antiquated legal system makes it hard to enforce building codes and zoning laws or stop illegal construction, even on protected historical sites. The Culture Department said last week it had repeatedly issued stop-work orders since March but the building crews had ignored them. The department estimated at least 25 ancient structures on the site were threatened, and said it has filed a criminal complaint against those responsible. Apparently, owners of farm plots are trying to turn the land into a recreation area. The area is just outside and across a road from the sites famous boulevard and pyramid complex. The U.N. international council on monuments and sites said bulldozers threatened to raze as many as 15 acres (7 hectares) at the site, which is a protected area. The council also said looting of artifacts had been detected. Teotihuacan is an emblematic site declared as World Heritage by the UNESCO, that represents the highest expression of the identity of the people of Mexico, the U.N. council said in a statement last week. The destruction so close to the capital raised questions about Mexicos ability to protect its ancient heritage sites. Teotihuacan is the countrys most visited archaeological site, with over 2.6 million visitors per year, and Mexico has hundreds of smaller, more remote and often unexplored sites. Teotihuacan is best known for its twin Temples of the Sun and Moon, but it was actually a large city that housed over 100,000 inhabitants and covered around 8 square miles (20 sq. kilometers). The still mysterious city was one of the largest in the world at its apex between 100 B.C. and A.D. 750. But it was abandoned before the rise of the Aztecs in the 14th century. Even its true name remains unclear. Its current name was given to it by the Aztecs. But the Aztecs may have actually called the city Teohuacan literally the city of the sun rather than Teotihuacan, which means city of the gods or place where men become gods. The Pyramids of the Sun or Moon drew tens of thousands of visitors for the spring and fall equinoxes each year, before the coronavirus pandemic hit. CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) Nevada lawmakers passed a bill on Monday that aims to make the state the first to weigh in on the 2024 presidential primary contests. The move upends decades of political tradition and is likely to prompt pushback from other early states that want to retain their places in the calendar. The bill that passed in the state's Assembly on Wednesday and the Senate on Monday still must be approved by Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak to become law. It would also need the backing of the national political parties to eventually make the change for the 2024 calendar. The push for Nevada to jump past Iowa's caucuses and New Hampshire's longstanding first-in-the-nation primary follows a behind-the-scenes lobbying campaign led by former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. Reid and other Nevada Democrats have seized on dissatisfaction in the party about the nominating process that gained steam in 2020. Theyre arguing to replace party-run caucuses with state-run primary elections, which are considered easier to participate in than the in-person neighborhood caucus meetings. Most significantly, they have said that Nevada is a diverse state with a population that mirrors the demographics of the nation and therefore a better choice for testing presidential hopefuls than mostly-white Iowa and New Hampshire. New Hampshire and Iowa are not really reflections of our entire country. Presidential candidates should look at Nevada as the example of what they should be doing and who they should be talking to, said Emily Persaud-Zamora, director of Silver State Voices, a Nevada voting advocacy group. In 2020, the leadoff contest in Iowa unraveled and left the winner unclear. New Hampshire, which was next, ended with a result that was a near tie between two candidates who ultimately lost. The eventual nominee, now-President Joe Biden, came in fifth in New Hampshire. It's time for Nevada to take its rightful place, not just first in the West but in the nation, as a diverse state, a state with diverse issues," said Nevada Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson, a Democrat who sponsored the legislation. He said Nevada's small population makes it affordable and navigable for candidates to use as an early testing ground of their national appeal. Sisolak has not said if he will sign the bill but has been supportive of the idea. After the 2020 Presidential Caucus in Nevada, Governor Sisolak was clear that while Nevada Democrats did a phenomenal job of making the caucuses as accessible as possible, the caucus process itself has fundamental challenges that create obstacles for too many Nevadans to participate and make their voices heard, his spokeswoman Meghin Delaney said in a statement. She said the governor believes Nevada is perfectly positioned as a diverse and representative state to be first in the nations presidential nominating process. Its unclear if the Democratic National Committee, which sets the partys nominating process, would back Nevadas changes when it sets its 2024 nominating calendar. The party is expected to undergo a months-long review of its past nominating process and isnt expected to set its nominating calendar until at least next year. If the party doesnt sign off on the changes, it could force Nevada to amend its law or risk having its delegates dropped from the Democratic National Convention. The Republican Party, which has most recently kept Nevadas caucuses as its fourth contest, has not backed the change. Nevada Republican Party Chairman Michael McDonald opposes the change, warning that the state acting unilaterally could leave both his party and the Nevada Democrats without national delegates in 2024 and less influence on the presidential nominating process. The new Democratic Party chair Jaime Harrison is from South Carolina and is a protege of House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, who has said he'd like to see his home of South Carolina moved up from it's fourth-in-line place. But its unclear if South Carolina will join Nevadas push to be first. The state, like Nevada, is diverse. Its also where Biden pulled out a double-digit win that helped propel him to victories on Super Tuesday and win his partys nomination. ___ This version corrects that the bill passed in the state Senate on Monday, not Sunday. ___ Price reported from Las Vegas. Metz 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. President Joe Biden released the $6 trillion budget proposal for 2022 on Friday, detailing his priorities for the coming fiscal year that begins on October 1. Upon releasing the details to Congress, however, lawmakers noticed that the budget did not include the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits the government from using taypayer money to fund abortions. The president's move delivered on his previous campaign promise to attempt to remove the ban on federal funding for abortions, angering pro-lifers and religious advocates. Pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List president Marjorie Dannenfelser was one of the first to speak out on the pro-abortion administration, decrying President Biden for refusing to uphold "that longstanding, bipartisan campaign promise out the window to fulfill a campaign promise to the radical abortion lobby," the Christian Post reported. Dannenfelser called upon the Congress, which is responsible for passing the spending plan, to "be fearless in fighting to preserve the common-ground Hyde principle and to reject any budget that omits vital pro-life protections." Dannenfelser argued that for over 40 years, the Hyde Amendment has prevented American taxpayermoney from funnelling into the "abortion business," saying it had saved "nearly 2.5 million lives." She also accused President Biden for flipping the switch from being a "supporter of policies that protect the lives of the unborn and their mothers" to now someone who "caters to the most extreme voices within his party." "If I believe health care is a right, as I do, I can no longer support an amendment that makes that right dependent on someone's ZIP code," then presidential candidate Biden said in 2019, as per The Hill. "I can't justify leaving millions of women without the access to care they need, and the ability to exercise their constitutionally protected right." President Biden's pro-abortion administration is facing much pressure to support abortion rights just as the Supreme Court is set to hear a dispute on a Mississippi law that aims to prohibit abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The case is seen as a threat to Roe v. Wade, which conservatives and pro-lifers are eager to overthrow. But abortion rights advocates are victorious over the $6 trillion spending plan that leaves out the Hyde Amendment from the budget. American Civil Liberties Union senior legislative counsel Georgeanne Usova calls it a "historic step" to abolishing the bans in the spending plan that "pushed abortion care out of reach and perpetuated inequality for decades." She argued, "No one should be denied abortion care because of where they live, how much money they have, or how they get insurance." But pro-lifers do not agree with the current pro-abortion administration. Pro-life groups Susan B. Anthony List and National Right to Life wrote a letter addressed to Congress, highlighting how 58% of voters across the U.S., "including 31% of Democrats, 34% of self-described pro-choice voters, and 65% of Independents" are against funding abortion through taxpayer money. They called on the Congress and reminded them of their "duty and privilege" to "[protect] the vulnerable" by fighting for the Hyde Amendment. "[It is] an important time for Congress to recognize the dignity of every life by reaffirming support and retaining the Hyde family," the pro-lifers' letter argued. Rodrigo Abd/AP LIMA, Peru (AP) Peru on Monday announced a sharp increase in its COVID-19 death toll, saying there have been more than 180,000 fatalities since the pandemic hit the country early last year. The announcement was made in the presidential palace during the presentation of a report by a working group commissioned to analyze and update the death toll. The results of the study put the new toll at 180,764 in a population of about 32.6 million, compared to recent data indicating that 69,342 people had died from COVID-19. QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) Suspected militants attacked a Pakistani security post and hours later targeted a vehicle carrying troops Monday, resulting in the deaths of at least four soldiers and four insurgents, the military said. The military said the first incident in southwestern Pakistan occurred when a group of militants attacked a security post in the city of Quetta, killing four soldiers and wounding six others. Troops returned fire, killing four insurgents and wounding eight others, the statement said. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) A man was shot to death early Monday in Kansas City's Ivanhoe Northeast neighborhood, police said. Officers responded to the area following a report around 2 a.m. Monday of shots fired, police said in a news release. Arriving officers found a man in a vacant lot suffering from gunshot wounds. Police said the man was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The victim's name had not been released by midmorning Monday. RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Rallies against the deputy-involved shooting of an unarmed Black man in Elizabeth City are set to be held in various North Carolina cities on Tuesday afternoon. The rallies are being organized by Repairers of the Breach, the North Carolina Council of Churches and B.R.I.D.G.E. They're demanding transparency and accountability following the fatal shooting of Andrew Brown Jr. by Pasquotank County sheriffs deputies. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas' biggest fix to February's deadly winter blackout that left more than 4 million people without power puts new attention on projections by the state's climatologist but does not dwell on climate change after a deep freeze buckled the state's unprepared electric grid. A far-reaching bill sent Sunday night to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott would require some power generators to winterize against extreme cold following one of the most massive blackouts in U.S. history. Experts praised some reforms as significant but say concessions to Texas' powerful oil and gas industry still leaves the grid vulnerable. At least 151 people died in the winter storm and ensuing blackout, according to the tally kept by state officials, although the actual number of victims is widely believed to be much larger. President Joe Bidens national climate adviser called the winter storm a wake-up call for the United States to build energy systems and other infrastructure that are more reliable and resilient in the face of extreme-weather events. But in the Texas Capitol, Republican lawmakers sidelined discussion of climate change while trying to get to the root of the blackout and come up with ways to prevent it from happening again. Obviously, we have to be able to operate during those type of situations," said Republican state Rep. Chris Paddie, who carried the bill, while being pressed on climate change before a final vote Sunday. As far as the reasons for that, that's always a point of discussion." A last-minute addition to the bill requires energy regulators to consider in their planning projections by the state's climatologist. John Nielsen-Gammon, who has been the Texas state climatologist for two decades, said he was not asked to testify by lawmakers after the blackout but did provide input to the some offices that reached out. The cold wasnt unprecedented, but the combination of extreme cold and widespread snow was extremely unusual," Nielsen-Gammon said in an email. Also, I volunteered the information that climate change was probably making such events less likely rather than more likely. Fallout from the outages has slowed since after a burst of firings and resignations of officials involved. Attention to the blackouts also dimmed in the state Capitol as GOP lawmakers raced to pass staunchly conservative laws over abortion, guns and voting restrictions in the final weeks. During Februarys storm, demand for heat soared as temperatures plunged. Roughly a quarter of Texas natural gas supply was knocked off line. Failures by fossil fuel plants, including natural gas facilities, contributed twice as many outages as solar and wind generators, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the states grid operator. After Hurricane Harvey slammed into Texas in 2017, a 200-page state report warned that powerful natural disasters will become more frequent because of a changing climate but did not use the phrase climate change. Its very hard to prepare for something youre scared to name, Democratic state Rep. Erin Zweiner said. ATHENS, Greece (AP) The leaders of Greece and Turkey will meet next month on the sidelines of a NATO summit, the two countries foreign ministers agreed on Monday, as they seek to mend frayed ties that led to a sharp escalation in tension last year. In brief statements in Athens, the ministers said their talks were an opportunity to agree on a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the NATO summit in Brussels on June 14. We are fully aware of the different, and in quite a few particularly serious issues, of the diametrically opposed positions that we espouse, I mean we and Turkey, Greece's Nikos Dendias said, noting he and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu had discussed the full range of Greek-Turkish and Turkish-European Union relations. The aim of our meeting today was to attempt a process of initial consultation and if this proves possible, a gradual normalization of the situation over time, Dendias said. They said they had agreed their countries would recognize each other's vaccination certificates for COVID-19, so that their citizens will be able to visit with either a vaccination certificate or proof of a negative PCR test, boosting their respective tourist industries. The ministers' joint appearance had none of the tension of their previous meeting in April, when Dendias visited Ankara and a press conference there featured a trading of barbs as each listed his country's grievances with the other. We have issues that have been awaiting resolution for a long time. We have differences of opinion, Cavusoglu said. We want all of these issues and differences of opinion to be resolved with a foundation of neighborliness, international law and a respect for mutual rights and interests. And for this reason, our dialogue must continue uninterrupted. On this subject both sides are willing, weve reestablished that today. Cavusoglu said the two sides were working on concrete projects focused on action and cooperation, and that they had agreed on 25 items and were working on a broad area of cooperation from transportation to energy, from tourism to environment to commerce. Dendias said a limited list of economic cooperation programs was agreed upon, but provided no details. The statements were carried live by state television, and there were no questions as reporters were not allowed to attend, with the Foreign Ministry citing COVID-19 concerns. Greece and Turkey have been divided for decades over a series of disputes, including territorial rights in the Aegean. Last summer, tension rose dramatically, with disagreements over maritime boundaries and energy exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean leading to a face-off between warships from the two countries. Cavusoglu preceded his official trip to Athens with a private visit Sunday to Thrace in northeastern Greece, home to the country's Muslim minority. He raised hackles in Athens by tweeting that he was there to meet members of the Turkish Minority, and that Turkey would always stand resolutely with the Turkish Minority in their struggle for their rights. Referring to the minority as Turkish is diplomatically sensitive and highly contentious in Greece, which recognizes the minority only as a Muslim one and notes it includes Roma and Pomak communities. Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexandros Papaioannou responded Sunday that Greece steadily adheres to international law and the protection of human rights. It fully implements the obligations stemming from the Treaty of Lausanne, which explicitly and clearly refers to a Muslim minority in Thrace. He said that Turkeys constant attempts to distort this reality, as well as the allegations of supposed non-protection of the rights of these citizens, or of alleged discrimination, are unfounded and are rejected in their entirety. The 1923 Lausanne treaty handled the exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey in the aftermath of war, uprooting around 2 million people: approximately 1.5 million Orthodox Christians living in Turkey and half a million Muslims living in Greece. The Muslim community in Thrace and the Greek community of Istanbul were exempt. However, the Greek minority in Istanbul has dwindled to a fraction of the estimated 200,000 people, with many fleeing persecution in the 1950s. ___ Suzan Fraser in Ankara and Ayse Wieting in Istanbul contributed. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Florida, FL (34429) Today Mostly cloudy this evening with thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low around 75F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy this evening with thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low around 75F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Commentary: What Washington cares about Hong Kong is to sow trouble Xinhua) 08:24, May 31, 2021 Photo taken on July 14, 2020 shows the Golden Bauhinia Square in south China's Hong Kong. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaochu) The groundless accusation is the latest U.S. flagrant smearing against the local legislation on improving the electoral system in Hong Kong, and has again exposed Washington's hegemonic thinking and its ulterior motives to sow trouble in Hong Kong. BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Shortly after Hong Kong's legislature passed a bill amending the electoral laws last week, Washington issued interfering remarks to malign Hong Kong's efforts to put an end to violence and political chaos and get the global financial hub back on track. The groundless accusation is the latest U.S. flagrant smearing against the local legislation on improving the electoral system in Hong Kong, and has again exposed Washington's hegemonic thinking and its ulterior motives to sow trouble in Hong Kong. It must be stressed that China is a country with the rule of law. The comprehensive completion of this local legislation is an important measure to follow through on the relevant decision of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the spirit of the amendments made by the NPC Standing Committee. It must also be stressed that Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, and issues related to Hong Kong, including the reform of the local electoral system, are purely China's internal affairs. Therefore, U.S. politicians' finger-pointing over Hong Kong's efforts to fine-tune its election system is a gross interference in China's domestic affairs and a serious violation of the principles of international law and the basic norms of international relations. For some time, some anti-China forces and radical separatist forces have taken advantage of loopholes in Hong Kong's electoral system to create social unrest and even seek to seize the right to govern Hong Kong. The new bill will plug the loopholes in the previous electoral system, reaffirm the new order of "patriots administering Hong Kong," and enable the democratic system of Hong Kong to move forward steadily along the sound and orderly track. It will also provide more solid guarantee to achieving good governance in Hong Kong, and better uphold national sovereignty, security and development interests and Hong Kong's prosperity and stability in the long run. For a long time, some U.S. politicians and U.S. media have blatantly launched a smear campaign against China by deliberately distorting facts about issues related to Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Though professing to care about democracy and freedoms in Hong Kong, their real intention is to exploit these issues to obstruct China's development. No wonder they have never spoken up for the victims of wanton vandalism committed by rioters in the unrest, never shown regard for the shared aspiration of Hong Kong people for stability and development, and never truly cared about the well-being of ordinary citizens of Hong Kong. A woman holds a sign in support of the Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Bill 2021 outside the Legislative Council (LegCo) in Hong Kong, south China, May 27, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Shen) Instead, they are always in a frenzy to fan the flames and sow discord in Hong Kong, leaving one the impression that their motto is "worse is better" when it comes to Hong Kong's stability and prosperity. No one cares more about the future of Hong Kong, which is part of China, than the central government of China. That is why the National Security Law for Hong Kong and the new electoral system were introduced in the first place. The good news for the world is that China will unswervingly adhere to the "one China, two systems" policy and vigorously endeavor to ensure Hong Kong's stability and prosperity. The bad news for those anti-China forces who wish Hong Kong and China at large ill is that their sinister desire is doomed to failure. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) Living Stone House Church Pastor Yang Hua, who resided in China's Guiyang, Guizhou province, was planning to visit fellow Christians in Qingdao, Shandong on May 24 when a day before, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) police attacked him. The CCP police is believed to have learned about his travel plans, as he was brutally beaten and critically wounded. According to the International Christian Concern, the CCP police who attacked the Chinese pastor were not in their usual uniform and were wearing plain clothes, but identified themselves as representatives of the district level Committee of Political and Legal Affairs in Guiyang. Three other Chinese officials stood by as the CCP police beat up Pastor Yang. The Christian Chinese pastor was then taken via ambulance to the hospital, where doctors treated the wounds on his ear and neck that resulted from the attack, which also caused tinnitus symptoms. Doctors say that his attack also caused Pastor Yang's pancreatitis, a pre-existing condition, to flare up. The Christian Chinese pastor will continue to undergo medical monitoring in the coming weeks. This is not Pastor Yang's first brush with the law enforcers in China, as he was previously arrested by CCP police during a crackdown on Living Stone Church's leaders and members two years ago. The Christian Chinese pastor was then released in June 2019 after he served his sentence of two and a half years. News of CCP police brutally attacking Christian leaders in China is no longer new, since the communist state implemented stricter controls on churches, whether registered to the state or, more importantly, those who are not registered and are considered "underground" churches. The Christian Institute reported that the new regulations that were announced in November have seen a major crackdown on Christian groups, including the removal of Bible apps and Christian social media accounts by authorities. China's new Administrative Measures for Religious Clergy requires "authorized" religious leaders to be registered on a national database. They are also required to belong to a state-recognized religion, "support the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party" and not be "dominated by foreign forces." A pastor reported to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) that the CCP is determined to make religion "more Chinese" and increase "'partilization' of religion" that would result in a unified China with "no religious beliefs." Christian leaders and other religious minorities who resisted the new Chinese law often "faced harassment, threats and even prison sentences," CSW's Founder President Mervyn Thomas said. Forbes theorized that Christians may be next in line in the "re-education" under CCP rule. On top of the human rights offenses against the Uyghur minorities, the CCP is also severely cracking down on Christian groups. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released a 2021 report that revealed how "Chinese authorities continued to harass, detain, and torture underground Catholic bishops-such as Cui Tai and Huang Jintong-who refuse to join the state-backed Catholic association" despite the agreement between the Vatican and Chinese authorities on Bishop appointments. CCP police have also been found to "demolish both Catholic and Protestant church buildings and crosses under its 'sinicization of religion' campaign." Administratorii portalului nu poarta raspundere pentru continutul postarilor si materialelor plasate de utilizatorii site-ului. Utilizati informatia din acest articol pe propriul risc. Grace Louise Archer, age 90, a resident of Aurora, Colorado, a former resident of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, at Shalom Park, Aurora, Colorado. Grace was born the daughter of Maurice P. Martin, Sr., and Margaret (O'Connor) Martin on October 10, 1930, in Chi Beachwood, OH (44122) Today Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. A State Department official who led a Trump-era investigation into COVID-19 revealed that a Wuhan lab researcher's wife may have died of COVID-19 before China announced the existence of the deadly disease, causing some to speculate that it may have been an early indication that the virus can be transmitted among humans. This contradicts early reports from Chinese authorities that claimed the virus was not transmissible about 30 days before they recognized that it did, thus allowing it to spread in Wuhan, ground zero for what would become a global pandemic. According to WND, State Department investigator David Asher led the Trump-era investigations into the origins of COVID-19. He had served the State Department for years, under the administrations of both Democratic and Republican presidents. Under his leadership, the team of investigators also considered COVID-19's natural origins, which has long been the main theory pushed by health authorities worldwide. Asher said, however, that the viruses developed in the Wuhan virology lab "were not similar to anything [to] what could occur in natural evolution," the New York Post reported. "I had biostatisticians at one of our national labs calculate the odds of this evolving in nature and it was like 1 in 13 million, and then they revised it to about 1 in 13 billion," Asher added. "To say this came out of a zoonotic situation is sort of ridiculous," Asher argued. Now, more and more reports have come to light that support the controversial Wuhan lab leak theory. Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported how a U.S. intelligence report revealed several Wuhan researchers fell ill with symptoms similar to COVID-19, so much so that they needed medical attention. Now, Asher is revealing how one of their investigations have found that a Wuhan lab researcher's wife actually died from what appeared to be COVID-19 in November 2019, right around the time when several Wuhan researchers fell ill and sought hospital care. Asher argued that Wuhan lab researchers "are almost certainly getting flu shots" so it was doubtful that those 30 to 40 year old researchers would get sick with influenza and require hospital care. He believes it's more likely they got actual COVID-19 instead of the regular flu. Asher argued, "What are the odds that several workers-who happen to be the researchers on enhancing the pathogenicity of COV RaTG13 and associated COVS all fall very sick together?" On Wednesday, President Joe Biden announced that he ordered the Intelligence Community for a follow up on the initial COVID-19 report that would help determine the true origins of the virus. He said in a statement that the U.S. Intelligence Community had "coalesced around two likely scenarios" but that most of them "do not believe there is sufficient information to assess one to be more likely than the other." President Biden has ordered a report that would result in a "definitive conclusion" within 90 days. The U.S. continues to call for a "full, transparent, evidence-based international investigation" into the origins of COVID-19. Beachwood, OH (44122) Today Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low around 65F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low around 65F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Celebrate the Class of 2020 Submit a profile of your favorite graduate to have them featured in our Virtual Graduation 2020 special section. Tout their accomplishments, share their photos, and wish them well! Submit profile Top infectious diseases expert and adviser to the White House, Dr. Anthony Fauci is seen as an authority in coronavirus research, having worked with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for years. Many reports have linked Dr. Fauci to the gain of function research that looks at viruses and determines how to weaponize them, a field of research that was banned under the Obama administration. But a report has now surfaced saying that Dr. Fauci did not inform the Trump administration about lifting the ban on such research in 2017. "With an ultimate goal of better understanding disease pathways, gain-of-function studies aim to increase the ability of infectious agents to cause disease by enhancing its pathogenicity or by increasing its transmissibility," a statement from the Obama administration read in 2014. It also declared a "pause on funding for any new studies that include certain gain-of-function experiments involving influenza, SARS, and MERS viruses [that] have enhanced pathogenicity and/or transmissibility in mammals via the respiratory route." However, in December 2017 Nature reported that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) lifted the ban on federal funding for gain of function research. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch criticized gain of function research in 2017, saying it has "done almost nothing to improve our preparedness for pandemics-yet they risked creating an accidental pandemic." Dr. Fauci thinks otherwise. Not only does Dr. Fauci support the dangerous gain of function research that poses a huge risk in the event that there is a lab leak, he also failed to inform the Trump administration that the ban on gain of function research was lifted. Investigative reporters at The Australian reported how Dr. Fauci was supportive of the gain of function research, which involves "manipulating and heightening [the] infectious potency [contagious viruses]." In fact, he was so supportive that he believed that the benefits from the research far outweigh the "risk of a laboratory accident sparking a pandemic." The report revealed how in 2012, Dr. Fauci wrote in the American Society for Microbiology that "In an unlikely but conceivable turn of events, what if that scientist becomes infected with the virus, which leads to an outbreak and ultimately triggers a pandemic?" "Scientists working in this field might say-as indeed I have said-that the benefits of such experiments and the resulting knowledge outweigh the risks," Dr. Fauci argued almost 10 years ago. "It is more likely that a pandemic would occur in nature, and the need to stay ahead of such a threat is a primary reason for performing an experiment that might appear to be risky." According to WND, the report also revealed how Dr. Fauci failed to discuss the lifting of the ban with several Trump administration White House officials. An official under the Trump administration was quoted saying, "There's truth in the narrative that the (National Security Council) staff, the president, the White House chief-of-staff, those people were in the dark that [Dr. Fauci] was switching back on the research." A Memorial Day Salute to Our Land of the Free and Home of the Brave Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 31) Residents in parts of Luzon had to endure rotating power outages Monday afternoon amid limited power supply in the Luzon grid. The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) placed the regional power grid on red alert from 1 to 3 p.m., which meant rotating blackouts to manage thin supply and growing demand. In Metro Manila, large numbers of residents in Caloocan, Manila, Muntinlupa, Marikina, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Taguig, Valenzuela, and Quezon City were affected. Supply interruptions also affected residents of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Isabela, Olongapo City, Camarines Sur and the entire Quirino province from 1 to 2 p.m. and in portions of Ilocos Norte, La Union, Zambales, Quezon, Camarines Norte, and Albay between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., NGCP and power distributor Meralco said in separate advisories. A grid on red alert means there is not enough power supply to meet the projected energy demand. Meanwhile, a yellow alert means available reserves are thin. The Department of Energy said the rotational blackouts started at 1:04 p.m. Monday. The outages should not last beyond an hour, DOE Undersecretary and spokesman Wimpy Fuentebella said in a press briefing. Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi did not attend the virtual news conference as he was attending a political event of PDP-Laban in Cebu City. NGCP said the red alert for the Luzon grid was lifted at 4:07 p.m., although it will remain under yellow alert from 7-10 p.m. amid thin power reserves as some power plants remained shut. Meralco said power supply was restored in affected areas. Peak demand was projected at 11,478 MW against 11,971 MW of available supply as of 2 p.m. Unplanned shutdowns of power plants led to a 1,285 MW reduction in supply, while rising temperatures led to greater demand for electricity. "Kung mas mainit [If the temperature increases] by 1 degree Celsius, theres more requirement of around 100 MW," Fuentebella explained, referring to the heat index or temperatures felt by people. Warmer weather means additional consumption, as people opt for stronger wind settings for fans or lower temperatures for air conditioning units. Scheduled plant shutdowns took away 435 MW from the Luzon grid, while Ilijan Power Plant's scaled-down operations reduced its output to just 484 MW amid weak natural gas pressure from the Malampaya facility. DOE Director Mario Marasigan added that select establishments have opted to use their own generators to ease power demand by a cumulative 168 MW. Energy officials said they continue to monitor the power supply and demand outlook to see if there will be a need for rotating blackouts in the coming days. "What were looking at is more on the long term because there are those who really need to contract already so that the power plants have more capacity. We dont have to repeat this situation again and again every year," Fuentebella said. Meanwhile, the agency assured that backups are in place to ensure that cold storage facilities for COVID-19 vaccines keep running to maintain the required temperatures and keep the doses effective. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 31) Government has launched a 12-day "compressed" training for outbound domestic workers, made up of a 10-day online training program with a 2-day face-to-face program. "Ni-launch lang namin ito nung May 24...Ito ay compressed 12-day program para matulungan ang ating mga outbound Filipino domestic workers para ma-acquire yung kailangan nilang competencies para makaalis sila ng mas mabilis," Lina Sarmiento, deputy director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, told CNN Philippines on Monday. [Translation: We launched this on May 24...Its a compressed 12-day program to help our outbound Filipino domestic workers acquire the necessary competencies so they can be deployed faster.] Sarmiento said the shorter program was formulated because some found the previous 218-hour training period too long. After the completion of the training period, persons satisfying all the necessary requirements will be issued a national certificate that would allow them to work overseas. Since it is a pilot program, Sarmiento they would assess their training methods after the completion of each batch. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 1) President Rodrigo Duterte is appealing to local government units to speed up their vaccination programs to prevent inoculation sites from being super spreaders of the virus. During his late-night address on Monday, he also told LGUs not to make Filipinos wait in long lines before receiving their COVID-19 shot. Making them queue for an hour or longer exposes them to risk. Please use technology and advanced approaches to make sure that the entire process is more effective, he said. Ang (The) barangay captain has a list of the people in his barangay. It behooves upon you guys to make sure that they are given the numbers and an appointed time and not make them queue, he added. Earlier, residents in some Metro Manila local governments trooped to inoculation sites after learning that Pfizer vaccines were being offered. During the incident, social distancing protocols were breached. Duterte also instructed vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. to start distributing coronavirus shots to the regions. He said he hopes to distribute the next bulk of vaccine supply to the provinces to also speed up immunization. This followed reports of increasing infections in several provinces. Experts also warned that health facilities in some areas are starting to get overwhelmed. I am directing Secretary Galvez to make a distribution, parang (like) pro rata. Paghati-haian natin ito tutal (Let us divide the vaccines) the bulk of the people in the NCR mayroon na ho silang bakuna (already received their vaccine), he noted. Meanwhile, the president reiterated that vaccines are given for free and warned that people caught selling said commodities and even vaccination slots will be facing appropriate charges. The Department of Justice was directed to determine what specific charges may be filed. COVID-19 vaccines are only approved for emergency use and cannot be sold commercially. The Department of Health warned that those caught selling vaccination slots will be penalized under the law. Of over 8 million doses the country has received, some 5 million COVID-19 shots were already administered, according to Galvez. He also noted that there will be a steady supply from the World Health Organizations COVAX facility in the following months. Moreover, supply from AstraZeneca, Moderna, Sinovac, and Sputnik V will be stabilized by July, he added. The Philippines is among the countries prioritized to receive vaccine supply shared by the United States, Galvez said. READ: PH among first to receive vaccine donations from US, says envoy This month, the government expects to receive 9,950,000 million doses of vaccine from Sinovac, Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Sputnik V, bringing total inventory to 18,279,050. Columbia, SC (29201) Today Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, with mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, with mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Originating nearly 7,000 miles away in East Asia, bonsai cultivation the practice of keeping miniaturized trees or plants in smaller pots established a foothold in the State College area with the Happy Valley Bonsai Club. Meeting on the last Sunday of each month, except for August and December, the club is made up of local enthusiasts and members of the general public interested in the ancient practice. Though hindered by the coronavirus pandemic, club members would normally gather at the Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania in nearby Lemont in Centre County. Founding member of the Happy Valley Bonsai Club and long time bonsai enthusiast Bill Betz has served as the organizations president since 2019. His nephew first gifted Betz a bonsai tree in the 1990s. Six months later, he said, it was dead. Now, Betz maintains 43 bonsai plants while serving an executive role in Happy Valleys local bonsai culture. It didnt necessarily start as a hobby it started for me as a challenge, Betz said. Happy Valley Bonsai Club was formed in 2014 by a small group of less than 10. Though membership remained somewhat small, the core of the group has continued to participate since its founding. According to Betz, meetings will generally begin with a roundtable critique or B.Y.O.T. Bring Your Own Tree where members will offer advice or suggestions on the styling or maintenance of a bonsai plant. I think its important for everybody to have a voice, and I think starting with a critique and the roundtable works the best, Betz said. These critiques not only allow the club to observe various styles and methods of bonsai cultivation, but they also give you some options for future ideas and needs, according to the clubs social media manager Ann Taylor-Schmidt. Meetings then generally cover a specific area of bonsai style or cultivation, which vary month to month, according to Taylor-Schmidt. The club sometimes uses the time to prepare for displays as well. The coronavirus pandemic made the clubs regular in-person meetings at the Art Alliance impossible, but it was not enough to halt the ancient practice entirely for the club. According to Betz, virtual meetings held over Zoom turned out to be somewhat of an advantage for the club. Instead of being limited by bonsai transportation, club members could show off more of their collections to each other. The organization also occasionally met in local parks while social distancing, though weather eventually pushed it to a mostly virtual setting. Ross Adams, another founding member and the clubs treasurer, said he has dabbled in bonsai for about 45 years. He first began to notice the practice while studying in California, where he said there is more Chinese and Japanese influence on horticulture than the East Coast. I would describe bonsai as both an art and a horticultural science, Adams said. The practice originated in ancient China as penjing, and it eventually was brought to Japan by Buddhist monks, where it evolved into the set of traditions and styles characteristic of modern bonsai. Adams described the ancient Japanese city of Kyoto as the bonsai capital of the world. Bonsai then spread throughout the globe and became fairly popular in the United States after the occupation of Japan following World War II. The U.S. National Arboretum in Washington houses a large collection of bonsai many of which were gifted by Japan for Americas bicentennial in 1976, according to Smithsonian Magazine. One of the most famous bonsai, the Yamaki pine, is thought to have been originally trained as a bonsai in 1625. The tree also survived the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. To Adams, who maintains about 40 bonsai, the greatest examples of the craft are representative of true nature, allowing the viewer to think of the plant as if it were found in the wild. The best bonsai Ive seen are transportive. You look at them and say, Wow, Im there, Adams said. Its like walking into the forest or seeing that lone tree somewhere. Adams also constructs the unique pots required to keep bonsai, which are part of the larger overall display of the plants. There are three primary elements in traditional bonsai display, according to Adams. These include the bonsai itself with a pot and stand, a traditional scroll with a design to be hung behind the bonsai and a small accent to be placed next to the bonsai. This accent can take many forms but is often a stone of some variety. If its a really good bonsai, you cant help but become meditative, Adams said. With these ancient ideas and traditions behind it, the Happy Valley Bonsai Club continues to craft modern examples for personal enjoyment as well as display. Taylor-Schmidt, another founding member, said the club will occasionally display its bonsai at local events. The club has appeared at the Art Alliance in Lemont and The Arboretum at Penn State, among other places. Happy Valley Bonsai Club also maintains connections with similar groups like the larger Susquehanna Bonsai Club, according to Taylor-Schmidt. She and her husband, another founder, currently maintain around 200 bonsai. Taylor-Schmidt described bonsai cultivation as pleasing and rejuvenating. Its very restorative. We dont get out enough, I dont think, as a society. Things are a little too digital, she said. [Bonsai] brings you back to a cellular level of nature where you can kind of reconnect and get your feet on the ground. MORE BOROUGH COVERAGE Pennsylvania coronavirus mask order to be lifted by June 28 The Pennsylvania Department of Health's Acting Secretary Alison Beam announced Thursday the Editors Note: The following is a completely true letter received from Benjamin Dover, the totally real mayor of Intercourse, Pennsylvania or that's what Braden claims, at least. To Whom It May Concern, My name is Benjamin Dover, and I have been the mayor of the wonderful little community of Intercourse. I am proud of my hometown, my Intercourse, and that is why I must stand up for my community against the relentless mocking we receive. Now I know we dont have a hip and cool name like Upper Darby or Allentown, but Intercourse has always been enough for me. I am sick and tired of receiving all sorts of confusing letters and questions about Intercourse. Intercourse isnt that hard to figure out. Thus, its time we sit down and have the Intercourse talk. No, there is no bone train to Intercourse as everyone is fond of asking. Theres been no activity on the Intercourse tracks since the Cialis factory shut down. Some people say some really gross stuff about Intercourse, but in reality, Intercourse is really beautiful. Our little town is becoming the premier tourist destination in Pennsylvania. Everyone who comes enjoys Intercourse. Theres so much stuff to do. Visit the Intercourse Museum to learn all about the beauty of Intercourse. Take your bike to our scenic rails to trails and take a ride in Intercourse. Say, Oh yes! while enjoying Intercourse cuisine on our famous Pre-Intercourse Strip before entering town. Eat out at places like Steve Thompsons Diner (STD) and get the famous Intercourse crabs. Intercourse is for your pleasure. Never tried Intercourse before? Not everyone comes, but now might be the time to experience Intercourse for yourself. Just remember our town motto: When Intercourse is good, its good, and when its bad, its still pretty good. As our bumper stickers say, Intercourse is for Lovers! Sincerely, Ben Dover 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 Danville, IL (61832) Today Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 69F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 69F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. A year after the death of her father, the late apologist Ravi Zacharias, Sarah Davis of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries issued an apology over his reported misconduct. Notwithstanding, her brother Nathan said that she is not speaking on behalf of the family. Ravi Zacharias, one of the most well-known figures in American Christianity for decades, died in May last year. An independent investigation discovered evidence of the apologist's extended habit of abusive conduct. His daughter said she made a mistake by dismissing charges against her father and supported him. "My goal and my heart were not to attempt to cover up the sins of my father, or any sin," she said in a video statement last week addressing the victims, the Christian Post reported. "I did not serve well, and I did not love well. And for this, I'm deeply sorry," "I still replay memories, over and over in my head. How could this make sense with the man that I knew and what we now know to be true? Was it all a lie? Could he have done these things?" she continued. "For the rest of my life, I will have to hold the tension with this man that I knew and love, with the man that we know now committed these actions," she concluded. Nathan Zacharias wrote a swift response to his sister's speech, in which he said that he supports his father: "My sister, Sarah, recently gave a video statement on the situation with my Dad," he said. "There was no new information given, and she did not say anything she has not already said in her previous statements over the past few months. It was the same talking points." "She is not speaking for the family. As has been clear, we do not share her take on this situation," he clarified. Nathan asserted in a May 7 blog post that the Miller & Martin probe was "driven by a predetermined agenda." He also criticized RZIM's handling of the claims. The late apologist's son asserts that RZIM has twisted the Scripture James 3:1 to support their intent to litigate his father's case in the limelight. He discovered that even his father's legacy, built on a reputation for credibility and commitment, was largely overshadowed by what he believed was an innate bias to ignore and discredit positive aspects of Ravi's life. This, he predicted, ensured that Ravi's accomplishments would have no lasting impact on future generations, and that he would only be remembered for his alleged sin. Abdu Murray, who co-authored a book with Nathan's father and has led RZIM since 2017, was interviewed in May. "I think that we have this mentality in somehow ministry is itself sacred, that ministry is the same as God is ... and so when an allegation of abuse happens, we find it unbelievable because these people could not possibly have done it," Murray said. Since the Miller & Martin report was released earlier this year, RZIM has announced that it is changing its name to become a grant-making nonprofit helping evangelism and abuse victims, as well as laying off the bulk of its personnel. Several publishers also dropped Ravi Zacharias' books in May, apologizing for how he and the ministry handled public statements. NTUC Foodfare at Anchorvale Road closed due to likely ongoing transmission of COVID-19: MOH The Ministry of Health (MOH) has announced the closure of NTUC Foodfare at 308 Anchorvale Road as it investigates cases of COVID-19 infection amongst individuals who work there. Our epidemiological investigations have found that there is likely ongoing transmission at the coffee shop. To break any potential chain of transmission and enable deep cleaning of the premises, NTUC Foodfare at 308 Anchorvale Road has been closed to all members of the public starting from 30 May 2021 and will re-open 14 days later, on 13 June 2021, read an MOH release. The ministry is also offering free COVID-19 testing for those who visited 308 Anchorvale Road from 13 May to 30 May, 2021. All visitors to 308 Anchorvale Road from 13 May to 30 May are advised to monitor their health closely for 14 days from their date of visit. They are encouraged to visit a Regional Screening Centre or Swab and Send Home (SASH) Public Health Preparedness Clinic for a free COVID-19 test, the release added. On Sunday, Foodfare posted on Facebook that its staff would undergo COVID-19 tests during the closure of the Anchorvale outlet. As of Sunday, there are seven COVID-19 cases linked to the Foodfare outlet on Anchorvale Road. These include: a 33 year-old male Malaysia national who works as a kitchen assistant at Hua Zai Eating House, a 23-year-old Malaysian national who works as a cook at West Grill Station (Anchorvale), along with five more including four kitchen assistants who work at Hua Zai HK Style Roasted Delight Rice Noodle in the Anchorvale coffee shop as well as Hua Zai HK Style Roasted Delights in Hougang Green Shopping Mall. Have you ever completely changed your opinion on a food? Maybe you had PB&Js all the time as a kid, then one day, decided it wasn't for you. Maybe you hated canned tuna, but then one day ordered ahi nigiri to seem sophisticated on a date and now you own a tuna fishing boat. Maybe you thought New York pizza was the pinnacle of the universe, and then you spent a weekend in Chicago. The point is, our tastes change all the time. But sometimes, it happens on a massive, society-wide level, for unexpected reasons. 6 You're Not Turning Into Your Parents, Brussels Sprouts Actually Do Taste Better Now You know how a big gag in the '80s and '90s was about how terrible Brussels sprouts were? Aside from liver and onions, they were basically the worst thing your mom could force you to eat before you were allowed to leave the table and join your friends in deciding regular or menthol . An entire generation grew up thinking "the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles get to live on pizza, why do I have to eat this leafy bullshit?" Eric Hunt These taste like ninja turtle balls! Look like 'em too. Continue Reading Below Advertisement Now, it seems that everyone is like, "Actually, Brussels sprouts are great. People were just cooking them wrong." Except that's only partially true -- science actually worked to make them taste better in the late '90s. Hans Van Doorn, a scientist with a name so Dutch we don't have to tell you where he's from, isolated all the compounds that make Brussels sprouts so bitter. Then, a handful of Brussels sprouts companies (apparently there are whole companies devoted to this stuff) started looking at records of old varieties with lower amounts of these compounds. One breeder at the Bejo Zaden company said they had "a whole gene bank here in our cellars." (Sorry, can we take a minute to acknowledge how weird it is that "Brussels sprouts companies" is a thing?) Continue Reading Below Advertisement Anyway, these vegetable growers have a gene vault. (Like that sentence is less weird than the paragraphs that came before it.) Apparently that gene bank is organized into "this sucked" and "this didn't suck," and the breeders got their Gregor Mendel on and started experimenting with various groups, cross-pollinating and cross-pollinating over and over until people didn't hate Brussels sprouts quite as much. And by "didn't hate quite as much," I mean that they became one of the most popular menu items on more than a few ultra-trendy, celebrity chef-run restaurants. Not a bad comeup for a food that used to be a Saturday morning cartoons punch line leading into a commercial break for Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs. To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Please click here to learn how. Some citizens, especially Christian conservative organizations, are opposing Oregon Gov. Kate Brown's mandate that people provide proof of their COVID vaccination before entering houses of worship. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) has made it compulsory for individuals to show proof of vaccinations when entering businesses or churches. Businesses may continue to require their staff and customers to wear masks instead of requiring vaccine verification. The Freedom Foundation, a conservative organization, issued a statement instantly denouncing the directives and requesting that the governor withdraw the order. "We are over a year into this pandemic and while states across the country are opening up and returning to normal life, Governor Brown is having a hard time relinquishing her dictatorial authority," said Jason Dudash, Oregon Director of the Freedom Foundation. "The state has not provided a single piece of data to justify this and has not bothered to explain what the order aims to accomplish, or how long it will last. Common sense and experiences of the last year tell us that vaccination passports will only place additional burdens on already struggling businesses, violate individuals' right to privacy, and unnecessarily pit neighbor against neighbor," he added. A demand letter was sent to Governor Brown and the Oregon Health Authority, claiming that the guidance violates the First Amendment's right to free speech and association, the Fourteenth Amendment's right to informational privacy, and the Fourteenth Amendment's right to equal protection under the law. This letter provides the Governor with three options: "rescind the order entirely, provide Oregonian's data to justify why the guidance is necessary, or expect the matter to be resolved in court." "Digital health or vaccine passports along with tracking apps present a serious threat to freedom," said Mat Staver, president of the Christian advocacy group Liberty Counsel. "We must never accept vaccine passports or tracking apps as the new normal. If we do, it will be the end of freedom," Staver added. On May 18, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released revised mask requirements for persons who have been adequately vaccinated against COVID-19, CBN News reports. The OHA said that those who are completely vaccinated would no longer need to wear masks indoors, but they will have to wear a mask in situations where their vaccination status is verified. The revised standards states that businesses, organizations, and religious organizations may now set their own mask-wearing practices under They may opt to no longer demand masks, but they must still demand individuals to present evidence of vaccinations. Oregon's House Republicans are also urging Gov. Brown to reconsider, reports KGW. "We're really going our own way on this one and we really shouldn't," said Rep. Christine Drazen (R-Canby). On Tuesday, she signed the letter which takes issue with demanding evidence of vaccination. "And that is counter to White House recommendations, counter to what ACLU is recommending, counter to the CDC. It's not in line with Washington or California. We're really going our own way on this one and we really shouldn't," argued Drazan. On Wednesday, the state OSHA informed KGW that they had not yet issued any tickets or penalties for failing to comply with the requirements. Crossville, TN (38555) Today Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 63F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 63F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Music has always been an integral part of church worship, the same way songs hold an esteemed place in the pages of Scripture. Though the Bible is not inherently a songbook, almost two hundred songs can be found in the chapters of both the Old and New Testaments. The Psalms are the best known of these. However, there are many dirges, hymns, prayers, poems, and even dedications of battles, births, and miracles we may not know about or think of as traditional songs. Some of the Bibles songs were written to music accompaniment; others were penned as chants or hymns to be sung in a choir or assembly. Then are those written more as personal poems and individual expressions of joy, grief, or thanksgiving. Solomon wrote an entire book of intimate love poetry to his wife (Song of Solomon). Jeremiah wrote five heartbreaking laments following the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of his people into Babylon (Lamentations). When most people consider the actual songwriters of the Bible, they understandably turn to David, Solomon, Jeremiah, and perhaps even new moms like Hannah or Mary, who each celebrated the news of their pregnancy in some form of a song, though maybe not in the traditional sense. However, these figures were not the only ones to lift their voice or put pen to paper in such a lyrical way. Bible readers may not know it, but Moses also had a hand in penning three of the Bibles most profound songs. Though Moses is most commonly associated with the Ten Commandments and the exodus from Egypt, his songs written to commemorate Gods goodness and faithfulness are also worthy of our attention. But what do they mean and what do they have to say to us today? What Is the Meaning of Moses' Song in Exodus 15? If anyone had reason to sing songs of celebration following the exodus from Egypt, it was the Israelites. Not only had the children of Israel been delivered from slavery, but they had also seen God act on their behalf in spectacular fashion! From the ten plagues to the pillars of cloud and fire guiding them; the parting of the Red Sea to the ultimate destruction of Pharoahs army, the Israelites were no strangers to the miracles of God. Perhaps this is why, once safely on the other side of the Red Sea with Egypt behind them, Moses lead the people in a song of praise and thanksgiving! It is the first song of its kind recorded in the Bible. In a true moment of justified worship, Moses recounts the mighty deeds of the Lord in delivering them from the hand of Pharoah and his army (Exodus 15:4-10). He then exalts God to His rightful place of authority, singing words to commemorate the personal relationship he and his people shared with their Lord, who had been faithful to His promise of delivering them from bondage (Exodus 15:13). The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him; my fathers God, and I will extol Him. (Exodus 15:2) After all they had seen and experienced, Moses could also affirm that there was truly no other god like the Lord. Who is like You among the gods, Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders? (Exodus 15:11) And as the people looked to the future beyond the rivers of Egypt and shores of the Red Sea, Moses put the nations of Canaan on alert. As God was with His people in Egypt, so He would be with them as they entered the Promised Land. Enemies of Israel beware! God would not hesitate to do to them as He had done to the Egyptians if they oppose or attempt to harass His beloved people. And in the greatness of Your excellence, You overthrow those who rise up against You; you send out Your burning anger, and it consumes them like chaff. (Exodus 15:7) The people have heard, they tremble; anguish has gripped the inhabits of Philistia. Then the chiefs of Edom were terrified; the leaders of Moab, trembling grips them; all the inhabitants of Canaan have despaired. Terror and dread fall upon them; by the greatness of Your arm they are motionless as stone. (Exodus 15:14-16) The first Song of Moses concludes with Miriam, Moses sister, leading the people in the triumphant chorus. Sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted; the horse and his rider He has hurled into the sea. (Exodus 15:21) What Is the Meaning of Moses' Song in Deuteronomy 32? Unfortunately for the nation of Israel, the miracles of God, which they had seen with their own eyes, were often forgotten; and it didnt take long for the people to turn a song of praise into a song of grumbling and complaint against the Lord and Moses. For this reason, the children of Israel would spend forty years wandering the desert as punishment for their disobedience. Only after the current generation had died off would Joshua and Caleb lead Gods people across the Jordan River and into the land of Canaan. Moses, however, would not travel with them. As the new generation prepared to enter the Promised Land, Moses again took to the pen to write one last song, recapping their experience in the desert and preparing them for the days ahead. In large part, this is the major theme of the book of Deuteronomy. It serves as both a song of the past and instruction for the future. Similar to his first song, in his second, Moses begins by praising the Lord and singing of His faithfulness. For I proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustices, righteous and just is He. (Deuteronomy 32:3-4) Moses also reminds the people that God is at the center of this relationship. It was God who found His people, claimed them, cared for them, delivered them, protected them, and provided for them every step of the way. His ways have are good and just, and His instructions, which Moses spent decades relaying to the people, were given for the benefit of His people (Deuteronomy 32:9-12). With God, there are blessings for obedience and consequences for disobedience. Unfortunately, Moses would intercede on behalf of his people for their disobedience, which they had demonstrated in the desert. You forgot the Rock who fathered you, and forgot the God who gave you birth. (Deuteronomy 32:18) Then he abandoned God who made him, and rejected the Rock of his salvation. (Deuteronomy 32:15) For they are a perverse generation, Sons in whom there is no faithfulness. (Deuteronomy 32:20) Despite Israels sin and stubbornness, however, God never abandoned His promises or gave up on His people, which Moses also affirms. for the Lord will vindicate His people, and will have compassion on His servants, when He sees that their strength is gone, and there none remaining, bond or free. (Deuteronomy 32:36) Deuteronomy 32 is, therefore, a song of commemoration as much as it is it was a warning to future generations that if they failed to put their trust in God, turned to other gods, or forgot Gods promises, miracles, and mercy, they too would stumble and fall like their ancestors. This is why Moses urges the Israelites to remember their history, and he delivers this song to Joshua for this very reason. It was meant to be shared, sung, and repeated. Remember the days of old, consider the years of all generations. Ask your father and he will inform you, your elders, and they will tell you. (Deuteronomy 32:7) What Is the Meaning of Moses' Song in Psalm 90? Nestled within the many Psalms of David we find Psalm 90, another of Moses songs. We know that Psalm 90 was written sometime between the Exodus of Egypt and Deuteronomy 32, and it was likely added to the collection of Psalms sometime much later. Where Exodus 15 can be viewed as a song of praise and Deuteronomy 32 a song of instruction, Psalm 90 is very much a song of prayer. In some translations, Psalm 90 is even subtitled A Prayer of Moses. In it, Moses sings of the eternal majesty of the Lord. For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it passes by, Moses writes (Psalms 90:4) In Gods presence, Moses, like most, recognized the brevity of his own life. This is why he asks God to, teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom. (Psalms 90:12) Satisfy us in the morning with Your graciousness, that we may sing for joy and rejoice all our days. Make us glad according to the days You have afflicted us, and the years we have seen evil. (Psalm 90:14-15) As Moses states at the beginning of his song/prayer, Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations (Psalm 90:1). If Moses had learned anything from Israels tumultuous history, it was that it was better to reside in the presence of God and obey His commands than try and live out the brevity of life on ones own. He had certainly seen the end result of both choices and knew that obedience and Gods favor were always preferable to the consequences of disobedience, stubbornness, and idolatry. Why Are Songs Important in the Bible? There are many types of songs included in the Bible. Many were written as songs of worship that the people could sing together. Others were written more as personal reflections on the wonders of God. There are songs written to commemorate major moments and milestones. There are laments, prayers, and hymns. There are instructions written for future generations to follow. In Moses own songs, for example, we discover a diversity of perspective, purpose, and experience. We find praise, instruction, and prayer. The songs of the Bible were written for a multitude of different occasions and capture a myriad of emotions, and yet, they are as specific and timely as the words and metaphors they contain. Like any song, the songs of the Bible are often short, focused, and lyrical. They convey emotion, praise God, and help others understand, memorize, and absorb their words. Though the language, rhythm, instrumentation, and musicality of many of the Bibles songs have been lost over time, their meaning is not. We may not sing these songs in the same way as Moses, or David or Jeremiah did, but by contemplating their lyrics, through study and prayer, we too can learn to worship God, who deserves to be praised! Related: Listen to our podcast, How to Study the Bible! Available at LifeAudio.com. Listen to the first episode here: Photo credit: GettyImages/doidam10 Joel Ryan is an LA-based childrens author, artist, professor, and speaker who is passionate about helping young writers unleash their creativity and discover the wonders of their Creator through storytelling and art. In his blog, Perspectives off the Page, he discusses all things story and the creative process. CANBERRA, Australia An Australian court has rejected a challenge to the federal governments draconian power to prevent most citizens from leaving the country so they dont bring the coronavirus home. Most Australians have been stranded in their home nation for more than a year under a government emergency order made under the powerful Biosecurity Act. Australia is alone among developed democracies in preventing its citizens and permanent residents from leaving the country during the pandemic except in exceptional circumstances. The libertarian group LibertyWorks argued the government dids not have the power to enforce the travel ban. But the three judges ruled for the government Tuesday. They said Parliament knew the laws impact would be harsh when it passed the Biosecurity Act in 2015. ___ MORE ON THE VIRUS OUTBREAK: UK does surge vaccinations at a rugby stadium in London to fight off the variant first found in India American veterans return to Memorial Day traditions as pandemic eases China re-imposes travel curbs on southern province after fresh virus cases Vietnam to test all 9 million residents of Ho Chi Minh city amid outbreak ___ Follow more of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine ___ HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING: GENEVA The World Health Organization is announcing a new nomenclature for the COVID-19 variants that were previously and somewhat uncomfortably known either by their technical letter-number codes or by the countries in which they first appeared. Hoping to strike a fair and more comprehensible balance, WHO said it will now refer to the most worrisome variants known as variants of concern by letters in the Greek alphabet. So the first such variant of concern, which first appeared in Britain and can be also known as B.1.1.7, will be known as the alpha variant. The second, which turned up in South Africa and has been referred to as B.1.351, will be known as the beta variant. A third that first appeared in Brazil will be called the gamma variant and a fourth that first turned up in India the delta variant. Future variants that rise to of concern status will be labeled with subsequent letters in the Greek alphabet. WHO said a group of experts came up with the new system, which will not replace scientific naming systems but will offer simple, easy to say and remember labels for variants. ___ LOS ANGELES Californians headed to campgrounds, beaches and restaurants over the long holiday weekend as the state prepared to shed some of its coronavirus rules. Southern California beaches have been busy with families barbecuing and children playing in the sand and surf. Business owners say theyre scrambling to hire workers to keep up with the customer demand since virus cases have fallen and vaccinations have risen. The surge in travel and recreation comes as California prepares to relax social distancing and masking rules June 15 if coronavirus cases remain low. Newly reported infections in the state have fallen below 1,000 on some days. The positivity rate has been 1%. ___ WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. The Navajo Nation is reporting two new confirmed COVID-19 cases and no additional deaths. Tribal health officials say the latest figures released Sunday night pushed the total number of cases since the pandemic began more than a year ago to 30,841 on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The known death toll now is 1,324. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez says people must continue getting vaccinated, wear face masks and practice social distancing while honoring soldiers on Memorial Day. ___ LIMA, Peru Peru announced a sharp increase in its COVID-19 death toll, saying there have been more than 180,000 fatalities since the pandemic hit the country early last year. The announcement was made in the presidential palace during the presentation of a report by a working group commissioned to analyze and update the death toll. The results of the study put the new toll at 180,764 in a population of about 32.6 million, compared to recent data indicating that 69,342 people had died from COVID-19. Health Minister Oscar Ugarte said the criteria for assigning the new coronavirus as a cause of death were changed. Previously, only those who had a positive diagnostic test were considered to have died from the virus, but other criteria have since been incorporated. The new toll from COVID-19 includes deaths reported between March 2020 and May 22 of this year. Among Latin American countries, only Brazil and Mexico have reported higher death tolls from the disease. On Monday, the coronavirus monitoring site of Johns Hopkins University was reflecting the previous figure of just under 70,000 deaths in Peru. Questions about Perus death toll surfaced soon after the beginning of the pandemic. ___ ANKARA, Turkey Turkey announced a further easing of its COVID-19 restrictions, including a relaxing of nighttime and weekend curfews, following a decline in the number of infections. Following a Cabinet meeting, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said restaurants and cafes which were only able to open for delivery or take-away food would be allowed to accept sitting customers until 9 p.m. as of Tuesday. Businesses such as gyms and amusement parks would also be allowed to reopen until 9 p.m. The start of nighttime curfews was pushed back by an hour, to start at 10 p.m. Erdogan said Sunday curfews are to remain in place but people will be free to leave their houses on Saturdays. Civil servants will continue working remotely or in shifts in offices. Meanwhile, the countrys education minister said primary and secondary school students would return to their classes for in-person education two times a week. In less populous towns and villages, schools would reopen full time. Earlier this month, the number of daily COVID-19 infections dropped to below 10,000 for the first time since March 1, after reaching a record-high of more than 63,000 daily cases in mid-April. On Monday, the Health Ministry posted 6,933 new cases and 122 deaths in the past 24 hours. The total death toll in the country stands at 47,527 with more than 5.2 million infections. ___ DETROIT A large mural honoring a firefighter and other Detroit public employees who died from COVID-19 has been unveiled on the side of a building. Capt. Franklin Williams of the fire department dominates the painting. But there are images of a bus driver who made an emotional plea for protection from COVID-19 before he caught the virus, and 5-year-old girl Skylar Herbert, who was the daughter of a firefighter and police officer. This mural represents community heroes representing those institutions who also fought for our country by putting on a uniform and fighting an unknown enemy: COVID-19, said Odie Fakhouri, chief operating officer of the Arab American and Chaldean Council, which owns the building on Seven Mile Road. Williams, 57, was eligible to retire from the fire department but wanted to work until age 60. He died last summer. The mural, which faces a Detroit fire station, was created by artist Charles Chazz Miller with assistance from students at University of Detroit Mercy, the Detroit Free Press reported. It was unveiled Sunday. ___ FALLON, Nev. Doctors and nurses are staffing mobile clinics throughout the U.S. to ensure people in tiny towns and far-flung rural areas can get vaccinated. In Nevada, Arizona, Kentucky and elsewhere, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has dispatched the mobile units to places that lack pharmacies, clinics and other vaccination sites. Volunteer doctors and nurses in Nevada have teamed up with the National Guard to deliver thousands of shots to communities that state officials say couldnt offer vaccinations any other way. Its one of many efforts underway as the nation struggles to reach herd immunity as interest wanes in vaccinations. ___ BERLIN German Chancellor Angela Merkel says a rule that allowed the federal government to require strict pandemic measures in regions with high rates of infection can expire at the end of June, as the country has seen a steady decline in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. Merkel told reporters in Berlin that the so-called emergency brake she pushed through despite resistance from some state governors had indeed had an effect in flattening the curve of infections. Germanys disease control agency said it received reports of 1,978 new cases of COVID-19 and 36 deaths Sunday. A total of 88,442 people have died as a result of a coronavirus infection in Germany and the country has recorded almost 3.7 million cases since the start of the pandemic. ___ VATICAN CITY Pope Francis is praying for an end to the coronavirus pandemic and the economic, social and interpersonal problems it has caused. Francis presided over a special evening ceremony Monday in the Vatican Gardens that featured recitation of the Rosary, Scripture readings and hymns sung by some 300 people. It was the conclusion of a monthlong prayer marathon that began May 1 with a similar service in St. Peters Basilica. Francis sat before a reproduction of one of his favorite icons of the Madonna, known as Mary Untier of Knots. Those devoted to the icon pray for Marys intercession to help resolve their problems. Opening the service, Francis said there were many knots tightening around our existence and tying up our activities: they are the knots of egoism, indifference, economic and social knots, knots of violence and war. ___ PARIS France opened up virus vaccinations to adults of all ages starting Monday, earlier than originally scheduled, as vaccine deliveries have picked up speed. More than 48% of Frances adult population has had at least one dose, and more than 20% have had two, according to public health authorities. After a slow start blamed on bureaucracy and delayed deliveries, France has now administered more than 36 million vaccine doses. Anyone 18 and over can sign up for an injection. And 12 to 15-year-olds should have access soon too, after the European Medicines Agency authorized use of the Pfizer vaccine for that age group last week. Prime Minister Jean Castex said the horizon is clearing but warned be people to stay vigilant. France has registered more virus infections than any European country, and more than 109,000 deaths linked to COVID-19. Virus patients still occupy more than half of the intensive care beds France had before the pandemic but their numbers have been falling for weeks and the country is gradually reopening its restaurants, businesses and tourist sites. ___ LONDON British health authorities are aiming to vaccinate 15,000 people in one day at Londons Twickenham rugby stadium as part of a race to contain a fast-spreading coronavirus variant. The strain, first identified in India, accounts for a majority of new cases in the U.K., which is seeing a rise in infections after weeks of decline. Scientists say the variant is more transmissible than even the previously dominant strain first found in the U.K. but current vaccines are effective against it. Many scientists are urging the Conservative government to delay plans to lift social distancing and other restrictions on June 21, arguing that more people need to be vaccinated before measures can be eased safely. The government will announce its decision on June 14. Three-quarters of U.K. adults have had one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and almost half have had both doses. The Twickenham walk-in vaccination center is offering jabs without an appointment on Monday to people from northwest London, a hotspot for the Indian-identified variant. Health officials in the northwest England town of Bolton, which had the highest rates of the new variant, say infections are starting to fall after a mass testing and surge vaccination campaign. ___ NEW YORK Bars and restaurants no longer have to close at midnight across New York state, as its coronavirus curfew for indoor dining ended Monday. With that, establishments can return to the closing times that their liquor licenses or other regulations allow. A similar pandemic curfew for outdoor dining ended May 17, although some local governments have their own closing-time rules for outdoor tables. Restaurateurs have been looking forward to the later hours as they try to recover from the shutdowns and other limitations on their business during the virus crisis. The lifting of the curfew is critically important, the NYC Hospitality Alliances executive director, Andrew Rigie. Were a 24/7 city, so theres tons of people that would still be out eating and drinking after midnight. ___ MILFORD After graduating from Hamilton College, Milford native Christine Walsh was looking for an opportunity to serve others on a daily basis. She found it with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. Service is a very humbling opportunity, but more than that, it allows you to connect with people on a deeper level, said Walsh. Service is one of the greatest acts of love. Walsh will be spending the next year volunteering at the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona as an abundant harvest coordinator specialist. That means she will work as part of a growers cooperative of about 150 farmers participating in a weekly farmers market for low-income families in the Tucson area. As abundant harvest cooperative specialist, I hope to gain essential program management skills to successfully plan weekly farmers markets during the transition from drive-through to (hopefully) in-person visits, said Walsh. I hope this year will be one of observation and action. The Jesuit Volunteer Corps is an organization of lay volunteers who devote a year or more to community service in poor communities. Walsh said she was drawn to the corps core values of Jesuit spirituality, social justice, community and simple living. Walsh said she planned to go all-in on her role. She considered other volunteer opportunities after working with a family member in a New York-housing agency, but she wanted to get more of a hands-on opportunity. I am fully prepared to get my hands dirty and get the job done, she said. At the community food bank, I hope to learn more ways to organize the community around common agenda, which nourishes both farmers and families. I hope to hear farmers stories, hopes and struggles. Walshs interest in food sovereignty is one reason she chose to head out to Arizona after graduation. Food sovereignty is defined by the National Family Farm Coalition as the right of peoples to healthy and culturally-appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods. Food sovereignty differs from food security, although Walsh has experience with both. I became interested in the concept of food sovereignty as a sustainable, ecological system rooted in indigenous forms of knowledge through a combined coursework and direct experience, said Walsh. I learned the essential differences between food sovereignty, which emphasizes grass-roots community-based food production and distribution, and food security, which attempts to address lack of access to affordable, healthy food within the current (inherently unequal) food system. Tucson, located less than an hours drive from Mexico, was an ideal place for her to spend a year volunteering, she said. Im excited to be living in a different part of the country so close to the Mexican border, she said. As an immigrant-rights advocate, I hope to also volunteer with advocacy organizations in that area. Shes also interested in learning more about how government programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work to either help or hinder families ability to choose healthy food, she said. In addition to working with farmers and families in Arizona, Walsh said she also was looking forward to the spiritual component of the Jesuit program. For the next year she will be participating in a weekly spiritual night and going on four retreats, in addition to the weekly Catholic Mass obligation. Ultimately, though, she said the next year is about community-building. And attending to her own spiritual health can help her address others physical health, she said. If you want to build community in society or different pockets you are a part of, it definitely starts in the home, she said. When you can practice those acts of self-care, youre more readily able to do so (for others) in your daily life. MILFORD Break out your Jolly Roger and eye patch, Pirates Day is back with a full day of family-friendly events throughout downtown Milford on Sunday, June 6. This years event marks the 20th annual Pirates Day. Last years day had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pirates Day has served as an unofficial start to the summer in Milford for years, said Tracy Bonosconi, president of the Downtown Milford Business Association which organizes the annual event. We know our local families have a long a challenging year, and Pirates Day signals not only a return to summer but a return to a touch of normalcy. Its even more meaningful that it happens to be our twentieth year. The event starts at Lisman Landing, 37 Helwig Street, with the Pancakes with a Pirate character breakfast. There are two seatings, at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. and tickets are required. Register at downtownmilfordct.com. The day continues at on Milford Green at 11 a.m., with the Milford Public Library hosting a pirate story time at the gazebo. Other events on the green include pirate crafts, DJ music and pirate-themed yoga. The Milford Historical Society also will host tales of pirate lore and old-fashioned lawn games from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pirate legend is part of Milford culture, Bonosconi said. Rumor has it Captain Kidd has buried treasure on Charles Island. According to local legend, Captain William Kidd visited Milford in 1699 while traveling from the Caribbean to Boston. When he arrived in Boston, he was arrested and imprisoned before being returned to England for trial. He was later executed. The same legend has it that Kidd buried some of his treasure on Charles Island, possibly beneath a giant boulder known as Hog Rock. After his arrest, Kidds treasure was located on Gardiners Island, but it is not known whether he buried all of his treasure there. In a 2015 statement, city officials acknowledged the legend and said people have come to Charles Island to search for the lost treasure for the past 300 years. Captain Kidd himself will arrive at Lisman Landing with his crew by boat on The Oz at noon. The day also will feature live music from Rockin Ron the Friendly Pirate, plus pirate re-enactments by the Free Men of the Sea, story-telling, and a pirate treasure map hunt through 14 local businesses. We love being able to continue a long-standing Milford tradition, said event director Makayla Silva. A special thanks goes to all our sponsors, participating businesses and volunteers for helping to make this year one of the best ever. NEW HARTFORD Officials are looking into the intentional damage of a police cruiser, according to police. That vehicle was at the resident troopers office in New Hartford Sunday morning when it was found damaged, a post from Connecticut State Police Troop B North Canaan read. CT State Police / Contributed HEBRON State police are asking for the publics help to identify a person of interest in a hit-and-run accident involving a pedestrian in a local church parking lot last week. The Connecticut State Police Eastern District Major Crime Squad is investigating a hit-and-run of a pedestrian that happened in the parking lot of the Church of the Holy Family, 185 Church St, around 10 a.m. on May 27. STAMFORD When she first started at Sacred Heart University, Victoria Ho hardly set out to be a nationally recognized advocate for a more diverse physician-assistant workforce. I had no intention of doing all this advocacy work, she said. It just fell into place. Ho was named 2021 Student of the Year this week by the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Shes the next director at large for the LBGT PA caucus and the co-founder of a LGBTQIA+ pre-PA support group. My entire platform for everything I do is to increase diversity within the PA profession, she said. Its a profession thats mainly been white-dominated. As Asian American with immigrant parents, I want to see more diversity within the PA profession. The Student of the Year Award honors those who further the image of PAs and PA students, give time and effort to service, demonstrate leadership and professionalism and strive to provide accessible and quality health care and education, according to the American Academy of PAs. Ho was nominated by her friend and mentor Jonathan Baker, whos also involved in the LBGT PA Caucus. Previously, Ho was an LBGT PA Caucus Student Leader Fellow with goals of diversifying the field and educating staff and peers on how to be what she called an ally provider. She got involved with committees and board meetings, and served as a panelist for presentations, including Teaching Sexual & Gender Minority Content in the PA Education and It Takes a Village: Leveraging Diverse Skill Sets for LGBTQ+ Health Advocacy. While a fellow, Ho created the LGBTQIA+ pre-PA support group to increase awareness of the profession and the acceptance rate of LGBTQIA+-identifying PA students. The group tackles dilemmas like coming out during the application process and communicating pronouns. Ho said she made pre-PAs her focus because theyre the catalysts for change in the workforce. Theyre the core of the future, she said. She hopes groups like hers can remove barriers to enter the profession by focusing on students who dont have the resources to do volunteer work or unpaid shadow hours that she said are often requisite to breaking into the field. While a graduate student at Sacred Heart University, Hos been thankful her program encourages students to get involved in advocacy on a national platform. In March, the school made accommodations so she could attend a virtual American Academy of PAs Leadership and Advocacy Summit representing Connecticut. They have been nothing but supportive, she said, allowing us to continue our passions and take on leadership roles. Sacred Heart, in turn, commended her work. Victoria was honored for her work on diversity, said Maura Iverson, the dean of the College of Health Professions at Sacred Heart University. We are so proud that our students embrace the mission of SHU mission regarding social justice and diversity. We are hopeful that our students will continue to promote diversity and social justice as they deliver health care. We are very proud of Victoria for her hard work and strong representation of all SHU stands for, she said. Ho will graduate from her program in December, but she plans to continue striving for a PA workforce that better represents the populations it cares for, especially in under-served and underpopulated areas. Kankakee, IL (60901) Today Thunderstorms, some heavy early, then becoming mostly clear after midnight. Low 64F. N winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Thunderstorms, some heavy early, then becoming mostly clear after midnight. Low 64F. N winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. Chance of rain 30%. The Hubei Provincial CCC&TSPM (China Christian Council and Three-Self Patriotic Movement) held a ceremony on May 21 for the opening of a research center dedicated to the Sinicization of Christianity at Zhongnan Theological Seminary. According to Rev. Zhu Zhiguo, the chair of the Hubei Provincial CCC&TSPM, the goal of the research center is to "inherit the principle of three-self (self-governance, self-support, and self-propagation)," "construct a grand theology with Chinese characteristics," and "discuss the Chinese model of excellent pastoral care." The International Christian Concern (ICC) reported that this new research facility is part of the CCP's campaign to further Sinicize the nation. Sinicization is a government-initiated process of changing Christianity and other faiths such as Buddhism and Falun Gong in order to fit within Chinese communism and to promote the principles of the Chinese Communist Party. Many modern Christian scholars and pastors in China claim that Bibles need to be "re-edited," theology modified, and clergy members made to demonstrate their commitment to the Chinese Communist Party - even if it means going against God and His Word. While Sinicization involves having to submit to the Chinese Communist Party, it has become more about worshipping Xi Jinping, the current ruler of China. Xi has transformed from only being the figurehead of a leader of authority to also being revered by those under him. He had first proposed the concept of Sinicization in 2015, when he said that religions must "Sinicize" if they wish to remain in China. When it was first adopted, the program had both favorable and unfavorable impacts on different religious groups. Since it is becoming more widespread, however, it is now producing greater conflict. As has been reported several times throughout the year, the Chinese Communist Party has done its best to subvert Christian religion by removing religious imagery, such as crucifixes, statues of Jesus, and other icons of Christian religion, from the public sphere. Due to the recent policies that were implemented, churches must display Xi's portraits on the walls of the church and display Chinese flags in both their residences and places of worship. To the church leaders, the Sinicization process is not only a political problem or policy, but rather a war against religion, especially Christianity. The leaders believe this because Xi apparently seeks to replace God with himself. In his commentary, one remarked that they seek to replace religious faith with confidence in the party. Burning bibles and other material, associated with Christianity, has also been a tactic used by Chinese authorities. Additionally, the Chinese Communist government also shut down Christian-backed mobile Bible applications and banned and regulated WeChat chat applications that allowed users to communicate in a Christian way. In spite of all of these difficulties, the Chinese church, according to ChinaAid founder Bob Fu, is seeing revival despite increasing government pressure and abuse. "We have seen, believers, even after they go to prison, they would sing 'hallelujah,'" he said. In China, Christians see their serving time in prison as another way to spread the gospel. "So, prison becomes church. That's how the revival happens. I think that's how it went from 1 million Christians now to 100 million Christians in China, " Bob Fu added. Edenton, NC (27932) Today Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Elizabeth City, NC (27909) Today Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 65F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 65F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Dalton, GA (30720) Today Thunderstorms this evening, then skies turning partly cloudy after midnight. Low 68F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening, then skies turning partly cloudy after midnight. Low 68F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Reminiscing on Billy Grahams landmark crusade in apartheid South Africa The South African Congress on Mission and Evangelism in Durban in March 1973 was, I believe, a turning point both in our own ministry and for South Africa. Michael Cassidy When AE invited Dr. Billy Graham as a guest speaker for the Mission Congress, there was a frenzy of interest from the South African public. The Congress was a landmark event in segregated South Africa, as Christian leaders of all races and denominations united in pursuit of true Gospel transformation. On Saturday the 17th of March 1973, a large evangelistic rally was held at Durbans Kings Park rugby stadium. A record audience of between 45,000 and 50,000 gathered that day. In a landmark moment for South Africa, a racially diverse, yet peaceful crowd had gathered publicly. In his autobiography Footprints in the African Sand My life & times*, Michael Cassidy reflects, Here was South Africa as it should really be a glorious kaleidoscope of racial beauty and diversity. In fact, never did the segregationist way seem more unnatural and grotesque than in those moments. He goes on to describe the ripple effects that the rally had on the nation, Newspaper banners screamed in hyperbole: Apartheid Doomed. Beyond that, multitudes in that stadium and around the country via the media caught a vision of what South Africa could become. Dr. Graham gave a simple Gospel message that day, followed by an invitation to accept Christ. More than 4,000 people surged forward. Counsellors struggled to provide follow-up booklets to all the new believers, many of whom were unable to get near the platform area. Michael Cassidy describes the beautiful scene that followed: Blacks counselled Whites. Whites counselled Indians. Coloureds counselled Blacks. And so it went, for an hour or more, as the stadium slowly began to empty. This was South Africa. The Beloved Country. The country to weep for. And pray for. And work for. Here it was in an identity crisis, and trying to find itself. And here was the Spirit of Jesus on the job, proclaiming good news to the poor, release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and liberty to those who are oppressed Of course, history would prove that we still had a long way to go. But a start had been made. In reflecting on that day at Kings Park, Prince Mntambo, an African pastor, said, Black alone looks dull. White or yellow alone look pale and empty but black, brown, yellow and white look like beautiful flowers planted by God. That was the beauty of Kings Park with Dr. Billy. A stand-up show in Dubai has marked the first time Iranian-American Maz Jobrani has been in front of a major live audience overseas since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and he feels it Paul Kirby is a reporter for the Freeman, covering Kingston politics. He has been at the Freeman since August 1996. The following items are based on information provided by officials in law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Bags cover shell casings on Smith Street in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., near the hat worn by the man who was shot Sunday afternoon, May 30. Technical Forecast for the Canadian Dollar: Neutral The Canadian Dollar has been on an absolute tear in 2021, thanks in part to rising energy prices. Yet gains have been harder to come by over the past week-plus. A reversal higher by USD/CAD rates could be the canary in the coal mine for a deeper setback for the Canadian Dollar elsewhere. The IG Client Sentiment Index s uggests that the Canadian Dollar has a mixed bias in the near-term. Canadian Dollar Rates Week in Review The last week of May proved a mixed bag for the Canadian Dollar, with four CAD-crosses seeing Loonie weakness (EUR/CAD, GBP/CAD, NZD/CAD, and USD/CAD) and three seeing strength (AUD/CAD, CAD/CHF, and CAD/JPY). The lack of significant Canadian Dollar strength in an environment that otherwise seemed very supportive may prove concerning: oil prices are back near their yearly highs (the oil sector represents 11% of the Canadian economy); Canadas vaccination program has improved (now has a greater % of adults vaccinated than the US); and Canadas largest trading partner has seen economic momentum improve (20% of Canadian GDP can be tied to the US). Even if the fundamental argument for the Canadian Dollar remains robust, the fact of the matter is that a lack of technical follow-through leaves the Loonie exposed for potential weakness. Given the situation in the futures market, whereby traders are the most net-long the Canadian Dollar since November 2009, it may simply be the case that the rally is long in the tooth. Were it to develop, consolidation, if not weakness, in the CAD-crosses shouldnt be a surprise moving forward. USD/CAD RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (May 2020 to May 2021) (CHART 1) USD/CAD rates set a fresh yearly low in the middle of May, but for the past two weeks have been trading sideways. The lack of progress may be discouraging to bears, but there are small technical hints that suggest downside pressure remains robust. USD/CAD rates remain below both the descending trendline from the March and November 2020 highs, the pandemic downtrend, as well as former descending channel support between November 2020 and early-May 2021, now acting as resistance. While USD/CAD rates are still fully below their daily EMA envelope, which is in bearish sequential order, both daily MACD and daily Slow Stochastics have been relieved of their extreme oversold conditions despite no concurrent improvement in price action. The evidence is accumulating that USD/CAD rates are carving out a bear flag over the past few weeks, pointing to more downside throughout June. And due to the aforementioned fundamentals bonafides coupled with a still-bearish technical outlook, USD/CAD has become a potent leading indicator for the entire CAD-crosses complex. If USD/CAD rates are not able to continue their drive lower and instead begin to post a reversal higher, it would give greater credence to a short covering rally in the futures market; all CAD-crosses may suffer in an environment where USD/CAD rates are rising. IG Client Sentiment Index: USD/CAD RATE Forecast (May 28, 2021) (Chart 2) USD/CAD: Retail trader data shows 81.36% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 4.36 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 2.41% lower than yesterday and 1.92% higher from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 15.05% lower than yesterday and 4.64% higher from last week. We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests USD/CAD prices may continue to fall. Positioning is more net-long than yesterday but less net-long from last week. The combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a further mixed USD/CAD trading bias. CAD/JPY RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (May 2020 to May 2021) (CHART 3) In a previous update it was noted that it appears that price action in April was merely a temporary setback before CAD/JPY continues its rally towards the descending trendline from the October 2007 (all-time high) and December 2014 highs, coinciding with 89.22, the 100% Fibonacci retracement of the 2018 high/2020 low range. CAD/JPY rats have traded higher through the descending trendline from the October 2007 (all-time high) and December 2014 highs, jumping to their highest level since November 2015 suggesting that a multi-year bottoming effort has begun. CAD/JPY rates may have the clearest path for more CAD strength in the near-term. The pair is above its daily 5-, 8-, 13-, and 21-EMA envelope, which is in bullish sequential order. Daily MACD is rising again while above its signal line, while daily Slow Stochastics have started to rise back into overbought territory. The path of least resistance appears higher, for now; given the longer-term technical considerations, a buy the dip approach seems appropriate. EUR/CAD RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (February 2020 to May 2021) (CHART 4) EUR/CAD rates have had a bearish bias for much of 2021, but the reality is that May produced little significant direction, one way or the other. The pair has been trading choppily above ascending trendline support from the August 2012 and February 2020 lows, which comes closer to 1.4600/50, as well as the 76.4% Fibonacci retracement of the 2020 high/low range at 1.4674. The pair has continued to consolidate into a multidecade symmetrical triangle dating back to the December 2008 and March 2020 highs, which in reality can be drawn even further back to the implied EUR/CAD rate at the March 1995 high. We need to see either a drop below 1.4600 or gains through 1.4926 (61.8% Fibonacci retracement of 2020 high/low range) before the next directional bias can be ascertained. CFTC COT Canadian Dollar Futures Positioning (May 2020 to May 2021) (Chart 5) Finally, a consideration of positioning in the futures market. According to the CFTCs COT for the week ended May 25, speculators slightly decreased their net-long Canadian Dollar positioning to 44.8K contracts, down from the 46.1K net-long contracts held in the week prior. The futures market is now the most net-long Canadian Dollar since November 2019. --- Written by Christopher Vecchio, CFA, Senior Currency Strategist The Daily Independents Pet of the Week is Sammy. Sammy is a 3-month-old dapple miniature dachshund who loves playing with toys, eating peanut butter treats and always being my shadow, said owner Chloe Hymer. Sammy was one of about 100 entries into the newspapers latest Pet of the Week contest on Facebook. Neda spoke with Open Doors, knowing that if she were caught doing so, she would be called for interrogation. However, she wanted to share her story with the worldwide church - her son helped with translation. Neda, a church leader and a mother of four adult children, first learnt about Christianity when she found a Bible hidden in a drawer of her husband-to-be. It surprised Neda because she knew him as a strict Muslim. She started reading the Bible in secret and her heart was touched, she told Open Doors: "I became interested in Christianity and visited a church several times. That is where I became a Christian. When the persecution increased and we couldn't visit a church building anymore, my husband and I decided to start a house church, meeting in our home." After the church was launched, they lived in constant fear. Her husband was taken for questioning regularly. It went on for years. "People we knew were thrown into prison," said Neda. "A Christian friend of mine had her child taken from her after she left her husband, following years of pressure from him for her to renounce her faith. I can't lie - it was a very stressful situation, especially for my husband and me as church leaders." Neda's son jumps into the conversation and says: "Sometimes there was so much pressure that it was only us as a family that could come together safely. We took it seriously: around 5.30pm we were all sitting down. One of us would lead devotions, the other one would play the guitar. My father was preaching, and we even took offerings. What would have happened if someone had caught us? We were really scared, but we did continue!" Ever since Neda's husband died, she has been leading the church by herself. For 25 years of their church's history, the persecution has remained consistently strong, she said, but she has never considered giving up. Sometimes God communicates with her through her dreams, she says. She vividly remembers one occasion, at a time she was very worried about her children's safety: "In my dream I saw a lion that was about to attack my kids. I was so scared! But to my amazement, the lion did nothing. I understood this dream when I read the story of Daniel in the lion's den: God protected us like he had protected Daniel." Neda says she and the small group of her church members experience that protection on a daily basis and continue their ministry in spite of the risks. "We know some of us are monitored, so we have to be careful," she said. "Even though our church consists of just a small group of people, we are very blessed. God shows his power everywhere, but I believe it becomes even more apparent in places where Christians are under pressure." Iran is number 8 on Open Doors' World Watch List, a ranking of 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. Converts from Islam to Christianity bear the brunt of violations of religious freedom, carried out by the government, and to a lesser extent by society and the converts' families. The government sees Iranian Christians as tools used by Western countries to undermine Islam and the Islamic regime of Iran. Leaders of churches for Christian converts have been arrested, prosecuted and received long prison sentences for 'crimes against national security'. *name changed for security reasons Open Doors UK & Ireland is part of Open Doors International, a global NGO network which has supported and strengthened persecuted Christians for over 60 years and works in over 60 countries. In 2020, it raised 42 million to provide practical support to persecuted Christians such as food, medicines, trauma care, legal assistance, safe houses and schools, as well as spiritual support through Christian literature, training and resources. Open Doors UK & Ireland raised about 16 million. Cancel culture has arrived for Professor Richard Dawkins, possibly the nation's greatest science writer (though now well past his best). The organisation Don't Screen Us Out which campaigns against programmes designed to facilitate the elimination of unborn children with Down's Syndrome has launched a petition demanding that the professor's publisher, Penguin Random House, 'end their business relationship with Richard Dawkins and stop publishing his books'. Currently, the 80-year-old is actively promoting his latest work, Books Do Furnish A Life (actually nothing more than a collection of old essays). In an interview with the broadcaster Brendan O'Connor of RTE Radio in Ireland, Dawkins attempted to defend how he had responded in 2014 when one of his 2.9 million Twitter followers sent this to him: 'I honestly don't know what I would do if I were pregnant with a kid with Down Syndrome. Real ethical dilemma.' Dawkins pinged back: 'Abort it and try again. It would be immoral to bring it into the world if you have the choice.' Fury Last week, Lynn Murray, whose daughter Rachel has Down's and who runs the Don't Screen Us Out campaign, told a newspaper: 'His publishers should stand with people with Down's Syndrome, uphold their own equality policies and cut ties with the professor, whose uninformed opinions about Down's Syndrome are also out of sync with today's public standards of equality and diversity.' The petition was signed by one of Scotland's leading columnists, Kevin McKenna, who has a niece with Down's. The language of 'equality and diversity' is well-judged to rattle Penguin. Even the publishers of J. K. Rowling, the most successful fiction writer of the modern era, were shaken by the fury her allegedly disrespectful remarks about transgender rights aroused among those who claim to represent 'the equalities agenda' (which has replaced class war as the Left's governing principle). And as big publishing houses have publicly signed up to this agenda, they twitch nervously when the charge of infraction of the doctrine is levelled at them. Professor Richard Dawkins attempted to defend his response to a Twitter follower who told him she 'didn't know what she would do' if she was pregnant with a child with Down's Syndrome and his advice was: 'Abort it and try again. It would be immoral to bring it into the world if you have the choice' In fact, Penguin have little to worry about in this case, as the modern campaigning Left regard the unborn child as having no intrinsic moral standing. For them, discrimination against the unborn, or a certain group within that category, is not a thing. But the publishers might have been squirming a little when their star science writer came up against Brendan O'Connor in early May. For the Irish presenter has a daughter with Down's Syndrome, and when he tested the professor on his now notorious remarks, Dawkins who insists he bases everything he says on pure reason and empirical knowledge was exposed as ignorant and ill-informed. When O'Connor asked him why he regarded it as 'immoral' to knowingly bring a person with Down's into the world, Dawkins replied: 'Given the amount of suffering in the world probably does not go down probably goes up compared to having another child who does not have Down's Syndrome, that's what I meant.' Irish presenter Brendan O'Connor has a daughter with Down's Syndrome The presenter queried how Dawkins knew 'it increases the amount of suffering in the world'. Dawkins replied: 'I don't know for certain . . . it seems to me to be plausible that if a child has any kind of disability, you would probably increase the amount of happiness in the world more by having another child instead.' Asked by O'Connor what his evidence was for that, the professor lamely responded: 'I have no direct evidence, no.' And when the presenter with icy calmness telling Dawkins, 'I'm not having an emotional discussion with you here, I'm simply trying a logical discussion' asked the great empirical thinker if he actually knew anyone with Down's, he admitted he didn't. If Dawkins had bothered to do any research, he would have come across a peer-reviewed paper in the October 2011 issue of the American Journal of Medical Genetics, which surveyed 300 people with Down's aged 12 and over. It concluded: 'Nearly 99 per cent of people with DS indicated that they were happy with their lives, 97 per cent liked who they are and 96 per cent liked how they looked.' That's a weird kind of 'suffering'. Positive But, Dawkins might retort: what about the families of children with Down's? Here again, the American Journal of Medical Genetics has done the work. Five years ago, it published three surveys covering more than 2,000 families and concluded: 'All three had similar positive findings, with parents/guardians and siblings overwhelmingly expressing love and pride for their family member [with Down's].' This is certainly true of my family: our younger daughter Domenica has Down's Syndrome and, at the risk of sounding soppy, she is a whirlwind of joy. Tomorrow she celebrates her 26th birthday; her friends will come for a picnic at our house to join the family for that special occasion. Such moments and, indeed, lives defy the glib generalisations of Richard Dawkins. Although it has now been forgotten, the person who asked Dawkins for advice about Down's followed up with another question via Twitter: 'What about people on the autistic spectrum? Where would you draw the line?' Dawkins answered: 'People on that spectrum have a great deal to contribute, maybe even an enhanced ability in some respects. DS not enhanced.' This suggests that his real objection to the idea of voluntarily having a child with Down's is not so much a horror of 'suffering' but an unspoken disapproval of people with no 'societal utility' as if those with below average intelligence are incapable of 'contributing'. Lynn Murray, whose daughter Rachel has Down's said Dawkins' publishers should stand with people with Down's Syndrome and cut ties with the professor It is perhaps no coincidence that Richard Dawkins is a man whose most well-known works are a development of the insights of Charles Darwin. The great Victorian scientist had strong views about the risks of overbreeding among 'inferior' types. Sympathy These were turned into full-blown eugenicism by his cousin, Sir Francis Galton. That doctrine had terrible consequences in the 20th century, not just in Germany, where it led to the compulsory euthanasia of tens of thousands of children then termed 'handicapped', but even in supposedly civilised Sweden, where forced sterilisation was practised until 1975. I am not accusing Dawkins of any sympathy for such policies. But I still feel some anger at his opinion that to bring a person like my daughter into the world is 'immoral'. To be precise: I am angry about his ignorance rather than about any insensitivity, in asserting that people like my daughter are a net addition to the world's misery. But even if his remarks were to upset my daughter (who is, as you might expect, completely oblivious about this matter), I would still think it wrong for Penguin to stop publishing his books or indeed for any other publisher to, in effect, cancel his literary output. Whatever I may think of Dawkins's ill-considered, evidence-free, pseudo-moralising on Twitter about the rights and wrongs of the most intimate and difficult parental decisions, I also regard his earlier works of substance The Selfish Gene (1976) and The Blind Watchmaker (1986) as exhilaratingly brilliant works of popular science. Our younger daughter Domenica (left) has Down's Syndrome and, at the risk of sounding soppy, is a whirlwind of joy I am glad I read them, and would not wish others to be denied the chance to do so because of things Dawkins has said decades later, and on a matter about which he has no expertise or experience. Neither do I think he should be prevented from expressing those discreditable opinions (which, by the way, are commonplace, if not usually expressed so tactlessly). The way to deal with them is exactly as Brendan O'Connor did on his radio show: to subject them to rational discussion and debate. You won't win over those who might agree with Dawkins by cancelling his entire oeuvre. But I suspect that many, having heard him stumbling and floundering under O'Connor's questioning, will realise just how superficial and ill-considered his argument was; and it might well have changed their minds, too. We must keep arguing and stop cancelling. We have a deeply unfair, ill thought-out, two-tier holiday regime. No, not between green and amber-list destinations but between those who can afford to pay the crippling cost of unnecessary Covid tests and those who cant. This nonsensical and punitive system is turning global Britain into little Britain. We risk becoming a nation of stay-at-homes, while our neighbours in Europe turbo-charge their economies by encouraging travel. The Exchequer is even profiteering from this through its short-sighted and greedy policy of imposing VAT at 20 per cent on the already inflated cost of Covid tests. At Tui we have been subsidising the price of the polymerase chain reaction test or PCR, as well as the cheaper lateral flow tests. Purchased privately, a PCR test is likely to cost between 60 and 120. Every traveller returning from a green-list country is obliged to take one within two days of arrival or face a fine of up to 500. For a family of four, these tests potentially add 480 to the cost of a holiday. Pictured: A testing centre at Heathrow Airport in west London In addition, there are the lateral flow tests that holidaymakers need to take before boarding their flights to return home at an average price of about 15 each. I believe that is iniquitous. It imposes a financial burden on British families at a time when more than ever we all deserve a break. Thats why Tui are helping, offering to give holidaymakers in green-zone destinations all of their tests for 20 each, rising to 50 for amber-list travellers. But we cannot do this indefinitely. The industry has seen almost no customers for 14 months. Currently two weeks after foreign travel opened up following more than four months of lockdown we are operating out of four British airports, compared with the 22 we previously used. Were running fewer flights in a week than we scheduled in a single day before the pandemic. The international travel business is very far from getting back to normal. Other European countries are watching us with bewilderment. They cannot understand why the UK Government is hampering its own economy. Every one of those airports that we used until March last year is a hub for its region, generating huge amounts of business far beyond the core travel market. Pictured: Passengers queue at UK border control at Heathrow Airport in west London Until we get flying again, all that business will remain on hold. Its no exaggeration to say the livelihoods of millions of people depend to a substantial degree on international travel. Quick and easy lateral flow tests are getting the domestic economy going again. That and the incredible success of the vaccines will prove crucial for the home holiday market. We should be using these same tests for green-list countries. It is excessive to insist on PCR checks, the most rigorous type available, when a lateral flow test is more than sufficient when visiting venues in Britain. According to the latest data, considerably less than 1 per cent of incoming travellers from amber-list countries are testing positive for Covid. International travel is not a significant driver for infection rates. And the whole point of a traffic-light system for travel is that it enables us to identify the countries where infection rates are lower than Britains, or at worst, on a par with ours. The omissions from the green list are already baffling. The Balearic islands, such as Majorca and Minorca, have very few Covid cases and an excellent vaccination programme. All the evidence suggests that a holiday on these islands, which are crying out for tourists, would pose no increased risk whatever. Yet they are currently on the amber list. Meanwhile the Canaries, including Tenerife and Lanzarote, are also on the amber list, but the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is that its perfectly safe to travel there. By contrast, many European nations have supported foreign travel throughout the crisis. The rules in individual countries are changing all of the time, but the governments in Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain have all capped or subsidised the cost of testing. The Government claims it wants to move forward with an abundance of caution. If that is so, surely the first step is to radically reduce the cost of PCR tests. This can be done immediately, with the removal of VAT, and then with government subsidies until the price comes within everybodys reach. Did the Covid virus, which has already killed more than 3.5 million people and devastated the world's economy, escape from an internationally renowned laboratory in the Chinese city of Wuhan? For the best part of a year, the idea that it might have done so was treated with almost as much incredulity as the notion that the moon is made of cheese or that Stonehenge was built by aliens. Facebook even took down posts claiming the virus was man-made. The social media giant, which has cheerfully tolerated all manner of political mendacity over the years, drew the line at upsetting the Chinese government. As for the Western scientific community, it overwhelmingly rubbished the theory that Covid was man-made, and accepted Beijing's contention that it had somehow jumped from animals to humans. Crackpot A team of World Health Organisation (WHO) scientists, who were shepherded around Wuhan by over-protective Chinese officials at the beginning of the year, announced that a laboratory leak was 'extremely unlikely', and would not be investigated any further. How senior members of the Chinese Communist Party will have congratulated themselves! It must have seemed to them that a potentially highly embarrassing theory, which had never gained much traction in the West, was finally buried. But these old horrors had not taken into account the workings of democratic governments and institutions, or the existence of a free Press. To their dismay and anger they are discovering that they can't stop people in open societies from asking difficult questions. What was once regarded as a crackpot theory has become mainstream. In an interview last month, Dr Anthony Fauci, the widely respected director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, agreed that a lab escape was 'a possibility'. He said he would back a second investigation by the WHO. What was once regarded as a crackpot theory has become mainstream: That Covid-19 might have originated in a lab in Wuhan, China. Pictured: A worker inside the P4 laboratory in 2017 [File photo] Two weeks ago, 18 biologists, immunologists and other scientists criticised the WHO's findings in a letter to the journal Science, and called for a more thorough inquiry. Then, just over a week ago, the Wall Street Journal reported that three researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology became so sick in November 2019 that they sought hospital care, according to a confidential U.S. intelligence report. Beijing claims the first Covid case was on December 8, 2019. Following the newspaper's story, and a mounting chorus of concern, President Biden last week ordered U.S. intelligence agencies to report to him on the leak theory within 90 days. If Donald Trump had reopened the controversy about what he called the 'Chinese virus', he would have risked ridicule. Biden, by contrast, is regarded as sane and sound at any rate in the West, if not in China. Meanwhile MI6, which had previously opined that there was only a 'remote' chance that the virus came from the Wuhan laboratory, is said now to regard the theory as 'feasible'. Even Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, has conceded his organisation's report in March was not 'extensive enough', and says that all hypotheses about the origins of the virus 'remain on the table'. And Facebook that amoral colossus has changed its tune by allowing posts insinuating that the Covid virus, which has caused so much death and destruction to our world, might be man-made after all. There is, of course, no proof that it was. But the thesis is now being considered with a new robustness. No one or virtually no one suggests the Chinese deliberately leaked the virus. That would be a war crime on a scale of madness occupied by Hitler. The Chinese government would surely not precipitate a pandemic likely to cause untold human and economic suffering to its own people. MI6, which had previously opined that there was only a 'remote' chance that the virus came from the Wuhan laboratory (pictured), is said now to regard the theory as 'feasible' But might there have been an inadvertent escape of the virus? It is certainly not implausible. After a visit to the Wuhan laboratory in January 2018, American officials reported their concern that it lacked the technicians to operate the facility securely. They warned about the possible leak of a bat virus that could potentially cause a pandemic. Isn't it also noteworthy that, since the emergence of Covid, Chinese virologists have tested more than 80,000 animals on farms, in markets and in the wild in a so far abortive attempt to find the intermediary creature? The WHO investigative team, presided over as it was by interfering Chinese officials and comprising several members who seemed predisposed to favour China, was obviously wholly inadequate. There must be a proper inquiry. Yet it seems unlikely Beijing will allow one. It has reacted with hysterical intransigence to President Biden's ordering intelligence agencies to produce a report on the leak theory. Manipulation Last Thursday, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian a pretty rough customer who shoots from the hip repeated the WHO formula that it was 'extremely unlikely' the virus had come from a laboratory in Wuhan. Zhao said: '[The U.S.'s] one aim is to use the pandemic to pursue stigmatisation and political manipulation to shift the blame. They are being disrespectful to science, irresponsible to people's lives, and counterproductive to concerted global efforts to fight the virus.' A team of World Health Organisation (WHO) scientists, who were shepherded around Wuhan by over-protective Chinese officials at the beginning of the year, announced that a laboratory leak was 'extremely unlikely', and would not be investigated any further. Pictured: Chinese President Xi Jinping [File photo] What tripe. Beijing is evidently terrified of a rigorous inquiry. Why? If it has nothing to hide if, as its officials claim, the virus really did jump from an animal to humans why won't it allow independent experts to have full access to original data and samples? Innocent people don't normally resist investigation into their affairs. China's refusal to allow outsiders to conduct a sensible inquiry will only increase suspicions its repressive government is harbouring secrets of which it is ashamed. Yet the truth is that unless outsiders are given unfettered access, we will probably never know for sure whether the virus was transmitted by animals to humans, or whether it was accidentally leaked from the laboratory. Rogue Without this knowledge, a repeat of this dreadful pandemic is more probable in the foreseeable future. In other words, if scientists don't discover what caused this outbreak, we are less likely to be able to prevent another. By stubbornly refusing to open itself up to examination, the Chinese regime is therefore threatening the wellbeing of the rest of humanity. If it continues along this path, it will no longer be regarded as a country with whom the West can do business. It will be seen as a rogue state. It is inconceivable that a China which ignores Western interests by blocking a comprehensive and unbiased investigation could be allowed to make future investments in this country. Remember that the Chinese state nuclear company has a third share in the construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset, and hopes to play a major role in the construction of two reactors at a planned nuclear power station in Essex. The Chinese Communist Party has been allowed to embed itself in our most prestigious academic institutions. That will have to be reversed, in Britain as in the U.S., if Beijing insists on pulling down the shutters on the origins of Covid. Beijing fears the embarrassment of an honest study of what happened in Wuhan. The West must make it clear that, if China continues to bury the truth, she will end up paying an even greater price. For two years I was privileged to study on the island of Grenada. One of the most incredible experience I had on the island, was my time spent with the Christian Students Association - Church on Campus. Each semester they would have a multicultural praise night and it felt like a glimpse of what heaven would be like. For one night each semester the students would gather to celebrate their culture while praising God. I was in awe, when I watched The Koreans, the Africans, the Hispanics, the Caribbean group and the other groups from the States Country and Western and Modern, among others. Each group sang in their language and in their own style but the one thing they had in common was the word Hallelujah. No matter the song, or the language you could recognize the Hallelujah. In Revelation chapter 7 verses 9 to 10, it says, After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb. A picture of heaven This is what I picture heaven to be. People from different nations, and tribes and languages worshipping God, like I got to experience back in Grenada. I didnt need to understand everything that was being sung, but I felt the common spirit in that room, and it was a beautiful experience. This is an experience that I will always cherish and never forget because it really does make me yearn for heaven. Sometimes I wonder if its our view of heaven why people become so nonchalant about trying to get there. So often, we joke about being able to do the regular things like drinking and partying in heaven - and if thats the case I can see the lack of appeal for heaven. Why live holy now when all we are going to be doing is drinking and reveling for eternity? I get that, but I dont see heaven that way. Best believe though, if my robe has enough room, I will be chipping down the streets of gold as the gospel soca music is pumping. But aside from the music, I always imagine being among the Bible heroes and hearing the rest of their story that was not recorded in the Bible. Meeting Bible heroes I want to know the details of what happened as Abraham waited for his promise, or how David spent his days as a Shepherd, or what Jesus was like between ages 12-30. I want to hear the rest of Jabezs story, I want to know what Mary was like before the encounter with the angel, and I want to learn about the great mysteries of this universe. These are the things that get me excited about heaven. I also look forward to meeting with some of the great Christians of our lifetime and of course our loved ones who have passed on. It does sadden me though that not everyone will go to heaven, but we can make a decision to get on that path because Im sure it is going to be a ball! I wish everyone would end up in heaven and experience this awesome worship and rest that is promised to all who believe and are saved. Just picture a time when there is no need for tears, no need to fear, no exhaustion and the best worship experienced you have ever had, multiplied over and over again, with everyone you love just imagine. To me, this is what heaven is and I cant wait. To be a part of a multitude of people from every nation, and tribe and language, sharing a common hallelujah. There is no sincerer love than the love of food according to George Bernard Shaw, and we would have to agree. If the last year has taught us anything, it is to enjoy the little things and savour our midday walks, our hot bubble baths and our tasty treats in the evening time. Truly, there is nothing more enjoyable than sitting down at the end of the day with a great movie and a nice glass of wine - and, of course, some really delicious crisps! There is one new crisp brand emerging onto the market that is head and shoulders above many of the other additive-filled packets you see on shelves, and that is Dublin company Clintons. Created in 2018 by the Clinton brothers, these award-winning crisps are a premium, home-grown Irish product that have no artificial flavours or colours, but are packed full of flavour. Fully Irish crisps Growing potatoes is in the Clinton familys blood. They have been farming potatoes in Dublin for the last seven generations, sowing and growing the potatoes for Clintons Crisps on their farm in Skerries, near the Irish Sea coast. Serving Suggestion: Irish Nachos Ingredients: Clintons Cheese & Onion Crisps Sour cream Salsa Guacamole Black beans Grated cheese Method: This recipe involves replacing tortillas with Clintons Cheese & Onion flavour crisps. Simply layer the crisps in a shallow dish and cover in cheese. Add black beans and then grill until the cheese has melted. Pop some sour cream, salsa, guacamole and other dips on top. This is super quick to make and an ideal weekend treat for watching a movie or having friends around. Try it out and enjoy! In fact, these fully indigenous and traceable crisps are taken from the Clintons farm to their factory in just 35 minutes! Huge amounts of professional experience go into the making of these crisps. Sean Clinton worked in the crisp production industry for 25 years and he personally produces all the crisps, meaning Clintons can truly stand over both sides of the business. Furthermore, Clintons Crisps carry the Guaranteed Irish symbol, showing their commitment to Irish provenance and contribution to local jobs and communities. This means that not only are you buying local when you pick up a bag of Clintons, you are supporting local jobs too. The taste So, how are these hand-cooked, Irish farm-grown crisps made? From Farmhouse Cheddar & Red Onion, Classic Sea Salt & Vinegar and Flame Grilled, there is an art to making these delicious crisps so tasty. Slowly batch cooked in 100% rapeseed oil using specially chosen spud varieties, you get a crisp with a distinctive flavour that is crunchier, crispier and as natural as it can be. Vegan friendly, allergen-free, low in calories and no nasties, Clintons Crisps are the only complete range in Ireland that are both vegan friendly and free from all 14 allergens. Best of all? There are only 266 calories in a bag of 50g Clintons. Award-winning crisps Clintons Crisps can actually boast that they are award-winning, taking the Innovation Award at the Free From Food Awards in October, with the judges commending the brand for their twist on traditional flavours. Adored by Rosanna Davison, who has been raving about these tasty crisps on Instagram and how she even satisfied her pregnancy cravings with them! Clintons is about two brothers coming together, combining their extensive experience and passion for Irish food to create a great tasting Irish product and a future for the next generation of Clintons. If you like a crisp with a loud crunch, tasty flavour and no nasties, Clintons is the brand for you. Clintons are available in Supervalu and Tesco as well as other independent stores. Click here for your nearest stockist. You can also buy them online here and all products are currently on sale for 20 until June 2, 2021. A mother has warned of the potentially deadly danger of supermarket trolley tokens left in the hands of unsupervised children. In a post on the Instagram child health and safety page, Tiny Hearts Education, an unidentified Melbourne mum said her baby daughter Brianna was playing in the kitchen when she screamed and suddenly started to vomit bile. Unbeknownst to the mother, her little girl had swallowed an Aldi trolley token that had fallen off a keyring - a choking hazard similar to grapes that can easily block toddlers' airways due to its shape and size. An emergency room X-ray quickly revealed the cause of Brianna's distress and doctors performed a minor procedure to remove the token, leaving her good as new. An unidentified Melbourne mum said her baby daughter Brianna (pictured in hospital) was playing in the kitchen when she screamed and suddenly started to vomit bile An X-ray shows the supermarket trolley token lodged in baby Brianna's throat Paramedic Nikki (pictured) says mini chocolate eggs can be a choking hazard for kids 'As soon as I saw the X-ray, I knew it was the trolley token. I said, 'that will come out with the Ali symbol on it',' the mum recalled. 'I had told my eldest daughter to throw it away the day before as it had come off my keys and she was playing with it. I didn't realise she had put it in her play kitchen.' Nikki, the Queensland paramedic behind Tiny Hearts page, said the story reminded her that what she does is so important 'Choking prevention is so important. Be vigilant with our little people and choking hazards,' she wrote in the caption. Accidental threats to breathing, including choking and suffocation, accounted for 11 percent of deaths in children under eight years of age in 2020, research from Life Vac Australia shows. An average of 80 Australians die from choking each year. Nikki told Daily Mail Australia that anything that can fit through a toilet roll is a choking hazard. Most common choking hazards - Food such as grapes and chocolate mini eggs - Coins - Marbles - Batteries - Bottle tops - Lego - Balloons - Pen lids Advertisement Her warning, which has amassed 4,676 'likes' since it was uploaded online on May 27, has sparked passionate responses. 'Grapes are actually a fear of mine with the kids, they are five and I still cut them,' one mum replied. Another added: 'So lucky, this could have been a very different outcome. How scary for this poor mumma.' Others said they will be 'more mindful' of leaving trolley tokens lying around after reading the story. Doctors performed a minor procedure to remove the token from Brianna's windpipe, leaving her good as new 'Omg. I have one on my keys. Will be so mindful of this now! Thank you for sharing and I'm so happy this beautiful girl is okay.' Earlier this year, Nikki warned of the danger presented by miniature chocolate Easter eggs. The tight seal created by their smooth surface makes them tricky to shift, even with traditional first aid manoeuvres. Instead of buying chocolate mini eggs, Australian paramedic Nikki urged parents to stock up on larger, hollow eggs which can be broken up for kids to enjoy Nikki urged parents to instead buy larger, hollow eggs that can be broken up into flat pieces that are less dangerous for littles ones. 'Up to 85 percent of choking deaths are caused by food and with Easter around the corner I want this to be at the forefront of your mind,' Nikki wrote in the caption. 'Choking is silent, it happens quickly and knowing exactly what to do in a choking emergency is the difference between a scare and a life-changing moment.' A Woolworths customer has revealed the reason why an $8 packet of boneless chicken kievs was marked down to only $1.26. Mum-of-two Louise noticed the unbelievable discount on store shelves and upon a closer inspection saw the packet had been labelled incorrectly. The 'Quick Sale' sticker shows the bargain was meant for fresh unsmoked deli leg ham rather than the pre-packaged crumbed chicken kievs. 'Dinner tonight. Got to love a bargain. Marked as leg ham,' she wrote and shared an image to the Markdown Addicts Australia Facebook group. Mum-of-two Louise noticed the unbelievable discount on store shelves and upon a closer inspection saw the packet had been labelled incorrectly Louise was thrilled with the $6.74 saving of the 700g packet of poultry and encouraged others to keep a lookout for similar bargains when grocery shopping. After sharing the image on social media, others dubbed the buy as a 'good score' and 'bargain'. 'I paid $4 and was excited about that,' another added. Earlier this month another mum managed to score a lamb roast for a mere 83c from Aldi for a similar reason. Customer Monique was excited to pick up the half leg of Killarnee lamb for dinner and said it had been weighed incorrectly Earlier this month another mum managed to score a lamb roast for a mere 83c from Aldi for a similar reason. Customer Monique was excited to pick up the half leg of Killarnee lamb for dinner and said it had been weighed incorrectly. The Australian meat usually costs $11.99 per kilo but had been weighed at only 68g and had a 'use by' date of June 3. 'I was soo excited about my bargain find today I knew you mums would appreciate it,' she wrote and shared an image to the Aldi Mums Facebook group. Monique said she asked the checkout employee whether to price was correct and was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. 'This is my first ever find I even asked the guy at the checkout. I was like 'so this is marked 83c does that mean I get it for 83c?'' she said. 'He went and spoke to the manager and they were like 'Yeah we can't charge you any more for it'.' She added how she can't wait for her husband to slow cook the lamb for dinner. Australian van owners have named the country's best hidden camping spots for winter - including a beachside site of shifting sand dunes and an Outback station where you wake up surrounded by cows, horses and sheep. Travel giant Camplify asked its community of seasoned travellers to share their secrets as road trips that veer off the beaten path pique the interest of holiday-starved Australians after more than 14 months of international border closures. Standouts include a pine forest that offers bird-watching unmatched across the state, a coastal spot where you can swim with whale sharks and a campground that boasts some of the best snorkelling in Australia. A couple share a shower at WA'S Outback Bullara Station, named one of Australia's best hidden camping spots by van owners A couple take in the view at Wunglebung Campground, which sits close to the border between New South Wales and Queensland Travellers relax in hammocks at Booti Booti National Park in NSW For wildlife lovers One of the most highly regarded winter camping sites among frequent travellers is Bullara Station, deep in the heart of Ningaloo Reef between Exmouth and Coral Bay. Overnight visitors to the authentic Outback station will wake up to farm animals roaming the campground before heading off to the nearby coast to dive into some of Western Australia's most spectacular swimming spots. Closer to Exmouth, Cape Range National Park is similarly regarded for road-trippers in search of memorable wildlife encounters. Visitors can swim and snorkel with whale sharks in the crystal clear waters of Turquoise Bay, which captures panoramic views of the surrounding landscape that's home to exotic native animals including emus, dingo and eagles. Road trips that veer off the beaten path are piquing the interest of holiday-starved Australians after more than 14 months of international border closures Travellers overnighting at Bullara Station (pictured) will wake up to farm animals roaming the campground The Park comes alive during winter when the weather is warm, but not oppressively so. A long trek south-east, another top choice for wildlife lovers is Mount Crawford Forest, one hour's drive northwest of Adelaide. The pine tree forest home to three separate campgrounds, Chookarloo, Chalk's and Rocky Paddock, offers hiking trails and bird-watching experiences said to be the best in the state. Across the country in New South Wales, van owners recommend staying at the Bossberries in North Dorrigo, a campground positioned beside a creek home to dozens of platypus. A woman glides through the Big Drift, an otherworldly inland sand dune system that looks like the surface of a far-off planet near Wilson's Promontory on the Victorian coast Mount Crawford Forest (left) offers hiking and bird-watching unmatched across the state, while the Bossberries in NSW (right) is built beside a creek home to dozens of platypus A camper sits on top of her van at Mount Crawford Forest in South Australia For adventure seekers A popular choice for thrill-seekers and stargazers is Wunglebung Campground 20km south of the New South Wales-Queensland border. This dog-friendly camp site, which offers kayaking, mountain biking and bushwalking during the day and breathtaking views of the sky by night, is by appointment only. Campsites are limited to the banks of the Timbarra River to keep the area clean, private and unspoiled by too many tourists at once. Those who prefer water to land-based activities should head to Booti Booti National Park in Forster, NSW, which boasts a rugged campground that backs onto a beach famed for its year-round surf. A traveller poses for a photo on Blueys Beach in Booti Booti National Park, NSW Beachside campground Stockyards at Wilson's Promontory, VIC (pictured) boasts some of the best snorkelling in Australia Booti Booti National Park in Forster, NSW (pictured), boasts a rugged campground that backs onto a beach famed for its year-round surf Further north, Queensland's Rollingstone Beachfront Resort offers a similar vibe, according to van owners, who recommend it for anyone interested in water sports, fishing and mountain biking. Hundreds of kilometres south is Stockyards, a beachside campground on the coast of Victoria that offers some of the finest snorkelling in Australia. Perfect for escaping the hustle and bustle of Melbourne, the site close to Wilson's Promontory boasts breathtaking scenery including the Big Drift, an otherworldly inland sand dune system that looks like the surface of a far-off planet. A thrifty bride has saved hundreds of dollars by using 75-cent candles from Kmart to create her own wedding favours for her guests. Tayla, from Perth, Western Australia, said a business quoted her more than $400 after she inquired about getting 80 custom made candles for her wedding guests. 'So I thought... why not see if I can DIY instead?' she wrote in a Facebook group. A thrifty bride has saved hundreds of dollars by using 75-cent candles from Kmart to create her own wedding favours for her guests To decorate the glass jars, she purchased four packs of 25 gold metallic stickers for $3 each and a set of two gold pens for just $3. She spent about one hour handwriting the couple's names and stuck the stickers over the top of the existing labels How much did she spend? 80 X mini glass jar candles: $60/75 cents each + $10 delivery Gold metallic stickers: $3 for a pack of 25. She purchased four packs for $12 Gold metallic pen: $3 for a set of 2 Total: $85, saved $315 Advertisement She purchased a mix of 80 salted caramel and lime and coconut scented candles, which cost her just $60. To decorate the glass jars, she purchased four packs of 25 gold metallic stickers for $3 each and a set of two gold pens for just $3. Her DIY budget creation cost her just $85 altogether, which also included the $10 delivery fee after she purchased the candles from Kmart's online store. She spent about one hour handwriting the couple's names and stuck the stickers over the top of the existing labels. Her post has since been liked more than 3,100 times, with hundreds of people praising her for her 'brilliant' idea. 'Great job, they look amazing! And what a great price, awesome,' one wrote, while another added: 'I love this. You've done an amazing job. They look so beautiful. Thank you for this awesome idea.' Earlier this year, another bride also used 75 cent candles from Kmart to create personalised gifts as wedding favours for her guests The idea is an excellent solution for those who are wanting to avoid spending too much money when planning special events Earlier this year, another bride also used 75 cent candles from Kmart to create personalised gifts as wedding favours for her guests. She purchased a box of salted caramel scented candles and stuck personalised 'thank you' stickers on the side, in which she made on printing website VistaPrint. To remove the original sticker from the glass jar, she sprayed the De-Solv-It multipurpose cleaner onto a cotton pad then wiped away the label. While this proved to be a time-consuming process, she was more than happy with the end result. Beauty superstore Mecca has revealed five of its best-selling beauty products, including a firming body cream that smells like a tropical holiday and a mascara that sells every seven seconds around the world. The beauty giant sells millions of products every single year, but there are some that Aussie men and women return to again and again. The products range from an affordable $39 all the way up to $204 for a luxury night serum that promises to rejuvenate your skin. Beauty superstore Mecca has revealed five of its best-selling beauty products, including a firming body cream that smells like a tropical holiday (Bum Bum Cream pictured) The first popular product is Nars's bronzing powder ($58), which isn't just popular in Australia, but is also a beauty bestseller around the world (pictured in use left and right) 1. Nars Bronzing Powder, $58 The first popular product is Nars's bronzing powder ($58), which isn't just popular in Australia, but is also a beauty bestseller around the world. One of the main reasons for this is because the formula is so finely milled that 'the finish is always seamless' (the bronzer pictured) According to Mecca, one of the main reasons for this is because the formula is so finely milled that 'the finish is always seamless'. The bronzer has been designed to suit both cool and warm-toned skin, while it also adds a little bit of gold shimmer to make it look like you've just come back from a holiday. To use, Nars recommend that you sweep the bronzer over the face from the temple, across the cheek and along the jawline. Take whats left on the brush and blend into the neck and decollete. The bronzer has an impressive 4.9 star rating online, where thousands have described it as 'beautiful', 'lovely' and a 'must-have product'. 'I have quite fair skin and this bronzer is the perfect shade for me with a light dusting over my face,' one reviewer posted. 'It's buildable so would suit many skin shades. This is my third purchase of this bronzer. No other bronzer has compared. Five stars!' The second product on Mecca's list is the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream ($68), which is designed to firm and smooth your entire body (the cream pictured) 2. Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, $68 The second product on Mecca's list is the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream ($68), which is designed to firm and smooth your entire body. Loaded with caffeine and antioxidants, the cream will nourish, firm and impart a natural glow to the skin. Key ingredients including guarana, capuacu butter and coconut oil help to condition and nourish the skin, while stimulating circulation, boosting energy and locking in moisture. Thousands who have tried it have voted it the 'Best for Body' in the Mecca Beauty Election 2020. 'The best moisturiser I have ever used! Also smells so amazing,' one revewier posted. 'I bought this two weeks ago after smelling it on a colleague. It smells absolutely divine and I've worn it everyday since. It literally smells like an island holiday,' another added. Thousands of beauty lovers have crowned Too Faced's best-selling 'Better Than Sex' mascara as the top mascara for 2020 in the Mecca Beauty Election (pictured) 3. Too Faced Better than Sex Mascara, $39 Thousands of beauty lovers have crowned Too Faced's best-selling 'Better Than Sex' mascara the top mascara for 2020 in the Mecca Beauty Election. The $39 product beat out stiff competition from the likes of popular brands like Hourglass, Nars and Kevyn Aucoin to take home the coveted title of best in the country. The popular product claims to 'do it all' to give you 'thicker, longer and more dramatic lashes'. And thousands of women agree, sharing more than 10,000 pictures on Instagram of how it has transformed their eyelashes from short and straight to long and perfectly curled. Too Faced's 'Better Than Sex' is one of the most popular mascaras in the world, selling a tube roughly every seven seconds globally. One of the reasons why it is so popular is because it boasts an hourglass-shaped brush that separates, coats and curls each lash to perfection. Others like the fact that you can slowly build with the intense black pigmented wand, and it also contains peptides, which are known to condition and strengthen the lashes while lengthening. The most expensive product on the Mecca list is Drunk Elephant's Glycolic Night Serum ($204), which claims to be a 'hardworking, vegan, re-surfacing serum' (pictured) 4. Drunk Elephant Glycolic Night Serum, $204 The most expensive product on the Mecca list is Drunk Elephant's Glycolic Night Serum ($204), which claims to be a 'hardworking, vegan, re-surfacing serum' that works to reveal a smooth, radiant complexion. A combination of glycolic, tartaric, lactic and citric acid work to exfoliate away the dead skin cells and leave your skin looking radiant and renewed. At night, apply one pump to clean, dry skin, avoiding the eye area. Follow with a moisturiser or oil. Apply sunscreen daily while using this product. The serum has a 4.7 star rating, and has been said to be a 'transformer' for your skin and 'super glowy'. 'I have been purchasing this product for about four to five years and nothing compares for evening my skin tone, hydration and tightening pores I definitely can notice a difference if I run out!' one shopper posted. A combination of glycolic, tartaric, lactic and citric acid work to exfoliate away the dead skin cells and leave your skin looking radiant and renewed (Drunk Elephant products pictured) 5. Diptyque Do Son Eau de Toilette, $202 Finally, the Diptyque Do Son Eau de Toilette, $202, is the top-selling perfume of the moment. 'Blending a fresh sea breeze with heady tuberose to transport you to the Vietnamese seaside, this jasmine and orange blossom-spiked scent is a guaranteed compliment starter,' Mecca explained. To use it, simply spritz it onto your pulse points as desired. Real estate agents have the revealed the most bizarre things they have seen while showing off other people's homes, including a horse living in a town house and neighbours with identical locks on their doors. The realtors recently spoke to the Adelaide Advertiser to spill the tea on the incidents which are likely to stay with them forever. Many appeared pleased to announce they had walked in on people in the nude while another confessed to a whole different breach of privacy. Real estate agents have the revealed the most bizarre things they have seen while showing off other people's homes, including a horse living in a town house (stock image) One realtor arrived to show would-be-renters through a home only to find the key didn't fit the front door. He used the backdoor instead, which his set of keys opened and waited for his appointment. 'I looked out and saw about four or five groups outside the vacant property where I should have been. The back door key fitted both properties, Good job nobody was home and nobody came home,' he said. What weird things did the realtors reveal? 1 - A horse living in a town house 2 - A squatter sleeping on the couch of a vacant property 3 - Neighbouring homes with the same locks on the back door (the realtor opened the wrong one to show people through) 4 - Naked home owners and tenants 5 - Faked crime scenes including prank dead bodies 6 - A meth lab 7 - A sex dungeon complete with a 12-person shower Advertisement While some other realtors appeared to have 'horror loving' tenants keen on stirring them up in the name of good fun. 'The bathroom had a floor mat with fake blood footprints, the shower curtain had fake blood splatters imprinted on it. The bedroom walls had removable decals that were also fake blood splatters,' one realtor said. Adding they had intended to scare the property manager but underestimated the true horror of what realtors come up against. Another horror fiend managed to 'creep out' his realtors for the first few years, going so far as to have a brain and a fake dead body in the bathroom. But they soon got used to his annual Halloween joke. Another realtor revealed he went to a small town house only to find a 'fully grown horse' living in the small court yard. He admitted the home was in otherwise immaculate condition. Another realtor said he found a man sleeping on the couch of one supposedly-vacated property and only clued on that he was a squatter once he was gone. Others use fake blood in a bid to make their realtors feel uneasy (stock image) Other realtors have found drugs in the homes they were due to sell. 'I got the keys to the house toured it before I was going to sell it later that day and found a meth lab in the basement,' one man said on Reddit. Another explained he showed a potential buyer through a swinger's house. The home was neat and tidy, perfect according to the agent. He was shocked to find the lower level had large bolts on the door and then realised why. 'At this point we were joking that it was a 'sex dungeon.' Then we walk into the 12 person shower, hot tub, and black light switch lit room where they stored all the sex toys, swings, and paraphernalia. The privacy fence and dead bolted door suddenly made sense.' Krispy Kreme Australia is set to give away 100,000 free doughnuts for one day only. Diners can head into a Krispy Kreme store on Friday, June 4 to claim a free doughnut in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia to celebrate National Doughnut Day - and there's no catch. Given the current lockdown restrictions in Melbourne, there will be a delay in Victoria to ensure Krispy Kreme is adhering to the state's government advice. Krispy Kreme Australia is set to give away 100,000 free doughnuts for one day only Which stores are giving away free doughnuts? NEW SOUTH WALES: Auburn, Central Lee (Sydney CBD), Chatswood, Liverpool, Mascot, Parramatta (Level 1), Parramatta (Level 5), Penrith, Mt Druitt, Sydney Domestic T3, Sydney Domestic T2 QUEENSLAND: Redbank Plains, Shell Nudgee, Pacific Fair, Albert St (Brisbane CBD), Acacia Ridge, Surfers Paradise, Brisbane Jetstar (Domestic Terminal) WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Myaree, Whitford City, Cannington and Hay St Advertisement In preparation for the big day, the doughnut chain will be glazing 2,000 Original Glazed doughnuts per hour on its production line - that's 33 doughnuts a minute. 'National Doughnut Day is our absolute favourite day of the year - we love sharing the joy of our famous Original Glazed doughnuts and relish the chance to put a smile on our customers' faces,' Nicola Steele, retail director at Krispy Kreme Australia, said. Fans have long been mesmerised by the glaze waterfall in stores, which luxuriously coats doughnuts with a secret glaze recipe that dates all the way back to the 1930s. Diners can head into a Krispy Kreme store on Friday, June 4 to claim a free doughnut For those living in Victoria, the chain will monitor the situation closely and seek to keep staff and customers as safe as possible until the authorities advise a change in restrictions. Social distancing will apply in-store as per state government regulations and store drive-thrus will be open for a contactless experience. In light of Covid-19, Krispy Kreme is taking extra precautions with hygiene and social distancing to protect employees and customers in a safe and clean environment. Advertisement Princess Diana's hedge fund analyst godson Prince Philippos of Greece has celebrated his second wedding with Nina Flohr after they originally married in a tiny private ceremony in the glitzy ski resort of St Moritz in December. The New York City-based hedge fund analyst secretly married creative director for airline VistaJet Nina Nastassja Flohr, in a civil ceremony in Switzerland last year, with just their fathers King Constantine, 80, and Thomas Flohr, 60, present due to Covid-19 restrictions. The couple's second low-key wedding was hosted by Vogue writer Alice Naylor- Leyland and her husband Tom at their home of Stibbington House in Cambridge, with the pair decorating their home with white balloons and blue flowers for the occasion. Under current Covid rules there is a limit of 30 guests at weddings - although the cap is expected to be lifted on June 21st - 'freedom day' - when most restrictions are set to be lifted. Philippos is the youngest son of King Constantine (the godfather of Prince William) and Queen Anne-Marie, who have retained still use their royal titles despite the abolition of the Greek monarchy in 1973. Princess Diana 's hedge fund analyst godson Prince Philippos of Greece has celebrated his second wedding with his long term girlfriend Nina Flohr after they originally married in a tiny private ceremony in the glitzy ski resort of St Moritz in December The couple's second low-key wedding was hosted by Vogue writer Alice Naylor Leyland and her husband Tom at their home of Stibbington House in Cambridge, with the pair decorating their home with white balloons and blue flowers for the occasion The New York City-based hedge fund analyst secretly married his long-term girlfriend, creative director for airline VistaJet Nina Nastassja Flohr, in a civil ceremony in Switzerland last year, with just their fathers King Constantine, 80, and Thomas Flohr, 60, present due to Covid-19 restrictions In photographs shared by Nina after the event, she posted: 'Dearest Alice, you have made us smile more than you can ever imagine!' In the snaps, a candle-lit dining room table could be seen, decorated with huge white and blue peonies, monogrammed napkins and images from the couple's first wedding in December. Nina captioned an image of the table: 'Thank you for making us feel so special. The love, the happy tears, the speeches and 18 years of friendship!' Another image showed Phillopos and Nina cutting into a three-tiered blue wedding cake, with the bride posting: 'Our wedding cake! We didn't actually have one at our civil ceremony so this was very special.' In snaps shared on Instagram over the weekend, the couple could be seen cutting into a three tiered wedding cake Vogue writer Alice decorated the dining room of her home Stibbington House with white balloons and photographs of the couple's first wedding for the occasion The bride shared a gushing tribute to her hosts Alice Naylor-Leyland and her husband Tom for hosting the wedding and said there had been 'speeches and happy tears' during the event Guests included Alice, who was named as one of Tatler's 'society swans' of 2018, who wore a bright pink floral gown for the event Others invited to the black tie event were magazine editor Violet Henderson and Princess Eugenie's friend Caroline Rupert (pictured right, Nina, Caroline, Alice and Violet, and left, the happy couple). The bride opted to wear an ivory satin dress for the occasion, while the groom donned a crisp black tie suit. Guests included Alice, who was named as one of Tatler's 'society swans' of 2018, and her husband Tom, who is heir to one of Britain's land-owning dynasties. His family has historic land and property across the country. He is the son of Baronet Sir Philip Naylor-Leyland and the grandson of the late Lord Lambton and owns the 17th-century Talbot hotel in Malton, North Yorkshire near their rented farmhouse home. Others invited to the event were magazine editor Violet Henderson and Princess Eugenie's friend Caroline Rupert. Other snaps from the weekend revealed the wedding party enjoyed an outdoor picnic in the sunshine (left and right) Other images from the weekend showed a group of guests enjoying a picnic in the grounds of the country house, with Nina snuggling up with Alice's daughter, and her goddaughter, Nancy. Who are the Greek royal family? Philippo's father Constantine II was king of Greece until he was ousted from power in a military coup in 1967. Greece descended into civil war after it was liberated from the Nazis in 1944, and the conflict finally came to a head 23 years in 1967. Constantine had come to the throne aged 24 three years previously following the death of his father King Paul but was forced to flee when a junta of army generals overthrew the ruling monarchy and took control of the country. The military dictatorship continued until 1974 when it was overthrown. Constantine had hoped to return to the throne but instead the country became a republic. A law was passed in 1994 stripped Constantine of his Greek citizenship, passport, and property. His wife Anne-Marie is the sister is Queen Margrethe of Denmark. Constantine, the first cousin of the Duke of Edinburgh, and his wife Anne-Marie of Denmark fled Athens for Britain and set up home in north London, buying a 13-bedroom stately house on the edge of Hampstead Heath. There they raised their five children Alexia, Pavlos, Nikolaos, Theodora and Philippos, and would often host visits from Princess Diana and the young prince Harry and William in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Advertisement In December, the couple shared three photographs from their first, low-key wedding, where they could be seen beaming at one another as they exchanged vows in front of their fathers. For the civil service, the bride donned a smart crisp white two piece suit, which featured a scalloped hem and pretty sequin detailing. Nina swept her hair into a half-up do, clipping her locks into place with a large white bow. Meanwhile Prince Philippos opted to wear a navy suit with a baby blue tie for the occasion. The prince's engagement was announced in September 2020 by his parents, who released the following statement: 'Their Majesties King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie are delighted to announce the engagement of their youngest son HRH Prince Philippos to Nina Nastassja Flohr, daughter of Thomas Flohr and Katharina Flohr. 'Nina and Philippos were engaged on the island of Ithaca in Greece earlier this summer. The details of their wedding will be announced in due course.' It was thought his guest list could be filled with royals, with the prince being the godson of both Prince Philip and the late Diana, Princess of Wales. The Greek household also has close ties to the Danish and Spanish royal families. Two photographs of Nina and Philippos were shared to mark their engagement, showing the happy couple posing together on a rock overlooking the sea in Ithaca. A dazzling gem stone ring can be seen on Nina's left hand in the snaps, taken by King Constantine's second son Prince Nikolaos. Nina, who was a guest at Princess Eugenies wedding to Jack Brooksbank in October 2018 alongside Philippos, shared the touching pictures to her personal Instagram account. She added the caption: 'My dearest Philippos. I love you today, I will love you tomorrow and forever. You make us happier, better and stronger. I cannot wait to spend the rest of our lives together.' Prince Philippos has four siblings - Princess Alexia, 55, Crown Prince Pavlos, 53, Prince Nikolaos, 50, and Princess Theodora, 37. Theodora was forced to postpone her wedding to her American fiance Matthew Kumar in May due to the coronavirus pandemic. Philippos, who was born at St Mary's Hospital in London in 1986, was raised in a 13-bedroom stately house on the edge of Hampstead Heath where Princess Diana was a frequent visitor with Prince William and Prince Harry. He's known to be private and largely shuns the limelight, but he's made appearances at numerous high profile events such as the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden in 2010 and her sister Princess Madeleine in 2013. The Georgetown University graduate now works as a hedge fund analyst in New York, while his future wife founded the nonprofit marine research facility, the Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies (BCSS), in 2017. She is the daughter of Swiss businessman Thomas Flohr, who founded private jet charter company VistaJet, where she also works as a creative director. The couple were first married in a private ceremony in December, and were joined only by their fathers King Constantine, 80, and Thomas Flohr, 60, due to Covid-19 restrictions Nina wore a large white bow in her hair and opted to wear a smart two piece suit for the couple's first wedding Royals attend the christening of Prince Philippos of Greece in London on July 10 1986. King Constantine and Queen Anne Marie of Greece with their daughter Theodora and Philippos (pictured centre). Prince Diana is seen in the white blazer and blue hat, while Prince Philip is centre right, standing next to the newborn Prince Philippos announced his engagement to his long-term girlfriend, creative director for airline VistaJet Nina, in September (pictured) King Constantine and his son the Crown Prince Pavlos have no official remit, but are still active participants in royal life around Europe. The family is closely connected with the British royals as King Constantine is second cousins with Prince Charles and Prince William's godfather. Queen Anne-Marie's sister is Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. King Constantine is the older brother of Queen Sofia of Spain, who is Philippos' aunt, while King Felipe of Spain is his cousin. Nina and Philippos were guests at Princess Eugenies wedding to Jack Brooksbank in October 2018 (pictured) Call the Midwife fans have praised the BBC One show for a story line featuring a baby with Down's syndrome in the series 10 finale. Viewers were move to tears by Sunday night's episode after Blanche Dellow, played by Madeleine Worrall, prepared to give her daughter to her baby to her younger sister Sylvia, played Charlotte Hamblin, to put up for adoption. But after the baby is born with Down's Syndrome, Sylvia rejects the newborn - but biological mother Blanche falls in love with the baby and names him Robert. 'I love him, I just love him, just like I would any of you,' she says as she holds her new son. Call the Midwife fans have praised the BBC One show for a story line featuring a baby with Down's syndrome in the series 10 finale. Viewers were move to tears by Sunday night's episode after Blanche Dellow, played by Madeleine Worrall, (pictured) prepared to give her daughter to her baby to her younger sister Sylvia, played Charlotte Hamblin, to put up for adoption. After the baby is born with Down's Syndrome, Sylvia rejects the newborn - but biological mother Blanche falls in love with the baby and names him Robert (pictured) 'He'll be slower to walk and talk than the average child, but he will walk and he will talk, children with Down's Sydrome have be so rewarding to care for,' the doctor explains. 'I want him, I just never knew how much, I love him, I just love him,' Blanche adds. Blanche and her husband Walter, played by Michael Begley, decide to raise Robert, which had viewers 'sobbing' and praising the sympathetic portrayal. One fan praised the show, writing: 'Amazing as always. Well done Call The Midwife 'My only complaint is you need to make more episodes its over far too quickly for me.'. Another said: 'The usual floods of tearsand applausefor Call The Midwife. Last nights Down's Syndrome story line was particularly powerful. Call the Midwife fans praise show for heartfelt handling of Down's syndrome plot, pictured is Sylvia, played Charlotte Hamblin, who rejected the baby Blanche and her husband Walter, played by Michael Begley, decide to raise Robert, which had viewers 'sobbing' and praising the sympathetic portrayal. Pictured in hospital with doctors 'Really amazing episode of Call The Midwife this evening, breaking the stigma of Downs Syndrome,' wrote another. A third added: Thank you to Call the Midwife for your sensitive portrayal of the birth of baby Robert who has Down's Syndrome. 'Loved the conversation between the two blokes talking about bringing up a child with Down's Syndrome. 'This is great TV - we need more like this,' wrote a fourth. In April, the BBC confirmed Call The Midwife will return for three more series, Filming for the next series will begin soon and is slated to air next year, as insiders report that the coming series will cover the years 1967-1969. Last night episode is pictured Fans were quick to praise the show, calling it 'sensitive' and 'powerful' In April, the BBC confirmed Call The Midwife will return for three more series, Filming for the next series will begin soon and is slated to air next year, as insiders report that the coming series will cover the years 1967-1969. The show is set in the 1950s and 1960s in London's East End - and focuses on a group of midwives in a nursing convent. Call The Midwife regularly attracts more than 10million viewers making it one of the most successful shows on British TV. But it has only ever won one Bafta award, the Radio Times Audience Award in 2013, which was voted for by members of the public. It has not received a single nomination since that year in any category, with the Best Drama award often going to thrillers such as Peaky Blinders or Broadchurch. The show was written and created by Heidi Thomas based on the memoirs of a nurse. Kate Middleton showcased her off-duty style by donning a pair of 65 &OtherStories jeans and a simple white 24 top from H&M for her Covid-19 vaccination. The Duchess of Cambridge, 39, received her first dose of Covid vaccine at London's Science Museum last week and thanked 'everyone who is playing a part in the rollout'. A photograph of the mother-of-three being given the jab was shared over the weekend, with the royal opting for a relaxed outfit for the occasion. Kate showed off her love of the high street during the outing, and paired her lightwash jeans with a ribbed H&M top, first worn by the Duchess in 2016. Kate Middleton, 39, has showcased her off-duty style by donning a pair of 65 &OtherStories jeans and a simple white 24 top from H&M for her Covid-19 vaccination The Duchess wore her hair down for the occasion, sweeping it across her right shoulder to allow the medic to give her the jab into her left arm. Meanwhile she also opted to wear a blue medical mask for the appointment. The Duchess first wore the simple white H&M Off-The-Shoulder Top in September 2016 during a visit to Cornwall alongside Prince William. At the time, she kept the piece smart by pairing it with statement trousers and a simple blue blazer. The Duchess first wore the simple white H&M Off-The-Shoulder Top in September 2016 during a visit to Cornwall alongside Prince William Later that year she stepped out in the top again, opting to wear the simple tee with a white blazer and black jeans during a visit to Canada in October. Meanwhile the light-wash jeans appear to be a new addition to the royal's wardrobe, and are described online as 'a pair of classics'. It's far from the first time the royal, who is known for her love of the highstreet, has worn popular British brand &OtherStories. Earlier this month, the Duchess opted for a pair of gold hoop earrings from the brand for her visit to the V&A museum. Kate showed off her love of the high street during the outing, pairing her lightwash jeans with a ribbed H&M top, first worn in 2016 Meanwhile the light-wash jeans appear to be a new addition to the royal's wardrobe, and are described online as 'a pair of classics' Meanwhile Kate previously sparked another sell-out frenzy after wearing a 79 floral frock from the label to unveil the woodland playground at the Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show to her children in 2019. In the post shared on Saturday, the 39-year-old said she was 'hugely grateful' to those dishing out the vaccine in a post on the official Kensington Palace Twitter account. It came just ten days after her husband Prince William had his first shot from NHS medical staff at the same location. The 38-year-old posted a picture of himself wearing a mask with his sleeve rolled up and a needle in his arm as he received the jab near where he lives with Kate and their three children. Meanwhile Kate previously sparked another sell-out frenzy after wearing a 79 floral frock from &OtherStories to unveil the woodland playground at the Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show to her children in 2019 London's Science Museum is offering both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca jab, NHS England confirmed - both of which Kate and William are entitled to as they are under 40. Kensington Palace has not officially revealed which vaccine was given to the royal couple. Kate said: 'Yesterday I received my first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at London's Science Museum. I'm hugely grateful to everyone who is playing a part in the rollout - thank you for everything you are doing.' Responding to the Kensington Palace tweet, Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who was also jabbed at the Science Museum, said: 'In the last fortnight more than half of all people in their 30s have been vaccinated. 'Delighted HRH The Duchess of Cambridge was able to get her jab at the Science Museum.' Prince William said on May 20 he had his vaccine shot on May 18 and followed his father Prince Charles and grandmother the Queen in revealing he had been jabbed. Beverley Turner criticised PM Boris Johnson's wedding to Carrie Symonds on This Morning, The TV personality was on the show's This Morning Views segment with Matthew Wright where she discussed the weekend's news with hosts Alison Hamond and Dermot O'Leary. She said the Prime Minister, who tied the knot with his girlfriend in a secret ceremony over the weekend was 'crass' and 'insensitive.' She asked whether the first couple were 'trolling' the public by having a wedding ceremony when many couples were waiting for the end of June to have their own nuptials. The wedding ceremony, held in Britain's largest Catholic church Westminster Cathedral, was conducted by Father Daniel Humphreys, the acting head of the cathedral, who also baptised their son Wilfred there last autumn. Since May 17, weddings can take place in Covid-secure locations with up to 30 guests attending. June 21 was initially touted as the date when all restrictions would be lifted, but this hangs in the balance due to the Indian variant. She was blasted by viewers, who branded her comments 'vile.' The Prime Minister tied the knot with his girlfriend Carrie Symonds, both pictured, over the weekend Viewers branded Bev 'tacky' and 'unprofessional' for putting the PM and his wife on blast and commenting on their sex life 'I couldn't care less. I did think "is he actually trolling us?,' Beverly claimed. 'There are so many brides-to-be who wanted to get married in the last 12 months who had to postpone their nuptials. 'There are people who want to get married on say 22 June - they're not going to know until June 14 if their wedding can go ahead. Terrible timing, insensitive, crass, just awful.' Matthew Wright, who was on This Morning Views with Bev, tempered his response. 'I have to say, I wish them well. Anybody who's in love that ties the knot: they're proud parents to Wilfred, I wish them well,' he said. TV personality Beverley Turner, pictured, said she felt the Prime Minister's secret wedding over the weekend was 'crass' and 'insensitive' 'But there are the sensitivities that Bev just alluded to, and there's also the politics of it,' he added. 'I think today is the day hundred of thousands of people are going hear they won't get any more support for their rent, their property. 'He's a jobbing politician, he's not a royal,' Matthew said, adding it was a shame the wedding was getting more coverage than political issues affecting thousands of people around the country. 'One might say it's not accidental because all the front pages are all full of Carrie and her slightly oversized flower crown today,' Bev said. 'Every time I see them, I think "She has to have sex with Boris Johnson" on a very trivial level, that turns my stomach on a more basic level.' Bev, pictured centre, said she felt the timing of Boris Johnson's wedding was 'awful' and admitted she was present at this Saturday's so-called Freedom March Viewers said Bev was a 'vile' person for her comments on Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds' sex life 'I just think the timing is just appalling.' When Alison asked Bev whether she thought Boris Johnson didn't deserve to be happy in his private life, Bev responded: 'Everyone deserves to be happy in their private lives, I wouldn't disagree with that. 'I just think, as Matthew said that today's a huge day for the country. Bailliffs can go and sieze property again from today, houses can be repossessed, there are so many people - we're not sure if people can go on holiday,' she added. 'I was on the Freedom March on Saturday, I really wish I'd known it was happening because he could have had a million people there to congratulate him on his day.' Matthew Wright said he felt Boris Johnson should have waited for the summer parliamentary recess to get married. Bev's comments didn't go down well with viewers, who blasted her for being 'insensitive' herself. 'Wow, Im not a PM fan at all, but those comments by Bev about him and his partner were very tacky and unprofessional,' one said. 'Blimey, this Bev woman doesnt half come across as catty,' another said. 'Bev " crass insensitive awful" and that's just you love,' one wrote. 'Bev is a truly vile person, Boris Johnsons wedding is his business and Im happy for him and his wife. Her political bias is stopping her from rational thought. Horrid woman,' another said. The Loose Women panel also discussed the Prime Minister's wedding during their show today, with Jane saying she wasn't bothered and Denise Welch saying the couple didn't 'read the people' right Later during the day, the Loose Women panel also discussed the Prime Minister's wedding, saying they were only mildly impressed. Kelle Bryan said she was shocked by the age difference between the bride and groom - Carrie is 33, and Boris Johnson is 56, just under 24 her senior. 'For me, I still feel I am a little bit old-fashioned, but the age difference is a big one for me, 20 something years, but I wish them the best of luck.' Denise Welsh said she felt the newly-weds didn't read the room before tying the knot. 'I wish anybody, after the year we've had happiness whoever they are,' she started, before adding: 'I just feel we're still governed by these people who have been, in my opinion, proven to have lied about all sorts of thing, who have lacked in transparency, we're still waiting to see if we'll get our "Freedom Day" on June 21, we're still double jabbed and still being stopped from doing certain things and seeing certain people,' she said. 'I just think maybe you're not reading the people right to do this now, on Saturday, before all these things are ironed out,' she added, saying: ' they do not live and inhabit the same world that we do.' Jane Moore said she was not bothered by the news. 'I just think bank holiday weekend, they could prob get the Westminster backgarden that day,' she said. 'I don't think there was any particular timing, and let's face it, it's good PR for a PM to get married, or to be married in office. 'Clearly they love each other but was my heart filled with gladness? I just felt" man marries for third time, turn the page",' she added. Britain's weather turned on its head this weekend following a dismal May so far - with some areas enjoying temperatures hotter than Ibiza over the bank holiday. However many Brits are nursing reddened skin and awkward tan lines after catching a few too many rays over the past few days - with some sharing their sun-screen fails on social media. Kelly Marie Jones, from Staffordshire, posted a snap of the scorched skin on their arm on Instagram, commenting: 'Memo to self... Don't fall asleep in the sun when you have the complexion of a wannabe ginger. 'That better go down before my vaccination this week!' But while these images are amusing to look at, the consequences of overdoing it in the sunshine can be very serious. Emma Coleman, a dermatology registered general nurse previously told FEMAIL that just one sunburn incident can alter the way the skin functions. Many Brits will be nursing reddened skin and awkward tan lines after catching a few too many rays over the past few days - with some sharing their sun-screen fails on social media (pictured, Instagram user @markybigboi unveiled their awkward tan lines this weekend) Ouch! Another Brit said she felt 'awful' after refusing somebody's offer to apply sunscreen to her back Ouch! This person was left with painful-looking skin after spending time in the sun over the weekend Emma said: 'UVB rays from sunlight are more likely to cause sunburn compared to UVA light, which is essentially inflammed, immunosuppressed skin. 'Worryingly, the immune system remains suppressed for a period of time after the exposure. This means that even one sunburn incident can alter the way the skin is functioning, in particular genetic material formation is stunted meaning that cell division and shape are altered, and mitochondria - skin cell's power houses - are debilitated. This is why we see advanced ageing associated with sun exposure.' She told how the back area is 'highly associated with malignant melanoma', while the chest is 'very delicate' because the skin is thin. Emma said: 'It's important to protect the decolletage whenever exposed with a broad spectrum sunscreen. I regularly see clients with pigmentation and deep lines on their chests due to sun damage.' Emma, who has her own skincare and beauty range, told FEMAIL: 'A history of sunburns and a young age of first sunburn incidence are associated with an increased risk of basal cell carcinoma development, and squamous cell carcinoma risk is largely increased in those with light-coloured eyes and fair to auburn hair colour. Another Brit was left with awkward white tan lines after forgetting to apply sunscreen before enjoying time in the sunshine Others, including Clare Parton (left) and Sarah-Jayne Windridge-France, from Leeds, (right) showcased their scorched skin on Instagram After sharing a snap of her burnt chest, Clare also posted a photo of the sore red skin on her arm 'This is because those with Fitzpatrick skin types of IV and above have higher melanin levels naturally, and melanin is thought to exert a protective effect on skin. How to ease sunburn DO: Get out of the sun as soon as possible Cool your skin with a cool shower, bath or damp towel (take care not to let a baby or young child get too cold) Apply aftersun cream or spray, like aloe vera Drink plenty of water to cool down and prevent dehydration Take painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen for any pain Cover sunburnt skin from direct sunlight until skin has fully healed DON'T Use petroleum jelly on sunburnt skin Put ice or ice packs on sunburnt skin Pop any blisters Scratch or try to remove peeling skin Wear tight-fitting clothes over sunburnt skin Information supplied by NHS England Advertisement 'Sunburn in childhood equates to a five-fold increased risk of developing malignant melanoma, according to one Italian study.' Kayleigh Whitwell posted a photograph of her burnt legs, writing: 'Rule number 1, don't get deceived by the clouds going over the sun and still put the sunscreen on. 'I have an 18th birthday party today and back to work tomorrow and I'm in so much pain.' A third shared a snap of their bright white tan lines, saying: 'If someone offers to put suncream on your back and you say no cause you think you can reach, accept the offer anyway. 'I feel awful.' 'Suns out then,' Sarah-Jayne Windridge-France, from Leeds, wrote on Instagram, as she posted a snap of their burnt chest. She commented: 'Two hours at a rugby match smothered in lotion and still I burnt.' Lesley Palmer, from Norfolk, posted a selfie of her scorched back in a mirror online. She commented: 'Sunburn and I creamed up Factor 50 too! #pesky #yback with your #halfmoon #cutouts. 'Here comes the #tanlines.' Kelly Oakley-Mardle, from Somerset, hashtagged her post #IdiotMarks, writing: 'When you've been out in the sun all day and perhaps didn't realise it was so hot...' Current research suggests that while many people who are severely sunburned as children never develop skin cancer, one blistering sunburn in childhood increases the risk of melanoma later on in life by 50 per cent. Another study claims that white women who get five or more severe sunburns in their teens have double the risk of developing melanoma. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and the numbers of new cases diagnosed each year are increasing. One mother-of-two said she had been left feeling like a lobster after a day in the boiling hot sunshine Phil Smith revealed some painful looking burn on his legs (left) while Brad Seeley, from London, caught the sun on his arm (right) Brad shared snaps of his burnt skin on Instagram, suggesting he was a 'secret ginger' with his fair skin Lesley Palmer, from Norfolk, shared a snap of the lines across her back left by her tank top and called them 'pesky' Many Brits have been lapping up the sunshine after the dismal May weather - with some apparently forgetting to apply sunscreen Most non melanoma skin cancers are caused by exposure to the sun. This may be long term exposure or short periods of intense sun exposure and burning. This week, Brits can expect warm, settled conditions which are likely to persist across many areas. There is the potential for outbreaks of rain to arrive across parts of the northwest on Monday but it is then very uncertain how far south and east more unsettled conditions develop during next week. While there is still likely to be a good deal of dry weather, showers, which could be heavy, become more likely across the south and west during the latter part of next week. The Met Office predicts temperatures will most likely remain around or above average and by the end of the period, a northwest-southeast split in conditions becomes more probable. Temperatures in London and the south are expected to stay above 68F over the next two weeks while there may be slightly cooler temperatures in the north. Torrential downpours have led to the UK recording more than its average rainfall for May. Others were left with awkward tan lines after the baking sun unexpectedly left them burnt (pictured) Kelly Oakley-Mardle, from Somerset, hashtagged her post #IdiotMarks and said she 'hadn't realised it was so hot outside' The UK has been gripped by persistent low pressure systems since the start of the month, with Wales and northern parts of England bearing the brunt of heavy rainfall and stormy conditions. The Met Office said that up to Saturday the UK had seen 109.3mm of rainfall - 157 per cent of the long-term average for May. This makes it the 10th wettest May on record, according to Met Office figures. But meteorologist Dan Stroud said that the UK was unlikely to become the wettest May on record by surpassing the 131.7mm of rainfall in 1967. Mr Stroud said: 'We are into late May, early June, so there's a fair amount of strength in the sun and it's going to feel very pleasant in the sunshine.' So far it's left viewers 'traumatised' and unable to sleep - but The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It's story is even more sinister when you realise it's based on a true murder trial. The third part of the successful horror franchise sees the return of American actors Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren as they explore one of their most infamous cases. Released on Friday and hailed by fans as a 'masterpiece', the new film follows the story of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, the first American to plead not guilty to a homicide by reason of 'demonic possession'. On February 16, 1981, Johnson stabbed his landlord, Alan Bono, more than 20 times with a five-inch pocketknife in Connecticut. His murder trial, dubbed the 'Devil made me do it', became a national sensation at a time when pop culture included a fascination with the supernatural; a Gallup Poll from 1979 reported that 34 per cent of US adults believed in the devil, The Telegraph reported. The new film follows the story of Arne Cheyenne Johnson (pictured centre, with his coat over his arm as he steps from a police van on arrival at court), the first American to plead not guilty to a homicide by reason of 'demonic possession' The third part of the successful horror franchise sees the return of American actors Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (pictured) as they explore one of their most infamous cases According to the Warrens, Satan turned up in the killer's small town of Brookfield - which had marked 193 years without a murder - months before the actual killing took place. The paranormal investigators were called to assist David Glatzel, the 11-year-old brother of 19-year-old Johnson's girlfriend Deborah when in the summer of 1979, the young boy's family became convinced he was being possessed. David first complained of visions of old men sporting animal features and horns, threatening the family and vowing to relieve the young boy of his soul. For the next few months, his erratic behaviour only increased, with his mother Judy previously telling the New York Times: 'He would kick, bite, spit, swear terrible words.' The youngster would randomly recite passages from the Bible, appear to shake from head to toe and be covered in scratches or bruises that couldn't be accounted for. His family longed for a solution - allegedly asking priests from a local church to examine David, although a spokesman for the group later denied that any 'formal exorcism was asked for or performed' on the child. The family contested this. On February 16, 1981, Johnson stabbed his landlord, Alan Bono, more than 20 times with a five-inch pocketknife in Connecticut. Pictured, a scene from the film According to the Warrens (pictured being portrayed in the film), Satan turned up in the killer's small town of Brookfield - which had marked 193 years without a murder - months before the actual killing took place David's mother Judy told The Washington Post she paid $75 an hour for a session with a local psychiatrist, only to be told that her son was 'normal' with a 'minimal learning disability'. Ed and Lorraine were also consulted to rid the family's home of the 'devil's' influence - claiming to record '43 demons in the boy' following their investigation. Speaking to People magazine in 1981, Lorraine said: 'While Ed interviewed the boy, I saw a black, misty form next to him, which told me we were dealing with something of a negative nature. 'Soon the child was complaining that invisible hands were choking himand there were red marks on him. He said that he had the feeling of being hit.' In the end, none of the attempts to change David's odd behaviour were successful and soon Johnson took matters into his own hands, claiming to have called on the devil to leave David and enter him instead. Ed Warren said Johnson 'taunted' the devil, leading to his fate. The 19-year-old tree surgeon first showed signs of being possessed when he drove his tree into a car, according to the Glatzels. The paranormal investigators (pictured being played in the film) were called to assist David Glatzel, the 11-year-old brother of 19-year-old Johnson's girlfriend Deborah when in the summer of 1979, the young boy's family became convinced he was being possessed He came out of the incident unscathed, but his behaviour grew stranger, with friends and family saying he'd enter a trance and growl or hallucinate. As his condition worsened, Deborah and Johnson moved out of her family home and she was hired by their landlord Alan Bono as a dog groomer. Then on February 16, 1981, Johnson called in sick to work and joined Deborah at the kennel where she worked along with her nine-year-old cousin Mary and his sister Wanda. For lunch, they went to a local bar with Bono and drank heavily before Deborah took the girls for pizza while Johnson remained behind. Upon their return, they found an agitated and drunk Bono who grabbed Mary and refused to let her go. According to Wanda, via The Mirror, her brother ordered his landlord to release the youngster and, as she ran for the car, Johnson growled 'like an animal', drew out his five-inch knife, and repeatedly stabbed Bono. Johnson's lawyer Martin Minnella said Bono suffered 'four or five tremendous wounds', mostly to his chest, as well as one that stretched from his stomach to the bottom of his heart. Johnson's murder trial, dubbed the 'Devil made me do it', became a national media frenzy. Pictured, a scene from the film Chilling: Demonic possession becomes the defence's explanation for a chain of events (pictured, in the film) The day after the murder, Lorraine Warren told police that Johnson was possessed when the crime was committed, sparking a media frenzy around the case. Johnson's lawyer travelled to London to investigate similar defences, although they'd never gone to trial. However, when the trial began, presiding judge, Robert Callahan, rejected Johnson's defence, insisting it would be 'irrelative and unscientific' to allow testimony for something that could never be proven He instructed the jury not to consider it as a reason for the crime, and after 15 hours of deliberation across three days, it convicted Johnson of first-degree manslaughter on November 24, 1981. Johnson served almost five years of a 10-to-20-year sentence, having been released early because of his good behaviour. While behind bars, he married Deborah, and got his high-school diploma. Lorraine Warren later collaborated on a book about the case with Gerald Brittle called The Devil in Connecticut. But when it was republished in 2006, David and his brother Carl sued the authors and publishers for violating their privacy, libel and 'intentional infliction of emotional distress.' In The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It Farmiga and Wilson star alongside an exceptional cast including Ruairi OConnor, Sarah Catherine Hook, and Julian Hilliard. Director Michael Chaves is at the helm of the film which is written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and based on a story by Johnson-McGoldrick and James Wan, taken from the Warrens real-life files. Wan, who directed the first two films in the leading global horror franchise, returns as a producer with Peter Safran. Millions of viewers across the world tuned into the Friends reunion last week, 17 years after the final episode of the sitcom aired. And while fans were thrilled to see the six stars back together as they reminisced and told stories from the set, one of the actors particularly caught the eye of Twitter, with Matt LeBlanc becoming a viral sensation after many said he looked like an 'Irish Da' or uncle. Known for playing Italian-American ladies' man Joey Tribbiani, 53-year-old LeBlanc, who is American of Italian and French descent, caused a sensation thanks to his grey hair, black striped shirt, sitting pose, and curious expression - which many Irish people said reminded them of older gentleman in their life. 'The rest of the world should know that for the last 24 hours Irish Twitter has become OBSESSSED with how much Matt Le Blanc looks like everyones uncle/cousin,' comedian Dara O Briain tweeted. Derry Girls and Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan added: 'Matt LeBlanc is Irish, I dont want to see any other nation trying to claim him, hes from Tullamore, he drinks milk with his dinner'. Explaining the meme, one Twitter user wrote: ' Its like hes the classic slightly ~behind the times but ultimately wholesome and well intentioned older country man you get stuck chatting to at a family wedding. Hes a bit cheeky but like.....in a nice dad way. Another added: 'He looks like the Irish Uncle with a heart of gold. He's behind the times, rough round the edges, loves life, his family, his cattle and you, hugs like a bear, drinks like a fish, talks the hind legs off a donkey and punched that guy in the gob who sl****d off your gay partner ' Known for playing ladies' man Joey Tribbiani, LeBlanc, 53, caused a sensation thanks to his grey hair, black striped shirt, sitting pose, and curious expression - which many Irish people said reminded them of older gentleman in their life Proud grandad: One Twitter user joked that Matt LeBlanc looked like a grandad at Christmas time Memeception! Another joked that LeBlanc looked like the type of person who would 'share his meme' in six months Another user joked that Irish Joey would say 'how you getting on' and Irish version of his famous catchphrase 'How YOU doin'?' One Twitter user found a magazine from 2004 that very inaccurately predicted what the Friends cast would look like today - but miraculously got LeBlanc's shirt correct Hey Joey, it's Estelle! Another shared a snap of Joey's agent Estelle, played by June Gable, saying he'd got her gig as 'Ireland's uncle' Meme on meme! Another shared snap of the meme of Joey looking at himself and inserting the new picture Classic Dad behaviour! Another joked that LeBlanc looked like a father watching kids opening Christmas presents but is surprised as his wife bought them all A real life Da! Another shared a snap saying 'who wore it best, Joey or my Dad,' which racked up hundreds of likes Give us a ring! Another Twitter user shared the snap to say the 'Uncle' was asking about what they're studying Mr Tribanni! Another joked that LeBlanc looked like the PE teacher who had to supervise maths class My eyes, my eyes! Another joked that LeBlanc looked like a uncle being forced to watch a child's play Get me out of here! Another joked that Matt LeBlanc looked 'their Dad when they're forced to stay at their auntie's house' Crossover special! Another combined the two memes of the day inserting Matt LeBlanc in Boris Johnson's wedding The Duchess of Cambridge joked about buying Prince William a Spider-man costume during a telephone call with a contestant of her Hold Still competition which was released today. Jason Baird, of Stockport, was photographed performing a backflip while dressed up as the comic book character during lockdown last year. The image was one of the 100 images included in Kate Middleton's book Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020. The royal, who is a keen amateur photographer, launched the Hold Still initiative during lockdown and asked the public to submit their images which captured the period for a digital exhibition. She was then joined by a panel of five judges to select the best photos from more than 31,000 submitted for the nation-wide contest and said she was 'overwhelmed' by the response and that it was 'so hard' to whittle the images down to a top 100. Kate Middleton, 39, phoned Jason last autumn and the conversation was released today on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's new YouTube channel, alongside heart-warming photographs of Jason and his local community. The Duchess praised his efforts to cheer up the community as 'very cool', and could be heard laughing as she spoke with the martial arts teacher, saying: 'I'll see if it takes on the trend here at Kensington Palace. Might have to buy William a suit to go and see...unfortunately I'm not sure he'd get the air clearance you've got.' The Duchess of Cambridge, 39, joked about buying Prince William a Spider-man costume during a telephone call with a contestant of her Hold Still competition which was released today Jason Baird, of Stockport, was photographed performing a backflip while dressed up as the comic book character outside the home of a local family during lockdown last year During the first lockdown, Jason took to the streets of Stockport during his exercise time and dressed up as a Spider-man to keep local children smiling. Kate could be heard chuckling during the call, saying that she had received many emotional images during the contest and was pleased to see a joyful image. She asked Jason about his work as a martial arts teacher, with the father-of-two explaining: 'When we heard the news you were only allowed out for an hour a day, it was a case of wanting to cheer kids up. 'I've got a five-year-old and a one-year-old...they can't go out or see their friends...We wanted to bring some smiles and stuff. The photograph, titled Stockport Spider-man Bringing Smiles to Children, is one of the 100 images included in the Duchess of Cambridge's book Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020 'From day one, the children in the area would play Spider-man out their window and put posters up "Spider-man stop here".' He said he had been committed to performing 'every day for an hour', with an amazed Kate gasping: 'No!' The Duchess continued: 'Jason, you've shown a huge dedication to your community but it's also been infectious to other communities as well and people aspire to you...really well done.' Kate joked: 'Maybe when I'm in Stockport I might see you out and about in your er- costume. The royal shared a giggle with the martial arts teacher as she said she would buy a costume for her husband Prince William (pictured together last week in Scotland) He said: 'Oh definitely, just let me know and I'll put the suit on.' Hold Still was launched by The Duchess and the National Portrait Gallery last year and invited people of all ages from across the UK to submit a photographic portrait which they had taken during the first lockdown. From over 31,000 images submitted, 100 final portraits were selected and shown in a digital exhibition before being displayed across the UK as part of a community exhibition. Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020 brings together the final 100 Hold Still portraits, providing a unique record of our shared and individual experiences as the COVID pandemic took hold. The Duchess of Cambridge has shared a glimpse of her photography book Hold Still (pictured) ahead of its release on Friday The book, which has been put together with support from the Co-op was released earlier this month, one year on since Hold Still was first launched. Net proceeds raised from the sale of the book will be split between leading mental health charity Mind, and the National Portrait Gallery. The funds will help to support arts and mental health projects across the UK, including Mind's work in local communities and the National Portrait Gallery's education and community projects. The Loose Women panel divided opinion after discussing whether drinking should Sbe banned on planes. Kay Adams, Denise Welch, Jane Moore and Kelle Bryan had a debate on the issue after it was revealed American Airlines and other carriers have banned alcohol sales on board. Denise Welch, who has been sober for ten years, said she hoped drinking on scheduled flights would be banned, and that people could go without a tipple for a few hours. Jane Moore disagreed and said people shouldn't be 'punished' with a ban because of a few disruptive passengers. Viewers were split over the issue with some siding with Denise and others agreeing with Jane, Loose Women panelist Denise Welch said she wished alcohol sales would be banned in airports and on board during a discussion on the show today 'The majority of us are well-behaved, law-abiding people,' Jane argued, saying it was nice to be able to enjoy a glass of wine on a plane. 'Why should we be deprived of that because of the misbehaving few?' she added. She went on to say that if drinking is banned on planes, it should be aslo then be banned in airports, to minimise disruption from people who are already drunk when they board the plane. 'Banning is an issue for me, we just need to have tighter regulations,' she said. Jane Moore, pictured, said she was against banning alcohol completely, but suggested stricter restrictions should be introduced against 'rowdy' behaviour Viewers were split over the issue, with some siding with Denise, in favour of banning it, and others with Jane, in favour of not banning it Denise was of the opposite mind and said she wished people wouldn't be allowed to drink onboard. 'Some people will call it rank hypocrisy and it may well be, as somebody who made no issue of the fact I had terrible issues with alcohol and I was a real caner,' she said. 'But I was never an airport or plane drinker,' she added. 'On a chartered flight, much more than a scheduled flight, I dread the drunkenness on the plane, I do,' she said. 'I would love it banned in airports and airplanes because I feel sorry for the staff, I've seen them many times be abused,' she added. Kelle said she didn't want alcohol to be banned on planes, but agreed regulations and structures were needed. Kelle Bryan, pictured, said there should be a cap to the number of drinks passengers are allowed to consumed on a plane 'I don't think it should be banned, there are people who abuse the freeness of the alcohol, and say, "Oh it's free, I'll have another one". 'You can't move to banning it completely, you got to move to being a bit more measured, so there's a limit. Maybe one or two,' she said. 'But when you're a drinker, when you've had one pint of Snakebite, you don't want to be told you can;t have another two,' Denise argued. Kelle argued members of staff should stop serving people when they've reached their limits of drinks. 'But this is when they say "you can't have anymore sir or madam" and those people really kick off,' Denise said. Jane offered that flight marshals could control 'rowdy elements' on planes. 'I think if you have rules in place; we don't have people fighting to smoke on a plane, do you, those rules are established,' Kelle said. The panel, pictured, was split on whether alcohol should be banned, but Denise argued airline staff were being abused by drunken passengers 'If your behaviour as a consequence of alcohol consumption puts somebody else's safety at risk,' she went on, repeating she was not in favour of a complete ban but more regulation. 'If Bill and Gladys drink moderately and they like going on their one holiday a year,' Jane said. But Denise cut her to say 'Bill and Gladys' should be able to wait until they've arrived at their destination to enjoy a drink. The issue divided viewers, and some agreed travellers should be able to go without drinking in planes. Some viewers said if people couldn't go for a few hours without a drink, they needed to consult Alcoholics Anonymous 'You dont need alcohol on planes. Simple,' one said. 'So everybody has to suffer for the few. This is becoming a thing,' another said. 'I've never drank on a plane. I'm amazed they ever let it in the first place,' said another. 'Jane is right. Why should a minority ruin it for everyone else? Sort out those who cant control themselves rather than punish the rest of us,' another wrote. 'I dont want to sit on an aeroplane while theres a flight Marshall telling a group of rowdy dickheads they cant have another drink. Its a couple of hours. If you cant wait its not a holiday you need its Alcoholics Anonymous,' one said. Advertisement Two university students transformed their home in an incredible DIY renovation for just 12,000 - doing most of the work themselves between their uni classes. Mia Thomas, 22, and her boyfriend Jack Bradley, 24, who also works part-time as an electrical engineer, purchased their flat in Derbyshire in June 2020 for 150,000. The DIY-savvy couple decided to renovate the outdated home and took on the task of giving the flat a modern makeover, starting with the 'kitchen of their dreams'. Two university students transformed their home in Derbyshire in an incredible DIY renovation for just 12,000 - doing most of the work themselves between their uni classes, including brightening up the dated kitchen (pictured before the renovation, left). After: The DIY-savvy couple decided to renovate the outdated home and took on the task of giving the flat a modern makeover, starting with the kitchen. They installed cabinets in an on-trend shade of grey and replaced the worktop with natural wood Mia Thomas, 22, and her boyfriend Jack Bradley, 24, who also works part-time as an electrical engineer, (pictured together) purchased their flat in June 2020 for 150,000 COST BREAKDOWN: 12,344 DIY renovation total KITCHEN Appliances - 1,600 Tiles - 100 Paint - 20 Cabinets, worktops, handles, fitting - 7,910 Total: 9,630 LOUNGE/LIVING ROOM Flooring - 600 (includes hallway and kitchen) Skirting - 200 Paint - 30 Wood/plasterboard - 80 Total: 910 CLOAKROOM Floor tiles - 80 Wall tiles - 100 Grout - 20 Toilet - 50 Vanity - 200 Mirror - 40 Paint - 20 Prints - 5 (Dunelm) Frames - 3.99 each (Aldi) Total: approx 519 LAUNDRY CUPBOARD Wallpaper - 20 (Amazon) Tiles (the left over from the cloakroom) - 0 Wood for the shelves - 20 (B&Q) Floating shelves - 15 (Homebase) Legs for the shelf - 30 (B&Q) Total: 85 BATHROOM Floor tiles - 50 Wall tiles - 250 Shower - 150 Bath - 150 Vanity - 200 Paint - 20 Toilet - 50 Prints - 15 Towel rail - 120 Shower screen - 100 Mirror - 20 Total: 1,125 Advertisement The space is now unrecognisable, with the couple completing the work in just four months after starting in January this year. The pair would toil after classes and on the weekends in order to get the project finished and shared the results on their Instagram page. University student, Mia, said: 'We're so pleased with what we've done so far. We're really proud of ourselves and how it's all coming together. 'I would say that I have the eye for design and Jack is the handyman we're a good team! 'We were both raised in DIY families and enjoyed the idea of doing up a house ourselves. Jack did much of the work himself but the room was still the most expensive in the house to transform with 9,630 from the total budget going towards the 'kitchen of their dreams', including 1,600 of new appliances from Wickes, and repainting the cabinets grey and retiling with white tiles for a fresher look 'This way we would make the house the way that we want it, but also hopefully add some value for when we come to sell it.' The couple started with the kitchen, ordering new appliances from Wickes, which cost them 1,600. Jack was able to do much of the work thanks to his skills as an electrical engineer but the couple also roped in kitchen fitters for some of the fiddlier bits. They also painted the walls (20) and retiled (200), as well as added new cabinets, handles and other fittings (7,910). Altogether, the room was the most expensive in the house to transform with 9,630 from the total budget going towards the kitchen. Mia said: 'The most enjoyable part so far has been having the kitchen of our dreams finished! 'It's such a nice space and we use it so often.' Meanwhile, in the living room, the couple ripped out the old flooring and replaced it with new imitation parquet flooring, which cost 600. Before: The old toiled was plainly decorated with white painted walls and yellow and grey lino on the floor. After: The couple fitted a new toilet and vanity unit and added charming accessories including a mirror, prints and a hanging plant which cost them just under 520 in total In the living room, the couple ripped out the old flooring and replaced it with new imitation parquet flooring, which cost 600. They added black leather couches, a wooden coffee table and a large TV - turning it into an inviting space to relax Next, they fitted new skirting boards from Skirting 4 U (200) and repainted the walls with a cheap tin of paint from Wickes (30). They also built a false chimney breast out of wood and added a plasterboard costing 80 in total though they outsourced the latter to a professional. For their new cloakroom, the couple ripped out the flooring and walls then did pipe work modifications to turn the old cupboard into a laundry closet. They changed the radiator into a heated towel rail and also sealed, tiled and grouted the floors. Mia said: 'Learning how to do the pipe work was challenging as it's quite technical and complicated, and makes a mess if it goes wrong! 'Jack had never done any plumbing before and found this hard, but enjoyed it since he learnt a new skill.' The couple also fitted a new toilet and vanity unit and added charming accessories including a mirror, prints and a hanging plant which cost them just under 520 in total. For the bathroom, they reinstalled the pipe work with a new shower, alongside a bespoke shelf made from wood and waterproof backer board. The old fireplace was transformed by building a false chimney breast out of wood and adding a plasterboard costing 80 in total though they outsourced the latter to a professional Additionally, they installed backer boards on the floor, tiled the floor and walls, and installed a brand new bath. Mia and Jack also created their own pocket door in the hallway with a kit from Screwfix (150) and a new door from Wickes (80). The entire home transformation cost the couple around 12,344 in total and they couldn't be more pleased. In a few words of advice to others who wish to do their own home renovations, Mia said: 'Definitely don't underestimate how much time and effort is involved, it consumes any spare time that you have, but it is worth in the end! The couple still plan to redo one more bathroom, the dressing room and install new carpets in the rest of the house which they estimate will amount to around 20,000 For their new cloakroom, the couple ripped out the flooring and walls then did pipe work modifications to turn the old cupboard into a laundry closet 'Be prepared for unexpected costs of things you wouldn't ever think of, like screws and paint brushes. 'Don't be afraid to do something that you like, just because it's not 'trendy' or other people don't like it. 'At the end of the day, it's your home so it's important to do what you like to make yourself happy and comfortable in your home. 'Instagram and Pinterest are the holy grail for inspiration, and don't be afraid to message people to ask how they did things or where they got things from. 'Everyone is very friendly and willing to help!' The couple still plan to redo one more bathroom, the dressing room and install new carpets in the rest of the house which they estimate will amount to around 20,000. A Danish journalist who conducted an interview while having sex at a swingers club for a radio feature which included clips of her moaning has told how her mum thought it was 'funny' while her dad found it 'really cool.' Louise Fischer, from Denmark, who has since revealed it wasn't the 'best sex of her life,' visited Swingland in Ishj, near Copenhagen, earlier this year as part of a report to cover the sex club reopening after Covid-19 restrictions eased in the country. In the segment, which aired during a Radio 4 morning show in the country in March and has since been shared on Twitter, the journalist, 26, can be heard moaning as she interviews a male club participant while the pair have sex. Speaking to Bild about the reactions she's received since the raunchy report went viral, Louise said: 'Most of them were very positive, they thought it was brave and cool. Others think that I've crossed a line in journalism.' 'I don't have a boyfriend, that definitely made it a lot easier. My mother just thinks it's funny and laughs, my father thought it was really cool.' Radio4 var med, da swingerklubberne igen matte abne. Advarsel: Det blev hedt og vadt for bade vores reporter og gsterne. Hr hele reportagen her:https://t.co/B4bFtpThNe #dkmedier #radio4dk pic.twitter.com/RskBTQITYO Radio4 (@radio4dk) May 27, 2021 Louise Fischer (pictured), 26, from Denmark, who conducted an interview while having sex at a swingers club for a radio feature which included clips of her moaning has told how her mum thought it was 'funny' while her dad found it 'really cool' Louise visited Swingland in Ishj, near Copenhagen, earlier this year as part of a report to cover the sex club reopening after Covid-19 restrictions relaxed in the country Louise, who has recently confirmed the moaning you hear in the first sex scene is her, explained that while she spent several hours with the guests in the swinger club, the report lasted only minutes. She joined the guests as they sat and talked together over a glass of wine at the bar, before moving to a large bed. The journalist went on to say she would have 'simply said no' if she had been approached by a guy was a unsympathetic towards her. 'I find that the people in the swingers' club are much more polite to each other than you are used to in normal bars or clubs, for example,' she said. 'In the swingers club you don't have to explain anything or excuse anything, a simple no is enough.' While Louise admitted that 'maybe' she would be up for it again, adding that it was a 'great experience,' she revealed it 'wasn't the best sex' of her life. 'Yes, I enjoyed it,' she explained. 'Even though it wasn't the best sex of my life. But the men in this club are very polite and very considerate. I felt like a goddess. They make you feel very special. " Louise said she needs to let it 'sink in' before returning again but added it was a 'great experience.' Pictured, Louise moaning during the radio feature Sharing the segment online, Radio 4 Denmark called the clip 'hot' for the reporter and guests of the sex club But while Louise's program director Tina Kragelund commended the journalist for 'experimenting' with 'doing journalism differently,' others have criticised her for taking the job too far. Despite this, Louise would consider doing another report with video - including sound and image - if it meant that she wasn't involved, adding that would 'exceed' her 'personal limits.' According to the publication, during the feature, Louise asked: 'What are you seeing right now?' before a man responded that he was looking at a gorgeous woman who had not tried being in a swinger club before. She went on to explain how she was invited up into a big bed in the middle of a room, before they started touching her body. She said she hadn't planned to have sex during the interview, but added: 'For me, it's very natural. It is part of my job to give an insight into a world that not everyone has access to.' She said it 'loosened up the guests' who were initially 'reluctant' to take part in the interviews and appeared nervous about her microphones. The 26-year-old said she felt recording herself having sex with the swinger's club guests was 'natural' The recording of her romp was initially aired during a morning show in Copenhagen before it was shared on social media During the 2 minute long segment, the reporter can be heard asking questions to her interviewees while others pant in the background. Later, she can be heard asking a male guest about his experiences at the club while they have sex and she moans loudly. Meanwhile the reporter also said she wasn't pressured into having sex by her employers at the radio station. The story was first approved as a visit to a swinger club, before the finished product was approved by today's editor on the morning show. The recording of her romp was initially aired during a morning show in Copenhagen before it was shared on social media. When the clip was shared online, the broadcaster posted: 'Radio4 was present when the swinger clubs had to reopen. 'Warning: It got hot and wet for both our reporter and the guests.' Many social media users were stunned by the clip, with one posting: 'It was just an excuse for a bang. It was completely unnecessary.' Another wrote: 'Things only women can do hehe. Had a man had sex on the radio, he would probably have had the whole country against him.' But Louise said she had had a wave of support after the interview aired, telling the Copenhagen post: 'People have written things to me like 'great respect', 'brave' and 'good journalism' on Instagram and Facebook.' Martina Big, the German-born white glamour model who has gone under the knife several times in the hopes of having the largest in the world has revealed she will 'pump' her breasts until they are as 'big as the Titanic.' The former air hostess, 32, from Germany, who has also had tanning injections to darken her skin because she 'identifies as black,' took to Facebook and explained to her 59,000 followers how a bra, size 70DD (32DD), which she wore before her first augmentation is no longer big enough to cover her nipples. 'Sometimes I am amazed by my self how much my breasts have grown in the last time,' said Big, who was a natural 32D bra size but now has 32T breasts after multiple operations to enhance them. 'But that's not enough for me! I will pump my breasts even bigger, Biggger and BIGGGGER until they are as big as the Titanic.' Martina Big, 32, the German-born white glamour model who has gone under the knife several times in a bid to get the 'largest boobs in Europe' has revealed she will 'pump' her breasts until they are as 'big as the Titanic.' Pictured, before she also developed a love for tanning injections The former air hostess took to Facebook and explained to her 59,000 followers how a bra, size 70DD (32DD), which she wore before her first augmentation is no longer big enough to cover her nipples. Pictured, on This Morning on 3 July 2019 Big told her social media fans: 'Sometimes I am amazed by my self how much my breasts have grown in the last time.' Pictured, during a photoshoot Maxi Mounds, from Florida, currently holds the title of the worlds largest augmented breasts with a 42J cup size. Big and her husband Michael Eurwen previously hit headlines are revealing they both inject Melanotan, a synthetic hormone to darken their skin - and had been house-hunting in Kenya with hopes to make a move to the continent soon. The glamour model, who now goes by the name of Malaika Kubwa, meaning Big Angel in Swahili, after a baptism ceremony, told how she wanted to move to be with her 'people' and learn how to raise a family in the African way. She told the Sun Online: 'I not only look like an African woman, I also feel that Im now an African woman. I spent time in Kenya last year and I felt so at home. Now I have a lot of invitations from all over Africa.' Martina also told her Facebook followers that her future children could be raised in Africa too, saying: 'I want to learn more about the black culture first, so that I can educate my future children in black (teach the black culture).' Martina Big has previously hit headlines after having tanning injections to darken her skin because she 'identifies as black.' Pictured, Martina Big in a tanning saloon Martina previously told her Facebook followers that her future children could be raised in Africa too, saying: 'I want to learn more about the black culture first, so that I can educate my future children in black (teach the black culture)' Martina, whose transformation over the course of a few years has seen her have a breast enlargement to increase her chest to 30S, says she wants to learn more about raising children in the African culture while living there. She now uses the African name Malaika Kubwa, which means 'Big Angel' in Swahili Africa bound: Newly married couple model Martina Big, 30, and Michael Eurwen, 31, who have both had tanning injections to darken their skin, after saying they 'identify as black' are planning a move to Africa in the future - having already made a trip to Kenya to house-hunt Her dramatic skin colour change has been well documented in recent years. When Big started to have the injections, she was a white-skinned model with peroxide blonde hair, but she claims that just three jabs of Melanotan has turned her skin black. In 2019, Big shocked This Morning viewers when she revealed that she expected her future children to be born with dark skin, despite her and husband Michael both being born white. When questioned about having children by presenter Holly Willoughby she said: 'Doctors have told you that you baby will be be black?' Martina replied: 'Yep, they said they will be black. We have also discussed about breast feeding and if it is safe for me to have a baby.' The .blonde ex-air hostess with massive boobs who decided to become black by undergoing radical tanning injections treatment visited Los Angeles for the first time as a black woman (pictured) Holly questioned her further, saying: 'If that baby is not black, because I'm trying to understand how genetically this would be possible, will you still be close to them if you give birth to a white baby?' 'Of course - it will be a mix of me and Micheal,' Martina said, 'but I'm pretty sure it will be black, but if it is milk chocolate or a little bit lighter it doesn't matter. ' She later clarified on Facebook, saying: 'Doctors say that I am physically now a black woman and my future children will be black. And I believe the doctors!' On the show, the couple who married last October in Hawaii, said they identified as black. 'I can clearly feel that I am black but its hard to find the right words to describe it,' Martina said. In March that year she flew out to Kenya to be baptised as a real African woman. On her Facebook page at the time she wrote: 'One of my Kenyan friends told her pastor about my transformation to a black woman and told him how much I wanted to become a true African woman. 'In his sermon the pastor said: 'You have to be born again and now you are a new creature.' I'm so happy and proud to be a real African woman :)' New revelations of U.S. clandestine operations with no oversight 08:34, May 31, 2021 By William Jones ( CGTN File photo taken on July 11, 2018 shows the Pentagon seen from an airplane over Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Editor's note: William Jones is a Washington policy analyst and a non-resident fellow of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN. The indomitable William Arkin is again at it in uncovering further layers of U.S. "cloak-and-dagger" operations in that netherworld of spy vs. spy. In a recent article in Newsweek magazine, Arkin reveals the existence of an immense network of Pentagon-run operatives involved in a program entitled "signature reduction." According to Arkin, "the force, more than ten times the size of the clandestine elements of the CIA, carries out domestic and foreign assignments, both in military uniforms and under civilian cover, in real life and online, sometimes hiding in private businesses and consultancies, some of them household name companies." In this age of cyberwarfare, he notes there are now a plethora of individuals working both under their own names and anonymously to ferret out the secrets of potential adversaries. This has grown, he indicates, with the growing emphasis on so-called major power rivals like Russia and China and the diminished importance of groups like Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. Arkin feels that there are around 130 U.S. companies that are involved in this clandestine program, comprising as many as 60,000 people. Contracts are signed, false passports are printed, and operations are set into motion, largely with no oversight by the U.S. Congress or any other regulatory body. They may be people in your neighborhood who are part of the arrangement or someone you "friended" on Facebook. And "signature reduction" is keen on providing a useful "paper trail" to back up the false identities they may create in their work or online. In the present circumstances, people should be quite concerned about these revelations. With the Biden Administration intent on creating a new "great wall" to fend off Chinese or Russian "threats," this type of activity is also being focused on those individuals, reporters, or politicians who do not show enough support for defending "the American Way." We have seen this in the suppression of the Confucius Institutes at U.S. universities, but there has also been pressure on groups like the U.S.-China Friendship Societies, who have also been targeted as "fronts" for the Communist Party of China. Then there is the issue of scholars and scientists in the U.S. who are engaged with their Chinese counterparts in trying to solve some of the major problems facing mankind whether it be in the field of medicine, energy or space. They too are being subject to the same type of scrutiny and disciplinary action to keep them in line. The more the U.S. describes its "rivalry" with Russia and China as "existential," the greater the danger that Americans will forfeit entirely their freedom to express their opinions, if that opinion is not totally in sync with the increasingly strident "mainstream" narrative. And, as Arkin indicates, there are now deployed tens of thousands of operatives in the country, who will be available for looking for those "fifth columnists" who dare to cast doubt on the "America First" under its new guise as "leader" of the "alliance of democracies." The situation is reminiscent of the McCarthy era during the 1950s, but it has all the potential of becoming something far more serious. During that period, you also had the terrorization of the general population. Those who came back from World War II were encouraged to keep quiet if they wanted to keep their jobs, maintain their positions, or avoid jail. And, for the most part, they became quiescent and retreated into a suburban "lull" and the goals for which they were fighting under Franklin Roosevelt's leadership, realizing the "Four Freedoms" or industrializing the world, and eliminating poverty, were quickly forgotten in the frigid regime of the Cold War. Today the situation is even more acute. The concerted efforts by the Biden Administration to sabotage China's industrial development, a development which was not supposed to occur in any "communist" country, is pitting the United States against a country that is one of the most important economic powers in the world today. As the battle on the economic front becomes more intense and clear victory is not seen on the horizon, this rivalry can quickly lead to military conflict, since the question of development for China is, for them, a real existential issue. And the increased military activity of the U.S. and its allies in the South and East China Sea can easily lead to an incident that will be difficult to control, particularly since there is still little to no communication between the two countries' militaries at the present moment. If people don't wake up soon and react to the dirty operations that are being run against them by their own intelligence services, with the support of the U.S. media, many of whom could well be on this clandestine payroll, they may be waking up in a nation that has more similarities to that described by George Orwell than that depicted in our founding documents. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) Penny alleged royal is 'wrong' and that Prince William 'gets what his destiny is' During Oprah Winfrey interview Prince Harry claimed his brother and his father, Prince Charles, are 'trapped' in the system of the British monarchy Prince William 'doesn't feel trapped at all' in the royal family and is 'modelling himself on his grandmother the Queen', a royal author has claimed. Penny Junor, who penned 'Prince William: The Man Who Will Be King', has criticised Prince Harry after he sensationally claimed his brother the Duke of Cambridge and his father, Prince Charles, are 'trapped' in the system of the British monarchy during a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in March. The royal branded the Duke of Sussex, 36, who now live in the US with wife Meghan and son Archie, 'absolutely wrong,' adding that she doesn't think Prince William 'feels trapped at all'. Speaking to The Sun, she said: 'I think he absolutely gets what his destiny is and he is embracing it. He is modelling himself on his grandmother the Queen.' Royal author Penny Junor claimed Prince William, 39, 'doesn't feel trapped at all' in the royal family and is 'modelling himself on his grandmother the Queen.' Pictured, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during the bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview on March 7, 2021 According to Penny, the Duke of Cambridge is 'modelling himself on his grandmother the Queen.' Pictured, the Queen talks with Prince William in the Royal Box at the Royal Albert Hall during the annual Royal Festival of Remembrance in central London on November 7, 2015 During the explosive interview, Prince Harry, who is sixth in line to the throne, told the American chat show host: 'I myself was trapped. I didn't see a way out. I was trapped but I didn't know I was trapped. Asked what he meant, Prince Harry replied: 'Trapped within the system, like the rest of my family are. 'My father and my brother, they are trapped. They don't get to leave.' Prince Charles, the Queen's son, is next in line to the throne, while Prince William is second in the line of succession. Opening up in his new five-part AppleTV+ docuseries with Oprah Winfrey, Prince Harry accused the Royal Family of 'total silence' and 'neglect' when Meghan was suicidal, claiming his father Prince Charles made him 'suffer' as a child and insisting he would not be 'bullied into silence' when he alleged 'The Firm' 'trapped', smeared and dumped them. Pictured, during his new five-part AppleTV+ docuseries The Me You Can't See Key revelations from Prince Harry's latest bombshell interview on US TV On the Sussexes' cries for help to the Royal Family 'I thought my family would help, but every single ask, request, warning, whatever it is, just got met with total silence, total neglect. We spent four years trying to make it work. We did everything that we possibly could to stay there and carry on doing the role and doing the job. But Meghan was struggling.' On Harry's family 'stopping' them from quitting 'That feeling of being trapped within the family, there was no option to leave. Eventually when I made that decision for my family, I was still told, 'You can't do this', And it's like, 'Well how bad does it have to get until I am allowed to do this?'. She [Meghan] was going to end her life. It shouldn't have to get to that.' On Meghan's wish to 'end her life' 'Meghan decided to share with me the suicidal thoughts and the practicalities of how she was going to end her life. 'The thing that stopped her from seeing it through was how unfair it would be on me after everything that had happened to my mum and to now to be put in a position of losing another woman in my life with a baby inside of her, our baby. 'The scariest thing for her was her clarity of thought. She hadn't 'lost it.' She wasn't crazy. She wasn't self-medicating, be it through pills or through alcohol. She was absolutely sober. She was completely sane'. On Prince Charles' parenting 'My father used to say to me when I was younger, he used to say to both William and I, 'Well it was like that for me so it's going to be like that for you',' Prince Harry says in the new documentary. 'That doesn't make sense. Just because you suffered doesn't mean that your kids have to suffer, in fact quite the opposite. 'If you suffered, do everything you can to make sure that whatever negative experiences you had, that you can make it right for your kids'. On 'smears' from 'The Firm' 'Before the Oprah interview had aired, because of the combined efforts of The Firm and the media to smear her, I was woken up in the middle of the night to her crying into her pillow because she doesn't want to wake me up because I'm already carrying too much. That's heartbreaking.' And trying to repair the relationship 'I like to think that we were able to speak truths in the most compassionate way possible, therefore leaving an opening for reconciliation and healing.' Advertisement Prince William's first son, Prince George, is next in line, followed by his daughter Princess Charlotte and then his second son, Prince Louis. Prince Harry, who would have been third in line to the throne before the birth of his brother's children, is now sixth in line to the throne. He and Meghan's son, Archie, is seventh in the line of succession. Opening up in his new five-part AppleTV+ docuseries with Oprah Winfrey, Prince Harry dropped another nuclear 'truth bomb' on the Royal Family accusing them of 'total silence' and 'neglect' when Meghan was suicidal, claiming his father Prince Charles made him 'suffer' as a child and insisting he would not be 'bullied into silence' when he alleged 'The Firm' 'trapped', smeared and dumped them. In candid interviews, the Duke of Sussex said he and his wife felt abandoned by his relatives and this was one of their 'biggest reasons' for leaving for California last year. He told Oprah: 'Certainly now I will never be bullied into silence', adding: 'I thought my family would help, but every single ask, request, warning, whatever it is, just got met with total silence, total neglect. 'We spent four years trying to make it work. 'We did everything that we possibly could to stay there and carry on doing the role and doing the job. But Meghan was struggling.' He added: 'That feeling of being trapped within the family, there was no option to leave. 'Eventually when I made that decision for my family, I was still told, 'You can't do this', And it's like, 'Well how bad does it have to get until I am allowed to do this?'. She [Meghan] was going to end her life. It shouldn't have to get to that.' It comes after a source close to the royal family claimed Prince William does not believe he is 'trapped' inside the system of the British monarchy and Prince Harry's suggestions that he is are 'way off the mark.' Instead, the Duke of Cambridge, who is second in line to the throne behind his father, has 'accepted' his role and 'the path set for him', royal sources say. 'He is very much his grandmother's grandson in that respect of duty and service,' the source, who is close to both brothers, told the Sunday Times. It comes after royal expert Lady Colin Campbell launched a petition urging Prince Harry to ask the Queen to suspend his royal titles. The royal expert claimed putting his titles in abeyance would 'free Harry to indulge himself without doing damage to the institution of the monarchy.' Speaking to the Daily Star, she explained: 'I started it because I think it's the right thing to do. 'I have spoken to people, many people, who think it's the right thing to do and it is the solution. And since then, over 20,000 people have signed the petition. It states: 'The purpose is to invite Prince Harry to voluntarily ask The Queen to put his royal style, titles and rank into abeyance, thereby freeing him from the diplomatic, political and constitutional constraints that are an inevitable part of royal rank, and further freeing him from the constitutional conflicts which his beliefs are creating, with all their implications at home and abroad, in particular in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, where his articulated beliefs are in open conflict with the accepted tenets of both the United Kingdom and American Constitutions.' 'As a purely private citizen, with no royal rank, style or title, he will be able to indulge his personal beliefs, as is the right of all private citizens, without the consequential possibility of damaging the institution of the Monarchy or relations between Friendly Powers, and will be free to articulate beliefs, no matter how objectionable, without the fallout that is otherwise inevitable as long as he possesses royal status. 'His invitation to The Sovereign, being of his own accord, will resolve conflicts that would otherwise be inevitable, and will permit him to enjoy the credit of having put both national and international interests above his own, personal ones, in the process gaining him respect that he otherwise will not enjoy.' BEST HOT DOGS BUNS JOINT WINNER - Aldi Specially Selected brioche hot dog rolls (1.19) These buttery brioche buns have a lovely golden-yellow colour and nice shine on top. Soft yet still sturdy, theyd be lovely with a salty sausage. JOINT WINNER - Lidl Deluxe brioche hot dog rolls (1.19) On equal par with the rolls above, these golden buns are also soft, sweet and well-balanced. BEST BURGER BUNS WINNER - Sainsburys sesame-topped milk burger buns (1.20) The best all-rounder, not just for holding juicy burgers, but for making picnic baps too, these Japanese-milk-bread-inspired buns are super soft and fluffy, with an attractive sesame seed topping. BEST BURGERS WINNER - Morrisons The Best Shorthorn burger (3) A unanimous winner, this thick, juicy burger made with British Shorthorn has smoky barbecue notes and cooks to a perfect medium when following pack instructions. BEST VEGAN BURGER WINNER - M&S Plant Kitchen No Beef burger (3.50) If youre after a vegan burger that mimics meat, this was the best we tried its well seasoned and has a nice firm texture which holds well when cooked. BEST BARBECUE SAUCE WINNER - Morrisons sticky Kansas-style BBQ marinade & sauce (1.25) This has a nice balance of treacle-like sweetness, vinegary acidity and a slight smokiness. Its thick enough to use in a burger without getting messy, but would make a great marinade for pork ribs too. BEST KEBAB (MEAT OR FISH) WINNER - Aldi British minted lamb kebabs (2.49) These British lamb kebabs are well-seasoned, with a good level of spice and a hint of fresh mint. Perfect for the barbecue but just as good in the oven, they char beautifully on the outside, while remaining soft and moist inside. BEST ICE CREAM WINNER - Waitrose Scrumptious Summer salted caramel banoffee pie ice cream (3) Banana flavour can often be divisive, but this was a real hit with our judges. It combines creamy banana-flavoured ice cream with crunchy biscuit pieces and salted caramel it really does taste like banoffee pie! BEST COLESLAW WINNER - Morrisons The Best burger coleslaw (2) Our judges loved this colourful, nicely acidic slaw, packed with white and red cabbage, carrot, red onion, gherkins and mature cheddar cheese (a fun addition) and coated in a tangy mustard dressing. Great in a burger, a kebabs or wrap, or served as it is at a picnic. BEST FALAFELS WINNER - Waitrose Levantine Table herb falafels (3) Described as superior for a shop-bought falafel, these have a nice chunky texture, warm spicing and plenty of fresh parsley and coriander BEST READY MADE PASTRY WINNER - Waitrose No. 1 mozzarella & pesto swirls (3) These pastry swirls combine golden layers of crisp, buttery pastry with a super cheesy pesto, cream cheese and mozzarella filling. Just as good cold as they are heated, theyre perfect for a family picnic. Wendy's has revealed their full menu ahead of opening their first branch in Reading this week. The US burger chain famous for its square patties will have four exclusive items on the British menu: - the Veggie Stack, Veggie Bites, Avocado Veggie Salad and Chicken Nuggets made from real chicken breast fillets. While US stores sell chicken nuggets, they are made from a mix of breast and rib meat with water, sodium phosphates and salt. Signature items that fans know from the US will also feature, including the Baconator, Dave's Single, the Spicy Chicken Sandwich and the Frosty dessert in chocolate and vanilla. Wendy's has revealed the first four items that will appear on the chain's menu when it's first branch in Reading this week. Pictured is their Dave Burger Just like Wendy's beef burgers, the Veggie Stack, made with black beans, grains, vegetables, herbs, and spices, will be in Wendy's signature square style. Customers at the Reading store will find a wide variety on the menu, from fresh British beef burgers, real whole breast chicken fillet sandwiches and salads made fresh every day such as the Chicken Caesar or Apple Cranberry - and hearty sides including Baked Potatoes, Baconator fries and Wendy's famous Chili con Carne. What's on the Wendy's UK menu? Wendy's revealed their full UK menu to FEMAIL, shown below: - Burgers, sandwiches and chicken Dave's Single (beef) Dave's Double (beef) Dave's Triple (beef) Baconator (beef) Spicy Chicken Classic Chicken Grilled Chicken Avocado Chicken Club Veggie Stack Chicken Nuggets Chicken Tenders Breakfast Breakfast Baconator Sausage, Egg & Cheese Croissant Bacon, Egg & Cheese Croissant Bacon, Egg & Cheese Sandwich Sausage Egg & Cheese Sandwich Egg & Cheese Sandwich Breakfast Potatoes Pain Au Chocolat Porridge - Cranberry & Seeds, Jam or Plain Salads Chicken Ceasar Apple Cranberry Avocado Chicken Sides Fries Baconator Fries Chili Cheese Fries Veggie Bites Baked Potatoes - Sour cream & Chives Baked Potatoes - Bacon & Cheese Baked Potatoes - Chili Cheese Chili Con Carne Frosty dessert Hot drinks Cappuccino Americano Flat White Latte Espresso Mocha Tea Hot Chocolate Advertisement Paul Hilder, SVP, UK & Canada Managing Director, told FEMAIL: 'We can't wait for the British public to try our menu when the doors open to our Reading restaurant on 2nd June. 'The signature Wendy's items that fans know and love are there, but you will also see a few new additions just for our British customers. 'With Wendy's you can guarantee you'll get freshly prepared, high quality ingredients in everything we serve. Get ready for the best burger out there square, fresh off the grill and made to order.' The US burger chain famous for its square patties, full UK menu includes four exclusive to the British menu, the Veggie Stack, Veggie Bites, Avocado Veggie Salad (left) and Chicken Nuggets made from real chicken breast fillets (right) The Veggie Stack, is made with black beans, grains, vegetables, herbs, and spices, will be in Wendy's signature square style. A full Wendy's-style breakfast menu will also be available before 10.30AM , offering early-door delights such as The Breakfast Baconator, Croissant Sandwiches and the Classic Egg & Cheese Sandwich with optional bacon or sausage, plus a range of high-quality coffee options including Flat Whites, Cappuccinos and Lattes. Wendy's carried out extensive consumer research before its UK launch, which found that the US signature menu items were a hit with UK consumers. The brand also listened to what additional menu items British customers wanted, including meat free options and real whole breast fillet Chicken Nuggets. All menu items will be made-to-order and everything on the menu is customisable Signature items that fans know from the US will also feature, including the Baconator, Dave's Single, the Spicy Chicken Sandwich and the Frosty dessert in chocolate and vanilla (left) as well as new items including veggie bites (right) Wendy's is set to open it's first branch in the UK on Wednesday, 21 years after the popular American fast food chain closed all it's doors of British shores. The US restaurant, which is known for its spicy nuggets and square burgers will open two branches in the next five months, one in Reading and a second in Oxford. Locations in London are also being explored by Wendy's, who are looking for franchise owners for their stores. The burger chain, which is the third largest in the world after McDonald's and Burger King, hasn't revealed how many locations it will open or how many jobs it's UK expansion will create. Currently, there are 6,700 Wendy's across 30 countries. This isn't a debut for the fast food joint, who are well known for their viral marketing stunts and Twitter campaigns. The brand first opened stores in the UK in the 1980s but closed them all in 1999. Wendy's is set to open it's first branch in the UK, 21 years after the popular American fast food chain closed all it's doors of British shores. The US restaurant, which is known for its spicy nuggets and square burgers will open two chains in the next five months, one in Reading and a second in Oxford. But the last two decades has seen soaring success for US fast food joints in the UK. Cult US fast food brand Popeyes is set to open its first restaurant in the UK this year, while Wendy's, which is known for its spicy nuggets and square burgers said they are set to open two branches in the next five months in the UK,. Five Guys, which first opened in the UK in 2013, now has 115 restaurants in the country with 20+ set to open this year. Shake Shack also opened it's first restaurant in London in 2013 and now has 19 locations in the UK. More recently, Taco Bell has made a successful journey across the pond, while Chick-fil-A opened in Reading in 2019 but closed following a row about it's parenting company funding anti-LGBT organisations. Advertisement The United States recorded its lowest daily totals of coronavirus cases and deaths in more than a year as officials continue to encourage the public to get vaccinated. On Sunday, the country reported 6,725 new infections, which is the lowest single-day number since March 21, 2020, a DailyMail.com analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. It also marks the first time that the daily number of cases has fallen below 10,000 in more than a year, the analysis found. The U.S. recorded 124 new coronavirus-related deaths on Sunday, the lowest figure since 119 fatalities were reported on March 24, 2020. It comes as 20 U.S. states, and the District of Columbia, have administered at least one coronavirus vaccine dose to two-thirds of their adult populations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twelve of those states - Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia - are in the Northeast. Just two - Illinois and Minnesota - are in the Midwest and six - California, Colorado, Hawaii, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington - are in the west. Vermont currently leads the pack with 81.7 percent of residents receiving at least one dose, according to CDC data. This will help meet President Joe Biden's goal of 70 percent of Americans receiving at least one COVID-19 vaccine by July 4. Despite the promising numbers Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert, says it is too soon for the country to declare victory against COVID-19. 'We don't want to declare victory prematurely because we still have a ways to go, but the more and more people that can get vaccinated, as a community, the community will be safer and safer.'' he told The Guardian. On Sunday, the U.S. recorded 6,725 new coronavirus cases, which is the lowest single-day total since March 21, and the first time cases have fallen below 10,000 in more than a year American also reported 124 new coronavirus-related deaths on Sunday, marking the lowest figure since March 24, 2020 CDC data show that 20 states, and the District of Columbia, have administered at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose to two-thirds of their adult populations According to CDC data, 62.6 percent of all American adults have received at least an initial dose of the inoculation and 49.6 percent are fully vaccinated. What's more, 50.5 percent of the U.S. population, including children 12 and older, have been given at least one dose and 40.7 percent have completed their vaccine series. To incentivize more residents to get vaccinated, some governors have announced lotteries with large cash prizes. On Thursday, California revealed it will be offering the country's largest pot of vaccine prize money - $116.5 million - including $1.5 million each for 10 residents. Additionally, the first two winners of the lottery in Ohio - which was the first state to launch any incentivization campaign - were recently unveiled with a 22-year-old winning the initial $1 million prize and a 14-year-old winning a full-ride scholarship to college. Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious diseases expert, said it is too soon for the U.S. to 'declare victory' because not enough people are vaccinated. Pictured: Fauci testifies during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, March 2021 With millions of people traveling for Memorial Day weekend and meeting friends and family for picnics or barbeques, health experts warn there is still a significant portion of the population that is unvaccinated and at risk. 'As long as there is some degree of activity throughout the world, there's always a danger of variants emerging and diminishing somewhat the effectiveness of our vaccines,' Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) told The Guardian. 'We cannot abandon public health measures when you still have a degree of viral activity in the broad community in the United States. Although we're down to less than 30,000 infections per day that's still a lot of infections per day.' Dr Leana Wen, an emergency physician, told CNN that Americans who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 'should feel very well protected.' But she says inoculated people still need to follow precautions, including wearing masks and social distancing. 'Those who remain at risk are those who are unvaccinated, and that includes children who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated as well as adults who just have not been vaccinated yet,' she said. 'And so those people who are unvaccinated are now still at high risk because we do have more transmissible variants, and unfortunately those individuals who don't have immunity are not protected from these variants that can wreak a lot of havoc.' Coronavirus cases are holding steady or declining in all but three states, California, Missouri and Washington, according to Johns Hopkins data California's seven-day rolling average hit 2,026 new cases per day, a 71% increase from 1,179 cases recorded on May 19, which health officials say is linked to a rise in infections in northern counties Meanwhile, cases are holding steady or declining in all but three states, California, Missouri and Washington, according to Johns Hopkins data. On Sunday, California's seven-day rolling average hit 2,026 new cases per day, a 71 percent increase from 1,179 recorded on May 19. According to state health officials, the surge is being drive by a rise in case in the northern part of California. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Shasta County - 200 miles north of Sacramento - is seeing 9.1 new daily COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and a positivity rate of 3.7 percent, while the statewide rate is at 0.9 percent. Comparatively, Los Angeles County is reporting a daily rate of 1.8 new cases per 100,000 people and a positivity rate of 0.4 percent. 'Right now, Shasta County is a red tier county in a sea of orange and yellow counties,' Kerri Schuette, program manager of the county's public health department, told the Chronicle. 'We still have a very high case rate.' Missouri has seen a 16% rise in the seven-day rolling average of cases from 434 new infections recorded on May 19 to 505 cases on Sunday On Sunday, the seven-day rolling average of coronavirus cases in Washington hit 919, a 33% increase from the 689 cases recorded May 19 In Missouri, the seven-day rolling average of cases has risen 16 percent from 434 recorded two weeks ago to 505 recorded on Sunday, a DailyMail.com analysis of Johns Hopkins data found. Just 52.7 percent of the adult population has received at least one dose and officials are seeing a rise in the number of infected young adults and children. 'With graduation, we had schools that took senior trips and had students all on buses together for four to six hours,' Linn County Health Department Krista Neblock told The Missouri Independent. 'The kids were developing symptoms and continuing with festivities. And they only got tested on a Monday, after they had gone around and infected a significant number of people.' On Sunday, the seven-day rolling average of infections in Washington hit 919, a 33 percent increase from the 689 cases recorded May 19, the analysis revealed. Health officials say vaccine hesitancy is behind the slight uptick in cases as well as long-term care residents moving in and out of buildings, sometimes bringing the virus with them. 'Vaccine hesitancy remains an issue among long-term-care workers nationwide,' Chris Wright, a spokesman for the state's Department of Social and Health Services, told the Seattle Times. 'Now that hundreds of millions of doses of vaccine have been administered, hesitant employees can be assured that it is a safe and effective, and we hope they will choose to get vaccinated.' Companies in the U.S. can legally provide incentives to workers to get the COVID-19 vaccine, according the federal government. In December 2020, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) said employers can mandate that employees get vaccinated before returning to the workplace. But in updated guidance published Friday, the EEOC said that bosses can offer cash, gift cards, time off to get the shot or paid leave. However, the recommendations state that companies' motivations to get workers jabbed cannot be 'coercive' and they must allow for exemptions, either due to disability or religious reasons. In updated guidance published on Friday, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) said employers can offer incentives for workers to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Pictured: Jorge Montoya receives his first Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in Los Angeles, April 2021 This can include a range of things such as cash, gift cards, time off to get the shot or paid leave, similar to what states are doing to boost falling vaccination rates 'The updated technical assistance released today addresses frequently asked questions concerning vaccinations in the employment context,' said EEOC Chair Charlotte Burrows in a statement. 'The EEOC will continue to clarify and update our COVID-19 technical assistance to ensure that we are providing the public with clear, easy-to-understand and helpful information. 'We will continue to address the issues that were raised at the Commission's recent hearing on the civil rights impact of COVID-19.' Recently, several companies have announced they are paying their employees to receive the vaccine. Both McDonald's and discount grocery store Aldi said they will give workers up to four hours of paid time off to get the coronavirus jab. Meanwhile, Kroger, the nation's largest grocery chain, said it will give $100 to any employee who shows proof they got inoculated. And American Airlines said all employees - including pilots, flight attendants and corporate workers - who get vaccinated will get an extra day off in 2022 and $50 in the company's recognition program. These are similar to the lotteries that different states, such as California, New York and Ohio, have been running, to boost falling vaccination rates, which have declined from an average of 2.5 million per day at the beginning of the month to 1.5 million per day as of Monday. However, the EEOC says that incentives for workers to get vaccinated cannot be so large that they appear to be 'coercive.' 'Because vaccinations require employees to answer pre-vaccination disability-related screening questions, a very large incentive could make employees feel pressured to disclose protected medical information,' the guidance reads. Currently, 50.5% of the U.S. population, including children 12 and older, have been given at least one dose and 40.7% have completed their vaccine series However, some legal experts say that what is considered coercive to one person may not be to another. 'What is "coercive" is unclear because, just as with anything else, one person's view of what is a coercive incentive is not the same as another person's,' Helen Rella, an employment attorney at New York law firm Wilk Auslander, told CBS News. 'You might find an incentive of $100 coercive and another person might find an incentive of $10,000 coercive. That's where the door is left open [where] we don't have the detailed guidance we were hoping to receive.' The guidance also states that an employer offering vaccination on-site must employee's personal medical information confidential. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 62.6 percent of all American adults have received at least an initial dose of the inoculation and 49.6 percent are fully vaccinated. What's more, 50.5 percent of the U.S. population, including children 12 and older, have been given at least one dose and 40.7 percent have completed their vaccine series. Johnson & Johnson is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out a $2 billion verdict in favor of women who claim the company's baby powder played a role in them developing cancer. The 22 women who filed a lawsuit against J&J were initially awarded $4.7 billion in 2018 in a state court in Missouri. They alleged that the talcum-based baby powder led to ovarian cancer. A state appeals courts slashed $2.7 billion off the payment, but J&J hopes the rest will be thrown out as well. Johnson and Johnson claims that the way the lawsuit was structured was unfair to the company, as attorneys had to argue multiple situations in one suit. The company has since stopped selling their talcum-based powder in North America, now only selling the cornstarch-based version. Johnson and Johnson is hoping to throw out a $2 billion verdict reached against them in 2018 after it was ruled their talc based baby powder played a role in some women developing ovarian cancer. The company argues that the nature of the trial was unfair. Talc is a mineral similar in structure to asbestos, which is known to cause cancer, and they are sometimes obtained from the same mines. Last year, a U.S.-led analysis of more than 250,000 women found no strong link between talc and ovarian cancer. The study's lead author called the results 'ambiguous' though, saying there are no conclusive results to be drawn from the analysis. The cosmetics industry in 1976 agreed to make sure its talc products do not contain detectable amounts of asbestos. Talc has also been linked to mesothelioma, with Vanderbilt Minerals paying out a settlement for their use of the chemical to a tile worker who developed cancer after working for the company in 2018. WHY COULD TALCUM POWDER BE DANGEROUS? Talcum powder is made of finely ground talc, a mineral which forms underground as a clay-like rock. It is often mined from the same place as asbestos, a mineral known to cause lung disease. While talc is used for the skin due to its softness and moisture-absorbing properties, asbestos was used for insulation. Non-contaminated talc is completely safe but, if it is tainted with asbestos, there is a risk it could be damaging to health. In the past, tests have shown traces of asbestos in talcum powder products. About eight out of 10 people with mesothelioma - a type of lung cancer -have been exposed to asbestos. When asbestos fibers are breathed in, they travel to the ends of small air passages and reach the membranes of the thorax and lungs. They can cause inflammation and scarring, damage cells' DNA, or cause changes that result in uncontrolled cell growth. If swallowed, these fibers can reach the abdominal lining, where they can cause mesothelioma. Ovarian cancer is another cancer asbestos is believed to be linked to, and is at the heart of Johnson & Johnson lawsuits in which women have claimed talcum powder has given them the cancer. In some cases they have won and received million-dollar payouts from the company. It is not clear why or how asbestos travels to ovarian tissues. Advertisement Last year J&J recalled 33,000 bottles of its baby powder after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found traces of asbestos in bottles purchased online. A 2018 investigation by Reuters found that the company had known its baby powder contained the chemical for decades, with the earliest record being from the 1950s. J&J denies that its talc products cause cancer and it called the verdict in the Missouri trial 'at odds with decades of independent scientific evaluations confirming Johnson's Baby Powder is safe, is not contaminated by asbestos and does not cause cancer.' Tiger Joyce, president of the American Tort Reform Association, pointed to how long it took the trial judge to read the jury its instructions as an indication of how unfair the trial was to J&J. 'When a defendant is facing a case where it takes over five hours for the judge to read the jury instructions to the jury, you just have to ask yourself what are we doing here,' said Joyce. The American Tort Reform Association often backs limits on liability lawsuits. The $1.6 billion in punitive damages is out of line and should be reduced, the company also argued in a brief that was written by Neal Katyal, a Washington lawyer who aligns with progressive causes and also represents corporate clients. Katyal, who was the acting top Supreme Court lawyer in the Obama administration, declined an on-the-record interview with the Associated Press. The U.S. Supreme Court will report by Tuesday whether or not it will take part in the case. If it does, Justice Samuel Alito will not be taking part in the court proceedings for this case. The justice reported that he owned $15,000 to $50,000 in Johnson & Johnson stock last year. Federal law prohibits judges from sitting on cases in which they have financial interest. More than 100 employees at Houston Methodist have sued the hospital for making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory in the workplace. The company put out a new policy last month, requiring all of its 26,000 workers to get both shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, or the one shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines, by June 7 or risk termination. Houston Methodist says 99 percent of its employees are fully vaccinated - but a small group refuses to do so. A total of 117 have joined the lawsuit, claiming the hospital is 'is forcing its employees to be human "guinea pigs" as a condition for continued employment,' reported KHOU 11. They also claim coronavirus vaccines are 'experimental,' because they have only received emergency use authorization and not full U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. The federal government's Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled in December 2020 that employers could legally set vaccine requirements for their workforce. Jennifer Bridges (pictured) is among 117 employees suing a Houston hospital after it made coronavirus vaccinations mandatory for all of its 26,000 employees Houston Methodist hospital became the first major hospital system in the country to require all of its employees to be vaccinated for Covid-19 last month by June 7 or risk termination The hospital system became the first in the U.S. to set a coronavirus vaccine requirement last month. 'As health care workers we must do everything possible to keep our patients safe and at the center of everything we do,' said Dr Marc Bloom, CEO of Houston Methodist hospital system, in an email to employees. 'By choosing to be vaccinated, you are leaders - showing our colleagues in health care what must be done to protect our patients, ourselves, our families and our communities.' The hospital system first told its administrative staff and new hires to get vaccinated by mid-April before extending the deadline to early June. Two employees chose to leave the hospital system instead of getting vaccinated at the time. The system also offered employees $500 if they got vaccinated early on in the rollout of the shots. Employees who have a religious or health exemption for receiving the vaccine had until May 3 to apply for a waiver. The group of 117 workers suing the hospital is led by Jennifer Bridges, a nurse who garnered international attention last month for speaking out against the hospital's requirements. 'People trying to force you to put something into your body that you're not comfortable with, in order to keep your job, is just insane,' she told KHOU last month, explaining why she is rejecting the vaccine. 'I'm not an anti-vax person. If you want to get it, by all means, get it. I don't take that away from anybody Just let everybody have a choice and the right to make their own decision.' Bloom released a statement on Friday, responding to employees who are refusing to take the vaccine. Marc Bloom (pictured), CEO of the hospital system, released a statement on Friday saying he stands by the decision to make employees get vaccinated 'It is unfortunate that the few remaining employees who refuse to get vaccinated and put our patients first are responding in this way,' he said. 'It is legal for health care institutions to mandate vaccines, as we have done with the flu vaccine since 2009. 'The COVID-19 vaccines have proven through rigorous trials to be very safe and very effective and are not experimental. 'More than 165 million people in the U.S. alone have received vaccines against COVID-19, and this has resulted in the lowest numbers of infections in our country and in the Houston region in more than a year.' Bridges and the group of employees are being represented by Jared Woodfill from the Houston-based Woodfill Law Firm. Woodfill told KHOU that his firm filed a declaration action, asking the court to declare the hospital's orders illegal. They have also filed for an injunction to prevent the employees from being terminated on the June 7 deadline while legal proceedings are ongoing. Woodfill is arguing that the vaccine is an experimental product, and that it should not be legal to force employees to receive it. '[The vaccine] that's been on the market for less than a year. And yes, it's being used under EUA, but at the same time, that is experimental by definition,' he said. 'You can't fire someone for refusing to do something illegal, and if you look at federal law, it makes it very clear that it's illegal to force someone to participate in a vaccine trial.' The three available vaccines in the U.S. have all received emergency use authorization from the FDA. Bridges says she is waiting for the vaccines to receive full approval before she receives it Currently, all three of the available COVID-19 vaccines in the United States have given emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and are pending further trials to receive full approval. The vaccines will be allowed as long as the country remains in a state or emergency related to COVID-19, which will be until March 2022 under the current schedule. Vaccine suppliers must submit six months worth of clinical data to the FDA for full approval, and the application to receive full approval often takes six months to review. Currently, only Pfizer has applied for full approval. Bridges told reporters that she is waiting for the vaccine to receive full approval from the FDA before she receives it. The global economy is set to grow at its fastest rate since 1973, according to projections from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The Paris-based think-tank has hiked its forecasts for output across the world and is predicting a rebound of 5.8 per cent in 2021, up from 5.6 per cent in March and 4.2 per cent in December. Rapid vaccination rollouts in developed countries such as Britain have helped economies start getting back to normal but the OECD warned that recoveries between nations were still very uneven, which was causing some discomfort. The OECDs chief economist, Laurence Boone (pictured) has urged governments and pharmaceutical businesses to remove barriers to vaccine production so that countries which are behind on their jabs can catch up. While wealthier regions have snapped up vaccines and have the infrastructure to inoculate citizens speedily, poorer countries are struggling with surging numbers of coronavirus cases and overflowing hospitals. This is putting the recovery at risk, the OECD pointed out. In its latest economic outlook, the organisation said: As long as the vast majority of the global population is not vaccinated, all of us remain vulnerable to the emergence of new variants. The OECD, meanwhile, bumped up its projections for the UKs growth this year to 7.2 per cent the highest in the whole of the G7 group of wealthy countries from 5.1 per cent in March. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the upgrades were testament to the ongoing success of our vaccine rollout. Laurence Boone, the OECDs chief economist, said: The prospects for the global economy have improved considerably in recent months and the outlook is brightening. Thats thanks to progress in vaccination, economies coping better with restrictions, and massive monetary and fiscal support. However, the health situation remains highly uncertain. Global recovery: The OECD has hiked its forecasts and is predicting a rebound of 5.8 per cent in 2021, up from 5.6 per cent in March and 4.2 per cent in December The organisation urged governments and pharmaceutical businesses to remove barriers to vaccine production so that countries which are behind on their jabs can catch up. Boone said: What needs to be done to vaccinate broadly and quickly is increase production capacities. To do so, bottlenecks need to be removed, and there are licences that need to be eased on opening up production facilities and technology transfer. She added: The global loss from the pandemic will be $3trillion by the end of 2022. This is a lot, its about the size of the French economy, but its about half what we were expecting back in December. China has continued to lead the global recovery. Its growth for this year was upgraded to 8.5 per cent from 7.8 per cent in March. But India, which has been hit by a catastrophic new wave of Covid, will face further hardship and is likely to suffer permanent damage due to childrens lost schooling and increased poverty, the OECD said. Output in the US, on the other hand, is projected to grow by 6.9 per cent this year. The embattled chairman of life insurer LV has come under fire for his role in the Post Office scandal. Alan Cook was boss of the Post Office from 2006 to 2010, during which time it began the disastrous prosecution of sub-postmasters for alleged theft. Thirty-nine were found guilty, but it was later revealed there had been a fault in the firms computer system with a judge overturning the verdicts and describing the saga as one of the greatest miscarriages of justice. Questions: LV chairman Alan Cook was boss of the Post Office from 2006 to 2010, during which time it began the disastrous prosecution of sub-postmasters for alleged theft Some sub-postmasters were even jailed, despite being innocent. And now Cooks role in the affair is being scrutinised by MPs, prompting fresh questions about his future at LV. He launched the prosecutions early in his tenure at the Post Office and defended the Horizon computer system as robust and fit for purpose when questions were raised about its reliability. Gareth Thomas, chairman of the all-party committee on mutuals, said the 67-year-old needed to be held to account. Cook is already facing criticism over a proposal to demutualise LV and sell it to the private equity firm Bain Capital for 530million. A voting bill in Texas that was on the verge of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's desk failed to pass Sunday night after Democrats walked out of the House chamber before a midnight deadline. The bill known as Senate Bill 7 would have imposed a raft of changes that Republicans in the state see as a sensible approach to securing election integrity. It would eliminate drive-thru voting, empower partisan poll watchers and impose new requirements in order to cast a ballot by mail in Texas. But about two hours before a midnight deadline to pass the bill, Democrats began filing out of the chamber in greater and greater numbers, denying Republicans the quorum necessary to hold a final vote. Abbott swiftly said he would call a special session to try passing a voting bill again but did not say when. 'Election Integrity & Bail Reform were emergency items for this legislative session. They STILL must pass. They will be added to the special session agenda. Legislators will be expected to have worked out the details when they arrive at the Capitol for the special session,' Abbott tweeted late Sunday night. Top Republican negotiators, Sen. Bryan Hughes and state Rep. Briscoe Cain, have called the bill 'one of the most comprehensive and sensible election reform bills' in Texas' history. But Democrats have argued that the bill would suppress voters and have a detrimental effect on access - especially for marginalized voters. Texas Gov Greg Abbott swiftly said he would call a special session to try passing a voting bill again but did not say when (file photo) #Breaking: Its official. Texas Democrats have broken a quorum to stop debate on sweeping elections bill. #txlege https://t.co/f0Hhbfulfk pic.twitter.com/vHUmJfA0kr Lauren Vaxxed to the Max McGaughy (@lmcgaughy) May 31, 2021 'We've said for so many years that we want more people to participate in our democracy. And it just seems that's not the case,' Democratic state Rep. Carl Sherman said. 'It's Jim Crow 2.0,' said Democratic Sen. Carol Alvarado. 'From the beginning, this was a rushed process.' The walkout handed Republicans a rare defeat in the Texas Capitol where they control every lever of power and wield overwhelming majorities in both the House and Senate. 'I am disappointed that some members decided to break quorum,' said Republican state Rep. Briscoe Cain, who carried the bill in the House. 'We all know what that meant. I understand why they were doing it, but we all took an oath to Texans that we would be here to do our jobs.' The move was reminiscent of 2003 when outnumbered Democrats twice broke quorum to stop Republican efforts to redraw voting maps. House Democrats first left the state en masse for Ardmore, Oklahoma only to return several days later. Senate Democrats delayed a special session that summer by going as a group to Albuquerque, New Mexico for several weeks. A voting bill in Texas that was on the verge of Republican Gov. Greg Abbotts desk failed to pass Sunday night after Democrats walked out of the House chamber before a midnight deadline. Pictured, House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, emerges from a closed-door meeting with Democratic members of the Texas House A group opposing new voter legislation gather outside the House Chamber at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas. Texas Republicans on May 29 State Rep. Nicole Collier, D- Fort Worth, the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, speaks at a news conference at the Capitol on Sunday against Senate Bill 7, known as the Election Integrity Protection Act Ultimately, neither effort worked as the Democrats eventually returned to the Capitol and Republicans passed the bill. Under revisions during closed-door negotiations, Republicans added language that could make it easier for a judge to overturn an election and pushed back the start of Sunday voting, when many Black churchgoers head to the polls. A judge would be able to void an outcome of an election if the number of fraudulent votes cast could change the result, regardless of whether it was proved that fraud affected the outcome. The 67-page measure would eliminate drive-thru voting and 24-hour polling centers, both of which Harris County, the state's largest Democratic stronghold, introduced last year. The bill would also newly empower partisan poll watchers by allowing them more access inside polling places and threatening criminal penalties against elections officials who restrict their movement. Republicans originally proposed giving poll watchers the right to take photos, but that language was removed from the final bill that lawmakers were set to vote on this weekend. State Rep. Nicole Collier, D- Fort Worth, the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, speaks at a news conference at the Capitol on Sunday against Senate Bill 7. Republicans in the Texas Senate early Sunday attempted to muscle through a sweeping measure that would eliminate drive-thru voting and empower partisan poll watchers Texas is the last big battleground in the GOPs nationwide efforts to tighten voting laws, driven by former President Donald Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Georgia and Florida have also passed new voting restrictions, and President Joe Biden on Saturday unfavorably compared Texas bill to election changes in those states as 'an assault on democracy.' The vote in the Texas Senate came just a short time after a final version of the bill had been made public Saturday. Around midnight, Republicans wielded their majority to suspend rules that would normally prohibit taking a vote on a bill that had not been posted for 24 hours, which Democrats protested as a breach of protocol that denied them and the public time to review the language first. Even before the final House vote, Democrats said they would try to block the measure in court. 'It's an awful bill,' said Democratic state Rep. Jessica Gonzalez, the vice chairwoman of the House Elections Committee. 'But I'm hopeful that this underhanded behavior, the way they undercut the process, will help us when we litigate this.' Pressed on the Senate floor over why Sunday voting couldn't begin sooner, Republican Sen. Bryan Hughes said, 'Election workers want to go to church, too.' Pressed on the Senate floor over why Sunday voting couldn't begin sooner, Republican Sen. Bryan Hughes said, 'Election workers want to go to church, too.' Major corporations, including Texas-based American Airlines and Dell, have warned that the measures could harm democracy and the economic climate. But Republicans shrugged off their objections, and in some cases, ripped business leaders for speaking out. The top Republican negotiators, Hughes and state Rep. Briscoe Cain, called the bill 'one of the most comprehensive and sensible election reform bills' in Texas history. 'Even as the national media minimizes the importance of election integrity, the Texas Legislature has not bent to headlines or corporate virtue signaling,' they said in a joint statement. Republican lawmakers in Texas have insisted that the changes are not a response to Trumps false claims of widespread fraud but are needed to restore confidence in the voting process. A Mexican drug cartel is now hunting down members of an elite police force and killing them at home in front of their family as the gang wages war on the government. The notoriously violent Jalisco cartel has vowed to eradicate an elite state force known as the Tactical Group in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato after accusing police of treating its members unfairly. Cartel members already have kidnapped several members of the police force and tortured them to obtain names and addresses of fellow officers. They are hunting down officers and killing police at their homes, on their days off, in front of their families. The cartel hung a professionally printed banner on a building in Guanajuato this month that reads: 'If you want war, you'll get a war. We have already shown that we know where you are. We are coming for all of you. The notoriously violent Jalisco cartel has vowed to eradicate an elite state force known as the Tactical Group in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato after accusing police of treating its members unfairly 'For each member of our firm (CJNG) that you arrest, we are going to kill two of your Tacticals, wherever they are, at their homes, in their patrol vehicles.' The attack poses the most direct challenge yet to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's 'hugs, not bullets' policy, which aims to avoid violence and reject any war on the cartels. Officials in Guanajuato - Mexico's most violent state, where Jalisco is fighting local gangs backed by the rival Sinaloa cartel - refused to comment on how many members of the elite group have been murdered so far. State police, however, have publicly acknowledged the latest case: An officer who was kidnapped from his home on Thursday, killed and his body dumped on a highway. Guanajuato-based security analyst David Saucedo said there have been many cases. 'A lot of them (officers) have decided to desert. They took their families, abandoned their homes and they are fleeing and in hiding,' Saucedo said. 'The CJNG is hunting the elite police force of Guanajuato.' Numbers of victims are hard to come by, but Poplab, a news cooperative in Guanajuato, said at least seven police officers have been killed on their days off so far this year. Cartel members have already kidnapped several members of the police force and tortured them to obtain names and addresses of fellow officers. They are also hunting down officers and killing police at their homes, on their days off, in front of their families In January, gunmen went to the home of a female state police officer, killed her husband, dragged her away, tortured her and dumped her bullet-ridden body. Guanajuato has had the highest number of police killed of any Mexican state since at least 2018, according to Poplab. The attack poses the most direct challenge yet to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's 'hugs, not bullets' policy, which aims to avoid violence and reject any war on the cartels Between 2018 and May 12, a total of 262 police have been killed, or an average of about 75 officers each year - more are killed by gunfire or other assaults on average each year in the entire United States, which has 50 times Guanajuato's population. The problem in Guanajuato has gotten so bad that the state government published a special decree on May 17 to provide an unspecified amount of funding for protection mechanisms for police and prison officials. 'Unfortunately, organized crime groups have shown up at the homes of police officers, which poses a threat and a greater risk of loss of life, not just for them, but for members of their families,' according to the decree. 'They have been forced to quickly leave their homes and move, so that organized crimes groups cannot find them,' it reads. State officials refused to describe the protection measures, or comment on whether officers were to be paid to rent new homes, or if there were plans to construct special secure housing compounds for them and their families. 'This is an open war against the security forces of the state government,' Saucedo noted. Lopez Obrador campaigned on trying to deescalate the drug conflict, describing a 'hugs, not bullets' approach to tackle the root causes of crime. Since taking office in late 2018, he has avoided openly confronting cartels, and even released one capo to avoid bloodshed, saying he preferred a long-range policy of addressing social problems like youth unemployment that contribute to gang membership. But former US Ambassador Christopher Landau said in April that Lopez Obrador views the fight against drug cartels 'as a distraction'. 'So he has basically adopted an agenda of a pretty laissez-faire attitude towards them, which is pretty troubling to our government, obviously,' Landau said. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked Sunday that flags at all federal buildings be flown at half-staff to honor more than 200 children were found buried at what was once the country's largest Indigenous residential school. The remains of 215 children, some of them as young as three years old, were discovered at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia, which was one of 80 institutions that held Indigenous kids taken from their families up until its closure in 1978. 'To honor the 215 children whose lives were taken at the former Kamloops residential school and all Indigenous children who never made it home, the survivors, and their families, I have asked that the Peace Tower and all federal buildings be flown at half-mast,' Trudeau tweeted. The Peace Tower flag on Parliament Hill in the nation's capital of Ottawa was among those lowered to half-staff. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked Sunday that flags at all federal buildings be flown at half-staff to honor more than 200 children were found buried at what was once the country's largest Indigenous residential school. A lowered flag is seen outside the British Columbia Legislature on Sunday The remains of 215 children were discovered at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia (pictured), officials confirmed last week The Kamloops school was established in 1890 and operated until 1969, its roll peaking at 500 during the 1950s when it was the largest in the country. Children were banned from speaking their own language or practicing any of their customs. This undated archival photo shows a group of young girls at the school Brescia University College lowered the Ursuline Hall Canada flag Mayors of communities across Ontario, including Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga and Brampton, also ordered flags lowered to honor the children. Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation in British Columbia said the remains of 215 children were confirmed last weekend with the help of ground-penetrating radar. She described the discovery as 'an unthinkable loss that was spoken about but never documented at the Kamloops Indian Residential School'. 'It's a harsh reality and it's our truth, it's our history,' Casimir told a media conference Friday. 'And it's something that we've always had to fight to prove. To me, it's always been a horrible, horrible history.' None of the victims have been identified, and it remains unclear how they died. Survivors fear more bodies will be found at the same site - as well as at the dozens of other former residential school sites across Canada. Sharing his horror at the discovery on Friday, Trudeau tweeted: 'The news that remains were found at the former Kamloops residential school breaks my heart - it is a painful reminder of that dark and shameful chapter of our countrys history. 'I am thinking about everyone affected by this distressing news. We are here for you.' Casimir said they had begun searching for the remains of missing children at the school grounds in the early 2000s, as they had long suspected official explanations of runaway children were part of a cover-up by the state. From the 19th century until the 1970s, more than 150,000 First Nations children were required to attend state-funded Christian schools as part of a program to assimilate them into Canadian society. They were forced to convert to Christianity and not allowed to speak their native languages. Many were beaten and verbally abused, and up to 6,000 are said to have died. Lynn Karonhia-Beauvais and grandson Jamieson Kane walk past shoes representing the remains of 215 children outside St. Francis Xavier Church in Kahnawake, Quebec A woman places children's moccasins as a tribute to all the victims of the residential school system outside St. Francis Xavier Church in Kahnawake, Quebec Jamieson Kane puts down tobacco as a tribute to all the victims of the residential school system as he walks amongst children's shoes Residential school survivor Betty Deer sits next to children's shoes, placed there as a tribute to the victims of the residential school system outside St. Francis Xavier Church in Kahnawake The Canadian government apologized in Parliament in 2008 and admitted that physical and sexual abuse in the schools was rampant. Many students recalled being beaten for speaking their native languages. They also lost touch with their parents and customs. Indigenous leaders have cited that legacy of abuse and isolation as the root cause of epidemic rates of alcoholism and drug addiction on reservations. Plans are underway to bring in forensics experts to identify and repatriate the remains of the children found buried on the site. The Kamloops school operated between 1890 and 1969, when the federal government took over operations from the Catholic Church and operated it as a day school until it closed in 1978. The National Truth and Reconciliation Commission has records of at least 51 children dying at the school between 1915 and 1963. In 1920, the Canadian Government passed a law making it compulsory for children between 7 and 15 to attend the residential schools. Many children died of abuse and neglect, and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis Chief McLeod, left, as a child. He said the gruesome discovery had brought up painful memories, but would also allow his community to heal The Kamloops Indian Residential School in 1937. The school was established in 1890 and operated until 1969, its roll peaking at 500 during the 1950s Residential schools in Canada: A shocking history of abuse More than 150,000 indigenous children were forcibly taken from their families and placed in residential schools from 1863 to 1998. The system was created by Christian churches and the Canadian government in the 19th century in an attempt to 'assimilate' and convert indigenous youngsters into Canadian society. There, they were banned from speaking their own languages or any of their traditional practices. In 2008, the Canadian Federal Government formally apologized for the practice, and launched a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The investigation found at least 4100 students died while attending the schools, many from abuse or neglect. Infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, malnourishment and accidents were also common causes of death at the schools. The commission into ill treatment of indigenous children brought out horror stories of sexual and physical abuse and neglect. Many of those who survived the schools suffered chronic illnesses and disabilities. Released in 2015, the commission's report admitted the policy was 'cultural genocide'. It established The Missing Children Project to document the thousands of children who died while attending the schools. The project had found 4100 before the latest discovery at Kamloops. Advertisement Perry Bellegarde, chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said while it is not new to find graves at former residential schools, it's always crushing to have that chapters wounds exposed. The chief of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, R. Stacey LaForme, wrote Trudeau on Saturday to ask the government to lower the flags and declare a national day of mourning. 'There is a lot more to be done but first and foremost, we need to do this to show love and respect to the 215 children, all of the children, and their families,' LaForme said in a statement. 'This should be a moment that the country never forgets.' Sol Mamakwa, an Indigenous opposition legislator who represents the Ontario riding of Kiiwetinoong, called on the province and Canadian government to work with all First Nations to look for remains at other defunct residential schools. 'It is a great open secret that our children lie on the properties of the former schools - an open secret that Canadians can no longer look away from,' Mamakwa said. 'In keeping with the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Missing Children Projects, every school site must be searched for the graves of our ancestors.' Toronto Mayor John Tory said city flags would stay lowered for nine days - 215 hours - to represent each life. 'This sad story is shocking but not surprising to students of history, I dont think we know yet when these deaths occurred,' said Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto. 'Canada of yesteryear is not the Canada of today,' he said. The Tk'emlups te Secwepemc Nation said it was engaging with the coroner and reaching out to the home communities whose children attended the school. They expect to have preliminary findings by mid-June. Whether the discovery leads to a class action lawsuit against the church or the State, or even an attempt to bring criminal charges, depends on how the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc decide to proceed, Thompson Rivers University law professor Craig Jones told Castanet Kamloops. Jones said identifying the victims and building a picture of who they were and whether they have surviving relatives could determine any future litigation. 'In the ordinary course, if we were investigating a mass grave in Rwanda or Mexico or the former Yugoslavia, then you would just have a sort of team of forensic experts taking DNA samples without much regard to the gravesite as anything but a source of evidence,' he said. 'Here, we have cultural sensitivities and very delicate protocols that may actually mitigate against finding out all that we can from the remains of the victims.' Jones said he expects the discovery will lead to a fresh wave of lawsuits, but not criminal charges. 'Absent the sort of individual evidence where you could attribute a particular death to a particular act or oversight, you're not going to have a criminal case,' he said. 215 pairs of children's shoes are seen on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery as a memorial to the 215 children whose remains have been found In a statement, British Columbia Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee called finding such grave sites 'urgent work' that 'refreshes the grief and loss for all First Nations in British Columbia.' The Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation discovery was the first time a major burial site has been discovered. The Kamloops Indian Residential School, located on the outskirts of Kamloops, 250 miles northeast of Vancouver, was one of a network of dozens of boarding schools set up by the Canadian Government's Department of Indian Affairs in the 19th Century to assimilate the native people into 'European cultural practices'. Once there, the students were completely disconnected from their customs and language and forced to speak English or French and indoctrinated with the racist attitudes towards indigenous that were prevalent in Canadian society during the period. The Catholic Church's rollcall of shame 2017 Ireland: A mass grave containing the remains of 800 babies and children is found at the site of the former Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, County Galway. Most of the dead children - aged between 35 weeks and three years - were buried there in the 1950s. The home, run by a religious order of nuns, was a shelter for unmarried pregnant women to give birth. 2013 Ireland: The Irish Government apologizes to the estimated 10,000 women who had their childhoods 'stolen away' after being sent to workhouses run by the Magdalene Sisters. Unmarried mothers and petty criminals were sent to ten laundries to wash clothes and linen in slave-like conditions between 1922 and 1996. 2002 Boston, USA: Five Roman Catholic priests are charged and later convicted of child sex offences after a major cover-up operation orchestrated by the church. The convictions resulted in more than $100 million in compensation payouts to victims, and a 2015 movie on the Boston Globe's expose of the scandal, Spotlight, won the Oscar for Best Picture. The Massachusetts case was arguably the most infamous of the hundreds of sex scandals involving the church from the 1950s onwards all around the world. In 2002, the Associated Press estimated the settlements of sex abuse cases involving the church from 1950 to 2007 totaled more than $2 billion. That figure was estimated to have grown to more than $3b by 2012. Advertisement The Kamloops school was established in 1890 and operated until 1969, its roll peaking at 500 during the 1950s when it was the largest in the country. From 1892, it was run by a Catholic order called the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. According to The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, the school's principal in 1910 said it did not receive enough money from the Government to properly feed students. A portion of the school was destroyed in 1924, and in 1969 the Federal Government took over administration of the school. The deaths of more than 6000 children were found to have occurred in the school system, with many thousands more children unaccounted for. Conditions were so rife with disease, abuse and neglect that the odds of dying in Canadian residential schools were about the same as for those serving in Canada's military during World War II. In 2017, Justin Trudeau formally asked Pope Francis to apologize for the role of the Catholic Church in the school system. The next year, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement saying the Pope would not personally apologize, but that he had not 'shied away from recognizing injustices faced by indigenous peoples around the world'. This week, the Catholic church again formally apologized for its role in the tragedy. 'The pain that such news causes reminds us of our ongoing need to bring to light every tragic situation that occurred in residential schools run by the Church,' the Archbishop of the Vancouver Archdiocese, J. Michael Miller, said in a statement. 'The passage of time does not erase the suffering.' Horgan, the British Columbia premier, said he 'honored' the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc people as they grappled with this 'burden from a dark chapter of Canadian history'. Horgan said he was fully committed to 'bringing to light the full truth of this loss'. 'It is a stark example of the violence the Canadian residential school system inflicted upon Indigenous peoples and how the consequences of these atrocities continue to this day.' Casimir, chief of the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation, said she expected more bodies may be found at the site as there were more areas of the school grounds to search. 'Given the size of the school, with up to 500 students registered and attending at any one time, we understand that this confirmed loss affects First Nations communities across British Columbia and beyond,' she said after the discovery was revealed. The First Nations Health Authority CEO Richard Jock said the discovery 'illustrates the damaging and lasting impacts that the residential school system continues to have on First Nations people, their families and communities'. Experts warned more mass burial sites would be found in the coming years. 'There are residential school burial sites all over Canada, some of which have yet to be discovered,' Cindy Blackstock, executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, told CTV News Channel. After hearing reports of the bodies being discovered at the school, Canadian artist Tamara Bell created the display of 215 sets of children's shoes at the Vancouver Art Gallery so people could understand the scale of the tragedy. 'I was so emotional. I was mortified,' she Bell. 'Then this morning I woke up and I realized I really, really wanted to do something I wanted to start healing. I had to do something. I wanted to create a visual so people could see what 215 children look like.' The U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) has used a partnership with Denmark's foreign intelligence unit to spy on senior officials of neighboring countries, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, according to Danish state broadcaster DR. The findings are the result of an internal investigation in the Danish Defence Intelligence Service from 2015 into NSA's role in the partnership, DR said, citing nine unnamed sources with access to the investigation. According to the investigation which covered 2012 and 2014, the NSA used Danish information cables to spy on senior officials in Sweden, Norway, France and Germany, including former German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and former German opposition leader Peer Steinbruck. Denmark, a close ally of the United States, hosts several key landing stations for subsea internet cables to and from Sweden, Norway, Germany, Holland and the UK. The internal investigation in the Danish Defence Intelligence Service was launched in 2014 following concerns about Edward Snowden's leaks the previous year revealing how the NSA works, according to DR. The U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) has used a partnership with Denmark's foreign intelligence unit to spy on senior officials of neighboring countries, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, according to Danish state broadcaster DR According to the investigation which covered 2012 and 2014, the NSA used Danish information cables to spy on senior officials in Sweden, Norway, France and Germany, including former German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (left0 and former German opposition leader Peer Steinbruck (right) In Washington, the NSA did not immediately reply to a request for comment and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) declined to comment. A spokesperson for the Danish Defence Intelligence Service declined to comment. 'It is grotesque that friendly intelligence services are indeed intercepting and spying on top representatives of other countries,' Steinbrueck told German broadcaster ARD. 'Politically I consider it a scandal.' Sweden's Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist told Swedish SVT broadcaster that he 'demanded full information on these things.' Norway's Defence Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen told broadcaster NRK that 'take the allegations seriously.' In Washington, the NSA did not immediately reply to a request for comment and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) declined to comment. A spokesperson for the Danish Defence Intelligence Service declined to comment. Pictured: NSA headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland A decision in August last year to suspend the head of the Danish Defence Intelligence Service and three other officials from their posts following criticism and accusations of serious wrongdoings from an independent board overseeing the unit, centered around the 2015 investigation, according to DR. The Danish government said last year it would initiate an investigation into the case based on information from a whistleblower report. That investigation is expected to be concluded later this year. (Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; Additional reporting by Christopher Bing in Washington and Simon Johnson in Stockholm; Editing by Daniel Wallis) Beloved Amos Alonzo Stagg High School family. For our graduating seniors, we are here for one, singular purpose: To celebrate this moment with you. The moment when you cross this stage, receive your diplomas, and are recognized as high school graduates. You represent Stockton. 209. Stagg Pride inside, all day, every day. You represent the Delta Kings and Queens. Youre royalty. Remember that. Since many of us did not have an opportunity to meet in person, and I was only here with you one short year during this global pandemic, Im just gonna go in right now, if I have your permission, seniors. Im going to speak to you from the heart, is that alright with you? Alright. Im not even gonna get close to talking to you as a principal right now. Im going to speak from my heart, as a truth teller and a freedom fighter. Im going to tell you why I came here, why I moved up from Southern California, having been very successful as a high school principal, recognized as state principal of the year, why would I come up here, to Stockton? Im not tryna brag. Why did I leave? Why? I came here after I saw a giant brawl outside of our school last year on the news. Im not gonna lie, I came here because Id seen students, whose background I might be able to identify with, that might need some guidance. Not that youre bad in any way, but you needed a mentor, a leader. Someone in this position of influence that would see you and not judge you, but love, teach, serve, and uplift you. Be in that struggle with you, and say that we got this. Theres a way out. It might be hard, the cards might be stacked against, the odds might not be in your favor. People in power might not have any respect for you, but we got this. We can rise. We can overcome. Since we get our education, not simply to serve ourselves, but to leave a legacy. My goal is not simply to have a title before my name, make a bunch of money, get a lot of power. Nah, anybody can do that: a sellout, a snitch, a wannabe can do that. Thats what this whole system is designed, to try and make you successful, at the cost of selling out your family, selling out your community, and even yourself. Its not about success. Its about significance. Successful people will do whatever it takes to stomp on top of others and pull them down to climb their way to the top. Where I come from, those people dont deserve any respect. But significant people, significance, not success, thats few and far between. And thats what I call you to today. Be significant. Give back to your community. Really represent your family, that struggle, that grind. The disrespect and racism that you and your people have always faced because of the color of your skin, because your parents might not be documented, because you come from a certain kind of neighborhood, in an apartment complex, from a certain kind of area. Stockton, thats right. We represent. And the way that we represent is by giving back. Coming back. Fight for this community, fight for your people, fight for justice and against injustice, no matter the cost. Go down in history as a real one, not a sellout. Leave a legacy for those who paved the way for you, for your ancestors, for those whose lands were stolen from them, who were forced against their will to come here in boats, chains, treated like animals, enslaved. For your own families that fled wars, their own homelands. Those who work in the fields, who hustle hard, working at the flea market, the pulga, wherever. Your families who got to work at Jack in the Box and grocery stores. Thats what youre called to do. Thats why I came here. Now, I only lasted one year, while I was kicked out for one reason: That I truly love you and this community. I was kicked out. The board of trustees, this past Tuesday, voted three to four to remove me as your principal and not listen to the community, nor to the students, nor the families, nor the staff of Stagg High School. But guess what? Stagg has changed. The staff is inspired. We bring hope and vision of what we can become. Youre that class, class of 2021. I came here to serve you, to love you, to be in the mix and the grind with you willing to die, do home visits. Ive seen people, to be honest, I was doing a home visit down on Countryside and I saw a gentleman pulling a gun right there, put it right in his pocket right there. Im like, shoot, should I do this home visit? Of course, because I love you. But when you come from the mud, you know what Im saying, when your mom overdosed from heroin, when your dads got multiple felonies on his record, when youve been beaten as a teenager, abused physically, and in other ways, theres nothing you cant overcome. Dedicate your life to your family. Some of you may have already lost parents and family. Everything I do, I do for my mom. That gives me strength. She died, like I said, of that overdose when I was 12. Shes not here to see, but she gives me a level of love and empathy and courage that others here, right now Im gonna do this, Im going to preach to you. No show, no funny, I just wanna show you where I come from and the power that I draw from, because I know that you have that inside of you. Mom, I love you. I always tell you that every day. I dedicate this work and service to you. I know you werent here to see me become the man that I am, but I promise that I will continue to serve and uplift others who struggle like me. Delta Kings and Queens, you feel that? You feel that energy and spirit? Thats the fire. That fire comes from within. You got that strength, you got that fire. Tap into it. Use every struggle as more fuel for that fire inside of you. Thats the fire that you got, so graduating seniors, be bold. Be strong. Take these lessons. Get every degree you can get. Work hard. Be disciplined. Wake up early. Read some books. Go on runs. Eat healthy. Get every degree you possibly can. Start speaking to the youth. Talk to your little brothers and sisters. Talk to your cousins, your nieces and nephews. Tell them focus on school. Tutor them, you know what Im talking about? Serve. Serve and lead by example. Dont be a wimp. Dont be a buster. Dont be a sellout. Be strong young men and women of courage and valor. Rep for your neighborhood, where you come from. Theres a bigger world out there. Dream big. Dream big. Im honored to say Im graduating with you today. If I could come back, I would do it the exact same way. For one year, one opportunity to serve you and to show you how much you are loved. And why are you loved so much? Because youre valuable. Youve got value that people dont understand. We paved the way for the future Delta royalty and we showed them that we can overcome anything. We set the bar. We are the bar. This graduating class, you cross the finish line in 2021 during a global pandemic, youre a historic class. Remember that. Go forward and represent with significance. Delta Kings and Queens, Stagg pride inside, all day, every day, I love you. The man charged with killing two Sonic employees at a Nebraska drive-through in November before appearing in a smiling mugshot is now facing additional charges for allegedly stabbing another inmate. According to court documents obtained by local news station KETV, Sarpy County Jail corrections officers responded to a cell on May 12 to find Roberto Silva Jr., 23, standing over fellow inmate Derick Fuller, who was lying on the ground of his cell. 'He stabbed me,' Fuller allegedly told the corrections officers. 'He shanked me with something sharp and flushed it down the toilet.' Silva did not respond to any questions about the incident, the documents say. Video from that night allegedly shows Fuller returning to his cell before Silva opens his own door and rushes in. Roberto Silva Jr., in prison for allegedly killing two people at a Sonic Drive-In in November, is now facing additional charges for allegedly stabbing another inmate The stabbing allegedly occurred at the Sarpy County Jail in Nebraska on May 12 There is no footage of what happened inside the cell, but witnesses reported hearing screaming and choking. Fuller, who was arrested in August for aggravated theft, was hospitalized with cut wounds to his ears and neck and required one stitch. Silva, meanwhile, was moved to a different facility. He is charged with use of a weapon to commit a felony and second-degree assault, in addition to the charges he already faces for allegedly killing two Sonic employees and injuring two others in November. According to Omaha police, officers responded to a call about a bomb inside a moving truck at the Sonic parking lot in Bellevue, near Omaha, on November 21, but when they arrived on the scene, they found the vehicle on fire. About one minute later, the call was updated to a possible shooting, and cops found Silva lying on the ground with his hands spread out, apparently accepting his fate. He did not resist arrest and was taken into custody without incident. They also found 22-year-old Nathan Pastrana and 28-year-old Ryan Helbert dead at the scene. Two others, ages 18 and 25, were hospitalized. Police returned to the suburban scene the next day and determined there was no bomb, and the area was once again safe. The police found Silva on the ground following a shooting at a Bellevue Sonic with his arms at his side. He did not resist arrest and was taken into custody without incident Nathan Pastrana, 22, was one of the Sonic employees killed in the November shooting Police arrived on the scene of the Bellevue Sonic on November 21 and found a truck on fire Omaha police investigated the scene following the shooting, and determined the next day that there was no bomb and the area was once again safe for customers Silva was charged with two counts of attempted murder in the first-degree, four counts of using a firearm to commit a felony and one count of first degree arson. Police seized four firearms from Silva following the shooting, after already taking three of his guns just a few days before when he was arrested on suspicion of identity theft, accused of using another person's Sonic app to buy $57 worth of hamburgers and corndogs in four separate purchases from that location. He was released November 19 after posting 10 percent of his $1,500 bail. Silva is now due to appear in court in June on these new charges for the alleged stabbing, one week after he appears in court for a hearing related to his November murder charges. Two on-duty police officers have been filmed buying groceries for a homeless man and giving him a warm dinner to get him through a cold winter's night. Melbourne-based blogger Adele Barbaro captured the heartwarming gesture as it unfolded outside of her local Woolworths on Sunday night. The mother-of-two had driven to the supermarket to buy some groceries and was rugged up to stay warm in the cold weather as the temperature dipped to 4C. She took to Facebook to reveal she had just parked her car outside the store and was making a beeline straight for the entrance when the officers caught her eye. It is cold tonight, I was rugged up as I walked through the car park of my local Woolies. A few steps ahead of me were 2... Posted by Adele Barbaro on Sunday, May 30, 2021 Melbourne-based blogger Adele Barbaro captured the heartwarming gesture as it unfolded outside of her local Woolworths on Sunday night 'A few steps ahead of me were two police officers heading straight for a homeless man sitting at the entry,' she wrote. 'He had a handwritten sign requesting spare change so he could get some food. 'As the officers approached him, instead of saying 'time to move on' or 'you know you can't be here', one of them said 'What brings you out in the cold tonight mate?'' Ms Barbaro said she overheard the homeless man say he was hungry before she walked into the store. 'As I made my way through the automatic doors I could hear the officers say, 'We just wanna make sure you're OK mate''. Ms Barbaro said she started to walk up and down the aisles and fill her trolley with groceries when she noticed the officers pick up a few items themselves. 'I saw the two officers inside with a hot roast chook and some bread-rolls and figured they were getting themselves late shift dinner,' she wrote. 'But then I noticed staples like rice and cereal and one of the said 'we probably need to get him some milk too.' Ms Barbaro then pulled out her mobile phone and filmed the officers scanning the items at the checkout. 'We ended up at the checkout at the same time, they had split up and seemed to do half the groceries each and both pulling out wallets/purses to pay half each,' she wrote. The officers are then seen in the video walking back to the homeless man with a green bag filled with groceries. One of the officers pulls out the groceries one item at a time to show to the homeless man before handing over the bag to him. The touching footage has pulled at the heartstrings of social media users who have heaped nothing but praise onto the officers 'As they went outside I overhead them check again that he had somewhere to stay tonight and then they handed him the bag of food with respect, compassion and kindness,' Ms Barbardo said. The touching footage has pulled at the heartstrings of social media users who have heaped nothing but praise onto the officers. 'These are the kinds of police I have known in my 30 years of being married to one,' one person wrote. Another person commented: 'Being in that line of work it's disappointing that the good that is done is rarely acknowledged.' One social media user said she was fighting hard to hold back the tears. 'This is pure kindness and it just shows police aren't always there to slap you with fines, they're there to show compassion and respect too,' she wrote. A Kmart worker has been slammed for telling a mother who found mysterious insects inside a bucket of 'magic sand' to simply throw it away. The concerned mother posted a photo of the bug-infested sand to a Facebook group on Thursday. She asked the group members what she should do with the sand, explaining that a Kmart employee had instructed her to put the product in the bin. The concerned mother took to social media to ask for help after a Kmart employee told her to throw the bug-infested sand in the bin Her post was quickly inundated with comments from other concerned mothers who warned the woman not to toss out insect-riddled sand. Several members speculated the sand could be a biosecurity threat, as the product was manufactured overseas and the bug's species was unknown. Other women admonished the Kmart employee for their inaccurate advice. 'For Kmart to tell you to bin it is morally and economically wrong. These bugs might not even be native to Australia,' one mother wrote. The woman said she was 'freaked out' by what their comments were suggesting and immediately contacted Biosecurity for help. 'Little update from us, the biosecurity team is currently investigating it and hopefully we will have a name for the bugs soon,' she commented. A Kmart spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the health and safety of their customers and team members was their number one priority. 'We sincerely apologise for this isolated miscommunication with the customer and we have ensured to re-educate our team on the correct escalation processes', the spokesperson said. Social media users admonished the Kmart employee for their inaccurate advice, while others speculated the mysterious insects could be a biosecurity threat 'Additionally, we are liaising directly with the Department of Agriculture and the customer to investigate this further.' A spokesperson from the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment told Daily Mail Australia a report of insects inside a bucket of magic sand purchased from a Kmart store in Western Australia was currently being investigated. They said initial photographs of the sand indicated the insect could be a beetle - possibly a timber borer - but it is not yet known whether the pest is native or exotic. 'The department has been in contact with both the client and Kmart head office to initiate an investigation', the spokesperson said. 'The biosecurity investigation has been referred to the local post biosecurity detection team and this is pending.' Today marks two years since Theo Hayez mysteriously disappeared on a night out in Byron Bay - and 'not a day goes by' that his family doesn't wonder what happened on that fateful night. Theo's father Laurent told Daily Mail Australia he had received his COVID-19 vaccine so he can return to Australia for the crucial upcoming Coroner's hearing into the Belgian backpacker's disappearance. Laurent is hopeful the hearing, due to be held in idyllic NSW tourist town in November, will shed light on the 'many remaining questions' surrounding his son's case. Theo Hayez went missing from Byron Bay on May 31, 2019 and had not been seen since CCTV footage of Hayez on Jonson Street Byron Bay after leaving Cheeky Monkey's nightclub Theo's father Laurent visited Australia from Belgium twice to join the search for this son 'Not a day goes by that we don't think of him,' Mr Hayez said from Belgium. 'We continue to receive heartfelt messages of support from Byron Bay, Australia, Belgium and around the world. These messages mean so much to us and give us strength to go on.' Locals will mark the disappearance by building a sand mandala at The Pass in Byron Bay on Monday afternoon. 'We invite everyone who was touched by Theos story to be part of this special day by bringing something small from nature (e.g. a flower, feather, twig, pebble or seed pod) to decorate the mandala,' a post on Facebook page Looking for Theo Hayez notified. Laurent said there were 'many remaining questions' to be answered in his son's disappearance without a trace. Theo had been on a gap year travelling Australia after finishing school in Belgium. 'The last time we spoke with the Coroner's team, we were reassured to see how seriously they are going about their work, verifying the investigations carried out by the police,' he said. There have been numerous twists and turns in the investigation since the 18-year-old Hayez was last seen on CCTV leaving Cheeky Monkey's nightclub on Jonson Street at about 11:00pm on Friday, May 31. His disappearance was not reported for five days when the Wake Up! Hotel where Hayez was staying failed to notice he had not returned. Investigators soon discovered that pings to his mobile phone indicated he had been in the area of the Cape Byron lighthouse after hed left the club in town. Theo's cousin Lisa said in 2020 she believed he was not alone when he walked through bushland between Byron Bay township and the Cape Byron lighthouse The Hayez family believe this cap belonged to Theo, though DNA tests were inconclusive NSW Police search bushland near Cape Byron lighthouse where Theo's phone last pinged A map shows the path it's believed Theo took through Byron Bay on the night he disappeared A few months later a cap similar to one Hayez was wearing on the night he vanished was found in bushland near Tallow Beach. His family believed the cap belonged to Theo despite DNA tests failing to prove it was his. In September 2019 NSW Police called off the search for the young Belgian and referred the matter to the NSW Coroner for investigation. Laurent visited Australia to join locals in a widespread search and make public appeals to find his son, but in May 2020 the family acknowledged he may have passed. 'If, however, Theo has left this poor Earth, and is currently having fun with whales, turtles and dolphins... Vinciane, Lucas and I, while looking at the beautiful smile of Theo on the pictures of his Australian adventure, are relieved to see that he spent the last 6 months (of his too short life ...) in a beautiful country, meeting wonderful people!' they wrote on a Facebook page dedicated to finding the teenager. Theo Hayez was on a gap year travelling Australia after finishing school in Belgium A tribute created by Theo's mother Vinciane to mark his birthday last year In June last year, Hayez's cousin Lisa revealed that Google data had tracked Theo walking through thick bushland on the night of his disappearance, and suggested he could not have done so alone. 'After we were able to access his Google data, we realised that the night he disappeared, he walked a very unusual path through thick bushland that is impossible to imagine that he walked alone,' she said. Forensic psychologist Tim Watson-Munro even floated the theory that Hayez's disappearance could be the work of a serial killer, linking it to the disappearance from Port Macquarie in February 2019 of English backpackers Erwan Ferrieux and Hugo Palmer. The strongest theory for Hayez's disappearance remains that the backpacker fell from cliffs and was washed out to sea. Laurent Hayez with other family members during one of his emotional press conferences in Australia at the height of the search for Theo. NSW Police provided no comment on the case because it had been referred to the Coroner, though it is understand Tweed-Byron detectives continue to make inquiries in support of the brief of evidence they are preparing. For Laurent Hayez, the agony of having no explanation for his son's disappearance continues, tempered only by the support he continues to receive on this side of the world. 'I will be glad to see my Australian family, the incredible community in Byron Bay and, above all, hope that answers will be found to our many remaining questions.' Lockdown's devastating toll on hip and knee patients is revealed today. Shocking figures show that some have been left waiting two years for vital operations. And there has been a 21,000 per cent increase in the number waiting at least a year. There are 92,165 orthopaedic patients on hospital lists who have been waiting at least 52 weeks. In January 2020, the number stood at just 436. The damning figures are further evidence of the damage caused by the lockdowns as thousands either had treatments postponed or delayed seeking medical help. Shocking figures show that some have been left waiting two years for vital operations. Pictured: Loraine Hili who has been waiting for a knee replacement for 18 months A study covering ten hospital trusts by Edinburgh and Newcastle universities found that 35 per cent of patients awaiting hip replacements and 22 per cent of those needing knee replacements are deemed to have a quality of life 'worse than death' on one international score. 'I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A NEW KNEE FOR 18 MONTHS' Loraine Hili has been waiting for a knee replacement for 18 months. The 54-year-old, who is a full-time carer for her husband Rod, who has cancer, was put on the waiting list in November 2019. Mrs Hili, who lives in Coventry, had her left knee replaced last August, nine months later than planned, and hoped to have her right done shortly after. But she has no idea when the operation will go ahead and the delay has exacerbated her pain, which has now extended along the whole of her right leg. Its definitely an eight or nine out of ten on the pain score, most of the time, she said. She was meant to have the right knee replaced in February or March, but when she phoned her consultant this month, she was told there are still quite a few people in front of you. Advertisement Known as the EuroQol five dimensions questionnaire, it uses five criteria to assess patients' quality of life, including their level of pain, level of mobility, level of 'self care' whether they can wash themselves ability to do daily tasks such as shopping and level of depression and anxiety. For those who score less than zero, their quality of life is deemed 'worse than death'. The researchers, whose findings are published in the Bone and Joint journal, looked at patients on the waiting lists at orthopaedic centres at University College London Hospital, Leicester, Bristol, Newcastle, Oswestry in Shropshire and Wrightington in West Lancashire, as well as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Fife and Aberdeen hospitals in Scotland. Lead author Nick Clement, a trauma and orthopaedic consultant at Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary, said some patients in the study had been waiting for more than two years. 'The problem is, we haven't had access to theatres for about a year,' he said. 'Normally we'd be able to prioritise that patient (with a poor quality of life) and get them done in a couple of months but now we can't even do that.' Since the beginning of the pandemic last March, the Mail has led the way in highlighting its devastating toll on non-Covid patients, particularly those needing cancer treatment, routine operations, GP appointments and more recently, dentistry. Professor John Skinner, vice-president of the British Orthopaedic Association, said the pandemic had had a 'devastating' impact on the NHS's ability to carry out routine surgery. 'Patients are in pain and immobile and they deteriorate,' he said. 'In terms of the numbers waiting 52 weeks, it's the biggest it's ever been, and it will keep going up.' There are 620,003 orthopaedic patients on NHS waiting lists, including the 92,165 who have been there at least 52 weeks. Professor Skinner also warned that not having hip and knee replacements would lead to patients becoming isolated, obese and potentially developing Type 2 diabetes. There are 92,165 orthopaedic patients on hospital lists who have been waiting at least 52 weeks. Pictured: Rob Martinez, 64, who has been on the NHS waiting list for two knee replacements since October 2019 'I FELT LIKE GIVING UP' Rob Martinez, 64, has been on the NHS waiting list for two knee replacements since October 2019. Mr Martinez, pictured, had his right knee replaced in October 2020, but is yet to be given a date for his left knee, and says he is in excruciating pain. The former insurance consultant, who took early retirement because he was in so much pain, said he no longer got a full nights sleep as he was in extreme discomfort. Mr Martinez, from Sandhurst in Berkshire, suffers from osteoarthritis and lymphoedema, a condition which causes swelling of the limbs. He said: Im relying on one leg. On the darkest days, Ive felt like giving up. The pain is excruciating. Advertisement Caroline Abrahams, of Age UK, said: 'It's a tragedy that because of the pandemic, waiting lists have spiralled once again, after so much success in driving them down. 'Behind the numbers, many people are living with constant pain and discomfort that makes it hard to get around or indeed even to sleep. If you are unlucky enough to be in this position, every day is an ordeal. Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients' Association, said: 'This study confirms the direct cost to patients of the longer waiting times arising from the pandemic. 'Hip and knee replacements are well-established procedures that can make an enormous difference to a person's quality of life.' Tracey Loftis, of the charity Versus Arthritis, said: 'There are now almost 100,000 people waiting over a year for operations like joint replacement. 'We are hearing from people who are in distress and are worried about the future.' Last week the Royal College of Surgeons urged the Government to set up specialist treatment hubs to tackle the 'colossal backlog'. An NHS spokesman said: 'With Covid cases in hospitals now significantly reducing... our focus is now on rapidly recovering routine services and while early figures show local teams are already well ahead of schedule we want to go faster, which is why we are investing 160 million to find new ways to tackle waiting lists.' An NHS spokesperson said: 'Treating around 400,000 Covid patients over the past year has inevitably had a knock-on effect on some care, but our incredible staff still managed to perform more than two million operations and other treatments in the first two months of this year when the hospitals were at their busiest with Covid patients. 'With Covid cases in hospitals now significantly reducing thanks to the extraordinary success of the NHS vaccination programme, our focus is now on rapidly recovering routine services and while early figures show local teams are already well ahead of schedule - we want to go faster which is why we are investing 160 million to find new ways to tackle waiting lists.' An NHS spokesperson said: Treating around 400,000 Covid patients over the past year has inevitably had a knock-on effect on some care, but our incredible staff still managed to perform more than two million operations and other treatments in the first two months of this year when the hospitals were at their busiest with Covid patients. With Covid cases in hospitals now significantly reducing thanks to the extraordinary success of the NHS vaccination programme, our focus is now on rapidly recovering routine services and while early figures show local teams are already well ahead of schedule - we want to go faster which is why we are investing 160 million to find new ways to tackle waiting lists. Liberal media reporters and pundits admitted over the weekend they were wrong to dismiss the Wuhan lab leak theory just because it was espoused by former President Donald Trump. Mainstream reporters had pushed back at the idea that COVID-19 may have originated in a virology lab in Wuhan, China, and openly ridiculed the idea as Trump spoke openly about it in the early days of the pandemic. But now, those same reporters have admitted that it is possible that the virus came from a lab leak as more scientists and political officials openly question the virus' origins. 'I think a lot of people have egg on their face,' ABC News' Jon Karl told Martha Raddatz Sunday morning. 'This was an idea that was first put out by Mike Pompeo, secretary of state, [and] President Donald Trump,' he continued on ABC's This Week, 'and some things may be true even if Donald Trump has said them.' Jon Karl told ABC This Week host Martha Raddatz on Sunday that he thinks reporters 'have egg on their face' for originally refusing to consider the lab leak theory He noted that the idea was widely dismissed at the time, but now 'serious people are saying it needs a serious inquiry.' New York Times reporter David Leonhardt also said on CNN that he thinks people 'leapt to dismiss' the theory too quickly because it was being espoused by then-President Trump and Republican Senator Tom Cotton, who has also said that the 2020 election was stolen. 'I think a lot of people on the political left and people in the media made this mistake and said 'Wow, if Tom Cotton is saying something it can't be true,' Leonhardt said. 'Or they assumed that. And that's not right. 'Tom Cotton does deal in misinformation about things like election fraud, he's said some things that are just wrong,' Leonhardt continued. 'But that doesn't mean that everything he says is wrong, and it seems like a lot of people, including a lot in the media, leaped to dismiss the lab leak theory because of where it was coming from, and the reality is we don't yet know how COVID started.' New York Times reporter David Leonhardt said journalists were quick to dismiss the theory because it was being espoused by former President Donald Trump and Senator Tom Cotton In a series of tweets on Saturday, Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin slammed journalists for making a sudden U-Turn on their coverage of the lab leak theory. 'Most MSM reporters didnt 'ignore' the lab leak theory, they actively c****** all over it for over a year while pretending to be objective out of a toxic mix of confirmation bias, source bias (their scientist sources lied to them), group think, TDS [Trump Derangement Syndrome] and general incompetence,' Rogin wrote in his first tweet Saturday morning. He added that the lab leak theory has not changed and 'suddenly become credible.' 'The theory has always been the same,' Rogin wrote. 'The people who got it wrong changed their minds. They are writing about themselves, with zero self awareness. 'All these reporters scrambling to defend their own records on the lab leak theory are exposing their own hypocrisy and ignoring their basic error,' he continued. 'Just report the facts. Dont act like its your job to tell us what's OK to think or talk about. 'Own up to it when you fail your readers,' he wrote. The Twitter thread was re-tweeted more than 1,000 times, garnering several thousand likes. In a series of tweets on Saturday, Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin slammed the mainstream media for trying to defend their initial reporting which refuted the lab leak theory The lab leak theory has gained traction over the past few weeks, as more and more politicians and scientists start to question the origins of the virus and how it mutated to infect humans. The Huanan wet market, where scientists say the first cluster of infections were officially reported, is just a few hundred yards from the Wuhan Centers for Disease Prevention and Control and only a few miles from the the Wuhan Institute of Virology Lab, where scientists were reportedly conducting experiments on bats before the pandemic began. The lab is one of only a handful in the world that is cleared to handle Class 4 pathogens dangerous viruses that pose a high risk of person-to-person transmission. Three researchers from the institute sought medical care in November 2019, before the virus began to spread, according to a recent report from the Wall Street Journal. Three researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology reported COVID-like symptoms in November 2019, before the virus began to spread around the world The Institute is one of only a handful in the world that is cleared to handle Class 4 pathogens dangerous viruses that pose a high risk of person-to-person transmission The newspaper said the report - which provides fresh details on the number of researchers affected, the timing of their illnesses, and their hospital visits - may add weight to calls for a broader probe of whether the COVID-19 virus could have escaped from the laboratory. It reported that current and former officials familiar with the intelligence about the lab researchers expressed a range of views about the strength of the report's supporting evidence, with one unnamed person saying it needed 'further investigation and additional corroboration.' Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has since said he was 'not convinced' that COVID-19 developed naturally and called for an open investigation. 'I think we should continue to investigate what went on in China until we continue to find out to the best of our ability what happened,' he said at a PolitiFact event on May 11 entitled: United Facts of America: A Festival of Fact-Checking. President Joe Biden has also called for an investigation into the origins of the virus. The former head of the Food and Drug Administration said on Sunday that the likelihood COVID-19 originated in a lab is growing while the odds that the coronavirus was transmitted from animals to humans grow longer. The challenge is that the side of the ledger that suggests that this could have come out of a lab has continued to expand, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who served as then-President Trumps FDA commission from 2017 until 2019, told CBS News. And a side of the ledger that suggests that this could have come from a zoonotic source, come out of nature, really hasn't budged. Gottlieb said that there is enough evidence to rule out the earlier theory that coronavirus originated from a wet market in Wuhan. Gottlieb added: And if anything, you can argue that that side of the ledger has contracted because we've done an exhaustive search for the so-called intermediate host, the animal that could have been exposed to this virus before it spread to humans. Biden orders 'unexamined evidence' that could show coronavirus leaked from China lab to be crunched by supercomputers at 17 elite research facilities President Joe Biden has ordered the government's leading research laboratories to join the search for the true origins of the COVID-19 pandemic by sifting through a massive trove of previously unexamined data, according to new reports. Biden on Wednesday ordered the 17 National Labs run by the Department of Energy to assist the intelligence community in a 90-day sprint to examine whether the virus leaked from a lab in China. The labs have been tapped 'because of their ability to crunch massive amounts of data' with their advanced supercomputers, a White House official told CNN. The government is not revealing exactly what kind of data is being submitted for analysis, but experts say it is likely previously gathered intelligence such as signal intercepts or biological evidence. Intelligence agencies regularly collect more raw data than their analysts are able to effectively pore through, and the application of advanced algorithms to seek patterns in the massive data set could offer new breakthroughs. President Joe Biden has ordered the government's premiere research laboratories to join the search for the true origins of the COVID-19 pandemic Equipment is seen at Livermore National Laboratory in California, one of the 17 National Laboratories to been called in to assist intelligence agencies in crunching data 'We want the science to be a big part of this,' the White House official told CNN. 'We are going to use the full resources of our intelligence and scientific community to try to get to the bottom of this.' Biden is also urging U.S. intelligence agencies and those of allies to hunt for new information that could shed light on whether China covered up a lab leak. Senator Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, said the Biden administration's response was 'better late than never, but far from adequate.' 'Our intelligence community has been looking at this now for 15 months. They've done good work on it, but in the end the answer lies in the hands of Chinese communists, not people working for American intelligence agencies,' he told the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Cotton said that officials in Beijing have not been forthcoming about how the pandemic began. 'We should be insisting that they come clean, that they provide us a clear and unvarnished look at what was happening in the Wuhan labs,' he said. Circumstantial evidence has long raised questions about the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where researchers were known to be conducting experiments on bat coronavirus strains similar to the one responsible for COVID-19. China insisted early and often that the virus did not leak from the lab, claiming that crossover to humans must have occurred at a 'wet market' in Wuhan that sold live animals. Perhaps driven by animosity for Donald Trump, who embraced the lab leak theory early on, the mainstream U.S. media and academics heaped scorn on the possibility, calling it an unhinged conspiracy theory. But new evidence, including reports of three workers at the Wuhan lab who fell seriously ill with COVID-like symptoms in November 2019, has forced a sober reassessment among doubters. Frustration with China increased this week after Beijing said that it would not participate in any further investigations by the World Health Organization. Researchers are seen at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Biden's new 90-day probe will examine whether evidence supports the lab leak theory of the pandemic Circumstantial evidence has long raised questions about the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where researchers were known to be conducting experiments on bat coronavirus strains Biden rebuked China in his announcement of the new intelligence review, calling on allies to help 'press China to participate in a full, transparent, evidence-based international investigation and to provide access to all relevant data and evidence.' UK intelligence agencies are assisting in Biden's new 90-day intelligence review, a senior Whitehall security source told The Telegraph. The source told the publication: 'We are contributing what intelligence we have on Wuhan, as well as offering to help the American to corroborate and analyze any intelligence they have that we can assist with.' British intelligence agencies have generally been skeptical of the lab leak theory, while Australia's spies have been more open to it. While Britain and Australia already share intelligence with the U.S. as part of the Five Eyes partnership, Biden's new probe could prod them to redouble their focus on sharing evidence related to a possible lab leak. Meanwhile, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise and more than 200 of his GOP colleagues have also called for Speaker Nancy Pelosi to direct her Democrat-led committees to investigate China's complicity in causing the COVID pandemic. In a letter to the Democratic House Speaker, the Republicans said there is 'mounting evidence the pandemic started in a Chinese lab' and the Chinese Communist Party 'covered it up'. 'If that is the case, the CCP is responsible for the deaths of almost 600,000 Americans and millions more worldwide. These questions about the CCPs liability are not a diversion, as you falsely claimed,' the letter reads. Pub and restaurant bosses have called for an end to the furlough scheme as they desperately struggle to fill 190,000 job vacancies. Several businesses say they cannot get the staff needed to kickstart their recovery while millions remain on furlough. There are fears that workers languishing on the job retention scheme, which runs until September, will lose the will to work. The Office for National Statistics reported that a tenth of businesses workforce was on furlough in mid-April, or 2.7 million people. Pub and restaurant bosses are struggling to fill 190,000 job vacancies owing to the furlough scheme Across the UK there are 700,000 job vacancies, including 188,000 in hospitality, where a million remained on furlough before the May 17 reopening. Bosses say some staff would rather stay at home on 80 per cent of their full salary than get a new job. But the industry said the scheme is needed to protect jobs because many businesses will operate below full capacity until restrictions are lifted. Dermot King of Oakman Inns says some people do not want to return to work Dermot King, chief executive of Oakman Inns, said: There is definitely a case of people who would prefer not to come back from furlough to take up work. I think furlough has done its job. Jamie Rogers, who owns a restaurant in Kingsbridge, Devon, is offering a 1,000 bonus to recruits to work in the summer. He told the Sun on Sunday: Right now I only have 15 staff and need 20 to be fully operational. We are turning away bookings every day. The furlough scheme is also beginning to draw criticism from economists. Professor Len Shackleton, from the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: It has gone on for far too long. We should not be holding back new businesses which need workers in a vain attempt to keep old businesses alive. Concert promoter Paul Williams is charging unvaccinated patrons $999.99 for an upcoming punk rock show in Florida. A punk rock concert promoter says unvaccinated people will have to pay almost $1000 to attend an upcoming gig - while those who have had their Covid shots will get in for just $18. Paul Williams has set an unusual ticket price structure for an upcoming gig in St. Petersburg, Florida, by punk band Teenage Bottlerocket. Fans will have to provide proof of vaccination to get the cheaper tickets. 'We're just trying to do a show safely, and they should go out and get vaccinated to protect themselves and their families and their community,' Williams told ABC of the potential concert goers. Williams said he wasn't sure he could legally bar unvaccinated patrons from the show, which is slated for June 26 at the St. Petersburg VFW Post No. 39, so instead he came up with the unusual price tier. The show is being headlined by Teenage Bottlerocket. Band members said they were first skeptical of the ticket price, but were later on board 'We're gonna let them in, we're not gonna out them,' he said. 'Nobody's gonna know that they're the person that bought the ticket and they'll be treated just like everyone else.' There are 250 tickets available to vaccinated people for the St. Petersburg show, and four for unvaccinated concertgoers. So far, Williams said, there have been no unvaccinated takers. Normal ticket pricing for the show is $18. Williams said he wanted to encourage people to get vaccinated, and believes that it would have been illegal to bar unvaccinated people from going to the concert But by asking for proof a vaccination, Williams could be running afoul of an executive order signed in April by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, which prohibits businesses in the state from requiring patrons or customers to produce documentation that they've been vaccinated to gain access. At the time, DeSantis said: 'It's completely unacceptable for either the government or the private sector to impose upon you the requirement that you show proof of vaccine to just simply be able to participate in normal society. 'Requiring so-called COVID-19 vaccine passports for taking part in everyday life such as attending a sporting event, patronizing a restaurant, or going to a movie theater would create two classes of citizens based on vaccination.' On May 3 DeSantis signed further legislation that would slap businesses, schools and government departments with a $5,000 fine for asking for proof of vaccination, with an exemption for licensed healthcare providers. But Williams will likely avoid that fine, as it comes into force on July 1st - just days after the June 26th concert. There is also the potentially thorny legal issue of asking for medical records. Dr. Jay Wolfson, associate vice president for health law, policy and safety for the University of Southern Florida said, 'It would be discriminatory if a business said show me your personal health information,' ABC also reported. The show is set for the St. Petersburg VFW Post No. 39 The ticket policy may possibly run afoul of a recent executive order by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that bars private businesses from requiring proof of vaccination for entry Roughly 38 percent of Floridians have been fully vaccinated so far according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At least one Teenage Bottlerocket fan is disappointed, however, and says she thinks the ticket policy is unfair. Punk fan Brittney Wigen has been been unable to get vaccinated yet due to recently recovering from a bout of Covid-19 herself, but with antibodies in her blood from her recent infection, she believes she has some protection. 'I think it's terrible because not everyone can get the vaccine. I can't because I had COVID too recently,' she told ABC. 'I understand what they're doing. I think it's very nice of them, but it's just not fair,' Wigen said. Teenage Bottlerocket member Ray Carlisle said the band was skeptical of William's idea at first, telling CNN, 'We thought he was kidding.' Teenage Bottlerocket fan Brittney Wigen said she thinks the ticket pricing is unfair because she has so far been unable to get vaccinated Eventually, however, they were on board. Williams, he said is, 'doing his best to keep the audience and the band, the staff at the venue safe and we go along with this idea.' Carlisle noted that he and the rest of his band are also vaccinated, and said people should get vaccinated because it's the right thing to do. 'Don't do it because Teenage Bottlerocket's telling you to do it,' he said. 'Do it for your health, do it for your community.' He said unvaccinated fans can attend another show on their tour in Orlando, which does not have such a ticket pricing structure, and told ABC that Wigen has another option. 'Perhaps put together a Go-Fund-Me, and all the other weirdo anti-vaxers can help support you going to Teenage Bottlerocket for a thousand dollars,' Carlisle said. 'That's always an option.' A Sydney cenotaph has been vandalised after a bronze statue of a soldier holding a bayonet was bent backwards. Police say the vandals damaged the bayonet of the statue at Martin Place just before 3.10am on Saturday. The cenotaph was then discovered to be damaged during a memorial for the Royal Air Force Bomber Command later that morning. The area is monitored by CCTV and police have released footage of five men, aged between 18 and 20, they would like to speak to in relation to the incident. One of the men, dressed in a hooded jacket, is seen in the footage sitting on the shoulders of the bronze statue while the others climb up the sides of the cenotaph. The incident has been condemned by police, veterans and New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian who have collectively labelled it as 'disrespectful'. Police say the vandals damaged the bayonet of the statue at Martin Place just before 3.10am on Saturday The area is monitored by CCTV and police have released footage of five men, aged between 18 and 20, they would like to speak to in relation to the incident One of the men, dressed in a hooded jacket, is seen in the footage sitting on the shoulders of the bronze statue while the others climb up the sides of the cenotaph The man who allegedly damaged the statue has light brown hair, and was wearing a dark shirt with red lettering on the back, over a long-sleeved white shirt, dark pants and shoes. Ms Berejiklian said the people involved in the incident would face the 'full force of the law'. 'I think it's really hurtful that a small number of Australians don't appreciate the sacrifices many Australians made, who lost their lives and lost their livelihoods over many, many decades for our freedoms,' she said. 'It's incumbent on us to make sure that every single Australian citizen is aware and grateful for the sacrifices made by our ex-servicemen and women.' NSW Police Minister David Elliott called it 'disrespectful' and said police were investigating the matter. 'I don't know what type of sick individual would knowingly create such unnecessary anxiety among the defence family by showing such disrespect for our memorial. It's criminal and morally bankrupt,' he said. 'I'll be asking the police to leave no stone unturned to endure the sacrifices made by our fallen are always honoured.' CCTV footage shows the men climbing up the side of the cenotaph during the early hours of Saturday morning NSW Police Minister David Elliott called it 'disrespectful' and said police were investigating the matter RSL New South Wales president Ray James said it was an attack on Australians. 'It's a personal attack on all members of the community,' he said. 'It's a very special memorial for all Australians. Not just veterans, but all Australians.' The cenotaph consists of a granite pedestal and is guarded by two bronze statues - one of a soldier and the other a sailor. The memorial was erected following World War One to honour the brave ANZAC soldiers who had fought and died for their country. The location of the memorial holds immense significance as many Australians enlisted for the war at Martin Place. The memorial was erected following World War One to honour the brave ANZAC soldiers who had fought and died for their country Today it is used as a centrepiece for memorials to remember all soldiers who have served their country. It is not the first time the cenotaph has been disrespected with a French tourist caught swinging on the bayonet in 2013. CCTV footage captured the tourist placing a cone on the head while his friend took photos on his phone. The incident sparked outrage and the tourist was forced to issue a public apology. A Melbourne man suffered a close call after discovering a knife inside his Subway sandwich. Scott Racevskis, 22, recorded his immediate reaction to finding the blade inside the late-night tuna meal and uploaded the video to TikTok on Wednesday. The Mornington resident is seen holding his sandwich in one hand and a sharp green knife in the other as his friends look on in surprise. 'I ordered subway and it came with a knife!' he says. Scott Racevskis, 22, was 'shocked but also pretty stoked' to find a short green blade (pictured) inside his Subway sandwich last week Mr Racevskis told Daily Mail Australia he had bought the sandwich from the Bentons Square store in Mornington after a night out with friends. 'I was shocked, but also pretty stoked, it's the best knife I've ever owned', he said. The video quickly went viral on TikTok, with dozens of users sharing their thoughts in the comments. 'I used to work there, and that is 100% a Subway knife', one user said. Another ex-employee explained how the knife may have ended up in the roll. 'They have magnets right above where you cut the sandwich in half and when it's busy and the knife is dirty it falls in sometimes', they said. 'I work at Subway and this happens more than you'd think', another user agreed. Mr Racevskis (left) said he had been on a night out with friends when he decided to purchase the sandwich, and got a lot more than he bargained for Several viewers suggested the Mornington man take legal action against the chain. 'If you cut yourself on it you could technically sue?', one user suggested. 'I smell free money', another said. Mr Racevskis said he didn't alert the employees in the store to his bizarre discovery but has contacted the sandwich chain on Facebook. A Subway representative asked for his details and which store the sandwich was purchased from so the manager could be informed. 'I didn't want to take it any further than that, I think I was the one that got the good end of the stick', he joked. A Subway spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that customer safety is paramount and all Subway restaurants have stringent safety protocols in place for food preparation. 'After becoming aware of this in January 2019, an internal investigation was conducted and safety refresher training was completed with restaurant staff.' As if coping with midnight feeds and 3am nappy changes wasnt hard enough, scientists now say that sleepless nights can age new mothers by up to seven years. Research suggests that lack of sleep in the first six months after a baby is born speeds up ageing. Regularly getting less than seven hours of sleep a night can leave a womans body between three and seven years older, the study found. Researcher Dr Judith Carroll urged new mothers to grab some shut-eye when they can and enlist the help of grandparents where possible. As if coping with midnight feeds and 3am nappy changes wasnt hard enough, scientists now say that sleepless nights can age new mothers by up to seven years [File photo] In the first study of its kind, she asked 33 mothers of one-year-olds how much sleep they had got since their babies were born. More than half were getting fewer than seven hours a night. Dr Carroll also took samples of the womens blood and analysed it for tiny changes to their DNA. These changes are linked to ageing, as well as age-related illnesses, such as heart disease, and higher odds of an early death. The results revealed that the first six months after a babys birth are crucial. Lack of sleep in that period sped up ageing and the risk of ill health. Poor sleep in the next few months did not seem to have an effect. Dr Carroll, of the University of California, Los Angeles, said this might be because looking after a newborn baby is particularly taxing on the body. It is also possible that lack of sleep when the baby was between seven and 12 months had also aged the mothers, but it was too soon for it to show up in the blood tests. As for new fathers, Dr Carroll thinks they will also be aged by a lack of sleep but to a lesser extent, if their partners are doing most of the childcare Being overweight also fuelled biological ageing. However, being married or living with a partner helped keep the new mothers young, the journal Sleep Health reports. Dr Carroll said bigger studies are needed to confirm the findings. It is also important to check if the ageing is permanent or if better sleep in later years cancels it out. She recommends that new mothers sleep when they can. When the baby falls asleep at seven or eight in the evening, and the mom is also tired, it might be better to just go to bed than try and stay up, she said. Having more opportunities to sleep is also important. If there is a partner, friend, or grandparent who is available, I would encourage them to use this help so that mom can go back to bed. Clare Byam-Cook, a former midwife who has helped thousands of women to breastfeed and to get their babies to sleep, said: There is not enough emphasis on how important it is for mums to look after themselves, as well as their babies. But Dr Neil Stanley, an independent sleep expert, said new mothers should not worry. Theres no doubt that having a newborn is going to disrupt your sleep, he said. But were the changes the researchers found a sign of getting older or a sign the women had just had a terrible six months? One would presume that after a million years of evolution the body is prepared for motherhood and is able to recuperate afterwards. As for new fathers, Dr Carroll thinks they will also be aged by a lack of sleep but to a lesser extent, if their partners are doing most of the childcare. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos attempted to divert focus from his affair with Lauren Sanchez in January 2019 by pushing the unfounded theory that Saudi Arabia had leaked the details, according to a new book. World's richest man Bezos had been married to wife MacKenzie for 25 years at the time, before it was revealed he was in a relationship with TV host and helicopter pilot Sanchez. Jeff and MacKenzie announced their divorce just hours before bombshell details of his affair were revealed. In the following months, texts and photos sent between Bezos and Sanchez were revealed, and he alleged that he had been blackmailed by the National Enquirer tabloid over the affair. In a new biography, Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire, author Brad Stone details how Bezos attempted to push the theory that the Saudi Arabian government was behind the leaking of personal text messages and a picture of his penis. Stone says Bezos did it to 'shift focus away from the more unsavory and complicated truth.' But he says, there is no 'conclusive evidence' to suggest that Saudi Arabia hacked Bezos, let alone tip off the National Enquirer who went on to break the salacious story. Stone explains that the supposed selfie of Bezos' genitals was not real, and was allegedly ripped from a gay men's escort website by Sanchez's brother, Michael Sanchez. Jeff Bezos, 57, said he was the victim of an unsuccessful extortion attempt by the National Enquirer Magazine published intimate texts between him and girlfriend Lauren Sanchez, 51. The two are pictured together last February attending a Hollywood event and are still together The detailed revelations have been made in a new book Amazon Unbound by Brad Stone Michael 'later told FBI investigators for the Southern District of New York that he never actually had an explicit photograph of Bezos in his possession', Stone wrote. Nevertheless, the book, as seen by Fox News explains Bezos suggested in an essay written in February 2019 on Medium.com how Saudi Arabia was likely behind the National Enquirer story. Bezos seemed to allege an unsavory connection between the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and American Media Inc., the publisher of the National Enquirer. Bezos accused AMI of 'extortion and blackmail,' claiming it threatened to publish naked photos of him. Bezos 'took the already muddled question of how the paper obtained his private text messages and photographs and confused it further' adding that how the story came about was 'still to be better understood' and that 'the Saudi angle seems to hit a particular nerve' with the Enquirer's parent company, American Media Inc. The tabloid and its parent company AMI claimed Sanchez's brother Michael Sanchez was the one who leaked private texts and racy photos of the affair. The siblings are pictured together Bezos suggested in an essay written in February 2019 on Medium.com how Saudi Arabia was likely behind the National Enquirer story. Backing up Bezos' claim, private-security expert Gavin de Becker who is a close friend of the Amazon boss, wrote a similar piece for the Daily Beast. 'Our investigators and several experts concluded with high confidence that the Saudis had access to Bezos' phone and gained private information. As of today, it is unclear to what degree, if any, AMI was aware of the details,' de Becker wrote. Stone wrote in the new book that Bezos' Saudi Arabia allegations amounted to 'only a fog of overlapping events, weak ties between disparate figures and more strange coincidences.' Stone reveals in his book that the Enquirer was able to receive photos of Bezos from Michael Sanchez who was paid around $200,000 for the scoop. He allegedly received pictures and texts from his sister who Stone says would 'frequently forward' Bezos' text messages to him in what is described as an 'unusual sibling relationship.' Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos attend the Amazon Prime Video celebration in January 2020 'For Bezos and his advisers, though, who were still trying to positively spin the embarrassing events surrounding his divorce, such a cloud of uncertainty was at the very least distracting from the more unsavory and complicated truth,' Stone concludes in one chapter about the divorce. He notes too that an alleged picture of Bezos' penis was not something handed to the magazine by Michael Sanchez as he was discussing the story with AMI chief content officer Dylan Howard and editor James Robertson over FaceTime. The image is said to have simply been taken from images on a gay escort website, Rent.men. A spokesperson for Dylan Howard said, 'The Office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York has advised all parties that it has completed its investigation of allegations made by Jeff Bezos in February 2019, and has declined to prosecute the matter.' 'We are glad that the government decided that Mr. Bezos's allegations of blackmail and extortion against personnel at The National Enquirer did not merit prosecution, as we had believed it would all along.' The National Enquirer revealed the tech entrepreneur had been having an affair with Sanchez while alleging it was the reason behind his divorce Emails to Amazon and de Becker have not been returned. Michael Sanchez has previously said: 'I would never sell out anyone.' Michael Sanchez, a Hollywood talent agent, was the source of the report, AMI said, but Sanchez has previously said: 'I would never sell out anyone.' He last month Micheal Sanchez doubled down on his claim that he didn't leak an explicit selfie of Bezos to the National Enquirer. His attorney told DailyMail.com that he neither served as the Enquirer's source for the affair story, nor did he share any of the photos that backed it up. The National Enquirer had trailed Bezos and Sanchez for months when they met up secretly, then splashed photos of them together across the magazine. Bezos split from MacKenzie ended up being the most expensive divorce in history. In February this year Bezos announced he would be stepping down as the CEO of Amazon, 27 years after founding it with his ex-wife and building it into one of the most successful companies of all time now worth $1.7 trillion. Bezos announced the move in a letter to his 1.3 million Amazon employees where he insisted he isn't retiring but wants to focus on his 'passions' including his space and climate change ventures. He will be replaced by 53-year-old Andy Jassy, the current CEO of the Amazon empire cloud business Amazon Web Services (AWS) in July. Britons going on staycations this summer risk overburdening hospitals in tourist hotspots, warned an NHS boss. Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said even a small increase in Covid-19 patients would create significant extra demand in areas such as the Lake District, Cornwall and the South Coast. He also called for a debate on the trade-offs which might be needed should the country open up completely on June 21. Britons going on staycations this summer risk overburdening local hospitals in tourist hotspots such as the Lake District and Cornwall (Pictured: Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, Cornwall) Mr Hopson was not explicit in what he meant but such trade-offs could include restrictions on foreign travel to prevent new variants coming in. And although he didnt specifically tell Britons not to go on staycations, he sounded a note of caution on the potential impact of large numbers of tourists flocking to the same areas. But many thousands of families are looking forward to holidays in the UK as they are unlikely to go abroad. Mr Hopson, whose organisation represents hospitals and ambulance services, said the NHS was working full pelt to deal with the backlog of treatments postponed during the pandemic as well as a growing demand for urgent care from patients who had put of seeking help during the lockdown. Hospitals are really under pressure at the moment, he told the BBC. Given these pressures, even a small increase in Covid-19 patients makes a big difference. Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, (pictured) said even a small increase in Covid-19 patients would create significant extra demand Trust leaders in popular holiday areas are concerned about the impact of staycationers in the coming months, creating significant extra demand when theyre already at full stretch. But on a positive note, Mr Hopson said the patients in hospital with Covid were younger and less seriously ill compared to last year. Meanwhile, Linda Bauld, professor of public health at Edinburgh University, said June 21 was too early to lift all the restrictions. She told Sky News: I really think that it is too early to be charging ahead. I think to avoid more preventable deaths... we really need to be cautious at the current time. A new hospital will be built in Queensland's booming southeast corridor as the state's emergency department capacity crisis goes from bad to worse. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the new hospital will be built in partnership with private firm Mater Health in Springfield, a former satellite city of Ipswich. The facility will have 174 beds, with the state government to allocate $177 million towards it in next month's budget, and will be operational by the second half of 2024. The premier refused to say where the funding would come from when asked if it would be withdrawn from other areas of the health system. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announces a new hospital will be built in Springfield in the state's southeast 'We know that this is a fast-growing community - we need extra beds,' she said on Monday. 'So today I'm pleased to announce that as our first significant budget announcement, we will be investing in building 174 new beds in the public hospital here at Springfield. 'This will include of course, our emergency beds ... but of course maternity services are also needed out in this area, a lot of young families are moving here and you can't blame them. It is a beautiful place to live, work and raise your family.' The total cost will be about $300-320 million with Mater Health still in commercial negotiations about funding the remainder. Ms Palaszczuk said the new beds will mean a total of 800 beds will come online in the next four to five years. That's less than half of the 1500 beds needed right now, according to the Australian Medical Association Queensland. Surging demand for beds in recent months has caused a spike in ambulance ramping - when patients are treated in ambulances on hospital driveways until beds become available. The Palaszczuk government has announced that it will partner with Mater Health Services to build a new 174 bed public hospital in Springfield. More than 1.39 million people presented at hospital emergency departments between July 1, 2020, and January 31, 2021, an 11.6 per cent increase over the previous period. The Queensland government has already redirected $100 million in funding from the health budget to increase capacity in the state's struggling public hospitals. The premier said she will announce more budget funding for beds at Nambour Hospital on the Sunshine Coast, and in rural and regional areas, in coming days. When asked if she could guarantee that no money would be withdrawn from parts of the health system to fund the new beds, Ms Palaszczuk sidestepped the question. 'I can absolutely guarantee that we will have a record health budget with a big focus on health infrastructure and delivering the services that families need across our state,' the premier said. The state budget is set to be delivered on June 15. A long-lost documentary reveals how BBC bosses plotted to keep Martin Bashir's interview with Princess Diana secret by not even telling their chairman until the Press were informed in case he tried to stop it. The Arena series The Princess and Panorama, aired in 2005 to mark the 10th anniversary of Bashir's scoop, disclosed how Diana told Buckingham Palace just before BBC executives briefed their newsroom. In the programme, John Birt, Tony Hall, Richard Ayre and Tim Gardam all recounted how chairman Marmaduke Hussey, a palace loyalist, was kept in the dark until the media were told about the exclusive. Hussey, a peer whose widow Lady Susan was a lady-in-waiting to the Queen and who reportedly felt betrayed by the episode, is likely to have sought to prevent the interview from being broadcast. Diana informed the palace at 9.15am in November 1995, while Hall, who would later become director-general, told his newsroom at 9.30am. Birt, then director-general, told the programme: 'And indeed we were going to tell Hussey at the same time.' The Press Association, which sends news to the media, was alerted at 10am. Hall said: 'And then all hell let loose.' BBC bosses plotted to keep Martin Bashir's 1995 interview with Princess Diana secret Buckingham Palace then took its revenge by summoning the executives to a 'showdown' where their lost their status with the household. The Times reports ITN was tasked with producing the Queen's Christmas message. Richard Ayre, controller of editorial policy, said in the documentary: 'It's pretty clear to me that if at any point we told the royal liaison office that we were thinking of trying to get an interview with the Princess of Wales, first of all it would leak, secondly it would never happen. 'We knew from Martin Bashir that the princess herself was convinced that if it became widely known, certainly if it became known at the palace, it would be stopped.' Birt said: 'Marmaduke Hussey... was a Prince Charles loyalist, he was increasingly concerned about Princess Diana. On a number of occasions he tried to poison her reputation with me.' Tim Gardam, head of weekly programmes, said that had 'the director-general told the chairman... knowing the sort of man the chairman was, with his sense of noblesse oblige, of honour, Duke Hussey could only have gone to the palace.' John Birt, Tony Hall, Richard Ayre and Tim Gardam all recounted how chairman Marmaduke Hussey (pictured) was kept in the dark until even the media were told about the exclusive The details were revealed in the Arena series documentary in 2005, which originally drew two million viewers to BBC2 and has not been put on iPlayer. A BBC spokesman told the Times that Lord Dyson, former Master of the Rolls whose damning report concluded that Bashir had hoodwinked Diana so he could secure his world exclusive, was given access to the show in his inquiry. During the 1995 interview, Diana famously remarked 'there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded'. Diana and Prince Charles' two sons have both condemned the interview following the Dyson Inquiry. The Duke of Cambridge said Bashir's deceit in obtaining his 1995 interview hastened his parents' divorce and 'hurt countless others' in an unprecedented broadside against the BBC. The BBC will expected to issue the findings of its investigation into how Bashir was rehired as religion editor in 2016 when Hall was director-general soon. Bill Shorten has acknowledged former Labor MP Emma Husar was treated poorly by some people within the party as she threatens legal action over sexual harassment claims that left her seeking medical treatment for trauma. Ms Husar, who won the western Sydney seat of Lindsay for Labor in 2016 with a swing of 4.1 per cent, wants an apology from Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese over claims people within the Labor Party leaked false information about her exposing herself to a colleague in 2017. Mr Shorten, who was opposition leader when the alleged incident took place, said Ms Husar was on the receiving end of some unfair treatment. Labor member for Lindsay was 'treated poorly' by the Labor Party, Bill Shorten conceded (above) Husar was forced from the party after sexual harassment allegations were made against her 'I regret the way she was treated,' he told ABC News on Monday. 'I don't say that covers all the matters but I do think there were some people in NSW Labor who didn't treat her well. 'Emma and I have had our own conversations on this matter so I do, in part, feel for her. I don't think she was all in the wrong here.' Mr Shorten would not be drawn on whether Ms Husar deserved an apology. An internal party review released in 2018 found complaints that Ms Husar subjected staff to 'unreasonable management' through unreasonable communication, demands, practices and disciplinary methods had merit. It also found claims she misused public entitlements should be investigated. But the investigation found allegations of sexual harassment and misleading parliament were not supported and there was no basis for Ms Husar to resign in 2019. North Korea said Monday the U.S. allowing South Korea to build more powerful missiles was an example of the U.S.s hostile policy against the North, warning that it could lead to an 'acute and instable situation' on the Korean Peninsula. Its North Koreas first response to the May 21 summit between the leaders of the United States and South Korea, during which the U.S. ended decades-long restrictions that capped South Koreas missile development and allowed its ally to develop weapons with unlimited ranges. The accusation of U.S. policy being hostile to North Korea matters because it said it wont return to talks and would enlarge its nuclear arsenal as long as U.S. hostility persists. But the latest statement was still attributed to an individual commentator, not a government body, suggesting North Korea may still want to leave room for potential diplomacy with the Biden administration. ,President Joe Biden listens as South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks during a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House, in Washington 'The termination step is a stark reminder of the U.S. hostile policy toward (North Korea) and its shameful double-dealing,' Kim Myong Chol, an international affairs critic, said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. 'It is engrossed in confrontation despite its lip-service to dialogue.' 'The U.S. is mistaken, however. It is a serious blunder for it to pressurize (North Korea) by creating asymmetric imbalance in and around the Korean Peninsula as this may lead to the acute and instable situation on the Korean Peninsula now technically at war,' he said. The United States had previously barred South Korea from developing a missile with a range of longer than 800 kilometers (500 miles) out of concerns about a regional arms race. The range is enough for a South Korean weapon to strike all of North Korea but is short of hitting potential key targets in other neighbors like China and Japan. Some South Korean observers hailed the end of the restrictions as restoring military sovereignty, but others suspected the U.S. intent was to boost its allys military capability amid a rivalry with China. The commentator Kim accused Washington of trying to spark an arms race, thwart North Korean development and deploy intermediate-range missiles targeting countries near North Korea. The South Korean government said it 'prudently watches' North Korea's reaction, but Unification Ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo wouldn't comment otherwise, since the remarks were attributed to an individual, not an official statement from the North Korean government. The North Korean statement comes as the Biden administration shapes a new approach on North Korea amid long-dormant talks over the Norths nuclear program. During their summit, Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in said a new U.S. policy review on North Korea 'takes a calibrated and practical approach that is open to and will explore diplomacy' with the North. U.S. officials have suggested Biden would adopt a middle ground policy between his predecessors - Donald Trumps direct dealings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Barack Obamas 'strategic patience.' Some experts say Biden wont likely provide North Korea with major sanctions relief unless it takes concrete denuclearization steps first. The North Korean statement criticized the Biden administrations review indirectly, saying the new policy was viewed by other countries 'as just trickery.' The trans-Tasman travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand could soon be expanded to include Pacific Islands, Scott Morrison has hinted. Mr Morrison is in New Zealand to hold talks with its leader Jacinda Ardern, with an extension of the bubble on the cards in exciting news for holiday-starved Aussies. The extension would mean Australians would be able to visit destinations such as Fiji and Tonga without needing to quarantine on arrival, giving a much-needed boost to tourism in the Pacific. 'We are supporting our Pacific family and the idea of a bubble that goes beyond New Zealand and Australia is a real possibility,' Mr Morrison said on Monday. The two leaders (pictured on Monday morning) are holding meetings in New Zealand, with an extension of quarantine-free travel expected to be on the agenda The visit comes after the opening of the trans-Tasman bubble last month, which gave Australians to holiday abroad for the first time since the international borders slammed shut in March last year. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce told Sunrise on Monday that he was 'excited' more travel destinations could soon be open to Australians. 'We have the aircraft and we have the people,' he said. 'The more bubbles the better, because we can activate more aircraft, get more people back to work and help the tourism industries in the countries that are very dependent on tourism.' Queenstown is playing host to the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders Forum, with Ms Ardern choosing the South Island ski town to highlight the best in Kiwi tourism to Australians. Jacinda Ardern welcomed Scott Morrison to New Zealand on Sunday with a hongi, a sacred Maori greeting where two people touch noses and share breath (pictured) New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (left) and her partner Clarke Gayford (2nd left) posing for pictures with visiting Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (right) and his wife Jenny Morrison (2nd right) in Queenstown Mr Morrison and his wife Jenny touched down in New Zealand on Sunday afternoon, before Ms Ardern welcomed them to the country in a powhiri, a traditional Maori ceremony, at the Rees Hotel. The New Zealand prime minister and her Australian counterpart then shared the hongi - a sacred Maori greeting where two people touch noses and share breath - before exchanging a kiss on the cheek. Formal discussions commenced on Monday, with the leaders set to talk about China, the Pacific, the two countries' pledge to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine to the region, deportations, and more. Fragments of coronavirus have been detected in sewage in a rural Queensland town, putting more than 14,000 people on high alert. The virus was found in a wastewater treatment plant which treats Emerald, a town in the state's Central Highlands, 800km north of Brisbane during recent routine testing. Health Minister Yvette D'Ath has urged Queenslanders to remain vigilant for symptoms, even if they haven't travelled interstate. 'Please keep up the testing. It doesn't matter if you've been to Victoria or not If you have any symptoms, no matter how mild, please come out and get tested,' she said. The Queensland town of Emerald is on alert after fragment of coronavirus were found in sewage (stock image) 'We have positive sewage and wastewater in Emerald at the moment. We know it can be a sign of someone's past positive cases still shedding but let's not take the risk.' Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting, and loss of taste or smell. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms is urged to immediately get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result. Queensland has 14 active cases, who are all returned travellers in hotel quarantine. The Queensland town of Emerald (pictured) 800km north of Brisbane has been put on alert The Sunshine State has recorded no new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, Queensland's borders remains off limits to Victorians, who are in the middle of a week-long 'circuit breaker' lockdown. It's Victoria's fourth lockdown since the pandemic began in early 2020. There are growing fears Victoria's lockdown could be extended further after 11 more cases were recorded on Monday as the outbreak swells to 54. Sunrise host David Koch has unleashed on Australia's slow Covid-19 vaccine rollout after the federal government said the program was 'not a race'. The presenter criticised the delivery of the vaccine after Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack made the comment on Sunday amid rising demand for the jab in lockdown-stricken Victoria. 'It is not a race, it has to be systematic,' Mr McCormack said on Sunday, echoing the same phrase Mr Morrison has used repeatedly to describe the program. Only 500,000 Australians - about 2.5 per cent of the adult population - have so far been fully vaccinated against the virus. Koch called the stance 'bulldust' on Monday morning while interviewing Qantas CEO Alan Joyce - who said nailing the vaccine rollout was key to getting his airline's planes back in the sky. Staff are seen preparing vaccine doses inside the Melbourne Exhibition Centre on Friday. Sunrise host David Koch has hit out at Australia's slow Covid-19 vaccine rollout and the government's stance that the program 'is not a race' ''It's not a race', 'slow and steady', are you frustrated with this?' the presenter asked Joyce on Sunrise. 'Nat [Sunrise co-host Natalie Barr] took on the health minister on Friday magnificently and then even over the weekend, Michael McCormack, Dan Tehan the trade minister, are all saying 'this is not a race'.' 'Bulldust. It is a race isn't it?' Health Minister Greg Hunt had told Barr Australia's vaccination rate was 20 per cent, although that figure included adults who had only received their first dose. The government has maintained Australians need both doses of the vaccine to be fully immunised against the virus. Mr Joyce said the rollout was the last step in opening Australia's international borders again, adding he had a 'vested interest' in the program's success. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said nailing the vaccine rollout was key to getting his airline's planes back in the sky 'We want to do everything that we can to ensure the borders stay open domestically and we get international up and running,' he said. 'We have 6,000 of our people stood down that are working on international flights, and they will be stood down until we have the international borders reopened.' On Sunday morning, Mr McCormack said Australia was well on the path to vaccinating its citizens. 'That's why 120,000 Australians got the jab yesterday, 120,000 the day before, 111,000 the day before that,' he told Sky News. 'We're getting the vaccinations done 4.1 million already. I urge and encourage Australians listening and watching this show to make sure that when they're able to do so, eligible to do so, to get that first jab and to follow it up with the second.' Pictured: A line for a Covid-19 test in Melbourne on Thursday. Only about 2.5 per cent of the Australian adult population have so far been fully vaccinated against the virus Acting Victorian Premier James Merlino has claimed a faster vaccine rollout in Australia may have prevented his state's snap seven-day lockdown Acting Victorian Premier James Merlino is among many pointing the finger at the federal government for the slow delivery of the jab. He said a successful vaccine rollout and fit-for-purpose quarantine facilities may have changed Victoria's fate and prevented its snap seven-day lockdown. On Thursday, Mr Hunt conceded there were 16 aged care homes in Victoria where residents and workers had not received any doses of the vaccine. Advertisement The daughter-in-law of a British billionaire will be charged today over the mystery shooting death of a leading police officer in Belize, according to the slain cop's family. Jasmine Hartin, who is married to the son of Lord Michael Ashcroft, has been in custody since early Friday morning after Superintendent Henry Jemmott, 42, was found floating dead in the water off San Pedro island. The two were drinking and socializing on a pier before dad-of-five Jemmott was killed by a bullet which hit him behind his right ear, allegedly fired by his own service weapon. Hartin told detectives she was giving the officer a massage moments before the freak accident, according to local news reports. The pair had reportedly been playing around with the weapon before the shooting. The officer's sister, Marie Jemmott Tzul, told DailyMail.com Sunday night that the blonde socialite was about to be charged and would make her first court appearance within days. 'I got a call, but they did not say what she was going to be charged with,' said Marie, 55. An unconfirmed report on Belize television suggested that glamorous Hartin, 38, would be charged with manslaughter after she told investigators the Glock pistol went off accidentally as she handed it to Jemmott. The Belize Police Department Police could not be reached to discuss the report. Jasmine Hartin is pictured with her husband Andrew Ashcroft at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new resort on May 7 Police are trying to understand how Henry Jemmott ended up dead, shot with his own police service weapon; a single bullet hole piercing the skin behind his right ear American Jasmine Hartin was drinking with Jemmott before he died. She was pictured handling a gun at a shooting range in an image local news outlets said was taken from her Facebook profile nine years ago An officer who was among the first on the scene suggested that Jemmott fell on to Hartin after he was shot, and he fell into the water when she pushed him off. Marie, a retired social worker, told DailyMail.com: 'I haven't seen the news because I'm so overwhelmed and devastated by my brother's death. 'I can't can speculate over whether they will bail her or she will stay in prison, because I don't know the charge yet. 'What I would say to Jasmine is, give closure to the family. Tell us what happened. We want to know for the benefit of our family. He was my only brother. 'He had five children and a partner for 14 years. Every time I look at my nieces and my nephews I break down and cry. Please tell us what happened.' Jemmott's family had previously rubbished suggestions that the officer took his own life, despite claims he was experiencing marital problems. Sister Cherry Jemmott, an Assistant Superintendent with Belize Police, told DailyMail.com: 'My brother would never ever kill himself. He had his plans. In September he was to be promoted to Senior Superintendent and he was to be transferred to another unit. My brother is a very top cop with a big dream. She added: 'He had a gunshot behind his ear like an assassination. He is so skillful after 24 years [as an officer], he would never have left his guard down. He was a top cop. I don't know how he let down his guard to be shot with his own gun.' Cherry said a security guard heard a single shot. Cherry said she believes her brother, whose nickname was King because he was his parents' only son, and Hartin knew each other because she does business in San Pedro and he was the officer in charge of the area two to three years ago. Hartin was in custody in a holding cell at the San Pedro police station jail which one local described as 'hell on earth' Police tape marks the area where the shooting took place on Friday morning Jemmott's body is seen being brought to shore on Friday morning after it was seen floating in the sea earlier that day Hartin's husband, Andrew Ashcroft, 43, has lived in Belize for over 20 years, he said. His father is Lord Ashcroft, a well-known British political donor and former deputy chairman of the British Conservative Party Meanwhile, Henry Jemmott's niece, Renisha Martinez, wrote on Facebook: 'I know for a fact my uncle would never do a suicide. He was murdered and we need justice. That man loved his job so much that he wouldn't even take days off!' She added: 'First and foremost my Uncle is a dedicated man when it comes to his job. He is a caring and supporting dad, uncle and friend. He loved being out and working hard. He believed that hard work came with alot of discipline. 'My uncle was a great man in my eyes and anybody else who knows him would feel how I feel.' Hartin and her husband, Andrew Ashcroft, share two children together. They spend much of their time in Belize, where they own a luxury hotel named Alaia. It only opened for business earlier this month. According to Belize Police Commissioner Chester Williams, Hartin left the hotel late Thursday evening and walked a short distance down a beach to a small wooden jetty. She met up with Jemmott, who was reported to be an old friend. Commissioner Williams confirmed the two were alone, drinking alcohol, and breaking the island's 10pm to 5am Covid curfew. 'They were both fully dressed,' he told reporters. 'They were known to each other. They were drinking for a couple of hours before the incident occurred.' He added that the incident appeared to be 'rather personal and not an attack' and the pair were friends who had been drinking at the time. Hartin was in custody in a holding cell at the San Pedro police station jail which one local described as 'hell on earth'. Henry Jemmott's sister, Assistant Superintendent Cherry Jemmott, 48, are pictured together at a holiday party in 2019. She told DailyMail.com that her brother would never have taken her own life He added: 'She is a lady who is used to luxury. Whenever you see her she is always perfectly dressed, her children are always perfect. She is a nice lady, very polite and beautiful. I can't imagine her in there. I have been inside that jail. The cell floors are made of dirt and the whole place smells of urine.' In the bars and coffee shops around downtown San Pedro, speculation about what had happened was rife. 'I've heard lots of theories,' one woman told Daily Mail. 'That they were drinking and maybe she was playing around with his gun and it accidentally went off. Or maybe they were playing a game and she didn't think it was loaded. I don't think he killed himself because you wouldn't shoot yourself behind your right ear.' According to one source, a local security guard raced to the scene when he heard the gunshot and alerted police who arrived to find Hartin 'deeply distressed and shaking'. The police commissioner confirmed Hartin had been found with blood on her hands, arms and clothing. Another unconfirmed report claimed she told the first officers on the scene the gunshot had come 'from a passing boat'. One source offered a potential explanation for Hartin being covered in blood. 'After the gun went off, Jemmott fell on top of her and so she pushed him off and that's how he ended up in the shallow water by the pier,' he suggested. 'His gun was found there on the pier. People have been speculating there was some sort of romantic relationship between them but I don't believe that, the family doesn't think that. I knew Henry [Jemmott], he was a big bear of a man, grossly overweight. 'He's a good guy and I know he was friends with several members of the Ashcroft family. He got to know them well when he was living here on the island. It's a small island, we all know each other.' Belize police officials said Saturday that Hartin was not yet cooperating with the investigation while she awaited legal advice. Belize Police Commissioner Chester Williams said: 'The first person who arrived on the scene after the incident occurred said that she was in an emotional state. When she was detained last night she was not co-operating. 'She stated that she needed to have her attorney present in order for her to say what she needs to say, and it's her right by virtue of the constitution, but that raises a red flag. The situation is such that it does require an explanation from her. In the absence of an explanation then she would have to be treated as the killer and we will proceed accordingly. 'His body was recovered from the water. His weapon was recovered at the scene. The investigation is ongoing. It is too early to speculate but I can assure you that if any crime has been committed whoever did it will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.' Late on Thursday evening, Hartin left her luxury hotel, Alaia (pictured) and walked a short distance down a beach to a small wooden jetty to meet Jemmott Lord Ashcroft has business interests in Belize. Pictured: Lord Ashcroft and Lord Steinberg in the Robing Room of the House of Lords Lord Ashcroft, 75, a former deputy chairman of the British Conservative Party and philanthropist, has invested heavily in Belize for decades and has dual Belizean and British citizenship. Lord Ashcroft's long-time lawyer, the nation's former attorney general Godfrey Smith, was seen visiting the prison on Friday afternoon after flying in from mainland Belize. It is not known whether she will appoint her own criminal lawyer and provide an explanation. The shooting has stunned islanders who say the Ashcroft family has been part of the fabric of Belize formally British Honduras for generations. Lord Ashcroft was raised there as a child and returned in the early 1980s, took Belizean citizenship and built up a series of hugely successful businesses including banks, telecommunications firms and tourism ventures. 'Lord Ashcroft spent most of Covid here in Belize,' said a source. 'He only left a short while ago. 'The Ashcrofts are integral to Belize. Many people are grateful to Lord Ashcroft for all the millions he has invested in this country. 'He has created thousands of jobs but, like anywhere, there is also some resentment and a lot of politics going on. 'He is embedded in the culture and has made a lot of money from his businesses here and some people aren't happy about that.' The Ashcroft's latest venture in partnership with hotel giant Marriott is the gleaming new hotel Alaia, which was completed during lockdown and opened just three weeks ago. The Ashcrofts are also building a condominium building on nearby land. 'That hasn't broken ground yet,' said a source. 'But Andrew remains committed to Belize. This is his home and it is where he is raising his kids. 'He used to have a different accent but now he sounds like a local. He loves this island and he does everything to fit in. The new hotel has created 300 jobs for the island. We love him. This has all come as a terrible shock.' An adorable video of a fox waiting patiently outside a fast food chain has prompted a local wildlife rescue worker to warn residents to keep their distance. Western Australian woman Naomi Beatrix recorded the wild animal waiting outside a Hungry Jacks restaurant in Port Kennedy on Sunday. Ms Beatrix described the patient fox as 'timid' and told viewers the animal had come within metres of other curious diners. The brazen fox was filmed by a local resident patiently waiting outside a Hungry Jacks restaurant in Port Kennedy, Western Australia on Sunday night A very polite fox waiting for his happy meal at Port Kennedy HJs. If only he could show as much restraint around your chook pen (Naomi) Posted by The Bell Tower Times on Saturday, May 29, 2021 One of the managers from the restaurant told Daily Mail Australia the fox only visited the store during the early hours of the morning. She explained the fast food chain was in close proximity to a large open space a community of foxes had made their home. However the manager said she had never seen a fox come so close to the store. The adorable video soon caught the attention of animal rescue worker Brittany Weston, who asked that locals kept their distance in the comments. 'I am part of a wildlife rescue and we are actively trying to capture the fox to prevent injury to it and members of the public,' she said. Ms Sutton explained she has worked in offsite rehabilitation for five years and spent more than 100 hours a month caring for sick, injured or orphaned wildlife. She said the brazen fox had already left the Hungry Jacks carpark when she arrived to capture and relocate the animal. One local resident asked the wildlife worker if the fox would bite. 'Yes, some might intentionally do it as a fear response but there is always a chance you could accidentally get bit', she replied. Several viewers questioned why Ms Sutton was trying to rescue an introduced species instead of focusing her efforts on saving native animals. 'It's a feral animal and your a joke', one said. 'Introduced species such as the European red fox are largely responsible for the decline of our native fauna', one man wrote. Wildlife rescue worker Brittany Sutton said she was actively trying to relocate the fox from the Hungry Jacks carpark (pictured) to prevent injury to the animal and the public 'Not to mention the damage they do to agriculture.' 'I wouldn't swerve to miss it, that's for sure. These animals cost farmers $1000's in damages', another said. 'I know they're cute, but these little buggers will kill everything in a chook pen. Sadly it's learnt someone will feed it if it sits there', a fourth commented. Ms Weston explained that she understood the impact of an introduced species on native wildlife, but would continue to try and relocate the fox. 'I will always help an animal in need regardless', she said. Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors called for the end of Israel in a 2015 panel at the Harvard Law School. In an April 2015 panel hosted by the Human Rights Program at Harvard, entitled 'Globalizing Ferguson: Radicalized Policing and International Resistance,' Cullors shared her experience visiting the West Bank and Gaza with a delegation of other leftists. She said she saw 'violence' and 'terror' being committed by 'Israelis and Zionists' at the expense of Palestinians. 'Palestine is our generation's South Africa,' she told the students. 'If we don't step up boldly and courageously to end the imperialist project that's called Israel, we're doomed.' Scroll down for video Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors called for an end to the 'imperialist project that's called Israel' at a 2015 panel at Harvard Law School She also claimed: 'Nothing would've prepared me for the militarization and terror' that she saw while she visited the area, and told the students 'We're complicit in that' due to the United States' alliance with Israel. She encouraged supporters to join the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement, which seeks to put financial pressure on Israel to change its policies toward Palestine by boycotting and divesting from Israeli businesses. Every year, the United States and Israel trade close to $50 billion in goods and services, according to the State Department. Additionally, the United States supports Israel's security financially, providing $3.3 billion to Foreign Military Financing and $500 million for cooperative programs for missile defense every year under the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries. The United States was the first country to recognize Israel as a state in 1948, and the Trump administration became the first to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in 2017. The Boycott Israel movement has thus far failed to have an affect on Israel's economy, according to the Anti-Defamation League, but does serve to spread anti-Israel sentiment. Smoke rose from a building in Gaza following a recent Israeli airstrike. Cullors said she witnessed 'violence' and 'terror' while in the West Bank and Gaza Palestinian children took part in a protest against the statements of Matthias Schmale, director of the United Nations Operations in the Gaza Strip on May 27 Palestinian protestors participated in a demonstration in Jerusalem's Old City on May 18 Cullors announced she was stepping down from Black Lives Matter on Friday, amid controversy over her $3 million property portfolio. Hank Newsome, the head of Black Lives Matter Greater New York City, called for an 'independent investigation' into the foundation's finances. The two organizations are not affiliated. Cullors, a self-described Marxist, denies receiving a salary from the foundation, but critics claim she might be using donations to the foundation to line her pockets. She has denied those claims, and says her income comes from other sources, like book sales and a YouTube deal. Still, she announced on Thursday she was stepping down from her position as executive director of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation after five years in the position to focus on other projects, like the release of her second book and a television deal with Warner Bros. 'I've created the infrastructure and the support, and the necessary bones and foundation, so that I can leave,' Cullors stated. 'It feels like the time is right.' But her departure comes after it was revealed last month that she has amassed a $3 million property portfolio, despite describing herself as a trained Marxist''. Cullors faced fierce backlash over revelations about her personal spending - including the recent purchase of a $1.4 million home in a ritzy L.A. neighborhood. It caused many to question what percentage of BLM donations were actually going towards social justice programs, although there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part of Cullors. On Friday, Cullors was slammed by mothers of black sons and daughters killed by police over her alleged greed. 'I don't believe she is going anywhere,' said Samaria Rice, the mother of 12-year-old Tamir Rice who was shot dead by Cleveland police as he played with a toy gun. 'It's all a facade. She's only saying that to get the heat off her right now,' she told the New York Post. 'TRAINED MARXIST' PATRISSE CULLORS' $3M PROPERTY PORTFOLIO In April, Cullors raised eyebrows when it emerged that she had spent $1.4 million on a Los Angeles property - her fourth home, and her third in the city - in an overwhelmingly white neighborhood. The plush property, located in Topanga Canyon, comes complete with a separate guest house and an expansive back yard. Cullors and her husband also purchased a 'custom ranch' on 3.2 acres in Conyers, Georgia last year for $415,000. The residence boasts its own pool and airplane hangar. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Cullors raised eyebrows when it emerged that she had spent $1.4 million on this residence in ritzy Topanga Canyon CONYERS, GEORGIA: Cullors and her husband also purchased a 'custom ranch' on 3.2 acres last year Additionally, property records show Cullors has bought two other Los Angeles homes in recent years. In 2016, she is said to have paid $510,000 for a three-bedroom home in Inglewood. In 2018, Cullors added another home to her property portfolio, by laying down $590,000 for a four-bedroom home in South L.A., the Post says. The New York Post reported that Cullors was also 'eyeing property at the ultra-exclusive Albany resort outside Nassau in the Bahamas where Justin Timberlake and Tiger Woods have homes.' The publication didn't cite sources for its information. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: According to property records, Cullors also owns this LA home LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Cullors also owns a third LA property Advertisement Rice said that she had been in touch with Cullors over email in the hope of re-opening a federal investigation into her son's death in 2014, but said the pair had never met face-to-face. 'They are benefiting off the blood of our loved ones, and they won't even talk to us,' she said. Rice's view is shared by Lisa Simpson, the mother of Richard Risher, 18, who died in July 2016 as he was chased by LAPD outside a housing project. Police said that Risher had a handgun leading police to fire 64 rounds. Breonna Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, has also said that BLM failed her. 'I have never personally dealt with BLM Louisville and personally have found them to be fraud (sic),' she wrote in an April Facebook post. Taylor was shot dead in a police raid at her home in Louisville, Kentucky in March 2020. Her killing became one of the key talking points of Black Lives Matter activists, and anti-police brutality campaigners, throughout last year. Speaking of Cullors' sudden departure from the organization, Simpson, 52, was blunt: 'Now she doesn't have to show her accountability. She can just take the money and run.' Simpson, who lives in Los Angeles, was told that her local BLM chapter raised $5,000 for her son's funeral. She has not received a cent. Samaria Rice the mother of Tamir Rice, has never met Patrisse Cullors, and believes she is only leaving Black Lives Matter to escape the heat over her $3 million property portfolio. In November 2014, Tamir Rice was killed in Cleveland, Ohio, by Timothy Loehmann, a 26-year-old white police officer. Rice was carrying a replica toy gun at the time of his killing Lisa Simpson the mother of Richard Risher has said she has not received a penny from BLM despite a local Los Angeles chapter offering to donate $,5000. RIght, Richard Risher was shot and killed by LAPD officers when he was 18-years-old in what police described as a 'running gun battle' Simpson blasted Black Lives Matter for 'raising money in our dead sons' names and giving us nothing in return.' 'We never hired them to be the representatives in the fight for justice for our dead loved ones murdered by the police,' Rice and Simpson said in a joint statement earlier this year. 'The 'activists' have events in our cities and have not given us anything substantial for using our loved ones' images and names on their flyers. 'We don't want or need y'all parading in the streets accumulating donations, platforms, movie deals, etc. off the death of our loved ones, while the families and communities are left clueless and broken.' Simpson is hoping to secure justice for her son whom she claims was 'shot for running while black.' She set up the Richard Risher Foundation to raise funds after BLM activists did not help her. 'They called me an agent provocateur, a liar and crazy. I am the boots on the ground in this fight, not Black Lives Matter. 'I'm just a mother who lost my kid. I haven't gotten any justice and I don't even know what that looks like.' Black Lives Matter was established nearly eight years ago in response to injustice against black Americans but the foundation has recently been mired in controversy over its finances and the personal wealth of its founder, Patrisse Cullors. The BLM foundation revealed earlier this year that it managed to raise more than $90 million last year, following the May 2020 murder of George Floyd. The foundation said it ended 2020 with a balance of more than $60 million, after spending nearly a quarter of its assets on operating expenses and grants to black-led organizations. But critics of the foundation contend more of that money should have gone to the families of black victims of police brutality who have been unable to access the resources needed to deal with their trauma and loss. Some have accused the group of profiting off the deaths including family members who have lost loved ones. However, she insists her resignation has been in the works for more than a year and has nothing to do with the personal attacks she has faced. 'Those were right-wing attacks that tried to discredit my character, and I don't operate off of what the right thinks about me,' Cullors told the Associated Press. Last month, she described the criticism as 'racist and sexist' smears deliberately put out by the 'right-wing media'. In 2020, the BLM foundation spun off its network of chapters as a sister collective called BLM Grassroots, so that it could build out its capacity as a philanthropic organization. Although many groups use 'Black Lives Matter' or 'BLM' in their names, less than a dozen are considered affiliates of the chapter network. In April, the foundation stated Cullors was a volunteer executive director who, prior to 2019, had '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.' 'As a registered 501c3 non-profit organization, (the foundation) cannot and did not commit any organizational resources toward the purchase of personal property by any employee or volunteer,' the foundation said in a statement. 'Any insinuation or assertion to the contrary is categorically false.' Cullors has made much of her money from consulting on racial justice projects outside of BLM. In 2018, she also released a best-selling autobiography titled: 'When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir. Meanwhile, Cullors has also been paid an advance for her second book. Cullors founded BLM with Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi in 2013, in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman, who killed Trayvon Martin. Gaffe-prone former NSW opposition leader Michael Daley has set the stage for a potential Labor leadership showdown. Mr Daley, who led Labor to its 2019 NSW election defeat, has thrown his hat in the ring to become party leader again after Jodi McKay's resignation on Friday. Just days from the 2019 election Mr Daley said the party would spend $3 billion funding TAFE in NSW - when in reality the figure was just $64 million. A video also resurfaced with the MP for Maroubra, in the city's east, telling a pub forum that highly-skilled Asian migrants were forcing Australian-born workers to 'flee' Sydney. Michael Daley was trounced in the 2019 election by Glady Berejiklian's government (centre) The comments saw him suffer an unprecedented swing against him in his own electorate - which has a high proportion of immigrant voters. However, Daley would formally nominate for the leadership on Monday, likely prompting a head-to-head ballot with the party's former transport spokesman Chris Minns. Mr Minns is yet to formally announce his candidacy after previously making two unsuccessful leadership tilts. Rising Labor star Chris Minns is the favourite for the job in NSW (above) The top job was left vacant as Ms McKay succumbed to pressure after Labor's first-preference vote in the Upper Hunter by-election dipped from 29 to 21 per cent. Mr Daley has since expressed his view that Ms McKay was unfairly treated and should never have been 'forced out' of the leadership. He said the winner of any Labor leadership ballot must help the party 'bury the hatchet' over Ms McKay's departure, and focus minds on the 2023 poll. '(Members) own the party, not the apparatchiks,' Mr Daley said on Sunday. Jodi McKay quit as leader after the party was trounced in the Upper Hunter by election 'Please help me heal our party and win government in 2023.' Since 2013, Labor party rules require that the caucus and the rank-and-file members vote to elect a leader if more than one person contends. That would likely leave the party in turmoil for weeks, and without a leader when the Berejiklian government hands down its budget in late June. Mr Daley took over from Luke Foley as Labor leader in late 2018 and led the party to its 2019 state election defeat - making two decisive gaffes in the final week of campaigning - before moving to the backbench. failures and was keen to make amends. Forklifts may have caused the gas leak at a salmon processing plant in southern Tasmania that resulted in 20 people being taken to hospital. Tassal's Strathblane facility near Dover was evacuated at about 11.30am on Sunday. Twenty people were taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital for assessment, with six remaining overnight in a stable condition. Tasmania Fire Service said initial assessments indicated that carbon monoxide from the operation of forklifts inside the building is likely to blame. WorkSafe Tasmania is investigating the incident. Australian Workers Union representative Robert Flanagan said it appears the forklift being used was not fit for purpose. Tassal's operations at Dover, Tasmania have been rocked after 20 people were hospitalised on Sunday following a gas leak 'We don't understand how that could've happened,' he told ABC radio. 'We have been in discussions with the company (Sunday) afternoon regarding the matter, through into the evening.' Tassal said investigations by the company are underway. 'We have been given clearance from the authorities to recommence operations,' a spokesman said in a statement. The Strathblane plant is Tassal's original processing facility and has been operating since 1986. Wildlife authorities are investigating after a wedge-tail eagle was found riddled with shotgun pellets in southern Tasmania. The bird was discovered this week at a property in Birchs Bay and is now being cared for by Raptor Rescue. "I'm just trying to get it back on track. I'm not sure if it's going to survive," director Craig Webb told AAP. Wedge-tailed eagles, Australia's largest bird of prey, are listed as endangered in Tasmania The state's Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment says it is investigating the incident. X-ray of a wedge-tail eagle that was found this week riddled with shotgun pellets at Birch's Bay in southern Tasmania (above) "Killing or interfering with native wildlife is illegal in Tasmania unless a person has the relevant licence or permit," a spokeswoman said in a statement. "Anyone with information about suspected wildlife offences should report it to the (department's) investigations and enforcement section." A person convicted of taking, or injuring, a threatened species without the relevant permit could face a fine up to $108,000 or 12 months' jail. Mr Webb said his raptor rehabilitation service encountered a dead eagle with its claws hacked off in the state's northeast last week. Wedge-tail eagles are endangered in Tasmania (above, the recovering eagle) He has called for more wildlife enforcement officers to ensure those who harm or interfere with the birds are caught. "These majestic eagles call Tasmania home. We really do need to respect and admire these fantastic creatures, not dismember them like they did last week," he said. "It's just unacceptable." Raptor Refuge has offered a $20,000 reward for anyone with information that leads to a conviction in relation to the shooting. "You don't shoot a bird by mistake," Mr Webb said. A newly unsealed indictment on Sunday named additional members of the Oath Keepers, a far-right militia group that participated in the storming of the US Capitol, as defendants for their role in the January 6th riots. The court filing listed three individuals by name, Joseph Hackett, Jason Dolan, and William Isaacs, while a fourth person's name was hidden. Three of them have been arrested in recent days, court records show. It was unclear why the fourth person's name was not revealed in the court documents. This superseding indictment, part of a larger federal government criminal conspiracy case, now includes a total of 16 Oath Keepers. The other 12 co-defendants have pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors have said in recent weeks that others members of the militia group planned to commit violence and brought firearms into the city. In a November 9 planning meeting for the attack, the founder of the Oath Keepers, identified as Person One in the filing, referred to the attack as an insurrection, saying 'We're gonna be posted outside DC, awaiting the president's orders...We want him to declare an insurrection.' The Oath Keepers accept anyone, the recent court filing notes, but 'explicitly focus on recruiting current and former military, law enforcement, and first-responder personnel.' Four more members of the far-right militia have been charged with federal criminal conspiracy, bringing to 16 the total number facing prosecution Members of the Oath Keepers on the steps of the Capitol during the January 6 riots. A total of 16 have now been charged with federal conspiracy On the afternoon of January 6, Oath Keepers stormed the US Capitol Building and fought pitched battles with Capitol police officers Senate Republicans last week voted down a House-passed bill that would create a 9/11-style commission to investigate the January 6 Capitol attack. Democrats were unable to override a Republican filibuster placed on the bill during a Friday vote of 54 to 35, with 60 votes needed. Republican Sens. Mitt Romney, Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy, Lisa Murkowski, Rob Portman and Ben Sasse voted alongside 48 Democrats. The bill is now essentially dead - though Democrats may launch other investigations and some are ongoing in Senate committees. The Oath Keepers are a far-right, anti-government militia group who claim they have a membership of around 35,000 Last month, a founding member of the far-right group Oath Keepers has pleaded guilty to two felony charges over the January 6 riot at the US Capitol. Jon Ryan Schaffer, 53, struck a plea deal with prosecutors Friday, becoming the first person charged in relation to the attack to plead guilty. Schaffer was initially slapped with six charges over the violent incident, but pleaded guilty to two charges as part of the deal: obstruction of an official proceeding and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon. Police said Schaffer - who hails from Indiana - was armed with bear spray when he barged into the Capitol following a 'Stop the Steal' rally held earlier in the day. As part of the plea deal, Schaffer has agreed to cooperate with investigators - prompting rumors he may 'turn' on some of his fellow Oath Keeper members. The Oath Keepers are a far-right, anti-government militia group who claim they have a membership of around 35,000. Michael Flynn has been blasted for comments he made at a QAnon conference where he told attendees that a military coup similar to one that recently occurred in Myanmar should happen in the United States. Calls mounted on social media for the retired general to face a military court martial for his comments at a conference in Dallas, Texas, that had been organized by supporters of the QAnon conspiracy. Flynn, who was National Security Advisor for former President Trump, was responding to a question from an audience member. The man said he was a 'simple Marine' and asked 'why what happened in Myanmar can't happen here?' 'There's no reason', Flynn responded as the audience cheered. 'I mean, it should happen that's right.' Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, former President Donald Trump's former national adviser backed the idea of a military coup similar to Myanmar's happening in the U.S. Flynn was appearing at a conference organized by supporters of the QAnon conspiracy in Dallas, Texas over the weekend Myanmar's military-led coup saw the country's democratically-elected government overturned. Military chief Min Aung Hlaing was installed as the country's leader with the junta killing hundreds of civilians. Flynn's exchange drew surprise online with many calling him for to be taken to task over his comments. 'Hello SecDef! Can we get a Court Martial? Call him back to duty and then dishonorably discharge him. My tax payer dollars shouldnt be paying for his benefits,' wrote one. 'Wow. It dont get much more traitory than this,' added another. 'Why isn't Michael Flynn behind bars of fomenting a treasonous insurrection against the United States? Surely treasonous words are not covered by Trump's pardon,' asked Muriel Burrows. 'Recall General Michael Flynn to active duty immediately for purposes of court-martial. This must be done ASAP.' tweeted Jeannette Stone. 'I think now might be a good time to call retired officer Michael Flynn back to active duty, court martial and strip him of his rank and benefits for conspiracy and committing seditious acts against the United States,' said another. 'Michael Flynn is clearly an enemy of the USA. Let's honor our veterans this Memorial Day by arresting this unamerican traitor.' A number of Twitter users heard the comments and demanded that he be court-martialed 'Minimar? sounds like dude has been spending too much time at the minibar,' joked one Twitter user who noticed Flynn's mispronunciation. 'We now return you to the Republican coup, already in progress . . . THIS is why the GOP wants to block every investigation into the January 6th attack on the Capital: Because it starts and ends with them,' said DC Lascelle. 'Flynn hopefully will be prosecuted under 18 U.S. Code 2385 Astonishing if someone holding the rank of General in the United States Army who was also a National Security Advisor can get away with calling for a Myanmar-style coup,' wrote another user. 'FBI please arrest this man. He is asking Americans to turn against their government!', demanded another Twitter follower. Here is the video of former national security advisor Michael Flynn saying that he thinks a coup like the coup in Myanmar should happen in the US. pic.twitter.com/7mGYjfXg18 Mamie (@MC_Hyperbole) May 30, 2021 Myanmar's military-led coup in February of this year saw the country's democratically-elected government overturned. Protesters are pictured in Yangon in February Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as people try to storm the US Capitol in Washington D.C. In the past, QAnon supporters have aired their support for a coup to take place that would see Trump be placed back at the White House. One interview aired on CNN showed Trump supporters advocating for a military coup to take over and 'redo' the election, remove 'puppet president' Joe Biden and hold a new inauguration for Trump. President Trump pardoned Flynn last Thanksgiving. Flynn's conviction for lying to the FBI during the Russia investigation was wiped following the presidential pardon. In 2017, Trump fired Flynn after just weeks on the job after it was revealed he did not disclose his contacts with Russia's former ambassador to the US to Vice President Mike Pence. An icy blast is set to send temperatures across Australia plunging for the next seven days, with some parts of the country waking up to their coldest May on record. The cold spell began smashing records over the weekend with Melbourne shivering through lows of 1.7C on Sunday - the coldest morning in 70 years. Geelong, Avalon, Viewbank and Coldstream also shivered through record low temperatures on Monday. The mercury dipped to 0.3C at Geelong while it plummeted to a freezing -3C at Coldstream. The cold spell began smashing records over the weekend with Melbourne shivering through 1.7C on Sunday - the coldest morning in 70 years (pictured, Melbourne resident walking around Albert Park) New South Wales recorded even lower temperatures with the mercury dipping well below zero in regional parts of the state on Monday Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Miriam Bradbury said the temperatures across the city were well below average for this time of year. 'Average minimum temperatures for Melbourne is 10C,' she said. 'This is well below average, however late May in particular, we do see quite a few cold mornings, but usually they don't drop below five degrees.' 'It is significantly cold, but not unheard of.' New South Wales recorded even lower temperatures with the mercury dipping well below zero in regional parts of the state on Monday. Cooma shivered through -6.8C while Merriwa, in the Upper Hunter Shire, recorded -2.1C. Canberra residents did not fare much better as they awoke to -4.8C while Hobart locals shivered through a 2.8C morning. Conditions are not tipped to get any warmer as winter begins on Tuesday, with Sydney expected to shiver through lows of 10C every day through to the weekend. Melbourne will endure showers and cloudy conditions with lows of 7C and highs of 18C. Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Miriam Bradbury said the temperatures across the city were well below average for this time of year (pictured, a depiction of the freezing temperature in Victoria on Sunday. Blue indicates temperatures between 0C and 6C while pink indicates where the mercury dipped below 0C) The cold snap comes as BoM forecasts a warmer than average winter for most parts of the country. Coastal areas as well as parts of southern Australia are predicted to experience warmer and drier days while northern Australia could experience more rainfall than usual over the the next few months. Bureau climatologist Dr Lynette Bettio said the weather pattern was typical for this time of year. 'Our climate drivers are currently neutral, meaning we're not getting El Nino or La Nina bringing particularly dry nor particularly wet conditions to the continent,' she said. 'Warmer ocean temperatures to the north of Australia may increase the moisture available, enhancing rainfall and resulting in a wetter than average dry season across much of northern Australia but as it is dry season, rainfall totals will not be high.' Dr Bettio pointed out Autumn had been wetter than average for New South Wales, southern Queensland and coastal Western Australia. 'New South Wales had its second wettest March on record, with the extreme rainfall and severe flooding late in the month,' she said. 'While some areas of Victoria and South Australia have missed out on their usual autumn rainfall and could be heading into a dry winter.' 'Cool conditions would have been felt particularly keenly by residents in inland New South Wales, who recorded minimum temperatures one to two degrees below average.' Westpac chief executive Peter King wants the corporate sector to be allowed to step in and help Australia's flagging vaccine rollout. The bank boss said vaccinations were critical to getting lives back to normal and warned closing international borders and relying on lockdowns in response to outbreaks was unsustainable. 'I understand there are varying views among Australians with regards to vaccines,' he wrote in The Australian on Monday. 'But from my perspective, given the need to help protect our families and friends when further outbreaks occur, as well as the economic costs to communities, we need as many Australians as possible to get vaccinated as fast as possible.' His comments reflect a growing frustration by some in the business community as Australia lags behind other nations and the Morrison government comes under fire for delivering mixed messages on the rollout. Westpac CEO Peter King (pictured at the bank's AGM in Sydney in December) said vaccinations were critical to getting lives back to normal The government has been accused of contributing to the patchy vaccine take-up by repeatedly suggesting the national rollout is not a race. Labor frontbencher Bill Shorten said Victoria's fourth coronavirus lockdown proved the rollout was now a race, with growing fears of an outbreak spreading through an aged care home. 'There has been a degree of complacency, not just by the government, but perhaps among Australians,' he told ABC News on Monday. Mr Shorten said waiting until an outbreak occurred before seeking a vaccination was not the right approach. 'Don't wait until a lockdown to get vaccinated,' he said. 'Simple common sense says if there is COVID anywhere, it could affect any of us at any time.' Mr Shorten questioned the motives of people who refused vaccines, with 15 per cent of aged care residents declining to give their consent. 'Even if you think you're bulletproof, just think about your neighbour down the hallway or your worker who's caring for you,' he said. Victoria Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien receives his Covid-19 vaccination but only 500,000 people have received both doses of the jab 'This is not just about yourself, it's about the community, and we've got to think about the collective good not just your own particular world view.' Mr Shorten also challenged the government's language around reaching vaccine rollout milestones, saying two doses were needed for proper protection. 'Don't BS the people, if a proper vaccination is two then call it what it is,' he said. 'Don't pretend that by people having doses then somehow the job is done. The job is not done until you have two vaccinations.' More than 4.1 million vaccines have been administered across Australia, but only about 500,000 people have received both doses of the jab. A powerful trade union wants the government to buy back Qantas for $9billion so passengers aren't ripped off, accusing bosses of 'pocketing billions' in taxpayer subsidies. The Transport Workers Union is circulating a petition calling on the federal government to nationalise the carrier in the interests of protecting jobs. 'Qantas is one of our best known and loved national icons,' it said. 'It needs protection from a dictatorship-style management that is pocketing billions in public subsidies and hurting our economy by sacking and stealing from workers.' With Qantas now having a 74 per cent market share, the union's national secretary Michael Kaine said the travellers faced paying higher airfares, especially on regional routes previously serviced by just REX Airlines. 'What the Australian public is facing is its own funding being used against it as Qantas strives for a near monopoly situation,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'This will result in higher air fares and less choice, as a monopoly would allow Qantas to kill off regional routes which are less lucrative.' Qantas hit back at the union, pointing out it was on track to lose $16billion by June 30 since the start of the Covid pandemic, adding the two-year pay freeze had also applied to management. A powerful trade union in the Labor Party wants the government to buy back Qantas so passengers aren't ripped off. Pictured is chief executive Alan Joyce 'Qantas has a dedicated myth busting page on our website to deal with the litany of false and misleading claims from the TWU,' a spokesman told Daily Mail Australia. The airline last year also retrenched 8,500 staff and has received $2billion in support from taxpayers, mainly through the JobKeeper wage subsidies. 'The majority of government support we've received has been through JobKeeper, which has been a lifeline for our employees who were stood down,' a Qantas spokesman said. With Australia closed to international tourists until at least 2022, the government has propped up the aviation sector with a $1.2billion package to provide, until July 31, half-price flights to 13 destinations. Qantas is the main beneficiary of the taxpayer-funded program providing discount flights to the Gold Coast, Cairns, the Whitsundays, the Sunshine Coast, Alice Springs, Kangaroo Island, Geelong and Merimbula on the New South Wales South Coast. Despite the pandemic, the flying kangaroo airline's chief executive Alan Joyce was last year paid a base salary with benefits of $1.744million, down significantly from $9.997million in 2019 when he received a series of long-term incentive bonuses. As the owner of 2.892 million shares, he also has a stake in the company worth $13.652million with the Qantas share price at $4.71 on Monday. The Transport Workers Union is circulating a petition calling on the federal government to nationalise the national carrier in the interests of protecting jobs The flying kangaroo airline last year boasted to shareholders of having a 74 per cent market share, with its key rival Virgin Australia now owned by American private equity group Bain Capital. Former prime minister Paul Keating's Labor government privatised the national airline in 1992 with the Qantas Sale Act stipulating it had to have its headquarters in Australia. In 2001, Helen Clark's Labour government in New Zealand bought an 83 per cent stake in Air New Zealand, just 13 years after David Lange's Labour government had privatised it. Her National Party successor John Key in 2014 sold down the government's stake in the airline but it still retains a 52 per cent ownership in the Kiwi carrier. Former prime minister Paul Keating's Labor government privatised the national airline in 1992 with the Qantas Sale Act stipulating it had to have its headquarters in Australia. Pictured is the Transport Workers Union petition Despite New Zealand's history of buying back an airline, the TWU petition had only amassed 250 signatures calling on Australia to do the same thing. But the TWU is powerful within Labor's Right faction, with senator Tony Sheldon a former national secretary of the union. In April last year, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese called for the government to either extend a line of credit to Virgin or buy an equity stake as it went into voluntary administration, leaving 16,000 jobs in jeopardy. Prime Minister Scott Morrison that rejected call, before Bain Capital bought it. Labor's transport frontbencher Catherine King has, for now, stopped short of explicitly endorsing the TWU's call to nationalise Qantas. 'With the pandemic continuing and the governments vaccine and quarantine failures leading to domestic border closures making a return, it is more essential than ever that the Morrison Government comes up with plan for Australian aviation and the industries that rely on it,' she told Daily Mail Australia. A mother has told how she received the 'worst phone call of my life' from her son, who was shot at a rap concert by three gunmen who fired a hundred rounds 'indiscriminately' into the crowd. Two people were killed and at least 25 injured when the three shooters jumped out of an SUV and opened fire at the El Mula Banquet Hall in Northwest Miami-Dade in the early hours of Sunday morning. Angelica Green told how she waited impatiently outside a hospital in south Florida for hours on Sunday, for any information on her 24-year-old son, who was shot in the abdomen. 'He was telling us if something happens to him, that he loves us,' she told NBC Miami. 'We said, 'We love you too, but you're gonna survive this.' Her son was attending the concert with her husband and nephew, she told reporters, but did not name them. Her husband was uninjured, but her nephew was shot four times. Angelica Green recounted how she received a call from her 24-year-old son early on Sunday telling her and her husband that he was on his way to a local hospital for gunshot wounds The shooting occurred at a banquet hall that was being rented out for a rapper's birthday Her husband told him to 'stay with us,' she recounted. 'He's not a statistic,' Green told CNN of her son. 'He's a graduate from college last year. So he's educated. He was going out with his cousin to just celebrate the weekend, and they had not made it into the club as of yet.' She said her 24-year-old nephew was also shot, she said, and suffered 'pretty massive wounds.' Two others died in the shooting at the banquet hall, where a local rapper was celebrating his birthday. At least 25 people were injured. More than 12 victims were brought to six different hospitals in the Miami-Dade and Broward County area, and three are in critical condition, with two currently on life support, Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez told ABC News Sunday afternoon. More than 12 victims were brought to six different hospitals in the area Family members waited outside for hours for information about their loved ones At one point, the family members formed a prayer circle outside the hospital The attack appeared to be targeted, police say, and they are now scrubbing through surveillance footage from the exterior of the banquet hall in an attempt to identify the three suspects who opened fire at the rap concert. Police said the three suspects pulled up to the El Mula Banquet Hall, which was being rented out for a local rapper's birthday party, in a white Nissan Pathfinder early Sunday morning and waited outside for about 40 minutes before opening fire as the party-goers were leaving. They were armed with assault rifles and handguns, Ramirez said, and fled the scene. Police were still searching for the SUV Sunday night. They requested help from the community to identify and arrest the shooters, with American businessman and philanthropist Marcus Lemonis tweeting that he will contribute $100,000 for information that leads to capture and arrest of the shooters. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact CrimeStoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477) or (866) 471-8477. Police Director Alfredo Ramirez III said he believes the attack was targeted, and police are now searching for the suspects and their white SUV, which they used to flee the scene Authorities said they have collected about 100 shell casing from the scene, where, police say, some party-goers returned fire. 'I am at the scene of another targeted and cowardly act of gun violence, where over 20 victims were shot and 2 have sadly died,' police director Alfredo 'Freddy' Ramirez III tweeted. 'These are cold blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice. My deepest condolences to the family of the victims.' Miami Police Chief Art Acevedo called for the justice system to 'throw the book' at criminals caught with illegal firearms. 'Most (of) these cowardly misfits don't fear death, they do fear long prison sentences,' Acevedo tweeted Sunday morning. 'Firearms belong in the hands of law-abiding Americans of sound kind, more (must) me done to keep them out of the wrong hands.' Two people were dead at the scene of the shooting and three are in critical condition Police recovered almost 100 shell casings from outside the banquet hall, where party-goers fired back at the three suspects Acevedo called for 'serious prison time' for anyone caught using a firearm during the commission of a crime. He also called for Congress members to 'come out of their own corners the left and the right and come to the middle where most Americans are' in addressing gun violence on CBS' Face the Nation Sunday. 'We need to have universal background checks, we need to make burglarizing these licensed gun stores a federal crime with mandatory sentencing, and we need the federal government and both sides to address this issue,' he said 'because without legislation, without certainty as it relates to holding these criminals accountable, we're never going to get through this summer with much more death and destruction.' The mass shooting Sunday morning was the second to occur in Miami this weekend. On Friday, one person was killed and six others were injured in a drive-by shooting. Qantas says while the COVID-19 lockdown in Victoria will affect its business, it's still seeing strong demand in other parts of the nation. CEO Alan Joyce expects the airline to eventually return to full capacity following the snap seven-day lockdown. Victoria accounts for about 22 per cent of the airline's domestic network but is a virtual no-fly zone until Thursday. 'We are waiting to see what the full impacts will be, dependent on how long the lockdown remains in place,' CEO Alan Joyce says said on Monday. 'But what we were seeing in the rest of the network is still huge demand.' Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the airline is aiming to be back above 100 per cent of capacity Victoria is almost halfway through a week-long lockdown to contain a virus outbreak that began in Melbourne's north. The health measure is due to end on Thursday night, although there are fears it could be extended if new coronavirus cases continue to be uncovered. So far, during this outbreak, Victoria has recorded 40 cases of community spread of the Indian variant of the virus. Mr Joyce said that before the lockdown Qantas was aiming to be back above 100 per cent of capacity before the coronavirus pandemic began. 'I'm sure once the lockdown is over and things get back to normal in Victoria we will go back to that original plan,' he added. Mr Joyce also called more Australians to get vaccinated as Qantas considers offering from July a range of 'rewards' for customers who get the jab. 'It will be retrospective, it will include anybody that has already been vaccinated and will apply to anybody that is vaccinated, until the end of 2021,' Mr Joyce said. 'We are trying our best to help with this rollout.' The rewards are likely to include bonus Frequent Flyer points, vouchers and unlimited travel prizes. Popular retailer Harvey Norman is in the middle of a social media war after its official Twitter account replied dismissively to someone who said they were driven to suicide after working for the company. The former worker made the claims while discussing how the company had blocked accounts which made reference to protests outside a number of its stores. 'Lol @HarveyNormanAU blocking people for talking about the wage strikes. Working for your god forsaken company drove me to suicide in 6 months,' the ex-staffer wrote. The official account responded with a facepalm and a waving emoji. The exchange with @Sisyphysical which began the boycott campaign against Harvey Norman User Andrew Read called the company 'greedy turds' after being blocked, which the official account responded to with a kiss emoji. The social media spat followed a blocking spree by the account in which the ACTU, its Secretary Sally McManus, Victorian government minister Martin Pakula and hundreds of other Twitter users were prevented from seeing Harvey Norman's tweets. A #boycottharveynorman hashtag began trending on Twitter on Sunday and continued on Monday, as users unleashed on the company's responses. 'This is most revolting, irresponsible response to a tweet containing sensitive health information Ive seen from a corporate entity,' replied one Twitter user. 'I will never spend a cent with your company ever.' 'Keep going, Harvey Norman,' wrote another. 'The more people that see this, the less customers you will have.' The company Gerry Harvey co-founded in 1961 is under fire from workers and Tweeters Union protestors campaigned for minimum wage increases outside Harvey Norman stores in Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania last week The electrical goods and appliances giant founded by Harvey and Ian Norman in 1961 had been the subject of recent headlines about its performance since the COVID-19 pandemic broke in early 2020. The retailer's sales boomed during Australia's stay-at-home months last year, reporting net profit of $462million in the second half of 2020, a jump of 116 per cent on the same period in 2019. But the fact the company, including its franchisees, received more than $20 million in JobKeeper benefits to subsidise the wages of employees, has drawn criticism from workers and unions. Harvey Norman had said it will not pay back the money to the government. 'We took a view that the businesses that got that JobKeeper money desperately needed it and the ones that didn't get it didn't need it,' Mr Harvey said. 'That went to areas of our business that were suffering at the time. It's not as if it went to Harvey Norman regular shop, that didn't happen.' Gerry Harvey with wife Katie Paige. Harvey had opposed minimum wage increases The business posted a COVID-19-boosted 116 per cent rise in profit in the second half of 2020 Harvey Norman's refusal to return JobKeeper payments despite a big profit increase had created controversy Workers with signs and protestors campaigned outside Harvey Norman stores in Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania last week for minimum wage rises. Mr Harvey had previously expressed support for a freeze on the rate of minimum pay. There are about 200 Harvey Norman stores in Australia, and another 96 stores overseas. The company is yet to comment on the social media spat, including to Daily Mail Australia, leaving users wondering whether the account had been hacked. It's Twitter bio claims that the account is 'unmanned', and that the platform is no longer a customer service channel for Harvey Norman. For 24/7, confidential support call Lifeline on 13 11 14. The NSW premier says the border with Victoria will remain open despite the evolving COVID crisis there but warns people from NSW shouldn't travel there. Gladys Berejiklian says what's happening in Victoria with COVID is 'really concerning' but her position on keeping the border open remains the same. 'My heart goes out for the people of Victoria,' she said on Monday. 'They've been down this path before, and I can't imagine what it would be like to go through so many instances when your life is so massively disrupted,' Ms Berejiklian said. Victoria is currently enduring a week-long lockdown as it grapples with the new outbreak. All people in NSW who have recently been in the state must stay home until Thursday Gladys Berejiklian says what's happening in Victoria with COVID is 'really concerning' but her position on keeping the border open remains the same Poll SHOULD NSW CLOSE THE BORDER WITH VICTORIA? Yes - NSW must stay safe No - Is an overreaction SHOULD NSW CLOSE THE BORDER WITH VICTORIA? Yes - NSW must stay safe 135 votes No - Is an overreaction 104 votes Now share your opinion She 'can only imagine how difficult it is' for Victorians who are part way through a seven-day lock down, the fourth one since COVID started. She refused to be drawn on whether she would have locked down if NSW had a similar cluster size, saying 'you really have to take every outbreak on its merits'. Despite nearly 300 exposure sites in Victoria, it doesn't change the government's thinking on borders. 'Victorians aren't allowed to move within five kilometres of where they live anyway, and we have some guidelines around border communities so that we're not adversely impacting residents on either side of the border.' 11 new cases were reported on Monday in Victoria, with four aged care homes exposed (pictured, a worker in PPE removes medical waste from one of the facilities on Monday) 'When Victorians aren't allowed to travel more than five kilometres outside of where they live that obviously does not concern us because they can't travel and get to NSW.' 'That's why I say to the other states when Victorians aren't allowed to leave their homes you shouldn't worry about your own borders.' However, she warned people from NSW should not be travelling to Victoria. 'We've said don't go unless it's absolutely essential .. I mean you can't do anything down there anyway... unless it's life or death or family grieving we don't want anyone down there.' 'My heart goes out for the people of Victoria,' Ms Berejiklian said on Monday as 11 new cases were found in the state (pictured, medical staff giving out tests at the age care facility Royal Freemasons Coppin Centre in Melbourne) Ms Berejiklian also called on NSW Labor - which is currently without a leader - to focus on the people of NSW and not internal skirmishes. Former Labor Leader Jodi McKay resigned from the position on Friday, citing the need for unity in her party. 'I say to the members of the opposition I wish you could walk in my shoes for a day and see what it's like to have to run a state during a pandemic,' Ms Berejiklian said. There have been no new local cases of COVID recorded in NSW to 8pm on Sunday, while almost 1.3 million vaccinations have been administered. A millionaire megadonor objected to UNC's hiring of 1619 Project author Nikole Hannah-Jones, and questioned her objectivity as a journalist claiming she was 'trying to push an agenda', emails have revealed. Millionaire newspaper tycoon Walter Hussman Jr, 75, complained to the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill last summer when he learned that they were thinking of hiring the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporter. Hussman donated $25 million to his alma mater in 2019, and UNC renamed their journalism department after him. 'I worry about the controversy of tying the UNC journalism school to the 1619 project,' he wrote to Susan King, dean at the Hussman School of Journalism. The New York Times' 1619 Project has been criticized for reframing American history as fundamentally racist and also containing inaccuracies and generalizations. But King would hire Hannah-Jones anyway as a Knight Chair professor at the Hussman School. But in a controversial break from tradition, the school this month rescinded its offer of a tenured position, confirming that Hannah-Jones would instead join its faculty this summer with a five-year contract. The offer of a tenured teaching position was last week resubmitted to the board of trustees at a North Carolina university after outrage and campus protests when her tenure application was halted. Hannah-Jones starts her professorship on July 1. Hussman worried in the email sent in December, and obtained by The Assembly that many would believe that Hannah-Jones was, 'trying to push an agenda,' through the 1619 Project, and that, 'they will assume she is manipulating historical facts to support it.' Private emails reveal that UNC Chapel Hill megadonor Walter Hussman (right) had objected to the university's hiring of New York Times reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones as a Knight Chair professor at the school 'My hope and vision was that the journalism school would be the champion of objective, impartial reporting and separating news and opinion, and that would add so much to its reputation and would benefit both the school and the University,' he wrote. 'Instead, I fear this possible and needless controversy will overshadow it.' Hussman expressed in the emails that he preferred the work of other Pulitzer Prize-winning historians such as James McPherson and Gordon Wood over Hannah-Jones'. In particular, he disagreed with a part of her introductory essay to the 1619 Project, for which she earned the Pulitzer, in which she wrote that Black Americans had largely fought alone during the civil rights struggle after World War II. 'I think this claim denigrates the courageous efforts of many white Americans to address the sin of slavery and the racial injustices that resulted after the Civil War,' he wrote. 'Long before Nikole Hannah Jones won her Pulitzer Prize courageous white southerners risking their lives standing up for the rights of blacks were winning Pulitzer prizes, too,' he wrote, referring to southern journalists of the era. In response to what he has seen as a perceived loss of objectivity in modern mainstream journalism, in 2017 Hussman reiterated a commitment to impartiality in a statement of core values reprinted every day on Page 2 of all 10 of his newspapers. After a $25 million donation to the college, UNC named its journalism school after Hussman Although the school hired Hannah-Jones, it declined to give her tenure in the position, sparking backlash and claims of racism Behind the New York Times' hotly-contested 1619 Project: Critics claim the series was riddled with inaccuracies because authors ignored fact-checker's notes In August 2019 the New York Times Magazine published the 1619 project, a collection of essays, photo essays, short fiction pieces and poems aimed to 'reframe' American history based on the impact of slaves brought to the US. It was published to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of enslaved Africans in the English colonies. It argues that the nation's birth was not 1776 with independence from the British crown, but in August 1619 with the arrival of a cargo ship of 20 to 30 enslaved Africans at Point Comfort in the colony of Virginia, which inaugurated the system of slavery. The project argues that slavery was the country's origin and out of it 'grew nearly everything that has truly made America exceptional.' That includes economic might, industry, the electoral system, music, public health and education inequities, violence, income inequality, slang, and racial hatred. However, the project is debated among historians for its factual accuracy. In March 2020 historian Leslie M. Harris who served as a fact checker for the project said authors ignored her corrections, but believed the project was needed to correct prevailing historical narratives. One aspect up for debate is the timeline. Time Magazine said the first slaves arrived in 1526 in a Spanish colony in what is now South Carolina, 93 years prior to the landing in Jamestown. Some experts say slaves first arrived at present-day Fort Monroe in Hampton, instead of Jamestown. Others argue the first Africans in Virginia were indentured servants as laws on lifetime slavery didn't appear till 17th century and early 18th century, but worked essentially as slaves. Princeton historian Sean Wilentz criticized the 1619 Project's 'cynicism,' according to the Atlantic magazine. He distributed a letter signed by historians that asked the newspaper to correct what it said were factual errors. The letter said the series was ' displacement of historical understanding by ideology.' Newt Gingrich in a 2019 USA Today article said the project was a lie and that 'there were several hundred thousand white Americans who died in the Civil War in order to free the slaves.' In March 2020, the New York Times wrote a seemingly half-hearted 'clarification' to part of the 1619 project on a part of the series that said one of the primary reasons the colonists fought in the American Revolution was to protect slavery. The clarification read: 'We recognize that our original language could be read to suggest that protecting slavery was a primary motivation for all of the colonists. The passage has been changed to make clear that this was a primary motivation for some of the colonists. A note has been appended to the story as well' Also that month, a professor, Leslie M. Harris, who helped fact-check the project wrote in Politico, said that she'd repeatedly argued against Hannah-Jones against the idea that the people who fought in the American Revolution to preserve slavery. 'I vigorously disputed the claim,' she wrote in the Politico op-ed. 'Although slavery was certainly an issue in the American Revolution, the protection of slavery was not one of the main reasons the 13 Colonies went to war.' Despite the expert's advice, the Times published the story without changing the inaccuracy, something that 'stunned' Harris, she wrote. 'In addition, the papers characterizations of slavery in early America reflected laws and practices more common in the antebellum era than in Colonial times, and did not accurately illustrate the varied experiences of the first generation of enslaved people that arrived in Virginia in 1619,' Harris said, listing another inaccuracy. Harris did contend that slavery was 'central to' the United States' story, but that it was 'not, in fact, founded to protect slavery.' Advertisement 'Two years ago I heard a prominent journalist say she doesnt believe in the "false equivalency of presenting both sides, and that she sees her job as determining the truth, then sharing it with her audience. Thats not what I learned in journalism school in the 1960s.' he wrote in a 2019 op-ed to the Wall Street Journal. In light of his self-professed attitudes regarding core values of objective journalism, Hussman told The Assembly, 'A good question for her is, "How do you feel about these core values?" I really don't know the answer to that.' Hussman was not the only person to criticize the hiring of Hannah-Jones. The news was swiftly condemned by conservative political groups with links to the UNC Board of Governors which oversees the state university's 16-campus system, according to NC Policy Watch. Among the loudest critics was the The James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal, which argued that Hannah-Jones is unqualified for the position because her 1619 Project was 'unfactual and biased'. The conservative watchdog group said her hiring signaled 'a degradation of journalistic standards, which should deter any serious student from applying to the journalism school'. The backlash over Hannah-Jones' hiring proved fierce enough to cause UNC to dramatically reduce its offer to a mere five-year contract - with the possibility of tenure after that but no guarantee. A member of the Board of Trustees at UNC's main Chapel Hill campus explained the decision to NC Policy Watch, saying that it all came down to politics. 'This is a very political thing,' said the trustee, who asked to remain anonymous. 'The university and the Board of Trustees and the Board of Governors and the Legislature have all been getting pressure since this thing was first announced last month. 'There have been people writing letters and making calls, for and against. But I will leave it to you which is carrying more weight.' 'It's maybe not a solution that is going to please everyone. Maybe it won't please anyone. But if this was going to happen, this was the way to get it done.' Susan King, the dean of UNC Hussman, called the decision 'disappointing'. 'It's not what we wanted and I am afraid it will have a chilling effect,' King said, according to NC Policy Watch. Daniel Kreiss, an associate professor at Hussman, also condemned the controversy over Hannah-Jones' hiring. 'Obviously, they knew the hiring could be controversial,' he said. 'But I think it's all quite silly to be honest. 'Nikole Hannah-Jones is one of the most prominent journalists in the United States, frankly in the world, today and [is] doing exactly the kind of work that is necessary to help the US come to terms with its racial history. 'She's an alum we're frankly quite proud of and should be. We've had her in to give numerous talks over the years. Like her work, they've been rigorous, historical, investigative, and it makes a strong and forceful argument for coming to a full understanding of the US's history to move forward from there.' Hannah-Jones, 45, also a graduate of UNC, has said she vowed to fight for the tenure, and has recruited the help of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to represent her in the matter 'I had no desire to bring turmoil or a political firestorm to the university that I love,' she said in a statement on Thursday, 'but I am obligated to fight back against a wave of anti-democratic suppression that seeks to prohibit the free exchange of ideas, silence Black voices and chill free speech.' Hussman is an old figure in the newspaper business, having been made publisher of WEHECO Media Inc. in 1975, a role he has served in since. While a traditionalist, he was an early proponent of the paywall system for online news outlets and has recently shifted his newspaper business to digital only. In a statement on April 27, Hannah-Jones said her UNC courses would teach how to write stories that are 'truly reflective of our multiracial nation.' It's sort of a homecoming for Hannah-Jones, who is a MacArthur Fellowship Genius Grant recipient. She got a master's degree from Hussman in 2003. 'This is a full-circle moment for me as I return to the place that launched my career to help launch the careers of other aspiring journalists,' she tweeted on Monday. 'I'm so excited to continue mentoring students from the classroom and for all I will learn from them.' She said she'd still be at the New York Times where she wrote the 1619 Project, which was published in 2019 as a collection of essays, photo essays, poems and short fiction stories. Hannah-Jones received her masters in journalism from UNC in 2003 and got her start covering education for the Raleigh News & Observer. She then wrote for the Oregonian and later ProPublica before becoming a reporter for the Times in 2015. Taking a different approach to Hussman's, Hannah-Jones has expressed skepticism to journalistic objectivity, telling NPR last June that, 'We really need to understand that all of our racialized experiences as journalists lead us to cover things a certain way.' Hannah-Jones has enjoyed support at the school, but questions remain over its decision to not grant her tenure Hannah-Jones became a household name in journalism with the 1619 Project - which was slammed by former President Donald Trump as 'totally discredited' and part of the 'twisted web of lies' that has caught fire in American universities that teach American is a 'wicked and racist nation.' Trump formed a '1776 Commission' in response to teach 'patriotism.' It released a report this year before being ended by President Joe Biden. The series 'reframed' American history to have it start in 1619, when the first slaves from Africa arrived to Virginia, instead of 1776, when the founding fathers declared independence from Britain. In her essay, Hannah-Jones wrote that slaves laid the foundations of the US Capitol and built founding fathers' plantations. She said the 'relentless buying, selling, insuring and financing of their bodies' made Wall Street and New York City the financial capital of the world. 'Before the abolishment of the international slave trade, 400,000 enslaved Africans would be sold into America. Those individuals and their descendants transformed the lands to which they'd been brought into some of the most successful colonies in the British Empire,' Hannah-Jones wrote. 'But it would be historically inaccurate to reduce the contributions of black people to the vast material wealth created by our bondage,' she said. 'Black Americans have also been, and continue to be, foundational to the idea of American freedom. More than any other group in this country's history, we have served, generation after generation, in an overlooked but vital role: It is we who have been the perfecters of this democracy.' The project heralded by some and criticized by others, including a number of historians and Trump, who adamantly opposed the idea that it should be taught in classrooms. Princeton historian Sean Wilentz criticized the '1619 Project', and some of Hannah-Jones's other work, in a letter sent to top Times editors and the publisher, The Atlantic reported in December 2019. The letter, which was signed by other scholars James McPherson, Gordon Wood, Victoria Bynum, and James Oakes refers to 'matters of verifiable fact' that 'cannot be described as interpretation or "framing''' and says the project reflected 'a displacement of historical understanding by ideology,' The Atlantic reported. Wilentz and the other signatories demanded corrections. Trump called it 'revisionist history' and threatened to withhold federal funding from public schools that used it. Republican lawmakers in a handful of states, including Iowa and Missouri, are continuing his fight to ban it from schools. The 1619 Project won the Pulitzer Prize in 2019. It was praised by some as shining a light on untold history, but lambasted by others, including former President Donald Trump, for what he said was a jaundiced view of the US Bills were introduced in those state legislatures that would punish school districts that use the '1619 Project' by cutting federal funding. A major critic of the project has been The Heritage Foundation, which says it 'has been tireless in its efforts to debunk the radical and anti-American positions taken by The New York Times and the '1619 Project.' One of The Heritage Foundation's articles pointed out post-publication edits that the Times made, including changing a in Hannah-Jones' leading article in the series to say that 'some of' the colonists fought the American Revolution to defend slavery. 'The editors called this a 'small' clarification, and it was indeed very small, although considering that the 1619 Project's full-throated commitment to demonstrating that American history can only be explained through the lens of slavery, this correction appears nothing short of essential,' Heritage policy expert Jonathan Butcher, a senior policy analyst for Heritage's Center for Education Policy, wrote. One of the project's supporters, Seth Rockman, an associate professor of history at Brown University, wrote in an op-ed for the Washington Post that the project 'is a testament to patriotism, not a repudiation.' Rockman wrote that history is 'an ongoing conversation in which trained professionals and multiple publics wrestle with the meaning of the past' and disagreement is desirable 'as it shows us that something important is at stake.' He said there are warranted criticisms that 'we should spend our time debating,' for example the project was 'insufficiently attentive' about how the Native Americans lost their land. Trump suggested, however, that the project's teachings were dangerous. Queensland scientists have discovered a real-life lookalike for Cadbury's Freddo the frog chocolate bars, which have been a treat for Australian kids for generations. Hidden in the dense jungles of New Guinea, a super rare chocolate-coloured version of the Australian green tree frog has been unearthed by intrepid researchers. And with its milky brown skin, it's a dead ringer for the Freddo chocolate snack known and loved in Australia for almost a century. Researchers from Queensland Museum and Griffiths University say the frog managed to remain a secret for so long because the tropical rainforest where it lives is so impenetrable. With its milky brown skin, the 'chocolate frog' (pictured), as researchers dubbed it, is a dead ringer for Freddo the frog chocolate bars known and loved in Australia for almost a century The scientists immediately dubbed it the chocolate frog, but its Latin name Litoria mira means surprised or strange - because the scientists were so shocked to find it. However they say it's also proof of the ancient links between Australia and New Guinea which were connected by land around two million to five million years ago. The green Australian tree frog found in north Queensland and its chocolate-coloured cousin evolved in parallel after the two land masses parted. 'The closest known relative of Litoria mira is the Australian green tree frog,' said Dr Paul Oliver who co-authored a paper on the discovery in the Australian Journal of Zoology. Cadbury's Freddo chocolate bar (pictured left) is modelled on the Australian green tree frog but the newly-discovered chocolate frog is a dead ringer for the milk chocolate treat (right) 'The two species look similar except one is usually green, while the new species usually has a lovely chocolate colouring. 'We named this new Litoria frog species Mira, which means surprised or strange in Latin, because it was a surprising discovery to find an over-looked relative of Australia's well-known and common green tree living in the lowland rainforests of New Guinea.' Fellow co-author Dr Steve Richards from the South Australian Museum believes the Freddo-lookalike could even be widespread in the dense rainforests of New Guinea. 'Because the frog lives in very hot, swampy areas with lots of crocodiles, all these things discourage exploration,' Dr Richards said. The chocolate frog's Latin name Litoria mira means surprised or strange - because the scientists were so shocked to find it 'While New Guinea is not a place most Australians know well, many animal groups are shared. 'Understanding biodiversity in New Guinea helps us to understand the history and origins of Australia's unique fauna.' Freddo the frog chocolate bars first went on sale in 1930 when they were created by Melbourne-based firm MacRoberton's, before Cadbury's later took over production. They are now sold in several different countries around the world. Coleman Thomas Blevins, 28, has been arrested after authorities said he had plans to carry out a mass shooting at a Walmart A man from Texas has been arrested after authorities foiled an alleged plot to carry out a shooting at a Walmart. Coleman Thomas Blevins, 28, was brought to the attention of police in Kerville, northwest of San Antonio, after they intercepted a message that allegedly detailed his plans to carrying out the rampage at a local superstore. Several guns, a number of ammo clips and boxes of ammunition were found together with 'radical ideology paraphernalia' were all found at the suspect's home by the FBI and Texas Department of Public Safety. Blevins was arrested on Friday under a terroristic threat warrant and remains in custody. During a search of his home, police found various hand written documents and electronic evidence detailing the plot. Blevins home was searched and deputies seized firearms, ammunition, electronic evidence, concentrated THC, and radical ideology paraphernalia including books and neo-Nazi and Confederate flags. He also had a Saudi Arabian flag 'This case reminds us that we need to always be vigilant. Many think 'that can't happen here', and it was well on the way to happening,' Sheriff Larry Leitha said. 'Radical' books and Confederate and Middle Eastern flags were found along with THC. One user on Twitter identified the flags as being a Sonnenrad flag used by Nazi Germany, a Confederate flag, a flag of Saudi Arabia and a Russian Orthodox Cross flag. Blevins was already on probation for a felony and was prohibited from having firearms. He is being held at the Kerr County Jail on a $250,000 bond. 'Our investigators did outstanding work in this case, and possibly saved many lives. The plot interrupted in this case is unthinkable. 'We appreciate the assistance of all our law enforcement partners, including the FBI, DPS, KPD, and Secret Service,' Leitha said. Australia's annual greenhouse gas emissions have dropped by five per cent, thanks in large part to coronavirus travel restrictions and the increased use of renewable energy sources. Electricity generation is the biggest source of greenhouse gas in Australia, accounting for one third of total emissions. But the amount of waste created through electricity generation plunged in the past year, predominantly because renewable energy sources rose by 13.5 per cent. Greenhouse gas emissions from transport, Australia's third largest source of pollution, fell by 12 per cent due largely to Covid-19 restrictions. Energy Minister Angus Taylor said emissions were 20 per cent below 2005 levels. Energy Minister Angus Taylor said emissions were 20 per cent below 2005 levels and on track to reach its Paris targets Australia has committed to reducing emissions by between 26 and 28 per cent of those levels by 2030. Mr Taylor said the 'breakneck' growth in renewables was the single largest contributor to the reduction. 'Emissions are now at their lowest level on record - 20.1 per cent below 2005 levels. We're well on our way to meeting and beating our 2030 target,' he said. Mr Taylor said low emissions technologies would enable Australia to reach its Paris targets. 'Over the last two years, the projected emissions reductions required to achieve that target have fallen by 639 million tonnes - the equivalent of taking all of Australia's 14.7 million cars off the road for 15 years,' he said. 'Between 2005 and 2019, the last year for which comparable data is available, Australia reduced emissions faster than many similar economies, including Canada, New Zealand, Japan and the United States.' The Climate Council said the federal government was trying to claim credit for other people's work and circumstances beyond its control. 'It is holding back progress on the scale and pace of emissions reductions we need,' senior researcher Tim Baxter said. 'Electricity emissions declined due to state efforts to scale up renewable energy, while transport emissions decreased largely due to COVID restrictions. The federal government played no role in this.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison (centre) and Energy Minister Angus Taylor (right) (pictured at a refinery in Brisbane in May) wants to hit net zero emissions 'as soon as possible' The federal government has copped flak for refusing to follow other nations in committing to reach net zero emissions by the middle of this century. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has instead said he wants to hit net zero emissions 'as soon as possible' and 'preferably' by 2050. Earlier this month, the federal budget allocated $1 billion on measures to lower emissions and $58.6 million to support an expansion of the gas industry. Greens leader Adam Bandt said the emissions data showed Australia was on track to fail its commitments under the Paris Agreement, despite the temporary impact of coronavirus. 'Mr Taylor's crowing about emissions reduction relies on a renewables transition he's trying to slow, a COVID-related transport shift he cannot prolong and a coal production drop he's trying to reverse,' he said. A pair of young Australian sisters have escaped from hotel quarantine in the Northern Territory after climbing over a fence into a waiting getaway car. The two women, aged 19 and 22, left Alice Springs' Todd facility by climbing over the perimeter fence before they drove to their mother's home, who then raised the alarm. One daughter was returned to quarantine immediately, joined by her mother, but the second daughter and her boyfriend initially refused. All four are now in mandatory supervised quarantine. The two women, aged 19 and 22, left the Alice Springs facility by climbing over the perimeter fence before they drove to their mother's home who then raised the alarm It is understood the women had not attended any other locations or come into contact with others during the short time they were on the run, said Northern Territory Police. 'It's incredible that after all this time, with deaths and lockdowns, people are still not taking this pandemic seriously,' said NT Police Commander Sachin Sharma. 'The reason we have no community transmission in the Territory and we are safe is because we have been diligent in ensuring anyone potentially at risk is quarantined. 'Incidents like to this place the wider NT community in danger and will not be tolerated. One daughter was returned to quarantine immediately, joined by her mother, but the second daughter and her boyfriend initially refused 'We must continue to remain vigilant and follow all Directions of the Chief Health Officer.' Police say their investigations are continuing and they expect to issue infringement notices later today. The infringement penalty for failing to abide by the Chief Health Officer's Directions is $5,056 for an individual and $25,280 for a business. A fisherman has captured the heartwarming moment he rescues a wounded echidna after watching an eagle drop the spiky native into a river. Luke Mobbs, owner of surfwear and fishing apparel company 'Get After It Australia', posted the inspiring clip to TikTok on Sunday. Mr Mobbs told Daily Mail Australia he had been fishing on the Calliope River near Gladstone in Central Queensland when a white-breasted eagle flew overhead. The Queensland man said he initially thought the eagle had dropped a bird's nest from its talons, but realised it was an animal when it hit the water. 'Hey mate, need a hand?' the heroic fisherman asks, as the grateful echidna immediately begins to climb onto his arm As he ventures closer to the wounded echidna, the animal immediately begins to paddle over to his jet ski. 'Hey mate, need a hand?', Mr Mobbs asks, as the grateful echidna begins to climb onto his arm. 'You wait right there', the fisherman is heard saying as he carefully places the spiky native onto the back of his jet ski. Mr Mobbs said he checked the echidna over for injuries before releasing him safely under a ledge on the river bank. 'We get to enjoy nature every day and it's good to give back when we can', he said. 'You wait right there', the fisherman says, as he carefully places the spiky native onto the back of his jet ski Mr Mobbs said he checked the echidna's injuries weren't too bad before releasing him safely under a ledge on the river bank The heartwarming video quickly went viral on TikTok, with viewers from all over the world sharing their gratitude for the fisherman in the comments. 'The way he looks up at you before you get him', one viewer said. 'He was so sweet. I think he knew we were there to help because normally they roll into a ball as a defence. He didn't even do that on the ski,' Mr Mobbs replied. 'You're a wonderful human. Thank you for helping this sweet soul,' another said. 'Well done! Honestly impressed with that little paddle it had going,' one user said. 'My faith in humanity has been restored,' another shared. The heartwarming video quickly went viral on TikTok, with viewers from all over the world sharing their gratitude for the fisherman in the comments More than 75 years after the conclusion of World War Two, one third of Americans are questioning the country's decision to send troops into battle. A new Economist/YouGov poll suggests that doubters believe it to be a mistake or are unsure if it was the right decision. The poll, which was timed to coincide with Memorial Day, asked people for their opinions were on the decision to send American troops to fight in particular wars. American marines coming ashore from landing craft at Guadalcanal in the Pacific theater of World War II in August 1942 Do you think the United States made a mistake sending troops to fight in the following wars? (% of US Adults). 1,500 American adults were interviewed for the poll Cabinet members watch with mixed emotions as President Franklin D. Roosevelt, wearing a black armband, signs the United States' declaration of war against Japan on December 8, 1941. On December 7, Japanese planes bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in a surprise attack that destroyed a large portion of the fleet there, prompting the war declaration The question was asked: 'Do you think the United States made a mistake sending troops to fight in the following wars?' The poll considered conflicts spread over more than 100 years including both World Wars, the Vietnam War and the more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some 14 percent of Americans said they believed sending troops to fight the Nazi-led Axis powers during World War II was a mistake and an additional 18 percent werent sure, although the support for the decision to send troops to fight the Nazis received more support than any other war at 68 percent. However, one third of Americans were still unsure if President Roosevelt made the right decision. Responses varied depending on age, gender, and race of the person being asked. United States Marines pose on top of Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima with the American flag in February 1945 A Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel is approached Omaha Beach, Normandy, France, on 6th June 1944. The infantry men were among the first to attack the German defenses Soldiers of the 70th division of the American 7th Army hold up a Nazi flag and a portrait of Adolf Hitler, taken during the World War II capture of Saarbrucken in March 1945 While 60 percent of people age 18-29 said it wasn't a mistake to send troops, only 49% of people age 30-44 agreed. Republican voters were also more supportive with the deployment. 77 percent said that sending troops had been the right choice, but just 63 percent of Democrats agreed. Only 62 percent of women thought it had been the right choice, compared to 74% of men. Other parts of the survey which looked at different wars had more concrete outcomes. Just 28 percent of Americans believed that sending troops to Vietnam was the right decision, with 48 percent saying it was a mistake and 25 percent unsure. The Afghanistan and Iraq wars were also contentious. Some 36 percent of Americans said the Afghanistan war was a mistake, with 39 percent in favor and 25 percent unsure. For the 2003-2011 Iraq war, 43 percent said it was a mistake, while 25 percent were not sure and just 33 percent were in support. A view of U.S. troops marching down the Champs Elysees, with the Arc de Triomphe, in 1944 The wrecked framework of the Museum of Science and Industry in Hiroshima, Japan as it appeared shortly after the blast As the ban on evictions is lifted almost one million households fear being made homeless, new research has suggested. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation said 400,000 have already been served with an eviction notice or told they may be evicted and a further 450,000 households are in arrears with rent, JRF said. A ban on evictions in England ends today, leading to warnings from housing campaigners that tenants face a wave of proceedings as bailiffs are allowed to resume using court orders for repossession. JRF said the temporary ban on bailiff-enforced evictions has provided much-needed security to renters during the pandemic. The ban was introduced in March 2020 and has been extended several times throughout the pandemic. The JRF survey of more than 10,000 households suggested 'clear warning signs' of a spike in evictions and homelessness as the ban lifts, the report said. However, the lift will be welcomed by landlords, some of whom have been left with no recourse to take against tenants who have been simply unwilling to pay rent rather than those who are unable. John Lewis, who rents out eight properties in Northamptonshire, says he feels like all landlords have been tarred with the same brush. More than 800,000 households renting a home are worried about being evicted in the next few months, new research has suggested as the ban on bailiff-enforced evictions is lifted Speaking to MailOnline, he said: 'I have bent over backwards to ensure that my tenants have been supported during hard times. 'The main problem is the small percentage that choose not to pay the rent because they know that you cannot evict them. 'Instead they have chosen not to answer emails and letters because they know you won't visit them and some have even said 'take a mortgage holiday.' Mr Lewis says he has been forced to take some tenants to small claims court because he has been unable to evict them. 'I have always worked with tenants when they have struggled but the government have taken any control out of our hands. 'It's almost as though the government think that they can say and do whatever they want and the landlord suffers. 'I know that there are bad landlords out there but they are a minority but we are all being tarred with the same brush.' Rudolf Bozart says the pandemic has left him in arrears of 3,400 after he lost two jobs and now works as a delivery driver Meanwhile, renter Rudolf Bozart says the pandemic has left him in rent arrears of 3,400. The company Mr Bozart worked for went bust and after finding a replacement job as a carer, he was then made redundant. The 26-year-old, who now delivers takeaways, told the BBC: 'It is stressful and it's affecting my health and it gives a lot of sleepless nights. 'I just don't know when I'm going to wake up to the dreadful message, saying that this is your notice because of the rent arrears. 'So far the ban on eviction was my safety net for me not ending up on the streets.' Rachelle Earwaker, of JRF, said: 'For the 450,000 families locked in rent debt, the prospect of securing a mortgage is simply unimaginable and, worse still, many will now struggle to secure a new home in the private rented sector just as the eviction ban ends. 'High levels of arrears are restricting families' ability to pay the bills and forcing many to rely on hidden borrowing. 'This is not only deeply unjust, it is also economically naive and risks hampering our economic recovery, which is reliant on household spending increasing as society continues to reopen. 'The Government's decision to provide a generous tax break to wealthier homeowners through the stamp duty holiday while failing to protect renters points to a worrying two-tier recovery in which those who were prospering prior to the pandemic will continue to do so while those who have been hit hard will sink even further behind. 'The cost of boosting support to tackle rent arrears is a fraction of the cost of the stamp duty holiday.' Housing campaigners warn that tenants face a wave of proceedings as bailiffs are allowed to resume using court orders for repossession as the ban is lifted from today (stock image) The Government says the measures will ensure renters continue to be protected with longer notice periods for the coming months, while allowing landlords to access justice. It claims 45 per cent of private landlords own just one property and are highly vulnerable to rent arrears. Housing Minister Christopher Pincher said: 'As COVID restrictions are eased in line with the Roadmap out of lockdown, we will ensure tenants continue to be supported with longer notice periods, while also balancing the need for landlords to access justice.' Mr Pincher added that 'crucial' financial support also remains in place including the furlough scheme which has been extended to the end of September and the uplift to Universal Credit. Meanwhile, homelessness charity Shelter has warned the Government must do more to protect renters against the imminent threat of eviction and homelessness by providing financial aid. Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: 'The lifting of the eviction ban signals the beginning of the end for many renters facing homelessness. Housing minister Christopher Pincher says the lift on the ban is about finding balance between supporting tenants and justice for landlords 'Thousands of people will wake up on June 1 knowing they'll soon be kicked out of their home, with nowhere to go. 'The ban has been a lifeline for private renters who have weathered job losses, falling incomes and rising debts in this pandemic. 'But what happens now? Longer notice periods, while they last, will give some worried renters valuable time. 'But come September, anyone facing eviction will have just weeks to find somewhere else to live. 'The government needs to do more to stem the tide of rising evictions. It cannot waver from delivering a Renters' Reform Bill that scraps Section 21 'no fault' evictions altogether. And in the meantime, it must offer renters with crippling Covid-arrears a package of financial aid.' Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, said: 'As the private rented sector moves out of lockdown measures, the Chancellor has failed to provide tenants with the support they need. 'This is especially the case for the majority of those in rent arrears who do not qualify for benefit support. 'Without urgent assistance, many tenants face the prospect of losing their home needlessly as landlords struggle to shoulder the cost of arrears. 'Affected tenants also potentially face the negative impact of damage to their credit scores. 'The Government needs to develop a financial package which ensures that benefits cover the rents of those in receipt of them. 'For those who do not qualify for benefit support, an interest free, government guaranteed tenant hardship loan should be established, similar to those in Wales and Scotland.' Repatriated Australians in the Northern Territory who've been in interstate hotel quarantine will now have to be re-tested for COVID-19 after they leave the facility. It comes amid fears the new Indian variant of the virus could be spread by returned travellers who've completed their mandatory 14-day quarantine period. The tests will be required three days after they leave hotel quarantine or on day 17 if they come to the NT, Chief Minister Michael Gunner told reporters Monday. "This is a direction that reduces the risk to Territorians from interstate hotel quarantine," he said. "I acknowledge it will be an inconvenience but we've always said we'll do whatever it takes to keep Territorians safe." People who arrive in the NT after day 17 but before the 28th day since they entered quarantine will still be required to have a test. "This new direction will give us protection against the exact scenario that we've seen send Melbourne into lockdown again, he said. "That outbreak started from a returned international traveller who completed their 14 days quarantine in South Australia then returned a negative test." Two woman, 19 and 22, recently jumped the fence at a Alice Springs quarantine centre (above) Acting Chief Medical Officer Charles Pain urged Territorians to get vaccinated to protect themselves and the community. Meanwhile, two sisters have allegedly escaped an Alice Springs quarantine facility by climbing the perimeter fence and jumping into a waiting vehicle. The women, aged 19 and 22, were then driven to the home of their mother, who later reported them to the Northern Territory Police. The women returned to quarantine, accompanied by their mother and one of their boyfriends, a police spokeswoman said. One of the women was uncooperative when told she'd have to go back to the Todd Facility but eventually complied. Both the mother and the boyfriend have been directed by the NT chief health officer into mandatory supervised quarantine. "It's incredible that after all this time, with deaths and lockdowns, people are still not taking this pandemic seriously," commander Sachin Sharma said. Investigations are continuing and infringements likely to be issued. The NT penalty for failing to abide by the CHO's directions is $5056 for an individual and $25,280 for a business. A Melbourne anti-masker has filmed himself at a busy supermarket threatening to 'smack' a shopper in the face. The unmasked man walked into the shopping complex with his camera rolling as he screamed at Woolworths shoppers 'take your f**king masks off!' He also ranted at customers buying donuts during Victoria's seven-day Covid lockdown, claiming it is not essential. When another shopper confronted him, the tense situation turned physical. 'I am out of work so you guys can buy donuts, are you serious?' 'They closed the gym and you guys are f**king buying donuts!' Off camera, another man can be heard saying 'f**K off', to which the anti-maker replies 'come here and say that c**t'. The confrontation grows more serious when the shopper pushes the lockdown heckler. 'Do touch me again or I'll f**king smack you in the face,' the maskless man said. With tensions boiling over, the shopper asks the man 'why don't you think there is a pandemic?' An unhinged and unmasked man (pictured left and right) has gone on a bizarre tirade at a Woolworths in Melbourne, screaming at shoppers to 'take off' their masks as he complains about 'people buying donuts' during lockdown 'Where's the pandemic?' the anti-masker said. 'There are people out there buying donuts, bro, and they closed the f**king gym? Are you telling me that donuts are essential?' In a somewhat comical response, the shopper concedes that he has a fair argument. 'Well you make a good point,' the shopper replies. As the anti-mask agitator films himself walking outside as he continues his verbal tirade against shoppers. 'Maggots! Look at them, lining up at the f**king donuts place like it's some sort of essential service,' he yells. 'I've had enough of you c**ts.' Victoria is in the middle of its fourth stage three lockdown as Melbourne battles a coronavirus outbreak, now at 54 cases after 11 new infections emerged on Monday. Victorians can only leave their homes for five essential reasons with restaurant dining and public gatherings among many banned activities. The state endured one of the world's strictest lockdowns last year, with citizens under stay-at-home orders for 112 consecutive days. A growing number of residents are growing increasingly angered by the draconian restrictions. Victoria Police made 14 arrests and issued 55 fines worth $1,652 each after 150 people gathered in the CBD on Saturday to protest against the state's latest shutdown. Saturday's anti-lockdown protest was the second within 48 hours. Pictured is the first rally outside Flinders Street station on Thursday night The owner of the Italian cable car company whose employees botched repairs and caused the death of 14 people has vowed to 'pray at the victims' graves' following his release from custody. Luigi Nerini, who was released over the weekend after a judge found a 'total lack of evidence' against him and technical director Enrico Perocchio, said he will have a 'private visit' to the graves, if the families of the victims allow him. He added 'we need total respect for the pain' as he remains under investigation for suspected involuntary manslaughter and negligence over the tragedy alongside service manager Gabriele Tadini who was put under house arrest on Sunday. Meanwhile, Eitan, the five-year-old boy who was the sole survivor of the crash, has started to eat solid food again as he remains in hospital. The boy's parents, younger brother and great-grandparents all died in the tragedy which took place on May 23 in Piedmont. Eitan still does not know about their deaths. Luigi Nerini (left) who has been released from custody along with manager Enrico Perocchio (right) said the first thing he will do is 'pray at the grave of the victims' The coffin with the body of Serena Cosentino arrives in the church of Gesu Buon Pastore in Costenza, southern Italy Eitan (pictufed, bottom), the five-year-old who was the sole survivor of the crash which killed 14 people including his parents, brother and great-grandparents, has started to eat as he remains in hospital after he was placed in a coma Investigators inspect the site where the cable car fell to the ground before rolling into a tree last week The hospital said 'his condition is significantly improving' after he suffered head injuries and a broken leg, and for the first time he 'began to eat soft and light food'. His aunt Aya and his grandmother who travelled from Israel to sit at his bedside remain with him in hospital. When he awoke, Eitan asked his aunt, 'what are we doing here' and asked where his mother and father were. Three men were held over the crash on Wednesday after service manager Tadini admitted to investigators he had deactivated an emergency brake system that could have prevented the incident. He said he did it because the system was malfunctioning and had halted service several times, and insisted that he acted in agreement with the two other suspects. But Nerini and Perocchio have been released from custody because, in Italy, judges must approve continued detention of suspects and usually order pre-trial detention only under special circumstances, for example when the accused is a flight risk. Three men were detained on Wednesday after Tadini (pictured) admitted to investigators that he had deactivated an emergency brake system that could have prevented the crash Pictured: The prison where the three men were being held in Verbania, Italy Judge Donatella Banci Bonamici found a 'total lack of evidence against Nerini and Perocchio', according to a ruling quoted by the Corriere della Sera newspaper on Sunday. According to the judge, Tadini tried to shift some of the blame on his two superiors after acting 'with total disregard for human life, with bewildering carelessness'. Tadini's lawyer Marcello Perillo said his client 'will have to face consequences' for his admission, adding that the extent to which the other two men had indeed being informed of his actions was yet to be established. 'There is no proof at present they were also responsible. They are people who should have known, but it's not clear if they did,' Perillo said. Perocchio has claimed he had no idea that the brakes had been blocked. 'I've got 21 years of experience with lifts that use cables, I know that's something you don't ever, ever do,' Perocchio said, according to La Repubblica. Local media reported that none of the men were ruled to be a flight risk and there was no risk of evidence being tampered with. The cable car crashed near the top of the Mottarone mountain on May 24, after its pull cable snapped and the car flew backwards, dislodging itself from a second, supporting cable Graphic shows the cable car's route after the cable snapped as the car neared the station at the top of the mountain Engineers 'tampered with' the braking system (circled) on the Italian cable car as part of a botched fix in order to avoid delays, prosecutors have said Prosecutor Olimpia Bossi said she would 'carefully assess' the judge's ruling, noting that it could be appealed, and said it would not derail investigations. 'The suspects remain the same, our work goes on,' she told reporters. The cable car crashed near the top of the Mottarone mountain on May 24, after its pull cable snapped and the car flew backwards, dislodging itself from a second, supporting cable. Had the emergency brake worked, the car would have remained hanging on the supporting cable. Investigators are still trying to ascertain why the first cable broke. The accident left a five-year-old boy from an Israeli family who lived in Italy as the only survivor. He lost his parents, younger brother and great-grandparents. Pictured: Eitan Biran (in striped shirt) was the sole survivor of the crash. He is pictured here with his father Amit, mother Tal and brother Tom, who were killed Alessandro Merlo and Silvia Malnati, 29 and 27, died in the tragedy. Friends said the couple had been engaged for 10 years and were planning to marry Angelo Vito Gasparro, 45, wife Roberta Pistolato (together left and right), died when the cable car plunged 65ft during a trip to the mountains to celebrate Roberta's 40th birthday Vittorio Zorloni and Elisabetta Persanini (together left, and Vittorio pictured right) were also killed in the accident, along with their five-year-old son Mattia. The couple were engaged and due to be married next month, Italian media reported Among the dead were Eitan's family - parents Tal, 26, and Amit, 30, brother Tom, 2, and great-grandparents Itshak and Barbara Cohen, 82 and 70 - Alessandro Merlo, 29, his fiance Silvia Malnati, 27; husband Angelo Vito Gasparro, 45, and wife Roberta Pistolato; Vittorio Zorloni, his fiancee Elisabetta Persanini, 38, and the couple's five-year-old son Mattia; and couple Serena Cosentino, 27, and Mohammadreza Shahaisavandi, 23. The Mottarone mountain served by the cable car is a popular tourist location, as it offers scenic views of Lake Maggiore and of the more distant Alps. On the website of the cable car, it is advertised as 'one of Italy's most beautiful natural balconies'. The northwestern region of Piedmont, where the accident happened, declared a day of mourning on Sunday, and urged its residents to observe a minute of silence at noon (1000 GMT) A six-month-old baby girl has been rushed to hospital after contracting and invasive strain of meningococcal. South Australia Health confirmed the child from Adelaide is in a stable condition after being identified as having the serotype W strain. Meningococcal is a highly contagious and potentially deadly illness which can cause a number of horrific symptoms including rashes, inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, as well as blood poisoning. A six-month-old baby girl has been rushed to hospital after contracting and invasive strain of meningococcal (stock image) South Australia Health confirmed the child from Adelaide is in a stable condition after being identified as having the serotype W strain (stock image) 'The Department for Health and Wellbeing has identified multiple people who had contact with the baby, and 15 people have been directed to receive clearance antibiotics,' SA Health said in a statement. There have been four cases of meningococcal in SA this year, including a 29-year-old Adelaide man who died after contracting the rare disease. Last week, there were also two cases reported in NSW at Sydney's Northern Beaches. 'A total of five cases were reported in 2020 (in SA). Of the five cases. Three were serogroup B and two were serogroup Y,' SA health said. Meningococcal is a highly contagious and potentially deadly illness which can cause a number of horrific symptoms including rashes, inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, as well as blood poisoning. Pictured: A 3D microscope close up of meningitis bacteria MENINGOCOCAL SYMPTOMS -Rash of red or purple pinprick spots, or larger bruise-like areas -Fever -Headache -Neck stiffness -Discomfort when you look at bright light -Nausea or vomiting -Diarrhoea -Feeling very, very sick Source: Australian Department of Health Advertisement POSSIBLE LONG-TERM EFFECTS -Loss of arms and legs -Deformed arms and legs -Aches and stiffness in the joints -Scars on the skin -Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) Deafness in one or both ears -Kidney or liver failure Headaches Blurred or double vision Blindness Learning difficulties Advertisement Doctors say the telltale symptom includes rashes that often appear as red or purple pinprick spots, or larger bruise-like areas. However there are some cases when a rash does not appear. Other symptoms include, fever, headache, neck stiffness, discomfort when you look at bright light, nausea or vomiting, diarrhoea and feeling very sick. The devastating long-term effects include loss of arms and legs deformed arms and legs, aches and stiffness in the joints, scars on the skin, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), deafness in one or both ears, kidney or liver failure, ongoing headaches, blurred or double vision, blindness and learning difficulties. A woman who co-founded a charity that claimed to sell bricks to establish a memorial at the Pozieres battlefield in France, yet used the money for her personal use, has avoided a prison term for her theft. Yvonne Mary Hall, 69, who has been awarded France's prestigious Legion of Honour, was ordered to serve a 16-month intensive corrections order by a magistrate at Coffs Harbour Local Court on Monday. The Coffs Harbour, NSW, woman had earlier entered guilty pleas to two counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception and one charge of using a false document to influence exercise of public duty. Yvonne Mary Hall, 69, is seen after leaving the Coffs Harbour Local Court in Coffs Harbour, after being given an intensive corrections order for scamming people to buy bricks to build a WWI memorial in France (above) The Pozieres Remembrance Association, co-founded by Hall in 2010 and which she acted as the secretary of, claims to have sold more than 4200 inscribed bricks for $50 each since 2014. The funds raised were meant to honour the 6800 Anzacs who were killed or died of wounds from the battles at the French village in the First World War. Instead, Hall made 143 transactions to withdraw approximately $140,000 of the money raised to pay for her own everyday living expenses, a gambling addiction and an online shopping habit. "The breach of trust was obviously very significant indeed. She was in a position of secretary of the organisation and she directly breached that trust," magistrate Ian Rodgers said. In passing down the sentence, Mr Rodgers recognised that all but $8052 of the money taken had been repaid by Hall. He ordered that along with the corrections order, Hall complete 100 hours of community service and the remainder of the money owed be repaid. Hall's lawyer said the association had made payments to ensure the bricks with the requested inscriptions on them were manufactured. It was the defence's understanding that the bricks were currently on a boat headed toward France and would be put in position on site soon. Sitting in the public gallery during the hearing was one of those who purchased a brick in 2015 but was constantly left to wonder where the money was and what progress for the memorial was being made. Jacqueline Kennedy bought a brick to honour her great uncle Percy Smythe, who fought, and survived, in Pozieres. It wasn't until she asked the Department of Fair Trading to investigate that the level of deception involved in the case became apparent. She said Monday's sentence was a satisfactory one and she was happy Hall would be "treated like the criminal that she is". "I always knew that it would be a non-custodial sentence because of her age and health, and she does like to play on that, but I'm very satisfied with the seriousness with which the judge took the case and handed down the sentence," Ms Kennedy said outside court. In 2016, Hall was awarded the Legion of Honour, the highest French order of merit, for raising awareness of the Battle of Pozieres and strengthening Australian-French relations. Insulation used on Grenfell Tower was used on more than 70 new schools despite being banned from high-rise apartment blocks after the 2017 tragedy. Flammable plastic foam insulation was banned from being used on any residential buildings that are over 18 metres in height in December 2018. However, a shock new study from insulation manufacturer Rockwool, has discovered more than 70 schools were built using the insulation since the tragedy. The Joseph Leckie academy in Walsall, in the West Midlands, even uses the same Kingspan insulation used on Grenfell Tower. Some others are using the high-pressure laminate panels used on the Cube student housing block in Bolton that caught fire in 2019. The research also discovered that about 25 recently built hospitals, care homes and sheltered housing complexes are likely to have used combustible insulation - although it warned that the figure was an 'underestimate'. Plastic foam insulation, which burns, was banned from being used on any residential buildings after the Grenfell Tower tragedy Since the Grenfell tragedy in 2017, housing blocks more than 18 metres in height are banned from using combustible materials. However, since then, several fires have devastated shorter buildings leading to calls for the ban to be extended to schools. Last Thursday, the Department for Education unveiled new fire safety proposals for schools buildings that continue to allow combustible cladding on structures below 18 metres in height. The release of the Rockwool report has triggered fury and concern for children's safety. Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, told the Guardian: 'Action rather than discussion is needed now to remove and replace high-risk combustible materials and ensure the safety of young people and education staff.' Dr Mary Bousted, the joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: 'It is clearly very unwise to choose to use insulation material that makes a school more likely to suffer a fire. Not only does it risk lives, but [there is] also disruption to education not to mention the cost to the taxpayer in putting things right following a major fire.' Insurer Zurich also revealed that 47 primary and secondary school buildings have been destroyed by fire in England in the last five years. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said: 'We have already banned the use of all combustible materials on all high-rise flats and hospitals and student accommodation over 18 metres. The Joseph Leckie academy in Walsall, in the West Midlands, even uses the same Kingspan insulation used on Grenfell Tower 'On lower-rise buildings, all materials must pass tough safety checks before they can be used on a building and our building safety bill will ensure even more stringent oversight of products that are used on homes in future.' The Department for Education has been contacted for comment. Previously it was revealed that the boss of a firm that sold insulation used at Grenfell Tower told staff to let concerns about their product 'gather dust'. Industry certifying body the BBA first raised concerns with Kingspan's Kooltherm K15 product in 2008 - nine years before a fire at the West London apartment block killed 72 people. The concerns were raised two months after the product was first issued and the BBA offered to make several changes free of charge - according to emails shown when Kingspan employee Andrew Pack gave evidence to a public inquiry on Monday. It is alleged that Mr Pack's then-boss, Philip Heath, later forwarded the email with instructions to 'let the file gather dust'. The inquiry previously heard about Kingspan using outdated test material to suggest that K15 was safe for use in high-rise buildings above 18m tall. Delays have led to some missing holiday return flights from Portugal and Iceland British holidaymakers have warned they are missing flights back to the UK because of huge delays with a Covid test provider. Qured is on the government's list of private test providers, and promises customers a 'fit-to-fly' certificate within an hour of receiving a negative test on a video call. The company's tests are accepted by airlines such as British Airways and a negative lateral flow test is needed pre-departure when returning to the UK. But customers have told of hours of delays, making them miss return flights from Portugal and Iceland. British holidaymakers have warned they are missing flights back to the UK because of huge delays with Covid test provider Qured Katie Finelli said that she had taken a lateral flow test in Portugal ahead of her return, but 20 hours later was still waiting for a certificate. 'I was advised results would be 5-6 hours but I have nothing,' she said. 'Obviously need this urgently for flying and it is terrible service to be told 5-6 hours but not having anything almost 24 hours later and nobody replies to emails and cannot call.' Qured is on the government's list of private test providers, and promises customers a 'fit-to-fly' certificate within an hour of receiving a negative test on a video call Elena Borreani commented: 'Yesterday, my children had a Lateral Flow Test video call to return to the UK. The results came 20 hours later (instead of four hours like we were told) but the most unacceptable part is that they sent us the wrong certificates!' And Charles added he was forced to pay 69 to get a local test after waiting an extra 11 hours for his results. Customers are meant to take a test while on a video call to a Qured health advisor and then email a picture of the result. Confirmation is due back in the form of an official medical certificate. Customers have told of hours of delays and even being sent the wrong certificates, making them miss return flights from Portugal and Iceland On their website Qured states: 'For LFD (Lateral Flow) tests, well verify your results within an hour of taking your test via video call.' Qured told The Sun: 'While the timings of delivery and results are generally accurate, they are subject to change due to circumstances out of our control.' Travellers have also complained that the firm's Lateral Flow test kits, which cost 39 each, were not delivered to their homes in time for their flights out - meaning they could end up stranded if they can't find a supplier at their destination. A spokesperson for the Department of Health said: 'If a provider is failing to meet required standards, they get a five-day warning and are then removed from the gov.uk list.' France locks the doors: British travellers must show 'compelling reason' to enter the country from TODAY as Macron battles to keep Indian variant at bay ByJack Wright For Mailonline British travellers will have to provide 'compelling reasons' to enter France from today as President Emmanuel Macron battles to suppress the Indian variant. Travel from the UK will only be permitted for EU nationals, French residents or those travelling for essential reasons such as bereavement or childcare. Those who are allowed to make the journey must take a pre-departure Covid test and quarantine for seven days on arrival. The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said the new French rules apply to all air, car, ferry and train passengers. France is currently listed as an 'amber' destination by the UK Government, which means people are being advised against travelling there - while those who do must self-isolate for 10 days and take two tests on return. Stricter rules for visitors from the UK were first raised by French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian last week amid concern over the Indian variant. An explanation of the new rules on the website of the Consulate General of France in London said: 'Given the development of the so-called Indian variant, health measures have been tightened for people travelling to France from the UK.' It added that from this morning 'compelling reasons will be required for foreign nationals outside the EU not resident in France to travel to France from the UK'. The website said 'a PCR or antigen test less than 48 hours old will be required from anyone travelling to France from the UK' while on arrival 'travellers are obliged to self-isolate for seven days'. The information added that 'due to the low incidence of coronavirus in the UK, for the moment they will not be subject to systematic checks where they are staying'. France's move follows Austria, which said on Tuesday it was banning UK direct flights and tourists, and Germany, which said on Friday that anyone entering from the UK would have to quarantine for two weeks on arrival. It comes as France yesterday reported the number of people in intensive care units with Covid-19 fell by 35 to 2,993, while the overall number of people in hospital with the disease fell by 72 to 16,775. While reporting 8,541 new cases, the health ministry also announced 44 new coronavirus deaths in hospitals and said there had been 150,026 vaccinations over the past 24 hours. French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he speaks in front of French nationals at the French Ambassador residence in Pretoria It comes as France reported the number of people in intensive care units with Covid-19 fell by 35 to 2,993, while the overall number of people in hospital with the disease fell by 72 to 16,775 Other European nations have welcomed British holidaymakers back to their beaches with open arms. Pictured: The 20 European destinations which will allow Britons to visit without needed to quarantine on arrival Travellers entering France from outside the EU, including the UK, have to sign a sworn declaration that they do not have Covid symptoms and that they are not aware of being in contact with someone with the disease in the 14 days before their journey. As well as proof of the negative pre-departure test for those aged 11 and over, a sworn declaration to self-isolate on arrival in France for seven days must also be made and a second PCR test taken after the quarantine. The consulate website said that people who had been vaccinated remain subject to the same rules, adding that people are 'strongly advised' to keep international travel 'to a minimum'. France placed the UK on its version of the 'amber list', meaning arrivals face isolation, supervised by police, with fines of between 1,000 and 1,500 for breaking the rules. The country follows Austria, which said on Tuesday it was banning direct flights and tourist visits from Britain, and Germany, which said on Friday that anyone entering from the UK would have to quarantine for two weeks on arrival. Britain joins a list of 15 countries already on France's mandatory quarantine list - including Brazil, India, Argentina and Turkey. Portugal and Gibraltar are on Britain's quarantine-free green list. Those coming back from European destinations on the amber list face having to quarantine for 10 days in Britain. How coronavirus cases per million people compare in the UK and France from March 2020 to May 2021 Portugal is the only major tourist destination on Britain's 'green list', meaning people can go without the need to quarantine 'The public deserve better': Tory MPs demand shake up of Border Force and call for it to 'step up and do its job properly' amid fears millions of holidays may be scuppered because staff won't be able to cope with influx of travellers Tory MPs have today turned on Border Force amid fears popular holiday islands in Europe will remain on the amber list after June 3. Henry Smith, whose constituency includes Gatwick, and former Brexit minister Steve Baker both took swipes at the agency after it emerged holidays face being scuppered because staff cannot cope with an influx of travellers. Mr Smith said it was 'completely unacceptable' and said it was time the officials 'stepped up and did their job properly'. Mr Baker said Britain needs a 'scaled up' Border Force the 'public deserve' and called for a cross-government Minister of State for the Border. Meanwhile Labour MP Ian Mearns pinned the blame on the government, saying it is an 'utter failure to properly plan to meet the needs of the aspirational datelines for the reopening of the economy'. Popular islands in Europe including the Balearics, Ibiza and Mallorca may stay on the amber list after June 3 if officials are unable to process the incoming passengers. Though some island destinations - such as Malta and some Greek and Caribbean islands - are expected to be added to the green list, the Spanish islands face being left off the list due to fears over high infection rates. With holiday hotspots possibly remaining on the amber list, which means people have to quarantine at home upon arrival, millions of trips overseas this summer could be scuppered. Government insiders said there were particular concerns over the Balearics because of the higher rate of traffic it has with the mainland compared with other islands. If left on the green list, thousands more travellers would likely fly to the islands - causing stretched Border Force officials to become overwhelmed by the sheer number of UK arrivals. Advertisement The French government's announcement is a blow to parts of the beleaguered tourism industry, which is desperate for a return to normal business ahead of the peak summer season. 'It's reasonable in terms of saving the French summer but will be very punishing for those regions which depend on British holidaymakers,' said Ge Kusters, owner of Le Paradis campsite in the Dordogne area and president of the regional campsite union. 'More financial support is going to have to follow.' The isolation will need to last seven days, Clement Beaune, France's junior minister for European Affairs, said on Twitter, adding visitors would also need to present a Covid-19 test carried out less than 48 hours before departure. British tourists had been due to be allowed to visit France without restrictions from June 9 if they carried a certificate of vaccination against Covid-19 or a negative PCR test. Some 13 million Britons visited France every year before the coronavirus crisis began in early 2020, more than any other nationality, according to official data. French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian had raised the possibility of tougher restrictions for British tourists on Sunday. He suggested the UK could be put in a health category of its own, somewhere in between the strictest measures that France is imposing on visitors from India and 15 other countries, and more relaxed requirements being readied for visitors from the EU and some other countries. Without giving specifics, Mr Le Drian said there was potential for 'health measures that are a bit stronger' but Paris is watching the progress of the Indian variant before making final decisions. 'We hope that the variant can be controlled in a country which experienced real failures during the pandemic,' he said. 'However, the arrival of the Indian variant and the increase of cases of Indian variant in the United Kingdom pose a problem and so we are vigilant about this (and) in contact with the British authorities,' he added. 'It won't be the red treatment if we have to do it. It will be an intermediate treatment,' the minister said. 'But it is not excluded - this springs to mind because of British tourists - that we have health measures that are a bit stronger.' Rory Boland, Which? Travel Editor, said: 'France's decision to quarantine UK travellers in response to the Indian variant is a stark reminder of the unpredictability of international travel this year. 'People would have already been confused about what travel is safe and permitted due to the country's status on the UK's amber list, and this announcement will cause even more stress for those with an upcoming booking. 'Many will be surprised to find that changing entry requirements and mandatory quarantine at your destination won't always trigger a refund, especially for flights. 'This demonstrates just how important it is for anyone thinking about booking a trip in the next few months to do so with a holiday company that has the most flexible booking policies available, so they are protected against significant disruption to travel plans that can often occur at short notice.' Some 13 million Britons had visited France every year before the coronavirus crisis began in early 2020. Other European nations have since welcomed British holidaymakers back to their beaches with open arms. Heathrow chief says Government should reveal which countries will make it onto holiday green list to protect British tourists from shortage of flights and soaring prices The boss of Heathrow Airport has urged the government to reveal its green list of summer holiday destinations to save families from the misery of soaring prices and reduced options. John Holland-Kaye warned that keeping the list of safe destinations for July and August under wraps would lead to operators scaling back on scheduled flights which would lead to a huge rise in seat prices. He pointed to popular destinations such as Spain and its Balearic islands where Covid infections are low, suggesting they were 'coming into the green zone' but may not be announced for weeks. There are only 12 locations that have so far been added to the green list, but Portugal, Gibraltar and Iceland are seen as actual holiday destinations. There is set to be an expansion of the list on June 7, with Jamaica, Finland, and the Canary Islands seen as possibilities, although Boris Johnson has warned that the list will not expand 'very rapidly'. Heathrow Airport's chief executive has urged the government to reveal its green list of summer holiday destinations to save families from the misery of soaring prices and reduced options John Holland-Kaye warned that keeping the list of safe destinations for July and August under wraps would lead to operators scaling back on scheduled flights which would lead to a huge rise in seat prices Mainland European destinations such as Spain, France and Italy are also expected to be much further off. Mr Holland-Kaye told the Telegraph: 'I fear the Government is going to drag its feet on Spain. I think that will be a mistake and the reason for that is that very few people are flying in spite of all the hype we see. 'From the week before travel opened up with the first green countries, we went from 7,000 passengers departing a week to between 10,000 and 11,000. People were being very disciplined and following the guidance. Currently there are only 12 destinations on the government's 'green list' 'If we don't put Spain on the list soon, then people will face a dilemma. Do I not go on holiday at all and face another rainy summer in the UK? Or do I break the rules and go to an amber country against guidance? People don't want to break the rule The chief executive said the government ought to be doing holidaymakers 'a service' by giving them enough warning that Spain, while not given the green list next week, will be possible in July. But if the government leaves an announcement until June 'it will be too late'. It comes as a report from the CEBR economic forecasting group warned that the UK is set to miss out on billions of pounds of spending from passengers arriving into Heathrow if the green list is not extended as part of the upcoming travel review. Business and leisure passengers arriving at the airport are estimated to spend over 16 billion a year across the UK, sustaining jobs at thousands of businesses. US visitors travelling through Heathrow are the largest source of inbound tourism revenue for the economy, with these passengers accounting for 3.74 billion, said the report. There is a risk that US visitors could go elsewhere, as countries such as Italy and France prepare to welcome them back, it was warned. Paul Charles, chief executive at The PC Agency, included Grenada, Morocco and Finland as green on his unofficial traffic light system based on current infection rates and the percentage of people who have been vaccinated Mr Holland-Kaye said the government ought to be doing holidaymakers 'a service' by giving them enough warning that Spain, while not given the green list next week, will be possible in July The report was published as Heathrow is working with the Government to launch a dedicated red list arrivals facility, creating more capacity for arrivals from an expanded green list. The facility will be launched on June 1 in Terminal 3 before being moved to Terminal 4. John Holland-Kaye said: 'This research shows just how many businesses across the UK are losing out because of the Government's restrictions on access to overseas visitors and markets. 'The Government has the tools to protect both public health and the economy and ministers must unlock more low-risk destinations across Europe, as well as the US, as part of the next review on June 7.' Advertisement Airports and highways have seen the first major holiday traffic in more than a year this Memorial Day weekend. This holiday weekend felt similar to past Memorial Days, with vaccines on the rise and COVID-19 restrictions fully lifted in many places. Nearly 43 million US citizens were expected to hit the roads, according to the AAA. 'This is the second highest, travel volume on record, since AAA began tracking holiday travel volume dating back to the 2000's,' a spokesperson said. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), 1,854,534 people passed through airport checkpoints Thursday, marking the second-most traveled day since the pandemic hit. A very busy LAX on Memorial Day weekend in Los Angeles, CA. Heavy traffic at the arrivals level at the airport and very busy terminals and baggage claims at LAX on Sunday Lines of traffic as holidaymakers arrive at Los Angeles International Airport for the Memorial Day weekend on Sunday Crowds flock to the beach on Sunday during Memorial Day weekend in Miami Beach, Florida The busiest day was May 23, which saw 9,163 more people take to the skies. TSA predicts that one day this weekend, more than two million travelers will pass through checkpoints. Images show long lines at Los Angeles International Airport, with very busy terminals and baggage claim areas on Sunday. Traffic built up at the arrivals level of LAX. Crowds flocked to the beaches in Miami, Florida, which also were packed. A very busy LAX on Memorial Day weekend in Los Angeles. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), 1,854,534 people passed through airport checkpoints Thursday, marking the second-most traveled day since the pandemic hit This holiday weekend will feel something closer to Memorial Days of old, with vaccines on the rise and COVID-19 restrictions are fully lifted in many places 'This is the second highest, travel volume on record, since AAA began tracking holiday travel volume dating back to the 2000's,' a spokesperson for AAA said According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), 1,854,534 people passed through airport checkpoints Thursday, marking the second-most travelled day since the pandemic hit A very busy LAX on Memorial Day weekend in Los Angeles. Pictured, heavy traffic at the arrivals level at the airport and very busy terminals and baggage claims at LAX Crowds flock to the beach on Sunday during Memorial Day weekend in Miami Beach, Florida Crowds flock to the beach on Sunday during Memorial Day weekend in Miami Beach, Florida Crowds flocked to the beaches in Miami, Florida which were packed with revelers enjoying the weekend sunshine Crowds flocked to the beaches in Miami, Florida which were packed with revelers enjoying the weekend sunshine Around the nation, Americans will be able to pay tribute to fallen troops in ways that were impossible last year, when virus restrictions were in effect in many places. It will also be a time to remember tens of thousands of veterans who died from COVID-19 and recommit to vaccinating those who remain reluctant. Art delaCruz, a 53-year-old retired Navy commander in Los Angeles leads the Veterans Coalition for Vaccination, said his group has been encouraging inoculated veterans to volunteer at vaccine sites to dispel myths and help assuage concerns, many of which are also shared by current service members. 'We understand it's a personal choice, so we try to meet people where they are,' said delaCruz, who is also president of Team Rubicon, a disaster-response nonprofit made up of military veterans. There's no definitive tally for coronavirus deaths or vaccinations among American military vets, but Department of Veterans Affairs data shows more than 12,000 have died and more than 2.5 million have been inoculated against COVID-19 out of the roughly 9 million veterans enrolled in the agency's programs. A Covid vicitm's body was dumped into an Indian river by relatives wearing PPE in shocking footage showing the devastating toll of the pandemic in the virus-stricken country. The video, taken on Friday, shows two people, one wearing full protective clothing, hoisting the wrapped corpse over the side of the bridge. Police have identified the pair and arrested them after the dumping in the Rapti River in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh. The video, taken on Friday, shows two people, one wearing full protective clothing, hoisting the wrapped corpse over the side of the bridge A Covid vicitm's body was dumped into an Indian river by relatives wearing PPE in shocking footage showing the devastating toll of the pandemic The men were named as Sanjay Kumar and Manoj Kumar, while the victim was identified only as Premnath from Shohratgadh Siddharathanagar. He had been admitted to hospital on Tuesday after testing positive for Covid before he died on Friday while undergoing treatment, according to India Today. In according with Covid rules, his body was handed over to his relatives for cremation but they instead chose to dispose of the corpse in the river. Many crematoriums have been overwhelmed with the huge death toll from the virus, and families have been allowed to carry out home cremations. The men were named as Sanjay Kumar and Manoj Kumar, while the victim was identified only as Premnath from Shohratgadh Siddharathanagar Bloated corpses have been seen floating on the Ganges amid claims the true death toll is far higher than the reported 329,100. Locals in Uttar Pradesh say they are being forced to wade through corpses while bathing in the river as feral dogs and birds feast on the bodies. India has been fighting a serious third wave of coronavirus for the past month, and although the number of cases are starting to decline, the country faces an in increasing daily death toll for weeks to come. Over the weekend, India recorded its lowest daily rise in new Covid cases in 45 days. The victim had been admitted to hospital on Tuesday after testing positive for Covid before he died on Friday while undergoing treatment The tally of infections stood at 173,790 on Saturday, its lowest daily rise in little over a month, while deaths rose by 3,617. The total number of cases now stands at 22.7 million, according to Health Ministry data. It comes as the country's capital of New Delhi, is set to gradually end its weeks-long lockdown from Monday, when factories will be allowed to operate and construction work can resume. The city recorded peaks of 25,000 cases in April, but is now reporting less than 1,500 cases per day. Despite the easing of certain restrictions, experts have warned that people in the country should continue to follow safety protocols, reaffirming that the pandemic is not over in India just yet. Medical researcher Bhramar Mukherjee told the BBC: 'The notion that the peak has passed may give false sense of security to everyone when their states are in fact entering the crisis mode. 'We must make it clear that no state is safe yet.' The country has been left reeling after a deadly second wave of the virus hit in March. Health workers are set up around the country to record the temperature of citizens A health worker takes a swab sample from a man for a Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test along a road in New Delhi Indian covid sufferers are now contracting deadly 'black fungus' infection with spike causing a shortage of the drugs to treat it A growing number of current and recovered Covid-19 patients in India are contracting a deadly and rare fungal infection, doctors said on Monday. Mucormycosis, dubbed 'black fungus' by medics, is usually most aggressive in patients whose immune systems are weakened by other infections. 'The cases of mucormycosis infection in Covid-19 patients post-recovery is nearly four to five times than those reported before the pandemic,' Ahmedabad-based infectious diseases specialist Atul Patel, a member of the state's Covid-19 taskforce, told AFP. In the western state of Maharashtra, home to India's financial hub Mumbai, up to 300 cases have been detected, said Khusrav Bajan, a consultant at Mumbai's P.D. Hinduja National Hospital and a member of the state's Covid-19 taskforce. Some 300 cases have been reported so far in four cities in Gujarat, including its largest Ahmedabad, according to data from state-run hospitals. The western state ordered government hospitals to set up separate treatment wards for patients infected with 'black fungus' amid the rise in cases. 'Mucormycosis - if uncared for - may turn fatal,' the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), the scientific agency leading the government's response, said in a treatment chart released on Twitter.o used steroids during their virus treatment, and those who had prolonged stays in hospital ICUs, the ICMR added. Reporting by AFP Advertisement Hospitals, morgues and crematoriums have been overwhelmed ever since, with many areas of the country suffering chronic oxygen shortages. In recent weeks, a horrifying Covid-19 complication has also swept the country, with thousands of people contracting black fungus. The wave of infections with the previously very rare condition has been blamed on excessive use of steroids to treat the country's millions of Covid patients, experts say. Mucormycosis, as it is scientifically known, is highly aggressive and surgeons sometimes have to remove patients' eyes, nose and jaw to stop it reaching the brain. The death rate is over 50 percent. India normally deals with fewer than 20 black fungus cases a year but now there are several thousand across the country including more than 2,000 in Maharashtra state, home to India's financial capital Mumbai. At least nine Indian states have declared the problem an epidemic. The cities of New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Bangalore have opened special wards. Before the coronavirus pandemic, only those with severely compromised immunity, such as HIV or organ transplant patients, were at risk. Earlier this week, analysis by the New York Times was published, which suggested that the death toll in the country could be as many as 1.6 million compared to the official 310,000 fatalities reported. The paper's 'more likely' scenario estimates the number of deaths to be 1.6 million, while the worst-case could be as high as 4.2 million. By comparison, Britain recorded just nine deaths on May 27 and more than 127,000 fatalities in total. The US has recorded about 590,000, also suspected to be an undercount, in a population of about 330 million. Official figures in India put the toll at 310,000 in a population of 1.4 billion. In consulting with more than a dozen experts, the Times said it found it difficult to get a clear picture even of the total number of infections in India due to poor record-keeping and a lack of widespread testing. Vinod Paul, head of India's coronavirus task force, dismissed the study and said it was 'not backed by any evidence and is based on distorted estimates. 'Our [fatality] number is 0.05 per cent of those infected. They've said 0.3 per cent. Why? On what basis have you decided that it's 0.3 per cent of that large infection universe? There is no basis at all. Five people get together, make phone calls to each other and then throw this number. That's how this report has been done,' Mr Paul told NDTV. 'There may be some late reporting of deaths but there's no intent of any state or the Centre. If I apply the same three times yardstick to New York, then there would be 50,000 deaths. But they say it's 16,000. So this is distorted,' he added. Four relatives carry a dead body of a Covid-victim past shallow graves covered with cloths on the banks of the Ganges River in Shringverpur village Advertisement A Government minister today acknowledged England's June 21 Freedom Day could be in jeopardy after a number of SAGE scientists publicly called for the end of restrictions to be pushed back. During a round of interviews this morning, Environment Secretary George Eustice said the Government couldn't 'rule anything out' when asked if the next phase of the roadmap could be delayed or watered down. He insisted a decision would be made in a fortnight's time when ministers will know more about the effect of the Indian strain - which is making up three-quarters of all new infections - on hospital rates. The comments mark a significant shift in tone from No10, with ministers claiming just days ago there was no reason to deviate from the lockdown-ending plan. The remarks come after several high profile SAGE experts and Government advisers today lobbied for the June 21 easing to be moved. Professor Ravi Gupta, who sits on the Nervtag subgroup of SAGE, urged the Government to push back the unlocking by 'a few weeks' to allow more people to get vaccinated before ditching all social distancing rules. The Cambridge University expert claimed there were early signs the third wave had already begun after daily infections breached 4,000 on Friday for the first time in nearly two months - and warned it could become 'quite explosive' over the next few months. Professor Gupta said the jab rollout was giving people a 'false sense of security' because infection rates were still relatively low, but claimed it was inevitable unvaccinated people would eventually start to fall ill with the highly infectious strain. The roaring success of the vaccine programme has seen almost 40million adults given at least one dose of the jab and 25million fully inoculated. But it leaves more than 5million Britons over 50 either unvaccinated or only partially protected. Professor Gupta's comments were echoed by SAGE professor Susan Michie, who warned Britain was on a 'knife-edge' as it approached the June 21 deadline. The University College London behavioural scientist, who sits on the SPI-B committee, said said fully opening the country as planned could lead to a serious spike akin to the second wave in the winter. 'Either it could run away as it did before Christmas, which would be extremely serious and we'd have more restrictions, or it could be contained,' she told Sky News. Professor Adam Finn, a member of the panel which advises No10 on its Covid vaccine rollout, also urged ministers to be 'cautious' amid rising cases. He said the impact of May's lockdown easings on Covid cases which saw restaurants allowed to serve indoors and Britons able to invite up to six others into their homes would not be clear for another two to three weeks. Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith accused scientists of bullying the Government into extending lockdown. Last week the noise from Government was that the June 21 date was likely to go ahead and there was no reason to deviate, but sources in No10 have told Politico there is now a '50-50' chance of the roadmap being delayed. Ministers are set to make a final decision on whether to push on with the last phase of the roadmap on June 14, a week before the restrictions are set to be ditched. The Prime Minister has repeatedly promised he will be led by 'data not dates', and said his roadmap will be 'irreversible'. Professor Ravi Gupta, who sits on NERVTAG, was speaking in a personal capacity when he urged ministers to slow down lockdown easings. Professor Susan Michie, who sits on the SPI-B subgroup, warned Britain was perched on a knife edge and running the risk of cases going the same way as at Christmas Covid infections surged by 40 per cent in a week after 3,240 were recorded yesterday. The UK also recorded more than 4,000 cases on Friday for the first time since the start of April But the death rate has remained very low. Although scientists say it is inevitable it will start to rise in the coming weeks. More than 5million over-50s have not received both doses of the vaccine The roaring success of the jabs drive has seen almost 40million adults given at least one dose and 25million fully inoculated Slide me The Indian variant of Covid B.1.617.2 has already spread to more than half of local authorities in England, according to data from the Sanger Institute. This excludes cases from travellers and surge testing. Map on the left is from May 8, and map on the right is from May 22, the latest date the information is available for. They show the proportion of cases made up by the Indian variant Environment Secretary George Eustice (left) today warned he could not rule anything out when asked whether the June 21 'freedom day' could be delayed, and Professor Adam Finn (right), a member of the panel which advises No10 on its Covid vaccine rollout urged ministers to be 'cautious' and said the impact of May's lockdown easings would not be clear for another two to three weeks This map shows how Covid cases changed across the country in the week up to May 23, the latest available. It indicates infections rose fastest in parts of London and the North West where the Indian variant is dominant, but that they are also rising in other areas In other coronavirus developments: More than one million Britons fear they could lose their home tomorrow when an eviction ban set up to protect tenants during lockdown ends with up to 400,000 having already been served notices; British holidaymakers are missing flights home due to delays caused by the Government's 39 PCR test provider, with critics calling for the swabbing regime to be ditched; Two million drivers are set to clog Britain's roads today as thousands cram into parks and beaches to enjoy the hottest day of the year with sizzling 77F (25C) weather; Britain's biggest vaccine hub has opened in Twickenham Stadium with plans to dish out 15,000 jabs to beat rising cases of the Indian variant; Government sources have said vaccine passports will NOT be required to attend large events including concerts after months of wrangling; France has closed its doors to British travellers as it battles an outbreak of the Indian variant, insisting they must have a 'compelling reason' to visit. Mr Eustice told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'The Prime Minister has said all along that he is going to take this one step at a time and will only make the judgement on the next step, on June 21, about a week before that. NHS struggling to cope with operations backlog, unions say Health chiefs today insisted the NHS was being overwhelmed from a backlog of patients. Mountains of routine operations such as hip replacements and cataract surgery were cancelled last year as hospitals turned over whole wards to Covid. But now trust leaders say their staff are struggling to catch up, and that even a slight increase in Covid hospital admissions could spell disaster. Chris Hopson, who leads NHS Providers which represents hospital trusts across the country, took to the airwaves to warn hospitals were at risk of being overwhelmed. 'Were talking to people who are saying "Weve got 96-97 per cent bed occupancy, this is not the kind of bed occupancy we would normally expect at this time of year",' he told Times Radio. 'Were trying to go full pelt, to recover those care backlogs, we seem to be getting more people coming in on the urgent and emergency care pathway than we were expecting. 'So when youve got those volumes of patients, even small numbers of Covid-19 patients clearly add to the pressure.' NHS England figures show 79,453 beds were occupied by non-Covid patients and 580 by Covid patients in the week to May 22, the latest available. There were 7,144 reported to be un-occupied, suggesting many hospitals have more than nine in ten beds filled by patients. A vice-president at the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, Adrian Boyle, told The Times hospitals were facing a 'perfect storm'. 'Underpinning any attempt at recovery is the loss of 6,000 to 8,000 general and acute hospital beds of necessary IPC (Infection Prevention and Control Measures). 'The UK before the pandemic was relatively underbedded, and the increased demand with reduced supply is a perfect storm.' He added: 'In most hospitlas, beds are flexed between emergency admissions and elective admissions. 'It is tragic and wasteful when surgery is cancelled because of bed capacity.' Advertisement 'The rates are going up again slightly but from a low base and probably to be expected, given there are a significant number of younger people who are now out and mixing but haven't had the vaccine - I suppose that is to be expected. But the right thing to do in a couple of weeks' time is to assess that data before deciding what we can do.' Mr Duncan Smith told MailOnline that the Government appeared to be bowing to pressure from its scientists once again. We listen to scientists far too much at the moment. They seem at times to be bullying the Government, he told MailOnline. Its like the 21st of June that we are heading for and look at them all up over the weekend saying dont do it, dont do it, we must stay locked down. My worry is that all of this is leading to us having an inability in future to deal with any virus - we are going to be screaming at each other to lockdown. Nervtag's Professor Gupta called for June 21 lockdown easings to be delayed while speaking in a personal capacity on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'I think the problem is we are not too far from reaching the sort of levels of vaccination that would help us contain the virus,' he said. 'I think that people are not saying we should abandon the June 21 date altogether but just to delay it by a few weeks while we gather more intelligence and we can look at the trajectory in a clearer way.' Asked whether a delay would be necessary, he said: 'If you look at the costs and benefits of getting it wrong, I think it is heavily in favour of delay, so I think thats the key thing. 'Yes, we will learn to live with it but this date that was set did not take into account the fact we would have a new variant on the horizon, with properties that allow it to evade antibodies to some extent and a virus which is more transmissible.' He added: 'It will probably take longer than earlier waves to emerge because of the fact that we do have quite high levels of vaccination in the population, so there may be a false sense of security for some time, and thats our concern.' Professor Gupta sits on the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG), which advises No10's top scientists on the spread of the virus. The committee recently advised two Covid vaccine doses would be needed to prompt strong protection against the Indian variant of Covid, and calculated whether troublesome mutant strains of the virus are more transmissible. Professor Michie also urged Britons to start taking extra precautions because of rising infections. Bank holiday mass vaccinations at Twickenham Stadium A mass Covid vaccination event at Twickenham Stadium will jab as many as 15,000 people today. The 82,000 seat rugby will host the huge walk-in operation from 10am to 8pm today, Monday May 31. It is hoped the push will give locals their first dose of the vaccine without delay of having to book or wait. The initiative comes as the spread of the Indian variant of coronavirus threatens plans to reopen the country on June 21. The Twickenham jabbing day was dreamt up by a partnership of the local NHS and Hounslow Council with support from England RFU. It is in the West London borough of Richmond upon Thames but close to Hounslow, which is currently having surge testing due to increased variant cases. Advertisement She said: 'Everybody's behaviour could potentially make the difference. 'So the key thing at the moment is for people to do their socialising outdoors, and if people are inside, make sure windows and doors are open.' Government restrictions currently permit Britons to invite up to six family, friends or relatives into their homes, or one other household. They make no mention of whether windows and doors should be left open. Professor Finn, who is also a children's health expert at Bristol University, said the impact of May's lockdown easings would not be clear until mid-June. 'I think its unfortunate that everyones got this particular date in their head, because really what we need to do is understand how things are going and adjust accordingly,' he told ITVs Good Morning Britain. 'This time around, we should be cautious, wait to see whats happening, and then let everyone free, if you like, once we know for sure that thats safe and that we can do that without having another round of lockdowns and so on.' Government sources are warning there is a risk lockdown easings set for June 21 which would see troublesome face masks and social distancing dumped could be pushed back by a few weeks. Asked whether businesses should prepare for a delay to the unlocking, Mr Eustice said: 'I've said all along, as has Matt Hancock and the Prime Minister, we can't rule anything out because we know this has been a difficult pandemic, a dynamic situation. 'We have to make that judgement a couple of weeks before. It will only be by then that we will see the full impact of the latest easements we made on May 17, so I know everyone wants to know what is going to happen but we can't actually make that judgement until we see the impact of the easements just made.' Meanwhile, Britons today basked in what could be the hottest day of 2021 so far today as bank holiday Monday brings highs of 77F (25C) and two million drivers hit the roads. People enjoy the warm weather at Bournemouth beach in Dorset today as families make the most of bank holiday Monday Sunbathers and holidaymakers flock to the beach at the seaside resort of Lyme Regis in Dorset this morning Visitors arrive to enjoy the weather on the beaches of Camber Sands on the East Sussex coast this morning UK on track to win race to vaccinate over-50s with both jabs by June 21 The race to double jab millions of over-50s by June 21 is likely to be won as it emerges the NHS drive should be on target to get second doses to the most vulnerable in time for 'Freedom Day'. Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi yesterday set a deadline for the first time amid increasing concern over the Indian variant, which is highly transmissible and causing a third surge of the virus ahead of 'unlockdown'. Around 5 million people aged over 50 are currently waiting for their second dose, with the NHS needing to vaccinate 225,000 of them every day to meet the target. But second jabs were handed out at a rate of 400,000 a day most days last week, meaning it would take something catastrophic to knock the drive off course. Ministers hope that by hitting the target, they won't have to extend restrictions - such as the use of face masks - beyond the 'unlockdown date', which Boris Johnson has set for three weeks' time. Analysis by the Times now suggests that the new aim should be met if NHS England continues to give second doses to 1.5 million over-50s each week. The paper said that at the present rate of inoculation, everyone in that age group should be fully vaccinated by the week ending June 20. NHS England chief Sir Simon Stevens yesterday urged the over-50s to bring forward their second jab if asked. 'The vaccine is our most effective weapon against coronavirus and the best way of protecting yourself and loved ones, so if you do one thing this bank holiday weekend, book your lifesaving jab and crucially, if you're contacted by the NHS to do so, bring forward your second dose of vital protection,' he said. Advertisement Millions of Britons have enjoyed a hot weekend at beaches and parks, which are now looking mostly back to how they were pre-pandemic, but discussions continue within the Government over whether it can hit the target date. While people have been able to see their friends indoors, visit the cinema or theatre and hold outdoor gatherings of up to 30 people since May 17, there are still restrictions on event capacities and nightclubs remain closed. People are now flocking to parks and beaches as they make the most of the turnaround in conditions - with the spell of summer sunshine now expected to last more than two weeks, following the fourth wettest May on record. Conditions will improve further this week with highs of 81F (27C) by Wednesday, making Britain hotter than Rome which will only reach 77F (25C) - and it follows two days of glorious weather already over the three-day weekend. The weekend brought highs of 75.2F (24C) yesterday and 73.2F (22.9C) on Saturday - but neither beat the current record for the warmest day of 2021 which was two months ago on March 30 when London hit 76.1F (24.5C). This afternoon, the beaches of Lyme Regis, Bournemouth and Camber Sands looked particularly busy - with the top temperature by 1pm today at about 72F (22C) in London, although this is set to rise further this afternoon. With the start of meteorological summer now just one day away, Britons have been flocking outdoors and making the most of sitting outside pubs and restaurants after Covid-19 restrictions were mostly lifted on May 17. Although Covid cases are rising nationally, data suggests the outbreak has already peaked in hotspot Bolton which has seen surging cases driven by the Indian variant. The Greater Manchester borough which was the country's epicentre has seen its infections dip by 15 per cent in four days. Its infection rate was 386.7 cases per 100,000 on May 25, the latest available, down from 452.8 per 100,000 on May 21. Dr Helen Wall, senior officer for the Covid vaccine programme in Bolton, told BBC Breakfast: 'Im pleased to report that things are starting to slow in terms of the rise here in Covid cases, but we really cant rest on that. 'Its only been a few days of the rates slowing down so we really are keen to keep pushing forwards and get the rates down further.' This graph shows Covid cases have peaked in Bolton, a key hotspot for the Indian variant. Its infection rate was 386.7 cases per 100,000 on May 25, the latest available, down from 452.8 per 100,000 on May 21 But cases are still heading upwards in neighbouring Blackburn with Darwen, which has also seen surge testing Cases also appear to now be falling in Indian variant hotspot Bedford, where surge testing has also been carried out France locks the doors to British travellers British travellers will have to provide 'compelling reasons' to enter France from today as President Emmanuel Macron battles to suppress the Indian variant. Travel from the UK will only be permitted for EU nationals, French residents or those travelling for essential reasons such as bereavement or childcare. People who are allowed to make the journey must take a pre-departure Covid test and quarantine for seven days on arrival. The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said the new French rules apply to all air, car, ferry and train passengers. France is currently listed as an 'amber' destination by the UK Government, which means people are being advised against travelling there - while those who do must self-isolate for 10 days and take two tests on return. Stricter rules for visitors from the UK were first raised by French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian last week amid concern over the Indian variant. An explanation of the new rules on the website of the Consulate General of France in London said: 'Given the development of the so-called Indian variant, health measures have been tightened for people travelling to France from the UK.' It added that from this morning 'compelling reasons will be required for foreign nationals outside the EU not resident in France to travel to France from the UK'. The website said 'a PCR or antigen test less than 48 hours old will be required from anyone travelling to France from the UK' while on arrival 'travellers are obliged to self-isolate for seven days'. The information added that 'due to the low incidence of coronavirus in the UK, for the moment they will not be subject to systematic checks where they are staying'. France's move follows Austria, which said on Tuesday it was banning UK direct flights and tourists, and Germany, which said on Friday that anyone entering from the UK would have to quarantine for two weeks on arrival. Advertisement She said the council areas outbreaks were focused in areas with very young populations, which have yet to be offered at least one dose of the Covid vaccine. But she said as the roll-out is expanded to younger age groups they are able to get more and more jabs to these individuals helping to slow the spread of the virus. 'I think the age of eligibility going down every few days has really helped, and will really help us, if we can get those people through the doors to be vaccinated asap,' she said. NHS England is offering jabs to everyone over-30, with the roll-out expected to be expanded to younger age groups in the coming days. Scientific studies show the jabs are highly effective at stopping hospitalisation and death from the virus, and block infection in most cases. Experts warn, however, that should rising infections lead to even a small uptick in Covid patients in hospitals this could lead to many being overwhelmed. The chief executive of NHS Providers, Chris Hopson, said many are already 'very busy' with more than nine in ten beds occupied as they work through a backlog of patients suffering other conditions besides Covid. 'The concerns are that this is a much more transmissible variant. Weve still got lots of people still to vaccinate. And absolutely hospitals are very busy,' he told Times Radio. 'Were talking to people who are saying "Weve got 96-97 per cent bed occupancy, this is not the kind of bed occupancy we would normally expect at this time of year". 'Were trying to go full pelt, to recover those care backlogs, we seem to be getting more people coming in on the urgent and emergency care pathway than we were expecting. 'So when youve got those volumes of patients, even small numbers of Covid-19 patients clearly add to the pressure.' It came as France said British travellers must have a 'compelling reason' to visit the country as President Emmanuel Macron battles to suppress the Indian variant. Travel from the UK will only be permitted for EU nationals, French residents or those travelling for essential reasons such as bereavement or childcare. Those who are allowed to make the journey must take a pre-departure Covid test and quarantine for seven days on arrival. The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said the new French rules apply to all air, car, ferry and train passengers. France is currently listed as an 'amber' destination by the UK Government, which means people are being advised against travelling there - while those who do must self-isolate for 10 days and take two tests on return. It comes as France reported the number of people in intensive care units with Covid-19 fell by 35 to 2,993, while the overall number of people in hospital with the disease fell by 72 to 16,775 Stricter rules for visitors from the UK were first raised by French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian last week amid concern over the Indian variant. An explanation of the new rules on the website of the Consulate General of France in London said: 'Given the development of the so-called Indian variant, health measures have been tightened for people travelling to France from the UK.' It added that from this morning 'compelling reasons will be required for foreign nationals outside the EU not resident in France to travel to France from the UK'. The website said 'a PCR or antigen test less than 48 hours old will be required from anyone travelling to France from the UK' while on arrival 'travellers are obliged to self-isolate for seven days'. The information added that 'due to the low incidence of coronavirus in the UK, for the moment they will not be subject to systematic checks where they are staying'. France's move follows Austria, which said on Tuesday it was banning UK direct flights and tourists, and Germany, which said on Friday that anyone entering from the UK would have to quarantine for two weeks on arrival. It came amid reports British holidaymakers are missing their flights home because of delays caused by the Government's 39 Covid test provider. Qured is on the government's list of private test providers, and promises customers a 'fit-to-fly' certificate within an hour of receiving a negative test on a video call. The company's tests are accepted by airlines such as British Airways and a negative lateral flow test is needed pre-departure when returning to the UK. But customers have told of hours of delays, making them miss return flights from Portugal and Iceland. Katie Finelli said that she had taken a lateral flow test in Portugal ahead of her return, but 20 hours later was still waiting for a certificate. 'I was advised results would be 5-6 hours but I have nothing,' she said. 'Obviously need this urgently for flying and it is terrible service to be told 5-6 hours but not having anything almost 24 hours later and nobody replies to emails and cannot call.' Elena Borreani commented: 'Yesterday, my children had a Lateral Flow Test video call to return to the UK. The results came 20 hours later (instead of four hours like we were told) but the most unacceptable part is that they sent us the wrong certificates!' And Charles added he was forced to pay 69 to get a local test after waiting an extra 11 hours for his results. Qured told The Sun: 'While the timings of delivery and results are generally accurate, they are subject to change due to circumstances out of our control.' Advertisement Hundreds of Russian socialites made their debut at the 18th Vienna Charity Ball in Moscow on Saturday. The young debutantes, aged 16-23, wore stunning white gowns and tiaras at the traditional event held in the largest ballroom in Moscow - Gostiny Dvor - and were paired with a bachelor to dance the night away. The event has been known to feature the daughters of many of the Kremlin's ultra-rich elite including in 2015, Yelizaveta Peskova, daughter of Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov; in 2018, Leonela Manturova, daughter of the minister of industry and trade, Denis Manturov. Among this year's attendees was 23-year-old Olympic Gold Medal rhythmic gymnast Vera Biriukova. Hundreds of Russian socialites made their debut at the 18th Vienna Charity Ball in Moscow at Gostiny Dvor on Saturday The young debutants, aged 16-23, wore stunning white gowns at the traditional event held in the largest ballroom in Moscow - and were paired with a bachelor to dance the night away This year's young women join a host of Kremlin ultra-rich elite, including Yelizaveta Peskova, daughter of Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who have debuted at the prestigious event in the past Saturday's charity event, which sees young women don white dresses and tiaras, was due to take place last year but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic Each debutante - male and female - is put through a rigorous selection process involving tests on their education, knowledge of foreign languages, manners, and of course, looks The lucky 100 are then put through their paces with dance classes in the run up to the big day, when the women wear white gowns and the men don either full-length tails or military uniforms The ball also featured Anastasia Chernomyrdina, granddaughter of a former prime minister, Viktor Stepanovich Chernomyrdin, in 2019. This year, Leonida Malitskaya, Svetlana Gerchet, and Elizaveta Kondrikova were among the debutantes. Saturday's charity event, which was dedicated to the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven, was due to take place last year but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It usually attracts over 2,000 guests from across the world but this year was scaled back to 1,500. Each debutante - male and female - is put through a rigorous selection process involving tests on their education, knowledge of foreign languages, manners, and looks. The lucky 100 are then put through their paces with dance classes in the run up to the big day, when the women wear white gowns and the men don either full-length tails or military uniforms. Debutants open the ball with a waltz and are then joined by guests who dance polkas, gallops, and waltzes until midnight After the clock strikes twelve, attendees perform the famous Russian midnight quadrille - a dance that was fashionable in late 18th- and 19th-century Europe. It is followed by tango, foxtrot, jive, quick-step, cha-cha-cha, and rumba into the small hours The event, which is the highlight of the calendar for young debutants, usually attracts over 2,000 guests, but was this year scaled back to 1,500 because of the Covid-19 pandemic Tickets for the prestigious night cost up to 500 and debutants are selected based on rigorous tests and their looks Debutants and bachelors dance the night away to a variety of music. The event is intended to encourage youngsters to engage in classical culture Offspring of Russia's elite take a group photo at the Viennese Ball at Gostiny Dvor, the largest hall in Moscow, on Saturday night Debutants open the ball with a waltz and are then joined by guests who dance polkas, gallops, and waltzes until midnight. After the clock strikes twelve, attendees perform the famous Russian midnight quadrille followed by tango, foxtrot, jive, quick-step, cha-cha-cha, and rumba into the small hours. Tickets cost up to 500 and proceeds are donated to a chosen charity. The event, organised by Tatler, is an opportunity for the new generation of elite offspring to follow in their fathers footsteps and take their place in society. Many of the daughters normally stay away from the limelight, avoiding journalists and public events, and instead flood their Instagram profiles with images of lavish holidays. Among this year's attendees was Olympic Gold Medal rhythmic gymnast Vera Biriukova, 23 (Left, at the ball. Right, collecting her gold medal in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 alongside a teammate) Vera Biriukova meets Russian President Vladimir Putin after winning gold in rhythmic gymnastics at the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Among this year's debutants was Leonida Malitskaya who donned a white gown and tiara for the night out in Moscow's Gostiny Divor Svetlana Gerchet was another daughter of the Russian elite who made her debut at the ball on Saturday. She wrote on Instagram 'well that flew by!' with a video of her at the event. Elizaveta Kondrikova (right), another attendee, poses with flowers ahead of Saturday's ball The remain largely silent on issues of politics, corruption, human rights, or the environment, fearing for their family's position in society if they speak out. But, attending the Viennese Ball clearly takes its toll and several former guests have since risen to the boardrooms of banks and business corporations - or are on their way there. One of the younger Kremlin daughters Yelizaveta Peskova, 23, spent months in Brussels in 2019 working as an intern at the European Parliament after attending the ball in 2015. Caring about her selfie: Yelizaveta Peskova, 23, spent months in Brussels in 2019 working as an intern at the European Parliament. She attended the Tatler ball as a debutant in 2015 Peskova is seen dancing with Chechnyan leader Ramzan Khadyrov (left) - who has been accused of torturing and killing gay men in 'concentration camps'. Right: The blonde is seen on a boat during one of her many travels abroad showcased on her popular Instagram account Other notable daughters who have debuted at the ball since it started in 2003, include Leonela Manturova, daughter of the minister of industry and trade, Denis Manturov. Manturova attended the ball as a debutant in 2018. The 26-year-old Russian beauty has since been seen soaking up rays on the beaches of Bali, Indonesia. Her father has served as a minister in Putin's government since 2012, when he replaced former Putin aide Viktor Khristenko. Other notable daughters who have debuted at the ball since it started in 2003, include Leonela Manturova, daughter of the minister of industry and trade, Denis Manturov Manturova attended the ball as a debutant in 2018. The 26-year-old Russian beauty has since been seen soaking up rays on the beaches of Bali, Indonesia Another such case is Maria Shuvalova, 22, a danger at the world famous Bolshoi Ballet, and the daughter of Igor Shuvalov, the boss of Russia's powerful state development corporation VEB.RF. Bolshoi ballerinas reportedly only earn between $500 and $2,500 a month, but Shuvalova's earned almost 20 million last year from a mysterious second source. The young ballet dancer rakes in 75,000 a day for her role in 'capital asset management' - more than the bosses of Russian giants like energy behemoth Gazprom and largest financial institution Sberbank. Maria's father Igor Shuvalov is a close Putin ally and worked as Russia's deputy prime minister in 2018. He is now the boss of Russia's powerful state development corporation VEB.RF As a dancer for Bolshoi, Maria has travelled across the world in the past two years. Performances featuring the 22-year-old have been held in Cyprus, Portugal, Amsterdam, among other locations As a dancer at the world-famous Bolshoi, she's danced across the world over the past two years, including in Cyprus, Portugal, Amsterdam, Italy, Bali and Tenerife. Despite her busy schedule however, Shuvalova spent January sunning herself at her family's luxury village in Dubai. 'Maria is obviously doing well with time management - she manages to rehearse even with her busy travel schedule,' Russian Tatler said at the time. Former Russian Member of Parliament Gennady Gudkov told The Daily Beast: 'Most of these young women in their twenties and thirties would have never got their managing positions and big stakes in business companies, if not for their fathers' powerful connections,' 'To stay wealthy and successful, they keep their mouths shut: Every daughter understands perfectly well that once she begins to comment on corruption or human rights her dad with be in the epicentre of a ruinous scandal.' The Russian 'capital asset management' firm Maria has been receiving the sum from does not have her listed as an employee As a dancer at the world-famous Bolshoi, she's danced across the world over the past two years, including in Cyprus, Portugal, Amsterdam, Italy, Bali and Tenerife (pictured with father Igor Shuvalov) In a different iteration of Tatler's ball in November 2019, a host of young Russian socialites gathered in ballgowns and dripping in jewels as they debuted. The daughters of Russia's most influential people dressed up to the nines in showstopping ensembles as they flaunted their wealth at the highly-anticipated event at the Ritz-Carlton hotel. Guests included Natalya Gorbunova, stepdaughter of Credit Bank of Moscow billionaire Roman Avdeyev, and Anastasia Chernomydrina, granddaughter of former Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin. Other guests included Maria Bordovskikh, daughter of banker Ivan Bronov and TV presenter Yulia Bordovskikh and Katerina Boyarskaya, the granddaughter of actor Mikhail Boyarsky. Socialites posing at the Tatler Debutante Ball in Moscow in November 2019, including Yelizaveta Yakovleva (pictured top left), granddaughter of actor Yuri Yakovlev, Arina Meladze (top second to left), daughter of singer Valery Meladze, Anna Yunusova (top right), daughter of Stratus Handel & Finanz AG partner Ildar Yunusov, Darya Dronova centre left), granddaughter of Soviet ice hockey player Valeri Kharlamov, Katerina Boyarskaya (centre row second to left), granddaughter of actor Mikhail Boyarsky, Anastasia Chernomydrina, granddaughter of former Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin (centre row centre), Maria Bordovskikh (centre row second right), daughter of banker Ivan Bronov and TV presenter Yulia Bordovskikh, Aleksandra Giner (centre right), granddaughter of FC CSKA President Yevgeny Giner, Natalya Gorbunova (front row left), stepdaughter of Credit Bank of Moscow billionaire Roman Avdeyev, Vasilisa Mikhailova (front row second to left), granddaughter of Soviet ice hockey player Boris Mikhailov Blogger Katya Adushkina wore a billowing black metallic gown and sparkling jewels at the Tatler debutante ball in November 2019 The daughters of Russia's most influential people - including Darya Dronova, granddaughter of Soviet ice hockey player Valeri Kharlamov (pictured) - dressed up to the nines for the November 2019 ball Glamorous debutante Maria Bordovskikh, daughter of banker Ivan Bronov and TV presenter Yulia Bordovskikh, attended the November 2019 event Australian authorities are part of an international hunt for cyber criminals who've shut down the nation's largest meat and food processing company, JBS Foods. JBS facilities in other countries have also been hit in a cyber attack that could affect meat supply chains world wide. Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the federal government was doing all it could to get Australian abattoirs functioning again, and to limit effects on domestic supply and export markets. Australian authorities are part of an international hunt for cyber criminals who've shut down the nation's largest meat and food processing company, JBS Foods (pictured) The company has 47 facilities across Australia, including abattoirs and feed lots. Mr Littleproud said it was too soon to say who might be behind the attack that shut down computer systems, including those that deal with quality control. 'The technology they use goes to the heart of the quality assurance of the beef they are processing,' he told ABC radio. We need to make sure we can get that up and going to give confidence not just to consumers in Australia, but also to our export markets. 'They are obviously working with law enforcement agencies here in Australia and we're working in partnership with other countries to get to the bottom of this. 'Since it is a global attack it's important not to speculate that it's emanated from any particular place, just yet.' He could not say if it was a denial of service attack or a ransomware attack, but warned that if it was not resolved quickly the economic consequences could be very serious. 'It will depend how long this goes on for, and how long JBS are offline, for it is a supply chain that starts from the farm gate, right through to feed lots, to truck drivers,' he said. The closure of the major meatworks could cause meat prices to rise as there is less supply (Stock) The Australian Meat Industry Employees Union said thousands of workers could not do their jobs on Monday and would be out of work without pay until the problem was fixed. 'The meat in the sandwich is that this is a concerted effort against Australian business and the workers will suffer as a result of that,' Australian Meat Industry Employees' Union Queensland Secretary Matt Journeaux said. 'There's six sites in Queensland that will be affected and around the nation there would be significantly more. 'In most processing facilities the workers are on daily hire arrangements and unfortunately if they don't work, they don't get paid.' A Christian pastor who preaches that Covid-19 is a 'hoax' designed to usher in a 'new world order' has been charged with incitement. Revival Church leader Paul Furlong, 53, was arrested on Sunday morning after 50 of his devoted worshippers held an anti-lockdown protest at Narre Warren oval, in Melbourne's southeast. Days earlier, Furlong posted a video on Facebook declaring he had chosen to 'obey God over man' and that his church would open for Sunday service in breach of Victoria's seven-day lockdown. The Christian pastor (pictured) who preaches that Covid-19 is a 'hoax' designed by power giants to bring in a 'new world order' has been charged with incitement 'My church is open. I've said I would not shut the church again. This Sunday at 10am, my church the Revival Church in Narre Warren we are open for worship,' Mr Furlong said in the clip on Thursday. Victoria is in the middle of its fourth stage three lockdown as Melbourne battles a coronavirus outbreak, now at 54 cases after 11 new infections emerged on Monday. Under stay-at-home orders, Victorians can only leave their homes for five essential reasons with restaurant dining and public gatherings among many banned activities. But Furlong told his flock there is no 'proof' Covid exists, calling it a 'plan-demic'. 'It's just a cold. We know that there is no scientific proof that Covid exists,' he said. 'It is the biggest fear-mongering hoax of the media, of power giants and the big boys to bring in a one world government and a one-world agenda. 'C'mon, wake up people. Stand up for your rights.' Revival Church leader Paul Furlong, 53 (pictured), was arrested on Sunday morning after 50 of his devoted worshippers held an anti-lockdown protest at Narre Warren oval, in Melbourne's southeast Several conspiracy theories claim a group of powerful elites is exploiting Covid in an effort to establish a new world order and a global government. Believers of these conspiracies often assert that the coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed the lives of about 3.5 million people worldwide, is being used to highlight the need for cross-border governance. About 50 of Furlong's supporters stormed Narre Warren oval on Sunday to protest the state's stay-at-home orders. Police stood by while the group gave speeches and later ordered them to leave. One man was arrested after being forced to the ground by police, who later issued five infringement notices for breaching the chief health officer's directions. About 50 of Furlong's supporters stormed Narre Warren oval on Sunday to protest the state's stay-at-home orders Police stood by while the group gave speeches and later ordered them to leave One man was arrested after being forced to the ground by Public Order Response Officers and police later issued five infringement notices for breaching the chief health officer's directions Furlong was charged with incitement and breaching bail. He was placed on remand and will appear at Frankston Magistrates Court on June 10. The preacher was also fined in February after more than 50 people attended one of his indoor church services - breaching Covid capacity rules. Last year Victoria endured one of the world's strictest lockdowns, with citizens under lockdown for 112 consecutive days. A growing number of residents are growing increasingly angered by the latest round of imposing restrictions. Victoria Police also made 14 arrests and issued 55 fines worth $1,652 each after 150 people gathered in the CBD on Saturday to protest against the state's latest shutdown. Boris Johnson has urged the Canadian government to allow increased imports of 'affordable, high-quality British cheese' ahead of talks on a free trade deal. The Prime Minister used an interview with Canadian broadcaster CBC to complain that preliminary talks on a new commerce agreement had been held up by Ottawa's reluctance to increase imports. Justin Trudeau is under pressure from Canadian farmers over the amount of cheese being imported from Europe. The two countries agreed an interim arrangement in November ahead of full talks due to take place in the autumn. But they could not come to an agreement on cheese, so they simply rolled-over the EU/Canada arrangement that existed before Brexit as a stop-gap measure. Speaking to CBC last night Mr Johnson said: 'I'm hopeful that we will be able to do a thorough-going free trade deal. Justin Trudeau is under pressure from Canadian farmers over the amount of cheese being imported from Europe. The Prime Minister used an interview with Canadian broadcaster CBC to complain that preliminary talks on a new commerce agreement had been held up by Ottawa's reluctance to increase imports. The two countries agreed an interim arrangement in November ahead of full talks due to take place in the autumn. But they could not come to an agreement on cheeses like Stilton (pictured) 'As I recall we were slightly held up by the Canadian reluctance to allow too much British cheese to tempt the palates of Canadians. 'I think what is really needed now is more affordable, high-quality British cheese in Canada and I hope that we can do a deal to allow that.' Under the terms of the agreement, the UK and Canada will continue trading under the terms as the current EU system after the Brexit transition period ends. A section specifically addressing cheese gives the two sides until June 30, 2023 to come up with a new agreement on the dairy delicacy or revert to WTO terms. Mr Johnson and Mr Trudeau are due to meet in Cornwall next week week when the UK hosts the G7. Mr Johnson told CBC he wants the upcoming Group of Seven summit to reach agreement on Covid-19 vaccine passports and to open talks on a 'world treaty'. 'We need to have agreements on issues such as vaccine passports, Covid status certification and the rest,' Johnson said in an interview broadcast on Sunday. 'There has to be some sort of agreement then, at the G7 level to start, on how travel and passports are going to work.' Johnson said it was also a bad time 'for believers in global cooperation, because the world simply became balkanized,' with many countries slow to share stocks of protective equipment, medicines and vaccines. 'We've got to do better than this,' the prime minister added. 'Vaccination has got to be a global enterprise.' He said it was crucial that developing countries receive vaccine supplies as quickly as possible. Rather than the goal set by some of vaccinating the world by 2024 or 2025, Johnson set a more ambitious target, saying, 'We need to get this done by the end of next year.' As to the debate over the origins of the pandemic - which flared up recently when President Joe Biden ordered a new intelligence report on the problem - Johnson said he still leaned to the theory that it had spread from wild animals to humans, not leaked from a Chinese laboratory. 'But,' he added, 'I'm not going to exclude any possibility.' Johnson, who himself was hospitalized last year with a serious case of Covid, has faced sharp criticism in Britain for his early handling of the pandemic there. The G7 summit will be an in-person affair. The group was set to meet last summer in the US, but Covid concerns led to the meeting's cancellation. Lebanese-American porn star Mia Khalifa has sparked fury online after mocking Israel in a tweet showing her drinking wine produced when France was occupied by the Nazis. 'My wine is older than your apartheid "state",' Khalifa wrote alongside the images. The 28-year-old, a former top-ranked performer on the adult website PornHub, has voiced her support for Palestinians on social media since cross-border violence between Israel and Gaza broke out earlier this month. The 11-day conflict between Israel and Palestinian political and military group Hamas saw at least 242 people killed in Gaza and 13 in Israel. Khalifa's latest post drew backlash when Twitter users noticed the label on the wine bottles in front of her. Lebanese-US porn star Mia Khalifa has stirred controversy online for a pro-Palestine tweet alongside pictures of her drinking wine Khalifa has voiced her support for Palestinians on social media since cross-border violence between Israel and Gaza broke out earlier this month 'My wine is older than your apartheid 'state'', she wrote alongside the images One of the bottles in front of Khalifa was dated 1943 and contained champagne produced in Nazi-occupied France. Jewish Twitter user Hen Mazzig wrote: 'Youre drinking wine made in 1943 Nazi-occupied France, while denying thousands of years of Jewish history in our ancestral homeland. Glad you found the perfect pairing for your antisemitism!' Commercial Litigator Akiav Cohen tweeted: 'Owning the Jewish state by proudly drinking wine from Vichy France. About right, yes. By the way, it's also older than Pakistan. Algeria. Benin. Botswana... So what's your point, Mia?' Other critics took issue with Khalifa's caption, with Dispatch editor-in-chief Jonah Goldberg tweeting: 'I love how Israel haters cast It as young. 'Yes the modern state of Israel was founded in '48 but that's 10 years Iraq's founding and five before Egypt's. The of Israel (and Egypt) are old.' Investigative journalist David Collier tweeted: 'These viral "my gran is older than Israel" type tweets are rather amusing. A sneeze may only exist for a second - but this is still a second longer than any Palestinian state has ever been in existence.' British commentator Darren Grimes wrote: 'She should try drinking that wine in Gaza and see how fast she flees to Tel Aviv.' Khalifa's latest post drew backlash when Twitter users noticed the label on the wine bottles in front of her Khalifa's latest post drew backlash when Twitter users noticed the label on the wine bottles in front of her 'Your sh***y group of terrorists has never won a war in the entire time that bottle of wine existed,' tweeted Townhall.com columnist Kurt Schlichter. 'Wine is illegal in Gaza,' tweeted associate editor of Tablet Magazine Noam Blum. Another twitter user wrote: 'Israel is the only country in the middle East where you wouldn't be stoned to death in the street.' Khalifa responded to the user and said: 'I'll take my chances in Saudi and Syria, that "born in: Lebanon" on my passport wouldnt go over well in "Israel".' Another user, referencing Khalifi former career as a porn star, tweeted: 'Alot of talk for someone whos b*** h**e is one google search away.' Khalifa hit out at the user and said: 'Sos the killing of Palestinian children by Israeli defense forces. Both are in 4K.' Khalifa's latest tweet drew criticism online, with Dispatch editor-in-chief Jonah Goldberg commenting: 'I love how Israel haters cast It as young. Yes the modern state of Israel was founded in '48 but that's 10 years Iraq's founding and five before Egypt's. The of Israel (and Egypt) are old' Khalifa, who is one of PornHub's most popular stars, is no stranger to standing up for her political beliefs and has previously spoken out on Instagram and Twitter after India cut off the internet for the protesters. In February, she joined Rihanna, Greta Thunberg and Kamala Harris's niece in drawing attention to the massive demonstrations led by farmers who fear that new reforms will favour big businesses to the detriment of smaller producers. Khalifa wrote on an Instagram Story: 'India has cut internet around New Delhi amidst a farmers protest, what the f*** is going on?' She then said on Twitter, taking aim at people who have doubted the legitimacy of the protests: '"Paid actors," huh? Quite the casting director, I hope they're not overlooked during awards season. I stand with the farmers. #FarmersProtest.' Her tweet was slammed as 'irresponsible' by Indian authorities who accused 'foreign individuals' and celebrities of 'sensationalism'. Khalifa revealed in 2018 that death threats from ISIS made her quit the adult industry. Mia Khalifa is one of PornHub's most popular stars and is no stranger to voicing her political beliefs online In February, she joined Rihanna, Greta Thunberg and Kamala Harris's niece in drawing attention to the massive demonstrations led by farmers who fear that new reforms will favour big businesses to the detriment of smaller producers The history graduate said she began to receive death threats from ISIS in 2017 and revealed they were the reason why she stopped working in porn. Khalifa, who now has an account for the adult Only Fans site, said at the time: 'It all started to spiral out of control when the death threats from ISIS started coming in. That's when I stepped away.' 'As soon as I started to gain popularity that's when I was like "get the f*** out of this". 'This was not what I was trying to do whatsoever. I just wanted to let loose and rebel a little bit.' Many took issue with a scene from one of her videos showing her having sex while wearing a hijab, part of traditional female Muslim dress. Khalifa - who comes from a Christian family - told The Washington Post in 2015 that she was surprised this scene in particular caused anger and was meant to be satirical. 'There are Hollywood movies that depict Muslims in a much worse manner than any scene Bang Bros [the company who made the video] could produce.' A bomb threat has forced a Ryanair passenger plane travelling from Dublin to Krakow to make an emergency landing in Berlin. The incident comes a week after a Ryanair flight was forced to divert to Belarus, with a passenger - a dissident journalist - arrested on arrival. Polish police said Monday they were investigating a fake bomb threat that forced a Ryanair passenger plane travelling from Dublin to Krakow to make an emergency landing in Berlin. 'We were notified by the Krakow airport that an airport employee received a phone call saying an explosive device had been planted on the plane,' said regional police spokesman, Sebastian Glen. 'German police checked and there was no device, no bomb threat at all. So we know this was a false alarm,' he told AFP. 'The perpetrator has not been detained, but we are doing everything possible to establish their identity,' Glen added, saying the person faces eight years in prison. Federal police inspect a Ryanair aircraft after the unscheduled landing of the plane at the Berlin International Airport in Schoenefeld, Berlin Polish police said Monday they were investigating a fake bomb threat that forced the Ryanair passenger plane travelling from Dublin to Krakow to make an emergency landing in Berlin Russia has vowed to defend Belarus if the EU imposes economic sanctions over the grounding of a Ryanair plane and arrest of a dissident blogger. Pictured: Vladimir Putin with Alexander Lukashenko during a boat trip on Saturday With 160 people on board, the flight arrived at the Berlin-Brandenburg airport shortly after 8:00 pm (1800 GMT) Sunday. The passengers were later transferred onto another plane which took off early Monday morning. German police said that officers had completed their security checks 'without any danger being detected'. The flight was emptied with the baggage also searched, German media reported. 'The Ryanair plane that made an emergency landed reported an air emergency and was therefore immediately given a landing permit at BER,' airport spokesman Jan-Peter Haack told Bild. It comes as Russia has vowed to defend Belarus if the EU imposes economic sanctions over the grounding of a Ryanair plane and arrest of a dissident blogger. Many European nations have imposed flight bans on Belarusian aviation over the forced landing of the flight on May 23, and the EU is weighing further sanctions. Alexander Lukashenko ordered the hijacking of the plane as it crossed Belarusian airspace so he could arrest dissident blogger Roman Protasevich and girlfriend Sofia Sapega. Vladimir Putin is the only world leader to defend Lukashenko over the hijacking. In a separate incident, On Friday, the EU offered to give 2.8billion to Belarus if Lukashenko steps aside and the country peacefully transitions to democracy. Belarus's leading opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said on Monday that Protasevich had been beaten and tortured in jail. A lawyer who visited him and his girlfriend said he was fine, 'but it's doubtful, because for sure he was tortured, for sure he was beaten', she told reporters at a news conference in Tallinn. Tsikhanouskaya offered no evidence for her assertion, though Protasevich's family has also said a video of him from detention showed signs of torture. Roman Protasevich (left), a journalist who reported on protests against Lukashenko, and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega (right) have been in jail in Minsk Lukashenko ordered a Ryanair flight to divert to Minsk so he could arrest a dissident journalist and his girlfriend who were on board (pictured) Belarus denies abusing detainees. Sapega, a Russian citizen, will face trial in Belarus, the country's foreign minister announced today. Vladimir Makei told Russia's Kommersant: 'Most likely, [Sapega's] trial will take place in Belarus, given that all the information about the subversive activities of certain individuals came into our structures.' She faces three criminal charges for organising violations of public order, organising mass unrest and inciting hatred, each of whic crries sentences of up to 15 years in prison. Putin on Saturday raised the topic of Sapega, the TASS news agency reported, citing Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov. 'President Lukashenko informed his Russian colleague in detail about what happened with the Ryanair flight,' TASS cited Peskov as saying. 'On the initiative of the Russian president the topic of the Russian citizen, who was detained, was raised .... Naturally, we are not indifferent to her fate,' Peskov was cited as saying. He added the Kremlin would take note of the fact that Sapega also has a Belarusian residency permit. It come as another Ryanair passenger plane made an emergency landing in Berlin before resuming its journey to Poland, German police said late Sunday without releasing further details. The flight from Dublin to Krakow made the unexpected diversion after a reported bomb threat, German newspaper Bild Zeitung said. Vladimir Putin and Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko greeted one another with a warm embrace during a yacht tour in Sochi With 160 people on board, the flight arrived at the Berlin-Brandenburg airport shortly after 8 pm (1800 GMT) Sunday, remaining on the tarmac into early Monday morning. A Berlin police spokesperson said that officers had completed their security checks 'without any danger being detected'. 'The passengers will resume their journey to Poland on board a spare aeroplane,' she told AFP, without giving more precise details for the alert. The flight was emptied with the baggage also searched, German media reported. 'The Ryanair plane that made an emergency landed reported an air emergency and was therefore immediately given a landing permit at BER,' airport spokesman Jan-Peter Haack told Bild. 'The aircraft is currently in a safe position,' a spokeswoman for the police told the newspaper. Ursula von der Leyen (right) has offered 2.8bn in development funding to Belarus if Alexander Lukashenko (left) steps aside and the country transitions to democracy Many observers warn that Lukashenko has become easy prey for the Kremlin, which may use his isolation to push for closer integration. 'Lukashenko is scared, and the Kremlin may demand payment for its political support by pushing for the introduction of a single currency, the deployment of military bases and more,' said Valery Karbalevich, an independent Minsk-based analyst. 'In this situation, it would be much more difficult for him to resist and bargain with Putin.' Moscow has helped buttress Belarus' economy with cheap energy supplies and loans, but the ties have often been strained with Lukashenko scolding Moscow for trying to force him to relinquish control over prized economic assets and eventually abandon Belarus' independence. In the past, the 66-year-old Belarusian leader has tried to play the West against Russia, raising the prospect of a rapprochement with the EU and the United States to wring more aid out of Moscow. Such tactics no longer work after Lukashenko's brutal crackdown on protests last fall in the wake of a vote that handed him a sixth term but opposition said was rigged. More than 35,000 people were arrested amid the protests and thousands beaten - moves that made him a pariah in the West. The flight's diversion has now cornered the Belarusian strongman even more. Some in the West have alleged Russia was involved in the Ryanair flight's diversion - something Moscow angrily denies - and warned that it could exploit the situation to draw Belarus ever closer and possibly even incorporate it. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis charged Thursday that 'Lukashenko is playing with Putin, and trying and helping Putin to annex the country,' adding that 'we should send the signals to Russia as well that annexation wouldn't go well with Europe.' On Friday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the EU's decision to ask European airlines to avoid Belarusian airspace as 'utterly irresponsible and threatening passengers' safety.' The female student detained on a Ryanair flight on the orders of Belarus dictator Alexander Lukshenko has been condemned to guilt even before her trial, says her father. But he hopes Vladimir Putin's interest in the case means her KGB jailers 'will not dare' to torture 23-year-old student Sofia Sapega. A closed-door court in Minsk on Monday rejected her lawyer's demand to free the Russian woman and ruled she should remain in a secret service detention prison that is notorious for the torture of political detainees. Her father Andrey Sapega, 53, said today that he fears for his daughter as she prepares to be charged. Sofia Sapega, the female student detained on a Ryanair flight on the orders of Belarus dictator Alexander Lukshenko has been condemned to guilt even before her trial, says her father 'She is completely in their power,' he said. 'I don't even want to think what could happen to her. 'I hope for the protection of the Russian Federation. I am sure that only the earliest possible extradition of Sofia to Russia can ensure her safety and a fair investigation.' Her boyfriend, opposition journalist Roman Protasevich, 26, also detained on the Ryanair tourist plane forced down by Lukashenko's MiG-29 warplane - has been moved to the same harsh KGB prison where she is held. His family and associates believe he has been physically tortured into confessing to the KGB. Belarus foreign minister Vladimir Makei made clear that the trial Sofia Sapega faces is expected to find her guilty - even though no evidence has yet been heard. 'The head of state (Lukashenko) may make a decision to pardon her or to transfer her to serve her sentence in Russia. We need to wait,' he said. The minister's statement gave no option that she could be found innocent. 'All this applies to a citizen of the Russian Federation, who has not even been charged yet,' complained her father. 'This once again shows that Sofia simply does not have a single chance for a fair and public hearing of her case and an impartial trial.' Sofia was allowed to call her mother, he said, and assured her that 'no illegal methods of pressure were used against her'. He said he hopes that because Putin in talks with Lukashenko 'made it clear that he was interested and worried about the fate of my daughter' that she would not face torture even if she is unfairly convicted. 'I don't think people will ignore this,' he said. 'I don't think that in the future anyone will dare to (hurt her).' He said she was in 'love' with Protasevich but not a political activist. 'Before meeting with Roman, she was just a final year student who had never participated in any protests, had no interest in politics.' Protasevich is the ex-editor-in-chief of the Nexta Telegram channel, designated as extremist in Belarus. Belarus's leading opposition politician, exiled Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, said today that Protasevich had been tortured before making a confessional video. She said in Tallinn: 'For sure he was tortured, for sure he was beaten.' Ministers have slammed 'silly' King's College London while its alumni have suggested withdrawing funding after the university apologised for causing 'harm' by sending staff a photo of Prince Philip opening one of its libraries. Left-wingers reacted angrily to an email bulletin they received after the Duke of Edinburgh's death in April which featured an image of him opening the Maughan Library with the Queen back in 2002. The complaints against the late duke - who was made Life Governor of the institution in 1995 - refer to his 'history of racist and sexist comments'. Following weeks of simmering tensions, Joleen Clarke, the associate director at King's College libraries, sent out an extraordinary apology for the 'harm' caused by including the photo in her email. But King's College's apology has since caused its own backlash, including among free speech campaigners and MPs. Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland Secretary and himself a King's College alumni, tweeted: 'This is beyond silly. As an alumni myself, I'm embarrassed about this. 'HRH was an amazing public servant & this reaction by the University, to a very fair message, is beyond parody.' Foreign Office minister James Cleverly retweeted the reports of the apology, adding: 'This is just getting silly now.' On social media, alumni have also suggested suspending their donations in protest at the university's decision to apologise. Anna Robinson said she agreed with Mr Lewis and would now cancel a monthly donation to the institution, branding the apology 'utter nonsense'. Another graduate, known only as DP, said: 'Being an alumnus and a donor I am beginning to wonder whether I should be giving money to the college when people like this are in positions of power.' Left-wingers working at King's College London reacted angrily to an email bulletin they received after the Duke's death in April, featuring a photograph of him opening the university's Maughan Library with the Queen in 2002 The apology by King's College has since caused its own wave of backlash, including from free speech campaigners and MPs Tory MP Sir John Hayes added that the college had found itself 'at the extreme end of the spectrum when it comes to inhibiting free speech'. 'We need to flush out people in our universities who are determined with an almost Maoist zeal to close minds in places which ought to be bastions of free and open debate,' he added. In Ms Clarke's apologetic response last week, she suggested that the picture had been 'included as a historical reference point following his death,' but this was not in any way 'intended to commemorate him'. The college's head of partnership and liaison, Vanessa Farrier (pictured) 'Through feedback and subsequent conversations, we have come to realise the harm that this caused members of our community, because of his history of racist and sexist comments. 'We are sorry to have caused this harm.' Following the duke's death, aged 99, the university's interim principal, Professor Evelyn Welch, issued a public statement praising his 'long and valued association with King's'. But internally there was outrage from the university's Anti-Racism Community of Practice over Ms Clarke's email, which accompanied the photo with the explanation: 'As the nation marks the death of HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, we thought you might like to see this photo of the Duke at the official opening of the Maughan Library in 2002, which some colleagues will remember.' Those angered by the message include the college's head of partnership and liaison, Vanessa Farrier, who was appointed in a new role last June to 'decolonise' the library's collection following Black Lives Matter protests. The university's anti-racism group complained of 'harm' caused by the email because the Prince had made a number of racist and sexist comments during his lifetime. He infamously referred to 'slitty eyes' during a 1986 trip to China, and in 1961 he complained that 'British women can't cook'. Free speech campaigners and MPs last night condemned the apology, labelling it the latest example of a 'cancel culture' by woke activists on university campuses. Royal experts insisted it was wrong to accuse the Prince of being racist or sexist. pictured, the Duke with the Queen A source claimed Ms Clarke had been 'made to account for herself in a kangaroo court' by colleagues, despite having played an active role in the university's anti-racism programme. Rubbishing accusations that the Duke was racist, Royal expert Hugo Vickers said: 'Prince Philip and the Queen have spent their whole lives in service helping the Commonwealth. 'He may have said things at certain times to get a rise out of people, but he was the least racist person. In fact, he was very engaged in questions of equality and multi-racial societies going back to the 1950s. 'I don't think these people at King's College know what they are talking about, frankly.' Toby Young, of the Free Speech Union, said: 'The irony is that if it wasn't for people like Prince Philip putting their lives on the line to defend liberty and democracy, university lecturers wouldn't now enjoy the freedom to attack people like him. 'When a war hero dies, shouldn't these republican firebrands just say 'Thank you for your service', and save the political point-scoring for another day?' King's College London said: 'As we previously highlighted in an official university statement, Prince Philip had a long and valued association with King's.' Dr Rakib Ehsan, an academic researcher who has focused discrimination and social relations among ethnic minorities said: 'King's College London apologising to its staff - grown adults - who have supposedly suffered 'harm' after being sent an image of Prince Philip. 'Being oversensitive and itching to be outraged are dominant features of the modern-Left intelligentsia. A pathetic state of affairs.' Cultural commentator Emma Webb told MailOnline: 'The Duke of Edinburgh was the longest serving consort in British history, a war hero - from another country - who chose to fight for us against Fascism in Europe. 'Particularly given his involvement with the university, the suggestion that including a photo of him in such an innocuous and respectful email constitutes 'harm' and warrants an apology is the latest example of an unreasonable and oversensitive climate that has developed. 'People will be walking on eggshells, unsure of where the next tripwire might be.' A British man accused of murdering a Thai prostitute in 2014 before fleeing to Ibiza has lost an extradition battle and will face trial in Bangkok. Shane Looker, 51, from Stoke-on-Trent, allegedly murdered strip club dancer Laxami Manochat, 31, before stuffing her body into a suitcase. Her remains were found a week after her disappearance in a river 95 miles away in Kanchanaburi province. Shane Looker (left), who is accused of murdering Thai prostitute Laxami Manochat (right) in 2014 before fleeing to Ibiza, has lost an extradition battle and will face trial in Bangkok Her remains were found in a suitcase (pictured) a week after her disappearance in a river 95 miles away in Kanchanaburi province Looker was arrested in Ibiza in 2017 where he is said to own a hotel and his legal team have since been fighting extradition. The Spanish High Court ruled he should be extradited but lawyers lodged a series of appeals. The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has now ruled that Looker should face justice in Thailand. They cited extensive case files submitted by the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok which allegedly prove that Looker was the man who had murdered Laxami. Thai authorities have also reportedly offered assurances required under EU law that Looker will not face the death penalty or be mistreated. The dancer's body was stuffed inside a suitcase and thrown into the Mae Kong River Looker (pictured on CCTV on the night of Manochat's disappearance) was arrested in Ibiza in 2017 where he is said to own a hotel The tourist was at the Hot Lips bar in Nana Plaza, an area that attracts hundreds of foreign men every night in search of alcohol and sex, at the time of Laxami's death. After he was named as a suspect, Looker admitted paying a bar in Bangkok's red-light area to spend time with her. But speaking in February 2015 he insisted he did not kill her and was preparing to hand himself in to police. He said at the time: 'Yes, I did know her. I'm happy to accept that I spent time with her. 'She is a bar girl that I knew previously and I accept that I paid the bar fine. There is no way in the world that I'd ever hurt any woman let alone kill her.' The tourist was at the Hot Lips bar in Nana Plaza, an area that attracts hundreds of foreign men every night in search of alcohol and sex, at the time of Laxami's death The dancer's body and clothes were found on November 9, 2014, seven days after Looker was last seen with her The dancer's body was stuffed inside a suitcase and thrown into the Mae Kong River in Kanchanaburi, 70 miles south of the Thai capital Bangkok. It was found on November 9, 2014, seven days after Looker was last seen the prostitute. Looker's identity remained a mystery until a tip-off to Thai blog Stickboy which gave his full name, nationality and an address in Hua Hin, 90 miles south of Bangkok, along with a photo of his passport. He had already left by the time police received the information and went to the address with a search warrant. The suitcase was thrown into the Mae Kong River in Kanchanaburi, 70 miles south of the Thai capital Bangkok The shorts and T-shirt he was wearing when he was captured on CCTV with Miss Manochat were found at the property. According to reports in Thailand, DNA tests on nail clippers and a toothbrush and skin under the dancer's nails also link him as a suspect. Miss Manochat was reported missing after her mother failed to receive money she regularly sent by Western Union transfer. Ruling on the case, top EU judges slammed allegedly deliberate attempts by Looker's legal team to delay the case through a series of appeals. The court claimed Looker's could not succeed on the basis of 'failure to exhaust domestic remedies'. 'The applicant knew that he could have lodged an appeal for Amparo against the judicial decision of the Spanish High Court during the extradition process,' it declared. Dozens of leading Hong Kong democracy activists could face up to life in prison for organising an unofficial primary election, prosecutors have confirmed, in the most sweeping use yet of Beijing's strict new security law. Police charged the 47 activists with 'subversion' after they organised a non-binding vote last year to choose candidates for an ultimately postponed local election. The defendants say they were simply taking part in opposition politics. Police stand guard outside the West Kowloon Law Courts Buildings in Hong Kong, China, on Monday Helena Wong, left, one of the 47 pro-democracy activists who were charged with conspiracy to commit subversion is surrounded by photographers outside a court in Hong Kong, Monday, May 31 6 Pro-democracy activist Sze Tak-loy arrives the West Kowloon Law Courts Buildings in Hong Kong, China, on Monday. Sze is one of 47 pro-democracy figures charged under the Beijing-imposed national security law for subverting state power for participating in an unofficial primary in 2020 to choose pro-democracy candidates for the since-postponed legislative election But authorities accused them of a 'vicious plot' to subvert the government by seeking a majority in the city's partially-elected legislature. On Monday the defendants appeared en masse for the first time in nearly three months at a hearing in which a judge granted a request by prosecutors to have the case upgraded to the city's High Court. Offences heard in that court start at seven years imprisonment for those who are convicted. The maximum penalty under the new security law is life in prison. Pro-democracy activist Lee Yue-shun leaves the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on bail over charges related to the national security law in Hong Kong, China Beijing has moved to quash dissent in the semi-autonomous city after huge and sometimes violent pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019. The security law criminalises anything authorities deem to be subversion, secession, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces. Police and prosecutors have since applied the law broadly with the vast majority of those charged for political speech. Under the new law - which Beijing imposed directly on the city last June - defendants may only be granted bail if they can persuade a court they no longer pose any kind of national security risk. Pro-democracy activist Cheng Tat-hung leaves the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on bail over charges related to the national security law in Hong Kong Pro-democracy activist Chan Po-ying wife of Leung Kwok-hung, better known 'Long Hair', arrives at the West Kowloon Law Courts Buildings in Hong Kong, China on Monday That clause has removed Hong Kong's common law tradition that maintains a presumption of bail for non-violent crimes. Monday's proceedings were the first time the public was able to see most of the defendants since early March when the vast majority - 36 - were denied bail at a mammoth hearing. That hearing dragged on for so many days that some of those in the dock collapsed from exhaustion. Bail decisions published since that hearing have revealed that judges are deciding whether some of those in custody still pose a potential security risk. People raise their hands to support the 47 pro-democracy activists who were charged with conspiracy to commit subversion outside a court in Hong Kong Monday, May 31. The activists charged with conspiracy to commit subversion over their participation in an unofficial primary election held last year appeared in court Monday for a court mention Claudia Mo, a former lawmaker, was denied bail partly because of WhatsApp messages with foreign journalists in which she commented on news and political events. Another former lawmaker Jeremy Tam saw his application turned down in part because the United States consulate invited him by email for a 'catch up' - even though the email went unanswered. In both instances judges argued the fact that the two defendants remained influential meant denial of bail was needed. China says the national security law is needed to restore stability. Critics say it has eviscerated the freedoms Hong Kong was promised ahead of its handover and has rapidly begun to change city's vaunted, business reliable common law traditions. Queensland's politicians are in line for a pay rise after a tribunal found the economy is strong enough to deal with the additional cost. MPs will be earning significantly more by September 2022, under a series of increases recommended by the Queensland Independent Remuneration Tribunal. The tribunal said Queensland politicians haven't had a raise since 2017, putting their salaries behind those enjoyed by counterparts interstate. Queensland's politicians including Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) are in line for a pay rise after a tribunal found the economy is strong enough to deal with the additional cost 'Since the tribunal considered salary levels in 2020, the economic and social circumstances have stabilised to the extent that a salary increase is now justified for members,' it found. The base and additional salary rates for members will be increased by 2 per cent from September 1 this year. They will rise again by 2.25 per cent from March 1 next year, and then 2.5 per cent from September 1 next year. A Hollywood location manager who killed a grandmother in a drink and drug car smash has complained that 'it's horrid' in prison because it's 'full of drunks and drug addicts'. Umberto Schramm, 37, worked on Wonder Woman and Rocketman before he was jailed for six years in November last year after killing 70-year-old Francis Filby. The court heard how he was driving on the wrong side of the road, when he smashed head on into Ms Filby's Ford Fiesta while driving in Elstead in Surrey. Kingston Crown Court heard how the 37-year-old, who also worked on Bohemian Rhapsody, was driving his powerful Mitsubishi Outlander while twice the drink drive limit and high on cocaine on May 31 2019. The grandmother-of-seven was rushed to hospital, but died the day after the crash. In November last year, Schramm, of Wembley, North London, admitted causing death by dangerous driving while under the influence of drink, and causing death by careless driving while under the influence of cocaine. and was jailed for six years. Writing in the latest edition of lags' mag Inside Time, however, the German-born killer - who graduated with a degree in psychology from Queen Mary University of London in 2013 - said jail was like a 'human warehouse' and full of 'drunks' and 'drug addicts'. Umberto Schramm, 37, was jailed for six years in November last year after killing 70-year-old Francis Filby He said: 'I had never been to prison before, so I didn't know what to expect when I arrived at HMP Wandsworth last November. 'There was no induction, not even a booklet in the cell to explain how prison works. Due to the pandemic the prison was in lockdown, which means over 23-hours per day lock-up, exercise once a week for 25 minutes, no library, no gym, no workshops, no education except in-cell packs. 'You can't get a parcel sent in or dropped off, if you got a family member to order a book via Amazon it would sit down in reception with your property for at least three weeks. 'The mattress was so old and worn that it made my back hurt, even though I am young and fit, and if your cell chair was missing there was no effort made to replace it as there weren't any. 'Nearly everyone was smoking Spice, my cellmate was even distilling a kind of vodka in our cell every night. 'When he was drunk, he wouldn't let me sleep he would get sick all over the cell, and there was nothing I could do as I didn't want to get him in trouble. 'What he needed was help, but that's not available in a prison like Wandsworth.' He said that 'luckily' he had now been moved out of category B HMP Wandsworth in London to less strict cat C HMP Highpoint in Suffolk. He said: 'Since I have been moved here to Highpoint the situation has changed drastically. Schramm worked on Hollywood movies Wonder Woman and Rocketman before he was jailed Writing in the latest edition of lags' mag Inside Time, however, the German-born killer - who also worked on Bohemian Rhapsody - said jail was like a 'human warehouse' and full of 'drunks' and 'drug addicts' 'I'm in a single cell, there is green spaces, we get 2 hours exercise a day. The reason this is possible here is because 100 prisoners occupy the same amount of space allowed to 500 prisoners at Wandsworth. 'I understand the need to keep people safe during lockdown but at what cost? 'The reason Wandsworth isn't able to work a humane regime during lockdown is because it is a prison designed to hold 800 people which now holds 1,600, and it has half the staff that are needed. 'Prisons such as this should simply not exist in a country as wealthy as the UK.' Judge Stephen John told Schramm 'You deprived a loving family of their mother and grandmother. 'This lady would be alive today if you had not behaved in such a criminally irresponsible manner. You took a wholly unnecessary risk and caused a wholly avoidable accident.' A 37-year-old mother and her three children have been killed after their car crashed into an Alabama lake on the way to a high school graduation party. April Whatley and her children - Mariah Towns, 18; Reginald J. White, 5; and Rosalyn White, 2 - all died when their car veered off an interstate and plunged into the Logan Martin Lake just outside of Birmingham on Saturday night. Whatley's husband and the father of the two younger children, 39-year-old Reginald White, was the only survivor. Police say Whatley was behind the wheel of the 2012 Buick Enclave when she veered off Interstate 20 into the median. April Whatley, 37, and her children - Mariah Towns, 18; Reginald J. White, 5; and Rosalyn White, 2 - all died in the crash near Birmingham on Saturday night. Whatley's husband and the father of the two younger children, 39-year-old Reginald White, was the only survivor They believe the car traveled between the guard rails briefly before crashing into the lake at about 11pm. Authorities are still investigating what caused Whatley to veer off the road. First responders found the father standing on top of the submerged car as he tried to free his family members. Whatley and her three children were all pronounced dead at the scene. White was taken to the University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital to be treated for his injuries but his condition was not immediately known. The family had been traveling to Atlanta, Georgia for the holiday weekend after Mariah graduated from Minor High School in Adamsville last week. They were en route to a graduation party for Mariah. The teenager had then planned to leave from Atlanta for a graduation trip. Police say Whatley was behind the wheel of the 2012 Buick Enclave when she veered off Interstate 20 into the median. They believe the car traveled between the guard rails briefly before crashing into the lake at about 11pm Authorities are still investigating what caused Whatley to veer off the road. Whatley and her three children were all pronounced dead at the scene White's cousin LaSondra Rowel said the crash was the 'most tragic event to happen' to their family. 'I can't describe what my family is going through right now,' she told The Birmingham News. Rowel described Whatley as a devoted wife and mother. 'She loved her kids, and she loved my cousin,' she said. Rowel said Mariah was 'always smiling', RJ had just graduated from a charter prep school and Rosalyn had just been learning to walk. The family have since set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the funeral costs for the four family members. Mariah's high school is also planning a vigil this week for the teenager. 'We are heartbroken over this tragedy,' Jefferson County Schools spokesman John Huddleston said. Republican Texas Rep. Mike McCaul believes it's 'more likely than not' COVID came from the Wuhan lab and has accused China of the 'worst cover-up in human history'. McCaul told CNN's State of the Union that President Biden's investigation was 'long overdue' but fears it may turn up nothing because scientists have 'destroyed everything at the lab. He also called for the US to stop buying medical products from China as members of both the Democrats and Republicans called for a congressional investigation into the origins of COVID. 'If we can pull these chains out of China, it will hurt them economically,' McCaul said. 'And that would be very punitive in nature.' The Senate has already adopted a measure from Republican Joni Ernst that would prohibit U.S. funding from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb also said Sunday that accidental lab leaks 'happen all the time'. Republican Texas Rep. Mike McCaul believes it's 'more likely than not' COVID came from the Wuhan lab and has accused China of the 'worst cover-up in human history' COVID patients fill the Wuhan Fang Cang makeshift hospital in February 2020. Last week it was revealed that lab workers had tested positive for the virus in 2019 'Even here in the United States, we've had mishaps, and in China, the last six known outbreaks of SARS-1 have been out of labs, including the last known outbreak, which was a pretty extensive outbreak that China initially wouldn't disclose that it came out of a lab, ' he told CBS' Face the Nation. Matthew Pottinger, President Donald Trump's former deputy national security adviser who said in January 2020 that the virus leak was the most likely explanation, insisted that it is key for the US to get answers. 'It could have emerged from a laboratory. It could have emerged from nature,' he said on NBC's Meet the Press' 'Both of those are valid, neither of them is supported by concrete evidence, but there's, there's a growing amount of circumstantial evidence, in particular, supporting the idea that this may have leaked from the laboratory.' Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who served as then-President Trump's FDA commission from 2017 until 2019, said on Sunday that the likelihood COVID-19 originated in a lab is growing while the odds that the coronavirus was transmitted from animals to humans grow longer Gottlieb says China has key data that could shed more light on whether the coronavirus accidentally leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (pictured in April 2020) Gottlieb, who served as then-President Trump's FDA commission from 2017 until 2019, also told CBS News that evidence that the virus came from the lab is expanding. 'And a side of the ledger that suggests that this could have come from a zoonotic source, come out of nature, really hasn't budged.' Gottlieb said that there is enough evidence to rule out the earlier theory that coronavirus originated from a 'wet market' in Wuhan. Gottlieb added: 'And if anything, you can argue that that side of the ledger has contracted because we've done an exhaustive search for the so-called intermediate host, the animal that could have been exposed to this virus before it spread to humans. 'We have not found such an animal.' Once dismissed as a fringe conspiracy theory promoted by the Trump administration, mainstream media has reversed itself in recent weeks as circumstantial evidence has surfaced indicating that it is possible coronavirus accidentally leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that lab technicians at the facility mysteriously fell ill with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 as far back as November 2019 - just weeks before the virus began to spread in earnest in China. The Chinese government did not officially report its first case of coronavirus until December 2019. In the initial stages of the pandemic, it was speculated that the virus may have been spread from animals sold at a local 'wet market' in Wuhan. But Gottlieb told CBS News on SUnday that this theory has now been 'fully disproven.' He said that China holds the key to understanding the origins of the virus. The government could provide evidence like blood samples of the lab technicians who fell ill as well as original source strains and early samples of the virus. 'If we assess that there is a probability or a possibility that this came out of a lab, it's going to affect how we respond to this,' he said. 'We're going to need to focus on trying to get better controls in this sort of high-risk research going forward and get better controls over these BSL-4, these high security labs that conduct this research.' 'BSL-4' is the highest biosafety level of containment for a laboratory. Gottlieb said that lab leaks aren't rare and that 'mishaps' have occurred - even in the United States. Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that lab technicians at the facility mysteriously fell ill with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 as far back as November 2019 - just weeks before the virus began to spread in earnest in China. The Chinese government did not officially report its first case of coronavirus until December 2019. The image above from the lab in Wuhan was taken in February 2017 He said getting to the bottom of what caused the pandemic is important since 'we need to also look at public health through the lens of national security.' 'This was an asymmetric harm to the United States,' Gottlieb said. 'COVID hurt the U.S. a lot more than it hurt many other countries.' The former FDA commissioner warns the public may not ever know how the virus spread. 'We may never really determine with precision whether or not this came out of a lab,' he said. 'I think what we're likely to end up with is an assessment, a probability, unless we get very lucky and we either find the intermediate host, we find a colony of civet cats or pangolins where this is epidemic and it could have first spilled over into humans, or we have a whistleblower in China or regime change, which we're not going to have. 'I don't know that we're going to find out with certainty that this came out of a lab.' Biden orders 'unexamined evidence' that could show coronavirus leaked from China lab to be crunched by supercomputers at 17 elite research facilities President Joe Biden has ordered the government's leading research laboratories to join the search for the true origins of the COVID-19 pandemic by sifting through a massive trove of previously unexamined data, according to new reports. Biden on Wednesday ordered the 17 National Labs run by the Department of Energy to assist the intelligence community in a 90-day sprint to examine whether the virus leaked from a lab in China. The labs have been tapped 'because of their ability to crunch massive amounts of data' with their advanced supercomputers, a White House official told CNN. The government is not revealing exactly what kind of data is being submitted for analysis, but experts say it is likely previously gathered intelligence such as signal intercepts or biological evidence. Intelligence agencies regularly collect more raw data than their analysts are able to effectively pore through, and the application of advanced algorithms to seek patterns in the massive data set could offer new breakthroughs. President Joe Biden has ordered the government's premiere research laboratories to join the search for the true origins of the COVID-19 pandemic Equipment is seen at Livermore National Laboratory in California, one of the 17 National Laboratories to been called in to assist intelligence agencies in crunching data 'We want the science to be a big part of this,' the White House official told CNN. 'We are going to use the full resources of our intelligence and scientific community to try to get to the bottom of this.' Biden is also urging U.S. intelligence agencies and those of allies to hunt for new information that could shed light on whether China covered up a lab leak. Senator Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, said the Biden administration's response was 'better late than never, but far from adequate.' 'Our intelligence community has been looking at this now for 15 months. They've done good work on it, but in the end the answer lies in the hands of Chinese communists, not people working for American intelligence agencies,' he told the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Cotton said that officials in Beijing have not been forthcoming about how the pandemic began. 'We should be insisting that they come clean, that they provide us a clear and unvarnished look at what was happening in the Wuhan labs,' he said. Circumstantial evidence has long raised questions about the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where researchers were known to be conducting experiments on bat coronavirus strains similar to the one responsible for COVID-19. China insisted early and often that the virus did not leak from the lab, claiming that crossover to humans must have occurred at a 'wet market' in Wuhan that sold live animals. Perhaps driven by animosity for Donald Trump, who embraced the lab leak theory early on, the mainstream U.S. media and academics heaped scorn on the possibility, calling it an unhinged conspiracy theory. But new evidence, including reports of three workers at the Wuhan lab who fell seriously ill with COVID-like symptoms in November 2019, has forced a sober reassessment among doubters. Frustration with China increased this week after Beijing said that it would not participate in any further investigations by the World Health Organization. Researchers are seen at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Biden's new 90-day probe will examine whether evidence supports the lab leak theory of the pandemic Circumstantial evidence has long raised questions about the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where researchers were known to be conducting experiments on bat coronavirus strains Biden rebuked China in his announcement of the new intelligence review, calling on allies to help 'press China to participate in a full, transparent, evidence-based international investigation and to provide access to all relevant data and evidence.' UK intelligence agencies are assisting in Biden's new 90-day intelligence review, a senior Whitehall security source told The Telegraph. The source told the publication: 'We are contributing what intelligence we have on Wuhan, as well as offering to help the American to corroborate and analyze any intelligence they have that we can assist with.' British intelligence agencies have generally been skeptical of the lab leak theory, while Australia's spies have been more open to it. While Britain and Australia already share intelligence with the U.S. as part of the Five Eyes partnership, Biden's new probe could prod them to redouble their focus on sharing evidence related to a possible lab leak. Meanwhile, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise and more than 200 of his GOP colleagues have also called for Speaker Nancy Pelosi to direct her Democrat-led committees to investigate China's complicity in causing the COVID pandemic. In a letter to the Democratic House Speaker, the Republicans said there is 'mounting evidence the pandemic started in a Chinese lab' and the Chinese Communist Party 'covered it up'. 'If that is the case, the CCP is responsible for the deaths of almost 600,000 Americans and millions more worldwide. These questions about the CCP's liability are not a diversion, as you falsely claimed,' the letter reads. A mother had earlier misidentified her eight-year-old son as the victim but the boy, his half-brother and their father were all later found safe in Utah It comes after the police released an initial sketch of the victim on Saturday The boy, who is believed to be Hispanic, remains unidentified as police released a new digitally enhanced photo of the victim The body of a young Hispanic boy has been found by hikers on a trail in Nevada sparking a homicide probe. Mystery surrounds the identity of the child, thought to be between eight and 12, after his body was discovered in a forested area of Mountain Springs Trailhead near mile marker 20 on State Route 160, west of Las Vegas on Friday morning. Las Vegas cops have released a digitally enhanced picture of the homicide victim, which was provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 'We are asking teachers in particular to pay close attention to this new digitally enhanced photo,' police said in a statement. 'Detectives believe the victim is between the ages of 8 and 12, he is 4'11'' and weighs 123 pounds. Due to the location of the body, the victim may have lived in Las Vegas, Pahrump, Baker or other nearby cities,' the department said. Police also believe the boy is Hispanic. The identity of a Hispanic boy aged between eight and 12 found dead on a Nevada trail remains a mystery as police release a digitally enhanced picture of the homicide victim The victim's body was found Friday by a hiker near a southern Nevada trailhead and remains unidentified as police continue their investigations into his death It comes after the police department released an initial sketch of the victim on Saturday. A mother had earlier misidentified her eight-year-old son as the young homicide victim, police said Saturday after the boy, his older half-brother and their father were all found safe in Utah. Homicide Lt. Ray Spencer had announced that the eight-year-old boy's 'panicked mother' contacted police early that morning to say she had seen news coverage of the homicide and believed the victim was her son, who had been picked up at his home by his father Thursday night. The homicide victim was identified as the 8-year-old boy, whose name was not released, by the mother and another relative, and the mother of the half-brother told police she also believed the 8-year-old was the the boy in a sketch made from a photo of the homicide victim, Spencer said during the afternoon news conference. This image provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department shows a sketch of boy described as a Hispanic 10-year-old, standing 4 feet 11 inches and weighing 123 pounds The mother of the 8-year-old 'positively identified that child as being her son...' Spencer said, adding that she signed an identification affidavit. 'There is a very, very close resemblance when you look at those photos, the autopsy photos, and the 8-year-old child.' Because the 11-year-old half-brother's location and well-being were unknown, police announced they were looking for him and the boys' father, 37-year-old Jose Montes-Herrera, Spencer said. 'We are going to do everything we can when the safety of a child is involved. That is exactly what we did,' Spencer said. But it turned out that Montes-Herrera was with both boys in central Utah in an unspecified area without cellphone coverage, and the father was found with the help of Utah authorities, Spencer said. That produced confirmation the 8-year-old boy was alive and safe, Spencer said. 'We are still in the situation right now where we have not identified the child that was found out in Mountain Springs yesterday morning,' Spencer said, referring to the area where the boy was found near a trailhead along State Route 160 between Las Vegas and Pahrump. 'We are still scouring hundreds of tips that we are receiving and we are continuing to work around the clock,' he said. The homicide victim was discovered at around 7.45am on Friday laying near the forest area of the Mountain Springs Trailhead, police said. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene by medics The homicide victim was discovered at around 7.45am on Friday laying near the forest area of the Mountain Springs Trailhead, police said. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene by medics. Mountain Springs resident Anna Jones placed flowers and a small cross reading 'RIP Sweet Child' near where the boy's body was found on Friday afternoon, reports the Las Vegas Review Journal. 'How can you do that?' she asked. 'I just can't even think of how that could happen.' 'He is clearly the victim of a homicide,' Spencer said Friday, adding that authorities are not releasing information about injuries to the boy's body. His cause and manner of death will be released by the Clark County coroner's office. The homicide section of Las Vegas police can be reached at 702-828-3521. Tipsters who want to stay anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or go to crimetoppersofnv.com. The state of Arizona is stockpiling lethal gasses ahead of its planned resumption of executions - including the Zyklon B gas used by Nazis to kill nearly one million Jewish people at Auschwitz. Arizona's Department of Corrections has spent more than $2,000 on the ingredients for hydrogen cyanide, a deadly gas favored by the Nazis during the Holocaust, according to documents obtained by The Guardian. According to The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, 1.1 million people died at the concentration camp during World War II, including 960,000 Jews. Arizona suspended executions in 2014 after it botched the execution of Joseph Wood, who took nearly two hours to die because of an error with his dose of lethal injection. The last person to be executed in Arizona by gas was German national Walter LaGrand in 1999. LaGrand died an 'agonizing choking and gagging' death which lasted 18 minutes from the moment the gas entered the chamber, according to an eyewitness account published in the Tucson Citizen. In recent years, the state has aggressively sought new methods to execute its 115 death row inmates, including the use of experimental drugs. Newly released documents show it has been purchasing the ingredients to create the deadly cocktail of drugs necessary to carry out execution by gas poisoning. As well as the purchase of Zyklon B ingredients, it also bought a solid brick of potassium cyanide in December for $1,530, according to The Guardian. It has also spent $1.5 million on a batch of pentobarbital, which would be used to sedate inmates during the execution. The state of Arizona is preparing to resume executions at its Florence prison (pictured) - seven years after it botched the death of Joseph Wood In 1999, correctional officer Jim Robideau gave media a guided tour of the gas chamber used for for executions, colloquially called the 'Death House', at Florence Prison. The state is purchasing deadly drugs as it plans to resume executions - including the notorious Nazi gas Zyklon B This photo shows San Quentin Prison's death row gas chamber before it was dismantled in 2019 In June 1944, Hungarian Jews arrive at Auschwitz-Birkenau, in German-occupied Poland. More than 1 million Jews died at the camp, many poisoned in has chambers by Zyklon B Arizona has also been conducting tests on its mothballed gas chamber at the state prison in Florence. The 'astonishingly primitive' series of tests has included holding a candle flame up to sealed windows and doors to check if the chamber was airtight. The chamber was built in 1949 and has been out of use for 22 years, since LaGrand's execution. Joseph Wood, 55, who was shot his estranged girlfriend and her father in 1989. His 2014 execution by lethal injection was condemned as 'torture' by the late Senator John McCain Prison staff took part in role play exercises, acting as inmates resisting being taken to their death, The Guardian reported. Guards screamed phrases like: 'This is murder', 'I'm innocent', 'You're putting me down like an animal', and 'This is against everything America stands for'. In 1999, Walter LaGrand, a German national, was executed for a bungled 1982 armed bank robbery in which a man was killed. Patty Machelor, a writer with the Tucson Citizen, described LaGrand's death in macabre detail in her report published March 4, 1999. 'The execution proceeded as cyanide pellets were dropped into the acid below the chair,' she wrote. 'The witness room fell silent as a mist of gas rose, much like steam in a shower, and Walter LaGrand became enveloped in a cloud of cyanide vapor. 'He began coughing violently three or four loud hacks and then, in what appeared to be his last moments of consciousness, he made a gagging sound before falling forward at about 9:15 p.m.' German citizen Karl LaGrand, right, was executed by gas poisoning in 1999, the last person to die by that method in Arizona. His brother and accomplice Walter, left, chose to die by lethal injection after the pair carried out a bungled 1982 armed bank robbery in which a man was killed Pellets similar to the ones seen in this photo are used in a gas chamber execution. A witness to a 1999 Walter LaGrand execution said cyanide pellets were dropped into the acid below the chair The execution chamber at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence where condemned prisoners are held down before a lethal injection is administered The Arizona Department of Corrections did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com requests for comment. Of the 115 inmates currently on death row in the state, Arizona has chosen two it would like to Arizona has already selected two inmates as likely candidates to go first out of a current death row population of 115 people. Frank Atwood, 65, was sentenced to death in 1984 for the murder of an eight-year-old girl, Vicki Lynne Hoskinson, in 1984. And Clarence Dixon, 65, convicted of the 1978 murder of a college student, Deana Bowdoin. Former Arizona Senator John McCain, who was himself tortured for years while held captive in a Vietnamese prison, spoke out against the state's executions after Joseph Wood's agonizing death in 2014. Convicted murderer Wood - who gunned down his former girlfriend and her father in 1989 - was put to death at the state prison in Florence after losing a last-minute appeal. 'I believe in the death penalty for certain crimes. But that is not an acceptable way of carrying it out. And people who were responsible should be held responsible,' McCain said after Wood's agonizing 2014 death. 'The lethal injection needs to be an indeed lethal injection and not the bollocks-upped situation that just prevailed. That's torture.' The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) director of communications Judy Keane said inmates on death row would be able to choose their method of execution. 'The (ADCRR) is prepared to perform its legal obligation and commence the execution process as part of the legally imposed sentence, regardless of method selected,' Keane said in a statement. 'ADCRR stands ready, with the Arizona Attorney General's Office, to carry out court orders and deliver justice to the victims' families.' According to Arizona law, a defendant who is sentenced to death for an offense committed before November 23, 1992 can choose either lethal injection or lethal gas at least twenty days before the execution date. If the defendant fails to choose either lethal injection or lethal gas, the penalty of death shall be by lethal injection. Eurostar passengers travelling to France via Eurostar from London are being turned away for not having a 'good enough reason' after President Macron's last minute rule change. From today, Britons travelling to France must give a 'compelling reason' for their trip as the country continues to wrestle with the Indian variant. The new rules, announced last night, mean people can only travel to France for reasons such as bereavement or childcare, unless they are a French National or EU citizen. All travellers are also required to do a pre-departure Covid test 48 hours before their journey, rather than 72, and must quarantine for seven days upon arrival. But passengers today blasted Macron's last minute rule change and said he is 'forgetting people's reality' and making a 'political move'. Sacha, 26, who is taking her sister to Belgium for medical reasons, missed her train today. David Odhiambo, 26 (right), a economist from Mile End in east London, can't go travel to see his boyfriend People struggling to get into France at London's St Pancras International this morning The new rules, announced last night, mean people can only travel to France for reasons such as bereavement or childcare, Ahmed Benhadrian, 59, a security officer from Forest Gate in east London, said: 'I was going to France to visit my brother who got out of hospital a week ago in Paris. 'I booked my trip for 164 a few weeks ago and when I got to the border today they said ''you're British, you cannot travel.'' 'I said I was visiting my brother who needs help because he's at home recovering from his operation. 'I'm fully vaccinated and have a negative PCR test, so I don't know why they wouldn't let me through. 'I think it's because the French don't like the English, it's political. 'Covid is much higher in France than it is here, but because it's England, they make it into a big thing. 'Especially since Brexit, France has been causing a lot of trouble, too much trouble. 'The lady in front of me in the queue was from Germany and had no reason to travel to France, but they let her through. She didn't even have an address to go to. 'He said ''she's European, so she can go. But Britain left the EU so you can't.'' 'There no British customs or border here to defend us. I feel humiliated and that they are discriminating against people here.' Ange, 18, from Streatham, south London, said: 'I was going to France to visit my grandmother and when I checked online, all it asked for was a PCR and a self-isolation declaration. 'But when I got to the border here, they said you can't travel because your reason's not valid anymore. 'They said there's been a change in the law last night and the UK is no longer in the EU so I can't go, because my reason isn't valid. 'But I'm 18, I haven't been checking the news because I've been revising for your A-levels. 'I was busy revising and because I was stressed because exams I didn't see the law had changed. 'Even if I had, it wouldn't have changed anything. Maybe I didn't beg enough or hard enough. 'It's really frustrating because I asked them if they could let me off because they literally changed last night. 'I said please, I didn't know but they said 'no.' I'm not going to cry, but I wanted to see my grandma - I haven't seen her and my cousins in over a year. 'Now I literally have to text them saying I can't come today. It's going to be a shock to them because they were looking forward to seeing me. 'My cousin had cancelled her work to come pick me up at the station, and now I'm not going to be there. 'I'm not going to book another ticket for a few months at least.' David Odhiambo, 26, a economist from Mile End in east London, said: 'Essentially, I did my exchange in Paris six years ago and met my boyfriend there. George Roederer, 27, a railway engineer who was travelling to Paris, realised upon arrival his test was invalid All travellers are also required to do a pre-departure Covid test 48 hours before their journey, rather than 72, and must quarantine for seven days upon arrival 'Normally, before Covid hit, we would both be travelling back and forth on a monthly basis - even last year. 'I was going to visit him today, but I've just missed my train because the border officer said I did not have a valid reason to travel. 'But online it says you can go see someone if you are married or if you have lived together in the past, as long as you have the right documentation. 'We rent a flat together so I brought all my papers with me today and I've got my negative test and everything. 'But at that point I started to panic because the guy said 'you can't come in unless you have an address in France'. 'I asked him to speak with my boyfriend, but I think he thought I was lying because he kept trying to correct me saying 'you mean friend'. 'Now he's agreed to let me through, but my boyfriend needs to write a letter confirming we are together and for how long, and then take a picture with his passport. Stricter rules for visitors from the UK were first raised by French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian last week amid concern over the Indian variant Passengers today blasted Macron's last minute rule change and said he is 'forgetting people's reality' and making a 'political move' 'I've been watching the news and I know it was announced last Thursday, but I thought the only additional barrier was a 10 day quarantine. 'What I didn't see was all of the small print, so to say, and that's quite frustrating because if I had known, I could have had the documentation ready. 'I don't think the new rules have been communicated properly, because I wasn't aware there was a significant rule change. 'To me, it seems the new rules seem to just be a tit for tat rather than a legitimate reason. 'I get there is an Indian variant, but I've come here with a negative test, which mitigates that and I should have a right to visit someone who I'm in a long term committed relationship with. 'Many of my friends and the people I know have broken up in the last year because they have been stuck in a flat together or they can't see each other - it's like a double edged sword.' Another passenger Sacha, 26, who is taking her sister to Belgium for medical reasons, said: 'I'm trying to get to Brussels because my sister has a surgery scheduled for tomorrow 7:00am. French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he speaks in front of French nationals at the French Ambassador residence in Pretoria 'I did my PCR test on Friday because it has to be done 72 hours before you get to Brussels, so I couldn't have done it any earlier. 'I was suppose to have my results back by Saturday 4pm, but they never arrived and it's now Monday and I've missed my train. 'So I've paid 200 for another test in London which takes just three hours, because I thought I could get the train to Paris instead. 'But they've now said, as of today, that I can't because the rules have changed overnight, so basically I'm stuck and have to get a train direct tomorrow.' Elise Falgueirettes, 29, from Battersea, south London, who works in advertising and was travelling to Bourges in France for her father's funeral, said: 'My father passed away from a brain tumour a few days ago, so we have a valid reason for travelling. 'We're suppose to be locking down for seven days - so we will be doing that, except for the funeral. 'We managed to go see him three weeks ago, but obviously we didn't have to quarantine or anything then. 'The only crunch with travelling these days is the added cost, because it makes small trips like this rather expensive. 'I think it's a good thing, but for people who really need to travel, the rules make things harder.' It comes as France reported the number of people in intensive care units with Covid-19 fell by 35 to 2,993, while the overall number of people in hospital with the disease fell by 72 to 16,775 How coronavirus cases per million people compare in the UK and France from March 2020 to May 2021 George Roederer, 27, a railway engineer who was travelling to Paris, said: 'I have been travelling back and forth to France since February for work and it's been fine, except for the last minute rule changes. 'I learnt yesterday that the Covid test must be done within 48 hours instead of 72 hours, so I don't know if they will let me through. 'I don't see what reducing the timeframe of the test is necessary, and not giving anyone notice is forgetting people's reality. 'They didn't even contact me, I had to go find it on the Embassy's website, which many people won't have done. 'I'm definitely not going to be the only person in this situation, so hopefully they will be understanding.' Guillaume, 30, an academic researcher from Tour in France, said: 'I did my CPR 51 hours ago, which means it's no longer valid, but they are accepting antigen tests now, which you can do here in 15 minutes - but it costs around 60. 'I think it's justified because obviously the Indian variant we don't know much about it and apparently it spreads faster. 'But just updating the Embassy website a few days before and not telling anyone, that wasn't great 'The fact that EU borders are open but not with the UK shows that politics are clearly at play here. 'I mean 10 days quarantine here, seven days in France and 500 of tests, I don't think I'm going to be back in a hurry.' Sachs, 35, from Paris said: 'What's strange, is that it seems you have different information on the Eurostar website and the French Embassy's website. 'One says you need a CPR test 72 hours before travelling and the other days 48 or just an antigen test. 'So I don't know what problems I'm going to have when I get to the border because they're not updating their guidance. 'It's scary for people who don't know what's going to happen or what they need to travel, and it adds a lot of stress. 'I am following the most reliable source, which is the French embassy's website, so I've taken a screen shot.' France is currently listed as an 'amber' destination by the UK Government, which means people are being advised against travelling there - while those who do must self-isolate for 10 days and take two tests on return. Stricter rules for visitors from the UK were first raised by French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian last week amid concern over the Indian variant. An explanation of the new rules on the website of the Consulate General of France in London said: 'Given the development of the so-called Indian variant, health measures have been tightened for people travelling to France from the UK.' It added that from this morning 'compelling reasons will be required for foreign nationals outside the EU not resident in France to travel to France from the UK'. The website said 'a PCR or antigen test less than 48 hours old will be required from anyone travelling to France from the UK' while on arrival 'travellers are obliged to self-isolate for seven days'. The information added that 'due to the low incidence of coronavirus in the UK, for the moment they will not be subject to systematic checks where they are staying'. France's move follows Austria, which said on Tuesday it was banning UK direct flights and tourists, and Germany, which said on Friday that anyone entering from the UK would have to quarantine for two weeks on arrival. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday and vowed more protection from Hamas, while Ted Cruz visited homes destroyed in rocket attacks. Graham and Netanyahu held talks as the Israeli PM faced an ousting after 12 years in office from a left-wing coalition. His rivals are seeking to finalize a unity coalition between secular centrist opposition chief Yair Lapid, ultranationalist Naftali Bennett, and other left-wing parties for a 'change' government of ideologically disparate rivals. Netanyahu told Graham 'there is no person who has done more for Israel than you' and thanked him for being an 'excellent friend and devoted ally' as the South Carolina senator said he would help protect Israel from Hamas rocket attacks. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday and vowed more protection from Hamas offensives Graham and Netanyahu held talks as the Israeli PM faced an ousting after 12 years in office from a left-wing coalition Defense Minister Benny Gantz also met Graham in Jerusalem and thanked him for the 'great support for Israel and for maintaining its security and qualitative advantage over its enemies and in the Middle East in general,' the Jerusalem Post reported. Sen. Ted Cruz also visited Israel Sunday and posted images of a bombed-out home following Israel's 11-day war with Hamas. 'Heartbreaking,' Cruz wrote, in a comment he attached to a picture of the bombed out vestiges of a home where he said the caregiver to an elderly woman was killed by a Hamas rocket attack. 'Countless times, I've seen a Mezuzah hanging on a door frame. This is the first time I've seen one on a home bombed by terrorists. A Hamas rocket killed the caretaker of the elderly lady who lived here in Ashkelon, in southern Israel. This is all that remains,' Cruz wrote. 'Here's her walker,' Cruz wrote in a subsequent post, which showed a walker and a fan atop a pile of rubble. The Texas Republican senator was traveling along with Tennessee Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty, whose spokesman told DailyMail.com the senator planned to meet with embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli cabinet members during the visit. A Cruz spokesperson said Cruz would be meeting with leaders but would not share details, citing security reasons. Sen. Ted Cruz posted images from his trip to Israeli settlements following the 11-day war between Israel and Hamas In a post on his official Senate account, Cruz retweeted an image by Israeli conservative columnist Caroline Glick thanking Cruz and Hagerty for a 'terrific dinner with 2 true friends of Israel and the Jewish people in Jerusalem tonight.' That post also tagged the right-wing Kohelet forum, an influential group in the Israeli Knesset. Cruz sent out the images of the settlement wreckage from his separate personal account. The visit comes during a tumultuous time in Israeli politics. Longtime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was on the brink of losing power, as right-wing Naftali Benett engaged in talks with centrist Yair Lapid over a new 'change' alliance seeking to form a new government, following a series of inconclusive elections. He said the caregiver to an 'elderly lady' was killed in the attack He said a Hamas rocket took out the home Israel Columnist Caroline Glick posted this photo after a dinner in Israel. Cruz and Hagerty are pictured third and second from right Neighbors gather to watch the cleanup of a crater full of water and sewage after the home of Ramez al-Masri was destroyed by an air-strike prior to a cease-fire reached after an 11-day war between Gaza's Hamas rulers and Israel, Sunday, May 23, 2021, in Beit Hanoun, the northern Gaza Strip Palestinian volunteers continue to clean up the debris with brooms and cleaning supplies after last Israeli attacks following the Gaza Municipality's slogan 'We will reconstruct' in the Gaza Strip, where great destruction occurred due to 11-day intense bombardment of Israel in Gaza City, Gaza on May 26, 2021 Cruz is calling to immediately replenish Israel's Iron Dome missile system The trip follows the 11-day war between Israel and Hamas Israel and Hamas reached a cease fire May 21 after an 11-day war that featured a barrage of Hamas attacks fired from Gaza, and an Israeli bombing campaign. Cruz also tweeted out a video appeal for President Biden to immediately replace the missiles to replenish Israel's Iron Dome defenses. Hagerty tweeted that he visited the country with Cruz 'to visit Israel and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our allies after they endured the worst terrorist attacks in recent years because I want to see firsthand what more the U.S. can do to strengthen our vital alliance with Israel ... at a time when terrorists like Hamas & terror-sponsoring regimes in Iran & Syria are making the Middle East more dangerous.' 'I also want to discuss with Israeli leadership what the U.S. can do to maintain the momentum for peace that the landmark Abraham Accords started,' Hagerty wrote although he did not specifically mention a meeting with Netanyahu. The visit comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a new threat to his leadership Cruz is a potential presidential candidate who like other top Republicans has embraced the Israeli government and joined with Netanyahu in blasting the Iran nuclear deal. The war between Israel and Hamas forced a public split among Democrats, as Biden held repeated conversations with Netanyahu in private, while some Democratic House members said the U.S. should push an immediate cease fire. One of Australia's most infamous gangland cold cases may finally have a killer, after a former rugby league player put a notorious Sydney gangster at the scene of the murder. Greyhound trainer Charlie Bourke was 'ruthlessly' gunned down outside his Randwick home in Sydney's eastern suburbs on February 10, 1964. The killer pumped 10 bullets from a semi-automatic .22 rifle into Bourke before stopping to reload and firing 10 more. Lennie 'Mr Big' McPherson, one of Australia's most powerful crime bosses who ruled Sydney's streets with an iron fist for decades, was always considered to be the most likely suspect, although he was never named as a person of interest by police. But now, a friend of late Balmain Tigers rugby league player Billy Tulloch claims McPherson was at the scene the night of the gruesome murder. Lennie 'Mr Big' McPherson (pictured), one of Australia's most powerful crime bosses who ruled Sydney's streets with an iron fist for decades, was always considered to be the most likely suspect in the Bourke murder although he was never named as a person of interest by police Paul Gumbley, a former resident of Eurimbla Avenue, Randwick, told the authors of a self-published historical retrospective, Remembering Eurimbla, that Tulloch knew McPherson well and saw him idling in a 'flash car' on that street the night of the gangland execution. Mr Gumbley said Tulloch was adamant he would never tell the police. 'Billy said: 'I'm never saying anything about that',' he said. 'The reason I would say that Lennie McPherson parked in Eurimbla was because you could walk to the bottom of the street and there was a little lane that connected Eurimbla Avenue with Botany Street.' Mr Bourke was gunned down at 26 Norton Street in Randwick, just a few doors down from Botany Street and a short walk from Eurimbla Avenue. Tulloch and McPherson were well known to each other having grown up on the mean streets of Balmain together. Greyhound trainer Charlie Bourke (pictured) was 'ruthlessly' gunned down outside his Randwick home in Sydney's eastern suburbs on February 10, 1964 McPherson even provided the kegs for Tulloch's wife's 21st birthday party at the Balmain Town Hall. He was also very familiar with the type of car the underworld figure drove. McPherson developed a hideous reputation as he rose to power by systematically murdering his competition without mercy, even ducking out of his own wedding reception to gun down a hated rival. At the same time, Charlie Bourke was also well entrenched in Sydney's gangster scene. Bourke worked as a standover thug and ran a backroom baccarat club in Kings Cross. He fled to the Harbour City after escaping a Brisbane jail where he was locked up for a shooting and connected to two other fatal gun crimes. At the young age of just 20, he was also shot and retained an intimidating scar across his face. Some speculated his killers could have been bookies who paid him for inside greyhound racing information that didn't deliver - or a host of other Sydney criminals he'd made enemies with. But most always believed McPherson was behind the killing. Bourke was moving in on McPherson's standover territory in Newtown, according to the Lennie McPherson biography Mr Big. He was also seen arguing with McPherson on the night he was killed about protection money for a new gambling operator who had lobbed in from Queensland. But due to McPherson's cosy relationship with NSW police and the corrupt detective Inspector Ray 'Gunner' Kelly, he was never fully investigated. Lennie McPherson (left) takes Chicago mafia-linked Americans Nick Giordano and Joseph Testa on a shooting trip on their visit to Australia Former Eurimbla Avenue resident told the authors of a self-published historical retrospective, Remembering Eurimbla, that Tulloch knew McPherson well and had seen him idling in a 'flash car' but never went to police. Pictured: Eurimbla Avenue in Sydney's Randwick with the laneway leading to Botany Street, near the murder scene 'It was a significant murder,' author David Hickie wrote in his 1985 book The Prince and the Premier said. 'But in the generation of the Ray Kelly police, if you weren't prepared to turn a blind eye you didn't go very far.' McPherson was finally brought down in the 1990s after ordering a simple beating of businessman Darron Burt over a liquor business contract. Mr Burt was viciously beaten at his home in April 1991 and the young detectives who investigated and charged McPherson cared little for his history. McPherson had been caught on a tapped phone planning the beating and later saying: 'The boys just done a job for me, a f**king good job... they got this f**king bloke and broke his f**king arm and bashed his head.' He was jailed for four years after delaying the trial until December 1994 and died aged 75 behind bars a broken man in August 1996. Mr Tulloch died in 2012. McPherson was jailed for four years after delaying the trial until December 1994 and died aged 75 behind bars a broken man in August 1996. Pictured: McPherson's funeral service Alex Salmond blasted the Duke of Cambridge over Scottish independence today and demanded the royal stay out of the fight to keep the United Kingdom together. Scotland's separatist former first minister said it would be 'foolish' for Prince William to become embroiled in the row over the country's future after he met Gordon Brown on a recent visit to Scotland. Mr Brown, the former Labour prime minister, was one of the leaders of the pro-union camp which won the Scottish independence referendum in 2014. Mr Salmond, who was first minister when the vote on Scotland's place in the UK took place, accused pro-UK leaders of 'unscrupulous unionist desperation' by trying to recruit the royals to campaign for the union. But his bizarre rant came after William met with other politicians on his visit, including his SNP successor Nicola Sturgeon. The current First Minister is demanding a new referendum after the SNP was returned as the largest party at Holyrood in the election three weeks ago. Mr Salmond, who now leads the fringe Alba Party, said: 'Whatever Prince William thought he was doing by agreeing to a confab with Gordon Brown just as he set up his latest campaign for the union ... we should have no hesitation in seeing from that meeting, unionist preparation for attempting to persuade a constitutional monarchy to intervene in a constitutional debate which should be left to the people.' He added: 'It would be very wise for the royal family to follow what has been the Queen's example over her long reign, to keep the monarchy over and above politics, and it would be foolish to have a situation in which it can be said that the monarchy is involved in the Scottish Constitutional debate.' Scotland's separatist former first minister said it would be 'foolish' for Prince William to become embroiled in the row over the country's future after he met Gordon Brown on a recent visit to Scotland Mr Salmond, who was first minister when the vote on Scotland's place in the UK took place, accused pro-UK leaders of 'unscrupulous unionist desperation' by trying to recruit the royals to campaign for the union. Mr Brown, the former Labour prime minister, was one of the leaders of the pro-union camp which won the Scottish independence referendum in 2014. Mr Salmond's bizarre rant came after William met with other politicians on his visit, including SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, who wants a new referendum William and Kate sat down for private talks with the former prime minister and his wife Sarah at the Queen's official Edinburgh residence during the final day of their royal tour of Scotland. The future king later gave a highly personal farewell speech as his week-long visit drew to a close, describing how Scotland has 'shaped' him and praising its people and values. The argument over Scottish independence has intensified after the Scottish National Party's landslide victory in the Holyrood election earlier in May, which also produced the largest pro-independence majority in the Parliament in the history of devolution. Boris Johnson has since stood by his pre-election position, saying the focus should be on the recovery from Covid-19 and not on another independence referendum. A spokesman for Kensington Palace said: 'During his time in Scotland Prince William has spoken to a broad range of people from different communities including politicians from across the political spectrum.' The duke sat down for talks with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at the weekend and also met Alistair Carmichael, Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland, when the Cambridges opened Orkney's hospital. But Mr Salmond claimed it showed 'poor judgment on both sides' for William to meet Mr Brown. He added: 'Back in 2014, David Cameron made a last-ditch desperate and failed attempt to drag the Queen into politics. 'The Brown meeting shows poor judgment on both sides, but the same degree of unscrupulous unionist desperation. The independence team should take note.' With Holyrood having a majority of independence supporting MSPs, Mr Salmond insisted that the case for Scottish independence must now be progressed 'as a matter of urgency'. The Alba Party leader said: 'It is quite clear that the forces of the union, David Cameron previously, and now Gordon Brown, have no compunction in getting themselves ready and set for what is coming in the next referendum campaign. 'However, the Scottish Parliament elections have left them in a state of disarray. That is why the case for Scottish independence must be progressed now as a matter of urgency. 'The Tories at Westminster are surprised that they are not already facing a renewed constitutional challenge and are wondering what on earth is going on. 'It would be infinitely better for the independence side to seize the moment and strike when the iron is hot to progress the constitutional issue. 'Alba's membership continues to rise as we press for the case for Scottish independence to be progressed with urgency and democratic determination.' Advertisement The world's loneliest bear has woken up from her first winter sleep in an Alpine paradise after spending her entire life in a cage in the Ukrainian circus. Jambolina, 12, was rescued by animal rights organisation Four Paws, whose staff collected her from her home in Ukraine and transported her on a 1,500-mile journey to her new home, The Arosa Bear Land reserve in the Arosa mountain range in Switzerland. After years of being tortured and forced to perform for the crowds, Jambolina was nervous and scared when she arrived, her carers said. The world's loneliest bear has woken up from her first winter sleep in an Alpine paradise after spending her entire life in a cage in the Ukrainian circus Jambolina, 12, was rescued by animal rights organisation Four Paws, whose staff collected her from her home in Ukraine and transported her on a 1,500-mile journey to her new home After years of being tortured, kept in a tiny cage (pictured) and forced to perform for the crowds, Jambolina was nervous and scared when she arrived But after a winter sleep, she has emerged ready to enjoy the Alpine paradise after the winter hibernation. The 12-year-old was extremely cautious at first when she realised there was an open space outside the enclosure she was living in for the first weeks since the move. Scientific director of the Arosa Bear Land Dr Hans Schmid said: 'We expected this behaviour and it is completely natural. Scepticism is an important survival strategy for animals and humans.' But after making a few hesitant steps and sniffing the outdoor environment, Jambolina headed towards the pond and took a long bath. The animal keepers described Jambolina as brave and clever and said: 'We are not surprised by Jambolina's behaviour and we are very pleased that she could find her way around the outdoor area after a short time.' The 12-year-old was extremely cautious at first when she realised there was an open space outside the enclosure she was living in for the first weeks since the move After making a few hesitant steps and sniffing the outdoor environment, Jambolina headed towards the pond and took a long bath Jambolina's first steps in the outdoor area were eagerly observed by many visitors and Four Paws authorities Private ownership of bears in Ukraine is possible as long as they are not captured in the wild and are cubs from bears already in captivity Since the keepers were not familiar with the female bear's past, they said they would closely monitor her future development. Dr Hans Schmid explained that they are planning to introduce Jambolina to two other bears who were also rescued and are taken care of in the facility. He said: 'When Jambolina gets familiar with the natural terrain after a few weeks, we will first leave her with Meimo and then with Amelia.' Jambolina's first steps in the outdoor area were eagerly observed by many visitors and Four Paws authorities. Four Paws Country Manager in Switzerland Alexandra Mandoki said: 'Moments like this give me goosebumps and it's just incredibly beautiful to see how we can give the bears a new life.' Jambolina was previously used as a circus bear in the Ukraine but her owners could no longer afford her because the Covid lockdown cancelled all public performances of the circus Although Four Paws has a rescue centre in Ukraine, it currently has 22 bears which is the maximum capacity, so the charity contacted the Swiss reserve for help Jambolina was previously used as a circus bear in the Ukraine but her owners could no longer afford her because the Covid lockdown cancelled all public performances of the circus. This provided the opportunity for Four Paws to rescue her, and take her to start a new life in freedom in the 28,000-square-metre Swiss natural reserve. Although Four Paws has a rescue centre in Ukraine, it currently has 22 bears which is the maximum capacity, so the charity contacted the Swiss reserve for help. Cages are required to be a minimum of 322sqft and 10ft high but there is little monitoring or punishment for breaches of the regulations Director of Four Paws Ukraine Taras Boiko said the rescue was a complex journey across Poland, Germany and Austria, especially with current travel restrictions A snow groomer brought Jambolina safely through the snow masses at over 2,000 meters above sea level on the final part of her journey She had been used as a circus bear since she was bought by her owner just weeks after her birth in in January 2009 at Yalta Zoo in Crimea She had been used as a circus bear since she was bought by her owner just weeks after her birth in in January 2009 at Yalta Zoo in Crimea. Private ownership of bears in Ukraine is possible as long as they are not captured in the wild and are cubs from bears already in captivity. Cages are required to be a minimum of 322sqft and 10ft high but there is little monitoring or punishment for breaches of the regulations. The Russian military will form 20 new units in the country's west this year to counter what it claims is a growing threat from Nato. Defence minister Sergei Shoigu made the announcement at a meeting with top military officials. He pointed to a growing number of flights by US strategic bombers near Russia's borders, deployments of Nato warships and increasingly frequent and massive drills by alliance forces. He charged that such actions 'destroy the international security system and force us to take the relevant countermeasures'. 'We will form another 20 units and formations in the Western Military District until the year's end,' Mr Shoigu said. , Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu speaks during a meeting with hight level military officials in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 31. Russia's defense minister says that that the military will form 20 new units in the country's west this year to counter what he described as a growing threat from NATO He added the military units in Western Russia have commissioned about 2,000 new pieces of weaponry this year. Last month, a massive troop build-up in Russia's south and south-west near the Ukrainian border raised concerns in Ukraine and the West, which urged Moscow to withdraw its forces. Russian troops massed at the border with Ukraine in April, sparking fears from Western leaders that the move could trigger an all-out war. Chilling footage on social media showed thousands of Russian tanks, missile trucks, armoured vehicles and long-range guns being transported on freight trains to Crimea and the border of the disputed eastern Ukrainian region of Donbass. Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014 following the ouster of the country's Moscow-friendly president and then threw its weight behind separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine. More than 14,000 people have been killed in seven years of fighting in eastern Ukraine. Last month, a massive troop build-up in Russia's south and south-west near the Ukrainian border raised concerns in Ukraine and the West, which urged Moscow to withdraw its forces A Ukrainian armed forces member walks near the rebel-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine Russia has recalled some troops from its western part after sweeping manoeuvres in April, but Mr Shoigu ordered them to leave their weapons behind for Russia's Zapad (West) 2021 military exercises in September. He noted that preparations for the exercises, which will be conducted jointly with Belarus, are now in their final stage and emphasised that the manoeuvres have an 'exclusively defensive character'. Last week, Russia offered political support to its ally Belarus, which diverted a Ryanair plane flying from Greece to Lithuania on a ruse to arrest a dissident journalist. The European Union denounced the flight's diversion as piracy and responded by barring the Belarusian flag carrier from its airspace and advising European airlines to skirt Belarus's airspace. A baby has become the first patient to be treated with the world's most expensive drug on the NHS. Five-month-old Arthur Morgan was given the 1.8million one-off therapy last week after being diagnosed with a deadly disorder which sees the muscles rapidly waste away. His parents, Reece and Rosie, were told earlier this month that their son had spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a condition which affects just 60 youngsters each year. More than half of babies suffering from SMA do not make it past their second birthday and until two years ago there were no proven treatments. The family, from south London, had taken Arthur to A&E after growing concerned that he could not sit upright and struggled to hold his head up properly. Just three weeks after his diagnosis he was given the pioneering gene therapy known as Zolgensma at Evelina London Children's Hospital. The US-made drug is thought to be the most expensive medicine in the world, at a whopping 1.79million per dose, and studies have shown it can prevent paralysis. It is administered via an IV drip and instructs the body to make a protein which people with SMA are deficient in. The NHS struck a deal with the company Novartis Gene Therapies for the treatment in March. NHS England has not revealed how much it is paying for the drug but claim it is 'a price that is fair to taxpayers'. Little Arthur Morgan was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy after his worried parents Reece and Rosie noticed he couldn't hold his head up (pictured following his procedure) He was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy and after three weeks received 1.8million treatment Zolgensma at Evelina London Children's Hospital The treatment replaces a faulty gene, which enables his muscles to function normally Father Reece said he was 'so grateful' to the NHS for their help. Relatives have set up a fundraising page to assist the family. It has so far raised 25,000 The treatment Zolgensma works by replacing a faulty gene that stops the body making a protein involved in muscle function In studies, a single treatment with Zolgensma has helped babies with SMA to sit, crawl and walk and also prevented them from having to be put on a ventilator. The long-term benefits of the drug are still unclear due to how recently it was approved. Four specialist NHS centres have now been commissioned across the country to administer the treatment. WHAT IS SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY? Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a disease that weakens a patient's strength by affecting the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord. Those affected never gain the ability to walk, eat or breathe. SMA is the number one genetic cause of death for infants. It is genetic and passed from parent to child. There are four primary types of SMAI, II, III and IV, which are based on age of onset and the physical milestones achieved. Type I Onset is shortly after birth Weakness Difficulty breathing, sucking and swallowing Never reach the developmental milestone of being able to sit on their own Children with type 1 SMA can survive for a number of years Advertisement They are Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the Evelina London Children's Hospital, which is part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. An agreement is in place for Evelina London Children's Hospital to take on children from Great Ormond Street, the country's best-known children's hospital. Arthur's father Reece, 31, who is a self-employed plasterer, said he was 'so grateful' to the NHS for making the treatment available to his son. He said: 'When we found out that Arthur would get the treatment, and be the first patient, I just broke down. 'It had been such a whirlwind few weeks, filled with lots of anxiety and adjustment as we learnt about his condition and what it might mean for him and our family. 'The way the treatment works is incredible, where the gene is hidden in a virus, and is given to him in a simple cannula. 'We still don't know what the future will hold, but this gives Arthur the best possible chance to give him the best possible future.' He added: 'This is the best possible treatment and will give him the best life he can have, and we are so grateful that the NHS is here for him.' Baby Arthur, who was born six weeks premature in December, was diagnosed with Type 1 SMA, which is the most common form of the condition. Sufferers experience progressive muscle weakness, loss of movement and difficulty breathing. The treatment Zolgensma works by replacing a faulty gene that stops the body making a protein called SMN, which is critical for in muscle function. The corrected gene is put into a harmless virus which is then injected into the baby's hand, working similarly to a vaccine. The gene starts making the SMN protein which prevents the loss of motor neurons nerve cells that help co-ordinate movement in the spinal cord. These neurons send signals to the muscles. In a study of 15 babies treated with Zolgensma published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2017, all 15 were alive at 20 months of age, compared with 8 per cent among an untreated group from the past. Twelve of the children received a higher dose, and at 20 months 11 could sit unaided and two walked independently. Little Arthur is pictured with father Reece at Evelina hospital in London. His father is a self-employed plasterer, and he also has an older sister called Nancy Little Arthur is pictured with father Reece at Evelina hospital in London Family members described baby Arthur as the son his parents had 'dreamt of having' after he was born on December 22 last year. His doting parents, from south London, had taken it in turns to stay with him in hospital because Covid restrictions only allowed one parent to visit at the same time. WHAT IS ZOLGENSMA? The treatment Zolgensma works by replacing a faulty SMN1 gene that stops the body making the protein SMN, involved in muscle function. The corrected gene is put into a virus (that's had its DNA removed) which is then injected into the baby's hand. The gene starts making the SMN protein which prevents the loss of motor neurons nerve cells that help co-ordinate movement in the spinal cord. These neurons send signals to the muscles. In a study of 15 babies treated with Zolgensma published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2017, all 15 were alive at 20 months of age, compared with 8 per cent among an untreated group from the past. Twelve of the children received a higher dose, and at 20 months 11 could sit unaided and two walked independently. Sixty children in the UK are born with SMA every year. Advertisement Dr Elizabeth Wraige, consultant paediatric neurologist at Evelina London Children's Hospital who treated Arthur, said: 'This treatment will bring hope to families affected by SMA who have fought so courageously against it.' NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens added: 'It is fantastic news that this revolutionary treatment is now available for babies and children like Arthur on the NHS. 'The NHS Long Term Plan committed to securing cutting edge treatments for patients at a price that is fair to taxpayers. 'Zolgensma is the latest example of the life-changing therapies that the NHS is now routinely using to transform the lives of patients and their families.' Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: 'I am so glad young Arthur can access this potentially life-changing treatment on the NHS. I hope it grants his family and many others renewed hope that more children's lives can be transformed.' Relatives have set up a fundraising page, which has so far raised 25,000, to help the family juggle looking after Arthur's older sister Nancy at the same time as helping their son through his life-changing treatment. 'Over the coming months, it became apparent that Arthur wasn't hitting the same milestones as other babies and concerned, Rosie took him to their GP where they were advised to take him to A&E,' they wrote on the GoFundMe page. 'He was transferred to the Evelina Children's Hospital in London where tests confirmed the doctors fears that Arthur has Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 (SMA1).' They added: 'This situation, as you can imagine, is extremely difficult for them. And it is likely Arthur will spend a great deal of time in and out of hospital. 'Being told that your precious baby boy may not live to see his second or even first birthday, is something no parent should ever have to hear but watching how Reece and Rosie have dealt with this situation has filled our family with pride at what a fantastic job they are doing and how strong they are being. 'What we are hoping to do is raise enough money so as Reece and Rosie can continue to concentrate on Arthur's fight and bringing up Nancy without having these money worries looming over them. 'We would love to ease the financial pressure especially with Reece being self employed and uncertainty over when Rosie can go back to work.' Sally-Anne Tsangarides, General Manager at Novartis Gene Therapies in the UK said: 'Novartis is delighted to be part of this remarkable milestone it is a hugely important step for babies in England diagnosed with this devastating genetic condition and we thank all those who have been involved in the landmark agreement that has made it possible.' A priest today branded Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie the 'New Tudors' as she claimed the mechanism that allowed the twice-divorcee to remarry in a Catholic church had effectively 'made his children "illegitimate".' Midlands-based Reverend Eva McIntyre, a retired Anglican priest, hit out at religious heads who okayed the service in one of their places of worship on Saturday. The Prime Minister was baptised as a Catholic but was confirmed as an Anglican as a teenager when he was at Eton. But the Diocese of Westminster said, as someone baptised in the faith, it meant his previous failed marriages were not considered valid because they were not Catholic ceremonies. It prompted a row over how Mr Johnson's ex wives must feel and what it meant for the children he had with them. Rev McIntyre said: 'Its the using of Canon Law to the benefit of the privileged & at the cost of the Churchs integrity. 'They used Johnsons RC baptism as an excuse to count his previous marriages void. They made his children "illegitimate". 'And we are all serfs at the mercy of these new Tudors.' On Twitter another user asked: 'If Boris marrying is Westminster Cathedral is true then, as a Catholic, I would like to know why a twice divorced adulterer was able to and my practising Catholic friend who divorced a husband who battered hell out of her had to re-marry in a registry office. ' Twice divorced Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds on their wedding day following a Catholic ceremony Reverend McIntyre said the use of Canon Law in this way had made his children 'illegitimate' The baptism meant the Prime Minister could marry for the first time in a Roman Catholic church. Despite explanations about how their wedding could have been held in accordance with Vatican doctrine, the subject was being keenly discussed yesterday by Westminster Cathedral worshippers. Some wondered whether Mr Johnson had needed to convert before the nuptials took place, while one even brought up Henry VIIIs troubled love-life as a potential precursor. But last night a Diocese of Westminster spokesman confirmed: With regard to divorced persons, a baptised Catholic who has contracted a marriage recognised in civil law but without observing the requirements of Catholic Canon Law is not recognised as validly married in the eyes of the Catholic Church. The Prime Minister was married to first wife Allegra Mostyn-Owen for six years and Marina Wheeler for 27 years Austen Ivereigh, a Roman Catholic author, commentator and biographer of Pope Francis, said on Twitter: Many will ask how it is that the Catholic Church, famous for its vigorous commitment to the permanence of marriage, should be witnessing the marriage of a twice-divorced PM who is publicly notorious for the opposite? What kind of message does that send? But Catholics have a right to the sacraments and if they fulfil the requirements in law, and properly enter into them, no one can stop them exercising those rights. Mr Johnson was married to first wife Allegra Mostyn-Owen for six years and to second wife Marina Wheeler for 27 years. A Westminster Cathedral spokesman added: The bride and groom are both parishioners of the Westminster Cathedral parish and baptised Catholics. All necessary steps were taken, in both Church and civil law, and all formalities completed before the wedding. We wish them every happiness. A centuries old church has been given the green light to celebrate the life of a former slave ship captain who became an abolitionist and wrote the hymn Amazing Grace. The mediaeval Grade I listed church of St Peter and St Paul's in Olney, Buckinghamshire, has had plans approved to set aside a memorial space in honour of John Newton. Newton - who lived from 1725 to 1807 - was a slave trader who earned his living from the profits of slavery before becoming an abolitionist and turning to the church as a 'reformed sinner'. He is said to have fought for abolition with politician William Wilberforce, as an opponent of the slave trade - and was at one point a minister at the Olney church, which dates back to the 14th century. A stained glass window, the centre panel showing John Newton, writer of the hymn 'Amazing Grace' , in St Peter and St Paul's Church in Olney, Buckinghamshire He is most well known for being a prolific hymn writer and was responsible for the hugely popular hymn Amazing Grace. Other famous hymns by him include 'Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken' and 'How Sweet the name of Jesus Sounds'. John Newton (1725-1807) He died at the age of 82 in 1807, the year that the Act for the Abolition of Slavery was passed and was originally buried at St Mary Woolnoth church in the city of London where he had once been rector and where his wife was buried. However, his remains were removed later because of work being carried out to the London Underground, and because of his connections with the church at Olney they were put in a newly created tomb at Olney which is itself now a Grade II listed structure. The original brass plate from coffin is framed and displayed in the Olney church and many people make a pilgrimage to the church each year because of he was the writer of Amazing Grace. Despite growing scrutiny over the murky links some church artefacts have to slavery, a senior Church of England official, David R Hodge QC, has given consent for a revamp of an area in the church behind the vestry. The area will be used to create a John Newton themed space, with artefacts relating to him. A disused font that would have been used by him when he was at the church for baptisms will be among them. The mediaeval Grade I listed church of St Peter and St Paul's Church in Olney has had plans approved to set aside a memorial space in honour of John Newton Giving the go-ahead for the plan, Chancellor of the Diocese of Oxford, David R Hodge QC, in his role as a judge of the Church of England's Consistory Court, said the proposed display would acknowledge 'Newton's role in the slave trade, mapping his life through his involvement in that inhuman trade to his work with William Wilberforce in the abolition of slavery.' Who was John Newton? John Newton was born in London in 1725 and went to sea at the age of 11, ending up as master of a ship taking slaves from Africa to the Caribbean. But he later realised the inhumanity of slavery and turned his back on seafaring after finding 'God'. He was given the post of curate at the Church of St Peter and St Paul in the Buckinghamshire town of Olney. It was during this time that he composed hymns for his weekly sermon, often with the help of his neighbour, the poet William Cowper. Together they produced a book of 282 hymns by Newton and 66 by Cowper. The famous lyrics of Amazing Grace are: 'Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I was lost but now am found, Was blind but now I see.' Some claim that Amazing Grace was copied from the melody of a song sung by slaves on Newton's ships, with Newton inspiring his friend William Wilberforce MP to successfully lobby for the abolition of slavery. Advertisement He continued: 'From the material that has been presented to me, it would appear that the church are alive to the need both to ensure that there is appropriate diversity amongst the presenters of materials which are to be displayed within the church, and to recognise the vital contributions made to the abolition of the vile trade in human flesh by African and other global majority heritage writers and abolitionists, women and working class reformers rather than simply focusing upon the work of prominent, white, upper and middle class male abolitionists like John Newton and William Wilberforce..' He said he was satisfied that the proposed plan would result in no harm to the significance of the church as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The move comes weeks after the Church of England published new guidance following the Black Lives Matter movement, which urges churches and cathedrals to consider the history of their buildings and the physical artefacts and how it could impact their congregations' worship. For some churches this means removing artefacts with links to slavery and colonialism. Churches that have already taken action include St Margaret's church in Rottingdean, Sussex, which has removed two 'deeply offensive' grave headstones which contained racial slurs. St Peter's Church in Dorchester has also covered a plaque commemorating a plantation owner. And dedications to slave trader Edward Colston were removed from Bristol Cathedral last year. In June 2020, the Church of England established an anti-racism task force which carried out a review of the action it had taken to address its own role in the slave trade. Speaking on the issue last year the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said that justice is crucial to forgiveness as he stressed a need to learn from the past so that it is not repeated in the future. Madam Vice President, Secretary Austin, Secretary McDonough, General Milley, Gold Star families, my fellow Americans -- we're gathered at this sacred place in this solemn hour to engage in the most fundamental of undertakings: the rite of remembrance. We remember those who gave their all in the service of America, in the service of freedom, in the service of justice. We remember their sacrifice, their valor, and their grace. We remember their smiles; their loves; their laughter; their essential, vibrant, and transcendent humanity. For while we stand amid monuments of stone, we must never forget that each of these markers, for those known and unknown, here at Arlington and far beyond represent a precious life: a son, a daughter, a mother, a spouse, a brother, a sister, a friend, a neighbor. To those who mourn a loved one today: Jill and I have some idea how you're feeling. Our losses are not the same, but that black hole you feel in your chest -- as if it's going to suck you into it -- we get. I know the incredible pride you felt seeing your loved one wear the uniform of our country, and the pride they felt wearing it. Our son Beau's service in the Delaware Army National Guard unit, the year he spent deployed in Iraq, was one of the things that he was most proud of in life. Yesterday marked the anniversary of his death. And it's a hard time -- a hard time of year for me and our family, just like it is for so many of you. It can hurt to remember, but the hurt is how we feel and how we heal. Joe and Jill Biden visit Section 12 of the Arlington National Cemetery, where some of the US soldiers killed in World War Two are buried I always feel Beau close to me on Memorial Day. I know exactly where I need to be: right here, honoring our fallen heroes. Because through pain and anguish of his loss, I remember the pride on his face the day I pinned those bars on his shoulders. To all of you who are fighting with the fresh pain of loss, as hard as it is to believe, I promise you this: The day will come when the image of your loved one will bring a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eyes. The Bible teaches, 'Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.' That comfort, that reassurance can be a long time in coming, but it will come -- I promise you. And my prayer for all of you is that that day will come sooner rather than later. We all know Memorial Day origins lie in the wake of the Civil War -- a war for the freedom of all. A war for union. A war for liberty and for the preservation of the Constitution. In calling for such today, General John Logan, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued General Order Number 11. He directed the nation set aside a day to honor, and I quote, 'those who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard throughout the land.' And so we have and so we do again today, in our time, where the children of sacrifice made by a long line of American servicemembers, each a link in that chain of honor. We live by the light of the flame of liberty they kept burning. We're free because they were brave. Here on these gentle, rolling green hills and across America and around the globe lie buried the heroes of the greatest experiment the world has ever known, ever seen. The experiment bears the noble name: The United States of America. Women and men, all those we honor today, gave their lives for their country, but they live forever in our hearts -- forever proud, forever honorable, forever American. They are -- they are the sentinels of liberty, defenders of the downtrodden, liberators of nations. And still today, Americans stand watch around the world, often at their great personal peril. War and conflict, death and loss are not relics of our American history; they're a part of Americans' story. Here in Arlington lie heroes who gave what President Lincoln called 'the last full measure of devotion.' They did not only die at Gettysburg or in Flanders Field or on the beaches of Normandy, but in the mountains of Afghanistan, the deserts of Iraq in the last 20 years. Section 60 -- when I walk through it, it reminds me of the cost of war. Hundreds of graves -- hundreds of graves are here from recent conflicts. Hundreds of patriots gave their all, each -- each of them of the leaving behind a family who live with their pain and their absence every single day. I want to assure each of those families: We will never forget what you gave to our country. We will never fail to honor your sacrifice. Each day -- starting when I was Vice President of the United States -- I carry in my pocket a number of troops killed during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Not an approximation, not rounded-off numbers -- they each leave behind an entire community and family. And today, that number is 7,036 -- 7,036 fallen angels who have lost their lives in these conflicts. And on this Memorial Day, we honor their legacy and their sacrifice. Duty, honor, country -- they lived for it, they died for it. And we, as a nation, are eternally grateful. You know, America has been forged in the battle and the fires of war. Our freedom and the freedom of innumerable others has been secured by young men and women who answered the call of history and gave everything in the service of an idea: the idea of America. It's the greatest idea in the long history of humankind. An idea that we're all created equal in the image of Almighty God. That we're all entitled to dignity, as my father would say, and respect, decency, and honor. Love of neighbor. They're not empty words, but the vital, beating heart of our nation. And that democracy must be defended at all costs, for democracy makes all this possible. Democracy -- that's the soul of America, and I believe it's a soul worth fighting for, and so do you; a soul worth dying for. Heroes who lie in eternal peace in this beautiful place, this sacred place, they believed that too. The soul of America is animated by the perennial battle between our worst instincts -- which we've seen of late -- and our better angels. Between 'Me first' and 'We the People.' Between greed and generosity, cruelty and kindness, captivity and freedom. The Americans of Lexington and Concord, of New Orleans, Gettysburg, the Argonne, Iwo Jima and Normandy, Korea and Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq, and thousands of places in between -- these Americans weren't fighting for dictators; they were fighting for democracy. They weren't fighting to exclude or to enslave; they were fighting to build and broaden and liberate. They weren't fighting for self; they were fighting for the soul of the nation, for liberty and simple fair play -- simple fair play and decency. Today, as we remember their sacrifice, we remind ourselves of our duty to their memory, to the future they fought for. We owe the honored dead a debt we can never fully repay. We owe them our whole souls. We owe them our full best efforts to perfect the Union for which they died. We owe them the work of our hands and our hearts, to make real the promise of a nation founded on the proposition that all of us -- all of us -- all of us are created equal and deserve to be treated that way throughout our lives. Democracy is more than a form of government. It's a way of being; it's a way of seeing the world. Democracy means the rule of the people -- the rule of the people. Not the rule of monarchs, not the rule of the moneyed, not the rule of the mighty -- literally, the rule of the people. The lives of billions, from antiquity to our own hour, have been shaped by the battle between aspirations of the many and the greed of the few. Between people's right to self-determination and the self-seeking of the dictator. Between dreams of democracy and appetites for autocracy, which we're seeing around the world. Our troops have fought this battle on fields around the world, but also the battle of our time. And the mission falls to each of us, each and every day. Democracy itself is in peril, here at home and around the world. What we do now -- what we do now, how we honor the memory of the fallen, will determine whether or not democracy will long endure. We all take it for granted. We think we learned in school. You have to -- every generation has to fight for it. But, look, it's the biggest question: Whether a system that prizes the individual, that bends towards liberty, that gives everybody a chance at prosperity -- whether that system can and will prevail against powerful forces that wish it harm. All that we do in our common life as a nation is part of that struggle. The struggle for democracy is taking place around the world -- democracy and autocracy. The struggle for decency and dignity -- just simple decency. The struggle for posterity -- prosperity and progress. And, yes, the struggle for the soul of America itself. Folks, you all know it: Democracy thrives when the infrastructure of democracy is strong; when people have the right to vote freely and fairly and conveniently; when a free and independent press pursues the truth, founded on facts, not propaganda; when the rule of law applies equally and fairly to every citizen, regardless of where they come from or what they look like. Wherever Americans are, there -- there is democracy: churches and synagogues and mosques, neighborhoods and coffee shops and diners, bleachers at kids' baseball or soccer games, libraries and parks. Democracy begins and grows in the open heart and the impetus to come together for a common cause. And I might note, parenthetically: Thank you, That's what you do. And that's where it will be preserved. For empathy is the fuel of democracy. Let me say that again: Empathy -- empathy is the fuel of democracy, a willingness to see each other -- not as enemies, neighbors. Even when we disagree, to understand what the other is going through. To state the obvious: Our democracy is imperfect. It always has been. But Americans of all backgrounds, races, creeds, gender identities, sexual orientations, have long spilled their blood to defend our democracy. The diversity of our country and our arm - and of our armed services is and always has been an incredible strength. And generation after generation of American heroes have signed up to be part of the fight because they understand the truth that lives in every American heart: that liberation, opportunity, justice are far more likely to come to pass in a democracy than an autocracy. If every person is sacred, then every person's rights are sacred. Individual dignity; individual worth; individual sanctity; the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We say those words so often, but think of it: the right to vote, the right to rise in a world as far as your talent can take you, unlimited by unfair barriers of privilege and power -- such are the principles of democracy. So how would you put these noble principles into practice? How do we do that? How do we make the idea real, or as close to real as we can make it? This nation was built on an idea - the only nation in the world built on an idea. Every other nation was built on ethnicity, geography, religion, et cetera. We were built on an idea: the idea of liberty and opportunity for all. We have never fully realized that aspiration of our founding, but every generation has opened the door a little wider, and every generation has opened it wider and wider to be more inclusive, to include those who have been excluded before. It's a mission handed down generation to generation: the work of perfecting our union. In 1830, when we were a young nation, dis-unionists put their sectional interests ahead of the common good. A great senator, Daniel Webster, rose in the Capitol to defend the Union. To him, we were not just a collection of competing forces, but a coherent whole. His cry, first uttered just across the Potomac in the Capitol, resonates even now. He stood on the floor and he said, 'Liberty and Union, now on forever, one and inseparable.' Liberty and Union. More than 142 years later, when I first came to the United States Senate -- at a time when our country was so deeply divided over Vietnam, the struggle of civil rights, the fight over women's rights -- I had the notion that my first task, as I stood to make my first speech on the floor of the Senate -- it all of a sudden hit me: I'm standing where Daniel Webster had stood; his desk was next to mine. And I was struck by the weight of history, as corny as it sounds, by the legacy of the work we're charged to carry forward: liberty and union, now and forever. Now as then, unity is essential to life; liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And so we remember those who gave their all in the cause of unity, in the cause of a nation that endures because of them. We must honor their sacrifice by sustaining the best of America, while honestly confronting all that we must do to make our nation fuller, freer, and more just. We must remember that we may find the light and the wisdom and, yes, the courage to move forward -- in the words of that great hymn, fight as they 'nobly fought of old.' For in remembrance lies not just our history, but our hope. Not just our solemn remembrance, but our renewed purpose. Not just our solace, but our strength. This Memorial Day, remember that not all of us are called to make the ultimate sacrifice. We all are called, by God and by history and by conscience, to make our nation free and fair, just and strong, noble and whole. To this battle, may we now dedicate our souls, that our work may prove worthy of the blood of our fallen. For this work -- the work of democracy -- is the work of our time, and for all time. And if we do our duty, then ages still to come will look back on us and say that we too kept the faith. And there's nothing more important, nothing more sacred, nothing more American than keeping the faith. May God bless the United States of America. And may the light perpetually shine upon the fallen. May God bring comfort to their families. And may God protect our troops, today and always. God bless you all. An alleged drunk driver rammed into an Illinois state troopers police car as it was standing on the shoulder of a highway, causing the motorists Jeep to flip over several times. The Illinois State Police released dash cam footage of the May 24 incident which took place just after 8pm on John Deere Road in Moline, a town that lies along the Illinois-Iowa border about 180 miles west of Chicago. According to authorities, an ISP sergeant who had just completed a traffic stop was seated in his marked police cruiser with the emergency lights still activated at around 8.07pm. Moments later, a green Jeep traveling eastbound on John Deere Road crossed the white fog line and struck the rear drivers side of the squad car. Illinois state police released video showing the moment an alleged drunk driver rammed into a state trooper before his vehicle was launched into the air The jeep then rolled over onto its roof and skidded some 50 yards down the highway. Both the trooper and the driver of the Jeep sustained non-life-threatening injuries. They were taken to a local hospital for treatment and then released. The driver of the Jeep was identified as Matthew Scherer, 55, of Moline. Investigators allege that Scherer was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision. He has been charged with Scotts Law. The Illinois State Police released dash cam footage of the May 24 incident which took place just after 8pm on John Deere Road in Moline, a town that lies along the Illinois-Iowa border about 180 miles west of Chicago. It opens with a car pulling back on the highway after it was stopped by a trooper at around 8.07pm After striking the trooper's vehicle the Jeep rolled over onto its roof and skidded some 50 yards down the highway Both the trooper and the driver of the jeep sustained non-life-threatening injuries. They were taken to a local hospital where they were treated for their injuries and released Also known as the Move Over Law, it is an Illinois statute that requires drivers to slow down and, if possible, change lanes whenever approaching an emergency or police vehicle on the side of the road. Scherer was also charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, improper lane usage, failure to wear a seatbelt, and not having his drivers license on his person. If convicted, he faces fines that could exceed $10,000 as well as possible suspension of his license for up to two years. 'ISP Troopers throughout the state risk their lives daily to keep our roadways safe,' said District 7 Commander Captain Jason Dickey. 'These crashes are completely preventable, and I am asking the public to avoid putting the lives of others at risk by making responsible choices when behind the wheel. 'Always drive sober and move over when you approach a stationary vehicle on the side of the road.' Advertisement Former president Donald Trump and wife Melania paid tribute to Americans who have paid the 'supreme sacrifice' as millions marked Memorial Day across the country. Trump posted a statement from Bedminster, New Jersey, honoring the fallen heroes 'who took their last breaths in defense of our Nation, our families, our citizens, and our sacred freedoms.' Melania then posted a photo of a Star-Spangled banner at half-staff and wrote: 'Today we honor courageous fallen heroes who fought for our freedom!' The image, which the former first lady posted on Twitter, showed palm trees in the foreground, a likely indication that she was still at Mar-a-Lago. Trump issued the statement under his familiar 'From the Office of Donald J. Trump logo.' Unlike Melania, he is currently under a ban by the Twitter platform. The former first couple paid their respects as thousands of MAGA fans took to the water in Jupiter, Florida, for a boat parade. Crowds lined the banks as vessels with American and MAGA flags sailed across the water. Staunch Trump ally Roger Stone the recipient of a Trump pardon posed with his trademark peace sign as boaters drifted by. He hugged his wife Nydia on the back of their boat, days after she was reportedly diagnosed with stage three cancer, in his first public appearance since Trump pardoned him in December last year. There were also banners saying 'Trump is My President', 'This Area is a Liberal-Free Zone' and 'Trump 2024', as speculation builds over whether he will take a second run at the White House. After seeing the boat parade, Trump released another statement saying: 'Wow! I hear they have thousands and thousands of boats parading in Jupiter, despite the fact that they tried to cancel us. Everyone is having an incredible time. On this day, we especially appreciate everyone who served and fought for our great Country. I love you all!' Former president Donald Trump and wife Melania paid tribute to Americans who have paid the 'supreme sacrifice' as millions marked Memorial Day across the country. The former first couple are pictured standing over a grave at Arlington National Cemetery in May, 2019 The former first couple paid their respects as MAGA fans took to the water in Jupiter, Florida , for a boat parade The former first couple paid their respects as MAGA fans took to the water in Jupiter, Florida , for a boat parade The huge flotilla of boats with a sea of Trump flags takes part of the parade in Jupiter, Florida Staunch Trump ally Roger Stone posed with his trademark peace sign alongside wife Nydia as boaters drifted by. Nydia was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer last week Trump revealed earlier this month that he will be continuing campaign-style rallies in states including Florida, Ohio, Georgia and North Carolina The former president said in his Memorial Day post that the 'gallantry' of American servicemen and women was the reason why 'we can together, as one people, continue our pursuit of Americas glorious destiny'. 'We owe all that we are, and everything we ever hope to be, to these unrivaled heroes. Their memory and their legacy is immortal,' he added. 'Our loyalty to them and to their families is eternal and everlasting. 'Americas warriors are the single greatest force for justice, peace, liberty, and security among all the nations ever to exist on earth. 'God bless our fallen Soldiers, Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, Airmen, and Marines. We honor them today, forever, and always.' President Biden also made a stirring Memorial Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery, paying tribute to his veteran son Beau and calling on Americans to fight for democracy which he described as under threat. Trump supporters relax on a boat during the MAGA parade in Jupiter, Florida Trump supporters unfurled huge flags on the water and enjoyed refreshments to mark the holiday . Crowds lined the banks as vessels with American and MAGA flags sailed across the water Many Trump supporters were passionate about their political affiliations during the parade. After seeing the boat parade, Trump released another statement saying: 'Wow! I hear they have thousands and thousands of boats parading in Jupiter, despite the fact that they tried to cancel us. Everyone is having an incredible time. On this day, we especially appreciate everyone who served and fought for our great Country. I love you all!' The Trump parades that were hugely popular during the summer and in the build-up to the election have continued despite Biden's victory in November There were also banners saying 'Trump is My President', 'This Area is a Liberal-Free Zone' and 'Trump 2024', as speculation builds over whether he will take a second run at the White House 'Democracy itself is in peril here at home and around the world,' Biden cautioned. 'A struggle for democracy is taking place around the world,' Biden said in a 23 minute speech at Arlington. 'Democracy means the rule of the people. The rule of the people. Not the rule of monarchs. Not the rule of the money,' he continued. He called the nation's travails a 'struggle for the soul of America itself' a recurring theme of his campaign and administration. And he called for 'truth, founded on facts, not propaganda.' 'Empathy is the fuel of democracy,' Biden said, at times weaving in remarks that alluded to the political clashes that preceded his speech. He referenced the recent tumultuous times in American politics which have featured a violent riot inside the Capitol, and a vote in the Senate Friday where a bipartisan to investigate Jan. 6th failed to advance. Early Monday, Democrats in the Texas legislature walked out to prevent a vote on new election restrictions. And within days, Biden will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose actions in Ukraine kicked off a years-long standoff with the U.S. A military coup in Burma has once again brought U.S. sanctions in response and former Trump National Security Advisor Mike Flynn was under scrutiny for saying it 'should happen here' in response to a question at a Dallas QAnon conference. 'The soul of America is animated by the perennial battle between our worst instincts, which weve seen of late and our better angels. Between "me first," and "we the people." Between greed and generosity,' Biden said. Between 'cruelty and kindness, captivity and freedom.' Biden linked past battles in military and historical memory to recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. 'They weren't fighting for dictators. They were fighting for democracy,' he said. 'They weren't fighting to exclude or to enslave. They were fighting to build and broaden and liberate. They weren't fighting for self, they were fighting for the soul of the nation. For liberty and simple fair play. Simple fair play and decency.' 'Democracy is more than a form of government. It's a way of being. It's a way of seeing the world. Democracy means the rule of the people ... Not the rule of monarchs. Not the rule of the money. Not the rule of the mighty.' He said since times of antiquity there has been a battle between 'the aspirations of the many and the greed of the few' between a right to self-determination and 'the self-seeking of the dictator.' He contrast dreams of democracy with the 'appetites for autocracy, which we're seeing around the world.' Trump revealed earlier this month that he will be continuing campaign-style rallies in states including Florida, Ohio, Georgia and North Carolina A woman in a patriotic swimsuit takes photos of the flags on the boats surrounding her Trump supporters also showed their support for Israel after the recent violence with Hamas. The flags came in various colors - including the Back the Blue stripes A MAGA fan holds a megaphone and another checks his phone on their boat Trump supporters on the Team Deplorable take photos above them The DeeQueen II, with Make America Great Again and Women for Trump flags, sails in the parade Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that a coalition trying to unseat him would be 'dangerous to the state of Israel' as the country's longest-serving prime minister desperately tries to cling on to power. His rivals are seeking to finalise a unity coalition between secular centrist opposition chief Yair Lapid, ultranationalist Naftali Bennett, and other left-wing parties for a 'change' government of ideologically disparate rivals. The deal, in which Bennett would serve first as prime minister under a rotation with Lapid, must be finalised by a deadline of midnight on Wednesday. Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that a coalition trying to unseat him would be 'dangerous to the state of Israel' Former TV anchor Lapid's chances of success rose when tech millionaire Bennett, despite their ideological differences, said on Sunday he would join a 'national unity government' in which the two men would take turns to serve as premier. Israel's latest political turmoil comes more than two months after Israel's fourth inconclusive election in less than two years. Netanyahu, 71, is the dominant political figure of his generation and his challengers have little in common - apart from a desire to emerge from his divisive shadow and from unprecedented turmoil which has seen four deadlocked elections in two years. Hoping to discredit Bennett and other rightists now negotiating with Lapid, Netanyahu has cast them as committing 'the fraud of the century' which would, he said, imperil Israel. Lapid's riposte was restrained. 'A week from now, the State of Israel can be in a new era. Suddenly it will be quieter. Ministers will go to work without inciting, without lying, without trying to instil fear all of the time,' he said in a televised address. Though he described Bennett as 'my friend, the prime minister-designate' and voiced hope of a deal before Wednesday, Lapid cautioned: 'There are still plenty of obstacles in the way of the formation of the new government.' His rivals are seeking to finalise a unity coalition between secular centrist opposition chief Yair Lapid (pictured) and ultranationalist Naftali Bennett A viable anti-Netanyahu coalition would still need the support of other parties and lawmakers to gain a majority of 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset, Israel's legislature. Israelis were divided about everything except the folly of writing Netanyahu off. 'An event took place yesterday whose importance cannot be overstated. A real possibility was created ... an alternative government in every sense of the word,' wrote Sima Kadmon in the best-selling Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. But she added: 'It's not over yet. Long days loom in which Netanyahu will do absolutely everything to shift the momentum.' Netanyahu faces other troubles, chiefly a corruption trial for bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He denies all charges. The veteran Likud Party leader was first elected prime minister in 1996 and he returned to power in 2009, holding the top office for more than a decade. Israel Hayom, a pro-Netanyahu daily, described Bennett and Gideon Saar, another rightist in talks with Lapid, as being 'in service of the left'. Netanyahu has kept the door open to them, maintaining he is still capable of forming the next government. Lapid, 57, is seeking to cobble together a diverse alliance which would include Bennett, a supporter of Jewish settlements in the Israel-occupied West Bank, as well as Arab-Israeli lawmakers. The deal, in which Bennett (pictured) would serve first as prime minister under a rotation with Lapid, must be finalised by a deadline of midnight on Wednesday In order to build such an anti-Netanyahu bloc, he must sign individual agreements with seven parties, whose members would then vote in parliament to confirm the coalition. Among them are the centrist Blue and White party of Defence Minister Benny Gantz and the hawkish New Hope party of Netanyahu's former ally Gideon Saar. Avigdor Lieberman's pro-settlement Yisrael Beitenu party as well as the historically powerful centre-left Labour party and the dovish Meretz party would also join. Netanyahu's conservative Likud party won 30 seats in the last election on March 23, the best result of any party, but far short of a majority. In a last-ditch bid Sunday, Netanyahu offered a three-way power sharing deal to his rivals Bennett and Saar - but Saar refused. If Bennett and Lapid miss Wednesday's deadline, parliament can choose a candidate to for a new coalition. Should that fail, the country goes to a fifth election. Lapid's party, with 17 seats of its own, had mustered a total of 51 votes of support from left, centre and right-wing parties before Bennett joined him. Bennett's Yamina ('Rightward') bloc has seven seats, but one lawmaker swore he would not cooperate with the anti-Netanyahu camp. Netanyahu faces troubles, chiefly a corruption trial for bribery, fraud and breach of trust, sparking protests against him (pictured) To win the backing of four more lawmakers, needed to achieve the required 61 seats, Lapid is counting on parties representing Arab citizens of Israel, which have not yet announced their intentions. They would have to support a coalition including Bennett, even though he has previously directed the Yesha Council which represents Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank. 'The left is making far from easy compromises here,' Bennett acknowledged Sunday. However, a source briefed on the Bennett-Lapid power-sharing talks, which also include liberal and centre-left parties, said there had been 'significant progress' toward a final deal, adding: 'There's a lot more that unites than separates.' Bennett, a former defence minister, and Lapid, a former finance minister, both want to invest in education and health, and to head off economic malaise from the COVID-19 pandemic. However the new coalition will likely mean a stalemate on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with marked policy differences between the coalition partners. Bennett has favoured Israel annexing parts of the occupied West Bank, while his prospective left-leaning allies may argue for ceding territory to the Palestinians. The source briefed on the talks indicated that Bennett and Lapid had agreed to sidestep the issue: 'There's not going to be annexation, there's not going to be final-status withdrawals.' 'Final status' is a diplomatic term for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, negotiations on which stalled in 2014. Israel's financial markets were mostly unchanged on Monday with the shekel holding steady at 3.25 per dollar. Once a coalition is formed, investors will expect passage of a 2021 state budget. Because of the two-year political stalemate, Israel is using a pro-rated version of the 2019 budget, which was approved in mid-2018. This is the terrifying moment an angry hippo chased a group of tourists' speedboat to force them out of its territory in Lake Victoria, Kenya. Footage shows four hippos calmly enjoying the water as the boat approaches before one clearly takes objection to the sightseers. The semiaquatic mammal makes an angry guttural sound as it leaps forward and starts to chase the tourist boat. Footage shows the hippo gliding through the water as the shocked tourists start to pull away in fright. This is the terrifying moment an angry hippo chased a group of tourists' speedboat to force them out of its territory in Kenya Footage shows the hippo gliding through the water in pursuit of the sightseer's boat as the shocked tourists start to pull away in fright The massive animal disappears underwater as it gives chase, surfacing only briefly to breathe. The hair-raising footage was captured on Friday by Dicken Muchena, 27, who had jumped in the speedboat with three friends hoping to catch a glimpse of a hippo. It is the second time in six months Muchena, a Geography teacher, has been chased off by an angry safari animal in Kenya. In December, he was charged by a huge giraffe while on a jungle tour of the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya. It is the second time in six months Muchena, a Geography teacher, has been chased off by an angry safari animal in Kenya - in December, he was charged by an irate giraffe This is the moment a large giraffe charges some tourists on the Masai Mara game reserve in Kenya The group were just leaving after spending time admiring the giraffes in their grazing ground at the reserve when the enormous creature got so close that it 'almost stepped on the vehicle', according to Muchena. At the time, he said he believed the animal had mistaken them for enemies and described the encounter as 'scary'. Eventually, the driver managed to manoeuvre the car out of the giraffe's path. Nobody was harmed in the incident. An irate Italian woman was filmed attacking another female passenger during an argument about facemasks on a Ryanair flight from Ibiza to Milan. The woman lashed out at flight crew as she was dragged off the plane. The flight required all passengers to wear a facial covering for the duration of the flight to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Footage of the flight circulated online last week. It is not clear when the incident took place. An irate Italian woman was filmed attacking another female passenger during an argument about facemasks on a Ryanair flight from Ibiza to Milan According to local media reports, the Italian woman had been asked by other passengers to wear her mask. The woman reacted by verbally insulting them. As the confrontation escalated, she proceeded to spit on them and physically assault them. Crew members intercept to escort the woman from the plane, which is yet to take off, and video footage shows her lashing out at flight attendants as she is removed Crew members intercept to escort the woman from the plane, which is yet to take off, and video footage shows her lashing out at flight attendants as she is removed from the flight. The incident was caught on camera and quickly spread on social media. Ryanair requires all passengers to wear masks during flights, covering the nose and mouth. The mask can only be removed to eat or drink. It is unclear if the woman faced any further disciplinary action. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin used a Memorial Day interview to hit back at Ted Cruz's claim the US military is turning 'woke' and soldiers are becoming 'pansies'. Austin told CNN the US military will never be 'soft' and claimed adversaries like China and Russia 'would like to capitalize on talking points like that'. 'I will not lose one minute of sleep about what the Chinese leadership is saying or what (Russian President) Vladimir Putin is saying. 'What I will focus on, and what I am focused on is the defense of this nation, and making sure that we have what's needed to be successful, he added. Earlier this month Cruz criticized an Army recruiting video that told the story of how a 'little girl raised by two moms' grew up to become a soldier. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin used a Memorial Day interview to hit back at Ted Cruz's claim the US military is turning 'woke' and soldiers are becoming 'pansies' He compared it with a purported video from Russia showing soldiers jumping out of a plane, doing press-ups and firing a sniper rifle in the snow. 'Holy crap,' he wrote in a tweet. 'Perhaps a woke, emasculated military is not the best idea....' The Texas senator triggered online fury after questioning the role of what he called an 'emasculated military' and comparing it with a video that appeared to show a rugged, shaven-headed Russian recruit parachuting into combat. 'The job of the military is to kill the bad guys. And it is to strike fear in the enemies of America,' he told Fox News as he defended himself from accusations that he was unloading on serving U.S. troops. 'People sign up to join the military because they want to keep us safe, they don't want to sit around a circle, emoting and passing daisies back and forth.' It followed similar criticism of a CIA advert. Cruz triggered online fury earlier this month after questioning the role of what he called an 'emasculated military' and comparing it with a video that appeared to show a rugged, shaven-headed Russian recruit parachuting into combat Austin said in his interview that the US military is the 'best in the world' because of the people that 'populate our ranks'. 'I think we're doing a great job in terms of recruiting the right kinds of people, providing access to people from every corner, every walk of life in this country. As long as you're fit and you can qualify, there's a place for you on this team.' He also argued that a diverse military 'must be part of who we are'. 'We represent the United States of America. We ought to look like America and not only in the ranks. But our leadership should look like America The American video tells the story of Cpl. Emma Malonelord, a serving soldier who describes how she came to choose a life in the military. The colorful, animated recruiting video describes how she defended freedom by attending LGBTQ marches and grew up to join the U.S. Army. Cruz's words quickly went viral, unleashing an angry torrent of accusations that he was trolling his own country's American armed forces and had been suckered by an adversary's propaganda. And veterans expressed fury that he could criticise the Army and target a real-life serving soldier. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who lost both her legs while serving as a helicopter pilot in Iraq, responded by mirroring Cruz's language. 'Holy crap,' she wrote. 'Perhaps a U.S. Senator shouldn't suggest that the *Russian* military is better than the American military that protected him from an insurrection he helped foment?' Malonelord's story is told in a colorful video, describing how she grew up with two mothers. Earlier this month Cruz criticized an Army recruiting video that told the story of how a 'little girl raised by two moms' grew up to become a soldier 'I also marched for equality,' she narrates as it shows her at a gay rights march. 'I like to think I've been defending freedom from an early age' 'I also marched for equality,' she narrates as it shows her at a gay rights march. 'I like to think I've been defending freedom from an early age.' She is pictured as a bridesmaid for her two mothers when they marry, before signing up with the Army, which she says was a way 'to prove my inner strength.' The progressive veterans group VoteVets also condemned Cruz. 'Ted Cruz attacks a US Army soldier for telling her story, says he prefers Russians,' it wrote on its Twitter feed. 'Because Ted Cruz is a sedition-loving traitor.' But other conservatives rallied around the Texas senator. John Noonan, an adviser to Sen. Tom Cotton, shared the TikTok video saying: 'We are going to be the most tolerant military in history ever to lose a war.' And Cruz himself reveled in the controversy he triggered as he continued to bait opponents. 'Im enjoying lefty blue checkmarks losing their minds over this tweet, dishonestly claiming that Im "attacking the military,"' he said late Thursday. 'Uh, no. We have the greatest military on earth, but Dem politicians & woke media are trying to turn them into pansies.' She is pictured as a bridesmaid for her two mothers when they marry, before signing up with the Army, which she says was a way 'to prove my inner strength He compared it with a purported video from Russia showing soldiers jumping out of a plane, doing press-ups and firing a sniper rifle in the snow Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull says there's little Australia can do to exit the Chinese 'freezer' of punitive trade measures, and should instead continue to prioritise the protection of its sovereignty. But he also warned 'gratuitous belligerence' towards Beijing was unhelpful, saying quiet diplomacy should win the day over slogans and media headlines. Mr Turnbull on Monday appeared at the Lowy Institute to launch a book on China by journalist Peter Hartcher, the same day that Australia and New Zealand sought in bilateral talks to project unity on China. Beijing has in the past 12 months launched a series of damaging trade strikes against Australia after Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic. These include bans and tariffs on exports including coal, grain and seafood. Beijing has in the past 12 months launched a series of damaging trade strikes against Australia after Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic China also remains angry with Australia over foreign interference and investment laws and the decision to ban Huawei from the country's 5G rollout. New Zealand, meanwhile, has been accused of being a softer touch to the superpower and has not faced trade sanctions to date. Mr Turnbull admitted on Monday that all parties are dissatisfied with the current state of the Australia-China bilateral relationship, but said Canberra should never resort to 'sycophancy' to alleviate tensions. Given this, a thawing of tensions was unlikely to occur anytime soon - meaning exporters should continue to seek out new markets for their products. New Zealand, meanwhile, has been accused of being a softer touch to the superpower and has not faced trade sanctions to date - but Kiwi PM Jacinda Ardern agreed to back Australia's fight at the WTO over barley tariffs after meeting with Scott Morrison (pictured) Mr Turnbull also said Australians should stop 'blaming themselves when they encounter anger from Beijing', arguing Chinese aggression was the issue. 'Anyone who believes sycophancy or subservience will win you anything other than contempt from the bullies demanding it from you, it's just utterly naive and wrong. We have to always stand up for ourselves,' he said. 'It's clear we are in the freezer for quite a long time... I don't think there's anything Australia unilaterally can or should do to change that.' But Mr Turnbull said responding to Beijing with 'gratuitous belligerence' or sloganeering was ultimately unhelpful, and diplomacy should take the lead. It comes after Trade Minister Dan Tehan on Sunday said the government was still contemplating the referral of Chinese wine export tariffs to the World Trade Organisation, having already complained about barley tariffs. The federal government last month also used foreign veto legislation to cancel Victoria's 'Belt and Road Initiative' infrastructure agreement with China. A woman dubbed the 'neighbor from hell' has been arrested again for terrorizing the couple next door to her, who she filmed, mocked with yard signs and tormented by cutting their TV cables. Lori Christensen, 57, has been arrested for stalking her neighbors in White Bear Township, Minnesota. They called police in December 2019 and explained how she had forced them to move out. The couple said Christensen cut their TV cables, filmed them in their home and mocked them with yard signs. She even bit the family's dog, they said. Christensen also is known for antagonizing other neighbors and in 2013, she appeared on ABC'S 20/20 as 'the Neighbor from Hell.' Christensen tormented the family so much that their daughter said she was scared to go outside. Lori Christensen, 57, has been arrested for stalking her neighbors in White Bear Township, Minnesota. They called police in December 2019 and told how she had forced them to move out When the couple decided to sell their home, she apparently racially harassed a family of prospective buyers who were Asian, screaming at them: 'F*** you! Go back to your f*****g country and get the f*** out of my neighborhood.' One realtor who had tried to sell the property gave up. They told cops: 'Crazy neighbor lady was the biggest factor. Scared my buyers away as shed be too high maintenance for my buyers family. Loved the home and property. She also kept a female mannequin on a stick on her front porch and swiveled it to face in the direction of the other family's home to scare them, the police report claims. The couple say that she screamed at their blind dog and accused the wife of being 'drunk'. In 2013, Lori earned herself the title 'the neighbor from hell' after appearing in a 20/20 special about her dispute with another couple Greg and Kim Hoffman moved out after a six-year feud with Lori that ended in 2013. The new 'victims' haven't been named Lori, in footage taken by her old neighbors. The new neighbors say she screamed at them, their dog and even bit the dog Lori's home in White Bear Township, Minnesota. She says she has only ever tried to defend herself These are the signs Lori put up when her old neighbors lived in the house next to hers. It's unclear what the new ones said In 2013, Christensen was sentenced to five years probation for terrorizing another family. She was convicted of felony harassment in that case. It's unclear where her gripes with the neighbors come from. When interviewed by police, she said she had a 'First Amendment right to free speech.' She also admitted that she 'might have mentioned' there were 'meth heads' living next door, and said the prospective buyers had a 'right to know' about a 2014 fire in the home - even though it happened before the alleged victims moved in. She complained that the family returned lawn tools to her broken. In 2013, Christensen made her case on 20/20, saying she was just trying to protect herself from being stalked. 'I think I've just been trying to protect myself of being stalked and being bullied. 'Why do I have to live my life to make them happy? They sat at home every day on their front step watching me and my daughter. 'I'm assertive. I hold my own. But I'm also a very compassionate person,' she said. US media: Pentagon's shadow army operating across the world Chinadaily.com.cn) 08:38, May 31, 2021 Photo taken on Feb. 19, 2020 shows the Pentagon seen from an airplane over Washington D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) A secret army of around 60,000 is carrying out domestic and foreign operations for the Pentagon in a program aimed at minimizing threats to US security, according to Newsweek magazine. The force, said to be 10 times the size of the CIA's clandestine element, is made up of operatives working undercover, with some of them embedded in top companies around the world. Agents in the program, developed by the Pentagon over the past 10 years, are engaged in online as well as real-life assignments and are often soldiers, civilians and contractors who evade detection with false identities. Newsweek reports that the secret army is carrying out its duties without the knowledge or consent of Congress. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Russia and Iran are believed to be just some of the countries seen as hostile to the US where the agents are working. The agency has a reported budget of $900 million. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) A shortage of chlorine tablets has seen the cost of cleaning a pool increase by as much as 700 percent, leaving homeowners scrambling to find alternatives. The shortage, dubbed 'Poolocalypse', is believed to be the worst in US history and has led to warnings of an increased risk of drowning and waterborne illnesses. It comes after nearly 100,000 new pools were built in the last year when the coronavirus pandemic trapped Americans at home. As Memorial Day signals the return of backyard gatherings and the opening of many public pools around the country following months of lockdowns, experts are warning owners should seek alternative ways to sanitize their water. Author and swimming pool consultant Rudy Stankowitz told the New York Times unsanitized pools were a serious safety hazard. Water contaminated with algae and bacteria had poor visibility, making it harder to see if someone had fallen in, and bathers could also become disoriented. Stankowitz, CEO of Florida-based Aquatic Facility Training & Consultants, said the chlorine also helped to prevent the spread of dangerous waterborne illnesses such as legionella and Naegleria fowleri, often referred to as a brain-eating amoeba. 'Chlorine also helps prevent swimming pools from becoming a hotbed for mosquitoes and associated diseases, as well as aiding in preventing unsafe conditions that could contribute to drowning such as cloudy water,' Stankowitz said. One new pool owner, Stephanie Winslow, told the Times the price for a bucket of chlorine tablets that cost her $26 at Walmart in spring was now for sale on Amazon for $170 - a near sevenfold increase. 'It's just a shame that something that's supposed to be really fun for people come summertime to enjoy now is almost a hassle because you don't know if you're going to be able to use it or not the whole summer,' Winslow, from Philippi, West Virginia, said. Memorial Day weekend traditionally signals the start of summer, as the estimated 10 million Americans with pools clean them out in readiness for the warmer weather, and water parks and public swimming pools reopen (file photo) But a severe shortage of chlorine tablets which has driven the price of tablets up by as much as 700% has forced many to find alternative cleaning products (file photo) One pool owner from West Virginia said the cost of chlorine tablets shot up from $26 to $170 in just a few weeks The severe shortage has been caused in part by a large fire at a plant in Lake Charles, Louisiana, last year that destroyed hundreds of tons of chlorine Pool maintenance workers and sales reps have reported stockpiling of choline tablets. Above, Terry Schroder stacks tubs of chlorine tablets for display at R and S Pool Supply in Maryland Heights, Missouri, in April A chemical fire that destroyed the Bio-Lab chlorine plant in Lake Charles, Louisiana, last year also contributed to the country's chlorine supply. The fire burned for three days and halted the production of chlorine tablets at the plant, which produces about a third of chlorine tablets in the US. Bio-Lab declined to say how much of the 835 tons of tablets stored there was destroyed. An estimated 10.4 million homeowners in the US have swimming pools, and there are 300,000 more public swimming pools. As people were stuck at home in 2020, and spent extra cash on improvements, 96,000 new pools were built, a 23 percent increase on 2019. A Goldman Sachs survey estimated 110,000 new pools would be built this year - the greatest number since 2008. Allan Curtis, owner of Michigan pool maintenance business Ask the Pool Guy, told CNBC he has been stockpiling chlorine. He said pool owners would have to buy alternatives to tablets such as powdered and liquid chlorine, and non-chlorinated products. 'And I do believe that all of those are going to literally run out.' Dennis White the president of Kansas swimming pool retailers Family Leisure, likened the shortage to last year's run on toilet paper. 'We have all been allocated amount of chlorine we can purchase and therefore we are also allocating the amount that people can purchase. So, don't run into a toilet paper issue,' White told KSHB. Customers elsewhere have reported seeing the price of a 50-pound chlorine bucket double from $75 to $158. Owners with freshwater pools could opt to convert them to saltwater, which makes its own chlorine in electrolysis. The cost to convert a pool is usually around $2000. Brits are still not banned from travelling to Vietnam even though a potentially dangerous new Covid variant has been found there. It emerged over the weekend that a strain of the virus appearing to be a hybrid of the UK and Indian variants, both of which are fast-spreading, appeared in the country. The red list was drawn up to slash the risk of Britain importing new variants of the virus that could risk vaccines not working. There was uproar among scientists and politicians when it took weeks for India to be added despite it having the world's worst outbreak - and a variant that emerged there is now dominant in the UK and threatens to wreck plans to end lockdown. Despite this and the revelation that a new variant has sprung up in Vietnam, the country remains on the amber list, which means hotel quarantine isn't required. The variant is not yet internationally recognised so it is unknown whether it has spread to other countries. Labour MP and shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth today slammed the Government's 'weak, slow decisions on border policy' for letting in the Indian strain. The travel lists are due to be updated later this week after international travel was legalised on May 17. Vietnam's tough crackdown on the virus meant it has been largely untouched by the virus with a total of just 7,107 cases and 47 deaths since the start of the pandemic. But that number of cases has more than doubled from just 2,900 at the beginning of May, which the health minister said could be due to the new variant. Vietnam has so far been relatively untouched by the coronavirus thanks to strict and early action by the communist government (Pictured: A mother and child in Hanoi) Covid cases have more than doubled in Vietnam in May, which the health minister said could be because of the new variant. The total number is still extremely low at just over 7,000 by yesterday, May 30 Dr Nguyen Thanh Long said the new strain could be behind the variant now being in 30 of the country's 63 provinces. He did not specify the number of cases that have been recorded with the new variant, but said Vietnam would announce more details soon. It is likely to have been circulating for a month already, based on how Vietnam's cases surged, and scientists in Britain have said it's vital to act fast to try and keep out new variants - although they admit it is impossible to stop it forever. EUROPE HOLIDAY HOTSPOTS SET TO STAY ON AMBER LIST The UK is set to revise its holidays green list next week and parts of Spain and Greece could make the cut for summer freedoms. The lockdown ban on international travel came to an end on May 17 but only a handful of countries were on the no-quarantine travel list - namely Portugal, Iceland and Gibraltar. Next week, on June 3, ministers will reconsider whether it's safe for Brits to go to different destinations and any rule changes will come into action on June 10. Malta and the Balearic Islands, as well as some Greek islands, could find themselves on the list, The Independent reports, and Spain's tourism boss is hopeful that the travel to more of the country's territory could be on the cards soon. The mainland and Italy and France are unlikely to make it onto the green list this time, however, because they still have higher infection rates than the UK. Ministers are judging the safety of countries based on their numbers of cases, vaccination progress and risk of new variants emerging. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has hinted that the green list could be expanded in the coming weeks but has said only that it was a hope, not a certainty. Advertisement Boris Johnson was slated by MPs after allowing thousands of people to fly to the UK from India after the variant had emerged there. Yvette Cooper, Labour MP and shadow foreign secretary, said about the Indian variant spreading in Britain: 'This was not inevitable, it is just the latest in a long list of examples where the Government was too slow to act at the border,' The Telegraph reported. 'Instead of adding India to the "red list" at the start of April, when it added neighbouring countries like Pakistan, the Government inexplicably waited another two weeks.' She added: 'If we had learned the lessons from the countries who got this right during the first wave, we would have taken precautionary action early to keep this new variant out. Yet the Government is still making the same basic mistakes at the border all over again.' Jonathan Ashworth said today: 'The single biggest threat to [ending lockdown] is ministerial incompetence. 'Today ministers remain engulfed and distracted by internal rows and blame shifting at just the moment we need a laser like focus on this variant. 'Weak, slow decisions on border policy let this variant in, continued lack of sufficient self-isolation support and a stand off with local public health directors over vaccination policy failed to contain it.' Vietnam, which is in South East Asia beneath China and on the South China Sea coast, is a popular travel destination and in normal years hundreds of thousands of Brits visit. Although the Government is advising people not to go there at the moment it is not illegal, if they can get a visa from the Vietnamese government, and hotel quarantine isn't required when arriving back in the UK. The purpose of the red and amber travel lists was to minimise the risk of a new variant being imported into Britain and countries were added to red if this risk was high. The Department for Transport says: 'You should not travel to amber list countries or territories.' However, people who are not British citizens or residents are allowed into Britain if they have been to an amber list country, which they aren't for red list nations. Vietnam's coronavirus case count is near zero compared to the UK, where at least five million people have tested positive and many more had it without ever getting tested There has been a small increase in daily infections in Vietnam but it is still significantly lower than in Britain, where there are still thousands of people testing positive each day And quarantine after travelling can be done at home for 10 days, whereas for red list travellers it must be in a dedicated quarantine hotel. There is a greater risk of people skipping out on self-isolation if they are simply asked to do it at home. Not much is known about the Vietnamese variant but Dr Nguyen Thanh Long said it appeared to look like a combination of the Indian and Kent variants. Both are extremely infectious and he claimed: 'The characteristic of this strain is that it spreads quickly in the air. The concentration of virus in the throat fluid increases rapidly and spreads very strongly to the surrounding environment.' There were seven known coronavirus variants in Vietnam before Dr Long's announcement, according to the Ministry of Health. The communist country is struggling to deal with fresh outbreaks across more than half of its territory, including industrial zones such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Extra social distancing rules, testing and vaccinations are being brought in to try and control the virus. The country has ordered a nationwide ban on all religious events and, in major cities, authorities have banned large gatherings, closed public parks and non-essential business including in-person restaurants, bars, clubs and spas. A large number of students were abducted Sunday and one person was killed at a school in Nigeria's north central Niger State. Nigerian media, including the independent Channels TV, said about 200 students were abducted at the Salihu Tanko Islamic School in Tegina in the local government area of Rafi. Wasiu Abiodun, the Niger state police spokesman, said the abduction was carried out by 'armed bandits on board motorcycles in their numbers.' A large number of students were abducted from a school in Nigeria on Sunday in the latest armed kidnappings to sweep the country (pictured, parents demonstrate on May 4, demanding the release of their children after 55 days in captivity) Armed bandits abducted the students from Salihu Tanko Islamic School in Tegina, north central Nigeria All 'tactical teams' have been mobilised to rescue the victims and the police will 'ensure that the children are rescued unhurt,' Niger state police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun said (pictured, soldiers working to free kidnapped students in March) The gunmen fired 'indiscriminately and abducted a yet to be ascertained number of children,' he said, adding that the gunmen shot one person dead in the process. All 'tactical teams' have been mobilised to rescue the victims and the police will 'ensure that the children are rescued unhurt,' he said. The school's owner, Abubakar Tegina, lives 150 metres from the school and witnessed the attack. He said: 'I personally saw between 20 and 25 motorcycles with heavily armed people. They entered the school and went away with about 150 or more of the students, 'We can't be exact because most of them have not reported to the school as at that time,' he said, when asked for further details of the number taken. Tegina said there are around 300 pupils aged between seven and 15. He said pupils live at home and only attend classes at the site. The abduction was carried out by heavily armed bandits who 'indiscriminately' fired shots during the raid (pictured, a girl is reunited with her mother after spending a week in captivity after being kidnapped) The abductions have mainly hit northwestern Nigeria and drawn global attention to the country's deteriorating security situation (pictured, a police officer organises students released after they were kidnapped from a boarding school in March) Most students kidnapped in recent months have been taken from boarding schools. One person was shot dead during the attack and a second person was seriously injured, the state governor's spokeswoman said. She said 11 of the children taken were released by the gunmen because they were 'too small and couldn't walk'. A group of bus passengers were also abducted, she said. Sunday's attack took place the day after the release of the remaining 14 students of a group abducted last month from a university in neighbouring Kaduna state. Armed groups carrying out kidnapping for ransom have been blamed for a series of raids on schools and universities in northern Nigeria in recent months, kidnapping more than 700 students for ransom since December. The government and security forces have largely been unable to stop the attacks as they struggle to contain worsening violence and criminality across the West African country. The government and security forces have largely been unable to stop the attacks as they struggle to contain worsening violence and criminality across the West African country (pictured, President Muhammadu Buhari) The abductions have mainly hit northwestern Nigeria and drawn global attention to the country's deteriorating security situation. Kidnap for ransom has become common in the region in recent years. In February, President Muhammadu Buhari urged state governments to 'review their policy of rewarding bandits with money and vehicles, warning that the policy might boomerang disastrously.' Maria Elizabeth Pena-Echeverria, 18, has been arrested and charged with murder by authorities in Raleigh, North Carolina An 18-year-old woman has been charged with the murder of a 69-year-old man found dead in a North Carolina cemetery. Raleigh Police announced the arrest of Maria Elizabeth Pena-Echeverria on Saturday night. She has been charged with murder and is being held at the Wake County Detention Center. Police were called to Mount Olivet Cemetery in the city Friday night, where they found a seriously injured man. Authorities did not specify the nature of the injuries. He was declared dead later at a nearby hospital. On Saturday, police identified the man as James Lacy Taylor. Police were called to Mount Olivet Cemetery in the city Friday night, where they found a seriously injured man. Authorities did not specify the nature of the injuries. On Saturday, police identified the man as James Lacy Taylor It was unclear whether Pena-Echeverria knew Taylor before the alleged attack. The investigation remains ongoing. The cemetery is adjacent to Schenck Forest, which is managed by North Carolina State University. Campus Police had put out an alert Friday night saying witnesses saw a woman and two men leaving the scene. A newly-unveiled scheme will allow Afghan interpreters who worked for the British armed forces to relocate to the UK, but campaigners warn the scheme has 'glaring gaps' which could leave people 'vulnerable'. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said under the terms of the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (Arap), Afghan staff who worked for the UK Government will see their applications to settle in Britain 'rapidly accelerated' after international allies, including the UK and US, announced their intention to withdraw from the war-hit country. Officials said the policy, which has been in place since April 1, will see any current or former locally employed staff who are assessed to be under serious threat to life offered priority relocation to the UK regardless of their employment status, rank or role, or length of time served. Veteran Army officer Ed Aitken, founder of the Sulha Alliance campaign group, said he was 'pleased' about the scheme but warned that there was a 'low' bar for rejecting those who previously risked their lives to support British troops Including the workers' family members, some 3,000 more Afghans are expected to settle in the UK to 'build a new life' under the plan. Veteran Army officer Ed Aitken, founder of the Sulha Alliance campaign group, said he was 'pleased' about the scheme but warned that there was a 'low' bar for rejecting those who previously risked their lives to support British troops. 'We are pleased with where we are but there are concerns there are some glaring gaps where there are going to be parts of this community who are left vulnerable and won't be included under this policy,' Mr Aitken, who undertook two tours of Helmand Province, told BBC Radio 4's Today. Those dismissed from their post, which amounted to 1,010 of those employed - 'around 35 per cent', according to Mr Aitken, will not be eligible for relocation except on a case-by-case basis. Describing the scale of those who had their employment terminated as 'a problem with HR management', he added: 'If you compare the bar for asylum seekers to be rejected from asylum in the UK, the bar is incredibly high. 'Now if you compare that bar for rejecting Afghan interpreters, it is clearly trying to be set quite low, the idea that minor offences (can prevent access to the scheme).' Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said he was determined that no one who supported the UK's armed forces should see their life 'put at risk' by the withdrawal. More than 1,400 Afghans and their families have already relocated to the UK, and hundreds more received funding for education and training. 'We owe a debt of gratitude to our interpreters and other locally employed staff who risked their lives working alongside UK forces in Afghanistan,' said the Cabinet minister. 'We have always made clear that nobody's life should be put at risk because they supported the UK Government to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan. 'As we withdraw our armed forces, it is only right we accelerate the relocation of those who may be at risk of reprisals. 'The Home Secretary and I are going to do everything to make sure we recognise their services and bring them to safety. It is the right thing to do.' The MoD said the revamped policy 'acknowledges and reflects' that the situation in Afghanistan has changed, and 'with it the potential risk to the local staff who have worked for the UK Government over the past 20 years'. The UK's remaining 750 troops are there to train local forces after combat troops left in 2014 Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said he was determined that no one who supported the UK's armed forces should see their life 'put at risk' by the withdrawal Home Secretary Priti Patel said: 'I'm proud to say that the UK is fulfilling its promise to those Afghan interpreters and other locally employed staff who have worked tirelessly alongside our armed forces. 'It is our moral obligation to recognise the risks they have faced in the fight against terrorism and reward their efforts. 'I'm pleased that we are meeting this fully, by providing them and their families the opportunity to build a new life in this country.' The UK's remaining 750 troops are there to train local forces after combat troops left in 2014. They began to withdraw from the country in May. The announcement comes after President Joe Biden announced all US troops will have left by September 11, which is the 20th anniversary of the terror attack. General Sir Nick Carter, head of the UK's armed forces, said it was not a decision 'we'd hoped for'. A total of 456 British troops died in Afghanistan since 2001. The remains of two Kentucky men who died 80 years ago during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor were returned to the commonwealth this week for burial after they were finally identified by DNA provided by family members. U.S. Navy Fireman 3rd Class Welborn L. Ashby and U.S. Navy Seaman 2nd Class Howard Scott Magers were both killed in the surprise attack on December 7, 1941. Magers and Ashby were originally buried in the mass graves in the Punchbowl in Honolulu, Hawaii, and their remains were unidentified for decades until breakthrough DNA testing from surviving relatives. Magers was accounted for in December 2020 and Ashby in November 2019, and their remains were returned home to Kentucky on Memorial Day. Ashbys niece Paula Kern told The Courier Journal that her mother had always been haunted by the uncertainty surrounding Ashby's death. The family was told the 24-year-old was declared to have lost his life, but the Navy could not locate the body. Martha Christian was 13 at the time. In the 1990s she travelled to Hawaii, lowering her feet into the cold waters of Pearl Harbor and weeping for her lost brother. In 2011, she donated DNA to help with the identification of remains, but Christian died in 2017, two years before Ashbys remains were positively identified by the federal Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. U.S. Navy Fireman 3rd Class Welborn L. Ashby (left) and U.S. Navy Seaman 2nd Class Howard Scott Magers (right) were both laid to rest in their native Kentucky on Saturday A U.S. Navy honor guard removes the casket containing the remains of Seaman 2nd Class Howard Scott Magers from a hearse in preparation for burial at Merry Oaks United Methodist Church Cemetery in Smiths Grove, Ky., on Saturday A Memorial Day service was planned for Ashby in Beaver Dam, followed by a burial at Centertown Cemetery with full military honors, including a 'Missing Man' flyover by vintage planes. Paula Kern said shell be thinking about her mother and her long quest to have her brother returned home to Kentucky. 'It's what she would have wanted. And we want that closure too,' Kern said. 'We can't forget all those weve lost.' Ashby was 24 when he died in the Dec. 7, 1941, attack that launched the United States into World War II - one of 2,403 Americans killed. The two young men died during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor back on Dec. 7, 1941 The attack killed 2,403 U.S. personnel and destroyed or damaged 19 U.S. Navy ships, including eight battleships A memorial flag is presented to Doug Magers, the nephew of the late Seaman 2nd Class Howard Scott Magers, whose remains were buried in his native Kentucky on Saturday, 80 years after his death in Pearl Harbor Magers remains arrived in Barren County on Saturday after they were identified by the federal Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. He was laid to rest with full military honors alongside the gravesites of his parents, Carl and Verda Magers. A crowd of nearly 500 people showed up for Magers' burial service, according to the Bowling Green Daily News. Magers' three brothers and one sister have all died, but sister-in-law Betty Magers, now 91, still lives in the Merry Oaks area and remembers a young Howard Magers, the Daily News reported. 'My parents had a general store in Hays,' said Betty Magers. 'He would come real often to the store. 'We had a juke box, and he liked to play the song `South of the Border by Gene Autry. He was real friendly and always pleasant. I'm just happy that he can be home.' Musician 1st Class BJ Britt, a Warren County native, came from his U.S. Navy base in Virginia to play taps at the funeral of Seaman 2nd Class Howard Scott Magers, who was laid to rest with full military honors Magers and Ashby were originally buried in the mass graves in the Punchbowl in Honolulu, Hawaii, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Magers was accounted for in December 2020 and Ashby in November 2019 thanks to DNA testing from relatives Ashby was accounted for in November of 2019 and Magers in December of 2020, WPSD reports. The burials are a result of the federal Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency to utilize DNA testing in an effort to identify unidentified remains from Pearl Harbor, according to the news outlet. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor took place on Dec. 7, 1941 and caused the deaths of 2,403 U.S. personnel, including 68 civilians, while destroying or damaging 19 U.S. Navy ships, eight of which were battleships according to the census website. Police have released surveillance footage of the moment three unidentified gunmen arrived at a rapper's birthday party in Miami-Dade on Sunday night before opening fire on the crowd inside, killing two people and injuring another 22. The gunmen were shown jumping out of a white SUV at El Mula Banquet Hall in Northwest Miami-Dade in the early hours of Sunday morning. They were all dressed in black and appeared to be carrying rifles. Once inside, they opened fire on the crowd, killing two people, including Clayton Dillard III and one other person. Clayton was identified by his father on Monday. It's still unclear if the gunmen were targeting anyone in particular, or if they wanted to shoot indiscriminately. The party was for ABMG Spitta, a local rapper whose real name is Courtney Paul Wilson. It's unclear if he was harmed. The shooting was one of two over the weekend - a third person was killed at a different shooting. This the moment the three gunmen arrived at the El Mula Banquet Hall in Northwest Miami-Dade in the early hours of Sunday morning The gunmen are shown getting back into the car after shooting dead two people and injuring 22 Clayton Dillard was named by his father as one of the victims. He was 24 At a press conference on Monday morning, Dillard's father, who is also called Clayton, screamed 'they killed my son! Killed my son!' He had to be subdued by local police officers. Detectives said the shooting was a targeted attack. The party was for local rapper ABMG Spitta. It's unclear if he was harmed 'This type of violence has got to stop. Every weekend it is the same thing. This is targeted,' Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Freddy Ramirez said. Authorities believe the shooting was targeted, but no arrests were immediately announced. After the shooting, the trio of gunmen then got back into the car and fled the scene. Many of the victims were taken to Jackson memorial Hospital where a crowd of friends and relatives had gathered this morning to pray and wait for news. A mother of one of the victims Angelica Green told NBC Miami that her son had phoned her in the middle of the night to say he was on his way to the hospital. 'He called us frantic, telling us he had been shot, that it hurts, it hurts and that he loves us and wants us to know,' she said. Clayton Dillard's father interrupted a police press conference on Monday screaming 'they killed him!' Miami-Dade Police Department Director Alfredo Ramirez III said the violence was getting out of control 'My husband is like 'no stay with us, stay with us.' We hop in the car and we're talking to him to keep him alert.' Police were seeking help from the community to identify and arrest the shooters. American businessman and philanthropist Marcus Lemonis tweeted that he will contribute $100,000 for information that leads to capture and arrest of the shooters. 'I'm offering a $100,000 reward to help authorities in my hometown @MiamiDadePD arrest and convict the suspect/suspects .. pass this on,' he wrote. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called for 'swift and severe' justice. 'We mourn the loss of the two victims and are praying for the recovery of the more than 20 people injured at El Mula Banquet Hall near Hialeah,' he wrote in a tweet. 'We are working with local authorities to bring justice to the perpetrators.' Gun-related homicides have surged across the United States over the past year. On Wednesday, a public transit worker shot dead nine people at a California rail yard before turning his gun on himself as police arrived. Mass shootings have occurred in recent months at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis, an office building in California, a grocery store in Colorado and at several spas in Atlanta. Advertisement A 200-year-old Royal Navy figurehead from Lord Nelson's famous warship HMS Victory which was chopped up with a chainsaw by mistake has been painstakingly restored to its former glory. The 10ft-tall wooden piece of art is from HMS Victory, the warship commanded by naval hero Admiral Nelson during the Battle of Trafalgar. Originally thought to have been destroyed in the mid-to-late 20th century, the 200-year-old artefact was 'rediscovered' following a year of scientific and historical investigation. Painstaking study of the artefact and naval historical records revealed it was made in 1815 to replace Victory's original figurehead after that was damaged during the Battle of Trafalgar. Nick Ball, a curator at the Victory Gallery in Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard, polishes the newly restored figurehead A 200-year-old Royal Navy figurehead from Lord Nelson's famous warship HMS Victory which was chopped up with a chainsaw by mistake has been painstakingly restored to its former glory Originally thought to have been destroyed in the mid-to-late 20th century, the 200-year-old artefact was 'rediscovered' following a year of scientific and historical investigation But an error by contractors led to the artwork being destroyed in 2009 as workers mistakenly thought it was merely a modern-day work. The sculpture was sliced into six pieces by a chainsaw and locked into storage in 2012. In 2019, heritage chiefs from the National Museum of the Royal Navy - which now tends to Victory - launched an investigation into the wrecked figurehead in its vaults. They discovered the carving had in fact been created to replace the figurehead damaged in the fight against the Spanish and French armada in 1805. Pictured: HMS Victory at Portsmouth New Hampshire in dock Pictured: An engraved illustration of Lord Nelson from 1885 It is now on display in The National Museum of the Royal Navy's newest gallery 'HMS Victory: The Nation's Flagship', which has just opened at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The sculpture, now on display at the Victory Gallery, depicts two angels supporting the UK royal coat of arms, surmounted by a crown. Andrew Baines, the national museum's deputy director, revealed his team had been blown away when they discovered the figurehead's true history. He said: 'When we discovered that it was 206 years old, we were absolutely delighted.' Naval archives show the figurehead was commissioned in summer 1815 and constructed on the Isle of Wight at a cost of 65 - roughly 65,000 today. HMS Victory, based at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, is the oldest commissioned warship in the world. A gunman opened fire in a crowded Houston nightclub early Monday before being shot and killed by an off-duty sheriff's deputy working security. The gunman began firing at the Cle club at 1.21am on Monday and was shot and killed when an off-duty Harris County sheriff's deputy returned fire, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said. A second person was killed in the gun battle, and two were injured - one critically. Houston police confirmed on Monday afternoon that the deputy had shot and killed the gunman. It was unclear who had shot the three other people but it was not the deputy, police said. The two injured people were taken to hospital: one remains in a critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds and the other was discharged after being shot in the leg. No deputies were injured in the gun battle, and the identities of the victims have not yet been released. Two people were killed and two more injured after a man opened fire at 1:21am Monday morning at the packed Cle nightclub in downtown Houston The gunman was killed by an off-duty Harris County Sheriff's deputy who was working security at the club and returned fire Houston Police Chief Troy Finner, right, speaking at a press conference outside the Cle nightclub in downtown Houston At a press conference soon after the shooting, Police Chief Finner said it was a 'difficult scene - a lot of moving parts'. He added that the club was 'very crowded' and dark inside. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said several of his deputies were working off-duty security at the club and that at least one of them fired at the gunman. He said no deputies were hurt in the shooting, Fox San Antonio reported. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission has suspended the alcohol license for Cle nightclub for seven days to conduct an investigation, KHOU reported. The investigation into the shooting is being led by the Houston PD. Advertisement A year after rioting and looting tore the city apart in the days after the death of George Floyd, Minneapolis is still picking up the pieces. More than 1,500 businesses - most of them restaurants and retail stores throughout the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul - were damaged or destroyed. Arsonists set fire to almost 150 buildings, dozens of which burned to the ground. Two people were killed, more than 600 were arrested, and scores were charged. DailyMail.com returned to the riot-torn area this week and captured photos which show how the city has rebounded over the past 12 months. Slide me It has been one year since the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota were torn asunder by rioters, looters, and arsonists who torched more than 1,500 businesses and inflicted $350million worth of damage in the days following the police-involved death of George Floyd. The images above show the Target retail store on Lake Street as it looks today compared to a year ago Slide me The image on the left shows a damaged shopping center as it stands today. The image on the right shows National Guard soldiers on patrol during the unrest last year Slide me The Target store on Lake Street suffered considerable damage during the unrest last year Slide me In the image on the left, things appear tranquil near the entrance to the Target shopping center. The image on the right shows state police officers in riot gear protecting the area last year Looters ransacked cell phone stores, tobacco shops, grocery stores, liquor stores, and pharmacies, with each establishment suffering losses in the thousands of dollars. Over the course of three nights beginning on May 27, 2020, the Twin Cities incurred damages that exceeded $350million. Rioters targeted several blocks worth of buildings in and around the Third and Fifth police precincts. After arsonists set fire to the Third Precinct, at least 20 buildings nearby were destroyed, including several restaurants, an Auto Zone, a federal post office, and a multi-story affordable housing project still under construction. Slide me This house on Lake Street in Minneapolis suffered considerable damage during the unrest last year Slide me The images above show a looted and burned branch of US Bank as seen exactly a year ago in Minneapolis Slide me National Guard troops were deployed to protect a shopping center on Lake Street in Minneapolis last year Slide me The Lake Street area looked like a war zone a year ago. Today, things appear to have returned to normal Slide me Looters ransacked cell phone stores, tobacco shops, grocery stores, liquor stores, and pharmacies, with each establishment suffering losses in the thousands of dollars Slide me The Third Police Precinct in Minneapolis, where Floyd's fatal arrest took place, was overtaken and ransacked by arsonists last year Slide me The images above show another vantage point of Lake Street, where joggers go running. Last year, the scene was quite different The next night, protesters converged on the area near the Fifth Precinct, where seven nearby buildings were damaged, including a post office, a Wells Fargo branch, a staffing agency, and a Subway. One area that incurred one of the highest concentrations of property damage during the unrest was Midtown Global market, where more than a dozen businesses near East Lake Street and Chicago Avenue were burned to the ground. Less than two miles to the west, in the area that encompasses Hennepin Avenue and West Lake Street, some 40 businesses were ransacked and looted, including retail stores H&M, Timberland, an Apple store, Kitchen Window, and Urban Outfitters. The unrest spread to St. Paul as well as nearby suburbs including Blaine, Apple Valley, Richfield, North St. Paul, Maplewood, Brooklyn Center, and Roseville. Protests first erupted on Tuesday, May 26, a day after Floyds death in a confrontation with police captured on widely seen citizen video. On the video, Floyd can be seen pleading as Officer Derek Chauvin presses his knee against him. As minutes pass, Floyd slowly stops talking and moving. The Third Precinct covers the portion of south Minneapolis where Floyd was arrested. On May 28, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz activated the National Guard at the Minneapolis mayors request, but it was too late. No National Guards members were seen during protests in Minneapolis or St. Paul. The Guard tweeted minutes after the precinct burned that it had activated more than 500 soldiers across the metro area. Dozens of businesses across the Twin Cities boarded up their windows and doors in an effort to prevent looting, with Minneapolis-based Target announcing it was temporarily closing two dozen area stores. Minneapolis shut down nearly its entire light-rail system and all bus service out of safety concerns. In St. Paul, clouds of smoke hung in the air as police armed with batons and wearing gas masks and body armor kept a watchful eye on protesters along one of the citys main commercial corridors, where firefighters also sprayed water onto a series of small fires. At one point, officers stood in line in front of a Target, trying to keep out looters, who were also smashing windows of other businesses. On May 28, hundreds of demonstrators returned to the Minneapolis neighborhood at the center of the violence, where the nighttime scene veered between an angry protest and a street party. The image above shows a mob of protesters outside the Third Precinct during the three days of unrest in Minneapolis last year Protesters are seen above carrying signs and marching during a demonstration on Lake Street on May 29, 2020 The image above shows one of the shopping centers that was burned to the ground in Minneapolis last year Masses of demonstrators and protesters took to the streets of Minneapolis on May 29, 2020 Floyd's death sparked outrage and protests across the country and throughout the world. The image above shows a demonstration on Lake Street in Minneapolis on May 29, 2020 At one point, a band playing in a parking lot across from the Third Precinct broke into a punk version of Bob Marleys Redemption Song. Nearby, demonstrators carried clothing mannequins from a looted Target and threw them onto a burning car. Later, a building fire erupted nearby. But elsewhere in Minneapolis, thousands of peaceful demonstrators marched through the streets calling for justice. Much of the Minneapolis violence occurred in the Longfellow neighborhood, where protesters converged on the precinct station of the police who arrested Floyd. In a strip mall across the street from the Third Precinct station, the windows in nearly every business had been smashed, from the large Target department store at one end to the Planet Fitness gym at the other. Only the 24-hour laundromat appeared to have escaped unscathed. WHY US? demanded a large expanse of red graffiti scrawled on the wall of the Target. A Wendys restaurant across the street was charred almost beyond recognition. Among the casualties of the overnight fires: a six-story building under construction that was to provide nearly 200 apartments of affordable housing. Were burning our own neighborhood, said a distraught Deona Brown, a 24-year-old woman standing with a friend outside the precinct station, where a small group of protesters were shouting at a dozen or so stone-faced police officers in riot gear. This is where we live, where we shop, and they destroyed it. No officers could be seen beyond the station. What that cop did was wrong, but Im scared now, Brown said. Last month, Derek Chauvin, the officer who kneeled on Floyds neck, was convicted of second- and third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The other three police officers involved in Floyds arrest will stand trial this summer. Chauvin faces up to 40 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for mid-June. Others in the crowd saw something different in the wreckage. Protesters destroyed property because the system is broken, said a young man who identified himself only by his nickname, Cash, and who said he had been in the streets during the violence. He dismissed the idea that the destruction would hurt residents of the largely black neighborhood. Theyre making money off of us, he said angrily of the owners of the destroyed stores. He laughed when asked if he had joined in the looting or violence. I didnt break anything. The protests that began on the night of May 27 and extended into the next day were more violent than those on May 26, which included skirmishes between offices and protesters but no widespread property damage. Mayor Jacob Frey appealed for calm but the citys response to the protests was quickly questioned as things started spiraling into violence. If the strategy was to keep residents safe - it failed, City Council Member Jeremiah Ellison, who is black, tweeted. Prevent property damage - it failed. Fire crews responded to about 30 intentionally set blazes, and multiple fire trucks were damaged by rocks and other projectiles, the fire department said. No one was hurt by the blazes. Last month, Chauvin, the officer who kneeled on Floyds neck, was convicted of second- and third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The other three police officers involved in Floyds arrest will stand trial this summer. Chauvin faces up to 40 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for mid-June. A 19-year-old who drunkenly broke into a Milwaukee house and fell asleep awoke to find himself in handcuffs after he was detained by three out-of-state cops who were renting the property through Airbnb. Deputy Charles Pesola and two colleagues from Montana's Flathead County had been in Milwaukee last Friday for an emergency vehicle training exercise. Pesola said he woke at 2.30am after hearing strange noises, and then when they woke up a few hours later found a stranger asleep in one of the bedrooms. The officers slapped him in cuffs before he'd woken up, and called Milwaukee PD who came and arrested him. Pesola shared a video of the encounter with his 200,000 followers on TikTok, where it attracted nearly 4,000 comments and 172,000 likes. Deputy Charles Pesola, right, and a fellow officer from Montana's Flathead County rented a house on Airbnb while they were in Milwaukee for a training exercise After hearing strange sounds in the night, they woke to find 'this dude' asleep in one of the bedrooms. Pesola said the teenager was so intoxicated he 'had no idea where he was, he had no idea where he thought he was, he had no idea where he came from' The officers placed him in handcuffs and called Milwaukee police, who promptly showed up 'About 2:30am in the morning I heard some crashing around and I thought it was this guys,' Pesola said in the video, referring to one of the other deputies in town for training. 'Then we realize, one of the doors is open. I walk around the house.... and I find this dude, laying in the bed in our house. 'This silly guy found the one Airbnb in all of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, loaded with cops. 'He woke up in handcuffs. We called Milwaukee Police Department and they came and took him wherever they took him.' The video shows the Milwaukee officers arrive to pick the teenager up, who says it's the first time he's woken up in someone else's house. He appears unable to offer an explanation for how he got there. The officers then take a lighthearted dig at their Milwaukee counterparts. 'Crime doesn't stop, and Milwaukee needs our help,' says one of the Montana officers in the TikTok. 'We got you Milwaukee', says another. In a later clip posted by officer Pesola, he explains that they called police in order to make sure the teen got home safely, and that there was no outstanding arrest warrants for him. The Montana deputies declined to press charges and Milwaukee PD are believed to have taken him home Pesola said they hadn't pressed charges against the intruder, but needed to check he was OK and there wasn't an outstanding arrest warrant for him 'We didn't pursue charges, and he didn't go to jail. they just gave him a ride to wherever he needed to be,' Pesola said. Speaking the next day to local news station WISN, Pesola said it could have turned out a lot worse for the teenager. 'What if that dude stumbled into a bed with a kid, or my wife? That could have been a different morning,' he said. 'Wrong place wrong time.... lucky place, lucky time that there's actually people that know how to handle that.' Pensola said the teenager was so intoxicated he 'had no idea where he was, he had no idea where he thought he was, he had no idea where he came from'. When asked about why he had turned the experience into a TikTok video, Pesola said cops were getting a 'hard time right now' and he wanted to show the public they were just real people having fun. 'I try to make everything a TikTok video,' he said. A retired FBI agent has been charged after he allegedly conned a Texas woman out of $800,000 by convincing her for years that she was on 'secret probation' for drug crimes. William Roy Stone, Jr., 62, is accused of using the money he conned from the woman to buy a house in Dallas, as well as a Mercedes and a pickup truck. Stone pleaded not guilty last week in Dallas to 11 federal counts including wire fraud, conspiracy and impersonation of a federal officer over the alleged fraud scheme. Prosecutors say Stone retired from the FBI's Dallas office back in October 2015 and the next month convinced the woman that a judge in Austin had put her under 'secret probation' for drug crimes. Retired FBI agent William Roy Stone, Jr., 62, has been charged after he allegedly conned a Texas woman out of $800,000 by convincing her for years that she was on 'secret probation' for drug crimes The woman is only identified as CT in court records. He allegedly told the woman that he was still an agent, that the fictitious judge had appointed him to 'mentor' and 'supervise' her. Stone told the woman that conditions of her probation meant she had to give him a list of her assets and that she had to pay for his expenses while supervising her, according to the indictment. Stone allegedly told the woman that she was forbidden to tell anyone about her probation and risked imprisonment and losing custody of her children if she did. Over the next four years, Stone allegedly coerced the woman into giving him hundreds of thousands of dollars. He used the money to buy a Toyota pick-up truck, a Mercedes sedan and property in a suburb northwest of Dallas, prosecutors say. At one point, Stone allegedly told the woman that he would have her probation lifted if she married him. Stone used the money to buy a Toyota pick-up truck, a Mercedes sedan and property in a suburb northwest of Dallas (pictured above), prosecutors say Prosecutors say Stone started conning the woman after he retired from the FBI's Dallas office (above) in October 2015. The FBI refused to comment on Stone's tenure as an agent The FBI would not answer questions about Stone's tenure as an agent, whether he met the woman through his work for the bureau and whether they had a relationship. Stone's attorney also refused to say whether his client had a romantic or sexual relationship with the woman he allegedly defrauded. Prosecutors say the woman gave Stone about $800,000 over several years. 'Stone allegedly conned, threatened and stole from his victim, exploiting her trust in law enforcement for his own financial gain,' Cloey C. Pierce, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Dallas Field Office said. Stone's attorney, Gregg Gallian, said his client has pleaded not guilty and denies the charges against him. Gallian said he 'looks forward to exposing the truth of these misguided allegations in the courtroom.' If convicted, Stone faces up to 178 years in prison. The United States economy is poised to grow at the fastest pace since 1984 this year thanks to unprecedented government stimulus money and rising COVID-19 vaccination rates. That's according to a report released Monday by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development - which is made up of experts from 38 countries which 'work to build better (economic) policies for better lives', according to its website. The report predicted that the US gross domestic product (GDP) is on track to increase 6.9 percent by the end of 2021 - a rate not seen for four decades. The OECD predicts that the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) is on track to increase 6.9 percent this year, making it the biggest increase in nearly 40 years, according to a report released Monday To put that into perspective, the GDP, which measures goods and services created in a country's economy, contracted at a 3.5 percent annualized rate last year, which saw the economy plummet amidst the shutdowns and curfews placed at the onset of the COVID-19 virus. 'Substantial additional fiscal stimulus and a rapid vaccination campaign have given a boost to the economic recovery,' the OECD said in the report. Laurence Boone, chief OECD economist, said that the increase in vaccinations will correlate to higher confidence in the economy while protecting vulnerable populations from new or different strains of COVID-19. 'It is very disturbing that not enough vaccines are reaching emerging and low-income economies,' Boone told Fox Business Network. 'This is exposing these economies to a fundamental threat because they have less policy capacity to support activity than advanced economies.' The Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development attributes the unprecedented growth to government stimulus money and increasing vaccination rates The report also predicts that unemployment rates will continue to fall, as more discouraged workers are enticed back into the labor market 'More broadly, as long as the vast majority of the global population is not vaccinated, all of us remain vulnerable to the emergence of new variants,' he added. 'Confidence could be seriously eroded by further lockdowns, and a stop-and-go of economic activities.' OECD predicted a global economic growth rate of 5.8 percent for 2021, while warning that recovery would be uneven. However, in many countries operating under OECD's umbrella, standards of living are expected to remain considerably below pre-COVID levels, even by the end of 2022, the report states. COVID-19 has infected over 33 million Americans, with a death toll of more than 540,000 The report also predicts that unemployment rates will continue to fall, as more discouraged workers are enticed back into the labor market. Service and retail industry jobs took a massive hit in terms of employment opportunities at the start of lockdown back in March, 2020, which have since increased as lockdowns and curfews have lightened up amidst a growing increase in vaccinations. Rising wages coupled with government transfers in the form of stimulus payments and accumulated household savings will also propel consumption, according to the OECD report. Advertisement The father of one of the two people shot dead on Saturday night at a rapper's birthday party in Miami broke down in tears on Monday morning, interrupting a police press conference, yelling 'you all killed my kid!' Clayton Dillard III, 24, was shot and killed in the early hours of Sunday morning when the three gunmen opened fire. His father, Clayton Dillard II, had been begging to get to his body outside the venue on Sunday. On Monday, he attended a police press conference where he screamed at police and politicians: 'You all killed my kid!' he screamed, before being led away. Clayton Dillard was named by his father as one of the victims. He was 24 Clayton Dillard's father interrupted a police press conference on Monday screaming 'they killed him!' Clayton Snr. was visibly emotional at the press conference. He was led away by police Police at the press conference said 'this is the kind of emotion we are dealing with' as Dillard was led away The party was for ABMG Spitta, a local rapper whose real name is Courtney Paul Wilson. It's unclear if he was harmed. The shooting was one of two over the weekend - a third person was killed at a different shooting. 'This type of violence has got to stop. Every weekend it is the same thing. This is targeted,' Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Freddy Ramirez said. Authorities believe the shooting was targeted, but no arrests were immediately announced. After the shooting, the trio of gunmen then got back into the car and fled the scene. Many of the victims were taken to Jackson memorial Hospital where a crowd of friends and relatives had gathered this morning to pray and wait for news. A mother of one of the victims Angelica Green told NBC Miami that her son had phoned her in the middle of the night to say he was on his way to the hospital. Clayton Dillard had also confronted law enforcement officials at the scene of the shooting on Sunday Dillard is the father of one of two 26-year-old men who were gunned down outside the banquet hall that was hosting a rap concert This the moment the three gunmen arrived at the El Mula Banquet Hall in Northwest Miami-Dade in the early hours of Sunday morning The gunmen are shown getting back into the car after shooting dead two people and injuring 22 'He called us frantic, telling us he had been shot, that it hurts, it hurts and that he loves us and wants us to know,' she said. 'My husband is like 'no stay with us, stay with us.' We hop in the car and we're talking to him to keep him alert.' Police were seeking help from the community to identify and arrest the shooters. American businessman and philanthropist Marcus Lemonis tweeted that he will contribute $100,000 for information that leads to capture and arrest of the shooters. 'I'm offering a $100,000 reward to help authorities in my hometown @MiamiDadePD arrest and convict the suspect/suspects .. pass this on,' he wrote. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called for 'swift and severe' justice. 'We mourn the loss of the two victims and are praying for the recovery of the more than 20 people injured at El Mula Banquet Hall near Hialeah,' he wrote in a tweet. 'We are working with local authorities to bring justice to the perpetrators.' Gun-related homicides have surged across the United States over the past year. On Wednesday, a public transit worker shot dead nine people at a California rail yard before turning his gun on himself as police arrived. Mass shootings have occurred in recent months at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis, an office building in California, a grocery store in Colorado and at several spas in Atlanta. An 84-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman in her 80s was found dead at an address in a Cornish seaside town. Devon and Cornwall Police officers were called by the ambulance service to a property in Laflouder Fields in Helston on Saturday following reports of concern for welfare. The elderly woman was pronounced dead at the scene when police arrived shortly after 11am - and a murder enquiry has now been launched. Devon and Cornwall Police officers were called by the ambulance service to a property in Laflouder Fields in Helston, Cornwall on Saturday (May 29) The incident took place just six miles from popular National Trust site Lizard Point - the most southerly point of the British mainland. An 84-year-old man, also from Helston, has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and remains in police custody. The womans next of kin have been informed, and formal identification has yet to take place. Scenes of crime officers remain at the scene and a police cordon is in place whilst enquiries continue. Anyone with information which may assist the investigation is asked to contact police on 101, quoting log 411 29/5/21. A social media car influencer shot himself dead live on Instagram following a high-speed police chase in California after he was accused of tying up and abusing his girlfriend and mother of his young son. Angel Hernandez Grado, also known as S2K Wya on Instagram, killed himself during an hours-long chase and standoff with police on Interstate 5 near San Diego last Wednesday. Police had been hunting the 28-year-old influencer, who was well known within the car racing community, after his 25-year-old girlfriend told them he had been holding her captive inside his San Diego apartment for two days. The girlfriend said she managed to escape and alert neighbors after Grado left the apartment. Angel Hernandez Grado, also known as S2K Wya on Instagram, killed himself during an hours long chase and standoff with police on Interstate 5 near San Diego last Wednesday. He is pictured brandishing his gun during his livestream She told police that Grado had tied her up, sexually assaulted her, strangled her and hit her head with an axe. The girlfriend said Grado told her he was going to buy a gun and threatened to kill her if she called police. Hours later, police spotted Grado's white BMW X5 on Interstate 5 and attempted to pull him over. When he refused, police chased him along several freeways before eventually deploying spike strips to stop him. Aerial footage obtained by ABC7 showed about three dozen police and armored vehicles surrounding Grado's car on the highway. After police spiked his tires, Grado started livestreaming while officers closed in on him on the highway. He filmed himself brandishing a gun and crying as police helicopters circled above his car. Grado, who was well known within the car racing community and had more than 50,000 Instagram followers, also posted a photo of himself with his son (above) before he killed himself Grado killed himself following an hours long police pursuit that ended with his car wedged between two armored vehicles on a California highway Aerial footage obtained by ABC7 showed about three dozen police and armored vehicles surrounding Grado's car on the highway Footage showed him pointing the gun at his head multiple times and saying that he loved his infant son. At one point, he said: 'I am now weak. I just f**king hate my life, bro. I'm just tired of this f**king life, f**k the police.' He also posted a photo of himself with his son before he killed himself. Police tried to negotiate with Grado for about an hour after he told them he was armed with a gun. Authorities said Grado tried to drive off but was stopped by two armored vehicles. He shot himself in the head soon after and was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead. Grado was a car enthusiast with more than 50,000 followers on Instagram. His girlfriend was taken to the hospital suffering from broken ribs and bruises over her face and body. After his tires were spiked, Grado started livestreaming from his car as officers closed in on him on the highway. He filmed himself brandishing a gun and crying as police helicopters circled above his car Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott has threatened to veto the state legislature's budget after Democrats blocked the GOP's new voting rights bill by walking out of the House chamber in the middle of the night. 'I will veto Article 10 of the budget passed by the legislature. Article 10 funds the legislative branch. No pay for those who abandon their responsibilities. Stay tuned', Abbott tweeted on Monday. He made the announcement after the Democrats staged the dramatic walkout pass Sunday night that stopped the new bill from reaching his desk for approval. Ted Cruz also urged Texas legislators to hold a special session to pass the new bill which would 'protect the integrity of our elections' and get around the 'scheming' Democrats. The bill known as Senate Bill 7 would have imposed a raft of changes that Republicans in the state see as a sensible approach to securing election integrity. It would eliminate drive-thru voting, empower partisan poll watchers and impose new requirements in order to cast a ballot by mail in Texas. But about two hours before a midnight deadline to pass the bill, Democrats began filing out of the chamber in greater and greater numbers, denying Republicans the quorum necessary to hold a final vote. Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott has threatened to veto the state legislature's budget after Democrats blocked the GOP's new voting rights bill by walking out of the House chamber in the middle of the night 'I will veto Article 10 of the budget passed by the legislature. Article 10 funds the legislative branch. No pay for those who abandon their responsibilities. Stay tuned', Abbott tweeted on Monday Abbott swiftly said on Sunday night he would call a special session to try passing a voting bill again but did not say when. 'Election Integrity & Bail Reform were emergency items for this legislative session. They STILL must pass. They will be added to the special session agenda. Legislators will be expected to have worked out the details when they arrive at the Capitol for the special session,' Abbott tweeted late Sunday night. Top Republican negotiators, Sen. Bryan Hughes and state Rep. Briscoe Cain, have called the bill 'one of the most comprehensive and sensible election reform bills' in Texas' history. But Democrats have argued that the bill would suppress voters and have a detrimental effect on access - especially for marginalized voters. 'We've said for so many years that we want more people to participate in our democracy. And it just seems that's not the case,' Democratic state Rep. Carl Sherman said. A voting bill in Texas that was on the verge of Republican Gov. Greg Abbotts desk failed to pass Sunday night after Democrats walked out of the House chamber before a midnight deadline. Pictured, House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, emerges from a closed-door meeting with Democratic members of the Texas House #Breaking: Its official. Texas Democrats have broken a quorum to stop debate on sweeping elections bill. #txlege https://t.co/f0Hhbfulfk pic.twitter.com/vHUmJfA0kr Lauren Vaxxed to the Max McGaughy (@lmcgaughy) May 31, 2021 'It's Jim Crow 2.0,' said Democratic Sen. Carol Alvarado. 'From the beginning, this was a rushed process.' The walkout handed Republicans a rare defeat in the Texas Capitol where they control every lever of power and wield overwhelming majorities in both the House and Senate. 'I am disappointed that some members decided to break quorum,' said Republican state Rep. Briscoe Cain, who carried the bill in the House. 'We all know what that meant. I understand why they were doing it, but we all took an oath to Texans that we would be here to do our jobs.' The move was reminiscent of 2003 when outnumbered Democrats twice broke quorum to stop Republican efforts to redraw voting maps. House Democrats first left the state en masse for Ardmore, Oklahoma only to return several days later. Senate Democrats delayed a special session that summer by going as a group to Albuquerque, New Mexico for several weeks. Ted Cruz also urged the Texas legislature to hold a special session to pass the bill and 'protect the integrity of our elections' A group opposing new voter legislation gather outside the House Chamber at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas. Texas Republicans on May 29 State Rep. Nicole Collier, D- Fort Worth, the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, speaks at a news conference at the Capitol on Sunday against Senate Bill 7, known as the Election Integrity Protection Act Ultimately, neither effort worked as the Democrats eventually returned to the Capitol and Republicans passed the bill. Under revisions during closed-door negotiations, Republicans added language that could make it easier for a judge to overturn an election and pushed back the start of Sunday voting, when many Black churchgoers head to the polls. A judge would be able to void an outcome of an election if the number of fraudulent votes cast could change the result, regardless of whether it was proved that fraud affected the outcome. The 67-page measure would eliminate drive-thru voting and 24-hour polling centers, both of which Harris County, the state's largest Democratic stronghold, introduced last year. The bill would also newly empower partisan poll watchers by allowing them more access inside polling places and threatening criminal penalties against elections officials who restrict their movement. Republicans originally proposed giving poll watchers the right to take photos, but that language was removed from the final bill that lawmakers were set to vote on this weekend. State Rep. Nicole Collier, D- Fort Worth, the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, speaks at a news conference at the Capitol on Sunday against Senate Bill 7. Republicans in the Texas Senate early Sunday attempted to muscle through a sweeping measure that would eliminate drive-thru voting and empower partisan poll watchers Texas is the last big battleground in the GOPs nationwide efforts to tighten voting laws, driven by former President Donald Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Georgia and Florida have also passed new voting restrictions, and President Joe Biden on Saturday unfavorably compared Texas bill to election changes in those states as 'an assault on democracy.' The vote in the Texas Senate came just a short time after a final version of the bill had been made public Saturday. Around midnight, Republicans wielded their majority to suspend rules that would normally prohibit taking a vote on a bill that had not been posted for 24 hours, which Democrats protested as a breach of protocol that denied them and the public time to review the language first. Even before the final House vote, Democrats said they would try to block the measure in court. 'It's an awful bill,' said Democratic state Rep. Jessica Gonzalez, the vice chairwoman of the House Elections Committee. 'But I'm hopeful that this underhanded behavior, the way they undercut the process, will help us when we litigate this.' Pressed on the Senate floor over why Sunday voting couldn't begin sooner, Republican Sen. Bryan Hughes said, 'Election workers want to go to church, too.' Pressed on the Senate floor over why Sunday voting couldn't begin sooner, Republican Sen. Bryan Hughes said, 'Election workers want to go to church, too.' Major corporations, including Texas-based American Airlines and Dell, have warned that the measures could harm democracy and the economic climate. But Republicans shrugged off their objections, and in some cases, ripped business leaders for speaking out. The top Republican negotiators, Hughes and state Rep. Briscoe Cain, called the bill 'one of the most comprehensive and sensible election reform bills' in Texas history. 'Even as the national media minimizes the importance of election integrity, the Texas Legislature has not bent to headlines or corporate virtue signaling,' they said in a joint statement. Republican lawmakers in Texas have insisted that the changes are not a response to Trumps false claims of widespread fraud but are needed to restore confidence in the voting process. Loud applause broke out at a vigil for the 'flower man of Islington' who was stabbed to death in north London over the Bank Holiday weekend. Tony Eastlake, 55, died from a knife wound after being attacked in Islington, north London near his market stall on Saturday just before 5.30pm. A crowd of family, friends, customers, passers-by and neighbours gathered for a vigil at the flower stall near Essex Road station, where he had worked since he was 14. The applause was led by friend Jody Graber, who told wellwishers: 'This has been a massive trauma for our community. It should not have happened. 'This is for Tony Eastlake - the loveliest man who could sell you a bunch of flowers.' He said Mr Eastlake was known by everyone in the community, including those who just passed by on the bus, and he was a good friend. Tony Eastlake, 55, died from a knife wound after being attacked in Islington, north London near his market stall on Saturday just before 5.30pm Tony Eastlake's daughter Paige Eastlake with his partner Lisa Maggs at a vigil at his stall Tony Eastlake's daughter Paige Eastlake at a vigil at his stall at Essex Road Station in London organised by the Islington Community Group on Facebook A crowd of family, friends, customers, passers-by and neighbours gathered for a vigil at the flower stall near Essex Road station, where he had worked since he was 14 Tributes at a vigil for Tony Eastlake at his stall at Essex Road Station in London organised by the Islington Community Group on Facebook People at a vigil for Tony Eastlake at his stall at Essex Road Station in London Tony Eastlake's dog Ralph, a pug aged 15, at a vigil at his stall at Essex Road Station Tony Eastlake's daughter Paige Eastlake at a vigil at his stall at Essex Road Station in London organised by the Islington Community Group on Facebook Tributes at a vigil for Tony Eastlake at his stall at Essex Road Station in London To gentle laughter Mr Graber recalled that Mr Eastlake once refused to sell a bunch of flowers to a customer on Valentine's Day because he thought the occasion was a 'con'. Mr Graber led a chorus of 'there's only one Tony Eastlake' before the crowd released blue balloons into the warm evening sky. Tony Burke, who lives nearby, said: 'He was such a lovely man. He was not just the flower man of Islington, he was a friend. I will miss him terribly. 'He would not let me pay for the flowers for my father's funeral. I had to force him to take the money. He worked at that stall for 40 years. He always had a smile for everyone.' The Metropolitan Police said witnesses recalled seeing Mr Eastlake in 'an altercation' with another man before the assault. Tony Eastlake's daughter Paige Eastlake at a vigil at his stall at Essex Road Station Tony Eastlake's daughter Paige at a vigil close to his stall at Essex Road Station in London Family and friends hold a vigil and pay tribute to flower seller Tony Eastlake in Essex Road Family and friends hold a vigil and pay tribute to flower seller Tony Eastlake Tributes at a vigil for Tony Eastlake at his stall at Essex Road Station in London Tony Eastlake's daughter Paige Eastlake looks at tributes at a vigil at his stall at Essex Road Station In a statement, his family said: 'Our hearts are broken forever at the loss of such a very special man. 'A man who was loved by everybody in the Islington community, who is remembered as kind and caring and always laughing, but most importantly, a father who leaves behind a devastated family, Lisa, Pauline, and his only daughter and best friend Paige, who he adored. 'Tony worked on the flower stall on Essex Road since he was 14 years old and was there through rain or shine, a smiling and friendly face to so many of us.' Mr Eastlake's family called on anyone who might have information to speak to police. A post-mortem examination is due to take place in the coming days. No arrests have been made. Detective Chief Inspector Vicky Tunstall said: 'We have a dedicated team of officers working around the clock to find the person or people responsible and I would like to hear from anybody who could help our investigation. 'I am particularly keen to hear from people who were in Halliford Road or Ecclesbourne Road between 5.20pm and 5.25pm. Did you see Tony? Or did you witness an altercation, or see anyone running away?' Ms Tunstall said officers were particularly keen to hear from people living in the houses and flats between Ecclesbourne Road, Halliford Road and Essex Road who may have private CCTV. Tributes at a vigil for Tony Eastlake at his stall at Essex Road Station in London Flowers were left at a vigil for Tony Eastlake at his stall at Essex Road Station in London Flowers were left at a vigil for Tony Eastlake at his stall at Essex Road Station in London Queens Park Rangers tributes were left at a vigil for Tony at his stall at Essex Road Station Candles at a vigil for Tony Eastlake at his stall at Essex Road Station in London The Metropolitan Police said witnesses recalled seeing Mr Eastlake in 'an altercation' with another man before the assault She also urged drivers with dashcams who may have been in the area to check their footage. 'Lastly, I would like to hear from those within the community who may have information about why this murder has taken place,' she said. 'We are looking at several possible motives and I am keeping an open mind as to the circumstances behind the attack. Information given to police will be treated in the strictest confidence.' Many locals paid tribute to Mr Eastlake on the Islington Community Group on Facebook. Francis O'Brien said: 'Such sad news, my thoughts are with Tony's family and loved ones. 'Tony had a kind heart, served our community for a number of years and always put a smile on the faces of people across Islington. He was not just a local businessman, but a friend to many.' Andres Paniagua Toro said: 'What a very sad day, the community has lost a great human being who helped many people daily with his beautiful smile and willingness to listen to their woes. 'Tony would always make me smile every morning on my way to work.' Elsa Smurthwate posted: 'How very very tragic. RIP fella, a true islingtonian and a man who also had time to smile and say hello. Him and his stall have literally been one of the few things that stood the test of time x. I hope the council would consider his stall to be left as a shrine in his memory.' Garry Clowes said: 'God rest Tony, always enjoyed pulling up for a chat and a cuppa. London's slowly being crushed.' President Joe Biden paid a Memorial Day visit to one of D.C.'s hottest pre-pandemic eateries, where he dined with Vice President Kamala Harris and both their spouses at Le Diplomate. The foursome brunched at the popular French eatery on D.C.'s 14th street for more than an hour. Joining were first lady Dr. Jill Biden and first gentleman Doug Emhoff. Although their order wasn't immediately known, The lively bistro offers such brunch fare as Poached Eggs Basquaise for $16, a Lobster Omelette for $23, and Avocado Toast for $15. It also offers Dorade Royale en Papillote for $31 and a $31 for a lobster risotto, a menu item it offered this year in the first lady's honor. President Joe Biden dined at Le Diplomate in Washington along with first lady Jill Biden (l), Vice President Kamala Harris, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff By bringing along his vice president, Biden rekindled a tradition from the Obama administration, when the former president and his then-vice president would frequently sample local eateries, usually burgers. Le Diplomate, which recreates elements of a Parisian bistro, also provides a Burger Americain. Surprised onlookers cheered upon the arrival of the president and his entourage, as Secret Service agents provided protection and screened restaurant guests. Agents kept the power-foursome out of sight while inside, although the restaurant is one of many that set up an expanse of additional outdoor tables to ride out the pandemic. Biden was greeted to cheers as he arrived at the high-end French eatery Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff joined the foursome RIGHT THIS WAY: The menu offers omelettes, a Burger Americain, and lobster risotto Earlier, Biden participated in a wreath ceremony at Arlington for Memorial Day The menu features a cornucopia of seafood, including assorted oysters, along with a Burger Americain and Steak Frites When he left, a guest seated outside introduced herself, and Biden proceeded to pet her curly-haired dog behind the ears. 'I've got two German shepherds at home,' he told her. 'I know,' she responded. He pronounced the pooch 'cute,' and the woman told him: 'Thank you for everything, Mr. President.' Jill Biden would visit the restaurant when her husband was vice president and the restaurant had first opened. One Twitter user, Bettina Weiss, tweeted out video of the group's arrival. It featured a cameo by her visiting mother. It was the kind of outing that former President Donald Trump rarely undertook in the heavily Democratic nation's capital. The gathering took place just minutes after Biden offered solemn remarks to acknowledge the nation's war dead while also issuing a warning that 'democracy is in peril.' He also included a few lines that referenced the raging debate about economic inequality, speaking of the 'aspirations of the many and the greed of the few.' 'The soul of America is animated by the perennial battle between our worst instincts, which weve seen of late and our better angels. Between "me first," and "we the people." Between greed and generosity,' Biden said. Between 'cruelty and kindness, captivity and freedom,' he intoned. He said of U.S. forces in a long line of conflicts: 'They weren't fighting for dictators. They were fighting for democracy.' 'They weren't fighting to exclude or to enslave. They were fighting to build and broaden and liberate. They weren't fighting for self, they were fighting for the soul of the nation. For liberty and simple fair play. Simple fair play and decency.' 'Democracy is more than a form of government. It's a way of being. It's a way of seeing the world. Democracy means the rule of the people ... Not the rule of monarchs. Not the rule of the money. Not the rule of the mighty,' said Biden. A notorious tiger poacher thought to have killed some 70 endangered cats has been arrested in Bangladesh after a 20-year hunt. Local police chief Saidur Rahman said that Habib Talukder - nicknamed Tiger Habib - lived next to a forest and would flee whenever officers raided the area. 'Acting on a tip-off, we finally succeeded and sent him to jail,' Rahman told AFP news agency. Talukder's hunting ground was the vast Sundarbans mangrove forest region straddling India and Bangladesh. The site is home to one of the world's largest populations of Bengal tigers. The species is endangered, with only a few thousand estimated to remain in the wild. The cats' pelts, bones and even flesh would be bought by black market traders who would sell them in China and elsewhere. A notorious tiger poacher thought to have killed some 70 endangered cats has been arrested in Bangladesh after a 20-year hunt [Stock image] Talukder, 50, started out collecting honey from wild bees in the forest but became a local legend for avoiding arrest as he began hunting tigers. 'We equally respect him and are scared of him,' local honey hunter Abdus Salam said. 'He's a dangerous man who could fight alone with Mama (tiger) inside the forest.' Sharankhola Station Officer Md Abdul Mannan told The Dhaka Tribune that Habib was listed as a most wanted fugitive by both police and the Forest Department. 'He secretly entered the Sundarbans and hunted wild animals despite being banned from entering the forest long ago. He has been carrying out these criminal activities even though there are multiple cases against him some powerful gangs are involved in this,' he said Local media reported that Talukder was arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning. Bengal tigers are unique among big cats in being able to live and hunt in the brackish water of the mangrove forests, and are adept swimmers [Stock image] Bengal tigers are unique among big cats in being able to live and hunt in the brackish water of the mangrove forests, and are adept swimmers. According to the Bangladesh Forest Department, the Bengal tiger population fell to a record low of 106 in 2015 from 440 in 2004. As of 2019, the population had crept up to 114 thanks to a crackdown on poaching and banditry in the region. Regional forest conservation officer Mainuddin Khan said that the news of Talukder's arrest had brought 'sighs of relief'. 'He was a big headache for us. He posed a great threat to the forest's biodiversity,' he told AFP. This Future Market Insights report examines the Global Automated CPR Devices market for the period 2014 - 2025. The primary objective of the report is to offer updates on the advancement of automated CPR devices, examining the marketing efforts and to provide the market opportunities in the global automated CPR Devices Market. The installation rate of automated CPR devices in EMS and hospitals is now increasing at considerable pace in the developed economies across the globe. Moreover the increasing awareness about the clinical benefits of the devices amongst the populace of developing economies is also driving the demand for automated CPR devices in the concerned market. The report also depicts the marketing strategies undertaken by the manufacturing companies which is significantly transforming the automated CPR devices market. This study analyses, estimates and forecasts the global automated CPR devices market from the supply perspective, in terms revenue (US$ Mn) during the forecast period 2015 to 2025. The report also highlights the impact of various drives and inhibitors in various regions along with their impact during the forecast period. Request a Sample of this Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-720 CPR Devices are chest compression systems that provide high quality compression to chest of patients suffering from sudden cardiac arrest to provide a steady flow of oxygen and blood in the brain as well as heart. The CPR device finds application in EMS, hospitals, ambulances, coronary & intensive care units, cardiac catheterization labs, air medevac units, EMT rescue units, etc. The devices does the Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) process mechanically. CPR is a compression technique used in various medical emergencies to maintain or initiate blood circulation in the heart and oxygen supply in the brain. To understand and assess the opportunities in this market the report is categorically divided under various sections such as market analysis by regions (Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa); competitive landscape (inclusive of competition dashboard, market share analysis, CPR brand share analysis, and company profiles) The report analyses the global automated CPR devices market in terms of market value (US$ Mn). The report starts with an overview of automated CPR devices market across the globe. In the other sections, FMI covers the key trends, drivers and inhibitors from supply and demand perspective. It also includes the market opportunities of automated CPR devices market. Impact analysis of key growth drivers and inhibitors based on the weighted average model included in the report better equips and arms client with crystal clear decision making insights. The next section of the report analyses the market based on end use and presents the forecast in terms of value for the next ten years. Regions covered in the report include: Europe North America APAC Latin America MEA To calculate the market size, the report considers various aspects based on secondary research. Furthermore, data points such as regional split and market split by applications, end use and qualitative inputs from primary respondents have been incorporated to arrive at appropriate market estimates. Get Full Report Buy Now @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/720 Some of the key inputs form primary respondents are as follows: The United States market will be growing in the near future owing to huge investments by major players, country giving priority to purchasing medical products, established products such as AutoPulse from ZOLL Medical Corporation and new entrants such as Defibtech and CPR RsQ Assist Inc. -Director of Strategic Sales AutoPulse will be the fastest growing CPR device in United States. -Director of Strategic Sales The prices for automated CPR devices will dramatically come down and market would attain saturation after 2030 as which would further grow only with significant changes such as product differentiation and rise in overall demand for CPR products. The future of CPR or cardiological emergency medical products is the combination of AED and CPR and the commercialisation of the combined technology in the open market -Vice President To sustain in the highly consolidated CPR device market, smaller players would need to make huge investments in clinical research to prove clinical efficiency of their CPR devices -Director of Strategic Sales The forecast presented here assesses the total revenue of automated CPR devices market. When developing the forecast of the market, the starting point is sizing the current market, which forms the basis for the forecast of how the market is anticipated to take shape in the near future. Given the characteristics of market, we triangulated the data via different analysis based on supply side, demand side and dynamics of related markets. However, quantifying the market across above-mentioned segments and regions is more a matter of quantifying expectations and identifying opportunities rather than rationalizing them after the forecast has been completed. In addition, it is imperative to note that in an ever-fluctuating global economy, we not only conduct forecasts in terms of CAGR, but also analyse on the basis of key parameters such as year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth to understand the predictability of the market and to identify the right opportunities across the automated CPR devices market. Request for Report Ask A Question @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-720 Also, another key feature of this report is the analysis of automated CPR devices market by regions and its revenue forecast in terms of absolute dollar. This is traditionally overlooked while forecasting the market. However, absolute dollar opportunity is critical in assessing the level of opportunity that a provider can look to achieve, as well as to identify potential resources from a sales perspective in the global automated CPR devices market. Furthermore, to understand key growth segments in terms of growth & performance of automated CPR devices market, Future Market Insights developed market attractiveness index. The resulting index should help providers identify real market opportunities. Few of the market players featured in the section include A top microbiologist believes a full investigation into the origins of COVID-19 is the only way to avoid repeat pandemics in the coming years and must be done with China's full cooperation. Peter Hotez, a professor of molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine, added his weight to calls for a thorough and transparent probe to determine whether the virus leaked from a lab or came from animals. 'There's going to be COVID-26 and COVID-32 unless we fully understand the origins of COVID-19,' Hotez said on Meet The Press Sunday. A growing consensus of scientists and commentators now believe the virus is man-made and may have accidentally leaked from Chinas Wuhan Institute of Virology. The theory that COVID-19 had come from a lab was promoted by Republicans including Senator Tom Cotton, then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and President Donald Trump from the earliest days of the pandemic in spring 2020. But it has only just begun to be taken seriously by many pundits and scientists, after extensive testing has failed to trace the origins of the virus to a single animal species. Last week President Joe Biden said he would release an intelligence report into the origins of COVID-19 within 90 days. China has aggressively resisted attempts to form an independent team of international investigators to look into the virus origin, and dismissed the lab leak as a conspiracy theory. Scroll down for video Peter Hotez, a professor of molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine, added his weight to calls for a thorough and transparent probe to determine whether the virus leaked from a lab or came from animals A meat vendor wearing a face mask waits for a customer at a market in Wuhan, on April 2, 2020, after the city experienced more than two months of near total isolation for its population of 11 million. The theory that the virus originated from animals is no longer thought to be as likely as a lab leak Hotez said coming to firm conclusions about how the virus emerged was 'absolutely essential' in preventing future pandemics. The intelligence community had done everything it could to figure out whether the virus originated in the wild or was a lab leak, Hotez said. 'What we need to do is we need to do an outbreak investigation. 'We need a team of scientists, of epidemiologists, virologists, bat ecologists in Hubei province for a six-month... to year-long period and fully unravel the origins of Covid-19. 'That includes collecting virus samples and blood samples from domestic livestock, from bats, from laboratory animals. It means doing the same for people living in the endemic area.' Hotez said he had spent time in the Hubei province where the coronavirus originated from. 'It's this vast mixing bowl... of goats and pigs and ducks and chickens and a high-population density. That's why all the influenza viruses often arise out of China as well. And so we've got to figure this out.' Republican Texas Rep. Mike McCaul believes it's 'more likely than not' COVID came from the Wuhan lab and has accused China of the 'worst cover-up in human history' Meanwhile, Republican Texas Rep. Mike McCaul believes it's 'more likely than not' COVID came from the Wuhan lab and has accused China of the 'worst cover-up in human history'. McCaul told CNN's State of the Union that President Biden's investigation was 'long overdue' but fears it may turn up nothing because scientists have 'destroyed everything at the lab. He also called for the US to stop buying medical products from China as members of both the Democrats and Republicans called for a congressional investigation into the origins of COVID. 'If we can pull these chains out of China, it will hurt them economically,' McCaul said. 'And that would be very punitive in nature.' The Senate has already adopted a measure from Republican Joni Ernst that would prohibit U.S. funding from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb also said Sunday that accidental lab leaks 'happen all the time'. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who served as then-President Trump's FDA commission from 2017 until 2019, said on Sunday that the likelihood COVID-19 originated in a lab is growing while the odds that the coronavirus was transmitted from animals to humans grow longer COVID patients fill the Wuhan Fang Cang makeshift hospital in February 2020. Last week it was revealed that lab workers had tested positive for the virus in 2019 Gottlieb, who served as then-President Trump's FDA commission from 2017 until 2019, also told CBS News that evidence that the virus came from the lab is expanding. 'And a side of the ledger that suggests that this could have come from a zoonotic source, come out of nature, really hasn't budged.' Gottlieb said that there is enough evidence to rule out the earlier theory that coronavirus originated from a 'wet market' in Wuhan. Gottlieb added: 'And if anything, you can argue that that side of the ledger has contracted because we've done an exhaustive search for the so-called intermediate host, the animal that could have been exposed to this virus before it spread to humans. 'We have not found such an animal.' Jon Karl told ABC This Week host Martha Raddatz on Sunday that he thinks reporters 'have egg on their face' for originally refusing to consider the lab leak theory It came after liberal media reporters and pundits admitted over the weekend they were wrong to dismiss the Wuhan lab leak theory just because it was espoused by former President Donald Trump. Mainstream reporters had pushed back at the idea that COVID-19 may have originated in a virology lab in Wuhan, China, and openly ridiculed the idea as Trump spoke openly about it in the early days of the pandemic. But now, those same reporters have admitted that it is possible that the virus came from a lab leak as more scientists and political officials openly question the virus' origins. 'I think a lot of people have egg on their face,' ABC News' Jonathan Karl told Martha Raddatz Sunday morning. 'This was an idea that was first put out by Mike Pompeo, secretary of state, [and] President Donald Trump,' he continued on ABC's This Week, 'and some things may be true even if Donald Trump has said them.' He noted that the idea was widely dismissed at the time, but now 'serious people are saying it needs a serious inquiry.' New York Times reporter David Leonhardt also said on CNN that he thinks people 'leapt to dismiss' the theory too quickly because it was being espoused by then-President Trump and Republican Senator Tom Cotton, who has also said that the 2020 election was stolen. 'I think a lot of people on the political left and people in the media made this mistake and said 'Wow, if Tom Cotton is saying something it can't be true,' Leonhardt said. 'Or they assumed that. And that's not right. The lab leak theory has gained traction over the past few weeks, as more and more politicians and scientists start to question the origins of the virus and how it mutated to infect humans. The Huanan wet market, where scientists say the first cluster of infections were officially reported, is just a few hundred yards from the Wuhan Centers for Disease Prevention and Control and only a few miles from the the Wuhan Institute of Virology Lab, where scientists were reportedly conducting experiments on bats before the pandemic began. The lab is one of only a handful in the world that is cleared to handle Class 4 pathogens dangerous viruses that pose a high risk of person-to-person transmission. Three researchers from the institute sought medical care in November 2019, before the virus began to spread, according to a recent report from the Wall Street Journal. Advertisement The two surviving Dionne Quintuplets, who were taken from their mother as babies to be put in a tourist attraction called Quintland, have celebrated their 87th birthday. Annette and Cecile were born in 1934 along with three sisters Yvonne, Emilie and Marie. Their mother was just 25 at the time. Not long after their birth, the girls were torn from from their parents and placed in to the care of doctors and nurses in Ontario, Canada. They were returned to their biological parents when they were nine and subjected to years of sexual abuse by their father and torment from his five other children. In 1998, Cecile and her sisters Annette and Yvonne, were awarded a settlement from the government of Ontario in compensation for their circus-like upbringing. The girls' mother and father already had five kids when they were born. It was highly unusual for quintuplets to be born at the time, much less to survive. All five girls were taken to become a tourist attraction. Annette and Cecile were born in 1934 along with three sisters Yvonne, Emilie and Marie. Their mother was just 25 at the time. The Dionne sisters were born on May 28, 1934. Their mother, Elzire, was 25 at the time. They are seen shortly afterwards, wrapped in owels Not long after their birth, the girls were torn from from their parents and placed in to the care of doctors and nurses in Ontario, Canada. The girls were promoted in movies and memorabilia around the world but they have told as adults that they never felt loved by their family The girls were moved into the Dafoe Hospital and Nursery when they were four. They are seen above in 1936, aged two In a seasonal photograph to ring in the New Year during their time at the nursery. From left to right: Annette, Yvonne, Emilie, Cecile and Marie They were returned to their family aged 9 and all five girls lived until they were adults but they suffered years of abuse at their father's hands. The girls, at the age of four, are pictured in their pajamas on Christmas Eve holding candles Now, Annette and Cecile live quietly in Canada. A Facebook page has been set up in their honor. The organizers share a birthday message to them every year, and also share updates on the Dionne Quintuplets Museum Despite their parents' protestations and the state's brutal exploitation of them, Cecile said they were happy in the care of the nurses and doctors who looked after them at Dafoe Hospital and Nursery, their purpose-built asylum that became known as Quintland. 'Contrary to what people think, it wasn't bad there. 'We were young and care-free,' Cecile said in a rare interview in 2016 with the Montreal Gazette. The girls' father, Oliva, fought tirelessly to have them returned to his care and in 1943, when they were nine, he succeeded. He had been running a souvenir shop next to Quintland while they lived there. Thousands flocked to watched the girls as they played outdoors. When they returned to their biological family, the girls were treated terribly. 'Nine is not an appropriate age to be adopted. We weren't prepared and neither was the family.' They were picked on by their other siblings, who had been turned against them by their parents, and sexually abused by their father. The mansion they moved into was paid for with money they had earned, but were unaware of, at the nursery and they continued to be paraded across the country by their parents to perform. Heartbreakingly, Cecile told how in the deep depression of her adolescence, when she was still being treated as a tourist attraction, she longed to have her own children to care for. 'I realized when I was very young that I wasn't happy. I always wanted to have a girl, like me,' she said. 'Contrary to what people think, it wasn't bad there. 'We were young and care-free,' Cecile said in a rare interview in 2016 with the Montreal Gazette about their time under state care The girls received visits from their parents while they were at 'Quintland'. They are shown in one photo taken before they were returned to their mother and father aged nine The girls at their confirmation when they were children. They said they were treated well when they were in the state's care Some time after being released back into the care of their family when they were nine, the girls were given two bicycles to share between them by their father (above) The sisters celebrate their 14th birthday with a five-tiered cake. They had moved back into their parents care and lived in a mansion bought with their own earnings In 1950, the then 15-year-old Dionne sisters perform at the Alfred. E Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner during their first visit to New York The sisters appeared in St Paul, Minnesota, when they were 17 to speak at their first formal American press conference Emilie was the first to die. She died of a stroke in 1954 - aged 20. People flocked to the family home afterwards Silent Farewell to Emilie. Callander, Ontario. The four surviving Dionne quintuplets Cecile, Marie, Yvonne, and Annette (left to right), stand with sorrow-laden faces beside the bier of their beloved sister-quint Emilie in a silent farewell just before the funeral In 1995, Yvonne (left), Annette (center) and Cecile (right) pose with a copy of a book written about their lives Leslie Gillespie, 44, was found dead in her Hillsboro, Alabama home just before noon on Saturday An English teacher at an Alabama high school has died by apparent suicide two days after she was arrested for allegedly having sex with two students. Leslie Gillespie, 44, was found dead in her home in Hillsboro at around 11.30am on Saturday, authorities told AL.com. It appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Lawrence County Coroner Scott Norwood said. An autopsy on Gillespies body was scheduled to take place at the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Gillespie taught English at R.A. Hubbard High School in North Courtland, a small town near the Tennessee River in the northern part of the state. The apparent suicide took place a day after authorities announced criminal charges against Gillespie for allegedly having sex with two students. Gillespie was arrested on Thursday for what authorities described as sexual contact that she had with two students ages 15 and 16 in her classroom after school sometime in September 2020. Gillespie taught English at R.A. Hubbard High School in North Courtland, a small town near the Tennessee River in the northern part of the state She was booked into Lawrence County jail and charged with two counts of school employee engaging in a sex act with a student younger than 19 and one count each of second-degree rape and second-degree sodomy. Gillespie was released on $60,000 bail later on Thursday. After Gillespie's arrest, Lawrence County Superintendent Jon Bret Smith issued a statement which read: 'The Lawrence County school district has been made aware that an employee has been arrested. 'Our school district treats this type of situation with the highest level of care. 'District leaders are conducting an investigation into this matter and will support law enforcement as they do the same. 'While the district cannot provide any specific details at this time, we want to emphasize that there is nothing more important to Lawrence County Schools than the safety and well-being of our students. 'The district will work diligently and expediently to resolve this situation.' Carrie Bickmore has slammed Australia's coronavirus vaccine rollout amid claims elderly aged care residents are yet to receive the jab. The Project co-host hit back at assurances by the federal health minister Greg Hunt that '97 per cent' of residents in Victorian aged care facilities had been vaccinated, revealing she had elderly family members still waiting for their second jab. Melbourne is in the middle of its fourth pandemic lockdown since March last year as the latest Covid outbreak swelled to 54 cases. Aged care residents were among the 11 new cases recorded in Victoria on Monday, sparking fears the statewide lockdown may be extended beyond seven days. Another more cases were recorded on Tuesday. It comes after a worker at Arcare in Maidstone, in Melbourne's north-west, became infected with Covid-19 after working at Blue Cross aged care in Sunshine. Bickmore became fired up during an interview with Melbourne woman Kate Howard, who revealed her 95-year-old grandmother and other residents at her aged care facility were yet to receive their first dose of vaccine. Aged care residents were among the 11 new cases recorded in Victoria on Monday. Pictured are Royal Freemasons Coppin Centrestaff being tested on Monday 'This makes me so angry,' Bickmore fumed. 'We've got family in aged care as well waiting for their second doses and it's taking far too long, especially given what we saw happen last year.' Ms Howard told the program the family had been lobbying for months for her grandmother to get the jab. 'She, like the rest of our family, is incredibly keen and we have been keen since the phase 1A rollout was announced in February and we've done all that we can to try and make sure she is vaccinated,' she said. 'We have been emailing since the start of March to try and get some understanding about who's responsible and, you know, I'm over the politicking of this I just want my grandmother vaccinated.' Program co-host Waleed Aly was left stunned by the startling claims. 'You said something that could potentially be a big story, if I've got this right you are saying in your grandmother's home no-one has been vaccinated?' he asked. The Project co-host Carrie Bickmore (pictured) became angry after claims elderly residents at an aged care facility are still waiting for their first dose of the Covid jab Ms Howard replied: They're waiting on their first dose. I believe less than half of the aged care workers have, off their own bat, gone and got vaccinations but the others are still remaining. 'That's extraordinary,' Aly remarked. The discussion continued after the interview. 'It's so interesting because the Health Minister Greg Hunt today insisted that 100 per cent of facilities in Victoria had had that first dose and, yeah, obviously there's a discrepancy there, which we will follow up on,' Bickmore said. It couldn't be a more stark discrepancy. That blows me away, so we have to look into that, don't we? Aly added: 'It couldn't be a more stark discrepancy. That blows me away, so we have to look into that, don't we? Melbourne's latest Covid outbreak has spread into aged care. Pictured is an aged care resident in lockdown at a Maidstone facility on Monday The federal government is under renewed pressure over its aged care coronavirus response. During the height of Melbourne's Covid outbreak in 2020, the federal government banned aged care workers from taking shifts at multiple locations - offering financial incentives for employees to stay at one centre. But the scheme was dumped for workers in private residential aged care workers on November 30 and was only reintroduced last week amid the state's latest outbreak. Mr Hunt said about 4.7 per cent of aged care staff had worked across multiple sites as he stressed the importance of flexibility in periods without outbreaks. There are growing calls for staff working at private aged care facilities to only be permitted to work at the one facility. Pictured is an employee leaving Arcare Aged Care facility in Maidstone He said case numbers were the main factor in determining whether the single-site rule was in place. 'That is something that has been well established in consultation with the states, and so once that was reached then the definition was triggered,' Mr Hunt said. While public sector aged care workers are still required to only work at one facility, staff at private ones were allowed to work at more than one. They received an email on Monday urging them to 'limit their work to a single facility'. An Oxford academic spent years handing over nuclear intelligence in clandestine meetings with communist spies, a Daily Mail investigation reveals today. Professor Jirina Stone, who is still a leading nuclear scientist, briefed agents from her native Czechoslovakia on sensitive British and American research after emigrating here in the mid-1980s, according to a dossier of newly declassified files from the Security Services archive in Prague. She even snooped on her unknowing British husband another Oxford academic and eminent nuclear scientist who married her after leaving his wife and three children by copying some of his confidential documents to pass to her Czech spymasters, the documents claim. Codenamed Marta, she was highly rated by her handlers as she used code words and clandestine rendezvous including in fashion chain Miss Selfridge to hide her role as a 'secret collaborator' from colleagues. Materials she passed on and information she told them about included plans for third-generation US nuclear weapons, reports on UK radar and other nuclear research, and materials previously unknown or unavailable behind the Iron Curtain, the files allege. She was also tasked with obtaining information requested by 'our Soviet friends'. She told her handlers about a US professor who had worked on the weapons programme at the top-secret Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico, where the world's first atomic bombs were developed, according to her files. Oxford academic Professor Jirina Stone briefed Czech agents on British and American research Having kept her Cold War role secret since the collapse of communism, Professor Stone formerly Rikovska remains a highly respected and active nuclear scientist, who published her most recent paper in January this year. She is still a visiting researcher at Oxford University (pictured) Codenamed Marta, Stone was highly rated by her handlers as she used code words and clandestine rendezvous including in fashion chain Miss Selfridge to hide her role as a 'secret collaborator' from colleagues. Pictured: Stone's Czech security file Having kept her Cold War role secret since the collapse of communism, Professor Stone formerly Rikovska remains a highly respected and active nuclear scientist, who published her most recent paper in January this year. Now 82, she is still a visiting researcher at Oxford University and an Adjunct Professor of Physics at the University of Tennessee, where she moved after retirement from Oxford. She is also listed on the US government's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which specialises in nuclear research. When contacted by the Mail, she admitted attending the meetings and passing on some information to the communist Security Services but said this was necessary for her own safety and to stop retribution against her children, who she had left in Czechoslovakia. She emphatically denied being a spy and said she successfully 'played' the agents by giving them only inconsequential 'flannel' that posed no security risk. Her husband, who was unaware of her meetings until contacted by the Mail, passionately defended his wife, saying she had done nothing 'sinful or reprehensible' and had been a victim of the Cold War. But Professor Anthony Glees, an intelligence and security expert from the University of Buckingham, described her explanations as 'piffle' and the 'same textbook excuses' used by other collaborators on being unmasked. He warned that the revelations of her 'betrayal' had caused the UK's national security to be 'seriously breached on several key fronts', adding: 'Had she been outed prior to 1989 I believe she'd have stood trial.' Moving to Oxford from Czechoslovakia Stone, who was described by her handlers as an 'internationally renowned scientist in the field of nuclear research', started her career at the Technical University of Prague and travelled widely, including to Moscow, for her work. After splitting from her second husband, the mother of two visited Oxford for what was meant to be a six-month placement after being sponsored by Nicholas Stone, a physics professor at the university, who she had met on a previous work trip to the UK and started a relationship with. Without the authority of the Czech government, she stayed in the UK after her placement ended and married Professor Stone in November 1985. The couple lived together in a flat owned by St Edmund Hall, her new husband's Oxford college, in the city's prestigious Park Town area, a short walk from the university's Clarendon Laboratory, where they both worked on nuclear research. But unbeknown to her husband and employer, before she departed Czechoslovakia she had left a letter with a friend to be delivered to the Ministry of the Interior after her departure saying she was leaving because of personal rather than ideological reasons and offering 'her services for Czechoslovakia'. It followed a long history as a 'very active member and functionary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia', which she joined on her 18th birthday, the files say. She was leader of the Communist Party group at her Prague university department and headed an evening study tutor group for Marxist philosophy. She was selected by the Czech Security Services as a 'candidate for a secret collaborator' from its pool of interns going abroad in March 1983. 'She turned out to have a very positive relationship toward the Ministry of the Interior authorities and spoke willingly and earnestly about everything,' her file says. 'She has a very good source: Her Husband' After a meeting following her arrival in the UK, Czech agents in Britain reported: 'She said she was willing to supply information of any kind to Czechoslovakia and thus ensure she would be able to return and 'clear her name' in front of her friends and the Communist Party.' They added that she had joined the Communist Party from conviction, and 'this conviction has stayed with her even after emigration'. She was not paid for her role. There were personal motivations too, including the hope of seeing her younger daughter, who had stayed in Prague with her ex-husband, the archives show. Stone even snooped on her unknowing British husband (pictured) another Oxford academic and eminent nuclear scientist who married her after leaving his wife and three children by copying some of his confidential documents to pass to her Czech spymasters, the documents claim It was also an insurance policy, the files allege, as 'she is hoping that were she to fall out with her present husband, she could return to Czechoslovakia'. Stone now denies telling the Czech spies this. A document from 1986 notes: 'She wants secret cooperation without her husband's knowledge because she is currently totally dependent on him.' This proved an ideal scenario for her handlers, who included Lieutenant Rudolf Kasparovsky, officially a 'technical adviser' at the Czech embassy. He was one of four diplomats later expelled from Britain in 1989 accused of spying. The files note: 'She is currently in a very good position to gather information that is of interest to us and also to create opportunities to infiltrate other fields that are of interest to us. 'She has a very good source, and cover, in her present husband.' The Czech documents noted how, as a member of the nuclear board of the Science and Engineering Research Council (Serc), then the UK agency in charge of publicly funded scientific research, her husband 'has access to secret materials on British nuclear physics and research' which his wife 'can supply us with... immediately'. As well as these confidential materials, her handlers noted that she would also be able to provide all nuclear energy and nuclear physics materials from the Clarendon Laboratory, nuclear fusion, materials from a Nato project she was working on and information about civil defence in Oxford. She was a member of the Nicole workgroup, an international association for nuclear research. She could also be used for espionage in America, where on previous trips she was 'free to roam the laboratories' unchecked. Stone told her handlers she believed this was because she was 'married to a British scientist and therefore treated the same as a British subject when it comes to freedom of movement', the files show. Clandestine meetings in clothes shops To ensure secrecy, her handler called at work at times when her husband was in the university cafeteria having lunch. He would pretend to be from her former university in Prague and say he was bringing 'regards from Lida', to which she would respond: 'Has she sent a parcel by any chance?' For added security, face-to-face meetings were conducted away from Oxford, including at Miss Selfridge in London's Oxford Street, and in Beaconsfield and Reading. Code words included asking to borrow a pen but it had to be a black one. At one point her handler considered holding meetings at Blenheim Palace the birthplace of Winston Churchill just outside Oxford but after checking it out he decided against the location because it was 'teeming with tourists'. Later, amid concerns that the British Intelligence were on to them, they met in Hungary, where she confirmed she would 'like to carry on with her intelligence work', and made plans to meet in Austria, where she was instructed to carry a blue handbag as a warning if she was worried she'd been exposed. Information about US nuclear research Stone's handlers praised their 'smart and bright' collaborator's 'excellent' cooperation. A document from March 1986 noted she was 'calm and collected' dealing with agents, and 'appears to be honest and her efforts to help her country sincere'. Another cable from February 1988 said: 'During meetings, Marta is calm, reacts in a calculated manner.' 'It was just flannel, I don't regret it' - How she confessed to Mail When confronted about the information she handed to Czech spies, Professor Jirina Stone admitted the meetings but claimed she had given the agents only 'flannel'. Strongly denying she was a spy, she said she only cooperated to protect herself and her children and ex-husband back in Czechoslovakia. She said she never believed in communism but had to join the party and take part in events to be allowed to pursue her academic career as 'one of the hoops you had to go through'. Stone could not recall telling her handlers about any military research or being asked to help the Soviets, but admitted telling the Czech Security Services some inconsequential things to get her 'off the hook'. She told the Mail: 'It was in my interest to keep in loose contact with them, because it was a security for me and my husband. It was no harm done. 'I do not regret it because I think it was the best I could do for both of us, for everybody.' But Professor Anthony Glees, an intelligence and security expert, said: 'It was the Czech security services who decided what was important to them. 'If they weren't interested in what she was saying they would have told her.' Advertisement It added: 'Despite her short collaboration, Marta can point out the important things extremely well and direct her initiative that way... She carries out [her handlers'] instructions perfectly and completes the set tasks.' Her contact continued until the very end of communism, with a file from November 1989 the month the Berlin Wall came down noting she 'has proven intelligence-gathering opportunities' and 'has produced intelligence information relating to nuclear energy'. It added: 'At our last meeting in August 1989, she informed us of her possibilities regarding superdeformation [nuclear physics], which the USA are hoping to use in the development of third-generation nuclear weapons. She expressed her willingness to help in relation to this.' Over the years this produced a slew of information, the files suggest. From her husband, as an initial test for her handlers, she copied two Serc reports from the Nuclear Physics Board Nuclear Structure Committee, both marked 'confidential', research documents into 'Royal Signals and Radar Establishment', and details of research on lasers. She later told them about a US professor who found out that 'he'd been working on military research for some time, in the arms programme at Los Alamos', according to the files. The files suggest the plan was to use him to gather information when he was on a planned placement to the Clarendon Laboratory, but in the end the trip was cancelled. She was also asked to supply information about superconductivity research for her handlers at the request of 'our Soviet friends'. A 1988 file said she had suppled scientific materials and information 'not available' and previously 'unknown' in Czechoslovakia. It said: 'She can supply us with practically everything that is being worked on in Cern' (the European Organisation for Nuclear Research). In the late 1980s Stone began to split her time between Oxford and Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where the files say she offered to research details of a new accelerator being developed there. She also told her handlers how US researchers were using lasers to 'figure out a military use' for atomic nuclei and drafted them a copy of her theoretical work into aspects of it. Approved to become 'a full agent' She was so successful that, apparently without her knowledge, her handlers approved her for secret enrolment as a full agent, noting: 'Judging from her involvement so far, it can be assumed without any doubt that she is willing to cooperate.' Another file from May 1988 said: 'We have not mentioned the words intelligence, secret service, state security at the meetings so far but Marta 99 per cent knows and therefore isn't asking questions.' It seems her full enrolment to agent did not appear to have happened before the collapse of communism after being postponed due to concerns she might be under British intelligence surveillance. Her security service files were archived in June 1991. She is listed under her maiden name in the category 'confidant' in the registry of the secret police in Prague. Stone became a British citizen in 1992 and remained in her post at Oxford until her retirement in 2005, when she moved to the US to continue her research. She retains her home in Oxford and a position at the university. She is an author of more than 150 papers in refereed journals and is a frequent invited speaker at conferences, workshops and schools. Oxford University declined to comment. investigations@dailymail.co.uk Ministers are today urged to curb the rip-off cost of Covid tests for holidaymakers. MPs, travel chiefs and consumer groups lined up to accuse the Government of reneging on its promise to significantly drive down the price of travel testing. They are backing a new Daily Mail campaign that calls on ministers to deliver on their pledge or risk millions of families facing crippling testing bills and being priced out of foreign summer holidays or reunions with loved ones. As a starting point, we are urging the Treasury to axe VAT on the so-called gold standard PCR tests, which would slash costs significantly. Campaigners also want ministers to look across the Channel, where several countries have axed VAT, introduced a cap on the cost of tests, or are even providing them for free to help the travel industry rebound. Some are calling on ministers to consider greater use of cheaper lateral flow tests to help lessen the cost. And many have demanded that travellers who are fully protected against Covid, with both doses of a vaccine, should be subject to less stringent requirements. Karen Beddow (pictured with her family) faced spending 1,200 on Covid tests to travel to Portugal with her husband Matthew and their three daughters Aaron Entwistle (pictured with his family), 45, paid 3,170 for an all-inclusive seven-night vacation starting on July 24. Tory MP Henry Smith, chairman of the all-party Future of Aviation group of MPs, said last night: Frankly, some of these tests remain a rip-off. There is much more that the Government must do to support our aviation, travel and tourism industries and this must include the immediate removal of VAT on all testing. The demands came as: Fears were raised that ministers might delay the end of lockdown on June 21 as Government advisers claimed a third wave was already under way; Business leaders warned that many firms would not be able to cling on if freedom day was pushed back; The milestone of vaccinating three-quarters of adults with their first dose is set to be hit today; There were extraordinary queues at a new walk-in vaccine centre at Twickenham Stadium after it was opened to allow anyone over 18 to get a jab; A health service boss warned that even a minor rise in Covid patients could cause the NHS problems; OECD forecasts showed that Britain is set to grow faster than any other major economy this year and next. Although the price of PCR tests has fallen in recent weeks as new firms enter the market, just 11 of the 331 private providers listed on the Governments website offer a single PCR test for under 60 per person with the most expensive being 399. Manchester United fan Harriet Butcher (pictured) was forced to spend 300 on Covid tests so she could travel to Poland to watch her team in the Europa League final last week Rules that are so baffling Before you fly Travellers flying out of the UK for a holiday will need evidence of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours for almost all countries. Travellers usually have to provide proof of this test when they depart the UK, and when they land and have to pay for it themselves. Returning from green list countries Before you fly home: Take a test within 72 hours of travel back to England. This can be a PCR test or a lateral flow but if the latter, it must satisfy Government rules on accuracy. After you arrive back: You must buy and take a PCR swab test on day two after arriving back, but theres no need to self-isolate. Returning from amber list countries before you fly home Take a test within 72 hours of travel back to England. After you arrive back: Self-isolate at home or another fixed address for ten days, plus each individual must buy and take two PCR swab tests one on day two and one on day eight. Potential early release: Travellers can choose to leave self-isolation early if they pay for a PCR test on day five after their return. But even if they test negative, they still have to pay for and take the test on day eight. Returning from red list countries Before you fly home: Take a test within 72 hours of travel back to England. After you arrive back: You must pay for approved hotel quarantine for 11 nights, which must begin immediately. This includes the cost of two PCR swab tests for each person, to be taken on days two and eight. The package costs 1,750 a head. These rules apply in the same way for all arrivals into Scotland and Wales, as well as England. Advertisement As a result, families face several hundred pounds being added to the cost of their holiday for every round of testing required by the traffic light system. Individuals or families can be required to take as many as five tests each when they head abroad. One before they leave, one before they fly home and then as many as three after they return, depending on the length of their quarantine. Last night, travel bosses demanded urgent action to help hard-pressed holidaymakers and the industry. Former British Airways chief Willie Walsh, now boss of industry body the International Air Transport Association, said: Testing is a critical element of the pandemic response. Companies should not be profiteering and the Government should not be charging VAT. Testing should be free, as the World Health Organisation has recommended and many governments, for instance in France, have already provided. The testing rules must be consistent it shouldnt be required for vaccinated people, and it shouldnt be needed for children. A study recently found PCR tests, which ministers insist must be used instead of cheaper lateral flow devices, are twice as expensive in Britain compared to parts of Europe. While the cost of a PCR test in the UK was on average around 120, the average across eight of the most popular holiday destinations on the Continent was 62. Most of the EU has also exempted PCR tests from VAT. Greece has introduced a price cap of 40 (34) and regions in Italy have capped the cost at 60 (52). In some countries, travellers can get free, government-subsidised PCR tests. In April, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he agreed testing bills were too expensive and vowed to drive down costs. At the time, he said: That is something I am going to be working with the travel industry and private testing providers on to drive that cost down and try and make this as cheap and convenient as possible. Questions ministers must answer 1 Why do we charge VAT on PCR tests when most EU countries dont? 2 Why not a price cap if were serious about kick-starting travel? 3 The WHO wants states to make travel testing free, so why dont we? 4 If travel testing cannot be made free, why dont we subsidise it? 5 Why arent travellers allowed to take cheaper lateral flow tests? 6 Why do fully vaccinated travellers have to shell out for tests? Advertisement Last night, MPs and industry figures pleaded for action. Tory MP Huw Merriman, chairman of the Commons transport committee, said: The current cost of PCR tests will price many people out of international travel. If the Government is fixed on using PCR tests, it could make them affordable by exempting them from VAT. The price of testing should not prevent British residents from visiting their loved ones abroad and from taking well-earned summer holidays. British Airways chief Sean Doyle said: For low-risk green countries, we see no need for customers to take expensive and time-consuming PCR tests when the Government has shown that lateral flow tests being used in care homes and schools accurately identify Covid cases. While PCR tests continue to be required... we believe they shouldnt have to pay VAT on what is effectively a health test. Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2, added: The current testing regime risks putting off hard-working families so that travel becomes the preserve of the wealthy. The Government has previously said that it will drive down the cost of testing and this needs to happen immediately. Johan Lundgren, chief executive of easyJet, said: When the Government announced the traffic light system they pledged to lower the cost of testing. Unfortunately they have failed to make good on this. Simply removing the VAT would go some way to reducing the cost but more needs to be done. Testing is much cheaper in Europe and in some cases provided for free while Brits are paying through the nose. Last night, a Government spokesman said: Testing post-arrival remains an important tool in our wider measures to manage the risk of imported cases of Covid-19, as well as allowing us to identify variants of concern. We recognise the cost of tests can be high, which is why were working with the travel industry and private testing providers to see how we can reduce the cost of travel for the British public. HOW TESTS CAN COST TRAVELLERS MORE THAN THEIR TRIPS CUT-PRICE but still 665 Karen Beddow faced spending 1,200 on Covid tests to travel to Portugal with her husband Matthew and their three daughters. She managed to get the cost down to 665 but only after a days research and drawing on her expertise as a travel blogger. It is still a 26 per cent premium on the cost of the familys 2,500 half-term trip to stay in a villa near Lagos in the Algarve. It would have been even more expensive if her children were not exempt from the lateral flow tests travellers need to take before they fly home as they are under 11. Mrs Beddow, 43, from The Wirral, Cheshire, said: Its absolutely crazy. Mrs Beddow and her husband, a 47-year-old property developer, managed to cut the costs by finding a 99 buy-an-adult-test-get-a-child-test-free deal for the UK tests, meaning they had to buy only three. Both adults need a lateral flow test in Portugal. One firm offered to supply the certificates after verifying the tests in a video call for 39 each. Further PCR tests for the family on day two of their return to the UK will cost 58 each, or 290 in total. Mrs Beddow, who runs a travel blog at minitravellers.co.uk, said many families who had postponed holidays to Portugal that were cancelled last year due to the pandemic were now having to pay for the tests. They cant cancel because its now on the green list, so theyll find themselves with significantly higher costs, she added. WED RATHER STAY IN THE UK A project manager has cancelled his familys dream holiday to the Greek island of Kos because of the 450 cost of getting coronavirus tests. Aaron Entwistle, 45, paid 3,170 for an all-inclusive seven-night vacation starting on July 24. He booked the trip in June last year before widespread Covid testing had been introduced for holidays. But earlier this month he discovered that he would have to pay 450 for PCR tests for himself, his fiancee Tamzin Halpin, 35, and his 12-year-old daughter Briana. Alarmed by the extra cost, Mr Entwistle, from Stafford in Staffordshire, decided to cancel it. He had to pay a 600 cancellation fee, but said this was preferable than seeing the cost of the holiday soar to 3,620. Instead, he is taking his family on a 1,200 campervan holiday to the Peak District. TESTS COST MORE THAN FLIGHT Manchester United fan Harriet Butcher was forced to spend 300 on Covid tests so she could travel to Poland to watch her team in the Europa League final last week. The public affairs manager, 26, ended up spending more on the tests than she did on the trip. Miss Butcher said: I was in Poland for less than 24 hours and the trip alone only cost around 200. It was very frustrating to have to pay so much. Advertisement The PCR test price lottery From budget companies to premium clinics charging hundreds, the Governments website features a confusing array of more than 300 PCR testing providers. Although ministers say they do not recommend any particular test provider, it removes those from its list that it deems to be failing to meet the required standards. Nevertheless, the Mails research has found that the register is continuing to display companies which have been on the receiving end of numerous complaints. A government spokesman said: We are closely monitoring the performance of private test providers to ensure they deliver a high quality of service to customers. Here are four examples of how the service varies: 1 NAME: Expert Medicals WHERE: Bradford COST: 45 Expert Medicals appears to be an attractive option for travellers seeking to save on a post-arrival home test, since it is among the cheapest providers on the Governments register at just 45. However the company, which is registered to a rundown shop in Bradford, has attracted criticism from customers, with one writing it is diabolical. Pictured: Passengers arriving at the testing centre at Heathrow Airport in west London Almost all of the reviews left on website Trustpilot have reported bad experiences, with claims of non-existent customer service and having plans ruined. The company failed to respond to requests for comment. 2 NAME: The Mayfair GP Clinic WHERE: Central London COST: 399 The clinic, based in Londons wealthy Mayfair district, offers a premium testing service, which includes a doctor attending the customers home to carry out the test, courier service for same-day delivery of samples and follow-up advice for any positive cases. Run by Dr Vibhu Kaushal and Dr Vikas Mehta, their practice puts the emphasis on the personal connection and continuity of care. Its site adds: We are here to listen to your concerns and offer you invaluable support for every aspect of your patient journey. 3 NAME: PCR Labs WHERE: Chiswick, west London COST: 259 Using eco-friendly bicycle couriers to deliver tests, who wait while you complete it, PCR Labs offers results guaranteed within 24 hours for all samples collected before 3pm. The company also offers a full antibody test for 289. Ecofleet, the firms test delivery partner, offers a mindful courier service. The bicycle-only delivery company was founded by Farah Asemi after she was inspired to help encourage greener practises following a chronic pulmonary disease diagnosis she put down to air pollution. 4 NAME: La Perla WHERE: Marlow, Buckinghamshire COST: 150 Travellers who wish to take a post-arrival test at La Perla a dental clinic might be able to hang around for a dental checkup, veneers, or even beauty treatments such as laser hair removal and fillers. Highlighting the financial issues that dentists are facing since the pandemic, the practice states on its website that they have been burdened with huge additional fees in restructuring the clinics and provision of PPE, for which we have no funding. MPs today criticised a 'confusing' attempt to rename Covid variants to prevent potential 'hate crimes' - as Downing Street suggested it would follow the new rules. The World Health Organization plans to give different strains Greek names, with the Indian variant known as 'Covid Delta', while the UK's Kent variety becomes 'Covid Alpha'. Officials said naming variants after the places where they were first discovered led to those nations being 'stigmatised', with potential for 'hate crimes' to be carried out. But MPs questioned the change, saying that coming after 18 months of the current nomenclature permeating the public consciousness, the result may only be confusion. Tory former leader Iain Duncan Smith told MailOnline the renaming was 'a bit late in the day' and suggested it was the WHO that needed renaming after 'they failed to bring China to book for what they have done'. He added on the Indian variant: 'The public knows what it is now, so I don't know that it means very much. Fellow Conservative MP Desmond Swayne added: 'Changing names only confuses and frankly is a million miles from the real issue. The disease is now endemic and we have a proper sense of proportion learning to live with it. 'There will be new variants from now until kingdom come, we cannot go on suppressing human interaction and economic activity as a response or we will live in fear and penury.' But Public Health England is considering whether to adopt the World Health Organisation's new naming system for coronavirus variants. A No 10 spokesman said: 'I understand Public Health England is considering how to adopt the new naming system and will set out further details in due course.' The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced plans to rename Covid strains with Greek alphabet letters in a bid to lose the 'stigma' of geographic titles. An RAF veteran receives his second Covid vaccination dose at Salisbury Cathedral Tory former leader Iain Duncan Smith told MailOnline the renaming was 'a bit late in the day', while fellow Conservative MP Desmond Swayne added: 'Changing names only confuses and frankly is a million miles from the real issue. The disease is now endemic and we have a proper sense of proportion learning to live with it' Under WHO's new plans, India's variant will now be known as 'Covid Delta', while the UK's Kent strain will be known as 'Covid Alpha'. Pioctured: Health workers in India carry wood to prepare a funeral pyre for a Covid victim South Africa 's variant will become 'Covid Beta'. Pictured: People in South Africa wait in line for their vaccination in Johannesburg Give poorer countries extra jabs to stop variants and 'two-track' pandemic from opening up, world bodies warn nations The WHO, International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group and World Trade Organisation urged richer countries to give more jabs to poorer nations or risk new variants emerging and forcing future lockdowns. The heads of the organisations warned a 'dangerous gap' is emerging between richer and poorer nations in the availability of coronavirus vaccines and risks creating a 'two-track' pandemic. Writing in the Telegraph, they say: 'Increasingly, a two-track pandemic is developing. Inequitable vaccine distribution is not only leaving untold millions of people vulnerable to the virus, it is also allowing deadly variants to emerge and ricochet back across the world. 'Even countries with advanced vaccination programmes have been forced to reimpose stricter public health measures. It need not be this way.' The article is written by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the WHO; Kristalina Georgieva, the managing director of the IMF; David Malpass, the president of the World Bank Group, and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the director-general of the WTO. Advertisement Under the plans South Africa's variant will become 'Covid Beta', while the Brazilian variant will be known as 'Covid Gamma'. WHO's Covid-19 technical lead Maria Van Kerkhove said the change 'is aimed to help in public discussion'. She said: 'No country should be stigmatized for detecting and reporting variants. 'The labels are simple, easy to say and remember and are based on the Greek alphabet, a system that was chosen following wide consultation & a review of several potential systems. 'They will not replace existing scientific names.' It comes after reports of a string of serious assaults on Asian Americans after former president Donald Trump referred to the 'China virus' and 'kung flu'. Boris Johnson has also been accused of referring to 'kung flu', an allegation he denies. Tory MP Bob Blackman said the renaming was 'very sensible' in principle but suggested it had come so late that people might struggle to adopt it. 'At the end of the day it is like saying A, B,C, D, E etc. Without doubt there is a stigma attached to saying this variant came from South Africa Brazil Kent India, wherever. 'People might use it as common parlance but it suggests those countries are in some way shape or form responsible. They are not. 'They should have done this first. They knew there were going to be variants. It would have been much more sensible because the actual title is beyond comprehension. 'Scientists will understand, but you are not going to understand it in normal practice.' The WHO, International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group and World Trade Organisation urged richer countries to give more jabs to poorer nations or risk new variants emerging and forcing future lockdowns. The heads of the organisations warned a 'dangerous gap' is emerging between richer and poorer nations in the availability of coronavirus vaccines and risks creating a 'two-track' pandemic. Writing in the Telegraph, they said: 'Increasingly, a two-track pandemic is developing. Inequitable vaccine distribution is not only leaving untold millions of people vulnerable to the virus, it is also allowing deadly variants to emerge and ricochet back across the world. 'Even countries with advanced vaccination programmes have been forced to reimpose stricter public health measures. It need not be this way.' The Brazilian variant will be known as 'Covid Gamma'. Pictured: Covid patients in bed in a field hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil Under WHO's new plans, the Indian variant will now be known as 'Covid Delta', while the UK's Kent strain will be known as 'Covid Alpha'. South Africa 's variant will become 'Covid Beta', while the Brazilian variant will be known as 'Covid Gamma' The WHO's new system of classification applies to so-called 'Variants of Concern (VOC) - the most troubling of which four are in circulation. It will also apply to the second-level 'Variants of Interest' (VOI) being tracked. Under the new system, the variants of concern take on the following names: the hitherto so-called British variant B.1.1.7 becomes Alpha; the B.1.351 first discovered in South Africa becomes Beta, while the Brazilian P.1 becomes Gamma. The so-called Indian variant B.1.617 is split into sub-lineages, of which the B.1.617.2 variant of concern becomes Delta. WHO's Covid-19 technical lead Maria Van Kerkhove said the change 'are aimed to help in public discussion' The B.1.617.1 variant of interest is called Kappa. Besides these names, there are two other scientific names in use for each mutation. But different geographic names have been commonly used to describe the same variant. For example, within Britain, what other countries have been referring to as the British variant is often called the Kent variant - the county in southeast England where it was first discovered. The lineage names such as B.1.1.7.2 will still continue to be used in scientific circles, for the mutation information that their name conveys. 'While they have their advantages, these scientific names can be difficult to say and recall, and are prone to misreporting,' the WHO said in a statement. 'As a result, people often resort to calling variants by the places where they are detected, which is stigmatising and discriminatory. 'To avoid this and to simplify public communications, WHO encourages national authorities, media outlets and others to adopt these new labels.' Earlier this month, US President Joe Biden (pictured) signed a hate crimes law aimed at protecting Asian Americans who have suffered a surge in attacks during the Covid-19 pandemic The WHO has been trying to come up with simplified new nomenclature for the variants for several months. Pictured: A library image of a biologist testing in a laboratory Earlier this month, US President Joe Biden signed a hate crimes law aimed at protecting Asian Americans who have suffered a surge in attacks during the Covid-19 pandemic. US anti-extremism groups say the number of attacks and hate crimes against Asian Americans has exploded since the beginning of the crisis. They lay some of the blame with former president Donald Trump, who repeatedly referred to Covid-19 as the 'China virus'. The WHO has been trying to come up with simplified new nomenclature for the variants for several months. The Greek alphabet contains 24 letters but there is no plan yet as to where to go next if they are exhausted. Epsilon, Zeta, Eta, Theta and Iota have already been ascribed to variants of interest. It comes as Britain's daily coronavirus infections yesterday rose 40 per cent in a week after 3,383 cases were recorded amid a growing outbreak of the Indian variant, but only one death was registered. Daily cases have been steadily climbing for the past fortnight, a trend which is being driven by the super-infectious strain. The average number of daily infections now sits at 3,345 after rising 28 per cent in the last week. But the fact that hospital admissions and deaths have not yet followed suit will give ministers confidence the jabs are highly effective at preventing severe disease The latest Department of Health figures show some three in four adults have now received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine or 39.3million people, after another 120,243 first doses were dished out yesterday. And as many as 25.5million people, or almost half of all adults, got two doses after 204,282 second jabs were administered. Small rises in the number of infections and the wide spread of the Indian variant have led to concerns the Government's roadmap out of lockdown could be delayed beyond June 21. Environment Minister George Eustice said ministers couldn't 'rule anything out' and that a decision would be made in a fortnight's time when more is known about the effect of the Indian strain which is making up up to three-quarters of all new infections on hospital admissions. As many as 25.5million people got two doses after 204,282 second jabs were administered Britain's daily coronavirus infections rose 40 per cent in a week after 3,383 cases were recorded amid a growing outbreak of the Indian variant, but only one death was registered The comment marked a significant shift in tone from No10, which was bullishly claiming just days ago there was no reason to deviate from its lockdown-ending plans. SAGE advisers Professor Ravi Gupta, from Cambridge, and Professor Susan Michie, at University College London, said Britain's outbreak is 'on a knife-edge' and social distancing rules may need to be extended by 'a few weeks'. The British Medical Association said the Government 'must act with maximum caution' and not end social distancing until it was sure it was safe enough for the NHS not to be crippled by a third wave. And JCVI expert Professor Robert Read said the third wave hadn't started yet and it was 'possible' that June 21 would go ahead, but it would depend on proof that the jabs were working against the Indian variant. Blackburn became England's new Covid hotspot after infections there surged 70 per cent in a week driven by the Indian variant, as it overtakes Bolton and Bedford to become the worst-hit place in the country. Cases were last week on the rise in almost all the places where the Indian variant has been found in significant numbers. The Biden administration has compiled a plan to boost legal immigration to the U.S. by lowering wait times, slashing fees, and simplifying paperwork even as it seeks to discourage a wave of migrants from attempting to cross the southern border illegally. The 46-page plan, obtained by the New York Times, outlines a series of aspects of immigration officials are seeking to streamline, amid what the administration fears is a long-term labor shortage. Titled 'D.H.S. Plan to Restore Trust in Our Legal Immigration System,' it outlines numerous efforts that would have the result of boosting immigration into the country. A Biden Administration plan seeks to boost number of legal immigrants through a variety of policy changes. Candidates for U.S. citizenship take their oath from the presiding official, U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo, during a naturalization ceremony February 9, 2021 in Manhattan Among the proposals it outlines are those to bring in more coveted high-tech workers, bring in more American Indians who were born in Canada, and assist farm workers. The administration has already taken steps intended to assist asylum-seekers. Efforts lower fees that propose a barrier to would-be immigrants, and streamline various regulations in the cumbersome immigration system. Immigrants Yesica Cioli, 34, and Dayana Cioli Vargas, 35, from Uruguay are sworn in as new U.S. citizens at a naturalization ceremony, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) disease pandemic continues, in Joshua Tree National Park, California, U.S., May 4, 2021 Immigrants Yesica Cioli, 34, and Dayana Cioli Vargas, 35, from Uruguay pose for a photo with their parents Richard and Dorca after being sworn in as new U.S. citizens at a naturalization ceremony, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) disease continues, in Joshua Tree National Park, California, U.S., May 4, 2021 The Biden administration is pushing the changes as an immigration overhaul is stalled in Congress Anderson, a six-year-old unaccompanied minor from El Salvador, stands in line with other asylum-seeking children as they identify themselves to a U.S. border patrol agent after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in La Joya, Texas, U.S., May 14, 2021 Asylum-seeking migrants from Central America hold their children while sitting along a dirt road as they await transport by the U.S. Border Patrol after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico in La Joya, Texas, U.S., May 18, 2021 Biden has already outlined an immigration proposal that would provide a pathway to citizenship, but its prospects in a divided Congress are uncertain on an issue that has seen little legislative movement for years. The report comes as the nation, despite facing persistent unemployment, must also contend with a long-term worker shortage, where a declining percentage of active workers will be contributing to the economy as a record number of Americans retire. Many of the policies being contemplated would not require congressional action, the administration believes. Moves to expedite the process include efforts to make greater use of virtual interviews and electronic filing while lowering the threshold for evidence migrants must provide. The goal is to make the system 'more effective and less burdensome' and 'reducing paperwork and other administrative requirements' in agencies known for byzantine processes. Those who can demonstrate they are victims of domestic violence could also seek asylum. Native Americans born in Canada would also see expanded opportunities to migrate. The moves come as Biden continues to face political challenges on the right over the crisis at the southern border, amid a surge of undocumented childhood migrants. Former UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage, who campaigned with Donald Trump in 2016, appeared on former Trump chief strategist Steve Bannon's War Room Pandemic to claim 'genuinely shocking' number of criminal gang members are being smuggled into the country. 'These people aretrekking 60 miles through the desert, dressed in full camouflage, paying up to $8000 each to get in,' he said. 'They hide by day, they march by night until they get to main roads and farms. He added: 'They are picked up by criminal gangs and taken off into the drug gangs that are ruining the lives of millions of Americans.' He posted video of his own border visit, and urged Vice President Kamala Harris to visit the border. Victoria's 'ring of steel' blocking traffic in and out of Melbourne during lockdown has been deemed ineffective by the state's police association as they warn it should not be repeated. Police association secretary Wayne Gatt said the state government's use of road blocks to restrict travel between the city and regional Victoria last year was flawed and plagued by loopholes. The union's warning comes as authorities consider how to navigate the unfolding health crisis as Victoria's Covid-19 outbreak swelled to 51 on Monday after 11 new cases were recorded. Victoria's police association says the state government's 'ring of steel', a series of roadblocks set up around Melbourne last year (pictured) were ineffective and should not be repeated Police association secretary Wayne Gatt (pictured) has warned the state government against using the checkpoint system again 'Last years model was not effective, nor was it efficient,' Mr Gatt told The Age. 'Our advice in debriefing that operation to both Victoria Police and the state government has been clear: if in the future government policy required some form of separation to be policed, there are much better ways of doing it that are far less labour intensive and far more effective.' Mr Watt has suggested mobile police checks be used as an alternative approach, with officers monitoring both freeways and smaller roads. He said the threat of being caught would deter residents from breaching restrictions, and the method would be more resource efficient. Last year, freeways around Melbourne's perimeters were guarded by hundreds of police officers to ensure drivers had an essential reason to travel. The series of road border checkpoints stood for four months as regional Victoria recovered from the second wave quicker than Melbourne. . The 'ring of steel' was a series of road border checkpoints manned by hundreds of police officers last year as regional Victoria recovered from the second wave quicker than Melbourne Police officers direct traffic at a roadblock site in Broadmeadows, Melbourne, in July last year The critique of the system comes as the Victorian government announced the measure could be reintroduced if the state's lockdown drags out beyond seven days. Acting Premier James Merlino warned the outbreak could get worse before it gets better, as three of 11 new cases reported on Monday were linked to a Melbourne aged care home. Mr Merlino added it was too early to tell if the statewide lockdown would be extended beyond 11.59pm on Thursday, saying the next few days would be critical. None of Victoria's 60 active cases reside in the regions, although several of the state's more than 320 exposure sites are outside the city. Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton could not rule out a return of the 'ring of steel'. 'It will be determined as we go through a review of the situation day by day. It is not out of the question,' he said. A 99-year-old female resident at Arcare Maidstone was among three new cases on Monday linked to the facility in the city's northwest. A woman exercises alongside Melbourne's Yarra River on Monday as residents remain in lockdown Dozens of people line up outside a COVID vaccination centre in West Melbourne on Monday Victoria's Covid-19 outbreak swelled to 51 cases on Monday after 11 new infections were identified. Pictured: Health workers conduct COVID-19 testing at the Montague Street centre in South Melbourne on Friday She was within the area where a COVID-positive female healthcare employee worked, and has now been moved to hospital with mild symptoms. The other two cases included the staffer's son and an unvaccinated colleague, who also worked at BlueCross Western Gardens in Sunshine from Wednesday to Friday. Victoria's Health Minister Martin Foley resisted the temptation to criticise the federal government for repealing a ban on private aged care staff working across multiple sites last November. But the Commonwealth is facing heavy scrutiny for vaccination rates among Arcare Maidstone residents and staff, as well as other private-run facilities. National cabinet will on Friday consider a proposal to make vaccination mandatory for all aged and disability care workers. Federal MP Bill Shorten, whose electorate of Maribyrnong takes in the Maidstone facility, said workers in both the public and private systems should have been vaccinated by now. 'It is disgraceful that residents and aged-care workers and the same with people with severe disabilities and disability workers have not yet been vaccinated,' Mr Shorten told Nine Network on Tuesday. Staff are seen leaving Arcare Aged Care facility in Maidstone, which has been locked down after a resident tested positive to Covid-19 Royal Freemasons (pictured) have returned to more relaxed conditions after staff and residents returned negative test results 'The anxiety on people is shocking.' Contact tracers are yet to determine how the first worker caught the virus as authorities await a genomic sequencing report, expected to be finalised as early as Tuesday. Arcare Maidstone and Blue Cross Western Gardens residents remain locked down, while Royal Freemasons' Coppin and Footscray sites returned to more relaxed settings after staff and residents returned negative test results. It follows Coburg's Mercy College and Methodist Ladies College in Kew shutting on Monday due to their own COVID-19 scares, further complicating the resumption of remote learning for students. Karl Stefanovic has clashed with Liberal Senator Simon Birmingham over the bungled aged-care crisis in Melbourne that saw infected staff working alongside the elderly. The Finance Minister appeared on Today on Tuesday morning where Stefanovic labelled the Morrison government's handling of the vaccine roll-out a 'debacle' and that its left vulnerable Australians in the firing line of the latest outbreak. 'You allowed aged-care staff to work in multiple aged-care homes before everyone - including staff, and residents - were fully vaccinated. How is that not a let down?' the morning show host asked. 'The whole thing is a debacle.' Birmingham was unable to say how many aged-care staffers had the vaccine but with no cases people were able to remain employed despite not having the jab Birmingham defended the decision to allow people to continue to work at healthcare facilities unvaccinated, saying because there were 'no known COVID transmission in the community we allowed staff to resume normal working patterns.' When asked if they now regretted the decision to allow staff to work unvaccinated and across multiple aged-care facilities he said no, despite two workers and one patient from the Arcare Maidstone testing positive. When Birmingham couldn't identify how many aged-care workers had been vaccinated, Stefanovic slammed the lack of a nationalised system and accused the Liberal Party of already renegging on promises from the budget. Karl Stefanovic has clashed with Liberal Senator Simon Birmingham over the bungled aged-care crisis in Melbourne that saw infected staff working alongside the vulnerable and elderly 'You have staff working at multiple facilities. You have to know how many were vaccinated given someone might get COVID and go to another facility? I mean it's just - it makes perfect sense,' he said. 'You have to know how many have been vaccinated. You don't know because there's not a database.' 'You spent $18billion on the budget in aged-care. There was much hoopla around that. You paraded about that and here we have multiple people who have Covid inside aged-care facilities and staff who have been working without being vaccinated. We have residents who haven't been vaccinated.' 'The whole thing is a debacle.' 'Karl being vaccinated is not a guarantee somebody can't transmit Covid,' Birmingham replied. He also said the government believed one of the workers who transmitted coronavirus in the aged-care facility had already been vaccinated. 'I would have thought the staff being in there too and knowing the numbers who had been vaccinated is important. We have to move on,' Stefanovic concluded. 'All the very best to try to help fix this. It needs fixing.' Pictured: Health workers prepare Pfizer vaccinations at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre mass vaccination hub in Melbourne on May 28 The number of cases in the state rose to 51 on Monday after 11 new local infections were confirmed. Contact tracers are scrambling to identify about 4,200 close contacts and 279 exposure sites as the end of lockdown looms on Thursday. Acting Premier James Merlino said on Monday the decision on whether to lift or extend restrictions would not only depend on the number of new infections, but the 'types of cases'. He said determining whether new cases were in high-risk settings, such as the health sector or in aged care facilities, or linked to other infections. 'There is no doubt the situation is incredibly serious,' Mr Merlino said. 'The next few days remain critical this outbreak may well get worse before it gets better.' Epidemiologist Professor Mary Louise McLaws told the ABC on Monday that she didn't believe the state would be out of lockdown by Friday, as planned. 'We have a very high, very rapid increase over a short period of time,' she told the public broadcaster. 'I know this lockdown costs a billion a week and that would make the authorities very anxious about extending it but it has to go certainly for 14 days.' Market Research Future Has Published a Cooked Research Report on the Global Master Alloys Market. Market Analysis: Various factors are propelling the master alloys market growth. These factors, as stated by the MRFR report, include burgeoning demand for master alloys from the titanium industry, and growing demand in the automotive sector. Additional factors pushing market growth include growing demand for superalloys that can withstand extreme temperatures and collaboration between consumers and manufacturers. Master Alloys Market Size is predicted to touch USD 441.2 million at a 6.51% CAGR over the forecast period (2018-2024), as per the latest Market Research Future (MRFR) report. A master alloy, simply put, is a base metal including nickel, copper or aluminium with a comparatively percentage of one or two other elements. These alloys are made in various shapes such as rod in coils, waffle plate, and ingot. They are mostly found in plants where metals are melted, alloyed with different elements as well as cast into shapes. It can be steel, iron, aluminium or precious metals such as gold. Master alloys are also known as a modifier, grain refiner, and hardener resting on its application. On the contrary, declining profit margins, coupled with the dull growth of the steel industry are factors that may impede the master alloys market growth over the forecast period. Key Players: Leading players profiled in the Master Alloys Industry include KBM Affilips (Netherlands), Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. (Netherlands), Asturiana de Aleaciones SA (Spain), Reading Alloys (AMETEK Inc.) (US), and Milward Alloys Inc. (US), among others. July 2019: UK-based LCM (Less Common Metals), the sole rare earth alloy producer based outside Japan and China has begun the production of metal. LCM produces samarium cobalt alloys and neodymium-iron-boron, and high purity earth metals for the permanent magnet industry in Southern England. Besides, they also make other rare earth alloys such as master alloys (lanthanum nickel and yttrium aluminum) and hydrogen storage. Market Segmentation The Market Research Future report provides a wide segmental analysis of the Master Alloys Market Size based on application and type. Based on type, the master alloys market is segmented into copper-based master alloys, chromium alloys, vanadium alloys, molybdenum alloys, aluminium-based master alloys, and others. Of these, the aluminium-based master alloys segment will have the largest share in the market over the forecast period. This is owing to the fact that aluminium is lightweight, highly compatible with other base materials, and works as a hardening agent. By application, the master alloys market is segmented into the aluminium industry, metal anhydride alloys, iron, titanium production, powder metallurgical, stainless steel, superalloys, and others. Of these, the titanium production segment will dominate the market over the forecast period. This is owing to its wide use in aircraft engines as well as components. The titanium production segment will be followed by the superalloys segment. Regional Analysis Based on the region, the Master Alloys Industry covers growth opportunities and the latest trends across North America, Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Of these, the APAC region will remain the frontrunner in the market over the forecast period. It is predicted to grow at an 8.3% CAGR. This is owing to the burgeoning demand from various end industries such as aluminum, consumer goods, automotive, and aircraft components. The presence of automotive giants such as Mitsubishi and Toyota are investing largely in production facilities, especially in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia are also boosting the market growth in this region. The master alloys market in North America is predicted to have the second-largest share in the market during the forecast period and is predicted to touch USD 91.4 million. This is owing to the growth in the aerospace industry and the presence of leading aircraft manufacturers in the region. The master alloys market in Europe is predicted to have moderate growth over the forecast period. Germany is the key contributor in this region owing to the growing demand for titanium alloys in the automotive as well as aerospace industries. Access Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/master-alloys-market-6229 The email was from someone I had always considered an ally in the fight for equality. Well, not any more. By expressing your views, you have put yourself outside Stonewall, the terse message read when it landed in my inbox two years ago. Its Orwellian tone might make you wonder what views I could possibly have exhibited that would have set me at such odds with the organisation I proudly helped to form three decades earlier, to campaign for the rights of gay men and lesbians in a society that cruelly discriminated against them. They must, surely, have been hateful and inflammatory? Not a bit of it. I had simply expressed the opinion that proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act for which Stonewall was campaigning meaning people could legally self-identify as whatever sex they chose, regardless of their biology had serious implications for the rights of women. Protestors make their way through St James street as the second ever Trans Pride march takes place on September 12, 2020 in London These anxieties are shared by many people from all walks of life, and in a country in which free speech is a cornerstone, we have a right to air them, providing we do so respectfully. Yet not according to Stonewall, an organisation which on its masthead claims to want to create a world in which everyone is Free to Be but in reality has become single-mindedly focused on a particular and by no means universally accepted approach to trans rights. Free to Be? Only if you agree with Stonewall. This new reality watched with mounting alarm over the past few years by many gay and trans people was dramatically underlined yesterday by the news that the Equalities Minister Liz Truss is pushing for all Government departments to pull out of Stonewalls Diversity Champions scheme, whose members pay the charity a fee of at least 2,500 a year to vet their internal policies on LGBT issues. The ministers move came shortly after Nancy Kelley, the head of Stonewall, told the BBC she was really comfortable with the direction the charity was going in and went so far as to outrageously liken so-called gender critical beliefs like mine to anti-Semitism. If Truss succeeds in her bid, it would be a body blow for Stonewall, as until now public bodies including the Ministry of Justice, the Cabinet Office, GCHQ and the Department for Education have been lucrative clients and, in many cases, Stonewall has set the agenda for how government and business think on such issues even though that thinking is controversial even among many LGBT people. And Trusss initiative comes just a week after it emerged that Stonewall had lost a key relationship with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Last month, the EHRC chairwoman issued a letter saying it was withdrawing from the diversity scheme, and while insisting that the reason was purely financial, the departure is nonetheless a visceral blow for Stonewall, an organisation that trades on its image as an equality campaigner. The employment dispute service Acas announced it, too, had withdrawn for cost reasons, joining a growing number of other organisations including the House of Commons, the DVLA, Dorset Police and the Ministry of Housing. Meanwhile, Essex University, another Stonewall diversity champion, recently had to apologise for dropping two speakers after they had been accused of transphobia. An independent report found Stonewall had provided the university with misleading and potentially illegal advice. These mounting controversies all suggest that Stonewall has gone badly awry. But then many of us who have put ourselves outside the charity even those of us who spent much of our lives fighting for it have known for a long time that it has lost its way. The lesbians, gays and bisexuals (it used, after all, to be just LGB before it became LGBTQ+) that Stonewall was set up to defend have been all but abandoned by an organisation now pushing a divisive dogma. I have watched all this with mounting anger and sorrow but also fear, because this is not a minor chapter in the culture wars, but something that affects every single person living in the UK today. That I am writing these words about an organisation which in its time has achieved so many vital and admirable things is genuinely painful, because for those growing up gay today, it is almost impossible to convey how much the legal and cultural landscapes have changed and how much Stonewall lay behind that transformation. So what next for Stonewall when its over-arching goal of legal equality had been achieved? - Writer and Broadcaster Simon Fanshawe at an art exhibition in Brighton When I came out in 1977 while studying at Sussex University, it was into a country in which homosexuality had been decriminalised only a decade earlier. I was lucky. My university had a liberal, welcoming ethos. But there was no question that out in the world, homophobia loomed large. The law may have changed, but peoples attitudes hadnt. People shouted homophobic slurs at me in the street. I was physically assaulted by strangers who spat the word queer and worse. Many lesbians and gay men of the time will remember the ways we adjusted our behaviour to conceal who we were. There was no hand-holding in public, no reference to a boyfriend or girlfriend unless you were sure of the company you were in. Gay people were barred from joining the Armed Forces and kicked out if they were found in the ranks. They could not inherit the property of loved ones they had nursed through illness. People could be fired or evicted from their homes by their landlords simply for who they loved; while gay marriage, needless to say, was unthinkable. The only weapon our community had against this prejudice was visibility: unless we were seen, no one could know who we were, and crude and negative stereotypes could persist. By the time the 1980s dawned, the gay movement had begun using colourful protests and theatrical demonstrations to shock and delight people into the fact that we existed. It was a transformative decade. HIV/Aids killed tens of thousands of blameless gay men, many of them heartbreakingly young, while Margaret Thatchers government instituted Section 28. Equalities Minister Liz Truss (pictured) is pushing for all Government departments to pull out of Stonewalls Diversity Champions scheme, whose members pay the charity a fee of at least 2,500 a year to vet their internal policies on LGBT issues This notorious law, supposedly banning the promotion of homosexuality by local authorities, in effect prohibited any mention of the fact that gay people existed at all: a guaranteed way to keep the fires of prejudice burning. It was out of this cauldron of fear that Stonewall was born. The way disparate sections of the gay community marshalled themselves so admirably in the face of the Aids crisis had shown us what we could achieve. But the impact of Section 28 had laid bare what we lacked: an ability to change the law not through placards but through calm and professional lobbying of Parliament and government. Stonewall set out to address that. Formed in 1989, the organisation had clear objectives that could be boiled down to one aim: to achieve equality for gay men and women in the eyes of the law. There were 14 of us co-founders, among them actors Ian McKellen and Pam St Clement and MP turned journalist Matthew Parris, who recently spoke out to say Stonewall has lost its way. In 1989, we did not ask for more than straight people had, nor did we want them to give anything up. In the end, it was simply a question of fairness: a virtue the British have always prized. And it worked. Over time, the age of consent was equalised, civil partnerships came in, bans on gay adoption and fostering were rescinded, gays and lesbians could serve in the Armed Forces and gay marriage of course became legal. So what next for Stonewall when its over-arching goal of legal equality had been achieved? The obvious pivot, in my view, would have been to go local supporting councils, schools, hospitals and businesses to find solutions that worked for all, just as we had done nationally. For example, in 2019, furious Muslim parents protested at two primary schools in Birmingham over the fact their children were being taught that some people were gay. Stonewall could have had a valuable part to play here in bringing the two sides together, but was nowhere to be seen at the protests. Instead, in recent years, its energies and the might of its funding to the tune of several million pounds a year have been poured into this divisive approach on trans rights. In 2014, the then chief executive made it clear that this was the new priority, adding the T (for transgender) to the charitys masthead. Meanwhile, Essex University, another Stonewall diversity champion, recently had to apologise for dropping two speakers after they had been accused of transphobia On paper, of course, the goals cited by the transgender lobby echo those we strove for at the end of the 1980s. No one would deny the rights of trans people to be treated with fairness and respect, and gay and trans people often share the experience of being victims of prejudice. But gathering all of us under one big LGBT umbrella failed to recognise that sexual orientation and gender identity are two entirely different things and that unlike the battles we fought 30 years ago, in this instance the rights of one section of this community can directly impact on the rights of another. Stonewall has intransigently supported self-ID, which allows someone simply to declare that legally they are the opposite sex. Repeatedly, the charity has asserted: We need to recognise that trans women are women, and trans men are men. The Equality Act allows organisations to provide women-only services in specific circumstances and as a means of achieving a legitimate aim. This might be, for example, a group counselling service for female victims of sexual assault or allowing a service provider to exclude a person from dormitories or other shared sleeping accommodation. Stonewall argues that this should be repealed, so that anyone who self-IDs as the opposite sex could no longer be prevented from entering a woman-only space such as a refuge, changing room or dormitory. And this clearly encroaches on the spaces that, for important reasons, women have fought hard to establish. For centuries, women have campaigned against discrimination that flowed from the reality of their biology. It has always been women who populate domestic-violence refuges. It is women who have died because of botched backstreet abortions or from ritual genital mutilation. Denying this is absurd. But it is what Stonewall is asking us to do: to accept without discussion that trans people are no different from someone who was born a certain sex. Stonewall has every right to campaign for equality for trans people. But it will divide the gay community, trans people and the entire country if it continues to insist without discussion that those born male can become women simply by saying so, and therefore enter exclusively female spaces and use women-only services. Refusing to discuss the implication of this not only threatens free speech, but undermines proper democratic debate over how we can find solutions to these tricky issues. These solutions need to work for everyone: in this case, fairness for trans people and single-sex rights and services for women. I wholeheartedly support the right of trans people to identify socially in whatever way they wish. I also believe, however, that their life experience gives their stories a distinctiveness and a difference. And it is only by embracing this difference that we can achieve a truly inclusive society. But try suggesting that to the doctrinaire guardians of Stonewall. They see disagreement as prejudice or even hate, and any attempts to find common ground as a betrayal as I personally experienced when I received that email. Sadly, Stonewall has entirely lost its capacity to listen or discuss, believing instead that just brandishing slogans will achieve its goals. Today, I find it astonishing that an organisation to which many of us gave years of our lives, and that was founded to campaign for fairness, has come out in support of people whose placards contain threats aimed at those who think differently and who have, on several occasions, tried to ban lesbians who disagree with its trans policy from Pride parades. Free to Be, its new slogan claims. It is a ludicrous notion that freedom means that you can just be whatever you want. True freedom comes from respecting other people and finding ways to live harmoniously together. How bitterly ironic that the only freedom Stonewall wont embrace is the freedom to disagree. n The Power Of Difference by Simon Fanshawe is published by Kogan Page on August 3. The Morrison government is under renewed pressure over its aged care coronavirus response after dropping a rule to ensure staff do not work across multiple sites. Victoria is on tenterhooks with 11 new cases of coronavirus including nursing home residents and staff, stoking fears lockdown may continue beyond seven days. It emerged on Monday the federal government scrapped a requirement for aged care workers to only work at one facility in November last year. Despite Victoria's concerning outbreak, the rule wasn't reinstated until the Commonwealth designated Melbourne as a coronavirus hotspot on Thursday. Two staff members at Arcare aged care facility in Melbourne have coronavirus, with one working across multiple sites (pictured, another worker at the home on Monday) Health Minister Greg Hunt said about 4.7 per cent of aged care staff had worked across multiple sites as he stressed the importance of flexibility in periods without outbreaks. He said case numbers were the main factor in determining whether the single-site rule was in place. 'That is something that has been well established in consultation with the states, and so once that was reached then the definition was triggered,' Mr Hunt said. Labor's health spokesman Mark Butler was scathing of the decision to lift the ban in November. 'This latest outbreak in aged care is a direct result of Scott Morrison's gross negligence and dangerous complacency,' he told reporters in Canberra. It emerged the federal government scrapped a requirement for aged care workers to only work at one facility in November last year (pictured, a woman in the Arcare facility on Monday) 'If today's events don't convince Scott Morrison and his ministers that a speedy, effective vaccine rollout is a race, a race against this virus, a race against the variants of this virus, in particular, I don't know what will.' Mr Hunt said a vaccinated 99-year-old woman, who is now in hospital, had contracted the disease at the Arcare home in Melbourne's west but had not shown symptoms. A second resident, 95, has been retested on medical advice. Of Australia's 910 coronavirus deaths, 685 have been aged care residents. More than 4.2 million vaccine doses have been administered, a target the government initially set for March. Health secretary Brendan Murphy, Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly and Aged Care Services Minister Richard Colbeck are set to face questions about the outbreak during Senate estimates on Tuesday. Mr Hunt has asked Professor Kelly and the expert medical panel to revisit its advice from January that vaccinations should not be mandatory for aged care workers. 'That was not recommended at the time and we have asked the medical expert panel to review precisely that question,' he said. Friday's national cabinet meeting of Mr Morrison and state and territory leaders will consider the fresh advice. The boss of Boots last night led calls for Rishi Sunak to waive VAT on expensive Covid tests to help stimulate the economy. Sebastian James joined MPs in demanding the Chancellor scraps the 20 per cent tax on PCR tests. Waiving the charge would be a boost for hard-pressed holidaymakers at a time when the cost of the Government's travel testing regime is already too much for many. Many European countries have exempted their tests from VAT after the EU recommended the move. Stock image used What do other nations do about testing? France: PCR tests are free for French travellers, and even foreign visitors. The country's Secretary of State for European Affairs, Clement Beaune, said the measure was vital for the country's tourism economy. He said: 'We need, we want, in good sanitary conditions, to remain the leading European and world tourist destination.' Greece: Greek ministers have decided to cap the cost of PCR tests at 40 (34). This was to make them more affordable after reports that private clinics and hospitals had been charging up to 120 (103). Italy: Lazio has capped the costs of PCR tests at 60 (52). Free testing is also offered for citizens at some drive-through clinics at airports. Opposition parties are calling for tests to be made free for all Italian travellers. The Netherlands: The government is considering making PCR tests free for all Dutch travellers. Austria: Offering free Covid-19 tests for visitors to the country in a bid to reboot its tourism economy. The free tests can be accessed at on-street centres, pharmacies or directly in hotels. Advertisement Many European countries have exempted their tests from VAT after the EU recommended the move. One MP said it was important to get travel up and running post-Brexit to show that 'Global Britain' is a reality. But last night the Treasury claimed that although all taxes were constantly under review, any cut in VAT would mean savings have to be made elsewhere. Mr James, the chief executive of Boots, told the Mail: 'It is vital the Government make Covid testing accessible to more people by waiving the VAT. 'We think that this matters. It is only fair that at a time when people are worried about money and jobs and travel that Britain makes it as economic for everyone. This will also help boost the economy at large. 'We have already reduced our price by 20 per cent last month to make us one of the cheapest places to get a test.' And Mr James's demand was backed up by MPs last night. Layla Moran, chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on coronavirus, said prices should be capped to prevent 'profiteering' by companies. 'Testing will remain crucial to our efforts to keep coronavirus and variants under control, even for those who are fully vaccinated,' she said. 'There is therefore a strong case for the Government to act to reduce the costs of tests once it is safe to resume international travel. Other European countries have succeeded in reducing the cost of tests through measures such as capping prices or VAT exemptions. 'Similar measures should be considered in the UK, to prevent profiteering at the expense of ordinary families.' Tory MP Henry Smith said: 'The cost and complexity is far too great even for people coming from green list countries and it's a major disincentive for travel. 'It is having a direct impact on the aviation and travel industries which are vital for employment and our economic recovery. A saliva sample is taken at Germany's first walk-through test centre in Frankfurt Airport 'A good first step would be the abolition of VAT, followed by a review of the amount of testing required for green list countries and the extension of the number of green list countries.' Last night a government spokesman said: 'Testing post-arrival remains an important tool in our wider measures to manage the risk of imported cases of Covid-19, as well as allowing us to identify variants of concern. 'We recognise that the cost of tests can be high, which is why we're working with the travel industry and private testing providers to see how we can further reduce the cost of travel.' The spokesman added that competition amongst private providers in the market for tests has already significantly reduced the cost of PCR tests without government intervention. They said these prices would continue to decrease over time. The spokesman also said VAT makes a significant contribution towards public finances, raising 130billion in 2019/20. The PCR test price lottery: Government website features confusing array of more than 300 coronavirus test providers From budget companies to premium clinics charging hundreds, the Government's website features a confusing array of more than 300 PCR testing providers. Although ministers say they 'do not recommend any particular test provider', it removes those from its list that it deems to be 'failing to meet the required standards'. Nevertheless, the Mail's research has found that the register is continuing to display companies which have been on the receiving end of numerous complaints. A government spokesman said: 'We are closely monitoring the performance of private test providers to ensure they deliver a high quality of service to customers.' Here are four examples of how the service varies: 1 NAME: Expert Medicals WHERE: Bradford COST: 45 Expert Medicals appears to be an attractive option for travellers seeking to save on a post-arrival home test, since it is among the cheapest providers on the Government's register at just 45. However the company, which is registered to a rundown shop in Bradford, has attracted criticism from customers, with one writing it is 'diabolical'. Almost all of the reviews left on website Trustpilot have reported bad experiences, with claims of non-existent customer service and having plans ruined. The company failed to respond to requests for comment. 2 NAME: The Mayfair GP WHERE: Central London COST: 399 The clinic, based in London's wealthy Mayfair district, offers a 'premium' testing service, which includes a doctor attending the customer's home to carry out the test, courier service for same-day delivery of samples and follow-up advice for any positive cases. Run by Dr Vibhu Kaushal and Dr Vikas Mehta, their practice 'puts the emphasis on the personal connection and continuity of care'. Its site adds: 'We are here to listen to your concerns and offer you invaluable support for every aspect of your patient journey.' 3 NAME: PCR Labs WHERE: Chiswick, west London COST: 259 Using eco-friendly bicycle couriers to deliver tests, who wait while you complete it, PCR Labs offers results guaranteed within 24 hours for all samples collected before 3pm. The company also offers a 'full antibody test' for 289. Ecofleet, the firm's test delivery partner, offers a 'mindful' courier service. The bicycle-only delivery company was founded by Farah Asemi after she was inspired to help encourage greener practises following a chronic pulmonary disease diagnosis she put down to air pollution. 4 NAME: La Perla WHERE: Marlow, Buckinghamshire COST: 150 Travellers who wish to take a post-arrival test at La Perla a dental clinic might be able to hang around for a dental checkup, veneers, or even beauty treatments such as laser hair removal and fillers. Highlighting the financial issues that dentists are facing since the pandemic, the practice states on its website that they have been 'burdened with huge additional fees in restructuring the clinics and provision of PPE, for which we have no funding'. Advertisement ANDREW FLINTHAM: Unfair 'tax' is turning global Britain into little Britain By Andrew Flintham, Managing Director of Tui UK and Ireland We have a deeply unfair, ill thought-out, two-tier holiday regime. No, not between green and amber-list destinations but between those who can afford to pay the crippling cost of unnecessary Covid tests and those who can't. This nonsensical and punitive system is turning 'global Britain' into 'little Britain'. We risk becoming a nation of stay-at-homes, while our neighbours in Europe turbo-charge their economies by encouraging travel. The Exchequer is even profiteering from this through its short-sighted and greedy policy of imposing VAT at 20 per cent on the already inflated cost of Covid tests. At Tui we have been subsidising the price of the polymerase chain reaction test or PCR, as well as the cheaper lateral flow tests. Pre-departure rapid Covid-19 testing facility launched at Heathrow Airport Purchased privately, a PCR test is likely to cost between 60 and 120. Every traveller returning from a green-list country is obliged to take one within two days of arrival or face a fine of up to 500. For a family of four, these tests potentially add 480 to the cost of a holiday. In addition, there are the lateral flow tests that holidaymakers need to take before boarding their flights to return home at an average price of about 15 each. I believe that is iniquitous. It imposes a financial burden on British families at a time when more than ever we all deserve a break. That's why Tui are helping, offering to give holidaymakers in green-zone destinations all of their tests for 20 each, rising to 50 for amber-list travellers. But we cannot do this indefinitely. The industry has seen almost no customers for 14 months. Currently two weeks after foreign travel opened up following more than four months of lockdown we are operating out of four British airports, compared with the 22 we previously used. We're running fewer flights in a week than we scheduled in a single day before the pandemic. The international travel business is very far from getting back to normal. Other European countries are watching us with bewilderment. They cannot understand why the UK Government is hampering its own economy. Every one of those airports that we used until March last year is a hub for its region, generating huge amounts of business far beyond the core travel market. Until we get flying again, all that business will remain on hold. It's no exaggeration to say the livelihoods of millions of people depend to a substantial degree on international travel. Quick and easy lateral flow tests are getting the domestic economy going again. That and the incredible success of the vaccines will prove crucial for the home holiday market. We should be using these same tests for green-list countries. It is excessive to insist on PCR checks, the most rigorous type available, when a lateral flow test is more than sufficient when visiting venues in Britain. According to the latest data, considerably less than 1 per cent of incoming travellers from amber-list countries are testing positive for Covid. International travel is not a significant driver for infection rates. And the whole point of a traffic-light system for travel is that it enables us to identify the countries where infection rates are lower than Britain's, or at worst, on a par with ours. The omissions from the green list are already baffling. The Balearic islands, such as Majorca and Minorca, have very few Covid cases and an excellent vaccination programme. All the evidence suggests that a holiday on these islands, which are crying out for tourists, would pose no increased risk whatever. Yet they are currently on the amber list. Meanwhile the Canaries, including Tenerife and Lanzarote, are also on the amber list, but the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is that it's perfectly safe to travel there. By contrast, many European nations have supported foreign travel throughout the crisis. The rules in individual countries are changing all of the time, but the governments in Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain have all capped or subsidised the cost of testing. The Government claims it wants to 'move forward with an abundance of caution'. If that is so, surely the first step is to radically reduce the cost of PCR tests. This can be done immediately, with the removal of VAT, and then with government subsidies until the price comes within everybody's reach. Police have launched a murder investigation after a 14-year-old boy was stabbed tyo death during a large street fight. Emergency services rushed to the scene near to the McDonald's on College Road, Kingstanding, Birmingham, at about 7.30pm on Monday evening. The schoolboy, who has not been identified, was pronounced dead in the street from knife wounds despite the efforts of paramedics. West Midlands Police said the victim was attacked at the junction with Wardour Grove. Police have launched a murder investigation after a 14-year-old boy was stabbed to death in the street during a large street fight. Pictured: Police at the scene on Monday afternoon Police say a group of up to seven people ran off in the direction of Chester Road. The force said they had immediately launched a murder investigation and flooded the area with officers in a search for those responsible. Officers are also speaking to witnesses and fast-tracking CCTV enquiries. Detective Inspector Ranj Sangha, from the force's homicide unit, said: 'This is a shocking and senseless tragedy. 'Another young life has been taken far too soon. Emergency services rushed to the scene near to a McDonald's on College Road, Kingstanding, Birmingham , at about 7.30pm on Monday evening. Pictured: Police at the scene 'We have officers with the boy's family who are facing the cruellest of news this evening. My heart goes out to them. 'We will be leaving no stone unturned in our hunt for the callous individuals responsible for this, or for anyone harbouring them, knowing what they have done.' Anyone with information is asked to contact police via Live Chat via their website or by calling 101 quoting log number 3313 of 31/5. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Decapitated bodies found at a burial site likely belonged to slaves who were victims of the Roman army carrying out 'extreme justice', archaeologists claim. The team excavated three third century cemeteries with bodies decapitated and buried in a prone position at Knobb's Farm in Somersham, Cambridgeshire. There were an 'exceptionally high' number of bodies found without a head at the site, that was a Roman military farm settlement and 33 per cent had been executed. Several of the bodies had been buried in the position they died - kneeling after being struck from behind with a sword, the Cambridge University team found. The fact a third of those buried at this site, that would have once supplied the Roman military operating in the region, is 'exceptionally high,' according to the team. Apparently just six per cent of most Roman British cemeteries include people who were executed, suggesting those at this site were treated with 'extreme justice'. Decapitated bodies found at a burial site likely belonged to slaves who were victims of the Roman army carrying out 'extreme justice', archaeologists claim The team excavated three third century cemeteries with bodies decapitated and buried in a prone position at Knobb's Farm in Somersham, Cambridgeshire Detail of the cuts to the vertebrae and mandible. The fact a third of those buried at this site, that would have once supplied the Roman military operating in the region, is 'exceptionally high,' according to the team KNOBB'S FARM FOUND WITH A THIRD OF EXECUTED BODIES Of the 52 bodies recovered, 15 are female and 21 male, with most aged between 25 and 45 years. The main cause of death among the adults was decapitation. Fourteen of the bodies had evidence for skeletal trauma, including a broken finger, torn ligament, trauma to a right femur, fracture to an elbow, hip trauma and a healed cranial fracture. Some of this is through abuse and violence, but most is just from heavy labour and intense work on a farm. Eighteen burials have signs of age-related skeletal degeneration, mostly amongst older individuals. Most of the skeletons were in poor condition and several had been reduced to little more than sand shadows. Of the 41 bodies that were still articulated, almost all had been laid out in an extended position. 26 were buried supine 13 were buried prone 2 were buried on their side Seventeen of the bodies had been decapitated and six were decapitated and buried prone. Advertisement In total three cemeteries were excavated at Knobb's Farm by the Cambridge archaeologists, revealing 52 individual burials and 17 decapitations. While most had their heads placed at their feet or between their legs, at least one of those executed was face down and showing signs of torture before death. The team say these farm dates to a time of instability in the Roman Empire, when punishments for crimes was becoming harsher. They confirmed that those buried on the site were more likely to be slaves or soldiers as there was a 'lack of genetic relationships' between bodies. At least two of them were from Scotland or Ireland and another came from the Alps, the authors, who excavated the farm between 2001 and 2010, revealed. 'Decapitation and prone burials are amongst the irregular burial practices that have been a long-standing focus of Roman archaeology in Britain,' the team wrote. Hundreds of decapitated bodies dating back to the Roman-period have been excavated, with most explanations including execution, trophy taking, desecration, cult practice, human sacrifice and even releasing the soul. Prone burials, by contrast, have received much less attention in Britain and their significance remains unclear, study authors explained. 'Part of the difficulty in studying both practices is that they are uncommon: across Britain, decapitations make up 2.33.7 per cent of Roman era inhumation burials, while prone burials are slightly less common at 23 per cent.' They also found that very few Roman-era cemeteries include more than one or two examples of either prone or decapitated burials. 'This limits opportunities to see patterns at the cemetery level or their relationship to other burials and each other,' the team said. Hundreds of decapitated bodies dating back to the Roman-period have been excavated, with most explanations including execution, trophy taking, desecration, cult practice, human sacrifice and even releasing the soul Details of cut marks to the posterior and right side of the cranium. Apparently just six per cent of most Roman British cemeteries include people who were executed, suggesting those at this site were treated with 'extreme justice' A number of graves included pots placed by the head or shoulder of the decapitated skeletons, with most pots being beakers and flagons. these would have been personal drinking vessels used by the people they were buried with The team excavated three third century cemeteries with bodies decapitated and buried in a prone position at Knobb's Farm in Somersham, Cambridgeshire Detail of the cuts to the vertebrae and mandible. While most had their heads placed at their feet or between their legs, at least one of those executed was face down and showing signs of torture before death 'For this reason, the excavation of 17 decapitated bodies and 13 prone burials at Knobb's Farm provides a rare opportunity to examine patterns and practices.' Several of the dead were likely still alive when they were beheaded, with the death linked to execution, rather than the decapitation being part of a ritual. One of the men found in the farm had heavy sword blows to the back of his head that may have been use to stop him struggling before he had his head chopped off. Several of the dead were likely still alive when they were beheaded, with the death linked to execution, rather than the decapitation being part of a ritual Hundreds of decapitated bodies dating back to the Roman-period have been excavated, with most explanations including execution, trophy taking, desecration, cult practice, human sacrifice and even releasing the soul The team say these farm dates to a time of instability in the Roman Empire, when punishments for crimes was becoming harsher The team said one woman had a series of fine cut marks to her face, arms and legs suggesting her body was mutilated before or after decapitation. 'If these people had been killed in a ritual of some kind, then it amounted to human sacrificea practice that was illegal in Roman law. A more plausible explanation of these deaths is that they were executions,' the authors explained. It is thought the farm was part of a larger complex supplying the Roman army with grain and meat, placing the community under higher levels of scrutiny than most. It is likely that any wrongdoing, by slaves or soldiers, would have been treated particularly harshly due to this added scrutiny, leading to the higher than usual number of executions. It is thought the farm was part of a larger complex supplying the Roman army with grain and meat, placing the community under higher levels of scrutiny than most Camel coal beads from one grave, and late fourth-century bone comb from another. It is thought the farm was part of a larger complex supplying the Roman army with grain and meat, placing the community under higher levels of scrutiny than most One exciting find was a 'face-necked flagon' featuring a face on the surface with a diadem on top, likely representing a goddess This doesn't mean it was a 'legal execution' as there are no records, but the dig does show they were likely killed as a form of 'extreme justice' on the military farm. A number of graves included pots placed by the head or shoulder of the decapitated skeletons, with most pots being beakers and flagons. these would have been personal drinking vessels used by the people they were buried with. One exciting find was a 'face-necked flagon' featuring a face on the surface with a diadem on top, likely representing a goddess. The findings have been published in the journal Britannia. 'If these people had been killed in a ritual of some kind, then it amounted to human sacrificea practice that was illegal in Roman law. A more plausible explanation of these deaths is that they were executions,' the authors explained The song of humpback whales as they swim off the shore of New York has been recorded for the first time, by a series of underwater microphones, scientists claim. The discovery involved scouring through thousands of hours of audio data for signs of whale call, explained Julia Zeh, a doctoral student at Syracuse University in New York, who completed the work while an undergraduate at Columbia. Underwater sound recording equipment, that sits on the waters near New York, helped them discover the whales had been swimming in the New York Bright. They were there during the winter and spring, when the whales are normally in the warmer Caribbean region for mating season, explained Zeh. The team can't say exactly why there has been an increase in humpback sightings in the winter months in New York, but predict they are either turning the area into a mating ground, or young males remain behind as they aren't old enough to breed. A humpback whale surfaces near the Statue of Liberty in this photo taken from a boat on New York Harbor in December 2020. This was eight years after the recordings were made, so the two aren't linked, but researchers say there has been an increasing number of sightings HUMPBACK WHALE POPULATIONS AND THEIR THREATS Humpback whales live in oceans around the world. They travel incredible distances every year and have one of the longest migrations of any mammal. Some populations swim 5,000 miles from tropical breeding grounds to colder, plentiful feeding grounds. This is why it is difficult to estimate population size, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Of the 14 distinct populations, 12 are estimated to number more than 2,000 humpback whales each and two are estimated to have fewer than 2,000. Threats to humpback whales include decline in food like Krill due to a combination of climate change and industrial-scale fishing. Humpback whales can become entangled by many different gear types including moorings, traps, pots, or gillnets. Once entangled, if they are able to move the gear, the whale may drag and swim with attached gear for long distances, ultimately resulting in fatigue, compromised feeding ability, or severe injury. Advertisement As part of the researcher the team analysed 6,305 hours of audio recordings captured by microphones on the seafloor 70 miles south of Long Island. They were captured between 2009 and 2009, but the data was only recently studied specifically for signs of humpback whales in the new York Bight. 'All of a sudden there in the background, it starts kind of quiet and then gets louder. I was so excited to hear it!' Zeh told CBS in an interview about the discovery. It is unusual to hear humpback whales singing so far north, as well as outside of their normal mating season during fall and winter, when they are found in warmer, Caribbean climates, the authors of the study explained. This study benefited from acoustic recorders sitting on the ocean floor year round, providing an opportunity to detect whales even when they might not be spotted during visual surveys. The study authors say that having alternative methods to spot whales can aid future conservation efforts and protect the giant bus-sized marine mammals as they venture into one of the busiest waterways in the world. 'The more we know about how and when whales use these areas, the more we can make informed decisions on how to better protect them,' said Howard Rosenbaum of the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York. Whales that venture into New York waters spend most of their year in the North Atlantic, but head south for the winter, roosting the Caribbean where they sing and breed in tropical waters. It was thought that waters in New York were a mere thoroughfare for the migration, but recent sightings and these audio recordings show they are spending more of their year in the colder waters. Researchers predict this may be in part due to climate change, with the whales adapting to warming waterways. There has been an increase in humpback sightings throughout the mid-Atlantic, researchers claim. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation spotted the creatures, and recorded singing of humpbacks in 2017 and 2018 in the same region. This new study uses recordings first made in 2008, but only recently analysed due to difficulties in scouring the thousands of hours of data. New York state monitors whale activity in a roughly 17,000 square mile zone running from Long Island to the Outer Continental Shelf. The team can't say exactly why there has been an increase in humpback sightings in the winter months in New York, but predict they are either turning the area into a mating ground, or young males remain behind as they aren't old enough to breed 'The traditional paradigm for humpback whale song is that it's produced by males on breeding grounds, which for these whales are around the Caribbean,' Zeh said. 'So it's not something that you necessarily expect to find further north.' To go through the hours of audio they created an algorithm that isolated the tell-tale signs of humpback whale song recorded within 70 miles of Long Island. They found they were singing in the winter and spring of 2008, making it the earliest known evidence of this behaviour in the New York Bight. 'The fact we recorded it in winter, when they traditionally thought to have already migrated to their equatorial breeding grounds, was the most surprising thing,' said Zeh. The discovery involved scouring through thousands of hours of audio data for signs of whale call, explained Julia Zeh, a doctoral student at Syracuse University in New York, who completed the work while an undergraduate at Columbia One reason for this unexpected behaviour could be evidence that the younger, immature males don't actually go all the way south, although why remains unknown. Stephanie Rekemeyer from New York DEC said this may be simply that they are not old enough to mate, so don't bother making the journey south. The other explanation is that they could be turning the New York Bight into a mating ground. This theory comes from the increase in sightings and recordings in recent months, particularly over the winter when they would normally mate. The findings have been published in the journal Marine Mammal Science. A single frame from the controversial 1947 'alien autopsy' film is being sold as a non-fungible token (NFT) at auction, with the opening bid well over $1million or 450 ethereum. The 16-mm film reputedly shows the aftermath of the supposed UFO crash at Roswell, New Mexico, with a humanoid figure on an operating table. The 17-minute long film shows the figure with a massive wound on its right leg, large eyes and skull and several different individuals walking around the figure wearing white suits. The winner of the auction will receive the footage as an NFT, essentially showing its authenticity via lines of code. The auction is being conducted by Rarible, which bills itself as the 'largest decentralized, creator-centric NFT marketplace for a variety of multimedia content.' The NFT made from the original, controversial, 1947 Alien Autopsy film. It has a starting bid of 450 ethereum, or more than $1 million The flying saucer reportedly crashed in Roswell, New Mexico in July 1947 The winner will also receive a physical 16mm frame from the original film that was shot in 1947, according to a statement. The footage has supposedly been 'authenticated' by the CIA, according to the film's owner, British entrepreneur Ray Santilli. Santilli acquired it in 1992 from a retired U.S. military cameraman, according to the statement. 'I have lived with this film and the story surrounding it for 30 years,' Santilli said in the release. 'When I first saw the CIA papers with their verification of the Roswell event and Alien Autopsy film, a massive weight was lifted from my shoulders. I believe the technology we enjoy today started in 1947 with the Roswell crash and that the NFT and single film frame being offered is by far one of the most valuable items to even come up in auction.' Mystery of the 1947 Roswell wreckage In July 1947, a rancher reported pieces of debris scattered over his land. Authorities were called to the scene and after investigating the wreckage, determined the pieces were from a flying sauce. The local paper's front page story reported that the Roswell Army field recovered a flying saucer on a New Mexico Ranch after metallic-looking, light but strong material was scattered across the land. 'The intelligence office of the 509th Bombardment Group at Roswell Army Air Field announced at noon today, that the field has come into the possession of a Flying Saucer,' Roswell Daily Record reported on July 8, 1947. However, shortly after the 'UFO' discovery made headlines, the War Department in Washington released a statement claiming the debris was the remains of a weather balloon. Advertisement Controversy surrounding the film and its authenticity has existed for years. In 1995, footage from the film was broadcast on Fox as an hour-long documentary entitled, Alien Autopsy: Fact or Fiction, hosted by Jonathan Frakes. In 2006, Santilli eventually admitted that the footage was a 'reconstruction' of what he said he previously viewed and that only a 'few frames' were from the 1947 film, but never specified which ones. Separately that year, special-effects designer named John Humphreys claimed that he had created the figure in the footage and appeared in the film as one of the pathologists, according to Live Science. However, a leaked 2001 memo was reportedly obtained by aerospace billionaire Robert Bigelow (obtained from the archives of former NASA astronaut Edgar Mitchell) which discusses a CIA scientist Kit Green saying the film and the cadaver are real. 'The Alien Autopsy film/video is real, the alien cadaver is real, and the cadaver seen in the film/video is the same as the photos Kit saw at the 1987/88 Pentagon briefing,' Green said in a 2001 briefing at the Pentagon, according to release. Bigelow has connections to former US Senator Harry Reid. While in office, Reid obtained funding for the now-defunct Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, some of which went to Bigelow Aerospace, to investigate unidentified aerial phenomena. On July 8, 1947, the Roswell Daily Record, citing a statement from Jesse Marcel Sr., reported that the Roswell Army field recovered a flying saucer on a New Mexico Ranch after metallic-looking, light but strong material was scattered across the land. The local paper's front page story reported that the Roswell Army field recovered a flying saucer on a New Mexico Ranch after metallic-looking, light but strong material was scattered across the land. 'The intelligence office of the 509th Bombardment Group at Roswell Army Air Field announced at noon today, that the field has come into the possession of a Flying Saucer,' Roswell Daily Record reported on July 8, 1947 The Air Force report regarding the event states the debris were pieces from Project Mogal's balloons, sensors and radar reflectors made of thin metal. Pictured is Marcel with the debris 'The intelligence office of the 509th Bombardment Group at Roswell Army Air Field announced at noon today, that the field has come into the possession of a Flying Saucer,' the paper reported. Marcel Sr. was the first on the scene and led the investigation, which he determined were pieces from an extraterrestrial vehicle. However, shortly after the 'UFO' discovery made headlines, the War Department in Washington DC released a statement claiming the debris was just remains of a weather balloon. Archaeologists discovered an arrowhead made from bone near the ancient Israeli city of Gath, the Biblical home of Goliath, according to a newly published study. The findings, published in Near Eastern Archaeology, note the arrowhead was initially discovered in 2019 and was likely comprised of cattle metapodial. It's believed the near 3,000-year-old arrowhead was used by the city's defenders, but the researchers said they can not rule out the possibility it belonged to the Aramaean attackers. 'These bones were specifically selected for the job given their large size from which multiple points could be made, and their thick layer of hard compact bone that was cut following the length of the bone, that is, its longitudinal axis,' the researchers wrote in the study. 'This would make the artifacts extremely robust and capable of withstanding impact.' It's possible that the arrowhead was produced in a workshop about 1,000 feet from where the arrowhead was discovered, in the ancient city of Gath. Drawings (left) and photographs (right) of the bone arrowhead that was discovered in 2019 near the ancient city of Gath The arrowhead suffered impact fractures (a), which can be further seen in high magnification (b) detailing the direction of which the arrowhead made its mark. There were also chiseling marks (c, d) on the body of the arrowhead, which give more detail on how it was produced It was discovered in Area M (right of the road) in the ancient city of Gath, the Biblical home of Goliath Gath was conquered in 830 B.C. by King Hazael, who later went on to attack Jerusalem In the workshop, the archaeologists found a number of different bones that came from two skeletal elements (lower fore and hind limbs) from domestic cattle. The arrow head was likely used in battle, as the point is broken and there is a 'clear impact fracture' on the tip of the arrowhead, according to the experts. 'All parts of the Tell es-Safi/Gath point are present,' the researchers added. 'However, micro-wear analysis of the object duplicates the damage pattern found by Knecht with a clear impact fracture (i.e., a scar) on the tip of the Tell es-Safi/Gath arrowhead.' They continued: 'There are also micro-striations within the scar that were created as a result of the force when it made contact with its target. Moreover the point had been broken close to the mid-shaft, perhaps as a result of this impact. These results demonstrate that the arrowhead had been used and had hit a target.' It was found in a pottery basket from the street surface, which included mixed pottery that dated all the way until the Iron Age II, which ended 586 B.C. Gath was conquered by King Hazael around 830 B.C. and is considered one of the five Philistine city-states. Following his attack on Gath, Hazael went on to attack Jerusalem. In 2015, archaeologists uncovered the remains of an enormous gate and wall that shed new light on the city of Gath and its defenses. Aerial photograph of Area M (end of 2019 season). North at the top of the picture. The general location of where the arrowhead was found is marked. Courtesy of the Tell es-Sa/Gath Archaeological Project Advertisement If you're ravine-ous for a good view, you've come to the right place. MailOnline Travel has dug deep, leaving no sandstone slab or volcanic rock unturned, in a quest to unearth breathtaking pictures of the world's most jaw-dropping canyons - geology that will leave you gobsmacked. This world tour of inspiring incisions takes in a canyon in Turkey with over 100 churches hewn out of its rocky sides, France's 'Grand Canyon of Europe', an Icelandic canyon so eye-catching Just Bieber was moved to use it as a backdrop for a music video and a gorge in Tibet that's 17,000ft deep and one of earth's least-explored areas. We also present canyons in Brazil and Hawaii that are truly Lost World material - and one in Arizona that's decidedly off-world material. Some of the canyons are accessible enough to saunter along with a selfie-stick - others are so wild you'd need months of planning and an expedition team around you to tackle. Scroll down to drink in these dizzying delights. No, this picture isn't Photoshopped - canyons can be green. And this image shows the largest version in the world - Blyde River Canyon, in Mpumalanga, eastern South Africa. It is 26km (16 miles) long and 800 metres (2,625ft) deep in places. The canyon is known for its mesmerising rock formations, beautiful waterfalls and ancient 'Echo Caves' stretching 24 miles (40km) into the earth. The stunning photograph above was taken at the Three Rondavels View Point, the Three Rondavels being the trio of beehive-shaped peaks to the right Come for the view, stay for the mesmerising history. The Ihlara canyon snakes its way through Turkey's Cappadocia region for 15km (9.3 miles), with the Melendiz Stream flowing through its heart and around its 26 bends. It makes for irresistible Instagram bait. But there's more. Hewn out of the canyon's volcanic rock are over 100 churches and 4,000 cave dwellings dating back to around the 7th century AD Cheddar Gorge in Somerset is Britain's largest gorge, with cliffs rising imposingly 450ft (137m) above the B3135 road Behold the Gorges du Verdon (Verdon Gorge) - the 'Grand Canyon of Europe'. It's located in the heart of Provence in southeastern France and with a length of 25km (15.5 miles) and limestone cliffs that soar to 2,296ft (700m), it's the largest canyon in Europe. Visitors have plenty of options - kayaking on the dazzling turquoise waters, swimming in them, hiking along the countless trails and birdwatching. The gorge is home to multiple birds of prey, including reintroduced griffon vultures The most famous canyon of them all is, of course, Arizona's immense Grand Canyon, which boasts an eye-opening set of measurements - it's 446km (277 miles) long, up to 29km (18 miles) wide and over a mile deep in places. Plus, it's a truly vintage edition, with rocks up to 1.8billion years old If being awe-struck is on your bucket list, then The Fish River Canyon in Namibia - one of the vastest canyons in Africa - is a box you might like to tick. In places, it's 2,300ft (700m) deep, 17 miles (27km) wide and stretches for around 100 miles (160km) from the settlement of Seeheim to the Ai-Ais hot springs. Lonely Planet recommends a five-day hike that covers half its length Fjadrargljufur canyon in south Iceland is short and sweet - only 2km (1.2 miles) long and around 328ft (100m) deep, but definitely geological eye candy. Justin Bieber fans will know it as the backdrop to the video for his 2015 hit 'I'll Show You' For sheer vertiginous canyon drama, the Indus Gorge in the western end of the Himalayas takes some beating. Around Nanga Parbat, the ninth-highest mountain in the world at 8,126m (26,660ft), in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan, it reaches depths of between 4,5005,200m (15,00017,000ft) One of the most magical canyons in the world is this one - the cathedral-like 120ft-high Antelope Canyon on Navajo land in Arizona. When shafts of sunlight beam through the opening at the top it makes for a most spellbinding scene, as this image shows. The wind-whipped sandstone Canyon opened to visitors in 1997 when the Navajo Tribe proclaimed it a Navajo Tribal Park The volcanic Hawaiian island of Kaua'i is one of Hollywood's favourite tropical locations, having starred as a backdrop in Jurassic Park, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, King Kong and more - and Waimea Canyon is one of the blockbuster sights. It has a waterfall - Waipoo Falls (pictured) - that cascades 800ft down one of the lava-rock cliff faces, distinctive red soil and is 14 miles long, one-mile (1.6km) wide and up to 3,600ft (1,097m) deep, making it easily the biggest canyon in the Pacific Peru's Colca Canyon reaches a depth of 11,486ft (3,501m), making it twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. In normal times it's one of the most-visited sights in Peru, with travellers marvelling at not only its sheer vastness, but the terraced agriculture on its slopes and the exotic wildlife, which includes llamas, pumas and the world's biggest bird - the Andean condor Mexico's Copper Canyon, so-named on account of its copper/green walls, actually comprises six distinct canyons, formed by six rivers. One of the best ways of taking in the sensational scenery is on the Copper Canyon train - El Chepe. Coppercanyon.com says: 'The line crosses some of Mexicos most rugged terrain, hugging the edge of mountains, and crossing deep ravines on its bridges. The scenery it travels through is truly breathtaking' If you like your canyons to come with a big dollop of extreme, this is the one for you - the almost fathomless Yarlung Tsangpo gorge in Tibet. Let's run through the superlatives. Its most extreme depth is 5,300m (17,000ft), making it one of the deepest land canyons on the planet (three times deeper than our favourite canyon yardstick, the Grand Canyon), at 300 miles (500km) it's one of the world's longest canyons, and it passes between two jaw-droppingly lofty peaks, the 7,782-metre (25,446ft) Namcha Barwa and the 7,294-metre (23,462ft) Gyala Peri. What's more, it's one of earth's least-explored areas, with the fierce Yarlung Tsangpo river thundering through it. The terrain is so remote and challenging that one 2002 kayaking group numbering seven that tackled the upper gorge - some of which was unmapped at the time - had a team of 93 people supporting them, reveals an entry on the Nasa Earth Observatory website Form a line for a spectacular stroll. This the Echidna Chasm in Australia's Bungle Bungle Range, where in places the walls are only two shoulders widths apart - but rise to a height of 656ft (200m) The glacial 15km- (9.3-mile) long Ordesa Canyon, which is located in a remote area of the Spanish Pyrenees, is a stunning spot for hiking, as this awe-inspiring picture shows. It's also a haven for extraordinary wildlife, including the brown bear, the capercaillie - a huge woodland grouse - the bearded vulture and the golden eagle. It was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1997 Wadi Nakhr is known as Oman's 'Grand Canyon' and offers breathtaking hiking opportunities. Tripadvisor reviewer 'Olenellus' wrote: 'It is breathtaking to walk in between the vertical canyon walls and contemplate nature in a raw state' The 19km- (11.8-mile) long Taroko Gorge on Taiwan's east coast is known for its striking marble walls, the blue-hued Liwu River that flows through it and this road - the Central Cross-Island Highway, or Provincial Highway 8 - which has been carved into the cliff face This is the eye-poppingly spectacular 15km- (9.3-mile) long Tiger Leaping Gorge in southwestern China, which ticks every box for a wow-factor canyon. It has jaw-dropping depth - up to 12,434ft (3,790m) - a thunderous river (the Jinsha) and beautiful waterfalls Pictured here is the stunning Canyon de Chelly National Monument (pronounced de-shay) in northeast Arizona which, as www.visittheusa.co.uk reveals, has been home to members of the Navajo Nation for nearly 5,000 years. It continues: [The canyon] offers a one-of-a-kind look into the history of these tribes. Navajo people continue to live, work and raise their families in the rugged canyons surrounding the monument. The site adds that visitors can peer into the canyon from one of two scenic rim drives, each involving a 64-kilometre (39-mile) round trip from the visitor centre and punctuated with panoramic overlooks and that Navajo guides lead four-wheel-drive, hiking and horseback trips within the canyon. Geological highlights include the 800ft- (244m) Spider Rock (pictured) and the impressive 1,000ft- (305m) high sandstone cliff-faces The Kali Gandaki Gorge in the Nepalese Himalayas by one yardstick lays a claim to being the world's deepest land canyon, as at one point the river that runs through it, the Gandaki River, is 18,278ft (5,571m) lower than the towering 26,545ft (8,091m) Annapurna I to the east. What is not in dispute is that the gorge is a world-class hiking destination. Pictured above is the village of Kagbeni The 3.6-mile-long (5.8km) Itaimbezinho canyon in Brazil's Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra is truly Lost World material, with parallel 2,360ft- (720m) tall cliff walls smothered in tropical vegetation, twin waterfalls (pictured) and a wealth of wildlife, from howler monkeys to parrots. Lonely Planet explains that visitors can explore this geological wonder via three trails that wind through the park A three-hour drive from Uluru in Australia's Northern Territory is the majestic Kings Canyon in the Watarrka National Park, which wows visitors with curved 1,000ft (300m) sandstone cliff walls, and verdant vegetation and rock pools that lace the floor. Those keen on prime views of the gorge can undertake a challenging 6km (3.7-mile) rim walk She maintained a dignified silence on social media during her messy split from Sam Burgess, opting to post photos of herself wearing designer outfits rather than comment on the controversy. But Phoebe Burgess finally lost her cool on Sunday. The former WAG, 32, was left fuming after being criticised by trolls for wearing a pair of 'ugly' low-crotch leather trousers worth $1,795 in a recent Instagram post. 'A first class ticket to f**k right off!' Phoebe Burgess, 32, finally exploded trolls after they criticised her for wearing these drop-crotch leather trousers on Instagram The furious mother of two uploaded a screenshot of the unkind comments to her Instagram Stories, along with a lengthy rant defending her fashion sense and expensive wardrobe. 'So I was just living my life when I decided to pop back onto IG this evening... and found a woman blowing up over... my drop-crotch leather pants... safe to say she escalated and now despises everything about me, over pants...,' Phoebe wrote. 'I was accused of deleting comments, spending too much money on my wardrobe, wearing too many items of clothing at once (I'm totally not sure about that one), and it went on a little more,' she continued. Hit a nerve: On Sunday, the mother of two uploaded a screenshot of the unkind comments, along with a lengthy rant defending her fashion sense and expensive wardrobe 'She's not influencing anyone with that fashion sense!' Phoebe also uploaded a screenshot of the offending comments, including one that questioned her 'influencer status' Phoebe also uploaded a screenshot of the offending comments, including one that questioned her 'influencer status'. 'She's not influencing anyone with that fashion sense!' the comment read. In another comment, the user referred to Phoebe's ex-husband Sam's recent drug charge, joking that the cocaine he took would have been cheaper to buy than leather trousers. Touchy subject: In another comment, the user claimed she wasn't jealous of Phoebe for being previously married to a footy star, and wouldn't touch Sam Burgess (left) with a 'ten foot pole' They wrote: 'Her ex is more relatable! People can actually afford an 8 ball [a quantity of cocaine]... well not really but cheaper than the pants. [laughing emoji].' In another comment, the user claimed she wasn't jealous of Phoebe for being previously married to a footy star, and wouldn't touch Sam with a 'ten foot pole'. Phoebe continued her rant in a subsequent post, uploading a screenshot of a comment she'd written in response to the trolls along with an essay about the importance of respect. 'I don't have to compromise myself or my integrity - I do not have to accept malicious, bitter, vindictive and nasty behaviour in my own space,' she wrote in part. She continued: 'I absolutely definitely do NOT and will NEVER accept women attacking other women. That's a first class ticket for you to f**k right off.' 'I don't have to compromise myself or my integrity': Phoebe continued her rant in a subsequent post, uploading a screenshot of a comment she'd written in response to the trolls along with an essay about the importance of respect Market Overview: The continuously flourishing the automotive industry is likely to offer the most lucrative opportunities for growth in the coming years. Additionally, the aerospace industry is adopting the natural rubber-based tires, which is augmenting demand for rubber vulcanization. Swiftly changing the aerospace industry is fueling the growth of the global rubber vulcanization market. Furthermore, natural rubber is extensively used in the production of aircraft tires for its better quotient of heat resistance. The vulcanization process modifies the properties of the rubber and adds elasticity and strength by forming a crosslink between the long chain of molecules. These properties make the material suitable for several end-use industries. Thus, the market for rubber vulcanization is likely to witness robust growth in the coming years. Rubber Vulcanization Market Analysis is anticipated to reach a valuation of USD 11,219.7 million by 2025 by exhibiting a growth rate of 4.94% over the estimated timeframe from 2018 to 2025. This growth is primarily attributable to the high demand for rubber from pharmaceutical, automotive, and consumer goods industries. Get a Free Sample @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/7894 Market Scenario and Growth Factors: Additionally, thriving construction and infrastructural development globally and especially across emerging countries is propelling growth of the global rubber vulcanization market. Growing demand for the products including natural rubbers in gloves, rollers, injection parts, tubes, mammary prostheses, and the pacemaker is positively impacting the growth of the market. Further, the demand for the seals & gaskets, pipe, O-rings, tubing, hose, washers, grommets, sleeves and rubber bladders, connectors, couplings, and fittings in the oil & gas industry is propelling growth of the market. Competitive Analysis: The Key Players Operating In the Global Rubber Vulcanization Market: LANXESS, Arkema SA, BASF SE, Eastman Chemical Company, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., Kumho Petrochemical, Duslo, a.s., Willing New Materials Technology Co., Ltd, Shandong Stair Chemical & Technology Co., Ltd, King Industries, Inc. Industry News: The automotive industry is trying to offer advanced featured vehicles such as self-seal tires. In these kinds of tires, the inner liner and covers the tread area. For instance, Ford Motor Co. announced the offering of a self-sealing version of Michelin Primacy A/S. Segmentation: The Rubber Vulcanization Market is segmented based on type, technique, end-user industry, and region. In terms of type, the global rubber vulcanization market is categorized into the vulcanizing agents, accelerators, activators, and others. The vulcanizing agent segment is further categorized into sulfur, selenium, tellurium, and metallic oxides. The accelerators segment is sub-segmented into dithiocarbamate, sulfenamides, dithiophosphate, and xanthates. Of these, the accelerators type segment dominated the global rubber vulcanization market and is estimated to procure a value of USD 4,710.0 million by the end of the forecast period. Based on the end-use industry, the market is segmented into automotive & transportation, industrial, consumer goods, healthcare, and others. Of these, the automotive & transportation segment held more than 58% share in 2017 and is estimated to witness lucrative growth over the forecast period. Based on the technique, the market is segmented into sulfur vulcanization and other curing techniques. Of these, the sulfur vulcanization technique segment dominated the market in 2017 and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period. Regional Analysis: By region, the market is segmented into North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Latin America. Of these, Asia Pacific held the lions share in the overall market in 2017 and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.68% over the forecast period. Among these, China accounted for 30% of the share in 2017. Indian market is likely to grab a value of USD 927.1 million during the forecast period. As per the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC), countries including India, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and others are producing around 91% of global rubber production in 2017. Browse Related Report @ https://www.abnewswire.com/pressreleases/signaling-analyzer-market-2020-global-analysis-by-size-growth-factors-emerging-trends-development-strategy-company-profile-future-plans-and-regional-forecast-to-2023_503209.html https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/signaling-analyzer-market-2020-global-analysis-by-size-growth-factors-emerging-trends-development-strategy-company-profile-future-plans-and-regional-forecast-to-2023-2020-08-20 http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/4781018 https://www.wboc.com/story/42523907/signaling-analyzer-market-2020-global-analysis-by-size-growth-factors-emerging-trends-development-strategy-company-profile-future-plans-and-regional-forecast-to-2023 She's kept her father Paul Walker's memory alive ever since his tragic death in 2013 at the age of 40. And Paul's daughter Meadow Walker made clear that her father's Fast & Furious costar Vin Diesel was also 'family' in a sweet photo she posted to Instagram on Sunday. The 22-year-old model included a black-and-white snap of herself embracing the 53-year-old action star and his 13-year-old daughter Hania. Sticking together: Paul Walker's daughter Meadow, 22, shared a photo on Sunday of herself hugging her dad's Fast & Furious costar Vin Diesel, 53, and his 13-year-old daughter Hania, calling them 'Family' The grainy photo featured Meadow in a sheer sleeveless top as she wrapped her arms around Vin, who looked casual in a white tank top and aviator sunglasses. He held his old friend's daughter in one arm while hugging Hania, who wore a striped sleeveless dress, in the other. The photo appeared to be a throwback, as Meadow's raven tresses were longer than the short bob she has showed off recently on social media. She expressed similar sentiments to her most recent post in June of 2020 when she shared a cute photo of herself surrounded by Hania and Vin's other two children, Vincent, 11, and Pauline, six. Bonded: She expressed similar sentiments in June of 2020 when she shared a cute photo of herself surrounded by Hania and Vin's other two children, Vincent, 11, and Pauline, six 'So proud': Vin gushed about how proud he was of Meadow on her 21st birthday in November 2019, which elicited thanks from her 'Family, forever,' she captioned that photo. Vin previously shared a sweet post for Meadow's 21st birthday in November 2019, along with a photo of her and his youngest daughter Pauline. 'I could say that I am so proud of the person you are becoming... but the truth is I have always been proud of you. Happy Birthday Meadow!' he wrote. 'I know its your 21st and you wanted to go big in Japan, but the family has a cake waiting for you when you get home, so hurry. Love you kid,' he wrote, signing it 'Uncle Vin.' 'Thanks you so much,' she replied. 'I can't wait to see you soon. And my little angels. Love you.' In remembrance: Vin took to Instagram late last year to mark the seventh anniversary of the passing of his Fast and Furious co-star Paul Walker Gone too soon: Paul was killed in a fiery wreck on November 30, 2013, after speeding and crashing his Porsche Carrera GT into a metal pole; seen in May 2013 Late last year, Vin shared a heartfelt tribute to his late friend Paul on the seventh anniversary of his death. Along with a black-and-white photo of the two actors, he wrote, 'Seven years... Not a day passes...All love, Always.' Paul, best known for performances in the horrorthriller Joy Ride and the Fast & Furious series, was killed at age 40 in a fiery wreck on November 30, 2013, after he crashed his Porsche Carrera GT into a metal pole. The crash was attributed to older tires and his high speeds between 80 and 93 miles per hour, according to CNN. His film Furious 7 was still shooting at the time of his death, but the filmmakers were able to use his brothers Caleb and Cody Walker as stand-ins augmented with CGI to complete his role one last time. Fond memories: Meadow marked the anniversary of her father's death with an adorable photo of her as a child sleeping on the lap of her 'forever angel' Meadow shared her own throwback at the time with a photo of herself as a child sitting on her father's lap, while calling him her 'best bud.' She called the anniversary of Paul's death 'a silly day to remember in sadness.' 'Today's a celebration of the love and happiness you brought to the world. here's a photo of my best bud & I napping,' she wrote. Relations between the Sunrise panel were rumoured to be strained in the months before Sam Armytage resigned as co-anchor in March. And it seems there may have been some truth to the speculation, as it appears Sam is no longer following current hosts David Koch and Natalie Barr on Instagram. This is despite the fact that both David and Natalie follow her on the social media platform. Not following: Relations between the Sunrise panel were rumoured to be strained in the months before Sam Armytage (left) resigned as co-anchor in March. And it now appears Sam is no longer following current hosts David Koch (right) and Natalie Barr on Instagram Sam, 44, still follows many of her former Channel Seven colleagues, including Kylie Gillies, Sam Mac and Edwina Bartholomew. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Seven for comment. It comes after Kochie 65, and Natalie, 53, revealed they weren't invited to Sam's farewell party, which took place after her last day on Sunrise on March 11. Gone: Sam's still follows many of her former Seven co-workers, including Kylie Gillies and Sam Mac. However, a search for David Koch on her 'following' list yields no results Not on the list: She is also not following Natalie, as shown here The pair were grilled about Sam's departure on The Kyle and Jackie O Show, and they admitted weren't even told about the shindig at Catalina in Rose Bay. 'We didn't know about it and we had a postponed Christmas party the next day,' said Koch. The Sydney Morning Herald reported on March 8 that Sam and Kochie's professional relationship had hit an 'all-time low' in the months before her resignation. Barr'ed! Both David and Natalie (pictured) follow Sam on the social media platform, even though she doesn't follow them back New outlook: Sam has previously said in her column for Stellar magazine she is quite selective with the people she follows on social media Network sources claimed they barely spoke off camera, and the dynamic between them had become 'untenable' by early 2021. Sam has previously said in her column for Stellar magazine she is quite selective with the people she follows on social media. It's possible she isn't following the current Sunrise hosts because she wants to move on from that chapter in her life. Going her own way: It's possible she isn't following the current Sunrise hosts because she wants to move on from that chapter in her life Stepping out of the spotlight: In March, Sam stepped down from hosting Channel Seven's breakfast show after eight years in order to spend more time with her family In March, Sam stepped down from hosting Channel Seven's breakfast show after eight years in order to spend more time with her family. Her departure followed her intimate wedding to millionaire businessman Richard Lavender on New Year's Eve. The quaint ceremony was held at his Southern Highlands home and was attended by a small number of guests due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Block's Shaynna Blaze appears to have found love again following her split with her husband Steve Vaughan back in 2018. The famed interior designer has hinted she has moved with a new love of her own. 'I'm taking my love life private,' the 58-year-old told TV Week on Monday. 'I'm very happy': The Block's Shaynna Blaze hinted she's moved on and found new love as she broke her silence on her divorce from personal trainer Steve Vaughan 'My life has been splashed out there more than I ever wanted.' 'All I can say is I'm very happy,' she said, hinting at a possible new romance. New love for the blonde beauty, who is currently starring on Celebrity Apprentice, comes after she announced her split from personal trainer Steve in an Instagram post in August 2018. Former love: Shaynna said that she would be keeping her love life private after her 2018 split with the personal trainer Steve (pictured). She said: 'My life has been splashed out there more than I ever wanted. All I can say is I'm very happy,' hinting at a possible new romance She wrote at the time: 'Sometimes in life, our paths change directions and now this is one of those times for me, with Steve and I separating. 'I will not be making any further statements about this and whilst I appreciate your support, I ask that you respect our right to privacy. Thank you Shaynna.' Shaynna and Steve married 19 years ago, and had previously dated for 11 months after meeting at a bar in Melbourne. Following the split, she threw herself into her work on The Block and Selling Houses Australia. Split: They married 19 years ago, after meeting at a bar in Melbourne. She announced her split from personal trainer Steve in an Instagram post in August 2018 saying: 'Our paths change directions and now this is one of those times for me' Taking a break: After the split, she threw herself into her work on The Block and Selling Houses Australia, which she recently announced her departure from back in March. She said her decision leave the show and slow down was in part take care of her physical and mental health She recently announced her departure from the Foxtel property program back in March. The Block judge is also a doting mother of two children, a son, Jesse, and a daughter, Carly, who she shares with her first husband. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph in March, Shaynna admitted she'd been 'in a hole' following her bitter split from Steve. 'You reach a point [where] you think you're never going to hit and sometimes it's okay to just sit there and go, "I can't get out of this hole I'm in for a while", but I can reach out to people when it gets too bad to pull me out of this swamp,' she said. Kristin Cavallari showed off a few new pieces from her jewelry line Uncommon James' latest collection with her 4.2 million Instagram followers on Sunday. Just one day after reports surfaced that her ex Jay Cutler is seeking '50 percent ownership' of her brand, the reality star, 34, appeared unfazed as she spoke about accessorizing her lively orange jumpsuit with her favorite 'rocker girl earrings.' 'I have a bunch of kid birthday parties today, so I'm wearing this orange jumper, and then, I'm putting these guys on. I just think they add something fun!' she said in a new video on Sunday. Glowing: Kristin Cavallari showed off a few pieces from her jewelry line Uncommon James' latest collection with her more than 4.2 million Instagram followers on Sunday The beauty completed her look with two gold necklaces, matching bracelet and a few statement rings. Her blonde, shoulder-length bob was styled in loose waves and she opted to rock a glam makeup look, which included pink lipstick and a few layers of mascara. In Cavallari's final Instagram Story, she told viewers to 'have a great long weekend' and said she would 'see' them later. Staying positive: Just one day after reports surfaced that her ex Jay Cutler is seeking '50 percent ownership' of her brand, the reality star, 34, appeared unfazed as she spoke about accessorizing her lively orange jumpsuit with her favorite 'rocker girl earrings' 'I have a bunch of kid birthday parties today, so I'm wearing this orange jumper, and then I'm putting these guys on, I just think they add something fun!' she said in a new video The mom-of-three launched the jewelry brand out of her home in Chicago in 2017 and has since opened multiple stores. Cutler is reportedly petitioning for '50 percent ownership' of her lifestyle brand because it began during their seven-year marriage. Kristin opened her third storefront recently in Dallas, Texas, and has brick-and-mortar locations in Nashville, Tennessee, and Chicago, Illinois. Hard work: The mom-of-three launched the jewelry brand out of her home in Chicago in 2017 and has since opened multiple stores Signing off: In Cavallari's final Instagram Story, she told viewers to 'have a great long weekend' and said she would 'see' them later Sources told TMZ that 'Kristin doesn't feel she owes him anything from Uncommon James' because she started the business with her own money. She's reportedly 'pushing back hard' against his quest for ownership of the brand, which also boasts a range of apparel and home goods. Jay and Kristin announced their intent to separate in April 2020 after 10 years together, seven years of marriage and three children: Camden, eight, Jaxon, seven, and Saylor, five. Yikes: The mom-of-three launched the jewelry brand out of her home in Chicago in 2017 and has since opened multiple stores, a business which Cutler argues he's entitled to a portion of because it began when they were married; seen in 2019 Boss: Kristin opened her third storefront recently in Dallas, Texas, and has brick-and-mortar locations in Nashville, Tennessee, and Chicago, Illinois She told Hollywood Life that their split has made her a better mom to her kids. 'I'd say it's maybe made me a better mom in some ways because I have my kids half of the time now,' she said. 'So when I have them for my week, I am so incredibly present.' The Hills star reflected on the year as she's adjusted to being a single parent and admitted she's seen a lot of positive changes. 'I am not distracted by my phone or anything else,' she said. 'I am with them. If someone is having a temper tantrum or something, I remain calm because I know that I am losing them in a few days.' Working gal: Kristin was on hand to open her third storefront for her Uncommon James label in Dallas, Texas last month Kristin requested to change back to her maiden name on Nov. 4, 2020, and the process was completed the next day. And while divorce proceedings are sealed and not yet finalized, it appears the pair are still on good terms. In January, the former couple sent fans into a frenzy when they posted an identical selfie of them together. The friendly exes, who have three children together, even used the same caption in their posts: 'The world is full of users. 10 years. Can't break that.' She's never been one to be afraid to turn heads with her dress sense. And TOWIE star Kelsey Stratford, 20, once again wowed as she headed into Mayfair to enjoy a night out with the girls on Sunday. The reality star was showcased her physique in a short marble-like effect dress as she went on her way to make the most of her bank holiday weekend. On the town: TOWIE's Kelsey Stratford wowed in a backless artistic dress as she headed for a girls night out in Mayfair on Sunday Stunning: The reality star was showcased her physique in a short marble-like effect dress as she went on her way to make the most of her bank holiday weekend Kelsey coupled her dress with a pair of white heels featuring a criss-cross pattern across the strap. She also carried a white handbag with a gold chain strap as she made her way to meet her friends. It comes after Kelsey set pulses racing in a black midi dress as she stepped out in London earlier this month for a swanky evening meal. The reality star showcased her incredible physique in a figure-hugging ensemble as she made her grand entrance at Nobu in Mayfair. Stylish: Kelsey coupled her dress with a pair of white heels featuring a criss-cross pattern across the strap She boosted her height with classic sandal heels while adding a designer touch with a Dior handbag. Kelsey styled her chocolate tresses in glamorous loose curls and rocked full coverage make-up. It wasn't the only time this month that the reality star has been spotted hitting the town though. She looked incredible as she arrived at a rooftop bar for a girls' night out earlier in May wearing a cream mini dress. Posing: She also carried a white handbag with a gold chain strap as she made her way to meet her friends Kelsey's frock was embellished with ruched detailing and she paired the figure hugging ensemble with cream stilettos. The beauty styled her brunette locks into glamorous curls and opted for a glam make-up look. The star carried her essentials in a brown Louis Vuitton bag and accessorised with a gold chain and bracelet. Brian Cox's Adventures In Space And Time Rating: The Queen Mother: War And Widowhood Rating: Scientists have several theories to explain how Professor Brian Cox has not aged a day since his first major astronomy series, Wonders Of The Solar System, a decade ago. One is that, when he's not on camera, the BBC stores him in a capsule of liquid nitrogen, similar to the transport pods on board that spaceship in Alien. For months on end, he's kept frozen in a state of suspended animation. That single streak of grey in his Beatle cut is really a strand of ice. Other theoretical physicists say his ageless appearance is something to do with Einstein's theory of relativity, E=MC2 . . . where E is Eternal youth, M is Moisturiser and C2 is really good hair Conditioner. Scientists have several theories to explain how Professor Brian Cox has not aged a day since his first major astronomy series, Wonders Of The Solar System, a decade ago It was clear how little the professor has changed, as he replayed some of his favourite moments from his pop science shows, in Brian Cox's Adventures In Space And Time (BBC2). He sat alone in a private cinema, reliving his greatest close-ups, like Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard. It's strange to think that when Miss Swanson played Norma Desmond, the time-ravaged movie queen, she was only 50 years old. Prof Brian is 53. 'I think our knowledge has really moved on since we made those programmes,' he mused. If it has, we didn't learn much about it. There was little, for instance, about the recent discoveries by Nasa's Mars rovers. But there was plenty of opportunity to enjoy Prof Brian at his boyish best. In the Atlas mountains of Morocco, under a spectacular starscape, he grabbed a charred stick from the fire and began scrawling in the dust, to explain why planets seem to zigzag through the sky. Other theoretical physicists say his ageless appearance is something to do with Einstein's theory of relativity, E=MC2 . . . where E is Eternal youth, M is Moisturiser and C2 is really good hair Conditioner In a U.S. bar he floated, weightless with excitement at meeting one of his heroes Charlie Duke, the youngest astronaut to walk on the moon. How was it possible, he asked Charlie, that when computers were still practically clockwork, the Americans could stage a string of lunar missions? Charlie grinned: '400,000 people and an unlimited budget, you can do a lot.' The episode ended with extraordinary images beamed back from Pluto. Parts of the surface are smooth as a skating rink, Prof Brian explained, because of the subterranean ocean of water warmed by radioactive elements. Who would guess there's a heated swimming pool, five billion miles from the sun? I wonder if it's on the green travel list . . . Prof Brian is also older than the Queen Mother was when her husband George VI died and her daughter ascended to the throne. In 1952, she was only 51. Photos from the time, on The Queen Mother: War And Widowhood (C5), made her seem much older though perhaps it's just difficult to imagine her as anything but the sweet centenarian she became. In fact, as this revealing portrait showed, she was a glamorous figure in the Thirties dressed as a fairytale royal in white by designer Norman Hartnell, and photographed by Cecil Beaton with echoes of Greta Garbo. This three-part series is proving a cut above the usual royal documentaries. It's history, not hagiography. It's also an opportunity to see Lady Colin Campbell in wickedly spiteful form, with so many acid asides that she sometimes takes over the show. 'The Queen Mother undermined the relationship between Charles and his parents,' she declared. 'She would always encourage him in his hypersensitivities.' And when Princess Margaret was in a strop, Lady C added, she would taunt her mother that she was not born royal 'and never would be'. Ouch. Disciplinarian of the week: Doris, the head of the Langham hotel in London, fondly recalled her first boss on Britain's Most Luxurious Hotels (C4). 'He knew when to spank me and when to whip me,' she sighed. Have a word with HR, dear. Julie Bishop never puts a foot wrong when it comes to fashion. And on Monday, the former foreign minister looked incredibly chic as she stepped out to attend the Jordan Dalah show at Carriageworks in Sydney's Eveleigh. The 64-year-old wowed in a navy blue ensemble - a lace top with bell sleeves above a matching singlet top beneath. The Minister for fashion is in! Julie Bishop looked chic in a navy blue ensemble with a lace top as she stepped out to attend the Jordan Dalah show at Carriageworks in Sydney's Eveleigh for Australian Fashion Week on Monday She teamed the look with flared trousers that accentuated her trim figure, a pair of heels that elevated her look and accessorised with a pair of shimmering earrings. She styled her blonde tresses in a low bun and opted for a radiant makeup look with a glowing base a hint of peach plush on her cheeks a nude pout and mascara. Glowing: The former Australian Foreign Affairs minister, 64, accessorised with a pair of shimmering earrings. She styled her blonde tresses in a low bun and opted for a radiant make-up look Stylish: She wowed in a navy blue ensemble - a lace top with bell sleeves above a matching singlet top beneath, teamed with flared trousers and a pair of heels The former politician posed for a photo alongside Vogue Australia Editor Edwina McCann, dressed in a sleek all-black outfit, and fashion designer Camilla Franks. Camilla, who is currently starring on Celebrity Apprentice and recently had surgery to remove her ovaries, stunned in a white tuxedo with a fierce animal print top. Julie also smiled for a photo at the event with her equally stylish niece, Isabel Michelle, who opted for white collared top and a black ruffled dress. Fashionable friends: The former politician posed for a photo alongside Vogue Australia Editor Edwina McCann (centre), dressed in a sleek all-black outfit, and fashion designer Camilla Franks (right) in a white suit with a fierce animal print top Beaming beauties: Julia also smiled for a photo at the event with her equally stylish niece, Isabel Michelle, who opted for white collared top and a black ruffled dress Julie retired from federal politics in 2019, and was the first woman to hold the role of deputy leader of the Liberal Party. 'Her passion that she has always brought to her role, the dignity and grace that she has always demonstrated in every single role she has held,' Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Parliament in February 2019. 'She is an incredibly classy individual. Her successor will have big shoes to fill, and we know that Julie has the best shoes in Parliament.' After making her directorial debut with One Night In Miami, Regina King is reacting to rumors that she's in contention to direct a 'Black Superman' movie. The project was first announced in February by The Hollywood Reporter, with Ta-Neshi Coates writing the script and J.J. Abrams producing what is said to be a Black Superman story. While no director has been attached, Black filmmakers Regina King and Barry Jenkins have been rumored to be in contention, though King, 50, revealed in an interview on MSNBC that she has never heard that rumor yet. Contention: After making her directorial debut with One Night In Miami, Regina King is reacting to rumors that she's in contention to direct a 'Black Superman' movie First announced: The project was first announced in February by The Hollywood Reporter , with Ta-Neshi Coates writing the script and J.J. Abrams producing what is said to be a Black Superman story 'Tiffany, that is news to me. You have broke the news to me. A news break, live on MSNBC! Yeah, no, I have not heard that until just now,' King said. The rumor first surfaced in early May, when another THR report delved deeper into the project, including Michael B. Jordan shooting down rumors that he will play the first Black Superman. 'Im flattered that people have me in that conversation. Its definitely a compliment, but Im just watching on this one,' Jordan said. News: 'Tiffany, that is news to me. You have broke the news to me. A news break, live on MSNBC! Yeah, no, I have not heard that until just now,' King said The report added that J.J. Abrams will only produce and is not being considered to direct, since Warner Bros. is 'committed to hiring a Black director.' King's name was mentioned in the piece along with other prominent Black filmmakers such as Barry Jenkins (Moonlight), Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Stephen Caple Jr. (Creed II), J.D. Dillard (Sleight) and Shaka King (Judas and the Black Messiah). The report also adds that Coates isn't expected to deliver his finished script until mid-December, so it may be some time before a director is selected. Possible directors: King's name was mentioned in the piece along with other prominent Black filmmakers such as Barry Jenkins (Moonlight), Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Stephen Caple Jr. (Creed II), J.D. Dillard (Sleight) and Shaka King (Judas and the Black Messiah) It's also worth noting that Marvel is also on the hunt for a Black filmmaker to take the helm of their Blade reboot, starring Mahershala Ali. Still, King may not be available to take the helm on a Black Superman movie, since she signed on earlier this month to direct an adaptation of the Bitter Root comic. The story is set in 1924 during the Harlem Renaissance, described as a racially-charged movie about a family of once-great monster hunters who come together to defeat an unimaginable evil that descends upon New York City. New project: Still, King may not be available to take the helm on a Black Superman movie, since she signed on earlier this month to direct an adaptation of the Bitter Root comic As for the Black Superman movie, no specifics were given, though there was a Black Superman who was featured in the comics. The Black Superman was named Calvin Ellis, a Kryptonian who had become President of the United States of America. The character debuted in Final Crisis #7 in March 2009, created by Grant Morrison and Doug Mahnk, with Morrison later admitting the character is inspired by Barack Obama. Fashion designer Camilla Franks made her first official appearance on Monday after undergoing ovary removal surgery earlier this month. The Celebrity Apprentice star, 44, stunned in a white tuxedo at the star-studded Afterpay Australian Fashion Week on Monday following the lifesaving operation. Camilla paired her show-stopping ensemble with an animal print blouse and strappy heels. Out and about: Fashion designer Camilla Franks made her first official red carpet appearance on Monday after undergoing a heartbreaking and painful ovary removal surgery earlier this month Her wavy ombre tresses were swept back for the event. The Camilla label founder rubbed shoulders with the likes of former Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop at the show. Stunning: The Celebrity Apprentice star, 44, stunned in a white tuxedo at the star-studded Afterpay Australian Fashion Week on Monday following the lifesaving operation Wild thing! Camilla paired the show stopping ensemble with an animal print blouse and strappy heels The outing comes after Camilla spoke about the 'big mistake' she made prior to having her ovaries removed earlier this month. The fashion designer and current Celebrity Apprentice Australia contestant admitted she wishes she had frozen her eggs years earlier during an intervew with the Sydney Morning Herald. Revealing she had taken the initial steps in the process before getting too 'busy with work,' she said: 'I really regret it now.' The right circles: The Camilla label founder rubbed shoulders with the likes of former Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop at the show Emotional: The outing comes after Camilla spoke about the 'big mistake' she made prior to having her ovaries removed earlier this month The entrepreneur has one child: daughter Luna, three, whom she shares with fiance J.P. Jones. In the interview, she also revealed she had put off her 'lifesaving surgery' as long as she could in the hopes she could 'pull off another little miracle.' She and her Welsh musician partner are now investigating either adoption or surrogacy in the hopes of expanding their family. Regrets: The fashion designer and Celebrity Apprentice Australia contestant admitted she wishes she had frozen her eggs years earlier The candid interview comes less than a month after Camilla shared a gut-wrenching Instagram post about her surgery and the sorrow she felt after having her ovaries removed. On May 6, she uploaded a photo of herself lying in a hospital bed alongside Luna's teddy bear, calling the toy her 'comfort in a sea of sadness'. 'I'm clinging to it like a life raft, breathing in her smell, feeling her presence and warmth. Its little furry body is soaked with a torrent of tears that I can't seem to stop,' she wrote in the caption. 'I lie here with a broken heart as I recover from surgery to finally remove my ovaries. The grief and pain is excruciating. I feel as if my chest is going to burst as I mourn the loss of children I can no longer bear.' Describing her battle with breast cancer as 'hideous', Camilla confessed her fight with the insidious disease is ongoing. 'The gut-wrenching fear, sickness and debilitating rounds of immediate treatment are one thing, but it goes on,' she continued. Recovering: Camilla shared this a photo of herself lying in a hospital bed on May 6, as she recovered from surgery to remove her ovaries 'I have a harmful BRCA2 gene variant and with that diagnosis came a horrible reality. That not only did I have to fight the breast cancer I had, I also had to prevent the future cancers I was so much more likely to get - more breast cancer, ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, and others.' She added: 'I had to fight to save my life. A life which is so much more precious now that I have a little girl who loves and needs me.' Camilla was first diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer only months after welcoming her daughter in January 2018. Horrific: Describing her battle with breast cancer as 'hideous', Camilla confessed her fight with the insidious disease is ongoing. Pictured at a fashion show in Sydney in May 2018 'First was the discovery of a lump, and the heartache of having to wean my eight-week-old baby off my breast within days,' she wrote. 'Then six months of the bazooka of all chemo to attack my cancer, successfully. Then my treatment shifted to prevention. 'I underwent a double mastectomy, saying goodbye to my breasts which had only just been nourishing my beautiful newborn. Next went my fallopian tubes. 'But now, this. The divine essence of my womanhood. My ovaries, the most sacred givers of life, being taken from me, leaves the biggest hole of all.' Camilla revealed she'd been undergoing IVF treatments in the hope of having another child when her dream of becoming a second-time mum was destroyed. 'I've spent the last 18 in pursuit of the dream of becoming a mother again,' she confessed. 'I kept putting this final lifesaving surgery off in the hope that I could pull off a miracle... I just really wanted to carry a baby again.' She has built a fitness and fashion empire on Instagram, attracting more than 12.3 million followers thanks to her racy bikini photos and famous derriere. But Tammy Hembrow's social media fanbase could include almost 2.7 million 'fake' followers, according to an audit report by FakeCheck.co for Daily Mail Australia. The Gold Coast-based influencer's social engagement doesn't align with the number of followers she has, FakeCheck claims. Rumour has it: Tammy Hembrow's Instagram fanbase could include almost 2.7 million 'fake' followers, according to an audit report by FakeCheck.co for Daily Mail Australia Her average likes make up only 1.17 per cent of her following - when the report claims it should be above 1.5 per cent. Meanwhile, her comments percentage is a meagre 0.032 per cent when it should supposedly be above 0.05 per cent. Bearing those statistics in mind, the report states that 2,730,125 of her followers are 'possibly fake'. Hmm: The Gold Coast-based influencer's social engagement doesn't align with the number of followers she has, FakeCheck claims Despite having no paid promotions pushing her account, Tammy gained a whopping 224,550 followers in the past 30 days, according to SocialBlade. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Tammy Hembrow for comment. Tammy has long denied rumours she underwent a Brazilian butt lift to achieve her shapely derriere, instead saying she relies on gym sessions and eating well. Interesting: Her average likes make up only 1.17 per cent of her following - when the report claims it should be above 1.5 per cent. Meanwhile, her comments percentage is a meagre 0.032 per cent when it should supposedly be above 0.05 per cent Weird: Despite having no paid promotions pushing her account, Tammy gained a whopping 224,550 followers in the past 30 days, according to SocialBlade Ghost followers: Bearing those statistics in mind, the report states that 2,730,125 of her followers are 'possibly fake' The mother of two has previously said she 'hates' it when people falsely accuse her of having undergone surgery on her backside. She said during an interview with Studio 10 in December 2019: 'I hate when people accuse me of doing that. 'I take such offence to it because I worked so hard and it makes me annoyed.' Market Definition: Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) is a highly versatile synthetic rubber, which exhibits excellent resistance to oxygen, ozone, polar materials, and sunlight and is highly resistant to steam, heat, and water. It is used across diverse industry verticals for a wide range of applications. Market Research Future (MRFR) has added the global COVID-19 Impact ON Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Market to its existing portfolio, which is a compilation of the key dynamics affecting the market. As per the report, COVID-19 Impact ON Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Market is expected to catapult to USD 6.5 Bn by the end of 2025 from USD 3.9 Bn in 2019, at a CAGR of 6% over the forecast period of 2019-2025. Get a Free Sample of This Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2767 Market Scenario and Growth Factors: EPDM experiences significant demand from the automotive industry, where its properties such as excellent resistance to heat, UV rays, and ozone is highly desirable. They help in reflection of UV rays and reduce polymer degradation due to which they are used in engine mounts, vehicle glazing systems, moisture barriers, valves, and pumps. They are used in the manufacturing of seals & gaskets, weather-stripping, brake parts, radiator, tubing, belts, windshield wipers, and others. Expanding the automotive industry and increasing the production of vehicles is supporting the growth of the market. EPDM is also used in the construction industry for waterproofing applications. They help in lowering air-conditioning costs as well. The booming construction industry in the developing countries of Asia Pacific is favoring the growth of the market. Other factors supporting the growth of the market include numerous rainwater harvesting initiatives undertaken in various countries and increasing adoption of green cities. On the other hand, the growth of the market might be hindered by the volatile price of raw materials. Competitive Landscape: Firestone Building Products Company (US), Exxon Mobil Corporation (US), SABIC (Saudi Arabia), Dow (US), Carlisle Companies Inc. (US), JSR Corporation (Japan), SK global chemical Co., Ltd (South Korea), Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (Japan), Lion Elastomers (US), LANXESS AG (Germany), KUMHO POLYCHEM (South Korea), Johns Manville (US), Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd (Japan) Segmentation: The Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Market has been segmented based on application and end-use industry. By application, the ethylene propylene diene monomer market has been segmented into seals & gaskets, weather-stripping, tires & tubes, wire & cables, roofing membranes, electric insulation, radiators, oil additives, and others. By end-use industry, the ethylene propylene diene monomer market has been segmented into automotive, building & construction, aerospace & defense, electrical & electronics, consumer goods, medical, and others. Regional Analysis: Region-wise, the ethylene propylene diene monomer market has been segmented into North America, Latin America, the Middle East & Africa (MEA), Europe, and Asia Pacific (APAC). The largest share of the market was captured by APAC in 2019. The region is in the midst of rapid industrialization, and various end-use industries of EPDM are expanding at an accelerated pace in the region, which is generating constant demand within the market. The prolific growth of the automotive industry in the UK, Germany, Italy, and France are supporting the growth of the EPDM market in Europe. Besides, the European Union (EU) has laid down stringent regulations for environment protection, which works in favor of the EPDM market. The region is investing significantly in the medical sector, which is inducing the growth of the market. North America EPDM market is likely to exhibit substantial growth in the coming years. Demand will be generated from the automotive, electrical & electronics, construction, and healthcare industries. The growth of Latin America EPDM market can be attributed to the fast track industrialization in countries such as Brazil and Chile. The MEA market growth is driven by the GCC countries. Construction activities are going on at a torrid pace, which is inducing high demand within the market. Access Complete Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer-market-2767 His father Richard is one of Australia's most famous showbiz veterans. But Christian Wilkins is well on his way to becoming the next big star in the Wilkins clan. The son of the Today Extra host turned heads as he showed off his bulging biceps and ripped physique while attending Afterpay Australian Fashion Week 2021 in Sydney on Monday. Mr Muscles! Christian Wilkins showed off his incredible bulging biceps and ripped physique while modelling a puffball skirt at Australian Fashion Week in Sydney on Monday The blond model and actor wore a voluminous Palomo Spain puffball skirt over a pair of trousers and a revealing halter neck ribbed top. The Pantene ambassador lapped up the attention, throwing his long blond locks around as he preened and posed for the cameras. The Sydney-based TV personality, 26, recently revealed he feared he'd lose his job as Pantene's first male ambassador in Australia due to a recent hair mishap. Christian was preparing to shave his head after heavily bleaching it for an acting role last year when Pantene got in touch. Unique: The blond model and actor wore a voluminous Palomo Spain puffball skirt over a pair of trousers and a revealing halter neck ribbed top Standing pretty: Christian's signature blond locks were perfectly blow-dried straight for the event In the spotlight: The Pantene ambassador lapped up the attention, throwing his long blond locks around as he preened and posed for the cameras Hair scare! The Sydney-based TV personality, 26, recently revealed he feared he'd lose his job as Pantene's first male ambassador in Australia due to a recent hair mishap Christian debuted his bleached white hair and eyebrows in August, while filming Stan Original series Eden in Byron Bay. 'I was halfway through filming Eden when my hair was white and I admittedly was really sad because I thought that I wouldn't be able to do it [work with Pantene],' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'I just assumed having my hair literally bleached to white that I would have to shave my head. I thought there was no coming back from that,' he added. Christian explained: 'My hair was so brittle and dry, it felt dead, and it had absolutely no life or anything to it, and it felt like straw! I assumed that was the end of that hair.' Bleached: The son of Today Extra host Richard Wilkins was preparing to shave his head after heavily bleaching it for an acting role last year (L) when Pantene got in touch. R: in May 2020 'I was so amazed that these treatments were able to save my hair!' Pantene decided to use his hair journey as the perfect way to test their new Miracle Treatments collection But when he raised his concerns with Pantene, they decided to use his hair journey as the perfect way to test their new Miracle Treatments collection. He used the product on his brittle, bleached hair and was amazed with the results. 'It worked! It looks gorgeous. I was so amazed that these three small treatments, realistically, were able to save my hair,' Christian boasted. Speaking of his famous father, the former Dancing with the Stars contestant said: 'He understands this ambassadorship because I think hair is large identifier with out family, and with so many people.' 'He is really proud to see how I've embraced that, and I guess I am following in his hair footsteps,' he laughed. While Christian is known for his long straight hair, his father is famous for his bouffant 'do - a throwback to his days as a pop star. 'He is really proud': While Christian is known for his long straight hair, his father Richard (right) is famous for his bouffant 'do - a throwback to his days as a pop star Meanwhile, the model said it was 'an absolute dream come true' and 'pinch-me moment' to be announced as Pantene's first male ambassador in January. Christian, who came out as gay in 2018, never shies away from bold colours, textures and patterns, pushing the envelope in terms of both style and gender stereotypes. He also often wears gender-defying skirts and frocks. 'People used to call me a girl all the time because I was a gay guy who was very flamboyant, and did dance and singing,' he said in 2020. The Stan Original series Eden coming soon, exclusively on Stan. He has appeared to seamlessly slip into the role of Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee for the upcoming Hulu series Pam And Tommy, which also stars Lily James as Pamela Anderson. And on Sunday Sebastian Stan teased his 7.6 million Instagram fans and followers once again by posting another photo of himself looking like a dead ringer for Lee. Only this time, the actor played up the Memorial Day weekend, which is sometimes marked by backyard BBQs, by wearing an apron with 'Kiss da cook' written on the front. Memorial Day weekend: Sebastian Stan, 38, was a dead ringer for rocker Tommy Lee during a break from shooting the upcoming Hulu biopic series Pam & Tommy The photo appeared to have been shot on the set of the series in Los Angeles, considering there are two trailers for the cast in the background. In true Tommy Lee style, Stan went shirtless under the apron, which showcased his array of tattoos that were temporarily painted on his body for the role. He also donned black shorts, that fell to his calf, and a pair of classic black Chuck Taylor Converse sneakers. Hard at work: Stan and the crew of Pam & Tommy started shooting the series in early April Nailed it: The actor has nailed the classic Tommy Lee expressions And he rocked shorter black hair, which Lee wore in the 1990s after sporting long flowing locks during the initial decade of the band. To give his rocker credentials even more credence, Stan flashed the standard rock 'n' roll salute: index finger up, middle fingers down, pinky up, thumb in. Shooting for Pam & Tommy began back in early April. The storyline focuses on Pam and Tommy following the release of their unauthorized and infamous sex tape, which was recorded privately during their honeymoon in 1995. The duo: Stan stars alongside Lily James, who plays Pamela Anderson in biographical series The real Pam & Tommy: The Hulu series focuses on Pam and Tommy following the release of their unauthorized and infamous sex tape, which was recorded privately during their honeymoon in 1995 For her role as the buxom Playboy covergirl, James has been wearing a fake 34DD bust, which the British-born star has said has helped her get into character day in and day out. Pam & Tommy also stars Seth Rogen, Taylor Schilling and Nick Offerman, and has recurring roles played by Andrew Dice Clay, Pepi Sonuga, Mozhan Marno and Spenser Granese. The biographical drama streaming television miniseries is slated to drop in 2022. Added assets: James, 32, has been wearing a fake 34DD bust, which the British-born star has said has helped her get into character before shooting She's a successful fitness mogul with a brand new man in her life. And Kayla Itsines was all smiles on Sunday, as the personal trainer, 30, headed into Adelaide Airport for a business trip to Sydney. The sighting comes just week after fitness app founder confirmed she is in a new relationship following her split from ex-fiance Tobi Pearce. Glowing: Kayla Itsines [pictured] was understandably all smiles on Sunday, as the personal trainer, 30, headed into Adelaide Airport for a business trip to Sydney The fitness queen clad her toned legs in black leggings as she strolled into the airport with her luggage in tow. Kayla's taut abs were on display in a matching black crop top, while over the outfit she slipped a P.E. Nation hoodie. She capped off the look with white shoes and a black face mask which she wore inside the airport. A new start: The sighting comes just week after fitness app founder confirmed she is in a new relationship, following her split from ex-fiance Tobi Pearce Later, Kayla took to Instagram to chronicle her trip, beginning with a post expressing her gratitude for being able to travel amid the ongoing pandemic. 'Feeling so lucky to be doing some travel for work again! Although we are restricted to travel in Australia right now, I still get excited packing my suitcase and getting on a plane!' wrote the influencer. 'I also want to say that I know so many of you are unable to travel right now and I really am thinking of you. I cant wait until we can live in a world without border restrictions again,' she concluded. Legs for days: The fitness queen clad her toned legs in black leggings as she strolled into the airport with her luggage in tow In her Instagram Stories, the brunette beauty logged her East Coast activities including photo shoots and workouts. Earlier this month, Itsines told Women's Health Australia magazine: 'It's early days, so I won't share too much, but I'm super happy.' The celebrity trainer did not reveal the name of her new partner, nor did she specify their gender, but did say they share similar values. She continued: 'We have a strong sense of family and a love for fitness [in common].' Elsewhere in the interview, Kayla said 'things are going good' with Tobi, but admitted 'obviously at times it's really hard'. 'For everyone, and for every woman, in that situation [going through a break-up], it is a really hard time,' the mother of one added. Kayla confirmed her split from Tobi, who is the father of her two-year-old daughter, Arna Leia Pearce, in August last year. The former couple, who were together for eight years, co-founded the Bikini Body Training Company after meeting in late 2012. The popular brand went on to amass a following of more than 20 million fitness enthusiasts worldwide thanks to their workouts, app and ebooks. They were named joint fifth on the Australian Financial Review's Young Rich List for 2018, making them the wealthiest self-made twentysomethings in Australia. Ricky Gervais says he's 'shocked and appalled' after learning about the sexual misconduct accusations against his longtime producer and collaborator Charlie Hanson. In a statement Saturday, the After Life star, 59, reacted to the recent spate of accusations raised against Hanson, 68, by multiple women; Hanson has subsequently been removed from After Life, while his membership in BAFTA has been suspended pending further investigation. 'I am shocked and appalled to learn of the historical allegations made by a number of women against Charlie Hanson,' he said. 'The decision was made to immediately remove him from production and I am confident the matter is being handled thoroughly.' The latest: Ricky Gervais, 59, says he's 'shocked and appalled' after learning about the sexual misconduct accusations against his longtime producer and collaborator Charlie Hanson, 68. Gervais was snapped last year in London An accuser anonymously sent an email to Netflix and BAFTA alleging Hanson's years of misconduct, according to Times of London, which reported that 11 women in total have made claims against Hanson, who has worked with Gervais on other projects such as the comedy show Extras and the movie Cemetery Junction. The alleged victims wrote a letter to Netflix and Bafta about incidents between 2008 and 2015 including claims of unwanted sexual advances. Hanson, a star TV producer behind some of Britain's biggest comedy shows, has denied the accusations against him. In a statement released by his lawyer, Hanson said he has 'not had one complaint in decades of work in the media industry.' He said he rejects any notion of wrongdoing on his part, 'will do what is necessary to protect and/or restore my reputation' and 'will also cooperate with any formal inquiries.' Collaborators: Gervais and Hanson were snapped in 2016 in London Amma Asante, who was previously married to producer Charlie Hanson, called the allegations against him 'devastating', adding that she stood 'wholeheartedly' with the victims Ricky Gervais, with whom Hanson has worked on After Life and Extras, said he was 'shocked and appalled' to learn of the historical allegations In an email from one of Hanson's accusers published by The Times, Hanson was described as 'a predator who uses his reputation, connections and standing in order to groom far younger, impressionable and sometimes vulnerable women into trusting him. 'At times he will promise them a starry career under his wing, and then exploits that trust in creepy and illegal ways,' the woman said. 'He then tries to diminish the seriousness of what he's done by telling these young women - us - that it wasn't as bad as it seemed, that it was somehow blameless. He does his best to convince himself - and others - that this method of operating is fine. But we know it is not fine.' Ten of the women have also spoken to Channel 4 News, claiming Hanson had a 'conveyor belt of young women' he would groom with promises of career progress before sexually assaulting them. One woman, named as Emma, says Hanson acted as a 'mentor' when she was starting out and gained her trust over years, but after going for a drink one night her memory became hazy shortly before Hanson walked her home. She said: 'He does gain your trust, and it's only when you have a moment of vulnerability that he abuses that, and that's why it comes as quite a shock. 'My memory is very blurry, I remember he took my clothes off and I pushed him away or tried to push him but he persisted and said 'Shhh, it's ok.' It was like I was blacking out and every time I woke up he was engaging in sexual activity with me.' Another woman, Jemma, was a performer working on the acting circuit and says Hanson would introduce her to industry figures. 'At the time I didn't think anything of staying on his sofa, I kind of considered this person a friend', she said. 'He specifically said to 'come and share the bed, it's more comfortable you know, you can trust nothing is going to happen'. 'I was on the edge of the bed, he came over right behind, put his arm around me that felt very uncomfortable. It was a really horrible experience because everything that I had believed up until then came crashing down at that moment. The 68-year-old Golden Globe winner (pictured with Ricky Gervais in 2017) is in the spotlight after 11 women wrote to Netflix and Bafta about incidents between 2008 and 2015 Gervais said, 'The decision was made to immediately remove him from production and I am confident the matter is being handled thoroughly' Jemma still fears speaking out with the allegation due to Hanson's power in the industry. 'He seems to have a conveyor belt of young women who he does the same thing to, he'll offer to develop projects for them, give the impression that he's going to help them with their career.' The producer has denied all the claims made against him and said he would assist any formal probe into his behavior. A spokesman for BAFTA said: 'We have been presented with a number of very serious detailed allegations about an individual and while we are not their employer we immediately took the decision to suspend their membership. 'BAFTA is an arts charity and does not have the power to investigate historic claims of abuse therefore we have referred the matter to the police. 'The behavior that these accounts allege is abhorrent, in complete opposition to BAFTA values and has no place in our industry.' The next season of The Bachelor with pilot Jimmy Nicholson is fast approaching. But before signing up to the Channel 10 dating show, Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Jimmy, 31, was working as a volunteer Surf Life Saver in Sydney. Having temporarily been stood down as a pilot due to the global coronavirus pandemic in June 2020, Jimmy decided to put his time to good use. Multitalented: Before signing up to the Channel 10 dating show, Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Jimmy Nicholson, 31, (pictured) was working as a volunteer Surf Life Saver in Sydney The Bondi-based hunk and several of his pilot friends enlisted to become surf life savers, just four months before he was announced as the 2021 Bachelor. Dressed in a yellow and red life saving uniform, Jimmy can be seen smiling as he posed for a series of oceanside photos shared to his Instagram account. 'Day for it,' he wrote underneath the series of photos. Stood down: Having temporarily been stood down as a airpilot due to the global coronavirus pandemic in June 2020, Jimmy decided to put his time to good use Life saver: The Bondi-based hunk and several of his pilot friends enlisted to become surf life savers, just four months before he was announced as the 2021 bachelor 'Perks of the job,' he cheekily wrote alongside a oceanside photo of him soaking up the sun Another post sees the soon-to-be bachelor of New Zealand and Fijian descent enjoying a coffee while on patrol. 'Perks of the job,' he cheekily wrote alongside a oceanside photo of him soaking up the sun. Back in April 2020, Jimmy shared a photograph of him sitting in the plane's cockpit, along with the caption: 'Thanks to Corona I wont be doing this anytime soon.' Pandemic: Back in April 2020, Jimmy shared a photograph of him sitting in the plane's cockpit, along with the caption: 'Thanks to Corona I wont be doing this anytime soon' Looking for love: The soon-to-be bachelor of New Zealand and Fijian descent was announced as Australia's new Bachelor in March Jimmy was announced as Australia's new Bachelor in March. He told The Daily Telegraph he'd signed up for the role because his career as a commercial airline pilot had made it difficult for him to find a long-term partner. 'I was never in the same spot for too long,' he explained, before adding: 'I am ready to open up my heart and meet someone. 'I hope to meet someone with similar values that I can have fun with and that shares the same zest for life as myself. The Bachelor franchise has produced many success stories and I hope to be the next.' The Bachelor's ninth season will air on Channel 10 later this year Cindy Crawford and her husband Rande Gerber celebrated 23-years of marriage on Saturday, May 29. To help mark the occasion, the couple decided to make a cake just like the one that they enjoyed and served just after they exchanged their vows back in 1998. And the legendary supermodel decided to make it a family affair by enlisting her daughter, Kaia Gerber, to help bake the replica cake side-by-side. Sweet touch: Kaia Gerber helped her mother, Cindy Crawford, bake a cake for her parents' 23rd wedding anniversary; mother and daughter are pictured in November 2019 'Carrot cake - same as we had at our wedding!' Crawford, 55, wrote at the top of a photo of the sweet treat she shared on her Instagram Story on Sunday. 'Those are the original toppers from my grandma. Thanks for helping me bake @kaiagerber!' Those toppers she was referring too were the bride and groom stick figures standing upright near the middle of the cake. One day earlier, on their actual anniversary, Crawford paid tribute to her husband and marriage by posting a throwback photo from their 1998 Bahamian wedding. Tasty: Mother and daughter baked a replica cake of the one served at Crawford and Gerber's 1998 Bahamian wedding, and included the bride and groom stick figures 23 and counting! Cindy Crawford, 55, and her husband Rande Gerber, 59, celebrated 23-years of marriage on Saturday, May 29 'This night 23 years ago was magicaland you're still the one! Happy anniversary! I love you @randegerber,' she gushed in the caption. The photo showed the couple staring into each other's eyes as they danced barefoot. They exchanged their vows during a private beach ceremony at the Ocean Club in Nassau, Bahamas in front of about 90 guests. At this point during the wedding party, Gerber, 59, had his white shirt untucked over his black pants, while Crawford, 55, was decked out in a minidress. 'He knows me well': The legendary supermodel shared a photo of the flowers Gerber sent to her for their anniversary As part of their anniversary celebration, Gerber sent his ladylove an arrangement of Crawford's favorite flowers, which his wife showed off in a photo posted on her Insta-Story 'After 23 years, he knows me well! Thanks for my favorite colored roses to celebrate out anniversary,' the proud mother of Kaia, 19, and son Preston, 21, wrote across the top of the image. He also posted the photo of the flowers on his Instagram Story along with a black-and-white video of Crawford frolicking on the beach with the headline: 'The secret to a happy marriage. Keep it fun. Happy Anniversary.' 'The secret to a happy marriage': Gerber also paid tribute to his wife with a black-and-white video of her frolicking on the beach in one-piece swimsuit Celebration: The mother of two got playful for the camera in the short anniversary clip 'Example of true love': The couple's 19-year-old daughter Kaia Gerber shared heartfelt words of respect in the tribute to her parents on their 23rd wedding anniversary Kaia also took to social media to share a heartfelt tribute to her parents, who it turns out have been role models for her moving forward with her love life. 'I feel so lucky to have this example of true love in my life as a constant reminder,' she headlined a photo of the couple in a romantic embrace. '23 years and I've been lucky enough to witness most of them.' Fetch: Rande Gerber also posted a video of Kaia playing ball with one of the family's dogs Playtime: While playing with her dad, Kaia threw the ball into the pool at their Malibu home Nap time: The businessman revealed he and Kaia 'tired' out their dog with all the pool play It appears Crawford and Gerber spent part of their anniversary outside at their luxurious $7.5 million home in Malibu. Gerber, who launched Casamigos Tequila with George Clooney and Mike Meldman in 2013, posted a clip of his daughter playing ball with one of the family's dogs. The high-profile model could bee seen throwing a ball down into their pool and the eager pooch diving into the water to retrieve it. 'Tired her out,' Gerber wrote along with a photo of the dog taking a nap next him with her head resting on backgammon board. Rumours have been swirling that she is dating AFL superstar Dustin Martin. And while Jessica Gomes has played coy when it comes to the speculation, the model was simply glowing on Monday as she attended Afterpay Australian Fashion Week in Sydney. The 35-year-old looked sensational as she sat front row in a pair of racy thigh high leather boots worn with leather trousers and a chic black wool coat. She's glowing! Jessica Gomes was glowing on Monday as she attended Afterpay Australian Fashion Week in Sydney after addressing rumours of a romance with AFL superstar Dustin Martin Jessica finished off her trendy ensemble with a sleek crocodile skin bag and every fashionista's best accessory - black shades. The brunette beauty opted for a natural look for hair and makeup, wearing barely anything on her flawless complexion and her chocolate tresses out in natural glossy waves. The international model, who recently moved to Byron Bay from LA, attended the event with fellow model and Victoria's Secret catwalk star, Victoria Lees. Going hell for leather! The model, 35, looked sensational as she sat front row in a pair of racy thigh high leather boots worn with leather trousers underneath a chic black wool coat Accessories, accessories! Jessica finished off her trendy ensemble with a sleek crocodile skin bag Shady lady: She also wore every fashionista's best accessory - black shades Gorgeous and glowing! The brunette beauty opted for a natural look for hair and makeup, wearing barely anything on her skin and her chocolate tresses out in natural glossy waves The pair appeared to be catching up on gossip as they waited front row for the Jordan Dalah show at Carriageworks to begin. Jessica finally addressed rumours that she is dating Dustin in an interview over the weekend. She was asked if she and the AFL superstar, 29, are in a relationship in this week's Stellar. Refusing to confirm, or deny, the talk, Jessica instead said that, just like Dustin, she likes to remain tight lipped on her private life. Rumours: Jessica (pictured) finally addressed rumours that she is dating Dustin Martin over the weekend. The model, 35, was asked if she and the AFL superstar, 29, are in a relationship in Stellar magazine 'For me, it's always worked best, and it keeps me safe, by keeping those things private,' she said. 'My life is so out in the open through social media and so to have that balance for my own mental health I feel the need to keep those things private. 'I hope women can feel there's a currency in what they're doing; it's not just who they're dating.' She added: 'My life is so out in the open through social media and so to have that balance for my own mental health I feel the need to keep those things private.' Pictured: Dustin Martin Jessica did admit that she was keen to settle down and start a family, with children hopefully on the cards. 'I want to have a family. And I want [my future children] to have the same kind of upbringing I had. 'I'm definitely looking for someone who's a family person,' she added. In April, Dustin Jessica were first rumoured to be in a romantic relationship. The Richmond Tigers premiership hero and the swimsuit model had enjoyed 'several' dinner dates in Melbourne this year, according to a report in the Herald Sun. While it is unclear if the pair are just friends or something more, a source confirmed they do know one another. Dates? In April, Dustin Jessica were first rumoured to be in a romantic relationship. The Richmond Tigers premiership hero and the swimsuit model had enjoyed 'several' dinner dates in Melbourne this year, according to a report in the Herald Sun Jessica declined to comment when approached by the paper, saying: 'I am so sorry, but I can't comment on this. I don't talk about my private life.' Martin's manager Ralph Carr also declined to comment. The Tigers star, who won the Brownlow Medal in 2017, is notoriously guarded about his private life and rarely gives interviews. Jessica was linked to Australian Formula One ace Daniel Ricciardo in 2019, but he flatly denied the rumours. In 2016, she revealed that she was dating Australian actor Xavier Samuel, who starred in Twilight. The pair called it quits in 2017, but only made the announcement in May 2018 and assured fans they're 'still friends'. The model, who until recently was based in Los Angeles, appeared on Dancing With The Stars as a wildcard competitor earlier this year. Daily Mail Australia revealed in 2019 that Martin had broken up with glamorous Sydney food blogger and physiotherapist, Tania Acitelli. He has also previously been linked to Phoebe Carpenter, who once dated rugby league star Mitch Pearce. Australian Fashion Week has returned to the catwalks as a report shows the industry contributes more than $27.2 billion to the Australian economy. After being cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the event, primarily based at Sydney's Carriageworks, is the first national fashion show to be held live anywhere in the world for more than a year. The five-day event coincides with the release of an EY report, from High Fashion to High Vis - detailing the economic contribution of Australia's fashion and textiles sector. Money-spinner: Australian Fashion Week has returned to the catwalks as a report shows the industry contributes more than $27.2 billion to the Australian economy. Pictured: Candice Warner attends Fashion Week at Sydney's Carriageworks on Monday According to the Australian Fashion Council, which commissioned it, it's the most comprehensive study of the fashion and textiles industry ever done in Australia. It found the industry creates $7.2 billion in export revenue for Australia, while the industry's economic impact represents upwards of 1.5 per cent of the national economy. The study also found the industry employs almost half a million Australians, more than mining and utilities, with women making up 77 per cent of the workforce. Back on: After being cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the event, primarily based at Sydney's Carriageworks, is the first national fashion show to be held live anywhere in the world for more than a year. Pictured: Phoebe Burgess attends Fashion Week on Monday Australian Fashion Council CEO Leila Naja Hibri said the report highlighted the economic strength of the fashion industry. 'This ground-breaking report highlights the true economic clout of our dynamic and diverse industry,' she said. 'Until now, the comprehensive value of the industry's economic contribution and its predominantly female workforce has not been fully recognised. Big business: The fashion industry creates $7.2 billion in export revenue for Australia, while the economic impact represents upwards of 1.5 per cent of the national economy 'Now we can better understand the impact of this sector's significant role in Australia's creative economy, and the substantial potential of its future,.' The research coincides with Australia Fashion Week, which will showcase more than 70 established and emerging Australian designers and include a tribute on Monday to industry pioneer Carla Zampatti, who died last month. It will be the largest fashion week since 2015 and feature Australia's leading and emerging designers as well as the collections of eight Indigenous fashion designers on Wednesday. The week will have a renewed focus on sustainability and it's also the first time in its 25-year history that the public has been invited to attend, with 41 runway shows, workshops, panel talks, masterclasses as well as live podcasts. Romance Was Born features its designs at Carriageworks on Monday night with the final show on Friday night. Summer is right around the corner. And Scout Willis was looking red hot as she made a deli run in Los Feliz on Memorial Day Weekend. The 29-year-old daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis tried to beat the heat as she slipped into tiny red gym shorts and a matching backless bodysuit while grabbing a few beverages from Locali. Scroll down for video Deli run: Scout Willis, 29, put on a rather leggy display as she showcased her figure in tiny red gym shorts and backless bodysuit at a Los Feliz deli The musician was seen climbing into her very large Lexus SUV after exchanging words with a local who inquired about her classic ride. Scout opted for a monochrome look which featured retro shorts and a form fitting bodysuit which scooped down her back. She slipped her feet into a pair of beige clogs and swung a Gucci horsebit sling bag over her shoulder before grabbing a probiotic juice and a smoothie from the local spot. The middle child of the former Hollywood power couple rocked a half-up-half down hairstyle which she continued to slip into a low ponytail. Seeing red: Scout opted for a monochrome look which featured retro shorts and a form fitting bodysuit which scooped down her back Ready to roll: The musician was seen climbing into her very large Lexus SUV after exchanging words with a local who inquired about her classic ride. And Scout added another funky accent to the look as she rocked a cow print face mask before returning to her massive truck. Prior to her deli run she revealed on social media that she had attended a dance class, matching her red leotard to a pair of crimson ballet slippers. 'Best part of my Sunday,' she wrote, adding 'By, which I mean dancing, and also being extra in my ballet looks.' Social media persona: Scout has not always been someone who shares much of her life on social media, for fear that sharing images of herself would come off 'too ego driven' or 'not good enough' Scout has not always been someone who shares much of her life on social media, citing a fear that sharing images of herself would come off 'too ego driven' or 'not good enough.' But despite it being an internal narrative, she confessed that she wants to 'interact more' on social media, 'for the pure joy of sharing' and 'enjoying' herself. Scout spent the majority of quarantine splitting time between her Los Angeles digs and Demi's home in Hailey, Idaho along with sisters Rumer, 32, and Tallulah, 27. Sisters: Scout spent the majority of quarantine splitting time between her Los Angeles digs and mom Demi's home in Hailey, Idaho along with sisters Rumer, 32, and Tallulah, 27 When Tallulah got engaged in early May to fiance Dillon Buss, Scout gushed that she was 'buoyed' by the news and couldn't wait to add 'the first official Willis brother' to the family. And despite not having a ring on her finger yet, Scout celebrated three years with her boyfriend Jake in October. She is currently working on an album, saying that she would be better about keeping her followers and 'interested parties abreast of the progress.' She's no stranger to Australian Fashion Week, having walked the runway as a model before presenting her own designs as the co-founder of shoe label Mara & Mine. So it was no surprise to see Jasmine Stefanovic among the celebrity guests at day one of this year's event, which was held at Carriageworks in Redfern, Sydney. The wife of Today host Karl Stefanovic looked chic in a black dress featuring a long flowing skirt, which she teamed with black booties and a Gucci handbag. Familiar face: Jasmine Stefanovic was among the celebrity guests at day one of this year's Australian Fashion Week, which was held at Carriageworks in Redfern, Sydney Jasmine, 37, pulled back her blonde hair, drawing attention to her youthful visage, and accessorised with drop earrings and a simple necklace. She was joined at the venue by her business partner Tamara Ingham, a stylist by trade, with whom she founded Mara & Mine in 2013. Tamara cut a stylish figure in a black longsleeve with circular cut-outs on the arms, which she paired with matching baggy pants and green shoes. She styled her brunette hair loosely and kept her accessorises to a minimum. Dream dream: Jasmine, 37, was joined at the venue by her business partner Tamara Ingham, a stylist by trade, with whom she founded Mara & Mine in 2013 After being cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Afterpay Australian Fashion Week, primarily based at Sydney's Carriageworks, is the first national fashion show to be held live anywhere in the world for more than a year. The five-day event coincides with the release of an EY report, from High Fashion to High Vis - detailing the economic contribution of Australia's fashion and textiles sector. According to the Australian Fashion Council, which commissioned it, it's the most comprehensive study of the fashion and textiles industry ever done in Australia. It found the industry creates $7.2billion in export revenue for Australia, while the industry's economic impact represents upwards of 1.5 per cent of the national economy. Veteran: Jasmine is no stranger to Australian Fashion Week, having walked the runway as a model before presenting her own designs as the co-founder of shoe label Mara & Mine The study also found the industry employs almost half a million Australians, more than mining and utilities, with women making up 77 per cent of the workforce. Australian Fashion Council CEO Leila Naja Hibri said the report highlighted the economic strength of the fashion industry. 'This ground-breaking report highlights the true economic clout of our dynamic and diverse industry,' she said. Covid recovery: After being cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, Afterpay Australian Fashion Week, primarily based at Sydney's Carriageworks, is the first national fashion show to be held live anywhere in the world for more than a year 'Until now, the comprehensive value of the industry's economic contribution and its predominantly female workforce has not been fully recognised. 'Now we can better understand the impact of this sector's significant role in Australia's creative economy, and the substantial potential of its future,.' The research coincides with Australia Fashion Week, which will showcase more than 70 established and emerging Australian designers and include a tribute on Monday to industry pioneer Carla Zampatti, who died last month. It will be the largest fashion week since 2015 and feature Australia's leading and emerging designers as well as the collections of eight Indigenous fashion designers on Wednesday. The week will have a renewed focus on sustainability and it's also the first time in its 25-year history that the public has been invited to attend, with 41 runway shows, workshops, panel talks, masterclasses as well as live podcasts. Romance Was Born features its designs at Carriageworks on Monday night with the final show on Friday night. According to recent market research report " Network as a Service Market by Type (LAN and WLAN, WAN, Communication and Collaboration, and Network Security), Organization Size (Large Enterprises and SMEs), Application, End User (BFSI, Manufacturing, Healthcare) , and Region - Global Forecast to 2026 " , published by MarketsandMarkets , the global Network as a Service Market size is expected to grow from USD 10.4 billion in 2021 to USD 37.5 billion by 2026, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 29.4% during the forecast period. As organizations progress to cloud and adopt new technologies, the way they architect and set up network infrastructure must change. So, the enterprise NaaS has emerged as a significant new way for organizations to flexibly consume network infrastructure. Browse and in-depth TOC on Network as a Service Market 166 Tables 42 - Figures 246 Pages It enables them to use network services over the internet using pay-per-use or subscription consumption models. Thus, enterprises are beginning to realize the significant benefits of this new model. This model has also created opportunities for CSPs to collaborate with cloud providers and other ecosystem partners on service development and delivery. With NaaS, network spending has shifted from the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) to the Operational Expenditure (OPEX) model for network infrastructure. Download PDF Brochure@ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=94208411 Network Security segment to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period NaaS offers a strong set of security services that provide defense against malicious attacks with the provision of secure network policies, firewall-as-a-service, secure web gateways, network access control, and secure DDI. These network security services help businesses to protect networks from cyber threats, data breaches, intrusions, and detections. Network security is a broad term that comprises a set of technologies and tools designed to develop the secure flow of data and information over networks. Irrespective of size, businesses require a high degree of network security to protect their network infrastructure from the increasing cyber threats. In todays digital world and remote work culture, incidences of network threats have increased exponentially all over the globe. The changing business model and hybrid network infrastructure are challenges for businesses in terms of securing network infrastructure. Attackers have found a hundred ways to exploit network infrastructure with DDoS attacks and vulnerabilities. Small and Medium Sized Enterprises segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period Organizations with less than 999 employees are considered under the SMEs segment. These organizations struggle with a low network infrastructure budget, despite advancements in technologies. However, with the availability of low-cost cloud services and the as-a-service model, SMEs have shifted their focus on digital transformation to benefit from emerging technologies such as cloud, analytics, IoT, and SDN. Small businesses all over the globe are no exception when it comes to access to wired and wireless infrastructure. Every organization, irrespective of size, has adopted the mobile-first strategy to cope with the growing technology world and garner new business opportunities. The NaaS model has benefitted most SMEs. This model offloads the burden of managing the entire network infrastructure at a lower cost for network operation teams. In this way, business stakeholders can emphasize on their daily business activities by accessing continuous internet connectivity. Like global organizations, SMEs in emerging countries are moving toward the subscription-based model from the ownership model. Within the subscription or NaaS model, enterprises can opt to purchase any software or hardware device costing more than the as-a-service model. Request Sample: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=94208411 Asia Pacific (APAC) region to record the highest growing region in the NaaS market The NaaS market is highly competitive in APAC due to the presence of various service providers, networking providers, telecom carriers, and technology service vendors. Many vendors compete to offer the best services in the region, particularly in the retail and e-commerce industry vertical. This region also hosts many emerging service players in the networking and IT domain. It is proving to be a rich space in terms of the existence of several multinational corporations, government organizations, and many midsized as well as large telecommunications and IT organizations. The growth is attributed to the presence of developing economies, such as China and India. These countries have expansively considered the usage of wireless internet to cater to the unparalleled needs of Wi-Fi connectivity in large enterprises and SMEs of the region. The retail and e-commerce industry vertical is gaining traction in India and China. Key and innovative vendors in Network as a Service Market are AT&T (US), Verizon (US), Telefonica (Spain), NTT Communications (Japan), Orange Business Services (France), Vodafone (UK), BT Group (London), Tata Communications (India), Lumen (US), Masergy (US), Servsys (US), TELUS (Canada), PCCW Global (China), KDDI (Japan), Cloudflare (US), ARYAKA NETWORKS (US), China Telecom (China), China Mobile (China), Singtel (Singapore), GTT Communications (US), Telia (Sweden), Telstra (Australia), Deutsche Telekom (Germany), Colt Technology Services (UK), HGC (China), TenFour (US),PacketFabric (US), OnX Canada (Canada), Megaport (Australia), Wipro (India), Epsilon (Singapore), Axians (France), IPC Tech (US), and Microland (India). 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. Markets and Markets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledgestore" 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 sales@marketsandmarkets.com Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/network-as-a-service.asp Report: https : //www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/network-as-a-service-market-94208411.html Her split from Zac Efron made headlines last month. But it seems Vanessa Valladares is determined to stay in the spotlight despite parting ways with the Hollywood actor. The model, 25, was spotted mingling with other guests on day one of Australian Fashion Week in Sydney on Monday. Scroll down for video Flying solo! Zac Efron's ex Vanessa Valladares made her first public appearance since splitting from the actor as she arrived for day one of Australian Fashion Week in Sydney on Monday Vanessa stunned in a low-cut white dress as she arrived at the Carriageworks venue in Redfern, where the morning's showcase was taking place. She paired her frock with black heeled sandals, styled her cropped brunette hair loosely, and accessorised with a gold chain necklace. The Byron Bay socialite also sported a fresh spray tan for the occasion. Glamorous: Vanessa stunned in a low-cut white dress as she arrived at the Carriageworks venue in Redfern, where the morning's showcase was taking place Details: She paired her frock with black heeled sandals, styled her cropped brunette hair loosely, and accessorised with a gold chain necklace Vanessa, who is believed to be single following her split from the High School Musical star, appeared to be in a good mood as she chatted to friends. She carried a small shopping bag on one arm, as well as an off-white handbag. The former waitress had been pictured jetting into Sydney on Sunday, after catching a domestic flight from Ballina Airport, near Byron Bay. Cheerful: Vanessa, who is believed to be single following her split from the High School Musical star, appeared to be in a good mood as she chatted to friends Goodies: She carried a small shopping bag on one arm, as well as an off-white handbag Zac, 33, had reportedly been introduced to Vanessa by her boss at Byron Bay's General Store cafe in June last year, and the pair hit it off straight away. Two months later, in August, Daily Mail Australia revealed the Baywatch star had cancelled his scheduled return flight to LA because he 'didn't really want to go back'. Within weeks, the genetically blessed couple had moved in together in Byron Bay. Bronzed: The Byron Bay socialite also sported a fresh spray tan for the occasion Flying in: The former waitress had been pictured jetting into Sydney on Sunday, after catching a domestic flight from Ballina Airport, near Byron Bay Romance: Zac, 33, had reportedly been introduced to Vanessa by her boss at Byron Bay's General Store cafe in June last year, and the pair hit it off straight away Dutiful: Vanessa would accompany her famous boyfriend as he travelled around Australia for various work projects from late 2020 to early 2021 The lovebirds went on to confirm their relationship in September when they were spotted holding hands in public for the first time. Vanessa would accompany her famous boyfriend as he travelled around Australia for various work projects from late 2020 to early 2021. But it was revealed in April they had called it quits, with Zac's close friend Kyle Sandilands announcing on his breakfast radio show: 'I can confirm [the break-up], after speaking with him yesterday.' Done and dusted: However, it was revealed in April they had called it quits, with Zac's friend Kyle Sandilands confirming the break-up on his breakfast radio show Mayim Bialik says 'its an immense honor' as she prepares to host Jeopardy! for two weeks. The 45-year-old actress posted a clip on Instagram Sunday from the set of the famed game show, which has had a rotating slate of guests hosts since the death of Alex Trebek last year. 'This is such an iconic and unbelievable piece of our collective culture, to be considered to be part of it really in any way, its an immense honor,' said the actress, who earned a PhD in neuroscience from UCLA in 2007. The latest: Mayim Bialik, 45, says 'its an immense honor' as she prepares to host Jeopardy! for two weeks The Big Bang Theory alum said that hosting is an exceptional opportunity, 'especially for someone whos dedicated so much of my life to academia, to knowing things and to being able to communicate things. 'Being a woman of science, as I am, is something that Im obviously very passionate about presenting myself as.' The Blossom star explained that she hoped to be an example for young people interested in science. 'I really didnt grow up with a lot of female role models and I think especially for young people - not just young girls, but for young girls and boys - to see that women can be scientists and can do these types of intellectual things, that feels very important to me,' she said. Goals: The Blossom star explained that she hoped to be an example for young people interested in science Exciting: Bialik is set to host from May 31 thru June 11 Bialik added that 'as a second generation American whose grandparents on one side never fully mastered the English language, its just an unbelievable opportunity to see what in two generations my family has been able to see.' She noted how Alex Trebek had once made an appearance on Blossom, and that she's been an answer on the show before. On her Instagram page, she captioned the clip, 'In case you missed it, I spoke with @Jeopardy to talk about this unbelievable experience, and what it means to be part of it. 'Not only as a woman in science, but as a second generation American. It is truly an honor. And yes, I really wouldve swept the floors! I mean it IS Jeopardy after all! My two week guest host takeover starts TOMORROW NIGHT on @ABC!!!!! IM SO EXCITED!!!!!!' Bialik is set to host from Monday thru June 11. She achieved impressive weight loss during her recent 'year of health'. But Rebel Wilson has admitted she's 'sad' she waited until she was 40-years-old to take the big step towards a healthier version of herself. 'Now that I know I can do it, sometimes I feel sad that I didn't do it earlier,' the 41-year-old told InStyle last week. A better her: Rebel Wilson [pictured] has admitted she's 'sad' that she waited until she was 40 years old to take the big step towards a healthier version of herself Admitting she's always been 'a bit of a late developer,' Rebel said she wished she 'tried when I was 30, not 40.' 'But everybody's journey is different, and it's not a race or competition.' 'I have a natural empathy for anyone who struggles with weight issues because that's something I've always struggled with.' Rebel said that 'anyone can go on walks and drink more water and do little, consistent things that'll improve their lives,' - and it's never too late to start. Impressive: Admitting she's always been 'a bit of a late developer,' Rebel said she wished she 'tried [to lose weight] when I was 30, not 40' in an interview over the weekend. Seen here in 2019 The comments come after the Sydney-born actress shed more than 30kg in 2020. And Wilson appears to have lost even more weight this year, if recent Instagram posts are anything to go by. The Bridesmaid star, 41, showed off her tiny waist and slender legs in a pair of tight bike shorts and an off-the shoulder top as she posed on a private jet during a getaway to Miami over the weekend. Is this the thinnest she has ever been? Wilson looked unrecognisable as she showed off her tiny waist in tight bike shorts and a top over the weekend. She is pictured on the left at the start of last year She also donned high-waisted yoga shorts that emphasized her fit figure with a black and gold belt that cinched her taut midriff Rebel sported strappy black sandals with silver studs as she stood in the aisle of the sleek private jet. She accessorised with a pair of oversized tan cat-eye sunglasses. The blonde beauty's hair was swept into a high ponytail as she lounged back in her seat and stared out of the window of the plane ahead of her flight. Stylish: Rebel, who lost more than 30kg in 2020, sported strappy black sandals with silver studs as she stood in the aisle of a private jet She showed off a moss-green Yves Saint Laurent crossbody purse, a braided gold chain and gold hardware. Rebel recently cited Mark Wahlberg's revelation that he gets up at 4am to get his daily workout in as inspiration. 'Although I don't want to get up at 4am like Mark. [laughs] Quite a lot, I do have to get up at 6am.' Cole Sprouse and his rumored model girlfriend Ari Fournier got frisky as they waited for their car after enjoying a dinner date in Echo Park on Saturday night. The lovebirds, who first sparked dating speculation back in February 2021, looked inseparable while standing with their arms wrapped lovingly around each other. In addition to planting a kiss on the top of Fournier's head, the 28-year-old actor playfully grazed her rear as she rocked a green floral minidress and leather jacket. Packing on the PDA: Cole Sprouse and his rumored model girlfriend Ari Fournier got frisky as they waited for their car after enjoying a dinner date in Echo Park on Saturday night For their outing, the 28-year-old Riverdale star sported a brown blazer, light-wash jeans and a pair of white Converse sneakers. This is the first time they have been seen together since March and more than a year after his split from ex Lili Reinhart after a nearly three-year romance. Sprouse confirmed the breakup in August, saying they broke up in January before officially deciding to part ways in March. Getting frisky: The lovebirds, who first sparked dating speculation back in February 2021, looked inseparable while standing with their arms wrapped lovingly wrapped around each other Fournier is the second model Cole has been linked to since calling it quits from Reinhart last year. He was first spotted cozying up to Reina Silva in the fall. Sprouse recently wrapped filming the fifth season of Riverdale in Canada. Lovers: In addition to planting a kiss on the top of Fournier's head, the 28-year-old Riverdale star playfully grabbed playfully grabbed his other half's rear In June, Reinhart came out publicly as bisexual on Instagram. 'Although I've never announced it publicly before, I am a proud bisexual woman,' she shared. She waited to come out until after their split, detailing on the LGBTQ&A podcast in September: 'I didn't want to put my ex [Sprouse] in a position, it seems like it would have been a little strange to come out when I was in a hetero relationship.' Sprouse previously called their relationship an 'incredible experience,' adding that he was 'lucky' he had the 'chance to fall in love,' while wishing her 'the utmost love and happiness.' Chandler Powell and his wildlife warrior wife Bindi welcomed their daughter Grace just two months ago. And the American wakeboarder played daddy duties on Saturday, picking up some groceries for the young family. The 24-year-old was seen balancing pizzas, pies and a punnet of raspberries outside a local supermarket in Queensland as he headed to his car. They're just like us! Bindi Irwin's husband Chandler Powell picked up pizzas, pies and a punnet of raspberries during a grocery run in Queensland over the weekend before heading home to his wife and daughter Grace Warrior Chandler looked handsome in a blue t-shirt, beige shorts and a pair of black socks with Blundstone boots for the errands. The young father is overjoyed with life as a new dad. Chandler posed with the couple's two-month-old daughter Grace in an Instagram post on Friday. Smiling happily, Chandler tenderly cuddled his baby girl, who looked adorable in a floral romper and pink beanie. Handsome: Chandler looked handsome in a blue t-shirt, beige shorts and a pair of black socks with Blundstone boots for the errands 'My buddy,' he simply captioned the post, adding a red love-heart emoji. Bindi, 22, and Chandler announced their daughter's birth on March 26, just a day after she was born on their first wedding anniversary. 'Grace Warrior Irwin Powell. After waiting for you to arrive for the last 9 months, finally meeting you has been the best moment of my life,' he wrote at the time. New dad! Chandler and his wildlife warrior wife Bindi welcomed their daughter Grace just two months ago 'You have a big life ahead of you and no matter what, you will be surrounded by a whole lot of love. 'Thank you for gracing your beautiful mother and me on our wedding anniversary, so excited to have you home.' Meanwhile, Bindi explained the sentimental meaning behind their daughter's name. Big milestone: Chandler is overjoyed with life as a new dad and has been giving his fans updates on fatherhood 'Grace Warrior Irwin Powell. Our graceful warrior is the most beautiful light,' she wrote on Instagram. 'Grace is named after my great-grandmother and relatives in Chandler's family dating back to the 1700s. 'Her middle names, Warrior Irwin, are a tribute to my dad [Steve Irwin] and his legacy as the most incredible Wildlife Warrior. Zoo keeper: Chandler works at Australia Zoo alongside his wife Bindi and his in-laws 'Her last name is Powell and she already has such a kind soul just like her dad.' She added: 'There are no words to describe the infinite amount of love in our hearts for our sweet baby girl. 'She chose the perfect day to be born and we feel tremendously blessed.' Indigenous runway model Charlee Fraser has graced catwalks all over the world for designer brands like Dior, Chanel, Prada and Givenchy. And on Monday, she revealed to Daily Mail Australia she became emotional during the first-ever Welcome To Country ceremony held for Australian Fashion Week. The 25-year-old was very proud to see her people recognised by the annual event, and said: 'I actually started crying.' EXCLUSIVE: Indigenous runway model Charlee Fraser [pictured] told Daily Mail Australia she 'started crying' during the first-ever Welcome To Country ceremony for Australian Fashion Week, on Monday 'I started crying, especially when I saw most of the Mob who were up there performing, the dancers and some of the models who wore the beautiful Indigenous designs. 'I had a moment, I was a bit teary,' she added. The brunette beauty, whose is part of the Awabakal people of New South Wales' mid-north coast, called the historic moment 'really special'. Emotional: She was very proud to see her people recognised by the annual event, and said: 'I actually started crying.' The Welcome to Country was held at Carriageworks and featured a 60,000-year-old Indigenous smoking ceremony, which Charlee was also a part of (pictured) Tradition: The Muggera Dance Company performed a traditional dance. Charlee said: 'I'm so glad we've made it here. It was an empty space that really needed it' 'I'm so glad we've made it here. It was an empty space that really needed it,' she said of the ceremony. The Welcome to Country was held at Carriageworks, in Eveleigh, and featured a 60,000-year-old Indigenous smoking ceremony, which Charlee was also a part of. The Muggera Dance Company also performed a traditional dance at the event. Proud: Charlee said of the event: 'I started crying, especially when I saw most of the Mob who were up there performing, the dancers and some of the models who wore the beautiful Indigenous designs 'I love what I do so much': Charlee also spoke to Daily Mail Australia about her career and representing the Australian Indigenous people on a global stage. She has graced catwalks all over the world for designer brands like Dior, Chanel, Prada and Givenchy Charlee also spoke to Daily Mail Australia about her career and representing the Australian Indigenous people on a global stage as one of the country's most in-demand models. 'This is unlike anything else I've ever done and it's been a space that I've strongly been searching for for such a long time. I love what I do so much. 'Modelling is my passion and my culture is something I've felt that's been missing from my life, and now I've finally found a space where they collide and it's the most humbling, and exciting and powerful thing to be doing right now,' she proudly said. Filming for Marvel's next blockbuster, Thor: Love and Thunder, has come to an end. And on Sunday, Thor star Chris Hemsworth boarded a private jet to return home to Byron Bay after shooting scenes for the movie at Sydney's Centennial Park. Joined by wife Elsa Pataky, brother Liam Hemsworth and their parents Craig and Leonie Hemsworth, Chris, 37, was all smiles as he made his way onto the aircraft. That's a wrap! Chris Hemsworth (pictured) was all smiles as he headed back to Byron Bay on a private jet on Sunday, as filming for Thor: Love and Thunder in Sydney came to an end Chris covered up his buff frame in a white long-sleeved top, dark jeans and pristine white sneakers. He accessorised with a statement gold watch and black cap, and looked happy to be heading home on the short flight back to idyllic Byron Bay. The Hollywood star's wife Elsa, 44, followed closely behind, cutting a casual figure in a black and grey striped top, a beige cardigan, dark jeans and trendy sneakers. Casual: The Hollywood star covered up his buff frame in a white long-sleeved top, dark jeans and pristine white sneakers. He added a black cap to the look Family: Chris' mother Leonie Hemsworth (right) followed behind, and cut a casual chic figure Effortless style: Also heading back to Byron Bay was Chris' wife Elsa Pataky (pictured), 44, who sported a black and grey striped top, dark jeans, a beige cardigan and trendy sneakers The Spanish actress concealed her gaze behind tinted gold-rimmed sunglasses, and carried her essential items in a brown weekender bag. Elsa swept her brunette locks back off her face into an effortless ponytail, and looked to have worn minimal makeup. Chris' younger brother Liam, 31, who is also based in Byron Bay, joined his family on board the flight. Beauty: The Spanish actress concealed her gaze behind tinted gold-rimmed sunglasses, and swept her brunette locks back off her face into an effortless ponytail Their pride and joy: Chris and Elsa wed in 2010, and share three children, daughter India Rose, nine, and twin sons Tristan and Sasha, seven Low-key: Chris' younger brother Liam Hemsworth (pictured), 31, joined his family on the trip. He cut a casual figure in a white T-shirt, beige pants and white sneakers He donned a white T-shirt that accentuated his muscular arms, beige pants and white sneakers, and came prepared for a change in weather with a black jacket. Chris and Liam's parents Craig and Leonie also joined their sons on the short flight. Production on Thor: Love and Thunder, also starring Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, Christian Bale and Matt Damon, began in January and has now finished. Back to idyllic Byron Bay: Chris' parents Leonie and Craig Hemsworth are pictured boarding Come to an end: Production on Thor: Love and Thunder, also starring Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, Christian Bale and Matt Damon, began in January and has now finished The film was shot at Sydney's Fox Studios and elaborate structures were also set up at nearby Centennial Park and in the city's western suburbs. It is the fourth film in the Thor franchise, and will see Chris' character Thor go up against Christian Bale's character, Gorr the God Butcher. Thor: Love and Thunder is due for cinematic release in February 2022. The set: The film was shot at Sydney's Fox Studios and elaborate structures were also set up at nearby Centennial Park and in the city's western suburbs Drake rocked a black and white windbreaker with grey sleeves as he arrived to dinner at Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica on Saturday evening. The 34-year-old God's Plan rapper appeared in high spirits as he hopped out of his car and beelined toward the Italian eatery with friends for a fun night out. He completed his casual cool look with a pair of black trousers, white sneakers and a silver ring on his pinky finger. Looking good: Drake rocked a black and white windbreaker with grey sleeves as he arrived to dinner at Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica on Saturday evening He had a heart shaved in his hair, which he got ahead of releasing his album Certified Lover Boy, released in January 2021. Last Sunday, he was presented with the Artist Of The Decade award at the Billboard Music Award in Los Angeles. He brought his three-year-old son Adonis who he shares with artist-model Sophie Brussaux onto the stage as he accepted the top honor. Eating out: The 34-year-old God's Plan rapper appeared in high spirits as he hopped out of his car and beelined toward the Italian eatery with friends for a fun night out The rapper said that he's 'really bad at taking compliments' and 'really self-conscious' about his work in his acceptance speech, in which he attributed his success to perseverance. 'I rarely celebrate anything,' he said. 'For anyone watching this that's wondering how this happened, that's really the answer: It's being so unsure how you're getting it done that you just keep going in the hopes of figuring out the formula.' Drake, who also won for Streaming Songs Artist, said that he was focusing on the positives of the recognition. Accessorizes: He completed his casual cool look with a pair of black trousers, white sneakers and a silver ring on his pinky finger Handsome: He had a heart shaved in his hair, which he got ahead of releasing his album Certified Lover Boy, which he released in January 2021 'I just know that I've spent an incalculable amount of hours trying to analyze all the things I did wrong,' he said. 'But tonight for once, I'm sure as hell we did something right.' He also hosted a party at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California after the ceremony, with the party laid out at the 50-yard line of the venue, which is home to the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers. Among the guests in attendance were The Weeknd, Chris Brown, DJ Khaled, Doja Cat and SZA, an insider told E! News, adding that there were 'huge champagne towers and several bars set up throughout the stadium.' She's been teasing the upcoming 2021 series of Love Island with short trailers over the weekend. And Laura Whitmore continued to amp up the excitement as she shared another promo clip to Instagram on Sunday. The show's host, 36, looked sensational as she strutted along a London high street in a plunging red jumpsuit and aviator sunglasses. Almost time! Love Island's host Laura Whitmore continued to tease fans as she shared another promo clip for the upcoming 2021 series to Instagram on Sunday In the trailer, Laura confidently walks towards the camera, smiling as she flicks her blonde locks and removes her sunglasses. The new mum, who welcomed a baby daughter with husband Iain Stirling earlier this year, wows in her skin-tight jumpsuit which boasts a plunging zip on the front. As the beauty struts, several other people can be seen running past her with one man even whipping off his T-shirt. Sharing the third video to Instagram, Laura simply asked fans: 'You ready?' Work it: The star, 36, looked sensational as she strutted along a London high street in a plunging red jumpsuit and aviator sunglasses 'You ready?': Laura has shared three exciting promo clips over the weekend, building up excitement for the show's return this summer Series 7 of the popular ITV2 show is thought to be kicking off on June 28th 2021, with builders recently being seen working at the Majorcan villa usually used for the show. This year's show also features a new tag line, 'this is not a drill', which has been seen in all of the teasers shared on social media so far ahead of the show finally returning after last year's season was postponed due to the pandemic. Laura also shared a snap from the video shoot to her Instagram page on Sunday, with the blonde beauty looked incredible as she posed next to a car. She beamed a smile while posing up a storm in her wide-leg ensemble which she accessorised with a black belt and the all-important summer sunglasses. Summer ready: Laura smiled as she flicked her blonde locks and removed her sunglasses That's the spirit: One man even whipped his T-shirt off as he ran past Laura in the short video Beauty: She also shared a snap of herself posing in the eye-catching red jumpsuit during filming in London In another short clip shared on Saturday, new mum Laura was seen strutting down a London high street brandishing a mallet as she heads towards a fire alarm. The star looked ready for summer in a red ensemble and shades as she flashed a cheeky look at the camera before proceeding to smash the alarm, which reads: 'In case of Love Island, crack on'. While a voice, which sounds much like her husband and Love Island narrator Iain exclaiming: 'This is not a drill!' And a second clip shared on Saturday sees a huge red truck, fitted with sirens and megaphones, pull up on screen, with the registration: 'LOV3'. It's back! It comes after Laura looked sizzling in a racy red jumpsuit as she appeared in the first look trailer for the new series on Saturday Cracking on: Series 7 of the popular ITV2 show is thought to be kicking off on June 28th 2021 Get ready! This year's show features a brand new tag line, 'this is not a drill' as the countdown finally begins following the show being postponed last year due to the pandemic Laura was seen filming the promo in Barking, East London earlier this month, pictured riding around ion the truck holding a megaphone. While she also sent fans wild on Saturday by sharing a snap of the Love Island alarm, alongside the tag line: 'This is not a drill'. Fans flooded social media to share their excitement ahead of season seven. One fan commented on the Love Island Twitter page: 'Not even ashamed to say Im so excited for this . Feel like a kid at Christmas'. Another penned: 'Love island and the Euros returning this summer prime summer is back.' Smashed it: The star flashed a cheeky look at the camera before proceeding to smash the alarm, which reads: 'In case of Love Island, crack on' Fuelling the excitement: While she also sent fans wild on Saturday by sharing a snap of the Love Island alarm, alongside the tag line: 'This is not a drill' A third Twitter user wrote: 'We have got our summers back. I can't wait for #Loveisland to return it's been a long 16 months but it's finally back on what is set to be the biggest and most diverse series ever. I can't wait bring it on!!!!!' A fourth said: '4 weeks until Im off work and home for 2 month summer. Also 4 weeks until @LoveIsland starts. Not sure which Im more buzzing for tbh'. Elsewhere, Laura's husband Iain, 33, shared his eager anticipation for the upcoming series, sharing a plethora of images of himself in the recording booth. He penned: 'Love Island has taken me to some amazing places over the years. So delighted to finally see it return!' #loveisland #jetsetter #travel.' Positive response: Fans flooded social media to share their excitement ahead of season seven The narrator also shared a snap of the new Love Island promo video on his stories, writing alongside it: 'Looking forward to be culturally significant again for a couple of weeks x.' Meanwhile, things are certainly underway for the new series as builders were seen working at the spacious Majorcan villa used to house the stunning singletons on Thursday. Several men appeared to be building the sprawling set as they made the most of the sunny Spanish weather and cut large pieces of wood outside while other crew members reinstated the all important day beds area. Elsewhere, a small platform was put up by the swimming pool, suggesting that this years contestants could have a fresh pool-side hangout to discuss their romances. As well as building the set, landscaping work seemed to be going on around the villa to make it look as stunning as possible with several watering cans dotted around the place for people to work on reviving the plants. Back at it: Elsewhere, Laura's husband Iain, 33, shared his eager anticipation for the upcoming series, sharing a plethora of images of himself in the recording booth The voice of Love Island: Iain shared a number of snaps of himself in the recording booth during his time as narrator on the ITV2 show Thrilled: He penned: 'Love Island has taken me to some amazing places over the years. So delighted to finally see it return!' #loveisland #jetsetter #travel' ITV have yet to make an official announcement about where the dating show will be filmed, though on Wednesday, a source told The Sun: 'Love Island bosses are determined to return to the villa this summer and have worked hard to make it happen. 'Although they are confident the series will go ahead in the original location, there are still concerns over rules suddenly changing. However, at the moment it's looking good.' Signs are also on the site, according to eyewitnesses, speculating coronavirus safety measures. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed on Friday that British holidaymakers can enter the country, which is currently on the government's amber list, meaning the travel obstacles for the show have been lifted. The countdown begins: The narrator also shared a snap of the new Love Island promo video on his stories, writing alongside it: 'Looking forward to be culturally significant again for a couple of weeks x' Almost here: The new series of Love Island is set to kick off next month, after being postponed last year due to the pandemic (pictured the 2020 winter series cast) Contracts for this year's Love Island did have Majorca written into them, although back-up options, such as Jersey and Cornwall, were on the table in case Covid travel restrictions meant Spain was off-limits. Sanchez said at trade fair Fitur in Madrid: 'I am pleased to inform you that the ministerial order will be officially published today exempting citizens from the UK from temporary restrictions on non-essential trips to Spain. 'I can therefore announce that from next Monday the 24th of May we will be delighted to welcome all UK tourists. 'They are welcome to enter our country without restrictions and without health requirements.' On hold: The summer series of Love Island 2020 was cancelled after production found it 'logistically impossible' to organise the show as the pandemic raged on (pictured 2018 cast) The summer series of Love Island 2020 was cancelled after production found it 'logistically impossible' to organise the show as the pandemic raged on. Applicants for the next series have reportedly been told theyll have to be free for 10 weeks abroad and undergo a psychological and physical assessment. It was previously reported that Jersey has been secured for filming this summer if production cannot take place in the show's usual location of Mallorca. Sources told The Sun: 'The Channel Islands get plenty of sunshine so it makes sense to hold Love Island there if we can't get back to Spain.' Phoebe Burgess was turning heads at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week on Monday. The budding influencer arrived at the event looking a million bucks in a chic brown trench coat. The 32-year-old flaunted a rather different look, as she was sporting fuller cheeks and a more luscious pout than usual. A new look: Phoebe Burgess (pictured) turned heads at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week on Monday, sporting far fuller cheeks and a more luscious pout than usual The blonde bombshell appeared very youthful indeed, with her taut, line-free visage on display. Phoebe was looking quite different in her Instagram images over the past few weeks, with a less taut visage. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to representatives for Phoebe Burgess for comment. Changes: The budding influencer appeared very youthful indeed, with her taut, line-free visage on display. Phoebe is pictured left, at Fashion Week in 2021, and right, at Fashion Week in 2019, with less full facial features Youthful: Phoebe opted for a soft, neutral makeup palette that added to her youthful look The mother-of-two looked sensational in a show-stopping leather coat in a retro, 1970s-inspired cut and caramel tone. She appeared to go topless under the jacket, with a hint of cleavage on display in the deep v-neck. Phoebe added her favourite pair of low-crotch leather trousers worth $1,795 to the ensemble, and wore fine gold necklaces. A new woman: Phoebe is pictured left, on the red carpet in 2016, and right, on Monday The Ostelin ambassador carried her trusty neon green Bottega Veneta Mini Jodie bag, valued at an eye-watering $2,490. Phoebe also had on the matching shoes in the same alluring poison shade - her Bottega Veneta lace-up leather-trimmed mesh pumps, worth $1,290. She wore her wavy, platinum blonde tresses loose and cascading for the high-profile outing. New makeup? It's unclear if Phoebe's new look was cosmetically enhanced or just makeup As well as her purse, Phoebe carried a bottle of water, her phone and a pair of tortoiseshell framed geometric shades which she slipped on for one of her photos. In January last year, Phoebe denied that she had any cosmetic work done. She uploaded a selfie to Instagram at the time, with the caption: 'A few questions about what I have 'done'.' Update? Phoebe was looking quite different in her Instagram images over the past few weeks, with a less taut visage No work: In January last year, Phoebe clarified that she hasn't had anything 'done' in terms of surgery, but does have a beauty regimen that keeps her looking fresh and youthful Phoebe went on to clarify that she hasn't had anything 'done' in terms of surgery, but does have a beauty regimen that keeps her looking fresh and youthful. 'I'm extremely low maintenance, tidy up around the brow, tint, done,' she wrote. She also told her followers recently that her ultimate beauty tip for fellow mothers is simply to 'get one night's sleep'. Natural: In April, Phoebe said her 'ultimate goal' is to 'make the most of whatever remaining youthful attributes my skin has' and to 'slow down that ageing process, with as much grace and as few injections as possible' Celebration: Earlier this year, Phoebe shared an Instagram post in which she celebrated the 'wrinkles and smile lines' she's accrued since becoming a mother In April, Phoebe shared an Instagram post in which she celebrated the 'wrinkles and smile lines' she's accrued since becoming a mother. In the caption, the blonde beauty wrote: 'I've accrued most of the 'character' on my face, by way of wrinkles and smile lines (and a few frown ones too...), since becoming a mum.' Phoebe then went on to share that her 'ultimate goal' is to 'make the most of whatever remaining youthful attributes my skin has' and to 'slow down that ageing process, with as much grace and as few injections as possible.' Polyvinyl Alcohol Films Market Growth & Trends The global polyvinyl alcohol films market size is expected to reach USD 551.59 million by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is projected to expand at a CAGR of 5.3% from 2021 to 2028. Sustainable packaging is in high demand on account of its ability to aid in the reduction of landfills and compliance with stringent regulations related to packaging. In addition, sustainable packaging solutions have gained importance on account of safety, performance, and convenience in the packaging of products. PVA films are widely used as eco-friendly polymers and have contributed significantly to the growth of the sustainable packaging industry. Increasing government initiatives to support green packaging is also expected to be the key driving factor for the market. However, volatile raw material prices are expected to be a key challenge to the growth over the forecast period. The increasing global population, coupled with growing disposable income is offering high Purchase Power Parity (PPP) that has resulted in an improved standard of living. This is resulting in additional services being adopted, such as laundry services, in their daily routine. The bags used in laundries are mostly manufactured using PVA films as it becomes easier for disposal. As a result, the booming laundry service industry is projected to contribute to the steady growth of the market. Growing hygiene consciousness among the consumers coupled with rising standards of living is propelling demand for detergents. In addition, the growth witnessed by the hospitality industry is also contributing significantly to the production of detergents. This, in turn, is augmenting the overall demand for PVA films in the detergent packaging industry. Agrochemical packaging is another major driver for the market. Agrochemicals, such as pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and other chemicals, are witnessing high demand in the agricultural sector. Thus, creating lucrative growth opportunities for PVA films. Request a free sample copy or view report summary: Polyvinyl Alcohol Films Market Report Polyvinyl Alcohol Films Market Report Highlights The global market was valued at USD 367.31 million in 2020 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% from 2021 to 2028 Detergent packaging emerged as the leading product segment and accounted for over 37% of the total market revenue in 2020 North America accounted for 32.1% of the total demand for PVA films in 2020 due to the high demand for detergent packaging, which is driven by the increased penetration of automatic washers in the region Product demand in Asia Pacific is slated to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% over the forecast period. China was the largest producer and consumer of PVA films in Asia Pacific in 2020 and this trend is expected to continue over the forecast period Access Press Release@ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-polyvinyl-alcohol-films Polyvinyl Alcohol Films Market Segmentation Grand View Research has segmented the global polyvinyl alcohol films market on the basis of application and region: PVA Films Application Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Detergent packaging Consumer Detergent Industrial Detergent Agrochemical Packaging Laundry Bags Embroidery Others PVA Films Regional Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) North America US. Europe Germany UK. Asia Pacific China India Japan Central & South America Brazil Middle East & Africa List of Key Players of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Films Market Aicello Corp. Changzhou Water Soluble Co., Ltd. Arrow GreenTech Ltd. Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. Kuraray Co., Ltd. Cortec Corp. AMC (U.K.) Ltd. MSD Corp. Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. Chang Chun Group About Grand View Research Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare. We're used to seeing them burn up the dance floor as Strictly Come Dancing professionals. But Katya Jones, 32, and Giovanni Pernice, 30, took part in a very different kind of competition in a London park at the weekend. The twinkle-toed stars were ready to race as they battled it out with remote control cars for MeccaBingo.com. Ready to race: Strictly Come Dancing's Katya Jones, 32, and Giovanni Pernice, 30, raced remote control cars in London for MeccaBingo.com during the bank holiday weekend Russian Katya brought a touch of subtle glamour to the situation by wearing a glitzy black jacket. She wore a pair of tasseled trousers which flared outwards as she moved while she had on a pair of tan heels to add a light splash of colour. Her black hair rested on her shoulders while she wore crimson red lipstick on her lips. Giovanni looked dapper in a charcoal jacket and blue-grey turtle neck top, while he wore a pair of matching shoes on his feet. And the winner is... Katya looked delighted to have won the race against Giovanni for MeccaBingo.com She's got some flare! Katya wore some tasseled trousers which flared as she walked and she seemed excited to be taking part in the event with her BBC co-star pal The star donned a Gucci belt with a statement gold buckle and completed his look with a pair of dark jeans while hiding behind a pair of aviator sunglasses. Katya and Giovanni appeared to be enjoying themselves as they smiled while racing the cars. But it was Katya who won the race and she celebrated by punching the sky while visibly laughing out loud. On your marks! Giovanni looked full of concentration as he raced his car but luck wasn't on his side on the day Non-stop! And, on Monday morning Katya commanded attention in bright red sportswear after presenting Strictly Fitness on BBC Morning Live On the go! The dancer slipped into skin-tight leggings and kept warm with an oversized FILA hoodie following her presenting gig The glamorous dancer turned 32 earlier this month and enjoyed a five-and-a-half hour lunch with her BBC co-stars Janette Manrara and Luba Mushtuk. Previous birthdays for the star have been eventful as in 2018 she was pictured kissing her then dance partner, comedian Seann Walsh, while she was still married to now ex-husband Neil Jones. It comes after Katya paid tribute to former flame Neil on his 39th birthday with a series of 'embarrassing' throwbacks earlier this month. Katya posted a vintage image of her and Neil from their marriage, including a shot of them at a party. The dancer captioned the post: 'Happy Birthday @mr_njonesofficial! Geez, you're getting old. Pose: Katya struck a playful pose as she placed her birthday cake on her head for a fun snap 'But still full of life, energy and positivity! Keep that smile on your face and keep that hair ginger! Sorry I used to straighten it (swipe for some embarrassing photos). 'May it be a great year for you!! Lots of love. #strictlyomedancing #birthday #happybirthday (sic)' Earlier this year, Katya spoke out about the demise of her seven-year marriage to Neil. Birthday boy: Katya paid tribute to ex-husband Neil Jones as she wished him well on his 39th birthday with a series of cheeky throwback photos earlier this month Still close: The dancer captioned the post: 'Happy Birthday @mr_njonesofficial! Geez, you're getting old. But still full of life, energy and positivity!' (pictured in 2019) In an interview with Waggel, the star reflected on how she found her 30th birthday 'challenging' because her marriage to Neil was going 'downhill'. Talking about the dark period, she said: 'In 2019 I turned 30, it was a challenging time. I didn't like where I was, it felt like I was in limbo actually. 'My relationship was going downhill. I didn't feel happy in my own company until May 2020, when I spent my birthday in lockdown.' Katya also revealed she has used the time since her split from Neil to 'better myself' and hasn't dated since they broke up. She said: 'I've come out of a marriage, not even a long-term relationship, but a marriage. Neil and I were together for 12-years, married for seven.' The professional dancer said she hasn't even thought about dating because 'I've just been with this person for such a long time'. Rosie Huntington Whiteley put on a sizzling display as she modelled her new Marks & Spencer underwear range. The model, 34, showcased her enviable lithe figure for the shoot for her new lingerie range which she claims is inspired by the 1920s. She oozed confidence as she posed up a storm for the promotional shots, sharing some sneak peeks with her 12.6million Instagram followers. Confident: Rosie Huntington Whiteley, 33, put on a sizzling display as she modelled her new Marks & Spencer underwear range The blonde beauty showed off her washboard abs and ample cleavage in a matching blue lacy set. Another shot saw her kneeling on a grey sofa wearing a flattering mint green sheer lingerie set. The strappy triangle cup bralette featured a little bit of lace before it flowed out to cover her midriff. She had her signature blonde tresses styled in a light wave for the photoshoot. Sizzling: The model showcased her enviable lithe figure for the shoot for her new lingerie range which she claims is inspired by the 1920s Sharing the pictures on her Instagram Rosie, who has had a lingerie collection with Marks & Spencer for several years, told her followers it was now available to buy. 'I took inspiration from the decadent 1920s. It think it might be my favourite collection yet,' she wrote. Rosie first started modelling at just 15 and signed to an agency the following year. During her career she came to represent major brands including Victoria's Secret, Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana. The model took fans down memory lane a few weeks ago, as she shared the first polaroids that were taken of her in 2003. The then teenager posed for the shots after signing to Model Management at just 16. Memory lane: Rosie took fans down memory lane Tuesday night, as she shared the first polaroids that were taken of her in 2003 Over a set of young fresh-faced photos she wrote: 'Just came across these - the first polaroids ever taken of me back in 2003 in London at my first agency.' Adding: 'Bringing back so many special memories.' In the photos she wore a baby blue tank, and had her blonde hair swept back into a messy bun showing off her bone structure. The UK born beauty shared a second set of polaroids in different outfits, apart of another modeling profile. In those she wore a black, long-sleeve tee and left her shiny hair down near her face. For a third outfit, she wore a blue graphic tee, a denim mini skirt and black sheer tights. First snaps: Over a set of young fresh-faced photos she wrote: 'Just came across these - the first polaroids ever taken of me back in 2003 in London at my first agency' After signing to her first agency she quickly shot for Teen Vogue and made her catwalk debut at just 17 alongside Naomi Campbell. Just a few years later in 2006 she signed to Victoria's Secret and went on to be one of the brand's Angels. Other brands she has modeled for include Ralph Lauren, DKNY, Escada and Versace. Rosie became more widely known in 2011 when she starred in Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon, alongside Shia LaBeouf. She has been dating actor Jason Statham, 52, since 2010. They got engaged in January 2016 when Jason proposed with with a five-carat Neil Lane-designed ring. Together, they welcomed a son, Jack, in 2017. Rosie recently returned from Milan Fashion Week where she sat front row at Versace's Spring 2020 show. They've made sure all eyes were on them with their loved-up displays at recent red carpet events. And Megan Fox delighted fans when she made a surprise appearance on stage alongside her boyfriend Machine Gun Kelly during the Indy 500 weekend. The actress, 35, was greeted with cheers from the audience as Kelly, 31, brought her on at Barstool Sports' party at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana on Friday. Couple: Megan Fox delighted fans when she made a surprise appearance on stage alongside her boyfriend Machine Gun Kelly during the Indy 500 weekend In a clip from the event, the musician could be seen puffing on a cigarette before he handed it to Megan and began to perform his song I Think I'm Okay. A source told E! News: 'She came out after everyone was chanting 'Megan' for some time. Then she did stay on the stage in the background for the whole song.' The publication also reports that the couple were later spotted cuddling backstage following Kelly's show. Megan looked incredible for her appearance on stage, donning a black crop top with a scooped neckline that highlighted her incredible physique. Gig: The actress, 35, was greeted with cheers from the audience as Kelly, 31, brought her on at Barstool Sports' party at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana on Friday The Transformers star also donned a pair of blue jeans while she added height to her frame with black heels. It comes after Megan and MGK were not afraid to pack on the PDA and at both the iHeartRadio Awards and the Billboard Awards they canoodled for the public. Their whirlwind relationship began while filming Randall Emmett's thriller Midnight In The Switchgrass with Bruce Willis, Emile Hirsch and Lukas Haas in Puerto Rico. During an interview on Lala Kent's podcast Give Them LalaWith Randall, Megan said she 'knew right away that he was what I call a twin flame.' A source told E! News: 'She came out after everyone was chanting 'Megan' for some time. Then she did stay on the stage in the background for the whole song' Loved-up: The publication also reports that the couple were later spotted cuddling backstage following Kelly's show Looking good: The Transformers star also donned a pair of blue jeans while she added height to her frame with black heels She added: 'Instead of a soul mate, a twin flame is actually where a soul has ascended into a high enough level that it can be split into two different bodies at the same time. 'So we're actually two halves of the same soul, I think.' Kelly revealed that he wears a vial of her blood on a necklace so that he wouldn't miss her when she went out of the country for a film role. She may have split from American actor Zac Efron in April, but Vanessa Valladares appears to be taking the break-up in her stride. The former waitress-turned-model turned heads in a whimsical white midriff and wide-leg pants, as she posed for photos at Australian Fashion Week on Monday. Twirling for the camera ahead of the Alice McCall runway show in Sydney, the 25-year-old teased her toned abs in the ensemble and shot a sultry gaze at the camera. Showing him what he's missing! Zac Efron's model ex-girlfriend Vanessa Valladares (pictured) teased her toned abs while posing for photos at Australian Fashion Week in Sydney on Monday Vanessa's midriff featured polka dot detail and a Peter Pan collar, while the trousers offered a glimpse of her trim pins with a subtle thigh split. She boosted her height slightly with black patent heeled sandals, and kept her jewellery to a bare minimum, opting for just delicate gold sleeper earrings. Her cropped wavy brunette locks framed her face, and her skin was glowing with not a blemish in sight. A natural: The 25-year-old former waitress-turned-model looked like a natural as she worked her angles Details: Vanessa's white midriff top featured a polka dot print and a Peter Pan collar. She teamed the look with black patent heeled sandals Sultry: The beauty shot a sultry gaze for the camera while the cameramen snapped away Effortless: Vanessa's cropped wavy brunette locks framed her face, and her makeup was pared-back Vanessa's makeup consisted of defined brows, lashings of mascara, a touch of blush on her cheeks and a natural lip. She appeared in good spirits at Fashion Week after flying into Sydney from Byron Bay on Sunday. Vanessa happily engaged in conversation with other event-goers and was pictured smiling on numerous occasions as she waited for the Alice McCall show to start. Makeup: Vanessa's makeup palette included defined brows, lashings of mascara, a touch of blush on her cheeks and a natural lip Beaming: The Byron Bay local, who reportedly split from Zac earlier this year, flashed a smile Minimal bling: She opted for minimal jewellery, opting for just delicate gold sleeper earrings According to various reports, Zac, 33, was introduced to Vanessa by her boss at Byron Bay's General Store cafe in June last year, and the pair hit it off straight away. Two months later, in August, Daily Mail Australia revealed Zac had cancelled his scheduled return flight to Los Angeles because he 'didn't really want to go back'. Within weeks, the genetically blessed couple had moved in together in Byron Bay. Mingling: While waiting for the Alice McCall runway show, Vanessa happily chatted with other event-goers Coordinating style: Vanessa carried her essential items in a chic beige shoulder bag Reports: According to various reports, Zac, 33, was introduced to Vanessa by her boss at Byron Bay's General Store cafe in June last year, and the pair hit it off straight away Staying put: Two months later, in August, Daily Mail Australia revealed Zac had cancelled his scheduled return flight to Los Angeles because he 'didn't really want to go back' Zac confirmed their relationship in September when they were spotted holding hands in public. Vanessa would accompany her famous boyfriend as he travelled around Australia for various work projects from late 2020 to early 2021. But it was confirmed in April they had called it quits, with Kyle Sandilands announcing on his KIIS FM radio show: 'I can confirm [the break-up], after speaking with him yesterday.' Housing together: Within weeks, the genetically blessed couple had moved in together in Byron Bay Making it official: Zac confirmed their relationship in September when they were spotted holding hands in public Travel: Vanessa would accompany her famous boyfriend as he travelled around Australia for various work projects from late 2020 to early 2021 Kyle also confirmed Zac had been dating Vanessa for much longer than reported. Speculation recently surfaced that the former couple knew each other three years before their 'official' first meeting at Byron Bay's General Store cafe last June. Kyle, 49 - who is good friends with Zac - revealed on live radio that it wasn't just a rumour. The radio host confirmed on The Kyle and Jackie O show: 'They've been together for a lot longer than people realise.' 'I don't know where they met, but it wasn't recent. It's been going for a little while, but I don't know exactly how long' he added. Over: But it was confirmed in April they had called it quits, with Kyle Sandilands announcing on his KIIS FM radio show: 'I can confirm [the break-up], after speaking with him yesterday' First meeting: Speculation recently surfaced that the former couple knew each other three years before their 'official' first meeting at Byron Bay's General Store cafe last June Alison Hammond has revealed she is 'so worried' about getting the coronavirus vaccine due to links to blood clots. The TV presenter, 46, discussed her fears about getting vaccinated on Monday's episode of This Morning and said she was even more worried about possible side effects her son Aiden, 15, could have when he is called for the jab. Two vaccines, one manufactured by Oxford-AstraZeneca and the other by Johnson & Johnson, have been linked to rare clotting disorders, particularly among women under the age of 50. Fears: Alison Hammond revealed on This Morning on Monday she is 'so worried' about getting the coronavirus vaccine due to rare links to blood clots AstraZeneca's has been linked to 309 clots and 56 deaths in the UK out of 33million shots. The J&J single-dose vaccine has been linked to 28 cases in the US out of more than 10.4million shots. Speaking to Professor Tim Spector from King's College London, Alison said: 'I'm so worried about the vaccine because I don't want to get a blood clot, I'm really enjoying this job. 'Because I'm worried about myself, I'm even more worried about my son. I don't want him to get ill from the vaccine if he wasn't going to get ill anyway.' Family: The TV presenter, 46, discussed her fears about getting vaccinated on Monday's episode of This Morning and said she was even more worried about possible side effects her son Aiden, 15, (pictured) could have when he is called for the jab However, Professor Spector, (right) reassured Alison that chances of a blood clot from the vaccine are low and you are more likely to get sick for several months from catching long Covid Honest: Speaking to Professor Tim Spector from King's College London, Alison said: 'I'm so worried about the vaccine because I don't want to get a blood clot, I'm really enjoying this job' However, Professor Spector reassured Alison that chances of a blood clot from the vaccine are low and you are more likely to get sick for several months from catching long Covid. What is the risk of getting blood clot after AstraZeneca's jab? British health chiefs last month recommended all under-40s are offered an alternative to AstraZeneca's vaccine because of blood clot fears. More than 330 cases of a rare clotting disorder have been spotted among 24.2million recipients of the jab or around one in every 75,000 people. Fifty-eight patients have died. But statisticians analysed the numbers and found rates were slightly higher among younger adults, with females appearing to be at most risk, too. Cambridge academics estimated around 1.9 in every 100,000 twenty-somethings given AstraZeneca's jab would suffer serious blood clots alongside abnormally low platelet levels (thrombocytopenia) the specific disorder linked to the jab. For thirty-somethings the figure was 1.5. They compared that against the average number of Covid intensive care admissions that would be prevented by giving that cohort the jab. And they then analysed the risk/benefit ratio in different scenarios, based entirely on how widespread the disease was at the time. For example, only 0.2 ICU admissions would be prevented for every 100,000 twenty-somethings given the jab at prevalence levels seen in April (fewer than 30,000 infections per week). For adults in their thirties, the figure was around 0.8. It showed, however, the benefits of giving AstraZeneca's vaccine to 40-49 year olds outweighed the potential risk (1.7 prevented ICU admissions per 100,000 people compared to 1.2 blood clots). But the decision to recommend under-40s are offered Pfizer or Moderna's jab instead was basically only taken because the outbreak was squashed to extremely low levels, as well as the fact younger people are known to face tiny odds of falling seriously ill with coronavirus. For older adults, who the disease poses a much greater threat to, the benefits of vaccination are clear, regulators insist. Jabs have already saved around 13,000 lives in England, top scientists believe. However, because there were so few blood clots, it made it impossible for No10's vaccine advisory panel to give an exact age cut-off. Instead, they were only able to analyse figures by decade. The first clots to alarm people were ones appearing in veins near the brains of younger adults in a condition called CSVT (cerebral sinus venous thrombosis). Since that, however, people have developed clots in other parts of their bodies and they are usually linked to low numbers of platelets, which is unusual because platelets are usually used by the immune system to build the clots. In most cases people recover fully and the blockages are generally easy to treat if spotted early, but they can trigger strokes or heart or lung problems if unnoticed. Symptoms depend entirely on where the clot is, with brain blockages causing excruitiating headaches. Clots in major arteries in the abdomen can cause persistent stomach pain, and ones in the leg can cause swelling of the limbs. Some countries have decided to stop using the jab altogether, with Denmark and Norway opting against rolling it out. Other nations have restricted it to certain age groups. But AstraZeneca's jab isn't the only one thought to cause blood clots. Johnson & Johnson's single-dose vaccine, which has yet to be approved in the UK, has been linked to 28 cases in the US out of more than 10.4million shots. Researchers in Germany believe the problem lies in the adenovirus vector a common cold virus used so both vaccines can enter the body. Academics investigating the issue say the complication is 'completely absent' in mRNA vaccines like Pfizer's and Moderna's because they have a different delivery mechanism. Experts at Goethe-University of Frankfurt and Ulm University, in Helmholtz, say the AstraZeneca vaccine enters the nucleus of the cell a blob of DNA in the middle. For comparison, the Pfizer jab enters the fluid around it that acts as a protein factory. Bits of coronavirus proteins that get inside the nucleus can break up and the unusual fragments then get expelled out into the bloodstream, where they can trigger clotting in a tiny number of people, scientists claim. Advertisement He said: 'Your risk if you got Covid is very much more than having a blood clot which is around one in 300,000, it's extremely low. 'You're much more likely to get long Covid and be sick for several months. For kids, we're not seeing problems with the vaccine in those countries that are doing it so far. 'We've got to make this balance between wanting to get schools back to normal. It's never going to be 100pc safe.' In Europe, some countries have stopped using AstraZeneca's jab completely, while others, including Britain, recommend that younger women get a different vaccine. It comes after data showed a growing number of people are suffering from blood clotting disorders after their second dose of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine, when scientists originally noticed most cases were linked to the first. The UK's medical regulator found 15 cases in people given their booster dose by May 12, up from six at the start of the month. So far more than 9million Britons have been given two doses of AstraZeneca's jab, meaning the extremely rare clots are occurring in around one in 600,000 people. Scientists told MailOnline it was 'disappointing' the extremely rare complication was becoming more frequent in double-jabbed patients. The clots are happening alongside abnormally low platelet levels, a condition known as thrombocytopenia. But the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said symptoms were 'milder' and less frequent than after the first dose. As of May 12, the MHRA had spotted 294 cases of the clots in Britons given an initial injection, affecting about one in 80,000. The conditions were found to be occurring more frequently in young people, which has led to the British jab being restricted for use in under-40s. Speaking to The Mirror in January 2018, Alison - who found fame after appearing on Big Brother - admitted she chooses her TV appearances wisely for the sake of her child. The doting mum said at the time: 'I have a 12-year-old son at school, and he's at a very impressionable age. For his sake, I don't think it's fair for me to go on Big Brother, because I'd probably trip myself up now. 'I'm older and wiser now, I was 27 when I went in there and don't take no flack no more. I know he wouldn't want me to do it.' She added: 'There aren't any reality shows I'm doing. I'm concentrating on This Morning and being a parent. Trying to find that balance is hard, sometimes I don't get it completely right. It's just trying to get that balance.' Alison's concerns come a few days after an award-winning BBC radio presenter died in hospital after suffering blood clots after she received the AstraZeneca vaccine. Lisa Shaw, who worked for BBC Newcastle, developed 'severe' headaches a week after having the jab and fell seriously ill a few days later, relatives said in a statement. Ms Shaw, 44, died at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, having been treated in intensive care for blood clots and bleeding. A fact-of-death certificate lists the vaccine as one of the possible factors, but document does not determine a cause of death. It is expected that will only be released following an inquest into her death. The presenter was not known to have any underlying health problems and her death came as a devastating shock to family and colleagues. More than 330 cases of a rare clotting disorder have been spotted among 24.2million recipients of the jab or around one in every 75,000 people. Fifty-eight patients have died. The clots which can occur in the brain are happening alongside abnormally low platelet levels, known as thrombocytopenia. Last month, health chiefs said all under-40s should be offered an alternative to AstraZeneca's vaccine because of blood clot fears. Statisticians analysed the numbers and found rates were slightly higher among younger adults, with females appearing to be at most risk, too. People under 40 in the UK are being offered an alternative to the AstraZeneca vaccine following reports of extremely rare blood clots on the brain coupled with low blood platelet count. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had said the benefits of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine continue to outweigh risks for most people. It has not proven the vaccine causes the clots but has said the link is getting firmer. Since Shaw's death was announced on air on Sunday, tributes from colleagues and listeners have poured in. Family: The star previously revealed that Aiden encouraged her to take on her new role presenting This Morning, which she now does every Friday alongside host Dermot O'Leary Tragic loss: Alison's concerns come a few days after Lisa Shaw - an award-winning BBC radio presenter - died in hospital after suffering blood clots after she received the AstraZeneca vaccine In a statement released by the BBC, the mother-of-one's family said: 'Lisa developed severe headaches a week after receiving her AstraZeneca vaccine and fell seriously ill a few days later. 'She was treated by the Royal Victoria Infirmary's intensive care team for blood clots and bleeding in her head. 'Tragically, she passed away, surrounded by her family, on Friday afternoon. 'We are devastated and there is a Lisa-shaped hole in our lives that can never be filled. 'We will love and miss her always. Data: The University of Cambridge's Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication published the above data, saying the main potential harm thought to be associated with the vaccine is a specific kind of blood clot 'It's been a huge comfort to see how loved she was by everyone whose lives she touched, and we ask for privacy at this time to allow us to grieve as a family.' An MHRA spokesperson said: 'We are saddened to hear about the death of Lisa Shaw and our thoughts are with her family. 'As with any serious suspected adverse reaction, reports with a fatal outcome are fully evaluated by the MHRA, including an assessment of post-mortem details if available. 'Our detailed and rigorous review into reports of blood clots occurring together with thrombocytopenia is ongoing.' It said the number of cases remained 'extremely low'. Shaw previously worked in commercial radio and won a Sony Gold Award in 2012 for the breakfast show she hosted on Real Radio with co-host Gary Philipson. Rik Martin, acting executive editor at BBC Radio Newcastle, said: 'Everyone at the station is devastated and thinking about Lisa's lovely family. 'She was a trusted colleague, a brilliant presenter, a wonderful friend, and a loving wife and mum. 'She loved being on the radio and was loved by our audiences. 'We've lost someone special who meant a great deal to a great many people.' Chris Burns, head of BBC Local Radio, added: 'Lisa was a talented presenter who had already achieved a lot and would have achieved much more.' A spokesperson for the hospital said: 'We were incredibly saddened by the news of Lisa's death but it would be inappropriate for us to discuss individual details about a patient. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the family at this difficult time.' The risk of a clot linked to the jab is thought to be about one in 100,000 for people in their 40s. The risk of death in any age due to such a clot has been put at about one in a million. Scientists have previously said that in some people, the immune system sees the vaccine as a threat and over-produces antibodies to fight it. These lead to the formation of clumps in the blood, which can become deadly if the clots move towards vital organs and cut off supply. The complication spooked some countries into turning their backs on AstraZenecas jab, with Denmark opting against using it in April. Norway and Austria later followed suit. Other countries have restricted its use to older adults. UK health chiefs say under-40s should be offered other jabs because the risk of blood clots doesnt clearly outweigh the benefits. The decision was made because cases of Covid were plummeting, meaning the risk of catching the disease was tiny. On top of that, younger adults face little risk of falling seriously ill with Covid. But researchers at Goethe-University of Frankfurt and Ulm University, in Helmholtz, say the problem lies in the adenovirus vector a common cold virus used so both vaccines can enter the body. They say the vaccines can be adapted to prevent the rare side effect from occurring, reported the Financial Times. Coronation Street's Tina O'Brien admitted she drank more during lockdown while she was adjusting to homeschooling her children. The actress, 37, is mother to Scarlett, 12, who she shares with former Corrie star Ryan Thomas, and son Beau, six, who she shares with husband Adam Crofts. Tina, best known for playing Sarah Platt, revealed she felt like 'a failure' when she first started homeschooling as all the schools in England shut down due to the pandemic. 'I felt like a failure': Tina O'Brien admitted she drank more during lockdown while she was adjusting to homeschooling her children She told The Mirror: 'I loved the time with the kids and actually in the end I quite liked the homeschooling. Ill be honest, in the beginning I didnt, I really struggled.' She explained that she initially found homeschooling hard because she was trying to be the best mother she could be but admitted it isn't possible to do everything. 'You dont know how to be a teacher, thats why teachers are so incredible at what they do,' she said. 'But basically when I started giving myself a bit of an easier time and started drinking more, it was great, I loved it!' Struggle: Tina, best known for playing Sarah Platt, revealed she felt like 'a failure' when she first started homeschooling (pictured with daughter Scarlett) Tina also revealed the family had their holiday to Croatia cancelled last year and they are hoping to return when it is possible to do so. Earlier this month Tina revealed that Coronation Street filming had been temporarily forced to pause because of heavy rainfall. She took to her Instagram Stories where she uploaded a video of the downpour on set, where she was scheduled to record scenes with co-star Jack P Shepherd, 33. 'Trying to film with the bros @jackpshepherd88 but too much rain,' wrote Tina across the video clip, as her footage scanned across her view of The Cobbles. Adjusting: The mother-of-two (pictured with her children and husband Adam Crofts) said she started 'giving myself a bit of an easier time and started drinking more' and it helped her deal with the change to homeschooling Previous relationship: Tina is mother to Scarlett, 12, who she shares with former Corrie star Ryan Thomas (pictured together in 2009), and son Beau, six, who she shares with husband Adam Crofts Seeing that Jack was also on his mobile phone while taking a break amid the downpour, Tina shouted over: 'Are you filming me, filming you, filming me, filming you?' And Jack had indeed been filming the rainfall, sharing his own video his Instagram Stories, before the rain became seriously heavy. The temporary pause in filming comes after Coronation Street's iconic pub The Rovers Return is set to be sold in the coming weeks after years of being owned by Johnny Connor. In upcoming scenes Johnny decides to put the tavern on the market after deciding to split from wife Jenny, having learned she cheated on him while he was in prison for armed robbery. Not happening! Tina took to her Instagram Stories earlier this month and uploaded a video of the downpour on set, where she was set to record scenes with Jack P Shepherd, 33 Rain rain go away! 'Trying to film with the bros @jackpshepherd88 but too much rain,' wrote Tina across the video clip, as her footage scanned across her view of The Cobbles Johnny will join a long list of Corrie veterans who have held the keys to the Rovers Return over the years, including Stella Price, Liz McDonald and Bet Lynch In scenes set to this week, Johnny (played by Richard Hawley) surprises Jenny (Sally Ann Matthews) by returning home after his early prison release, but is devastated to learn she slept with B&B guest Ronnie Bailey. Realising there's no saving their marriage, a furious Johnny decides to put the pub on the market, with images obtained by The Sun showing the pub with a For Sale sign from estate agent Purple Bricks. Same! Jack had also been filming the rainfall, sharing his own video his Instagram Stories, before the rain became seriously heavy Annie Walker (played by Doris Speed) was the first and spent 50 years working behind the bar, but retired from those duties when she departed the cobbles in 1983. Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear) became Corrie's most iconic landlady thanks to her iconic look of leopard print and high heels, but decided to sell up in 1995. Natalie Barnes (Denise Welch) earned the Rovers' keys in 1998, but faced backlash from locals when she tried to sell the pub to The Boozy Chain, before the tavern was saved by businessmen Duggie Ferguson, Fred Elliott and Mike Baldwin. Ahead of Johnny buying the pub in 2017 with wife Jenny, Liz McDonald (Beverley Callard) had been the pub's landlady alongside her son Steve (Simon Gregson), but decided to sell up after his turbulent split from wife Michelle. Boxer Nicola Adams and her girlfriend Ella Baig were spotted on the London Underground over the bank holiday weekend, looking particularly cosy. The couple were notably not wearing face masks, despite it being a requirement on the tube amid the COVID-19 pandemic. They have since stated they are both exempt on medical grounds - yet Nicola, 38, was clutching a mask in her hand. Ella, 23, did not appear to have a mask with her. Journey: Boxer Nicola Adams and her girlfriend Ella Baig were spotted on the London Underground over the bank holiday weekend, looking particularly cosy The pair have also been seen in the past wearing masks in public spaces, for example when they were snapped at Heathrow airport heading to the Maldives amid London's Tier 4 lockdown at Christmastime. The girls documented their flight to the tropics on the plane, both keeping their masks on for the journey. However, MailOnline understands that they wear masks 'as much as they can', but due to medical exemptions can't keep them on all the time, as clarified by their representatives. Nicola has previously discussed her problems with severe asthma which were first diagnosed when she was a child. The Transport For London website states: 'Face coverings must be worn for the full duration of journeys on the public transport network, including inside stations, and in taxis and private hire vehicles. Rules: It is a requirement on the tube amid the COVID-19 pandemic to wear face coverings, unless you are exempt - Nicola and Ella are both exempt Jetting off: They were seen arriving at Heathrow Airport in December to escape the UK's Tier 4 lockdown for a 'work trip' to The Maldives - both with face coverings on 'If you do not, you could be denied travel, or receive a minimum 200 fine which will double each time you are caught not wearing a face covering, up to 6,400. 'Exemptions apply for age, health and disability reasons.' Those exempt are advised to wear a face covering exemption badge or to carry a face covering exemption card. The couple's outing comes after they attended Denise Van Outen's cabaret show at Proud Embankment over the weekend. Exemptions: MailOnline understands that they wear masks 'as much as they can', but due to medical exemptions can't keep them on all the time, as clarified by their representatives [pictured in December] Ella suffered an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction however, as they arrived at the riverside venue on Friday night. She left little to the imagination in a skimpy lime green mini dress with a very daring thigh-high split - which showed off more than she likely intended. The model appeared too keen to display her figure in the eye-catching strapless number, which she wore with a pair of matching elbow-length gloves. Uh oh! Ella suffered an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction however, as they arrived at the riverside venue on Friday night Careful! Ella left little to the imagination in a skimpy lime green mini dress with a very daring thigh-high split - which showed off more than she likely intended Despite Ella's dress fail, the couple appeared in great spirits as they chatted and laughed throughout the show. They made the most of the night by sipping on cocktails as they watched Dancing On Ice star Denise, 47, perform. Also in attendance at the event was Strictly star Karen Hauer, who appeared to be thoroughly enjoying herself as she sat with a group of friends. She dropped a whopping 30kg in 2020 after proclaiming it her 'year of health'. And on Monday, Rebel Wilson took to Instagram to share a gorgeous snap of herself on Palm Beach, after jetting into Florida. The actress, 41, oozed confidence in a chic black swimsuit as she proudly showed off her slimmed-down frame while soaking up the rays. Hot girl summer! On Monday, Rebel Wilson, 41, took to Instagram to share a snap of herself on Palm Beach, Florida as she proudly showed off her slimmed-down frame in a chic swimsuit Rebel looked sensational in her beachwear, which comprised a black swimsuit with cap-sleeves and a zip-down front. She teamed this with a blue wide-brimmed hat, oversized sunglasses and a black pair of Givenchy slides. Rebel captioned her sunny snap: 'Palm Beach-ing I think I wanna move to Florida now.' It comes after Rebel decided to stage an impromptu fashion shoot onboard a private jet on Sunday where her progress, quite simply, floored her 9.8million followers. Changes: Over the past 18 months, Rebel has completely overhauled her lifestyle and lost more than 30kg in the process. Pictured left in 2018, and right in 2021 So chic: It comes after Rebel worked all her best angles in Saint Laurent and Balenciaga on Sunday as she showed off her slimmed-down frame onboard a private jet Stylish: Rebel looked every inch the Parisienne goddess as she posed in a black Saint Laurent faux fur trim top valued a $1523 The Pitch Perfect star sent jaws dropping as she worked all her best angles in designer threads by Saint Laurent and Balenciaga. In the first image, Rebel looks every inch the Parisienne goddess as she posed in a black Saint Laurent faux fur trim top valued a $1523. The blonde bombshell ensured all eyes were on her stunning legs in a pair of logo-plaque knee-length shorts [$923], also from the classic French luxury house. Rebel kept her personal items close in a chic, monogrammed Saint Laurent chain bag [$2100] for the flight. Pose: The blonde bombshell ensured all eyes were on her stunning legs in a pair of logo-plaque knee-length shorts [$923], also from the classic French luxury brand In vogue: Rebel kept her personal items close in a chic, monogrammed Saint Laurent chain bag [$2100] for the flight Waiter! When it came to footwear, The Hustle stunner opted for an always-fashionable pair of gladiator sandals by Spanish design house Balenciaga When it came to footwear, The Hustle stunner opted for an always-fashionable pair of gladiator sandals by Spanish design house Balenciaga. Earlier in the day Rebel looked worlds away from her former self as she posed on the stairs of the aircraft in a loose-fitting T-shirt and trousers. She was joined for the photo by her friend, producer Sam Kennedy, who dressed down in an unbuttoned blue shirt and white shorts. 'Florida bound! Memorial Day Long Weekend,' Rebel captioned the post. Trim and terrific! Rebel Wilson, 41, looked almost unrecognisable after shedding 30kg as she boarded a private jet bound for Florida on Sunday After touching down in Florida, Rebel returned to Instagram to share a video from inside the jet. 'Florida, we're here!' she declared as she filmed herself and several other passengers inside the aircraft. Last week, Rebel once again looked slimmer than ever while wearing a cheerleader uniform on the set of the high school comedy Senior Year. 'Florida, we're here!' After touching down in Florida, Rebel returned to Instagram to share a video from inside the jet Fans would have noticed the difference in her toned figure as she shared a Boomerang clip to Instagram of herself with co-star Chris Parnell. The comedian wore a green, white and gold cheerleader costume, which had long sleeves and a short pleated skirt. She also wore white sneakers, and swept her blonde hair into a high ponytail secured with an oversized green bow. On set fun: Rebel looked slimmer than ever while wearing a cheerleader uniform on the set of high school comedy Senior Year. Pictured with co-star Chris Parnell Both actors held the 'spirit fingers' cheerleader pose, made famous in the 2001 film Bring It On, with one arm up and the other swinging back and forth. 'Living my BRING IT ON fantasy in #SeniorYear,' Rebel wrote in the caption, as she revealed the film's March 2022 release date. According to Deadline, the movie follows a cheerleader (played by Rebel) who wakes after a 20-year coma and returns to high school. Bring it on! The comedian showed off her trim figure in a green, white and gold cheerleader costume, which had long sleeves and a short pleated skirt Rebel's character attempts to regain her status and claim the prom-queen crown which had eluded her two decades earlier. After a year-long break from acting, Rebel is one of the busiest actresses in Hollywood again with a number of projects in the works. She recently wrapped filming The Almond and the Seahorse in the UK with French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg. Phoebe Dynevor looked in great spirits on Bank Holiday Monday in London, as she stepped out in the sunshine with a friend. The actress - who rose to fame as Daphne in Netflix's raunchy period drama Bridgerton - put on a summery display in a sweeping burgundy dress, which she paired with a light taupe jacket. Phoebe, 26, toted a cream handbag and wore white trainers, wearing a pair of shades on her head. Sunny side up: Phoebe Dynevor looked in great spirits on Bank Holiday Monday in London, as she stepped out in the sunshine with a friend The star wore her auburn locks pushed sleekly back from her features, which were made-up with a soft wash of cosmetics. She accesorised with gold jewelry and clutched a black face mask amid the ongoing health crisis. Phoebe took to Instagram over the weekend to post her current choice of reading material, as well as a behind-the-scenes snap from the project she filmed between seasons one and two of Bridgerton, The Colour Room. Snapped in a bath, she was dressed as iconic ceramicist Clarice Cliff, whom she portrays in the Sky original. Casual look: The actress - who rose to fame as Daphne in Netflix 's raunchy period drama Bridgerton - put on a summery display in a sweeping burgundy dress, which she paired with a light taupe jacket Out and about: Phoebe, 26, toted a cream handbag and white trainers, wearing a pair of shades on her head The candid shot saw her with a curly cropped hair 'do, sat in the vintage bathtub fully clothed. Her two books were Simone de Beauvoir's The Second Sex, about the treatment of women throughout history, and The Cost Of Living - a memoir and feminist manifesto by Deborah Levy. Last week, Phoebe was seen for the first time on the set of Bridgerton season two, filming at Ranger's House in Greenwich, London. The actress looked the picture of elegance in a regal ivory gown and matching elbow-length gloves as she climbed down the steps of the Bridgerton household and into a waiting carriage. In stark contrast, Phoebe was spotted in a dowdy baggy cardigan filming with co-stars Matthew Goode and Darci Shaw for The Colour Room over Easter. Behind-the-scenes: She shared a snap from the project she filmed between seasons one and two of Bridgerton, The Colour Room. Snapped in a bath, she was dressed as iconic ceramicist Clarice Cliff, whom she portrays in the Sky original Literature: Phoebe took to Instagram over the weekend to post her current choice of reading material Her character, Clarice, is a vivacious young factory worker in the industrial British midlands of the 1920s. Phoebe was back at Shane Cooper's clinic last week, for her bespoke skin treatment. The actress had the Aqua Tight Facial which includes an Oxygenation Mask, using three individual handpieces and a combination of acids. She snapped a selfie during the treatment, thanking Shane 'for the glow'. Phoebe is an advocate for the brand and uses Shane's skincare range at home to keep herself camera-ready. Phoebe's outing comes after she broke her silence on Bridgerton co-star Rege-Jean Page's exit from their hit Netflix series, admitting it 'put a spanner in the works'. The actress - who became a household name over Christmas as Daphne Bridgerton on Netflix [L] - transforms into iconic ceramicist Clarice Cliff in the stunning image from her next project, The Colour Room [R] Meanwhile: Phoebe indulged in a luxurious face mask that she shared with fans on Instagram Stories The pair became household names after landing the roles, but Page, 31, broke hearts across the globe when he confirmed last month that he would not be reprising his role as the Duke of Hastings. Speaking about her co-star's decision on Variety's Awards Circuit podcast this week, Phoebe reflected on learning the news with just a 'bit of a heads up.' 'I knew but yeah, I guess it is a spanner,' she noted. 'But again, the show centers around the Bridgertons and there are eight books.' Star: Phoebe rose to fame in Netflix's raunchy period drama Bridgerton, and she recently said co-star Rege-Jean Page's exit from the series 'put a spanner in the works' (pictured in show) The Younger star explained: 'I think maybe the fans of the books were more aware of that happening than the fans of the show. I think fans of the books know that every episode is about a different sibling.' Despite her pal's departure, she reminded listeners that the second installment of the popular period drama, based on Julia Quinn's novels and produced by Shonda Rhimes, was always set to star 'the lovely Johnny, who plays Anthony.' 'Were very much passing the baton,' the beauty said. 'Obviously its sad to to see [Page] go but Im looking forward to being reunited with my with my family.' Meanwhile, in her personal life, Phoebe is dating comedian Pete Davidson who reportedly fell for her after watching her raunchy love scenes on Bridgerton. The Saturday Night Live star, 27, is said to have told pals he thought the actress was 'hot as hell' over her character Daphne's intimate scenes with The Duke of Hastings. A Los Angeles based friend of Pete's told The Mirror: 'Pete just loved Bridgerton and just got totally tripped out by Phoebe. 'She was totally his type - fresh faced, youthful, innocent looking beauty. 'We all joked with him about the naughty scenes, and of course he confessed he found them hot. He binge watched the show and felt it was his destiny to meet her.' MailOnline contacted a representative for Pete Davidson for comment at the time. She was forced to postpone her June dream wedding in Mallorca due to the coronavirus pandemic. But Jess Wright and her fiance William Lee-Kemp, 38, decided not to let the delay get them down as they jetted abroad for a sun-soaked break. Taking to Instagram on Monday, the former TOWIE star, 35, shared a wedding themed post and joked it wasn't 'the trip we were supposed to be going on'. Loved-up: Jessica Wright, 35, and fiance William Lee-Kemp, 38, jetted abroad on what would have been their wedding break, after the couple were forced to postpone their date In keeping with the bridal theme, Jess wore an all-white outfit as she wrapped her arm around her fiance in the sweet post. The white crop top highlighted the television personality's toned stomach while a matching sarong showcased Jess' toned legs. Businessman William was also dressed in white and appeared in high spirits despite their wedding setback. Jess captioned the post: 'Its not quite the trip we were supposed to be going on but couldnt be happier right now.' Keeping positive: Taking to Instagram on Monday, the former TOWIE star, 35, shared a wedding themed post and joked it wasn't 'the trip we were supposed to be going on' Bride-to-be: Jess captioned the post: ' Its not quite the trip we were supposed to be going on but couldnt be happier right now Last month Jess revealed she will now walk down the aisle with William in September. In an interview with Hello! Magazine she admitted she and William had considered scrapping plans to exchange nuptials in Mallorca and have a smaller ceremony in England, as pandemic regulations affect travel. Noting that she's far from alone in her dilemma, Jessica told the publication: 'I really feel for all brides out there. Every day, we have been back and forth trying to decide what to do I've been driving myself insane with it.' She continued: 'We always wanted to get wed abroad with all our family and friends, but we have explored every option, different dates, different places. A few weeks ago I said to Will: "Shall we have a smaller wedding here in England?" Will you marry me? Businessman William popped the question on the snow capped peaks of Courchevel, France, in February 2020 after 13 months of dating Of their autumn wedding, she explained: 'It gives more time for things to get back to normal and for all our nearest and dearest to be there. I have definitely relaxed since setting the new date. I can't wait to wear my dress I just want to do it now.' William popped the question on the snow capped peaks of Courchevel, France, in February 2020 after 13 months of dating. Jess previously told Hello! that her sister-in-law Michelle Keegan, 33, the actress wife of her brother Mark, would be one of bridal party, as well as her sister Natalya. TV personality Mark, 34, who tied the knot with Michelle in 2015, has been drafted in to serve as the master of ceremonies on his sister's big day. While Jessica and Will have holidayed in many exotic locations, Jess explained that Majorca has been like a second home to her as her family have a house on the island. Jess said: 'I've been dreaming of a fairytale wedding since I was little, when I used to dress up in my mum's net curtains. 'Now I can't wait for the moment I've been imagining for so long, walking up the aisle in a fabulous dress to marry Will.' Market Reports on Saudi Arabia Provides the Trending Market Research Report on Online Retail in United Arab Emirates (UAE) - Market Summary, Competitive Analysis and Forecast to 2025under Saudi Arabia Consumer Goods Market category. The Online Retail in United Arab Emirates (UAE) is projected to exhibit highest growth rate over report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, and competitive intelligence and industry reports. Summary Online Retail in United Arab Emirates Industry profile provides top-line qualitative and quantitative summary information including: market size (value 2016-20, and forecast to 2025). The profile also contains descriptions of the leading players including key financial metrics and analysis of competitive pressures within the market. Key Highlights - The Online Retail market includes all sales within each category listed below, provided they take place over the internet, where the payment does not occur in-store on a later occasion. Data is included irrespective of whether the vendor is a pure-play internet company or the online offering of a bricks and mortar retailer. The market is valued at retail selling price (RSP) with any currency conversions calculated using constant 2020 annual average exchange rates. - The Emirati online retail sector had total revenues of $2.7bn in 2020, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.9% between 2016 and 2020. - The Electrical & Electronics Retail segment was the sector's most lucrative in 2020, with total revenues of $1.7bn, equivalent to 63.1% of the sector's overall value. - The value of the Emirati online retail sector grew by 42.6% in 2020. Request a free sample copy of United Arab Emirates (UAE) Online Retail Market Report @ http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com/marketreports/sample/reports/2517546 Scope - Save time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the size, growth, major segments, and leading players in the online retail market in United Arab Emirates - Use the Five Forces analysis to determine the competitive intensity and therefore attractiveness of the online retail market in United Arab Emirates - Leading company profiles reveal details of key online retail market players global operations and financial performance - Add weight to presentations and pitches by understanding the future growth prospects of the United Arab Emirates online retail market with five year forecasts Reasons to Buy - What was the size of the United Arab Emirates online retail market by value in 2020? - What will be the size of the United Arab Emirates online retail market in 2025? - What factors are affecting the strength of competition in the United Arab Emirates online retail market? - How has the market performed over the last five years? - What are the main segments that make up United Arab Emirates's online retail market? Browse our full report with Table of Contents: http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com/marketreports/online-retail-in-united-arab-emirates-uae-market-summary-competitive-analysis-and-forecast-to-2025/2517546 About Us Market Reports on Saudi Arabia provides you with an in-depth industry reports focusing on various economic, political and operational risk environment, complemented by detailed sector analysis. We have an exhaustive coverage on variety of industries ranging from energy and chemicals to transportation, communications, constructions and mining to Food and Beverage and education. Our collection includes over 3000 up-to-date reports all researched, analysed and published by top-notch international research firms. Contact us at: Market Reports On Saudi Arabia Tel: +91 22 27810772 / 27810773 Email: info@marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com Website: http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn Maeva and Paris are on the warpath in Monday night's edition of Made In Chelsea. The duo seek out new addition to the cast Eloise, after learning she referred to them as 'b*****s' on her date with Julius. And the ladies are having none of it as they storm in to a room to have it out with Eloise, while her pal Ruby watches on in stunned silence. Confrontation: Maeva and Paris are on the warpath in Monday night's edition of Made In Chelsea 'I'm fuming, seriously!' Maeva tells Paris as they head toward Eloise - who descended on the house last week. Maeva and Paris had 'warned' her about Miles, and his flighty amorous ways, with Eloise presuming their intentions were far from honest. As Maeva and Paris storm up to her, Eloise says hi, to which Maeve seethes: 'Look at that, she said hi, what is that? Pretending again to be nice!' Flummoxed, Eloise asks what Meava means by this, to which she elaborates: 'When you call people b*****s you don't have to make the effort and be nice with them.' Gossip girls: The duo seek out new addition to the cast Eloise, after learning she referred to them as 'b*****s' on her date with Julius On the warpath: And the ladies are having none of it as they storm in to a room to have it out with Eloise 'I won't then!' comes Eloise's curt reply. Paris then says: 'I'm confused - I said to you, make your own mind up and don't choose what we say and make that your entire opinion - where in that situation did I become a b***h?' To which Eloise retorts: 'I wasn't calling each one of you a b***h. I didn't say bunch of bi*****s - it just felt quite b****y!' 'We were trying to be nice,' Paris goes on. 'Clearly it was an empowering conversation of us looking out for you and you thought there were b****y vibes...' Flummoxed: Ruby watches on in stunned silence Savage: 'We all live together, so we have to say something if you call us that!' Maeva replies. 'I think you're vulgar and tacky...' At which point Eloise tries to cut in, to which Paris bites back: 'Can I finish my sentence sweetheart?' Meava goes for it again, saying: 'At the end of the day we don't know you - you just arrived two days ago. But you cant call people b*****s!' 'Why do you care?' Eloise inquires. 'We all live together, so we have to say something if you call us that!' Maeva replies. 'I think you're vulgar and tacky...' Eloise chimes in with: 'You think I'm tacky? Look at your f**king shoulder pads Maeva!' Eloise chimes in with: 'You think I'm tacky? Look at your f**king shoulder pads Maeva!' Eloise changes tact, saying: 'You seem personal and aggressive towards me Maeva! Is it because I am living in the same house as Miles, are there still feelings there?' The fiery Frenchwoman replies: 'You don't know what is fashion!' To which Eloise changes tact, saying: 'You seem personal and aggressive towards me Maeva! Is it because I am living in the same house as Miles, are there still feelings there?' Enraged, Meava replies: 'You know nothing about my situation with Miles. I am about to buy a house with James! So please shut up! 'You're not the star of the movie here so please stop it!' As the girls turn to leave, Eloise gets the last word, saying: 'Neither are you b***h!' Watch the full aftermath of this on E4 from 9PM on Monday night. Gabby Allen set pulses racing on an already hot Bank Holiday Monday as she headed out to make the most of the sun. The 28-year-old former Love Island star put on a leggy display as she headed out for a walk in ripped denim hot pants. Gabby teamed the look with a textured cream crop top which showcased her ample cleavage thanks to its plunging neckline. Sizzling: Gabby Allen set temperatures soaring on Bank Holiday Monday as she headed out in a crop top and tiny denim shorts On her feet, Gabby also wore a fashionable pair of white sandal boots which featured a chunky black sole on the bottom. With temperatures having risen for the Bank Holiday, Gabby made sure she carried a water bottle with her to stay hydrated while out and about. She accessorised her ensemble by adding a large pair of sunglasses and a pair of large gold hoop earrings. Keeping cool: The 28-year-old former Love Island star was spotted having dressed to beat the heat on Monday as she went out for a walk Gabby also wore her hair up in a messy bun and had a smart watch strapped to her left-hand wrist. A white handbag could also be seen hanging from Gabby's right shoulder, and a denim jacket was looped through the bag's strap. The television personality is back in the UK after she jetted to Dubai in the first week of December last year and stated she was staying 'for the foreseeable' future for work reasons. Over the past few months, Gabby has been sharing stunning sun-soaked snaps on social media from her getaway. While more recently, she's also shared a plethora of envy-inducing bikini snaps from their holiday in the Maldives. In January, the fitness fanatic had to defend her reasons for being in Dubai, telling her fans that her boyfriend Brandon Myers' business is based in the city and that she would also be working there for the 'foreseeable.' The TV personality wrote: 'Hey guys, just to let you know, we made the decision to fly out to Dubai as my boyfriends business is based here & luckily allows us to travel. Stylish: Gabby looked stunning as she wore a textured cream crop top, coupled with a tiny pair of Daisy Duke shorts 'We were both fit to travel with negative PCR tests [for COVID-19]. I wanted to come on here and acknowledge this to my followers as it was a difficult decision for me. 'I really hope you can understand that it was an opportunity I had to take. 'I will be working over here for the foreseeable until we decide what to do next. Sending so much love to you all. Gabby x.' Their trip came at a time when reality stars and influencers were greatly criticised by the public after jetting off to sunnier climes such as Dubai while the country was in another lockdown. Sarah Michelle Gellar looks as youthful as she did when she left the Buffy The Vampire Slayer TV series in 2003. On Sunday the blonde beauty, 44, looked sensational with a fresh face and her hair down with a Vaxxed trucker cap from The House Of Woo on as she went grocery shopping in Los Angeles. This comes after the wife of Freddie Prinze Jr wore the exact same blue and yellow cap when made up in a filtered at-home selfie. Forever young! Sarah Michelle Gellar looks as youthful as she left the Buffy The Vampire Slayer TV series in 2003. On Sunday the blonde beauty, 44, looked sensational with a fresh face and her hair down with a Vaxxed trucker cap on While on her grocery run, the TV star also had on a Selectively Social sweatshirt from Lulusimonstudio, ribbed leggings, and Nike Air trainers. A cell phone case was worn cross body style and she added sunglasses during her afternoon outing. In the at-home selfie, she was flawless with not a wrinkle on her face. In her caption she joked: 'Does this vaccine make me look younger?!? (Cause dont the young people wear their hat like that?). She might be looking so good because she has just returned from 'me time' during a vacation by the beach at the Esperanza, Auberge Resorts Collection in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico to ring in her 44th birthday. She was seen in a black swimsuit by a swimming pool at the resort with several girlfriend including The Hills veteran Lauren Conrad. Loading up her SUV: The TV star also had on a Selectively Social sweatshirt from Lulusimonstudio, ribbed leggings, and Nike Air trainers. A cell phone case was worn cross body style and she added sunglasses during her afternoon outing Some help: Gellar was also seen with a woman as she put celery in her trunk; off to the side was a blue cart 'Well I finally did it.... on a plane, no kids heading off for some me time. And not the 2020 kind where I lock myself in my closet to do zooms in a modicum of peace,' she wrote to her followers. This comes after she said she thinks she is too 'long in the tooth' for a Buffy The Vampire Slayer reboot. The actress has given her opinion on a potential remake of the hugely popular TV series but has ruled herself out of returning in the titular role of Buffy Summers because the premise of the show requires a teenager playing that character. She sure loves this hat: Last week Sara had on the same blue Vaxxed hat on Instagram Appearing on the 'On with Mario Lopez' podcast, she said: '[I'm a] wee bit, how do they say, long in the tooth for that. 'What worked for 'Buffy' was that the monsters represented, they were a metaphor for the horrors of adolescence. 'I do think that story lends itself, it'd be interesting to see how a 'chosen one' would deal with that. I don't think it's me, I don't think I should be the one doing it. A Memorial Day note: The acting vet shared a photo of the American flag with a caption that read, 'A hero is someone that understands the responsibility that comes with freedom' 'And I'm also way too tired and cranky to put in that work again. But I love that the story holds up, and that people are calling for that.' Sarah's comments come after she recently spoke out in support of her former co-star Charisma Carpenter who has made allegations against show creator Joss Whedon that he created a toxic work environment on set. Sarah - who played Buffy from 1997 to 2003 - posted on Instagram: 'While I am proud to have my name associated with Buffy Summers, I don't want to be forever associated with the name Joss Whedon. Sun worshipper: This comes after the wife of Freddie Prinze Jr enjoying a beach vacation in Mexico with her gal pals which included The Hills vet Lauren Conrad 'I am more focused on raising my family and surviving a pandemic currently, so I will not be making any further statements at this time. But I stand with all survivors of abuse and am proud of them for speaking out.' In her original social media post, Charisma accused Whedon of 'abusing his power' as the show's creator and executive producer. She wrote: 'Joss Whedon abused his power on numerous occasions while working together on the sets of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Angel. While he found his misconduct amusing, it only served to intensify my performance anxiety, disempower me, and alienate me from my peers. The disturbing incidents triggered a chronic physical condition from which I still suffer. It is with a beating, heavy heart that I say I coped in isolation and, at times, destructively. (sic)' Speaking up: Sarah - who played Buffy from 1997 to 2003 - posted on Instagram: 'While I am proud to have my name associated with Buffy Summers, I don't want to be forever associated with the name Joss Whedon. Seen with her cast members Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas Brendon, Anthony Stewart Head and Charisma Carpenter Charisma also alleged Whedon called her 'fat' when she was pregnant, and claimed he would often try to 'pit' cast members against each other to 'compete and vie for his attention and approval'. And at the start of the year Gellar has urged people to 'be brave' and 'live' to honour Buffy Summers' 40th birthday. She paid tribute to her alter ego on the character's special day, which was celebrated on the show. She wrote on Instagram: 'I just realized that today is Buffy Summers 40 bday. I can't even believe that. 'She taught that the the hardest thing in the world is to live in it. So in her honor let's all be brave. Live. 'This may not be the way we are used to living our lives, but let's find the beauty. So we can all live long and safely. #happybirthdaybuffy #buffy40.' The lovebirds: Gellar with Freddie Prinze Jr at the UK premiere of Hairspray at Odeon West End in London in 2007 Pauly Shore shared he would like to make a sequel to the hit 1992 comedy film Encino Man in a post on his Instagram account. The 53-year-old comedian shared a throwback photo with his costar Brendan Fraser during a break from shooting the hit film. The Bio-Dome actor also wrote a message to let his followers know about his both he and Fraser wanted to make a sequel. Good times: Pauly Shore shared a throwback photo to his Instagram account on Saturday and expressed that he and Brendan Fraser were 'ready' to film a sequel to Encino Man Shore began by writing: '29 years ago this weekend, Encino Man hit the big screen.' The Jury Duty star then described what was going on in the photo and wished his 52-year-old costar well. 'Heres a personal pic with myself and Brendan Fraser on the set. Peace Brendan, miss you. Hope you're doing great in this crazy world,' he wrote. The performer then commented that his friend's hand sign denoted that a sequel to the 1992 feature was being planned. Speaking his mind: The actor also wrote a message in the post's caption where he asked fans of the feature to tell Disney about their desire for a follow-up to the 1992 comedy film Shore expressed, 'And you guys know what Brendans peace sign means right? Encino Man 2 doooooooddzzzz.' The comedian directed his fans to let Disney know about their hope for a second film and concluded by referencing an iconic line from the movie. 'Hit up Disney+ and tell them myself, Brendan, and Sean are ready for the sequel. Have a great Memorial Day weekend everybody. We'll be wiezen the juice,' he wrote. Talented cast: Near the end of his message, Shore wrote that 'myself, Brendan, and Sean are ready for the sequel'; he is seen with Fraser on the set of the feature Shore has campaigned for the production of a second film in the past, and he shared another throwback photo from the film's set to his Instagram account last November. In the post's caption, he asked: 'How many people want to see Encino Man 2?!' Encino Man followed a caveman, nicknamed Link, who is found by a pair of teenagers in 1990s-era California. They help Link adapt to modern life by styling his hair and giving him new clothes. Storyline: Encino Man followed a caveman who attempts to adjust to modern life after he is found by two Californian teenagers Serious desire: In November, Shore shared a throwback photo to his Instagram account and again expressed that he was ready to work on a sequel Other performers who were featured in the film were Sean Astin, Megan Ward and Michael DeLuise. The feature was critically panned but was a financial success, bringing in just over $40 million on a budget of $7 million. Fraser reprised his role as Link in a brief cameo in Shore's 1993 film Son In Law and made a second appearance as a character with the same name in the 1994 feature In The Army Now. She suffered horrific burns in a freak fire accident while she was filming a YouTube video with her boyfriend AJ Pritchard, in January. And on Monday, Abbie Quinnen, 24, took to Instagram where she admitted to her followers that she struggles to find clothes to wear because she has to wear a compression vest '23 hours a day' and keep her scars out of the sun. Alongside photographs of herself in a pretty pink dress, the dancer made the candid admission, revealing that she is always left 'panicking' before she leaves home. Candid: On Monday, Abbie Quinnen, 24, took to Instagram where she admitted that she struggles to find clothes to wear because she has to wear a compression vest '23 hours a day' Abbie wore the pink and orange pattern mini dress with a contrast belt tie from Zara, which she paired with coral open toe heels, to attend one of her first public events since being burned. Alongside the snaps, she penned: 'There's only a few things I feel comfortable wearing at the moment and this dress is one of them. 'Definitely am finding it hard to find what to wear at the moment as I have to wear a compression vest 23 hours a day under my clothes and keep my scars out of the sun. 'I'm always panicking about what I'm going to wear before I leave the house so it's always so lovely to get so many compliments from you all about what I'm wearing! Thank you.' Honest! Alongside photographs of herself in a pretty pink dress, the dancer made the candid admission, revealing that she is always left 'panicking' before she leaves home Abbie needed three skin grafts after a YouTube video she was filming with her boyfriend, 26, went horribly wrong and saw a wine bottle explode and set fire to her hair and clothing on January 19. She detailed the fears she felt for her life during the accident while her beau AJ spoke about how 'seconds felt like a lifetime' when he attempted to quell the flames consuming her during an appearance on Lorraine. Abbie explained that while recovering, she was afraid that she would 'never look the same' and could not return to her dream job of performing. Recovery: Abbie needed three skin grafts after a YouTube video she was filming with AJ went horribly wrong and saw a wine bottle explode and set fire to her hair and clothing, in January And despite the ordeal, Abbie remained positive about her recovery as she said: 'I'm doing OK a lot better than I was, that's for sure. My face has almost healed now.' She continued: 'I think when it happened I was just thinking the worst, my face is never going to look the same again, I'm always going to have scars on my body... 'I'm never going to be able to dance or perform and do what I love doing, so I instantly thought that was it for me. Luckily my face is healing really well.' Cuba Gooding Jr. was spotted enjoying the night life in Los Angeles after facing allegations of groping and rape. The actor, 53, was pictured at the Santa Monica hotspot Shorebar on Sunday, where he was seen nursing a drink and hanging out with fellow bar hoppers. Cuba wore a white T-shirt, beaded necklace, and sweater tied around his jeans as he hung out inside the bar without a mask on. Living it up: Cuba Gooding Jr. was spotted enjoying the night life in Los Angeles amid allegations of groping and rape levelled against him At one point, the actor was pictured outside chatting with one woman. However his attention drifted towards the distance as he gazed straight ahead with a pen in hand. Cuba is currently facing six groping charges over three alleged incidents which occurred in 2018 and 2019. One of the women alleged Gooding pinched her buttocks. Another said he squeezed her breast at the Magic Hour rooftop in New York City in June last year. Kicking back: The actor, 53, was pictured at the Santa Monica hotspot Shorebar, where he was seen nursing a drink and hanging out with fellow bar hoppers The actor has denied all of the allegations. Over the summer, a new accuser claimed in a lawsuit that the actor raped her in a hotel room in 2013 after undressing himself and forcing himself on her while Mumford and Sons played in the background. The accuser, who filed the lawsuit under the name Jane Doe, claimed she met the actor in a lounge bar and that they went back to The Mercer Hotel where he asked her to go to his room with him for him to change his clothes. Accusations: Gooding, pictured in court in 2019, is facing six groping charges over three alleged incidents which occurred in 2018 and 2019 The woman claims in her lawsuit, which Page Six first reported, he then raped her vaginally and anally. Gooding Jr.'s attorney Mark Heller denied her claims, saying: 'The allegations are completely false. No complaint was lodged seven years ago.' The allegations are the most serious of any that have been formally leveled against the actor. It's unclear if the woman took her allegations to the police either in 2013 or in the years since. Survivor stars Sierra Dawn and Joe Anglim have announced the arrival of their daughter Della Dawn Anglim. The couple posted an ultra-precious snap of their slumbering newborn, swaddled in a white floral print blanket. 'Della Dawn Anglim, our world is forever changed. Thanks for choosing us baby girl. #WelcomeToTheTribe #Noble,' Sierra, 34, captioned the snap. 'Thanks for choosing us': Survivor stars Sierra Dawn and Joe Anglim have announced the arrival of their daughter Della Dawn Anglim The photo captured their daughter laying on a plush blanket with a wooden sign bearing her name placed gently on her body. Della slept soundly with a bow wrapped around her head and a matching blanket swaddling her. Proud papa Joe posted the exact same photo to his account, along with the caption: 'There are no words..We are forever grateful for you and can't wait for the most exciting and best season yet. Ms. Della Dawn Anglim..#GodisSoGreat #noble #daughter #precious #light.' Sierra and Joe announced they were expecting their first child together back on Thanksgiving Day with sweet snaps of themselves cuddling in the kitchen. Baby makes three! Della is the couple's first child together 'The turkey ain't the only thing in the oven this year,' Sierra captioned her shots as the couple cuddled in the kitchen. 'It's sparkling apple cider from here on out!' Sierra and Joe wore matching aprons as they toasted in champagne flutes, with photos captured by Kierstin Jones. The couple met in 2014 while competing on the same tribe during season 30 of Survivor: Worlds Apart. Survivors ready! The couple met in 2014 while competing on the same tribe during season 30 of Survivor: Worlds Apart Sierra famously voted Joe off the island on Day 24, while she almost made it to the final before being sent home on Day 37. 'Thankyou for your strong spirit. Great full for all of you. For your kindness,' Joe wrote in a lengthy post announcing her pregnancy. 'Thankyou for choosing us. 'Thankyou for leading us down the path. Thank you for listening to our prayers. Thankyou for the blessing of life we are able create together. Thank you. Hard work: Sierra famously voted Joe off the island on Day 24, while she almost made it to the final before being sent home on Day 37 'Thank you for each and every blessing seen and unseen, big and small. Thankyou for the gift of life and all the possibilities that we have that we never would have thought possible. 'Beyond thankful for all of the blessings, love light and and great full hearts. Thankful for the incredible support of our families friends and tribe. Which is about to get a little bit bigger. Love you all with all our hearts.' The couple became engaged three years after meeting on the popular CBS reality show and were married in November 2019. They're making the most of Memorial Day weekend. And Travis Barker cooled off while drifting down a massive water slide with Kourtney Kardashian's son in Palm Springs on Monday. The 45-year-old musician showed off his arsenal of artwork while going shirtless for some fun in the sun with his girlfriend's kids. Good times: Travis Barker cooled off while drifting down a massive water slide with Kourtney Kardashian's son in Palm Springs on Monday The Blink 182 drummer climbed up the inflatable slide and raced against Reign, six, as Kourtney's eight-year-old daughter, Penelope, watched from the side. He appeared to go for an impromptu dip in the water as he splashed around wearing a pair of black jeans and boxer briefs. Travis simply captioned the Instagram post to his four million followers with a smiling emoji wearing sunglasses. Earlier in the long holiday weekend, Kourtney rolled around in the grass, likely right outside of Kris Jenner's palatial Palm Springs compound. Sun's out: The 45-year-old musician showed off his arsenal of artwork while going shirtless for some fun in the sun with his girlfriend's kids Racing down: The Blink 182 drummer climbed up the inflatable slide and raced against Reign, six, as Kourtney's eight-year-old daughter, Penelope, watched from the side No trunks, no problem: He appeared to go for an impromptu dip in the water as he splashed around wearing a pair of black jeans and boxer briefs She took to Instagram later in the evening to boast about Barker's impressive braiding skills post shower. A source close to the brunette beauty who has Mason, 11, Penelope, eight, and Reign, six, with Scott Disick told E! News: 'Kourtney has become very close with Travis' kids recently, especially when it comes to Alabama.' Travis, 45, has Alabama and Landon, 17, with his ex-wife Shanna Moakler, and also co-parents her daughter Atiana, 21, from a previous relationship with Oscar De La Hoya. And even though he's only been dating Kourtney for a few months, she's already proven to be a 'huge support system' for the teenage duo. Dizzy: Earlier in the long holiday weekend, Kourtney rolled around in the grass, likely right outside of Kris Jenner's palatial Palm Springs compound Helping hand: She took to Instagram later in the evening to boast about Barker's impressive braiding skills post shower By contrast, Alabama recently discussed her relationship with Shanna in a candid post on social media, suggesting she's not an 'amazing mom.' She wrote on Instagram: 'My mom has never completely been in my life. Can you guys stop painting her out to be an amazing mom?' But Shanna, 46, subsequently hit back at the suggestion, insisting she's doing her best for her children amid difficult circumstances. She said in a statement to People: 'Co-parenting is hard, but I have always and will continue to prioritize my children's happiness and well-being.' Shanna later went to TMZ where she thanked the Kardashians for 'destroying my family, twice' after she claimed Kim slept with Travis. A radio insider has revealed the highest-paid presenters in the business - including some surprising big earners. Jake Challenor, the publisher of industry bible Radio Today, said KIIS 106.5 duo Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson are paid $5million a year each to host Sydney's top-rated FM breakfast show. While they easily have the most generous pay packet, there are plenty of other anchors who command seven-figure salaries. No. 1: KIIS 106.5 duo Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson are paid $5million a year each to host Sydney's top-rated FM breakfast show - making them the industry's biggest earners Mr Challenor said the likes of Marty Sheargold, Amanda Keller, Dave Hughes, Ray Hadley, Neil Mitchell, Fifi Box, Sam Pang and Mick Molloy all earn 'in the millions'. These hosts' co-anchors would presumably be commanding similar salaries. On the 'lower end' of the big-earners scale, you have the likes of Will McMahon and Woody Whitelaw, who host KIIS FM's syndicated drive show Will and Woody, and Ashley Bradnam, Kip Wightman and David 'Luttsy' Lutteral, who front Nova 106.9's breakfast show Ash, Kip and Luttsy in Brisbane. These second-tier presenters are 'averaging three or four hundred [thousand dollars] a year', said Mr Challenor. Radio's biggest earners According to Radio Today publisher Jake Challenor $5million a year each Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson (KIIS 106.5) 'In the millions' Marty Sheargold (Triple M Melbourne) Amanda Keller (WSFM) Dave Hughes (2Day FM) Ray Hadley (2GB) Neil Mitchell (3AW) Fifi Box (101.9 The Fox) Sam Pang (Nova 100) Mick Molloy (Triple M) 'Up to $400,000 a year' Will McMahon and Woody Whitelaw (KIIS FM) Ashley Bradnam, Kip Wightman and David 'Luttsy' Lutteral (Nova 106.9) Advertisement Not bad! Triple M presenter Marty Sheargold also earns 'in the millions', according to Radio Today publisher Jake Challenor Laughing all the way to the bank: Mick Molloy is also said to command a seven-figure salary Kyle and Jackie O are contracted to the Australian Radio Network (ARN) until 2022. While rumours have swirled about their salaries, the pair have refused to confirm exactly how much they are paid to host KIIS 106.5's flagship breakfast program. When they last re-signed with ARN, some reports estimated their five-year contracts were worth $80million in total - a figure Kyle didn't rush to correct. Despite being extremely well-paid, Kyle has expressed dissatisfaction with KIIS FM management in recent months. He has complained on air about censorship and also accused executives of cutting segments from The Kyle and Jackie O Show podcast without consulting him. Big money: Mr Challenor said WSFM's Amanda Keller (right) was in the millionaire's club - which presumably means her co-host Brendan 'Jonesy' Jones (left) is too Lime had a really tough time in Hartford, and coming in, we were confident that we could do a better job, and that confidence is founded in the engineering of our scooter, White said. What people come to realize is that our scooter, because of its design, you cannot cannibalize it. You cant steal parts from it and put it on another scooter. All of our parts from the brakes to the battery are made to order just for that scooter. We tend to see a decline as people realize that that theres very little value to it outside the context of its lawful operation. Support local journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription and are still unable to access our content, please link your digital account to your print subscription If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. As the number of COVID-19 cases in India soar, so does information (and misinformation) about the treatment protocols, adding to the strain, confusion and feeling of helplessness among patients and caregivers. There are many contradicting views. Questions have been raised about combinations of repurposed and experimental medicines recommended by healthcare practitioners as a one-size-fits-all solution. Researchers, medical practitioners, and citizens have been debating if the over-prescription of drugs is responsible for the rising health complications among COVID-19 patients. Top-notch doctors address the many issues people are raising on the pros and cons of various treatment options. Remdesivir to use or not? Drugs such as Chloroquine, Remdesivir, Favipiravir and other experimental drugs, which were used to treat COVID-19 around the globe, have subsequently been found to be of no or limited use. Though the WHO has issued a conditional recommendation against the use of Remdesivir in COVID-19 patients, the ICMR in its recent guidelines continues to endorse it as an off label drug' in the management of moderate to severe cases of COVID-19 infection within 10 days of onset of symptoms, points out Dr. Viswesvaran Balasubramanian, Senior Interventional Pulmonologist and Sleep Medicine Specialist, Yashoda Hospitals. Dr Nageshwar Reddy presents a different view. There is a lot of confusion about the use of Remedesivir, and world scientific literature is divided. The Ministry of Health in India did not recommend it. But unfortunately, if you look at the studies, there are a lot of flaws, he says. According to Dr. Reddy, in all the studies, Remdesivir was used at a later stage of disease, when the patient was already very sick, either on ventilation or oxygen. He however cites a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, saying that it shows that if Remdesivir is used within seven days of the start of the disease, then it is effective in reducing mortality. Steroids When and how much? Unmerited use of steroids is leading to uncontrolled sugar levels in patients, and it is also thought to facilitate the rapid growth of the deadly Black Fungus. Though many patients may require steroids, the dosage and duration of use need reconsideration, especially among diabetic patients, experts feel. Dr Reddy feels a common major mistake is taking steroids from the first day of diagnosis itself. Steroids could worsen the infection if given too early, he warns. The virus starts multiplying in the body, but the body feels relaxed due to steroids (hampering the ability to fight back), and from the second week, the disease turns serious, patients require ventilator support, and then, even increasing the dose of steroids will not work, he says. An Oxford University study has found that steroids like Dexamethasone, when used in a dose of 6 ml gm in the second week when the cytokine storm occurs can decrease the need for ventilator support and also bring down mortality rates. The trial clearly mentions use of steroids in the second week, and only for those who require oxygen, says Dr Reddy. There are controversies regarding drugs like Tocilizumab and immunosuppressants too, Dr Reddy points out. In his view, Baricitinib a drug usually used in the treatment of arthritis and is now being used increasingly to treat COVID-19 patients, acts like a steroid without the side-effects of steroids. He adds that earlier, it was extremely expensive, costing around `3,000 per tablet, but now Indian companies are making it for around `30 to `40 a tablet. Evolving Remedies A look at COVID-19 treatment modules Its been over a year since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, but the world is still trying to find ways to conquer it. The second wave has been more destructive than the first one. Many lives have been lost. The disease is new, the virus itself seems to be evolving, and so is the knowledge about it, and consequently, the best ways of handling it can only be arrived at by a process of trial, and possibly, error. Researchers, medical practitioners, and citizens have been debating if the over-prescription of drugs is responsible for the rising health complications among COVID-19 patients. An overall look at the situation indicates that doctors are prescribing up to a dozen medicines for even mild cases of COVID-19; antibiotics like azithromycin and doxycycline are being commonly advised despite significant clinical trials having found no evidence of their efficacy; the World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned that there is no evidence to suggest that the antiviral drug Remdesivir is useful in treating hospitalised COVID-19 patients; Plasma therapy has been dropped as a treatment for the disease after a Government panel found it ineffective; and drugs that have proven benefits in managing the infection are often prescribed at inappropriate clinical stages of the disease for instance, steroids like dexamethasone and methylprednisolone benefit only patients with moderate to severe COVID-19, but many doctors prescribe them for patients with mild infections. Monoclonal antibody therapy Proven efficacy Many things are clear now. The therapy scientifically proven to be most effective is the use of monoclonal antibodies within seven days of disease onset. This is used only for mild and moderate cases of COVID-19, and prevents these cases from turning severe. It is found effective even on patients above 65 years and those who have diabetes, or kidney and cardiac problems, says Dr D Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman of the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology and AIG Hospitals. 2-DG A GAME-CHANGER? Lately, 2-DG, a drug developed by Indias Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has been in the news as a possible saviour in COVID-19 infections. Talking about the process of endorsement, Dr G. Satheesh Reddy, DRDO, chief, says Phase-2 trials were done on 110 patients from May 2020 to Oct 2020. Safety was very well established and verified by an independent DSM Board. Efficacy was found to be very highly significant in Phase-2. Based on these highly encouraging results, DCGI gave permission for Phase-3 trial. Phase-3 trials were done on 220 patients from November 2020 to May 2021 in 27 hospitals throughout the country. DCGI has given Emergency Use Authorisation for its use as adjunct therapy in moderate to severe covid patients. Sudhir Chandna, Chief Scientist INMAS and Additional Director DRDO, explains that the primary efficacy endpoint analysis has shown that 42% of patients treated with 2-DG plus standard care were able to be free of oxygen dependence, as compared to 31% patients in standard care. He adds that patients with controlled diabetes were among those enrolled in the trial of the prescribed dose (45 mg/kg twice a day), and the drug was found to be safe in these patients too. Uncontrolled diabetics were excluded from the trials, and the drug is not recommended for them, he cautions. Giving his views on this treatment option, Dr Nageshwar Reddy says, 2-DG is potentially a good drug in patients who require oxygen. It is an old drug used for cancer patients, where the cells divide rapidly. PLASMA NO LONGER AN OPTION Talking of Plasma therapy, Dr. Viswesvaran Balasubramanian notes that despite clinical trials suggesting no significant benefit in this intervention, it was initially recommended by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) for off label' use. However, this was changed following evidence generated from international trials, including some information indicating the possibility that plasma played a role in facilitating new mutations of the virus. TIMING AND TREATMENT Meanwhile, Dr Shankara Chetty, a General Practitioner in South Africa who qualified as a doctor in India, believes that COVID-19 is allergic in nature. He has advised his community to record the first day of the appearance of symptoms like fever, headache, cold, dry cough, body aches etc., and note the eighth day, when the symptoms should get better. However, instead of getting better, if the patient develops breathlessness on that day, he/she should be immediately treated with steroids and anti-histamines under the guidance of a qualified doctor, according to Dr. Chetty. He claims that none of the 4,000 COVID patients he has treated using this guideline needed hospitalisation, oxygen support or a ventilator. Meanwhile, based on evolving data from clinical trials conducted both in India and abroad and with the introduction of new regimen like the antibody cocktail for mild to moderate COVID-19 pneumonia in India, we may expect to see further changes in the treatment modules. Fungal infection A fallout of treatment? Incidence of Mucormycosis or Black Fungus has been linked to the treatment protocol adopted for the disease. Dr Kasu Prasad Reddy, Chief Surgeon, Founder & Mentor MaxiVision Eye Hospitals Group, explains that Black Fungus is said to be secondary to severe reduction of immunity. The general feeling is that the reason for this declared epidemic of Black Fungus could be the use of industrial oxygen, unsterile humidification while giving oxygen, bad diabetes control, normal and abnormal usage of steroids, and last but not the least, self-prescription by patients and unqualified persons. He adds that in reality it is very difficult to pinpoint one or the other reason as the exact cause of Black Fungus infection. South Africa: Tourism Equity Fund: Minister calls for patience Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has called for patience from those seeking answers regarding their Tourism Equity Fund (TEF) applications. We further call on those who are working with these entrepreneurs to be patient and understand that the matter is in the hands of the courts, Kubayi-Ngubane said. This comes after a court challenge brought by AfriForum and Solidarity resulted in the Fund being halted. The two organisations launched an urgent application to the court after the Minister of Tourism announced that the departments fund for the recovery of the tourism sector is only accessible to people who qualify for Black Economic Empowerment (BEE). Addressing the media in Pretoria, Kubayi-Ngubane extended gratitude to those who have expressed words of solidarity with the department as it fights for what is a just and fair cause. As our legal team prepares to present and represent us in yet another court battle on transformation of the tourism sector, we do so with our unwavering resolve that the fund is a necessary intervention, within the constitutional values and imperatives for the creation of an equal society and addressing the imbalances of our countrys past. It is our view that these perpetual obstructions to the transformation of the sector come at a high price for those who suffered as a result of serious marginalisation and oppression which dominated our unfortunate and sad history, Kubayi-Ngubane said. On 26 January 2021, the department launched the Tourism Equity Fund (TEF) as part of the implementation of the commitments made during State of the Nation Address 2020 and the Department of Tourisms efforts to transform the sector. The TEF was developed taking from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition model of black-industrialists to fast-track transformation in response to 2015 and 2018 State of Transformation reports. Kubayi-Ngubane said sector players had during consultation on the state of transformation urged the department to take efforts and implement programmes that will transform the sector after concerns of the snail pace transformation. Last month, the High Court in Pretoria interdicted the processing of applications for the TEF. The court felt it necessary to temporarily halt the processing of TEF until such time that the main application in the matter can be heard. Kubayi-Ngubane said her departments mission is to get the matter through the court processes. She is hopeful that given the nature of the urgency of the matter, Solidarity and AfriForum will agree to an expedited mechanism so as not to disadvantage the thousands of people who have applied since the launch. We must express our appreciation on the eagerness shown by many applicants who have responded to the call to apply. Prior to the interdict, Sefa reported that the value of the rands of total applications that qualify for final adjudication stood at about R5.6 billion. We must re-emphasise that our efforts to transform the sector remains steadfast. We have instructed our legal representatives to proceed with our defence to stop attempts by AfriForum and Solidarity to oppose and render the criteria unconstitutional, the Minister said. Kubayi-Ngubane said the delays in implementing the TEF will negatively affect black businesses which have already negotiated deals and applied for the funding through Sefa. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-05-31. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. When will U.S. ever stop telling lies and fooling people? 09:00, May 31, 2021 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily What is American democracy? With artful and delicate choice of words, some U.S. officials advertise it as a "beacon of democracy". For the Americans, however, American democracy is nothing but a promise that U.S. politicians make playfully and have no intention of keeping. Photo taken on March 6, 2021 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Ting Shen) The democracy slogans of some U.S. politicians seem pale and weak when it comes to advancing economy and safeguarding people's wellbeing, especially in economic crises, natural disasters, epidemics and other major challenges. Moreover, such slogans have increasingly revealed their true colors which are all about lies. American democracy is hollow inside and haunted by deep-rooted problems, no matter how it is bragged about by certain U.S. politicians, which is conspicuous for both Americans and those outside of the country. More and more observers consider the U.S. a unique example of sick democratic systems in today's world. American political scientist Nathan Gardels has a profound perception of the institutional predicament of American democracy. He said there is scarce political capacity for the kind of long-term thinking, planning, and continuity of governance in American democracy, during which democracy actually yields to a short-term tyranny of breaking news and "one man, one vote" sovereign will, thus leading to the prevailing of populism. In the book How Democracies Die, U.S. political scientists Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt points out the original sin of American democracy of racial inequality. Norms of toleration and restraint serve as the soft guardrails of American democracy, and yet they depend on the suppressing and neglecting of African Americans under official approval, says the book. In the 2020 elections, people's confidence in the American democratic system fell to its lowest point in 20 years, said the Wall Street Journal, citing data from a poll. Although certain American politicians admit that the U.S. society has its problems, they seem unable to keep their promise to make a difference for the Americans. Of course, they are doing something to cover up their incompetence. However, no matter how they put on the shows, they are pretending after all. They may fool people once, but never all the time. When economy encountered depression and COVID-19 broke out, "tipping points" are found almost everywhere in the polarized and divided American society. The Black Lives Matter movement hasn't quieted down in America, and yet Stop Asian Hate rallies have spurred another wave across the country. While shooting accidents seem not to end, gun control bills have continuously been shelved. Driven by the out-of-control COVID-19 epidemic at home, the U.S. is seeing worsening human rights crises, widening gap between the rich and poor, and faster social division. Facts have shown that American democracy has already been distorted in its struggles. "We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate. We must act, knowing that our work will be imperfect," said former U.S. President Barack Obama in the inaugural address for his second term of office. Unfortunately, the truth is the political ecology in the U.S. hasn't been changed. Some U.S. politicians still fix their eyes on money politics and have no trouble trampling on the moral red line in political marketing. The political operation systems they want, which disobey fairness and justice, haven't been shaken at all. It should be noted that the worse the American democracy decays in money politics, the more lies would be fabricated by these U.S. politicians to cover up the truth, which will only drive American democracy to collapse even faster. In 1870, Mark Twain told a story about how a decent and loyal man was framed as an infamous perjurer, thief, body-snatcher, alcohol addict, filthy corruptionist, and loathsome embracer by his opponents in a gubernatorial election in his short story Running for Governor. The story, which described American politics as ridiculous and full of rumors, was not entirely made up, but a norm of the American democracy. When thousands of demonstrators violently stormed the U.S. Capitol earlier this year, the deceiving plot by some U.S. politicians was finally laid bare. This is an repercussion for some high-ranking American officials who spread lies, contempt democracy, and incite hatred and division, said German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. It's time that the U.S. politicians stop telling lies and fooling people. It is no use labeling the country "the land of freedom" and a "beacon of democracy". Ultimately, the la-la land they have built to deceive the Americans and the world will collapse. As American scholar Reinhold Niebuhr put it, it is unreasonable for the U.S. to name itself "the mentor of mankind in the journey toward perfection". As the pandemic is still spreading, to give a fair answer to the Americans remains a serious and urgent task for the so-called American democracy. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy.) (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) They gathered later outside a Black church, driving home their anger over a last-minute change to the Texas bill that would have prohibited Sunday voting before 1 p.m., when many Black worshippers go to the polls. Democrats said they did not go into the House vote intending to break quorum, but instead became fed-up after Republicans repeatedly refused to take their questions while racing to pass the bill. Disabled rights forums also urged the government to arrange at least separate centres for vaccination for them as suggested by the Central government. (DC Photo: S. SURENDER REDDY) HYDERABAD: Though Covid vaccination drive has been going on across the state and thousands of beneficiaries are getting inoculated every day, the differently-abled are finding it hard to get the jabs done due to the location of vaccination centres. A 48-year-old differently-abled P Srinivas has been trying to get himself vaccinated for a month, but in vain. Like him, there are hundreds of others waiting to get themselves vaccinated. Speaking to this newspaper, Srinivas, a resident of Addagutta in the city, said, "We are not in a position to reach the vaccination centre early in the morning and stand in queue for hours to get vaccinated as our condition doesn't support us." A month ago, he contacted the helpline number and sought an appointment for vaccination and waited for a call. However, to his surprise he got to know that it was cancelled. And again, he registered himself for vaccination drive and later he was informed that the first dose vaccination had been stopped and the second dose vaccination was going on. He said the government was not even recognising them, but instead was looking down on them. Although the Centre committee suggested against door-to-door vaccination and came up with the idea of a near to home Covid vaccination centre, many differently-abled persons in Telangana demanded vaccination at their doorstep. Disabled rights forums also urged the government to arrange at least separate centres for vaccination for them as suggested by the Central government. The 45-year-old T. Bhujangam, a differently-abled said, "Five days ago, I called the helpline and they informed me that the first dose vaccination was stopped and assured me to inform when the vaccination drive resumed." He opined door-to-door vaccination for differently-abled persons would be helpful and they could avoid waiting in queues for long hours. President of All India Disabled Rights Forum (AIDRF) K Nageshwar Rao told this correspondent, "Usually immunity of disabled is low compared to others. The government on humanitarian grounds should come forward and start a vaccination drive for differently-abled persons like they are doing for super spreaders in the state." Approximately around eight lakhs differently-abled persons are there in Telangana state. Most of them are not in position to take care of themselves. Adding to the woes they are scared of getting contracted with Covid-19 by standing in long queues and are clueless about their future. The AIDRF urged the government to vaccinate them on a priority basis. According to the Central government directions, the strategy of near to home vaccination centres for elderly and differently-abled citizens has been formulated and has been recommended to be adopted. As per this strategy, vaccination drive will be more accessible to elderly and differently abled. Nageshwar Rao said, "The government should financially support the differently-abled persons who are already suffering from Covid-19." Rao demanded that the government give an ex-gratia of `10 lakh to the kin of those who already succumbed to Covid-19. BJP sources said Rajendar first met BJP leader and former chairman of Telangana Legislative Council Swamy Goud and requested the latter for support. (Photo: Facebook @Eatala Rajendar) HYDERABAD: Former minister and Huzurabad MLA Etala Rajendar left for Delhi on Sunday, along with former MP Vivek Venkataswamy and former MLA Enugu Ravinder Reddy. Speculations were thick on social media for the entire week about a likelihood of the sidelined TRS MLA joining the BJP after discussions with top national leaders of the party. The Delhi trip of Rajendar added to this buzz. Rajendar and Vivek Venkatswamy would meet BJP president J.P Nadda and discuss chances of the ousted health minister joining the ruling party at the Centre, some BJP leaders said here this evening. Close associates of state BJP president Bandi Sanjay and Union minister of state for home G. Kishan Reddy said these two leaders would also fly to Delhi on Monday morning to meet Nadda and discuss the Rajendars entry into the party. Rajendar was sacked by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao from his Cabinet in the beginning of May. Two inquiries are going on against him about alleged land grabs. Rajendar subsequently met several Congress and BJP leaders apart from former MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy and Telangana Jana Samiti president Prof. M. Kodandaram in hectic parleys about his future plans. BJP sources said Rajendar first met BJP leader and former chairman of Telangana Legislative Council Swamy Goud and requested the latter for support. Goud arranged a meeting with BJP state president Sanjay and invited him to join hands for a fight against Chandrashekar Rao. As per the BJP sources, Rajendar wants to meet all retired employees who played a key role in the Telangana statehood movement as he prepares to take on Chandrashekar Rao. The BJP is also trying to contact other dissatisfied TRS leaders who were feeling suffocated in the party and this job has been assigned to Rajendar to take matters forward. Once Rajendar joins the BJP, several former MLAs and senior leaders from the TRS might want to follow him. The Cabinet has also decided to give grace period of one hour till 2 pm to enable people to reach homes after relaxation time. (Photo: DC/ Surenderreddy Singireddy) HYDERABAD: The state government has decided to extend the lockdown in Telangana state by 10 more days until June 9 to contain the spread of Coronavirus. The decision comes in the wake of an everyday decrease in the number of Covid-19 cases in the state. However, the relaxation period has been increased to seven hours every day from 6 am to 1 pm. The Cabinet has also decided to give grace period of one hour till 2 pm to enable people to reach homes after relaxation time. The 17-hour lockdown will be enforced from 1 pm to 6 am from May 31 to June 9. It was decided to implement the lockdown strictly from 2 pm to 6 am, the next day. The decision was taken in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao at Pragathi Bhavan on Sunday. The state government had imposed a 20-hour lockdown across the state since May 12 from 10 am to 6 am with a four-hour relaxation from 6 am to 10 am, which ended on May 30. It had initially imposed a night curfew across the state from 8 pm to 7 am from April 20 after Covid second wave led to a steep increase in Covid-19 cases and deaths. It was followed by 20-hour lockdown from May 12 to May 30. The Cabinet felt that night curfew and lockdown restrictions since April 20 had significantly contributed to reduction in Coronavirus positive cases and the state would come out of Covid second wave successfully if lockdown was extended by 10 more days. Accordingly, the Cabinet unanimously resolved to extend lockdown. Alapan Bandyopadhyay got a three-month extension last week from the Narendra Modi government after a request from the Trinamul Congress government for his efficiency in handling the Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo: ANI) Kolkata: Speculation is rife that West Bengal chief secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay may not visit New Delhi on Monday, which is also the date of his retirement, to report to the Centre despite its direction for his deputation as the Mamata Banerjee government has not relieved him yet from his present post in the state. The states top bureaucrat, who got a three-month extension last week from the Narendra Modi government after a request from the Trinamul Congress government for his efficiency in handling the Covid-19 pandemic, has been asked to report at 10 am on Monday at North Block, at the department of personnel and training under the ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions which is headed by the Prime Minister himself. The order was sent under the provisions of Rule 6(1) of the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Rules 1954 on May 28 evening, hours after the 1987 batch IAS officer accompanied the chief minister in skipping the PMs review meeting on Cyclone Yaas at Kalaikunda Air Force Station in West Midnapore. While the Trinamul Congress supremo on Saturday appealed to the PM and Union home minister Amit Shah to withdraw the Centres controversial order after attacking them, the state government has received no further communication from the Centre till the reports last came in on Sunday evening. On the other hand, the state government has also taken a firm stand by not issuing Mr Bandyopadhyay any order for his release, which is essential for all bureaucrats in the all-India service cadres to go for a Central deputation from their places of posting in the state. It maintains that since Mr Bandyopadhyay has not applied for a Central deputation and the Centre had sought neither any concurrence nor any empanelment for his Central deputation, the question of relieving him does not arise, although the Centres stand gets the priority in such a situation, according to sources. On Sunday afternoon, Mr Bandyopadhyay along with his wife, Calcutta University vice-chancellor Sonali Chakravarti Banerjee, visited his office at Nabanna, the state secretariat. He is expected to attend a meeting to be chaired by the CM on Monday to discuss the damage caused in the state due to Cyclone Yaas. The tug of war over the states top bureaucrat has meanwhile turned into a political slugfest between the BJP and the Trinamul Congress. Attacking the CM, state BJP chief and Midnapore MP Dilip Ghosh said: Everyone saw what she did on that day. Accompanied by the state chief secretary, she met the PM and left. Where is the decency in it? What kind of honour is this? She earlier spoke indecently about the PM too. It does not suit her to talk about honour and the Constitution in any way. She wants to play politics only. Serampore TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee hit back at Mr Ghosh. He claimed: The BJP is anti-Bengali. He is a carrier of it. Though he is a Bengali, he has sold himself to the non-Bengali leaders of their party, and fell at their feet for his survival. Etala Rajender met BJP national president JP Nadda on Monday at the latters Delhi residence in the presence of state party affairs in-charge Tarun Chugh, state unit president Bandi Sanjay Kumar and former MP Vivek Venkataswamy, along with former MLA Yenugu Ravinder Reddy. (Photo: DC/ D.Kamraj) HYDERABAD: Former minister Etala Rajender met BJP national president JP Nadda on Monday at the latters Delhi residence in the presence of state party affairs in-charge Tarun Chugh, state unit president Bandi Sanjay Kumar and former MP Vivek Venkataswamy, along with former MLA Yenugu Ravinder Reddy. According to BJP sources, the leaders first met Chugh at his residence. He inquired about Rajendars political history and also asked the reasons behind him being targeted by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. Rajendar is understood to have explained to Chugh why he and his family had been targeted. After the meeting that lasted for half-an-hour, the disgruntled leaders, led by Tarun Chugh and Bandi Sanjay, went to meet Nadda at his residence. Sources said Chugh went inside Naddas chamber and explained about Rajendars political background for 20 minutes and then Nadda called Rajendar and Ravinder Reddy inside. It is also said that Nadda welcomed Rajendar and Ravinder Reddy into the BJP and assured that their seniority would be respected if they joined the party. Nadda inquired about cases against him and harassment by Chandrashekar Rao, sources said, adding that Nadda suggested that Rajendar could fight in the courts for justice and work for the BJP in a dedicated manner so that the party could use his services wherever required. Sources said Nadda had asked Rajendar to resign from his position as member of the Legislative Assembly and join the BJP. Sources in Rajendars camp said the Huzurabad MLA may announce his resignation after reaching Hyderabad and having discussion with his followers. It is expected that Rajendar is likely to resign on June 2 or June 6 from his post of MLA and the TRS. According to the World Health Organisation, there are approximately 120 million smokers in India, and India is the home of 12 per cent of the worlds smokers. (Representational image: PTI) The consumption of tobacco in all its forms cigarettes, cheroots, bidis, gutka and other forms of chewing tobacco is our number one health challenge now. According to the World Health Organisation, there are approximately 120 million smokers in India, and India is the home of 12 per cent of the worlds smokers. More than 10 million die each year due to tobacco in India. According to the same study, 70 per cent of adult males in India smoke. Among adult females, the figure is much lower, at between 13-15 per cent. The total tax revenue derived from cigarettes and tobacco products is about Rs 30,000 crores. According to a study commissioned by the Government of India, the total economic costs attributable to all diseases related to tobacco consumption is over Rs 104,000 crores. In recent years, the cigarette business has been reporting a drop in consumption. But we do not know if there was a corresponding decrease in the incidence of cancer and other smoking induced ailments. The government, presumably under pressure from the rich and powerful cigarette industry, has not yet conducted a detailed study of this and the consequential cost to the economy in spite of a specific request from the revenue department to enable it to evolve a scientific basis for cigarette taxation. Whatever be the drop in stick sales, it is very evident that rupee sales and profits have not shown any decline. Industry bosses can, like the cigarette-smoking Dev Anand in the film Hum Dono did, continue to sing barbadhion ka jashn manata chala gaya, har fikr ko dhuey mey udhatha chala gaya! Objectively speaking, this is not a bad situation at all, and is proof that the government policy, whether deliberate or accidental, is still halfway good. For, as far as this industry goes, a good policy will ensure that the state gets more revenue, while the consumption keeps dropping each year. But this does not necessarily mean any good news on the health front, as dropouts may have switched to bidis? Nevertheless, the decline in consumption, attributed by the industry to higher excise duties in each of the previous few budgets, means the policy is in the right direction and that there is a case for further increasing the tariffs on cigarettes and bidis once again this year. The cigarette industry will, no doubt, argue now that it is not wise to kill the goose that lays the golden egg. In this case it is not a golden egg but a time bomb, as each cigarette smoked now implies a future medical cost. Very recently the US government negotiated a $368 billion damages package from the US cigarette industry to pay for future health costs. As the finance ministers adviser, I had once recommended that the health ministry be asked to similarly estimate future health costs in India. It followed that excise duties should be determined with the idea of recovering these costs now. I also advised that raising excise duties each year is a win-win situation. If consumption drops, it means future savings. It is not that the incidence of smoking is low in India if we take into consideration the widespread bidi habit. NCAER has estimated that 348 million people belong to households with an annual income of over Rs 12,500. Logic suggests that the vast majority of cigarette and bidi smokers must come from this segment. This is, by any standards, a very high and dangerous figure. Another point of concern is that the US congressional investigations have revealed that cigarette companies routinely spiked tobacco with extra nicotine to intensify addiction. It isrumoured that similar practices are still widespread in India. There is, therefore, a case for pegging excise duties with nicotine content as well. One reason suggested for the drop in stick sales in the first half is that smuggled cigarettes ate into the share of locally produced brands. Industry analysts estimate that a third of MNC production are for illegal exports. The port of Antwerp is the hub of the international cigarette smuggling business. Antwerp is to cigarettes what Dubai is to gold! The Indian cigarette industry estimates that smuggled international brand penetration now accounts for two per cent of the market and to some 30-40 per cent of the segment for king-size cigarettes. Cigarettes are an easy target because they are in the organised sector. But the consumption of bidis and chewing tobacco is just as dangerous and these sectors are growing. Therefore, the danger to public health only keeps increasing. The unfortunate part of this is that the government actively supports and subsidises the increased production of tobacco. Tobacco farming makes a huge footprint on our agriculture and now accounts for 4,95,000 hectares of the most fertile land. Apart from using up valuable agricultural land, tobacco farmers derive all the largesses the state and Central governments confer on them. Free water and free power are the more obvious ones. Then there is subisidised fertiliser and tax-free status for all farming. The government must review these policies. I would like to see tobacco farming taxed on an acreage basis to make it less profitable and for the government to recover all the unmerited subsidies that tobacco farmers encash. This is easier said than done. The tobacco sector is a powerful vested interest. ITC and the other cigarette manufacturers are the top half of that pyramid. It is easy to take it on, but its now time to take on the base. Today, May 31, is World No Tobacco Day You have permission to edit this video. Edit Close Every town in the state canceled its parade last year as COVID-19 cut a deadly path through the population, especially endangering the elderly and those who gathered in crowds. A few dozen towns statewide brought back the annual tradition this year, as the weekends rainstorms lifted just a few hours before step-off. Writers on the Range Wyoming may be too much like America used to be Pupils at a Derry school have raised more than 2,000 for a local charity. Students and staff at Lisneal College raised 2,276.32 for Children in Crossfire through a Walk/Jog 50 Miles in a Month challenge. Children in Crossfires Executive Director Richard Moore thanked the school for its support. Children in Crossfires international programmes provide life-changing opportunities for some of the worlds most vulnerable children, in Ethiopia and Tanzania. I always find it extremely uplifting when young people here raise funds to support children growing up on the other side of the world. That shows terrific empathy and kindness wonderful values to instill from an early age. Lisneal are brilliant Children in Crossfire supporters and it was amazing that so many pupils took part and raised so much. There has been plenty of bad weather recently, so it took dedication to keep going through the cold and rain. 2,276 is an incredible fundraising total and everyone involved should be very proud of their outstanding achievement. We are very grateful for their continued goodwill. Teacher Aisling OKane, who co-ordinated the schools fundraising efforts, said: We were delighted when Children in Crossfire came up with this challenge at a time when motivation and positivity needed a boost. We are proud of the miles covered and thrilled at the amount of money raised. This shows the Lisneal community and our young people in particular at its very best. Rubina Dilaik And Kamya Punjabi Celebrate 5 Years Of Shakti- Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki With Cake And BTS Snaps After winning hearts along with the trophy, title and cash prize of Bigg Boss season 14, Rubina Dilaik returned to our television screens as the beloved Soumya of Shakti- Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki. The actress had quit the popular show in 2020, after being a part of it for 5 long and successful years, as a giant leap was introduced in the story. Well much to the delight of fans, she recently reprised her character on the show. The social drama television series completed 5 years in the running on 30th May. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rubina Dilaik (@rubinadilaik) To mark the special occasion, the team came together for a mini celebration and had a cake cutting ceremony. Rubina and her co-star Kamya Punjabi shared sneak peeks from the celebration on their social media handles. Along with BTS snaps, Rubina wrote: 5 years of hard work (minus 1yr 2months) , passion and risk taking ability has been rewarded by your love ( my beautiful people) ........ Shakti has and will always be close to my heart.... Congratulations to the entire team. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rubina Dilaik (@rubinadilaik) Rubina recently recovered from COVID-19 after a period of 17 days in isolation at her Shimla house. In an interview, the actress had mentioned that she is overjoyed to have her taste buds and sense of smell back. We are sure fans will be glad to see her back on the sets of Shakti post recovery. The Family Man 2: Manoj Bajpayee And Samantha Akkineni Take Up The What Are We Eating Challenge With the second season of Amazon Prime Video Original series, The Family Man just a few days away from release, its lead stars, Manoj Bajpayee and Samantha Akkineni compete against each other in a fun 'What Are We Eating Challenge.' With blind folds on and yummy dishes in front of them, they have to guess the dish they eat but can you guess who wins? From Uttapam to Raw carrots and Baingan Choka, Mysore Pak, Gujarati Khandvi and what not, the stars battle it out to guess the dishes right which will make your mouth water and give you pangs of hunger. The director-duo Raj and DK are back with a new season of the show, which will keep you hooked onto this espionage series. The Family Man, starring Manoj Bajpayee, Priya Mani, Samantha Akkineni and Sharib Hashmi among others will begin streaming on June 4, 2021 on Amazon Prime Video. To raise awareness and honor all those who were exposed to the herbicide, Wright has spearheaded installation of a monument in the veterans park in his hometown of Andover. An unveiling and dedication is set for Saturday. U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney and four Vietnam veterans, including former state Veterans Affairs Commissioner Linda Schwartz, are to speak. The ceremony also is to include several color guards, the singing of the national anthem by a Vietnam veteran and taps played by another veteran of the war. Government needs to act urgently to maintain the Post Office Network, or face unrestrained closures from July, the Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) has warned The IPU General Secretary Ned OHara said that a Government financial intervention must be implemented within weeks, or the Network as we know it will collapse. The IPU has written to its members to attend emergency local meetings during June to discuss all options, including a members ballot on a work stoppage. There are currently 875 Postmaster and 45 An Post operated Post Offices in the country. Mr OHara said: Postmaster operated Offices face a major challenge from July 1, as a significant reduction in payment rates (an on average fall of approximately 20%) will take effect. This is against the backdrop of rising viability pressure in recent years, which COVID-19 has further compounded. The difficulty is also related to the delay in additional Government services promised in 2018, but only now being seriously examined. This uncertainly also puts in jeopardy plans to maintain Bank of Ireland branch services through Post Offices. A report commissioned by the IPU from business advisors Grant Thornton, and published last September, warned of unrestrained Post Office closures from July 2021. Grant Thorntons analysis recommended an annual Public Service Obligation (PSO) of 17million, which it said would represent strong overall value for money for the State. Mr OHara continued The IPU has since last September been recommending to Government that an annual Government retainer payment be put in place. With just four full weeks until this tipping point, Postmasters remain in the dark about their future. If there isnt enough time to have a comprehensive solution in place by July, then the IPU is calling for Government and An Post to put in place an interim action that will be effective and is deliverable from July. The IPU is receiving calls daily from Postmasters in all areas who are considering their immediate future. We are organising emergency meetings, to take place by mid-June, and all possible actions will be discussed including to ballot on a work stoppage. In 2018 a national plan for the Post Office Network was launched giving a commitment to services within 3km in urban areas and 15km or community of 500 people in all rural areas. However, the IPU said this can only be delivered with Government support. IPU President Sean Martin said Postmasters want to provide a solution to Government for the delivery of all important citizen services in an offline option and to underpin social inclusion and protect local economies. He also said that current HSE cyberattack highlighted the importance of maintaining offline options for core citizen services. Postmasters are ready, willing and able to provide many additional services including motor tax, licences, renewals, registrations, identity verification, community information, IT / Office hub or advising and helping people and to evolve for the future, Mr Martin said. Independent research carried out by RED C last year found that 86% supported the Government providing financial support to keep their Post Office open and 86% wanted more State services available at their Post Office. Methuen - Michael V. Finn, a longtime resident of Lawrence, passed away unexpectedly and peacefully on May 25, 2021, at the age of 72 while doing something that he loved, playing golf. Known to many as "Mickey", he was born in Lawrence on April 20, 1949 to James L. and Margaret (Bateman) Fin Peter Yanczer's Pages The Eidophor Television System Another form of innovative television... Note: The information presented here is based on articles or papers by the following; E. Labin, S. M. P. T. E. Journal, April 1950; Earl I. Sponable, S.M.P.T.E. Journal, April 1953; E. Baumann, S. M. P. T. E. Journal, April 1953; Eidophor Training Manual and brochures, supplied by Bernhard Merk, Switzerland. From the earliest days of television, large theater size screen images were a goal for most, if not all of the television pioneers. Some companies in the movie industry such as Twentieth Century Fox were also very interested at the time, because this might provide addition income from their theaters. So they actively promoted and supported the development of suitable systems that might accomplish large screen theater television. The Eidophor system was an example of this and it was in use extensively from the early 50s, until well into the 80s. EIDOPHOR is a Greek word combination meaning "Image Bearer". Invented in 1939, the actual development work began in the early 40s in Zurich, Switzerland, under the direction of Professor Dr. Fritz Fischer. After considering the many problems, he soon came to the conclusion that a very powerful arc light source would be necessary to provide sufficient brightness on a theater size screen. The next problem was how he could efficiently modulate such an intense source of light. Dr. Fischer reviewed all of the light modulators previously used, particularly the Kerr cell, as was used by Dr. Alexanderson in his large screen television work. He found the efficiency of this cell to be much too low for his purposes and so continued his search. Undoubtedly, Dr. Fischer would also have considered the Jeffree cell, used in the Scophony theater systems. Unlike the Kerr cell, which exhibits no memory characteristics whatsoever, the Jeffree cell was able to store as many as 200 to 300 picture elements, providing a significant increase in image brightness on the screen. But even this amount of improvement was not enough to satisfy Dr. Fischer's goal for brightness. Dr. Fischer went on to review some work done by Foucault on the optics of telescopes and also by Toepler who had described an optical system referred to as the "Toepler Schlieren" (in German, Schlieren means "streaks" or "striae"). His earliest design based on their work was similar to the drawing shown here on the right. This is a light control system based on the phase contrast principle and is a variation of the Schlieren optical arrangement. The arc lamp at A, together with the condenser lens B, produces a uniform illumination of the plane C. A light-modulating or controlling medium is placed in this plane, between the bar-and-slit systems at F and G. A field lens is placed so that it images bar system F upon the opaque bars of system G. The image point at H is located in the image plane C of the objective lens D. This projection lens would therefore image the point H at point H' on the projection screen E. But this cannot happen because the light beams are being completely blocked off by the bars of system G. It should be noted that the incident illumination of every image point at H, is blocked by the strips of the bar system G. However, if a control medium of some sort, is located at the image plane C and could be deformed in a suitable way, diffraction of the light beams would occur. Those diffracted parts of the beams could pass through the slits in system G and on to the projection screen as image forming light. The next drawing here on the right, shows a control medium, consisting of a liquid oil film of approximately 0.02mm thickness at the image plane C. For the sake of this illustration, consider this oil film as being supported on a thin, flat glass plate. This layer of liquid is called the Eidophor liquid. It takes the place of an emulsion on the usual motion picture film in the film gate, as one would find in the usual projector. If the layer of Eidophor oil is of uniform thickness and homogeneous, light passing through the oil film will not be diffracted anywhere in the image plane C and all of the light passing will be blocked by the bars of G. No light can reach the screen. The next step is to create a form of optical inhomogeneity in the oil film, point by point, that will diffract the light beam past the bars and through the slits of system G. This is done with a beam of electrons from an electron gun, scanning an approximate 3 by 4 inch raster directly on the the oil layer. The electron gun operating at a 15 kilovolt level, deposits electric charges point by point, corresponding to the scanned picture. These charges cause minute wave-shaped corrugations in the surface of the oil layer. Where the oil surface is corrugated as at H1 on the surface C in the drawing, those light rays passing through this point are diffracted and no longer blocked at G, instead passing through the slits and on to the screen. The more the Eidophor surface is distorted, the more intense is the light reaching the screen. A brightness range of 1:300 has been obtained. The drawing to the right shows the relationship between the brightness A, along a line of the image and the amount of the wave-shaped deformation B, in the surface of the Eidophor liquid. The amount of deformation on the Eidophor surface is proportional to the desired brightness level for a corresponding point on the screen. The Eidophor principle of modulation is for the cathode beam to scan the Eidophor surface, controlled by a video signal in such a way that the resulting deformations are proportional to the instantaneous values of the controlling signal. The actual controlling element is the spot size of the electron beam. The smaller the spot size is, the deeper the deformation of the Eidophor will be, causing more diffraction of light to take place, in turn producing a brighter spot on the screen. The wave-shaped deformations are caused by electrostatic forces in the oil film, due to the electrical charges placed on the Eidophor surface by the scanning electron gun. The wavelength of these deformations is constant, but their height is proportional to the level of the video signal. As the illumination of the image points on the screen are always proportional to the height of the waves at the corresponding point on the Eidophor, the distribution of light over the projection screen corresponds to the video signal and thus to the object being reproduced. The deformation commences at the moment that the electron beam scans a particular point of the image. By a suitable choice of the conductivity and viscosity of the Ediphor oil, the deformation can be preserved for a considerable part of the image scanning period, so that it disappears shortly before the next scan of that point. In the ideal case, the deformation of the oil should remain for the duration of one picture period, but then decay as quickly as possible. In practice, 70% of the ideal is achieved. Since the screen illumination is maintained for this part of the scanning period, a substantial increase in screen brightness occurs due to this light storage effect. After considerable testing, the results were encouraging. A simplified compact prototype model was developed. This is illustrated in the figure below . Notice that it uses only one bar and slit assembly, which is reflective and actually does double duty. Another change in this prototype was the addition of a color wheel, developed especially for the Eidophor system by the Columbia Broadcasting System, using its field sequential color knowledge and techniques. But before this unit could be completed, Dr. Fischer had died and his work was carried on by his associates, directed by Professor Baumann and Dr. Thiemann. Since there is an electron gun in this system, it might be well to point out that the electron gun and the Eidophor oil can only operate in a vacuum. The Eidiphor oil characteristics are subject to change with temperature, so the system includes a means to stabilize the temperature of the spherical mirror and Eidophor oil in contact with it. This is accomplished with a small external refrigeration system. The drawing on the right shows the approximate size of the Eidophor projector. The space requirements are similar to those of a standard 35 mm movie film projector, as found in most projection booths in theaters around the world. Not shown in this drawing are the various power supplies and the vacuum pump that are normally contained in the same cabinet as the Ediophor projector. Also not shown here are the cabinets that house the various signal associated electronic circuits. The overall dimensions of this machine were approximately 5 feet high; 5.5 feet long and 2.5 feet in width. The weight of this assembly was 1800 pounds. This photo to the left shows a complete system, including the two upright cabinets (6), containing the low level electronic circuits and their power supplies. In the main assembly, the projection arc lamp (5) is located at the top left and the vacuum pump and auxiliary services equipment (4) are directly below it. The color wheel (3) is located at the top center. The Eidophor projector (1) is at the lower and center left. The projection light beam hood (2) is at the top right. In later models like the one pictured below, the arc light was abandoned in favor of hi-intensity Xenon lamps rated at either 3000 or 5000 watts. A color dot sequential system was also incorporated, replacing the CBS field sequential method and the purchaser was then given the choice of using the NTSC, PAL, SECAM or HDTV color systems. The over-all specifications of the more recent models of the Ediophor systems were most impressive. They included these: Screen sizes up to approximately 40 by 50 feet; 80 times brighter than than the best three tube CRT systems; up to 1250 lines horizontal, 120 Hz vertical; Video bandwidth, 50 Mhz; all digital control; white field brightness levels of over 10,000 lumens; projection throws of over 650 feet. What a fantastic system! An engineering marvel, if there ever was one!! Fabulous!!! (Editor's comment) In spite of it though, the Eidophor is becoming obsolete. It looks as if it will undoubtedly be replaced by the LCD and/or the DLP device, manufactured by Texas Instruments, basically an integrated circuit with teeny, tiny little movable mirrors, (pardon the scientific terms). Peter F. Yanczer Invisible text to format smartphones. xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx USDOT data shows that 97% of trucking companies operate 20 trucks or fewer. This includes MTAC members, who have testified that they will not be able to absorb the cost of this tax, and will pass it on to customers. Small businesses will be burdened with a punitive, onerous tax, and consumers will in turn see higher prices. The other taxes your editorial mentions are targeted at large corporations or wealthy individuals. If Im not mistaken, Gov. Ned Lamont opposes all of them. The only revenue-raising measures he supports are ones that will directly impact the working class the truck mileage tax and the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) while largely leaving the wealthy unimpacted. In Connecticut, we should be focusing more on taxes that will impact the working class. Your editorial helps to accomplish that, so thank you for covering the truck mileage tax. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Effingham, IL (62401) Today Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. Google is attempting to assuage concerns that it will somehow bypass the privacy-friendly rules it's introducing in place of third-party cookies in Chrome. With the changes expected next year, the company recently told apprehensive advertisers that it will be beholden to the same techniques it is imposing on others. "Well be using these [Privacy Sandbox] APIs for our own ads and measurement products just like everyone else, and we will not build any backdoors for ourselves, said ads VP Jerry Dischler at the Google Marketing Live event on Thursday, according to DigiDay. As the ground has shifted on targeted ad practices, Google has pitched a new roadmap for data privacy that it hopes the ad industry will adopt. One of the central changes it is introducing is a shift away from single user IDs to cohort IDs, effectively anonymizing data by targeting ads at larger groups of people (instead of individuals) with similar interests. Google has already begun testing the so-called Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC) technique on millions of Chrome users. The broader Privacy Sandbox aligns with anti-tracking initiatives from Apple and Mozilla (which blocks third-party cookies in Firefox by default). The search giant is hoping the rules will please a wide swathe of people, from lawmakers to privacy-conscious consumers to the ad industry. Regulators concerned about Google's dominance in digital advertising have pounced on the changes. At the start of the year, the UK's markets authority opened an investigation into FLoC to determine whether it would "distort competition." In March, state antitrust watchdogs amended a major lawsuit targeting Google to take into account changes to ad tracking in Chrome. At the recent event, Google's Dischler reiterated the company's position against ad tracking for individuals. Third-party cookies and other proposed identifiers that some in the industry are advocating for do not meet the rising expectations consumers have when it comes to privacy. They will not stand up to rapidly evolving regulatory restrictions; they simply cannot be relied on in the long term, he said. Google's latest statement was clearly aimed at the marketers who use its targeting tools. Advertisers and publishers have already introduced an alternative to the Privacy Sandbox in the form of Unified ID 2.0. The open-source project built by several industry groups relies on email addresses and other info to create encrypted identifiers. Summarizing the ad sector's concerns, Digiday notes that Google has not clarified whether Chrome will be among the proprietary products that it plans to collect individual-level data from. Marketers are also anxious that Google could simply change its mind on backdoors at a later date. It was 2004, I needed a backpack for university, and the only requirement was that it had to be pretty hard-wearing. Textbooks are weighty, cumbersome and numerous, and I needed something that would withstand that sort of assault. In a local mountaineering store I picked up The North Faces Modem backpack at some crazy discount. My logic was, Hey, it looks sturdy, and theres space for a laptop should I ever need one. (As a perpetual desktop lover, I didnt buy my first laptop until I started working at Engadget in 2011.) The Modem is, or was, a bag that could hold a 13-inch notebook inside its rear sleeve, which was part of the generous main compartment. There was no excess padding; just a buckle and some cloth that held your machine upright. Toward the front of the bag was a middle pocket that had a series of inner organizers for notebooks, pens and cables. Then, up top, a zippered compartment big enough for a water bottle that also held the headphone hole, making it suitable for your iPod or, you know, other period-appropriate digital audio player (dont forget, this was 2004). Over the outside front was a web of elastic string, held in place with a spring-loaded clip, ideal for stowing your jacket in warmer weather. Daniel Cooper The bags tour of duty spanned three years of university, as well as my postgraduate tenure at law school. It did everything I needed it to do, so there was little need or desire to change it, especially since it never really looked anything but fine. The only tell was that the white, reflective material the The North Face logo was stitched in got grayer over time. I kept using it when I was going to work (it made a fine lunchbox and coat-holder), and when I went out for a walk. Then, when I joined Engadget, it became the obvious choice to just use as my regular work bag. (I did buy a Lowepro Fastpack with a dedicated camera section but it was too bulky for regular use and quickly stopped using it.) In fact, this backpack has been dutifully toted around trade shows the world over, from Las Vegas to Taiwan, Berlin and Lisbon. It's certainly taken plenty of punishment in that time, from getting stuck with chewed gum and drowning in suspicious liquids from airplane overhead bins to the rough and tumble of being used as a laptop table on a number of trains and trade show halls. I wouldnt call myself a clumsy sort, but Im not gentle with the bag either and it never once complained. Hell, while the instructions say you should spot clean with warm water and gentle detergent, if this thing needed cleaning, I went at it with a wire bristle brush. Even though I work from home most of the week, the bag also pulls double duty as my childcare kit. The laptop sleeve is wide enough to accommodate a changing mat, and the overall bag holds nappies, wipes and a change of clothes for both kids with plenty of room to spare. All was well until last week, as I was opening the bag up to put in diapers, when I saw spots of light filtering through and onto the floor. After 17 years, my beloved Modem was finally near its end. At its demise, the bag hasnt just filled itself full of holes: Its gently worn through until daylight is visible through the skin of its base. Theres a temptation to replace this bag with whatever the tech community thinks is cool right now on Kickstarter. You know the sort: Its made out of the finest gray alcantara with brown faux-leather leather fastenings and a dedicated camera sling. But then, why would I look anywhere else given that I know of a company whose products can last close to two decades without breaking a sweat? To be sure, if weve learned anything from this pandemic, its that were all interconnected. The virus knows no borders, and we must be bold, yet humble to eradicate it. As we come together with our families in the U.S. in the next few months, its my hope that our sisters and brothers overseas those who remain in isolation will not be forgotten. Too many families are searching for medical services, too many are searching for hospital beds, and too many are searching for the oxygen to keep their family members alive. My family has felt the consequences of the pandemic, and I know many other families have suffered around the world. Lets ensure no one else has to suffer the same fate. LG has taken an important step toward shutting down its mobile business. The last LG phones have rolled off the production line and the company will no longer manufacture handsets after Monday, according to Asia Business Daily. Engadget has contacted LG for confirmation. The company announced plans in early April to wind down its phone business, but it kept making handsets for a couple more months to fulfill contracts with telecom companies. A factory in Vietnam where LG built many of its smartphones will be converted into a household appliance manufacturing plant, Asia Business Daily reports. After years of losing money on the division, LG said it will kill its failed mobile business by the end of July, though it might still sell some devices after that date. Folks who buy an LG phone will still receive up to three years of Android operating system updates. The company will also provide four years of after-sales service from the date of manufacture. Meanwhile, the company has reportedly sold a limited supply of the unreleased Velvet 2 Pro and LG Rollable, which the company showed off at CES in January, exclusively to its employees in South Korea. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were considering a "Scientology" method of giving birth for the arrival of their baby girl. A source recently told New Idea that the couple is planning to have their child through silent birth, "Meghan and Harry feel they've been through enough in their own lives and are anxious to start over with their baby girl, and that means giving her the most peaceful entrance possible into the world," the source stated. "There will be no doctors screaming 'push' at Meghan or anything like that." the source added. This came after the couple had allegedly experienced psychological trauma while being a part of the royal family to ensure that they, and their children will have a healthier mental head space. READ NOW: Meghan Markle vs. Kate Middleton: Most-Searched Fashionable Duchess Finally Named! WHAT IS SILENT BIRTH? According to The Church of Scientology, reported by The Bump, the words that a newly-birth child hears during its labor may have an impact throughout its life that's why they want to eliminate any noises. "My understanding is that when the woman is laboring, the intent is that people who are in her immediate environment are not talking, that the environment is one that is quiet... That the patient is as much at peace as possible," Michael P. Nageotte MD of Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and Miller Children's Hospital Long Beach. explains. In a different report published by The Guardian, L Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology, explains the importance of silence during birth. Giving birth without any noise can avoid "engrams" which is "the impressions formed in the brain because of "physical pain or painful" experiences." "Maintain silence in the presence of birth to save both the sanity of the mother and the child. And the maintaining of silence does not mean a volley of sh*ts", Hubbard wrote in his book "Dianetics" In 2006, devout Scientology member Tom Cruise and his now ex-wife Katie Holmes had allegedly used the silent birth method when their daughter named Suri was born. Cruise had also confirmed in the past that he asked people around the birthing room to remain silent during the delivery. Meghan Markle is expecting her second child with Prince Harry this summer. Markle had also revealed in the past that she suffered a miscarriage in July 2020. READ ALSO: A Quiet Place Part II', 'Cruella' Go Head To Head: Who Snagged The Biggest Ticket Sales? See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles Kim Kardashian is never saying never when it comes to fixing her marriage to Kanye West. Despite moving on with her life, the possibility of them getting back together is highly likely, just as long as he "changes" and would really put an effort to work their marriage out, according to a source who told Hollywood Life. "Kim's door for reconciliation with Kanye was open even after filing for divorce, but as of now they still are barely communicating." They added, "If he changes and wanted to put in the work with her, she'd probably be open to conversations, but that isn't happening right now." The source explained how the KUWTK star had already given the rapper several opportunities to work on their marriage, however, Kanye has just blown them off which contributed to them ultimately growing apart. Kim Kardashian Will Take Kanye Back if 'He Changes' But despite their divorce, Kim Kardashian is reportedly going to always love her estranged husband and vice versa. "And they don't just say that, they mean that. But the marriage wasn't working for him." Filing for divorce is said to be the last straw for the KKW Beauty mogul, however, it seemed like it was the only choice she had. Now though, Kim is said to be in "much different headspace than she was when she filed." Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, who share four kids North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm, would've celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary last week, but they have separated since the divorce was filed. The "All of the Lights" rapper has been spending most of his time in Wyoming, while the future lawyer is in Calabasas. Since their split, Kim and Kanye have not spoken publicly about it with most reports and updates coming from media outlets. For instance, court documents confirmed that the parents are seeking joint custody of their kids. READ ALSO: Kylie Jenner Exposed For Alleged Bullying Behavior, Beauty Mogul Responds To Claims [VIDEO] Kim Kardashian Post-Divorce Filing The outlet's insider also explained how the Kardashian-West kids are doing just fine amid their parents' divorce. According to the source, "Kim has them on a routine and is so hands on and present." When it comes to Kanye West and his visitation time, "Nobody knows really when they see Kanye because they keep it so private, but they do see their dad often." Another Hollywood Life source previously said that Kim Kardashian is reportedly "happy" even though her marriage to Kanye West didn't work out. That's because she reportedly truly loves Kanye West. The SKIMS creator is reportedly in a good place and is letting the past go and just keeping herself busy with her work and kids. Though she was devastated that they ended up in a divorce, Kim Kardashian, whose net worth is about $1.2 billion, knows that the divorce happened for the best of all of them. READ MORE: Kardashians Replacement: Bella Thorne and Sisters To Become Next-Generation Reality Stars [DETAILS] See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles More disturbing reports about Bill Gates have emerged, following news of his divorce and illicit affairs. The Microsoft founder has reportedly funded a non-profit organization in India to perform unauthorized clinical trials of a vaccine of tribal girls. "Arrest Bill Gates" immediately started to trend on Twitter, with social media users demanding authorities to take legal action against the fourth richest person in the world. Disturbing Details of Bill Gates' Unauthorized Clinical Trial GreatGameIndia, a quarterly journal based in India, revealed that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded an NGO named PATH, a Program for Appropriate Technology in Health that is based in Seattle, to do trials for HPV vaccine on 14,000 tribal girls back in 2009 in a state of Southern India called Telangan's and its fourth-largest city, Khammam. According to the report, the two types of vaccines used were Gardasil by Merck, and Cervarix by GlaxoSmithKline. The project, which will determine if these vaccines were effective against HPV also known as Human papillomavirus, the most common sexually transmitted infection in the US, is effective. The vaccines in the project were reportedly directly funded by the Gates Foundation to be used on the tribal girls. Khammam is said to be a poor and least-developed area in India. It is home to several ethnic groups. The tribal girls that were recruited to be part of the clinical trial were underage, with an age range of 10 to 14 years old. They also belonged to low-income families and most of them have direct lineage to their tribes. What's even more disturbing is that Bill Gates' NGO in India has reportedly recruited these underage girls without their parents' approval. The report also said that there was no information provided about the possible risks of the HPV vaccine, and without a declaration that they were going to conduct a clinical trial. Since then, many of the girls who were part of the unauthorized clinical trial suffered from different symptoms including stomach aches, headaches, giddiness, and fatigue. These girls also reportedly suffered "early onset of menstruation, heavy bleeding, severe menstrual cramps, extreme mood swings, irritability, and uneasiness." The report also stated that there hasn't been any systematic follow-up or monitoring that was carried out following the HPV vaccination on the girls. READ ALSO: Bill Gates' More Questionable Behaviors with Women Exposed Amid Melinda French Gates Divorce Netizens Call to Arrest Bill Gates Many social media users are enraged and furious with the news. @Khan___INC said in a tweet how Bill Gates, whose net worth is $126 billion, has "sterilized" a lot of tribal girls in India which "has ruined the lives" of the girls. "How can such a famous man do such a big, wrong job?" Another Twitter user, @HansrajMeena, "Today #ArrestBillGates is trending in India! Finally, people are waking up!!!" READ MORE: Melinda Gates' Ultimate Revenge: Ex Doesn't Want Bill Gates' Billions But Wants His 'Greatest Achievement' DISCLAIMER: All the information provided are views and opinions by Twitter users. The accuracy of the statements are yet to be verified. Bill Gates has not yet commented on the issue. See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles Below please find summaries of new articles that will be published in the next issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. The summaries are not intended to substitute for the full articles as a source of information. This information is under strict embargo and by taking it into possession, media representatives are committing to the terms of the embargo not only on their own behalf, but also on behalf of the organization they represent. 1. Tai chi about equal to conventional exercise for reducing belly fat in middle-aged and older adults HD video soundbites of the author discussing the findings are available to download at http://www. dssimon. com/ MM/ ACP-tai-chi Abstract: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ M20-7014 URL goes live when the embargo lifts A randomized controlled trial found that tai chi is about as effective as conventional exercise for reducing waist circumference in middle-aged and older adults with central obesity. Central obesity, or weight carried around the midsection, is a major manifestation of metabolic syndrome and a common health problem in this cohort. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Tai chi is a form of mind-body exercise often described as "meditation in motion." It is practiced in many Asian communities and is becoming increasingly popular in Western countries, with more than 2 million people practicing it in the United States. While it is known to be a suitable activity for older people including those who are not active, there previously has been little evidence on tai chi's health benefits. Researchers from the University of Hong Kong randomly assigned more than 500 adults over 50 with central obesity to a regimen of tai chi, conventional exercise, or no exercise over 3 months. Participants in the tai chi and exercise groups met for instructor-led workouts for 1 hour 3 times a week for 12 weeks. The tai chi program consisted of the Yang style of tai chi, the most common style adopted in the literature, and the conventional exercise program consisted of brisk walking and strength training activities. Waist circumference and other indicators of metabolic health were measured at baseline, 12 weeks, and 38 weeks. The researchers found that both the tai chi intervention and conventional exercise intervention group had reductions in waist circumference, relative to control. The reduction in waist circumference had a favorable impact on HDL cholesterol, or so-called good cholesterol, but did not translate into detectable differences in fasting glucose or blood pressure. According to the study authors, their findings are good news for middle-aged and older adults who have central obesity but may be averse to conventional exercise due to preference or limited mobility. Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Angela Collom at acollom@acponline.org. To speak with the corresponding author, Parco M. Siu, PhD, please email pmsiu@hku.hk. 2. COVID-19 disease and cost burden especially high among older adults, particularly those of color Abstract: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ M21-1102 Editorial: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ M21-2187 URL goes live when the embargo lifts A retrospective observational study found that the COVID-19 disease burden among adults aged 65 years or older was substantially higher than in the general U.S. population, especially among those of non-White race/ethnicity. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) used Medicare claims data for 28.1 million fee-for-service beneficiaries to examine the characteristics and medical costs of older adults who were diagnosed with COVID-19 from April through December 2020. The data showed that the hospitalization rate was more than 60 times higher, and the mortality rate was 2.5 times higher (4.2%) for older adults compared to the general population. The average cost per COVID-19-related hospitalization was considerable ($21,752) among those older adults, but the costs of COVID-19-related hospitalization decreased with age for the 5 medical outcomes considered. According to the authors, possible reasons include higher mortality rates among older patients, resulting in shorter hospital stays and lower costs (inpatient length of stay was shorter among patients aged ?75 years than among those aged 65 to 74 years); the lower likelihood of younger adults to become seriously ill (those who reached the point of hospitalization may have had substantial risks and complications); and less aggressive care with increasing age. The data also showed that people of color accounted for a disproportionate share of hospitalizations and deaths during the pandemic. Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander older adults had higher probability of death and receiving ventilator support during hospitalization than non-Hispanic White patients. This finding highlights the importance of identifying effective strategies to promote COVID-19 vaccine uptake among non-White persons aged 65 years or older to mitigate the increased disease and economic burden. Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Angela Collom at acollom@acponline.org. To speak with the corresponding author, Yuping Tsai, PhD, please contact Kristen Nordlund at hok4@cdc.gov. 3. Financial penalties not associated with improvements in quality of outpatient dialysis centers Abstract: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ M20-6662 URL goes live when the embargo lifts An observational study found that performance-based financial penalties under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program (ESRD-QIP) were not associated with improvement in the quality of outpatient dialysis centers. The penalties also did not seem to affect any of the individual outcome measures studied. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. There are 500,000 patients on dialysis in the United States today. CMS spends about $100,000 per person/year for patients on dialysis, which is about 6-7% of the total Medicare budget and almost 1% of the total federal government budget. In 2012, the CMS started levying performance-based financial penalties against outpatient dialysis centers under the mandatory ESRD-QIP program. For many reasons, including the complexity of the program, it's effect on quality has never been measured. Researchers from the Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy and the University of Michigan studied publicly available Medicare data to determine whether penalization was associated with improvement in dialysis center quality. The data showed that 1,109 (19.0%) outpatient dialysis centers received penalties in 2017 based on performance in 2015. Penalization was not associated with improvement in total performance scores in 2017 or 2018. This was consistent across a range of different types of centers and individual quality metrics included in the program's total performance score. According to the authors, these findings are significant because they can help Medicare improve the program, which has broad implications for the quality of outpatient dialysis in the United States. Media contacts: For an embargoed PDF, please contact Angela Collom at acollom@acponline.org. To speak with the corresponding author, Kyle H. Sheetz, MD, MSc, please contact Kara Gavin at kegavin@med.umich.edu. ### Also new in this issue: Medical Schools as Racialized Organizations Nguemeni Tiako Academia and the Profession Abstract: https:/ / www. acpjournals. org/ doi/ 10. 7326/ M21-0369 SGLT-2 Revisited: Diabetes Management in Chronic Kidney Disease Centor Annals On Call The Sahara has not always been covered by only sand and rocks. During the period from 14,500 to 5,000 years ago large areas of North Africa were more heavily populated, and where there is desert today the land was green with vegetation. This is evidenced by various sites with rock paintings showing not only giraffes and crocodiles, but even illustrating people swimming in the "Cave of Swimmers". This period is known as the Green Sahara or African Humid Period. Until now, researchers have assumed that the necessary rain was brought from the tropics through an enhanced summer monsoon. The northward shift of the monsoon was attributed to rotation of the Earth's tilted axis that produces higher levels of solar radiation over North Africa approximately every 25,000 years. However, climate models have not been able to simulate plant growth sufficient to create a Green Sahara with rain that stem only from the summer monsoon. Scientists are convinced that permanent vegetation at that time in North Africa cannot be explained by a single rainy season each year. Dr. Enno Schefu of MARUM and Dr. Rachid Cheddadi of the University of Montpellier (France) together with an international team of researchers have analyzed pollen and leaf waxes extracted from a sediment core in order to reconstruct the vegetation cover and amount of rainfall in the past. The core was retrieved from Lake Tislit in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Fossil components of plants such as pollen and refractory plant molecules are deposited in lakes just as in marine sediments. These enable to identify the types of vegetation and climate conditions from the past. "Our results are very clear," explains Enno Schefu, "While the leaf waxes indicate increased rainfall during the African Humid Period, the pollen explicitly reveal that the vegetation was Mediterranean, not subtropical or even tropical." Mediterranean plants can tolerate arid conditions in the summer as long as they receive sufficient rain in the winter. "This strongly suggests that the monsoon reconstructions of previous studies need to be reconsidered." Based on these findings, Schefu and his colleagues have developed a new concept to explain the Green Sahara. During the period of the Green Sahara, as the monsoon was intensifying and moving northward in the summer, there must have been a southward shift of the belt of westerlies in the winter that brought winter precipitation to North Africa. The team subsequently tested their past climate reconstructions from the Tislit record using a mechanistic vegetation model. "We have winter rain on the northern margin of the Sahara, the monsoon on the southern margin, and between the two areas an overlap of the two rain systems which provides rains there during both summer and winter, albeit rather sparsely," explains Rachid Cheddadi. The vegetation model simulations clearly showed that a Green Sahara was formed under this climate scenario. A continuous vegetation cover could only form with precipitation in two seasons; the plants would not survive a long dry phase after a short rainy period. Schefu and his colleagues describe their results as a paradigm change in the climate research explaining the cause of the Green Sahara. The implications of this include not only a better understanding of past climate conditions, but also an improvement of the predictions for future climate and vegetation trends in the region, as well a contribution to archaeological studies of settlement patterns and migration routes. A planned expedition using the Research Vessel METEOR to retrieve additional high-resolution sediment archives from the near-coastal deposits off Morocco was postponed due to the CoVid-19 pandemic. However, it will be rescheduled as soon as possible in order to further strengthen this research and the German-Moroccan cooperation. ### Original publication: Rachid Cheddadi, Matthieu Carre, Majda Nourelbait, Louis Francois, Ali Rhoujjati, Roger Manay, Diana Ochoa, Enno Schefu: Early Holocene greening of the Sahara requires Mediterranean winter rainfall. PNAS 2021. Contakt: Dr. Enno Schefu Phone: +49 421 218 65526 Email: eschefuss@marum.de MARUM produces fundamental scientific knowledge about the role of the ocean and the seafloor in the total Earth system. The dynamics of the oceans and the seabed significantly impact the entire Earth system through the interaction of geological, physical, biological and chemical processes. These influence both the climate and the global carbon cycle, resulting in the creation of unique biological systems. MARUM is committed to fundamental and unbiased research in the interests of society, the marine environment, and in accordance with the sustainability goals of the United Nations. It publishes its quality-assured scientific data to make it publicly available. MARUM informs the public about new discoveries in the marine environment and provides practical knowledge through its dialogue with society. MARUM cooperation with companies and industrial partners is carried out in accordance with its goal of protecting the marine environment. While it is widely accepted that climate change drove the evolution of our species in Africa, the exact character of that climate change and its impacts are not well understood. Glacial-interglacial cycles strongly impact patterns of climate change in many parts of the world, and were also assumed to regulate environmental changes in Africa during the critical period of human evolution over the last ~1 million years. The ecosystem changes driven by these glacial cycles are thought to have stimulated the evolution and dispersal of early humans. A paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) this week challenges this view. Dr. Kaboth-Bahr and an international group of multidisciplinary collaborators identified ancient El Nino-like weather patterns as the drivers of major climate changes in Africa. This allowed the group to re-evaluate the existing climatic framework of human evolution. Walking with the rain Dr. Kaboth-Bahr and her colleagues integrated 11 climate archives from all across Africa covering the past 620 thousand years to generate a comprehensive spatial picture of when and where wet or dry conditions prevailed over the continent. "We were surprised to find a distinct climatic east-west 'seesaw' very akin to the pattern produced by the weather phenomena of El Nino, that today profoundly influences precipitation distribution in Africa," explains Dr. Kaboth-Bahr, who led the study. The authors infer that the effects of the tropical Pacific Ocean on the so-called "Walker Circulation" - a belt of convection cells along the equator that impact the rainfall and aridity of the tropics - were the prime driver of this climate seesaw. The data clearly shows that the wet and dry regions shifted between the east and west of the African continent on timescales of approximately 100,000 years, with each of the climatic shifts being accompanied by major turnovers in flora and mammal fauna. "This alternation between dry and wet periods appeared to have governed the dispersion and evolution of vegetation as well as mammals in eastern and western Africa," explains Dr. Kaboth-Bahr. "The resultant environmental patchwork was likely to have been a critical component of human evolution and early demography as well." The scientists are keen to point that although climate change was certainly not the sole factor driving early human evolution, the new study nevertheless provides a novel perspective on the tight link between environmental fluctuations and the origin of our early ancestors. "We see many species of pan-African mammals whose distributions match the patterns we identify, and whose evolutionary history seems to articulate with the wet-dry oscillations between eastern and western Africa," adds Dr. Eleanor Scerri, one of the co-authors and an evolutionary archaeologist at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany. "These animals preserve the signals of the environments that humans evolved in, and it seems likely that our human ancestors may have been similarly subdivided across Africa as they were subject to the same environmental pressures." Ecotones: the transitional regions between different ecological zones The scientists' work suggests that a seesaw-like pattern of rainfall alternating between eastern and western Africa probably had the effect of creating critically important ecotonal regions - the buffer zones between different ecological zones, such grassland and forest. "Ecotones provided diverse, resource-rich and stable environmental settings thought to have been important to early modern humans," adds Dr. Kaboth-Bahr. "They certainly seem to have been important to other faunal communities." To the scientists, this suggests that Africa's interior regions may have been critically important for fostering long-term population continuity. "We see the archaeological signatures of early members of our species all across Africa," says Dr. Scerri, "but innovations come and go and are often re-invented, suggesting that our deep population history saw a constant saw-tooth like pattern of local population growth and collapse. Ecotonal regions may have provided areas for longer term population continuity, ensuring that the larger human population kept going, even if local populations often went extinct." "Re-evaluating these patterns of stasis, change and extinction through a new climatic framework will yield new insights into the deep human past," says Dr. Kaboth Bahr. "This does not mean that people were helpless in the face of climatic changes, but shifting habitat availability would certainly have impacted patterns of demography, and ultimately the genetic exchanges that underpin human evolution." ### In a study of 11 medical-mystery patients, an international team of researchers led by scientists at the National Institutes of Health and the Uniformed Services University (USU) discovered a new and unique form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Unlike most cases of ALS, the disease began attacking these patients during childhood, worsened more slowly than usual, and was linked to a gene, called SPTLC1, that is part of the body's fat production system. Preliminary results suggested that genetically silencing SPTLC1 activity would be an effective strategy for combating this type of ALS. "ALS is a paralyzing and often fatal disease that usually affects middle-aged people. We found that a genetic form of the disease can also threaten children. Our results show for the first time that ALS can be caused by changes in the way the body metabolizes lipids," said Carsten Bonnemann, M.D., senior investigator at the NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and a senior author of the study published in Nature Medicine. "We hope these results will help doctors recognize this new form of ALS and lead to the development of treatments that will improve the lives of these children and young adults. We also hope that our results may provide new clues to understanding and treating other forms of the disease." Dr. Bonnemann leads a team of researchers that uses advanced genetic techniques to solve some of the most mysterious childhood neurological disorders around the world. In this study, the team discovered that 11 of these cases had ALS that was linked to variations in the DNA sequence of SPLTC1, a gene responsible for manufacturing a diverse class of fats called sphingolipids. In addition, the team worked with scientists in labs led by Teresa M. Dunn, Ph.D., professor and chair at USU, and Thorsten Hornemann, Ph.D., at the University of Zurich in Switzerland. Together they not only found clues as to how variations in the SPLTC1 gene lead to ALS but also developed a strategy for counteracting these problems. The study began with Claudia Digregorio, a young woman from the Apulia region of Italy. Her case had been so vexing that Pope Francis imparted an in-person blessing on her at the Vatican before she left for the United States to be examined by Dr. Bonnemann's team at the NIH's Clinical Center. Like many of the other patients, Claudia needed a wheelchair to move around and a surgically implanted tracheostomy tube to help with breathing. Neurological examinations by the team revealed that she and the others had many of the hallmarks of ALS, including severely weakened or paralyzed muscles. In addition, some patients' muscles showed signs of atrophy when examined under a microscope or with non-invasive scanners. Nevertheless, this form of ALS appeared to be different. Most patients are diagnosed with ALS around 50 to 60 years of age. The disease then worsens so rapidly that patients typically die within three to five years of diagnosis. In contrast, initial symptoms, like toe walking and spasticity, appeared in these patients around four years of age. Moreover, by the end of the study, the patients had lived anywhere from five to 20 years longer. "These young patients had many of the upper and lower motor neuron problems that are indicative of ALS," said Payam Mohassel, M.D., an NIH clinical research fellow and the lead author of the study. "What made these cases unique was the early age of onset and the slower progression of symptoms. This made us wonder what was underlying this distinct form of ALS." The first clues came from analyzing the DNA of the patients. The researchers used next-generation genetic tools to read the patients' exomes, the sequences of DNA that hold the instructions for making proteins. They found that the patients had conspicuous changes in the same narrow portion of the SPLTC1 gene. Four of the patients inherited these changes from a parent. Meanwhile, the other six cases appeared to be the result of what scientist call "de novo" mutations in the gene. These types of mutations can spontaneously occur as cells rapidly multiply before or shortly after conception. Mutations in SPLTC1 are also known to cause a different neurological disorder called hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type 1 (HSAN1). The SPLTC1 protein is a subunit of an enzyme, called SPT, which catalyzes the first of several reactions needed to make sphingolipids. HSAN1 mutations cause the enzyme to produce atypical and harmful versions of sphingolipids. At first, the team thought the ALS-causing mutations they discovered may produce similar problems. However, blood tests from the patients showed no signs of the harmful sphingolipids. "At that point, we felt like we had hit a roadblock. We could not fully understand how the mutations seen in the ALS patients did not show the abnormalities expected from what was known about SPTLC1 mutations," said Dr. Bonnemann. "Fortunately, Dr. Dunn's team had some ideas." For decades Dr. Dunn's team had studied the role of sphingolipids in health and disease. With the help of the Dunn team, the researchers reexamined blood samples from the ALS patients and discovered that the levels of typical sphingolipids were abnormally high. This suggested that the ALS mutations enhanced SPT activity. Similar results were seen when the researchers programmed neurons grown in petri dishes to carry the ALS-causing mutations in SPLTC1. The mutant carrying neurons produced higher levels of typical sphingolipids than control cells. This difference was enhanced when the neurons were fed the amino acid serine, a key ingredient in the SPT reaction. Previous studies have suggested that serine supplementation may be an effective treatment for HSAN1. Based on their results, the authors of this study recommended avoiding serine supplementation when treating the ALS patients. Next, Dr. Dunn's team performed a series of experiments which showed that the ALS-causing mutations prevent another protein called ORMDL from inhibiting SPT activity. "Our results suggest that these ALS patients are essentially living without a brake on SPT activity. SPT is controlled by a feedback loop. When sphingolipid levels are high then ORMDL proteins bind to and slow down SPT. The mutations these patients carry essentially short circuit this feedback loop," said Dr. Dunn. "We thought that restoring this brake may be a good strategy for treating this type of ALS." To test this idea, the Bonnemann team created small interfering strands of RNA designed to turn off the mutant SPLTC1 genes found in the patients. Experiments on the patients' skin cells showed that these RNA strands both reduced the levels of SPLTC1 gene activity and restored sphingosine levels to normal. "These preliminary results suggest that we may be able to use a precision gene silencing strategy to treat patients with this type of ALS. In addition, we are also exploring other ways to step on the brake that slows SPT activity," said Dr. Bonnemann. "Our ultimate goal is to translate these ideas into effective treatments for our patients who currently have no therapeutic options." ### Article: Mohassel, P. et al., Childhood Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Caused by Excess Sphingolipid Synthesis. Nature Medicine, May 31, 2021 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-021-01346-1 This study was supported by the NIH Intramural Research Program at the NINDS; NIH grants (NS10762, NS072446); the U.S. Department of Defense's Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (W81XWH-20-1-0219); the Swiss National Foundation (31003A_179371); the Deater foundation, Inc. The views expressed here do not represent those of the Department of Defense. For more information: http://www. ninds. nih. gov/ Disorders/ Patient-Caregiver-Education/ Fact-Sheets/ Amyotrophic-Lateral-Sclerosis-ALS-Fact-Sheet http://www. medlineplus. gov/ amyotrophiclateralsclerosis. html http://www. ninds. nih. gov irp.nih.gov/ neuroscience.nih.gov/ninds/Home.aspx dir.ninds.nih.gov/ninds/Home.html NINDS is the nation's leading funder of research on the brain and nervous system. The mission of NINDS is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease. First used to soak up oil in water, new sponge sequesters excess phosphate from water Phosphate pollution in rivers, lakes and other waterways has reached dangerous levels, causing algae blooms that starve fish and aquatic plants of oxygen. Meanwhile, farmers worldwide are coming to terms with a dwindling reserve of phosphate fertilizers that feed half the world's food supply. Inspired by Chicago's many nearby bodies of water, a Northwestern University-led team has developed a way to repeatedly remove and reuse phosphate from polluted waters. The researchers liken the development to a "Swiss Army knife" for pollution remediation as they tailor their membrane to absorb and later release other pollutants. The research will be published during the week of May 31 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. Phosphorus underpins both the world's food system and all life on earth. Every living organism on the planet requires it: phosphorous is in cell membranes, the scaffolding of DNA and in our skeleton. Though other key elements like oxygen and nitrogen can be found in the atmosphere, phosphorous has no analog. The small fraction of usable phosphorous comes from the Earth's crust, which takes thousands or even millions of years to weather away. And our mines are running out. A 2021 article in The Atlantic by Julia Rosen cited Isaac Asimov's 1939 essay, in which the American writer and chemist dubbed phosphorous "life's bottleneck." Given the shortage of this non-renewable natural resource, it is sadly ironic that many of our lakes are suffering from a process known as eutrophication, which occurs when too many nutrients enter a natural water source. As phosphate and other minerals build up, aquatic vegetation and algae become too dense, depleting oxygen from water and ultimately killing aquatic life. "We used to reuse phosphate a lot more," said Stephanie Ribet, the paper's first author. "Now we just pull it out of the ground, use it once and flush it away into water sources after use. So, it's a pollution problem, a sustainability problem and a circular economy problem." Ecologists and engineers traditionally have developed tactics to address the mounting environmental and public health concerns around phosphate by eliminating phosphate from water sources. Only recently has the emphasis shifted away from removing to recovering phosphate. "One can always do certain things in a laboratory setting," said Vinayak Dravid, the study's corresponding author. "But there's a Venn Diagram when it comes to scaling up, where you need to be able to scale the technology, you want it to be effective and you want it to be affordable. There was nothing in that intersection of the three before, but our sponge seems to be a platform that meets all these criteria." Dravid is the Abraham Harris Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering, the founding director of the Northwestern University Atomic and Nanoscale Characterization Experimental Center (NUANCE), and director of the Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental Resource (SHyNE). Dravid also serves as the director of global initiatives for Northwestern's International Institute of Nanotechnology. Ribet is a Ph.D. student in Dravid's lab and the paper's first author. The team's Phosphate Elimination and Recovery Lightweight (PEARL) membrane is a porous, flexible substrate (such as a coated sponge, cloth or fibers) that selectively sequesters up to 99% of phosphate ions from polluted water. Coated with nanostructures that bind to phosphate, the PEARL membrane can be tuned by controlling the pH to either absorb or release nutrients to allow for phosphate recovery and reuse of the membrane for many cycles. Current methods to remove phosphate are based on complex, lengthy, multi-step methods. Most of them do not also recover the phosphate during removal and ultimately generate a great deal of physical waste. The PEARL membrane provides a simple one-step process to remove phosphate that also efficiently recovers it. It's also reusable and generates no physical waste. Using samples from Chicago's Water Reclamation District, the researchers tested their theory with the added complexity of real water samples. "We often call this a 'nanoscale solution to a gigaton problem,'" Dravid said. "In many ways the nanoscale interactions that we study have implications for macrolevel remediation." The team has demonstrated that the sponge-based approach is effective on scales, ranging from milligrams to kilograms, suggesting promise in scaling even further. This research builds on a former development from the same team - Vikas Nandwana, a member of the Dravid group and co-author on the present study was the first author -called the OHM (oleophilic hydrophobic multifunctional) sponge that used the same sponge platform to selectively remove and recover oil resulting from oil contamination in water. By modifying the nanomaterial coating in the membrane, the team plans to next use their "plug-and-play"-like framework to go after heavy metals. Ribet also said multiple pollutants could be addressed at once by applying multiple materials with tailored affinities. "This water remediation challenge hits so close to home," Ribet said. "The western basin of Lake Erie is one of the main areas you think of when it comes to eutrophication, and I was inspired by learning more about the water remediation challenges in our Great Lakes neighborhood." ### The research, "Phosphate Elimination and Recovery Lightweight (PEARL) Membrane: A Sustainable Environmental Remediation Approach," was supported by the National Science Foundation (award number DMR-1929356). Research for the paper made use of SHyNE resource facilities, which are supported by the NSF National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NSF-NCCI) program. Benjamin Shindel, Roberto dos Reis and Vikas Nandwana -- all from Northwestern -- coauthored the paper. Researchers analyze whether it is possible to simultaneously grow the economy while not producing more pollution Pollution from manufacturing is now widespread, affecting all regions in the world, with serious ecological, economic, and political consequences. Heightened public concern and scrutiny have led to numerous governments considering policies that aim to lower pollution and improve environmental qualities. Inter-governmental agreements such as the Paris Agreement and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals all focus on lowering emissions of pollution. Specifically, they aim to achieve a "zero-emission society," which means that pollution is cleaned up as it is produced, while also reducing pollution (This idea of dealing with pollution is referred to as the "kindergarten rule.") Of course, any efforts to achieve this goal require monetary investment and changes to manufacturing strategies, which, many worry, could hurt the economy. Now, a modeling study conducted by researchers from Tokyo University of Science and The Shoko Chukin Bank, Japan, published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, shows that it is possible to achieve economic growth simultaneously with environmental preservation. "There are existing models that look at how economies fluctuate under various conditions, such as differing environmental quality or tax rates, but these models haven't examined the effects of implementing the kindergarten rule," Prof. Hideo Noda, the study's lead author, explained. "So we thought it was important to extend the model and include a condition where the hypothetical society spends a part of its GDP to achieve zero emissions. Looking at emissions is also more tangible and easier to grasp than a vaguer concept of 'environmental quality.'" The researchers used an economic model that allows for movement back and forth between two stages: a no-innovation phase and an innovation phase. The key to this model is the importance of innovation; previous models that focus on the environment and the economy did not account for innovation (e.g., research and development) as a major driver of economic growth in most developed nations. Acknowledging this connection is essential for improving our knowledge regarding how environmental problems and economic growth are linked. When researchers included rules for the zero-emission society, the model indicated that it was compatible with economic growth (i.e., a sustained GDP growth), despite a portion of the GDP being dedicated to reducing pollution. For this to work, however, the model says that the GDP needs to be above a certain level. Additionally, the amount of GDP allocated to lowering pollution must be flexible. Researchers also observed that under the no-innovation phase, GDP growth is higher and the amount spent on pollution reduction decreases faster. In contrast, under the innovation phase, GDP growth is lower and the decrease in amount spent combating pollution is also slower. According to Prof. Noda, this work provides important theoretical groundwork for policy, because currently, the relationship between zero emissions and economic growth isn't well understood. "Yet, this topic is extremely relevant to any policy push for sustainability--for example, one section of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals explicitly focuses on economic growth," he explains. "Our model should help persuade the leaders of some countries that it is feasible to reduce emissions without tanking the economy." That, Prof. Noda hopes, may in turn make leaders more eager to implement the changes that are urgently needed to address global environmental crises like climate change. ### About The Tokyo University of Science Tokyo University of Science (TUS) is a well-known and respected university, and the largest science-specialized private research university in Japan, with four campuses in central Tokyo and its suburbs and in Hokkaido. Established in 1881, the university has continually contributed to Japan's development in science through inculcating the love for science in researchers, technicians, and educators. With a mission of "Creating science and technology for the harmonious development of nature, human beings, and society", TUS has undertaken a wide range of research from basic to applied science. TUS has embraced a multidisciplinary approach to research and undertaken intensive study in some of today's most vital fields. TUS is a meritocracy where the best in science is recognized and nurtured. It is the only private university in Japan that has produced a Nobel Prize winner and the only private university in Asia to produce Nobel Prize winners within the natural sciences field. Website: https:/ / www. tus. ac. jp/ en/ mediarelations/ About Professor Hideo Noda from Tokyo University of Science Dr. Hideo Noda is a Professor at the Department of Business Economics, School of Management at Tokyo University of Science. Prof. Noda has a PhD in Economics from Kyushu University, Japan. He is the sole author of this paper, and has over 40 research publications to his credit. His chief research areas include economic growth, infrastructure management, and work-life balance. Funding information This study was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (20K01639) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. After decades of discussion, the legislature last week gave final approval to a bill that gives all adult adoptees access to their original birth certificates. That slip of paper contains the name of the adoptees birth mother as well as the name they were given at birth. A spokesman for Gov. Ned Lamont said he has yet to receive the bill, but he has expressed no opposition to it. If it is signed by the governor, the measure would take effect on July 1. Artificial intelligence promises to be a powerful tool for improving the speed and accuracy of medical decision-making to improve patient outcomes. From diagnosing disease, to personalizing treatment, to predicting complications from surgery, AI could become as integral to patient care in the future as imaging and laboratory tests are today. But as University of Washington researchers discovered, AI models -- like humans -- have a tendency to look for shortcuts. In the case of AI-assisted disease detection, these shortcuts could lead to diagnostic errors if deployed in clinical settings. In a new paper published May 31 in Nature Machine Intelligence, UW researchers examined multiple models recently put forward as potential tools for accurately detecting COVID-19 from chest radiography, otherwise known as chest X-rays. The team found that, rather than learning genuine medical pathology, these models rely instead on shortcut learning to draw spurious associations between medically irrelevant factors and disease status. Here, the models ignored clinically significant indicators and relied instead on characteristics such as text markers or patient positioning that were specific to each dataset to predict whether someone had COVID-19. "A physician would generally expect a finding of COVID-19 from an X-ray to be based on specific patterns in the image that reflect disease processes," said co-lead author Alex DeGrave, who is pursuing his doctorate in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering and a medical degree as part of the UW's Medical Scientist Training Program. "But rather than relying on those patterns, a system using shortcut learning might, for example, judge that someone is elderly and thus infer that they are more likely to have the disease because it is more common in older patients. The shortcut is not wrong per se, but the association is unexpected and not transparent. And that could lead to an inappropriate diagnosis." Shortcut learning is less robust than genuine medical pathology and usually means the model will not generalize well outside of the original setting, the team said. "A model that relies on shortcuts will often only work in the hospital in which it was developed, so when you take the system to a new hospital, it fails -- and that failure can point doctors toward the wrong diagnosis and improper treatment," DeGrave said. Combine that lack of robustness with the typical opacity of AI decision-making, and such a tool could go from a potential life-saver to a liability. The lack of transparency is one of the factors that led the team to focus on explainable AI techniques for medicine and science. Most AI is regarded as a "black box" -- the model is trained on massive datasets and it spits out predictions without anyone knowing precisely how the model came up with a given result. With explainable AI, researchers and practitioners are able to understand, in detail, how various inputs and their weights contributed to a model's output. The team used these same techniques to evaluate the trustworthiness of models recently touted for appearing to accurately identify cases of COVID-19 from chest X-rays. Despite a number of published papers heralding the results, the researchers suspected that something else may have been happening inside the black box that led to the models' predictions. Specifically, the team reasoned that these models would be prone to a condition known as "worst-case confounding," owing to the lack of training data available for such a new disease. This scenario increased the likelihood that the models would rely on shortcuts rather than learning the underlying pathology of the disease from the training data. "Worst-case confounding is what allows an AI system to just learn to recognize datasets instead of learning any true disease pathology," said co-lead author Joseph Janizek, who is also a doctoral student in the Allen School and earning a medical degree at the UW. "It's what happens when all of the COVID-19 positive cases come from a single dataset while all of the negative cases are in another. And while researchers have come up with techniques to mitigate associations like this in cases where those associations are less severe, these techniques don't work in situations where you have a perfect association between an outcome such as COVID-19 status and a factor like the data source." The team trained multiple deep convolutional neural networks on X-ray images from a dataset that replicated the approach used in the published papers. First they tested each model's performance on an internal set of images from that initial dataset that had been withheld from the training data. Then the researchers tested how well the models performed on a second, external dataset meant to represent new hospital systems. While the models maintained their high performance when tested on images from the internal dataset, their accuracy was reduced by half on the second set. The researchers referred to this as a "generalization gap" and cited it as strong evidence that confounding factors were responsible for the models' predictive success on the initial dataset. The team then applied explainable AI techniques, including generative adversarial networks and saliency maps, to identify which image features were most important in determining the models' predictions. The researchers trained the models on a second dataset, which contained positive and negative COVID-19 cases drawn from similar sources, and was therefore presumed to be less prone to confounding. But even those models exhibited a corresponding drop in performance when tested on external data. These results upend the conventional wisdom that confounding poses less of an issue when datasets are derived from similar sources. They also reveal the extent to which high-performance medical AI systems could exploit undesirable shortcuts rather than the desired signals. "My team and I are still optimistic about the clinical viability of AI for medical imaging. I believe we will eventually have reliable ways to prevent AI from learning shortcuts, but it's going to take some more work to get there," said senior author Su-In Lee, a professor in the Allen School. "Going forward, explainable AI is going to be an essential tool for ensuring these models can be used safely and effectively to augment medical decision-making and achieve better outcomes for patients." Despite the concerns raised by the team's findings, it is unlikely that the models the team studied have been deployed widely in the clinical setting, DeGrave said. While there is evidence that at least one of the faulty models - COVID-Net - was deployed in multiple hospitals, it is unclear whether it was used for clinical purposes or solely for research. "Complete information about where and how these models have been deployed is unavailable, but it's safe to assume that clinical use of these models is rare or nonexistent," DeGrave said. "Most of the time, healthcare providers diagnose COVID-19 using a laboratory test, PCR, rather than relying on chest radiographs. And hospitals are averse to liability, making it even less likely that they would rely on a relatively untested AI system." Researchers looking to apply AI to disease detection will need to revamp their approach before such models can be used to make actual treatment decisions for patients, Janizek said. "Our findings point to the importance of applying explainable AI techniques to rigorously audit medical AI systems," Janizek said. "If you look at a handful of X-rays, the AI system might appear to behave well. Problems only become clear once you look at many images. Until we have methods to more efficiently audit these systems using a greater sample size, a more systematic application of explainable AI could help researchers avoid some of the pitfalls we identified with the COVID-19 models." This group has already demonstrated the value of explainable AI for a range of medical applications beyond imaging. These include tools for assessing patient risk factors for complications during surgery and targeting cancer therapies based on an individual's molecular profile. ### This paper is one of two studies from this group to appear in the current issue of Nature Machine Intelligence. Lee is also the senior and corresponding author on the second paper, "Improving performance of deep learning models with axiomatic attribution priors and expected gradients," for which she teamed up with Janizek, his fellow M.D.-Ph.D. student Gabriel Erion, Ph.D. student Pascal Sturmfels, and affiliate professor Scott Lundberg of Microsoft Research. This research was funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. For more information, contact DeGrave at degrave@uw.edu, Janizek at jjanizek@uw.edu and Lee at suinlee@uw.edu. Gunmen kill at least two, wound more than 20 outside Florida banquet hall Assailants opened fire on a crowd outside a concert in Florida early on Sunday, killing at least two people and wounding more than 20, police and media reports said. Monday, May 31, 2021 What did Jim Garrison say or write on Rose Cherami? Here is an excerpt from his Playboy Magazine interview of October 1967: Garrison mangles the story. He claims a hospital attendant took notes of Cherami's remarks, but that is not true. There was nothing in Cherami's files about any comments on the assassination. Cherami didn't check out of the hospital - she was taken out by Lt. Francis Fruge of the Louisiana State Police. He took her to Houston to help investigate her tip on narcotics - not her supposed foreknowledge of the JFK assassination. There is no mention of Rose Cherami in A Heritage of Stone, or in On The Trail of The Assassins. I guess he reconsidered the story and felt it was not important. Or untrue. Serious researchers are also abandoning the Rose Cherami story. Anthony Summers sent an email to several researchers in March 2017: "I had not until now seen Dave's [David Reitzes] take on the Cherami matter, and am very impressed by it. As I wrote a couple of days ago [in another email], my misgivings on the subject were sufficient to drop it from the 2013 edition of my book on the case -- it had previously been only a footnote. My continuing interest in the episode had been sustained especially by Dr. Weiss' comment as to what Dr. Bowers had told him. Absent any interview with Bowers -- that I knew of - what Weiss said seemed to sustain the possibility that there was something to the overall story. Now that we have Bowers' account, that possibility seems to evaporate. I now lean towards the likelihood that - though Francis Fruge appeared forthright during his conversations with me -- he too may have fabricated or at least garbled. I think the Cherami episode should now be consigned to the junk pile - as a red herring that one could well do without." And Larry Hancock posted the following on the Education Forum: "As it turns out given the information available it seems very unlikely that Rose actually heard anymore than some general gossip that was running through certain networks out of Miami. Its unlikely the two men with her had anything to do with the conspiracy and very unlikely that they were Arcacha Smith or Santana." Anthony Summers is right - it's time to put the Cherami story in the junk pile. The talented chefs of San Antonio will once again be in the national spotlight as Emily Hersh begins her run on Gordon Ramsays Hells Kitchen: Young Guns, which debuted May 31 on Fox. Herch, who crafts vegetable-forward, Mediterranean-inspired dishes at restaurateur Jason Dadys Jardin at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, will be one of two plant-based chefs (she cooks both vegan and vegetarian dishes) competing this season a first for Ramsays show. U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Susan Collins of Maine have led a resolution condemning the recent bomb attack on a girls' school in Afghanistan that killed more than 85 people and injured 150 more. The resolution condemns all forms of violence targeting women and supports international efforts to ensure that Afghan girls can safely attend school. AUSTIN, Texas The Texas Senate advanced a massive elections bill Sunday morning, after an hourslong, overnight debate in which Democrats blasted the GOP majority for releasing just hours earlier a new version of the legislation that expanded its restrictions and penalties. Discussion on the sweeping voting legislation kicked off just after 10:30 p.m. It went on for more than seven hours with Democrats peppering the bills author with questions about what the legislation would entail. In the end, the bill passed shortly after 6 a.m. 18-13 with all Senate Democrats voting against it. The bill would still need the approval of the Texas House by Sunday at midnight before it can advance to Gov. Greg Abbott, who has said he will sign it into law. Democrats in the House will likely try to deal the bill an 11th-hour death blow using procedural tactics. Senate Democrats bemoaned the late night debate Sunday, and complained they only had a few hours to digest new additions to the bill. The final version of the bill clocked in at 67 pages 44 pages longer than an earlier draft. They said the bill targets voters of color, reduces access to the ballot and will ultimately land the state in court. Texas has a pretty tragic past of suppressing voters. Weve been in the courts for decades, Sen. Beverly Powell, D-Burleson, said just after 2:30 a.m. I have grave concerns about any bill that was crafted in the shadows or passed late at night. Bill author Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, described the legislation as a common sense approach to keeping elections safe and voting honest. We want elections to be secure and accessible, Hughes said. Senate Bill 7, if it becomes law, would set uniform early voting hours, empower partisan poll watchers and put new criminal penalties on voting officials and assistants who break the rules. During closed-door discussions on the final bill, Republicans added provisions culled from bills that died this session, such as a requirement that mail-in ballot applicants provide an identification number on their documentation, or pledge they do not have an ID. They also included several new sections not found in any early version of the legislation, including provisions to make it easier to overturn the results of an election and to allow partisan poll watchers who believe they are illegally impeded from observing an election to seek legal relief. If the bill becomes law, Texas will join several red states that have overhauled their voting procedures to enhance election integrity since the 2020 presidential election, perpetuating an unfounded claim that voter fraud was widespread in that contest. On Saturday, President Joe Biden likened the Texas legislation to recent laws passed in Georgia and Florida that he said were wrong and un-American and an assault on democracy targeting Black and Brown voters. The first five hours of Senate debate were a tense, yet cordial, slug fest with Hughes on the receiving end of several rounds of volleys from indignant Democrats. Sen. Nathan Johnson of Dallas criticized Republicans for tacking failed bills onto the elections legislation. This seems more like youre trying to get in bills that you couldnt pass, or you thought of some other way to do some things that many of the members of this chamber dont want you to do, he told Hughes. Is the process worth anything? Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, wondered aloud why there were more than a dozen law enforcement officers stationed in the Senate gallery when there were only a handful of spectators. Do you feel threatened by the 13 people who oppose this report in any way? Zaffirini, who has served in the Senate since 1987, asked, referring to the chambers Democrats. Do I feel threatened? No, senator. Should I? Hughes responded. I always feel safe at the Capitol. Good, Zaffirini said, smiling. I hope we dont look dangerous. Just after 3 a.m., Hughes and Sen. Borris Miles, D-Houston, had a tense exchange about the bills effects on minority communities and whether the chambers Black and Latino members were appropriately consulted. Youre making it harder for people of color to cast their vote, Miles shot out, to which Hughes insisted, No, sir, were not. Over and over again, this session, legislation has been passed that is harmful to people of color, Miles said, adding sarcastically, Thank you for bringing this horrible bill to the voters of the state of Texas. Hughes said he took Democrats concerns into account, axing a provision that would have cut the number of polling places serving voters of color in urban areas. Several Democrats peppered Hughes with tough questions about other specific provisions that were left or added in. Rep. Royce West of Dallas asked why the bill expanded early voting on Sundays from five to six hours but restricted opening hours to between 1 and 9 p.m. You dont find that kind of disingenuous? The greatest number of people that vote on Sunday is African American, West asked Hughes. Referring to legislation that could expand the hours Texans can buy alcohol on Sunday, he then quipped, So, were going to be able to buy beer at 10 oclock in the morning but we cant vote until 1 oclock? Hughes voted against the bill moving up alcohol sales, but told West it was too late to change the legislation now. Democrats also asked Hughes which portions of the bill specifically targeted voting measures Harris County implemented in 2020. Those provisions about drive-through voting and 24-hour voting and unsolicited mail-in ballot applications came from Harris County. But theres a whole bunch more in the bill, Hughes responded. As the main defender of the bill, he said it is the Legislatures priority and prerogative to make voting laws more uniform. He repeatedly said the provisions in the bill would apply to all voters equally, across the board. One county doesnt get to make up the rules, he said. The state decides what the Election Code is, and then the county has to follow that. Refugee boys and girls crowded the parking lot. Women in hijabs watched from a dusty yard. Older men lingered on the sidewalk. The crowd gathered when they saw Army veteran James Pobanz drive his green and yellow rental truck to the Wurzbach Manor Apartments, home to immigrant families resettling in San Antonio. When he raised the rear cargo door to reveal a dozen mattresses, there was a stir of excitement. Every eye focused on the mattresses that companies and individuals had donated to Pobanzs nonprofit, VetStrong, for distribution to veterans and the refugee resettlement community. The families encircled Farhana Khan, of the Razakaar Foundation, who works with VetStrong and provides referrals for refugees in need. Khan spoke to excited clients set to receive a mattress. Many were from Afghanistan, where Pobanz was deployed for two years during Operation Enduring Freedom. The veterans brother, Spencer Pobanz, 52, and nephew, Donald Pobanz, 18, helped lift the bedding from the truck to awaiting, outstretched hands. After they offloaded the last mattress, the crowd clamored for more. James Pobanz said hed return later in the week, but he wont have to announce his arrival the residents will be on the lookout. On ExpressNews.com: To serve until I die - Retired Army pediatrician strives to help the poor, homeless and victims of COVID I take a lot of pride in trying to help, Pobanz, 46, said. If we can help a displaced population like this, well do whatever we can. They truly are starting from zero, so we want to give them a chance to be successful citizens and for the next generation to be a bigger part of the community and the country. Four years ago, Pobanz founded VetStrong, an all-volunteer nonprofit that delivers furnishings to recently rehoused formerly homeless veterans. The group helps 300 veterans and their families each year. They also offer the Peer to Peer Program to help veterans going through a rough time, addiction, COVID-related isolation, loss of loved ones or thoughts of death. Rebuilding lives VetStrongs primary clients are veterans, but Pobanz said theyve reached out to help other populations in need. In addition to referrals from the Texas Veteran Network, the group has requests from caseworkers for refugees. Two years ago, they began working with Khan to deliver furniture to her clients, who are rebuilding lives in a new land. Its very rewarding to see how they grow over time, she said. Pobanz understands their plight. The Army veteran said he sponsored two Afghan interpreters who worked with his unit to immigrate to the United States. These gentlemen saved my life and helped us avoid some dangerous situations, Pobanz said. Its almost like paying back, but now we continue with the refugees. VetStrongs founder sees a future where the organization offers service across the city on a broader scale. And, as a disciple of sweat equity, Pobanz said making that impact will require one thing his corps of volunteers doing their part to make life a little better for fellow veterans. On ExpressNews.com: Fitness knows no age: San Antonio woman, 85, finds freedom through yoga Pobanz followed a family tradition of serving in the military, like his father, Donald Pobanz, who was in the Air Force and, later, the State Department. In 1995, James Pobanz, born in Owatanno, Minnesota, enlisted in the Army, to create his own career and a pathway to the GI Bill. His 17 years of service included four combat deployments overseas in Kosovo, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. When he separated from the military, Pobanz studied at the University of Texas at San Antonio, earning his bachelors and masters degrees. In Spring 2014, Pobanz interned with the GI Forum through a fellowship with The Mission Continues, working 20 hours a week. He learned the ins and outs of veteran nonprofits and became privy to the needs of men and women who had served their country. Two years later, Pobanz received the Presidents Volunteer Service national award for 281 community service hours. Changing lives Concentrating on the furniture aspect of their needs, Pobanz developed his operation with several fellow veterans. For six months, the crew used their own pickups for deliveries. Hes witnessed scenarios that confirmed their work was more than delivering furniture. They were changing lives. Pobanz recalled a veteran they helped two years ago who was involved in a case with Child Protective Services. He had rented an apartment but didnt have any furniture, a requirement for custody of his children. Pobanz said they delivered all of the furnishings the veteran needed to outfit a home and meet the agencys request. The guy was in tears, Pobanz said. To see that it was a difference-maker to help him get his kids was something special. During the pandemic, the deliveries slowed down because of coronavirus safety protocols. Michael Murray, 50, who served six years in the U.S Marine Corps, was one of the veterans affected by the policy. Murrays Veteran Affairs counselor guided him to the nonprofit just as COVID-19 spread across the nation. His shipment of furniture was delayed because of the pandemic. When the VetStrong volunteers arrived three weeks ago, they brought Murray furnishings that included a bed, kitchen items and a recliner. It was a major help, Murray said. It helped me save money and get ahead. It felt wonderful to know a veteran was offering help. All veterans stick together were a band of brothers. On ExpressNews.com: Former Green Beret survived IED explosion in Afghanistan to own successful San Antonio real estate company Military camaraderie The nonprofit is raising funds for a truck to help complete its mission. Currently, volunteers have to use their own trucks, rent or borrow a truck to pick up and deliver donated items to their clients. When word spread about VetStrongs need, the response was swift from the veteran community. It was military camaraderie that prompted Army veteran Levi Rodgers, of Levi Rodgers Real Estate Group, to create a GoFundMe page that helped the nonprofit raise $38,900 for a vehicle. Rodgers, a former Green Beret, said most veterans feel their service doesnt end once they step out of the uniform. I think thats what is neat about those who have served and especially those who continue to serve, he said. Its the larger impact they have for the safety, security and prosperity of the American people. Its taking what they learned and applying it post service. vtdavis@express-news.net Preservation experts are working to save the Alamos iconic mission-era church as its walls disintegrate. The Alamo, one of the most recognized structures in the Southwest, is a sick patient, according to George Skarmeas, an architect with Preservation Design Partnership of Philadelphia. Four-foot-thick walls once thought to be solid have been found to have interior voids, rubble and moisture. The historic stone masonry at the church is deteriorating at significant rates, Skarmeas said. Now, the most ambitious study over the last 25 years seeks to find a solution. Sensors measuring temperature and moisture have been placed in the delicate limestone walls of the 300-year-old structure. There are more sensors up to 7 feet below ground, beneath the buildings 5-foot thick foundation. Pam Rosser, the Alamos on-site conservator since 2010, said theyve never done a study like this. Its one of Texas most precious artifacts, and we have to take care of it, Rosser said. This is like a patient at the hospital, and its hooked up to a bunch of monitors, she added. Weve got the best team of doctors who are overlooking all the data just as if you were in the hospital looking at your chart daily. On ExpressNews.com: Researcher studying Alamo Church to see if it was painted in mission era The tall, space-age-looking units that monitor moisture send data to experts through a secure web-based system, and they stand in sharp contrast to the structure that bears carvings on its facade from master mason Dionisio Gonzales dating back from 1767 to 1772. The yearlong study began in late April as a huge step in a years-long process to ensure the church will remain standing for future generations, Rosser said. Its going to inform us with a lot of data to help us know what is the best conservation plan for the Alamo and not just guessing, Rosser said. A shrine People with ties to Texas history feel a strong visceral connection when passing through the churchs wooden double-entry doors. Laurie Matthews, a fourth-generation descendant of David Crockett, the Alamos most celebrated defender, travels from her hometown in North Texas to visit the church once a year. She pays her respects to Crockett and the other 188 Texian and Tejano defenders known to have died in the earning morning battle of March 6, 1836. By many accounts, Crockett was killed or executed near the church. The feelings start the moment you walk in the door, said Matthews, 69. Its a shrine. Thats where we go to find our peace and to think about what happened there. Matthews said she feels respect and honor inside the church, a national historic landmark and one of the finest examples of Spanish ecclesiastical buildings on the North American continent. It is a shrine to Texas liberty and to liberty in general. And thats what America is all about, she said. Rosser said the Alamos team of consultants is the best of the best. That includes Skarmeas, who led development of an Alamo master plan five years ago, and Michael C. Henry, principal engineer/architect and founding partner of Watson & Henry Associates of Bridgeton, N.J. I know that theyre going to come up with a number of solutions that were going to have to do. Its not just going to be a one-fix, Rosser said. Solutions might include a sophisticated underground drainage system, structural reinforcement of the walls and replacing the churchs century-old concrete roof with a lighter structure. Skarmeas said it would be premature to speculate about what preservation solutions might be best. But he said the work done in recent years has confirmed the loss of masonry in specific areas of the building. In 2016, experts put down black paper by the walls in four rooms to measure deterioration. They collected 64 pounds of material loss flakes and chunks of the limestone. Rosser estimates the entire church lost about 250 pounds of its walls during the two-year study. Everyones known these walls are deteriorating, but I think once the black paper showed that huge amount of loss, it was a big eye-opener, Rosser said. Whats puzzling is data showing material loss as bad on the interior walls as the exterior walls exposed to rain and other weather elements. To understand environmental effects on the building, the Alamo has had an automated weather station by the church since 2015. The new monitoring units have been placed on both sides of three exterior walls and one interior wall. It doesnt matter whether its an exterior-interior wall or a completely interior wall you have the same amount of loss. And we dont understand that, Rosser said. On ExpressNews.com: Alamo Church to reopen to public after six-month pandemic closure Patterns of distress The church, built from five types of limestone, has shown more severe loss than the Long Barrack or Mission Concepcion church, made mostly of a porous type of limestone called tufa. Rosser said shes most worried about wall loss in the confessional and baptistry, two front rooms of the church. Some have suggested the buildings air conditioning and vibrations from traffic in Alamo Plaza have contributed to the problem. Rosser said each wall and even portions of walls or individual stones have their own patterns of distress. Theres a stone near the exit door that at certain times of the year has a lot of moisture that exfoliates itself. Its wet. And then the stones around it are not. There are so many interesting characteristic traits about the interior and exterior of this building and how each stone or surface is different, she said. The current moisture study will reveal how liquid or vapor moves through the building, contributing to crystallization of soluble salts on and inside the walls. It also will show the expansion and contraction of clays embedded in the stones. To get a complete picture, crews dug deep enough to put sensors below the foundation, where they found a builders trench and a thick layer of caliche that might be interfering with below-ground drainage. In a 1995 experimental effort to contain the rising damp effect of ground moisture penetrating the walls, a quarter-inch metal sheet, called a monel plate, was placed in the lower south transept wall of the church. A quarry saw was used to cut into the stone. Though some have suggested similar work throughout the church, Rosser said experts still dont know if the plate helped. Although infrared studies showed the wall had less moisture above the plate, recent excavations found portions below it were heavily deteriorated and very, very wet. A moisture monitor unit has been placed near the plate. Renowned stone conservator Ivan Myjer, who has worked on the churchs famed facade, has called it a building thats lost in time. It was supposed to have twin bell towers, resembling the church at Mission Concepcion. But even though friars and indigenous people of Mission San Antonio de Valero celebrated Mass in its sacristy and held special worship services in its nave, the church never was fully completed. When the mission was converted to a Spanish military outpost in the early 1800s, the roofless church functioned as a pharmacy for the first hospital in Texas, housed in the adjacent Convento/Long Barrack. In the 1836 siege and battle, the nave had a dirt ramp leading to a platform where Texians fired three cannons above the altar area while women and children took refuge in the sacristy. The U.S. Army later added the signature hump-shaped parapet to the facade in about 1850 and used the church as a warehouse a purpose it would serve for decades until the state acquired the building in 1883. The Daughters of the Republic of Texas rescued it from neglect in the early 1900s. Whats really interesting about this structure is it was under construction for so long. And then it was abandoned, Rosser said. And so you had these walls that were up, but they were exposed to the elements for so long. Then the Army came in, and it still looked like it was OK to them, and then they added a roof. They took a ruin and gave it a roof. But it was a ruin. Though the Alamo is undergoing a massive $450 million overhaul that includes constructing a museum and visitor center, a modern collections and exhibitions building, and a makeover of the city-owned plaza, Alamo Executive Director Kate Rogers has said preserving the sites only two mission-era structures is critical. Theres been a lot of important work done on the conservation and restoration of the Long Barrack and the church, which has to be our top priority, she said. Today, the dimly lit church is treated reverently. Indoor photography is prohibited. On ExpressNews.com: 4D theater, museum galleries, civil rights exhibit to bring Alamo to life The presence of spirits Native American healer Linda Ximenes senses the spiritual presence of people who have lived and died when she enters the church, which was declared a cemetery last year by the Texas Historical Commission after new discoveries of human remains. You feel it as soon as you come in the door. You can feel that theres a presence there and that ancestors are glad to see you, to know that youre there, said Ximenes, a descendant of Coahuiltecans who occupied missions of South Texas. Its always a very moving and touching experience to go inside the church, she said. The fact that it was a place of worship for the original people is certainly impactful for me. Ximenes, who lives in San Antonio and visits the Alamo frequently, said she recently met an Alamo Ranger whose wife and son speak Cherokee. He said he, too, could feel the spirits. Theres an energy there thats very spiritual. Its not necessarily a particular religion, said Ximenes, 77. Theres aspects of it that certainly were Catholic because they were Catholic. Theres also a sense of connection to the Earth that is one of the hallmarks of indigenous people of that time. You do feel that connection with whatever was happening in that church, and then how that connected down to Mother Earth and to Father Sky. Matthews, the Crockett descendant, said the church is the most important building in Texas to us and to many other Texans and to people around the world. And I feel like the restoration should actually be done to the highest professional standards possible, by the worlds best experts, Matthews added. shuddleston@express-news.net Photos of the week May 24-30 Some of the best pictures of the week captured by Express-News photographers Photos of the week May 24-30 Some of the best pictures of the week captured by Express-News photographers Express-News photographers captured many San Antonio stories last week, from a memorial for those lost to COVID-19 to honoring the fallen on Memorial Day. Plus, a teen's battle with a rare cancer and people who were eager to travel or just get outdoors. Here are some of the best photos of the week, May 24-30. Like other buglers in the Fort Sam Houston Memorial Services Detachment actually, like every U.S. military bugler since the Civil War retired Air Force Col. Jay Baker is familiar with the song played at veterans burials across America. Taps, hell tell you, is far more than two dozen melancholy notes. Its such a simple melody and everybody knows it, but its almost like a haunting melody, in a way, said Baker, 83. Its probably the most recognized melody that we have in music. I guess its the perfect arrangement of 24 notes to make a tribute to a departed veteran. On Monday, buglers and veterans Mike Kinkade and Robert Ramirez will play the echo version of taps as part of the Memorial Services Detachments commemoration of Memorial Day at the cemeterys assembly area, featuring five riflemen. The 338-acre cemetery, the final resting place for 170,536 veterans and their dependents, will be open for graveside visits, but the ceremony will be closed to the public, as it was last year, as a COVID-19 precaution. Yet even without an audience, the buglers will feel the pressure to play a simple song simply, and with feeling. You only got one shot to do it right, said Kinkade, 72, of San Antonio. And so all of us really work hard to make sure that we are as perfect as we can be every single time we play. Theres great meaning to a song that sounds the final chapter of a veterans life. Thats especially the case on Memorial Day, which before the coronavirus pandemic might draw 2,500 people to the assembly areas semicircular concrete benches and well-tended lawn. On ExpressNews.com: Cemetery marks 40,000th veteran saluted by San Antonios all-volunteer honor guard First established to honor the Civil Wars fallen, Memorial Day is perhaps the most solemn of days in San Antonio, called Military City, U.S.A. because of its three big bases and ties to the armed services that go back to Spanish rule over Texas. It was once known as Decoration Day, evolving into a tradition by the end of the 19th century and expanding after World War I to salute U.S. troops killed in all conflicts. Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday in 1971, about the time Ramirez, 72, was trying to find his footing in San Antonio after coming home from war. His sense of feeling truly settled took many more years, as things turned out. An Edgewood High School graduate who was drafted after quitting San Antonio College, he was a door gunner in an assault helicopter unit, flying mostly night missions and standing guard on his base during the day. Though Ramirez often was blurry-eyed from short rations of sleep in his year at war, the meaning of taps came into focus, and remembering helps him play it. When Im playing taps, I feel like Im making a run, said Ramirez, 72, recalling his role in a UH-1 Huey gunship, hanging out the door, one foot on top of the rocket pods, the other foot inside the chopper, and a 60 going like crazy. I can just think and run right through it, he said. Every time I do play it, it brings back memories of that time, of all the soldiers that passed away, that died. On ExpressNews.com: On Memorial Day, Anbar Marines carry the barrel Seven buglers are among 107 veterans in the Memorial Services Detachment. The size of the squads, which work Monday through Friday, was reduced from 15 members to 10 last June as a COVID protection measure. The detachment recently brought it back to 15, with seven riflemen. They no longer wear masks, unless they havent been vaccinated. Three of their members have refused to be vaccinated. The bugler, as always, stands apart from the rifle detail, alone. To me, the meaning is the final song before you go to heaven, Ramirez said. You can hear the family crying. Its a happy crying. We consider it sacred to play taps. Historians say taps is rooted in an infantry bugle call to Extinguish Lights at the end of the day, a tradition borrowed from the French. Earlier, three slow beats of a drum signaled lights out, and soldiers had called it drum taps or simply taps. In 1862, Brig. Gen. Dan Butterfield, believing the regulation tune was too formal for the purpose, worked with his bugler, Oliver Willcox Norton, to compose a more peaceful-sounding alternative. They were camped at Harrisons Landing in Virginia, where the Army of the Potomac had retreated after failing to take Richmond in a string of hellish battles known as the Seven Days. Losses were high on both sides, and Butterfield himself had been wounded at one of them, Gaines Mill, on June 27. Norton wrote that the general had written the notes in pencil on the back of an envelope and made changes as he played. Another version of the story is that Butterfield whistled what he wanted and worked with Norton until it sounded right. The music was beautiful on that still summer night, and was heard far beyond the limits of our brigade, Norton wrote. The next day I was visited by several buglers from neighboring brigades, asking for copies of the music which I gladly furnished. An artillery commander at Harrisons Landing had to bury a corporal and, unable to fire rifle volleys at the funeral for military reasons, ordered the new taps to be played instead. He later wrote that he and his men were moved by it. The song spread quickly. Units sent to Western states took it with them. Even Confederate buglers picked it up. The earliest official reference to the mandatory use of taps at military funerals appeared in the U.S. Army Infantry Drill Regulations for 1891, but by then it was a standard practice. Kinkade, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who has performed at more than 1,000 funerals with the volunteer detachment at Fort Sam, has played the trumpet on and off for 65 years. The songs history, he asserted, has had a profound influence on buglers. All of our live buglers are well versed in the history, Kinkade said. It gives you a better sense of what youre doing and the importance of what youre doing. When his grandfather, a Rough Rider, died in California, the sounding of taps at the burial made an impression on Kinkade, a band student who was entering junior high school. Soon enough, he was playing military bugle calls, and he performed with bands while in college, where he was an ROTC student. Taps had long been part of Kinkades repertoire when he joined the detachment as a bugler years after retiring from the Army. Bakers love affair with the bugle also started as a young man, when, in high school, the band director got him out of class to play taps at veterans funerals. It was a good way to skip school, but things changed after a 28-year Air Force career as a jet pilot that included 700 combat hours in the F-4 Phantom over Vietnam in 1970 and 1971. I lost a lot of friends some to aircraft accidents, some to combat and I attended a lot of memorial services for friends that had died flying airplanes in the Air Force, Baker said. And obviously that built up a very rich understanding of the meaning of taps and the memorial services that we give our veterans. Mark Jordan, a medically retired Army staff sergeant who served in Iraq in 2004, 2006 and 2008, joined the detachment after his dad, mom and an uncle were buried at Fort Sam. He decided he wanted to play but had to teach himself. Two years after Baker handed him a bugle, Jordan got up the nerve to sound taps at a funeral for the first time. His dad, who served 42 years in the military, is never far from mind. I think of him every time I play, said Jordan, 45. On ExpressNews.com: American POWs family, waiting in San Antonio, had no idea how dark his days would get As a soldier with 30 years experience in Army bands, C. Dale Taylor, 70, knows its easy to hit a sour note during a funeral. He recalled that it happened at President John F. Kennedys burial at Arlington National Cemetery, and he can understand how, given the pressure. Getting it right starts with being in the right frame of mind, said Taylor, the son of a Navy Seabees veteran from World War II. The first thing you have to do is you have to have confidence. If you lose confidence, you can miss a note, Taylor said. Im not only just thinking of that. A lot of times I have personal prayer for the person that passed away and especially the friends and relatives and loved ones. And when I play, most of the time I close my eyes and I just put all my thought into what Im doing then. sigc@express-news.net In what was, so far, the best baseball game of the week, the Jaguars pulled their 33rd win out of the fire and salvaged a gem of a start from their star pitcher. NEW BRAUNFELS Nidia Hernandez of San Antonio watched her 4-year-old niece Nadali fret with anticipation as she waited for her raft to be put in the Comal River Sunday. Hernandez and her party of six were among about 100 people who stood in line Sunday morning for at least an hour before the gates opened at 10 a.m. at Prince Solms Park in New Braunfels. On ExpressNews.com: After last year's 'disaster,' New Braunfels ready for river recreation restart I want to go with them, Nadali hollered at her father, Ruben Hernandez of Houston, as she pointed at two teen-aged relatives who had just tossed their tubes in the mostly slow-moving river and began floating away. She grew impatient as her father settled himself on their raft and secured Nadalis life vest before taking the plunge. The child was clearly excited as she splashed into the chilly water. She clapped, raised both arms in the air and grinning ear-to-ear, yelled, Yeah! Marvin Pfeiffer, San Antonio Express-News / Staff Photographer Families made the trek from places like San Antonio, Houston, Fort Worth and Midland on Sunday for the traditional Memorial Day weekend opening of tubing season on the Guadalupe and Comal rivers. Marvin Pfeiffer, San Antonio Express-News / Staff Photographer Although the morning began with clouds and spotty sprinkles, the sun cut through the clouds just as the gates opened. Many said it was their first official outing since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and they were out to celebrate being vaccinated and able to move freely outside without any precautions. On ExpressNews.com: Comal River closed today due to rain; tubing still available in Guadalupe River New Braunfels officials were expecting 7,000 to 10,000 people to float down the Comal and Guadalupe rivers Memorial Day weekend. However, overnight rains Friday forced officials to close parts of the Comal River on Saturday. Last week, New Braunfels Mayor Rusty Brockman said that after last years disastrous season, the business community was ready to receive tourists. Marvin Pfeiffer, San Antonio Express-News / Staff Photographer Tourism is a big industry in New Braunfels said Michael Meek, interim president and CEO of the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce. The restaurants, hotels and river operations bring in about $700 million to the local economy from holidays like Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. For Jose Valenzuela of Midland, he and his party of 10 were keeping true to a new tradition they began last year tubing the rivers. Express Briefing: Get the morning headlines in your inbox It feels great, he said after the group posed at the entrance to take a picture with their tubes. Valenzuela said the virus hit him and others in his family. But now that all are well, he looked forward to coming out to have a good time with family and friends. I am tired of having to wear a mask. Floaters unpacked picnic supplies, fired up barbecue pits and slathered their bodies with sunscreen before plunging into the water with their floating devices. Others sat on the river bank, either on picnic tables or blankets, and people-watched. This is freedom, said Lucy Rodriguez from Houston, as she sat on blankets with four others in her party of 11. They planned a picnic of sandwiches later. Marvin Pfeiffer, San Antonio Express-News / Staff Photographer We came to unwind, relax and enjoy, Rodriguez said, adding they go tubing at least three times a year. Now that all of her family is vaccinated, she said she doesnt have to worry. Its time to get out and get back to normal, she said. Whatever normal is now. ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863 Texas House Democrats staged a dramatic exit from the state Capitol late Sunday, blocking the passage of a controversial voting bill just before a midnight deadline. As members were gathering their things and walking out, Gov. Greg Abbott conceded that the priority bill was dead for now. He vowed to resurrect the election bill and another on bail reform in a special session. It is deeply disappointing and concerning for Texans that neither will reach my desk, Abbott said in a statement. Ensuring the integrity of our elections and reforming a broken bail system remain emergencies in Texas. Lawmakers were already planning to reconvene later this year to handle redistricting once U.S. Census Bureau data delayed by the pandemic is finally released; it was unclear Sunday whether Abbott plans to add the voting bill to that special session, or call one sooner. Pass or fail: How Texas' most controversial, talked-about bills fared this legislative session Democrats declared at least a short-term victory, saying they were forced to abscond after it became clear that Republicans were going to deny them the ability to talk at length before the bill was voted on. Critics including voting rights advocates have for months denounced the legislation as discriminatory, particularly against voters of color. Until theyre willing to listen to us and we can make decisions together, were going to stand united and were going to fight for the state of Texas, Rep. Jessica Gonzalez said in a press huddle outside of a Black church in East Austin. Gonzalez, a co-chair of the House elections committee, was one of several Democrats who said they had been iced out of the bills last-minute negotiations. Democrats and voting rights groups cheered the successful maneuver that killed a bill they had been denouncing for months as discriminatory and voter suppression. We used all the tools in our toolbox to fight his bill and tonight we pulled out that last one, and we used what the rule book allows, Rep. Nicole Collier, D-Fort Worth, said at the news conference, flanked by the rest of the House Democratic Caucus. The Democrats walkout left fewer than the 100 members required on the House floor for a vote. It requires a quorum, and we were not there because we are no longer going to stand and allow them to continue to push measures that disenfranchises our voters, Collier said. We were going to run the clock out Senate Bill 7 would have barred early voting past 9 p.m. anywhere in Texas and ended drive-thru voting and mass-mailing of vote-by-mail applications, all methods pioneered by Harris County during the pandemic. The bill also sought to create or expand penalties for more than a dozen election-related crimes including for local election officials who reject valid ballots or count invalid ones and guaranteed partisan poll watchers free movement and other protections. A last-minute add to the bill would have allowed judges to void elections if the number of alleged illegal votes exceeded the margin of victory without verifying they actually tipped the election. The bill had been stuck in conference committee for about a week and a half before it was released Saturday. Tension had been building between Senate and House in the final weeks of the session, and last-minute additions to the bill by Senate Republicans provided House Democrats with even more objections to lodge. One of the ugliest anti-voter bills in the country died today in the 2021 Texas Legislature, said Sarah Labowitz, policy and advocacy director with the ACLU. Democratic lawmakers broke quorum in a courageous move that shows just how hard Texans are willing to fight to protect their constitutional right to vote. She added: We remain vigilant against any attempt to bring back this racist bill in a special session. Republicans had said the bill is necessary to prevent fraud in Texas elections, big or small despite no evidence of widespread fraud or of wrongdoing by county elections workers and wasnt meant to single out any one demographic. Of course, I can try and empathize with it and try to put myself in their shoes, but at the end of the day, we made an oath to the people of Texas that we would be here and do their business, one of the bills authors, Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, said late Sunday night. I look forward to seeing them in a special session. Texas House Democratic Caucus Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, texted members at about 10:45 p.m. telling them to leave the chamber. Turner said dozens of Democrats were prepared to give speeches against the bill, but breaking quorum was a last resort when it became clear that Republicans planned to shut down debate. Democrats scattered, some staying in the building and some exited. Rep. Michelle Beckley, D-Denton, retreated to her office. We were going to run the clock out one way or the other, she said. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, meanwhile, laid the blame on House leadership for taking time off at the end of session to force the Senate to move on certain bills. I cant even blame it on the other party for walking out; they got an opportunity to walk out because of the deadline, Patrick said from the Senate floor Sunday night. I speak ... for the frustration of 31 Senators and a lieutenant governor and the people of Texas who expected us to get our job done on time. And I want to remind the people of Texas: The Texas Senate, every bill that got killed over there, we passed, weeks and months ago. Texas voting laws already among strictest The legislation came after historic turnout in 2020, when a surge of voters in large urban areas including Harris County helped Joe Biden come closer than any Democrat in 40 years to winning Texas in a presidential election. Democrats had fought the bill from the moment it was introduced Sunday, bringing multiple points-of-order before the chamber had even started to debate the bill. First, the chamber had to approve a resolution allowing additions to the bill added by Senate Republicans that werent in previous versions. Rep. Travis Clardy, R-Nacogdoches, said the committee worked hard to come up with language that would resolve substantive differences, would eliminate duplication and conformed the bill with existing election law. But Democrats decried the lack of debate and public input on those additions. One such provision would make it easier to overturn an election in which fraudulent votes are suspected by lowering the standard for proving fraud in criminal court. Another allows judges to declare elections void if the number of alleged illegal votes exceeds the margin of victory, without actually checking those votes. Just think about that. Your election could be overturned without the other side being required to prove actual voter fraud, said Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Carrollton. The implications of this are unthinkable. If the legislation were to pass in a special session, it would put Texas among at least 14 states that have enacted 22 measures restraining voting rights this year, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University. At least 250 laws had been proposed by Republican lawmakers in 43 states as of March. Texas already has some of the most restrictive voting laws in the country. In a statement to the media, Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan of Beaumont emphasized that other legislation also died because of the Democrats walkout. The Democrats killed a number of strong, consequential bills with broad bipartisan support including legislation to ban no-knock warrants, reform our bail system, and invest in the mental health of Texans items that their colleagues and countless advocates have worked hard to get to this point, Phelan said. Texans shouldnt have to pay the consequences of these members actions or in this case, inaction especially at a time when a majority of Texans have exhibited clear and express support for making our elections stronger and more secure. Cayla Harris and Jeremy Blackman contributed to this report. taylor.goldenstein@chron.com The claim: We now have more job openings than we do people who are on unemployment. We have 60 percent more job openings today than we did the month before the pandemic hit the state of Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott. The Texas Workforce Commission reports that 1,029,890 million Texans are currently receiving unemployment payments; about 31 percent of them are receiving aid as self-employed workers. PolitiFact rating: True. Based on Texas Workforce Commission methodology, there are 1,022,000 job postings on state-run and privately run job boards, some of which represent more than one job. That is slightly more than the 1,029,890 Texans on unemployment as of the most recent data. Furthermore, that 1,022,000 number is indeed about 60 percent higher than the 645,000 job openings the Texas Workforce Commission counted in February 2020. Discussion About PolitiFact PolitiFact is a fact-checking project to help you sort out fact from fiction in politics. Truth-O-Meter ratings are determined by a panel of three editors. The burden of proof is on the speaker, and PolitiFact rates statements based on the information known at the time the statement is made. See More Collapse On May 18, Abbott followed 18 other Republican governors by rejecting federal pandemic unemployment benefits. In a press release, a tweet and an appearance on Fox News, Abbott justified the decision by citing two figures that he argued illustrate the states post-pandemic economic recovery. First, there are more job vacancies than people receiving unemployment benefits; and second, the number of job openings in the state today is significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. Abbotts decision, which goes into effect June 26, will cut $300 weekly payments to unemployed Texans by ending the states participation in the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program. Abbott also ended the states participation in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which provided self-employed people with aid throughout the pandemic. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox As of March, the unemployment rate in Texas stood at 6.9 percent, or nearly 970,000 people, which is down from the pandemic high of 13 percent in April 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Texas Workforce Commission reports that 1,029,890 million Texans are currently receiving unemployment payments; about 31 percent of them are receiving aid as self-employed workers. The states withdrawal from the federal benefits programs comes at the urging of business leaders, who said that 60 percent of Texas businesses were hiring for at least one position and blamed their hiring struggles on the $300 weekly aid payments. But are there more job vacancies in the state than unemployed people, as Abbott claims? And how does the number of job openings today compare to pre-pandemic levels? The Texas Workforce Commission, which provided Abbott with a job vacancy estimate at his request, explained how they determined this figure. According to a spokesperson, the state workforce agency found that a combined 850,000 jobs had been posted to the agencys two state-run job boards WorkinTexas.com and MyTXCareer.com. Then, using third-party software, the agency combined this total with the number of Texas job listings posted to private job boards like Indeed and Monster.com. The exact point of the software is to determine the number of jobs without double counting, since most jobs are posted on multiple sites, said Workforce Commission spokesperson James Bernsen. According to this methodology, there were about 1,022,000 job postings in Texas as of May 11, which is slightly less than the total number of people currently receiving unemployment benefits. But the job vacancy total comes with one caveat, Bernsen said. Because a single job posting may have more than one job vacancy associated with it, the total number may be a bit deceptive, he said. However, the agency didnt provide an estimate for how this caveat may affect the 1,022,000 total. Turning to Abbotts second claim that the state has 60 percent more job openings today than in February 2020 we look again at data from the Texas Workforce Commission. Using the same methodology that determined the present number of job openings, the Texas Workforce Commission found that about 645,000 jobs were available across the states job boards and private job boards in February 2020. Thats a 58.4 percent increase between the February 2020 number and the 1,022,000 job vacancies recorded on May 11. Critics argue that low wages are to blame for employers hiring difficulties rather than the $300 weekly unemployment payments. Rick Levy, president of the Texas AFL-CIO, a pro-labor group, has called Abbotts analysis too simplistic, and says that these computer-generated statistics ignore barriers to employment people continue to face. A bunch of business people said they wanted this to happen, and thats why this is happening, Levy said. And now [the governors office is] going back and backfilling their reason with this computerized approach. Hours after Democrats in the Texas House blocked sweeping new voting restrictions, Gov. Greg Abbott vowed to retaliate by stripping funding for all lawmakers and legislative staff from the coming two-year budget. I will veto Article 10 of the budget passed by the Legislature. Article 10 funds the legislative branch, he tweeted Monday. No pay for those who abandon their responsibilities. Stay tuned. The governors threat comes as legislators are already preparing to reconvene for a special interim session at some point this year to take up redistricting and some conservative priority items that have stalled, including the voting measure. Democrats reacted incredulously, questioning how or why the governor would want to cut funding to an entire branch of state government that, in addition to themselves, funds Republican lawmakers and nonpartisan agencies. ?, tweeted Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin. This would eliminate the branch of government that represents the people and basically create a monarchy. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Abbott offered no other details and his press secretary did not respond to a request for more information. A spokesman for House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, declined to comment. The governor has until late June to veto legislation. Legislators make $7,200 annually, and most either work other jobs, are retired or are independently wealthy. They also receive stipends to hire staff. The Republican-controlled Legislature on Monday was wrapping what many consider to be among the most conservative sessions in years. Lawmakers were able to roll back gun regulations, enact stiff new abortion restrictions, strip budgeting authority from Democrat-led cities and limit how teachers talk about racism in America. But adding new voting restrictions to the states already strict election laws remains a central priority, building on former President Donald Trumps false claims that he lost last years election because of fraud. Democrats and voting rights advocates have denounced the legislation as discriminatory, particularly against voters of color, and staged a dramatic walkout on Sunday night, delaying a vote on the election bill before a midnight deadline. Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston, said the governors response showed the intense pressure he has come under from conservative factions in his party as he prepares for reelection next year. I think the message is that hes going to be the party leader, and hes not afraid to burn some bridges, Rottinghaus said, though he questioned why the governor wouldnt target other budget articles that could more clearly undercut Democrats. jeremy.blackman@chron.com SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea said Monday the U.S. allowing South Korea to build more powerful missiles was an example of the U.S.s hostile policy against the North, warning that it could lead to an acute and instable situation on the Korean Peninsula. Its North Koreas first response to the May 21 summit between the leaders of the United States and South Korea, during which the U.S. ended decades-long restrictions that capped South Koreas missile development and allowed its ally to develop weapons with unlimited ranges. The accusation of U.S. policy being hostile to North Korea matters because it said it wont return to talks and would enlarge its nuclear arsenal as long as U.S. hostility persists. But the latest statement was still attributed to an individual commentator, not a government body, suggesting North Korea may still want to leave room for potential diplomacy with the Biden administration. The termination step is a stark reminder of the U.S. hostile policy toward (North Korea) and its shameful double-dealing, Kim Myong Chol, an international affairs critic, said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. It is engrossed in confrontation despite its lip-service to dialogue. The U.S. is mistaken, however. It is a serious blunder for it to pressurize (North Korea) by creating asymmetric imbalance in and around the Korean Peninsula as this may lead to the acute and instable situation on the Korean Peninsula now technically at war, he said. The United States had previously barred South Korea from developing a missile with a range of longer than 800 kilometers (500 miles) out of concerns about a regional arms race. The range is enough for a South Korean weapon to strike all of North Korea but is short of hitting potential key targets in other neighbors like China and Japan. Some South Korean observers hailed the end of the restrictions as restoring military sovereignty, but others suspected the U.S. intent was to boost its allys military capability amid a rivalry with China. The commentator Kim accused Washington of trying to spark an arms race, thwart North Korean development and deploy intermediate-range missiles targeting countries near North Korea. The South Korean government said it prudently watches North Korea's reaction, but Unification Ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo wouldn't comment otherwise, since the remarks were attributed to an individual, not an official statement from the North Korean government. The North Korean statement comes as the Biden administration shapes a new approach on North Korea amid long-dormant talks over the Norths nuclear program. During their summit, Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in said a new U.S. policy review on North Korea takes a calibrated and practical approach that is open to and will explore diplomacy with the North. U.S. officials have suggested Biden would adopt a middle ground policy between his predecessors Donald Trumps direct dealings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Barack Obamas strategic patience. Some experts say Biden wont likely provide North Korea with major sanctions relief unless it takes concrete denuclearization steps first. The North Korean statement criticized the Biden administrations review indirectly, saying the new policy was viewed by other countries as just trickery. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) For Iranian-American Maz Jobrani, a stand-up show in Dubai marked the first time he's been in front of a major live audience overseas since the start of the coronavirus pandemic and he feels it. Doing stand-up comedy is kind of like going to the gym you have to get up on stage five, 10 times a week," said Jobrani, sitting in a Dubai hotel overlooking Burj Khalifa, the worlds tallest building. "You have to keep going or the muscles are going to be rusty. Jobrani had a calm demeanor during a recent interview with The Associated Press. It was a far cry from the exaggerated expressions and dancing he's known for in his performance. Taking to the stage at the recent Dubai Comedy Festival, Jobrani broke into an Iranian dance routine to one of Dua Lipas hit pop songs, drawing laughter from an audience eager to be out as the coronavirus pandemic still rages across much of the world. The United Arab Emirates has one of the worlds highest per-capita vaccination rates and its economy largely has reopened. Being on stage has become a luxury for comedians, Jobrani said, with some not being able to perform for over a year. After venues shut down last year, extra creativity was required. First, Jobrani started doing shows on Instagram, updating his fans on what he did daily during the lockdown, or doing workouts using random objects. Then he tried drive-in shows, which posed the same problem for stand-up comedy as online video calls: You dont hear their laughter," he said. "You need to remind them: If you like what Im saying, if you like the joke, please honk, he recounted. So people would honk at you, you tell a joke (and) they would honk at you. In some U.S. states, he performed at outdoor venues to a limited capacity audience. At others he performed indoors. In Arizona and Florida he performed in comedy clubs, where he said he felt nervous because it was before the vaccine was rolled out. Comedians need interaction were best in a room, with an audience, laughing, talking," he said. And this remote world took that away from us but again I think we adapted, a lot of people adapted. Jobrani, originally from Iran, moved to California at age 6 with his family. Like many Iranians they had fled the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution. He grew up in the San Francisco area. His acting credits begin just after the Sept. 11 attacks with a major role in the American action series 24, in which he played a member of an Afghan militant group hoping to detonate a nuclear bomb in Los Angeles. Later he stopped taking such roles, but still played with the theme, setting up the Axis of Evil comedy tour. He wrote a book entitled Im Not a Terrorist, But Ive Played One On TV. His comedy is largely fueled by that and his background. During Donald Trump's term in office, he focused on the U.S. president. You know in the past four years, I was very political, constantly with the Trump stuff, Trump, Trump, Trump," he said. You know the Muslim ban, you know kids in cages, you know the mishandling of coronavirus. Jobrani's visit to Dubai came at an edgy moment for the wider Middle East. Tensions still remain high between his native Iran and the U.S. as negotiations continue over Tehran's tattered nuclear deal with world powers as a hard-liner appears poised to take the presidency. The day of his set, Israel and the Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers agreed to a truce after an 11-day war killed more than 250 people, mostly Palestinians in Gaza, and caused heavy destruction in the impoverished coastal territory. While Jobrani discussed the conflict and the region's politics in an interview with the AP, he didn't mention it in his set. Its interesting because what you do as a comedian, you know, your job is to make people laugh, Jobrani said. If I lived here and if ... I felt there was some injustice and I really wanted to speak up about it, Id probably find the right way to do that within this society. The UAE only last year reached a diplomatic recognition deal with Israel and signed the accords at the White House with Trump but Jobrani thinks Trump shouldn't be praised for the accord. There had not been a will to solve that problem, the Israeli-Palestinian" issue, he said. I feel again maybe governments, especially America, did not prioritize it, even under Obama and then especially under Trump. It was laughable that a lot of conservatives in America were like, Well, Trump made peace in the Middle East," he said. "I go: They werent at war, what are you talking about? Life doesnt seem to be slowing down for the comedian. He is continuing to tour, creating his podcast Back To School With Maz Jobrani, spending time with his wife and two kids and taking care of a dog they adopted during the pandemic. But even as his jokes touch on politics, he says he feels whiplash from what he described as all the material and chaos of the Trump presidency. I will say Im almost exhausted from it, its almost were suffering a PTSD from the past four years, Jobrani said. "But the problem is, what I feel is injustice in the world has not stopped, it continues. So sometimes Im like, Oh God, Ive got to get back on that roller coaster. ___ Follow Malak Harb on Twitter at www.twitter.com/malakharb. SALEM It was a normal Sunday at Salem Prime Cuts for Adam Ritchotte until slicing a beef-shoulder blade resulted in an accident that butchers refer to as a widowmaker. Ritchotte, a 28-year-old Baltic resident, suffered a nearly fatal, accidental laceration to his groin during the incident on March 7, but was saved by his partners quick response to help stop the bleeding. I had a six-inch boning knife in my hand, and I was pulling it across the bone, and the knife jumped off the table and went four, five inches into my groin, Ritchotte said. Ritchotte and his partner, Sean Kelley said they knew the injury was serious. Kelley described using his knee to apply pressure to the wound before emergency medical personnel arrived on scene. This is an amazing story that touches so many different levels, said Dr. Kyle McClaine, a Hartford HealthCare physician who spoke last week during the health systems press conference about the incident. It touches community awareness of stop-the-bleed efforts. It touches the EMS training that we have. It touches the hospital system. Ritchottes injury usually leads to people bleeding out within three minutes, according to McClaine, EMS medical director at Backus Hospital. Ritchotte, a combat veteran, instructed his coworker to apply direct pressure to the wound and call 911, which saved his life, Hartford HealthCare said in a press release. Even with a swift turnaround time, McClaine said, he would have been dead three times over before EMS arrived. McClaine said the training that Hartford HealthCare gave its EMS professionals in wound-packing and tourniquet use have been critical in such incidents. It worked perfectly in this scenario, he said, later noting that a responding EMS official was a combat medic who was trained in wound-packing. Through Adams own knowledge of stop-the-bleed, Scotts efforts, the paramedics, and the EMTs and the firemen were able to get the patient to Backus Hospital. McClaine said Ritchotte was stabilized with an emergency surgery, where doctors tied off the severed blood vessel and stabilized him for transport by LifeStar and, later, at Hartford Hospital, where other surgeons repaired it. Then, Adam was able to have the benefit of a large health care system with a very comprehensive vascular program to help him in his recovery as well, he said. Knowing the importance of bleeding control, and how it can be done by anyone, McClaine said, is something that should be taught to the community at large. Dr. Edward D. Gifford, co-director of the Hartford HealthCare East Region Limb Preservation Program, said Ritchottes story exemplifies how working together can be built into in a health care program to try and give patients the best outcome possible. In the moment, for Adam, what teamwork looked like was having Dr. Coletti, one of the general surgeons and the chief of surgery at Backus Hospital, call me on the phone and tell me what he was up against, Gifford said, later adding this comprehensive, start-to-finish health care system is reliant on strong collaboration. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Get 25% off of the regular $65 annual All Access rate. With this subscription you will get: Digital access to ElPasoInc.com and archives (value $45) Print subscription home or business delivered (value $65) Book of Lists (annual rate only, value $50) El Paso Inc. Magazine (value $20) El Paso Kids Inc. Special sections - OR - Get 15% off of the regular $45 annual Digital-only rate. With this subscription you will get: Complete digital access to ElPasoInc.com. You may not be experiencing a lot of adventure right now, so its the perfect time to live vicariously through the world of films and web-series. Trying to define an action movie can yield several different answers, but we like to think of the genre as run-and-gun, fist-to-fist escapism that stands the test of time and occasionally comes with tinges of comedy or sci-fi. The best of the best action web series are fairly available on OTT platforms, offering plenty of reliably diverting high-octane action sequences and spine chilling musical beats. Some of them that you can't miss out on are: 1. Tenet Tenet is reportedly one of Christopher Nolans most expensive undertakings to date. It is a testament to Nolan's critical and commercial pull that hes one of the only filmmakers in Hollywood that a major studio like Warner Bros. is willing to give a giant budget to direct an original film. 'Tenet' sees a secret agent embarks on a dangerous, time-bending mission to prevent the start of World War III. Like the directors previous smash hits Inception, and to a lesser degree, Interstellar Tenet demands repeat viewings to understand the plot. 2. Without Remorse Recently released Without Remorse opened up to a huge applause from the viewers. The web film is an adaptation on the novel 'Without Remorse', written by Tom Clancy and published in 1993. Set during the Vietnam War, it serves as an origin story of John Clark, one of the recurring characters in the Ryanverse. Without Remorse introduces Clark as former Navy SEAL John Kelly and explains how he changed his name. It establishes, in its opening scene, not only his formidable physicality, but also his ideology. The film has garnered appreciation all across and this is your perfect dose of action! The film's action sequences are hailed by the audience, which will keep you hooked to your seats till the end. 3. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) team up in a global adventure that tests their abilitiesand their patiencein Marvel Studios The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. The all-new series is directed by Kari Skogland. 4. The Mandalorian The Mandalorian is an American space Western television series created by Jon Favreau. It is the first live-action series in the Star Wars franchise. It stars Pedro Pascal as the title character, a lone bounty hunter who goes on the run after being hired to retrieve 'The Child'. Salman Khan has filed a defamation case against Kamaal R. Khan last week after KRK allegedly called him and his company Being Human a fraud and a front for money laundering. The matters were taken to court and Salmans spokesperson issued a statement saying that KRK has apologised and accepted to not comment on the case till the hearing is done. But Kamaal took to social media to reiterate that he has neither apologised nor said anything about Salman and his family unless it is related to his films. He further said that he will not stop reviewing his films no matter the circumstances. Parineeti Chopra is over the moon with the praise and applause she is getting following the release of Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar. The actor has had two other releases this year - The Girl On The Train and Saina. Now, the actor has spoken about how sexism permeates every part of a woman's life in some way or the other. "This film is uniquely written. People have become so immune to the patriarchy that they dont even think about it. Women in India face this every day. When Im getting my house renovated, the contractors dont talk to me properly because Im a woman. They ask if theres someone else at home they can talk to. I say, No, I bought this house, Ive made the payments. Its mine so I will choose the tiles. When I tell them to talk to me, they refuse. This film has a lot of similarities to my personal life," she told a leading film website. On being asked what her favourite scene from Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar was, she said: "My favourite scene is the paratha achaar one in which all the men are seated while the women are standing. Neena Guptas character is also standing. Shes so used to the patriarchy that shell never ask Arjuns character to pass the pickle, but shell ask me why Im seated. While shooting this scene, I was reminded of the small town I grew up in, where the women werent allowed to eat till the men went to sleep. They couldnt eat while the men were still seated at the dining table. Even at my house, my mother wasnt allowed to sit and eat. Its not that my father made her do this, but it was an unspoken rule in the house. The most important thing about this film was the marriage between my character, Sandy, and me this mixture of real and reel life. This was me saying, Lets smash the patriarchy. We were trying to show how accepted the patriarchy is in India and how much we wish that would change." Philippines President is stuck between an enemy he cannot trust and a friend he does not like. --Interview with Prof Carl Shuster by Sanjay Kumar, New Delhi. NEW DELHI, May 30, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Tension is mounting in the South China Sea with the Philippines refusing to withdraw vessels from Whitsun Reef. Some 220 Chinese vessels congregated in early March at Union Banks and Whitsun Reef, providing for the present standoff between China and the Philippines. The area involved in the present dispute is well within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines. China wants to dominate the South China Sea because that would give Beijing a strategic advantage against Taiwan and Japan, before risking a conflict over the Senkaku. President Xi Jingping has always gone for an easy target that he believes can be achieved with minimal risk and costs. Recent media reports suggest that China has warned the United States that it will face defeat if the two superpowers go to war, testimony to what China thinks about its military might. The threat to the US has come from China in response to the joint military exercise recently carried out by the US, Japan, Australia and France amidst tension in the East China Sea. The involvement of the People's Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM) of China in disputes along the maritime borders of the Philippines, Vietnam and Japan cannot be ruled out. This militia comprises mainly fishermen and coastal workers from China. In fact, due to early militia gains, China built 'fishing shelters' to protect their fishermen in the Spratly Islands. Despite these activities, the Chinese government headed by Chairman Xi has denied any link between PAFMM and China's military. China claims that they are fishermen. This enables the PRC to deny any involvement of the Chinese government in these maritime disputes. Regarding the present deadlock in the South China Sea where the Chinese Maritime Militia is not ready to leave Whitsun Reef, Prof Carl Schuster of Hawaii Pacific University says that this poses a dilemma for the Philippines as the Chinese Maritime Militia is not doing anything to disturb the peace. Can the Philippines believe China and its militia? The Chinese militia may leave the spot temporarily and come back again. The Chinese Coast Guard does not escort them. Schuster believes that the Philippines have to keep a close eye on China's movement in the Whitsun Reef, particularly the Chinese Air Force. They don't have to fear until the Chinese Air Force becomes involved in the present stalemate. They need to watch every action of China and also send a message that they are watching. Prof Schuster says that the President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte dislikes the United States and does not want a situation where he has to seek US help. In Schuster's opinion, the United States should not help the Philippines either. By now Duterte should have realized that China is worse than the United States. The Philippine President is upset over the fact that if the United States was there to protect the Philippines from China and Russia, then why did it involve itself in the internal politics of the Philippines at the time of the coup. So, President Duterte is stuck between an enemy he can not trust and a friend whom he does not like. He is in a difficult spot. Schuster thinks that countries with interests in the South China Sea should come together and back their respective Coast Guard to end the present crisis. China, he says, goes for easy prey. Look back at 1996, when the Philippines stopped patrolling the area around Campones Island after the United States left. China took advantage of the situation and captured Campones Island after a 90-minute gun battle. The Philippines later said that they could not patrol the area due to bad weather, which could be a reality. Yet the Philippines' ships were old and they faced a Chinese fishing fleet with artillery and weapons. But it was too late, they had left it unoccupied, Schuster says. The Philippines took their eyes off the ball and paid for it. On being asked how to end the present stalemate in the South China Sea, Prof Schuster says the United States does not have a position on the South China Sea, it is between the claimants. The United States' only aim is to handle China. The Philippines never approached the United States at an official level to change its position. Schuster is of the opinion that the US can't do anything directly to end the stalemate. What the United States can do is to back up the Philippines Coast Guard in the South China Sea. Once China comes to know about this understanding, it will be a different ball game altogether. China is accustomed to moving in a vacuum. The situation will change completely if the American and Philippine Coast Guards would shadow the other's vessels. The only thing which stops an aggressor is the fear of defeat. In Schuster's view, more than the Philippines alone it will require a united effort by other countries affected by China's bullying in the region, and Vietnam, Japan and the United States are willing to help the Philippines. Duterte says he doesn't want to upset China, but when China bullies his countrymen, he gets very upset. China continues bullying the Philippine people because they know they can get away with it. The problem with Vietnam is larger. The Chinese will set up in Cambodia one day, which looking at the map, we see as a natural progression. This is going to expose Vietnam's entire western border. The Philippines will need submarines to defend its interests in the South China Sea, which Schuster suggests can be provided by Japan. Schuster believes Japan will help the Philippines with submarines and air power. Japan has a big stake in this area as 40% of Japanese maritime trade passes through this area. If China stops Japanese ships from entering the South China Sea, it would take 11 additional days for Japanese cargo ships to reach their destinations. What prevented Russia during the Cold War was not only fear of the United States but fear of the United States together with the European alliance. Likewise today, these several nations together can keep China in check. Such is the highhandedness of China that when an international arbitration held the present Chinese occupation illegal, China simply refused to abide by the judgment. However, this development will go in favour of the Philippines as the international community is aware of its disputed nature. Commenting on why China is more active in the South China Sea than the East China Sea, Schuster said that China places greater importance on the South China Sea because of its strategic location: the South China Sea is easier to dominate. The PAFMM base in Sanya is closer to the disputed territories in the South China Sea than the PAFMM base in Guangzhou is to the Senkaku, and the fleet must pass through Taiwan's waters. The East China Sea is not strategically located; the PRC's military bases and airfields are closer to the disputed territory in the South China Sea than they are to the US bases in Japan, and both US and Chinese bases are equidistant from Senkaku. Also, Japan's Coast Guard is stronger than those of Vietnam and the Philippines, so the PAFMM gets greater support in the South China Sea from the Chinese military establishment. Traditional thought in the Chinese military believes in isolating the enemy and establishing an advantageous geopolitical and military superiority before engaging in war. But the best leader is the one who achieves victory without fighting. Schuster reminds that China has secured much of the South China Sea using the PAFMM to expand control without firing a shot. It has worked so far. However, doing that around the Senkaku Islands may prove to be difficult and expensive. - Carl Schuster, commissioned Naval ROTC from the University of South Carolina in 1974, Captain Schuster served in a variety of U.S. and international posts at sea and ashore, Joint Staff Officer, Foreign Area Officer and Strategic Planner at his retirement in 1999. A widely published author with over 600 articles in print and on-call regional expert for CNN International, Prof Schuster has been teaching at Hawaii Pacific University since 2000. - Interview by Sanjay Kumar, May 2021, New Delhi, India. Former MSN Chief Editor and New Media content strategist, 26 years handling print and online news media, 20 years in new media, has worked with major online media organizations including Times Internet, NDTV Convergence, HT Media Ltd and India Today Group, as well as Microsoft. Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - Japan is scheduled to release a raft of data on Monday, headlining a busy day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. On tap are April figures for industrial production, retail sales, housing starts and construction orders, as well as May numbers for its consumer confidence index. In March, industrial production was up 2.2 percent on month and 3.4 percent on year, while retail sales gained 1.2 percent on month and 5.2 percent on year. Housing starts added an annual 1.5 percent and construction orders climbed 12.5 percent. In April, the consumer confidence index score was 34.7. Australia will see April figures for private sector credit; in March, credit was up 1.0 percent on month and 0.4 percent on year. South Korea will provide April numbers for industrial production, manufacturing production and retail sales. Industrial production is forecast to gain 1.5 percent on month and 11.2 percent on year after slipping 0.8 percent on month and rising 4.7 percent on year in March. Manufacturing production also gained 4.7 percent on year in March and retail sales were up 2.3 percent on month and 10.9 percent on year. Singapore will release April data for bank lending; in March, lending was worth SGD691.2 billion. China will see May results for its manufacturing and non-manufacturing PMIs; in Aril, their scores were 51.1 and 54.9, respectively. Thailand will provide April numbers for industrial production, retail sales, current account and its coincident index. In March, industrial production was up 4.12 percent on year, retail sales rose 0.2 percent on year, the current account deficit was $0.8 billion and the coincident index score was 127.2. Finally, the markets in Malaysia are closed on Monday for the Harvest Festival and will re-open on Tuesday. 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. TOKYO, May 31, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - The partners of the Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub, namely Shell, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Vattenfall and the municipal company Warme Hamburg can continue to be optimistic about receiving EU funding to implement their plans. The project in Hamburg has been included in the German Federal Ministry of Economics' shortlist of projects under consideration for funding under the EU's "Important Projects of Common European Interest" (IPCEI) program.The shortlist includes 62 projects from initially around 200 individual projects that applied for funding under the IPCEI program. The HH-WIN project, by the Hamburg gas network, which will provide the pipeline infrastructure for hydrogen transport in Hamburg, is also on the short list.The companies Shell, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Vattenfall and municipal company Warme Hamburg are planning how they can jointly produce hydrogen from wind and solar power at the Hamburg-Moorburg power plant site and utilize it in its vicinity. In addition to the construction of a scalable electrolyser with an initial output of 100 megawatts, the further development of the site into a so-called "Green Energy Hub" is planned. This includes the exploration of the extent to which the existing infrastructure of the Moorburg location can be used for the production of energy from renewable sources. In this context, concepts for the necessary logistics chains and storage options for hydrogen will also be considered. Subject to final investment decision and according to the current state of planning, once the site has been cleared, the production of green hydrogen is anticipated in the course of 2025 - making the electrolyser one of the largest plants in Europe.The four partner companies view the energy location as having ideal conditions for further use. It is connected to both the national 380,000 volt transmission network and the 110,000 volt network of the City of Hamburg. In addition, overseas ships can call at the location directly and use the quay and port facilities as an import terminal. The municipal gas network company also intends to expand a hydrogen network in the port within ten years and is already working on the necessary distribution infrastructure. Numerous potential customers for green hydrogen are located near the site, thus enabling the project to cover the entire hydrogen value chain - from generation to storage, transport and utilization in various sectors. With these prerequisites, the Moorburg location is optimal for the German federal state of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and Northern Germany and can become a potential starting point for the development of a hydrogen economy.The next step is a so-called "matchmaking" at EU level, which aims to bring together projects with a similar focus in the various EU Member States.About MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world's leading industrial groups, spanning energy, logistics & infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on www.spectra.mhi.com.Source: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Beijin, China--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2021) - The carbon emission problem has been repeatedly talked about ever since the Paris Agreement was signed by nearly 200 parties in 2016. As the cryptocurrency craze swept the world in 2020, worries arose about the high energy consumption generated to mine the likes of Bitcoin. The massive energy consumption around its Proof of Work (PoW) method of consensus is regarded as one of the key issues plaguing the whole industry. As a result, PoW has become a huge obstacle hindering Bitcoin, Ethereum and other PoW based blockchain consensus models from mass adoption. For any emerging technology to go mainstream, the potential impact it has on the environment plays a vital role and may lead to various difficulties if not dealt with properly. A famous automobile manufacturer recently changed its attitude towards accepting BTC as payment for its cars due to climate concerns, causing a new round of controversies about the actual benefits of blockchain and related industries, including DeFi. On the positive side, the concept of blockchain and cryptocurrencies is drawing unprecedented attention. However, criticism is building in prominent sectors of the media, accusing the tech of operating at the cost of the environment. Figure 1 To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7987/85835_7b9f0a22b4a909ad_001full.jpg This might be the reason users are witnessing an increasing amount of projects turning"green" these days. The notion of carbon neutrality has become a marketing proposition. Now, protocols and consensuses are determined to turn "green" by altering the way their whole projects operate, despite how challenging and complicated this process might be if it was not part of their origins. Distinguished from those chasing the trend, there is one blockchain platform that set climate change mitigation as its core development basis from the very beginning. That blockchain platform is RChain. RChain is a public blockchain committed to supporting the growth of smart contracts, facilitating complex coordination, and addressing global issues. The chain is powered by CBC-Casper Proof of Stake and Rholang, RChain Cooperative's own programming language. RChain's Proof of Stake method of consensus allows for a scalable world computer without the harmful effects found in bitcoin and Ethereum's Proof of Work approaches. The CBC consensus coupled with a concurrent virtual machine provides a mechanism for all nodes to produce and verify blocks concurrently and supports large data to be stored directly on-chain, hence eliminating the need to implement a separate storage layer. Meanwhile, Rholang, based on the revolutionary Rho Calculus, unlocks the maximum potential of blockchain by empowering developers to write smart contracts safely and allowing secure orchestration of large quantities of on-chain contracts. Key Features On its way to build an economically secured, leaderless distributed consensus algorithm, RChain deems it crucial to realize superior scalability and seamless interoperability at the same time. Almost all public chains, represented by Ethereum, have to serialize transactions. In other words, they process transactions sequentially, even though most of those transactions are by no means correlated with each other, as is the case in real life. Narrowing a multi-lane highway down to single lane would obviously throttle the traffic, making the whole infrastructure impossible to support a large amount of drivers (nodes) joining every day. In addition, in terms of supporting smart contracts, Ethereum also exposes massive security risks because developers programming on a global computer could produce very expensive bugs that can be by no means recoverable if exploited by attackers. Figure 2 To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7987/85835_7b9f0a22b4a909ad_002full.jpg RChain adopts a radically different development methodology, involving multiple innovations including: 1) a consensus layer based on Casper CBC, 2) concurrent execution based on block merging and 3) namespace based sharding. The Casper CBC protocol allows all nodes in the network to concurrently produce and approve blocks, instead of periodically electing one node as block producer using PoW or other PoS protocols as seen in most other blockchains. The block merging mechanism allows the system to quickly detect the conflicts between blocks without running them, so that non-conflicting blocks can be safely merged and new blocks can be produced on top of that. Best of all, RChain scales nearly linearly as you add hardware (nodes). All other blockchains either stay the same or get slower as you add hardware (nodes). RChain only gets faster! By scaling nearly linearly as you add hardware, one can see the pathway to a truly decentralized world computer. This design revolutionizes the way blockchain works, upgrading it from a rudimentary sequential machine to a modern, concurrent executing powerhouse. Sharding VS Namespace When combating the impossible triangle, the trilemma of simultaneously achieving decentralization, security and scalability, some developers would seek sharding as their ultimate solution to scalability. Sharding enables the network to process more transactions per second (TPS) by dividing a big network into smaller partitions. Much as it smooths the path for the system to process more transactions at any given time, the technique is difficult to implement and may result in a group of semi-independent sub-systems whose cross-shard coordination becomes much more complicated. RChain comes to the rescue! Figure 3 To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7987/85835_7b9f0a22b4a909ad_003full.jpg Unlike some of the popular projects that adopt an address based sharding approach, RChain classifies consensus groups based on business logics to expand the state space of on chain computation. The transactions accessing certain resources will be validated and approved by the corresponding consensus groups maintaining those resources. All these resources and consensus groups are organized into a tree like structure called a namespace. Its architecture is designed to realize concurrent block production and concurrent execution to achieve infinite scalability within a single shard as well as across multiple shards. With the implementation of the Rho-Calculus static deployment mechanism, block merging and fast conflict-detection algorithm, RChain also makes it possible for complicated cross-shard transactions to be verified and finalized atomically and concurrently by all involved shards. This means the cross shard transactions can be done seamlessly and safely just as within a single shard. Thanks to RChain's innovative and exclusive technologies, which facilitate inter-shard coordination without interfering with each shard's operation, RChain has faith in its vision to build an on chain world computer that embraces both scalability and composability. This is a task that only RChain can accomplish. More to Know Lucius Gregory Meredith, founder and CEO of RChain, talked about its history, saying: "We need a global decentralized world computer to help us address the coordination problems of climate change. That is the core vision of RChain." RChain recently joined the Climate Chain Coalition as well as the Crypto Climate Accord to facilitate international collaboration around the vital role that blockchain can play in climate change mitigation. Figure 4 To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7987/85835_7b9f0a22b4a909ad_004full.jpg RChain's efforts were also recognized by the International Finance Forum as the only invited public chain project to present their work in its 2021 spring meeting. The International Finance Forum (IFF) is one of the most influential independent international forums in the world, committed towards establishing multilateral dialogue and communications at highest level and conducting research on global financial matters. On May 30th, the 2021 Spring Meeting was held. For the first time in its history, digital currency and blockchain technologies were discussed in a special panel. During the panel discussion, Gregory shared the latest developments on the project, and also commented on the importance of bringing concurrency to the design of a workable digital currency system. At the same time, the forum was attended by the current and former presidents and top level executives from the regulatory and fiscal committees and central banks of major economies. Agenda of Panel Discussion Figure 5 To view an enhanced version of Figure 5, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7987/85835_7b9f0a22b4a909ad_005full.jpg As a ground breaking technology, RChain overcomes the scalability problem by bringing concurrency to blockchain. Its unique reactive smart contract system equipped with secure-enforcing behavior types, working in a leaderless setting, is more suitable than other projects for time sensitive, fairness requiring and mission critical decentralized applications such as DeFi. RChain's unique technology makes it the best candidate to build a functional world computer. Beyond this, the team takes the mission to deliver an essential global coordination tool to fight against climate change that will benefit the entire humanity. Figure 6 To view an enhanced version of Figure 6, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7987/85835_7b9f0a22b4a909ad_006full.jpg Media Contact Contact: Shixi Company Name: RChain COOPERATIVE Address: 12345 Lake City Way NE Suite 2032 Seattle, WA 98125 Website: https://rchain.coop/ Email: shixi.lin@rchain.coop To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/85835 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. Friday June 4th, 2021 8:00 am to 9:00 am EDT Regulatory News: GenSight Biologics (Paris:SIGHT) (Euronext: SIGHT, ISIN: FR0013183985, PEA-PME eligible), a biopharma company focused on developing and commercializing innovative gene therapies for retinal neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system disorders, today announced that it will host a Key Opinion Leader (KOL) call on June 4, 2021 from 8:00 am to 9:00 am EDT. The webinar will feature presentations by KOLs Jose-Alain Sahel, MD (University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine) and Botond Roska, MD, PhD (Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel), who will discuss the Nature Medicine Case Report of partial recovery of visual function in a blind patient with late-stage retinitis pigmentosa (RP)., The subject is a participant in the ongoing PIONEER Phase I/II clinical trial of GenSight Biologics' GS030 optogenetic therapy. Following the formal presentations, Drs. Sahel and Roska will be available to answer questions. In addition, GenSight's management team will discuss highlights from the Nature Medicine Case Report and provide an update on their pipeline candidate, GS030. Administered via intravitreal injection, GS030 uses an optimized viral vector (GS030-DP) to express the light-sensitive opsin ChrimsonR in retinal ganglion cells and proprietary light-stimulating goggles (GS030-MD) to project the right wavelength and intensity of light onto the treated retina. The webinar will be webcast live at https://bit.ly/3uzvG1j. You will need to register in advance to get access to the webinar. For those unable to attend the live broadcast, a recording will be accessible using the same link. The Nature Medicine Case Report can be found at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01351-4. A video of the patient performing the tests, which was submitted as supplementary material to the publication, can be viewed at www.gensight-biologics.com. About GenSight Biologics GenSight Biologics S.A. is a clinical-stage biopharma company focused on developing and commercializing innovative gene therapies for retinal neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system disorders. GenSight Biologics' pipeline leverages two core technology platforms, the Mitochondrial Targeting Sequence (MTS) and optogenetics, to help preserve or restore vision in patients suffering from blinding retinal diseases. Using its gene therapy-based approach, GenSight Biologics' product candidates are designed to be administered in a single treatment to each eye by intravitreal injection to offer patients a sustainable functional visual recovery. Developed as a treatment for Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), GenSight Biologics' lead product candidate, LUMEVOQ (GS010; lenadogene nolparvovec), is currently in the review phase of its registration process in Europe, and in Phase III to move forward to a BLA filing in the U.S. About GS030 GS030 leverages GenSight Biololgics' optogenetics technology platform, a novel approach to restore vision in blind patients using a combination of ocular gene therapy and tailored light-activation of treated retinal cells. The gene therapy, which is delivered via a single intravitreal injection, introduces a gene encoding for a light-sensitive protein (ChrimsonR-tdT) into retinal ganglion cells, making them responsive to light and bypassing photoreceptors killed off by diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Because ChrimsonR-tdT is activated by high intensities of amber light, a wearable medical device is needed to stimulate the treated retina. The optronic light-stimulating goggles (GS030-MD) encode the visual scene in real-time and project a light beam with a specific wavelength and intensity onto the treated retina. Treatment with GS030 requires patients to wear the external wearable device in order to enable restoration of their visual function. With the support of the Institut de la Vision in Paris and the team of Dr. Botond Roska at the Friedrich Miescher Institute in Basel, GenSight is investigating GS030 as therapy to restore vision in patients suffering from late-stage RP. GenSight's optogenetics approach is independent of the specific genetic mutations causing blindness and has potential applications in other diseases of the retina in which photoreceptors degenerate, like dry age-related macular degeneration (dry-AMD). GS030 has been granted Orphan Drug Designation in the United States and Europe. About Optogenetics Optogenetics is a biological technique that involves the transfer of a gene encoding for a light sensitive protein to cause neuronal cells to respond to light stimulation. As a neuromodulation method, it can be used to modify or control the activities of individual neurons in living tissue and even in-vivo, with a very high spatial and temporal resolution. Optogenetics combines (1) the use of gene therapy methods to transfer a gene into target neurons with (2) the use of optics and electronics (optronics) to deliver the light to the transduced cells. Optogenetics holds clinical promise in the field of vision impairment or degenerative neurological disorders. About Retinitis Pigmentosa Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a family of orphan genetic diseases caused by multiple mutations in numerous genes involved in the visual cycle. Over 100 genetic defects have been implicated. RP patients generally begin experiencing vision loss in their young adult years, with progression to blindness by age 40. RP is the most widespread hereditary cause of blindness in developed nations, with a prevalence of about 1.5 million people throughout the world. In Europe and the United States, about 350,000 to 400,000 patients suffer from RP, and every year between 15,000 and 20,000 new patients with RP lose sight. There is currently no curative treatment for RP. About the PIONEER Phase I/II trial PIONEER is a first-in-man, multi-center, open label dose-escalation study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of GS030 in 12-18 subjects with late-stage retinitis pigmentosa. GS030 combines a gene therapy (GS030-DP) administered via a single intravitreal injection with a wearable optronic visual stimulation device (GS030-MD). Eligible patients in the first three cohorts are those affected by end-stage non-syndromic RP with no light perception (NLP) or light perception (LP) levels of visual acuity. The extension cohort will include patients with hand motion (HM) and counting fingers (CF) levels of visual acuity. As per protocol, three cohorts with three subjects each will be administered an increasing dose of GS030-DP via a single intravitreal injection in their worse-seeing eye. An extension cohort will receive the highest tolerated dose. The DSMB will review the safety data of all treated subjects in each cohort and will make recommendations before a new cohort receives the next dose. The primary outcome analyses will be on the safety and tolerability at one year post-injection. PIONEER is being conducted in three centers in the United Kingdom, France and the United States. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210530005027/en/ Contacts: GenSight Biologics Chief Financial Officer Thomas Gidoin tgidoin@gensight-biologics.com +33 (0)1 76 21 72 20 LifeSci Advisors Investor Relations Guillaume van Renterghem gvanrenterghem@lifesciadvisors.com +41 (0)76 735 01 31 RooneyPartners Media Relations Jeanene Timberlake jtimberlake@rooneyco.com +1-646-770-8858 Orpheon Finance Retail Investors James Palmer j.palmer@orpheonfinance.com +33 (0)7 60 92 77 74 SAN FRANCISCO, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global drug testing market size is expected to reach USD 11.7 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.9% from 2021 to 2028. The introduction of innovative tests, stringent regulation mandating drug testing, and growing substance abuse & addiction are some of the factors anticipated to foster market growth during the forecast period. Key suggestions from the report: By product type, the consumables segment dominated the market in 2020, owing to its repetitive use to conduct substance abuse screening Based on sample type, the urine samples segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2020, as it is the most common method of sample collection Increased unemployment and economic crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic has made people more susceptible to substance abuse, thus created lucrative opportunities in the market The legalization of marijuana for medicinal as well as recreational use in several countries is anticipated to change the current scenario and may create demand for innovative testing solutions Stringent privacy rights in some countries are likely to limit substance abuse testing at workplaces, impeding market growth In Asia Pacific , the market is expected to witness lucrative growth over the forecast period as a result of the growing demand for substance abuse testing from emerging economies, such as China and India Read 120 page research report with ToC on "Drug Testing Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product Type (Consumables, Instruments, Rapid Testing Devices, Services), By Sample Type, By Drug Type, By End Use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/drug-testing-market Drug abuse and addiction is a global problem, affecting millions of people. As per the World Drug Report published by UNODC, in 2019, around 35.0 million people were suffering from drug use disorders globally. Such a high rate of drug abuse and substance use disorders has created a major demand for innovative tests to prevent, treat, and manage such cases. Several key players operating in this space are introducing innovative and efficient products to meet this growing demand. For instance, in June 2019, Quidel Corporation received the U.S. FDA's 510(k) clearance to market its fluorescence immunoassay-Quidel Triage TOX Drug Screen, 94600. This is intended for detecting the presence of metabolites or drugs in urine. Moreover, in June 2020, Cordant Health Solutions offered video-observed oral fluid drug testing to help courts & government agencies to monitor participants during the COVID-19 pandemic. This aided in combating several challenges faced by people with substance abuse disorders during the pandemic. Continuous government initiatives and implementation of strict substance abuse testing regulations to ensure safety have derived the demand for its testing products. In July 2020, the New Zealand government introduced a new bill that provides police the power to conduct random roadside drug testing of drivers to reduce impaired driving in the country. The new bill allows usage of oral fluid tests to check drivers for substances such as cocaine, ecstasy, cannabis, opiates, methamphetamine, and benzodiazepines. Also, in February 2020, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in India introduced extensive tests for pilots and flight crew members for psychoactive substances such as opioids & cannabis to ensure safe air travel. Grand View Research has segmented the global drug testing market on the basis of product type, sample type, drug type, end use, and region: Drug Testing Product Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Consumables Instruments Rapid Testing Devices Services Drug Testing Sample Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Urine Samples Oral Fluid Samples Hair Samples Other Samples Drug Testing Drug Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Alcohol Cannabis/Marijuana Cocaine Opioids Amphetamine & Methamphetamine LSD Others Drug Testing End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Drug Testing Laboratories Workplaces Hospitals Others Drug Testing Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany U.K. Spain France Italy Asia Pacific Japan China India Latin America Brazil Mexico Chile MEA South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE List of Key Players of Drug Testing Market Quest Diagnostics Incorporated Abbott Laboratories Quidel Corporation F. Hoffmann-La Roche Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. Siemens Healthineers Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Agilent Technologies, Inc. LabCorp Drvgerwerk AG & CO. KGaA Clinical Reference Laboratory (CRL), Inc. Cordant Health Solutions Legacy Medical Services, LLC Omega Laboratories, Inc. Find more research reports on Clinical Diagnostics Industry, by Grand View Research: HPV Testing And Pap Test Market - Global HPV testing and Pap test market size was valued at USD 1.7 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.4% from 2021 to 2028. in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.4% from 2021 to 2028. Blood Testing Market - Global blood testing market size was valued at USD 73.9 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3% from 2021 to 2028. in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3% from 2021 to 2028. Kidney Function Tests Market - Global kidney function tests market size was valued at USD 777.06 million in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2% from 2021 to 2028. 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 31 May 2021 Acron Holds Annual General Meeting on 28 May The shareholder meeting approved 2020 Acron Annual Report, accounting (financial) statements for 2020, Regulation on the Managing Board as amended, and recommendations of the Board of Directors regarding Acron's profit and loss distribution. The meeting resolved to declare 2020 cash dividends on Acron outstanding ordinary shares at the rate of RUB 30 per share. The record date is set for 8 June 2021. The shareholders elected the Company's Board of Directors as follows: Ivan Antonov Nikolai Arutyunov Vladimir Gavrikov Georgy Golukhov Alexander Dynkin Yury Malyshev Alexander Popov Two independent directors, Yury Malyshev and Nikolai Arutyunov, will sit on the elected Board of Directors. The shareholder meeting set the amount of remuneration to independent Board of Directors members. The shareholder meeting also approved: Crowe Russaudit as the auditor to approve accounting (financial) statements prepared in accordance with accounting laws of the Russian Federation KPMG as the auditor to approve financial statements prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The meeting of the elected Board of Directors following the annual shareholder meeting, elected Alexander Popov as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vladimir Gavrikov as Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors, Nikolai Arutyunov as senior independent director, and appointed Vladimir Kunitsky as CEO. The Board of Directors also formed the Acron's Managing Board consisting of Vladimir Kunitsky (Chairman), Vice President for Finance and Economics Dmitry Balandin, Finance Director Alexey Milenkov, Vice President for HR and Special Projects Irina Raber, Vice President Overseas Dmitry Khabrat, and Vice President for Domestic Business and Agricultural Projects Alexander Lebedev. Media Contacts: Sergey Dorofeev Anastasia Gromova Tatiana Smirnova Public Relations Phone: +7 (495) 777-08-65 (ext. 5196) Investor Contacts: Ilya Popov Sergey Smirnov Investor Relations Phone: +7 (495) 745-77-45 (ext. 5252) Background Information Acron Group is a leading vertically integrated mineral fertiliser producer in Russia and globally, with chemical production facilities in Veliky Novgorod (Acron) and Smolensk region (Dorogobuzh). The Group owns and operates a phosphate mine in Murmansk region (North-Western Phosphorous Company, NWPC) and is implementing a potash development project in Perm Krai (Verkhnekamsk Potash Company, VPC). It owns transportation and logistics infrastructure, including three Baltic seaport terminals and distribution networks in Russia and China. Acron subsidiary North Atlantic Potash Inc. (NAP) holds mining leases and an exploration permit for ten parcels of the potassium salt deposit at Prairie Evaporite, Saskatchewan, Canada. Acron also holds a minority stake (19.8%) in Polish Grupa Azoty S.A., one of the largest chemical producers in Europe. In 2020, the Group sold 7.8 million tonnes of main products to 74 countries, with Russia, Brazil, Europe and the United States as key markets. In 2020, the Group posted consolidated IFRS revenue of RUB 119,864 million (USD 1,661 million), with EBITDA of RUB 35,311 million (USD 489 million). Acron's shares are traded on the Moscow Exchange and its global depositary receipts are traded at the London Stock Exchange (ticker AKRN). Acron employs over 11,000 people. For more information about Acron Group, please visit www.acron.ru/en. Record Q1 Revenue of $19.04 Million up 2,253% Record Adjusted EBITDA of $10.68 Million up 1,548% Net Earnings of 9,560,351 up 1,425% Toronto, Canada--(Newsfile Corp. - May 31, 2021) - Datametrex AI Limited (TSXV: DM) (FSE: D4G) (OTCQB: DTMXF) (the "Company" or "Datametrex") is pleased to report the record achievement in the history of the Company. Datametrex has filed on SEDAR its financial statements ("FS") and related management discussion and analysis ("MD&A") for the three-month financial results ending March 31, 2021 ("Q1 2021"). Q1 2021 Financial Summary The Company's financial performance immensely improved in the first quarter, attributed by growth across its COVID-19 sales and its related services with the film and production industry and uptake in its health technology business. The Company reported record revenue of $19,045,888, 2,253% increase, and net earnings of $9,560,351, 1,425% increase, compared to Q1, 2020. Adjusted EBITDA also improved significantly $10,684,254 in Q1 2021 up 1,548% compared to ($737,698) in Q1 2020. This Adjusted EBITDA reflects the Company's operations, not including non-cash items. The Company also significantly improved its cash balance, up 17,044% from Q1 2020. The following is selected financial information for the three-month financial results ending March 31, 2021, along with comparative results. Please refer to the Q1 2021 Filing in its entirety, which is available under Datametrex's profile at www.sedar.com. "The Company's first-quarter results reflect another record period of strong execution as we continue to build an integrated health technology company," commented Marshall Gunter, CEO of Datametrex. "We have entered 2021 coming off a record 2020 year in revenue and this trend will only continue to improve quarter over quarter as we focus on increasing our revenue channel with strategic funding of our sales and operations teams to drive business. Additionally, any future acquisitions in the pipeline will accelerate the development of our health technology business steering expansion efforts that will help accelerate our ability to continue to increase our revenue," said Andrew Ryu, Chairman of the Company. Financial Highlights for three-month financial results ended March 31, 2021 (Q1): Revenue of $19,045,888 for Q1 compared to revenue of $809,402. Net earnings of $9,560,351 compared to ($721,761). EBITDA of $10,684,254 compared to ($737,698). Cash balance of $4,619,908 compared to a cash balance of $26,948. All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted: Q1 2021 Q1 2020 % Change Total revenues $19,045,888 $809,402 2,253% COVID-19 Test kits revenue $18,561,296 $0 100% AI and Technology and Other revenue $484,592 $809,402 -40% Income/Loss before income taxes $10,482,954 (737,968) 1,521% Net Income/Loss $9,560,351 (721,761) 1,425% Income per share - basic $0.03 (0.003) 1,100% EBITDA $10,684,254 ($737,698) 1,548% The following reconciles the net income, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (non-IFRS): Q1 2021 Q1 2020 March 31, 2021 March 31, 2020 Net profit $9,560,351 ($721,761) Add: interest and accretion $10,936 $14,766 Add: income tax provisions (recovery) $922,603 ($16,207) Add: depreciation & amortization $190,364 $194,899 EBITDA (non IFRS) $10,684,254 ($528,303) Add: share based compensation $3,268,404 $271,000 Adjusted EBITDA (non IFRS) $13,952,658 ($257,303) Q1 2021 Q1 2020 Dollar Change Percent Change Total Assets $25,026,759 $9,998,329 $15,028,430 150% Total Liabilities $6,467,940 $6,053,667 $414,273 7% The following presents Book value per share ("BVPS"). Please refer to the note at the end of this news release concerning non-IFRS financial measures. Q1 2021 Q1 2020 Equity Attributable to DM Shareholders (book value) $17,863,877 $2,473,792 Total common shares outstanding at period end 292,769,034 233,701,561 BVSP $0.06 $0.01 Q1 Highlights and Subsequent Events The Company's revenue increased by 2,253% in Q1 2021 compared to Q1 2020 bringing in over $19M in revenue. The Company closed its acquisition of 100% of Concierge Medical Consultants Inc.'s issued and outstanding securities, pursuant to terms of the share exchange agreement entered into between the Company, Concierge, and the shareholders of Concierge. The Company entered into a Letter of Intent, to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding share capital of a telemedicine company, an arm's length privately held company, incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia. The Company's common shares began trading on the OTCQB Venture Market Health Canada ("HC") approved the PCL Inc.'s ("PCL") COVID19 AG Rapid test kit ("PCL Antigen"), an antigen point-of-care rapid test device under the Interim Order ("IO") Respecting the Importation and Sale of Medical Devices for Use in Relation to COVID-19. The Company renewed and extended its current sales agreements on January 15, 2021, with LOTTE Global Logistics, LOTTE Duty-Free Shops, and LOTTE Home Shopping, LOTTE Super, collectively LOTTE, for technology services and maintenance. The Company remains a significant shareholder of Graph Blockchain (CSE: GBLC) The Company has opened in partnership with ScreenPro Security Inc. (CSE: SCRN) a COVID-19 testing clinic in Vancouver, British Columbia located in the Coal Harbor. The Company implemented a new COVID-19 testing program for all the Company employees, consultants, technicians, nurses, and lab partner employees. Outlook Despite a significant market slowdown due to the pandemic, the Company continued to improve its businesses in Q1. The Company continues focusing its resources on expanding and improving its AI business in 2021, with the Company expecting to see significant growth in both its existing cybersecurity AI verticals and new health technology verticals that the Company is exploring. As the Company further integrates the medical concierge business, the Company sees a significant upside as the COVID-19 pandemic shows signs that point to more healthcare being administered at home. Given the significant surge in the need for additional healthcare resources, establishing alternative healthcare options becomes critical. Datametrex understands that non-acute healthcare can mitigate exposing patients and their families to COVID-19. The Company is exploring deploying a variety of audio and video technology powered by its battle-tested AI technology to expand telemedicine services. About Datametrex Datametrex AI Limited is a technology-focused company with exposure to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Nexalogy (www.nexalogy.com). Datametrex's mission is to provide tools that support companies in fulfilling their operational goals, including Health and Safety, with predictive and preventive technologies. By working with companies to set a new standard of protocols through Artificial Intelligence and health diagnostics, Company provides progressive solutions to support the supply chain. For additional information on Datametrex and other corporate information, please visit the Company's website at www.datametrex.com. For further information, please contact: Marshall Gunter - CEO Phone: (514) 295-2300 Email: mgunter@datametrex.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements: All statements included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that the Company expects, believes, or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. In particular, there is no guarantee that the parties will successfully negotiate and enter into a definitive agreement on mutually acceptable terms or complete the Transaction in the manner contemplated herein, if at all, that the due diligence of any of the parties will be satisfactory, or that the parties will obtain any required board, shareholder, third-party and/or regulatory or other governmental approvals, if any. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events. NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASUREMENTS The Company has included non-IFRS performance measures throughout this press release, including (a) Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA"); (b) Adjusted EBITDA which is EBITDA adjusted for the gain (loss) on change in fair value of the Company's investment properties and the gain (loss) on change in fair value of derivative instruments; and (c) Book Value per Share which is calculated as equity attributable to Datametrex AI Limited shareholders divided by total common shares outstanding at the end of the reporting period. These non-IFRS financial measurements do not have any standardized meaning as prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Accordingly, these performance measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Management uses EBITDA metrics to measure the profit trends of the business units and segments in the consolidated group since it eliminates the effects of financing decisions. Certain investors, analysts and others utilize these non-IFRS financial metrics in assessing the Company's financial performance. These non-IFRS financial measurements have not been presented as an alternative to net income or any other financial measure of performance prescribed by IFRS. Reconciliation of non-IFRS measures has been provided throughout the Company's MD&A, as applicable, filed under the Company's profile on www.SEDAR.COM. ### To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/85736 WhiteLab Genomics, specialist in artificial intelligence (AI) dedicated to gene and cell therapies, is entering into a collaboration with ART-TG, Inserm laboratory expert in the preclinical and pharmaceutical development of ex vivo gene therapies. The two players are joining forces to improve the processes for the bioproduction of lentiviral gene therapy vectors using artificial intelligence. As part of this partnership, the teams from the Accelerator for technological research in genomic therapies (ART-TG, Inserm US35) and WhiteLab Genomics will use the WhiteLab Genomics CatalystTM platform to generate a database specific to the bioproduction of lentiviral vectors and which will be used to identify the parameters allowing significant increase in the quality of the vectors as well as their production yields, and to reduce the production costs. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210531005131/en/ Scientists in a bioproduction laboratory (Photo: WhiteLab Genomics) Cell and gene therapy represents a new biomedical approach, in full economic expansion and with the potential to treat a growing number of genetic and acquired diseases such as cancers. The pharmaceutical manufacture of these Advanced Medicinal Therapies requires acceleration in terms of standardization and process control to respond to their growth. The collaboration is focused on the production of lentiviral vectors, which are used in various gene therapy approaches including for the manufacture of CAR-T cells, because purifying lentiviral vectors remains complex and is at critical capacity. The teams will use AI to analyze multiple sources of information in order to optimize existing processes and to develop innovative processes. The approach carried out with the lentiviral vectors here, will be applicable to other bioproducts. This project is made possible by funding from the Ile de France Region, which supports Bioproduction efforts as part of its Ile-de-France Leader Bioproduction scheme launched at the end of 2020. What do the experts say? "This collaboration with WhiteLab Genomics will allow us to integrate a large body of information on critical parameters and their interconnections in complex processes so that we can very rapidly adapt our experiments; a new way for us to work, to accelerate our strategic projects and to innovate ", estimates Dr. Anne Galy, director of ART-TG. "The collaboration with ART-TG allows us to work with global experts in the field of lentiviral vector bioproduction," said David Del Bourgo, CEO and co-founder of WhiteLab Genomics. The work that will be carried out during this joint project will make it possible to find innovative solutions on the methods of capture and purification of vectors and to increase their yields significantly. " About ART-TG ART-TG is an Inserm innovation center located at the Genopole d'Evry and with a mission to promote research excellence in gene and cell therapy by facilitating the transfer of therapeutic discoveries to their clinical or industrial applications. ART-TG is a pre-industrial laboratory for testing technological innovation and for the pharmaceutical development of products and production processes. Focused more particularly on immunotherapy and hematology, ART-TG is currently leading a set of innovative projects based on the use of lentiviral vectors or CRISPR genome editing tools for ex vivo uses. ART-TG is part of the industrial integrator MAGENTA (MAnufacturing cell and GEN Therapy Advances) of the French Government Biomedicines Challenge. More information on www.art-tg.com. About WhiteLab Genomics Created in 2019 by David Del Bourgo, Julien Cottineau and Lucia Cinque, WhiteLab Genomics is a French start-up specializing in artificial intelligence solutions dedicated to biotherapies such as gene and cell therapies. Its proprietary technology allows the multi-parametric analysis of complex biological data to optimize and reduce the development costs of these treatments. WhiteLab Genomics makes this unique technology available to its customers via the Catalyst platform available in SaaS mode. The start-up is now located at Genopole Evry the first French biocluster and at Station F. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210531005131/en/ Contacts: Press Contacts David Del Bourgo CEO WhiteLab Genomics media@whitelabgx.com Gaele Rigault Business Developper MAGENTA gaele.rigault@inserm.fr VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2021 / Silver Elephant Mining Corp. ("Silver Elephant" or "the Company") (TSX:ELEF, OTCQX:SILEF, Frankfurt:1P2N) announces that the Company's wholly owned subsidiary Nevada Vanadium LLC. ("Nevada Vanadium") has commissioned a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") in respect of its Gibellini vanadium project, located in Eureka Country, Nevada, USA. Vanadium is one of the best performing metals of 2021. Vanadium pentoxide price has risen 52% from US$5.4/lb in early January to US$8.2/lb today. The Gibellini project encompasses the Gibellini, Louie Hill, and Bisoni McKay properties which the Company acquired in 2017 and 2020. The PEA will be prepared in collaboration between Wood PLC ("Wood") and Mine Technical Services ("MTS") as part of its proposed spinout strategy. About the Gibellini Project The Gibellini vanadium project, designed to be an open-pit, heap-leach operation, is located in Nevada, USA. Nevada was ranked by the Fraser Institute as the world's #1 mining investment jurisdiction in 2018 and 2020. The Gibellini project development achieved an important milestone in July 2020 when the Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS") was published in the Federal Register. A final Record of Decision on EIS is expected in 2021. The U.S. government has designated vanadium as one of 35 critical minerals to the national security and the economy. Vanadium alloys and catalysts are used in the aerospace, defense, energy storage, and infrastructure sectors. Over $35 million has been invested at Gibellini to date. Qualified Persons The scientific and technical contents of this news release have been prepared under the supervision of Danniel Oosterman B. Sc.(Hons), P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration of the Company. Mr. Oosterman is a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101 and is not independent of the Company due to his employment by the Company. About Silver Elephant Silver Elephant Mining Corp. is a premier silver mining and exploration company with proposed vanadium and nickel spinouts. Further information on Silver Elephant can be found at www.silverelef.com. SILVER ELEPHANT MINING CORP. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "John Lee" Executive Chairman For more information about Silver Elephant, please contact Investor Relations: +1.604.569.3661 ext. 101 ir@silverelef.com www.silverelef.com Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements which may contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, which reflect management's expectations regarding Company's future growth, results of operations, performance, and business prospects and opportunities, are based on certain factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: statements about the estimation of mineral resources; magnitude or quality of mineral deposits; anticipated advancement of mineral properties or programs; future operations; future exploration prospectus; future corporate events; the completion and timing of mineral resource estimates and the PEA; future growth potential for the Company and Nevada Vanadium; and future development plans. These forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others: risks related to the speculative nature of the Company's business; the Company's stage of development; the impact of COVID-19 on the timing of exploration and development work; the Company's financial position; possible variations in mineralization, grade or recovery rates; actual results of current exploration activities; actual results of reclamation activities; conclusions of future economic evaluations; business integration risks; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of vanadium, nickel, 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 formation 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 its shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. 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. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release any future revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as expressly required by law. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. SOURCE: Silver Elephant Mining Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/649702/Silver-Elephant-Engages-Wood-PLC-to-Conduct-Preliminary-Economic-Assessment-on-Gibellini-Vanadium-Project VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2021 / Sassy Resources Corporation ("Sassy" or the "Company") (CSE:SASY)(OTCQB:SSYRF)(FSE:4E7) is pleased to announce that it has completed the definitive agreement (the "Agreement") to option its Nicobat Property in Northwest Ontario to privately held MAX Power Mining Corporation (MAX Power). The deal makes Sassy the largest shareholder in this new battery metals-focused company which has completed an initial financing and has prepared listing submissions for a Canadian exchange. Under the Agreement, MAX Power can earn a 100% interest in Nicobat by incurring $1 million in exploration expenditures on the property over a 4-year period while also issuing five (5) million shares in the company to Sassy upon obtaining a listing on a Canadian exchange with the Nicobat as a qualifying property. Those shares will be released to Sassy in stages over a three-year period while Sassy will also be granted one million warrants, exercisable at 25 cents, to purchase an additional one million shares in MAX Power within 36 months. Sassy will retain a 1% NSR on the property which may be purchased by MAX Power at any time for $1,000,000. In addition, Sassy will have the right to appoint one director to the MAX Power board after the date of listing. Mr. Mark Scott, Sassy President and CEO, commented: "The MAX Power team will have a very exciting value proposition for investors. With Nicobat in the very capable hands of MAX Power, Sassy is sharply focused on the Eskay Camp and Newfoundland where exploration programs have commenced." Newfoundland.Gold Virtual Investor Days - June 1-3 Sassy reminds investors that Newfoundland.Gold will host its launch event, Virtual Investor Days, from Tuesday, June 1, through Thursday, June 3. This informative on-line conference will include corporate presentations from member companies, moderated by industry thought leaders, and will feature keynote speakers daily. Sassy President and CEO Mr. Mark Scott will be part of a panel discussion starting at 10:00 am PST (1:00 pm EST) Thursday, June 3, while Sassy Technical Adviser Mr. Shawn Ryan will be presenting Wednesday, June 2, starting at 11:00 am PST (2:00 pm EST) on "Newfoundland: The Land of Golden Opportunities." For more information on Virtual Investor Days and to register please visit Newfoundland.Gold and click on "Events". Newfoundland.Gold is focused on creating innovative capital attraction initiatives to promote Newfoundland and the member companies and this inaugural event is simply the beginning. Newfoundland.Gold will continue to develop its online presence to build awareness of the opportunities in Newfoundland with plans for site visits, road shows and conference attendance once COVID-19 travel restrictions are lifted. About Sassy Resources Corporation Sassy Resources is an exploration stage resource company currently engaged in the identification, acquisition and exploration of high-grade precious metal and base metal projects in North America. Its current focus is the Foremore Gold-Silver Project located in the Eskay Camp, Liard Mining Division, in the heart of Northwest B.C.'s prolific Golden Triangle. Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements Investors are cautioned that, except for statements of historical fact, certain information contained in this document includes "forward looking information", with respect to a performance expectation for Sassy Resources Corporation. Such forward looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections formulated using assumptions believed to be reasonable and involving a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such factors include, without limitation, fluctuations in foreign exchange markets, the price of commodities in both the cash market and futures market, changes in legislation, taxation, controls and regulation of national and local governments and political and economic developments in Canada and other countries where Sassy carries out or may carry out business in the future, the availability of future business opportunities and the ability to successfully integrate acquisitions or operational difficulties related to technical activities of mining and reclamation, the speculative nature of exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks obtaining necessary licenses and permits, reducing the quantity or grade of reserves, adverse changes in credit ratings, and the challenge of title. The Company does not undertake an obligation to update publicly or revise forward looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. Some of the results reported are historical and may not have been verified by the Company. Contact Info: Mark Scott Chief Executive Officer & Director info@sassyresources.ca EASTLEIGH, UK / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2021 / i3 Energy plc (AIM:I3E) (TSX:ITE), an independent oil and gas company with assets and operations in the UK and Canada, is pleased to announce the execution of a strategic acquisition in its core Simonette area, taking operatorship and doubling its position in a premium light oil asset in the Lower Montney. Highlights: Acquired an additional 49.5% position plus operatorship in the Company's South Simonette oil property, increasing i3's interest to 99%. Cost to exercise the Right of First Refusal (" ROFR ") of USD 4.2mm (CAD 5mm) plus planned capital investment of USD 0.58mm to reactivate two suspended wells in July results in effective acquisition at 1.49x next twelve months (" NTM ") forecasted net operating income (" NOI " = revenue minus royalty, opex, transportation and processing costs) of USD 3.2mm. ") of USD 4.2mm (CAD 5mm) plus planned capital investment of USD 0.58mm to reactivate two suspended wells in July results in effective acquisition at 1.49x next twelve months (" ") forecasted net operating income (" " = revenue minus royalty, opex, transportation and processing costs) of USD 3.2mm. Operational control and direction of capital deployment to reactivate two currently suspended wells at South Simonette in July estimated to result in an incremental increase to i3's corporate production and NOI of 720 boepd (41% oil, 4% NGLs, 55% gas) and USD 5.2mm, respectively, increasing i3's overall exposure to oil by approximately 20% and increasing i3's expected NTM NOI by over 16%. Additional estimated net production associated with the acquired 49.5% operated working interest of circa 430 boepd and USD 3.2mm in NTM NOI. Estimated incremental production and NOI associated with i3's current 49.5% interest of circa 290 boepd and USD 2.0mm. Proved plus Probable (2P) reserves addition of 4.9 mmboe with before-tax NPV10 of USD 30.9mm. Doubles i3's working interest position in over 70 potential Lower Montney development well locations at South Simonette. Brings i3 ownership at its North and South Simonette properties to almost 100% (connected by i3's Middle Montney acreage over which it has gross overriding royalty interest positions ranging between 5% and 15%) allowing the Company to control investment and development timing in these assets. Contributes a deemed asset value of approximately CAD 26.5mm and a correspondingly high Licensee Liability Rating ("LLR") ratio of 46.1 to i3's asset portfolio. Majid Shafiq, CEO of i3 Energy plc, commented: "The acquisition of this operated working interest in South Simonette is not only a very accretive addition to our production portfolio, but also highly strategic for i3. Following completion, we will be close to a 100% owner and operator of our North and South Simonette properties, which are significant contributors to our current production base, and provide significant, incremental oil-focussed growth potential during a sustained period of higher oil prices. Together with recent acquisitions and advancement of development opportunities in our growing Clearwater position and other assets in our portfolio, this acquisition provides significant optionality in terms of where we choose to allocate our development capital." Anegada ROFR i3 Energy has exercised its pre-emptive right, as provided for under the head agreements governing the assets, to acquire the entire 49.5% operated interest held by Anegada Oil Corporation ("Anegada") in its South Simonette property (the "Anegada Interest"). On 3 May 2021, Anegada executed a purchase and sale agreement ("PSA") to sell the Anegada Interest to a third party. i3 is exercising a ROFR that it held over the Anegada Interest which was activated by Anegada's execution of said PSA. Upon completion, i3 Canada will control a 99% operated interest in the associated land base, which has a gross area of 64 km2. The acquisition of the Anegada Interest has an effective date of 1 April 2021, and closing is expected to occur in Q2 (subject to regulatory approval). The ROFR is being exercised by i3 at a cost of USD 4.2mm, subject to normal closing adjustments, and will be financed from the Company's existing cash resources. Gain Energy Ltd (whose assets were entirely purchased by i3 in 2020) and Anegada acquired this acreage in December 2017 for USD 2.9mm, subsequently spending a total of USD 30.7mm to drill and complete three Lower Montney oil wells, a water disposal well, and to construct associated facilities and pipelines (for their collective 99% working interest). Of the three production wells, one currently produces circa 317 boepd gross and the other two are suspended. Post-acquisition and as Operator, i3 will bring the two suspended wells back onto production in July at a total estimated cost of USD 1.16mm (USD 0.58mm for each of i3's current and acquired Anegada Interest) by installing gas lift in one and repairing an electrical submersible pump in the other, resulting in an expected increase to i3's corporate production of 720 boepd (41% oil, 4% NGLs, 55% gas) and NTM NOI of USD 5.2mm; effectively increasing the Company's exposure to oil by 20% and expected NTM NOI by over 16%. The combined rate associated with the Anegada Interest for the three wells is estimated to be 430 boepd. The 2P reserves and associated valuation estimate for the Anegada Interest are 4.9 mmboe and USD 30.9mm, respectively, based on GLJ's YE 2020 reserves evaluation, reflecting the high-impact potential oil resource identified in the Lower Montney formation at South Simonette. With all three wells on production, the forecasted next twelve months net operating income for the Anegada Interest is estimated at USD 3.2mm. At a total cost to i3 of USD 4.78mm for the acquisition and two well reactivation in July, the Company is acquiring the Anegada Interest and reinstating production for 1.49x NTM forecasted NOI of USD 3.2mm, USD 11,111/boepd, and USD 0.95/boe (2P), materially below the averages since Q4 2020 for similar Western Canadian transactions of 4.53x NTM NOI, USD 32,067/boepd, and USD 5.61/boe. For i3's already-owned 49.5% South Simonette interest (and incremental to i3's current share of production from the existing producing well) the reactivation of the two wells is estimated to increase i3's production and by 290 boepd and NTM NOI by USD 2.0mm. The Anegada Interest has a LLR of 46.1. The operating income statement of the Anegada Interest for the twelve months to 31 December 2020 are presented below: Anegada Interest Operating Statement of Income Before Depletion and Taxation Twelve Months Ended 31 December 2020 (unaudited) Revenue Production Revenue 2,359,407 Net Royalties (99,963) Net Revenues 2,259,444 Operating Expense (631,303) Total expenses (631,303) Net Income Before Depletion and Taxation 1,628,141 Strategic Rationale for the Transaction The North and South Simonette areas are core and strategic components of i3's Canadian asset portfolio, encapsulating a broadly contiguous land base representing a large contingent of i3's highest rate of return development locations supported by an existing network of infrastructure. South Simonette development commenced in 2018 targeting light oil in a thick Lower Montney stratigraphic interval, while at North Simonette development has focussed on Middle Montney light oil, additional potential in the Lower Montney interval, and production from the Dunvegan and deeper Devonian formations. Having previously received a 49.5% non-operated working interest through its acquisition of all the assets of Gain Energy Ltd in 2020, i3 is a current owner of the majority of the assets subject to the ROFR. The acreage being acquired increases i3's working interest in the South Simonette area to 99%, with i3 also becoming operator. GLJ has assigned in its YE 2020 reserves evaluation undeveloped reserves to 12 future locations offsetting the existing development wells, consisting of 6 Proved and 6 Probable locations, and i3 believes there is potential for more than 60 additional development drilling locations on the acreage. The wells drilled at South Simonette have exhibited initial oil production rates as high as 740 bopd, in line with GLJ's 2P expectation for wells from this zone. If fully exploited, i3 believes South Simonette could deliver peak net production of over 16,000 boepd. Such a development would utilize components of i3's owned and operated North Simonette Y-Battery, described below. At North Simonette, i3 owns an operated 100% working interest in 20.5 sections (53 km2) of land, with current net production of approximately 825 boepd, booked Proven reserves of 2.1 mmboe and Proven plus Probable reserves of 3.6 mmboe. i3 has modelled a potential 38-well North Simonette Montney oil development which could deliver peak net production of over 10,000 boepd, with further development potential from the currently producing Dunvegan formation. Importantly at North Simonette, i3 owns key infrastructure, including a 50% operated working interest in the Y-Battery, an oil and gas processing facility with liquid handling capacity of 12,000 bbl/d. The Company also owns a 100% working interest in a water disposal well and the rights to a 7.0 mmbbl stream-fed, freshwater reservoir. In addition to handling i3's current production from North Simonette, and generation of stable third-party processing income, this infrastructure provides capacity to accommodate production resulting from i3's future development activity in the area. In addition to the above, i3 owns gross overriding royalties of between 5% and 15% on any production from the Middle Montney stratigraphic interval, which targets proven, liquids-rich gas in a contiguous 16 section (41 km2) area, between its North and South Simonette acreage. Ryan Heath, President of i3 Canada, commented: "The recent increase in global oil prices has resulted in a significant increase in M&A activity in offsetting Montney acreage, as competitors seek to grow their exposure to this prolific play. In this environment i3 is very pleased to capture a near 100% operated and contiguous working interest in over 120 km2 of Montney acreage in Simonette which includes strategically located processing infrastructure. This is now a very attractive package. Notes: i3's Proved plus Probable (2P) reserves calculations are based on GLJ's year-end 2020 reserves evaluation, adjusted to reflect that i3 will no longer receive a gross overriding royalty on the interest it is acquiring from Anegada. The Licensee Liability Rating, or LLR, is the licensee's deemed asset to deemed liability ratio as determined under Directive 006 (Licensee Liability Rating (LLR) Program and Licence Transfer Process) of the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER). The deemed asset value is calculated by multiplying the licensee's reported production of oil and gas for the prior 12 months by the rolling 3-year provincial industry average netback (determined by the AER). The deemed liability is the total cost for the future abandonment and site reclamation of all a licensee's wells and upstream facilities based on provincial industry average costs (determined by the AER). Reserves estimates have been prepared by GLJ in accordance with standards contained in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation (COGE) Handbook. Proved reserves are those reserves that can be estimated with a high degree of certainty to be recoverable. It is likely that the actual remaining quantities recovered will exceed the estimated proved reserves. If probabilistic methods are used, there should be at least a 90% probability that the quantities actually recovered will equal to or exceed the estimate. Probable reserves are those additional reserves that are less certain to be recovered than proved reserves. It is equally likely that the actual remaining quantities recovered will be greater or less than the sum of the estimated Proved plus Probable (2P) reserves. When probabilistic methods are used, there should be at least a 50% probability that the actual quantities recovered will equal to or exceed the 2P estimate. Undeveloped reserves are those reserves expected to be recovered from known accumulations where a significant expenditure (for example, when compared to the cost of drilling a well) is required to render them capable of production. They must fully meet the requirements of the reserves category (for example proved or probable) to which they are assigned. END Qualified Person's Statement In accordance with the AIM Note for Mining and Oil and Gas Companies, i3 discloses that Majid Shafiq is the qualified person who has reviewed the technical information contained in this document. He graduated with a Master's Degree in Petroleum Engineering from Heriot-Watt University in 1988 and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. Majid Shafiq consents to the inclusion of the information in the form and context in which it appears. Enquiries: i3 Energy plc Majid Shafiq (CEO) / Graham Heath (CFO) c/o Camarco Tel: +44 (0) 203 781 8331 WH Ireland Limited (Nomad and Joint Broker) James Joyce, James Sinclair-Ford Tel: +44 (0) 207 220 1666 Canaccord Genuity Limited (Joint Broker) Henry Fitzgerald- O'Connor, James Asensio Tel: +44 (0) 207 523 8000 Tennyson Securities (Joint Broker) Peter Krens Tel: +44 (0) 207 186 9030 Camarco Owen Roberts, James Crothers, Violet Wilson Tel: +44 (0) 203 781 8331 Notes to Editors: i3 Energy is an oil and gas Company with a low cost, diversified, growing production base in Canada's most prolific hydrocarbon region, the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin and appraisal assets in the North Sea with significant upside. The Company is well positioned to deliver future growth through the optimisation of its existing 100% owned asset base and the acquisition of long life, low decline conventional production assets. i3 is dedicated to responsible corporate practices and the environment, and places high value on adhering to strong Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") practices. i3 is proud of its performance to date as a responsible steward of the environment, people, and capital management. The Company is committed to maintaining an ESG strategy, which has broader implications to long-term value creation, as these benefits extend beyond regulatory requirements. i3 Energy is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange under the symbol I3E and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ITE. For further information on i3 Energy please visit https://i3.energy/ The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014. SOURCE: i3 Energy PLC View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/649777/i3-Energy-PLC-Announces-South-Simonette-Consolidation-ROFR-Exercise Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 31, 2021) - King Global Ventures Inc. (TSXV: KING) (OTC: KGLDF) (FSE: 5LM1) (the "Company" or "King") has completed a private placement of 16,384,616 units of the Company at a price of $0.065 cents per unit for gross proceeds of $1,065,000 including $1,000,000 from Mr. Eric Sprott. Each unit comprises one common share in the capital of the Company and one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share at an exercise price of 8.5 cents for a period of three years from the closing date. John F. Cook, CEO, stated: "We are pleased to have Mr. Sprott's support to accelerate our exploration and acquisition strategy. His track-record and support of the Canadian gold exploration sector is unparalleled, and we look forward to unlocking and creating value for our shareholders. The additional funds allow us to secure access to drill rigs in order to focus on high-priority drill targets." Eric Sprott, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., a corporation that is beneficially owned by him, acquired 15,384,616 units under the offering for approximate consideration of $1,000,000. Subsequent to the closing of the offering, Mr. Sprott beneficially owns or controls 15,384,616 common shares of the Company and 15,384,616 warrants, representing approximately 11.2% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company on a non-diluted basis and approximately 20.1% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company on a partially diluted basis assuming exercise of the warrants acquired hereunder and forming part of the units. Prior to the offering, Mr. Sprott did not beneficially own or control any securities of the Company. The units were acquired by Mr. Sprott for investment purposes. Mr. Sprott has a long-term view of the investment and may acquire additional securities of King, including on the open market or through private acquisitions, or sell securities of the Company, including on the open market or through private dispositions in the future, depending on market conditions, reformulation of plans and/or other factors that Mr. Sprott considers relevant from time to time. A copy of Mr. Sprott's early warning report will appear on King's profile on SEDAR and may also be obtained by calling Mr. Sprott's office at 416-945-3294 (200 Bay St., Suite 2600, Royal Bank Plaza, South Tower, Toronto, Ont., M5J 2J1). The proceeds of the offering will be primarily used to finance exploration and development expenditures on the Company's properties, and to expand the Company's portfolio of exploration claims in Newfoundland and for general working capital. The securities issued pursuant to the offering are subject to a hold period of four months plus one day in accordance with applicable securities laws. A national securities dealer was paid 6% cash on the subscription of Mr. Eric Sprott. Newfoundland Properties: King's projects include 100% interest in the following gold exploration projects: The Golden Nugget Property consists of a 10 km long contiguous land package (1,850 ha.) of siliciclastic sediments within beds of conglomerates and mafic materials. High grade gold occurs in all rock groups with channel samples having returned values of 50.2 g/t gold over 1.1 m, 87 g/t over 0.8 m and 29.2 g/t over 2.5 m. These high grade channels are contained within extensive areas of lower to medium grade gold values along the entire length of this 10 km structural corridor. The Miss Pickle Property (950 ha), is also north of the Davidsville Group and lies in another parallel structure to the Gold Nugget Property known as the Coaker Trend. Historical grab samples include, 7.3 g/t gold over 2.05 m, 8.3 g/t gold over 1.9 m and 7.1 g/t gold over 1.2 m. The length weighed average of 26 channel samples across the zone is 3.2 g/t gold. The Gold Boulder Prospect consists of four contiguous claim blocks (100 ha) and is located near the small town of Glenwood in Central Newfoundland. Geologically the property is underlain by siliciclastic sediments of the Davidsville Group which is the same geological belt which hosts New Found Gold's (NFG-TSXV) high grade Queensway project. The entire prospect is bound on all side by New Found Gold Corp. The technical contents of this news release were approved by John F. Cook, MIMMM, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Additional information about King Ventures can be viewed at the Company's website at www.kingtsxv.com or at www.sedar.com. Contact For further information, contact Mr. John F. Cook, President of King Global Ventures Inc. at: (416) 200-8073 and johncook@kos.net or visit www.kingtsxv.com Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information 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 uncertainty of the financing, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in preparing such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove imprecise and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/85844 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 31, 2021) - Pasofino Gold Limited ((TSXV: VEIN) (OTCQB: EFRGF) (FSE: N07) "Pasofino" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received results from a further 18 holes drilled at the Dugbe F deposit. The drill results continue to prove the consistency of the grade throughout the deposit. Dugbe F is one of two deposits on the Dugbe Gold Project, in which the Company has an option to earn a 49% economic interest (prior to the issuance of the Government of Liberia's 10% carried interest). Highlights Of the 36 infill holes drilled within the deposit 'footprint' at Dugbe F since the start of the program in January, 34 have intersected the main mineralised layer, supporting the continuity of this extensive and shallow gold mineralised 'sheet' which is approximately 2.5 km in length and up to 1.3 km wide. Results of the intersections of the gently dipping mineralised layer in 18 'new' holes include the following: 13.2 m grading 2.03 g/t gold from 29.1 m in DFDC373 32.4 m grading 0.85 g/t gold from 66.0 m in DFDC364 12.0 m grading 1.79 g/t gold from 83.0 m in DFDC357 22.4 m grading 1.0 g/t gold from 89.7 m in DFDC362 11.4 m grading 1.25 g/t gold from 11.0 m in DFDC372 10.7 m grading 1.27 g/t gold from 2.0 m in DFDC354 The Dugbe F drilling program was completed on the 21 st April 2021. 6,850 m were drilled for 80 holes. Results have been received for approximately half of these. Sampling and analyses continue. The drillholes are aimed at 'upgrading' a large portion of the Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) to Indicated. The current Inferred MRE is 16.3 Mt with an average grade of 1.57 g/t Au containing 823 k oz of gold. The existing Indicated MRE of 273 k oz gold, with an average grade 1.46 g/t. April 2021. 6,850 m were drilled for 80 holes. Results have been received for approximately half of these. Sampling and analyses continue. The drillholes are aimed at 'upgrading' a large portion of the Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) to Indicated. The current Inferred MRE is 16.3 Mt with an average grade of 1.57 g/t Au containing 823 k oz of gold. The existing Indicated MRE of 273 k oz gold, with an average grade 1.46 g/t. At the nearby 2 Moz (Indicated MRE) Tuzon deposit 12 exploration /resource holes have been completed since early April, the first of which should be ready to report within days. Drilling at Tuzon has been for infill and 'step-out' on the existing deposit. Ian Stalker, CEO, commented; "The continuity of the Dugbe F mineralization continues to deliver with 95% of the infill holes within the deposit footprint intersecting mineralization. All were drilled into the existing Inferred MRE which suggests that we may achieve a strong conversion. Meanwhile, we have drilled 12 exploration and resource holes at the 2 Moz (Indicated MRE) Tuzon deposit, the first of which we anticipate will be reported within days". Table 1. All intersections from the additional 18 new drillholes with assay results. Drillholes are estimated to be close to true thickness (within approximately 10-15%). BHID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Grade Au (g/t) DFDC354 2.0 12.6 10.7 1.27 DFDC355 11.3 19.8 8.5 0.92 DFDC357 83.0 95.0 12.0 1.79 DFDC361 88.0 90.0 2.0 1.33 DFDC362 72.8 79.1 6.2 1.38 and 89.7 112.1 22.4 1.00 DFDC363 51.3 59.7 8.5 0.64 DFDC364 66.0 98.4 32.4 0.85 including 90.1 96.5 6.4 2.11 DFDC365 37.6 51.0 13.4 0.66 DFDC366 74.5 80.4 5.9 1.72 DFDC369 15.2 19.7 4.5 0.79 DFDC370 6.0 10.9 4.9 1.13 DFDC371 0.0 8.0 8.0 1.31 DFDC372 11.0 22.4 11.4 1.25 DFDC373 29.1 42.4 13.2 2.03 DFDC353 NSI - outside of deposit DFDC356 NSI - outside of deposit DFDC358 NSI DFDC359_GT* 124.5 132.0 7.5 0.57 *geotechnical hole. Figure 1. Plan view map showing the Dugbe F deposit and drillholes. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6283/85856_95ffe610a4097a8f_001full.jpg Figure 2. Cross section through the southern part of Dugbe F as shown in Figure 1 (Line of Section 1). New intersections highlighted yellow. To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6283/85856_95ffe610a4097a8f_002full.jpg Figure 3. Cross section through the central part of Dugbe F as shown in Figure 1 (Line of Section 1). New intersections highlighted yellow. To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6283/85856_95ffe610a4097a8f_003full.jpg Dugbe F deposit The deposit length as defined by the dimensions of the conceptual pit is 2.5 km (Figures 2 and 3). The width of the deposit ranges from 1.3 km in the south to 200-300 m in the north. Figures 1 to 3 illustrate the nature of the deposit, it being an undulating gently dipping sheet which outcrops for its entire length along its western side and dips gently eastwards. The mineralized layer is mostly continuous except where cut by cross-cutting pegmatite intrusions or where it comes to surface and has been eroded (Figure 3). The eastward sloping topography has the effect of minimizing the depth to the mineralized layer in some areas which would support a favorable strip ratio if mined. The host rock is orthopyroxene gneiss with increased sulphide content (visible pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite and pyrite) and seems to be a largely stratiform layer close to the contact with overlying quartz biotite gneiss. The Infill Drilling program Since 21 January 2021 approximately 6,850 meters have been drilled at Dugbe F for the completion of 80 drillholes. These new holes are positioned between existing holes to increase the density intersections within the areas of the deposit that fall within a conceptual mining pit-shell. The objective is to upgrade a large portion of the Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate to Indicated, to increase the resource base that will be used for the Feasibility Study. The results of the infill drilling to date are encouraging supporting both grade and continuity. The current Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate at Dugbe F is 16.3 Mt with an average grade of 1.57 g/t Au and has contained gold of 823 k oz. The Indicated Mineral Resource Estimate at Dugbe F currently stands at 5.8 Mt with an average grade of 1.46 g/t Au containing 273 k oz gold. Figure 4. Dugbe Gold Project Mineral Development Area. To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6283/85856_95ffe610a4097a8f_004full.jpg Drilling procedure and Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QAQC) The new holes were positioned using a handheld GPS and lidar data for elevation. Downhole orientation surveys were completed for all holes and core was oriented to assist with interpretation. All drilling and logging was completed in adherence to industry standard operating procedures. Core recovery is over 95% for all mineralized intersections. Core was drilled HQ (65 mm diameter) through the overburden typically 2-10 m depth, then NQ (47 mm diameter) size. Samples were all half core, analyzed by ALS in Burkina Faso, a facility compliant to ISO 17025:2005 for the analytical methods used for the samples. Samples range from 1 kg to over 5 kg depending on the length of each sample. Within every 20 core samples submitted a certified standard and blank was inserted. The results of these samples show acceptable levels of variance. Duplicate (other half of the core) samples were inserted 1 in every 20 core samples to check on precision. Sample weights on dispatch and received sample weights were examined to monitor for sample swaps. All samples were stored and transported to the laboratory securely and accompanied by a company representative until arrival at the laboratory. Similar QAQC measures were undertaken for the previous drillholes reported herein; those samples were analyzed by ALS in Loughrea, Ireland which is an ISO 17025:2005 compliant facility for the analytical methods used for the samples. All samples were analyzed by fire assay with atomic absorption finish on a sample with 50g nominal weight. Table 2. Collar positions of the drillholes reported herein. Coordinates are in UTM zone 29N, WGS84 datum. BHID Easting Northing Elevation Total length Incl. Azimuth DFDC353 550269 562358 103.7 35.60 -80 295 DFDC354 549790 562457 126.3 35.38 -80 295 DFDC355 549729 562468 138.7 38.17 -80 295 DFDC357 550012 561933 110.2 114.19 -80 295 DFDC358 550047 561755 114.6 137.14 -80 295 DFDC359_GT 550259 561721 111.1 152.47 -65 130 DFDC361 550166 561831 102.1 114.65 -80 115 DFDC362 549824 561957 126.7 140.38 -80 295 DFDC363 549678 561973 140.7 101.70 -80 295 DFDC364 549721 562103 139.3 140.55 -80 295 DFDC365 549549 562018 139.9 77.10 -80 295 DFDC366 550663 562254 88.0 116.50 -80 295 DFDC369 550483 562210 90.0 83.35 -80 180 DFDC370 550343 562491 140.6 47.20 -80 295 DFDC371 550456 562303 96.4 47.60 -80 295 DFDC372 550360 562533 150.0 65.40 -80 295 DFDC373 550426 562598 149.9 74.35 -60 075 Qualified Persons Statement Scientific or technical information in this disclosure that relates to exploration results was prepared and approved by Mr. Andrew Pedley. Mr. Pedley is a full-time consultant of Pasofino Gold Ltd.'s wholly-owned subsidiary ARX Resources Limited. He is a member in good standing with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) and is as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. About the Dugbe Gold Project The 2,559 km2 Dugbe Project is located in southern Liberia and situated within the south westmost part of the Birimian Supergroup, which is host to the majority of West African gold deposits. To date, two gold deposits have been identified on the Project; Dugbe F and Tuzon. The deposits are located within 4 km of the Dugbe Shear Zone which is thought to have played a role in large scale gold mineralization in the area. A large amount of exploration in the area was conducted by Hummingbird, including 74,497 m of diamond coring. 70,700 m of this was at the Dugbe F and Tuzon deposits, discovered by Hummingbird in 2009 and 2011 respectively. Both deposits outcrop at surface and may be amenable to open-cut mining. In addition, there are a number of prospects within the Project, including 'Sackor' where gold mineralization has been intersected in drill-holes and where additional drilling is planned. No other prospects have been drill-tested to date. At some prospects extensive trenching identified anomalous levels of gold that require drill-testing. An aggressive exploration program to test the prospects is planned by the Company. In 2019, Hummingbird signed a 25-year Mineral Development Agreement ("MDA") with the Government of Liberia providing the necessary long-term framework and stabilization of taxes and duties. Under the terms of the MDA, the royalty rate on gold production is 3%, the income tax rate payable is 25% (with credit given for historic exploration expenditures), the fuel duty is reduced by 50%, and the Government of Liberia is granted a free carried interest of 10% in the Project. Over $70 million has been spent by Hummingbird on the Project. Table 3. Mineral Resource Estimate for the Dugbe Gold Project using a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off grade Category Tonnes (million) Au Grade (g/t) Contained Gold (000 ounces) Tuzon Deposit Indicated 41.9 1.51 2,032 Inferred 10.4 1.31 439 Dugbe F Deposit Indicated 5.8 1.46 273 Inferred 16.3 1.57 823 Totals TOTAL INDICATED 47.7 1.51 2,304 TOTAL INFERRED 26.7 1.47 1,262 Rounding errors may be evident when combining totals in the table but are immaterial. The effective date of the Mineral Resource Estimate is August 19, 2020 as reported in "Dugbe Gold Project, Liberia NI 43-101 Technical Report, Effective Date 19 August 2020," a report prepared by SRK Consulting (UK) Limited. The Qualified Person is Mr. Martin Pittuck (CEng, MIMMM). The Mineral Resource has been classified under the guidelines of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by CIM Council (2014), and procedures for classifying the reported Mineral Resources were undertaken within the context of the Canadian Securities Administrators National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101). The estimates are stated using a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off grade. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and have no demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, marketing, or other relevant issues. Mineral Resource estimates are stated within conceptual pit shells that have been used to define Reasonable Prospects for Eventual Economic Extraction (RPEEE). The pit shells used the following main parameters: (i) Au price of US$1700/ounce; (ii) plant recovery of 90%; and (iii) mean specific gravity of 2.78 t/m3for fresh rock and 1.56 t/m3for oxide material for Tuzon, and for Dugbe F a mean specific gravity of 2.73t/m3. About Pasofino Gold Ltd. Pasofino Gold Ltd. is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company listed on the TSX-V (VEIN). Pasofino, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, has an option to earn a 49% economic interest (prior to the issuance of the Government of Liberia's 10% carried interest) in the Dugbe Gold Project. For further information, please visit www.pasofinogold.com or contact: Ian Stalker, President & CEO T: 604 367 8110 E: istalker@pasofinogold.com Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" that are based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "aim", "plan", "expect", "project", "seek", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the ability to raise the funds to finance its ongoing business activities including the acquisition of mineral projects and the exploration and development of its projects. 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 may include, but are not limited to, the ability to successfully file and obtain approval for the Qualifying Prospectus, the ability to obtain all requisite regulatory approvals in respect of the Qualifying Prospectus, the results of exploration activities; the ability of the Company to complete further exploration activities; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms and those risk factors outlined in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis as filed on SEDAR. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/85856 NOIDA, India, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A comprehensive overview of the Electronic Health Record market is recently added by UnivDatos Market Insights to its humongous database. The Electronic Health Record market report has been aggregated by collecting informative data of various dynamics such as market drivers, restraints, and opportunities. This innovative report makes use of several analyses to get a closer outlook on the Electronic Health Record market. The Electronic Health Record market report offers a detailed analysis of the latest industry developments and trending factors in the market that are influencing the market growth. Furthermore, this statistical market research repository examines and estimates the Electronic Health Record market at the global and regional levels. Global Electronic Health Record Market was valued at 27.2 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.6% by 2027. 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Despite the several benefits associated with the use of EHRs, such as easy access to patient information and improved patient coordination, the EHR puts significant barriers to infection preventionists (IP) work efficiency. Due to COVID-19, the importance of IPs to the healthcare system has been underscored. With the increase in Covid-19 testing, the EHR barriers to the prevention of infection practices have been highlighted. Ask for Price & Discounts @ https://univdatos.com/report/electronic-health-record-market-current-analysis-and-forecast-2021-2027 Global Electronic Health Record Market report is studied thoroughly with several aspects that would help stakeholders in making their decisions more curated. By Product, the market is primarily bifurcated into Web-based On-premise based The Web-based sub-segment dominated the global Electronic Health Record market and is expected to grow at a noteworthy CAGR of XX% by the year 2027. 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Electronic Health Record Market Geographical Segmentation Includes: North America ( United States , Canada , Rest of North America ) ( , , Rest of ) Europe ( Germany , United Kingdom , Italy , France , Spain , and Rest of Europe ) ( , , , , , and Rest of ) Asia-Pacific ( China , Japan , India , Australia , and Rest of Asia-Pacific ) ( , , , , and Rest of ) Rest of the World North America is dominating the Electronic Health Record market in 2020 with a market valuation of US$ XX Billion and is anticipated to maintain its dominance during the forecast period owing to advanced healthcare infrastructure in the region. Ask for Report Customization @ https://univdatos.com/report/electronic-health-record-market-current-analysis-and-forecast-2021-2027 The major players targeting the market includes GE Healthcare Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Cerner Corporation Advanced Data Systems Corporation Athenahealth, Inc. Advanced MD eClinicalWorks Epic Systems Corporation McKesson Corporation CPSI Competitive Landscape The degree of competition among prominent global companies has been elaborated by analyzing several leading key players operating worldwide. The specialist team of research analysts sheds light on various traits such as global market competition, market share, most recent industry advancements, innovative product launches, partnerships, mergers, or acquisitions by leading companies in the Electronic Health Record market. The major players have been analyzed by using research methodologies for getting insight views on global competition. Key questions resolved through this analytical market research report include: What are the latest trends, new patterns, and technological advancements in the Electronic Health Record market? Which factors are influencing the Electronic Health Record market over the forecast period? What are the global challenges, threats, and risks in the Electronic Health Record market? Which factors are propelling and restraining the Electronic Health Record market? What are the demanding global regions of the Electronic Health Record market? What will be the global market size in the upcoming years? What are the crucial market acquisition strategies and policies applied by global companies? We understand the requirement of different businesses, regions, and countries, we offer customized reports as per your requirements of business nature and geography. Please let us know If you have any custom needs. For more informative information, please visit us @ https://univdatos.com/report/electronic-health-record-market-current-analysis-and-forecast-2021-2027 About UnivDatos Market Insights UnivDatos Market Insights (UMI) is a passionate market research firm and a subsidiary of Universal Data Solutions. We believe in delivering insights through Market Intelligence Reports, Customized Business Research, and Primary Research. Our research studies are spread across topics across the world, we cover markets in over 100 countries using smart research techniques and agile methodologies. We offer in-depth studies, detailed analysis, and customized reports that help shape winning business strategies for our clients. Contact UnivDatos Market Insights Pawnendra Pawan Client Development Lead Ph: +91-7838604911 Email: pawnendra@univdatos.com Website: https://univdatos.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1225049/UnivDatos_Logo.jpg Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 31, 2021) - HEMP FOR HEALTH INC. (CSE: HFH) ("HFH" or the "Company") provides this corporate update for its shareholders. As reported in our news release of May 18, 2021, the agreement to acquire 100% of Pacific Hemp Company Pty Ltd. ("PHC") expired, and the proposed transaction was terminated. Our target acquisition was unable to complete the required financing within the timelines of our agreement, which timelines were extended by more than 45 days to May 17, 2021. Although the proposed transaction with PHC was not completed, the Company is not disregarding the possibility of re-visiting the target acquisition if the impediments are resolved. Up until two weeks ago, COVID-19 restrictions in Italy prohibited us from accessing our harvest from last year's growing season. Once the restrictions were lifted by the Italian authorities, we immediately re-sampled our current stock and are now awaiting laboratory results from the testing. Currently, in our inventory, we have the following hemp stock: 12,685 kg of biomass, no fiber 6,720 kg of biomass with fiber 878 kg of flowers As liquid yields from biomass and flowers will differ, and the price of our products in the markets fluctuates, management will report on the income received from our stock once sales are finalized. The Company's objective is to joint venture the processing or refining of our harvest for sale in the market, a process which we expect to be completed within the next 60 - 90 days. "We thank our shareholders for their patience in what has been a very trying year and look forward to coming out of the global pandemic with renewed vigor and positive results for all," concluded Robert Eadie, President and CEO of HFH. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Signed "Robert Eadie" Robert Eadie, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Evan Eadie Telephone: 416-640-1936 x 203 Toll Free: 1-866-602-4935 Email: evan@hempforhealth.eu The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer of sale of any securities in the United States. None of the Company's securities have been or will be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) or persons in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor will there be any sale of the foregoing securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the availability of government financing programs and the business and operations of the company. 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. There is no assurance any of the forward-looking statements will be completed as described herein, or at all. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; operating and technical difficulties in connection with the Company's activities, lack of investor interest; requirements for additional capital; changes in general economic conditions; accidents, delays or the failure to receive regulatory approvals, including the required permits needed by the Company's operations; changes in laws, regulations, policies, and programs affecting the Cannabis industry, and so forth. 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. Hemp for Health disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/85824 Regulatory News: Gecina (Paris:GFC) has completed or secured three new sales of mature and/or non-strategic office assets located in Arcueil (94), Levallois-Perret (92) and Montreuil (93), for a total of 349.3m. On May 6, Gecina signed a bilateral sales agreement concerning the Les Portes d'Arcueil building (Val de Marne) for 297.8m excluding duties. The sale is expected to be completed in July, once the conditions precedent have been cleared. This office asset, with around 45,000 sq.m of space, is occupied by the Orange group, which renewed its lease at the end of 2020 for a firm 12-year period. On May 12, 2021, the Group also signed a preliminary sales agreement for Tour Orion, a building with around 12,200 sq.m of space in Montreuil (Seine-Saint-Denis), based on a price of 25.5m excluding duties. The sales agreement is expected to be completed by the end of July at the latest. Lastly, in Levallois-Perret (Hauts-de-Seine), Gecina has sold 55 Deguingand, an office building with around 5,100 sq.m of space, for a total of 26m excluding duties. These sales now take the volume of sales completed since the start of the year or under preliminary agreements to date up to 450m, achieving an average premium versus the end-2020 values of around +7%. Gecina is continuing to move forward with its proactive portfolio rotation and the realignment of its portfolio at the heart of the Paris Region's most central sectors. About Gecina As a specialist for centrality and uses, Gecina operates innovative and sustainable living spaces. The Group owns, manages and develops Europe's leading office portfolio, with nearly 97% located in the Paris Region, and a portfolio of residential assets and student residences, with over 9,000 apartments. These portfolios are valued at 19.7 billion euros at end-2020. Gecina has firmly established its focus on innovation and its human approach at the heart of its strategy to create value and deliver on its purpose: "Empowering shared human experiences at the heart of our sustainable spaces". For our 100,000 clients, this ambition is supported by our client-centric brand YouFirst. It is also positioned at the heart of UtilesEnsemble, our program setting out our solidarity-based commitments to the environment, to people and to the quality of life in cities. Gecina is a French real estate investment trust (SIIC) listed on Euronext Paris, and is part of the SBF 120, CAC Next 20, CAC Large 60, CAC 40 ESG and Euronext 100 indices. Gecina is also recognized as one of the top-performing companies in its industry by leading sustainability benchmarks and rankings (GRESB, Sustainalytics, MSCI, ISS ESG and CDP). www.gecina.fr View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210531005250/en/ Contacts: GECINA Financial communications Samuel Henry-Diesbach Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 52 22 samuelhenry-diesbach@gecina.fr Virginie Sterling Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 62 48 virginiesterling@gecina.fr Press relations Julien Landfried Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 65 74 julienlandfried@gecina.fr Armelle Miclo Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 51 98 armellemiclo@gecina.fr Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 31, 2021) - Eastern Platinum Limited (TSX: ELR) (JSE: EPS) ("Eastplats" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Supreme Court of Canada has declined to hear the appeal sought by 2538520 Ontario Limited (253) of the decision rendered by the British Columbia Court of Appeal upholding the lower court's decision denying 253's application for leave to commence a derivative action against certain of Eastplat's current and former directors and officers in relation to the agreements entered into with Union Goal Offshore Solution Limited ("Union Goal") underlying Eastplat's Retreatment Project (For further information, see press releases of August 29, 2019 and November 17, 2020). The Company will be seeking recovery from 253 of the costs incurred in responding to 253's unsuccessful petition and appeals. "We are pleased with the further support this latest decision adds to our decision to proceed with our retreatment project and the agreements with Union Goal," commented Ms. Diana Hu, the Company's Chief Executive Officer. "We look forward to putting this unproductive litigation behind us and focusing our time and resources on our current operations and other opportunities in South Africa," she added. About Eastern Platinum Limited Eastplats owns directly and indirectly a number of PGM and chrome assets in the Republic of South Africa. All of the Company's properties are situated on the western and eastern limbs of the Bushveld Complex, the geological environment that hosts approximately 80% of the world's PGM-bearing ore. Operations at the Crocodile River Mine include the Company's Retreatment Project and the processing and extraction of PGMs. COVID-19 The alert level in respect of COVID-19 in South Africa was adjusted down to level 1 on March 1, 2021. The Company continues to follow the health guidelines of the Government of South Africa. The Retreatment Project remains in full operation and continues to produce and transport chrome and PGM end products. The effects of COVID-19 are evolving and changing and the consequences of a further increase in the alert level in South Africa, temporary shutdown of any operations or other related issues cannot be reasonably estimated at this time, but could potentially have material adverse effects on the Company's business, operations, liquidity and cashflows. For further information, please contact: EASTERN PLATINUM LIMITED Wylie Hui, Chief Financial Officer whui@eastplats.com (email) (604) 800-8200 (phone) Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, forecasts, estimates, expectations and objectives for future operations that are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "will", "plan", "intends", "may", "could", "expects", "anticipates" and similar expressions. Further disclosure of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and other forward-looking statements are discussed in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. In particular, this press release contains, without limitation, forward-looking statements pertaining to the Company's retreatment project and PGM extraction, the recovery of litigation costs, actions to be taken in connections with litigation, the potential effects of COVID-19 such as a new lockdown imposed by the Government of South Africa; and any future measures taken by the Government of South Africa and their impact on the Company, and its business, operations, liquidity and cashflows. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements as a number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, unanticipated problems that may arise in our production processes, commodity prices, lower than expected grades and quantities of resources, need for additional funding and availability of such additional funding on acceptable terms, economic conditions, currency fluctuations, competition and regulations, legal proceedings and risks related to operations in foreign countries. All forward-looking statements in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, the "Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information" section contained in the Company's most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date they are given and, except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation, and does not undertake, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/85896 BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The Switzerland stock market opened lower Monday morning, and despite emerging into positive territory subsequently, faltered by noon and kept sliding as the day progressed to finally close weak. Amid a lack of significant positive triggers, investors chose to take some profits. The benchmark SMI, which hit a fresh high at 11,433.76, ended with a loss of 62.70 points or 0.55% at 11,363.45, the day's low. Roche Holdings, Holcim, Novartis, Zurich Insurance Group, Swiss Re, UBS Group, Swiss Life Holding, Lonza Group and Credit Suisse shed 0.5 to 1%. Partners Group and Richemont, up 0.5% and 0.3%, respectively, were the two gainers in the SMI index. Among the stocks in the Swiss Mid Price Index, Dufry and Baloise Holding lost 1.4% and 1.1%, respectively. Tecan Group, Schindler Ps, Swiss Prime Site and Adecco ended lower by 0.7 to 0.85%. Flughafen Zurich gained nearly 1.5%, Lindt & Spruengli AG N climbed 1.3% and Lindt & Spruengli AG Part gained 1%. On the vaccination front, reports say the rate of vaccination against Covid-19 in Switzerland is now among the best in the world. The Swiss health ministry has reportedly said that a million doses of the Moderna vaccination arrived in Switzerland on Saturday (May 29) with another 2.5 million doses from Moderna and Pfizer/Biontech expected next month. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. DGAP-News: Defence Therapeutics Inc. / Key word(s): Miscellaneous DEFENCE THERAPEUTICS ADVANCES IN PRE-CLINICAL TESTING OF ITS INFECTIOUS DISEASE VACCINE PROGRAM 01.06.2021 / 08:00 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. CSE: DTC FSE: DTC OTCUS: DTCFF PRESS RELEASE DEFENCE THERAPEUTICS ADVANCES IN PRE-CLINICAL TESTING OF ITS INFECTIOUS DISEASE VACCINE PROGRAM Vancouver, BC, Canada, June 1st, 2021 - Defence Therapeutics Inc. ("Defence" or the "Company"), a pre-clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering ADCs and therapeutics targeting cancer and infectious diseases. Defence is developing these transformative medicines for catastrophic illnesses and is please to provide an update on its COVID-19 vaccine program with its first lead candidate AccuVAC-PT001 (study initiated in Q4 of 2020). Defence's ACCUMTM platform opens a new biotherapeutic modality by ensuring effective and distinct protein (antigen) processing by specialised antigen presenting cells (dendritic cells) consequently resulting in enhanced immune responses. This is exemplified by the long-lasting and potent immune response induced with its AccuVAC-PT001 protein-based vaccine candidate against the SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain (additional studies targeting other COVID variants are underway). These observations clearly highlight how the ACCUMTM platform can be applied to any infectious disease antigen as a means to dramatically boost its processing by dendritic cells and effectively stimulate immunity. When tested in immunocompetent mice at an academic laboratory, Defence's AccuVAC-PT001 generated a very high antibody titer with a response lasting more than 18 weeks post-vaccination (the research study for publication is in progress with expected release date in Q4 of 2021). This is a breakthrough observation for Defence as most humoral responses induced by current vaccination strategies or natural infections start waning exponentially in less than 8 weeks. Additional studies completed at a private clinical research organization further demonstrate active blocking of human cell infection by the virus when subjected to AccuVAC-PT001-induced antibodies. "Defence's focus is to advance our pipeline as we continuously progress towards clinical validation. Defence's ability to leverage its distinct platform, ACCUMTM, creates both novel and potentially unprecedented therapeutics response targeting multiple illnesses" says Sebastien Plouffe, Defence's Chief Executive Officer. In addition to completing standard toxicology studies to ensure safety of the vaccine, AccuVAC-PT001 is currently being tested on larger non-rodent animals to validate its potency and immunogenicity. The results of this study will determine the progress towards further clinical studies. "I am pleased with the continued progress and development of our pipeline. The potential of our ACCUMTM technology positions Defence to deliver solutions to the current or future infectious diseases", adds Mr. Plouffe. Additional Information: The Company makes no express or implied claims that it has developed a vaccine to treat COVID-19 (or SARS-2 Coronavirus) at this time. Dr. Moutih Rafei, Defence's VP Research and Development, has reviewed and approved the scientific disclosure contained in this press release. Dr. Rafei has a PhD in Experimental Medicine from McGill University and received his post-doctoral training at Universite de Montreal. He is an immuno-oncologist who specializes in the fields of T-cell development, stem cell biology, cancer immunotherapy and autoimmune diseases. About Defence: Defence Therapeutics is a publicly-traded biotechnology company working on engineering the next generation vaccines and ADC products using its proprietary platform. The core of Defence Therapeutics platform is the ACCUMTM technology, which enables precision delivery of vaccine antigens or ADCs in their intact form to target cells. As a result, increased efficacy and potency can be reached against catastrophic illness such as cancer and infectious diseases. For further information: Sebastien Plouffe, President, CEO and Director P: (514) 947-2272 Splouffe@defencetherapeutics.com www.defencetherapeutics.com Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Neither the CSE 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. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 31, 2021) - iCo Therapeutics (TSXV: ICO) (OTCQB: ICOTF) ("iCo" or the "Company"), today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. Amounts, unless specified otherwise, are expressed in Canadian dollars and presented under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). Stated William Jarosz, CEO of iCo Therapeutics Inc., "We are very encouraged with our progress during the first quarter of 2021. We are working to complete our previously announced Arrangement with Satellos; we have raised C$7.25M in a private placement to be used for funding the amalgamated entity going forward; we have received a vote of confidence from existing investors via the exercise of outstanding warrants; and we continue to progress our oral Amp B program toward clinical results across several indications. In the near term, we are diligently working with the Exchange to finalize our shareholder meeting materials and the date of the shareholders' meeting to consider the Arrangement with Satellos is expected to be announced in the near future." Q1 2021 Operational and Financial Highlights Corporate On March 21, 2021, the Company entered into an agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement"), providing for the business combination of iCo and Satellos Bioscience Inc. ("Satellos") by way of a plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") in accordance with Section 192 of the Canada Business Corporations Act (the "CBCA"). Pursuant to the Arrangement, Satellos will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of iCo, and the parties expect to complete an amalgamation of iCo and Satellos, with the resulting entity named "Satellos Bioscience Inc." (the "Resulting Issuer"), operating in the life sciences industry. Following the Arrangement, and the Concurrent Financing (described below) shareholders of iCo will hold an approximately 27.7% ownership interest, and the shareholders of Satellos will hold approximately 58.8.% of the outstanding common shares of the Resulting Issuer. The completion of the Arrangement will result in a reverse takeover of iCo as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). Completion of the Arrangement is subject to, among other things, the approval of the Exchange, court approval, and approval from iCo and Satellos' shareholders. As part of the Arrangement, iCo has closed a private placement (the "Concurrent Financing") of subscription receipts (the "Subscription Receipts") issuing 85,294,117 subscription receipts at a price of $0.085 per Subscription Receipt for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately C$7.25 million, representing an upsize from the C$6 million financing announced on March 22, 2021. Each Subscription Receipt entitles the holder thereof to receive, upon satisfaction of certain escrow release conditions, and without payment of additional consideration, one common share in the Resulting Issuer. The proceeds from the Concurrent Financing have been placed in escrow and, upon satisfaction of the release conditions and completion of the Arrangement, will be used for research, development, and general corporate expenses of the Resulting Issuer. During the quarter ended March 31, 2021, 27,335,000 warrants were exercised for proceeds of $1,758,795. Oral Amp B Delivery System On March 15, 2021, iCo announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Amphotericin B Technologies, Inc., entered into an agreement with IIT Research Institute to test the in vivo efficacy of iCo's novel oral amphotericin B asset ("iCo-019") against SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19 in the hACE2 mouse model (the "iCo-019 Study"). iCo anticipates that the iCo-019 Study will be completed by the end of Q2 2021. Financial results for Quarter ended March 31, 2021 We incurred a total comprehensive loss of $780,194 for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, compared to a total comprehensive loss of $645,570 for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, representing an increased loss of $134,624. The increase in the loss is primarily the result of higher general and administration expenses and lower refundable research and development tax credits offset by lower research and development expenses recognized during 2021. Research and development expenses were $82,971 for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 compared to $670,690 for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, representing a decrease of $587,719. The decrease was due to completion of our Oral Amp B Phase 1b clinical study in the corresponding quarter in the prior year. Accordingly, our contract research expenses were down significantly compared to last year. For the quarter ended March 31, 2021 general and administrative expenses were $690,899 compared to $216,436 for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, representing an increase of $474,463. The increase reflects higher professional fees associated with the Arrangement Agreement with Satellos during the period. Liquidity and Outstanding Share Capital As at March 31, 2021, we had cash and cash equivalents of $2,103,250 compared to $65,413 as at December 31, 2020. As at May 31, 2021 we had an unlimited number of authorized common shares with 181,292,713 common shares issued and outstanding. For complete financial results, please see our filings at www.sedar.com. About iCo Therapeutics Inc. iCo Therapeutics identifies existing development stage assets for use in underserved ocular and infectious diseases. Such assets may exhibit utility in non-ophthalmic conditions outside the Company's core focus areas and if so the Company will seek to capture further value via partnerships. iCo shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "ICO" and on the OTCQB under the symbol "ICOTF". For more information, visit the Company website at: www.icotherapeutics.com. No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the content of this press release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulatory Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements included in this press release may be considered forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the completion of the Arrangement, the shareholder meeting to consider the Arrangement, satisfaction of the escrow release conditions, intended use of proceeds from the Concurrent Financing, progress of the Oral Amp B program, and the potential of the Oral Amp B compounded as a therapeutic agent for the novel Coronavirus. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "will," and similar references to future periods. 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 implied by such statements, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on iCo's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to iCo and relate to, among other things, anticipated financial performance, business prospects, strategies, regulatory developments, market acceptance and future commitments, including statements relating to reporting further data regarding studies for Oral Amp Delivery System, the timing of receipt of the statistical analysis for clinical data, the timing, receipt and amount of Australian refundable tax credits, any decrease in research and development expenditures and the completion of additional funding and commencement of additional clinical studies. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are based only on information currently available to iCo and speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by iCo in its public securities filings and on its website, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. In evaluating forward-looking statements, readers should consider the risk factors set out herein, in the "Risk factors relating to the Arrangement" section of the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis dated May 31, 2021 and in the Company's Annual Information Form dated April 29, 2019, which are both available under iCo's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and as otherwise disclosed in the Company's filings under its profile on SEDAR from time to time. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and iCo 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. iCo Contact Information William Jarosz Chief Executive Officer iCo Therapeutics (917) 692-8799 Jarosz@icotherapeutics.com NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/85924 Gone are the days when investing and trading were a thing for high-profile business owners only. Nowadays, due to upscaling of financial literacy and the emergence of tools that foster networking among budding investors and experts of the field, the investing sector has seen an upsurge in the growth charts. However, it is important to note the fact that it is difficult to begin investing. 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The 2019 Deloitte risk management survey showed that more than 93% of C-level executives think risk management will become more important in the future to achieving strategic goals. However, risk management is more than just processes, data, and frameworks. Its also about culture. This means that people are critical to good risk management execution. But theres more to managing the people side of risk than protecting against professional liability, according to NimbleFinscompanies need to take tangible steps to build an effective risk management culture. Here well recap the traits of companies with a strong risk culture, based on research by McKinsey & Company. Recognize Risks Taking stock of the risks faced by a business takes boldness. It means acknowledging potential issues that could lead to failure, disaster, loss, or humiliation. And not just internallyrisk must also be discussed with shareholders or even regulatory bodies where appropriate. While these conversations can be difficult, businesses that face up to potential risks can actually be in a better position to take on more risk. A business willing to acknowledge potential risks can proactively identify and stay ahead of issues, enabling growth and gaining the confidence of investors, regulators, or other third parties. This type of business can size risks and have plans for handling a potential disaster, providing the right environment for taking on additional risk as business opportunities arise. On the other hand, a business scared to identify potential risks will be in a defensive position, afraid of what they dont know, worried about the reactions of shareholders, regulators, clients, and more if something does go wrong. These companies cannot move forward with confidence, taking on more risk as they grow. Instead, companies that dont acknowledge risk tend to be stagnant and more risk-averse. Foster Transparency Having an openness and willingness to discuss problems creates an environment where managers feel confident in raising the flag and alerting others instead of trying to hide a problem. At that point, the issue can be analysed and mitigated. On the other hand, issues that are ignored or hidden tend to worsen, increasing risk. Transparency is enhanced by good risk planning because managers will feel their company can cope with the risk of problems that arise. In companies with good risk management plans in place, a manager will feel more comfortable disclosing any developing issue they identify early on. This is because theyll feel confident that their company can handle a disaster. A culture that encourages discussions also helps with transparency. Managers who feel they cant raise issues when they arise without repercussion are more likely to ignore issues as they develop or avoid telling superiors. Planning and an open culture lead to an environment where risks are more likely to be mitigated and less likely to lead to disaster. Respect for Risk Controls Having a comprehensive set of risk controls in place is just part of the equation. The guidelines and controls must be followed in order to work. This means that the risk management controls must not be too onerous and respect for the systems must be maintained to ensure compliance. The risk controls must be sensible. When risk controls are impractical, employees and managers alike are more likely to search for ways around them. This defeats the point of having a structure in place at all. And when risk guidelines are circumvented, secondary harm is done. People can lose respect for the risk management system altogether. Once that happens, the culture shifts to one of trying to work around the system instead of working within it. Ideally, risk controls are established with the input of parties who will comply with them on a day-by-day basis. This step helps ensure that risk controls are practical and manageable, increasing the odds that employees and managers will follow them. This is critical because attitudes about the risk strategy will impact day-to-day decisions throughout a company. Onboard Leaders Companies large and small must ensure that consensus has been built in support of the risk culture among all leaders. This can be accomplished by ensuring all leaders agree on the type of culture they want for the company. Defining the culture is key, and can involve agreeing on a set of core statements about the risk culture. For instance, We will always understand the infrastructure implications of the risk decisions we make. Stay Dynamic Companies change over time. Leaders and other employees come and go, markets evolve and businesses adapt. In parallel with these changes, the entire risk management strategy, from culture to controls and processes, must be re-evaluated regularly. An annual review can be a sensible way to ensure a companys risk culture and controls are still suitable and capable of mitigating risk. But annual reviews must go beyond checking oversight processes and structuresunderlying attitudes about the risk strategy must also be clocked. Because if the risk culture has shifted, these risk controls wont do a lick of good. Samsung Galaxy A03s, the companys upcoming budget phone, has surfaced in CAD-based renders, thanks to OnLeaks. This shows a 6.5-inch Infinity-V display, the same has the predecessor, and this should be an HD+ LCD screen. The image shows a side-mounted fingerprint scanner which the A02s lacked. This also reveals triple rear cameras that includes a 13MP main camera along with two 2MP cameras for depth and macro and a 5MP front camera, same as the A02s. There is a bottom-ported speaker grill, 3.5mm audio jack and a USB Type-C port instead of micro USB port in the predecessor. It is said to measure 166.6 x 75.9 x 9.1~9.5mm. No details about the processor, RAM, storage and battery details yet. The A20s has a 5000mAh battery with 15W Adaptive, so it might be retained. It is not clear if the A03s will be powered by a MediaTek SoC compared to the Snapdragon 450 SoC in the predecessor. We should know more details in the coming days weeks once the phone gets benchmarked. Source In addition to realme X7 Max, realme also launched the realme Smart TV 4K 43 and 50 models, as it had promised. These support up to 1.07 Billion Colours with a colour gamut of up to 83% NTSC and 90% DCI-P3 for rich and true colours. There is also Dolby Vision from Dolby that offers deeper blacks and a remarkable colour range, according to realme. It also comes with realmes exclusive Chroma Boost Picture Engine for an even more vivid display for an incredible picture quality. These have TUV Rheinland certified low blue light display screen. The TVs come with a Bezel-less design thanks to 2.6mm slim bezels, which the company says is an improvement of 92% over the previous generation Smart TVs, so it offers 97.2% screen-to-body ratio. These have 24W Quad Stereo Speakers, Dolby Atmos for a multi-dimensional sound with incredible clarity and DTS Sound System. The models also feature hands-free voice control, thanks to quad built-in microphones in the Smart TV. You can easily talk with the TVs Google Assistant without a remote. Once you say hey google, the built-in microphones will immediately activate and capture voice commands. You can check information or control the TV and AIoT devices by Google Assistant. realme Smart TV 4K 43 and 50 specifications 43 / 50-inch (3840 x 2160 pixels) 4K display with up to 83% NTSC color gamut, 1.07 Billion colours, 178-degree viewing angle, HDR 10, Chroma Boost Picture Engine, Dolby Vision 1.5GHz Quad-Core Cortex A53 MediaTek processor with Mali-G52MC1 GPU 2GB RAM, 16GB storage Android TV 10.0 with Chromecast Built-in, Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Live channel Hands-free voice control with quad built-in microphones Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, 3 x HDMI (1 contain ARC), 2 x USB, SPDIF, DVB-T2, Ethernet Supports H.264, H.263, MPEG1/2/4, etc. 24W (12W x 2 speakers + tweeter), Dolby Atmos The realme Smart TV 4K 43 model is priced at Rs. 27,999 and the 50 model costs Rs. 39,999. It will be available from Flipkart, realme.com and offline stores starting from June 4th. Xiaomi under its Redmi brand introduced the Redmi AirDots 3 Pro in China last week. Now the headset has been certified by Bluetooth SIG with the model number TWSEJ01ZM. There are also two other products Redmi Buds 3 Pro and POCO Pop Buds with the same model numbers, so the AirDots 3 Pro could launch outside China under these names. Bluetooth SIG also reveals Bluetooth 5.2 support that we already know. POCO revealed back in May 2020 that it POCO Pop Buds True wireless earbuds will launch in India soon, but it didnt happen. Earlier this month POCO global head said that it is not planning to launch wearables or audio products anytime soon, so this might launch in India under POCO brand and globally as Redmi Buds 3 Pro. To remind you, the Redmi AirDots 3 Pro can achieve latency as low as 69ms, has active noise cancellation with up to 35dB active noise reduction, have 9mm drives, IPX4 ratings for water resistance and promise up to 6 hours of standalone and 28 hours total battery life with the case that also supports Qi wireless charging. It also has support for fast charging that offer 3 hours of playback with 10 minutes of charge. Source | Via Chinese premier urges green recovery for mankind's better future Xinhua) 09:04, May 31, 2021 Chinese Premier Li Keqiang addresses the 2021 Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Seoul Summit via video link in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2021. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to work with all other parties to promote green recovery for a better future for mankind, Premier Li Keqiang said via video link at the 2021 Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Seoul Summit on Sunday. Li said the green and sustainable development of the world is facing severe challenges as the global economy becomes more unstable with mounting uncertainties amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic. Members of the international community should help each other and work together to ensure that development and green transformation go hand in hand, reinforce each other and facilitate the upgrading of the quality of development, he said. As the largest developing country, China is making arduous and exceptional efforts to achieve the modernization goal by the middle of this century while realizing low-carbon and green development, he said. China has promised to strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Li said that China will establish and improve an economic system featuring green and low-carbon circular development, to promote a comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development. The premier called for joint efforts from the international community to fight COVID-19, improve global health governance and ensure stable global industrial and supply chains. He also stressed efforts to promote green and low-carbon transformation. After the pandemic, countries should not return to the old high-pollution and high-emission path of development, but should seek a win-win approach of economic development and ecological and environmental protection, grasping new opportunities to achieve high-quality development, Li said. He called on the international community to pay great attention to the concerns and appeals of developing countries and increase technological, financial and capacity support to help them achieve a green and low-carbon transformation. He said that it is necessary to maintain the multilateral trade rules system with the World Trade Organization as the core, be alert to new green trade barriers, and oppose unilateralism and trade protectionism. The 2021 P4G Seoul Summit was hosted by the Republic of Korea. Leaders of more than 60 countries and international organizations attended the virtual event. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) Ordered My Retirement Truck - Please Review FX4 Off Road Package. I did order this. With trips to Alaska planned, is this an option that would be useful? My wife would rather have highway kind of tires for a smoother ride vs the all terrain tires. From what I've seen here, many folks don't order this. I think I'd prefer the standard shocks vs the off road shocks. Did order the dual battery and the 397 alternator. Planning on lots of boondocking so I thought the extra battery would be nice What do you think about vinyl vs carpet? I plan on rubber mats to use over the carpet. Wasn't sure if carpet offers a quieter ride. I also ordered the wheel well liners, front and rear splash guards, and the hood defector (wasn't sure how useful this would be) The retractable Tonneau cover was ordered as well Hi Everyone!I plan to retire in 3 years and ordered my retirement truck this week! My wife retires this year so I thought I'd get a new tow vehicle now so that we can start taking extended trips next year. I can Work From Camper next year as we take 4-5 week trips.I currently have a camper that's 28 feet and 7500 pounds. We may upgrade in the future to maybe a 32 foot max camper. We like National Park camping so we want to keep the camper idealing 30 feet, no more than 32 feet. We plan on long extended camping trips of 4-6 months. As soon as I retire, it's off to Alaska! Plan on lots of out west trips and mountain terrain. When we're not camping, the truck will sit and only be used for short around town driving of around 6-10 miles. From what I've read on this site, diesel trucks while great for mountain towing, don't like to sit.I ordered the 2022 Platinum with the 7.3L and 4.3 gears. One of the things I don't like about my current tow vehicle is the constant downshifting going up inclines. I'm hoping this truck handles the mountains well with slight downshifting.Some questions:I think I may upgrade to the 60 gallon gas tank. I wish Ford offered this. I checked with the dealer and they said adding this would not void the warranty.I have never owned a truck before. So lucking forward to having a great tow vehicle. The build sheet is attached. Please let me know if you would recommend any changes.I do own Ford stock and have gotten my X-plan number. The dealer has agreed to sell this at X-plan pricing. Not sure how much I'll save, but better than MSRP!Thanks! MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) -- Many folks are visiting Battleship Memorial Park over the Memorial Day weekend to pay tribute to those who died serving our country. Families we spoke to say they wanted to not only remember the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice, but also show gratitude for all who gave their lives fighting for our freedom. Battleship Memorial Park will be open for tours, today from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased inside the Aircraft Pavilion. Officials say visitors are encouraged to practice social distancing and other COVID-19 safety protocols while at the park. GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina)- South Carolina Highway Patrol announced on Thursday that they identified the suspect responsible for the deadly hit and run that killed an Upstate teacher in Greenville on Sunday. Rose Griotte Les Parfums de Rosine: The Japanese Hana-mi Tradition Fragrance Reviews Rose Griotte has become the swan song of Marie-Helene Rogeon, the founder of Les Parfums de Rosine, who left this world last week. The perfume was released back in February 2021, when Fragrantica announced its launch, but this Les Parfums de Rosine fragrance arrived in Russia only recently. Rose Griotte, according to the official press release, is inspired by the spring cherry blossoms that bloom in France in May. During this period, cherry trees blooming all together resemble white-pink clouds, and the branches and leaves are almost invisible behind the exuberant blossoms. Of course, no one extracts cherry blossom to get its essential oil or absolute, so perfumer Nicolas Bonneville recreated this delicate floral and powdery scent using other, traditional perfume materials. Among these floral materials that form the perfume heart accord, one can discern a subtle fresh scent of pink peonies more delicate, moist and transparent than the scent of a rose and one can catch a slight fruity sweetness of osmanthus and its characteristic suede shade. The delicately introduced sourness and the overall powdery background of the perfume hint at cherry fruits and cherry juice, but still the main character of Rose Griotte is its powdered floral suede, in shades from flesh beige to dusty pink. After the suede, the floral sweetness reappears enveloped in powder, and peony and osmanthus return to the foreground with the help of sweet jasmine and heliotropin. More surprising is the juicy start of the fragrance, in which the sweet and sour cherry flesh is literally felt, replaced by white pear freshness with a soft powdery shade. It's so realistic and juicy as if you first ate a cherry, and then a bite of pear. The powdery shade brings the fragrance structure together from the juicy splashing start through the floral bouquet and to the soft woody-musky base. Rose Griotte sillage is translucent and delicate, tactile soft, smelling of a clean body. If we recall the Japanese idea underlying the admiration of the cherry blossoms, then the cherry blossoms metaphorically denote the ephemerality of life. The fleetingness, lush beauty and speedy death of cherry blossoms, according to the "mono no aware" (an empathy toward things, the sad charm of seeing times pass) principle associated with a bright and fragile life. Smelling Rose Griotte is like Hanami tradition brought to France. Marie-Helene Rogeon lived a vibrant life and gave us many wonderful moments of admiration for her fragrances. The business of Marie-Helene, the perfume house Les Parfums de Rosine will be continued by her son Louis, who helped his mother for 15 years, and her husband Bernard. We will follow up on new brand launches as before. Rose Griotte Les Parfums de Rosine is available on the brand's official website and in partner boutiques in Eau de Parfum concentration in 50 and 100 ml bottles at the price of 108 and 140 euros, respectively. Rose Griotte Les Parfums de Rosine Top notes: Tangerine, Bergamot, Japanese pear, and Pink pepper; Middle notes: Japanese cherry blossom, Peony, Sambac Jasmine, and Osmanthus; Base notes: Heliotrope, Ambergris, Cedar, and Musk. Tauer Perfumes Brings Back Cologne Du Maghreb New Fragrances Andy Tauer, the nose behind Switzerland-based independent perfume house Tauer Perfumes, re-releases its "all-natural, all-botanical" fragrance, Cologne du Maghreb, from 2015. The new Cologne du Maghreb is said to be slightly different, a bit more concentrated, and 100% botanical and natural. This cologne is described as a robust fragrance that brings together Occident and Orient, with classic fresh cologne notes like citruses and herbs (lavender, clary sage, and rosemary) with an added "Moroccan twist" which includes cedar wood from the High Atlas, vetiver from Java, orange blossom absolute, labdanum, Moroccan rose absolute, and Bulgarian rose oil. Top notes: bergamot, lemon, red mandarin orange, clementine, petitgrain, rosemary, clary sage, litsea cubeba, grapefruit, lavender Heart notes: orange blossom absolute, neroli, Bourbon geranium, Moroccan rose absolute, Bulgarian rose Base notes: ambreinol, Atlas cedar, Java vetiver, labdanum (ambrein) The fragrance is available in a 50 ml Eau de Cologne. Keep the conversation about local news & events going by joining us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Recent updates from The News-Post and also from News-Post staff members are compiled below. Galveston, TX (77553) Today Clear to partly cloudy. Low 79F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low 79F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Deputies graduate from training The Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training has announced the graduation of Basic Corrections Local #BCL045 this Friday at the Oregon Public Safety Academy in Salem. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic and the need for social distancing, the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training regrets that this ceremony will be closed to the public. Local members of Graduating Class BCL045 are Deputy Sheriff Amber Erickson-Lovik and Deputy Sheriff Jennifer Passarge, both of the Linn County Sheriffs Office. Local financial advisor honored for performance Chris Scariano, who has been an Edward Jones financial advisor in Albany since 2001, recently qualified for the Edward Jones Managing Partner's Conference, which honors the top 400 of the firms more than 19,000 financial advisors. The achievement recognizes and celebrates Edward Jones most successful financial advisors and provides them with the opportunity to hear from keynote speakers from both inside and outside the firm and to share best practices for serving clients. Hospice welcomes community engagement coordinator From January through October of every year, tennis star Sloane Stephens is in a different city competing. Based out of Florida, she visits her mother in Los Angeles as often as she can and also checks in on the Sloane Stephens Foundation, which utilizes education and tennis to uplift vulnerable children. I honestly dont remember where exactly (my first tennis tournament was), but I do remember that I had a lot of fun and met friends that I grew close to and continued to see at tournaments, Sloane said from Paris, where she was competing in the French Open. That positive first experience with tennis is why I stuck with it. That is the type of environment we create with the kids at the Sloane Stephens Foundation. We give you all the tools to take tennis as far as you want, but the most important thing is that you are finding a pathway to be healthy, happy and have a positive experience. Stephens who serves on the WTA Players Council stays in touch with fans on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sloanestephens/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/SloaneStephens) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Sloaneposts). Nancy Perry, a 46-year Glendale resident, organizes and promotes weekly car shows throughout metro Phoenix and Arizona. Since starting Nancy Perry Productions in 1998, Perry has welcomed thousands of classic cars from all around the city, state and country. You asked. We listened. Your daily crossword, Sudoku and dozens of other puzzles are now available online. Play them or print them here. Play now Latest Headlines nib Foundation launches new charity grant scheme The charitable entity of leading health insurer nib New Zealand has launched its first Kiwi grant programme called Health Smart Grants. Tuesday, June 1st 2021, 10:20AM The programme, designed to support registered charities dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of Kiwis, and our youth and young adults, will be run by the nib Foundation with three Health Smart Grants of $40,000 available. nib Foundation executive officer Amy Tribe says being able to offer the Health Smart Grants to Kiwi charities is an important step towards creating a healthier landscape on both sides of the Tasman. The grants are designed to provide a funding boost to charities specialising in prevention and who are using innovative ways to empower and educate Kiwis to be health smart in their everyday lives. Applications open today and end on June 30. To register your interest in the grants scheme click here. Special Offers Comments from our readers No comments yet Sign In to add your comment Goshen, IN (46526) Today Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Note: We've recently updated our online systems. If you can't login please try resetting your password. You must login with an email address. If you don't have an email associated with your account email circulation@skagitpublishing.com for help creating one. The Governors Official Program is comprised of a wide range of constitutional and legal duties and ceremonial and community engagements. Each year, the Governor hosts thousands of visitors to Government House to take part in investiture and award ceremonies, Open Days, receptions and meetings, and travels widely throughout Queensland to support the activities of Patron groups. View a chronological record of the Governors daily program below. On Saturday, in the morning, at the Shrine of Remembrance, Anzac Square, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC was represented by Honorary Aide-de-Camp, Commander Peter Tedman DSM OAM at the Returned and Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) 2021 Indigenous Veterans Ceremony, and laid the first wreath. In the evening, at QPAC, South Brisbane, His Excellency and Mrs Kaye de Jersey attended the Queensland Symphony Orchestra's Masterworks Concert - Mozart and Brahms, Music to Soothe your Soul. Fernando Alonso is looking forward to F1's latest visit to Azerbaijan. The Spaniard knows that overtaking is a lot easier at the Baku City Circuit than at the tracks where the last two Grands Prix were held. Baku popular with Alonso "I've always enjoyed Baku," Alonso is quoted as saying by Marca. "It's a good circuit with challenging corners and good overtaking opportunities." The Alpine driver recalls a race in Azerbaijan where he was not allowed to start in the top ten, but still secured hefty points. He also likes the unknown that Baku has. "It's a circuit where anything can happen, it's usually an unpredictable weekend." Finding the right set-up for the street circuit in Azerbaijan is not easy according to the Spaniard. Confidence continues to grow Alonso failed to score points in Monaco and Spain, but confidence is building for the Spaniard who returned to Formula One after a two-year absence. "I have more confidence in every race. I am in a continuous process of learning and improving the car." A staggering 50 members of Mercedes' F1 engine division is switching allegiances to the new Red Bull Powertrains operation. That is the news from the highly authoritative Auto Motor und Sport, as it published details of Red Bull's impressive preparations to take over from departing engine supplier Honda after 2021. "They have already ordered seven test stands," revealed correspondent Michael Schmidt. "The poaching from Mercedes is more delicate. Six names have already been revealed, and six more are a done deal. "But Christian Horner believes that around 50 Mercedes employees will switch sides by the end of the hiring process, and Andy Cowell should be among them." Indeed, Red Bull team boss Horner told Autocar that Mercedes staff are interested in taking the "leap of faith" to Red Bull because the project is "exciting". "I think people have seen how and what Red Bull has done in motorsport and the commitment it has," Horner said. "It's based in the UK, it's 30 miles from Brixworth, they don't need to move house or move their children from school and it's a chance to be involved in something from scratch." Not just that, the tantalising involvement of a Volkswagen brand - either Porsche or Audi - is also a major draw. "We're open to working with any OEM or technical entity," Horner admitted. "We're extremely keen to have the engine fully integrated into the chassis side of the business, hence this investment. It would be very much getting involved with our entity rather than doing something different." And he says Toto Wolff may one day rue his decision to say 'no' to supplying Red Bull with a competitive Formula 1 engine. "We need a competitive engine, and this is the best route," he said. "Mercedes wouldn't supply one and Renault didn't want to supply one, so it didn't leave us with a lot of choice. We've got to get on with it and make Toto rue that decision. "Maybe one day he will need an engine from us!" (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve says the "craziest question" he is ever asked is why Formula 1 drivers do not instantly decide to quit once their performance starts to slide. The 1997 world champion admits it has been "sad" to watch quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel continue to struggle after switching from Ferrari to Aston Martin. But then Vettel had a good weekend at Monaco. "You don't do well at Monaco if you don't still have the fire in you," Villeneuve told motorsport-magazin.com. "He made the difference there," the French Canadian added. "The car isn't what they expected. The old Mercedes doesn't work with the new rules and as a team they can't develop it." Some believe German Vettel, 33, should have retired instead of racing on in 2021, but Villeneuve dismisses that notion out of hand. "Why? He's in Formula 1, making a lot of money. It doesn't matter that he's a four-time world champion. "People always say 'Oh he's not winning, he should step down'. But it's a real-life job too. It's fun to race, but it's also a job with which you pay for your children's education. "So if you can still drive in Formula 1, be something like competitive, have fun driving a car and make millions in the process, why should you step down if you're not scared of dying or something? "It's always the craziest question I'm asked," said Villeneuve. (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has ruled out a return to Red Bull's Formula 1 camp for Daniil Kvyat. "Definitely not," said the 79-year-old Austrian, when asked if the Russian and former Red Bull Racing and Alpha Tauri driver has a chance of a Red Bull comeback. "We are focused on working with our current drivers, but he also has a contract with Alpine," Marko added, referring to Kvyat's new reserve role. Speaking to formel1.de, Marko also seemed to play down a promotion for Pierre Gasly. "As far as I remember, Gasly's contract is for another two years, so either at Red Bull Racing or Alpha Tauri. But as I said, we are not thinking about lineups. "We will think it over and make a decision during the summer break." While Marko is worried about Alpha Tauri rookie Yuki Tsunoda's current progress, he is slightly less concerned about Sergio Perez at the senior team. "The positive thing is that Perez is performing in the races," he said. "Sometimes he is even at the level of Max Verstappen. But we do have to find something extra in qualifying. We must see an improvement there." Mexican Perez is on a single-year contract. "We are a very popular destination in the driver market, so I don't think anyone will negotiate until they have had a chance to sit down with us," said Marko. An outsider for a 2022 seat is Nico Hulkenberg. "He is doing very well at Servus TV at the moment," said Marko, referring to the former F1 driver and the German's new role as a TV pundit. "The ratings are very good. "He is the reserve driver for both Aston Martin and Mercedes, so he has to stay fit anyway." (GMM) Dr Helmut Marko has slammed Toto Wolff's position on flexible rear wings in 2021 as "a bit strange". After the FIA said it would change the flexibility tests from Paul Ricard, Wolff warned that Mercedes could launch a protest this weekend at Baku. "We find it all a bit strange," Red Bull's F1 supremo Marko told the German-language formel1.de. "The rules are very clear. The FIA has decided that the tests, especially the one for torsional resistance, will be changed and this will apply from Paul Ricard. "Wolff believes that the change comes too late, but to my knowledge it is the FIA who determines the procedures in Formula 1," Marko added. In the event that Wolff does protest, Marko is threatening to fire a counter-protest over the reigning world champion team's supposedly flexible front wings. "Wolff is of course free to protest, but I believe they will then have to look at their own front wing as well. Images on Servus TV and Sky have shown how drastically their front wing bends down," said Marko. (GMM) A new paper by an MIT team and colleagues in Singapore, China, Italy and Denmark, drawing on global data, finds that people visit places more frequently when they have to travel shorter distances to get there. By examining cellphone data on four continents, the researchers were able to arrive at a distinctive new finding in the urban studies literature. Their paper is published in Nature. Human mobility impacts many aspects of a city, from its spatial structure to its response to an epidemic. It is also ultimately key to social interactions, innovation and productivity. However, our quantitative understanding of the aggregate movements of individuals remains incomplete. Existing modelssuch as the gravity law or the radiation modelconcentrate on the purely spatial dependence of mobility flows and do not capture the varying frequencies of recurrent visits to the same locations. Here we reveal a simple and robust scaling law that captures the temporal and spatial spectrum of population movement on the basis of large-scale mobility data from diverse cities around the globe. According to this law, the number of visitors to any location decreases as the inverse square of the product of their visiting frequency and travel distance. We further show that the spatio-temporal flows to different locations give rise to prominent spatial clusters with an area distribution that follows Zipfs law. Schlapfer et al. To conduct the study, the researchers used anonymized cellphone data from large communications providers to track the movement of people in the metro areas of Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Boston; Braga, Lisbon, and Porto, Portugal; Dakar, Senegal; and Singapore. Cellphone data are ideal for this kind of study because they establish both the residence area of people and the destinations they travel to. In some cases, the researchers defined areas visited by using grid spaces as small as 500 square meters. Overall, the researchers charted more than 8 billion location-indicating pieces of data generated by more than 4 million people, charting movement for a period of months in each location. In each case, from city to city, the same inverse law of visitation held up, with the charted data following a similar pattern: The frequency of visits declined over longer distances, and higher-density areas were filled with people who had, on aggregate, taken shorter trips. To the extent that there was some variation from this pattern, the largest deviations involved sites with atypical functions, such as ports and theme parks. The paper itself both measures the data and presents a model of movement, in which people seek out the closest locations that offer particular kinds of activity. Both of those buttress central place theory, an idea developed in the 1930s by German scholar Walter Christaller, which seeks to describe the location of cities and towns in terms of the functions they offer to people in a region. The scholars note that the similarity in movement observed in very different urban areas helps reinforce the overall finding. This generalized behavior is not just something you observe in Boston. From a scientific viewpoint, we are adding evidence about a generalized pattern of behavior. Paolo Santi, a research scientist at the Senseable City Lab at MIT and co-author The researchers also hope the finding, and the methods behind it, can be usefully applied to urban planning. Santi suggests this type of study can help predict how substantial changes in the physical layout of a city will affect movement within it. The method also makes it possible to examine how changes in urban geography affect human movement over time. The visitation law could have many practical applicationsfrom the design of new infrastructure to urban planning. For instance, it could help implement the concept of the Fifteen-Minute City, which aims to reorganize physical space around walkable neighborhoods and which has become very popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our law suggests that we can indeed capture a large fraction of all urban trips within a fifteen-minute radius, while leaving the restperhaps 10 percentfurther away. Carlo Ratti, a co-author of the paper and director of the Senseable City Lab Support for the research was provided by the National Science Foundation, the AT&T Foundation, the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), the MIT Center for Complex Engineering Systems, Audi Volkswagen, BBVA, Ericsson, Ferrovial, GE, the MIT Senseable City Lab Consortium, the John Templeton Foundation, the Eugene and Clare Thaw Charitable Trust, the US Army Research Office Minerva program, the Singapore National Research Foundation, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Resources Support local journalism We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story. GREENWICH Is a new summer school model, in which a select group of students could attend their neighborhood schools, unfair? And did the Central Office fail to notify the school board of a programmatic change? Board of Education member Peter Sherr said the answer to both questions may be yes. Now weve got an educational inequity, dont we? Sherr said at a recent meeting of the Board of Education, where plans for summer school were presented. Yeah, weve got an educational inequity. Certain schools have certain programs that other students dont have. According to Deputy Superintendent E. Ann Carabillo, who led the presentation, a new summer school model emerged this year out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Administrators from two of the districts Title 1 schools a federal distinction for schools with high concentrations of students living in poverty approached her and other central office staff with a proposal to run their own summer programs. Those administrators, from Western Middle School and Julian Curtiss, would run a program separate from that offered to students elsewhere in the district, who would attend classes either remotely, at Glenville Elementary School or at Central Middle School. Everyone who has been invited to two sites, Western Middle School, or Julian Curtiss Slementary School, those two administrators have invited specific students to attend their program, Carabillo said. It is not connected to our Greenwich Public Schools summer school program. The students who were not invited by the Western administration and the Julian Curtiss program administrator, have been invited to our Greenwich Public Schools summer school if they qualified for the additional learning time. Carabillo said she, Superintendent of Schools Toni Jones and Director of Curriculum for K-8 Marc DAmico gave the administrators their blessing. They earmarked funds from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund, part of a federal COVID-19 relief program, which will provide the district with more than $16 million in aid over the next several years. The new model is aimed at addressing learning loss for the districts highest-need students. But Sherr, in addition to raising issues about the fairness of a program not open to all Greenwich students, also questioned why the board wasnt made aware of the programmatic change. Im sorry, did I miss it? Was this disclosed to the board before today? Sherr asked. Not to my understanding, Carabillo replied. Were supposed to be governing the school system. And Im not saying this is a bad idea at all, Sherr said. This is a situation, unless somebody can show me otherwise, and Ill glad be wrong, where this program was not properly brought to the board for its review and governance. And its money. The program change was detailed in the districts application for the second round of ESSER funding, which was available to the board, Carabillo said. But whereas Sherr characterized the change to summer school as a pilot, Jones countered that it was a small change to the existing program that the Central Office was within its rights to make. It is still part of our summer school program, Jones said. Its not like were running something that is a pilot that is totally different. Its about connecting kids and children with their teachers. And ... we dont ever bring approval to the school sites to the board. We actually plan that according to what schools are open, according to all the capital projects that are going on across the district, how much space we have in any one building and how many students actually qualify that we actually need to place in the buildings. The districts summer school program will begin July 6 and run through Aug. 6. According to Carabillo, more than 900 qualifying students will enroll for classes at the Glenville and Central Middle School locations. Carabillo did not have an exact number of students participating in the neighborhood program at Julian Curtiss and Western Middle School, but said she would follow up with the board. Registration for the summer school program opened in May. While the program will be predominantly with in-person classroom teaching, Carabillo said the district would work with those who have a preference for remote learning. We are going to be very flexible for those families and students, she said. Sherr, meanwhile, repeated that he didnt necessarily disagree with the change to the program, but that he did believe it was unfair to students in other parts of the district who would not have the opportunity to attend their neighborhood schools. Board of Education Chair Peter Bernstein that because of capital work on school buildings, its not possible to open every school in the district for summer school. And board member Christina Downey also noted that to open additional schools would require additional staff members to work the summer. We also cant force the teachers to work at a particular school, Downey said. So Im just asking the question, would you rather just not allow them to do that and have everybody go centralized? No, I wouldve rathered, if this was a discussion we were going to have, that the administration, on their own, wouldve red flagged, Uh oh, thats a good idea, but we may be creating this issue, therefore we need to think this through, Sherr said. And clearly that didnt happen. justin.papp@scni.com; @justinjpapp1; 203-842-2586 Comparing the Canadian and the American Right updated to 2021 (Part One) By Mark Wegierski Canada today, despite its great over-all wealth, is a society of contrasts. While the problem of Quebec separatism which was so central in Canadian history since the 1960s may appear to be fading a little, there are many new challenges arising. While Canada is still, to a large extent, a more pleasant place to live than the United States (especially when one compares life in the two countries large cities), there are many issues looming on the horizon which can prove severe challenges to a safe, civil, prosperous life the permanence of which all too many Canadians today take for granted. There are a number of substantial differences between the Canadian and American societies today, which may indeed have a profound impact on the type of future the countries will have. In the years 2006 to 2015, Canada had a federal Conservative government, while during most of that time, Obama was President of the United States. This was a fairly unusual situation where the U.S. may have had a more left-liberal government than Canada. The comparative fiscal discipline of the Harper Conservatives was breathtaking to contemplate, when viewed against the almost unbelievable fiscal profligacy of the Obama Administration. Liberal Justin Trudeau has been Prime Minister of Canada (since 2015), whereas Donald Trump was President of the United States in 2016-2020. There appear to be very few prospects of a Trump-like figure arising in Canada. Now, Joe Biden is President of the United States, and the situation appears to be an attempt to enact a revolutionary transformation of America, that will forever keep the Republicans out of power at the federal level. It should also be remembered that holding a majority in the federal Parliament (which conjoins executive and legislative authority) is putatively more effective than, for example, just the holding of the U.S. Presidency. However, there are other differences between Canada and the United States that point to the fact that the Conservative majority in 2011 to 2015, may not have been as powerful and effective in Canada as might putatively appear to be the case. There was the instance, for example, when the opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) had carried out the longest filibuster in Canadian history, to try to block back-to-work legislation in regard to the labour dispute at Canada Post (the Canadian postal corporation). The victory of Donald Trump in the 2016 Presidential election, had created an enormous amount of volatility and unpredictability in U.S. politics. However, he was defeated in 2020, in an election that was extremely close in the crucial battleground states. Nevertheless, it could be argued that one important difference between Canada and the U.S. is the absence of a more organized, coherent, political Right in Canada. While there are many similarities between the left-liberal media, academic, cultural, juridical, and governmental establishments in Canada and the U.S., Canada manifestly lacks a rambunctious right-wing. In the U.S., it could be argued that there has been a wide-ranging and extensive debate among various groupings of the broader (and far more dynamic) right-wing, including paleoconservatives, neoconservatives, right-wing Greens, libertarians, paleolibertarians, classical liberals, social conservatives of the Left (such as Christopher Lasch), and religious conservatives (sometimes called theo-cons). Nevertheless, in more recent years, the debate appears to have slackened, becoming dominated by neoconservatives and shallow Republican Party operatives. Another trend to be noted is the atrophy of paleo elements in most forms of libertarianism. And todays National Review traditionally the flagship journal of all of American conservatism -- is a terribly weak shadow of the highly robust and intellectually trenchant, early National Review. There are also at least two huge factors that have contributed to a more politically conservative U.S. the first being that, as the one remaining superpower, the United States had cherished and effectively maintained its military; and secondly, the large presence of Christian religion in the U.S. (including both Protestant fundamentalists and tradition-minded Catholics). However, one of the effects of the Obama Administration has been to create an increasingly woke military, especially in its higher ranks. It should also be remembered that (for now at least) taxation is low in the U.S., relative to Canada; that U.S. gun-control legislation is minimal, relative to Canada; and that the U.S. medical system has (until recently) been largely driven by free-enterprise, relative to Canada. To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home Haiti - FLASH : President Abinader announces the construction of a dam on the Artibonite river in Dominican soil Thursday, May 27, a meeting of the Dominican-Haitian bilateral joint commission was held at the Dominican Chancellery in Santo Domingo in order to take stock of the construction in Haiti of works for the collection of part of the waters of the Massacre river, to irrigate more than 3,000 ha of land in the Maribahoux plain. Prime Minister ai Claude Jospeh declared at the beginning of the meeting "My presence at the opening ceremony of this technical meeting [...] signifies the determination of the Government of Haiti to prevent a misunderstanding that seems to arise in the management and use of the waters of the Massacre river, a latent conflict between the populations of the border area [...] The objective of the meeting is precisely to explore ways and means to dispel any misunderstanding on the real scope and purpose of the irrigation project that the Haitian Government is carrying out on the Massacre River [...] It is time for the two countries to agree on a global framework for the management of shared hydraulic resources, not only in Ouanaminthe/Dajabon, but in all the other points of the land border." At the end of this meeting, a joint declaration was signed where the two parties undertook to create within the Mixed Commission a Technical Table for a better understanding of the work carried out in the border area. Text of the Joint declaration : "Binational meeting on the situation of the transboundary waters of the Massacre River (or Dajabon for the Dominicans) Meeting at the Ministry of External Relations of the Dominican Republic within the framework of the Haitian-Dominican Bilateral Commission, the Delegations present agreed on the following declaration. Considering that the Treaty of Peace, Perpetual Friendship and Arbitration signed on February 20, 1929 between the government of the Republic of Haiti and the Government of the Dominican Republic in which is established the right of the two nations to use the waters of rivers in the border area in a fair and equitable manner; Considering the interest of the two nations to work together to create the mechanisms that guarantee the sustainable management of transboundary watersheds and the proper use of binational watercourses; Recognizing, on the basis of the information provided today by the representatives of the Republic of Haiti and in the spirit of understanding and exchange of information in accordance with what is stipulated in the treaty of February 1929 that the work running on the Massacre or Dajabon River for the water catchment does not consist of a deviation of the watercourse: Have agreed as follows : To continue to exchange information relating to all hydraulic structures built or to be built in the cheese area; To create a Technical Table for a better understanding of the work carried out in the border area within the framework of the Agriculture and Environment Sub-Commission of this Bilateral Mixed Commission with a view to the creation of a Binational Water Table; To develop, within the framework of the Technical Table, a technical protocol for the coordinated management of transboundary watersheds, to guarantee the management of resources in a joint manner, in accordance with what is prescribed in the Treaty of February 20, 1929 and legal standards International. Both parties agree to appeal, if they deem it necessary. international technical assistance in this area. This declaration, in French and Spanish versions, both being equally authentic, is signed by the Technical Secretary and the Executive Secretary of the Haitian-Dominican Mixed Commission, on the twenty-seventh day of May in the year two thousand. twenty one . Marie Andree Amy Technical Secretary a.i. Mixed Commission Haitian-Dominican Julio Ortega All Executive Secretary Mixed Commission Dominican-Haitian" In addition, Saturday May 29, on the sidelines of the inauguration of a Health Center in Jarabacoa, President Luis Abinader denied the rumors which suggests that the Dominican Republic had approved the work of Haiti on the Massacre River. "I am surprised by the opinions of some media and some people who think there has been approval. The only thing that was approved in this Commission was the creation of a technical table, which will discuss the use of all the water resources of the border [...] according to what the 1929 treaty indicates [...] so that there are no conflicts today nor tomorrow nor later." In addition, President Abinader declared that at this technical table, he will present the project to build a dam in Dominican territory on the Rio Artibonito (Artibonite River) stressing that this should have been done since a long time, but no President had wanted to present this project to Haiti... He specified that the construction of this dam will begin next year and that all the studies were ready. to be continued... SL/ HaitiLibre Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up Email Password Password Username Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password. Stay logged in Help We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Submit A Senate panel voted Wednesday to give themselves and their colleagues a big increase in their allowance and do it as soon as possible. You voted: Memorial Day An orphan's Medal of Honor By Mark Alexander In recent weeks, I have written about the loss of two friends, T/Sgt. Charles Coolidge and Lt. Col. Chuck Hagemeister . They were members of, and strong advocates for, The National Medal of Honor Heritage Center here in Chattanooga two humble men who saved the lives of many others on WWII and Vietnam battlefields. It was with gratitude that I followed up those profiles with the welcome news that a 94-year-old Georgia native, Col. Ralph Puckett , was finally recognized for his service with a long-overdue Medal of Honor. He risked his life protecting his men in Korea. We honor these men for the lives they saved on battlefields, and they will forever be held in high esteem among the ranks of our nation's most distinguished veterans. The same is true for generations of Americans who have served our nation with honor and dignity, including those in my father's Dartmouth class of '44 , ALL of whom departed to serve in World War II and many of whom never returned . While we honor T/Sgt. Coolidge, Lt. Col. Hagemeister, and Col. Puckett, Memorial Day, as detailed in our Memorial Day tribute page , is reserved to honor those who have given their lives in the uniformed services of our nation those who died in combat defending Liberty in accordance with their sacred oaths " to Support and Defend " our Constitution. Regarding the three men aforementioned, I noted that the word "hero" is grossly overused today , but as it relates to Medal of Honor recipients, it is invariably understated. And so it is with S/Sgt. Clifford Chester Sims, who was killed in action defending his fellow soldiers in Vietnam. Sims began life as Clifford Pittman, according to a 2015 profile . He was orphaned at a young age. Though his stepfather's family took him in, they couldn't care for him. So he left their house and lived in an abandoned bus near Panama City, Florida, where he attended a nearby school. Clifford survived on the kindness of strangers. According to his widow, Mary Sims-Parker, "We didn't call it 'homeless' then, but he was homeless before they came up with the term. He has a long story." At age 13, Clifford was adopted by James and Irene Sims, who provided him his first stable home. He and Mary, his high school sweetheart, were married in December of 1961, soon after he enlisted in the Army. He trained at Fort Jackson, SC, and the Airborne School at Fort Benning, GA, and then the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC, before going to Ft. Campbell, TN, where he would ship out to Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division's Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 501st Infantry "Raiders" the "bastard company." It was a long road from tragedy to triumph, that ended in Hue, Vietnam, on 21 February, 1968. As his citation notes : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Sims distinguished himself while serving as a squad leader with Company D. Company D was assaulting a heavily fortified enemy position concealed within a dense wooded area when it encountered strong enemy defensive fire. Once within the woodline, S/Sgt. Sims led his squad in a furious attack against an enemy force which had pinned down the 1st Platoon and threatened to overrun it. His skillful leadership provided the platoon with freedom of movement and enabled it to regain the initiative. S/Sgt. Sims was then ordered to move his squad to a position where he could provide covering fire for the company command group and to link up with the 3d Platoon which was under heavy enemy pressure. After moving no more than 30 meters S/Sgt. Sims noticed that a brick structure in which ammunition was stocked was on fire. Realizing the danger, S/Sgt. Sims took immediate action to move his squad from this position. Though in the process of leaving the area two members of his squad were injured by the subsequent explosion of the ammunition, S/Sgt. Sims' prompt actions undoubtedly prevented more serious casualties from occurring. While continuing through the dense woods amidst heavy enemy fire, S/Sgt. Sims and his squad were approaching a bunker when they heard an unmistakable noise of a concealed booby trap being triggered immediately to their front. S/Sgt. Sims warned his comrades of the danger and unhesitatingly hurled himself upon the device as it exploded, taking the full impact of the blast. In so protecting his fellow soldiers, he willingly sacrificed his life. S/Sgt. Sims' extraordinary heroism at the cost of his life is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army. Of her impression of the Medal of Honor, Mary Sims-Parker said: "The first time I ever saw a picture of someone wearing the Medal of Honor, I was so in awe. I just looked and looked at it. It was just so amazing to see someone alive wearing one. I do treasure it so much." She added, "When I found out how [Clifford died], it didn't surprise me." For his genuine heroics, S/Sgt. Clifford Chester Sims was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on 02 December 1969. Receiving it in his name, Mary keeps it in a shadow box on the wall in her modest home in Hopkinsville, KY. Thank you, Clifford and Mary Sims. Too many Americans, oblivious to the service and sacrifice of others on their behalf, will "celebrate" Memorial Day as any other holiday. Too many commercial vendors will use the day to promote sales. But Memorial Day is not for sale . More than 1.3 million American Patriots have already paid the full price in combat, and an additional 1.4 million have been wounded. These numbers, of course, offer no reckoning of the inestimable value of their service or the sacrifices borne by their families. In 1776, John Adams wrote his wife Abigail of the cost of defending Liberty : "I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means." Indeed, and that cost continues to be borne today by our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen serving around the world. Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post. Home Free access for current print subscribers As a home delivery subscriber, you get free unlimited digital access to premium content on HenryHerald.com, including local news, local sports, obituaries, legal notices, local features, and the e-edition. All you need is your print subscription account number and your last name. Don't know your subscription number? Email access@henryherald.com with your delivery address. Activate your account now. The daily rate to incarcerate an inmate in one of West Virginias 10 regional jails will increase by almost 14% on July 1, further hurting cash-strapped county governments. What would you favor as a top solution? A viable alternative to Chinese minerals hegemony By Duggan Flanakin Prompted by a worldwide chip shortage already impacting automobile production, President Biden in February signed an executive order directing a 100-day broad review of supply chains for critical materials for semiconductors and large-capacity batteries, including rare-earth elements. It builds on analyses, reports and executive orders initiated several years ago by the Trump Administration. The stark truth that this review should highlight is that the U.S. and its Western allies have been left behind at the starting gate in a race only China seems to have realized was taking place. The Chinese began building their now-dominant supply chain decades ago. The U.S. has been 100% net import reliant on rare-earth elements, with 80 percent of those imports sourced from China . Technology metals consultant Jack Lipton has described five steps in a total rare-earth supply chain. Mining comes first, followed by extraction of the rare-earths from mining concentrates and preparation of clean, pre-PLS (pregnant leach solution) mixed rare-earths products. (Actually, there is another step that precedes mining, at least in Western countries gaining permission to mine and it is often the most difficult and most time-consuming step of all.) Mining companies typically perform these two steps, and sometimes the third separation of mixed rare earths into individual oxides and blends. Specialized smaller companies typically handle step 4, manufacturing chemical products (such as phosphors and catalysts) and individual metals and alloys, as well as step 5, manufacturing rare-earth permanent magnets from rare-earth alloys. China today controls roughly 80% of the worlds rare-earth production capacity, 43 percent of exports, and nearly 90 percent of refining. No other nation today has a functional complete rare-earth supply chain. This means the U.S. and its Western allies have a lot of catching up to do; Western nations have also failed to develop and carry out strategic minerals strategies. One reason for these strategic shortcomings has been strong opposition to mining , and especially to the very word radioactive (for rare-earth deposits linked to thorium and uranium found in monazite ores) from constituencies opposed to environmentally challenging mining practices. Energy consultant David Blackmon recently asserted that, There will be no successful energy transition or Green New Deal implementation in the United States, unless companies are allowed to access this countrys own plentiful supplies of copper, nickel, cobalt and rare-earth minerals. Yet, he laments, the most strident proponents of decarbonization and renewable energy are often the most strident opponents of domestic mining of these critical minerals. Anti-mining sentiments remain strong, especially among environmental pressure groups and professional staff at regulatory agencies. For example, a recent article pointed out that offshore wind turbines that are essential to President Bidens call for 30,000 megawatts of electricity from offshore wind by 2030 require 63,000 pounds of copper per turbine 8 tons of copper per megawatt of energy output. World copper prices jumped in May to an all-time high of $10,440 per metric ton, a number perhaps buoyed by Biden Administration decisions to pause the permitting of two major U.S. copper mines the Rio Tinto/BHP Group Resolution Copper joint venture in Arizona and the PolyMet NorthMet copper-nickel-precious metals mine in Minnesota. Notably, PolyMet began its quest for permits 17 years ago after leasing mineral rights for the NorthMet deposit in 2000. This slow-walked approach to energy and materials policy cannot stand if the U.S. is to build reliable, affordable supply chains for critical materials. TechMet Chairman and CEO Brian Menell recently stated , To remain a leader in the energy and automotive areas, the U.S. must secure adequate supplies of the metals necessary to power the 21st Centurys industrial revolution. Menells company builds projects that produce, process and recycle technology metals critical for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and energy storage. He urged the federal government to work with the private sector to enhance supply chains among partners and allies. He called for massive funding to transform the U.S. critical metals industry and ramp up global production to help meet geometrically growing demand. There is a sense of urgency in Menells comments, affirmed by Andrew Miller, product director at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. Miller told NPRs Marketplace that, sure, you can build a new electric vehicle factory in a couple of years, but to fund, start and refine the processing from a new raw material facility, youre looking at five to seven years. And thats with fast-track permitting that steamrolls citizen and pressure group opposition. In a four-part series addressing Chinese dominance in the rare-earths industry, Jamil Hijazi and James Kennedy explained that China built its rare-earth industry as part of a carefully designed nationalistic strategy for world domination, one not motivated by the quest for private profits. Now, with their market share dominance , China uses opaque subsidies to eliminate any profit potential for competitors. No profit potential, no competitors, Chinas metallurgical monopoly remains secure and uncontested. Even more daunting , the lack of non-Chinese processing, refining and metallurgical capacity means the world sells China its low value ore-concentrate and China sells back much higher value end products. Menell points out that Chinas rare-earths dominance is the result of decades of successful central planning, to secure the minerals required to develop technologies across strategic sectors such as energy, auto and defense. President Bidens executive order supporting the concept of resilient, diverse, secure supply chains is certainly admirable. However, Menell says, the United States must make the supply of critical minerals a central part of both domestic and foreign policy. Menell notes that the Biden Administration also needs to educate the American public that the mining and processing of critical materials can be done with much lower environmental impacts by American companies than by Chinese firms, and that Americas economic well-being depends heavily on an integrated rare-earths value chain. The United States cannot afford to be a bystander in the most significant transformation of the global industrial and technological landscape since the invention of the steam engine, Menell emphasized. Failure to take bold, ongoing action will doom the USA and other Western nations to submission to Chinas iron grip on 21st Century technology. Unchallenged, China could choose to expand its empire southward and eastward, as Western voices are muted by their utter dependence on Chinese generosity in supplying materials for smart phones, wind turbines, electric vehicles, defense and aerospace technologies, and more. China could also continue to force U.S. and other Western companies to share their most valuable corporate and national security secrets, and even their profits, with their Chinese benefactors. Duggan Flanakin is director of policy research at the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow ( www.CFACT.org ). He began his career as chief editor for scientific research at the U.S. Bureau of Mines. Home Note: We've recently updated our online systems. If you can't login please try resetting your password. You must login with an email address. If you don't have an email associated with your account email customercare@heraldandnews.com for help creating one. Please be aware that Cache Valley Publishing does not endorse, and is not responsible for alleged employment offers in the comments. Recommended for you Guangzhou races against mutant strains from India Global Times) 09:13, May 31, 2021 Medical workers from Nanfang Hospital collect samples for nucleic acid tests in Liwan District of Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, May 27, 2021. Liwan District of Guangzhou has carried out COVID-19 nucleic acid tests for all citizens from May 26 to 27. (Xinhua/Deng Hua) Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province, which records 90 percent of Chinese mainland's inbound international arrivals every day, is in a race against mutated virus strains from India, which have been found in 26 COVID-19 patients. Experts said that the appearance of the strains, which are more contagious and spread faster, to China's southern gate doesn't invalidate China's anti-epidemic policies, but reminds local authorities to act faster and devote more efforts to tracing real sources of infection and plugging loopholes. Starting from 10 pm on Monday, passengers leaving Guangzhou must present a negative nucleic acid test result taken within 72 hours, according to a latest notice issued by Guangzhou's COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control office on Sunday. The province previously weathered six rounds of locally transmitted outbreaks triggered by imported cases. These all had very short transmission chains and one generation of COVID-19 patients - thus, they were contained within a week. However, this wave of resurgence in the province, propelled by the mutated virus from India, has a much longer transmission chain and five generations of individual cases. "The rapid spread of the disease and the short intergenerational transmission time is signaling great threats posed by the mutated virus from India to Guangdong, which had been regarded as an exemplary place in handling the epidemic," Zhang Yuexin, a medical expert specializing in anti-epidemic prevention and control, told the Global Times on Sunday. This resurgence, which has spread beyond Guangzhou to the neighboring cities of Foshan and Maoming, had involved five local confirmed cases and 21 asymptomatic patients as of Sunday. It started on May 21. Guangzhou completed its first round of nucleic acid testing for 2.25 million residents on Saturday, with 20 people found to be infected with COVID-19 as of 2 pm on Sunday, said Chen Bin, a deputy director of Guangzhou Health Commission at a press conference on Sunday. The results of the detected gene sequencing in all of the infected patients in the latest outbreak were highly homologous, all from variants detected in India, Chen said. A 75-year-old female patient, surnamed Guo, living in Guangzhou's Liwan district was the first patient to be detected, but it didn't make her the original source of infection, as local health officials had said she may have become infected due to accidental exposure. Liwan issued a stay-at-home order for residents of the five most affected streets. The residents have been asked to stop all activities that are not necessary for daily life. The latest outbreak in Guangzhou has more prominent characteristics compared with previous ones - the variant is very infectious and its transmission rate is very high, according to Guangzhou local authorities. "The virus can be spread by brief and indirect contact. It can spread among people who are at one meal," said Zhang Zhoubin, a deputy director of Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, at a Thursday meeting. Wang Guangfa, a respiratory expert at Peking University First Hospital, believes that Guangzhou should continue its current measures, as there is no evidence that these measures were invalid in preventing variants from India. Guangdong is the province with the largest number of inbound visitors in China since the pandemic began, accounting for 90 percent of the country's inbound international arrivals every day, according to Duan Yufei, director of Health Commission of Guangdong Province. In particular, Guangzhou, where one of the world's busiest airports sits, is at the frontline that faces and digests the most pressure of the prevention and control work for imported infections. In 2020, Guangzhou's Baiyun International Airport handled 43.77 million passenger trips, becoming the busiest airport in the world for the year. But Wang told the Global Times on Sunday that the epidemic in Guangzhou exposed some difficulties or hidden loopholes in terms of either imported people or items, as no clear source of infection was revealed in clustered cases in Guangzhou. Wang reminded Guangzhou to "act faster, be more vigilant and devote more effort" to tracing sources of infection to avoid further community transmission and plug unsuspected loopholes in handling imported cases. Given the rapid spread of the outbreak in Guangdong, triggered by mutated virus strains from India, Zhang urged the public to adopt stricter anti-epidemic rules in daily life, including thorough disinfection and wearing masks properly. Escalating China's current anti-epidemic policies just to prevent mutated virus strains is not wise and could pose obstacles for normal economic communications when the real source of infections in this wave has not yet been identified, experts said. Liwan's two neighboring districts Yuexiu and Zhuhai, with populations of 1.2 million and 1.7 million respectively, both started mass nucleic acid testing on Sunday. The testing will last until Tuesday, according to official announcements. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) Donald Trumps spectacular legacy failure: An illegitimate federal judiciary By Lester Jackson, Ph.D. Introduction: Conflicting Perspectives Although the left and right have opposite definitions of legitimate, like the proverbial stopped clock that is right twice per day, with one caveat, leftists were right on one point, judicial illegitimacy. The caveat involves time. When leftists screeched that confirmation of Donald Trumps nominees would make the judiciary illegitimate in their eyes, what really concerned them was that confirmations would convert the judiciary from practices the right thought were illegitimate to what the right thinks are legitimate. For decades, leftists relied upon dishonest Supreme Court authoritarians to impose unwanted policies on an unwilling public. In Equal Justice for Victims ,*I documented why the Supreme Court has been the last best hope of democracys losers (214) miserable merchants of unwanted [and unsold] ideas, to use the words of Justice Douglas . Thus, if Trumps judicial nominees were confirmed, leftist ideologues feared, the judiciary would cease to be in their pocket; they would no longer achieve undemocratically what they could not achieve in the marketplace of ideas. That is their notion of legitimacy. As in the past, leftists lost the battles but won the wars. (Does anyone remember David Souter ?) It did not take long for Trumps Supreme Court appointees to validate two of the central points of my book: (1) The United States Supreme Court is an illegitimate, destructive institution unworthy of public respect; (2) The harm it has done cannot be remedied or further harm prevented by appointing so-called originalist judges. On December 11, 2020, a mere 45 days after Amy Coney Barrett took office, she, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh joined leftists to declare that a President of the United States lacked standing to have a day in any court. They manifested contemptuous disrespect in a brief 51-word Order stating an unelaborated and unexplained conclusion without the full opinion often accorded the most cruel and depraved rapists and murderers. The justices did not, because they could not, address any of the detailed arguments presented by some of the countrys best lawyers. Trumps justices not only stabbed their benefactor in the back and, more importantly, his 75 million voters ; they also enabled shredding of the remnants of the very Constitution they took oaths to apply and defend. Denying a sitting President a day in court reveals the Ugly Naked Truth. The Supreme Court and the entire judicial system are rife with dishonesty, corruption and hypocrisy. Moreover, Justice Scalia, after but six months on the Court, realized [t]he irony that [unknown, un-affluent, unorganized individuals suffer] injustice at the hands of a Court fond of thinking itself the champion of the politically impotent. And so it remains today. The judiciary protects the strong against the weak; the unlawful against the lawful; viciouspredators against their prey; those who inflict suffering against the suffering; 300-pound rapists against the 8-year-old little girls they rape; the greedy against the generous; the corrupt against the honorable; the politically powerful against the politically powerless who have no one to fight for them; etc. Rich as he is, Donald Trump understood and fought for the little guy and will continue to do so, hopefully for a long time. Legitimacy: In the Eyes of the Beholder A substantial part of Equal Justice for Victims documents the utter illegitimacy of the Supreme Court (194). But leftists need not have worried. Their iron grip on the judiciary is as strong as ever; the judiciary remains illegitimate. To paraphrase Bill Clinton, what is legitimate depends on one's definition. To secure its unpopular agenda, the left sees it as legitimate for dictator-judges to ignore and misstate facts, and to rewrite and disregard law written in plain, even pellucid, English. A legitimate leftist court undemocratically and unconstitutionally rams through policies that the left cannot persuade the public to support in fair, open debate and elections. The left relies upon judges to vitiate democratic self-government and design a Constitution for an unrecognizable country . The rights idea of legitimate adjudication is honest application of written law to honestly stated facts. In this view, a legitimate judge decides cases based on the Constitution, law and evidence rather than politically or personally desired outcomes. For those on the right, a legitimate judiciary is a judiciary that applies the law faithfully, as written, by the people who have the Constitutional authority to write the law. Outcome-oriented leftists believe that the end justifies the means; for the right, a legitimate judiciary is an honest judiciary regardless of results. The following are examples, from Equal Justice for Victims, show what leftists consider legitimate and those on the right see as illegitimate: With nary a second thought, judges routinely sacrifice the lives of the innocent to save the lives of the guilty (109). U.S. Supreme Court justices repeatedly lie about the Constitution, the law and the facts (e.g., 37-41; 225). Most people probably would be aghast if they knew that, after 19 decades, five justices abruptly claimed (178-181) that (1) some rapes are unharmful; (2) the Framers, as a reward exclusively for the most depraved criminals in our midst, precisely because they are the most depraved, created a Constitutional right to commit rape and other depravity without any punishment whatsoever; and (3) Any five lawyers on the Supreme Court could find Constitutionally unacceptable and ban criminal punishments legislated by the Peoples elected representatives, a power grab Justice Scalia found laughable. Five justices have turned capital sentencing review over to anti-death penalty psychiatrists (251). The Supreme Courts role in creating and promoting massive illegal immigration has received little notice (342-343). Finally, while clearly guilty murderers live for decades (257-321), with judges endlessly splitting hairs over death sentences in lengthy opinions, and while most Americans have been raised to believe that everyone is entitled to a day in court, seven US Supreme Court justices, as noted, used but 51 words to make a significant exception for the President of the United States, who could not get federal judges to hear his federal case. Trumps Gallery of Federalist Society Judicial Rogues Notwithstanding former President Trumps dedication to appoint originalists, he failed. The unrestrained judicial assault on American values, documented and explained throughout Equal Justice for Victims, will continue. If he had succeeded, his appointees would have applied the original Constitution and he would still be the president. The 2020 election is just the latest example of leftist miserable merchants using corrupt judicial dictators to force upon the American people what they do not want. In his February 28 CPAC speech , the former president accused Supreme Court justices of lacking guts and courage. But he omitted his own role. Had his three appointees joined dissenting Justices Alito and Thomas, Trump would now be president and the left would not be on a manic mission to destroy the American Greatness he had restored. Amy Barrett has not been a justice long enough to come to a firm conclusion. It surely would be understandable if she decided not to put her large family at risk of harm by violent leftists (to use a redundancy) without support by Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh. But the latter two have been around long enough to say they are unmitigated disasters. If, as Trump told CPAC, [t]hey should be ashamed of themselves, he owes his voters an apology for appointing them. It is widely accepted that Trump would not have won in 2016 without: (1) the Supreme Courts dishonest defiance of and flagrant contempt for representative self-government (now likely to continue); and (2) Trumps vow to appoint judges from a list prepared by the ostensibly originalist Federalist Society. While the Federalist Society list may have contributed to Trumps 2016 victory, it surely cost him victory in 2020. In my view, if the former president ever miraculously returns to the White House, he should avoid Federalist Society nominees like the plague. Two points are noteworthy: Bad Federalist Society advice did not start in 2016. Many judicial scoundrels have had Federalist Society support. I well remember conservatives elation over the John Roberts nomination. They have been disappointed repeatedly by this politician posing as an impartial judge (211). nomination. They have been repeatedly by this posing as an impartial judge (211). Three months before Election Day, a Federalist Society co-founder joined the years-long Trump-Deranged leftist drive to impeach the object of their hatred. As a businessman lacking detailed knowledge of judicial skullduggery, Trump relied on experts. He thought he was appointing honest originalists who, unlike conservative-turncoat-politician John Roberts, would apply the law as written, But the Gorsuch and Kavanaugh betrayals were predicted and no surprise. In Septer 2019, Gorsuch gave his first public interview as a justice; he stressed his two rules : (1) Don't make it up -- follow the law; (2) even under enormous pressure to disregard rule #1. However, in June 2020, Gorsuch wrote an opinion on behalf of the Courts leftist politicians. Justice Alito dissented, describing Gorsuchs opinion as deceptive legislation that could not get through Congress. Alito also accused Gorsuch sailing under a false flag like a pirate , in an opinion that would have been excoriated by Justice Scalia. In April 2018, Gorsuch joined the sure leftist Court cadre (Kagan, Ginsburg, Sotomayor and Breyer) to rescue from deportation an alien felon whom even the Obama Administration wanted to throw out of the country. His vote not needed by the Courts leftist politicians, Roberts dissented, supported by Justices Kennedy, Thomas and Alito. Significantly, conservatives, who have a habit of wishful thinking , were warned in advance about Gorsuchs leftist potential. His flimflammery is partially documented here. Celebrating Kavanaughs confirmation, one conservative Supreme Court activist declared that [A]fter decades of judicial rule , democracy is effectively pushing back through the judicial appointments . (Emphasis added.) I disagree. As noted, there were warnings before his confirmation. Conservative Joe Miller revealed Kavanaugh to be what he turned out to be on the on the Supreme Court: a lackluster hypocrite who, as a prosecutor, abused power and an Establishment-Bush acolyte. In addition, Kavanaugh once clerked for, and was sworn in by, Justice Anthony Kennedy (346), who joined four leftist justices on multiple occasions and whose opinions once caused Justice Scalia to contemplate hiding his head in a bag (41). Above all, when Kavanaugh approved the denial of a remedy for election theft, he pushed back against democracys pushback. (Before confirmation, in his defense, I allowed my hopes, that Justice Kennedys clerk would not emulate his former boss, to cloud my judgment. I was wrong; I apologize.) Good Cop-Bad Cop; Dont Be Fooled by Conservative Poseur Role-Reversals Equal Justice for Victims (41ff.) explains how, to fool the public into believing they are moderate conservative or conservative, duplicitous left-leaning judicial politicians frequently vote with truly honest justices when their votes are not necessary to help leftist ideologues win. John Paul Stevens was a master (41). Chief Justice Roberts has been another example, pretending to be a non-political neutral umpire who does not favor either side. Justices Kavanaugh and Gorsuch have joined him, as they back or strongly dissent from various prevailing leftist rulings. When needed, they often join the sure votes (42) for leftist causes: Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan. But, like the hyper-political Chief Justice , they also write strong dissents to burnish their originalist reputations. Prior to Justice Ginsburgs death, only one conservative, usually Kennedy or Roberts, was needed to join leftists. The other was free to write or support strong dissents. Without Ginsburg, the Courts leftist ideological politicians can often count on getting two or even three conservatives. Leftist-at-heart Roberts likely will less often be able to pose as a conservative. For an example of his duplicity, compare here (vital to 5-4 leftist majority) and here (conservative when leftists lacked the votes). Justice Thomas joined Alitos June 2020 dissent accusing Gorsuch of false-flag piracy. However, his vote unnecessary for the leftists, Justice Kavanaugh wrote a separate dissent, less harsh than Alitos but agreeing that Gorsuch usurped the legislative function that belongs to elected representatives. This deprived the winners of democratic victory, Kavanaugh contended. No one should fall for last Junes Kavanaugh dissent from Gorsuchs pirate opinion. On March 25, 2021, Kavanaugh joined Roberts and the pro-criminal leftists to provide a necessary fifth vote to vacate a lower court pro-victim ruling. Predictably feigning fealty to the meaning of words, Gorsuch wrote a vigorous dissent. (Barrett did not participate.) On April 5, Kavanaugh joined Gorsuch (and Roberts) to reverse a lower court ruling against leftist Google. As unanimously agreed, Google simply stole what it could not buy. Had Gorsuch and Kavanaugh sided with Justices Thomas and Alito, the lower court decision would have stood; and had Roberts joined them, the Court leftists would have lost on the merits. (Again. Barrett did not participate.) In any event, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh supported what Thomas called a fundamentally flawed analysis to eviscerate Congress considered policy judgment. Too many good cop-bad cop examples exist to analyze now. But for a few more, compare here and here ; here and here ; and here and here . No Day in Court for a Sitting President That everyone is entitled to a day in court is a principle deeply embedded in American values and culture. Even after the presidency was stolen with the approval of Trump appointees, a major fake-news, anti-Trump network referred [19':42"], to a lawyer defending an unpopular client as doing a very noble thing He believes everybody deserves their day in court. Everybody, that is, but Trump! On February 3, 2021, having voted to deny a sitting President a chance to present his case in court, Kavanaugh joined the leftists and Roberts, casting a critical deciding vote to grant appellate review to an unknown litigant. Four justices pointed out that the doubly incorrect grant was based on an irrelevant statute. This appellate review grant came nine days after Kavanaugh had doubled down and 19 days before he tripled down to deny Trump any hearing at all, even initial review. Why did Trumps justices vote to violate one of the most fundamental tenets of American law and culture? Only they know for sure. But speculated possibilities are fraught with irony. (1) If Trumps justices feared seeming political, they failed to realize the irony that any decision to avoid a political image is itself a political decision. The 2020 election offered one of the sharpest political choices in American history: between (a) those who love and are proud of their country and think it is exceptional; and (b) those who are ashamed of their country and will do (and are doing) all they can to make their county unexceptional. When the judiciary sided with the latter, they made the ultimate in political choices. In any event, for a long time, the United States Supreme Court has been stacked with politicians (42-47) who do not hesitate to make political decisions. To quote Andrew McCarthy : Lets Drop the Charade: The Supreme Court Is a Political Branch, Not a Judicial One. (2) If justices cowered in fear of Court-Packing, sooner or later, probably sooner, they will be repeatedly tested. Und this threat, they will be forced to confront multiple challenges to the constitutionality of the Biden-Schumer-Pelosi march toward the total evisceration of self-government. The ultimate irony would be if the court packing threat succeeds without actual leftist enactment of court-packing. Mummification Spurned: Structural vs. Harmless Defects Nothing could better illustrate the hypocrisy and dishonesty of federal judges than their leftist disregard of a 30-year-old precedent in order to reject a day in Court for a President of the United States, while giving decades in court to all manner of vicious villains (246-249, 302). Justice Arthur Goldberg (96) surely would have labeled as liberal this disregard of long-standing precedent. Equal Justice for Victims includes a section (221-227) arguing that the conservative judicial obsession with adhering to erroneous precedent, solely because it is precedent, is nothing but The Mummification of Justices Constitutional Fairy Tales. According to Senator Susan Collins, Brett Kavanaugh was the first Supreme Court [justice] to express the view that precedent is not merely a practice and tradition but rooted in Article III of our Constitution itself. Kavanaugh is thus the first justice ever to assert that dishonestly invented judicial precedents fairy tales tare part of the United States Constitution. Even so, Kavanaugh had no trouble disregarding valid precedents in order to stab in the back the President who strongly supported him during the smear campaign he suffered. Thirty years ago, the Supreme Court including the real Justice Scalia rather than the current fake-Scalia , Justice Gorsuch distinguished between harmless errors and structural defects that so affect the entire conduct of a proceeding as to make the outcome unconstitutionally unreliable. Although the 1991 case involved a criminal trial, it clearly applied to the 2020 election. Perhaps the oldest cited structural defect is the right to an impartial judge. James Madison famously wrote : No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and ... corrupt his integrity. On this ground alone, Trumps rogue justices were cowardly and dishonorable. They were derelict in their duty to provide a remedy for the blatantly unconstitutional insistence, by the federal judge-sister of a feral Trump opponent , upon deciding Georgia election litigation. If Trumps sister, also a federal judge, had obstinately decided a case involving her brother, we would nevee hear the end of it. Kavanaugh (and fellow conservative rogues) also disregarded well-established precedent that fraudulent votes debase or dilute lawful votes. Trumps campaign had enormous evidence of fraud (stopping vote-counting simultaneously in eight states while Trump was leading by a huge margin; ejection of all his poll watchers from witnessing fraud; affidavits and videos showing massive dumping of out-of-state paper ballots; ballots lacking signatures; Biden and other Democrats boasting of vote-fraud plans for election theft using mailed paper ballots; myriad paper ballots confined to presidential votes; brazen recusal refusal ; etc., etc., etc.) Despite all this evidence, Democrats and their judicial puppets denied Trump and his voters a day in court on the ground that there was no evidence. While focus here is on Supreme Court rogues, Third Circuit Judge Stephanos Bibas, another Federalist Society Trump appointee, deserves dishonorable mention. With the characteristic (334) pompous (187-188) arrogance to be expected from many, if not most, federal judges, Bibas condescendingly lectured : Free, fair elections are the lifeblood of our democracy. Charges of unfairness are serious. But calling an election unfair does not make it so. Charges require . proof [we dont have]. It apparently did not occur to Bibas and dishonest Trump Supreme Court justices that the purpose of providing a day in court is precisely to allow presentation of evidence. Judges often dismiss evidence as insufficient, but only after hearing that evidence. However, Trump was not allowed to submit evidence on the ground that he had no evidence to submit. That is arrant nonsense. Although evidence of massive 2020 election fraud continues to mount , in the end, evidence adequacy is a red herring. There was one glaring indisputable fact making moot the entire issue of fraud: enough states to enable Bidens henchmen to steal the election so fundamentally violated the Constitution as to render the election inherently (i.e., structurally) unconstitutional and its purported results unreliable. The Supreme Courts cowards should not have allowed electoral votes from states that violated the Constitution. The high court has reversed myriad decisions for far less egregious violations. Conclusion: The Federal Judiciary Is Still Illegitimate Notwithstanding former President Trumps determination to appoint conservative originalists, he failed spectacularly. If he had succeeded, Trump would still be president because his judicial appointees would have applied the original Constitution as written. Federalist Society appointees will solidify leftist judicial illegitimacy for decades. Its unrestrained assault on the American way of life and American values, documented and explained throughout Equal Justice for Victims, will continue. The 2020 election was structurally unfair and its results unreliably inaccurate. An illegitimate Supreme Court politically ratified an illegitimate election and saddled the nation with an illegitimate President. Trumps rogue justices, together with the rogue Chief Justice, illegitimately violated Constitutionally guaranteed rights they had sworn to uphold: (a) to a due process day in court; (b) to the impartial adjudication essential to due process; and (c) to presidential electors selected in a manner prescribed by state legislators in other words, what Justice Hugo Black called the most fundamental individual liberty to participate in self-government . Note: Due to computer malfunction, links to government documents (e.g., court opinions) do not work. The author requests that anyone interested contact him directly . *Available here or from the author . Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers in parentheses are page numbers in Equal Justice for Victims. Lester Jackson is author of numerous articles about capital punishment, the Supreme Court and American politics. The full title of his book is: Equal Justice for Victims: A Blueprint for the Rightful Restoration of Capital Punishment. Reviews are here , here , here and here . Copyright 2021 by Lester Jackson, Ph.D. On Sunday, a small hard-line party leader stated he would attempt to form a unity government with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rivals. It is a significant step towards concluding the 12-year rule of the Israeli leader. In a nationwide address, Yamina party leader Naftali Bennett remarked he had decided to join forces with the nation's opposition head, Yair Lapid. Far-right party leader Naftali Bennett gave his crucial support on Sunday behind the unity government in Israel to unseat PM Benjamin Netanyahu in what would be touted as an end to a political era. Bennett's decision could allow opposition chief Yair Lapid to put together a coalition of centrist, right-wing, and leftist parties and hand Netanyahu his first election failure since 1999. A Series of Steps The dramatic declaration by Naftali Bennett prepared for steps that could plunge Netanyahu and his dominant Likud party into the opposition the following week. Bennett and his new partner, Yair Lapid, are still facing several hindrances. According to Bennett, he would do his best to establish the Government of National Unity with his friend Lapid. He added God would be happy to save the country from such a predicament and return Israel into its orbit, reported Ohio News Time. The self-styled "change government" must now present such plans to President Reuven Rivlin. If the Israeli president approves the proposal, the 120-seat Knesset must vote on it. This process would take at least a week to be put together, reported Financial Times. Read Also: Israel, Hamas Agree to a Ceasefire After Most Serious Escalation of Violence Since 2014 and More Than 200 Killed According to Bennett, "It's my intention to do my utmost in order to form a national unity government along with my friend Yair Lapid, so that, God willing, together we can save the country from a tailspin and return Israel to its course." Bennett, who would like to annex the majority of the occupied West Bank, has a much closer ideologically to Netanyahu than Lapid, a former television news anchor popular with the nation's secular middle class, reported The Irish Times. The pair have until Wednesday to complete a negotiation in which they are slated to each serve two years as PM in a rotation negotiation. At least for the time being, the unity government would also end the record-setting tenure of the current Israeli prime minister, the most dominant figure in Israeli politics in the course of the previous three decades. Lapid is the leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party that finished second to Netanyahu's right-wing Likud in an indecisive March 23 national ballot. His chances of success rested largely with Bennett, a former defense chief and a high-tech millionaire whose Yamina party's six seats in the 120-member parliament are adequate to provide him the kingmaker status. Under a prospective power-sharing negotiation, Bennett would replace Netanyahu, head of the Likud party, for 71 years. Related Article: Israel to Hold 4th Snap Election Two Years After Parliament Got Dissolved @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) federal agency, businesses can require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 without breaching federal law. On the other hand, colleges and universities imply different requirements. Companies can also provide incentives to employees to be vaccinated or produce proof of immunization "as long as the incentives are not coercive," according to the EEOC. However, employers must offer reasonable accommodations for employees who refuse to get vaccinated due to a disability, religious beliefs, or pregnancy, per the latest EEOC guidance. Other federal, state, and local laws may also apply, said the agency. Post online posts about violating rights on requiring vaccination are false claim In a statement, EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows said, "The new technical assistance provided today addresses frequently asked topics surrounding vaccinations in the work environment. The EEOC will continue to explain and update its COVID-19 technical assistance to ensure that the public receives clear, understandable, and useful information," as per USA Today. Online posts circulating widely on Instagram this month claimed that a business asking for proof of vaccination or denying entry based on vaccination status is a "violation of your privacy and property rights" protected by federal law, citing excerpts from the Fourth Amendment and the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The posters stated that the Fourth Amendment protects people against businesses asking about vaccines because it protects people's right to be secure in their persons, homes, papers, and effects against unwarranted searches and seizures. On the other hand, legal experts argue that the amendment only applies to government searches and seizures, not private organizations. Before becoming available to the general public, all three vaccinations that have been approved for use in the United States underwent extensive clinical trials involving thousands of people. They were proven to be exceedingly safe and effective in all three trials. However, this has not stopped arguments. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida has made "vaccine passports" unlawful, prohibiting government entities from issuing vaccination certificates and companies from checking them as a condition of service, The Independent reported. According to experts, the EEOC is confused regarding how aggressive vaccine demands from employers can be. Companies can provide incentives for employees to receive the vaccine, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as long as the incentives are not so significant as to be coercive. Read Also: 78 Brands of Sunscreen for Recall Over Carcinogen Contamination as Summer Looms Some schools will require COVID-19 vaccinations for students For the fall semester, hundreds of schools and institutions throughout the country are mandating students, faculty, and staff to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Several college students in the area are hoping to get back to normal. Although the University of Louisville strongly encourages students, teachers, and staff to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine, it is not required to return to campus for the fall semester at this time. "We will strongly advise individuals to mask if they have not been vaccinated and to receive the vaccine. However, you know there will be a population of people who will never be able to get the vaccine due to an underlying health condition," said UofL Provost Lori Gonzalez, as per WAVE3 News via MSN. At the University of Kentucky, it's the same. Students, faculty, and staff are strongly urged to obtain the vaccine for the fall semester, but it is not required. Sullivan University, Western Kentucky University, Spalding University, Kentucky State University, and Bellarmine University are all strongly recommending, but not enforcing, that people get the vaccine. Bellarmine claims they're still thinking about it. Others in Kentucky, such as Berea College and Simmons College, have made the COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for the fall semester. Indiana University will be joining them on the opposite side of the river. Students, professors, and employees on all IU campuses will be required to return fully vaccinated next semester. Checking in on two other major Indiana universities: The University of Notre Dame requires all returning students to be vaccinated entirely against COVID-19 before returning to campus in the fall, while Purdue University has issued a strong recommendation that all Boilermakers obtain the immunization. Related Article: COVID-19 Vaccines: US Has Millions of Unused Doses Despite Incentives While Rest of the World Clamors for Vaccines @YouTube @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. President Joe Biden and his officials believe China is hiding information about the COVID-19 origin, a complicated matter that the US administration has said it will pursue despite Beijing's concerns. Beijing has accused Washington of politicizing the probe. The president indicated Wednesday that the US Intelligence Community has consolidated around two possible scenarios but has not reached a definitive verdict on this topic, in a rare peek into the ongoing investigation. "This virus began in China, and China has information about its origins that it hasn't shared with the rest of the world. Knowledge that we all need access to prevent the next pandemic," a senior administration official told Newsweek. Biden admin investigates COVID-19 origin due to public outcry The comments occurred two days after Biden released a statement. He provided an update on a US Intelligence Community assessment on the COVID-19 origin, which he commissioned in March, including whether it developed from human interaction with an infected animal or from a laboratory mishap. The administration's plot has shifted dramatically on the theory that the novel coronavirus escaped from a scientific institution. The Wuhan Institute of Virology is most commonly cited, a prestigious facility that deals with coronavirus research and is located in the city where the disease was first detected late last year. Most analysts had previously disregarded the idea as far-fetched, and many still do. Biden's remark provoked outrage in Beijing, where Chinese officials have dismissed the lab leak theory as unsubstantiated and accused those who promote it of having political motivations. During an exclusive interview with "Sunday Morning Futures," Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, stated that everything leads to the Wuhan lab when it comes to COVID-19 origin and that "we need to get to the bottom of it." Turner, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, stated that the Chinese government must be held accountable for COVID-19, as per Fox News. On Sunday, the Ohio congressman told Maria Bartiromo that he believes the Biden administration is now looking into the origins of the new coronavirus because of the public outcry and a report released last month by House Intelligence Committee Republicans. The Biden administration is pushing for a transparent international investigation into the COVID-19 pandemic origin, with the White House requesting data and information from China and the World Health Organization so that US officials may conclude. The White House has chastised the WHO and China for their phase one report's lack of transparency. The assumption of zoonotic transmission, or spread of virus from animals to humans, was described as "likely to very likely" in that report, dismissing accusations that COVID-19 escaped from the Wuhan lab. It also said it was doubtful that the virus had leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Read Also: Brazil's President Bolsonaro Leads Lockdown Protests Despite Nearly 500,000 Dying from COVID-19 GOP China Task Force Leader urges Chinese government to be punished COVID-19 most likely emerged from the Wuhan Institute of Virology by accident rather than from an original natural animal-to-human infection, according to the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Rep. Michael McCaul, who led the GOP China Task Force and released a lengthy report in September alleging a Chinese Communist Party coronavirus cover-up and detailing severe concerns about the Wuhan lab. He pointed to the Chinese government lab as the likely source of the virus. The Chinese government should be punished for exacerbating the COVID-19 pandemic, McCaul said. China's actions are unprecedented, as per the Task Force leader. "There were two State Department cables in 2018 that called into question the safety protocols at that lab. This is the worst cover-up in human history, resulting in 3.5 million deaths and economic devastation around the world," he continued, The Washington Examiner reported. They were examining bat-borne corona-like viruses, genetically altering them, and then trying to build a vaccine for the next wave of SARS-like viruses, which is nearly identical to COVID-19. China should be punished economically for its conduct during the pandemic, McCaul said. Related Article: White House Accuses China of Obstructing WHO into COVID-19 Origin @YouTube @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Ex-First Lady is getting praised by the media for her way of turning media into a propaganda machine, but the media jab at her pro-vaccine statement. She was recently spotted dining out with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, at a "high class" restaurant. She took the oppurtinity to retweet previous comments saying that being able to dine out is one of the many benefits of getting the vaccine, reported Meaww. With the headline, "Bill and Hillary Clinton spotted at luxury NYC restaurant with friends," the New York Post reported the story where they snapped a photo of both of the Clintons. Waiting for her husband The former Secretary of State was seen with her large glass of white wine with both hands and drinking it down. She went to a fancy place on the Upper East Side restaurant called Fleming by Le Bilboquet, found on 62nd Street near Madison Avenue with her husband and some friends, including Trudie Styler, rocker Sting's wife. In the Daily Mail article, it said that the 73-year-old former Democratic presidential nominee arrived at the restaurant at 6:30 p.m. with a team of Secret Service for protection. After settling down at the table, Hillary waited for her ex-presidential husband to come, and the couple took pictures with their followers. The former president was dressed conservatively in a blue suit with a checkered button-down shirt but no tie. Clinton donned a striped coat with three-quarter length sleeves. Hillary Clinton's fancy gossip was seen as unfavorable. Read Also: Declassifying Crossfire Hurricane Documents, Trump Orders Their Release Before Leaving Office Twitter Reactions The couple's night out was featured by the New York Post, which included multiple images while having their dinner. Using their official Twitter account, they also posted a tweet titled "Bill and Hillary Clinton sighted at upscale NYC restaurant with friends." Given that the post had many images of the Clintons alongside their dinner guests, it only generated around 200 retweets. Get vaccinated. Then get a glass of wine with your friends. pic.twitter.com/bAJS3WfeJ1 Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) May 28, 2021 Hillary reposted the tweet with a screenshot of the New York Post tweet on Twitter; she added a new caption, "Get Vaccinated." It seems to deliver a message that one can enjoy going out with your friends once vaccinated, cited Flip Board. A wine glass emoji is part of the caption, but there was no link to the New York Post. Hillary got hundreds of comments and retweets and also a good number of likes. However, many users asked Hillary not to post her thoughts on the vaccine in the comments section. She also received sarcastic responses to the post. One of the tweets gave this answer to her post, "Alternatively, make your own decisions based on your risk profile, risk tolerance, aspirations, hopes, and objectives. No one can decide what is best for you. No celebrity, politician, or bureaucrat knows that much about your circumstance to give advice or make a decision for you." Another user shot back that why should anyone take a vaccine that is experimental with no human testing, with a 99.7% survivable naturally? Said user continued saying that the vaccine doesn't protect you from contracting the virus if you're exposed. On the box of masks, it also states, "It will not protect you from catching it!" Relate Article: Supreme Court Says Hillary Clinton Testimony Not Needed in an Email Server Case @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. While Americans are enjoying the third wave of stimulus payments, there are indications that a fourth stimulus check may be approaching. According to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, another batch of "direct payments" is dependent on Congress. "We'll see what members of Congress propose, but those [payments] aren't free," said Psaki. Biden's administration is also working in easing the suffering of the pandemic's aftermath, said the secretary. She praised the "historic extension" of the Child Tax Credit, which provides significant relief to families with children by allowing them to claim thousands of dollars in write-offs for younger and older children. However, there may be more work to be done. MPs signed two letters, one in January and the other in March, urging the federal financial faucet to remain open until the pandemic ended. Letters were sent to Biden admin, urging for more stimulus check According to the publication, 20 Democratic senators signed a similar letter in March. The third round of stimulus checks is part of President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan, which has set aside $385 billion out of $1.9 trillion to assist the financial loss caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Per The Sun, the most recent payment round for eligible recipients was $1,400. This increases from the first two packages, which started at $600 and increased to $1,200. While more money is being deposited into American bank accounts to cover basic requirements and overheads, many Americans are still waiting for their first two stimulus checks from Uncle Sam. One method to benefit from the missing relief payments is to claim the $600 or $1,200 stimulus payments as a tax credit. According to Yahoo! Finance, Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar wrote a letter signed by dozens of fellow Congress members and sent to President Biden in January. "The American people are counting on us to deliver transformative change, and we need to meet the moment by delivering monthly payments of $2,000." Meanwhile, Biden said on Monday that further assistance would be provided to the thousands of cash-strapped restaurants that were forced to close due to mandatory shutdown. Biden's efforts to bolster a significant portion of the American population come as he tries to get both of his $3 trillion in relief packages passed by a Democratic-controlled Congress. The President has proposed the American Jobs Plan, which will update American infrastructure, provide more affordable housing, and increase rural internet capacity. The American Families Plan contains provisions for child tax credits, increased government funding for education and childcare, and paid family and medical leave. Read Also: New Stimulus Checks Worth $3,600 to Start Hitting Bank Accounts, Who Will Get Paid? These lawmakers want more direct payments While many Americans hope for a fourth stimulus check, some legislators are already discussing a fifth. Members of a key congressional committee are urging the federal government to provide new rounds of financial assistance to families still struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic. With the third round of $1,400 stimulus checks completed, seven Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee addressed a letter to President Joe Biden late last week calling for a fourth and fifth wave of direct payments to help individuals with housing, food, and other expenses. The committee is in charge of budgeting and taxation in the government. The letter's signatories account for around 15 percent of the committee's members. The May 17 letter does not specify a monetary amount, but it does indicate the prospect of two future rounds of relief. According to the letter, "a fourth and fifth check might keep an extra 12 million people out of poverty. Direct payments, when combined with the impact of the American Recovery Plan, may lower the number of people living in poverty in 2021 from 44 million to 16 million," Fox59 reported. Over 80 Democratic members have signed previous congressional letters requesting greater relief. A public petition on the matter has gathered more than 2 million signatures on change.org. Related Article: Are You Eligible to Get a Bonus Stimulus Check on Top of Your Third IRS Payment? Here's How and Why @YouTube @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A Loudoun County elementary school teacher in Virginia was imposed administrative leave for objecting to his school district's proposed policy regarding preferred gender-identity pronouns. Byron "Tanner" Cross is a physical education teacher at Leesburg Elementary School in Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS). He was placed on leave following his opposition against a proposed rule requiring teachers and staff to address students by their preferred gender-identity pronouns. Cross Would Not Affirm That a Biological Boy Can Be a Girl and Vice Versa The 8040 policy requires all LCPS staff to use the decided name and gender pronouns of transgender students regardless of the name and gender recorded in the student's permanent educational record. Cross spoke in the school board meeting that he would not adhere to such policies because they go against his religious beliefs. He would not assert that a biological boy can be a girl and vice versa. According to the physical education teacher, "My name is Tanner Cross, and I am speaking out of love for those who are suffering from gender dysphoria." He then discussed a CBS News "60 Minutes" special that addressed the issue. "60 Minutes" on Sunday interviewed over 30 young people who transitioned, but they felt they had been led astray because of lack of pushback or how easy it was to make physical changes to their bodies. "They are now detransitioning," Cross said as reported by Fox News. Cross spoke about how "detransitioners" felt that they were "led astray" because of the "lack of pushback" and how convenient it was to go to a doctor and request to have "physical changes" done to their bodies. Read Also: Ohio Minister Refuses to Officiate Same-Sex Marriage, Reasons Violation of Her Beliefs Detransitioning has earned more media coverage in the past few years. Some detransitioners, including Helena Kerschner, Charlie Evans, and Keira Bell, sounded the alarm on transition remorse and how medical professionals who provide transitions make it too convenient for minors to make huge life changes and, at times, misguided decisions at an early age, reported Christianity Daily. Cross stated it is not his intention to hurt any individual but that there are certain truths that we must face when ready. The board has already bitterly divided educators and parents by pushing critical race theory. He added that he loves all of his students, but he would never lie to them regardless of the repercussions. Cross also remarked that he is a teacher, but he serves God first. He added that adhering to the policy is lying to a child, an abuse to a child, and is sinning against the Lord. According to an LCPS spokesperson, Cross was placed on administrative leave with pay on Friday. "Building principals cannot put employees on leave," the spokesperson added and confirmed that the elementary school's principal had nothing to do with the decision, reported News Break. It was not made clear whether the leave is directly linked to Cross' statement at the meeting. Related Article: J.K. Rowling Under Fire for Transphobia Again Over Comment About Menstruation @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The new bill was approved primarily along party lines after an overnight session that stretched early on May 30. This measure had to be adopted by the Congress by midnight on the same date to pass the proposal, reported the Epoch Times. The legislation would allow vote watchers greater power by granting them greater accessibility within the polling places and increased sanctions for election officials illegally restricting poll watchers' actions. This proposal will allow a court to proclaim an election void if the number of bogus ballots cast may change the outcome. Cleaning up elections This bill will penalize election officials sending these mail-in ballots to people who did not request them may face serious criminal consequences. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, had stated earlier his support for such electoral changes. In a tweet posted from the Texas District and County Attorneys Association, the measure includes at least 16 new or aggravated election offenses that can be charged to those guilty of electoral sabotage. According to Texas Republican state senator Bryan Hughes, the bill will preserve and keep Texas elections fair and honest. With Texas Senate Approved GOP Election Reform bill that is for everyone concerned for no fraud. Read also: 2 Pennsylvania Women Face Election Fraud Charges After Attempting to Vote in Place of Deceased Mothers The new law's goal is to keep elections fair and accessible; another is to keep fraud at bay, said Dallas Morning News. Democrats cannot cheat so easily In response to Democratic accusations that the bill will limit minority voters, Hughes stated, "The provisions of this bill apply equally and fairly." President Joe Biden stepped in on the bill over the weekend, misstating that it "attacks the sacred right to vote" in a declaration. Not everyone thinks that his meddling is appropriate in any state's business. Once again, he played the race card even though the goal intended goal is to fix elections; he reacts like most democrats do when it comes to election reform bills. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), a member of House Democrats' leadership, told CBS News on May 30," Calling the Texas law is a shame. Republicans in Texas and all over the country have made it clear that they'd like to make it harder to vote and easier to commit voter fraud on the Democrat's part." He added said CBS, "It's the only way I can explain the voter suppression epidemic that's sweeping the nation from Georgia to Arizona to Texas everywhere in between." Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, a Republican, signed a bill in May that revised the eligibility requirements for remaining on the state's early electoral register to make elections more secure. Marc Elias, a lawyer who has helped Democrats in several election-related lawsuits, has suggested that he will file one of these cases in the coming days. He has also filed a lawsuit in Florida to challenge an election integrity bill signed into law a few weeks ago. The Texas Senate Approved GOP Election Reform bill seeks cleaner elections and anger Democrats. Related article: Florida Governor Ron Desantis Approves Republican Election Bill for Less Mail-in Voting, Drop Boxes @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Evolution BNK Proceeds of Crime Act Tesla The administration project in the regions of northern and eastern Syria, which stems from the idea of a democratic nation, was announced on January 21, 2014, in the provinces of (Al-Jazirah, Kobani and Afrin) at the time, following a series of meetings organized between parties, organizations, forces and movements in the region, from the Kurds, Arabs, Syriacs, Armenians and Jagans. The Autonomous Administration project develops day after day, welcomed by the people of all regions of northern and eastern Syria and the various Syrian regions and abroad, as the project greatly contributed to protecting the region from mercenary groups and providing services.. The project was transformed into an administration representing the will of the people of North and East Syria on October 6, 2018, when the establishment of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria(AANES) was announced. Since the first day, it has been subjected to counter attacks at various levels, starting from the mercenary groups and agents of some regional powers and neighboring countries, to political, diplomatic and special war campaigns. The main goal is to thwart this societal project, which is the first of its kind in Syria and the Middle East. Chairman of the Arab National Authority, Muhammad Bineyan explained that it "was formed after the influx of mercenary groups to the regions under the pretext of fighting the regime, and during that period a large security, administrative and service vacuum occurred, and the components of society had to cooperate and proceed." In the direction of preserving civil peace, and working to preserve the infrastructure of the regions in the Jazira region at first. He pointed out that the components of the region met in order to develop a participatory work program, to secure services for the community and defend it, and the Democratic Autonomous Administration emerged from those meetings, and was established from all components of the region at that time, and a work plan was developed on how to secure services for the citizen and maintain security in the region until the end of the Syrian crisis and finding consensus with the Damascus government. 'Our concept in the AANES is not a separatist one.' He said: We see that Syria is for all components of the Kurds, Arabs and Syriacs. Our concept within the Autonomous Administration is not a separatist concept. We do not accept an attack on state sovereignty, and reject the foreign presence. Bineyan emphasized that the Autonomous Administration, over the past years, was able to prove its success, manage the region, fight terrorism, preserve regions and infrastructure, and provide services to citizens. He said: The Autonomous Administration project, in essence, is to run the community itself, and not as it is promoted and claimed by some. A separatist project. We in the Autonomous Administration, the Kurds, Arabs and Syriacs, have basic constants. We are not against the symbolism of the Syrian flag that represents all Syrians. We demand a democratic, free and sovereign, international and regional Syria. Binan also explained: We preserve the integrity of the Syrian territories. From our perspective and we do not accept any divisive project for it. For the sake of drafting a constitution that protects the rights of all components of Syrian society, we want Syria to be a model for freedom and democracy, and this will be part of understandings. He pointed out that there is a project with the Damascus government, which is an expanded local administration project, and the Democratic Autonomous Administration has a project. Both parties must debate in order to reach what achieves the states sovereignty, and what achieves the interests of the peoples of the northeast Syria. 'The Autonomous project, the beginning of salvation for Syria' Bineyan believes that if the Damascus government takes the decentralized project seriously, it will be a successful project and the beginning of salvation for Syria. . The head of the Arab National Authority confirmed that the Damascus government is required to open the door to political dialogue, and said: The political dialogue is a very important dialogue, and all components must participate in it. He touched upon the meetings that were taking place at the Russian base in Hmeimim, and said: They were coming to a group and claiming to represent the Kurds, they did not receive components representing the Autonomous Administration. The owners of the idea of Autonomous Administration should be invited to implement decentralization in a way that preserves state sovereignty and protects the rights of citizens in northeast Syria. He stressed the need to acknowledge that there is a real Syrians project and to recognize that it is the right of the people and the components to propose a project that safeguards the unity of the Syrian lands. AANES does not pose a threat to the Damascus government' He indicated that the AANESs project does not pose any threat to the Damascus government, but rather strengthens it, because it is a national project. He said: The Autonomous Administration considers itself part of Syria. On the reasons for Turkey's intensification of its attacks on the regions of northern and eastern Syria, Bineyan said: The Autonomous Administration project satisfies all components of society and strikes the Turkish regime in the depth; Turkey is now a dictatorial and expansionist colonial state led by the dictator Erdogan, who It is feared that this project will move to Turkey. " 'Turkey uses Arab tribes as clothing' Muhammad Bineyan asserted that the Autonomous Administration is a democratic project that protected Syria and the Syrian people, and sent a message to all the Syrian people, saying: There is no clause within the Autonomous Administration calling for the robbery of the decision or separation, but rather calls for thinking in the interest of Syria and establishing a decentralized democratic system. ". The head of the Arab National Authority, Muhammad Binan, explained: There is no such thing as an opposition abroad, and this one that claims to be opposition has not provided anything to the Syrian people. He called on the Damascus government to increase confidence among the Syrian people, and to draft a new constitution that protects the rights of all components of society. ANHA Now Open 31 May 2021 A premiere for Steigenberger: Last Saturday, 29 May 2021, Deutsche Hospitality and its shareholder Huazhu opened the first hotel of the upscale brand Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts in China. The Steigenberger Jinan Fengming is located in the city of Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province in the east of the country, with a population of around seven million. The hotel has 258 rooms, two restaurants, a lobby lounge, and a swimming pool. With its bright and luxurious design, the Steigenberger Jinan Fengming blends into the surrounding mountain landscape and offers a unique view of the eastern part of the city. In its architecture and facilities, the hotel combines modern design with traditional-looking architecture. The location near Jinan East Railway Station and Yaoqiang International Airport as well as the connection to Sunac Cultural & Tourism City make the new Steigenberger Hotel the ideal accommodation for business travellers. At the same time, a shopping centre, amusement parks, sightseeing attractions and numerous bars in the immediate vicinity offer a variety of leisure options for holiday guests. In the hotel itself, guests can choose between a Chinese speciality restaurant serving traditional Shandong cuisine and seafood, and an international buffet restaurant of Bela Bela. Small dishes and drinks are also available all day in the lobby. A highlight for families is the Steigenberger Jinan Fengming with its family rooms, which are equipped with a small tent for playing and rocking chairs. Appointment 31 May 2021 Stephan Matz is a seasoned hotelier from Germany, with 23 years of experience in the hospitality industry. In his new role as Executive Chef, Stephan will be taking over the culinary operations of Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya. Stephan began his career in 1998 as an apprentice at the legendary Grand Hyatt Berlin, Germany. During his journey with Hyatt, his creativity, talent, hard work and achievements were instantly recognized, and in 2012 he was promoted to the position of Executive Chef at the landmark of east Africa, Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam, the Kilimanjaro. He managed the daily operations in three restaurants, banquets and in-room dining of the luxurious 180-room property. In addition to Hyatt, he gained vast experience working with various hospitality brands across countries such as, United States of America, Germany, Spain, Tanzania, Turkey, Oman and Egypt. In his recent role as Executive Chef at Steigenberger Al Dau Hotels, he led the culinary operations of two properties that consisted of a massive 720-room luxury hotel and a luxury boutique property, alongside ten restaurants, the Gourmet Market, bars, a nightclub, and an aquapark. He was responsible for developing the culinary experience, hygiene protocols and menu engineering of their in-room dining and restaurants, all in collaboration with the business development team, while leading his team of 100 chefs and 60 stewards. In February 2021, he decided to return to Hyatt as Executive Chef of Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya. Press Release 31 May 2021 Four Points by Sheraton Sydney Sold to KSL Capital Partners in Australia Advertisements Australia-based Schwartz Family Company (Schwartz) has entered into a binding agreement with US-based private equity firm, KSL Capital Partners (KSL), to sell its Four Points by Sheraton Sydney, Central Park for approximately AUD150 million. Opened in late 2018, the 297-key hotel is located in Sydney Central Business District, within the Central Park mixed-use development. It features a restaurant and bar, 551-square-metre meeting space and a fitness centre. Development approvals were also granted for the hotel to add eleven new rooms and a distillery along with an enclosed outdoor terrace. With strong corporate and leisure demand, the hotel achieved an average occupancy of 85% in its first full year of operation in 2019. In the long term, the hotel is expected to benefit from the emerging innovation and technology precinct near Central Station zoned out by the NSW Government. The acquisition is expected to further bolster KSLs investment portfolio in Australia, which includes a majority stake in luxury lodge operator, Baillie Lodges. USD1 Billion Hotel Project Commenced in Phu Yen Province, Vietnam Indochina Kajima, a joint venture owned by Vietnam-based property developer, Indochina Capital, and Japan-based property developer, Kajima Corporation, has commenced a USD1 billion resort project along Bai Noms coastline. Situated in Phu Yen Province, a coastal province on the south-central coast of Vietnam, this luxury resort project covers 60-hectare of land and 35-hectare of water surface. The resort will feature clutches of private pool villas and state-of-the-art recreational facilities. Canada-based Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts will be managing the property after its estimated completion in 2023. The dual investors had the ambition to build one of the most outstanding hotspots in Asia and place Phu Yen on the worlds luxury tourism map, together with the completed expansion of the nearby Tuy Hoa Airport to handle wide-bodied aircraft and five million passengers a year. Earlier in April, Vietnam-based real estate developer, Everland Group, has started the construction of two other luxury resorts in the province at an estimated cost of USD95.1 million: Xuan ai Bay and Crystal Holidays Marina Phu Yen, bringing an additional 1,200 keys to the hospitality market in Phu Yen. Indochina Kajima has also invested part of the USD1 billion in the first international standard hotel brand in Vietnam, Wink Hotels, with a chain of 20. Hong Kong to Launch Cruise to Nowhere in Late July On 26 May 2021, Hong Kongs Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Edward Yau Tang-wah, mentioned that cruises to nowhere can operate under stringent measures in late July 2021. Passengers and crew members would have to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and screened for the coronavirus within 48 hours prior to departure. In addition, crew members have to undergo compulsory quarantine upon arrival in Hong Kong while passengers have to use the governments risk-exposure app Leave Home Safe before and after boarding. Ships can only operate at half capacity. Dream Cruises has since announced that they would be the first ship to restart sailing in Hong Kong and would offer a two-night and three-night package in time for the summer holidays. This initiative was part of a series of strategic plans announced by the Hong Kong Tourism Board during the annual Tourism Update event on 18 May. Other initiatives that were also mentioned are the Hong Kong Neighbourhoods campaign, the Holiday at Home platform, and the Open House Hong Kong platform. These initiatives aim to facilitate a safe and progressive tourism recovery and prepare Hong Kong for the return of international travel. Rottnest Island Lodge Site to be Revamped into AUD40 Million Luxury Resort On 20 May 2021, the Rottnest Island Authority awarded a Perth-based consortium as the preferred proponent for the redevelopment of Rottnest Islands Lodge site. The consortium companies, Place Development Australia (Place Development), GPA Pty Ltd, and Sirona Capital, have proposed a resort with an estimated cost of AUD40 million. Designed by Fremantle architects Spaceagency, the resort will consist of upgrades towards the existing building, such as the various lakeside villas and accommodations, and the construction of new buildings that will integrate the entire property into its surrounding environment. The resort will feature a total of 94 keys, with facilities ranging from a day spa, restaurants, beach lounge, bars, a new pool and onsite staff quarters. Upon the lease expiration of the current lease on 31 May 2022, Place Development is expected to take over the leasehold tenure of the lodge site and begin construction. The redevelopment is slated to be completed in 2025. Tourism Minister David Templeman mentioned that he is delighted that the consortium is leading this project and is confident that this resort would revamp and stimulate tourism towards the Rottnest Island. Press Release 31 May 2021 The 13 Members of the UNWTO Regional Commission for the Middle East met in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the day after the United Nations specialised agency for tourism celebrated the official opening of its first Regional Office in the city. High on the agenda was adopting a coordinated approach to developing unified protocols for safe and responsible travel throughout the region. Advertisements The UNWTO Middle East Member States have agreed to work together on core initiatives intended to harmonize travel protocols and reinvigorate regional travel through: Developing a common framework to reopen international borders; Creating approved Public Health Corridors between destinations to promote specific tourism experiences and relaunch hotspot tourism destinations; Implementing a common digital health solution to facilitate travellers experience through interoperability and blockchain as technologies to help develop common standards; and Working to implement the IATA-UNWTO destination tracker, a monitoring system to track health data, regulations and movements across borders and to protect the health and welfare of the regions 450 million inhabitants. Historic week for Middle East tourism UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, presented his report to the Regional Commission. The report outlined how UNWTO had worked with all Members and Affiliate Members across the region, most notably supporting them in their unique and shared response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This agreement opens a new chapter in regional tourism across the Middle East and sets a standard of collaboration for other regions, said Zurab Pololikashvili, UNWTO Secretary General. Nations around the world are struggling to overcome the pandemic that has such a devastating impact on the global tourism sector. The more countries seek to follow an independent path out of the crisis, the longer it will take to rebuild the millions of livelihoods affected. It is only through unity and collaboration across borders that we can move beyond these dark times and make the benefits of tourism available to the world once more. His Excellency Ahmed bin Aqil Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also addressed the Regional Commission, held during an historic week for the Kingdom, UNWTO and tourism in the Middle East. He said: Saudi Arabia is proud to have played a role in this critical announcement, which will create a new path forward for the Middle East tourism sector, not only in recovering from the coronavirus pandemic but in building a new regional culture of collaboration and coordination for tourism across the Middle East. Against the backdrop of the landmark opening of the new UNWTO Regional Office in Riyadh nominations and elections to the statutory organs of UNWTO and their subsidiary bodies were also held, fulfilling UNWTOs commitment to protocol even in challenging times. Egypt was voted to serve as the Chair of the Regional Commission for the Middle East for 2021-23, following on from the United Arab Emirates whose two year-term will end at the upcoming UNWTO General Assembly in Marrakesh in October. Additionally, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia put forward its candidacy to host World Tourism Day when it rotates back to the Middle East region in 2023. Member States will be asked to ratify the candidacy at the General Assembly. World Bank collaboration At the same time, UNWTO continues to advance another key priority, promoting investment in tourism. In Riyadh, UNWTO announced a new landmark collaboration with the World Bank Group and the Saudi Ministry of Tourism. A new Memorandum of Understanding will see the three organizations collaborate on the activation of the Tourism Community Initiative and work towards the establishment of a global Multi-Donor Trust Fund exclusively devoted to tourism. Focus on education UNWTO and the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to scale up the UNWTO Tourism Online Academy, which counts on the support of IE University. The main objective will be the creation of 50 online open courses available in five languages, with leading academic institutions providing specific content to train and certify more than 30,000 professionals across the Middle East. Press Release 31 May 2021 Dubai, UAE - The regions leading hospitality investment conference, AHIC, will return live and in-person from September 20-22, 2021 at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, facilitating much-needed conversation, networking and market insight to help hotel investors, owners and operators steer the post-pandemic hospitality landscape in the Middle East and Africa. Advertisements Reimagined for 2021 under the theme Rise Together, the new-look Arabian & African Hospitality Investment Conference (AHIC) will bring together the four close-knit investment communities of the Arabian Hospitality Investment Conference (AHIC), Saudi Arabia Hospitality Investment Conference (SHIC), Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) and the Global Restaurant Investment Forum (GRIF). Key representatives from each of these communities gathered in Dubai earlier this month at the AHIC 2021 Advisory Board, a meeting of 40 leading hoteliers and investors invited to influence the content of AHIC, now in its 17th edition and organised by Bench in partnership with MEED. In addition, 20 of the regions leaders in F&B gathered at a separate meeting to ensure the needs of the restaurant community are integrated into AHIC. Jonathan Worsley, chairman of Bench and founder of AHIC, said: By the time AHIC opens in September, our delegates will have navigated 18 months of virtual meetings and business conducted behind screens. The Advisory Board, held at The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, provided a mirror into the unmatched value of face-to-face networking, with hotel owners and operators beginning the AHIC conversation; sharing their problems, suggesting solutions, and ultimately coming together to develop a roadmap for the future. Jennifer Pettinger-Haines, managing director Middle East for Bench, added: Together with our Advisory Board, we are shaping an AHIC that will bridge our investment communities in the Middle East and Africa, across hotels and F&B. There will be macro-economic plenary sessions, live debates between leading owners and operators and some incredible keynote speakers, with Accor chairman and CEO Sebastien Bazin already confirmed to attend, but we will also have more interactive content, specific breakout sessions for each community and prescheduled one-to-one meetings, enabling each delegate to create their own highly personalised event. Data will be a key feature of AHIC, with performance and pipeline analysis critical to planning future investments. Speaking at the AHIC Advisory Board, Philip Wooller, area director Middle East and Africa, STR, gave a preview of the companys analysis of the hotel sectors pandemic recovery so far. When we compare RevPAR for March 2021 to the same month in 2019, China leads the way, followed by the Middle East, Australia and US. Our data shows that the Middle East is 66% of the way to being back to where it was pre-Covid. Arguably the biggest success story globally is Dubai, where the uber luxury segment has rebounded beyond expectation; hotels are commanding rates higher than in 2008, some of them well above pre-pandemic figures. Dubais commendable handling of the pandemic has clearly cemented its reputation as one of the safest cities in the world, observed Wooller. In light of the numbers, AHIC Advisory Board members highlighted the challenges and opportunities lining the path ahead. These included: access to capital; mitigation of risk for owners, operators and consumers; changing demands of travellers, with domestic tourism and long-stay segments growing; the impact of reduced corporate travel; the acceleration of digitalisation; and the evolution of sustainability. The latter will be addressed at AHIC via the finals of the Sustainability Hospitality Challenge, organised in partnership with Hotelschool The Hague and the Sustainability Hospitality Alliance, and sponsored by Saudi Arabias master development Neom, in which top-tier student teams will pitch sustainable solutions for brand, real estate and hospitality to a prominent jury. At the Advisory Board, Chris Newman, executive director hotel development Neom, emerald sponsor of AHIC, said: Neom is a hub for innovation built around people and nature, driven by sustainable and regenerative practices. The size of Belgium, it will be powered by 100% renewable energy, and include 45,000 hotel rooms across 200 iconic, design-led properties, all sharing our vision for the new frontier in travel. As we develop this unique model for sustainable living and tourism, we need ideas from the next generation, and are excited to see what the very talented finalists of the Sustainability Hospitality Challenge will present at AHIC. Also attending the Advisory Board, James Edmondson, director and head of global development at Jumeirah Group, said now was the ideal time for Madinat Jumeirah to host AHIC once again. It was evident from the positive energy at the Advisory Board how much we had all longed to reconnect in person with our peers across the region said Edmondson. Madinat Jumeirah offers the ideal space to facilitate AHICs networking and enable interaction that is safe, refreshing and immensely productive for all delegates. He continued: As with all of us dedicated to the future of hospitality in this region, Jumeirah Group did not stop during the pandemic. Our stance has been one of calculated progression and capital investment, prioritising guest safety, product enhancements, integration of new technologies and exploring new markets in which to grow our portfolio. We see huge potential for further digitalisation in our sector and believe it will play a vital role in helping investors and operators alike come out of this crisis stronger, better and more successful than ever. For more information about AHIC 2021, please visit: www.ahic.com. Q: Can a valid Texas will be created using an online document preparation service? A: Yes. However, there are many ways to completely mess up the document. For instance, the software product you use might not have the right Texas-specific language included in its form. Or you might include ambiguous language or try to give away assets under your will that pass outside the provisions of the will (such as life insurance or a retirement account). The particular company you mentioned in your question (which I removed and changed to "online document preparation service") states on its website that you can sign the will online and then invite other people to witness it later. That's not how it's done in Texas. Maybe they state somewhere else on their website how you should properly sign the will once you pay to get the document. On HoustonChronicle.com: More columns from Ronald Lipman You might save a few hundred dollars in attorneys' fees today by doing it yourself, but there's a decent chance you'll end up costing your beneficiaries thousands or tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees after you have died. It is therefore typically best to seek the advice and counsel of an attorney rather than try to prepare your own will and estate plan. Q: You wrote about a widower a few weeks ago who wanted to put his home in his own name, and you said he should hire a lawyer to figure out what type of probate would be needed. About five years ago in San Antonio, I only had to produce a copy of my husbands death certificate and a copy of my drivers license to put our home in my name alone. Why would a lawyer be needed? A: I looked up your information on the Bexar County Appraisal District website (using your name from your email), and you did, in fact, remove your deceased husband's name from their records with a death certificate. But what you did not do was remove his name from the title to the property. Two years before he died, back in August 2013, your husband deeded half of the home to you. A title search would show that you are both still the owners. Everything is OK until you try to sell the home, refinance the mortgage, if you have one, or get a home equity loan. There will also be title issues following your death. At any of those points, some sort of probate would be needed. If you want to remove your husband's name from the title, you should meet with an attorney to discuss your options. The information in this column is intended to provide a general understanding of the law, not legal advice. Readers with legal problems, including those whose questions are addressed here, should consult attorneys for advice on their particular circumstances. Ronald Lipman of the Houston law firm Lipman & Associates is board-certified in estate planning and probate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Email questions to stateyourcase@lipmanpc.com. WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) The Navajo Nation is reporting two new confirmed COVID-19 cases and no additional deaths Tribal health officials released the latest figures Sunday night. They push the total number of cases since the pandemic began more than a year ago to 30,841 on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah and serves the largest tribal nation. Since the beginning of this year, battery raw material prices have continued to rise, which has put pressure on fast-developing power battery companies. According to SMM data from Shanghai Nonferrous Metals Network, as of May 24, the average spot price of battery-grade lithium carbonate was 89,000 yuan per ton, a sharp increase of 67.9% from the beginning of the year; the average spot price of battery-grade lithium hydroxide was 89,500 yuan per ton, an increase from the beginning of the year As high as 80.8%. Data from the China Chemical and Physical Power Industry Association also shows that the price of lithium hexafluorophosphate has more than doubled since the beginning of this year. According to data released by the China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance, the installed capacity of power batteries in the Chinese market from January to April this year reached 31.6GWh, a year-on-year increase of 241%, and the concentration of power battery installed capacity has increased. The lack of high-quality production capacity is still a problem in the current power battery industry. With the increase in the production of new energy vehicles, the demand for power batteries has become stronger, which has made the supply of some battery companies tight. On May 24, Yiwei Lithium Energy issued an announcement stating that the company existing sites and production lines have been operating at full capacity, but the supply is still in short supply in the past year. The company plans to use the previously raised funds for the industrialization of high-performance lithium-ion power batteries. The 600 million yuan of the project i s funds will be used to build a fully automated cylindrical ternary lithium-ion battery production line, mainly for the supporting application market of power tools. Affected by The price of battery raw materials skyrocketed ,the GaN powder market is changing rapidly. 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Due to changes in consumer demand,import and export conditions,and various investigations on the development of GaN powder,the cost of GaN powder is constantly changing.Taking into account the current market macroeconomic parameters, value chain analysis,channel partners,demand and supply,the cost of GaN powder will also be affected to a certain extent.It is estimated that the cost of GaN powder will increase slightly from today to next week. However,Ozbo.com provides high purity Nano GaN powder with steady price.In order to feedback to old customers,the company is still in full operations to provide GaN 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 GaN 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 GaN powder, please send an email to: sales@ozbo.com A one-year anniversary tribute to longtime Third Ward resident George Floyd on Sunday melded emotional musical performances with a forward-looking message, highlighting continued efforts to challenge racial inequality and police brutality. The two-hour event was held at The Fountain of Praise church, where Floyd was laid to rest last year. More than 300 people celebrated his life with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, U.S. Rep Al Green and other public figures. The event featured an array of high-energy performances from renowned R&B artists, rappers, poets and dancers. Attendees stood from their pews and swayed when gospel artist Isaac Carree performed his song, In The Middle. Houston poet Se7en delivered an emotional piece, Oh we gon breathe today, dedicated to George Floyd. And Houston rapper Trae the Truth summoned the crowd to chant Floyds name when he took the stage. Interspersed throughout the performances were reminders of key legislation, created in Floyds name, that targets police misconduct. Enjoy the evening as we take a moment to breathe, but dont forget, when the music stops, theres still work to be done, said Shareeduh McGee Tate, Floyds cousin and president of the George Floyd Foundation, a nonprofit that provides access to social justice education and advocacy, youth services and workforce development programs. Floyds death captured on a now famous video showing former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin pinning him to the ground with his knee for 9 minutes and 29 seconds ignited a movement that Turner said prompted change in Floyds hometown. NEWSLETTERS Join the conversation with HouWeAre We want to foster conversation and highlight the intersection of race, identity and culture in one of America's most diverse cities. Sign up for the HouWeAre newsletter here. Turner pointed to the City Councils recent approval of funding for mental health clinicians to respond to emergency calls with Houston police. He said he revamped the Independent Police Oversight Board and devised and easier system to file complaints of police misconduct. Further, he pointed to the recent launch of the Social Justice and Economic Equity fund, which he said will invest in Houstons undeserved communities. Turner also mentioned Texas Senate Bill 7. The bill was passed early Sunday by the Republican-dominated Texas Senate with new provisions that would complicate voting by mail and make it easier to overturn an election. The bill comes with several other restrictions, including a ban on drive-through voting and limits on early voting. Democratic leaders, including President Joe Biden, have joined civil rights groups in denouncing the legislation, which they say disproportionately harms communities of color. Texas Democrats were expected to mount an effort to kill the bill late Sunday before final approval. As we commemorate George Floyds life and death, in the state capital they are taking measures right now to restrict peoples right to vote to intimidate peoples right to vote, to make it easier to reverse the elections right now, Turner said, adding, The fight is not over. Green drew attention to the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which is currently being considered in the U.S. Senate. The bill seeks to improve police training and outlaws some law enforcement techniques, including chokeholds. It would also end qualified immunity, which protects law enforcement officers from most civil lawsuits. We cannot pass it without your help, he said. Stacey Abrams, a political leader who served more than a decade in the Georgia House of Representatives, also made a brief appearance in a video tribute. She echoed Greens support of the George Floyd bill and thanked Floyds family members for their continued involvement in social justice initiatives. The tragedy of his murder is even more profound, as your strength in seeking justice sparked a reckoning too long overdue, she said. The persistent reality of systemic racism and the paralyzing fear of police brutality cannot be reduced to a verdict, because the trial of American values of our commitment to justice and equality and humanity continues. julian.gill@chron.com A suspect remained at large Monday after shooting an off-duty Houston police officer at a Spring Branch apartment complex, authorities said. John Brown, an eight-year veteran of the Houston Police Department assigned to the homicide division, was working an off-duty job Sunday at the Villas at Bunker Hill apartments at 9757 Pine Lakes Drive when he saw a suspicious man on the property around 10:30 p.m., said Houston Police Chief Troy Finner. The officer approached the man. The two exchanged words and, at one point, the officer tried to grab him, Finner said. The man then fired multiple shots at the officer, striking Brown twice in the leg, Finner said. Brown did not discharge his weapon, the chief said. In a news conference late Sunday, Finner said the officer was doing well. It hit him in the right spot, Finner said. I dont think theres any broken bones or anything. Finner described the suspect as a heavy-set Hispanic male, approximately 5 feet, 6 to 8 inches tall. He was wearing a white shirt and black shorts at the time. Were coming after you, Finner said. Houston police on Monday said they could not provide any further details. julian.gill@chron.com Wesley Hunt, a former Army helicopter pilot and Republican nominee for Congress, said Monday he plans to run for a congressional seat in the greater Houston area again next year. Hunt lost by about 3 percentage points in 2020 to U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, a Democrat who represents the Energy Corridor and parts of west Houston. He announced his 2022 bid during an appearance on Fox News. With the shape of Texas next political maps still uncertain, Hunt told the Chronicle he is waiting for lawmakers to redraw congressional district boundaries before settling on a district. He said he is eyeing a repeat bid for Fletchers 7th Congressional District or one of the two new seats Texas is set to gain by the midterm elections. Its not clear yet whether one of those new districts will be drawn in Houston or elsewhere. The Legislature cannot draw up new political maps until lawmakers receive detailed population data from the 2020 census, which will arrive by Sept. 30, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The bureau announced in April that Texas would gain two congressional seats, more than any other state in the country, after adding 3.9 million residents over the last decade. Last year, Hunt sought to unseat Fletcher by tying her to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and arguing that her record on energy policy ran counter to the interests of her many constituents who work in the energy industry. He was backed early in the campaign by former president Donald Trump, who ended up losing the district by more than 8 points to then-candidate Joe Biden. Fletcher, a former oil and gas attorney, touted her opposition to measures like the Green New Deal, an offshore drilling ban and hydraulic fracking. She took office in 2019 after defeating Republican former congressman John Culberson. jasper.scherer@chron.com Black lives matter Regarding As 1-year anniversary of death nears, Third Ward park named after George Floyd, (May 23): I agree 100 percent with this article and the honoring of George Floyd. Hopefully his death will help our country trend in a better direction. We should not fear the police. They are here to protect us. The park should remain as a symbol of how we are willing to fight for justice for Black lives now and forever. Steven Shields, Houston Party of distraction Regarding Majority in GOP ready to move on from riot, (A3, May 28): As I read the morning paper it seems to me that Republicans in Texas and nationally are sharpening their skills as the party of distraction. In Texas the party is embroiled in fights over legalizing unlicensed gun carry and keeping transgender women students from participating in sports. Meanwhile the real business of the state goes by the wayside. The Republican leadership in Congress plays down the importance of establishing a commission to discover the leaders of the lawless mob that invaded the United States Capitol killing a Capitol policeman and maiming others. But neither Sens. Ted Cruz nor John Cornyn seem capable of admitting the seriousness of the events of Jan. 6 nor the truth of what my eyes saw captured on camera. My only recourse was my vote but now they are attempting to even take away or limit that right. Jere Pfister, Houston Protecting liberty Regarding Abbott bans mask rules, (A1, May 19): Even though fully vaccinated, I will continue to wear a mask in public buildings because I believe in science and have a genuine desire to help my family and my community. Even though I could go without a mask, I see the value in protecting those around me (who either cannot be vaccinated yet or are immunocompromised) from any airborne contagion. Many of us have grandchildren who are too young to be vaccinated. Many of us have elderly parents who even though vaccinated have benefited from a flu-free year. Many of us have family members who have serious diseases and would be endangered even catching a cold. Many of us go to stores and confront workers who must interact with hundreds of people a day. By making this very small sacrifice we are protecting the liberties of others, in other words, the liberty of those other people to engage in the world around them and stay healthy. Kitty Kenyon, Katy Imagine being forced from your home by the government, being imprisoned in a detention camp under armed guards and behind barbed wire and then being required to join the military to fight for the nation that had locked up you and your family. Thats what happened in a little-known chapter of U.S. history, in which many of those men went on to become American military heroes, some making the ultimate sacrifice. These soldiers, along with all other Japanese Americans who served in the U.S. armed forces during World War II, are being honored with a new U.S. Postal Service stamp on June 3. From the time the first immigrants had arrived from Japan in the 1880s, people of Japanese ancestry in the U.S. whether they were American citizens or not faced decades of discrimination. The attack on Pearl Harbor whipped those prejudices into a frenzy of fear that swept the nation. After Dec. 7, 1941, anyone with a Japanese face, especially on the West Coast, had the face of the enemy. A little more than two months later, on Feb. 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, authorizing the forcible removal of about 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry from California, Oregon, Washington and parts of Arizona. Without any evidence of disloyalty or charges brought against them, these people including my grandparents, parents and their families were sent at gunpoint to hastily constructed detention facilities in desolate inland locations, where they spent the duration of the war. Two-thirds of those incarcerated were Nisei American citizens, born in the U.S. to Japanese immigrant parents. On Jan. 5, 1942, the War Department reclassified Japanese American men from being draft-eligible to enemy aliens not eligible for the draft. Yet as the war continued into 1943, the U.S. government put out a call seeking Japanese American volunteers to join the army. Most of these volunteers were from Hawaii, where the Japanese American population had generally been allowed to stay in their homes. Future U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, then a college student, was among the first to enlist. By the end of 1943, U.S. military leaders had grimly realized they were running short of manpower. The political decision to reclassify the Nisei as ineligible for the draft was being reconsidered, as commanders were hearing impressive reports of Nisei volunteers in their training. Mike Masaoka of the Japanese American Citizens League was also lobbying the military brass for the opportunity to show through a demonstration in blood that Japanese Americans were loyal Americans. On Jan. 20, 1944, Secretary of War Henry Stimson announced the reinstatement of the draft for all Nisei men. The Japanese American soldiers helped drive the German army out of Italy and continued into eastern France, fighting nonstop for nearly two months in the Vosges Mountains. Their last-ditch effort rescued over 200 soldiers from Texas, who had been stranded behind German lines for nearly a week. By the time the Nisei troops emerged from the Vosges, the number of dead and wounded outnumbered the living. One company had started out with 185 men, but ended up with only eight. This terrible casualty rate earned the 442nd the nickname of the Purple Heart Battalion. Approximately 18,000 Nisei soldiers served in the combined 100th and 442nd, and collectively they and their units earned more than 14,000 awards, making it the most decorated military unit for its size and length of service in all of U.S. military history. In 1981, MIS veteran Mits Usui recalled that as he returned to his hometown of Los Angeles, wearing his U.S. Army uniform, a bus rider called him a Damn J*p. Inouye described how after he was released from the hospital as a decorated second lieutenant with a hook replacing the arm he had lost in combat, a San Francisco barber refused to cut his J*p hair. Vigilantes were terrorizing the veterans families so they would not return to their West Coast homes. For U.S. Sen. Spark Matsunaga, President Ronald Reagans signing of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 was important recognition of the Niseis wartime sacrifices. That legislation officially apologized for the incarceration and provided token reparations payments to the surviving incarcerees. A decorated 100th/442nd member, Matsunaga recalled, We feel now that our efforts at the battlefront giving up our lives and being wounded and maimed and disabled all this was for a great cause, great ideals to remove the one big blot on the Constitution that has been there for over 45 years. Kamei is a lecturer in history at the University of Southern California. This piece was first published by the Conversation. Texas Republicans will go home for a second legislative session without passing a series of voting restrictions they insist will protect the states election integrity setting the stage for an even bigger push in a future special session, especially ahead of whats already shaping up to be a contentious primary season for top leaders. House Democrats on Sunday night killed Senate Bill 7, a massive package of election reforms that would have reduced access to the polls by limiting early voting hours, added or expanded criminal penalties for errors, and made it easier to overturn elections on the basis of fraud claims. The states majority party members also went home empty-handed in 2019 when a similar bill, Senate Bill 9, passed in the Senate but never made it to the House floor. Some of the same language from that 2019 bill was included in this years legislation, such as the measure lowering of the standard of proof needed to prosecute voter fraud to preponderance of evidence from clear and convicing evidence. That year, the bill lost necessary support when the House Elections Committee stripped it of a bipartisan provision requiring all Texas counties have voting machines with paper trails, among other changes. Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who both supported the bill, have said they want to see Republicans take another swing at this in a special session. Its unclear whether Abbott will wait until the fall, when a special session will be required as delayed U.S. Census Bureau numbers arrive to guide the redrawing of political maps. Republicans in Austin had hoped to make Texas the latest in series of Republican-led states to pass similarly restrictive measures related to voting, as many echo the cries of former President Donald Trump, who falsely and repeatedly claimed the 2020 election was stolen from him. Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, who sponsored the legislation this year as well as in 2019, blamed outside forces for undermining this years bill. Throughout session, he has denied the idea that the bill was a direct reaction to the 2020 election, noting that lawmakers have been working on similar measures for years. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Texas bill did overlap in some areas with a Georgia bill that also made its way into the national spotlight. Texans want elections that are accessible and secure, Hughes said. And we will not allow hyper-partisan national politics, national media misinformation, or a fear-mongering White House to stop the common-sense reforms in Senate Bill 7. I look forward to presenting SB 7 in the special session when we will again fight to make it easy to vote and hard to cheat. House Elections Committee Chair Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, who carried SB 7 in the lower chamber, was also optimistic about another chance this year, telling Hearst Newspapers, It aint over. Cain, who dismissed the Democrats last-minute objections to the bill as political theater, said a future version of the bill is likely to contain many of the same elements. I look forward to properly doing it again, he said. Michael Adams, a professor of political science at Texas Southern University, said its no coincidence that these bills continually run into heavy pushback. This is an issue that galvanizes, particularly minority voters, and speaking as a Black American, someone who lived through the age of Jim Crow segregation, someone who has seen court challenges where African Americans have had to use the Supreme Court people have fought and lost their lives to have access to the ballot, to vote, Adams said. There should be no retrogression in terms of making sure people have access to the franchise and unfettered access. Democratic and civil rights groups said the issue should be non-partisan: Voting methods that increase participation should be embraced, not thrown out. This win speaks to the power of the coalition of voting rights advocacy organizations, legislators and everyday Texans who have stood up and fought to kill major voter suppression bills two legislative sessions in a row, said Anthony Gutierrez, executive director of Common Cause, in a statement. Next time, Republicans will have to overcome their own in-fighting including tension between Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan that bubbled up over bills that failed to advance, Adams said. taylor.goldenstein@chron.com Texas lawmakers on Sunday passed a final proposal to shore up the states power grid in response to this years deadly outage crisis, agreeing on a raft of reforms that experts welcomed but also fear wont go far enough. The legislation, Senate Bill 3, would require power plants and some natural gas suppliers to prepare their operations for extreme cold, a step that state regulators and many companies have avoided for decades despite repeated blackouts and promises that market incentives would ensure reliability. It would also create a statewide emergency alert system, force industry participants to communicate more often and mandate that key gas facilities be registered as critical so their power isnt unintentionally shut off during shortages. Hundreds of gas facilities reportedly lost power during the winter storm, pinching off fuel supplies to power plants. This bill offers significant reforms that will strengthen communication, coordination, oversight, and the reliability and resiliency of the ERCOT grid, said Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown. These reforms are necessary to ensure the problems faced during the Valentines Day winter storm never occur again. WHAT'S IN SENATE BILL 3 Rules for weatherization of power plants and some natural gas suppliers Creates a new statewide emergency alert system Creates a new energy subcommittee bringing together regulators and industry players from electric generation and natural gas Requires regulators to consult with the state's climatologist when drafting weatherization rules Mandates that critical gas facilities be mapped and registered with utility providers so their power stays on during emergencies What's not in it: Funding for weatherization Funding for backup generators at nursing homes, hospitals and dialysis centers Energy efficiency standards Incentives for power plants to store fuel onsite Requirements that wind and solar companies pay the state for backup power when their units are offline See More Collapse The measure passed unanimously in the House and with just one opponent in the Senate. FAILURES OF POWER: Fixing the Texas grid wont be cheap or easy. Can we trust politicians to get it done? The proposals address several longstanding weaknesses, though still amount to a gamble in the wake of one of the states deadliest natural disasters, leaving its already isolated power grid vulnerable to similar disruptions for the coming winter, before key weatherization requirements would take effect. Energy experts have warned that without quick structural improvements to power plants, gas wells and the supply chain that connects them, millions of Texas homes could again be without power in dangerously frigid conditions. Februarys storm knocked out power to an estimated 4.5 million homes and killed at least 200 people and likely many more. Critics also caution that the final provisions leave broad discretion to gas suppliers, who provide most of the fuel for the electricity grid. The legislation allows for minimal fines against those that dont comply and leaves oversight of infrastructure updates to the Texas Railroad Commission, whose members receive funding from the industry and have long opposed weather requirements. The states gas production fell more than 20 percent over five days during the storm. This month, Republicans in the House rejected amendments from Democrats that would have increased penalties for gas suppliers that dont winterize and would have required progress on winterization within six months of the measure becoming law. Democrats still praised the reforms that made it into the final draft. "I voted for this bill because there is a lot of good in it, Rep. Jon Rosenthal, a Houston Democrat and engineer in the oil and gas industry, tweeted shortly after the vote. But make no mistake - this bill is not enough to ensure that we won't have another massive blackout. It leaves much discretion to RRC/PUC/ERCOT and the guardrails aren't nearly tight enough." TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Gas producers testified in hearings that they recognize the need to equip their operations and that mandates to do so are unnecessary. Disruptions in the gas supply were among the earliest and most significant causes of the February blackouts. In a series of measures, the Legislature also backed nearly $9 billion in ratepayer-funded debt payments to electric and gas providers, some of which were financially wrecked by the weeklong storm and crippling blackouts. Those fees would show up on monthly residential utility bills for the next 20 to 30 years. Lawmakers negotiating for the House and Senate appeared to have been at odds Saturday over an eleventh-hour demand from the upper chamber for one-time payments to ratepayers who were affected by the outages. But it was unclear how the state would pay for those, and a proposal was left out of the final draft. The Legislature also carried through on an earlier commitment to overhaul the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which manages the grid and which many blamed for components of the blackouts. Under a measure expected to pass Sunday, board members would be required to live in Texas, and most would be direct nominees of the governor, the lieutenant governor and the House speaker, all of whom are currently Republicans. The new appointment process could inject a new political element into the ERCOT board, whose members have previously been nominated by market participants and other direct stakeholders. Members of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, which oversees ERCOT, are currently appointed by the governor. Proposals were stripped from the final bills Sunday that would have required at least one of those PUC members to represent consumers. jeremy.blackman@chron.com twitter.com/jblackmanchron Houston, MO (65483) Today Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Democratic Party of Korea Floor Leader Yun Ho-jung, center, speaks at a meeting attended by the party, the government and Cheong Wa Dae officials at the National Assembly on Yeouido, May 28. Yonhap Columbia-Greene Media has recently teamed up with the US Postal Service to provide same-day delivery of your local newspaper with your mail. Our expanded daily delivery of your local news reaches into the following areas: Williams students toss their caps at a senior celebration held in lieu of commencement. North Adams' Hayden Gilooly North Adams' Alexandra Bernard Pittsfield's Joe Bouvier Williamstown's Niku Darafshi Stockbridge's Georgia DelSignor Williamstown's Adam Jones Williamstown's Thomas Kirby PreviousNext Williams Grads Told to Use Privilege to Serve Others Class Speaker Papa Freduah A. Anderson spoke to his classmates about the obligation that comes with privilege. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. For members of Williams College's class of 2021, Monday was a day to celebrate the grit and hard work that got them through the last four years. But their class speaker reminded them it also was about something else: the privilege that got them to Williams in the first place. "I, for example, have been privileged to have parents who could afford to take me to private junior high school in Ghana, which then enabled me to attend all the best high schools in the country, where I learned about the opportunity to attend college abroad," Papa Freduah A. Anderson told his classmates. "Just like that, one privilege reinforcing another. "Some of my peers, however, never started kindergarten, let alone high school or college. This story is not unique to me or Ghana, but it happens in the U.S. and every country in the world." With that sentiment in mind, Anderson reminded his fellow seniors that privilege brings with it obligation. "How does such a privilege call us to a greater responsibility, to use our liberal arts education not for ourselves, but to create opportunities for others and solve problems in our society?" he asked. Anderson reminded the seniors that as they prepared to enjoy a post-ceremony lunch and turn their attentions to graduate school or gainful employment, there are millions of people around the globe who have neither those privileges nor opportunities. "About a tenth of the world's population is being threatened by malnutrition and hunger," he said. "About 2 billion individuals do not have access to clean water. The world is still plagued with racial injustice. "These are a few of the issues I'm asking us to embrace and challenge ourselves to make a difference in. And I strongly believe we are more than capable of doing that." Monday marked the first time in recent memory the college has sent its seniors into the world without diplomas in hand. The ceremony closing the academic year for Anderson and his classmates was moved up from its traditional June date as a concession to the COVID-19 pandemic and the much more restrictive rules in place when the ceremony's date was scheduled this winter. Rather than a sheepskin, the soon-to-be-grads walked across the stage at Farley-Lamb Field to receive the case where they will put diplomas when they are issued in a couple of weeks. That one concession to the pandemic did not diminish the enthusiasm of the approximately 500 seniors and thousands of friends and family who covered the field and the bleachers. Among their number, nine Berkshire County residents who are on track to earn degrees from the school: North Adams' Alexandra Bernard, Pittsfield's Joe Bouvier, Williamstown's Niku Darafshi, Stockbridge's Georgia DelSignor, North Adams' Hayden Gilooly, Williamstown's Adam Jones, Williamstown's Thomas Kirby, Williamstown's Peter Le and Williamstown's Emily O'Brien. The ceremony featured a performance by Class Musician Alex A. Quzon, a reading of an original work by Class Poet Virginia J. Marr and speeches by Alexander and Class Historian Sonia N.B. Nyarko. Nyarko reminded the members of the class that they already have shown a propensity for using their positions of privilege to advance the common good. "During quarantine, it was more apparent than ever how important it is to pierce the purple bubble and stay in tune with the world around us," Nyarko said. "I believe our class has done a remarkable job of that, urging the college to meet our demands and improve the student experience. Through our efforts, affinity housing will launch next year. And we'll hope we'll get more support for our overworked [Junior Advisors]. "Although there is still so much to be done, there is no denying our personal contributions to pushing this institution toward its betterment." Nyarko noted that Williams is rich in tradition but also tethered, in some ways to past injustices. "I'm very glad to be part of the class that has embraced the beauty of this college while continuing to challenge it to be better," she said. Williams President Maud Mandel joined Nyarko in expressing optimism about the Class of 2021's ability to face some of the challenges Anderson laid out. "Some of you and your peers have been looking inward and recommitting to local community," Mandel said. "Others are seeking environmentally and spiritually sustainable ways of life. "Not everyone has the same goals or the same means with which to go after them. But one thing that has struck me as I speak to graduating seniors navigating this moment is how many of you are looking to the future with hope and with optimism. This is a striking reality given the challenges of this past year -- the global pandemic, racial reckoning and challenges to our democracy have been sobering for so many of you and so many of us. "And yet rather than looking through the frame of lost time or cynicism, so many of you seem prepared to roll up your sleeves and face the challenges ahead with energy and resolve and good will and even excitement." Indian fishermen complain about oil spill around stranded barge off Mumbai by TN RAGHUNATHA May 31,2021 | Source: The Pioneer Twelve days after cyclone Tauktae wreaked havoc in and around the ONGCs Mumbai High oil fields in India as it passed to Gujarat, an oil spill has been reported by local fishermen along the Palghar coast in Maharashtra, from one of the barges that ran aground. Having noticed the oil spill around GAL Constructor that got stuck in the rocky shores of Vadrai, the local fishermen have reported the matter to the Satpati coastal police station. Vadrai Machimar Sarvodaya Society chairman and a member of Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti Manendra Arekar, has flagged the issue, said: We estimate that is at least 80,000 litres of diesel, besides large quantities of lubricants and grease on board the barge. It is 12 days since the barge ran aground, no agency concerned has turned up here to remove diesel and oil board the barrage. As a result, diesel and oil are leaking in a big way from the barrage into the sea. We have already noticed an oil spill in the water around the stranded barrage. We anticipate a big ecological problem in the days to come. Till July 31, the Maharashtra government has imposed a ban on fishing in the area, because of the south west monsoon As a consequence a lot of fishermen depend on fishing in the water along the shores. Already some people have started complaining about the smell in the fish that we catch along the shore. Before long, the oil spill will affect the fish in the area. If no steps are taken to address the oil spill issue, the livelihoods of fishermen in the area will be severely affected. Hence, I appeal to the state government and other authorities to remove diesel and oil on board the barge immediately and also do something about the oil spill in the area, Arekar said. On their part, the local fishermen have already reported the matter to the Satpati coast police station which has in turn reached out to the contractors and owners of the barge for containment oil spill in the area. In a related development, reacting to the concerns expressed by the local fishermen about the oil spill in their area, the Indian Coast Guard said that the barge was carrying 78,000 litres of "high flash high speed diesel" and not crude oil. "No breach of the oil tank is reported... Afcons Infrastructure Ltd has arranged M/s Seacare which has laid a 400 mts boom around the barge while M/s Shree Krishna is undertaking hull repairs. Besides, M/s Smith & Coy has been hired for removal of the vessel, the ICG said. The ICG said that its Guard helicopters had reported "silvery oil sheen" of 50 meters width. "No oil spill has been reported on shore now and continuous liaison has been maintained with agent of GAL Constructor," an ICG spokesperson said Sorbent pads have been laid along the boom. It will be recovered with binge oil with the help of fishing boats," the spokesperson said. Of the total 350 floating and fixed assets in the Mumbai High region, five were affected in the cyclone that passed the Maharashtra coast on May 17. The five floating vessels comprised Papaa-305, n accommodation barge with 261 persons on board, GAL Constructor barge with 176 persons on board, its anchor handling vessel Varaprada with 13 persons on board, drill ship Sagar Bhushan with 101 persons on board and construction barge Support Station with 202 persons on board. A total of 714 persons were on board these vessels of which 628 were saved while 86 lost their lives. The deceased oil workers were from Papaa-305 and Varaprada. All those on board the GAL Constructor were rescued by Indian Navy and Coast Guard. 2021 The Pioneer Theme(s): Others. Erosion threatens western Puerto Rico regions coastal communities by Coraly Cruz Mejias May 31,2021 | Source: Global Press Journal Just below Suhail Velezs balcony, the sea breaks on the shore in small, foamy bursts. As night falls in Caguabo, a neighborhood in the western Puerto Rico municipality of Anasco, the surf tempers down. Its a breathtaking sight. But three years ago, ocean waves tore down half of Velezs house. Ivelisse Rios story is similar. The beach eroded until her house collapsed. People would tell me that I lived in a paradise because the sea was so beautiful, says Rios, who for more than 40 years has lived in the Espinar neighborhood of Aguada, another western municipality. Frequent storms have clawed away at the regions natural coastal barriers, leaving residents like Velez and Rios vulnerable to flooding and other hazards. Despite the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2017, the strongest to hit Puerto Rico since 1928, officials have not implemented a mitigation plan that would protect residents from increasingly powerful storms. Puerto Rico tops the list of areas most affected by climate change in the last 20 years, according to the 2021 Global Climate Risk Index by Germanwatch, a development and environmental nonprofit based in Germany, and scientists anticipate an increase in the frequency and intensity of the regions storms. With hurricane season about to begin, residents and experts are calling on the government to establish an urgent mitigation plan to help save both lives and infrastructure. The government established the Comite de Expertos y Asesores sobre Cambio Climatico (Committee of Climate Change Experts and Advisers) in 2019 to work on a mitigation plan. But a lack of funds delayed the project, says Edgardo Feliciano, chairman of the Comision Conjunta sobre Mitigacion, Adaptacion y Resiliencia al Cambio Climatico (Joint Commission on Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation and Resilience), the legislative body under which the committee operates. His adviser, Obed Rojas, confirms that in March, a budget of $200,000 was approved for use through June. Officials likely will approve $1.8 million for the new fiscal year that starts in July, Rojas says. As coastal communities wait for the commission to come up with a plan, theyre at risk of losing everything again. Some, like Velez, have had to find ways to protect themselves and their property. Her husband is rebuilding their house with help from builders in the community. Theyve reinforced the foundation with 15 feet of concrete, although thats no guarantee it will withstand the harsh weather. It can handle the water a bit, Velez says. Permitting construction along these vulnerable areas has only put them at more risk, says Federico Del Monte, president of the Sociedad Puertorriquena de Planificacion (Puerto Rican Planning Society). He says the immediate answer is to stop all construction along the coastline and relocate homes from flood zones. Maritza Barreto, a geologist and professor at the University of Puerto Ricos Rio Piedras campus, agrees that the government must take action to ban construction permits. A public hearing to consider a moratorium on construction in vulnerable areas has been scheduled for June 3. Rios, whose home was destroyed, says erecting a stone barrier between the sea and residential areas will help stop the waves. For the last three years, she has been asking the municipal government to install one. So far, nothing has been done, she says. Barreto sees a problem in Rios solution. The barrier might provide temporary reprieve, she says, but in the long term, it will only aggravate the situation. The municipal government of Aguada is in meetings with specialists from the Mayaguez campus of the University of Puerto Rico to address the situation, which worsened in 2018 after Hurricane Maria. Theme(s): Communities and Organisations. Eximbank CEO Bang Moon-kyu, left, poses after signing a credit agreement with CABEI Executive President Dante Mossi, at the former's headquarters in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Eximbank By Lee Min-hyung The Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) signed a credit agreement worth $50 million (55.75 billion won) with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), in a move to support anti-COVID-19 measures for five countries in the region, the Korean lender said Sunday. Under the agreement, CABEI will finance public sector purchases of medical devices and anti-coronavirus equipment for the countries: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. "This is the first time that Eximbank has provided the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) for an international finance development organization," Eximbank CEO Bang Moon-kyu said. "We expect the five countries there to take proactive steps against the coronavirus, and the credit support will also contribute to mitigating the spread of the virus in the region." The Korean government established the EDCF in 1987 aiming to enhance economic cooperation with developing countries. Eximbank is responsible for operating the fund. CABEI Executive President Dante Mossi also spoke highly of the credit support from the Korean state-run lender. "This new facilitation will contribute significantly to addressing and mitigating the pandemic's effects in our region and, in turn, to structuring programs and projects to support national plans designed by health authorities," he said. "Undoubtedly, the Korean experience in handling the pandemic should serve as an example for us to replicate some of the measures and structures to face this type of crisis." CABEI also pledged for "timely financing" to support the emergency response to COVID-19 in the five countries. Korean financial authorities, such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance and Eximbank, have offered financing and non-reimbursable cooperation worth up to $750 million, according to CABEI. In 2019, Korea became a regional partner of CABEI and has since had a subscribed capital of $63 million. The Korean government has increased its financing or credit support for developed countries since early 2020 amid the pandemic shock. The government decided to set the EDCF support volume at $400 million in 2020 and raised the figure to $600 million in 2021 amid surging demand for financial support from developing countries due to the worldwide impact of the pandemic. In January, Korea also announced plans to hike the support to $1 billion until the end of 2025, which Eximbank expected will help Korean biotechnology companies expand their footholds in overseas markets. We've recently updated our online systems. If you can't login please try resetting your password. You must login with an email address. If you don't have an email associated with your account email circulation@idahopress.com for help creating one. Note: We've recently updated our online systems. If you can't login please try resetting your password. You must login with an email address. If you don't have an email associated with your account email circulation2@journalnet.com for help creating one. Samoas prime minister-elect, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, was locked out of parliament on May 24 after her opponent, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi claimed he remained in charge. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) urges Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaois to respect the democratic processes and independent judiciary of Samoa. Mataafafrom the FAST Party was refused entry to parliament in Samoa after the Supreme Court declared on May 22, the FAST Party held a 26-25 majority and Mataafasswearing in should go ahead. Mataafa was instead sworn in outside parliament on May 24 which was suspended the day before by the nations head of state, Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II. At a press conference held by Malielegaoi on May 24, he said, there is only one government in Samoa, even if we are just the custodian government. We remain in this role and operate business as usual. Samoas constitution requires lawmakers to meet 45 days after an election and as a result of legal challenges, Mataafa was locked out on the final day. Mataafa is the first woman prime minister to be elected to Samoas parliament, ending the 22 year-long tenure of Teuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi. The IFJ said: Any attempt to undermine democratic or judicial processes sets a dangerous precedent for current and future governments in Samoa to disregard the rule of law, and to erode the rights of workers and journalists. The IFJ urges Malielegaois to respect Samoas democratic values and independent judiciary. For young entrepreneurs, running a business this summer still means being smart about Covid-19. Pandemic-related safety precautions are something that Sofia Renals, a 16-year-old in Dunwoody, Georgia, is taking into account this year for her annual summer cooking camp hosted at her family's home. She loves to cook and has been teaching kids how to make homemade meals since she was 11 years old. Last year, she had to cancel her camp because of Covid-19 concerns. "It was hard," she says. But this year, her camp is open for business. She'll charge $125 per student for four days of cooking a daily menu of an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert. She's also making an effort to keep herself and her customers safe. Typically, the kids share the meal they've prepared at the kitchen table each day. For a Covid-proof operation this year, she will require masks and open the floor-to-ceiling windows in her family's kitchen. She'll also give the cooks the option of taking their food out to the covered deck in the backyard if they or their parents prefer they eat outside. Here are some steps you can take to stay safe this summer while running your business. Wear a mask. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently loosened mask-wearing guidelines for vaccinated people, but the federal agency still recommends mask-wearing for those unvaccinated. The CDC says masks should completely cover the nose and mouth and fit snugly against the sides of the face. Currently, vaccines are available for those 12 years old or older. If you're likely to have younger customers, it's a safe bet to wear face coverings to limit the spread of the virus. Practice good hygiene. Hand-washing and disinfecting your space can help germs from spreading. Make sure to wash your hands often, and offer hand sanitizer to customers. The CDC also recommends encouraging those who have symptoms or have been sick to stay at home. Communicate clearly with customers about potential illnesses or symptoms, and be prepared to offer a refund or reschedule any meetings to a later time if someone isn't feeling well. Set up outside. The CDC continues to recommend practicing social distancing and gathering outdoors when unvaccinated. Similar to Renals, consider moving any events or interactions outside or opening windows if staying inside is necessary. If you anticipate any lines for in-person purchases, put stickers on the ground or draw markings with chalk six feet apart to encourage customers to social distance. Hang in there. Havana Martin, the 8-year-old founder of The Dog Walkers Club in San Diego--a dog-walking business she started last year after being inspired by the children's book series The Baby-Sitters Club--says she's walking only dogs owned by family members this year, and she always wears her mask. But her best advice to others running a Covid-safe business? John Krasinski has opened up about a stunt scene from A Quiet Place II which he thought would cost him his marriage with Emily Blunt. The horror/thriller movie goes back in time to a scene where Lee Abbot (Krasinskis character) is alive. As the monsters begin their initial attacks, Evelyn Abbot (Blunts character) is forced to drive a car with her kids in the back seat through a crowded street as a bus is speeding towards her. According to USA Today, the stunt team practiced that scene for three weeks, but the 38-year-old English actor decided to improvise her part instead. Krasinski described in an interview with the publication: I said, do you (Blunt) want to rehearse this once? to which she replied, No, I want you to get the real reaction. So that shot is whats in the movie: That was the first time she was ever in that car, and that bus is actually coming at her at 40 miles an hour. Right as I closed the door and before I called action, I thought, Did I just put my marriage on the line? This could go very badly for a lot of reasons, the actor said. Film - A Quiet Place Part II ( 2019 Paramount Pictures. All rights reserved.) Krasinski disclosed on Cinemablend's Reelblend podcast how he got his wife and the young actors' families to agree to the stunt. He said: Emily's (stunt) is so real, I think I put my marriage on the line when I put her in the car. That's true. When I was explaining to her onset all of the things that were going to happen, and I said, you're going to hit this stuntman. That car's going to come three feet from you. And then this bus is actually going to clock at 40 miles an hour. Her face fell and she went, But not really. And I went, no, no, the bus is coming at you at 40 miles. That's a real bus. And that bus hits that car, and all that is totally real. And to go to those parents and say, I promise you... Paramount safety (and) the stunt guys, they have all okayed this. This is all possible. We had that bus within a hair's breadth of being able to stop. It had all these special breaks so that we could stop real quick. So it's three weeks of rehearsal for one minute of shooting, he explained. Earlier this month, A Quiet Place Part II got a new trailer, marking the films return after the coronavirus pandemic extensively delayed its release. The Independents Clarisse Loughrey said of the film: A Quiet Place Part II is brasher, more action-driven, and louder. Its still thrilling to watch, even if the ideas ultimately dilute the terror of what came before. She added: While A Quiet Place Part II is an admirable follow-up, it doesnt leave much scope for any future sequels. Its not that the well has run dry, but that the monsters have lost their bite. The film has been released in the US on 28 May, but is yet to make its UK debut on 4 June 2021. Bitcoin, Ethereum expected to define landscape for virtual asset market By Lee Kyung-min Participants of the cryptocurrency market are expected to realign investment interests around two top-traded digital assets, bitcoin and Ethereum, as illustrated by a growing number of global traditional financial service providers seeking to roll out virtual asset-related products. Bitcoin, the most popular and widely traded digital coin, however, consumes an enormous amount of electricity, a reason why the second-in-class Ethereum is emerging rapidly as an alternative mostly for its low energy consumption and greater scalability. Global investment bank JP Morgan is expected to release bitcoin fund products as early as this summer, the latest to join two other key industry players Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, both of which launched bitcoin funds for high-net-worth customers. Altcoins, an umbrella term encompassing almost all cryptocurrencies except for a few top-traded ones, will not be able to establish itself as a mainstream means of investment due to its sketchy manufacturing process and unreliable sustainability. Unlike investors around the world that mostly trade bitcoin, over 90 percent of crypto investments from Korea are made in altcoins, long criticized for a lack of accountability and high risk of losing money. This is because the non-mainstream coins take only minutes to be issued with a few lines of relevant program code to duplicate bitcoin or Ethereum, a reason why around one new coin is issued every 17 minutes leading to more than 10,000 different coins listed on crypto exchanges around the world. The figure quadrupled in less than two years, up from 2,457 in August 2019. It increased rapidly at the end of last year and early this year. The figure rose to 9,420 as of May 22, up by more than 500 from around 8,900 in March. Financial authorities are urged and likely to prioritize ways to prohibit the listing of low-rated shaky currencies, putting an end to exchanges making stable gains in trading fees amid a lack of consumer protection responsibilities over what could later be delisted causing enormous investor fraud. Top-rated bitcoin and Etherum may prevail in the long term. But the altcoin investment craze by people in their 20s and 30s will not recede any time soon, since they were practically driven to seek the digital asset after housing prices skyrocketed over the past few years due to dozens of failed government policies, notably tighter lending rules and heavier tax on owners of multiple homes. According to data from CoinMarketCap, a global cryptocurrency trading data service provider, Korea accounted for 10 percent of the global transaction volume. Over 4.62 trillion won has been invested from Korea as of February, a six-fold increase from a year earlier. About 94 percent is Altcoin investments, meaning bitcoin investments accounted for a mere 6 percent in Korea. This sharply contrasts with bitcoin's global market share of 51 percent, an indication that Korea is isolated from the global market. The number of altcoins is soaring due to a lack of requirement for issuers to provide the issuer's philosophy, intended use, market circulation and future plans in detail. In a nine-page white paper titled "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System," the writer Satoshi Nakamoto outlined the conceptual and technical details of a payment system that?would allow individuals to send and receive payments without involving any intermediary financial institutions. Similarly, Ethereum has a 36-page white paper published by its founder Vitalik Buterin in 2013. By contrast, altcoins issued here have jumbled up words including the Fourth Industrial Revolution, artificial intelligence and blockchain, clearly lacking any originality. "Altcoins are issued and listed because issuers can rake in cash without any special technical excellence, This is underpinned by investors that blindly follow the craze seeking double- or triple-digit increase in value in just a few hours or days," said Park Sung-jun, head of the Blockchain Research Center and a professor at Dongguk University. Musk factor The price of bitcoin jumped about 4 percent last Monday (local time) after Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted that he was having "active discussions regarding the sustainability of the digital coin." Bitcoin was trading around $38,074 (42.5 million won), around 3:42 p.m. on May 27. But within minutes, the price had shot up over $39,500. Overall, the coin jumped more than 17 percent in the 24-hour period. Musk posted on Twitter: "Spoke with North American Bitcoin miners. They committed to publish current & planned renewable usage & to ask miners WW to do so. Potentially promising." Bitcoin sank to an all-time low in November 2019 when China cracked down on crypto businesses. Bitcoin exchanges in China, however, promptly relocated to neighboring countries to bypass a trading ban. Japan legalized cryptocurrencies as legal tender in 2017 following the passage of the Virtual Currency Act, under which cryptocurrencies are defined and described. They are treated as assets for accounting purposes and the Japanese government issued a list of government-approved virtual currencies. They are considered legitimate and therefore can be traded, sold or promoted to the public. Korea maintains that taxes of around 20 percent on gains derived from cryptocurrency trading will be imposed as planned. The finance ministry will impose the tax after recognizing the gains as "other income," an easier way for the government to levy the tax as opposed to property tax. One bitcoin traded for $33,941.8, and Ethereum $2,227.05, May 30. Bitcoin's market capitalization is 804 trillion won and Ethereum 352 trillion won, according to market trackers. The Indian government will soon begin tests to determine the effectiveness of a single dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 amid a serious nationwide shortage, according to reports. A decision on whether to go ahead will be made after the government has collected and analysed data recorded on a new app, sources told NDTV. This new app will be linked to the governments existing digital platform CoWin and make it easier for people to flag adverse events after inoculation, it said. India has fully vaccinated only 3 per cent of its population so far as several states have reported a shortage and suspended their vaccination drives. The central government had this month approved extending the gap between the first and second doses of the AstraZeneca jab, manufactured locally by the Serum Institute of India and branded as Covishield, to 12-16 weeks. Earlier the recommended gap between the two doses was 6-8 weeks. India now plans to review the impact of the decision to extend the interval after collecting data from the proposed new platform. This data may help the government determine whether to approve a single-dose regimen of the vaccine, sources told The Indian Express. One source told the paper that the argument being placed is that other viral vector vaccines have single-dose versions, and this might work for Covishield too, which started out [development] as a single-dose vaccine. A study by Public Health England, published on 22 May, found that three weeks after the first dose was administered, both Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines provided only 33 per cent effectiveness against the variant first detected in India, B.1.617.2. The Indian government plans to ramp up its vaccination drive and has said that nearly 120 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines will be available for domestic use in June. The Serum Institute of India will also increase production of the vaccines by nearly 40 per cent in June. A company spokesperson told Reuters that it will make 90 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine next month from about 65 million a month currently. The Indian government is also likely to begin tests to determine the effectiveness of mixing two different vaccines. This comes after 20 people in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh were administered the Covishield vaccine in their first dose, but received Bharat Biotechs Covaxin as the second dose. A government health official said at the time that scientifically, there is no problem with mixing different types of vaccine. Vaccinated Australians stand a chance to win unlimited flights for a year from Qantas as part of the companys incentive programme to speed up the countrys coronavirus vaccination rollout. CEO Alan Joyce announced on Monday that 10 mega prizes would give families of four free travel with Qantas and its budget airline Jetstar for 12 months. The airline also announced other rewards for vaccinated passengers, including air miles, flight vouchers and loyalty programme status credits. Joyce told broadcaster Channel 9 that hospitality group Accor would also offer a million points to the winning families to cover their accommodation. It comes amid criticism that the pace at which Australians are being vaccinated with Covid-19 jabs is slow, clocking in at 4 million doses over the weekend before Victoria entered its fourth lockdown. Australia ranks 119th in the world for the percentage of its population that has been fully vaccinated, according to figures from Our World in Data. The sluggish rollout can be attributed to vaccine supply issues and alarming levels of vaccine hesitancy, with a survey showing that 15 per cent of adults said they were not at all likely and 14 per cent not very likely to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Joyce told Channel 9 on Monday the company had a vested interest in seeing more people get vaccinated and called on other Australian businesses to offer their own incentives to customers who have received jabs. He said: We are trying our best to help with this rollout. Im encouraging a Team Australia moment where every corporate out there helps with this vaccine rollout and to reward people that have had the vaccine. It comes after Australias chief medical officer Paul Keller told a press conference last week: I think we really do need to look for incentives, as many incentives as we can for people to become vaccinated. Several countries have also put incentive programmes in place to encourage people to take their coronavirus jabs. In Ohio, adults who have received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine can enter a lottery draw to win US$1 million, while some shops in Beijing are offering vaccinated customers free vegetables, ice creams, chicken wings and dumplings. A military drone may have autonomously attacked humans for the first time without being instructed to do so, according to a recent report by the UN Security Council. The report, published in March, claimed that the AI drone Kargu-2 quadcopter produced by Turkish military tech company STM, attacked retreating soldiers loyal to Libyan General Khalifa Haftar. The 548-page report by the UN Security Councils Panel of Experts on Libya has not delved into details on if there were any deaths due to the incident, but it raises questions on whether global efforts to ban killer autonomous robots before they are built may be futile. Over the course of the year, the UN-recognized Government of National Accord pushed the Haftar Affiliated Forces (HAF) back from the Libyan capital Tripoli, and the drone may have been operational since January 2020, the experts noted. Logistics convoys and retreating HAF were subsequently hunted down and remotely engaged by the unmanned combat aerial vehicles or the lethal autonomous weapons systems such as the STM Kargu-2, the UN report noted. Kargu is a loitering drone that uses machine learning-based object classification to select and engage targets, according to STM, and also has swarming capabilities to allow 20 drones to work together. The lethal autonomous weapons systems were programmed to attack targets without requiring data connectivity between the operator and the munition: in effect, a true fire, forget and find capability, the experts wrote in the report. Many robotics and AI researchers in the past, including Elon Musk, and several other prominent personalities like Stephen Hawking and Noam Chomsky have calledfor a ban on "offensive autonomous weapons", such as those with the potential to search for and kill specific people based on their programming. Experts have cautioned that the datasets used to train these autonomous killer robots to classify and identify objects such as buses, cars and civilians may not be sufficiently complex or robust, and that the artificial intelligence (AI) system may learn wrong lessons. They have also warned of the black box in machine learning, in which the decision making process in AI systems is often opaque, posing a real risk of fully autonomous military drones executing the wrong targets with the reasons remaining difficult to unravel. Zachary Kallenborn, a national security consultant specialising in unmanned aerial vehicles, believes there is greater risk of something going wrong when several such autonomous drones communicate and coordinate their actions, such as in a drone swarm. Communication creates risks of cascading error in which an error by one unit is shared with another, Kallenborn wrote in The Bulletin. If anyone was killed in an autonomous attack, it would likely represent an historic first known case of artificial intelligence-based autonomous weapons being used to kill, he added. The Queens cousin, the Duke of Kent, will reportedly take Prince Philips place at her side during the Trooping of the Colour parade this month. During last years scaled back parade at Windsor Castle, the Queen, 95, observed a military ceremony to mark her official birthday by herself due to coronavirus restrictions. This years Trooping the Colour on 12 June will have more military personnel as lockdown rules have eased, and the Duke of Kent will accompany Her Majesty during the celebrations, according to the Daily Mail. The duke previously accompanied the Queen during the parade in 2013, when Philip was unable to attend as he was recovering from surgery. Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and John Hall, Dean of Westminster attend a service dedicated to P. G. Wodehouse in Westminster Abbey on September 2019 in London (Getty Images) Citing sources from the Palace, the newspaper reported that the Queen will be increasing her personal engagements after a period of mourning for the late Duke of Edinburghs death. She is also set to meet US President Joe Biden when he arrives in the UK next month for the G7 summit, which is being held in Cornwall. He will be the 14th US leader to meet the Queen. Her Majesty will reportedly travel to Cornwall, where she will also meet the prime ministers of Canada, Germany, Italy and Japan. Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, are expected to join her at the engagement. The Queen was last seen during a visit to the new Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth in Portsmouth next week and is said to have genuine enthusiasm for more live engagements to return. The newspaper quoted a source as saying: There is a strong desire to return to normal duties and for the country to return to normal too. Most rich countries will see their economies recover to pre-pandemic levels next year but progress is likely to be uneven, and some nations risk being left behind, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has said. The Paris-based club of wealthy nations said that progress on vaccinations in many advanced economies meant global growth would be stronger than previously thought. It said that growth was being driven by a rebound of consumption, notably of services. Gross domestic product (GDP) a measure of the total goods and services produced will grow 5.8 per cent this year, the OECD forecast in its latest economic update. In December it had predicted 4.2 per cent growth. The recovery has been spurred partly by US president Joe Bidens ambitious spending plans, which will see the US economy grow faster than was predicted even before the pandemic, the OECD said. Despite the rosier outlook, global GDP is still predicted to be 3 trillion lower next year than it would have been without the Covid pandemic. The UK economy is expected to grow 7.2 per cent this year and 5.5 per cent in 2022, due to the success of the vaccination rollout and the easing of lockdown restrictions. However, the OECD forecasts that the UKs longer-term economic growth will be damaged by the pandemic. It predicts that the UK could face a larger decline in potential future growth among the G7 group of countries. The organisation said the recovery will be uneven, with countries that have successfully vaccinated their populations bouncing back more quickly. While Korea and the US are already back to their pre-pandemic income levels, much of Europe is expected to take an additional year to recover. Korea kept case numbers low with an efficient system for tracking Covid-19 cases and containing outbreaks. Less wealthy nations that have been unable to quickly vaccinate people, including Mexico and South Africa, could take three to five years to recover, the OECD warned. As long as a large proportion of the worlds population is not vaccinated and the risk of new outbreaks remains, the recovery will be uneven and remain vulnerable to fresh setbacks, the report stated. Some targeted restrictions on mobility and activity may still need to be maintained, particularly on crossborder travel. This will affect the prospects for a full recovery in all countries, even for those with a fast vaccine rollout or low infection rates. It added: Keeping up the pace of vaccinations and responding to emerging virus mutations are key challenges going forward. Chief economist Laurence Boone said that the OECDs latest projections could give hope to people in countries hard-hit by the pandemic, who may soon be able to return to work and begin living normally again. She added: But we are at a critical stage of the recovery. Vaccination production and distribution have to accelerate globally and be backed by effective public health strategies. Stronger international cooperation is needed to provide low-income countries with the resources medical and financial required to vaccinate their populations. Trade in healthcare products must be allowed to flow free of restrictions. Responding to the outlook, chancellor Rishi Sunak said: The strength of the UKs growth forecast is testament to the ongoing success of our vaccine rollout and evidence that our plan for jobs is working. It is great to see some early signs that the UK is bouncing back from the pandemic, but with debt at nearly 100 per cent of GDP, we must also ensure public finances remain on a sure footing. "Thats why at the Budget in March I set out steps we will take to bring debt under control over the medium term, ensuring our future recovery is sustainable. Police have launched an investigation after a 29-year-old man was stabbed in the centre of Croydon, south London, on Sunday morning. The victim was taken to hospital following the incident on George Street, a major shopping thoroughfare that also runs in front of East Croydon train station, shortly after midnight on Saturday night. The London Ambulance Service treated the man for a stab injury to his shoulder but after being transferred to hospital his condition was described as not life-threatening. No arrests have been made and the Metropolitan Police launched an appeal for witnesses. The force said in a statement: Police were called at 00:17hrs on Sunday, 30 May to reports of a stabbing in George Street, Croydon. Officers attended along with London Ambulance Service. A 29-year-old man was found with a stab injury to his shoulder. He was taken to hospital where his condition was assessed as non-life threatening. Enquiries are ongoing; at this early stage of the investigation there have been no arrests. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting CAD 129/30May. To remain anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Loading.... On Saturday, a 55-year-old man was stabbed to death after reportedly trying to stop a mugging in Islington, north London. The victim, named as Tony Eastlake, who had worked on a flower stall in the area for more than 40 years, died shortly before 6pm on Saturday. Officers from the Met's Specialist Crime Command have launched a murder investigation. There have been no arrests. Witnesses reported seeing the victim involved in an altercation with another man before the assault. In a statement, his family said: Our hearts are broken forever at the loss of such a very special man. A man who was loved by everybody in the Islington community, who is remembered as kind and caring and always laughing, but most importantly a father who leaves behind a devastated family, Lisa, Pauline, and his only daughter and best friend Paige, who he adored. Tony worked on the flower stall on Essex Road since he was 14 years old and was there through rain or shine, a smiling and friendly face to so many of us. There have already been hundreds of messages of support for him from all those who knew and loved him over the years. We ask you now please for your support in helping us to find the person or people who did this to our family who took away a life so violently and unnecessarily. If you have any information at all we beg you to please come forward so we can get justice for Tony and his family. Tributes have flooded in for flower seller who was stabbed to death close to his stall in north London on Saturday (PA) Detective Chief Inspector Vicky Tunstall, leading the investigation, said: Tony was a well-known, loved and respected member of the community. He had worked on and owned the flower stall on Essex Road for the last 39 years and was someone of considerable standing within the local area. We have a dedicated team of officers working around the clock to find the person or people responsible and I would like to hear from anybody who could help out investigation. I am particularly keen to hear from people who were in Halliford Road or Ecclesbourne Road between 17.20hrs and 17.25hrs. Did you see Tony? Or did you witness an altercation, or see anyone running away? I would also like to appeal to people within this area, including residential blocks and houses between Ecclesbourne Road, Halliford Street and Essex Road who may have private CCTV. I would very much like to hear from delivery drivers and owners of cars with dash cams who were travelling through the area at the time of the incident. You may have captured significant footage that we need to recover as soon as possible. Lastly, I would like to hear from those within the community who may have information about why this murder has taken place. We are looking at several possible motives and I am keeping an open mind as to the circumstances behind the attack. information given to police will be treated in the strictest confidence. Police in riot gear have been stationed in Dover in large numbers after a group of anti-immigration protesters marched through the town. Traffic leading to the ferry terminal was brought to a standstill on Saturday after around 50 people carrying England flags and banners saying Stop the invasion and Defend our borders demonstrated in the Kent port town. The protest, reportedly organised by the Pembrokeshire Patriots group, was met with a heavy police presence. Photos taken at the march showed at least one person wearing a T-shirt branded with the groups name. Officers made one arrest, following a man past a fun fair before confronting him in a corner shop in the town and detaining him. Around a dozen officers helped bring the man out of the store and into the back of a police van. Police appeared to outnumber those marching but there were heated exchanges between a small group of counter-protesters and red flares were set off. Anti-migrant protesters demonstrate in Dover (PA) Demonstrators angry about the journeys made by refugees crossing the Channel were met with a heavy police presence (PA) Roads were blocked during the march on Saturday (PA) A woman airs her views in front of anti-migrant protesters in Dover (PA) A man is detained by police during the march (PA) Lorries were backed up along the A20 and were unable to reach Dovers key trade terminal. It comes after a protest last September saw anti-migrant protesters clash with riot officers and 10 people arrested. Small numbers of people continue to make the journey across the English Channel from France, often fleeing war or extreme poverty, and having spent time living in what charities say are unspeakable conditions in Calais. The number of people crossing the 21-mile stretch of water has almost doubled so far in 2021, with more than 3,100 reaching the English coast. Charities argue asylum seekers have no choice but to attempt dangerous boat journeys because of a lack of legal alternatives and the drop in air, lorry and ferry traffic during coronavirus. They say numbers crossing the Channel will not fall unless migrants are provided with safe alternatives. Priti Patel, the home secretary, vowed to make Channel crossings unviable in August, but her pledge was followed by record numbers of arrivals, which have continued. Labour has accused the government of lacking both compassion and competence. MPs from across the political divide are urging the government to immediately publish an internal review into the Covid crisis, insisting that refusing to do so makes a mockery of Matt Hancocks claim of being transparent with the British public. It comes as Boris Johnson faces intense pressure to accelerate the official public inquiry into the handling of the pandemic after the extraordinary seven-hour testimony from former No 10 chief aide Dominic Cummings last week. During the evidence session, Mr Cummings claimed that government fell disastrously short of the standards expected and suggested tens of thousands of people died during the crisis who didnt need to die as a result of mistakes. Writing for The Independent, Angela Rayner, Labours deputy leader, said the country cannot wait until spring 2022 the earliest date set by the prime minister for the statutory inquiry to begin for questions to be answered. She stressed the refusal to bring forward the date makes it all the more baffling that his department [health and social care] is refusing to publish the internal lessons learned review it has carried out. The [prime ministers] spokesperson admitted the Department of Health carried out an internal review into how it handled the Covid pandemic, Ms Rayner added. The review is said to have looked at operational, nuts and bolts issues exactly the sort of issues we can learn lessons from right away. If the government truly wants to show they are serious about learning lessons from their mistakes during the pandemic they can do so with one simple step: publish the review immediately. Conservative MP Dan Poulter a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Covid told The Independent it was essential the government commissioned document looking at what could be done better in future is published. Mr Poulter, who has worked on the NHS frontline during the pandemic, added: The leading government department is the Department of Health and Social Care and its good they carried out a review of their own practices thats very welcome. But theres no reason whatsoever not to share that and to make that public. Thats part of the process of helping to put things in a better place should we be facing a similar situation with another pandemic which we may well be in the future. According to the HuffPost, the review did not look at all aspects of the pandemic and was not undertaken across Whitehall. Instead it focused on the inner workings and practices at the Department of Health and Social Care during the crisis. The Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who chairs the APPG on Covid, said that the failure to publish the document makes a mockery of the health secretarys claim to MPs this week that the government is open and transparent. It beggars belief that ministers are still refusing to publish their own review of the lessons learned during the pandemic, she said. The public must not be kept in the dark any longer. The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, an organisation that has been campaigning for an immediate public inquiry, echoed her comments, saying: In parliament, Matt Hancock claimed that he and the government has a track record of openness, transparency and explanation and that they will keep on with the spirit of openness and transparency. The groups co-founder, Matt Fowler, asked: How can they say this with a straight face when they refuse to release the governments internal lessons learnt review? It makes clear that their refusal to bring the inquiry forward is because theyre scared of scrutiny, not because of impact of resources, as they claim. Pressed on the review in the Commons last week as he faced questions over Mr Cummings allegations, Mr Hancock told the Green MP Caroline Lucas: Of course we learn lessons all the way through and we follow the scientific developments that teach us more about this virus all the way through. And then well have a full inquiry afterwards to make sure we can learn further lessons for the future, he added. A government spokesperson said: Our focus from the outset of this pandemic has been on saving lives and internal discussions have been held throughout on how we best respond to Covid-19, keep people safe and protect the NHS. As is standard practice across departments, an informal lessons learned review was carried out by officials at DHSC to help inform future working practices which assisted during the pandemic so we could continually learn and improve our approach. A formal independent inquiry will take place, as announced by the prime minister. Ministers want all over-50s to have received a second coronavirus jab before a further easing of lockdown restrictions on 21 June. The new target comes amid growing fears over the highly transmissible strain of the disease first identified in India. The government is coming under increasing pressure from experts to consider a delay to its 21 June deadline. Linda Bauld, professor of public health at the University of Edinburgh, said the date was "too early" and warned it could lead to deaths that were otherwise preventable. Ministers announced on 14 May that the gap between vaccines would be slashed from 12 weeks to just eight for the over-50s and the clinically vulnerable, as fears over the impact of the Indian strain grew. Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi has now said that the government hope to get two doses ... [delivered to] all over-50s before 21 June". All legal limits on social contact are due to be lifted in England on 21 June, a step Boris Johnson has described as irreversible once taken. But ministers are now engaged in a race with the new strain, with almost half of all new cases thought to be the Indian variant. One bright spot on the horizon is that data suggests that two vaccines are effective against the new strain. Public Health England statistics show the majority of those who have been infected have not been vaccinated. Last week the prime minister himself appeared to admit his 21 June plans now hang in the balance. While he said he "didn't see anything currently in the data" to derail the June reopening, he added we may need to wait". Prof Bauld told Sky News: "I really think that it is too early to be charging ahead. I would like to see several more weeks' data." The planned date is "very ambitious", she said, adding: "The 21st of June is very soon and I think to avoid more preventable deaths ... we really need to be cautious at the current time." Dr Mike Tildesley, from the University of Warwick and a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (Spi-M) government advisory panel, said "an awful lot of uncertainty" surrounded the plans. He told LBC: "I think there's still an awful lot of uncertainty ... that needs to be resolved over the next couple of weeks before the government make that decision." Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers which represents NHS trusts, said a "much better quality of debate" was needed on the implications of easing restrictions. He warned the situation had changed dramatically since earlier points in the pandemic with hospitals currently "going full pelt" to tackle waiting lists built up during the crisis They did not have the space for a significant increase in Covid patients, he said. Writing in The Observer, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said "weak, slow decisions" by the government on border policy had allowed the Indian variant to spread. He added that the "single biggest threat" to England's full reopening was "the government's incompetence". Scotlands former first minister Alex Salmond has warned Prince William and other members of the royal family to keep out the debate on Scottish independence. The Alba Party leader spoke out after former prime minister Gordon Brown who recently launched a campaign to save the union held a meeting with the Duke of Cambridge last week. Mr Salmond questioned what on earth Prince William thought he was doing by meeting Mr Brown, arguing that it would be foolish for him to get dragged into the debate over a second referendum. The Alba leader claimed the get-together in Edinburgh showed poor judgement on both sides, suggesting desperate unionists like Mr Brown were trying to influence the future king on politics. We should have no hesitation in seeing from that meeting, unionist preparation for attempting to persuade a constitutional monarchy to intervene in a constitutional debate, the nationalist politician told supporters in a video message. Mr Salmond added: It would be very wise for the royal family to follow what has been the Queens example over her long reign, to keep the monarchy over and above politics, and it would be foolish to have a situation in which it can be said that the monarchy is involved in the Scottish constitutional debate. The Brown meeting shows poor judgement on both sides but the same degree of unscrupulous unionist desperation. The independence team should take note. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridges private meeting with Mr Brown and his wife Sarah at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on Thursday was mentioned in the court circular but there were no details on the topics discussed. The former Labour prime minister recently launched a campaign to maintain the union, as the SNP prepares to push for a legal referendum vote on independence. Mr Brown has urged Boris Johnson to set up a constitutional inquiry, create a new forum for leaders of the four devolved nations, and consider greater powers for the Scottish government. Prince William held a meeting with Nicola Sturgeon last Saturday during his week-long tour of Scotland, and also met Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael when opening a new hospital in Orkney. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge watch Highland dancers at Holyroodhouse (PA) A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: During his time in Scotland Prince William has spoken to a broad range of people from different communities, including politicians from across the political spectrum. The SNP has promised that Nicola Sturgeons government will put forward a detailed white paper on Scottish independence plans soon. But Ms Sturgeon and her ministers have said their push for a second referendum would not begin until Scotland was past the Covid crisis. Employees of Hyundai Card and Hyundai Capital attend a virtual meeting. Courtesy of Hyundai Card and Hyundai Capital At least 100 bullet shells were recovered from a South Florida venue where party-goers came under attack from three assailants who opened fire on a crowd standing outside a birthday concert, the Miami-Dade police said. At least two have died and 22 others are injured in the mass shooting incident on early Sunday at El Mula Banquet Hall near Hialeah while the shooters absconded from the crime scene. Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez told ABC news that some of the party-goers returned fire after they found themselves under attack and 100 bullet shells were recovered from the scene. The three shooters pulled up outside the club after midnight, stepping out of a white Nissan Pathfinder with high-powered rifles and handgun. They waited outside the party for 40 minutes before firing indiscriminately into the crowd just as they were about to leave, officer Ramirez said. Police have launched a hunt for the shooters and urged public to help in finding the assailants. "These are cold-blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice," officer Ramirez said in a tweet. We need our county to step up with information. If you know something, you can remain anonymous by calling @CrimeStopper305, he added. Lebanese-born American businessman and TV personality Marcus Lemonis has offered a $100,000 reward for any person providing information leading to the arrest of shooters. Im offering a $100,000 reward to help authorities in my hometown @MiamiDadePD arrest and convict the suspect/suspects .. pass this on .., Mr Lemonis said. Anguished by the incident, Angelica Green, whose only son and nephew were among those shot, said her son is not a statistic but a college graduate, reported CNN. Miami-Dade police investigate near shell case evidence markers on the ground and a door with what appear to be bullet holes (Getty Images) Her son was shot in the abdomen and is stable after surgery while her nephew was shot three times in leg and once in the abdomen. "He's not a statistic. He's a graduate from college last year. So he's educated. He was going out with his educated cousin to just celebrate the weekend, and they had not made it into the club as of yet," she said. "They said that some guys, three guys that they noticed... they just started shooting... for whatever reason, we don't know." This is the second shooting incident in Miami since the start of Memorial Day weekend and 17th just in the month of May, according to the Gun Violence Archive. One person was killed in the Friday incident and six others were injured after a gunman opened fire in a drive-by in Miami's Wynwood arts district. Police said the reason of Sundays mass shooting is unknown but said it was targeted and definitely not random." Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the discovery of more than 200 children buried at a former Indigenous residential school was not an isolated incident. The prime minister's comments were made on Monday as Indigenous leaders called for an inquiry into every former residential school site across the nation, the Associated Press reports. The schools were used to house and educate children taken from Indigenous families throughout Canada. A ground-penetrating radar was used to inspect a site at the Kamloops Indian Resident School - the largest in the country - where investigators discovered the remains of 215 children, some as young as three. Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation from British Columbia described the revelation as "an unthinkable loss that was spoken about but never documented." Mr Trudeau said he was "appalled by the shameful policy that stole Indigenous children from their communities." "Sadly, this is not an exception or an isolated incident," he said. ''We're not going to hide from that. We have to acknowledge the truth. Residential schools were a reality - a tragedy that existed here, in our country, and we have to own up to it. Kids were taken from their families, returned damaged or not returned at all." The residential school system operated from the 19th century into the 1970's, during which more than 150,000 First Nations children were required to attended the state-funded Christian schools in an effort to assimilate them into Canadian society. As part of the schooling, the children were forced to convert to Christianity and were not allowed to speak their native languages. Many of the children reported being beaten and verbally abused, and an estimated 6,000 are believed to have died while attending the schools. In 2008, the Canadian government apologised for the programme and admitted that sexual and physical abuse was rampant at the schools. Many students reported losing touch with their parents and ethnic customs while away from their families. Leaders from Indigenous groups say that the abuse experienced by the children at these schools is a major contributing factor to the epidemic levels of alcoholism and drug use experienced on reservations. The Canadian government set flags at half-staff to mourn the children who died, and Mr Trudeau said he will be conferring with ministers to determine further action to support the survivors of the schools. Further investigations are planned at the Kamloops site. Forensics experts will be called in to identify and return the remains of the children to their families. Jagmeet Singh, the leader of the opposition New Democrat party, called for an immediate debate in parliament over the discovery. He said the discovery was "not a surprise" and that it was the "reality of residential schools." "215 Indigenous kids were found in an unmarked mass grave," he said. ''Anytime we think about unmarked mass graves, we think about a distant country where a genocide has happened. This is not a distant country." The Kamloops school was in operation between 1890 and 1969, when Canada's federal government took control of the school from the Catholic Church and used it as a day school until its permanent closure in 1978. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris joined a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday as the US observed Memorial Day, where the president spoke about the sacrifices made by military families and the loss felt by parents of fallen soldiers. His visit was Mr Bidens third so far in just the first few months of his presidency, and comes as his administration is undertaking a massive withdrawal of combat troops from Afghanistan, where the US has battled the Taliban and other insurgent groups for nearly 20 years. We are the children of sacrifice, made by a long line of American service members, each a link in that chain of honor. We live by the light of the flame of liberty they kept burning. We're free, because they were brave, Mr Biden said, honoring fallen soldiers, including his own son. To those who mourn a loved one today, Jill and I have some idea of how you are feeling. Our losses are not the same. But that black hole that seems to suck you into your chest...we get that, he added to an audience of military and Gold Star families. The wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is an annual tradition held at the quiet burial ground located just minutes from D.C.s bustling downtown, though Mondays event was more muted than past gatherings for the holiday due to ongoing concerns caused by COVID-19. As the president spoke, the chirps of thousands of cicadas which have overtaken the capital region could be heard as a constant, soft roar in the background. While much of the cemeterys grounds remained open to the public for the traditional surge of Memorial Day visitors, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier remained closed off for Mondays wreath-laying and the presidents address. Harris attendance at the ceremony came amid furious criticism from some conservative media figures including Donald Trumps former strategist, Sebastian Gorka, over a tweet sent from her account Saturday afternoon that simply read: Enjoy the long weekend, which they claimed was disrespectful to military families. The vice president did not address the criticism from conservatives at Mondays event, and the pair did not take questions from pool reporters before or after Bidens address. A day earlier, the president attended service at St. Joseph's church in Wilmington, Delaware, and commemorated the death of his 46-year-old son, who himself served in Delawares Army National Guard and completed one tour in Iraq. Yesterday marked the anniversary of [our son Beau Bidens] death. And its a hard time, a hard time of year for our family. Just like it is for so many of you. It can hurt to remember. But the hurt is how we feel, and how we heal, the president said Monday. Texas senator Ted Cruz has been attacking the Biden administration, claiming the Democrats want to promote a "woke" military that downplays masculinity. "Perhaps a woke, emasculated military is not the best idea," Mr Cruz complained in a tweet. The senator became incensed after seeing a series of US army recruitment videos, titled "The Calling", that promotes diversity. He compared the ads to Russian military recruitment ads that appear to focus on projecting strength through images of masculinity. He said that "Dem politicians" and "woke media" were trying to turn soldiers into "pansies. His complaints finally caught the attention of Gen. Lloyd Austin, Mr Biden's secretary of defence, who lashed out at Mr Cruz during an interview with CNN on Monday. "I will not lose one minute of sleep about what the Chinese leadership is saying or what (Russian President) Vladimir Putin is saying. What I will focus on, and what I am focused on, is the defence of this nation, and making sure that we have what's needed to be successful," he said, saying the US military will never be "soft. Mr Austin said he was confident the armed forces' recruitment efforts were effective. "I think we're doing a great job in terms of recruiting the right kinds of people, providing access to people from every corner, every walk of life in this country. As long as you're fit and you can qualify, there's a place for you on this team," he said. He insinuated that Mr Cruz was doing more damage to the military than any of their ads could do, as Russia and China "would like to capitalize" on Mr Cruz's "talking points" to aid their own recruitment. Retired Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel and Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth who lost both of her legs while serving in Iraq also took Mr Cruz to task. "Holy crap," she wrote on Twitter. "Perhaps a US Senator shouldn't suggest that the *Russian* military is better than the American military that protected him from an insurrection he helped foment?" VoteVets, a group supporting veterans and promoting liberal policies, also criticised Mr Cruz's remarks. "Ted Cruz attacks a US Army soldier for telling her story, says he prefers Russians. Because Ted Cruz is a sedition-loving traitor," the group wrote. Another military veteran, Amy McGrath, who challenged but ultimately lost in a campaign to unseat Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, also took a shot at the senator. "Dear @tedcruz - you have no idea what being a warrior is all about. Signed, all women who have worn the uniform to protect your right to be an a**," she wrote. Mr Cruz's comments were almost identical to those made by an extreme-right analyst at the Center for Fundamental Rights in Budapest, Hungary. That organisation has been linked to far-right government of Hungary's Prime Minister Victor Orban, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The analyst, Koskovics Zoltan, called the US Army ad "woke," in a tweet, though he did praise the artwork. He then sent another tweet comparing it to the same Russian Army ad that Mr Cruz noted. The films were widely compared both among the far-right in Russia and the far-right in the United States, with conservative blog RedState picking up on the discussion, and Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes also complaining about the video. Action star and long-time admirer of Russian president Vladimir Putin, Steven Seagal, has allegedly become a member of a pro-Kremlin party. In a video released on Saturday, the 69-year-old was revealed as a full member of the alliance, Just Russia - Patriots - For Truth, or Fair Russia. It follows Mr Putin approving the former actor and martial arts fans request for Russian citizenship in 2016. The Russian president is also a fan of the sport. On Saturday, Mr Seagal stood in front of a crowd and called for the arrest of businesses that pollute, and posed for photos with party figures. According to Reuters, it included Fair Russias co-founder, writer Zakhar Prilepin, who admitted to killing 14,000 people in seven years in Ukraine, as part of an army of pro-Russian separatists. Following the invasion of Crimea in 2014, and worsening relations between Russia and the US, the Kremlin tasked Seagal with improving humanitarian ties between the two countries in 2018. Seagal has also visited Venezuela as a Russian representative earlier in May and presented a samurai sword to Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. Fair Russia, which was recently formed from three pro-Putin parties, controls a faction in the lower house of the Russian parliament. It plans to take part in a parliamentary election in September, ahead of which Mr Putin has ordered a crackdown on his opponents. Over 200 people, including opposition politician Ilya Yashin and former Yekaterinburg mayor Yevgeny Roizman, were among those arrested by police in Moscow in March during an event for independent municipal councillors. Seagal, meanwhile, faces accusations of sexual assault, as Time reported in the aftermath of the #MeToo movement, and which he denies. Actor Portia de Rossi, from the film "Arrested Development", accused Seagal in 2017 of sexually harassing her during an audition, in which he unzipped his pants in front of her. He last appeared in a film in 2019, "Beyond the Law, which was for on-demand viewing. Additional reporting by Reuters In a scathing editorial, the Miami Herald says Florida governor Ron DeSantis seemed to care not one bit as Covid-19 tore through the state last year. The accusation came as an aside within a column about Rebekah Jones, the former Florida data analyst who says she was fired for refusing to fudge the states Covid numbers. Last week, Floridas inspector general officially declared Ms Jones a whistleblower, which affords her certain legal protections. The Heralds editorial board praised that decision, calling it a win over state secrecy for the rest of us. In the process, it also took a harsh swipe at Mr DeSantis. Of course, the governor, who seemed to care not one bit about the health and well-being of most Floridians as the pandemic raged, has a soft spot for the environment, the editorial said. Go figure. Mr DeSantis office fiercely disputed that characterization. I think the facts speak for themselves on this, the governors press secretary, Christina Pushaw, told The Independent. Thanks to Governor DeSantis leadership and data-driven pandemic response, Floridas COVID-19 death rate is lower than the national average. As for the content of that Miami Herald op-ed, its misleading at best, Ms Pushaw added. As Taryn Fenske, Governor DeSantis communications director, has already stated: Whistleblower status doesnt substantiate any claims. It simply provides confidentiality, and means someone made a complaint. Mr DeSantis has repeatedly downplayed the dangers of the coronavirus, which has killed 36,773 people in Florida so far. He ordered the state reopened in April 2020, just as the pandemic was reaching its earliest peaks in the United States, and has resisted new lockdowns since then. Were not shutting down, were gonna go forward, were gonna continue to protect the most vulnerable, the governor said in June that year. Over the next two months, Covid deaths in the state crept up to about 185 per day. As cases soared, Ms Jones was working as a Geographic Information Systems manager at Floridas Department of Health. She says the department pressured her to manipulate the states case and death numbers to look less dire something that the Herald says is confirmed by evidence. So far, DOH emails reviewed by the Miami Herald show Jones was asked to remove data from public view after receiving questions about it from the news organization, the editorial board said. In addition, she has gone up against an administration that has shamelessly concealed vital COVID information during the past year. Unfortunately, the possibility of DOH manipulating information is not a stretch. The department fired Ms Jones, but that wasnt the end of her ordeal. In December 2020, state police raided her home, seizing her electronics and waving guns at her husband and children. They arrested her on charges that she had hacked into a Department of Health messaging system and urged other employees to speak up before another 17,000 people are dead. Ms Jones has denied the charges. They claimed it was about a security breach, she tweeted after the raid. This was DeSantis. He sent the gestapo. In its editorial, the Herald took an ambivalent view of the hacking accusation. Trumped-up charge? Who knows? the board wrote, adding that Ms Jones does not need to be perfect to be a valid whistleblower. Its view of the governor was much less ambiguous. An ally of Donald Trump, he has been spoken of as a possible presidential candidate for the Republican Party in 2024. President Joe Biden has issued a proclamation recognising the 100th anniversary of one of the bloodiest episodes of racist violence in the US, in which hundreds of Black people in Tulsa were killed and no one was ever charged with a crime. I call on the American people to reflect on the deep roots of racial terror in our nation and recommit to the work of rooting out systemic racism across our country, the president said in a Memorial Day proclamation. He also urged the federal government to reckon with and acknowledge the role that it has played in stripping wealth and opportunity from Black communities. He introduced his proclamation a day before delivering remarks from Tulsa to recognise the anniversary. The president pointed to the decades of systemic injustice that followed the massacre in 1921, including prohibitive building codes, redlining, industrial zoning, and federal highway construction through a Black community destroyed by a white mob that burned 35 blocks and left thousands of residents homeless. The attack on Black families and Black wealth in Greenwood persisted across generations, Mr Biden said. The proclamation commits to the three known living survivors Viola Fletcher, Hughes Van Ellis and Lessie Benningfield Randle as well as their families and to the US that we will never forget, Mr Biden wrote. We honor the legacy of the Greenwood community, and of Black Wall Street, by reaffirming our commitment to advance racial justice through the whole of our government, and working to root out systemic racism from our laws, our policies, and our hearts, the president said in his Memorial Day message. He called on Americans to commemorate the tremendous loss of life and security that occurred over those [two] days in 1921, to celebrate the bravery and resilience of those who survived and sought to rebuild their lives again, and commit together to eradicate systemic racism and help to rebuild communities and lives that have been destroyed by it. His message stands in stark contrast to former president Donald Trumps relationship with Black residents in Tulsa, where he sought to hold a Juneteenth campaign rally in 2020 just days after the community had planned a series of events to recognise the massacre, as officials began an excavation project in what is thought to be a mass grave for its victims. The coronavirus pandemic forced the community to postpone its events, yet Mr Trump intended to kick off his re-election campaign on a day that commemorates the end of enslavement in the US, near the site of the massacre, as it approached its 100th anniversary, in the middle of nationwide uprisings against police violence against Black people. Mr Trump ended up rescheduling his event to the following day, after widespread criticism. The presidents visit to Tulsa on Tuesday comes as the community and survivors continue to demand justice from the city and state for its role in the violence that upended a once-flourishing Black community and robbed it of decades of intergenerational wealth and has been compounded the effects of institutional racism that followed. A city-organised event with John Legend and Stacey Abrams was reportedly cancelled after disagreements with survivors over reparations, still elusive after decades of inaction and recommendations from advocates and a commission tasked with investigating the massacre. Survivors and community members have also criticised fundraising efforts for a museum project that has not benefitted the survivors or their families, according to advocates. Mr Biden is expected to visit the Greenwood Cultural Center and meet with survivors during his visit. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are also expected to attend events in Tulsa on Tuesday. Tulsa residents will hold a candlelight vigil on Monday night to mark the moment a mob descended on Greenwood 100 years ago. Lieutenant Colonel Yevgeny "Eugene" Vindman, a US Army officer fired and derided by Donald Trump, said he would be willing to prosecute a court martial of Michael Flynn, the former president's one-time national security adviser, over comments he made suggesting he wanted to see a coup in the US similar to the one that took place in Myanmar. Mr Flynn made the statements during the "For God & Country Patriot Roundup," in Dallas on Sunday. An attendee asked Mr Flynn "why what happened in Myanmar can't happen here?" "No reason. I mean, it should happen here," he said, receiving cheers from the crowd. Mr Vindman took to Twitter to denounce Mr Flynn and offer his services to prosecute the retired lieutenant general. "With these seditious remarks Comrade Flynn may have crossed the line for recall to active duty and court-martial. As a JAG I'm qualified and also happy to prosecute this case," he wrote. "PS, US mil would NEVER support this. We love America." JAG refers to the Judge Advocate Generals Corps, the military branch concerned with justice. Steve Vladeck, a professor at the University of Texas School of Law, pointed out on Twitter that despite being retired, Mr Flynn still is subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. "Yes, Flynn's still subjected to the Uniform Code of Military Justice as a retired Army officer. The constitutionality of jurisdiction over retirees for post-retirement offenses is something we're currently challenging in the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces & the DC Circuit," he said. Both Mr Flynn and Mr Vindman were ousted from their jobs, but for significantly different reasons. Mr Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI concerning his deals with Russia's ambassador prior to Mr Trump taking office. He was later pardoned by Mr Trump. Mr Vindman was fired from his role as the deputy legal adviser to the National Security Council after he raised concerns about Mr Trump's phone call with the president of Ukraine in 2019. His twin brother, Alexander Vindman, also a member of the NSC, was called as a key witness in Mr Trump's first impeachment inquiry. The brothers were both fired from the NSC shortly after Mr Trump's acquittal in the Senate. As for Mr Flynn, since leaving the White House he has become something of a celebrity in the world of QAnon and extremist right wing Trump supporters. Some QAnon adherents believed Mr Flynn actually was Q, and he appears to have leaned into these whispers by occasionally signalling to the conspiracy theorists by using a phrase associated with the movement, "Where we go one, we go all." He even began promoting a digital store where he sold QAnon merchandise including hats and T-shirts. The coup Mr Flynn was referencing occurred in Myanmar, which is also known as Burma, and involved the military seizing power after the candidate it supported lost the country's election in a landslide. The military claimed without evidence that widespread voter fraud had occurred, and used the dubious allegations to justify its undemocratic actions. The international community has largely condemned the coup. Australias second-most populous state, Victoria, recorded 11 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, as authorities warned that the days ahead would be critical in the bid to curb the spread of the virus. The state had reported five new Covid cases in the 24 hours before midnight, with authorities announcing another six cases after that cutoff point, bringing the current cluster up to 51. Victoria had already entered a seven-day lockdown on Friday after state capital Melbourne recorded new Covid-19 infections, bringing its three-month track record of zero community cases to an abrupt end. The rise in infections in Victoria has raised questions around whether the states seven-day lockdown could be extended. If so, it would be a return to the strict measures Victoria faced during the states efforts last year to end its second wave of coronavirus, which killed more than 800 people in the state and accounted for the majority of Covid-related deaths in Australia. Speaking with reporters, Victorias acting premier, James Merlino, said the situation in the state was incredibly serious as he warned that the days ahead would be critical. Victoria faces a significant challenge, he said, according to Reuters. "I want to be really clear with everyone that this outbreak may well get worse before it gets better. Compared to other countries around the world, Australia has been one of the most successful nations in managing coronavirus outbreaks. The countrys strong contact tracing system, strict social distancing rules and swift introductions of lockdowns in response to rises in Covid cases have been credited for helping save lives. World news in pictures Show all 51 1 /51 World news in pictures World news in pictures 8 June 2021 AFP via Getty Images World news in pictures 7 June 2021 Gondoliers help tourists to get on the gondolas, as the region of Veneto becomes a white zone, following a relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions with only masks and social distancing required, in Venice, Italy Reuters World news in pictures 6 June 2021 A military brass band plays during the international ceremony on the 77th anniversary of D-Day, at Omaha Beach in Vierville-sur-Mer, northwestern France AFP/Getty World news in pictures 5 June 2021 An explosives expert from Hamas lays out unexploded projectiles from the aftermath of the May 2021 conflict with Israel, at a local police precinct in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip AFP/Getty World news in pictures 4 June 2021 A couple take photos of each other on a rainbow flag-themed path during pride month at Samyan MRT station in Bangkok, Thailand Reuters World news in pictures 3 June 2021 Sebastien Ogier steers his Toyota Yaris WRC with co-driver Julien Ingrassia during the shakedown at the Rally of Sardegna and fifth round of the FIA World Rally Championship AFP/Getty World news in pictures 2 June 2021 Smoke rises from a fire onboard the MV X-Press Pearl vessel as it sinks while being towed into deep sea off the Colombo Harbour, in Sri Lanka June 2, 2021 Sri Lanka Airforce via Reuters World news in pictures 1 June 2021 A girl runs through a fountain outside a shopping mall on International Children's Day in Beijing on June 1, 2021, a day after China announced it would allow couples to have three children. AFP/Getty World news in pictures 31 May 2021 In this handout image courtesy of the US Coast Guard the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute small boat crew rescues 8 people from the water approximately 18 miles southwest of Key West, Florida AFP/Getty World news in pictures 30 May 2021 A fishing boat sails in the sea-snot covered Marmara sea near Istanbul, Turkey EPA World news in pictures 29 May 2021 Smoke billowing from the Singapore-registered container ship MV X-Press Pearl, which has been burning for the tenth consecutive day in the sea off Sri Lanka's Colombo Harbour, in Colombo Sri Lanka Air Force/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 May 2021 Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis accompanied by his dog Peanut welcomes European Council President Charles Michel at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece Reuters World news in pictures 27 May 2021 A man waits to receive a dose of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine, in the rooms of the Claudia Comte exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Castello di Rivoli near Turin AFP/Getty World news in pictures 26 May 2021 A girl, with her face painted with the colours of the opposition flag, looks on during a demonstration against Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and presidential elections, in the opposition-held Idlib, Syria Reuters World news in pictures 25 May 2021 A Buddhist monk climbs atop a giant statue of Buddha, to wash and decorate on the eve of Buddha Purnima, a holiday traditionally celebrated for Buddha's birthday also known as Vesak celebrations, in Bhopal AFP/Getty World news in pictures 24 May 2021 Lava from the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo cuts through Buhene north of Goma, Congo AP World news in pictures 23 May 2021 Cyclists at the start of the 15th stage of the Giro dItalia, a 147km race between Grado and Gorizia AFP/Getty World news in pictures 22 May 2021 Swiss Guards take their position prior to the arrival of the European Commission President at San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican for a private audience with the Pope AFP/Getty World news in pictures 21 May 2021 A dog that has been trained to sniff out the coronavirus disease, screens a sweat sample at Chulalongkorn University, in Bangkok, Thailand Reuters World news in pictures 20 May 2021 Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr in action during a F1 practice session at the Circuit de Monaco in Monte Carlo Reuters World news in pictures 18 May 2021 Horse-drawn carriages drive through the mudflats near Cuxhaven, northern Germany dpa via AP World news in pictures 17 May 2021 Kanoya Onishi in action during the Cycling BMX Free Style of Tokyo 2020 Olympics test event at Ariake Urban Sports Park in Japan EPA World news in pictures 16 May 2021 Rescuers carry Suzy Eshkuntana, 6, as they pull her from the rubble of a building at the site of Israeli air strikes, in Gaza City Reuters World news in pictures 15 May 2021 A ball of fire erupts from the Jala Tower as it is destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza city AFP/Getty World news in pictures 14 May 2021 Muslims offer Eid al-Fitr prayers inside the Baitul Mukarram Mosque in Dhaka, Bangladesh AP World news in pictures 13 May 2021 Muslim girls ride on a mini train after attending the Eid Al-Fitr prayer that marks the end of the Holy month of Ramadan at Uhuru Park in Nairobi, Kenya AFP/Getty World news in pictures 12 May 2021 Israeli artillery fire as the escalation continues between Israeli army and Hamas at the Gaza Border EPA World news in pictures 11 May 2021 Maya Nakanishi competes in the womens long jump - T64 category during a para-athletics test event for the 2020 Olympics at the National Stadium in Tokyo AFP/Getty World news in pictures 10 May 2021 A Palestinian man helps a wounded fellow protester amid clashes with Israeli security forces at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa mosque compound, ahead of a planned march to commemorate Israels takeover of Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War AFP/Getty World news in pictures 9 May 2021 Falconer Giovanna Piccolo performs with her Eurasian eagle-owl at 'Roma World' theme park, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Rome Reuters World news in pictures 8 May 2021 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) is introduced as a starter against the St. Louis Blues at T-Mobile Arena. USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 6 May 2021 Buddhist monks and believers attend a lantern parade in celebration of the upcoming birthday of Buddha at a temple in Seoul, South Korea Reuters World news in pictures 5 May 2021 Russian MiG-29 jet fighters of the Strizhi (Swifts) and Su-30SM jet fighters of the Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights) aerobatic teams fly in formation over the Cathedral Square of the Kremlin in Moscow during a flypast rehearsal for the WWII Victory Parade AFP/Getty World news in pictures 4 May 2021 An elevated metro line collapsed in the Mexican capital on Monday, leaving at least 23 people dead and dozens injured as a train came plunging down, authorities said AFP/Getty World news in pictures 3 May 2021 Lightning bolts strike buildings during a thunderstorm in Bangkok AFP/Getty World news in pictures 2 May 2021 Samaritan worshippers arrive to take part in a Passover ceremony on top of Mount Gerizim, near the northern West Bank city of Nablus AFP/Getty World news in pictures 1 May 2021 A Gilet Jaune, or yellow vest, protestor stands in front of a burning barricade holding his hand up with an inscription calling for President Macron to resign as May Day Protest turn violent near Place de la Republique in Paris, France Getty World news in pictures 30 April 2021 A demonstrator from the Rio de Paz human rights activist group digs a symbolic grave in front of rows of bags symbolising bodybags on Copacabana beach, during a protest against the Brazilian governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic, in Rio de Janeiro AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 April 2021 An aerial picture shows dead carp fish flushed to the shores of al-Qaraoun reservoir in Lebanons Western Beqaa District in the countrys east. Tonnes of fish have washed up dead on the shoreline of the highly polluted artificial reservoir in eastern Lebanon in recent days AFP/Getty World news in pictures 28 April 2021 Health workers wearing PPE attends to coronavirus patients inside a banquet hall temporarily converted into a covid care centre in New Delhi AFP/Getty World news in pictures 27 April 2021 The full moon, known as the Super Pink Moon rises behind the Statue of Liberty in New York City, Reuters World news in pictures 26 April 2021 Balinese people lay wreaths with names of the crew on board the sunk Indonesian Navy submarine KRI Nanggala during a prayer at the sea near Labuhan Lalang, Bali, Indonesia EPA World news in pictures 25 April 2021 An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian worshipper walks around the Edicule, the place believed to be where Jesus Christ was buried, during Palm Sunday celebrations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem AFP/Getty World news in pictures 24 April 2021 Fans of Wuhan Three Towns FC cheer for their team during the 1st round match Wuhan Three Towns FC and Beijing Institute of Technology FC during Chinese Football League One in Wuhan, China Getty World news in pictures 23 April 2021 A girl prays in front of the Dome of the Rock, in the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount, in Jerusalems Old City, on the second Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, as coronavirus restrictions ease around the country, in Jerusalem Reuters World news in pictures 22 April 2021 People walk through the art work 'THE SPIRITS OF THE PUMPKINS DESCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS' by Yayoi Kusama, during the press preview of a retrospective exhibition of the Japanese artist at the Martin Gropius Bau museum in Berlin, Germany AP World news in pictures 21 April 2021 Hungary's Sara Peter competes in the Women's floor qualifications during European Artistic Gymnastics Championships at the St Jakobshalle, in Basel AFP/Getty World news in pictures 20 April 2021 South Korea university students gets their heads shaved during a protest against Japan's decision to release contaminated water from its Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea, in front of the Japanese embassy, in Seoul Reuters World news in pictures 19 April 2021 A spectator wearing a football jersey of Argentina's forward Lionel Messi attends the ATP Barcelona Open tennis tournament singles match between Japan's Kei Nishikori and Argentina's Guido Pella at the Real Club de Tenis in Barcelona AFP/Getty World news in pictures 18 April 2021 People raise their fist during a demonstration near the George Floyd Memorial in Minneapolis, Minnesota AFP/Getty World news in pictures 17 April 2021 Security personnel stand guard outside a polling station during the 5th phase of West Bengal's state legislative assembly elections in Kolkata AFP/Getty Still, the government has faced some scrutiny over its slow vaccine rollout in the midst of supply constraints and issues with vaccine hesitancy over the AstraZeneca jab after Australia enforced age restrictions in response to cases of vaccine recipients experiencing rare blood clots. Still, the recent outbreak in Victoria appears to have pushed people to get the jab, with the federal health minister, Greg Hunt, asserting that a record 630,547 doses had been delivered last week, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. The number represents twice the number of vaccinations being administered four weeks ago, with around 4.24 million doses having so far been delivered across the country. An armed former soldier on the run after being accused of shooting at police in France has been neutralised following a 24-hour manhunt. In a tweet on Monday, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced that the wanted man, identified as 29-year-old Terry Dupin, has been neutralised. The National Gendarmerie confirmed the incident, asserting that he had been mastered following an exchange of fire. The force said there were no injuries among the gendarmes in the arrest. Releasing a photo of Dupin, the Gendarmerie National had said the 29-year-old was a "dangerous individual" actively wanted for "attempted homicide". Citing police sources, The Guardian reported that the search had begun after Dupin showed up at his former partners home at around midnight on Saturday, despite having a restraining order following four other past domestic violence convictions. The suspect allegedly struck his former partner before firing a hunting rifle at her new partner, without hitting him. Dupin, who served in the army for five years, was reportedly not allowed to own weapons and may have therefore obtained the rifle illegally. As many as 300 gendarmes had been deployed, along with multiple helicopters, to help track Dupin down and protect the population, the force had said. As the manhunt began early Sunday, the prefecture of Dordogne had asked that residents stay home in the midst of the operation. Wife Kim Gui-yim (left) and husband Jung Tae-jin (right) smile under a "maesil" or plum tree in their orchard in Asan City, South Chungcheong Province, on May 25. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul Older couple's orchard becomes one of Korea's best plum blossom attractions, but plunging price of fruit casts dark clouds over farm. By Kang Hyun-kyung ASAN, South Chungcheong Province Using her teeth, Kim Gui-yim, 68, bites into a fresh green plum that she picked from a tree in her orchard. Grimacing at its sour, pungent taste, she places in her palm the seed from inside the fruit, which had broken into pieces, as a way to teach the reporter about the right timing for picking the fruit. "It's not good enough to harvest yet. As you can see here, the seed is not hard enough," she said. "When the seed becomes as hard as a rock, so that it becomes unbreakable with our teeth, then it's time to harvest. This is how we, as farmers, figure out when to pick the fruit." She and her husband, Jung Tae-jin, are set to harvest their first batch this year of plums, called "maesil" in Korean, on June 6 in their 660,000-square-meter farm nestled in the foothills of a mountain overseeing the scenic Naengjeong Reservoir in Asan City, South Chungcheong Province. They originally named the farm, "Jung-mae-won" (meaning Jung's maesil farm), after the husband's surname, to honor the new business. Whenever they gaze at the scenic farm from atop the mountain, the grey-haired couple experiences a surge of mixed emotions. Wife Kim Gui-yim (left) and husband Jung Tae-jin (right), who are maesil farmers, look at nearly-ripened fruit in their orchard in central Korea. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul They are proud, because two decades of tireless work have eventually transformed the foothills into a breathtaking sea of plum blossoms that draw huge crowds of tourists each spring. But at the same time, deep down in their hearts, there's also a sense of regret. Thanks to their hard work and investments, the maesil farm now has around 8,000 trees that produce two tons of fruit each year. Nevertheless, the couple says they are also stuck in a vicious cycle of endless farm work and poor revenue. Like other professional farms, growing maesil is not that profitable. Plums have become one of the most sought-after summertime fruits because of the popularity of maesil syrup for its versatile use in Korean cooking as a healthy alternative to sugar. But few farmers make enough money from it, because the prices are not competitive enough to cover the labor costs and other expenditures. Depending on the quality, the price of maesil from Jung's farm ranges between 25,000 won and 45,000 won per 10 kilograms. The couple earns an average of 70,000 won from one tree. The couple sold its first batch of maesil in the market about a decade ago when prices had already sharply fallen. Since the health benefits of the fruit became known to the public in the early 2000s, demand was soaring. Maesil started being sold at competitive market prices, which prompted other farmers to jump on the bandwagon. Farmers all over the country rushed to plant maesil trees, hoping to earn lots of money. But four to five years later, there was a maesil glut and prices plummeted. Asked if they ever considered earning extra income, for example, by charging entrance fees to visitors to their orchard during the springtime, or by opening a cafe, the couple shook their heads. "We're happy to meet people who like our farm. We've never thought of charging an entrance fee, because their encouragement makes us feel proud of what we've done so far," said Kim. Life on the farm gets very busy during plum-picking season in June and July. "Once the fruit picking begins, my wife skips lunch almost every day because there are so many things to take care of," Jung said. "We already have hundreds of pre-orders from our customers either through direct phone calls or messages sent through our website, which is managed by our daughter living in Seoul. So once maesil picking begins on June 6, we send them fresh maesil based on a first-come, first-served basis." Farmer Jung checks ripening maesil trees in the couple's farm. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul Before settling in the city of Asan, in the center region of Korea's western coast, Jung, 73, was a self-employed contractor responsible for building houses in Ansan City, Gyeonggi Province. Owning a small company, he recalled that every day was stressful and exhausting, mainly because of money. "Like other business, building houses is about money and relationships with other people," Jung said. "Once you sign a contract with your client and build a house, you need a lot of money to buy materials, pay construction workers, and other expenditures. Money from your clients doesn't always arrive one time. My cash reserve dried up, but I still had to invest in new housing projects. So most of the stress that I endured during all those years was due to money and relationships with my business partners and clients" As those stressful days went on, Jung began to think of his life after retirement. He had a long talk with his wife about their future and they agreed to grow maesil trees in a less-populated rural city. The city of Asan emerged as a top candidate, because the couple owned land there, which Jung had inherited from his ancestors. When they discussed what kinds of crops they were to grow for a living, maesil popped into their minds because the couple shared a fond memory of the fruit. Their daughter suffered from chronic diarrhea when she was little. Kim took her daughter to the hospital many times, but medicine didn't help ease the symptoms. The doctor said her daughter's ailment stemmed from a weak large intestine. Jung checks maesil in his farm. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul After hearing from someone that maesil is effective in curing gastrointestinal ailments, Kim made puree using the fruit and fed it to her daughter. The homemade puree worked. It was three decades ago when Kim and her husband experienced in person the benefits of maesil. But it wasn't easy to find the fruit in stores back then. Because of its strong, sour taste, maesil was not popular. However, the fruit was used as an ingredient in traditional herbal medicine. Kim went to Seoul's Gyeongdong Market, which is a haven for herbal ingredients used in traditional medicine, to obtain maesil for her daughter. The "mysterious healing power" of maesil that the couple experienced some three decades ago popped up in their minds when they were struggling to decide what to do with the rest of their lives. After relocating to Asan City, the couple started over from scratch. Kim's husband bought maesil seedlings in the town market and planted them along the foothills of their land. It took almost four years for the couple to eventually fill the 660,000-square-meter farm with some 8,000 maesil trees. And they continue to toil in the farm. "I thought I could find time to relax once tree planting was done. I was wrong. It turns out that the work is endless, even after the trees are planted. Once the super-busy plum-picking season is over, then we need to prune the trees. Nurturing the top soil, fertilizing the labor is never-ending. Once one task is done, then the next one pops up. This cycle is repeated all year round," said Jung. "Working all day long at the farm was okay when I was relatively young. But now, as I grow older, I find myself getting exhausted easily and it has become increasingly tough to do the same work every day." Asked if he has any other dreams that he wants to achieve, he said he only wants to take care of the farm for the rest of his life. Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community! Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region. Index-Journal Careers PART-TIME POSITION available in our packaging area. Job responsibilities include putting inserts into the newspaper. Must have a positive attitude and be a team player. Applicants must be able to: lift up to 20-lbs; stand for long periods of time; be available to work Sunday thru Friday, late evening to early morning hours; pass drug screen. The Delhi high court dismissed a plea that sought direction to suspend all construction activity of the Central Vista Avenue Redevelopment Project, as per TOI. The continuation of the project was challenged as a result of the Covid pandemic. A bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh dismissed the plea calling it "motivated" and "not a genuine PIL". The bench imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on those who petitioned. Zee The court further allowed Central Vista construction to continue, saying it was a "vital and essential" national project. The high court while refusing to stay construction said that as the labourers are staying on-site, "no question of suspending the construction work arises". Rediff "The concerned Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) order in question nowhere prohibits construction work," said the Delhi high court. The court said under the contract awarded to the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, work had to be completed by November 2021 and, therefore, it should be allowed to continue. The legality of the project was already upheld by the Supreme Court, said the Delhi HC. Thousands of young Palestinian volunteers took to the streets for taking the initiative to clean up the streets of Gaza City after 11-day long Israeli airstrikes that destroyed thousands of homes and facilities. A Palestinian official says an initial assessment shows at least 2,000 housing units were destroyed in the fighting between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in Gaza. More than 15,000 other units were partly destroyed in the 11-day war, Naji Sarhan, deputy of Gaza's works and housing ministry, tells The Associated Press. Take a look at the images how young Palestinians step out with broom in hand to clean up Gaza and rebuild the life back after the Israel attack. Bharatiya Janata Party president Jagat Prakash Nadda flags off Covid-19 relief material to be distributed among the people of Delhi and to different hospitals in Delhi, on completion of seven years of the Modi government, in New Delhi May 30. (ANI photo) Real-time social media posts from local businesses and organizations across Northern Virginia, powered by Friends2Follow. To add your business to the stream, email cfields@insidenova.com or click on the green button below. Defense Minister Suh Wook, left, speaks during a plenary session of the National Assembly National Defense Committee, Monday. Yonhap By Kang Seung-woo North Korea issued a long-awaited response Monday to the South Korea-U.S. summit held May 21, slamming Washington's lifting of all restrictions on Seoul's missile development program. But diplomatic observers believe that despite the criticism, the "toned-down" delivery of its message left the door open for dialogue with the United States, while urging the Joe Biden administration to be more specific on its new policy toward the country. President Moon Jae-in held his first summit with President Joseph Biden, during which the two heads of state agreed to end all guidelines that banned South Korea from developing or possessing missiles with a maximum flight range greater than 800 kilometers. "The U.S., doggedly branding the measures taken by the DPRK for self-defense as violation of U.N. 'resolutions,' grants its allies unlimited right to missile development. It is engrossed in confrontation despite its lip-service to dialogue," said an article in the name of an individual commentator published by the Korean Central News Agency (KNCA). The DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the official name of North Korea. "The termination step is a stark reminder of the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK and its shameful double-dealing," it said. "Lots of countries now view the U.S. key DPRK policy, namely 'pragmatic approach' and 'maximum flexibility' produced by the Biden administration with much effort as just trickery." This marked the belated first response from the North Korean regime despite growing questions over when it would respond to the summit that covered issues involving the North. Despite North Korea's strong response, experts said Pyongyang did not kill chances for dialogue with the U.S. "Although North Korea complained of the summit results, it seemed to have tried to tone down its hostility toward the U.S., given that its displeasure was expressed in the format of a KCNA article, not by (North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister) Kim Yo-jong, Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon or Kwon Jong-gun, director general of the foreign ministry's Department of U.S. Affairs," said Cho Han-beom, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification. "Although the Biden administration has completed its review of policy toward North Korea, there has been no substance so far regarding how to deal with the North. In that sense, the Kim regime is pressuring the U.S. to make concrete proposals to it in terms of nuclear negotiations." In late April, the Biden administration announced its completion of a months-long review of North Korean policy, and said it would now follow a new "calibrated and practical" approach that was open to, and would, explore diplomacy with the North. Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University, expressed a similar view. "By denouncing the U.S.'s North Korea policy, or 'pragmatic approach' and 'maximum flexibility,' as just trickery, the North is urging the U.S. to go into details about its policy in terms of the nuclear talks," Park said. The professor also said the Monday message carried extra significance. "Although Moon and Biden discussed a range of North Korean issues, including sanctions and human rights issues, North Korea just took issue with the missile guidelines, which could be translated as Pyongyang using this to try to justify its missile program," Park said, citing the North Korea leader's pledge to develop tactical nuclear weapons during a ruling Workers' Party's congress in January. In addition, the article said the end of the missile guidelines could be a threat to North Korea and neighboring countries, raising conjecture that it was protest against the removal of the guidelines on behalf of China. "Frankly speaking, a flight range of over 800 kilometers is not a new threat to North Korea and its reference to the missile guidelines is seen as representing a complaint from China," Park said. Former U.S. Sen. John Warner, who in the 1970s served as Secretary of the Navy, speaks at a 2013 gala celebration for the USS Arlington held at Army Navy Country Club. Warner noted that he joined the Navy 68 years ago this month at the age of 17. (Photo by Deb Kolt) A group of 117 healthcare workers at a Texas hospital filed a lawsuit in state court against their employers mandate requiring all staff to get COVID-19 vaccinations, Washington Post reported on Saturday. Employees of Houston Methodist Hospital said in the lawsuit that their employers compulsory immunization requirement violated the Nuremberg Code, a set of standards designed after World War Two to prevent experimentation on human subjects without their consent, the Post reported. They also said the hospital presented them with the choice of either getting a vaccine or losing their job, which violated state law, and asked the court to bar Houston Medical from firing unvaccinated staffers, the report said. The report comes a day after the countrys Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) said companies could mandate that employees in a workplace must be vaccinated against COVID-19, amid a shortfall in demand for inoculations due to factors including ambivalence or skepticism about the vaccines. Public health officials have been forced to try new strategies to persuade people to get the shots, with efforts that range from creative gimmicks to grassroots outreach resembling get-out-the-vote drives. However, the vast majority of employers have been reluctant to require workers to be vaccinated. A survey by management-side law firm Fisher Phillips earlier this year found that only 9% of the more than 700 employers surveyed said they were considering mandating vaccines. 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Emails must be tied to the submitted guest column or it will not be accepted or published. Pseudonyms are prohibited and the writer will be banned from submissions. Read our full Opinion Policies here. Updated on 10/7/2020 Taiwan people seek mainland solutions to address vaccine shortage while secessionist authority adds political obstacles Global Times) 09:16, May 31, 2021 People wearing masks walk on street in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan, March 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) More and more Taiwan residents, including political figures are losing faith in the poor epidemic handling and the incompetent governance of the secessionist Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority, which has also set ideological barrier to block cross-Straits cooperation as the COVID-19 epidemic has worsened in Taiwan, so they came to the Chinese mainland to seek solutions such as getting vaccinated or purchasing Chinese mainland-made vaccines. Since the infections surged in the island in May, the Chinese mainland has expressed the willingness and kindness to island of Taiwan to offer assistance and support despite cross-Straits tensions, but the offers have been met with hostility and rejection from the DPP authority. Facing growing number of infections and deaths, the DPP authorities have pinned hopes on COVID-19 vaccines. The US, who crows about "support" for Taiwan but in fact is using the COVID-19 issue to provoke the mainland and incite Taiwan secessionism, has showed no interest in offering meaningful help. Under such a political environment, seeking a solution from the mainland without permission from the DPP authority is becoming a choice for many Taiwan people and political figures, with experts on both sides of the straits saying that it is a good start to let more Taiwan people see "who is the one that really cares about their health and treat them as compatriots, who is using them for political purposes, and what would happen if they put their destinies in the hands of foreign forces and Taiwan secessionists." The DPP authority will make it difficult for pro-reunification forces and normal residents to form stronger ties with the mainland when the DPP has failed to control the epidemic, which is disappointing, but as long as mainland support and kindness toward Taiwan compatriots are successfully delivered, all efforts made by the people on the two sides of the straits are worthy, said a Beijing-based expert who asked for anonymity. "It's a good chance for those brainwashed people in Taiwan with strong bias and hostility against the mainland, and hold wishful thinking about the US, to learn the truth. The DPP's approval ratings are declining, but to what extent the people in the island could correct the poisoned political atmosphere against the mainland depends on the effectiveness of these efforts and how many facts could be told honestly to the public in the island," he said. Come to the mainland! "Coming to the mainland to get vaccinated against COVID-19" has become a major consideration for many Taiwan residents given the grave epidemic situation and shortage of vaccines there, said Yok Mu-ming, former president of the pro-unification New Party of Taiwan. Yok told the Global Times in an exclusive interview on Sunday that he was impressed by the strict quarantine and anti-epidemic measures in the mainland while staying at a hotel in quarantine after coming to Shanghai to take the jab. Mainland cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong Province have started to administer vaccine doses to Taiwan compatriots living in the mainland for free, and those to whom Global Times spoke said that there have been no adverse effects, and that they went through the exact same process as local residents in the mainland. Yok earlier announced through a video that he was about to depart from the island to Shanghai to get vaccinated. Starting from April 19, the municipal government in Shanghai included local Taiwan compatriots aged 18 to 75 who live in Shanghai into the scope of those eligible for the Chinese-made vaccine jabs. The former president of the New Party of Taiwan told the Global Times that when the Taiwan residents most need help from the mainland, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities are still focused on ideological battles, using the epidemic to serve its political goals and seek "secession." "I would rather go through the quarantine process to get vaccinated in the mainland, and I don't waste time anymore," he said, noting that he came to the mainland with his wife, and they underwent quarantine in different rooms. When he arrived in Shanghai, he also experienced strict but reassuring arrival anti-epidemic tests, Yok noted. "Before departure, I took the nucleic acid test, which was negative. When I arrived, I took the tests again with both nasal and throat samples," he said. "I think they did the tests more carefully here in the mainland," Yok said, noting that the swab tests were also taken deeper as he felt he was about to vomit. It was a long and rigorous procedure from the airport to the hotel where he is undergoing quarantine, but everything was done in an orderly way. For example, professional staff in protective suits guided him to the room, and staff accompanied him during the whole process, he told the Global Times. Yok also urged Taiwan residents who are able to come to the mainland to get vaccinated here, as he knows many of them are very interested in this plan. The island reported 493 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, including 486 domestic infections and seven imported ones, in addition to 21 deaths, according to local media reports. The DPP authority has been widely criticized by experts for rejecting mainland vaccines and ignoring officials' calls to purchase those via local retailers, as the island faces a vaccine shortage. Cheng Po-yu, executive director of the cross-Straits Youth Exchange Association who recently was vaccinated in Beijing, told the Global Times there were no adverse effects, Taiwan residents are treated the same as others and the process is very fast. "The information for Taiwan residents vaccinated in Beijing is accessed on the e-health certificate on smartphone, which can be updated simultaneously," he suggested. Residents of the island of Taiwan take rapid test for COVID-19 on Tuesday. The island reported 281 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and six deaths, bringing the death toll to 35, on Tuesday and local authorities decided to extend Level 3 Alert until June 14. Photo: IC Vaccine donations Given strict quarantine regulations of both the mainland and the island, coming to the mainland to get vaccinated is not an ideal option for many Taiwan residents as it takes at least a month to stay in the location for quarantine, so Chang Ya-chung, a member of Taiwan's major opposition party KMT and Sun Yat-sen School President in Taiwan island, is trying to accept vaccine donations from the mainland and effectively bring them to the island of Taiwan. Chang said his school is trying to negotiate the entry of the first batch of vaccine donations of 5 million doses of BNT COVID-19 vaccine from Shanghai's Fosun Pharma and 5 million vaccines from mainland Chinese developer Sinopharm, coming from a Beijing-based culture company. Chang said on Saturday that he and his school will handle related matters on behalf of the company. Chang told the Global Times on Sunday that the more severe Taiwan's epidemic is, the weaker the stance of the DPP authority would be if it insists on rejecting mainland vaccines. "When the public voice to accept the mainland's help becomes loud enough, the political barriers separating Taiwan people and mainland support will collapse." Some Taiwan-based experts said the reason the DPP authority is keeping the door closed to mainland vaccines, even after being snubbed by the US, is that it tries to hang on until July or August, when a locally made vaccine is expected to become available. The Taiwan-made vaccine will only be in Phase-II clinical trials at that time and will not be certified internationally. But when the time comes, people on the island will have no choice but to be inoculated with it. Manufacturers will make a fortune, and the DPP has huge interests and connections with drug companies. Chang told the Global Times that he will submit the application for the vaccine-entry permission to the relevant authorities in the island on Monday, and said that even if the DPP authority rejects the mainland vaccines, "people in Taiwan have already felt the warmness and kindness from the mainland." The mainland vaccines, which have been administered by many countries worldwide, were stigmatized in Taiwan. Now the mainland's vaccines can be rationally discussed and have a positive image in the island, "which is a good thing for cross-Straits relations eventually," Chang said. "So all I am doing is to get the DPP authority to give the green light for the vaccine donations from mainland, no matter how many doses come in," Chang said, "Even if in the end we only get 100,000 doses from that 5 million, it's will still be a victory for us." Follow the rules Long-time stigmatization against the mainland and the mainland vaccines has resulted in low trust among Taiwan people on mainland-produced vaccines. So some other forces are still trying to get vaccines made by Western countries even if it takes huge amounts of money. According to local Taiwan media, Terry Gou, founder of Taiwan manufacturing giant Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., said on his Facebook account Saturday that he is looking to source 5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for Taiwan, via his charity foundation. Gou said his YongLin Charity and Education Foundation plans to procure vaccines manufactured by Germany-based BioNTech SE and is not considering purchasing any brands made in the Chinese mainland. Previously, the DPP authority tried to purchase the BioNTech vaccines directly from Germany, but Shanghai-based pharmaceutical giant Fosun Pharma has an exclusive contract for BioNTech vaccines in China, which also covers the regions of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. An attempt by the DPP authority to buy vaccines failed because it violated business contract, and once again the DPP complained that "the mainland is blocking Taiwan from purchasing vaccines from other countries." Some observers said if the DPP really wants to buy the vaccine, they can just call Fosun Pharma, but they did not, instead trying to break the rules and use the issue to incite hostility and hype negative narratives against the mainland. A source close to Fosun Pharma told the Global Times that the Taiwan organizations are not able to obtain the vaccine directly from Germany-based producer BioNTech because Fosun has the exclusive rights to sell the BioNTech's mRNA vaccine to the greater China region, including Taiwan. That means it is impossible for Taiwan to bypass Fosun to get the vaccine made by BioNTech which would be a breach of the agreement. Vaccines could be shipped directly to Taiwan from Germany if a deal between Taiwan's merchants and Fosun is concluded. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) Children wearing waterproof masks play at an outdoor swimming pool in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, in this May 23 photo. Yonhap By Bahk Eun-ji Concerns are mounting over the government's plan to allow people receiving their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to remove their masks outdoors starting in July, with experts and citizens calling it premature. Last week, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum announced the plan as part of the government's efforts to encourage people who may be reluctant to receive their COVID-19 shots. Those who receive their first COVID-19 vaccine shot will no longer be required to wear masks outside and be exempt from the gathering ban of more than eight people among direct family members. Those vaccinated twice will be free from the gathering ban on five or more people. However, some online users expressed concerns on internet communities. "Many say the possibility of virus transmission outdoors is relatively low, but there are still many people without masks, with the country still being far from achieving herd immunity," an online user said at a portal site. "Amusement parks such as Lotte World and Seoul Land are also outdoors. I am afraid to think that the number of people who do not wear masks will increase in crowded outdoor places even though they are not vaccinated." In addition, there is no guarantee that the vaccine offers complete protection from the virus, as evidenced by a healthcare worker at a nursing facility who tested positive, Saturday, even after receiving her second vaccine dose. "The public will be able to start seeing the tangible effects of vaccination probably in July, but the situation in the second half of the year could be much better if the quarantine measures are maintained for only a few weeks more rather than easing the distancing rule immediately," said Jung Jae-hoon, a professor at Gachon University Gil Medical Center. Burma At Least 11 Junta Troops Killed as Ethnic Alliance Attacks in Northern Shan Ammunition seized from junta soldiers in the attack in Kutkai, Shan State. At least 11 junta soldiers, including a deputy battalion commander, were killed when the Brotherhood Alliance of three ethnic armed groups launched a predawn attack at around 1 a.m. on the Myanmar militarys Light Infantry Battalion No. 123 in Namt Phat Kar, Kutkai Township in northern Shan State on Monday. The tripartite military alliance, which groups the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Taang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Arakan Army (AA), attacked the junta troops inside the electricity office of Namt Phat Kar Village, according to local residents. The fighting continued until 4 a.m., after which the troops of the Brotherhood Alliance left with ammunition seized from the junta soldiers. An officer from the Brotherhood Alliance confirmed the fighting, but refused to provide details about the clash or the seized ammunition. The Kokang News Agency reported that the Brotherhood Alliance seized five rifles and over 100 rounds of ammunition from the junta soldiers, and published photos of what it said were the seized arms. The news agency also quoted Brotherhood Alliance fighters as claiming the junta soldiers had used methamphetamines. We started to hear gunfire at around 00.00 a.m. and it continued until 4 a.m. The attack was targeted at the military unit in the electricity office compound. There have been clashes in Kutkai for some days. A female villager of Namt Phat Kar was injured in one of her arms. Some houses were slightly damaged, said a member of the Humanitarian Strategic Team Northern Shan State (HST-NSS). The Brotherhood Alliance was in the process of signing bilateral ceasefire agreements with the Myanmar military when the latter staged a coup on Feb. 1. The talks have collapsed since the coup. While negotiating the bilateral ceasefire agreements, the two sides announced and extended unilateral ceasefires from December 2018 through March this year. The alliances decision in March to extend its unilateral ceasefire for one month drew widespread criticism among the Myanmar public, as the military regime has used lethal violence against anti-regime protesters. The alliance has not extended the ceasefire since April. On April 10, it reportedly attacked a police outpost in the village of Naung Mon in Lashio in northern Shan State. Fourteen police officers were killed in the attack, but the alliance did not claim responsibility. Though the alliance has not extended its ceasefire, the military regime has extended its unilateral ceasefire monthly. On Sunday, it extended it again until June 30. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Crisis Poses Strategic Challenges for Thailand Myanmar Junta Forces and KIA in Fresh Fighting in Northern Myanmar Myanmars National Unity Govt Vows to Work With World Court on Rohingya Genocide Case Burma Chin National Front Signs Deal with Myanmars Shadow Govt Chin National Front members. The Chin National Front (CNF), one of the ethnic armed organizations in Myanmar, has allied with the National Unity Government (NUG), becoming the first EAO to take sides with the countrys shadow government formed to topple the military regime. According to the pact signed on Saturday, the two sides agree to cooperate based on equality, mutual respect and mutual recognition to resist the dictatorship and establish a federal democracy, said the CNF. The two sides also agreed to cooperate in other areas, including the protection of civilians and implementing a federal union. In Chin States Hakha and Mindat townships, the civilian resistance fighters, known as the Chinland Defense Force (CDF), and the junta forces have been fighting since late April, leaving casualties on both sides and displacing Mindats residents. On Saturday, shootouts between the CDF and junta forces also started in Kanpetlet Township. The junta fired artillery at Kanpetlet as retribution on Sunday, causing half of its 5,000 population to flee. The agreement was signed by Vice-President Duwa Lashi La, Prime Minister Mahn Win Khaing Than and other NUG ministers. CNF chairman Pu Zing Cung and other leaders signed the agreement. The CNF is one of the eight EAOs that originally signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with the U Thein Sein government in October 2015. When the NUG was formed in mid-April, CNF vice-chairman Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong was appointed federal affairs minister of the shadow government. The CNF has become the first to ally with the NUG while the military junta has declared it to be a terrorist organization. Meanwhile, other NCA signatories are working to broker talks between the NUG and the military regime. The signatories sent a letter on May 11 to foreign embassies of countries that witnessed the signing of the NCA, including China, asking them to intervene in Myanmars crisis. CNF chairman Pu Zing Cung did not sign the letter. The proposal drew ire from Myanmars people as it suggests holding dialogue with the military regime, which has killed over 800 civilians since the coup on Feb. 1. You may also like these stories: Pregnant Myanmar Woman Dies of COVID-19 in Town on Indian Border At Least 11 Junta Troops Killed as Ethnic Alliance Attacks in Northern Shan Myanmar Crisis Poses Strategic Challenges for Thailand Burma Myanmar Daily Post-Coup Update: May 29-30 Young Myanmar nationals stage a weekly protest in Tokyo against the military regime in their home country. To keep you updated on what happened in Myanmar in the last 48 hours, here are the main events of the period, more than three months after the putsch. May 29 In Mandalays Myingyan Township, the village administrator of Thabyay Thar Village was shot dead by unknown attackers at his home. A newlywed bridegroom was injured in a parcel bomb explosion at his wedding in Mandalay. In a similar incident in Yangon on May 25, four people including the newlywed bride died. In Kayah State, a volunteer cook for war-displaced people was killed in a shooting by junta troops. In Pathein, the capital of Ayeyarwady, a policeman died in an armed altercation with a colleague. It was the second incident of its kind after a police constable fatally shot his superior in Sagaing on May 24. A bomb exploded outside the military-owned Innwa Bank in Shan States Taunggyi. On May 27, a soldier was killed in an explosion at the local signal battalion of the military regime in Taunggyi. People of various faiths conducted prayers for peace, justice and safety in Myanmar at the Duomo Church in Milan, Italy. Myanmar nationals in Japan staged a protest against the military regime in Tokyo. Weekly anti-regime protests have been held in Tokyo by Myanmar nationals there. In Bago Region, a bomb explosion occurred near a public school in No. 1 ward in Kanyutkwin. In Sagaing, junta troops arrested four people including one who had suffered a stroke. A traffic police pillbox in Yangons Kyimyidaing Township was attacked with a homemade bomb. The bomb however bounced back and caused slight damage to a bus. May 30 Regime forces killed a man and arrested his three brothers during a midnight raid in Bagan Myothit in Mandalay Region. Ko Moe Myint Aung, 26, is survived by his pregnant wife. His three brothers, including a 17-year-old, were beaten and detained. The empty house of a National League for Democracy (NLD) campaigner was set on fire by unidentified men in Meiktila Township on Sunday morning during the curfew. Junta troops raided the house on April 29 looking for the activist, whom they accuse of leading anti-regime protests. An explosion took place near the Butaryone bus stop on Insein Road in Yangons Hlaing Township. A nearby fitness centers front entrance was damaged but no casualties were reported. An ethnic Chin resident of the township was detained by junta troops for allegedly taking pictures of the scene after a blast occurred on the ground floor of his apartment block. An explosion took place at the house of a 100-household administrator who is reportedly a military collaborator, in No. 5 Ward of Shwepyithar Township. An unknown attacker hurled two homemade bombs into the General Administration Department office in South Okkalapa. In Bago Region, an explosion occurred outside No. 1 Basic Education High School in Okpho Township. A woman was injured when two bombs exploded in Nyaungdon, Ayeyarwady Region. A bomb exploded outside the ward administrators house near a basic education school in Myaungmya. Anti-regime protests continued across Myanmar, and Myanmar nationals and democracy supporters in the US gathered in New Yorks Times Square on Sunday to show solidarity with Myanmars National Unity Government and oppose the Myanmar regime. In Sagaing Region, explosions were reported outside the office of the Katha District education officer and a basic education middle school. You may also like these stories: Ethnic Shanni Military Leader Assassinated by Junta: Group Claims Myanmar Catholic Bishops Urge Warring Parties to Spare Places of Worship Myanmar Regime Police Chiefs Democracy Activist Brother Dies in Custody Burma Myanmar Junta Forces and KIA in Fresh Fighting in Northern Myanmar KIA soldiers seen on the front line near KIA headquarters in Laiza in 2012. / The Irrawaddy Fighting between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and regime forces intensified on Sunday across five locations in Kachin State and Sagaing Region. One of the clashes involved a Peoples Defense Force (PDF) formed by civilian resistance fighters against the military dictatorship. The KIA joined the fierce fighting between the PDF and junta troops in Katha Township, Sagaing Region on Sunday, civilian resistance fighters in Katha said. The regime has been reinforcing their troops in our areas recently, restricting our movements, so we had to launch an attack, a PDF spokesperson in Katha said. The fighting was very intense, so the KIA joined with us, he said. Eight regime soldiers were killed and 13 seriously injured, while five civilian resistance fighters were killed and one was captured by the military during the fighting, according to the Katha PDF. In response, the military fired several artillery rounds, including 60 mm shells, in residential areas, local residents claimed. Earlier, Moe Ta Lay village police station in Katha Township was set on fire by unknown attackers. Moreover, the KIA also stormed a military outpost in Nant Mon village, near Indawgyi Lake in Kachin States Mohnyin Township, in the early morning of May 30. The outpost was jointly manned by regime troops and a local militia. A KIA officer on the ground told The Irrawaddy that they had to attack first because the military has recently reinforced its troops in the area. Fighting was also continuing in Kachin States Putao Township between the KIA and junta soldiers on Sunday, following a KIA attack on May 29 on a military convoy of around 50 soldiers heading to Lung Sha Yang and Sum Pyi Yang villages in Putao Township. Local residents said that the fighting began around 11.30am near Tangja village. There were also renewed clashes near the Alaw Bum base in Kachin States Momauk Township on Sunday, with junta forces attacking the KIA. The military regime has made several attempts to retake control of the strategic outpost near the border with China, after the KIA seized the base on March 25. A local resident said that fighting had also intensified in Hpakant Township, Kachin State on May 30 between the KIA and regime forces. We heard gun fire for nearly two hours in the morning. The military also launched artillery strikes on the KIA, said the local resident. We cannot go to our fields due to the fighting. Artillery shells fell in our villages as well, he said. On May 29, a local school was burned down after being hit by regime airstrikes in Kachin States Tanai Township. The airstrikes followed the KIAs capture of a military outpost in Talu village. Clashes across Kachin State and northern Shan State have been taking place since March 11, following the KIAs refusal to recognize the military regime. The KIA has attacked military and police outposts and has threatened to step up its attacks if the junta continues to kill peaceful protesters across the country. You may also like these stories: Myanmars National Unity Govt Vows to Work With World Court on Rohingya Genocide Case Myanmar Junta Forces Kill Innocent Man in Botched Bagan Raid Myanmar Daily Post-Coup Update: May 29-30 Burma Myanmar Junta Forces Kill Innocent Man in Botched Bagan Raid Ko Moe Myint Aung and his house in New Bagan. An innocent man was killed when junta forces raided the wrong house in the town of New Bagan, part of the Bagan UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Mandalay Region on Sunday morning. Police were searching for a man suspected of possessing arms, but later admitted that they had searched the wrong house after being given false information by a military collaborator. The victim, Ko Moe Myint Aung, 27, was married and his widow is three months pregnant. Junta forces detained three people from the house, including Ko Moe Myint Aungs two brothers, aged 23 and 16, and his brother-in-law, said the victims cousin. Junta forces raided the house around 12.30am on Sunday to search for weapons, after an informants tip. Two of his younger brothers were sleeping in the anteroom. Junta forces came in and asked them to get up, kicking and swearing at them. They then tied the two up, said the victims cousin. My cousin was sleeping in the bedroom with his wife who is three months pregnant. He shut the door so that she didnt get scared. Junta troops kicked open the door and fired two shots. One hit him in his stomach. The soldiers said they had heard that my cousins had weapons and that they had arrested the leaders of my cousins. They asked them where the weapons were, tied them up, threw them onto the ground and stepped on their throats. One of my cousins was hit with a rifle butt and knocked out, said the cousin. Junta forces took away Ko Moe Myint Aung, who was reportedly dying, along with three others. Family members were later told to collect the body of Ko Moe Myint Aung at Nyaung-U Hospital on Monday. Over a thousand people attended his funeral on Monday. The three others were briefly detained at Bagan police station, before being released. Junta troops said they searched the wrong house due to being given false information by informants. It is not fair. I wouldnt complain if they had found even so much as a bottle of petrol at his house. The family are struggling to feed themselves. It is too late to say they were wrongly arrested, because one man has already lost his life, said another of Ko Moe Mying Aungs cousins. Local residents said Ko Moe Myint Aung and his brothers earn a living by collecting scrap to sell to scrap dealers. Junta forces were searching in Nyaung-U in response to information they received from informants. They did not find any weapons [at Ko Moe Myint Aungs house]. In fact, the brothers were not making weapons. The military can search houses and make enquiries, but they dont need to harm people especially when nothing (suspicious) is found, said one Bagan resident. Gunfire was also heard in the historic part of Bagan on Sunday at noon, said locals. At least 837 people have been killed since the juntas coup, while 5,487 people have been detained and arrest warrants issued for another 1,881 people, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Daily Post-Coup Update: May 29-30 Ethnic Shanni Military Leader Assassinated by Junta: Group Claims Myanmar Catholic Bishops Urge Warring Parties to Spare Places of Worship Burma Myanmars National Unity Govt Vows to Work With World Court on Rohingya Genocide Case A burnt down Rohingya residence in northern Rakhine State in September 2017. / The Irrawaddy Myanmars National Unity Government (NUG) said that as the countrys lawful government it is taking all steps necessary to cooperate with the worlds highest court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), on proceedings in a case in which Myanmar is accused of committing genocide against the Rohingya. After a brutal military crackdown in the western state of Rakhine in 2017 that forced more than 700,000 Rohingya to flee across the border to neighboring Bangladesh, Gambia in November 2019 brought a case at the ICJwhich is an organ of the UN and is also known as the World Courtaccusing Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya. State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi defended the country against the charge in December 2019. Gambias legal team listed the Myanmar militarys atrocities against the minority Muslim group in northern Rakhine state, including mass rapes, the burning of families in their homes and the killing of dozens of Rohingya children. As the case could take years, the African nation asked the ICJ to order provisional measures to prevent more violations. Going further than the measures requested by Gambia, the ICJ ordered Myanmar on Jan. 23 to report on its compliance with the provisional measures in four months and then every six months thereafter. The Daw Aung San Suu Kyi-led civilian government submitted two reports prior to its ouster by the military in a coup on Feb. 1. In a statement released on Sunday, the NUG said it is very concerned about the difficult situation facing the Rohingya, especially those who fled to Bangladesh in 2016-17. As the lawful government, ensuring continuity of representation before the court and being mindful of the timetable established by the court are among its duties, the NUG said. It added that it is also considering accepting the exercise of jurisdiction by a separate international court, the International Criminal Court, over the killings, torture and other crimes against civilians committed by the Myanmar junta since the coup on Feb. 1. The Myanmar military seized power from the democratically elected National League for Democracy government, detained civilian leaders and abolished the new Parliament on the day it was scheduled to convene. Since the coup, the Myanmar regime has killed at least 840 people and arrested more than 5,500, of whom 4,409 remain in detention, according to advocacy group the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta Forces Kill Innocent Man in Botched Bagan Raid Myanmar Daily Post-Coup Update: May 29-30 Ethnic Shanni Military Leader Assassinated by Junta: Group Claims Air Force officers over age 30 wait to receive the AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine at a vaccination center in Daegu, April 28 .Yonhap By Lee Hyo-jin The supply of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines offered by the United States to Korea, which is set to arrive later this week, may not meet its original purpose of inoculating military service members, due to the age restrictions for the vaccine. During the Korea-U.S. summit in Washington, D.C., on May 21 (U.S. time), U.S. President Joe Biden made an announcement that his administration will provide Korean troops with enough vaccines for 550,000 people, with the details of when and which product to be decided later. After conducting follow-up discussions with their U.S. counterpart, health authorities announced Sunday that the country will receive enough Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccines from the U.S. to vaccinate 1 million people nearly double the amount Washington initially offered. Burma Pregnant Myanmar Woman Dies of COVID-19 in Town on Indian Border The cremation of a pregnant woman who died of COVID-19 in Chin State's Cikha town on May 31. / Chin World A 38-year-old pregnant woman died of COVID-19 in Cikha, in Chin States Tonzang Township near the Indian border, on Sunday night, three days after the junta imposed lockdowns in the area to contain the spread of the coronavirus. She was admitted to a hospital on May 28 and tested positive for COVID-19. She had difficulty breathing and died at 11:35 p.m. on Sunday but had no history of underlying disease, according to Dr. Thang Sian Khaing of the Tonzang Township Public Health Department. The victim, a Cikha resident, was eight months pregnant. The fetus died and her three children were left with the father. The junta last Friday imposed stay-at-home orders on Tonzang and Sagaing Regions Tamuadjacent townships on the Indian borderto curb the spread of the coronavirus. Fridays stay-at-home orders are the first since the military seized power by overthrowing the countrys democratically elected government on Feb. 1. They were imposed a day after Myanmar reported 96 new cases of COVID-19, the countrys highest daily rise in coronavirus cases since Feb. 6. Tonzang Township had 82 COVID-19 patients as of Sunday, as the town increased testing for COVID-19, with 25 more positive cases detected on that day alone. Ten patients are currently receiving intensive care and have to use ventilators. Although many of the COVID-19 patients had no history of traveling outside of their area, it is suspected that the virus was spread from neighboring India, which is experiencing a spike in cases. Even though India has locked down to contain the spread of the coronavirus on their side, we think the disease was spread by those illegally crossing the border, the health official said. At a meeting with state and regional health care officials on Friday, the juntas health minister said the military government will conduct tests to determine whether the recent cases are from new variants of the virus. While the tests are ongoing, the township hospital is in need of support in the form of medicine and health-care staff to treat the patients. Dr. Thang Sian Khaing said, Shortages of medicine and health-care staff are the immediate issues. There is not enough staff, as many of the health-care staff have joined the civil servants strike, while we cant make referrals to hospitals in other townships as they cant accept them. In defiance of the military coup, doctors and nurses initiated the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) on Feb. 3, refusing to work under the coup leaders. The movement has since been joined by other civil servants working in various sectors including energy, education, labor and transport. The number of daily swab tests being administered in Myanmar has declined dramatically since the coup. Under the ousted civilian government, around 16,000 to 18,000 swab tests a day were carried out in January. But since the coup, only around 1,500 to 2,000 tests per day have been administered. Many striking doctors and others continue to refuse to work under the military regime. Some have joined the civilian National Unity Government, which was formed to topple the military regime, while some have returned to work. You may also like these stories: At Least 11 Junta Troops Killed as Ethnic Alliance Attacks in Northern Shan Myanmar Crisis Poses Strategic Challenges for Thailand Myanmar Junta Forces and KIA in Fresh Fighting in Northern Myanmar Opinion Myanmar Crisis Poses Strategic Challenges for Thailand United Nations Special Envoy to Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener (left) and Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha pose for a photo prior to a meeting at Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 14, 2021. / Thai Government Spokesman Office As COVID-19 cases in Thailand rise ahead of a slow vaccine roll-out, the Thai government is concentrating on domestic affairs, even as the conflict inside Myanmar intensifies, impacting the countrys security and socio-economic condition. Thailand has maintained a low profile on the Myanmar crisis since the Feb. 1 coup for two principal reasons. One has been to support the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the role of the ASEAN chair. As the frontline state, Thailand has been careful not to use its national interests as a cover for the common ASEAN effort. The second reason relates to domestic concerns as a result of the worsening COVID-19 situation. When the coup occurred, Thailand was well on the way to recovering from the second wave of infections that cropped up as 2020 ended. However, the discovery of a new cluster of cases in Bangkok a couple of months later upended the prospect of the country opening up early to welcome back much-needed tourists. Since then, the popularity of Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha has plummeted as the prospect of a speedy economic recovery fades. Worse still, the longstanding plan of step-by-step inoculation for Thai citizens has had to be reset after a public outcry over its slow speed and political wrangling. The juntas coup was an unexpected development for Bangkok. Truth be told, a few days prior to the putsch, Thai military leaders were confident that the protagonistsDaw Aung San Suu Kyi and Senior General Min Aung Hlainghad already struck a deal and agreed to move on. A contingency plan in case the talks failed was not in their minds. That explains why, within 36 hours of the military takeover, coup leader Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing wrote a personal letter to Prayuth asking for the Thai governments support. Over the past four months, Thailand has been preoccupied with three strategic issues in dealing with the new crisis in Myanmar: the surge of COVID-19 infections among Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand, managing the volatile Thai-Myanmar border and engaging with Myanmar ethnic minorities living in Thailand. Due to the sensitivity and discreet manner of the Thai governments dealings with the new regime, harsh criticisms were directed at Prayuth and his military ties with Myanmar. Absurd as it may sound, some political pundits even believed that he gave the green light for the coup. First of all, due to the surge in coronavirus infections in early December among Myanmar migrant workers in the Thai seafood industry, the Thai government had to come up with new plans to mitigate the spread of the virus among the workforce. In Samut Sakhon alone, as of December, there were an estimated 230,000 Myanmar migrants. The plan at the time was to selectively test high-risk groups. Those who tested positive would be isolated and quarantined. Their numbers were small and manageable enough that local authorities were confident that they had the surge under control. But that was not the case, as the numbers of infected workers continued to rise. Meanwhile, along the porous Thai-Myanmar border, illegal entries by Myanmar citizens have increased dramatically in the past five weeks, as junta forces battle ethnic armed groups close to the frontier. At the same time, Myanmars public healthcare system broke down after the coup and became dysfunctional as thousands of healthcare workers joined the civil disobedience movement. Nobody knows exactly how many of Myanmars citizens have been vaccinated or tested. There are estimated to be around three million migrant workers from Myanmar residing in various parts of Thailand. Approximately 2.45 million are registered and eligible for medical care and other rights, while the rest are illegal and fear being caught and deported if they visit hospitals or go for testing. The second strategic challenge are the displaced people from Myanmar living in nine camps along the Thai-Myanmar frontier, some of whom have been in those camps for 30 years. A total of 91,795 people are resident in the camps, according to NGO The Border Consortium. The Thai government fears that ongoing fighting inside Myanmar will cause a new influx into Thailand of displaced people fleeing conflict. Last month, both Prayuth and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai fervently pledged to the United Nations Special Envoy on Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, that Thailand would not push back villagers fleeing conflict zones. Earlier, in the days following the coup, there were widespread if misleading reports that Thailand would not allow people fleeing conflict to cross the frontier. Before the pandemic, Bangkok and Naypyidaw were able to repatriate several hundred displaced people to Myanmar. When the situation has calmed down, Thailand would like to jump start the resettlement program again. Two weeks ago, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees resettled 12 persons from the Mae La refugee camp to Canada. There have been requests by international organisations, including the United Nations, for Thailand to build additional camps along the Thai-Myanmar border to deal with any future influx of refugees. In response, Thailand reiterated its commitment to set up temporary holding shelters for newcomers for humanitarian reasons. Thailand is concerned that if new influxes do occur, they could overwhelm the countrys existing facilities for displaced persons. Finally, with large communities of Karen, Shan and Mon ethnic minorities comprising much of Myanmars workforce in Thailand, the moral and financial support from these communities to their compatriots across the border has become a new headache for the Thai government. In normal times such cross-border exchanges, especially trade and financial transactions, would be highly encouraged. With digital technology ubiquitous, crowd funding from the various Myanmar ethnic minority diasporas around the world, as well as direct assistance from their families and friends living in Thailand, is helping to fund the civil disobedience movement and ethnic armed organisations in their fight against the military regime. Beginning last week, Army Regions 3 and 4 are working together to tighten up border controls in Ranong in southern Thailand and Mae Sot in western Thailand. Both areas share porous borders with Myanmar and are home to huge ethnic minority communities. At this juncture, as the ASEAN chair is finalizing the timelines and operational frameworks to implement the five-point consensus agreed on 24 April, Thailand will remain behind the scenes. But once the ASEAN team is on the ground along with a clear mandate, Thailand will be at the forefront in assisting the overall ASEAN efforts. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta Forces and KIA in Fresh Fighting in Northern Myanmar Myanmars National Unity Govt Vows to Work With World Court on Rohingya Genocide Case Myanmar Junta Forces Kill Innocent Man in Botched Bagan Raid Remember the select few who served and sacrificed to ensure the safety of all US citizens I remember. I remember my father, a petty officer in the US Navy who set up the first radar station on Guadalcanal. My maternal grandfather fought in WWI and ended up in Trumans Veterans Affairs office in Washington D.C. He retired as a colonel. My maternal uncle, a West Point Graduate, served in the Army Air Corps. Theres my cousin, George Akin, who retired from the US Army as a lieutenant general but died in his early 70s from the Agent Orange exposure he received during his tours in Vietnam. My other cousins retired as colonels and fought in Desert Storm. My female cousin, also a Desert Storm veteran, retired as a brigadier general (one of four female flag officers in the US Army). All these regular, every-day people are the reason we have our lifestyle today. Even as war waged in the Middle East for these past 20 years, we gave up nothing. Our worst fear was the 20/21 Pandemic And our soldiers kept fighting. I thank them all. Memorial Day weekend is a sacred day for me. I honor the men and women who have fought and died to protect my rights. To this day, when I sing our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner my eyes blur with tears. The United States is a great country. I know that because I was raised as a US citizen in other countries. I was born in Brazil and graduated from high school in Singapore. In between, we lived in several Latin countries, Libya, The Philippines and Egypt. Being an American was, for the most part, a coveted prize. The honor of being an elder in this country is due in part to our military. Every generation has had its wars, and people were killed. Many Boomers went through the trauma of Vietnam, being hated by their enemy and the citizens they fought to protect. It was a dynamic time, and we came through to the other side more conscientious. Whenever I fly commercial with a soldier coming home in a casket, I stay and watch his departure from the airplane. There is always family there and my eyes well-up. This was a life given for me; given for all of us. Lets not forget the less than one half of 1% of our population risk their lives serving in the military so we can age and call ourselves elders. And to all those fabulous veterans reading this, thank you for your service. About H. Frances Reaves, Esq. A graduate of University of Miami Law School, Frances spent ten years as a litigator/ lobbyist. She founded Parent Your Parents to assist seniors and their children through the myriad of pitfalls and options of "senior care". If you have any questions or comments contact Frances at hfrancesr@parentyourparents.com #kbvotes. Time flies when you are having fun. With COVID fears subsiding, families gathering again and many of us making summer and travel plans, elections are one of the last things on peoples minds. Yet, in 530 days from today, 34 Senators, 435 House Representatives and 39 Governors will run for their seats in the midterm election, on Nov. 8, 2022. In 75 weeks and 365 working days voters will cast their ballots again. The primary elections, determining the final midterm election ballot are held in 60 weeks, on Aug. 23, 2022. Download your countdown feature HERE. How Many are up in 2022? The 2022 US Senate elections will be held on November 8, 2022, with 34 of the 100 seats in the Senate being contested in regular elections (14 democrats / 20 Republicans). The then elected senators will serve six-year terms from January 3, 2023, to January 3, 2029. How many House seats are up in 2022? All 435 voting seats in the US House of Representatives will be up for election for their two-year terms. As of May 2021, a few dozen representatives have announced their plans to run again in 2022. Twelve representatives have announced that they will be retiring. 60 Weeks: Primary Midterm Election: Aug. 23, 2022. 530 Days: Midterm Election: Nov. 8, 2022. How many gubernatorial seats are up in 2022? Governors in 36 states and three territories will seek election on Nov. 8, 2022. Also, special elections may take place (depending on state law) if other gubernatorial seats are vacated. Key Biscayne municipal elections correspond with federal election dates and will be held on August 23rd (Primary) and November 8th (Midterm) respectively. Candidate qualifying dates are: Aug. 15-25, 2022 New House seat distribution. The 2022 midterm election wont just be the first midterm of Joe Bidens presidency. It will also be the first federal election held after the House map is redrawn to fit the 2020 census. There was a much smaller shift than expected; only seven seats shifted between states, not the 10 some expected. Six states gained, seven states lost. Under the new house seat distribution of the 2020 Census, six states gained seats: Texas picked up two seats. Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon each picked up one seat. On the negative side of the ledger, seven states lost one seat each: California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia (this is the first time California has lost a seat since statehood). Voters and new districts. The new districts may not be drawn until spring or early summer of 2022, and lawmakers say voters need time to learn their new districts before voting. Census data is also used to determine who gets how much in medical assistance, food stamps, highway construction, student Pell grants, school lunches, and dozens of other federal programs. While 530 days seems like a long time, there is much work to be done to meet the upcoming election deadlines and inform voters of any changes for their voting districts. Follow the outcome of the 2020 Census and how it impacts the house seat distribution HERE and HERE. Sources: Senate.gov, Daily Press Senate, Cook Report, United States Census Bureau, US Senate and US House Representative websites #kbvotes NASA is being generous with its latest discoveries on the Red Planet. Their Curiosity Rover captures amazing images on Mars' surface, including a few shining clouds. More details, pictures, and even an interactive experience with the Curiosity Rover are also available online! For years now, exploration attempts and studies on the neighboring Red Planet have been ongoing. On November 26, 2011, NASA's largest and greatest rover called Curiosity was sent to Mars for a Science Laboratory mission. The rover wanted to answer the question, "Did Mars ever have the right environmental conditions to support small life forms called microbes?" Equipped with only the best technology, Curiosity acquired rock, soil, and air samples for analysis. It also began its exploration on the Martian surface, testing the climate and geology. Most recently, it sends back a few awesome pictures of its discovery! NASA Mars Curiosity Rover: Latest Photos, Mission Update and More JPL reported that about two years ago, scientists noticed clouds forming over the Curiosity rover. So they started documenting this phenomenon with some close-up images. The analysis revealed that the wispy puffs were filled with ice crystals that scattered light from the Sun, creating a shimmering effect. This gives scientists a clue how clouds are differently formed on the Mars surface. A new discovery also noted that early-arrival clouds on the Martian atmosphere hover no more than 37 miles and are composed of water ice. Currently, there are two types of clouds discovered on the planet, featuring water-ice clouds and dry-ice clouds. The Curiosity rover scored a jackpot with its spectacular image capture on a phenomenon with the clouds a little after sunset. The ice crystals caught the fading light, giving them an extra glow on the darkening skies. Labeled as "Mother of Pearl" clouds, the image shows many clouds in a thin line, nearly identical in size and shimmering with a pastel set color. An atmospheric scientist from Space Science Institute named Mark Lemmon analyzed these photos and said that the clouds are one of the more colorful things on the Red Planet. "I always marvel at the colors that show up: reds and greens and blues and purples," Lemmon said. "It's really cool to see something shining with lots of color on Mars." Read Also: Lego Space Shuttle Discovery Reviews, Issues and More: Why the 2,354-Piece Set Gets Positive Impressions NASA Mars Curiosity Rover Tracker Want to see more of the Curiosity Rover images yourself? Check out some photos on Mars landscape, soils, and even a selfie with the Curiosity Rover itself. You could also take an interactive experience with the Curiosity rover, analyzing a 3D model of it while learning a few interesting facts about its exploration. You can see raw images of mars (taken from a bunch of different cameras), watch videos and animations, and even get a hands-on experience with an interactive panoramic shot of Mars. All of this is available and free online! Head to this website to learn more and start your own exploration on Mars. Related Article: China Mars Mission 2021: Where to Follow and Watch Rover Landing The US tech sector is now worth a whole of money, and that's putting it lightly. Reports with regards to the value vary with some analysts claiming that by the end of 2021 the US tech sector will reach the $5 trillion mark. However, according to Bank of America, the US tech sector is worth a staggering $9.1 trillion - that's bigger than the entire European stock market. While this news is shocking, it shouldn't really be too surprising. All the major tech giants reside in the good old US of A - Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google, IBM, Microsoft and Netflix to name but a few. The five largest tech stocks are worth a collective value of $7.5 trillion. The largest American tech companies drive growth and innovation by means of transforming traditional methods of businesses and communication or by creating something entirely new which in turn revolutionises an entire sector. These companies have got their fingers in a variety of pies ranging from e-commerce to search engines to software, social media and more. The influence of US tech is such that its adoption is almost ubiquitous. A prime example would be fast-food giant McDonald's whose acquisition of Dynamic Yield has allowed it to digitise its menu structure and thus the way that customers interact with it and get their food; all while increasing profits. Stiff competition drives all the members of the tech industry to maintain their tops spots while looking for new opportunities. With all this in mind let us now look at the biggest contributors to the US tech sector. Apple Company founder Steve Jobs might have had a tumultuous relationship with Apple, but he ultimately saved it, and put it on the profitable path it is on today. Specialising in consumer electronics, Apple Inc. conceptualises, produces and markets an array of products including computers, software, mobile phones and media devices and services. Notable mentions would be the iPhone, iPod, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and the Apple Watch. Apple's market capitalisation sits at $2,287.8 Billion. Microsoft We can't talk about Apple without talking about Microsoft. Like Jobs, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was also known to be difficult, although that image mellowed quite a bit when Gates went into philanthropy. In the wake of his divorce from his wife of 27 years and some allegations, it will be interesting to see how the stock of the software infrastructure giant will perform. Now might be the time to realise the importance of trading couple Euros and Dollars as opposed to buying Microsoft stock. Known primarily for its Windows operating system, Office suite and Internet Explorer, this tech leader has also thrown its hat into the console ring with the Xbox. Microsoft's market capitalisation sits at $1,749.5 Billion Alphabet If ever there was a massive corporate conglomerate, Alphabet would be it. And if you've ever wondered who owns Google, now you know; although Alphabet came about through the corporate restructuring of Google. Under Alphabet's umbrella you'll find a slew of diverse tech-powered companies specialising in wind turbines, biotechnology, urban innovation, self-driving technology, drone technology, cybersecurity and a host of other endeavours. Alphabet's market capitalisation sits at $1,241.7 Billion. Amazon What started off in 1994 as an online bookstore is now part of the big five of US tech companies. Amazon.com Inc. specialises in internet retail and this itself is comprised of an array of sub-sectors including cloud computing, e-commerce, artificial intelligence and digital streaming. Amazon has established itself as the undisputed champion of e-commerce in the US and has become a global leader with hubs situated all around the world. The company's market capitalisation sits at $1,608.7 Billion. Facebook Some view the social media giant Facebook with disdain and for valid reasons. Only time will tell what Facebook's eventual impact will be on society as a whole, but said impact cannot be denied. Originally made for students, Facebook now allows anyone over the age of 13 to open an account and make use of its social networking services. With over 2 billion subscribers, users can customise their profiles, upload pictures, send messages and share multimedia content. Facebook has also acquired WhatsApp, Instagram and Oculus, that are involved in AI research. The company's market capitalisation sits at $735.8 Billion. On Friday, officials with the Walker County Hospital District board announced that they have finalized a $7.8 million purchase of Huntsville Memorial Hospital. Do you feel like this is a good use of tax dollars, and is this the right direction for the struggling health care facility? You voted: ActivePipe earns distinction by winning the Most Innovative Scale-Up Proptech for sales and marketing at the Proptech Awards 2021, besting more than 95 entries nationally. ActivePipe wins the Most Innovative Scale-Up Proptech for sales and marketing at the inaugural national Proptech Awards 2021. The awards, held by Proptech Association Australia, recognise excellence in proptech innovation, product development, sales, and client adoption. Kylie Davis, Proptech Association Australia president, says: It is the first time the awards have been held, and we attracted more than 95 entries nationally, and the sales and marketing category for scale ups was one of the most hotly contested. She recalls: ActivePipe was recognised for its extraordinary growthincluding its increasing success in the US marketand the excellence of its training and industry education to support adoption. The Proptech Awards are organised across three main categoriesStart Ups, Scale-Ups, and Established Suppliersand under each there are individual awards for different business solutions. This means that proptech ventures are judged against their peers in terms of company size and maturity by a panel of expert judges from across the real estate Industry. The judges explained that the ActivePipe entry gave an exceptional explanation of the business and delivered simple, but personalised customer experiences in a key area of real estate practice. More than 200 people joined the celebrations nationally with events held in Sydney, hosted by Ashurst Lawyers, and in Brisbane and Perth, 15 category trophies, three best of the best trophies and three special prizes were conferred. Ashley Farrugia, ActivePipe founder and CEO, is honoured to win the award. As a proptech, we are proud of the fact that ActivePipe empowers thousands of real estate agents who are winners, but this is the first time we have won an Australian award for our technology and it is a real thrill, he enthuses. Its a great testimony to our team who have worked extraordinarily hard over the past 12 monthsmany of those in lockdown. Id like to congratulate all the finalists as there are some excellent proptechs in the sales and marketing sector and were doubly honoured to be in such impressive company, he concludes. Proptech Association Australia is the member-based organisation working to grow Australias emerging proptech industry and accelerate the adoption of technology at all stages of the real estate value chain. The Blackman Park in the municipality of Lane Cove will be the first one to go live with this global innovation. The wireless cabinets are expected to provide more mobile service in underserved locations. Telecom providers have been trying to solve for decades the age-old problem of providing coverage to customers in sensitive public spaces. Today Bigbelly Solar, Cellular Asset Management Services, and Smartsensor Technologies, Bigbelly distributor in Australia, announce they have deployed a number of Telebelly Wireless cabinets, a hybrid telecom and waste management cabinet to benefit the community providing waste services and wireless coverage. Bigbelly Solar says this is a global first, with Blackman Park in the municipality of Lane Cove being the first one in the world to go live. The Lane Cove council commented: Lane Cove has been using Bigbelly compacting waste bins successfully in the community to help provide more capacity and a cleaner environment compared to conventional litter bins. The integration of this solution with mobile connectivity allows us to additionally provide much needed mobile service in currently underserved locations. Bigbelly Solar says the benefit of these units is that they blend in with the surrounding environment and matches the recognisable form of an adjacent big belly waste bin. Not only does the community benefit from the increased mobile coverage footprint, each new Telebelly station now features a Bigbelly high capacity solar-powered waste compactor, complete with hands-free capabilities. In addition to providing 4G voice and data services, the Telebelly could also be configured to provide Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity and Wi-Fi. A strong and reliable wireless connectivity not only provides a telecom advantage; such a service improves safety and security around public spaces. Telecommunications have played an integral part during the recent Covid-19 crisis, allowing Australians to continue to work from home and stay connected with friends and family. For those living in areas with limited coverage due to topography, small infrastructure solutions allow mobile operators to utilise public spaces such as parks and community ovals with coverage while also providing waste solution for the communitys benefit. Bigbelly Solar says these smaller solutions will reduce congestion on the network thus allowing mobile operators to provide mobile coverage in homes and businesses. Brian Phillips, Bigbelly president and CEO, stated: Bigbelly is thrilled to enable robust wireless connectivity for the community of Lane Cove, and the wireless operators. Improving connectivity not only supports information and communication technology applications; the platform also empowers smart cities to optimise daily operations and enhance the quality of life. Tom Hammerton, Cellular Asset Management Services project manager, enthuses: "We are excited about this Telebelly deployment as it will ensure that Bigbellys innovative multi-purpose platform becomes a key part of city infrastructure across Australia, benefiting our clients, our councils and our communities." Leon Hayes, founder and CEO, Smartsensor Technologies, concludes: We are pleased to team up with Lane Cove and Cellular Asset Management, to improve the lives of area residents, visitors, and businesses. By bringing Bigbellys long-term solutions to Australia, we are continuing our tradition of innovation and customer service. South Korea's science minister said Monday the country will expand investment and focus on the development of its space program after the United States lifted all restrictions on the country's missiles. During a bilateral summit on May 21, South Korea and the U.S. agreed to scrap the restrictions on South Korean missiles, which was first put in place in 1979 and had limited Seoul's development of even non-military space projectiles. The guidelines, which have undergone revisions over the years, had restricted Seoul's development of solid-fuel space rockets until last year. The latest decision to terminate the guidelines ensures complete autonomy for South Korea's space launch vehicle developments, the Ministry of Science and ICT said in a statement. As follow-up measures to the recent summit, South Korea has also signed the Artemis Accords, a U.S.-led international agreement for lunar exploration, as well as an agreement with the United States for cooperation on civil global navigation satellite systems. "The South Korea-U.S. summit and subsequent measures have presented South Korea an opportunity to become a leading country in the space industry," said Science Minister Lim Hye-sook during a meeting with space industry companies and institutes. "Through the Artemis Accords, we will also expand investment into space exploration," Lim said. South Korea, a relative latecomer to the global space development race, is preparing to launch its first homegrown three-stage space rocket, named Nuri, in October this year. The Nuri uses four 75-ton liquid engines in its first stage, a 75-ton liquid engine in the second stage and a 7-ton liquid engine in the third stage. The country also plans to launch its first lunar orbiter next year to conduct an observation mission of the moon throughout 2023. (Yonhap) Connecting with Telehealth, Torrens University Australias free one-hour course, is said to provide a comprehensive overview of telehealth in a clinical context. As millions of Australians have embraced telehealth services over the past 12 months, Torrens University Australia is offering health professionals access to a free online on-demand short course, which is said to facilitate best practice delivery of telehealth services. Professor Justin Beilby (pictured), deputy vice-chancellor of research at Torrens University, and a general practitioner himself, says the extension of funding for telehealth services in the recent 2021-2022 federal budget demonstrated the importance of the service in the Australian health system. Beilby says in a country like Australia, dotted with remote and rural communities, telehealth is a lifesaver. It has been an essential tool throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and it would be preferred that telehealth become part of the normal suite of tools we will use as health practitioners, he explains. The one-hour free short course, Connecting with Telehealth, is said to facilitate better utilisation of telehealth services and to provide practical skills and tips and incorporate it into current or future practice. Over 250 health professionals have already completed the Torrens University course, including nurses, doctors, mental health professionals and other medical specialists. Beilby notes: When the pandemic struck, we recognised that both our students and health practitioners across Australia would need to swiftly develop the skills to deliver quality healthcare remotely and that these skills would remain vital and relevant in the future of health. Connecting with Telehealth combines academic literature, interactive lessons, government insight, and policy with expert advice from practitioners on the use of telehealth services, Beilby says. Beilby concludes: Whether you are general practitioner, medical practitioner, specialist, consultant physicians, nurse practitioner, midwife, allied health provider or a dental practitioner, the course provides a comprehensive overview of the applications, operations, and ethical implications of telehealth in a clinical context. The free Connecting with Telehealth course is part of Torrens University Australias extensive suite of free, on-demand short courses. GUEST OPINION by Ashley Diffey, Head of APAC and Japan at Ping Identity: When information technology was first embraced by businesses, it tended to be in a very centralised form. Data centres held core applications and databases while users gained access through authorised devices and network links. Fast forward to 2021 and its a very different picture. Applications run on a variety of platforms and in different locations. Meanwhile data can be stored anywhere from a personal computer to a smart watch. This decentralised approach now needs to be applied to personal identity credentials. Rather than storing this data in a single location, it should be dispersed to individuals to be stored and used as they see fit. An obvious storage location is the smartphone. From there, an individual could choose which third parties are able to access the credentials and for what purpose. As much or as little data could be shared depending on the context and identity requirements. A secure digital wallet on a smartphone can store identity data in the same way that details of credit and loyalty cards are stored. All the data can be protected by needing two-factor authentication such as a passcode and biometric input like a fingerprint or a facial scan to gain access. Individuals should also be able to determine how long shared identity credentials will be made available to third parties. In many cases, as soon as the particular interaction or transaction has been completed, the data should be erased. A key advantage of this decentralised approach is that it removes the need for a large central store of identity credentials. These stores are likely to be attractive targets for cybercriminals and so decentralising the data removes the potential for break ins and theft. It also allows different types of identity data to be held in a single location and readily accessed as needed. This can include data from passports, driver licences, and government-issued ID documents. In the wake of the global pandemic, these secure digital wallets could also contain proof that an individual has had vaccine injections, making it possible to travel oversees once borders reopen. Guidance and frameworks To achieve an effective distributed identity system, activity needs to be directed by established guidance and frameworks. Ideally created by central government, these frameworks will ensure that the identity data rights of individuals are upheld and their credentials handled in a secure manner at all times. Some guidance has already been provided by Australias Consumer Data Rights regulations. These dictate how organisations can access and share personal data with an emphasis placed on permissions. Further guidelines such as these are now required to cover personal ID data, how it is securely stored by individuals, and how and where it can be used. This is particularly important in the wake of the widespread COVID-19 lockdowns. With an increasing number of people working remotely, there is a need for greater protection of dispersed identity data. Having standards in place that govern how this data is managed and used is now critical. Staff also need to be educated about the threats they may face when undertaking online transactions. Fraudulent websites requesting that personal details be entered could result in both financial and reputational losses. Another approach to ensuring the security of decentralised identity information is the use of a blockchain to provide immutable data protection with no single point of failure. This also removes the need to rely on a third party to provide protection and vouch for the validity of the credentials being shared. While there are clearly some challenges yet to be overcome, the benefits of a decentralised approach to the handling of digital identities is becoming increasingly clear. Taking the required steps now will ensure all Australians can conduct secure online lives in the months and years ahead. Global security vendor Sophos claims to have discovered a new strain of Windows ransomware which is the final executable payload in a manual attack where every other stage is delivered through a PowerShell script. One of the entry points was an on-premise Microsoft Exchange Server installation. In a detailed blog post, Sophos principal researcher Andrew Brandt said the new strain, named Epsilon Red, was written in the Go programming language and had been observed in operation against an American hospitality business recently. The name Epsilon Red comes from the X-Men series, and is a relatively obscure adversary of some of the X-Men in the Marvel extended universe. A ransom of about 4.29 bitcoin was paid by at least one attacked entity, Brandt wrote, adding that this was based on tracking the bitcoin wallet which was listed by the attackers for payment. "It appears that an enterprise Microsoft Exchange server was the initial point of entry by the attackers into the enterprise network," he wrote. "It isnt clear whether this was enabled by the ProxyLogon exploit or another vulnerability, but it seems likely that the root cause was an unpatched server. The ransom note left by Epsilon Red. Courtesy Sophos "From that machine, the attackers used WMI to install other software onto machines inside the network that they could reach from the Exchange server." The PowerShell scripts were numbered from 1 to 12 and the final executable was named Red.exe. "Strangely enough, the ransom note closely resembles the note used by REvil, a much more widely used ransomware," Brandt wrote. "But where the REvil note is typically riddled with spelling and grammatical errors, the note delivered by Epsilon Red has gone through a few edits to make its text more readable to an audience of native English speakers." Apart from Brandt, Anand Ajjan, Richard Cohen, Fraser Howard, Elida Leite, Mark Loman, Andrew Ludgate, Peter Mackenzie, Nirav Parekh, and Gabor Szappanos also contributed to the blog post. Mackenzie, manager of the Sophos Rapid Response team, said: "Epsilon Red is an intriguing new ransomware. The actual ransomware file itself is very pared down, probably because it has offloaded other tasks, such as deleting back-ups, to the PowerShell scripts. "It is really only used for file encryption and it doesn't precision-target assets: if it decides to encrypt a folder, it will encrypt everything inside that folder. Unfortunately, this can mean other executables and dynamic link libraries are also encrypted, which can disable key running programs or the entire system. As a result the attacked machine will need to be completely rebuilt. "Sophos' analysis of the attackers' behaviour suggest they may lack confidence in the reliability of their tools or the potential success of their attack, so they implement alternative options and back-up plans in case things fail. "For instance, early on in the attack sequence the operators download and install a copy of Remote Utilities and the Tor Browser, possibly to ensure an alternate foothold if the initial access point gets locked down. "In other cases we see the operators issue redundant commands that use a slightly different method to accomplish the same goal, such as deleting processes and backups. The best way to prevent ransomware such as Epsilon Red from taking hold is to ensure servers are fully patched and that your security solution can detect and block any suspicious behaviour and attempted file encryption." 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. MiMi-Sandra of Fort Worth, born 7 September 1945 in Jacksonville to Joe Selman Gore and Jeffie Gwendolyn (Lazenby) Gore. Preceded by her parents and five siblings. Survived by her husband, daughters, four siblings, nieces and nephews. Rep. Song Young-gil, center, chairman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), speaks during a Supreme Council meeting of the party at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap By Jung Da-min Calls are growing within the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) for an overall reform of the party, in response to a young politician's rise in the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) and following public expectations for fresh politics with a generational shift. With the PPP set to elect its new leadership at a party convention slated for June 11, Lee Jun-seok, a 36-year-old politician and former member of the PPP's Supreme Council, has risen as the leading candidate to be the party's next chairman, garnering the highest support in recent opinion polls. Political watchers said the young politician's rise seems to be a reflection of the people's disappointment with policy failures of established politicians of both the current liberal and past conservative administrations, as well as a desire for a change and innovation in politics. In such a context, some member of the DPK said that the ruling party also needs to carry out an overall reform to restore public confidence. Rep. Cho Eung-cheon, a two-term lawmaker of the DPK, said that he understood the PPP members' desperate desire to win the next presidential election slated for March next year. "I fear that it could be possible that the PPP will not only be recognized as an alternative to the DPK but as a new political force that answers to the people's request to resolve longtime social irregularities and absurdities, if Lee Jun-seok gets elected at the PPP's convention and the new leadership system under him works properly afterward," Cho wrote on Facebook, Monday. Cho also expressed concerns about some "enthusiastic supporters" of the DPK who keep voicing support for former Justice Minister Cho Kuk who stepped down in October 2019 over corruption scandals involving his family members. While court trials of the cases are ongoing, the former minister Cho released an autographic memoir of his political career, Monday, in which he insists he is innocent. When the ruling party pushed ahead with his appointment as minister, saying he was the most capable and suitable person to lead the Moon Jae-in administration's prosecutorial reform, the opposition bloc heavily protested the decision citing the corruption scandal. The public was also divided, with supporters and opponents each holding rallies. As the allegations against him were a shock to many citizens who expected the Moon administration to be transparent and corruption-free, the scandal served as momentum for such people to withdraw their support for the Moon government. Some political analysts say the criticism of the current government's "double standard" on corruption cases committed by ruling bloc figures began with the Cho scandal and eventually led to the DPK's crushing defeat in the April 7 Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections. But along with the publication, many DPK members, especially some heavyweights including former DPK Chairman Rep. Lee Nak-yon and former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, who are expected to run in the party's presidential candidate primary, issued supportive messages for the former minister. However, Rep. Cho said, "It is very embarrassing for the party that the person who is considered to have been the main reason for the party's election defeat released his memoirs when the party is trying to listen to public opinion." He urged the party leadership to make clear its position on the matter of Cho Kuk's memoir, so that it can continue political reform and regain public trust. Rep. Lee Sang-min, a five-term lawmaker of the DPK, also wrote on Facebook: "The first step is to break the evil habit that has spread widely and deeply in the DPK (the habit of) not listening to the general public's voices while only paying attention to party members, using double standards when judging wrongdoings of the party's own members while blaming others for their wrongdoings." Della A. (Kinkade) McGuire, 85, passed away at 12:15 a.m. on Thursday, June 10th, 2021 at the Presbyterian Manor in Parsons, KS, where she had lived for almost three years. On July 28, 1953, Della married Max E. McGuire. He preceded her in death on January 21, 1999. Della is survived by her President Moon Jae-in appointed Kim Oh-soo, former vice justice minister, to lead the prosecution service, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday. The President authorized Kim's appointment as prosecutor general at around 5 p.m. and Kim's tenure is to start on Tuesday, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Park Kyung-mee. The move came in spite of a strong protest by the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), which claimed that Kim is not suitable or qualified for the post. The National Assembly held a confirmation hearing for Kim last week. Earlier Monday, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, which holds a majority of seats in the National Assembly, adopted a formal report on the results of the hearing amid the PPP's boycott. The position has been vacant since the sudden resignation of Yoon Seok-youl in early March in apparent protest of the Moon administration's prosecution reform drive. (Yonhap) President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Joe Biden hold a press conference at the White House in Washington, D.C., Friday (local time), after their summit. Yonhap By Kang Seung-woo North Korea has kept quiet on the results of last week's summit between South Korea and the United States, despite Washington's publicized commitment to diplomatic engagement with Pyongyang. Diplomatic observers said, Thursday, the Kim Jong-un regime will decide on whether to accept a U.S. dialogue call in accordance with how China responds to the summit. Also, they suggested keeping close tabs on the South Korean spy agency chief's trip to the U.S. On May 21 (local time), President Moon Jae-in and his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden held their first in-person summit at the White House and agreed to engage diplomatically with the North to work toward denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. They also reaffirmed their commitment to previous inter-Korean and U.S.-North Korea agreements the Panmunjeom Declaration and Singapore Joint Statement, both signed in 2018. In addition, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated earlier this week the Biden administration's commitment to diplomacy to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, saying, "The ball's in their court." "The outcomes of the summit are not a deciding factor for North Korea's future plans with regard to nuclear negotiations. Rather, it is waiting for China's reaction to the summit," said Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University. Opinion Columnist Chris Powell has worked for the Journal Inquirer since 1967, first as a reporter, then as an editor, and now as a columnist. He was managing editor from 1974 until retiring from that position in 2018. Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR) were at loggerheads on Monday after the Chadian government accused its southern neighbour of killing six of its soldiers at a border post, five of whom were allegedly abducted and then executed, branding it a war crime that would not go unpunished. Hours after the accusation, the CAR said there had been exchanges of fire at the border, with fatalities on both sides. Expressing regret for the deaths, It put the blame on rebels that it said its soldiers had been pursuing and suggested Chad and the CAR two brotherly peoples hold a joint investigation. The incident has placed the spotlight on the occasionally fraught relations between Chad ruled by a junta since its veteran ruler was killed six weeks ago and the CAR, an impoverished, unstable country battling powerful armed groups. The Central African armed forces attacked the outpost of Sourou in Chad on Sunday morning They killed a Chadian soldier, injured five and kidnapped five others who were then executed in Mbang on the Central African Republic side, Chadian Foreign Minister Cherif Mahamat Zene said in a statement. The CAR regularly accuses its northern neighbour of supporting armed rebel groups from inside Chad. The attack came after CAR soldiers had crossed into Chadian territory in pursuit of rebels, a senior Chadian security official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. The rebels were either members of the Unity for Peace in Central Africa (UPC) or the so-called 3R group, according to this source and another security source. Both are among the CARs most powerful armed groups and are part of a coalition that in December mounted a bid to topple President Faustin Archange Touadera. The Sourou outpost near the village of Mbere, which was manned by 12 soldiers, was attacked at dawn, Zene said in his statement. This war crime is extremely serious and this deadly attack, which was pre-meditated, planned and operated from inside Chad for reasons known only to the Central African government will not go unpunished, he added. Zene said Chad would call the international community to bear witness to what he branded a serious aggression, notably the UNs 12,000-strong peacekeeping force in CAR, MINUSCA, as well as the African Union and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). Brotherly peoples In Bangui, the CAR government said it deplores the loss of human lives in the Chadian and Central African armed forces and blamed rebels that it said its troops had been pursuing. The statement reaffirmed CARs will to strengthen relations between two brotherly peoples and proposed setting up a joint inquiry with Chad to investigate the clashes. UN sources in the CAR, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there had been a clash on Sunday in the market place of Mini, a Chadian village near the border. The fighting was between CAR troops and Russian paramilitary allies on one side, and Chadian soldiers on the other, the sources said. At least one Chadian soldier was killed and five were captured, they said, adding that both sides suffered casualties. The anti-Touadera coalition is among the number of groups that hold large swathes of CARs territory. But it has failed in its attempt to oust the president, who was re-elected in late December. The rebels have been pushed out of large towns in recent months, in part thanks to back-up for the CAR army from hundreds of Russian paramilitary fighters thought to be from the Wagner Group, a shadowy private military company. Chad turbulence Chad, meanwhile, has been under junta rule since April 20 when the military announced that veteran leader Idriss Deby Itno had been killed leading troops against Chadian rebel fighters arriving from Libya. Chads army is considered the most powerful in the region, and Debys government was a key Western ally in the fight against jihadists in the volatile Sahel. Debys son Mahamat, a four-star general, declared himself president after the death of his father, who had ruled Chad with an iron fist for three decades. The junta has dissolved parliament and revoked the constitution, while promising free and democratic elections within an 18-month transition period. Former president Laurent Gbagbo will return to Ivory Coast on June 17 after 10 years following his acquittal of crimes against humanity during a civil war, a party official said Monday. In April, the International Criminal Court (ICC) based in The Hague confirmed that Gbagbo and his former right-hand man Charles Ble Goude were in the clear over the devastating post-electoral violence that rocked the West African nation in 2010-11. I am announcing the return of president Laurent Gbagbo on Ivorian soil on June 17, said Assoa Adou, general secretary of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) party Gbagbo founded. More than 3,000 people were killed in months of fighting after the 2010 election, when Gbagbo disputed the results of the vote won by current President Alassane Ouattara and refused to stand down. Gbagbo was eventually forced out of power and became the first head of state to stand trial at the ICC, though both he and Ble Goude always insisted they were not guilty of crimes against humanity. Despite spending years behind bars in the Dutch city, as well as time in Brussels as he awaited the outcome of an appeal against his acquittal in 2019, the deeply divisive ex-president retains strong support at home. San Diego (CNS)-An 87-year-old woman was seriously injured on a street in the San Diego Marina District on Sunday. The police are looking for a felony hit-and-run driver who fled the scene. According to San Diego Police Officer John Buttle (John Buttle), the crash occurred on 700 W. G Street before 3 pm. Battelle said that the white Nissan Altima, described as being from 2013 to 2015, traveled east on G Street when the driver beat the woman. The driver then fled eastward on G Street. Battelle said the woman was taken to the University of California San Diego hospital where she received treatment for a brain hemorrhage and laceration on the back of her head. Anyone requesting information about this driver should call the San Diego Police at 619-531-2000 or 858-484-3154. Alcoholics can also call anti-criminal organizations at 888-580-8477. City News Service, Inc. Copyright 2021. The daughter of a British billionaire will be prosecuted tomorrow for the death of a policeman in Belize. Billionaire Lord Michael Ashcrofts daughter, Jasmine Harding, will be prosecuted after being shot dead by police. 3 Jasmine poses with Conservative Party companion and philanthropist Lord Ashcrofts youngest son Andrew Ashcrofts husband Credit: YouTube / AlaiaBelize His sister said: While drinking with Lord Ashcrofts wife, she injured her head and was assassinated. The lifeless body of Henry Jemmott floated in the sea near San Pedro, Belize yesterday. Marie Jemmott Tzul, Jemmotts sister Daily mail Harding will be prosecuted. Tezul said: I received a call and learned that she would be prosecuted tomorrow, but they did not say that she would be prosecuted. 3 The lifeless body of Henry Jemmott was found floating in the sea near San Pedro, Belize Image Credit: Facebook/Henry Jemmott 38-year-old Hartins arms and clothes were stained with blood and was arrested for the death of the official. The police also said that Lord Ashcrofts wife would be deemed as a killer if she remained silent after being arrested because of the death of an official. It is alleged that the American married to Andrew Ashcroft was dating Jemmott at the time of the shooting. She was arrested by the blood on her clothes after the police officer was found with a gun casualty. 3 The scene where Germots body was found in San Pedro Image Courtesy: San Pedro Sun However, it is understood that Harding is waiting for legal representatives, but Harding still not helped the police to investigate the tragedy. Commissioner Chester Williams said: When she was detained last night, she did not cooperate. She said she needed a lawyer to be present so that she could say what she needed to say. The local police now say that this has caused a red flag and she will be deemed as a killer without explanation. Live blog Resume Task Christian food master, husband and 6 others are believed to have died after the plane crash Face justice Murder details revealed that the killer of the cheerleader will be tried as an adult break in TERROR PLOT 28-year-old suspect was arrested for terrorist conspiracy for planning the Wal-Mart mass shooting Death line hit The former FBI agent stated that Biggie was executed by an Islamic killer hired by Suge Knight Deadly shootout The 22-year-old suspect was arrested after the 20-year-old victim died in a music video filming No survivors After the crash of the food masters plane, all 7 people were found dead and human wreckage and wreckage were found Jemmotts sister Cherry Jemmot told DailyMail.com: There were gunshots behind his ears, like being assassinated. He was very skilled after 24 years [as an officer], He will never let his guard down. He is a top policeman. I dont know how he put down the guard and shot with his own gun. West African leaders condemned the coup and called for the restoration of democracy, but no new sanctions have been imposed. In response to the coup detat last week, West African leaders have withdrawn Mali from their regional blocs, but have not yet imposed new sanctions. The leaders of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) held an emergency summit in Accra, the capital of Ghana, on Sunday and agreed to respond to the actions of the Malian military The downfall of the President and Prime Minister The second time in nine months. Malis neighbours and major international powers worry that the recent uprising will jeopardize the promise of holding a presidential election in February next year and undermine the regional struggles of armed groups linked to Al-Qaida and Islamic State (ISIS). Ghanas Minister of Foreign Affairs Shirley Ayorkor Botchway said after the meeting that Malis suspension from ECOWAS will take effect immediately until the deadline at the end of February 2022, By then, the countrys interim leader should be handed over to a democratically elected government. The EUs final communique also called for the immediate appointment of a new civilian prime minister and the formation of an inclusive government. However, it did not announce sanctions like those imposed after the coup detat last August, which caused members to temporarily close the border with inland Mali and stop financial transactions. It also did not ask for new Interim President Assimi Goita Step down. The army colonel who led the August coup and last weeks uprising was declared president on Friday. The statement said that instead, the head of the transitional government, the vice president and the prime minister should not be candidates for the planned presidential election under any circumstances. It emphasized: The date for the announcement of the presidential election on February 27, 2022 should absolutely be maintained. Gotta, who attended the summit, did not immediately respond. The 38-year-old special forces commander was one of several colonels who overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita last year. Hours after the cabinet was reorganized, he also ordered the arrest of interim President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane. Ndaws former deputy prime minister, Goita, defended his actions. He said there were differences within the transitional government and according to the transitional charter, he was not consulted when choosing a new cabinet. Ndaw and Ouane resigned while still in custody on Wednesday and were later released under house arrest. ECOWAS condemned the arrest in its statement, saying it violated the mediation steps taken after the Iraq war. August coup. The EU requires the Malian authorities to immediately release the currency pair. It also continued to express its deep concern about the current crisis in Mali and noted that in view of the ongoing terrorist attacks and the security challenges posed by COVID, this situation is close to half of the agreed transition period. -19 pandemic and its severity The socio-economic impact of . Other agencies, including the United Nations and the African Union, also condemned the seizure of power. The UN Security Council stated that the resignations of Ndaw and Ouane were coerced and the United States had withdrawn its support for security forces. France and the European Union threatened sanctions at the same time. French leader Emmanuel Macron said in an interview in the Journal du Dimanche newspaper published on Sunday that Paris cannot stand by a country that no longer has democratic legitimacy or transition. . He warned that if France falls into radical Islamism under Goitas leadership, France will withdraw its troops from Mali. France has approximately 5,100 soldiers in the area under Operation Barkhane, which spans five countries in the Sahel-Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. When the heads of state of ECOWAS met in Ghana, the long-term turmoil in Mali was highlighted. The attackers killed four civilians and a police officer in southern Mali. Most of the area has not been attacked by the countrys unrest before. An unnamed security officer told AFP that the unidentified man attacked a checkpoint near the town of Bougouni, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the border between Mali and Ivory Coast and Guinea before dawn. A local lawmaker confirmed the attack. LA MESA (CNS)-The non-profit organization La Mesa Conversations and the community organization Envision La Mesa held La Mesa Remembrance Day on Sunday to commemorate the first anniversary of the controversial protest at La Mesa Police Headquarters, which was organized by George The death of George Floyd in custody triggered the arrest of Amaurie Johnson in Minneapolis and controversial places. Secretary of State Shirley Weber and Congresswoman Akilah Weber, San Diego-D, are the scheduled speakers. The protests in La Mesa in late May 2020 began peacefully, and then gradually evolved into robberies and riots after dark. According to the FBI, Ricky Bernard Cooper, 33, and Alexander Jacob King, 19, were suspected of destructive demonstrations in East County. Arrested and arrested during the activity. Cooper and King allegedly committed these crimes during the May 30 protests, which were caused by police violent contact with blacks, including Memorial Day, the murder of Floyd, and two The day after the arrest of 23-year-old San Diego Johnson at the Grossmont Transit Center in Los Angeles. mesa. The initial peaceful afternoon demonstrations broke out in chaos, and it is estimated that as many as 1,000 people blocked Interstate 8 in both directions. On-site video shows that at least one car caught fire near La Mesa City Hall, and vandals destroyed the shop windows of a nearby shopping center. As night fell, looters and arsonists stole the closed Fons supermarket, Sprouts store and Goodwill retail store. Smashed the windows of other companies; and lit two banks. According to the federal agency, the reason for the arrest of Cooper and King was a joint investigation conducted by La Mesa, the San Diego police and the FBI. The agency did not disclose what caused the authorities to identify the two men as suspects in the case. Last summer, former La Mesa police officer Matthew Dages was fired for arresting Johnson on May 27, who was captured on video and circulated on social media. According to a letter of dismissal issued by the then police chief Walt Vasquez last summer, Daji was fired on charges of violating several police department rules and regulations. The now retired chief wrote that Dages made false and misleading statements about Johnsons alleged smoking and ticket evasion in his police report. The letter stated that Daguis also failed to activate his body camera in time during the arrest and instructed Johnson to use profanity, rude language and make impolite remarks. The La Mesa Personnel Appeals Board upheld Daguiss expulsion in December. In an executive order submitted to the San Diego High Court in March, Dages asked the city and the Appeals Board to set aside its decision and discipline, restore and restore the petitioners position, and restore all outstanding wages and loss of profits, And interest. After his arrest, Johnson was released lightly, and the police department subsequently announced that it would not file a lawsuit against him. Johnson later filed a federal lawsuit against Dages and La Mesa. Last year, the La Mesa Police Department released uniformed camera footage showing a police officer firing crowd control pellets at a woman during a violent and brutal protest, seriously hurting her. Also on Wednesday afternoon, the department publicly identified the La Mesa police officer who opened fire on 59-year-old Leslie Falkron during the riots that broke out outside the LMPD headquarters during the May 30 demonstration. Vasquez said that the departments 12-year detective Eric Knudson (Eric Knudson) has been on paid leave awaiting the completion of the investigation into the incident. City News Service, Inc. Copyright 2021. Prime Minister Khan said that normalizing relations with India would mean ignoring the struggle of Kashmiris. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan ruled out the possibility of normalizing relations with India, saying that this move would betray the Kashmiris. In an on-site Q&A session with the public on Sunday, Khan claimed that re-establishing contact with its eastern neighbors would ignore all their struggles. [Kashmiris] And more than 100,000 Kashmiris are martyred. He said: Since the first day I took office, I have been trying to establish relations with India and resolve the Kashmir issue through dialogue. Kashmiri people. There is no doubt that our trade will improve, but all their blood will be wasted, so this will not happen. Our trade will not improve because of this. [the cost of] Their blood, he said. He said that only when New Delhi resumes its long-standing semi-autonomous status of India-administered Kashmir, can the deadlocked negotiations be resumed. The Indian government led by Narendra Modi revoked Article 370 and other related regulations from its constitution on August 5, 2019. In addition, it is divided into two federally administered territories. At the same time, it sealed off the area, detained thousands of people, imposed movement restrictions, and implemented communication interruptions. In turn, Islamabad suspended trade relations and lowered diplomatic relations with New Delhi. Friday, the President of the United Nations General Assembly Say nuclear-weapon states Any steps that would change the status of the disputed Himalayas should be avoided. Since breaking out of British rule in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought three wars, and relations between the two countries are often strained. Both India and Pakistan have complete sovereignty over Kashmir, but have independent jurisdiction over Kashmir. Unfreeze relationship Earlier this year, it was reported that senior intelligence officials from two neighboring countries with nuclear weapons met in the United Arab Emirates in January this year to try to stop the tension between the two sides. last month, UAE special envoy to WashingtonYousef al-Otaiba confirmed that the Gulf states are mediating between India and Pakistan to help nuclear opponents establish a healthy and practical relationship. In February, the Indian and Pakistani forces suddenly and rarely reaffirmed the 2003 ceasefire agreement on the Line of Control (LoC), which actually divides the border of the Kashmir region. A few days later, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Pakistans powerful army commander in chief, called on the two main rivals to bury the past and move towards cooperation. Last month, Khan and Modi exchanged letters calling for the establishment of peace and intimacy between the two countries. Senator Padilla discusses gun control after the mass shooting in San Jose (Inside California Politics)-US Senator Alex Padilla (Alex Padilla) joined Inside California Politics this week to discuss gun control measures following the mass shooting in San Jose. Padilla said: The shooter in the San Jose incident did not ignore the law. He found the loophole and solved it. He also blocked a bipartisan group of Senate Republicans from investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. He said: For most of my Republican colleagues who have no backbone to support justice, this is a dereliction of duty. Source link It's only fair to share... Pinterest Linkedin email Print San Diego (CNS)-The San Diego Police Department said on Sunday that ten motorists were arrested on suspicion of drunk driving at a sobriety checkpoint in Mission Bay. According to San Diego police officer Anthony Obregon, the checkpoint is at 4200 Mission Bay Boulevard from 9pm Saturday to 2am Sunday. The official said that of the 2,661 cars that passed the checkpoint, 990 cars were inspected and 11 drivers were evaluated. Obregon said a driver was extradited for driving without a license or having his or her driving license revoked. He said that eleven vehicles were impounded. Obregon said the police plan to conduct another checkpoint or DUI saturation patrol on Sunday. City News Service, Inc. Copyright 2021. Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addresses the cadets during the United States Air Force Academy's Class of 2021 graduation ceremony at the USAFA in Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S., on May 26. AP-Yonhap North Korea continues to build up its ballistic missile capability, which poses "real danger" to the U.S. mainland, the top U.S. military commander said Thursday. Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also said the North is showing no signs of giving up its efforts to bolster its military capability. North Korea "continues to enhance its ballistic missile capability and possesses the technical capacity to present a real danger to the US homeland as well as our allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific," Milley said in written testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. "They show no signs of moderation in their focus on military capability at the expense of their most vulnerable citizens and peace of the Korean Peninsula," he added, His written testimony was submitted before a hearing on the defense budget request for fiscal year 2022. Also in attendance was Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Austin said the U.S. will continue to focus on dealing with North Korean threats while putting diplomacy at the forefront. "Even as we address China's growing military capability, we will remain focused on North Korea," he said in his own written testimony also submitted to the House Subcommittee on Defense. "Leading with diplomacy, the United States will continue to work to mitigate North Korea's destabilizing and provocative behavior and maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," he added. Still, he too noted the North's nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles pose threats to the United States and its allies. "Pyongyang continues to develop its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, posing an increasing threat to regional allies and partners and with ambitions to be able to strike the U.S. homeland," said the defense secretary. North Korea reportedly possesses several intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that can hit the continental U.S. Pyongyang has maintained a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile testing since November 2017. However, the U.S. director of national intelligence, Avril Haines, said earlier that Pyongyang may resume its long-range missile testing in the near future. "For its part, North Korea may take aggressive and potentially destabilizing actions to reshape its security environment and will seek to drive wedges between the United States and its allies," Haines said. "These efforts could include the resumption of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missile testing." (Yonhap) After the authorities intercepted his plan to shoot Walmart, a Texas man was arrested. The FBI and the Texas Department of Public Safety found guns, ammunition and radical ideological tools in the suspects home. 2 pcs Coleman Thomas Blevins arrested (Friday) Credit: Kerr County Sheriffs Office 2 pcs Authorities said they found radical ideological tools in the home of Coleman Thomas Blevens Credit: Kerr County Sheriffs Office 28-year-old Coleman Thomas Blevins was arrested by local police in Kerrville, Texas. They intercepted a message that he allegedly threatened to conduct a large-scale operation at Walmart. Shooting. Live blog Resume Task Christian food master, husband and 6 others are believed to have died after the plane crash Face justice Murder details revealed that the killer of the cheerleader will be tried as an adult Deadly shootout The 22-year-old suspect was arrested after the 20-year-old victim died in a music video filming No survivors After the crash of the food masters plane, all 7 people were found dead and human wreckage and wreckage were found Fireball horror 13-year-old girl set herself on fire while trying to replicate TikTok stunts Newest Big Mac Two people died and 25 were injured after Men with rifles in concert opened fire at a Miami concert Blevins was arrested on Friday under threat of terrorists. He is still in prison. The police then executed a search warrant at his home, where they found electronic evidence of his conspiracy. They also found concentrated THC and radical books and flags. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is preparing to pay the graphic designer 1 million, who simulated a fake bank statement for the frail journalist Martin Bashir. Matt Wiessler asked the Beeb boss for help, saying that he believed Bashir had used them to deceive Princess Diana and conducted a 1995 panoramic interview. 3 Graphic designer Matt Wiessler raised concerns with BBC boss Credit: ITV Instead of investigating his claims, The BBC blacklisted Mr. Wesler. The Director-General of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Tim Davie (Tim Davie) will meet with Mr. Wesler on Thursday. Did not pass Covid passport does not have to be used for events because the plan will be cancelled exclusive Hippies in the future From Carries 45 boho dress to honeymoon news revealed, PMs wedding secret exclusive Neighbor from hell Dad was in the hedge line and the neighbor shot with an air gun 13 days in summer When tourists crowded the beach, the British spent 13 days in the heat wave Youth attack Six teenagers were arrested for murder and the man was beaten to death in a quiet street Pictured Only one In the life of the millionaire OnlyFans, owning mansions, supercars and resorts He says The company is at fault And will say possible compensation. A friend of Mr. Wesler told Mail on Sunday: He very much hopes that this meeting at least will apologize for this and may push for his compensation claim. 3 Princess Diana participated in Martin Bashirs panoramic interview in 1995 Credit: BBC 3 Fake bank statements, published in the annex to Lord Dysons independent investigation Credit: PA The smuggling boat was intercepted by the Coast Guard near Mission Beach San Diego (CNS)-A smuggling boat was intercepted off the coast of Mission Beach in San Diego on Sunday and 17 undocumented immigrants were arrested. Border Patrol Special Operations Director Jeffrey Stephenson told the San Diego United Tribune that the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted the ship at about 12:50 pm. Stephenson told the newspaper that the ship was then transported to the San Diego lifeguard station near the Kibera Courthouse and Kibera Beach. According to the report, the 17 undocumented immigrants were handed over to U.S. Border Patrol agents and then transported to gas stations for processing. City News Service, Inc. Copyright 2021. Source link It's only fair to share... Pinterest Linkedin email Print Islamabad, Pakistan -The famous Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir was released a few days after protesting against the Pakistani military during a protest against the attack on another journalist. Mill told Al Jazeera that he was informed that he will not host the Capital Symposium on Earth News starting Monday night. Mir said: The geographic management department only told me that I would not host this show. They said it was stressful [after the statements at the protest last week]. They did not say who it was. After clarifying the reasons for this move, the management of Geonews confirmed to Al Jazeera that Mill has been suspended and will not host the show. Informed sources told Al Jazeera that Geo News has been forced to fire [Mir]. Last week, Pakistani independent journalist Asad Ali Toor was known for his important coverage of the Pakistani government and military. be attacked Three unidentified men beat him at his home in Islamabad and warned him about his work. In his speech during the protests against the Islamabad attack last Friday, Mir threatened to identify the perpetrators of a series of recent attacks on Pakistani journalists. He implied the involvement of the Pakistani army in a few words and appointed Qamar Javed Bajwa, the commander-in-chief of the Pakistani army, as the general. Mill said in the protest: If you break into our house to attack us, then we cannot enter your house because you have tanks and guns, but we can make these things public and do it from inside your house. The intervention of the army. In 2014, Mir hosted a show that focused on alleged human rights violations by the military in the southwestern Balochistan province. Soon after that, Mir was spared. The space is shrinking completely. In fact, I want to say that this is done. Iqbal Khattak, representative of Pakistan Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and head of media rights organization Freedom Network, said: I think we have been proved to be correct. The state and government are applying pressure to influence the editorial independence of certain media organizations. Katak said that the threats against journalists are particularly targeted at those who report to the government and the military in a harsh way. Journalists who criticize government policies are under pressure. Those journalists who sayeverything is fine have no problems with their safety and security. ISI participation Toor, who was attacked on Wednesday, said in a police report that one of his attackers identified himself as a member of the International Intelligence Service (ISI), the countrys main intelligence agency. On Saturday, the Pakistani government called the allegation a thought-out conspiracy. The Pakistani military has directly ruled the country for about half of its 74-year history. Critics say Pakistan continues to exercise control over many aspects of Prime Minister Imran Khans government. In 2019 Al Jazeera survey News reporters, editors and managers of news organizations across the country stated that their work was censored by the government and the military, and they used financial means to target news organizations. In July 2020, the famous TV news host Matiullah Jan Kidnapped From outside a school in Islamabad. Young said that during 12 hours of detention, he was blindfolded, gagged, tied up and beaten by an unidentified assailant. In April, senior journalist Absar Alam was shot in the abdomen while going for a walk in Islamabad. Alam survived. A lone assailant was seen fleeing the scene in the security camera lens. In either case, no one was arrested. In January, the BBC was forced to stop broadcasting the Urdu Daily News bulletin due to interference with editorial content. The BBC has stopped broadcasting news bulletins in Urdu through Pakistans AJJ TV station. For more information: https://t.co/57FQWSWtR5 pic.twitter.com/10TQkhNtJx -BBC News Urdu (BCBBCUrdu) January 15, 2021 The Pakistani media, which has been very active for a long time, has become the primary target of the countrys deep country, a euphemism for the military and ISI and their high degree of control over civilian executives, said RSF, a media rights watchdog. Since Imran Khan became prime minister in July 2018, the influence of this militaryinstitution that cannot withstand independent journalism has greatly increased. Pakistan ranks ninth in the Global Impunity Index Committee for the Protection of Journalists, with at least 15 unresolved murders of journalists. In 2021, in the RSF World Press Freedom Index, the country ranked 145th out of 180 countries. The government denies involvement in attacks on journalists or the censorship system. Prime Minister Khan often reiterated his view that Pakistans media are independent. Pakistans Minister of Information, Fawad Chaudhry, did not respond to Al Jazeeras request for comment, but last week denied the existence of a censorship system in the country, and also accused journalists of fabricating allegations of attacks and immigrants to other countries. DARRIYNN Brown, the teenager suspected of killing Cash Gernon, has said he is not the kidnapper caught on security footage snatching the boy from his crib. The teen, 18, is alleged to have snatched the four-year-old boy from his Dallas, Texas, bedroom as he slept next to his twin brother on the morning of May 15. The child was later found dead in the street, covered in blood, a mile away from his home, police said. Home surveillance footage showed the suspect, later identified as Brown, standing over the twins before he carried him away, court documents say. Browns defense attorney Heath Harris though has said cops have the wrong guy and his client did not break into the home, kidnap the boy or kill Cash. This is not an open and shut case. Even if you believe thats [Brown] on the video, it doesnt mean he killed the kid, Harris told The Dallas Morning News. The world is basically prejudicing this whole community by saying, Thats him, the defense attorney concluded. Read our Cash Gernon live blog for the very latest news and updates According to reports, shorts were burned in the NorthPark Mall in Dallas, and shoppers were photographed fleeing in horror. The video showed people fleeing the scene because sirens sounded above their heads in the mall. Some people claimed to have been evacuated from the cinema in the mall. According to reports, the police are responding to the scene but have not yet commented on the situation. Many shoppers seem to be in the mall because they have a holiday to celebrate Memorial Day. Just after 1:30 pm local time, there were reports of active shooters. After the latest genocide attack in apartheid Israel, some serious questions were raised again, namely, the role of resistance and whether the outcome of the war can or cannot be seen as a victory for the Palestinian people. In 2009, 2012, and 2014, when Israel launched large-scale attacks on the Gaza Strip, and even in the non-violent 2018 Great Return march, when Palestinians marched toward the wall around the Gaza Strip and were shot and shot by Israel. At the time of the killing, the same question was raised. Sniper. Some liberals resorted to the usual statements, accusing the two sides of the conflict, namely the colonizers and the colonized, and concluded that the Palestinians must stop firing rockets from the Gaza Strip. Once again, we are challenged by the same neutral voice regarding the definition of resistance. For ideological reasons, they did not see this kind of resistance. Broadly speaking, it was not only the ability to resist the more powerful oppressors in the military, but also the ability to creatively resist the colonization of their own land. They cannot understand the power of the people. In our case, it is persistence (persistence), and they cant even see its existence. In other words, they accept Israels narrative, where there are two aspects of conflict with equal military strength and moral stance. They refused to accept the reality that this was the colonialism and apartheid plan of the Palestinian colonists supported by the Western people. They also ignore all our moral weapons: we are the indigenous people of this land, we have the international law that supports our claims, we have the moral commanding heights, and are increasingly supported by international civil society. Edward Said once said that an intellectual should be a person who cannot be easily selected by the government or a company. His reason for existence is to represent people and problems that are usually forgotten or wiped out. Those free voices that condemned Palestines violence in the recent confrontation with apartheid Israel are anti-intellectual. They refuse to see that Palestinians can become agents of change now and in the future. They could not recognize the Palestinian agency ideologically because they refused to respect the wishes of the people. This was achieved in the general support of various forms of resistance in Gaza, the West Bank and the areas occupied by Israel during the establishment of Palestine in 1948.?Express. They have not been able to see that Palestine has defeated apartheid Israel in recent events. They fought side by side with the fascist ruling class in Israel, and they believed that they win because they killed many terrorists: 253 Palestinians, including 66 children, 39 women and 17 elderly people. However, the so-called objectives of Israels war on Gaza-eliminating rocket attacks in Gaza, destroying tunnels used by the resistance forces, and covering up any form of unity between Jerusalem and Gaza-have not been achieved. . The rockets are still being launched, and the resistance movement is strong enough to resist the Israeli Israeli impending ethnic cleansing call to action by Sheikh Jarrah Jerusalemites. Just as a frustrated Israeli pilot blew up the Gaza Strip, he said in an interview on Israel Channel 12: I carried out an air strike with the feeling that destroying the tower was a way to vent our frustration with what happened to us in Gaza. After the groups in the zone successfully kicked us out we failed to stop the rocket shooting and injured the leaders of these groups, so we destroyed the tower. But more importantly, Gaza 2021 broke the meticulously constructed and enthusiastically defended myth that Israel has been propagating for decades: it has the most ethical army in the world; the iron dome is invincible; the Palestinians are just Arabs have no common identity. Once the older generations die, they will give up their ownership of this land. Obviously, those neutral voices that blame both parties belong to the spell of these myths, which is why they regard Palestinian resistance as unreasonable violence and terrorism. But as the Brazilian philosopher Paulo Freire wrote in his book The Pedagogy of the Oppressed: With the establishment of oppressive relations, violence has begun. The oppressed have never initiated violence. If they themselves are the result of violence, how can they become the initiator? If there is no previous violence to establish their obedience status , There will be no oppression. Violence is initiated by oppression, exploitation, and people who fail to recognize others as human beings, not by people who are oppressed, exploited, and unrecognized. With the exception of Western liberals and the Israeli elite, everyone else apparently supports the Palestinians escape from the historic Palestine protests and their prominence in the violent and victorious attacks in Gaza. These events ended the notorious Deal of the Century, reiterated that the Palestinians will not abandon their demands on Jerusalem, put a nail in the coffin of the fictitious two-state solution, and brought liberation and Israeli rights. Israels third-class Palestinian citizens and 5 million refugees have returned to the top of the agenda of the international community. They also made a brand-new Palestinian consciousness stand out, which runs counter to the rigid hegemony of the 1993 Oslo Agreement. The obvious feature of the new consciousness formed by Palestinian resistance and resistance is the rejection of the conditions imposed by the apartheid system on the Palestinian people, the residents of Gaza and the West Bank, the Palestinians in the Israeli territories occupied in 1948, and the three components of the Palestinian people. Refugee camps and diaspora refugees. More critically, this is a refusal to provide breadcrumbs in order to reward certain few Palestinians for their good behavior. We were told to accept Israels ugliest occupation-apartheid wall, colonies, checkpoints, segregated roads, color-coded number plates, forced evictions and house demolitions, security coordination, arrests, torture and Imprisonment ??or a medieval blockade imposed on us, and bombed regularly into death and oblivion. But this spring, the answer from Gaza, Jerusalem, Lida, Haifa and other historic Palestines is very clear: The Palestinian people will not be limited to those who lived in the territories occupied in 1967. We are witnessing a shift from the paradigm of separatism represented by the two-state solution, which aims to establish a Palestinian Bantustan and deprive millions of people of their rights to their land, thereby realizing Palestinians rights. Fully united. Indeed, the Palestinians victory was costly, but it was a decisive victory. The Palestinian people broke through their spiritual dome and defeated the apartheid regime and its iron dome made by the United States. Palestine in Gaza after 2021 will no longer be like Palestine. The Palestinians began to separate their minds from the peace process and the racist two-state solution, and with their conclusions, they succumbed to the Palestinian Zionist regime. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. The ruling conservatives became the winners, but they failed to obtain an absolute majority because voters turned to smaller parties. The far-right ELAM party and the centrist separatist organization have made significant progress in the Cyprus parliamentary elections, because amid the dissatisfaction of the voters with the traditional power centers, considerable supporters seem to have given up support for the top three parties. Calculated by 100% of the votes, Elam received 6.78% of the votes on Sunday-an increase of 3% from the previous general election in 2016-and defeated the socialist EDEK party by a narrow margin of about 200 votes. The centrist DIPA is composed of key figures from the center-right DIKO party, which has traditionally been the third largest party, with 6.1% of the vote. The center-right DISY ranked first with 27.77% of the votes, 5.4% higher than the Communist-based second-place AKEL. However, the political parties lost 2.9% and 3.3% of their support in the last election. AKEL Secretary General Andros Kyprianou said at a gathering: The result was beyond our expectations. We respect it, and we will examine it carefully to draw conclusions, but we can say now We failed to convince (our supporters). Democratic Assembly (DISY) Chairman Averof Neofytou voted in the capital Nicosia [Christos Avraamides/PIO/AFP] Very big failure Analyst Christoforos Christoforou said the results showed that DISY and AKEL were very big failures in convincing their policy interests to gather more supporters. The last vote of the DISY leaders appeal limited the voters estimated loss of 5% to 3%. Christopheru said that the real winner is Ilam, with its strong anti-immigration platform and hard-line nationalist policies and DIPA (DIPA), whose senior officials are still connected with former ministers and legislators and the center of political power. He said the high election threshold of 3.6% means that 15,000 voters who voted for smaller parties that did not win any seats have no voice in Parliament. Opinion polls in the weeks leading up to the vote show that DISY and AKEL will shed blood in support as disappointed voters seek alternatives in smaller parties. The election will not affect the operation of the government in this divided Mediterranean island country, because the executive power is in the hands of the president, and the president is elected separately. Of the nearly 558,000 eligible voters, approximately 65.73% voted for the 56 Greek Cypriot seats in Parliament. The voter turnout rate decreased by 1% from the previous vote. AKEL Secretary General Andros Kyprianou voted [Andreas Andreou/PIO/AFP] The key issues in the campaign are the countrys handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the expected economic restart as the country increases its vaccination efforts. The Cyprus government insists that immigration has exceeded the limit and cannot accept more immigrants, so immigration has always been a problem. The smaller parties called on voters not to accept DISY. They said DISY was burdened by corruption. An independent investigation into Cyprus defunct citizenship investment program found that the government illegally issued passports to the relatives of thousands of wealthy investors, some of whom had dark past lives. One Al Jazeera survey It was discovered that the program involved several senior Cypriot officials, politicians, lawyers and real estate developers, and the program allowed criminals to use the citizenship investment program to purchase European passports. San Diego (CNS)-According to police, a man still at large hijacked the Point Loma 7-11 convenience store at gunpoint on Monday morning. The robbery occurred after 4 am, at 7-11 on Loma Avenue, West Point. A police officer, Dino Delimitros, said that a man entered the store and brandished a pistol. The loss is unknown. The police officer said that the last time he saw the suspect was when he left the stores front door to the east. The robber was described as 6 feet 2 tall, 180 pounds, and more than 30 years old. He was wearing a black hat, black and white jacket, black pants and white shoes when he disappeared. Encourage anyone who knows about the reservations to call 888-580-8477 to contact the anti-crime organization. City News Service, Inc. Copyright 2021. The latest research shows that Brexit has shrunk British service exports by more than 110 billion pounds in four years, highlighting the far-reaching trade impact of Britains decision to leave the European Union. Experts from Aston University in Birmingham found that from 2016 to 2019, UK service exports were 113 billion pounds lower than the UK in June 2016 when it did not vote to withdraw from the European Union. Researchers have calculated this number by predicting how industries from IT and finance to business services will continue to follow the previous development methods and compared it with actual development since the Brexit vote. The gap is 113 billion pounds. Du Jun, professor of economics at Aston Business School, said: We have found that people are seriously concerned about the damage to the UKs service trade status and the potential spillover effects on the economy and service-related jobs. The survey results pointed out that after the UK and the UK reached an agreement with Brussels after Brexit, UK service exporters will face potential challenges in maintaining trade with the EU. The agreement contains only minimal terms for financial and professional services (industry vital to the UK economy). 2019 UK Has a surplus of 18 billion pounds In the service trade with the EU, the goods trade deficit is 97 billion pounds. Data for 2020 are not included in the Aston study because the epidemic has greatly distorted the economy. Du told the Financial Times that as the influence of the pandemic diminishes, the trend of service companies leaving the UK may accelerate. The Covid era brought difficulties to the transfer of companies and individuals. [which] Slowed down the relocation process. . . Now, this situation will pick up, and it will get worse as companies see little progress in the UK-Europe negotiations. I think this is just the beginning, she said. In terms of currency, financial services exports have been hit hardest because banks, insurance companies and asset management companies have transferred thousands of people and billions of dollars in capital from hubs in the City of London and Canary Wharf to Frankfurt, Paris, New centers in Amsterdam and Dublin so that they can trade seamlessly with customers after Brexit. Astons research found that other UK industries most affected include business services, tourism, transportation and information technology. Respected The effect behind the scenes [from leaving the EU] John Springford, deputy director of the European Reform Center think tank, said he cited research data from the National Bureau of Statistics, the London School of Economics and the Tony Blair Global Institute. change. He said the data showed that Britains trade with the European Union fell by one-fifth due to Brexit. He added: Compared with the historical branch of the UK staying in the EU (or actually in the single market), Brexit has made the UK poorer. Irelands cumulative service exports from 2016 to 2019 are 126 billion pounds higher than the 2016 trend forecast. Astons professor believes that this is because Ireland won British business after Brexit. Irish economists objected to this. Irelands service export surge is obviously mainly due to ICT exports (Facebook, Google, etc.), Conall Mac CoilleThe chief economist of Davy, Irelands largest stockbroker, refers to the fields of information, communications and technology. These companies have already operated in Ireland before the referendum and have witnessed explosive growth since then. The Unification Minister Lee In-young speaks during the plenary meeting of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on Friday. Yonhap The unification ministry said Friday it will seek to restore communication lines and dialogue with North Korea based on "sufficient conditions" for engagement created by last week's summit between President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Joe Biden. In a report to the National Assembly, the ministry also said that Pyongyang must be now thinking hard about its next steps after Moon and Biden agreed to take diplomatic and pragmatic approach in denuclearization efforts. "The leaders of South Korea and the U.S. committed themselves to complete denuclearization and peace building on the Korean Peninsula and signaled a message for a flexible approach based on diplomacy," the ministry said. "Sufficient conditions for resumption of dialogue have been created." "We will push to reconnect communication lines and resume dialogue between the South and the North," the ministry added. "We will make preparations for the possibility of dialogue thinking that it could happen anytime, anywhere and on any issues regardless of its format." The army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo blamed the Allied Democratic Forces for the attack, but other sources said the attack may be ethnic. A military official and monitor said at least 50 people were killed in two night attacks in the troubled eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A local official accused the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) associated with the Islamic State of ISIL (ISIS). Military spokesman Jules Ngongo told the dpa news agency that ADF fighters attacked the villages of Boga and Tchabi in the eastern area of ??Ituri. The two villages are located on the border between North Kivu and Ituri provinces, which is believed to be an active area of ??the ADF. Other sources said the attacks may be due to ethnic reasons. A community leader said that among the victims were children and the elderly. After a meeting of security forces in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, the number of casualties among the Democratic Republic of the Congo army was slightly higher, at 53. Local councillor Gracien Iracan said at least 60 people were killed. Ilacan told AFP: Seven trucks have come to transport the victims-this is a dramatic situation. They are still looking for the bodies, so the death toll may increase. Many injured people are still hiding. In the bushes. Targeted attacks Congressman Ilakan said: A large number of attackers appeared and the targets of the attack were clear. They killed two local leaders We cannot rule out that they are reckoning. Two local officials in Boga told AFP that the attackers had attacked a camp for displaced persons. They said that so far, 36 bodies have been found in Boga, and this number has not been independently confirmed. In view of the ethnic conflict in the area, these officials also cautioned against immediately accusing the ADF. The suspicion that the violence is racially motivated stems from the fact that the displaced persons camp in Boga mainly accommodates displaced persons from the Nyali group-but a nearby place to house Banyabwisha people survived. The head of the Nyali community in Tchabi told AFP over the phone that we believe that the people behind the attacks in these two villages are the same group of people. Compared with last year, the rate of severe acute malnutrition in children will more than double this year. As Haiti is facing the Coronavirus pandemic, it is expected that severe acute childhood malnutrition will more than double in Haiti this year. Violence soarsA report by the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) shows that the resources of the website are declining. Jean Gough, UNICEFs regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, said more than 56,000 children under the age of 5 may be affected, compared with 41,000 reported last year. Severe acute malnutrition is considered a life-threatening disease. In the less dangerous category, acute malnutrition among children under 5 in Haiti has increased by 61%. It is estimated that 217,000 children will suffer from malnutrition this year, compared with 134,000 last year. After visiting Haiti for a week, Goff said: I am very sad to see so many children who are malnourished. Some people will not be able to recover unless they are treated in time. UNICEF said that overall, about 4.4 million of Haitis 11 million inhabitants lack adequate food, including 1.9 million children. Gough told the Associated Press during a recent visit to a hospital in the southern city of Les Keyes that UNICEF has only one month of special food paste left for children in need, and hopes to get 300 by the end of June. Ten thousand U.S. dollars. Officials say the pandemic has also disrupted health services, and depending on the vaccine, the immunization rate for children has dropped from 28% to 44%. The reduction has led to an increase in diphtheria cases as health workers are prepared for the anticipated measles outbreak this year. UNICEF pointed out that unvaccinated children are also more likely to die of malnutrition. She never eats Lamir Samedi, a nurse who works at a community health center in the southern town of Saint-Jean-Doo, said that the goal is to vaccinate 80% of the children in the area, but they have not yet reached 50%. s level. Among the children in the hospital, there is an 11-month-old Denise Joseph, who was diagnosed with tuberculosis two weeks ago. She lay quietly in Les Cayes (Les Cayes) Baby bed. She never eats, said her grandmother, Marie-Rose Emile. She takes care of the baby because the mother is also sick. Emile worked hard to provide food for her babies. She said she hardly harvested any beans, corn or potatoes this year. UNICEF official Goff said she was frustrated by malnutrition and the decline in the number of child immunizations. She said that more outreach services are needed because there are not enough people coming to the community health center. Among those who visited the health center for the first time was 27-year-old Franceline Mileon. She heard a health officer in the neighborhood carrying a megaphone and announced that she had started a vaccination program, so she took her child. While waiting for the nurse to weigh, she sat on the bench holding the baby. Overall, UNICEF said it needs nearly 49 million U.S. dollars this year to meet Haitis humanitarian needs, adding that very few of them have already been pledged. The agencys US$5.2 million will be used for nutrition and US$4.9 million for health, including child immunizations. The head of the World Health Organization called for the rapid launch of global negotiations to reach agreement on an international treaty on pandemic prevention as part of the comprehensive reforms envisaged by member states. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at his annual ministerial meeting on Monday that the United Nations health agency faces serious challenges to maintain its COVID-19 response measures at current levels and requires sustainable and flexible funding. Earlier in the day, the health ministers agreed to study ambitious reform proposals put forward by independent experts to strengthen the capacity of WHO and countries to contain the new virus. The ministers of the 194 member states of the WHO will meet on November 29 to decide whether to start negotiations on a pandemic treaty. I think one of the recommendations that can best strengthen WHO and global health security is the recommendation on a pandemic preparedness and response treaty, which can also strengthen relations between member states and promote cooperation. This is a ripe idea. , Tedros said. In the closing speech of the WHO Virtual Annual Health Assembly, Tedros said that lack of sharing of data, information, pathogens, technology and resources is a decisive feature of the pandemic. A kind of [pandemic] The treaty will promote improvements in sharing, trust and accountability, and lay a solid foundation for the establishment of other global health security mechanisms. In the 73-year history of WHO, only two international treaties have been negotiated under the auspices of WHO: the 2003 Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the 2005 International Health Regulations. According to statistics from Johns Hopkins University, the coronavirus has infected more than 170 million people and killed nearly 3.6 million people. Provide more funding to WHO On the last day of the week-long conference, WHO member states agreed in a 14-page resolution to strengthen WHOs ability to quickly and appropriately assess disease outbreaks that may cause global concern. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said at the conference: We must strengthen global (disease) surveillance and provide the World Health Organization with the power and ability to carry out this important work for people all over the world. The states call for a comprehensive reform of the global warning system and for a stronger and more independent WHO to help prevent future epidemics [File: Francis Mascarenhas/REUTERS] According to the findings of the three independent teams reported to the General Assembly, it is sad that countries and institutions are unprepared for COVID-19. They called for a comprehensive reform of the global warning system and called for a stronger and more independent WHO to help avoid future pandemics. One of the reports found that United Nations agencies have been too slow in declaring so-called public health emergencies of international concern. The WHO sounded the highest level of alarm on January 30, 2020. After several days of discussion, the members agreed to set up a new working group to study and streamline the many recommendations in the report, and put forward specific recommendations for consideration by the conference next year. The text calls on Member States to ensure that adequate, flexible, sustainable and predictable funding is provided for the WHO programme budget. Only about 16% of the WHO budget comes from regular dues, and the rest comes from voluntary contributions and earmarked funds. Mondays resolution also called on all countries to strengthen their core public health capabilities and enhance their ability to detect new threats and effectively spread these threats at home and abroad. Mike Ryan, WHOs director of emergency situations, welcomed these decisions. He said: Now pathogens have the upper hand. They appear more frequently on an out-of-balance planet, and often appear quietly. He said: We need to transform what has exposed us to this pandemic, our interconnection into a force. Chiles ambassador Frank Tressler Zamorano, representing 60 countries, said that an epidemic treaty would help response to the calls of many experts and reset the system. At the same time, the resolution did not explicitly support the experts suggestion that, without waiting for the country to give the green light, a broader power to the WHO to investigate or communicate about health threats. A Shawnee man is in the hospital following a boating accident that killed two of his children and their mother. New week means new episodes to watch! But before that, EXO's Baekhyun is the next Korean icon to sing "Doom at Your Service" OST! EXO's Baekhyun's "U" Set for Release on May 31 In "Doom at Your Service" Episode 5, EXO's Baekhyun's "U" played, the third official soundtrack for tvN's fantasy-romance drama. A week later, "U" will be available on May 31 at 6:00 p.m. (KST) on various music sites. "U" is a ballad song that displays an emotional atmosphere, perfect for the Park Bo Young and Seo In Guk's characters' love story in "Doom at Your Service." Baekhyun's voice never fails to amaze the listeners as he has his own way in showing the perfect blend of emotions as he sings. Park Bo Young and Seo In Guk Shared Their First Kiss Myul Mang (Seo In Guk) and Tak Dong Kyung (Park Bo Young) made the viewers scream after they shared a passionate kiss under the rain in "Doom at Your Service" Episode 6. As the story of Myul Mang and Tak Dong Kyung progressed, their feelings for each other also started to develop. Many times, Myul Mang teased to kiss Tak Dong Kyung but he failed everytime. Along the way, he also got confused with his feelings towards the lady. The two began to experience lots of first times together, making their budding romance special compared to Myul Mang's previous clients. While strolling along the streets, Tak Dong Kyung told the handsome deity what her wish is. He was shocked by what the web editor said. Myul Mang was the one who always asked Tak Dong Kyung to love him - so much that she'd want the world to end - but she got him when she said that her wish is to be loved by him. They stared at each other for a minute, and soon realized that their lips were already locked. The rain poured profusely, and after they broke away from each other, Myul Mang suddenly disappeared. Viewers now can't help but feel excited about the love story of these two in the upcoming episodes. Are you watching "Doom at Your Service"? What's your favorite scene so far? Don't forget to 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 "Taxi Driver" star Lee Je Hoon anticipates the possibility of the SBS drama returning for another season. Following the triumphant season finale, the 36-year-old actor expressed that he is looking forward to the brand new season. In a recent interview cited by a South Korean publication, he mentioned that if given the opportunity, he would like "Taxi Driver 2" to illustrate more stories about justice instead of personal revenge as highlighted in the first season. Moreover, the actor says that he is thrilled with how the story would be written. As the interview continues, he also hints at the circumstance of bringing out and tackling unresolved cases and "showed them through dramas," adding that this move might capture the viewer's interest. Lee Je Hoon Talks About his Experience on "Taxi Driver" The "Move to Heaven" actor plays the role of Kim Do Ki, a former Special Forces officer turned member of the Rainbow Taxi group headed by Jang Sung Chul (Kim Eui Sung.) Apart from its usual transaction, the group offers a revenge service from victims whom the law failed to protect. Just like his clients, Do Ki was also a victim of injustice after a psychopath serial killer brutally killed his mother. Aside from Mr. Jang, Kim Do Ki executes the plan together with his team members Ahn Go Eun (Pyo Ye Jin), who is the resident skilled hacker alongside Rainbow Taxi lead mechanic, Choi Kyung Goo (Jang Hyuk Jin) and his assistant, Park Jin Eon (Bae Yoo Ram.) In the interview, Lee Je Hoon pointed out that he felt mixed emotions now that "Taxi Driver" has come to an end. Despite concluding the drama with a soaring viewership rating, it appears that the actor will surely miss their great teamwork and his special bond with his co-actors. "I finished filming last week, and the last episode was aired last week. Personally, I filmed for a very long time, but after it ended, I feel very sorry. It's because I want to be together more, so I feel like I want to get together again soon," he explained. Although there are no confirmations yet from SBS or representatives of the show, based on "Taxi Driver" episode 16, it seems that the team might be back for another round of action. To recall, after the Rainbow Taxi boss hints about the end of their revenge service, the latter part of the episode showed the team welcoming their new member, Prosecutor Kang Ha Na, played by Esom. "Taxi Driver" Cast Names Their Favorite Scenes In a recent interview, the cast members revealed their most memorable scene from the top rating drama. Lee Je Hoon mentioned the car chase scenes adding, "It was especially thrilling every time the car flipped over, and I felt satisfied as a viewer because I could get a proper taste of the essence of car chase scenes." Meanwhile, Esom says that episode 12 was significant to her. It is where her belief as a prosecutor changed when her dearest colleague, Investigator Wang Min Ho (Lee Yoo Joon), was brutally killed. KDramastars owns this article. Written by Geca Wills MEDFORD, Ore. --- We have now learned the names of both the victim and the suspect in a shooting that happened in Medford Saturday night. Police responded to a call of a person down in the parking lot of Weldon's Cleaners around 8 p.m. When they arrived to the scene, off of Crater Lake Avenue, they found a man who had been shot. Police identified him as 45-year-old Robert Houze who sadly passed away shortly after he was taken to the hospital on Saturday Night. Investigators determined the victim, Mr. Houze, had been inside the cleaners when he got into an argument with another man. That man left the scene and came back minutes later, driving a black SUV. When Mr. Houze approached his car in the parking lot, he was shot. The suspect immediately left the scene. Locating the car - and connecting it to a nearby home - officers were able to identify the suspect as 45-year-old Lorenzo Fisher. Detectives obtained a search warrant and for officer safety reasons, called Fisher before entering his home. He told police he was not home but agreed to turn himself in. Fisher was taken into custody just before 2:30, early Sunday morning. He is in jail for murder, felon in possession of a firearm, and unlawful use of a weapon. During a search of Lorenzo Fisher's home, police were able to locate a handgun, believed to be the one used in the shooting. The investigation also revealed that the two men did not know each other prior to the incident on Saturday night. The three Tacoma Police Department officers charged in the death of Manuel Ellis are out of jail after posting bail Friday. Officers Christopher Burbank, Matthew Collins and Timothy Rankine all face a first-degree manslaughter charge, while Burbank and Collins also are charged with second-degree murder after Ellis died when they tried to arrest him more than a year ago. Ellis, a Black man, died when police in Tacoma attempted to arrest him on March 3, 2020, for allegedly "trying to open car doors of occupied vehicles." Ellis had to be restrained after a physical altercation with officers, according to police. Part of the arrest was caught on video by a driver. And Ellis could be heard crying, "I can't breathe," on police dispatch audio. The three officers pleaded not guilty during a remote appearance Friday, and bail was set at $100,000. Prosecutors had asked the judge for $1 million bail. Pierce County Jail records show that the three men were released at the same time Friday afternoon. This is the first time Washington's attorney general has criminally charged officers for the unlawful use of deadly force, according to a statement from Attorney General Bob Ferguson. The Tacoma Police Union, in a statement, has called the prosecution "a politically motivated witch hunt" and the officers "fine public servants ... sacrificed at the altar of public sentiment." "An unbiased jury will find that the officers broke no laws and, in fact, acted in accordance with the law, their training, and Tacoma Police Department policies," the union said. Court documents released Thursday said Ellis died during Burbank and Collins' "felonious assault and/or unlawful imprisonment of Ellis." Burbank and Collins "tackled and struck Ellis multiple times, applied an LVNR (Lateral Vascular Neck Restraint) on Ellis, and shot him with a taser three times, all without justification," according to the documents. The two officers also "failed to render or call for urgent medical aid," put Ellis in "hogtie restraints," failed to alert other officers to the medical distress, and "failed to intervene when the officer put the spit hood on Ellis and then failed to remove the spit hood," according to the documents. Spit hoods are items that some corrections officers, police officers and paramedics could place on a detainee's head in certain circumstances to make it harder for that person to spit at, or bite, those officers or others. Rankine "recklessly caused Ellis's death when, after hearing Ellis say he could not breathe" the officer continued to hold Ellis in the prone position and applied pressure to his back, court documents said. In non-pandemic summers, both continental Europe and the United Kingdom draw crowds of tourists from around the world. Last summer, they couldn't get there. This summer many should be able to, though the tangle of entry requirements will vary by country and could change quickly. Here's a guide to help you determine where and when you can vacation this summer in the 27 member countries of the European Union and in non-EU European countries. When will I be able to go? This will vary by country visited and the traveler's home country. Throughout Europe and the United Kingdom, conditions of and requirements for entry differ from country to country, as does timing. The EU is trying to create more universal requirements for tourism, but each country retains sovereign powers to controls its borders in an emergency. There are currently eight countries on the EU's 'White List,' a list of countries whose citizens are permitted to do non-essential travel (such as vacation travel) to the European Union. As of May 6, when the last list was released, countries on the White List were Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and China. This list is expected to be updated shortly and could include the United States. On May 20, the EU also adopted a 'roadmap,' or recommendation that would allow vaccinated travelers from outside the EU to go to Europe; details are expected to be finalized by the end of June. The roadmap will give each country an 'emergency brake' mechanism that would close borders if there were a new Covid-19 outbreak, either in the traveler's destination or home country. While EU-wide policies are still being finalized, a number of European countries have opened or will shortly open their borders to non-European travelers under certain conditions; these include Greece, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey and Iceland. Meanwhile, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales -- the four countries of the United Kingdom, which is no longer part of the EU -- have each established its own criteria for tourist travel, reviewed every three weeks. These criteria involve a red, amber and green system that could entail a quarantine and various tests, depending on the traveler's home country. What proof will be required to show I've been fully and properly vaccinated? In May the EU adopted the concept of an 'EU Digital Covid Certificate' for its own citizens, proposing that it be in place by July 1. This would digitally prove that the certificate holder had been fully vaccinated with an EU-approved vaccine (AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna or Pfizer), had recovered from Covid-19, or had tested negative for it. Although it is hoped Americans will eventually be able to digitally provide the same information when they travel to Europe, in order to gain entry there, it is unclear when and how this will happen, in part because the US government has not established a similar digital system. Currently, it appears Americans may be able to provide alternative types of proof, such as their paper vaccination card, for EU travel. Will I need a Covid-19 test? A Covid-19 test requirement will depend entirely on where you're going. For example, as of now, England requires some visitors to test both before and after arrival. Italy now lets passengers on special 'Covid-tested flights' from the US, Canada, Japan and the United Arab Emirates visit; passengers on these flights must test for Covid-19 before departure and on arrival in Italy, as well as on departure from Italy. Anyone age 2 and older flying back into the United States will need a test within three days of their flight's departure or prove they've recovered from Covid-19. Can I book now, before the rules are finalized? You certainly can, though thoroughly research cancellation and refund policies of any airline, hotel, tour operator or attraction you are considering before you book, in case anything changes -- in your health or in the pandemic situation in your country or the country you are visiting -- that would prompt you to cancel your trip. Jennifer Tombaugh, president of Tauck, a Connecticut-based tour operator that specializes in travel to Europe, says travelers can 'absolutely book now, though they should make sure they have a very good understanding of cancellation fees and any other restrictions. The bottom line is that it's very important that you read the fine print, understand what payment is required when, what is refundable and what is not. A knowledgeable, plugged-in tour operator or travel agent can help you with this.' How quickly will destinations get booked up, once any new rules are announced? This will depend on the destination and if it is already accepting tourists, for example, from other European countries, the United States or Asia. Greece, which has been letting certain tourists in since mid-April, is a popular destination that will probably get booked quickly. So is Portugal, which ended a ban on British tourists earlier this month (May). It will probably be easier to book a vacation in a major European or British city, where many hotel rooms will likely be available, than in a small resort town with limited lodging options. How difficult will it be to book a reasonably priced flight to Europe? Terry Dale, president and chief executive of the United States Tour Operators Association, suggests 'booking now -- if you're serious, get a placeholder.' Both he and Eduardo Santander, executive director and chief executive of the European Travel Commission, a nonprofit organization that represents European national tourist offices, expect there might be a shortage of capacity on flights to Europe, since travel there has been in such flux, and it is not easy for carriers to respond quickly to increases in demand. However, Craig Jenks, an expert on the transatlantic airline market, believes if you 'book closer in, there will be opportunities' somewhere, due to imbalances between demand and supply. He suggests monitoring flights on websites like Google, Expedia and Travelocity. Will I be able to cancel, if there's a renewed shutdown or other unforeseen event? That will depend entirely on the travel supplier -- such as an airline, hotel or tour operator -- you've booked. Although most airlines have been very flexible about not enforcing cancellation or rebooking fees during the pandemic and some have even eliminated certain change fees, it's not clear how long their flexibility will last, if air travel demand continues to strengthen. Travel agents encourage the purchase of trip insurance: Some policies are now available that provide coverage for pandemic-related disruptions, such as Covid-related cancellation, Covid medical coverage, and additional accommodation or transportation. Will I be able to visit more than one country in Europe, whether I am traveling by land or on some sort of cruise ship? This situation is in flux, as vaccine programs are rolled out, allowing borders to open, and as new variants are discovered, which close borders down. When the EU reaches agreement on standards for reopening and employs the Digital Covid Certificate, intra-European travel should be relatively easy and possible. But, as of now, for example, Americans can go to Greece without quarantining, but they cannot visit Germany or the Netherlands. If you are working with a tour operator or a cruise line, it will have the latest information on intra-European travel. Will I have to be tested or quarantine when I return to my home country? That will depend entirely on the regulations of your home country. As mentioned, almost all air travelers entering the US are required to test before arrival or prove they've recovered from Covid. What are the best sources of information to help me plan my trip? Reopen.Europa.EU is a website maintained by the EU that provides an overview of the health situation in European countries and information on various restrictions in place, including quarantine and testing requirements for travelers, and on mobile coronavirus contact tracing and warning apps. The Sherpa website is a Toronto-based, independent resource that offers the latest information on travel documentation and requirements worldwide. The website of the European Travel Commission offers links to specific Covid information for its members' countries. Also check the website of any airlines you are considering booking for their latest requirements. Tom Jenkins, chief executive of ETOA, the trade association for European tour operators, believes major European cities have been pummeled by the pandemic and therefore will be evolving. 'The service economy of Europe is adapting to huge changes in demand. Yet now is a great time to go there. Michelangelo's 'David' and da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa' didn't catch Covid and they are feeling very lonely.' 'It will be an exciting and wild time,' predicts Tombaugh. 'Expect the unexpected and have a good sense of humor to make the most of the new world of travel we are all discovering.' Video by Lee Min-young, Kim Kang-min, Yun Da-been Calls for accelerated action concerning the climate crisis, fueled by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, have been growing steadily. Korea's hosting of an international summit on the environment later this month is expected to serve as an opportunity to show the nation's commitment to and efforts toward containing climate change in accordance with those of the international community, according to the executive director of the event. The 2021 P4G Seoul Summit is the first-ever multilateral environmental summit to be hosted by the Korean government. It is scheduled to take place on May 30 and 31, and is themed, "Inclusive Green Recovery towards Carbon Neutrality." The upcoming event was originally planned for June 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. P4G, which stands for "Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030," is an international initiative to accelerate the response to climate change and the implementation of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Launched in 2017, it is comprised of 12 countries: Bangladesh, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Africa, Vietnam and Korea. WHITE CITY, Ore. Firefighters were able to make this tremendous amount of progress during Sundays day shift and through the night; operations today will focus on reaching near, if not compete containment. It remains 49 acres in size, and is on private and BLM land. An infrared drone flight was conducted Sunday evening, revealing multiple hotspots within the fire perimeter. Overnight, fire crews worked to extinguish those areas. Additional gridding will take place today, allowing firefighters to canvas the entire footprint of the fire for potential areas of concern. This evening, crews will remain on scene and do an additional infrared scan. This technology is extremely important to finalizing operations, as it detects heat in specific areas, even when indicators like smoke or embers arent immediately visible. The E. Antelope Fire was initially reported on Saturday around 2:45 p.m. The road was closed to traffic with the exception of fire resources and residents; these closures have since been lifted. The Jackson County Sheriffs Office and Jackson County Emergency Management issued level two (Be Set) evacuations orders for the immediate area; they have since been downgraded to level 1 (Be Ready). Additional evacuation information is available through the Jackson County Sheriffs Office and Jackson County Emergency Management. ODF Southwest Oregon District would like to thank our partner agencies who have helped on the fire lines, including the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Jackson County Fire District 3 and Lake Creek Fire. We would also like to thank the veterans who have spent their Memorial Day weekend with us, once again protecting our community; your efforts on the fire and in your military service are much appreciated. The cause of this fire remains under investigation. Additional information relating to the cause will be released when it is safe to do so without hampering the investigation. Fire information for Jackson and Josephine counties is always available on online at www.swofire.com and Facebook, @ODFSouthwest. UPDATE: The Sycan River Fire continues to burn on the Fremont-Winema National Forest in Klamath County approximately 20 miles north of Beatty. The fire is estimated to be approximately 650 acres with no containment. Approximately 5 acres of private wildlands are in the fire area. The fire was reported Sunday afternoon around 2:30. The cause is under investigation. Firefighters made progress great progress on the fire overnight, with an estimated 80 percent of the fire lined and successful burnout operations took place. Firefighters are focusing on the southern side of the fire today to strengthen protection for nearby private lands. Resources on the fire include engines, fire crews, dozers, water tenders and aerial resources from federal and state agencies and contractors. The South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP) Type 3 Team took over management of the Sycan River Fire Monday, May 31st. Forest Road 27 is closed from the intersection with Forest Road 30 north to the intersection with Forest Road 46. This is the only road closure associated with the fire. However, drivers should be prepared for increased fire traffic in the area and aware of their surroundings. This includes large equipment on narrow Forest roads and traffic on area highways. A Level 2 (get set) evacuation order remains in place for the Sycan Forest Estates per the Klamath County Sheriffs Office. This means residents need to be prepared to leave immediately if needed. For the latest evacuation information, visit https://www.facebook.com/KlamathCountyGov. To sign up for Klamath County alerts, visit http://alerts.klamathcounty.org. American Red Cross and the Klamath County Community Emergency Response Team stand ready to set up a temporary evacuation point in the Bly area, should an increase in the evacuation level be issued from Incident Command. The weather forecast for Monday and into this week is for summer-like temperatures, with hot and dry conditions. The spring has been unseasonably warm and dry which, when mixed with winds, can carry fire quickly. The public is asked to use extreme caution with anything that can spark a wildfire. This includes campfires are dead-out and cold to the touch before leaving. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ UPDATE: According to the U.S. Forest Service, after a detailed look into the Sycan River Fire, fire crews have estimated that the flames are burning about 20 miles north of Beatty and that the fire has grown to 250 acres with no containment. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Right now it is still being determined if there are private lands affected. According to the Forest Service, a local Type 3 Incident Management Team will take over management of the fire tomorrow at 6 a.m. UPDATE: KLAMATH FALLS, Ore-- Evacuation orders for Sycan Forest estates have been upgraded to level 2 and residents need to be prepared to leave immediately if needed. The American Red Cross and Klamath County cert are mobilizing to setup a temporary evacuation point in the parking lot of gearhart elementary school located at 61100 Metler Street in Bly, OR. According to the South Central Oregon Fire Management, the Sycan River Fire is currently burning on private and National Forest System lands, approximately 5 miles north of Beatty. The fire is also burning on the Chiloquin Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service - Fremont-Winema National Forest. The fire is estimated to be approximately 20 acres with no containment. It is primarily wind-driven and burning in mixed conifer and brush. The cause is under investigation. KLAMATH FALLS, Ore-- According to the Klamath Falls Fire Dispatch, Level 1 evacuations have been issued for the Sycan Forest Estates north of Bly, Oregon in Klamath County. A Level 1 evacuation order means "BE READY' for a potential evacuation. Residents should be aware of the danger that exists to the area and monitor emergency services. According to Klamath Falls Fire Dispatch, ODF crews are assisting with the operations on the wildfire. According to the Klamath County Sheriff's Office they were prompted by the U.S. Forest service the issue the Level 1 evacuation order. Sheriff's officers have told NewsWatch 12 air resources are currently being used to fight the wildfire and more resources are on their way to the scene. Newswatch 12 has been told that the wildfire is burning in a remote area. NewsWatch 12 has reached out to the Oregon Department of Forestry for more information but have been unable to get in contact. This is a developing story and we will continue to provide updates as soon as we find more information out. OREGON -- The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is reminding boaters that all watercraft entering Oregon are required to be inspected at an aquatic invasive species station when the stations are open. Failure to stop at an open station could result in a $110 fine. Inspection stations located in Ashland and Ontario are open year-round. Seasonal stations in Brookings, Klamath Falls, Lakeview and Umatilla are now operational. All vehicles towing or carrying motorized or non-motorized boats, including canoes, kayaks -- and even paddleboards -- are required to stop. This includes commercial watercraft. ODFW says inspections for aquatic invasive species typically take five to 10 minutes and drivers are not required to get out of their vehicles. Watercraft found with aquatic invasive species attached to the vessel are decontaminated on the spot. ODFW says both boat inspections and decontaminations are free. People who stop at these stations are directly contributing to our success in keeping aquatic invasive zebra and quagga mussels, snails and aquatic plants out of Oregon, said Rick Boatner, ODFW Invasive Species Supervisor. Boatner says inspecting boats coming into the state is the first line of defense in keeping aquatic invasive species such as zebra or quagga mussels, snails and non-native aquatic plants out of Oregon. He says these invaders can cost millions of dollars in damage to water delivery systems and serious environmental damage to rivers, lakes and native aquatic species. Everyone who boats needs to make sure they always practice 'Clean, Drain, and Dry.' All boaters and anglers should be vigilant about cleaning and drying all their gear after each use, Boatner said. Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Permits or Waterway Access Permit are required for most boaters in Oregon. Both resident and non-resident, non-motorized boats (paddlecraft) ten feet and longer require a Waterway Access Permit. All non-resident motorized boats require an Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention permit. Resident motorized boat permits are included in the Oregon boater registration fee. Permits can be purchased on-line at either the Oregon State Marine Board website or with ODFW Electronic License system. Permit sales provide funding for the six boat inspection stations throughout Oregon. So far this year, crews have inspected 3,796 boats and intercepted 41 vessels with other types of bio-fouling besides quagga or zebra mussels. Inspectors also have hot-water decontaminated three watercraft with quagga or zebra mussels and one boat with Conrad false mussels. In 2020, the Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program inspected 23,040 watercraft, intercepted 264 with other type of aquatic bio-fouling beside quagga or zebra mussel and performed 12 hot water decontamination on boats intercepted with quagga or zebra mussels. Less: Just look at London, Ont. Same: We hear more bad news. More: Canada is on the right path. Vote View Results All Central Okanagan public schools have half-masted their flags in honour of the 215 Indigenous children whose bodies were found in a mass grave at a residential school in Kamloops. The City of Kelowna and the town of Peachland, whose waterfront Maple Leaf is shown here, have also half-masted their flags. A picture of Joyce Echaquan is seen during a vigil in front of the hospital where she died in Joliette, Que. on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. The coroner's inquiry examining the death of Joyce Echaquan is moving to the recommendations phase of its work, with an expert witness calling for a robust cultural security policy and political will to ensure it works properly.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson By Moses Ndhaye Former presidential candidate Joseph Kabuleta has threatened to sue the government if it announces a second lockdown as means to curb the spread of Covid-19. Kabuleta says he has instructed the human rights lawyer Daniel Walyemera to drag the government to court in case another lockdown is imposed. Last week the ministry of health permanent secretary Diana Atwine warned of a looming second lock-down if Ugandans continued to disregard the Covid-19 prevention SOPs, which she blamed for the surging cases of new infections. However, Kabuleta says that rather than impose another lockdown, the government should instead strengthen the capacity of its health facilities to effectively handle the COVID cases. He has also threatened to sue companies that are forcing their workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or be denied access to their workstations. Currently, Uganda has 46,623 covid-19 cases with 362 deaths. Video by Lee Min-young, Kim Kang-minThis documentary film is supported by the Judith Neilson Institute's Asian Stories project, in collaboration with Hong Kong's South China Morning Post, Indonesia's Tempo magazine, the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, and Manila-based ABS-CBN.In July, 2019, two college students who call themselves "Team Flame" first broke the story of the "Nth room," a massive digital sex crime case where perpetrators blackmailed women including underage girls into performing sexually explicit acts on camera, with thousands of users paying in cryptocurrency to watch.What Team Flame started off an investigation into distribution channels of illicit, hidden-camera videos in the hope of submitting it to a journalism exhibition ended up revealing a nationwide scandal in Korea that horrified the public.Interactions among those involved in the digital sex crime-ring first began on social media services such as Twitter before conversations were moved to Telegram an encrypted messaging app. All of the exploitative videos were then distributed by chat room operators on Telegram to paid-up members. The number of users of the Nth Room and the "Doctor's Room," where the sexually abusive content was uploaded, may have numbered anywhere between the tens of thousands to more than a quarter of a million.Meanwhile, we're witnessing a similar phenomenon in other countries around the world sexual exploitation being transformed into a lucrative business with the advent of high-speed networks and sophisticated digital devices."There was also an incident in Hong Kong that was very similar to the Nth room case. We got a request from the authorities there asking us how the videos got taken down and deleted, so we shared everything we knew with them. There will be circumstances that are unique to each country, but the crime is fundamentally similar in nature," Seo Seung-hui, director of the Korea Cyber Sexual Violence Response Center, told The Korea Times.Numerous Chinese-language chat rooms similar to the Nth room were also found on Telegram. "We've gained access to four of those chat rooms which are clearly abusive, and one of them has over 30,000 users, and there are thousands more in the other ones," Team Flame said."Videos being circulated in those chat rooms included sexually-exploitative videos from the Nth room as well as others that appeared to have been filmed in China. There were thousands, tens of thousands of illicit videos being shared and distributed."To delve deeper into the evolving digital sex crime cases in Korea and across Asia, The Korea Times has been collaborating with four media organizations the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, Tempo in Indonesia, and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism and ABS-CBN in the Philippines on a special investigation into this issue over the last seven months.This hour-long documentary explains what happened in the Nth room chat rooms, how girls fell prey to the perpetrators, and how the digital world and social media platforms provide an optimal environment for online sex offenses to take place. We will also be looking into how similar cases are being seen in other Asian countries, and how and which social media platforms have become a central hub for criminals in Korea, China, Japan and other parts of Asia. An opportunity for energy storage innovators in Ireland has opened, with SMEs developing energy storage solutions able to apply for the free support programme via www.stepsnwe-application.com. The STEPS Business Support Programme is coordinated by 3 Counties Energy Agency (3cea) and aims to address the lack of competitiveness for battery storage solutions in Northwest Europe, including Ireland. It combines business support and mentoring with access to real-life testing. As electricity becomes a more significant part of our energy mix, the requirement to be able to store electricity will become increasingly important," says 3ceas EU Projects Manager, Michael Doran for STEPS. "Energy storage is another way that SMEs can reduce their energy costs and increase their efficiency if they can access systems which provide low-cost electricity when they need it. Currently, many SMEs in the area have developed effective and sustainable storage solutions but have difficulty validating their products and bringing them to market. As a result, 80 per cent of the mid-size battery storage market in the EU is supplied from outside Europe. STEPS aims to increase Europes competitiveness in this sector by supporting storage device technology SMEs at the development stage. (Products already available on the market are not eligible.) There are two large obstacles for most SMEs to overcome," Colin Healy, EU Communications Officer for 3cea explains. "The first is limited access to testbeds. Testbeds help emerging energy storage companies to get their product to the commercial standard and often takes several years to develop. The second obstacle is the fragmented regulation in the EU. Each country has its own energy market regulations which influence products technical specifications and the potential profitability of the business. The free STEPS business support programme will resolve this with a two-pronged approach: By giving SMEs access to a testbed. Having access to testing sites is crucial for any SMEs pathway to the market, and to drive innovation and job creation. Exploring regional energy regulation and legislation to help SMEs tailor their solutions to foreign market conditions. Through STEPS, SMEs will gain advice on entering new markets in Northwest Europe, engage with potential end-users, and increase the awareness of solution providers. Going further, STEPS will connect providers of new e-storage solutions with end-users via a business support programme to increase their technological readiness level (TRL) through real-life testing. At 3cea we work with SMEs to build a cleaner, more sustainable future across a range of projects and believe they should be given the tools needed to succeed and accelerate the green transition. Thats why we are offering the STEPS Business Support Programme support to e-storage SMEs across Ireland and we welcome enquiries from businesses," says Paddy Phelan, CEO of 3cea and President of the Irish Energy Storage Association. An Irish energy company, Cleantech Renewable Energy Ltd based Clonmel, Tipperary was successful in the first STEPS call in January 2021. Under the STEPS voucher one scheme, Cleantech got support (valued at 12,000) from the international expertise of the Knowledge Partners (NUIG, Ireland and TU Darmstadt, Germany) to tailor their battery storage. Six months later, Cleantech is now being considered for the second voucher support. The second voucher will include a bursary of 50,000 to implement tailored products at the testbed and develop a key understanding of how to position their products in the Irish marketplace and beyond. Wexford County Hall will be the testbed centre should Cleantech be successful in the second funding round. Steps is an Interreg-funded project which intends to accelerate energy sustainability on both a local and global scale. Ireland has been assigned 1,194,410 of the total 5M budget for the overall Interreg Northwest Europe project. For terms and conditions visit www.stepsnwe- application.com |www.3cea.ie. MANTORVILLE, Minn. - Ahead of Memorial Day, Mantorville broke ground today on a monument going up in honor of families who have lost loved ones in service Saturday. The plan for this monument has been in the works for two years. Local Gold Star Families worked in conjunction with the Hershel Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation to make the project happen. This will be the first Gold Star monument in Minnesota. The monuments show support for surviving family members of those who died while serving in the U.S. military. The Swensons' son Curtis was in the U.S. Marine Corp. He was killed in Afghanistan in 2010. The family wanted to create a place for Gold Star Families to gather and reflect with the support of the community. When our sons and daughters or husbands or wives go off to war, there's a family, part of them that goes with them. and sometimes some of them don't return like our son, says Dave Swenson. Kay Swenson adds, It's just so touching when people remember our loved one and wanna make sure that we're comforted. There's a whole community out there that really helps us out, and it helps us through our journey as well, so that we're not alone. Fundraising is ongoing for future phases of the monument-building plan supported by Dodge County. Those wishing to donate may contact treasurer Kay Swenson, akaswenson@outlook.com. (WISN/CNN) -- An intruder stumbled into a home where out-of-town sheriff's deputies were staying in Wisconsin. (CBS NEWSPATH) -- Isolation and depression are common problems during the pandemic, especially for injured service members, veterans, and their caregivers. An American Red Cross program is helping families get the resources they need. Teen buys storage units to return the contents to their original owners in Rhode Island China's logistics sector back to pre-pandemic level CGTN) 09:18, May 31, 2021 Staff workers work at a warehouse of courier service provider Yunda Express in Zhili Town of Huzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 8, 2021. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) China's logistics industry has returned to pre-pandemic level thanks to steady growth continuing in April, industrial data showed. The value of the country's social logistics reached 97.4 trillion yuan (about $15.25 trillion) in the first four months of this year, up 20 percent year on year, said the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing. With the January-April growth rate in 2020 and 2021 averaging at 7.2 percent, the sector's size and growth rate have bounced back to the pre-pandemic level registered in 2019, the federation said. The combined revenue of the logistics sector amounted to 3.6 trillion yuan in the January-April period, jumping 34.3 percent year on year, according to the federation. The growth rate remains at a relatively high level, indicating that the logistics market has further recovered, the organization added. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) People walk past a poster for the movie "Fast & Furious 9" at a shopping mall in Beijing, May 26. WWE star and actor John Cena apologized after calling Taiwan a country in promotional interviews for his upcoming film "Fast & Furious 9." AP-Yonhap By David A. Tizzard Here's what you need to know: Monday, May 31 Visitors wearing face masks as a precaution against COVID-19 walk in the rain at Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, May 28. AP-Yonhap By Scott Shepherd Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told CNN the United States has "offensive options" to respond to cyberattacks following another major attack that is believed to have been carried out by the Russian group behind the SolarWinds hack. View of the new Munch Museum building in Oslo, Norway / Courtesy of Munch Museum By Kwon Mee-yoo "No longer shall I paint interiors with men reading and women knitting. I will paint living people who breathe and feel and suffer and love," Norwegian artist Edvard Munch once said. Best known for his expressive works, Munch donated a large portion of his oeuvre to the city of Oslo upon his death, laying foundation for the Munch Museum, or MUNCH, dedicated to the artist. Some 27,000 works of art by the Norwegian artist, including the iconic "The Scream," will be together under one roof once again as the MUNCH in Oslo will open its new building on Oct. 22, after some 18 months of delays due to construction issues and the pandemic. "We have looked forward to this so much. The new MUNCH will exceed your expectations, because there's going to be so much happening here. I think that you have to come back several times to be able to see all the exhibitions and all the other activities that we are going to present," Stein Olav Henrichsen, director of MUNCH, said last Thursday during a press conference announcing the new museum's opening date. After Munch's oeuvre was bequeathed to the city of Oslo, the Munch Museum opened in 1963, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the artist's birth. The original Toyen building was a good home to Munch's works, but became more famous when "The Scream" and "Madonna" were stolen in 2004 and the city government decided to build a new museum building in the Bjorvika area in 2008. "This museum is, first of all, a museum for a single artist. Edvard Munch is probably the most important contribution from Norway to global art heritage. And he is still relevant today, 80 years after his death. When we have exhibitions abroad, people are running to see and experience him. He means a lot to people all over the world." Munch is also popular in Korea and his first major exhibit in Korea "Edvard Munch and the Modern Soul" in 2014 was held in cooperation with the MUNCH. The exhibition attracted large crowds here who wanted to see a lithograph version of "The Scream" as well as other works by the Norwegian artist. "Munch would be astonished to see the enormous relevance he has all over the world. I don't think he could have anticipated that kind of effect that his art has now, 80 years after he died," Henrichsen said. "It would be very interesting to see how many people will come visit us, not only from our own city and country, but also from the international art-interested public." "The Scream" by Edvard Munch / Courtesy of Munch Museum This file photo taken on April 30 shows a pack and vials of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson (JJ) COVID-19 vaccine at the ZNA Middelheim hospital in Antwerp, Belgium. Korea is set to receive the vaccine for 1 million people from the United States this week, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said Sunday. AFP-Yonhap South Korea is set to receive the Johnson & Johnson (JJ) COVID-19 vaccine for 1 million people from the United States this week following Washington's pledge to donate vaccines for Korean troops, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said Sunday. It is nearly double the volume that U.S. President Joe Biden vowed to provide, during a meeting with President Moon Jae-in earlier this month, to fully inoculate all 550,000 South Korean service members. "Our military aircraft will bring the vaccine home (within this week) to inoculate military-affiliated members, including reservists," Kim said, presiding over a government disaster management meeting. "The detailed vaccination plan will be announced later by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency," he added. In April, South Korea authorized the use of Janssen's single-shot regimen as the country's third approved vaccine, though this type of vaccine is yet to be administered. Around 10 million Americans, including members of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), have received JJ's. Of all South Korean troops, more than 114,000 in their 30s and older have already received AZ vaccines, while younger soldiers are supposed to receive Pfizer's vaccines. "I'd like to express gratitude to Biden and the U.S. government for the decision, which demonstrated the staunch Korea-U.S. alliance," Kim said. (Yonhap) President Moon Jae-in speaks during a leaders' dialogue at the P4G Seoul Summit at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap By Nam Hyun-woo Global leaders participating in the P4G Seoul Summit agreed Monday that climate change was an urgent global threat that went beyond environmental issues, having an impact on economies, societies, security and human rights. They added that the fight against COVID-19 should progress with a "green recovery" that would provide important lessons for a global response to the climate crisis. This was included in the Seoul Declaration, published at the end of the two-day summit that closed Monday with a leaders' dialogue. The leaders of the P4G member countries, representatives from more than 40 other nations and international organizations participated in the summit. P4G stands for Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030, and has the 12 member nations of Bangladesh, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Africa, Vietnam and Korea. In the declaration, participants in the summit reaffirmed that the "pandemic should be overcome through green recovery as a progressive strategy," in recognition that the extent to which the green recovery is implemented will be "a turning point in the journey to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement as well as the Sustainable Development Goals." Green recovery refers to global policies and investment plans for a post-pandemic economic recovery, and the leaders agreed these should be implemented in a way that can tackle climate change. President Moon Jae-in speaks during a leader's dialogue at the P4G Seoul Summit at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap While upholding commitments announced at previous climate-related summits, the declaration stated that the leaders would make efforts to "limit the temperature increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius, aiming for 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, in line with the Paris Agreement." The Paris Agreement is a legally binding treaty which aims to limit global warming to below around 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2100 compared to pre-industrial levels. For this purpose, countries have submitted national targets for emissions cuts, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs), and will make efforts to meet these targets from this year. Korea has submitted its NDC to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, but has been promising to strengthen its target further, to increase its contribution to the global fight against climate change. During the opening ceremony of the P4G Seoul Summit, President Moon Jae-in pledged that Korea will unveil a strengthened NDC at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), slated for November. Also in the declaration, the signatories agreed to "strengthen international cooperation to promote energy transition by increasing the share of renewables" and "encourage (members) to look for approaches to phase out existing coal and stop public financing for overseas construction of coal-fired power plants." The declaration continued with an agreement on the severity of marine pollution and the need for global solidarity to address the issue of dumping plastics in the world's oceans. "We take note that the oceans serve as natural carbon sinks and will make efforts to strengthen the sustainability of the oceans through decarbonization of maritime transport and the prevention of additional marine pollution," the declaration reads. The government stressed that the declaration was joined by not only countries leading climate actions but also developing nations, thus making a contribution to uniting various countries' commitments for climate action. "On the occasion of the P4G Seoul Summit, Korea announced a plan to provide P4G with a new $4 million grant, contributing to P4G's sustainable operation and improved credibility," a government official said. U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry speaks from the screen with President Moon Jae-in presiding over a leaders' dialogue at the P4G Seoul Summit at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap During the leaders' dialogue, before adopting the Seoul Declaration, President Moon called for stronger global cooperation in technology and resources for a green recovery. "There is no border in climate issues, and it is important to make a coalition between advanced and developing nations while understanding their different economic and civic conditions," Moon said. "For developing countries, which have to rely on fossil fuels, carbon neutrality is a difficult goal to achieve. Advanced nations should increase their support and share the burdens of developing countries." During the videoconference dialogue, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry stressed the urgent necessity for global society's actions, saying it was an opportunity for the world to take a major leap forward. "We have to act now with the technologies we have now because we can't just bet on a future miracle. No breakthrough will be enough if we miss the opportunity now," he said. He criticized that many promises being made for net zero in 2050 were not accompanied by plans for 2020 to 2030, adding national governments needed to step up their ambitions for 2030 emissions targets. "(The period between) 2020 to 2030 is the decisive decade. If we fail to make sufficient progress by 2030, it will become scientifically physically, barring a miracle impossible to be able to make the reductions to get us to net zero by 2050. On the other hand, if we join together and grab the opportunity right now, we will create millions of jobs and improve the health and welfare of our citizens; we'll provide greater security for nations." Along with Moon and Kerry, the dialogue was participated in by Colombian President Ivan Duque Marquez, eight other heads of state and senior officials of P4G member countries, as well as International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. Colombia will host the next P4G summit. In this July 3, 2015, file photo, German Chancellor Angela Merkel types on her mobile phone while attending a sitting of the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament in Berlin. The U.S. spied on top politicians in Europe, including Merkel, from 2012 to 2014 with the help of Danish intelligence, Danish and European media reported on Sunday. AFP-Yonhap The U.S. spied on top politicians in Europe, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, from 2012 to 2014 with the help of Danish intelligence, Danish and European media reported on Sunday. Danish public broadcaster Danmarks Radio (DR) said the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) had eavesdropped on Danish internet cables to spy on top politicians and high-ranking officials in Germany, Sweden, Norway and France. The NSA had taken advantage of a surveillance collaboration with Denmark's military intelligence unit FE to do so, it said. Denmark's defence ministry has not responded to AFP's requests for a comment. Defence Minister Trine Bramsen, who took over the defence portfolio in June 2019, was informed of the spying in August 2020, according to DR. She told the broadcaster that "systematic eavesdropping of close allies is unacceptable." It was not clear whether Denmark authorized the U.S. to use its surveillance system to spy on its neighbors. DR revealed the information following an investigation it led together with Swedish broadcaster SVT, Norway's NRK, Germany's NDR, WDR and Suddeutsche Zeitung, and France's Le Monde. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, then-foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and then-opposition leader Peer Steinbruck were among those the NSA had spied on, DR said. The NSA was able to access SMS text messages, telephone calls, and internet traffic including searches, chats and messaging services, DR said. The spying was detailed in a secret, internal FE working group report codenamed "Operation Dunhammer" and presented to FE top management in May 2015, DR said. DR said its information came from nine different sources who had access to classified FE information, and said their revelations were independently confirmed by several sources. Neither the FE nor its director at the time, Lars Findsen, commented immediately on the revelations. The U.S. spying, if confirmed, was going on during and after the 2013 Snowden affair, which erupted when former NSA contractor Edward Snowden revealed thousands of classified documents exposing the vast U.S. surveillance put in place after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Among other things, that documents showed the U.S. government was spying on its own citizens and carrying out widespread tapping worldwide, including of Chancellor Angela Merkel's mobile phone. In November 2020, DR reported that the U.S. had used the Danish cables to spy on Danish and European defence industries from 2012 to 2015. (AFP) By John J. Metzler Who would imagine that pipeline politics would be a defining feature of the new U.S. administration? Pipelines after all are the ultimate infrastructure project; unseen, unsung, underground but exceedingly critical to moving fuel, gas or water. As pipelines are truly just under the surface, they somehow create some rarely seen political hijinks. So let's start with a tale of three pipelines recently in the news. First the Keystone pipeline, which was slated to bring Canadian crude oil into refineries in the United States. Originally stopped by the Obama administration in 2015, Keystone had a second chance two years later when President Donald Trump revived the project. But in an unpredictable twist of folly, Keystone's fortunes changed in an instant when the new Biden administration, on its first day in office, promptly shut down the uncompleted pipeline thus losing thousands of high-paying union jobs and endangering America's hard-won energy independence. It was equally an insult to close ally Canada. Then there's the Colonial pipeline, a conduit for gasoline which originates in Texas and stretches to New Jersey. Colonial was shut down by a massive cyberattack and predictable ransom demand. The hack was reportedly from Russia or somewhere in Eastern Europe. Before long there were gasoline shortages in some American states, deja vu of similar scenes during the late 1970s. But here when the hackers' ransom of $5 million was paid by the company in Bitcoin, suddenly the problem disappeared. In Colonial's case, the administration did not instinctively blame Russia or point the finger at President Vladimir Putin; the expected retort from President Joe Biden, "Come on man, this has Putin's bloody fingerprints all over it," was surprisingly missing. The president stated, "There is no evidence Russia is involved." The FBI said that a shadowy group called "DarkSide" was the culprit in Colonial's shutdown. Colonial was a wake-up call and a sinister warning that U.S. pipelines, electric and water supply grids are probably more vulnerable to cyberattack, state-sponsored or otherwise, than we would like to assume. Think of the possible state players: Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. Then there's Russia's Nord Stream pipeline which when complete will serve as a natural gas conduit to Germany. Contrary to other Russian pipelines transiting through Ukraine and Poland into Germany, this controversial $11 billion line runs under the Baltic Sea bypassing the Baltic states and Poland. The new pipeline will deprive Ukraine and Poland of gas transit fees which Gazprom now pays. Given that the Nord Stream brings NATO-ally Germany into a dangerous gas dependency on Russia, President Donald Trump vehemently opposed the pipeline which caused undue political friction with Berlin. In December 2019, the Trump administration, with wide bipartisan congressional support, sanctioned companies working on the 760-mile undersea pipeline owned by Russia's Gasprom. Trump argued that the pipeline could turn Germany into a "hostage of Russia." European Union countries already get nearly half of their gas from Russia. Thus initially President Joe Biden also opposed Nord Stream. During Senate confirmation hearings, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that he was "determined to do whatever we can to prevent that completion" of Nord Stream. Then what's called in diplomacy a rapid volte face, a turn-around, mysteriously transpired. The Biden administration suddenly waived the Trump sanctions against the Russian company and basically gave the Kremlin the green light to complete the project into Germany. What was even stranger was the U.S. lifting sanctions against Matthias Warnig, a former East German intelligence officer, who serves as Nord Stream's chief executive! The switch came in the wake of the Colonial shutdown and a meeting between Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Blinken in Iceland. Biden's blunder caused political blowback even among the president's Democratic Party; Senator Bob Menendez of (D-NJ) stated that he doesn't understand "how today's decision will advance U.S. efforts to counter Russian aggression in Europe." Republican Congressman Michael McCaul, a ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, described Nord Stream searingly: "It's a Russian malign influence project that threatens to deepen Europe's energy dependence on Moscow, render Ukraine more vulnerable to Russian aggression and provide billions of dollars to Putin's coffers." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that the completion of the pipeline would be a "personal loss" for Joe Biden and a "serious political victory for Moscow." Though Biden's risky moves aim to improve transatlantic relations with Berlin, waiving Nord Stream sanctions presents a major geopolitical gaffe which hardly helps Europe nor America. John J. Metzler (jjmcolumn@earthlink.net) is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He is the author of "Divided Dynamism The Diplomacy of Separated Nations: Germany, Korea, China." Butler, IN (46721) Today Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable. Vice justice minister offers to resign over assault case Vice Justice Minister Lee Yong-gu was summoned for questioning by police Sunday over allegations that he pressured a taxi driver he assaulted to destroy any related evidence. He offered to resign Friday over the controversy, six months after he was appointed the No. 2 figure in the justice ministry in December. Lee took a taxi to his home in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul, Nov. 6. He fell asleep in the car, and the driver woke him up when they reached the destination. Lee allegedly hurled insults at the driver and grabbed him by the collar. Police were called to the scene and let Lee go home after confirming his identity. But the police later closed the case without booking him, stating that the driver did not want him to be punished. However, fresh allegations have emerged that the police tried to cover up the case after learning that Lee, a former judge and a lawyer at the time of the incident, was on the list of candidates for chief of the newly founded Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). Also, surveillance footage showed that Lee visited a police station to retrieve his belongings he had left in the taxi a day after being reported to the police for assault. This is contrary to what has been known so far. Cover-up allegations prompted the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency to launch a fact-finding team, which has booked four investigators and secured the records of nearly 7,000 telephone calls of those involved in the case. There is no clear evidence yet to prove any organized cover-up, but this case will surely bring the police's integrity under scrutiny at a time when its powers have been increased as a result of the government's reform of law enforcement authorities. The team should do its best to find out if there was pressure from "above" or "outside" when the case was first closed so that any suspicions of a cover-up can be resolved. Memorial Day observations expected to be held across Northwest Missouri on May 31, 2021. St. Joseph - The local chapter of Veterans of Foreign Wars will hold its annual ceremony at 11 a.m. at Civic Center Park in St. Joseph. The in-person service was canceled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Savannah - Legionnaire participants, Boy and Girl Scouts will lead a parade down Fourth Street from the square to the cemetery at 9:30 a.m. Following the processional, a ceremony will be held at Flanders Field including a guest speaker and taps. Gower - The City of Gower will host a service at 12 p.m. at the Gower Veteran's Memorial on Railroad Ave. Maryville - Members of the American Legion Post 100 will hold a ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Post Hall on East Fifth Street in Maryville. By John Burton A quid pro quo was at the heart of the recent Washington summit between Presidents Moon Jae-in and Joe Biden: The U.S. president promised to pursue diplomatic engagement with North Korea in return for Moon accepting the principles supporting the U.S. strategy against China. Seoul has wanted to avoid becoming involved in the strategic competition between China, its biggest trade partner, and the U.S., its main security ally, and being forced to choose sides. But Moon now appears to have tilted in favor of the U.S. in return for receiving several concessions from Biden. Moon had been worried about whether the Biden administration would pursue active negotiations with North Korea to find a peaceful solution to ending its nuclear and missile programs. The Biden administration signaled that it was willing to resume talks with Pyongyang by reaffirming the Singapore joint statement reached between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in 2018. Biden also announced the appointment of Ambassador Sung Kim as the special envoy for North Korea, a post he also held during the Obama administration. These measures assured Seoul that Washington was not neglecting North Korea as a top foreign policy issue. It was also noteworthy that Moon was only the second foreign leader Biden met in person since coming into office in January. The Biden administration agreed to build on the Singapore statement, which suggests that it will take a pragmatic approach instead of a tougher stance toward Kim Jong-un that had been indicated earlier by the U.S. president. Moon had worried that the U.S. might derail his efforts to secure a lasting rapprochement with the North, which Moon hoped would cement his legacy as President. Still, questions remain whether Moon was completely satisfied with the outcome despite his public upbeat statements. Washington appears determined to maintain maximum sanctions against North Korea, which could hinder inter-Korean economic projects. Washington also insisted that the issue of human rights in North Korea should be emphasized, although this has previously caused Pyongyang to break off negotiations. Moon may have to live with the fact that there may be only limited progress on North Korea during his remaining year in office. The best that can be hoped for is that North Korea will freeze its nuclear program in exchange for a partial easing of sanctions and a formal declaration to end the Korean War. Moon may have also been disappointed by the U.S. response to his other big ask: the timely supply of COVID-19 vaccines to speed up slow vaccination rates in Korea. Although Washington agreed to supply vaccines to 550,000 Korean troops, this will do little to assuage the general public. However, the two countries did agree to a global partnership to increase vaccine production, which promises to benefit Korea's future growth as a pharmaceutical hub. This would combine Korea's production capacity with U.S. technology to supply the vaccines to the global market on a contract manufacturing basis. The more consequential and controversial part of Moon's visit could turn out to be his apparent support for Biden's policy on China. Korea endorsed the principles of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and the security of the Taiwan Strait, which are viewed as code words for containing China's expansion. In addition, the leaders emphasized the importance of working with Japan to uphold "the rules-based order" in the region, another signal showing opposition to China's behavior. Although the two leaders were careful to avoid mentioning China directly, other measures were announced that aligned Korea closer to the U.S. strategy in the Indo-Pacific. The most significant was the U.S. decision to end the remaining restrictions on Seoul's development of ballistic missiles. This would allow Korea to deploy missiles with heavy payloads that could reach China, which has drawn concern from Beijing. Seoul has said its expanded missile program would spur its space program and develop satellites to monitor North Korea. But it also gives a boost to Moon's campaign to bolster Korea's own defense capabilities and potentially makes it a more powerful military ally with the U.S. in a regional conflict. In addition, Moon pledged to invest $39.4 billion in the U.S. to create secure and resilient supply chains for key technologies such as semiconductors and advanced batteries. This would support Washington's desire to decouple its supply chains from China. Beijing is likely to be unhappy with these developments. Moon could be approaching red lines that would eventually lead Beijing to take tough economic retaliation measures. Moreover, China may be less willing to play a mediating role in North Korea's denuclearization process, setting back the goal that Moon wanted to pursue in Washington creating the conditions for a resumption of fruitful dialogue with Pyongyang. John Burton (johnburtonft@yahoo.com), a former Korea correspondent for the Financial Times, is a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and consultant. A sketch of a steamship sailing through a storm in the East Sea in the late 1880s. Courtesy of Brother Anthony's collection By Robert Neff Throughout the day of April 10, 1860, the two steamships, Remi and Japanese, sailed along the Japanese coast but as darkness began to fall, the ships went their separate ways. Over the next two weeks, the voyage was relatively uneventful. On April 24, the steamship (Remi) passed Tsushima and entered into the strait dividing the Korean peninsula from Japan. Captain Laen was fairly unfamiliar with this area most of his sailing was done along the coast of China and was relying heavily upon his charts, but the charts were incomplete and often inaccurate. Earlier that year, an editorial in the North China Herald (an English-language newspaper published in Shanghai) criticized the British government's inefficient use of the navy to survey the coast of northeastern Russian instead of "having proper surveys made" of other areas essential for new trade and noted the most "pressing importance" was the strait between the Korean peninsula and Japan as it afforded a thoroughfare for shipping to Hokadate and the western Japanese ports. On April 25, the inaccurate charts were not the only problems; a thick fog pushed by a "fresh breeze" caused the captain further concern. Late in the afternoon they passed an island that he supposed was part of an unnamed island group shown on his map. He was now convinced he was "well clear of danger" and set a course to pass just south of the Korean island of Gageo. He was wrong. At about 8:20, while passing an island, the steamer struck a submerged ledge of rocks. Laen ordered the engines reversed but it was to no avail and within forty minutes the vessel was swamped as waves smashed violently into it, driving it further upon the rocks. The ship was beyond saving and the order for the lifeboats to be lowered was given. Within 30 minutes the four boats were lowered but not without difficulty and loss; one was stove in while it was being lowered and another boat began leaking threatening to sink. Fishermen's dwelling in the late 19th or early 20th centuries. Robert Neff Collection Inexplicably, one of the Chinese crewmembers jumped into the sea and swam 300 meters to the rocks near the island, and one of his peers tried to emulate his feat but paid for it with his life. The passengers in the leaky boat managed to make it to the rock and spent the night clinging to it so as not to be swept from their tenuous sanctuary by the waves and swell. The remaining two boats remained in the relative safety of the deeper water and away from the wreck. In the morning the fog lifted and revealed to the survivors (25 crew and 25 Chinese passengers) that the island was much bigger than they had originally thought. They made their way to the rocky beach and salvaged the items that were being washed ashore from the wreck and used sails to make tents. There was, undoubtedly, a great deal of apprehension. They had survived the wreck but many wondered if they would survive an encounter with the Koreans. The Chinese crewmembers and passengers were probably feeling a little more confident than their Western peers as the Chinese were said to be better treated. At the time, it was generally understood (mistakenly) by Westerners that the Koreans killed or enslaved anyone unlucky enough to be cast upon the peninsula despite anecdotal histories of shipwrecked crews, out of Shanghai, being treated well. They soon received their answer. Korean women washing clothes circa 1900-1910. Robert Neff Collection After a short time, several hundred Koreans arrived and prevented them from leaving the rocky shore but, as Captain Laen later recalled, were "otherwise behaving in the most friendly manner, lighting fires for us to dry our clothes by bringing straw and sticks for our tents." Others brought two large jars of warm congee (rice porridge) which they divided amongst the foreigners who, in turn, shared "a hearty meal" made from their salvaged goods but the Koreans preferred the foreign alcohol. For the next couple of days, the castaways salvaged during the day and slept in their tents at night. At no time were they allowed to leave the shore a Korean guard of some fifty men ensured they did not wander. On the fourth day the ship was completely broken up. Due to the weather conditions worsening, the castaways were finally given permission to move their camp farther up the slope and away from the waves. It was a wise precaution. Soon after their move, a gale wind from the east struck bringing with it very heavy rain and high waves had they not moved their camp would probably have been swept away. For the next couple of days the storm raged and all were wet and miserable especially the fifty or so Koreans who guarded them from afar. While waiting for the storm to pass, the castaways repaired the three boats and sorted through their goods collected from the shipwreck. Despite the poor weather, their Korean hosts regularly trudged through the rain and wind to supply the strangers with warm congee. A Korean boat and its passengers circa 1900. Robert Neff Collection The Korean throne in the early 20th century / Robert Neff Collection By Robert Neff Many people are fascinated with royal families. They are surrounded with pomp, elegance, wealth, travel and, more often than not, scandal. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the American community in Seoul also dabbled in a bit of royalty-watching. Emperor Gojong was often the subject of letters home. Some described him as a handsome man filled with kindness and intelligence; others, however, described him as weak. Empress Myeongseong (Queen Min), his wife, was described as intelligent, witty and with a sense of humor, but it was her horrible assassination in 1896 that gained the most attention. Following his wife's murder, Emperor Gojong's alleged secret romance and subsequent marriage to an American woman was widely reported in newspapers in the United States and Europe. Of course, none of this was true; he never married or expressed interest in an American woman. Deoksu Palace in the early 20th century / Robert Neff Collection The emperor's sons were also popular subjects in letters home, diplomatic reports and newspaper articles. Some accounts were flattering, as was the case with Prince Uihwa (Yi Kang) who was described as charming, good-looking (he had several American girlfriends while studying in the United States) and intelligent. Crown Prince (later, Emperor) Sunjong, however, was described as dull, fat and stupid even Korean officials mocked him as being a mama's boy. Unlike his older half-brothers, Imperial Prince Yeong (Yi Un) was relatively unknown in the foreign newspapers and the accounts we have of him come from a handful of Americans who had ties to the Korean court. He was known for his boyish mischief and kindness. He is the subject of this weekend's articles, as we look at his early childhood as seen through the eyes of American residents in Korea. In her diary, Elizabeth Greathouse complained about a horrible headache she had from the previous day and the medication she was taking to alleviate it. Perhaps it was this release from pain that caused her to describe Oct. 20, 1897, as "a very agreeable day." Sometimes children who died of smallpox were taken just outside the city gates and wrapped in straw or laid in plain view so that The Guest would be reminded that it had already taken a soul and need take no more. / Courtesy of Diane Nars Collection For some, according to The Independent, a local newspaper which published an English-language section, Oct. 20 was a day of liberation: by imperial decree, 39 prisoners were released from the city jail. Their release may have had something to do with the special sacrificial ceremony that took place at Deoksu Palace in memory of Empress Myeongseong on her birthday and was well attended by a large number of officials. In another part of the palace, there were preparations being made for the arrival of a new member of the imperial family. That night, at 10 p.m., palace attendant Lady Eom Emperor Gojong's favorite companion gave birth to the imperial prince. Generally, when a queen gave birth to a child, she did so on a delivery mat composed of dried grass, six straw bags, six straw mats, two sheets of wool, two sheets of oil paper, the hide of a white horse and two pelts of squirrels. The horse's pelt was believed to aid the queen in giving birth safely and to protect her and her child. Deerskin reins were also attached to the wall behind the woman so that she could pull on them while in labor. However, Eom was not a queen or empress when she gave birth, so there were some differences in the procedure. Surprisingly, there was very little mentioned about the birth in the English-language press or magazines in Korea, not even in the gossip-filled diaries of Yun Chi-ho and Elizabeth Greathouse. On Oct. 23, The Independent reported that in honor of the birth, all construction in and about the palace had been suspended. Later it reported, "On October 25th, Madame [Eom] was given her first title of 'Kui-in,' or 'Noble Lady,' being the title of an imperial concubine of the 2nd class." Of course, Lady Eom was not the only one to receive official recognition. The editor of the newspaper observed wryly that, "A number of office seekers will be gratified. Those who have served in some capacity in connection with the birth of the prince will be rewarded handsomely in the shape of a fat berth in the Government." A view of Seoul in the early 20th century / Robert Neff Collection For the next couple of years, the prince was not mentioned in the letters and commentary of the American community. The activities of his older imperial half-brothers, particularly the romantic exploits of Uihwa, commanded their attention. We can only speculate that Emperor Gojong pampered his youngest son the most for the emperor truly did love children and planned his future, even contemplating the palace he would build for him. It wasn't until 1903 that the young prince's name began to appear. Not because of his acts or scandals surrounding him but as a rite of passage for most Korean children. On April 12, 1903, "The Guest" paid an expected but unwelcomed visit to the young prince. "The Guest" was a polite way of referring to smallpox, a disease that was all-too-common in Korea and claimed a large number of children every year. It did not discriminate between a common laborer's child and the privileged son of an emperor; all were subject to its potentially fatal visit. So high was the mortality rate that children were often not named until after they had survived its visit. The Guest's visit to any household was viewed with apprehension, but its visit to the palace had the real potential to topple the throne. The U.S. minister to Korea, Horace N. Allen, explained to his sons the dangers the royal family faced caused by the young prince contracting the disease: "The Imperial Family cannot be touched with iron, so they have not been vaccinated, and as H.M. has never had the disease, his position is critical since, while it may not be very serious for the little prince, for a man over fifty, it would probably prove fatal." The approach to the palace in the early 20th century / Robert Neff Collection ROME, MAY 31 - -A 26-year-old man was shot dead early on Monday in the area of Palermo's Vucciria market, a zone popular for its night life. The victim was named as Emanuele Burgio, is the son of a convicted mafioso. He was shot at least three times, sources said. (ANSA). ROME, MAY 31 - Eitan Biran, the five-year-old Israeli sole survivor of the Mottarone mountain cable-car disaster that killed 14 people including his parents, grandparents and his two-year-old sibling, has started eating in hospital a week after the disaster in northeastern Piedmont, sources said on Sunday. The hospital said "his condition is significantly better but the prognosis remains confidential". (ANSA). ROME, MAY 31 - Sicilian Governor Nello Musumeci apologised on Monday after a gay couple from Turin were attacked while on holiday in Palermo at the weekend. The gay men were surrounded by a group of young people who targetted them because they were holding hands. They verbally and physically attacked the couple and one of the men needed hospital treatment. "Sicily has always been a generous, welcoming land," Musumeci said. "So the attack on the gay tourist couple by some very young thugs should be condemned without hesitation. "I apologise to the two victims of this absurd intolerance". The incident reignited the debate about a bill against homophobia that is currently blocked in parliament due to opposition from centre-right parties. (ANSA). ROME, MAY 31 - Italy is beside Libya in its "complex" transition, Premier Mario Draghi told a joint press conference with national unity government Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dabaiba in Rome Monday. "The collaboration between the government of Prime Minister Dabaiba and Italy continues to be ever more fertile and alive," he said. "Italy remains at Libya's side and supports it in this complex transition," he said. Draghi added: "I think it is a moral duty but also an interest of Libya to ensure the full respect of the rights of refugees and migrants." He said "Italy intends to continue to finance voluntary assisted repatriations and humanitarian evacuations from Libya...Italy will continue to do its part in terms of resources and training capacities, but determined and rapid EU action is needed. At the European Council in June, at Italy's proposal, migration will return to the centre of political attention". Dabaiba, who stressed that migrants were a joint responsibility, said "we have returned to excellent bilateral relations and we would like to reactivate all the memoranda of understanding, all the accords, and open horizons to increase commercial exchanges with Italy". Draghi also said: "we spoke about collaboration in the fight against COVID. Italy will commit to the construction of hospitals in Libya and sending health staff, as well as receiving tens of children suffering from cancer. This is health cooperation of broad dimensions". Draghi said that a priority for Libya was the withdrawal of mercenaries and holding elections; and said Italy would start cooperating on renewable energy. (ANSA). ROME, MAY 31 - A 53-year-old man was stabbed to death in his Rome home Monday and his 18-year-old son seriously wounded, local sources said Monday. The man was found in a pool of blood in his home in the San Lorenzo district. The son was rushed to hospital where he was said to be in serious condition. (ANSA). BURLINGTON An Elkhorn man accused of driving while intoxicated allegedly rear-ended another motorist. Ethan D. Ehrhardt, 22, was charged with a felony count of operating while intoxicated causing injury and a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance. According to a criminal complaint: On Sunday, a Racine County Sheriff's Office deputy was sent to the intersection of Schaal and Karcher roads, at the Racine and Kenosha county border, for a two-car accident with possible injuries. Upon arrival, the deputy was told by Kenosha County Sheriff's Department personnel that a victim was being treated in an ambulance for a lower back injury. The victim said he approached the intersection and turned left onto Karcher Road. He said he didn't remember if he saw the other car approaching from a distance, but was sure that it was not anywhere near the intersection. Shortly after turning, his car was struck hard from the rear. Seoul in the early 20th century / Courtesy of Diane Nars Collection By Robert Neff After several weeks of anxiousness, young Imperial Prince Yeong managed to recover without serious disfigurement or blindness from the visit of The Guest. On June 4, the palace gates were opened once again. However, the malevolence still lurked about the palace and soon the young prince was stricken with another bout of sickness this time it was measles. Once again, planned celebrations and audiences with foreign diplomats and guests were canceled. Court physicians were summoned and prayers were offered at various temples for the prince's speedy recovery. It was not cheap. According to an article appearing in the 1903 edition of The Korea Review, an English-language magazine published in Seoul: "When the young prince was ill with a complaint that frequently follows after small-pox prayers were offered up at all the monasteries of the land, and twenty palace women sought out the houses of mudang and p'ansu and had prayers said for the prince. The total cost was about 30,000 Korean dollars." Apparently it was money well spent, for on July 26, a great banquet was held at the palace and in various government offices to celebrate the prince's complete recovery. "Many munificent gifts were presented by the Emperor to his officials." Gate to the palace in the early 20th century / Robert Neff Collection By his birthday on Oct. 20, the prince was completely recovered and to ensure he stayed that way, 20 shamans held religious services for him at the palace and offered prayers for his long life. With his good health came a return of his mischievousness. William Franklin Sands, an American adviser to the Korean emperor, recalled that while on duty at the palace, he heard "a most indecorous noise" in the courtyard: "a heavy running, the scolding of eunuchs and little squeals of some child's laughter." According to Sands, he immediately knew it involved a "privileged character": the baby prince. He was unaware of who the prince's tormented victim was until suddenly, "into the room burst the emperor's uncle, the 'Fat Prince,' [Yi Chae-sun] panting and perspiring and gasping, 'that child will be the death of me,' and after him, the baby with a cat in his arms and a flock of disturbed palace eunuchs." Yi Chae-sun was terrified of cats and once even fainted at the American legation "because of a kitten hidden behind a curtain, which he could not see, but felt to be there." The little prince may have been pleased with his little prank, but not long after, Yi Chae-sun was dead. Some say he was a victim of pneumonia while others claim he was a victim of displeasing the emperor. There were other evils in the air. On Feb. 8, 1904, the Russo-Japanese War began, which was also the first step in the loss of Korea's independence. A few months later, on the night of April 14, a large part of Deoksu Palace was burned to the ground. It was shortly after the fire, while the palace was being repaired, that the young prince's mischievous character was again demonstrated. Lillias Underwood recalled the first time her family was visited by the emperor's "youngest and much petted child. He was only seven and looked less, but he strode in with great dignity though he arrived on a man's back and insisted on shaking hands all round, and in following polite foreign custom, so far as he was informed." Japanese troops march through the streets of Seoul in 1904. / Robert Neff Collection Of course, the prince went nowhere by himself and was always "surrounded by a crowd of eunuchs, officials and palace women whom he ordered about in a lordly way." He was especially smitten with the Underwoods' 14-year-old son, Horace (but commonly called Harry by his mother), who visited frequently. Perhaps he had heard tales about Horace from his imperial father who had entertained, "petted and feasted" with the young American boy in the palace not too many years earlier. Or perhaps it was his older half-brother, Crown Prince Sunjong, who had his own encounter with the brash young American boy. When asked how old he was, Horace responded he was nine, and then asked the crown prince in impolite Korean how old he was. The crown prince, taken aback by Horace's question and the manner in which he asked, merely turned around and walked away. Horace would later complain to his mother that he never did learn the crown prince's age. Japanese Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi and Imperial Prince Yeong, circa 1907 / Library of Congress, public domain At first Imperial Prince Yeong's visits thrilled the young American teenager but they soon became so frequent that he began to rue them. After all, he had very little in common with the young prince and was growing tired of being at his beck and call. So he sought to avoid him. This didn't always work. "One of the officials near his small Highness, a man of thirty or forty who, like all his attendants, was robed in immaculate white silk garments of very delicate texture, was imperiously ordered to climb a tall persimmon-tree, where Harry had seated himself among the higher branches, and so thither the unfortunate man was obliged to go, it need scarcely be said to be the great demoralization of his flimsy and spotless robes." The young despot also tried to command Harry in the manner he did his servants. Harry refused. At first the prince was shocked that anyone would refuse his command, but then was pleased with the novelty of it. A compromise was reached: he would continue to visit but would issue no commands to the older American boy. Although the prince may have been overly privileged, he was nonetheless compassionate. He bought treats for workmen and coolies, worried when other children were hurt while playing and expressed a great deal of affection for Lillias Underwood. When she sprained her ankle, he visited frequently to inquire how she was feeling, and "sent fruit and such dainties as his kind little heart suggested might be appreciated." Children grow up quickly, especially when they are under the sway of adult politics. In December 1907, Imperial Prince Yeong was taken to Japan to attend school. Apparently, at first, the Japanese emperor took a fondness to the young Korean prince, but soon grew distant after Japanese Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi was assassinated. Palace grounds in the early 20th century / Robert Neff Collection Thomas M. Nelson of Williams Bay graduated as Valedictorian of the Class of 2000. He was nominated and appointed to the United States Military Academy West Point that summer at age of 17. Following his four years attending West Point he graduated as a Second Lieutenant in the Army in 2004. After completing the Infantry Officer Basic Course and Army Ranger school, he was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in the 82nd Airborne division. He was promoted to First Lieutenant in 2005. The year of 2005 also brought his first deployment overseas to Afghanistan, where he served as a platoon leader July-November for the 1st parliamentary elections is support of Operation Enduring Freedom. His second deployment was during Iraqi troop surge, where his battalion within the 82nd Airborne division was attached to Joint Special Operations Command from November 2006 to February 2008, serving a company executive officer and scout platoon leader. Pennsylvania hay farmers have made unusually early first cuttings this year. Dry weather gets the credit for the fast start, though farmers dont want the skies to stay clear for too long. In Mertztown, Keegan Adam cut 8 acres of mixed hay and 12 acres of alfalfa the week of May 17. Thats two weeks ahead of his usual cutting schedule. Adam said low humidity drove his decision. It wasnt going to grow as much, so we cut it off, he said. Its drying on the stalk while standing and not sucking up a lot of moisture from the ground. About 30% of Pennsylvanias first cutting had been made by Monday, though about 40% of soils are short of moisture, according to USDA. In Schuylkill County, farmers interrupted other spring tasks to make a cutting. Its a great opportunity to park the planter and make quality hay, said Dwane Miller, a Penn State Extension educator in the county. Many farmers cant remember the last time they cut hay so early in May, but then again, its been a long time since folks had a stretch of dry weather in May, Miller said. Hay fields had a stretch of 70- to 80-degree days before a cold spell swept in. That reduced moisture uptake, impeding the plants maturation and resulting in reduced forage height. The slow growth also meant that the plants didnt bulk up on the less digestible forms of fiber, and that produced good forage quality. Hoping for Rain Miller estimates the average yield for this years first cutting is about 80% of normal. With an early cut like this, the tradeoff for quality is quantity, he said. The dry weather was a respite for farmers who dont have equipment to make high-moisture baleage, which could be easier to produce than dry hay in a rainy May. And hay growers have been able to apply nutrients such as nitrogen and potassium to their fields for regrowth. But hay cant go too long without rain. Patches of abnormal dryness have lapped into the Northeast on the U.S. Drought Monitor map. Adam has noticed increased pest pressure, and Miller has particularly noticed problems in alfalfa that has not received insecticide. The weevils are causing a lot of damage, he said. Miller advises farmers to cut those fields before more damage happens. The more obvious concern about dry weather, of course, is simply getting enough moisture to grow the second and third cuttings. Hopefully we get the rain to sprout out the stuff, Adam said. Everything could use the water. VIENNA, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, May 29, 2021, the Rotary Club Vienna-Ring awarded the prestigious Premio Leonardo da Vinci to Alma Deutscher, composer and piano and violin virtuoso, at the Palais Todesco which is next to the State Opera House in Vienna. Alma Deutscher is 16 years old and has already composed a full-length opera "Cinderella", a piano concerto and a violin concerto. She has lived in Vienna since 2018, and has been inspired here to write compositions such as her original Siren Sound Waltz. The award was handed over to Alma Deutscher by Mr. Wolfgang Sobotka, President of the Austrian Parliament, himself a practicing musician and a Rotarian. Laudators were the Director of the Vienna State Opera, Mr. Bogdan Roscic, and Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. The Premio Leonardo da Vinci is awarded by 11 European Rotary clubs to young artists or scientists. The only condition is that the laureate must not be older than 35. Premio President Wulf Gordian Hauser said: "At the age of 16, Alma Deutscher is the youngest prize winner ever in the 46-year history of the Premio. We wanted to honor Alma Deutscher's exceptional talent and express what a joy it is for Austria that Alma Deutscher's family has moved to Vienna." In addition to the Vienna-Ring club, the Rotary clubs that award the annual prize are Florence, Athens, Tours, Madrid, London, Dublin, Brussels, Amsterdam, Wurzburg and Copenhagen. In most cases, these are the oldest Rotary clubs in each country. The annual prize of 12,000 is endowed by all eleven clubs together. Premio President Wulf Gordian Hauser commented: "The Premio Leonardo da Vinci is a good example of the Rotarian idea of helping, in this case by supporting young artists and scientists. It's especially important that this is a very European project which includes our friends from the UK." - Picture is available at AP Images ( http://www.apimages.com ) - For inquiries, contact Wulf Gordian Hausertel. +43 664 301 81 12 email: wgh@hauserpartners.com The iconic music venue in San Diego closed its doors to the public permanently, joining businesses that shut down its operations due to the pandemic. The music venue LeStat's West will be lowering their curtains for the last time. The iconic venue's owner John Hustler shared that the venue did not survive the restrictions brought by the global health crisis. According to NBC San Diego, Hustler wished that there was more interest in the venue. He stated that artists have great interest in the music hall and his heart is with them. But Hustler said that audiences are not as big as they used to. He added that the audience is no longer excited compared to before. Meanwhile, LeStat's started 35 years ago when Hustler opened up the LeStat's coffee shop located on Adams Avenue in Normal Heights. After having a five-year good run, the LeStat's coffee shop had its extension, a theater next door called 'LeStat's West.' Moreover, Hustler found great success in his business and eventually opened two more LeStat coffee shops. His first expansion was located in Hillcrest and another one in University Heights. The stage was known to be a place where artists wanting to start their music careers to hone their talents. Grammy winners like Jason Mraz have also performed in the music scene several times. Hustler also hoped that there would be another place where music can find its home because he thinks that the closing down of LeStat's also took a part of the music culture with it. Back in March 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, LeStat theater already closed its doors, however, it was just recently announced that it will never re-open. ALSO READ: Camilla Cabello and Shawn Mendes Dolled Up for a Date in San Vicente Bungalows One Curtain Closes, Another One Opens Despite the closure of one of San Diego's most beloved music scenes, a new music venue is also set to open. The outdoor venue of San Diego Symphony is found on the shore of the city enclosed with shell-like structures that would hold a precious gem - music. The outdoor venue initially broke ground in 2019, however, it was put into pause when the pandemic hit in 2020. In a statement, CEO Martha Gilmer stated that the idea of the music venue has been in the works for the past 17 years. She also added that development started in the seven years that she was part of the symphony, San Diego Magazine reported. Gilmer also stated that they aim to create wonderful experiences for those who will witness the performances in the said venue. The San Diego Symphony's outdoor venue was designed by Greg Mueller, who owns Tucker Sadler, a local architecture firm. It was designed with a curved steel frame both pleasing to the eyes and would also enhance the quality of music. The new venue which would showcase San Diego's music was described as Gilmer as different from any other music venue in the U.S. She also stated that aside from its unique location along the water, San Diego deserves a music venue that could be lined up with venues like Boston's Tanglewood, and the Hollywood Bowl. RELATED ARTICLE: 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards: Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak Serenade Audience with "Leave the Door Open" WATCH: San Diego Symphonys Summer Concert Venue To Get A Whole New Makeover - KBPS The U.S. Coast Guard has announced that it will be stopping its search for the missing Cuban migrants, who went missing several days ago near Key West after their vessel capsized. Authorities involved in the operation said that they had rescued two women and six men on Thursday. They had also recovered two bodies. Capt. Adam Chamie, the Coast Guard's commander of the Key West sector, said that the U.S. Coast Guard, along with the Department of Defense had searched continuously the past three days, according to an Associated Press report. He said that their decision to stop the search operation was made after considering all the facts. Chamie had also offered their condolences to the families and loved ones affected. The Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, and other concerned agencies started a search for the others. However, they did not find any of the missing Cuban migrants. Survivors said they left Cuba on Sunday. On Wednesday evening, their vessel sank. The Coast Guard had searched for more than 123 hours, covering the area around the size of New Hampshire before ending its operation, according to The Hill report. READ MORE: Raul Castro Steps Down as Cuba's Communist Party Leader Cuban Migrants in Florida Cubans are crossing the border in greater numbers on dangerous journeys to the United States, according to a Tampa Bay Times report. The migrant crossing started to rise last November during Cuba's crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coast Guard said that more Cubans are taking their chances with the journey this year as compared to last year despite a U.S. policy amendment that no longer allows Cuban migrants to stay in the United States after reaching its shores. The Coast Guard has reported it stopped 298 people from Cuba at sea as compared to 49 in the fiscal year of 2020. The recent spike in Cuban migrants journeying their way to the United States can be contributed to the ongoing economic crisis, as well as the lack of legal channels for migration. William LeoGrande, a professor at American University in Washington and an expert on Latin America, said that things are terribly hard as of now due to food shortage and medicine. LeoGrande added that the government has very little in the way of foreign currency to import things. He also noted that on top of the list of Cuban imports are food, medicine, and fuel. In April, the Coast Guard had repatriated 23 Cuban migrants to their home country, according to a Keys News report. Chamie said that they have seen an 80 percent increase in migration activity since January. He added that migrants often take the travel by boat, with most of the time the vessels are dangerously overloaded and ill-equipped for safe transport for any number of people. Last month, the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Tampa had offloaded around 5, 500 pounds of cocaine worth around $94.6 million. A law enforcement team had detained three suspects and discovered 87 bales of cocaine on April 9. READ NEXT: 'Florida Man Murders' New Series Features the Case of Landy Martinez, Who Was Tortured and Killed by Ex-Boyfriend WATCH: Families wait for updates of U.S. Coast Guard's search for Cubans at sea - from WPLG Local 10 At least two were dead, and more than 20 were injured in a Miami mass shooting early Sunday morning. The shooting happened at the El Mula Banquet Hall in northwest Miami-Dade County, according to USA Today. The said venue was reportedly being rented out for a concert. The Miami mass shooting is the latest in the United States. Last week, a separate mass shooting occurred in San Jose, California that took at least 10 lives, including the gunman, at the VTA Rail Yard. READ NEXT: Ohio Mass Shooting at an Apartment Complex Leaves 5 People Dead 2 Dead and More Than 20 Injured in Miami Mass Shooting USA Today reported that apart from the two people who died on the scene, at least 25 people were hurt and went to various hospitals for treatment. NBC News initially reported that Miami-Dade Fire Rescue transported eight injured victims to hospitals, while 12 other victims went to the hospitals on their own. One victim, who was transported to a hospital, is in critical condition. Authorities did not provide details regarding the remaining number of casualties and the hospitals where the victims were brought. "I am at the scene of another targeted and cowardly act of violence," Miami-Dade police director Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III tweeted. I am at the scene of another targeted and cowardly act of gun violence, where over 20 victims were shot and 2 have sadly died. These are cold blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice. My deepest condolences to the family of the victims. Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III (@MDPD_Director) May 30, 2021 Ramirez also offered his sympathies to the families of the victims. He also confirmed that the mass shooting was done by three people who rolled out of an SUV and opened fire on the crowd present in the venue. Officers noted that the shooters fled the scene after they opened fire. "We will do everything we can to bring the shooters to justice," tweeted Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. This is another despicable, cold-blooded act that resulted in two people dead and nearly 25 injured. My heart breaks for the families of the victims of the mass shootings this weekend. We will do everything we can to bring the shooters to justice & turn the tide on this violence. https://t.co/GY19f8iQwD Daniella Levine Cava (@MayorDaniella) May 30, 2021 The Miami-Dade County mayor also labeled the mass shooting as a "despicable, cold-blooded act." Cava further noted that she is working closely with the Miami-Dade Police Department to fight and curb the violence through strategies aimed at prevention and intervention. Authorities have yet to release the identities of the victims of the Miami mass shooting as of Sunday afternoon. Reward Money Being Offered for Information on Suspects in Miami Mass Shooting As authorities sought the public's help in finding the three suspects in the mass shooting, Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis offered a $100,000 reward to help the police in his hometown find the gunmen. Im offering a $100,000 reward to help authorities in my hometown @MiamiDadePD arrest and convict the suspect/suspects .. pass this on .. https://t.co/f9muvEqmp4 Marcus Lemonis (@marcuslemonis) May 30, 2021 Ramirez expressed his gratitude to the CEO and said, "this is our community, we are stronger together." An additional $25,000 was added by ATF Miami. Thank you @ATFMiami for adding $25,000 to the reward, where so many victims and families were sadly affected by senseless gun violence. Your support is genuinely embraced by the MDPD and our community. Call @CrimeStopper305 with any information, you can remain anonymous! Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III (@MDPD_Director) May 30, 2021 Because of this, a total of $125,000 are now being offered to those who can provide information about the suspects. Ramirez acknowledged the difficulty in stopping a "small amount of individuals" who want to commit murder. "We really have to put the work in this summer to keep our children and community safe," Ramirez added. The suspects in the Miami mass shooting are still on the loose, and the motive for the heinous crime is still unknown. READ MORE: California Police Officer Killed in Shootout; Suspect Committed Suicide WATCH: Two Killed, 20 Injured in Mass Shooting in Miami - From Miami Herald Authorities arrested a Florida man after stealing nearly 200 ventilators intended for the COVID-19 patients in El Salvador. Identified as Yoelvis Denis Hernandez, 42, the Florida man was arrested in Del Rio, Texas on Thursday for the heist that occurred in August last year. The Washington Post reported that Hernandez was the second culprit in the August heist for the ventilators bound initially for El Salvador. The other suspect, who was identified as Luis Urra Montero, 24, was taken into custody in September and was held without bond while waiting for his trial. READ NEXT: Kamala Harris Taps Microsoft, Mastercard, and Other Private Firms to Promote Economic Opportunity in Central America Florida Man Stole Ventilators for El Salvador' COVID-19 Patients Both Hernandez and Montero faced felony charges of federal conspiracy and possession of stolen goods being shipped interstate and theft of government property. If convicted on that charge, they could face up to 25 years in prison. The U.S. Attorney's office in the Southern District of Florida accused Hernandez of stealing a tractor-trailer loaded with 192 medical ventilators on Aug. 9, 2020, ABC News reported. A complaint prepared by Neil D'Cunha, a special agent from USAID's inspector general office, noted that the trailer vehicle holding the ventilators from a tractor was parked at a warehouse parking lot in Boynton Beach, Florida. Hernandez allegedly helped in detaching the trailer vehicle carrying the ventilators bound for El Salvador via Miami International Airport. The Florida man allegedly attached the trailer and hooked it up in his truck, which authorities believed was also stolen from a Kmart parking lot in Miami two weeks before stealing the ventilators. The Washington Post reported that the trailer stolen by Hernandez was owned by Landstar System, with its logistics' company name and logo displayed on its side. The driver of the semi-truck to which the trailer was initially attached reported the incident. On Aug. 12, 2020, authorities located the emptied trailer abandoned on a road in Parkland. The trailer's identification number matched with one of the trailers that housed the ventilators off to El Salvador. Officials said the ventilators were worth around $3 million. The Florida man made his first court appearance on Friday in the Western District of Texas, while the future proceedings will take place in the Southern District of Florida. Ventilators for EL Salvador COVID-19 Patients, Stolen According to the Washington Post, the pandemic made ventilators one of the most sought-after medical commodities, as COVID-19 can prevent and make it difficult for an individual to breathe. The ventilators, which the Florida man stole, were originally planned to be sent to a COVID-19 intensive care facility in El Salvador. Authorities confirmed that the ventilators were a part of the COVID-19 aid program of the U.S. federal government. A USAID inspector general report in December disclosed that the investigation recovered 191 of the 192 stolen ventilators. The report added that the recovered ventilators reached El Salvador in working condition. The World Health Organization recorded at least 425 new COVID cases in the last 24 hours in El Salvador, with four deaths. READ MORE: 5 El Salvador President's Allies Listed Corrupt by the U.S. States Department WATCH: How Do Ventilators Work? - From TED-Ed Vice President Kamala Harris posted a more fitting tribute to fallen military Sunday, May 30, a day after posting a "celebratory" Memorial Day post, telling everyone to "enjoy the long weekend." The vice president quickly faced criticism for her tweet with no mention of Memorial Day or honoring fallen soldiers. Kamala Harris received backlash days after she partnered with private companies to curb the migration from Central America into the United States. READ NEXT: Kamala Harris Makes History Again as the 1st Woman to Make U.S. Naval Academy Commencement Address Kamala Harris Garners Backlash Over Memorial Day Post In her controversial tweet, Kamala Harris posted a photo of her with a tone-deaf statement prior the Memorial Day. The tweet gathered different reactions from people online. One Twitter user asked the vice president if she was aware that the long weekend is intended for honoring those who sacrificed for the nation. You are aware that the "Long Weekend " is to honor those who sacrificed for our Nation. You do know that ??? Phil Paule (@philpaule) May 29, 2021 Youtuber Drew Berquist also slammed Kamala Harris, saying that the vice president was "disgusting" for not mentioning the reason for the long weekend. You are disgusting. Maybe mention just one thing about why we have a long weekend. Drew Berquist (@drewberquist) May 29, 2021 Another Twitter user also expressed her disappointment over the tweet of Kamala Harris, whom she said she likes and supports. What a disappointing tweet from a person I like and support. Please do better. Willow (@GoldensPaws) May 29, 2021 Daily Mail reported that the "long weekend" tweet of the vice president comes hours after Kamala Harris posted a tweet praising Midshipman Sydney Barber, who became the first Black woman to serve as Brigade Commander at the U.S. Naval Academy. Memorial Day, which is scheduled on Monday, May 31, is an official federal holiday intended to commemorate members of the U.S. Armed Forces who gave their lives in combat or who have later died as veterans. Kamala Harris Honors the Fallen Military After Backlash on Memorial Day Post On Sunday, Kamala Harris posted a tweet that paid tribute to the fallen military. "Throughout our history, our servicemen and women have risked everything to defend our freedom and our country," Kamala Harris tweeted. The vice president added that as the nation prepares to honor the fallen military on Memorial Day, Americans should remember the soldiers' "service and sacrifice." Throughout our history our service men and women have risked everything to defend our freedoms and our country. As we prepare to honor them on Memorial Day, we remember their service and their sacrifice. Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) May 30, 2021 But some people still expressed their disappointment to the vice president. A Twitter user said that Harris' tweet about honoring the fallen should have come first before the "long weekend" tweet. Unfortunately this should have been your first tweet about the weekend. A bit of a misstep. Baba booeyed it Risa (@RisaDeQuattro) May 30, 2021 Meanwhile, a Twitter user expressed gratitude to the vice president as they wished her a "long weekend." Thank you @VP Harris. And during this time of remembrance, please do enjoy your long weekend. You're doing a great job! PearlAlgorithm (@PearlAlgorithm) May 30, 2021 Another Twitter user, who identified himself as a veteran, said that "the vice president can communicate both messages if she wants to." I am a veteran and I believe that our wonderful Madam Vice President can communicate both messages if she so chooses. Dad of little sleep (@Daddioj) May 30, 2021 According to Daily Mail, the vice president did not do anything over the weekend for Memorial Day. On the other hand, President Joe Biden gave 10-minute remarks at the Veterans' Memorial Park near Delaware Memorial Bridge on Wilmington on Sunday. Prior to his speech, Biden attended a church service and visited his son Beau's grave located in Brandywine. It was his son's sixth anniversary of his passing from brain cancer. READ MORE: Kamala Harris Finally Sets Date for Long-Awaited Trip to Mexico, Guatemala WATCH: Kamala Harris Tweet: Kamala Harris Blasted for 'Enjoy the Long Weekend' Tweet - From Let's Know More The United States President Joe Biden paid tribute to the fallen service members on the annual memorial service hosted by the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs in Delaware, Sunday, May 30. The event, which Biden frequently attends, was held in the Delaware Memorial Bridge in News Castle, where the U.S. President spoke in observance of Memorial Day. Backbone of the United States In his speech on Sunday, Biden shared his memories about his son, Beau, who was part of the Delaware Army National Guard. Beau's unit was activated and deployed to Iraq in October 2008. But exactly six years ago, Beau Biden died due to brain cancer, U.S. News reported. According to NPR, Biden shared that despite a lot of time had passed, the event is still the toughest day of the year for them. The U.S. President mentioned that they were honored, but the tough day brings back memories. Moreover, Biden also thanked them for their continued service to the U.S. He also said that the fallen service members will be in the hearts of their families and loved ones forever. Biden also emphasized that the founding ideals of the U.S. are worth fighting and dying for, Delaware Online reported. In addition, Biden stated that among the obligations to their nation, their truly sacred obligation is to equip those individuals that they send into harm's way. He also added that all that they need is care, not only for them but also for their families when they return home and when they don't. ALSO READ: Hunter Biden's Recorded Call Reveals His Admission of Doing Drugs With Late D.C. Mayor Marion Barry Biden also added that all of them who remained have a duty in renewing their commitment to the fundamental values of their country to honor their fallen service members. Also, they need to renew the values that have inspired generation after generation to service and that so many have died to defend. Memorial Day is annually observed on the last Monday of May to commemorate individuals who died in U.S. military service. Although its roots go back to the Civil War, it only officially became a federal holiday in 1971. Meanwhile, in the late 1860s, Americans started a springtime tradition of honoring the dead by decorating gravestones with flowers and reciting prayers, which is originally known as Decoration Day. Furthermore, Biden mentioned in his speech that he always carries a card daily that contains the number of American service members killed in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He stated that he started doing it when he served as vice president under Barack Obama. Biden shared that the number is 7,036, and it is not an approximation. On the other hand, there are currently 155 national cemeteries in 42 states in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. It is operated and maintained by the National Cemetery Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs. State-run cemeteries are not included in the number. Biden shared that the men and women buried at these sacred sites were the 'backbone' of the United States. RELATED ARTICLE: Pres. Joe Biden Unveils $6 Trillion Budget for 2022: Here's What's in It WATCH: Biden Delivers Remarks At Memorial Day Service | NBC News South Korean steelmakers have raised prices of automotive steel for the first time in four years, people familiar with the matter said Monday, a move that could boost their bottom lines. POSCO, the country's largest steelmaker, reached a deal with Hyundai Motor and Kia to raise the price of a ton of automotive steel to 50,000 won ($45), they said. The move is meant to reflect the increased costs of iron ore, one of the main raw materials used in steel production. The price of iron ore jumped to $190.51 per ton on May 28, a sharp increase from $97.09 on the same date last year, according to data from the Korea Resources. Hyundai Steel Co., the second-largest steelmaker, also said it has struck a deal with its captive buyers, Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp., over raising the price of a ton of automotive steel to 50,000 won. Hyundai Steel earns about 30 percent of its overall sales by selling steel sheets to Hyundai and Kia. They are all affiliates of Hyundai Motor Group, the world's fifth-biggest carmaker by sales. Analysts said steelmakers can pass higher raw material prices onto corporate clients through a price hike, which in turn is expected to improve the bottom lines of the steelmakers. For the three months that ended March 31, Hyundai Steel posted a net profit of 219.9 billion won, shifting from a loss of 115.4 billion won a year earlier. POSCO said its first-quarter net profit soared 162 percent on-year to 1.13 trillion won on robust demand amid the global economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Hyundai Steel said it plans to hold negotiations with the big three shipbuilders Daewoo Shipbuilding Marine Engineering, Korea Shipbuilding Offshore Engineering and Samsung Heavy Industries in the coming weeks over a price hike of thick steel plates. Korea Shipbuilding Offshore Engineering manages three shipbuilding units Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard and Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries. Meanwhile, POSCO has reached a separate deal with the three shipbuilders over prices of thick steel plates, a person familiar with the matter said, without elaborating. (Yonhap) Laois hubs that allow people to cut down or cut out costly commutes to work are part of a new national network of remote working centres around Ireland. Bloom HQ Mountrath and The Webmill Mountmellick are now connected to the ConnectedHubs.ie Network which is the National Network of remote working hubs. The Department of Rural and Community Development said the ConnectedHubs.ie platform will offer a suite of booking, hub management and e-commerce applications to members of the Network. The Network will also facilitate the sharing of innovation, experience and best practices across the community. The Department said these supports will serve to maximise benefit to member hubs, hub clients, employers, local communities and the wider economy. The National Hub Network Working Group led by the Department of Rural and Community Development has identified and mapped over 400 remote working hubs across the country. These hubs will be invited to join the Connected Hubs Network to create shared infrastructure that will deliver real benefits across the country. A National Hub survey is currently underway to gather further information with regard to services offered by these hubs. Sean Fleming TD Minister of State at the Department of Finance welcomes the news that two Laois hubs are signed up. "It is great to see Mountrath and Mountmellick are in the first group of 66 hubs to be connected to the new network. The Connected Hubs Network will see over 100 hubs connected by the end of 2021 and having the 2 hubs in Laois is great news for these local communities "I would like to congratulate and thank everybody involved for their work to date and to wish Bloom HQ and The Webmill every success in the future. Their facilities mean that remote working can be an option for many more people and businesses in the midlands," he said. Laois Offaly based Minister of State Pippa Hackett also welcomed the news. Im delighted to see The Junction in Tullamore and The Webmill in Mountmellick included in the Connected Hubs Network. This is part of revitalising rural Ireland. Every worker who chooses to relocate to these areas becomes part of the community and adds to the local economy. These are the jobs of the future and they will enable our young people to live and work in our towns and villages, she said. Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has launched the Connected Hubs Network. Hub working can support the development of employment opportunities and career paths in rural areas. This will help to give young people the choice to stay closer to home while pursuing their careers and also to encourage people living in cities to consider moving to a more rural location. Throughout this pandemic, so many of us have experienced the benefits of remote working reduced commutes, more time spent with your family, increased footfall in towns, a lower carbon footprint. As we look to the reopening of our country, I am determined that we make remote working a permanent and viable reality for thousands of people. The Connected Hubs Network provides the perfect opportunity for workers and employers to embrace a blended working model, and to find the balance of hub, home and office working that works best for them, he said. Her Department says following initiatives will be developed through this initiative: A Shared Connected Hubs brand identity for all member hubs A Centralised Connected Hubs media and promotional campaigns Access to the ConnectedHubs.ie suite of booking, hub management and e-commerce applications. Development of a Peer-to-Peer Hub Community Sharing of Innovation, Experience and Best-Practices within the community Developing a shared quality standard for hubs in the Network Supporting collaborative projects in the Network to drive economies of scale Developing a shared voice for Connected Hubs Supporting collective engagement between Connected Hubs and large scale employers Supporting collective engagement between Connected Hubs and Government Agencies Helping to identify the benefits Connected Hubs deliver for their local communities and the wider economy Developing a dataset to inform future investment decisions in remote working facilities A full list of connected hubs is available on gov.ie. Midlands public health doctors who have been at the coalface of fighting Covid-19 in Laois and other counties have urged the public to protect Leaving Cert students from infection with the exams just over a week away. The head of public health in the region has gone as far as saying that families should cocoon if there is a Leaving Cert student living in the household. The HSE's public health also had a message for primary schools as the country opens up after a challenging and prolonged period of lockdown restrictions. A statement said the number of cases of COVID-19 in the Midlands (Longford, Westmeath, Laois, Offaly) is steady at approximately 20 cases per day. While the rate of COVID-19 does not appear to be increasing, the public health doctors said there is a risk that lifting restrictions too quickly will cause an increase in numbers. The Public Health Department said half of adults have had one dose of vaccine and 20% have had two. It said this means that most Irish people are still vulnerable to infection and can still be potentially harmed by the virus. The HSE doctors said there is no guarantee of safety, even for a young person. It added that young people can still become severely unwell and may require hospitalisation or ICU treatment. They say they are not quite sure yet whether COVID variants of concern (VOCs) are going to be a problem in Ireland. Dr Una Fallon is the Director of Public health in the Midlands. "As the HSE copes with the recent cyber-attack, we are asking the community to do everything they can to prevent preventable illnesses such as COVID. This does not mean we cannot enjoy getting out and about again. But please do so carefully. Please do not have big social gatherings INSIDE and please be incredibly careful outside where you should still keep your distance," she said. There are still a few unvaccinated groups that need to be protected. Against this reality, the Public Health Department said Leaving Cert exams start on June 9 and any student who becomes a case or a close contact, from now on, is at risk of missing an exam and relying on predicted grades. They will have to isolate or restrict their movements for at least 10 days and may miss more than one exam. "It is really important for students who want to sit exams and their families to cocoon themselves and not expose themselves to any possibility of COVID infection," said Dr Fallon. "Leaving Cert students should not meet up in the 14 days before exams and avoid in-person study groups. In particular, they should avoid super-spreading events such as parties," she said. The advice to Leaving Cert students and everyone around them need to practice basic prevention measures; keep a 2-metre distance, wear a face-covering, keep all indoor spaces well ventilated and practice good hand hygiene. This will help prevent becoming a case or a close contact. Dr Abigail Collins, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, HSE Schools lead, has been working closely with the Department of Education. "While only 3.4% of school-going children have had COVID, 100% of children have had their education significantly interrupted. Primary school children and some children with special education needs will continue to go to school until the end of June. It is important they do not miss any more of the school year," she said. She said all schools have been advised not to have school tours unless they can walk to an outdoor venue. If classes are going out, please stick to pods and do not mix classes. "We do not recommend that photographers attend schools to take school photographs. Persons attending schools should be limited to those required for education purposes, inspections, health and safety/welfare requirements., "Right now, it is important that we protect opportunities for children and keep schools open and as low-risk an environment as possible. Parents, students, and all school staff, please keep following public health guidelines, minimise your exposures to COVID and stay at home if you have symptoms," concluded Dr Collins. A former soldier who trained in the Curragh Camp has released a song about a famous Army battalion which was stationed at the military facility. The new single about The Bloods battalion was launched by Tracy Connolly in May on iTunes. The battalion traces its history back to 1923 when the garrisons of several towns in the north-west of Ireland were ordered to amalgamate and form the 3rd Infantry Battalion. Tracy, who now works as a healthcare assistant in Cork, took up writing poetry during the Covid-19 restrictions. Tracy told the Leader: This song is about an old Irish battalion called the Bloods (3rd Inf Bn). I was inspired to write the poem by an ex-serving member of the Bloods Bernard McGuire Snr from Gorey. Back then Bernard served in the Curragh Camp in Connolly Barracks where it was home of the Bloods. The 3rd Infantry Battalion are now currently in Kilkenny Barracks going strong but their history dates back as far as 1923. I hope the Bloods know we are very proud of them and all the Army for their great work. Its great to remember our Irish Army history and let them know we value them always. Tracy joined the Army in 1994 and underwent intensive training in the Curragh to become a communications expert. She said: I loved the Curragh as it was like being in an Army movie with so many trucks, jeeps, panhard vehicles and troops running and marching all around the camp. Tracy later served on peacekeeping duty in Lebanon and Kosovo which was a challenging environment but she said she was well trained. Published poet She published a poetry book called Poet's Belief On Lockdown which is available in the Farrell and Nephew bookstore in Newbridge. Krispy Kreme has revealed its plans to open a new factory near Naas, in August. Last week, the American doughnut brand posted a job advertisement seeking a new food production manager at "new factory opening, Naas, Ireland." The advert stated the Naas factory will be its first site to produce and deliver fresh doughnuts with its own fleet. The position will be based in Blanchardstown for induction and training and then move to Naas in August. The ad stated: As the new food production manager, you will play a key role to this production unit being successful. You will be responsible for leading product quality and quantity, maintenance and factory performance supporting the general manager.' Krispy Kreme opened its first Irish outlet in Blanchardstown in September 2018. Earlier this year, Krispy Kreme said it would start selling its products at Tesco Extra stores in Naas and Maynooth as well as the Circle K on the N7 at Kill North. Kildare County Council is to write to the Approved Housing Body (ABH) Regulator and the Minister for Housing regarding governance concerns in relation to ABHs in South Kildare. At the Kildare Newbridge Municipal District meeting on May 19, Cllr Noel Connolly and Cllr Chris Pender proposed that the council write to the Minister requesting he meet virtually, or at a social distance with residents of a housing association in Co Kildare to discuss their concerns in relation to corporate governance at their ABH. The council confirmed the regulation of AHBs is dealt with by the ABH Regulatory Authority which was established on February 1. It said it may be more appropriate to correspond with the interim regulator on this matter. In a statement released after the meeting, Cllr Fiona McLoughlin Healy, who has been campaigning on this issue, welcomed the motion. The Minister has already been made aware of tenants concerns in relation to governance of housing associations in the district so I was grateful for the unanimous support of my colleagues for my amended proposal that we write to the AHB Regulator as well as the Minister regarding the governance concerns we have been raising for over four years now and to request that they meet with tenants to discuss this, she said. She outlined some of her concerns about ABHs that have been brought to the attention of the Minister for Housing, TDs, the Charities Regulator and the Director of Corporate Enforcement. She raised issues of alleged communication failures, multiple ABH board membership concerns, poor recording of voting/decisions and minutes, delays in filing annual reports, lack of internal controls, clarity on the breakdown of how tenants' rents are spent, failures to invite tenants to meetings, lack of knowledge of rules by some board members, and a failure to deliver on alleged promises to allow tenants to buy out their homes after a period of time. AHBs (also called housing associations or voluntary housing associations) are independent, not-for-profit organisations. They provide affordable rented housing for people who cannot afford to pay private sector rents or buy their own homes; or for particular groups, such as older people or homeless people. As Ireland reached 2.7m vaccination doses over the weekend a photograph of members of the vaccination team in Carrick-on-Shannon's centre was published online by HSE CEO, Paul Reid. The photograph also includes a representative of the 28th Infantry Battalion who are assisting operations at the Vaccination Centre in Co Leitrim as well as providing logistical support to other centres in Sligo and Letterkenny. Sinn Fein spokesperson on Justice and Leitrim TD Martin Kenny TD has called on the Minister for Justice and Minister for Health to co-operate on a vaccine programme for staff and prisoners within the Irish penal system. Teachta Kenny said: I am shocked today at reports that only 2% of the prison population have been vaccinated. Their specific circumstances make them particularly vulnerable in comparison to the general population, so the age-related progress of the vaccination programme should not apply to those working in prison or prison inmates. The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has defined groups who meet the criteria of living and/or working in conditions which make social distancing difficult. But although it specified addicts, members of the Travelling Community and the Roma community, it has not included prisoners and prison staff nor those in Direct Provision. So far, the Irish Prison Service has done a good job in trying to keep Covid-19 out of the prisons, but at the cost of contact between prisoners and their families. Some prisoners have not had any contact with their children for 14 months. The prison officers staged an industrial action by withdrawing goodwill, due to not being prioritised for vaccination. They have paused this now and hopefully the vaccination programme amongst them will be speedily implemented. It makes sense that people working and living in prisons, who are by necessity in such close contact daily, should be given vaccines to prevent a disaster within the system. I call on the two ministers to review the Vaccine Allocation Strategy to include prison staff and inmates and to co-operate to have them vaccinated as soon as possible. Also read: Kevin Lunney trial delayed again By Anna J. Park Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) has appointed Cheong Seung-il, the former vice minister of trade, industry and energy, as its 21st president and CEO. He will officially take office on the first day of June for a three-year term. The CEO appointment for the state-run enterprise was approved at a temporary shareholders' meeting held late last week at KEPCO headquarters located in Naju, South Jeolla Province. Chung has been the only applicant in KEPCO's CEO recruitment process that started in March this year. During the past three decades, Cheong has served in various key public official posts at government ministries, including president and CEO at Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) in 2018, and deputy minister for energy and resources and deputy minister for trade and investment in 2016. He also served as director general for FTA policy in 2015, and director general at the Korea Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) in the early 2010s. Cheong has been known for having a strong sense of mission and deep understanding of the country's energy sector as he assumed previous public official posts, earning trust, leadership and expertise in administering energy policies. After graduating from Seoul National University, earning both bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration, he entered the public office as he passed the Higher Civil Service Examination in 1989. A hearing in the case of paediatric nurse Deirdre Morley, who smothered her three young children at their family home and was found not guilty of their murders by reason of insanity, has been adjourned until next week to allow time for lawyers to consider a psychiatric report. The matter was due back before the court today, Monday, May 31, where it was expected that a consultant forensic psychiatrist from the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) would be called by the State to report on Ms Morley's condition and make recommendations for her ongoing care. Highly trained clinical nurse Ms Morley (44), of Parson's Court, Newcastle, Co Dublin, had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of her sons Conor McGinley (9) and Darragh McGinley (7) and her daughter Carla McGinley (3). The children's bodies were discovered at the family home just before 8pm on January 24 last year. On May 20, Ms Morley was found not not guilty by reason of insanity after a jury accepted the evidence given by two psychiatrists that the accused, who specialised in renal care at Our Lady's Hospital in Crumlin, was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the three killings and fulfilled the criteria for the special verdict. The two consultant forensic psychiatrists called as expert witnesses during the trial were both in agreement that the accused was unable to appreciate what she had done was morally wrong and was unable to refrain from her actions. Following the verdict 11days ago, trial judge Mr Justice Paul Coffey made an order committing Ms Morley to the CMH in Dundrum until today, so that an approved medical officer could prepare a psychiatric assessment. Mr Justice Coffey, who appeared via video-link today from Anglesea Street Courthouse in Cork, said that he had only received the statutory report after 11am this morning with a passcode, which he was unable to use. "I've overcome that difficulty but I have to rise in order to consider the report," he added. In reply, prosecution counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC said the State had not received the report and she understood that there would be an application to adjourn the matter until June 8. The judge said he had also understood that the report would not be ready before today and that there would be an application to adjourn the hearing. Barry Ward BL, for Ms Morley, said the defence had not yet considered the report. Mr Justice Coffey said that both sides should be able to consider the content of the report and he would adjourn the matter until June 8 at 10.30am. He remanded Ms Morley to the CMH and said he would finalise matters on the next occasion. Ms Morley was not present in court for today's brief hearing. Ms Morley's three-day trial at the Central Criminal Court, which the State called "a desperately sad case", heard that the accused had unsuccessfully attempted to drug her three children on the day before they were killed, having formulated a plan to then suffocate them in their sleep. On the evening of January 23 last year, Ms Morley crushed between six and eight morphine tablets to put in the boys cereal and put a Tylex tablet containing codeine in her daughter's drink. However, the accused "abandoned any further actions" to harm the children that evening as the two boys "spat out" their bedtime snack when they tasted it and her daughter did not consume much of the drink. The case, Ms Morley's defence counsel had told the jury, was a "tragedy of enormous proportions", with the "tragic irony" of the accused being someone who had committed her entire professional life to the care of children as a paediatric nurse. In his closing speech, defence counsel Michael Bowman SC said the case was a "tragedy of enormous proportions" that had been visited upon parents who were "utterly committed" to the welfare of their children. He stressed that the tragic loss of three children was at the core of the case and their parents had been left in a set of circumstances where their offspring were no longer with them. It was clear, he said, that his client was labouring under a mental illness which was defined within the Criminal Law Insanity Act 2006. Mr Bowman suggested that one of "the tragic ironies" in the case was that the accused had committed her entire professional life to the care of children as a paediatric nurse and bore that responsibility heavily on her own shoulders but had suffered from depression and anxiety since the late 1990's. "Despite the best efforts of those around her and the level of support they offered, it was not enough to prevent her slipping into a state of delusion and psychosis from which she could not return," he remarked. The trial was told that Darragh was the first child to be killed and there had been a disagreement that morning over the amount of "screen time" he was watching on his iPad and the television. After midday, Ms Morley said she "just had to end" their suffering, looked at the clock and remembered thinking "I could smother him now. I could kill him now". She got some "brown thick tape" from the utility room and took plastic bags from under the sink. She put some tape over Darragh's mouth, a bag over his head and a cushion on top of the bag inside the play tent. She said she "didn't want to do it but had to do it". He asked her "what are you doing mammy" and struggled under her for a few minutes before passing out. After he was dead, the accused carried his body to the master bedroom upstairs and put him on the bed. After killing Darragh the accused said she felt she "couldn't leave any of them behind" and put a plastic bag over Carla's head and used a cushion to smother her. After bringing her body upstairs, she realised her daughter was still breathing and held her nose until this was no longer the case. After collecting her eldest child Conor from school and bringing him to Tesco to buy a roll for lunch, she brought him home where they watched "Jurassic World" in the front room. She suggested playing a game where they first put tape over their mouths to see if he could talk through it and she then put a plastic bag over his head. The boy told her "Stop Mammy" but she said she did not feel that she could stop herself from suffocating him and pulled the bag tighter by twisting it. She told her son: "I'm sorry Conor". She left him inside the play tent and was unable to carry him upstairs to his siblings bodies. Ms Morley was recorded as telling psychiatrists from Tallaght Hospital in the days after the event that Conor was "more difficult" to kill and she had considered dropping him off at a friend's instead so he would be safe. However, she said "things had gone too far" so she smothered him also. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster found the children had died by asphyxia from compressions of the chest area and airways. Ms Morley had made "crystal clear" to gardai in her interviews that she wanted to make sure that she "was gone" after she killed her children and before her husband arrived home that evening. She left her home after 4pm with a bottle of wine and a variety of medication, including Xanax, intending to jump off the bridge between Newcastle and Rathcoole before the N7 flyover. However, she crashed her car in a grassy area and lost consciousness. She left the house again on foot at 6.30pm but was found by a taxi driver, who gave her a lift back to the estate. Evidence was given that the accused had done Google searches for a "noose", "how to make a noose" and "the N7 flyover" on January 22. She had also purchased a rope from a hardware shop the next day. After returning from an overnight work trip in Cork, the accused's husband Andrew McGinley found his wife unconscious and being cared for by paramedics in the estate. He then discovered the bodies of his three children in the house. Darragh and Carla were found upstairs in the master bedroom and Conor was downstairs with his feet protruding from the play tent. Two notes written by the accused had been left in the house, with one placed at the bottom of the stairs, to urge whoever came through the door of the family home not to go into the front room or upstairs and to phone 911 instead. Dr Brenda Wright, called by the defence, gave a detailed description of the accused's mental state deteriorating in the weeks before the killing and said she was suffering with bipolar affective disorder at the time. The witness said the defendant believed it was morally right to smother her three children as she thought she had "irreparably damaged" them and "had to put an end to their suffering". Dr Mary Davoren, for the prosecution, testified that the accused was suffering at a minimum from recurrent depressive disorder and experienced a severe depressive episode on the day. Ms Morley told gardai that she was feeling "overwhelmed" at the time, her thoughts had been "getting darker" that week and she wanted to save her children from the pain and suffering she felt lay before them because of her shortcomings as a parent. She believed she had to take their lives as they were "more damaged" by her parenting skills and they "had to go together". The defendant, the court heard, had previously found it difficult to cope with stress at work and had taken the loss of a child in her ward particularly badly. In his charge to the jury, Mr Justice Coffey said there was "no contest in this sad and tragic case" about what the correct verdict should be. He said the evidence was all one way and both the prosecution and defence agreed that the defence of insanity applied. One hour and 28 minutes into their deliberations, the jury asked Mr Justice Coffey for clarity on the special verdict of insanity. He told them that the case was "unusually free from controversy of any kind" and was one in which it is agreed that the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity should be returned on all counts. The jury of ten men and two women spent four hours and 23 minutes deliberating over two days before bringing in three verdicts of not guilty by reason of insanity. In her opening address, Ms Lawlor said the jury's primary concern would be the accused's mental state on January 24 and there was no issue in the case as to what happened to the children and how they died. The accused's mental health had deteriorated very significantly and she suffered a breakdown in July 2019. She was admitted to St Patrick's Hospital in Dublin as an inpatient for four weeks. Those closest to Ms Morley had sought to manage her problems as best they could but didn't realise the gravity of the situation. "In the days before the children's deaths, there was a belief that her mental health had improved significantly and psychiatrists will assist you in that was not the case," indicated Ms Lawlor. The court heard that both Clondalkin Mental Health Services and the Swiftbrook Medical Centre had written to St Patrick's Hospital requesting that Ms Morley be readmitted due to concerns about her mental health. Postmasters today warned that Government needs to act urgently to maintain the Post Office Network, or face unrestrained closures from July. Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) General Secretary Ned OHara said that a Government financial intervention must be implemented within weeks, or the Network as we know it will collapse. The IPU has written to its members to attend emergency local meetings during June to discuss all options, including a members ballot on a work stoppage. There are currently 875 Postmaster and 45 An Post operated Post Offices in the country. Mr OHara said: Postmaster operated Offices face a major challenge from July 1, as a significant reduction in payment rates (an on average fall of approximately 20%) will take effect. This is against the backdrop of rising viability pressure in recent years, which COVID-19 has further compounded. The difficulty is also related to the delay in additional Government services promised in 2018, but only now being seriously examined," he said. This uncertainly also puts in jeopardy plans to maintain Bank of Ireland branch services through Post Offices. A report commissioned by the IPU from business advisors Grant Thornton, and published last September, warned of unrestrained Post Office closures from July 2021. Grant Thorntons analysis recommended an annual Public Service Obligation (PSO) of 17million, which it said would represent strong overall value for money for the State. Mr OHara continued The IPU has since last September been recommending to Government that an annual Government retainer payment be put in place. With just four full weeks until this tipping point, Postmasters remain in the dark about their future. If there isnt enough time to have a comprehensive solution in place by July, then the IPU is calling for Government and An Post to put in place an interim action that will be effective and is deliverable from July. The IPU is receiving calls daily from Postmasters in all areas who are considering their immediate future. We are organising emergency meetings, to take place by mid-June, and all possible actions will be discussed including to ballot on a work stoppage. In 2018 a national plan for the Post Office Network was launched giving a commitment to services within 3km in urban areas and 15km or community of 500 people in all rural areas. However, the IPU said this can only be delivered with Government support. IPU President Sean Martin said Postmasters want to provide a solution to Government for the delivery of all important citizen services in an offline option and to underpin social inclusion and protect local economies. He also said that current HSE cyberattack highlighted the importance of maintaining offline options for core citizen services. Postmasters are ready, willing and able to provide many additional services including motor tax, licences, renewals, registrations, identity verification, community information, IT / Office hub or advising and helping people and to evolve for the future, Mr Martin said. Independent research carried out by RED C last year found that 86% supported the Government providing financial support to keep their Post Office open and 86% wanted more State services available at their Post Office. NEW DELHI : Vedanta on Monday announced the launch of mega vaccination drive across its locations to cover all employees, their families and business partners and stressed that more than 1.2 lakh people will be vaccinated under the programme. The company has received 50,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine and employees and family members are being inoculated across business units, Vedanta said in a statement. Vedanta is procuring an additional two lakh doses to complete the inoculation plan, which covers business partners, along with family members, it said. The company is spending around 12.6 crore to procure vaccines in bulk for the Vedanta family, it said. "Our vaccination drive will ensure 100% of our people are inoculated. We stand firmly with the central and state governments in contributing towards the countrys vaccination programme," Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal said. Several Indian firms, including Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, Infosys Ltd, Accenture Plc, Mahindra Group, ITC Ltd, RPG Group and State Bank of India have announced to offer free immunization plans for staff and their dependents as a way to persuade them to return to the office faster and assure worried workers amid a second wave of infections. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. The Federal Reserve told Deutsche Bank AG in recent weeks that the lender is failing to address persistent shortcomings in its anti-money-laundering controls, according to people familiar with the matter. The Feds frustration has escalated to a point that the bank could be fined, the people said. Deutsche Bank has poured massive resources into addressing repeated shortcomings and penalties related to allowing suspect transactions. The Fed told Deutsche Bank that instead of making progress, the German lender with a large Wall Street presence is backsliding. The regulator has said that some of the anti-money-laundering control problems require immediate attention, according to the people. A spokesman for Deutsche Bank said the bank doesnt comment on dialogue with regulators. A spokesman for the Fed declined to comment. The Feds harsh words contrast with the banks message that it has worked diligently to improve its systems and has put most of its legal troubles in the past. The Feds latest warning comes four years after it classified Deutsche Banks U.S. operations as being in troubled condition," a rare rebuke for a major bank. In May 2020, it issued a fresh admonishment over the banks money-laundering controls. In 2020, Deutsche Bank also settled with New Yorks Department of Financial Services over the banks role as a correspondent bank in one of Europes largest money-laundering scandals and for failing to properly monitor its dealings with late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In 2017, the Fed fined Deutsche Bank $41 million for failing to maintain an effective anti-money-laundering program. Deutsche Bank is Germanys largest lender and as a dollar clearing bank regulated by the Fed, is a major player in global financial transactions. Banks are required to police how money flows through their networks to guard against proceeds from criminal activities moving around the economy. They are required to know who their customers are and to flag transactions that indicate potentially illegal activity to authorities. Deutsche Banks financial situation has improved after it began an overhaul in 2019 to sharply cut costs and exit some operations, including equities trading in the U.S. This year it posted its strongest quarter in seven years. On Thursday, Deutsche Bank officials struck a bullish tone at the banks annual shareholder meeting, saying the lender has found its footing and is regaining trust in the market. It also said it wants to play an active role in banking consolidation in Europe. There has been a fundamental change in the way people see our bank," Chief Executive Officer Christian Sewing said in a speech. Mr. Sewing told shareholders that the bank has significantly strengthened our control systems," but added that we are also aware of the areas in which we need to improve," including its anti-financial crime efforts. The bank has struggled to shake off its reputation for loose controls. In April, BaFin, Germanys financial regulator, ordered the bank to take further steps to safeguard against money laundering. BaFin said Deutsche Bank needed to comply with due diligence obligations, in particular over regular customer reviews. It expanded the role of a monitor it appointed in 2018 to look over implementation. After the BaFin order, Deutsche Bank said it had significantly improved its controls, spending about $2.4 billion and increasing its anti-money-laundering team to more than 1,600 over the past two years. It acknowledged that it had more work to do. Deutsche Bank also remains under the watch of outside monitors appointed in 2017 by New Yorks Department of Financial Services as part of the settlement of a mirror trades" case, in which the bank moved $10 billion of Russian client money out of the country. The Wall Street Journal reported last November that the monitors grew alarmed at a possible expansion of the banks activities in Russia. In October, they told the bank that efforts to improve its operation werent enough to make up for the large risks of doing business with Russian clients, and that the bank should shut its business there instead. Earlier this month, the bank appointed Joe Salama, its U.S. general counsel who was responsible for negotiating recent regulatory settlements with U.S. authorities, to head its global anti-financial-crime unit. The move was meant to improve the banks relationship with regulators, according to people familiar with the situation. Unlike his predecessor, who was based in Frankfurt, Mr. Salama will split his time between Germany and the U.S. 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. China forced banks to hold more foreign currencies in reserve for the first time in more than a decade, its most substantial move yet to rein the surging yuan. The nations financial institutions will need to hold 7% of their foreign exchange in reserve from June 15, according to a central bank statement Monday. Thats an increase of 2 percentage points, and the first such hike since 2007. The move, which the Peoples Bank of China said will help liquidity management, effectively reduces the supply of dollars and other currencies onshore -- putting pressure on the yuan to weaken. The Chinese currency fell 0.2% at 7:06 p.m. in Hong Kong on Monday. Although analysts said the direct impact may be small, the move is the clearest signal by the PBOC that its unhappy about the yuans surge to a three-year high against the greenback. Authorities had until now limited their response to rhetoric: a former central bank official and a state-media commentary talked down the currency over the weekend. The PBOC wants to show the market -- if the rally keeps going, it has many measures to slow it down and the market will fail if it wants to make speculative bets," said Zhou Hao, an economist at Commerzbank AG in Singapore. Its more of a symbolic move, as no matter how the PBOC boosts funding costs on foreign exchange, the rate on the yuan will almost always be higher." China's currency has mostly only gained in the past year Betting on the yuan has been a successful strategy in the past year. The currency has surged 13% against the dollar since last May, when it was near its lowest level since 2008 amid the effects of the pandemic and the trade war with the U.S. Brokerages including Citic Securities Co., Scotiabank and Westpac Banking Corp. expect the currency to climb to 6.2 against the dollar from the current 6.3736. That would be the strongest since a 2015 devaluation. The yuan is supported by Chinas economic recovery and its higher-yielding markets are attractive to global investors. A backdrop of imported inflation is bolstering the argument for a stronger yuan. Against a basket of trading partners, the Chinese currency is the strongest since 2016. The foreign-exchange reserve ratio hike will likely freeze about $20 billion of liquidity, according to Guan Tao, a former official at the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. The increase demonstrates the Chinese central banks strong determination to curb rapid appreciation in the yuan, and PBOC has more tools if speculation emerges in the currency market, he said. Recent history shows traders should be wary. In the wake of the devaluation, the yuan fell about 11% by the end of 2016, surged 11% through its 2018 peak, before reversing again to sink 13% by September 2019. When momentum in the yuan became too extreme, authorities often took steps to arrest the moves. In early 2018, for instance, the yuan fell the most in two months as authorities gave banks the green light to submit quotes for weaker fixings. Beijing seems to be sticking to its goal of liberalizing markets as part of President Xi Jinpings plans to reduce moral hazard. Its not just the yuan where direct intervention is now an unusual sight. The national team of state-backed funds is rarely seen in the $12 trillion stock market anymore, unless moves risk turning into panic or mania. Even in the commodities market, where officials are struggling to cool prices, efforts have largely been verbal rather than direct. If the central bank takes additional assertive actions, such as setting dramatically weaker fixings, that could reinforce the belief that only heavy-handed intervention is worth paying attention to. Yet the Communist Party has made it clear it will act to reduce speculation and guard against risks to financial stability, especially in the run-up to the centenary of the Partys founding this July. We dont see this as an one-off change, but likely the start of a trend," Becky Liu, head of China macro strategy at Standard Chartered, said of Mondays move by the PBOC. It could be seen as a new mechanism to manage the yuan in the medium term, together with other counter-cyclical measures." Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. EgyptEgyptian officials made their most specific allegations against the captain of a container ship that blocked the Suez Canal for nearly a week in March, accusing the skipper of losing control of the Ever Given and hitting the vital waterways bank. The ship swerved left and right before becoming lodged in the bank of the canal, said Sayed Sheisha, the chief investigator for the Suez Canal Authority. The captain issued eight commands within 12 minutes as he tried to bring the ship back into alignment." The question of who is to blame for the accident is at the heart of a dispute over how much compensation the ships owners should pay. Egyptian authorities seized the ship in April and are now demanding $550 million to cover lost revenues, damage to the canal and the cost of rescuing the ship. The Japanese company that owns the ship, Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd., didnt respond to calls and emails seeking comment. The company that manages the ship, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement Ltd., also didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. A lawyer for the Japanese company has previously blamed the Suez Canal Authority for allowing the ship to enter the canal during a massive sandstorm that was taking place in Egypt at the time. Initial investigations into the accident had focused on a sudden gust of wind. Earlier this month, an appeals chamber at Ismailia Economic Court heard recordings showing disagreements between Suez Canal Authority pilots and its control center over whether the ship should enter the canal, according to people familiar with the matter. Lawyers representing Shoei Kisen Kaisha said the authority shouldnt have allowed the ship to enter the waterway and that the ship should have been accompanied by at least two tug boats. The Ever Givens insurer, UK P&I Club, said that the insurer and the ships owners are committed to a fair and amicable resolution of the matter, in comments made on Saturday before Egyptian authorities made the allegations against the captain. The Ever Given, one of the largest cargo ships in the world, ran aground in the Suez Canal on March 23, causing global supply-chain chaos as hundreds of ships piled up in a backlog on either side of the canal. The ship was freed on March 29 after six days of work by Egyptian engineers and sailors with help from a Dutch specialized salvage company. Egyptian authorities impounded the ship on April 12 and are refusing to allow the ship to leave until its Japanese owners agree to pay compensation. The Suez Canal Authority initially demanded more than $900 million but later reduced the amount it sought as compensation. We first estimated the value of the ships cargo at $3 billion. Our share of that value was established at $912 million for the above mentioned costs. When the shipowners got back to us saying the value of the cargo was $750 million, we lowered our demand," said Mr. Sheisha. The ship, along with its cargo of some 18,000 containers and its crew of Indian sailors, remains at anchor in the Great Bitter Lake, which separates two segments of the canal. Mr. Sheisha told reporters at the Suez Canal Authoritys headquarters on Sunday that the institution had concluded its own investigation into the cause of the accident, blaming the incident on errors made by the captain. He said the ship was veering to the right as it entered the canal and that the captain tried to pull the ship back to the center. He said the captain accelerated when the ships response was too slow. The ship veered instead to the left, and then to the right again before slamming into the bank of the canal, Mr. Sheisha said. The case in the Ismailia Economic Court over the fate of the ship is continuing, but both parties have asked to adjourn the proceedings until June 20. The Suez Canal Authority has sent the results of its investigation to the International Maritime Organization, Mr. Sheisha said, but said Egyptian officials wouldnt release the full report to the public during continuing negotiations over compensation. The ships crew havent been allowed to leave the ship since it ran aground. Union leaders representing the crew have said the sailors have been treated well but have expressed concern that they could be trapped in Egypt indefinitely if the dispute isnt resolved quickly. Two members of the crew were granted permission to leave on April 15 for urgent personal reasons, according to the Suez Canal Authority. 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. Most young Europeans still face a long wait for Covid-19 vaccination, but Argyris Souanis, 32 years old, is about to get his shot because he is lucky enough to live on the Greek island of Santorini. Mr. Souanis will get one of the single-dose vaccines made by Johnson & Johnson that Greeces government has decided to direct mostly to Greek islands, in a quest to fully inoculate islanders and save the cornerstone of the Greek economy: the summer tourist season. Mr. Souanis supplies tourist souvenirs to shops all over Santorini, whose whitewashed villages perched along the rocky black rim of an ancient volcano are among the most famous sights of the Mediterranean. Last year, when Covid-19 struck and cruise ships vanished, Mr. Souaniss business almost ground to a halt. He didnt sell a single one of the 20,000 Santorini calendars for the year 2020 that he had printed. I had to throw them all away," he said. It is an experience he is desperate to avoid repeating. Everyone in his family is planning to take up the governments offer of early vaccination. The economy here is based 100% on tourism. We all agree there is no other choice," he said. Most countries are asking their oldest residents, and others at high risk of serious illness, to get a Covid-19 vaccine first. Epidemiologists say that is the fastest way to cut hospitalizations and deaths. In Greece, where old people have had the chance to get at least one shot, the islands are now the top priority. Greeks know the country can ill afford to lose a second summer tourism season in a row. In normal, non-pandemic times, more than 20% of Greeces gross domestic product depends on tourism. In 2020, Greece received just seven million tourists, down from 33 million in 2019. The shock of the pandemic has set back Greeces long, slow climb out of economic depression since the countrys debt crisis a decade ago. Greece opened its borders for tourists on May 15. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis have worked to get the country ready and entice back the worlds vacationers. But Greeces still-high level of Covid-19 contagion has led many countries including the U.S. and the U.K. to advise their citizens against taking a Greek vacation for now. As of May 29, Greece had administered a first vaccine dose to 3.6 million of its 10.4 million population, and fully vaccinated 2 million. The countrys reopening from a long lockdown since winter has been slowed by new infections that often exceed 2,000 a day. In an effort to reassure the outside world that traveling to Greece is safe, Mr. Mitsotakis earlier this month decided to break with vaccinating people by age group, the common practice in Europe. Under a campaign called Blue Freedom," the government would fully vaccinate all 700,000 or so adult residents of Greeces islands in the Aegean and Ionian Seas by the end of June, he said. All islanders are being offered the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Nikoloas Kanakaris, a 35-year-old from Santorini, said the policy is the only hope for salvaging the summer at least partially. He captains a boat that ferries visitors from cruise ships to Santorinis shores. All of the 120 locals who work on such boats plan to get their shot soon, he said. We havent got much else to do," said Mr. Kanakaris. Only five cruise ships are scheduled to arrive in June, with reduced passenger numbers under Covid-19 rules. Last year, Mr. Kanakaris and his colleagues had no work at all. We went from literally the peak in 2019 to zero activity, without income, since the end of 2019," he said. Meanwhile we have to keep spending to maintain the boats and keep them safe," said Mr. Kanakaris. Soon we will have to pay back some of the financial support we received last year. Still, despite all difficulties, I want to be optimistic; 2021 will be another tough year, but we will get back to normal in 2022." Santorini normally draws hundreds of thousands of tourists annually from all over the world. Bookings this year from Asia and Australia are zero, said Antonis Pagonis, the 28-year-old president of the village of Oia, one of the islands most famous attractions. Mr. Pagonis said he hopes the rapid vaccination plan will help to reassure Americans in particular. The U.S. is a top market for us, but the country has placed Greece on red alert so far. There is interest and bookings from there, but when you have an option to cancel in 48 or 72 hours it is more a promise than a plan. It is going to be a race against time this year," he said. While Santorini can hope that its global brand will still attract people as the season gets going, the outlook is more uncertain in Symi, a picturesque island of 3,000 residents near the coast of Turkey. Euthalia Karpathaki and her husband own a local bus, car-rental business and travel agency. Business isnt going well. Only a handful of short-stay guests are coming from the nearby larger island of Rhodes. A few more tourists are trickling in by ferry from Piraeus, the port of Athens. We used to get a lot of tourism from Turkey as well," said Ms. Karpathaki while observing a lonely yacht sail into Symis port. They would sail from the Turkish coast and spend a couple of days here." But the pandemic and the fall in Turkeys troubled currency have ended that. Symi has had few coronavirus infections, but many locals now plan to make use of the governments offer of rapid vaccinationas much to protect themselves when tourists begin returning as to lure them back. We are all a bit concerned about what will happen when visitors from Rhodes and Piraeus start arriving," said Dimitris Xrysochoos, a retiree on Symi. 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. Israeli nationalist hardliner Naftali Bennett said Sunday he would join a potential coalition government that could end the rule of the country's longest-serving leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Lawmakers opposed to right-wing Netanyahu have been in intense talks ahead of a Wednesday deadline, as a ceasefire held following the latest deadly military conflict with Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu, 71, who faces trial on fraud, bribery and breach of trust charges, which he denies, has clung to power throughout a period of political turmoil that has seen four inconclusive elections in under two years. A March vote saw Netanyahu's Likud party gain the most seats but he again failed to form a government. Opposition leader and former TV anchor Yair Lapid now has until Wednesday evening to build a rival coalition. Lapid, 57, is seeking a diverse alliance the Israeli media has dubbed a bloc for "change", which would include Bennett as well as Arab-Israeli lawmakers. In his determination to bring down the hawkish prime minister, Lapid has offered to share power and let Bennett, 49, serve the first term in a rotating premiership. Bennett, after meeting members of his religious-nationalist Yamina party, said Sunday: "I will do everything to form a national unity government with my friend Yair Lapid." Lapid and Bennett's parties started talks on Sunday night to formalise the deal, they said in a statement. Religious-nationalist Yamina won seven seats in March 23 elections, but one member has refused to join an anti-Netanyahu coalition. Netanyahu, who has been in office for 12 consecutive years after an earlier three-year term, in his own televised address minutes later lashed out at the plan, calling it "a danger for the security of Israel". - 'Desperate position' - He had earlier Sunday tried to cling to power by offering his own, last-ditch power-sharing agreement to several former allies including Bennett. He warned Israel would otherwise be ruled by a dangerous "left-wing" alliance. Lapid has until Wednesday 11:59 pm local time (2059 GMT) to build a coalition of at least 61 deputies, a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. A Lapid government would also include the centrist Blue and White party of Netanyahu's rival Benny Gantz and the hawkish New Hope party of his former ally Gideon Saar. Avigdor Lieberman's pro-settlement Yisrael Beitenu party as well as historically powerful Labour and the dovish Meretz party would also join. The shaky arrangement would need the backing of some Arab-Israeli lawmakers of Palestinian descent in order to pass a confirmation vote in parliament. The intense talks follow weeks of escalating tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, including a deadly 11-day exchange of rocket fire from Gaza and devastating Israeli airstrikes. The war with Hamas that ended with a May 21 truce, as well as violence in the occupied West Bank and in mixed Jewish-Arab towns in Israel, initially appeared to leave Netanyahu more likely to hold onto power. But political scientist Gayil Talshir at Hebrew University told AFP on Sunday that Israel was now "closer than ever" to a coalition of change, adding: "Netanyahu is in a desperate position". Netanyahu's Likud party won 30 seats in the March elections but failed to form a governing coalition after his far-right partners refused to sit with Arab factions or receive their support. Lapid, whose party won 17 seats, was then given four weeks to form a government. Netanyahu had previously pushed for yet another election -- Israel's fifth in a little more than two years. - More elections? - On Sunday Netanyahu offered his own proposal of a rotation agreement with Bennett and Saar. But Saar on Twitter said he remained committed to "replacing the Netanyahu regime". Netanyahu in a video then called on Saar and Bennett to "come now, immediately" to meet him and join a three-way rotation government, warning they were "in crucial moment for the security, character and future of the state of Israel". Lapid's "change" coalition also still faced several obstacles. Some right-wing lawmakers object to a partnership with politicians from Israel's Arab minority, around a fifth of the population. The recent Gaza conflict sparked inter-communal clashes between Jewish and Arab Israelis in mixed cities. Arab politicians have also been divided about joining a government headed by Bennett, who supports expanding Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinians hope to create a state. Even with support from an Arab party, a new coalition in Israel is unlikely to reverse years of Israeli settlement construction or bring peace any time soon with Hamas in Gaza. If the anti-Netanyahu camp does not manage to form a government on time, a majority of 61 lawmakers could vote to ask the president to name a new premier. Another scenario would see the country return, yet again, to the polls. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Hippos are native to sub-Saharan Africa, but a once captive herd of escaped animals is right at home in northwestern Colombia. Hippos that were brought to Colombia decades ago by Pablo Escobar, the notorious cocaine kingpin, are now thriving in the country's river ecosystems. Scientists even suspect that river habitats may benefit from the presence of these non-native hippos, with the large herbivores filling an ecological niche that has been vacant in the region for thousands of years. Many species of big plant-eaters that once roamed the planet were driven to extinction beginning about 100,000 years ago, with extinctions peaking toward the end of the Pleistocene Epoch (2.6 million to 11,700 years ago). As big herbivorous animals vanished, their absence starved the soil of nutrients, altered plant growth and even affected water flow and availability, researchers wrote in a new study. However, newly introduced nonnative herbivores such as Escobar's "cocaine hippos" could revitalize and enrich such ecosystems, and could do so in locations around the world, the scientists reported. Related: Image gallery: 25 amazing ancient beasts Escobar imported four hippos from America in 1981, for a private zoo at his hacienda near Medellin, Colombia. After his drug empire collapsed, the hippos escaped and have been breeding in the wild ever since, now numbering 80 individuals or more, Scientific American reported in February . For the new study, scientists analyzed the ecological impacts of 427 large herbivores weighing at least 22 lbs. (10 kilograms) that lived between 130,000 years ago and the present day, to see if ailing ecosystems that were once populated by herbivores could be restored to health if big herbivores came back. In Colombia, the renegade hippos "present a chimera of multiple extinct species' trait combinations," the study authors wrote. In other words, the hippos' impact on their adopted habitat how much and what type of plants they eat; how much they move around within their range; how they digest their meals; and the quantity of nutrients they return to the habitat as poop was once performed by a variety of sizable native plant eaters. Before Escobar's hippos invaded Colombia's waterways, the last big herbivore to roam that part of South America was the giant llama Hemiauchenia paradoxa, or large-headed llama, which vanished around 11,000 years ago. The closest extinct equivalent to a modern hippo is the large-headed llama, the scientists wrote in the study. However, the researchers found that hippos were also very similar to an extinct semiaquatic hoofed beast called Trigonodops lopesi, "in all traits but fermentation type," according to the study. This means that hippos may graze on riverbanks in a manner that echoes the habits of extinct llamas, but may distribute nutrients via poop in a manner that is more similar to another extinct river animal, the researchers reported. For now, the ecological impact of Escobar's hippos is still largely unknown. But some experts have suggested that the hippos aren't such a boon for the environment. In fact, they may upset the balance of Colombian ecosystems, because they produce significant quantities of dung that can affect the water's oxygen levels, according to Scientific American . Indeed, researchers previously noted that in Kenya, river runoff saturated with hippo poo led to 13 mass die-offs in fish, in which fish suffocated in oxygen-poor water, Live Science previously reported . The findings were published online March 23 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . Originally published on Live Science . Here's what the ancient memorial looked like before it was flooded from the construction of a dam. A huge burial mound holding the corpses of at least 30 warriors in Syria could be the oldest war memorial ever discovered, dating back at least 4,300 years at the now submerged site of Tell Banat, said a team of archaeologists. The memorial is also the first example of a particular type of monument described in ancient inscriptions from Mesopotamia in which the bodies of either enemies or local battle dead are piled up to form a highly organized structure. This discovery also shows "that ancient people honored those killed in battle, just as we do," Anne Porter, a professor of ancient Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations at the University of Toronto, said in a statement. "We do not know whether they were the victors or the losers of that battle. We do know that they [the people from Tell Banat] took the bodies of the dead from some other place, perhaps long after the event, and interred them in a huge mound that was visible for miles around," Porter said in the statement. Related: 25 grisly archaeological discoveries The memorial looks a bit like the step pyramid of Djoser in Egypt except that the layers of the monument are made of dirt and gypsum instead of stone, the archaeologists wrote in the paper, published May 28 in the journal Antiquity . The people who lived in the area in modern times called the mound the "white monument" because the gypsum causes the monument to glisten in sunlight, the archaeologists wrote. The ancient war monument looked a bit like the step pyramid of Djoser in Egypt. (Image credit: Euphrates Salvage Project & Antiquity Publications) Though the site was excavated between 1988 and 1999 by a team led by Porter and Thomas McClelland, who at the time were both archaeologists with the Euphrates Salvage Project, researchers didn't fully understand its purpose until now. They carried out those excavations before the site was flooded by the construction of the Tishreen Dam. In the time since, those same archaeologists, along with undergraduate students at the University of Toronto, have closely examined the finds, determining that the site was likely a war memorial, possibly the oldest known example in the world. They also discovered the memorial was built on top of an earlier structure. A dead army The researchers could tell the bodies were meticulously interred. "Collections of human bone were deposited in the fill as the horizontal stages [of the monument] were built up. They were placed directly on the soil, with no special covering or demarcation," the team wrote in the Antiquity paper. "Although small, fragmentary and somewhat diffuse, the bones were nevertheless intentionally placed in discrete groupings" the archaeologists wrote. The remains are fragmentary and in many cases the age and sex of the deceased could not be identified. Those that could be identified were male and ranged from grown adults to as young as 8 to 10 years old. Why someone between 8 and 10 years old would be placed in the war memorial is not clear. The bones appear to have been dug up and reinterred at the memorial. "The bones could have come from an old battleground, or from a cemetery. Regardless, they were selected, arranged and ultimately monumentalized with care, long after death," the archaeologists wrote in their paper. Some of the deceased were buried with kunga, which were "a donkey-like equid breed seen pulling vehicles in ancient art," the statement said. Those soldiers buried with the kunga may have served as wagon drivers, the archaeologists wrote. Additionally, the team found pellets buried near some of the deceased. Ancient people often used pellets fired from slings as weapons in the ancient world and these weapons may symbolize the role that the deceased played when they were alive. "We recognized that there was a distinct pattern in the burials pairs of bodies with skins of equids in one part of the monument, single individuals with earthen pellets in the other," Porter said in the statement, adding that the arrangement suggests the individuals belonged to an ancient army. An organized ancient army likely would have been divided into different units such as a wagoneer unit and units of foot soldiers equipped with slings and pellets. "Patterns emerge suggesting that the individuals placed in [the memorial] not only participated in battle but did so in a formalized way: They were part of an organized army, divided into wagoneers and foot soldiers," the archaeologists wrote. The team also found a model of a covered wagon, a figurine depicting a kunga and a wheel made out of clay with the deceased. Originally published on Live Science. By Kim Jae-heun Former GS Retail President Cho Yoon-sung Click here to read the full article. Spoiler alert: Do not read this column if you have not seen the May 30 Something Old, Something New episode of FXs Pose. Pose, the FX series wrapping its three-season run in June, is a show thats always been comfortable using exaggeration as a sort of wishful metaphor. Consider the shows first episode, in which Dominique Jacksons character leads a museum heist in order to ransack historical finery to wear at a ball. The characters, along with their show, use wit and ambition to procure clothes worn by royals, and redistribute them to Black drag artists and trans women. By bending reality, the show reclaimed the visual language of wealth and power. To mention that such a heist seemed unrealistic at best isnt just not in the spirit of Pose. It is irrelevant to what the show was doing. Pose tells a story of a heartbreaking era in queer history with all the ingenuity and spirit of its characters, who rose to meet the moment with brio and theatricality to spare. That was evidenced most recently by the two-part wedding special for Indya Moores Angel and Angel Bismark Curiels Lil Papi. The shows key scenes, from a startlingly powerful season one performance on an AIDS ward to a funeral scene that culminates in a perfect lip-sync, have long shared a vision of pain endured and transcended, through the gift of collaboration and the power of hard-fought optimism. The hospital rendition of Diana Ross Home was a duet between Billy Porter and Mj Rodriguez; the lip-sync to Stephanie Mills Never Knew Love Like This Before was a tour de force from Angelica Ross, a last look at the character Candy after shed been murdered and a chance to make clear how loved and admired the character had been. But few actors have seemed quite so integral to the fantastical element of Pose as Jackson. I have always been a partisan of Jacksons work, pitched to the rafters with a luscious, witty self-indulgence to each line reading. And its fitting that Jackson, who began the series as the ringleader of witty mayhem, got to do something similar in the run-up to Angels wedding. A sequence in which Jackson now, in a turn worthy of Dynasty, a very wealthy woman set out to bankroll Moores wedding gown was carried across with a sort of juicy delight. Theres an entire novels worth of personal history in Jacksons reading of the line Were here to shop, among it a pleasurable reversal of fortune. The character of Elektra once had to rob and steal to make her way: Now, fitting her chosen last name of Abundance, she owns everything. As Moore cycles through dress after dress, Jackson watches with pride, flanked by Rodriguez and Hailie Sahar. Soon enough, caught up in the spirit of the day rich, and rich in love all three mother figures are, themselves modeling gowns. All four women look perfect, and not merely because theyre so striking and the fashions are excellent. They find a sort of bubbling-over of happiness that suggests there will be some to hold in reserve, in memory, in tougher times. Angels wedding represents the overcoming of various barriers, both within herself and her partner and within society. And, soon enough, the mood is spoiled, as a gruff bridal-store owner (Eddie Korbich) shutting down the party he refuses to turn designers art, he says, into a freak show. Theres real sorrow allowed in, as Elektra begs, briefly, for him to at least take her money even if he cant accept her womanhood. Then the pose slips back into place, as she delivers a series of impeccably timed and thought-through insults with an old-school comedians gift for structure and timing. The magic of Pose is the way it allows us to see both sides of its fantasy. Its characters are allowed access to the world of glamour and excitement they crave, until they arent; they know exactly the right thing to say, except for the times when they dont. Later on, at Angels spa bachelorette party, Elektra declares that she is paying for everyones treatments: Imperfections will not be invited to Angels dream wedding! she declares. Thats exactly in keeping with the characters philosophy and, indeed, everyone at the eventual wedding looks better than great but its the imperfections, the times where characters on Pose gather and find the strength to go on, that keep me watching. Its in moments like Elektra lowering herself to seek understanding where she must know none will be found, before going in on a shopkeeper she will make herself believe is beneath her notice. Or Rodriguezs Blanca faltering in her delivery of Home, and relying on Porters Pray Tell to get her through in what becomes a display of extravagant yet appropriate emotionality. Its the initial feeling of bad taste, of too-muchness, of Candy rising from her casket to perform. These flaws, these cracks in the facade, exist in compelling counterpoint to the lives these characters live. Their art is organized around a sort of performed perfection: Onstage, they want tens across the board. But when all is said and done, they want what we all do love, acceptance, family, freedom and they exist in a world that is not inclined to give it to them. How powerful and how perfectly in keeping with the shows mood, then, that the first half of the two-part wedding (helmed by show creator Steven Canals, with the second half directed by Janet Mock) centers around trans women claiming for themselves the iconography of cisgender, heterosexual love and becoming glowing brides. How perfectly extra, indeed, that the wedding spills out into two episodes! And, after doubt and uncertainty over whether the wedding might even happen, Papi bursts into song All-4-Ones I Swear. He is, suddenly, backed by strings, as members of the wedding party join in, ending up in a group singalong in amplified by a crowd of trans women of color, many wearing bridal white. Angels happiness is theirs, and theirs, too, is the opportunity to wrench beauty from a world that would deny it to them at every turn. Its likely not lost on many in the audience that white was the color worn at last summers massive protest for Black trans women in New York City; this is a celebration that exists in painful juxtaposition with so much suffering in the universe of the show, and in the world of 2021, too. Pose isnt shy about the prejudices its characters face: Weve known throughout the show that Angel and her peers are, tragically, fortunate simply to be alive, and, on a slightly less grave note, Angel manages to get a marriage license only through subterfuge and luck. Angel had those moments of imperfection, too: Having no sense of what a loving family looked like, she questioned whether she was ready to assume the responsibilities of a wife and stepmother if this was all too much for her to expect. And then the clouds parted, and she got a happy ending that it might be easy to pick apart, were Pose not a show that has constantly, since its first episode, pushed its way towards joy. I will miss Poses vision of what it could be and do. Over an exceptional run of episodes, its mix of earthy, ground-level depiction of friendship with heightened-beyond-heightened aesthetics was never contradictory: Indeed, it was the grandeur of the show that provided its characters space to communicate the unsayable. Singing, Lil Papi can explain his feelings for Angel in a way thats every bit as soaring as the love they share. Modeling together, Elektra, Blanca, and Sahars Lulu communicate sisterhood in a way that might seem insufficient to all theyve overcome together were they to speak it aloud. Porters ebullience no matter what Pray Tell faced seemed its own kind of special effect. And back in Season 2, Candy got to declare all she never could in a final, fantasized performance and her peers and friends got to give their love right back. The show conjured these characters world not by depicting relentless punishment but by showing the ways in which they found themselves lucky. There were the gifts the script gave the performers the cunning to rob a museum, an infusion of money for Elektra by series end. These elements felt charmingly indulgent, ways to provide happiness to characters living through a sad time. But the greatest good luck of the characters on Pose had nothing to do with material wealth. It was in being performers to the core, and through ingenuity and profound hope, finding ways to turn artifice inside out, and to find the truth within. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Tatino Films, a French production and consultancy company involved in industry events in Asia and Europe, is launching the Full Circle Lab, a new workshop program which will take place in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in France. Spearheaded by industry veteran Matthieu Darras, the Full Circle Lab will support six film projects during each session. Selected projects will have to be connected to the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, which spans the West and Southwest France, with colourful cities including Bordeaux and La Rochelle. The Lab is co-headed by Alexis Hofmann, head of acquisitions at Bac Films, and Julie Marnay, who was previously in charge of the selection of short films at Cannes Critics Week. Filmmakers participating in the Full Circle Lab will receive support through the development phase, as well as the post-production and promotion of their movies. For its inaugural edition, the Full Circle Lab will welcome four projects at script stage and two films in post. There will be two four-day residential workshops for the projects at script stage, the first of which will take place in August in La Maison Forte in Monbalen, and the second scheduled for November at the Auditorium Theater in Poitiers. The two movies in post, meanwhile, will go through a workshop similar to the one provided by the First Cut Lab, another industry event organized by Tatino Films. Filmmakers present a rough cut of their movies in front of a panel of experts, and then brainstorm with them about the editing. Well-established professionals will be tutoring and mentoring filmmakers during workshops. Among the mentors of the first edition are Philippe Barriere, screenwriter and script consultant; Hofmann, who has acquired a deep knowledge in distribution and international sales through his long tenure at Bac Films; and Matthieu Taponier, a screenwriter and editor whose track record include Laszlo Nemes Son of Saul and Sunset. We are particularly excited to be initiating the Full Circle Lab, that will have strong roots in a region of France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, that has demonstrated in recent years its ambition and dynamism in terms of film policy, said Darras, CEO of Tatino Films. We will aim at creating synergies between different initiatives (residencies, festivals, incubators & forums, etc.) taking place all over the territory, benefit to the filmmakers and producers active in the region, while being very international at heart, said Darras, who pointed out that the region previously fostered relationships with filmmakers from Europe, Latin America and Africa. The initiative is financially backed by the Agency Alca Nouvelle-Aquitaine and the Lot-et-Garonne Department through 2023. Alca is a cultural agency based in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region and it supports creation and production of fiction, animation and documentary films. Besides the Full Circle Lab and First Cut Lab, Darras is behind the Pop Up Film Residency for experienced filmmakers. Darras previously worked as artistic director of the TorinoFilmLab, as well as for Cannes Critics Week, Venice and San Sebastian. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) President Joe Biden honored Americas war dead at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day by laying a wreath at the hallowed burial ground and extolling the sacrifices of the fallen for the pursuit of democracy, the soul of America. Biden invoked the iconic battles of history and joined them to the present as he implored Americans to rise above the divisions straining the union, which he described in stark terms. The president was joined Monday by first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff in a somber ceremony at the Virginia cemeterys Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is dedicated to deceased service members whose remains have not been identified. His face tight with emotion, Biden walked up to the wreath, cupping it in his hands in silent reflection, then making the sign of the cross. His eyes were wet. The gathered dignitaries and military families were hushed and solemn; the chattering of cicadas loud. In remarks that followed, Biden called on Americans to commemorate their fallen heroes by remembering their fight for the nations ideals. "This nation was built on an idea, Biden said. We were built on an idea, the idea of liberty and opportunity for all. Weve never fully realized that aspiration of our founders, but every generation has opened the door a little wider. He focused much of his speech on the importance of democracy, saying it thrives when citizens can vote, when there is a free press and when there are equal rights for all. Generation after generation of American heroes are signed up to be part of the fight because they understand the truth that lives in every American heart: that liberation, opportunity, justice are far more likely to come to pass in a democracy than in an autocracy, Biden said. These Americans werent fighting for dictators, they were fighting for democracy. They werent fighting to exclude or to enslave, they were fighting to build and broaden and liberate." But he suggested these ideals are imperiled. The soul of America is animated by the perennial battle between our worst instincts, which weve seen of late, and our better angels, he said. "Between Me First and We the People. Between greed and generosity, cruelty and kindness, captivity and freedom. After the ceremony, the Bidens stopped by a row of gravestones in a cemetery where some 400,000 are buried in the gentle hills and hollows. The Bidens held hands and strolled along the rows of Section 12, one of the primary burial locations of service members killed overseas and repatriated to the United States after World War II and the Korean War. They stopped to chat with several families visiting the graves of their loved ones or searching for them one family came to find a great-uncle missing in action from the world war. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joined Biden and Harris in the ceremony. On Sunday, Biden addressed a crowd of Gold Star military families and other veterans in a ceremony at War Memorial Plaza in New Castle, Delaware. Earlier in the day, he and other family members attended a memorial Mass for his son Beau Biden, a veteran who died of brain cancer six years ago to the day. TORONTO (AP) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday it s not an isolated incident that over 200 children were found buried at a former Indigenous residential school. Trudeaus comments come as Indigenous leaders are calling for an examination of every former residential school site institutions that held children taken from families across the nation. Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tkemlups te Secwepemc First Nation in British Columbia said the remains of 215 children, some as young as 3 years old, were confirmed this month with the help of ground-penetrating radar. She described the discovery as an unthinkable loss that was spoken about but never documented at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, the largest such school in the country. As prime minister, I am appalled by the shameful policy that stole Indigenous children from their communities, Trudeau said. Sadly, this is not an exception or an isolated incident,'' he said. Were not going to hide from that. We have to acknowledge the truth. Residential schools were a reality a tragedy that existed here, in our country, and we have to own up to it. Kids were taken from their families, returned damaged or not returned at all." From the 19th century until the 1970s, more than 150,000 First Nations children were required to attend state-funded Christian schools as part of a program to assimilate them into Canadian society. They were forced to convert to Christianity and not allowed to speak their native languages. Many were beaten and verbally abused, and up to 6,000 are said to have died. The Canadian government apologized in Parliament in 2008 and admitted that physical and sexual abuse in the schools was rampant. Many students recalled being beaten for speaking their native languages. They also lost touch with their parents and customs. Indigenous leaders have cited that legacy of abuse and isolation as the root cause of epidemic rates of alcoholism and drug addiction on reservations. Plans are underway to bring in forensics experts to identify and repatriate the remains of the children found buried on the Kamloops site. Trudeau said hell be talking to his ministers about further things his government needs to do to support survivors and the community. Flags at all federal buildings are at half-staff. Opposition New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh called Monday afor an emergency debate in Parliament. This is not a surprise. This is a reality of residential schools, Singh said. 215 Indigenous kids were found in an unmarked mass grave,'' he said. Anytime we think about unmarked mass graves, we think about a distant country where a genocide has happened. This is not a distant country. The Kamloops school operated between 1890 and 1969, when the federal government took over operations from the Catholic Church and operated it as a day school until it closed in 1978. Richard Gagnon, archbishop of Winnipeg and president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, said he wanted to express our deepest sorrow for the heartrending loss of the children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. The National Truth and Reconciliation Commission has records of at least 51 children dying at the school between 1915 and 1963. The Commission identified about 3,200 confirmed deaths at schools but noted the schools did not record the cause of death in almost half of them. Some died of tuberculosis. The Commission said the practice was not to send the bodies of the students who died at the schools to their communities. The Commission also said the government wanted to keep costs down so adequate regulations were never established. This discovery is a stain on our country. It is one that needs to be rectified, Opposition Conservative lawmaker Michelle Rempel Garner said. Empty pairs of childrens shoes have been placed at memorials throughout the country. Perry Bellegarde, chief of the Assembly of First Nations, has said while it is not new to find graves at former residential schools, its always crushing to have that chapters wounds exposed. The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and the Saskatchewan government said they want Ottawa to help research undocumented deaths and burials at residential schools in the province. Federation Chief Bobby Cameron said finding the childrens remains and giving them proper burials is important to help First Nations communities and families find closure. The federation has compiled a list of initial sites where it hopes to complete radar ground searches. Sol Mamakwa, an opposition lawmaker with the New Democrat party in Ontario, also called on the government to search the grounds of other former residential schools. It is a great open secret that our children lie on the properties of former schools. It is an open secret that Canadians can no longer look away from, he said. This past weekend, the Doctors Hospital of Laredo named the winner of its robot-naming contest after receiving many entries as it selected one that it felt was suitable for the new Da Vinci Robotic Surgery System technology that is being implemented in the hospital. Doctors Hospital of Laredo announced recently the winner of the Name the Robot contest was Izabella Gonzalez, a fifth-grade student from Amparo Gutierrez Elementary School. She was one of many entries provided from local area students throughout the area. We were so excited to engage Laredo students on naming the new surgical robot, said Emma Montes-Ewing, the CEO of the Doctors Hospital of Laredo. The participation was amazing, and we thank our local educators who responded with enthusiastic support. The name selected for the surgical robot was Legend. Doctors Hospital received over 1,200 names provided by local students responding to their survey that was done through Survey Monkey. According to Doctors Hospital of Laredo Director of Marketing Judith G. Martinez, Gonzalez chose the name because it is the first robot in Laredo to assist medical professionals at the local hospital. The recognition of the winner was done so in a small ceremony hosted at the hospital. Even though Gonzalez was selected as the winner, she was not the only one invited to the ceremony. In fact, the top 10 student finalists were also invited. For winning, Gonzalez received various special prizes from the hospital, and all the finalists were treated to a photo session with the robot and surgical team as well. According to the CEO of the hospital, the contest was not just important for the hospital to get the community involved in the naming of its new hardware technology but also to some extent in teaching students about medical terminology and medical practice. The CEO also believes that this could even inspire young children to start a career in medicine. This is a great opportunity for our local youth to be excited and learn about medical technology and inspire students to pursue a career in medicine, Montes-Ewing said. Doctors Hospital announced the installation of the new da Vinci Si System in December 2020 and surgical cases started in January. This system allows specially trained surgeons to perform a wide range of minimally invasive operations through a few small incisions, said the hospital in a statement. The system is robotic, but the surgeon is very much in control. The contest started in early April as local elementary, middle and high school students were invited to participate in the competition to name the new Da Vinci Robotic Surgery System. To learn more about robotic-assisted surgery, visit doctorshosplaredo.com/services/surgery. jorge.vela@lmtonline.com BOSTON (AP) The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is fast-tracking work on the Green Lines D branch in June that will require a full closure of the track for a total of 18 days, officials said. The MBTAs Green Line D Track and Signal Replacement Project includes replacing 25,000 feet of track and 6.5 miles of signals some elements of which date to the 1950s from Riverside to Beaconsfield stations, the T said. BOSTON A pair of military vets navigate the hilly, meandering paths in a historic cemetery in Boston, searching out soldiers graves and planting American flags in front of them. About 10 miles away, scores of other vets and volunteers do the same, placing more than 37,000 small flags on the downtown Boston Common a sea of red, white and blue meant to symbolize all the Massachusetts soldiers killed in battle since the Revolutionary War. Its an annual tradition that returns in full this year after being significantly scaled back in 2020 because of the pandemic. In Boston and elsewhere, this holiday weekend will feel something closer to Memorial Days of old, as COVID-19 restrictions are fully lifted in many places. This Memorial Day almost has a different, better feeling to it, said Craig DeOld, a 50-year-old retired captain in the Army Reserve, as he took a breather from his flag duties at the Fairview Cemetery earlier this week. Were breathing a sigh of relief that weve overcome another struggle, but were also now able to return to what this holiday is all about remembering our fallen comrades. Around the nation, Americans will be able to pay tribute to fallen troops in ways that were impossible last year, when virus restrictions were in effect in many places. It will also be a time to remember the tens of thousands of veterans who died from COVID-19 and recommit to vaccinating those who remain reluctant. Art delaCruz, a 53-year-old retired Navy commander in Los Angeles leads the Veterans Coalition for Vaccination, said his group has been encouraging inoculated veterans to volunteer at vaccine sites to dispel myths and help assuage concerns, many of which are also shared by current service members. We understand its a personal choice, so we try to meet people where they are, said delaCruz, who is also president of Team Rubicon, a disaster-response nonprofit made up of military veterans. Theres no definitive tally for coronavirus deaths or vaccinations among American military vets, but Department of Veterans Affairs data shows more than 12,000 have died and more than 2.5 million have been inoculated against COVID-19 out of the roughly 9 million veterans enrolled in the agencys programs. The isolation of the pandemic has also been particularly hard on veterans, many of whom depend on kinship with fellow service members to cope with wartime trauma, says Jeremy Butler, a 47-year-old Navy Reserve officer in New York who heads the advocacy group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Were reuniting now, but its been an extremely challenging year, he said. To have those connections cut off the counseling sessions, the VA appointments, social events with other vets those are so important to maintaining mental health. But for the families of veterans who survived the horrors of war, only to be felled by COVID-19, Memorial Day can reopen barely healed wounds. In western Massachusetts, Susan Kenney says the death of her 78-year-old father last April from the virus still remains raw. Charles Lowell, an Air Force veteran who served during the Vietnam War, was among 76 residents of the Holyoke Soldiers Home who died in one of Americas deadliest coronavirus outbreaks last year in a long-term care facility. A memorial service was held at the home earlier this week, and the names of residents who died over the past calendar year were read aloud. Kenney, who has been a vocal advocate for reforming the troubled home, says there are still lingering questions about who else should be held accountable, even as top officials at the state-run facility face criminal negligence and abuse charges and federal and state agencies launch investigations. Ive been reliving this for a whole year, she said. At every milestone. Veterans Day. His birthday. His death anniversary. Everything is a constant reminder of what happened. Its so painful to think about. For other families, Memorial Day will be as it ever was, a day to remember loved ones killed in war. In Virginia, Willie Ransom, a 74-year-old Vietnam War vet, said his family will hold a modest service at the grave of his youngest son. Air Force Maj. Charles Ransom was among eight U.S. airmen killed in Afghanistan when an Afghan military pilot opened fire at the Kabul airport in 2011. The American Legion post in Midlothian, Virginia, that the elder Ransom once helped lead is now named in his honor. The Powhatan resident says a silver lining this year is that the country is poised to end the war that claimed his 31-year-old son and the lives of more than 2,200 other American fighters. President Joe Biden has promised to end the nations longest conflict by Sept. 11, the anniversary of the 2001 terror attacks that launched the war. Its the best decision we could make, Ransom said. Its become like Vietnam. They dont want us there. We should have been out of there years ago. Back in Boston, DeOld will be thinking about his father, an Army vet wounded in a grenade attack in Vietnam. Louis DeOld returned home with a Purple Heart and went on to become a police officer in New Jersey, but the physical and mental scars of war persisted long after, his son said. He died in 2017 at the age of 70. On Memorial Day, DeOld will gather with fellow vets at the VFW post in the citys Dorchester neighborhood that he commands. They will lay a wreath by the American flag out front and then grill burgers out back. It will be the first large social event hosted by the post since the pandemic virtually shuttered the hall more than a year ago. I hope its nice, DeOld said. I hope folks linger. Families and friends gather. Good camaraderie. The way it should be. SpaceX and several Texas energy companies are tangled in a legal battle over a barren strip of land near the commercial space companys Starship production facility outside Brownsville, with multiple parties tussling over who owns what rights to the property, threats of criminal trespass charges, and allegations of theft and attempted extortion. Set against the backdrop of property values skyrocketing with SpaceXs rapid development in the area, the matter stretches back to 2017. It moved into court in October, when Dallas Petroleum Group LLC filed a lawsuit in district court in Cameron County and a complaint with the Texas Railroad Commission. It alleges Sanchez Midstream Partners of Houston broke the terms of a 2017 purchase agreement, worth $6.25 million, for various oil and gas leases that included two wells on a 24-acre tract adjacent to the SpaceX facility. The case has ensnared a web of affiliated companies, including Sanchez Midstream Partners Limited and General Partnerships, Sanchez Oil and Gas Corp., SpaceX real estate acquisition firm Dogleg Park LLC, and the space companys oil and gas exploration company, Lone Star Mineral Mineral Development LLC. The two inactive wells are called La Pita 2R and 3. As part of the larger transaction, Sanchez asked Dallas Petroleum to assume plugging and abandonment liability for two wells on the 24.21-acre tract, Jordan Farrar, a Dallas petroleum attorney, said in an e-mail response to questions. In exchange for assuming the liability, he said, Sanchez offered to include the 24.21 acre surface for consideration. On ExpressNews.com: This was no accident: Family sues SpaceX for negligence Sanchez Oil and Gas Corp., an affiliate of Sanchez Midstream, owned the 24 acres. During negotiations an employee of (Sanchez Oil and Gas) represented to (Dallas Petroleum) that the 24 Acres was included as part of the property in the sale in order to offset the plugging and abandoning costs for the wells, according to the complaint. Dallas Petroleums principal testified the Sanchez representative said, One day, (Dallas Petroleum) could sell the 24.21 acres to SpaceX, according to Farrar. Sanchez Midstream Partners LP, including its related entities and affiliates are listed as the seller on the purchase and sale agreement. And the conveyance, assignment and bill of sale lists both Sanchez Midstream and SEP Holdings IV, another Sanchez entity. However, Dallas Petroleum learned that the 24 acres in question were not included in the conveyance, assignment and bill of sale because the title holder is Sanchez Oil and Gas, and it wasnt listed in the sale document. Cameron County land records show a bill of sale for the leases, wells, equipment, permits, easements, contracts and records associated with the land between SEP Holdings and Dallas Petroleum, while the countys tax records list Sanchez Oil and Gas as the landowner. On ExpressNews.com: This is not SpaceX property this is my property: SpaceX looks to recast South Texas town as Starbase In mid-February, Sanchez Midstream changed its name to Evolve Transition Infrastructure. The company declined to comment. In May 2020, SpaceX leased the acreage, which is adjacent to its rocket-building facility, from Sanchez Oil and Gas. According to Dallas Petroleums complaint, SpaceX and/or (Sanchez Oil and Gas) have created an entity entitled Lone Star Mineral Development, LLC to lease the mineral estate under the land. Texas Railroad Commission records show Lone Star acquired the 806-acre La Pita lease. Dallas Petroleum says it owns the land Sanchez is trying to sell to the SpaceX entity. Its seeking clear title to the 24 acres or its value as damages, Farrar said. Sanchez denies the allegations and argues the Dallas Petroleum deal never included the lands surface rights. Attorneys for Dogleg Park, the SpaceX company, argue the lawsuit is attempting to interfere with the lease and purchase agreement between (Sanchez Oil and Gas) and Dogleg Park LLC. Dogleg Park has been gobbling up property around Boca Chica and Brownsville since the space firm landed in South Texas. It named itself a third party to the case in November. Dogleg Park has argued Dallas Petroleum has no right, title, or interest in the 24 acres, yet it has trespassed and attempted to unlawfully exercise control over the property by installing locks on the access gate. The filing continues that the SpaceX entity decided to purchase the land in September. It said the 2017 agreement between Dallas Petroleum and SEP Holdings IV has nothing to do with the 24-acre surface estate. Dallas Petroleum, it said, has claimed ownership for the sole purpose of extorting money from SpaceX and its affiliate Dogleg Park. On ExpressNews.com: SpaceXs Boca Chica venture has all the versus categories covered Both Sanchez and SpaceX have threatened Dallas Petroleum President Matt Williams and company employees with trespassing charges. In a July 9 letter to Williams, an attorney for the space firm, David Asmus, wrote, SpaceX will not accept any interference with its surface rights. Farrar said aerial photos show others are using the land and Dallas Petroleum property was removed without permission. Williams believes someone, possibly SpaceX employees, unlawfully tested the two wells and removed $50,000 worth of Dallas Petroleum equipment, including tanks, stairs, catwalks and separators. He filed a theft report with the Cameron County sheriff. The sheriffs investigator reported SpaceX Security Manager Gunnar Milburn said Sanchez Oil and Gas removed the equipment. Frank Guerra, Sanchezs executive vice president, told the investigator that Dallas Petroleums lease on the land had expired. He said his company considered the property abandoned and removed it to facilitate the lease to SpaceX. The case remains open, Sheriff Eric Garza said. The Texas Railroad Commission conducted a hearing Jan. 22 to consider the change of operator request on the La Pita gas leases from Dallas Petroleum to Lone Star Mineral Development, according to an agency spokesperson. The record closed March 22, and the judge has 90 days to render a verdict. As of Thursday, there was no future hearing on the 445th District Court docket for the case. 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 Update: Since Cr Sayers penned this column, Auckland Council has ratified a five per cent rate increase. Cr Sayers was one of five councillors who voted against. Aucklands councillors are currently deciding whether to support a mayoral proposal to increase rates next year by an average of five per cent, or alternatively by 3.5 per cent. Importantly, that process included asking Aucklanders which option they supported. Council provided written consultation material, online information sessions, face-to-face public meetings and social media videos to explain the different impacts between a five and a 3.5 per cent average rates increase. Overwhelmingly, very well-informed Aucklanders rejected the Mayors budget. Public feedback also included a need to find revenue and savings, internal cost reductions rather than just efficiency gains. Many people commented about the financial hardship they were under and having to make cost reductions, so why wasnt Council doing the same? True cost reductions will be impossible without Council defining what its core business is. I will continue to push to ensure this happens. Rejection of the five per cent rates increase was even more pronounced from Rodneys residents, with a massive 70 per cent of people not supporting the Mayoral proposal. Most peoples feedback explained they supported the 3.5 per cent rates increase, with many wanting even lower rate increases. Feedback from Rodneys residents included wanting Council to get back to core business, stopping wastage and overspending, a reduction in regulations and compliance costs and a reduction in senior executive salaries. Ratepayers disapproved of Council planning to spend more than ever, yet Rodney was being marginalised from that spending. This has proven inconvenient for the Mayor, forcing him to promote a smaller Colmar Brunton poll, ahead of the official public feedback results, as the new source of truth. This poll cost ratepayers $110,000 and showed nine per cent more people supporting the Mayors budget than rejecting it. I believe the poll was fundamentally flawed because it only had the five per cent option, and failed to mention the cumulative effect of seven per cent water rate increases, the Rodney Local Board transport rate, or the regional fuel tax all of which was outlined in the Councils official consultation documentation. Regardless, the people have spoken and have sent a clear message. They want their elected Supercity representatives to uphold their democratic wishes. However, I am doubtful that this will happen. Although the pros and cons around the rate increase options were clearly laid out in Councils comprehensive consultation documents, many elected members have signalled they will support the Mayors proposal. Increasing rates is an easy fix for Council. Digging deep and making cuts back to core business, as most businesses have to do in hard times, requires tougher calls to be made. However, it will be with a clear sense of duty that I will be representing the people of Rodney when the rate increase decision must be made. Another feeling that came through in the public feedback was a continued lack of trust in the Council. Well, maybe taxing by stealth and riding roughshod over the people paying the politicians wages is the exact conduct the public dont trust. My prediction is in future years Council will be seeking from you even greater rate increases because of its increasing spending, spiralling debt and failure to peel back to core services. Greg Sayers, Rodney Councillor greg.sayers@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz Bookings: www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/a-clear-dawn-meets-robin-hyde-registration-153251221529 Bookings for online event: www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/coastal-crime-auckland-author-panel-livestream-registration-153588149289 Bookings to attend in person: www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/coastal-crime-auckland-author-panel-tickets-153587184403 Leading New Zealand writers will visit Mahurangi this month for two major author events in Matakana and Warkworth as part of Auckland Libraries We Read Auckland winter literary festival. The first, A Clear Dawn Meets Robin Hyde, is hosted by Mahurangi East Library at the Art Matakana Gallery, at Matakana Country Park on the Sunday June 6. The afternoon will open with the award-winning writer and professor of creative writing at Auckland University, Dr Paula Morris (Ngati Wai and Ngati Whatua), interviewing a panel of contributors to a new anthology, A Clear Dawn, which explores a variety of journeys from Asia to Aotearoa. Then the tables will be turned as former BBC journalist Juliet Robieson interviews Paula Morris about her new illustrated book, Shining Land Looking for Robin Hyde, which traces the footsteps of the crusading NZ journalist and poet who lived an extraordinary, if tragically short life between 1906 and 1939. The event starts at 2.30pm and runs until 5pm on the Sunday, with a half hour break for nibbles. Then, on Wednesday, June 9, thriller fans are in for a treat when Warkworth Library hosts a Coastal Crime panel at the Town Hall from 7pm. Three Auckland authors Rose Carlyle, Madeleine Eskedahl and Nalini Singh will discuss all the gory details of writing about crime and mystery with local writer and facilitator Kathy Hunter, who says she is looking forward to talking to all three women about their lives, inspiration and motivation to write what they do. Rose Carlyle shot to fame last year when her first thriller, The Girl in the Mirror, was snapped up by NZ and international publishers and Hollywood bought the film rights. Nalini Singh is best known for writing a raft of fantasy romance books, but has recently switched to crime, while Madeleine Eskedahl has brought gore to Mahurangi with Blood on Vines, the first in a series of grisly crime novels set in and around Matakana. Warkworth library manager Lisa Outwin says the panel is a big event that will be popular with a lot of people, whether they enjoy reading crime books or are interested in writing. We came up with a crime panel because we know thats what lots of people really enjoy, Lisa says. Crime is by far the most popular genre, we cant keep them on the shelves. We wanted something to really bring people together and focus on the pleasure of reading and the joy books and libraries can bring into peoples lives. Warkworth Town Hall can seat 270 people, but the event will be accessible to far more than that, as it will also be live-streamed. Paper Plus Warkworth will be there selling books by all three authors, and they will be signing books on request. Both events are free, but bookings are essential. This can be done online via the links above, by phoning 09 377 7795, or staff in any library will be happy to help anyone without computer access or who needs assistance. Egypt, Israel FMs discuss Gaza ceasefire, Israeli-Palestinian peace process Xinhua) 09:53, May 31, 2021 Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (R) meets with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi in Cairo, Egypt, May 30, 2021. (Str/Xinhua) The two foreign ministers discussed stabilizing the truce in Gaza Strip and Gaza's reconstruction, while agreeing to continue consultations on reviving the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process. CAIRO, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met on Sunday with his visiting Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi to discuss solidifying the recent truce in the Gaza Strip and ways to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The two ministers agreed to continue consultations between the two countries and the Palestinian Authority "to explore ways out of the current stalemate in the peace track," the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The talks also addressed the necessary measures to facilitate the reconstruction of Gaza Strip following the recent Israeli bombings that caused massive damages to the Gaza infrastructure. Egypt has allocated 500 million U.S. dollars for the reconstruction. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (3rd L) holds talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi (2nd R) in Cairo, Egypt, May 30, 2021. (Str/Xinhua) Ashkenazi's visit to Egypt came 10 days after the Egypt-brokered ceasefire that ended the 11-day Israel-Hamas fighting, which left at least 248 Palestinians and 12 Israelis dead. It is the first trip by an Israeli foreign minister to Egypt since 2008. On the other hand, Shoukry's visit to Israel in 2016 was the first of its kind by an Egyptian foreign minister since 2007. During the meeting, Shoukry called for taking further measures during the current truce to reinforce calm and provide the necessary conditions for "creating an atmosphere conducive to reviving the desired political path." The Egyptian top diplomat also reiterated Egypt's fixed position in support of the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital based on the 1967 borders. A Palestinian takes a photo of a poster of Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Gaza City, on May 30, 2021. On May 21, Egypt brokered a ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas-led militant groups in Gaza. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) He also referred to the two-state solution as "the only way to achieve just and lasting peace, as well as the desired regional security and stability," emphasizing the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. Ashkenazi's trip to Cairo coincided with Egypt's sending of a high-profile security delegation to Israel and Palestine to discuss related issues and the Israeli-Palestinian truce. The security delegation will discuss ways to reach a comprehensive truce in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, according to Egypt's official MENA news agency. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) Prof. Ko Young-cho / Courtesy of LG Foundation Gulf Harbour was one of the final stops in American sailor Elana Connors fundraising circumnavigation of NZ. She arrived at Gulf Harbour marina last month after a journey that took seven months and raised more than $43,000 to give youth living in foster care the opportunity to sail on the Spirit of NZ. While in Gulf Harbour, she was given a free berth at the marina. She spoke at Gulf Harbour Yacht Club on May 14 to members, as well as students of Whangaparaoa Colleges sailing club. Currently she is making connections with young people in care including on the Hibiscus Coast through the NZ charity Voyce, which advocates for them. Having lived in foster care from the age of 15 to 18, Elana says she knows what its like to hit your late teens and not be supported. After your 18th birthday, you age out of foster care and from that point on you are completely responsible for yourself, she says. It can be a lonely, uncertain and challenging time for a young person. Opportunities like the Spirit may help as these teenagers try to figure out what to do next. Programmes like that give a booster shot of life skills like communication, teamwork, resilience and leadership. Being outdoors is really healing for survivors of trauma and most kids are in care because of some sort of trauma. Getting them outdoors is an investment in their wellbeing and, of course, also gets them off their phones. The fundraising voyage came about after Elana arrived in NZ from San Francisco at the end of last year for a stopover on her solo circumnavigation of the world. Covid-19 restrictions kept her here, and forced a change of plans. She decided to embark on a figure-of-eight voyage around NZ and the connection with Voyce sealed the deal. The money raised will form the basis of a scholarship fund. The amount donated so far is enough to put 17 young people on one of the Spirits life-changing 10-day voyages. Elana says the experience, including the connections she has made with New Zealanders, has made her more determined than ever to support children in care. My plan is still to do the global circumnavigation, but I have no immediate plans to leave here, she says. Ive made incredible connections in the NZ yachting and care sectors and Id love to continue to work on behalf of those young people to break down barriers and create opportunities on and off the water. There is so much urbanisation of children in care and many are not aware of potential jobs in the maritime industry. Id love to help build those pathways. Elana is currently still in Auckland, and looking for opportunities to come back to the Hibiscus Coast and connect with young people in care, give talks, have people on board her boat and raise more money. She says community groups, such as Rotarians, as well as local schools, have been strong supporters. Elana can be contacted by emailing communications@voyce.org.nz Donations can still be made on the Givealittle page, Voyage for Voyce. More info: www.peregrinasails.com Lockport, NY (14094) Today A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. The return of the Supervalu Tidy Towns Competition will be a huge boost to communities across Longford, a Fine Gael Minister of State has said. Peter Burke has confirmed that 20 Tidy Town Groups in Longford have now been awarded grants of up to 1,000 under the Tidy Towns Fund announced by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD. The Longford Westmeath Minister said, The return of the Supervalu Tidy Towns Competition will be a huge boost to communities across the county, many of whom locally I know have kept up the great work throughout the pandemic to keep their neighbourhoods clean, despite the cancellation of the competition due to Covid. From Abbeyshrule to Ballinamuck, to Colehill to Moydow, our communities are looking fantastic as the summer approaches and I am glad to see that these voluntary groups continue to received modest government support. A total of Tidy Town Groups in Longford have now been awarded grants of up to 1,000 under the Tidy Towns Fund announced by my colleague the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD. The 2021 competition will take place in the same format as previous years, with the overall winners due to be announced before the end of the year. However special arrangements have been put in place to allow the competition to go ahead safely, with a specific emphasis on electronic entry and remote adjudication of each towns entry. The health and safety of volunteers is a priority and groups should continue to adhere to public health guidelines as they have done so remarkably well since the onset of the Pandemic. The organisers acknowledge that volunteers have not been able to deliver on all of the plans that they may have had for their towns, and the competition adjudicators will be mindful of this fact when assessing entries. To reward the continued efforts of volunteers throughout the pandemic, Minister Humphreys has introduced a new award category aimed at groups that have continued to serve and look after their communities despite the difficulties posed by Covid-19. There is also a special new prize for young people, which was committed to under Our Rural Future the Governments ambitious new strategy for Rural Ireland. I encourage everyone who cares about their community in to get involved in the competition. This years closing date is Friday 2nd July 2021 with results expected to be announced in Q4 of this year. You can check out TidyTowns.ie for all the information you need. Entry forms will be emailed to all registered groups and can also be obtained from the TidyTowns Unit in the Department of Rural and Community Development (Phone: 076 100 6912) or by emailing tidytowns@drcd.gov.ie , Peter Burke concluded. Launching the 2021 Supervalu Tidy Towns Competition, Minister Humphreys said: Missing out on the competition last year was very disappointing for everyone associated with TidyTowns. Thats why I am delighted to announce that this iconic competition is back. As we look ahead to an outdoor Summer and staycations, we want our local towns and villages right across the country to be attractive, welcoming places. The trojan work carried out by our local Tidy Towns volunteers will be central to achieving that. My message is clear - Tidy Towns is back this year and it is bigger, better and more important than ever. I value the role my Department plays in this competition. I want to also commend the competition sponsor, SuperValu, for their continuing support and enthusiasm in raising awareness of the competition. Now in their 30th year of sponsorship, through their nationwide network of retailers, SuperValu have helped the competition to become the best known sustainable and environmental initiative in Ireland. Finally, I want to encourage all groups to continue to adhere to the public health advice and I wish all the volunteers the very best in this years competition. A public meeting of the Independent Scientific Advisory Group (ISAG) has heard that the presence of the B.1617.2 variant in the United Kingdom means that Ireland should err on the side of caution and delay reopening until more is known about the transmissibility of the variant. The meeting heard from a number of members of ISAG who urged caution in relation to the reopening of the economy while scientific uncertainty remains around the variant. The B.1617.2 variant, which was first detected in India, has been designated by the World Health Organization as a global variant of concern and has been officially recorded in 53 territories around the world - including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom but significant uncertainties remain about how transmissible the variant is, its potential to evade immunity and if it causes more life-threatening illness. Prof. Aoife McLysaght, Professor of Genetics, TCD explained that the B.1.617.2 variant was first identified in India but of course is now rising in England. This has been labelled as a 'variant of concern'. When something gets labelled a variant of concern it can be for any of 3 reasons. It can be increased transmissibility, it could be worse disease outcomes or it could be some kind of vaccine evasion or lower efficacy of the vaccines. So the current situation is that it is thought or suspected, or there are certain question marks over the transmissibility of this B.1.617.2. That, on its own, is worrying." Prof McLysaght cautioned against reopening of the economy until there is greater certainty. In a few weeks, it will be quite clear. It will either be that something unusual happened in Bolton bad luck and a few different factors coinciding or there is some biological feature of the variant that makes it more transmissible. The warning came as the United Kingdom government issued revised guidance for people living in areas where the B.1.617.2 variant is spreading. The guidelines ask people to minimise travel into and out of Bolton, Blackburn, Kirklees, Bedford, Burnley, Leicester, Hounslow and North Tyneside and for residents of those areas to keep 2 metres apart from people they dont live with and to meet outdoors where possible. The public meeting also heard from Dr Paul Dempsey, a mathematical scientist and expert on population health and risk data analysis, who warned, "The general attitude [in Ireland] is now: we'll live with this and hopefully bad things won't happen, but if they do, maybe then we'll react. The worry is that you'll get some changes like B.1.617.2 in Bolton, UK, where their vaccine rollout is going much better than ours. The variant also has implications for the return of foreign travel and the end of mandatory hotel quarantine. Professor Gerry Killeen, Research Chair in Applied Pathogen Ecology at UCC, spoke about how mandatory hotel quarantine coupled with an effective local public health response had halted the potentially catastrophic importation and spread of the P1 variant first identified in Brazil and said that a return to unquarantined travel now would be very high risk, We know there are new variants spreading in Europe. There are new variants spreading in the UK. There are relatively high case rates in a number of European countries. (Alliance News) - A Ryanair Holdings PLC passenger plane made an emergency landing in Berlin before resuming its journey to Poland, German police said late Sunday without releasing further details. The flight from Dublin to Krakow made the unexpected diversion after a reported bomb threat, German newspaper Bild Zeitung said. With 160 people on board, the flight arrived at the Berlin-Brandenburg airport shortly after 8 pm local time Sunday, remaining on the tarmac into early Monday morning. A Berlin police spokesperson said that officers had completed their security checks "without any danger being detected". "The passengers will resume their journey to Poland on board a spare aeroplane," she told AFP, without giving more precise details for the alert. The flight was emptied with the baggage also searched, German media reported. "The Ryanair plane that made an emergency landed reported an air emergency and was therefore immediately given a landing permit at BER," airport spokesman Jan-Peter Haack told Bild. "The aircraft is currently in a safe position," a spokeswoman for the police told the newspaper. The incident comes a week after a Ryanair flight was forced to divert to Belarus, with a passenger a a dissident journalist a arrested on arrival. And in July last year, another Ryanair plane from Dublin to Krakow was forced to make an emergency landing in London after a false bomb threat. source: AFP Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. SK hynix's chip-making plant in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of SK hynix By Baek Byung-yeul Korea approved SK hynix's planned acquisition of Intel's NAND flash business, deciding the acquisition won't hurt fair trade competition and isn't against antitrust issues. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said Thursday its final approval of the planned acquisition is because it is unlikely to limit competition, as the combined market share of the two companies' NAND business is still lower than the No. 1 company Samsung Electronics. "With the acquisition, SK hynix will be able to strengthen its competitiveness in the memory semiconductor market by beefing up NAND flash, which has poor performance compared to its flagship DRAM business, and Intel will be able to clean up its non-mainstream business, which accounts for less than 10 percent of its total sales," the FTC said. Last October, SK hynix reached an agreement to acquire Intel's NAND flash memory chip business for $9 billion. After the agreement, SK submitted applications for approval to antitrust regulators in other countries including Korea. According to market tracker TrendForce, SK hynix was the fourth-largest NAND flash maker with a 12.3 percent share in the January-March period of this year, while Intel was the No. 6 company with a market share of 7.5 percent. Samsung had the largest share of 33.5 percent, followed by Kioxia with 18.7 percent and Western Digital with 14.7 percent. Because of the deal, SK Group's semiconductor affiliate will be positioned to become the world's No. 2 NAND flash memory chip manufacturer with a combined share of around 20 percent. Unlike DRAM chips, which can only write and store data, NAND chips are used to store data even when a digital device is powered down. The usage of NAND chips is increasingly expanding into server computing systems. SK already received two approvals from the U.S. last year and the European Union on May 21, and the company is waiting for the review results in other countries including China, the U.K., Taiwan, Brazil and Singapore. SK hynix welcomed the FTC's approval. "We welcome the Fair Trade Commission's decision to approve the acquisition. We will work closely with the authorities to achieve positive results in other countries as well," an SK hynix official said. The FTC also granted approval to AMD over the U.S. chip giant's acquisition of adaptive computing platforms company Xilinx, saying it judged that there are no concerns about competition restrictions because the two companies' main businesses are different. AMD signed the acquisition deal last year for $35 billion. Bonnie Squires is a communications consultant who writes weekly for Main Line Media News and can be reached at www.bonniesquires.com. She hosts the Bonnies Beat TV show at MLTV- MAIN LINE NETWORK. Its difficult to work from home and be at home all day. I miss my social life and to be with people I appreciate and that give me good energy. Last week the weather had been challenging with a lot of wind. I decided it was time to visit the big city. I went to one of my happy places in Palma, the Cafe Es Pes de sa Palla that is run by Amadip foundation. You might have heard about the place. The foundation was created by parents who came together to give a better opportunity to their children with intellectual disabilities, so they would have something meaningful to do and to learn a profession. They have been successful since 1986 when they started. Coffee is fantastic and the sunny terrace has a very nice, relaxed ambience. I meet up at the cafe with a Swedish friend who spends his time between Sweden and Mallorca together with his American wife. His name is John Bark. Someone who is into Scandinavian design or likes reading might have heard about him as he is a well-known creative director, writer, designer, and son of Jane Bark, one of our amazing Swedish illustrators. John is a new friend that I meet during a team building adventure that the Swiss tourist board arranged a few years ago. We were competing in The Meeting trophy where we represented the Nordic countries together with another 8 meeting specialists. We had 72 hours to score the best points in a knowledge quiz, combined with games and challenges in different areas of Switzerland. The board of visitors for Switzerland set up this challenge every normal year and most European countries compete. We started in Zurich and moved our way around with cars, buses, trains, walking and even some mountain bikes, to learn more about the country, the facilities and the tourist offer that Switzerland has. This was for sure one of the most fun experiences we had ever had. We won the whole competition. Id love to arrange a challenge like this in Mallorca. We talked about other things that makes us happy and John mentioned one of the things he really enjoys is the smell of snow. I think most expats on the island have some kind of cold winter memories like me. In my case, I never liked winter. My memories are filled with layer and layer of too many clothes and the smell of wet wool. The last winter I spent in Sweden, we had guests from several countries visiting to celebrate a typical Swedish Christmas and on the 24th we had minus 34 degrees. Even the water pipes froze. John just smiled and repeated the smell of snow makes me happy. Working with exciting projects is fun. I heard he got headhunted by the company that runs the ICE Bar in Stockholm to go there last month and take down the original ice bar block by ice block. That is an unusual project. John told me that the past 6 years he and his college Charili Kasselback have competed for the opportunity to build one of the rooms in the famous Ice hotel in the north of Sweden in the small town of Jukkasjarvi. The Ice hotel in Jukkasjarvi opened in 1989, and in addition to a hotel is also an art exhibition with changing original art of ice and snow. Every winter, the hotel is created in a new version, entirely of ice from the Torne River, one of Swedens five national rivers and the last untouched watercourse. When the winter seasons hotel of ice and snow has melted back into the river in the spring, there are still 18 suites of ice and snow left in the permanent Ice hotel 365 days. Its a place where guests can enjoy experiences of ice and snow all year round. John won 3 years out of 6 and can now name himself an Ice room builder. There are several teams that work with the construction and artist are invited to participate from all over the world. The estimated building time is 14 days. Each block weighs around 10 tonnes and the work is physically strenuous. The cold weather affects everyone and the special clothes are heavy. The work is performed with sharp tools and chainsaws. I cannot image a job like that would make me happy at all, one week up in the north with no sun would properly make me run away. Viola Caudill, 85, a resident of the Gowen Community passed away Thursday June 10, 2021 at home. A Graveside service will be held a 11:00 AM Monday June 14, 2021 in the Pavilion at Bache-Red Oak Cemetery. There will be a family and friends visitation on Sunday June 13, 2021 from 5:00pm to 7: Atlanta, GA (30303) Today Isolated thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 69F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Isolated thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 69F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. The South Korean unit of Apple will run a trade-in program to woo LG Electronics' smartphone users, industry insiders said Friday, in a move to expand its presence on the home turf of Samsung Electronics, the world's largest smartphone vendor. Apple's smartphone exchange scheme with local mobile carriers will pay the trade-in value of a mobile device and an additional 150,000 won ($135) to those who replace their LG smartphones with iPhones, according to the sources in the telecom industry. People who have used LG's 4G and 5G smartphones for more than a month will be eligible to apply for the program scheduled to run through Sept. 25. They can exchange their LG smartphones for Apple's iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 mini. Such a promotion is separate from existing trade-in programs by local mobile carriers that are subscription-based. This is the first time that Apple has decided to launch a trade-in program for users of other smartphone brands. It will run exclusively in South Korea. Market watchers said the latest move will help Apple absorb some users of LG smartphones following the South Korean tech giant's decision to exit from the mobile business. Last month LG announced it will withdraw from the smartphone business by July 31 after years of money-losing performance. Apple's trade-in scheme also aims to minimize LG phone users' exodus to its archrival Samsung. A recent market report showed 80 percent of LG's V50 ThinQ smartphone users switched to Samsung's Galaxy devices through mobile carriers' trade-in programs. Apple has been trying to expand its presence in South Korea, where Samsung boasts the lion's share. According to market researcher Counterpoint Research, Samsung represented 65 percent of the South Korean smartphone market last year, followed by Apple with 21 percent and LG with 13 percent. To beef up its market share, Apple launched its first 5G smartphone, the iPhone 12, earlier than its usual schedule in South Korea. The U.S. tech titan also opened its second Apple Store in Seoul in February. (Yonhap) By Kim Hyun-bin Volvo Construction Equipment (CE) is taking action to go emissions-free by 2040. Melker Jernberg, president of Volvo CE, is set to present how Volvo CE's procedures to eliminate emissions and discuss how collaboration between industry, academia and governments is needed to realize a carbon-neutral society, at the Green Technology special session of the 2021 Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Seoul Summit. Jernberg has been invited as a keynote speaker of the Green Technology session for the 2021 P4G Seoul Summit. The special session will be held virtually at 8 p.m. on May 28, two days prior to the P4G Seoul Summit. Volvo CE President Melker Jernberg / Courtesy of Volvo Group Korea This double-decker electric bus travels between Incheon's Songdo District and Samseong Station in southern Seoul's Gangnam District while carrying up to 71 passengers. It began operating in April 2021. Yonhap By Ko Dong-hwan Fifty-nine taxi, bus and logistics operators in Korea have joined a local business group that agreed to change all their service automobiles to carbon-free vehicles by 2030 in an eco-friendly initiative led by the government. The group, now consisting of 111 local companies, was launched in March by rental and lease companies, and later joined by more businesses in the manufacturing and financial sectors. Four logistics companies Lotte Global Logistics, CJ Logistics, SK Networks and Hyundai Glovis and 55 bus and taxi operators across the country joined the group that agreed to change all their automobiles to electric or hydrogen vehicles by the end of 2030. The announcement was made on May 26 in a ceremony at The-K Hotel Seoul in Gangnam. It was joined by the country's Environment Minister Han Jeoung-ae and representatives from the companies. The 59 companies currently operate a total of 8,385 vehicles, 458 of which are already carbon-free. Starting with 57 eco-friendly vehicles this year, the four logistics firms plan to buy or rent 800 eco-friendly vehicles by 2025, and 2,500 by 2030. Taxi and bus operators also plan to introduce 380 eco-friendly vehicles this year and expand the number to 2,900 by 2025 and further to 5,900 by 2030. If those plans are achieved, about 1.29 million vehicles operated by the 111 firms will be either electric or hydrogen vehicles by the end of 2030. "That is about 33.5 percent of the government's goal of having 3.85 million carbon-free vehicles in the country," a ministry official said. Bus, taxi and delivery trucks on average travel longer distances per day than privately owned conventional sedans: buses run on average 177 kilometers, taxis run 300km, freight trucks run 129km while privately-owned sedans run 33km, according to the country's 2019 statistics. That's why the service vehicles are more effective in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions when running with carbon-free vehicles as compared to privately-owned vehicles. Compared to sedans, buses will be 16 times more effective, while taxis and freight trucks rate 4.5 and 2.5 times more effective, respectively, in reducing carbon emissions, the ministry said. "Those service vehicles mostly run close to people's residential areas and their emissions cause a great deal of air pollution, so the transition to eco-friendly vehicles must be carried out," the official said. The minister said the government will come up with more preparations to support the firms committed to operating the carbon-free vehicles, such as installing more recharging stations nationwide at public garages for buses and taxies and at logistics depots for delivery trucks, and prioritizing the firms in offering government subsidies needed to buy or rent carbon-free vehicles. Dubbing the initiative, "Korea's Transition to Non-Polluting Vehicles 100," Han said that "transitioning buses and taxis that are essential for the public to carbon-free vehicles will contribute much to drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions and aerosols that threaten the country's environment and public health." "I hope the initiative will spread to the rest of our country, as our transportation industry leads this carbon neutralizing movement," Han said. Hyundai Motor, South Korea's biggest carmaker, is seeking to sell an idle plant site in China to a local district government, industry sources said Friday. Hyundai Motor plans to sell the site of the No. 1 Beijing plant, which has been suspended since April 2019, to the Shunyi administrative district, a person familiar with the matter told Yonhap News Agency over the phone. The plant's suspension came after Hyundai suffered years of sluggish sales in China due to the lingering impact of political tensions between Seoul and Beijing over the deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system, THAAD, in South Korea in 2017. Hyundai didn't confirm the plant's sale plan. Hyundai's four other plants in China two in Beijing, one in Changzhou and one in Chongqing are in operation. Currently, Hyundai has seven domestic plants and 10 overseas plants four in China except for the Beijing No. 1 plant and one each in the United States, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Russia, India and Brazil. Their combined capacity reaches 5.5 million vehicles. To revive sales in the world's biggest automobile market, Hyundai has stepped up its efforts to reorganize its sales networks and product lineup since 2019. This year, Hyundai launched its independent Genesis brand in the neighboring market, while planning to launch electrified models such as the Hyundai IONIQ 5 to gain a share in the local EV markets. (Yonhap) Tobacco: Facts & Figures 8 million people are killed by tobacco products every year 1 million people die annually from exposure to second-hand smoke 20 types of cancer are caused by tobacco, including oral cancer and cancers of the lips, throat, and food pipe (esophagus) Second-hand smoke exposure increases the risk of developing lung cancer 1 in 5 adults smoke worldwide 50 percent of smokers die above the age of 70 years Smokers are 22x more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers What about E-Cigarettes? E-cigarettes can expose non-smokers to nicotine and other toxic chemicals E-cigarettes can explode, thereby causing serious burns and injuries E-cigarettes can increase the risk of heart and lung diseases Why is it Important to Quit Tobacco? Tobacco & COVID-19 - A Dangerous Combination! Quitting Tobacco During COVID-19: An Ideal Opportunity to Kick the Habit! Conclusion World No Tobacco Day - World Health Organization - (https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-no-tobacco-day) WHO launches year-long campaign to help 100 million people quit tobacco - World Health Organization - (https://www.who.int/news/item/08-12-2020-who-launches-year-long-campaign-to-help-100-million-people-quit-tobacco) More than 100 reasons to quit tobacco - World Health Organization - (https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/more-than-100-reasons-to-quit-tobacco) Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Tobacco - World Health Organization - (https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-tobacco) Patanavanich and Glantz. Smoking is associated with COVID-19 progression: A meta-analysis. Nicotine Tob Res. 2020; 22(9): 1653-6. - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32399563/) WHO plans to create digital communities in high burden countries where the tobacco problem is most rampant. It is envisaged that these virtual communities will provide social and moral support to people who want to quit.It is encouraging to know that many private players have pledged to support this campaign. These companies include Amazon Web Services, Facebook, WhatsApp, Google, Cipla, and Johnson & Johnson, among many others. The campaign has been launched in 22 countries so far, including India.The much-publicized e-cigarettes are highly notorious and just as bad as conventional cigarettes. A few facts about e-cigarettes are presented below:There are numerous reasons to quit tobacco . WHO has cited over 100 reasons, of which a few important ones have been cited below. Thus, quitting tobacco brings about the following: Smoking significantly increases the risk of COVID-19 , since both damage the lungs and thus, will have a cumulative effect.Smokers inhale toxic chemicals, which not only damage the airways and lungs but also deprives the body of oxygen, thereby making them more prone to developing pneumonia and other life-threatening respiratory conditions. Also, since hand-to-mouth contact is very frequent in smokers, it significantly increases the chances of infection of the oral cavity by the virus In communal and social settingsare often shared between individuals, as a result of which infection can spread through the shared mouthpieces and hoses.Smokeless tobacco products, such asare also unsafe as spitting is involved, which elevates the chances of virus transmission.Even preparation of these products with contaminated fingers can significantly increase the risk of infection. Moreover, it has been recently reported that COVID-19 disease progression is significantly accelerated in smokers, compared to non-smokers.Soon after it was reported that COVID-19 complications can be more severe in smokers , many wanted to kick the habit. In fact, 780 million tobacco users worldwide have expressed their intent to quit. But only 30 percent have access to the tools required for quitting. WHO is trying to bridge this gap. Quitting is not easy. It requires sustained commitment and a firm mindset to succeed. Despite the fact that the pandemic has caused much turmoil in our societies and economies, it also has a silver lining. It provides an ideal opportunity to quit tobacco once and for all.Experts believe that if it is possible to cut down or even completely abstain from tobacco products during the extended lockdown periods, then why not forever? The pandemic has enlightened people about the dangers of respiratory disorders and the importance of immunity. They are now more conscious about their health than ever before.Hence, the time is opportune to launch a campaign to encourage people to quit tobacco products for good, and this is exactly what WHO is doing. All it needs is a firm resolve on the part of the tobacco consumers themselves to quit. Hence, there's no time like the present to kick the habit.Despite the fact that tobacco is still an ongoing problem in society, it is encouraging to note that the tide is turning. Many tobacco companies have undergone a metamorphosis and have diversified into other areas.Most notably, the famous "Imperial Tobacco Company", better known as "ITC" has shifted to fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), which includes popular brands, such as Aashirvaad, Bingo, Sunfeast, Vivel, Fiama, and Savlon, to name a few. Therefore, ending on an optimistic note, it is hoped that in the not-too-distant future, we could have a tobacco-free world , for which the coming generations will be thankful to us.Source: Medindia After exiting from Karan Johars Dostana 2 and then from Shah Rukh Khans production Freddie, now rumours are abuzz that actor Kartik Aaryan might have lost yet another big project. According to sources, Aaryan was roped in by filmmaker Aanand L Rai for his untitled production, the storyline of a gangster film. However, he is no longer a part of it. According to HT, a source says, Kartik was in advanced-level talks with Aanand, and had read the script and heard the narration, too. But, before he could sign on the dotted line, things fell apart. The reports of Aaryan and Rai teaming up for a film surfaced in February this year when the actor was snapped outside the filmmakers Mumbai office. The source also adds, The fact that Karan dropped Kartik seems to have influenced others. So, this could be the third instance where Kartik may be losing out on getting to work with an established filmmaker like Aanand. It was also said that the filmmaker has already replaced him with another actor. The source reveals, Aanand is now considering Ayushmann Khurrana for this film with who he had earlier collaborated on Shubh Mangal Saavdhan (2017) and Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (2020), so its not a surprise if he may have readily come on board. When Rai was asked, he said nothing was formalized with Kartik Aaryan and mentioned, As a production house, we work on several scripts and pitch it to actors thats the process. Actors keep meeting you, you keep telling them what you are working on, they express their desire to collaborate. And then, depending upon the subject, you decide if you should approach them. But that doesnt mean you have signed them. When asked if Ayushmann Khurrana has come on board for the project, he said, I have a story, which we would soon make with Ayushmann. What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below! Batman is probably one of the most iconic superhero characters on the big screen and over a period of more than 30 years, has been played by a host of renowned actors that include Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, and Ben Affleck. Warner Bros Now, while so many actors have gone on to take up the cowl and cape of the Dark Knight, there were certainly many more actors who almost came very close to play the dark hero of DC's most bankable franchise. Warner Bros If any of you didn't know, Irish actor Cillian Murphy, was one of those long lists of actors who almost played Batman on screen. The Hollywood Reporter The 45-year-old actor was in his 20s when he auditioned for Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, and that too, in a full Batsuit. Netflix Just to imagine Murphy, who plays the iconic gang leader Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders, jumping off buildings in a Batsuit, would have been some delight for the fans. Warner Bros However, unfortunately despite his screen test, the actor did not get the role with Christian Bale overtaking him to become Gotham's Dark Knight. Although, Murphy's impressive performance led to him being cast as the Scarecrow in the first film of the successful Bat-trilogy. Warner Bros Regardless of that, a clip of him auditioning for the role has resurfaced on the internet, and Cillian or Tommy Shelby fans should definitely see it. Cillian Murphy on his 'Batman Begins' audition The only actor who was right for that part [was] Christian Bale ... for me, it was just an experience, and then it turned into that character, Scarecrow ... I never, ever, ever considered myself Bruce Wayne material" (via @THR) pic.twitter.com/1VrDB6b8jr Culture Crave (@CultureCrave) May 26, 2021 Murphy, who is currently promoting for his upcoming film, A Quiet Place 2, spoke on how Bale was always the number one choice to play the role of Batman. "I don't believe I was close to landing that role," said Murphy, while speaking to the Hollywood Reporter. "The only actor who was right for that part at that time, in my estimation, was Christian Bale, and he absolutely smashed it. So, for me, it was just an experience, and then it turned into something else."It turned into that character, Scarecrow, and it turned into a working relationship with Chris. So I think back very, very fondly on that time, but I never, ever, ever considered myself Bruce Wayne material," said Murphy. Telecommunication companies across the world are all set to roll out the 5th generation wireless network with the support of their governments. Also, India is not far behind in the 5G Race and has been flaunting the advancements and achievements in the technology and digital communication field. Juhi Chawla has been doing her bit for the environment and has been concerned about the safety of the people and has now filed a suit against the implementation of 5G in India. Actor Juhi Chawla files suit in Delhi High Court against the implementation of 5G in India (File pic) pic.twitter.com/pis1zUIeYa ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2021 She talked to TOI and said, We are not against the implementation of technological advancements. On the contrary, we enjoy using the latest products that the world of technology has to offer, including in the field of wireless communications. However, whilst using the latter kind of devices, we are in a constant dilemma, because after doing our own research and studies regarding the RF radiation from wire-free gadgets and network cell towers, we have sufficient reason to believe that the radiation is extremely harmful and injurious to the health and safety of the people. The Ministry of Telecommunications said, No studies supported by SERB have been conducted specifically on the effect of 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G cellular technologies on humans, animals, birds, plants, or any other living organisms." Juhi Chawla's spokesperson said, The present suit is being instituted in order to seek a direction from this Hon'ble court to the arrayed Defendants, to certify to us and, therefore, to the public at large, that 5G technology is safe to humankind, man, woman, adult, child, infant, animals and every type of organisms, to flora, to fauna, and in support thereof, to produce their respective studies regarding RF radiation through mobile cell towers, and if not already conducted, to also conduct an efficient research, and without the participation of private interest, and to subsequently furnish the report and declare whether or not the implementation of 5G in India would be safe, keeping un regards the health and safety of the present and future citizenry on India, including little children and infants, as well as infants of generations to come." Heres what people have to say about this- paisa mila hoga yeh sab karne ke liye.. Inka dharm iman sab paisa hai .. Divya Saxena Rastogi - (@Divsbabs) May 31, 2021 Bollywood is raising issues Faltu k A.J. (@beingabhi2712) May 31, 2021 4G affects even the people who are not using their phones whereas 5G affects mostly the person using their phone, not the people around. In either case exposure is less than your TV. 5G talks are going on since 2013. Why did she woke up only after Huawei was banned from trials? THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) May 31, 2021 They travelled whole world, enjoyed every luxury techonology, food in life. Now, they doesn't want India to prosper or develop. Remember, such a single file keep the court and administration hold for several months of progress.Eventually halt the progress of India.Jai Sri Ram BaapKaBaap (@BaapKaBaap) May 31, 2021 Fixed match, egg chowmien (@arindam75) May 31, 2021 So does she believe that 5G causes COVID ? Sudhanidhi Bandhopadhyay (@SudhanidhiB) May 31, 2021 She's been an opponent of mobile towers near residential areas since long. Ujval Nanavati (@cynical_ujval) May 31, 2021 What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below! People in Uttar Pradesh sure love their booze, and even the government knows this. So much so, that a District Magistrate has come up with an ingenious solution to help people get over their vaccine hesitancy, and finally, get vaccinated. BCCL The District Magistrates Office of Etawah has put out an order, making it mandatory for liquor shops to check the vaccine certificates of people who come to buy liquor. If a patron is unable to produce such their certificate, they will not be served. BCCL Additional District Magistrate Hem Kumar Singh ordered that notices should be posted outside government-owned liquor outlets in Uttar Pradesh's Etawah district which reads, "Liquor will be sold only to those who are vaccinated." ANI Uttar Pradesh has one of the highest vaccine hesitancy rates in India. As per the reports of a notable online news platform, Uttar Pradesh has partially vaccinated (i.e. at least one shot has been delivered) only 4.40 per cent of its population, as opposed to the national percentage of 9.24 per cent. BCCL Although there has been no official order from the government, and nor the DMs office, this move is actually being lauded for the ingenuity of the move. The Uttar Pradesh Government announced that from June 1, COVID curfew and restrictions will be relaxed in a phased manner, starting with districts that have less than 600 open cases of people suffering from the disease. BCCL Shops and markets in districts with less than 600 active cases will be allowed to operate from 7 AM to 7 PM. Meanwhile, people on Twitter had quite a few interesting things to say about this development: Etawah: Liquor sellers in Saifai say the sub-divisional magistrate has instructed them not to sell liquor to those not vaccinated against #COVID19. (ANI) pic.twitter.com/ZHwRcAytP7 NDTV (@ndtv) May 31, 2021 Well done at least they will get vaccinated because of booze Prathiba Suresh (@prathib2002) May 31, 2021 1 dose of vaccine = adda akshay (@akshay__gupta) May 31, 2021 1 dose of vaccine = adda akshay (@akshay__gupta) May 31, 2021 They Can Have Vaccination Centres At Those Shops ! MITHU SIMO (@mithu_simo) May 31, 2021 They Can Have Vaccination Centres At Those Shops ! MITHU SIMO (@mithu_simo) May 31, 2021 What do you make of this genius solution? Will a plan like this work, or will vendors start selling their stock illegally? Let us know in the comments below what you think. Online Political Debates on news channels these days are often chaotic and filled with loud arguments. And one such TV debate is doing the rounds on the internet. Recently, a video of Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate calling Sambit Patra of BJP Naali Ka Keeda on a Live TV debate has gone viral on Twitter. Reacting to Supriyas remarks, Sambit Patra has now shared a video of the same on Twitter using #GaliWaliMadam. During a TV debate on Aaj Tak which was moderated by Anjana Om Kashyap, Supriya Shrinate was heard saying, Tum do kaudi ke naali ke keede ho. Are chup ho ja naali ke keede, kya bol rahe ho? (You are a worthless gutter worm. Now shut up you gutter worm. What are you talking about!). To which Anjana said, What is this Supriya ji? Check out the video- He also shared another video clip, on his appearance on the News18 India TV channel where he was debating with Shrinate which was being moderated by Amish Devgan. The congress spokesperson was heard saying to Sambit Patra, Chhichhore aadmi tameez se baat karo. (You cheap person, show some decency while speaking). Sharing the video, Patra also tweeted saying, Friends, you must watch this video and think just how low some people can stoop to. What upbringing! It pains. Check out the video- The video has now gone viral on Twitter and thousands are criticizing Supriya Shrinate over usage of bad language on national television and other are saying that Sambit Patra is receiving a taste of his own medicine as he ridicules women during such debates too. Heres what people have to say on the internet about this- Dukh ? You talk shamelessly against women's that is not depressing ? Give respect and take respect !! Remember that we are not going to be the same soft-spoken Congress now .. We are going to revolt .. to end you're miserable bjp reign . 1000 days ... Ulti ginti chalu kardo .. https://t.co/54ZdIDZqhk Gayatri Jai Sen (@MpycSen) May 31, 2021 Stop playing victim and take action.. like make sure BJP people dont go on any debate that has @SupriyaShrinate Maithun (@Being_Humor) May 31, 2021 You deserve it. You can't understand cultured language. Shrinivas Karkala (@s_karkala) May 30, 2021 Very despicable. Maybe she calls the men of her house the same. GITA (@GitaSKapoor_) May 30, 2021 CONgress should send either spokesperson or spokesperson on debates. Madam agar aise hi bat Karti hai toh party office me Rahul ji ko Kya bulati hogi??? #GaliWaliMadam Pranavsinh (@Pranavsinh9) May 30, 2021 When you search #GaliWaliMadam and you get below top result pic.twitter.com/ZUPqpnhzeX Vipul Jain (@vipul_jain11) May 30, 2021 Once a VULTURE always a VULTURE without any CULTURE.... SHAMELESS CONGI.... Subba Rao (@TNSubbaRao1) May 30, 2021 What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below! There is some serious trouble brewing down under! China and Australia haven't really been the best of pals in recent times, and well, this time things have gotten so bad that Aussies have threatened to stop eating chocolates over it. Istock Nah, they aren't cutting out extra calories as part of a fitness regime to take on the Chinese in martial arts tournament, no. What they are doing is planning a major boycott of the Snickers chocolate bar in the country after finding out that the popular chocolate is made not in Australia, but in China. Yikes! Istock For some of you who don't know, Australia and China have seen their relations deteriorate after having a series of economic and diplomatic blows at each end. Istock Not only had Australia scrapped agreements that were tied to China's massive infrastructure project, the Belt and Road Initiative, but it has also chosen to ban Chinese firm Huawei from building the 5G network in the country. Until now Aussies were casually going around, eating whatever chocolates they liked while attending concerts and other events in a well-maintained Coronavirus-free environment. However, things took a real turn after a TikToker, Jeremy Toh, while shooting a video at a supermarket store in Australia found out that the Snickers that they ate in their country, was actually made in enemy territory. Tiktok/Jeremytoh Tiktok/Jeremytoh Some of Australia's most beloved chocolates including Snickers and Maltesers being made in CHINA | Daily Mail Online Australians have hit out at Mars Australia over decision to move production lines Twix bar is made in Egypt Maltesers in China https://t.co/WThyd3LbMr Maureen says GDay (@826Maureen) June 1, 2020 Australia's second-largest confectionery giant, Mars, which produces Snickers, also has brands that include Maltesers, Twix, and M&Ms, with many products coming from China, Egypt, and other countries. Istock A spokesperson from Mars, in the company's defense, said that the decision to source the product from China was temporary as their own facility in regional Victoria, was undergoing a multi-million dollar upgrade. However, soon after Toh's Tiktok video was uploaded on social media, Australians vowed to never buy the chocolate again in a full boycott move. Well that's it for me, won't buy any of those brands again. Good for the waist line so there is a win. Ann McGregor (@AnnMcGr04849387) June 1, 2020 They could put anything into those Bobby Bayls (@BaylsBobby) June 1, 2020 Bye bye to them !!!!! Yarrajewel (Same on Gab & Parler) (@yarrajewel) June 1, 2020 Subject to contamination. To be avoided. ConservativeVoice (@conserv1951) June 1, 2020 They could put anything into those Bobby Bayls (@BaylsBobby) June 1, 2020 Don't eat either. Stopped supporting the brand. JustMe (@JustMe4Now0) June 1, 2020 Won't be buying them again. Daz Vanni (@VanniDaz) June 1, 2020 I brought a Mars Bar in Egypt, in 2015, and it was way past its use by date, as were the Pringles, and the chips! lol Also, I noticed 'Made in China' on Snickers Bars over a year ago. No more for me. (@FitzalanOscar) June 1, 2020 Damn. Snickers WAS my favourite john hamon (@johnhamon7) June 3, 2020 Thanks for reporting this Maureen, it makes our shopping, so much easier. It would never occur to me to check the label on Maltesers. #BoycottChineseProducts #BoycottChina #BuyAustralianMade Barbara Kedzierski (@BARBARAKEDZIER1) June 1, 2020 urghhh...no thank you.....Some of Australia's favourite chocolates including M&Ms, Snickers,Twix and Maltesers are now being made in China and Egypt - and customers say they taste nothing like they used to https://t.co/PHWQwVQDvl pic.twitter.com/tYRg0KWMl8 Amber.K (@AmberX994874) June 1, 2020 Last week, a YouTube content creator, Paras Singh made a video that had racial remarks against Congress MLA Ninong Ering and the people of Arunachal Pradesh. Singh was arrested and handed over to Arunachal Pradesh Police for the remarks he made in the video and is now being given lessons in the history and geography of Arunachal Pradesh by the police. Facebook_Paras Singh Paras was taken into custody and brought to Itanagar by air by the SIT (Special Investigation Team) of Arunachal Police and was given lessons to make him understand that the state is a part of India and shares a border with China. "He was shown the virtual world map to make him realise his mistake. He was also shown videos about tourism landscape of Arunachal Pradesh, various tribes and their rich culture. Although he admitted that he made the controversial video in order to get more views on YouTube for monetary gains, we believe his ignorance about the state and its people was also responsible for such insensitivity," a police officer in Arunachal Pradesh's capital, Itanagar said. Paras made a video in response to a letter shared by MLA Ninong Ering to Prime Minister Modi calling for a ban on the upcoming Battlegrounds Mobile India game. In the video, Singh alleged that Arunachal Pradesh is a part of China and made racial comments about the people of the state. screen-post-unsplash "Paras was probably upset with the letter as he made many of his videos on PUBG which got huge views and he was earning money. Also, he probably made the controversial comment in the new video in order to get attention and more views, Rohit Rajbir Singh, SP of the special investigation team told reporters. After taking him (Paras) into custody, the police took him on a virtual educational tour on the history, geography and demography of the state. We showed him videos of the states diverse tourism landscape and he was also made aware of the different tribes and cultures of Arunachal, including their songs and cuisines, Rohit Rajbir Singh told EasyMojo. U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks after touring the Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Mich., May 18. Reuters-Yonhap By Kim Yoo-chul Two U.S. states Ohio and Texas are emerging as the candidates to house SK Innovation's (SKI) battery joint venture with Ford Motor, with Ohio gaining a slight edge over Texas, two sources told The Korea Times, Sunday. A few weeks ago, SKI and Ford said they signed a memorandum of understanding for a battery joint venture that would be called "BlueOvalSK." Production of battery cells as well as support modules is set to start by 2025, according to the companies. Sources and officials familiar with the issue said both SKI and Ford are expected to launch the venture firm by July at the earliest, and it is set to go online around 2025. At least three years are required to set up necessary equipment before the venture starts actual, "meaningful" operation. "Ohio and Texas are emerging as the candidates for the venture's new battery plant. But I would say Ford is apparently preferring to decide on Ohio as the venture's headquarters," an industry executive said. Ohio is considered one of the manufacturing hubs for U.S. carmakers. The state is the second-largest in terms of the total number of workers in the automotive industry. Over the last five years, Ford was the biggest automotive investor in the state of Ohio by investing some $1.37 billion, followed by General Motors, according to industry watchers. The state is also the home to an LG Energy Solution (LGES) battery joint venture with GM, which will become operational from next year. But the central point, according to the executive, is that Ford is aiming to minimize the effects of its business rearrangement plan, because the carmaker was planning to return to its earlier agreement to build a "next-generation vehicle" by 2023 at the Avon Lake Ford plant in Ohio. It is said to be moving a major project slated for 2023 from northeastern Ohio to its plant in Mexico. "Given Ford's commitment, which said earlier it would invest $900 million in a new project at the Avon Lake plant, and its moves to possibly rearrange its business plans by reducing fixed costs, if the new SKI-Ford joint venture is established in Ohio, that could fill the possible void of job losses and address concerns by labor unions in terms of job security, and that strategy makes sense to me," the executive said on condition of anonymity. At the time of Ford's 2019 commitment to invest $900 million in the Ohio assembly plant at Avon Lake, it promised to create more than 1,500 jobs. Plus, Ohio is home to several plants, which means the state is quite proven and stable in terms of relevant infrastructure such as electricity and water supply. Texas is also viewed as a possible candidate site given its aggressiveness to win foreign investors by offering a wider range of administrative and financial incentives. Texas hosts large companies such as Samsung Electronics, GM, Tesla and Toyota. As the state has an ample supply of experienced and skilled workers, the regional government is aiming to attract eco-friendly companies and those involved in similar business models. "Because of attractive tax benefits and proximity to Mexico, Texas is also cited as an attractive site for the BlueOvalSK headquarters," another industry executive said by telephone. Ford said that by 2030, it was expecting annual energy demand for its vehicles to rise to 140 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in North America and up to 240 GWh globally. Specifically, it hopes to catch up with its core rivals, including Tesla and GM, both of which are on track to localize their battery development in the United States. In summer 2020, The New York Times coordinated a nationwide project to document the lives of Americans out of work because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study involved collaborating with 11 other local newsrooms around the U.S. The Messenger-Inquirer was the only newspaper from Kentucky in the collaboration. The resulting collection of stories was published Oct. 23, 2020, in the New York Times print edition and at nytimes.com/outofwork. The following list is the Messenger-Inquirer's local unemployment coverage from that time period; read more by clicking the "New York Times Project" header. Click on "Out Of Work In America" to go to the full Ambassador of Belarus O.Ivanov visits Afghanistan On May 29-31, 2021, within the framework of the visit to Afghanistan Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of Tajikistan and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan concurrently Oleg Ivanov held a number of meetings with the leadership of the ministries and organizations of Afghanistan. During negotiations with Minister of Economy of Afghanistan, co-chairman of the Joint Belarusian-Afghan Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation Karima Hamid Faryabi, issues of Belarusian-Afghan cooperation within the framework of the Committee's work, including the organization of its next meeting in Minsk, were discussed. At the meetings with Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock of Afghanistan Anvar-ul Haq Ahady and Minister of Health of Afghanistan Wahid Majroh the interlocutors considered the prospects for cooperation between the two countries in the field of agriculture in the context of the supply of Belarusian machinery, equipment and technologies to Afghanistan, as well as pharmaceutical and other products. Within the framework of negotiations with the leadership of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Afghan Chamber of Industry and Mines and representatives of Afghan business, O.Ivanov presented the export opportunities of Belarus and also discussed issues of Belarusian-Afghan cooperation in areas of mutual interest for the business circles of the two countries. print version BEIRUT (AP) Ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn sat before French investigative judges in Beirut who questioned him for several hours Monday over suspicions of financial misconduct. His defense lawyers called it a very important day for the auto magnate-turned-fugitive. The meeting marked the first opportunity for Ghosn to defend himself against the French allegations - including spending on lavish parties and private planes since his 2018 bombshell arrest in Japan and escape to Lebanon a year later. It is an occasion that Mr. Ghosn has waited for a long time to show that the accusations brought against him are baseless, Jean Yves Le Borgne, a member of Ghosn's defense team, told reporters in Beirut. He said the questioning was expected to last several days. The questioning at the Palace of Justice in Beirut lasted about six hours, including a lunch break. Ghosn did not make any comments to reporters and Lebanese security forces kept journalists away from the gate where he entered and exited the courthouse. Ghosn is campaigning to clear his name against multiple legal challenges in France after Japanese accusations triggered scrutiny of his activities there. In a wide ranging interview with The Associated Press last week, he said he hopes the visit by French investigators to Lebanon will be his first real opportunity to defend himself. He also said he had much more confidence in the French legal system than the Japanese system he had fled. Ghosn has not so far been charged with anything in France, but could be, given preliminary accusations of fraud, corruption, money laundering, misuse of company assets, or aggravated breach of trust. The French investigators are looking into the financing of lavish parties Ghosn threw at the Versailles Palace complete with period costumes and copious Champagne as the head of the Renault-Nissan car alliance. They're also examining 11 million euros in spending on private planes and events arranged by a Dutch holding company, and subsidies to a car dealership in Oman. Ghosn told the AP he has done nothing wrong and hopes the investigations are eventually dropped. Ghosn was arrested in Japan in November 2018 on accusations of financial misconduct and was kept in solitary confinement for months without being allowed to speak with his wife. He fled to Lebanon a year later in a Hollywood-style escape that stunned the world. Meanwhile, several associates are in jail or on trial in Japan and Turkey, in cases related to his financial activities or escape. Jean Tamalet, one of two French lawyers representing Ghosn along with one Lebanese attorney, said Monday's meeting was the very first time of justice for Ghosn since being arrested in Japan, adding that it was the first time he could explain himself in front of judges with his lawyers seated near him and after preparing his defense. So it was a very important day for him today and he was very happy to give all the answers to all the questions asked by the French judges, he said. In a statement earlier Monday, Ghosns lawyers said their client will be questioned by French investigating judges, in the context of legal proceedings organized by the Lebanese judicial authorities. The statement added that the hearing is a voluntary step taken by Ghosn. Ghosns defense team said they have already identified serious procedural irregularities in the French dossiers." The defense team said abnormalities, which undermine the judicial process, are the result of the peculiar methods of the Japanese investigation that was the primary source for building the French cases. It is an unusual move for French magistrates to question a suspect abroad. Ghosn, who was given sanctuary by Lebanese authorities, grew up in Lebanon and has Lebanese citizenship. Lebanon will not extradite him. Monday's interrogation comes days after Ghosn was questioned by French investigators as a witness in a different case a probe into Renaults pollutant emissions, according to two Lebanese officials. Renault, along with other carmakers, is facing an investigation that dates back to 2017 over cheating on emission tests, a charge the company denies. It follows earlier investigations by French anti-fraud authorities who found abnormally high emissions from some of Renaults diesel engineered cars. Ghosn had been with Renault since 1996, until its alliance with Nissan in 1999. The Owendale-Gagetown School District is ready to welcome new students during the next school year. During the last board of education meeting, board members approved continuing to be a School of Choice school. In doing that, the board also voted to participate in an advertisement with other Huron County school districts that are participating in Schools of Choice for the 2021-22 schoolyear. The Schools of Choice program allows public education funds to follow students to the schools or services that best fit their needs whether that's to a public school, private school, charter school, home school or any other learning environment parents choose for their kids. Also, the Schools of Choice Program provides students with additional enrollment opportunities, which range from allowing students to determine which school within the resident district they will enroll in, to allowing non-resident students to enroll in a district other than their own. However, depending on enrollment, schools can limit the number of students in certain grade levels to prevent overcrowding. The Michigan School of Choice was introduced in 1996 by then Gov. John Engler. In other business, the board approved tenure for Mallory Klosowski, and the Owen-Gage National Honor Society will host a blood drive in conjunction with Versiti (formerly known as Michigan Blood) 1-6 p.m., Wednesday, June 2 at the Owendale Village Fire Hall. Also, Monday, June 7, will be an elementary field day at 11:30 a.m., and on Wednesday, June 9, there will be games for grades sixth through 12th. Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp. headquarters in Seoul / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor By Kim Hyun-bin Korean business conglomerates are busy selling off assets in China as a series of events there have negatively impacted their businesses over the past several years. The pandemic and China's economic retaliation against the deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system in Korea deployment controversy have led to declining sales and forced Korean companies to restructure their business portfolios in China, industry officials said, Sunday. Hyundai Motor is seeking to sell its first Beijing plant. "Hyundai is in talks with the Beijing Shunyi district government to sell its plant," an industry official said. The plant was established in 2002 with an annual production capacity of 300,000 vehicles. It was the start of Hyundai's China endeavors and helped expand the company's market share in the world's largest car market. However, reports said the South Korean carmaker is on track to sell its plant to a Chinese electric vehicle (EV) startup called Li Auto for 6 billion yuan ($942.8 million). Li Auto is among the top three EV startups in China, and it reportedly plans to operate the facility starting in 2023, while aiming to generate annual sales of 30 billion yuan by 2024. Hyundai declined to comment. The plant has been suspended after Hyundai suffered sluggish sales in China due to lingering tensions between Seoul and Beijing following the THAAD deployment in Korea in 2017. Beijing has opposed the THAAD deployment in Korea, claiming that its powerful radar could be used to spy on China's airspace. Sales started to deteriorate swiftly after the THAAD deployment resulting in a total shutdown of the plant in April 2019. Even with the sell-offs, Hyundai will have four other plants in operation in China two in Beijing, and one each in Changzhou and Chongqing. The company also operates plants in the U.S., the Czech Republic, Turkey, Russia, India and Brazil with a combined annual production capacity of 5.5 million vehicles. SK Group also sold off its SK Beijing Tower recently to a local insurance company, Hexie Insurance, in a deal worth over 1 trillion won. The 35-floor tower is situated in the middle of Beijing's commercial district and since 2009 has been utilized as SK Group's China control tower. "The sell-off is aimed at expanding the ESG sector within China and as a portfolio restructuring means, but it is irrelevant to claims of curtailing our Chinese operations," an SK Group official said. Last year, LG Group was the first to sell off its Beijing Twin Towers for 8 billion yuan. Local Chinese media outlets claim that Korean conglomerates are selling off their assets in China due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but many industry watchers point out that the THAAD deployment has worsened sales dramatically in the country, which led to the recent sell-offs. SANAA, Yemen (AP) The U.N. special envoy for Yemen on Monday expressed frustration that his efforts to achieve a cease-fire in the war-torn country have been derailed by warring parties seeking gains on the battlefield. Martin Griffiths said ongoing fighting in several parts of Yemen, including a monthslong attack by Houthi rebels on government-held Marib province, has undermined the prospects for peace in the country. Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014, when the Iranian-backed Houthis swept across much of the north and seized the capital, Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile. A Saudi-led coalition entered the war the following year on the side of the government. The war has killed more than 130,000 people and spawned the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Nobody can be more frustrated than I am," Griffiths said. We have spent a year and a half on things which are relatively simple to describe, the cease-fire, the opening of Sanaa Airport, the opening of Hodeida ports, the much-delayed start of the political negotiations. He spoke Monday in a news conference at the Sanaa airport, a day after a video meeting with the Houthis' religious and military leader, Abdel-Malek al-Houthi, who was in an undisclosed location. Griffiths also held talks with Yemeni and Saudi officials in Saudi Arabia and Oman, part of his efforts to achieve a cease-fire, reopen the Sanaa airport, ensure an uninterrupted flow of fuel and commodities through Hodeida ports, and relaunch the political process. We have been negotiating this in detail. ... Sometimes we make good progress, and we think that its going to work, that we will get an agreement. And then the war intervenes and one or other party thinks they will gain more in the battlefield, he said. He urged the sides to seize the considerable regional and international support for the U.N. peace plan to bring this negotiation, this long negotiation to a successful conclusion. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced earlier this month the appointment of Griffiths as the U.N.s next humanitarian chief. But Guterres said Griffiths will continue to serve as the U.N.s top envoy for Yemen until a transition has been announced. Don't Miss West Haven homicide victim remembered for kindness, voice The Rev. Boise Kimber said he and his church urge the community to share any information they have about the homicide. CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) Charleston police are trying to determine who vandalized a South Carolina monument honoring a Black man who was hanged for a failed rebellion plan aimed at freeing enslaved people in the city. Mayor John Tecklenburg's office said police found significant damage to the granite pedestal of the Denmark Vesey monument in a Charleston park. Authorities believe the damage was caused Saturday or Sunday by a vandal with a large hammer or some similar object. BEIJING (AP) Chinas ruling Communist Party said Monday it will ease birth limits to allow all couples to have three children instead of two in hopes of slowing the rapid aging of its population, which is adding to strains on the economy and society. The ruling party has enforced birth limits since 1980 to restrain population growth but worries the number of working-age people is falling too fast while the share over age 65 is rising. That threatens to disrupt its ambitions to transform China into a prosperous consumer society and global technology leader. A ruling party meeting led by President Xi Jinping decided to introduce measures to actively deal with the aging population, the official Xinhua News Agency said. It said leaders agreed implementing the policy of one couple can have three children and supporting measures are conducive to improving Chinas population structure." Leaders also agreed China needs to raise its retirement age to keep more people in the workforce and improve pension and health services for the elderly, Xinhua said. Restrictions that limited most couples to one child were eased in 2015 to allow two, but the total number of births fell further, suggesting rule changes on their own have little impact on the trend. Couples say they are put off by high costs of raising a child, disruption to their jobs and the need to look after elderly parents. Comments on social media Monday complained the change does nothing to help young parents with medical bills, low incomes and grueling work schedules known popularly as 996, or 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. six days a week. Every stage of the problem hasnt been solved, said a post on the popular Sina Weibo blog service signed Tchaikovsky. Who will raise the baby? Do you have time? I go out early and get back late. Kids dont know what their parents look like. Another, signed Hyeongmok, joked bitterly: Dont worry about aging. Our generation wont live long. China, along with Thailand and some other Asian economies, faces what economists call the challenge of whether they can get rich before they get old. The Chinese population of 1.4 billion already was expected to peak later this decade and start to decline. Census data released May 11 suggest that is happening faster than expected, adding to burdens on underfunded pension and health systems and cutting the number of future workers available to support a growing retiree group. The share of working-age people 15 to 59 in the population fell to 63.3% last year from 70.1% a decade earlier. The group aged 65 and older grew to 13.5% from 8.9%. The 12 million births reported last year was down nearly one-fifth from 2019. About 40% were second children, down from 50% in 2017, according to Ning Jizhe, a statistics official who announced the data on May 11. Chinese researchers and the Labor Ministry say the share of working-age people might fall to half the population by 2050. That increases the dependency ratio, or the number of retirees who rely on each worker to generate income for pension funds and to pay taxes for health and other public services. Leaders at Monday's meeting agreed it is necessary to steadily implement the gradual postponement of the legal retirement age, Xinhua said. It gave no details, but the government has been debating raising the official retirement ages of 60 for men, 55 for white-collar female workers and 50 for blue-collar female workers. The potential change is politically fraught. Some female professionals welcome a chance to stay in satisfying careers, but others whose bodies are worn out from decades of manual labor resent being required to work longer. The fertility rate, or the average number of births per mother, stood at 1.3 in 2020, well below the 2.1 that would maintain the size of the population. Chinas birth rate, paralleling trends in other Asian economies, already was falling before the one-child rule. The average number of children per Chinese mother tumbled from above six in the 1960s to below three by 1980, according to the World Bank. Demographers say official birth limits concealed what would have been a further fall in the number of children per family without the restrictions. The ruling party says it prevented as many as 400 million potential births, averting shortages of food and water. But demographers say if China followed trends in Thailand, parts of India and other countries, the number of additional babies might have been as low as a few million. ___ AP Writer Fu Ting in Bangkok contributed. Viktoria Sundqvist / Hearst Connecticut Media HARTFORD A city man involved in a shooting in 2020 received the maximum sentence on a federal supervised release violation last week in Hartford court, according to prosecutors. Judge Alvin W. Thompson sentenced 33-year-old Brandon Spun Spence to 24 months in prison on May 27. CONCORD, N.H. (AP) Both House and Senate lawmakers want to change the timing of New Hampshire's state primary, but they disagree on the ideal date. Though it is known for hosting the nation's earliest presidential primary every four years, the state primary the second Tuesday in September every two years is among the latest. MIDDLETOWN We have reached Memorial Day in Middlesex County and throughout our great nation. Every year at this time, I try to focus on the true meaning of this holiday and what it represents. Memorial Day is for remembering the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. It is important that we honor that ultimate sacrifice not only today, but every day of the year. We are truly lucky to live in a country where so many of our citizens are willing to serve, and they are the reason that we are able to enjoy the freedom that we hold so dear. Over 1 million Americans have lost their lives protecting this sacred freedom. These men and women, and their families, continue to have our unending thanks and admiration. Memorial Day is a time for remembrance, reflection and pride. So, before we fire up the grills, head to the beach, or put the boats in the water, let us again pause to recognize and honor the true meaning of Memorial Day. There are a number of outstanding Memorial Day parades being held in Middlesex County and throughout our state. We continue to be grateful to all of those who serve or have served, and we will always remember those who perished in defense of our freedom. The chamber team will hit the ground running as a busy month of June is upon us. On the chamber calendar, this week features meetings of our Portland and East Hampton Division, Environment and Infrastructure Committee, Chamber Finance Committee, Central Business Bureau, Real Estate Council, Down County Division and Middlesex County Substance Abuse Action Council. In addition to these important meetings specific to our chamber, I look forward to the virtual meeting with the leaders of the Metro Chambers of Commerce in our state. Chamber Vice President Jeff Pugliese will continue his efforts on the South-Central Manufacturing Industry Partnership, and chamber VP Johanna Bond will continue her efforts with the Central Regional Tourism District. As always, the chamber is on the move. On the business development front, this week features two exciting grand opening celebrations in different parts of the county. On Tuesday afternoon, we look forward to joining Killingworth First Selectwoman Cathy Iino, Killingworth Division Chairman Franco Piscitelli and other local dignitaries for the grand opening of Insurance Plans CT in Killingworth. Nancy Allision and her team do a great job walking clients through the ABCs of Medicare, and we wish them nothing but the best as they work to grow their brand right here in Middlesex County. On Wednesday, I will join Middletown Mayor Ben Florsheim, Central Business Bureau Chairwoman Pam Steele and others for the grand opening celebration of RWC, LLC Attorneys and Counselors at Law. Whether it is elder law and Medicaid/Title 19, estate planning, probate, or real estate, the RWC team is ready to help and provide professional service. We wish Partner Joan Reed Wilson and their entire team nothing but the best, and look forward to supporting them along the way. Now that June is upon us, it is time to start celebrating Pride month. On Tuesday morning, at 11:30 a.m., the city of Middletown will commemorate the start of Pride Month with a crosswalk dedication on Main Street and flag raising ceremony at City Hall. Middletown Pride 2021 will be a month-long celebration of inclusivity, acceptance and diversity. Pride will take a balanced approach this year, and events will take place virtually and in-person. Festivities will begin on the morning of June 5, when we join together with Cinder + Salt for our second annual Main Street clean-up. Later in the day, Middletown Prides first-ever virtual Pride Parade will be broadcast on the website, and Facebook and Instagram accounts. The showcase event will be held over the course of two days, June 5 and 6, on the South Green. The chamber team is ready to roll for a busy, and proud, month of June. For a full listing of events and activities, please visit middletownpride.org. Before closing, I want to take a moment to once again thank the city of Middletown, led by Mayor Ben Florsheim, Wesleyan University, led by President Michael Roth, and Russell Library, led by Ramona Burkey, for partnering with us on this community event. I also want to thank the LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee, our outstanding sponsors and supporters, the volunteers who are ready to work hard in support of the event, the chamber staff who, as always, is stepping up to get the job done, the Triangle Community Center, and everyone who supports Middletown Pride. A special thank you goes out to the city of Middletown, the police, fire, public works, planning, conversation and development, and parking departments. All other city personnel that support the event are outstanding, and Mayor Ben Florsheim and the Middletown Common Council stepped up and made this event happen once again. Finally, I want to take a moment to especially thank Middletown Assistant General Counsel Christopher Forte, the creator of Middletown Pride, for his work to make this a reality. Chris has led this effort from the beginning, and he has done a fantastic job. We look forward to a great month, and the sun will continue to shine on Middlesex County. Larry McHugh is president of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce in Middletown. GUILFORD There has been an ongoing debate in town over equity and social justice since the high schools mascot was changed last year from Indians to Grizzles. Now the conversation has turned to whether the school district is teaching critical race theory in the classrooms. While there has been support behind the effort led by Superintendent Paul Freeman and the Board of Education, some have shown up to meetings, written emails to the board, and created a petition, claiming critical race theory is being taught in Guilford schools. Critical race theorys core principle is that racism is a social construct, and is embedded in policies and legal systems, not just the product of biases or prejudice. The petition, created last year by parent Danielle Scarpellino, states the unequal treatment of students, based on their race, is a serious problem in Guilford schools. It also says children are being punished for sins they did not commit, and for a democratic infrastructure and way of life they had no part in building. The goal of the petition is to persuade the school board to disavow any curriculum, or critical race theory, that promotes the unequal treatment of students and label any resources, authors, professors and experts that can easily be proven to have blatant bigoted views as radical activist theory. The repeated declaration that the racist ideology, Critical Race Theory, is not a part of the schools Equity and Social Justice initiative, is inaccurate and disingenuous at best, and, when given in response to any parents sincere concern, it is intended to shut down all further inquiry and conversation surrounding this incredibly complicated topic, Scarpellino wrote in a statement to Hearst Connecticut Media. Freeman said he would not comment about issues raised by specific parents or community members, but released a statement, saying he realizes some may feel uncomfortable. We know that this work in which we are engaging is challenging, and that it makes some people uncomfortable, he said. We know that some people have spoken out, at times very inaccurately, about this work, and about the leadership that the board and I have tried to bring to this work. Freeman said he endorses a school board statement released April 26, stating critical race theory is not being taught in the classrooms, but that students are learning institutional racism is part of American history. The board chairwoman, Kathleen Balestracci, did not respond to a request for comment. Guilford Public Schools must strive to be a community in which all students feel safe, supported, and recognized, and must support critical thinking about all aspects of our history and current experience, the school board statement said. None of our students is responsible for this history, but each will be responsible for their own participation in our local, national, and global communities as they emerge into adulthood. This is being taught to students with historical and current documents, according to the BOE statement. Students explore the documents, analyze the arguments and the strength of the evidence supporting them before a classroom discussion is held, the statement said. The statement also points out that some community members accused the district of changing the curriculum to support its goal. The equity and social justice initiative is not based on any particular ideology, curriculum, or text, the statement read. The school curricula have not been changed, and cannot be changed without public Board of Education approval. Scarpellino said the word salad of terms the school district is using, such as social justice, anti-racist, hard history and more, is a subtle attempt to deflect our communitys serious concerns over real issues of social justice. Some of this backlash comes from the district last year purchasing copies of the book How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. In a March 4 meeting, Freeman addressed this by stating the book was purchased for teachers during the time of the schools mascot change, George Floyds homicide and subsequent protests. Freeman said the books were not purchased for the students. He said the intent was for the teachers to understand the students perspective during this time. How to be an Antiracist was purchased for teachers last year, and they each took a copy home for the summer. They were encouraged to read it. It is not a text identified in any of our curricular documents for students, Freeman wrote in an email last week. He also said all school curricula can be found on the districts website. But Scarpellino said the districts website also contains links to Hassan Kwame Jeffries Hard History Ted Talks, and David Kirklands definition of racism one in a September 2020 letter from Freeman and another listed under talking with students. Scarpellino claims these resources are used to promote critical race theory. She said she wants a public forum to discuss these connections with critical race theory and more transparency from the district. Despite the communitys concerns, Guilford Public Schools is continuing to support its social justice and equity work by hiring a part-time equity liaison for next fall. The liaison will be a resource to students and parents for addressing issues of equity and discrimination for any student feeling marginalized for any reason, and will allow the district to track these instances, Freeman said. Freeman said the position has not yet been filled, but he anticipates hiring someone before the start of the 2021-22 school year. The district will also participate in the student-teacher residency program with 20 other school systems. The program aims to recruit and retain teachers of color in elementary schools across Connecticut, making them more diverse and inclusive. Changes to the curricula will be implemented on the state level beginning in the 2022-23 school year. In 2019, Gov. Ned Lamont signed Public Act 19-12, which requires all regional and local boards of education to include an elective high school course that provides students with a better understanding of the African-American, Black, Puerto Rican and Latino contributions to United States history. The course will not be mandatory. High schools were able to offer the course for the 2021-22 academic year, but the elective will not be available in Guilford until it is required for the 2022-23 school year. christine.derosa@hearstmediact.com AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas Democrats pulled off a dramatic, last-ditch walkout in the state House of Representatives on Sunday night to block passage of one of the most restrictive voting bills in the U.S., leaving Republicans with no choice but to abandon a midnight deadline and declare the legislative session essentially over. The revolt is one of Democrats' biggest protests to date against GOP efforts nationwide to impose stricter election laws, and they used the spotlight to urge President Joe Biden to act on voting rights. But the victory may be fleeting: Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who had declared new voting laws a priority in Texas, quickly announced he would order a special session to finish the job. He called the failure of the bill deeply disappointing but did not say when he would drag lawmakers back to work. Weve said for so many years that we want more people to participate in our democracy. And it just seems thats not the case, Democratic state Rep. Carl Sherman said. One by one, Democrats left the House chamber until there was no longer the 100-member quorum needed to pass Senate Bill 7, which would have reduced polling hours, empowered poll watchers and scaled back ways to vote in Texas, which already has some of the nations strictest voting laws. They gathered later outside a Black church, driving home their anger over a last-minute change to the Texas bill that would have prohibited Sunday voting before 1 p.m., when many Black worshippers go to the polls. Democrats said they did not go into the House vote intending to break quorum, but instead became fed-up after Republicans repeatedly refused to take their questions while racing to pass the bill. It was a stunning turnabout from just 24 hours earlier, when the bill seemed all but guaranteed to reach Abbott's desk. The Texas Senate had signed off before sunrise earlier Sunday after Republicans, who hold an 18-13 majority in the chamber, used a bare-knuckle procedural move to suspend the rules and take up the measure in the middle of the night. But as the day wore on in the House, the GOP's chances wobbled. State Rep. Chris Turner, the Democratic House leader, said he sent a text message to members of his caucus at 10:35 p.m. telling them to leave the chamber. But by that point, the exodus was already well underway. We knew today, with the eyes of the nation watching actions in Austin, that we needed to send a message, and that message is very, very clear: Mr. President, we need a national response to federal voting rights, Democratic state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer said. Republicans showed restraint in criticizing Democrats for the move. I am disappointed that some members decided to break quorum, said Republican state Rep. Briscoe Cain, who carried the bill in the House. We all know what that meant. I understand why they were doing it, but we all took an oath to Texans that we would be here to do our jobs. Texas is the last big battleground in Republicans campaign to tighten voting laws, driven by former President Donald Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Georgia and Florida have also passed new voting restrictions, and Biden on Saturday had unfavorably compared Texas bill to election changes in those states as an assault on democracy. Under revisions during closed-door negotiations, Republicans added language to the 67-page measure that could have made it easier for a judge to overturn an election. The bill would have also eliminated drive-thru voting and 24-hour polling centers, both of which Harris County introduced last year. Houston is in Harris County, the states largest Democratic stronghold. Major corporations joined the backlash, including Texas-based American Airlines and Dell, warning that the efforts could harm democracy and the economic climate. But Republicans shrugged off their objections, and in some cases, ripped business leaders for speaking out. By the time the Texas bill was poised to pass over the Memorial Day weekend, the opposition from businesses had grown faint. Since Trumps defeat, at least 14 states have enacted more restrictive voting laws, according to the New York-based Brennan Center for Justice. It has counted nearly 400 bills filed this year nationwide that would restrict voting. It was not the first time Texas Democrats who have been out of power in the state Capitol for decades have been able to block contentious legislation despite being outnumbered. They twice broke quorum in 2003 to stop Republican efforts to redraw voting maps, at one point leaving the state for Oklahoma. A decade later, former state Sen. Wendy Davis ran out the clock on a sweeping anti-abortion bill with a filibuster that lasted more than 11 hours, propelling her to a failed run for governor. But in each instance, Republicans ultimately prevailed. We may have won the war tonight but the battle is not over, Democratic state Rep. Nicole Collier said. We will continue to fight and speak out against those measures that attempt to silence our voices. ___ Associated Press writer Jim Vertuno contributed to this report. This combination of pictures shows Naftali Bennett, left, of the Yamina party speaking to reporters at a conference in Jerusalem, March 15; and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud party speaking during a ceremony marking Yom HaZikaron, Israel's Memorial Day, Jerusalem, April 13. AFP-Yonhap A former ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that he would seek to form a coalition government with the Israeli leader's opponents, taking a major step toward ending the rule of the longtime leader. The dramatic announcement by Naftali Bennett, leader of the small hardline Yamina Party, set the stage for a series of steps that could push Netanyahu and his dominant Likud Party into the opposition in the coming week. While Bennett and his new partners, headed by opposition leader Yair Lapid, still face some obstacles, the sides appeared to be serious about reaching a deal and ending the deadlock that has plunged the country into four elections over the past two years. ''It's my intention to do my utmost in order to form a national unity government along with my friend Yair Lapid, so that, God willing, together we can save the country from a tailspin and return Israel to its course,'' Bennett said. The pair have until Wednesday to complete a deal in which each is expected to serve two years as prime minister in a rotation deal, with Bennett holding the job first. Lapid's Yesh Atid Party said negotiating teams were to meet later Sunday. Bennett, a former top aide to Netanyahu who has held senior Cabinet posts, shares the prime minister's hardline ideology. He is a former leader of the West Bank settlement movement and heads a small party whose base includes religious and nationalist Jews. Yet he has had a strained and complicated relationship with his one-time mentor due to personal differences. Bennett said there was no feasible way after the deadlocked March 23 election to form a right-wing government favored by Netanyahu. He said another election would yield the same results and said it was time to end the cycle. ''A government like this will succeed only if we work together as a group,'' he said. He said everyone ''will need to postpone fulfilling part of their dreams. We will focus on what can be done, instead of fighting all day on what's impossible.'' If Bennett and Lapid and their other partners can wrap up a deal, it would end, at least for the time being, the record-setting tenure of Netanyahu, the most dominant figure in Israeli politics over the past three decades. Netanyahu has served as prime minister for the past 12 years and also held an earlier term in the late 1990s. In his own televised statement, Netanyahu accused Bennett of betraying the Israeli right wing and urged nationalist politicians not to join what he called a ''leftist government.'' ''A government like this is a danger to the security of Israel, and is also a danger to the future of the state,'' he said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to the Israeli Parliament, Jerusalem, May 30. AP-Yonhap LOS ANGELES (AP) Authorities said a huge American flag and several smaller flags were stolen from a Southern California veterans cemetery over the Memorial Day weekend. Les' Melnyk, a spokesperson for the Department of Veterans Affairs' National Cemetery Administration, said the garrison flag at Los Angeles National Cemetery was reported stolen sometime late Sunday or early Monday. FALLON, Nev. (AP) Pick-up truck drivers motor up to a white trailer in a parking lot on Fallon Paiute-Shoshone land in Nevadas high desert and within a few moments theyre handed forms to sign, jabbed with coronavirus vaccine and sent on their way. The pop-up clinic 60 miles (96 kilometers) east of Reno is one of 28 locations in the state where the Federal Emergency Management Agency has dispatched mobile vaccination units to ensure people in far-flung rural areas and one stop-light towns can get inoculated. Its one of the tactics health officials are using across the country to counter waning interest in vaccinations. In tiny towns, churches, ballparks, strip clubs and even marijuana dispensaries, officials are setting up shop and offering incentives to entice people as the nation struggles to reach herd immunity. In Nevada, health officials acknowledge theyre unlikely to hit their initial goal of vaccinating 75% of the population believed necessary to reach herd immunity. Ironically, their push in northern Nevada is headquartered at the Reno Livestock Events Center, where 65-year-old Dan Lavely and others are showing up for shots. Lavely said he teared up while thanking the nurses who vaccinated him. I told them I was just so thankful that they were volunteering their time to help get us back to normal so I can go shop at the mall or go to the beach at Lake Tahoe, said Lavely, who works at a big box store in neighboring Sparks. Waiting to get vaccinated had nothing to do with safety concerns or distrust of the government, he said. It was a scheduling deal. Plus, my middle name is procrastinator, Lavely said. Two FEMA mobile trailers have meandered through Nevada to towns without pharmacies, clinics or other vaccination sites, giving doctors, nurses and National Guardsmen a first-hand look at rural and tribal communities where finding vaccinations has been difficult for residents. Thats our philosophy: it doesnt make any difference if there are two (people) nor 200, said Peggy Franklin, a volunteer nurse who has traveled alongside a FEMA trailer to Fallon, Alamo, Panaca and other towns To preserve the vaccine, the trailers are equipped with ultra-cold refrigerators powered by generators-on-wheels. On Monday, the two mobile clinics completed six-week loops through Nevada that included returning to finish two-shot regimens in the state that covers an area that would stretch from Boston to Baltimore and Buffalo, N.Y. Initially, the goal was to vaccinate 250 people a day at each stop. But the numbers have varied, as vaccine supply has increased and demand has fallen. Just a month ago, people were still having a hard time finding vaccination sites. Thats really changed in the last three or four weeks and now were trying to find people that are more vaccine-hesitant, said Marc Reynolds, a doctor from Fallon who has volunteered at the mobile clinic in his hometown and the state prison in Lovelock. The clinics have delivered 7,600 shots during two tours of Nevada and have also been used in Arizona, Illinois, Kentucky and other states. Nevada Division of Emergency Management Chief Dave Fogerson said people in the remote communities of the state probably would not have got it any other way. Gerlach, for example, is 100 miles (160 km) from the closest pharmacy in Reno-Sparks. With just 34 people, it was once home to a booming gypsum mine on the edge of the desert that hosts 80,000 visitors each year for the Burning Man Festival. The desolate landscape was featured in this years Academy Award-winning movie, Nomadland. Nearly half of Nevadas eligible population has had at least an initial vaccination against COVID-19. But rates have varied geographically. In Clark and Washoe counties, home to Las Vegas and Reno, respectively, about half of those eligible have gotten at least one dose, the state reported. The rate has been about half of that in Eureka and Elko counties, while Storey County has seen just a 15% rate. As infection rates drop and the state moves further away from the height of the pandemic, officials acknowledge persuading the vaccine-hesitant to get shots wont get easier. As a result, on the heels of the FEMA effort, officials have been preparing similar pop-up events in urban centers, suburban neighborhoods and unconventional venues ranging from a Las Vegas strip club to a Sparks truck stop along an interstate that runs to Utah. Its important that the people running the vaccination events look like the community, said Jeanne Freeman of Carson City Health and Human Services. Comfort levels are important. Sometimes just being in a familiar location. Nevada has long struggled with some of the nations worst vaccination rates. It improved to fifth-worst last year with 42% of adults vaccinated against the flu, according to the CDC. Part of the current outreach effort targets the 340,000 people who got those flu shots but have not yet gotten a COVID-19 vaccination. Nevada is refining its messaging based on a growing understanding of why some people remain reluctant to get shots. Much of the focus so far has been on cultural and historical barriers that make certain groups less open to vaccinations, but for many, it may come down to simple convenience. A lot of individuals are not opposed to getting vaccinated, its just not fitting well in their daily life, said Karissa Loper, chief of Nevadas Bureau of Child, Family and Community Wellness. Thats truly what were moving to work on now with all of our partners, to do those mobile and pop-up clinics." Jackie Shelton, a vice president with the public relations firm that Nevada hired to help promote vaccine equity and outreach, said the latest ad campaign intends to show people who look like you peers who are getting the vaccine and why. People dont want to be told what to do but they love to see their friends and others talking about why they are doing it, she said. Its all about empathy. And reminding people what they have missed during the pandemic and what they can get back. Future promotional ideas include raffles open to residents who are fully vaccinated by July 4. Colorado, Maryland, Ohio, New York and Oregon are among several states already enticing people with lottery prizes approaching $5 million. Immunize Nevada is planning vaccination pop-ups at breweries, churches and parks complete with swag like water bottles and scheduling them to coincide with holidays such as Juneteenth to target specific populations. In Reno, shots are offered at minor league baseball games, and the Medical Social Justice League at the University of Nevadas School of Medicine was set to co-host a clinic Saturday at a Catholic church with a large Latino congregation. We need to meet them where they are and where they feel safe, Diana Sande, spokeswoman for the university's School of Community Health Sciences, said about outreach efforts to the Latino community. Kyra Morgan, Nevadas chief biostatistician, has suggested it may not be possible for the state to reach its initial goal of vaccinating 75% of the population. Still, communities may be able to return to normalcy even if they dont reach the threshold needed for herd immunity, added Dr. Nancy Diao, division director for epidemiology and public health preparedness in Washoe County. If we can reach a high enough population level, say maybe 60% or 70%, that might also just be good enough for our community to bring the numbers drastically down, she said, and we can have this virus live with us in an equilibrium like we do with so many other diseases. ___ Sonner reported from Reno. Metz 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 newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for 10 Cuban migrants who went missing last week after their boat capsized 16 miles south of Key West. Authorities had rescued two women and six men on Thursday and recovered two bodies. The Coast Guard, partner Department of Defense and local agency crews searched continuously the past three days to locate the missing 10 people, Capt. Adam Chamie, the Coast Guard's commander of the Key West sector, said in a statement. The decision to suspend a search is always difficult and is made after careful consideration of all the facts. Our deepest condolences go out to the families and loved ones impacted by this tragedy," he said. The Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force and other agencies launched a search for the others, but did not locate any of the missing people. Survivors told authorities they left Cuba on Sunday and their vessel sank Wednesday evening. The search encompassed an area about the size of New Hampshire, the Coast Guard said. The survivors were found in the water Thursday while a Coast Guard crew was on routine patrol. Coast Guard crews have interdicted 308 Cubans at sea since October, 200 of them in the past two months. Only 49 Cubans were interdicted by the agency between October 2019 and September 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic halted travel and prompted lockdowns. This article was written by Associated Press from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com. In early October 2017, the nation was shocked to learn that four American soldiers had died in a terrorist ambush near the village of Tongo Tongo in the West African nation of Niger -- a region of the world few knew American troops were deployed to, much less in combat. One of those soldiers was 35-year-old Special Forces medic Staff Sgt Bryan Black, a husband and father of two from Washington state. His wife, Michelle, would receive two devastating blows: the news of her husband's death; and then, more than half a year later, the results of an investigation that determined the 11-member Army team had made critical errors in mission planning and execution. "The special operators [in Africa] are serving well this particular team is not indicative of what they do," Marine Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, then-commander of U.S. Africa Command, said in a May 2018 press conference. (Army Maj. Gen. Roger L. Cloutier Jr., AFRICOM's chief of staff who appeared with Waldhauser at the conference, did cite the "extraordinary bravery" of the soldiers during the ambush.) Michelle Black refuses to accept that narrative. In Sacrifice, a memoir-investigation hybrid published in May by G. P. Putnam's Sons, she aims to tell a different version of events, one pieced together from interviews with the surviving soldiers. It emphasizes team leader Capt. Mike Perozeni's urgent requests to abort what would become the fatal mission -- requests cited by the soldiers but not fully substantiated in the investigation -- and the team's sense of unpreparedness and lack of resourcing as they followed orders to chase a terrorist up to the border of Mali in accordance with rapidly aging intelligence. It's an ambitious effort, and evident on every page is Black's powerfully motivating love for her fallen husband and care for the men he served with. Military.com spoke with her ahead of Memorial Day; the following Q&A is edited for space and clarity. Military.com: How did this book come about? And how far back did you know you'd be writing something like this? Michelle Black: From the first day Bryan died, I thought I wanted to write a book about him, just so my kids had it. And I just started writing our stories. I think it was a mixture of helping me with grief, and kind of working through everything that was going on, and knowing that I would have his legacy written down, so that they would know who they were, where they came from. Because they were fairly young, they were nine and 11. So initially, that's all that it was, I didn't think I would publish anything that would be beyond just for my family. But as things progressed, you know, between the video release and all the media, and finally, really, what drove me was probably Gen. Waldhauser. And the final straw was when he got on national TV, and he just said, "This scene is not indicative of what special operators do." It completely leveled this accusation at the team and all the men who died that day, too, that they were not worthy. And I thought, [Bryan] sacrificed his life, all these men that died that day, they sacrificed their lives, and now you're completely dishonouring that and disrespecting their sacrifice and you're disrespecting the families. So something in me just snapped that day that day the decision was made. Military.com: In this book, you are not at all hesitant to name names: [The Green Beret team's battalion commander] Lt. Col. David Painter, Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, [U.S. Special Operations Command Commander] General Tony Thomas. And you're really clear about the times when you felt that they failed the team or pursued a narrative that strayed from the truth. Have you heard from any of these current and former military leaders since your book was published? M.B.: No, I haven't. I think it's important to keep in mind that they didn't hesitate to name names when it came to, you know, men on the team that they wanted to blame for their decision. Military.com: Are you still hoping that the military takes some action to set the record straight or vindicate the team members somehow? Or is it enough for you to publicly tell the story the way that you feel It should have been told and get it out there? M.B. I do think that it would be enough to have it out and be told publicly, I think it's important to make sure that nobody else is put in harm's way because of actions like this. And so if that means that that does, in the end affect people, so be it. My biggest concern from the day this all started, it wasn't about punishing people. So I never wanted anybody punished. It was like, Hey, let's look at this honestly, let's figure out what happened. And let's prevent it so nobody else has to lose their lives needlessly. So, yeah, I mean, I'm satisfied with the public knowing. But if I were to find out that these same people, you know, caused another incident like this, then I'm not satisfied. Military.com: One outcome of everything that happened is, it seems like you formed a really, really tight relationship with these team members. When there's a loss like this, I'm sure it's very common for surviving family members and surviving team members to come together, because of your common understanding. But do you feel like those bonds went even deeper? And in this case what was that, like, kind of walking through it alongside the men that your husband served with? M.B.: Maybe it's deeper, or maybe it always is [like that.] I feel like they're my brothers. And I understood, I think, that battle with them. So I don't know how that feels, as far as, you know, when you're in combat, and you go to battle, but I feel like we all fought a battle, as far as everything that happened in the aftermath. So we had the loss, but there was also this huge battle. And I don't know, we're definitely all still pretty tight. Military.com: Something that really struck me and stayed with me came close to the end of the book, when you talk about the loneliness feeling of being unprotected, that comes with being a widow. And even though you're trying to hold leaders to account and lead your family and make the right choices for them, you have to put on this appearance of strength and, while still really feeling alone. And I was thinking that much of the experience of being a Gold Star spouse in particular is unseen. And what do you wish more Americans knew about that experience, and Gold Star families like yours? M.B.: I think what people don't realize is how quiet it is. Usually at the end of the day, you have your husband there, and you decompress. And you talk about all the big dreams, and it's something to not have someone to share that with. Where you want to go, 'Wow, look, what I did' and you realize, there's no one to tell. And you got to pick up the phone, and there's no one to call because everyone's home with their husbands and you don't want to disturb their time. So there's, there's just the level of alone that you don't realize exists. And I think the other thing is, we're coming up on Memorial Day. One time recently, I was in a Safeway and the lady was like, "What are you doing for the long weekend? And I didn't even realize it was a long weekend; I'm distracted by memorials and different things I have to go to. And I'm trying not to let her see me tear up and walk out shaking. Like, I have to go back to the grave. I have to go buy flowers. And one of my friends I just met, she just lost her husband; we're burying him this weekend. And it just was an overwhelming experience to realize, "Happy Memorial Day" is a thing. And I'm guilty of that, I used to do that. But that's not what it is for anybody who's lost somebody overseas. It's not happy. It's absolutely horrific. Military.com: If you could send one message to Americans about how they should view Memorial Day or encourage them to do one thing to acknowledge its real meaning, what would that be? M.B.: Honestly, I think what would be amazing is if they read a book like this, or familiarize themselves with one story of even just one soldier or their family that was lost. And say their name that day, you know, and even if you're out partying and you're on your boat, you're having a great time. Just say, you know, we're going to take a minute, have a moment of silence, tell their stories, say their name. And that's it. It's a moment to remember why we're really here, why we're free. And that for a lot of people, it's not a happy thing. Military.com: For you, as inconceivably sad as what I guess you could call typical experience of losing a spouse in combat might be, you had to deal with so much more in the sense that it was, you know, in headlines for so long and very public. And then there was the blowback in the investigation and the blame. And what difference did all that make in processing and experiencing grief? M.B.: I think it delayed dealing with the grief. And I felt like I couldn't join a lot of normal grief groups, because I would go in and hear, "Oh, you know, I lost my dad, or I lost my brother. And for me, it was like, Where do I begin? I felt like I would go in and steal the grief show. There was a lot of trauma that came with it, I don't think I understood that. So yeah,it was delayed, and it took a lot longer. And I think writing the book made a big difference. Because I had to write a lot of that stuff down and relive it. I had to face it again, and actually write out, what did I feel in that moment? How did that affect me? And so I was able to work through a lot of things that before, I knew if I went and spoke about it in a group setting, it would just take over, you know, for hours, the whole meeting and ruin it. So for me, it almost separated me even more and made me a little more lonely. Military.com: How will you spend this Memorial Day? M.B.: We've been working with Wear Blue: Run to Remember because [Lisa Hallett], the gal who started it, is local. So we're going to go down there and my boys have been paired up with some mentors. And they've been training every week to run a 5K. And a lot of the girls from the widow group I started when I moved here are going to meet down there and just Support Wear Blue, and go out and run for our heroes. Willie Lathon Jr., a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War, died June 3, less than three months into the pandemic. He was buried alongside other veterans and their families in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the only military honor provided to Lathons family was folding and presenting them with an American flag. I gave his daughter the flag, said his wife, Sheraine Lathon, 69, of Richton Park. Then I offered him up to the Lord. That was it. It was about 10 minutes. Many military families have had to forgo receiving the ceremonial honors typical for a veteran funeral no 21-gun salutes or bugle playing taps. But families seldom waited to bury their loved ones, even when they werent even able to go to the cemetery and see them laid to rest. Some families opted to delay holding a visitation with extended family and friends until capacity restrictions loosened. With Memorial Day weekend bringing to the forefront memories of veterans who have died in service and those who have died during the pandemic, some families are questioning whether to have a service now and relive the grief, funeral directors said. Theyve done some healing through grief for the last number of months, said Stephen Dawson, president and owner of Sax-Tiedemann Funeral Home and Crematorium in Franklin Park. Trying to reopen that and relive that and have a formal, public way to express grief ... people dont want to reopen old wounds. For some, holding a funeral service at a later date is like trying to start that (grief cycle) all over again, Dawson said. Especially early in the pandemic, many veterans were sent to Lincoln National Cemetery for direct interment, or burial immediately after their death, without a service or memorial, said Antonio Henderson, the cemeterys assistant director. The cemetery gave those families an option to have memorial services in recent months as pandemic guidelines loosened, which has been very popular among military families, Henderson said. The national cemetery has since expanded capacity limits to match changing guidelines and now provides veterans with a more traditional burial, Henderson said. On May 10, the cemetery welcomed back its full Memorial Squad team, which provides military honors, and everything is just about back to normal, Henderson said. Its the last reminder of the service that they gave to the country, Henderson said. It also brings closure to the family. Its not just the husband or wife thats in the military. Its also the family as well. At the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Cemeteries, the number of burials held steady over the past year, with no notable surges or drops, said Susan Thomas, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Sheraine Lathon is pastor at Liberty Temple Full Gospel Church in the Beverly View neighborhood on the South Side. During the pandemic, the church held services for about 18 congregants who have died, including her husband, she said, though some of the services had to be livestreamed on the churchs Facebook page. In the early months of the pandemic, burial services at Lincoln National Cemetery including Willie Lathons were as small as 10 people or fewer, Henderson said. Not just my family, but many families suffered through only being able to do so much, Sheraine Lathon said, not being able to be collectively with your family. Golden Gate Funeral Home, part of the national Veterans Funeral Care network, handled arrangements for Willie Lathon and many other veterans who died during the pandemic. Watching families stay in their cars for services and not have proper military honors was one of the anguishes that we experienced, said Sylvester Dunn, the Gresham funeral homes general manager. Military veterans faced some horrendous things during their tour of duty, Dunn said, and allowing families to celebrate their loved ones in the right way helps provide them closure. But instead of delaying burials during a pandemic with no clear end in sight, Dunn said families went forward with laying to rest their loved ones, despite the disappointment, sadness and loneliness without extended family and friends there. The funeral home offered those families the chance to hold a memorial service at a later time for free, Dunn said. Willie Lathon had been receiving dialysis treatments for two years and spent much of that time in a hospital. Sheraine Lathon said she is grateful her husband died in their home of natural causes instead of alone in a hospital room like many COVID-19 patients. He was 72. Thursday will mark one year since her husband died, and June 11 would have been the Lathons 39th wedding anniversary, Sheraine Lathon said, on top of Memorial Day weekend honoring veterans across the country. But despite the anniversaries and holidays stirring up memories of her husband, Sheraine Lathon said shes OK. Toward the end, he was suffering. He was trying to be brave, she said. I have peace because I know where he is. Hes not suffering anymore This article is written by Clare Proctor from Chicago Tribune and was legally licensed via the Tribune Content Agency through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com. Kelly McKeague is director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Our nation sets aside Memorial Day for the express purpose of honoring the more than one million men and women who have fallen in combat serving our country, remembering their supreme sacrifice. Most cannot be found in history books or documentaries, and their acts of heroism are lost to time. For the tens of thousands of families whose loved one lies either where they fell in battle or in a cemetery beneath a marker that reads Unknown, Memorial Day amplifies their uncertainty and quest for answers. This Memorial Day, it is important to recognize that more than 38,000 Americans still unaccounted for from World War II to the conflicts in Iraq are estimated to be recoverable. The United States of America has a sacred obligation, and a moral imperative, to ensure we steadfastly endeavor to search for, recover and identify their remains. This is the mission of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, or DPAA. This past week, among the more than 700 military and civilian professionals entrusted with this solemn duty, an investigation team operated with our South Korean partners, a recovery team completed its excavation work on a Belgium farm, and four recovery teams deployed to the jungles of Laos. Whether a civilian historian or scientist, Navy odontologist, Army mortuary affairs specialist, Marine explosive ordnance disposal technician, or Air Force logistician, all of us are committed to providing both the fullest possible accounting of those missing from past wars as well as answers to their families. First and foremost, we do so through the cooperation of 46 partner nations across the globe, who themselves recognize the humanitarian nature of our work. We also partner with more than 100 universities and non-governmental organizations, thereby expanding our capabilities in historical research, fieldwork and forensic science. We employ technologies to improve our efforts such as geographic information system mapping to geo-reference where a soldier might have gone missing against satellite images of modern terrain. We also use isotope analysis to differentiate remains, which is helpful for those that are commingled. Innovative DNA advancements by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System, another of our strategic partners, provide an incredible line of evidence in identifying missing personnel. While the global pandemic continues to present challenges to executing our noble mission, we are adapting and overcoming them. When DPAA teams were restricted from traveling, our strong partnership with a former enemy was the basis of Vietnam unilaterally conducting nine excavations looking for remains of missing U.S. service members. This past January, the first DPAA team to deploy since the pandemic excavated a complex crash site in Cambodia, while maintaining their health as well as that of our Cambodian partners. Despite DPAA scientists having to operate in shifts to adhere to health and safety protocols, in fiscal 2020, we accounted for 120 formerly missing persons -- 82 from World War II, 36 from the Korean War, and two from the Vietnam War. In the current fiscal year, we have accounted for 94 missing service members to date. DPAAs worldwide mission is challenging and complex, but essential. Undoubtedly, the numbers of those missing from our nations past conflicts are daunting, but they are so much more than just numbers. Each has a unique story of service and sacrifice, with memories that transcend decades of time, and a loss that leaves an enduring void in life and heart across generations of American families. I recently attended the military honors burial of a sailor lost aboard the USS Oklahoma on Dec. 7, 1941, whose remains we identified last year. His 86-year-old sister, who was 7 at the time of her brother's loss, shared a letter their mother wrote to the Navy in November 1943 after receiving his Purple Heart. She wrote, "Eddie always said from childhood, 'A flag not worth fighting for wasn't worth living under.' As Memorial Day 2021 soon passes, and long after flags and flowers are removed from the graves of those who fell in battle, please remember there is a sacred promise being fulfilled each day. It is a covenant our nation made with its citizens who were sent to war, gave the last full measure of devotion, and have not returned. DPAA will continue to steadfastly find and identify their remains on behalf of their families, comrades in arms, and those serving in uniform today. Inscribed on a wall of our main laboratory and overlooking the forensic tables upon which remains are analyzed is a timeless quote from President Calvin Coolidge: "The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten." Through their solemn work and dedication, the military and civilian members of DPAA strive never to forget. Furthermore, the iconic, black and white POW/MIA flag of the National League of POW/MIA Families and its entreaty, "You are not forgotten," serves to remind all Americans that our nation's freedoms and liberties were paid for by their ultimate sacrifice. -- The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. The Astros long list of injured pitchers will get a bit shorter today, as Jose Urquidy and Blake Taylor have both been activated from the 10-day injured list. Urquidy will get the start in todays game against the Red Sox. Right-handers Andre Scrubb and Ralph Garza were optioned to Triple-A to make room for Urquidy and Taylor on the active roster. Urquidy hit the IL on May 16 due to right shoulder discomfort, though that potentially ominous-sounding diagnosis wasnt considered too serious. The right-hander will indeed return in pretty short order, and hell look to continue what has thus far been a solid 2021 season. Urquidy has a 3.22 ERA and a very strong 5.1% walk rate over 44 2/3 innings, though advanced metrics (such as a 4.58 SIERA) havent been as impressed with his work. Urquidy has both a low strikeout rate (18.6%) and grounder rate (28.5%), and he has been relying on a lot of soft contact and some batted-ball luck (.242 BABIP) to retire batters. Taylor has been out of action since suffering a right ankle sprain on April 17, and he has been on a Triple-A rehab assignment since last week. Taylor made his MLB debut last season, and he has a 3.12 ERA, 18.4% strikeout rate, and 12.3% walk rate over 26 total innings in the big leagues. With Kent Emanuel still on the IL, Brooks Raley has been the only other left-hander in Houstons bullpen, so Taylors return will add some depth in that area. The lineup will continue to be shorthanded, however, as manager Dusty Baker told reporters (including MLB.coms Brian McTaggart and The Houston Chronicles Chandler Rome) that neither Yuli Gurriel or Yordan Alvarez are available for todays game, though both are close to returning. Alvarez appears to be the nearest of the two, though Baker said he nixed the idea of Alvarez in the lineup in order to give the young slugger another day of recovery. This will make it five games missed for Alvarez due to a wrist problem, while Gurriel is now on track to miss his third game due to inflammation in his left middle finger. Baker did say Gurriel would return at some point during Houstons four-game series with the Red Sox that begins today. Its a situation where theyre not hurt badly enough where you can put them on ten days and lose them, so youd rather wait two or three days extra and not lose them for ten, Baker said. The Astros still scored 15 runs in the two games without Gurriel and Alvarez in the lineup, though naturally the team would like to have two of its best hitters back as soon as possible. Both players have hit seven home runs this season, with Gurriel hitting .309/.380/.511 in 205 PA and Alvarez hitting .310/.343/.525 over 169 PA. Baker also told McTaggart and company that he is hopeful Lance McCullers Jr. can be back in the rotation by the middle of June. McCullers was placed on the 10-day IL on May 26 due to right shoulder soreness but, like Urquidy, the issue as thought to be pretty minor. McCullers is playing catch in the outfield today, Baker said. Over 51 2/3 innings this season, McCullers has a 2.96 ERA/4.02 SIERA, despite allowing a lot of hard contact. Black Avenue Music boss, Dblack and his entire crew with artiste Sefa flew out of the country on Friday, 28th May 2021. The was inspired by Dblack being billed to perform at the Car kave in Johannesburg, South Africa alongside Casper nyovest. Per a video by OdarteyGH TV, Dblack and Sefa were spotted having fun in a club with some pretty ladies dancing to music being played. Watch video below: ---odarteyghnews.com Coup leader of Mali, Assimi Goita, is among several personalities expected to attend the ECOWAS extraordinary summit on the political crisis in Mali. Mr. Goita is reported to have left Mali on Saturday, May 30, 2021, for the summit. President Nana Akufo-Addo is convening the Summit which aims at finding solution to the second coup dtat in Mali in nine months. According to reports, Mr. Goita flew to Ghana on Saturday. About the summit Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, gave details about the summit to the media at a press briefing held at the Information Ministry on Saturday morning, May 29, 2021. According to her, 10 heads of state and Governments will be attending the summit in Accra tomorrow, Sunday, May 30, 2021. The President of Senegal, Macky Sall, will be represented by his Foreign Affairs Minister, she revealed. The republic of Benin, she said, has confirmed participation. She said in line with the ECOWAS protocol on democracy and good governance, President Nana Akufo-Addo is convening the summit. The purpose of the summit is to enable the authorities deliberate and take consequential decision on the evolving security situation in Mali, according to her. She added that one of the mediators of the Mali's political crisis, former President Goodluck Jonathan, will report to the summit tomorrow on the outcome of his fact-finding mission to Mali. She expressed hope that all political actors in Mali will accept the outcome of the Summit to ensure. Mr Akufo-Addo will be chairing the summit in his capacity as Chairman of ECOWAS. It will be the second time Mr Akufo-Addo is hosting an extraordinary summit on Mali. The summit took place in 2020 at the Peduase Presidential Lodge in Aburi, Eastern Region of Ghana. 'Release President, Prime Minister' Already, the Mediators of ECOWAS in the Malian crisis, including former President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, have demanded the immediate release of the transitional president and Prime Minister of Mali. The Mediators made the call in a communique. In the Communique directly made available to the media outlets by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana, the mediators requested that President Bah N'Daw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, should be released. Mali's transitional leaders were on Monday, May 24, 2021, stripped off their powers by the army. Since then, the President and Prime Minister have been in detention. According to the foreign Minister, at the end of the summit tomorrow, a Communique will be issued. At the behest of the President of the Republic, an ECOWAS Mediation team, led by H.E. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, ECOWAS Special Envoy and Mediator for Mali, embarked on a fact-finding mission to Mali from 25th to 26th May, 2021 to assess the situation and explore opportunities for the resolution of the crisis. H.E. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will, therefore, report to the Summit on the outcome of the mission. May I indicate that the convening of the Extraordinary Session demonstrates the unwavering commitment of the President of the Republic towards addressing the political situation in Mali. It would be recalled that barely a week after his assumption of office as Chair of the ECOWAS Authority, H.E. the President, convened an emergency Summit, held at Peduase, in response to the military intervention, which saw the ousting of the then President H.E. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on 18th August, 2020. That meeting took important decisions, including a demand on the Malian authorities to ensure that the Transition Government was Civilian-led and should last for a period of eighteen (18) months, with effect from 15th September, 2020. The Summit also affirmed that once a civilian-led transition government had assumed office, ECOWAS within the context of its protocols will assist Mali to return to democratic governance. It is important to note that H.E. the President has since been at the centre of efforts, including mediation initiatives, to bring lasting peace and stability to Mali, the Foreign Minister said. It is hoped that all the political actors in Mali will support the outcome of the Extraordinary Summit to be held tomorrow in order to restore constitutional order in our sister country as soon as practicable. The outcome of the Summit will be critical to sustaining the momentum for the return of democracy and stability in Mali, she stressed. ---DGN online AngloGold Ashanti on Sunday said the body of the missing Obuasi miner had been found by rescue teams. It is with great sadness that AngloGold Ashanti reports that the miner, missing after a geotechnical event at the Obuasi mine on Tuesday, 18 May 2021 has unfortunately passed away. His body was discovered on Saturday, 29 May by mine rescue teams, AngloGold Ashanti said in a statement. Our thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of our deceased colleague. May his soul rest in peace. Our gratitude goes to the mine rescue teams for their efforts over this period, it said. The statement said a thorough investigation into the incident had been initiated. The company announced underground mining activities were voluntarily suspended at the time of the incident and will remain so pending an in-depth area-by-area assessment of the mine design, mine schedule and ground management plans, before progressively releasing mining areas for a phased resumption in production. ---GNA U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at a Memorial Day event at Veterans Memorial Park in New Castle, Del., May 30. AP-Yonhap U.S. President Joe Biden pledged Sunday to press Russian leader Vladimir Putin to uphold human rights when they meet in Geneva next month for their first summit. The face-to-face meeting with the Kremlin leader comes amid levels of tension not seen for years, with Washington now dialing back its ambitions to little more than establishing a relationship in which both sides understand each other and can work together in specific areas. "I'll be meeting with President Putin in a couple of weeks in Geneva, making it clear that we will not we will not stand by and let him abuse those rights," Biden said in a speech referring to the summit, which is set for June 16. The president delivered his remarks at an event ahead of Memorial Day, which honors fallen armed forces members, and also spoke of his son Beau Biden, who died six years ago Sunday after a battle with cancer. Since taking office, Biden has imposed new sanctions against Moscow over what U.S. authorities say was the Russian role in the massive SolarWinds cyberattack and repeated meddling in the 2020 presidential election. In addition, Washington has harshly criticized Moscow for the near-death poisoning and subsequent imprisonment of one of the last open opponents to Putin, Alexei Navalny. Tensions are also high over Ukraine, where Russia already controls swaths of territory and recently massed troops on the border in a new show of force. Yet another focus is on Russian-dominated Belarus, which caused an uproar this week after authorities forced an airliner passing overhead to land, then arrested an opponent to President Alexander Lukashenko who had been aboard. (AFP) From Monday, any French adult can be vaccinated against Covid-19, regardless of age group and without needing to prove a pre-existing medical condition. If you are 18 or over, and prepared to be patient, you can be inoculated. Those aged between 18 and 49 were originally designated as the final group in the French vaccination queue, which started inching forward last December. At the end of April, President Emmanuel Macron said all adults would be eligible regardless of medical conditions as of the 15 June. That date has now been moved forward to 31 May. When making the announcement earlier this week, Health Minister Olivier Veran promised that new slots would be made available on-line everyday. The response so far has been impressive, leading the health authorities to warn of the need for patience, both in registering and, from Monday, in obtaining a first injection. The site Doctolib, which has been processing the majority of French vaccination reservations, warns that there's going to be a huge demand and that it will not be able to accommodate all patients, mainly because of limited stocks of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. France's coronavirus vaccination rollout has gained pace in recent weeks, with some 23 million people -- a third of the population -- receiving at least one dose so far. But there are currently 28 million French adults eligible for vaccination who have not had a single shot. And an average of 500,000 doses are being administered every day. Experts express guarded optimism French Covid statistics continue to improve, with 10,675 new cases identified nationwide, and 3,028 patients in intensive care. However, medical experts continue to warn that a daily infection rate of 10,000 cases is still too high if France wishes to guarantee that there will not be a fourth wave of the disease. There are reasons for optimism. According to Professor Arnaud Fontanet, an epidemiologist at the Paris Pasteur Institute and a member of the scientific council advising the government, "if the decline in infections continues until 9 June, the next phase in the gradual easing of restrictions, then we can look forward to a summer without fear. The next two weeks are crucial." All experts agree that the wearing of masks, especially in crowded situations, and the continued respect of social distancing rules remain vital. A former political adviser to Nigerian ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak has reportedly been shot dead. Local media reports in Nigeria said he was shot dead in Owerri, Imo State. According to reports, the police in Imo State indicated that the former political adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, was killed on Sunday morning, around 7:20 a.m., while he was on his way to Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, to catch a flight. The police are believed to have said Mr Gulak was inside a Toyota Camry car with two other people when the car was intercepted and attacked by bandits. Police spokesperson in the state, Bala Elkana, is said to have announced his death in a statement on Sunday. Ahmed Gulak left his room at Protea Hotel without informing the Police nor sister agencies in view of the fragile security situation in the South East and Imo in particular, excerpts of the statement published by Premium Times Nigeria read. He left without any security escorts and while the cab driver took irregular route to the airport, six armed bandits who rode in a Toyota Sienna intercepted, identified and shot at Ahmed Gulak at around Umueze Obiangwu in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area close to the Airport, according to the statement. ECOWAS Chairman, President Akufo-Addo of Ghana Sunday reiterated the continuous commitment of the regional bloc to the peaceful resolution on the crisis in Mali. Thus, he has urged heads of state of government in the region to remain resolute in supporting the people of Mali to find a lasting solution that would restore democracy and stability in that country. Speaking at the opening of a day's Extraordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on Mali's political crisis convened in Accra, President Akufo-Addo said the recent happenings in Mali heightened anxiety levels in the region and shaking the hope of a peaceful and successful transition to a democratic government in Mali. He said the sudden dissolution by the President of the Transition of the Mali's Government, headed by Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, on May 14 2021, and the re-appointment of the Prime Minister by the President of the Transition, with instructions to form a new, broad-based government, generated considerable tension between various groups, particularly the military, as the former Ministers for Defence and Security were not re-appointed in the new government announced on May 24, 2021. It is unfortunate that this dissolution of the Transitional Government occurred just a few days after the visit of the Mediator, His Excellency Goodluck Jonathan, who was not informed by the Transitional Authorities of this development. The ECOWAS Chairman said when the President and Prime Minister of the Transitional Government were held in custody by the military on May 24, 2021 after the announcement of the new government, he asked the Mediator to lead a high-level mission to Mali. The delegation, which included the Chair of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, and the President of the Commission held consultations with Colonel Assimi Goita, Vice President of the Transition Government, on the situation at hand. They asked Goita to consider the most appropriate exit strategy to the crisis, and demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the President and Prime Minister of the Transition and other detainees. President Akufo-Addo said the delegation met with Bah N'Daw, President of the Transition and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane on Wednesday May 26, 2021, who informed them that they had tendered their resignation. The pair were later released from detention. And other detainees, according to the military, have also been released. The Accra meeting, which is being attended by 10 Heads of State, is intended to take consequential decisions on the recent happenings in Mali, to bring normalcy and stability to the West African nation. After the military takeover on 18th August 2020 in Mali, which led to the resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the ECOWAS Authority called for the establishment of a civilian-led transition for a period of 18 months to allow for elections. ---GNA A motorbike repairer who stabbed a mason in the abdomen before robbing him of his mobile phone at Pure water, near Ashongman in Accra has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court. Mohammed Toure was sentenced to two years on the charge of causing harm and 15 years on the charge of robbery. Sentences are, however, to run concurrently. The court presided over by Mrs Afia Owusuaa Appiah found Toure guilty on the two charges at the end of the trial and sentenced him accordingly. Prosecuting Chief Inspector William K. Boateng narrated that the complainant Maxwell Awortwi is a mason and a resident of Pure water, a suburb of Ashongman, Accra. Prosecution said Toure is a resident of Ashongman Estates. On October 27, 2018, the complainant visited his friend within his vicinity and was returning to the house. On reaching a junction where there were no street lights, Toure emerged from a house and attacked the complainant with a pair of scissors and collected his Itel mobile phone valued GH300.00. The complainant struggled with the convict and he stabbed him with the pair of scissors in the complainant's abdomen. Prosecution said when the complainant began to shout for help, Toure took to his heels and went into hiding. The complainant managed to report the case at Agbogba Police station and he was issued with a medical form. On arriving at the Hospital, Awortwi was admitted. Prosecution said three days later, the complainant was discharged from the Hospital and he handed over the medical form to the Police. Chief Inspector Boateng said on November 22, 2018, Toure resurfaced and with the help of the assemblyman, Emmanuel Tetteh Odai, Toure was nabbed and handed over to the Police at Agbogba. Prosecution said on November 26, 2018, the matter was referred to the Regional Criminal Investigations Department. In Toure's investigations caution statement, he admitted the offence in the presence of an independent witness. ---GNA Listen to article Some African leaders are, obviously, too mesmerized by their mellifluous, foreign-accented voices, otherwise, they will not be wasting our ears with their fiery but, largely, meaningless high-falutin rhetoric. What are we to make of the call by the Ghanaian leader, few days ago, for Europeans to return looted African treasures? Link: President Akufo-Addo urges PAP to retrieve and restore Africas looted treasures - Ghana MPS Please, dont get me wrong; I am all for repatriation, return of looted artefacts and all that, but did our elders not tell us that charity begins at home? If our leaders in Africa care about history and the preservation of our cultural heritages, we will see them putting both the policies and the structures in place to restore and preserve our cultural patrimony. Alas, we dont see them do this. Au contraire, they are not even interested in our present, much less our past! How can leaders, under whose watch our forests were destroyed, and the rare species of trees depleted, with one of the arrested culprits walking free, be talking about our historical treasures? How can leaders who, until recently, watched illegal miners destroyed our major water bodies be telling us about the return of African arts? One of our tragedies in Africa is largely due to our inability to see the importance of history, and how the present is firmly connected with the past to influence the future! Unlike us, almost all the other branches of the human race recognized the critical importance of deriving strength from the past to build the present. Our presidents will have their work cut out for them if they can show the world, through their deeds, that they care about the past, and about our art treasures. If our leaders build well-maintained museums, they will not need to shout themselves hoarse before the world will listen to them on the question of returning looted arts. Until I wrote an article to lament its sorry state, the official limousine of Ghanas first president, Kwame Nkrumah, was left at the mercies of the element. See here: Kwame Nkrumahs Car The Fort Prinzenstein in Keta, like almost all the other forts in Ghana, is in a most deplorable state as I chronicled here: Help save the Fort Prinzenstein Has the president put the structures in place to receive the artefacts if they were to be returned tomorrow? Did he even bothered to read the speech before he delivered it? Two questions: What if the questions is posed: Mr. President, given the deplorable conditions of the museums in your country, why do you want these art treasures to be removed from their present well-maintained homes and sent to unknown fate in your country? Mr. President, we have had enough of your protestations and your irksome lamentations and, truth be told, we have had enough. Can you kindly expedite action of removing them? Good luck to you as you struggle to find suitable homes for them. Femi Akomolafe Femi Akomolafe is a writer and author ECOWAS Commission Accra, 30th May 2021 1. At the invitation of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO, President of the Republic of Ghana and the current Chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held an Extraordinary Summit on the political situation in Mali on 30th May 2021, in Accra, Ghana. 2. The underlisted Heads of State and Government participated in the Extraordinary Summit or their duly mandated representatives: H.E. Roch-Marc Christian KABORE, President of Burkina Faso; H.E. Alassane OUATTARA, President of the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire; H.E. Adama BARROW, President of the Republic of The Gambia; H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO, President of the Republic of Ghana; H.E. Umaro Sissoco EMBALO, President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau; H.E. George WEAH, President of the Republic of Liberia; H.E. Mohamed BAZOUM, President of the Republic of Niger; H.E. Muhammadu BUHARI, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; H.E. Julius Maada BIO, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone; H.E. Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, President of the Togolese Republic. Mr Aurelien AGBENONCI, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Integration of the Republic of Benin; Mr Rui SOARES, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Communities of the Republic of Cabo Verde; Mrs Aissata TALL SALL, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad of the Republic of Senegal; Mrs Moussoukoro SANGARE, Charge d'Affaires a. i. of the Embassy of the Republic of Guinea in Ghana. 3. The following high-ranking personalities also participated in the extraordinary Summit: H.E. Goodluck Ebele JONATHAN, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, ECOWAS Special Envoy and Mediator to Mali; H.E. Jean-Claude Kassi BROU, President of the ECOWAS Commission; H.E. El-Ghassim WANE, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Mali, Head of the Multidimensional Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA); and 4. The Extraordinary Summit was convened to review the prevailing socio-political crisis in Mali following the arrest, detention and subsequent resignations of the President and the Prime Minister of the Transition on 26th May 2021, as well as to determine the next line of action for the transition. 5. After the presentation of the report by H.E. Goodluck Ebele JONATHAN, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ECOWAS Special Envoy and Mediator to Mali, the Heads of State expressed strong and deep concerns over the present crisis in Mali, which is coming halfway to the end of the agreed transition period, in the context of the security challenges related to incessant terrorist attacks and the Covid-19 Pandemic with its dire socio-economic impacts. 6. The Heads of State demand the immediate release of the former President and Prime Minister of the Transition who are kept under house arrest. 7. The Heads of State strongly condemn this recent Coup d'Etat, which is a violation of the decisions taken at the extraordinary Summit held at the Peduase Lodge, Aburi, Ghana on 15th September 2020 and a violation of the Transition Charter. 8. After extensive discussions on the situation in Mali, the Heads of State and Government took the following decisions: a. Reaffirm the importance and necessity of respecting the democratic process for ascending to power, in conformity with the 2001 ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. They particularly condemn all actions that led to ongoing instability in Mali, and its attendant consequences in the region; b. Decide to suspend Mali from ECOWAS Institutions in line with ECOWAS provisions; c. Call for a new civilian Prime Minister to be nominated immediately; d. A new inclusive government should be formed to proceed with the transition programme; e. Reaffirm the need to respect the transition period of 18 months decided in Accra. In this context, the date of 27th February 2022 already announced for the Presidential election should be absolutely maintained. A monitoring Mechanism will be put in place to this effect; f. Reiterate the earlier decisions that the Head of the transition, the Vice-President and the Prime Minister of the transition should not, under any circumstances, be candidates for the forthcoming Presidential election; g. Reaffirm ECOWAS' support to accompany the transition process in Mali. h. Urge all international partners (the African Union, the United Nations, and the European Union) to continue to support Mali towards the successful implementation of the transition; i. Congratulate and encourage the Mediator to persevere with his mediation efforts and remain seized of the situation in Mali through the Local Monitoring Committee. 9. The Heads of State call for the immediate implementation of all these decisions in conformity with the transition timetable defined. To this end, they urge the Mediator to return to Mali within a week to engage stakeholders on these decisions. 10. The Heads of State express their gratitude to His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO, President of the Republic of Ghana and the current Chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), for convening this Extraordinary Summit on the political situation in Mali and for the facilities made available to ensure the successful conduct of the extraordinary Summit. Done at Accra, this 30th day of May 2021. The Authority 101 Yakubu Gowon Crescent Asokoro District P.M.B. 401 Abuja Nigeria www.ecowas.int West African leaders decided at an extraordinary summit on Sunday to suspend Mali from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) bodies after a second coup in nine months by the poor Sahel country's military, but stopped short of reimposing sanctions. The putsch had sparked warnings of fresh sanctions and deep concerns over stability in the volatile Sahel region. Ten regional heads of state and three foreign ministers attended the summit in the Ghanaian capital Accra, with former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan serving as mediator in the crisis. "The suspension from ECOWAS takes immediate effect until the deadline of the end of February 2022 when they are supposed to hand over to a democratically elected government," Ghana's Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said after the meeting. The final declaration called for the immediate appointment of a new civilian prime minister and the formation of an "inclusive" government. Mali's new president Colonel Assimi Goita had arrived in the Ghanaian capital Accra on Saturday for preliminary talks. Goita led the young army officers who overthrew Mali's elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita last August over perceived corruption and his failure to quell a bloody jihadist insurgency. After the takeover, the military agreed to appoint civilians as interim president and prime minister under pressure from ECOWAS. But on Monday, soldiers detained transitional president Bah Ndaw and prime minister Moctar Ouane, releasing them on Thursday while saying that they had resigned. Map of Mali locating the capital Bamako where soldiers detained the president and prime minister on Monday.. By (AFP) The twin arrests triggered a diplomatic uproar and marked Mali's second apparent coup within a year. Mali's constitutional court completed Goita's rise to full power on Friday by naming him transitional president. With the junta going back on its previous commitment to civilian political leaders, doubts have been raised about its other pledges, including a promise to hold elections in early 2022. The junta said this week it would continue to respect that timetable, but added that it could be subject to change. Five dead in fresh attack ECOWAS issued sanctions against Mali after the August coup before lifting them when the transitional government was put in place. The 15-nation bloc had warned of reimposing sanctions on the country, as have the United States and former colonial power France. France has threatened to pull its anti-jihadist troops out of Mali if the new military leader lurches towards radical Islam. By DaphnA BENOIT (AFP/File) French leader Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche newspaper published Sunday that Paris "could not stay by the side of a country where there is no longer democratic legitimacy or a transition". And he warned that France would pull its troops out of Mali if the country lurches towards radical Islamism under Goita's leadership. France has around 5,100 troops in the region under its anti-jihadist operation Barkhane, which spans five countries in the Sahel -- Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. The second coup sparked street celebrations on Friday. By Michele Cattani (AFP) Also Sunday, underscoring Mali's chronic instability, suspected jihadists killed four civilians and a police officer in southern Mali, a region that has previously been mostly spared from the country's Islamist unrest, a security official said on condition of anonymity. The unidentified men attacked a checkpoint near the town of Bougouni, around 100 kilometres (60 miles) from Mali's borders with Ivory Coast and Guinea, before dawn, the official said. A local lawmaker confirmed the attack. Mali is among the world's poorest countries, and the previous ECOWAS sanctions hit hard. Listen to article The Medical and Dental Council of Ghana is a statutory agency that regulates the standards of training and practice of medicine and dentistry in Ghana. Established by the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act, 2013 (Act 857), the council is to secure in the public interest the highest standards in the training and practice of medicine and dentistry in Ghana. Currently, there are eight thousand nine hundred and fifty seven (8957) Medical/Dental practitioners and four thousand two hundred and forty (4240) Physician Assistants/ Certified Registered Anaesthetist who are in good standing with the council. The Electoral Commission of Ghana on the 11th of June 2021 will conduct elections for registered Medical, Dental Practitioners, Physician Assistants and Certified Registered Anaesthetists to elect members of the Medical and Dental Council governing board. Section 28 (1) and (c) of the Health Professions Regulatory Bodied Act, 2013 (Act 857) and Chapter 11 (4) of the Standing Orders provide that the Council shall include one Registered Medical Practitioner and one Registered Dental Practitioner elected by Medical and Dental Practitioners and one Physician Assistant or Certified Registered Anaesthetist elected by Physician Assistants or Certified Anaesthetists. The mission of the council is to: Ensure high level of training of medical and dental practitioners Determine the adequacy and quality of service facilities Prescribe and enforce the highest standards of professional conduct among practitioners Promote the CME of medical and dental practitioners And lastly Protect the rights of clients/patients However there are more questions that seem to be begging for answers: Readers want to know why the council continue to refer to only Doctors as Medical and Dental practitioners, do the Physician Assistants also practice medicine and dentistry? if no, then the public will want to know what this cadre of medical practitioners do practice. It is instructive to note that the council currently charges every Physician Assistant GHC330 whiles every Doctor pays GHC440 to renew their professional licenses in other to practice medicine and dentistry in the country. The question being asked is how does the council arrived at the amount to charge for the retention of the licenses and what are the monies being used for? The council also charges other exorbitant fees for induction of newly qualified Doctors and physician Assistants and these inductions are delayed till the calendar year is ending and few months after the induction the practitioners are made to pay additional money to renew licenses that have been issued few months back They also charge over GHC4000 as examination fees for Ghanaians who travel outside to train as Doctors and are back into the country but nobody knows what they use the monies accrued for. The Medical and Dental council stated among others, its mission to ensure high level of training of Medical and Dental practitioners. Ghanaian taxpayers want to know if this also involved Physician Assistants? This is because there has been frantic effort by the leadership of the Ghana Medical Association through its members on the Medical and Dental Council Board (reference is made to the Chairman of the council, the Registrar, the representative of Medical Doctors and the Dentist, past and present) to limit the content of curriculum for the Physician Assistants program of the Universities currently training Physician Assistants. This is aimed at widening the knowledge gap between a Physician Assistant and the Doctors to the disadvantage of the Ghanaian public which the council claimed to be protecting. Few years ago trainers of Physician Assistants from Universities across the country led by the late Dr. Benjamin Aflakpui met the council at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Accra. At the meeting, the trainers proposed to start teaching Graduate Physician Assistants to do caesarean section so to reduce the maternal mortality rate in the country. The proposal met resistance from members of the Medical and Dental Council present at the meeting. Their reason was that the Physician Assistants do not have a good Human Anatomy background to perform the procedure. But it will interest readers to know that Physician Assistants in Kenya who train for just 3 years are able to do caesarean sections and hysterectomies without any complications but MDC Ghana is saying after 4 years of University education followed by one year of clinical internship in an accredited hospital, the Ghanaian Physician Assistant is not properly trained to do a caesarean section. I see this development as an indictment on the integrity of the Professors and Doctors who train these Physician Assistants. Its either they deliberately withheld vital information from these brilliant students so to widen the knowledge gap between them and Doctors or they just decided to fail the country Ghana. It will interest readers to know that this act of the council has nothing to do with the MDC trying to protect the public interest but Doctors on the council protecting their personal and mother Associations (GMA) interest to the detriment of the Ghanaian taxpayer and the poor farmer who work to pay their monthly salaries. The fact is if the council allowed the Physician Assistants to be trained to do caesarean section, most of the Doctors will become irrelevant because some of the Doctors cannot even do these procedures. Many Ghanaians want to know why the council decided to give only one slot to Physician Assistants to share with Certified Anaesthetists but a slot each for Doctors and Dentist whiles the Chairman and Registrar positions remain the preserve of Doctors giving the Doctors a majority on the council board? This act by the council has made the Physician Assistant program and profession unattractive and many Physicians Assistants are unwilling to disclose their identity for fear of disrespect and intimidation. My investigations confirmed that the registrar of the council is always appointed by the Government of the day. The board also has a representative from the Attorney General's Department and they both represent government on the council. Could it be that government is aware of this development that has persisted over the years? The Medical And Dental council for years instituted professional career development programs (CPD) for all practitioners and each is to accrue at least 10 credit points in order to renew his/her license each year. This includes Physician Assessments in the country. Some of the programs can cost as high as GHC2000. Physician Assistants who pay this amount and even participated in the programs (MDC accredited) are not allowed to practice what they learn because MDC says they are not Medical and Dental practitioners. The council has become an intimidating tool which Doctors in the country are using to intimidate Physician Assistants in the country. As the council prepare to hold its maiden election come 11th June this year, I wish to call on the powers that be to: As a matter of urgency take steps to amend Section 28 (1) and (c) of the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act, 2013 (Act 857) and chapter 11 (4) of the standing orders to give equal representation to all professionals being regulated by the council to ensure a fair playing field so one does not see the other as a puppet to be bullied around The chairmanship and registrar positions in the council should not be the preserve of only Doctors but any member in good standing with the council who has the requisite qualifications Take steps to give Physician Assistants their own regulatory council so to avoid the sabotage from Doctors who continue to see them as a threat and so keep controlling the council and preventing professional career advancement of the Physician Assistants to the disadvantage of the patient who we all swear to take care of. Take steps to fast track the establishment of the Ghana College of Physician Assessments to train Physician Assistant Specialist. By extension ensure that all administrative positions within the health delivery system (the ministry of health, HeFRA, NHIA, Ghana Health Services) seizes to be the preserve of only Doctors but any Health Professional being it a Pharmacist, a Nurse, Physician Assistant, a laboratory Scientist, etc. With the requisite qualifications and brainpower to manage the institutions be given the opportunity. If these are taken into consideration Ghana will be the beacon and leading example to the rest of Africa if not the world. God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong. The Ajumako Enyan Essiam District Chief Executive, Ransford Kwesi Nyarkoh, has advised enumerators not to leave any Ghanaian behind. "Enumerators who will partake in the upcoming Population and Housing Census must not fail to count any Ghanaian, "he stressed. The DCE was speaking at the Launch of the 30-day countdown of the 2021 Population and Housing Census at Ajumako. He advised all the enumerators to ensure they visit every area theyve been posted to and count everybody irrespective of their physical appearance. The district Census Officer, Mr. Ukasha Ussif urged Ghanaians to cooperate with his outfit when the exercise starts He said the census is a very important exercise because knowing the population of the country would be a benchmark for government policies hence, the need for every Ghanaian to avail himself to be counted. He pleaded with citizens to open up and give information when census officers visit their homes on 28th June 2021, after listing of houses and Census night on 13th and 27th June 2021, respectively. Listen to article A New York-based political magnate tipped for the position of Kumasi City Mayor has underlined sanitation as his key focus if given the position. Mr. Kwabena Manu who contested during the 2004 and 2008 NPP parliamentary primaries at Nsuta/Kwamang/Beposo told this medium that the metropolis is not well-positioned vis-a-vis matters related to sanitation. He said he will bring onboard ideas to address the status-quo so as to relieve traders within the Central Business District (CBD) and residents from the attendant consequences of poor sanitation which according to him characterize most areas in Kumasi. "Flood, poor drainage system, indiscriminate disposal of refuse, etc will all be reduced to the barest minimum under my administration", he promised. Aside from the above, he noted that with his many years of leadership experience and impact, he will set in motion developmental policies that will harness the progress of the metropolis. "I am ready to make Kumasi the cleanest and most developed city in Africa. Implementation of better interventions under my watch as the city Mayor will make things better." *WHO IS KWABENA MANU* PROFILE He is a tenacious, fair, firm, and focused leader who is ready to work with others to bring discipline to the day-to-day administration of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) as its leader to benefit the socio-economic development of Kumasi and environs. He gained his fair-but-firm minded leadership skills through years of serving as an executive of a workers union in Westchester County, New York, USA. WORK EXPERIENCE 1.Ministry of Railway 2.Development Ghana Advisor/Consultant on Labor & Employment Relations (March 2018 May 2019). 3. Directed the setting up of employment and labor relations structures at the new Ministry of Railway Development working directly with the Minister. 4. Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) 1997 2017, President 5. Elected President of Westchester County Government Unit 9200 on July 1, 2013 for a 4,200 member-Workers Union. 6. Presided over the executive committee at Executive Board Meetings to deliberate members grievances, mediate with management, and negotiate compensation and benefits. 7. Oversaw the financial life of the Union through frequent meetings with outside auditors and internal management. 8.Reviewed and approved scholarships on a yearly basis for graduating high school students to fund university expenses. 9. Visited worksites to ascertain working conditions and ensure compliance with the terms of Collective Bargaining Agreements. 10. Maintained an annual budget surplus of $US 750,000- $US 1,000,000 in the four years of my Presidency. 11. Received the Anthony J. Tocci Award in recognition of years of dedicated service and devotion to working men and women of the American workforce. CSEA Vice President and Union Representative (1997 2012) 12. Engaged in termination and disciplinary measures by several departments of Westchester County Government against CSEA members. The departments included: Dept of Public Works, Dept of Environmental Facilities, Dept of Parks, Recreation and Conservation, Dept. of Social Service, Dept of Information Technology, Dept of Human Resources, Dept of Health, Departments of Consumer Protection, Public Safety, Finance, Probation, The Country Clerk's Office, and the Office of the Aging. New York State CSEA Inc March 2014 May 2017 Member of the Statewide Executive Board. 13. Contributed to updating rules and regulations. CSEA Westchester Country Government unit Nov 1997 June 2017 Member of the Negotiators Committee. 14. Negotiated collective bargaining agreements that covered salaries, working conditions, and benefits. The Cluster Institute September 1992 Oct. 1994, Certified Mediator 15. Mediated Tenant and Landlord disputes in the City of Yonkers. Matthews and Matthews Consulting (New York), June 2006 December 2016 Staff Member 16. Served as featured Panelist at New York Universitys Round Table Labor Discussions. 17. Served as Public Speaking Instructor for Labor Union Leaders. 3G Media and Magazine (New York), Jan. 2007 Dec. 2015 18. Served as Editor in Chief for 3 G Magazine Westchester County Department of Social Services (DSS) New York, October 1990 Nov. 1997 Social Caseworker 19. Interceded for neglected and abused children including placing them in safer homes. EDUCATION Mercy College, New York 1980 - 1984 Bachelor of Science Political Science with a minor in Journalism The Cluster Institute, New York, 1991 1992 Certified Mediator Cornell University Institute of Labor Studies, New York 1997 1998 Certificate in Labor Studies. COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES National Council of Ghanaian Associations- New York 2002 2006 Public Relations Officer. Ghanaian Association of Westchester New York 2000 2010 Public. Relations Officer New Patriotic Party (NPP) NPP-USA New York Chapter Public Relations Officer 1994 2008 NPP NY Chapter Senior Advisor 2008 2016 Campaign Team - Ketu South 2020 Member of Parliament Primary Candidate - Nsuta / Kwamang / Beposo 2004 and 2008 ----ThePressradio.com Ancient port charts new course towards green, smart hub serving Belt and Road Xinhua) 09:59, May 31, 2021 -- During his visit to Tianjin Port in early 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for efforts to develop it into a world-class smart and green port, which can better serve the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region as well as the joint building of the Belt and Road. -- Despite the pandemic-induced impacts, Tianjin Port handled 18.35 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in 2020, up 6.1 percent from the previous year, ranking among the top 10 in the world. -- Located at the coastal area of Bohai, China's continental sea, Tianjin Port has a shorter distance from the country's inland ports, such as Alataw Pass in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Manzhouli and Erenhot in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region -- all important border ports along the Belt and Road. Therefore, sea-railway combined transportation has become a preferred choice that serves the Belt and Road. TIANJIN, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Under the scorching sun, a dockside crane in Tianjin Port lifted a container out of a vessel before the container was locked onto a tow truck and carried away. The entire process was going on in a manless operation zone at the port in north China's Tianjin Municipality, which aims to become a smart, green hub connecting the world via the Belt and Road Initiative. With 25 autonomous driving trucks and the driverless dockside and terminal cranes put into operation last year, the berth realized full automation in container handling after being upgraded from a traditional one, the first of its kind in the world. Photo taken on Jan. 17, 2021 shows an autonomous driving container truck in a manless operation zone at Tianjin Port of north China's Tianjin Municipality. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) During his visit to Tianjin Port in early 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for efforts to develop it into a world-class smart and green port, which can better serve the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region as well as the joint building of the Belt and Road. Currently, the port has trade ties with more than 800 ports in over 200 countries and regions. Despite the pandemic-induced impacts, Tianjin Port handled 18.35 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in 2020, up 6.1 percent from the previous year, ranking among the top 10 in the world. The freight turnover increased 2.4 percent year on year to over 435 million tonnes. SMART MODEL Liu Qi, a crane operator, no longer has to stay in the high-lift crane operating booth working 12 hours per shift. Thanks to the smart technology supported by China's Beidou Navigation Satellite System, he can now sit in the air-conditioned office and steer the joystick to remotely control the crane. "Gone are the days when I could barely move after leaning down for long hours to watch over the containers," said the 46-year-old Liu, as he focused on the six monitor screens in front of him. The screens enable him to have no blind spots in observation, which is much safer than before. Li Dan, 35, is among the first women hired for remote crane control. Li used to sort cargo at the port before she was trained for six months on cranes and operated them in the operation control room. Her salary then tripled to some 6,000 yuan (about 940 U.S. dollars) a month. "I was afraid of climbing up the 50-meter-tall crane at the beginning. It used to wobble in windy and stormy weathers," she said, adding that she had to hold herself from going to a toilet while in a crane booth. "No wonder we had no female crane drivers before." Now, each of the operators can control six terminal container cranes simultaneously. Partly because of the improved handling efficiency, 90 percent of the incoming vessels can directly dock at the 192 berths of the port upon arrival, without any waiting time, said Chu Bin, chairman of the board of the Tianjin Port (Group) Co., Ltd. (TPG). A newly-built smart port zone with three berths, located close by the manless operation zone of the port, will soon be put into use. With 12 driverless dockside cranes of different colors and 76 autonomous driving trucks equipped, the 5G-empowered berths have a designed handling capacity of 2.5 million TEUs every year. Chu said that the new port zone will save energy by 20 percent and cut operating costs by 25 percent. "The rainbow-colored port zone will become a new beautiful scenery." Photo taken on Jan. 17, 2021 shows a smart container terminal at Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin Municipality. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) OLD PORT, NEW AMBITION The sea transportation of Tianjin Port dates back more than 1,000 years to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), when grains were shipped via the port to the northern border army. After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the war-torn port was rebuilt and reopened in 1952. Back then, workers had to shoulder cargoes to load them on and off the vessels. Cheng Jingang, a former port loader, said that carrying brown sugar packs was the toughest work in winter. "The imported sugar was stiff in freezing weather, and countless trips carrying them often left our shoulders swollen," the 71-year-old retiree recalled. Cheng is delighted to see that his son, Cheng Weidong, did not have to go through similar misery while working. The junior Cheng, 42, is a tow truck driver at the port. Instead of simply driving, he also participates in the research and development to convert fuel trucks into electric ones as part of the port's green drive. "I have learned the CAD software for design and drafting, and the 3D printing also helps a lot," said the younger Cheng. To help cut carbon emissions, trains have replaced trucks to deliver large volumes of cargo to the port, including 100 percent of coal and coke. As a result, the number of trucks that come and go has reduced from 50,000 to 30,000 per day, which helps cut carbon emissions equivalent to those of 4 million cars, said Chu, the chairman. Thanks to the measures, pollutant emissions were cut by more than 3,000 tonnes last year. The port is also promoting clean energy, with rooftop solar panels and wind windmills to be installed. "By making use of wind and solar energy, we will strive to realize zero carbon emission in our port," said Chu. GLOBAL HUB Liu Yu, deputy publicity manager of the TPG, said the port could only harbor a 10,000-tonne vessel in the 1950s, and now, handling a 300,000-tonne ship is a piece of cake. Located at the coastal area of Bohai, China's continental sea, Tianjin Port has a shorter distance from the country's inland ports, such as Alataw Pass in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Manzhouli and Erenhot in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region -- all important border ports along the Belt and Road. Therefore, sea-railway combined transportation has become a preferred choice that serves the Belt and Road. Aerial photo taken on Jan. 11, 2021 shows a view of the Pacific international container terminal at Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin Municipality. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) Wu Da, deputy manager of Tianjin China-Railway United International Container Co., Ltd., said China-Europe freight trains now operate twice a week from and to Tianjin Port, with more than 10,000 containers delivered a year. "The sea-railway transportation of Tianjin Port has ensured the import and export of cargo between China and multiple cities in East, Central and West Asia, and Europe during the pandemic, contributing to the foreign trade and supply chain stability," he said. The total TEU number delivered by trains through the port surged from about 100,000 in 2015 to 805,000 last year. To meet the rising demand, Wu's company has planned to extend the railway line directly to the port and expand the cargo terminal. The number of container ship routes connecting Tianjin Port and the countries along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road has increased from over 30 in 2019 to about 50 now, and more than 60 percent of the port's total cargo turnover comes from ports of these countries. The port is also a pivotal shipping outlet in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area. Since 2014, when China initiated a key strategy to coordinate the development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, Tianjin Port and neighboring ports in Hebei Province have cooperated to make themselves a world-class port cluster. Aerial photo shows a container vessel sailing into Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) Leaving Tianjin Port, a vessel carrying timber imported from Germany, wheat from Russia and paper pulp from the United States headed to the Caofeidian Port in the coastal city of Tangshan, Hebei Province. Wu Zhiming, general manager of a timber trade company based in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, said his company used to hire trucks to deliver timber to Tangshan after the Germany-made spruce timber was shipped to Tianjin. "The branch sea route within the Bohai Sea has saved us 20 percent of logistic costs, with more reliable arrival time," said Wu, adding that they will have more cargo shipped via the route. Tianjin Port serves the megacities of Beijing and Tianjin, as well as the emerging Xiong'an New Area in Hebei. "The port not only serves the foreign trade and production, but also helps with consumption to cater to people's pursuit of better lives," said Chu, TPG chairman of the board. Cheng Zeming, the son of truck driver Cheng Weidong, is fascinated with the new autonomous driving container cranes at Tianjin Port. The 11-year-old said when he grows up, he would like to work in the port just like his father and grandfather. "With cutting-edge 5G and AI technologies, I can't imagine what the port will be like when my son starts to work," said Cheng Weidong. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) After filing to trademark BTS' coined term, "Borahae," the cosmetic company has apologized and canceled the application. Keep on reading to know more. Cosmetic Company Apologizes and Cancels Trademark Application of BTS' "Boraehae" On May 31, KST, the cosmetic company, LALALEES, released an apology statement on their official website regarding their trademark application on the term "Borahae." According to their statement, the company had applied for the trademark rights of "Borahae" last September 2020 and apologize to the fans of BTS for causing them concern. "We deeply apologize for causing concern to the fans of BTS due to the application of the trademark for, "Borahae," said LALALEES. The company also revealed that they have decided to withdraw their application to trademark the term for K-Pop's future development and will take action as soon as possible. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: German Radio Host Who Compared BTS to COVID-19 Got Fired From Show LALALEES Applies for Trademark Rights Over "Borahae" It was previously reported on May 29 that LALALEES, a Korean cosmetic company that specializes in nails, had applied for trademark rights over the term "Borahae" back in September 1, 2020, under the classification of fragrances, essential oils, soaps, hair products, polishes, cosmetics, and cleaning agents. However, upon reports that the cosmetic company had wanted to get trademark rights over the term, BTS' fandom, ARMY, expressed their concern and astonishment on multiple social media platforms. "Borahae" or "I Purple You" is a term and phrase coined by BTS member V back in 2016 during a fan meeting, where he first used the term meant to trust and love each other until the end just like the last color of the rainbow. After V had first started using the term, both BTS and ARMY followed suit and have started using "Borahae" as a way to express their support, bond, and affection for each other on countless occasions. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: BTS Takes Home Two Awards at the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards Since then, "Borahae" has become a symbolic term that is known to represent BTS and their color. In their recent collaboration with McDonald's, BTS' "Borahae" can be seen on the packaging of their "BTS Meal." The Executive Director of UNICEF, Henrietta H. Fore, had used the phrase as well in her speech back when BTS gave their first speech at the United Nations' General Assembly in 2018 for their "LOVE MYSELF" campaign. ARMY had taken measures by emailing HYBE and contacting the Korean Intellectual Property Office to suspend the application. According to ARMY, if LALALEES had gained the trademark rights for "Borahae," it could pose possible brand infringements and heavily impact the term and phrase's usage in the future, in addition to the term holding a special meaning to BTS and ARMY. What are your thoughts on the trademark issue? For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Robyn Joan As part of efforts to improve educational infrastructure within the Kwahu East District in the Eastern region, the Bryan Acheampong Foundation has completed and handed over a two-unit KG classroom block for the pupils of Akoma D/A school in the Kwahu East district. The project commenced after authorities of Ankoma DA School appealed to the BAF to help construct and refurbish a KG block for its pupils. The request was necessitated by the near-collapse of the makeshift structure which was used as a KG block for the pupils. Prior to the commencement of the project, there was a stakeholders meeting that involved unit committee members, PTA chairman of Ankoma D/A school, headteachers, and the traditional authorities to make an input to the best facility for the pupils. The two-unit KG classroom block comes with additional facilities such as an office, a storeroom, toilet, urinal, and a play area for the school. Nana Amanenor Kodua II, who chaired the handing over ceremony thanked the Foundation for such an initiative and pledged his support to utilise the school block for the benefit of the children in the community. The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Kwahu East, Mr. Isaac Agyapong in his remarks observed that although Government has now included Kindergarten level into its mainstream education, there is infrastructural deficit, hence the support from NGOs in the area of infrastructure is highly appreciated. The District Education Director, Mr. Robert Andah Monney said the era when education was acquired in stressful classes and dilapidated buildings are becoming a thing of the past, stressing the sense of communal responsibility is the idea behind the establishment of private institutions such as the Bryan Acheampong foundation to join efforts with the government in providing quality education. Mr. Frank Amoo, the Director of Development for the Foundation, added that the vision of the Foundations Founder to improve education in the district is being translated into some of the various interventions being implemented in the education sector to support the 5 districts in Kwahu Kwahu East, Kwahu West, Kwahu South, Afram Plains North and Afram Plains South. The project seeks to provide a conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning as both teachers and the school children will be safer and more secure. Enrolment of pupils at the KG level is also expected to increase. Ministry of Education will later this week come out with a Memorandum of Understanding that will spell out the rules governing the administration of public and mission schools in the country. The MOU has become necessary after the Methodist Church, Ghana, and the management of Wesley Girls Senior High School disallowed Muslim students from partaking in the Ramadan fast last month. The decision was widely criticized by many, especially the Muslim community. Father of Bushira Ismail, a first-year Muslim student of the Cape Coast-based school, Zakariah Alhassan, accused the school authorities of preventing his daughter from engaging in any Islamic activity, including the Ramadan fast which is obligatory for every healthy Muslim. The school was directed by the Ghana Education Service (GES) to allow the Muslim students to partake in the fast, but the Methodist Church, Ghana, intervened and said the school would not heed the directive. This generated heated arguments with various stakeholders joining a conversation on religious tolerance. The Chairperson of the National Peace Council, Rev. Dr. Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, says the MOU to guide the administration of schools in the country will address the concerns of all parties involved, and prevent such issues from recurring. We have come to a consensus that there should be an MOU governing all mission schools and public schools in this country, also specifying clearly what are the rights, the privileges and also the responsibilities of every individual who goes to these schools. And we want these guidelines to be documented and signed by all parties who agree to it so that at the end of the day, once you take that document, everybody knows what can be done and what cant be done and we believe that if this is pursued to its logical conclusion, this matter will come to an end and Ghana will not face this issue again. ---citinewsroom As part of efforts to sanitize the small scale mining sector and protect the environment, government is making available Mercury-free mining equipment for small-scale miners. The equipment, with the capacity to recover 90% of gold, according to the Minerals Commission, will encourage environmentally-friendly mining. Handing over the equipment, the Deputy Minister-designate for Lands and Natural Resources, Mireku Duker, said this marks the beginning of Mercury-free mining in Ghana. I believe adopting it, accepting it and operationalising it in Ghana will go a long way in propelling and projecting the small scale mining sector, Mr. Duker said. We want to ensure that we fight along to have a serene environment for local people to mine to have something in their pockets. The acting Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Martin Ayisi, says the government has plans to make it easier for small-scale miners to purchase the equipment. We are going to sit down with them, have a working arrangement so we give them flexible payment terms so that as they work, they pay, he said. Mercurybased artisanal and smallscale gold mining arguably causes more pollution than any other human activity. Mercury metal is used to extract gold from ore as a stable amalgam. The amalgam is then heated to evaporate the mercury and isolate the gold. While mercury amalgamation has been used for thousands of years to mine gold and silver, it is still a widespread technique in presentday artisanal gold mining. Over the last decade, scientific evidence about the environmental effect of mercury and its compounds has increased tremendously. It is estimated that between 410 and 1,400 tonnes of mercury are emitted through artisanal and smallscale gold mining each year, accounting for 37 % of global mercury emissions. One of the first step interventions Ghana took was to sign the Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2017, which came into force on the 16th of August of the same year. Despite all of this evidence, mercury use continues across most mining sites in Ghana. But, the government of Ghana is taking bold steps to deal with the situation. For now, it has acquired seven of the Commodity Monitor Mercury-free mining machines. The equipment efficiently recovers more gold without using any chemicals. ---citinewsroom Listen to article A group calling itself the Humanist Association of Ghana has joined calls for reforms in the country's security setup. The Association says the reforms would be necessary to restore public confidence in the security set-up. Condemning the arrest and assault of Citi News' journalist, the Association called on President Akufo-Addo to rid the system of officers who bring the name of the agencies into disrepute. Speaking to Citi News, the President of the Association, Michael Osei Assibey, said the silence of the government on this issue sounds like an endorsement of the act. We have seen it with Modern Ghana journalists among others. This is a growing pattern of power play, and should be treated with the seriousness it deserves. We want reforms in the security sector, that way, the confidence of Ghanaians in the security will be restored. On Tuesday, May 11, 2021, operatives of National Security arrested and assaulted Citi FM's Caleb Kudah, after they found him filming abandoned state-funded vehicles near their office. The operatives subsequently besieged the premises of Citi FM to arrest another journalist, Zoe Abu-Baidoo Addo because Caleb had sent the files to her via WhatsApp. Both reporters were forced by the operatives to delete all multimedia materials on their phones. The two are yet to be charged after their release on that same day. Following this development and the vivid accounts given by the two journalists on The Point of View on Citi TV, several individuals and credible organizations have condemned the National Security's handling of the situation, and called for a thorough probe, and also a restructuring of the national security outfit. The National Security Secretariat in a statement on the development said it is investigating the matter. The National Security Ministry later reported that the Director of Operations at the National Security, Lieutenant Colonel Frank Agyeman, and other National Security operatives violated the Ministry's operating standards. The secondment of Lieutenant Colonel Frank Agyeman (Director of Operations) at the Ministry has been reversed. The officer is to report to the Chief of Defence Staff for further investigations and appropriate action the Ministry said in a statement. Three police officers involved in the assault were also withdrawn and instructed to report to the Ghana Police Service for investigation. Lieutenant Colonel Frank Agyeman has since been appointed as the Commanding Officer of the 64 Infantry Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces amidst condemnation from various NGOs and civil society groups. DSP Samuel K. Azugu has also been transferred from the National Security Secretariat at the Blue Gate, as the Commander of the SWAT unit. DSP Azugu has been moved to the National Operation Headquarters of the Ghana Police Service. ---citinewsroom The Human Rights Division of the High Court is today, Monday, May 31 expected to give judgment in the case of two Rastafarian boys who were denied admission into Achimota School based on their dreadlocks. The incident triggered a public discourse on the need for a national guideline for senior high schools, and eventually ended up in the court after the two students filed their cases individually. Dreadlock-wearing Nana Kwaku Nkrabea and Tyron Marhguy, were both denied admission into Achimota School though they had qualified and were duly placed there through the computerized school selection and placement system. The School however disputed the claim arguing that the students never returned their forms which had their acceptance of admission. Watchers of the education space are confident that today's judgment will put the matter to rest and shape policy going forward. ---citinewsroom French investigators have begun interrogating former Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn in Lebanon, where he sought refuge after a dramatic escape from Japan. A court source told AFP that Ghosn, his defence team, a Lebanese prosecutor sitting in on the hearing and the visiting French judges entered the hall at the Court of Cassation in Beirut, where the interrogation over alleged fraudulent activities got under way. A separate Lebanese judicial source said Ghosn would be interrogated for five days, every day from 10:00am (0700 GMT) until 6:00pm (1500 GMT) with a lunch break. The 67-year-old faces scrutiny from French investigators centring on alleged improper financial interactions with Renault-Nissan's distributor in Oman, payments by a Dutch subsidiary to consultants and parties organised at the Versailles Palace. Ghosn who holds French, Lebanese and Brazilian passports was arrested in Japan in 2018 on suspicion of financial misconduct. He was released on bail with a ban on leaving the country which he violated when he fled Japan purportedly hidden in an audio equipment case in late 2019. Ghosn faces potential charges in France but fears leaving Lebanon could land him back in Japan, despite the fact that France does not extradite its citizens. Ghosn has long maintained that he would not have been given a fair trial in Japan. Several French judges and investigators therefore made the trip to Lebanon. "The defence team has already identified serious procedural irregularities in the French dossiers," a statement by Ghosn's lawyers said. "These abnormalities, which undermine the judicial process, are the result of the peculiar methods of the Japanese investigation, which is the primary source for building the French cases," the statement said. Ghosn is being heard as a witness and would need to be in France to be formally indicted and gain access to the details of the charges he faces. (with AFP) District Census Officer for Gomoa East District, Mr. Tanko Mohammed has appealed to people leaving in the communities to provide accurate information during enumeration of the Population and Housing Census 2021. "We are appealing to everyone to give their candid response and not to give false information. This is a national exercise that will help in our development agenda so we entreat everybody to come on board to avail themselves to this exercise so that together we can achieve a purposeful census." The Census Officer made the appeal during the launch of the 30days countdown to the census night. "The information we are collecting is not for tax purposes, the information is not premised on any bad intention by government, but for correct data to facilitate development projects. It is to help government provide adequate resources to the population in a given community in terms of water allocation, health facilities, among other social amenities to aid the livelihoods of Ghanaians." The launch conveyed together traditional leaders, drivers, market women associations and opinion leaders to educate and sensitize them on the upcoming census and the need to corporate with field officers. "The essence of this is to increase publicity and advocacy. Also to engage stakeholders such as traditional leaders, drivers, market women association, opinion leaders to communicate to them that today marks 30 days to the beginning of the census, and we are asking for their support to help us inform the communities that 30 days from now we will deploy our field officers to the communities to collect data on the census." According to him, intensive publicity and education has commenced and that will be communicated through mainstream media and information centres in the communities. "We are hoping to have a complete coverage, we are not leaving anyone behind. So if our census officers visit your home in your absence, they will leave their card such that you can call on them and schedule an appointment with them when you'll be available so they will come and enumerate you." Data to be collected includes, name, age, employment status, education, economic activities, the income accrued in the last 14 days among others. As part of the census, listing of structures will commence on the 13th to 19th of June, whiles the census night is scheduled on the 27th same month. The census night which basically captures where one passed the night according to the Ghana Statistical Service, is a reference point for enumeration. He added that the night captures both citizens and non-citizens in the country and that will be enumerated on that basis. Trade experts from Member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) met virtually on the 28th May 2021 to deliberate on instruments to promote intra-regional and continental trade ahead of the ECOWAS Ministers of Trade and Industry meeting scheduled for 3rd June 2021. In his welcome remarks, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Trade, Customs and Free Movement of Persons, Mr. Tei KONZI, extended a Happy 46th ECOWAS Anniversary greeting to participants and highlighted efforts being undertaken by the ECOWAS Commission to promote regional and continental integration through various trade initiatives such as the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and the African Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Before declaring the meeting open, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Trade & Industry of the Republic of Ghana, Mr. Patrick Nimo, underscored the importance of the Experts Meeting and highlighted the various agenda items such the establishment of trade structures, which will promote opportunities for Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs). He expressed the belief that the trade and Industry agendas would help expedite recovery from the impact of COVID19. During the meeting, the Experts considered (i) the status of the AfCFTA negotiations; (ii) the establishment of the Regional Trade Facilitation Committee (RTFC); (iii) the establishment of ECOWAS Trade Promotion Organizations Network;(iv) the amendment of the statutes on the ECOWAS Business Council; and (v) the evaluation of the volume of intra-regional trade taking into account informal cross-border trade. Following the fruitful deliberations, a number recommendations were made for consideration by Ministers of Trade and Industry. The meeting was attended by Trade Experts from ECOWAS Member States, as well as Mauritania. The ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions also participated in the deliberations. The affable and development-oriented Member of Parliament for the good people of Effiduase-Asokore Constituency in Ashanti Region who doubles as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health at the Parliament of Ghana, Hon Dr Nana Ayew Afriye has donated a Cardiotocography machine (CTG) to the Sekyere East District Health Directorate in a small official handing over. Presenting the Cardiotocography Machine to the District Director of Health Services in Sekyere East, the Kindhearted Legislator made it clear that the District Hospital in Effiduase lacks this all-important machine that aid in the smooth delivery of health care services. " My Constituents are my assets and being practiced many years as a medical doctor, I know the significance of this machine which measures baby's heart rate and at the same time is used to monitor the contractions while the baby is in the Uterus, thus, very essential in the health care delivery" - Dr. Ayew. He further encouraged the Staff of the District Hospital especially the Maternity unit to take very good care of the machine and must make sure there is proper maintenance culture for the machine to last long. Dr Osei Owusu, a gynaecologist at the Effiduase Government hospital receiving the machine together with the District Director of Health Services, thanked the development-oriented legislator for his kindness and always been there for them when the need arises. " You've been a true father for this district as you've provided every request we bring before you or surprise donations to all Health facilities within the district, and fortunately for us, this l donation is timely." - Dr. Osei. The CTG is used both before birth (antenatally) and during labour, to monitor the Baby for any signs of distress by looking at various different aspects of the baby's heart rate. It helps Doctors and Midwives see how the baby is coping. The Matron of St.Pauls Technical School in Akyem Kukurantumi in the Abuakwa North Municipality of the Eastern Region, one Comfort and a Taxi Driver, name yet unknown have been declared wanted by the Police. The duo allegedly conspired to transport stolen food items from the schools kitchen on Sunday and they were grabbed by some of the students. There was chaos on the campus when the students went on rampage and impounded a taxi cab being used by the matron to transport the alleged stolen food. The students, some of whom were armed with stones and sticks, surrounded the taxi registered AS 3074 -15 and deflated all the four tyres after the matron, Madam Comfort, and the cabbie absconded and abandoned the car. The headmaster of the School, Benjamin Adjabeng when later had the information, lodged a formal complaint at the Akyem Kukurantumi Police station. The police proceeded to the school to offload the alleged stolen food items made up of nine buckets of groundnuts paste, one bag of millet, four boxes of tin tomatoes, three bags of rice, three bags of flour, two bags of sugar and one large gallon of cooking oil. The Police then stormed the school and arrested one of the kitchen staff to assist them in investigation. However the Matron and the taxi driver are at large. ---DGN online DTLAIt may turn out to be nothing, just remarks by a politician in a city replete with remarks by politicians. Then again, Councilman Joe Buscainos brief broadside directed at Los Angeles second-highest elected official may go down as a first, very early strike in what will ultimately be As Ghanaians continue to make an impact in the various communities they live in the diaspora the name of Ghana gains international acclaim. The international community in various countries joined in the activities of the year as Ghana celebrated its 64th post-independence milestone. One of such events happened in the Borough of Brooklyn in New York. The President of the Borough of Brooklyn Hon. Eric Adams hosted an event at which some Ghanaians who have made outstanding contributions to the African community were honored. This special event was facilitated by the Brooklyn Ambassador Mr. Jerry Kwabena Adinkra. One of the honorees was a renowned Cardiologist and Minister of God who has traveled extensively between Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and the United States touching lives physically and spiritually in the person of Bishop Dr. Akwasi Adu Amankwah. Bishop Dr. Amankwah received a citation a paragraph of which read; "I salute Bishop Dr. Akwasi A. Amankwah, for practicing medicine since 1999 after completing his education in Russia, the United States of America and St. Lucia. I applaud him as a televangelist and radio host for many years, using the media platform to empower, equip and educate the people of the Kingdom of Christ; I commend him for spreading the word of God to over 25 countries while visiting; I recognize Dr. Amankwah has assisted in the training of many doctors to acquire knowledge and his experience of imparting and healing patients; I recognize he has contributed to the essence and fabric of our State and has contributed immensely to the diversity of the Borough of Brooklyn.. On the 25th of May, 2021 he was honored to lead the Africa Day Parade in Brooklyn as the presiding Bishop. Bishop Akwasi Adu Amankwah was born in Kumasi, to Nana Osei Bonsu, the ex,- deputy General secretary of Savior church of Ghana and Madam Elizabeth Osei Bonsu the then Matron or Director of Nursing at the Okomfo Anokye hospital . After completing High school at one of Ghanas prestigious schools being Prempeh College, Bishop Dr. Amankwah was awarded a scholarship to pursue his education in the USSR.-Russia from 1990- 1994 at the Volgograd Medical Academy, school of Medicine, the 2nd best in the Russia Republic. Whilst in Russia he started a televangislistic ministry which drew souls all over the country. God through his ministry has planted many churches worldwide including parts of Europe, Ukraine, Armenia,Latvia,Estonia,Kazastan, Uzbekistan, Belarusian ,Germany, Poland, UK,Caribbean Island- St Lucia ,St Croix, St. Kitt , Canada- Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa,London,Saskatoon and many others preaching, empowering, educating and equipping people through The Power of the Holy Spirit . In 1997, He transferred from Russia to complete his medical education at the Spartan health Science University, School of Medicine in St Lucia and finally in the United States of America with the schools affiliation with Georgetown University and graduated in 1999. He continued his Evangelist Gospel Televangelist, Radio work reaching out and winning souls for Christ. He joined the Church of Pentecost whilst in the United States and was a member from 1995 till 2012 until he started his ministry but still affiliated to them. Bishop Amankwah is now the Presiding Overseer of Revival and Sabbatical Evangelical Ministries located in Long Island, New York ; a body of believers from Pentecostals , Sabbaticals, Evangelicals and protestants origin. He is the Founder of Prayer Army of Christ Movement International which hosts a prayer line on Friday nights reaching as many as 11,000 people in 94 Countries, to praying together and seeking God via AMANSAN RADIO in New York and has impacted the Gospel in 40 states in USA through Tele, social and Radio mediums. Bishop Amankwah has been an international Evangelist and a Radio host since 1992 and 2015 respectively. God through him has led people to the cross of Christ. He is simple, bold, committed, charismatic, and uncompromising man of God. He has been grated audience by Presidents of Guinea, Russia, Ukraine, Ghana, Benin and Royalties in Asanteman. He is a man of Prayer with the demonstration of the works of the Holy Spirit through Miracles, Wonders and signs. In fact within the last 4 years till now several people with terminal illnesses have been healed through his ministry/ He gives glory to God. He is a medical Doctor by training and prepares a lot of Doctors preparing for USMLE exams clinical skills at Goldsmillerriview in Houston and New York. In 2014 He was elected as Bishop Elect by Archbishop John Daniel Praise ,Vice President of the National Pentecostal Council in Nigeria and Prelate Archbishop of ILCOM, NIGERIA, and confirmed by Presiding Prelate Bishop His Grace Paul Cockfield in the same year 2014 In 2019 Bishop Akwasi Adu Amankwah was consecrated as a Bishop in long Island by Prelate Bishop Paul Cockfield ( K.F.F.F.C.F)- USA and Global affiliated G.U.F( Global United Fellowship Worldwide)with the assistance of His Grace Archbishop Daniel John Praise, Bishop Bryan Hall ,Bishop Richard RuRa Eberiga, Archbishop D. Boasiako ( S2S network), Bishop Dr. Alexander Adu Gyamfi ( B.B.T - Bronx),His Grace Bishop Ekeoma Job ( Africa ), Apostle Professor Ivry Johnson ( Dean of Bible College G.U.F ) He is also a member of Kingdom Five Fold Covenant Fellowship, where he is one of the Directors of Evangelism for Europe and Asia. He now serves as Director of Evangelism in Kingdom Five Fold Covenant Fellowship (International Clergy Network, U.S.A) as well as Presiding Bishop and Founder of Revival and Sabbatical Evangelistic Outreach Ministry International. & Revival Prayer Army of Christ Movement International Inc. U.S.A , Minister of Savior church of Ghana, West Africa and Member of Global United Fellowship of Clergys International and a member of Global United fellowships of Bishops -USA, Bishop Akwasi Adu Amankwah s call is to identify, empower ,educate, equip, build people with the Gift of Evangelism to the World to Save soul. His ministerial work takes him around the world. He is married to Professor Jennifer Amankwah , a prophetess of God and blessed with two Children, Gideon 23 and Angelica 19. Bishop Dr. Akwasi Adu Amankwah Brooklyn-african-heritage-affairs-committee-celebrates-african-week-6624 Brooklyn-african-heritage-affairs-committee-celebrates-african-week-6696 Listen to article The President of a policy Think Tank on Social Interventions, a Consultant and Activist on Societal Pressures, Mr Ernest Birmeh, a.k.a. Dr. Think Twice has stated that there have been too much pressures on the youth of the country, especially under the current Addo-Bawumia led government. According to him, these pressures, if not manage well could create unforgettable ramifications for the country. He, therefore, appealing to President Akufo Addo, to as a matter of urgency, look for him before the pressures on the youth escalate. Societal pressures, he said are national security threat, and must be treated with all due respect. Dr Think Twice observed that the pressures were seen creeping into the system some ten years ago. "I didn't stay aloof, AWARENESS creation was embarked on in ten regions, through prompted SUICIDES, which was to send a signal that something very dangerous was creeping up, therefore it must be tackled", he said. Mr Ernest Birmeh underscored that, because the country has lost its sociocultural values, and now looking for false hopes elsewhere and also bringing some bad government policies that has been the cause of the troubles the youth is going through. The President of a Policy Think tank on social interventions, ACTIVIST on SOCIETAL PRESSURES, recalled that, when he pointed out to the previous government about the difficulties of the youth, "they refused to adhere to some of the solutions we offered them" Dr. Think Twice according to him, some of the attitudes of the current government, especially the appointees close President Nana Akufo Addo and his Vice President, Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, are worse than that of former President Mahama. Today, he said, the situation is escalating from bad to worse, and if care is not taken, it would lead to the most unpalatable situation, that everyone would not be happy in this country. He, however, stressed that, the pressure on the Ghanian youth could be tackled in several ways including employment generation. Speaking to some friends of the media, he explained that in the densely populated regions, such as Greater Accra and Ashanti regions, 1500 youth could be taken from each constituencies and offered training to tackle that bogus societal pressures. According to him, what he has on document is a multi purpose project, that could handle huge problems that are at a verge of exploding. When asked about whether there was attempt to reach the President, he said, "several attempts have been made to reach the president and his vice, but the appointees of both of them would not permit me" "There are the saboteurs of both the President and his Vice". Mr. Ernest Birmeh said he is tired of the frustrations he has been going at the hands of the people surrounding the President. He emphasized that, it is about time, the President hear him, and have the first information on his multi purpose project, "let's tackle the pressures once and for all". Source: THINK TWICE FOUNDATION GHANA A look at events in the troubled West African state of Mali after a second military coup in nine months that has sparked deep concerns over stability in the volatile Sahel region: August coup President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita is overthrown in a military coup on August 18, 2020, after months of protests sparked by perceived corruption and failure to quash jihadist violence in the former French colony. The following day Colonel Assimi Goita emerges as the country's new military strongman. The coup is roundly condemned by the international community and the West African economic bloc ECOWAS threatens Mali with sanctions. Junta stymied The junta bows to international pressure on September 12 and vows to allow full civilian rule within 18 months. On September 21 former defence minister Bah Ndaw is made interim president with Colonel Goita as his vice president. A fortnight later a government is formed with the military holding the key posts. Election dates set On April 15 the dates of presidential and parliamentary elections for a civilian transfer of power are set for February and March 2022. Government resigns With discontent with the military growing, the government of prime minister Moctar Ouane resigns on May 14. But he is put straight back in charge and ten days later forms a new interim government. Army step in again Army officers unhappy with the reshuffle promptly arrest Ouane and president Ndaw. The international community condemns their detention and demands their release. France warns that the European Union could impose sanctions quickly. Colonel Goita says he stripped the pair of their powers for trying to "sabotage" the transition. He says elections will be held in 2022. Enigma Mali's constitutional court declares Goita transitional president on May 28. The young military officer, who has shunned the limelight since arriving on Mali's political scene in the August coup, remains something of an enigma. He vows that a new prime minister will be appointed within days. Out of ECOWAS West African leaders suspend Mali late Sunday from the Economic Community of West African States. But the bloc stops short of reimposing sanctions. National Communications officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) , Sammy Gyamfi has accused President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of living an opulent lifestyle . He said the President is raping the public purse particularly at a time he believes many Ghanaians are facing hardships. His comment follows MP for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa who has accused Mr Akufo-Addo of blowing millions of the taxpayers money on foreign trips. He alleged that Akufo-Addo spent an amount of GHS 2.8 million on his recent travels to only South Africa and France using the services of a private jet. The Airbus ACJ320neo owned by Acropolis Aviation based in Farnborough, UK and registered as G-KELT, is the most luxurious and the most expensive in the Acropolis fleet. The manufacturers describe it as the most outstanding ambassador for Airbus Corporate Jets. It costs the Ghanaian taxpayer approximately 15,000 an hour when President Akufo-Addo rents it, he alleged in a post on Facebook. Lets further analyze President Akufo-Addos latest trip to Europe: per Flightradar24, the G-KELT aircraft left Accra with the President to Paris on the 16th of May a 6 and half hour duration. Airlifted the President from Paris to Johannesburg for 11 hours on the 23rd of May. [/TWITTER] Then Johannesburg to Accra on the 25th of May was a five and half hour flight. This gives us accumulated flight travel of 23 hours; so at 15,000 an hour, it thus cost us a colossal 345,000. At the current exchange rate, that is a staggering GHS2,828,432.80, he posted. This, Sammy Gyamfi said in a tweet that Ghanaians can no longer finance the opulent lifestyle of @NAkufoAddo who has chosen to live like a Russian oligarch in this difficult time of economic hardships, joblessness and hopelessness. Enough of the rape of the Public Purse. The Chairman of the Sunyani Technical University (STU) Governing Council, Ing. Dr. Kwame A. Boakye says with the needed support and orientation, technical universities in Ghana could be the major promoters and catalysts for governments industrialization and transformation drive. He believes that since Ghanas Technical Universities are strategically positioned throughout the country, they form natural technology nodes for our national development. However, to make this successful, the Technical Universities must be appropriately managed, directed, resourced and supported, he emphasized. Ing. Dr. Boakye was speaking at the official launch of the STU Strategic and Master Plans at a ceremony in Sunyani over the weekend. The Strategic Plan spells out the development of the University in the next five years (2020-2025) while the Master Plan focuses on development of the institution for the next 40 years. Ing. Dr. Boakye explained that Technical Universities are expected to offer students the requisite practical training in specific disciplines that would mold them into resourceful entrepreneurs, adding that these Universities must provide the bulk of our people with an education that is practical and forward-looking in approach, so as to train students who can create jobs rather than rely on the Government for employment. The Technical Universities are expected to play a major national role in promoting and leading the practical application of Science, Technology, Engineering and Innovation in Ghana. These are the critical drivers for the socio-economic development of any country and have helped to transform societies to provide significantly improved living conditions. For his part, the Vice-Chancellor of the Sunyani Technical University, Ing. Professor Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah said that was the third time the institution had come up with a Strategic Plan since its establishment in 1967 as a Technical Institute and later as a Polytechnic in 1997 before it was converted to a University in 2016. He said the new Strategic Plan has eight Priority Goals with 22 Objectives and a number of Strategies for the achievement of the Vision of the University. He said the goals and strategies have been tactically imprinted to give quality to teaching, research, innovation and technology transfer, practical training for staff and students, through greater collaboration with industry, to create a platform for excellence in Engineering, Technology and TVET. Future Expectations The Vice-chancellor said when successfully implemented, students and staff of STU are expected to witness a major improvement in the overall governance system to enhance clarity of structure and role as well as an improvement in financial resource base leading to the attainment of efficient operations and enhanced physical infrastructure development. Besides, the Strategic Plan is expected to ensure an improved ICT infrastructure to support teaching, learning, research, innovation and invention; and sustained improvement in our flagship programmes to generate knowledge, technical and professional skills for national and global development, among others. TVET Govts priority area Madam Justina Owusu Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister who launched the two documents on behalf of the Education Minister stated that the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has set for itself the task of re-engineering technical and vocational education in Ghana to become abreast with modern trends. In furtherance of this, President Akufo-Addo during his first term in office cut the sod for the commencement of work on the upgrade and modernization of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system in Ghana to add to earlier interventions aimed at positioning TVET at the centre of development policy. The Minister said there is a multi-pronged approach to the push for greater attention to TVET as it has been the resolve of the government of President Akufo-Addo to make technical and vocational education a major component of Ghanas educational curriculum. Listen to article A senior lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo says the Electoral Commission (EC) has been rationally incompetent in dealing with opposition parties over the years. The situation, he says, does not augur well for the electoral process and has urged stakeholders beyond the political parties and the Electoral Commission to intervene and ensure the stalemate which currently exists between the Electoral Commission and the NDC is addressed. Whilst we are saying the EC has been rationally incompetent, we also make the point that, it is also not always the best that the opposition will always take an intransigent position against the electoral commission, he said. He added Since 1992 depending on which side of the divide you are, you will either be in bed with the Electoral Commission or against the Electoral Commission. He lamented the ruling party is always seen jumping to the defence of the EC, a situation that creates the impression as though the elections management body cannot speak to defend itself. Immediately you have the ruling party arrogating itself to be the mouthpiece of the Electoral Commission, the moment these things happen, it creates needless suspicion in the minds of the opposition. And so they will oppose whatever move the electoral commission takes and so let the ruling party learn to shut up when issues with the Electoral Commission come up. Professor Gyampo urged the electoral commission to rather hire the services of people who can adequately communicate their position, not those communicators who communication annoys. The political science lecturer said the opposition cannot continue on that tangent of always opposing and taking an intransigent position against the electoral commission. He said the future of electoral reforms of the country post 2020 elections will remain bleak if we do it without the largest opposition party. We need them because some of their counter proposals are needful. Touching on the NDC boycott of the IPAC meeting organised by the EC, Professor Gyampo said it was expected judging from the way the party was treated by the electoral body and subsequently the Court. You didnt need a soothsayer to tell you about the posturing of the NDC. The way and manner the election petition was carried out created tacitly an impression in the minds of people that all went well with the electoral process and if all went well with the electoral process why call people to come and sit down and talk about the electoral process. The senior political science lecturer however, added that the NDC cannot boycott IPAC in perpetuity and urged the stakeholders to intervene. ---3news.com Gunmen have kidnapped scores of children from an Islamic seminary in central Nigeria in the latest in a wave of mass abductions that have forced some northern states to close public schools. The kidnappings come three years after 111 schoolgirls were snatched by jihadists from Dapchi and seven after Boko Haram extremists shocked the world by taking 276 girls from Chibok. We look at the mass raids which have become a hallmark of criminal gangs and extremist Islamist groups in Nigeria, with many of the Chibok girls still missing. Snatched from their beds Boko Haram gunmen seize 276 girls aged between 12 and 17 from the Government Girls Secondary School in the remote town of Chibok in Borno state on April 14, 2014. The girls are forced from their dormitories onto trucks and driven into the bush. Fifty-seven manage to flee in a daring escape. 'Slave brides' Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau claims responsibility in a video and vows to sell the girls as slave brides. A video grab image from a YouTube clip posted in August 2016, purportedly by Islamist group Boko Haram, shows what is claimed to be one of the group's fighters alongside kidnapped Chibok girls. By HO (AFP/File) The group says they have converted to Islam and will not be released unless militant fighters held in custody are freed. An international outcry follows with a campaign demanding the girls' release backed by A-list celebrities and politicians, with the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls going viral. First girl found In April 2016, on the eve of the abduction's second anniversary, a "proof of life" video emerges showing 15 of the girls in black hijabs. Map of Nigeria locating Tegina, where scores of children were kidnapped from a Islamic seminary in the latest mass abduction. By (AFP) The following month the Nigerian army confirms the first of the schoolgirls has been found. Aged 19, she has a four-month-old baby and is found with a man she describes as her husband near Boko Haram's Sambisa forest enclave. In October, 21 of the girls are freed following talks brokered by Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Local sources say four jihadist prisoners were freed in return. 82 freed In May 2017 another 82 girls are released in exchange for five Boko Haram commanders. Parents of the kidnapped schoolgirls march in Abuja in 2016 to press for their release, two years after they were taken. By STRINGER (AFP/File) Later that month, Boko Haram release a video in which a woman in a black veil claiming to be one of the Chibok girls brandishes a gun and proclaims loyalty to the group. In all, 107 of the 219 held since 2014 have either escaped or been released. Some of the young women are now studying at the American University of Nigeria in Yola, although others had to drop out of education because their poverty-striken families could not afford to pay for transport, food or even their sanitary towels. New mass abduction In February 2018 the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an offshoot of Boko Haram, snatches 111 girls from their boarding school in the northeastern town of Dapchi, around 300 kilometres (186 miles) from Chibok. The jihadists returned more than 100 girls to the town on March 21 after talks with the government. Five of their schoolmates reportedly died in captivity. But the group refused to free Leah Sharibu, then 15, because she would not convert to Islam. The only Christian among the hostages, she still remains in captivity three years on. 333 boys taken Late on December 11 more than 100 gunmen on motorcycles stormed the all-boys Government Science Secondary School in the town of Kankara, in Katsina state. The attack was intially blamed on armed criminals before Boko Haram -- which operates hundreds of miles away -- claimed responsibility. The boys were later released after talks with government officials. 300-plus girls grabbed Armed bandits raided a school dormitory in Jangebe in northwestern Zamfara state in February, where 300 girls were reported missing. It came just a week after gunmen stormed a school in nearby Niger state killing one student and kidnapping 42 pupils, teachers and relatives. In March gunmen kidnapped 39 students from a college outside the northwestern city of Kaduna. Students killed to force ransom Then on April 20, gunmen killed a member of staff as they stormed Greenfield University, also taking around 20 students. Five were killed a few days later to force families and the government to pay a ransom. Fourteen were released on Saturday after 40 days in captivity. On Sunday scores of children are taken from an Islamic school in Niger. Six northern states have shut schools since the end of last year in a bid to stop the attacks. The Accra Regional Police Command says it has commenced investigations into report received by the Regional Womens Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Grace Acheampong of a suspected attack on her life. According to Madam Acheampong, the incident occurred on Sunday, May 30, 2021, at about 6:30 pm. The Police Command in a statement indicated that it has visited the scenes, and invited the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to assist in processing, reconstruction, and analysis. The Police further appealed to the public to volunteer credible information, particularly on suspicious movements and characters in two separate shooting incidents within and around the Roman Ridge neighborhood on the said date and time to the Nima Police Division. Meanwhile, the Command has provided 24-hour security for Madam Grace Acheampong. citinewsroom If all Ghanaians were to reason as human beings endowed with cognitive brains, there would not be that level of hoo-ha as is ongoing in the country over the burning of the galamsey excavators. However, as there are differences in peoples level of reasoning as it is with all fingers not being of equal size, there is surely bound to be bitter expressions of opinion over the setting ablaze of the excavators and other equipment belonging to the illegal surface miners (galamseyers) as are found on the mining sites. Discerning Ghanaians not blinded by partisanship and desperate longing for power, do surely understand the importance of water, fertile and arable lands, virgin forests and clean air as the means of survivability and sustainability of human life on earth. Therefore, such people will not only support, but also, do whatever it takes to protect them from wanton destruction, especially, when being caused by insatiably greedy and selfishly myopic individuals other than the ravages of the weather. Why should the tools of destruction employed to render the rivers, fertile and arable lands, forests and the air desolate, poisoned and cancerous, not be destroyed through burning? Could any sensible person give me reasons to the contrary? Yes, the excavators could be impounded by the government and used for other purposes like road construction, beneficial to the country and the citizens, an opinion vehemently expressed by those against setting fire to the excavators, amid partisanship. They may be right in their own level of thinking and eyes. However, I, being a supporter of the destruction of the excavators through burning, will offer the following intelligent and convincing submissions. 1. There is a history of once seized galamsey excavators going missing overnight only to find their way back to galamsey sites to continue with their destructive job. Therefore, once bitten, twice shy. 2. It is only a fool that does not learn a lesson from their bitter experience but to continue to do the same thing the same way that took them into trouble. One must vary their approach to solving issues by being dynamic and innovative. 3. Every case must be decided on its own merit. It shouldnt be the case of a one size fits all approach. I mean, there was previously an approach to halting the destructive illegal surface and alluvial mining (galamsey) by simply confiscating the excavators and chanfan (a type of floating mining equipment used in parts of West Africa). Barely had the equipment been seized and removed from sites when they disappeared, only to find their way back into the forests and river banks to continue with the destruction, this time, more devastating than previously. 4. Every unique problem must have its own unique solution. The problem with the uncontrollably devastating illegal surface and alluvial mining, having the potential to kill many Ghanaians through sicknesses caused by the cyanide washed into the rivers, scarcity of fertile and arable lands for farming, scarcity of clean waters for drinking, pollution of the air, is such a unique problem that must be solved through the application of a unique solution. The solution is to burn all the excavators found on the marked Red Zones, period! 5. Simply seizing the excavators only to find them stealthily released to their owners or other new users, only fuels corruption. But corruption is the bane of the economic development of Ghana and Africa. Therefore, burning the excavators does reduce corruption to some extent. Yes, our political, public and traditional leaders are corrupt and cannot be fully trusted, that is a topic reserved for discussion at another time. 6. The cost of the destruction of the nations water bodies, fertile and arable lands, forests and air, to the nation and the people, does exponentially far exceed the cost of burning the excavators. While air, water, land and forest are necessities, excavators are not, if not a luxury, at this time, moment and their use. 7. One feels more pain seeing their seized properties publicly destroyed than when such properties are sold or kept for use by the government or given to others. The pain felt at the destruction of the property will psychologically weigh heavily on whom it was seized from, to stop them from going back into the activities that acquired them the destroyed properties. However, should the seized properties be kept for use for whatever reason, and by whomever, it will give the owner some form of consolation to incite them to go back into the same destructive job. 8. Without breathing for say, ten minutes, thus not having air with the right amount of oxygen, you will die. Without drinking for say, two months, thus, for difficulty of finding potable water, you will die. Without eating for three months for want of fertile and arable lands to produce food, where you have no financial resource to import food, you will die. Without forest to aid rainfall, arrest desertification and to act as sanctuary for animals, the nation eventually risks becoming desolate. In this regard, is not just right to take the harshest method to successfully resolve the inherent potency to destroy the ecology as in the ongoing galamsey in Ghana? While arguing in favour of the burning of the galamsey excavators, I call on those opposing such act to doff their stupid partisan and ignorant ideas and moves, to see sense in my submission above to finally rally behind the commenced action by the government to stop the devastating galamsey from Ghana. Why should we stupidly front for the Chinese who are now legally allowed to produce three children by a couple to overpopulate the earth, to finally come to make Africa in general, and Ghana in particular, their permanent home by depopulating Ghanaians through their excessive destruction of our means of survival, thus, water bodies, fertile and arable lands, virgin forests and air? I have today, Monday, 31 May 2021, given you food for thought. I hope the opposers of the governments resolve to stop galamsey to save the nation will think hard, then change their attitude, after reading this publication coming from the no-nonsense, proud and fearless son of Kumawu/Asiampa. Rockson Adofo 31 May 2021 Listen to article AFP extended this month its european fact-checking network into Greece, Cyprus and Finland, consolidating its position as the worlds leading agency in digital investigation. AFP extended this month its european fact-checking network into Greece, Cyprus and Finland, consolidating its position as the worlds leading agency in digital investigation. This comes after our launch of digital verification in Bulgaria and Hungary in March 2021. AFP now has more than 30 journalists and editors working solely on digital verification in Europe, covering 20 countries and more than a dozen languages. Our move into digital verification in Finnish and Greek is an important development in AFPs efforts against disinformation and misinformation, especially that which potentially cause harm, said Bronwen Roberts, Regional coordinator Europe. Since its launch in 2017, AFPs digital investigation service has grown to become the largest in the world, underscoring its commitment to efforts to combat the spread of disinformation on the social media networks. The AFP international fact-checking team comprises more than 100 people covering more than 80 countries, and working in close collaboration with other AFP journalists, in a network which totals 1,700 journalists. AFP is part of the International Fact-Checking Network, which sets a global standard through a code of principles that includes non-partisanship, fairness and transparency. We are among 80 partners in Facebooks third-party fact-checking programme to flag misinformation on its network. We work in total editorial independence and according to the agencys own editorial standards. Automotive Diesel Mechanic - Tools Provided SALARY: $18.60Hourly OPENING DATE: 05/07/21 CLOSING DATE: 06/09/21 11:59 PM JOB TYPE: PERM FULL TIME LOCATION: Maywood DEPARTMENT: Department of Transportation DESCRIPTION: At the Nebraska Department of Transportation, we reward our employees' hard work with a friendly and supportive work environment that encourages creativity and innovation. We provide training and career development, advancement opportunities, ample paid time off, work-life balance, and a comprehensive benefits package that includes a matching retirement contribution of 156%. Under limited supervision, independently performs highly skilled and complex diagnosis, maintenance, and repair of multiple makes and models of heavy-duty trucks, and road construction and maintenance equipment containing multiple, computerized systems/sensors, as well as medium and lightweight vehicles, and other motorized equipment; performs related work as assigned. EXAMPLES OF WORK: Diagnose multiple, complex, and varied vehicle and equipment computer systems to determine the cause of intermittent data flow that trips computer codes; make needed adjustments and repairs to preserve the integrity of computer systems. Research equipment to identify functions that are computerized, and the schematics of computerized systems. Interview equipment operators to compile information about equipment operation and problems. Diagnose complex mechanical, electrical, computer, and hydraulic problems and failures to determine the nature, extent, necessity, and cost effectiveness of repairs. Research and study structural and procedural schematics and manuals. Fabricate and repair equipment and parts by using a variety of welders, welding materials, and methods to adapt incompatible parts, replace unavailable parts, secure attachments, and repair damage. Calibrate various systems on heavy-duty vehicles and equipment that distributes various materials as they pertain to road and weather conditions and allow operators to drive the vehicles and equipment safely and efficiently. Make necessary adjustments and recommendations, as needed, and train operators on these systems when necessary. Inspect new equipment to ensure that it meets specifications; set up new equipment to ensure it is road ready. Evaluate equipment to identify adjustments needed to accommodate auxiliary attachments, equipment, and operating systems. Install, troubleshoot, repair, and replace mechanical, electrical, computer, and hydraulic system components to restore equipment to a state of safe and operational state. Maintain hydraulics systems; install and monitor electrical systems; repair steering systems; repair suspension systems, brake systems, drive trains, fuel systems, and repair/overhaul and/or replaces diesel and/or gasoline engines. Overhaul transmissions and final drives perform repairs and diagnostics of hydraulic systems and rewire electrical systems. Perform metal fabrications and major repairs on snowplows and trucks that may require extensive welding. Disassemble units, inspect parts for wear, repair, overhaul and replace parts using precision measuring instruments. Inspect reassigned equipment to ensure that it is safe for operation by field personnel. Perform diagnosis and repairs on equipment breakdowns in the field. Obtain bids for the parts needed to repair engines. Maintain accurate records of time and materials expended. Perform preventative maintenance. Operate equipment during emergency snow removal operations. Perform other duties as assigned. QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS: REQUIRED: Practical work experience performing automotive/diesel maintenance and repair, including use of computerized diagnostic instruments and equipment OR post-secondary vocational or technical coursework in automotive/diesel mechanics including instruction in computerized diagnostic equipment and in automotive/diesel mechanical maintenance and repair practices, equipment, and technologies. PREFERRED: A degree in auto/diesel mechanics and experience. Experience in the use of hand tools, testing equipment, and diagnosing and troubleshooting problems. Experience or education in diagnosing malfunctions from verbal descriptions in order to repair equipment in the shop or field. Welding/fabrication experience. OTHER: Must be at least 18 years old and possess a valid driver's license. Must possess a valid Class A Commercial driver's License (CDL) with tanker endorsement or obtain it within 60 days of hire. Must be able to report to work outside scheduled work hours within 40 minutes under normal driving conditions. Regular and reliable attendance is required to accomplish assigned duties and responsibilities. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Practical work experience performing automotive/diesel maintenance and repair, including use of computerized diagnostic instruments and equipment. OR Post-secondary vocational or technical coursework in automotive/diesel mechanics including instruction in computerized diagnostic equipment and in automotive/diesel mechanical maintenance and repair practices, equipment, and technologies. Must be at least 18 years old and possess a valid driver's license. Must possess a valid Class A Commercial driver's License (CDL) with tanker endorsement or obtain it within 90 days of hire. Must be able to report to work outside scheduled work hours within 40 minutes under normal driving conditions. Must be able to lift up to 100 pounds. Ability to work with limited supervision and be self-motivated. Experience with computer programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and EAMS. Must be a safe worker that is team oriented. Must be able to follow directions with minimal supervision. Must be able to read and communicate effectively both orally and in writing to give and receive instructions. Regular and reliable attendance is required. recblid yb76ryq85de5v8aclrti7n9exaog34 At least 50 people were killed overnight in two new attacks in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, monitors said Monday, as a local official blamed a notorious group linked to the Islamic State group (IS). Citing a toll that is "still provisional", the Kivu Security Tracker (KST) group said 28 people were killed in Boga and 22 in Tchabi, villages lying about 10 kilometres (six miles) apart in an area that has long had a reputation for Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attacks and ethnic friction. The earlier toll was at least 39 dead. A local civil society leader attributed the attacks to the ADF, a historically Ugandan Islamist group blamed for a string of massacres in the past 18 months. Two local officials reached in Boga by AFP said the assailants attacked a camp for displaced people. They said 36 bodies had been found so far in Boga, a figure that had yet to be independently confirmed. The KST, a respected NGO that monitors violence in eastern DRC, said the wife of a traditional leader in Benyali-Tchabi had been killed in the attack on Tchabi. DR Congo's troubled eastern provinces. By Gillian HANDYSIDE (AFP) The ADF is the deadliest of an estimated 122 armed militias that roam the mineral-rich east of the DRC, many of them a legacy of two regional wars that ran from 1996 to 2003. As of Friday, the KST estimated that at least 1,228 civilians have been killed in the Beni territory of North Kivu alone since November 2019, when DRC forces launched a crackdown that splintered the ADF into smaller groups. The latest deaths brought the toll from ADF-suspected killings to at least 78 in six days. Three other attacks since last Tuesday have claimed 39 lives. On March 11, the United States said the ADF was linked to IS, which is also known by the acronym ISIS. The ADF was called ISIS-DRC, or Madina at Tauheed Wau Mujahedeen. DRC President Felix Tshisekedi on May 6 proclaimed a 30-day "state of siege" in North Kivu and Ituri in a bid to curb bloodshed by the ADF. Under the move, military and police officers have taken over from civilian authorities. Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR) were at loggerheads on Monday after the Chadian government accused its southern neighbour of killing six of its soldiers at a border post, five of whom were allegedly abducted and then executed, branding it a "war crime" that would "not go unpunished." Hours after the accusation, the CAR said there had been "exchanges of fire... at the border," with fatalities on both sides. Expressing regret for the deaths, It put the blame on rebels that it said its soldiers had been pursuing and suggested Chad and the CAR -- "two brotherly peoples" -- hold a joint investigation. The incident has placed the spotlight on the occasionally fraught relations between Chad -- ruled by a junta since its veteran ruler was killed six weeks ago -- and the CAR, an impoverished, unstable country battling powerful armed groups. "The Central African armed forces attacked the outpost of Sourou in Chad on Sunday morning... They killed a Chadian soldier, injured five and kidnapped five others who were then executed in Mbang on the Central African Republic side," Chadian Foreign Minister Cherif Mahamat Zene said in a statement. The CAR regularly accuses its northern neighbour of supporting armed rebel groups from inside Chad. The attack came after CAR soldiers had crossed into Chadian territory in pursuit of rebels, a senior Chadian security official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. The rebels were either members of the Unity for Peace in Central Africa (UPC) or the so-called 3R group, according to this source and another security source. Both are among the CAR's most powerful armed groups and are part of a coalition that in December mounted a bid to topple President Faustin Archange Touadera. The Sourou outpost near the village of Mbere, which was manned by 12 soldiers, was attacked at dawn, Zene said in his statement. This "war crime is extremely serious and this deadly attack, which was pre-meditated, planned and operated from inside Chad -- for reasons known only to the Central African government -- will not go unpunished," he added. Zene said Chad would "call the international community to bear witness" to what he branded a "serious aggression", notably the UN's 12,000-strong peacekeeping force in CAR, MINUSCA, as well as the African Union and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). 'Brotherly peoples' In Bangui, the CAR government said it "deplores the loss of human lives in the Chadian and Central African armed forces" and blamed rebels that it said its troops had been pursuing. The statement reaffirmed CAR's will to strengthen relations "between two brotherly peoples" and proposed setting up a joint inquiry with Chad to investigate the clashes. UN sources in the CAR, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there had been a clash on Sunday in the market place of Mini, a Chadian village near the border. Chad. By (AFP) The fighting was between CAR troops and Russian paramilitary allies on one side, and Chadian soldiers on the other, the sources said. At least one Chadian soldier was killed and five were captured, they said, adding that both sides suffered casualties. The anti-Touadera coalition is among the number of groups that hold large swathes of CAR's territory. But it has failed in its attempt to oust the president, who was re-elected in late December. The rebels have been pushed out of large towns in recent months, in part thanks to back-up for the CAR army from hundreds of Russian paramilitary fighters thought to be from the Wagner Group, a shadowy private military company. Chad turbulence Chad, meanwhile, has been under junta rule since April 20 when the military announced that veteran leader Idriss Deby Itno had been killed leading troops against Chadian rebel fighters arriving from Libya. New leader: General Mahamat Idriss Deby, seen at the funeral of his father, veteran Chadian leader Idriss Deby Itno, on April 23. By Christophe PETIT TESSON (POOL/AFP/File) Chad's army is considered the most powerful in the region, and Deby's government was a key Western ally in the fight against jihadists in the volatile Sahel. Deby's son Mahamat, a four-star general, declared himself president after the death of his father, who had ruled Chad with an iron fist for three decades. The junta has dissolved parliament and revoked the constitution, while promising "free and democratic" elections within an 18-month transition period. Fears of looting are gripping the eastern DR Congo city of Goma, whose inhabitants fled last week after warnings that the dreaded Mount Nyiragongo volcano could be on the verge of a catastrophic second eruption. Holdouts have reported cases of homes and stores being looted after the exodus, although the phenomenon seems less widespread than when Nyiragongo last kicked into life 19 years ago. Around two-thirds of Goma's population of 600,000 fled, many of them heading to Sake, around 25 kilometres (15 miles) to the west, or the adjoining Rwandan border town of Gisenyi to the east. Thousands of Congolese refugees poured into Gisenyi on the shores of Lake Kivu. By Simon Wohlfahrt (AFP/File) "There were burglaries overnight," said Augustin Kambale, an inhabitant of Buehene, a district in northern Goma where a laval flow from Nyiragongo came to halt on May 23, less than a day after the volcano awoke. "Thieves got into our place. They broke down the door and the window. They looted the television, tables, everything," he said. "We came home and found just a few clothes still lying on the floor," Kambale said. "The same thing happened opposite us -- a store was completely looted." Satellite photo of the zone around the Nyiragongo volcano, showing lava flows towards the city of Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. By Patricio ARANA (AFP/File) In Mapendo, a district abutting the Rwandan border, local youth leader George Rwagaza said "there's been no lack of isolated burglaries, although we haven't noted any major losses." He added that thanks to stepped-up patrols by security forces, "there is a certain sense of security". Goma lies just a dozen kilometres (nine miles) from Nyiragongo, Africa's most active and most-feared volcano. When it erupted in 2002, lava flowed like a river across the city before ending in Lake Kivu. Looting during that eruption was widespread, and of the 100 or so people who died during the episode, many were killed during pillaging. Police officials reached by AFP refused to give details other than to say that security forces had been deployed. The military governor, General Constant Ndima, gave the evacuation order last Wednesday. He pointed to fears of a potentially disastrous eruption under Lake Kivu. Ndima insisted that evacuated districts would be "secured" by troops and police. Thirty-two people died from lava burns or asphyxiation after the volcano's May 23 outburst, and two more died in accidents during the exodus. Residents in Buhene, Bujumbu and Murara districts said the police presence there was sketchy during the day and at night. Vigilantes In some areas, citizens have organised their own surveillance. "Some young people have been staying behind in homes. People fled but they've left someone to keep an eye on property, which explains why there have been fewer burglaries than in 2002," a local leader said. "The crime rate in Goma is relatively high in normal times and there has been looting in the last few days," said a senior official with an NGO. "But local people have got together to have young people stay behind to keep an eye out." The disaster cut off the city's water and power supplies. Here, residents fill jerry cans. By ALEXIS HUGUET (AFP) "The situation is critical in some areas," said a young man in the Trois Lampes district, tending to his ageing mother who refused to leave her home. "You see people you don't know going around among the empty houses. I go on patrol with friends, with machetes and knives. When police meet us at night, they give us a word of encouragement." Plaice Nzilamba, a civil society leader in North Kivu province, warned of the risk of vigilante justice. "Brigades of young people have sprung up to apprehend criminals," he said. "But unfortunately, some of them have been finishing off the thieves they catch." Troops with MONUSCO, the UN's peacekeeping mission in the DRC, are helping out by staging joint patrols with national security forces, MONUSCO's bureau chief in Goma, Omar Aboud, told AFP. Nighttime security worries have been heightened by lack of electricity -- a high-voltage cable was brought down by the lava flow. A defence lawyer in the Major Mahama murder trial, Bernard Shaw, has accused a probation officer with the Department of Social Welfare of failing to insist on, and protect the rights of the accused person, who at the time of his arrest was a juvenile. Madam Vida Twumasiwaa Danquah, who has been in the service for a little over 12 years, testified in Court that she was called in to serve as an independent witness to the accused person at the time of the arrest. She admitted that there was no lawyer present at Bernard Asamoahs interrogation and that the investigator hit the juvenile with a stick. The social worker also admitted that she had not enquired of the juvenile whether he had eaten prior to the interrogation, but only did so after the interrogation. The lawyer, Bernard Shaw, put it to the Social worker, whose duty it was at the material time to ensure the rights of the juvenile, that she had failed the juvenile in her sworn oath to protect him. You have let Bernard Asamoah down and he was better off if you had not attended as you clearly neglected your duty. But, Madam Twumasiwaa Danquah strongly disagreed with the assertion and insisted that she creditably discharged her duty. Its been 4 years since the 5th Infantry Battalion Officer was lynched under circumstances that shook the nation and attracted widespread public condemnation. The Court is however still at the cross-examination stage of the 14 persons accused of murder. He was stationed at Denkyira-Obuasi in the Central Region on an anti-illegal mining operation when on May 29, 2017, some residents allegedly mistook him for an armed robber and lynched him. The accused persons are William Baah, the Assembly member of Denkyira Obuasi, Bernard Asamoah alias Daddy, Kofi Nyame a.k.a Abortion, Akwasi Boah, Kwame Tuffour, Joseph Appiah Kubi, Michael Anim and Bismarck Donkor. The rest are: John Bosie, Akwasi Baah, Charles Kwaning, Emmanuel Badu, Bismarck Abanga and Kwadwo Anima. Mariama Owusu JSC, sitting as an additional High Court Judge, adjourned the case to June 7, 2021, for cross-examination to continue. Thousands of fans of veteran French rock band Indochine have hailed a new sense of freedom after a clinical trial concert in Paris to assess the risk of Covid transmission at events without social distancing. Results from the first major concert in more than a year are expected late June. Around 5,000 concert goers took part in the experimental event at Paris's Bercy concert hall on Saturday. A further 2,500 volunteers who did not attend the concert will serve as a comparison group. "It's been so long that we have waited for a reopening of this kind of event. So finding a concert, in addition to it being Indochine, is really great," said Camille, 26, from the Paris suburbs. It was excellent, it feels great to have your ears ringing again. There was a great atmosphere," another participant told news channel CNews. It's a new sense of freedom." Lyrics from one song, Marilyn, seemed to express what many music fans have been feeling: "We want to live... even stronger." Before being admitted, the concert goers, all aged 18-45 with no special risk factors, handed over an envelope containing a saliva test done earlier on Saturday. Each person was also required to have had a negative antigen test in the last three days. No social distancing Once inside, no social distancing was required but masks were compulsory. Due to the 9pm curfew still in place in France, the concert started earlier than usual with Indochine on stage by 6pm. Similar trials have already taken place elsewhere in Europe and the Bercy concert had been postponed a number of times. It finally went ahead two days before the extension of France's vaccination programme to all adults, selecting participants from among 20,000 volunteers. Results by late June Results from the concert goers study, organised at the initiative of the AP-HP (Assistance publique-Hopitaux de Paris) and Prodiss, the national union for musical and variety shows, with government support, are expected by late June. Previous experimental events in Spain and Britain have not shown any increased risk of transmission. As the French summer music festival season approaches however, several major events have already decided to throw in the towel. They are only authorised to go ahead, if fans are limited to one per four square metres. (with AFP) It was out of her teens and into the second round for birthday girl Iga Swiatek on Monday as the Pole successfully started the defence of her women's singles title at the French Open in Paris. The 20-year-old began spectacularly against Kaja Juvan from Slovenia. She swept through the first set in 23 minutes. But points started to take longer in the second set as Juvan found her range and rhythm. She fought her way back from a break down and had two points to take the set into a tiebreak. But she squandered her advantage and became embroiled in a dogfight to hang on. She saved three match points but succumbed to the mounting pressure to allow Swiatek to get over the line in one hour and 27 minutes. Experience I've never been a defending champion even in one of the small tournaments, said Swiatek after her win. "You never know what's going to happen so I've just kept up with my routines. Juvan, who is one of Swiatek's best friends on the women's tour, was gracious enough to remain on centre court and join the handful of fans in a rendition of Happy Birthday. Thank you all very much, added Swiatek. I don't know what to say. It's never easy playing against one of your friends and sometimes it's hard to switch modes but Kaja didn't give me any birthday gifts on court. Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has discredited concerns by a section of the public, that the President mischaracterized discussions of the challenges of the Free Senior High School program as a campaign against the policy by Accra-based Joy FM. The President, Nana Akufo-Addo, during a special congregation over the weekend, at the University of Cape Coast where he was honoured with a doctorate degree for his policies in education, slammed critics who accuse his administration of perpetrating a culture of silence. Speaking to the host of the Citi Breakfast Show, Bernard Avle, Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah justified the Presidents comments. Nana Addo made the comments as a point that we are not in disagreement on the benefit or importance of this, and he is pleased that it has been recognized as such, albeit that to explore ways to make it better. He goes on to make the point that, however, it is obvious that there are some persons who essentially seek to run it down. He is of the view that what needs to take place is an open and frank conversation, and what can be done to make it better. So if someone disagrees with his characterization, of what some persons are doing as a campaign against it, it is well within the right of that person to disagree, the Information Minister said. President Akufo-Addo defended the success story of the Free SHS policy while dismissing the discussions as a campaign against it. He however said his government would be in its right to challenge the assertions made by journalists or media houses . A radio station is currently running a campaign against Free SHS. Would a spirited defence of the Free SHS policy constitute an attack on press freedom? I wonder. Criticisms of Akufo-Addos comment An education think tank, Africa Education Watch believes, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has misconstrued the calls for a review of the government's Free Senior High School (SHS) policy. Executive Secretary of Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare, who is one of the proponents of the need for a review of the program, told Citi News the President got it wrong. If the President says that teachers who are teaching in the schools have no legitimate concerns about the policy, then I think it's unfortunate. So far as we are concerned, we haven't raised issues about quality or access. Issues we are raising relating to operational dynamics of the program and how financial inefficiencies are depriving basic education of the needed resources to improve same. We just need to take a second look at the operational dynamics of the policy because if it is not efficient. What happens is that, it constricts basic education, Kofi Asare said. The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has also criticized the President for saying a discussion on the challenges facing the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, is a campaign against the policy. While reacting to the President's position on the growing concern of culture of silence, Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa, Sulemana Briamah said the President's comment was disturbing as it did not encourage media houses to freely discuss government policy. If a media house is discussing a policy initiative of the government and the President says that amounts to a waging a campaign against the policy, what then happens is that, other media houses are going to be silent, those who wouldn't be silent may have to embrace the policy and find voices of support and endorsement and chorus of praise singing. I think this doesn't help especially when it comes from no less a person than the President himself. I think, this is unfortunate. citinewsroom Journalists who were covering the hearing of the two suits brought against the Achimota School by Rastafarian boys have been sacked from the courtroom ahead of the delivery of the verdict. Justice Gifty Agyei Addo of the Human Rights Court 1 Division of the High Court issued an instruction for journalists and other persons not directly linked to the case to vacate the courtroom. The instruction was delivered by the clerk minutes to the 2:00 pm hearing on Monday, May 31, 2021. The Clerk did not state the reason for the decision. Members of the judicial press corps who were there made a formal representation to the Court officials for the directive to be reconsidered, but their plea fell on deaf ears. A member of the judicial services press office who attempted to resolve the matter was also sacked by the policeman on duty at the Court. The Judicial Service officer, however, with much difficulty, succeeded in getting one journalist into the courtroom to observe and record the proceedings. citinewsroom American multinational oil and gas corporation, ExxonMobil, has officially withdrawn its interest in the Deepwater Cape Three Point oil bloc in Ghana. In a letter to Ghanas Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, and other stakeholders including the CEO of the Ghana National Petroelum Corporation (GNPC), Dr. KK Sarpong and Egbert Faibile Jnr., the CEO of Petroleum Commission, the company, said it is unwilling to enter an extension of the contract originally signed in 2018. EMEPGL hereby notifies the Republic that it has determined not to enter into the First Extension Period, and hereby voluntarily surrenders and relinquishes one hundred percent (100%) of its rights in and to the DWCTP Contract Area. EMEPGL also confirms that it hereby reisgns as Operator fo the DWCTP Block and that it has fully performed the relevant Minimum Work Obligation under the Petroleum Agreement. The above is without prejudice to the EMEPGLs accrued rights, excerpts of the letter read. ExxonMobil did not give detailed reasons for its decision. ExxonMobil acquired rights in 2018 to explore the ultra-deepwater block Deepwater Cape Three Points. The associated petroleum agreement was ratified in April 2019. ExxonMobil opened a venture office in Accra in June 2019 to progress exploration activities. The deal was the first to be signed by Ghana after the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea drew an ocean boundary favoring Ghana in a dispute with Ivory Coast. The Deepwater Cape Three Points block, is located 57 miles (92 kilometres) off the coast of Ghana. It measures approximately 366,000 acres (1,482 square kilometres) in water depths ranging from 5,085 feet to 9,350 feet (1,550 meters to 2,850 meters). Malian strongman Colonel Assimi Goita returned home on Monday after West African leaders condemned a second coup that cemented his grip on power, calling on him to name a new prime minister but stopping short of reimposing sanctions. At a crisis summit in Ghana on Sunday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decided to suspend Mali from the 15-nation bloc and urged Goita to appoint a new civilian premier and forge a new "inclusive government" But the leaders stopped short of hitting the country with sanctions to back this demand -- a move that they had adopted after a first coup last August. In a tweet, J. Peter Pham, a former US envoy to the Sahel, said the summit communique "offers lip service by condemning what it calls a coup d'Atat in #Mali & suspending the country." "But what it really did was acquiesce to (a) fait accompli, omitting entirely the sanctions it had imposed last year." Dozens of supporters greeted Goita on his arrival, an AFP journalist saw. "Now the transition can start," said one of them, Alpha Cisse, a student. Goita last August led army officers who overthrew elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, following mass protests over perceived corruption and a bloody jihadist insurgency. After the takeover, the military agreed to appoint civilians as interim president and prime minister under the pressure of ECOWAS trade and financial sanctions. But in a move that provoked diplomatic uproar, soldiers last week detained transitional president Bah Ndaw and prime minister Moctar Ouane, releasing them on Thursday while saying that they had resigned. Mali's constitutional court completed Goita's rise to full power on Friday by naming him transitional president. No sanctions The United States and Mali's former colonial master France had both threatened sanctions in response to the second coup. But ECOWAS refrained from reimposing sanctions, nor did it call for the reinstatement of transitional president Bah Ndaw. It still pushed for Mali to transition to civilian rule under a previously agreed timetable. The bloc suspended Mali from ECOWAS until February 2022, "when they are supposed to hand over to a democratically elected government," Ghana's Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said after the meeting. Mali's junta said last week that it would continue to respect that timetable, but noted that it could be subject to change. In Paris, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that holding free elections by the February 2022 date was "an absolute priority." Respecting the democratic transition period "is the condition for maintaining the commitments of Mali's partners," he said in a statement. Radical Islamism France has some 5,100 troops deployed across Africa's arid Sahel region as part of its anti-jihadist force Barkhane. It first intervened in Mali in 2013 at the request of the government, to help quell a jihadist rebellion that broke out the previous year. The brutal insurgency is still raging in the vast nation of 19 million people,and has spread to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger. President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche newspaper published Sunday that Paris "could not stay by the side of a country where there is no longer democratic legitimacy or a transition". Macron also warned that France would withdraw its troops from Mali should the country lurch towards radical Islamism under Goita's leadership. Choguel Maiga, an opposition leader who is tipped to become the new prime minister, has close ties with the influential imam Mahmoud Dicko. Both men, as well as most of Mali's political elite, favour dialogue with Mali's jihadists in order to stem the bloodshed in the country -- a policy long opposed by Paris. The diversion of a Ryanair flight by Belarus last week was an act of "state piracy", EU commissioner Thierry Breton has said after a meeting with some of the passengers in Lithuania. "It is an unacceptable event. There has been a hijack, not just of an EU plane with European passengers, but a hijack of European values and that we will not tolerate," he said. The Athens to Vilnius flight on 23 May was forced to land in Minsk and dissident journalist Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega were arrested, causing a global outcry. Europe "has been under attack with this act of state piracy. We will not leave this unpunished," Breton said, adding that the EU was working on additional economic sanctions on Belarus. Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya during a visit to Estonia on Monday discussed possible EU economic sanctions with Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid. Belarusian President Alexander "Lukashenko has brought Belarus on a path to self-destruction for the sake of personal power and glory," she said at a joint press conference with Kaljulaid. "His regime is now a threat to regional and European security," she said. Tikhanovskaya and Kaljulaid were both dressed in white and there were white and red flowers on display -- the colours of the former Belarusian flag which is now used by the opposition. More Air France flights delayed Two more Air France flights to Moscow were delayed on Monday after Russia withheld clearance for the passenger planes to fly, the RIA news agency reported. France's main carrier was forced to cancel two Paris-Moscow flights last week after receiving no Russian clearance for flight plans skirting the territory. Russia's federal aviation agency Rosaviatsiya told airlines that changes to routes from Europe to Russia due to a political row over Belarus may result in longer clearance times. The European Union has urged its airlines to avoid Belarus amid outrage over the forced landing of the Ryanair jet. Russia has said it will defend Belarus and help it if the EU imposes sanctions. (with newswires) Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR) were at loggerheads on Monday after the Chadian government accused its southern neighbour of killing six of its soldiers at a border post, five of whom were allegedly abducted and then executed, branding it a "war crime" that would "not go unpunished", Hours after the accusation, the CAR said there had been "exchanges of fire... at the border", with fatalities on both sides. Expressing regret for the deaths, it put the blame on rebels that it said its soldiers had been pursuing and suggested Chad and the CAR -- "two brotherly peoples" -- hold a joint investigation. The incident has placed the spotlight on the occasionally fraught relations between Chad -- ruled by a junta since its veteran ruler was killed six weeks ago -- and the CAR, an impoverished, unstable country battling powerful armed groups. "The Central African armed forces attacked the outpost of Sourou in Chad on Sunday morning... They killed a Chadian soldier, injured five and kidnapped five others who were then executed in Mbang on the Central African Republic side," Chadian Foreign Minister Cherif Mahamat Zene said in a statement. The CAR regularly accuses its northern neighbour of supporting armed rebel groups from inside Chad. The attack came after CAR soldiers had crossed into Chadian territory in pursuit of rebels, a senior Chadian security official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. The rebels were either members of the Unity for Peace in Central Africa (UPC) or the so-called 3R group, according to this source and another security source. Both are among the CAR's most powerful armed groups and are part of a coalition that in December mounted a bid to topple President Faustin Archange Touadera. The Sourou outpost near the village of Mbere, which was manned by 12 soldiers, was attacked at dawn, Zene said in his statement. This "war crime is extremely serious and this deadly attack, which was pre-meditated, planned and operated from inside Chad -- for reasons known only to the Central African government -- will not go unpunished," he added. Zene said Chad would "call the international community to bear witness" to what he branded a "serious aggression", notably the UN's 12,000-strong peacekeeping force in CAR, MINUSCA, as well as the African Union and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). France, the region's former colonial power and a strong ally of Chad, said it "firmly condemns the attack on the Chadian forward post of Sourou." A foreign ministry statement stressed "France's firm attachment to the stability and territorial integrity of Chad and of all the states in the region." 'Brotherly peoples' In Bangui, the CAR government said it "deplores the loss of human lives in the Chadian and Central African armed forces" and blamed rebels that it said its troops had been pursuing. The statement reaffirmed CAR's will to strengthen relations "between two brotherly peoples" and proposed setting up a joint inquiry with Chad to investigate the clashes. UN sources in the CAR, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there had been a clash on Sunday in the market place of Mini, a Chadian village near the border. Chad. By (AFP) The fighting was between CAR troops and Russian paramilitary allies on one side, and Chadian soldiers on the other, the sources said. At least one Chadian soldier was killed and five were captured, they said, adding that both sides suffered casualties. The anti-Touadera coalition is among the number of groups that hold large swathes of CAR's territory. But it has failed in its attempt to oust the president, who was re-elected in late December. The rebels have been pushed out of large towns in recent months, in part thanks to back-up for the CAR army from hundreds of Russian paramilitary fighters thought to be from the Wagner Group, a shadowy private military company. Chad turbulence Chad, meanwhile, has been under junta rule since April 20 when the military announced that veteran leader Idriss Deby Itno had been killed leading troops against Chadian rebel fighters arriving from Libya. New leader: General Mahamat Idriss Deby, seen at the funeral of his father, veteran Chadian leader Idriss Deby Itno, on April 23. By Christophe PETIT TESSON (POOL/AFP/File) Chad's army is considered the most powerful in the region, and Deby's government was a key Western ally in the fight against jihadists in the volatile Sahel. Deby's son Mahamat, a four-star general, declared himself president after the death of his father, who had ruled Chad with an iron fist for three decades. The junta has dissolved parliament and revoked the constitution, while promising "free and democratic" elections within an 18-month transition period. Listen to article H.E Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia served as the Special Guest of Honour for the launch of the book, titled, J. A Braimah: Biography of a Trailblazer on Thursday 20th May, 2021 at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Science, Accra. The book, which was launched by H.E Dr. Bawumia, sought to celebrate and honor the legacies of J. A Braimah, a co-founder of the Northern Peoples Party (NPP) who together with Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia later abandoned the UP and defected to the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) during the period of incarceration and intimidation of most of the members of the United Party (UP) by Kwame Nkrumah. It is worthy of mention that, after Kwame Nkrumah and his CPP won the 1956 elections, there was pressure on the opposition benches to cross carpet and join CPP, the governing side in Parliament. Members of the Northern Peoples Party were tabled with ministerial offers. Members who didnt agree to join the CPP suffered either detention or depose of their relatives who were Chiefs. It is also worthy of note that, due to the various intimidations, sabotages and attacks on members of the UP by the leadership of CPP, such as, the arrest and detention of Okyeame Baffuor Osei Akoto, Dr. Joseph Boakye Danquah, Reginald Reynolds Amponsah, Modesto Kwasi Apaloo, among others, several UP seats were left vacant. This eventually led to the UP boycotting the District Council elections in 1959 as well as refrain from participating in the subsequent bye-elections in the Volta and Accra regions in 1960. In May 1958, during the heat of the frustration of the UP by the CPP under the Prevention Detention Act (PDA), enacted by Parliament in 1958, Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, a leading member of the UP and member of the National Assembly from the Mamprusi Traditional Area, betrayed and defected from the UP to the CPP. J. A Braimah, the deputy Chairman of the UP and close confidante of Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, also defected from the UP to the CPP in 1959 over disagreements with the party on its position to boycott National Assembly proceedings until UP members who were detainees under the PDA were given a fair hearing in the Court. The foregoing explicitly serve as proof that both Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia and J. A Braimah, two leading members of the UP, abandoned and betrayed the Northern Peoples Party and the UP for their personal interests and goals. The UP is the antecedent of the modern New Patriotic Party (NPP). It is instructive to note that, despite these undeniable facts of betrayals, on Thursday 20th May, 2021, the book covering the legacy of J. A Braimah, titled, J.A Braimah: Biography of a Trailblazer was launched by H.E. Alhaji Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia. And interestingly, during the launch, H.E. Alhaji Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, who as well doubled as the Special Guest of Honour for the occasion, in his desperation to hide behind and employ the legacies of some founding members of the Northern Peoples Party as a springboard to attain his Presidential Candidate ambition attempted to eulogise J. A Braimah and as well downplay the negative effects of his betrayal of the UP tradition. An indication signifying the endorsement of the neglect and abandonment of the Partys tradition by J. A Braimah and Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia. Moreover, the honor and eulogy of the legacy of J. A Braimah which contributed significantly to the weakening of the foundation of the UP specifically at the Northern sector of Ghana is just an indication of a ploy by H.E. Alhaji Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia to rewrite the similar story of his father, Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, so as to regain his lost glory in the Northern Peoples Party and the United Partys respective traditions. Joseph Adam Braimah was appointed member of the Legislative Council in 1950. Under the insistence of the Governor, J. A. Braimah, a non-member of CPP, was appointed a Cabinet Minister by Kwame Nkrumah in 1951. Braimah, however, resigned in December, 1953 on allegation of bribery and corruption which came to light in the course of an enquiry by a Commission of Enquiry under Justice K. A. Korsah. He was part of the founding members of Northern Peoples Party in 1954. He became the deputy Chairman of the UP in 1957 after its formation, but later defected to the CPP in 1959. Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia was a founding member of Northern Peoples Party. He was elected the Vice-Chairman after the formation of the Party in 1954, with S. D. Dombo as the Chairman. After he was tabled with a juicy ministerial offer in 1958 by the ruling CPP government, he crossed carpet to the CPP. Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia became one of the first members of the Northern elite to join the CPP. He was very instrumental in the success story of the CPP especially with the making of inroads in the Northern part of Ghana for the CPP. After the overthrow of Kwame Nkrumah in 1966, Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia surfed through Peoples National Party (PNP), Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) and finally settled in the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia became the Regional Commissioner of the Northern Region and later the Minister of Local Government under Kwame Nkrumah during the 1st Republic. He then served on Ignatius Kutu Acheampong's constitutional commission in 1978. During the 3rd Republican under the Presidency of Dr Hilla Limann, Alhaji Bawumia was appointed Chief Executive of the Cocoa Marketing Board, now Ghana Cocoa Board. In the PNDC era, he was Ghana's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and later became the chairman of the Council of State during the NDC regime under the 4rd Republic under the leadership of President Jerry John Rawlings. Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia is the father of H.E Alhaji Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia. Reference 1. Obed Asamoah (2014) The Political History of Ghana (1950-2013): The Experience of a Non-Conformist 2. Ibrahim Babangida Ibrahim (2014) The Life and Times of a Patriot: A Biography of Chief Simon Diedong Dombo 3. Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, A Life in Political History: memoirs of Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia (2004). The Ghana Police Service in the Central Region is on a manhunt for a spiritualist allegedly involved in the death of a two-year-old boy at Breman Brakwa. The boy was allegedly buried alive by his father, Paul Adobaw, on May 27, 2021. Paul Adobaw was subsequently arrested by the Asikuma Odobeng Brakwa Police. The parents of the deceased were allegedly convinced by the fetish priestess, Ama Nkansah, that their child who can neither walk nor talk was a spirit child and had to be killed. Paul Adobaws tenant reported the incident to the police and he was subsequently arrested. According to the police, when questioned by the tenant, Paul Adobaw said they were carrying out a traditional rite, only for the boy to be found later in a grave behind their home. Paul Adobaw and his wife, Yaa Atta at Brakwa, have five children with the deceased being their fourth child. The deceased from the time of his birth never walked before his painful death. Paul Adobaw is currently in police custody assisting investigations. The activities of so-called spiritualists come under scrutiny in recent times following the killing of an 11-year-old boy by two teenagers in a suburb of Kasoa in the Central Region. Reports say the two teenagers planned to use the deceased for money rituals after contacting a traditional priest. According to police documents, the two teenagers were inspired to carry out the crime after watching a spiritualist on TV talking about how to get rich quick. citinewsroom Ronald Strikker, the Dutch Ambassador to Ghana, has affirmed his country's commitment to helping developing countries like Ghana overcome the economic challenges caused by the COVID 19 pandemic. He said a concerted and well-coordinated programme under the auspices of global institutions like the World Bank would prove more effective in this objective. A statement issued in Accra by Institute of International Affairs Ghana (GhIIA.org) said the Ambassador indicated that policy discussions were underway in his country towards contributing to the global efforts aimed at mitigating the economic impact of the pandemic on the most vulnerable countries. Mr Strikker made these remarks at during a Fireside Chat series organised by the GhIIA.org to mark 60 years of the footprints of KLM in Ghana. Discussions are ongoing in policy spaces for a global effort to address the economic impact of this pandemic on developing countries. My country is committed to lending a hand in this effort, he assured. He described the Dutch Airline, KLM, as a remarkable torchbearer of the excellent Ghana-Netherlands diplomatic ties, saying the Dutch Embassy worked closely with KLM, as it is a global footmark of Dutch spirit, enterprise and friendship with the world. He said, No other event aptly captures the Dutch spirit than the resilience of this Airline in the face of the global pandemic. KLM is probably the only Airline still flying despite the challenges of the pandemic. We did not turn our backs on those who needed it most during this global crisis. The Dutch Ambassador said the outbreak of COVID-19 in the Dutch Embassy in Ghana was the most challenging occurrence in his Ghanaian experience, and it gave him a foretaste of the nature of the global challenge. Mr Dick van Nieuwenhuyzen, Country Manager of KLM in Ghana, commended the exploits of KLM in Ghana particularly their response to the global pandemic. He said the partnership between KLM and Air France increased the capacity of their operations to be able to continue to serve their clients during the crisis. There were students from other countries who were stranded in Ghana. There were several Ghanaians in France or UK who wanted to come home but were stranded by sudden closure of airspaces in the world, so the partnership allowed us to address this precarious situation and save many people from unimaginable inconvenience, he added. The forum, organized on the theme, 60 years of KLM in Ghana: Ghana and Netherlands growing together was graced by members of the diplomatic corps, members of the business community and the public. The GhIIA Fireside Chat Series is a platform that provides key players in Ghana's International Affairs landscape an opportunity to share their experiences and reflections on their storied careers with the members of the GhIIA. GNA Dr Festus Kofi Aubyn, a Security Analyst, has welcomed the decision by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to suspend Mali from the regional bloc. The suspension follows last week's coup d'etat in which Mali's Transitional President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane were ousted by the military and placed under house arrest. He said the suspension was welcome, but ECOWAS needed to intensify its engagements with the parties in the conflict and also ensure that other partners like the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), France, the United States (US), and all the critical stakeholders in the country (Mali) were involved in efforts to find lasting solution to the impasse. Dr Aubyn, who made this remark in an interview with Ghana News Agency on Monday in Accra, acknowledged the efforts being put in place by ECOWAS to deal with the crisis in Mali through its collective security architecture He recalled that since the crisis began last year, ECOWAS had been involved throughout the process leading to the 18 months transitional roadmap and also, supplementing that with mediation efforts led by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan. I mean, what happened recently (in Mali) is quite unfortunate and ECOWAS again has taken the efforts to deal with the situation, he stated. He said the suspension of Mali from the regional bloc was in line with ECOWAS's Protocol of Democracy and Good Governance. He noted that according to Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, once there was a coup d'etat in any ECOWAS member country, the first measure was condemnation, suspension and then possible imposition of targeted sanctions (coup leaders). The critical question that we have to ask ourselves is whether the suspension of Mali from ECOWAS will actually aid the efforts in finding solutions to the problem in the country? He quizzed. Because if you look at the communique that was issued by ECOWAS, there has been what people will describe as a second coup d'etat, where the Vice President of the Transitional Government, who is military personnel, has overthrown the Transitional President and the Prime Minister. And then through whatever means the Constitutional Court has also granted him the full powers of becoming the President of the Transition. He said one would have expected ECOWAS to have asked Colonel Assimi Goita, Mali's coup leader and newly appointed interim President, to hand over power to a civilian transitional President like they did 2020, but from the communique, ECOWAS was rather silent on that but rather called for the selection of a new Prime Minister and the formation of an inclusive government. I appreciate ECOWAS' difficulty in the current situation; because as you recall Mali is the epicentre of violent extremism and terrorism within the sub region, he said. And so, any decision you take on Mali without recourse to a context of the current crisis, you may rather end up aggravating the situation within the country. So, I see this particular move by ECOWAS as a pragmatic approach where they look at the issues from not only the actors in the current crisis but also the context within which the crisis is happening and the kind of decisions you need to take to make sure that you don't rather aggravate the situation. Dr Aubyn said imposing sanctions on Mali at this stage might not be prudent, looking at the socio-economic situation of the country and the security situation within the country. He said moving forward, ECOWAS needed to continue the mediation efforts but they must also make sure and ensure that the 18 months roadmap that was instituted in August last year, which ends in February 2022, was strictly adhered to by all the parties within the country. He urged ECOWAS not to countenance any other interferences of the transitional process that was underway, adding that ECOWAS must make sure that if the military made any unconstitutional move again, there would be some targeted sanctions against the coup plotters GNA The Teshie Police Command in Greater Accra Region is searching for Lardi Lukia, who allegedly killed her ex-husband. According to a police report, the deceased, a 43-year old fisherman, Dennis Boye Amarh, was stabbed in the chest by the suspect following a misunderstanding. The suspect is currently on the run. The brother of the deceased, Dennis Boye Amarh, after lodging an official complaint at the Teshie Police Command narrated to Citi News the events leading to his brothers death. He explained that his brother and the woman [suspect], had officially divorced, and both had found their respective new lovers. However, whenever the ex-wife [suspect] meets the new lover of her ex-husband [deceased], she verbally abuses her. So her ex-husband [deceased] warned her [suspect] to stop abusing his new lover since he doesnt do the same to her [ex-wife] new lover. He said the deceased had threatened to retaliate if his ex-wife continues to abuse his new lover. That evening they fought but were separated by a watching crowd. The lady came back and threatened to kill her ex-husband and proceeded to stab him with a knife which was hidden in her garment. He complained of dizziness as he pursued her. We then saw blood oozing from his chest and we rushed him to Kofi Annan and then 37 Military hospital where he died. A former Assembly Member of the Akro Electoral Area, Dennis Tetteh, who led the team to the police station, applauded the Police for being cooperative and called for justice for the family. When the incident happened on Saturday evening, they lodged an official complaint to the Police and they [Police] have been cooperative with us. The CID officer in charge has even gone to the place where the incident happened, and this is going to be the second time we are visiting the place. I must say the District Commander has been very helpful. The family is praying for justice to be served, he said. citinewsroom Turkish spies snatched a nephew of a longtime foe of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Kenya and brought him back to Turkey, media and family said on Monday. Ankara accuses US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen of masterminding a failed coup in 2016 that left hundreds dead and thousands more injured. Since 2016, Turkey has arrested tens of thousands of people suspected to have links to Gulen. Turkish state news agency Anadolu said Selahaddin Gulen was brought back to Turkey by agents from the National Intelligence Organisation (MIT), quoting unnamed security sources. In a video posted on social media on May 20, Selahaddin's wife confirmed the couple lived in Kenya and that she had not heard from her husband, who taught at a school in Nairobi, since May 3. Individuals and media linked to Gulen's movement said on social media that Selahaddin had been "kidnapped" in Kenya, as they launched a campaign calling for his release. Selahaddin Gulen is accused of belonging to the "FETO terrorist organisation", the description used by Ankara for Fethullah Gulen's movement. The preacher, who lives in Pennsylvania, insists he is the head of a peaceful network of charities and companies, and denies any links to the 2016 coup bid. But Erdogan, who once was allied with Gulen, describes him now as the leader of a "terrorist" group which is seeking to infiltrate and overthrow his government. Interpol notice A Kenyan court on May 6 banned Selahaddin Gulen's arrest and extradition to Turkey, according to legal documents seen by AFP. The court also ordered the return of his passport and said he he should be allowed to return to the United States. Selahaddin, for whom an Interpol red notice was issued at Turkey's request, arrived in Nairobi on October 17, 2020, and was arrested before he was freed on bail two days later. AFP was unable to reach his lawyer Monday. In 1999, Turkish services arrested the leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Abdullah Ocalan, in Kenya. Ocalan remains imprisoned in Turkey. The PKK has waged an insurgency against Turkey since 1984 and is blacklisted by Ankara's Western allies. Since the failed coup, Turkey has "repatriated" dozens of people accused of belonging to Gulen's network, regardless of the repercussions such actions may cause abroad. The kidnapping of six Turkish nationals in Kosovo by MIT agents in 2018 sparked a political crisis in the Balkan country, leading to the sacking of its interior minister and intelligence chief. Ankara has also put pressure on many countries, especially in the Balkans, Central Asia and Africa, to close schools linked to the "Gulenist" movement. Kenya refused in 2016 to close six establishments despite Ankara's insistence. The raids continue against alleged Gulen members, with almost daily police operations to arrest suspects across the country. Since 2016, more than 140,000 public sector workers including teachers and judges have also been sacked or suspended over suspected Gulen ties. burs-gkg/raz/ach One of the two Rastafarian boys who was denied admission into Achimota School for refusing to cut his dreadlocks, Tyrone Marhguy, says he is fully aware of the possible stigma or victimization he may face in the school when he is finally admitted. He said he is ready to handle it. Tyrone Marhguy said this after the Human Rights Court 1 Division of the High Court in Accra ordered the school to admit him. Speaking after the judgment, Tyrone Marhguy said the court's decision was part of a great story. The first time I walked through the gate of Achimota, the first thing I did was to check the time [I arrived] because I knew one day I would be telling a story with it. I had no idea I would be telling one great story in the courtroom about how I was discriminated [against] and how I am back. On going back to school and the possibility of facing further stigma, Tyrone Marhguy said I will know how to handle it and to straighten things up when [the stigmatization] starts. The Court, in the same spirit, directed Achimota School to also admit Oheneba Nkrabea, another Rastafarian student into the school. The Judgement Delivering the judgment on the case of two Rastafarian boys, Justice Gifty Agyei Addo held that the Attorney-General failed to provide a legal justification as to why the rights of the two Rastafarian students to education should be limited on the basis of their dreadlocks. Tyrone Marhguy and Oheneba Nkrabea were denied admission into Achimota School for refusing to shave off their dreadlocks notwithstanding that they had passed their qualifying examinations, and, had been selected into the school through the computerized placement system. The school through the Attorney General argued in court that allowing the students into the school will have dire consequences on the schools discipline, health, tradition, and community cohesion. The Attorney General subsequently argued in Court that the Rastafarian students had not even completed or returned their acceptance of admission forms and could thus not be deemed to have been denied the admission. But for the students, their parents, and lawyers, this was simply a case of a breach of fundamental rights on the basis of their religion and religious practices. Justice Gifty Adjei Addo disagreed with the submissions of the Attorney and granted all the reliefs separately sought by the students, save for the relief of compensation in the case of Tyrone Marhguy. According to Justice Addo, it is preposterous for the Attorney General to have even suggested that the two were not students in the first place. Justice Gifty Adjei Addo consequently directed Achimota School to admit the two Rastafarian students. ---citinewsroom Dancehall musician Shatta Wasle has allegedly led a gang to assault a supervisor at a road construction site at Adjiringanor in Accra for not extending the road to his office. According to the engineer, Kennedy Acquah, Shatta Wale had on Saturday sent a delegation to workers on the site to ask them to extend the road to his office or have him contend with. He sent someone to us on Saturday to tell us to extend the road to his office but we told them the length of the road and areas covered are contractual matters and not decided by the site workers. We asked them to pick the matter up with Urban roads who are supervising the project, he told StarrFM.com.gh Monday. He explained further We were working today when he (Shatta Wale) just drove past the roadblock sign and came through where we were working despite the fact that we had just laid the asphalt, and asked who was in charge, I went close to tell him I was in charge and before I could explain anything, one of the guys with him just slapped me and he was looking on. There were a number of guys on motorbikes with him. The incident was captured on video by people passing, the police came there but did nothing about the assault on me, they rather exchanged pleasantries with him and told me to be careful. He has visited the hospital and heading to the Police station to file a formal complaint. Attempts by Starrfm.com.gh to reach the musician for his side of the story have been unsuccessful. Some members of his team called by StarrFM.com.gh did not respond to their calls after numerous attempts. ---starrfm Doosan Bobcat WE'RE HIRING! Seasonal Production Positions 1st and 2nd shift position opportunities: Assemblers, Laser Attendants & more! Competitive Pay! Full-time positions may be available depending on performance Doosan Bobcat 1 Bobcat Ln Johnson Creek, WI 53038 APPLY TODAY! Bobcat.com/NowHiring We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, age, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, disability, marital status, or any other status protected by the law. recblid o607tartayw97wyqzh5kf0gdm9eatl Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has lauded a High Courts order for Achimota School to admit two Rastafarian students it refused enrolment earlier in March. In March this year, Achimota School issued admission letters to the two students but indicated that they would only be enrolled on condition that they shave their dreadlocks in accordance with the Schools academic regulations. Taking to social media after Justice Gifty Addo on Monday, May 31, ruled in favour of the plaintiff, Mr Ablakwa described the ruling as terrific. He stated that he is thoroughly happy for the two Rastafarian students Tyron Iras Marhguy and Oheneba Kwaku Nkrabea. According to the North Tongu MP, it is imperative for all parties, both victor and the defeated to accept and enforce the courts ruling despite opposing ideas. Hopefully, all parties would come together based on mutual respect, understanding and compassion in ways that preserve both the iconic reputation of Achimota and the iconic reputation of Achimota and the future of the duo, he communicated. Meanwhile, both students have expressed satisfaction and excitement about the ruling. According to Tyron Marhguy, this ruling will pave way for him to be educated in order to fulfil his dream of becoming an engineer. The court in its ruling read by Justice Gifty Addo stated that the legal counsel of the defendant failed to present a compelling case. She noted that the fundamental human rights of two students cannot be limited by the rules of Achimota School. Mr Mathias Tulasi, the CEO of Literacy Ambassadors Ghana (LAG) has called on government to include a library facility in schools yet to be built. Mr Mathias Tulasi said this at a reading festival held today at Somanya Methodist JHS in the Eastern Region. According to him, it is sad government is still building school infrastructure for basic schools without a library. He noted, "we cannot talk about literacy promotion without a library because it is an essential instrument for developing desirable study habits in students." His full address below: A SPEECH DELIVERED BY MR MATHIAS TULASI, CEO- LITERACY AMBASSADORS GHANA AT A READING FESTIVAL HELD AT SOMANYA METHODIST JHS ON MONDAY 31ST MAY, 2021. Good morning distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen. All protocols duly observed. I am extremely delighted to be part of this Reading Festival on the Theme "A Reader Today, An Enlightened Individual Congratulations to the organizers and the sponsors. Ladies and gentlemen. Today's gathering is very important because education, as we all know is the doorway to the progress and prosperity of individuals, communities and nations. It is very sad to note that many stakeholders are not helping the education sector in the country. We should all understand that, nations, that fail to give prime of place to education, and quality education for that matter, will continue to languish behind the rest of progressive humanity. Mr. Chairman, it is very unfortunate to note that although education policy makers are increasingly focusing on the quality of education and school learning environments, but as a country we have a piecemeal approach to investing in library infrastructure. Isnt it sad that this gargantuan edifice as we can all see came without a library? There are a lot of basic schools in the country but the question is how many of such schools have a library? On that note, I would like to recommend that government school projects yet to be built should come with a library component if we are really committed to investing into the future of the younger generation. We cannot talk about literacy promotion without a library because it is an essential instrument for developing desirable study habits in students. Mr Chairman, ladies and gentlemen. A lot of our Ghanaian school children do not understand lessons taught at school because they do not understand English. I must say that the inability of pupils to read and understand is largely contributing to the poor performance of pupils across the country yet all the children gathered here, have great ambitions and aspirations to become teachers, nurses, lawyers, doctors, engineers, scientists, surveyors, journalists, accountants, contractors, politicians etc. How is that possible? The fact remains that if all pupils can read and understand, they will all be able to do very well in all the subjects that are taught at school. Many parents are not helping their children to learn how to read at home but they are very interested in watching TV programs with them. This is very sad because it is distracting and destroying their future. The television is a good tool but most parents do not know how to use it in teaching their children. Mr Chairman, in the past, we had what we called bedtime stories but now nothing like that in our Ghanaian homes. It will be good for all parents gathered here to revisit that. Parents should understand that reading is the key to learning and they should make conscious efforts in promoting reading among children at home especially reading aloud to them. Parents should buy interesting story books for their children on their birthdays instead of the usual biscuits, toffees, chocolate, indomie, picopico,coca-cola etc. Pregnant women should also make it a point to read aloud to their unborn babies every day during the second trimester thus the 6th month of pregnancy till they give birth because it has great benefits for the unborn child. As we are all aware, government has introduced the standard-based curriculum in basic schools but as we speak there are no textbooks and it is making the work of the teacher difficult. It is long overdue for the textbooks to be supplied to the schools. To our hardworking teachers, there are scientific findings on how the brain learns to read called the Science of Reading. It will be good for all us to abreast ourselves with this knowledge in order to provide the best of reading instructions to learners. I would call on all head teachers and schools represented here to liaise with Literacy Ambassadors Ghana as Somanya Methodist JHS has done in order to gain insight into issues concerning The Science of Reading. We can always start from somewhere. To my dear students gathered here, Read in the morning, Read in the afternoon, Read in the evening. Read Anytime, for I say, a reading student is a winning student. Mr Chairman, we are gathered here to celebrate reading because we want these pupils here to develop love for reading so that it promotes an interest in other subjects of the curriculum. Together, we will shape and change the future of education across Ghana through literacy. The Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) is calling for the removal of the headmistress of Achimota School after a Court ruling overturned her decision to deny Rastafarian boys admission to the school. In March this year, Tyron Iras Marhguy and Oheneba Kwaku Nkrabea were denied admission into Achimota School for refusing to cut down their dreadlocks. The duo had passed their qualifying examinations and had been selected into the school through the computerized placement system. Outraged by the decision, the two boys led by their parents sued the school to challenge its stance and have it overturned. After months, an Accra High Court has today ruled in favour of the two Rastafarians. It has ordered the Achimota School to admit them immediately. Reacting to the ruling, ASEPA has released a statement to stress that the perpetrators of what it described as an abuse of the two boys must not go unpublished. The Civil Society Organisation has therefore called for the headmistress and entire management of Achimota to be dismissed. The lost time and the emotional stress inflicted on these innocent boys must not go without compensation, but most importantly it must not go without punitive sanctions for the perpetrators of such abuse, a statement from ASEPA signed by Executive Director Mensah Thompson has said. It continued, We, therefore, call for the immediate removal of the Headmistress and the entire management of Achimota School from office immediately to serve as a deterrent to other school leaders. In addition, ASEPA also wants the Ghana Education Service to take punitive action to show that at least they are interested in protecting the rights of students in Ghana. Below is the full statement from ASEPA: Listen to article Large hectares of vegetable and maize farms in parts of Assin, have been ruined by armyworms, something that is threatening food security and has left many farmers impoverished. The widespread destruction of food crop farms by the worms remains a serious threat to Ghanas food security, in spite of the assurance by officials of the Food and Agriculture Ministry (MoFA) that the pest attack is under control. There are recent media reports about the resurgence of the fall armyworms in parts of the country. In the Central Region, a total of about 19 districts with a combined farmer population of over four million farmers, are reported to have come under the pest attack. The worms lay their eggs on leaves and tiny caterpillars emerge from the eggs within three days to launch massive onslaught on food crops, flowers and stalk impeding their growth. They feed on variety of crops maize, cotton, soya-beans, potatoes and cash crops like cocoa. Notwithstanding the distribution of large quantities of chemicals to farmers across the country, to tackle the fall armyworm, more than 1,350 hectares of maize farms came under invasion, last year. Mr Gershon Wodzrah, the Central Regional Director, says over 14,000 farms were ravaged in 2018. The crude methods Some frustrated farmers in the Assin South, Central and North Districts have resorted to unconventional and crude methods to fight the ruinous worms. Kofi Akwanu, a 26-year-old father of two, who has cultivated a three-acre maize farm, about five kilometres away from the Assin Fosu, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that they had found their own way of battling the pest. He pours a bucket full of water into a yellowish watering can, containing a mixture of Omo a washing powder, powdered pepper and salt, forming a reddish solution and there he goes ready to wipe out the crop damaging fall armyworms. He sprays the leaves of the meter-tall maize plants with the solution, claiming, it had proven to be effective in neutralizing the destructive insects. Many farmers in the area are increasingly resorting to spraying their maize farms using the crudely prepared solution. The worms can grow up to 50 millimetres (two inches), nestle in the leaves around the head of the maize and then begin their attack, leaving behind shredded leaves and chewed or hollowed ears of corn. Two days after Mr Akwanu had sprayed his farm with the Omo, pepper and salt solution, he took this reporter to his farm to confirm the results and it was amazing. The innocuous brown and beige crop devouring caterpillars were found dead. Visits to a number of farming communities including Abodweseso, Kwafokrom, Yaw Boamah and Adadientem in the Assin South District showed massive invasion of farms by the armyworm. I lost nearly a quarter of my income last year due to the armyworm outbreak said Williams Kwame Odame, a farmer in Homaho. The 55-year old local chief farmer said the attack was very fast and furious. In a short while, huge swathes of (crops) had been eaten. I lost 50 percent of my crop, others up to 70 percent. Mr. Jacob De-Graft Sackey, the District Director of Agriculture, confirmed the practice and said that they could not immediately tell the socio-economic and health consequences of the unconventional method the farmers were using to tackle the armyworm. He conceded that their elimination will be quiet difficult. They have come to stay and the earlier farmers accepted the advice on the worms control mechanisms from extension agents, the better for us all. We cannot immediately do away with them, it not only difficult but almost impossible to get them out due to bad agronomic practices by farmers. He said they had stepped up public education. Other methods In the communities visited, some farmers spoke about organic control methods, they had found more effective for overcoming the armyworms than the use of the Omo-pepper-salt solution and the MoFAs recommended chemical. They are using a bio-pesticide called Nimbecidine. This bio-pesticide produced from the neem-tree is not only able to control the fall armyworm, but also aphids, leaf miners, mites, whiteflies, thrips and wireworms. It prevents the pests from feeding on food crops and interferes with their ability to lay eggs. There is yet another method that involves the use of pyrethrum. The white flowers in pyrethrum are picked on a warm day when they are open, dried and stored in an airtight container in the dark. Madam Philomina Boakye, a-38-year-old cocoa farmer, said the worms had also invaded cocoa farms, destroying the leaves and pods. She expressed strong conviction that the pests could be controlled with garlic, given to its antifeedant properties. Assin North District At Assin Ninkyiso, a predominantly farming community about ten kilometres away from Bereku, the district capital of the Assin North, Nana Badu Apewosika, described the fall armyworm attack as heart-breaking. Desperate farmers in the area have been using Noni oil and Acheampong (herb) a common weed, to spray their fields. He said farms in a number of villages including Akonfodi, Breku, Brofoyedru, Abodweseso, Nkwanta and Odumasi had been ravaged by the worms. Economic impact The fall armyworms are wreaking havoc on farms laying waste investments made by farmers. The worms are increasingly becoming a huge disincentive to farming and need to be tackled. They have not been destroying only cereal crops but tree crops something the farmers find shocking and unbelievable. Ministry of Agriculture Mr. Prince Osei-Poku, the Assin North Municipal Crops Officer of the Department of Agriculture, urged the farmers to stop using self-made liquid mixtures to fight the rampaging fall armyworms. He told the GNA that his office had been providing advisory services to the farmers. Efforts were made to stop the spread of the insects by alternating maize with other crops between seasons, but the caterpillar simply switched to bananas, millet and sorghum before returning to maize during the next harvest. What this means is that the armyworm quickly develops resistance to prolonged use of the same pesticide. Some farmers are using detergents, and they have actually told us it works, farmers have also used other methods like ash (sprinkled on the cobs) it worked for some and some of them are putting soil in the (hole on top) of the crop to suffocate the pest. He added the use of pesticides in general is resisted by farmers. They avoid using them, particularly, on their maize farms. The invasion has taken everyone here by surprise. At first, the worms were not even recognised. They were mistaken for the local, less voracious and easier-to-combat African armyworm another brownish, caterpillar the size of a childs pinky. Health effects of concoction Mr. John Odai-Tettey, Regional Director of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), said the use of poisonous chemicals on food especially vegetables could have dire health implications and asked that farmers stopped the use of any untested and uncertified liquid mixture. These mixtures might bring short term good results but the medium to long term implications could be disastrous not just for the agriculture sector but also for humans. No comprehensive scientific research to know the residue levels of the liquid mixtures and health implications has been done. He called for MoFA to resource its district managers to carry out sustained public education to discourage the use of unapproved solutions. NADMO Mr Kwabena Blewu, the Assin South District Director of NADMO, however, underlined the determination of the disaster management organization to work together with MoFA and the Regional Coordinating Council to combat the fall armyworm, threatening the livelihood of farmers. He urged farmers to report any attack on their farms early to the agriculture extension officers and NADMO and to spray their farms regularly, in accordance with expert advice, to ward off the fall armyworm. UPDATED on 1 June 2021 at 4.25pm to add link to donate to the family of Dr Rahul Pawar Dr Rahul Asha Vishwanath Pawar, a young, bright, and hard-working doctor, who has been working with COVID patients, succumbed to the deadly virus on 26 May 2021 after a long battle with coronavirus and mucormycosis. This 25-year-old had overcome almost impossible odds and abject poverty to get a medical degree and all the hopes of his family were tied to his future. Today, not only are those hopes shattered but the distraught family if left with debts for his treatment and education, including loans from many people including a mukadam (labour contractor for sugar-cane cutting job), so much so that their own survival is at risk. Dr Pawars family earned revenue from cutting sugar cane. Rahul was a brilliant student. However, he could not score enough marks for admission in the common entrance test (CET). But in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission for MBBS in private colleges, he scored good marks. Rahul got admission in Maharashtra Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (MIMSR), Latur through the government quota, says Dr Amarnath Gutte, roommate and batchmate of Rahul. Rahuls doctor friends and colleagues, shattered by his death, are rallying around to support the family, after having worked round the clock to raise fund for his treatment as well. Dr Shrikant Chavan, who is Rahuls senior and some friends visited his home in Anandnagar village in Pathri taluka of Parbhani district, to find that it is nothing more than a tin-shed and the family did not even have any food left. "Their vulnerable condition left us speechless. Rahul was the karta of this family and with him gone, they have lost all hope. Rahul used to work as assistant with some doctors and earn money for his studies as well as for his family. When we saw there was no food in Rahul's home, we bought ration supplies that would last them for at least for a month now." "However, we feel is the government needs to step up immediately and provide for the family. There was a promise of Rs50 lakh insurance money, which should be paid to Rahul's family so that they can at least survive with some dignity," Dr Chavan says. On 26th April, Dr Rahul Pawar posted his photo on Facebook with a message "Final year passed now its officially Dr Rahul Asha Vishwanath Pawar." Soon after, he started showing symptoms of COVID and was admitted at a hospital in Majalgaon in Beed district. From there, he was shifted to MGM Medical College and Hospital in Aurangabad. Dr Gutte, roommate of Dr Rahul says, "Our internship started from 6th May but Rahul was undergoing treatment. We spoke with him daily. On 15th May, we even had a video call with him when he told us his desire to join the internship as soon as possible. But after this, his condition deteriorated and he was put on a mechanical ventilator." Some batchmates of Dr Rahul, including Dr Nilesh Kalyankar and Dr Prathmesh Patil used social media to raise Dr Rahuls issue and for raising funds for his treatment. Many of his batchmates contributed towards the fund-raising efforts. After knowing the fund raising, the MGM Medical College decided to treat Dr Rahul free of cost. "The hospital also returned Rs1.80 lakh deposited with them by his relatives and friends," says a report from Lokmat Dr HR Raghavan, medical supervenient of MGM Medical College told the newspaper "Dr (Rahul) Pawar was being treated in our hospital since 3rd May. His health was deteriorating since the day of admission. He was put on the ventilator from 16th May. In the meantime, he was found to be suffering from mucormycosis. Hence the treatment of this fungal infection was also underway. All the necessary injections were given to him, but breathed his last while undergoing treatment Wednesday (26 May 2021) afternoon." Rahul pawar Final year MBBS student MIMSR Medical College latur Maharashtra .He had a corona infection during muhs examination but He is now dead. Who is responsible for it?Take exams online or promote next higher classes . @AmitV_Deshmukh@anubha1812 @CMOMaharashtra #MUHS pic.twitter.com/kUNBYNxNGf ALL INDIA MEDICAL STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION (@official_aimsa) May 26, 2021 Rahul's family, his father Vishwanath, mother Asha, and brother Sachin work as sugar-cane cutters. This is a seasonal job and available only for six to nine months a year. Sugarcane cutters are generally hired in pairs and are paid a meagre sum of about Rs50,000 to Rs1 lakh for the contract period. Rahuls younger brother Sachin is married and has a one and half year-old daughter. Rahul was not married. "Rahul was very mature in every sense and keeping in mind his family's financial conditions, he used to assist some doctors to earn some money. We hardly saw him sitting idle and wasting time," Dr Gutte says. According to friends of Dr Rahul, he had taken a loan for his education that needs to be repaid. Further, Dr Chavan says, his family may have taken some loan from some people, and may be from some money lenders, for his treatment. All these loans need to be repaid. Dr Rahuls younger brother, Sachin told me, "He was karta of our family and so he only knew about loan he had taken. We have no idea about the loan amount or from where the loan was obtained." Dr Gutte and some of the friends of Dr Rahul visited the Pawar family on Sunday, 30th May. He told me, Rahuls family took advance money from the mukadam (sugar-cane contractor) of Rs2.85 lakh for his treatment. Sachin had previous dues worth Rs70,000 and his father owe Rs67,000 to the mukadam from last season. Rahul belongs to the nomadic tribe (NT) category and did not have to pay college tuition fees. But he needed to pay the development charges of Rs40,000 per year, plus there were other expenses. So, he took hand loan of about Rs2 lakh over a period of three-four years from some doctors and a pharmacist. Add to this the home and vehicle loan taken by the family. Dr Neela Patwardhan, an ophthalmologist, and an alumnus of Sion Hospital, spoke with former president of All India Interns Association, who are setting up an account for donors to directly contribute to Dr Rahul's family, who are in debt - as they have taken loan for his medical education. However, Dr Patwardhan feels, "An ex-gratia payment should be arranged for doctors, who succumb while treating COVID, just as victims of the cyclone or those drowned, are given. Also, every doctor, on passing, should be covered with an indemnity insurance by the government, to cover all COVID related treatments, not only when in hospital but also late complications." All medical interns from Maharashtra are observing a 'Black Day' on 31st May to pay their condolences to Dr Rahul Pawar as well as highlight many issues faced by them including lack of clarity on the Rs50 lakh insurance. Dr Prathmesh Patil from Nair hospital, who is chief co-ordinator and official spokesperson of Association of State Medical Interns (ASMI) says, "What happened with Dr Rahul has shaken every batchmate of ours. We have no answer as to what would happen to our family, if there is no insurance protection for us. So, we want the government to assure us that we also get the Rs50 lakh insurance coverage like other healthcare professionals." The ASMI is also raising issues of meagre monthly payment given to them (about Rs11,000) and excess load since the government has decided to free post-graduate intern batch for examinations. "Last year, there were four batches, including three batches of post-graduate (PG) students and one of MBBS doctors and they were assigned only COVID duties. However, this year there are only three batches and by end of June, there will be only two batches left to handle COVID, non-COVID and vaccination work. Just imagine what could happen of the third COVID wave hits as predicted by scientists and doctors," Dr Patil says. Earlier in February this year, the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) passed its budget for 2021-22 with a Covid Suraksha Kawach Yojna for medical students. As per the scheme, students can get up to Rs1 lakh assistance in case they are infected with COVID-19 while serving in their respective medical colleges affiliated with MUHS. In case of death of the student, family members can get financial assistance of up to Rs3 lakh under the Covid Suraksha Kawach Yojna. In a message, Dr Mukund Bhise, head of department, community medicine (PSM) at MIMSR, Latur, says the college is applying under the scheme and persuade to provide financial assistance to Dr Rahul's family. UPDATE Many luxury and star hotels have collaborated with hospitals to provide quarantine facilities and have since then also extended their offerings to include COVID-19 vaccination packages. There has been severe backlash in the social media on this. Amidst this criticism, the Indian government came down strongly on such offerings and said that such vaccinations carried out in star hotels is in violation of the guidelines issued for the national COVID vaccination programme and must be stopped immediately. In a letter written to States and union territories (UTs), additional secretary Dr Manohar Agnani said that necessary legal and administrative actions should be initiated against such institutions. The government has clarified that only four options are available for the vaccination drive: government COVID vaccination centre, private COVID vaccination centre run by private hospitals, workplace COVID vaccination centre at government offices to be run by government hospitals and at private companies to be run by private hospitals, near to home COVID vaccination centre for the elderly and differently-abled person to be organised at group housing societies, RWA offices, community centres, panchayat bhawans, schools or colleges, old age homes on a temporary basis. Mr Agnani has urged the states and UTs to monitor and ensure that vaccination drives are carried out as per the prescribed guidelines. The letter came after several social media posts regarding vaccination packages offered by star hotels in collaboration with private hospitals, started circulating. #Unite2FightCorona Health Ministry writes to States/UTs on some private hospitals giving package for #COVID19 Vaccination in collaboration with some hotels. Says it is against the guidelines issued for the National Covid Vaccination Program. pic.twitter.com/qum9SqOJtW Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) May 29, 2021 Hotels like Radisson Hotel in Hyderabad and The Lalit in Mumbai were offering these COVID vaccine packages priced at more than Rs3,000. As per the product pamphlet circulated in social media, Radisson Hotel in Hyderabads Hitec City had come up with a vaccination package, priced at Rs2,999, which included a comfortable stay, healthy breakfast, dinner and Wi-Fi, along with vaccination by experts from a renowned hospital and clinical consultation on request. Many people criticised this on Twitter. Several people questioned the absence of any vaccination guidelines for such hotels and noted that with this, the Covid vaccine has become a proper luxury item. While one person asked how Radisson was getting the vaccines, another pointed out how the price was unaffordable for many. The rich get their vaccines in 5 star hotels, the poor don't even have internet to get the vaccine. Thanks to Aadhaar based public private model of vaccination lead by cowin, proposed, designed by Nilekani, to be exported by UNDP across the world. pic.twitter.com/XBwOlUiAW1 Srinivas Kodali (@digitaldutta) May 28, 2021 hello @Radisson could you please tell us whether this is real, and whether your Hyderabad hotel is offering a vaccination staycation, or whether this is a spoof of India's #COVID19Vaccine policy! thanks! https://t.co/53ZcGsNguB Amy Kazmin (@AmyKazmin) May 28, 2021 A representative for the Radisson, Hyderabad confirmed that the vaccination packages, which were to start from Monday onwards, now stand cancelled after the central government missive and refunds would be given to those who had already booked. The Lalit in Mumbai, had advertised a product offering for people to get vaccinated and rest at their premises with two options in packages, called Experience 1 and Experience 2. While one option priced at Rs3,500, allowed people to rest at a hotel room after the vaccination for three to four hours inclusive of a set meal , the other package allowed those vaccinated to stay at the hotel overnight for Rs5,000. This included meals as well. The pamphlet however mentioned clearly, that the offer can be availed only on the day a person gets vaccinated. So, people need to carry a valid vaccination certification to avail the experience. Many private hospitals are offering vaccination camps in corporate offices, factories, five-star hotels and elite residential areas, where affluent Indians and companies may pay about Rs1,700 for a single jab for themselves and their employees while many government vaccination centres, which offer free jabs, are shut down due to lack of supply. It has also been observed that government clinics in rural areas have been inundated with tech-savvy urban dwellers using the Co-win app to obtain inoculations, while the less sophisticated locals are left out. This vaccine roll-out which seemingly favours the wealthy and tech-savvy, has brought out the stark social inequities to the forefront. In other news, during an inspection on Sunday, Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar found Covid-19 vaccines stored in a normal fridge at a five-star hotel in suburban Andheri. She said that she would probe how a vaccination drive was being carried out at the luxury hotel. The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was never made aware of such a drive, she claimed. The mayor also raised doubts over the hotel's cold storage facility that is being used by Critical Area Hospital, a private hospital, for the COVID-19 vaccination drive. She reportedly found several COVID-19 vaccines stored in a normal fridge at the hotel. The jabs have been sealed and an inquiry has been ordered in this regard. Discount broking company Zerodha co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Nithin Kamath yesterday clarified that the actual salaries being drawn by him, his wife Seema Patil and his brother Nikhil Kamath will be less than the Rs 100 crore figure reported in the media. He said he was surprised by the unwanted noise around the salary news and debunked the news headlines around salaries of Zerodha promoters as "misleading". The clarification came amidst social media backlash after the news of the Rs100-crore salary board resolution became public. According to some media reports which circulated earlier, the three promoters would now get a basic salary of Rs4.17 crore each every month, besides perks and allowances of the same amount. Zerodha was in the news last week after its board passed a special resolution approving annual remuneration of up to Rs100 crore each for promoters of the bootstrapped startup Nithin and Nikhil Kamath, and Seema Patil (who is a whole-time director with the company). In his clarification, Nithin Kamath said that the move was misinterpreted. In a tweet thread he posted on Twitter to address the buzz around the alleged Rs 00 crore salaries for promoters, the CEO explained that Zerodha has only passed a resolution for allowing the three family members to draw a salary that may equal Rs100 crore each, every year, but in reality, the actual salary drawn would not be the same. "Firstly, the reported figure isnt the actual salary being drawn. This is an enabling resolution that allows us as working promoters to draw salaries up to the number in case of liquidity requirements. Didnt anticipate that this would get this much attention," Kamath said while adding that he is surprised by the "unwanted noise" around the news. Im surprised by the unwanted noise around this whole salary news of @nikhilkamathcio, Seema (my wife), & me. The headlines are misleading. We are a private company & no obligations to clarify, but we thought maybe we should, as there are folks who are misinterpreting this. 1/7 Nithin Kamath (@Nithin0dha) May 30, 2021 Although the actual salary will be lower than the approved Rs100 crore figure, it will still be higher than the norm, Kamath admitted. He pointed out that it is important to take liquidity out when you are up to de-risk. He said they have always done this, for almost 15% of profits. Kamath further added that broking is a risky business with most of the revenue coming from active traders with leveraged positions. These active traders take the risk and brokers earn from the positions taken. While acknowledging the risk, he said that just one black swan event could result in large losses for the business. Changing regulations can also impact Zerodha's profitability significantly, he said. "Promoters don't take out profits through salaries as it is tax-inefficient, you end up paying almost 50% in taxes," he said. Running a business is like trading, you can be up or down very easily. It is important to take liquidity out when you are up to de-risk. We have always done this, ~15% of profits. This also helps us in supporting our personal investments in small businesses & social causes 3/7 Nithin Kamath (@Nithin0dha) May 30, 2021 Kamath further explained that the company is enabling de-risking for the entire team through its ESOP buyback. This year, Zerodha allocated Rs200 crore out its Rs1,000 crore profit after tax (PAT) earned during FY20-21. Kamath also mentioned that Zerodha is among the highest tax paying new-age businesses in India. He said, "We believe that building sustainable businesses and paying taxes is a great step in contributing to society and the nation. We take great pride that we are giving back most of our success through Rainmatter. After reports recently emerged that the three could draw Rs 100 crore salaries each they were slammed and trolled on Twitter for paying themselves huge salaries. Fintech startup CRED's founder Kunal Shah too took a jibe after the salary news went public."My salary is a3L/annum. I should have started a discount stockbroking company to add more zeros to my salary," Shah said in a tweet tagging Nithin Kamath. My salary is a3L/annum. I should have started a discount stock broking company to add more zeros to my salary. Cc: @Nithin0dha Kunal Shah (@kunalb11) May 30, 2021 But since the initial criticism, a number of people have come out in their support and applauded Zerodhas success. Compensation in my days on Wall Street was celebrated. Its a cyclical business, we work hard and good years are deserved. I hope we do that here too. This is money earned by building a brilliant business the right way. And its aspirational for all of us. https://t.co/mZxHxkejqD Radhika Gupta (@iRadhikaGupta) May 30, 2021 In an age where startup are burning a lot of money to gain traction, @Nithin0dha and team has created a model for running profitable new age startups in India. Kudos to all the people who came up in their support after this latest fiasco https://t.co/SHPtcdT0Lq Sameer Dhuri (@thesameerdhuri) May 30, 2021 You are an inspirational role model for building companies frugally, bootstrapping ,case study alternative to VC funded models.Salary is prerogative of the board and shareholders - not of every troll or armchair critics. Am pained u even need to explain. Go forth & March ahead https://t.co/zUNSYcsy44 K.Ganesh (@ganeshk03) May 30, 2021 Zerodha began operating on 15 August 2010, with the goal of breaking the barriers between traders and investors in India. So they named the company Zerodha, a combination of Zero and Rodha, the Sanskrit word for barrier. The companys disruptive pricing model has made it the biggest stockbroker in the country in terms of active retail clients. Zerodhas profit has more than doubled to Rs 1,000 crore in financial year 2021 (FY20-21) from the year-ago period. The gains are largely on the back of growing traction around online trading and stock investments among retail investors in India. In FY19-20, Zerodha had reported a profit of Rs 440 crore which was backed by a robust 15% growth in revenue to Rs1,093 crore during this period. The company had posted profits of Rs350 crore and Rs250 crore in FY18-19 and FY17-18, respectively. The unicorn startup with more than a $100 billion valuation, had earlier announced that it will buy back shares from early employees at a valuation of $2 billion. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) Hamas's top leader in the Gaza Strip on Monday expressed optimism about reaching a prisoner exchange with Israel, while Egyptian mediators seek to hammer out a long-term cease-fire following an 11-day war in the Gaza Strip earlier this month. Yehiyeh Sinwar spoke after meeting with Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, who visited Gaza a day after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a trip aimed at shoring up an informal cease-fire brokered by Cairo. Sinwar said there is a real chance to make progress in indirect negotiations that could involve the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and the return of two Israeli citizens and the remains of two Israeli soldiers held by Hamas since the previous war in 2014. Egypt often serves as a mediator between Israel and Hamas and was a key player in negotiating the cease-fire that ended the fighting. Kamel, who has not given public statements, is the highest-ranking Arab official to visit Gaza since 2018. The war, which was halted by a cease-fire on May 21, was triggered by weeks of protests and clashes in Jerusalem over Israels policing of a flashpoint holy site and efforts by settler groups to evict Palestinian families in the nearby Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. The fighting erupted May 10 when Hamas launched a barrage of rockets at Jerusalem. It fired over 4,000 rockets toward Israeli cities during the fighting, while Israeli warplanes struck some 1,000 targets in Gaza. More than 250 people were killed, the vast majority of them Palestinians living in Hamas-ruled Gaza, and parts of the territory suffered heavy damage. Today, by the grace of Allah, after this victory of May 2021, our Palestinian cause is making tangible and clear progress," Sinwar said. Speaking to foreign reporters on Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said that any reconstruction of Gaza would depend on progress in the issue of returning captive Israelis held by Hamas. We are willing to help with fixing the area, rebuilding it, construction, etc. But its conditioned with the return of our boys back home, the abducted soldiers," he said. Gantz also said the rules have changed in Israel's dealings with Hamas and vowed a much harsher response to any violations of the new cease-fire. We will brutally retaliate, but we will do it in our own time and will not accept the previous reality to show itself again, he said. Earlier on Monday, another senior Hamas official said Israel must halt its aggression in both Gaza and Jerusalem if it wants calm following this month's fighting in the Gaza Strip. We discussed several files, most importantly the necessity to oblige the occupation to stop its aggression on Gaza, Jerusalem, Sheikh Jarrah and all over Palestine," Khalil al-Haya told reporters. He said Israel must also fully lift the blockade it imposed on Gaza when Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. If this happens, then calm and stability could return, he said. Al-Haya ruled out linking Gaza's reconstruction to Hamas' release of Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, the two Israeli civilians held captive and the remains of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, two soldiers killed in the 2014 war. Instead, the militant group is likely to demand the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Sinwar intimated Monday that Hamas is demanding the release of over 1,100 prisoners held by Israel, more than the number freed in a 2011 exchange for captive Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit. Sinwar himself was freed from Israeli prison in that trade. The Egyptian-brokered truce has held but did not address any of the underlying issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel and Hamas have fought four wars since 2008. On Sunday, Israeli troops shot a Palestinian man who sneaked into the country from the Gaza Strip with a knife. The military confirmed the incident on Monday but did not provide details on his condition. The military said the suspect carried a knife and infiltrated the fenced border near Moshav Sde Avraham, a few kilometers (miles) from the coastal territory. A security guard told Israeli media on Monday that the suspect stabbed him. The army said the suspect had been moved to a nearby hospital but his condition was not immediately known. Israeli authorities were trying to figure out how the suspect snuck across the fenced border. ANTLERS, Okla. (AP) A man who struck a sheriff's deputy with his vehicle early Sunday morning following a chase in rural southeastern Oklahoma was fatally shot by a deputy, authorities said. After Pushmataha County sheriffs deputies pulled the man over for a traffic stop at about 2:45 a.m. west of Antlers, he drove away, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. The OSBI said the deputies then pursued the vehicle, which also carried a female passenger, for several miles along rural county roads. Eventually, the man stopped and deputies approached. As the passenger was being removed from the vehicle, the man tried to drive away again and struck a deputy with the vehicle, OSBI said. A second deputy fatally shot the man, who died at the scene, OSBI said. The OSBI said the deputy who was struck by the vehicle received medical attention for an injury that wasn't life threatening. The OSBI, which is investigating, said the name of the man killed will be released after his family is notified. May 31, 2021 Ryanair Bomb Threat In Belarus - 'Western' Media Narrative Disagrees With The Facts There is still a bit more to learn about the Ryanair flight 4978 from Greece to Lithuania which on May 23 diverted to Minsk after a bomb thread against the plane had been received by several regional airports. The west has waged a media war over the case claiming that Belarus had invented the bomb threat to capture a Belorussian dissident who was on board. However it is clear that the bomb threat happened and that Belarus acted on it by the book. The quick implementation of a deceiving western narrative leads me to believe that the bomb threat was initiated by those who oppose Belarus. It was probably managed by one of those British narrative managers who also wrote the books for the Skripal and Navalny Novichok dramas. But there are few actual facts to support the narrative. Its 'truth' must thus be constructed by bending the facts to fit the intended story. An example is this Reuters report which was published on Friday: DUBLIN (Reuters) - Belarusian air traffic control refused a request by a Ryanair pilot to contact the airline after being told of an alleged bomb threat, leaving him with no alternative but to land in Minsk, the Irish carrier said in a letter seen by Reuters. Belarus scrambled a warplane on Sunday and used the bomb alert, which turned out to be fictitious, to divert the flight, which was en route from Greece to Lithuania. When it landed in Minsk, a dissident journalist and his girlfriend were arrested. In a letter to the Belarus transport ministry dated May 26, Ryanair Chief Executive described previous correspondence from Belarusian officials as "false and inaccurate" and said the plane had been "unlawfully diverted under false pretences". "The pilot in command was left with no alternative but to divert to Minsk, when he was advised by Minsk ATC (Air Traffic Control) that there was a credible bomb threat to the aircraft, yet Minsk ATC refused to contact Ryanair, falsely claimed that Ryanair Ops would not answer the phone," the letter said. The claims in bold are misleading or false.They are not supported by facts but fit the intended narrative. A day earlier Reuters had published what it called excerpts from the transcript of the radio traffic between the Air Traffic Controller and the airplane. There is nothing in it about a refusal of a request by the Ryanair pilot to contact the airline. Even in the complete transcript of the radio traffic, published by the Belorussian air authority, there is no request by the pilot to contact the airline. Instead the pilot is asking the ATC to tell him the radio frequency for Ryanair company traffic. The ATC back office took a while to find it but after a few minutes the frequency was found and submitted to the plane: Pilot: 09:34:49: Radar, RYR 1TZ. ATC: RYR 1TZ. Pilot: Could you give us frequency for (unreadable) company so that we would be able to (unreadable). ATC: RYR 1TZ say again what frequency do you need. Pilot: We just need to quawk with the operation of the company, if there any frequency for that (unreadable). ATC. Do you need RYR operation frequency? Pilot: That is correct 1TZ. ATC: Standby please. ... Pilot: 09:39:30: RYR 1TZ Any adverts? ATC: RYR 1TZ Standby, waiting for the information. ... ATC: 09.42.49: RYR 1TZ we have ground stuff frequency for Vilnius 131.750 Pilot. 131.75 and we have contact...(unreadable). The above passages are not in the Reuters transcript excerpts. The Lithuanian police questioned the pilot after the plane had reached Vilnius, its regular destination: Those questioned include the captain of the aircraft who "made the decision [to change course to Minsk] after consulting Ryanair's management", according to [Rolandas Kiskis, head of the Criminal Police Bureau]. The ATC did not refuse any pilot request. Reuters is completely wrong in that. The ATC helped the pilot when he needed the frequency. The pilot then talked with his airline management and four minutes later decided to divert the plane to Minsk. The "alleged bomb threat" was of course a real one even when it later turned out that there was no bomb on the plane. The bomb threat was not invented but received by multiple parties including in Lithuania. All such bomb threats against airplanes are taken seriously as they should be. There were more than 100 lives at risk. But that the threat indeed existed at that time does not fit the Reuters narrative. Now to the "scrambled a warplane ... to divert the flight" part which is also a lie. There was no warplane in the air when the pilot made his decision to divert the plane. The Ryanair flight entered the airspace of Belarus at 9:30 utc and was immediately contacted by the ATC and informed of the bomb threat. Belarus launched a warplane only after the pilot, at 9:47 utc, declared Mayday and announced his intention to divert to Minsk: Pilots of the Ryanair flight that made an emergency landing in Belarus after a bomb threat could have landed in Vilnius but opted to fly to Minsk, Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makey said in an interview with the Kommersant daily on Sunday. "If the crew had opted to land in Vilnius, they could have easily cross the border and land in Vilnius. But they took a different decision and a fighter jet was scrambled after that to escort the plane," he said. ... "First, a bomb threat was received and then air traffic controllers warned the crew. As was already said, it took 14 minutes for the crew to take a decision. They were holding talks both with the Ryanair executives and with the Vilnius airport. Notably, our military say that no fighter jet was in the air at that moment." That the MIG was launched only after the Ryanair pilot had made his decision has previously also been claimed by President Lukashenko: Belarus is accused of sending a fighter jet in order to allegedly force the passenger plane to land. Aleksandr Lukashenko dismissed the insinuations as an absolute lie. The MIG-29 was scrambled in accordance with the established procedure of the air defense forces and in order to ensure the safety of the flight. It had to make sure that the aircraft with possible explosives on board (that was how we perceived it until we examined it) stayed on course. If something went wrong, the MIG-29 should have given the coordinates to our rescuers (helicopters first of all), who should have instantly arrived at the crash site. More importantly, this jet should have provided communication between the aircraft and the air traffic controllers if necessary. In case of any problems with landing, the jet was instructed to lead the plane to the Minsk airport runway, the head of state said. Aleksandr Lukashenko added that the Belarusian fighter jet was scrambled after the passenger plane decided to land in Minsk and turned towards the Belarusian capital. They should have thanked us for that. We had to do what we did to ensure safety in the air and most importantly on the ground. We did everything we could to save people, he stressed. I have seen lots of claims in western media that Belarus scrambled the fighter jet in order to divert the plane but no timeline or detail that would support that sequence exists. Belarus says the fighter plane was launched because the plane decided to divert. The Belorussian version makes way more sense than the media claim. There is nothing about a military jet in the radio transcript and none of the passengers that were interviewed claimed to have seen one. Lukashenko also said this: In the case with the Athens-Vilnius flight a bomb threat came from abroad - from Switzerland, the president said. The message was sent to the airports of Athens, Vilnius and Minsk simultaneously. Belarus promptly communicated the information to the crew of the plane in accordance with international rules. There have been reports that no threat email was received in Athens but Lukashenko does not claim that it had been received. He says the email had been sent to three addresses simultaneously and that Belarus acted after receiving it. We know from the anti-Russian Dossier Center that Lithuania received the first threat email at 12:25 local time (9:25 utc). We know that a later second email with the same bomb threat was sent to Minsk. The Lukashenko interview was published on May 26. He says that Minsk received the first email at 12:25 and acted on it. On May 27 the Swiss mail provider ProtonMail, used by the threat sender, made the claim that Minsk did not receive the first threat email. It continues to make that claim, which makes no sense, but is unwilling to explain what it is based on. The ProtonMail claim is feeding the intended anti-Belarus narrative. That is probably its whole purpose. Now on to the quote from the Ryanair letter: "Minsk ATC refused to contact Ryanair, falsely claimed that Ryanair Ops would not answer the phone". The claim is a reference to the report on the incident published by the Aviation Department of Belarus which indeed seems to be wrong. It says: Before this, the Minsk ACC Supervisor tried several times to call the representative office of Ryanair in Lithuania using the phone number provided by the aircraft crew, but he could not manage to contact any of the airline representatives. There is no part in the radio transcript, which was published by the Aviation Department together with the above narrative, where the pilot provides a phone number for a Ryanair office. An air control offices should have flight operation contact numbers for all those airlines which regularly fly through its airspace on file. The aviation administration of Belarus should clarify that point. There are five major claims made in that one Reuters piece which are demonstratively false. They all support a false narrative. They all put Belarus into a bad light. Meanwhile the only real information in the piece, about that Ryanair letter, turns out to be about a minor error in a report. Someone had a wrong phone number? Someone was not at his desk when the phone rang? It should be easy to clear that up. --- Previous Moon of Alabama post on the Ryanair incident in Belarus: Posted by b on May 31, 2021 at 17:36 UTC | Permalink Comments next page Public Information Coordinator Position Summary : We are looking for a qualified and experienced candidate to join our team as the Public Information Coordinator. The ideal candidate will have experience and demonstrated success in the following areas: Conceptualizing and telling stories; creating and maintaining multimedia content on websites, e-newsletters and social media platforms; monitoring, analyzing and strategizing to build the agencys following on social-media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter; and photo/video production & editing for websites, blogs, social media, and advertisements. This position will write, edit, research and generate stories and public information materials in a variety of formats, including annual reports, monthly or quarterly e-newsletters, and short videos. This position will also provide public information/media relations coverage for service disruptions, holidays and weekends as needed. This position will cultivate and build Kitsap Transits presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn by publishing original posts, curating social-media content, and regularly compiling and using traffic metrics to evaluate the performance of content. As a core member of Kitsap Transits marketing team, the successful candidate also will proofread press releases, reports, rider alerts, advertisements, web pages and other messages intended for the public for clarity, writing style and quality. With a keen eye for errors, poor wording and out-of-date content, this position will support our efforts to keep our copy fresh, relevant and in sync with journalistic style and usage. The successful candidate will capture photos and video (with DSLR and/or smartphone); this position will edit and produce finished videos using Adobe Premiere Pro. This position will curate photos and video for Kitsap Transit and keep digital assets organized. The ideal candidate will have experience in modern collaborative cloud-based software such as Smartsheet, Dropbox and Slack. This role will assist with responding to inquiries from media and the general public, maintaining relationships with media contacts, and providing communications coverage during service disruptions, inclement weather, weekends, holidays and emergencies. This role supports the agencys activities in surveying and engaging the public and key stakeholders to understand priorities and concerns; developing and maintaining community partnerships; supporting community events; and performing related activities. This position reports to the Marketing & Public Information Director. Salary Range : The range for this position is $6,056 - $8,143 per month, commensurate with experience. With rare exception, initial appointments are usually made at Step 1 ($6,056). Benefits : Full-time employees receive a generous benefits package including subsidized medical insurance and fully paid dental insurance for employee and dependents, as well as disability insurance and life insurance. This position participates in the Washington State Public Employees Retirement Plan with the option of participating in a state administered deferred compensation plan. Employees receive a generous general leave accrual and 11 holidays pro-rated based on the number of hours worked per pay period up to a maximum of 80 hours per pay period. Kitsap Transit also provides employees and certain dependents with a free transportation pass on Kitsap Transit. Hours of Work : Work is conducted during normal business hours 8:00 am 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. This position may need to provide communications coverage during service disruptions, inclement weather, weekends, holidays and emergencies. QUALIFICATIONS Kitsap Transit employees who wish to apply must have a satisfactory performance and attendance record. Kitsap Transit Operators with any of the following criteria in the last twelve months are excluded from recruitment opportunities: a current Decision Making Leave or higher in the Safety category more than two held customer complaints more than four unscheduled absences more than two late reports Education and Experience : Bachelor's or Masters degree in journalism, public relations, marketing, digital media, or communications; and three years of increasingly responsible experience in journalism, public relations, marketing, social-media coordination or digital communications; or an equivalent combination of education and experience in the fields mentioned. Demonstrated skill in photography and/or videography highly desirable. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities : Following are some highlights of what is needed to be successful in this position. Gather, analyze and synthesize a broad range of information, interpret direction and use initiative and sound judgment when creating content Ability to deliver creative content (text, image and video) of consistently high quality Expertise in multiple social-media platforms Excellent collaboration skills Excellent written and verbal communication skills Ability to follow directions, receive and implement feedback Highly organized, detail-oriented, attentive to details and technologically savvy Knowledge of Associated Press style and English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary Ability to manage time, prioritize, juggle multiple projects, meet deadlines, and keep track of delivery and publication dates Aptitude for learning software tools such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Smartsheet, Dropbox and Slack quickly React with sound judgment in stressful work situations and in response to public scrutiny Using personal computers and specialized desktop publishing/graphic design software, web content management software as well as office software in a Windows-based operating environment Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other employees and the public Working Conditions/Physical Requirements: Positions in this class typically require: fingering, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions. Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work. May need to work during inclement weather. Occasional travel and work outside of regular business hours, weekends and holidays may be required. Selection Process: After evaluating the completed applications, qualifications summary, supplemental questionnaire, and work portfolio, we will invite the most qualified applicants to test for the position. We will not make any hiring decisions until all steps in the selection process are completed, including reference and background checks. The portfolio should highlight original work and should include a brief explanation of the applicants specific role and contribution. Applicants are encouraged to show the breadth and depth of their skills in creating content for the following communication channels print, web, email, social-media and podcasts/videos. Please provide web links to the content in your portfolio, if applicable. The most qualified candidates will be invited for in-person testing. Testing dates are to be determined. Kitsap Transit does not pay for travel or relocation costs. To Apply: If you decide to apply for this position, please visit our employment link at http://kitsaptransit.appone.com/. Please contact Marianne Rajan in the Human Resources Department at (360) 478-5852 if you have any questions. Closing Date: We must receive your completed application packet by 4:00 PM PST, Friday, June 18, 2021. Selective certification may be used to achieve affirmative action goals. Kitsap Transit is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the hiring process, contact jobapplada@kitsaptransit.com at least ten days in advance or 360-479-4348 (TDD). at least ten days in advance or 360-479-4348 (TDD). If you qualify for Veterans preference under RCW 41.04.005 and 41.04.010, you must answer all questions regarding Veterans Preference in the application and upload a copy of your DD214 to your online application. KITSAP TRANSIT IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER recblid lvkcnrn6pf94zdhoqkta0sjxi5zp9i As promised to More FM Taranaki's Ken & Anna, who fundraised more than $2000 in an hour for Taranaki Retreat, we waxed (most of) Flynny's armpit hair by a beauty therapist with NO experience at all... You can still donate to Ken & Anna's 12 Hours of Hope at their Givealittle page here. Memorial Day is about more than what it seems. Its not about the cookout of family reunions. Its about remembering the soldiers who sacrificed their lives to protect us. Aiden Sacharski, 11, a Boy Scout Pull Quote Who will be around to tell the stories of how Lorainites weathered the novel coronavirus pandemic and the lasting impact on The International City? Nine local schools were awarded a total of over $35,000 in grants May 27 from Fisher-Titus Medical Center during an annual Health Education Gr A coalition of NSU students and recent graduates is seeking to relocate the Statue of Forgiveness, which the group says misappropriates Indigenous culture. From left are: Jessica Frazier, Emily Barnett, Katie Smith Henshaw, and Treybeinne Pritchett. Members of the Colquitt County High School Junior ROTC Color Guard present the colors at Monday's Memorial Day ceremony at Cobb Funeral Chapel. Lt. Col. Paul Nagy, who will retire as JROTC's senior Marine adviser at the end of June, told the assembly that all five students in the color guard had already graduated but stayed to serve at the ceremony. He said one was headed to Valdosta State University, one to a police academy and the other three into the US military, all by the end of August. "That's the kind of kids we have," Nagy said. Upstream oil and gas mergers and acquisitions have transformed in recent years as Permania cooled along with investor appetite for acquisitions. Recent M&A deals recently have been largely mergers of equals in all-stock unions. But there have been surprises, like this weeks announcement that Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation and Cimarex Energy will merge in an all-stock deal valued at $7.4 billion. The combined entity will sport a new name and be headquartered in Houston, with Cimarex owning a slight majority of the stock. What surprised analysts was the combination of two companies with assets in different basins Cimarex in the oily Delaware Basin and Cabot in the dry gas Marcellus basin. While public company consolidation including mergers of equals have been a key theme of the post-COVID M&A market, this deal comes as a bit of a surprise and may have a less clear story to tell investors, Andrew Dittmar, senior M&A analyst at Enverus, told the Reporter-Telegram by email. Past mergers have generally involved in-basin consolidation with its easy readthrough to economies of scale and efficient operations. In the case of Cabot and Cimarex, there are no in-basin synergies and general and administrative expense savings targeting $100 million annual cost synergies beginning within 18 months to 2 years - have become skinnier as E&Ps improved the efficiency of their operations, Dittmar continued. Instead, this deal is driven by financial-side metrics, primarily boosting the base dividend to be one of the more aggressive in the industry while also adding a variable payout to the mix. The increased dividend combined with the stability of operating as a larger company is targeted at attracting long-term investors, he said. He noted that both companies do bring something unique to the table as they work to add up to an accretive deal. Cabot has low debt and strong current cash flow, improving Cimarexs pro-forma balance sheet and helping fund the dividend plans. Cabots perceived weakness was its longer-term inventory runway. Adding Cimarexs Delaware Basin position addresses inventory concerns while adding the ability to shift capital expenditures between gas and oil depending on the relative performance of the commodities, Dittmar said. Cimarex will be shifting its commodity mix substantially towards gas 79 percent pro-forma versus 42 percent currently -- showing a bullish outlook for the commodity at this point, he added. Cimarexs Anadarko position would seemingly play a minor role in the combined company. Most public exploration and production companies have been more likely to exit toward single basin status, many with an eye on the Permian. Dittmar said. An exception is Oasis Petroleum, which announced recently it is selling its Permian Basin portfolio for $481 million with plans to focus on its Williston Basin assets. It is very interesting to see Oasis exit the Permian to focus on the Williston Basin. Permian deals with public companies have for years nearly always involved entry and expansion, with almost no retreats or refocuses on other areas, Dittmar observed. Oasis is one of the first public companies to be willing to sell out of the Permian and pursue other opportunities. Repositioning to a non-Permian pure-play makes strategic sense for Oasis given their focus on the Bakken combined with investor preferences for low cost, streamlined operations. However, there are few other E&Ps that would fit that pattern. According to Dittmar, the buyer of Oasis Permian Basin assets, Percussion Petroleum II backed by Carnelian and led by John Campbell, also represents a flipped script from the usual Permian deal where private equity companies sell rather than buy. Private equity played a pivotal role in the early innings of the Delaware Basin by showing how productive drilling there could be. Starting in 2016, PE firms capitalized on their success with many sales to public E&P companies, he said. However, they only rarely bought back in because of high acreage prices instead deploying to other parts of the Permian like the Central Basin Platform or Northwest Shelf, he said. The Oasis assets should be a good fit for a private equity buyer, Dittmar continued. They were sold at a reasonable cost on a dollar per acre basis less than $10,000 per acre - but have some geological challenges that hinder dense development because of their location near the Central Basin Platform. Buying assets on the edge of a basin and experimenting with drilling has in the past been a winning formula for private equity, he concluded. KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) A Chinese climber who became the first blind Asian to scale Mount Everest says he aims to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents and then travel to the North and South Poles. Zhang Hong, 44, is also the third blind climber internationally to reach the world's highest peak. Following his guides and Sherpas, he reached the summit on May 24 and returned safely to Kathmandu. He said on Monday that he was inspired by a blind American climber, Eric Weihenmayer, who scaled Everest in 2001. A climber from Austria was the second blind person to reach the peak. Personally I plan to try the grand slam in the next few years the seven summits around the world on seven continents and the North and South Poles, Zhang said. Today I sit here and think about Eric (Weihenmayer), who inspired me to have such a dream and work all the way, and eventually I achieved it," he said. So, I would think there are so many other visually impaired people around the world and also in Asia, and I hope what I did can be an inspiration for them." Zhang became blind at age 21 due to glaucoma. He has been working as a masseur at a hospital in Tibet, where he lives with his wife. He trained for five years before climbing Everest, carrying bags packed with 30 kilograms (66 pounds) of weight up the staircase of the hospital where he works. He also climbed several smaller peaks in China. On the Everest climb, it was difficult navigating the slippery trails and moving around blocks of ice because of high winds on the mountain. Hundreds of people have attempted to climb Everest from the Nepal side in May after the government opened the mountain to foreign climbers this year. The northern side of the mountain in China is closed because of concerns about COVID-19. Zhang said all of his team was vaccinated before the expedition and had a separate camp on the mountain to distant themselves from other climbers. Nepalese authorities have denied any coronavirus outbreak on Everest, but a prominent guide said there were more than 100 cases on the mountain. CANBERRA, Australia (AP) A Chinese Australian writer tried in Beijing for alleged espionage said he pleaded to a judge to reject evidence of what he had said while being tortured by interrogators. Yang Hengjun faced a closed trial last Thursday and the court deferred its verdict to a later date. The Australian government on Friday labeled his incarceration since he arrived in China in January 2019 arbitrary detention. The Associated Press on Monday saw the crime novelist and bloggers account of the legal proceedings circulated among his supporters over the weekend. Yang said he had a meeting with his trial judge three days before his one-day trial. The judge refused his request to submit evidence and call witnesses during the trial, but agreed to include almost 100 pages of defense documents in his case file. I made a plea to the judge to exclude my interrogation records from the court proceedings, Yang said. Its illegal. Torture. They had hidden camera records, Yang added. Yang does not say how the judge responded to his request. Chinese Criminal Procedure Law prohibits confessions forced by torture or threats. The prosecution case, according to legal facts, is groundless, Yang said. Yang said he was tired and confused during the hearing and didnt have the sprit to speak enough. He estimated he spoke for less than five minutes in his own defense, but said the hearing gave me a sense that things are OK. The interrogations I had been subjected to, where I was told I had to confess, and the treatment I received for the first one-and-a-half years was (sic) much worse, Yang said. Chinese authorities have not released any details of the charges against Yang, who reportedly formerly worked for Chinas Ministry of State Security as an intelligence agent. Yang told his supporters at the weekend: I served China when I was young, even secretly. Yang has denied the accusation against him, and while a conviction is virtually certain, it isnt clear when the verdict will be handed down. The espionage charge carries penalties ranging from three years in prison to the death penalty. The trial comes at a time of deteriorating relations between the countries, brought on by Chinese retaliation against Australian legislation against foreign involvement in its domestic politics, the exclusion of telecommunications giant Huawei from its 5G phone network, and calls for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus that was first detected in China in late 2019. RABAT, Morocco (AP) In a deepening diplomatic rift with Spain, Moroccos Foreign Ministry said Monday that the crisis between the two countries was about trust and mutual respect, which has been broken," a far larger issue than the presence in Spain of a rebel leader who is the enemy of the North African kingdom. The especially sharp statement suggested that Rabat and Madrid are far from resolving an increasingly nasty spat that started when Brahim Ghali, who heads the Polisario Front and the self-declared Sahrawi Democratic Arab Republic, showed up at a Spanish hospital for treatment of COVID-19. He checked in under a false identity, carrying a diplomatic passport from Algeria. The Polisario, based in southern Algeria, fights for independence of the Western Sahara, which Morocco annexed in the 1970s. But resolving the issue of the Polisario leader won't solve the problem with Spain, Morocco said. Ghali is making a virtual appearance in a Spanish court on Tuesday for alleged genocide allegations and other possible crimes that anti-Polisario groups accuse him of committing. The crisis is not related to a mans case. It does not start with his arrival nor does it end with his departure. First of all, it is about trust and mutual respect, which has been broken between Morocco and Spain, the ministry said. The two countries are strategic partners, working closely to stem migration into Europe and on security issues. The Spanish mainland is across a waterway from Morocco, but two Spanish enclaves in North Africa share borders with Morocco. The presence of Ghali, who arrived in Spain in mid-April, has been tied to a sudden surge of more than 8,000 migrants many of them unaccompanied minors who crossed the border to Ceuta, one of the enclaves. Spain disagreed. If (Morocco) is saying that because of a foreign policy disagreement it stops respecting borders and allows a massive influx of migrants onto Spanish soil, that in my view is not acceptable, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Monday. Morocco has to keep in mind that it has no better ally in the European Union than Spain. For Morocco, the problem goes beyond foreign policy to the heart of its identity, part of which is anchored in the Western Sahara. This issue has exposed the hostile attitudes and harmful strategies of Spain regarding the Moroccan Sahara issue and revealed the collusion of our northern neighbor with the kingdoms enemies to undermine the territorial integrity of Morocco, the Foreign Ministry said. A series of questions the ministry posed underscored the deepening divide between the one-time close allies. How in this context can Morocco once again trust Spain? How can we know that Spain will not plot again with the enemies of the kingdom? Can Morocco really count on Spain not to act behind its back? How to restore confidence after such a serious mistake?" the statement asked. The Moroccan statement raised the question of Madrids problem with separatist Catalans, asking how Spain would have reacted if a figure of Spanish separatism had been received at the Royal Moroccan Palace. Ghali, now reportedly recovering from COVID-19, has not been received by Spanish authorities. ___ Barry Hatton in Lisbon contributed. Nestled in the Texas Hill Country lies the small town of Fredericksburg, which has earned a top spot on a Forbes roundup of the the most idyllic small towns in the U.S. to visit in 2021. Founded in 1846, the Texas small town gem has lured visitors to its rolling hills dotted with bluebonnets and cool bungalow rentals called "Sunday Houses." Featured on the Forbes list for small town charm include Deadwood, South Dakota; Rockport Massachusetts, Captiva Island, Florida; Elizabeth City, North Carolinaand our own Texas destination, Fredericksburg. These small town jewels provide travelers with a way to get off the grid and enjoy the small town pace. TEXAS TRAVEL DESTINATIONS: These are the top 5 Texas travel destinations for 2021 "Equipped with spectacular natural beauty and fascinating historic backgrounds, these five towns are the perfect fit for experiencing the quieter side of the United States," Forbes' Jared Ranahan writes. Fredericksburg, Texas Named after Prince Frederick of Prussia, Fredericksburg has been affectionately deemed "The Aspen of Texas," according to Fodor's Travel Publication. Tucked in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, the German-influenced town offers attractions that include a wildflower farm, wine tastings and a historic downtown strip filled with eclectic boutiques. Outdoor enthusiasts might want to spend a day hiking Enchanted Rock or hitting the Texas Wine Trail. "The truth is that its hard not to love the town where you can shop a day on Main Street and still not see everything...Or spend a day touring the Texas Wine Trail in townor afternoon hiking Enchanted Rock, according to Fodors Hill Country editor Debbie Harmsen. Elizabeth City, North Carolina Located in the northeastern corner of North Carolina, Elizabeth City has been named one of the "100 Best Small Towns in America." This waterfront small town gem was founded in 1794. Visitors can head out to the beaches of the Outer Banks, Ghost Harbor or Hampton Roads. If you love the outdoors, travelers can explore the 20,000 acres of nearby state parks or head out hiking on the Fenwick-Hollowell Wetlands Trail. UniversalImagesGroup/Universal Images Group via Getty Deadwood, South Dakota If you want a taste of the Old West, Deadwood is a step back in time. The small town destination is nestled among the Black Hills of South Dakota, and the historic downtown area is a perfect spot to stroll through. Travelers can head out to the Black Hills underground mine, Broken Boot Gold Mine or go on one of the historic tours offered by a Wild West tour guide. John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images Rockport, Massachusetts If lobsters and lighthouses are more of your thing, consider heading to the small coastal town of Rockport. Venture over to the creative district of Bearskin Neck or the cool waters of Halibut Point State Park. Travelers can also head to Gloucester, Manchester-by-the Sea or the historic Salem for their East Coast journey. Jeff Greenberg/Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Captiva Island, Florida Just off of Florida's Gulf Coast, the idyllic small town gem of Captiva Island boasts miles of sandy beaches and activities including biking, sailing and birding. If you need a peaceful, off-the-grid getaway, consider some of the other barrier islands, like Sanibel Island and Cayo Costa. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription, or activate your access, to continue reading. Facebook on Friday announced that it may allow former President Donald Trumps Facebook and Instagram accounts to be reinstated in January 2023. At that time, the social media company will re-evaluate whether the risk to public safety of allowing Trump back onto its services has receded. This two-year suspension will prevent Trump from using Facebook or Instagram to broadcast to his followers until after the 2022 U.S. midterm elections. Do you think tech giants like Facebook are using their power to censor political speech and manipulate U.S. politics? Choices are: You voted: INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The Indianapolis 500 was meant to mark the return of some sort of normalcy, at least for the marquee sporting events that Americans find so meaningful. For Helio Castroneves, Indy provided a professional rebirth that pushed him into an elite club that last welcomed a new member 30 years ago. He became just the fourth four-time winner of the Indy 500 on Sunday in front of 135,000 fans at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, easily the largest and loudest sporting event since the start of the pandemic. The race was postponed to August a year ago and held without spectators for the only time in its 105-year history. Given permission to open 40% of the grandstands this year, the exuberant crowd came in droves and went wild for Castroneves' historic win for the old guys. Biding his time until the moment was right, the veteran passed 24-year-old Alex Palou with two laps remaining and the frenzied crowd roared its approval. When the Brazilian took the checkered flag, he rushed to the fence for his traditional Spiderman climb that belied his 46 years. Castroneves had been trying since 2009 to join A.J. Foyt, Al Unser Sr. and Rick Mears, his former mentor at Team Penske, as the only four-time winners of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Mears was the last driver to join the club in 1991. Castroneves became the fourth-oldest winner in Indianapolis 500 history, behind Al Unser (47, 1987), Bobby Unser (47, 1981) and Emerson Fittipaldi (46, 1993). After climbing down the fence, Castroneves ran nearly a mile down the frontstretch for a victory lap on foot. He pumped his arms in the air and waved to the ecstatic crowd, his explosion of emotional energy stopped every few feet by a flood of rivals who rushed onto the track to congratulate him. "I was drawn by the positive energy of everyone. For a long time these people want to see a four-time winner," he said. I say that because they tell me. Every time we sign the autographs, they are like, Ive never seen a four-time winner. I want to see it. Thats what probably made me thank all of them because they made this place special. Michael Conroy/AP Almost every member of Team Penske rushed out to meet Castroneves, including former teammate Will Power, who saw the final scoring pylon and had no idea his longtime friend won. I was looking up and down Who is the 06? Power told Castroneves in a victory hug. Youre a legend. Castroneves spent more than two decades driving for Team Penske and won three Indy 500s with the team. But he was eventually phased over to the sports car program, where he won the IMSA championship last season before Roger Penske shuttered the team and made the business decision to cut Castroneves loose. Penske, now the owner of the speedway, embraced Castroneves in victory lane. Foyt welcomed the new member to the four-time winners club. He deserved it, he worked hard to get it and he finally got it," said Foyt, who was celebrating the 60th anniversary of his first Indy 500 victory. It wasnt given to him and when someone works as hard as he did, Im glad it happened for him. After Castroneves, still the last driver to win consecutive Indianapolis 500s in 2001 and 2002, was cut loose by Penske, he insisted he was not done racing yet. Michael Shank agreed. Shank hired Castroneves for the Indy 500 to complement the one-car Meyer Shank Racing team. Maybe Castroneves would have a shot to win, but he'd also boost a team that needed some veteran leadership at one of the most challenging tracks in the world. Castroneves was also part of the winning Rolex 24 Daytona sports car team in January, taking the prestigious sports car event for the first time. I've run two races this year and won two races, I'd say that's pretty good, said Castroneves, who noted this might be the year for aging veterans. I don't know if this is a good comparison, but Tom Brady won the Super Bowl and Phil Mickelson won the golf so here you go. The older guys are still kicking the younger guys' butts. Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, capped his first season with Tampa Bay by leading the Bucs to their first championship in 18 years at 43 years old. Mickelson at 50 became the oldest major winner last week. Castroneves' win was a stark contrast to the recent theme of young drivers taking over IndyCar, which now has six different winners through six races this season. Three of them have been first-time winners and four are drivers aged 24 or younger. Castroneves found himself in a closing duel with one of the young stars, but he passed Palou for good with two laps remaining and beat him by 0.4928 seconds for the victory. When he finally made it to the real victory lane after a kiss from Mario Andretti, a hug from Johnny Rutherford, well wishes from just about every Indy 500 great Castroneves sipped from his bottle of 2% milk and then dumped the rest over his head. When he climbed into the back of a convertible for his true victory lap around the 2.5-mile speedway, most of the fans were still in the stands cheering Castroneves. The lap took more than 20 minutes to complete and the fans who stayed in the stands climbed the fence to cheer him as he passed. I thought the neatest thing riding around in that Camaro convertible with him was all the fans stayed, no one left. The place was packed, Shank said. I got to physically see the history-in-the-making type of thing. I saw a thousand people climbing the fence all around the track. It was just so cool to be a part of. I believe Helio deserves to go for a fifth Indianapolis win. Were going to do everything we can to make that happen for him. Former Penske teammate Simon Pagenaud, the 2019 Indy winner, was third, followed by Pato O'Ward, the 21-year-old budding IndyCar star. ___ More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports President Joe Biden View Photo President Joe Biden delivered a Memorial Day message while visiting Veterans Memorial Park in New Castle, Delaware. Biden was Mondays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are his words: Good morning, everyone. Its good to be here on this solemn occasion with so many friends Governor Carney, Senator Carper, Attorney Keneral- [sic] General Kathy Jennings. General Berry, its good to see you. And thank you for everything you do for the Delaware National Guard. By the way, I saw General Vavala this morning. Hes become not only a general, but a great friend. A great friend. He was at Beaus memorial mass this morning. Thank you for being there, General. I appreciate it. (Applause.) And, by the way, Hunter has had one shot (laughter) not two, and hes just making sure everybody is okay. Me and my family, weve tried to participate in this event every year because its an important tradition in the Delaware community. Even last year, in those early dark days of the pandemic, Jill and I didnt want to let Memorial Day pass like every other day. And there was no event here, but we came to lay a wreath at the plaza. It was the first time we did any sort of event since the lockdown had begun in March because we were determined determined to honor the fallen, to pay tribute to the women and men who braved every danger, who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Because as a nation, we must always remember always remember. We must remember the price that was paid for our liberties. We must remember the debt we owe those who have paid it, and the families left behind. My heart is torn in half by the grief. The communities were never whole again. Folks, its also an important tradition in our family. As many of you know, this is a hard day for us. Six years ago today, Hunter lost his dad and I lost my son. Its the first year after his passing back in 2016, General Vavala did a great honor in inviting us to a ceremony renaming the Delaware National Guard headquarters in Beaus honor. By the way, Id note that when Beau made the grade of major in in Iraq, I said I had been in and out of Iraq over 25 times. I said, Beau, youre now a field-grade officer. He said, Dad, I have no illusion who runs the United States Army. Its the master sergeants. (Laughter.) They run the army. Well, I woke up that morning hearing Beau in my ear saying, Not me, Dad. Today is not about me. Its Memorial Day. You should be over at the bridge. And, you know, if he were here, he would be here as well, paying his respects to all those all those who gave so much for our country, and particularly honoring the Gold Star families. You know, a lot of time passes, but you all know better than I do or as well as I do that the moment that we celebrate it is the toughest day of the year. Were honored, but its a tough day. It brings back everything. And so I cant thank you enough for your continued service to the country. And your your sons, your daughters, they live on in your hearts and in their children as well. And we have to carry on without them. But I know how hard it is for you. Beau didnt die in the line of duty, but he was serving a Delaware National Guard unit in Iraq for a year. That was one of the proudest things he did in his life. So, thank you for allowing us to grieve together today. I know how much the loss hurts. I know the black hole that it leaves in the middle of your chest, that feels like you may get sucked into it and not come out. Greetings like this and gatherings help. And while I know nothing I can say to ease the pain, I just know that each year it gets a little bit a little bit easier. And I promise you the day will come when the mention of the name of your son or daughter, husband, wife they will, in fact, bring not a tear to your eye, but a smile to your lips. Folks and I hope that day comes sooner than later. Folks, you know, despite all the pain, I know the pride you feel in the loved one and that you lost and those who are still serving, the pride and the bravery in the service to our great American experiment. Our military community is the solid spine of this country. Its literally the spine of the nation. And on my first Memorial Day as Commander-in-Chief, I want to reaffirm my longstanding belief: We may have many obligations as a nation, but we only have one truly sacred obligation, and thats to equip those we send into harms way with all they need, and care for them and their families when they re-ho- when they return home, and when they dont. And all of us who remain have a duty to renew our commitment to the fundamental values to our nation in their honor the values that have inspired generation after generation to service and that so many have died to defend. Every day since I was Vice President, Ive carried with me a card with the exact number of troops killed in our operations in Afghanistan and Iraq not an approximation or a rounded number; an accounting of every life laid down for our country over the 20 years of war. Today, its 7,036 military members fallen angels have given the last full measure of devotion, as Lincoln termed it, in those modern conflicts. And we will never forget. Theyre the guardians and were the guardians. Theyre the guardians of us, and were the guardians of their legacy, inheritors of their mission, and the living testament to their sacrifice that is not going to be in vain. Because every American democracy endures. We have been tested, and we still will be surely tested further. But I know that we as a people are up to the task. Each generation of Americans receives the precious gift of liberty. And we work to share it with more people; to make our country more open, more free, more fair; to bring us closer closer to making our American creed a reality for all Americans: that all women and men are created equal; that all women and men equally deserve to be treated with dignity; that all men and women deserve equal rights, equal protection to build up futures for their families, and hope and opportunity. The American creed is the connective tissue that binds us. Its a long chain of patriots that come before us and those who will follow us in turn. That creed holds that the ideals that inspire people to service and that us fill us with pride when we see our loved ones put on that uniform. And our progress toward that creed together, as one nation united and preserved through their sacrifices, is the best and strongest memorial to their lives. Ladies and gentlemen, America is unique. Its an idea. Unlike any other country in the world, it is formed based on an idea. Almost every other country is based on a creed, a religion, a geography, an ethnicity, but not us. Were based on an idea: that we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men and women are created equal. Were unique in the world. I had a long conversation for two hours recently with President Xi, making it clear to him that we could do nothing but speak out for human rights around the world because thats who we are. Ill be meeting with President Putin in a couple of weeks in Geneva, making it clear that we will not we will not stand by and let him abuse those rights. Folks, were unique in all of history. We really are. But those names thats on that wall, and every other wall and tombstone in America of veterans, is the reason why were able to stand here. We cant kid ourselves about that. And so I hope I hope that the nation comes together. Were not Democrats or Republicans today. Were Americans. Were Americans (applause) who have given their lives. And its time we remind everybody who we are. Thank you all for being here. May God bless you all, particularly the Gold Star families and survivors. And may God protect our troops, because theyre still out there. Thank you. The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML. French magistrates question fugitive auto magnate in Beirut View Photo BEIRUT (AP) Ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn sat before French investigative judges in Beirut who questioned him for several hours Monday over suspicions of financial misconduct. His defense lawyers called it a very important day for the auto magnate-turned-fugitive. The meeting marked the first opportunity for Ghosn to defend himself against the French allegations - including spending on lavish parties and private planes since his 2018 bombshell arrest in Japan and escape to Lebanon a year later. It is an occasion that Mr. Ghosn has waited for a long time to show that the accusations brought against him are baseless, Jean Yves Le Borgne, a member of Ghosns defense team, told reporters in Beirut. He said the questioning was expected to last several days. The questioning at the Palace of Justice in Beirut lasted about six hours, including a lunch break. Ghosn did not make any comments to reporters and Lebanese security forces kept journalists away from the gate where he entered and exited the courthouse. Ghosn is campaigning to clear his name against multiple legal challenges in France after Japanese accusations triggered scrutiny of his activities there. In a wide ranging interview with The Associated Press last week, he said he hopes the visit by French investigators to Lebanon will be his first real opportunity to defend himself. He also said he had much more confidence in the French legal system than the Japanese system he had fled. Ghosn has not so far been charged with anything in France, but could be, given preliminary accusations of fraud, corruption, money laundering, misuse of company assets, or aggravated breach of trust. The French investigators are looking into the financing of lavish parties Ghosn threw at the Versailles Palace complete with period costumes and copious Champagne as the head of the Renault-Nissan car alliance. Theyre also examining 11 million euros in spending on private planes and events arranged by a Dutch holding company, and subsidies to a car dealership in Oman. Ghosn told the AP he has done nothing wrong and hopes the investigations are eventually dropped. Ghosn was arrested in Japan in November 2018 on accusations of financial misconduct and was kept in solitary confinement for months without being allowed to speak with his wife. He fled to Lebanon a year later in a Hollywood-style escape that stunned the world. Meanwhile, several associates are in jail or on trial in Japan and Turkey, in cases related to his financial activities or escape. Jean Tamalet, one of two French lawyers representing Ghosn along with one Lebanese attorney, said Mondays meeting was the very first time of justice for Ghosn since being arrested in Japan, adding that it was the first time he could explain himself in front of judges with his lawyers seated near him and after preparing his defense. So it was a very important day for him today and he was very happy to give all the answers to all the questions asked by the French judges, he said. In a statement earlier Monday, Ghosns lawyers said their client will be questioned by French investigating judges, in the context of legal proceedings organized by the Lebanese judicial authorities. The statement added that the hearing is a voluntary step taken by Ghosn. Ghosns defense team said they have already identified serious procedural irregularities in the French dossiers. The defense team said abnormalities, which undermine the judicial process, are the result of the peculiar methods of the Japanese investigation that was the primary source for building the French cases. It is an unusual move for French magistrates to question a suspect abroad. Ghosn, who was given sanctuary by Lebanese authorities, grew up in Lebanon and has Lebanese citizenship. Lebanon will not extradite him. Mondays interrogation comes days after Ghosn was questioned by French investigators as a witness in a different case a probe into Renaults pollutant emissions, according to two Lebanese officials. Renault, along with other carmakers, is facing an investigation that dates back to 2017 over cheating on emission tests, a charge the company denies. It follows earlier investigations by French anti-fraud authorities who found abnormally high emissions from some of Renaults diesel engineered cars. Ghosn had been with Renault since 1996, until its alliance with Nissan in 1999. By BASSEM MROUE and ZEINA KARAM Associated Press UK to resettle more Afghan interpreters as NATO troops leave View Photo LONDON (AP) Britain said Monday it will make it easier for Afghans who worked with British troops to settle in the U.K., amid rising fears for their safety as foreign forces leave Afghanistan. More than 1,400 Afghan interpreters and their relatives have already moved to Britain under a resettlement scheme. The government says about 3,000 more are expected to come under new rules which broaden eligibility and make it easier for people to bring their families with them. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said that with Western powers leaving Afghanistan, the threat is increasing and has increased, including targeted attacks by the Taliban. He told Sky News its absolutely right that we stand by people who risked their lives to help British troops. They sacrificed a lot to look after us, and now were going to do the same, he said. At the peak of the post-2001 deployment there were almost 10,000 British troops in Afghanistan, mostly in Helmand province in the south. Britain ended combat operations in 2014, but about 750 troops remain in the country to train Afghan forces. They are due to leave by September along with U.S. and other NATO troops, ending a deployment launched against al-Qaida and Taliban forces in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Editors note: This story was produced in conjunction with the Record-Journals Latino Communities Reporting Lab. The journey to be the first in his family to go to college wasnt easy for Isaiah Pagan. Since his father had only completed middle school and his mother wasnt around, he was forced to figure things out on his own. When I started school in Meriden, I quickly realized I was years behind, the Platt High School senior said. I quickly got myself into the pace of learning as fast as I possibly could because I then also had to teach my brother. Pagan said he moved around many times on the East Coast through his childhood before settling in Meriden five years ago. Moving also impacted his education. The 18-year-old said the stability of being in Meriden for five years helped him improve at school. He pushed himself hard and was able to help his younger brother. The work paid off. Pagan was recently awarded a scholarship to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York to study computer systems and engineering. Pagan isnt the only Platt student to overcome obstacles to attend college. First generation college students are defined in different ways, but in general the term refers to someone whose parents did not earn a four-year degree, said Sarah Whitely, senior director for the Center for First-Generation Student Success, in a recent article in U.S. News and World Report. Kayla Martinez grew up with a single mom in what she described as a dangerous neighborhood in Bridgeport. Since transferring to Platt about a year ago, she is doing much better at school. College is really a big accomplishment for me, she said. My mom started but she wasnt able to finish and my older sister didnt go to college, so this is a big accomplishment. Martinez will attend Gateway Community College in New Haven this fall to study to be a certified nursing assistant. Her ultimate goal is to be a pediatric nurse. My guidance counselor played a big role and she really helped me with realizing my college plans, she said. Both Martinez and Pagan said they received a lot of support from the schools counseling staff who answered questions and helped them on their path to college. Marc Guidone, Platts director of school counseling, said the schools College Application Campaign is designed to help every student that wants to attend a two or four year college to apply to at least one school. We get to see students be successful and move on to their goals and thats what its all about, Guidone said. Thats the rewarding part of the job. Its nice to hear that they felt supported and guided especially under the circumstances this year. Guidone said for the past few years the program has been able to get 100 percent of its participants to apply to at least one school. You shouldnt let your situations hold you back, Martinez said. Keep prevailing, keep trying no matter how many times you get knocked down. There will always be obstacles in life and its all about how you deal with them. Like Pagan, Lyman Hall senior Alexandra Torres moved around a lot growing up before settling in Wallingford in middle school. I did move from school to school sometimes, Torres said. I think moving schools helped me to become friendlier because I began getting used to it. It helped me to become more social and develop the traits I have now. Her mother was born in Colombia and came to Connecticut as a teenager. Torres said her mother, who attended some college, created a good support system for her and always prioritized education, saying that no one could ever take her education away from her. Torres, who will attend UConn, also received a lot of help from the Spanish Community of Wallingford, a nonprofit that provides a variety of programs to area Latinos. It was kind of on me to find out how to apply and go for it, she said. Adelante helped me so much. I think the world of them. Adelante! America, a program through SCOW, is dedicated to providing middle and high school students with support, leadership skills and help to improve academic performance, according to organizations website. Torres also got help with the application process from close friends and Lyman Hall school counselors. According to First Generation Foundations website firstgenerationfoundation.org, the Department of Education reported in 2010 that nearly 50 percent of the college population are students whose parents did not graduate from college. The First Generation Foundation provides resources and services to first generation college students. You shouldnt let your circumstances hold you back, Pagan said. Theres always another way. fwilliams@record-journal.com 203-317-2373 Twitter: @faith_williams2 Memorial Day Weekend traditionally signals the unofficial start of summer, but this year it feels even more significant. After nearly 15 months of isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, things are finally beginning to return to normal. This years Memorial Day gatherings wont just herald the beginning of any old summer; theyll kick off our post-pandemic Hot Vax Summer, and for many of us it will be the first thing resembling a party weve attended since March of 2020. That means the pressure is on to make your Memorial Day cookout memorable, and to do so youll need to make sure your beverages are on point for your guests, sure, but also to keep your own thirst quenched while youre manning the grill. With that in mind, we asked some of the most trusted beer professionals we know to weigh in and tell us their go-to beers for when theyre grilling. Their picks run the gamut from pilsners and hefeweizens to lagers and Kolschs, but theyre all crisp and refreshing enough to keep you cool while you toil away in the sun making sure that meat is cooked to perfection. Check out their choices below. Kevin McGee, CEO of Anderson Valley Brewing Company Sudwerk Brewing Co. Sudwerk Brewing Co. Backyard Hero Style: Light American Lager ABV: 4.5% Summer grilling is something I probably do way too much of. Part of the overage of grilled foods at my house is because I just like hanging outside with the dogs (and the cat) and a beer. The beer is an essential part of the experience, and this summer Im reaching for Backyard Hero by Sudwerk Brewing Co. out of Davis, California. Theyve been making legendary lagers for over 30 years, and their Backyard Hero is an object lesson on what a good American-style lager should taste like. Everything Sudwerk makes is completely dialed in as a brewer, when you taste through their beers it is readily apparent the skill and precision their brewing crew has, and a beer like this, where theres almost no margin for error, is a great expression of that talent. Crushable, flavorful and has a pic of a grill on the label. Perfect. Jason Santamaria, co-founder of Second Self Beer Company Maine Beer Company Maine Beer Company Tiny Beautiful Something Style: Pale ale ABV: 5.5% This time of year, you can find me outside multiple days a week grilling on my Big Green Egg. To me, there is no better way to kick off a grilling session than with a beer in hand. Its hot in Georgia, so I like to stick with something lighter but with some hop and punch to cut through the smoke in my face. My choice is Maine Beer Companys Tiny Beautiful Something (5.5% ABV) because its light, crisp, hoppy and just goes down easy. Eric Warner, head brewmaster at Karbach Brewing Co. Devils Backbone Devils Backbone Vienna Lager Style: Amber lager ABV: 5.2% Nothing goes better with grilled meat than an amber lager. The Devils Backbone Vienna Lager is the perfect beer to enjoy while wiping the sweat off your brow over the grill or to pair with barbecue. If you dont believe me, just ask the experts: This beer is one of the most decorated and award-winning beers out there, having won multiple medals at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup. Galveston Brewing Co Galveston Island Hefen-A Hefeweizen Style: Hefeweizen ABV: 5.4% This is a super-secret, insider beer but the Hefen-A German-Style Hefeweizen from Galveston Island Brewing in Galveston, Texas, is the perfect brew for the onset of summer and grilling. Made with an authentic, German-style wheat yeast, Hefen-A is great on its own or with grilled meats, poultry, chicken, seafood or veggies. Youll have to travel to southeast Texas to get your hands on it, though: this up-and-coming brewery only distributes within 150 miles of the brewery. Pfriem Family Brewers Pfriem Family Brewers Pilsner Style: Pilsner ABV: 4.9% One of my favorite styles to drink at a backyard barbecue is a pilsner, and one of the very best in America is from Pfriem Family Brewers in Hood River, Oregon. Its a spot-on interpretation of a German-style Pilsner that reminds me of being in Germany, and for good reason: Its hopped 100% with German hops. Youll have to travel to Oregon or Washington to get this one, but thats a beautiful part of the world this time of year! Jason Oliver, brewmaster at Devils Backbone Brewing Co. Goose Island Goose Island 312 Style: Wheat ale ABV: 4.2% Goose Island 312 is a great beer to have when grilling out. It is especially good with a grilled Caesar salad. Split a romaine lettuce heart in half, spray or drizzle with a touch of olive oil, place both halves on a hot grill for 10-20 seconds or so per side. Toss a few lemon slices on the grill too for a few seconds as well. Squeeze the lemon over the flash-grilled romaine and serve with Caesar dressing and a cold Goose Island 312. Thats good living right there! Stephen Hale, founding brewer at Schlafly Beer Allagash Allagash White Style: Witbier ABV: 5.2% Ah, the joys of balmy temperatures and a return to cooking outdoors; what a treat. Since Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start of the summer season, what a fabulous time to celebrate with a beer that reflects the idyllic pleasantries of being outdoors and relaxing with friends, food and fine beer. Its not easy to narrow down to one beer, or even a particular style, but one of my favorites for this type of ambience is Witbier a classic style from Belgium that has many fine examples to be found around the world. Available in limited areas, I like to rely on my friends traveling back from Maine to bring me some Allagash White, one of the finest examples of the style that Ive encountered (disclosure: Im a native New Englander). Witbier as a style is just so delightful, a fabulous beer to pair with food or just have on its own. Closer to home, find your favorite version and enjoy the barbecue grilling season! Matt Brynildson, brewmaster at Firestone Walker Beer There Does Not Exist Brewing There Does Not Exist Brewing Sowing the Sun Style: Kolsch ABV: 5.0% When Im firing up the grill or smoker, Im not in the mood for a heavier IPA. Its a time when I like beers for drinking, not thinking beers that are easy on the palate and super refreshing. This is why I keep going back to Sowing the Sun, a Kolsch by There Does Not Exist its just this refreshing, simple, awesome local beer. Another universally amazing beer for grilling is Allagash White; its a classic. You cant go wrong with either of these when the sun is out and the grill is hot on Memorial Day weekend. This article was featured in the InsideHook newsletter. Sign up now. The post The Best Beers for Grilling, According to Professional Brewers appeared first on InsideHook. By Trish Greenhalgh, Professor of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford. Originally published at The Conversation. I think we are absolutely fucked. I think this country is heading for disaster. I think were going to kill thousands of people. According to Dominic Cummings, those were the words spoken by the then deputy cabinet secretary Helen MacNamara on March 13 2020 when she realised that the UK had no plan for dealing with the unfolding COVID crisis. And its not over yet. The UKs tally of COVID-19 cases undoubtedly an underestimate is now 4.5 million, with over 127,000 COVID deaths. Between half and 1 million people, including 122,000 healthcare workers and 114,000 teachers give or take a few tens of thousands remain too sick to work full time. Highly contagious mutant variants, which entered the country recently through ineffective border controls, are spreading exponentially, causing new local outbreaks. Effective prevention measures, such as mask mandates in secondary schools, are being prematurely rolled back. The UKs third wave is predicted to be small but could yet dwarf the previous two waves. Boris Johnsons former chief advisers warts-and-all account of political backstage events during February and March 2020, raises political questions, such as what the prime minister knew and when, as well as scientific ones, such as how the UK governments Infection Prevention and Control team could have denied for so long that SARS-CoV-2 is airborne, thereby delaying the introduction of effective measures to contain its spread. At what point, for example, would it have been reasonable to conclude, as Cummings did this week, that hand-washing and surface cleansing would be ineffective unless accompanied by additional measures to control airborne virus? Important !!! Dom Cummings at select committee (26 May 2021) Senior people did not understand asymptomatic transmission and that the virus is #COVIDisAirborne We the government failed to explain Even today Govt Comms still over-stressing washing hands@LongCovidKids pic.twitter.com/p93WsNfCR5 #COVIDisAirborne #LongCovidKids #FBLCK (@grahamja51) May 26, 2021 The day before the alleged quote from a senior UK government official, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. What scientific evidence was there at that time that the virus spreads through the air? Two days earlier, on March 9 2020, the Japanese government had introduced its 3Cs policy: avoid closed spaces, crowded places and close contact, especially when talking or singing. These three measures were based on detailed analysis of outbreaks using not just prospective contact tracing (to identify people who may have caught the disease from an infected individual) but retrospective tracing (to find how that individual became infected). This allowed public health experts to hypothesise about a possible airborne route of transmission. The Japanese government was honest with the public, explicitly invoking the precautionary principle: We do not have enough scientific evidence yet on how significantly such actions can reduce the risk of spreading infection. However, since places with poor ventilation and crowded places are increasing infections, we ask that you take precautions even before scientific evidence for clear standards is found. This prompt and cautious policy, based on preliminary but rigorous science, helped ensure that Japans first wave was tiny. Its death toll is orders of magnitude less than the UKs. The tone of the Japanese governments public health messaging in the early weeks of the pandemic contrasts markedly with Cummings description of Boris Johnson who, he alleges, behaved like a shopping trolley smashing from one side of the aisle to the other. Its Not Too Late Putting aside the important question of how far Cummings account of chaos at the heart of government was inflated by the desire to settle scores with his former colleagues, the prime minister now needs to get a firm grip on this deadly virus. Fourteen months after Japan first introduced its 3Cs policy, its high time the UK introduced measures that did more to acknowledge the evidence on the airborne nature of this virus and that will help prevent a catastrophic third wave. First, effective ventilation of indoor spaces should be prioritised and resourced. The level of carbon dioxide (CO) in room air is a good proxy for how much the air is being shared because we breathe it out. All businesses, schools and other public buildings should obtain and use CO monitors and ensure that levels remain in the healthy range (400-700 parts per million). In the longer term, building design regulations need to reflect the risks of airborne infections. Second, physical distancing should continue to be enforced. Maintaining two metres distance protects against both droplet and airborne modes of transmission, since most airborne spread occurs via close contact think of someone exhaling smoke. Note, however, that the longer people remain in an unventilated room, the more concentrated any airborne virus will become and the farther it will spread. Finally, masking in indoor spaces, which works moderately well against both droplet and airborne transmission, should continue. To reduce airborne transmission, the mask must fit snugly with no gaps around the sides for air to escape. For full protection against airborne virus, a high-grade mask, such as an FFP3 or N95 respirator, must be worn. Indeed, Boris Johnson might like to reconsider the open letter I and my colleagues sent him in February this year requesting such protection for healthcare workers. In sum, the emerging consensus on the importance of airborne spread requires coordinated measures at individual, organisational and national policy levels to make spaces safe. It is a better-late-than-never opportunity for the prime minister to demonstrate leadership. (Natural News) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now investigating reports of heart muscle inflammation in mRNA Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine recipients. According to the public health agency, a small number of teens and young adults reported myocarditis following their second vaccine dose. While myocarditis can occur after a bout of infection, the condition appeared in those who received the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. The CDCs vaccine safety group provided very little details about the cases other than there were relatively few reports of the adverse reaction. It added that the myocarditis reports may even be completely unrelated to the vaccine itself. The vaccine safety group noted that the post-vaccination myocarditis cases occurred mainly in teenagers and young adults four days after they received their second mRNA vaccine dose. Furthermore, it noted that heart muscle inflammation was more prevalent in males than females. Myocarditis usually occurs following a bout of infection. Its symptoms include fatigue, chest pain, heartbeat problems and cardiac arrest. Around 10 to 20 people out of 100,000 suffer from myocarditis in the general population every year. Despite these findings, the vaccine safety group said: Most cases appear to be mild, and follow-up of cases is ongoing. Doctors were first alerted to the reports on May 14: The vaccine safety group then proceeded to review the data on myocarditis three days later. Nevertheless, the group said it is still reviewing the reports and accompanying data. Meanwhile, the CDC posted guidance on its website alerting doctors of the unusual heart condition out of an abundance of caution. According to the public health agency, the myocarditis reports it has received so far are no greater than what would be normally seen in young people. Some doctors have remarked that the risk of myocarditis is smaller than the risk of contracting COVID-19. In its acute stage, the disease caused by the Wuhan coronavirus can even trigger myocarditis. The reports came as mRNA coronavirus vaccines were set to be authorized for younger Americans Based on data from the American Association of Pediatricians, more than 3.9 million children in the U.S. have contracted COVID-19 as of May 13. It added that more than 16,000 children had been hospitalized due to the disease and about 300 children had died from it as of the same date. The Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are the only mRNA shots authorized for emergency use in the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted both vaccine candidates emergency use approval back in December 2020. The one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which uses an adenovirus vector to induce immunity against COVID-19, later received emergency approval in February 2021. According to CDC guidance, Americans 12 years old and above are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated against the Wuhan coronavirus. To accommodate this guidance, the FDA amended the initial emergency use authorization (EUA) issued to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on May 10. Its initial EUA indicated its use for Americans 16 years old and above. The FDAs amendment expanded its use to children 12 to 15 years old. Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said: The FDAs expansion of the [EUA] for the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to include adolescents 12 through 15 years of age is a significant step in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. She assured parents and guardians that the agency conducted a rigorous and thorough review of all data for the vaccine before amending the authorization. Meanwhile, Moderna also conducted trials of its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine on younger patients. The Massachusetts-based drug company said on May 26 that its COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for children 12 to 17 years old. In case the FDA expands the Moderna vaccines authorization, it will be the second vaccine available to younger Americans. Under its original EUA terms, only those 18 years old and above can avail of the vaccine. Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said in a statement: We are encouraged [that the vaccine] was highly effective at preventing COVID-19 in adolescents. It is particularly exciting to see that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine can prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine has been previously linked to cardiac inflammation However, this is not the first instance of cardiac inflammation linked to the mRNA vaccines. Health authorities in Israel said they identified more than 60 vaccinated citizens who reported heart lining and heart muscle inflammation. The Israelis received the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine, which Israel administered to a large portion of its population. A study by the Israeli Ministry of Health said there were 62 cases of pericarditis and myocarditis identified by the Israeli government. Two of these cases died, while the rest managed to recover. Israeli health officials are now examining if the incidents are indeed linked to the two-dose Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. Pfizer meanwhile confirmed in a statement that it is aware of the myocarditis reports in Israel. However, the New York-based pharmaceutical firm insisted that there is no evidence that myocarditis is a risk associated with the two-dose vaccine. We have not observed a higher rate of myocarditis than what would be expected in the general population. A causal link [between myocarditis and] the vaccine has not yet been established, the Pfizer statement said. Visit VaccineInjuryNews.com to read more articles about the adverse effects of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, such as cardiac inflammation. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk FDA.gov NBCNews.com BloombergQuint.com (Natural News) Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) criticized top American infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci during a television appearance. The lawmaker accused Fauci of playing word games and attempting to cover his tracks regarding the origin of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). According to Cotton, the Fauci could be involved in a genuine scandal with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). During a May 23 Fox News appearance, Cotton said that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) must come clean and tell [Congress] exactly what happened. Cotton added that he thinks many of the scientific bureaucrats and experts are trying to cover their tracks on where COVID-19 really came from. The lawmaker also commented on the gain of function research conducted at the Wuhan facility, which received NIH funding. The research aimed to examine sickness-causing pathogens such as bat coronaviruses. Chinese scientists at the WIV, led by the institutes resident expert Shi Zhengli, frequently visited the caves in southern Chinas Yunnan province to collect samples of coronaviruses from bats. This could be public health bureaucrats violating explicit direction from the Obama [administration] to continue research that is highly, highly dangerous and particularly susceptible to escape from a laboratory especially [one based] in China, Cotton said. The money that the NIH gave went to an American organization, which turned around and gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to these Wuhan labs, he explained, adding that these labs then proceeded to investigate coronaviruses and find ways to make them more contagious and more dangerous. Cotton also brought up the idea that the virus escaped from the WIV facility during his Fox News appearance. Dr. Fauci has been to Congress, and he said this absolutely did not happen. But [he] is playing word games, he said. The U.S. senator added that he and other colleagues approached Faucis boss, NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins, to come clean and explain why the gain of function research continued to be funded despite an explicit ban on it. A spokesperson for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Fox News. Fauci is the incumbent NIAID director. Cotton joins Sen. Rand Paul in criticizing Faucis links to the Wuhan laboratory Cotton has been searching for evidence that COVID-19 leaked from a laboratory for more than a year now. He has also called for a deeper investigation of the pathogens origins since the pandemic struck. Despite these, Cotton received criticism for being a conspiracy theorist. Fauci, on the other hand, received more media attention when he admitted that the Wuhan coronavirus leaking from a laboratory may be true. (Related: Tom Cotton blames China for coronavirus spread, says Beijing made conscious decision to allow it to escape the country.) A May 24 report by The Hill said the NIAID director was not convinced the Wuhan coronavirus developed naturally. The infectious disease expert said during an event: [On the matter of SARS-CoV-2 developing naturally,] I am not convinced about that. I think we should continue to investigate what went on in China until we continue to find out what happened. But even before Cotton voiced out his sentiments toward Fauci, his colleague Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) engaged in a verbal showdown with the NIAID director. During a May 11 congressional hearing, Paul zoomed in on claims that SARS-CoV-2 did escape a laboratory in Wuhan. (Related: Dr. Rand Paul doubles down, takes on Dr. Fauci and the coronavirus gain-of-function coverup.) Three million people have died from this pandemic, and that should cause us to explore all possibilities. Instead, government authorities self-interested in continuing gain of function research say theres nothing to see here. To arrive at the truth, the U.S. government should admit that the Wuhan laboratory was experimenting to enhance the coronaviruss ability to infect humans, Paul said. Fauci defended himself and told the U.S. senator for Kentucky that he was entirely and completely incorrect. He denied the lawmakers claim that the NIH funded gain of function research in the Chinese facility. I do not have any accounting of what the Chinese may have done, and Im fully in favor of any further investigation. However, I will repeat again: The NIH and NIAID categorically [have] not funded gain of function research, Fauci said. Paul doubled down on his claims when he spoke to WKRC 12 on May 20. He told the CBS affiliate: We should not be experimenting with making [the Wuhan coronavirus] more transmissible. [What] if something were to escape that is deadly and cause a pandemic? When you see [Faucis] answers in the testimony, you see someone who is not genuine because he has actually been an outspoken advocate of gain of function [research.] Visit Pandemic.news to read more stories about the investigation on the origins of COVID-19. Sources include: Summit.news FoxNews.com Livemint.com TheHill.com Courier-Journal.com Local12.com (Natural News) A Canadian doctor and author of a declaration opposing attempts by the Canadian medical establishment to prohibit doctors from questioning the mainstream COVID-19 narrative says the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) is dismantling the ethics put in place after the Second World War with the Nuremberg Code. (Article by Anthony Murdoch republished from LifeSiteNews.com) I was taught in medical school that the bedrock of the Nuremberg Code is a free and fully formed consent [for all patients]. To only promote the public health measures is a denial of the rights of those patients, Dr. Patrick Phillips, who works as an emergency room physician in Englehart, Ontario, told LifeSiteNews. Phillips, along with other Canadian physicians, helped author and then publish the declaration For science and truth, which came in response to a recent statement from the CPSO saying that doctors must not speak their mind if that would contradict the official government response to COVID-19. The CPSO statement is directed against doctors who take to social media to speak their minds freely in opposition to COVID-19 lockdowns, and states that doctors who go against public health measures and vaccines, or promote unproven treatments for COVID-19, will be investigated. The group of physicians countered that at its core, the primary obligation of a doctor is not to the CPSO or any other authority, but to patients. Phillips noted that the science and truth declaration is all about informed consent and patient rights. Its a group of physicians from across the county, we are all signatories of the document itself, there is no particular author, but when we saw that statement from the college, we were shocked about how restrictive and anti-science it was. [The CPSO statement] was basically asking us to go against our oath and our ethics of putting the patients first in offering free and fully informed consent to our patients, and we knew we had to do something. The science and truth declaration states that the CPSO statement violates a doctors pledge to his patients in three ways: by denial of the scientific method, by violating a doctors pledge to use evidence-based medicine for patients, and by violating the duty of informed consent. Phillips told LifeSiteNews that the CPSO has denied patients the right to hear all sides of the story about COVID-19 lockdowns and medical treatments. Its not simply a declaration. We are asking the CPSO to rescind their statement. This is about patient rights. Phillips said that the plan for the science and truth declaration going forward is for it to grow and spread both among the medical community, as well as to other professions. We are a movement of physicians who are going to follow the Nuremberg Code, a diverse group of physicians. We are not anti-vaccine, or even anti-lockdown necessarily, Phillips explained. When asked about feedback regarding the science and truth declaration, Phillips said that many doctors he knows were shocked by the CPSO statement, but were afraid to sign the declaration due to the possibility of being canceled. A total of 151 physicians were brave enough to sign and endorse it as of today. This is really significant, he added. Now, the document has a total of roughly 11,000 signatures, including over 400 physicians. The signatories also include dentists and other medical professionals. The mixing of medicine with politics is very dangerous Phillips said that when it comes to pushing through COVID-19 treatments funded by both government and industry who have teamed up together, one should proceed with skepticism. I was always taught in medical school to be very skeptical of any kind of guidelines put out there if they are funded by industry because the science can be manipulated, and so at this time, big pharmaceutical companies are kind of teaming up with government, and all physicians should be skeptical of any kind of guidelines that are coming out that are all funded by industry, he continued. We are seeing very clearly that mixing of the science of medicine with politics, is very dangerous. Phillips noted that doctors need to be able to speak freely, we need able to debate all of the issues freely. Masking, air travel, they have flip-flopped multiple times, we need to be critical and look at evidence. We are on the frontlines. We are seeing these harms. Its tragic. Phillips says kids need their lives back While working in the ER, Phillips said that he sees daily the harms caused by extended lockdowns, notably among kids who have lost all their friends while being stuck in front of a computer camera on Zoom meetings. All these kids, they dont need antidepressants, they dont need counseling, they just need their lives back, they need their friends, they need to play, school, they need hope for the future, and thats what our government is taking away right now, and thats why we need to openly debate these things, he said. We are seeing these harms, were seeing them every day in my emergency department, and its tragic, and I cant just see all these harms and just stand by silently. I think thats true for all of us who signed this declaration, that we cant stand by silently while our patients are being harmed and not speak about it. Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com (Natural News) Iowa senators approved a proposed constitutional amendment this week declaring that the state constitution does not include a right to abortion. (Article by Raymond Wolfe republished from LifeSiteNews.com) The Senate passed the measure 30-18 on Wednesday, after the House approved it 54-38 the previous day. To defend the dignity of all human life and protect unborn children, we the people of the State of Iowa declare that this Constitution does not recognize, grant, or secure a right to abortion or require the public funding of abortion, the proposed amendment states. Lawmakers introduced the measure in response to a ruling by the Iowa Supreme Court in 2018 holding that implicit in the concept of ordered liberty, under the states Constitution, is the ability to decide whether to continue or terminate a pregnancy, the Ames Tribune reported. Republicans sharply rebuked the Courts 2018 decision, with Republican state Sen. Jake Chapman calling it an egregious usurpation of power on Wednesday. Regrettably, five unelected judges with the stroke of a pen fabricated, fabricated a constitutional right to an abortion under Iowas constitution, he said. This egregious usurpation of power will not be left unchecked, Sen. Chapman added, according to The Epoch Times. It is our responsibility, it is our oath-bound duty to rightfully propose to the people of Iowa a constitutional amendment to correct this judicial overreach. Iowa law requires that the proposed amendment be published three months before being passed by the legislature of 2023-2024, the Times reported. Voters could then vote on the measure in the 2024 general election, or earlier, depending on the legislature. While the amendment will not change federal abortion law, Republicans have heralded the proposal as another strong pro-life signal in a state that previously has defunded Planned Parenthood and banned abortion at around six weeks. Im proud that the Protect Life Amendment is one step closer to being on the ballot, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said. This is an important step forward in defending the unborn and upholding the dignity of all human life. Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com (Natural News) The mainstream media has made a sudden about-face concerning the origin of the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) by now suggesting that it may, after all, have come from a laboratory in China. New evidence has also emerged to suggest that China intentionally released the virus, rather than it having just been an accident, in order to unleash World War III. Anthony Faucis secret gain of function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) is what many now believe ultimately led to the creation of the Chinese Virus, which following its release has been used to usher in communism on a global scale. It also appears as though Fauci was seditiously conspiring with the Chinese military, which has long desired deadly coronavirus bioweapons in order to attack the United States, India and other enemies. For a while, it was completely off limits to talk about Faucis gain of function research, the WIV, or any other links tying the Chinese Virus to communist China. Now, the media is shifting narratives in what appears to be an effort to build a case for the possibility of impending war with the Chicoms. It doesnt require much in the way of a leap of the imagination to anticipate that the same murderous regime that has brought us forced abortion and sterilization, forced organ harvesting, and genocide in real time would also be developing deadly bioweapons to release upon the world, writes Steven Mosher for LifeSiteNews. And we now know that Chinas military strategists were planning to do just that. Is the CCP trying to wage a third world war against its enemies? The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) is credited with uncovering a Chinese book that claims Chinese military scientists have been working on developing a new era of genetic weapons that could be artificially manipulated into an emerging human disease virus, then weaponized and unleashed. Entitled The Unnatural Origin of SARS and New Species of Man-Made Viruses as Genetic Bioweapons, the 2015 volume make reference to WWIII and these novel bioweapons being used to fight it. Could it be that we are now seeing the early stages of that with the Wuhan Flu? Even more interesting are the direct references to modified coronaviruses, which the Chinese military views as being easy to weaponize. Chinese scientists had actually referenced SARS, a cousin of the Chinese Virus, as the ideal candidate for a bioweapon. The World Health Organization (WHO) and other globalist entities have referred to the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) as a type of SARS virus, which further builds the case. ASPI executive director Peter Jennings calls the findings the closest thing to a smoking gun as weve got. I think this is significant because it clearly shows that Chinese scientists were thinking about military application for different strains of the coronavirus and thinking about how it could be deployed, Jennings is further quoted as saying. It begins to firm up the possibility that what we have here [in the China Virus] is the accidental release of a pathogen for military use. This would explain why the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is resisting all outside investigation into the Wuhan Flus true origins, instead choosing to push the long-debunked narrative that it came from tainted bats at a local wet market. If this was a case of transmission from a wet market it would be in Chinas interest to co-operate, Jennings says. Weve had the opposite of that. To this day, the CCP has done nothing but obstruct all efforts by foreign entities to dig deeper into the origins of the Chinese Virus. Could it be that the communist regime is covering for trying to unleash WWIII? More related news about communist China and the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) can be found at Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: LifeSiteNews.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) On Sunday, May 23, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced that he would support legislation that would prevent Texas cities from defunding their police departments. The governor made this decision following a shooting incident in Austin earlier that day. Austin Police Association President Kenneth Casaday tweeted a call regarding a shooting that occurred at 5:35 a.m. on Sunday. Casaday said that no Austin Police Department (APD) unit was available to respond to the call for 12 minutes after it came out. The APD was only able to get to the scene of the crime 16 minutes after the call. The victim of the shooting was found critically injured after being shot in the head. The APD said the incident was an altercation between two drivers, and the victim may have been a bystander. No arrests have been made. On his Twitter account, Abbott retweeted Casaday and added: This is what defunding the police looks like. Austin is incapable of timely responding to a victim shot in the head. Texas wont tolerate this. Were about to pass a law that I will sign that will prevent cities from defunding police. Sanity and safety will return. The push for cities to defund the police grew in the wake of the nationwide riots orchestrated by Antifa and Black Lives Matter during the summer of 2020. This push has affected Texas, primarily in the state capital of Austin. The Austin City Council voted last summer to capitulate to the demands of Antifa and Black Lives Matter rioters by defunding the Austin Police Department by 34 percent, or $150 million. The city then reduced the departments operational budget by an additional $21.5 million, which the city got by delaying the start of police academies. Crime in Austin has noticeably surged since then. (Related: Police officers in Austin, Tex., are quitting in record numbers due to citys woke transformation.) Bill in state legislature punishes cities for defunding the police The bill Abbott is talking about is House Bill 1900 (HB 1900), which passed in the Texas House of Representatives in April and is still being debated in the Republican-majority Texas Senate. HB 1900 would target cities with 250,000 or more residents. This would single out 11 cities in Texas: Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso, Arlington, Corpus Christi, Plano, Laredo and Lubbock. Many of these cities are controlled by Democratic mayors or Democratic-majority city councils. If these 11 cities cut police funding without making a proportional reduction to the rest of the citys budget, that city would automatically authorize the state government to take a portion of the citys sales tax revenue and divert it to the Texas Department of Public Safety, which is responsible for statewide law enforcement and has its own law enforcement units. The bill also prevents these 11 cities from raising other taxes to offset the losses they get from the diverted sales tax revenue. Under the bill, cities can get state approval to cut their police budgets if expenses for one year were higher because of capital expenditures or disaster response. The bill also allows neighborhoods that have been annexed by these 11 cities in the last 30 years to vote to become independent should their parent cities defund their police departments. As municipalities across this nation are defunding their police departments, are taking money away from the police budgets and putting them elsewhere in their city budgets, this bill will make sure that in the state of Texas, that is not going to be allowed, said Republican State Rep. Craig Goldman, one of the bills primary authors. The bill has been condemned by Democratic state lawmakers who have argued that this does not address the supposed issue of police brutality which led to Austin defunding its law enforcement. Several other Democrats have argued that the bill should not punish cities for reducing the number of civilian jobs in police departments. State Rep. Gene Wu, a Democrat from Houston, argued that the 250,000 population cap unfairly targets larger, more liberal cities. If were true to our word to say why we are doing this then we should accept this amendment to apply to all 30 million Texans, said Wu. State Rep. Richard Pena Raymond, a Democrat who co-authored HB 1900, defended the bill against his own party. He said the solution to issues involving police is to raise funds. You invest more in training our law enforcement officers, not less, he argued. Thats how you make it better. Learn more about the right and wrong ways city and state governments all over the country are dealing with issues involving their police departments at PoliceViolence.news. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com CBSNews.com FoxNews.com NBCDFW.com TexasTribune.org Paola Barisani/AP MILAN (AP) Two former owners of a troubled steel plant in southern Italy were convicted Monday of toxic pollution that prosecutors say cost hundreds of lives. They were each sentenced to more than two decades in prison. Brothers Fabio Riva and Nicola Riva, the former owner and managers of the Ilva steel plant in the southern city of Taranto, once Europes largest, were convicted of criminal association aimed at provoking an environmental disaster, poisoning the food supply and willful omissions of workplace safety measures. NEW CANAAN The culmination of a day of remembrance and a return to some semblance of normalcy came at Lakeview Cemetery on Main Street this Memorial Day at 10:45 a.m. Residents filed to the sacred grounds just over an hour after a parade procession began at St. Marks Episcopal Church. The cemetery was filled with veterans, Boy Scout troops, community members and first responders. A ceremony was led by Post 653 VFW Commander Mike McGlinn, who welcomed the New Canaan residents into one of the first organized large outdoor events since the onset of the pandemic. Hampton - Douglas M. LaPorte, 63, of Hampton, passed away on Sunday, June 6, 2021 at his home. He was born in Albany, NY on October 6, 1957 a son of Earl LaPorte and Rosemary (Pomakoy) Snyder. Doug was a volunteer firefighter in NY in his younger years and went on to work for various Walmart By PTI PATNA: The Bihar government on Monday extended the lockdown by another week, till June 8, but eased some of the restrictions in order to facilitate business activities. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made the announcement on social media after chairing a meeting of the crisis management group that comprises his cabinet colleagues and top officials. "In view of the corona outbreak, a decision has been taken to extend the lockdown by a week, till June 8. However, some extra concessions will be made for business activities. People are requested to wear masks and maintain social distancing," Kumar tweeted in Hindi. Detailed guidelines regarding the extended period of the lockdown will be released later in the day, officials said. The lockdown was first clamped from May 5 to 15, then extended till May 25 and again up to June 1. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Labour and Employment on Sunday announced additional benefits for the family of workers through the ESIC and EPFO who have died due to Covid pandemic. These benefits include pension for dependents of insured persons with Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) who died due to COVID-19 and hike in maximum sum assured under the group insurance scheme Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme (EDLI), run by Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), to Rs 7 lakh from Rs 6 lakh. The decision was taken keeping in view the rising number of deaths due to coronavirus. According to the ministry, the measure will play a key role in addressing the concerns of families of those workers who have died due to the infection and also help them tackle financial troubles. "To support the families of Insured Persons (IP) under the ESIC scheme, it has been decided that, all dependent family members of IPs who have been registered in the online portal of the ESIC prior to their diagnosis of Covid disease and subsequent death due to the disease, will be entitled to receive the same benefits and in the same scale as received by the dependents of insured persons who die as a result of employment injury, subject to the following eligibility conditions the insured person must have been registered on the ESIC online portal at least three months prior to the diagnosis of COVID disease resulting in death, he/she must have been employed for wages and contributions for at least 78 days should have been paid or payable in respect of deceased person during one year immediately preceding the diagnosis of COVID disease resulting in death," the ministry said in a statement. Currently, for the insured persons under the ESIC, after death or disablement due to employment injury, a pension equivalent to 90 per cent of the average daily wage drawn by the worker is made available to the spouse and widowed mother for the whole life and children till they attain the age of 25 years. For the female child, the benefit is available till her marriage. Current benefits under ESIC Currently, for the insured persons (IPs) under the ESIC, after death or disablement of the IP due to employment injury, a pension equivalent to 90 per cent of average daily wage drawn by the worker is available to the spouse and widowed mother for life long and for children till they attain the age of 25 years. For the female child, the benefit is available till her marriage. Sanath Prasad By Express News Service BENGALURU: Facing the second lockdown in two years, beauty salons and spas in the city are struggling to stay afloat, a situation which has a ripple effect on their employees. We were doing well last year after the lockdown and restrictions were lifted. But since the onset of the second wave, our business has been hit very badly, says Manjul Gupta, founder of Bodycraft Spa and Salon. According to an industry insider, the beauty industry employs close to 20,000 people in Bengaluru and 2.5 lakh people all over Karnataka. Most salons in the city had a small number of customers right up till the lockdown came into effect on May 10, and theyve had to find ways to stay afloat. We are now going online by conducting video consultations on pedicure, manicure, and hair styling for clients, Gupta says. They have also begun selling beauty products and DIY kits through delivery apps. Dipanwita Chhabra Although she gets a lot of requests for hair styling tips from customers, Gupta says video consultations and DIY kits can only do so much. Visiting the salon is an experience in itself. The same service cannot be created at home, Gupta believes. Beauty bar Get Gorgeous too has taken things online. Last week, the Bengaluru-based salon chain began offering special manicures, pedicures and other grooming packages to customers via delivery apps. The proceeds from these services will go into distribution of food, ration and towards people working in cemeteries, says founder Maude Abraham. In the meanwhile, she is trying to make the best of situation by preparing her staff for when things reopen. We are beefing up hygiene and ensuring our employees are vaccinated. We will also be distributing self testing Covid- 19 kits to customers once restrictions are relaxed, says Abraham. GlossnGlass plans to charge a nominal Covid fee to cope with increasing costs. We are incurring additional losses in maintaining hygiene. It includes PPE suits and sanitation services. At the same time, we need to pay rent, our staff, and keep the business running. So, we are planning to charge a nominal Covid safety fee, says Dipanwita Chhabra, co-founder of GlossnGlass. Some of their staff who hail from the North Eastern states, have not returned since the lockdown last year, and a few more left before the current one was announced, she says. Pushkaraj Shenai, CEO of Lakme Salon which has 600 employees in Bengaluru, says business was half of what it used to be before the current lockdown. But he believes there is hope. While the second wave has significantly affected customer sentiment, we are hearing from our clients that they are eagerly waiting to come back, he says. Shenai, who heads the Beauty and Wellness Association of India which is headquartered in Bengaluru, says they approached the government for help earlier this month. Through the association, we have reached out to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and the state governments to vaccinate our staff and give us permission to reopen salons with stringent safety measures in place, he says. Sudarsan Maharana By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: Amid an increasing number of children being affected by coronavirus in the Capital City, lack of dedicated paediatric COVID care facilities has become a matter of concern. A look at the statistics reveals that 32,077 persons in the city had been infected in the COVID-19 first wave till March 14 this year of which 2,080 (6.32 per cent) were in the 0-18 age group. On the other hand, 33,617 persons were infected within two months of the second wave between March 15 and May 20 in which 2,394 (7.1 per cent) are in the 0-18 age group. In the SOP prescribed by the State Health and Family Welfare department recently, all dedicated COVID hospitals and COVID care centres (CCCs) were directed to create a designated 'paediatric COVID wing' within the existing facilities. But the civic body has failed to set up any dedicated paediatric COVID care wards at Covid DCHs or dedicated paediatric COVID hospitals in the city. Absence of these facilities is adding to the trauma of the city residents. Several states including Mumbai have already chalked out plans to open dedicated paediatric COVID care wards anticipating the next wave and the demographics it may target. In Odisha, the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) at Burla has decided to open a dedicated paediatric Covid hospital. A senior BMC official said though the civic body has the capacity to open such facilities in Bhubaneswar, the decision lies with the State government. "We have the infrastructure to create paediatric Covid hospital in Bhubaneswar. However, it has to be in line with the government policy. The health department has to give a go ahead first," he said. By Express News Service CHENNAI: Former minister M Manikandan has been booked for rape, among other charges, based on a complaint lodged by an actor two days ago. Apart from Section 376 (punishment for rape), the Adyar All Women Police have slapped Sections 506 (i) (criminal intimidation), 313 (miscarriage without womens consent), and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the IPC, and Section 67A of the Information Technology Act. The actor had filed a complaint at the Chennai Police Commissioners office, accusing Manikandan of luring her into a relationship on the promise of marriage. Addressing reporters, she said that even four years into the alleged relationship, Manikandan kept evading talks about marriage. The former minister was also accused of attacking and issuing death threats to the woman. The actor said she also had a forced abortion. 3-month grace period to renew enrolment Chennai: The State governments employment department has given a grace period of three months to renew the lapsed employment enrolment for unemployed persons. According to a press release of the Employment and Training department, persons, who failed to renew their enrolment in 2017-2019, now can renew their lapsed employment registration between May 28 to August 27. It can be through http://tnvelaivaaippu.gov.in/ or by applying through a registered post. Children visit military culture park in Yinchuan, NW China Xinhua) 10:51, May 31, 2021 Children visit a military culture park in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, May 30, 2021. Fire fighting department of Xingqing District in Yinchuan City on Sunday organized the visit for fire fighters and their children to greet the upcoming International Children's Day. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) Area Sales Manager to oversee development & management of defined sales segment & geographical area. Requires: HS Diploma or equivalent + 5 years sales experience within the mining industry. Experience must also include at least 5 years mill production; working with senior-level management for global mining OEM; coord internal & external global mining market accounts; drawing/working with templates thru utilization of CAD & nesting software. Essential travel on assignment to various unanticipated client sites within the U.S. & Canada. recblid 12074wjasgm9gqtl840evon9ivtso8 Sushmitha Ramakrishnan By Express News Service CHENNAI: After several alumni of Kendriya Vidyalaya, CLRI, raised allegations that a language teacher had sexually abused and misbehaved with them, the school management on Monday said that it has set up a committee to inquire into the matter. The Tamil Nadu Commission for Protection of Child Rights (TNCPCR) has also taken cognisance of the matter. "We received complaints about the faculty member over mail and we will be investigating the matter. Summons will soon be issued to the school," said Saraswati Rangasamy, the chairperson of the commission, speaking to The New Indian Express. A group of 22 alumni of Kendriya Vidyalaya, CLRI, Chennai wrote a letter to the school's principal T Rama Prasad on Sunday, alleging that a language teacher from the school had sexually abused them while they were students. Asking for immediate suspension of the teacher, the alumni said, "Now that the school has been made aware of child sexual abuse allegations against Mr Mahendra Kumar, the school is legally bound to inform the police about the same, as per the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 as even apprehension that an offense under the Act maybe committed ought to be reported." ALSO READ: #MeToo: TN child rights panel summons 3 Chennai schools The alumni have also sent copies of the letter to the Tamil Nadu Childline, the CBSE, the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights and the Tamil Nadu Commission for the Protection of Child Rights. Responding to the allegations, the school principal Prasad told The New Indian Express that they have constituted a three-member committee to "verify" the claims. "If children currently studying in our school raised allegations, we would follow different protocols. Since it is alumni, who passed out many years ago, who have raised the complaints, we have to verify the claims," he said. Prasad said that the committee will send its findings to the Commissioner of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, who will decide the course of action. One of the victims, in the letter, said that the faculty member in question sexually misbehaved with her on several occasions. "On one particular occasion, he grabbed my buttocks in the middle of a class when I went to distribute chocolates for my birthday. This was witnessed by a friend of mine, who had come along with me," she said. After she spoke about the alleged incident on social media, several alumni reached out to her sharing similar experiences with the same teacher. "In one instance, he has touched a student inappropriately multiple times. He made her sit next to him during tuition classes and touched her in various parts of her body," the alumni said, adding that ultimately the student decided to change her second language at school to distance herself from the teacher. These instances span a timeframe of close to 18 years. Urging the school to respond swiftly, the alumni said in the letter, "Several current students may be victims of the faculty member and may be fearful of complaining about his conduct or coming forth with a complaint or testifying as witnesses as he is still in a position of authority." Express News Service By NEW DELHI: The issue of reopening of markets as part of easing of lockdown in the national capital from Monday snowballed into a political slugfest between the ruling AAP and opposition - the BJP and Congress on Saturday. The head of AAP's trade and industry wing Brijesh Goel said that the Delhi government had proposed reopening of markets but the request was turned down by the Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, who is also the chairman of Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA). However, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said that the AAP was misleading traders as reopening of the markets was withheld traders with the consent of the chief minister. "After the announcement, resentment among traders in the city is palpable. It will be better if the AAP leaders stop playing with sentiments of the traders," said Kapoor. There was no immediate response from the L-G's office. However, a senior government official who attended the DDMA meeting on Friday, said that the matter of the markets was not part of the agenda and was not discussed. On Friday, Kejriwal announced that only construction activities and factories would be allowed to reopen from Monday during unlock. Responding to the traders' demand on Saturday, the CM urged them to wait for some more time until the situation improves in the city. "I can understand the troubles of the traders and their anxiety. I want to tell them that it was with great difficulty that we were able to control the situation by imposing a lockdown. They should be patient and should not rush. We also want markets and shops to open up. As and when the situation comes under control, we will open up everything," he said. Delhi Congress chief Chaudhary Anil Kumar said that unlocking construction activities and industrial production, after a lockdown of nearly 45 days, was a pointless, half-baked and half-hearted exercise to bluff the people. Review Decision, traders urge CM The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) urged the L-G and the CM to review the decision. CAIT secretary-general Praveen Khandelwal said there is no harm in opening the shops and markets in a phased manner with segregating working hours for different verticals. About 500 traders' association attended the meeting via video after which they decided to write to the CM individually requesting him to reconsider the decision By PTI NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police fined 1,080 people on Sunday for not wearing face masks, officials said on Monday. According to police data, on March 30, 920 people were fined for not wearing masks and 19 for not maintaining social distancing. On March 31, 1,091 were fined for not wearing masks and 16 others for violating social distancing norms. On Sunday, 108 people were also fined for not maintaining social distancing, the officials said. "The Delhi Police has issued over one lakh challans to people during lockdown for not wearing masks and violating social distancing etc. We urge people not to come out of their homes unnecessarily and follow Covid appropriate behaviour despite the fact that the cases are declining and the process of unlocking has started," Delhi Police Additional Public Relations Officer (PRO) Anil Mittal. A total of 1,06,558 challans have been issued by the police from April 19 to May 30, the data showed. While 90,000 people were fined for not wearing face masks, 15,184 were penalised for not maintaining social distancing, 1,193 for large public gatherings or congregations, 63 for spitting and 118 for consumption of liquor, pan, tobacco etc., it stated. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced a lockdown in the national capital on April 19 in view of an exponential rise in coronavirus cases in the city. By PTI NEW DELHI: Twitter has to comply with the new Information Technology Rules for digital media if they have not been stayed, the Delhi High Court said on Monday. Justice Rekha Palli issued notice to the Centre and social media platform Twitter seeking their stand on a plea by a lawyer, Amit Acharya, claiming non-compliance of the rules by it. While Twitter claimed before the court that it has complied with the rules and appointed a resident grievance officer, the central government disputed the claim. "They have to follow it (rules), if it has not been stayed," the court said. In his plea, filed through advocate Akash Vajpai and Manish Kumar, Acharya said that he came to know about the alleged non-compliance when he tried to lodge a complaint against a couple of tweets. During the hearing, central government standing counsel Ripudaman Singh Bhardwaj told the court that Twitter has not complied with the rules. Acharya, in his plea, said that the new IT Rules took effect from February 25 and the Centre had given three months to every social media intermediary, including Twitter, to comply with them. He contended that the three-month period got over on May 25, but no resident grievance officer was appointed by Twitter to deal with complaints regarding tweets on its platform. The petition has sought a direction to Twitter to appoint a resident grievance officer without further delay. It has also sought a direction to the Centre to ensure that the IT rules are complied with. Twitter had recently said it was committed to India as a vital market, but criticised the new IT rules and regulations, saying they "inhibit free, open public conversation". Responding to Twitter's comments, the Centre had said the social media platform was levelling baseless and false allegations to defame India and dictating terms to the world's largest democracy. The Centre alleged that Twitter refused to comply with new digital rules requiring identification of the originator of a flagged message and appointing grievance redressal officers and the purported commitment of the US-based firm to India not only sounds hollow but completely self-serving. Under the new digital rules, social media companies like Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter have been asked to identify within 36 hours the originator of a flagged message as well as conduct additional due diligence, including the appointment of a chief compliance officer, nodal contact person and resident grievance officer. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ruling front and the opposition sparred over allegations of vote-trading during the motion of thanks to the Governors address on Monday. They accused each other of having a secret alliance with the BJP. KK Shailaja, who moved the motion, kicked off the debate by blaming the Congress for BJPs growth in the country. Superstitions like using cow dung as a remedy to Covid-19 was not promoted by the BJP alone. Congressmen in UP and some other rural parts of the country too believed this, she said. Shailaja is the first woman in the history of the Kerala Assembly to move a motion of thanks for the Governors address. In her address, she detailed the achievements of the previous LDF government in which she was a minister. Investments in public health and its democratic utilisation helped the state handle Covid-19 effectively, she said. The Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) funded the development of public hospitals as hitech hospitals. The government could make historic achievements despite various challenges, she said. Countering Shailaja, Congress Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said the LDF had a secret understanding with the BJP in the election. He cited some constituencies like Thavanur and Nadapuram as proof for the vote trade. IUMLs N Shamsuddeen said a continuity to the LDF government was Sangh Parivars wish. According to him, Congress candidates prevented the BJP win in Nemom, Thrissur and Palakkad, constituencies where it had high hopes. In Manjeswaram, the IUML candidate was to be credited for the defeat of BJPs K Surendran. Congress P T Thomas and T Siddique said the LDF resorted to communal politics in the assembly election. The treasury bench claimed that the LDF would have won 10 more seats if not for the BJPs vote drain in favour of the UDF. Mathew T Thomas, D K Murali and U Prathibha MLA spoke in detail about the BJP-UDF alliance. Prathibha said she won the seat despite the vote trade. CPMs K Ansalan said the BJP had led the UDF during the past five years. Kadakampally clarifies on 'apology' Former devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran on Monday said he did not apologise over the incidents at Sabarimala after the SC verdict. Participating in the motion of thanks to the Governors address, Kadakampally said his response to a reporters question was that he was sad over the untoward incidents. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Tension prevailed for some time in front of the vaccination centre at Government Taluk Hospital at Valiyakunnu near Attingal on Sunday, after two volunteers and two persons who came for vaccination entered into a scuffle. The Attingal police registered a case and took the four into custody. Later, they were released on station bail. The incident took place around 12.30pm when two persons - in the 18- 44 age group who were not allotted slots for vaccination, reached the centre to get jabs. "When the volunteers asked them the SMS showing slot alert, they started a heated argument claiming that they were party workers, said the police. They were charged under Section 147 and 148 ( Rioting) and Section 319 ( simple hurt) of the IPC. By PTI LOS ANGELES: Oscar winner Emma Stone has denied that she is set to star in the upcoming film "Spider-Man: No Way Home", fronted by Tom Holland. The Marvel Studio and Sony Pictures project will be Holland's third outing as the web slinger, and there has been speculation that the film might see actors Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield reprise their previous renditions of the titular superhero. Stone, who played Gwen Stacy in the 2012 film "The Amazing Spider-Man and its 2014 sequel, was asked if she would feature in the Jon Watts directorial, which she denied. "I have heard those rumours. I don't know if I'm supposed to say anything, but I'm not. I don't know what you're supposed to respond as an alumnus," the "Cruella" star told MTV News. Her comments come after Garfield also shut down claims of his own return to the film series, saying that fans should "chill" as he "ain't got a call". On the big screen, Maguire had first played Peter Parker aka Spider-Man in filmmaker Sam Raimi's celebrated trilogy -- "Spider-Man" (2002), "Spider-Man 2" (2004) and "Spider-Man 3" (2007). He was later followed by Garfield, who starred as the superhero in two movies -- "The Amazing Spider-Man" (2012) and "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" (2014). Holland later took over the part and made his first appearance with Marvel's "Captain America: Civil War", before going on to headline his stand-alone films. It is rumoured that Alfred Molina will reprise his role of Doctor Octopus from Maguire's "Spider-Man" movies, as well as Jamie Foxx, who is said to be returning as Electro from Garfield's "Spider-Man" films. Also starring Zendaya and Jacob Batalon, "No Way Home" is slated to be released in December. Manju Latha Kalanidhi By Express News Service While most of us are waiting for the pandemic nightmare to get over, Kushal Roy is busy teaching 54321- a grief management technique - to those who seek his counselling on phone. The Kolkata-based psychotherapist also addresses the concerns of those who have Covid-19 vaccine phobia, telling them ways to tackle it. "Awareness regarding mental health has increased exponentially this May, also the Mental Health Awareness Month. I have been receiving an average of 30 calls a week to discuss various issues," he says. It is okay not to be okay, he believes. "Fear, uncertainty, lack of motivation, survival guiltall these are natural to surface, and extremely common during a pandemic situation. It is aggravated by lockdowns and curfews. I am trying to tell people to open up, talk, keep the communication channels open as it makes one feel better," says the 25-year-old. Roy offers free counselling through his non-profit organisation called You Are Enough. June is the Pride Month and this LGBTQ activist expects more calls for help in the coming months, especially from the community on issues such as discrimination and acceptance. "For better mental wellbeing, we have to break the stigma of mental health in society, and shine a light on the positivity and support that should be available for everyone." The alleged suicide of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput in 2020 made Roy sit up and take notice of the importance of mental health. "I felt the need to use my expertise to help people open up via free counselling to those who really need it," he shares. After a few months of counselling, Roy sat down to design a module that he thinks helps people get in touch with their true self and resolve issues related to identity crisis, job loss, breakups, coping with death and more. Most people connect to Roy via his social media channels or through email. The latter is the most common way, as people feel comfortable staying anonymous, he maintains. However, after a preliminary call or chat, he schedules an exclusive, long chat to help the person with their issues. A typical call lasts for more than an hour. Considering most of us look towards Google for answers, where does mental health counselling stand in India? "Google may seem like it has answers to all the questions, but it is also the problem. It works via algorithms, and artificial intelligence, which can never beat human intuition in understanding a problem. So, one should always choose a good counsellor over a Google search," he says. Roy is concerned about how mental wellbeing is often taken lightly and people are told to relax or enjoy their time to stave off depressing thoughts. "Depression is not a joke. Some people show it, some people dont. But if you listen to them carefully, you can hear their cries for help. Sometimes all you need to do is listen," Roy says. Depression is real. It can affect anyone irrespective of the social status, income group, career, success, sexuality, religion, political stance, race, creed or other factors. Empathy for those suffering is what society needs. There should be no place for stigma. Roy is reachable via call and WhatsApp on 9641722948. Take Note There is no perfect way or time to reach out for help. Go by your instinct. Sometimes jotting down your thoughts can help, while crying out loud can release pent-up frustration at other times. Writing your feeling down as and when they surface could be constructive. You can also talk to a friend or seek professional help. The 54321 method: step by step Lucy Rayfield By PTI Most of us have needed a good laugh over the last 12 months. Searches on Netflix for horror dipped at the peak of the first lockdown, while stand-up comedy saw a huge jump in viewers. In the world of social media, accounts poking fun at responses to the virus have also gained enormous followings, with accounts like Quentin Quarantino and the Reddit thread CoronavirusMemes surging in popularity in the past year. Weve spent a significant amount of time joking about Zoom meetings, hand-washing songs, and home haircuts. But what makes us switch so quickly between panicking at death tolls and chuckling at a video sent by a friend? As a scholar whos spent much of my career studying laughter and comedy, I often come across surprising functions of humour. Ive studied Italian comedy and its reception in 16th-century France, the political consequences of laughter in the Wars of Religion, and the historical antecedents to todays main theories of humour. Much of my research has revealed fascinating things about how humour appeals to us in times of hardship. But the pandemic has really amplified the roles that comedy can play and brought home our reliance on humour. Humour in ancient Rome Our need to laugh in the face of disaster is by no means new. In ancient Rome, gladiators would leave humorous graffiti on barrack walls before going to their deaths. The ancient Greeks also sought new ways to laugh at deadly disease. And during the Black Death pandemic in 1348, the Italian Giovanni Boccaccio wrote the Decameron, a collection of often funny tales told by storytellers isolating from the plague. The need to avoid offence with humour is just as ancient. In 335 BCE, Aristotle advised against laughing at anything painful or destructive. The Roman educator Quintilian also outlined in 95 CE the very fine line between ridere (laughter) and deridere (derision). Its still generally accepted a common position that humour shouldnt hurt, and this is particularly true when the object of laughter is already vulnerable. When the boundary between laughter and derision is respected, comedy can play a key role in helping us to recover from disaster, providing benefits which explain our tendency to seek humour in serious situations, especially in terms of enhancing our sense of physical and mental wellbeing. How humour helps during crises Laughter serves as a great workout (laughing 100 times burns as many calories as 15 minutes on an exercise bike), helping to relax our muscles and promote circulation. Combinations of exercise and laughter such as the increasingly popular laughter yoga can also provide significant benefits to patients with depression. Laughter also decreases stress hormones and increases endorphins. In tough times, when we have thousands of thoughts a day, a bout of giggling provides our brains with respite we desperately need. In the same way, we seek humour in a crisis because it is difficult to feel scared and amused at the same time, and most often, the combination of these emotions result in feeling thrill and not terror. Sigmund Freud explored this in 1905 when revising the so-called relief theory, suggesting that laughter feels good because it purges our system of pent-up energy. Even in the 1400s, clerics argued that mirth was vital for keeping up spirits, explaining that people are like old barrels which explode if they arent uncorked from time to time. As levels of loneliness reached a record high during the winter lockdown (in November, one in four UK adults reported feeling lonely), laughter has also been crucial in bringing people together. Not only is it typically a communal activity some scientists believe that our human ancestors laughed in groups before they could speak its even more contagious than yawning. Given that were far more likely to laugh at topics we find personally relatable, humour has helped people to identify with one another during lockdowns. This in turn creates a sense of unity and solidarity, alleviating our sense of disconnectedness. Literature scholar and author Gina Barreca maintains that laughing together is as close as you can get without touching. Laughter can also be a means of easing our worries. Joking around a fear, especially during a pandemic, can make it more manageable, a phenomenon known by comedians as finding the funny. This is linked to superiority theory, the idea that we laugh because we feel superior to something or someone else (for example, its funny when someone slips on a banana because we ourselves havent). We laugh because we are superior, unthreatened, and in control. In this way, joking about a virus heightens our sense of power over it and relieves anxiety. Joking can also be useful because it enables us to talk about our problems and to express fears we may otherwise find hard to put into words. Though many of us have felt guilty for seeking humour in the pandemic, lets not add this to our list of worries. Certainly, our situation may not always be a laughing matter. But laughing itself matters, and when used appropriately, it can be one of our most effective coping mechanisms during a crisis, allowing us to find a healthier balance with others, with ourselves, and even with events beyond our control. Lucy Rayfield, Lecturer in French, University of Bristol This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. By PTI KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that as the number of active Covid-19 cases has come down in the state, her government relaxed a few restrictions allowing opening of retail shops including bookstalls from noon to 3 pm and construction activities after vaccinating workers. Banerjee said that operations in the Information Technology and ITES sector shall also be allowed with 10 per cent of total strength to enable backend and maintenance works between noon and 3 pm. "Construction activities and operations in industries and manufacturing units will be allowed with onsite staff after workers are vaccinated for Covid-19. Employers shall give a prior intimation to the district magistrates concerned regarding the compliance on vaccination status of the staff and workers," she said reading out an order. The state government has imposed various restrictions for 15 days from May 16 and then extended it till June 15 to combat a surge in Covid-19 cases. "The active Covid-19 cases have come down to 1,09,806. The daily positivity rate has also come down to 18-19 per cent from 33 per cent," she said adding that during the first wave it was 117.45 per cent. The discharge rate has also improved to 91 per cent, she said. The chief minister said that at least 1.41 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been given and 40 lakh people got both doses. She said that the state government has started procurement of vaccines on its own and has already spent Rs 114 crore for it. "We have also started purchasing vaccines on our own. In the month of May, we have procured 18 lakh vaccines and in June we will be purchasing another 22 lakh," she said. Meanwhile, the Publishers and Booksellers Guild welcomed the decision of the state government to allow book shops to open shutters from noon to 3 pm. "We had urged the chief minister to allow book shops to open in the interest of readers, writers, publishers and book sellers. We are happy she responded to our plea," Guild President Tridib Chatterjee said. Real estate sector body CREDAI said also welcomed the decision to allow construction activities saying that realty farms will vaccinate workers. Computer: DB Global Technology Inc. seeks Assistant Vice President in Cary, NC to dvlp & maintain state-of-the-art systs operations to support international global technology & operations srvcs. Reqs: Bachelors in Comp Engg, CS or rel. field or equiv & 5 yrs of progressively responsible exp using advanced syst. technology, incl Unix, Linux, Java, Python, C, & C++, in connection w/ the dsgn, dvlpmt & support of advanced systs apps that meet bus. needs & syst. specifications. 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Apply at https://www.db.com/careers/en/prof/role-search/role-search-overview.html & search by profls, keyword MR5188674. recblid kfnhse16d9p043juxxqul94cdjaqrd By Express News Service BHOPAL: The Special Investigation Team probing the high-profile honey trap case in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday sent a notice to the state's Opposition leader and former CM Kamal Nath asking him to hand over the pen drive/CD pertaining to the case. In the notice sent to Nath, the SIT informed that the pen drive/DC was a piece of extremely important evidence that could make the probe much easier. In an apparent threat to the ruling BJP government in the state, Nath, at a recent press conference, said he is still in possession of the pen drive/ CD relating to the scandal. Five women and a man were arrested in Bhopal and Indore in September 2019 for allegedly trapping well-placed people, including politicians, and blackmailing them with objectionable videos. The ex-CM has also been asked to be present at his residence in Bhopal at 12.30 pm on June 2 for questioning. On May 21, responding to a question on FIR against his former Cabinet colleague and Congress leader Umang Singar over the suicide of a 40-year-old woman, Nath asked the BJP not to play dirty politics. He then warned the government that he has a pen drive/CD relating to the honey trap case. Rajesh Kumar Thakur By Express News Service PATNA: On completion of 7 years of BJP government in the Centre, thousands of workers of Bihar BJP unit on Sunday conducted welfare activities to serve the people across the state amidst the coronavirus crisis. The BJP leaders distributed soaps, hand sanitizers, face masks and the immunity kits among the people in rural areas. Minister of Labour Resource department Jivesh Kumar, attending the initiative called Seva Hi Sangathan (service is an organisation) at Patna, said that the BJP's commitment has always been sabka sath, sabka vikas aur sabka vishwas. Kumar was one of the party leaders who distributed the immunity kits to the people besides other items to fight against the Covid pandemic. According to BJP sources, the party leaders and workers organise Seva Hi Sangathan at 38,000 polling booths located in 23,000 villages in a day. "This a collective week-long reach out to the people who have been behind the BJP to work for the nation and the state for their services, Kumar said. Elated on being given an immunity kit, Ramesh Kumar in Vaishali said that it was a great to have a kit as it was needed to his family members. He said that the prime minister's mantra of politics for people's prosperity, peace and their well-being has got a massive acceptance in the public. "Modi hai to mumkin hai, he said. Expressing gratitude to the public on the completion of 7 years of the current Central Government under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, BJP State President Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal said, "With the work done by the Prime Minister with the basic mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Biswas, people are realizing after a long time that there is a political party for which power is the medium of service, not the raising of wealth. Dr Jaiswal also said that people's temperature, pulse, oxygen level, blood glucose were also checked at many places. Apart from this, blood donation camps were also organized by BJP Yuva Morcha, Mahila Morcha and Kisan Morcha at 28 places in the last 3 days, where our youth party workers donated their blood, he added. Pranab Mondal By Express News Service KOLKATA: The BJP's central leadership has asked leaders of the party's West Bengal unit not to make comments on the transfer of the state chief secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay to New Delhi. Sources said that the aim is to keep the partys Bengal unit out of the controversy that has erupted over the transfer of the state's top bureaucrat, which was announced hours after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee skipped a cyclone review meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. The ruling Trinamool Congress has claimed that Bandopadhyay's transfer is yet another example of the BJP practising vendetta politics after its dismal performance in the state Assembly elections. "Our national leadership has asked us to desist from making any comments related to the chief secretary's transfer. It seems, the party wants to make it clear that it was the Union governments decision, and that the state BJP had no role to play," a senior BJP functionary said in Kolkata. Reacting to Bandopadhyay's transfer, Mamata said the BJP has not been able to digest its poor results in the recently-held Assembly elections. She also charged that the Centre is trying to cause harm to the state by transferring an officer who was overseeing relief operations in areas affected by Cyclone Yaas as well as the states fight against COVID-19. Both the CPM and Congress also echoed Mamata and described the Centres transfer order to Bandopadhyay, issued without consulting the state government, as revenge for the TMC defeating the BJP in the state. Sources in the state secretariat said Bandopadhyay is not likely to report in Delhi on Monday. "He will attend a meeting headed by the chief minister over the issue of the post-cyclone situation and relief operations," said an official of the state government. The state government is yet to give a clearance to report to Delhi over Banopadhyays transfer. Nor has the Centre responded to the state governments request to withdraw his transfer letter. Notable, the West Bengal government had sought a three-month tenure extension for Bandyopadhyay, who was scheduled to retire on May 31. The Centre had approved it. By PTI NEW DELHI: The government will take a final decision within the next two days on whether to conduct class 12 board exams amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Supreme Court was informed on Monday. Attorney General KK Venugopal told this to a bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari which said if the Centre decides to depart from the last year's policy, wherein the remaining board exams were cancelled due to the pandemic, then it must give "tangible reasons" for it. "No issue. You take the decision. You are entitled to it. If you are departing from the policy of last year, then you must give tangible reasons for it," the bench told Venugopal. Observing that the last year's decision was taken after deliberations, the apex court said, "If you are departing from that policy, please give us good reasons so that we can examine it." The bench was hearing a plea seeking directions to cancel the class 12 exams of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) amid the pandemic situation. The apex court on June 26, 2020 had approved the schemes of the CBSE and CISCE for cancellations of remaining board examinations scheduled from July 1 to 15 last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and also approved their formula for assessment of examinees. During the hearing conducted through video-conferencing on Monday, the Attorney General told the bench, "The government will take a final decision within the next two days. We are hoping that your lordships will give us time till Thursday (June 3) so that we can come back with the final decision." Venugopal said that last year, board exams for some papers were over before the COVID-19 induced national lockdown was imposed in March 2020. "We don't want to go into the nitty-gritty at this stage. You take the decision. Hope has been expressed by the petitioner that policy adopted last year can be adopted this year too. If you are departing from that, you must have tangible reasons for it," the bench observed. To this, Venugopal said, "We will keep this in mind what you (bench) have said." The bench said, "We have no difficulty. You take the decision on what should be appropriate given the situation we are in." During the hearing, petitioner Mamta Sharma raised the issue of difficulty which students, who wish to study abroad after class 12, might face in case the results are delayed. "Let them take the decision. Depending on that, we will see. We will consider this on Thursday when the in-principle decision is placed before us," the bench said. "List on Thursday (June 3) as requested by the attorney general as the competent authority is examining all the aspects of the matter and is likely to take in-principle decision which will be placed before the court," the bench said. On May 28, the apex court had said it would hear on May 31 the petition which has also sought directions to devise an "objective methodology" to declare the result of class 12 within a specific time frame. The top court had permitted the petitioner to serve advance copy of the plea on the standing counsel for the respondents -- central agency, CBSE, ICSE -- and also on the office of the Attorney General. The petition has arrayed the Centre, the CBSE and the CISCE as respondents in the matter. The CBSE had on April 14 announced cancellation of class 10 exams and postponement of class 12 exams in view of the surge in coronavirus cases. The Ministry of Education had recently sought detailed suggestions from the states and Union Territories till May 25 on the proposals discussed in a high-level meeting held on the issue. The CBSE had proposed conducting the exams between July 15-August 26 and the result to be declared in September. The board had also proposed two options: conducting regular exams for 19 major subjects at notified centres or conducting shorter duration exams at respective schools where students are enrolled. The plea filed in the apex court has contended that due to the unprecedented health emergency and surge in COVID-19 cases in the country, it is not possible to conduct the examination and any further delay would cause irreparable loss to the future of students. "In view of the unprecedented health emergency and rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country, the conduct of examination (either offline/online/blended) in upcoming weeks is not possible and delay in examination will cause irreparable loss to the students as time is the essence in taking admission in higher education courses in foreign universities," the plea said. It has also sought setting aside of the notifications, issued last months by the CBSE and the CISCE, only in respect of the clauses dealing with postponement of class 12 examinations. The petition said it is the utmost duty of the state to take care of the health and safety of students and at the same time, not to hamper their higher education and career prospects. It said the COVID-19 situation is more severe in comparison to last year and the respondents should adopt the same criteria of assessing the grading/marks of class 12 students as done last year. It said that the apex court may exercise its plenary power under Article 142 of the Constitution to direct the respondents to implement the same methodology as being adopted for class 10 to declare the result and cancel the class 12 exam. By PTI NEW DELHI: France announced on Monday that it will send additional medical supplies, including around 16 large oxygen generation plants, to India to support the country's fight against the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement was made by the French embassy days after French President Emmanuel Macron held a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. French ambassador Emmanuel Lenain said there cannot be a global victory against the coronavirus without India. This is the "largest solidarity operation" that France has carried out since the outbreak of the pandemic and it reflects the long-standing, two-way solidarity between the two countries that lies at the "heart of our strategic partnership", the French embassy said. It said a special cargo plane with 10 oxygen generation plants will reach India in mid-June and another plane will follow. Each of these French-made, high-capacity plants produces 24,000 litres of life-saving gas per hour and can make a 250-bed Indian hospital self-reliant in oxygen for a dozen years, it said in a statement. "At the request of President Emmanuel Macron, France is bringing in additional support to India to continue fighting the second wave together. Several shipments are underway, which will double the support provided so far," the embassy said. It said France and India have set up an oxygen bridge across the Indian Ocean to bring liquid oxygen donated by French multinational Air Liquide, adding that the Indian Navy has already brought 180 tonnes of liquid oxygen using the facility. "France will deliver at least twice as many oxygen generation plants as the eight already delivered early May. A special cargo flight with 10 units will reach India mid-June and another flight will follow," it said. It further added that several hundred oxygen concentrators, as well as high-grade ventilators, will reach India in the coming days. "As discussed between President Macron and Prime Minister Modi in their May 26 call, France is doubling its support to India against the pandemic. It shows the solidarity of the French people, who have not forgotten that India helped us when France faced its first wave," Lenain said. "There cannot be a global victory against the virus without India. Together, we can show the way of international cooperation against the pandemic and the need for a multilateral response," he added. The embassy said the solidarity mission is being carried out using resources of the French government, over 50 French companies operating in India and the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry. "In addition, gestures of solidarity have poured in from French individuals, NGOs, private companies and French regions. In total, the combined support amounts to more than Rs 55 crore," it said. On May 2, France delivered 28 tonnes of ready-to-use medical supplies, including eight large oxygen plants, to India as part of the first phase of its solidarity mission. As India battles a devastating second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, around 40 countries have sent medical supplies, including oxygen-related equipment, to help it tide over the situation. Besides France, the leading countries that have supplied assistance to India include the US, Russia, Germany, Australia, Ireland, Belgium, Romania, Luxembourg, Singapore, Portugal, Sweden, New Zealand, Kuwait and Mauritius. By PTI NEW DELHI: BJP leaders "criticise and abuse" Arvind Kejriwal whenever he works for the people, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged on Monday, while asserting that the chief minister will continue to demand COVID-19 vaccines, despite the attack on him by the ruling party at the Centre. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief JP Nadda have "criticised and abused" Kejriwal as he has started demanding more vaccines for Delhi, he said. "BJP leaders have been criticising and abusing Kejriwal because they want to cover up the failure of their government in vaccine management. But no matter how much they abuse, Kejriwal will continue to demand vaccines for the people of Delhi," Sisodia said at an online briefing. The BJP is trying to stop Kejriwal's mass vaccination drive, he alleged while suggesting that the saffron party should focus on inoculating people, instead of playing "dirty politics". "Every time Arvind Kejriwal begins his work towards helping people and managing the COVID-19 crisis, BJP leaders, instead of following the lead, start talking nonsense, abuse him and try to stop his efforts," Sisodia said. He also claimed that the BJP stopped Delhi's medical oxygen supply and that it was Kejriwal who fought for its resumption to save lives. Khattar had said Kejriwal is giving out vaccines "too fast", while Nadda is also making "condemnable" statements, Sisodia said. "They may continue saving the vaccines and selling those but the Kejriwal government's mission is to vaccinate all people and protect them," he said. When it was time for vaccine procurement, the BJP was busy in "poll management and image management" and now, its leaders are asking to vaccinate people slowly to save vaccines, he added. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the national capital is committed to getting every person in Delhi inoculated before the third wave of the coronavirus, the deputy chief minister said. By PTI MUMBAI: Jesuit priest and activist Stan Swamy, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, has tested positive for coronavirus. Swamy (84), who is suffering from Parkinson's disease and several other ailments, was shifted from the Taloja prison in neighbouring Navi Mumbai to the Holy Family Hospital here on May 28, following the Bombay High Court's orders. His lawyer Mihir Desai said that Swamy was tested at the private hospital and his result came out positive for the coronavirus on Sunday. Desai alleged that this was a result of "criminal negligence" on part of the Taloja prison authorities, who failed to provide adequate care to the inmates and conduct their RT-PCR tests timely. On May 28, a bench of Justices SS Shinde and NR Borkar directed the state prison authorities to ensure Swamy was shifted from the Taloja prison to the hospital, after Desai moved the bench seeking an urgent hearing. Swamy had been in the Taloja prison hospital since his arrest in the case in October 2020. Desai had earlier moved a vacation bench led by Justice SJ Kathawala, seeking medical aid and bail for Swamy on health grounds. At that time, the bench said while the issue of medical bail would be decided later, Swamy could be shifted to the state-run JJ Hospital in Mumbai for treatment. Swamy, who was then present before the court via video-conferencing, refused to get admitted to the JJ Hospital, saying he had been there twice earlier already but found no relief. He had said that he would rather die in prison than go to the JJ Hospital. Swamy had told the HC that his mental and physical health declined steadily while at the Taloja prison. He had urged the HC for interim bail. Advocate Desai had told the bench that considering his ill health and co-morbidities, Swamy was at the risk of contracting the coronavirus infection. Swamy had said he was also worried about his co-inmates at the hospital. On both the hearings, the NIA's counsel, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, and the state's counsel, YP Yagnik, objected to advocate Desai's request. They had said the state could not be expected to bear the cost of Swamy's treatment at the private hospital and suggested he may be shifted to the JJ Hospital. The bench led by Justice Shinde, however, permitted Swamy to be shifted to the Holy Family Hospital after Desai said the cost of treatment would be borne by Swamy and his aides. The Elgar Parishad case is related to inflammatory speeches made at a conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, which, the police claimed, triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial located on the outskirts of the western Maharashtra city. The police have also claimed the conclave was organised by people with alleged Maoist links. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) later took over the probe into the case. By PTI NEW DELHI: Highlighting "digital divide" between rural and urban India, the Supreme Court Monday posed searching queries to the Centre on mandatory registration on CoWIN for COVID jabs, vaccine procurement policy and differential pricing, saying the policymakers "must-have ears on ground" to effectively deal with the "unprecedented" crisis. Asking the Centre to "smell the coffee" and ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are available at the same price across the nation, a special bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud advised the government to be flexible with its policies to deal with the "dynamic pandemic situation". "We are not framing the policy. There is an order of April 30 that these are the problems. You should be flexible. You cannot just say that you are the Centre and you know what is right. We have a strong arm to come down on this," said the bench which also comprised justices L N Rao and S Ravindra Bhat. Towards the end of the hearing, the bench however hailed the Centre and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for the efforts to deal with the pandemic saying, "The idea is not to criticize or pull down anybody. When the EAM went to the USA and entered into the dialogue, it showed the importance of the situation". Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the central government, also referred to the one-to-one talks undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with heads of various nations to effectively deal with the situation and urged the bench not to pass any order which may impede the ongoing diplomatic and political efforts to get the vaccines. "The purpose of this hearing is dialogic. The purpose is to create dialogue so that the voices of others can be heard," the bench said, adding, "We will not say anything which will impede the welfare of the nation." Mehta also informed the top court about the normalising pandemic situation and said the entire eligible population (above 18 years of age) would be vaccinated by the end of 2021 and if ongoing talks with companies like Pfizer succeed then the timeline for completing the vaccination may get advanced. Justice Chandrachud, who himself is recovering from coronavirus infection, questioned the vaccine procurement policy and raised the issue of digital divide questioning the policy of mandatory registration on CoWIN App for jabs. "You keep on saying the situation is dynamic but policy makers must have their ears on ground. You keep on saying 'digital India, digital India' but the situation is actually different in rural areas. How will an illiterate labourer from Jharkhand get registered in Rajasthan? Tell us how you will address this digital divide," the bench asked. "You must smell the coffee and see what is happening across the country. You must know the ground situation and change the policy accordingly. If we had to do it, we would have done it 15-20 days back," it said. Mehta replied that registration is mandatory as a person needs to be traced for a second dose and as far as rural areas are concerned, there are community centres where a person can get registered for vaccination. The bench asked the Centre to place the policy document before it on record. "If we say there is a problem, we expect you to look into it. Digital literacy in India is far from perfect. I am the Chairman of the (Supreme Court) e-Committee. I have seen the problems which afflict this. You have to be flexible and keep your ears on the ground," the bench said. On the Centre's procurement policy, it referred to the fact that states like Punjab and Delhi are in the process of issuing global tenders to procure foreign vaccines for COVID-19. The bench said even Municipal Corporation like BMC has received bids. "Is this the policy of the central government that the state or municipal corporation can procure the vaccine or the Union Government is going to procure for them like a nodal agency? We want clarity on this and rationale behind this policy," the bench said. It asked the law officer to address dual pricing policy and said, "we have some concerns. Now we have a spectacle, where different municipal corporations, different states are issuing global tenders. We want to know, is this the policy of the Government of India. Does the Centre contemplate that for the procurement for foreign vaccines, that there will be individual states or corporations submitting bids or are you going to be a nodal agency for the bids." It said: "Till date we have not seen the policy document which articulates this. We want to see the files. We want to know the rationale. To say that the Centre will procure at a lesser price, and manufacturers are free to sell it at a particular price to others, we want to know the rationale." It said that India has a federal structure and the individual states cannot be "left in lurch" and the Centre should procure and distribute it among the states. "What is the vaccine policy of India. Do you treat yourselves as one National Agency and procure for the States or have the States been left on their own," the bench asked. The bench also heard submissions from senior advocates and amicus curiae Jaideep Gupta and Meenakshi Arora on various aspects related to COVID-19 management in the country and asked the Centre to file an affidavit within two weeks on issues raised and discussed during the hearing. The top court was hearing a suo motu case on the management of the COVID situation in the country. By PTI NEW DELHI: Greenpeace India on Monday urged the World Trade Organization (WTO) to waive intellectual property and patent rights on Covid vaccines, saying equity and access gaps in inoculation rates of rich and poor countries is costing lives. In an open letter to the WTO, it also said India is facing a massive shortage of vaccines and the WTO's decision on intellectual property and patent rights on vaccines could either strengthen the fight against the Covid pandemic or lead to a battle that cannot be won. The letter comes ahead of the WTO TRIPs (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) Council meet from June 8-9. "Nine out of 10 people in developing countries may not receive a vaccine in 2021. India is facing a massive shortage of COVID-19 vaccines necessary to tackle the pandemic. The decisions by the WTO and the member delegates will either strengthen the fight against the pandemic or condemn a large section of the world's population to fight a losing battle against it," said the Greenpeace letter addressed to WTO director general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. It also said that big pharmaceutical companies were not willing to share the science and technology to augment production of vaccines, delaying rollout in several countries. "The unwillingness of big pharmaceutical companies to share the science and technology that is essential to ramp up production is delaying vaccine rollout in the Global South. In fact, the World Health Organisation referred to it as a 'vaccine apartheid'," the letter said. The knowledge developed by these companies was significantly funded by public money hence, it is only logical that this knowledge is widely shared for the greater good, it said. "This is the time to record the power of humanity, not profits. A pandemic anywhere is a pandemic everywhere," the letter said. Greenpeace India said that the letter is open for citizens to endorse. "We urge the international community to stand with us and support India and South Africa's demand to waive intellectual property and patent rights on vaccines. This is not just a health emergency but part of the larger climate and biodiversity crisis plaguing the globe. How the world responds to this pandemic will teach us what is possible for us as humanity - can we respond as a community?" the letter said. In October last year, India and South Africa had called for TRIPs waiver of certain intellectual property provisions of COVID-19 vaccines to the WTO. Both the nations championed for the developing and poor countries to get access to life-saving vaccines and therapeutics as soon as possible, Greenpeace India said. It said the global response to the "vaccine apartheid" as termed by the WHO reflects the inept nature of handling the global crisis by the countries of the world. Greenpeace India's Senior Climate Campaigner Avinash Chanchal said that the scale and spirit of international collaboration to address this humanitarian concern is missing. "The response seems to indicate an approach of each unto themselves and a similar attitude reflects in the nature of the response to the on-going climate crises," he said. The WTO council meeting on vaccine equity is a global moment for nations also to signal their willingness to be part of journeys towards greater justice and cooperation between the Global North and South, Chanchal said. "The pandemic is not a singular event and needs to be seen as a part of many such moments of crisis that could indicate the nature of the evolving climate crisis as we struggle to stay below 1.5 degrees. The pandemic has offered an opportunity to reimagine our food systems, cities, mobility and access to basic facilities," he said. Chanchal added that the vaccine crisis is not unique to India alone and many other countries like Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Argentina are facing similar challenges. "These countries are equally vulnerable to climate change. The act of the multilateral organisations and leaders of nations now during this global crisis, be it with solidarity or insularity will signal to the world the willingness of the richer nations to act together and support the fight on climate change. It is a moment to build greater confidence and support to work together for a better, greener, equitable, sustainable world," he said. By PTI AHMEDABAD: Prominent associations representing doctors in Gujarat on Monday approached the Ahmedabad city police and sought registration of an FIR against yoga guru Ramdev for his alleged disparaging remarks against modern medicine and its practitioners. Senior doctors and office-bearers of the Gujarat unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Ahmedabad Medical Association (AMA) submitted separate applications to the Navrangpura police, seeking action against Ramdev, who is in the eye of a storm over his remarks on allopathy and vaccines. They urged the police to lodge an FIR against Ramdev under relevant sections of the Epidemic Diseases Act and the Disaster Management Act (invoked in view of the COVID-19 pandemic). Police said they have accepted the "memorandums" from the doctors. "We have accepted the memorandums given by the IMA and the AMA. However, the issue they have raised is beyond our jurisdiction," said Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone-1, Ravindra Patel. No FIR will be lodged in the city, he said. In the application, the IMA alleged that Ramdev was trying to incite people against doctors by claiming that allopathy is a "stupid science" and "lakh of people died after consuming allopathy medicines". "Ramdev talked rubbish about modern medicine. He even said people need not take vaccine against coronavirus. If people do not take vaccine, it will be difficult to stop the third (coronavirus) wave. "We want the police to take action against Ramdev for his comments," said Dr Devendra Patel, President, IMA-Gujarat. Dr Mona Desai, immediate past president, AMA, said at the time of a pandemic, Ramdev is "misguiding people" and using "bad words" for doctors who have served people by risking their own lives. AMA president Kirit Gadhavi even sought pressing of sedition charges against Ramdev for "downplaying the importance of coronavirus vaccine". A few days ago, Ramdev was forced to withdraw a statement made in a viral video clip in which he is heard questioning some of the medicines being used to treat the coronavirus infection and saying that "lakhs have died from taking allopathic medicines for COVID-19". The IMA, the apex medical body of modern doctors, had served a defamation notice on Ramdev for his remarks. By PTI KOLKATA: The West Bengal government on Monday claimed before the Calcutta High Court that a division bench cannot hear the CBI's application for transfer of the Narada sting tape case from a lower court to itself, and said that a single bench should take it up. A division bench of the high court had referred the matter to a larger bench of five judges following differences between Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Arijit Banerjee over granting interim bail to two West Bengal ministers, an MLA and a former mayor of the city, arrested by the CBI in the Narada sting tape case. The CBI has sought transfer of the case alleging extraordinary circumstances wherein West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sat on a dharna in the CBI office after the arrests and the agency not being able to produce the four accused in court physically owing to unruly protests by a large number of people outside its office complex. Advocate General Kishore Dutta, appearing for the state, submitted that a division bench does not have jurisdiction to hear a transfer application and it should be taken up by a single bench. Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta objected to the submission of the AG, claiming that the state does not want the court to hear the matter on merits. The five-judge bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and justices I P Mukerji, Harish Tandon, Soumen Sen and Arijit Banerjee, adjourned hearing in the matter till Tuesday. The five-judge bench granted interim bail on May 28 to ministers Subrata Mukherjee and Firhad Hakim, Trinamool Congress MLA Madan Mitra and former Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee, who were arrested on May 17 by the CBI, which is investigating the Narada sting tape case on a 2017 order of the high court. The special CBI court had granted them bail on that day itself, but the order was stayed by the high court, which remanded them to judicial custody. They had been placed under house arrest on May 21 by the high court, modifying its earlier order of stay on the bail. The Narada sting operation was conducted by journalist Mathew Samuel of Narada News, a web portal, in 2014 wherein some people resembling TMC ministers, MPs and MLAs were seen receiving money from representatives of a fictitious company in lieu of favours. At that time, the four arrested politicians were ministers in the Mamata Banerjee government. The sting operation was made public ahead of the 2016 assembly elections in West Bengal. By PTI SRINAGAR: National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah on Monday expressed shock and grief over the suicide of a 24-year-old youth from Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir who ended his life as his father was not paid salary for two years. Abdullah called the incident "a visible manifestation of the misplaced policies" of the administration and demanded a time-bound inquiry. The former chief minister's remarks came after the youth from Avil area of Noorabad in the south Kashmir district recorded a video message to invite government attention towards the miseries of his family before taking his life. In the video, the youth said he was taking the extreme step as his father a government teacher was not paid salary for over two years. Expressing shock, the NC vice-president said the incident has brought forth the mounting financial pressure on the people of Jammu and Kashmir propelled by the "dim-witted policies" of the J&K government. "The unfortunate incident ditches the claims of the government on the so-called dividends that August 05 (2019) measures were said would bring. People are suffering," he said, referring to the revocation of the special status of the erstwhile state of J&K by the Centre on August 5, 2019. The suicide committed by a promising youth should act as an eye opener for the government to assess the plight of the people including the employees of J&K, Abdullah said. "It's quite evident that by targeting employees, the government has put the livelihood of their families at stake. This incident should be enough to remind the government about the extent of its anti-employee measures. This very incident also betrays an appalling picture of the level of anxiety and mental trauma, the families whose sole breadwinners are without salaries for months altogether," he said. Abdullah expressed hope that the incident would be moving enough for the incumbent government to make urgent amendments to its policies with regards to employees. He demanded a time-bound inquiry and fixing of responsibility leading to the incident. "The drastic step taken by the youth is a direct fallout of the government policies and actions. The concerns of the government employees have become insurmountable and if the grievances are not redressed, the situation can snowball. "Post August 5, 2019, Jammu and Kashmir has already earned a reputation of being one of the highest unemployed regions. The youngster's suicide is yet another macabre reflection of the implication of the policies the Centre and the incumbent J&K government is pursuing vis-a-vis J&K," he said. The former J&K chief minister expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and prayed for fortitude to them in their hour of loss. He also prayed for peace to the departed. By ANI MUMBAI: Maharashtra Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan on Sunday praised Union Minister Nitin Gadkari saying that he is the right man in the wrong party. Addressing mediapersons via video conferencing, Chavan said, "I often talk about Nitin Gadkari. I had praised him the day before yesterday. He is an efficient minister. There are many issues which are related to basic amenities and infrastructure of Maharashtra. Gadkari takes those subjects seriously. I publicly praise his way of working either by writing articles or via tweets. But praising him does not mean that I support him politically. After all, he is a minister in the NDA government. So all I will say is that he is the right man but in the wrong party." On Sunday when the NDA government at the centre was celebrating the completion of seven years in office, Congress leader Ashok Chavan accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government of failing to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. He alleged that the Centre has taken all decision-making powers into its hands, but now after the outbreak of COVID, it is blaming the state governments. Asked if he had a favourite minister in the NDA government, Chavan replied that "good words" could only be spoken about Union minister Nitin Gadkari who is also the MP from Nagpur. Chavan said Gadkari maintains a "dialogue with other parties despite ideological differences". (ANI) By PTI NEW DELHI: Diesel price on Monday went past the Rs 98-a-litre mark in a few places of Rajasthan as a relentless increase in fuel prices took rates to record-high levels. Petrol price was increased by 29 paise per litre and diesel by 26 paise a litre, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers. The increase - 16th this month - pushed petrol and diesel prices to a fresh all-time high across the country. Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan saw petrol price climb to Rs 105.24 a litre and diesel to Rs 98.08 per litre. Fuel prices differ from state to state depending on the incidence of local taxes such as VAT and freight charges. Rajasthan levies the highest value-added tax (VAT) on petrol in the country, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. In Delhi, petrol comes for Rs 94.23 per litre and diesel is priced at Rs 85.15 a litre. The price of petrol, which had already crossed the Rs 100-mark in several cities in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, breached the psychological barrier in Mumbai on Saturday. Petrol now costs Rs 100.47 a litre in Mumbai and diesel comes for Rs 92.45 per litre. The increase in Monday is the 16th increase in prices since May 4, when state-owned oil firms ended an 18-day hiatus in rate revision they observed during assembly elections in states like West Bengal. In 16 increases, petrol price has risen by Rs 3.83 per litre and diesel by Rs 4.42. Oil companies revise rates of petrol and diesel daily based on the average price of benchmark fuel in the international market in the preceding 15-days, and foreign exchange rates. By PTI NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday urged the Rajasthan health minister to probe reports of alleged wastage of Covid vaccine in the state on priority. India's COVID-19 vaccination drive is being conducted across the country since January 16. The government of India is working closely with all the states and union territories to make this drive a success and help counter the pandemic effectively, the health ministry said. In a letter to Raghu Sharma, the Union health minister said a media report has highlighted that more than 500 vials of COVID-19 vaccines were found dumped in the waste bins of 35 Covid vaccination centres in the state which is "not acceptable" and must be investigated. In almost all districts, vaccine wastage is more than the national average which is less than 1 per cent, Vardhan said as he drew Sharma's attention to some media reports about alleged high vaccine wastage in a few districts of the state. "Therefore, I would urge you to look into the issue of vaccine wastage on priority especially in the high wastage districts in the state," the minister said, adding that the media report "regarding 500 vials found in waste bins which you would also agree is not acceptable" should also be investigated. "I would request you to advise all concerned state/districts officials to ensure sufficient planning to optimise vaccine utilisation and reduce avoidable wastage," Vardhan said. "I am confident that under your guidance, the state shall take all necessary actions to monitor the vaccine usage, including the wastage and ensure smooth implementation of COVID-19 vaccination drive," he added. By ANI BALRAMPUR (UTTAR PRADESH): Two people have been arrested after a video went viral on social media showing a COVID-19 patient's body being dumped from a bridge into the Rapti river in Uttar Pradesh's Balrampur district. In a video statement on Twitter, the Balrampur Police informed that the patient, identified as Prem Nath Mishra, had been admitted to a hospital on May 25 and tested positive for the coronavirus. He died on May 29 and the body was handed to his nephew while following COVID-19 protocol. "On May 29, a video went viral on social media that showed PPE-clad persons dropping a corpse into the Rapti river. As per the Chief Medical Officer, Balrampur, the body has been identified as Prem Nath Mishra, who was admitted to a hospital on May 25," the Additional Superintendent of Police said on Sunday. "After he tested positive for COVID-19, he was shifted to another ward on May 26. He died on May 28. The body was handed over to his nephew on May 29 as per COVID-19 guidelines. A case has been registered and two people have been arrested," he added. Confirming the same, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Balrampur said yesterday, "The COVID patient's whose body was thrown into the river, was handed over to family under protocol. A case has been registered and a probe on." Several reports have surfaced over the last few weeks of decomposed bodies floating in rivers. In Ghazipur, several bodies washed up on the shores of river Ganga. Similar scenes were also witnessed in Bihar's Buxar. Bodies have also been found buried in the sand in Unnao. Locals describe the bodies as bloated and decomposed and many fear that the corpses are those of COVID-19 patients. As per the union health minister, there are currently 41,214 active COVID-19 cases in Uttar Pradesh. As many as 16,28,456 recoveries and 20,346 deaths have been reported in the state so far. (ANI) The issue of data privacy has been ratcheted up to a fever pitch in the face-off between the social media giants, Twitter and WhatsApp, and the government. Twitter, in a hard-hitting statement on Thursday, criticised the governments attempt to bring in new guidelines that inhibit free, open conversation. Referring to the Delhi Polices visit to its offices, the company expressed concern at the use of intimidation tactics. WhatsApp has meanwhile moved the Delhi High Court seeking a declaration that the governments new IT rules are a violation of privacy rights in the Constitution. The new rules force the social media companies to identify the first originator of information when authorities demand it. The Centre, in a strong rebuttal, said the right to free speech cannot be unfettered. In a reply to Twitter, it has accused the company of trying to undermine our legal system by claiming indemnity from criminal liability in India. The latest spat is taking place after the three-month deadline to implement the Information Technology Guidelines expired on May 25. Social media platforms will now have to give details about the origin of a tweet or a message. The regulation also requires the companies to set up a complex, three-tier grievance redressal framework. The new set of IT rules that aim to regulate social media could muzzle free speech. Justice B N Srikrishna, a retired Supreme Court judge who headed the Expert Committee on data protection constituted in 2017 by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, has pointed out that demanding traceability of messages to the originator amounts to making inroads into the fundamental right of privacy. The demand is not legal unless it is backed by legislation passed by Parliament, he has said. Such onerous restrictions cannot be sneaked in via ministry guidelines. Secondly, these rules seem to be an attempt by the government to stem criticism of its policies. As long as social media was a tool that supported the government and used to troll those who spoke against it, there was no issue. Now, with the pendulum swinging the other way, restraining rules seem to have cropped up overnight. One-sided rule-making to protect the government cannot be supported By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: To provide better healthcare to denizens, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will be laying the foundation for 14 new medical colleges across the state on Monday. To ramp up the hospital infrastructure in the state, the government had proposed 16 new medical colleges to be added to the existing 11. The construction work for two institutions at Paderu and Pulivendula has already begun. After the new colleges are established, the number of medical seats is expected to increase significantly and more underprivileged students will be able to take admission; 70 per cent of the seats will be filled in convenor quota and 30 per cent in payment quota. The 16 new institutions are being established at Paderu, Vizianagaram, Anakapalli, Rajahmundry, Palakollu, Amalapuram, Eluru, Machilipatnam, Bapatla, Markapuram, Piduguralla, Madanapalli, Pulivendula, Penukonda, Adoni and Nandyal.So far, the state government has issued orders for the construction of multi-specialty hospitals in the tribal areas of Seethampeta, Parvathipuram, Rampachodavaram, Buttayigudem and Dornala, where 885 acres of lands were procured for medical colleges and multi-specialty hospitals. Those at Vizianagaram, Anakapalli, Rajahmundry, Eluru and Machilipatnam will have 150 seats each, and the remaining 100 each. Also, works are underway for Paderu, Piduguralla, Pulivendula colleges, and tenders are being evaluated for the proposed institutes at Vizianagaram, Anakapalli, Amalapuram, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Palakollu, Bapatla, Markapuram, Madanapalli, Penukonda, Nandyal and Adoni.All these medical colleges and teaching hospitals will be offering emergency, casualty and diagnostic services, with advanced intensive care units, and 10 state-of-the-art modular operation theatres. The current focus of the government is to develop a model welfare state with access to innovative and advanced technology. Minister for Transport and I&PR Perni Venkataramaiah inspected the arrangements made for foundation stone laying of the medical college in Machilipatnam. The Chief Minister will virtually participate in the event. The minister asked the officials to make seating arrangements as per Covid norms.Speaking on the occasion, he said the medical college is coming up on 75 acres, and being constructed at Rs 550 crores. Once completed, the college will have a teaching hospital with 550 bed strength, and it will commence functioning from the next academic year. It will be connected with a 60-feet-wide road, and to ensure smoother road connectivity a railway flyover will also be constructed near the premises in due time. Jagan, during his Praja Sankalpa Yatra, had promised a medical college in Vizianagaram. Once completed, the institute, to be constructed on a 70-acre land in Gajularega, may come as a boon for the locals who, at present, have to rush to Visakhapatnam for ailments needing tertiary care.Speaking to TNIE, district collector M Harijawaharlal said people were very happy now that their long-cherished dream is finally coming true. He said the construction works will be completed before the deadline. Vizianagaram MLA Kolagatla Verabhadra Swamy said the government medical college will be a boon for underprivileged students. Five colleges to have 150 seats each The colleges at Vizianagaram, Anakapalli, Rajahmundry, Eluru and Machilipatnam will have 150 seats each, and the remaining 100 each. Works are under progress for Paderu, Piduguralla, Pulivendula medical colleges, and tenders are being evaluated for the proposed institutes at Vizianagaram, Anakapalli, Amalapuram, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Palakollu, Bapatla, Markapuram, Madanapalli, Penukonda, Nandyal and Adoni. By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday decided to extend the ongoing partial curfew to contain the spread of COVID-19 till June 10. The curfew relaxation timings would be the same -- 6 am to noon -- during which Section 144, which prohibits gathering of more than five people, would be in place. The state government initially imposed night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am in the last week of April following a sharp surge in COVID-19 infections. ALSO READ: Retired Andhra headmaster who vouched for 'effectiveness' of herbal eye drops dies of COVID-19 With the spike in cases continuing, the government imposed partial curfew from noon to 6 am on the netx day from May 5. During the partial curfew, shops and businesses were allowed to open from 6 am to noon only. Section 144 was put in force during the relaxation time to prevent gathering of more than five persons. Even as the spike in new infections has come down in recent days, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, who took stock of the situation with officials on Monday, decided to extend the partial curfew till June 10 with the same relaxation hours. Meanwhile, the curfew relaxation hours would be curtailed to 6 am to 10 am only from June 1 in view of the high number of cases being reported in the district. By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: In the last two years of YS Jagan Mohan Reddys government, Rs 95,528.50 crore was transferred directly to the bank accounts of 6.53 crore beneficiaries of various government welfare schemes. Through non-DBT (direct benefit transfer), a total of 2.36 crore people benefited by Rs 36,197.05 crore. Under both DBT and non-DBT platforms, a total of Rs 1,31,725.55 crore was given to as many as 8,89,18,040 beneficiaries in the two years. The numbers speak for themselves: the governments top priority is the peoples welfare. Not one section was left out as is evident from the quantum of amounts directly and indirectly given to the beneficiaries. Social justice was clearly evident in the distribution of welfare schemes as attested by the statistics of the number of people from different sections benefiting from these schemes, and the amount spent for the purpose. Under DBT schemes, Rs 46,405.81 crore and Rs 15,304.57 crore were transferred to the bank accounts of 3,31,06,715 BCs and 1,06,14,972 SCs, respectively; under non-DBT schemes, as many as 1,21,52,552 BCs and 47,67,751 SCs benefited by Rs 19,346.39 crore and Rs 7,155.01 crore, respectively. Similarly, 29,71,144 STs benefited by Rs 4,915.86 crore under DBT programmes, and 17,11,117 benefited by Rs 1,730.93 crore under non-DBT schemes. In case of minorities, 19,88,961 of them benefited by Rs 3,374.23 crore under DBT, and 6,17,808 benefited by Rs 2,635.14 crore under non-DBT schemes. As many as 30,85,472 Kapus benefited by Rs 7,368.20 crore under DBT and 3,96,880 benefited by Rs 2,304.05 crore under non-DBT programmes. In case of EBCs, 1,49,21,396 benefited by Rs 18,246.83 crore under DBT and 39,70,042 by Rs 3,025.53 crore under non-DBT schemes. Several families in the state benefited from different welfare schemes and secured much needed impetus to improve their living standards. If the welfare schemes implemented in the last two years are taken into consideration, one common link can be found that a majority of the beneficiaries of different schemes are women.The Chief Minister has time and again said, the state progresses only when women are happy, and the amounts given to them benefit the family as a whole. If only the women beneficiaries under DBT and non DBT programmes are considered, 4,36,60,516 women were provided Rs 89,058.16 crore in the last two years. Besides welfare initiatives, the first two years of YS Jagan Mohan Reddys government saw the introduction of schemes that in the long run not only stand to benefit the people, but take the state on the path of development.Besides village/ward secretariats and village volunteer system, which brought about a revolutionary change in the administration, 10,778 Rythu Bharosa Kendras have emerged as a one-stop solution for every need of farmers. Several reforms to end corruption in the government offices and increase transparency in governance were taken. As part of them, the government launched a new toll free number, 14400, for any individual to lodge a complaint. The government has ushered in a better welfare regime by giving the police a weekend off like never before in history. The merger of APSRTC with the government provided job security to 51,488 employees. Salaries of employees of various departments were revised. To ensure transparency, a new Judicial Preview Commission was set up under a former high court judge to preview tenders for various projects. To end graft Several reforms to end corruption in government offices and increase transparency in governance were taken. As part of them, the AP government launched a new toll free number, 14400, for any individual to lodge a complaint. To ensure transparency, a new Judicial Preview Commission was set up under a former high court judge to preview tenders for various projects Two years in a nutshell A total of Rs 1,31,725.55 crore was given to 8,89,18,040 beneficiaries in the last two years through both DBT and non-DBT platforms 4,36,60,516 women benefited by Rs 89,058.16 crore 10,778 Rythu Bharosa Kendras emerge as a one-stop solution for every need of the farming community Merger of APSRTC with the govt. provided job security to 51,488 employees State saved Rs 3,143 crore through reverse tendering You Should Never Trade Options If You Dont Know This Have you ever heard someone say 90% of people that trade options lose money.? I certainly have. Looking at an options chain can be a dizzying exercise for the uninformed. Delta, Gamma, Theta, Rho, Vega and lets not forget implied volatility? Single, spread, butterfly, condor. What does it all mean? So what is an option from a high level view? At the end of the day, an options contract is just a derivative like any other stock, bond, ETF, or other tradable security based on an underlying asset. Most people will look at these other forms of derivatives and have an understanding of why the price fluctuates. For example, if a company posts a strong earnings report and the price of the stock goes up, it is easy to understand what is going on. In the case of options contracts, however, things do get a bit more complicated. Lets break things down a little bit to start to get an idea of why many investors are afraid to trade options. Simple and Straight Forward Options Basics There are two forms of options contracts, Puts and Calls, and two things you can do with each type. For each of these, I can either buy or sell them. Buying a call option gives me the right to buy the underlying security at an agreed price or strike price. Selling a call option gives me the obligation to sell the underlying security at the strike price. On the other hand, buying a put option gives me the right to sell a stock at the strike price, while selling a put option obligates me to buy a stock at the strike price. Here is a diagram: Seems simple enough right? In fact, if you think about it, it might seem similar to your car insurance. You give your insurance company premiums every month, and they are obligated to cover you in the event of damage to your car. So in many ways, you are correct, it is like insurance. The price of an option is even called the premium! As you can imagine, the price of the premium would have a big impact on whether or not you decided to trade it. Taking insurance as an example, why would you want to pay $500 dollars per month to your insurance company if they only cover you up to $1000 in damage? Many beginners dont understand what is really being exchanged in the options market and how the prices are calculated. How are options premiums calculated? This is where things get much more complicated and one of the most overlooked factors in options pricing is the current market volatility. The Price of an Option Explained In simple terms, options prices are generally broken out into two different components: intrinsic and time value. These two values combined make up the option premium. The intrinsic value of a call option is calculated as the difference in the current price of the underlying security and the strike price of the option. Be sure to sign up for our free market trend analysis and signals now so you dont miss our next special report! For example, if I buy a call option with a strike price of 100 when the underlying is 100, the difference between the two numbers is 0, thus the call option has no intrinsic value. If the price of the underlying goes up to 105 dollars, my call option now has 5 dollars of intrinsic value. Put options are reversed their intrinsic value is the difference between the price of the put option minus the price of the underlying security. Time value is calculated by taking the price of the option and subtracting the intrinsic value. This will tell you how much the option writer is compensated for taking on the obligation to buy or sell the underlying for the pre-determined amount of time. The price of an option is typically calculated using a few industry standard models. These models use historical data and many variables to calculate the price of an option including the current stock price, the strike price of the option, the risk-free rate and the option expiration. All of these variables are plugged into the mathematical models such as the Black-Scholes and ultimately a price is calculated. This is typically where people get bogged down by the complexity. Each of these variables can make a big difference in the price of an option, and when looking at an options chain, most people simply dont have the knowledge to make an educated decision about what sort of trade they should make. In reality, options can be used in so many different ways. They can be used to hedge, speculate, or make a profit all on their own. Having a basic understanding of the options market can help you enhance your existing positions and allow you to reduce your risk. Or you can trade options as their own individual positions which is what we teach and provide at Options Trading Signals. Once you have a complete understanding of options, the possibilities are endless. If you are just starting out on trading options and want to learn more about the different strategies, follow me on https://www.thetechnicaltraders.com/ots/ and look out for more articles where well take you step by step through real live options trades with members. 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. By Express News Service BENGALURU: The State Government will make efforts to directly procure Covid-19 vaccines from manufacturers and drop the process of global tenders to get two crore doses. Deputy Chief Minister and State Covid Task Force Chairman Dr C N Ashwath Narayan on Monday said the government has decided to procure vaccines directly from manufacturers, as the two companies that had submitted bids in response to global tenders have not submitted the requisite documents. In response to the short-term global tender floated on May 15, two distribution companies, one from Bengaluru and another from Mumbai, had submitted applications for supplying vaccine by procuring it from manufacturers. However, they have not provided the required documents and agreement with Russias Sputnik vaccine manufacturer. Representatives from those companies had also not attended the virtual meetings, the DyCM told the media. Bulk MRO Industrial Supply Ink from Mumbai and Thulasi Systems from Bengaluru had applied for the tenders to supply vaccines. Narayan said the bids were rejected, and they have already started the process of communication with all vaccine manufacturing companies, as the government is not in a position to wait, faced with the threat of a possible third wave. Anusha Ravi By Express News Service BENGALURU: In a clear and loud message of support to Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, 18 BJP MLAs visited his official residence on Sunday afternoon. While the meeting was held under the official pretext of Covid-19 situation review, the MLAs, led by CMs political secretary MP Renukacharya, minced no words in acknowledging that the meeting was to show solidarity with the Chief Minister, in the context of cabinet minister CP Yogeeshwara making public attacks against him. We have asked the CM to expel Yogeeshwara from the cabinet immediately. He is an import into the party, and the party is not dependent on him. How dare he attack the Chief Minister personally and talk about leadership change? We will stand by the Chief Minister, no matter what. MLAs of the BJP are with BS Yediyurappa, Renukacharya told TNIE. The meeting assumes importance, coming at a time when BJP circles are abuzz with news of state leaders demanding a change of guard, and lobbying for a new chief minister with the Central leadership. Yediyurappa is said to have asked the MLAs to wait for action to follow, citing the Covid situation assuming prominence. Eshwarappa wrote to the Governor over his ministrys concerns. He is an original BJP leader, unlike CP Yogeeshwara, who lost an election but was still given a ministry. Personal attacks should not go unpunished, Renukacharya added. MLAs who visited Yediyurappa as a symbol of their loyalty included Raju Gouda, Masale Jayaram, Niranjan Kumar, Dr Shivraj Patil, Virupakshappa Ballari, MP Kumaraswamy, Basavaraj Dadesugur, among others. K Shivakumar By Express News Service MYSURU: The family of Vivek Murthy, the vice admiral in the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps has decided to donate COVID related medical supplies to hospitals in Madikeri and Mandya districts. The father of the Surgeon General of the US, Lakshmi Narasimha Murthy said that the shipment containing 70 oxygen concentrators, four ventilators, N95 masks, respirator masks, step transformer pieces and cleaning supplies worth Rs 1.40 crore will soon arrive on behalf of the Scope Foundation. Speaking with The New Indian Express, Murthy said that the supplies will be distributed in 12 smaller hospitals as these are short on medical resources, further adding that only taluk hospitals and two village PHCs have been selected. The foundation is trying to send more material worth Rs 70 lakh soon from New Delhi so that it can be distributed to other PHCs. The consignment contains 70 oxygen concentrators with adapter, 25 digital oral thermometers, 1,96,000 K95 face masks, 5000 full face shields, 5000 forehead foam, 300 surgical earlobe masks, 1200 medical face shields, 400 nitrile powder-free gloves, 50 oxygen cannula and five voltage transformers. The supplies have reached Bengaluru and will be handed over to the districts on Monday. Vivek Murthys cousin Vasanth informed that the medical supplies will be handed over in his native village Hallegere, Mandya, Maddur, Malavalli, Nagamangla and other places, further adding that plans to build a Covid ward at the cost of Rs one crore are also in the pipeline. Indian-American physician Vivek Murthy was confirmed by the US Senate as President Joe Biden's surgeon general. The 43-year-old Murthy has occupied this position for the second time. In 2011, then president Barack Obama had tapped him to serve on the advisory group on prevention, health promotion, and integrative and public health. Raghottam Koppar and Mahesh M Goudar By Express News Service GADAG/VIJAYAPURA: At a time when Covid-19 is spreading at a rapid pace in the hinterlands of Karnataka, there are still a number of villages which have staved off the pandemic with success. According to a recent survey, as many as 59 villages in Gadag and 74 villages in Vijayapaura have zero Covid-19 cases. In Gadag, apart from the 59 villages with no cases, more than 50 villages have single-digit cases. In April, several villages had 20-30 cases and now have a mere 3-4 people infected with coronavirus. The district succeeded in controlling the outbreak due to the efforts of the gram panchayat, zilla panchayat and health department officials, who took it up as a challenge and imposed strict lockdown in rural areas. According to district officials, similar strategies will be implemented in other villages to make them Covid-free. Patients with cough and cold and in home isolation were given the right treatment at the right time. People were discouraged from gathering in common spaces. Residents also supported the efforts of their respective panchayats. This helped us reduce the caseload. A strict lockdown has been imposed and the GP staff are keeping vigil in all wards, an official said. Panchayat development officers have also been monitoring migrants who came to the district before the lockdown.There are 59 villages with zero cases. The numbers will fluctuate but we want to increase the number of zero Covid-19 villages. We have directed Gram Panchayats to check residents for Covid-19 symptoms a nd treat them immediately, in cooperation with health and ASHA workers, said Gadag ZP CEO Bharat S. Meanwhile, in Vijayapura, 74 villages have not seen a single Covid-19 case in the second Covid-19 wave. ZP CEO Govinda Reddy told The New Indian Express, A door-to-door-survey helped us identify nearly 1,000 Covid-19 cases in rural areas. We put symptomatic patients on early medication. Among the infected, over 85 per cent are in home isolation. In order to prevent them from stepping out of their homes, we are delivering grocery kits at their doorsteps. We will continue with the door-to-door survey in all villages, including Covid-free villages, to identify new symptomatic persons. If anyone is found to be symptomatic, they will be tested and given proper treatment. We believe this is the only way to break the chain and bring down cases in rural areas, said Reddy. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala assembly on Monday passed a resolution demanding the recall of administrator Praful K Patel who pursues the corporate and Sangh Parivar agenda in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. Extending solidarity to the people of the island, legislators cutting across party lines voted in favour of the resolution, after adopting a couple of amendments to the resolution. While tabling the resolution under Rule 118, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan made a scathing attack on the UT administrations move to implement the saffron agenda and corporate interests through administrative orders. It started with painting saffron colour on coconut trees and it has now grown to an extent that the changes would destroy their habitat, life and natural relationships. Those who protested against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act were arrested in Lakshadweep. Steps have been taken to enforce the Goonda Act in Lakshadweep where crimes are rare. Such measures have been taken in anticipation of protests and to silence any voice of dissent. A dictatorial system of governance is being rolled out through these measures, he said. TJS COLUMN: Modi-Shah blunder over Lakshadweep There were attempts to destroy fishing activities which are the foundation of the peoples livelihood there. Further, steps taken to eliminate beef which is an important part of the staple food of the people there, ban cow slaughter and close down dairy farms are part of the Sangh Parivar agenda of banning cow slaughter. The powers of the district panchayat and the village dweep panchayat have been transferred to the administrator. The ban on people who have more than two children from contesting in the panchayat elections is unheard of in the country. As a result, the vast majority of the islanders will lose their democratic rights. V D Satheesan, Opposition leader Another directive states that the ownership of the land and buildings should be renewed every three years and failure to do so will attract a fine of Rs 2 lakh and a fine of Rs 20,000 per day. Kerala is aggrieved by the developments on the island as Kerala and Lakshadweep are regions that have been intertwined for centuries. Many of the islands were under the administration of the Arakkal dynasty of Kannur prior to the British occupation. Until November 1, 1956, Lakshadweep was part of the then Malabar district. The activities taking place in Lakshadweep today should be seen as (a bid to make the island) a practical lab of the Sangh Parivar agenda. They are trying to change the culture, language, way of life, and food of the people in a way that suits them. Strong opposition should be raised against this attempt to enslave people to corporate interests and Hindutva politics, the CM said. The Centre has a responsibility to ensure that the unique characteristics of the UT and its people should be preserved. The administrator who challenges the democratic rights of the people should be removed from his responsibilities, the resolution said. Supporting the resolution, Opposition leader V D Satheesan said, The move to frame a draconian law like banning people who have more than two kids from contesting in elections should be thrown into the Arabian Sea. The arrogance of the administration that it can do anything by throwing democratic principles to winds cannot be accepted, he said. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday the Southwest Monsoons arrival in Kerala will be delayed slightly and it may occur on June 3. The normal date of onset is June 1. Earlier, the IMD had forecast that the monsoon would arrive in Kerala on May 31, while private forecast agency Skymet said it expected the monsoon to reach Kerala coast early by two days on May 30. K Santhosh, Director, IMD Meteorological Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, said, As per the latest meteorological indications, the southwesterly winds could strengthen further gradually from June 1, resulting in likely enhancement in rainfall over Kerala. Hence, the monsoon onset over Kerala is likely to take place by June 3, he said. According to experts, though there would be some slight delay, this would not result in any reduced rainfall activity in June or would not affect the overall quantum across the state. The monsoon onset over Kerala is associated with a gradual intensification of moisture and wind build-up over the Arabian Sea. Around two to three weeks of pre-conditioning of the process over the Arabian Sea normally leads to the onset of monsoon over Kerala on June 1. It is expected Cyclone Tauktae that had formed over the Arabian Sea will have a bearing on the arrival of the monsoon. However, the IMD has sounded a yellow alert in seven districts on Monday warning the state of isolated heavy rain. The IMD used to announce the arrival of monsoon over Kerala upon the fulfilment of a set of criteria fixed by the weather agency. As per the criteria, at least eight of 14 specified locations in Kerala and Karnataka should receive a minimum quantity of rain over two days, and a specific range of land temperatures and wind speeds. Delay will not affect overall rainfall Though there would be some slight delay, this would not result in any reduced rainfall activity in June or would not affect the overall quantum across the state. A Satish By Express News Service PALAKKAD: Saranya S Sabu of Thiruvananthapuram is doing her third-year MBBS course at Ningbo University in Zhejiang province of China. She came to Kerala for her vacation on January 5, 2020, and has been stranded here since. As Covid-19 broke out in China, students from the state studying in various universities there had been attending online classes after the vacation, but the number of cases in India increased in the first wave later. For the past one-and-a-half years, we have been attending classes and exams online. Unfortunately, we are unable to do practicals. To add to our woes, the Indian government is yet to recognise the online courses of China. There is a clause in China that medical graduation should be completed within eight years. Our course is for five years, followed by a 10-month internship. If the online course is not recognised in India, we will have to pay fees and attend regular classes all over again in China, says Saranya. Ningbo is one of the 45 universities in China recognised by India for the MBBS course. ALSO READ | Extended ban on international flights leaves expats in dire straits Moreover, we are unable to complete our practical classes. Since our visa stands cancelled, it will be difficult for us to get bank loans, she adds. We need to go back at the earliest. The Indian embassy needs to take up the matter with the Chinese authorities. Our future is at stake, said A R Athira of Palakkad, a third-year medical student at Jilin University in Changchun. The universities in China are placed above Indian varsities in world rankings, but there are too many impediments in India for students who pass out of these universities. One of the attractions for parents is that the cost of education is low in China. Depending on the university, the medical graduate course costs, on average, around Rs 6 lakh in fees for one year. The course can be completed for Rs 30 lakh, said Andrews Mathew, president of Foreign Medical Graduate Parents Association, whose son Jonad Andrews is pursuing his third-year medical degree course from Jilin University. The students who complete the course abroad have to pass the exams of the Medical Council of India (MCI). Most of the questions in this exam are of postgraduation level, he said. Mathew points out that more than 10,000 students are doing their medical courses in China alone. Now, only emergency visa is available to return to China. One of the conditions stipulated is that the students should take two doses of the Chinese vaccine, which is not available in India, and complete 14 days quarantine. The External Affairs Ministry should seek clarifications from China on all this, he said. A Bill titled Draft Regulations for Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG) 2021 has been prepared by the National Medical Commission (NMC) on April 23. It is proposed to be introduced in Parliament in June. According to that, all students after completing the MBBS course should register for the National Exit Test (NEXT) to assess the knowledge of pre- and para-clinical subjects as well. While students here should pass two papers, those who have passed their exams from abroad should pass an additional paper to qualify the screening test. Also, they must pass these three papers within a gap of two years of completing the MBBS course abroad. We want the government to extend the stipulation of two years to five years, he added. There are a large number of senior students from Kerala alone who have been unable to return and complete their practicals. I hope China will clarify that WHO-approved vaccines are also recognised, said Fadhl Mohammed Sageer, a second-year medical student at the Southeast University in Nanjing, China. By PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday wrote to 11 CMs of non-BJP ruled states seeking a united effort to press the Centre to procure COVID-19 vaccines and ensure free universal vaccination. "Wrote to 11 CMs in the spirit of Cooperative Federalism. Quite unfortunate that Centre absolves itself of its duty to procure vaccines, ensure free universal vaccination. United effort to jointly pursue our genuine demand is the need of the hour, so that Centre acts immediately," Vijayan tweeted. In his letter, the Chief Minister said statements to the effect that the responsibility to provide vaccine entirely falls within the realm of the states defy the very basis of the co-operative federal system. "The need of the hour is a united effort from our side to put forth the genuine demand that the Centre should procure vaccine needed by the states and distribute them free of cost. This will be more cost effective as well," Vijayan said in the letter. He said vaccine manufacturing companies are engaged in looking for financial gains by exploiting the scarce supply situation and foreign pharmaceutical companies are unwilling to enter into agreement with the states for procuring vaccines. Noting that India has public sector pharmaceutical companies which are capable of taking up vaccine production, the CM said the Government of India should take necessary steps to ensure that intellectual property rights and patent laws and conventions do not stand in the way of manufacturing COVID-19 vaccine, which should have the status of a public good. "Options like compulsory licensing should be explored by the Union Government," he said. Vijayan said if the burden of procuring vaccine is left to fall entirely or even substantially on the states, their fiscal situation will be in dire straits. "Fiscal strength of the States is an essential part of a healthy federal setup. If the States'finances are hamstrung, federalism itself will be weakened and this will not augur well for a democratic polity like ours. Further, this will impede the efforts for early building of herd immunity," he said. Vijayan said herd immunity will be effective only when a substantial section of the population is vaccinated. As on date, only 3.1 per cent of the people have been administered two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, he said. Attacking the Centre's alleged stand that the states should resort to their own measures to procure COVID-19 vaccine, the Chief Minister said, "at this juncture, when the nation is passing through the second surge, it is quite unfortunate that there appears to be an attempt by the Centre to absolve itself of its bounden duty to provide adequate supply of vaccine to the states." "The impact of the second surge has been unprecedented, putting all of us in a state of alarm." "Besides, experts have warned that a third surge of COVID-19 incidence is highly likely. This necessitates our heightened preparation and vigil to meet that eventuality too," he said. Along with this letter to fellow CMs, Vijayan also enclosed the copy of a letter he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi citing the merits of the Centre taking the lead in assessing vaccine requirements of the states and floating a global tender considering the needs of all states. By Express News Service KOCHI: A Catholic priest and 23 others were arrested on Monday for conducting prayers in violation of the lockdown norms at Poovathuserry near Nedumbassery in the district. According to Chengamanad police station officers, Fr George Palamattam, vicar of St Josephs Church at Poovathuserry, and 23 others who participated in the mass as part of the holy communion of three children were arrested under the relevant sections of the Kerala Epidemic Disease Ordinance, 2020. Ernakulam Rural SP K Karthick received an alert that the mass was being conducted in the church violating the government order banning religious gatherings during the lockdown. The mass began at 7 am on Monday and the police soon reached the spot, said an officer. The parents of the three children had assembled at the church. Some of them had come from abroad to attend the function and wanted to return as their leave period was about to end. The religious function was postponed twice earlier due to the lockdown restrictions and it was organised on Monday, said sources close to the church. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress state president V M Sudheeran has shot off a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan terming the move by the LDF Government to revive the Athirappilly hydroelectric project which had already been rejected by the people. He recalled that whenever a new government comes to power, there has been a mysterious move from certain quarters to revive the Athirappilly project. In the letter, Sudheeran recalled that various scientific-technical-environmental-social impact studies had ruled out the power project. He highlighted 10 factors which would be affected if the Athirappilly project is implemented. ALSO READ | Opposition leader voices concern over Athirappilly hydel project There is dearth of adequate water for this project, the targeted power cannot be produced, the cost towards the power production is high, the water level availability in the drinking sector and irrigation in the Chalakkudy area will be affected, 14,000-hectare irrigation facility will be lost, the drinking water availability in 20-odd local bodies will be affected, the tribal communities lives and the environment will be grossly affected, rare flora and faunas survival will be at stake and also the water streaming towards Athirappilly and Vazhachal will be affected, said Sudheeran. By PTI KRISHNAGIRI: The AIADMK on Monday hit out at V K Sasikala and decried bid to create confusion saying she is not with the party and would not be taken back, a day after she hinted at revival of attempts to regain control of the party. Asking her to keep away from the party, senior party leader K P Munusamy asserted that under no circumstances could Sasikala enter the AIADMK. There is no chance for her to join the party again and the cadres are clear about not allowing her to get back, Munusamy, party deputy coordinator, told reporters at Veppanahalli, near here. The AIADMK has hit back after Sasikala's conversations with her loyalists over phone surfaced Sunday in which she indicated efforts to get back control of the party. Without mentioning the name of AIADMK or its top two leaders O Panneerselvam or K Palaniswami, she had spoken about differences between them and infighting, prompting her to act to safeguard the party interests. Munusamy said Sasikala is not with the AIADMK and she has no links whatsoever to the party. To somehow create confusion in the party that is being run well, misinformation was being spread by projecting Sasikala, he alleged. The aim is only to divert cadres and functionaries and create confusion and this attempt would not succeed, he said. Not even a single AIADMK worker would fall prey to the design aimed at creating confusion, he said. To a question on Sasikala speaking to loyalist party workers, he said no party worker called her up over phone but it was she who was calling workers of her nephew Dhinakaran-led Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam. No party worker from the AIADMK spoke to her, he said. Sasikala should keep herself away from the AIADMK and remain quiet to see that late party supremo J Jayalalithaa's 'Atma' is propitiated and she must do this as her present status and that of her family was due to the late Chief Minister, he said. Countering Sasikala who claimed that the party was built by the hardwork of people including her, Munusamy said the party's strength were its countless workers right from the days of party founder M G Ramachandran and not Sasikala. "However, they clung to the party aiming at gains. Hankering for power and eyeing advantages, they are trying to do that (again). For sure, they will not get an opportunity. They will not be able to enter the party," he said without mentioning Sasikala or Dhinakaran's name, adding this was the conscious stand of all party workers. Asked on alleged differences between Palaniswami and Panneerselvam reflected by separate statements from them on public issues, he ruled out differences. It was quite natural for them to echo region specific matters, to represent the issues of their respective Assembly constituencies, Munusamy said. The top two AIADMK leaders however issued joint statements on matters related to the party. While there are no differences between the top two leaders, some "opportunists and chameleons," are trying to create a perception of differences between them to make gains out of it, he said and "cautioned" Sasikala to not become prey to such designs. After former Chief Minister's Jayalalithaa's demise in 2016 December, Sasikala, her confidante, became AIADMK interim general secretary. After she was imprisoned in a Bengaluru prison in February 2017 in an assets case, her appointment as interim chief was rescinded at a General Council meet held in September of that year. The GC meet also announced invalidation of all the appointments made by Dhinakaran. This meet also created new posts of coordinator and co-coordinator for Panneerselvam and Palaniswami respectively,giving them all powers. Ahead of the council meet, factions led by the two leaders came together, while Sasikala and her followers were eased out of the party. Since then, the AIADMK had made it clear that there was no scope for rapprochement with Sasikala or her relatives. Harish Murali By Express News Service CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Monday asked the ministers and MLAs to ensure that the entourage accompanying them is limited and the Covid-19 protocols are followed when they visit hospitals. The court also noted that the second surge of the pandemic appears to have subsided in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and that the only area of concern is the availability of vaccines. The first bench comprising the Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy made the observations in the suo motu plea pertaining to the Covid-19 management by the state. "It sometimes happens that despite the person leading the team advising others not to accompany, the enthusiasm cannot be checked. There may be a need, at times, to restrict the number of persons accompanying legislators while they go on their visits," said the bench in its order. However, they should maintain the Covid protocol at all times, it said. ALSO READ | Tamil Nadu has COVID-19 vaccine stock only for two more days, says health minister After one of the advocates brought it to the notice of the court that several vital details are missing from the Covid-19 website of the state, the bench said, "The number of active cases, the number of deaths and other figures should be available on the State's relevant website on an actual basis." The bench said: "...only hoped that the additional facilities are not discontinued for the next few months and, even if it costs a bit more, they are maintained if only to ensure that the dearth that was faced during the second surge is not repeated. The oxygen supplies to the State and the Union Territory have been augmented." Noting that the only area of concern was vaccines, the bench observed, "Earlier, the Union government's commitment to ensure that 216 crore doses of vaccine are available by the end of the year has been recorded. It is hoped that the target is met sooner, rather than later." The court also observed that the suo motu plea was taken up not to take over the management of the affairs relating to the Covid containment, but only to monitor it. The court adjourned the plea to June 7 for further submissions. By ANI NEW DELHI: Former Telangana Health Minister Etela Rajender is likely to meet BJP president JP Nadda on Monday and join the ruling party at the Centre, sources said. Nadda is scheduled to meet with Rajender this evening in the presence of the party's Telangana state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar. The way for Rajender's entry into BJP has already been cleared at the local level and now after the meeting with Nadda, it will be official, said sources. Both Etela Rajender and G Vivek are already present in the national capital, while Telangana BJP President Bandi Sanjay Kumar were expected to arrive today. Rajender was expelled from the cabinet by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao and TRS President recently after allegations of land grabbing against him. Following this incident, more allegations were made against Rajender and his family and cases were also registered. Sources said Rajender has been in consultation with leaders of both BJP and Congress after his expulsion. According to sources, several rounds of meetings have already been held with Telangana BJP's senior leader and Union Minister of State for Home Kishan Reddy regarding the entry of Rajender into the party. Etela Rajender is a founding member of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and was the finance minister during KCR's first term. In the second term, KCR gave him the portfolio of Health. Rajender is the top leader of Telangana's strongest OBC community "Mudiraj", one reason why both BJP and Congress are courting him to join their respective parties, sources said. (ANI) By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Former Medical and Health Minister Eatala Rajender landed in Delhi on Sunday, along with former Yellareddy MLA Eanugu Ravinder Reddy and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader G Vivekanand, obviously to confer with the top leaders of the saffron party in the midst of reports that he has made up his mind to join their ranks.The development comes shortly after Eatala Rajenders wife Jamuna slammed Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao over land-grabbing allegations against the former Minister, and the way he was harassing her husband. According to sources, Rajender is likely to meet BJP president JP Nadda on Monday morning. Party State president Bandi Sanjay Kumar and MoS for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy would also join Rajender and Ravinder Reddy, while they meet top BJP functionaries. The BC leader would probably switch horses on Telanagan Formation Day on June 2. ALSO READ: Eatala's wife Jamuna lambastes KCR over 'smear campaign' Other TRS rebel leaders like Tula Uma may also follow suit.After being sacked from KCRs Cabinet, Rajender has been meeting leaders across all parties. Though he has not yet announced his decision to join the saffron party, his sudden trip to Delhi along with a BJP leader has fuelled speculations that he might. During his earlier interactions with BJP leaders, Rajender is learnt to have sought support for his candidature in the byelection for Huzurabad seat, if he resigns as an MLA. However, the BJP leaders had categorically stated that they would not support any individual or party, and that in the event of any byelection, their party would also be in the fray. They, in fact, had advised Rajender to join the saffron fold before they could consider any of his requests. R Pridhvi Raj By Express News Service HYDERABAD: In what has come as a relief to the people, the State Cabinet which met here on Sunday increased the lockdown relaxation hours while extending the lockdown itself for 10 more days from Monday.The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, extended relaxation hours, which are now from 6 am to 10 am, by three more hours, up to 1 pm, and allowed an additional hour till 2 pm for people who are outside to purchase essentials to return home without any difficulty.The Cabinet, after assessing the results the lockdown had yielded, increased relaxation hours but decided that the lockdown from 2 pm to 6 am the following morning should be enforced strictly so that gains made so far are not squandered. Cash cows exempted The Cabinet, by another decision, allowed the Stamps & Registration and Transport Departments to resume working. It means that property registrations as well as registrations of motor vehicles could be done now. As both the departments are cash cows for the State government, the exemption is understood to have been given to them. The working of the two departments would be in consonance with the lockdown and Covid-19 protocols.After officials revealed that the incidence of Covid-19 was on the wane, the Cabinet asked them to concentrate on certain towns where the infection rate was high. These towns are Khammam, Madhira, Sattupalli, Alampur, Narayanpet, Makthal, Nagarjunasagar, Kodad, and Huzurabad. The Cabinet wanted them to visit the towns and take measures to arrest the spread of the infection. As there is an apprehension that a third wave might succeed the second wave, the officials were instructed to prepare plans in advance. The Cabinet approved a proposal to set up new medical colleges at Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, Mancherial, Jagtial, Sangareddy, Mahabubabad and Kothagudem, and also to start nursing colleges affiliated to them. In Warangal, a multi superspeciality hospital will come up at the land where the jail stands now. The inmates of the jail should immediately be sent to other jails and the land should be handed over to the Medical and Health Department. A new jail would be constructed at Mamunuru with all modern facilities. The Cabinet asked the officials to prepare a proposal for the new jail. Other Key Decisions From June 15 to 25, Rythu Bandhu amounts to be credited to the farmers accounts for the Kharif season The process to sell government lands, and lands and houses under the Housing Board to be started to shore up State governments revenues Letter to be written to the Prime Minister to ensure that the Central government procures the total paddy produced in the State, and not just part of it, as red gram has demand in the market Telangana State formation day to be celebrated low key on June 2 Seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides to be made available to the farmers for the ensuing Kharif season Agriculture, Home and Intelligence Departments to launch a crackdown on dealers of spurious seeds For giving a fillip to the food processing industry, nine to 10 clusters to be identified and land to be earmarked for food processing zones Facilitate the establishment of more rice mills in the wake of an increase in food grain production Metro Rail timings revised In view of the further extension of lockdown in the State, the timings of Hyderabad Metro Rail services have been rescheduled. The Metro will start its first train from respective terminal stations at 7 am, while the last train will start at 11.45 am and end at the respective terminating stations by 12.45 pm TSRTC to increase services With the State government increasing the relaxation hours on Sunday, the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) has decided to double its services. Currently the number of services is around 10 to 15 per cent, which may go up to 30 per cent in view of the latest decision by the government, said sources Vax allowed for students going abroad The Cabinet, by another decision, allowed vaccination to the students who want to go abroad for higher studies. Basing on the admission documents the students have, they should be given priority in vaccination. The Cabinet asked the officials to prepare guidelines to enable vaccination to such students. The Cabinet okayed the proposal to continue reservations for BCs by another 10 years. A proposal to rename Necklace Road in Hyderabad as PV Narasimha Rao Marg has been approved on the occasion of the conclusion of his birth centenary celebrations Registrations to resume The Cabinet, by another decision, allowed the Stamps & Registration and Transport Departments to resume working By AFP JERUSALEM: Israeli nationalist hardliner Naftali Bennett said Sunday he would join a potential coalition government that could end the rule of the country's longest-serving leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Lawmakers opposed to right-wing Netanyahu have been in intense talks ahead of a Wednesday deadline, as a ceasefire held following the latest deadly military conflict with Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu, 71, who faces trial on fraud, bribery and breach of trust charges, which he denies, has clung to power throughout a period of political turmoil that has seen four inconclusive elections in under two years. A March vote saw Netanyahu's Likud party gain the most seats but he again failed to form a government. Opposition leader and former TV anchor Yair Lapid now has until Wednesday evening to build a rival coalition. Lapid, 57, is seeking a diverse alliance the Israeli media has dubbed a bloc for "change", which would include Bennett as well as Arab-Israeli lawmakers. In his determination to bring down the hawkish prime minister, Lapid has offered to share power and let Bennett, 49, serve the first term in a rotating premiership. Bennett, after meeting members of his religious-nationalist Yamina party, said Sunday: "I will do everything to form a national unity government with my friend Yair Lapid." Lapid and Bennett's parties started talks on Sunday night to formalise the deal, they said in a statement. Religious-nationalist Yamina won seven seats in March 23 elections, but one member has refused to join an anti-Netanyahu coalition. Netanyahu, who has been in office for 12 consecutive years after an earlier three-year term, in his own televised address minutes later lashed out at the plan, calling it "a danger for the security of Israel". - 'Desperate position' - He had earlier Sunday tried to cling to power by offering his own, last-ditch power-sharing agreement to several former allies including Bennett. He warned Israel would otherwise be ruled by a dangerous "left-wing" alliance. Lapid has until Wednesday 11:59 pm local time (2059 GMT) to build a coalition of at least 61 deputies, a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. A Lapid government would also include the centrist Blue and White party of Netanyahu's rival Benny Gantz and the hawkish New Hope party of his former ally Gideon Saar. Avigdor Lieberman's pro-settlement Yisrael Beitenu party as well as historically powerful Labour and the dovish Meretz party would also join. The shaky arrangement would need the backing of some Arab-Israeli lawmakers of Palestinian descent in order to pass a confirmation vote in parliament. The intense talks follow weeks of escalating tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, including a deadly 11-day exchange of rocket fire from Gaza and devastating Israeli airstrikes. The war with Hamas that ended with a May 21 truce, as well as violence in the occupied West Bank and in mixed Jewish-Arab towns in Israel, initially appeared to leave Netanyahu more likely to hold onto power. But political scientist Gayil Talshir at Hebrew University told AFP on Sunday that Israel was now "closer than ever" to a coalition of change, adding: "Netanyahu is in a desperate position". Netanyahu's Likud party won 30 seats in the March elections but failed to form a governing coalition after his far-right partners refused to sit with Arab factions or receive their support. Lapid, whose party won 17 seats, was then given four weeks to form a government. Netanyahu had previously pushed for yet another election -- Israel's fifth in a little more than two years. - More elections? - On Sunday Netanyahu offered his own proposal of a rotation agreement with Bennett and Saar. But Saar on Twitter said he remained committed to "replacing the Netanyahu regime". Netanyahu in a video then called on Saar and Bennett to "come now, immediately" to meet him and join a three-way rotation government, warning they were "in crucial moment for the security, character and future of the state of Israel". Lapid's "change" coalition also still faced several obstacles. Some right-wing lawmakers object to a partnership with politicians from Israel's Arab minority, around a fifth of the population. The recent Gaza conflict sparked inter-communal clashes between Jewish and Arab Israelis in mixed cities. Arab politicians have also been divided about joining a government headed by Bennett, who supports expanding Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinians hope to create a state. Even with support from an Arab party, a new coalition in Israel is unlikely to reverse years of Israeli settlement construction or bring peace any time soon with Hamas in Gaza. If the anti-Netanyahu camp does not manage to form a government on time, a majority of 61 lawmakers could vote to ask the president to name a new premier. Another scenario would see the country return, yet again, to the polls. By ANI TOKYO: Egyptian authorities are demanding 550 million US dollars in compensation from the Japanese owner of a cargo ship that blocked the Suez Canal for nearly a week in March. The large container ship Ever Given got stuck in the key waterway and prevented the passage of all other vessels for several days, NHK World reported. The Suez Canal Authority initially demanded about 920 million dollars in compensation. During a press conference on Sunday in the Egyptian city of Ismailia, the officials of canal authority said that more than 600 workers were needed to refloat the ship, and that the demand includes compensation for a worker who was killed when a salvage ship sank. The officials argued that the amount they are demanding is appropriate. They also said the ship's owner, Shoei Kisen Kaisha, based in Ehime Prefecture, western Japan, has offered to pay 150 million USD. While, the Egyptians said they will not neglect their rights, although they would like to maintain good relations with the ship owner, and intend to continue the negotiations. Under a court decision, the Ever Given will remain in Egypt until compensation money is paid. The Ever Given was stuck in early March, paralyzing the crucial waterway. The damage to global trade can run into one billion US dollars, according to the canal authority. The ship was refloated on March 29 by a fleet of 15 tugboats. By AFP GENEVA: Switzerland's prestigious Rudra Bejart ballet school has fired its director and stage manager and suspended all classes for a year, after accusations of psychological abuse and over-training, according to a media report on Monday. The Bejart Ballet Lausanne Foundation, which runs the world-renowned school, announced the termination of long-time director Michel Gascard and stage manager Valerie Lacaze, his wife, on Friday, citing "serious shortcomings" in management. While it gave no details, Swiss public broadcaster RTS indicated on its website on Monday that they revolved around "abuse of power, nepotism and serious paedological dysfunction". The foundation said that classes were being halted after it "learned about troubling information involving the management" of the school, "requiring it to react immediately." An audit conducted in February had, according to the statement, revealed "serious shortcomings by the management team", and the board had decided to terminate their contracts. The school was fraught with psychological abuse and tyrannical over-training, according to a number of students who spoke with RTS anonymously. One student described how she had found herself surrounded by teachers and other students who "humiliated and belittled" her, the president of the foundation's board, Solange Peters, told RTS. One teacher cited in the report had reportedly compared the scene to a "lynching". Classes have been cancelled for the next artistic season at the school, which was founded in 1992 by legendary French ballet choreographer Maurice Bejart and counts around 40 students aged 16 to 20 from all over the world. The "board is aware of the consequences of such a decision," the foundation said in its statement. "Nevertheless, it is taking responsible steps to ensure that the school reopens its doors in the best possible conditions," it said. "The board will be working over the next few months to rebuild the school's management team, to create a teaching environment that respects the pedagogical values that guide its mission, and to strengthen its ties with the Bejart Ballet Lausanne." By ANI WASHINGTON: Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday said that the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) was engaged in military activity alongside its civilian research -- amid renewed scrutiny of the theory that the COVID-19 pandemic emerged from the secretive lab. "What I can say for sure is this: we know that they were engaged in efforts connected to the People's Liberation Army inside of that laboratory, so military activity being performed alongside what they claimed was just good old civilian research," Pompeo said, as per Fox News. He further mentioned: "They refuse to tell us what it was, they refuse to describe the nature of either of those, they refused to allow access to the World Health Organization when it tried to get in there." China is coming under increasing pressure over probe into the origins of the COVID-19, even as scientists are demanding more clarity to go into the roots of the global pandemic. ALSO READ | 'Covid has no credible natural ancestor': Explosive study claims Chinese scientists created virus in lab Sky News Australia host Andrew Bolt on May 26 spoke to Professor Nikolai Petrovsky, Director of Endocrinology at Flinders Medical Centre, who said that the world's scientific community had been "tricked by China", reported New York Times Post. Andrew Bolt said on his show The Bolt Report: "Finally a lot of experts are now saying well actually it does now look like this virus maybe did escape from that Chinese lab and China is feeling the heat." Professor Petrovsky told him that although some Chinese scientists have suggested that COVID-19 originated from pangolins, this is unlikely to be the case, reported New York Times Post. WHO team investigating the origins of COVID-19 in China found no evidence that the virus leaked from the Wuhan lab. However, the team was closely monitored by Chinese authorities during its investigation, and one of its members told UK news agency news that China refused to hand over key data from the initial outbreak, reported New York Times Post. This week, the Biden administration pushed China for a further probe into a possible leak from the Wuhan lab. However, China state media rejected the idea that COVID-19 had originated there and said that it is "a conspiracy created by US intelligence agencies", reported New York Times Post. Help support your local hometown newspaper/website. Independent local news reporting matters. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription, for as little as $3, so we can continue to provide independent local reporting on our communities. According to the National Center for State Courts, restricting jury pools to persons who are fully vaccinated may make it more difficult to secure enough prospective jurors. Along with COVIDs higher impact on people of color, public health experts have noted ongoing challenges in getting the vaccine out to certain communities. Excluding persons who are not fully vaccinated may make the jury pool less likely to reflect a fair cross-section of the community, which in turn may also increase the risk of jury challenges, NCSC officials said. Cultural alliance hosts practical business seminars The Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut is hosting practical business seminars, for artists, creative entrepreneurs and small business owners at 5 p.m. every other Tuesday through August 3. The alliance will also continue its Creative Notebook series. The seminars are hosted on Zoom. They began May 25. Alliance members are $10. Non members of the alliance are $20. Registration is required at http://bit.ly/CreativeNotebookspring2021. The dates of the other seminars, along with leaders and subjects, are: June 8 How your goals and values align with your website, covering SEO, social media, blogs and more, to drive traffic toward your website. Led by Ginny Hull, creative director, Hull Graphic Design LLC. June 22 Finding funds to grow your business, with a discussion of traditional and non-traditional funding options. Led by Nelson Merchan, adviser with the Small Business Development Center. July 6 Protect your business from lawsuits and liability. A fast-paced and entertaining presentation by Attorney Cliff Ennico. July 20 Prioritizing new technology to transform your business and help you become more productive, resilient and efficient. Led by Daniel Kayal, people & operations strategist. August 3 The importance of your financials, including an overview of financial management, why you should use accounting software, and when to hire a bookkeeper or an accountant. Led by Elizabeth Santaus, owner, Dressler Santaus LLC. Danbury Resident graduates from West Point Cadet Joseph S. Waldron, who is the son of Brian, and Christine Waldron of Danbury, recently graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, on Saturday, May 22. Waldron graduated from Danbury High School in 2017. While at West Point, Waldron concentrated his studies in mechanical engineering with a focus on mechatronics. Waldron was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army within the Engineers Branch, and will report in the future to Fort Bragg, N.C., for his first assignment with the 82nd Airborne. Danbury Art exhibition to open The Gallery at Still River Editions in Danbury has a 10 Year Retrospective Group art Exhibition at The Gallery at Still River Editions that is opening digitally with its digital exhibition on the 17th annual Connecticut Open House Day on Saturday, June 12 The physical exhibition opens in-person during the gallerys regular hours from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, June 14. The exhibition will remain open through Friday, Dec. 17. The art exhibition features artists from around the state and the Northeast region of the U.S. The gallery is also open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The exhibition includes work in a range of media by artists including Lisa Berger (Newtown), Paul Berger (Newtown), David Blackett, (Falmouth, ME,) Colin Burke, (New Haven,) Joy Bush, (Hamden,) Lisa Cohen, (South Salem, N.Y.,) Phyllis Crowley, (New Haven,) Shona Curtis, (New Preston,) Chris Durante, (Redding,) William Frucht, (Danbury,) Daisy Gesualdi, (Bethel,) David Gesualdi, (Bethel,) Vito Gesualdi, (Bethel,) Gene Gort, (Torrington,) Cam Gould, (Monroe,) Caroline Harman, (Newtown,) Keith Johnson, (Hamden,) Marcy Juran, (Westport,) Robert Kalman, (Brewster, N.Y.,) Ben Larrabee, (Darien,) Nancy Lasar, (Washington,) Jeff Mueller, (Hamden,) Hasna Muhammad, (Brewster, N.Y.), Tom Peterson, (Hamden,), James Rohan, (Wakefield, Mass,) Kerri Sancomb, (Hamden) and Tara Tomaselli, (Bethel.) The gallery began its life in the late 1980s as part of Connecticut Photographics, which was a full service film based photo lab. As the photographic industry became increasingly digital, the photo lab named its growing digital department Still River Editions, and eventually decided to use that name to represent the business as a whole. In 2011, the gallery relaunched its gallery as The Gallery at Still River Editions with an exhibition featuring Keith Johnson, and Mark Savoia, who co-owns Still River Editions with Catherine Vanaria, a co-owner, who had both received artist grants from the state Office of the Arts in 2010. The gallery has since hosted up to four exhibitions a year featuring artists from the state, and beyond. While the focus is mainly on digitally, and traditional prints of photographs, and artwork, the gallery has expanded its offerings to original paintings, and drawings as well. In addition to solo, and duo exhibitions, the gallery has also hosted group exhibitions, including the 2020 postcard exhibition titled: Wish You Were Here, which featured over 100 artists postcard sized images from coronavirus pandemic life. The Connecticut Chapter of the American Society of Media Photographers was also featured in two exhibitions at the gallery with different themes. Other group exhibition themes have included small works, music photography and celebrations of local artists. The gallery is located at 128 East Liberty St. in, Danbury. The gallerys phone number is 203-791-1474. Its hours are with the exception of some holidays. People who are interested in visiting the gallery are asked to check its website, https://stillrivereditions.com/, before doing so. The exhibition images will also appear digitally at stillrivereditions.com. Masks and social distancing are required amid the pandemic from the virus. New Milford Gaylordsville Historical Society set to accept donations for tag sale The Gaylordsville Historical Society is going to be accepting donations for its first annual tag sale that is set to be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday June 26 at The Schoolhouse on Gaylord Road in New Milford. Donations may be dropped off at The Schoolhouse from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 6, and Monday June 7, along with Sunday, June 13, and Monday, June 14. The rain date for the sale is Sunday, June 27. Newtown Ashurst Academy dancers celebrate with gala The Ashurst Academy of Irish Dance recently celebrated their dancers with their Gala for the Stars event. The event took place in both virtual, and in-person formats, and also celebrated the hard work, persistence, teamwork and determination that the dancers have displayed all year, and throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Small groups of dancers took the floor at the Edmond Town Hall in Newtown and on Zoom to showcase their love of dance, progress and all that they have learned for intimate audiences. Dancers as young as 4-years-old danced on stage for the first time, full of joy and excitement. Experienced and seasoned dancers inspired audiences with their intricate and advanced footwork. The Ashurst Academy of Irish Dance is directed by former Stars of Riverdance, and Lord of the Dance, Christina Dolzall-Ashurst, and Craig Ashurst. The local couple holds certification from Dublin, Ireland to teach Irish dancing. Their students are looking forward to competing in the U.S. Championships this July in Phoenix, Ariz., as well as the World Championships in Belfast, Ireland next April 2022. The dancing school has also been voted Connecticut's Best Dance Studio for Kids. The academy is currently enrolling new beginner students for summer camps, and will soon have enrollment open for the fall 2021 season. Visit http://www.ashurstirishdance.com for informtion. Ridgefield Library to host Restoring Wild: A Panel Discussion The Ridgefield Library will host a Restoring Wild program at 6 p.m. June 8 over Zoom. This is a presentation and panel discussion with Mark Fowler, Grace Farms nature initiative director, and Penn Marchael, Grace Farms land manager, that will be moderated by Louise Washer, president of the Norwalk River Watershed Association. With a focus on the big picture comeback story of the resilience of forests and woodlands in New England, this discussion will also focus on native pollinator-friendly pesticide-free plants as the solution to "restoring wild" in our own communities. By planting native pollinator friendly plants on our back porch, yard, or town green, and reducing the use of chemical pesticides and chemical fertilizers, we can all be part of the solution, and can make a better quality of life for humans, as well as give Mother Nature an opportunity to thrive alongside us. This program is part of the Ridgefield Pollinator Pathway Series and is being presented by the library, association and the Ridgefield Pollinator Pathway. Register to receive the Zoom link for the program or call 203-438-2282. Sherman 14th annual Asparagus Festival held The White Silo Farm & Winery recently hosted its 14th annual Asparagus Festival with an hour and a half reservations from either 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 1 to 2:30 p.m. or 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 29, and Sunday May 30, with a cost of $25 per person who participates in the event. The Farm and Winery is located 32 Route 37 East in Sherman. Reservations were are limited. The reservations included four items that were made with fresh Asparagus: BATs - bacon, asparagus and tomato sandwiches with garlic aioli, asparagus/leek/ramp soup, asparagus potato salad and asparagus gelato with a lemon cookie. There was also music from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 29, with Marty Meyer, and from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 30, with Potters Field. CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Sunday that his country will return to stricter lockdown measures in the face of a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases that indicate the virus is surging again in Africa's worst-affected nation. Positive cases in South Africa in the past seven days were 31% higher than the week before, and 66% higher than the week before that, Ramaphosa said in a live TV address. He said some parts of the country, including the commercial hub Johannesburg and the capital city Pretoria, were now in a third wave." We do not yet know how severe this wave will be or for how long it will last, Ramaphosa said. In response, Ramaphosa said that from Monday the nighttime curfew would be extended by an hour to start at 11 p.m. until 4 a.m. A maximum of 100 people would be allowed at indoor social gatherings and no more than 250 at an outdoors gathering. The number of people attending funerals will be limited to 100 people and after-funeral gatherings were banned completely, Ramaphosa said. Nonessential businesses must close by 10 p.m. We have tended to become complacent, Ramaphosa said, warning virus infections were surging again at a time when the country moves into its winter months and people were more likely to gather together indoors, likely further increasing infections. South Africa's decision to go back to a stricter lockdown reinforces as the crisis in India has already done so starkly how the global pandemic is far from over. We have seen in other countries the tragic consequences of leaving the virus to spread unchecked, Ramaphosa said. We cannot let our guard down. South Africa has more than 1.6 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 56,000 deaths, more than 30% of the cases and 40% of the deaths recorded by all of Africas 54 countries, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. South Africa recorded 4,515 new cases over the past 24 hours and Ramaphosa said the positivity rate among tests conducted was now a cause for concern. South Africa had been under lockdown level one, the lowest of its five levels, but was now reverting to an adjusted level two," Ramaphosa announced. Authorities did stop short of reimposing the strict measures like limits on people's movements during the day and a ban on the sales of alcohol and tobacco products that were in place at times last year. South Africa has seen two previous surges in infections, the first in the middle of last year and a second, much worse wave in December and January, when the emergence of a variant pushed infections and deaths to higher levels than the first surge. The virus was currently following the same trajectory" as those waves, Ramaphosa said. Experts have warned that this wave, arriving with the Southern Hemisphere winter, might be even worse. The surge in cases also cast more attention on South Africa's lagging vaccine rollout. Only around 1.5% of the country's 60 million people have received a vaccine. Health workers were the No. 1 priority but less than 500,000 of the 1.2 million health workers have been vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson one-dose shot. South Africa only began vaccinating its elderly citizens two weeks ago. In total, 963,000 South Africans had received a vaccine by Sunday, the government said, although half of those have only received the first of two required doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. South Africa has "secured" more than 50 million vaccines, Ramaphosa said, but currently has only 1.3 million doses in the country that are ready to be rolled out. More Pfizer-BioNTech doses are expected to arrive next week, and weekly after that, he said. South Africa hopes to vaccinate around 40 million people by the end of the year, a target that looks increasingly unlikely. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak Champaign, IL (61820) Today Thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 69F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 69F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. 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). Mentor-on-the-Lake Remembering fallen heroes Program at Amvets Post 109 pays tribute to military members who made ultimate sacrifice to help keep America the land of the free Countries that are advanced in their vaccination programmes are seeing cases of COVID-19 decline, hospitalizations decrease and early signs of some kind of normality resume. However, the global picture is far more concerning. At no point in this pandemic have we seen such an acute need to look to the future challenges and not rest on the patchy achievements made so far. We are seeing the traumatic effects of the terrible surge of COVID-19 in South Asia a surge which has also severely impacted global vaccine supplies. We are also witnessing why access to vaccines before a surge occurs is so important. For that reason, we must focus on ensuring countries who have not benefitted from these life-saving tools do so now, and with urgency. As the global mechanism for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, COVAX has proven it works. Designed and implemented in the midst of an unprecedented global public health crisis, it has delivered over 70 million doses to 126 countries and economies around the world since February from remote islands to conflict settings managing the largest and most complex rollout of vaccines in history. Over 35 countries received their first COVID-19 vaccine doses thanks to COVAX. However, the terrible surge of the virus in India has had a severe impact on COVAX's supply in the second quarter of this year, to the point where, by the end of June we will face a shortfall of 190 million doses. Even though COVAX will have larger volumes available later in the year through the deals it has already secured with several manufacturers, if we do not address the current, urgent shortfall the consequences could be catastrophic. But we can meet this challenge with concerted action and global leadership. Millions of dollars and doses were committed to COVAX on 21 May, bringing the total of doses pledged so far to more than 150 million. At the World Health Assembly, governments have been united in recognizing the political and financial urgency of supporting COVAX with doses and dollars. It is now imperative to build on this momentum to secure full funding for COVAX and more vaccines right now for lower income countries at the Advance Market Commitment Summit on 2 June. If the world's leaders rally together, the original COVAX objectives delivery of 2 billion doses of vaccines worldwide in 2021, and 1.8 billion doses to 92 lower income economies by early 2022 are still well within reach. But it will require governments and the private sector to urgently unlock new sources of doses, with deliveries starting in June, and funding so we can deliver. COVAX has the infrastructure in place to facilitate and coordinate this complex global effort. To enable COVAX to deliver on the promise of global equitable access, we call for the following immediate actions: Fund the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC). The AMC mechanism is how COVAX provides doses to lower income economies. Thanks to the generosity of its donors, the AMC has already secured 1.3 billion doses for delivery in 2021. This is enough to protect the most at-risk population groups: health workers, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. We need an additional $2 billion to lift coverage in AMC countries up to nearly 30%, and we need it by June 2 to lock in supplies now so that doses can be delivered through 2021, and into early 2022. Share doses, now. The pandemic has just taken a frightening new turn, as a deadly surge of cases rages across South Asia and other hotspots. Countries with the largest supplies should redirect doses to COVAX now, to have maximum impact. We are starting to see countries stepping forward with doses, with the United States and Europe collectively pledging to share 180 million doses. But we still need more, we need them to go through COVAX, and we need them to start moving in early June. At least one billion doses could be shared by wealthy countries in 2021. COVAX's need for doses is greatest right now. Countries with higher coverage rates, which are due to receive doses soon should swap their places in supply queues with COVAX so that doses can be equitably distributed as quickly as possible. The pandemic has just taken a frightening new turn, as a deadly surge of cases rages across South Asia and other hotspots. Countries with the largest supplies should redirect doses to COVAX now, to have maximum impact. Free up supply chains by removing trade barriers, export control measures, and other transit issues that block, restrict or slowdown the supply and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, raw materials, components and supplies. Now more than ever, at the peak of the pandemic, we need ambitious, global solutions. When it comes to worldwide vaccine distribution, COVAX is the only initiative capable of rising to the challenge of this moment. It's understandable that some countries want to press ahead and vaccinate all of their populations. By donating vaccines to COVAX alongside domestic vaccination programmes, the most at-risk populations can be protected globally, which is instrumental to ending the acute phase of the pandemic, curbing the rise and threat of variants, and accelerating a return to normality. COVAX is hugely appreciative to France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden and the UAE for their initial commitments to donate doses through COVAX, and to Canada for funding to support the design and operationalization of the COVAX dose sharing mechanism. We also welcome announcements by the USA, Norway, Croatia, Romania, Australia and Portugal to donate doses to countries in need and we put COVAX forward as the proven mechanism for global, rapid and equitable distribution to facilitate this. Since COVAX was established in mid-2020, it has had the support and resources of 192 of the world's economies. This tremendous vote of confidence has enabled us to demonstrate our ability to deliver an unprecedented global rollout. It's time to finish the job. After closing, LaSalle recruited about 20 volunteers to help with the remodel, from real estate colleagues to former clients who happen to be electricians, HVAC experts, home inspectors and a parent of a teenager who can cut lawns. Outside the donated time and labor, LaSalle raised nearly $12,000 to help with the cost. The volunteers ripped all the 1950s carpets out, put in new flooring, appliances, granite counters and a backsplash an estimated $25,000 project. A team of scientists from France has recently conducted a study to evaluate the sensitivity of the B.1.617 variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to antibody-mediated neutralization. The findings reveal that compared to other circulating variants, the B.1.617 variant is resistant to therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and natural infection- or vaccine-induced antibodies. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server. Background With the progression of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, several new variants of SARS-CoV-2 have emerged globally. Because of acquiring multiple spike mutations, many of these variants have gained evolutionary benefits, including increased infectivity and virulence and the ability to escape host immune responses. In October 2020, a new SARS-CoV-2 lineage termed B.1.617 emerged in India, causing an exponential increase in COVID-19 cases across the country. The lineage is further divided into three subgroups: B.1.617.1, B.1.617.2, and B.1.617.3; of which the B.1.617.2 variant has been designated as Variant of Concern (VOC) because of significantly increased infectivity. However, not enough information is available on the sensitivity of this lineage to host humoral immunity. In the current study, the scientists have investigated the sensitivity of the B.1.617.2 variant to therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, and antibodies derived from COVID-19 recovered or vaccinated individuals. Mapping mutations on B1.617.2 and other variants of concern to the Spike surface. a. The Spike protein trimer (PDB:6XR8, corresponding to a closed spike trimer with all three RBDs in the down conformation) is shown with its surface colored according to domains: NTD blue, RBD red, the remainder of S1 yellow and S2 green. Interfaces between protomers were left white to help visualize the protomers boundaries. The three polypeptide chains in the trimer were arbitrarily defined as A, B and C, labeled to identify NTD (blue) and RBD (red) in the same protomer. Surface patches corresponding to residues mutated in the B.617.2 variant are colored in black. The top panels display two orthogonal views. The bottom panels show the trimers with subunit A in the same orientation as in the panel on top, and subunits B and C rotated 180 degrees to show the trimer interface (buried regions in the trimer are left white). The eye icon on the top right panel serves to indicate the viewpoint for the bottom right panel, after removing chain A to display internal surfaces. The mutations in B.617.2 are labeled in the bottom panel. b. Details of the NTD surface, with mutations that appeared in the indicated variants. c. RBD shown in three orthogonal views. the left panel is viewed down the surface that binds ACE2, with the surface buried in the complex with ACE2 superposed in grey in the lower panel (labeled ACE2 patch). The mutations on the variants are labeled. The middle panel shows the RBD surface buried in the closed spike trimer. The right panel shows its exposed surface. Note that the mutations on the RBD cluster all around the ACE2 patch. Panels were prepared with The PyMOL Molecular Graphics System, Version 2.1 Schrodinger, LLC. Study design In the study, the B.1.617.2 variant was isolated from the nasopharyngeal swab sample of an individual. Compared to the D614G variant of SARS-CoV-2, the B.1.617.2 variant contains nine spike mutations, including five mutations in the N-terminal domain (NTD), 2 mutations in the receptor-binding domain (RBD), 1 mutation in the furin-cleavage site, and one mutation in the spike S2 subunit. To examine the immune escape potential of the variant, four clinically approved anti-RBD antibodies along with four other anti-RBD antibodies and four anti-NTD antibodies were included. For antibody isolation, serum samples were collected from 56 COVID-19 recovered individuals and 28 vaccinated individuals. Of vaccinated individuals, 16 received the mRNA-based Pfizer vaccine and 12 received the adenovirus-based AstraZeneca vaccine. Genetic characterization of B.1.617.2 variant The spike mutations identified in the B.1.617.2 variant showed a similar distribution pattern as other VOCs. Besides the D614G mutation, the D950N mutation was identified in the trimer interface. The majority of NTD mutations were present in the supersite, which is the primary target of potent anti-NTD neutralizing antibodies. Similarly, all RBD mutations were identified in the periphery of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding surface, indicating that the B.1.617.2 variant acquires these mutations to avoid antibody binding without hampering ACE2 binding. Monoclonal antibody-mediated neutralization of B.1.617.2 variant All tested therapeutic antibodies (Bamlanivimab, Etesevimab, Casirivimab, and Imdevimab) showed high potency in neutralizing the D614G variant. Except for Etesevimab, the other three antibodies actively neutralized the B.1.1.7 variant as well. Regarding B.1.617.2 variant, all antibodies except Bamlanivimab retained their active virus neutralization potency. The acquisition of L452R mutation could be the escape mutation for Bamlanivimab. Of four other anti-RBD antibodies, three efficiently neutralized the B.1.617.2 variant. In contrast, three out of four anti-NTD antibodies failed to neutralize the B.1.617.2 variant, with the fourth one showing modest neutralizing efficiency. The flow cytometric analysis to determine antibodyvariant interaction revealed that the B.1.617.2 variant developed resistance to antibody-mediated neutralization primarily by preventing antibodyepitope binding. Convalescent sera-mediated neutralization of B.1.617.2 variant The serum samples obtained from COVID-19 recovered individuals after six months of symptom onset were tested against the B.1.617.2, D614G, B.1.1.7, and B.1.351 variants. Compared to D614G and B.1.1.7 variants, the B.1.617.2 variant showed 4 6 times less sensitivity to neutralization by convalescent sera. Similarly, serum samples obtained from 48 convalescent healthcare workers after 12 months of symptom onset showed a six-fold lower potency in neutralizing the B.1.617.2 variant compared to the B.1.1.7 variant. Among healthcare workers, 13 received the 1st dose of AstraZeneca, Pfizer, or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The sera obtained from vaccinated healthcare workers showed a 130-fold increase in neutralizing antibody levels against the B.1.617.2 and B.1.1.7 variants. These findings reveal that the B.1.617.2 variant is comparatively less sensitive to neutralization by convalescent sera obtained 1 year after infection. Vaccination-mediated neutralization of B.1.617.2 variant The sera obtained from individuals completely immunized with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine showed 3-times and 16-timer lower potency in neutralizing the B.1.617.2 and B.1.351 variants, respectively, as compared to the B.1.1.7 variant. In contrast, the sera obtained from individuals immunized with a single dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine showed significantly lower potency in neutralizing the B.1.617.2 variant. Study significance The study findings reveal that the recently emerged B.1.617.2 variant of SARS-CoV-2 is partially resistant to neutralization by anti-RBD and anti-NTD monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies induced by natural SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination. *Important Notice bioRxiv 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. To date, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been responsible for over 170 million infections and over 3.54 million deaths. Diverse surveillance methods are employed to assess the scale of disease burden and population exposure; these include community testing, contact tracing and the monitoring of morbidity and mortality rates. Currently, wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is being explored as a new tool to track the spread of COVID-19. Both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals are reported to shed viral RNA in their feces, and many studies report viral detection in sewage and wastewaters across the world. In a recent study, released as a preprint on the medRxiv* server, researchers developed a methodology to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater with the potential for finding an association between the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) SARS-CoV-2 influent viral RNA load and COVID-19 cases in the community. This study indicates that a national scale wastewater-based epidemiology can play a role in COVID-19 surveillance. The researchers demonstrated that the concentration and daily SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA load from the wastewater are associated with the COVID-19 cases. This can be used to predict the number of cases detected in the WWTP catchment area. A clear statistically significant relationship is observed between these two variables above site-specific case thresholds, the researchers noted. Although proving effective as a surveillance tool, understanding the impact of viral shedding dynamics in faeces, viral persistence in wastewater and wastewater flow rates on viral detection remain serious challenges, writes the team. They developed a filtration-based methodology to concentrate the SARS-CoV-2 from the WWTP influent. Then they subsequently detected and quantified the viral load by optimizing RT-qPCR (quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction). This methodology, adopted by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), monitored 28 WWTPs across Scotland, serving 50% of the population, about 2.66 million people. Including large conurbations, as well as low-density rural and remote island communities, these sites cover rural and urban wastewater influent in the study. Presently, the wastewater testing has been expanded to cover 75% of the population, with sub-catchment sampling being used to focus surge testing, the researchers informed. For each WWTP catchment area, the researchers also collected data on COVID-19 cases and deaths. In the study, this is presented as quantified spatial and temporal relationships between SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater and COVID-19 cases, the strength of which was strong in the larger WWTPs. Significantly, the study reported that the identified threshold for detection is typically under 25 cases, whereas for some smaller WWTPs, a single detected community case was sufficient to yield a positive wastewater result. On the low-level limits of detection, the researchers said, Wastewater surveillance can be particularly valuable for areas reaching low prevalence and is therefore suitable as a logistically sustainable and cost-effective early warning system, making a targeted community testing strategy viable. Importantly, we demonstrate how WBE can be adopted across a range of catchments, from densely populated urban areas (Edinburgh and Glasgow) to smaller towns, rural areas and islands. It is known that COVID-19 patients shed SARS-CoV-2 RNA, with prolonged shedding observed up to 33 days after the initial onset of symptoms or hospitalizations. It is found even after full recovery. In this study, the researchers also estimated the level of viral shedding in feces and how this varies over time. They observed a relatively short period over which infected individuals substantially contribute to the wastewater signal. Discussing the sensitivity, various factors and correlations that affect their study, the researchers presented a new model to calculate the daily WWTP SARS-CoV-2 influent viral RNA load using daily influent flow rates. This study confirms the existence of a strong and measurable, statistically significant relationship between the SARS-CoV-2 daily WWTP viral RNA load and the number of detected COVID-19 cases in the week preceding wastewater sample collection. The wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) and SARS-CoV-2 variant detection, assessment of vaccination on community transmission and surveillance for other infectious diseases represent promising future applications. This study demonstrates the rapid inception, development, validation and operationalization of a national COVID-19 WBE program to provide highly cost-effective community surveillance during the pandemic, the researchers conclude. *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. India is banking on a locally developed, affordable home-use kit to bump up testing for COVID-19 and reduce the burden on public resources struggling against a runaway pandemic now raging through the country in a deadly second wave. The second wave that hit India in March 2021 saw severe shortages of vaccines, hospital beds and medical oxygen. On 30 April, India became the first country to report over 400,000 new cases in a 24-hour period, badly overwhelming public health resources. Called CoviSelf, the new Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), which costs US$3.50, takes 15 minutes to indicate whether a nasal or throat swab placed on a strip of paper is positive or negative. Following approval by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India's top body for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research, the Pune-based developer, Mylab Discovery Solutions, has announced mass manufacture of the kits. Sujeet Jain, director of the company, says that the kit will be available across the country through most pharmacies as a prescription-free, over-the-counter product to any buyer by early July. "We plan to produce 40 to 60 million kits per month," Jain tells SciDev.Net. According to an ICMR advisory on the kit, published 19 May, home-testing is advised only for individual with symptoms of COVID-19 and immediate contacts of laboratory-confirmed positive cases. The ICMR advisory asks users to follow instructions given as pictorials and in a video. A mobile smartphone app analyses a picture of the swab to issue a positive or negative result. Rapid antigen tests are of great value when the burden of the disease is huge as in India where the case load (is) increasing rapidly and labs aren't able to cope with the massively increased demand for RT PCR tests." Dinesh Raj, Consultant, Holy Family Hospital, New Delhi According to ICMR, India has cumulatively conducted tests on almost 337 million samples since mass testing began in March 2020. That figure represents less than a quarter of India's population of around 1.3 billion people. "If someone tests positive, those close to him can get a RAT done," Raj tells SciDev.Net. However, he adds that it is important for the public to know that RAT has poor sensitivity and that there is a high possibility of error, meaning results should be checked with a standard RT-PCR test. "It is likely to miss cases and give false negative results," he says. "An individual with negative RAT may feel falsely confident and continue to spread disease while his own condition may deteriorate." Suma Balan, professor of rheumatology at the School of Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, Kerala, tells SciDev.Net the kit will "help patients who are unable to go to a test centre, which are all currently overburdened so that the wait for RT-PCR test results can be up to three days in cities like Delhi". "The real question is whether this new product will live up to its reputation as is being advertised," she adds. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been associated with both short- and long-term neurologic complications, including stroke, brain fog and persistent tiredness. A new study concludes that the effects of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on the central nervous system are due to the endothelial injury and inflammation that this produces in the brain. A preprint version of the study is available on the medRxiv* server, while the article undergoes peer review. Study aims Since the beginning of the pandemic, it has become clear that men are often more affected by COVID-19, with a higher likelihood of severe illness and a greater chance of death. The current study focused on assessing brain injury markers (BIM) within 48 hours of hospitalization and at three months later. BIMs are recognized as being valid indicators of injury to nerve cells and astrocytes, in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, sepsis and cardiac arrest. The current study focused on six, namely, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), S100B, ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase isozyme L1 (UCHL1), Syndecan-1 and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP 2). The scientists also examined levels of two markers of endothelial injury (Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1, ICAM-1 and Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1, VCAM-1) and of inflammation, in the form of cytokines or chemokines. These were measured in hospitalized patients and in controls in a single hospital in Houston, Texas, USA. None of them had chronic lung, heart, neurological or psychiatric disease, cancer, or any disabling condition. Increased markers of endothelial and brain injury The researchers found that within 48 hours of hospitalization, that is, during the acute phase, patients had higher markers of brain injury like MAP2 and NSE than controls. The mean levels showed an increase of 60% to 145%, depending on the individual marker, relative to the controls. Of these markers, MAP2 is a sign of dendritic injury, and was high at both acute and chronic time points. It has previously been shown to be high after traumatic brain injury and predicts long-term outcomes. NSE is found in nerve cells and indicates damage. S100B is found in astrocytes and is high in traumatic brain injury and in strokes. Thus, this combination of BIMs shows combined nerve cell and astrocytic injury in COVID-19, worse in men than in women. However, all markers had returned to normal at three months from hospitalization. Markers of endothelial injury were also higher with acute infection, with the mean levels being two and three times higher than in controls, for ICAM1 and VCAM1, respectively. These were not assessed at three months. The endothelial marker ICAM1 is released in response to IL-1b and TNF. The effects are increased leukocyte adhesion, which reduces the barrier's integrity and promotes leakage from the blood vessels. Cytokines and chemokines were also much higher, in some cases, in acute infection, but others showed a decrease. Of 38 chemokines and cytokines evaluated, seven were high, while two were low. Again, these reverted to normal levels at three months. TNF is a potent inflammatory mediator. Its elevation in this context indicates that the vascular injury is probably inflammatory in origin and not due to viral injury. Brain injury due to inflammation and endothelial injury The researchers carried out bioinformatics analysis to bring out possible associations between the markers. This showed that BIMs were strongly positive in their association with elevated or reduced cytokines/chemokines. The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) tended to be higher in men with COVID-19. People with higher IL-6 levels also had higher titers of other cytokines and BIMs. Several other cytokines and chemokines, including IL10 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) were associated with brain injury as well. Thus, it appears that these signaling molecules drive inflammatory brain injury. In other words, brain injury in acute COVID-19 is induced by systemic inflammation. When analyzed by severity of disease, the BIMs showed no distinctions, but severe COVID-19 patients showed higher levels of sICAM1, an endothelial injury marker, and a couple of cytokines (SCD40L and IL1RA). Greater inflammation linked to worse outcomes The researchers found that the chemokine MIP1b (but no BIM or EIM) indicated a greater probability of adverse outcomes, that is, the functional status of the patient at discharge. Raised markers in males Among the BIMs, NSE was the only one that was raised in men relative to women. Four cytokines/chemokines were also elevated IL10, IL15, IL8 and MIP1a, while four were near borderline significance. Overall, men were more likely to show strong relationships between the levels of various BIM, EIM and cytokines. The pattern of correlation was different in men relative to women. For instance, cytokines were correlated to BIMs in greater depth in men, indicating that inflammatory brain injury was more pronounced in this sex. Endothelial injury also appeared to be more pronounced in men, and showed a greater correlation with cytokines and BIMs. What are the implications? The findings showed that acute COVID-19 is linked to markers of brain injury, and these return to normal by three months. This is accompanied by signs of endothelial injury, which show strong positive associations with EIMs and several inflammatory cytokines. However, men appeared to suffer worse brain injuries than women in acute infection, indicating that they are biologically susceptible to COVID-19-induced inflammation, endothelial damage, and brain injury. The elevated BIMs suggest that there is CNS involvement in acute COVID-19 and the clinical ramifications need to be investigated urgently." Earlier research showed that the blood-brain barrier is injured in COVID-19, and the viral spike protein may enter the CNS by this route. This injury is due to endothelial damage. Such damage has been documented by a study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This damage may have been caused by direct viral injury, or because of the inflammation, or perhaps both. Further research will be required to understand the mechanism of such damage. There were no obvious differences between the levels of these markers across grades of severity. This could be because acute-phase samples were all drawn from the same point of time (within 48 hours of admission). At this point, significant differences are unlikely to have emerged. While long COVID has been extensively reported, the current study failed to show any elevations in BIMs, EIMs or cytokines, except in the case of MIP1a, at three months following hospitalization. This indicates that inflammatory injury is not ongoing, even though it may leave long-term sequelae on the survivors. Men seem to develop a stronger inflammatory response to COVID-19, and to have more severe endothelial injury as a result. This fact must be kept in mind while treating male COVID-19 patients, even though the exact reasons for this difference from women with the same illness are as yet unclear. The researchers conclude: Further studies are required to clarify the exact mechanisms how COVID-19 induces inflammation and brain injury, sex-specific differences and whether these early increase in injury markers are associated with long-term neurologic outcomes." *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. Parkinson's disease affects seven to ten million patients in Western societies - with an upward trend. Patients suffer from symptoms such as tremors, gait and speech disorders, and memory loss. Digital technologies have the potential to change the understanding and treatment of Parkinson's disease fundamentally. But before they can be implemented in clinical practice, their benefits for patients need to be evaluated carefully - this is the aim of the European research project Validating DIGItal biomarkers for better personalized treatment of Parkinson's Disease (DIGIPD). In the project, digital biomarkers refer, e.g., to features derived from sensors that monitor a patient's gait. A tiny device can be attached to the shoe of a patient. This device then transmits recordings wirelessly to a tablet. In addition, there are digital biomarkers retrieved from recordings of the voice (also via telephone) and facial movements (via video). The data are collected in clinical studies run at Erlangen, Paris, and Luxembourg and subsequently analyzed by French researchers at the Institute Polytechnique de Paris. Researchers at Fraunhofer SCAI and the University of Luxembourg will further on evaluate all study data jointly using artificial intelligence (AI) methods. This approach should provide valuable information on whether digital biomarkers can help to distinguish between different courses of the disease, whether the evaluations can help predict the course of the disease, and what relationships exist between digital biomarkers and established measurements in Parkinson's. New knowledge gained through this research and the algorithms developed in the project could contribute towards a better individualized treatment of patients (precision medicine). Physicians treating patients will benefit from these results, as they will be able to adjust their treatment at an earlier stage and thus positively influence the progression of the disease. DIGIPD puts a lot of emphasis on the analysis of large and complex data sets." Prof. Dr. Holger Frohlich, Project Coordinator He heads the "AI and Data Science" group at Fraunhofer SCAI. "For this purpose, we use modern methods of artificial intelligence and machine learning, which we have tested and developed in our research work in the field of biomedical data analysis," explains Frohlich. An important point here is also investigating data protection and ethical aspects in evaluating patient data using AI. Therefore, also patients are involved into the project. DIGIPD brings together experts from medicine and informatics in the field of Parkinson's disease. Partners in the project are the Brain and Spine Institute (ICM) in Paris, the University of Luxembourg, the University Hospital Erlangen, Telecom SudParis (Institute Polytechnique de Paris), the University of Namur in Belgium, Portabiles GmbH in Erlangen, and the non-profit patient organization "Asociation Parkinson Madrid." The project is funded under the European ERA network on personalized medicine, ERA PerMed, in the "Joint Transnational Call 2020". The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding the German part of the project. DIGIPD starts in May 2021 and has a duration of three years. In a study of 11 medical-mystery patients, an international team of researchers led by scientists at the National Institutes of Health and the Uniformed Services University (USU) discovered a new and unique form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Unlike most cases of ALS, the disease began attacking these patients during childhood, worsened more slowly than usual, and was linked to a gene, called SPTLC1, that is part of the body's fat production system. Preliminary results suggested that genetically silencing SPTLC1 activity would be an effective strategy for combating this type of ALS. "ALS is a paralyzing and often fatal disease that usually affects middle-aged people. We found that a genetic form of the disease can also threaten children. Our results show for the first time that ALS can be caused by changes in the way the body metabolizes lipids," said Carsten Bonnemann, M.D., senior investigator at the NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and a senior author of the study published in Nature Medicine. "We hope these results will help doctors recognize this new form of ALS and lead to the development of treatments that will improve the lives of these children and young adults. We also hope that our results may provide new clues to understanding and treating other forms of the disease." Dr. Bonnemann leads a team of researchers that uses advanced genetic techniques to solve some of the most mysterious childhood neurological disorders around the world. In this study, the team discovered that 11 of these cases had ALS that was linked to variations in the DNA sequence of SPLTC1, a gene responsible for manufacturing a diverse class of fats called sphingolipids. In addition, the team worked with scientists in labs led by Teresa M. Dunn, Ph.D., professor and chair at USU, and Thorsten Hornemann, Ph.D., at the University of Zurich in Switzerland. Together they not only found clues as to how variations in the SPLTC1 gene lead to ALS but also developed a strategy for counteracting these problems. The study began with Claudia Digregorio, a young woman from the Apulia region of Italy. Her case had been so vexing that Pope Francis imparted an in-person blessing on her at the Vatican before she left for the United States to be examined by Dr. Bonnemann's team at the NIH's Clinical Center. Like many of the other patients, Claudia needed a wheelchair to move around and a surgically implanted tracheostomy tube to help with breathing. Neurological examinations by the team revealed that she and the others had many of the hallmarks of ALS, including severely weakened or paralyzed muscles. In addition, some patients' muscles showed signs of atrophy when examined under a microscope or with non-invasive scanners. Nevertheless, this form of ALS appeared to be different. Most patients are diagnosed with ALS around 50 to 60 years of age. The disease then worsens so rapidly that patients typically die within three to five years of diagnosis. In contrast, initial symptoms, like toe walking and spasticity, appeared in these patients around four years of age. Moreover, by the end of the study, the patients had lived anywhere from five to 20 years longer. These young patients had many of the upper and lower motor neuron problems that are indicative of ALS. What made these cases unique was the early age of onset and the slower progression of symptoms. This made us wonder what was underlying this distinct form of ALS." Payam Mohassel, M.D., NIH clinical research fellow and lead author of the study The first clues came from analyzing the DNA of the patients. The researchers used next-generation genetic tools to read the patients' exomes, the sequences of DNA that hold the instructions for making proteins. They found that the patients had conspicuous changes in the same narrow portion of the SPLTC1 gene. Four of the patients inherited these changes from a parent. Meanwhile, the other six cases appeared to be the result of what scientist call "de novo" mutations in the gene. These types of mutations can spontaneously occur as cells rapidly multiply before or shortly after conception. Mutations in SPLTC1 are also known to cause a different neurological disorder called hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type 1 (HSAN1). The SPLTC1 protein is a subunit of an enzyme, called SPT, which catalyzes the first of several reactions needed to make sphingolipids. HSAN1 mutations cause the enzyme to produce atypical and harmful versions of sphingolipids. At first, the team thought the ALS-causing mutations they discovered may produce similar problems. However, blood tests from the patients showed no signs of the harmful sphingolipids. "At that point, we felt like we had hit a roadblock. We could not fully understand how the mutations seen in the ALS patients did not show the abnormalities expected from what was known about SPTLC1 mutations," said Dr. Bonnemann. "Fortunately, Dr. Dunn's team had some ideas." For decades Dr. Dunn's team had studied the role of sphingolipids in health and disease. With the help of the Dunn team, the researchers reexamined blood samples from the ALS patients and discovered that the levels of typical sphingolipids were abnormally high. This suggested that the ALS mutations enhanced SPT activity. Similar results were seen when the researchers programmed neurons grown in petri dishes to carry the ALS-causing mutations in SPLTC1. The mutant carrying neurons produced higher levels of typical sphingolipids than control cells. This difference was enhanced when the neurons were fed the amino acid serine, a key ingredient in the SPT reaction. Previous studies have suggested that serine supplementation may be an effective treatment for HSAN1. Based on their results, the authors of this study recommended avoiding serine supplementation when treating the ALS patients. Next, Dr. Dunn's team performed a series of experiments which showed that the ALS-causing mutations prevent another protein called ORMDL from inhibiting SPT activity. "Our results suggest that these ALS patients are essentially living without a brake on SPT activity. SPT is controlled by a feedback loop. When sphingolipid levels are high then ORMDL proteins bind to and slow down SPT. The mutations these patients carry essentially short circuit this feedback loop," said Dr. Dunn. "We thought that restoring this brake may be a good strategy for treating this type of ALS." To test this idea, the Bonnemann team created small interfering strands of RNA designed to turn off the mutant SPLTC1 genes found in the patients. Experiments on the patients' skin cells showed that these RNA strands both reduced the levels of SPLTC1 gene activity and restored sphingosine levels to normal. "These preliminary results suggest that we may be able to use a precision gene silencing strategy to treat patients with this type of ALS. In addition, we are also exploring other ways to step on the brake that slows SPT activity," said Dr. Bonnemann. "Our ultimate goal is to translate these ideas into effective treatments for our patients who currently have no therapeutic options." Scientists from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the University of Cambridge found that in children with neuroblastoma - a cancer of immature nerve cells - treatment with platinum chemotherapy caused changes to the genome that could then cause leukaemia in some children later on. The findings, published 27th May 2021 in Blood could lead to an ability to identify which children are more likely to develop the secondary cancer. This in turn could lead to changes in their treatment plan to either avoid these risks or take measures to prepare. Secondary blood cancer is a challenging complication of childhood neuroblastoma cancer treatment. Every year around 100 children in the UK are diagnosed with neuroblastoma, and those who had high-risk treatment are at an increased risk of developing secondary blood cancer - leukaemia - after neuroblastoma treatment. Neuroblastoma often requires intense treatment including several chemotherapy drugs. These powerful drugs kill cancer cells very effectively but unfortunately also have side effects, including damaging the DNA of healthy cells, including bone marrow cells. In up to 7 per cent of childhood neuroblastoma survivors, damaged bone marrow cells go on to develop into secondary leukaemia. In this new study, researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the University of Cambridge sequenced the whole genomes of bone marrow and blood samples of two children who both had developed blood cancer following high-risk neuroblastoma treatment. They discovered that the seeds of secondary leukaemia were sown by neuroblastoma chemotherapy right at the beginning of treatment. We have been able to unravel the root of secondary leukaemia in these children which seems to lie in the early stages of neuroblastoma treatment. We hope to further investigate this to try to identify children at higher risk, and to inform a more tailored treatment plan to reduce the risk of secondary leukaemia." Dr Sam Behjati, Study Co-Lead Author and Group Leader, Wellcome Sanger Institute The team found that in both patients the leukaemia had mutations that were caused by neuroblastoma chemotherapy. A wider analysis of 17 children treated for a variety of cancers then identified another child who had undergone neuroblastoma treatment and had developed pre-leukaemia seeds. In the future, it could be possible to identify the children who have a higher risk of developing secondary leukaemia by sequencing their genome and highlighting any genetic drivers that could be pre-cursors for blood cancer. Dr Grace Collord, joint first author from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: "This research would not have been possible without the contributions of the patients and their families, and we are indebted to them for their participation in this study. Understanding the reason why some childhood cancer survivors go on to develop secondary blood cancer is crucial if we are to find a way to help protect against this devastating complication." Professor John Anderson of Great Ormond Street Hospital, who contributed to this study, said: "Neuroblastoma can be an aggressive disease that requires intense chemotherapy treatment. Occasionally this chemotherapy can cause serious adverse effects such as leukaemia. So these findings are important to inform possible strategies for monitoring for secondary cancer and tailoring individual treatment plans. However, I should stress that it remains vital that children with high risk neuroblastoma continue to receive intense treatment for their cancer." The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating four additional COVID-19 cases, all of which are imported. The cases involve three women and one man aged between 31 and 41 who arrived from Indonesia, South Korea, the Netherlands and India. One of the patients, a 40-year-old man from India, arrived in Hong Kong on April 18 with an earlier imported case. He was classified as a close contact and underwent quarantine at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre until May 9. After completing quarantine he stayed at his residence at Shing Fu House of Kwai Shing East Estate in Kwai Chung. He was tested at a community testing centre on May 13 and his result was negative. On May 29, he was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital due to his underlying illness and tested indeterminate for COVID-19 on admission. He then tested positive for immunoglobulin G. As a prudent measure, Shing Fu House where the patient lives was included in the compulsory testing notice on May 30, under which relevant people are required to undergo testing by June 2. The centre also announced that there is a preliminary positive case involving a 35-year-old male police officer. He lives in Wai Mei House of Yau Mei Court in Yau Tong and works at Wan Chai Police District Headquarters and Wan Chai Police Division. Both places will be subject to compulsory testing. The Government will set up a mobile specimen collection station at the Police Headquarters in Wan Chai on June 1 to provide free testing services for staff subject to compulsory testing. The officer developed a sore throat, cough and runny nose on May 28 and went to a private doctor the next day. His deep throat saliva sample collected on May 30 tested positive for the virus. Police said the officer last attended work today. He has no travel history in the past 14 days and wore masks while on duty. All facilities in the office concerned have been sterilised and staff who might have had contact with the officer have been arranged to undergo COVID-19 testing. Meanwhile, five schools and the specified level of four schools are now covered in the compulsory testing notice due to outbreaks of upper respiratory tract infection or influenza-like illness. A total of 13 cases were reported in Hong Kong in the past 14 days, all of which are imported. For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage. Jeffersonville, IN (47130) Today Mostly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms mainly during the evening. Low 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms mainly during the evening. Low 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. (Newser) A hiker made a horrifying discovery Friday morning: the body of a boy behind a bush. The boy's body was near the Mountain Springs trailhead, between Las Vegas and Pahrump, Nevada, the Review-Journal reports. Las Vegas police are now asking the public's help identifying the child, whom they estimate to have been between 8 and 12 years old. He is described as being Latino, 4'11", and 123 pounds. "We are asking teachers in particular to pay close attention to this new digitally enhanced photo," the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement, per CNN. story continues below The original sketch that was released had led a frantic mother to contact police Saturday morning, saying the child looked like her son, whose father had picked him up from her Thursday night, the AP reports. Police, however, were ultimately able to track down the father and his 8- and 11-year-old sons camping in a part of Utah with limited cellphone reception. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children later assisted the LVMPD with the digitally enhanced sketch, NBC News reports. No details have yet been made public about how, when, or where the boy died, or whether his body was placed on the trail. (Read more Las Vegas stories.) It was a safe shot to take, he said about the Tuesday night incident. The hope was to be able to take the child away without him (the father) being able to use his muscles. (Newser) Mariah Towns, 18, had just graduated from her Alabama high school last week. She, her parents, and two younger siblings were on their way to a graduation party in Atlanta Saturday night when their car plunged into Logan Martin Lake, killing four of the car's five occupants, AL.com reports. April Whatley, 37; Reginald White III, 5; and Rosalind White, 2, were also killed, according to a GoFundMe set up for the sole survivor, 39-year-old Reginald White, to help him with funeral expenses. story continues below It's not clear what caused the car to leave Interstate 20 and end up in the lake, but the fundraising campaign says the driver lost control of the vehicle. Authorities say Whatley was driving when the SUV left the roadway and ended up in the water, CBS 42 reports. All four victims were pronounced dead at the scene. White was injured in the crash; his condition is not clear. (Read more Alabama stories.) (Newser) Kamala Harris was being sharply criticized after a Saturday tweet many said was disrespectful to Memorial Day and all that it honors. "Enjoy the long weekend," read Harris' tweet, which was accompanied by a photo of herself. It made no mention of Monday's holiday, and critics were not happy that Harris chose to focus on the "long weekend" rather than the US servicemembers who've lost their lives while carrying out their military duties, which is the reason for Memorial Day. Nikki Haley's response was succinct: "Unprofessional and unfit." story continues below Still others pointed out that for many, including those working in the service industry, it's not actually a long weekend as they don't get the holiday off, Fox News reports. On Sunday, Harris tweeted, "Throughout our history our service men and women have risked everything to defend our freedoms and our country. As we prepare to honor them on Memorial Day, we remember their service and their sacrifice." The controversy comes on the heels of Harris being criticized by some for a "woke joke" about solar power that fell flat when she gave a speech to the graduating Naval Academy class Friday, per the New York Post. (Read more Kamala Harris stories.) People walk by a mural for Black Wall Street, as the area was known, in the Greenwood district during centennial commemorations Sunday of the Tulsa Race Massacre. (AP Photo/John Locher) People walk by a mural for Black Wall Street, as the area was known, in the Greenwood district during centennial commemorations Sunday of the Tulsa Race Massacre. (AP Photo/John Locher) (Newser) Sometimes, art restorations do not go well. Not well at all. But in Florence, Italy, a team of historians, art restorers, and, crucially, scientists appears to have pulled off the feat in impressive fashion, writes Jason Horowitz in the New York Times. The restoration involved marble statues carved by none other than Michelangelo at the famed Medici Chapel. Centuries of visitorsand one not-so-sanitary burial in particular within the tombhad done a number on the pieces, and the team came up with a novel solution. They sent in microbes to eat away the grime, oils, and other particulars. It was top secret, art restorer Daniela Manna says of the project, which got underway before the pandemic and continued throughout. The results will be officially unveiled next month. story continues below The story details how the team first figured out the exact organic particles that had collected on the marble, then selected a bacteriaSerratia ficaria SH7particularly suited for the job. One of the interesting, if gory, details is that some of the discoloration in the chapel apparently resulted from the hasty burial of Alessandro Medici, a ruler of Florence who was assassinated in 1537 and whose body did what bodies do when not properly disposed of. "SH7 ate Allesandro" is how Manna puts it. "Could this serve as a model for other institutions?" wonders Tobias Carroll at InsideHook. "Its a fascinating look at the place where art, science and preservation converge." (Humidity from human breath might be harming The Scream.) (Newser) A Chinese climber who became the first blind Asian to scale Mount Everest says he aims to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents and then travel to the North and South Poles, per the AP. Zhang Hong, 44, is also the third blind climber internationally to reach the world's highest peak. Following his guides and Sherpas, he reached the summit on May 24 and returned safely to Kathmandu. He said on Monday that he was inspired by a blind American climber, Eric Weihenmayer, who scaled Everest in 2001. A climber from Austria was the second blind person to reach the peak. Personally I plan to try the grand slam in the next few yearsthe seven summits around the world on seven continents and the North and South Poles, Zhang said. story continues below "I would think there are so many other visually impaired people around the world and also in Asia, and I hope what I did can be an inspiration for them," he added. Zhang, who became blind at age 21 due to glaucoma, works as a masseur at a hospital in Tibet, where he lives with his wife. He trained for five years before climbing Everest, carrying bags packed with about 60 pounds of weight up the staircase of the hospital where he works. He also climbed several smaller peaks in China. On the Everest climb, he said it was especially difficult navigating the slippery trails and moving around blocks of ice because of high winds on the mountain. (Read more Mount Everest stories.) (Newser) Police say they moved quickly after intercepting a message from a Texas man that indicated he was preparing to proceed with a mass shooting. The Kerr County Sheriff's Office says Coleman Thomas Blevins, 28, was arrested Friday on a warrant for "a Terroristic Threat to Create Public Fear of Serious Bodily Injury," CNN reports. In the message, Blevins "made a specific threat that included Walmart," police say. It's not clear when Blevins first appeared on authorities' radar, but the sheriff's office says the investigation of a potential attack involved the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division, the FBI, the Kerrville Police Department, and the Secret Service working together for a week. story continues below The sheriff's office says investigators confirmed Blevins' "networking with extremist ideologies." Police say that at Blevins' home in Kerrville, around 65 miles northwest of San Antonio, they found firearms and ammunition, along with "radical ideology paraphernalia." A photo released by the sheriff's office shows neo-Nazi flags and literature, along with a Confederate flag and a Saudi Arabian flag. The sheriff's office says that at the time of his arrest, Blevins was already on active felony probation and was banned from possessing firearms, KMOV reports. "This case reminds us that we need to always be vigilant," says Sheriff Larry Leitha. "Many think 'that can't happen here,' and it was well on the way to happening." Blevins is being held on $250,000 bond. (Read more Texas stories.) (Newser) Vietnam plans to test all 9 million people in its largest city for the coronavirus and imposed more restrictions Monday to deal with a growing COVID-19 outbreak. People in Ho Chi Minh city are only allowed to leave home for necessary activities and public gatherings of more than 10 people are banned for the next two weeks, the government announced. Prior to the order, the city, also Vietnam's economic hub, shut down non-essential business last Thursday when cases started to increase, the AP reports. State newspaper Vietnam News said the city authority is planning to test its entire population with a testing capacity of 100,000 samples a day. story continues below At least 145 cases of coronavirus infection have been reported with links to the Revival Ekklesia Mission, a Protestant sect, and the city district of Go Vap, where the church is based, has been locked down. Vietnam has since banned all religious events nationwide. Since the end of April, a surge in COVID-19 has spread to 31 municipalities and provinces in Vietnam with over 4,000 cases, almost double the total number that the country reported since the beginning of the pandemic. Some recent patients in Vietnam were infected with a hybrid of the virus variants first found in India and the UK, the health minister said Saturday. Nguyen Thanh Long said the hybrid might spread more easily and could be responsible for Vietnam's recent surge. (Read more coronavirus stories.) (Newser) President Biden honored Americas war dead at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day by laying a wreath at the hallowed burial ground and extolling the sacrifices of the fallen for the pursuit of democracy. The president was joined on Monday by first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and second gentleman Doug Emhoff in a somber ceremony at the Virginia cemetery's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is dedicated to deceased service members whose remains have not been identified. His face tight with emotion, Biden walked up to the wreath, cupping it in his hands in silent reflection and then making the sign of the cross, the AP reports. Later, he called on Americans to commemorate their fallen heroes by remembering their fight for the nation's ideals. story continues below "This nation was built on an idea," Biden said in an address at Arlington. "We were built on an idea, the idea of liberty and opportunity for all. Weve never fully realized that aspiration of our founders, but every generation has opened the door a little wider." He focused much of his speech on the importance of democracy, saying that it thrives when citizens can vote, when there is a free press, and when there are equal rights for all. On Sunday, Biden addressed a crowd of Gold Star military families and other veterans in a ceremony at War Memorial Plaza in New Castle, Delaware. Earlier in the day, he and other family members attended a memorial Mass for his son Beau Biden, a veteran who died of brain cancer six years ago to the day. (Read more Memorial Day stories.) A man walks past a backdrop of a Goddess of Democracy statue at the Tiananmen Square at the "June 4 Memorial Museum" run by pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong on Sunday, May 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) A man walks past a backdrop of a Goddess of Democracy statue at the Tiananmen Square at the "June 4 Memorial Museum" run by pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong on Sunday, May 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) (Newser) Whatever this Milwaukee 19-year-old had to drink last night, we're betting he avoids it in the future. The teen stumbled into bed in the wee hours of the morning, and woke up in trouble. Not for breaking curfew, but for mistaking whatever his intended destination was for an Airbnb rental full of cops. Three sheriff's deputies from Montana had traveled to Wisconsin together for emergency vehicle training. One of them, Deputy Charles Pesola, heard a little ruckus in the night but went back to sleep thinking it was his colleague making a bathroom visit. Instead, it was a definitely drunk and definitely disoriented teen. story continues below The cops called more cops, but Milwaukee police declined to charge the hungover kid, the Daily News reports. Presumably all in good fun, the Montana deputies made a video which they posted to TikTok and Instagram in which they say the young man woke up in handcuffs. They spared some sympathy for him, though, and insisted he got a lucky break. "He made a mistake. Its OK. We're gonna get over it, and at the end of the day, we can smile about it," Deputy Matt Vander Ark says in the video. (Read more weird crimes stories.) We have no updates at this point, Bethlehem Police Lt. Tim Cooper said Monday about the 3:15 p.m. shooting near 13th Avenue and Prospect Avenue. No suspects are in custody. (Newser) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday the discovery of the bodies of over 200 children buried at a former Indigenous residential school is not an isolated event. Trudeau's comments come as Indigenous leaders are calling for an examination of every former residential school siteinstitutions that held children taken from families across the nation. Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tkemlups te Secwepemc First Nation in British Columbia said the remains of 215 children, some as young as 3 years old, were confirmed this month with the help of ground-penetrating radar. She described the discovery as "an unthinkable loss that was spoken about but never documented" at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, the largest such school in the country. "I am appalled by the shameful policy that stole Indigenous children from their communities," Trudeau said, the AP reports. "Sadly, this is not an exception or an isolated incident. We're not going to hide from that." story continues below Plans are underway to bring in forensics experts to identify and repatriate the remains of the children found buried on the Kamloops site. Trudeau said he'll talk to his ministers about actions his government needs to take to support survivors and the community. Opposition New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh called Monday for an emergency debate in Parliament. "This is not a surprise. This is a reality of residential schools," Singh said. Winnipeg Archbishop Richard Gagnon, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, expressed "our deepest sorrow for the heartrending loss of the children." The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and the Saskatchewan government want Ottawa to help research undocumented deaths and burials at residential schools in the province. Federation Chief Bobby Cameron said finding remains and giving them proper burials is important to help First Nations communities and families find closure. The federation has compiled a list of sites where it hopes to complete radar ground searches. (Read more Canada stories.) "Not at all," Morrison said. "We're very pleased to be here today and particularly here to mark a solemn occasion, as we always must as Anzacs." It comes amid allegations New Zealand has gone soft on China at the expense of the relationship with our Australian cousins and the rest of the Five Eyes spy club, which also includes Canada, the US and UK. There was also that much-hyped 60 Minutes Australia promo, which aired on Sunday night. It questioned if New Zealand was becoming "New Xi-land", a nod to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Australia has taken a far tougher stance on China but at the expense of billions of dollars in trade. "Australia's sovereignty is never for sale," Morrison has said. Standing alongside Ardern at a joint press conference on Monday, Morrison was asked if New Zealand has sold its sovereignty to China. He was also asked if New Zealand is jeopardising its relationship with Australia and the Five Eyes. "No is my short answer," Morrison said. "Australia and New Zealand are trading nations, but neither of us would ever trade our sovereignty or trade our values." Ardern added, "When it comes to the matter of Five Eyes, we remain a committed member. That is not in question, not in doubt." Morrison even appeared to suggest China was fomenting the trans-Tasman division. "I think as great partners, friends, allies and indeed family, there would be those far from here who would seek to divide us and they will not succeed." But we actually do a pretty good job of dividing ourselves - 501 deportees being the case in point. "In our view, sometimes Australia deports Australian criminals," Ardern said during the press conference. "Prime Minister Morrison's under no doubt of my views on these matters." "And likewise," Morrison added. Divisions have been compounded by Australia washing its hands of dual citizen Suhayra Aden who was detained in Turkey with her children. Australia stripped her citizenship over alleged links to Islamic State. "Ms Aden is not an Australian citizen," Morrison insisted. Like so many family feuds, the leaders dealt with it all by playing happy families. "As with any family, we will have our disagreements from time to time, but those disagreements are still undertaken in the spirit of openness and ultimately, friendship," Ardern said. "We are much bigger than our differences and the last year has taught us that." And that right there is quick-fire diplomacy - in and out within 24 hours. There was plenty of talk but no real shifts in New Zealand's favour on any of those pressure points. Australia does what it wants when it wants. This livestream has finished. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is holding a joint press conference with her Australian counterpart Scott Morrison in Queenstown. China is likely to be a hot topic after a 60 Minutes Australia trailer sparked controversy by accusing New Zealand of ditching our trans-Tasman neighbours for "a fast Chinese buck". Ardern has brushed it off as a "perception issue" rather than "reality", telling The AM Show Australia is like "family" to New Zealand. Another topic that's tipped to be on the agenda is the deportations of Kiwi criminals from Australia, many of whom have no connections to New Zealand. The last time the two leaders held face-to-face talks in Sydney early last year, Ardern told Australia to stop deporting their problems to New Zealand. Watch the video. Ardern said New Zealand has always stood firmly by Australia. "At no point in our discussions today did I detect any difference in our relative positions on the importance of maintaining a very strong and principled perspective on issues around trade, on issues around human rights, and you'll see that Australia and New Zealand have broadly been positioned in exactly the same place on these issues, consistently. "So I really push back on any suggestion that we are not taking a strong stance on these incredibly important issues. When it comes to the matter of Five Eyes, we remain a committed member - that is not in question or in doubt." Morrison was asked to elaborate on who was trying to divide us. "People are always trying to divide Australia and New Zealand - all over the place!" he said, looking over at Ardern, who grinned. "They will not succeed." Ardern refuted the suggestion New Zealand is "doing anything other than maintaining a very principled position on human rights issues, on trade issues, as they relate to China, and in fact I think you'll find very little difference in many of the messages that we've been sending relative to Australia." She also rejected the suggestion New Zealand relies on Australia too much. "In my very strong view we carry responsibility for ourselves to ensure adequate investment in our Defence Forces and equally that we carry our weight as a member of the intelligence and security community. "Having said that, we have always operated at a regional level where we support one another. There will be parts of the Pacific for whom we will be, for instance, better placed to engage in search and rescue, to engage in fisheries monitoring, to engage in monitoring trade sanctions than Australia, and vice versa. "We work together, but I reject any suggestion that we don't carry and deliver on our behalf and towards the international community." Morrison agreed with Ardern. "Australia and New Zealand obviously have different capabilities in these areas and we have different programmes, but we have interoperability which is, I think, incredibly important. That interoperability has been on display in so many theatres of conflict in peace-keeping and emergency response all around the world, and particularly in our own region. "Australia is continuing to increase our investment in these areas with our capability. We see this as very much in our national interest and we believe Australia acting in this way provides great stability and support to the region. "We each have different jobs to do, we each have different capabilities that we bring; it's our job as Prime Ministers to ensure that comes together in the best fit possible for the security of our own nations and our own national interests but also in the broader family role that we have across the Pacific." Scott Morrison's whirlwind 24-hour trip to Queenstown concluded on Monday afternoon with a joint press conference with Jacinda Ardern. His visit came amid questions about the Australia-New Zealand relationship and the two countries' respective positions towards China. While New Zealand has condemned China for its treatment of the Uighur people in Xinjiang and its interference in Hong Kong, it hasn't signed up to several Five Eyes statements, causing concern amongst commentators about Aotearoa's commitment to its traditional allies. A 60 Minutes Australia trailer last week asked whether New Zealand was ditching its trans-Tasman partner for a "fast Chinese buck" at the same time Australia has been battered by trade tariffs imposed by Beijing for speaking up. Attempting to quell concerns of a split between the two countries, Morrison on Monday said he doesn't believe New Zealand has sold its sovereignty to China. He also suggested there were some "far from here" who sought to divide Australia and New Zealand. While the Australian Prime Minister didn't specify who he was referring to, his remark came after a question about China's thoughts on New Zealand. "I think as great partners, friends, allies and indeed family, there would be those far from here who would seek to divide us and they will not succeed, because as we've stood resolutely together on the values and principles that Australians and New Zealanders have stood for and indeed fought for, that will continue to be the case," Morrison said. But China claims it doesn't want to see the trans-Tasman countries fall out. A story published on Tuesday morning in the Global Times, a Chinese state-run media outlet, says that New Zealand's decision not to join some Five Eyes statements "has obviously disappointed some Australian elites". "A split between Australia and New Zealand is not something that China wishes to see," the article says. However, it then went on to hammer home what it perceives as differences between the two countries in their attitudes towards China. It also says New Zealand has been "more practical" in its approach to China, expressing concern about activities there as that "is difficult to avoid as a member of the Five Eyes alliance". "Australia has been irrational in its handling of relations with China, including using 'microphone diplomacy' to provoke China for no reason. New Zealand is much more rational," the Global Times says. "In many cases, Wellington has been able to communicate with Beijing through diplomatic channels. Judging from the history of China-New Zealand ties, Wellington has adhered to pragmatism in developing its relations with China. Even when the US and Australia's China policies have taken a sharp turn for worse, New Zealand did not blindly follow suit to suppress China." The article is said to be written by Ning Tuanhui, described as an "assistant research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies" (CIIS). The CIIS says it is the "think tank of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs". Jennifer Curtin, a professor in politics and international relations at the University of Auckland, told The AM Show on Tuesday morning that Ardern and Morrison were successful in showing they are in step. "That's the public perception they want to give and we know that probably a lot more went on behind closed doors," she said. "They are also projecting something to the world with this meeting. They are able to meet with no masks on, they are able to travel with no quarantine. It's a demonstration that the trans-Tasman relationship is not only strong, but that this part of the world is also open for some business at least between each other." Prof Curtin doesn't believe there has been a dramatic deterioration in relations between the two countries over the China issue, noting that we have seen "these ebbs and flows" before. "Families have struggles and then they get back together. I just wouldn't call us best mates anymore," she told The AM Show. "For [Australia] it is the US. That is quite clear. [New Zealand] just likes to have a lot of mates rather than a bestie. We are playing a much more, I would probably call it a bit more of a subtle game, especially around China. We are not doing that really hard language of 'we are at war with China'." Prof Gillespie said the "big standout event" of the last few days was New Zealand's decision to become a third-party to Australia and China's dispute at the World Trade Organization. "Even though we are not going necessarily in support of Australia, it is the correct thing to stand up for a rule-based international order. The most important point of this is that we are being active. We are being vocal." Newshub revealed on Saturday that New Zealand would be a party to the dispute, which Canberra called for after Beijing last year imposed 80 percent tariffs on Australian barley imports. That was largely seen as retaliation for Australia calling for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19, but China accused Australia of dumping the product there below cost, hurting domestic producers. New Zealand Trade Minister Damien O'Connor said Aotearoa is "participating in this dispute as a third party because it raises systemic issues of importance to the effective functioning of the multilateral rules-based trading system". A third party can make submissions to the panel and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says New Zealand participates as one "when we want to influence the interpretation and application of WTO agreements on matters that are also of direct interest to us". O'Connor said New Zealand wasn't asked to join as a third party. "However, we have been a third party in over 60 WTO cases since 1995 and it's not unusual for us to join actions disputes when we see challenges to international trade rules," he told Newshub. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's government has announced plans to follow through on its 2020 election promise, which would streamline the process and bring in expert panels to advise it, but that move has prompted outrage from South Island iwi Ngai Tahu. Most of the 2.5 million hectares of stewardship land was given to the Department of Conservation more than three decades ago and it has been languishing in limbo ever since. It is about a third of the total land under DOC's protection - but working out which parts need serious protection and which can be developed is difficult and expensive. It said a large portion of Ngai Tahu takiwa (territory) was affected, and decisions about the land were of the utmost significance to the iwi. It said it should have been involved in the process from the start but it had been shut out - a clear breach of the Treaty partnership. It has filed urgent legal proceedings to put a stop to it. The panels - which will include technical experts and those with matauranga Maori or Maori knowledge - will first evaluate land in the north of the South Island and the West Coast . Their review is expected to take about eight months, with panels working through other areas sequentially after that. Concern over possibility of more mining Anti-mining group Coromandel Watchdog of Hauraki chair Catherine Delahunty fears that while the panel evaluation process drags on, more mining will get the go-ahead on conservation land. "If they get consent, for example, to mine under Wharekirauponga before this review is even started in our area [then] there is nowhere to go, there is no real protection from the industry. "And we're very, very concerned that the stewardship review is a red herring rather than a commitment to a promise." Delahunty said the Labour Party must make good on its 2017 promise to ban new mines on DOC land. She worried that wording in the government documents announcing the new measures signalled the government was backing away from that pledge. Forest & Bird chief executive Kevin Hague said the panels must recognise that almost all of the stewardship land was highly ecologically valuable. "The main thing for us is that the reclassification process properly understands the conservation values that each of these places have. "We know that this land generally has high or extremely high conservation value. "So actually being clear about what those are, clear about the right level of protection - that's very, very important." He said protecting the forests and planting more was absolutely critical to meeting New Zealand's climate commitments, so the panel should err on the side of giving land extra protections. "And that means means that even land that currently doesn't have exceptionally high values may become very important for that reforestation work. "And so we'd like to see that recognised in this process." Hague said it would be easier and quicker to grant all stewardship land the higher protection and deal with the exceptions on a case-by-case basis. Acting Conservation Minister Ayesha Verrall said in a statement the expert panel was only a step in the review. She said iwi would be involved through the process and the public would be able to give input. She said she could not comment on the Ngai Tahu legal proceedings as a case may end up before the court. RNZ The Race Relations Commissioner says it's "unfortunate" a Kiwi Facebook page with a huge following made a post criticising the Treaty of Waitangi and taking aim at the media for using Te Reo and covering Maori issues. The post, which was shared to NZ Farming on Monday morning by founder Tyler Fifield, was later deleted following a backlash from some of its 216,000 followers. But Meng Foon says it's the latest instance "of divisive and harmful painting of Te Tiriti" doing damage to Aotearoa's move towards a "more inclusive and cohesive society". Warning: This story contains graphic content. New reports reveal California prison guards didn't notice an inmate had been decapitated and killed by his cellmate, reporting during their rounds that both men were alive. On the morning of March 9, 2019, at Corcoran State Prison, Jaime Osuna, then aged 31, allegedly decapitated his 44-year-old cellmate, Luis Romero. Osuna severed Romeros fingers, removed an eye, and mutilated part of his lung before dissecting him further. According to the Los Angeles Times, two fresh reports on California prisons show that after doing their rounds on the morning of the attack, prison guards reported both men to be alive. Why the guards didn't notice a slain Romero in his cell isn't well detailed in the reports. A lawsuit by Romero's family says the cell was hidden by a white sheet and prison guards didn't check behind it thoroughly. "In the past 24 hours we identified many more points of concern," Merlino told reporters at a press conference on Monday afternoon. "In addition to the very worrying cases in private aged care, we are very concerned about the number of other high-risk exposure sites. We are seeing a small number of cases infecting a large number of contacts. "There is no doubt, the situation is incredibly serious. The next few days remain critical. I want to be very clear with everyone, this outbreak may well get worse before it gets better." It comes just a day after a worker at the Arcare facility was revealed to have become infected, though how they contracted the virus remains a mystery. "Worryingly, both the staff member who has recorded positive and one resident... appears to have contracted COVID," shadow government services minister Bill Shorten told ABC on Monday morning. He said the infected residents had been given their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. "It's only second-hand reports from the facility, but the people who are sick actually had had a vaccination, so you need two - one is not enough." Sayre, PA (18840) Today Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 58F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 58F. Winds light and variable. The Mayflower School in Douglas, built by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 1933-34, is now used by the Juneau Montessori Center. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) walks to the Senate Chamber on the first day of the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington on January 21, 2020. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS) Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Cloudy with a few showers. High 72F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. Low 52F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The High Criminal Court sentenced a man and his son to five years in prison for conning out their fellow Bahraini of BD170,000 after convincing their victim they had the expertise to invest his money. It also ordered them to return the sum they embezzled from their victim. They are said to have deceived the plaintiff with their ability to invest his money. They told him that they will return the money with 10 per cent profits. However, the victim did not receive anything from them and he filed a complaint with the Public Prosecution after his attempts to get the money failed. They give me 150 cheques against the money I invested with them. I managed to withdraw 16 cheques, but the other cheques started to bounce back because the defendants accounts were closed. I communicated with them to give me my money. They were ignoring my calls, the victim told prosecutors. I later found out that they didnt have any money, so I filed a complaint against them. The son, meanwhile, refuted the plaintiffs claims that the latter was a partner with them in several projects. DT News: Does the ministry have any plans to benefit from or recycle the excavated rainwater? Eng. Khalaf: The storm water is usually discharged in the sea and other areas. We had attempted to inject it in the under- ground water in a couple of sites across the Kingdom. But recycling also is only done if strict rules are followed. The Supreme Council for the Environment had some environ- mental reservations in regards to this process as they had some concerns over water pollution suspicions, hence the processes were stopped and further discussions are in progress. But, we utilise it in irrigation purposes. We have more work and effort to be implemented in the field of rainwater drainage and recycling. Yet, we have managed to considerably reduce the negative effects of this issue on the public by taking the necessary precautionary measures and procedures ahead of the rainy season. The ministry has offered more tenders to provide tanks and containers to excavate the excessive water from roads and public areas. We have also upgraded the vacuum tankers and provided them with additional pumps to accelerate the process of excavating the water, thats in addition to installing pumps at vital areas and roads to move the water to open areas and ensure that the daily life isnt affected. DT News: What are the main challenges the ministry is facing in tackling the rainwater flooding issue? Eng. Khalaf: One of the biggest challenges we face during the rainy seasons is the uncivil behaviour of some people who remove the covers of sewage manholes and allow the rainwa- ter to enter and mix with the sewerage network. This is a grave matter as such behaviour disrupts and dam- ages the networks. The rainwater, with all its sediments, damages the pumps and other equipment of the sewerage network. This results in the rebound of the sewerage inside homes and other facilities. Such cases were reported recently, as the pumps were damaged and unable to move the sewer- age to the treatment plant. We repeatedly warn the public of the dangerous effects of such behaviours by raising more awareness on the matter through different platforms. Its noteworthy that we have also fulfilled all the requests that were received by municipal councils from citizens this year to install rainwater roof coatings to prevent any leakages inside homes, especially those belonging to the limited and medium income citizens. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Livestock Agency has received 922 reports regarding stray dogs from January to April. Undersecretary Dr Khaled Ahmed Hassan said that the Ministry had received 251 reports from various governorates of the Kingdom in April alone. He explained that the total number of reports in the northern governorate, which reached 75, is the highest among the governorates in April. The total number of reports in Muharraq governorate reached 69, and 40 reports in the southern governorate. For the capitals secretariat, the number of reports in April reached 67. Dr Hassan said that out of 251 reported, there were 163 stray dogs that were caught in April by the Black Gold Company, which was recently contracted to work round the clock for seven days a week to hunt them in residential neighbourhoods. There were 33 stray dogs in the Capital Municipality that were caught, 81 in Muharraq Governorate, 24 in the Southern Governorate, and 25 in the Northern Governorate. From December 2017 to April 2021, 3,381 stray dogs were caught by the Livestock Agency authorities, 1,058 in the Capital Municipality, 725 in the Muharraq Governorate, 765 in the Southern Governorate, and 833 in the Northern Governorate. The Undersecretary stressed that the Ministry is continuing its work to solve the stray dogs problem in residential neighbourhoods by contracting with a private veterinary clinic to implement sterilisation and surgical castration of dogs caught from various residential areas to limit their reproduction. He explained that the reporting process has been developed so that it has become electronic round the clock to keep pace with official efforts in the digital transformation of services provided by government agencies. Dr Hassan emphasised that the Livestock Agency had prepared a plan for a project to address the stray animals problem, which focused on the need for civil society participation in cooperation with relevant NGOs. Cairo Opera House wows audience with Verdi's world-famous opera Aida Xinhua) 13:14, May 31, 2021 Artists perform the opera Aida at Cairo Opera House in Cairo, Egypt, May 29, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) CAIRO, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The entrance of the Cairo Opera House was decorated like a passage to a shining ancient Egyptian temple, which leads to the open-air Fountain Theatre that staged Egypt's world-renowned opera Aida written by Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. "With (the replicas of Pharaonic) statues, obelisks and columns in the entrance, I intend to make the audience sense the ancient Egyptian atmosphere and the greatness of the Egyptian civilization," Hisham el-Tally, director of the opera Aida, told Xinhua. With precautionary measures against COVID-19 fully implemented, the open-air theatre was full of audience on Saturday. Among them was Egypt's Minister of Culture Inas Abdel-Dayem. "I'd like to hail Cairo Opera House in that it managed to complete the show under the harsh circumstances brought by the COVID-19 pandemic," the minister told Xinhua during the break. Premiered in 1871, Aida was one of the most popular masterpieces written by Verdi under the commission of Khedive Ismail of Egypt. Aida depicted the love story between Ethiopian princess Aida and Egyptian hero Radames. Aida and Radames fall in love with each other, while the Egyptian king's daughter Amneris loves Radames as well. King Amonasro offers triumphant Radames an unwanted gift: Amneris. "Amneris, the role I play, is very important to me because it demonstrates all my artistic potentials," said Jolie Faizy, an Egyptian mezzo-soprano, who has played the role for 18 years. Radames was played by Italian tenor Dario Di Vietri, who said that he played this role in many parts of the world but it was unique to perform it in Egypt where it was originated. "The difficulty of playing this role is that the psychology of Radames changes a lot in every act," the Italian tenor told Xinhua. Enthusiastic cheers and applause after each act showed how much the audience enjoyed the show. "I regularly come to see opera shows here and I really enjoyed the opera," Anne Sophie, a French women who dwells in Egypt, said after the performance. She added that being staged in an open-air theatre with seats away from each other and people wearing face masks made her feel safe to attend the show. Mohamed Hamdy, an Egyptian accountant who came with his family, said he was fascinated by Aida although he was not a regular opera visitor. "It is really fantastic. The show is so beautiful and I hope more people could come watch such nice performance," Hamdy said. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) International Palestine, Egypt discuss stabilising Gaza ceasefire Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas with Egyptian Intelligence Minister Abbas Kamel. Ramallah, May 31 (IANS) | Publish Date: 5/31/2021 12:07:34 PM IST Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and visiting Egyptian Intelligence Minister Abbas Kamel discussed ways to stabilise the ongoing ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the reconstruction of the besieged coastal enclave. During the meeting on Sunday, the two top officials reviewed the recent developments in the Palestinian territories related to the ceasefire, which Abbas said should include not only the Gaza Strip, but also East Jerusalem and the West Bank, Xinhua news agency. They also discussed the internal Palestinian division and the reconciliation dialogue between Abbas Fatah party and the Islamist Hamas movement that rules the Gaza Strip. Kamel, who met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier on Sunday, is scheduled to arrive in the Gaza Strip on Monday to hold talks with Hamas leaders on stabilising the ceasefire. On May 21, Egypt brokered a ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas that ended 11 days of violence between the two sides in the besieged Gaza Strip. The fighting left 254 Palestinians and 12 Israelis dead, and also caused massive damages to the buildings and infrastructure in Gaza. Also on Sunday, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye met the new European Unions Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, Sven Koopmans here to discuss the revival of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process that has stalled since 2014. Ishtaye said in a statement that it is important to fill the political vacuum by presenting a European initiative on resuming the stalled peace process to reach a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The General Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security has cautioned Bahrainis and residents of tactics, including misleading advertisements, fraudsters use to lure investors into Internet scams, warning them their rights cannot be guaranteed. The directorate said that recent advertisements of fake trading and investment companies have requested clicking on an electronic link and registering by filling out a form with the victim's personal information. People must exercise the highest levels of caution and avoid investing, contributing, dealing or trading with any amounts in any of the activities and business of securities or foreign currencies with any person, institution, company or website, including social media, unless they have obtained the necessary licenses from the Central Bank of Bahrain for such businesses and activities, it warned Citizens and residents should use the Central Bank of Bahrain website to check the licensed financial institutions, the directorate said. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com People and institutions adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Kingdom are getting a total of two-year deferment on their loans, with its total value also reaching BD 5.1 billion, said the Bahrain Association of Banks. The moratorium, thus offered, Dr Waheed Al Qassem, CEO of BAB, said, contributed to helping Bahraini families overcome financial challenges resulting from the pandemic, citing a report by Derasat Centre. Derasat report also confirms that many Bahraini families would have to adopt other solutions to reduce expenses and deplete savings, with a small percentage also defaulting without the moratorium. All Bahraini banks continue to play their role in supporting national efforts to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, BAB said, adding that the current moratorium is for the fourth time in a row. The initial moratorium on loan payments for individual and institutions were from March to September 2020. The deal allowed lenders a six-month temporary payment halt on their principal and interest. From September to December 2020, CBB again postponed instalments payments for four months but continued to levy interests. The moratorium, the third time, happened from January to June 2021. As per the latest CBB circular, banks are offering deferments for a fourth time - from June until the end of this year. Dr Al Qassem affirmed that the banks operating in Bahrain are at the forefront of institutions supporting the national efforts to combat the pandemic with an effective response to the royal directives, the cabinet, and CBB. Besides, since the start of the pandemic, Bahraini banks have been the largest contributor to the Feena Khair campaign to mitigate the spread of the virus. Banks had provided a total of more than 10 million dinars to the campaign, Dr Al Qassem said. Bahraini banks, he said, are also continuing to fund individuals, institutions, maintaining employees, developed digital channels and implemented preventive measures decisively to overcome the pandemic. Ethiopians protest U.S. sanctions over brutal Tigray war KAMPALA, Uganda | Thousands of Ethiopians gathered in the nations capital Sunday to protest outside pressure on the government over its brutal war in Tigray. Protesters at the rally in Addis Ababa carried banners that criticized the United States and others in the international community who are voicing concern over atrocities in Tigray, where Ethiopian forces are hunting down the regions ousted and now-fugitive leaders. Troops from neighboring Eritrea are fighting in Tigray on the side of Ethiopian government forces, in defiance of international calls for their withdrawal. But the protesters in Addis Ababa carried placards that said Ethiopian young people denounce the western intervention. Others said Ethiopias sovereignty was at stake. The U.S. said last week it has started restricting visas for government and military officials of Ethiopia and Eritrea, who are seen as undermining efforts to resolve the fighting in Tigray, home to an estimated 6 million of Ethiopias 110 million people. Besides the visa restrictions, Washington is imposing wide-ranging restrictions on economic and security assistance to Ethiopia. Ex- Tarzan actor among 7 plane crash victims in Tennessee SMYRNA, Tenn. | Investigators on Sunday continued searching for the bodies of seven people believed killed in the crash a day earlier of a small jet into a Tennessee lake, including an actor who portrayed Tarzan in a 1990s television series. Rutherford County Fire Rescue Capt. John Ingle said in a statement Sunday that recovery efforts were ongoing at Percy Priest Lake near Smyrna. He said efforts also were focused on examining a half mile-wide debris field in the lake. County officials identified the victims in a news release late Saturday as Brandon Hannah, Gwen S. Lara, William J. Lara, David L. Martin, Jennifer J. Martin, Jessica Walters and Jonathan Walters, all of Brentwood, Tennessee. Their names were released after family members had been notified. In South Florida, shootings usher in bloody holiday weekend MIAMI | Violence ushered in the Memorial Day weekend in South Florida, when gunmen indiscriminately sprayed bullets into crowds at two Miami venues. Two people died and at least 20 others were injured early Sunday morning during a shooting outside a banquet hall, about a day after a drive-by shooting killed one person and injured six. Authorities called on the public to help identify the shooters. This type of gun violence has to stop. Every weekend its the same thing, said the police director of Miami-Dade County, Alfredo Freddy Ramirez III, whose officers were hunting down three suspects believed to have been involved in Sundays violence. These are cold blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice, Ramirez said in a tweet. Two people died at the scene, police said. As many as 25 people went to various hospitals for treatment. Judge: Blame in Italy cable car deaths rests with technician ROME | The three suspects in Italys cable car disaster that killed 14 people were allowed to leave prison Sunday after a judge indicated that for now blame fell on just one: a service technician who intentionally disabled the cars emergency brake because it kept locking spontaneously. Judge Donatella Banci Buonamici said there wasnt sufficient evidence suggesting the owner of the Mottarone cable car company, Luigi Nerini, or the maintenance chief, Enrico Perocchio, knew that the technician had deactivated the brake on several occasions even before the May 23 disaster. After evaluating prosecutors request for continued detention of the three, Buonamici determined there was no flight risk, ordered the managers freed while allowing the technician, Gabriele Tadini, to leave under house arrest. The three men, who remain under investigation, left Verbania prison early Sunday, accompanied by their lawyers. From AP reports A retired Army colonel said hes counseled the grandchildren of his friends about joining the service, but his Memorial Day message remains the same, even if the holiday has changed. Retired Col. James Beesley told the dozens huddled inside the Joyce Ray Patterson Activity Center that its a simple message. Memorial Day is the day for us to pause and remember those people who sacrificed their lives so we could continue on with our lives, Beesley said. Memorial Day recognizes those people who gave their lives in whatever manner that they pass from this earth, and we recognize them. Beesly moved back to St. Joseph about four years ago. He teaches at Central High School. His wife recently retired as a JROTC instructor at Lafayette High School. In a sometimes emotional speech, Beesly said he remembers friends lost in the Korean and Gulf wars. Some of his family members survived World War II. His sons team leader died in Afghanistan. In many ways, Beeslys story embodies the holiday those in attendance gathered to celebrate Monday. Theres a lot of emotion involved. And Im so very fortunate to have survived the conflicts that Ive been in when other people werent as fortunate, Beesly said. Sometimes, theyre just at the wrong place at the wrong time. Mondays holiday, confirmed by proclamation from St. Joseph Mayor Bill McMurray at the ceremony, hasnt always been known as Memorial Day. As Beesly told the crowd, his grandmother, born in the 19th century, still calls it decoration day. It was a time to remember those people who had been in the Civil War, Beesly said. So for her, it was much more immediate that someone whos just reading about it. Tragically, todays generations havent had a time without conflict, Beesly said, leaving a lot of soldiers to keep in hearts and minds. Im literally teaching the grandchildren of people I went to high school with, its amazing, Beesly said. Its a lot of fun to be able to connect with those children and my friends. A new exhibition combining the talents of amateur and professional photographers will open at the St. Joseph Visitors Center. The project My Missouri 2021 showcases two years of photographs snapped by people around the state, capturing Missouris landscape. Pared down from more than 1,000 entries, the project features 200 images on 16, 8-foot long panels, showing four seasons of life in the Show-Me State. Two of the photos chosen are from local photographers. Its wonderful that we have representation from St. Joseph, that we were chosen, Beth Conway, communications director for the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau, said. I think that the photos chosen from St. Joseph are very representative of both our history and our culture. The free traveling exhibit, which celebrates Missouris bicentennial, will be available to view at the Visitors Center, 502 N. Woodbine Road, from June 4 through 28. The goal of the exhibit is to display the unique aspects of Missouris physical and cultural landscape. The photos included show courthouses at night, a dog in a state park, the neon lights of St. Louis and the sun rising in Jasper County, among many others. The two local photographers who are part of the exhibit are Emily Baumann and Heather Emmendorfer, who photographed the Pony Express Statue and a Fourth of July tribute in Andrew County. I entered my photo in the Missouri Bicentennial Gallery contest because I was hoping to see my hometown of St. Joseph represented in this event. As someone who has lived in St. Joseph my entire life, I know that we are so much more than the Pony Express ... but it is a claim to fame that makes us truly unique, Baumann said in a press release. Conway said the Visitors Bureau couldnt be more proud of the local representation and hopes people will make it out to see all of the beautiful shots of Missouri. It shows the beautification and the history of Missouri itself, and were proud to be able to showcase it out at our Visitors Center, she said. The exhibit is free and available to view from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. With the summer months coming, the city of St. Joseph is preparing for mosquitoes. The City of St. Joseph will be dropping briquettes in high-moisture areas that release a repellent starting in June, and if necessary staff will put out a second round in early fall. City officials have ordered 100 briquettes. The briquettes are safer and more effective than the spray they used to use, Juston Carr, property maintenance manager, said. Its a briquette that sits out there and then the rain gets into it and holds water. It activates it and its a 90-day residual, Carr said. A list of where the city distributes briquettes for mosquito control can be found at stjoemo.info/693/Mosquito-Treatment. Vegetation harbors a lot of mosquitoes, too, so we try to keep that cut down ... water is a great reproductive area for mosquitoes, Carr said. Health officials said mosquitoes are going to be found wherever standing water is, including in overturned tires, empty pots plants or any open body of water. Thomas Beavers, St. Joseph Health Department environmental health specialist, said he recommends people wear long-sleeve shirts and pants if going out to the woods and otherwise wear bug repellent with DEET. We promote DEET a lot in this area and 10% to 35% DEET, that is usually the go range. When you start getting above 35% it is not any more effective, Beavers said. Beavers said that when putting bug repellent on a child people should be careful about the amount of DEET and carefully apply it. Andrew County Jail Administrator Rachel Draper recently was named 2020 Missouri Jail Administrator of the Year, but she said she just sees it as doing the job the best she can. Ive sat through those awards ceremonies, and, you know, someone has done CPR on somebody, brought them back, and received the award, she said. So then they were up there reading the letter, I was sitting there thinking to myself, What could I possibly have done to receive this award? I just come in and I do the job to the best ability that I can. But her best effort includes adding more and more responsibilities since she joined the jail staff as a dispatcher in 2009. It also means treating inmates as more than just their crimes, Draper said. At some point in time someone makes a mistake in their life, she said. So these people have made mistakes, and if I can help them and get them the resources to maybe make them a better person when they leave my facility, then I feel like Im still helping my community that way. Shes now in her fourth year as jail administrator. Even now, Draper said she is learning every day, particularly as state regulations are continually updated. Another reason Draper said feels she can do her job effectively is trust. She said the confidence of her superiors when she was promoted to administrator and wanted to reciprocate that sentiment. In this field you have to trust your brothers and sisters that youre working side-by-side (with) and know that they always have your back, and you always have theirs she said. Draper was caught off-guard with the award, but her family was not. Drapers husband had to play mum for two months, and her son waited until they were at the banquet to tell her. I got down there and had no clue whatsoever, she said. It wasnt until about 10 minutes prior to retired (Andrew County) Sheriff (Bryan) Atkins getting onstage that my son told me I was receiving an award. Drapers service may be setting an example for younger generations. There are several years before it becomes a realistic possibility, but her daughter already is taking an interest in the role, Draper said. COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) Several European nations want Denmark to explain why its foreign secret service allegedly helped the United States spy on European leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, more than seven years ago. We want the cards on the table, said Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hulqvist, adding it was unacceptable to eavesdrop on allies. Danish lawmaker Karsten Hoenge of the left-leaning Socialist Peoples Party, which is supporting Denmarks Social Democratic government, said Monday that he would quiz the Scandinavian countrys defense and justice ministers in parliament about the case. The government must explain how come Denmark has been acting as a willing tool for a U.S. intelligence service, and what it will mean for cooperation with Denmarks neighboring countries, he said. The Danish broadcaster DR said Sunday that the Danish Defense Intelligence Service, known in Denmark by its acronym FE, in 2014 conducted an internal investigation into whether the U.S. National Security Agency had used its cooperation with the Danes to spy against Denmark and neighboring countries. The probe, codenamed Operation Dunhammer, concluded that NSA had eavesdropped on political leaders and officials in Germany, France, Sweden and Norway. Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said it was unacceptable if countries that have close allied cooperation should feel the need to spy on each other or obtain information about them. Spying on others creates more mistrust than it creates collaboration. So, its not a smart investment for the United States, she told the Norwegian broadcaster NRK. According to DR, the alleged setup between the United States and Denmark reportedly allowed the NSA to obtain data by using the telephone numbers of politicians as search parameters. DR said its report was based on interviews with nine unnamed sources, all of whom were said to have had access to classified information held by the FE. The military agency allegedly helped the NSA from 2012 to 2014. If the news is correct (...) this is not acceptable between allies, very clearly, said French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country was also allegedly targeted by U.S. intelligence. Im attached to the relation of trust between Europe and the United States, he told reporters. Theres no room between us for suspicion. Macron urged for the U.S. to make full clarity on the past facts, but also on current practices. Speaking at the same virtual news conference after bilateral talks Monday between Paris and Berlin, Merkel said the issue of NSA eavesdropping had already been discussed previously with the United States, and Germany had made clear at the time its position that spying among friends wasnt acceptable. What was true then is true today as well, she said. Im reassured that Denmark, the Danish government and the defense minister have said very clearly what they think of these matters, Merkel added. As such, I see a good basis, aside from clearing up this matter, to also achieve truly trustful relations. Reports in 2013 that the NSA listened in on German government phones, including Merkels, prompted a diplomatic spat between Berlin and Washington that soured otherwise good relations with President Barack Obamas administration. Still, there were also reports that Germanys own BND intelligence agency may have helped the U.S. spy on European companies and officials. Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who revealed details of the secret U.S. eavesdropping programs in 2013, reacted to the DR report with a sarcastic tweet in Danish: Oh, why didnt anyone warn us? In a written comment to DR, Danish Defense Minister Trine Bramsen said the government cannot discuss intelligence matters. She added the present government has the same point of view as the former Social Democratic government led by Helle Thorning-Schmidt who was in power during that period: the systematic wiretapping of close allies is unacceptable. In August, Bramsen relieved the head of the countrys foreign intelligence service, among others, after an independent watchdog heavily criticized the spy agency for deliberately withholding information and violating Danish laws. Denmark has two intelligence agencies, the Danish Defense Intelligence Service, which is also responsible for military intelligence, and the domestic Danish Security and Intelligence Service, known by its Danish acronym PET. This story has been corrected to show that Operation Dunhammer is the code name for Denmarks investigation, not the code name for the alleged spying setup between Denmark and the U.S. A previous version of this story was corrected to show that a lawmaker said Monday that he wants to quiz the government about the spying, not that he will do that in parliament on Monday. Sylvie Corbet in Paris, and Frank Jordans and Geir Moulson in Berlin, contributed to this report. Rangers who keep an eye on North America's highest mountain peak say impatient and inexperienced climbers are taking more risks and endangering themselves and other climbers after a year off because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Denali in southern Alaska is 20,310 feet (6,190 meters) above sea level and requires a level of expertise and acclimation to high altitudes not needed for climbing most peaks in the U.S. We have seen a disturbing amount of overconfidence paired with inexperience in the Alaska Range," the National Park Service wrote in a statement issued Thursday. The remoteness and extreme weather in Alaska pose extra risks, even for climbers may have a good deal of experience at elevations up to 14,000 feet in the Lower 48. After reporting no deaths in 2018 and 2019, at least two people have already died on the mountain in 2021. Two others were seriously injured, authorities said. Earlier this month, a skier from Colorado died after falling into a crevasse. A climber from Idaho was killed by a falling block of glacier ice, rangers reported. The rangers issued their statement after a Canadian climber was seriously injured in a nearly 1,000-foot (305 meters) fall. He was not wearing ropes. Other climbers reported the fall, and a nearby helicopter doing glacier surveys was able to rescue the man, park officials said. In recent years, rangers said they have seen more climbers try to make Denali's summit by climbing the 7,000 feet (2,134 meters) from the final base camp to the top in one day, which is almost impossible except for the most experienced climbers. Exhaustion, untested physiological response to high altitude, rapidly changing weather and insufficient gear on such a long push are all factors we have seen contribute to injuries and deaths, the Park Service statement said. Experts recommend taking 17 to 21 days to climb Denali. That includes rest days and extra days to wait out extreme weather. Many expeditions get desperation, impatience and summit fever when they are running out of days and take risks, rangers said. Officials at Denali also are seeing people leave their original climbing groups after reaching the final base camp at 14,000 feet (4,267 meters) when the groups are reluctant to go for the summit. Instead, the climbers join other groups or individuals they just met. Sometimes those people get too sick to keep going and are crammed into tents with other more prepared climbers, using their water and fuel. A number of climbing teams have had their own summit bids disrupted or ruined by the need to care for these climbers, the statement said. The statement also reminded climbers that the National Park Service rescues people only when their lives, limbs or eyesight are at risk. Anything that we deem falls outside these categories, we will leave you to figure out on your own, and this year we have already turned down rescue requests that dont meet these criteria, they said. The Park Service limits the number of people who can climb Denali to less than 1,500 per year. In 2019, 726 people made the summit, according to the agency. The busiest time for climbing Denali is May and June. The cold weather is a problem in the spring, and storms become more frequent in the summer. The forecast for the summit Sunday called for a 40% chance of snow with temperatures from minus 10 to 0 Fahrenheit (-23 to -18 Celsius) and winds up to 35 mph (56 kph), according to the National Weather Service. TULSA, Okla. (AP) When white attackers destroyed the prosperous Black neighborhood of Greenwood 100 years ago this week, they bypassed the original sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of North Tulsa. By the churchs own account, the attackers thought the brick veneer structure was too fine for a Black-owned church. The mob destroyed at least a half-dozen other churches while burning and leveling a 35-square-block neighborhood in one of the nations deadliest spasms of racist violence. Estimates of the death toll range from dozens to 300. On Sunday, First Baptist's current sanctuary throbbed with a high-decibel service as six congregations gathered to mark the centennial of the massacre and to honor the persistence of the Black church tradition in Greenwood, as shown in the pulsing worship, call-and-response preaching and heavy emphasis on social justice. Greenwood is holy ground, said the Rev. John Faison of Nashville, Tennessee, who preached at the service and is assistant to the bishop of social action for the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship. He said the centennial both honors the victims of the massacre and celebrates the resilience and the resurgence of an amazing people of God. Similar commemorations took place at many houses of worship throughout Tulsa and across Oklahoma on Sunday, a day ahead of the official centennial dates. More civic activities are planned for Monday and Tuesday, including a candlelight vigil and a visit by President Joe Biden. The commission that organized the centennial designated Sunday as Unity Faith Day and provided a suggested worship guide that each congregation could adapt, including scriptures, prayers and the singing of Amazing Grace. Particularly at historically Black churches, speakers emphasized a call for financial reparations both for the few centenarian survivors of the massacre and for the wider, economically struggling North Tulsa area, where the citys Black population is largely concentrated. The main problem is that our nation is always trying to have reconciliation without doing justice, Faison said. Until repentance and repair are seen as inseparable, any attempt to reconcile will fail miserably. The Rev. Robert Turner, pastor of nearby Vernon African Methodist Episcopal Church, which also traces its roots to before the massacre, echoed that sentiment in an interview before his own churchs service. Its not a tragedy thats left in 1921. Its a tragedy that continues to live each day that lacks justice, said Turner, who protests weekly outside Tulsa City Hall, calling both for reparations and for a posthumous criminal investigation of the massacres perpetrators. Some churches on Sunday recognized 13 still-active congregations that operated in Greenwood in 1921, including many that had to rebuild their destroyed sanctuaries. Lists of the 13, under the heading Faith Still Standing, are being distributed on posters and other merchandise. We dont want it ever to happen again anywhere, said the Rev. Donna Jackson, an organizer of the recognition. Some historically white churches also observed the centennial. Pastor Deron Spoo of First Baptist Church of Tulsa, a Southern Baptist church less than two miles from the similarly named North Tulsa church, told his congregation that the massacre has been a scar on the city. The church has a prayer room with an exhibit on the massacre, accompanied by prayers against racism. It includes quotations from white pastors in 1921 who faulted the Black community rather than the white attackers for the devastation and declared racial inequality to be divinely ordained. Spoo told congregants on Sunday: While we dont know what the pastor 100 years ago at First Baptist Tulsa said, I want to be very clear: Racism has no place in the life of a Jesus follower. Also recognizing the massacre was South Tulsa Baptist Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in a predominately white suburban part of Tulsa. Pastor Eric Costanzo grew up in Tulsa but didnt learn of the massacre until attending seminary out of state. When he later saw an exhibit on the massacre at the Greenwood Cultural Center, he recognized its enormity. He later got involved with centennial planning, arranging for presentations at the church about the massacre and visits by church members to Greenwood. In an interview, he said he hoped that the "bridge we created between our communities remains active after the centennial to confront a lot of the hard topics our city and culture faces. The Rev. Zenobia Mayo, a retired educator and an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), is also working to continue those conversations after the centennial. She said her family never used to talk about the massacre, even though her great-great-uncle, renowned surgeon A.C. Jackson, was among its most prominent victims. Elders in the family sought to protect their children from the trauma of racist violence, she said. They felt not talking about it was the way to deal with it. But now Mayo hopes to host discussions on racism at her home with mixed groups of white and Black guests. If its going to be, let it begin with me, she said. Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through The Conversation U.S. The AP is solely responsible for this content. When an air-raid siren sounds in Israel's Ramat Gan Safari Park, what happens? Five females from the zoo's Asian elephant herd circle one-year-old male calf Pele (Hebrew for "Wonder") in a video captured by Michal Levi during the recent 11-day onslaught of rockets launched at Israel. Five females from the zoo's herd of Asian elephants are shown around year-old male calf Pele (Hebrew for "Wonder") to protect him in a video captured by Michal Levi during the recent 11-day onslaught of rockets launched at Israel from Gaza. A Safari representative remarked, "This behavior is quite emotional for us to observe, but it is pretty normal of elephants." "Elephants are social animals who live in a close-knit family." Ramat Gan is around 58 miles (93 kilometers) from the Gaza Strip. Related Article: Gym Owner Does Pull-Ups on an Elephant's Tusks Gets Viral Reported Injuries Despite the fact that the elephants were unhurt, a missile splinter that fell on the Safari Park on May 15 stuck in the spine of a black macaque, which required surgery at the park's Israeli Wildlife Hospital. She is presently in good health. The facility is also treating animals from other regions of Israel who were injured by the missiles and were brought for treatment by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority under the guidance of chief veterinarian Igal Horowitz. One of the birds, a monk parrot, had wing fractures and a few scorched feathers. Ariella Rosenzweig, a wildlife veterinarian, supplied pain medicine, fluids, a splint, and a bandage. The team has christened the parrot Rocky, and it is expected to make a full recovery. Elephant Moms Elephant moms are among the few animals that care for their newborn offspring and remain with them throughout their lives. Female elephants (cows) are exposed to parenting at an early age. Elephants live in groups of female elephants called herds. Female elephants show an interest in caring for their herd's calves when they are teens. In exchange, it teaches them how to care for young elephants and prepares them for when they have their own children. Caring for their Youngs Female elephants not only bear their children for over two years, but they also teach their kids. According to elephant mother and baby facts, elephant mothers educate their calves on how to stand up, find food, swim, spot threats, and so much more. Female elephants are among the only wild mammals that protect, raise, and educate their offspring. Elephant mothers guard their calves and teach them how to avoid danger. Elephant mothers may run to their sides if they hear their kids making anxious sounds. They defend them from predators like lions and hyenas. Because of their size, these creatures like to target elephant calves. The importance of an elephant mother to an elephant infant cannot be overstated! Poaching or natural reasons can, however, lead a calf to lose its mother. Poachers have been known to kill female elephants for their massive tusks, leaving elephant babies orphaned. Baby elephants under the age of two have been shown to die without their mother unless they are saved, according to studies. Without a mother, the baby elephant can not get the food or protection it needs to survive on its own. Also Read: Mother's Day Special: Top 5 Animal Moms That Will Do Anything for their Youngs For the most recent updates from the animal kingdom, don't forget to follow Nature World News! MONITEAU COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Lone Jack man was seriously injured Monday morning at 2:30 after he wrecked on westbound Highway 50 in Moniteau County. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, Cody Baker was driving westbound when he failed to navigate a curve. Baker's 2001 Honda CBR900 crossed the center of the road and overturned. Baker was taken to Bothwell Hospital for his injuries. In 1863, more than 100 people died when anti-conscription riots raged in New York City. Rioters who opposed the Union draft took special aim at abolitionists and Blacks. In 1917, socialists like Eugene Debs were arrested under the Espionage Act, passed by Congress to prevent interference in the success of the armed forces. In 1941, aviator Charles Lindbergh told a crowd in Des Moines that the British government, the Roosevelt administration and Jews were conspiring to ensnare America in a European war. Of the Jewish influence, Lindbergh said this: Their greatest danger to this country lies in their large ownership and influence in our motion pictures, our press, our radio and our government. These anecdotes arent offered as any kind of endorsement of reprehensible views or intended to embarrass or somehow diminish American efforts in times of war or strife. They only serve to point out that ours isnt the only era when domestic public opinion seems unruly, passionate and divided. Politics are ugly and sometimes the country only looks unified in hindsight. Yet those who serve, then as now, display a proven record of rising above the discord with professionalism, honor and bravery, even if the home front doesnt always reciprocate. Its been that way for nearly 250 years. Cemeteries in St. Joseph contain the graves of soldiers from the American Revolution and Civil War. Current census data shows that more than 6,100 Buchanan County residents, or 9% of the adult population, are veterans. The Pew Research Center finds that nationally, Gulf War veterans now account for the largest number of those who served in the armed forces, an indicator of how times change but the call to service does not. All of these veterans left home to serve, but not all returned. Their stories are as varied as life itself, but all tap into a deep vein of appreciation and recognition that should never run dry, even in our current times that sometimes seem so fractured. Whether the domestic temperature is worse today is a matter of debate, but maybe all can agree that those who served merit something better and nobler than whats often on display in the towns and cities that they fought to protect. On this Memorial Day, it is for them that we lay flowers on graves or pause to remember the sacrifice. Perhaps more than anything else, a sense of quiet and stillness is proper today, not the silence of ignoring the service but the calm reflection that counters the noise of battle and also the shouting and finger-pointing back home. For one day, at least, lets see about giving it a rest. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) Illinois lawmakers were piecing together a $41.3 billion state budget Monday, based on tax revenue sources that rebounded much faster from the global pandemic than expected and including $2.5 billion in spending from a multiyear federal relief package. The plan assembled on the final scheduled day of the Legislature's spring session incorporates just a portion of the $8 billion Illinois expects in COVID-19 relief money Congress approved last winter but that pot includes $1 billion in additional construction projects, a fund known only to Democrats until Monday. House Majority Leader Greg Harris pronounced a balanced budget which also reinstates the $350 million extra for public schools that was promised annually in a 2017 school-funding overhaul, but which Gov. J.B. Pritzker initially said would need to be skipped for a second year in a row. Were very lucky our revenues came up," said Harris, a Chicago Democrat. The budget might be an uncharacteristically easy lift, compared with the rest of the Legislature's to-do list, which must be accomplished by midnight, after which adopting legislation requires a three-fifths majority vote. There's a contentious plan to tighten restrictions on gun ownership following the deadly 2019 warehouse shooting in Aurora and a pandemic-interrupted ethics overhaul which appeared in bipartisan form early Monday evening. The Senate proposal would prohibit sitting legislators from lobbying other units of government, a practice exposed in a fall 2019 bribery indictment and create a six-month cooling-off period that would halt the long-derided practice of a lawmaker resigning one day and lobbying ex-colleagues the next. But the creation of a statewide registration system for lobbyists at all government levels exempts Chicago, which has its own program. That raised the question among reporters attending a briefing on the measure about the conflicting systems opening loopholes. Youd be hard pressed to find a wall that somebody doesnt find a way to work around, but this is a good solid step, said Sen. Ann Gillespie, an Arlington Heights Democrat and chairwoman of the Ethics Committee. This is extending a ban on lobbying, far greater than it has been. The budget plan offers a far rosier picture than the pain deep budget cuts Pritzker predicted were inevitable after voters soundly rejected his proposed constitutional amendment in November to allow a graduated income tax system that hit the wealthier harder and would generate $3 billion extra a year. Republicans denounced the ballot initiative as a blank check for free-spending Democrats, who control both houses of the General Assembly as well as the governors office. As revenues continued to outpace predictions, they persisted in their claims that Pritzker had more than enough money. Their reward came in the form of a Pritzker concession to cut fewer of the business and job-producing incentives they negotiated in 2019 with the Democrat, tax breaks the governor touted then but now calls unaffordable loopholes. Democrats crafting the budget were planning to cut three programs to generate $636 million in additional revenue. In February, Pritzker proposed eliminating eight incentive programs to save $1 billion. Pandemic-battered sectors of the state would get $1.5 billion from Illinois' allotment of American Rescue Plan Act. Hundreds of millions of dollars would be reserved for the Department of Human Services for programs to help the homeless, prevent suicide, counsel schoolchildren through the last year's trauma, and provide services for our first responders who have gone through a year of hell and deserve all the support we can give them," Harris said. The ailing tourism and hospitality industries would receive $578 million. Illinois borrowed $5 billion from the federal government to pay unemployment benefits for those the pandemic displaced. ARPA would provide $100 million to pay interest on that loan, but principal retirement would wait. But another huge debt is off the books. The state owed $1.2 billion payable by December 2023 on a $3.2 billion federal loan last summer at the pandemic's nadir. Pritzker and legislative leaders announced 10 days ago that they'd pay that loan off early, saving $100 million in interest. The ARPA cache is also providing $1 billion for additional construction projects heading into the 2022 election season, money that would be spent in addition to the ongoing, $51 billion Rebuild Illinois infrastructure plan approved in 2019. Rep. Tom Demmer of Dixon, the House Republicans budget negotiator, questioned Harris as to how projects are chosen. Harris said its the normal process in which lawmakers and state agencies make requests for work to be done. So we have $1 billion dollars of new capital projects that have been available but it appears that they were ... only eligible for requests from Senate Democratic and House Democratic caucuses? Demmer asked. Harris responded, Certainly, we would be happy to talk. ___ Follow Political Writer John OConnor at https://twitter.com/apoconnor JACKSON, Miss. (AP) Mississippi legislators can do business the easy way or the hard way if they revive the state's initiative process that was recently invalidated by a state Supreme Court decision. The easy way would be to adopt the same process that Mississippi has used for decades, tweaking it only to resolve a problem pointed out in the court ruling. The hard way would be to open the process for lots of debate that could muck up an already complex system and make it even more burdensome for citizens petitioning to put issues on the statewide ballot. The biggest area for legislative mischief could be in increasing the number of signatures needed on petitions. The initiative process is in Section 273 of the Mississippi Constitution. It requires initiative organizers to gather a number of signatures equal to 12% of the total votes for all candidates in the most recent election for governor. Legislators could make the initiative process harder by either increasing that 12% margin, or by keeping the same percentage but applying it to the state's turnout for the presidential election, which is traditionally higher. In 2019, for example, 884,911 votes were cast for all candidates for governor; 12% of that is 106,189. In 2020, Mississippi residents cast 1,313,759 votes for all candidates for president; 12% of that is 157,651. Legislators could also tighten the timeline. Organizers now have a year to gather signatures, and most initiatives never make it to the ballot because organizers fail to get enough people to sign. A shorter timeline would make the effort even harder. The Supreme Court heard arguments about the initiative process because that was the central focus of a lawsuit that sought to block a medical marijuana proposal. Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler sued the state days before the 2020 general election, arguing that Initiative 65 was not properly on the ballot. Butler opposed Initiative 65 because it would have limited cities ability to regulate the location of medical marijuana businesses, but her court arguments had nothing to do with zoning. Instead, her attorneys questioned the validity of the signature gathering process. Mississippi requires initiative sponsors to collect one-fifth of their petition signatures from each congressional district. The process was set in the 1990s, when Mississippi had five districts. The state dropped to four districts after the 2000 census because of stagnant population, but legislators ignored attempts to update the initiative requirements. Recognition of the five districts/four districts problem is not new. The state attorney general issued a legal opinion in 2009 saying initiative sponsors should collect signatures from the five old districts. Butler's attorneys argued that because Mississippi has four current districts, it makes no sense to use the five old ones. They also said the constitution creates a mathematical impossibility: With four districts, more than one-fifth of the signatures must come from each. State attorneys argued that congressional districts have multiple purposes. They are used to elect members of the U.S. House, but the current or old districts are also used for choosing members to some state regulatory boards. A majority of justices agreed with Butler in the May 14 ruling. Before the that Supreme Court decision, Mississippi was one of the 24 states with an initiative process, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. About 1.3 million people voted in Mississippi in November, and more than 766,000 of them voted in favor of the medical marijuana proposal. Thats about 10,000 more residents than voted the same day for then-President Donald Trump, who easily won in Mississippi despite losing his race for a second term. More than 200 supporters of medical marijuana protested last week near the Mississippi Capitol and the state Supreme Court building, and many of them also marched past the Governor's Mansion. They demanded that legislators create a medical marijuana program, and that the state revive its process for citizen-led initiatives. ____ Emily Wagster Pettus has covered Mississippi government and politics since 1994. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus. NEW CASTLE, Del. (AP) President Joe Biden marked his first Memorial Day weekend as commander in chief by honoring the nations sacrifices in a deeply personal manner as he paid tribute Sunday to those lost while remembering his late son Beau, a veteran who died six years ago to the day. As a cold rain fell, Biden made his annual appearance at the commemoration in New Castle, not far from his Wilmington home, a day before he planned to do the same at Arlington National Cemetery on the official observance. The death of his son from brain cancer at age 46 is ever-present for the elder Biden, with the loss defining so much of his worldview, dotting his speeches and stirring his empathy for others in pain. The Memorial Day weekend, long an important moment for Biden, took on added poignancy this year as the president spoke frequently and emotionally of his own loss while expressing the gratitude of a nation for the sacrifices of others. I cant thank you enough for the continued service for the country, said Biden, addressing a crowd of Gold Star military families and other veterans in a ceremony at War Memorial Plaza in the shadow of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. I know how much the loss hurts. Theyre the guardians of us and were the guardians of their legacy, Biden said of those who served in the armed forces. Despite all the pain, I know the pride you feel in the loved one you have lost. Though a tent was overhead, the cold wind whipped the rain onto the guests as they watched a lone military trumpeter play taps at a memorial to Delawares fallen troops. Biden appeared to pay the chill no mind, remaining for the entirety of the 75-minute ceremony and mouthing the words to the closing rendition of God Bless America. When it was time, he snapped a salute to the wreath laid at the memorial. Biden had attended the ceremony nearly every year for decades, and it was at last years event when he emerged for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, spotted with a mask while laying a wreath. Hours before Sunday's ceremony, the president, first lady Jill Biden and other family members attended a memorial Mass for Beau Biden at their local church. After the service, the Bidens greeted well-wishers outside the church and, for the first time in more than a year, were able to receive warm hugs and handshakes at their home parish. The Bidens walked to Beaus grave, which is on the property of St. Joseph's on the Brandywine, and left flowers amid several American flags that had been placed on the well-manicured lawn next to the marker. Beau Biden served two terms as Delaware's attorney general before declaring a run for governor, and many saw in him the same aspirations that brought his father to the White House. Beau Biden also served in Delawares National Guard and, when sent to Iraq, received permission to wear a uniform emblazoned with a different last name so as not to receive special treatment. That story, which Biden told Friday at a Virginia air force base, was one of the many moments in which Bidens son defined the Memorial Day weekend. After beginning with an emotional remembrance of his late son, Biden acknowledged the unheralded sacrifices made by the service members and their families. You are the very best of what America has to offer, Biden said then. Biden also underscored his recent decision to pull troops out of Afghanistan later this year, expressing gratitude to service members who took multiple tours of duty in Americas longest war. He largely avoided the particulars of international affairs on Sunday, though he pledged to press Russias Vladimir Putin on human rights during their summit in Geneva next month and said that the moment was right to show the world, and namely China, that the United States was ready to lead again after four years of a largely inward-looking foreign policy under President Donald Trump. Its time to remind everybody who we are, he said. TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Irans Cabinet dismissed the governor of the central bank on Sunday after he decided to run for the June 18 presidential election, state TV reported. The report said the decision was taken after Abdonasser Hemmati decided to run in presidential elections and it prevents him from having a sufficient presence in the central bank and carrying out the serious duties and responsibilities of the CBI chief in the sensitive areas of money and currency. JERUSALEM (AP) A former ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said he would seek to form a coalition government with the Israeli leader's opponents, taking a major step toward ending the rule of the longtime premier. The dramatic announcement by Naftali Bennett, leader of the small hardline Yamina party, set the stage for a series of steps that could push Netanyahu and his dominant Likud party into the opposition in the coming week. While Bennett and his new partners, headed by opposition leader Yair Lapid, still face some obstacles, the sides appeared to be serious about reaching a deal and ending the deadlock that has plunged the country into four elections in the past two years. Its my intention to do my utmost in order to form a national unity government along with my friend Yair Lapid, so that, God willing, together we can save the country from a tailspin and return Israel to its course, Bennett said. The pair have until Wednesday to complete a deal in which each is expected to serve two years as prime minister in a rotation deal, with Bennett holding the job first. Lapid's Yesh Atid party said negotiating teams were to meet later Sunday. Bennett, a former top aide to Netanyahu who has held senior Cabinet posts, shares the prime minister's hard-line ideology. He is a former leader of the West Bank settlement movement and heads a small party whose base includes religious and nationalist Jews. Yet he has had a strained and complicated relationship with his one-time mentor due to personal differences. Bennett said there was no feasible way after the deadlocked March 23 election to form a right-wing government favored by Netanyahu. He said another election would yield the same results and said it was time to end the cycle. A government like this will succeed only if we work together as a group, he said. He said everyone will need to postpone fulfilling part of their dreams. We will focus on what can be done, instead of fighting all day on whats impossible. If Bennett and Lapid and their other partners can wrap up a deal, it would end, at least for the time being, the record-setting tenure of Netanyahu, the most dominant figure in Israeli politics over the past three decades. Netanyahu has served as prime minister for the past 12 years and also held an earlier term in the late 1990s. In his own televised statement, Netanyahu accused Bennett of betraying the Israeli right wing and urged nationalist politicians not to join what he called a leftist government. A government like this is a danger to the security of Israel, and is also a danger to the future of the state, he said. Despite his electoral dominance, Netanyahu has become a polarizing figure since he was indicted on charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in late 2019. Each of the past four elections was seen as a referendum on Netanyahu's fitness to rule, and each ended in deadlock. Netanyahu is desperate to stay in power while he is on trial. He has used his office as a stage to rally his base and lash out against police, prosecutors and the media. In order to form a government, a party leader must secure the support of a 61-seat majority in the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament. Because no single party controls a majority on its own, coalitions are usually built with smaller partners. Thirteen parties of various sizes are in the current parliament. As leader of the largest party, Netanyahu was given the first opportunity by the countrys figurehead president to form a coalition. But he was unable to secure a majority with his traditional religious and nationalist allies. Netanyahu even attempted to court a small Islamist Arab party but was thwarted by a small ultranationalist party with a racist anti-Arab agenda. Although Arabs make up some 20% of Israels population, an Arab party has never before sat in an Israeli coalition government. After Netanyahus failure to form a government, Lapid was then given four weeks to cobble together a coalition. He has until Wednesday to complete the task. While Bennett's Yamina party controls just seven seats in parliament, he has emerged as a kingmaker of sorts by providing the necessary support to secure a majority. If he is successful, his party would be the smallest to lead an Israeli government. Lapid already faced a difficult challenge, given the broad range of parties in the anti-Netanyahu bloc that have little in common. They include dovish left-wing parties, a pair of right-wing nationalist parties, including Bennetts Yamina, and most likely the Islamist United Arab List. Lapids task was made even more difficult after war broke out with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip on May 10. His coalition talks were put on hold during the 11 days of fighting. But with Wednesdays deadline looming, negotiations have kicked into high gear. Lapid has reached coalition deals with three other parties so far. If he finalizes a deal with Bennett, the remaining partners are expected to quickly fall into place. They would then have roughly one week to present their coalition to parliament for a formal vote of confidence allowing it to take office. Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, said Netanyahu will try to undermine those efforts until the end. Netanyahus main strategy, he said, would be to try to appeal to hard-liners in both Bennetts party and New Hope, another hard-line party led by a former Netanyahu confidant, to withdraw their support for the new coalition. A defection of just one or two lawmakers could prevent Lapid from mustering a majority and force another election. Anything might happen, Plesner said. I would wait for the final vote to go through. Even if Lapid and Bennett manage to put together a government, Netanyahu is unlikely to disappear, Plesner said. Netanyahu could remain as opposition leader, working to exploit the deep ideological differences among his opponents to cause the coalition to fracture. History teaches us it would be unwise to write him off," he said. ___ Associated Press writer Ilan Ben Zion contributed to this report. For the second year in a row, participants walked their own way in more than 300 communities across the country hiking, running, cycling, doing yoga, and of course, walking. They got active and displayed tremendous creativity while raising funds to support life-changing programs offered through the Alzheimer Society. Programs such as counselling, respite care, education and support groups make all the difference in the way people living with dementia and caregivers navigate the complexities of the disease. This year, more than 9000 people participated in the Walk in large cities and small rural areas across Canada, while thousands joined an online celebration that featured the personal stories of Walk participants coast to coast. "We know that the pandemic has increased the sense of isolation and stress for people living with dementia and as well as for their caregivers," said Ronan Ryan, CEO, Alzheimer Society of Canada. "They need our support now more than ever. We are so grateful to the people who came together in record numbers, walking for their mothers, fathers, grandparents, and other loved ones. The donations raised through the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer's will allow the Alzheimer Society to continue to provide crucial support for people, throughout their journey with dementia." "It's inspiring to see so many Canadians rally together to support those affected by dementia during this uniquely challenging time," said Damon Murchison, President and CEO of IG Wealth Management. "I'm especially proud that all of our IG offices from coast-to-coast participated in this year's Walk. As an organization, IG is committed to making a difference in the lives of Canadians with dementia and we are thrilled to support the Alzheimer Society as they continue to work tirelessly to meet the growing demand for their services." There is still time to give. Visit www.walkforalzheimers.ca to donate and you'll make a positive difference in the lives of people living with dementia and their families. About the Alzheimer Society The Alzheimer Society is Canada's leading nationwide health charity for people living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Active in communities across Canada, the Society provides information, programs and services to those living with a diagnosis and their caregivers. The Alzheimer Society Research Program is Canada's leading funder of research into better understanding the causes of dementia, improving treatment and care, and towards finding cures. About IG Wealth Management Founded in 1926, IG Wealth Management is a national leader in delivering personalized financial solutions to Canadians through a network of Consultants located across Canada. In addition to an exclusive family of mutual funds and other investment vehicles, IG offers a wide range of other financial services. IG Wealth Management has over $108 billion in assets under management as of April 30, 2021 and is a member of the IGM Financial Inc. (TSX: IGM) group of companies. IGM Financial is one of Canada's premier financial services companies with approximately $253 billion in total assets under management as of April 30, 2021. SOURCE Alzheimer Society of Canada For further information: Media contacts: Amanda Carvalho, Senior Manager, Communications, Alzheimer Society of Canada, 1-800-616-8816 ext. 2955, [email protected], www.alzheimer.ca; Rebecca Ellison, IG Wealth Management, 647-983-4963, [email protected] Related Links www.alzheimer.ca YELLOWKNIFE, NT, May 31, 2021 /CNW/ - Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. The COVID-19 crisis has made it clear that affordable housing is key to Canada's recovery for communities across the country, including those in the Northwest Territories. Today the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), alongside Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories, and Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) Chiefs Edward Sangris and Ernest Betsina, announced $18.8 Million in funding to support YKDFN with the construction of 19 affordable housing units. This funding will help build eight four-bedroom, two bathroom houses and 11 one-bedroom apartments, to be built in the YKDFN communities of Ndilo and Dettah. This funding supports YKDFN's continued Housing Strategy and goal to take control of their own housing system. Today's announcement is part of $60 million set aside by the Government of Canada to address housing needs and challenges in the Northwest Territories. These housing funds are designated for those most at-risk, including women and their children, people with disabilities, and seniors. This funding is being delivered through CMHC's National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF), which supports new and revitalization construction of mixed-income, mixed-tenure, and mixed-use affordable housing. The NHCF is a key pillar of the Government of Canada's National Housing Strategy (NHS). In Budget 2021, $750 million in NHCF funding is being made available in 2021-22 and 2022-23. This will accelerate the creation of 3,400 new units, and the repair of 13,700 units. Quotes: "This is the National Housing Strategy at work. This NHCF funding is flexible and in tune with the needs of northern communities, including the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. Our government remains committed to making significant investments in affordable housing and meeting housing needs and challenges facing communities in the NWT. This is the National Housing Strategy at work." The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) "Building quality affordable homes is a priority for the Territories. This is something I have heard consistently here in our northern communities and with our Indigenous partners. This project, part of the $60 million set-aside for the Northwest Territories to build affordable housing, represents an important step towards meeting those needs. By supporting YKDFN, we will build new housing that has long-term, positive impacts for residents that meets their needs." Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories "This funding announcement by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation is welcomed news to our members who are in need of housing. We wish to thank the Honourable Minister, CMHC and the Government of Canada for their support and recognize the profound significance of this action as a first step towards reconciliation and the honouring of our Treaty with the Crown. This will allow YKDFN to not only providing housing for our members, but also create employment, training and economic opportunities for our development corporation and our members." Yellowknives Dene First Nation Chief Edward Sangris, Dettah "Today represents the first step in the assertion of my peoples' sovereignty of housing. We embarked on our journey to develop YKDFN Housing Strategy - "For YKDFN By YKDFN", and to build and govern affordable housing for our members, approximately two and a half years ago with the assistance of Ryerson University Together Design Lab. This funding is the first of many steps in the realization of our dreams and independence of our people." Yellowknives Dene First Nation Chief Ernest Betsina, Ndilo Quick Facts: The $60 million northern carve-out set aside for the Northwest Territories under the National Housing Co-Investment Fund will support the construction of 126 new affordable housing units. Approximately $25.5 million will be directly administered by Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, and the remaining $34.5 million will go toward supporting Indigenous governments and organizations. northern carve-out set aside for the under the National Housing Co-Investment Fund will support the construction of 126 new affordable housing units. Approximately will be directly administered by Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, and the remaining will go toward supporting Indigenous governments and organizations. With a budget of $13.2 billion , the NHCF gives priority to projects that help people who need it most, including women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, those with mental health or addiction issues, veterans and young adults. , the NHCF gives priority to projects that help people who need it most, including women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, those with mental health or addiction issues, veterans and young adults. Through the NHCF, the Government of Canada will work with partners to build up to 60,000 new affordable homes and repair up to 240,000 existing affordable and community homes. will work with partners to build up to 60,000 new affordable homes and repair up to 240,000 existing affordable and community homes. Under the NHCF, investments are also planned to create or repair at least 4,000 shelter spaces for victims of family violence, as well as create at least 7,000 new affordable housing units for seniors and 2,400 new affordable housing units for people with developmental disabilities. To help Canadians find affordable housing, Budget 2021 proposes to provide an additional $2.5 billion over seven years in new funding and a reallocation of $1.3 billion in previously announced funding to speed up the construction, repair, and support over 35,000 additional housing units. over seven years in new funding and a reallocation of in previously announced funding to speed up the construction, repair, and support over 35,000 additional housing units. In Budget 2021, $750 million in existing funding under NHCF is proposed to be advanced to 2021-22 and 2022-23. This will accelerate the creation of 3,400 new units, and the repair of 13,700 units. $250 million in existing funding will also be allocated to support the construction, repair, and operating costs of an estimated 560 units of transitional housing and shelter spaces for women and children fleeing violence. Advancing these funds will help the Government to address gender-based violence. in existing funding under NHCF is proposed to be advanced to 2021-22 and 2022-23. This will accelerate the creation of 3,400 new units, and the repair of 13,700 units. in existing funding will also be allocated to support the construction, repair, and operating costs of an estimated 560 units of transitional housing and shelter spaces for women and children fleeing violence. Advancing these funds will help the Government to address gender-based violence. Canada's National Housing Strategy (NHS) is a 10-year, $70+ billion plan that will give more Canadians a place to call homethis includes more than $13 billion committed through the 2020 Fall Economic Statement. Associated links: As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC's aim is that by 2030, everyone in Canada has a home they can afford, and that meets their needs. For more information, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook. SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation For further information: Media contacts: Mikaela Harrison, Office of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, [email protected]; Leonard Catling, Media Relations, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, [email protected]; Jason Snaggs, CEO, Yellowknives Dene First Nation, [email protected] Related Links www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca Thousands of houses in New Zealand's Canterbury area were at risk of flooding. Residents along the Ashburton River were prepared for a mass evacuation on Sunday, officials said, as heavy rain continued to raise water levels. Red Alert Acting Minister for Emergency Management Kris Faafoi said in a televised briefing that 3,000 houses were at risk of flooding after New Zealand's MetService issued a red warning for heavy rain in Canterbury and several signs elsewhere. "This is just MetService's second red warning, and it will be a big weather event," the service stated on its website. Related Article: What's Causing the Increase of Tropical Cyclones in the Arabian Sea? Affected Areas According to New Zealand media, the Timaru and Ashburton districts have declared a state of emergency as well, with some evacuations already underway on Sunday. Hundreds of people have been evacuated from their houses in north Canterbury, and hundreds more in Ashburton are on alert as rivers flow through the area, fueled by a once-in-a-100-year rainfall. The whole Canterbury area is now under a state of emergency, and around 75 schools and pre-schools will be closed on Monday as people brace for even more disruption. Ashburton Water Level As the river levels rose overnight, Ashburton mayor Neil Brown said some residents had already begun to evacuate. The Ashburton District Council has issued a warning that polluted floodwater from the overflowing Ashburton wastewater treatment plant near Wilkins Rd might be entering Carters Creek, which feeds Lake Hood. Related Article: Powerful Thunderstorms in the Mid-West Can Cause Winds as Strong as Category 2 Hurricane, Forecasters Warn Water Safety Residents are being urged to stay away from floodwaters after wastewater from the Ashburton pond treatment plant on Wilkins Road in Tinwald overflowed. Floodwater is currently mingling with potentially polluted water downstream of Wilkins Road. This is a threat to the public's health. In addition, wastewater is being discharged into Carters Creek, which is a tributary of Lake Hood. Residents should stay away from the water, assuming it is poisoned. If you become soaked from floodwaters, change out of your wet clothes and shoes and sent them away to be laundered later. Wash any skin that has come into contact with floodwaters as soon as possible, and wash your hands as soon as you can - or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Sanitation People who come into touch with floods should clean themselves and their clothes as soon as possible, and wash their hands as well. Focusing on the Matter According to The New Zealand Herald, the mayor of Ashburton, a town of roughly 35,000 people on New Zealand's South Island, "half of Ashburton" might be compelled to flee if the river's banks collapse. Due to slides and floods, several routes, including vital State Highways, have been blocked. For the most up-to-date information on road closures, go here. So far, four bridges in the Ashburton District have been swept away, and over 20 highways have been stopped. Several regions of the region have been evacuated due to flooding, including Ashburton, Selwyn, Timaru, and Waimakariri. However, some people in the Waimakariri District have been permitted to return to their houses. Rain is expected to persist until Monday, according to Faafoi. "We're keeping a close eye on everything," he remarked. Also Read: Atlantic Hurricane Season 2021: Here's What to Expect For more climate and weather updates, don't forget to follow Nature World News! NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES TORONTO, May 31, 2021 /CNW/ - Canada House Wellness Group (CSE: CHV) ("Canada House" or the "Company"), a fully integrated medical cannabis company, is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Abba Medix Corp. ("Abba") has fulfilled its first purchase order from Cannabis NB for 3.5-gram dried flower formats of its popular Critical Orange Punch and VetStar Night strains. The Company is pleased to also announce that it has entered into an agreement with a New Brunswick based licensed producer to source locally grown, premium cannabis products to supplement its offerings to Cannabis NB and Abba's medical patient base. Abba's Critical Orange Punch and VetStar Night are available for immediate sale at Cannabis NB's 20 retail locations throughout the province as well as through Cannabis NB's online retail platform at https://www.cannabis-nb.com/. "As a company that was founded in New Brunswick and continues to maintain clinic headquarters in Oromocto, being able to add New Brunswick to our existing recreational distribution channel is an important milestone for Canada House. We are thrilled to introduce our brand and popular genetics to New Brunswickers, particularly VetStar Night which has received rave reviews from our veteran patient base," commented Canada House's CEO, Chris Churchill-Smith. "As it is a corporate priority for Canada House to ensure continued supply to our medical patients, at this time VetStar will only be available for recreational purposes in New Brunswick. We look forward to working with Cannabis NB to bring new SKUs, including locally produced cannabis products, to market in the coming weeks." About Canada House Wellness Group Canada House Wellness Group is the parent company of Abba Medix Corp., a Licensed Producer in Pickering, Ontario that produces high quality medical grade cannabis; IsoCanMed Inc., a Licensed Producer in Louiseville, Quebec growing best-in-class indoor cannabis, in its 64,000 sq. ft. production facility employing state-of-the-art vertical, aeroponic production methodologies; Canada House Clinics Inc., with clinics across the country that work directly with primary care teams to provide specialized cannabinoid therapy services to patients suffering from simple and complex medical conditions; and Knalysis Technologies, a provider of fully customizable, cloud-based software that links physician, provider, and patient to data that supports treatment with medical cannabis. Canada House Wellness Group's goal is to become the leading cultivator of premium craft cannabis and provider of cannabinoid therapy, targeting the medical cannabis markets globally. Please visit www.canadahouse.ca or the Company's public filings at www.sedar.com. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information. This press release contains forward- looking statements, including statements that relate to, among other things, the Company's clinic, production and technology businesses, its future plans, the Company's markets, objectives, goals, strategies, intentions, beliefs, expectations and estimates, and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "would", "likely", "possible", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "objective" and "continue" (or the negative thereof) and words and expressions of similar import. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Material assumptions used to develop forward-looking information in this news release include, among other things, the regulations related to cannabis use under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations and the act respecting cannabis and to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Criminal Code and other Acts, passed by the Canadian Federal government, making cannabis and cannabis based edibles, vapes and oils legal for recreational use on October 17, 2018 and October 17, 2019; Company liquidity and capital resources, including the availability of additional capital resources to fund its activities; level of competition; the ability to adapt products and services to the changing market; the ability to attract and retain key executives; and the ability to execute strategic plans. Additional information about material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations and about material factors or assumptions applied in making forward-looking statements may be found in the Company's most recent annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis under "Risk and Uncertainties" as well as in other public disclosure documents filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Neither the 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. SOURCE Canada House Wellness Group Inc. For further information: please contact: Steven Pearce, Vice-President, Legal, Canada House Wellness Group 289-980-3584, [email protected] WINDSOR, ON, May 31, 2021 /CNW/ - The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on persons with disabilities and has shed light on the number of Canadians that continue to face barriers to full inclusion in their communities and workplaces. One of the many ways the Government of Canada is taking action to break down those barriers is through funding programs like the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF). Today, to celebrate National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) 2021, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion and Member of Parliament for WindsorTecumseh, Irek Kusmierczyk, participated in a virtual event to highlight 11 accessibility projects led by organizations in the Windsor area that have received over $557,000 in EAF funding. The EAF is a federal grants and contributions program that supports construction projects across Canada that improve the accessibility, safety and inclusion of persons with disabilities in our communities. The program helps provide vital accessible infrastructure such as ramps, automatic doors and accessible washrooms. It directly supports organizations so they can offer programs, services and employment opportunities to persons with disabilities. Today's project announcements include support to Stonehedge Properties Inc. under the Youth Innovation component of EAF, to turn an existing building into the Walkerville Arts Centre, a multi-use community arts programming space designed to meet the needs of people of all abilities. Also announced today, under the Small projects component of EAF is a project by the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women to install push button door openers and a ramp to make their facility more accessible to disabled Canadians in need of their essential services. All of the 11 projects in the Windsor area are excellent examples of how, by working with community organizations, the Government of Canada is helping to break down barriers to accessibility and disability inclusion. Minister Qualtrough also announced that two calls for proposals under the EAF's Mid-sized projects and Youth Innovation components will launch on Friday, June 4, 2021. The Mid-sized projects component provides contributions of up to $1 million to support larger retrofit, renovation or construction projects in facilities that house programs and services that help increase social participation and labour market opportunities for persons with disabilities in Canada. The Youth Innovation component seeks to engage and challenge youth between 15 and 30 years of age, to volunteer and collaborate with local organizations in their communities to secure funding of up to $10,000 for accessibility projects. More information will be available on June 4 at Funding - Canada.ca. Quotes "When barriers to accessibility and inclusion are removed, Canadians with disabilities can participate fully, helping our communities thrive and our economy prosper. This is why I am so excited to announce the launch of these two new calls for proposals under the Mid-sized projects and Youth Innovation components of the Enabling Accessibility Fund. As we work together with Canadian organizations to improve inclusion and access in our society, we are also building a successful recovery that will lead to a stronger, fairer and more inclusive Canada, now and in the future." Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough "Building a more inclusive Canada takes work, and we are committed to getting the job done. Thanks to the Enabling Accessibility Fund, the Government of Canada has been able to support organizations in Windsor region that are working hard to make our community more accessible for persons with disabilities. Improving accessibility and promoting inclusion benefits all Canadians." - Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion and Member of Parliament for WindsorTecumseh, Irek Kusmierczyk Quick Facts May 30 to June 5, 2021 is National AccessAbility Week (NAAW), a time when accessibility and inclusion are promoted across Canada . It is an opportunity to highlight the contributions of Canadians with disabilities and recognize all efforts to remove barriers and ensure persons with disabilities are able to fully participate in all aspects of Canadian society. is National AccessAbility Week (NAAW), a time when accessibility and inclusion are promoted across . It is an opportunity to highlight the contributions of Canadians with disabilities and recognize all efforts to remove barriers and ensure persons with disabilities are able to fully participate in all aspects of Canadian society. The Government of Canada has funded over 4,700 projects since the establishment of the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) in 2007, helping thousands of Canadians gain access to their communities' programs, services and employment opportunities. has funded over 4,700 projects since the establishment of the Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) in 2007, helping thousands of Canadians gain access to their communities' programs, services and employment opportunities. Under the EAF's 2021 Mid-sized component, organizations will be able to submit project proposals for funding from $350,000 up to $1 million . The call for proposals will remain open until July 29, 2021 . up to . The call for proposals will remain open until . Under the EAF's 2021 Youth Innovation component, expressions of interest from youth will be accepted until October 29, 2021 . The deadline for organizations working with youth to submit their proposals will be November 30, 2021 . . The deadline for organizations working with youth to submit their proposals will be . Budget 2021 committed $100 million over two years, starting in 2021-22, to triple funding for the EAF and support small and mid-sized projects with not-for-profit organizations, women's shelters, municipalities, Indigenous organizations, territorial governments, and businesses of all sizes. An additional $29.2 million was committed over two years to help children with disabilities by supporting child care centres to make physical upgrades to improve the accessibility of their facilities. Related products Backgrounder: Enabling Accessibility Fund Windsor Projects Associated Link Enabling Accessibility Fund Follow us on Twitter SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada For further information: For media enquiries, please contact: Marielle Hossack, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, [email protected]; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected] Related Links www.hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca TORONTO, May 31, 2021 /CNW/ - Today, legislation to enable provincial oversight of the vehicle towing and storage industry in Ontario, as well as to improve overall road safety, was passed. The Moving Ontarians More Safely Act, 2021 (MOMS Act) was introduced on April 26, and received overwhelming support from members of the legislature. Kim Donaldson, Vice-President, Ontario, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), issued the following statement on the passage of this important legislation: "IBC commends the government and members of the Ontario Legislature that helped pass this legislation in record time. The MOMS Act will make roads and highways safer for drivers and tackle the rampant fraud that has driven up their auto insurance rates. Dangerous driving has no place on our roads, as it puts innocent drivers and pedestrians at risk. We are pleased to see that this legislation will combat high-risk driving through stiffer fines and increased penalties for dangerous drivers who engage in stunt driving, street racing and aggressive driving. The MOMS Act paves the way for safer roads. With this legislation, the Government of Ontario is delivering on its commitment to establish oversight of the vehicle towing and storage industry in the province. IBC and its members have long advocated for much-needed reforms in the vehicle towing and storage industry and have been working with the government and other stakeholders as part of the Towing Technical Advisory Group. We congratulate the government for listening and taking this bold action for the benefit of drivers in the province. When it comes to Ontario's roads, our priorities are road safety and consumer protection for all drivers and pedestrians. We're committed to continuing to work with the provincial government and other stakeholders to make Ontario's roads the safest they can be." The MOMS Act: Establishes provincial oversight of the vehicle towing and storage sector by creating the Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act, 2021. This act would require tow operators, tow truck drivers and vehicle storage operators to be certified. It sets new standards for customer protection and roadside behaviours including penalties for non-compliance. Introduces tougher measures to combat high-risk driving and improve road safety, including higher fines, longer driver's licence suspensions and longer vehicle impoundment periods for drivers who engage in stunt driving, street racing and aggressive driving. Contains measures to protect vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and highway workers, and improve truck safety. IBC works to educate consumers on road safety and their towing rights. For more information, drivers are encouraged to visit IBC's Know Your Tow page. About Insurance Bureau of Canada Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is the national industry association representing Canada's private home, auto and business insurers. Its member companies make up 90% of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance market in Canada. For more than 50 years, IBC has worked with governments across the country to help make affordable home, auto and business insurance available for all Canadians. IBC supports the vision of consumers and governments trusting, valuing and supporting the private P&C insurance industry. It champions key issues and helps educate consumers on how best to protect their homes, cars, businesses and properties. For media releases and more information, visit IBC's Media Centre at www.ibc.ca . Follow us on Twitter @IBC_Ontario or like us on Facebook . If you have a question about home, auto or business insurance, contact IBC's Consumer Information Centre at 1-844-2ask-IBC. SOURCE Insurance Bureau of Canada For further information: Media Contact: Vanessa Barrasa, Manager, Media Relations, 416-550-9062, [email protected] Related Links www.ibc.ca "At Lowe's Canada, our teams are committed to making a difference in their communities and, for this reason, actively engage each year in our campaign benefitting Children's Miracle Network and Operation Enfant Soleil,'' says Jean-Sebastien Lamoureux, Senior Vice-President, Public Affairs, Asset Protection and Sustainable Development at Lowe's Canada. "At a time when it is more important than ever to support the country's healthcare system, our teams doubled their creativity during the last weeks in order to maximize collected sums. Thanks to their efforts and the generosity of our customers, we have run our best campaign yet." Since 2018, Lowe's Canada has presented more than $3.3 million to the two organizations through its annual fundraising campaigns and corporate donations. All funds raised are given directly to children's hospitals in the province they were collected. A 4th Successful Campaign The in-store and online campaign from March 29 to May 16, together with the corporate donation, enabled Lowe's Canada to present $700,000 to Operation Enfant Soleil at their telethon on May 30, and some $583,000 to Children's Miracle Network. "Our campaign was initially supposed to run until May 2, but we decided to extend it both in Ontario and online to maximize the potential for donations. We also added a corporate donation to offset the impacts of the restrictions imposed by public health authorities limiting our stores' operations in this province,'' says Mr. Lamoureux. In Quebec, participating RONA and Reno-Depot stores offered tickets for a chance to win the Maison Enfant Soleil signee Bonneville, for which Lowe's Canada is the official supplier of building materials. This year, 18 suppliers joined in the organization's efforts to further lower the cost of construction of the house by donating products, thereby maximizing the money going to children's hospitals for each ticket sold. For more information on Lowe's Canada major philanthropic campaigns, including this one, visit https://www.lowescanada.ca/en/corporate-responsibility/communities. To share this news on social media, please use @Lowe's Canada (LinkedIn) and @LowesCanadaCorp (Twitter). About Operation Enfant Soleil A great unifier of Quebecers around the cause of sick children, Operation Enfant Soleil supports their healing across the province, regardless of their illness. From raising awareness to prevention, including investigations, diagnosis, the equipment used during treatments, and outpatient care at home, Operation Enfant Soleil supports children and their families through all the steps. Thanks to the amounts raised, around a hundred projects take shape each year in regional hospitals, where children can be treated near their families, as well as in major paediatric centres, which can outfit themselves with cutting-edge technologies and create welcoming spaces. To date, more than $273 million has been awarded across Quebec thanks to the generosity of our donors, the support of our volunteers, and the dedication of our partners. To learn more, visit www.operationenfantsoleil.ca/en/. About Children's Miracle Network Children's Miracle Network raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals, 14 of which are in Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, purchase pediatric medical equipment, and support research. Its various fundraising partners and programs support our mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Visit our website to learn more about our cause. In Canada, Children's Miracle Network is managed and operated by Canada's Children's Hospital Foundations. www.childrensmiraclenetwork.ca About Lowe's Canada Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE 50 home improvement company serving approximately 20 million customers a week in the United States and Canada. With fiscal year 2020 sales of $89.6 billion, Lowe's and its related businesses operate or service more than 2,200 home improvement and hardware stores and employ over 300,000 associates. Based in Boucherville, Quebec, Lowe's Canadian business, together with its wholly owned subsidiary RONA inc., operates or services some 470 corporate and independent affiliate dealer stores in a number of complementary formats under different banners, which include Lowe's, RONA, Reno-Depot, and Dick's Lumber. In Canada, they have more than 26,000 associates, in addition to approximately 5,000 employees in the stores of independent affiliate dealers operating under the RONA banner. For more information, visit lowescanada.ca. SOURCE Lowe's Canada For further information: Media Relations, Lowe's Canada, 514-599-5900, ext. 5271, 1-866-566-3342, [email protected] Related Links www.lowes.ca OTTAWA, ON, May 31, 2021 /CNW/ - Black Canadian business owners and entrepreneurs make important contributions to the Canadian economy, yet they continue to face systemic barriers in starting and growing their businesses. This has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government of Canada is working to address these long-standing, systemic barriers with its first-ever Black Entrepreneurship Program. Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, and Greg Fergus, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, to the President of the Treasury Board and to the Minister of Digital Government and Chair of the Parliamentary Black Caucus, announced that the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund is now accepting loan applications. They were joined by Rachel Bendayan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade and Member of Parliament for Outremont; Marci Ien, Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre; Emmanuel Dubourg, Member of Parliament for Bourassa; Tiffany Callender, CEO of the Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE); Michael Denham, President and CEO of the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC); Christine Bergeron, President and CEO of Vancity; and Robert Paterson, President and CEO of Alterna Savings. Also present at the announcement were leaders from Black-led business organizations from across Canada and senior executives from committed financial institutions. The Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund has been co-developed by the government in partnership with FACE as the loan fund administrator. Today, Minister Ng announced that BDC, Alterna Savings and Vancity will be the first partner financial institutions in the initial launch. The loan fund is now a $291.3-million investment, with a $33.3-million investment from the Government of Canada, a $130-million commitment from BDC, and a $128-million joint commitment from the Royal Bank of Canada, BMO Financial Group, Scotiabank, CIBC, the National Bank of Canada, TD Bank, Vancity and Alterna Savings. FACE and the Government of Canada look forward to partnering with additional financial institutions to deliver the loan fund in the coming months. Minister Ng also announced the launch of a pilot microloan program for Black entrepreneurs and business owners in British Columbia and Ontario seeking microloans between $10,000 and $25,000. The pilot, delivered by FACE in partnership with credit unions Vancity and Alterna Savings, will help address a critical gap in the marketplace for Black businesses that need smaller financial support to start up and grow. The Government of Canada and FACE look forward to welcoming more financial institutions as partners to expand the pilot across Canada. The Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund seeks to address the specific systemic barriers Black business owners have too often faced when seeking financing. It also demonstrates the government's commitment to addressing these barriers with long-term solutions by co-developing programs to better support Black entrepreneurs on their road to success. The loan fund provides financing of up to $250,000 for Black business owners and entrepreneurs so they can grow their businesses and succeed now and into the future. Eligible businesses must be majority owned by a Black Canadian and may include start-ups and existing for-profit small businesses in Canada, including sole proprietorships, social enterprises, partnerships or co-operatives. Businesses must have a business number, a business plan, and financial statements or projects for start-ups. For more information on the loan fund criteria, please see our frequently asked questions and reach out to FACE with questions. As part of the announcement, Minister Ng also shared that successful applicants to the Black Entrepreneurship National Ecosystem Fund would be announced across Canada in the coming weeks. Quotes "The opening of the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund is a historic achievement to support Black business owners and entrepreneurs so they can start up, scale up and grow across Canada and around the world. As a critical piece of Canada's first-ever Black Entrepreneurship Program, the loan fund helps reduce barriers Black business owners and entrepreneurs face in accessing financing. Our government is proud to work with FACE and other Black community leaders to continue to address systemic racism against Black Canadians." The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade "Investing in Black communities in Canada is an important part of an inclusive and resilient recovery that leaves no one behind. The launch of the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund is a concrete step toward removing systemic barriers that continue to prevent Black communities, including Canadians of African and Caribbean descent, from fully participating in all aspects of society. While more work remains to be done, our government is committed to continuing to work with Black communities across Canada to ensure that we build back even better and consciously more inclusive." The Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth "Diversity and inclusion are a pivotal part of our Canadian identity, which is why our government has pledged to address systemic racism, including barriers faced by Black Canadians, and is taking concrete actions to do so. With the COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbating the challenges the Black community continues to face, I'm proud of today's program launch, which is another important step in the right direction to ensure Black entrepreneurs across the country have a fair and equal chance at success." The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development "This is a meaningful historic step to correct a historic wrong: the systemic barriers in accessing financing faced by people of African descent. We need to build a more inclusive economy. I believe that Black Canadians are one of the most entrepreneurial groups in the underground economy. This loan fund partnership unlocks our extraordinary potential and creates economic prosperity for all Canadians." Greg Fergus, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, to the President of the Treasury Board and to the Minister of Digital Government and Chair of the Parliamentary Black Caucus "It is an important day for Canadian entrepreneurs of African descent. Starting today, thanks to support from the Government of Canada and different financial institutions, the true value of Black entrepreneurship is finally being recognized. We are optimistic about the future of our entrepreneurs, and we are eager to accompany them as they achieve their business goals. This is a historic opportunity to become a sustainable part of the Canadian economic fabric, and we know that Black entrepreneurs are up to the task!" Tiffany Callender, CEO, Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE) "As the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs, we recognize the valuable contribution of Black entrepreneurs to our economy and we are here to help them succeed. Over the past year, we have made it a priority to listen, learn and take action to support Black business owners, including signing the BlackNorth CEO Pledge and partnering with several organizations. Today, we are proud to extend our commitment through the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund." Michael Denham, President and CEO, BDC "Serving Canadians as a financial institution is a privilege, and one that entails a great deal of social responsibility. Entrepreneurship can offer great mobility and prosperity, but systemic inequality has meant that this opportunity is not equally available to all Canadians. This program is an important step in addressing systemic racism faced by Black business owners and entrepreneurs, and Vancity is proud to work with FACE and looks forward to supporting Black entrepreneurs with much-needed microloans." Christine Bergeron, President and CEO, Vancity "Alterna Savings is proud to partner on the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, and we are committed to joining with our peers to change the experience for the Black community when it comes to accessing capital and building a business. At Alterna, we have a deep understanding of community loan funds through our 20 years leading our Community Microfinance Program, and credit unions have a long history in Canada of supporting underserved entrepreneurs, helping them become economically and socially empowered." Robert Paterson, President and CEO, Alterna Savings Quick facts The Black Entrepreneurship Program includes: up to $53 million for the National Ecosystem Fund to support Black-led business organizations across the country. It will help Black business owners and entrepreneurs access funding and capital and provide them with mentorship, financial planning services and business training. Budget 2021 has proposed investing an additional $51.7 million in this fund. for the National Ecosystem Fund to support Black-led business organizations across the country. It will help Black business owners and entrepreneurs access funding and capital and provide them with mentorship, financial planning services and business training. Budget 2021 has proposed investing an additional in this fund. up to $291.3 million in support through the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, which will provide loans of up to $250,000 for Black business owners and entrepreneurs. The Government of Canada is investing $33.3 million , and BDC will be the first partner financial institution with an investment of $130 million . An additional $128 million in support has been jointly committed by financial institutions, including the Royal Bank of Canada , BMO Financial Group, Scotiabank, CIBC, the National Bank of Canada , TD Bank, Vancity and Alterna Savings. in support through the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, which will provide loans of up to for Black business owners and entrepreneurs. The Government of is investing , and BDC will be the first partner financial institution with an investment of . An additional in support has been jointly committed by financial institutions, including the Royal Bank of , BMO Financial Group, Scotiabank, CIBC, the National Bank of , TD Bank, Vancity and Alterna Savings. up to $6.5 million for the Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, which will conduct qualitative and quantitative research and collect data on the state of Black entrepreneurship in Canada and help identify Black entrepreneurs' barriers to success as well as opportunities for growth. The hub will be run by partnership between Black-led community and business organizations and post-secondary educational institutions. for the Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, which will conduct qualitative and quantitative research and collect data on the state of Black entrepreneurship in and help identify Black entrepreneurs' barriers to success as well as opportunities for growth. The hub will be run by partnership between Black-led community and business organizations and post-secondary educational institutions. The amounts above include costs associated with operating the funds. The concepts that were submitted for both the National Ecosystem Fund and the Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub are currently under review. FACE founders collectively have more than 35 years of experience serving Black Canadian business communities and will deliver the loan fund alongside participating financial institutions to ensure that it meets the needs of Black Canadian business owners and entrepreneurs from coast to coast to coast. FACE is a coalition that consists of several prominent Black business and community organizations: Africa Centre Black Business and Professional Association Black Business Initiative Cote-des-Neiges Black Community Association Groupe 3737 Associated links Stay connected Follow @CanadaBusiness on social media for business-related news: Twitter, Facebook SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada For further information: Alice Hansen, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, 613-612-0482, [email protected]; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, [email protected]; Yasmine Abdelfadel, FACE, 514-804-6182, [email protected] Related Links http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/icgc.nsf/eng/home Recurring orders during Q1 2021 supported 31% Revenue growth compared to Q1 2020. Strong first quarter growth in demand for PharmaCielo's products, demonstrated by increased volume and repeat sales of CBD isolate and more complex products such as Broad-Spectrum Distillate. Continued growth in interest from potential customers in initiating GMP/EU GMP compliance audits, which the Company sees as one indicator of future demand. Targeted efficiency initiatives and streamlined organizational model resulted in a 17% reduction in total SG&A 1 expenses compared to Q1 2020. Ian D. Atacan to become CFO of PharmaCielo on June 7, 2021 .All figures are in Canadian dollars ($) unless otherwise specified TORONTO, Canada and RIONEGRO, Colombia, May 31, 2021 /CNW/ - PharmaCielo Ltd. ("PharmaCielo" or the "Company") (TSXV: PCLO), (OTCQX: PCLOF), the Canadian parent of Colombia's premier cultivator and producer of medicinal-grade cannabis extracts, PharmaCielo Colombia Holdings S.A.S., today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021. Management Commentary "Our results for Q1 2021 demonstrate the positive impact of both our refocused commercial model, and streamlined organizational model, which together resulted in Revenue growth of 31% and a 17% decrease in SG&A1 compared to Q1 2020," said Henning von Koss, Chief Executive Officer of PharmaCielo. "Our sales pipeline continued to expand through Q1; specifically supported by recurring orders from existing customers, and we are better positioned than ever to execute on our growing sales pipeline. Marcelo Durante, who joined as Global Head of Business Development and Sales earlier this month, hit the ground running and is building his team with a focus on both closing late-stage opportunities, and gaining access to more and better B2B2 opportunities globally. While we are still early in our growth curve, PharmaCielo is positioned to continue steadily building its revenue base, while leveraging higher volume more effectively through a more efficient cost structure. I look forward to continuing to update you as we progress our plans through the remainder of the year." Summary Financial Information Three months ended March 31, 2021 March 31, 2020 December 31, 2020 Revenue $675,264 $514,409 $881,054 Adjusted EBITDA (loss) ($3,299,461) ($3,548,777) ($5,828,291) Net income (loss) ($6,542,056) ($6,317,998) ($19,901,383) Basic and diluted (loss) per common share ($0.05) ($0.06) ($0.16) "All-in" operating cost to produce dried cannabis of $0.05 per gram for the three months ended March 31, 2021 , compared to $0.03 per gram for the same period in 2020. per gram for the three months ended , compared to per gram for the same period in 2020. The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $4.0 million at March 31, 2021 , compared to $8.9 million at December 31, 2020 . The Company closed an overnight marketed equity offering by means of prospectus for gross proceeds of $13.5 million on April 7, 2021 , after the end of Q1. Non-IFRS Financial Measures Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization): The term Adjusted EBITDA does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS. Therefore, it may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The following table provides a reconciliation of net loss to adjusted EBITDA: In CAD (000's) Three months ended March 31, 2021 March 31, 2020 December 31, 2020 Net income (loss) for the period ($6,542) ($6,318) ($19,901) Add Back: Amortization of PP&E and intangibles3 378 434 361 Amortization expense included in production costs 130 130 130 EBITDA ($6,034) ($5,755) ($19,411) Adjustments: Share based payments 1,809 1,716 4,269 Non-recurring expenses 651 - - Non-recurring professional fees 275 490 9,314 Adjusted EBITDA ($3,299) ($3,549) ($5,828) About PharmaCielo PharmaCielo Ltd. (TSXV: PCLO, OTCQX: PCLOF) is a global company, headquartered in Canada, with a focus on ethical and sustainable processing and supplying of all natural, medicinal-grade cannabis oil extracts and related products to large channel distributors. PharmaCielo's principal (and wholly owned) subsidiary is PharmaCielo Colombia Holdings S.A.S., headquartered at its cultivation and processing centre located in Rionegro, Colombia. The board of directors and executive team of PharmaCielo are comprised of a diversely talented group of international business executives and specialists with relevant and varied expertise. PharmaCielo recognized the significant role that Colombia's ideal location plays in building a sustainable business in the medical cannabis industry, and the Company, together with its directors and executives, is executing on a business plan focused on supplying the international marketplace. Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements"). These forward-looking statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Particularly, information regarding our expectations of future results, targets, performance achievements, prospects or opportunities is forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but may not be limited to, statements about: the future execution on the Company's growing sales pipeline; the building-out of the Company's global sales organization; the ability of the Company to close on sales opportunities; the Company's ability to gain access to more and better B2B sales opportunities; the ability of the Company to continue building its revenue base; the ability of the Company to leverage higher volumes more effectively through a more efficient cost structure; and the ability of the Company to continue progressing its plans through the remainder of the year. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "continues", "forecasts", "projects", "predicts", "intends", "anticipates" or "believes", or variations of, or the negatives of, such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on management's assumptions at the date the forward-looking statements are provided, including assumptions regarding: the Company's ability to execute its business plan, including the growth of its global sales team, as currently contemplated; the Company's ability to obtain necessary governmental, regulatory, and TSXV approvals for the export of its products from Colombia and import of its products into other countries; there being sufficient demand for the Company's products; that the Company's development plans will not change as a result of unforeseen events; that the Company's business generally and shipping logistics are not disrupted by COVID 19 or other factors; that the Company will be able to maintain its customer contracts in good standing; that the Company will be able to obtain GMP and EU-GMP certification for the Company's Processing and Extraction Center ("PEC"); that potential customers will be satisfied with the results of audit processes; that any changes to Colombian cannabis legislation will not negatively impact the Company's business; that the Company will be able to locate and retain necessary personnel to achieve its business goals; the Company's ability to maintain its distribution contracts in good standing; and the accuracy of the Company's projections regarding the market for cannabinoid products; currency exchange rates; and competition in the Company's markets. Though management believes that its assumptions are reasonable in the circumstances, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from all or any of the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements to differ from the forward-looking statements in this news release include, but may not be limited to the risk that: any of the assumptions referred to above proves not to be valid or reliable, and additional risks described in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable 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 press release. 1 Selling, General & Administrative expenses 2 Business-to-business 3 PP&E = Property, Plant & Equipment SOURCE PharmaCielo Ltd. For further information: Henning von Koss, Chief Executive Officer, PharmaCielo, +1.416.864.6116; Media Relations: International: Gal Wilder, Cohn & Wolfe, +1 647-259-3261, [email protected]; Colombia: Giselle Diaz Bermudez, SPR GROUP S.A., PBX: + 57 310 859 5468, [email protected]; Investor Inquiries: [email protected] Related Links http://www.pharmacielo.com More than three-quarters (76%) of Canadians polled indicated that the pandemic has given them a greater appreciation for the outdoors while two-thirds (65%) feel it has given them a greater appreciation for travel within Canada . In fact, when travel is permitted, nearly half (49%) of Canadians are planning to take a road trip this summer , an increase of almost 10% over last year . Plans to Stay Closer to Home = The Resurgence of the Road Trip While the majority of Canadians (73%) have had to change their summer vacation plans due to the pandemic, and eight in ten (84%) Canadians plan to stay closer to home than usual, 43% feel this summer could be the perfect time to explore Canada via a road trip (as soon as its safe to do so*). Of those planning a road trip, two-thirds (67%) are opting for a shorter day trip. In fact, 35% of those planning a road trip will be travelling only 4-6 hours away from home. When restrictions are lifted, those planning a road trip are looking forward to exploring new cities and towns (51%) and spending time with family and friends (43%). New Appreciation for Being Outdoors = New Road Trip Activities, a Focus on More Eco-Friendly Journeys With a greater appreciation for the outdoors, Canadians are focusing on destinations that bring them closer to nature and activities that keep them physically active. According to the survey, more than half (56%) of Canadians embarking on a road trip this summer are planning to go hiking, while 48% will be walking, running or rollerblading, and 46% plan to sightsee. Additionally, if restrictions allow, almost half (46%) plan to enjoy the outdoors while visiting with friends and family, while 45% plan to picnic and 42% will go camping. Exploring national or provincial parks is also high on the list of road trip destinations for those planning a trip with 43% planning to visit one this summer. With their new appreciation for the outdoors - along with greener destinations and activities - Canadians indicated they want the journey itself to be more eco-friendly. More than half (58%) of Canadians would feel better opting for a hybrid vehicle because of the environmental benefits. Staying Cautious: 75% Plan to Continue Wearing a Mask in Public While Canadians are eager to explore, they're still planning to be cautious, taking local health and safety protocols into account. Three-quarters (75%) of those planning a road trip this summer indicate that they will continue to wear a mask in public as an added safety measure. Those who are planning a road trip this summer will be opting for more remote locations like campsites (37%) or cabins / chalets / cottages (34%). A Shared Passion for the Great Outdoors with Regional / Provincial Variations While Canadians from coast to coast to coast share a love for the outdoors, there are also some interesting regional highlights when it comes to our road trip preferences: British Columbians are slightly more likely than others to make concessions when it comes to their travel, with 79% stating the pandemic changed their vacation plans and the vast majority (89%) planning to stay closer to home than usual this summer. with 79% stating the pandemic changed their vacation plans and the vast majority (89%) planning to stay closer to home than usual this summer. Alberta residents are slightly more likely to hit the open road, with 61% planning a road trip this summer. And, on par with the rest of the country, almost half (48%) of Albertans planning a road trip noted camping would be their preferred outdoor activity. with 61% planning a road trip this summer. And, on par with the rest of the country, almost half (48%) of Albertans planning a road trip noted camping would be their preferred outdoor activity. Relatively on par with the country, residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba are true road trip warriors, with 35% willing to drive more than 12 hours from their homes for their vacation. Not surprisingly, almost two-thirds (63%) of Saskatchewan and Manitoba respondents say fuel efficiency is the car feature they care about most when taking a summer road trip. with 35% willing to drive more than 12 hours from their homes for their vacation. Not surprisingly, almost two-thirds (63%) of and respondents say fuel efficiency is the car feature they care about most when taking a summer road trip. Roughly in line with the rest of the country, Ontarians are open to driving a little farther from their home this summer, with 35% willing to drive 7 or more hours. with 35% willing to drive 7 or more hours. Quebecers seem to love their cars the most, with more than half (58%) stating the pandemic has caused them to miss driving and 67% feeling that their car is a part of their family. with more than half (58%) stating the pandemic has caused them to miss driving and 67% feeling that their car is a part of their family. Atlantic Canadians feel most connected to nature, with the majority stating the pandemic has given them a greater appreciation for the outdoors (85%) and for domestic travel (79%). "It's not surprising that, over a year into the pandemic, Canadians are more eager than ever to get back behind the wheel and explore our beautiful country as soon as its safe to do so," says Stephen Beatty, Vice President, Corporate at Toyota Canada. "We are so fortunate to live in a country that has so much to offer in terms of scenic drives and outdoor adventure, and it's wonderful to see an increased appreciation for the outdoors." For more information about the Leger/Toyota Canada survey, visit media.toyota.ca For a list of eco-friendly road trip destinations you can enjoy safely this summer, visit media.toyota.ca. About the Study These are some of the findings of a recent Leger poll, conducted on behalf of Toyota Canada. An online survey of 2000 Canadian drivers aged 18+ was completed using Leger's online panel. Weighting has been employed to ensure that the sample composition accurately reflects the adult population of Canada, as per the latest Census Data. No margin of error can be associated with a non-probability sample (i.e. a web panel in this case). For comparative purposes, though, a probability sample of 2000 respondents would have a margin of error of 2.5%, 19 times out of 20. *The purpose of this study was to better understand the perspective of Canadians in terms of taking a road trip this coming summer. Given the extent of COVID-19 restrictions across the country, a disclaimer was provided to respondents up front as follows: We understand that each province is currently abiding by its own set of COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines. This survey only intends to get a better idea of Canadians' opinions and perspectives for the upcoming months. Therefore, when answering questions about the future, we ask you to imagine a time in the upcoming months, assuming that such government orders and restrictions have been lifted. About Toyota Canada Inc. Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) is the exclusive Canadian distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Toyota has sold over five million vehicles in Canada through a national network of 287 Toyota and Lexus dealerships. Toyota is dedicated to bringing safety, quality, dependability and reliability to the vehicles Canadians drive and the service they receive. TCI's head office is located in Toronto, with regional offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Halifax, and parts distribution centres in Clarington, Ontario and Vancouver. Toyota also operates two manufacturing facilities in Canada. Having produced more than nine million vehicles, popular Canadian models built at these facilities include Toyota RAV4, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h hybrid. Recent investments at its facilities in Ontario will allow for increased production of the top-selling Toyota RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid models. About Leger Founded in 1986, Leger has gained an impressive knowledge base, which provides clients access to credible and reliable data and more than 30 years of experience. Leger possesses research capabilities spanning across every dimension of the marketplace and opinion landscape conducting both quantitative and qualitative research on behalf of an extensive array of public and private sector clients on a local, national, and global scale. Leger is Canada's largest independent full-service research firm, with over 600 employees in Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver in Canada, and Philadelphia in the United States. The LEO (Leger Opinion) panel is the largest Canadian panel with over 400,000 representative panelists from all regions of Canada. LEO was created by Leger based on a representative Canadian sample of Canadian citizens with Internet access. Leger is a founding member of CRIC and is actively involved in raising quality standards in the survey industry. President Jean-Marc Leger is a member of the CRIC's Board of Directors and the Canadian representative of ESOMAR. Leger is the polling firm that has presented the most accurate data, on average, over the last ten years in Canada. During the last federal election in 2019, Leger was once again the most accurate firm in the country. This accuracy is attributed to the quality of the LEO panel and rigorous application of methodological rules by Leger's employees. Poll aggregator 338Canada.com gave Leger the highest rating among all polling firms in Canada for the accuracy of its studies. See https://338canada.com/pollster-ratings.htm SOURCE Toyota Canada Inc. For further information: For media inquiries, including interview opportunities and high-resolution images, contact: Andrea Mancini, CASACOM, [email protected], 416-346-1480 Related Links http://www.toyota.ca The panic reportedly began on May 21 as per the Global Times report where 20 patients were detected with the presence of the virus strains from India on conducting a nucleic acid test on 2.25 million people. CCP government's mouthpiece has blamed India. While India battles the second wave of the pandemic, there has been increasing pressure on China from many countries including the United Kingdom and the United States. For the second phase of the Covid origin probe as per a report published in the Chinese media, Global Times, the presence of the widest range from India was allegedly detected among people in Guangzhou, which reportedly receives 90% of Chinas inbound international arrivals, citing experts opinion that the variant strain from India, are more contagious and dangerous. The Chinese stooge claimed that Guangzhou was already battered by six reported outbreaks and that the current resurgence in the province, allegedly had no longer transmission change. The alleged resurgence of Covid-19 cases has allegedly spread to other cities from Guangzhou. The panic reportedly began on May 21 as per the Global Times report where 20 patients were detected with the presence of the virus strains from India on conducting a nucleic acid test on 2.25 million people. CCP governments mouthpiece has blamed India even as the call for a fresh probe into the origin of COVID-19 and its links to China is growing louder. The former has now blamed India after the mutant virus strain from India was reportedly found in 26 people in Guangzhou. Also Read: EAMs visit pushes India, US to cement bilateral ties with Quad; Indo-Pacific security remain key agenda Guangzhou, already thronged by internal migrants, became an accidental experiment of multiculturism in China, as loose immigration rules and factories churned out cheap products, attracting many entrepreneurs from all over the world. GEORGE TOWN, CAYMAN ISLANDS - APRIL 24: The Cayman Islands most famous attraction, Stingray City and the nearby shallows know as the Sandbar provide the only natural oportunity to swim with Atlantic Southern Stingrays on 24 April, 2008 in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. (Photo : Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) Twelve stingrays at ZooTampa at Lowry Park mysteriously died on Thursday morning, May 27, 2021, the cause of death still under investigation. The zoo announced on a Facebook post on Friday morning the demise of all 12 dead stingrays of Tampa Zoo Touch Tank Exhibit, including seven cownose stingrays, four Southern stingrays, and one Atlantic stingray. Investigations have not yet concluded exactly what caused the sudden deaths but the animal care professionals and veterinary teams in the area confirmed that upon examining the tank's mechanical equipment and testing the water quality, results have indicated 'optimal water quality and conditions.' The teams are now looking forward into conducting toxicology reports if necessary to know every possible reason behind the unfortunate event. Stingray bay will remain closed for at least eight weeks until further investigation has concluded. The mysterious deaths of stingrays might be natural A similar situation happened in 2019 when 34 of 42 cownose stingrays at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Illinois died. The stingrays living in the aquarium's Stingray Touch experience exhibit were exhibiting 'odd behaviors', according to officials. Johnny Ford, a spokesman for the aquarium, told the Chicago Tribune that what caused the event, while it was heartbreaking, could be nature's work still unknown at this time. Stingrays are unique group of fishes also known as 'flattened sharks' as they are close relatives of shark. They are characterized by their 'caudal barb' found on their tail and their self-defense weapon. Their barbs are significantly venomous and painful which can cause serious illness when stung. However, stingrays are classified as docile creatures and only attacks when threatened. While there is no conclusive evidence yet on the sudden passing of their group at Lowry Park, the National Geographics say their average life span in the wild is 15 to 25 years. Also read: Mice Plague: Millions of Rodents are Terrorizing Homes in Southern Australia Stingrays are untreatable What some aquariums do to avoid getting injured from stingrays' tails is that they clip the caudal spine which is totally harmless for them as they can easily grow it back after a certain period of time, like a fingernail. The Stingray Bay at Lowry Park had housed the stingrays for a while now and even provided them with an exclusive system. When their touch tank exhibit first opened in 2001, visitors even got the chance to touch and feed the flat sharks without any danger. The ZooTampa which housed 1,100 different animal species in the Southeastern U.S. said in a statement that every professional in the zoo cares and loves the animals there and every single loss was difficult for them. Findings are expected to complete within several weeks and investigators hope to see if there are any toxins or harmful chemicals they were exposed to. According to FAQs on Freshwater Stingray Disease/Health 1, other fishes such as Suckermouth catfish in particular can harass and injure stingrays if mixed in the same environment, but this is not the case in the ZooTampa. However, if there was indeed an injury or sickness, studies confirmed that no completely reliable medications can treat stingrays. Also read: Blind Birds Sweep Washington, Terrify DC Residents Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo revealed on Saturday that the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) was conducting military research in addition to civilian research, reviving speculation that the COVID-19 pandemic originated at the lab. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo revealed on Saturday that the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) was conducting military research in addition to civilian research, reviving speculation that the COVID-19 pandemic originated at the lab. According to Fox News, Mike Pompeo remarked that the one thing he can say with certainty is that inside that facility, they know Chinese were engaging in operations related to the Peoples Liberation Army, so military action was taking place beside what they said was just plain old civilian research. Since the global pandemic began, the Wuhan Institute of Virology has being scrutinized. US President Joe Biden confirmed earlier this week that he has instructed intelligence agencies to look into the origins of COVID-19. Mike Pompeo went on to say that China refuses to share any information about its activities. He further stressed upon the fact that China has denied the World Health Organization (WHO) access to the Wuhan Laboratory. During an interview with Sky News Australia, Professor Nikolai Petrovsky, Director of Endocrinology at Flinders Medical Centre, said that China had mislead the worlds scientific community, as cited by the New York Times Post. On the show the Bolt Report, Andrew Bolt stated that finally, a lot of experts are now saying, well, it does now seems like this virus may have emerged from that Chinese lab, and China is feeling the strain. Read More: EAMs visit pushes India, US to cement bilateral ties with Quad; Indo-Pacific security remain key agenda No indication of COVID-19 leaking from the Wuhan lab was discovered by a WHO team researching the viruss origins in China during the investigation. However, the team was being observed by Chinese officials, and one of its members informed UK news agency that China refused to send over vital data from the original outbreak, according to the New York Times Post. China may pose an increasing threat not only from the Pacific, but also from the Atlantic, according to the top US general in charge of Africa. General Stephen Townsend, Chief of US Africa Command raised an alarm about China's growing presence in the region. China may pose an increasing threat not only from the Pacific, but also from the Atlantic, according to the top US general in charge of Africa. General Stephen Townsend, chief of US Africa Command, has just testified before the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, sounding the alarm about Chinas growing presence in the region. From Mauritania in the north to Namibia in the south, Townsend claims the Peoples Liberation Army Navy is scouting places on Africas west coast for a naval base. Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa, is Chinas only offshore military post. The facility is close to some of the busiest shipping routes in the world and also a major check point for the whole region. In last few years, Africa gain a lot of traction because of its strategic location; most of the nations are trying to find new allies or new military bases in or around the African continent. China has set its eyes to the Atlantic islands, particularly Terceira, one of the Azores. There is a harbour and, of far greater relevance, Air Base No. 4 on that island, which is part of Portugal. The station, also known as Lajes Field, is jointly operated by the United States Air Force and its Portuguese counterpart. Read More: 26 covid positive case in Chinas Guangzhou rattles Xi; Chinese mouthpiece blames India Biden administration is also viewing Chinas fast rising economic and military prowess as the USAs most Challenging security threat on the global platforms. Townsends warnings come as the Pentagon switches its attention from the last two decades counter-terrorism wars to the Indo-Pacific area and dangers posed by great power foes such as China and Russia. Prior to the Quad physical summit this fall, US, Indian, Japanese and Australian diplomats are believed to be working out an elaborate agenda to define the Quad grouping. India and the US have decided to cement bilateral ties with the Quad security grouping. During his 5-day visit to the United States, Jaishankar meet his American counterpart, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, along with other key members of the Biden administration. Covid-19 has provided the clear subtext to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankars interactions with his US counterpart Anthony J. Blinken for the moment and it remained the top of the agenda for their meeting in the US. Prior to the Quad physical summit this fall, US, Indian, Japanese and Australian diplomats are believed to be working out an elaborate agenda to define the Quad grouping. S Jaishankar discussed various issues, including global vaccine production, and security issues in the Indo-Pacific. In the wake of development, India and the US have decided to cement bilateral ties with the Quad security grouping and the Washington has openly expressed support for New Delhis stand on global health security, Afghanistan and transgressions on its borders. While recent developments in the sphere of international power games and regional politics mean that the US and India find that their interests are more aligned than ever, it is the pandemic and Indias urgent need for vaccines that commentators widely agree is the most immediate issue on which New Delhi need the US to pitch in. After EAM Jaishankars U.S visit, India is set to host 13th BRICS summit. Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will participate in a virtual BRICS Ministerial meeting chaired by India, along with the Foreign Ministers of Brazil, Russia and South Africa on Tuesday, officials confirmed. Also Read: Allopathy Controversy stirred by Baba Ramdev escalates; IMA challenges Ramdev for a debate The meeting will also be watched closely for any expression of support from the entire grouping for the India-South Africa proposal at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) that asks for a patent waiver for coronavirus vaccines, which would be a big boost for the proposal. About 60 countries have already backed the proposal, the U.S. has recently agreed to support it, while the European Union has yet to give its final decision on it. HONG KONG (AP) The organizer of Hong Kongs annual Tiananmen Square candlelight vigil has opened its yearly exhibit of photographs and paraphernalia from the bloody 1989 crackdown in Beijing on those calling for democracy in China. The opening comes even as Hong Kong authorities have for the second year in a row banned the annual June 4 vigil, which normally draws tens of thousands of people into the streets. Authorities have cited the risk of the coronavirus, though the cancelation coincides with a broader crackdown on political activism and dissent in the city. NORWALK Connecticut State Police on Monday remembered a trooper who died after a battle with cancer on the three-year anniversary of his death. Trooper First Class Walter Greene Jr. died on May 31, 2018. He was 51. He was a well-respected, 28-year veteran of the Connecticut State Police, as well as a Marine Corps veteran, state police said on Monday. He served his country and his state with duty, honor and pride and is greatly missed by his family as well as by his fellow troopers. Greene, who lived in Norwalk, was part of the state police team that drove from Connecticut to Ground Zero to search for survivors on Sept. 11, 2001, after the attacks on the World Trade Center. Greene was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer in 2016. State police said Greenes doctors told him the cancer was caused by exposure to toxins from the World Trade Center site. Hundreds attended his funeral. In 2019, his family was presented with the Shields Medal of Valor by the New York State Shields Executive Board for Greenes actions on 9/11. Greene joined the state police ranks in 1990, initially assigned to Troop A in Southbury, then Troop G in Bridgeport. From there, he moved to the Statewide Cooperative Crime Control Task Force before spending the majority of the rest of his career in the traffic unit. Before becoming a trooper, Greene spent four years in the U.S. Marines as a scout sniper. Springfield, Ill. (AP) Illinois became the first state Sunday to pass a bill that will ban police from lying to youth during interrogations -- a practice that adds significantly to the risk of false confessions and wrongful convictions. It is expected to be signed into law by the governor in coming weeks. The original sponsors, state Senator Robert Peters and state Representative Justin Slaughter, garnered bipartisan support for the bill that culminated in a near-unanimous vote to pass it in both houses. House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, a Republican and former Chicago prosecutor, joined as a co-sponsor and helped propel the bills passage. Ill never be accused of being soft on crime, but Im more interested in seeking the truth than a conviction, Durkin said. I believe in fair play. We should never tolerate, under any circumstance, the use of deception to seek a statement or an admission by any defendant, let alone a juvenile. Though few Americans realize it, police regularly deceive suspects during questioning to try to secure confessions, from saying DNA placed them at the scene of a crime to claiming eyewitnesses identified them as being the perpetrator. Detectives also can lie about the consequences of confessing, saying, for instance, that admitting responsibility is a quick ticket home. Minors -- who have been found to be two to three times more likely to confess to crimes they didnt commit -- are especially vulnerable to such pressure tactics, said Laura Nirider, co-director of the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, who consulted on the bill together with the national Innocence Project and the Illinois Innocence Project. Though it is currently legal for police in all 50 states to lie during interrogations, Oregon and New York are considering similar legislation, said Rebecca Brown, policy director at the national Innocence Project. The Oregon bill, sponsored by a former law enforcement officer, passed the House this week and heads next to the Senate. A bill still pending in New York would apply to adults as well as minors. There, deceptive interrogation techniques have contributed to several infamous juvenile wrongful convictions, including 15-year-old Yusef Salaam of the so-called Central Park Five, now also known as the Exonerated Five. The five Black and Latino teens were coerced into confessing to a rape they didnt commit in 1989 and served prison time before being exonerated in 2002. Illinois has in recent years uncovered at least 100 wrongful convictions predicated on false confessions, 31 of them involving people under 18 years of age. Senate Bill 2122 was supported not only by individuals who themselves falsely confessed to crimes, but also by the states Chiefs of Police, the Illinois States Attorneys Association, and the Office of Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx. The history of false confessions in Illinois can never be erased, but this legislation is a critical step to ensuring that history is never repeated, Foxx said in a press release. I hope this is a start to rebuilding confidence and trust in a system that has done harm to so many people for far too long. A specialized police ropes team went down into a western New York gorge to rescue a dog that had fallen into it, state Park Police said. The Labrador retriever, named Achilles, plunged about 150 to 200 feet (46 to 61 meters) Sunday afternoon into a gorge in Letchworth State Park in Castile, about 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Buffalo, the park police said in a Facebook post. The dog broke his leg and was stranded. Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media HAMDEN A local teen was died after a shooting on Circular Avenue on Sunday night, according to police officials. Capt. Ronald Smith said officers responded to the 200 block of Circular Avenue around 9 p.m. for a report of shots fired. MOSCOW (AP) A revised version of Russia's national security strategy says that it may use forceful methods to respond to unfriendly actions by foreign countries, a top Kremlin official said in remarks published Monday, Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of the presidential Security Council, said that the document foresees that Moscow could take symmetric and asymmetric measures to thwart or avert unfriendly actions that threaten the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Russian Federation. ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) For 78 years, Pvt. Ben John Livingstons life was as blank and mysterious as his unmarked grave. On Saturday, just in time for Memorial Day, his grave at the Markville Cemetery in northeastern Minnesota was adorned with a brand new veterans marker and visited by a Roseville woman whose quest to bring him recognition for his service helped heal her own heart in the process. I am satisfied and happy and I think he can rest easy now knowing he has not been forgotten, said Deborah Costandine, who has been researching Livingstons history for the past few years to honor an uncles dying request. There are people out there who knew and loved him, she told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Livingston was a member of the Leech Lake Reservation. To honor his traditions, Costandine sprinkled tobacco around his grave, burned sage to cleanse away any negative energy and hung a dream catcher to filter out any bad dreams. The ritual was just as healing for Costandine, whose father was abused as a child in an Indian school and repeated the cycle in his own family. Its such a relief, she said. This is something good. Piecing together Livingstons life has been like putting together the far-flung fragments of an exploded puzzle. Costandine searched newspaper archives, Indian census rolls, U.S. Army records and court documents to try to understand who he was, yet there are still several missing pieces. Livingston was born Feb. 26, 1916, in Leech Lake Township, Cass County, Minn. At least thats what his Army draft card says. The Indian census from 1916 lists him as being born July 9. A court document uses the February birthday but lists 1917 as the year. The Indian census shows Livingston was born to John and Mable Livingston. The youngest of three, he had a sister named Lizzie and a brother named Lewis. All of his family members had Ojibwe and English names. But his is only recorded in English. His father was drafted to serve in World War I. His mother died when he was young. He was adopted by another Native American family. That mother and his sister died of tuberculosis. Livingston attended two Indian schools while growing up: in Odanah, Wis., at age 8 and later in Pipestone, Minn. When he was 15, he quit school and went to work. It was during this time he lived with Costandines uncle, George, and Georges mother Della Costandine. George grew up believing Livingston was his blood-relative cousin. It was Georges family who was listed in his Army records as his emergency contact and it was Georges family who retrieved his body and gave him a proper burial in the Markville Cemetery in Pine County, Minn. And it was George who in his 80s began thinking back over his life and remembered that Livingston never got a marker for his grave. This bothered him. When youre older, you do kind of ponder and reflect on things, said Nita Fitsgibbons, Georges daughter. They live in Colorado. He was 12 years old when Ben died. He felt he was just dropped off and kind of forgotten. George asked his daughter to make sure Livingston got a headstone. She got things started but hit a wall when she learned that Livingstons military records had been destroyed by a fire. Costandine, who had always looked to Georges family as the stable, fun family she wished she had, jumped in to help. Together, they were able to find enough information to justify Livingston getting a veteran grave marker. Its been really cool to make one of my dads dreams come true, Fitsgibbons said. Livingstons death was as mysterious and tragic as his life. He was drafted into the U.S. Army three months after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. He was 26 or 27. His draft card describes him as a 5-foot, 10-inch Indian with brown hair and eyes who looks young for his age. Court documents describe him as being an engineer, but what exactly he did in the Army was lost in 1973 when his records, kept at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Mo., were lost in a fire. All that is known now is that he was on a train in Canada on furlough when he died. Sandwiched between a War Bonds advertisement and a story about Hitler is a brief in the Star-Phoenix newspaper March 9, 1943, about a soldier who froze to death on a train in Saskatchewan. The United States soldier whose frozen body was found Friday on the tender of an eastbound train was identified as Pte. Ben Jack Livingston, 26, it reads. An inquest March 16 reported that he died by misadventure from alcoholism and exposure to cold while riding between the engine and tender of C.N.R train No. 2 between 12:25 oclock and 1:53 oclock on the morning of March 5. He boarded the train at Edmonton with other soldiers. He had a ticket to ride, which was found in his pocket. But at a train station partway through the journey, he tried to disembark wearing no shoes, hat or coat. When asked where he was going, the soldier had not acted normally, the Star-Phoenix reported March 23, but said the train might blow up. He was escorted back onto the train for departure. At a later stop, a train worker found his lifeless body. As a mental health practitioner and certified peer, I wonder what Ben was feeling, thinking and experiencing in that moment, Costandine said. Was he experiencing the effects of PTSD? Did the roar of the coal-driven locomotive and the alcohol fuel a dissociative flashback to combat? Well never know but he was obviously frightened enough to find a place he felt safe, outside of the train and in the coal tender. It took two more years before Livingstons body was laid to rest in the rural cemetery. The Askov American newspaper reported that on Aug. 9, 1945, Livingston was buried with military honors. Caretakers of the cemetery said they often wondered who was buried in the unmarked grave. Now, the world knows. It was Ben John Livingston. Orphan, Ojibwe, engineer and veteran. Im glad it worked out, Costandine said, waving the sage smoke over his grave Saturday. Im glad that George has some peace, too. She hopes to get the names of Livingston, his brother and father on the Leech Lake Wall of Warriors. To Livingston, she said, I feel like I got to know you better. Be at peace. FORMER Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere has accused State institutions of failing to enforce the countrys laws after a war veteran leader who led the invasion of his Mazowe farm, last year and harvested his orange produce refused to vacate despite the High Court ordering his eviction. Last year, war veterans led by the Mazowe district war veteran chairperson Ephanos Mudzimunyi invaded Kasukuweres Concorpia Farm and helped themselves to his harvest, leading to the self-exiled former minister to seek recourse from the courts. The farm was among those that had been targeted for repossession by President Emmerson Mnangagwas government and yesterday, workers at the farm told NewsDay that Mudzimunyi had taken control of the 130-hectare farm claiming that he had been allocated the piece of land by the late Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement minister Perrance Shiri. Mudzimunyi is said to be staying in one of the farm houses with his family, while production at the farm has been stagnant. He is still occupying the farm and says he is not going anywhere. There hasnt been production here despite that we have a court order and even engaged the Sheriff of court, but nothing has moved, one of the workers told NewsDay yesterday. We did not do anything the whole season and that is a big loss for the farm. Workers are there and they are being paid by Kasukuwere even without doing any work. He (the war veteran) is harvesting oranges from the farm and is selling them without the farm owners consent. Kasukuwere, who is based in South Africa, fled the country in 2017 following the November 2017 military coup that ousted the late former President Robert Mugabe in whose government he served. He told NewsDay that Mudzimunyis actions showed that there was need for institutions in the country to respect the law. The invaders should realise that times have changed and they will not be spared for the damages made on the farm, and we will charge them, Kasukuwere said. Institutions should respect the law. The Sheriffs office is in serious breach of law in spite of the fact that I have also paid for the removal of the illegal settlers. Mudzimunyi was not available at the farm when NewsDay visited the farmhouse that he occupies in order to get a comment from him. In May last year, Kasukuwere alleged that the illegal takeover of the farm scuttled a US$5 million investment deal with a Dubai-based tycoon. This prompted him to file an urgent High Court chamber application challenging governments decision to expropriate part of the farm. The High Court ruled in his favour, but Mudzimunyi has allegedly continued to harvest export quality oranges on Lot 2, the best part of the vast estate running parallel to the perennial Mazowe River. Observers have accused the ruling Zanu PF party of using farm invasions to silence its critics. Last week, war veteran and businessman Fred Mutandas farm in Mutorashanga, Mashonaland West province, was invaded by a group of suspected Zanu PF youths who said they were not happy with him for undermining Mnangagwa by filing papers at the High Court opposing the extension of Chief Justice Luke Malabas term of office. Mutanda last week told NewsDay that he was being accused of working with Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga and Judge President Justice George Chiweshe to undermine the President after he joined the Young Lawyers Association of Zimbabwe in suing government, the Judicial Service Commission, Attorney-General Prince Machaya and Malaba to fight his (Malabas) term extension which the courts ruled illegal. They (the government) dont want to be accountable and by doing so, we are betraying what we fought for. You then ask yourself why then did I become a freedom fighter if such things continue to happen 41 years after independence, Mutanda said. They are cowards and now accuse me of teaming up with Vice-President Chiwenga and Judge President Chiweshe in the application they say was undermining the President. I dont even speak to those people and have never even met them for a cup of tea. Newsday Niagara Falls, NY (14301) Today A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 61F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 61F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has attacked President Muhammadu Buhari again, describing him as a national mishap. Fayose sp... Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has attacked President Muhammadu Buhari again, describing him as a national mishap. Fayose spoke on Sunday following wanton insecurity across the country. According to the former governor, there is nothing wrong with Nigeria as a country and Nigerians as a people. He stated that Buhari is the Jonah in the countrys boat causing turbulence across the nation. Fayose lamented that insecurity in Nigeria was one too many that painfully, Nigerians would have to endure till 2023. In his words: Nothing is wrong with Nigeria as a country and Nigerians as a people. Buhari is the national mishap and the Jonah in our boat. This insecurity is one too many and painfully, Nigerians will have to endure till 2023. I pray God keeps us till then. Commercial activities came to a standstill on Monday in Owerri as residents deserted the Imo State capital in compliance with the sit-at-hom... Commercial activities came to a standstill on Monday in Owerri as residents deserted the Imo State capital in compliance with the sit-at-home order issued by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra led by Nnamdi Kanu. IPOB, through its Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, had said human and vehicular movement would be restricted across the South-East on Monday to mark the 54th anniversary of Biafra. As a result, it said all markets, parks, schools, airports and others would be shut down. The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, and the police had also asked the people to ignore the separatist groups sit-at-home order. It was gathered that commercial banks, schools, shops, malls, were all shut in Owerri on Monday morning. Also, commercial and private vehicles deserted the roads in the state capital for fear of being shot by IPOB operatives. Efforts to get the reaction of the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Bala Elkana, proved abortive as his line was switched off as of the time of filing this report. Suspected Fulani herdsmen on Sunday attacked some Ebonyi communities, killing at least 30 persons. Suspected Fulani herdsmen on Sunday attacked some Ebonyi communities, killing at least 30 persons. This is just as 12 people were reportedly killed in attack on several communities in Ado LGA of Benue State by people suspected to be herdsmen. In Ebonyi State, it was gathered that the gunmen attacked Odoke, Ndiobasi and Obakotara communities in the Ebonyi Local Government Area. Sources in the area said the gunmen arrived at the communities around 3am on Sunday. The communities share boundary with the Ado LGA of Benue State, which has been having land dispute with the Ngbo clan in the Ohaukwu LGA of Ebonyi State. A resident of the area, Uchenna Okpokwu said the invaders came with guns and machetes. He said, People that were skilled in Ndiobasi are up to 30 according to the video clips on the incident. Odoke and Obapta are very far and nobody has been able to enter the two villages. Another resident of the area, Onyibe Jeremiah, lamented that no action was taken to protect the communities despite warnings of the herdsmen impending attacks. He said, One man from Enugu State who saw the herdsmen when they were coming into the Ebonyi villages made a voice call that went viral, but he was ignored. The Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team said two children were killed while being taken to hospital for treatment. A statement by AMURT West Africa, said, Many were carried all the way to Ohagelode Health Centre. The Uloanwu Ambulance was called and 11 people six adults and five children were transported to Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki. Sadly two children already died after reaching AEFUTHA. Chairman of the Ebonyi LGA, Chinyere Nwaogbaga, confirmed the incident, adding, The state governor directed that we take injured residents to hospital and also give them relive materials. Also in Benue State, 12 people were reportedly killed in attack on communities in Ado LGA suspected herdsmen. Residents said some of the communities attacked were Tologa, Ndi-Obasi, Odoken in Ekile ward of Ijigban district of Ado LGA. Confirming the attack, House of Representatives member representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency, Francis Agbo, in a WhatsApp message sent to our correspondent, said residents of Obakoto, Odirewu, Offianka and Nwedoga communities had deserted their homes. Agbo said, Izzi settlements of tologa, Ndi-Obasi, Odoken in Ekile Ward, Ado LGA, are badly affected. Now the Izzi people in Obakoto, Odirewu, Offianka, Nwedoga in Ijigban have deserted the areas for fear of invasion. The Chairman of Ado LGA, James Oche who confirmed the simultaneous attacks on the five communities in Ekile ward, said 12 persons were killed. Oche said, I suspect that the herders came on reprisal because of one elderly Fulani man, Isah Muhammed, who lived in one of the affected communities was recently killed by members of the Indigenous People Of Biafra members who crossed over from Ebonyi State to Ado in Benue State. The IPOB members killed the Fulani man in anger that their people were being killed in the north. According to information I have, 12 people were killed during the attack that started between Saturday and early hours of today (Sunday). Several other people are still missing. Effort to speak to the Benue State Police Command, Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Catherine Anene, did not yield result as calls to her mobile phone rang out. Meanwhile, suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked Ekpoffo in Eha-Amufu Community, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State on Friday and slaughtered four persons. About seven others were reported to sustained serious injuries. A community source, who goes by the name rainmaker, told our correspondent that the victims were killed early hours of Friday by the suspected herders. A commissioner in the Enugu State Cabinet, who hails from the area but didnt want his name disclosed, confirmed the attack. He however, regretted that the killer herders later escaped with their animals after committing the crime. The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said, My brother; I am busy but send me text message. Suspected Fulani herdsmen on Sunday, attacked and killed over 30 Igbo speaking indigenes of Ado Local Government Area of Benue State. Jame... Suspected Fulani herdsmen on Sunday, attacked and killed over 30 Igbo speaking indigenes of Ado Local Government Area of Benue State. James Oche, the Local Government Area Chairman, confirmed this in a Facebook post on Monday, sharing videos and photos of the incident. The suspected herdsmen were said to have attacked Ndigwe, Ataloga, Odokem, Ekile, Nduobasi, Ekpufu, Obakota and other nearby villages in the LGA. He called on the people of the area to defend themselves, adding that the era of arms folding is over. The LGA boss wrote, Yesterday, no fewer than 30 Igbo speaking indigenes of Ado Local Government lost their lives to attacks by Fulani herdsmen and their mercenaries on Ndigwe, Ataloga, Odokem, Ekile, Nduobasi, Ekpufu, Obakota and other nearby villages. We have a situation of nearly 5000 internally displaced persons in addition to the destruction occasioned by the assailants. It took the concerted efforts of Operation Whirlstroke after we informed them, to repel the attacks. The era of lip service and arms folding is over. The people of Ado must rise up to the occasion in self-defence. In whatever way possible, our people must be empowered to defend themselves. Enough of the killings, we are not cowards. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Some clouds. Low around 55F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Low around 55F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. PRESIDENTIAL spokesperson George Charamba yesterday lashed out at outgoing United States ambassador to Zimbabwe Brian Nichols, saying his recent pledge to facilitate US investments into Zimbabwe were unbelievable. Charambas utterances followed recent comments by Nichols during the Post Reconstruction Trade Mission to Mozambique and Zimbabwe meeting which was held virtually on Monday last week, where the envoy promised to mobilise US investors to invest in the southern African country. The Presidential spokesperson told NewsDay that Nichols, who is set to leave Zimbabwe soon to assume a new post in his country later this month, mentioned American investments into Zimbabwe as a trick to entice government to give him a dignified farewell. Here is a diplomat living throughout the twilight of his stint in Zimbabwe, Charamba said. He is suddenly gushing hoodwinks just a few days before his farewell. What good does he expect to do for Zimbabwe in the remaining few days which he failed to do for all those years he has been staying in the country? His stay was dominated with hostility towards Zimbabwe. In Nichols case, it is easier for him to count the number of days he stayed in Zimbabwe than the good things he did for the country. Efforts to get a comment from Nichols yesterday were in vain. But during the virtual meeting, Nichols said he was working with the US embassy in Mozambique to bring companies from the US to invest in Zimbabwe. Together with @USEmbassyMaputo and @TradeGov, we are bringing US companies together with potential local partners and the government in the first official US Trade Mission to Zimbabwe. American companies are world leaders that can positively influence Zimbabwes economy. Political and economic reforms are vital to attracting more of them, Nichols said, in a speech that was also posted on the US embassy Twitter handle. Charamba dismissed Nichols pledges, saying government would continue progressing despite the existence of illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the US government. Before media get too excited: The current US ambassador, Brian Nichols, is set to leave the country for a new posting in a few weeks time, Charamba tweeted. He seeks to look and sound good on eve of his departure, hoping to overwrite the stupendous bad he did us over his serving years. We should not get too excited by his statements of fawned goodwill. Zimbabwe must press on with her programmes under conditions of illegal American sanctions so she secures her growth IN SPITE OF, not BECAUSE OF, so-called American benevolence. We were, are, continue to be wronged. There is no benevolence or olive branch that can be shown to us, as claimed by some sections in the media. America can only right-set her needlessly hostile policies towards Zimbabwe. Newsday The Krewe of Kings rolls in Harahan Sunday, May 30, 2020, to the theme, Krewe of Kings Salutes America, a tribute to fallen soldiers during Memorial Day weekend. The parade, with 18 floats and 200 riders, is the first Mardi Gras-style parade to roll in the area since the Covid-19 pandemic struck last year, halting large gatherings of any kind. SEE STORY: Carnival comes to Harahan in May; thousands attend parade under warm, sunny skies Scott Threlkeld Follow Scott Threlkeld Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today For more than a decade, Johnny Mastro and Mama's Boys could be recognized on downtown stages by their slicked-back hair, sharp suits and sunglasses. It's been a missed presence on Frenchmen Street while venues have been shut down during the pandemic. On June 5, the group will make a triumphant return to Bamboulas for a weekly Saturday gig, offering some new songs from their forthcoming 13-track album. The four-person band, which was founded in the early 1990s in Los Angeles before relocating to New Orleans around 2009, draws heavily upon influences from Delta and Chicago blues and Led Zeppelin and incorporates heavy doses of harmonica licks. Their latest album, Elmore James for President named for the slide guitar player of the 1940s, 50s and '60s will be released in the next few weeks. The group originally planned to release Elmore in the spring of 2020 and would have followed it up with a weeks-long European tour. The band has amassed a following in Germany, Switzerland and Belgium. Like many local bands who also rely on a robust music festival season, both in and out of town, the members faced a conundrum after canceling the tour. We were like, Do we put the record out, or should we sit on it? says slide guitarist Smokehouse Smokey Brown. He co-writes most of the groups tunes with frontman and harmonica player Johnny Mastro. We recorded it in 2019, and it was a whole process. T-shirts, merch everything was already done, he adds. The group, which also includes Jim Jimbo Goodall on drums and John Fohl on guitar, describes Elmore as their most psychedelic release to date. Many of the songs had evolved based on how live audiences had reacted to earlier versions. Ultimately, the group decided to hold the record release. The market was flooded with people doing online stuff in the beginning [of the shutdowns], Smoke says. We sat on the record and started releasing a few live shows, but the market was so washed over it just got lost in the crowd, so we just decided to hang back. Even doing a livestream, he says, just didnt feel right. You miss the interaction of the crowd. In the meantime, group members turned to other odd jobs around town. Brown bar-backed at Pals Lounge and helped creative friends in similar situations at pop-up markets and other endeavors in the Bywater. The band was just trying to get by, trying to figure out ways to survive besides doing music, he says. When we would do online things, wed make like $7. Brown says four months in, people just stopped giving money Everyone was in the same boat, everyone was hurting. Though details of an upcoming international tour are not yet hashed out yet because of European COVID-19 restrictions, Johnny Mastro and Mamas Boys are feeling more optimistic and ready to get back in front of live audiences celebrating a crazy, psychedelic record. Tracks include original material with a couple of cover songs. One of Browns personal favorites is an homage to local legend Little Freddie King. Brown notes the groups name honors Laura Mae Mama Gross a mentor to the band in its early days who ran a Los Angeles-based blues shrine called Babe and Ricks Inn. She brought blues bands out there from places like Mississippi and Texas, he says. She was like our mentor, and she always told us to go to New Orleans. These days, they will heed her simple advice: Keep the people dancing, and youll do all right. Hogs for the Cause barbecue and music festival is back June 4-5 Hogs for the Cause cofounder Rene Louapre was wearing white shrimp boots as he oversaw the positioning of tents and equipment in the field of Leave it where it is and renovate the building Move into the Municipal Auditorium in Treme Listen to Treme residents and find another location Put it in Plaza Tower, if financing becomes available Vote View Results Randolph Red Olano Jr. visits the Louisiana Medal of Honor Park and Museum in Belle Chasse every week, emboldened by the names memorialized there as he reflects on his experience storming Normandy 72 years ago. He usually has the place to himself because he is one of the few people who know about the park, unfinished 13 years after construction began. You hardly ever see anybody around here, said the 93-year-old World War II Army tank driver. Crossing the parks half-mile trail Wednesday, he reached its center courtyard, where five triangular structures together form a star. On the sides of the triangles are to be affixed black granite panels with etchings of the names of 3,492 service members who have received the Medal of Honor, the highest award for U.S. military service. I come here at least once a week, sometimes two or three times a week, Olano said. If I dont come in, I just sit out there (at the parks gate) and think about the buddies that didnt make it. Navy Seabees began building the park in 2003. Today, only one triangle has black granite panels in place, with the names of 800 Civil War medal recipients. About $1 million has been spent on the park so far. Supporters say $400,000 is needed to complete the memorial, which would end with inscriptions for Medal of Honor recipients from the Iraq war. A war story: The history of the National World War II Museum in New Orleans The Times-Picayune is marking the tricentennial of New Orleans with its ongoing 300 for 300 project, running through 2018 and highlighting the 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 Volunteers use a range of strategies to meet their goal, park designer Jody Coyne said. Patrons may donate $50 for paving bricks that are engraved with memorial statements of the donors choice; since 2005, 300 bricks have filled the walkways to the courtyard. The 30-acre site also hosts community events such as an April crawfish boil. About 3,500 people were involved in the effort before Hurricane Katrina, but now the number is very small, Coyne said. The economy has never really recovered to get to the point where companies would make the kind of donations and stuff that we needed. Adorned in his blue Army cap, Olano was cheerful Wednesday morning as Navy F/A-18 jets practiced touch-and-go landings at the nearby Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base. He stood near a flagpole at the courtyards center and said he looked forward to when the park could have someone raise and lower the United States flag every day. It was a sentiment shared by Coyne, who added that flags for every military branch, too, would be raised at the park someday. Those guys whose names are on that wall, to me, were the greatest heroes this country ever had, Olano said. They gave everything. Some of us are crippled. Others are fine like me; I feel fine even though Im 93. Im still an old man thats getting along, but these boys gave the ultimate. A Plaquemines Parish native, Olano was awarded Frances highest decoration in 2014 when he received the Legion of Honor. He carries the certificate in his pickup truck, but the French medal itself is safely stored at his home. He said the Louisiana Medal of Honor Park is the greatest thing they ever did for medal recipients. But he doubted that many people know about it. I wish more time would be spent on this place because so much more can be accomplished, he said. More things can be added to bring the public. It's now the United States' highest military honor for valor in action. Historically presented by the president on behalf of Congress, the Medal of Honor has been given to 3,508 service members since its creation in 1861. In that number are 26 with ties to Louisiana - including one with the rare distinction of receiving two Medals of Honor. Originally the medal was for enlisted federal seamen and Marines who distinguish[ed] themselves by gallantry in action and other seamanlike qualities during the Civil War. The government later added other branches of the military and over time changed the criteria and design of the medal. It standardized criteria in 1963, for service: while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving a conflict with an opposing foreign force or while serving with friendly forces in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. Here we present information about 26 recipients who either were born in Louisiana or entered military service in Louisiana. Seven of them died as a result of the actions for which they received the medal, making it especially appropriate to recognize them on Memorial Day. Most of the information comes from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, supplemented by information from the National Medal of Honor Museum and other sources. The ranks first listed with their names are the highest they attained. Brig. Gen. John Babcock Born: New Orleans New Orleans Military branch: Army Army Unit: 5th Cavalry 5th Cavalry Conflict: Indian campaigns Indian campaigns Date of action: May 16, 1869 May 16, 1869 Rank at action: First lieutenant First lieutenant Location of action: Spring Creek, Neb. Spring Creek, Neb. Accredited to: Stonington, Conn. Stonington, Conn. Citation: While serving with a scouting column, this officer's troop was attacked by a vastly superior force of Indians. Advancing to high ground, he dismounted his men, remaining mounted himself to encourage them, and there fought the Indians until relieved, his horse being wounded. Cpl. Jean Beaufort Born: Paris Paris Military branch: Army Army Unit: Company A, 2nd Louisiana Cavalry Company A, 2nd Louisiana Cavalry Conflict: Civil War Civil War Date of action: May 20, 1863 May 20, 1863 Rank at action: Corporal Corporal Location of action: Port Hudson Port Hudson Accredited to: New Orleans New Orleans Citation: Volunteered to go within the enemy's lines and at the head of a party of eight destroyed a signal station, thereby greatly aiding in the operations against Port Hudson that immediately followed. Capt. Steven Bennett Born: Anderson County, Texas Anderson County, Texas Military branch: Air Force Air Force Unit: 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, 56th Special Operations Wing, Pacific Air Forces 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, 56th Special Operations Wing, Pacific Air Forces Conflict: Vietnam war Vietnam war Date of action: June 29, 1972 June 29, 1972 Rank at action: Captain Captain Location of action: Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam Accredited to: Lafayette Lafayette Citation: Capt. Bennett was the pilot of a light aircraft flying an artillery adjustment mission along a heavily defended segment of route structure. A large concentration of enemy troops were massing for an attack on a friendly unit. Capt. Bennett requested tactical air support but was advised that none was available. He also requested artillery support, but this too was denied due to the close proximity of friendly troops to the target. Capt. Bennett was determined to aid the endangered unit and elected to strafe the hostile positions. After four such passes, the enemy forces began to retreat. Capt. Bennett continued the attack, but, as he completed his fifth strafing pass, his aircraft was struck by a surface-to-air missile which severely damaged the left engine and the left main landing gear. As fire spread in the left engine, Capt. Bennett realized that recovery at a friendly airfield was impossible. He instructed his observer to prepare for ejection, but was informed by the observer that his parachute had been shredded by the force of the impacting missile. Although Capt. Bennett had a good parachute, he knew that if he ejected, the observer would have no chance of survival. With complete disregard for his own life, Capt. Bennett elected to ditch the aircraft into the Gulf of Tonkin, even though he realized that a pilot of this type aircraft had never survived a ditching. The ensuing impact upon the water caused the aircraft to cartwheel and severely damage the front cockpit, making escape for Capt. Bennett impossible. The observer successfully made his way out of the aircraft and was rescued. Capt. Bennett's unparalleled concern for his companion, extraordinary heroism, and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty, at the cost of his life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Air Force. 2nd Lt. Powhatan Clarke Born: Alexandria Alexandria Military branch: Army Army Unit: 10th Cavalry 10th Cavalry Conflict: Indian campaigns Indian campaigns Date of action: May 3, 1886 May 3, 1886 Rank at action: Second lieutenant Second lieutenant Location of action: Pinito Mountains, Sonora, Mexico Pinito Mountains, Sonora, Mexico Accredited to: Baltimore Baltimore Citation: Rushed forward to the rescue of a soldier who was severely wounded and lay, disabled, exposed to the enemy's fire, and carried him to a place of safety. Pfc. Mike 'Red' Clausen Born: New Orleans New Orleans Military branch: Marine Corps Marine Corps Unit: Medium Helicopter Squadron 263, Aircraft Group 16, 1st Aircraft Wing Medium Helicopter Squadron 263, Aircraft Group 16, 1st Aircraft Wing Conflict: Vietnam war Vietnam war Date of action: Jan. 31, 1970 Jan. 31, 1970 Rank at action: Private first class Private first class Location of action: Republic of Vietnam Republic of Vietnam Accredited to: New Orleans New Orleans Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 263 during operations against enemy forces. Participating in a helicopter rescue mission to extract elements of a platoon which had inadvertently entered a minefield while attacking enemy positions, Pfc. Clausen skillfully guided the helicopter pilot to a landing in an area cleared by one of several mine explosions. With 11 marines wounded, and one dead, and the remaining eight marines holding their positions for fear of detonating other mines, Pfc. Clausen quickly leaped from the helicopter and, in the face of enemy fire, moved across the extremely hazardous mineladen area to assist in carrying casualties to the waiting helicopter and in placing them aboard. Despite the ever-present threat of further mine explosions, he continued his valiant efforts, leaving the comparatively safe area of the helicopter on six separate occasions to carry out his rescue efforts. On one occasion while he was carrying one of the wounded, another mine detonated, killing a corpsman and wounding three other men. Only when he was certain that all marines were safely aboard did he signal the pilot to lift the helicopter. By the courageous, determined, and inspiring efforts in the face of the utmost danger, Pfc. Clausen upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the U.S. Naval Service. Col. Jefferson DeBlanc Born: Lockport Lockport Military branch: Marine Corps Reserve Marine Corps Reserve Unit: Fighting Squadron 112, Air Group 11, 1st Air Wing Fighting Squadron 112, Air Group 11, 1st Air Wing Conflict: World War II World War II Date of action: Jan. 31, 1943 Jan. 31, 1943 Rank at action: Captain Captain Location of action: Kolombangara, Solomon Islands Kolombangara, Solomon Islands Accredited to: Lockport Lockport Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as leader of a section of six fighter planes in Marine Fighting Squadron 112, during aerial operations against enemy Japanese forces off Kolombangara Island in the Solomon group, 31 January 1943. Taking off with his section as escort for a strike force of dive bombers ordered to attack Japanese surface vessels, 1st Lt. DeBlanc led his flight directly to the target area where, at 14,000 feet, our strike force encountered a large number of Japanese Zeros protecting the enemy's surface craft. In company with the other fighters, 1st Lt. DeBlanc instantly engaged the hostile planes and aggressively countered their repeated attempts to drive off our bombers, persevering in his efforts to protect the diving planes and waging fierce combat until, picking up a call for assistance from the dive bombers, under attack by enemy float planes at 1,000 feet, he broke off his engagement with the Zeros, plunged into the formation of float planes and disrupted the savage attack, enabling our dive bombers to complete their runs on the Japanese surface disposition and withdraw without further incident. Although his escort mission was fulfilled upon the safe retirement of the bombers, 1st Lt. DeBlanc courageously remained on the scene despite a rapidly diminishing fuel supply and, boldly challenging the enemy's superior number of float planes, fought a valiant battle against terrific odds, seizing the tactical advantage and striking repeatedly to destroy three of the hostile aircraft (two float planes and one Zero) and to disperse the remainder. Prepared to maneuver his damaged plane back to base, he had climbed aloft and set his course when he discovered two Zeros closing in behind. Undaunted, he opened fire and blasted both Zeros from the sky in a short, bitterly fought action which resulted in such hopeless damage to his own plane that other Zeros entering the fight set his aircraft on fire forcing him to bail out over enemy waters between Vella Lavella and enemy-held Kolombangara. A gallant officer, a superb airman, and an indomitable fighter, 1st Lt. DeBlanc had rendered decisive assistance during a critical stage of operations, and his unwavering fortitude in the face of overwhelming opposition reflects the highest credit upon himself and adds new luster to the traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. Pfc. James Diamond Born: New Orleans New Orleans Military branch: Army Army Unit: Company D, 21st Infantry, 24th Infantry Division Company D, 21st Infantry, 24th Infantry Division Conflict: World War II World War II Date of action: May 14, 1945 May 14, 1945 Rank at action: Private first class Private first class Location of action: Mintal, Mindanao, Philippine Islands Mintal, Mindanao, Philippine Islands Accredited to: Gulfport, Miss. Gulfport, Miss. Citation: As a member of the machine-gun section, he displayed extreme gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty. When a Japanese sniper rose from his foxhole to throw a grenade into their midst, this valiant soldier charged and killed the enemy with a burst from his submachine-gun; then, by delivering sustained fire from his personal arm and simultaneously directing the fire of 105-mm and .50-caliber weapons upon the enemy pillboxes, immobilizing this and another machine-gun section, he enabled them to put their guns into action. When two infantry companies established a bridgehead, he voluntarily assisted in evacuating the wounded under heavy fire; and then, securing an abandoned vehicle, transported casualties to the rear through mortar and artillery fire so intense as to render the vehicle inoperative and despite the fact he was suffering from a painful wound. The following day he again volunteered, this time for the hazardous job of repairing a bridge under heavy enemy fire. On 14 May 1945, when leading a patrol to evacuate casualties from his battalion, which was cut off, he ran through a virtual hail of Japanese fire to secure an abandoned machine gun. Though mortally wounded as he reached the gun, he succeeded in drawing sufficient fire upon himself so that the remaining members of the patrol could reach safety. Pfc. Diamond's indomitable spirit, constant disregard of danger, and eagerness to assist his comrades, will ever remain a symbol of selflessness and heroic sacrifice to those for whom he gave his life. 1st Lt. Douglas Fournet Born: Lake Charles Lake Charles Military branch: Army Army Unit: 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (airmobile) 2nd Platoon, Company B, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (airmobile) Conflict: Vietnam war Vietnam war Date of action: May 4, 1968 May 4, 1968 Rank at action: First lieutenant First lieutenant Location of action: A Shau Valley, Republic of Vietnam A Shau Valley, Republic of Vietnam Accredited to: New Orleans New Orleans Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Fournet, Infantry, distinguished himself in action while serving as rifle platoon leader of the 2d Platoon, Company B. While advancing uphill against fortified enemy positions in the A Shau Valley, the platoon encountered intense sniper fire, making movement very difficult. The right flank man suddenly discovered an enemy claymore mine covering the route of advance and shouted a warning to his comrades. Realizing that the enemy would also be alerted, 1st Lt. Fournet ordered his men to take cover and ran uphill toward the mine, drawing a sheath knife as he approached it. With complete disregard for his safety and realizing the imminent danger to members of his command, he used his body as a shield in front of the mine as he attempted to slash the control wires leading from the enemy positions to the mine. As he reached for the wire the mine was detonated, killing him instantly. Five men nearest the mine were slightly wounded, but 1st Lt. Fournet's heroic and unselfish act spared his men of serious injury or death. His gallantry and willing self-sacrifice are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army. Cdr. Howard Gilmore Born: Selma, Ala. Selma, Ala. Military branch: Navy Navy Unit: Commanding officer, USS Growler Commanding officer, USS Growler Conflict: World War II World War II Date of action: Jan. 10-Feb. 7, 1943 Jan. 10-Feb. 7, 1943 Rank at action : Commander : Commander Location of action: Submarine patrol, Southwest Pacific Ocean Submarine patrol, Southwest Pacific Ocean Accredited to: Louisiana Louisiana Citation: For distinguished gallantry and valor above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the U.S.S. Growler during her fourth war patrol in the southwest Pacific from 10 January to 7 February 1943. Boldly striking at the enemy in spite of continuous hostile air and anti-submarine patrols, Cmdr. Gilmore sank one Japanese freighter and damaged another by torpedo fire, successfully evading severe depth charges following each attack. In the darkness of night on 7 February, an enemy gunboat closed range and prepared to ram the Growler. Comdr. Gilmore daringly maneuvered to avoid the crash and rammed the attacker instead, ripping into her port side at 17 knots and bursting wide her plates. In the terrific fire of the sinking gunboat's heavy machine guns, Cmdr. Gilmore calmly gave the order to clear the bridge, and refusing safety for himself, remained on deck while his men preceded him below. Struck down by the fusillade of bullets and having done his utmost against the enemy, in his final living moments, Comdr. Gilmore gave his last order to the officer of the deck, "Take her down." The Growler dived; seriously damaged but under control, she was brought safely to port by her well-trained crew inspired by the courageous fighting spirit of their dead captain. Major Gen. Adolphus Greely Born: Newburyport, Mass. Newburyport, Mass. Military branch: Army Army Unit: Various Various Conflict: Interim, 1920-1940 Interim, 1920-1940 Date of action: July 26, 1861 - Feb. 10, 1906 July 26, 1861 - Feb. 10, 1906 Rank at action: Not specified Not specified Location of action: Not specified Not specified Accredited to: Louisiana Louisiana Citation: For his life of splendid public service, begun on 27 March 1844, having enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army on 26 July 1861, and by successive promotions was commissioned as major general 10 February 1906, and retired by operation of the law on his 64th birthday. 2nd Lt. Lloyd 'Pete' Hughes Born: Alexandria Alexandria Military branch: Army Air Corps Army Air Corps Unit: 564th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force 564th Bombardment Squadron, 389th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force Conflict: World War II World War II Date of action: Aug. 1, 1943 Aug. 1, 1943 Rank at action: Second lieutenant Second lieutenant Location of action: Ploesti, Romania Ploesti, Romania Accredited to: San Antonio San Antonio Citation: For conspicuous gallantry in action and intrepidity at risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On 1 August 1943, 2d Lt. Hughes served in the capacity of pilot of a heavy bombardment aircraft participating in a long and hazardous minimum-altitude attack against the Axis oil refineries of Ploesti, Rumania, launched from the northern shores of Africa. Flying in the last formation to attack the target, he arrived in the target area after previous flights had thoroughly alerted the enemy defenses. Approaching the target through intense and accurate antiaircraft fire and dense balloon barrages at dangerously low altitude, his plane received several direct hits from both large and small caliber antiaircraft guns which seriously damaged his aircraft, causing sheets of escaping gasoline to stream from the bomb bay and from the left wing. This damage was inflicted at a time prior to reaching the target when 2d Lt. Hughes could have made a forced landing in any of the grain fields readily available at the time. The target area was blazing with burning oil tanks and damaged refinery installations from which flames leaped high above the bombing level of the formation. With full knowledge of the consequences of entering this blazing inferno when his airplane was profusely leaking gasoline in two separate locations, 2d Lt. Hughes, motivated only by his high conception of duty which called for the destruction of his assigned target at any cost, did not elect to make a forced landing or turn back from the attack. Instead, rather than jeopardize the formation and the success of the attack, he unhesitatingly entered the blazing area and dropped his bomb load with great precision. After successfully bombing the objective, his aircraft emerged from the conflagration with the left wing aflame. Only then did he attempt a forced landing, but because of the advanced stage of the fire enveloping his aircraft the plane crashed and was consumed. By 2d Lt. Hughes' heroic decision to complete his mission regardless of the consequences, in utter disregard of his own life, and by his gallant and valorous execution of this decision, he has rendered a service to our country in the defeat of our enemies which will everlastingly be outstanding in the annals of our nation's history. Sgt. Leroy Johnson Born: Caney Creek Caney Creek Military branch: Army Army Unit: Company K, 126th Infantry, 32nd Infantry Division Company K, 126th Infantry, 32nd Infantry Division Conflict: World War II World War II Date of action: Dec. 15, 1944 Dec. 15, 1944 Rank at action: Sergeant Sergeant Location of action: Near Limon, Leyte, Philippine Islands Near Limon, Leyte, Philippine Islands Accredited to: Oakdale Oakdale Citation: He was a squad leader of a nine-man patrol sent to reconnoiter a ridge held by a well-entrenched enemy force. Seeing an enemy machine-gun position, he ordered his men to remain behind while he crawled to within six yards of the gun. One of the enemy crew jumped up and prepared to man the weapon. Quickly withdrawing, Sgt. Johnson rejoined his patrol and reported the situation to his commanding officer. Ordered to destroy the gun, which covered the approaches to several other enemy positions, he chose three other men, armed them with hand grenades, and led them to a point near the objective. After taking partial cover behind a log, the men had knocked out the gun and begun an assault when hostile troops on the flank hurled several grenades. As he started for cover, Sgt. Johnson saw two unexploded grenades which had fallen near his men. Knowing that his comrades would be wounded or killed by the explosion, he deliberately threw himself on the grenades and received their full charge in his body. Fatally wounded by the blast, he died soon afterward. Through his outstanding gallantry in sacrificing his life for his comrades, Sgt. Johnson provided a shining example of the highest traditions of the U.S. Army. Pfc. Milton Lee 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 Born: Shreveport Shreveport Military branch: Army Army Unit: 3rd Platoon, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (airmobile) 3rd Platoon, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (airmobile) Conflict: Vietnam war Vietnam war Date of action: April 26, 1968 April 26, 1968 Rank at action: Private first class Private first class Location of action: Near Phu Bai, Thua Thien Province, Republic of Vietnam Near Phu Bai, Thua Thien Province, Republic of Vietnam Accredited to: San Antonio San Antonio Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Pfc. Lee distinguished himself near the city of Phu Bai in the province of Thua Thien. Pfc. Lee was serving as the radio telephone operator with the 3d Platoon, Company B. As lead element for the company, the 3d Platoon received intense surprise hostile fire from a force of North Vietnamese Army regulars in well-concealed bunkers. With 50 percent casualties, the platoon maneuvered to a position of cover to treat their wounded and reorganize, while Pfc. Lee moved through the heavy enemy fire giving lifesaving first aid to his wounded comrades. During the subsequent assault on the enemy defensive positions, Pfc. Lee continuously kept close radio contact with the company commander, relaying precise and understandable orders to his platoon leader. While advancing with the front rank toward the objective, Pfc. Lee observed four North Vietnamese soldiers with automatic weapons and a rocket launcher lying in wait for the lead element of the platoon. As the element moved forward, unaware of the concealed danger, Pfc. Lee immediately and with utter disregard for his own personal safety, passed his radio to another soldier and charged through the murderous fire. Without hesitation he continued his assault, overrunning the enemy position, killing all occupants, and capturing four automatic weapons and a rocket launcher. Pfc. Lee continued his one-man assault on the second position through a heavy barrage of enemy automatic-weapons fire. Grievously wounded, he continued to press the attack, crawling forward into a firing position and delivering accurate covering fire to enable his platoon to maneuver and destroy the position. Not until the position was overrun did Pfc. Lee falter in his steady volume of fire and succumb to his wounds. Pfc. Lee's heroic actions saved the lives of the lead element and were instrumental in the destruction of the key position of the enemy defense. Pfc. Lee's gallantry at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, the 502d Infantry, and the U.S. Army. CW4 Mike Novosel Born: Etna, Pa. Etna, Pa. Military branch: Army Army Unit: 82nd Medical Detachment, 45th Medical Company, 68th Medical Group 82nd Medical Detachment, 45th Medical Company, 68th Medical Group Conflict: Vietnam war Vietnam war Date of action: Oct. 2, 1969 Oct. 2, 1969 Rank at action: Chief warrant officer Chief warrant officer Location of action: Kien Tuong Province, Republic of Vietnam Kien Tuong Province, Republic of Vietnam Accredited to: Kenner Kenner Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. CWO Novosel, 82d Medical Detachment, distinguished himself while serving as commander of a medical evacuation helicopter. He unhesitatingly maneuvered his helicopter into a heavily fortified and defended enemy training area where a group of wounded Vietnamese soldiers were pinned down by a large enemy force. Flying without gunship or other cover and exposed to intense machine-gun fire, CWO Novosel was able to locate and rescue a wounded soldier. Since all communications with the beleaguered troops had been lost, he repeatedly circled the battle area, flying at low level under continuous heavy fire, to attract the attention of the scattered friendly troops. This display of courage visibly raised their morale, as they recognized this as a signal to assemble for evacuation. On six occasions he and his crew were forced out of the battle area by the intense enemy fire, only to circle and return from another direction to land and extract additional troops. Near the end of the mission, a wounded soldier was spotted close to an enemy bunker. Fully realizing that he would attract a hail of enemy fire, CWO Novosel nevertheless attempted the extraction by hovering the helicopter backward. As the man was pulled on board, enemy automatic weapons opened fire at close-range, damaged the aircraft and wounded CWO Novosel. He momentarily lost control of the aircraft, but quickly recovered and departed under the withering enemy fire. In all 15 extremely hazardous extractions were performed in order to remove wounded personnel. As a direct result of his selfless conduct, the lives of 29 soldiers were saved. The extraordinary heroism displayed by CWO Novosel was an inspiration to his comrades in arms and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army. Sn. John Osborne Born: New Orleans New Orleans Military branch: Navy Navy Unit: USS Juniata USS Juniata Conflict: Interim, 1871-1899 Interim, 1871-1899 Date of action: Aug. 21, 1876 Aug. 21, 1876 Rank at action: Seaman Seaman Location of action: Philadelphia Philadelphia Accredited to: Louisiana Louisiana Citation: Serving on board the U.S.S. Juniata, Osborne displayed gallant conduct in rescuing from drowning an enlisted boy of that vessel, at Philadelphia, Pa., 21 August 1876. Cpl. Thomas Riley Born: Ireland Ireland Military branch: Army Army Unit: Company D, 1st Louisiana Cavalry Company D, 1st Louisiana Cavalry Conflict: Civil War Civil War Date of action: April 4, 1865 April 4, 1865 Rank at action: Private Private Location of action: Fort Blakely, Ala. Fort Blakely, Ala. Accredited to: New Orleans New Orleans Citation: Captured the flag of the 6th Alabama Cavalry (C.S.A.). 2nd Lt. Hampton Roach Born: Concord Concord Military branch: Army Army Unit: Company F, 5th Cavalry Company F, 5th Cavalry Conflict: Indian campaigns Indian campaigns Date of action: Sept. 29, 1879 Sept. 29, 1879 Rank at action: First lieutenant First lieutenant Location of action: Milk River, Colo. Milk River, Colo. Accredited to: Fort Dodge, Kan. Fort Dodge, Kan. Citation: Erected breastworks under fire; also kept the command supplied with water three consecutive nights while exposed to fire from ambushed Indians at close-range. Rear Adm. Thomas Ryan Jr. Born: New Orleans New Orleans Military branch: Navy Navy Unit: Not specified Not specified Conflict: Interim, 1920-1940 Interim, 1920-1940 Date of action: Sept. 1, 1923 Sept. 1, 1923 Rank at action: Ensign Ensign Location of action: Yokohama, Japan Yokohama, Japan Accredited to: Louisiana Louisiana Citation: For heroism in effecting the rescue of a woman from the burning Grand Hotel, Yokohama, Japan, on 1 September 1923. Following the earthquake and fire which occurred in Yokohama on 1 September, Ens. Ryan, with complete disregard for his own life, extricated a woman from the Grand Hotel, thus saving her life. His heroic conduct upon this occasion reflects the greatest credit on himself and on the U.S. Navy, of which he is part. Col. Edward Schowalter Jr. Born: New Orleans New Orleans Military branch: Army Army Unit: Company A, 1st Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division Company A, 1st Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division Conflict: Korean War Korean War Date of action: Oct. 14, 1952 Oct. 14, 1952 Rank at action: First lieutenant First lieutenant Location of action: Near Kumhwa, Korea Near Kumhwa, Korea Accredited to: Metairie Metairie Citation: 1st Lt. Schowalter, commanding officer, Company A, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. Committed to attack and occupy a key approach to the primary objective, the 1st Platoon of his company came under heavy vicious small-arms, grenade, and mortar fire within 50 yards of the enemy-held strong-point, halting the advance and inflicting several casualties. The 2d Platoon moved up in support at this juncture, and although wounded, 1st Lt. Schowalter continued to spearhead the assault. Nearing the objective he was severely wounded by a grenade fragment but, refusing medical aid, he led his men into the trenches and began routing the enemy from the bunkers with grenades. Suddenly from a burst of fire from a hidden cove off the trench he was again wounded. Although suffering from his wounds, he refused to relinquish command and continued issuing orders and encouraging his men until the commanding ground was secured and then he was evacuated. 1st Lt. Schowalter's unflinching courage, extraordinary heroism, and inspirational leadership reflect the highest credit upon himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service. 1st Sgt. Thomas Shaw Born : Covington, Ky. : Covington, Ky. Military branch: Army Army Unit: Company K, 9th Cavalry Company K, 9th Cavalry Conflict: Indian campaigns Indian campaigns Date of action: Aug. 12, 1881 Aug. 12, 1881 Rank at action: Sergeant Sergeant Location of action: Carrizo Canyon, N.M. Carrizo Canyon, N.M. Accredited to: Baton Rouge Baton Rouge Citation: Forced the enemy back after stubbornly holding his ground in an extremely exposed position and prevented the enemy's superior numbers from surrounding his command. 1st Sgt. Emanuel Stance Born: Carroll Parish Carroll Parish Military branch: Army Army Unit: Company F, 9th Cavalry Company F, 9th Cavalry Conflict: Indian campaigns Indian campaigns Date of action: May 20, 1870 May 20, 1870 Rank at action: Sergeant Sergeant Location of action: Kickapoo Springs, Texas Kickapoo Springs, Texas Accredited to: East Carroll Parish East Carroll Parish Citation: Gallantry on scout after Indians. PO Albert Weisbogel (two Medals of Honor) Born: New Orleans First medal Unit: USS Benicia USS Benicia Conflict: Interim, 1871-1899 Interim, 1871-1899 Date of action: Jan. 11, 1874 Jan. 11, 1874 Rank at action: Captain of the mizzen top Captain of the mizzen top Location of action: At sea At sea Accredited to: Louisiana Louisiana Citation: For gallant conduct in jumping overboard from the U.S.S. Benicia, at sea, and rescuing from drowning one of the crew of that vessel, 11 January 1874. Second medal Unit: USS Plymouth USS Plymouth Conflict: Interim, 1871-1899 Interim, 1871-1899 Date of action: April 27, 1876 April 27, 1876 Rank at action: Captain of the mizzen top Captain of the mizzen top Location of action: At sea off Haiti At sea off Haiti Accredited to: Louisiana Louisiana Citation: For gallant conduct in jumping overboard from the U.S.S. Plymouth, at sea, and rescuing from drowning one of the crew of that vessel on 27 April 1876. Major Hulon Whittington Born: Bogalusa Bogalusa Military branch: Army Army Unit: 41st Armored Infantry, 2nd Armored Division 41st Armored Infantry, 2nd Armored Division Conflict: World War II World War II Date of action: July 29, 1944 July 29, 1944 Rank at action: Sergeant Sergeant Location of action: Near Grimesnil, France Near Grimesnil, France Accredited to: Bastrop Bastrop Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. On the night of 29 July 1944, near Grimesnil, France, during an enemy armored attack, Sgt. Whittington, a squad leader, assumed command of his platoon when the platoon leader and platoon sergeant became missing in action. He reorganized the defense and, under fire, courageously crawled between gun positions to check the actions of his men. When the advancing enemy attempted to penetrate a roadblock, Sgt. Whittington, completely disregarding intense enemy action, mounted a tank and, by shouting through the turret, directed it into position to fire point-blank at the leading Mark V German tank. The destruction of this vehicle blocked all movement of the remaining enemy column consisting of over 100 vehicles of a Panzer unit. The blocked vehicles were then destroyed by hand grenades, bazooka, tank, and artillery fire, and large numbers of enemy personnel were wiped out by a bold and resolute bayonet charge inspired by Sgt. Whittington. When the medical aidman had become a casualty, Sgt. Whittington personally administered first aid to his wounded men. The dynamic leadership, the inspiring example, and the dauntless courage of Sgt. Whittington, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service. Mast. mate John Williams Born: New Orleans or Blair County, Pa. New Orleans or Blair County, Pa. Military branch: Navy Navy Unit: USS Pawnee USS Pawnee Conflict: Civil War Civil War Date of action: June 26, 1861 June 26, 1861 Rank at action: Captain of the main top Captain of the main top Location of action: Battle of Mathias Point, Va, Battle of Mathias Point, Va, Accredited to: Louisiana Louisiana Citation: Serving as captain of the maintop of the U.S.S. Pawnee in the attack upon Mathias Point, 26 June 1861, Williams told his men, while lying off in the boat, that every man must die on his thwart sooner than leave a man behind. Although wounded by a musket ball in the thigh he retained the charge of his boat; and when the staff was shot away, held the stump in his hand, with the flag, until alongside the Freeborn. Ord. Sgt. Moses Williams Born: Carrollton (now part of New Orleans) Carrollton (now part of New Orleans) Military branch: Army Army Unit: Company I, 9th Cavalry Company I, 9th Cavalry Conflict: Indian campaigns Indian campaigns Date of action: Aug. 16, 1881 Aug. 16, 1881 Rank at action: First sergeant First sergeant Location of action: Foothills of Cuchillo Negro Mountains, N.M. Foothills of Cuchillo Negro Mountains, N.M. Accredited to: East Carroll Parish, Louisiana East Carroll Parish, Louisiana Citation: Rallied a detachment, skillfully conducted a running fight of three or four hours, and by his coolness, bravery, and unflinching devotion to duty in standing by his commanding officer in an exposed position under a heavy fire from a large party of Indians saved the lives of at least three of his comrades. 1st Sgt. Homer Wise Hurricane season began June 1, and local emergency operations personnel prepared for it on the morning of May 24 with hands-on training at the St. Tammany Parish Emergency Operations Center in Covington. Law enforcement, fire, medical personnel and more filled the centers command center, working phones and computers in exercises as they would during an emergency situation. The drills are simulated, but they are practice for real threats, such as the ones hurricanes pose annually along the Gulf Coast. Were making sure were prepared, just like we ask our neighbors to be prepared, said St. Tammany Parish Public Information Officer Michael Vinsanau. Our personnel have to be ready in case something does arise. The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season set records for all the wrong reasons. A record 30 named storms formed during last hurricane season, including 13 hurricanes and six major storms (Category 3 or higher with winds of at least 111 mph). Five storms made landfall in Louisiana, another unfortunate record, including Hurricane Zeta which was a Category 2 storm when its eye crossed over New Orleans and into eastern St. Tammany Parish on Oct. 29. Forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are predicting another above-average season in 2021. Meteorologists are calling for 13-20 named storms, 6-10 hurricanes and 3-5 major storms. NOAA provides those ranges with 70% confidence during the hurricane season that lasts through Nov. 30. Preparing for hurricane season is a yearlong, around the clock effort, said Clarence Owen, Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness for St. Tammany Parish Government. Our self-serve sandbag and shelter locations have been verified, and we constantly check with our local essential personnel to ensure that we are up to speed and on the same page. Preparedness involves having emergency supplies on hand. According to FEMA, that includes: Water (one gallon per person, per day for at least three days for drinking and sanitation) Food (three-day supply of nonperishable items) Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a weather radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both Flashlight and extra batteries First aid kit Whistle to signal for help Dusk mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter in-place Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities Can opener St. Tammany top stories in your inbox A weekly guide to the biggest news in St. Tammany. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Local maps Additional items to consider for an emergency kit include: Prescription medicines and glasses Infant formula and diapers Pet food and extra water for pets Important family documents, including insurance policies, bank account records and ID kept in a waterproof and portable container Cash of travelers checks Sleeping bag or blankets for each person Changes of clothing Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper (when diluted nine parts to one, bleach can be used as a disinfectant.) Fire extinguisher Matches in a waterproof container Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items Mess kits, paper cups, plastic utensils, paper towels Paper and pencil Books, games, puzzles and other activities for children St. Tammany Parish Governments online resource page for emergency preparedness can be found at www.stpgov.org/storm. Citizens can sign up for emergency updates there. The parishs hotline for storm updates is (985) 809-2300. Walter F. Huebner, age 93, renowned astrophysicist and lifelong traveler, passed away peacefully at his home in Norman, Oklahoma, on June 1, 2021, surrounded by family. No services at this time. View full obituary and share condolences online at www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com. Harrisburg, Pa. -- Today, May 31, is the day all businesses, events, and venues can return to 100 percent capacity with the lifting of COVID-19 mitigation orders, according to the Wolf administration. The current order requiring masks for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals will remain in place until June 28 or when 70 percent of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older get their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, whichever comes first. Mask wearing is still being required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in U.S. transportation hubs, such as airports and stations. Residents are asked to still follow guidance at workplaces, local businesses, long-term care facilities, hospitals, prisons, and homeless shelters. We have made great strides throughout the commonwealth to stop the spread of COVID-19, said Gov. Wolf. As we lift mitigation orders, it is important for eligible Pennsylvanians to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Getting vaccinated is our best defense against this virus and ensuring individuals and their loved ones remain safe as we reopen Pennsylvania. Refer to CDC guidance and recommendations regarding ongoing COVID-19 safety measures and procedures. Municipalities, businesses, and school districts may continue implementing stricter mitigation efforts. Pennsylvanians are realizing that they have the power to stop COVID-19 and they are stepping up to get vaccinated, Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said. Folks are taking the critical steps needed to put this pandemic behind us and lifting the mitigation measures should allow people to enjoy some of the activities they missed last year. Pennsylvanians age 12 and older are eligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine. People can find vaccination locations near them using Vaccines.gov, also known as Vaccine Finder. Text your zip code to GETVAX (438829) for English, or VACUNA (822862) for Spanish and receive three possible vaccination sites in their area. THE Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) has failed to pay teachers who marked the 2020 O Level and A Level examinations. Markers are said to be owed $35 000 each and are reportedly on a collision course with Zimsec. Reports are that Zimsec told the markers that it would stagger the payments, but has not furnished them with information on when this would commence. One of the disgruntled markers told NewsDay that Zimsec intended to raise the money from examination fees which were increased a fortnight ago. The markers also accused the examination body of failing to cater for their welfare during the marking period, including failing to pay for their transport, accommodation and meals. I made inquiries with them and they told me that they didnt have money at the moment. They said when they start paying, they are going to stagger the payments. Most of us are owed $35 000 each, one of the markers told NewsDay. Zimsec board chairperson Eddie Mwenje, however, said the markers should have been paid by now as they discussed the issue a fortnight ago. We discussed the matter two weeks ago. You know they are paid after results are out. We published the results some weeks ago and I think they have been paid. I havent had any problems with that, he said. But teachers unions yesterday castigated government, accusing it of being insensitive to the plight of teachers. Zimbabwe National Teachers Union Zinatu chief executive officer Manuel Nyawo said government should pay the markers. I wonder whether this current government is a government that is sensitive and sympathetic to the plight of its people including teachers. There was also need for wide consultations to come up with the decision to increase examination fees, he said. Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou said: The money Zimsec uses to pay markers must never be drawn from learners or candidates, but the national budgetary allocation. It would be irresponsible for Zimsec to benchmark its operations on the payment of exam fees by pupils. The State must ensure Zimsec operates smoothly, and protect its credibility as a national education examining body. He said markers were normally paid a week after completing their task. A fortnight ago, government increased examination fees for the November O and A Level examinations by 55%, bringing the total cost to $5 194 for seven O Level subjects and $3 240 for three A Level subjects. Newsday Sunbury, Pa. Across the United States, the month of June is known as "Pride Month," a time to celebrate and affirm the LGBTQ+ community. This year, the City of Sunbury will officially recognize June as Pride Month by virtue of a city-wide proclamation. The proclamation was issued by Kurt Karlovich, Mayor of the City of Sunbury, on May 24 is a demonstration of support and recognition of the LGBTQ+ community. The purpose of a proclamation is "to honor, celebrate or create awareness of an organization, event or significant issue that contributes to the betterment of our community," according to the City's definition. Pride Month began as a way to honor the Stonewall Riots which took place in June of 1969. Police Officers violently raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular LGBTQ+ bar in Greenwich Village, prompting members of the LGBTQ+ community to fight back in defense against police violence and brutality. Only three presidents have officially recognized June as Pride month: Bill Clinton and Barack Obama recognized Pride month with official proclamations; and most recently, Donald Trump recognized pride month with a tweet. The City of Sunbury's official proclamation marks a significant and symbolic moment for members of the LGBTQ+ community in the local area. A teen struggles with an eating disorder. A veteran fights the effects of post traumatic stress disorder. Depression ravages the person whose job of 30 years was eliminated. Schizophrenia or bi-polar tendencies consume an individual suffering from decades of abuse. Grief overcomes one spouse, while another suffers from dementia. A new mother suffers from post-partum depression. A young couple with new jobs, a new house, a new baby, and a mountain of student loan debt is anxious about the future. Emotional and mental health issues do not exclude any age group or gender. They do not exclude any race or income level. And in many ways, the pandemic of the past year has only increased the losses, grief, loneliness, isolation, anxiety, and fatigue, for the very young, the aged, and everyone in between. In the gospels, we read of Jesus making the good news visible through the mercy and the compassion that he shows to the suffering. He heals not only those with physical ailments but also those struggling with mental and emotional issues as well. Likewise, as communities of faith, it is important that we, too, embrace those battling mental and emotional ailments, in the same way that we offer love and support to those with physical issues. Because, no matter if the struggle is physical, mental, or emotional, each person is a child of God, created by God, in the image of God, and each deserves to be treated as such. In many ways, offering our love and support to those dealing with mental and emotional conditions requires us to be even more patient, more gracious, and more compassionate. It is important that we offer our unconditional love and support, that we are instruments of healing and hope rather than the cause of more pain. It is important that we destroy the stigma, promote education, and challenge the stereotypes and misconceptions that exist. To remain silent and to not push for greater access to mental health services is both unfaithful and unjust. In his letters, the Apostle Paul writes of his suffering from a chronic condition. The exact condition is unknown; some speculate that it may possibly have been depression. Whatever the condition, we do know that it is recurring. It is something he lives and struggles to control daily. In his letter to the church in Galatia, he writes, Though my health condition burdened you, you did not look down on me or reject me, but you welcomed me as if I were an angel from God or as if I were Christ Jesus! (4:14 CEB). Whether the condition of others is physical, mental, or emotional, just as the response of the Christians in Galatia, our faithful response is not to look down upon them or reject them, even if their condition creates a burden for us. Our faithful response is to welcome them as if they were an angel from God or Christ Jesus himself. If you or someone you know is in need of mental health services in Lycoming County, contact National Alliance on Mental Illness of North Central PA at www.namincpa.org Instant unlimited access to all of our content on www.northcoastcitizen.com. The North Coast Citizen E-Edition Newsletter emailed to you each week, the night before the paper hits the street! This subscription is for NEW or RENEWING online subscribers. The charge will appear as "Country Media Inc." on your credit card statement. Local Dempsey to head Georgia House study on childhood lead exposure Contributed Rep. Katie Dempsey, R-Rome, nominating the clerk of the house in Georgias House of Representatives on day one of the 2021 General Assembly. State Rep. Katie Dempsey will chair the bipartisan House Study Committee on Childhood Lead Exposure. The appointment was made Friday by Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge. Other members are Rep. Karla Drenner, D-Avondale Estates; Rep. Matthew Gambill, R-Cartersville; Rep. Mesha Mainor, D-Atlanta; and Rep. Mark Newton, R-Augusta. Dempsey, R-Rome, heads the House human services budget subcommittee and has long advocated for ways to head off societal problems rooted in childhood illness, deprivation or trauma. She sponsored House Resolution 52, which created the study committee this past session. Initially, she had hoped for a joint committee with Senate participation as well. However, she said its been a difficult year with COVID-19 meeting restrictions combined with the creation of other study committees. The effects of lead poisoning are irreversable and we have 14 high risk counties in Georgia, Dempsey said. There are very serious effects and they are not treatable so we will take it up. Researchers have found that even at low levels, lead can damage a childs brain, lowering intelligence and damaging the ability to control their behavior and attention. At higher levels, lead can affect growth, and it can replace iron in the blood, leading to anemia and fatigue. An analysis of state data by Georgia Health News and the AJC late last year determined which ZIP Codes have the highest percentages of young children testing high on lead levels in their blood over the past 10 years. Four ZIP Codes in Northwest Georgia are in the top 100 for risk two in Floyd County, one in Chattooga and another in Polk. The Lindale and Silver Creek area covered by the 30147 ZIP Code ranked highest, with 3.91% of children tested showing high levels of lead. The connecting 30161 area running out to Coosa, through Rome and up to Shannon had 3.51% in the trouble zone over the past 10 years. Polk Countys 30125 ZIP Code around Cedartown had 2.97% and the 30753 area running north from Trion in Chattooga County had 2.66% of its kids affected. Dempseys committee will look at the extent of the problem with an eye to prevention and intervention strategies. She has not yet set a date for the first meeting, but the committees term runs through Dec. 1. A final report could include proposed legislation for the 2022 session. Rome, GA (30161) Today Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Jane Doe remained at Bedford Hills for more than two years after the incident and was overwhelmed by her trauma. The inmate, who is from upstate Niagara Falls, said she began to cut herself. Her mental health improved after she was transferred to a different prison to complete her 13-year sentence for participating in an armed robbery during which the victim died of a heart attack. These facilities are severely understaffed. You have to figure out what youre going to do. There are some decisions sometimes you have to make that are just not following through with the policy. The manpower doesnt allow you to do it, said Covington, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 3148. There were two shots. The guy with the car, he shot the Amazon delivery man, Melgar said. The Amazon man was bleeding from his face. He was surrounded by people, and he walked down the block to the hospital. "We got the idea from a NASA solicitation on how to make the moon and Mars habitable," Handley said. "You don't want highly trained astronauts to do the physical work of picking produce in a greenhouse." Robots powered by artificial intelligence have failed at picking crops at the peak of ripeness, so the plan is instead to have people do it using home gaming systems, Handley said. Remote harvesting could help produce growers who have trouble finding workers and mean paychecks for people, including as a temp gig for people who are furloughed. "This is really on track with Purdue's role as a land grant institution," he said. "It's the democritization of robots, making them as inexpensive as a used pickup truck for small growers who might be growing heirloom produce." Purdue Northwest will begin the research project in June but it will be several more weeks before the robots are installed. Researchers will first pick tomatoes and then later strawberries. "There's a lot of potential for new ventures to spin out of this," Handley said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need With a weekly newsletter looking back at local history. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. An Illinois developer is planning construction of a 249,000-square-foot industrial building in East Chicago. Lake County Economic Alliance President and CEO Karen Lauerman said the Homerlee Business Park would soon be built at the site of the former Edward Valve Company at 4400 Homerlee in East Chicago. Des Plaines, Illinois-based developer The Missner Group plans to invest about $20 million in the project, which does not have any tenants lined up in advance. "It's a spec building. We do not have an end user yet," Lauerman said. "It could be multiple companies, but if one company comes in we could put them in the entire 249,000 square feet." The Homerlee Business Park will be located on a 14.4-acre site in an enterprise zone less than a mile from Interstate 90, close to the Interstate 80/94 expressway and adjacent to the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad line. It's being marketed as "close to the Illinois border with easy access to downtown Chicago and major airports" and "adjacent to Walmart and FedEx distribution facilities." "They plan on starting ground work and then construction later this year," Lauerman said. MICHIGAN CITY Police found a home and vehicle struck by gunfire after responding late Saturday for a report of shots fired, an official said. No one was injured in the shooting, which broke out at 10:22 p.m. in the 200 block of Columbia Street, said Michigan City police Sgt. Steve Forker. Through speaking with witnesses, police learned three people were seen in the vicinity when shots were fired at the vehicle as it was traveling on Columbia Street, Forker said. Officers found several spent ammunition cartridges lying on the pavement at the scene. "Detectives continue to interview witnesses, attempt to identify any suspect(s), search for video surveillance in the area and process evidence that was collected," Forker said in a written statement. Police did not disclose additional information, citing an ongoing investigation. The Michigan City Police Department Uniform Patrol Shift 3, Michigan City Fire Department and LaPorte County EMS assisted. Anyone with more information or possible video or photo surveillance of the shooting was urged to contact Michigan City police Detective Cpl. Marty Corley at 219-874-3221. Many were ideas that Democrats had spent months fighting, but they protested that others were snuck in at the last minute. That included not just new early voting limits for Sunday but also a provision that could make it easier to overturn an election. Under the bill, a judge could void a candidates victory if the number of fraudulent votes cast could change the outcome, regardless of whether it was proved that the fraud actually had affected the result. It's the sort of provision that could allow a favorable judge to side with a candidate who makes broad claims of fraud with little specific evidence as Trump did with virtually no success. Democrats and voting groups were particularly alarmed about it because the GOP has continued to embrace Trump even after he tried to overturn the 2020 election on phony claims of extensive fraud. Hours before the vote was set to take place Sunday, Democrats packed into a back room with Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan. We weren't getting satisfactory answers about why the bill had gotten so much worse," Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa said. Most of us walked away from that meeting understanding that this was our only option." The coalition deal that could topple Netanyahu Israel is moving toward a government coalition deal that could sideline Benjamin Netanyahu, the countrys longest-serving prime minister. An ultranationalist power-broker, Naftali Bennett, said on Sunday that his political party would work with seven others to build a winning coalition, including both leftist and far-right members. Netanyahu fired back, calling the proposed coalition a government of capitulation. The prime ministers post would rotate between Bennett, a champion of the religious right who rejects the concept of a sovereign Palestinian state, and Yair Lapid, a voice of secular centrists. The coalition government would also rely on the support of a small Arab Islamist party, Raam, which has roots in the same religious stream as Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip. Raam is not likely to play a formal role in the coalition, but it is expected to support the new government at the Knesset confidence vote. And how does a segment of the population that is losing its numerical majority as the populations of other ethnic and racial groups, particularly Hispanics and Asians, surge maintain control in a democracy? It abandons the basic tenets of democracy, thats how. It redefines democracy smaller. It excludes more people from participation while granting more power to others. Republicans blocking the independent commission to look into an insurrection that targeted the Capitol on the day that Congress was set to certify the results of the presidential election is extraordinary in every way. Republicans refused to defend democracy from a mob that came to upend it. But it isnt only Republicans in Congress chipping away at democracy, its happening all around the country. The latest raft of voter suppression bills is another example. Republicans dont want to appeal to the existing and evolving electorate; they want to shave it down to a form more desirable to them. Perhaps one of the more pernicious features are measures, like those in a Texas bill, that would make it easier for states to overturn results of elections. As The Houston Chronicle put it, not only would the bill change the burden of proof for fraud charges from clear and convincing evidence to preponderance of the evidence, a related measure would then allow a judge to overturn an election if the total number of ballots found to be fraudulent exceeds the margin of victory. The Chronicle continued, In such cases, a judge could declare the election void without attempting to determine how individual voters voted. On the front end, Republicans are trying to limit the numbers and kinds of people who can vote, and on the back end, they are trying to give themselves the option of voiding those votes. LONDON The board game is roughly 4,500 years old. Shaped like a bird of prey, it has holes running down its wings and chest, where the pieces were once positioned. Its one of a few dozen ancient objects that were set to travel from the National Museum of Iran for a spectacular exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum here. But they never came. Other artifacts that were set to be shown as detailed and illustrated and in the catalog for that exhibition Epic Iran included a gold mask, a long-handled silver pan and a carved stone goblet. To secure the loans, the museum was in longstanding talks with the National Museum of Iran until early 2020, said Tristram Hunt, the director of the Victoria & Albert Museum, also known as the V&A. At a certain point, silence began to descend, and I dont think that was internal to them, he said in an interview. There were outside political forces. Ironically, the overarching purpose of Epic Iran, according to Hunt, was to put aside the political tensions that have dogged relations between Iran and the West since the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of an Islamic Republic. Students abducted after gunmen attack on school in Nigeria Xinhua) 13:55, May 31, 2021 ABUJA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian police on Sunday said a group of gunmen killed one resident and abducted some students following an attack in the country's north-central state of Niger. Adamu Usman, police chief in Niger state, told Xinhua on phone the school children were abducted after the unidentified gunmen attacked the Salihu Tanko Islamiya School in Tegina, a town in the Rafi local government area of the state. A large number of the gunmen on motorcycles stormed the town on Sunday afternoon, shooting indiscriminately and killing one resident of the town in the process, said Usman. He, however, declined to give the exact number of students kidnapped during the attack. Local media reported over 200 students of the school were kidnapped by the gunmen. The school is an unconventional one where parents send their children on a daily basis for the purpose of acquiring Islamic education, according to the local broadcaster Channels Television. Niger police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun told Xinhua on phone the security agency is yet to ascertain how many children were abducted from the school. An investigation has been launched to that effect. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) It wasnt anything... it really and truly was jealously. It wasnt a gang related issue, it wasnt a drug-related issue, his mother said. Nobody knows how hard I worked to make sure my kids are OK. People dont know the devastation theyre causing, and how many lives theyre destroying when they take somebodys child. A year ago, the name Olivia Rodrigo barely registered in the music business. Back then, she was a teenage Disney actress who had moderate success contributing to the soundtrack of her show High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. What a difference a year makes or even just five months, since her song Drivers License exploded in January. Rodrigo, 18, is now a pop superstar with two No. 1 singles and a blockbuster No. 1 album a social-media phenomenon following in the footsteps of her idol Taylor Swift, who performs at major awards shows and speaks confidently about her lineage as a songwriter. The Grammy buzz is brewing. (Shes already playing the celebrity-swag-box game.) Historically the Western has been this super masculine genre the male cowboy, the male rancher, the male outlaw, North said. Its a genre that was ripe to be reinvented or mined. Theres something interesting and powerful about these myths, and it can be fun and liberating to play with that and create something thats your own. Other writers are exposing the way that Westerns frequently feature Native and immigrant characters as generic villains or victims, if they appear at all. Tea Obrehts 2019 novel Inland, set in the American West in the late 19th century, featured an unorthodox cowboy: an immigrant from the Ottoman Empire riding a camel instead of a horse, whose supernatural abilities include the ability to sense the feelings of the dead. Lins book is among the new Westerns that explore the lives of Chinese Americans and immigrants, who have largely been omitted from the cultural history of the West. Chinese immigrants made up to 90 percent of the work force on the Central Pacific railroad line, but they were often exploited and denigrated, and were later banned from gaining citizenship by the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Jenny Tinghui Zhang, a Chinese American writer from Austin, set her forthcoming debut novel, Four Treasures of the Sky, against the backdrop of the Exclusion Act. It follows a girl named Daiyu who is kidnapped from China in the 1880s and taken to the American frontier, where she tries to find a place in the face of anti-Chinese sentiment and violence against immigrants. Were beginning to question a lot of the foundational, overly simplistic mythologies about the country, and the Western as a genre seems like a perfect vehicle to challenge those, said C Pam Zhang, whose Booker Prize-longlisted 2020 debut, How Much of These Hills Is Gold, is set during the Gold Rush in a fablelike version of the West where tigers roam. Zhang, who grew up reading Little House on the Prairie, said she wanted to write a frontier adventure story that explored the loneliness of the immigrant experience, and the clash between civilization and wilderness. In How Much of These Hills Is Gold, two orphaned Chinese American siblings, one of them transgender, set out with a stolen horse in search of their fortune and a burial place for their father. China says people can have three kids China said on Monday that it would allow all married couples to have three children, ending a two-child policy and moving to avert a demographic crisis. The labor pool is shrinking and the population is graying, threatening the industrial strategy that China has used for decades to become an economic powerhouse. But its far from clear whether the new rule will actually result in a population increase. Even since the two-child policy, in 2016, followed years of the repressive one-child policy, people have chosen not to have children. High costs of living and a tough work culture have made people wary. In an attempt to respond to those concerns, the Communist Party also pledged to improve maternity leave and workplace protections. The model provided was the Pan America Special (which is expected to outsell the base model about two-to-one). The Special has a more expansive electronics package and semiactive suspension. As tested, the bikes weighed about 574 pounds and carried a price tag of about $21,500. The response this time was far from underwhelming. I didnt really have doubts that the engineers could do a good job, said Kevin Duke, the editor in chief at Thunder Press, who has been writing about motorcycles for 25 years. But I was skeptical that they could enter a new market segment and be that good right out of the box. Mr. Duke was so impressed by his test ride that it changed his attitude about the company. The news about Harley for the past couple of years has been quite pessimistic, he said. With the older demographic aging out, there was no real hint at what the company could do to gain market share, but this really changes it. The new motor is that good. Harley-Davidson calls itself the Motor Company. True to that slogan, engineers acknowledge that they created the motor first and then asked themselves what they could do with it. The only thing the Revolution Max has in common with other Harley engines is that its a V-twin. It produces 150 horsepower and revs to 9,500 r.p.m. roughly double the red line of its cruiser cousins. Forget the laconic potato-potato exhaust note of those slow-revving traditional cruisers; this one roars. The new motor features a balance shaft so effective that engineers admitted to putting a little vibration back in so it would feel like a Harley. It features computer-controlled variable valve timing that is more sophisticated than anything else in the market. The result is a motor thats ferocious when used aggressively but docile when it has to be, at slow speeds on tricky terrain. Like the other motorcycles in this class, the Pan America offers a range of ride modes that adjust throttle response, anti-lock brake settings and traction control for rain, street or sport road settings, as well as two off-road settings. Owners can also create their own ride modes. The global economy is expected to recover from the coronavirus pandemic faster than expected this year, as vaccinations in advanced economies and an enormous fiscal stimulus package in the United States unleash pent-up business activity and job creation, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said on Monday. But the pace of the recovery still hinges on vaccination programs and the ability of governments to beat back new variants of the virus, raising fresh risks even as economic activity starts to rev back up in most parts of the world, the organization said in its latest economic outlook. The organization sharply raised its forecast for global growth to 5.8 percent in 2021, up from a 4.2 percent projection in December. It said the pace of expansion would cool to 4.5 percent in 2022 as government support programs unwind. A government stimulus-led upturn in the United States, where President Biden is betting on a $2 trillion infrastructure package to end the effects of the pandemic faster, has helped improve the global outlook, the group said. China continues to experience the worlds strongest rebound, also lifting the global outlook. My employer, a large university, recently instructed us in an email titled Vaccine Etiquette not to ask fellow employees if they are vaccinated. I feel I have an interest in knowing this information for two reasons: First, the C.D.C. offers different guidelines for the vaccinated and unvaccinated. So I need this information to know which guidelines to follow. Second, if we are engaging in behavior that creates risk (e.g., breathing in an enclosed space), I have an interest in knowing what the risks are, in the same way that before having sex with someone I have a cognizable interest in knowing their S.T.D. status. Most people would not consider asking a person their S.T.D. status rude when both parties are engaging in potentially risky behavior. Why is this different? Do I have an ethical right to ask about vaccine status, even if its rude? Name Withheld Given that our country has had roughly 600,000 pandemic deaths, I wonder whether etiquette is the most apposite term here. Use your flatware from the outside in; hold the door open for the person behind you such is the usual remit of etiquette. But when public-health officials devise and promulgate guidelines that involve public health, they do not consult Amy Vanderbilt. As you note, the C.D.C.s behavioral guidelines vary with peoples vaccination status. If someone may be increasing your risk of illness, youre entitled to know. And if youre entitled to know, youre entitled to ask. People, of course, may decline to answer, in which case it would be reasonable to assume that they have not been vaccinated. (Despite the claims of a certain Georgia congresswoman, I should add, HIPAA has no bearing on what you or your employer can ask; it restricts disclosures made by health care providers and insurers.) Getting vaccinated makes a person much less likely to transmit the virus, but if such transmission does occur, those most vulnerable to infection are the unvaccinated. So asking about someones status would show consideration for that person too. And of course, colleagues who are open with one another about their vaccination status are probably getting on better than those who arent. We know that Latinos, more than many other groups, were directly impacted in a very negative way by the pandemic, said Representative Nydia M. Velazquez, a New York Democrat who was the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and is supporting Maya D. Wiley in the mayoral race. So people want to know, what are you going to do to address those inequities that were exposed during Covid-19? The so-called Latino vote in New York is diverse generationally and geographically, culturally and ideologically. Indeed the political spectrum runs the gamut from young, left-wing Latino New Yorkers typified by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and up-and-coming lawmakers from parts of Queens, to culturally conservative voters across the city who voted for former President Donald J. Trump in surprising numbers last fall. New York Citys immigrant neighborhoods strongly favored President Biden but virtually every predominantly Latino precinct shifted significantly to the right compared with the 2016 election results, including heavily Dominican neighborhoods in Manhattan and the Bronx, and in Corona, Queens, where there is a large Latino population. But without a front-running Hispanic candidate in the race, the political demographic is considered to be mostly up for grabs. You have so many candidates running for mayor, and only one is really a Latina, said the longtime political strategist Luis A. Miranda Jr. He was referencing Dianne Morales, a left-wing candidate who identifies as Afro-Latina. (Kathryn Garcia, the former sanitation commissioner, is white, though her ex-husband is of Puerto Rican descent and she has referenced the fact that her children are half Puerto Rican.) You really need validators from our community that are telling you, So-and-so is good for the Latino community, so-and-so is good for the neighborhood you live in, Mr. Miranda said. (Neither Mr. Miranda nor his son, the actor and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, has endorsed a candidate in the race.) Mr. Adams may have the most significant institutional support in the field, reflecting his background as a veteran city politician with extensive relationships. He promises to be a blue-collar mayor who connects in working-class communities and prioritizes public safety. As the mayoral campaign of Dianne Morales, a progressive champion, continues to disintegrate around her, a moderate has ascended in the polls. Kathryn Garcia, the former sanitation commissioner, continued to gain momentum, and even some negative attention from a rival who once lavished praise on her. The polling in the mayors race remains spare and potentially unreliable, but if it is to be believed, three of the front-runners in the race Andrew Yang, the former presidential candidate; Eric Adams, the Brooklyn borough president; and now Ms. Garcia are moderate Democrats, not progressives. That may have something to do with the post-pandemic state of New York City. But it may also have something to do with the progressives inability to unify behind a particular candidate. Garcia gets a super PAC It is the new, must-have accessory for any serious New York mayoral candidate, and Ms. Garcia is finally getting one, too a super PAC. I received word my parishioner was dead on May 2. Another member of our church who used to speak with him weekly became concerned when he didnt make his regular call. Since the pandemics start, hed always tried to be the first in line at the phone, for fear of using the receiver after someone who was infected. A few days later, a hospital near Fishkill called her to report his death. She became emotional recently as we talked about the states handling of his case. Life had no meaning for them, she said of the prison officials. No one outside the prison even knew he was sick. I lived under the shadow of my parishioners death for almost a year, returning often to the sense of powerlessness he felt in trying to protect his own life. Eventually, I decided to look into the states Covid-19 prison response. What Ive learned confirms the outrage and condemnation of watchdog groups, including the failing grade for Covid-19 response given to New York by the Prison Policy Initiative last June. In the spring of 2020, when my parishioner died and while New York was reporting thousands of new cases daily statewide, it was already apparent that the state was unprepared to respond to the unfolding crisis in its prisons. In March that year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo proudly announced the states own line of hand sanitizer, made conveniently by the State of New York. He failed to explain that the sanitizer was bottled in a state correctional facility by incarcerated people at the same time that Covid-19 infections were skyrocketing in those places. The state didnt actually mandate the availability of sanitizer in correctional facilities until the end of the month. The close quarters of Fishkills congregate setting were a tinderbox for largely unmasked residents without adequate access to testing, but it wasnt until mid-May a week after my parishioner died that the state reported it had completed distributing masks in its facilities. Advocacy groups say there wasnt consistent access to masks even after that: Laurie Dick, who runs the grass-roots advocacy group Beacon Prison Action, told me that during a demonstration outside the prison around Thanksgiving, people inside opened windows and yelled that they needed masks. I couldnt believe that in November still they were struggling with masks, she said. After all this, the state largely withheld the single most important measure to save lives: the vaccine. The Health Departments phase one vaccine eligibility list included residents of all state-run congregate living settings except prisons. In March, Judge Alison Tuitt of the State Supreme Court in the Bronx ordered New York to offer vaccines to all incarcerated people, adding that their exclusion from access was unfair and unjust. Who can we hold accountable for this failure to adequately protect New York States incarcerated people? I reached out to the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), which operates New Yorks prisons, to ask who was in charge of the states Covid-19 prison policy. It provided me with extensive information, including this written statement: From the onset of the Covid-19 health crisis, NYS DOCCS has worked around-the-clock with the governors office and multiple state agencies to ensure the protection of both the incarcerated population and our staff. It is true that after the first peak of infections, DOCCS carried out Covid-19 mitigation measures, including the early release of almost 4,000 incarcerated people. But the language of this statement is unclear about who ultimately calls the shots DOCCS or Governor Cuomo. If we dont know whos making the decisions, we dont know who to engage, said Stefen Short, a supervising lawyer at the Legal Aid Societys Prisoners Rights Project, which helped litigate the vaccine case against the state. Of course, the road to political obsolescence is littered with the bones of political analysts like me who predicted that demographics would be destiny. But Mr. Trump didnt just devastate the G.O.P.s fledgling class of up-and-coming talent. He also rattled the already precarious loyalty of young Republican voters; from December 2015 to March 2017, nearly half of Republicans under 30 left the party, according to Pew. Many returned, but by 2017, nearly a quarter of young conservatives had defected. Millennials and Gen Zers were already skeptical of the G.O.P., but Mr. Trump alienated them even further. His campaign of white grievance held little appeal for the two most racially diverse generations in U.S. history. Youth voter turnout was higher in 2020 than it was in 2016, with 60 percent of young voters picking Joe Biden. His youth vote margin was sufficient to put him over the top in key states like Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia, according to an analysis by Tufts University, and young voters of color were particularly energized. Contrary to conventional wisdom that young people are always liberal and older people are always conservative, most voters form their political attitudes when theyre young and tend to stay roughly consistent as they age. And anti-Trumpism may now be one of the most durable political values of Americans under 50. By the end of Mr. Trumps presidency, after the Jan. 6 insurrection, almost three-quarters of Americans under 50 said they strongly disapproved of him. Even young Republicans were cooling off: According to a new CBS poll, Republicans under 30 were more than twice as likely as those older than 44 to believe that Mr. Biden was the legitimate winner of the 2020 election and roughly twice as likely to believe the party shouldnt follow Mr. Trumps lead on race issues. Younger conservatives arent focused on the election being stolen or the cultural sound bites, said Benji Backer, the president of the American Conservation Coalition, a conservative climate action group. He told me that Ms. Stefanik had distanced herself from the youth conservation movement, after years of being one of the most climate-conscious Republicans in Congress. Now, he said, peddling misinformation about the election and Jan. 6 has made it harder for young people to look up to her as a future voice in the party. The new G.O.P. of 2015 has been replaced by a newer G.O.P.: a cohort of young Republican leaders who seem far more concerned with owning the libs on social media than with proposing conservative solutions to issues that matter to young people. This cohort includes millennials like Representative Matt Gaetz and Representative Lauren Boebert as well as Representative Madison Cawthorn, a Gen Z-er, all Trump loyalists who voted to overturn the electoral vote result. Mr. Gaetz introduced a bill to terminate the Environmental Protection Agency, Ms. Boebert introduced a bill to designate antifa as a domestic terrorist organization, and Mr. Cawthorn has so embraced the Trumpian ethos of rhetoric as leadership that he once said he built my staff around comms rather than legislation. Its clear that this version of the Republican Party is firmly the party of old people: Mr. Gaetz and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene kicked off their America First tour with a Trumpian rally at the Villages, Floridas famous retirement community. John C. Hirsh Washington The writer teaches medieval literature at Georgetown University. Vaccine Passports for College and Travel To the Editor: Re For Colleges, Inoculation Mandates Often Hinge on the Party in Power (news article, May 23): To colleges and universities worried about political pressure (or driving students elsewhere) if they require the coronavirus vaccine, I have a simple suggestion: Require all students and staff to be tested for Covid daily and to wear a mask on campus, but waive this requirement for anyone who is fully vaccinated. Join Michael Barbaro and The Daily team as they celebrate the students and teachers finishing a year like no other with a special live event. Catch up with students from Odessa High School, which was the subject of a Times audio documentary series. We will even get loud with a performance by the drum line of Odessas award-winning marching band, and a special celebrity commencement speech. Treating the vaccine like a passport to freedom (which it is) rather than a mandate will reduce the backlash. Requiring those who opt out to take other precautions will keep everyone safe, while providing a huge incentive to those otherwise reluctant to get vaccinated. Page Fortna New York The writer is a professor of political science at Columbia University. To the Editor: The U.S. government is requiring all American citizens coming back from abroad to present a negative Covid test taken in a foreign country within 72 hours of the return flight. This requirement applies to everybody, even those citizens who were fully vaccinated in the United States before going on a trip. The cost and quality of such tests vary by country, but I know that it is $150 in Nicaragua per person. For a family of four that went on vacation that is a $600 expense. It is also an inconvenience for someone traveling for a short business trip, as the traveler may need to spend additional time awaiting test results. The U.S. government is not issuing a vaccine passport that will simply prove that the person is fully vaccinated. This is a complete absurdity. What is the reason for not issuing a vaccine passport? Leonel Arana Guzman Coral Gables, Fla. Why Is the Birthrate Declining? (And Thats Good.) To the Editor: Re Pandemic Led to Faster Drop in U.S. Births (front page, May 5): You report that the continuing decline in the birthrate, which began after the Great Recession, has led demographers to wonder whether something else is going on. The standard analysis usually centers on economic issues: the costs of raising children, or delaying having children to advance womens careers. Only about 61 percent of the adults in Montana are employed at the moment. That leaves more than 300,000 who arent working. So I was surprised when the states Republican governor, Greg Gianforte, declared in May that Montana is experiencing a labor shortage. In capitalist countries, the standard remedy for labor shortages is to recruit workers by offering higher wages or other inducements. Mr. Gianforte has a different plan in mind. Beginning June 27, the state will reduce weekly payments to unemployed workers by $300, cutting off a federal subsidy that was scheduled to run through early September. This struck other Republican governors as such a good idea that 23 other states have since announced plans to follow Montanas example. Together they intend to reject more than $26 billion in federal aid payments to 4.5 million unemployed workers money that would have helped those workers and surely would have been spent mostly in those states. A lot of people are going to get hurt, and the pain will not be distributed randomly. States administer unemployment benefits because racist Southern senators in the 1930s and the 1940s prevented the creation of a federal system. Almost a century later, Southern states still operate the stingiest unemployment programs. In recent years, for example, unemployed workers in New Jersey have been roughly five times as likely to qualify for jobless benefits as those in North Carolina. The benefits in New Jersey are larger and last longer, too. I moved to Tulsa in the summer of 1984, fresh out of Harvard Law School and eager to settle into a law firm career in a midsize, cosmopolitan city close to my hometown. Early on, when I began writing a guest editorial column for the local Black newspaper, The Oklahoma Eagle, the editor asked that I write a series about the Greenwood District. I grew up in Fort Smith, Ark., about 100 miles southeast of Tulsa, but Id known nothing of Tulsas history nothing about Black Wall Street, nothing about the massacre that was one of the worst episodes of racial domestic terrorism in our countrys history. But I soon learned, and though the story was horrifying, it drew me in. As time passed, this lawyer by profession became a historian by trade. The newspaper series led me to write other articles and books, to teaching and to lecturing about the events, which are emblematic of American history of that period and the widespread historical racial trauma that still bedevils us. When I think about how we can help people better understand the past, I hark back to the commitment and creativity of the Mayo schools teachers. Their boldness so many years ago still holds a lesson for me and for anyone who is teaching the truth of our countrys history. Honesty and balance are our allies, as is the ability to give people the benefit of the doubt, to recognize that people do not know what they do not know. We must give people the opportunity to learn and grow, just as those teachers did. Its not easy. There will be resistance. Just weeks ago, Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma signed House Bill 1775 into law, which bans the states schools from teaching about notions of racial superiority and racism and even about concepts that might engender discomfort, guilt, anguish. Its true that the bill does not prohibit the teaching of concepts that align with the Oklahoma Academic Standards, and the Tulsa Race Massacre is included in those standards. But having taught this history to both adults and children for more than two decades, I believe a chilling effect is likely. Some teachers may avoid the subject for fear of running afoul of the law; others may soft-pedal it. Oklahoma is not alone. This bill is part of a national movement aimed at racial retrenchment, a backlash against the embrace of diversity, equity and inclusion. And this state is not alone, either, in the way this backlash threatens to prevent us from confronting and repairing the sins of the past. Though the Tulsa Race Massacre may be distinguished by its scale, American history between the end of Reconstruction and the victories of the civil rights movement is marked by bouts of mass anti-Black violence. Privacy advocates like Ms. Ram have been worried about genetic genealogy since 2018, when it was used to great fanfare to reveal the identity of the Golden State Killer, who murdered 13 people and raped dozens of women in the 1970s and 80s. After matching the killers DNA to entries in two large genealogy databases, GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA, investigators in California identified some of the culprits cousins, and then spent months building his family tree to deduce his name Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. and arrest him. Ms. Ram subsequently published an article in a law journal calling on Maryland lawmakers to act against the practice. Granting police access to a suspects genome, she argued, including markers of sensitive health information, was akin to an unreasonable search, which is banned by the Fourth Amendment. In 2019, she testified to a state House committee after a delegate, Charles Sydnor, who is now a state senator, introduced legislation that would have banned the method outright. The ban did not pass. But it prompted discussions with legal experts, public defenders, prosecutors and police officers that led to a compromise bill, which passed unanimously this term in the state House and Senate. This bill strikes a balance between this very important technology to identify people that do the very worst things to our Marylanders, yet it balances that against the privacy concerns and the trust that we need from the public, John Fitzgerald, the chief of the Chevy Chase Village Police Department, testified to the Maryland House Judiciary Committee in February. But some experts said that the law could put a damper on the technologys use in Maryland. For one thing, the law states that by 2024, genealogists working on such cases must be professionally certified a credential that does not yet exist. For weeks, thousands of people have crowded the streets of Colombia, protesting inequality, rising poverty and police violence. President Ivan Duque has deployed the countrys military and police forces, and more than 40 people have died. On April 28, during a demonstration in Bogota, three young dancers confronted their fear of violence there through the ultimate expression of life: dance. Piisciis, or Akhil Canizales, 25; Nova, or Felipe Velandia, 25 both of whom identify as nonbinary and Axid, or Andres Ramos, 20, who is trans, were recognized by other protesters in the crowd because of a viral video of them dancing that they posted to social media two weeks before. We decided to go out to protest for our human rights but also for there to be some visibility for the L.G.B.T.Q. and nonbinary community, Piisciis said. What if fictional characters were stuck in an infernal, hopeless time loop, a cross between No Exit and being on hold with Delta Air Lines? You can imagine that the siblings in Three Sisters would like the opportunity to stop talking about going to Moscow and finally finally! do it. Such is the premise of the Arlekin Players Theaters ingenious interactive show chekhovOS/an experimental game/, which takes place in a virtual realm where the Russian playwrights characters rise up against their creator (portrayed by Mikhail Baryshnikov). We are tired of Anton Pavlovich Chekhovs plays being performed, and we are tired of being perpetually unhappy in his world, they tell the audience. We beg of you let us move on. The theatergoers, who are watching on Zoom, can vote to set Vanya and company free or can, for example, decide that this time around, the cherry orchard will not be cut down. To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android. GUERNSEY, Wyo. It was a few days before New Years Eve 2019, and Terri VanDam, the chief of Guernsey, Wyo.s three-person Police Department, had run out of options. For more than a year, Ms. VanDam and her sergeant, Misty Clevenger, had tried and failed to get to the bottom of the drug and alcohol problem in Guernsey, population 1,124. Methamphetamine use was rampant, and much of it was bought and sold right at the bars, they were told, but when anyone tried to investigate, they ran into a wall of silence that went right up to City Hall. Not long after she had first started asking questions, she said, she had found a dead bird on her front porch, with a nail driven through it. Now, as chief, she had opened a full-scale investigation, and two townspeople warned that they had overheard the mayor talk about crippling the Police Department. A day set aside to honor the sacrifices of the nations veterans, Memorial Day 2021 was especially poignant a year after many memorial ceremonies and many family trips and barbecues were curtailed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Parades that had been canceled in 2020 were back in 2021. Services held online last year resumed in person this year. Holiday traffic returned, as did beach outings at least in parts of the country not cursed with cold, rainy weather. President Biden honored the fallen at Arlington National Cemetery, delivering an emotional speech under a blue, sunlit sky just a day after the six-year anniversary of the death of his son Beau, who had served in Iraq. It can hurt to remember, but the hurt is how we feel, and how we heal, Mr. Biden said after placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns. He called on Americans to keep the fallen members of the military in their minds. Were free because they were brave, he said. We heard the shots, but we dont know anything more because we were sleeping, said neighbor Iris Hernandez, 44. At the beginning I did think they were shots, but there were so many that then I thought they were maybe fireworks. So thats what happened we stayed there, really thinking they were fireworks. Only when I went to the bathroom I realized that all the police were here. Its worrisome. Democrats in the Texas Legislature staged a dramatic, late-night walkout on Sunday night to force the failure of a sweeping Republican overhaul of state election laws. The move, which deprived the session of the minimum number of lawmakers required for a vote before a midnight deadline, was a stunning setback for state Republicans who had made a new voting law one of their top priorities. The effort is not entirely dead, however. Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, indicated that he would call a special session of the Legislature, which could start as early as June 1, or Tuesday, to restart the process. The governor has said that he strongly supported an election bill, and in a statement he called the failure to reach one on Sunday deeply disappointing. He was widely expected to sign whatever measure Republicans passed. Election Integrity & Bail Reform were emergency items for this legislative session, Mr. Abbott said on Twitter on Sunday night. They will be added to the special session agenda. He did not specify when the session would start. While Republicans would still be favored to pass a bill in a special session, the unexpected turn of events on Sunday presents a new hurdle in their push to enact a far-reaching election law that would install some of the most rigid voting restrictions in the country, and cement the state as one of the hardest in which to cast a ballot. Among women in the study, nearly half reported using the licensed abortion drug misoprostol or another medication in their most recent attempt to self-terminate a pregnancy, while 38 percent used herbs they heard could induce abortion, and nearly 20 percent used a physical method, such as being hit in the abdomen. Nearly 28 percent said they had succeeded in ending the pregnancy. Among those who had failed, 33.6 percent subsequently had abortions at a clinic (often 100 miles or more from home), and 13.4 percent continued the pregnancy. Eleven percent said they had suffered a complication following their self-attempt at abortion. The most common reasons they gave for having tried to end a pregnancy on their own, without involving the health care system, were that it seemed easier or faster, that the procedure at a facility was too expensive and that the nearest clinic was too far away. Although this survey did not include adolescents, pregnant teens are often reluctant or unable to seek parental consent that many states require for a medically supervised abortion, which prompts some teens to attempt a self-induced abortion. According to Dr. Ralph and co-authors, abortion clinics and practitioners report caring for an increasing number of individuals who have attempted self-managed abortions. The researchers predicted that efforts by women to induce abortions on their own will become increasingly common as access to facility-based abortion care continues to decline. For instance, the last clinic in Missouri that provides abortions, operated by Planned Parenthood, could be forced to stop the practice in a dispute with state regulators. It won a reprieve to continue operating through next May. Missouri and Mississippi are among a number of states in which lawmakers have banned abortions in early pregnancy, and most recently Texas banned all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, a point at which the vast majority of women dont yet know they are pregnant. Last month, the Supreme Court accepted a case that could result in overturning Roe v. Wade. As more abortion clinics close and restrictions increase, the convenience of self-managed abortions will likely make them more prevalent, Dr. Ralph said in an interview. Just because states make abortion more difficult to access doesnt mean the need for abortion will go away. We should make sure that women have the safest and most effective methods available. She noted that pandemic-induced limitations on in-person medical visits may have made it easier for women in many states to access self-managed abortion in their homes. More doctors are now willing to provide abortion counseling over the phone and may even distribute abortion medication by mail or hand it to women in the parking lot, she said. Used correctly within 70 days of the start of a womans last menstrual period (10 weeks gestation), medical abortion is effective in ending pregnancy more than 95 percent of the time, the Guttmacher Institute has reported. There are two prescription drugs, best used in combination, that can induce abortion early in pregnancy. One, an oral drug called mifepristone, is taken first to block the hormone progesterone needed for pregnancy to continue; the other, misoprostol, is dissolved in the mouth or inserted vaginally one or two days later to induce contractions and expel the contents of the uterus, ending the pregnancy. MARJA, Afghanistan The Afghan pilots discussed the approach into the small cluster of forward operating bases in Afghanistans south over tea and a lunch of rice pulao, much like surgeons discussing their next procedure. It would be quick, no more than 40 seconds on the ground, both helicopters landing at the same time, unloading the supplies before yanking up fast to get away from the easily targeted landing zones. Do you have body armor? one pilot asked another Times journalist and me. A flight of small gunships formed up alongside as we approached the first base, once called Camp Hanson after a U.S. Marine who was killed there in early 2010. Its now known as Kem bazaar, but a decade later, the Taliban are still close. Dropping altitude rapidly, we banked hard before flaring and touching down. The helicopters crew threw the supplies out the open doors, the rotors pushing up dust and sand. China on Monday increased the number of children married couples are legally permitted to have, to three from two, in an effort to stave off a looming crisis as the birthrate in the worlds most populous country steadily falls. The country of 1.4 billion people, which introduced a one-child policy in 1980 to slow population growth, has implemented some of the worlds most invasive family planning practices. But as the countrys work force has aged, the government has increased the legal size of families. Heres a look at Chinas population policy as covered over the decades by The New York Times. 1978 With the failed Communist Party policies of the Cultural Revolution and Great Leap Forward behind it, China looks for ways to slow the growth of the worlds most populous nation, which is nearing one billion people. For a few glorious weeks, Zou Xiaoqi, a single mother in Shanghai, felt accepted by her government. After giving birth in 2017, Ms. Zou, a financial worker, went to court to challenge Shanghais policy of giving maternity benefits to married women only. She had little success, losing a lawsuit and two appeals. Then, earlier this year, the city suddenly dropped its marriage requirement. In March, a jubilant Ms. Zou received a benefits check in her bank account. She had barely begun celebrating when the government reinstated the policy just weeks later. Unmarried women were once again ineligible to receive government payments for medical care and paid leave. I always knew there was this possibility, Ms. Zou, 45, said. If they make me give the money back, I guess Ill give it back. The flip-flop by the Shanghai authorities reflects a broader reckoning in China about longstanding attitudes toward family and gender. But until this month, South Korea had been banned from developing ballistic missiles with a range of more than 497 miles. With the guidelines lifted completely, South Korea can now build ballistic missiles that can fly far beyond the peninsula, although it has never announced such a plan. The lifting of the missile cap is a stark reminder of the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK and its shameful double-dealing, said a statement carried by the Norths official Korean Central News Agency, using the acronym of the Norths official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. The statement marked the first time North Koreas state media reacted to the Moon-Biden summit. It was attributed to Kim Myong-chol, an international affairs critic, rather than a government agency, indicating that Pyongyang was still developing an official government response. North Korea has often used various channels, including official government statements or state-media commentaries like the one on Monday, to respond to diplomatic announcements. During their summit, Mr. Biden and Mr. Moon agreed to seek diplomacy and dialogue with the North, and to build on the 2018 Singapore agreement, which former President Donald J. Trump signed with North Koreas leader, Kim Jong-un. The speedup is part of a new program started in April, which offers current or former staff employed by the British government assessed to be under serious threat to life priority relocation to Britain, regardless of their employment status, role or length of time served. The U.S. government is also grappling with the fate of thousands of Afghans, many of whom served as interpreters, awaiting approval of visa applications that would allow them to move to the United States. Gen. Mark A. Milley, the nations top military official, said last week that the Pentagon and State Department were considering the evacuation of interpreters and others who had assisted the American government, though a spokesperson for him later clarified there were no immediate plans to evacuate them. Afghans who have worked for the British government since 2001 can file an application, which is assessed by a defense team at the British Embassy in Kabul. Those relocated have access to a five-year visa after which they can apply for permanent residency. More than 1,360 former Afghan staff and their families have already been relocated in Britain, and the government has estimated that about 3,000 more people will join them. The governments announcement that it was fast-tracking relocations was old wine in new bottles, said Dr. Sara de Jong, a political scientist at the University of York and co-founder of The Sulha Alliance, a group campaigning for Afghan interpreters working for Britains military, adding that the new policy adopted in April had already promised to bring Afghan interpreters and other staff quickly to Britain. Allowing people who had worked in exposed roles eligibility by default was an improvement on a previous policy, which she said rejected hundreds of now eligible applicants. As an example, she said one man the alliance had worked with for three years received notice he would be relocated on Sunday, despite being previously rejected. But on Sunday, he announced his willingness to thrash out a coalition deal with the leader of the opposition, Yair Lapid, declaring that the danger of prolonging the political stasis outweighed the ideological cost of joining a unity government. If they reach an agreement, Mr. Bennett would become prime minister until 2023, at which point Mr. Lapid, a centrist former television host, would take over. But the deal was not yet done by Monday night. Three parties, including Mr. Bennetts, had not formally signed an agreement. Among other last-minute disputes, two parties were wrangling over who would run the agriculture ministry, while a third was still pushing for a place on a pivotal committee that decides judicial appointments, according to a person involved in the negotiations. And a small Arab Islamist party, Raam, had still yet to declare whether it would support the new coalition either informally by voting for it during the confirmation vote in Parliament, or by formally joining the government itself and in the process become the first party run by Palestinian citizens of Israel to back a right-leaning Israeli government. And Mr. Netanyahus party, Likud, was still piling pressure onto wavering right-wing opposition lawmakers, calling on them to abandon the anti-Netanyahu bloc and likely force the country to yet another election that might end more favorably for Mr. Netanyahu. An official of New Hope, a small right-wing party that had yet to formally join the coalition bloc, said that its six lawmakers had received a constant barrage of phone calls and messages throughout Monday from Likud members, who were pushing them to abandon negotiations. Pro-Netanyahu protesters gathered outside the homes of Mr. Bennett and his ally Ayelet Shaked, urging them to reverse course. Both were assigned security details by the police amid concerns they might become the target of political violence. And on the airwaves, Likud lawmakers heightened their criticisms of Mr. Bennett and Ms. Shaked, in a last-gasp effort to jolt them away from Mr. Lapid. Peru says that its Covid-19 death toll is almost three times as high as it had officially counted until now, making it one of the hardest-hit nations relative to its population. In a report released on Monday that combined deaths from multiple databases and reclassified fatalities, the government said that 180,764 people had died from Covid-19 through May 22, almost triple the official death toll of about 68,000. The new figure would mean that more people have died in Peru relative to its population than in Hungary and the Czech Republic, the countries with the highest official death tolls per person, according to a New York Times database. The report landed at a precarious moment for Perus government, just days before the second round of a closely watched presidential election. Peru has struggled to contain the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and its official death toll before the revised estimate was already the ninth highest per capita in the world. As early as last June, far more deaths were occurring there than would be expected in a normal year, and the gap a figure known as excess deaths was much larger than the number of deaths officially attributed to Covid-19, according to New York Times data. That was a warning sign to experts that Covid deaths were being undercounted. Photo illustration by Braulio Amado Talk Ancient Rome Will Never Get Old. Take It From Mary Beard. Is America akin to Rome in decline? Was Trump like Caligula? What can the Antonine plague tell us about our response to Covid? These are questions that have been asked of late, but theyre only recent iterations of a longstanding impulse: When a seeming paradigm shift occurs, contemporary commentators will look to ancient Rome for parallels, lessons, warnings. But what do we truly hope to reveal with these comparisons to Rome? And what do those hopes say about us? Mary Beard has spent a lifetime examining such questions. The success with which the Cambridge classics professor, best-selling author, television documentary series host and feisty Twitter star has done so has elevated her to something akin to icon status though, like the subjects she studies, that status is not free of complications, which she welcomes. If Ive got a function in life other than being a bloody dinosaur, says Beard, who is 66, then the job is to say things are complicated. Theyre always complicated. Obviously we can refer back to ancient Rome and say we took positive influence from their ideas about, for example, law and government. These days, though, it seems that pundits are mostly inclined to look to Rome for cautionary tales. But have we ever really looked back and said, Boy, the Ancient Romans screwed that up, so lets do things differently? The comparisons can just feel like a highfalutin parlor game. Ill tell you where you see it: military campaigns. The aggressive or do-gooding West has a disastrous campaign in the Middle East and then people start to say, Ooh, Romans always had trouble there. It looks frightfully learned, and as if its rooting your distaste for that kind of military escapade in the terms of real history when, in fact, its using history to justify what you think anyway. But no, you dont sit down and say, Hmm, the ancient Roman Empire: These are people who were pro-migration. So Im a bit worried about my strongly nationalist tendencies, because Ive looked at Rome and they seemed to do rather well by taking a very different approach. What the Romans are teaching is always at that meta level of what it might be like to take a view different from your own. But, Ive suddenly realized, said somebody in the 1830s, if the ancient Greeks finally got around to giving the vote to all adult males, why cant we? That never happened. So why this almost instinctual urge to continue looking for parallels? You know, when people used to call me about Trump because they wanted to know which Roman emperor youd compare him to, I always thought, This is damn stupid. The comparison wasnt doing anybody any harm, but I would either give a little lesson about why this was not a sensible way forward or I would try to find a Roman emperor that I thought they wouldnt have heard of. I usually picked on Elagabalus, who makes Nero look like a pussycat. So as long as its a parlor game, its harmless. Maybe you then say, So why bother? What is important for me about ancient Rome is two things. One is it provides a safe space for us to discuss issues about communal living, politics, exploitation, in which were not invested. We can talk about Nero putting the Christians to death brutally in a way that doesnt impinge on modern Christians its so far in the past. We can think about enslavement and empire because Rome, in a way, doesnt matter at all. Its a very long time ago; no ones going to get hurt by them. Were in charge of ancient Rome now. Second, Rome helps us stand outside ourselves. For me, Rome was a brutal and exploitative empire. But the idea of looking at a big, nasty imperial community who saw their origin in migration, in asylum, and that always traded on the incorporation of the foreign it takes us out of some of our assumptions. Mary Beard at 18 during a break at an archaeological excavation. Diana Bonakis Webster But on the idea of ancient Rome being a safe space, isnt it a point of contention in contemporary classical scholarship that classics are inextricably intertwined with white supremacy? There is absolutely no doubt that ancient Rome in particular but also bits of ancient Greece have been used to validate fascism, dictatorship, white supremacy. There were things that were whited over: ancient slavery was talked about as if it was some kind of version of 19th-century domestic service. People have always been extremely good at not seeing what they didnt want to see in the ancient world or using the ancient world to validate appalling stuff. That said, there has been a tendency to overestimate the toxic history of subjects, because academic subjects do not exist outside the culture in which theyre studied. So of course classics have a toxic history. Nuclear physics has a toxic history. Anthropology has a toxic history. Its extremely important to look at it and face up to it, but classics wasnt responsible for fascism. We use these things and these traditions, and weve used them for bad and good. But I guess the question is whether you think academias increasing awareness of and sensitivity to new perspectives on white supremacy or even identity politics more broadly requires a commensurate reorientation of how classics are taught? I dont know how much weight youre putting on commensurate. Neither do I. [Laughs.] Well, to take a very tame example, when I was a student we barely did the history of women in the ancient world, never mind gender, gender identity, trans politics. That changed with second-wave feminism. It seems to me utterly obvious that you engage with and change the nature of what you teach as politics changes. Its perhaps more contentious to see exactly how you approach that in relation to a more popular understanding of classics. Because there is a danger that if people get a glimpse of some of the battles in the modern academy and some of the loudest claims about the toxic history of classics, the subject loses support. Every academic subject, in order to survive, relies on people thinking its worth supporting. One thing that Ive tried to do in my teleprograms is to say, Look, the subject is interesting and one of the reasons that we are still studying it is because it has been implicated in the history of the West, and some of that history youve got to look in the eye and its not always nice. You mentioned how second-wave feminism incurred new perspectives on the classics. Are there contemporary aspects of feminist thinking that youve since had to incorporate into your understanding of classics? Im not sure Id call it feminist, but: issues of gender. I was educationally brought up to see ancient Greece but also ancient Rome as a strongly binary-gendered culture that incorporated all kinds of homoeroticism which is what Oscar Wilde and company picked up on. I was taught that theres a fixed binary divide. Various bits of L.G.B.T.Q. theorizing made us keep our eyes open for ways in which thats not true entirely. As one example, theres a famous statue, and it comes in various versions, of a life-size marble Hermaphroditus lying down, and the figure has a penis and breasts. When I was a student, we were taught either that it was a very clever representation of a particularly odd Greek myth or an elegant Greco-Roman joke. There were times when I taught that. I wouldnt today. And while you cannot take debates about gender fluidity, trans politics or whatever and just impose them on the ancient world, Ive come to see that some Romans were fervently debating these things. That Hermaphroditus statue that I was taught was a joke is much more likely now to be seen in terms of a Roman debate about gender and sexual identity. Beard at Newnham College in Cambridge, England, in 2000. Brian Harris/Alamy Speaking of which, a few weeks ago there was this kerfuffle on Twitter when people got mad at you for following TERFs, and your response was basically to say that you follow people not necessarily because you agree with their views but to understand what they think, which didnt seem to satisfy anyone. What did that experience show you about social media? I see, in a way that I hadnt before, that Twitter operates with very different microcommunities within it. Mostly those microcommunities jostle along quite happily with each other, but sometimes they come into conflict. I went on to Twitter 10 years ago because I did journalism with The Times Literary Supplement and was told to have a Twitter account. Youd tweet an article so people would click on it. You followed people that might be saying interesting things even if you disagreed with them. Or perhaps youd follow people because you were going to disagree with them and that was a way in which youd get information. Thats one version of Twitter, which quite a lot of people of my generation hold. Its a version which is based in a degree of privilege. But its now clear to me that there are other people within Twitter who are using it as a support group. They block people they dont want to hear, and theyve created a micro-community within the platform. Thats a perfectly legitimate thing to do. But in my version of Twitter, if you spot somebody saying, She follows some TERFs, you think, Why are you trying to police whom I follow? So what youve brought up is a case in which two versions of Twitter came head to head, and theyre incompatible. I sort of knew that before, but now Im able to describe it more clearly. In this instance were your critics right in making the assumption that your following certain people on Twitter was evidence of ideological sympathy? I see the logic, but I dont agree with it. You want to know what people you dont agree with are saying, and you also want to know what people you dont respect are saying. You dont get a sense of where the argument lies by not looking or not interacting. Im very pleased to think that there are people with whom I agree on some issues and not others. I dont want a world in which we all agree. I want a world in which people feel that they have the standing and confidence to feel that they can disagree. Im interested in why people think as they do. Whatever side of whatever political divide you are, you cant just lock the other side up and put gags around their mouths theres too many of them! But what would it be for me to show them why I think as I do? Thats where history comes in. Look at people in the British 19th century crossing boundaries that we think are absolutely unacceptable: Who backed eugenics? Who opposed the rights of women to any voice in the public sphere? Who opposed the Factory Act? Some of those guys, in other aspects of their life, were doing things that we think of as part of the foundation of modern Britain. So we have to say, What would it be like to be a liberal-reforming late-Victorian male who fundamentally opposed giving women the vote? It could be that theyre all bastards. I just dont think thats true. I think theyre wrong. Thats different. Does all the time youve spent in trying to understand historical peoples mind-sets give you any insight into how we might end up being understood? That, you see, is the $64,000 question. One of the things that history is good for is puncturing our sanctimonious self-satisfaction about our own moral rectitude. In all sorts of ways, we are better than the people who came before us, but one thing that I ask my undergraduates to do is to fast-forward 200 years: What do you think people will be writing essays about us on? What will they find deplorable or puzzling? And once they start to think about it, they get many answers: How can you possibly treat the old in that way? We have dumping grounds for the elderly. History is about learning to put yourself in proportion to a rather longer time span. Beard in 2018 at a premiere event for her BBC documentary series Civilizations. Pete Dadds/BBC My understanding is that the cutting-edge research now on ancient Rome and I dont mean this glibly is on things like the kind of fish scales found in the latrines at Pompeii. Thats a question wed like to answer, but its not going to change our fundamental thinking. So are there still big questions remaining for you about Rome? The book that Ive just finished is about modern images of Roman emperors from the Renaissance to now. I think that provides an example of new questions about classics. I was curious about the lineups of the 12 Caesars on museum shelves. Id walk past those and wouldnt give them another look. Im a bloody classicist, and I thought, Oh, god, another lineup of the 12 Caesars. I dont quite know how I came to work on it, but as soon as you look at how these lineups of boring old busts were put together they knew these guys were foul. They werent sitting there saying, We can all model ourselves on the Caesars. They knew that they were nasty, and they still had them there. Why do you have statues of people you hate? Weve always thought that, Oh, gosh, weve just opened our eyes to this; we know that Domitian was nasty. But our predecessors knew perfectly well, too! Im probably not the first person to have asked the question, but Im the first person to have asked the question recently very publicly, which is: What are these statues doing? What is our investment in a lineup of monsters? How does it relate to our anxieties about statues of people involved in the slave trade? What do we think statues are for, and can the ancient world help us think afresh about this? It isnt novel in the sense that counting the fish scales in a Pompeiian lavatory has a certain novelty about it. But its new for me. Without spoiling your book, can you share some possible answers to those questions? I think these statues are warnings against self-satisfaction. I look at these statues of people I very much dislike, and I think, first of all, Youre wrong and Im right. You might be up on that [expletive] pedestal, but youre wrong. Then I think, But youre a warning to me. One day Ill be wrong. It engenders a little bit of humility. What is amazing about this whole debate is that statues are always being changed around. X is being taken down and were bringing someone else because we think theyre nicer. Even in great ceremonial places like Trafalgar Square, apart from Nelson, hardly any of them were ever intended to be there. Theyre all temp residents. Statues are works in progress. I dont know if this is novel to you, but in the last few years there has been a real resurgence of popular interest in Stoic philosophy whyd you just roll your eyes? All to the good when people are interested in the ancient world, but this is one of the more mystifying bits of interest: cliched self-help from a philosophy that, if you looked at it really hard, was nasty, fatalistic, bordering on fascist. But whats your hunch about why people are being drawn to Stoicism? What comes out in Marcus Aurelius particularly is rather cliched thoughts: Never take a major decision when your mind is troubled. We can all agree with cliches like that. And they come with the rubber stamp of great antiquity because they were written by an emperor an emperor who was about as brutal in massacring the enemy as Julius Caesar. But we tend to forget that side of him because hes a bearded philosopher. Its not very salutary to look at your Amazon ratings, but I always feel terribly pleased though it doesnt happen often when Im higher up than Marcus Aurelius. Opening illustration: Source photograph by Geraint Lewis/Writer Pictures, via Associated Press This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity from two conversations. A Japanese woodworker has developed a three-dimensional wood inlay technique that allows him to create exceptional artworks that require no coloring whatsoever. From intricate carpets carved right into wood flooring, to whimsical furniture that looks warped and cracked, weve feature some awesome wood art over the years, but I think its safe to say that the creations of Japanese woodworker Toru Fukuda are on a whole other level than anything weve ever showed you before. The young craftsman garnered attention recently for his latest work, a simple wooden board with droplets of water on it. Only that water is actually wood that only looks like water. And thats just one of the incredible creations Fukuda has produced, some of which look too good to be true. Photo: Toru Fukuda/Facebook I carved water droplets from wood, Toru Fukuda, a woodworker from Otoineppu Village, Hokkaido, tweeted last week. His cryptic message left his tens of thousands of fans wondering what he had come up with this time, and when he uploaded a photo of his latest artwork, they were not disappointed. Looking at the simple yet impressive creation, you can tell why Fukudas photo got a decent 130,000 likes on Twitter alone. Not only do the droplets look incredibly realistic, they are made exclusively of wood, no actual water, no varnish or coloring whatsoever. So how did he do it? The artist told Japanese magazine Withnews that he simply took a 23-cm-long board of ebony, a hard wood that becomes glossy when polished. He shaved 1.5mm off the top, leaving the outline of the still angular droplets. Then, he carefully beveled each individual droplet, before using find sandpaper to polish them. Finally, he gave the water that shiny, fluid look by rubbing the wooden droplets with a cloth and a bit of wax. The photo of the board alone garnered an impressive number of likes on social media, but it was not the complete artwork. A few days ago, Toru Fukuda also added an insanely detailed wooden butterfly that appears to be drinking from the realistic water droplets. The insect is all wood as well, and features a wing motif done exclusively through wood inlay. Mr. Fukuda is a big fan of insects, so the butterfly featured in his latest work of art is just one of many impressive creatures he has sculpted from wood. His collection also includes large beetles, grasshoppers and other butterflies, all done exclusively from wood, with no coloring. The Hokkaido-based woodworker originally worked for a furniture manufacturing company, but at the age of 20 he decided that he wanted to become an artist, so he dedicated all of his time to using his talents for artistic purposes. In his Twitter bio, Toru Fukuda describes himself as the inventor of three-dimensional wood inlay, which essentially means taking traditional Japanese wood inlay art (Mokuzogan) and applying it to three-dimensional sculptures. This way, he can create strikingly realistic artworks while using only the natural color and texture of the wood. To keep an eye on Toru Fukudas amazing wood art, make sure to follow him on both Twitter and Facebook. For more amazing sculptures, check out the plasticine masterpieces of Mexican artist Amadeus Garuda, and the fondant statuettes of Chinas Sugar King. Pro-competitive laws and regulations can bring greater efficiency to Indonesias logistics sector and help drive long-term economic growth. Over the last few years, Indonesia has improved the performance of its logistics industry, which ranked 46 among 160 countries in the World Banks Logistics Performance Index (LPI) in 2018. In 2019, Indonesias transportation and storage sector accounted for more than 5% of its GDP (around USD 63 billion). Fostering competition in ASEAN is a project that reviews regulatory constraints on competition in the logistics sector in all ten ASEAN member countries to identify regulations that hinder the efficient functioning of markets and create an unlevel playing field for business. It comprises two parallel components: competition assessment reviews of specific logistics sub-sectors and competitive neutrality reviews of small-package delivery services. The project is undertaken in partnership with ASEAN and funded by the ASEAN Economic Reform Programme under the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UK Government). As a result of the project two reports, a competition assessment and a competitive neutrality assessment will be issued for each ASEAN member state. Reports A competition assessment of the logistics sector and a competitive neutrality review of small-package delivery services were virtually launched in co-operation with the Indonesia Competition Commission on 27 May 2021. 31/05/2021 - OECD Ministers have endorsed a new initiative to promote safe international travel during the COVID-19 pandemic at the OECDs annual Ministerial meeting in Paris. The Initiative involves a safe travel blueprint and a temporary international cross-sectoral forum for knowledge sharing. The forum will allow governments and stakeholders to share information in real time on plans and approaches facilitating travel. The blueprint promotes greater certainty, safety and security in travel as reopening takes place. It builds on existing initiatives and aims to increase interoperability amongst travel regimes. It will be used by countries on a voluntary basis. International air passenger transport dropped around 75% in 2020 and international tourism fell by around 80%. For the average OECD country, pre-pandemic, international tourism contributed 4.4% of GDP, 6.9% of employment, and 21.5% of service exports, but with much higher shares for some countries, including Greece, Iceland, Mexico, Portugal and Spain. The halt in international travel and tourism is having a dramatic knock-on impact on the entire, interlinked global economy. "The OECD is in a unique position to help countries coordinate international action in the context of reopening global travel," said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria at the Ministerial meeting in Paris. This initiative will help reduce uncertainty and complexity and enable countries to prepare more effectively for a return to safe international travel and tourism. Without an international framework for travel policies, a patchwork of national and regional rules, inconsistent with each other, will continue to be confusing and costly for travellers and transport and tourism companies, discouraging travel due to the uncertainty and complexity. It could also increase the incidence of use of fraudulent certificates and so undermine the ability of authorities to mitigate public health risks. The OECD Blueprint, initiated by Spain, supports and complements existing international initiatives, such as the European Unions proposed Digital COVID-19 Certificate, by taking a principles-based approach to ensuring that they are compatible with each other, and adopted in a consistent way across a range of countries. The Blueprint is a flexible and voluntary set of guidelines not a legal text. It consists of a traffic-light system to classify risks; guidance on how vaccination should be certified for travel to those countries that decide to take vaccination status into account; protocols for testing travellers in different circumstances; and principles to be followed in generating electronic certificates for travel that ensure privacy protection and security and promote interoperability among systems. Countries that use the OECD Blueprint may do so unilaterally or in bilateral or multilateral agreements, or through mechanisms provided in other bodies, such as, in particular the ICAO Public Health Corridor arrangement. Read the document and the Q&A for more information. For more information, journalists should contact the OECD Media Office (tel. + 33 1 45 24 97 00). 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. THE highly disproportionate number of incidents on the M7 motorway during inclement weather has been repeatedly highlighted by local authority officials and the leader of the Labour Party has reiterated his calls for the dangerous stretch of motorway to be made safe. Meanwhile, the return to pre-pandemic levels of traffic are resulting in tailbacks on the Moneygall junction, where lines of traffic on the motorway's hard shoulder wait to exit and visit the service station facilities. Tipperary TD Alan Kelly has called once again for urgent action to address safety issues on the M7 in Tipperary, following a number of recent collisions on the motorway at Birdhill and near Roscrea. There are obviously safety issues on the stretch of the motorway from Roscrea to Birdhill given the volume of accidents that are happening and unfortunately there has been some loss of life, which brings incredible pain to many families, Deputy Kelly told the Tribune. Many people have now expressed concern regarding the number of collisions near Birdhill and this needs to be investigated immediately. . On Sunday afternoon (May 23) there were several collisions around the same time, which caused the motorway to be shut in both directions for a number of hours. There was also a other accident on Monday morning, Deputy Kelly said. I have raised this issue for a number of years now. Ive raised it with the Minister for Transport, the Junior Minister for Transport and Transport Infrastructure Ireland. Im completely dissatisfied with their answers and refusal to investigate these issues and look at the volume of incidents and accidents taking place, Deputy Kelly said. Meanwhile, traffic volumes have returned to pre-pandemic levels on the M7 and are resulting in tailbacks as traffic lines wait to exit at the Moneygall junction. In 2018, 13 vehicles were involved in multiple collisions on both sides of the same stretch of the M7 near Roscrea. A number of cars and vans collided with each other and crashed into barriers and left the road between junctions 22 and 23 west of Roscrea. The access ramps from the N62 near Roscrea to join and exit the motorway have long been criticised by local motorists and elected representatives as a dangerous flaw. The Moneygall junction features a similar design, with no deceleration lane to approach the junction from the motorway provided and has been highlighted numerous times by regular users of the motorway. What's Included With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 716-372-3121 or email nfinnerty@oleantimesherald.com. Scenes from the Memorial Day ceremony and parade held in Cazenovia on Monday, May 31, 2021 One of them told investigators that the abuse happened in September 2020 during after-school hours, according to court records obtained by an NBC affiliate station. That student reportedly said Gillespie sexually assaulted him and another boy in her classroom at R.A. Hubbard High School in the town of North Courtland. The Western Bulldogs will depart Melbourne on Sunday but Hawthorn have returned to Melbourne as the AFL manages its delicately placed fixture amid the COVID-19 lockdown in Victoria. Newsy 31 May 2021 Watch VideoNaomi Osaka wrote on Twitter on Monday that the best thing for the tournament would be if she withdrew from the.. Educational experts and activist Chanel Contos have welcomed measures announced by the NSW Education Minister on sexual consent, but say they do not go far enough. It never fails. Just as we get a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, there might be a chance of crawling out of this.. Eurasia Review 19 May 2021 Armed men on motorcycles have kidnapped a large number of children following the ambush of a school in Nigeria. About 200 children were at the school at the time of the attack and "an unconfirmed number" were taken, authorities said. The incident is the latest in a series of mass abductions in Nigerian schools by armed gangs. Eurasia Review 24 May 2021 By Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg* International competition for influence in the Red Sea region has intensified over the.. 2008-2021 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Oneindia 31 May 2021 China has announced that it will allow couples in the country to have up to three children. This marked the end of a strict.. Police also released surveillance video Monday that shows three men, dressed almost entirely in black, get out of a white SUV in what appears to be an alley, run to the foreground, and then a few seconds later run back to the car, jump in and speed off. Daily Star 22 May 2021 Sergio Aguero is set to leave Manchester City this summer and he has reportedly agreed a two-year deal with Barcelona, who are also.. Vietnam has imposed tougher restrictions in its major cities as the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed a "combination" of the Indian and British variants of COVID-19 had been found in the country. Disgruntled congregants at Westminster Cathedral have asked the resident priest to clarify how the twice-divorced Prime Minister was able to remarry in a Catholic church.Speaking outside the cathedral on Sunday, churchgoers said... Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says New Zealand and Australia face "common threats" to the regional security of the Indo-Pacific region."We have some very serious times that we're living in, not just from a health point... Eurasia Review 27 May 2021 A positive development occurred between South Korea and the US last week with the signing of agreements to boost important parts of.. Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison is unrepentant about revoking the citizenship of a Kiwi-born suspected Isis terrorist, but says he is "ready to address" issues around the woman's two young children. Meanwhile New Zealand... George P. Bush is launching a campaign kickoff this week. But the last member of the Bush political dynasty which over four generations has produced two presidents, a vice president, a senator, two governors and a congressman has yet to specify which office hes seeking. Gunmen kidnapped scores of children from an Islamic seminary in central Nigeria, officials said, the latest in a string of such incidents plaguing the populous African nation. Some 200 children were at the school in Niger state on Sunday during the attack, the local government tweeted, adding an unconfirmed number were taken. The abduction came [] The short video shared online shows the unidentified teen sitting in handcuffs and trying to explain what brought him to the house. He told the officers at one point that this is the first time he woke up in a random place. The international airport of Vietnams capital will suspend inbound flights from abroad beginning Tuesday, the countrys aviation body announced, as it grapples with a fresh wave of coronavirus outbreaks. Vietnams Covid-19 cases have more than doubled in the past month and its health minister said over the weekend that authorities have discovered a highly infectious [] Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged Monday more support for indigenous communities, including to expand excavations at old boarding schools across Canada after remains of 215 indigenous children were discovered at one location. As a dad, I cant imagine what it would feel like to have my kids taken away from me, Trudeau told a news [] Black Lives Matter cofounder Patrisse Cullors called for the end of Israel in 2015 during a panel at the Harvard Law School. Democrats walked out of the Texas State House on Sunday night, to block one of the most restrictive voting laws in the US from passing before a midnight deadline. GOP Governor Greg Abbott said he'll order lawmakers back for a special session. (May 31) An Eastern Cape mother is suing the provincial health department for R3 million after a doctor removed her womb, allegedly without her knowledge, after developing an infection following a caesarean section. Naomi Osaka was fined $15,000 at the French Open for skipping a post-match news conference after her first-round victory Sunday and threatened by all four Grand Slam tournaments with stiffer penalties, including being defaulted, if she continues to avoid meeting with the media. Police have released a new digitally enhanced photo of the boy whose body was found by a hiker on a trail near Las Vegas on Friday morning. Naomi Osaka has been threatened with disqualification from the ongoing French Open by Grand Slam organisers if she continues her media boycott at Roland Garros. WARNING: Distressing content The notoriously violent Jalisco cartel has responded to Mexico's "hugs, not bullets" policy with a policy of its own: The cartel kidnapped several members of an elite police force in the state of Guanajuato,... Eurasia Review 29 May 2021 By Michael Eisenstadt* Since the creation of the Islamic Republic in 1979, Iran has distinguished itself (along with.. According to Nakamura, who boasted he was the 2020 California Association of African-American Superintendents and Administrators principal of the year, he was a successful educator in southern California, but came to Stockton after seeing a big fight at the school on TV and thinking he could help. He also spoke of his experiences in the community and how he drew from losing his own mother to drug addiction when he was 12 to understand the struggles faced by his students. Sixteen years after he pleaded guilty to selling and manufacturing crack cocaine, Edward Martell returned to the same courtroom to appear before the same judge. But this time he was sworn into the State Bar of Michigan. The man known as "Tiger Habib" is alleged to have killed about 70 endangered Bengal tigers. In the week ending May 28th 2021, HFM reported that April gains fortify a strong six months for multi-strategy: The average multi-strategy hedge fund gained 1.3% in April as multi-discipline managers continued to build a strong six months following a challenging start to the pandemic period. HFM's Multi-strategy Composite Index currently leads the global composite YTD (7.5% to 7.4%) and on a three-year annualised basis (8.6% to 8.2%) but trails over 12 months (24.6% to 25.9%). Investors allocated a further $10.93bn to the asset class, which, in tandem with the Preqin All-Strategies Hedge Fund benchmark return of +6.89%, generated a $150bn increase in AUM; a 3.8% increase since the end of 2020 overall Meanwhile, the total assets under management (AUM) of hedge funds globally surged to an all-time high of $4,146bn as of the end of Q1 2021. According to a Preqin report, the strong return in Q1 2021 marked the best first-quarter performance since 2006 - the sixth-best first-quarter return ever recorded - and the third consecutive quarter of inflows. Chinese Long/Short Equity Hedge funds outperformed American hedge funds - the funds focusing on the United States had negative cumulative returns throughout 2020 reaching only a positive re...................... To view our full article Click here LOS ANGELES Created by the family who produced Americas first Christian childrens album to sell 1 million copies, I Am a Worshipper by Anthony & Tiffany Salerno has been released to all digital platforms. It is also available as a physical CD. This six-song collection takes children on a musical journey, from the oceanic vibes of the first track, Stars and Dots; to the forest with Like a Tree; and - Urges thorough research, verification into false news regarding Vaccine ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- CivSense, a Pakistan-based Civic Sense awareness initiative, has lauded the government and NCOC's efforts on a successful anti-COVID-19 vaccine campaign in the country. In a statement issued in Islamabad today, the Co-founder of the CivSense Dr. Mahwish Sohail said: "Despite constraints and criticism, the role of Government of Pakistan, specifically National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has been timely Atlanta, Georgia, May 28, 2021. On May 23, 2020, master business development strategist N. D. Indy Brennan released the highly anticipated Top 51 Business Hacks For 2021. The book is available in paperback and as an eBook on all Amazon distribution channels and on the authors website at https://www.top51businesshacks.com. The book is written in a style designed to appeal to business professionals and entrepreneurs from the Fortune AGENCY [mdash]MaryAnn Wanner, 75, of Agency, died at 4:45 a.m. June 9, 2021 at Ridgewood Specialty Care. She was born February 18, 1946 in Lake City, IA to Lubbert and Erma DeVries. She married Martin Joseph Wanner and he preceded her in death on March 18, 2021. MaryAnn had worked as a beaut The deputy hit at least one man but its unclear if that was the suspect. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said that one of the men killed may have been the suspected shooter, but Finner could not confirm any identification. ATLANTA, Mich. (AP) A county in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula might lock its jail and throw away the key. Montmorency County is considering a plan to close the jail and make a deal to house inmates nearby at the Alpena County jail, The Alpena News reported. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) A conservation group is planting more than 30,000 milkweed plants in California in the hope of giving Western monarch butterflies new places to breed. The San Francisco Chronicle reported Monday that the River Partners group has joined with others and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on the plantings along the Sacramento, Feather and Kern rivers. COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) Several European nations want Denmark to explain why its foreign secret service allegedly helped the United States spy on European leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, more than seven years ago. We want the cards on the table, said Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hulqvist, adding it was unacceptable to eavesdrop on allies. Danish lawmaker Karsten Hoenge of the left-leaning Socialist Peoples Party, which is supporting Denmarks Social Democratic government, said Monday that he would quiz the Scandinavian countrys defense and justice ministers in parliament about the case. The government must explain how come Denmark has been acting as a willing tool for a U.S. intelligence service, and what it will mean for cooperation with Denmarks neighboring countries, he said. The Danish broadcaster DR said Sunday that the Danish Defense Intelligence Service, known in Denmark by its acronym FE, in 2014 conducted an internal investigation into whether the U.S. National Security Agency had used its cooperation with the Danes to spy against Denmark and neighboring countries. The probe, codenamed Operation Dunhammer, concluded that NSA had eavesdropped on political leaders and officials in Germany, France, Sweden and Norway. Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said it was unacceptable if countries that have close allied cooperation should feel the need to spy on each other or obtain information about them. Spying on others creates more mistrust than it creates collaboration. So, its not a smart investment for the United States, she told the Norwegian broadcaster NRK. According to DR, the alleged setup between the United States and Denmark reportedly allowed the NSA to obtain data by using the telephone numbers of politicians as search parameters. DR said its report was based on interviews with nine unnamed sources, all of whom were said to have had access to classified information held by the FE. The military agency allegedly helped the NSA from 2012 to 2014. If the news is correct (...) this is not acceptable between allies, very clearly, said French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country was also allegedly targeted by U.S. intelligence. Im attached to the relation of trust between Europe and the United States, he told reporters. Theres no room between us for suspicion. Macron urged for the U.S. to make full clarity on the past facts, but also on current practices. Speaking at the same virtual news conference after bilateral talks Monday between Paris and Berlin, Merkel said the issue of NSA eavesdropping had already been discussed previously with the United States, and Germany had made clear at the time its position that spying among friends wasnt acceptable. What was true then is true today as well, she said. Im reassured that Denmark, the Danish government and the defense minister have said very clearly what they think of these matters, Merkel added. As such, I see a good basis, aside from clearing up this matter, to also achieve truly trustful relations. Reports in 2013 that the NSA listened in on German government phones, including Merkels, prompted a diplomatic spat between Berlin and Washington that soured otherwise good relations with President Barack Obamas administration. Still, there were also reports that Germanys own BND intelligence agency may have helped the U.S. spy on European companies and officials. Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who revealed details of the secret U.S. eavesdropping programs in 2013, reacted to the DR report with a sarcastic tweet in Danish: Oh, why didnt anyone warn us? In a written comment to DR, Danish Defense Minister Trine Bramsen said the government cannot discuss intelligence matters. She added the present government has the same point of view as the former Social Democratic government led by Helle Thorning-Schmidt who was in power during that period: the systematic wiretapping of close allies is unacceptable. In August, Bramsen relieved the head of the countrys foreign intelligence service, among others, after an independent watchdog heavily criticized the spy agency for deliberately withholding information and violating Danish laws. Denmark has two intelligence agencies, the Danish Defense Intelligence Service, which is also responsible for military intelligence, and the domestic Danish Security and Intelligence Service, known by its Danish acronym PET. ___ This story has been corrected to show that Operation Dunhammer is the code name for Denmarks investigation, not the code name for the alleged spying setup between Denmark and the U.S. A previous version of this story was corrected to show that a lawmaker said Monday that he wants to quiz the government about the spying, not that he will do that in parliament on Monday. ___ Sylvie Corbet in Paris, and Frank Jordans and Geir Moulson in Berlin, contributed to this report. While no parade was held due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Legion Post 165 and Midland County held events on Memorial Day morning to honor fallen soldiers. A ceremony was held at the Midland Municipal Cemetery, with a Naval Ceremony held immediately after at Emerson Park. The American Legion Post 165 also hosted a presentation of wreaths at the Midland County Veterans Memorial located at the front of the Midland County Courthouse. There were speeches from Operation Iraqi Freedom Army widow Melissa Alex, U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, State Sen. Jim Stamas and Michigan Rep. Annette Glenn. COVID-19 FEMA FUNERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM The Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20. The program is extensive and includes expenses for transfer of remains, a casket or urn, a burial plot or cremation niche, a marker or headstone, clergy or officiant services, arrangement of a funeral ceremony, use of funeral home equipment or staff, cremation or interment costs and costs associated with producing multiple death certificates. Some of these expenses are also available through the VA Burial Benefits program. This is a very extensive program that includes all members of the public in addition to veterans. Visit FEMA.gov/funeral-assistance/faq or call 1-844-684-6333 for more information and how to apply. MILITARY BASE (POSTS) RENAMING STUDY COMMENCES A commission tasked with renaming the following military facilities will commence its work this summer with visits to Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Fort Rucker, Alabama; Fort Benning and Fort Gordon, Georgia; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Polk, Louisiana; and four locations in Virginia, including Fort A.P. Hill, Fort Belvoir, Fort Lee and Fort Pickett. These military facilities were named after Confederate war leaders. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. According to historical information, soon after the end of the Civil War, the naming of these facilities was a compromise in the U.S. Congress over the issue to allow the reunited nation to build military facilities in the South. The South part of the United States has better all year long weather so training could be accomplished more efficiently. The South did not want the facilities in the South and only after the Northern-dominated Congress agreed to allow the South to name the facilities was an agreement struck and the facilities were built. It would appear that we are rewriting history without consideration of all of the relevant history being considered. The military bases are only a small portion of the buildings, Naval ships and weapons systems that bear the names of significant leaders of the Confederacy. DID YOU KNOW? All 50 states have at least one option to provide free or reduced rate cost for senior citizens to return to school. While some institutions only allow senior students to audit classes, many offer the chance to earn credits toward a degree at the reduced- or completely waived tuition rate. For instance, in Illinois, upon admission, any senior citizen ages 65 and up who meet income requirements can attend regular credit courses at Illinois public institutions for free. Lab, student and other fees still apply. Contact the financial aid office at Illinois public schools for more information. Or visit the Penny Hoarder at www.thepennyhoarder.com which conducted surveys to obtain this information. MCLEAN COUNTY VAC Your McLean County Veterans Assistance Commission, (VAC) can provide limited financial assistance for short-term emergency needs now that federal and state COVID-19 eviction notices and utility disconnect bans, extended unemployment benefits may be ending or being reduced. The VAC can be contacted at 1-309-888-5140. Vogler is superintendent of the McLean County Veterans Assistance Commission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 100 years ago May 31, 1921: The parents of Leo Sherburne will head for Indianapolis to meet the body of their son Leo, 26. He was killed in France while serving with the American expeditionary forces. Leo grew up on Bloomingtons west side but the family has since moved to St. Louis. 75 years ago Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. May 31, 1946: Passenger trains, sidetracked for lack of coal because of the strike, have begun coming back. The Alton reinstated a dozen of them Friday, restoring its pre-strike schedule. But two other lines serving Bloomington are awaiting word on when they can resume seven trains. 50 years ago May 31, 1971: Evergreen Lake is now half full, reaching a water level of 705 feet above sea level. When it reaches 715 feet, water will begin to trickle over the spillway and the lake will be deemed full. Evergreen is filling faster than expected in spite of the relatively dry spring. 25 years ago May 31, 1996: The city and developer Larry Bielfeldt have reached agreement over Berry Lane. Bieldfeldt, who owns the street, blocked it because he said people were wearing it out by using it as a detour. Under the agreement he will pave the block-long street and turn it over to the city. Compiled by Jack Keefe; jkeefe@coldwellhomes.com. Murphy was found dead around 7:30 p.m. Thursday and officials believe one of the trees from which he had strung his hammock had fallen and hit him. The Chief Executive Officer of Nova Wellness Center, Dr Naa Asheley Dordor has been adjudged the Outstanding Executive of the Year (Health and Wellness Category) at the just ended 3rd Ghana-West Africa Business Excellence Awards (GWABEA) held in Accra on 21st May 2021. The award was in recognition of Dr Naa's commitment to the promotion of health and wellness as well as her leadership role in a male dominated sector. The West Africa Business Excellence Awards which took place at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, acknowledged various achievements in the business sector across the country. The Award provides a platform to recognize individuals and companies that create a friendly atmosphere to welcome investors and/or play a significant role in the development of various sectors in Ghana and West Africa at large. Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of Nova Wellness Center, Dr Naa Asheley Dordor expressed her profound gratitude for the honour, saying: "Like many other businesses we were badly affected by the Covid 19 pandemic. The nature of our work demands very close contact to the patient so obviously many people stayed away. So to come out of that and be recognized by the Ghana - West Africa Business Excellence Awards (GWABEA), Im truly humbled." "The health and wellness industry in Ghana is growing and I always say Ghanaians deserve the best so we will continue to provide excellent service with state of the art technology to treat musculoskeletal problems naturally. It is for this reason that we decided to invest the DRX9000 Spinal decompression machine to treat disc problems causing severe low back pain and sciatica. This non-surgical treatment is safe and effective with minimal risks. It is a game changer for not just Ghanaians but everybody in the sub region and we hope that it will help with our medical tourism here in Ghana. Again, a million thanks to GWABEA for this recognition", she added. Nova Wellness Center was established in 2013 and has grown from a spine-focused clinic to becoming a holistic wellness center. Since its inception, Nova Wellness Center has been of an immense benefit to thousands of individuals by helping them to achieve maximum wellness naturally without the use of drugs or surgery. In spite of the challenges last year, the multiple-award winning chiropractic and wellness clinic, Nova Wellness Center, out-doored its new DRX9000 True Non-surgical spinal decompression system designed to treat sciatica and other degenerative diseases which characterize low back pain. The goal of this treatment is to reduce low back pain and its associated complications which are primarily caused by lumbar disc degeneration diseases. This natural procedure is carried out without the use of drugs or surgery. The Ghana - West Africa Business Excellence Awards was attended by distinguished business and government representatives and industry leaders. The 2021 awards celebrated the outstanding achievements of organizations and individuals in Ghana and respective West Africa business region across various award categories. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Deep cracks have emerged in the 18-year old Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMCs), resulting in the breakaway of the indigenous OMCs to form a new bloc. The breakaway group which has picked forms to register its own association according to impeccable sources is due to the failure of the AOMCs to protect the indigenous Ghanaian OMCs from unfair treatments in the downstream industry. Also, the indigenous OMCs which are more than the foreign OMCs have not had a say in the running of their previous mother association. The AOMCs, the sources added, is constantly championing the interests of the foreign OMCs while interests of the majority indigenous ones are left out. Furthermore, the breakaway group called Association of Indigenous Oil Marketing Companies (AIOMCs) said many of the challenges confronting the industry are not being addressed by the AOMCs. The foreign OMCs are favoured in all the sectors of the industry while indigenous ones suffer. So the new AIOMCs wants to have one voice to push the same opportunities since they are in the same market (level playing field). Development of the downstream industry The promoters of the Association of Indigenous Oil Marketing Companies (AIOMCs), comprising over 100 indigenous OMCs, are of the strongest conviction that they will speed up the development of the downstream industry. As indigenous OMCs, all our investments in the industry will remain in the country. We wont fly any dollar outside this country. But the foreign OMCs do fly capital to their home companies, one of the members of the newly formed AIOMCs told this publication. Foreign OMCs concentrate in urban areas It would shock readers to know that the foreign OMCs are only concentrated in the urban centres. This is because they are interested in making money from the urban dwellers. So, they dont care about serving the people with quality petroleum products in the rural areas. But the indigenous OMCs not only have fuel filling stations in the country but across the border towns such as Tumu, Bungurugu, Paga, and Hamile. Attract investments By coming together as indigenous OMCs, they can attract funds both locally and internationally to grow their businesses to rival the foreign giants. Create more jobs The indigenous OMCs which currently provide over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs to the teeming unemployed youth are expected to create more jobs if the government pays proper attention to the issues facing their growth. Checks indicated that all the local oil marketing companies are solidly behind the new AIOMCs. Indeed, the downstream activities include the marketing and distribution of petroleum products by the OMCs and the pre-mixing of petroleum products for other industrial uses are catalysts for the socio-economic development of the country. Indigenous OMCs are more than foreign OMCs but majority of them do not benefit from opportunities in the downstream. We give employment to tanker owners and tanker drivers making it possible for fuel to be transported to the very remote parts of the country where these foreign companies are not willing to invest. More anon! Source: African Eye Report 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 25-year-old trader has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly defiling a six-year-old girl at Airport Residential Area in Accra. Osei Boateng pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilement. He was admitted to bail in the sum of GHC60,000 with three sureties, two of the sureties are to be public servants earning not less than GHC2,500. The Court presided over by Mrs Christiana Cann, ordered the prosecution to file their witness statement and other documents and same served on the accused 14 days from Friday, May 28. Sergeant Opoku Aniagyei, who held brief for Chief Inspector Kofi Atimbire, said the complainant was a cleaner at the Airport Residential area and lived within the same vicinity. The prosecution said the victim was a Kindergarten two pupil and a daughter of the complainant. It said Boateng was a coconut seller within the same vicinity. The prosecution said on April 25, this year, at about 1830 hours the complainant returned home from work and the victim informed her (complainant) that while she was away, the accused lured her to a pathway and had sex with her on a wooden bench. It said the complainant reported the matter to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) for investigations and a Police Medical report form was issued to her to seek treatment for the victim at any government hospital. The prosecution said during investigations, the accused was arrested and in his investigation caution statement, he denied the offence. 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 The Management of University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has expressed gratitude to President Akufo-Addo for the unflinching support to the University in building a globally renowned centre of excellence for teacher education. Rev. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni, Vice-Chancellor (VC) of UEW, commended the President and the government on behalf of the Governing Council and Management of the University at a special congregation at Winneba. He said as an academic community, they conscientiously reminded themselves of the power of education to profoundly change the world. Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, Chief of Staff, who represented President Nana Akufo-Addo, delivered his speech and also commissioned recently completed projects. Five of the projects were named after former President John Agyekum Kufuor, former Finance Minister late Kodwo Baah Wiredu, Prof. Akwesi Asabere-Ameyaw, Prof. Emmanuel Kwesi Ampene and Dr Joseph Ebo Bannerman for their distinguished roles in the Country. The congregation was to recognize and celebrate Right Reverend Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye and Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh and to also conferred Honorary Doctorate on them for their outstanding contributions towards shaping the quality of life of Ghanaians and the image of the country. Rev. Prof. Afful-Broni assured that the Management of the institution was determined and would continue to dedicate their lives to the nation to achieve total holistic education. The VC said the two awardees would join the list of distinguished persons, who have received the prestigious award, bringing the number of honorary degree holders of the UEW since 2004 to 23. He further thanked predecessors of the university for their respective roles and goodwill in driving the university from its humble beginnings to a formidable institution since its establishment some 29 years ago. Highlighting some of the achievements the university under his regime had chalked, he said through its internally generated fund (IGF), it had initiated the construction of 14 new ultra-modern 500-seater lecture theatres across the various campuses of the University. He said 10 of them were on Winneba campus and two each at the then Kumasi and Asante Mampong satellite campuses while an additional two would be built at the Kumasi campus. The university constructed student-centeredness, an ultra-modern students Centre, Food court, School of Creative Arts Block, five-storey technology block, which has seven lecture halls, 4,000-seater auditorium, 20 audio-visual rooms, and library. On-going projects included a six-storey lecture block with 200 offices, 30 lecture theatres and offices at Winneba and a three-storey facility block at the Ajumako campus. Also, an ultra-modern 100-bed university hospital with several consulting rooms, Outpatient Department, emergency centre, pharmacy, two operation theatres, radiography centre, among others are being built to serve the health needs of the university community and the neighbouring communities, among many other projects. "I recall vividly the solemn pledge I made to you (President Nana Akuffo Addo), on the occasion of my investiture as the Fourth Vice-Chancellor of the UEW, to lay a solid foundation for the intake of the anticipated large numbers of the first batch of the Free SHS product, hence the huge investment on infrastructures made," he stated. "I aligned my vision to the corporate strategic plan that directs the shaping of our university into one of the best tertiary institutions in the world," Rev Prof Afful-Broni 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 An unidentified young mother was pictured with her child in an examination hall in Tamale as she took part in a government-sponsored scholarship examination. Her story was shared on social media by lawyer Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko who described her as a determined young mother. Gabbys Facebook post was accompanied by two photos, one showing the baby on her veiled moms laps while an invigilator is seen holding the baby in the other photo. According to Gabby, the exams is an aptitude test for selection to train as a Mechanical Technician under the Govt's Accelerated Oil and Gas Capacity Building Programme (AOGC). The Petroleum Commission sponsored programme, he added, aimed to reduce the number of expatriate technicians in Ghanas oil and gas industry. He said the training for successful candidates will be a six-month in residence programme at a cost of $7,500 per person leading to UK City and Guilds Qualification. Read Gabbys full post below: A real story of a determined young Ghanaian mother. She turned up with her suckling baby at the WAEC Hall, Tamale, yesterday to write an aptitude test for selection to train as a Mechanical Technician under the Govt's Accelerated Oil and Gas Capacity Building Programme (AOGC). The programme, sponsored by the Petroleum Commission, has recruited 100 young people with a degree or HND in Engineering. Applicants were selected from across Ghana to train as technicians at no cost them to work on offshore oil and gas installations such as FPSOs and drill ships. The aim is to reduce the expatriate technicians in our offshore oil and gas industry. A fully sponsored training for 6 months in residence leading to the UK City and Guilds Qualification. Cost is US$ 7,500 to train one person. Source: ghanaweb.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 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been honoured by the University of Cape Coast (UCC) for his unprecedented contribution to the development of education in the country, with particular reference to the implementation of the free senior high school policy. The award, a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership (Honoris Causa), is the first to be given to a President by a Ghanaian university. It is the third for the President the first was an honorary Doctor of Laws degree conferred on him in May 2016 by the Fort Hare University of South Africa, while the second was conferred on him by the University of Liberia in December 2017. The award was conferred on the President at a Special Congregation of the UCC, attended by dignitaries, including the Omanhen of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II; the Omanhene of Owirenkyiman, Ahunabobrim Pra Agyensaim; vice-chancellors of some public universities, some members of government and leading members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Attired in a light grey suit, President Akufo-Addo looked obviously elated when he stepped forward to be adorned with the academic gown. He later took a few dance steps as his favourite choral song, Oye, was played. The citation A citation in his honour read: "You championed your vision to make the free SHS policy a reality. Though you conceived it as a campaign message, you did not forget your promise to the people but provided the impetus and resources to initiate and implement the policy within your first year in office as President. You were guided by the sustainable development goal (SDG) 4, which hinges on accessible, equal and quality education for all. "You have proved to be a firm believer of the notion that Africa must systematically invest in its youth for development. With the free SHS, you have positioned the youth to grow as an educated population for the future and for the good of the country," it added. Appreciation In his acceptance address, President Akufo-Addo thanked the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor and members of the Governing Council of the UCC for the award and pledged to uphold the highest standard associated with the honour. He said with the award, he had now joined the many alumni of the university who were contributing immensely to national development. The President said the free SHS policy, which had earned him the honorary doctorate degree, had expanded access to secondary education and enabled thousands of young people to access secondary education. He said before the implementation of the free SHS policy, about 100,000 students could not access secondary education annually because of poverty, but said such students could now attend school. He said 411 of the 465 students in English-speaking West Africa who obtained 8As in the recent West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) were beneficiaries of free SHS in Ghana, adding: "Not only has access been widened; quality has also been maintained; indeed, even enhanced." He said the government had also expanded access to tertiary education through the removal of guarantor requirement to make it easier for students to access loans. President Akufo-Addo said if Ghana was to make rapid social and economic transformation, educational policies must be geared towards human capital development. He paid tribute to Cape Coast and its role in the development of education and the indelible role of some illustrious indigenes of the Central Region whose immense bravery and foresight and contribution towards the struggle for independence had made the country what it is today. Bold decision The Vice-Chancellor of the UCC, Professor Johnson Nyarko-Boampong, said the free SHS policy was a courageous decision by the President, considering the huge financial burden and the many uncertainties that surrounded its implementation. He appealed to the President to build a hall of residence on the UCC campus to help ease the accommodation challenges facing the university, saying 75 per cent of its students were being accommodated in deplorable conditions. For his part, the Chancellor of the UCC, Sir Sam Jonah, said honorary degrees of the university were conferred on distinguished people who had contributed immeasurably to the development of humanity. He said the implementation of the free SHS policy had taken some financial burden off parents and expanded access to secondary education, describing it as the most momentous decision on education ever to be taken by any President. 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 The President of the Society of Family Physicians of Ghana (SOFPOG), Dr Emmanuel Ati has called on the stakeholders in the health sector to ensure an adequate number of family physicians at all the health facilities in the country. He said family doctors were a critical part of the healthcare delivery system in the country. He expressed the concern that there were some district hospitals in the country without family doctors, saying we believe that family physicians should be in every district hospital. Family Doctors Day Dr Ati made the call at this years World Family Doctors Day which was on the theme: Building the Future with Family Doctors in the Management of Chronic Medical Conditions. He appealed to the Medical and Dental Council to include family medicine as part of the areas of rotation for doctors on housemanship to give them an experience in primary health care to make the necessary impact in their community. This will enable newly qualified medical officers practicing in primary care to be better able to deal with the unique set of challenges that come with the terrain and also whip up their interest in the field of family medicine, he said. According to him, the traditional areas for rotation for doctors on housemanship were Internal Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics and Obstetrics & Gynaecology and recently, Emergency Medicine. However, he said the new doctors are not taken through family medicine, a training, he was of the view would greatly help the physicians after their training particularly in the management of chronic diseases. He said chronic diseases affected an individuals health over a long period of time and as such, there was the need to build a health system that addresses the health challenges of individuals living with these conditions to enable them live life to the fullest. These challenges include the shock, grief and helplessness felt after an initial diagnosis is made, chronic unbearable pain, time commitment for treatment regimen, lifestyle changes, the burden of care for both the affected individual and the family, high cost of treatment modalities and the health system environment that can at times be very depressive for these individuals, he said. According to him, the care of individuals with chronic conditions required a model of care that provided higher quality chronic illness management within primary care. Role He said primary care services organize and mobilize internal and community help resources that teach skills needed to carry out medical regimens, guide health behaviour change, and provide emotional support for these patients and again ensure that these self-management and support services run a continuous course. At the heart of the provision of these services, he said, were skilfully-trained, knowledgeable, patient-centred and community-oriented Family Physicians. Dr Ati said these physicians employ evidence-based decision support systems in the early detection, screening, treatment and palliation of these chronic conditions. Family Physicians are trained to redesign the health delivery system to suit the care of these chronic conditions through the creation of practice teams with clearly defined roles, regular and proactive planned visits that incorporate patient goals and the provision of the care that the patients understand and that agree with their cultural backgrounds, noted. Appeal SOFPOG is therefore calling on the government, NGOs, corporate bodies and other stakeholders to support the training of family physicians in Ghana. This support can be provided through scholarships, provisions of logistics for training and incentives for family physicians who serve in deprived areas, he appealed. 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 A Financial Economist, Professor Joshua Yindenaba Abor has called on African Governments to implement early and ambitious policy responses and reforms in their financial systems to minimise the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 is here to stay and if it is staying, its impact will be with us and the pressure is on to address the ongoing issues in addition to dealing with the existing challenges There is the need to implement early and ambitious policy responses and reforms in the financial system to address the situation or minimise the impact, he said. He said though African Governments have provided some monetary and fiscal policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is the need for other policy actions to ensure that the continents financial systems are able to spur growth in the post COVID-19 era. Prof Abor gave the advice when he spoke at a guest lecture organised by the Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Science and Arts of the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies on Thursday, May 27, 2021. He spoke on the topic COVID-19 pandemic and Africas financial systems: How do we reform the post COVID-19 financial systems?. According to him, governments play important roles in every financial system and as such they could not stay back completely from participating in the financial market and added that they must be concerned about ensuring stability in the system. Prof. Abor argued that Development Banks have been used by developed countries to grow their economies especially during crisis. He therefore encouraged African Governments to establish National Development Banks to provide support to underprivileged sectors such as the SMEs that were unable to access formal financial services. Even in the developed countries, that is how they grew their economies. SMEs are always the engine of growth and they represent about 92 percent of businesses in Ghana and Africa as a whole. So if we do not serve this sector, we will not go anywhere, he said. According to him, with the COVID-19 situation, SMEs in Africa could not depend on banks that served only the elites in society and large corporates, and indicated that the best way to go was to set up specialised banks to support them. In that regard, Prof. Abor commended the Government of Ghana for taking steps to establish the Development Bank of Ghana and warned that best model must be adopted to ensure that the desired impact was felt at the specific sectors of the economy. The modeling is very important and the idea is fantastic. It is very needed on our markets because there are a number of sectors such as the SMEs that are not able to access formal financial services. So if you are setting up a National Development Bank to support them, that is fantastic. The modeling must be looked at so that the desired impact will be felt, he added. Prof Abor further encouraged African governments to promote macroeconomic stability, implement effective regulatory and supervisory framework and encourage financial market development through effective market infrastructure. He also advised African governments to encourage institutional investments saying, the financial system thrived when there were many institutional investors such as life insurance companies and pension funds. He added that banks must also be encouraged to invest in long term and desist from the practice of finding cheap ways of making returns. Prof Abor admonished African Central Banks not to be only interested in regulations and monetary policies but show interest in financial literacy and support under privileged sectors of the economy to develop. The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Philip Duku Osei, who chaired the guest lecture applauded Prof. Abor for his insight into how African governments can reform their financial systems to deal with the ravages of the COVID-19 Pandemic. He also thanked Prof. Abor for donating books to Faculty and the University Library. The Vice-Chancellor further thanked the organisers of the programme and called for more of such events to be organised to stimulate intellectual engagements and enhance the impact of the University on society. 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 The Chairperson of the National COVID-19 Trust Fund, Mrs Sophia Akuffo, has expressed her disappointments about comments by a section of the public and the media about activities of the Fund. She said any money and items received by the Fund have been properly accounted for, adding that the fund is currently being audited and that the audit report will be made public. She made the remarks when the Fund presented COVID-19 hand washing machines, hand sanitizers, nose masks, and detergents to some institutions. Institutions supported The institutions, numbering 16 included the 37 Military Hospital, the Akropong School for the Deaf, Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital, University of Ghana Hospital, Pantang Hospital, Dodowa District Hospital, Accra Psychiatric Hospital Hospital, Special Schools/Disability Schools, Dzorwulu Special School, and New Horizons Special School. The rest were Accra Rehabilitation Center, Akropong School and Blind, Akropong School for the Deaf, Ningo Prampram Health Directorate, Ghana Prisons Service and Rescue Volunteers. Commendations In appreciation, Mrs Akuffo commended all the institutions and individuals who have supported the Fund so far. She further appealed to all institutions and individuals to continue to support the Fund so that other institutions in need of COVID-19 safety items could be supported. 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 The caregiver at Happy Bloomers Creche at Agbogba, Clara Ayani-Ampah, who was arrested over the death of an 11-month-old baby girl, has been remanded in police custody. The Adentan Magistrate Court remanded the suspect to reappear before the court on June 11, this year. Ayani-Ampah was arrested after the parents of the baby girl reported the death of the child to the Agbogba police, North Legon, Accra, on May 18, this year. A closed-circuit television (CCTV) exposed Clara, who was seen in a video which has since gone viral, force-feeding the little girl in the school. The baby was pronounced dead when she was taken to the North Legon Hospital. No charges The plea of the suspect was not taken, as the police have forwarded the docket on the case to the Attorney-General's Department and are waiting for advice on the certainty of charges to level against the 54-year-old Ayani-Ampah. Her remand is also to allow the police to do further investigations. Incident According to a police report, the father of the victim on May 18, this year, reported to the Agbogba Police that the management of the school called to inform him that his daughter was sick and was taken to the North Legon Hospital but she was pronounced dead on arrival. A team of police investigators went to the hospital and examined the body of the victim after which they conveyed it to the police hospital morgue. A report of an autopsy conducted on the body is yet to be made available to the family. The proprietress of the school, Mrs Christiana Atta Kumah, later handed over a CCTV of the day's activities in the school to the police which revealed how Clara had handled the baby. The body has since been released to the family for burial. Video In the video, Clara is seen trying to force some food substance in a cup, deemed to be porridge, into the mouth of the victim while she held the baby's hands tightly behind. She is also seen pushing the baby's head into the cup in an attempt to get the little girl to eat, while the helpless baby, who appears to be suffocating, screams and throws her legs in the air. Source: graphic.com.gh 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 Hong Kong: Campaign to boost vaccination starts (To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.) The Government and different sectors in the community will roll out various measures and reward programmes to encourage people to receive COVID-19 vaccination under a campaign launched today. The campaign aims to significantly raise the vaccination rate during the critical three-month period from now until the end of August. Announcing the launch of Early Vaccination for All this afternoon, Chief Executive Carrie Lam noted that the most important way for Hong Kong to get through the epidemic is large-scale vaccination of the public to build an immune barrier for the entire community. Mrs Lam said: Its more than a jab because this is the lifeline of Hong Kong. It will make Hong Kong capable of getting out of this COVID-19 epidemic (situation). If we have a high vaccination rate, we will have a sufficient level of herd immunity. Then businesses could go back to normal and travel could be resumed with the Mainland and other parts of the world. So I hope that members of the public will realise that its not just taking two doses of vaccine, you are making a huge contribution to Hong Kong society. Under the campaign, government employees will be entitled to a day of vaccination leave for each vaccination dose received, while social distancing restrictions will be relaxed for fully vaccinated diners. The Chief Executive also said the Government welcomed incentives provided by the commercial sector to encourage citizens to get vaccinated. Its more than a jab in a very ordinary sense that apart from receiving the doses, you will or may have a chance of getting something back, whether it is an extra holiday provided by employers or a lucky draw with certain goodies and things like that or discount coupons in shopping malls or free tickets to theme parks and so on. So this is a very tangible way in order to overcome what we call vaccine hesitancy. Later this week, people can save their vaccination records and QR codes in the LeaveHomeSafe mobile app version 2.0 and display their vaccination records for verification to the relevant premises that offer concessions to vaccinated clients, and iAM Smart iPhone users can save their QR codes in Apple Wallet when downloading their electronic vaccination records. The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer will assist industries in developing suitable applications and systems for scanning vaccination records to ensure their authenticity to enable the customers to participate in different promotions. It is also for all of us, including our media friends, to help promote and join hands in this campaign, so that hopefully by the end of three months, we could reach a comfortable level of vaccination rate that will enable us to do what we want to do in returning to normality," Mrs Lam added. This story has been published on: 2021-05-31. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Intimidation of HKSAR judges must be punished severely: central gov't spokesperson Xinhua) 14:09, May 31, 2021 BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council on Sunday denounced the recent intimidation against a judge in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), saying the lawless acts must be punished severely. After handing down sentences on Jimmy Lai and nine other defendants who were convicted of organizing and inciting others to participate in an illegal assembly, the office of the judge in charge received phone calls that threatened to harm her and her family. Such intolerable acts have posed a serious threat to the personal security of judges, blatantly flouted the HKSAR's judicial system, and violated the SAR's criminal code, as well as the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson stressed the importance of verdicts delivered by many HKSAR judges in relation to illegal acts that took place during the disturbance over proposed legislative amendments in Hong Kong, saying they have significantly safeguarded the authority of the law and boosted the confidence of Hong Kong residents and the international community in the rule of law in the SAR. However, a few anti-China individuals seeking to destabilize Hong Kong have perpetrated a number of assaults, smears and acts of intimidation against these judges, and have attempted to impede the impartial delivery of justice, a matter that should be resolutely tackled, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson emphasized that the rule of law is the cornerstone of Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, which is safeguarded by the judges. The central government firmly supports the HKSAR's judges in impartially administering justice in accordance with the Constitution, the Basic Law and the national security law in the HKSAR, and supports efforts by the HKSAR to bring to justice those criminals whose acts infringe upon the safety and dignity of judges, the spokesperson added. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) The pursuit continued for many miles until the driver finally stopped the vehicle. While officers attempted to take the suspect out of the car, he tried to flee the scene again but ended up striking a deputy, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was on Saturday honoured by the University of Cape Coast (UCC) with an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Leadership at a colourful special congregation held in his honour at the University. The ceremony attended by high profile personalities, including, Members of Convocation, Traditional Rulers, Members of Parliament, Diplomatic Corps, Ministers of States and other dignitaries, was given a traditional touch with the blowing of the 'mmenson' flutes to usher the dignitaries into the New Examination Centre. The President is the 40th personality and the second sitting President to receive such an honorary award from the UCC after former President John Agyekum Kuffour. He was decorated jointly by Dr (Sir) Sam Jonah, Chancellor and Prof Johnson Nyarkoh Boampong, Vice-Chancellor of UCC with an academic gown and a cap, attracting endless applause from the audience. The President was also given a Doctor of Letters and a citation while the VC presented him a special gift of his framed photograph. A citation accompanying the award read by Mrs Priscilla Baaba Bansah, Head of Documentary and Information Session, said the President was honoured for his zeal to make education accessible to all Ghanaians with the introduction of the free secondary school programme. It said his sterling leadership had also transformed the education sector, which had seen rigorous reforms in Teacher Education, Pre Tertiary Curriculum, Technical/Vocational training, and others. It further lauded the President for encouraging reforms in operationalizing the Pre-Tertiary Teaching Professional and Management Development Framework as well as the introduction of a new School Supervision and Inspection system. The honour is part of the efforts of the University to appreciate the President for successfully improving the education sector and rolling out the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme in the country. In honouring you today, the University appreciates your efforts to promote equal access to quality education for all Ghanaians and your service to humanity, the citation said. The University confirmed the President as a firm believer of the notion that Africa must systematically invest in the youth for development. With the Free SHS policy, you have positioned Ghana to grow an educated youth population for the future and the good of the country. The citation explained that the President championed his vision of making Free SHS a reality though he conceived it as a campaign message but fulfilled his promise to Ghanaians and provided the impetus, resources to initiate and implement the policy within the first year in his office as President. Again, the citation described the President of the Republic of Ghana as an exemplary leader, legal luminary, Human Rights Advocate, visionary politician, seasoned diplomat, distinguished statesman, and a leader for educational development. The Nana Akufo-Addo led government in September 2017 introduced the Free SHS policy to enable candidates who became successful at the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) to access secondary education. Professor Nyarko Boampong explained that the President had contributed significantly to improving the wellbeing of the population, especially those in the educational sector. He said the President's vision to improve the educational sector was challenged by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic but he stood up to, exceptionally transform the sector regardless. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo expressed gratitude to the University for the honour and pledged to uphold the standards associated with the award. 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 The La Mankralo Nii Obadai Adai IV has denied links of Deputy Minister of Local Government Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah to land being developed by one Mr Paul Ofori. In a statement clarifying the issue, he disclosed that, claims of ownership or involvement of this by Mr Adjei-Mensah Korsah are false. Its a pure fabrication. According to him, the purpose of this is to disprove the false claims to the land by the group and state that Mr Paul Ofori is the owner and verification of same can be done at Lands Commission. This comes at the back of a collection of bogus petitions containing fabricated lies against the Member of Parliament (MP) for Techiman South, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah have suddenly started making the rounds in high places just when he is about to appear before the Appointments Committee of Parliament to be vetted for the position of Deputy Minister for Local Government. The petitioners without providing any evidence whatsoever, claim Mr Adjei Mensah should not be made Deputy Minister because he was using unfair means to forcefully take over some parcels of land from them. Several radio shows hosts and newspaper editors have received copies of the said petitions and investigations from official sources have proven the accusations therein are fabrications and dirty lies. In a statement signed on May 29, 2021, the chief who is the legitimate custodian of the land denied knowing the claimant of the said lands except for Mr. Paul Ofori. Read the full text of his release below; My attention has been drawn to claims in the media by a group (Lydia Forson/Kevin Aggor/Dr. Benjamin Adu acting together over 2 plots of land in the La (Tseado) area and states as follows: 1. That I have earlier given a witness statement to the police CID on the ownership of this Land in question and situate at Tseado within the La Community months ago. 2. I owned that parcel of land and sold it to Mr Paul Ofori years back and which he has been in possession and developing currently. 3. I have never dealt with nor sold any land to Lydia Forson - 0209552097/Kevin Aggor/Dr. Benjamin Adu, all acting for a Chinese woman by the name Quin Wang of Tema. 4. The Lydia Forson/Kevin Aggor/Dr. Benjamin Adu on one side is claiming the land from Mr Paul Ofori whom I sold the land to and is developing it. 5. Claims of ownership or involvement of this by Mr. Adjei-Mensah Korsah are false. Its a pure fabrication. Documents in respect of Pauls ownership and receipts of payments are available with the Police CID. The purpose of this is to disprove the false claims to the land by the group and state that Mr. Paul Ofori is the owner and verification of same can be done Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, the Most Rev Henryk Mieczysaw Jagodzinski, has described the election of Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin as the Speaker of Ghanas 8th Parliament as a historic event that should guide future leaders. He said the fact that a candidate of the opposition party had been elected Speaker of Parliament should send a clear message to the political class that Ghanaians wanted their leaders to work together in harmony in order to meet their hopes and aspirations. The Most Rev Jagodzinski made the remark last Friday when the Speaker of Parliament called on him at the Nunciature in Accra. Peaceful co-existence The Apostolic Nuncio urged the Speaker to continue to champion the need for the different faiths in the country to peacefully co-exist. He commended the Speaker for his dedication to public service for the 28 years he had represented the people of Nadowli-Kaleo in Parliament, as well as the impact he had made when he served in the Executive arm of government. Development For his part, Mr Bagbin expressed gratitude to the Nuncio and the Catholic Church for taking a keen interest in matters of development in the country, particularly in the areas of education and health. He assured the Nuncio of his personal commitment to promote the work of the International Catholic Legslators Network (ICLN) to spread the faith. Christian Council In a related development, the Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), Rt Rev. Prof. J.O.Y. Mante, has commended Mr Bagbin for his strong moral stance on issues of national concern. He also applauded the Speaker for his generous philanthropic activities over the years. He said those qualities were enough assurance that Mr Bagbin would provide the needed leadership to steer the ship of the Ghanaian Legislature. Courtesy call Rt Rev. Prof. Mante said this when he led a delegation of the CCG and representatives of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference to pay a courtesy call on Mr Bagbin in Parliament. The eminent clergymen were in Parliament to congratulate Mr Bagbin on his election to the high office of Speaker of Parliament and also engage him on a number of critical issues affecting the country, particularly the recent religious debates generated and the current status of legislative deliberation and advocacy against LGBTQI+ and its related activities in the country. Rt Rev. Prof. Mante stressed the importance of religious tolerance and the need for the different faiths in the country to co-exist peacefully. "We were alarmed at the debate going on in the public space about religious tolerance. We are all here for peace, we want to say to all Ghanaians, he said. Harmony For his part, Mr Bagbin expressed gratitude to the CCG and the Catholic Church for their role in ensuring harmony in the country. He stressed the need for the Church and the government to work as partners in the development of the country. There is a lot we can do to refine our governance system to take on board traditional and cultural values and norms. There is no state without the Church, and there is a lot the two can efficiently do together, he said. On the issue of LGBTQI+, Mr Bagbin acknowledged the current challenges in the countrys legal system and pledged to involve the Church and civil society to fine-tune the system and make it more definitive to serve the greater good. 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 Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has donated GHs 300,000 to the Kokrokoo Charities Foundation to aid in the purchase of five incubators for selected hospitals across Ghana. The donation was done by his spokesperson, Dr Gideon Boako, and received by the venerable radio presenter, Kwami Sefa Kayi on behalf of the Kokrokoo Charities Foundation. Dr Boako said inadequate incubators for the survival of pre-term babies at various hospitals motivated Dr Bawumia to personally donate to assist the project. Kokrokoo Charities Foundation, led by Kwami Sefa Kayi has been calling for help from the public to support its Project 100 initiative which aims at supplying incubators to hospitals across the country to save the lives of the infant. Kokrooko charities thanked Dr Bawumia for this kind gesture and also lauded him for his philanthropic heart and character. Dr Bawumia is noted for helping the needy, the poor, the sick and the aged a trait that has been part of him since his days at the Bank of Ghana. Project 100 was founded by Broadcast Journalist, Kwami Sefa Kayi in 2014 to help, among other things, reduce infant mortality in Ghana through the purchase and installation of 100 incubators of $10,000 each. Dr Gideon Boako who was a panel discussion on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo' disclosed the story behind the donation Watch video below Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ninah Uwumbornyi, a 23-year-old woman at Kpassa has been struck dead by lightning, following a brief rainstorm at Kpassa in the Nkwanta North District of the Oti Region. The incident occurred at the Kpassa JHS B school park on Friday. Mr Kadil Obrenya, Kpassa West Electoral Area government appointee, narrated the sad incident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA). The Assemblyman said the deceased, who was walking across the park at the time of the rainstorm, was struck by thunder and died on the spot. He said the incident was a shock to the residents of the Kpassa community. The GNA gathered that the deceased came from Blajai in the Kpandai District and was currently going through her apprenticeship at Kpassa in the Nkwanta North District. Kpassa District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr Thomas Hodanu confirmed the incident to the GNA and said the body of the deceased was released to the family for burial. 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 Two hundred students of an Islamiyya school located at Tegina in Rafi local government Area of Niger State have been abducted by yet to be identified gunmen today, May 30. Channels TV reports that one person was shot dead while another is currently in a critical state in a hospital after gunmen carried out the kidnap operation at about 4:30pm on Sunday. A resident of the area, Zayyad Mohammed, who confirmed the incident, said the Salihu Tanko Islamiyya school where the incident took place was built by a retired Immigration officer. According to him, this Islamiyya school is not the usual Sangaya boarding Islamic citadel, but a conventional one where parents send their children on a daily basis for the purpose of acquiring Islamic education. Also confirming the incident, the Secretary to the Niger State Government, Ahmed Matane said the number of the abducted students is yet to be ascertained. Yes, there was an attack at the Islamiyya school, but we do not yet have the exact number of students that were abducted. We are in touch with parents in the area to know those whose children were abducted. Matane who is the chairman of the state Security committee further revealed that while the attack in Tegina was going on, there were simultaneous attacks in Lavun LGA and some fringes of Mashegu LGA. 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 Since its operation in Ghana, Huawei has undertaken several initiatives to contribute immensely to the development of ICT in Ghana. As a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT), Huawei has again echoed its commitment to widely promote ICT education across the country during its maiden edition of meet the press dubbed #HuaweiDayWithMedia. The tech giant met with some selected journalists at Tang Palace Hotel in Accra on May 28, 2021, to share some mind-blowing plans aimed at revamping ICT education. Since 2015, Huawei Seeds for the Future Programme and the ICT Academy Initiative has offered skilled ICT training to more than 5000 Ghanaian tertiary students and professionals in the ICT ecosystem. Speaking to journalists, the Director for Public and Government Affairs at Huawei Ghana, Jenny Zhou, said that Huawei has launched its Tech4all initiative in Ghana to help improve and expand ICT services accessibility across the country to benefit Ghanaians in line with Huaweis long-term digital inclusion strategies as well as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). She noted that the company commits over 10% of its revenue to Research and Development (R&D). The Deputy Managing Director of Huawei Technologies Ghana, Kweku Essuman Quansah, also told journalists that the business of Huawei goes beyond the scope of cell phone manufacturing which many immediately associate with the company through the widespread popularity of its smartphone brand. According to him, the Huawei ICT Training program will by 2024 train at least 10,000 Ghanaians ICT related programmes. Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Technology Chamber, Derrydean Dadzie also lauded Huawei for promoting ICT across the country. Peacefmonline.com journalist, Ambrose Washman commended Huawei for their contribution to ICT. To him, with the use of technology, there is so much that can be accomplished together. But its important not to forget that people are at the epicentre of it all. Technology is best when it brings people together and that is exactly what Huawei Ghana is doing. He added Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A former member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Stephen Atubiga, has stated that the current leadership of the NDC has lost touch with the core principles of probity, accountability and transparency on which the party was founded. Speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic justifying why he resigned from the party, Mr Atubiga said the leadership of the party had turned the NDC into a business venture and also become intolerant of divergent views. Context Mr Atubiga, in a May 20, 2021 letter to the leadership of the party, announced his resignation from the party. In his letter of resignation, Mr Atubiga said he took the decision after consulting with some disappointed, demoralised, sidelined and disillusioned key stakeholders, cadres, foot-soldiers and opinion leaders. He said the current leadership of the party had continuously detached itself from the concerns and sufferings of the ordinary voter. They no longer respect the rights of their voters to hold them accountable for their glaringly incompetent, compromised, parochial personal interests and lousy leadership both in power and in opposition, he alleged. Prior to his resignation, Mr Atubiga was on suspension for venting disparaging and unfounded comments against some senior members of the party. Party response But in accepting Mr Atubigas resignation, a statement signed by the partys General Secretary, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, said at its meeting on May 25, 2021, the Functional Executive Committee (FEC) accepted the resignation after it discussed its content at length especially taking into consideration the purported reasons which informed your reasons to resign. While thanking Mr Atubiga for his services to the party in the past, we wish to emphasise, however, that our decision to accept your resignation is not any way an admission of the spurious and unfounded allegations contained in your letter. Rather, we hold the view that your decision to resign has denied us the opportunity to educate you on the many of the matters cited as the basis of your resignation, it said. New party Mr Atubiga told the Daily Graphic that he and other members of the party had decided to form another social democratic party in furtherance of the true ideology of the late President Jerry John Rawlings and his principles of probity and accountability. He said members of the new party had started filing the forms throughout the country to meet the Electoral Commission requirements for the registration of a new political party. He said his party would become the third force in Ghanaian politics. Jaw-jaw Asked if he could not have sat with the leadership of the NDC to address whatever concerns he and the other members had, Mr Atubiga said the NDC leadership had become intolerant and unwilling for us to sit and jaw-jaw to help address the challenges in the party. He wondered why the Kwesi Botchwey report on the 2016 lections was never brought to the table for thorough discussion. 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 Seasoned Journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has paid tribute to the late Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly called Sir John who will, in the coming days, be bid farewell from the land of the living. Sir John, who was also a former General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), passed away last year after contracting the deadly Coronavirus. Speaking on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' programme, Kwesi Pratt touted the good works and character of Sir John while he was alive. He outlined how Sir John outperformed as the Forestry Commission CEO despite all efforts by his political opponents to have him dismissed from office. Mr. Pratt made mention of Sir John's ability to employ a lot of people at the Commission and his interpersonal relationship with his political opponents. He also alluded to the deceased's contempt of court during the 2016 election dispute at the Supreme Court which led to his summoning before the court to apologize and set free from serving any sentence. To sum up his thoughts about the late politician, Kwesi Pratt emphasized; Sir John was a survivor. 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 Zambias former Minister of Community Development and Social Services, Emerine Kabanshi, has been sentenced to two years in prison. A Magistrates Court in the capital, Lusaka, found her guilty after her Ministry misspent $4.3m (3m) meant for poor families. In 2018, President Edgar Lungu fired Ms Kabanshi as well as suspended 80 officials from the ministry of general education after an estimated $1.6m of donor funds was allegedly embezzled. The scandals prompted the UK, Finland, Ireland and Sweden to suspend funding to the southern African country. Ms Kabanshi was facing two charges of wilful failure to comply with the law. She is expected to appeal against the judgement. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The woman was leaving a church service in Dallas around 1 p.m. Sunday when at least two men began shooting at each other in the parking lot, according to police. The victim was struck by one of the bullets and had to be rushed to the hospital, the Dallas Police Department said in a statement. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said Ghana has never returned to the era of culture of silence where the media and citizens fear to speak out on national issues. Speaking at the University of Cape Coast after receiving an honorary doctorate degree (Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership), Akufo-Addo said the media, in particular, has remained free under his watch including the protection of fundamental human rights. Since becoming president, there is nothing I have seen or experienced in the office that will make me change my long-held views on the importance of fundamental human rights. I have worked with civil society organisations and used their platforms to engage infamous arguments, healthy debates and I am not averse to the occasional controversy that is a necessary part of public life, Akufo-Addo said. I have said so and I will say it again that I will much rather that we had a reckless press than a sparing one. I dare say that the atmosphere in our country is one of spirited conversation and debate among politicians, the business community, civil society organisations, and ordinary citizens through print, radio, television or in particular, social media, whether they are home or abroad. Indeed, I dare say that the means to get your voice heard has never been so democratised as now and long may it last, Asaaseradio.com quoted him. Sam Jonah lecture A senior citizen Sir Sam Jonah, who is incidentally the chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), in a public lecture on 23 April 2021 on the theme; Down the Up Escalator: Reflections on Ghanas Future by a Senior Citizen, lamented that many individuals and civil society organisations that used to speak up against social ills have gone quiet in recent time. In the past, when all had failed, academia was the last vanguard. We all remember the role that the Legon Observer played. Under the hallowed cloak of academic freedom, men and women of conscience could write and speak words that penetrated the halls of power. It appears to me that in recent times in our fourth Republican dispensation, the courage to stand up for the truth and the determination to uphold the common good are lost. In our dark moments as a nation, it is concerning that the voices of the intellectuals are receding into oblivion. Sadly, it is a consequence of the deep partisan polarization of our country such that everything is seen through the lenses of politics. It appears to me that the culture of silence has returned. This time not enforced by legal and military power but through convenience, parochialism, hypocrisy and lack of conviction, Mr. Jonah is reported to have said. Tradition of press freedom However, President Akufo-Addo in pressing home his point with Sir Sam Jonah, sitting just next to him in his capacity as the chancellor of the University of Cape Coast at the colourful ceremony indicated that it cannot be that everyone has a right of a reply except members of the government and officialdom. Nor can it be that challenging an opinion expressed by a journalist constitutes an attack on press freedom. What I believe may be lacking sorely in our society today is the need to listen to each other more. Knowledge has never been a gift granted exclusively to one group. We must listen, and hear each other more. And, for me, personally, I find it ironic that the Presidency of a man who has been and continues to be the most vilified political figure of his generation can be accused of presiding over a culture of silence. There is no midnight knock on the door in Ghana for authors of dissenting views, nor will there be during my presidency, Akufo-Addo noted. I belong to the Danquah Dombo Busia political tradition, one whose forebears, at great personal sacrifice, fought for the democratic, open, free system of government we are enjoying today in Ghana. They propagated the concept of democracy at a time when it was not, in Africa, a fashionable concept. Indeed, the philosophy of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) coincides with that of the Fourth Republican Constitution. It is the dominant political philosophy in the world today, and has stood the test of time, Akufo-Addo stated. 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 Talented Ghanaian artiste and songwriter, Kwame Ayi Kwaw, popularly known as Stone Gee, has been nominated in the 2021 Ghana Music Awards-USA (GMA-USA) slated for August 28 in New Jersey in the United States of America. The Highlife/Afrobeat artiste, who recently released his two hit singles, Jealousy and Bottom Power, has been nominated in the Emerging Act of the Year category. The Jealousy hitmaker will face stiff competition from some of the countrys finest emerging acts for the award. He was nominated alongside other talented acts such as Kwame Yogot, Poncho, Phaize, Kobby Salm, Mel Black and Lokal. GMA-USA is designed to celebrate and honour Ghanaian entertainers in and outside the country; and aims to extend the advancement of the Ghanaian music industry at home and abroad. Credited with a number of hit songs, Stone Gee, who expressed his delight upon the recognition by the awards scheme, believes he deserves the award because he has worked hard in the Ghanaian music industry in the year under review. According to him, he put in a lot of work in the past three years in the music industry and even ended 2020 with two danceable hit singles. Its quite understandable how he believes he has worked so much than most artists who are also hopeful of winning in the highly-coveted category. Stone Gee, who is expected to come up top in the category, appealed to all his fans to vote massively for him to win the award this year. Based on his outstanding performance last year, Stone Gee was adjudged winner in the categories of Artiste of the Year, Eastside Song of the Year as well as Afro Pop Song of the Year award at the Eastern Music Awards (EMA) held in Koforidua. Currently promoting his latest hit single titled Bottom Power, the artiste is one of the few talented young artists making impact on the Ghanaian music scene with their music. His songs have unique features in terms of beat and style, which is a new element in our current music dispensation. Stone Gee was discovered some years back by the Chief Executive Officer of Gavali Music Records, Richard Essien (Magic Rocker). Gavali Music Records is known for building talented music icons into international brands. Check out his Bottom Power music video below: https://youtu.be/l1vxJaben1A Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 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, colorized blue, from the first U.S. case of COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Hannah A. Bullock, Azaibi Tamin/CDC via AP FORT WORTH, Texas Jason Kokrak played in 233 PGA TOUR events before getting his first victory. The big hitter didn't have to wait nearly as long to win again, and overcame a local favorite to do it at Colonial. RELATED: Leaderboard | Winner's Bag: Jason Kokrak, Charles Schwab Challenge Kokrak shot an even-par 70 in a final-group showdown Sunday with resurgent Jordan Spieth, winning the Charles Schwab Challenge at 14-under 266. He was two strokes better than Spieth, who hit his approach at No. 18 over the green and into the water. While even on the day, Kokrak had five bogeys to go with his five birdies. He twice needed two shots to get out of bunkers, and had back-to-back bogeys at Nos. 15 and 16. But when he struck his final 4-foot putt, he followed the ball to the cup and finally broke into a smile when he pulled it out and celebrated with caddie David Robinson. A huge crowd followed the only contending group all day, most of them waiting to erupt for Dallas-native Spieth, who started the round with a one-stroke lead before a bogey-filled 73. Instead of his second win at Colonial, he finished as the runner-up at Hogan's Alley for the third time. It was still Spieth's eighth top-10 finish in his last 11 starts this year, one more top 10 than he had the previous two seasons combined. They were definitely rooting for the guy next to me, said Kokrak, who tied for third at Colonial last June. Both of us didn't have our A-game today. We grinded it out. Kokrak, playing in his 16th tournament since winning the CJ CUP @ Shadow Creek in October, became the third player with two PGA TOUR wins this season. He joined Bryson DeChambeau and Stewart Cink in that group. Charley Hoffman finished in a four-way third at 10 under with a closing 65. He also had a tournament-best 62 on Friday, but that was sandwiched by a pair of over-par rounds (71 on Thursday and 72 on Saturday). Patton Kizzire (67), Sebastian Munoz (68) and Ian Poulter (68) were also at 10-under 270. Troy Merritt was along in seventh at 7 under. Sergio Garcia was in third place with the final round began, four strokes behind Kokrak and five behind Spieth. But the 41-year-old Spaniard, who got the first of his 11 PGA TOUR wins 20 years ago at Colonial, started with a wayward tee shot and bogeyed the opening par 5, then had had a three-putt for double bogey at No. 3. He shot a 76 and tied for 20th at 276. Kokrak took the lead for good with birdies at the longest and shortest holes, making a 13-foot putt at the 629-yard 11th hole, an then a 17-footer off the fringe at the 170-yard 13th after a tee shot the came close to going into the water fronting the par 3. Spieth only had two birdies all day, the last with an approach to less than 2 feet on No. 9 that matched them at 14 under going to the back nine. But Kokrak had quickly fallen two strokes behind after a bogey at the 551-yard opening hole, when his approach went into a greenside bunker and he didn't get the ball out of there on the first try. But Spieth, who had only two bogeys in the first 55 holes, then bogeyed three holes in a row and had two more on the back nine. He went in the right rough and then over the green on both Nos. 2 and 3, then hit into a bunker fronting the difficult 241-yard, par-3 4th. He blasted to six feet, but his par attempt curled around the edge of the cup and he had to tap in for bogey. Instead of going ahead at No. 4, Kokrak was even at 12 under because of his bogey after driving over the green. But Kokrak took the lead for the first time with a 23-foot birdie putt at the fifth, before both rolled in birdies at No. 6. Kokrak then had his other bunker trouble, from the side of the No. 7 green, when he again needed two shots to get out. That bogey tied them again, with Spieth making par after a benefitting from tee shot wide right that hit a tree and ricocheted into the fairway. On May 27, French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Rwanda on a state visit, during which he spoke about his country's responsibility for the 1994 genocide that claimed the lives of about 800,000 Rwandans, primarily minority Tutsis. France was responsible because it backed the genocidal regime that was then in power in Rwanda and ignored warnings of the impending massacre, Macron said. Radical influencers inside Rwandas Hutu ethnic majority orchestrated the mass killing of minority Tutsis in 1994, following the elimination of the moderate Hutu leadership and formation of Hutu militias -- the Interahamwe and the Impuzamugambi. While the interim government and militia groups were instrumental in carrying out the genocide, ordinary Hutus were encouraged via radio broadcast to kill their Tutsi neighbors. An estimated 200,000 Hutu civilians participated in the mass killings, which lasted for about 100 days. France had been supportive of the Rwandan Hutu government, and also led the U.N. military mission that was deployed to reestablish peace in the country but failed to halt the violence. Macrons visit to Rwanda followed Rwandan President Paul Kagames trip to Paris last week, during which Kagame spoke with France 24 and Radio France International (RFI). In the interview, after Kagame referred to a long list of genocidaires and genocide deniers and the need to make them answer for crimes, RFIs Alexandra Brangeon asked him: Staying with justice and accountability, last month the Congolese Nobel Peace Prize winner Denis Mukwege was in Paris, and he asked France to bring to justice those responsible for crimes in eastern Congo, some of them were committed by soldiers of Congos neighbors, thats according to U.N. [United Nations] experts. Would you agree to have Rwandan officers prosecuted for crimes committed in eastern Congo in the wake of the genocide? In response, Kagame claimed that the forces you dont get to see had told Mukwege what to say in order to influence peoples opinion. He also questioned whether a U.N. report on the situation in eastern DR Congo was credible, and denied that the Rwandan army had committed any crimes there: The United Nations report has been extremely controversial and as a matter of fact, highly disputed by people in Congo or in the neighboring countries. There are also other reports that dispute it and say completely the opposite, Kagame said The opposite? That there were no crimes committed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo? Brangeon interrupted. There were no crimes committed, absolutely! Kagame said. Kagames claims are false. Under Kagames command, the Rwandan Patriotic Army (previously Rwandan Patriotic Front) entered eastern DR Congo, then called Zaire, in pursuit of some 2 million Hutu refugees who had fled Rwanda in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide. Among the refugees were many of those responsible for the slaughter of more than 800,000 Rwandans, mainly Tutsis. Kagames government, according to the U.N. experts, indiscriminately labeled the Hutu refugees in DR Congo genocidaires, regardless of their role in the genocide. French academic and author Gerard Prunier wrote in his 2008 book Africa's World War: Congo, the Rwandan Genocide, and the Making of a Continental Catastrophe that the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) attacked the Hutu refugees, slaughtering upward of 400,000 people. The U.N. has conducted several investigations and produced multiple reports on the situation in the DRC, providing evidence and testimony about the role that Kagames regime and the RPA played in the mass killings and violence in eastern DR Congo. According to the U.N., the investigations were based on extensive evidence and interviews with hundreds of first-hand witnesses on different sides of the conflict. In 1994, in the immediate aftermath of the genocide, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees produced the first report that focused specifically on the conduct of the Rwandan Patriotic Army. It detailed the types of violence committed, how the mass killings were carried out and how bodies were disposed of. The report estimated that the RPA killed 5,000 to 10,000 Hutus monthly in the spring and summer of 1994. By September 1994 significant areas had been the scene of systematic and sustained killing and persecution of civilian Hutu population by the RPA, the report said. It also reported large scale indiscriminate killings of men, women, children, including the sick and the elderly. The report cited interviews with 80 refugee families in eastern DR Congo, whom the U.N. inspectors met walking back to their homes in Rwanda. One out of five immediate family members with whom they had arrived in Zaire died there, the report said. On August 2, 1994, the RPA intercepted and executed 150 refugees in Zaire. including entire families of men, women and children who were walking back to Rwanda, the report said. In 2010, the U.N. released its final report on the situation in DR Congo between 1994 and 2003, which detailed abuses committed by all sides of the conflict. The report said that over 700,000 Rwandan Hutu refugees, including a large number of militiamen responsible for the Tutsi genocide arrived in eastern DR Congo in July 1994, and that their long-term settlement added to the insecurity. The U.N. report also stated that during the summer and fall of 1996, the Rwandan Patriotic Army (the U.N. identifies them by the French acronym APR), together with other regional allied forces, attacked and destroyed all the Rwandan and Burundian refugee camps in eastern Zaire. Over several months, RPA soldiers went about systematically destroying the makeshift refugee camps and persecuting anyone who came to their aid, the report said. The RPA soldiers relentlessly pursued Hutu refugees across the entire Congolese territory, the report stated. Former members of Rwandan forces responsible for the genocide of Tutsis rounded up civilian refugees and used them as human shields. A majority of the nearly 300,000 Hutu refugees spread across 11 remaining camps in eastern DR Congo were unarmed civilians, U.N. said. The RPA and allied troops attacked these camps, killing hundreds and forcing the survivors to bury the victims in mass graves, the report said. The U.N. report described one such incident: On 21 October 1996, AFDL/APR/FAB units attacked the Luberizi refugee camp between Luberizi and Mutarule with heavy weapons, killing around 370 refugees. The soldiers threw the bodies of the victims into the latrines. They also killed several dozen people (refugees and Zairians) at the villages of Luberizi and Mutarule. After the killings, the bodies of over 60 victims were found in houses in the two villages. In the early 2000s, many of Hutus residing in DR Congo formed their own army, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDRL). Their goal was to overthrow the Kagame government and return Rwanda to Hutu rule. Denis Mukwege is a gynecological surgeon in the city of Bukavu, eastern Congo. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018 for his efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict. As a surgeon, Mukwege helped thousands of victims of sexual violence and repeatedly condemned impunity for mass rape, the Nobel Prize committee said. Last month, Mukwege told the United Nations Security Council that there has been a surge of rape and sexual violence in armed conflicts everywhere, calling it a real pandemic that wont stop unless the U.N. delivers sanctions and justice. DR Congo is replete with minerals, including gold, diamonds, titanium, copper and more. Top officers of the Rwandan Patriotic Army and officials with ties to Kagames administration have reportedly benefited from the extraction of natural resources there. There were 1,927 violent incidents in eastern DR Congo between January 2020 and May 2021, including violence against children and women, according to the online dashboard monitor created by the Belgium think-tank IPIS. In early 1990s, Paul Kagame was the commander of the Rwandan Patriotic Front, now the Rwandan Patriotic Army, which played a key role in the civil war in Rwanda that led to the genocide. In 2000, Kagame became Rwandas president after his troops won the war with the Hutus. Ten years ago, he was seen as a knight in shining armor, a wonder boy delivering development miracles. No longer, French historian and author Gerard Pruiner said of Kagame in a recent interview with The Guardian. One reason for Kagames tarnished reputation, the paper wrote, is a decade-long campaign of harassment, detention, torture and assassination. Even back in 2013, when Kagame was still basking in international glory, one press account described him as a merciless and brutal leader who covertly supported murderous rebel groups in neighboring Congo. 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. There were eight people total in the Hyundai. The other five passengers, who ranged in age from 12 to 14, were each injured, according to the Sun-Sentinel. ARLINGTON, Va. President Joe Biden honored America's war dead at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day by laying a wreath at the hallowed burial ground and extolling the sacrifices of the fallen for the pursuit of democracy, "the soul of America." Biden invoked the iconic battles of history and joined them to the present as he implored Americans to rise above the divisions straining the union, which he described in stark terms. The president was joined Monday by first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff in a somber ceremony at the Virginia cemetery's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is dedicated to deceased service members whose remains have not been identified. His face tight with emotion, Biden walked up to the wreath, cupping it in his hands in silent reflection, then making the sign of the cross. His eyes were wet. The gathered dignitaries and military families were hushed and solemn; the chattering of cicadas loud. In remarks that followed, Biden called on Americans to commemorate their fallen heroes by remembering their fight for the nation's ideals. "This nation was built on an idea," Biden said. "We were built on an idea, the idea of liberty and opportunity for all. We've never fully realized that aspiration of our founders, but every generation has opened the door a little wider." He focused much of his speech on the importance of democracy, saying it thrives when citizens can vote, when there is a free press and when there are equal rights for all. "Generation after generation of American heroes are signed up to be part of the fight because they understand the truth that lives in every American heart: that liberation, opportunity, justice are far more likely to come to pass in a democracy than in an autocracy," Biden said. "These Americans weren't fighting for dictators, they were fighting for democracy. They weren't fighting to exclude or to enslave, they were fighting to build and broaden and liberate." But he suggested these ideals are imperiled. "The soul of America is animated by the perennial battle between our worst instincts, which we've seen of late, and our better angels," he said. "Between Me First and We the People. Between greed and generosity, cruelty and kindness, captivity and freedom." After the ceremony, the Bidens stopped by a row of gravestones in a cemetery where some 400,000 are buried in the gentle hills and hollows. The Bidens held hands and strolled along the rows of Section 12, one of the primary burial locations of service members killed overseas and repatriated to the United States after World War II and the Korean War. They stopped to chat with several families visiting the graves of their loved ones or searching for them one family came to find a great-uncle missing in action from the world war. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joined Biden and Harris in the ceremony. On Sunday, Biden addressed a crowd of Gold Star military families and other veterans in a ceremony at War Memorial Plaza in New Castle, Delaware. Earlier in the day, he and other family members attended a memorial Mass for his son Beau Biden, a veteran who died of brain cancer six years ago to the day. Chloe Johnson covers the coastal environment and climate change for the Post and Courier. She's always looking for a good excuse to hop on a boat. Kingstree, SC (29556) Today Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. MYRTLE BEACH The cancellation of Atlantic Beach Bike Week did not stop bikers from rolling down Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach over Memorial Day Weekend. Because Atlantic Beach canceled this year and last year's official events because of COVID-19, neighboring towns including Myrtle Beach prepared for those who decided to come anyways to celebrate. Temika Williams of North Carolina has been coming to Atlantic Beach Bike Week since 1982. Williams not only enjoys the week's activities, but it usually falls on her birthday weekend. "Overall, it's a nice atmosphere, the weather is better than back home, and this has just always been the spot," Sandra Streeter, another attendee, said. To deal with the influx of people who wouldn't be in Atlantic Beach and normal Memorial Day Weekend activities, the Myrtle Beach Police Department asked for help from close to 300 additional officers. While one Myrtle Beach officer, Chris Voegele, said police presence was less this year than years prior, not everyone was happy with the number of officers. Streeter agreed this year's police presence seemed lighter, but she and Williams still felt the number of officers was still heavy for the size of the crowd at what is often called Black Bike Week. Harley Week, a predominantly White event that took place primarily in Georgetown County earlier in May, did not bring in the same levels of police officers, as Georgetown County Sheriff's Office did not request additional help from outside agencies, agency spokesman Jason Lesley said. Voegele disagreed that race plays a role in how the bike weeks are police, saying the main concern was public safety. "If you are policing the way you should it's irrelevant it doesn't matter what color, where you're from," Voegele said. Nearly 650 incidents including traffic violations and citations occurred on May 28 and 29 within the city limits, according to the Myrtle Beach logging system, with 174 being arrests. Comparatively, nine people were arrested in Georgetown during Harley Week. Voegele said MBPD officers were not trying to focus on arresting people but instead giving out citations and verbal warnings when possible. "There's so much going on that we actually tone it back as far as arrests are concerned, we do a lot more verbal warnings just getting people to comply with us because we just don't have the time to arrest people and do all that paperwork and stuff," Voegele said. Over the weekend, the Myrtle Beach Police Department responded to two incidents where shots were fired. Garret Goolsby, from Fayetteville, N.C., was charged by Myrtle Beach police with attempted murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and unlawful carry of a pistol in connection to a May 28 shooting close to 34th Avenue North and Kings Highway. Shots were also fired on May 29 at 27th Avenue South and Ocean Boulevard. The suspect is still at large, Myrtle Beach police said. MONCKS CORNER K. Ham has never seen a single episode of The Walking Dead. The former narcotics officer for the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office has only a basic understanding of who Rick Grimes the central character in the hugely popular post-apocalyptical zombie dystopia television show even is. I know that Rick Grimes is, I guess, was a sheriffs deputy in Georgia. But beyond that, I dont know anything about him or the show, said Ham, an 18-year veteran of the Sheriffs Office. My brother is a huge fan of the show, but I havent seen it. The fact that Ham did not know much about Grimes backstory, or zombies in general, didnt stop him from using a Rick Grimes figurine as a symbol in the departments fight against drug crime. Since 2016 just about every time the Sheriffs Office has made a major drug bust, theyve had an action figure out front and posed with the drugs, weapons and cash seized during the raids. Like any good origin story, the genesis of using the Rick Grimes action figure as a pseudo mascot in narcotics arrests is shrouded in both myth and fact. As best as Ham can remember, he was surfing through social media one afternoon when he stumbled on a photo of a G.I. Joe figurine that appeared to have landed an enormous fish. Of course, the fish was tiny, but next to a G.I. Joe action figure, it looked like a great white shark. The photo sparked something in Ham, who now works as a lieutenant in the department's patrol division. I was like, 'weve got to get a G.I. Joe or something just like it,' Ham said. Ham and a couple of other deputies went to a local CVS store and settled on the Rick Grimes figurine off the show that airs on AMC. When the task force made their next arrest, tiny Rick Grimes was front-and-center for the photo op. At first, it was to show the scale of the drugs and what all they'd seized, said Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis. Its hard to show that without something for scale. When the photo with the action figure was displayed on Facebook, the public took notice. The reaction we got was something that we never expected, Lewis said. It just kind of morphed into something else. The public loved it, so we told the task force to keep on using him. During an arrest in January, the BCSO Narcotics Task Force comprised of detectives of the Sheriffs Office, Goose Creek, Hanahan and Moncks Corner police departments seized approximately 200 pounds of presumptive marijuana, 90 grams of presumptive psilocybin, 630 grams of suspected narcotics in powder form, more than $21,000 in cash and a cache of weapons including an AK-47, a .50-caliber sniper rifle and a pistol. The seizure was displayed prominently on the department's Facebook page, with Grimes in the photo. The post received 600 comments and 750 likes. Most comments were like Heather Gillmers I love the action figure. Lewis said thats typical when Rick Grimes is involved. This thing has taken on a life of its own, Lewis said. One local law professor says that while the figure might be gimmicky, it's not necessarily prejudicial to a prosecution case. Using the figurine doesnt raise any constitutional issues for the defendant, said Debra Gammons, a visiting professor and director of the Office of Diversity Initiatives at the Charleston School of Law. Nothing prohibits a law enforcement agency from using an action figure like this in a social media post, she added. Not be outdone, the use of the action figure has sparked a friendly rivalry within the Berkeley department. The Community Action Team, or CAT, has started to use Cat Boy from the popular childrens cartoon PJ Masks when they make especially noteworthy arrests. I think the guys in CAT just wanted to let the task force know they were out there, Lewis said. Its done with humor and good fun. They like to one-up each other. The monument to Denmark Vesey in a Charleston park has been vandalized, according to city officials. Damage to the statue's granite pedestal was believed to have been caused by a large hammer or another object on either May 29 or May 30, a city news release said. An investigation, by city police, into who caused the damage is ongoing. The statue of Vesey, in Hampton Park, was unveiled in 2014. It honors the formerly enslaved man, who bought his freedom, opened a carpentry shop in the city and was later hanged. Vesey was killed in 1822. He was one of 35 people executed for a foiled plot to free enslaved people from the city and escape to Haiti. Mayor John Tecklenburg, in a statement, said the monument would be repaired and that anyone involved will be punished. "As with other recent acts of vandalism against our city's monuments, we will repair this damage," the mayor wrote. "We will work to punish those who did it. And we will never allow this kind of cowardly misconduct to divide our city or distract our citizens from the real and meaningful progress that we are all making together." Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations. It wasnt realistic to expect any game-changer education laws while South Carolina was still struggling to get kids back into the classroom after last years COVID-19 school closings. But our state still made surprising progress this year toward providing all children with a decent education. The Legislature finally passed a bill to let the state education superintendent remove the school board in districts she has to take over, rather than having to hand an improved district back to the people who were either incapable of or unwilling to run it properly in the first place. Lawmakers passed a bill to let school districts work with nonprofits to operate more than one school of innovation like Meeting Street Elementary @Brentwood. The state budget passed by the Senate includes $1,000 raises for all teachers and other provisions that should help combat our teacher shortage, and House budget writers are expected to do likewise in the budget the House is set to debate next week. Less noticed, South Carolina continued to make progress toward reducing its still-too-large number of tiny school districts, which often are concentrated in our poorest rural counties and rank consistently among the most challenged in our state. A year after the Legislature merged Clarendon County districts 1 and 3, lawmakers passed S.648 this year to pull the countys holdout district, Clarendon 2, into the mix. The first consolidation takes effect July 1; the second in July 2022. Combined with last years merger of Hampton Countys two tiny school districts, that means the Legislature has merged five districts into two in barely more than a year. And theres hope for more in June. The Senate passed S.691 in April to merge Barnwell districts 19 and 29 and passed S.771 in May to merge Bamberg 1 and 2. Both bills can be considered when the Legislature convenes a limited-agenda mini-session next week, and the state Education Department expects them to pass once a few details are nailed down. This mini-wave of consolidations started in 2019, when the Legislature agreed to actively promote them by offering a few million dollars to districts to cover one-time expenses that can accompany a merger. One reason the state expects the Barnwell and Bamberg mergers to go through is that the districts have accepted merger funding. Even more notably, S.C. Education Superintendent Molly Spearman announced this spring that she was merging the tiny Florence District 4 into Florence 1. Ms. Spearman declared a state of emergency in Florence 4 in 2018 and took it over, but a state law adopted in 2016 gives her several options beyond running a troubled district herself, including merging it with another district. Sign up for our opinion newsletter Get a weekly recap of South Carolina opinion and analysis from The Post and Courier in your inbox on Monday evenings. Email Sign Up! A spokesman told us last week that while the district had made progress academically and financially, the financial situation with a district of less than 700 students is not sustainable, so we feel that consolidation with the nearby Florence 1 district will provide solid financial footing and provide the needed opportunities for students. As Ms. Spearman wrote in announcing her decision: The administration costs alone take away dramatically from dollars that should be going to teachers and students in the classroom. Students suffer from the lack of course offerings, career development programs, and limited extra-curricular activities. Predictably, the move upset some local officials. But even school board members who objected told The Florence Morning News that their objection was to the process, not the merger itself. Consolidating districts doesnt save a huge amount of money, but as Ms. Spearman noted, the overhead costs are tremendous in tiny districts, and every dollar that can be saved on administration can be plowed into the programs for students. At least as important, consolidation helps eliminate funding inequities between districts and increases the talent pool for school board members and top administrators, and that in turn helps save students from school board members whose primary goal is to provide good jobs for their unqualified friends and relatives, and from superintendents who arent creative or energetic enough for the job. The potential benefits of merging tiny districts are so clear that the state Supreme Court suggested it when it ordered the Legislature to provide a decent education to all children. The justices even said the districts that sued the state in the Abbeville v. South Carolina were partly at fault for their poor performance because instead of merging, they opted for a course of self-preservation, placing all blame for the blighted state of education in their districts at the feet of the state. If the Barnwell and Bamberg consolidations go through, that will reduce the number of districts with fewer than 1,000 students from eight when the state first offered incentives to just two: Greenwood 51 with 881 students and McCormick County Schools with 594 students. Of course, well still have 73 regular school districts (plus a handful of specialty schools and two charter school districts, which is one too many), several with fewer than 2,000 students. But its better than the 79 we had two years ago, better still than the 91 we had a quarter-century ago. But for a state with just 46 counties and not a penny we can afford to squander, its still too many. That means lawmakers must continue their incremental, individualized progress to combine more districts and take lessons in persistence from what is in effect a microcosm of the incremental, individualized progress that is essential to reaching all the students who need better educational opportunities than were providing them. Memorial Day is to be remembered as a day of sadness. We are to remember those who never made it home alive after they fought for our freedom against those who hated us. Its a day to remember those who were killed and never found; to remember those who fought in the air, were shot down and their remains never found. Its a day to remember the warriors of the sea whose tomb is the ship they were on, from which they may not have escaped. Its a day to remember the ones on the battlefield who were dying from wounds, in pain and crying to see loves one again. Its a day to remember loved ones receiving a visit or letter notifying them their warrior would not be returning home alive. So before celebrating the unofficial start of summer, let us all remember what Memorial Day is truly about. SAM PIERCE Mellard Drive Goose Creek Bravo to MUSC for plan This letter is in response to Dr. Patrick J. Cawleys May 26 commentary, Why MUSC Health requires COVID-19 vaccinations. MUSC is requiring all employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccination to work and care for its patients. This requirement is in keeping with the highest standard of public health measures to combat the pandemic. It helps ensure that patients and fellow workers will be protected against the spread of the virus and protects the health care workers and others from infection. As a patient, I am deeply appreciative of the leadership MUSC has shown statewide in combating this virus. It is particularly notable that all members of the board of trustees are vaccinated. This shows leadership at the very top of the institutional governance chain. The Latin phrase primum non nocere (first, do no harm) is usually applied to withholding medical intervention, but MUSC is taking the concept a step further by vaccinating people against COVID-19. Bravo to the leaders and caregivers in the MUSC Health System. Dr. JERRY REVES Dean Emeritus MUSC College of Medicine Rutledge Avenue Charleston Handshake wiped off Sign up for our opinion newsletter Get a weekly recap of South Carolina opinion and analysis from The Post and Courier in your inbox on Monday evenings. Email Sign Up! Did anyone besides me notice that after Vice President Kamala Harris shook hands with South Korean President Moon Jae on May 21 in the White House that she wiped her hand on her jacket? FORREST BONNER Madison Court Mount Pleasant GOP must take action Kudos to Tom Rice for having the integrity to insist on having Congress investigate the event that interfered with its operations on Jan. 6. I wish Rep. Nancy Mace and other Republican members of Congress could find the same integrity and courage to take action. Some Republicans in Congress argue that the events of Jan. 6 dont need investigation. Most reject this but do support the leaderships argument that the legislative branch neednt investigate the origin and motives of this attack because other branches of government are already doing so. (On Friday, the Senate all but ended any hopes for a bipartisan Jan. 6 commission.) The Constitution grants the power to Congress to exercise exclusive legislation over the federal District of Columbia in all cases whatsoever, per Article 1, Section 8. Congress has the primary responsibility for protecting the operation of the federal government. The mob was trying to undo a presidential election and howling for then-Vice President Mike Pences head on a pike. All Republicans in Congress now must cleanse the taint by acting vigorously and visibly to protect the integrity of the Constitution theyve sworn to preserve and protect. BOB HYMAN Pierce Street Daniel Island Photos are captivating Super flower blood moon on May 26 The partially eclipsed super flower blood moon and Sullivans Island Lighthouse shine just before dawn on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. But as the Kudos to Post and Courier photographer Andrew J. Whitaker for the extraordinary sun and moon shots featured on Thursdays front page. I suspect that this project involved a lot of waiting for the perfect moment. The Post and Courier is fortunate to have his services. HARRIET LITTLE Joyce Lane Summerville You have permission to edit this collection. Edit Close As health care workers, it is our sacred obligation to do whatever we can to protect our patients, who are the most vulnerable in our community, said the hospitals president and CEO Marc Boom in a statement. The COVID-19 vaccines have proven through rigorous trials to be very safe and very effective and are not experimental. More than 165 million people in the U.S. alone have received vaccines against COVID-19, and this has resulted in the lowest numbers of infections in our country and in the Houston region in more than a year. Note: We've recently updated our online systems. If you can't login please try resetting your password. You must login with an email address. If you don't have an email associated with your account email circulation@postregister.com for help creating one. @PottstownNews on Twitter Evan Brandt has been a staff reporter for The Mercury for more than 20 years. He covers municipal, school district, political, state government, federal government and environmental news. I have never seen a movie in which Johnny Depp appeared, and I know that he was once married to Amber Heard, an actress otherwise unknown to me, only because of my ceaseless scanning of internet headlines. But it turns out that there is an interesting story behind the Depp-Heard divorce dramaa story that may illustrate widespread corruption among big-buck nonprofits. The Daily Mail reports: A bitter defamation lawsuit is now brewing between Johnny Depp and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) after new documents revealed the non-profits staff penned the explosive domestic violence op-ed at the center of the actors $50 million libel suit against ex-wife Amber Heard. A trove of emails seen by DailyMail.com suggest Heard, 35, had minimal input in the December 2018 article which was written by an ACLU strategist then submitted to her for approval. The Daily Mail has the goods. The email traffic shows that Heards famous op-ed in the Washington Post was written by employees of the American Civil Liberties Union, led by an ACLU communications strategist. Heard had little or nothing to do with it, and her own lawyersthe op-ed was intensively lawyered on both sidesfretted that it could violate her non-disclosure agreement with Depp. So the language was carefully negotiated, but always with the ACLU doing the writing. Why did the American Civil Liberties Union take such an interest in a Hollywood divorce? I suppose they would say, for reasons of feminism. But it turns out that there was a financial motive as well: The ACLU is already facing a May 28 deadline to respond to a barrage of subpoenas from Depps legal team who want to know if Heard ever honored a public 2016 pledge to donate half her divorce money some $3.5 million to the vaunted civil rights group. Good question! You can write a lot of op-eds for $3.5 million. This story is one of many that raise questions about prominent nonprofits, about their motives and their purported devotion to the public good. A friend who alerted me to this story writes: This is a crazy story that hits the tip of an iceberg of corruption in our modern media / political complex. The deeper story here is the way in which so many of these traditional not-for-profits and institutions have now become fundraising grifts and hatchet / shakedown operations completely unrelated to their original missions and how the WaPo, NYT, Time, etc. are eager to play handmaiden to these schemes. The ACLU, the NAACP/BLM, Sierra Club, etc. The feminist op-ed in the Washington Post that ostensibly was written by Amber Heard, turns out to have been a collaboration between the ACLU and the Post in which Heard played hardly any role. There is corruption here on all sides, with the possible exception of Johnny Depps. About him, I have no opinion. But anyone who thinks that establishment nonprofits like the ACLU are out for the public good is a sucker. Marty Walsh is Joe Bidens Secretary of Labor. Alex Acosta was Donald Trumps for a few years. Acosta lost his job after reports showed that he gave a sweetheart deal to Jeffrey Epstein, a pedophile. The editorial board of the Wall Street Journal suggests that Walsh might have a somewhat similar problem. The alleged pedophile in question is the former chief of the Boston police union, Patrick Rose. He was arrested last summer on 33 counts of sexually abusing children. Walshs problem is that he may have known about Roses criminal behavior. At a minimum, Walsh was not forthcoming in turning over records relevant to Roses case. According to the Wall Street Journals editors: Its become clear that Mr. Roses behavior was known for years and that officials helped to keep it secret. That may have included Marty Walsh, the former union chief, former mayor of Boston and now U.S. secretary of Labor. . . . In 1995, [Rose] was criminally charged with sexually abusing a child and placed on administrative duty. The Boston Globe reports that prosecutors in 1996 dropped the charge when the accuser recanted his story under pressure from Rose. Yet a subsequent internal affairs investigation that same year concluded that the charge was sustained. The Globe reports that state child welfare investigators also looked into the allegation and found reasonable cause to believe a child was abused. It isnt clear how the police department responded to those findings. But in 1997 an attorney for the police union sent a letter to the police commissioner complaining that Mr. Rose had been restricted to administrative duty for two years and threatened to file a grievance. Mr. Rose was then reinstated as a patrol officer and allowed contact with children. According to prosecutors, he went on to sexually abuse at least five more minors, including when he was union president from 2014-2017. Mr. Rose has pleaded not guilty. (Emphasis added) Walsh appears to have gone to great lengths to withhold files relevant to Roses case. The Journals editors state: Following Mr. Roses arrest last summer, the [Boston] Globe filed requests for the officers internal affairs file, which included details of the 1995 charge, internal investigation and union response. The Walsh administration refused to release the file, saying the records could not be redacted in a way that would satisfy privacy concerns. Even when the state supervisor of public records refuted this, the Walsh administration balkedat one point ignoring for two months the supervisors order that it better explain why the records should remain secret. Mr. Walshs successor, Acting Mayor Kim Janey, finally released a redacted version on April 20, but only after Mr. Walsh was confirmed as Labor secretary. This means the Rose story wasnt known during Mr. Walshs Senate confirmation hearing. It isnt clear what Mr. Walsh knew or when. But the Boston Globe editorial board called it astonishing the lengths to which the [Boston police] department and the now departed Walsh administration went to keep those files under wraps. A Department of Labor spokesperson declined to comment by our deadline. (Emphasis added) The Journals editors note the connection between Walsh and Rose. Walsh was the president of a Laborers Union local, as well as the head of the Boston Building Trades, until he ran for mayor in 2013. And as mayor he showered unions with taxpayer money, including a contract with Mr. Roses police union in 2017 that resulted in a pay increase of 16% over four years. Not surprisingly, city employees in unions donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to his campaign. As the Journal says, its not clear what Walsh knew about Roses case or whether he knew anything about it at all. However, Walsh might have been in a position to know, and his administrations foot dragging in turning over files raises questions. As Secretary of Labor, one of Walshs duties is to combat union corruption. Yet, Walshs tenure as union chief produced charges of questionable dealings and unethical behavior. Walsh isnt the man to fight union corruption. Thats why Biden appointed him at the behest of union leaders like AFL-CIO president Richard Trumpka. Walsh is their man. (Biden satisfied woke leftists through his selections for jobs just below the Secretary level.) As things stand, were stuck with Walsh. But if evidence emerges that he covered for a child molester, Walsh might well go the way of Alex Acosta, whose actions regarding Jeffrey Epstein were less culpable than that. to defend our military against critical race theory and related leftist dogmas that are being propagated by the Biden administration. Tom Cotton and Dan Crenshaw are doing exactly that: On Saturday, Arkansas GOP Sen. Tom Cotton and Texas GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw, both military veterans, teamed up to release a whistleblower form for military members to fill out if they spot any woke training efforts. Enough is enough. We wont let our military fall to woke ideology. We have just launched a whistleblower webpage where you can submit your story. Your complaint will be legally protected, and go to my office and @SenTomCotton.https://t.co/4FstasB7Tm Rep. Dan Crenshaw (@RepDanCrenshaw) May 28, 2021 For too long, progressive Pentagon staffers have been calling the shots for our warfighters, and spineless military commanders have let it happen. Now we are going to expose you. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (@RepDanCrenshaw) May 28, 2021 What do you suppose is the over/under on how many complaints they receive? There will be a lot, unfortunately. A second major threat is the wussificationI am using the polite termof our armed forces. A week ago, I posted this side-by-side comparison of a Russian recruitment ad with the latest absurdity from the Defense Department. If you missed it then, check it out now: Holy crap. Perhaps a woke, emasculated military is not the best idea. https://t.co/8aVFMW98NM Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 20, 2021 Veterans with distinguished combat records like Cotton and Crenshaw are ideally suited to defend the military against these pernicious trends. Last week Tablet published Professor Patrick Henrys remembrance of Roddie Edmonds, the former Army master sergeant who saved the Jews in his ranks from plans the Nazis had in store for them as prisoners of war. Professor Henry takes the title of his column from Edmondss memorable assertion to the unhappy Nazi commandant of the prison camp: We are all Jews here. It is a moving and inspirational story. In anticipation of the holiday today, Professor Henry writes: On Memorial Day 2021, 76 years after the liberation of Auschwitz, lets remember the heroics of Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds, the fifth American Righteous Gentile and the only one to have saved the lives of American Jews. Edmonds never got around to telling his own story: Edmonds, who was named Righteous in 2015, did not speak much about his experiences. His family only knew that he had been taken prisoner by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge and that he had survived 100 days of captivity before returning home. His son, Baptist Rev. Chris Edmonds, mentioned that when he would ask his father about the war, he often told him only that Some things were too difficult to talk about. Please read the whole thing, and dont miss the excellent Vimeo video below (also posted here, via reader C.M.). Chris Edmonds tells the story as he pieced it together in the 2019 book No Surrender: A Father, a Son, and an Extraordinary Act of Heroism That Continues to Live on Today. Callie Ebner placed first for the Manual Speed Kicking competition, which measures the number of kicks performed in 30 seconds, at the Alberta Open Online Taekwondo Tournament. Yes, no matter what Yes, but it depends on variety No, for medical reasons, uncertainty No, principle Vote View Results Its so important that we, every single Memorial Day, show that these are not just past sacrifices, but these are sacrifices that live with us and continue to the present day, she said. Im just honored to be here in the community to do that. Aishat Titilola, 29, is the CEO of TAD Farms in Oyo State. She is holds a degree in law from the University of Bedfordshire, Luton, England. She also runs a nongovernmental organisation, African Child Liberation Mission. She breeds goats, sheep and rabbits and processes them as ready-to-eat produce. She has 11 staff made up of nine women and three men. In this episode of our Women in Agriculture, Ms Titilola shares her experience. PT: Can you put us through your Journey in agriculture? Ms Titilola: After I was called to Bar in 2014, I began the NYSC, during my service year, I started selling livestock on a commercial scale in 2016. During festive period, I bring down the animals from North to South to sell. In 2017, I began a new concept, we are basically into animal husbandry. We farm ruminants like goats, ram, rabbit. We are also into agro processing for our customers. We try to cut the middleman off to make more from what we are doing from agriculture. So the journey has been cool but challenges are always there. PT: You spent about six years studying law, why did you prefer to practise agriculture? Ms Titilola: I practised for a little bit but I wasnt feeling the whole thing. I have so much energy in me and law did not give me the vibe but agriculture has been something I always wanted to do. I always wanted to own a farm since I was young. But I needed to get my future, that was how the law came and I had to do my LLB. When I got the opportunity I was excited and I jumped at it. PT: At the time you started, you were a corp member and may likely not have had so much money, how were you able to raise the capital? Ms Titilola: After studies in England, I returned to the UK and I worked really hard to save up some money and started afresh in 2017. Along the line, my parents, friends and investors started putting their money in, giving me grants and all that. To be honest, I wouldnt have gone far with my money alone, at some point my money even finished and the contributions started coming in. PT: You have about 200 animals on your farm, how are you able to meet up to the demands of the public? Ms Titilola: We have other suppliers, we cannot meet up to the demand based on the availability of our animals. We have other farmers within our locality and in our network. When you look at it, how many customers do I want to sell a hundred goats or 60 rams? What we do is this, the animals in the farm now are just for breeding because we have to slaughter some of them. We buy from other farmers and process for our customers. We process the animals to charcoal smoked meat. PT: You have been in the sector for over five years, what would you say are the notable challenges in the sector? Ms Titilola: Agriculture like other businesses in Nigeria is facing challenges. For example, instability in government policies. Today the government will say they are banning importation of rice, tomorrow they will lift the ban. We have infrastructural deficits, the road to the farms are bad, we also finance part of it, the government keeps saying they are empowering farmers, they are giving farmers some grants. We the real farmers are not getting any grants. All I have done on my farm is personal. We dont even talk of electricity, I run on a generator almost everyday (24 hours) thats not good for production. How do I compete in the international market with all these challenges? They are not encouraging the economy, we cannot grow without having the basis. In fact the most troubling challenge is insecurity, right now farmers in Nigeria are always scared of going to the farm. From my house to the farm is 1hr 45 minutes drive and there is always kidnapping on that road. Since 2015, it has not gotten this bad, so I visit the farm daily before, now I select the days. It has reduced productivity. PT: Before you started, was there a pre understanding that you will do better in processing than just selling the animals? Ms Titilola: When I started, I just wanted to rear and sell the animals but I later realised that farming the animals and selling to middle men was just a waste of time. I had to figure out how to cut off the middle men. My mentor told me I could use social media to promote my business. At that moment I realised that I can do better. That was how I started processing. I cut off the middle men and I interact directly with my customers. We are in charge of every value chain from rearing to processing to delivery. PT: To own land is pretty difficult for women, how are you able to buy land? ADVERTISEMENT Ms Titilola: I have about four hectares of land, when I was about getting it I just told a friend who connected me to getting the land. PT: You own ruminant animals, feeding can be demanding, how do you feed the animals? Ms Titilola: Feeding has been expensive since the farm is in a village, I get feed from the community. We feed them with cassava peels and other organic feeds. I cultivate grasses for them that grow in three weeks. PT: Have you been harrassed because you are a woman? Ms Titilola: No, I have not. These things depend on how you package yourself, you have to be bold and have a thick skin. PT: If you are in a position to advise the government, what will you tell them? Ms Titilola: I will tell them to fight insecurity. The cost of production is high because a lot of farms are closing down, insecurity has contributed to it. There are a lot of things to be done. Once infrastructure and electricity have been fixed, a lot of things will go down. Nothing is really stable. PT: Do you belong to any association because it seems to help farmers achieve a lot? Ms Titilola: I used to belong to an association, then I was part of the Rabbit Farmers Association, currently I dont. It has not affected me in any way. I just read through the Internet. I believe in collaboration so I have a network of friends and we talk about ideas. PT: Has the family slowed you down in any way? Ms Titilola: No, I am single and I live with my family. They have been very supportive. Although when I started, my dad did not like the idea but when he saw I was serious he didnt have a choice. He so much wanted me to practice. PT: You left the UK, why did you not practise agriculture there, considering the fact that the system is stable and friendly. Ms Titilola: I went on a student visa aside from that, Im just so passionate about Nigeria. I was not just comfortable. It was about community and giving back to society. PT: How do you combine running a farm with an NGO? Ms Titilola: Farming is quite tedious, imagine combining it with an NGO. Funding an NGO is another thing. I just buy clothes for children within my host community, taking it to another level requires more money and Im just doing it within my capacity. I plan to grow my business to a certain level before then I would begin a bigger charity home. PT: In five years from now, where do you hope to find yourself? Ms Titilola: I hope to open an outlet in all geopolitical zones. We hope to open in Lagos then in the North and Southeast. So I believe so much in organic growth, I believe in processes. Make TAD a household name. The Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, has given knocks to the National Judicial Council(NJC) and the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria(JUSUN) for not including a better remuneration for judicial officers in their negotiations with the Federal Government. The governor also noted that the groups also did not raise the issues in the quest for autonomy for the judiciary. The governors comment came while swearing-in John Adeyeye as the new Acting Chief Judge of the state on Monday in Ado Ekiti. Mr Adeyeye was appointed to replace Ayodeji Daramola, who retired from the bench last week. The governor regretted how the review of judicial staff salaries and allowances was neglected by both groups in their negotiations with the Federal and State governments. I am aware that between 1999 till date, the Federal Government reviewed the salaries and allowances of Public Servants and Political office holders on four occasions specifically in 2000, 2005, 2007 and 2011, he said. However, the salaries of judicial officers were only reviewed twice during the same period. As a result judicial officers have been on the same salary structure for more than 10 years. It may now be necessary for the NJC to provide leadership on possible renewed negotiations on this issue as part of a holistic discussion on judicial autonomy. Mr Fayemi also called on the newly appointed Chief Judge of the state to direct his efforts towards dealing with the scourge of sexual violence in the state. Your Lordship is uniquely positioned to have observed in recent times the increase in matters of rape and child defilement in our courts, said the governor. My administration has enacted laws and enabled several policies aimed at reversing this scourge. Among others, we have opened a register for sex offenders and we now publicly name and shame convicted sex offenders. I know that achieving conviction of a sex offender is the outcome of proper investigation and diligent prosecution. Strengthening and supporting the capacity of the Nigeria Police and the Ministry of Justice to enable sustainable convictions of sex offenders are priority goals of our zero tolerance policy against all forms of sexual violence. Permit me my Lords to add that the Judiciary also have an important role in our advocacy against sexual violence. Indeed My Lords, if there was ever a time when judicial activism is required on any matter, that time is now. I am respectfully of the opinion that our courts can and should go beyond the applicable law to consider the broader societal implications of its decisions in matters of sexual violence in this state. I strongly urge Your Lordships to review the rules and court procedures in a manner that will ensure the prioritisation and speedy consideration of matters of sexual violence. Mr Fayemi, however, lauded the contributions of the retired Chief Judge to the development of the justice sector in Ekiti State. It is incontrovertible, the judiciary cannot uphold the rule of law or administer justice in splendid isolation, he said. ADVERTISEMENT The rule of law is underpinned by a partnership among the three arms of government. The Executive and legislature must provide the resources, financial and administrative, necessary to maintain the judicial system. Mr Fayemi stated that Mr Adeyeye is coming into office at a time when action must be braced up on how to implement the joint agreement on financial autonomy for the state judiciary between the State Government, the NJC and JUSUN. The content of the Memorandum of Action requires that the three arms of government achieve a seamless implementation framework that is not only sustainable but is able to respond to the specific needs of the judiciary in this state, he added. Mr Daramola, in his valedictory address, had lampooned the government for neglecting judicial officers and paying lip service to their welfare. He had called on the state and federal government to review the salaries and emoluments of judicial officers to motivate them better performance. The police in Imo State have said that the killers of Ahmed Gulak, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a former political adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, are members of the secessionist group, IPOB, and its security arm, ESN. Mr Gulak was shot dead in Owerri, Imo State, Sunday morning, while on his way to Sam Mbakwe Airport for his flight, according to an earlier statement from the police. The police in a statement issued on Sunday night said Mr Gulaks killers were traced to their location within Imo on Sunday where they were shot dead during a gun battle with police operatives. The six hoodlums who carried out the killings and four other members of their gang were fatally injured. The assailants were identified as members of the proscribed IPOB and ESN, the police spokesperson in Imo, Bala Elkana, said in the statement. The driver who drove late Ahmed Gulak and a co-victim who survived have all identified the dead body of the IPOB/ESM members positively as their attackers and also identified the three vehicles recovered as those used by the attackers, the statement added. The police said three AK 47 rifles, one pistol, five AK-47 magazines with 92 rounds of live ammunition and charms were recovered from the suspects. See police statement below: IMO STATE POLICE COMMAND 30TH MAY, 2021 POLICE IN IMO HAVE NEUTRALISED THE KILLERS OF AHMED GULAK *RECOVERED THREE AK47 RIFLES, ONE PISTOL, FIVE AK47 MAGAZINES WITH 92 ROUNDS OF LIVE AMMUNITION *RECOVERED THREE OUT OF THE FOUR VEHICLES USED IN THE ATTACK On 30th May, 2021 following a distress received by the Command on the gruesome murder of Ahmed Gulak, Police Special Forces made up of Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Police Mobile Force (PMF) and Tactical Units from the command were deployed to the scene at Obiangwu Junction at Ngorokpala LGA of Imo state. The teams were given a clear instruction to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of the act with a view of bringing them to justice. 2. Eye witnesses account, especially the account given by the Driver of the vehicle that was conveying Ahmed Gulak to the Airport before the attack, gave a vivid description of the assailants and the vehicles they used in carrying out the attack. The assailants were said to have used a Toyota Camry 2005 model with silver color; Toyota Sienna 1998 Model with golden color; Toyota Hilux with white color; and a Lexus RX 330 with golden Color. (Registration numbers are withheld for security reasons). 3. Having established the identity of the assailants and the description of the vehicles used in carrying out the attack, the teams further got details of the direction the hoodlums have taken. With further leads, the team was able to establish the location of suspects. The suspects were rounded up at Afor Enyiogugu junction in Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area. The hoodlums where met distributing onions to locals from a trailer they confiscated. The trailer was loaded with Onions from the Northern region of Nigeria. ADVERTISEMENT 4. On sighting the Police, the hoodlums providing security coverage to those sharing the onions opened fire on the Police teams. The Gallant and battle ready Police Officers swiftly returned the fire. The six hoodlums who carried out the killings and four other members of their gang were fatally injured. Three out of the four vehicles used in attacking Gulak were recovered. 5. Three AK 47 Rifles, one Pistol, five AK 47 magazines with ninety two rounds of live ammunition and criminal charms were recovered. The assailants were identified as members of the proscribed IPOB and ESN. The driver who drove late Ahmed Gulak and a co- victim who survived have all identified the dead body of the IPOB/ESM members positively as their attackers and also identified the three vehicles recovered as those used by the attackers. During the encounter, two of the police armored personnel carriers (APC) were riddled with bullets but survived the gun battle. 6. The Commissioner of Police Imo State, CP Abutu Yaro, commended the gallant effort of the team and admonished them to continue to protect the public space. SP Bala Elkana, ANIPR, Police Public Relations Officer, For Commissioner of Police, Imo State. Saturday, May 29, marked exactly six years since President Muhammadu Buhari took office as the fourth man to lead Nigeria in the Fourth Republic. The former army general who became the first opposition candidate to win a presidential election in Nigeria returned to power in 2015 on the strength of his promise to tackle insecurity, fight corruption and improve the economy. His election followed the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls from a Chibok in the countrys northeast Borno state by Boko Haram armed group. In his inaugural address, Mr Buhari vowed to tackle head on the Boko Haram insurgents who at the time had taken over several local government areas in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. He vowed to crush Boko Haram within three months and recover all the territories it had seized. But six years after and about two years to the end of his final second term, insecurity has worsened beyond the Boko Haram insurgency. Virtually all parts of Nigeria are currently battling one form or another of violent crimes, evidence that the president has failed to keep his promise on security. The Global Terrorism Index (2019) ranked Nigeria as the third-worst nation prone to terrorism with no improvement since 2017. Asides insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and secessionist violence are pushing Nigeria towards the brink of collapse with many calling for the resignation of the president for failing to secure the country. Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has described the country as a war zone and the Sultan of Sokoto recently said northern Nigeria is the worst place to live in the country. Last month, a lawmaker from the presidents ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Smart Adeyemi, was moved to tears while contributing to a debate in the Senate on the dire security situation. Overwhelmed by the situation, the president appealed to the United States for help. PREMIUM TIMES in this report examines the steps the Buhari government has taken towards ending the insecurity and why they are yet to yield the desired results. Fighting Boko Haram Upon resumption of office in 2015, Mr Buhari relocated the military command from Abuja to Maiduguri, the birthplace of Boko Haram. He improved the military budget and approved the purchase of arms for the security forces and agencies. Based on his promise to also end corruption, Mr Buhari began a probe of the use of military funds under the previous administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. As part of that process, he ordered the arrest of the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, over alleged embezzlement of $2 billion or nearly N650 billion allocated for arms purchase. Some gains were made in the recovery of lost territories with the government repeatedly claiming it had recorded technical defeat over the terror group, but the reprieve was short-lived. Boko Harams split in 2016, leading to a splinter group called Islamic State- West Africa (ISIS-WA), heralded a new dawn of terror. Matt Eze, a security analyst believes the presidents lengthy and constant medical trips abroad left a leadership gap that emboldened insecurity. Barely one year in office, Mr Buhari made his medical trip to the UK as president. He continued to make such trips and in 2017 alone, spent over 150 days abroad treating an undisclosed ailment. ADVERTISEMENT A Daily Trust analysis showed that the president by 2017 had spent over eight months in the UK since he took office. Meanwhile, in 2018, the military suffered its highest fatalities against Boko-haram. The group captured a large cache of military hardware and was responsible for the death of at least 600 Nigerian soldiers, the Conversation reported. In the same year, it attacked nine military bases and overran the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) base in Baga, Borno state. Mr Buhari would soon start losing key political allies ahead of his reelection bid in 2019 due largely to the worsening insecurity. Several states in the war-ravaged regions of the north threatened not to vote for him. In a frantic move to reassure Nigerians of his commitment to ending the insurgency, the president in late 2018 approved the withdrawal of $462 million from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) for payment to the United States for the procurement of 12 Super Tucano aircraft, without prior approval of the National Assembly. Within the same period, he also gave approval to the military to make weapons purchases worth $1 billion, former defence minister, Mansur Dan Ali, had said. The jets have not been delivered to Nigeria and the Nigerian army has kept blaming inadequate weapons and personnel for its losses in the fight against insurgency. After months of pressure over his response to the worsening security situation, Mr Buhari in January fired his service chiefs and top military commanders. In his new year message, the president admitted that insecurity was destroying investments in Nigeria under his watch. Funding In the past decade, even before Mr Buhari took office, Nigerias defence budget had taken a large chunk of the total budget. Under former President Jonathan, in the 2015 budget, N934 billion was allocated to the security sector. The figures for 2011 and 2012 were N920 billion and N924 billion respectively while N923 billion each was given to the sector in 2013 and 2014. How these huge sums were spent however remains unclear as there were no reliable performance reports by the security agencies at the time. In the last five years under President Buhari, the defence budget continued to be high with N878.4 billion and N840.56 billion earmarked for the military in 2020 and 2021 respectively. Yet, the performance of the military remains poor. So what accounts for the mismatch of funding and effectiveness? Corruption, funds mainly allotted to recurrent budgets and late passage of annual budgets are the main factors militating against effective use of funds to tackle insecurity, according to security experts. For instance, the military and the police spent a whopping 91 per cent of their budgets on recurrent expenditure in 2020, comprising overhead and personnel costs. The Ministry of Defence, comprising the Army, Navy, Air Force, Defence Headquarters, Nigerian Defence Academy, Defence Intelligence Agency and 11 other units shared N878 billion in 2020. Of the total allocation, the recurrent expenditure stood at N778 billion while the remaining N99 billion went to capital expenditure for the purchase of defence equipment, sea boats, rehabilitation of barracks across the six geo-political zones, procurement of ammunition among other things needed to fight insecurity and defend the Nigerian territory. Recurrent expenditure goes into personnel cost, comprising salaries, wages, allowances and social contributions. Of the N409 billion received by the police in 2020, the total recurrent expenditure was N395 billion, representing a huge 96.75 per cent of the allocation. The situation is forcing some of the security agencies to make part payments for security items they would have used to fight insecurity. On the corruption front, a recent survey by the Conversation gathered that some military personnel, politicians and other public officers were diverting public funds meant to fight terror and insecurity. The report revealed how expenditures are sometimes duplicated using different headings by staff in the defence ministry and military institutions. It also showed that the lack of transparency in the procurement process encouraged corruption. The procurement of military weapons was usually shrouded in secrecy which meant that outdated items instead of modern weapons were purchased. Negotiating with terror groups Globally, the dilemma of fighting insurgents, militant groups or bandits have been either to fight them to the finish or to engage them in talks and negotiations towards amicable settlements. Many developed countries battling terrorists, including the U.S., have engaged in negotiations with them even though they sometimes deny such publicly. Nigeria officially started negotiating with armed groups back in 2009 with the late President Umaru YarAduas amnesty deal with Niger Delta militants aimed at reducing unrest in the oil-rich region. President Buhari in March 2018 announced that his government was ready to accept the unconditional laying down of arms by any member of the Boko Haram group who shows strong commitment in that regard. In July 2020, some repentant Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State were rehabilitated and given the opportunity to live normal lives. Many Nigerians, however, criticised this move. A majority of Nigerians who participated in an online poll by PREMIUM TIMES in March 2020 kicked against a proposed bill to create an agency for the rehabilitation of repentant Boko Haram members. The bill had triggered outrage and debate after it was introduced. Many fear that releasing repentant Boko Haram militants into the civilian population could be counterproductive. Negotiating with terrorists cannot guarantee a lasting solution but embolden them to keep making endless demands, security experts say. The Niger-Delta amnesty programme has been sustained as the government is still paying militants to dissuade them from resuming hostilities. Authorities in Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states initiated direct negotiations with armed groups last year. As part of these negotiations, the governors offered criminal groups amnesties and other incentives to end violent attacks. But these agreements have failed partly because many of the armed groups lack central command hence it was difficult bringing them all to one negotiation table. Collapsed negotiations have led to renewed attacks. The Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, said he was betrayed on two occasions by bandits after they were granted amnesty by the state. Paying ransom to kidnappers Kidnapping for ransom has become lucrative and pervasive in the last five years. PREMIUM TIMES in 2018 reported how some lawmakers said the release of some of the Chibok girls kidnapped in April 2014, involved payment of ransom. The abduction of Leah Sharibu and her colleagues in Dapchi reportedly brought the government to the negotiation table with terrorists. In December 2020, about 344 schoolboys were declared missing after gunmen attacked a school in Kankara near Katsina, the presidents home state. Although jihadists claimed responsibility, the boys were later freed after a ransom was allegedly paid, security experts said. They believe such payment and negotiations have become part of the governments strategy of fighting crime. A recent report published by SB Morgen (SBM) Intelligence said between 2011 and 2020, Nigerians paid at least $18.34 million (7 billion) in ransoms to kidnappers. Terrorists who smuggle in weapons through the Sahara Desert are said to rely on ransoms paid by kidnapped hostages. Highway: Regional policing and CCTVs Despite numerous checkpoints along many highways, violent crimes, killings and kidnappings remain rampant on Nigerian roads. The killing of Funke Olakunrin, the 58-year-old daughter of a Yoruba leader, Reuben Fasoranti, in a kidnap attempt by suspected herdsmen at Kajola along Ore-Ijebu Ode expressway was one of the most widely reported violent crimes recorded on Nigerian roads in the last three years. It drew national outrage at the time with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) ordering a total overhaul of the security structures on highways across southern Nigeria. In the aftermath of the incident, the Buhari government agreed to allow state governors in the South-west employ community policing strategies to curb the rising spate of insecurity in the region. President Buhari also said the government would install CCTV cameras along highways among other measures to check violent crimes. However, little or nothing has been done in that regard. Following negotiations with the federal government, the governors of the South-west states established Amotekun as a state-based law enforcement agency last year. However, a PREMIUM TIMES analysis revealed that more than a year after the establishment of Amotekun, kidnapping and killings have remained rampant in the region. Similarly, governors of the South-east states last month announced the launch of a security outfit codenamed Ebube Agu (Wonderful Tiger). They also announced a permanent ban on open grazing. But constant clashes between the security agencies and ESN, the paramilitary wing of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), are capable of scuttling efforts to keep the region safe with Ebube Agu. Botched RUGA programme President Buhari in 2019 announced the RUGA programme, an initiative to enable willing states to contribute land to the federal government for construction of animal husbandry settlements as a solution to the farmer/herders crisis, which has claimed thousands of lives and led to the destruction of properties valued at billions of naira. RUGA is projected as a fresh idea to create the infrastructure that encourages restricted pastoralism, which many have demanded as an alternative to the highly risky practice of open grazing. The presidency had said 12 states have indicated willingness to be part of the programme. But after it was heavily criticised by many Nigerians with many state governors opposing it, the president suspended the programme while the crisis remains unresolved. Porous borders and arm proliferation The president in 2016 gave approval to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to install e-border facilities in 10 Nigerian border posts as a way of ensuring better management of Nigerias porous borders. Nigerias border with Niger, Cameroon and Chad which spans about 1,000 km is poorly policed, a situation heightening the potential spread of terrorist activities into the northwest region. The vulnerability of the border to the infiltration of terror groups is compounded by the presence of large forest reserves in the region. The vast, rugged terrain, sparse population, and dense vegetation make surveillance difficultmaking the forests ideal hiding places and operational bases for terror groups. The forested landscape constitutes ungoverned spaces, where the presence of the authorities is either nonexistent or, at best, sporadic. President Buhari had on several occasions blamed herders attacks on terrorists from Chad and Niger who enter Nigeria through its porous borders. Intelligence gathering, monitoring Mr Buhari in 2018 said his government was refocusing its fight against insecurity by investing heavily on the countrys intelligence gathering capacity. At the level of the military and intelligence agencies, intelligence-sharing must become the rule and not the exception, he noted while speaking at the 8th National Security Seminar 2018 of the Alumni Association of the National Defence College (NDC). According to him, the scope of the battle against insurgency is broadened by the vast landmass of the North-east. He said without investing in intelligence gathering, there would be very little hope for the country. A recent analysis by this newspaper revealed how Nigerias poor intelligence gathering processes have crippled its ability to nip crime, violence and killings in the bud as done in more advanced climes. Many of the crimes committed and violence recorded could have been averted if Nigeria had a virile intelligence network and there is greater collaboration, not rivalry, among the government units tasked with providing intelligence and security, say some of these experts we spoke to. Way forward A security expert, Timothy Avele, in his reaction to the security situation in the country blamed both the security agencies and some state governments. On the part of security agencies, Mr Avele ascribed the lack of improvement to what he described as the non-coordination of security agents. He also said governors were aiding insecurity by paying ransoms to kidnappers rather than finding a lasting solution. Security situation as it stands now is getting worse. A day hardly passed without hearing one form of insecurity or the other in many parts of the country. The government is trying but it is not enough, it needs to do more. The missing link seems to be lack of proper coordination among security agencies and appropriate intelligence application. Secondly, the state governments are contributing indirectly to the insecurity ravaging the country by negotiating with bandits, kidnappers and paying them millions as compensation. This action will only encourage others to form criminal gangs within and in other states. Thirdly, many states are simply sitting and waiting for FG to come and remove criminal enterprise in their state instead of doing something concrete to battle the scourge Lastly, we can only expect to see results when theres a political will to end insecurity across Nigeria. A lot of sacrifices and compromises on the part of the government, institutions, security agencies and citizens is a must, he said. ADVERTISEMENT A political activist and Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has reportedly been tear-gassed by a police officer in Abuja. Sources said the female police officer fired a teargas cannister at Mr Sowore who was at the Unity Fountain in Abuja for a protest. This newspaper gathered that he sustained injuries from the shot and has been rushed to hospital for medical treatment. PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately ascertain the cause of the injury from the footage of the incident we saw. Popular lawyer and right activist, Inibehe Effiong, confirmed the development on Twitter. @YeleSowore has just been shot by a female police officer at the Unity Fountain in Abuja. The criminal officer is said to be an ACP. I watched Sowore being shot live on Facebook. This is what Nigeria has been turned into under Buhari. Theyve declared war on the Civic Space, the lawyer wrote. More details shortly Buoyed by the results he said was transmitted to a server, Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2019 general election, had approached the courts to declare him the winner. The results Mr Abubakar brought before the tribunal which relied on www.factsdontlieng.com claimed he won the election by over one million votes. However, the inability of his counsel to either establish the owners of the website (which is currently down) or that INEC, Nigerias electoral commission, had a server laid his claim to rest and affirmed the victory of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari. I agree entirely with the court below that the appellants failed to prove that INEC has the server from which they got their figures, the Supreme Court lead justice on the case, Inyang Okoro, said. As a result, all the results, calculations and analysis based on the results claimed, are of no moment, he added. INEC would even describe the claim it had a server as the greatest lie of the century. The server imbroglio remains one of the most controversial memories from that election. And as the country eyes 2023 elections, the question around the live transmission of results may poke its head again. So, server or not, embracing the use of technology to ensure transparency and credibility in the coming election will be key. Already the voting system in Nigeria has evolved, credit in large part to late President Umaru YarAdua who admitted, in 2007, that the election that brought him into office was less than perfect and election observers described it as a charade. Nigerias elections have graduated to the use of permanent voter cards (PVC) which is verified by electronic card readers to identify and accredit voters. Evolution of voting technology From the days of the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) to the National Electoral Commission (NEC) and now the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria has explored different voting technology peculiar to both the open (or queuing) and secret ballot systems. The open ballot system used after Ibrahim Babangidas transition was seen as making voters susceptible to the prying eyes of politicians who can easily deduce electorates choice of candidates by the queue they join during an election exercise. Hence, the secret ballot. Regardless, the evolution of voting technology has enhanced the countrys democratic process against electoral malpractices by contributing to the upgrade from Nigerias outdated legacy voting system largely dependent on inaccurate paper records to Electronic Voting System (EVS) and Electronic Voters Register (EVR) which has minimised inconsistencies in the electoral process. In the quest to minimize election fraud and rigging, in 2015, INEC introduced smart card readers for the verification of voters and voting cards. This technological progression, to an extent, gave credence to the credibility of the 2015 election as many judged it as the freest and fairest election the commission has conducted since the country returned to civilian rule in 1999. By that, Nigeria joined no fewer than 25 African countries like Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Mali, Togo, and Ghana that have already held elections employing technology-compliant techniques like biometric voter registers. ADVERTISEMENT While electoral processes have by no means become fully electronic yet, a study has revealed that the introduction of smart card technology has helped in reducing the spate of electoral irregularities. While the study found that several challenges like low battery life, poorly trained INEC ad-hoc staff as well malfunctioning of the cards have affected the smart card readers, it said the employment of further ICT devices in election management systems will help in curbing some elections malpractices. The director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Idayat Hassan, said the introduction of card readers revolutionised the election process and made it difficult for politicians to alter the will of the people. It is important to point out that card readers have helped in reducing electoral fraud. It was when Nigeria started using the card reader that the turnout and the number of votes cast reduced, she said. She added that the smart card reader unruffled politicians so much that it caused electoral violence to increase. Vote-buying also became rampant electoral sabotage used to cheat during elections. This explains why more Nigerians have continued to call for the introduction of better technology to enhance transparent voting and transmission of results. A challenge we need to use technology to solve is the simplification of result collation by improved infrastructure like power and road, Ms Hassan noted. This, she said, would reduce financial and human costs and risks during elections. By that, electronic transmission of results would be that in a twinkle of an eye. There would be no need to say that it will take me two days, it comes faster. All the waiting wont be there as they will get the results automatically. I think this is doable since INEC has also achieved some important milestones. If you look at the two off-cycle elections in Edo and Ondo, you will find that when they brought the result of the Edo election viewing platforms, it took some time before they could upload it. But by the time they introduced it in Ondo, in a twinkle of an eye they were able to deal with it, in less than 24 hours all the results were online. Interference was very minimal. All these we are talking about is the baby step, think of when we fully go digital, how easy everything would be, the CDD boss told PREMIUM TIMES. On his part, a programme officer at CDD, Austin Aigbe, said printing currency-sized ballots would save human and accidental costs running into billions of naira as well as address vote-buying and other electoral frauds. Across the border Ghanas Automated Fingerprint Identification System, which was used in the 2011 general elections in the West African country as a digital register to eliminate double voting, helped the country to curb electoral malpractices. Jae Yalley, a Nigerian-Ghanaian who was an election official during Ghanas presidential election last year, said the deployment of technology during the election is pretty impressive compared with what we have in Nigeria. Its easier, to an extent. As an electorate in Ghana, you have a unique number with which you can vote even without your card, she said; adding that the unique number also helps the government to deduct tax from private individual revenue sources. The United States has also adopted the use of touch screens for voters to mark choices, scanners to read paper ballots, scanners to verify signatures on envelopes of absentee ballots, and web servers to display tallies to the public. Aside from voting, there are also computer systems to maintain voter registrations and display these electoral rolls to polling place staff. Rather than hand-counting, machine-counting is used to ease the tasks of election offices which may have to handle thousands of ballots, with an average of 17 candidates per ballot. Looking ahead While INECs introduction of biometric voters cards commonly known as the PVC and the SCR revolutionised the accreditation of voters during elections, Africas largest democracy still needs to take a step further in full automation of the electoral process. In its catalogue of recent significant innovations in the electoral process, the commission boasts of biometric technology for the registration of new voters as well as the accreditation of registered voters using the SCR while it has not fully digitalised the transmission of results in real-time. The Mahmood Yakubu-led commission, for the first since the dawn of independence, uploads polling unit level results in real-time on election day to a portal for public view. A feat Ghana and few Africa countries are already used to was first used during the September 2020 Governorship Election in Edo State. Most significantly, the commission now uploads polling unit level results in real-time on Election Day to a portal for public view. These are significant innovations that have deepened the transparency and credibility of elections and the electoral process in Nigeria, INEC chairman, Yakubu Mahmood, said. Nevertheless, the commission is yet to oversee an election using electronic voting machines (EVMs). Yet, Mr Mahmood is optimistic as he said the commission will test-run the technology during the upcoming November 6 governorship election in Anambra State. Let me reassure Nigerians that the commission is committed to expediting the process leading to the deployment of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in elections in earnest, the INEC boss assured, as Nigerians also await the Senates passage of the amendments to the electoral law to give the move its due legal backing. Technology with principle Ms Hassan said while technology is key, the security of the technology is just as important. How do we secure technology? That is what the country should be emphasising. We should not focus on using technology, but also how cyber secure we are as a country. Our major focus should be having guarding principles for the technology we want to use, not just having technology for technologys sake. What will be the impact of the technology? How transparent and ethical would that technology be? In particular, the security of the technology. How secure is it? What are the security issues around this new technology we aspire for? Then when we have results on our platform we have to test the accuracy. A report published by CDD after last years Ondo gubernatorial election showed that 79 per cent of the states polling units uploaded the completed Form EC 8A on the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) platform within five hours after voting ended. This increased to 93 per cent after seven hours, with all forms uploaded within 24 hours. Something we have not done in this country is privacy. We do technology and we say we put everything online for instance. Lets say voters register, for instance, What are the ethics? What are the privacy rules that actually guide this? We need to have privacy rule and security as part of election technology guiding principles. She added that while the controversies around the electoral server linger even though we have a result viewing platform the concern is how do we take it to the next step? The thing is, how are we preparing to go beyond seeing just the result to the actual tallies. (Editors Note: This is the first in a series of reports to improve Nigerias electoral system. The report is a partnership between Premium Times and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD). ADVERTISEMENT The Niger State government says 11 of the kidnapped students of Salihu Tanko Islamic School have been released by their abductors. According to the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Mary Noel-Berje, the bandits released the 11 children because they were too young and could not walk. Meanwhile, 11 children who were too small and couldnt walk, among the kidnapped Islamiyya Students, were released by the gunmen, she said in a statement. PREMIUM TIMES had reported how armed bandits on Sunday abducted many pupils of the Islamic school in Tegina, a densely populated town in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State. The bandits reportedly seized the police station in the town and went round the town shooting sporadically into the air to scare residents before breaking into a private school where they abducted children attending Islamic lectures. The school, which consists of nursery and primary schools, also hosts Islamiyya students in the evening and at weekends. The schools proprietor, Yakubu Idris, told PREMIUM TIMES that the gunmen went away with many students, including his younger sister. Governor Sani Bello expressed shock and sadness over recent reports of abduction of innocent people by armed bandits in several communities across three local government areas of Rafi, Wushishi and Bida, in the state. It is reported that armed bandits invaded Tegina community in Rafi Local Government Area, shot one person dead and left one seriously injured as well as kidnapped an unconfirmed number of Islamiyya students and teachers from Salihu Tanko Islamic School alongside some passengers of a Sharon Bus travelling to Minna. Mr Bello also expressed outrage at the escalating banditry in the state while reiterating his emergency call on the federal government for prompt intervention. The situation has reached crisis level, in fact, its a war situation that we have to confront without further delay, the governor was quoted to have said by Mrs Noel-Berje. Reports also said the gunmen, on about 70 motorcycles, attacked 17 communities in Wushishi Local Government Area where they shot several people while some women and children drowned as they tried to escape across River Kaduna. More than 10 people were reported to be receiving treatment at the Wushishi General Hospital even as a search was still ongoing for many missing persons from Babako, Tashan Girgi, Kwakwagi, Fakara, Ndiga, Buzu, Akare, Kala Kala, Agwa, Anguwan Gizo, Tsamiya and other neighbouring villages attacked by the bandits. The governor described as unfortunate and unbecoming of the serial attacks and assured that the Joint Military Task Force has been mobilised and are already tracing the tracks of the criminals for possible isolation and ambush. He further appealed for calm and restated the strong resolve of the state government to continue to protect the lives and property of the citizens as a matter of utmost importance and priority. The mass abduction of the Islamic school students was the second to be perpetrated in Rafi local government area in six months. Recall that dozens of students were kidnapped at Government Science College (GSC) Kagara but were later released after negotiation with the state government. The Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Hamisu Chidari, is one of more than 200 travellers who were recently declared wanted by the Nigerian government for allegedly violating new protocols put in place to halt the spread of coronavirus in the country. Mr Chidari had reportedly returned to Nigeria via the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, from Saudi Arabia through an Ethiopian airline on May 17, 2021. He was, however, said to have reportedly presented a coronavirus test result which was found to be fake by the health authorities in Nigeria. Sources who are privy to the development but declined to be quoted, described the speakers conduct as embarrassing and condescending. One of the sources, who spoke with a PREMIUM TIMES on the phone, said; From the airport, he was conveyed to the National Women Development Centre along with others where they were expected to be observed for seven days before they could be certified to be free to mingle with Nigerians. And if otherwise, they could be referred for further procedures. But when the speaker got to the centre he said he did not like the place and offered to isolate himself at the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja. But he never did. He betrayed the authoritys trust by escaping to unknown whereabouts since that day and so he couldnt be observed. Mr Chidari, with passport number, B50022050, was listed as number 66 on the list of 132 violators which was released and publicised on Thursday by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19. The committee is headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha. The committee had earlier on May 23 published the first batch of the list of violators containing 90 names. The list had included some Indians who were declared as uncategorised violators. Attempts to reach speaker PREMIUM TIMES made numerous attempts to reach out to the speaker through official channels and associates for his comments but these were not fruitful. Also, the speaker does not have a spokesperson. But the spokesperson to the Kano State House of Assembly, Uba Abdullahi, who offered to help get his reaction said though he was unsure of the speakers itinerary within the stipulated period, he would have expected the committee to have called on the speaker personally before making public the allegation. On Sunday, Mr Abdullahi said he would reach out to the speaker for his own side of the story and promised to get back to PREMIUM TIMES. He is yet to do so as of Monday morning when this story was filed. He, however, said; The presidential committee, since they are effective in all ramifications across the country, why didnt they call him first of all? And the subsequent issue is that since he came back from such a trip, why didnt you as a journalist corresponded directly to him? So, now that is how many days that you said he did not respond, you are trying to respond. Mr Abdullahi later advised the reporter to visit him in Kano directly so that we can talk. But when he was asked to reply via the telephone channel, the spokesman said he would try to find out the details from officials of the assembly who might have the details of the information required. But you should know that the parliamentary staff association is on strike and it would be difficult to get any official. So I will have to see the speaker himself, and also the clerk of the house. So I will get back to you, he added. SGF Meanwhile, when asked whether the committee reached out to the speaker before making public the allegation, the spokesman for the office of the SGF, Willy Bassey, said his office was only requested to make the list public. I wouldnt know who are on the list, and I am not sure many people did. I think it only reflects the sincerity of the committee in executing the task, he said on the phone. The director of port health service at the federal ministry of health, Jeffery Okatubor, also declined comment on the matter, saying he would need to secure the approval of the ministrys permanent secretary before he could make any comment. ADVERTISEMENT Mr Chidari was elected the speaker on December 15, 2020 following the resignation of his predecessor, AbdlAziz Gafasa. New protocols On May 1, the Nigerian government issued a fresh travel advisory for passengers arriving the country from three countries that were described as restricted following the discovery of new variants and subsequent spike being recorded in the coronavirus infections in these nations. The countries are Brazil, Turkey and India. The protocol, which took effect on May 4, noted that passengers arriving from/or that have visited any of these three countries within fourteen (14) days prior to the visit to Nigeria, are required to follow mandatory arrival quarantine and testing protocols in designated facilities. The precautionary measures, the committee said, were necessary steps aimed at mitigating the risk of importation of variants of concern and break the chain of transmission to the population. But on May 23, the committee described as shocking, the decision by some identified travellers to evade the protocols. The statement read in part; The Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) has, however, observed that while most of the arriving passengers dutifully observed the guidelines, some (Nigerians and foreigners) have violated them in contravention of the provisions of the CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) HEALTH REGULATIONS PROTECTION, 2021. Accordingly, the underlisted persons who arrived in Nigeria between 8th May 2021 and 15th May 2021 through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and whose names and passport numbers are displayed, have been declared Persons of Interest (POI) on account of posing considerable danger to overall public health and for the violation of Nigeria COVID-19 travel protocol by evading the mandatory 7-day quarantine for persons arriving from restricted countries. The government, therefore, called on Nigerians to beware of the individuals, declaring them as persons of interest who constitute an immediate health hazard to the society. They must therefore transport themselves safely, to the nearest state public health departments within 48hrs of this notice for immediate evaluation and call the Port Health Services, Federal Ministry of Health on 08036134672 or 08032461990 for further directions, the statement added. Punishment awaiting offenders The committee said the offenders would not be treated with kid gloves, accusing them of frustrating the efforts of committed Nigerians in the fight against the spread of the disease. The committee, therefore, said the concerned violators shall face regulatory sanctions including but not limited to, disabling their travel passports for a period not less than one year; cancelation of visas or permits of foreigners that have abused our hospitality; and prosecution under the 2021 Health Protection Regulations. Lagos blows hot Meanwhile, the Lagos State government has reeled out punishment awaiting the identified offenders who reportedly entered the state through the Muritala Muhammed International Airport. Addressing journalists at the weekend, the states commissioner for health, Akin Abayomi, said any Nigerian found on the list would have his or her passport deactivated for a minimum of one year, and in the case of foreigners, their resident permits would be withdrawn and that they would be deported. Mr Abayomi added that all the violators would also face the penalties of the Coronavirus Pandemic Law 2021 of Lagos State, which could lead to one-year imprisonment term and a fine of N500,000. He said; We have isolated 433 passengers in our various accredited hotels and facilities; 262 are in isolation and 154 passengers have been discharged with a negative COVID-19 test. Nine have tested positive and successfully isolated to prevent community transmission. Of the remaining 135 passengers, 119 have refused isolation and 16 are unaccounted for. The families of those that have refused to be isolated should appeal to their loved ones to return for testing and isolation. The governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, has urged the federal government to urgently open talks with IPOB, a pro-Biafra group, and similar groups around the country, as a means of tackling the rising insecurity in Nigeria. There have been deadly attacks against security agencies in the five states Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo, Abia that make up the South-east region. Courts, as well as facilities belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission, have also been attacked and set ablaze in the region. Mr Ikpeazu said the attacks were not far from terrorism and that there are meant to frighten the police, make people to be afraid and withdraw their civic responsibility. The governor said this on Sunday during an interview with the Channels Televisions programme, Politics Today. Mr Ikpeazu, who said he was not unsettled by IPOBs activities in his state, said the proscribed group was trying to fill a gap wrongly and that the group was being energised by the activities of criminal herders who invade farmlands in the South-east. In the first place what is the genesis of the agitation in the South-east? Some people in the South-east feel unprotected the way things are going and they also feel that some criminal herders that have found their way into our forests were not adequately sanctioned according to the rule book of Nigeria, and that created a gap. It is this gap that non-state actors are trying to fill, wrongly though, the governor said when asked by the interviewer, Seun Okinbaloye, what he was doing about the IPOBs sit-at-home order. But you also notice that there is a perception problem here, a lot of people feel that something needs to happen about protecting farmlands, protecting the people in the forests, and if the security architecture, as presently constituted, has failed to do that, people will begin to seek help from all kinds of things. Continuing, Mr Ikpeazu said, The good place to start is to listen to the crux of their agitation, because some of the things they have mentioned is what is agitating the mind of the ordinary people in the South-east. So, what is wrong in listening? What is wrong in discussing the issues? If they say they want somebody in the Security Council, why cant that happen? The Nigerian government, he said, should begin a conversation immediately. The Channels reporter asked Mr Ikpeazu how the Nigerian government could possibly hold talks with a group it had proscribed. You can proscribe an individual, you can proscribe a group, you can proscribe an organisation but it is difficult to proscribe an ideology, the governor responded. On the IPOBs sit-at-home order, the governor said it was left for the residents to decide to obey it or not. If people decide not to go to market, thats their business, government cannot say you must go to market, he said. Mr Ikpeazu said the governors in the region were doing their best to protect residents. He said Abia has a vigilante service, which has been deployed to fight insecurity in the state. It is unfortunate that we have come to this point, he said. ADVERTISEMENT The arrest of the Malian transitional president, Bah Ndaw, and his prime minister, Moctar Ouane, last Monday triggered a transatlantic diplomatic uproar that raised questions about democratic progress in Africa. The acting vice president of Mali, Assimi Goita, stripped the duo of their powers after leading the nations second coup detat in nine months. Messrs Ndaw and Ouane have since been freed, but the junta leader, Mr Goita, has assumed the presidency after a constitutional court declared him as transitional president on Friday. The coup provoked swift international condemnations from global authorities. The African Union, the Economic Community of West African States and the United Nations swiftly denounced what officials cast as unjust arrests, calling for the release of Messrs NDaw and Ouane. So did U.S. officials and French President Emmanuel Macron, who threatened sanctions against the putschists and described the event as a coup detat within a coup detat. Nigerias federal government said the militarys action was totally unacceptable and might derail the peace building efforts and timetable for the return of democratic governance in Mali. Many observers believe that the tepid reaction and obvious justification given to last months coup in Chad emboldened the Malian military to strike again. The African Union has shown itself to be incapable in principles, Jibrin Ibrahim, a professor and policy analyst, said. It has lost its zero tolerance policy towards coup detat and this will definitely encourage the phenomenon of coup detat in the continent. The Union didnt condemn the Chadian coup and its clear because Moussa Faki, head of the African Union was put in that position by Deby and therefore has vested interest in protecting his family as well, Mr Ibrahim said. An ECOWAS mission was in Bamako to meet with the various protagonists on Sunday and push for coup reversal. But Malis international partners know that sanctions couldfurther destabilise the nation of 19 million people, which has been battling armed groups since 2012. The same way General Abacha, effectively the vice-chair of Shonekans interim government, shoved off his chair in 1993, is the same way the vice-president of Malis transitional government, a colonel, is supplanting his own interim president, Femi Mimiko, a professor of political science, said. These interim craps dont seem to endure, he added. As in August 2020, ECOWAS could suspend Mali from its institutions and impose economic sanctions that weigh heavily on Malian decision-makers minds. But these measures also hurt the Malian population and risk aggravating internal tensions, potentially leading the population to resent the external intervention. The issue in Mali is very problematic because the Jihadists effect has been very strong for over a decade now, Mr Ibahim explained. There is a lot of fear that a power squabble will weaken the capacity of the Malian state and create opportunity for the jihadists to be even stronger in action. The swift reaction by the international community was expected last April when a junta seized power in Chad after the death of President Idriss Deby who ruled for 30 years. Mr Deby died from injuries sustained while fighting with rebel groups, a day after he won sixth term reelection. Rather than follow the constitutional provision that mandates the speaker of the parliament to hold office for 40 days in the case of the death of the president, the army dissolved the Chadian parliament, suspended the constitution and named Mr Idris son, Mahamat Kaka, interim president of the country. PREMIUM TIMES reported how President Buhari and other world leaders refused to condemn the coup. Mr Buhari, instead, maintained that Nigeria will assist Chad to stabilise and return to constitutional orderr. ADVERTISEMENT Chad is a very strategic country for France, Mr Ibrahim noted. When Deby died, they wanted to maintain that relationship and therefore supported his son to take over. But in doing so, Mr Ibrahim said, they were being hypocritical since there is a policy of zero tolerance for change of power through unconstitutional means. It is clear that what happened in Chad was a coup but they decided not to act on that. How did Mali get to this stage? Since 1960, when Mali gained independence from France, there have been five coups and only one peaceful transition from one democratically elected president to another. The 2012 coup was a surprise, however, because for 20 years Mali had been viewed as a model for emerging democracies and presidential elections were just weeks away. Since then, coups seem to have again become commonplace. The country has been roiled by an ongoing political crisis. Military officers and political leaders are elbowing one another for political control. On Monday, military officers, angry with a government reshuffle, arrested Messrs Ndaw and Ouane. The two were taken to the military base in Kati, a community close to Bamako, the countrys capital city. The duo resigned their positions on Wednesday according to a spokesperson for the military junta, known as the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP). Mr Goita, who also led last years coup, said the men had unveiled a new government without his input without two members of the junta that toppled Malis previous government and had therefore violated the countrys transition agreement. The transition government was installed last September under international pressure with the task of steering the country back to full civilian rule within 18 months, but its appointments were heavily influenced by the military. Mr Goita, on Friday, explained that the army had little choice but to intervene. We had to choose between disorder and cohesion within the defence and security forces, and we chose cohesion, he said. Slow reforms, a crumbling economy and decrepit public services and schools, along with a widely shared perception of government corruption, have also fed Mali, sparking large protests in the capital, Bamako, last year. Real threat to the stability of countries within and around the Sahel (and that includes Nigeria) is almost palpable, Mr Mimiko said, adding that, the bad guys operating across the region are fired up with their takedown of Idris Derby of Chad. It is expected they would want to ramp up their acts. A more interventionist France is the only realistic bulwark against the regions takeover by these rampaging extremists, he told PREMIUM TIMES. Nigeria and France united in condemning the Mali coup but had both kept mum on Chads power seizure last April. A certain opinion, however, has been formed by supporters of the junta who believe that the current situation comes down to a confrontation of two divergent points of view. The first, according to Boubacar Haidara, represented by the arrested executive, is seen as beholden to the interests of France the publication of the new cabinet came barely 48 hours after Mr Ndaws return from Paris. The second, representing the junta, opposes the influence of Malis former coloniser, promoting instead a rapprochement with Russia. Chad is a very strategic country for France and her weapons ally in the fight against violent extremism, Mr Ibrahim said. It has the most effective army in West and Central Africa. In 2012, the Islamic jihadists wanted to take over Bamako, it was essentially France and Chad that were able to resist them. Chad sent 2,000 soldiers while Nigeria that used to could only send 500. Both in Nigeria and Niger, the Chadian army, when they decided to help, have been very effective against Boko Haram, Mr Ibrahim added. If other world leaders speak from the two sides of their mouths in reaction to the coups in Chad and Mali, Nigeria should normally not be among them. This is because complacency could be costly. The two countries are Nigerias close neighbours up north and their political stability is key to the interest of Nigeria. Likewise, because all three countries are united in their fight against insurgency, turning a blind eye to a military takeover in any of them may send the wrong signals. Nigeria certainly would not want to risk that. The legal standard in a grand jury reasonable cause to believe a crime has been committed is a much lower standard than in either civil or criminal courts, said Jordan, who is president-elect of the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York. If this bill were to become law, it would allow for release of charges even where a grand jury finds there is not enough evidence to indict someone. ADVERTISEMENT At least seven soldiers of the Nigerian Army have been killed by an improvised explosive device planted by Boko Haram terrorists, in Borno state, Nort-east Nigeria, PREMIUM TIMES can exclusively report. The latest attack came less than a week after the appointment of a new Chief of Army Staff, Farouk Yahaya. Mr Yahaya, a major general, was appointed last Thursday following the death of the former army chief, Ibrahim Attahiru, in a plane crash recently. According to sources familiar with the situation, a senior military officer and four other soldiers were severely injured by the explosive. The incident , which occurred at about 10:15am on Monday , is one amongst the many traps the terrorists have used against the military, security sources said. The officer, a colonel, whose name was not given, was said to have been on his way from Marti, a town in Borno State to the state capital, Maiduguri, together with his 11 soldiers in a gun truck. The wounded personnel were later moved to a military hospital in Maiduguri. Serial Attacks Troops of the Nigerian Armed forces have suffered many attacks from the Boko Haram terrorists. Groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic States West Africa Province have terrorised Nigerias North-east geopolitical zone for more than a decade. This has led to the death of thousands of soldiers and civilians and has displaced thousands of residents. Despite repeated attacks on troops and vulnerable citizens, the government has continued to claim that the terrorists have been defeated. ADVERTISEMENT The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has decried the attacks and killings of northerners residing in or visiting the South, particularly the South-east The northern socio-political organisation warned that such will not augur well for country because it was part of the factors responsible for civil war in 1966. The National Chairman of the ACF, Audu Ogbeh, stated this in a statement he issued on Monday. The statement condemned the killing of a former presidential aide, Ahmed Gulak, and advised northerners to avoid travelling to the southeast unless the journey is unavoidable. Mr Ogbeh recalled that in February this year, northern traders who normally supply the food needs of the south, the Amalgamated Union Food and Cattle Distributors of Nigeria (AUFCDN), embarked on a strike action to make the point that their lives also mattered. The ACF was among those who put pressure, on, and ultimately convinced, the AUFCDN to call off the strke. The ACF did that in the spirit of ONE NIGERIA. Yesterday, Sunday 30th May, 2021, one of leaders in the north was brutally murdered on the streets of Owerri Imo State by gunmen, most likely of IPOB and Eastern Security Network (ESN), who have been waging a public campaign of killings and other forms of brutalities, to realise their dream country of Biafra. The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) hereby issues a very strong advisory to all northerners who may wish to travel to the South East to weigh the importance and necessity of such travels. Unless such trips are absolutely necessary and of compelling nature, like matters of life and death, they should NOT be made. And where the trip must be undertaken, the traveller should take every security precaution in his or her movements while there, including linking with the security agencies at the place/places to be visited. The need to issue this travel advisory has become necessary against the backdrop of history, wherein events such as the killings of northern leaders in 1966 triggered the events that led to a civil war that cost the country thousands of lives, and an untold sufferings to millions of innocent people. To be forewarned is to be forearmed, and a stich in time saves nine! The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) also wishes to call, with the strongest voice, on the Security Agencies to do everything possible to apprehend those who assassinated Alh. (Barr) Ahmed Gulak in cold blood and bring them to justice. The lives of northerners, and indeed of ALL Nigerians matter, and the ACF cannot keep mute when our people, and indeed all Nigerian, are murdered in cold blood by misguided and atrocious people. Unfortunately in the midst of all this serious national crisis it would appear that the entire narrative from the South East has been taken over by IPOB and so-called unknown gunmen to the exclusion of established leaders. This is worrisome, Mr Ogbe said. ADVERTISEMENT The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the killing of Ahmed Gulak, an ex-aide to President Goodluck Jonathan, in Owerri, the capital of Imo State. The APC chieftain, according to the state police command, was shot dead on Sunday morning, on his way to the Sam Mbakwe Airport to catch flight by suspected members of secessionist group, IPOB. The six hoodlums who carried out the killings and four other members of their gang were fatally injured. The assailants were identified as members of the proscribed IPOB and ESN, the Imo Police PRO, Bala Elkana, said in a statement published by this newspaper. However, the APC in a statement released in reaction to the incident on Monday, described Mr Gulak, an indigene of Adamawa State, as a shining political leader and patriot whose killers must be brought to book. The party joins Nigerians to mourn his death and condemn his murderers in the strongest possible terms. We commiserate with his immediate family as well as the government and people of Adamawa State. He was a shining political leader and patriot. The APC as all well-meaning Nigerians is calling for national unity to fight crimes in the country and urge relevant security agencies to leave no stone unturned in their efforts to track down and swiftly bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice, the party interim national secretary, John Akpanudoedehe, said in the statement. He accused the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of using the current state of insecurity in the country to score cheap political points rather than mustering support against perpetrators of such unfortunate incidents. While the majority of Nigerians sympathise with the victims of crimes in the country, it is discernible that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is apparently excited about the security incidents being perpetrated by evil-doers against the citizens, the APC said. Meanwhile, the PDP in reaction to the spate of insecurity in the country on Sunday, blamed the APC leaders for the escalated tension in the country. The APC has practically balkanised our nation along all fault lines with their hateful, ruthless and vengeful actions, resulting in dissonances and pushing compatriots to take actions in anger, in some cases, leading to death and devastation. More distressing is that the APC leaders, as terrorism apologists, have been patronizing terrorists and opening up our nation to bandits, kidnappers and vandals, who are having a field day marauding our communities, killing and maiming our citizens on daily basis, the PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, said while reacting to Mr Gulaks death. Even though the growing state of Nigerias insecurity did not start with the current administration, none of Nigerias two largest parties has accepted failure in this area. ADVERTISEMENT A member of the Nasarawa House of Assembly representing Nasarawa Central State Constituency, Ismai Danbaba, has been kidnapped. Mr Danbaba was kidnapped on Saturday evening while traveling to Jos, Plateau State for an official function. The Nasarawa Assembly Committee on Information, Mohammed Omadefu, also confirmed the development to Daily Trust. According to him, the incident took place in a forest area in Sanga local government area of Kaduna State. He explained that Mr Danbaba had passed Andaha in Akwanga local government area of Nasarawa State heading to the forest area when the kidnappers ambushed and whisked him away. However, when PREMIUM TIMES contacted Mohammed Jalige, the spokesperson of the police in Kaduna, he said the incident did not happen in the state. The incident did not happen here in Kaduna. Weve contacted all our men and they said there was nothing like that. ALSO READ: Lawmaker sacks aide for calling Boko Haram leader Shekau hero He then referred our correspondent to his colleague in Plateau State, Gabriel Ubah, who was yet to respond to PREMIUM TIMESs calls as of press time. Killings and kidnappings have spiked in recent times amid worsening security situation in the country. No fewer than 1,603 people were killed in violent attacks and 1,774 people abducted across Nigeria between January and March this year, according to Nigeria Mourns, a non-governmental organisation. ADVERTISEMENT The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kazaure Local Government Area of Jigawa State has suspended a member of the House of Representatives, Muhammad Gudaji, for attacking Governor Muhammed Badaru on Facebook. Mr Gudaji had accused the governor of imposing candidates on the party for the local government elections scheduled for June 26 in the state. The lawmaker, who represents the Kazaure, Roni, Yankwashi, Gwiwa Federal Constituency, was suspended for six months for alleged disrespect to Mr Badaru in a series of Facebook comments. Many members of the APC in Jigawa had accused Mr Badaru of imposing the partys candidates for the council polls, his choices allegedly including persons facing corruption allegations before the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). Mr Gudaji, in his Facebook posts, amplified the allegations, adding that the governor has changed, abandoned his supporters and adopted his political adversaries. The lawmaker also called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC leadership in Abuja to intervene against the underground betrayal by the state governor. He accused Mr Badaru of not allowing candidates to emerge through primaries or consensus that the APC agreed on at the recent Gwaram Federal constituency bye-elections. Mr Gudaji also likened the partys current situation in Jigawa to that which led to the disqualification of the APC from fielding candidates in Zamfara State, in the 2019 general elections. My questions to those supporting Governor Badaru Abubakar: Where are his loyalists, those that suffered for him from ACN in 2011, who laid the foundation of his political career? And where are those who suffered for him in APC in 2015? Why has he decided to respect his enemies that used their last blood to fight him in 2011 and 2015? Those that already have their own base before him? Why is he giving priority to his enemies rather than those that sacrificed their life for him from the beginning of his journey to date? In 2015, he defeated the government of PDP with pure APC supporters votes and won the elections without opposition? Why after he became governor few of his diehards were considered? Is that the reward deserved by those that suffered for him? For the first time we expected him to be a good person and gentleman. Why after he enjoyed the monthly grants in billions did he change? I am among the people that can sacrifice their lives in protecting the integrity and image of Governor Muhammad badaru Abubakar, why do I oppose him now? Mr Gudaji wrote on Facebook. Following the outburst, the APC chairperson in Kazaure, Hassan Lawan said the lawmaker had been suspended from his ward and the suspension had been endorsed by the local government chapter of the party. ALSO READ: Lawmaker sacks aide for calling Boko Haram leader Shekau hero Mr Lawan said the suspension was with immediate effect, while stating that a seven-member committee had been set up to investigate the allegations levelled against the lawmaker and report its recommendation to the party within 10 days. Meanwhile, the Kazaure Local Government Council chairperson, Jamilu Zaki, also said party members in the area were dissatisfied with Mr Gudajis statement. Some party members in Kazaure loyal to the governor said Mr Gudaji was a member of the committee that screened and endorsed a consensus candidate for the chairmanship election, only for him to turn around to criticise the process. The council chairperson, Mr Zaki, alleged that Mr Gudaji was angry because his anointed candidate failed to secure the chairmanship ticket for the election. Many human rights advocates and organisations have criticised the Nigerian police for firing a teargas canister at Omoyele Sowore, during a protest in Abuja. A female police officer reportedly fired the less-lethal weapon capable of burning the skin at the political activist at the Unity Fountain on Monday. This newspaper also obtained a video capturing moments when the incident happened, with Mr Sowore flanked on both sides by two protesters. As of the time of filing this report, Mr Sowore was at the hospital receiving medical treatment. In her reaction, Joe Okei Odumakin, who is still mourning the death of her husband, Yinka Odumakin, described the act of the police as unacceptable. Nigeria is a democratic country under law and not a dictatorship or banana republic. Freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom of movement are some of the fundamental human rights granted to Nigerian citizens by the 1999 Constitution as amended. The widely-expressed flaws of this Constitution notwithstanding, it still charges journalists to hold the government accountable to the people. She however demanded prompt and effective treatment of Mr Sowore and any of his colleagues wounded in the unprovoked assault by the police. Also, in a brief statement, global rights group Amnesty International, called on the Nigerian authorities to investigate the attack. Amnesty International received disturbing report that activist Omoyele #Sowore was shot by the police, during a protest against rampant insecurity in Abuja. Protesters deserved to be listened to, not shot at. We call on Nigerian authorities to investigate the incident and bring perpetrators to justice. #Sowore. In a similar vein, the Rule of Law And Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), in a statement signed by its executive director, Okechukwu Nwanguma, expressed shock over the show of force by the police operatives. RULAAC has received with utter astonishment the shocking news of the shooting today of Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters at the Unity Fountain, Abuja during a peaceful protest by Citizens groups against worsening insecurity in Nigeria. Mr Sowore was shot on his right thigh by a female Police Officer identified as Hyelhira Altine Daniel, a member of one of the police teams deployed to the Unity Fountain to break up the peaceful protest against insecurity in Nigeria. Sowore has been rushed to a hospital. The group stated that the shooting was unprovoked, unwarranted and unjustifiable as neither Sowore nor any of the other protesters were bearing arms or posed any threat to the Police officers or anyone else. It added that the conduct of the police officer is reckless and contrary to professional standards as stipulated in the Nigeria Police Force Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement. The conduct of the police officer amounts to an abuse of firearms and an attempt to murder Sowore, who is not a criminal and was not committing any crime at the time she shot him. ADVERTISEMENT The resort to excessive brute force by police to suppress peaceful exercise of constitutionally protected freedoms of expression, assembly and movement is a cowardly attempt by an incompetent government to instill fear among the citizens and to intimidate them into abandoning their civic duty of demanding good governance and the fulfilment of the primary purpose of government which is security and welfare. Other reactions from social media @adeyanjudeji: Got out of a meeting to join the protest at Unity Fountain, only for Femi Falana to call me asking if I was at Unity Fountain that Sowore has been shot by the police. This is Buharis Nigeria where protesters are treated like criminals. This is why many no longer believe in PEACE. Got out of a meeting to join the protest at Unity Fountain, only for Femi Falana to call me asking if I was at Unity Fountain that Sowore has been shot by the police. This is Buharis Nigeria where protesters are treated like criminals. This is why many no longer believe in PEACE Comrade Deji Adeyanju (@adeyanjudeji) May 31, 2021 @mrfestusogun: We will hold @PoliceNG accountable for their recklessness, highhandedness and criminality. Aiming at Sowores life all because hes exercising his right to protest is an attack against the civic space and the height of gangsterism. We will hold @PoliceNG accountable for their recklessness, highhandedness and criminality. Aiming at Sowore's life all because he's exercising his right to protest is an attack against the civic space and the height of gangsterism. FESTUS OGUN (@mrfestusogun) May 31, 2021 @firstladyship: BREAKING: Omoyele Sowore just tweeted hes been shot by a police officer, ACP Atine, at the Unity Fountain, Abuja. Theyve criminalized peaceful protests in Nigeria. They employ thugs, use the army & the police to attack, & kill peaceful protesters. You have monsters in power. BREAKING: Omoyele Sowore just tweeted hes been shot by a police officer, ACP Atine, at the Unity Fountain, Abuja. Theyve criminalized peaceful protests in Nigeria. They employ thugs, use the army & the police to attack, & kill peaceful protesters. You have monsters in power. NEFERTITI (@firstladyship) May 31, 2021 @Olayemia1578: Sowore isnt our regular activist. Its in our own interest to rally, leave biases & support him. Hes continued to prove that hes courageous always, 2 confront d evil many dread. Hes not perfect, but a national asset that must b protected at all cost. Wed hld police responsible! Sowore isn't our regular activist. It's in our own interest to rally, leave biases&support him. He's continued to prove that he's courageous always, 2confront d evil many dread. He's not perfect, but a national asset that must b protected at all cost. We'd hld police responsible! Abayomi Khabeer Olayemi (@Olayemia1578) May 31, 2021 @ShehuSani: The report that @YeleSowore has been shot is unfortunate. The report that @YeleSowore has been shot is unfortunate. Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) May 31, 2021 ADVERTISEMENT Businessman and Presidential Candidate in the 2019 presidential election, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has condemned the gruesome murder of former presidential adviser, Ahmed Gulak, and appealed to northerners to avoid acts of revenge. Mr Olawepo-Hashim, who described the killing as a cowardly act, said the sad development was a reprehensible conduct that could plunge the nation into further conflict. He, therefore, called for urgent action to end ongoing killings in the country. In a statement issued on Monday by his media office, the business mogul said the murder is reminiscent of first republic killings but appealed to northerners to avoid any act of reprisal in this moment of grief. In this 2021, we should bear the pain as a sacrifice for national unity, Mr Olawepo-Hashim said. We need no revenge action as the perpetrators of this evil act have been promptly apprehended and will certainly be brought to justice by the police. Speaking further, Mr Olawepo-Hashim appealed to northern youths, in the name of God, to maintain dignified calm even in the face of this obvious provocation. There should be no reprisal attack, it is unnecessary. The businessman added, At this juncture, it will be profitable to counsel elders in the East to rein in the youths to stop their campaign of hate and violence which may have severe consequences. No amount of complaints over political marginalization can justify the continuous murder of police officers, the targeted destruction of security facilities, the burning of federal establishments and the latest assassination. The best path to justice is the way of dialogue and peace, not the type of targeted violence against law enforcement officers and politicians from other regions. Mr Hashim commiserated with the family of the deceased and the good people of Adamawa State, where Mr Gulak was speaker of the State Assembly, as well as the entire people of Nigeria on this sad departure of a true Nigerian who saw Nigeria as his constituency. ADVERTISEMENT President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babagana Kingibe, as his Special Envoy with Cabinet Rank Status to Chad and the Lake Chad Basin region. The current Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, made the disclosure in a statement he issued on Monday in Abuja. This appointment of a special envoy by the president is in consonance with the resolution of the extraordinary summit of Heads of State and Government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission Member Countries on the situation in Chad on the May 25. The special envoy will among others, monitor development in Chad and the Lake Chad Basin region. Aid the reconciliation and seamless progress towards returning to democratic rule at the end of the current Transitional Military Council`s rule. He will collaborate with member countries and partners in the region with similar initiatives to restore stability, promote peace and security, he said. According to him, other responsibilities include promoting any other initiative ancillary to the restoration of peace and security in Chad, the North-East Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region. Mr Mustapha said that Mr Buhari had, by this appointment, demonstrated the determination of Nigeria to lead regional security efforts that would stabilise the Lake Basin region. He added that the action would bring peace to Lake Chad and ultimately eliminate Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east zone of Nigeria. This is also a fulfillment of the president`s promise to Gen. Mahamat Deby Itno, the President of the Transitional Military Council of Lake Chad. It is a promise Mr President made to support a seamless progress towards a return to democratic rule when he visited Nigeria in May, he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Kingibe is an accomplished multilingual diplomat, who had at various times served the nation as Federal Permanent Secretary, Secretary to the Constituent Assembly, cabinet minister and SGF in the country. He had also participated in previous Nigeria-led Chadian reconciliation talks (Kano I & II as well as Lagos I & II). (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT Amnesty International has urged the Nigerian government to expand the space for Freedom of Expression amid attacks on individuals expressing dissenting views. The global right body said this on Monday at the launch of #TalkYourTruth a campaign aimed at protecting and promoting freedom of expression. The #TalkYourTruth campaign is aimed at protecting the right to freedom of expression and documenting cases of intimidation, arrest or threats to those who express opinions the government, people or group of people may find offensive, Osai Ojigho, Amnesty International country director, said. In his comments, the keynote speaker, Jaiye Gaskia, harped on the value of freedom of expression to the important project of democracy-building in Nigeria, stressing that the whole idea of government, the very notion that the central purpose of government is the security and welfare of citizens must be understood as a practical test of accountability and something that can only be enabled within the freedom of expression. Mr Gaskia emphasized the indivisibility and interdependence of rights; asking Nigerians to make reasoned choices to be active citizens by constantly engaging in citizens actions. In his remarks, Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Rafsanjani, reinforced the theme of the keynote speech calling on the Nigerian government to increase support for human rights. He challenged the Nigerian authorities to expand the space for dissent and criticism adding that without a spirit of toleration in governance, democracy will be impossible to achieve. Mr Rafsanjani said he wants law enforcement personnel to be trained on human rights, saying, they tend to make bad situations worse by their ignorance of the countrys obligations to human rights treaties we have committed to. Mr Ojigho added that: It is unacceptable that in Nigeria those who exercise freedom of expression through critical opinions sometimes face threats, verbal and physical assault, indiscriminate arrest, torture, detention and prosecution through trumped-up charges and abuse of the cybercrime and anti-terrorism laws. Nigerians must be free to express opinions without fear. According to Amnesty International, Nigerian law enforcement agencies often fail to protect the right to freedom of expression, endangering the lives of those who dare to criticize authorities, those in power or institutions. With the launch of the #TalkYourTruth campaign, we are urging the Nigerian authorities to show tangible commitment to freedom and also to immediately and unconditionally drop frivolous charges against those persecuted solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression. Ms Ojigho said. Those who express opinions others find offensive must be protected from the threats of state and non-state actors, he said adding, Intimidating radio and television stations that broadcast critical opinions with threats of fine or closure must end. It is the duty of authorities to ensure that people can freely express critical opinions, without fear of reprisals, she Ojigho said. ADVERTISEMENT The Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, has warned against the devolution of more powers to state governors without adequate checks and balances. Mr Okechukwu, who is also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), gave the warning in a statement on Sunday. He said that devolution of powers to state governments without corresponding devolution to local governments would further slide the country dangerously into democratic recession and insecurity. He, therefore, called for the devolution of more powers to the third tier of government; the local governments. He coined the required restructuring as dual restructuring which he said will help to end all forms of insecurity, ethno-religious bigotry and halt democratic recession in the country. Mr Okechukwu called for the strengthening of democratic institutions across the three tiers of government to provide needed check and balances against state governors. For only determined pessimists will deny the truism that our Governors are Emperors, which regrettably recedes our democracy and that pundits posit a clear relationship between democratic recession and ethno-religious bigotry, banditry and the fierce contest for resources in the land. My humble appeal is that with this near-consensus for restructuring, we should as a matter of urgent national importance kill two birds with one stone by devolving those relevant items in the Exclusive Legislative List to Concurrent Legislative List. And at the same time compel our dear State Governors with strict conditions for compliance to democratically unlock the local councils, state legislature and judiciary. Thats Dual-Restructuring for national loyalty and prosperity, he said. Mr Okechukwu also kicked against the calls for the National Assembly to adopt the 1963 constitution. He wondered why the First Republic failed if the 1963 Constitution was perfect. Veteran lawyer, Afe Babalola, had called for the adoption of the 1963 constitution and promised to bankroll a national dialogue. Mr Babalola described the ongoing Constitution amendment by the National Assembly as a-waste-of-time. The First Republic collapsed following the January 15th 1966 bloody coup, and the subsequent suspension of that constitution by the Aguiyi Ironsi-led military regime. Mr Okechuckwu, a staunch supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, commended the president for some restructuring of recent. Buhari believes in bottom-up restructuring thats why in cohort with 8th NASS he commenced the first leg of real restructuring in 2018 with an amendment which gave birth to Section 121(3) financial autonomy of State legislatures and judiciary. It was when two years down the line, Emperor-Governors developed phobia to its implementation that he signed Executive Order 10 in 2020, he said. The House of Representatives committee on constitution review is to commence public hearing across all the zones in the country on June 1. The committee on Sunday announced the suspension of Owerri centre amidst insecurity in the state. The suspension is indefinite. New York City is home to over 200,000 veterans, many of whom have endured the loss of a fellow service member and who have been confronted with the realities of war, said Garcia, who attended ceremonies in Brooklyn and Queens. Few understand their sacrifice and I want to thank them deeply for their service. ADVERTISEMENT The Nigerian government says it will engage with Facebook over the new privacy policy of the companys messaging application, WhatsApp. A statement Sunday said the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, has directed the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), to engage with Facebook to understand the processes, level of security, etc of the data of Nigerian users. The government said its aim is to ensure the new privacy policy proposed for Nigeria adheres to the provisions of Nigeria Data Protection Regulations. The new policy says WhatsApp will share information about the users on their platform with their parent company (Facebook), as well as other Facebook companies. The information includes user phone numbers, transaction data, service-related information, information on how you interact with others (including businesses) when using our Services, mobile device information, your IP address. WhatsApp initially indicated that users who refuse to accept their revised privacy policy risk not being able to use the service at all. After several countries challenged the move, the company reversed the plan to limit the functionality of the messaging app for those who do not accept the new privacy policy. Given recent discussions with various authorities and privacy experts, we want to make clear that we will not limit the functionality of how WhatsApp works for those who have not yet accepted the update, a WhatsApp spokesperson told The Verge. The company also said this is the plan moving forward indefinitely. The Nigerian government said it was aware that the European region is exempt from the provisions of the updated Policy and it is also being challenged in a number of countries. Nigerians can be assured that the Federal Government will give uttermost attention to the privacy of their data, in line with the NDPR and the National Digital Economy Policy for a Digital Nigeria, the statement said. ADVERTISEMENT The Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Bello, on Sunday said the state is in serious crisis level equivalent to a war situation and has to be treated as such. Mr Bello said this in a statement expressing his outrage at the escalating level of banditry in the state while also reiterating his emergency call on the federal government for prompt intervention. The governor spoke against the backdrop of bandits attacks in Rafi, Wushishi and Lavun local government areas in the state. He said the attacks occurred in Tegina, Wushishi and Batati communities. The situation has reached crisis level, in fact its a war situation that we have to confront without further delay, Mary Noel-Berje, the governors spokesperson quoted him as saying, in the statement. The governor said the state government was still searching and conducting house-to-house headcount to ascertain the exact number of children abducted. The official said the gunmen, riding on about 70 motorcycles, attacked 17 communities in Wushishi Local Government Area where they shot several people. Some women and children drowned as they tried to escape across River Kaduna. More than 10 people are reported to be receiving treatment at the Wushishi General Hospital even as search is still ongoing for many missing persons from Babako, Tashan Girgi, Kwakwagi, Fakara, Ndiga, Buzu, Akare, Kala Kala, Agwa, Anguwan Gizo, Tsamiya and other neighbouring villages attacked by the Bandits, Ms Noel-Berje said. The governor described as unfortunate and unbecoming of the serial attacks and assured that the Joint Military Task Force has been mobilised and are already tracing the tracks of the criminals for possible isolation and ambush. Mr Bello further appealed for calm and restated the strong resolve of the state government to continue to protect the lives and property of the citizens as a matter of utmost importance and priority. The statement said 11 children, who were too small and could not walk, among the kidnapped Islamiyya Students, were released by the gunmen. Also, the governor said internally displaced persons in Central and Model Primary Schools as well as Government Secondary School in Wushishi have started returning to their communities following return of normalcy to the area. ADVERTISEMENT The Publicity Secretary of African Action Congress (AAC), Olorunfemi Adeyeye, has given more details on how Omoyele Sowore was shot with a teargas canister in Abuja on Monday. Mr Sowore was the flag bearer of the party in the 2019 presidential election. PREMIUM TIMES earlier broke the news of how a female officer directly fired a tear gas canister at him. The less-lethal weapon, usually used to disperse rioters, is hot enough to cause burns on the skin. As of the time of filing this report, Mr Sowore is in the hospital in the city, receiving medical treatment. However, in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Adeyeye said the police officer identified as ACP Atine targeted Mr Sowore, who alongside other activists were protesting against the worsening security situation in Nigeria at Unity Fountain in Abuja. People were assembled already, right beside the Unity Fountain, but while we were getting close, there was an intelligence information that they should lock the gate, hearing that Sowore will be participating in a protest. While we got there, we were trying to engage with the police officers (most senior of them) who then said its an order from the commissioner of police that there should not be demonstrations. We tried to contest that. In fact, we even called the CP and he said he was not aware of such order. We told them that it is unlawful and that you cannot dictate that people should not protest. Not at this particular time when insecurity, which is the major problem, is ravaging the country. People were converging and more persons were joining. Weve not even started anything when this police officer, ACP Atine, mobilised police officers to the place and the first was a shot. It was directed to him At a very close range. He restated that there was no engagement with the female police officer prior to the shooting. At that time Sowore said you just shot me and she had this look on her face like I did. Then they started firing canisters around, Mr Adeyeye said. The AAC official said unlike their previous engagement with police officers in the past, there was no provocation at all on Monday. Meanwhile, telephone calls and texts sent to Mariam Yusuf, the spokesperson of the FCT command of the police, were yet to be responded to. But a human rights group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has called on the Nigerian authorities to investigate the shooting of Sowore and crackdown on protesters. Nigerian authorities should immediately take concrete steps to reverse the longstanding impunity for these kinds of violations and misconduct by law enforcement agencies. Victims and their families deserve nothing less. The Guidelines on Policing Assemblies in Africa, adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, provides that firearms must never be used to disperse an assembly. Intentional use of lethal force is prohibited unless it is strictly unavoidable to protect life, the group wrote on social media. BREAKING: We condemn reports that Omoyele Sowore, a journalist, and activist, was shot at by the police in Abuja this morning during peaceful protest at the Unity Fountain. Authorities should end the crackdown on protesters, and allow people to peacefully exercise their rights. SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) May 31, 2021 ADVERTISEMENT Abidemi Rufai, a suspended aide of Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, is to be arraigned on fraud charges before a United States Courthouse, in Tacoma, Washington, on June 8, 2021, PREMIUM TIMES reports. He will appear before Theresa Fricke, a U.S. magistrate. This development comes after a federal grand jury ratified the charges involving conspiracy, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He allegedly used the identity theft as a scheme to steal over $350,000 in unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department. A grand jury in the U.S. is a group of citizens empowered by law to conduct legal proceedings, investigate potential criminal conduct, and determine whether criminal charges should be brought. This newspaper reported that nine counts of wire fraud and five counts of aggravated identity theft were ratified by the grand jury against Mr Rufai. Acting Attorney, Tessa Gorman, in a letter seen by this newspaper on Monday, informed the suspects lawyers, Lance Hester and Michael Barrows, that Mr Rufai would be arraigned by 9:00 a.m. on June 8, 2021. It will be necessary that you and your client be present at the time and place indicated above, or via video or teleconference as directed by the Court. The indictment and other documents related to this case are available on the Courts Electronic Docketing System, the letter partly read. Genesis Mr Rufai was nabbed at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York while heading to Nigeria on May 14. He was said to have used the identities of more than 100 Washington residents to steal more than $350,000 in unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) during the COVID-19 pandemic last year. At the end of a detention hearing held on May 19, 2021, the Magistrate of the District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Ramon Reyes, agreed with the government that Mr Rufai posed a serious flight risk, but found that the risk could be addressed by conditions of release, including a $300,000 bond. The magistrate went on to issue an order releasing Mr Rufai based on the bond in which Mr Rufais brother, who is licensed as an attorney in New York, was proposed as surety. Controversy Mr Rufai was not released because his brother did not sign the bail bond. The suspect was then remanded pending when he would provide an alternate surety. Following the refusal of Mr Rufais brother to stand as a surety, the defendants lawyer, Michael Barrows, on May 21, presented Nekpen Soyemi, a registered nurse, whose family comes from Nigeria. The U.S. later exposed her as a suspect in an investigation into an email impersonation scheme. Her husband, Idris Soyemi, is also said to have been convicted for wire fraud in 2014. The U.S. government on May 24 filed an emergency motion of stay release order before the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma. Last Tuesday, the judge, Benjamin Settle, granted the governments motion to stay the release of Mr Rufai as the U.S. uncovered more criminal activities involving the suspect. ADVERTISEMENT A former Speaker of Nigerias House of Representatives, Ghali NaAbba, said on Monday that there is an absence of leadership in the country. Mr NaAbba decried the spate of violence across the country, adding that the masses are bearing the brunt of the mayhem of the crises. In a veiled reference to President Muhammadu Buharis inability to halt the pervasive insecurity in Nigeria, Mr NaAbba said, The worst amongst us is being enthroned to manage our affairs. He spoke at a gathering of ethnic nationalities in Abuja. The meeting is being attended by prominent sociocultural leaders such as Ayo Adebanjo of Afenifere, and former governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife of Ohaneze-Ndigbo among others. Details later ADVERTISEMENT The police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) say they have no record indicating that Omoyele Sowore, an activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, was shot in Abuja on Monday. In a statement issued on Monday afternoon by their spokesperson in the FCT, Mariam Yusuf, the police denied any altercation with Mr Sowore. FCT Police Command wishes to debunk the viral message in some sections of the social media purporting that Omoyele Sowore was shot by a female Assistant Commissioner of Police at the Unity Fountain. Ms Yusuf said contrary to the reports, police operatives professionally restored calm at the Unity Fountain following attempts by a group of protesters to incite public disturbance. The protesters, who went on the rampage, were resisted by police operatives in order to prevent them from causing a breakdown of law and order. There is no record of such incident as at the time of this release, she said. Ms Yusuf then urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding, reaffirming the polices commitment to the protection of lives and property in the FCT. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how Mr Sowore sustained injuries after a female officer directly fired a tear gas canister at him. This newspaper also obtained video footage capturing the moment when the incident happened as Mr Sowore was seen flanked on both sides by two protesters. The less-lethal weapon, usually used to disperse rioters, is hot enough to cause burns on the skin. As of the time of filing this report, Mr Sowore was at the hospital, receiving medical treatment. An aide to Mr Sowore, Olorunfemi Adeyeye, who witnessed the chain of events, told our correspondent that the police officer identified as ACP Atine, targeted Mr Sowore, who alongside other activists wanted to protest the worsening security situation at Unity Fountain in Abuja. ADVERTISEMENT A few hours after the kidnap of many students from Saliu Tanko Islamic school on Sunday, Niger State Governor, Sani Bello, left Nigeria. According to his aide, Mary Noel-Berje, Mr Bello travelled abroad on a mission to seek solutions to the security challenges in his state. The governor, who had left the country to explore all possibilities of strengthening the states security architecture before the incident happened, is expected back soon, she said. She further stated that the governor has given directives to the security operatives and state government officials to do all they can towards ensuring the safe return of the abducted Tegina Islamiyya children and others. The governor, who is expected back in the country within the shortest period of time, has assured the rescue and safe return of the children. Governor Sani Bello also assured all Nigerlites that the government will continue to do all it can to protect the lives and property of its citizens while guaranteeing the continued peace and stability of the state. While assuring the parents of the abducted children of their safe return as the security agencies have been directed to do all it can to bring back the children as soon as possible, the governor also urged the citizens to cooperate and share intelligence and information that will help in the quick rescue of the children. PREMIUM TIMES had reported how armed bandits on Sunday abducted many pupils of the Islamic school in Tegina, a densely populated town in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State. The bandits reportedly seized the police station in the town and went round the town shooting sporadically into the air to scare residents before breaking into a private school where they abducted children attending Islamic lectures. The school, which consists of nursery and primary schools, also hosts Islamiyya students in the evening and at weekends. The mass abduction of the Islamic school students was the second in Rafi local government area in six months. Dozens of students were earlier in the year kidnapped at Government Science College (GSC) Kagara but were later released after negotiation with the state government. Asides from the attack on schools, several residents across different local government areas of the state have been displaced after the invasion of bandits. ADVERTISEMENT The Police in Rivers State, Nigerias South-south, said there was an explosion in a popular market in Port Harcourt on Monday morning. The market has been identified as Mile 3 Market in the city. A locally fabricated dynamite exploded when one Mrs Ifemia Aloke, popularly known as mama Joy opened her fish shop, inflicting injuries on her son and one other young lady who are currently receiving medical attention. No life was lost in the incident, the police spokesperson in the state, Nnamdi Omoni, said in a statement on Monday. Mr Omoni, a superintendent of police, said police officers from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) were immediately dispatched to the scene to sweep and render the market safe. Normal trading activities resumed immediately in the market, Mr Omoni said. In the meantime, the Commissioner of Police, Eboka Friday, has ordered a full scale investigation into the incident with a view to ascertaining the cause of the explosion and bringing the perpetrators to justice. He wishes to reassure the good people of the State that the State is generally calm and they should go about their lawful activities uninterrupted and without fear of molestation from any quarters, the police spokesperson said. It is unclear if the explosion has any link with the sit-at-home order by IPOB, a pro-Biafra group. The order has been largely complied with by residents of the South-east region. The IPOBs order has not been infective in Rivers, despite the groups claim that the oil-rich state is part of the Biafran territory. ADVERTISEMENT The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied any involvement in the killing of Ahmed Gulak, a former adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, who was shot dead in Owerri, Imo State, on Sunday morning. Mr Gulak was on his way to the airport when he was killed by gunmen. The police have accused IPOB and its security arm, Eastern Security Network (ESN), of being responsible for the killing of Mr Gulak. But the group, in a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, described the accusation as untenable and diversionary. IPOB said the assassination of politicians was not part of its agenda. We are only after the restoration of Biafra, the group said. While sending condolences to Mr Gulaks family, the group urged intelligence agencies to leave IPOB out of their messy incompetence. It also urged the presidency to set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the incident and expose those behind the killing. Mr Powerful said, The attention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), ably led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been drawn to the untenable allegation by the security agencies that IPOB was responsible for the assassination of former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, on his way to Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, Imo State. We state without equivocation that IPOB knows nothing about the said assassination. In the first place, what threat did the late Gulak constitute to our cause to warrant his elimination? We had nothing in common with him and could not have in any way killed him. Mr Powerful said pointing fingers at IPOB was only meant to divert attention away from the real masterminds. This is the same way terrorists in security uniform commit various atrocities in South-east and turn around to blame IPOB for their crimes to tarnish our global reputation, he said. Mr Powerful faulted security agencies for being swift to blame IPOB instead of properly investigating the incident. Did IPOB have the itinerary of the late Gulak to have waylaid him at the airport? Before linking IPOB with the crime the jaundiced security agencies should have first investigated Gulaks host, Hope Uzodima, as well as his political opponents to establish their possible involvement. ADVERTISEMENT The Economic Community of West African States has suspended Malis membership from the regional bloc over last weeks coup. Leaders of the 15-member organisation reached the resolution after a summit held in Ghanas capital, Accra, on Sunday. The suspension from ECOWAS takes immediate effect until the deadline of the end of February 2022 when they are supposed to hand over to a democratically elected government, Ghanas foreign minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, said after the meeting. While there were no new sanctions imposed on Mali, ECOWAS said authorities must stick to a timetable for a return to democracy. ECOWAS also did not demand the resignation of the new interim President, Assimi Goita, who led last Mondays coup after he declared himself president before the court validated him on Friday. Instead, it called for the immediate nomination of a new civilian prime minister and the formation of an inclusive government which must respect the transition period of 18 months decided in Accra. In this context, the date of 27th February 2022 already announced for the presidential election should be absolutely maintained. A monitoring mechanism will be put in place to this effect, the resolution read further. Last Monday, Malis military had arrested interim President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane after a cabinet reshuffle which Mr Goita said he ought to have been consulted over. The arrests sparked international condemnations and warnings of fresh sanctions. While in detention, the civilian leaders were made to resign before they were released and had since been placed under house arrest. ECOWAS demanded the unconditional release of the men after its summit which had in attendance ten regional heads of state and three foreign ministers, with former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan serving as mediator. The latest coup is Malis second in nine months. Mr Goita, a special forces commander, was also one of several colonels who overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita last year. The 38-year-old army colonel, who was the vice-president of the transition government tasked to steer the country back to civilian rule after the coup in August, led last Mondays putsch. Northern and central Mali has been battling Al-Qaeda-linked insurgents which has plunged the Sahel region into decades-long political turmoil. I know the incredible pride you felt watching your loved one wear the uniform, Biden said. Its a hard time here for me and our family just like it is for so many of you. It can hurt to remember, but the hurt is how we heal. ADVERTISEMENT The Chief of Army Staff, Faruk Yahaya, has pledged to prioritise welfare of personnel, entrench professionalism and celebrate gallantry by leading with sincerity, transparency and accountability. He made the promise during his maiden interaction with the Principal Staff Officers (PSOs), field and corps commanders, on Monday, in Abuja. Mr Yahaya, a major general, was appointed as the 22nd chief of army staff last Thursday by President Muhammadu Buhari. He said the task ahead was enormous, urging the officers and soldiers to rise in the defence of the nation. The COAS also pledged to provide an exemplary leadership and conscientiously follow the standing operating procedures of Nigerian army by ensuring that army becomes a formidable force for national defence and security. According to him, for the Nigerian Army to be competitive in the 21st century, it must remain professional and seek to develop competencies that would make it ever ready to undertake its constitutional duties. It is, therefore, against this background that my mission which is a professional Nigerian Army is ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in defence of Nigeria. To achieve this goal, my command philosophy will rest on four pillars, namely: Professionalism, Readiness, Administration and Cooperation. We must return to the tenets of adhering strictly to customs and tradition and ethics of our army and put in place a formidable Nigerian Army. The task ahead of us is enormous, but so also is the strength of our common resolve to accomplish them. As your chief of army staff, I hereby restate my commitment to lead you with sincerity, with transparency and accountability at all times. I want to assure you all that I would run the army fairly and justly, giving equal opportunity to all based on individual competencies and character, he said. Mr Yahaya assured the president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the loyalty of Nigerian Army and also promised Nigerians the Armys determination to ensure the territorial integrity of the nation. He paid tribute to the late Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru, and other officers who died with him in the ill-fated NAF aircraft on May 21, in Kaduna. (NAN The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural association, Afenifere, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure Nigeria has a brand new constitution before the next general elections in 2023. It said Nigerias current state of insecurity could lead to the disintegration of the country if urgent steps were not taken by the federal government to pull the nation back from the precipice. Afenifere leader, Ayo Adebanjo, spoke on Monday at an inter-ethnic peace dialogue on the 2023 presidential transition in Abuja. The event was organised by the Youths Off The Streets Initiative (YOTSI), in collaboration with Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Afenifere Group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) and Northern Elders Forum (NEF). The event witnessed impassioned speeches from diverse ethnic groups across Nigeria. Speaking on the theme, Restructuring and 2023 power shift: Nigerias make or break factor for political survival, Mr Adebanjo advised Mr Buhari on how to achieve the task of a new constitution for Nigeria. He said, It is the belief of Afenifere that it will be unrealistic and unpatriotic in our present precarious disintegrating tendencies that the Buhari government should contemplate holding any election before the proposed harmonious constitution becomes operative. We believe there should be a country before an election is contemplated. There is no doubt whatsoever that Nigeria is presently faced with critical threats of imminent second civil war and forceful political break-up and perhaps even more. Indicators of these could be seen in part in the scale of banditry going on in the country, in the unprecedented level of kidnapping and destruction of government properties as being witnessed presently in the South-east and, of course, the strident voices for secession. When the foregoing and many others that we have not mentioned are put into consideration, there could not be any controversy that Nigeria is indeed on the precipice. How to get a new constitution In his presentation, Mr Adebanjo noted that it was possible to reverse the trend of crises troubling the country. He contended that the current 1999 Constitution being operated by Nigeria is a fraud, adding that the ongoing process of amending it by the National Assembly, whose members he described as beneficiaries of the fraudulent constitution, would not yield the desired result of restoring harmonious living in the country. Mr Adebanjo cleared the air that Afenifere was not interested in the secession calls across Nigeria. The nonagenarian said, We are hereby proposing that ethnic nationalities and peoples of Nigeria be allowed to exercise their mandate and sovereignty on how they want to live together under mutually beneficial terms. Flowing from the above, something like the United Regions of Nigeria (URN) is hereby proposed. The structure can take the following form: But before talking about the form, let me emphasise that there should be no artificially prescribed number of regions in a manner that may foreclose the rights of the people that desire to organise themselves as a semi-autonomous regional member of the Nigerian State so long as the territory desiring such regional status can guarantee its self-sustenance and viability as an entity. Structure He proposed a regional organisation that entails having the terms of the central government to be determined by the various ethnic nationalities and not by the lawmakers whom he said are randomly picked. He added that each region would have a constitution of their own under the proposed system and there would also be a national constitution binding on all the regions. ADVERTISEMENT In this proposal, powers, mandate and authority to formulate the articles of association to form the central government of Nigeria shall in effect lie jointly and severally with the ethnic nationalities occupying their respective territories and not with lawmakers who were randomly picked. Nigeria shall be subsequently organised into a union or federation of voluntarily associating and cooperative regional entities like we had up till 1966. Unlike what we have presently, each region may have a constitution of its own which would spell out how it is to be governed. There would be a national constitution binding all the regions in the country together. In this latter constitution would be spelt out mutually agreed terms under which the peoples of the country agree to cohabit together as citizens of the same country. Afenifere is hereby proposing as one of the resolutions of this summit, a template that would make it possible for indeed, encourage every ethnic nationality to organise themselves and prepare terms that would guide their relationship with other ethnic nationalities in the country in a harmonious and mutually respecting manner. From such a collation of terms would emerge regional constitutions out of which the national constitution would be forged. The constitution, be it at regional or national level, must accord unqualified respect to democratic norms and the rights of the people to actively participate in matters that have to do with their lives. The constitutions must also emphasise true federalism in such a way that no region or area would have power to lord it over another region or area. Among the expected contents of the envisaged constitutions are unreserved powers of the Regions over natural resources in their respective areas, agriculture, education, health, electricity, security and economy etc. It is hereby further proposed that each region furnish 10 per cent of what it generates to the national purse. The region retains 30 per cent; the states take 35 per cent while the local governments take 25 per cent. Timeline, modalities Mr Adebanjo also suggested a timeline and the modalities for getting a new constitution. He proposed that the new constitution, going by Afeniferes plan, should become effective from October 1, 2022. In order to ensure that this proposal does not go the way of various reports that have come from various panels or assemblages constituted by governments, timeline is hereby suggested in the following manner: Ethnic nationalities in the country will be encouraged to prepare their document on terms of engagement between now and December 2021. The documents from the nationalities in which they propose the kind of regional government they want to form be collated and considered between January and March 2022. The product of this process should then produce the document that will become the Constitution of the United Regions of Nigeria or Federal Republic of Nigeria. As stated earlier, the issue of true federalism must be central in every of the Constitution or Article of Engagement so produced. True Federalism that emphasises self-determination. A National Referendum can be conducted on the adoption of the final Constitution for the Restructured Nigeria around the middle of 2022. The said constitution can then become effective from October 01, 2022. A committee can be set up to work out the details of the proposal hereby suggested. We are ready to present the details as we conceive it to the said Committee if formed, Mr Adebanjo said. Northern position In its presentation, Awal Abdullah, said the northern part of Nigeria was ready for breakaway should other regions agree. Mr Abdullahi, who presides over the Northern Conscientious Initiative, explained that it would, however, be better if the country stayed together owing to intermarriages that have taken place. Earlier, a former Speaker of Nigerias House of Representatives, Ghali NaAbba, said there was an absence of leadership in the country. NaAbba decried the spate of violence across the country, adding that the masses are bearing the brunt of the mayhem of the crises. The worst amongst us is being enthroned to manage our affairs, the erstwhile Speaker said on Monday in Abuja. In a veiled reference to President Muhammadu Buharis inability to halt the pervasive insecurity in Nigeria, Mr NaAbba urged Nigerians to take power back from the political class. Ohanaeze-Ndigbo speaks The president of Ohabaeze-Ndigbo General, George Obiozor, who briefly registered his presence at the event said self-determination does not amount to secession. A former governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, also spoke on behalf of the Igbo sociocultural group. Mr Ezeife, in his remarks, adopted the position of Afenifere, adding, We should work together to rescue Nigeria. While condemning the assassination of Ahmed Gulak in Owerri, Imo State, Mr Ezeife said, Any attempt to amend the 1999 constitution is a waste of time. The event was attended by representatives of other ethnic nationalities like the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and the Southern and Middle Belt Forum (SMBF). Other dignitaries included former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, ex-governors Olusegun Mimiko, C.O Adebayo of Ondo and Kwara States, Josephine Anenih, Kofowora Bucknor, Mazi Ohubunwa and Pat Utomi. non-achievement in this department is an eloquent proof that the economy is not growing. These things are connected, spiritually and otherwise. The buzz is just not in our economy and our ambitions are too low. We have a few local champions but can do a lot better. Yes, it is a question of leadership too. Political leadership can inspire a lot, or kill initiatives in general. The other day, a young brother of mine posted an aerial picture on his Facebook page of the NECOM (or NET) Building, with the caption, the tallest building in Nigeria. As I admired the aerial view, I was taken aback. What?!! NET Building is STILL the tallest in Nigeria? This could be the perfect metaphor confirming that Nigeria is not improving, has become ambitionless, has stopped growing, literally, since NET building was completed in 1979. Now, the Nigeria External Telecommunications (NET) Building, as it was first known, before the rechristening to whatever name it bears today, was then an iconic building and a symbol of our progress, ambition, independence, creativity, modernity, and quest for achievement back in the late 1970s. I recall as a 12-year old kid in 1983, when we learnt that the building was torched, allegedly by people who had embezzled money and needed to obliterate their tracks, I felt personally angry and defrauded as I read the story on the front page of the newspaper I had just bought for my dad at the junction of our street. This was because as a child, I remember being driven past NET Building by my dad several times, as we made for the Bar Beach. I recall vividly even the ships that used to berth at the Marina then. There were so vivid, so close, and I used to imagine what went on in their lighted cabins and how far they had sailed. Those were great days of the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL). Anyhow, standing at 520 feet (160 metres) with 32 floors, the NET Building (as I prefer to still call it with fond nostalgia), remains the tallest in Nigeria, followed by a building newly installed in Eko Atlantic City, called the Champagne Pearl Tower (perhaps an ode to Nigerias eternal love for champagne, whereby we have become the worlds largest consumers of the liquid). In third position comes Union Bank building on Marina. However, the NET Building is only the eight tallest in Africa. It trails behind juggernauts such as The Leonardo (234 metres or 768 feet), and the Carlton Centre (232 metres or 732 feet), both located in Johannesburg, South Africa. Whereas the Carlton Centre was completed in 1973, the South Africans bested themselves with Leonardo in 2019. That is how nations show life and progress. Let me not even talk of the non-achievement of West Africa in general (this NET Building is the tallest in West Africa and has been since 1979. West Africa is not growing in ambition and achievements). In third position for the tallest building in Africa is Kenyas Britam Tower (200.1 metres or 656 feet), completed in 2017. The Kenyans have interestingly kept rolling out skyscrapers in recent times and these include the Nairobi Global Trade Centre (at number 5 in Africa and 604 feet tall; completed in 2020), and UAP Towers (at number 7, completed in 2016 and 535 feet tall). I recall noticing when I visited Nairobi in 2013 that the city had many more skyscrapers than all of Nigeria combined. The Commercial Bank of Ethiopia Head Quarters in Addis Ababa is the fourth tallest building in Africa, standing at 198 metres or 650 feet). The 30 tallest buildings are located in South Africa, Tanzania, and Egypt. The Egyptians are not very fond of skyscrapers it would seem, but Egyptian buildings occupy the 21st to 32nd positions, back-to-back, in the ranking. Recently, the NCDMB (Nigerian Content office) commissioned its 17 floor new headquarters, which is the tallest building south of Nigeria and indeed I saw the pride shared by the executives for achieving that feat. It is remarkable that the building was erected by a Nigerian contractor. This means there is value in these things and that we can challenge ourselves Why Is This Significant? Well, we could say these rankings which is perhaps just my personal obsession are not important at all. The solidity of a building is more important than its height, right? We could also say we have bigger issues to deal with than competing for the height of our buildings. Another fact could be that not every topography needs or can withstand very tall buildings. Fans of tall buildings understand that they are mostly required for space management, especially in densely populated areas. All good. I am an enthusiast in a way because I am in awe of the achievements of humanity. I sometimes wonder what pushes man to embark on modern day Towers of Babel, and whether God may get angry someday, with some of these guys who are trying to poke him in the eyes. Lol. How else can I explain this? Anyway, our problem in sub-Saharan Africa has become compounded. There is an article in the current edition of The Economist with the title Why Are There So Many Unfinished Buildings in Africa? Not only are we not attempting to best our own past achievements, we are now a repository of uncompleted projects. Shame. Now, whereas the Burj Khalifa stands as the tallest completed building in the world today (at a crazy 828 metres or 2,717 feet), followed by the Shanghai Tower (632 metres or 2073 feet), Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower in Mecca (601 metres or 1,971 feet), the Ping An Finance Centre in Shenzhen, China (599 metres or 1,965 feet), South Koreas Lotte World Tower (554.5 metres or 1,819 feet), and the One World Trade Centre in New York (541.3 metres or 1,776 feet), the world is presently trying to outdo itself. The Chinese occupy the seventh to 12th position, and Russia, U.S.A, Malaysia, the U.A.E, South Korea and China intersperse the rest up to the 50th position. New record breakers are being built as we read this, notably the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia, which is to stand at a princely 1,000 metres or 3,281 feet. The Emiratis are also trying to reply the Saudis through The Tower at Dubai Creek which will be 1,345 metres and is expected to be completed in 2022. These Arabs have gone mad! I have casually studied skyscrapers, how they originated in Chicago, their raison detre, the challenges they had, their prime movers, how materials used in building them have evolved to where they are today, including when the heights of such buildings once stalled until Fazlur Rahman Khan (1922-1982), a Bangladeshi-American, invented what is called the tubular system, on the basis of which the Burj Khalifa stands today. I am in awe of the achievements of humanity through science. I dont really have a head for heights but dont mind going into these towers. I am also challenged by the truth spoken by Pastor James Manning, that African-American preacher who accused our African ancestors of building nothing beyond what sticks and straws could hold together. Love him or hate him, he spoke the unblemished truth in the main (our structures did not evolve that much in terms of complexity). However, we live in a modern age where we need not reinvent the wheel. We have gone to schools and learnt science. So, beyond getting foreigners to come and build things for us, it is important we try our hands on a few things ourselves. Recently, the NCDMB (Nigerian Content office) commissioned its 17 floor new headquarters, which is the tallest building south of Nigeria and indeed I saw the pride shared by the executives for achieving that feat. It is remarkable that the building was erected by a Nigerian contractor. This means there is value in these things and that we can challenge ourselves and begin to set new records in scientific achievements. today, only four buildings stand in Eko Atlantic The project is a great idea that could help dis-link Nigeria from the perennial doom and gloom, underachievement, backwardness that has defined our economy for way too long. But two completed buildings and another two not completed, on a vast expanse of solid seaside reclaimed land? That is woeful. The Benefits of Besting Ourselves 1. It is a sense of national progress; 2. It is a sense of improvement, innovation, science and technology; 3. Even if we have land today, nations should plan for population increases and start building up; 4. It is a test of the prowess of a countrys engineers and architects; 5. It is a sign of modernity; 6. It is a sign of economic growth, and in fact mental development (the non-ambition of black Africa is stark in this regard. What is the essence of our vaunted education?); 7. It is a sign of ability to compete with other nations and hold our own; 8. Practice makes perfect. The more you build, the better you get. Not building or improving at all means you are not practicing as a people; 9. It is a sign of freedom, especially for upcoming generation who must do better than their predecessors. Many people who could achieve in black Africa, have refused to try because they dont want to rock the boat. They do not want governments to come after them ,either politically or for excessive taxes. This is a symptom of fear. ADVERTISEMENT 10. It is a symbol of national, continental or even racial pride and gives some bragging rights in the comity of nations. You could add more. But I am making a case for someone to bell the cat and tell the world that we are still in competition, or if not in competition, that we are still thinking and making progress. What is not acceptable is to say this is not our problem, or this is not our forte or priority and so let us continue to plough the depths of underachievement and mediocrity, even as the world surges ahead. When history is written, what mentions will we have in this department? Our young architects have been everywhere and back. They have seen the world. Someone told me that our Institute of Architects is full of conservative old men who are unwilling to allow the young Turks take over and express themselves. Let them know that they are not doing our race and nation any favours by holding us all down. We need to prove our brother, Reverend Manning, wrong here. The black man should wake up! There is much work to do. Lastly, non-achievement in this department is an eloquent proof that the economy is not growing. These things are connected, spiritually and otherwise. The buzz is just not in our economy and our ambitions are too low. We have a few local champions but can do a lot better. Yes, it is a question of leadership too. Political leadership can inspire a lot, or kill initiatives in general. As I rounded up on this article, I happened to fulfil one curiosity; I went into the Eko Atlantic Island. It wasnt easy getting in. I recall when the idea started and we were told it will be an island for billionaires only. I recall some real estate company wanted to sell one square metre to me at about N12 million or something that ridiculous. Eko Atlantic is meant to be our own Dubai Marina, with the plethora of high-risers. But today, only four buildings stand in Eko Atlantic The Pearl Tower, Amni Petroleum building, another called The Azuri (not completed) and one residential development (not completed). The project is a great idea that could help dis-link Nigeria from the perennial doom and gloom, underachievement, backwardness that has defined our economy for way too long. But two completed buildings and another two not completed, on a vast expanse of solid seaside reclaimed land? That is woeful. This article is therefore a wake-up call to all of us especially our billionaires. Let us rise up and do something great for our country, our people, our continent, the world. The world is our canvass. Tope Fasua, an economist, author, blogger, entrepreneur, and recent presidential candidate of the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), can be reached through topsyfash@yahoo.com. ADVERTISEMENT Ozoemena, we say, mana ozo ka neme (it should not happen again, yet it is happening again). From Abia to Anambra; from Ebonyi to Enugu, down to Imo, the blood of innocent citizens flows like rivers; residents leave their homes with so much uncertainty each day; parents are not sure of returning home to their children Dear Leaders of South-East, just yesterday, May 30, in remembering the fallen heroes of the Nigerian-Biafran war, we were all in different locations, writing, musing and chanting OZOEMENA (meaning: It should not happen again); yet we sit and standby as our region has started burning, bleeding, crumbling. We should all cover our faces in shame! But how can you claim to be leaders of a region you choose not to be responsible for? A region that was built with the sweat and blood of many; tell me, what do you plan to do with this new rivers of blood being shed on the streets of every state in the South-East? Will these crimson tides serve any use as the region crumbles on you; on us all? Ozoemena, we say, mana ozo ka neme (it should not happen again, yet it is happening again). From Abia to Anambra; from Ebonyi to Enugu, down to Imo, the blood of innocent citizens flows like rivers; residents leave their homes with so much uncertainty each day; parents are not sure of returning home to their children, and neither are children sure of returning home to their parents. You, our leaders, must rise up to your duties and begin to work to keep the South-East together and stable again. There will be no accolades for you in doing your jobs; the people voted you with the confidence that you will keep them and their property safe, that you will maintain law and order. No, you will not be awarded Governor of the Century nor Man of the Millenium for being late to save this occasion. We MUST come together and get this country safe again. If leaders before you did not do the hard work, you would not have had a nation to lead in the first place. So, you need to RISE UP to the task at hand! To leaders of other regions: This is not merely a South-East fight. Do we all remember how it started in the North-East? Now, we are still at the stage of the starting fires. This is a fight for us all, a fight for Nigerians, for Nigeria, to quench these fires before they become huge and untameable conflagration that will consume everyone. We MUST come together and get this country safe again. If leaders before you did not do the hard work, you would not have had a nation to lead in the first place. So, you need to RISE UP to the task at hand! Dear Muslims, Christians, traditionalists and the faithful of unorthodox worship, this is not a contest to determine whose religion will reign supreme over the others; that is only a ruse our common enemies use in disarming us. Interestingly, most of us know this but have chosen to ignore the voices of reasoning and of common sense. Dear over 300 nationalities in Nigeria, this is no ethnic war; it is simpy most of us against a common enemy. And we need to WAKE UP to the hard facts of the matter! We now have a common enemy who is keen on not even sparing the debris that will be left after this nation has been burnt down. Dear over 300 nationalities in Nigeria, this is no ethnic war; it is simpy most of us against a common enemy. And we need to WAKE UP to the hard facts of the matter! Dear leaders of Nigeria, if you are yet to awake to the brutal realities of what is going on in the country, please get in front of your television sets, get on the internet, get your radio sets and tune in; it is beyond heart breaking. Signed A Livid Citizen yearning for government action and responsibility. Chiamaka Okafor is with the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ), Abuja. ADVERTISEMENT A faction of the executive committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kazaure Local Government Area of Jigawa State has described the suspension of Mohammed Gudaji, a member of the House of Representatives, as unconstitutional. Mr Gudaji represents Kazaure/Roni/Gwiwa/Yankwashi Federal Constituency of Jigawa State in the House. Suspended over Facebook post PREMIUMTIMES had earlier reported the suspension of the lawmaker over a Facebook post critical of Governor Muhammed Badaru. The lawmaker had criticised Mr Badaru over alleged imposition of candidates in the coming local government election in the state. APC chairperson in Kazaure, Hassan Lawan, had announced the six months suspension of the lawmaker. Suspension is unconstitutional The faction of the local government executive, in a letter dated May 31 and addressed to the APC national caretaker committee, declared the earlier resolution on the lawmaker as unconstitutional. According to the letter, sent to PREMIUMTIMES on Monday, the faction of the party executive claimed that only four party members suspended Mr Kazaure. Also attached to the letter are signatures and contacts of some members of the council executives. The letter, signed by the deputy chairperson of the Kazaure APC executive, Bello Sanda, stated that two-third of the council executives is behind the lawmaker. The letter reads: Forwarding the resolution by the two-third majority of the APC Kazaure Local Government party executives. Six out of eleven wards Chairmen and twenty-one out of twenty-seven Yamma ward party executives. We condemn the unconstitutional and unlawful suspension of our member and respected leader, Hon. Mohammed Gudaji Kazaure by the APC Chairman, legal advisor and two others. Sir, four people cannot make a decision on our behalf. Subject to the above, we, party executives of Kazaure Local Government forward to you our resolution attached with a list of names, phone numbers and signatures in order to show you our solidarity and apology to Hon. Mohammed Gudaji Kazaure, member, House of Representatives, representing Kazaure/Roni/Gwiwa/Yankwashi federal constituency of Jigawa State. Hon Mohammed Gudaji Kazaure contributed to the development of our people, the party and Nigerian people in general. Sir, we highly regret the disgrace but soon, the party will investigate the chairman and three others. Mr Gudaje is a second-term member of the House. ADVERTISEMENT The governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, has sacked four commissioners in his cabinet and five special advisers. Mr Ayades media aide, Christian Ita, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Calabar. The sacked commissioners are Asu Okang, who was the commissioner for Information and Donatus Etim who headed the Ministry of Climate Change. Others are Rita Ayim, who was the commissioner for Women Affairs and Mike Usibe who was the commissioner for New Cities Development. The affected special advisers are Leo Inyambe who was the special adviser on security, John Etim, Oil Palm Development and Orok Duke, special adviser on Callywood, Victor Okon and Agbiji Mbeh-Agbiji. Consequently, they are hereby directed to return government properties and vehicles in their care with immediate effect to the chief of staff to the governor. The governor thanked them for their services to the state and wished them well in their future endeavours, Mr Ita stated. No reason was given for the governors action. Mr Ayade recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The governors defection is expected to alter the 2023 politics in Cross River State. Most of the federal lawyers from the state who refused to follow Mr Ayade to the APC have said that the governor is on his own. Mr Ayade, meanwhile, said his defection is for the good of Cross River. We have to re-socket into the centre to drive the value of governance into the state, where our interest will be better served. The state does not have reasonable allocation. We are not part of the 13 per cent derivation. We are not part of Niger Delta Development Commission, we dont have oil, he said. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, on Sunday, said he has not anointed anyone to succeed him as governor in 2023. Mr Wike, who vowed to resist any cabal within and outside the state from imposing his successor on the people, said his administration has built nine flyovers in two years and will award contract for the construction of a tenth one at Tank Junction, Rumukurushi in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state. The governor stated this in Port Harcourt at a thanksgiving church service held at the Anglican Church to mark the second anniversary of his second term, according to a statement posted on Facebook by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri. Mr Wike appealed to church leaders to pray for a rancor-free transition, stressing that at the appropriate time stakeholders of the state will meet to decide who will succeed him. Let me say it again, I have never sat with anybody to say I will make you governor. But, as a governor, nobody from anywhere, be it in the party, in Abuja, will impose who will be the candidate of PDP in Rivers state. Nobody can impose a candidate here in this state. So, if you are running to Abuja, you are wasting your time. I urge you to pray that we will have our transition very smooth. That there will be no crisis. The governor said that despite the crisis orchestrated to destabilise his administration at the inception in 2015 and subsequently in 2019, he has continued to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state. In his sermon, the Diocesan Bishop, Wisdom Ihunwo, of the Niger Delta North Diocese, said the governor has not failed Rivers people despite the recession and economic crisis that has beset all the states in Nigeria. Mr Ihunwo prayed to God to grant the governor the grace to finish his tenure well. ADVERTISEMENT Social and economic activities were grounded in Awka, Anambra State capital, on Monday following the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The group said it declared a sit-at-home order in remembrance of more than five million Igbo people who died during the three years of civil war between the defunct Biafra and Nigeria. May 31 is being observed as a special day to remember the dead Igbos, IPOB said. IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, said the usual date is May 30, but that it was shifted to May 31 to allow residents to go to church. A resident of Awka, Ngozi Nwosu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that she decided to stay at home because of her safety. I do not want to go anywhere and thank God that my childrens schools are on break so all of us are indoors to avoid problems, she said. Another resident, Ogochi Ezeike, said the leadership of Eke Awka Market, the major market in the state capital, told them that the market will not open for business due to the IPOB order. As you can see, everywhere is totally shut down, even if one is in the market, who will buy from the person? he queried. NAN reported that most of the shops at the popular Aroma junction, Awka, Ziks Avenue, Unizik junction and other popular places are not open for business. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT The Police Command in Oyo State on Sunday confirmed the killing of a 51-year-old Ibadan businessman, Maduabuchi Owuamanam, by unknown gunmen. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Owuamanam was murdered on Saturday at a relaxation spot at Oremeji Mokola area of Ibadan by yet-to-be identified gunmen. The commands Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan. Mr Osifeso said that investigation commenced immediately to unravel the circumstances surrounding the gruesome murder of Mr Owuamanam. He said that the incident was reported to the police at about 22:10 hrs on Saturday by the wife of the deceased, Christiana. The deceased was allegedly attacked and eventually murdered by unknown assailants around a relaxation spot at Oremeji Mokola area of Ibadan. Investigations are in top gear to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident and apprehend the perpetrators of the dastardly act, the spokesperson said. He, however, called for calm among residents in the state, saying that the police are already making progress with investigations, promising that we will get to the root of the matter within a reasonable time. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT The Lagos State Government says it has commenced the administration of the second dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination programme. Akin Abayomi, State Commissioner for Health, in a statement on Sunday, said the administration of the second dose of the vaccine which began on May 28 would end on July 9. He said the programme was in continuation of Phase 1 COVID-19 vaccination that started on March 12. Mr Abayomi said 317,916 people were vaccinated with the first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. This means that 1.32 per cent of the states population has received the first dose, he said. The commissioner noted that the state needed to vaccinate 14 million people, which is 60 per cent of its population, to reach its target of achieving herd immunity. He said the state was considering several channels, including discussions with the federal government and the private sector, to ramp up its vaccination numbers. According to him, for anyone to be fully vaccinated, two doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine are required, with an interval of six to 12 weeks. He said the second dose would be administered on working days across the 88 approved health facilities in the state. I, therefore, implore citizens who have received their first dose to proceed to the health facilities where they got their first dose on their scheduled appointment dates, which are clearly stated on the vaccination card that was issued. They are also advised to avoid overcrowding and overwhelming the health workers by staggering their arrival at the vaccination site from between 8 a.m to 1 p.m. I will like to reiterate that every vaccinated person should visit the health facility where they got their first dose with their vaccination cards, so that the process is seamless, and their data accurately captured. We would like to remind all persons who visit the health facilities to continue to adhere to the infection prevention and control measures to mitigate the spread of the virus, he said. He advised residents to continue to wear face masks in public, avoid large crowds and practise good hand and respiratory hygiene until about 60 per cent of the states population is vaccinated. (NAN) The security scare comes a week after another Ryanair flight, traveling from Greece to Lithuania, was forced to land in Belarus after authorities there cited a supposed bomb threat on board. But European leaders have denounced the move as an orchestrated hijacking because no bomb was found on the plane, which was carrying a prominent opposition figure. Raman Pratasevich, who fled Belarus last year after being declared an extremist, was arrested at the airport. ADVERTISEMENT The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed relief materials to victims displaced by sea incursion in the riverine community of Aiyetoro, in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. The Director-General of NEMA, Muhammadu Muhammed, who sympathised with the victims, on Monday in Igbokoda, said the materials would help bring little succour to the people. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that relief items distributed include mattresses, bedsheets, roofing sheets, groundnut oil, provisions, foodstuff, cements and other items. Mr Muhammed, represented by Head of Ekiti Operations, Olusegun Afolayan, said the emergency challenge called for concerted efforts. This disaster has called for an urgent attention of the three tiers of government towards emergency intervention to provide succour to the affected persons who are now living in critical condition in various temporary shelters and among their relatives, he said. The D-G implored the beneficiaries to judiciously utilise the materials, promising to continue to respond to severe emergency calls despite the paucity of funds in the country. Also, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, at the event, reiterated the state governments commitment to partner relevant stakeholders in finding a lasting solution to the sea incursion ravaging Aiyetoro community. Mr Aiyedatiwa said the World Bank had signified its commitment to fund construction work in the community through the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP). The deputy governor, who noted that it might not be easy for victims to fully regain all that was lost in incident, said the relief material would go a long way to mitigate the effect on the people. The trend cannot continue. It must be stopped. Giving out palliative can only mitigate your pains for a short while. It is also not the wish of the present administration of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu that a hitherto enterprising and creative people be environmentally ham stringed from living their lives normally and functioning optimally. We have invited the attention of relevant stakeholders like the Federal Ministry of Environment, World Bank to the plight of the people of Ayetoro, he said. The deputy governor appreciated the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for rendering humanitarian assistance to Aiyetoro community. Responding on behalf of beneficiaries, Iwasanmi Ajijo, lauded the Federal government for bringing succour to the people in such a critical time, pledging that the materials would be put to good use. (NAN) A thief took shoplifting to a new level by filling up a duffle bag with merchandise May 17 at Home Depot, 25451 Michigan Ave., in Dearborn Heights, before evading loss prevention and fleeing the scene. Sign up for our daily morning newsletter Click here and then look to the right side for the sign up to the morning newsletter for The News Herald, and you can get the top headlines de The shoplifter was described as white female wearing a pink top and jean shorts. She fled in an older model black Chevrolet Impala with tinted front windows and black rims. - Advertisement - A shopper noticed the woman filling up the duffle bag with merchandise, and alerted loss prevention personnel, who confronted her before she fled. Police officers canvassed nearby roads, but were unable to find a vehicle matching the description. More than $2,200 in power tools stolen from truck in Home Depot parking lot Police were called to Home Depot, 5951 Mercury Drive May 23 to take a report of stolen power tools. Cash App card fraudulently used for California shopping spree An unknown criminal used a 46-year-old Dearborn Heights mans Cash App card account to complete four transactions, totaling $986, within four Dearborn Heights forms Ecorse Creek, Business commissions Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi, with the unanimous support of the City Council, established an Ecorse Creek Commission and a Commission on PLATTSBURGH [mdash] Anthony Tarricone, 94, of Plattsburgh, passed away Monday in his home with his loving wife by his side and under the care of hospice. He was born in Yonkers on Aug. 13, 1926, the son of George and Nancy Tarricone. He graduated Horton High School in Yonkers. He also gradua HELSINKI, May 31,2021 /PRNewswire/ --Caverion has signed a 20-year life cycle agreement for stre Landsret, High Court of Eastern Denmark, in Copenhagen, with the investor group Velliv, Lgernes Pension and Pdagogernes Pension. This is one of the largest public-private partnership (PPP) projects in Denmark and an important step in the series of lifecycle contracts for Caverion. The contract is included in Caverion's Q2/2021 order backlog. Caverion's part of the PPP project includes supporting the design and build phase with lifecycle advisory on the property, followed by service and maintenance throughout a contract period of 20 years from completion. This means that Caverion is responsible for the condition of the property throughout its lifecycle, including management, building efficiency, energy management, usability and safety. "We see Caverion as the best performing life cycle partner and look forward to yet another PPP project supported by our long and good cooperation," says Bente Stamp from Velliv Investment Department. The property will be connected to Caverion Remote Services, which helps to ensure agreed conditions and optimal energy use in the building. In addition to comprehensive technical maintenance of all building solutions, Caverion is also responsible for managing the soft services related to the property, such as canteen and cleaning, through subcontracting. "This is an exciting project, not only because of its size and the long contract time, but also as an illustration of our Smart and sustainable services throughout the lifecycle. Caverion guarantees measurable outcomes. In this case we are happy to guarantee optimal indoor conditions for the Court for the years to come," says Carsten Srensen, Head of Caverion Denmark Division. Welcoming and reassuring architecture The new stre Landsret, will, among other things, include courtrooms, administration, vestibule, cafe and canteen, and the building itself, through its architecture, shall signal credibility and appear welcoming and reassuring. The building is built on a 4,600 square meter site in Trlastholmen in Copenhagen's Nordhavn. The total area of the property is approximately 20,000 m2. The project has been ordered by Bygningsstyrelsen on behalf of Danish Court Administration (Domstolsstyrelsen). A. Enggaard is responsible for the construction. Velliv, Lgernes Pension and Pdagogernes Pension are the real estate investors of the project. Henning Larsen Architects A/S and Norconsult A/S are associated consultants. Caverion's work will start during the first quarter of 2022. The project delivery will be completed during the first quarter of 2022, followed by the operation and maintenance phase until the year 2042. Read more about our life cycle management services Image source: Henning Larsen Architects A/S CONTACT: Additional information: Michael Kirkegaard, Head of Managed Services, Caverion Denmark, tel. +45 2069 4903, michael.kirkegaard@caverion.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/caverion/r/danish-high-court-gets-guaranteed-optimal-indoor-conditions-for-20-years---caverion-chosen-as-a-part,c3357453 The following files are available for download: SOURCE Caverion STOCKHOLM, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- EQT Private Equity acquires a minority position in DESOTEC, a leading European environmental services company Belgium -based DESOTEC provides mobile filtration solutions for a broad range of industrial applications through a unique closed-loop service model -based DESOTEC provides mobile filtration solutions for a broad range of industrial applications through a unique closed-loop service model EQT Private Equity will support DESOTEC alongside Blackstone, as the Company continues its pan-European growth strategy and fortifies its market-leading position EQT is pleased to announce that the EQT Mid Market Europe fund ("EQT Private Equity'') has acquired a 15 percent minority stake in DESOTEC ("the Company") alongside private equity funds managed by Blackstone ("Blackstone"). In March 2021, Blackstone agreed to acquire DESOTEC from the EQT VII fund, as part of the transaction EQT Mid Market Europe secured the option to co-invest alongside Blackstone for a minority position with board representation. EQT Private Equity has hereby decided to exercise the option. Based in Roeselare, Belgium, DESOTEC is a leading European environmental services company with a mission to protect the planet through innovative circular filtration solutions, enabling clean water, air, and soil. The Company was founded in 1990 and is focusing on mobile purification solutions mainly based on activated carbon technology. DESOTEC's fleet of approximately 2,700 mobile filters is the largest of its kind in Europe and serves a broad range of industrial applications, including air emission, biogas, remediation, wastewater, and chemicals. The Company's mobile filters enable its customers to comply with environmental regulations and sustainability requirements, through its closed-loop, "Filtration-as-a-Service" rental solution. EQT VII acquired DESOTEC in 2017 and made significant investments in its sales and digital capabilities under its ownership period. Moreover, EQT supported DESOTEC's technology and R&D investments to enable a more circular service offering. Today, the Company is the European market leader in its field with strong tailwinds and impressive track-record of double-digit organic growth. Under the new ownership structure, EQT Private Equity will continue to support DESOTEC alongside Blackstone on its mission to better protect the planet. The Company aims to continue its pan-European growth strategy and fortify its market-leading position. Vesa Koskinen, Partner in EQT Private Equity's advisory team, said, "We are impressed by the achievements of DESOTEC and its management. The Company has grown into a true environmental services leader that is well positioned for further growth. We look forward to continuing our partnership with DESOTEC's management as we start the next chapter of the Company's mission to better protect the planet." The closing of EQT VII's exit, and EQT Mid Market Europe's investment in DESOTEC were both completed on 31 May 2021. Contact EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com, +46 8 506 55 334 About EQT EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization with more than EUR 67 billion in assets under management across 26 active funds. EQT funds have portfolio companies in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas with total sales of approximately EUR 29 billion and more than 175,000 employees. EQT works with portfolio companies to achieve sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership. More info: www.eqtgroup.com Follow EQT on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram About DESOTEC DESOTEC, founded in 1990, is the leading European provider of mobile filtration technology through a unique and circular service concept, which helps protect the planet by enabling clean water, air, and soil. DESOTEC's customer base is constantly growing thanks to a strong focus on 24/7 service and a commitment to design and deliver the best solution in close dialogue with the customer. Through in-depth expertise of industrial applications and continuous investment in mobile filters, centralised reactivation capacity and well-positioned European hubs, DESOTEC ensures that the European industry can meet the increasing regulations for a better and cleaner environment. More info: www. desotec .com and www.desotecsustainability.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/eqt/r/eqt-private-equity-makes-minority-investment-in-desotec--a-leading-european-environmental-services-c,c3357443 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/87/3357443/1425273.pdf Press release Mid Market Europe DESOTEC 210531 SOURCE EQT In the two-day online event, themes such as ESG, technology, capital markets, energy matrix, infrastructure, and macroeconomic scenario were addressed SAO PAULO, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The 22nd edition of the CEO Conference, organized by BTG Pactual, took place on May 25-26 in Sao Paulo, and brought together important members of the political and business world. This was the first virtual edition of the event, whose audience included investors, executives, bank customers, and journalists. Andre Esteves, senior partner at BTG Pactual, stressed that it is important for Brazil to continue to seek measures for putting it back on the path to development. According to him, approving reforms is one of the ways to lead the country to growth and increase the income of the country's population. "It just depends on us moving forward, evolving and creating a fairer society, with more jobs, higher income and more equal opportunities", said the executive. BTG Pactual CEO Roberto Sallouti, stressed that, throughout the event, a common effort and desire to resume Brazil's growth agenda was evident: "All the leaders who took part in our discussions are realistic about the challenges, but aware of the importance of advancing the reform agenda". First Day After the official opening by Andre Esteves, a senior partner at BTG Pactual, the first morning of the CEO Conference was attended by House Speaker Arthur Lira, the President of the Central Bank of Brazil Roberto Campos, and Federal Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco. In the afternoon, Gary Cohn, former director of the US National Economic Council and Vice Chairman of IBM, BNDES President Gustavo Montezano, CCR CEO Marco Cauduro, and Eletrobras CEO Rodrigo Limp, took part in the discussions. The program also included panels with market managers and debates on topics such as crypto assets, agritech, innovation in Latin America, and European banks. In the Tech Room, technology sector leaders and entrepreneurs discussed topics such as Cybersecurity & AI, Open Banking, and the presence of tech companies on B3, the Brazilian stock exchange. The first day of the event closed in a panel with Economy Minister Paulo Guedes, and BTG Pactual chief economist Mansueto Almeida. Second Day After the opening by BTG Pactual CEO Roberto Sallouti, the morning panels were attended by Suzano Papel e Celulose CEO Walter Schalka and Grupo Boticario Vice-Chairman Artur Grynbaum. The executives talked about the challenges for sustainability in the Brazilian market, with Mariana Oiticica, BTG Pactual co-head of ESG and Impact, as moderator. Next, economists Eduardo Loyo, Mansueto Almeida and Tiago Berriel debated on the path to economic recovery. Engie CEO Catherine MacGregor closed the morning's talks, discussing the future of the energy sector. At the Tech Room, leaders and entrepreneurs debated topics such as technology and credit solutions for SMEs, as well as challenges and opportunities in the credit fund industry. In the afternoon, the event was attended by Infrastructure Minister Tarcisio Freitas and Biologist Fernando Reinach. An interview with Andre Esteves, a senior partner at BTG Pactual, about the challenges and opportunities in the Brazilian economic scenario, closed the event. Related Links https://www.btgpactual.com SOURCE BTG Pactual Carbon Neutrality At Your Fingertips DUBAI, UAE, May 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- No one is too small to make a positive impact on the planet. This is what a new Dubai based start-up, Olive Gaea, is ready to prove as it launches the first carbon offset platform in the MENA region today. Having the sixth largest per capita carbon footprint in the world, UAE residents and businesses will now be able to become carbon neutral or even carbon positive by removing their own carbon emissions from the atmosphere in just a couple of clicks. "Climate change is a real, urgent threat. We all share the responsibility to act in order to preserve our planet and, ultimately, our very future. The good news is that each one of us can now actually help solve this problem," says Olive Gaea's Founder and CEO, Vivek Tripathi. Olive Gaea calculates the carbon footprint of any individual or business through a simple yet science-based questionnaire. It then provides dedicated plans and a list of carbon offsetting solutions and verified climate projects, and allows users to track progress and get rewarded driving more positive change through monthly and annual subscriptions. Moreover, the platform allows customers to offset purchases made on e-commerce businesses including grocery orders, food and fuel delivery, and online stores, among others. Accountability, trustworthiness, and transparency are at the heart of the process. Olive Gaea only supports carbon offsetting projects that are handpicked and verified by third party agencies like Verra and Plan Vivo. The platform is also powered by precise geo-tagging and QR code tracking, so users can know the exact location and the impact they help to generate with new plantation projects in just a few clicks. "We launched Olive Gaea to create a world where people can feel proud about their climate story. Our goal is to make carbon offsetting affordable, helping everyone, anywhere, anytime to build a resilient climate future," says Vivek. Olive Gaea's carbon offsetting is not about paying to eliminate a sense of guilt for excessive emissions or an unsustainable lifestyle. According to Vivek, offsetting carbon emissions must always go hand in hand with sustainable strategies that aim at reducing the environmental footprint in the first place. Yet, carbon credits are still needed to offset the remaining carbon emissions's balance. In fact, while some of the carbon emissions can be prevented and reduced, both businesses and individuals find that with the current technologies it is still impossible or way too expensive to fully eliminate their emissions. That's where carbon offsetting solutions like Olive Gaea come into play. Vivek explains: "With our platform, we aim to generate the awareness needed to act sustainably; understanding and measuring our own environmental footprint is the first step to a more conscious lifestyle. We believe in action and in the power of each individual's choices to preserve our planet and our future." Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, nearly 200 countries have endorsed the global goal of limiting the rise in average temperatures to 2.0 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and ideally 1.5 degrees. To meet this target, global greenhouse-gas emissions should be cut by 50 percent of current levels by 2030 and reduced to net zero by 2050. The UAE is one of the signatories of the Paris Agreement and has recently reaffirmed its goal to become a global leader in the green economy and address climate change. Having launched prominent strategic initiatives spanning from the National Agenda 2021 to the Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai 2040 Master plan, just to name a few, the country still faces an extremely high per capita carbon footprint. UAE residents, in fact, generate around 22 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually on average against a global average of 4.8 tonnes, way above the limit that would allow the world to meet the Paris Agreement's targets and limit global warming. Olive Gaea, while supporting the UAE's strategy to focus on sustainable development and green economy, helps both companies and people to balance out their carbon emissions. Research shows that, alongside cutting CO2 emissions, carbon offsetting and voluntary carbon credits can help achieve the net zero target by financing climate-action projects that generate additional benefits including biodiversity protection, pollution prevention, and local community support and development. According to the Taskforce on Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets (TSVCM), the demand for carbon credits could increase 15 times or more in the next decade, pushing the global carbon credit market's value to no less than $50 billion by 2030. To know more about Olive Gaea, visit www.olivegaea.com About Olive Gaea Founded by Vivek Tripathi and Apurva Bhandari, Olive Gaea is a web/mobile application where businesses and individuals can calculate their carbon footprint and choose to offset it through easy subscription plans in a couple of clicks. Carbon footprint is a measure of GHG emissions released due to a particular activity, such as cooling your home, heating your lunch, or taking a flight from Dubai to London. Some of the activities, like producing phones, flying planes, or eating meat are particularly carbon-intensive. Staked together over a certain period of time, those activities make up your individual or business carbon footprint. Calculating your personal or business footprint is the first step to owning your climate story. Olive Gaea developed simple and accurate tools that let you find out the exact sources of emissions from your lifestyle and business operations and what can be done about them. Related Links https://www.olivegaea.com/ SOURCE Olive Gaea HAMILTON, Bermuda, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Borr Drilling Limited ("Borr", "Borr Drilling" or the "Company") announces preliminary unaudited results for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Highlights Total operating revenues of $48.4 million , net loss of $58.1 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $(10.6) million for the first quarter of 2021. , net loss of and Adjusted EBITDA of for the first quarter of 2021. Total operating revenues includes a reduction of related party revenues of $9.2 million recorded in the first quarter of 2021 relating to prior periods, following an amendment of our Mexican JV agreements regulating the treatment of standby rates charged for our rigs operating in the JVs. Without this reduction for prior periods, the Adjusted EBITDA would have been $(1.4) million for the quarter. recorded in the first quarter of 2021 relating to prior periods, following an amendment of our Mexican JV agreements regulating the treatment of standby rates charged for our rigs operating in the JVs. Without this reduction for prior periods, the Adjusted EBITDA would have been for the quarter. On January 22, 2021 , we completed an equity offering raising total proceeds of $46 million . , we completed an equity offering raising total proceeds of . In January, the Company finalized the terms and executed agreements with certain of our creditors for the previously announced liquidity improvement plan. The Company and its Drilling JVs has been awarded 17 new contracts, extensions, exercised options and LOAs/LOIs since the start of 2021 to the date of this report, representing 5,352 days of potential backlog and $458 million in potential revenue. CEO, Patrick Schorn commented: "We are encouraged by the signs of a recovering shallow water rig market so far in 2021. The number of Borr operating rigs stood at 13 at the end of the first quarter, up by five units from trough levels experienced in 2020. Tendering and contracting activity remain strong. Since the beginning of this year, Borr has secured new contracts and confirmed optional periods with a total revenue potential of approximately $162 million, excluding unexercised option periods. Additionally, the Company and its Drilling JVs have secured LOIs and LOAs, that once converted into contracts will add a total revenue potential of approximately $296 million. We are optimistic about the market opportunities going forward, and expect to see several of our currently warm stacked rigs coming back into operation at accretive rates. Part of our liquidity improvement plan outlined in our Q4 2020 report has been to pursue initiatives to improve cash distributions from our JV operations in Mexico. Year to date, Borr has received $15 million in cash from its JVs which is a considerable improvement compared to previous periods. The IWS JVs have added roughly 125,000 BOPD to Pemex's production and we continue to receive very positive feedback from the customer regarding service quality and performance. In addition, we are pleased to announce that according to the latest activity plans in the IWS JVs, we expect that our five rigs in the country will continue providing services for the project until the end of 2022." The full report is available in the attached file. Also attached to this release is an updated Fleet Status Report for the Company, and a company presentation. May 31, 2021 The Board of Directors Borr Drilling Limited Hamilton, Bermuda Questions should be directed to: Magnus Vaaler: CFO +47 22483000 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/borr-drilling-limited/r/borr-drilling-limited-announces-trading-update-including-key-financial-information-for-first-quarter,c3357128 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Public/16983/3357128/a14e159606ce2829.pdf 1st Quarter 2021 Results https://mb.cision.com/Public/16983/3357128/a47d89701b828300.pdf Fleet-Status-Report-May-2021 https://mb.cision.com/Public/16983/3357128/a2db127c23ae4fb4.pdf Borr Q1 2021 presentation SOURCE Cision AB Related Links https://www.cision.com/ PHILADELPHIA and CLEVELAND, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The investment fraud lawyers at Goldman Scarlato & Penny, PC law firm ("GSP") are evaluating potential claims for compensation on behalf of investors who lost money in MR Cattle, a company owned and controlled by Mark Ray, following recent case developments. Mark Ray, along with several businesses he controlled including MR Cattle, Custom Consulting & Product Services, and Universal Herbs, as well as two of his associates, Reva Stachniw and Ron Throgmartin, were accused by the Securities and Exchange Commission of perpetrating a cattle-flipping multimillion-dollar investment scheme. The Commission alleged that Mark Ray fraudulently solicited investments in a purported cattle trading business, while in fact he was using new investor money to make payments to existing investors in a Ponzi-like manner and pay for medical bills, flights on private jets or other personal expenses, according to court records reviewed by investor rights attorney Alan Rosca and his colleagues. Tens of millions of dollars of investor money is missing, according to the Commission. In April 2020, Mark Ray pled guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud for his role in the alleged fraud. In May 2021, Reva Stachniw and Ron Throgmartin were also charged for their role assisting Ray. What MR Cattle Investors May Do Investment fraud attorneys Alan Rosca and Paul Scarlato have been investigating this matter and are evaluating certain recovery options for Mark Ray investors. Investors in MR Cattle and other Ray businesses may contact attorneys Alan Rosca or Paul Scarlato for a free, no-obligation evaluation of their options at 888-998-0530, [email protected] or by leaving a message on https://investorlawyers.org/mr-cattle-mark-ray-investor-center/. The GSP investment fraud attorneys have decades of combined experience representing investors who lost money as a result of investment fraud. They are evaluating potential options on behalf of victimized MR Cattle investors, in addition to any recovery from the pending receivership. They take most cases of this type on a contingency fee basis and advance the case costs. There are no fees or costs if no recovery. Visit https://investorlawyers.org for more information about the firm and GSP attorneys' background and admissions to practice law. This release may be deemed to include Attorney Advertising. There has been no finding of liability as to the allegations herein. GSP 2021. SOURCE Goldman Scarlato & Penny, P.C. Related Links http://www.investorlawyers.org Meanwhile, the citys spending steadily more of its budget paying off debt, which is growing at an average 10% each year. And theres the matter of labor contracts, nearly all of which will have expired by the end of the next mayors first year in the job. Even a 1% pay raise would set the city back $2.4 billion over the next half-decade. MOSCOW, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rustam Gilfanov, the founder of the Ural Plant of Deicing Materials (UZPM, Perm Territory), is forming a new business community aimed at creating and developing sustainable growth of existing production sites, including with the involvement of external players. The created structure will be supervised by the management company Winter Technologies Group (WTG). The main activity of WTG is to combine the best global and domestic practices and competencies in the field of winter technologies, as well as the development and implementation of the most effective solutions. "The situation in 2020 has shown that traditional production models do not always allow us to respond promptly to challenges. Many large and medium-sized companies found themselves hostage to their own contrivances, which set the task for the owners to revise their asset portfolios, moving to a more mobile system. In the current conditions, the sharing economy solutions are gaining an important role, as large industrial parks are operating, by providing residents with a whole range of services rent, consulting, logistics, engineering, research and others. By creating our community, we are aiming to introduce this model into Russian conditions, assessing its prospects and relevance in the interests of our companies and partners.'' said Rustam Gilfanov, UZPM founder, chairman of the WTG Innovation and Strategic Development Council. WTG is an ecosystem of companies united by common values and mission for the successful development of each company and the entire group. Remaining independent and self-reliant, partners of the business community create a comfortable business environment within the community for each enterprise, relying on the principles of partnership, mutual respect and compliance with the law. One of the tasks of the WTG is to support successful Russian projects, primarily in the field of winter maintenance, and bring them to the global level. About: Winter Technologies Group (WTG) is a community of companies combining the world's best competencies and technologies, and specializing in the development and implementation of innovative solutions to create a comfortable and safe life in winter. The Ural Plant of Deicing Materials (UZPM, Perm Territory) was founded by the entrepreneur and scientific researcher Rustam Gilfanov in 2007. UZPM unites a research center and production facilities in the Perm Territory and in the Moscow Region. According to official statistics, the use of UZPM products significantly reduces roadway accidents and injuries to pedestrians in winter. It is used in more than 30 regions of Russia. Official anti-icing material for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games. Multiple winner of the All-Russian competition "100 best goods of Russia" by Rosstandart. Contact: [email protected] About UZPM Ural Plant of Deicing Materials (UZPM) was founded in 2007 in Russia, by a Perm entrepreneur Rustam Gilfanov, now a recognized expert in the field of winter road maintenance. Today UZPM is the largest Russian manufacturer of modern multicomponent eco-friendly deicing materials and applications. The flagship product of the enterprise a multicomponent "Bionord" is produced using innovative and unique technology called "single granule," which was developed based on the most advanced technologies available as well as world-wide research of deicers. Bionord products are intended for winter and off-season maintenance of roads and sidewalks, airports and other infrastructure facilities. There are special products in the lineup, formulated to melt ice in temperatures below -25C (-13F), and operate safely on concrete (cement) and metal surfaces, such as steel. Bionord products are deployed to combat winter slippery conditions throughout the Russian Federation and outside the country. Efficiency and safety of UZPM products are confirmed by the leading transport, medical and other research institutes and the state environmental authorities. Press Contact: Anna Klimentova +7 (912) 860 5128 https://en.uzpm.ru SOURCE UZPM Related Links http://en.uzpm.ru PORTLAND, Ore., May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Workplace Stress Management Market by Service (Stress Assessment, Yoga & Meditation, Resilience Training, Progress Tracking Metrics, and Others), Delivery Mode (Individual Counselors, Personal Fitness Trainers, Meditation Specialists, and Others), End User (Large Private Organizations, Mid-sized Private Organizations, Small Private Organizations, NGO, and Public Sector): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202027." According to the report, the global workplace stress management industry generated $8.21 billion in 2019, and is estimated to reach $11.49 billion by 2027, witnessing a CAGR of 5.9% from 2020 to 2027. Download Sample Report at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/11467 Prime determinants of growth Surge in competition at workplace and rise in awareness of stress management drive the growth of the global workplace stress management market. However, scarcity of skilled counselors and limited awareness in developing countries hinder the market growth. On the other hand, emphasis on health and safety regulations along with rise in popularity of yoga and other health-related practices would create new opportunities in the coming years. Covid-19 Scenario Many companies have been laying off employees to compensate for the losses that occurred due to lockdown imposed by governments. This reduced the number of stress management programs at the workplace. The Covid-19 pandemic aggravated the widespread and unaddressed mental health issues in the workplace. This would be a major factor for increased demand for stress management. The stress assessment segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period Based on service, the stress assessment segment contributed to nearly two-fifths of the global workplace stress management market in 2019, and is estimated to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. This is due to prominence of stress assessment techniques and introduction of stress management programs in organizations. However, the yoga and meditation segment is projected to witness the highest CAGR of 9.1% from 2020 to 2027, owing to its effectiveness in reducing stress and giving peace of mind as compared with other methods. Enquiry for Short-term and Long-term Impacts of COVID-19 at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/11467 The personal fitness trainers segment to maintain its leadership status by 2027 Based on delivery mode, the personal fitness trainers segment accounted for the highest market share in 2019, holding more than two-fifths of the global workplace stress management market in 2019, and is projected to maintain its leadership status by 2027. This is due to increase in preference for personal fitness trainers for employees in the workplace. However, the meditation specialists segment is expected to witness the largest CAGR of 7.2% from 2020 to 2027. This is due to increase in mindfulness at the workplace and utilization of customized mobile meditation applications to help manage stress. North America to continue its dominant share in terms of revenue by 2027 Based on region, North America accounted for the largest market share in 2019, holding around one-third of the global workplace stress management market, and is expected to continue its dominant share in terms of revenue by 2027. This is due to presence of the number of service providers and large-sized public and private organizations in the region and rise in demand for workplace wellness. However, LAMEA is expected to manifest the fastest CAGR of 7.3% from 2020 to 2027, owing to surge in government initiatives toward employees' stress management in Brazil and Saudi Arabia. Leading Market Players CVS Health Corporation (ActiveHealth Management, Inc.) Fitbit, Inc. Asset Health Inc. ComPsych Corporation CuraLinc Healthcare LLC Marino Wellness LLC Wellness Corporate Solutions LLC Wellsource, Inc. Sol Wellness Central Corporate Wellness Pte. Ltd. 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: Workplace Wellness Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202027 Clinical Workflow Solutions Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2027 Women's Health App Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2027 Patient Centric Healthcare App Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192027 Smart Pulse Oximeter Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192027 Culture Media Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192027 Electronic Health Records (EHR) Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192027 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 JERSEY CITY, N.J., May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Verified Market Research recently published a report, "Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Market" By Molecule (Small Molecule and Large Molecule), By Application (Pain management, Respiratory Diseases, Diabetes & Others), By Type (Innovative APIs and Generic APIs), By Type of manufacturer (Captive Manufacturers and Merchant Manufacturers), By Type of Drug (Prescription Drugs and Over the Counter Drugs), and By Geography. According to Verified Market Research, the Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Market was valued at USD 181.68 Billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 281.90 Billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 5.65% from 2021 to 2028. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/download-sample/?rid=14081 Browse in-depth TOC on "Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Market" 202 - Pages 126 Tables 37 Figures Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Market Overview An important driver for growth of the Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) market is the rise in the incidences of chronic diseases. Certain key facts from the WHO state that, "CVDs (Cardiovascular Diseases) are the number 1 cause of death globally: more people die annually from CVDs than from any other cause. An estimated 17.9 million people died from CVDs in 2016, representing 31% of all global deaths. Of these deaths, 85% are due to heart attack and stroke." 10 million deaths were caused by cancer in 2020, whereas Asthma, the most common chronic disease found in children was responsible for 461000 deaths in 2019. The increasing number of these diseases calls for a variety of drugs of treat them, which in turn is responsible for the expanding of Global Active Pharmaceutical Market. Another important growth driver is the rise in geriatric population around the world. According to the United Nations there were 703 million people aged 65 and above worldwide in 2019. Such a high number of geriatric population gives way for contracting a lot of chronic and acute diseases which would require newer drugs to mitigate their effects, thus leading to a rise in the Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Market. Key Developments in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Market Pfizer (US) signed a multi-year agreement with Gilead Sciences to manufacture and supply Gilead's antiviral drug (Remdesivir) for the treatment of COVID-19 in 2020. Novartis ( Switzerland ) acquired, and agreed to enter in a manufacturing and supply agreement with Aspen's Japanese operations to consolidate its position in the global generics and off-patent medicines market in 2020. ) acquired, and agreed to enter in a manufacturing and supply agreement with Japanese operations to consolidate its position in the global generics and off-patent medicines market in 2020. Boehringer Ingelheim ( Germany ), to widen its oncology product portfolio, acquired Northern Biologics, which focuses on therapeutic antibodies targeting the tumor microenvironment in April 2020 . The major players in the market are Aurobindo Pharma Limited, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Albemarle Corporation, Viatris Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Cipla, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., AbbVie, Inc., among others. Verified Market Research has segmented the Global Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Market On the basis of Molecule, Application, Type, Type of manufacturer and Type of Drug and Geography. Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Market by Molecule Small Molecule Large Molecule Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Market by Application Pain management Respiratory Diseases Diabetes Cardiovascular Disease Communicable Diseases Oncology Other Therapeutic Applications (Orthopedics, Urology and Nephrology, Ophthalmology, Pulmonology, Women's Health, and Gastroenterology) Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Market by Type Innovative APIs Generic APIs Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Market by Type of Manufacturers Captive Manufacturers Merchant Manufacturers Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Market by Type of Drug Prescription Drugs Over the Counter Drugs Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Market by Geography North America U.S Canada Mexico Europe Germany France U.K Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India Rest of Asia Pacific ROW Middle East & Africa & Latin America Browse Related Reports: High Potency Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (HPAPI) Market by Type (Innovative HPAPI And Generic HPAPI), by Type of Manufacturer (Captive HPAPI Manufacturers and Merchant HPAPI Manufacturers), by Type of Synthesis (Synthetic HPAPI Market and Biotech HPAPI Market), by Therapeutic Application (Oncology, Hormonal Disorders, Glaucoma, and Other Therapeutic. Applications), by Geography, Forecast, 2020-2027 Duloxetine Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Market by Product Type (Major Depression Drug, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Drug, Fibromyalgia Drugs, Neuropathic Pain Medication, Other), by Application (Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Industries, Hospital, Other), by Geography, Forecast, 2020-2027 Animal Health Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Market by Product (Antiparasitics, Anti-infectives, NSAIDs & Anesthetics, and Others), by Application (Pharmacy, Pet Hospital, and Others), by Geography, Forecast, 2020-2027 Pharmaceuticals Market by Formulation (tablets, capsules, injectables, sprays, suspensions, powders, and other formulations), by Route of Administration (Oral Drugs, Parenteral Drugs, Topical Drugs, Novel Drugs, Oncological Drugs, and Others), by Drug Type (Branded Drugs, Generic Drugs, Biological Drugs, Others), by Geography, Forecast, 2020-2027 Top 10 pharmaceutical packaging companies: Salvation of global medical industry Visualize Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Market using Verified Market Intelligence:-: Verified Market Intelligence is our BI Enabled Platform for narrative storytelling of this market. 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Contact Us Mr. Edwyne Fernandes Verified Market Research US: +1 (650)-781-4080 UK: +44 (753)-715-0008 APAC: +61 (488)-85-9400 US Toll Free: 1 (800)-782-1768 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/ Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter SOURCE Verified Market Research TEL AVIV, Israel and BEIJING, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ADAMA Ltd. ("ADAMA") (SZSE: 000553) and Jiangsu Huifeng Bio Agriculture Co., Ltd ("Huifeng") (SZSE: 002496) today reported that they have completed the second and final phase of their previously announced transaction. In this phase, ADAMA has closed the acquisition of a 51% stake in Huifeng's key crop protection synthesis and formulation facilities. Transaction Overview: Phase I: As previously announced, in December 2020 ; ADAMA acquired a 51% stake in Shanghai Dibai Plant Protection Co., Ltd. ("Dibai", soon to be renamed ADAMA Huifeng ( Shanghai ) Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd.), a then wholly-owned subsidiary of Huifeng focused on the sale and distribution of key formulated crop protection products in China ; ; ADAMA acquired a 51% stake in Shanghai Dibai Plant Protection Co., Ltd. ("Dibai", soon to be renamed ADAMA Huifeng ( ) Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd.), a then wholly-owned subsidiary of Huifeng focused on the sale and distribution of key formulated crop protection products in ; Phase II: In the transaction that has now been completed, ADAMA has acquired a 51% stake in a recently established, wholly-owned subsidiary of Huifeng, ADAMA Huifeng ( Jiangsu ) Co., Ltd, created to incorporate Huifeng's key crop protection synthesis and formulation facilities; ) Co., Ltd, created to incorporate Huifeng's key crop protection synthesis and formulation facilities; Closing of Phase II follows the satisfaction or waiver of the relevant Closing conditions, including the obtaining of the required regulatory and other corporate approvals as well as the resumption of production at Huifeng's key production facilities; The total cash consideration for both phases of the transaction is approximately RMB 1,224 million (approximately $192 million at the current exchange rate), of which: (approximately at the current exchange rate), of which: RMB 306 million (approximately $48 million ) has been paid in respect of Phase I; (approximately ) has been paid in respect of Phase I; RMB 663 million (approximately $104 million ) has been paid in respect of Phase II; (approximately ) has been paid in respect of Phase II; RMB 255 million (approximately $40 million ) is being held back to secure the future post-Closing obligations of Huifeng. Following the completion of both Phases I and II, ADAMA now owns 51% of the equity in both Dibai and ADAMA Huifeng (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd., providing ADAMA with a majority stake in one of China's leading crop protection manufacturers, and significantly bolstering ADAMA's commercial presence in the China crop protection market. Through this transaction, ADAMA now gains access to backward-integrated and competitive positions in key global molecules, expected to drive significant growth through ADAMA's worldwide market reach. "With the completion of the acquisition of the majority stakes in both Huifeng's commercial and operational activities, we are better positioned than ever to succeed in achieving our growth ambitions in China and globally, with significantly bolstered commercial reach in China and competitive operational capabilities to support our global business. We welcome the Huifeng team to the ADAMA family, and look forward to further realizing our vision of creating a leading crop protection business in China," said Mr. An Liru, SVP China for ADAMA. About ADAMA ADAMA Ltd. is a global leader in crop protection, providing solutions to farmers across the world to combat weeds, insects and disease. ADAMA has one of the widest and most diverse portfolios of active ingredients in the world, state-of-the art R&D, manufacturing and formulation facilities, together with a culture that empowers our people in markets around the world to listen to farmers and ideate from the field. This uniquely positions ADAMA to offer a vast array of distinctive mixtures, formulations and high-quality differentiated products, delivering solutions that meet local farmer and customer needs in over 100 countries globally. For more information, visit us at www.ADAMA.com and follow us on Twitter at @ADAMAAgri. About Huifeng Jiangsu Huifeng Bio Agriculture Co., Ltd. (SZSE: 002496) engages in the research, development, production and sale of agrochemical products as well as in the storage and transportation of petrochemical products in China. It is a producer of key active ingredients, most notably Prochloraz, Epoxiconazole, Trinexapac, Bromoxynil, MCPA and 2,4-D, as well as Glufosinate which has commenced operations in a newly built facility. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Dafeng, Jiangsu Province, China. Contact: Ben Cohen Zhujun Wang Investor and Public Relations China Investor Relations E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE ADAMA Ltd. DANA POINT, Calif., May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Alter Health Group has announced that it will be changing their logo and brand styling across all of its entities, accompanied by an emotional and empowering commercial to be aired on television on Memorial Day, 2021. This transition to a new image is a push towards bringing substance abuse and mental health treatment out of the taboo shadows and into the modern era. Alter Health Group sees the attitude towards mental health shifting and choose to fully embrace the change, riding the wave with a full rebranding head to toe. The company will still be supporting the same health brands after the brand update, so existing clients have nothing to be concerned about. These supported groups include Dana Point Rehab Campus, California Rehab Campus, Alter Behavioral Health, Altignis Health and BeWellLine. Each location provides science-backed treatment methodologies that use the newest research data and technology giving patients the highest chance at success and reclaiming their lives as possible. Content from Alter Health Group's new commercial is a gripping delivery of a life-changing opportunity. In just one minute, the team is able to showcase struggle, determination, courage and triumph all while igniting that same flame in every viewer that watches. Alter Health Group was founded in 2019 to provide the highest level of personalized care and treatment for both substance abuse and behavioral therapy, using both traditional and modern approaches such as evidence-based treatment modalities. Understanding the mental health field is ever-changing, Alter Health Group takes a multidimensional approach to every patient. Treatment plans through each of the supported campus locations focuses on more than symptoms. Referencing the most recent findings and proven treatment methods, patients may find themselves receiving aid in a manner they never knew existed. Alter Health Group's mission is to transform lives one at a time, until a societal change is made by getting rid of the stigma of receiving behavioral or substance abuse therapy until recovery is a guaranteed success. The team urges anyone who is suffering from substance abuse, behavioral issues or other mental health challenges to reach out to their support line at 949-755-7535 to receive the helping hand you need to regain independence. Press Contact: Crystal Catarama [email protected] 949-356-7542 Alter Health Group 34232 Pacific Coast Hwy Suite D1 Dana Point, CA 92629 Related Images alter-health-group-logo.jpeg Alter Health Group Logo Alter Health Group Logo SOURCE Alter Health Group The Covid-19 pandemic made people realize the importance of mutual support and social responsibilities. Only when people start to communicate and help out instead of isolating themselves from one and another, we can eventually beat the pandemic and carry out our life through the post-pandemic era. It is estimated that ten schools from Taiwan, Japan, India, Hong Kong, and the USA will join the "Listen Love" project to gather at least 5,000 high quality transparent antivirus facemasks. Currently, two schools, Taipei School for the Hearing Impaired and Taichung Special School for The Students with Hearing Impairments, will be the first to receive the free masks; and a total of 500 teachers and students will be benefited from this campaign. Now, people are invited to join the "Listen Love" project through a small donation to help out hearing-impaired students worldwide. About the initiator: Easton Dong is a famous Taiwanese actor and artist. He was nominated for the Best Actor Award at the "Golden Bell Award," the highest honor of Taiwan's TV and radio programs with his masterpiece Island Etude (2007). He has also held a number of art exhibitions. His hearing was impaired due to a cold caught when he was young. Therefore, he understands the learning difficulties for hearing-impaired students in the pandemic and initiates the "Listen Love" project. The idea of Transparent Antivirus Facemasks: The RTV facemask is a 100% transparent facemask vital to the project. It is made of a medical-grade RTV silicone rubber and its transparency allows people to see and communicate with ease. Together with the exclusive microcurrent discharge filter, it can effectively block COVID-19 viruses with a pore diameter at 75nm, which is finer than that of a N95 facemask. More importantly, it is reusable with a lifespan of 3 years to significantly reduce environmental hazards. Besides meeting the needs of hearing-impaired students, the RTV facemask is eco-friendly. More about the RTV facemask: http://rtvmask.com Make a donation: http://short.listenlove.org/donate-us About us Based in Taiwan, TaerInno has won numerous design awards, leading to a market footprint in more than thirty countries worldwide. Awards include the Good Design Award from 2012 to 2014, Golden Pin Design award, Taiwan Excellence award in 2014 and Computex D&L Award in 2014. Website: https://listenlove.org SOURCE Listen Love INC. Related Links https://listenlove.org Norhybrid was founded by Ole Vidar Homleid. Ole Vidar Homleid has over 25 years of Nordic renewable energy experience. Mr. Homleid has been a trusted consultant with the Norwegian Government to build scalable Wind Farms, Offshore Wind Development, Waste to Energy systems and other sustainable municipal initiatives. Norhybrid has existing power producing wind parks in Poland and Estonia and is expanding into the N. American renewable energy market with AVG. AVG is active in Nordic growth equity market after having made two previous investments into two successful Solar EPC companies. "An investment into Norhybrid will compliment our existing portfolio of assets and provide an opportunity to bring modular wind technology to the mass markets, " says CEO Karl Andersen. US Feeder Fund AVG has established a US Based Feeder Fund called the 'Nordic ESG and Impact Fund LLC'. The Feeder Fund was established to accommodate N. American investors in a tax efficient structure. AVG has entered into a strategic relationship with Silver Leaf Partners LLC, a US based registered broker dealer. Silver Leaf has been growing their ESG and Impact practice in the United States and North America and sees a strategic value to working with AVG. "Silver Leaf Partners is pleased to be consulting and advising AVG in the growing of their assets under management in North America," says Michael Scanlon, a senior advisor to the firm. SOURCE AV Group Sarl STOCKHOLM, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In May, the number of shares and votes in Swedish Match AB (publ) increased as a result of the share split (ratio 10:1) that was resolved by Swedish Match AB's Annual General Meeting on April 13, 2021, through which each existing share was divided into ten shares. As of May 31, 2021, the total number of shares in the Company amounts to 1,580,000,000 shares (previously 158,000,000 shares). The share capital of 389,515,417.20 SEK remains unchanged. At the time of the publication of this press release, Swedish Match holds 8,602,380 shares in treasury. Contacts: Lars Dahlgren President and Chief Executive Officer Phone +46 8 658 0441 Anders Larsson Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President Group Finance Phone +46 10 139 3006 Emmett Harrison Senior Vice President Investor Relations Phone +46 70 938 0173 __________ This information is information that Swedish Match AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the Financial Instruments Trading Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out above, at 10.00 a.m. CET on May 31, 2021. ___________ This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/swedish-match/r/change-in-number-of-shares-and-votes-in-swedish-match-ab--publ-,c3357222 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/2004/3357222/1425129.pdf Swedish Match share split 2021 ENG SOURCE Swedish Match THUNDER BAY, ON, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Clean Air Metals Inc. ("Clean Air Metals" or the "Company") (TSXV: AIR) (FRA: CKU) (OTCQB: CLRMF) announces that it has filed its audited consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the year ended January 31, 2021, available for viewing on www.sedar.com . Year End Financial Highlights Total assets as at January 31, 2021 of $27,146,884 of Total cash as at January 31, 2021 of $6,678,356 of Working capital as at January 31, 2021 of $5,662,340 of Shareholder's equity as at January 31, 2021 of $23,223,532 During the year ended January 31, 2021 as previously reported, the Company, Signed a Memorandum of Agreement with three First Nations communities which confirms a framework for a mutually beneficial relationship between the parties regarding the Thunder Bay North project. In consideration for the participating First Nations working with the Company on the design, approval and development of the exploration project, and as part of the Company's accommodation of the participating First Nations' interests and rights related to the exploration project, the Company has issued 3 million common share purchase warrants with an exercise price of $0.40 for a 5-year term (reported January 11 and 28, 2021). for a 5-year term (reported and 28, 2021). Completed a C$1 million cash payment directly to Rio Tinto Exploration Canada Inc. to maintain an option to acquire a 100% right, title and interest in the Escape Lake property with Benton Resources Inc., pursuant to the terms of the definitive option agreement dated January 27, 2020 (reported October 14, 2020 ). cash payment directly to Rio Tinto Exploration Canada Inc. to maintain an option to acquire a 100% right, title and interest in the Escape Lake property with Benton Resources Inc., pursuant to the terms of the definitive option agreement dated (reported ). Announced a 3-year $150,000 research partnership commitment to the Lakehead University Geology Department, Thunder Bay, Ontario to study the metallogeny of the Mid-Continent Rift Metallotect. Lakehead University will have confidential access to technical information generated at the Thunder Bay North Property of Clean Air Metals and may review other exploration and development projects in the area. Clean Air Metals' commitment was matched 2:1 by the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada for a total of $450,000 to be invested in targeted research that may lead to new mineral discoveries (reported September 3, 2020 ). research partnership commitment to the Geology Department, to study the metallogeny of the Mid-Continent Rift Metallotect. will have confidential access to technical information generated at the Thunder Bay North Property of Clean Air Metals and may review other exploration and development projects in the area. Clean Air Metals' commitment was matched 2:1 by the National Science and Engineering Research Council of for a total of to be invested in targeted research that may lead to new mineral discoveries (reported ). Retained Nordmin Engineering Ltd. ("Nordmin") as the Technical Services Provider for the Thunder Bay North Project with a mandate to complete a Resource Validation of the Current Lake Deposit Historic Estimate and develop a preliminary resource model for the Escape Lake trend in cooperation with Clean Air Metals' Database Geologist. Nordmin delivered a global resource estimate for the Thunder Bay North Project on January 20,2021 and has been leading economic tradeoff studies and metallurgy toward publication of a scoping study or Preliminary Economic Assessment in 2021 (reported August 11, 2020 ). and has been leading economic tradeoff studies and metallurgy toward publication of a scoping study or Preliminary Economic Assessment in 2021 (reported ). The Company completed approximately 20,000 of diamond drilling on the Escape Lake deposit trend at an approximate total all-in cost of $4.5 million . Geophysical surveying with borehole EM, Magnetometric Resistivity (MMR) and Audio Magnetotelluric AMT) soundings added approximately $500,000 to this total. . Geophysical surveying with borehole EM, Magnetometric Resistivity (MMR) and Audio Magnetotelluric AMT) soundings added approximately to this total. New exploration work helped generate the updated Indicated and Inferred mineral resource estimate prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 for the Thunder Bay North project, including a total indicated resource of 16,285,396 tonnes at an average grade of 3.5 g/t PdEq, containing 1,834,158 ounces PdEq, and a total inferred resource of 9,852,138 tonnes at an average grade of 2.1 g/t PdEq, containing 663,660 ounces PdEq (Mineral resource estimates for the Escape Lake and Current Lake deposits are reported pursuant to the January 20, 2021 NI 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate for the Thunder Bay North Project, Thunder Bay, Ontario , prepared by Nordmin Engineering Ltd. with QP Glen Kuntz, P.Geo, as posted to SEDAR on March 4, 2021 ). Financial Summary For the year ended January 31, 2021 January 31, 2020 Operating Expenses $ 3,535,976 $ 983,422 Net Loss and Comprehensive Loss (1,273,525) (1,135,819) Loss per share Basic and Diluted $ (0.01) $ (0.05) Total Assets $ 27,146,884 $ 1,961,497 Total Liabilities 3,923,352 693,114 Total Shareholders' Equity $ 23,223,532 $ 1,268,383 Full details of the financial reports and operating results for the year ended January 31, 2021 are described in the Company's audited consolidated financial statements with accompanying notes and related Management's Discussion and Analysis, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. CEO of Clean Air Metals, Abraham Drost, MSc, P.Geo. stated that "on behalf of the Board of Directors, we are pleased to present the financial results for fiscal 2020 ending January 31, 2021. In 2020, Clean Air Metals established itself as a strong new entrant into the platinumpalladiumcoppernickel exploration and development space worldwide. The Company's Thunder Bay North project hosts the Current Lake deposit and magma conduit and the Company is actively exploring the Escape Lake deposit, a twin structure to the Current Lake deposit. Executive Chairman Jim Gallagher and CEO Abraham Drost lead an experienced team of explorationists and engineers who are using the Norilsk magma conduit stratigraphic and mineral deposit model to guide ongoing exploration and development studies. As the former CEO of North American Palladium Ltd. which owned the Lac des Iles Mine prior to the sale to Impala Platinum in December 2019, Jim Gallagher and team are credited with the mine turnaround and creation of significant value for shareholders." COVID Policy Clean Air Metals continued to apply COVID-19 avoidance and personal protection measures for its geological staff, drilling contractor and service suppliers during the third quarter. Personnel are required to maintain physical distance, use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), self-monitor and self-isolate or elect to work from home. Management had previously eliminated plans for a camp setup to service a planned diamond drill campaign on the Escape Lake Project. The Company is aware of Thunder Bay Health Unit guidelines that provide for "mandatory" self-isolation for returning overseas and inter-provincial travel. The guidelines also "strongly recommended" self-isolation after travel into the Northwest region from other areas of the Province. Mineral Exploration and Development has been deemed an essential service in the Province of Ontario (http://www.netnewsledger.com/2020/03/23/ontario-covid-19-business-allowed-to-remain-open-list-march-23-2020/). The Company has procured the services of a locally staffed and serviced diamond drilling contractor to complete the Phase 1 and Phase 2 diamond drilling programs. Qualified Person Mr. Allan MacTavish, P.Geo. a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 and VP, Project Manager of the Company, has reviewed and approved all technical information in this press release. Corporate Social Responsibility Clean Air Metals and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Panoramic PGMs (Canada) Ltd., acknowledge that the Escape Lake and Thunder Bay North Properties are on the traditional territories of the Fort William First Nation, Red Rock First Nation and Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinabek, signatories to the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850. Clean Air Metals' wholly-owned subsidiary Panoramic PGMs (Canada) Ltd. is a signatory to a Communication Protocol between the parties. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "Abraham Drost" Abraham Drost, Chief Executive Officer of Clean Air Metals Inc. 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. Cautionary Note The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections. SOURCE Clean Air Metals Inc. Related Links https://www.cleanairmetals.ca/ Read the 120-page report with TOC on "Cold Chain Logistics Market for Pharmaceuticals Industry Analysis Report by Service (Warehousing and VAS and Transportation) and Geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA), and the Segment Forecasts,2020-2024". Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders. Track key industry opportunities, trends, and threats. Information on marketing, brand, strategy and market development, sales, and supply functions. More Details: https://www.technavio.com/report/report/cold-chain-logistics-market-for-pharmaceuticals-industry-analysis The cold chain logistics market for the pharmaceutical industry is driven by the increase in global demand for pharmaceuticals. In addition, the growth in demand for reefer containers from the pharmaceutical industry is anticipated to boost the growth of the Cold Chain Logistics Market for the Pharmaceuticals Industry. The growth in pharmaceutical sales has globally increased the volume of pharmaceuticals trade. Several government initiatives on health insurance schemes contributed to the high growth of pharmaceutical sales. Therefore, for efficient transportation of pharmaceuticals, warehousing, and distribution in large volumes, the end-user companies would require cold chain healthcare logistics services. This will drive the growth of the global cold chain logistics market for the pharmaceutical industry through the forecast period. Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free. View market snapshot before purchasing Major Five Cold Chain Logistics for Pharmaceuticals Industry Companies: Agility Public Warehousing Co. K.S.C.P Agility Public Warehousing Co. K.S.C.P provides storage in multiple temperature zones, cold chain solutions, reverse logistics, and advanced tracking and tracing technologies. Deutsche Post AG Deutsche Post AG provides life sciences & healthcare products and solutions transport services in the market such as DHL Air Thermonet - Standard Temperature Controlled Air Freight, DHL Ocean Thermonet - Temperature Controlled Ocean Freight, DHL Freight Cold Chain - Temperature Controlled for life sciences and health care products, DHL Medical Express - Temperature Sensitive Corporation. FedEx Corp. FedEx Corp. provides end-to-end temperature control services such as FedEx Temp-Assure, FedEx Deep Frozen shipping solution, Fed Ex Thermal Blanket solutions, FedEx Freight Freezable protection service. JWD InfoLogistics Public Co. Ltd. JWD InfoLogistics Public Co. Ltd. provides services of transportation and distribution management, special attention towards dangerous goods port safety, logistics software development, etc services are available. Kerry Logistics Network Ltd. Kerry Logistics Network Ltd. provides complete cold chain integrity solution, warehousing and distribution service, and other value-added services. Cold Chain Logistics Market for Pharmaceuticals Industry Service Outlook (Revenue, USD billion, 2020-2024) Warehousing and VAS - size and forecast 2020-2024 Transportation - size, and forecast 2020-2024 Cold Chain Logistics Market for Pharmaceuticals Industry Geography Outlook (Revenue, USD billion, 2020-2024) APAC - size and forecast 2020-2024 North America - size and forecast 2020-2024 - size and forecast 2020-2024 Europe - size and forecast 2020-2024 - size and forecast 2020-2024 South America - size and forecast 2020-2024 - size and forecast 2020-2024 MEA - size and forecast 2020-2024 Know more about Techanavio's analysis on the impact of Disruption Threats comparing Disruptive sources and Factors driving disruption Download FREE Sample Report Related Reports on Industrials Include: Global Road Logistics Market- The road logistics market is segmented by type (truckload, less than truckload, parcel, and same day) and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA). Download FREE Sample Report Global Defense Logistics Market- The defense logistics market is segmented by solution (military infrastructure, military logistics services, and military FMS) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA). Download FREE Sample Report About Technavio 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. Contacts 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 Page: https://www.technavio.com/report/cold-chain-logistics-market-for-pharmaceuticals-industry-analysis SOURCE Technavio UN chief calls for global partnership for green growth Xinhua) 14:12, May 31, 2021 United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses a virtual global roundtable on transforming extractive industries for sustainable development at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 25, 2021. (Mark Garten/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) Tackling climate change head-on will help protect the most vulnerable people from the next crisis while sustaining a job-rich recovery from COVID-19, the UN chief said. UNITED NATIONS, May 30 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for a global partnership to tackle climate change and strive toward inclusive green growth. He made this appeal in a video message at the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 Summit hosted by South Korea. "The title of this initiative expresses exactly what the world needs now -- global partnership: partnership to beat COVID-19 and build a better recovery, partnership to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and partnership to address climate change," he told the summit. Tackling climate change head-on will help protect the most vulnerable people from the next crisis while sustaining a job-rich recovery from COVID-19, he said. The first priority is no new coal plants and a phase-out of coal use by 2030 in the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and 2040 in the rest of the world, he said. "As well as the emissions gap, I am deeply concerned about the finance and adaptation gaps," said Guterres. Developed countries have yet to deliver on their commitment of 100 billion U.S. dollars per year for developing countries as adaptation assistance. Public finance is not flowing where it is now most needed -- to support vulnerable communities that are already suffering the consequences of climate disruption. One person in three is still not adequately covered by early warning systems. And women and girls, who make up 80 percent of those displaced by the climate emergency, are all too often excluded from decisions to address the climate crisis, he noted. "We urgently need a breakthrough on adaptation and resilience. I am asking all donor countries to significantly enhance their financial commitments. That includes allocating 50 percent of climate finance to adaptation and providing a higher level of grants," said Guterres. The Group of Seven Summit in June needs to deliver on all these objectives. It is not a global partnership if some are left struggling to survive. This is true for COVID-19 and the distribution of vaccines and it is true for the climate emergency, he said. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) Memorial Day is not a day for veterans. Its to remember those killed in defense of this nation. A time to honor men like Hospital Corpsman John Willis, who landed with the 27th Marine Regiment at the Battle of Iwo Jima. Going ashore, he rendered aid to the wounded until he himself was knocked down and ordered to treatment. Disregarding being officially released, the Tennessean went back into the battle, aiding the wounded, advancing to the extreme front lines to get them. He was administering plasma under fire when grenades started dropping around his patients. Willis threw eight back at the enemy wreaking havoc and raised the ninth to throw it when it exploded killing him. RAIPUR, India, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Stratview Research announces the launch of a new research report on Composite Process Materials Market by End-Use Industry Type (Aerospace & Defense, Wind Energy, Marine, Transportation, and Others), by Material Type (Vacuum Bagging Film, Release Liner, Peel Ply, Breathers & Bleeders, and Others), by Application Type (Prepreg Manufacturing, Prepreg Layup, Infusion Process, and Others), and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World), Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2021-2026. This strategic assessment report, from Stratview Research, provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects today's composite process materials market realities and future market possibilities for the forecast period of 2021 to 2026. After a continuous interest in our Composite Vacuum Consumables Market and Composite Release Liner Market reports, we have come up with another comprehensive study on the Composite Process Materials Market. The report estimates the short- as well as long-term repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on the demand for composite process materials market at the global, regional, as well as country level. Also, the report provides the possible loss that the industry will register by comparing pre-COVID and post-COVID scenarios. The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for the market participants as well as investors in the identification of low-hanging fruits available in the market as well as formulate growth strategies. Composite Process Materials Market: Highlights Generally, process materials are considered a waste as these materials are of no use once composite parts are fabricated or prepreg is laid onto the mold. However, Stratview Research considers these materials as "Process Efficiency Enhancer" which play a critical role in achieving the requisite performance of composite parts. Process materials are used at two different levels: release liners used during prepreg manufacturing and vacuum consumables used during composite parts manufacturing through manufacturing processes such as VARTM, Lite-RTM, prepreg layup/vacuum bag, and wet layup. Process materials consist of several materials including vacuum bagging film, release liner, peel ply, breathers & bleeders, flow media, sealant tapes, fittings & hoses, etc. Vacuum consumables perform a major function of reducing surplus air and resin from the laminate and optimize the fiber-resin ratio which results in improved performance and reduced VOC emissions. The demand for process materials in the composites industry is highly subjected to the performance of major end markets such as aerospace, wind energy, marine, and automotive. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the demand for process materials varies from industry to industry. For instance, aerospace & defense emerged as the biggest victim with demand falling over 30% in 2020. On the other hand, the wind energy industry flourished with a robust growth of mid-teens in 2020 propelled by huge wind turbine installations in China and the USA. Furthermore, the exceptional growth in the wind energy segment has partially offset the decline experienced in other markets (aerospace & defense, transportation, and marine). Overall, the composite process materials market witnessed a massive decline in 2020 but is estimated to bounce back swiftly, reaching a market value of US$ 1.15 billion in 2026. Click Here for Running Through the Table of Contents: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/toc/226/composite-process-materials-market.html Based on the end-use industry, aerospace & defense is expected to remain the largest segment of the market over the next five years. Although the segment has been severely hit by the pandemic, it is likely to maintain its supremacy driven by a host of factors including an expected recovery in aircraft production, increasing penetration of composites in the modern aircraft programs (B787, A350XWB, and A220), high dominance of prepreg materials in the aerospace composites, and growing demand for the automation in the manufacturing processes. Wind energy also holds a reasonable share in the market and has been gaining traction over the past few years. It was the only segment that witnessed growth amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the material type, the market is segmented as vacuum bagging film, release liner, peel ply, breathers & bleeders, and others. Release liner is estimated to maintain its huge dominance in the market and is also expected to experience the quickest recovery during the forecast period. SCK paper-based release liner held a strong dominance in the market. The vacuum bagging film segment also offers sizable opportunities in the market. Based on the application type, prepreg manufacturing is expected to remain the largest segment of the market and is also expected to experience the highest growth over the next five years. Key drivers are increasing penetration of composites in modern aircraft programs (having high usage of prepreg), impressive growth in wind turbine installations coupled with the trend of large-sized blades, and the emergence of advanced composites in the automotive industry. Register Here for a Free Sample of the Report: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/Request-Sample/226/composite-process-materials-market.html#form In terms of region, North America is expected to remain the largest market over the next five years. The region has been the pioneer in the advanced composites industry with the presence of several small to large-sized OEMs, molders, process material suppliers, and raw material suppliers. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing market in the post-pandemic market developments. China is the workhorse of the region, driving the region's share significantly. The supply chain of this market comprises raw material suppliers, composite process material manufacturers, intermediate product manufacturers, molders, and end-users/OEMs. Key composite process material manufacturers are Airtech Advanced Materials Group, Diatex S.A, Gascogne Group, Lintec Corporation, Loparex LLC, Mondi Plc, Precision Fabrics Group, Sappi Limited, Solvay SA, The 3M Company, and Wausau Paper (Part of Essity). Report Features This report provides market intelligence in the most comprehensive way. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights on the market dynamics and will enable strategic decision making for the existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report: Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis. Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter's five forces analysis, SWOT analysis. Market trend and forecast analysis. Market segment trend and forecast. Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, product portfolio, product launches, etc. Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities. Emerging trends. Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players. Key success factors. This report studies global composite process materials market and has segmented the market in four ways, keeping in mind the interest of all the stakeholders across the value chain. Following are the four ways in which the market is segmented: Composite Process Materials Market, By End-Use Industry Type Aerospace & Defense (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Wind Energy (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Marine (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Transportation (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Others (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Composite Process Materials Market, By Material Type Vacuum Bagging Film (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Release Liner (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Peel Ply (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Breathers & Bleeders (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Others (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Composite Process Materials Market, By Application Type Prepreg Manufacturing (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Prepreg Layup (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Infusion Process (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Others (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW) Composite Process Materials Market, By Region North America (Country Analysis: USA , Canada , and Mexico ) Europe (Country Analysis: Germany , France , the UK, Russia , and Rest of Europe ) Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: China , Japan , India , and Rest of Asia-Pacific ) Rest of the World (Sub-Region Analysis: Latin America , The Middle East , and Others) Stratview Research has several high value market reports in the composites and advanced materials industry. Please refer to the following link to browse through our reports: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/market-reports/Advanced-Materials.html About Stratview Research Stratview Research is a global market intelligence firm providing wide range of services including syndicated market reports, custom research and sourcing intelligence across industries, such as Advanced Materials, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive & Mass Transportation, Consumer Goods, Construction & Equipment, Electronics and Semiconductors, Energy & Utility, Healthcare & Life Sciences, and Oil & Gas. We have a strong team of industry veterans and analysts with an extensive experience in executing custom research projects for mid-sized to Fortune 500 companies, in the areas of Market Assessment, Opportunity Screening, Competitive Intelligence, Due Diligence, Target Screening, Market Entry Strategy, Go to Market Strategy, and Voice of Customer studies. Stratview Research is a trusted brand globally, providing high quality research and strategic insights that help companies worldwide in effective decision making. Stratview Research has launched 'Composights', an online portal which offers free thought leadership reports, whitepapers, market report synopsis and much more for Composites and allied industries, worth US$ 20,000 every year. Click here to sign up (No costs involved): https://www.stratviewresearch.com/composights/sign-in For enquiries, please contact: Stratview Research E-mail: [email protected] Direct: +1-313-307-4176 SOURCE Stratview Research WYNDMOOR, Pa., May 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Everett Stern will give a Memorial Day address at the American Legion Post 100, in Veterans Park on Willow Grove Avenue in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania at 11am Monday. He will be delivering remarks honoring those who sacrificed their lives to defend the United States in overseas and domestic conflicts. Stern comes from a family with a history of working with those who served in the military. After his presentation, he will meet with past and present members who served in the Armed Force of the United States. For more information contact: [email protected] [email protected] www.everettstern.com SOURCE Everett Stern US Senate Campaign Related Links http://www.everettstern.com The partnership enables Fideuram - ISPB to strengthen significantly its international wealth management activities and to continue playing a leading role in the ongoing consolidation of the Swiss financial sector. It confirms its choice of Switzerland as the main hub for its international private banking activities. Following the closing of the transaction, REYL & Cie will retain its Geneva headquarters and grow into a sizeable international banking group with close to 400 employees, AUM approaching CHF 25 Bln ( 23 Bln) and regulatory shareholders' equity of about CHF 210 Mln ( 190 Mln). With its entrepreneurial DNA and innovative business model, REYL & Cie will continue driving its successful 360 organic growth strategy, centred on delivering innovative solutions to clients transversally across five business lines: Wealth Management, Entrepreneur & Family Office Services, Corporate Advisory & Structuring, Asset Services and Asset Management. Recent initiatives such as Asteria Investment Managers and Obviam (Swiss regulated asset managers dedicated to impact investing), or Alpian (a recently incubated aspiring digital bank for mass affluent clients) will benefit greatly from the strategic partnership. Fideuram - ISPB will control 69% of REYL & Cie's capital, while partners Francois Reyl, Pasha Bakhtiar, Nicolas Duchene, Thomas Fontaine, Christian Fringhian and Lorenzo Rocco di Torrepadula will collectively retain a 31% stake. The partners remain committed over the long-term and will be responsible for day-to-day management and strategy implementation. "The deal with REYL - comments Tommaso Corcos, CEO of Fideuram - Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking - reaffirms our international growth strategy by consolidating one of the best Private Banks in the Eurozone and by having Switzerland as the base of our network abroad. The combination of skills, experience, innovation capabilities and a common culture of customer service, constitutes the cornerstones on which to build a new leading international bank, serving our most demanding clients. To accelerate business synergies between the companies, Nicolas Duchene, deputy CEO and Partner of REYL, will also take the role of General Manager of Intesa Sanpaolo Private Bank Suisse Morval, on an interim basis, until the companies' legal merger." "The closing of the transaction says Francois Reyl, CEO of REYL & Cie marks a new chapter in REYL's corporate history that will open a realm of new development possibilities for both parties. We are convinced that Fideuram Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking's quality and financial power associated with REYL's entrepreneurial spirit and innovation capability will create the perfect conditions to achieve success in the current environment. We look forward to forming lasting bonds with our new colleagues and working as one team, building together a leading international private banking group and reinforcing our value proposition for the benefit of our clients." About Fideuram ISPB and ISPBM Headquartered in Milan, Fideuram Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking is the no.1 Italian domestic private banking player and a key affiliate of Intesa Sanpaolo Group, consolidating all of Group's private banking activities. As at 31 March 2021, Fideuram ISPB had 3,107 employees, 5,743 private bankers, AUM of CHF 292.4 Bln ( 264,1 Bln) and Net Inflows of over CHF 1.9 Bln ( 1.7 Bln) entrusted by more than 800,000 clients. ISPBM traces its foundation back to 1974, by the Zanon Valgiurata family, headquartered in Geneva with offices in Lugano, London, Monaco, Bahrain, the Cayman Islands, Buenos Aires and Montevideo; ISPBM was incorporated into Fideuram in 2018. As at 31 March 2021, ISPBM managed assets of approximately CHF 5.7 Bln ( 5.1 Bln) and employed 172 professionals. About REYL Founded in 1973 by Dominique Reyl, the REYL Group is a diversified and entrepreneurial banking group with offices in Switzerland (Geneva, Zurich, Lugano), Europe (London, Luxembourg, Malta) and the rest of the world (Singapore, Dubai). As at 31 December 2020, REYL manages assets in excess of CHF 15.5 billion ( 14 Bln) and employs more than 245 professionals. Developing an innovative approach to banking, REYL serves a clientele of international entrepreneurs, family offices and institutional investors through its Wealth Management, Entrepreneur & Family Office Services, Corporate Advisory & Structuring, Asset Services and Asset Management business lines. Media contacts: Fideuram - Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking Pierantonio Arrighi Head of Media Relations Wealth Management Tel: (+39) 02 87963119 [email protected] REYL Jerome Koechlin Head of Communications Tel: (+41) 22 816-8177 [email protected] SOURCE REYL Group TSX-V: GBR VANCOUVER, BC, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Great Bear Resources Ltd. (the "Company" or "Great Bear") (TSXV: GBR) (OTCQX: GTBAF) today announced key management appointments. The Company concurrently announces the departures of Mr. Robert Scott, Chief Financial Officer; Mr. Jeff Dare, Corporate Secretary; and Mr. Tony Ricci, who, after serving for more than 10 years, will be retiring from the Board of Directors and is not standing for re-election at the upcoming Annual General Meeting on June 29th. In addition, the Company announces the acceleration of option payments on three of its regional projects, completing the required earn-ins. All regional Red Lake area projects are now 100% owned by Great Bear. "I would like to sincerely thank Mr. Scott, Mr. Dare, and Mr. Ricci for their significant contributions over the past number of years to Great Bear. Each of them was instrumental to the success of the Company and I look forward to following their ongoing contributions within our industry," said Chis Taylor, President and CEO of Great Bear. "The management appointments we are making today significantly enhance our team's skillset and will be key to Great Bear's future success as we continue to advance our flagship Dixie Project." Management Appointments Calum Morrison, Vice President, Business Development & Chief Financial Officer Calum Morrison has been leading Corporate Development at Great Bear since 2019, a period in which the Company has experienced exceptional growth. In addition to his Corporate and Business Development responsibilities, Mr. Morrison has been appointed Chief Financial Officer with an effective date of May 26th. Mr. Morrison has over 15 years of experience in the mining industry, having worked in corporate development, investment banking, and accounting roles. Mr. Morrison is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and holds a B.Sc. degree in Environmental Science from Dalhousie University. Andrea Diakow, Vice President, Projects Andrea Diakow has been a key contributor to Great Bear's exploration success at the Dixie Project since 2017. Ms. Diakow is a professional geologist with over 15 years of experience working in the mineral exploration industry on diverse precious and base metal projects ranging from grassroots to feasibility stage. Her experience includes over 6 years of gold exploration in the Red Lake district. Employing her strong technical background and diverse experience, Mrs. Diakow manages Great Bear's exploration program, including QA/QC practices, and directs the various advanced exploration studies that are currently being undertaken at Dixie. Ms. Diakow holds a B.Sc. degree in Geology from the University of Calgary and is a P.Geo. Jenni Piette, Director, Sustainability and Stakeholder Relations Jenni Piette has over 10 years of experience in mining investor relations and corporate communications. Most recently, Ms. Piette served as Head of Investor Relations at GT Gold, where she managed the investor relations strategy in addition to community and stakeholder consultation. Prior to joining GT Gold, she served as Manager of Investor Relations at Teranga Gold Corporation through 2018 and at Richmont Mines, until the sale of the company to Alamos Gold in November 2017. Ms. Piette began her career in investor relations at Detour Gold Corporation in 2012, prior to which she served as a contracted mining and earth science outreach educator for PDAC Mining Matters. Ms. Piette holds a B.Sc. with Distinction in Geology/Ecology from Concordia University and is a Certified Professional in Investor Relations under CIRI/Ivey School of Business. Darryl Boyd, Director, Environment Darryl Boyd has been employed in the mining sector for 24 years, holding roles related to planning, permitting, and developing projects in Ontario from early exploration to commercial production. Mr. Boyd has managed baseline studies, engineering designs, permitting, community engagement, energy supply, land tenure and a variety of operational duties related to environmental management. Examples of his significant project experience includes: The McCreedy Mine (FNX Mining), Timmins West (Lakeshore Gold), Lac Des Iles Mine (North American Palladium), Lockerby Mine (First Nickel), and the Sugar Zone Mine (Harte Gold). Mr. Boyd holds a B.Sc. degree in Environmental Science from the University of Guelph and a Certificate in Environmental Assessment from Lakehead University. Cori Compton, Corporate Secretary Ms. Compton has over 20 years of corporate secretarial, corporate governance and securities regulatory experience, 10 of which are specifically with public companies in the mining industry. Ms. Compton has performed the Corporate Secretary function for a number of publicly listed companies, including Pan American Silver, Silver Standard Resources (now SSR Mining), Wildcat Silver (predecessor to Arizona Mining), and Ventana Gold Corp. Ms. Compton is a member of both the BC Paralegal Association and the Canadian Society of Corporate Secretaries. Update on Regional Properties The Company is also pleased to announce that it recently paid an aggregate of $180,000 to accelerate its earn-ins for its regional Red Lake projects (Pakwash, Sobel, and Red Lake North), and also gave notice of its intention to terminate its option on the Dedee Property. Great Bear now holds a 100% interest in it's Red Lake Properties (Dixie, Pakwash, Sobel and Red Lake North), totalling 200 km2 of prospective mineral claims. At this time, there are no changes to the previously announced 2021 exploration budget, which is majority focused on a multi-rig drill program at its flagship Dixie Project, but also includes field investigations and target definition at all regional properties. June 7th Webinar The Company reminds interested shareholders that a webinar will take place on Monday, June 7th at 11:00 am PDT / 2:00 pm EDT. Management will be available to answer questions following the presentation. Online registration and participation details may be found at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MJNWX5GERvKjZ63Jh89n_Q For those unable to participate, a recording of the webinar will be posted to the Company's web site following the live broadcast. About Great Bear Great Bear Resources Ltd. is a well-financed gold exploration company managed by a team with a track record of success in mineral exploration. Great Bear is focused in the prolific Red Lake gold district in northwest Ontario, where the company controls over 200 km2 of highly prospective tenure across four projects: the flagship Dixie Project (100% owned), the Pakwash Property (100% owned), the, the Sobel Property (100% owned), and the Red Lake North Property (100% owned) all of which are accessible year-round through existing roads. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Chris Taylor" Chris Taylor, President and CEO Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements This release contains certain "forward looking statements" and certain "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans" or similar terminology. The forward-looking information contained herein is provided for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking information are based on management of the parties' reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on such management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Such factors, among other things, include: impacts arising from the global disruption caused by the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, business integration risks; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold or certain other commodities; 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); discrepancies between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; 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. Great Bear undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. SOURCE Great Bear Resources Ltd. Related Links https://greatbearresources.ca/ ATLANTA, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Griffyn Robotech and Phoenix Innovations LLC, part of the Phoenix Group announced granting of patent on their Cosmetic Grading System entitled 'COSMETIC GRADING THROUGH IMAGE PROCESSING and METHOD'. The patent was granted by the US Patents and Trademark Office. The host grading system is registered under the trade name DEEPSIGHT. It is fully designed and developed by Griffyn Robotech and marketed and sold by Phoenix Innovations LLC in the USA. What is the DEEPSIGHT System? Personal portable electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, wearables suffer from trauma from inadvertent falls and user abuse. These devices significantly degrade in value due to the cracks, scratches, digs or dents they suffer as a result. Some of these defects may be microscopic in nature. However, ability to detect these defects becomes important when these devices are part of the secondary market. Human operators who inspect the devices may not be able to detect all the flaws. This is where an AI enabled DEEPSIGHT system comes into picture. Whereas a human hair is about 80-90 microns thick, the DEEPSIGHT system detects defects as small as 40 microns wide. Using Artificial Intelligence algorithms, the DEEPSIGHT system reveals flaws that are commonly missed by the human eye. DEEPSIGHT eliminates the inconsistent grading attributed to human weaknesses such as distraction, boredom, fatigue etc. The grading data are stored in the cloud and can be integrated with other warehouse management and automation systems and are available to be used for making further decisions. The web-based dashboards and analytics provided by DEEPSIGHT system offer unique and comprehensive view to the businesses. This helps in making decisions related to the quality and consistency of incoming devices, planning of buff and polish and repair, and valuation and routing. Amit Mahajan, Chief Executive Officer of the Phoenix Group said, "the grant of the patent is a proof of the culture of innovation in our organization. DEEPSIGHT's enhanced capabilities in seeing what the human eye cannot see is a game changer in the world of recyclable and sustainable electronics. The secondary markets and OEMs have a tremendous benefit in assessing the quality of the products powered by the world's most advanced cosmetic grading system." Inventors of DEEPSIGHT A group of technology futurists worked on the DEEPSIGHT algorithms, namely Amit Mahajan Samir Bagalkote Ameya Jathar Vidula Alhat Nikhil Warokar Deepak Anand Phoenix Group congratulates the inventors for their creativity and ingenuity! About Phoenix Group of companies The Phoenix Group of companies comprise of Phoenix Innovations LLC, headquartered in Atlanta, GA, with offices in Dallas TX, Griffyn Robotech Pvt. Ltd. (India) and Griffyn Robotech (UK), Xcaliber Infotech Pvt. Ltd. (India) and Bit Mapper Integration Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (India). Together these organizations build components of innovative products in the areas of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, High-end Embedded Systems and Software Products focused on Supply Chain Management and Analytics. Some of our key products include: DEEPSIGHT - an advanced cosmetic grading system for consistent procurement and quality management, OPTIVITY - a surface inspection and optical character recognition solution for camshafts, gears, cylinders, bolt adjusters, and other mechanical components, SCM Insight - a managed supply chain analytics platform MIDAS an inventory routing and valuation engine Media Contact: Name: Manjula Nairr Email: [email protected] SOURCE Griffyn Robotech and Phoenix Innovations LLC TORONTO, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Kontrol Technologies Corp. (NEO: KNR) (OTCQB: KNRLF) (FSE: 1K8) ("Kontrol Technologies" or "Kontrol" or the "Company") a leader in smart buildings and cities through IoT, Cloud and SaaS technology announces the release of its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2021. A complete set of the Financial Statements and Management's Discussion & Analysis have been filed on SEDAR ( www.sedar.com ). "Kontrol has continued to deliver positive operating cash flow and positive Adjusted EBITDA while investing in its operating platform and managing the market uncertainty caused by logistics and supply chain impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic," says Paul Ghezzi, CEO of Kontrol Technologies. "With our balance sheet improvement and recent equity raise we are well positioned to scale our patented smart building technologies. During the first quarter of 2021, the Company made significant progress in the commercialization and commencement of manufacturing of its BioCloud technology," continues Ghezzi. Highlights Adjusted EBITDA* of $1.1 million in Q1 2021, up from $241,343 over the same quarter in the prior year in Q1 2021, up from over the same quarter in the prior year Revenues of $3.3 million , up 20% over the same quarter in the prior year , up 20% over the same quarter in the prior year Cash flows from operating activities were $592,153 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 ; an improvement of $610,964 over the same quarter in the prior year for the three months ended ; an improvement of over the same quarter in the prior year The Company has invested approximately $4 million up to the end of Q1 in the development of BioCloud up to the end of Q1 in the development of BioCloud Conversions of convertible debentures to common shares totalled $631,000 during the first quarter of 2021 during the first quarter of 2021 Proceeds from options and warrants exercise were $710,607 during the first quarter of 2021 during the first quarter of 2021 Subsequent to Q1 2021, the Company announced on May 27, 2021 , an $8.5 million private placement with institutional investors; closing date expected to occur on or about June 1, 2021 , an private placement with institutional investors; closing date expected to occur on or about Capital management initiatives during the 2020 fiscal year and into 2021 have strengthened the balance sheet Manufactured hundreds of BioCloud units and closely managing the supply chain with manufacturing partners Project Seasonality and the Impact of Covid-19 on Operations Q1 is typically the quarter most impacted by seasonality and timing of projects. In Q1 approximately $500,000 in projects were impacted due to timing issues dealing with on-site restrictions during lockdown periods in Ontario. These projects will be delivered in Q3 and Q4. The Company has been affected by ongoing global supply chain issues related to computer processors and other components that are required for BioCloud manufacturing. The impact has been primarily due to long lead times and scarcity of components. The Company is actively working with its supply chain partners to manage the supply chain. There is no change to the Company's revenue and adjusted EBITDA targets previously presented on April 7, 2021. Q1 2021 Financial Summary Financial Results Three months ended Three months ended (unaudited) March 31, 2021 March 31, 2020 Revenue $3,319,194 $2,761,544 Gross profit $1,771,560 $1,699,441 Net loss $(823,733) $(675,169) Basic and Diluted EPS $(0.02) $(0.02) Add for adjusted EBITDA reconciliation: Amortization and depreciation $393,460 $475,404 Finance expense $267,110 $262,900 Share based compensation $1,216,503 $178,208 Listing expense $70,000 - Adjusted EBITDA* $1,123,340 $241,343 * Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IRFS financial measure. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income or loss before interest, income taxes, amortization, and depreciation, share based compensation, acquisition related expenses, and listing expense. Conference Call Replay A recording of the Q1 2021 financial results conference call held on May 31st, 2021, is available here: Encore Replay Local: 416-764-8677 Encore Replay North American Toll Free: 1-888-390-0541 Encore Replay Entry Code: 447758 # Encore Replay Expiration Date: 06/07/2021 About Kontrol Technologies Corp. Kontrol Technologies Corp., a Canadian public company, is a leader in smart buildings and cities through IoT, Cloud and SaaS technology. Kontrol Technologies provides a combination of software, hardware, and service solutions to its customers to improve energy management, air quality and continuous emission monitoring. Additional information about Kontrol Technologies Corp. can be found on its website at www.kontrolcorp.com and by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com Neither IIROC nor any stock exchange or other securities regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Non-IFRS Financial Measures The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income or loss before interest, income taxes, amortization, and depreciation, share based compensation, and acquisition related expenses. The Company believes Adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure as it provides information to management about the operating and financial performance of the Company and its ability to generate operating cash flow to fund future working capital needs, as well as future growth. Adjusted EBITDA may also be used by investors and analysts for the purpose of valuing the Company. Readers are cautioned that these non-IFRS definitions are not recognized measures under IFRS, do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS, and should not be construed to be alternatives to net earnings determined in accordance with IFRS or as indicators of performance, liquidity, or cash flows. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "likely", "should", "would", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "proposed", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar words, expressions, and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy. Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is based on assumptions made in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. Such assumptions include, without limitation, that sufficient capital will be available to the Company and that technology will be as effective as anticipated. However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected, or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to, that sufficient capital and financing cannot be obtained on reasonable terms, or at all, that technologies will not prove as effective as expected, that customers and potential customers will not be as accepting of the Company's product and service offering as expected, and government and regulatory factors impacting the energy conservation industry. Kontrol BioCloud is an air quality technology and not a medical device. The Company is not making any express or implied claims that its product has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain the COVID-19 (or SARS-2 Coronavirus). Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as at the date hereof and are based on the beliefs, estimates, expectations, and opinions of management on such date. Kontrol does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements or any forward-looking statements contained in any other documents whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required under applicable securities law. Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties, and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. SOURCE Kontrol Technologies Corp. Related Links https://www.kontrolbiocloud.com/ Father's Day is the perfect time to live a little PURA, which means doing the little things every day that make a difference. One option for living a little PURA on Father's Day is to do the chores and tasks that normally keep Dad busy, so he can enjoy his day and kick back with a tasty beverage. If that beverage is a can of PURA Soda, its refreshing taste and seeing his kids living a little PURA will ensure dad has a truly satisfying Father's Day. PURA Soda produces naturally flavored carbonated drinks perfect for dads who are looking after their health, but still enjoy the taste of a soda. Each can of PURA Soda contains just 65 calories with no artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, animal byproducts, or synthetic ingredients. PURA Soda is made with just a few ingredients: highly carbonated soda water, a bit of citric acid, natural flavors, and a sprinkle of cane sugar to sweeten the drink. PURA Soda comes in five flavors: cranberry, Seville orange, cucumber & lime, lemon & Elderflower, and pomegranate. With its natural flavors, low sugar level, and simple formulation, PURA Soda offers a delicious and fun way for dads to live healthier lives while quenching their thirst. About PURA Soda Based in Cape Town, South Africa, PURA Soda is a global brand, exporting to 13 countries including the US, UAE and UK. In 2019, they won kudos at the Aurora International Taste Challenge, thrilling expert tasters, and being named as the "Best Tasting Non-alcoholic Beverage." Continuing this winning streak, PURA Soda was then named as the "Best Cold Beverage" at Product of the Year 2020, the world's largest consumer-voted award for product innovation. Pura Soda can be found at Albertson's, Safeway, HEB Central Market, Tom Thumb, Randall's, and Market Street as well as on Amazon. For more information about PURA Soda, visit livealittlepura.com. Join the PURA Soda community on Facebook at PURA Soda - Home | Facebook SOURCE PURA Soda Related Links http://www.livealittlepura.com LAS VEGAS, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's " Microscopic Polyangiitis Market " report provides a thorough comprehension of the Microscopic Polyangiitis historical and forecasted epidemiology and the Microscopic Polyangiitis market trends in the 7MM [the United States, EU5 (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and United Kingdom) and Japan]. The Microscopic Polyangiitis market report also proffers an analysis of the current Microscopic Polyangiitis treatment algorithm/practice, market drivers, market barriers, and unmet medical needs. Some of the imperative takeaways from the Microscopic Polyangiitis Market Research Report Several key pharmaceutical companies such as Genentech Inc. (F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd), Zenyaku Kogyo, InflaRx GmbH, ChemoCentryx, Kissei Pharmaceutical, Vifor Pharma, GlaxoSmithKline, Teijin Pharma, and others are developing novel products to improve the Microscopic Polyangiitis treatment outlook. and others are developing novel products to improve the Microscopic Polyangiitis treatment outlook. Vynpenta (Avacopan, CCX168) is being developed by ChemoCentryx/Kissei Pharmaceutical/Vifor Pharma. ChemoCentryx retains all rights for CCX168 for orphan and renal diseases in the US control for the worldwide development of the drug, while Vifor Pharma has rights to commercialise the drug in the rest of the world. is being developed by retains all rights for for in the US control for the worldwide development of the drug, while has rights to commercialise the drug in the rest of the world. The New Drug Application (NDA) for avacopan (CCX168) has been accepted for review by the US FDA for AAV with Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date in July 2021 , and the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) has been confirmed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Kissei Pharmaceutical also filed an NDA for avacopan (CCX168) in Japan . for has been accepted for review by the US FDA for AAV with Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date in , and the has been confirmed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). also filed an NDA for in . Microscopic Polyangiitis Market observes a surge because of rising incidence due to which several companies are focussing on the treatment options for patients. There has been an increase in clinical trials activity for emerging therapies, and approvals from the regulatory bodies are also rising. Moreover, medications with better safety and effectiveness that provide an optimum cure, low cost and less time-consuming therapy are the current unmet needs of the Microscopic Polyangiitis market. due to which several companies are focussing on the treatment options for patients. There has been and are also rising. Moreover, medications with that provide an optimum cure, are the current unmet needs of the Microscopic Polyangiitis market. Microscopic Polyangiitis Market growth might observe hindrance due to factors such as inadequate knowledge of the disease among doctors, delayed diagnosis, limitations in available pharmacological therapies, availability of generics (Rituximab) or off-label therapies, and strict pricing and reimbursement policies are the main reasons for unsatisfactory current patient care and might hamper the market's growth. of the disease among doctors, are the main reasons for unsatisfactory current patient care and might hamper the market's growth. From several clinical trials and studies, it has been estimated that cyclophosphamide (CY) or rituximab plus glucocorticoid (GC) are standard remission induction therapies in Microscopic Polyangiitis patients. For further information on Market Impact by Therapies, visit: Microscopic Polyangiitis Drugs Market Analysis Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA) is a rare autoimmune condition, which causes blood vessel inflammation, limiting blood flow, and leads to organ damage. The kidneys, lungs, nerves, skin, and joints are the most commonly affected body areas. The Microscopic Polyangiitis cause is unknown and is not a contagious condition, which does not usually show genetic predisposition and is not a form of cancer. As per DelveInsight's analysis, the total Microscopic Polyangiitis incident cases in the 7MM was found to be approximately 5,196 cases in 2020 that is expected to decrease in the forecasted period of 20212030. Japan is the major contributor to the incident population of MPA in the 7MM The Microscopic Polyangiitis Market Report provides historical as well as forecasted epidemiological analysis segmented into: Total Incident Cases of Microscopic Polyangiitis Gender-specific Microscopic Polyangiitis Incident Cases Age-specific Incident Cases of Microscopic Polyangiitis Get a complete epidemiological segmentation @ Microscopic Polyangiitis Epidemiological Analysis Microscopic Polyangiitis Treatment Market The commonly used immunosuppressive agents in Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA) management include cyclophosphamide, rituximab, methotrexate, glucocorticoids, azathioprine, and a few other biological agents. The cornerstone of Microscopic Polyangiitis treatment is corticosteroids, such as prednisone, used in combination with other medications that subdue the immune system and lessen inflammation. The high levels of adverse effects with available therapies and their failure to induce complete remission in all patients or prohibit flare have driven a search for newer therapies. These have been immune-suppressive, pooled intravenous immunoglobulin or 'biological' agents, including therapeutic antibodies like Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), Azathioprine, Methotrexate, Leflunomide, Rituximab, Etanercept. Rituximab (RTX) may represent an essential alternative to cyclophosphamide for patients with higher disease activity levels that may not respond adequately to antimetabolite therapies. Rituxan (rituximab) is a CD20-directed cytolytic antibody indicated for treating granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and Microscopic Polyangiitis in adult and pediatric patients two years of age and older in combination with glucocorticoid indication. The US FDA, EMA, and PMDA have authorised Rituxan/MabThera (rituximab) in adults and pediatric patients (US and EU), combined with corticosteroids, as a new medicine for adults with GPA and MPA. However, the approvals of rituximab biosimilars offer the potential for more treatment options, and less expensive alternatives may pose a threat to novel drug makers. But, some of the critical issues affecting biosimilar uptake involve reimbursement factors and insurance coverage. The Microscopic Polyangiitis pipeline is not very robust. Some emerging therapies, such as vilobelimab (IFX-1, CaCP290), Vynpenta (Avacopan, CCX168), others are under investigation and might get validated in the forecast period (20212030). As per the companies (ChemoCentryx/Kissei Pharmaceutical) developing Vynpenta, it is anticipated to get approval in 2021. Overall, the dynamics of the Microscopic Polyangiitis market are anticipated to change in the coming years owing to the improvement in the diagnosis methodologies, increasing awareness of the diseases, incremental healthcare spending across the world, and also expects the approval of emerging therapies, which are in the mid-stage of development. The major key players include InflaRx GmbH, ChemoCentryx, Kissei Pharmaceutical, Vifor Pharma, GlaxoSmithKline, Teijin Pharma, and others that hold the potential to create a significant positive shift in Microscopic Polyangiitis market size. Microscopic Polyangiitis Emerging Drugs Along with Key Players Vilobelimab (IFX-1, CaCP290): InflaRx GmbH Vynpenta (Avacopan, CCX168): ChemoCentryx/Kissei Pharmaceutical/Vifor Pharma Belimumab: GlaxoSmithKline GGS-MPA (Freeze-dried Sulfonated Human Immunoglobulin): Teijin Pharma And many others. Scope of the Microscopic Polyangiitis Market Insight Report Geography Covered: The United States , EU5 ( Germany , France , Italy , Spain , and the United Kingdom ), and Japan. , EU5 ( , , , , and the ), and Japan. Study Period: 3-year historical and 10-year forecasted analysis (2018-2030). Microscopic Polyangiitis Markets Segmentation: By Geographies and By Microscopic Polyangiitis Therapies (Historical and Forecasted, Current and Upcoming) Dominant Market Companies investigating its candidates for Microscopic Polyangiitis: Genentech Inc. (F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd), Zenyaku Kogyo, InflaRx GmbH, ChemoCentryx, Kissei Pharmaceutical, Vifor Pharma, GlaxoSmithKline, Teijin Pharma, and several others. Analysis: Comparative and conjoint analysis of emerging therapies. Case Studies KOL's Views Analyst's View Request for a Webex demo of the report @ Microscopic Polyangiitis Therapeutics Market Table of Contents 1 Microscopic Polyangiitis Key Insights 2 Microscopic Polyangiitis Report Introduction 3 Microscopic Polyangiitis Market Overview at a Glance 4 Executive Summary of Microscopic Polyangiitis 5 Microscopic Polyangiitis Disease Background and Overview 6 Microscopic Polyangiitis Epidemiology and Patient Population 6.1 The United States 6.2 EU5 Countries 6.2.1 Germany 6.2.2 France 6.2.3 Italy 6.2.4 Spain 6.2.5 The United Kingdom 6.3 Japan 7 Microscopic Polyangiitis Patient Journey 8 Organisations contributing toward Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA) 9 Microscopic Polyangiitis Marketed Drugs 9.1 Rituxan/MabThera (rituximab): Genentech, Inc. (F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd)/Zenyaku Kogyo 10 Microscopic Polyangiitis Emerging Therapies 10.1 Vilobelimab (IFX-1, CaCP290): InflaRx GmbH 10.2 Vynpenta (Avacopan, CCX168): ChemoCentryx/Kissei Pharmaceutical/Vifor Pharma 10.3 Belimumab: GlaxoSmithKline 10.4 GGS-MPA (Freeze-dried Sulfonated Human Immunoglobulin): Teijin Pharma 11 7MM Microscopic Polyangiitis Market Analysis 11.1 The United States Microscopic Polyangiitis Market Size 11.2 EU-5 Microscopic Polyangiitis Market Size 11.2.1 Germany Market Size 11.2.2 France Market Size 11.2.3 Italy Market Size 11.2.4 Spain Market Size 11.2.5 The United Kingdom Market Size 11.3 Japan Microscopic Polyangiitis Market Size 12 KOL Views 13 Microscopic Polyangiitis Market Drivers 14 Microscopic Polyangiitis Market Barriers 15 Microscopic Polyangiitis SWOT Analysis 16 Unmet Needs 17 Reimbursement and Market Access 18 Appendix 19 DelveInsight Capabilities 20 Disclaimer 21 About DelveInsight Browse full report with detailed TOC with charts, figures, tables @ Microscopic Polyangiitis Diagnostics Market Report View Related Reports DelveInsight's Microscopic Polyangiitis (MPA) - Epidemiology Forecast 2030 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical, and forecasted epidemiology of Microscopic Polyangiitis. 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Related Posts Lung Cancer and its Increasing Global Burden, browse here for more insights into the Lung Cancer domain. Renal Tubular Acidosis therapy market and sub-optimally effective standard of care. Discover more on the current therapeutic in RTA Therapy Market. About DelveInsight DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. It supports Pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance. It also provides Business Consulting Services with a credible market analysis that will help accelerate the business growth and overcome challenges with a practical approach. Contact Us: Shruti Thakur [email protected] +1(919)321-6187 www.delveinsight.com SOURCE DelveInsight Business Research, LLP CHICAGO, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report, "Optical Coatings Market by Technology, (Vacuum Deposition, E-Beam Evaporation, Sputtering Process, and Ion Assisted Deposition (IAD)), Type, End-Use Industry, and Region (APAC, North America, Europe, and Rest of World) - Global Forecasts to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Optical Coatings Market size is estimated at USD 12.6 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 19.0 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 8.5%. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=128999548 Browse in-depth TOC on "Optical Coatings Market" 185 Tables 71 Figures 239 Pages View Detailed Table of Content Here: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/optical-coating-market-128999548.html The Optical Coatings Market is witnessing high growth owing to increasing demand for renewable energy applications and emerging demand for optical coatings from APAC. Vacuum Deposition is the largest technology segment of the Optical Coatings Market. The Optical Coatings Market is segmented on the basis of technology into vacuum deposition, E-beam evaporation, sputtering process, and ion-assisted deposition (IAD). Vacuum Deposition holds the major market share of the overall Optical Coatings Market owing to its ability to cure at room temperatures, improved reliability, and increased thermal and mechanical strength of electronic devices. AR coatings is the largest type segment of the Optical Coatings Market. The Optical Coatings Market is segmented on the basis of type into AR coatings, high reflective coatings, transparent conductive coatings, filter coatings, beamsplitter coatings, EC coatings, and others. AR coatings type segment holds major market share of the overall Optical Coatings Market owing to its ability to provide high-quality coatings with high transmission power and low reflection power on components such as lenses, mirrors, and display screens used in various industrial and consumer applications. These factors are fueling the growth of AR coatings in the global Optical Coatings Market. Request Free Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=128999548 Electronics & semiconductor is the largest end-use industry segment of the Optical Coatings Market. The Optical Coatings Market is segmented on the basis of end-use industry into electronics & semiconductor, military & defense, transportation, telecom/optical communication, infrastructure, solar power, medical, and others. Electronics & semiconductor end-use industry segment holds a major market share of the overall Optical Coatings Market owing to increasing demand for highly resistant and high dielectric strength coating layers in photovoltaic (PV) cells, electronics assemblies, ICs, and other optoelectronic devices. These factors are fueling the growth of the Optical Coatings Market in the electronics & semiconductor industry. North America is the largest market for Optical Coatings Market. North America is the largest market for Optical Coatings during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the growing demand from the electronics & semiconductor industry and the increasing contribution of government and major players for commercializing optical coatings in the region. Moreover, stringent environmental and government regulations, such as Architectural and Industrial Maintenance (AIM) Coatings for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) content limits and the United States Munitions List (USML) that regulate optical technology along with coating exports under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) fuel the market growth for optical coatings in the region. The key players in the Optical Coatings Market are Dupont (US), PPG Industries Ohio, Inc. (US), Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd. (Japan), ZEISS International (Germany), Newport Corporation (US), Inrad Optics (US), Inc., Artemis Optical Limited (UK), Abrisa Technologies (US), Reynard Corporation (US), II-VI Aerospace & Defense (US), and others. The Optical Coatings Market report analyzes the key growth strategies adopted by the leading market players, between 2016 and 2021, which include expansions, mergers & acquisition, new product developments, and collaborations. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=128999548 Browse Adjacent Markets: Coatings Adhesives Sealants and Elastomers Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports : Vapor Deposition Market by Technology (Chemical Vapor Deposition, Physical Vapor Deposition), by End-user Industry (Microelectronics, Cutting tools, Industrial & Energy, Medical, Decorative Coating) Global Trends & Forecast to 2019 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/vapor-deposition-market-151839918.html Vacuum Evaporators Market by Type Of Technology (Heat Pump, Mvr, Thermal), Application (Wastewater Treatment, Product Processing), End-Use Industry (Chemical & Petrochemical, Automotive, Food & Beverage, Energy & Power), Geography - Global Forecast to 2024 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/vacuum-evaporator-market-262057981.html Electronics Conformal Coating Market by Material (Acrylic, Silicone, Parylene, Urethane/Polyurethane, Epoxy), Equipment (Curing, Coating), Method (Brush Coating, Dipping), Application and Geography - Global Forecasts to 2020 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/conformal-coatings-market-4692419.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/optical-coating-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/optical-coating.asp SOURCE MarketsandMarkets HAMILTON, Bermuda, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Seadrill Limited ("Seadrill" or "the Company") (OSE: SDRL) (OTCPK: SDRLF), announces that Glen Ole Rdland has notified Seadrill that he will be stepping down from the Board with immediate effect, having been Chairman since November 2019. The Board would like to thank Glen for his leadership and counsel during his tenure as Chairman of Seadrill, and the work he has led to progress our current restructuring. Stuart Jackson, CEO said, "We continue to make good progress with our lenders through productive discussions and our board and management team remain focussed on delivering a significant balance sheet deleveraging to support our safe and efficient operations." "For me, now is the right time to hand over the reins, the restructuring has been complex and multi-faceted and I have every confidence the board will guide the deal over the line" says Glen Ole Rdland. About Seadrill Seadrill is a leading offshore drilling contractor utilizing advanced technology to unlock oil and gas resources for clients across harsh and benign locations across the globe. Seadrill's high quality, technologically advanced fleet spans all asset classes allowing its experienced crews to conduct its operations from shallow to ultra-deep-water environments. The company operates 43 rigs, which includes drillships, jack-ups and semi-submersibles. Seadrill is listed on the Oslo Brs and OTC Pink markets. For more information, visit www.seadrill.com FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes forward looking statements. Such statements are generally not historical in nature, and specifically include statements about the Company's plans, strategies, business prospects, changes and trends in its business, the markets in which it operates and its restructuring efforts. These statements are made based upon management's current plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events impacting the Company and therefore involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risks described from time to time in the Company's regulatory filings and periodical reporting. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of these factors. Further, the Company cannot assess the impact of each such factor on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward-looking statement. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. CONTACT: [email protected] 020 3745 4960 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com SOURCE Seadrill Limited Without being able to arrest people, when we just fine them, they are probably making more money off the production of the things that are defiling the environment, the action star said in his welcome speech at the party event, according to Reuters. The famous Uffizzi Museum of Florence will "move" to Portoferraio from June 30 th until October 10 th to celebrate Napoleon and share with visitors a selection of paintings related to the bicentenary. In 2021 on Elba Island, tourists will be able to walk or ride a bike in the Capanne mountain in the morning, swim in the Mediterranean Sea in the afternoon and stand astonished in front of paintings and sculptures in the evening. All in one day! Tourists can also explore Napoleone's places like Palazzina dei Mulini, Villa San Martino and Fort St. James in Porto Azzurro. Another iconic Napoleon place is Spiaggia delle Viste, the beach from which Napoleon fled in 1815, and the Paolina rock where the Emperor's sister loved to bathe. To mark the bicentenary of Napoleon's death the Island has created "The Napoleonic Passport", a Napoleonic Identity card designed for travelers that are eager to have a more in-depth experience by following the footsteps of the emperor on the island. At the end of the road, those who will visit all the planned stages will receive a special gift! Music, meetings, commemorations in the name of Bonaparte During the entire Summer and Autumn 2021, the Tuscany island will host events and concerts such as the Festival Elba Isola Musicale d'Europa (August 26th September 12th), Napoleon's week in Procchio (August 22nd 29th) with a historical procession, the reconstruction of a 19th-century French military camp, a gala dinner in 19th-century costumes and menus, and Capoliveri's traditional Grape Festival (1 October), which this year is dedicated entirely to the Emperor. Walking and riding like a Napoleon Elba Island offers a wide choice of hiking and cycling Napoleonic paths that are linked to the emperor's life on the island, surrounded by Elba's extraordinary naturalistic variety, making it the perfect destination for all bike lovers and hikers. All the routes can be explored on https://elbasmartexploring.com/, dive into the island at 360 by accessing the places ahead of time. SOURCE Visit Elba The P4G Seoul Summit is the third of four major international conferences on the environment this year. It comes between the Leaders Summit on Climate hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden in April, and the 26th U.N. Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) to be held in November in Glasgow. The two-day forum in Seoul was attended by heads of state and government, high representatives of leading countries of the world, heads of international organizations, including the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The participants discussed such issues as coping with the consequences of climate change, "green" recovery and ensuring carbon neutrality, as well as the achievement of the SDGs and the implementation of the provisions of the Paris Agreement on climate. According to President Mirziyoyev, the pandemic has shown an inextricable link between human health and the environment, economic and social progress. "We can no longer ignore the signals that nature itself sends us," he said. Central Asia is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change. Over the past 30 years, the average annual temperature in Central Asia has increased by about 1 degree C. The region is experiencing rapid melting of glaciers, a decrease in the flow of the main rivers and biodiversity in the region, problems with greenhouse gases and large-scale air pollution. The severe consequences of global climatic changes are felt in the Aral Sea region, where an ecological catastrophe of a global scale has occurred. "No one doubts that countries' actions to achieve green development goals should be more active and more effective. We have no other choice," Shavkat Mirziyoyev said at the Seoul Summit. At the national level, Uzbekistan is pursuing a consistent policy aimed at transitioning to a green economy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change. According to its obligations under the Paris Agreement, Uzbekistan will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10% of GDP by 2030, and this figure may rise. The new national strategy for the transition to a "green" economy provides for an increase in the share of renewable energy sources in electricity generation to 25%. In the coming years, it is planned to build five solar and three wind power stations. National strategies are anticipated to mitigate the effects of climate change, develop renewable and hydrogen energy, accelerate the transition to a green economy, and more. At the same time, the Uzbekistan President emphasized the importance of joining the efforts of the international community to advance "green" and sustainable development. Uzbekistan was the first in the region to join the Global Green Growth Institute and intends to open its office in the country. The country is also ready to join and become a full member of the P4G partnership. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also proposes to hold an international conference "Green Energy for Developing Countries" next year, as well as launch a special program to attract young people to create a "green" economy to form a culture of green consumption. The President also thanked international partners for their full support of Uzbekistan's initiative, the recently adopted special resolution of the UN General Assembly on declaring the Aral Sea region a zone of environmental innovation and technology. It was proposed to continue active joint work in this direction, including within the framework of the specially created UN Trust Fund, the Global Green Growth Institute, on the platform of the P4G Partnership and other international institutions. Uzbekistan Ambassador Said Rustamov said: "Climate change is one of the key areas of the UK-Uzbek cooperation agenda. A high level delegation of Uzbekistan is to take part in the 26th UN Climate Summit (COP-26) in Glasgow this year. At the summit, the Uzbekistan delegation intends to share its views on climate change problems, the country's ongoing efforts to combat global warming and draw attention to the acute environmental problems it faces, primarily in the Aral Sea region." Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1522147/president_P4G.jpg SOURCE Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, London MIAMI and SAN FRANCISCO, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- VidCrunch, a leading web and app video content-based monetization provider and a Google MCM Partner, announced today that it secured a multi-million-dollar financing facility from Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), the bank of the world's most innovative companies and their investors, to expand the company's global sales team, enhance its engineering resources, and continue its ongoing investments in product development, content curation and creation for its publisher portfolio. The investment provides additional layer in the company financing, on top of $2.0 MM already secured by prominent Silicon Valley angels. The Miami-based technology company develops and markets its Smart Video ProducerTM technology, which automatically curates and publishes video content for web, app and CTV publishers. Oded Pelled, VidCrunch's Executive Chairman said: "VidCrunch saw tremendous success in APAC and Europe, serving premium publishers like CNN Philippines, Manorama Online, GMX.net, Web.de, Mail.com and others. Because of our investments in monetization technology, content curation and our Multiple Customer Management (MCM) partnership with Google as well as other SSP and DSP partners (including Comcast, Verizon, PubMatic, and Unruly) and Agencies, we are growing our business at rates much higher than the overall industry. These solutions ensure we stay ahead of the increasingly complex needs of both our publishers and advertisers. We found a great financing partner to work with in SVB. Their clear understanding of the ad tech industry makes them an ideal partner to grow with, enhancing our presence in Europe, APAC and the US." Josh Mackey, Vice President, Silicon Valley Bank, said: "We're pleased to provide this credit facility to VidCrunch as the Company continues to expand to more publishers in more territories with an exceptional retention rate. Our goal is to provide the Company with the right financing, connections and global services it needs to be successful." About VidCrunch VidCrunch, builds technology that creates engaging bespoke content at scale for websites and apps. The company developed a content advertising technology that helps sites keep audiences longer and consume more of the site's content. VidCrunch solutions drive user engagement, retention, and increase revenues for global digital publishers across verticals from news, sports, food, and DIY to ecommerce shops and even DTC brands. Learn more at VidCrunch.com About Silicon Valley Bank For nearly 40 years, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) has helped innovative companies and their investors move bold ideas forward, fast. SVB provides targeted financial services and expertise through its offices in innovation centers around the world. With commercial, international, and private banking services, SVB helps address the unique needs of innovators. Learn more at svb.com. SOURCE VidCrunch Related Links vidcrunch.com Within only 18 months of identifying the opportunity, the company has been able to rapidly define this globally significant resource estimate and shares have jumped in early trade. High-resolution SEM imagery of samples showing high-aspect ratio halloysite tubes and kaolinite plates (left) and individual kaolinite plates and booklets (right). ( ) (FRA:XL5) is on Cloud Nine after establishing a globally significant maiden inferred mineral resource estimate of 207 million tonnes at Noombenberry Kaolin-Halloysite Project in Western Australia. Cloud Nine is the first deposit defined within the larger Noombenberry project and potential to become the single-largest undeveloped kaolin-halloysite deposit in Australia with potential for future growth. Prepared by independent consultant RSC Global Pty Ltd, the estimate comprises two separate domains: 123 million tonnes of bright, white kaolin bearing material; and 84 million tonnes of kaolin / halloysite-bearing material. It really puts us on the map Latin Resources exploration manager Tony Greenaway said: We are thrilled to have identified this globally significant kaolin-halloysite resource within only 18 months since acquiring the Noombenberry Project. It really puts us on the map in this emerging sector and provides a remarkable opportunity to potentially push Latin from explorer to producer within a brief period. Shares were almost 20% higher to A$0.085 and at that price, the companys market cap was approximately A$110 million. Expediting drilling The company intends to expedite the next round of drilling to elevate some of the resources to the indicated or measured classification for the purposes of a pre-feasibility study (PFS), which will be funded with existing cash of more than $4 million at end of March 2021. Greenaway added: We look forward to commencing the next round of drilling in July, which will have a dual focus of both uplifting the current resources to indicated or measured status, and resource growth. The halloysite sub-domain yields 50 million tonnes grading 6% halloysite using a 1% halloysite cut-off, or 27 million tonnes grading 8% halloysite using a 5% halloysite cut-off within the minus 45- micron (-45 m) subfraction. Cloud Nines global kaolinised granite resource contains a total of 73 million tonnes of bright white (+75 ISO-B) kaolin product with an ISO-B of 79 in the -45 m size fraction, or 29Mt of ultra-bright white (+80 ISO-B) kaolin product with an ISO-B of 82. Massive result adds enormous value Executive director Chris Gale also reflects the companys confidence by saying: My fellow directors and I are extremely pleased that Latin has achieved this outstanding milestone for the company. Our exploration team has excelled in defining a world-class deposit despite the challenges of a difficult COVID environment. This massive result adds enormous value to LRS and will elevate the company to a new level. We will now look to fast-track the deposit through to development as quickly as possible to take advantage of the buoyant mineral prices. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to the landowners in Merredin for being so accommodating during the exploration and drilling process." Next round of drilling in July Latin Resources plans to begin technical studies to feed into a PFS, along with its next round of drilling to start in July 2021 aimed at extending the resource to the north and increasing the confidence of the resource estimate to JORC indicated and measured classification. The PFS will consider supply to a range of traditional end-users of kaolin-halloysite, as well as investigating the potential for downstream marketing of the high-grade halloysite to emerging new applications, including the carbon-capture and hydrogen storage markets. With cash of $4 million in hand at end of March 2021, no debt, and very low drilling costs due to the shallow deposit and limited cover, Latin is well placed to deliver infill drilling and resource growth with existing cash resources. The company has confirmed the presence of a significant chargeability anomaly within the Needles Property and plans to begin a program comprising three 500-metre deep diamond drill holes in Q3. Encouraged by results, the company is planning to escalate the work program. 's ( ) detailed modelling of data from a January 2021 DC/IP survey utilising two separate techniques has confirmed the presence of a large chargeability anomaly within the Needles Property in Nevada, USA. The company has interpreted that the anomaly reflects the presence of disseminated pyrite mineralisation with which gold maybe associated. This data modelling, along with Astros seismic survey, has also indicated the presence of numerous cross-cutting structures that may contain high-grade gold mineralisation within the shallowly dipping volcanic host rocks and three major post-mineralisation structures that appear to confine the chargeability anomaly. Confirming Needles prospectivity The company now plans to begin a diamond drilling program comprising three 500-metre deep drill holes to test the anomaly in the September quarter with a fourth hole to target mineralisation beneath the Tomahawk Shaft and workings. Astro chairman Jacob Khouri said: The confirmation of the significant chargeability anomaly within the Needles Property, which is believed to reflect the presence of significant disseminated pyrite and possible gold mineralisation, is highly encouraging. As a result, the Astro board has escalated the proposed work program with the aim of confirming the high prospectivity of the Needles Project as quickly as possible. The decision to undertake a four-hole campaign reflects the boards confidence in the Needles Project. Expanded exploration budget Before the results of the geophysical programs were available, Astro estimated a drilling and reporting budget of around A$720,000 for shallower testing using a RC rig. The positive results from these programs have enabled the company to expand this budget to A$1.3 million - the estimated cost of drilling four diamond drill-holes and subsequent analysis and reporting. These diamond drill holes will provide important additional data, including structural orientation of mineralisation from drill core measurements, and will also provide the opportunity to run a sonic log and/or a vertical seismic profile survey - which will help confine the depth of already located structures and stratigraphic horizons. It will enable realistic estimations of the electrical properties from measurements of the core, which will provide addition constraints on the DC/IP interpretation. Map of Needles property showing DC/IP and seismic survey lines and the chargeability anomaly. Planned drilling in Q3 Astro is proceeding to securing a contract driller to undertake the necessary work and has been in discussion with two suitable drilling companies, both of which have indicated availability if personnel can be obtained. The company is also applying to the Bureau of Lands Management (BLM) for the necessary approvals to undertake the work which is expected to get underway in the third quarter of 2021. Astro has engaged a Nevada based environmental and permitting consulting company, EM Strategies Inc, to carry out required environmental studies across the target area which are in progress. The FEED study will support the commencement of operations at the wholly-owned Ovoot Coking Coal Project in the Khuvsgul aimag of northwestern Mongolia. The FEED Study will be conducted in a phased approach, over a period of around five months. ( ) (FRA:WKU) has awarded a contract for the preparation of a front end engineering and design (FEED) study on Coal Handling and Preparation Plant (CHPP) infrastructure in Mongolia to CIMIC Group Ltds (ASX:CIM) (FRA:WKU) wholly-owned minerals processing company, Sedgman Pty Limited. The FEED study will support the commencement of operations at the wholly-owned Ovoot Coking Coal Project (OCCP) in the Khuvsgul aimag (province) of northwestern Mongolia. Innovative solution Sedgman managing director Grant Fraser said: Sedgman appreciated the opportunity to work with Aspire and is focused on delivering value through progressing an innovative solution for the project. This study is a great opportunity to work with one of our longstanding clients to support the future development of the OCCP. FEED study The FEED Study will be conducted in a phased approach over a period of around five months. Stage 1 will comprise trade-off analyses to identify the most appropriate concepts and technologies, which will take about eight weeks, and Stage 2 will then focus on the agreed path and will produce accurate estimates of capital and operating costs and designs to enable tendering for construction. This work will be completed under a schedule of rates arrangement, with the total cost estimated at A$600,000. The intended CHPP infrastructure to be investigated will be based on existing modular designs and will enable low impact processing of approximately 1.5 million tonnes per annum of run-of-mine (ROM) coal with capability for later expansion. Important criteria for the design include low energy and water consumption, and stringent dust control. Export credit finance Aspire will work with Sedgman on identifying opportunities for the CHPP infrastructure construction to qualify for export credit finance assistance. Despite ongoing difficulties in Khuvsgul and Mongolia in general as a result of COVID-19 infections and control measures, the company continues to progress engineering, permitting and financing work on road, rail terminal, equipment and other infrastructure. Sedgman Sedgman is an industry leader in the fields of design, construction, commissioning and operations of minerals processing facilities. It has provided technical input and various studies supporting the economics of the OCCP from discovery of the deposit in 2010. It also has Mongolian-specific experience and plans to draw from this experience and engage local Mongolian subcontractor(s) to deliver the FEED Study with appropriate consideration of in-country requirements. Ottawa, May 31 : The Canadian government lowered flags at half-mast to commemorate the deaths of 215 Indigenous children whose remains were found in a former residential school in Kamloops city last week. "To honour the 215 children whose lives were taken at the former Kamloops residential school and all Indigenous children who never made it home, the survivors, and their families, I have asked that the Peace Tower flag and flags on all federal buildings be flown at half-mast," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted on Sunday. Trudeau's order came a day after Stacey Laforme, chief of Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations (MCFN) in Ontario, issued an open letter to him, urging the government to lower the flags and declare a national day of mourning, reports Xinhua news agency. "We call on the Prime Minister to lower flags of this country and declare a national day of mourning for our children," Laforme's open letter posted on Twitter said. "These children were forcibly taken by the state. They died at a church-run residential school and were buried without dignity." An online petition on Change.org has also been circulating, calling on the Trudeau government to establish a national day of mourning in honour of the children. As of Sunday afternoon, it has amassed nearly 9,000 signatures. On May 27, the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation in Kamloops city, British Columbia province, announced that a ground-penetrating radar uncovered the remains at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. Among the victims, some were three years old. The children were assumed to have been lost or runaway in Canada's residential school system. The Kamloops school operated between 1890 and 1969. The Canadian government took over the operation from the Catholic church to operate as a day school until it closed in 1978. At one point, it was the largest in Canada's residential school system. Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission issued its final report on residential schools in 2015. The report detailed the harsh mistreatment inflicted on Indigenous children at the institutions, where at least 3,200 children died amid abuse and neglect. Cairo, May 31 : Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his visiting Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi discussed solidifying the ongoing ceasefire in place between Israel and the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip, as well as ways to revive the Israel-Palestine peace process. The trip is the first formal visit by an Israeli Foreign Minister to Egypt in nearly 13 years. During their meeting on Sunday, Shoukry and Ashkenazi agreed to continue consultations between the two countries and the Palestinian Authority "to explore ways out of the current stalemate in the peace track", the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The talks also addressed the necessary measures to facilitate the reconstruction of Gaza Strip following the recent Israeli bombings that caused massive damages to the enclave's infrastructure. Egypt has allocated $500 million for the reconstruction. Ashkenazi's visit came 10 days after the Egypt-brokered ceasefire on May 21 that ended the 11-day bloodshed in and around the Gaza Strip, which left at least 248 Palestinians and 12 Israelis dead. During the meeting, Shoukry called for taking further measures during the current truce to reinforce calm and provide the necessary conditions for "creating an atmosphere conducive to reviving the desired political path". He also reiterated Egypt's fixed position in support of the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital based on the 1967 borders. The Foreign Minister also referred to the two-state solution as "the only way to achieve just and lasting peace, as well as the desired regional security and stability", emphasizing the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. On his part, Ashkenazi said that "Egypt is an important regional ally, committed to security and stability, and the maintenance and expansion of peace in the region". "We all need to act to prevent strengthening extremist elements that threaten regional stability, and to ensure the return home of the missing persons and prisoners held by Hamas," he said. The top Israeli diplomat added that he and Shoukry also "discussed enhancing economic and trade cooperation, including the renewal of direct flights between our countries". Ashkenazi's trip to Cairo coincided with Egypt's sending of a high-profile security delegation to Israel and Palestine to discuss related issues and thetruce. The security delegation will discuss ways to reach a comprehensive truce in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. United Nations, May 31 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for global partnership to tackle climate change and strive towards inclusive green growth. He made the appeal in a video message at the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 Summit hosted by South Korea on Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency. "The title of this initiative expresses exactly what the world needs now, global partnership: partnership to beat Covid-19 and build a better recovery, partnership to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, and partnership to address climate change," he told the summit. Tackling climate change head-on will help protect the most vulnerable people from the next crisis while sustaining a job-rich recovery from Covid-19, according to Guterres. The first priority is no new coal plants and a phase-out of coal use by 2030 in the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and 2040 in the rest of the world, the UN chief added. "As well as the emissions gap, I am deeply concerned about the finance and adaptation gaps." He further said that developed countries are yet to deliver on their commitment of $100 billion per year as adaptation assistance. "We urgently need a breakthrough on adaptation and resilience. I am asking all donor countries to significantly enhance their financial commitments. That includes allocating 50 per cent of climate finance to adaptation and providing a higher level of grants." The G7 Summit in June needs to deliver on all these objectives, Guterres said, adding that it is not a global partnership if some are left struggling to survive. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Chennai, May 31 : The workers union at the Franco-Japanese joint venture plant Renault Nissan Automotive India Private Ltd has decided not to report for duty on Monday till Covid-19 safety measures are put in place. In a statement issued here, Renault Nissan India Thozhilalar Sangam (RNITS) said, its Executive Committee considered the apprehension of workers about their safety and not wanting to risk their lives. According to the Union, the company management was not inclined to reduce production by cutting down the footfalls to maintain the social distance inside the plant. The Union said, social distance is not maintained in the car plant's body shop conveyor line. That apart, the management did not give the Union any acceptance to their demand of rehabilitation measures for the family members of the workers who died due to the Covid-19 and with respect to the medical treatment for affected workers. "So far 200 workers alone have been vaccinated with the 1st dose of the vaccine and they also have not developed immunity. The union's request for operating line 1 in 3 shifts and line 2 in 2 shifts so as to ensure social distancing through reduced footfall, has not been accepted by the management," RNITS has written to the company management. Last week, the RNITS had declared an indefinite boycott of work from May 26 onwards till Covid-19 safety measures are implemented in the factory. "Five workers have died and about 850 have been infected with the coronavirus at Renault Nissan Automotive since last year," K. Balaji Krishnan, President RITS had earlier told IANS. Later Renault Nissan Automotive decided to close down the plant for five days -- May 26 to May 30- and restart production on May 31. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text I started on channel 13 with our friend Ybeth Bruzual, who I know that you and I have a lot of affection for. She has always been for me, everything, everything a sister, but also an example of how to do journalism in this city, and as a mother and wife, Alvarez said. I started with her and I was 23 years old, so do the math. If Ive been here for 20 years, you know how old I am. New Delhi, May 31 : Ahead of its initial public offering (IPO) this year, supply chain services provider Delhivery has reportedly raised $277 million in its latest round of funding, taking its market valuation to nearly $3 billion. According to a TechCrunch report, Delhivery disclosed the finding in its latest regulatory filing that has been led by US-headquartered investment firm Fidelity. Other investors reportedly are "Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC, Abu Dhabi's Chimera and UK's Baillie Gifford". When contacted, Delhivery refused to comment on the funding at the moment. Delhivery, a leading fulfillment platform for digital commerce, has raised about $1.23 billion to date. Earlier this year, Delhivery announced to expand its footprint by opening two new tech offices in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad, that will take its workforce strength to more than 500 employees in the country. It currently has more than 350 employees and centres in Gurgaon, Goa, and Hyderabad (in India), and Seattle in the US. "The current expansion ensures we stay ahead of the curve with tech and data science being the core business differentiators," said Kapil Bharati, Co-founder and CTO, Delhivery. Delhivery currently provides supply chain services at over 17,500 pin codes across 2,300 cities. It has fulfilled over 850 million transactions since inception and works with over 10,000 direct customers, which includes large and small e-commerce participants, SMEs, and leading enterprises and brands. Lucknow, May 31 : For the second consecutive year, the annual festival of 'Bada Mangal' will not be held at its usual scale in the city. Hanuman temples in the state capital have decided not to organize festivities on Bada Mangal in view of the second wave of Covid pandemic and safety protocols. Like last year, devotees will be able to witness live-streaming of the puja organized by various temples. The Bada Mangal is a festival held on all Tuesdays in the Hindu month of 'Jyesth' and is peculiar to Lucknow. The festival, believed to be 400 years' old, is mainly celebrated in Lucknow. The 'Bada Mangal' has an interesting story behind it. According to historians, the Hanuman temple in Aliganj was constructed by Nawab Saadat Ali Khan in 1798 when his mother Aliya Begum's prayers were answered and the Nawab was blessed with a son. Aliya Begum insisted on building the temple and the Nawab complied. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, the last nawab of Avadh, continued the tradition by holding community feasts for Hanuman devotees. The Aliganj temple has a star and a crescent on the dome and the Bada Mangal festival is a perfect example of Hindu-Muslim unity. There are over 9,000 big and small Hanuman temples in Lucknow who open their doors at the stroke of midnight and devotees continue to offer prayers for the entire day. Devotees set up large bhandaras (community kitchen) across the city to distribute food and water. From halwa-puri, aloo-kachori, chola-chawal, kadhi chawal, chowmein, burgers, sandwiches to juice -- the bhandaras have a variety of dishes on the menu. This year, there are four auspicious Tuesdays - June 1, June 8, June 15 and June 22 - on which Bada Mangal will be celebrated. Temples will remain closed for devotees on the first Bada Mangal on June 1. Temple administrations will decide about the remaining Tuesdays later. "If we go by the district administration rules of allowing five people at a time inside the temple, then also maintenance of Covid protocol will not be easy. Therefore, livestreaming of 'aarti' will be done," said Diwakar Tripathi, secretary of Shri Sankat Mochan Hanuman Ji Trust. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Ramallah, May 31 : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and visiting Egyptian Intelligence Minister Abbas Kamel discussed ways to stabilise the ongoing ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the reconstruction of the besieged coastal enclave. During the meeting on Sunday, the two top officials reviewed the recent developments in the Palestinian territories related to the ceasefire, which Abbas said should include not only the Gaza Strip, but also East Jerusalem and the West Bank, Xinhua news agency. They also discussed the internal Palestinian division and the reconciliation dialogue between Abbas' Fatah party and the Islamist Hamas movement that rules the Gaza Strip. Kamel, who met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier on Sunday, is scheduled to arrive in the Gaza Strip on Monday to hold talks with Hamas leaders on stabilising the ceasefire. On May 21, Egypt brokered a ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas that ended 11 days of violence between the two sides in the besieged Gaza Strip. The fighting left 254 Palestinians and 12 Israelis dead, and also caused massive damages to the buildings and infrastructure in Gaza. Also on Sunday, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye met the new European Union's Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, Sven Koopmans here to discuss the revival of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process that has stalled since 2014. Ishtaye said in a statement that it is important to fill the political vacuum by presenting a European initiative on resuming the stalled peace process to reach a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Tel Aviv, May 31 : Former Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett, also leader of the pro-settler party of Yamina, announced that he has accepted a coalition deal with centrist Yair Lapid to form "the government of change" to oust Benjamin Netanyahu, the country's longest-serving Prime Minister. Bennett said in a statement on Sunday that he and Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, will work to put together a coalition government following the March 23 elections, reports Xinhua news agency. "I intend to do all I can to form a unity government with my friend Yair Lapid to rescue the county from the tailspin and return Israel to its course," he added. Bennett, a former ally of Netanyahu, said he took the step in order to prevent yet another election after four inconclusive elections in two years. Israel has held four elections in the past two years but all have failed to produce a clear majority. Lapid's centrist party came in second in the elections on March 23, behind Netanyahu's right-wing Likud. After the March elections, Netanyahu had failed to form a government, so President Reuven Rivlin appointed Lapid to do so. He has until Wednesday to form a new coalition government. Bennett and Lapid have agreed to rotate as Prime Ministers, with Bennett serving first, according to Israel's state-owned Kan TV news. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, May 31 : Though the unlocking process in Delhi has begun on Monday, traders' body here showed deep disappointment over the government's move, requesting Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to review the decision. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) in its appeal to Kejriwal said there is no meaning of the decision for about 15 lakh traders in Delhi as they are still not allowed to operate their business activities. Citing Delhi government's order, CAIT said only construction activities and factories have been allowed to open but the markets will remain closed till June 7 till 5 a.m. and the traders of Delhi have no choice but to wait for one more week. "Without having markets open, how the construction activities will be operative in absence of required building material and other items," said Praveen Khandelwal, Secretary General CAIT. Likewise, Khandelwal said, the factories will also face the same music since raw material required by them for production will also be not available because the markets in Delhi are closed. It is to be remembered that construction activities, factories and shops are synonymous to each other, Khandelwal pointed out. Despite being much larger state than Delhi and the positivity rate also comparatively high, Khandelwal further said, neighbouring Uttar Pradesh has allowed all business activities to open during working hours from Monday. "But Delhi, which has positivity rate of almost 1.5 per cent and less than 900 cases per day, has preferred to keep the markets closed without realising the miseries being faced by Delhi traders on account of closure of shops past more than one month." The CAIT also said that concern of keeping Covid under control is appreciable but at the same time a judicious decision was anticipated where markets could have been opened with staggered timings and classifying Delhi trade into wholesale and retail verticals while observing Covid safety protocols. "There could have been other options also but sadly the Delhi government did not consult the traders nor representations given by various trade associations were considered." Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Abuja, May 31 : Police in Nigeria have confirmed that a group of unidentified gunmen killed one perosn and abducted students following an attack on a school in the state of Niger. Adamu Usman, police chief in Niger state, told Xinhua news agency late Sunday that the attack took place earlier in the day in the Salihu Tanko Islamiya School in Tegina town. A large number of the gunmen on motorcycles stormed the town, shooting indiscriminately and killing one resident in the process, said Usman. He, however, declined to give the exact number of students kidnapped during the attack. Local media reported over 200 students were kidnapped. The school is an unconventional one where parents send their children on a daily basis for the purpose of acquiring Islamic education, according to the local broadcaster Channels Television. Niger police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun told Xinhua that the security agency is yet to ascertain how many children were abducted from the school. An investigation has been launched to that effect. Ghana, May 31 : Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended Mali from the sub-regional bloc until the restoration of democratic rule in the country hit by a political turmoil, an official said. Addressing the media on Sunday on behalf of the heads of state after their one-day extraordinary summit in Ghana, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, chair of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, said that Mali had been tasked to keep to the transitional timetable and restore the country to democratic rule by next February, reports Xinhua news agency. "The heads of state decided to go according to the treaty of democracy and good governance, to suspend Mali from ECOWAS with immediate effect," said Botchway. At the same time, she said the leadership of the Nigeria-based sub-regional bloc would work with Mali to ensure that the transition remains on track toward the end goal of returning Mali to democratic rule by February 2022. Botchway, who is also Ghana's Foreign Minister, added that another decision of the heads of state was that "within the next few days Mali should appoint a civilian Prime Minister to guide the transitional process." "The leaders are also asking the international community to continue to engage Mali to ensure that they do not derail the transitional process. The coup in Mali is something ECOWAS frowns upon because it has repercussions for the rest of West Africa," Botchway added. The ECOWAS summit was summoned after Colonel Assimi Goita, who led a military coup in the West African nation of Mali last week, was named the interim President. Bah N'Daw, president of the transition government, and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane were forced to resign from their positions after being detained for several days following the coup. The coup was staged after the military's anger over a cabinet reshuffle that saw two senior military officers stripped of their positions. New Delhi, May 31 : The Supreme Court on Monday told the Centre to give reasons if the government is departing from the decision taken last year, amid the Covid pandemic, in connection with the class XII board exams. The top court suggested that the policy adopted last year can also be adopted this year. Attorney General (AG) K.K. Venugopal, representing the Centre, urged the top court to give him time till Wednesday to come back with a decision on cancelling of class XII board exams due to the pandemic. A bench comprising Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari told the AG, "you take a decision, but if you are departing from the decision taken last year in connection with the exams, then you must give us good reasons." The bench emphasized that the policy which was adopted previous year can be adopted this year too and reiterated that if Centre is departing from the notification issued earlier then it should have good tangible reason. The AG replied that a meeting has been called to take a decision on the issue. The bench responded, "Take whatever decision that's appropriate but what has been expressed by the petitioner is that last year's policy should be followed." The bench further queried the AG, a notification was issued last year, why can it not be continued this year? After a brief hearing in the matter, the top court adjourned the case to Thursday. The petition filed by advocate Mamta Sharma urged the top court to issue directions to the boards to cancel the Class XII examinations, instead devise an objective methodology to declare the result within a specific time-frame. "The Covid-19 situation is more severe in comparison to last year and require the respondents to adopt the same criteria of assessing the grading/marks of class XII students as done in the last year", said the plea. The plea contended that notifications issued by CBSE and ICSE deferring the exams to an unspecified date should be quashed, adding that students cannot be subjected to suffer uncertainty amid unprecedented public health crisis. The plea contended that it is a fit case wherein the top court may exercise its power under Article 142 of the Constitution to direct the respondents to implement the same methodology, which is being adopted for class X to declare the result and cancel the examination for Class XII. Last year, amid the pandemic the top court had asked boards to determine and declare Class 12 exam results on the basis of earlier assessment of students. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Chennai, May 31 : The workers union at the Franco-Japanese joint venture plant Renault Nissan Automotive India Private Ltd has decided not to report for duty on Monday till Covid-19 safety measures are put in place. On the other hand, workers at Hyundai Motor India Ltd, Ford India Private Ltd and Eicher Motors Ltd have reported for work and the company's plants are operational. In a statement issued here, Renault Nissan India Thozhilalar Sangam (RNITS) said, its Executive Committee considered the apprehension of workers about their safety and not wanting to risk their lives. According to the Union, the company management was not inclined to reduce production by cutting down the footfalls to maintain the social distance inside the plant. The Union said, social distance is not maintained in the car plant's body shop conveyor line. That apart, the management did not give the Union any acceptance to their demand of rehabilitation measures for the family members of the workers who died due to the Covid-19 and with respect to the medical treatment for affected workers. "So far 200 workers alone have been vaccinated with the 1st dose of the vaccine and they also have not developed immunity. The union's request for operating line 1 in 3 shifts and line 2 in 2 shifts so as to ensure social distancing through reduced footfall, has not been accepted by the management," RNITS has written to the company management. Last week, the RNITS had declared an indefinite boycott of work from May 26 onwards till Covid-19 safety measures were implemented in the factory. "Five workers have died and about 850 have been infected with the coronavirus at Renault Nissan Automotive since last year," K. Balaji Krishnan, President RITS had earlier told IANS. Later Renault Nissan Automotive decided to close down the plant for five days -- May 26 to May 30- and restart production on May 31. Meanwhile factories of Hyundai Motor, Ford India and Eicher Motor have restarted their production after a couple of days of closure in the wake of Covid-19 spread. "The Hyundai Motor car plant has restarted after a couple of days. Even during that period a couple of employees have died due to Covid-19," Hyundai Motor India Employees Union (HMIEU) President E. Muthukumar told IANS. Citing the Covid-19 spread, the HMIEU has requested the management to close the factory till June 7, the time when the state lockdown comes to an end. The HIMIEU has also asked the management to deploy only 50 per cent of the workforce if it considers the operations are necessary on alternate days. Speaking to IANS an official of the union in Ford India said, the factory has started working and talks are on with the management on our demands like financial compensation for the families of the workers who succumb to Covid-19. According to the Union official, the Ford India management has explained the necessity of running the plant as they are not sure when the full lockdown would be declared by the state government. At the Eicher Motors plant near here, workers have started rolling out the two wheelers. A worker told IANS that the management has told them that components for three days production is available at the factory and after that decision will be taken. Eicher Motors workers also told IANS that the management should show some compassion in settling the dues of workers who died of Covid-19 or other reasons. (Venkatachari Jagannathan can be contacted at v.jagannathan@ians.in) Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text London, May 31 : Inserting breathing tubes early may reduce Covid-19 patients' ICU stay by a week, claims a study. The study, led by researchers at McMaster University and the University of Toronto in Canada, looked at tracheostomies, which are a procedure that helps patients breathe through tubes, the Daily Mail reported. The findings, published in the peer-reviewed medical journal JAMA Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, showed that tracheostomy shortened Covid patients' stay in the ICU when it was done within two weeks of their arrival. In addition, the procedure didn't pose a significant risk to healthcare workers if they use personal protective equipment, the report said. One of Covid's severe symptoms is the inability to breathe on one's own. The virus causes mucus and other fluids to block patients' lungs, making it difficult for air to get through. In the usual scenario, doctors insert a breathing tube into a patient -- in a procedure called tracheostomy -- on patients after spending two weeks on a ventilator. The procedure involves cutting a hole into a patient's neck -- connected to their windpipe -- and hooking that tube up to the ventilator. It helps air flow more easily into the lungs. But, the medical community has different opinions on performing the procedure -- and its timing. To examine what benefits the procedure may have for patients, the team conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 69 studies. The results conflict with past guidance to physicians, which recommends waiting 14 days to give a patient breathing tubes so that the doctor can ensure they really do need breathing help for an extended period of time. Another concern, especially when it's done earlier is that it can endanger the healthcare workers tending to ICU patients. While cutting into a patient's neck or moving a ventilator during this procedure, coronavirus particles will escape from the patient. This is a riskier process when it's done soon after a patient has arrived at the hospital, since Covid patients tend to be at a higher risk of infecting others within the first two weeks of their disease. The National Institute of Health recommends extreme caution during tracheostomies for this reason. The researchers found, however, that only five per cent of studies in their summary analysis reported healthcare workers testing positive after a breathing tube procedure, the report said. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) The SUV, driven by a 28-year-old man from Kissimmee, first struck the guardrail before crashing into the Hyundai, ejecting the woman from her vehicle. She was not wearing her seat belt. Mumbai, May 31 : Actress Kangana Ranaut paid a visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar for the first time with her family. She posted pictures of her visit on Instagram on Monday and shared that she was stunned and speechless with its beauty. Kangana was accompanied by her sister Rangoli, nephew and mother. In the images, she is posing with her family against the backdrop of the stunning Golden Temple. "Today I visited Sri Harmandir Sahib Golden temple, even though I grew up in north and almost everyone in my family has already visited the temple many times only for me it was first time ....speechless and stunned with Golden temple's beauty and divinity..." Kangana captioned the pictures. Image Source: IANS News On Saturday, Kangana had shared pictures with family members saying that she is happy to spend time with them after recovering from Covid-19 recently. Kangana will be seen in the film "Thalaivi". She is also part of the films "Tejas" and "Dhaakad", and recently announced a film under her banner Manikarnika Films titled "Tiku Weds Sheru". -- Syndicated from IANS Mumbai, May 31 : Amitabh Bachchan has reminisced about his journey in filmdom on social media. Looking back at his over five-decade career, he said that he still wonders how it all went by. The thespian shared a collage of his looks in highlights films on Instagram in the early hours of Monday. The films featured in the collage include his debut film Saat Hindustani, which released in 1969, along with Deewaar, Zanjeer, Abhimaan, Coolie, Khuda Gawah, Sooryavansham, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Baghban, Paa, Sarkar and Gulabo Sitabo. "52 years .. !!! Goodness .. thank you Ef Moses for this compilation .. still wondering how it all went by," Big B wrote as the caption. The veteran actor has donated resources to help set up a 25-bed oxygen facility in Juhu. He teamed up with producer Anand Pandit for the philanthropic act. Bachchan stars in Pandit's production "Chehre". The theatrical release of the film has been postponed for now owing to the Covid outbreak. -- Syndicated from IANS New Delhi, May 31 : Most investors want to invest in ways that would generate high returns with little or no risk. With the pandemic hovering around us, making an investment in the fitness segment could be an ideal choice, believes an expert. Fitness is one of the fastest-growing industries as people of all ages have become aware of the importance of keeping themselves healthy, fit and safe. Investing in a fitness franchise, for instance, could be an ideal opportunity to generate good returns as demand would soar over time. The risks are low and the returns are high. You not only generate good income, but you contribute to the social good. Praveen Chirania, Founder, Muscle and Strength India, outlines how this investment could be beneficial: Ease of marketing and brand building Many benefits flow from a fitness franchise model. The franchise owner has done the heavy lifting, which allows you to capitalize on the market without putting in years of establishing a brand. With an established brand comes customer loyalty and wider reach. Franchises can help provide a blueprint for success. The business as well as branding through ambassadors are already built and has a rich history. All that franchisee has to do is to market a product that is already popular. This means you can spend more energy on focusing on other areas of your business and less on marketing yourself and your business. Good return on investment and ancillary sources of revenue Fitness franchisees have the opportunity to drive profitability by choosing a franchise with a great business model. The fitness industry has a vast pool of opportunities for revenue. When you own a fitness health club franchise, you generate bulk of your revenue from membership fees. However, good health club models understand that there are other ways to enhance revenue like health and weight loss products, personal training, classes, brand name apparel, and amenities like day care. Nowadays people prefer a lot of supplements over and above the normal fitness routine and like to stay fit over a longer term. All these are diverse and stable sources of revenue. The advantage of turn-key operations Successful franchise models, with experience, provide their franchise owners a turn-key type operation. The majority of fitness franchises provides the blueprint for success and assist with financing, selection of location, equipment leasing, and marketing. This means when the doors open, you are ready to go and the business should be able to run itself. This is almost an automatic process. Making a difference in people's lives There are few businesses where you can help make a change in people's lives. People join a health club to be healthier, have better self-esteem, and reduce stress. When you own a fitness business, you are truly having an impact on your members. The overall goal of investing in a fitness business has a social benefit to it too as it would reach more people to take care of their health. Many fitness franchise owners also enjoy their time at work and look forward to it. Better work-life balance and time to work on other ventures Having competent and dedicated staff can ensure that business runs smoothly. A lot of the revenue is generated on through automatic payments and so control of sales is less. This means more time to spend with family or on other business ventures. A franchisor offers support throughout the whole journey from before you open your outlet to beyond. Business support, marketing materials and direction, and training are all readily available from the franchisor. You're investing in a proven business model, one of the main reasons why a person may choose to go into a business with a franchise. A franchise is also a lucrative career opportunity that will provide all the industry-specific training you need to run a successful business. The idea is that the business owner has already gone through the process of creating the brand, raising awareness, and gaining customer loyalty. Essentially, franchising shows you how to replicate the franchisor's success. Make it fast, own a fitness franchisee and help people maintain their health. The pandemic is the most pressing reason to venture out into this business. (N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe can be contacted at lothungbeni.h@ians.in) Berlin, May 31 : Irish airline, Ryanair on Monday said that an unscheduled landing of a plane in Berlin was due to information received about a possible security threat on board. The flight from Dublin to Krakow was diverted to Berlin on Sunday evening because that was the closest airport, dpa news agency quoted the airline as saying in a statement. The 160 passengers and their luggage were examined by the Police aided by sniffer dogs upon landing and German federal police determined there was no danger. German tabloids Bild and BZ said that there had been a bomb threat, but neither the police nor Ryanair have confirmed those reports. The police search operation went on into the early hours of Monday. Last summer, a Ryanair plane had to make a safety landing on its way from Dublin to Krakow because of an anonymous bomb threat. Irish media reported that nothing was found during the search in London Stansted. Sunday's incident in Berlin comes exactly a week after Belarusian authorities dispatched a fighter jet to force another Ryanair flight to divert to Minsk, where a dissident journalist who was on board was then arrested. Canberra, May 31 : Australian flag carrier, Qantas announced on Monday that it plans to reward travellers with discounts and other incentives if they were vaccinated against Covid-19. Among other things, flight vouchers and bonus points for Australian frequent flyers are planned, airline chief Alan Joyce told the Australian TV station 9News. Special prizes are also to be raffled off, dpa news agency quoted quoted Joyce as saying. "We are looking at giving 1,000 points flight vouchers, credits and we are going to offer 10 mega prizes, at least one for each state and territory, where a family of four get unlimited travel on the Qantas and Jetstar network, anywhere in the network for a year," he said. He said the airline wanted the programme to encourage more Australians to get vaccinated. Joyce invited other companies to follow Qantas' example. So far, only about 2 per cent of the 25 million Australians are fully vaccinated. At the same time, Joyce stressed that he was hopeful that some international services to and from Australia could be resumed by the end of the year. He said Qantas was working with the Australian government and was already sprucing up aircraft and training crews. The country's international borders have been closed since March 2020 in the wake of the pandemic, with exceptions only for residents and Australian citizens. So far, only regular air traffic with New Zealand has resumed. Both countries have so far been very successful in the fight against the coronavirus. Chennai, May 31 : Paediatric wards across Tamil Nadu hospitals are preparing to protect children from a possible third Covid-19 wave. Paediatricians are of the opinion that the number of beds for children in these wards should be increased. In Chennai, the Institute of Child Health (ICH) has 160 beds in two different blocks. Of these 100 beds were handed over to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) which witnessed acute shortage of beds to treat Covid-19 patients, a senior doctor with the ICH said. This was done as there were limited numbers of children who got infected. Presently only 15 children are undergoing treatment in this hospital. Srinivasan, state nodal officer for neonatal care told IANS: "If there is a population shift in the virus and if we require more beds for children, we have plans to convert adult beds to paediatric beds and we are ready with the treatment and management protocols." In Madurai also many hospitals have started adding oxygen supported paediatric beds anticipating a possible spike in Covid- 19 cases. Rajani Varrier, a paediatrician at a private hospital in Madurai told IANS: "Generally in a paediatric ward, we can accommodate 40-50 children and we will be doubling the capacity in the next few days as there could be a surge in cases and we are prepared for that." Official data states that there are 25 neonatal beds and 100 paediatric beds in each of the 37 districts of Tamil Nadu. Srinivasan said: "We have converted most of these paediatric beds as oxygen beds and each district of Tamil Nadu have at least six paediatric resuscitation and emergency beds in each district which is a fair number." Paediatricians see the state government's policy to increase the number of oxygen beds in paediatric wards across the state as a positive measure to fight the probable third wave that might affect children more. Varrier said: "This is a laudable initiative and the state government has taken a far-sighted approach in this and will do good in the long run as there are medical reports globally of the possible third wave in India which may affect children in large numbers and preparedness is important which thankfully the government is doing now." She also said that presently there are a lesser number of children with lung ailments and this is in contrast to the adults who are suffering from serious lung ailments. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) erlin: Police officers stand in front of an apartment door during a raid against smugglers. Photo: Paul Zinken/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa/IANS Image Source: IANS News Berlin, May 31 : The German federal police on Monday carried out raids in several cities targeting organised smuggling of migrants. Starting at 6 a.m., 33 properties were simultaneously searched in Berlin, Hamburg and the states of North Rhine Westphalia, Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony as well as in the Slovakian capital Bratislava, dpa news agency quoted spokesperson for the Criminal Investigation Department here as saying. Around 700 officers were deployed, with the main focus of the operation in Berlin. One of the two main suspects, a Vietnamese national, was arrested there. Another arrest was made in Bratislava. According to the spokesperson, the women are accused of professional smuggling. They are alleged to have smuggled people from Vietnam to Germany via flats in Slovakia. "Smuggling wages" of 13,000 to 21,000 euros ($15,850-$25,600) were demanded, the spokesperson said. The people concerned were then forced to work off the resulting debts in nail or massage studios or in so-called brothel flats, police said. According to the spokesperson, the operation was carried out on behalf of the Berlin Public Prosecutor's Office and the Leipzig Public Prosecutor's Office. This was embedded in investigations by Europol. New Delhi, May 31 : The Supreme Court on Monday shot a volley of tough questions at the Centre in connection with its Covid vaccine policy, and flagged various flaws: shortage of vaccine doses, pricing issues, registration for vaccination and lack of vaccine especially for the rural areas in the country. A bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud was informed by the Centre that it expects to vaccinate all by the end of December 2021. The bench also comprising L. Nageswara Rao and S. Ravindra Bhat cited the discrepancy in the supply of vaccine for different age groups. Justice Bhat queried Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, what is the rationale for dual policy? Centre is procuring certain amount and not willing to give it to states at some rate? Justice Chandrachud noted that for the population above 45 years, procurement is by Centre as of May 1, and for below 45, 50 percent to states is by manufacturers on pro rata basis. He further queried "The price is determined by Centre. What is the basis for Centre to say that for 45 and above we will supply and procure vaccines free of charge and for below 45 states will have logistical arrangements?" The bench told the Centre's counsel that government's rationale was high mortality in 45+ group, but in the second wave this group is not seriously affected, instead it was 18-44 age group. The bench added, "If purpose is to procure vaccines, why should the Centre procure only for over 45?" The bench also asked the Centre, why it has left it to manufacturers to fix price of vaccines, and stressed that Centre has to take over responsibility of one price for the nation. The top court added, why states had to pay more for the vaccines than the Centre. The bench told the Centre that policy makers must have their ears on ground, and told Mehta "You keep on saying digital India but the situation is actually different in rural areas. How will an illiterate labourer, from Jharkhand get registered in Rajasthan? Tell us how you will address this digital divide." Mehta replied registration is mandatory as person needs to be traced for the second dose, and for rural areas, there are community centres for the purpose of registration for the vaccination. The bench asked Mehta to place the policy document on record, as it queried on the viability of the process. Justice Chandrachud remarked please smell the coffee. He told the Centre that the court wants it to smell the coffee and realise what is happening in the country and make the necessary amendments. The top court gave two weeks to the Centre to file its response on these concerns. According to Centre's new "liberalised" policy, states can buy up to 50 per cent of their vaccine needs from manufacturers, although at higher prices than that fixed by it. And, private hospitals have to pay even higher prices. This differential pricing sparked a political uproar, where the Opposition reminding it of its "one nation, one price" war cry. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Seoul, May 31 : North Korean state media on Monday slammed the recent termination of US guidelines limiting South Korea's missile range, accusing Washington of "hostile policy" and "shameful double-dealing", "It is apparently deliberate and hostile act that the US lifted the firing range limit, not content with the removal of the warhead weight limit through the approval of several revised 'missile guidelines'," said an article carried by state news agency KCNA. "The termination step is a stark reminder of the US' hostile policy toward North Korea and its shameful double-dealing," the article said. Earlier this month Seoul and Washington reached an agreement giving South Korea more independence regarding the scope of its missile arsenal, dpa news agency reported. As part a deal dating back to 1979, South Korea agreed to limit the range of any of its missiles to 180 km, in exchange for having access to US missiles and missile technology. The two countries have refined the 1979 agreement multiple times in light of the nuclear threat from North Korea. Recently, South Korea had been allowed to use missiles with a range of up to 800 km with warheads of up to 500 kg. The two countries last year also removed restrictions keeping South Korea from using solid fuel, the use of which allows rockets to be made readier faster. The change in policy should clear the way for South Korea to launch its own espionage satellites. Patna, May 31 : The father of Jyoti Paswan, who shot into limelight as Bihar's 'Bicycle Girl', died on Monday. Jyoti grabbed headlines when she rode a bicycle, carrying her ill father Mohan Paswan, all the way from Gurugram to her native village Sirhauli during the first wave of the Coronavirus pandemic. Mohan had not been keeping well for the last few days. However, it is not yet confirmed whether he died owing to Covid-19. During last year's lockdown, when all transportation systems were shut, Paswan decided to travel from Gurugram in Haryana to Bihar on her bicycle. She travelled close to 1,200 km in eight days to reach her village in in Darbhanga district. Her father was severely ill at that time as well. A large number of villagers assembled at the Paswan residence and consoled Jyoti. Four Florida residents, including William Isaacs of Kissimmee, have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their alleged roles in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol according to a report by Orlando station WKMG. Pune, May 31 : In its commitment to putting employee care at the core, SKF India announced 'COVID-19 support' for employees and their immediate family members in the unfortunate event of an employee passing away due to COVID. The company will provide life insurance cover for the next 3 years and education support for 2 children up to 12th grade. Furthermore, it will also provide a onetime financial assistance of 5 lakhs to the dependents of blue-collar employees. Reaffirming SKF India's commitment Gautam Kumar, CHRO, SKF India Ltd. said, "Employees are a big part of who we are as an organization. We believe in truly caring for them, which is why we constantly go above and beyond to ensure they receive the support in these difficult times. Our task force monitors the situation regularly and provides all the necessary support to our employees across the country including arranging for medical supplies and oxygen cylinders, hospital facilities and home-care isolation facilities among others." Earlier, the company had set up Covid Care Centres across different locations in partnership with DayToDay Healthcare to provide virtual healthcare systems to infected employees. The programme offers comprehensive, individualized, and holistic support that addresses a patient's clinical, physical, and not to forget emotional needs on a day-to-day basis. Under its Community Care principle, SKF has provided medical equipment, PPE kits, Oxygen concentrators, and other medical supplies to local hospitals and frontline workers at different locations across the country. SKF has partnered with the Kraftsamla ('join our forces') programme by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce India to provide livelihood support to vulnerable and marginalized communities severely affected due to the pandemic. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) New Delhi, May 31 : The travel Industry, one of worst affected sectors during the pandemic, is disappointed as the government has so far not come up with a specific economic relief package for it. IATO, one of the apex body tour operators, has expressed deep disappointed over its request for rationalising GST and cascading impact it causes on the tourism industry not even being discussed in the GST Council meeting held last week. Though there is no substitute for resumption of tourism activity which seems far off given the second wave of the pandemic, the apex tourism national body has now pinned its hopes that the government and GST council would sympathise and do its bit and provide succour by lowering the stiff GST which is imposed on the tourism industry. According to Rajiv Mehra, President IATO, "Tourism, more particularly the inbound one, is the worst affected with zero inbound tourism business in the last 14 months and further we see no hope of inbound tourism to start soon. In a scenario like this we were hopeful that our request would be favourably considered in the GST council meeting, but what was disappointing was that it was not even discussed." It is more important to reduce taxes on the tourism industry as Indian tourism stakeholders are going to face very tough competition from our neighbouring countries as they will be coming out with lucrative offers to attract international tourists to their countries, IATO said. Until and unless we reduce taxes on the tourism products, we will not be able to compete with South Asian and other neighbouring countries as tax on tourism in these countries is very low compared to our country, Mehra said. However, IATO is still hopeful that some relief will be favourably considered in the second stimulus package to be announced by the Ministry of Finance considering the crisis this industry is facing. --IANS sn/ash Get Outlook for iOS Singapore, May 31 : Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday accused a journalist he is suing for defamation of being "reckless and malicious" in repeating "sensational allegations" about his relationship with his siblings in a 2019 article. Lee spoke briefly via Zoom during an online-only High Court hearing in which the accused, Malaysian writer Rubaashini Shunmuganathan, did not participate, reports dpa news agency. Local media said the accused failed to show up. The editor of the The Online Citizen, a Singaporean news website which published the article, faces a separate suit over the article, which reported that Ho Ching, Lee's wife, "weirdly" shared a link titled "here's why it is sometimes OK to cut ties with family members". Ho posted the link at the height of a dispute between her husband and his siblings over the fate of the house belonging to their late father, Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Already this year, Lee Hsien Loong has won almost S$300,000 dollars in defamation suits against opposition politician Leong Sze Hian and blogger Roy Ngerng, both of whom crowdfunded the payments after losing in court. Among the major international media to have been successfully sued by the Lees in the past include the New York Times, The Economist, Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal. Singapore ranked a lowly 160 out of 180 countries in the latest global press freedom index published by Reporters Without Borders, which said the government "is always quick to sue journalists", meaning the city-state "does not fall far short of China when it comes to suppressing media freedom". New Delhi, May 31: Amid an increasingly belligerent China, which has set its focus on the South Asian region, India must ensure early or at least timely completion and implementation of all pending initiatives pertaining to economic, infrastructure and trade framework. One of the biggest problems that India faces is the failure in real execution of proposed plans and framework in a timebound manner-whether international or domestic, two analysts India Narrative spoke to said on condition of anonymity. "There is an urgent need to focus on timely execution of projects and framework. Delay in implementation gives rise to uncertainty. Contrast this to China's strategy. It has been very quick and steady in implementation," one of them said, adding that these critical gaps leave a window for Beijing to turn them into opportunities. Foreign policy observers in India said that New Delhi must also start preparing to play a much larger role in the new regional order, especially as an alternative to China as several countries including the US are now looking for newer allies. Covid 19 and its implications The outbreak of Covid 19 has further dented progress. "Though the outbreak of Covid 19 has thrown up huge challenges and derailed progress and implementation of several initiatives in the region, the region has the ability to bounce back. For that countries must enhance co-operation, focus on commonalities, keep aside thorny issues which would take time to resolve. In fact, Covid 19 has also provided a common thread to the countries of the region for increased information exchange and co-operation," Nazneen Ahmed, senior research fellow at Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) told India Narrative. Economic prospects of South Asia While the outbreak of Covid 19 has somewhat derailed economic growth in the region, which is home to about one fourth of the world's population, it has the advantage of a robust domestic demand. A World Bank report published in March said that seamless transport connectivity between India and Bangladesh has the potential to increase national income by as much as 17 per cent in Bangladesh and 8 per cent in India. "Countries in the Bay of Bengal region have not yet managed to achieve their true growth potential because of multiple reasons, which are often political. But now, we need to focus on the common goals based on the shared culture, history and heritage so that implementation of all projects can be expedited," Bipul Chatterjee, Executive Director, CUTS International said. Chatterjee too said that it is critical now to ensure timely early closure. completion and execution of all pending and proposed projects and protocols. (This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/ Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Lucknow, May 31 : Pratap Chandra, a resident of Lucknow has filed a complaint against Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla and others, alleging that he did not develop antibodies despite taking a Covishield dose. The complaint has been filed at Aashiana police station in Lucknow. Those also named in the complaint are DCGA director, Joint Secretary of Health Ministry Luv Agarwal, ICMR director Balram Bhargava, National Health Mission director Aparna Upadhyay, among others. Pratap Chandra has said in the complaint that he received the first dose of Covishield on April 8. Chandra said he was supposed to receive the second dose 28 days later but on the said day, he was told that the date for the second dose had been extended by six weeks. Later, the government revised the time gap between the two doses to 12 weeks. Chandra said that after receiving the first dose of the vaccine, he felt weak and unwell. Citing ICMR director general Balram Bhargav's quotes in media where he had said 'good levels of antibodies are produced in the body after the first dose of Covishield', Chandra took a Covid Antibody GT test from a government-approved lab. The test result revealed that the complainant did not develop any antibodies against Covid-19, instead his platelets had gone down to 1.5 lakh from 3 lakh. Chandra alleged that after taking the vaccine he has become more prone to the virus as his platelet count has been reduced by half. The police have received the complaint but no FIR has been filed in the case. The police said considering the sensitivity of the matter, they have informed the top officials before taking any further action. Meanwhile, the complainant has threatened to move court if an FIR is not registered against the people mentioned in his complaint. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, May 31 : The Delhi Government on Monday started a walk-in vaccination drive for mediapersons and their families free of cost at Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya, DDU Marg, ITO. As per an official statement, the Delhi government said: Mediapersons, along with their families of age groups - 18-45 years and 45 + years can reach the venue for vaccination. While inaugurating a vaccination centre at DDU Marg, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to journalists to get themselves and their families vaccinated at the centre. Kejriwal also said that procurement, production, and distribution of the vaccines is the responsibility of the central government and administering the vaccines to the people is the responsibility of the state governments. Addressing the media, Kejriwal said, "This vaccination centre (at DDU Marg) has been especially started to vaccinate journalists and their families. I am happy that this facility has been launched and the demands of the journalists have been met. This facility will vaccinate journalists and their families of both age groups, 18-45 years and more than 45 years." "We will rectify whatever issues the people are facing. I observed that the portal was facing some issues today. We are working towards resolving those and all the other issues based on the feedback of the people," he added. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Berlin, May 31 : In yet another flight diversion incident involving Ryanair, the Irish airline on Monday announced that a Poland-bound plane made an unscheduled landing in Berlin due to information received about a possible security threat on board. The flight from the Irish capital Dublin to Krakow in Poland was diverted to the German capital at around 8 p.m. on Sunday because that was the closest airport, dpa news agency quoted the airline as saying. The plane was met by a group of police vehicles with lights flashing as it parked in a spot away from the main terminal. The 160 passengers and their luggage were taken off the plane and examined with the help of sniffer dogs, in an operation that lasted until 4 a.m. on Monday. The passengers then continued on with their journey using a replacement aircraft. German federal police said on Monday morning they had determined there was no danger to the aircraft but have yet to release details on the purported threat, saying only that it was a telephone call that had raised alarm. German tabloids Bild and BZ said that there had been a bomb threat, but neither the police nor Ryanair confirmed those reports. Sunday's incident in Berlin comes exactly after a week after Belarusian authorities dispatched a fighter jet to force another Ryanair flight to divert to Minsk, where a dissident journalist who was on board was then arrested along with his girlfriend. Roman Protasevich, a 26-year-old dissident journalist, and his partner were taken into custody after the landing on May 23, prompting a raft of measures by the EU, including restricted access to the bloc's airspace for Belarusian carriers. May 31 : Kangana Ranaut, who is currently spending time with her family, visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar for the first time, and shared photos from her visit on her Instagram handle today. The Panga actress was accompanied by her family members, including her sister Rangoli Chandel, and nephew Prithviraj. Sharing the pictures, Kangana wrote, Today I visited Sri Harmandir Sahib Golden temple, even though I grew up in north and almost everyone in my family has already visited the temple many times only for me it was first time .... speechless and stunned with Golden temples beauty and divinity. After recovering from COVID-19, Kangana jetted off to Manali, her hometown in Himachal Pradesh. In the pictures from the Golden Temple, the actress can be seen posing candidly with her family members against the backdrop of the Golden Temple. In one picture, the actress can be seen with her nephew in her arms, in front of the Golden Temple. In another image, she can be seen taking the kadha prashad. The Queen actor donned an all-blue pastel-coloured churidar set and kept her hair tied in a bun. After returning to her hometown amidst the second wave of the pandemic, the actress has been sharing series of pictures with her family members. In a candid picture, she was seen hugging her mother, while in another, Kangana was seen relaxing with sister Rangoli and spending time with her family members. Most challenging during Covid was the isolation, it was lovely meeting friends and relatives today in Manali, going to meet grandmaa tom in Mandi... she wrote in a post. On the work front, Kangana Ranaut will be next seen in the biopic Thalaivi, where she essays the role of actor-turned-politician J Jayalalithaa. The release of the film was postponed due to the second wave of COVID-pandemic. The actress also has Tejas and Dhaakad in her kitty. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Wellington, May 31 : New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern met her visiting Australian counterpart Scott Morrison on Monday, marking their face-to-face meeting since the onset of the global Covid-19 pandemic last year. The came together for the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders' Meeting in Queenstown, Xinhua news agency reported. The two leaders discussed a range of issues from trade, climate change to Covid-19 response and cooperation. "The Australia-New Zealand relationship is unique in its closeness; we are partners and allies, and we share a relationship of family, of 'whanau' (community). "Through our single economic market, our people-to-people ties and our shared interests in the region and the world, Australia and New Zealand stand together," said a joint statement released by the two Prime Ministers. Ardern and Morrison agreed to continue cooperation on Covid-19 vaccines, including research and development. The premiers undertook to support efforts to ensure the free international movement of medical goods, including vaccines and vaccine components. They noted opportunities to collaborate on initiatives to extend travel options for Pacific neighbours when safe to do so, including through the trans-Tasman quarantine-free travel zone, so as to reconnect with the wider world, the statement said. Ardern and Morrison agreed to sustain close and valuable cooperation on climate change, including in the Pacific and on agricultural emissions. They reiterated their support for the multilateral trading system, and the importance of a well-functioning World Trade Organization in promoting sustainable global economic growth and prosperity, including as part of the Covid-19 recovery, it added. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Jaipur, May 31 : A family fight in one of the most renowned ex-royal families of Rajasthan has come out in the open as former state minister Vishvendra Singh's son Anirudh revealed his differences with his father on his Twitter post on Monday. Anirudh said, "I have not been in touch with my father for 6 weeks now. He has turned violent toward my mother, collected debt, turned alcoholic, and destroyed the businesses of friends who are supporting me. It is not just a difference of political ideologies," he said. Vishvendra Singh has been a staunch supporter of former PCC chief and ex-deputy CM Sachin Pilot and supported Pilot when he rebelled against the Congress state leadership. However, he lost his cabinet portfolio and ever since then he has been upset and vocal about things on his Twitter handle. The ex-minister has now blocked his Twitter handle and has fallen silent since the last few days. Recently, he met Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot triggering speculation about his comeback. On Monday, his son openly announced the growing differences with his father while on Sunday, he shot off a tweet showing his solidarity and support for Pilot. "This is an official statement clarifying my political and ideological beliefs. I strongly stand in support of Shri Sachin Pilot as a political leader, friend and mentor. "His efforts towards development of Rajasthan have been constant and unwavering regardless of position and recognition of powers that may be. That is the kind of leader I respect and that is the reason why I stand in support of him," he said in his post on Sunday. He also retweeted many of the posts he had posted earlier in support of Pilot. Soon after the rebellion, Singh's wife was angry with him for standing by Pilot as his cabinet portfolio was taken away. Speaking to IANS soon after coming back from Manesar, Singh said, "My wife thinks we have committed a grave mistake and is quite angry." Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - The Gambia's Permanent Representative at the United Nations, Lang Yabou, has called on the international community to reach a permanent truce and end the ongoing occupation Palestine by addressing the root causes of the conflict in the interest of peace Taipei, May 31 : Taiwan's worst Covid-19 outbreak seems to be easing thanks to the efforts of medical workers, local governments and ordinary citizens, Central Epidemic Control Command (CECC) chief Chen Shih-chung said on Monday. With a population of 23.6 million, Taiwan has recorded a total of 8,551 coronavirus infections and 124 fatalities, most of which were recorded in the current outbreak which began earlier this month, including 274 new cases and 15 deaths confirmed on Monday, reports dpa news agency. CECC data showed that the confirmed case numbers have declined from a peak of 533 tallied on May 17 to 274 announced on Monday. "In the past few days we can see that the number of cases is declining which is the result of everyone's efforts," Chen told reporters at the daily CECC press briefing. Chen said the critical effective reproduction value, which shows the number of persons that can be infected by an individual, peaked at 15 during May 13-15, but has now declined to 1.02. He said that that the results show that "the epidemic situation is progressing to a controllable scope." Chen also defended the CECC's decision to sign advance procurement contracts with two Taiwan pharmaceutical companies, Medigen Vaccine Company and United Biomedical Inc, for 10 million of doses of Covid-19 vaccine each as in line with international practice. Meanwhile, Taiwan's parliament authorised over $15 billion for Covid-19 related economic and social assistance funds on Monday for people and companies affected by the current outbreak in which over 8,500 have been infected and 124 have died. The revisions extend the tenure of the special act until June 2022 and hike the ceiling for assistance measures by $15.2 billion-$30.4 billion. Officials said the number of people who will benefit will exceed the 5.24 million who received cash payments last year. The Cabinet is expected to finalise the new special budget on Thursday, allowing cash payments to be sent into bank accounts by Friday. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Thiruvananthapuram, May 31 : A Christian priest and 21 others were arrested by the police near Ernakulam on Monday after it was found that they had violated Covid protocols and went ahead with church function in Kerala. The incident occurred at the St Joseph Church near Angamaly when a crowd of people much above the allowed numbers gathered on the occasion of the First Holy Communion of a parishioner. An official attached to the Chengamanad police station which effected the arrest confirmed that 22 people including priest -- George Palamatom has been arrested and later let off on bail. The arrest was done in accordance to the rules and regulations of the violation of lockdown norms. The police arrived at the church after getting a complaint that the number of people present is in excess of the 20 allowed for functions at religious places. This is the first arrest that has been made from a religious place in the state this year, while similar arrests had taken place in the first wave of the Covid pandemic last year. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Mumbai, May 31 : Technology services major Capgemini on Monday said it has bolstered its collaboration with Swedish telecommunications giant Ericsson to accelerate the deployment of 5G solutions via its 5G lab in Mumbai. The multidisciplinary team of experts at the 1,300 square feet lab will accompany and support organisations in their exploration of the latest use cases; experiencing new perspectives on how 5G is transforming their industry; and in helping them to build, monetise, and strategise what 5G brings next for their business, the company said in a statement. "The 5G lab will support our global clients and cater to four main industry categories namely Smart Factory, Smart Utilities, Smart City and Smart Retail to enhance the relevance of the Lab's use cases in the multisectoral paradigm," said Ashwin Yardi, CEO-India at Capgemini and member of the Group Executive Committee. The news comes as the government has reportedly started the process of conducting 5G trials by allotting 5G spectrum to telecom service providers for trials for six months. Ericsson said it has deployed its 'Industry Connect' solution at the 5G lab, which is a plug and play, pre-packaged and pre-integrated dedicated network product with Ericsson pre-selected components. In the 5G lab, it will enable enterprises across different industry verticals like health, safety, manufacturing test out 5G use cases that can be applied by the industry. "We are delighted to collaborate with Capgemini to set up this 5G Lab in India to test potential 5G use cases for enterprises as the country prepares to launch 5G," said Nadine Allen, Head of Enterprise Business, Ericsson South East Asia, Oceania and India. Chennai, May 31 : The Madras High Court on Monday asked the Franco-Japanese car joint venture Renault Nissan Automotive India Private Ltd to complete its study on maintaining social distance at the production line at the earliest. The court also asked the company workers to resume duty on Tuesday and the state government to depute a senior officer to the factory to see the Covid-19 safety protocols there. Hearing the case filed by the Renault Nissan India Thozhilalar Sangam (RNITS) the court directed the company to complete its study on the manner of maintaining the social distance in the production line and corrective measures are taken at the earliest. The court also ordered Renault Nissan Automotive to submit the number of workers suffering from Covid-19, including how many of them are hospitalised and in their homes. While the company submitted that it would provide the workers with face shields and masks the workers had said it would be difficult to work wearing them. On the other hand, they had submitted that the company could look at a reduction in production volume that would result in maintaining social distance. The counsel for RNITS said the workers didn't report for duty on Monday as the company did not adhere to the Covid-19 safety protocol. According to him, the exemption from the lockdown given to the factory is on the condition that Covid-19 safety measures are followed. The court also observed that worker's safety cannot be compromised for production volume. Earlier RNITS said, its Executive Committee considered the apprehension of workers about their safety and not wanting to risk their lives. According to the Union, the company management was not inclined to reduce production by cutting down the footfalls to maintain the social distance inside the plant. The Union said, social distance is not maintained in the car plant's body shop conveyor line. That apart, the management did not give the Union any acceptance to their demand of rehabilitation measures for the family members of the workers who died due to the Covid-19 and with respect to the medical treatment for affected workers. "So far 200 workers alone have been vaccinated with the 1st dose of the vaccine and they also have not developed immunity. The union's request for operating line 1 in 3 shifts and line 2 in 2 shifts so as to ensure social distancing through reduced footfall, has not been accepted by the management," RNITS has written to the company management. Last week, the RNITS had declared an indefinite boycott of work from May 26 onwards till Covid-19 safety measures were implemented in the factory. Later Renault Nissan Automotive decided to close down the plant for five days -- May 26 to May 30- and restart production on May 31. Meanwhile factories of Hyundai Motor, Ford India and Eicher Motor have restarted their production after a couple of days of closure in the wake of Covid-19 spread. "The Hyundai Motor car plant has restarted after a couple of days. Even during that period a couple of employees have died due to Covid-19," Hyundai Motor India Employees Union (HMIEU) President E. Muthukumar told IANS. Citing the Covid-19 spread, the HMIEU has requested the management to close the factory till June 7, the time when the state lockdown comes to an end. The HIMIEU has also asked the management to deploy only 50 per cent of the workforce if it considers the operations are necessary on alternate days. Speaking to IANS an official of the union in Ford India said, the factory has started working and talks are on with the management on our demands like financial compensation for the families of the workers who succumb to Covid-19. At the Eicher Motors plant near here, workers have started rolling out the Bullet and other high powered two wheelers. On the maintenance of social distance at the factory level M.Muthukaruppasamy, President, Royal Enfield Thozhilalar Podhunala Sangam told IANS: "A screen has been placed between two work stations." Another worker preferring anonymity told IANS that the management has told them that components for three days production is available at the factory and after that decision will be taken. Eicher Motors workers also told IANS that the management should show some compassion in settling the dues of workers who died of Covid-19 or other reasons. (Venkatachari Jagannathan can be contacted at v.jagannathan@ians.in) Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) New Delhi, May 31 : Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday wrote to Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, urging him to reconsider the decision regarding holding the CBSE Class XII board exams due to the Covid pandemic. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is yet to take a final call on conducting the Class XII board exams. The Centre is expected to take a final decision on the matter soon. Priyanka Gandhi said the three-page letter has been written after taking feedback from the students and parents on the issue of holding the Class XII board exams. "I once again urge you to reconsider holding the CBSE 12th board exams and to consider the suggestions made by them (students and parents) very, very seriously. It will be a great injustice if they are pushed into circumstances that endanger their lives when it is completely unnecessary and it will be a great pity if we let them down at this trying time in their lives," the Congress leader wrote. "These children are the future generation of Indians. They have already coped with immense pressure in the last year of their schooling. For much of the year, their schools remained closed, normal interactions with friends that children thrive on have been practically absent. Many contracted Covid-19 themselves and many have lost people they love, family members and friends in this year of tragedy and turmoil," she added. Noting that the second wave of the pandemic has been even more devastating and traumatic than the first one, Priyanka Gandhi said, "The unimaginable pain we have suffered collectively as a nation in these last few months will probably be imprinted on the individual and collective psyches of our children for the rest of their lives. "How can we expect them to set aside all that they are witnessing and focus on their board exams? How can we, as the guardians of their future, refuse to hear their cries of help and turn away from their requests to be heard? In fact, how can we willingly put them in a situation that is potentially dangerous and life threatening for them?" The Congress leader also said that no lesson has been learnt from events like the panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh, where the state government had promised that all Covid guidelines would be put in place only to subject the teachers and election officials to crowded spaces where all caution was thrown to the wind. "Over 1,600 teachers lost their lives for the very same reason that we are now imposing on students of the 12th standard -- because they were given no choice but to show up in a situation that endangered their lives," Priyanka Gandhi wrote in the letter. She also compiled the suggestions made by the teachers, students and parents, which pointed out that like in other countries, internal assessment should be the basis of grading a student amid the pandemic. The Congress leader said the very real fear and psychological trauma of the raging pandemic, coupled with prolonged and intense pressure of board exams, can lead to severe mental health issues like depression, anxiety and PTSD. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi/Copenhagen, May 31 : Under President Barack Obama and then Vice President Joe Biden's administration, the US was spying on Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel from 2012 to 2014, using Denmark's secret service. The scandal was exposed by Danish media, triggering a political storm. This is the second time since 2013, that the US has been accused of spying on European politicians and officials, especially Germany. However, this time the Danish media has gained access to the reports which provide insights into how the Defence Intelligence Service (FE) of Denmark collaborated with the US National Security Agency (NSA) to collect intelligence and information on Germany, an ally of the US. According to the Danish media reports, the spying operation was targeted at Merkel, German President -- and then Foreign Minister -- Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the then opposition leader Peer Steinbruck. Code named as 'Operation Dunhammer', the US NSA, with the help of Denmark's FE, tapped into Danish internet cables to access phone conversations and text messages of several prominent European politicians. In a series of tweets, Edward Snowden, a former US computer intelligence consultant who became a whistleblower on America's global surveillance programmes using telecom companies, took a dig at the Biden administration after the latest Danish media reports appeared on Sunday. "Biden is well-prepared to answer for this when he soon visits Europe since, of course, he was deeply involved in this scandal the first time around. There should be an explicit requirement for full public disclosure not only from Denmark, but their senior partner as well," he tweeted. Snowden also alleged that in 2013, the Danish government "secretly welcomed an FBI plane-intended to kidnap me. At the time, it seemed strange that they would help hide another country's crimes. It was not the Denmark I imagined". The US and Denmark governments have not issued any statements yet. Mumbai, May 31 : Actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra on Monday shared yoga therapy to combat weakness, in her new Instagram post. Sharing a video that captures the actress practicing Mandukasana, she wrote: "To support all kinds of healing processes, the main source of energy comes from the core of our being. So, the Mandukasana is a very important asana as it focuses on your navel centre, which also happens to be your life-force centre called the second brain. It has the ability to give you the energy to combat all weaknesses. That's why they say, 'Go with your gut feeling'." Talking about how to go about the asana, she said: "In difficult times like these, we need to focus on ourself; so we can dispel all negativity and bring in positive energy to the centre of our core chakra called the 'Manipura chakra'. Take in a deep breath and exhale while going down, stretching the spine and pressing on the navel. You will feel the energy flow to your solar plexus. Focusing on your navel will help you open your mind and reduce blood sugar levels as it works on the pancreas. It also helps improve the flexibility and mobility of the knee & ankle joints. Moreover, the frog pose helps reduce fat from thighs, belly, and hips." She added: "Please remember: people with knee, ankle, and back pain issues should avoid this asana -- Tag a friend who should start this ritual right away." The actress' family recovered from Covid-19 recently and she returned as a judge on the dance reality show "Super Dancer: Chapter 4". -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, May 31 : To support its subscribers during the second wave of Coronavirus pandemic, Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has now allowed its members to avail second non-refundable Covid-19 advance. Members who have already availed the first Covid-19 advance can now opt for a second advance also. The provision and process for withdrawal of second Covid-19 advance is same as in the case of first advance. Considering urgent need of members for financial support in these trying times, Ministry of Labour and Employment in a statement said, it has been decided to accord top priority to Covid-19 claims. "EPFO is committed to settle these claims within three days of their receipt." For this, the Ministry said, EPFO has deployed a system driven auto-claim settlement process in respect of all such members whose KYC requirements is complete in all respects. "Auto-mode of settlement enables EPFO to reduce the claim settlement cycle to just 3 days as against the statutory requirement to settle the claims within 20 days." The provision for special withdrawal to meet the financial need of members during pandemic was introduced in March last year under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY). An amendment to this effect was made by Ministry of Labour and Employment in Employees' Provident Funds Scheme, 1952 by inserting therein sub-para (3) under paragraph 68L, through notification in the Official Gazette. Under this provision, non-refundable withdrawal to the extent of the basic wages and dearness allowances for three months or up to 75 per cent of the amount standing to member's credit in the EPF account, whichever is less, is provided. "Members can apply for lesser amount also," said the Ministry. The Covid-19 advance has been a great help to the EPF members during the pandemic, especially for those having monthly wages of less than Rs 15,000. As on date, EPFO has settled more than 76.31 lakh Covid-19 advance claims thereby disbursing a total of Rs 18,698.15 crore. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Islamabad, May 31 : The strength of Pakistans claim of success in the Reko Diq mines case might just be fading out as the Tethyan Copper Company (TCC) has challenged the ruling of a British Virgin Islands (BVI) court, which had allowed Pakistan to retain its assets, which were attached in connection to the case for the settlement of a $6 billion award. TCC has filed an appeal against the High Court of Justice order in the BVI Court of Appeal, as per the latest updates. Earlier, TCC had sought attachment of Pakistan's assets for the enforcement of the $6 billion award that was given by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) on July 12, 2019. The award was slapped on Pakistan for revoking a contract for mining at Reko Diq in Pakistan's Balochistan province. On December 10, 2020, the BVI High Court had attached the Roosevelt Hotel in New York and the Scribe Hotel in Paris to enforce the award. Both the hotels were owned by Pakistan's flag carrier airline Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). However, the same court later changed its order and ruled that PIA could retain its two assets, a news that was celebrated in Pakistan as a victory in the case. As per the BVI ruling, TCC's plea was not only rejected, but a fine of $5 million along with a $50,000 penalty was also imposed on the company. "The BVI Court ruled that it has no jurisdiction, and the all ex-parte orders obtained by the TCC were based on an incorrect reading of law," said a senior member of Pakistan's Ministry of Law. The rejection of the TCC plea also came because Pakistan has already initiated the process for the annulment of the $6 billion award in the Reko Diq case, a decision on which is awaited. On the other hand, Pakistan's legal experts say that the probability to have the $6 billion penalty annulled has certainly come as a booster for the country, which is already suffering from an economic crisis. The international arbitration tribunal of the ICSID had slapped a $6 billion penalty on Pakistan on July 12, 2019, for a decision taken in 2011 to deny a mining lease for the Reko Diq project to the TCC. Pakistan was ordered to pay over $4 billion in damages and $1.7 billion in pre-award interest to TCC, after it was found that Pakistan reportedly took an unlawful decision to deny TCC a lease to mine copper and gold deposits at the Reko Diq mine. While Pakistan's leverage given by the court and chances of annulment of the $6 billion award will be a great booster for the country's economy, TCC's latest appeal may just ruin Islamabad's success claims and further hurt its crippling and worsening economic crisis. New Delhi, May 31: Even as Chinas economy expanded by an impressive 18.3 per cent in the first quarter, uncertainty over the growth of its private sector after the ugly faceoff between billionaire poster boy Jack Ma and the Chinese authorities has posed several challenges for the country. One of the biggest short-term challenges is employment generation, which in turn affects domestic consumption. "The problem with China is somewhat self created. It does not know how to handle its private sector," Subhomoy Bhattacharjee, Senior Adjunct Fellow at RIS (Research and Information System for Developing Countries) told India Narrative. Bhattacharjee added that the private sector companies need to be able to grow to contribute handsomely to the economy. "However, we see that the Chinese government has actually gone after the fintech companies. That will lead to an immediate challenge for the economic growth of the country," he said. An International Finance Corporation (IFC) report noted that an important outcome of market-oriented reforms in China over the past 20 years was the emergence of a significant private sector. Initially allowed only on the fringes of the economy, the private sector is a main pillar contributing about a third of the country's gross domestic product. While the public sector has now increased its hiring activities to address the problem of unemployment, the private sector accounts for 80 per cent of the urban jobs. In short, squeezing the private sector would in turn choke the economy. China was the darling of all investors till the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic. However, things have taken a sharp turn and the controversy around Alibaba and Ma has been a warning to other private sector companies. Shakti Sinha, director, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Policy Research and International Studies, MS University said that Ma episode would serve as a message to the business community. "Though China has created a conducive business environment, it essentially needs managers and not entrepreneurs. If this can happen to Ma, who is no ordinary person, then this can happen to anybody. The larger message for businesses is that they need to exercise extreme caution," Sinha said. Statista-the data collation platform highlighted that in April 2021, the surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas of China ranged at 5.1 per cent, slightly down from 5.3 per cent in March 2021. While this is lower than the 6.2 per cent recorded in February 2020 when the country's economy was hit by Covid 19 induced lockdowns, this is much higher than the comfort level. That apart, unemployment rate in the rural areas is even higher. In fact, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in a recent meeting reportedly expressed concerns over the country's economic roadmap saying that "a slew of challenges from job creation to government red tape and low efficiency in spite of a strong recovery in the first quarter" remain to be resolved. What is the Jack Ma controversy? It all started with Ma's open criticism against the Chinese regulatory authorities. In November, Ma's Ant Group, an affiliate company of the Chinese Alibaba Group had to abruptly suspend its initial public offering (IPO) -- barely two days before it was slated to hit the market. Since then, Ma and his companies have been caught by the regulators' ambit. A BBC report described Alibaba as the "grandfather of China's tech industry" which dominates the marketplace there with over 800 million users in the country alone. "Companies like Tencent, JD.com, Meituan, Bytedance and Pinduoduo are all looking at Alibaba's experience, and trying to avoid crossing any red lines set by Beijing," the report said. The BBC report also said that the moves are seen to be political. "They are an indication that under President Xi Jinping, nothing can be bigger or more powerful in the lives of ordinary Chinese people than the Communist Party," it said. (This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/ Log on if you are already subscribed or Subscribe... Thiruvananthapuram, May 31 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday reached out to 11 other non-BJP Chief Ministers, stressing the need for jointly taking up the issue of vaccine for all with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a letter to his counterparts in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Maharashtra, Punjab, Odisha, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Delhi, he said that this is the need of the hour as with an expected third wave on the anvil, the only way to deal with it for mass vaccination through which herd immunity can be developed. Vijayan said all the states should put before the PM the need for giving the vaccines free of cost to all the states, but the Centre is trying to wash its hands of it and asking the states to make its own arrangements even as companies are not that keen to enter into arrangements with the states. Hence if the Centre invites a global tender for the vaccines, it would be much better and moreover if the burden of vaccines comes on the states, it could well turn out to be huge financial burden, he said. Besides the issue of federalism is also there, he noted. New Delhi, May 31 : Delhi is likely to get the Russian-manufactured Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V after June 20, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday. Speaking to the press on the availability of Sputnik V, the chief minister said, "We have been assured that after June 20, we will get some doses. Sputnik V vaccine is not being produced domestically so far. Right now they are importing the vaccine and will start manufacturing in August. A part of the doses imported from Russia will be provided to Delhi." Earlier, on May 26, Kejriwal had stated that Delhi Government is in constant touch with the Sputnik V manufacturer, and they have agreed to supply to Delhi. However, the quantity was yet to be decided. India has become the 60th country to authorise the use of the Russian vaccine against Covid-19. The Russian-made vaccine got approval from the Subject expert committee (SEC) for Emergency Use Authorisation, making it the third Coronavirus vaccine to get clearance in India after Covaxin and Covishield. Sputnik V has been imported to India by Dr Reddy's Laboratories and will be manufactured locally by the pharmaceutical major in the coming months. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Shimla, May 31 : BJP President J.P. Nadda on Monday virtually laid the foundation stones for two oxygen plants with a capacity of 140 litres per minute each in Himachal Pradesh in the presence of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur. The plants will be commissioned at the Dr Radhakrishanan Government Medical College in Hamirpur and at the Community Health Centre in Ghumarwin in Bilaspur district. Each plant would provide oxygen supply to 30 beds. While addressing the event from New Delhi, Nadda, who belongs to the hill state, said when most of the national political parties have gone under "virtual quarantine", the BJP through its "Sewa Hi Sangathan" has come forward to help the people of the state fight the pandemic. He said the Union government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has provided free ration to about 80 crore people of the country during both the first and second wave of the pandemic. Nadda said 926,963 eligible farmers of the state have been provided an assistance of Rs 1355.80 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna till now. The BJP President also said that there was only one virology lab to test coronavirus in the country last year, but now India has over 2,500 labs, providing immediate testing facilities to the patients. He also appreciated Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur for helping Himachal fight the pandemic. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that on March 1, the state had only 11 dedicated Covid hospitals and health centres with a bed capacity of 440. The state has added 46 more facilities with a bed capacity of around 3,500 and more than 250 ICU and ventilator beds. He said the three makeshift hospitals at Khaliyar in Mandi district, Paraur in Kangra district and Rabon in Solan district have increased the bed capacity to 5,000. The Chief Minister said the state has administered 23.59 lakh doses of vaccine so far and it is one of the few states to achieve zero per cent wastage of vaccines. He also thanked Anurag Thakur for his generous contribution to the state in fighting the pandemic. On his part, Anurag Thakur said that it was due to the initiative of party President J.P. Nadda that each and every BJP functionary contributed generously towards helping Covid-19 patients and their families. Stating that not even a single PPE kit was produced in country when the pandemic broke out last year, Anurag Thakur said, "Today the nation is producing about 20 lakh PPE kits per day." He said that 23 crore doses of vaccine have been administered to the people across the country. The MoS for Finance also said that an oxygen bank would be set up in Himachal Pradesh which would provide oxygen to 700 beds. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) New Delhi, May 31 : In order to achieve the "Har Ghar Jal" goal, the Central government has given a Rs 3,410.61 crore grant to Gujarat under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) for 2021-22, out of which the first tranche of Rs 852.65 crores has been released. Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat approved the four-fold increase in allocation of grant to Gujarat for water supply. The Central government's allocation for 2019-20 was Rs 390.31 crores, which was raised to Rs 883.08 crore in 2020-21. The 'Jal Jeevan Mission-Har Ghar Jal' was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2019 to ensure potable tap water supply to every rural home by 2024. In Gujarat, during 2020-21, 10.94 lakh rural households have been provided tap water connections and in 2021-22 also, the state plans to provide more than 10 lakh households with tap water connections. Gujarat has 92.92 lakh rural households, out of which 77.21 lakh (83 per cent) households now have piped water supply. Last year, during a review meeting with the Jal Shakti Minister, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani promised to implement the Jal Jeevan Mission with speed to ensure tap water supply to every rural household in the state by 2022, two years before the national target. In Gujarat, out of about 18,000 villages, tap water supply to every household in 6,700 villages has been ensured. In 2020-21, about 5,900 villages were made 'Har Ghar Jal' by providing each and every home a functional tap water connection. In five districts of the state, every rural household is having tap water supply. Hyderabad, May 31 : Top officials of the Telangana government on Tuesday discussed preventive measures for a possible third wave of Covid-19. Finance Minister T.Harish Rao, who is looking after Medical and Health Department related matters on behalf of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, and Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar held a meeting at State Secretariat. This comes a day after the state cabinet directed the officials concerned to be alert in view of reports that there is a possibility of a third wave, and asked them to prepare proper action plan. Harish Rao reviewed with the officials the procurement of medical equipment, oxygen supply and storage units. The meeting decided that all drivers of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation, auto-rickshaw and cab drivers will be provided Covid-19 vaccines from June 3 across the state. Every day, 10,000 drivers will be vaccinated in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area and other district headquarters. The minister has also reviewed the stock availability of vaccine and allotment of vaccine quota by the Centre, and instructed the officials concerned to pursue and make efforts with the Centre on more allocation of vaccine doses to the state. Special Chief Secretary, Transport, Roads and Buildings Sunil Sharma, Principal Secretary, Information Technology, Electronics and Communications Jayesh Ranjan, Health Secretary S.A.M. Rizvi, Transport Commissioner M.R.M. Rao, Director, Medical Education, Dr Ramesh Reddy, Director, Public Health, Dr Srinivas Rao, and other officials attended the meeting. Patna, May 31 : A JD-U leader from Khagaria district in Bihar was killed on Monday, an official said. The deceased, who has been identified as Ashok Sahani (35), was part of the Fisheries Sahyog Samiti in the district. He was abducted along with his aide from the Bahuahi locality in Khagaria on Sunday afternoon. Sahani's aide Bablu was released later in the night. Sahani's body was found at Soradih village in the Muffasil police station area in the district. "Ashok and Bablu went to Gangaur to inspect the fish pond around 1 p.m. on Sunday. We have learnt that the accused kidnapped them at gunpoint on the way. They had been taken to an undisclosed location where Bablu was released," said Ranjeet Kumar, the SHO of Muffasil police station. "We have constituted a team to nab the accused under the supervision of Sadar DSP Sumit Kumar and raids are underway in possible hideouts of the accused. Now, we have learnt that he was killed by the kidnappers," Kumar said. "The family members of the victim claim that he was expected to contest the Panchayat election later in the year and his political rivals may have killed him. Owning the contract for the fish ponds could be another reason for his murder. We are investigating the incident from all angles," Kumar said. Mumbai, May 31 : Composer Salim Merchant took to social media on Monday to suggest to fans that the best way to make use of the ongoing lockdown was to create something new. "Make best use of this lockdown guys.. it's time to plan & create new things. I always look at the glass half full rather than half empty. We will all eventually get vaccinated.. Raat ko ek din Dhalna hi hain," Salim posted on Instagram. The musician recently took his second dose of vaccine for Covid-19 prevention and shared a social media post announcing the same. Sharing a photo where he can be seen getting the jab, Merchant wrote: "Got my Second shot! Vaccination is the only way to fight this crazy virus. Wait for your turn. It's going to happen soon." The composer in a recent social media post encouraged netizens to stay fit and keep their oxygen levels normal amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. "Keep your fitness levels UP! It helps your Oxygen levels in your system to be UP & keeps you physically and mentally UP & UP," he wrote in a recent Instagram post. New Delhi, May 31 : The All India Gem And Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) has written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) seeking immediate financial assistance and banking related relief for the stressed gem, jewellery and allied businesses post the devastating second wave of the Covid pandemic. The GJC, which represents lakhs of small and MSME jewellers and allied trade constituents in the country, cited that the K.V. Kamath-led expert committee constituted by the RBI on August 7, 2020 had included the gem and jewellery sector among the stressed industries in its report submitted on September 4, 2020. As several jewellers affected by the multiple lockdowns are finding it difficult to repay their loans, the GJC has sought an extension of the moratorium on interest payments for the stressed gem and jewellery sector for a period of six months. The GJC has urged the Finance Minister and the RBI to extend certain measures - the Resolution Framework 2 and Resolution for MSMEs - to alleviate the uncertainties and stress facing the jewellery business (mostly small businesses and MSMEs). The GJC requested the government for assistance to restructure the loans given to the gem and jewellery businesses by offering one-time subsidy. The GJC also urged the government to increase the tenure of gold metal loans (GML) from 180 days to 270 (as was done in 2020) or 360 days. The GJC said the gem and jewellery sector is one of the most affected industries with a potential loss of job of unskilled and poor goldsmiths. The industry is burdened by huge inventory costs, and higher fixed overheads, including interest costs and rentals, among others, it said. GJC Chairman Ashish Pethe said, "For almost two months of 2021, the domestic gems and jewellery industry and their stores/shops were shut even while key festivals such as Gudi Padwa and Akshaya Tritiya were celebrated amid lockdown for the second year in a row. "The government allowed weddings during lockdowns, but the jewellery businesses do not fall under the 'essential' category. Even after the slow opening by some states, the next few months will be difficult for the industry, which offers livelihood to lakhs of people. "We request the government to consider our plea of offering financial aid, assistance and relief as has been given to several small businesses and MSMEs in other sectors. We also seek that the benefits that were given in 2020 are extended even in 2021." Saiyam Mehra, Vice Chairman, GJC, added, "We urge the government to allow a moratorium on interest for six months to the stressed gem and jewellery sector; and allow six months to pay the accumulated interest in equated monthly instalments." Talking about gold metal loan, Pethe said, "GML is currently offered for 180 days, which should be extended to 270 or 360 days as offered to the exporters. The RBI had allowed banks to extend GML validity to 270 days during the lockdown in 2020. We request the government to extend it this time around too." The GJC also sought an extension of the moratorium on interest payment for a period of six months on all working capital, term loan and other credit facilities availed by the sector. Washington, May 31 : There is less evidence now to show that the novel coronavirus developed naturally -- jumping from an animal to humans, strengthening the argument for Covid-19 originating in a lab, according to the former head of the US Food and Drug Administration, media reports said. "The side of the ledger that suggests that this could have come out of a lab has continued to expand, and the side of the ledger that suggests this has come from of a zoonotic source, come out of nature, really hasn't budged, and if anything, you can argue that that side of the ledger has contracted," the New York Post quoted Scott Gottlieb as saying on on CBS' "Face the Nation." "We've done an exhaustive search for this so-called intermediate host, the animal that could have been a host to this virus before it spread to humans, (and) we have not found such an animal. "We've also fully disproven the market, the food market that was originally implicated in the outbreak as the source of the outbreak, so that side of the ledger probably has shrunken." Gottlieb said that such accidents "happen all the time". "Even here in the United States, we've had mishaps, and in China, the last six known outbreaks of SARS-1 have been out of labs, including the last known outbreak, which was a pretty extensive outbreak that China initially wouldn't disclose that it came out of a lab," he noted. The Chinese government could have provided "exculpatory" evidence showing the virus that caused the pandemic didn't leak from a lab in Wuhan, but they are yet to do so, Gottlieb said. "They could provide the blood samples from those who worked in the lab in Wuhan, they've refused to do that, they could provide the source strains, some of the original strains, they've refused to do that, they could provide access to some of the early samples that we can sequence, they can provide an inventory of what was in the lab (at) the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the lab that has been implicated in a potential lab leak, they have refused to do that," he said. The US' top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci has also said he is "not convinced" Covid-19 developed naturally. US President Joe Biden, last week, ordered the intelligence community to re-double efforts to examine how the virus originated, including the lab accident theory. The European Union, the UK, Australia and Japan also have joined the US in seeking a deeper probe into the origins of the pandemic. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) New Delhi, May 31 : Union Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Anurag Thakur, has thanked BJP President J.P. Nadda and Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur for flagging off vehicles carrying 160 oxygen cylinders, 108 oxygen concentrators and other medical equipment from Delhi to Himachal Pradesh. He has also thanked the BJP chief for laying the foundation for a oxygen bank in Himachal Pradesh. Two oxygen plants -- one each in Hamirpur and Bilaspur -- are coming up with the efforts of the Union minister. Thakur said, "The need for oxygen has increased in this second wave of Covid pandemic. In Himachal Pradesh, especially in Hamirpur parliamentary constituency, there is no shortage of oxygen for coronavirus patients, as I am making oxygen bank with my personal efforts. The work for setting up of the oxygen bank consisting of 300 oxygen concentrators, 200 oxygen cylinders and three plants, has been started. This will provide uninterrupted supply of oxygen to 700 hospital beds. "Today, the national president of the BJP, Jagat Prakash Nadda, laid the foundation for two oxygen plants at Hamirpur and Bilaspur and flagged off vehicles carrying 160 oxygen cylinders, 108 oxygen concentrators and other medical equipment from Delhi. This will provide uninterrupted oxygen supply to 330 beds in Himachal with immediately. I express my heartfelt gratitude to honourable Nadda ji and Chief Minister Jairam Thakur ji for giving be blessings by joining virtually on this occasion. Our efforts will strengthen the fight against Corona in Himachal Pradesh." Anurag Thakur further said, "Just as crores of workers of the world's largest political party under the able leadership of respected Nadda ji, are serving the country with full devotion in these difficult times, similarly the Jai Ram Thakur-led government in Himachal is taking all necessary steps to deal with the pandemic." The Union minister said, "Just like Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not left any stone unturned to provide medicine, oxygen, ventilator, vaccination etc to fight the second wave, in the same way, with my personal efforts I have provided 108 oxygen concentrators, 105 oxygen cylinders, 3,00,000 masks, including 53,000 N-95 masks, 25,000 gloves, 10,200 face shields and 13,500 PPE kits along with 3,500 NRM, 1,500 pulse oximeters, 6,400 oxygen masks, 2,000 oxygen regulators, 100 thermal scanners and 3,500 sanitisers to the people of Himachal Pradesh." Speaking on the occasion, Nadda said, "I congratulate Anurag Thakur Ji for his efforts and sensitivity that he has shown towards the people of Himachal Pradesh during this second wave. Serving the people is his ultimate goal. He has sent medical equipment and aid material to every corner of the state, which proved to be very helpful in the fight against corona." Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said, "Himachal Pradesh is fighting the Covid pandemic very effectively. The state is getting full support from the Center by Nadda ji and Union Minister Anurag Thakur ji in this fight. We have ensured that the medical equipment and support materials sent by Anurag Thakur from Delhi should reach the needy in every corner of the state. "Now these oxygen plants, concentrators and cylinders will help the Covid patients in a big way. Himachal government is providing best possible facilities to Covid patients. Recently, we launched home isolation kits and e-Sanjeevani mobile app for Covid patients, which has received positive response." Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Major General Faruk Yahaya on Monday held his maiden meeting with principal staff officers and field commanders, an official source said here May 31 : Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday wrote to the chief ministers of non-BJP ruled states urging them to stand together to press the BJP-led central government to ensure adequate supply of covid-19 vaccines free of cost to the states. The Kerala CM wrote to the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra. Earlier, the Kerala government had written to the centre urging the latter to call a global tender to purchase vaccines. The Kerala government had cited the fact that covid-19 vaccines were in short supply and that foreign vaccine manufacturers were unwilling to enter into contracts with state governments for the supply of vaccines. Kerala had charged the central government with abdicating its responsibility to ensure adequate supply of covid-19 vaccines to the states and leaving the states to fend for themselves at a time when the country was reeling under the second wave of the covid-19 pandemic. Health experts had predicted a third wave of the pandemic. Attaining herd immunity through universal vaccination was the only way to buffer the impact of the potential third wave. Therefore, it was imperative to ensure universal vaccination for the greater good. No one should be denied the vaccine for their inability to afford it. The states finances were already in a precarious situation. States would face further financial strain if they were saddled with the responsibility of procuring vaccines on their own. In our federal system, it was important to ensure the financial stability of the states. The fundamental principles of co-operative federalism were being challenged by statements to the effect that it was incumbent upon the states to ensure the adequate supply of the vaccines. At this juncture, it was imperative that the states jointly place before the centre their reasonable demand that the centre directly procure and supply to the states enough vaccines to meet the respective states demands, Pinarayi Vijayan says in his letter to the chief ministers. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Kolkata, May 31 : In a surprise development on Monday, West Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay, who was given an extension of three months, opted for his normal superannuation scheduled on May 31, apparently putting an end to the Centre-state tussle over his Central deputation. Alleging that the decision for Central deputation was a fallout of the Centre's vendetta politics, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has appointed Bandyopadhyay as the Chief Political Advisor to the CM. Bandyopadhyay's decision to opt for normal retirement came after the Centre sent a second letter to him and the state government, asking the senior officer to report to North Block on Tuesday, clearly indicating that the Centre will not withdraw from its stance. The communication from the Centre came as a response to a letter shot off by Banerjee, in which she urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw the "letter of recall" and allow Bandyopadhyay to continue working as the Chief Secretary of West Bengal for the next three months. Earlier on May 28, the Centre had written to Bandyopadhyay, asking him to report to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) at 10 am on May 31. It also asked the state government to give him the necessary clearance for this purpose. Unwilling to release the Chief Secretary, Banerjee wrote to the Prime Minister on Monday, saying, "I humbly request you to withdraw, recall, reconsider your decision and rescind the latest so-called order in larger public interest. The government of West Bengal cannot release, and is not releasing, the Chief Secretary at this critical hour, on the basis of our understanding that the earlier order of extension, issued after lawful consultation in accordance with applicable laws, remains operational and valid." Speaking to the media, the Chief Minister said, "I am sorry to say that the purpose of service of the extension was in public interest and they (the central government) agreed to give extension. They have recalled him, but the state government doesn't even know the reason. Naturally, the state government didn't agree because the purpose behind giving him extension still persists. "Perhaps the Central government is not aware that when I received the letter, Bandyopadhyay has been superannuated from his service on the afternoon of May 31, as his normal date of retirement is May 31. Hence his services are no longer available to join the Central government tomorrow, as mentioned in today's order." Banerjee then announced that Bandyopadhyay has been appointed as the Chief Advisor to the Chief Minister and he will start working from Tuesday onwards with a salary commensurate with his age, seniority and designation. "This will be sanctioned by the finance department," she said. Meanwhile, Hare Krishna Diwedi, presently working as the Home Secretary, will handle the responsibilities of the Chief Secretary, while B. Gopalika, who is presently working as the Additional Chief Secretary, will become the new Home Secretary of the state. Terming the incident to be a one-off case in the country's 74 years of cooperative federalism, the Chief Minister alleged that the BJP government is destroying the federal structure of the state. "I have not seen such a heartless and unkind Prime Minister and Home Minister in all my life. You cannot recall the top man in the state bureaucracy in this manner. This is not only shameful, but it also shows their vindictive attitude. They will destroy the morale of the bureaucrats in the country. "I appeal to all the non-BJP Chief Ministers and bureaucrats of the country to come forward and protest against this unjust move," she said. New Delhi: Work in progress for the Central Vista project at India Gate in New Delhi on Wednesday 05 May,2021.(Photo: Qamar Sibtain/IANS) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi: Work in progress for the Central Vista project at India Gate in New Delhi on Wednesday 05 May,2021.(Photo: Qamar Sibtain/IANS) Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, May 31 : The Delhi High Court on Monday said the petitioners seeking to halt construction activity in connection with Central Vista redevelopment project had "ill-intent and lack of bonafides", as it junked their plea and slapped Rs 1Lakh cost on them. A bench comprising Justice Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh did not mince words in questioning the genuineness of the petition. "We are of the view that this is a motivated petition preferred by the petitioners and not a genuine public interest litigation." The bench added that the whole Central Vista Project is an essential project of national importance, where the sovereign functions of Parliament are also to be conducted and public is vitally interested in this project. "It is obvious that petitioners have selectively chosen only one project which is of national importance, at a vital place where Republic Day celebrations are held in Delhi and is a part and parcel of the larger project, namely, Central Vista Project", said the bench. The ongoing construction work for the Central Vista Project has come under heavy criticism by the main Opposition Congress party in the backdrop of second wave of the Covid pandemic. The High Court reiterated that work on the project is of national importance, and it has to be completed within time-bound schedule by November 2021. "Central Vista Avenue Redevelopment Project is equally important and essential as the Central Vista Project (the main project). If this type of project is stopped, the main project cannot be completed within the stipulated time", said the bench in the verdict. Citing provisions of the various Delhi Disaster Management Authority orders, the bench said the petitioners have not been able to substantiate the allegations made in the writ petition and/or the alleged breach or violation of the DDMA orders. "On the contrary, challenge to the on-going construction activity with regard to one particular Project, is a pointer to the ill-intent and lack of bonafides of the petitioners in filing the present petition", added the bench. The bench noted that construction activity is not prohibited under paragraph-8 of the order of the DDMA of April 19, issued under Section 22 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, contrary to the stand of the petitioners. The Central Vista Project includes the Parliament, refurbishment of North Block, South Block, construction of new offices for central government, i.e., common Central Secretariat, central conference facilities etc. which includes Central Vista Avenue Redevelopment Project (i.e., both sides of Rajpath where Republic Day celebrations are held every year, on 26th January). "Thus, this project is a vital public project", said the court. The court pointed out that legality of the project has been upheld by the Supreme Court in a judgment delivered on January 5, this year. The petitioners, Anya Malhotra and Sohail Hashmi, had sought a stay on the construction activities of Central Vista in the backdrop of COVID-19 situation in the capital and the threat posed by the construction activities as a potential super spreader. New Delhi/Islamabad, May 31 : Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh has urged the Islamic nations to forge strategic partnerships to fight for seizing control of Muslim lands across the world. Pakistani newspapers reported that in a recorded speech played in a Jamaat-i-Islami rally in Peshawar on Sunday, Haniyeh urged the Prime Minister Imran Khan-led Pakistan government to support the Palestinian cause with concrete actions. The rally was organised in support of Hamas and Palestine. Jamaat chief Sirajul Haq and other senior leaders of the party also addressed the rally where the participants chanted slogans of "Death to Israel" and "We are ready to sacrifice our lives to liberate Al-Aqsa Mosque", the Dawn newspaper reported. "I hope Prime Minister Imran Khan would take practical steps for supporting the cause of Palestine," Haniyeh said, urging the Muslim countries to establish strategic partnerships to get complete control over Al-Quds in Jerusalem. In response to Haniyeh's appeal, Jamaat chief Sirajul Haq endorsed him and said that the "existing circumstances have proved that the issue of Palestine and Kashmir could not be resolved through resolutions". "Time has come to move forward to liberate Palestine and Kashmir from the clutches of Israel and India," Haq said. "A small group of Afghan Talibans defeated the US allied forces in Afghanistan while the Muslim countries, including Pakistan, Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia having a 7.4 million strong army, are unable to deter the Israeli aggression," Dawn quoted Haq as saying at the rally. Bengaluru, May 31 : Bengaluru civic body to give priority to inoculate frontline workers falling in age group of 18 years to 44 years, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, chief commissioner, Gaurav Gupta said here on Monday. After chairing a virtual meeting with the BBMP regional and zonal officers here, Gupta said that the BBMP will be organising one or two vaccination camps in all 198 wards where it will be administered to these age groups. He said that he has directed all his officers at local level to ensure that the vaccination for age groups between 18-44 front line workers should be taken up swiftly and completed as soon as possible. The commissioner said that, with the state government already identifying 22 categories of front line workers, vaccination for these people should not be delayed anymore and they should be given first preference if they fall in the age group of 18-44 years. "The zonal and ward level places should be identified and these beneficiaries should be informed to get the vaccination as soon as possible," he said. He added that the BBMP had been inoculating above 45 years age group at all Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) while camps for to administer anti-Covid vaccine set up exclusively for age group of 18-44 years, should exclusively be dealt with this age group itself and above 45 years eligible persons should not be given in these camps. The commissioner also instructed the officials that there should be no glitches in the system to administer the vaccines for these front line workers. New Delhi, May 31 : The Delhi Police on Monday took two-time Olympic medal winner Sushil Kumar to Uttarakhand to find out where he had sheltered while he was on the run before being arrested in connection with the wrestler Sagar Dhankar murder case. According to Crime Branch officials, he was taken to Haridwar to find out the details that where he took shelter and who all had helped him. An official said that it was stated that he had stayed in an ashram in Haridwar. However, sources said that the police team returned from Haridwar empty-handed as they were unable to find anything there. The source said that the Crime Branch was searching for cell phone and clothes that Kumar was wearing on May 4 night, when the brawl took place in New Delhi's Chhatrasal Stadium. It was suspected that Sushil Kumar had dumped his cell phone and clothes in Haridwar, but these could not be found. "Thus Crime Branch has now returned empty handed," the source said, adding that police is adding Section 201 (destroying evidence) of the Indian Penal Code to the charges. Sushil Kumar was arrested on May 24 from Delhi by the Special Cell after staying on the run for 18 days. The Delhi Police has till date arrested nine people in connection with the murder of Dhankar, including several members of Neeraj Bawana and and Kala Asauda gangs. Sushil Kumar had won a bronze medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and silver in the 2012 London Olympic Games. Jaipur, May 31 : Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Monday made a scathing attack on the Gehlot government accusing it of wasting 11.5 lakh doses of COVID vaccine, which according to him, could have inoculated over 10 lakh people in the state. He said that the pain and plight of the people of this state will continue to worsen till this government remains in power. Shekhawat was addressing a virtual press conference and answering a query if the state government will be able to complete its five-year term. He said "Neither am I a fortune teller nor do I believe in premonitions. However, what I know is the fact that this government, since its start, has been divided into two groups fragmented in opinions and action. It has more interest in enhancing its image rather than serving people. The pain and plight of people will continue rising till this government remains in power in the state." Shekhawat also attacked Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on the global tenders issue and said the news pertaining to floating these tenders was spread to get cheap publicity. "Rajasthan CM was the first person to communicate that their government will vaccinate young population of over 18+ age group. Then they played a global tender drama and when they were unsuccessful everywhere, they started blaming the central government," he said. The news of vaccines being found in dustbins has come out today itself, he said, referring to the reports that 500 vials of Covid vaccines were found lying in garbage which had over 2500 doses. The minister also commented on the slow pace of the Jal Jeevan Mission and said that Rajasthan ranks at number 2 after West Bengal when it comes to poor performance of the JJM. Shekhawat said that each and every person in the country will be vaccinated by December this year and India is next to America in vaccinating the largest number of 21 crore people within a limited time frame. He also questioned why ventilators in Rajasthan have reported functional problems and no other state has reported this error? In Bharatpur, ventilators were rented to private hospitals. The technical team manufacturing ventilators found that either the oxygen line was installed wrongly or else the fitting was not proper, he added. He asked Congress leaders like Rahul Gandhi, P Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh to apologise to the nation for spreading rumours about the success of the vaccines. Hyderabad, May 31 : The Telangana government on Monday barred six more hospitals from treating Covid-19 cases, following complaints of excess billing and violation of other norms. Director of Public Health and Family welfare Dr G. Srinivasa Rao announced that three hospitals in Medchal district, two in Warangal Urban, and one in Sangareddy were barred from treating Covid patients, after completing the treatment and discharge of patients currently under their care. With this, health authorities have so far revoked permission of 16 hospitals in the state for excess and irrelevant charges in addition to the prescribed norms by the government and mismanagement and lack of proper attention. The director said a total of 166 complaints were received so far from Covid patients against 105 hospitals. He said 51 complaints against 26 hospitals were received in a single day on May 31. Rao said 105 hospitals were issued show cause notices and 16 of them were barred from treating Covid patients. He said warned that any hospital found guilty of violating established protocols/norms/guidelines will be subjected to suitable disciplinary action. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Shillong, May 31 : At least six miners from Assam and Tripura are feared trapped inside a flooded coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district, police said on Monday. According to the local people, the chances of the trapped workers' survival are extremely remote. Police officials in Shillong said that they have sought help from the State Disaster Response Force, who, along with local people, are trying hard to rescue the six -- five of whom are from Assam and one from Tripura. Police, quoting the local people, said that due to a sudden explosion, there was a sudden rush of water into the mine at Umpleng Elaka Sutnga and within no time, it was inundated, trapping the miners. The search operations were also disrupted due to rain in the area. Police are now looking for the owner of the mine and 'Sardar' (head) of the workers. Cachar's Superintendent of Police Nimbalkar Vaibhav Chandrakant said he has received the information about few labourers believed to be from Assam trapped in the mine. "We have shared the information with the Superintendent of Police of East Jaintia Hills. We have yet to get any information," he told the media. At least six people, who hailed from Karimganj district of southern Assam, were killed when they were working inside a coal mine in East Jaintia hills on January 21 this year. Monday's incident is a grim reminder of the December 13, 2018 illegal coal mine tragedy in the same East Jaintia Hills district when 15 migrant miners from Assam were trapped and died inside in an abandoned coal mine. The 15 miners had been stuck in the coal mine at a depth of around 370 feet after a tunnel was flooded with water from the nearby Lytein river. Even the bodies of the miners could not be retrieved after many days of rescue operations. In April 2014, the National Green Tribunal banned the hazardous rathole coal mining in Meghalaya. But mining continued illegally with the authorities turning a blind eye, allege environmental activists in Meghalaya and Assam. Mumbai, May 31 : Actor Ravi Bhatia, who is currently seen in the web series "Shukla The Tiger", is glad to resume shooting for upcoming short film, "Future Fight". "I'm glad to be back on shoots. It feels so good to again be in the environment I love the most. Of course, we are all keeping safety and hygiene our priority, but to be able to experience the magic of shooting again, feels so good," he said. About his character, Ravi says: "I'm happy to be part of this short film, I'm playing the lead and my character has action scenes. I enjoy doing such manly characters." Ravi, who is known for featuring in television shows such as "Jodha Akbar", "Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se" and "Ishq Subhan Allah", feels the film will be a treat for his audience. "The story is social and motivating, it has lots of suspense and surprises. Watching the thriller will be a treat for my audience," he says about the upcoming short film directed by Bharat Sunanda. Surefire Resources NL (ASX:SRN) (FRA:GBL) is progressing its strong portfolio of projects with broad gold mineralisation intersected at Yidby Gold Project, drill planning underway at Kooline Silver-Lead-Copper Project and a production study started for Perenjori Iron Ore Project. At Kooline, re-processing and interpretation of geophysical data has identified the potential for a large intrusive related silver-lead to copper-gold system immediately along strike. The tenements include the previously mined high-grade lead-silver +/- copper lodes of the Kooline Mineral Field where previous rock chip sampling of exposed lode structures produced grades of up to 55.3% lead and 249 g/t silver from the Bilrose workings and up to 2.62% copper and 12% lead from the Phar Lap workings. Drilling in next few months Surefire managing director Vladimir Nikolaenko said the company had been granted WA Government co-funding to drill-test this key copper-gold target below/along strike from the Kooline lodes. He said: We've harnessed about 50 kilometres of the structure, and we're pretty well mineralised along most of it. So, we're very optimistic about the prospectivity of the project. We will now engage a structural engineer or geophysicist to mark the spot, or spots, where deep holes need to be drilled then we could be up and drilling within the next few months. VTEM conductors The key target area includes VTEM conductors within a 2x2 kilometre area, that correspond with an area of deep erosion/transported cover immediately along strike from the silver-lead workings. This area is essentially untested and a series of deep pre-collared diamond drill holes have been planned and approved by the WA Government for Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS) with co-funding of up to $150,000 direct drilling costs. The drilling will target both high-grade extensions of the silver-lead lode structures as well as copper-gold mineralisation closer to the interpreted intrusive. VTEM depth slice at Kooline Silver-Lead Field showing mineralised trends and key target area. Perenjori Iron Ore Project At the Perenjori Project, the company has engaged MinRizon Projects Pty Ltd to complete a high-grade iron ore production study. The study will be based on the previous (JORC 2004) inferred mineral resource estimate by CSA Global of 191.7 million tonnes at 36.6% iron, released by Quest Minerals Ltd in 2013 and will build upon a scoping study completed by Mintrex Pty Ltd. Nikolaenko said: Perenjori is a multi-faceted locality in terms of mineralisation. We've got a large landholding, we have seven tenements of varying sizes and each tenement has its own prospectivity. We certainly have the iron ore; we've currently got almost 200 million tonnes that's identified. We've engaged MinRizen to do a report on it for us and hopefully that will be completed in the next couple of weeks. Once we have that report, we'll be able to take the next step and commence drilling and upgrading the resource. Based on the outcomes of the study, the company will look to upgrade the resource to JORC 2012 indicated status through additional drilling, to allow feasibility studies to proceed. Multi-element prospectivity Nikolaenko said: Perenjori also hosts a number of other tenements that are highly perspective for gold and they're on our shopping list to commence work on. We have just finished flying another large tenement to the northwest which we're quite excited about as it hasn't been explored in the past. It's got an unbelievable magnetic signature, over a distance of about 20 to 25 kilometres. Its early days, but we are progressing with that and several other prospective tenements at the project. Yidby Gold Project The Yidby Gold Project is also shaping up well with the first five of 18 holes completed in the current phase of drilling at Yidby Road Prospect hitting thick, high-grade gold intersections. Results include: 32 metres at 3.68 g/t from 150 metres, including 3 metres at 26.47 g/t from 150 metres and 5 metres at 6.27 g/t from 177 metres; 83 metres at 0.64 g/t from 112 metres, including 14 metres at 2.09 g/t from 112 metres, 4 metres at 6.31 g/t from 112 metres and 3 metres at 4.15 g/t from 163 metres; 19 metres at 1.28 g/t from 84 metres, including 2 metres at 7.29 g/t from 84 metres and 2 metres at 4.14 g/t from 101 metres; and 16 metres at 0.88 g/t from 18 metres, including 9 metres at 1.44 g/t from 20 metres, including 3 metres at 3.25 g/t from 22 metres. Yidby Road longitudinal Projection with new intersections down northerly plunging zone. Large gold system Nikolaenko said: We await the results of the remaining holes that have also intersected multiple lode structures and indicate that we are on top of a large gold system. The next phase of drilling will continue testing along strike and at depth, where this exciting new discovery remains open. We've also done MMI to the west and there's quite a large target there. It's a very interesting concealed deposit and there's a lot more work to be done at Yidby Incredible portfolio of projects Nikolaenko said that for a junior company, Surefire had an incredible portfolio of diverse and quality projects. He said: Most companies will have one or two projects, but we have a multitude of quality projects that have got strong possibilities of development. And at the end of the day, our portfolio is going to be too large for us to handle - we acknowledge that. But our goal going forward is to progress our work programs and elevate these projects to a point where we can do something with them. New Delhi, May 31 : Base effect sky rocketed India's eight major industries' output during April 2021. The Index of Eight Core Industries' reading for last month showed an expansion of over 56 per cent from (-) 37.9 per cent dip in output during the same month of last year. On a sequential basis, the output of eight major industries had risen by 11.4 per cent in March 2021. The pandemic-triggered national lockdown (from late March 2020) during Q1FY21 had a massive impact on the economy, which suffered a GDP contraction of 24.4 per cent. It was only on June 1, 2020 that the partial unlock measures were implemented. However, in April 2021, localised lockdowns were again implemented following a surge of cases. The ECI index comprises 40.27 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). These industries comprise coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement, and electricity. Mumbai, May 31 : Maharashtra's Covid-19 daily deaths dropped below the 200 level for the first time since April and infections continued to slide down even as the state toll crossed the 95,000 mark, health officials said on Monday. Compared with 814 deaths on Sunday, the state reported 500 fatalities (184 fresh and 316 previous fatalities), taking its toll to 95,344. The number of fresh cases stayed below the 20,000 level - falling from 18,600 on Sunday to 15,077, while the tally climbed to 57,46,892. In Mumbai, after two days, the new infections dropped again below the 1,000 level, from 1,062 on Sunday to 666, while the city tally rose to 705,288. Deaths rose from 22 on Sunday to 29, taking total fatalities in the country's commercial capital to 14,826. The number of active cases dropped steeply from 271,801 to 253,367 now. As many as 33,000 fully cured patients returned home, taking the total to 53,95,370 while the recovery rate further improved from 93.55 per cent to 93.88 per cent. The Mumbai circle - comprising Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Raigad districts - recorded a further fall in new cases, from 3,110 to 1,952, taking its case load to 15,32,407 and with 44 more deaths, the toll shot to 27,745 now, in view of the reconciliation of fatalities. Meanwhile, the number of people sent to home isolation stood at 18,70,304 now, while those shunted to institutional quarantine numbered 10,743. New Delhi, May 31 : Even as a court in Dominica is scheduled to hear the matter of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi on Wednesday after he was caught from the Caribbean island nation on May 26, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, has claimed that Choksi may have taken his girlfriend to Dominica on a romantic trip before getting caught. "Mehul Choksi made a mistake and the information we are getting is that Choksi travelled with his girlfriend, but he was caught in Dominica and now he can be deported back to India," Browne reportedly told a local radio station, as reported by the Antigua News Roon. Choksi, who has been staying in in Antigua and Barbuda since 2018 after taking citizenship in 2017 under the Citizenship by Investment programme, reportedly fled to Dominica on May 23 before being caught on May 26. It is speculated that Choksi was going for dinner with his girlfriend when he was nabbed. A Dominican court had restrained the deportation of Choksi on Friday till June 2 while hearing a habeas corpus plea filed by his lawyers. His lawyer Vijay Agarwal had earlier told IANS that Choksi was forced to get into a vessel from Antigua and was taken to Dominica. He also claimed that there were marks on Choksi's body, implying the use of force. "There is something fishy and I guess it was a strategy to take him to another place so that there are chances of sending him back to India. So I don't know what forces are operating. The time will tell," he had said. However, Antigua Police Commissioner Atlee Rodney had rubbished the claims of Choksi's counsel, saying that they have no information of Choksi being forcefully removed. On Saturday, Gaston Browne had also confirmed that a private jet had landed in Dominica with certain documents related to his case. Choksi, who is wanted in India by the CBI and the ED in the Rs 13,500 crore PNB loan fraud case, went missing from Antigua and Barbuda on May 23, sparking a massive manhunt. He was captured in Dominica last Wednesday. On Saturday, several pictures of Choksi emerged online, showing him with swollen eyes and bruises on his arms. The CBI and the ED, which have filed separate chargesheets in the case, are trying for his extradition. Chennai, May 31 : The glass business division of Saint-Gobain India said on Monday that it will provide two oxygen generation plants to two hospitals in Tamil Nadu. The company also said it is pledging Rs 4.5 crore to fight the Covid-19 pandemic in Tamil Nadu. According to Saint-Gobain, it has brought one oxygen generation plant from France for the Government Medical College Hospita in Omandurar, Chennai, besides locally sourcing one for the IRT Hospital at Perundurai in Erode district. These plants will be commissioned and operational in June. The company further committed Rs 1.25 crore for providing oxygen concentrators, flow meters, medical kits, personal protective equipment (PPE) like masks, gloves, sanitisers, and other protective gear for frontline healthcare workers, public healthcare centers, and government hospitals in Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Erode districts, besides Chennai. Mumbai, May 31 : An FIR has been filed by Bandra Police in connection with an alleged rape and molestation complaint by a former model and songwriter. Among nine high-profile people named are actor-producer Jackky Bhagnani, glamour photographer Colston Julian, and Krishan Kumar of T-Series. Kwan talent management company founder Anirban Blah, Nikhil Kamat, Sheel Gupta, Ajit Thakur, Gurujyot Singh and Vishnu Wardhan Induri are the others named in the first information report, which was registered on May 26. During an interaction with media, the complainant alleged that none of the accused have been arrested so far. The complainant remained unreachable after repeated phone calls. Dhaka, May 31 : Bangladesh Police have found transactions of 6 crore takas in the bank accounts of arrested militant outfit Hefazat-e-Islam leader Mamunul Haque, and are checking the use of the donated money, which is suspected to have been be used for funding militancy, officials said on Monday. Hefazat had, in the name of aid to Rohingya refugees, development of madrasas and welfare of their students, and for its own fund, collected a huge amount of donations, mostly from expatriates, but most of this money had been spent on militancy and on Mamunul's personal works, police officials told IANS. Law enforcers found inconsistencies in use of these funds, Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Joint Commissioner, Detective Branch, Mahbub Alam said. There were also inconsistencies in transactions made by Hefazat's former 'Finance Secretary' Monir Hossain Kashemi. "The police agencies will file charges in the court very soon... All are under investigation, but we could not figure out the amount yet," Alam added. Mamunul, who had been arrested from Jamia Rahmania Arabia Madrasa at Mohammadpur in the capital on April 18 in connection with the violence across the country during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-visit in March and some earlier cases, had confessed he had links with a Pakistan militant group and was trying to oust the Sheikh Hasina government to establish a Taliban state. "Mamunul had a link with a radical outfit in Pakistan. He went to Pakistan in 2005 and stayed there for 40 days. He received militancy training from the outfit. He returned to the country with radical ideology and carried out violent activities in our country. Besides, he plotted to oust the government," a police official said, adding that Mamunul had got involved with the Pakistan militant outfit with the help of his brother-in-law Niamat Ullah. Mamunul, who is well-known among Islamic hardliners for his 'hate speech' and violent sermons in religious congregations and on social media, had used Hefazat to gain political advantage, using students of Qawmi madrasas, the breeding ground of the militants, police said. On April 3, local people caught the Hefazat leader with a woman at the Royal Resort in Sonargaon of Narayanganj. Mamunul claimed the woman named Jannat Ara Jharna to be his second wife, but could not show any documents. There are 17 cases in Dhaka against Mamunul, and 15 of these were filed by the police after Hefazat's siege in Dhaka's Motijheel Shapla Chattar in May 2013, during which its activists had freely indulged in violence and mayhem. The Detective Bureau is investigating 14 of these cases,and some others relating to the recent incidents of vandalism by the name of protesting Modi's visit to Dhaka. New Delhi, May 31 : With getting food amid the lockdown becoming a daily struggle for the residents of Chak Chila village, a small island in the middle of Yamuna river in the national capital, the BJP on Monday arranged for a months dry ration for the villagers. The BJP provided dry ration kits for a month to around 60 families living in the island under its 'Sewa Hi Sangathan 2.0' mission, which has been launched to mark the seventh anniversary of the Narendra Modi-led government. Rajya Sabha MP and senior BJP leader Vinay Sahasrabuddhe and Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta took a boat ride to reach out to the residents of the island, and distributed dry ration kits among them. Chak Chila village is located in the middle of Yamuna river from where the DND flyway passes by and connects Mayur Vihar with Maharani Bagh. To reach the village, one first needs to reach Yamuna Khadar and then take a boat ride from there. The area lacks road connectivity and can be reached only by boats. "The true meaning of 'antyodaya' is to reach out to the last man of the society, which is visible here," said Sahasrabuddhe, who's also the president of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). Delhi BJP chief Gupta appealed to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, under whose Assembly constituency the village falls, to provide basic facilities to the residents of Chak Chilla. Chennai, May 31 : The Tamil Nadu State Animal Welfare Board, under the state Animal Husbandry Department, is helping to feed stray animals including dogs and cows in the streets this year, like it had during the lockdown in the first wave of the pandemic last year. Animal Husbandry Department officials said that they have received 1,250 kg of rice from the Tamil Nadu Rice Mill Owners Association, while state government milk undertaking Aavin has also donated milk powder worth Rs 1 lakh, and will deliver this materials to recognised organisations working in the area of animal welfare, as well as some individuals who are at the forefront of feeding stray animals. The department has already sent a circular to all the District Collectors to coordinate with these animal welfare organisations and individuals who used to feed strays in their respective jurisdictions. Activist Selvaraj Manikantan, who feeds stray dogs at Madurai, told IANS that he has already been contacted by the district administration which has conveyed that the Animal Husbandry Department will be providing rice and skimmed milk powder to feed strays. "Already, I am feeding some dogs in the neighbourhood and this would be of great help as I was running from pillar to post to get the materials," he said. Other than stray dogs and cattle, 25 gunny bags of wheat bran was being distributed to feed the horses which are used for joy rides in Marina beach. Wilson Peter, a horse owner at Marina beach, told IANS: "Yes, we have received the wheat bran and it is of immense help as we were not able to get the necessary wheat to feed the horses owing to lockdown." Bengaluru, June 1 : A year-old case of a newborn boy, who was stolen from a Bengaluru maternity hospital, has been solved with the arrest of a psychiatrist, who allegedly took away the baby and sold him to a woman for Rs 16.5 lakh, police said on Monday. Police identified the accused as Rashmi, 34, working as a psychiatrist in a reputed private hospital here. Deputy Commissioner of Police, South division, Harish Pandey told reports that it was a lengthy and detailed investigation involving examining more than 30,000 calls and initially, police had zeroed in on about 600 suspects. "We formed a 20-member team when this case was transferred to us six month ago, though Chamarajpet police had done their job pretty well and based on their collected evidence, we went forward," he said. The 20-member team comprised personnel hand-picked from various police stations based on their criminal investigation background. According to the DCP, the investigations revealed that the accused, working in a reputed hospital in north Karnataka, came in contact about 7 to 8 years ago with a couple which had reproductive problems. "By that time, this young couple gave birth to a child, which had developed mental deformation. With the help of this psychiatrist, the couple was able to achieve considerable success in reforming the child to greater degree, which naturally led to forming a bond with this doctor. From here, their relations grew beyond clinic visits and they become friends," the DCP said. As the couple opened up to Rashmi, she suggested that the couple could look forward to having a child through surrogacy. "They got carried away by this idea and requested Rashmi to look for a potential surrogate mother. In the meantime, Rashmi came to Bengaluru and found a job here. However, Rashmi got into financial trouble as her education loan of Rs 15 lakh was mounting. Rashmi lied to the couple and gave a delivery date of May 28, 2020," the DCP said. On the scheduled date, Rashmi went around the hospital and zeroed in on Husna Banu, who had delivered a baby boy two just hours ago. "She walked into the hospital as a doctor and coolly walked away with the baby. After picking up the baby, she called the couple that she was coming to hand the baby over to them," the police officer said. The 20-member team after scurrying through over 30,000 calls, repeatedly scanning the CCTV footage and interrogating an auto driver, a taxi driver and a security guard, got the sketch of the suspect and circulated it, while focussing on the technical evidence. "Initially our suspected list was more than 1,000 but we brought it down to 600 after physically verifying the age and addresses. We only asked those who were in the age group and were able to walk perfectly," the DCP said. To a question how the police was able zero in on the accused, the DCP said that of the 600 suspects, Rashmi was one who was dilly-dallying in coming to the police station and recording her statement. "This is how she was caught," he said. Pandey added that the baby boy has been looked after very well, but is yet to undergo DNA test and other police verification and after that, the biological parents would be able to secure possession. "It was unfortunate that neither the couple in north Karnataka who took possession of the baby knew this doctor's ploy nor the biological mother who delivered the baby, and had all along maintained that she was not a surrogate mother," he said. He added that the police was still questioning the psychiatrist and collecting enough electronic evidence to complete the investigations in this case. Berlin, June 1 : Around 350,000 people in Germany are understood to suffer from long-term symptoms of a Covid-19 infection, Minister of Education and Research Anja Karliczek told journalists here on Monday. The "treacherous thing" about the post-Covid syndrome, colloquially also called "long Covid," is that "the symptoms occur independently of the course of the disease," regardless of whether the patient had a severe or mild course of Covid-19, Karliczek said, Xinhua reported. According to official figures, more than 3.5 million people in Germany had already been infected with Covid-19. One in ten people in Germany is estimated to have struggled with long-term consequences that last for more than three months, she said. The symptoms of "long Covid" are "very individual and very different," Karliczek said. Around 50 symptoms have been identified in connection with "long Covid," with recurring headaches, extreme exhaustion and breathlessness being the most common. Karliczek announced a new funding program for further research on "long Covid," for which five million euros ($6.1 million) would be initially available. The results would also guide further research and funding. "Long Covid will have enormous consequences for our health care system. We are facing a great challenge in society and also a serious cost item," she said. In March last year, Germany set up a new research network for university hospitals engaged in the fight against Covid-19. The Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports this network with 150 million euros until the end of this year. To date, almost 3.7 million Covid-19 infections have been officially registered in Germany since the outbreak of the pandemic. The death toll climbed to 88,442 on Monday, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) The move is part of a trend that could benefit the company, which is poised to become the leading producer of battery-grade manganese in the EU. Euro Manganese targets to be a green and European source of ultra-high-purity manganese. ( ) ( ) (OTCMKTS:EUMNF) (FRA:E06) welcomes Incs plans for the fast-growing battery electric vehicle (BEV) business, which includes its intention to design, engineer and manufacture its own batteries. At its 2021 Capital Markets Day, Ford Motor North America chief operating officer Lisa Drake outlined plans for a 240 GWH capacity by the end of the decade, which amounts to about 10 plants, spread between North America, Europe and China. Drake also unveiled a map, which showed a glimpse of three prospective facilities in Europe. View a short video clip here. Euro Manganese said: We cant wait to hear more details of Fords ambitious plans for BEVs. The company believes it stands to benefit from the plans as it progresses its strategy to become the only primary producer of battery-grade manganese in the European Union. Ras Al Khaimah Airport, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates [ RKT / OMRK ] If you are planning to travel to Ras Al Khaimah or any other city in United Arab Emirates, this airport locator will be a very useful tool. This page gives complete information about the Ras Al Khaimah Airport along with the airport location map, Time Zone, lattitude and longitude, Current time and date, hotels near the airport etc... Ras Al Khaimah Airport Map showing the location of this airport in United Arab Emirates. Ras Al Khaimah Airport IATA Code, ICAO Code, exchange rate etc... is also provided. Ras Al Khaimah Airport Info: Ras Al Khaimah Airport IATA Code: RKT Ras Al Khaimah Airport ICAO Code: OMRK Latitude : 25.6136 Longitude : 55.9388 City : Ras Al Khaimah Country : United Arab Emirates World Area Code : 678 Airport Type : Medium Ras Al Khaimah Airport Address / Contact Details : Ras Al-Khaimah International Airport (RKT) - Airport Rd - Ras Al-Khaimah - United Arab Emirates, Phone: http://www.rakairport.com, Email: administration@rakairport.com, Fax: +971-7-2448199 Ras Al Khaimah Website : http://www.rakairport.com/ Airport Type : Public Operator : Department of Civil Aviation Timezone : Asia/Dubai Ras Al Khaimah Airport Timezone : GMT +04:00 hours Current time and date at Ras Al Khaimah Airport is 03:28:18 AM (+04) on Sunday, Jun 13, 2021 Looking for information on Ras Al Khaimah Airport, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates? Know about Ras Al Khaimah Airport in detail. 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Ras Al Khaimah Airport Map - Location of Ras Al Khaimah Airport Load Map United Arab Emirates - General Information Country Formal Name United Arab Emirates Country Code AE Capital Abu Dhabi Currency Dirham (AED) 1 AED = 0.272 USD 1 USD = 3.673 AED 1 AED = 0.225 EUR 1 EUR = 4.448 AED More AED convertion rates Tel Code +971 Top Level Domain .ae Major airlines flying to Ras Al Khaimah Airport, Ras Al Khaimah This page provides all the information you need to know about Ras Al Khaimah Airport, United Arab Emirates. This page is created with the aim of helping travelers and tourists visiting United Arab Emirates or traveling to Ras Al Khaimah Airport. Details about Ras Al Khaimah Airport given here include Ras Al Khaimah Airport Code - IATA Code (3 letter airport codes) and ICAO Code (4 letter airport codes) Coordinates of Ras Al Khaimah Airport - Latitude and Longitude (Lat and Long) of Ras Al Khaimah Airport Location of Ras Al Khaimah Airport - City Name, Country, Country Codes etc... Ras Al Khaimah Airport Time Zone and Current time at Ras Al Khaimah Airport Address and contact details of Ras Al Khaimah Airport along with website address of the airport Clickable Location Map of Ras Al Khaimah Airport on Google Map. General information about United Arab Emirates where Ras Al Khaimah Airport is located in the city of Ras Al Khaimah. General information include capital of United Arab Emirates, currency and conversion rate of United Arab Emirates currency, Telephone Country code, exchange rate against US Dollar and Euro in case of major world currencies etc... RKT - Ras Al Khaimah Airport IATA Code and OMRK - Ras Al Khaimah Airport ICAO code Tara Whalen has been writing for as long as she can remember, but this is her first book to be published and shared. She is a proud mother and wife, and her family has been in love with Newfoundlands since their first Newf, Mr. Snuffy, joined their family. EdA Newfs Story includes gorgeous illustrations by Patricia Eubank, who brought Ed to life in a way no one else could have. Proceeds from the book will benefit Taras favorite rescue organizations: Minnesota Newfoundland Rescue and Ruff Start Rescue of MN. Whalen writes, I hope that you will follow Ed on his journey through this book and the books to follow. I hope that you will laugh and maybe learn a few thingsnot only about Newfoundland dogs but about yourself as well. Life is a journey, and I hope that you enjoy following Ed and his family on theirs! There will be some ups and downs and some surprises along the waysome you expect and some that you wont even see coming. I hope you come to see that Ed is truly one of a kind, which is the best kind to be! Published by Page Publishing, Whalens book is the first of many planned stories that take readers into a loving family made complete by their beloved dogs. For more Newfoundland stories and photos, Ed and his brother, Finnegan, can be followed on their Instagram account, @ed_and_finn_the_newf. You can also find him at https://www.edthenewf.com/. Readers who wish to go along on Eds shenanigans can purchase EdA Newfs Story 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. Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against Raising Cane's USA, LLC, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. The Los Angeles employment law attorneys at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action lawsuit against Raising Cane's USA, LLC, alleging the company violated California Labor Code. The lawsuit against Raising Cane's USA, LLC is currently pending in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Case No. 21STCV16034. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here. Cal. Lab. Code 2802 expressly states that "an employer shall indemnify his or her employee for all necessary expenditures or losses incurred by the employee in direct consequence of the discharge of his or her duties..." During employment, PLAINTIFFS and other CALIFORNIA CLASS Members were allegedly required to use their personal cellular phones and personal home offices in order to complete their job duties. As a result, they allegedly incurred unreimbursed business expenses. Additionally, from time to time, Defendant allegedly failed to provide wage statements that included the correct gross and net wages earned, among other things. Cal. Lab. Code 226 provides that every employer shall provide each employee with an accurate itemized wage statement. For more information about the class action lawsuit against Raising Cane's USA, LLC, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is a labor law firm with law offices located in San Diego County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Sacramento County, Santa Clara County, Orange County and San Francisco County. The firm has a statewide practice of representing employees on a contingency basis for violations involving unpaid wages, overtime pay, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and other types of illegal workplace conduct. ***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT*** The fund will focus on investments into growth- to late-stage Japanese startups, and the remainder into earlier-stage overseas startups, in industries such as healthcare/wellness, fintech, next-generation work/education, next-generation consumer, and environment/sustainability. 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Over the past two decades, Japanese and global policymakers as well as private sector firms have turned to MPower Partners members for specific recommendations aimed at promoting diversity, better corporate governance and innovation. MPower Partners believes that ESG integration is not only imperative for startups to achieve sustainable and scalable growth but is also critical to the healthy growth of financial markets and society as a whole. MPower Partners will leverage its extensive global expertise and network to support startups ESG integration, business scaling and global expansion, as well as facilitate overseas startups entry into Japan. Core Investment Team Kathy Matsui - General Partner Kathy is the former Vice Chair of Goldman Sachs Japan and Chief Japan Equity Strategist. Her groundbreaking Womenomics research spurred the Japanese government to promote gender diversity, and she has advised corporations on governance and diversity best practices. She has an MA from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and an AB from Harvard. Yumiko Murakami - General Partner Yumiko is the former head of the OECD Tokyo Centre, and she also spent 20 years working for Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse. She is a leading authority on corporate governance, tax guidelines, gender diversity, education, trade and innovation issues. Yumiko has an MBA from Harvard Business School, MA from Stanford University and BA from Sophia University. Miwa Seki - General Partner Miwa is a former Japanese growth equity portfolio manager with Clay Finlay, and she previously worked in investment banking for Morgan Stanley. She has translated over 50 business/entrepreneurship publications, and is also an associate professor of Kyorin University. Miwa earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Keio University. Eriko Suzuki - Managing Director Eriko is former General Partner of global venture capital fund Fresco Capital and former Director of Mistletoe, a venture capital fund founded by Taizo Son. She worked in investment banking at Morgan Stanley and UBS Securities, and later established the Japan business of a Silicon Valley drone startup. Eriko obtained an Honors Economics degree from McGill University. About the Investors The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, Limited The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, Limited, as a "universal owner" that manages diverse assets sourced from insurance premiums of customers throughout Japan, aims to both generate investment returns and solve social issues. In April 2020, Dai-ichi Life announced the Dai-ichi Life Basic Policy on ESG Investment to further reinforce ESG investment initiatives for the realization of a sustainable society going forward. Sompo Holdings, Inc., SOMPO Group sets the management philosophy as to contribute to the society by providing the highest quality services for the security, health and wellbeing of customers. Partnering closely with MPower, SOMPO will further accelerate its initiatives for SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) to address global social issues such as human rights, diversity, global environmental issues and local communities, and contribute to the realization of a sustainable society. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group (Joint investment by Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management) Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank plays a central role in the Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group and creates value by promoting initiatives that drive continuous and stable growth of the Group and also contributes to the development of a sustainable society. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management is one of the largest asset management companies in Japan and Asia, with AUM of approximately 82 trillion yen (as of March 31, 2021). Disclosures This press release provides a general introduction to MPower Partners and the MPower Partners Fund L.P. and should not be relied upon as the basis for making any investment decision or for any other purpose. An investment in the MPower Partners Fund L.P. is speculative and involves a high degree of risk, which may not be suitable for all investors. This press release contains forward-looking statements about MPower Partners Fund and its plans to invest in early-stage companies, including their potential benefits, that involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. MPower Partners undertakes no obligation to publicly update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. MPower Partners GP Limited - Notifier of Specially Permitted Businesses for Qualified Institutional Investors etc. Inquiries info@mpower-partners.com If you would like to know more about the Ferro Automotive Group, Inc. lawsuit, please contact Attorney Jackland K. Hom today by calling (619) 255-9047. The Northern California labor law attorneys, at Zakay Law Group, APLC and JCL Law Firm, APC, filed a complaint alleging that Ferro Automotive Group, Inc. committed multiple violations of the California Labor Code. The Ferro Automotive Group, Inc. lawsuit, Case No. FCS056580, is currently pending in the Solano County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here. The lawsuit alleges Ferro Automotive Group, Inc. violated the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), which gives rise to civil penalties as a result of Ferro Automotive Group, Inc.'s conduct. PAGA allows aggrieved employees to file a lawsuit to recover civil penalties on behalf of themselves, other employees, and the State of California for Labor Code violations. An "aggrieved employee" is defined as "any person who was employed by the alleged violator and against whom one or more of the alleged violations was committed." Cal. Lab. Code section 2699(c). PAGA allows aggrieved employees to become deputized as private attorneys general to enforce the Labor Code. The complaint alleges Ferro Automotive Group, Inc.'s meal period policies and practices were unlawful because Aggrieved Employees were far too over-booked and overworked to take timely off-duty thirty (30) minute meal periods. As a result of their rigorous work schedules, Aggrieved Employees allegedly were often not fully relieved of duty for their meal periods. Additionally, the complaint alleges Ferro Automotive Group, Inc.'s rest periods policies and practices were unlawful because commission-based and/or piece-rate based Aggrieved Employees were not separately compensated for their non-productive time, including rest periods. If you would like to know more about the Ferro Automotive Group, Inc. lawsuit, please contact Attorney Jackland K. Hom today by calling (619) 255-9047. Zakay Law Group, APLC and JCL Law Firm, APC are labor and employment law firms with offices located in California that dedicate their practices to fighting for employees who have been wronged by their employers due to unfair employment practices. Contact one of their attorneys today if you need help with workplace issues regarding wage and hour, wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination, and harassment. -THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT- Veronica Loewy, Army Veteran and 2020 Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Own General Winner Dream Vacations provides the tools needed to survive, just like the military. This includes top-notch leadership in an organization where they have your back, a dedicated Business Development Manager, proven business model, training and customer support in order to complete a successful mission. The top-awarded travel agency franchise for veterans Dream Vacations announces that military veterans can start their next career in the civilian sector by entering-to-win a free travel agency franchise in the Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Owner General business plan contest. Five winners will be awarded a travel agency business, and in celebration of the contests 10th anniversary, one grand prize winner will also receive a berth on a European River Cruise on the Danube River. Since 2012, Dream Vacations has awarded 51 free franchises valued at $637,800 to military veterans. This years contest begins on Monday, May 31, 2021, and runs through August 6, 2021. The United States is the greatest country in the world because of the sacrifices made by military heroes and their families, said Drew Daly, senior vice president and general manager of Dream Vacations. Supporting military families is important to Dream Vacations and it is hard to believe we have been giving away franchise business opportunities for 10 years to military veterans as a small token of our appreciation. We honor, respect and salute those in the Armed Forces and we invite you to live the American Dream of business ownership that you made possible for so many. The Dream Vacations franchise contest is open to former members of any of the five branches of the U.S. military (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard) who are retired, off active duty and/or honorably discharged prior to the contest start date and are residents of the U.S. To participate, candidates must complete an online entry form and an introductory phone interview with a Franchise Development Manager. Candidates will be required to submit a candidate profile, business plan, and video. Finalists will be invited to participate in follow-up phone interviews before winners are selected. The entry form and all contest details can be found at http://www.operationvetrepreneur.com. Five winners will be notified in August 2021. Each grand prize is valued at $12,300 and includes a complimentary Dream Vacations franchise with a waived $10,500 initial start-up fee and monthly service fees. After completing virtual franchisee training, the winners will be armed with all the tools and knowledge they need to begin their next journey as small business owners creating dream vacations. Winning a Dream Vacation franchise reminds me of being part of a military unit during wartime operations in the Middle East. Starting a business is stressful and can be financially risky especially if you do it alone without a support network, said Veronica Loewy, Army Veteran and 2020 Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Own General winner from Chicago. Dream Vacations provides the tools needed to survive, just like the military. This includes top-notch leadership in an organization where they have your back, a dedicated Business Development Manager, proven business model, training and customer support in order to complete a successful mission. According to the Department of Defense, more than 200,000 military veterans are entering the civilian workforce each day and Dream Vacations recognizes that franchising provides a unique opportunity to leverage the traits gained in the military and translate them to entrepreneurship. This includes teamwork, decisive thinking, leadership and self-discipline to name a few. Those who have served in the Armed Forces also have an innate desire to serve others and see the world, which are important aspects of being a successful travel franchise owner. When military veterans join a home-based opportunity such as Dream Vacations, they have the flexibility to set their own hours so they can enjoy valuable time with family and make up for missed moments due to deployments. Military veterans and Gold Star families interested in starting a work-from-home business immediately can purchase a Dream Vacations travel agency business now at a 30 percent discount, receive an enlistment package valued no less than $5,000, and can select one of two perks currently being offered either waived administrative fees valued at $1,350 or a Microsoft Surface Pro tablet valued at $1,000. In addition to having access to the Command Center, an internal portal with veteran-specific training and veteran-themed marketing assets, all veterans and Gold Star families receive a waived training fee for a business partner and the ability to hire active-duty military spouses and veterans as associates at a discount. Additional veteran incentives include the ability to move residences and stay in business, travel discounts for military customers and access to veteran networking groups. The only travel franchise to receive a 5 STAR ranking from the International Franchise Associations VetFran initiative, Dream Vacations proudly supports military veterans and is consistently recognized by leading industry publications as a veteran-friendly franchise. Since 2017 it has been ranked the top travel agency franchise for veterans by Entrepreneur magazine, always ranking either first or second out of 150 franchises nationwide, and other recent number one rankings include Military Times and Forbes. Additional recognitions include inclusion on G.I. Jobs annual Hot Franchises for Veterans, US Veterans magazines Top Veteran-Friendly Companies, USA Todays 50 Top Franchises for Military Veterans and recognition by MSC Cruises in its Seaside Salute Award. The Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Own General program won gold from the Travel Weekly Magellan Awards and the IFA Franchising Gives Back Awards. Military veterans with a passion for travel and entrepreneurship who are interested in opening a Dream Vacations travel franchise and want to be considered as a candidate for the Operation Vetrepreneur: Become Your Own General contest, please visit http://www.OperationVetrepreneur.com or call 888-249-8235. About Dream Vacations Travel agents with the top-ranked home-based travel agency franchise Dream Vacations have the resources to plan and create seamless vacation experiences for their customers while offering the best value. A member of the International Franchise Association, Dream Vacations is part of World Travel Holdings and has received partner of the year, a top-ranking status, by all the major cruise lines as well as national recognition for its support of military veterans. For more information about Dream Vacations, visit http://www.dreamvacationsfranchise.com. Like Dream Vacations on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DreamVacationsFranchise, follow on Twitter at @Dream_Franchise and watch its videos at http://www.youtube.com/DreamVacationsBusiness. Begins May 31, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. ET and ends August 6, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Void where prohibited by law. Must be 18 or older at the start of the Contest, have a computer and internet connection, be a legal resident of the US or DC and a former member in good standing of one of the five branches of the U.S. military who is retired, off active duty and/or was honorably discharged prior to the start date of the Contest. If selected as winners, Contestants must commit to a 5-year Dream Vacations home-based franchise, which requires attendance at a New Franchisee Training Class and a starting investment capital (for more information, go to http://www.dreamvacationsfranchise.com or call 888-441-2542). Only one (1) submission per contestant. To enter, complete the online entry form on our website (http://www.operationvetrepreneur.com). If qualified and selected to move to the next round after a phone interview, Semi-Finalists must submit a video, Dream Vacations candidate profile, and a minimum 300 - 1,200-word business plan. Submissions must comply with the Submission Guidelines in the Official Rules. Only complete, valid submissions will be accepted. Sponsored by Dream Vacations, 1201 W. Cypress Creek Rd. Ste. 100, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309. See http://www.OperationVetrepreneur.com for complete Rules and details. Ashok Balasubramanian, CEO of Open Weaver Inc, has been accepted into Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs, and technology executives. Ashok 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 Ashok Balasubramanian 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 an accepted member of the Council, Ashok has access to a variety of exclusive opportunities designed to help him reach peak professional influence. He will connect and collaborate with other respected local leaders in a private forum. Ashok 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 passionate about the countless possibilities that technology brings to people's lives and businesses," said Ashok Balasubramanian, CEO of Open Weaver Inc. "I am excited to be part of the Forbes Technology Council and look forward to engaging with my peers and the wider ecosystem to contribute to this vital transformation." About Open Weaver Open Weaver is a SaaS tech company changing the way the world builds digital. Open Weaver is headquartered in New York, with operations across the US and India. Open Weaver's mission is Reinventing Digital Realization, and is investing in a multi-year roadmap for digital development enablers. For more information about Open Weaver, visit us at https://kandi.openweaver.com. 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. For more information, press only: Open Weaver Media Relations, media.relations@openweaver.com 2021 TMALL BABY AWARDS Best Data Services Partner transcosmos China was recognized for its high-quality data operations services for multiple top brands in the industry. Also, many of its e-commerce operations service clients were highly praised at the ceremony. transcosmos inc. is delighted to announce that Shanghai transcosmos Marketing Services Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shanghai, China; CEO: Eijiro Yamashita; transcosmos China), its wholly-owned subsidiary, received the "Best Data Services Partner" award at the "2021 TMALL& BABY INDUSTRY SUMMIT AND GOLDEN BABY AWARD CEREMONY" held by TMALL, the largest online marketplace in China, on April 15, 2021. "TMALL BABY AWARD" is an annual award program run by TMALL with the aim of selecting the best brands, products and service providers among thousands of world leading mother & baby brands, and the mother and baby industry. The award is regarded as one of the benchmarks in the Chinese mother & baby industry, and is leading the consumer trends in the Chinese mother & baby industry. Recognized for its high quality data operations services for multiple top brands in the industry, transcosmos China received the prestigious "2021 TMALL BABY Best Data Services Partner" award in the 2021 TMALL BABY AWARD ceremony and was one of the only five award winners. In the ceremony, many of transcosmos China's e-commerce operations service clients were also highly praised. A certain toy brand received the "2021 TMALL BABY The Most Influential Brand of the Year" award for its leading position in the industry and for the level of sales growth the brand achieved in 2020. Another client, a certain famous kids' clothing brand in China, won the "Best Consumer Operations Brand" for achieving 70% growth in its performance on TMALL. Consumption in the Chinese mother & baby products market is driven by young consumers or so called "post-90" and "post-95" generations who were born after 1990 and 1995 respectively. In addition, the new retail business model, which is growing rapidly in China, is expanding the market as digital transformation accelerates. Today, the number of users in the TMALL mother & baby products category exceeds 300 million, and nearly 5,000 brands joined the TMALL platform in 2020 (*). Against this backdrop, there is a huge demand for high-end, unique, and sophisticated baby items in the market. (*) Data source: "TMALL BABY AWARD: TMALL Mother & Baby products category users top 300 million, "smart" childcare products growth exceeds 40%" URL: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/qlswePKhuxmSLfUneaoiDQ transcosmos China makes the most of its experience and competitive advantages as a "Certified Alibaba Brand Databank Service partner" in the mother & baby products market. More specifically, powered by the "Data Bank," "Damopan," and other data analytics and marketing tools, transcosmos China ensures precise targeting, gets deep insight into the lifecycles of target consumers, and visualizes each brand's consumer insights and their growth potential. Ultimately, transcosmos China bolsters clients' new marketing activities by its data-driven marketing techniques, and helps them plan and execute the right marketing strategies. Building on its operational records, transcosmos will continue to boost its competitive advantage of services, optimize and enhance service capabilities, deliver high-quality customer experience for clients, thereby making them achieve exponential growth. 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 ad 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, Tenzin, 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), 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 167 bases across 30 countries/regions with a focus on Asia, while continuously pursuing Operational Excellence. Furthermore, following the expansion of e-commerce market on the global scale, transcosmos provides a 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/ I wrote this book as an expression of my thoughts and opinions on how I view the world and the predicament [in which] we find ourselves entangled. Author W.T. Barlow demonstrates the consequences of a God-less society, along with a treatment plan in his fictional work The Audacity of Faith: The Diva Pack Transformation ($19.49, paperback, 9781662816505; $9.99, e-book, 9781662816512). Five intelligent and misguided young women join forces in college to create the Diva Pack Sisterhood, an outlet for their revenge and mis-managed emotions. Only after they encounter dire, life-altering consequences as a result of their Diva Pack Creed do they seek help from a Christian counselor who points them to the only One who can transform their lives. I wrote this book as an expression of my thoughts and opinions on how I view the world and the predicament [in which] we find ourselves entangled. I offer my recommendation for a cure, for all that ails us, said Barlow. W.T. Barlow is an author, composer and songwriter raised in Miami, Florida. He has received a variety of academic degrees, including as A.A. in Television and Video Production, a B.A. in Music, an M.Ed. in Education, an MBA in Finance and a Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the worlds largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 15,000 titles published to date. The Audacity of Faith is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com. Joshua M. Greene had decided he was never going to write another book about the Holocaust when he received a call from Ivan Wilzig, urging him to write the story of his father, the Holocaust survivor Siggi Wilzig. It was the summer of 2013 and Greene was blunt. Im done with the Holocaust, Greene told Ivan. Im done with the darkness. I want to work on books that move us toward the light.Without pause, Wilzig yelled in the phone, Are you kidding? My father was the light! He was a walking torch! He was a beacon of hope for all immigrants! Eight years later, Greene is the first to admit that Ivan Wilzig was right. The proof can be found in Unstoppable (Insight Editions), the newly released, sweeping biography that grew from that phone call. Unstoppable chronicles the life of a man who survived Auschwitz, arrived penniless in New York, and rose to the highest positions in oil and banking. When Wilzig died in 2003, the companies had more than $4 billion in assets. Besides the enormous business success, he was also celebrated as an instrumental force in creating the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Greenes path to the story of Wilzigs life began in transcripts of his subjects own words. Prior to his death, the Steven Spielberg Shoah Foundation recorded Wilzigs testimony, which yielded more than 600 pages when transcribed. In those pages, Greene saw a possibility for connecting Wilzigs story to a broader story of immigration and the American Dream. His accounts were candid, humorous, and insightful. I was learning from the transcripts about a period of history I thought I knew. Yet here were dimensions only an immigrant with Siggis volcanic drive could reveal, Greene says. By the time Id finished the transcripts, I was more or less hooked. Following liberation from Mauthausen, Wilzig went to work for the U.S. Counterintelligence Corps hunting down former Nazis. Two years later he sailed for New York with barely any money, earning his first dollar in America shoveling snow after a blizzard. Over the years, he worked any job he could takeincluding in sweatshopsand slowly climbed from poverty to wealth and influence. Eventually he came to own a major oil company and then ran a full-service commercial bank. At the same time, he worked tirelessly to ensure that the Holocaust was remembered. The first survivor to address cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he was also the first person asked by Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel to join a presidential commission that later created the Holocaust Museum. But for Greene, the texture of Wilzigs stories, happy and sad, was as captivating as the arc of his life. On a forced march to the Mauthausen concentration camp in 1945, Wilzigs shoelaces broke in the ice and mud. Without shoes, he would die. But in the night, Greene recounts, Wilzig stripped lengths of bark and then braided them into shoelaces. That was quintessential Siggi, Greene says. He looked for a thread of a solution to the most daunting of challengeslike that thread of bark that saved his life. His attitude was there is always a thread of light to be found, as long as we are willing to lift our heads up and look for it. Unstoppable takes on an added importance at a time when the last Holocaust survivors are reaching an older age. With their passing, Greene sees an urgent need for stories like Wilzigs. Remember the footage from January 6 of rioters storming the capitol building, and the man with a sweatshirt with the words Camp Auschwitz? Greene says. Racism and anti-Semitism didnt die with Hitler in his bunker. Theyre alive in America and at the heart of the violence and hatred weve been struggling with recently. Wilzigs life is a guide, connecting past and present, and one that Greene has connected with despite his certainty, eight years ago, that he was finished writing about the Holocaust. In Wilzigs story, Greene says, he found someone whose life was as relatable and funny as it was harrowing and profound. Siggi had a passion for life that can only come from witnessing so much death, Greene says. He lived one of the most remarkable success stories of postwar America, and my privilege was helping make that story wider known. Chinese FM holds talks with Irish counterpart Xinhua) 14:13, May 31, 2021 Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds talks with Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence Simon Coveney in Guiyang, capital city of southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 30, 2021. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) GUIYANG, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday held talks with Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence Simon Coveney in Guiyang, capital city of southwest China's Guizhou Province. Wang said that China-Ireland relations have been maintaining healthy and stable development and have become increasingly mature. The two sides could give full play to their respective advantages to strengthen international cooperation against the COVID-19 pandemic and maintain smooth and stable industrial and supply chains, so as to help accelerate the recovery of the global economy. China attaches importance to Ireland's unique role and influence in international and regional affairs, Wang said, adding that Ireland is a stable and strong force in the European Union, and it's believed that Ireland will continue to play a positive role in developing healthy and steady China-EU relations. For his part, Coveney said that Ireland is an honest friend to China in the EU and is willing to be a reliable partner. The Irish side is looking forward to the further improvement and development of EU-China relations. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) The large power auger program tested targets defined by an aeromagnetic survey and geological mapping, with the company confident that current and historical results demonstrate the potential to uncover a large gold deposit. The company plans closer spaced, low-cost auger drilling to more closely define anomalous areas in preparation for deeper drilling later in the year. 's ( ) first program of power auger drilling and rock chip sampling at Koundian Project, 115 kilometres from the Bankan Project in Guinea, has delivered gold results described by the company as "outstanding". The 753-hole power auger program for 8,012 metres returned shallow high-grade gold along a corridor of interpreted NE orientated structures, including: 6 metres at 32 g/t gold from 4 metres to end of hole (EOH), including 4 metres at 45 g/t; 6 metres at 9.8 g/t from 4 metres to EOH; and 6 metres at 1.3 g/t from 4 metres (to EOH). The rock chip sampling program returned multiple +10 g/t values and a peak result of 33.6 g/t. Both the power auger drilling and rock chip results confirm the presence of widespread high-grade gold values on the project area. An excellent start The results are from a series of three reconnaissance exploration programs, which also included a regional aeromagnetic survey program, where the company flew a 1,282 line-kilometre geophysical survey at Koundian covering around 128 square kilometres. Geological mapping and sampling were also carried out, with 530 rock samples collected across the permits. Managing director Paul Roberts said: By any measure, this is an excellent start to exploration results from Koundian. The huge extent of mapped artisanal workings on the new ground shows that gold mineralisation covers a large area in a geological setting analogous to the nearby known gold deposits, with the company well-funded to continue regional auger programs on its Siguiri Basin projects. Shares higher Shares have been as much as 15.4% higher intra-day to 10.5 cents. Power auger drilling is a rapid and cost-effective exploration method for the collection of weathered bedrock samples below tracts of lateritic and transported cover. This method was applied very successfully on the Bankan Project and is now being used at Koundian because of the presence of similar, extensive lateritic cover over that area. Once all results are received and subject to access during the upcoming rainy season, the company will undertake closer spaced, low-cost auger drilling programs to more closely define the anomalous areas in preparation for deeper drilling later in the year. Koundian Project power auger and rock chip sample locations and mapped artisanal workings overlain on a greyscale aeromagnetic image. Aeromagnetic survey A helicopter-borne magnetic and radiometric survey was conducted by New Resolution Geophysics (NRG) in February covering two of the four Koundian permits on a 100 metre-line spacing. The geophysical data was processed and an initial geological interpretation and target generation program has been carried out. Images of processed aeromagnetic data show structural features that may have controlled the localisation of the known gold mineralisation including a series of NE oriented features, the strongest pair of which form a corridor that includes the highest-grade power auger drill results recorded to date. Print-on-demand is not a new capability. In fact, publishers have been benefiting from POD for decades. However, its typically been used for managing lower print volume requirements, says Paul Randall, product marketing manager at HP Publishing Solutions. But now the industry needs to address other challenges around the sustainability of its supply chains, as well as its ability to react quickly and with agility to changing market dynamics. As the publishing industry continues to cope with the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, many publishers are finding that their supply chains are no longer sustainable. Thats where HP Publishing Solutions can help, with its global print partner network that offers publishers a better way to do business. The adaptability of traditional publishing supply chains has long been an issue. Though these supply chains work for many publishers frontlistsparticularly for bestselling titlesthere are still problems with managing fluctuating demand levels and ensuring resilience when the chain is stressed. Put simply: disasters of all sorts can delay or derail publishing supply chains. When Covid-19 hit, publishers had issues in getting their content printed because of their reliance on a chain of very few suppliers, Randall says, noting that the limited scale of suppliers resulted in a tremendous amount of delay with shipping inventory to the desired locations. Even more recently, he says, with the Suez Canal blockage, publishers have found their supply chains disrupted by shipments unable to reach their end destinations on time. There is currently a dire need for a more resilient publishing supply chain capable of offering global distribution, with consistency and qualityand one that reduces book miles to boost environmental sustainability. As the publishing industry becomes increasingly aware of how and where the books are printed, the benefits of POD technology can become even more powerful, Randall says. Publishers canand shouldnow be considering print strategies that can be more environmentally responsible while still being built to meet market demand. HP Book as a Service offers publishers access to a global print partner network, ensuring books can be printed where and when needed. This can create a global supply chain that is agile, resilient, and guarantees print quality and consistency across the globe. Publishers can now reach new markets and extend their catalogues while benefiting from quicker timelines, less waste, and a reduced environmental impact. For some trade publishers, up to half of all titles published never require a second printing, Randall says. That means that 50% of books end up with unsold inventory, and publishers are paying rent to store unsold inventory. That creates an incredible amount of overhead and waste, as unsold inventory utilizes significant amounts of raw materials in production and warehousing, resulting in a substantial environmental impact. Or as Randall says, The total cost of ownership of a single book is more than just the production cost per unit. Using HPs solution, publishers can better align their costs with the sales they generate. If there is no sale, then book-printing costs can be avoided entirely. And all of this can be centrally managed and delivered, Randall says, through a single platform that streamlines operations and accounting. HPs digital print technology has been delivering agility and speed for publishers for many years already, Randall says. We estimate that around half of the POD market across the U.S. and Europe is currently produced on HP technology with print service providers in multiple countries around the world. With this new Book as a Service offering, HP is enabling publishers to truly utilize a global POD capability that is centralized in one unified platform. Its this sort of automation and streamlining that has continued to drive and promote efficiency for publishers during a pivotal moment of change in the industry. To find out more about HP Book as a Service, contact hppublishingsolutions@hp.com or download the companys latest white paper here: hpsiteflow.com/reduce-your-carbon-footprint.html. In Bozeman, Montana, a rental car will zap you $350 a day plus gas, or $650 for something fancier than a compact. In Manchester, New Hampshire, $250 a day plus gas. In Dallas, Texas, and Denver, Colorado, its better at $80 but the wait times are very long. Many people find themselves without and instead take Uber. In Salt Lake City, Utah, and Savannah, Georgia, you will throw down $150 per day plus. The only real deals out there by which I mean not $14 per day like it was six months ago but $70 require that you grant the agency choice over what car they give you: the answer is whatever they happen to have on the floor. Also watch for a change in terms of service. Some companies have dropped unlimited mileage:: a woman in Denver found herself with a $28,000 bill from driving 200 miles. As with most such dramatic economic changes, people dont know what to make of them. They blame the wrong party: the enterprise itself rather than the government that forced this fiasco on everyone. Fortunately, the political class is not hip to this yet; otherwise they would impose gouging rules that would deplete supply in an instant plus drive further bankruptcies. Lets look more closely at whats going on here. I was explaining the new and used car crisis to a friend. He said: sounds like a good time to rent a car. Its a reasonable response, one that would have made sense any moment in the last 40 or so years. But these are not normal times. Not even close. The expected and predictable is suddenly and weirdly unexpected and unpredictable. In the spring of 2020, governments around the country and the world shut down their societies to kill a virus. The result was an economic meltdown. I had a sense of foreboding. Most sensible people did. Two days, two weeks, maybe. But a full year? What kind of unholy mess will this unleash? We took the potential of a medical crisis and turned it into a massive public health, political, and economic crisis. Great going politicians! Among the industries hardest hit immediately following lockdowns were rental cars. When flights stopped airports were ghost towns for many months two-thirds of their business vanished. The Wall Street Journal reported on May 4, 2020: The vehicles now sitting on rental-car lots are rapidly losing value in a slumping used-car market and yet the rental firms must still make monthly payments on them, adding to financial strains, analysts say. To survive, many of the companies ending up selling off many in their fleet of cars. Eventually Hertz filed for bankruptcy while Avis sought a rescue. So things sat for the better part of the year. The cars just sat there gathering dust. Sometime in the late summer last year when I rented one, staff took an extra 15 minutes to completely fumigate the car before giving me the keys, under the ridiculously mistaken view that the Coronavirus found a happy home on upholstery and leather. This year consumer demand returned to normal but now a new problem has arisen. There is an extreme shortage of new cars that rental companies rely on. They will buy anything, new or used, at inflated prices, which only adds to shortages elsewhere in the car market. In fact, it is forecast to persist until years end. Its due to a chip shortage because manufacturers cancelled orders, so instead of merely waiting it out, factories around the world retooled to serve home appliances and computers. When car demand returned, and fresh cash was burning a hole in peoples pockets, manufacturers couldnt ship product because the cars were inoperable. You have people desperately making up for lost time, trying to travel here and there. That has caused a spike in the market for renting cars at the very time when companies cant buy the cars. Rental prices are up, sometimes by a third but up to four times since January, but the demand is still outstripping supply. In addition, there is a huge shortage of used cars too, even as broken supply chains mean that parts are not available. The human tragedies unfolding now are many. A family member in Texas relies on his truck for business. It developed a mechanical problem. It cant be fixed anytime soon due to the parts shortage. There are no new trucks available now and they are back-ordered six months. The used car lots are depleted. Private sellers have them available but always with needed fixes. He tried to rent but found it unaffordable. He is stuck at home, watching his business unravel. Other people are ready to vacation and give support to the asphyxiating hospitality industry around the country. Hotels, vacation spots, restaurants, concert venues they could all use the business right now. But people take a look at the cost of flights and car rentals and change their plans. What used to be a minor expense of a trip (snagging a rental for a few days) has turned into a major one. Its enough to make people rethink, at the very time when the hospitality industry is ready to rock. This is a tremendous illustration of the interconnected and delicate systems that make up the market economy. When it is allowed to work, it is reliable, plentiful, efficient, responsive, and wealth creating. Its so much part of our lives that we take it for granted. The digital economy has made trade, exchange, and production easier than ever before even as the reason it works so well is less understood than ever and ever more under attack. When you break it by force Im still astounded that this actually happened you create conditions for disaster both immediately and down the line. We are finding out now just how bad this can get. Vice President Kamala Harris delivered the commencement address at the U.S. Naval Academy on Friday. Few in the press paid much attention to what she said. If they had, they would have heard Harris give voice to a vision for America's armed forces that is strikingly different from previous administrations, both Republican and Democratic. 92, passed away March 12, 2021. Visitation will take place Sunday, June 13, 2021 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home with a rosary at 5 p.m. A funeral Mass will take place on Monday, June 14, 2021 at 11 a.m. at St. Francis Catholic Church. The companys offer to acquire the Wizard Lake Oil Field has been approved by the Court of Queens Bench, Alberta, with an effective date of May 19, 2021. The placement will fund the cash component of the acquisition. ( ) has completed a placement to sophisticated and institutional investors raising A$310,000 to fund the cash component of its acquisition of the Wizard Lake Oil Field. The Wizard Lake Oil Field in Alberta, Canada, is being acquired from Whitebark subsidiary, Salt Bush Energy Ltd Whitebark, via subsidiary Ironbark Energy Pty Ltd, has bid C$2 million, comprising C$336,000 in cash and C$1.664 million in forfeit of an existing loan from Whitebark to Salt Bush Energy. The company is now seeking the lifting of the voluntary suspension of its securities, given the completion of the placement and approval to acquire the oil field from the Court of Queens Bench, Alberta. Strategic review Whitebark is now finalising its review of the oil field, which includes an assessment of booked 1P and 2P reserves currently being audited by an SPE accredited competent person in Canada. In addition, Whitebarks experienced, in-country technical team is currently considering potential performance enhancements of the existing Wizard Lake wells and multiple step-out drilling locations at the site. Placement terms Under the terms of the placement, the company has issued a total of 310 million ordinary shares to sophisticated and institutional investors at a price of $0.001 per share. Placement participants will also receive one free attaching option for every two placement shares subscribed for, which will be exercisable at $0.002 per share with a two-year expiry. Placement proceeds are to be applied to: The cash component of the acquisition of the Wizard Lake Oil Field; and General working capital requirements. The placement shares and placement options were issued out of Whitebarks available placement capacity under Listing Rule 7.1. Whitebark will apply for quotation of the placement shares and all placement shares issued will rank equally with existing Whitebark shares on issue. Greenville, NC (27833) Today Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Two police officers were transported to the hospital after suffering medical emergencies while conducting a search of a vehicle that was impounded at the Hinsdale Police Department. Hinsdale police Chief Charles Rataj told the Reformer the two officers have been medically cleared to return to duty. General Assignment Reporter Chris Mays is a general assignment reporter for the Brattleboro Reformer. He has been with New England Newspapers Inc. since 2012. Jackowski: On Memorial Day, mourn the victims of war and honor the heroes who stand against it Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. Bob Stannard writes a regular column for the Bennington Banner. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of the Brattleboro Reformer. NEW HAVEN For years, ex-offenders being released from prison would be dropped off on Whalley Avenue, in front of the police station or on the Green in prison sweats with a clear plastic bag holding their belongings and no support. Not anymore. Since late January, the Project M.O.R.E. Reentry Welcome Center at 830 Grand Ave. has been a first-stop where they can get breakfast, a change of clothes, a backpack full of personal care products and most importantly some support, including computers they can use to search for jobs and housing, to help them make the transition and reduce recidivism. Instead of being dropped off on the street, people reentering society after being incarcerated are dropped off at the city-supported Welcome Center, where they immediately get oriented and provided with support to help them start moving in the right direction. There, they can immediately get help with housing issues, substance abuse, mental health and employment. The program was developed as a collaboration between Project M.O.R.E. and the citys Project Fresh Start. Were like a one-stop shop, said Director Keisha Gatison. About 40 people have gone through the centers programs since it formally opened Jan. 26. Another 47 went through the pilot program that began in June 2020. During the welcome centers pilot period when it was just getting started, 70 percent of its clients were deemed to be homeless, Gatison said during a meeting with Case Manager and Peer Support Specialist Erick Dyson and Morris Moreland, vice president of administration and social programs for Project M.O.R.E. A few months in, the center is growing success stories. Less than a year after being released from York Correctional Institution in Niantic, Jenisse Pierre-Louis has her life back. She has her two sons back. She has a job and a place to live in the citys Fair Haven section. And while the staff at the reentry center are the first to say that Pierre-Louis, 33, did the hard work herself, she said it would have been much harder to do without the support of the center. They help you a lot, Pierre-Louis said of the staff at the reentry welcome center, including Gatison, career resource specialist Latesha Nelson and Dyson, who does intake interviews for new clients. Among other things, they helped her achieve the mind set of being focused, she said. Jenisse is not giving herself enough credit, said Gatison. ... I mean, we support her, but she did the work. Pierre-Louis, a graduate of Hamden High School, was released from prison on June 8, 2020, before the city-supported center formally opened and for the first several months she worked with it, she did so virtually. When she first got out of prison, I was confused because youre living in two different worlds, she said. The first thing she wanted to do was to see her boys, 10 and 4 but while the boys were living with Pierre-Louis mother, Pierre-Louis had work to do before she could win back custody of them. Now shes managed to do that, and for the past two months she also has had a job working as a concierge for Laz Parking, which has a partnership with the welcome center to hire some or the people who go through its programs. Prior to that, Pierre-Louis had a job working in a pie factory. Through her work with the center, shes learned how to set goals, including getting her sons back, getting a job and finding a good place to live. Now, Ive got all that going on, she said. I love my situation, Pierre-Louis said. Im a better person a new me. Its something to live for. The center has recognized all the work shes done and honored her as its client of the month for April. On Friday, she was presented with a fruit bouquet in recognition of the work shes done. The city supports the center in a number of ways, including with Community Development Block Grant and CARES funds that pay a portion of the staff costs, said Mayor Justin Elicker. It is absolutely crucial to addressing many different challenges that we face, Elicker said of the center. One of the most prominent examples right now is around violence. The welcome center works to help curb violence in the city by providing the support that people need, whether its in housing, jobs, mental health and substance use support that is vital to their success in engaging in productive lives, Elicker said. The city played a significant role in supporting the creation of the center, including engagement with the state Department of Correction, Elicker said. Project Fresh Start program Director Carlos Sosa-Lombardo began working on the welcome center initiative in 2018 after visiting Hartfords Reentry Welcome Center, said Gatison. The program initially received a planning grant from the Tow Foundation. Of the 47 participants in the pilot program, only one was rearrested, and he was not convicted, she said. In Connecticut, the recidivism rate is above 60 percent when they come out of prison, Elicker said. The chances are 60 percent that when someone comes out of prison, they will be back in prison within three years. Its hard enough for many people in New Haven to find housing or a job, but when you have a record, there are many more barriers that get put up, he said. One thing that all clients who come to the center have access to are backpacks full of personal care products provided by the Prison and Reentry Ministry at First Congregational Church of Guilford, in part because when theyre released from prison, many clients have little more than clothes they are wearing. The backpacks provide necessities such as socks, T-shirts, towels, shaving necessities, shampoo, soap, toothpaste and combs, along with a pen and a 10-ride bus pass. Church Prison Ministry Coordinator Rev. Sandra Wiens said the church actually has been providing personal care items for several different organizations for 15 to 20 years. We got started working with Community Partnership in Action in Hartford, she said. When somebodys getting out, they would be released with just a clear plastic bag to carry their belongings in. ... So our church decided that we would provide hygiene bags, initially just for women ... and then the need grew and we began providing them for men, as well. As a church, what we wanted to do was give a sense of welcome to someone coming home from prison Wiens said. mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com The Vancouver-based data intelligence company said the purpose of the rebrand is to help the company align with its key product, the Fobi IoT platform CEO Rob Anson told investors that the company has experienced exponential growth from partnering with major players like Amazon Web Services, Oracle, NielsenIQ and Telus Loop Insights Inc (CVE:MTRX) ( ) announced it is changing its name to Fobi AI Inc to focus on enterprise clients. In a statement, the Vancouver-based data intelligence company said the purpose of the rebrand is to help the company align with its key product, the Fobi IoT platform, as it transitions out of a startup and into an enterprise player, according to the firm. A new website, logo and messaging will launch along with the new name, and the companys ticker symbol will change to FOBI on the TSX Venture Exchange and FOBIF on the OTCQB. CEO Rob Anson told investors that the company has experienced exponential growth from partnering with major players like Amazon Web Services, Oracle, NielsenIQ and Telus. With the company also completing two key strategic acquisitions this year, the need for a unified brand became quickly apparent and had to happen sooner than later, Anson said in a statement. We believe that Fobi is now well-positioned to become a recognizable enterprise leader in real-time data and digital wallet applications. Fobi said its messaging will focus on the platforms ability to connect data across multiple sources and transform it to actionable insights in real time in an automated fashion. Ian , vice president of marketing, called it a great opportunity to drive deeper communications and messaging with our clients, partners and investors given our exceptional year of expansion in terms of new verticals, products, and personnel. Our senior management team is remarkable and has positioned us to execute on the incredible opportunity that lies before us, Cameron added. This rebrand is a testament to our growth, the results we have already delivered, and what we have brewing in the pipeline. Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas WASHINGTON (AP) In April, the Biden administration announced plans to share millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses with the world by the end of June. Five weeks later, nations around the globe are still waiting with growing impatience to learn where the vaccines will go and how they will be distributed. To President Joe Biden, the doses represent a modern-day arsenal of democracy, serving as the ultimate carrot for Americas partners abroad, but also as a necessary tool for global health, capable of saving millions of lives and returning a semblance of normalcy to friends and foes alike. The central question for Biden: What share of doses should be provided to those who need it most, and how many should be reserved for U.S. partners? The answer, so far at least, appears to be that the administration will provide the bulk of the doses to COVAX, the U.N.-backed global vaccine sharing program meant to meet the needs of lower income countries. While the percentage is not yet finalized, it would mark a substantial and immediate boost to the lagging COVAX effort, which to date has shared just 76 million doses with needy countries. The Biden administration is considering reserving about a fourth of the doses for the U.S. to dispense directly to individual nations of its choice. The growing U.S. stockpile of COVID-19 vaccines is seen not only as a testament to American ingenuity, but also its global privilege. More than 50% of Americans have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and more than 135 million are fully vaccinated, helping bring the rate of cases and deaths in the U.S. to the lowest level since the earliest days of the pandemic. Scores of countries have requested doses from the United States, but to date only Mexico and Canada have received a combined 4.5 million doses. The U.S. also has announced plans to share enough shots with South Korea to vaccinate its 550,000 troops who serve alongside American service members on the peninsula. The broader U.S. sharing plan is still being finalized, a White House official said, having been the subject of policy debate inside the White House and across the federal government, and also involving COVAX and other outside stakeholders like drug manufacturers and logistics experts. Our nations going to be the arsenal of vaccines for the rest of the world, Biden said on May 17, when he announced the U.S. pledge to share more doses. He added that, compared to other countries like Russia and China that have sought to leverage their domestically produced doses, we will not use our vaccines to secure favors from other countries. Still, the partnership with the South Korean military points to the ability of the U.S. to use its vaccine stockpile to benefit some of its better-off allies. It was not clear whether South Korea would pay for its doses from the U.S. Most of the other doses were expected to be donated. Samantha Power, the new USAID administrator, provided the first indication of the likely allocation last week in testimony on Capitol Hill. She told the Senate Appropriations Committee that "75% of the doses we share will likely be shared through COVAX. Twenty-five percent of whatever our excess supply is that we are donating will be reserved to be able to deploy bilaterally. Administration officials cautioned that Biden had not yet signed off on the precise split and that it could still change.. The White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal plans, said the administration would be working in coming days to synchronize its supplies with the global vaccine sharing organizations. Biden has committed to providing other nations with all 60 million domestically produced doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. That vaccine has yet to be authorized for use in the U.S. but is widely approved around the world. The U.S.-produced doses will be available to ship as soon as they clear a safety review by the Food and Drug Administration. The president also has promised to share 20 million doses from existing production of Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccine stocks. Even more doses are expected to be made available to share in the months ahead. As part of its purchase agreements with drug manufacturers, the U.S. controlled the initial production by its domestic manufacturers. Pfizer and Moderna are only now starting to export vaccines produced in the U.S. to overseas customers. The U.S. has hundreds of millions more doses on order, both of authorized and in-development vaccines. Its obviously challenging because so many countries face this need right now, Power said, calling the decision of where to send doses an urgent question. The decision, she continued, hinges on some combination of "the relationship we have with the countries, the public health and epidemiological scientific trajectory of the disease, and a sense of where the vaccines can do the most good, the infrastructure and readiness of countries to receive vaccines. The U.S. under Biden also has pledged $4 billion to COVAX, led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the World Health Organization, to help it procure and distribute vaccines. COVAX has committed to sharing the doses with more than 90 countries, including many with which the U.S. has tumultuous relations. Leaving it to COVAX to decide how the bulk of the U.S.-provided doses are distributed is seen by the administration as the most equitable way to determine who benefits. It also could allow the U.S. to avoid any political fallout that might come from sharing the vaccine directly with adversaries. Its not only a symbol of American values it's smart global health policy, said Tom Hart, acting CEO of the ONE Campaign, which has pressed the Biden administration to move faster to develop its global sharing plan. An outbreak in North Korea or Iran or somewhere else where we might have tensions, viruses travel no matter where theyre flourishing, and I dont want a variant cooking up in some remote part of the world, anywhere in the world, which then might get around the current vaccines that weve got. Even if the bulk of the U.S.-shared doses are distributed through COVAX, Power told senators, It will be very clear where those doses are coming from. "People will be very clear that these are American doses coming as a result of American ingenuity and the generosity of the American people, she added. Globally, more than 3.5 million people are confirmed to have died from the coronavirus. The U.S. has seen the largest confirmed loss of life from COVID-19, at more than 594,000 people. Lebanon, IN (46052) Today Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 68F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 68F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. POTTSVILLE Michael A. Heck could spend many years behind state prison bars after admitting Wednesday to a Schuylkill County judge that he had sexual relations numerous times with a preteen girl over the course of two years in Pottsville. Heck, 40, of Pottsville, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and one each of unlawful contact with a minor, photographing or filming of sexual act, indecent assault, sexual abuse of children-child pornography, corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children. Prosecutors withdrew five additional counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and 15 counts of indecent exposure. President Judge William E. Baldwin accepted the plea. However, he did not immediately sentence Heck, instead directing the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board to evaluate the defendant and saying he would sentence him after that evaluation is done. Heck remains in Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $250,000 straight cash bail pending further court action. Pottsville police charged Heck with having sexual contact with the girl 10 times in 2019 and 2020 in the city. Assistant District Attorney Jennifer N. Foose said the girl was between 6 and 9 years old at the times of the incidents. Police said that when arrested in December 2020, Heck admitted sexually assaulting the girl on several occasions in his residence. During Wednesdays hearing, Heck also admitted filming the girl and keeping the tapes. Since Heck already is an inmate at the county prison, Baldwin conducted the hearing by videoconference. POTTSVILLE A Pottsville man will spend time in prison as soon as he is found after a Schuylkill County judge sentenced him Thursday for driving an all-terrain vehicle while his license was suspended for a third time. Jason K. Able-Lewis, 32, must serve six to 12 months in prison and pay costs and $2,550 in fines, Judge James P. Goodman ruled. Pottsville police charged Able-Lewis with driving an ATV while his license was suspended on Aug. 16, 2019, on the east side of the city. Able-Lewis did not appear at Thursdays hearing, and authorities are seeking him. Also on Thursday, Judge Charles M. Miller revoked the probation of Rachel N. Cintron, 37, of Pottsville, and sentenced her to spend three to 12 months in prison. Please get help and get this done, Miller told Cintron. Cintron originally pleaded guilty on Nov. 23, 2020, before Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, to possession of a controlled substance. Reiley placed Cintron on probation, and also sentenced her to pay costs, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account. Pottsville police charged Cintron with possessing drugs on Oct. 7, 2020, in the city. Cintron already is an inmate at the county prison, and Miller conducted the hearing by videoconference. Also on Thursday, Miller revoked the probation and parole of Ryan M. Ellis, 29, of Tamaqua, recommitted him to prison and allowed early reparole only to an inpatient rehabilitation facility. Ellis originally pleaded guilty on Aug. 6, 2020, to possession of prohibited offensive weapon and possession of a controlled substance. prosecutors withdrew a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. At that time, Miller sentenced him to serve three to 23 months in prison, pay costs, a $100 SAEF payment and a $50 CJEA payment, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Tamaqua police charged Ellis with committing his crimes on Nov. 22, 2019, in the borough. Ellis already is an inmate at the county prison, and Miller conducted the hearing by videoconference. Stephen J. Bayer TAMAQUA A Lehighton woman arrested by Rush Township police for a theft that occurred at the Walmart store between Feb. 27 and March 5 waived her right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer. Sara Ann Mertz, 44, of 110 E. Second St., was arrested by Patrolman Derek Weicikosky and charged with one count each of forgery, theft and receiving stolen property. By waiving her right to a hearing, Mertz will now have to answer to all three charges in Schuylkill County Court, where she can plead guilty or plead not guilty and request a trial. Weicikosky said that on Feb. 27, Mertz went to the store and cashed a check made out to petty cash in the amount of $596.01 before meeting with a man and purchasing merchandise valued at $153.07. The investigation determined that Franklin Township police charged the woman with stealing peoples mail and cashing their checks, Weicikosky said. Other court cases included: Ronald J. Riffon Jr., 53, of 281 North St., Box 128, Kelayres; held for court: possessing instruments of crime and recklessly endangering another person. Bonnie Lee McDermott, 27, of 83 Mountain View Drive, Jim Thorpe; held for court: possession of drug paraphernalia. Marie L. Miranda, 32, of 3255 Randall Ave., Apt./Suite 4J, Bronx, New York; held for court: possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving an unregistered vehicle. Louis J. Cichon, 54, of 1045 Ryan Circle, Ardsley; waived for court: possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Christopher D. Shumway, 47, of 535 N. Sixth St., Lehighton; waived for court: strangulation, simple assault and harassment. Ian C. Hamilton, 38, of 1017 Butler St., Easton; waived for court: DUI-controlled substance, accidents involving damage to unattended vehicles or property, failure to give notice to police of an accident with damage to a vehicle, reckless driving, careless driving, driving at an unsafe speed, prohibiting text-based communications, notice of change of name or address, DUI and DUI-high rate. Travis F. Huegel, 43, of 322 Hazle St., Tamaqua; waived for court: DUI-controlled substance. Thomas H. Xavios FRACKVILLE An Ashland area man charged by Butler Township police for failing to register with the state police under Megans Law between Jan. 3 and Feb. 25 had a felony charge against him dismissed by Magisterial District Judge Thomas H. Xavios. Jeffrey S. Miller, 50, who listed his address as 154 County Club Road, was arrested by Butler Township police Sgt. Eric Vinskie and charged with one felony count of failure to provide accurate registration information. Vinskie said he was contacted by the state police who said that Miller provided the 154 Country Club Road address, but they had reason to believe he was not living there. A subsequent investigation resulted in determining the telephone number the man gave was disconnected and that residents of 154 Country Club Road as well as the property owner reported Miller was kicked out in December. It was later determined that Miller was committed to the Northumberland County Prison between Jan. 22 and Feb. 11 and provided prison officials with an address of 27 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg. Other court cases included: Daniel D. Quinn, 42, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville; waived for court: possession of a firearm prohibited, receiving stolen property, firearms not to be carried without a license, possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Zachary A. Lau, 20, of 312 S. Balliet St., Frackville; waived for court: retail theft. Constance E. Delowery, 56, of 195 E. Main St., Ringtown; waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance. Randall A. Tyson, 76, of 1315 Main St., Gilberton; waived for court: DUI, DUI-high rate, illegally operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock and moving a vehicle unsafely. William J. Weikel, 60, of 45 S. Mahanoy Ave., Apt. 1, Frackville; dismissed: theft and receiving stolen property. Zachary T. Cyr, 28, of 645 Fifth St., Port Carbon; waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance. Joseph J. Eye Jr., 44, of 251 Preston Ave., Girardville; withdrawn: careless driving and disregard for single traffic lane. Waived for court: DUI-controlled substance. George P. Mitchell, 39, of 363 Preston Ave., Girardville; waived for court: possession of a small amount of marijuana. Troy L. Payne, 44, of Box 482, Frackville; withdrawn: strangulation, simple assault, harassment and recklessly endangering another person. Nancy Rivera, 19, of 116 S. Nice St., Apt. 2, Frackville; withdrawn: endangering the welfare of children. Eric A. Miernicki, 20, of 116 S. Nice St., Frackville; withdrawn: endangering the welfare of children. Anthony J. Kilker SHENANDOAH A man charged with threatening to burn down the house he lived in at 228 N. West St. in Shenandoah on April 1 waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah. Michael Teaschenko, 44, was arrested by state police Trooper John Davis of the Frackville station and charged with terroristic threats, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. By waiving his right to a hearing, Teaschenko will have to answer to all three charges in Schuylkill County Court, where he can plead guilty or enter a not guilty plea and request a trial. Police said they went to the home to serve a protection from abuse order violation warrant and met Teaschenko who began yelling and when told to come outside, slammed the door in their faces. Contact was made with Teaschenko by telephone, at which time he said he was not going to jail, had a can of gasoline and would burn the house down. Police said they forced their way into the house and found a realistic BB gun on a couch where Teaschenko was and that was when they tried to take him into custody, which he then resisted. Other court cases included: Kelsey Ann Anderson, 28, of 35 W. Spruce St., Mahanoy City: guilty plea entered: possession of drug paraphernalia, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. Crystal A. Wentworth, 35, of 304 W. Cherry St., Shenandoah; held for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Robert F. Montgomery, 61, of 217 E. Pine St., Mahanoy City; waived for court: failure to register with state police, receiving stolen property, retail theft and public drunkenness. Takiem Foat, 29, of 220 E. Lloyd St., Shenandoah; held for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Lisa A. Meleski, 40, of 839 W. Coal St., Shenandoah; held for court: DUI, DUI-high rate, careless driving, disregard for single traffic lane and failure to keep right. Deborah Hettrick, 60, of 617 W. Pine St., Mahanoy City; dismissed: aggravated assault, simple assault and possessing instruments of crime. Richard R. J. Buhl, 27, of 639 W. South St., Mahanoy City; waived for court: fraudulent, altered, forged or counterfeit title, registration or insurance and displaying known fictitious, stolen or issued for inspection. Luis Hernandez, no age or address available; held for court: criminal attempt to commit criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. (Staff writer Frank Andruscavage compiled this report) FOUNTAIN SPRINGS Though retired and without the four stars on his shoulders, there is no doubt that Gen. George A. Joulwan still commands respect with those he knows or meets for the first time. A dinner honoring the retired four-star Army general, former commander of NATO forces in Europe and native of Pottsville was held Sunday at the Fountain Springs Country Inn near Ashland. In his lifetime, Joulwan was in command of thousands and thousands of soldiers, but also watching him talk with people before the dinner showed how personable he is and always ready with a smile. The event was a fundraiser for the Schuylkill County Historical Society, which hosted him Saturday for a signing of his book, Watching at the Gates A Soldiers Journey from Berlin to Bosnia. Joulwan will give the address Monday in Pottsville during the Memorial Day program in Garfield Square. Its good to be home, Joulwan said Sunday during his address as the keynote speaker, leading to applause from all attendees. Prior to the start of the dinner, Joulwan welcomed the attendees as they entered the building. He spoke with them, shook hands and had his photo taken with them. Many brought their hardcover copies of his book for his signature, which he was glad to do. The tribute began with comments from historical society Executive Director Diana Prosymchak. It is a great honor that we have Gen. George Joulwan. He has given so much to the historical society, Prosymchak said. Lets take a few moments to remember what Memorial Day means. It is so important to see that someone from Pottsville has achieved so much. And as you look through the society and see everything he has achieved in his lifetime, it is simply amazing. We have so many people, including young people, come through and look at his exhibit that it is simply amazing. It has inspired many people. After the invocation by state Rep. Joe Kerwin, R-125, Dr. David Chanoff came to the podium. Chanoff is co-author with Joulwan on the book. He worked with Joulwan for a year and spoke about how the book was put together, explaining that Joulwan wanted to begin with growing up in Pottsville. Chanoff finished in quoting the final paragraph in the books introduction by Joulwan: Allies, coalitions, partnerships are the key to furthering our national interests. But to survive as who we are and who we have always been, we need above all to keep to our moral purpose as a nation. That was my takeaway from Bosnia and from the other critical arenas of my life as a soldier. Looking back, it is the theme of the story this book tells. Chanoff asked Joulwan to come to the podium to speak. At many times, Joulwans voice broke as he was emotionally moved, mentioning the large turnout at the book signing. I cant tell you, he said, pausing for a few seconds, how it felt to see so many people there who wanted me to sign this book. Theyre from where I grew up. Those are my people. You are my people. I think that Pottsville and the county are in good shape because of you. You have to take an interest. There is such a divided country now in Washington. We cannot be polarized. We are one nation, under God, indivisible. Unity. One team. And thats the message in that book. We need to trust one another, talk to one another, and nowhere is that more important than in the historical society in Schuylkill County. We are the leaders in the free world and we set the example. Speaking on the condition of the world, Joulwan said, Its not what I and we want for our children. We have to learn from the past. It was the Spanish philosopher Santayana who said that he who does not remember the past will live to regret it. I say we need to get our act together as a nation, as county, as a town, because this is our country. Joulwan spoke of how so many people in the county have sacrificed themselves and served in wars from the beginning of the nation. We have paid the price in every war that our country has fought from the Revolution to today, and it is that attitude that is needed for today and tomorrow. Its your country, a united country. I used to say, One team, one fight. We have to understand that. Were not divided. Were one nation indivisible under God, and I would hope my message to you will not be forgotten. Dont forget that. Love your neighbor whatever his creed. Love and respect him. He can have a voice and oppose what youre doing, but does not need to lead to violence. He added, again with emotion, This book is my tribute to all of you. Born Nov. 16, 1939, in Pottsville, he studied at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, and at Loyola University, Chicago. He worked his way up the ranks to serving in some of the hotbeds around the work to becoming the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe. 100 years ago 1921 The Mothers and Daughters banquet of the Older Boys and Girls Council of the First Presbyterian Church Tuesday evening was a very enjoyable affair, participated in by some 80 persons. 75 years ago 1946A series of wholesale layoffs began at the Cressona Ordinance plant today preparatory to the Army Ordinance department abandoning its depot some time prior to Sept. 3. 50 years ago 1971WADESVILLE The congregation of the Wadesville Primitive Methodist Church entertained Mr. and Mrs. Tom Watkins and Ellen Jane at the church Wednesday evening, with singing, dinner and gifts. 25 years ago 1996HEGINS Barry L. Shoop was leaning toward a career as an auto mechanic until the summer after he graduated from Tri-Valley High School in 1976. At the urging of his father, the honor roll student instead went to college, eventually earning three degrees in electrical engineering. Now two decades later, Shoop is an Army major and director of the U.S. Army Photonics Research Center at the US Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. Similar opportunities for success are close at hand, Shoop told the 92 members of Tri-Valley Class of 1996 Thursday night as they became the first Schuylkill County seniors to graduate this year. MAHANOY CITY Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor the men and women in uniform who made the supreme sacrifice for their country, as could be seen Sunday in the borough. The traditional program was held by the Mahanoy Area United Veterans at Veterans Memorial Park near the M60-A3 Patton tank. Some members of the public came dressed for the chilly weather, many of them returning year after year to show their respect for the fallen heroes of Mahanoy City and beyond. Unfortunately, temperatures in the 40s also included a cold rain that led to the program being shortened to less than 20 minutes, with a few things left out in order to let people leave early. Master of Ceremonies Louis Huber called for the early end to the event. However, those people who came seemed ready to stay through it all. This day is to honor the veterans who have died for our country, Huber said in his opening remarks. Today is a day to remember them and also to remember those who have died this past year. Never forget them and what they did for us. Before the program began at 1 p.m., the Upper Schuylkill Marching Band, conducted by Kimberly Brown, performed patriotic music. Faith Simpson, a Mahanoy Area High School freshman and daughter of Sue Frantz, sang the national anthem to open the program. The invocation was made by the Rev. Gregory B. Reser, of Shenandoah. Mahanoy Area senior Cealinn McGroarty, the daughter of John and Kelly McGroarty, of Morea, read Our Nation by Frederick W. Emerson. A reading of the Gettysburg Address was made by Mahanoy Area senior Meghan McCleary, daughter of Sean and Annette McCleary. The guest speaker was Steve Barrett, a retired staff sergeant of 21 years with the Pennsylvania National Guard and vice president of the Legion Riders in Mahanoy City. He spoke of the history of Memorial Day. Tucker Dolbin Sr. and his son, Tucker Jr., both veterans in Mahanoy City, placed the wreath at the Veterans Memorial monument. An honor guard provided the rifle salute and Tom Ward Jr. played taps. There is a Memorial Day four-division parade Monday, beginning at 11 a.m. from the Mahanoy Area School Complex. The borough police department listed the following no parking restrictions from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: South side of Center Street from D to 14th streets North side of Mahanoy Street from D to 14th streets Both sides of D Street from Center to Mahanoy streets Both sides of 14th Street from Center to Mahanoy streets Both sides of Main Street from Center to Pine streets Vehicles remaining on the parade route will be towed. In a terrifying video which has surfaced on the internet, a group of tourists were chased by a giant hippo. Dicken Muchena and his three friends hopped in a speedboat were sightseeing on Lake Victoria in Kenya. They were soon horrified when a hippo started chasing them in the lake. The video has been shared by Lembani Traveler on Twitter and it has caught the attention of netizens. The video has been captured by one of the persons who was on the speedboat.The hippo is seen chasing after the speedboat that was speeding with four people on board. The video shows the massive animal gliding through the water in the wake of the speedboat. The animal is seen mostly underwater, but is occasionally rearing its head to breathe as it continues to follow the boat. Watch the video here: Me and my missus got chased by this hippo in Livingstone this last weekend. Chased us for 200m : Brandon Reed. pic.twitter.com/hTpcCBrn8T Lembani Travels (@LembaniTraveler) May 28, 2021 Dicken Muchena told Yahoo that the aware that the area was a harbour for hippos. They wanted to capture hippos on camera but they avoided getting too close. He added that there were at least six hippos in that area, and many others on various other parts of the lake. When they were onboard the boat, a huge agitated hippo appeared in water and started chasing them. The hippo chased them for four minutes but due to the speedboat they rushed to the safety onshore. He added that "it was a narrow escape". Since being shared on Twitter, the video has garnered 1.1 million views and several reactions. People terrified to see the footage took to comments section to share the views. One user commented, "Crazy. I thought these things are humble." Another user commented, "I had NO idea that hippos could swim like that! They never showed this on animal planet." Third user wrote, "I thought they were friendly animals. glad you survived to post this. hippos kill more people than any animal in the entire universe. What I've never seen before is that menacing butterfly stroke." Scary stuff....Now we know ...the energy..the aggression Osiman M Moyo (@Omabhachi) May 29, 2021 Who knew Hippos could do that? Matt Evans (@mevans4900) May 28, 2021 Don't think they like people in their river. Probably the most dangerous animal on the planet Gold Shield (@1090_ZEBRA) May 29, 2021 how the hell do they swim that fast? D Morgan (@peakts) May 29, 2021 glad you survived to post this. hippos kill more people than any animal in the entire universe. What I've never seen before is that menacing butterfly stroke.. T Shoko (@shoko_tin) May 28, 2021 This happened to me in a canoe on the Zambezi river Blackrose (@NassehChristy) May 28, 2021 What stroke is this that hippos swim Mocha (@muma__berry) May 28, 2021 IMAGE: LembaniTraveler/Twitter Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment. The agreement makes Sassy the largest shareholder in the new battery metals-focused company MAX Power can earn a 100% interest in Nicobat by incurring $1 million in exploration expenditures on the property over a four-year period Corporation (CSE:SASY) (OTCQB:SSYRF) announced it has completed the definitive agreement to option its Nicobat Property in northwest Ontario to privately-held MAX Power Mining Corporation. The agreement makes Sassy the largest shareholder in the new battery metals-focused company, according to a statement. MAX Power has completed an initial financing and has prepared listing submissions for a Canadian exchange, Sassy told investors. Under the terms of the deal, MAX Power can earn a 100% interest in Nicobat by incurring $1 million in exploration expenditures on the property over a four-year period while also issuing five million shares to Sassy to be released over a three-year period once it lists on a Canadian exchange, with the Nicobat as a qualifying property. Sassy will also receive one million warrants, exercisable at $0.25 for a three-year term and retain a 1% NSR on the property, which can be purchased by MAX Power at any time for $1 million. In addition, Sassy will have the right to appoint one director to the MAX Power board after the date of listing. Mark Scott, Sassys CEO, told shareholders that the MAX Power team will have a very exciting value proposition for investors. With Nicobat in the very capable hands of MAX Power, Sassy is sharply focused on the Eskay Camp and Newfoundland where exploration programs have commenced." Vancouver-based Sassys current focus is the Foremore gold-silver project in the Eskay Camp, Liard Mining Division, in the heart of Northwest BCs prolific Golden Triangle. Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas Dhaka, May 30 (PTI) Bangladesh on Sunday extended the closure of land borders with India for 14 more days amidst a surge in the COVID-19 cases linked to the B.1.617.2 strain, first detected in India. However, the transportation of goods through the land borders would continue as earlier, the foreign ministry said. The land borders with India were first sealed on April 26 in view of the worsening coronavirus situation in the neighbouring country. On May 8, Bangladesh extended the travel ban for 14 more days, hours after it detected six cases of the B.1.617.2 variant of the coronavirus. "We've extended it (the travel ban with India) for 14 more days and will evaluate the situation further," a senior official of the foreign affairs ministry said on Sunday. The decision was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting headed by Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen following detection of more B.1.617.2 variant cases in some bordering districts of Bangladesh. Health officials have so far detected 23 confirmed coronavirus cases linked to the B.1.617.2 strain, the foreign ministry official said after the conclusion of the meeting. The directorate of health services (DGHS) has also asked the government to put eight northwestern, southern and southwestern districts bordering India under "stricter lockdown" in view of a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases in those areas. "Our Epidemiology and Public Health Committee has suggested a complete lockdown for those districts," a DGHS spokesman said. In Chapainawabganj district, seven individuals, who have not travelled to India recently, tested positive for the B.1.617.2 strain of the coronavirus, leading experts to believe that the variant is being transmitted in the community. Health officials said they have noticed a notable upward trend in COVID-19 cases in the bordering districts of Naogaon, Rajshahi, Natore, Kushtia, Jashore, Khulna and Satkhira. The Daily Star newspaper reported that some Bangladeshi nationals have been crossing the border with the assistance of illegal rackets amidst health risk, considering the coronavirus situation in India. Quoting sources, it said Bangladeshi nationals in Khulna division's six districts -- Satkhira, Jashore, Jhenaidah, Kushtia, Meherpur and Chuadanga -- have been using some points between Bangladesh and India to cross the border without visa. People have been returning from India using the border points as they have no other way to come back amid the current COVID-19 situation, the report quoted Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Battalion-58 Director Kamrul Hasan as saying. "Since they have gone to India illegally, they have returned illegally," he said. Meanwhile, the government also extended the ongoing coronavirus lockdown in the country from May 30 midnight to June 6 midnight. Bangladesh's coronavirus tally now stands at 798,830 with the detection of 1,444 new cases in the last 24 hours, while 34 new fatalities pushed the death toll to 12,583, health officials said. PTI AR SCY SCY (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) In the latest development in the Chhatrasal Stadium case, Olympian wrestler Sushil Kumar is being taken to Haridwar by the Delhi Police Crime Branch on Monday. Kumar who was absconding for several weeks after the murder of Sagar Rana had briefly stayed in Hardiwar. He is said to have dumped his mobile phone in the city. The Delhi Police is also on a lookout for all those who helped him seek shelter in Haridwar when the police had launched a manhunt to nab him. Delhi Police Crime branch takes wrestler Sushil Kumar to Haridwar, Uttarakhand where he was allegedly hidden, in connection with the murder of 23-year-old Sagar Rana at Chhatrasal Stadium. Police will also try to recover his mobile phone from there: Senior Delhi Police official ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2021 Sushil Kumar's custody extended On May 30, a Delhi Court extended the police custody of Sushil Kumar after the prosecution highlighted the wrestler's previous attempts to hide from the law enforcement agencies. Sushil Kumar's 6-day custody expired yesterday after which he was produced before the Court. During the hearing, Advocate Ashish Kajal appearing for the prosecution, informed the court that Sushil Kumar was 'uncooperative' with the police during the last 6 days. "During these 6 days of PC, they didn't co-operate with Investigating agency. Rather they showed reluctance making it difficult for police to Investigate," he said requesting for 7 days custody. The prosecution also placed that several other pieces of evidence and persons had to be traced and corroborated with Sushil Kumar and others who had been arrested. "The DVR of CCTV of Sushil Kumar's house is yet to be recovered. Their clothes that they had worn at the time of the incident are yet to be recovered," requesting the Court to get a fair chance to investigate. After the hearing the sides, the Court remanded the wrestler along with 4 others to four days of police custody. Chhatrasal Stadium Murder case Following a two-week manhunt, the Delhi Police arrested Sushil Kumar along with his associate Ajay Kumar on May 23 for his involvement in the Chhatrasal Stadium case which led to the death of a 23-year-old junior wrestler Sagar Rana. Days after, a video from the incident was accessed by RepublicTv which shows a group of men armed with sticks lynching a man on the ground. Sushil Kumar can also be clearly seen in the image. New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) France announced on Monday that it will send additional medical supplies, including around 16 large oxygen generation plants, to India to support the country's fight against the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The announcement was made by the French embassy days after French President Emmanuel Macron held a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. French ambassador Emmanuel Lenain said there cannot be a global victory against the coronavirus without India. This is the "largest solidarity operation" that France has carried out since the outbreak of the pandemic and it reflects the long-standing, two-way solidarity between the two countries that lies at the "heart of our strategic partnership", the French embassy said. It said a special cargo plane with 10 oxygen generation plants will reach India in mid-June and another plane will follow. Each of these French-made, high-capacity plants produces 24,000 litres of the life-saving gas per hour and can make a 250-bed Indian hospital self-reliant in oxygen for a dozen years, it said in a statement. "At the request of President Emmanuel Macron, France is bringing in additional support to India to continue fighting the second wave together. Several shipments are underway, which will double the support provided so far," the embassy said. It said France and India have set up an oxygen bridge across the Indian Ocean to bring liquid oxygen donated by French multinational Air Liquide, adding that the Indian Navy has already brought 180 tonnes of liquid oxygen using the facility. "France will deliver at least twice as many oxygen generation plants as the eight already delivered early May. A special cargo flight with 10 units will reach India mid-June and another flight will follow," it said. It further added that several hundred oxygen concentrators as well as high-grade ventilators will reach India in the coming days. "As discussed between President Macron and Prime Minister Modi in their May 26 call, France is doubling its support to India against the pandemic. It shows the solidarity of the French people, who have not forgotten that India helped us when France faced its first wave," Lenain said. "There cannot be a global victory against the virus without India. Together, we can show the way of international cooperation against the pandemic and the need for a multilateral response," he added. The embassy said the solidarity mission is being carried out using resources of the French government, over 50 French companies operating in India and the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry. "In addition, gestures of solidarity have poured in from French individuals, NGOs, private companies and French regions. In total, the combined support amounts to more than Rs 55 crore," it said. On May 2, France delivered 28 tonnes of ready-to-use medical supplies, including eight large oxygen plants, to India as part of the first phase of its solidarity mission. As India battles a devastating second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, around 40 countries have sent medical supplies, including oxygen-related equipment, to help it tide over the situation. Besides France, the leading countries that have supplied assistance to India include the US, Russia, Germany, Australia, Ireland, Belgium, Romania, Luxembourg, Singapore, Portugal, Sweden, New Zealand, Kuwait and Mauritius. PTI MPB RC (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Bengaluru, May 30 (PTI): A Bengladeshi woman, allegedly gangraped in Bengaluru by four of her compatriots, has been brought to the city from Kerala, police said on Sunday "Our team traced her and bought her from Kozhikode in Kerala," the Deputy Commissioner of Police Dr S D Sharanappa told PTI. The 22-year-old woman was subjected to medical tests at the Government Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospitals for the assault and rape, police sources said. She was trafficked to India by Mohammed Babu, a resident of Dhubri in Assam, about three years ago, they said. Following a financial dispute, she was assaulted by six people, including a woman, and later four of them gangraped her and brutalised her about a week ago, the sources said. While assaulting and brutalising her, one of them video- recorded the incident, which went viral mainly in Bangladesh, Assam and West Bengal, they said. Acting on a tip-off from the Bangladesh police, the Bengaluru police went to a house, where illegal Bangladeshi migrants had taken shelter, and arrested them. On Friday, the police shot at two of the accused Hridoy Babo and Rakibul Islam Sagar injuring them in their legs when they tried to flee. The shooting took place while the accused were being taken for police verification. Police sources said there was a wide network of traffickers from Bangladesh in connivance with people from Murshidabad in West Bengal, Hyderabad in Telangana, Dhubri in Assam and people from Karnataka. The girls the gang members used to traffick from Bangladesh, Assam and West Bengal were forced into prostitution and were subjected to extreme exploitation, the sources said. So far, six members have been arrested while investigations are on to trace the others, they said. PTI GMS NVG NVG (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) In a major development, scientists have identified a new drug that is highly effective in preventing COVID-19 in mice infected with novel coronavirus and could also treat other respiratory coronaviruses. As per a journal Science Immunology, the findings suggest that the drug diABZI activates the body's immune response, the first line of defense against the deadly virus. They found that the virus is able to hide, delaying the immune system's early recognition and response. The team also predicted that it may be able to identify drugs that could set off this immune response in the respiratory cells earlier and prevent COVID. Sara Cherry, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania in the US explained, "This paper is the first to show that activating an early immune response therapeutically with a single dose is a promising strategy for controlling the virus, including the South African variant B.1.351, which has led to worldwide concern." The scientists tested the effectiveness of diABZI in transgenic mice that had been infected with SARS-CoV-2. Since, the drug needed to reach the lungs, diABZI was administered through a nasal delivery. They found that the mice treated with diABZI showed much less weight loss than the control mice, and had significantly reduced viral loads in their lungs and nostrils, and had increased cytokine production. The findings provide further support that diABZI stimulates interferon for protective immunity, the researchers informed. Vietnam Detects Hybrid Of COVID Variants Meanwhile, Vietnam detected a new coronavirus variant on May 29. The variant is found to be a hybrid of strains first found in India and the UK, the country's health minister said. Vietnamese lab tests suggested it spreads more easily than any other COVID variants. Viruses often develop minute genetic changes as they multiply thus, plenty of coronavirus variants have emerged since the outbreak of the COVID pandemic last year. The World Health Organisation enlisted four global "variants of concerns"- first found in the UK, India, and the ones detected in South Africa and Brazil. (With PTI Inputs) The people of Somaliland are voting Monday in parliamentary and local elections, highlighting progress in the semi-autonomous region of Somalia that over the years has avoided the destructive violence plaguing other parts of the Horn of Africa country. More than 1 million of Somaliland's 4 million people are registered voters. The region has invited international observers for the elections, including political figures from elsewhere in Africa. Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 as the country collapsed into warlord-led conflict. Despite lacking international recognition, Somaliland has maintained its own independent government, currency and security system. John Githongo, an anti-corruption campaigner from Kenya who is in the Somaliland capital, Hargeisa, as an observer, in a Twitter post described the region as the one Somalia with a bottom up democracy that seems to organically work. Greg Mills, director of a South Africa-based group that is observing the polls, said in a statement that the semi-autonomous region represents an example of an African country which is committed to democracy and development and deserves the support of every African who wants to see progress on this continent. Somalia considers Somaliland as part of its territory. Several rounds of talks over possible unification have failed to reach a breakthrough and the region continues to assert its right to independence. Somaliland's relative stability over the years has sharpened the sense of failure in Somalia, where deadly attacks by Islamic extremists are frequently reported. Elections due there in February failed to take place because of the lack of agreement on how the vote should be carried out. Talks between Somalia's federal government and regional leaders that began in March broke down in early April, precipitating a political crisis that deepened when the lower house of parliament adopted a special law extending the terms of current office holders for two years and abandoned an agreement last year. The decision sparked widespread opposition, leading to the mobilization of militias, exposing divisions within Somali security forces, and resulting in violent clashes on April 25. Following the clashes, President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed earlier this month asked the lower house of parliament to reverse its actions that included extending his mandate for two years. Somalia announced last week that federal authorities had reached an agreement with regional leaders to hold indirect elections within 60 days. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Senior Chinese Diplomat and current Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian created a flurry online after he tweeted an official media commentary that explicitly blamed Britain and its Colonial past for the 'poison and hatred' that has been "injected" into the political conquests of two peoples from the same land. Lijian openly opined that as long as the bloodshed in Kashmir continues, Britain can never clean itself from its 'bloody colonial past'. China blames Britain of continuing 'Divide and rule' policy Lijian also blamed the British colonialists for their practice of 'hate politics' through their divide and rule policy. The extremely critical condemnation on Britain was also published as an article on Xinhua news agency in China titled Kashmir: Cracks in the crown jewel of the British Empire. What's interesting to note is that this comes amidst rising tensions between Beijing and London over the issue of the origin of the COVID-19 virus primarily but also including human rights in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Tibet in the recent past. Tit for Tat In a series of tweets attacking the UK following London's insistence on seeking a fresh WHO probe against the origin of the Wuhan virus, Zhao Lijian said, 'If British India is considered to be the biggest gem of the crown of the British Empire when it fell, then the biggest rift in it came in Kashmir.' The Foreign Ministry spokesman also exclaimed that the British Empire collapsed, but before leaving, they spilt the 'poison of hatred' in the politics between India and Pakistan which will now remain for decades to come. Notably, Lijian served as the Deputy Ambassador of China to Pakistan before becoming the Foreign Ministry's spokesperson. The British Empire fell, but the poison of hatred has been injected into the body politic of two peoples for decades to come. Lijian Zhao (@zlj517) May 28, 2021 Xinhua underlined in their article that the seeds of this tragedy were sown by the British Empire to prevent the rise of the independence movement in India and strengthen its rule under mischievous tactics, which snatched away millions of lives. Britain implemented this policy of divide and rule not only in India but in Africa, West Asia and a wide area of Asia.' Xinhuas opinion piece is widely regarded as an official statement from Beijing, even if the CCP never acknowledges it, since it is partly government-owned, funded and monitored. The initial basis for the Chinese spokesperson is touted to have come to the fore following deteriorating relations between China and the UK over the issue of Hong Kong. What used to be a British colony once is now embroiled in a serious fight for its future, with China pressing down hard on the tiny island nation. Bloodshed will continue: Zhao Lijian 'The imperial past is far from being dead. We should not be surprised when British foreign policy interests and interventions today are perceived by many as "neo-colonial" in their nature. As long as the bloodshed in Kashmir continues, Britain can never clean itself from its bloody colonial past,' Zhao Lijian concluded. Zhao Lijian has frequently described himself as an admirer of Pakistan, who in his official briefings stated 'Cheeni-Pakistan Dosti Zindabad' while replying to questions on relations between the all-weather allies. Dubbed as part of China's new band of wolf warrior diplomats, Zhao Lijian's tweet last year alleging US Army may have brought the coronavirus to Wuhan created a furore and the Chinese Foreign Ministry later distanced itself from his opinions. Both MEA and the UK's foreign ministry are yet to respond to the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson's charges With PTI inputs As travel restrictions are lifted in some parts of the world in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Europe is sending migrants a loud message: 'Stay away!' A vast array of physical and experimental new digital barriers are being installed and tested during the quiet months of the coronavirus pandemic at the 200-kilometre (125-mile) Greek border with Turkey to stop people entering the European Union (EU) illegally. Greek border police are firing bursts of deafening noise from an armoured truck over the border into Turkey. Mounted on the vehicle, the long-range acoustic device, or "sound cannon," is the size of a small TV set but can match the volume of a jet engine. A new steel wall, similar to recent construction on the U.S.-Mexico border, blocks commonly-used crossing points along the Evros River that separates the two countries. Nearby observation towers are being fitted with long-range cameras, night vision, and multiple sensors. The data will be sent to control centres to flag suspicious movement using artificial intelligence analysis. Police Major Dimosthenis Kamargios, head of the region's border guard authority, says the new technology will give Greece a "a clear 'pre-border' picture" of what's happening. "Our main goal is to prevent migrants from entering the country illegally. To accomplish this, we use new and modern equipment," he said, adding that key elements of the network will be launched by the end of the year. The EU has poured 3 billion euros (3.7 billion US dollars) into security tech research following the refugee crisis in 2015-16, when more than a million people - many escaping wars in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan - fled to Greece and on to other EU countries. The automated surveillance network being built on the Greek-Turkish border is aimed at detecting migrants early and deterring them from crossing, with river and land patrols using searchlights and long-range acoustic devices. Researchers at universities around Europe, working with private firms, have developed futuristic surveillance and verification technology, and tested more than a dozen projects at Greek borders. Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), lie detectors and virtual border-guard interview bots have been piloted, as well as efforts to integrate satellite data with footage from drones on land, air, sea and underwater. Palm scanners record the unique vein pattern in a person's hand to use as a biometric identifier. Makers of live camera reconstruction technology promise to erase foliage virtually, exposing people hiding near border areas. Testing has also been conducted in Hungary, Latvia and elsewhere along the eastern EU perimeter. The more aggressive migration strategy has been advanced by European policymakers over the past five years, funding deals with Mediterranean countries outside the bloc to hold migrants back and transforming the EU border protection agency, Frontex, from a coordination mechanism to a full-fledged multinational security force. But regional migration deals have left the EU exposed to political pressure from neighbours. Earlier this month, several thousand migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in a single day, prompting Spain to deploy the army. A similar crisis unfolded on the Greek-Turkish border and lasted three weeks last year. Human rights groups warn that the emerging technology will make it even harder for refugees fleeing wars and extreme hardship to find safety. Patrick Breyer, a German member of the European Parliament, has taken an EU research authority to court, demanding that details of the AI-powered lie detection programme be made public. He urged authorities to allow broad oversight of border surveillance methods to review ethical concerns fearing the technology could eventually be turned inward, to monitor European populations. But in the Greek border village of Poros, Athanasios Pemousis, director of the local municipal authority, welcomed the increased measures. A new 26 kilometre metal fence is under construction nearby to guard the country's border against what Pemousis described as "a neighbour who is always aggressive." Migration flows have slowed in many parts of Europe during the pandemic, interrupting an increase recorded over recent years. In Greece, for example, the number of arrivals dropped from nearly 75,000 two years ago to 15,700 last year, a decrease of 78%. But the pressure is sure to return. Between 2000 and 2020, the world's migrant population rose by more than 80% to reach 272 million, according to United Nations data, fast outpacing international population growth. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Has normalcy returned in France? A packed arena recently hosted a crowd of 5000 masked fans with no social distancing, but the celebratory atmosphere was intact. The event did take place amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but was a part of an experiment by Paris public hospital authority to determine whether it was safe for thousands of masked persons to attend a concert together. Paris authorities hold pilot concert The experiment was at the Bercy Arena in Paris. The concert-goers were made to undergo, three virus tests, two before and one after the concert. I am quite happy to participate in that, something which is quite important, which is national, even international to be able to say that. We will perhaps get out of all this, thanks to our participation so I find it rewarding. Its good and useful," one of the attendees said. Valerie Pecresse, President of Region Ile-DeFrance was quoted as saying, "What is the goal? It is to organise in France what has happened in other European capitals, a test concert that allows us to follow the progession of the virus among people who have tested negative. So the idea is to be able to reopen and deconfinate (leave lockdown) culture by reassuring about the risks of contamination, including in the most problematic place, which is the musical concert, in this place where we sing, where we dance, where we gather in a pit." To further reduce risks, the organisers allowed people only in the age group of 18 to 45 without underlying health conditions to participate. The concert featured 1980s French rock band Indochine and DJ Etienne De Crecy. The latter said, "If the concert work under these conditions, thats fine for me. I think itll suit people too. Now everyone is used to wearing a mask, so this is great, the energy was great." No such concerts have been held in France since early 2020, Even cultural venues have been shut in the 14 months as authorities try to contain the spread the novel coronavirus, that led to 109,000 deaths. Similar test concerts were held in other European countries like Spain and The Netherlands. A Ryanair flight from Irish capital Dublin to the Polish city of Krakow was diverted to Berlin on Sunday, marking the second diversion related to the airlines in a week. The diversion, made at 8:00 pm (local time) was blamed on a potential security threat by the German Federal Police, who said that a phone call had raised alarm. While authorities are yet to reveal further details on the emergency landing, two German tabloids- Bild and BZ- have reported the presence of a bomb in the flight. Emergency landing According to the state-owned DPA news agency, there were 165 passengers on board when it made an emergency landing at Berlin airport. The plane was met by a group of police vehicles with lights flashing as it parked in a spot away from the main terminal. As soon as they landed, their luggage was taken off the plane and examined with the help of sniffer dogs, in an operation that lasted until 4 am on Monday. All the passengers were then sent on their scheduled journey by a replacement flight. #MORE German police examine plane in unscheduled stop at Berlin airport https://t.co/clNui8hso0 dpa news agency (@dpa_intl) May 31, 2021 Sunday's incident comes days after Belarusian authorities dispatched a fighter jet to force another Ryanair flight to divert to Minsk where they arrested a dissident journalist. According to the Minsk National Airport's press service, a Ryanair flight en route from Athens to Vilnius (Lithuania) was forced to make an emergency landing in Minsk, Belarus. According to the Russian news agency, Roman Protasevich, the operator of a Telegram channel that Minsk has designated as extremist, was detained during the stopover at the airport. On May 23, the plane was cleared to take off from Minsk and arrived in Vilnius at 18:27 GMT. It was carrying 171 passengers and was abruptly rerouted to the Belarusian capital shortly before it was about to exit the countrys airspace. However, then Belarusian air traffic controllers notified its pilots of a potential security threat onboard and directed the plane to divert to Minsk, the Ireland-based airline said in a statement. Belarusian officials said a MiG-29 fighter jet had been scrambled to escort the airliner to Minsk following a bomb scare, which they later conceded was false. Image: DPA news Farellon produced approximately 3,100 tonnes of mineralized copper-gold material at an approximate grade of 1.64% copper Altiplano Metals Inc (CVE:APN) reported that copper grades are improving at its Farellon copper-gold mine in La Serena, Chile. During the month of April, Farellon produced approximately 3,100 tonnes of mineralized copper-gold material at an approximate grade of 1.64% copper, with shipments for processing totaling 2,550 tonnes, generating approximately US$231,000 in revenue for the month. Copper grades improved to 1.64% from 1.43% in the previous month, Altiplano added. An additional 1,045 tonnes were stockpiled for shipment in May. CEO Alastair McIntyre told investors that the results are beginning to show some turnaround. In the last few months, we have focused on development and expansion which typically results in lower productivity, McIntyre said in a statement. With the new development and bench mining techniques, we are able to access new mineralized zones at lower levels and between levels. I expect that this work will continue to yield positive results over the next few months." In April, the company advanced work on the Hugo Decline to reach the new 368 metre level where mining began in the northeast and southwest directions. Additional mining activity occurred on the 376 metre level in the same directions and the 389 metre level in the northeast direction. Altiplano also connected the 395 metre and 401 metre levels to prepare for the bench mining of the 395 metre southwest ceiling, and connected the 376 metre level with the 382 metre level to provide better air flow and an additional escape way. The underground development program at Farellon has resulted in the extraction of more than 108,000 tonnes of copper at a grade of approximately 1.83%. The processing of this material has generated over US$6 million from the credit of over three million pounds of copper. Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas A team of French investigators began questioning ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn in Beirut on Monday over suspicions of financial misconduct, Lebanese judicial officials said. The meeting marks the first opportunity for Ghosn to defend himself against French allegations of financial misconduct since his 2018 bombshell arrest in Japan and escape to Lebanon a year later. The questioning at the Palace of Justice in Beirut expected to last several days was attended by members of the Lebanese judiciary, the officials said. They said seven French judges, most of them investigative magistrates and a prosecutor, were taking part in the questioning, which was attended by Lebanese prosecutor Imad Qabalan. Ghosn is campaigning to clear his name against multiple legal challenges in France after Japanese accusations triggered scrutiny of his activities there. In a wide ranging interview with the AP last week, he said he hopes the visit by French investigators to Lebanon will be his first real opportunity to defend himself. He also said he had much more confidence in the French legal system than the Japanese system he had fled. Ghosn has not so far been charged with anything in France, but could be, given preliminary charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering, misuse of company assets, or aggravated breach of trust. He told the AP he has done nothing wrong and hopes the investigations are eventually dropped. Ghosn was arrested in Japan in November 2018 on accusations of financial misconduct and was kept in solitary confinement for months without being allowed to speak with his wife. He fled to Lebanon a year later in a Hollywood-style escape that stunned the world. Meanwhile, several associates are in jail or on trial in Japan and Turkey, in cases related to his financial activities or escape. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Iran, along with six world powers have made significant progress in talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal but important issues still need to be resolved, Iran Foreign Ministry said on May 31. Speaking at a televised news briefing, ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh, further asserted that by the end of the ongoing talks in Vienna, the involved parties would reach a conclusion. The fifth round of talks took off in the Austrian capital on May 25 to conclude an agreement on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), the prime reason behind the US-Iran kerfuffle. The fifth round of the Vienna talks on #JCPOA is under way. As of now, there are no plans for the sixth. The negotiators proceed from the understanding that the current round should be final. https://t.co/Ld4D9HBSv2 Mikhail Ulyanov (@Amb_Ulyanov) May 30, 2021 "Each round of talks in Vienna could have been the final round. We should not rush. We have made significant progress but key issues remain," Saeed Khatibzadeh told a televised weekly news conference adding there has been no stalemate on the Vienna talks." Demands and compliance In 2015, the P5+1 nations signed the JCPOA deal with Iran which allowed Tehran to scale back its nuclear or uranium enrichment program in exchange for promises of economic relief. However, Donald Trump withdrew the US from the pact in 2018. After Joe Biden succeeded Trump, he vowed to revive the deal but clarified that it would only happen once Tehran comes into full compliance with the terms. Tehran, on the other hand, demanded Washington to comply first by lifting all the sanctions and embargoes imposed by Trump. "All sanctions should be lifted and then it should be verified by Iran...then we will reverse our nuclear steps," Khatibzadeh retriated in the briefing on Monday. The talks in Vienna come the day after the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, was able to strike a last-minute agreement with Tehran on a one-month extension to a deal on surveillance cameras at Iran's nuclear sites. Meanwhile, Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Irans civilian program, confirmed that Tehran had stockpiled 5 tons of uranium enriched up to 5% purity, 90 kilograms (198 pounds) enriched up to 20% and 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds) up to 60% still below weapons-grade levels of 90% purity. The issue wasn't directly related to the ongoing talks on the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, but had Iran not agreed it could have seriously complicated the discussions, as reported by the Associated Press. Image: AP Iran said Monday it had no details about a consignment of Iranian crude oil imported into the United States, after US authorities seized an oil tanker off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. The import showed up in figures released over the weekend by the U.S. Energy Information Agency, raising the eyebrows of commodities traders as Tehran remains targeted by a series of American sanctions. Iran's foreign ministry in Tehran said it knew nothing of the matter. "I have no details about this issue, Since (the administration of) former U.S president Mr. (Bill) Clinton, no oil has been bought from Iran, because of the laws they had passed, " said ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh. "Maybe they mean some other issue." The oil came from the MT Achilleas, a ship seized in February by the U.S. off the Emirati port city of Fujairah. U.S court documents allege the Achilleas was subject to forfeiture under American anti-terrorism statutes as Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard tried to use it to sell crude oil to China, in defiance of US sanctions. The U.S. has identified the Guard as a terrorist organization since the administration of former President Donald Trump. Prosecutors say the Iranians tried to disguise the shipment by labeling it as "Basra light crude" from neighbouring Iraq. The U.S. government brought the Achilleas to Houston, Texas, where it sold the two million barrels on board for $110 million, around $55 a barrel, court documents show. The money will be held in escrow while court proceedings continue. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Israels centrist opposition leader Yair Lapid on May 31 noted that many obstacles are still there before a coalition is formed to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who has been in power for over a decade. As Lapids alliance with former tech entrepreneur Neftali Bennett of Yamina party would lead to Netanyahus defeat, the centrist opposition leader told the reporters just two days before the June 2 deadline to forge the diverse change alliance that Maybe that's a good thing, because we'll have to overcome them together. He reportedly also said, That's our first test -- to see if we can find smart compromises in the coming days to achieve the greater goal." Meanwhile, Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu, whose power is on the line, warned on Monday that the proposed unity government aimed at replacing him would put the countrys security in danger. Urging the other right-wingers to not back the ultra-nationalist Naftali Bennett, the 71-year-old Israeli premier said, Don't form a left-wing government - such a government is a danger to Israel's security and future. Further, while naming left-wing leaders who, he suggested could weaken the Israeli security cabinet, Netanyahu asked, What impact will that have on Israel's deterrent capability? How will we look to our enemies? What will they say in Iran and Gaza?" As per the BBC report, Netanyahu also accused his former ally, Bennett of misleading the public and of carrying out the fraud of the century while referring to Yamina party leaders public promises in the past. Bennett Likely To Replace Israel's Netanyahu Meanwhile, on May 30, multi-millionaire Neftali Bennett moved another step closer to replace Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and marking an end to the long-running leadership of the veteran premier in the country. Bennett is a former tech entrepreneur who entered politics with his hardline right-wing and religious-nationalist rhetoric, as per the Times of Israel report. Throughout the country, the 49-year-old has made pitches to hard-right voters and is the leader of Yamina party. Bennetts party has also called for Israel to annex the parts of the occupied regions of the West Bank. Even though he shares his ideology with Netanyahu, the two have reportedly become increasingly opponents. In the aftermath of the 11-day offensive between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants, Bennett ultimately agreed to join centrist Yair Lapid in a coalition to oust Netanyahu who has been in power for at least 12 consecutive years along with a three-year term prior to that. Lapid has agreed to let Bennett serve as the next Prime Minister of Israel while sharing power. In a speech on Sunday, the 49-year-old also claimed that the leftist parties would support him to lead the government in a coalition. IMAGE: AP Egypt said cases of Black Fungus have been reported "but in very small numbers" and are being dealt with. The life-threatening condition, known as mucormycosis, is relatively rare but doctors suspect that the sudden increase in the infection in India could further complicate the fight against the pandemic. Treatment of the people affected by cases in Egypt "began after consultations with otolaryngologists, neurologists, and also ophthalmologists," said Dr. Ehab Kamal, assistant for medical education to the minister of health during a press conference on Monday. "Medicines are available and some cases have already recovered from the disease because early diagnosis gives us an opportunity to the control disease," he added. "There were cases before COVID-19 and after COVID-19, there are no large numbers in Egypt," added Dr. Hossam Hosni, head of the scientific committee to combat Coronavirus in Egypt. Doctors in India are fighting the fatal fungal infection affecting COVID-19 patients or those who have recovered from the disease amid a coronavirus surge. Mucormycosis is caused by exposure to mucor mold, which is commonly found in soil, air and even in the nose and mucus of humans. It spreads through the respiratory tract and erodes facial structures. Sometimes, doctors have to surgically remove the eye to stop the infection from reaching the brain. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Authorities in Egypt are demanding at least US$550 million in compensation from the Japanese owner of the cargo ship that got stuck in the Suez Canal for nearly seven days in March blocking all the traffic in one of the worlds busiest and vital waterways. As per news agency ANI, the Ever Given which is operated by the shipping company Evergreen got stuck in the essential waterway and hence prevented other vessels from travelling through the passage. Initially, the Suez Canal Authority demanded around US$920 million in compensation. During a press conference on May 30, the officials of the canal authority said that over 600 workers were required in order to refloat the ship and demanded compensation for a worker who was killed when a salvage ship sank. Reportedly, the officials also argued that the among they are demanding the ships owner Shoei Kisen Kaisha, based in Ehime Prefecture, western Japan is appropriate. However, the shipowner has offered to pay US$150 million. Egyptians have made it evident that they will not neglect their rights even though they have noted the importance of maintaining good relations with the Japanese owner. Meanwhile, the court has ruled that the giant vessel, Ever Given will remain in Egypt until the compensation money is paid. As per reports, about 12% of global trade passes through the artificial canal that connects the Mediterranean to the Red Sea providing the shortest sea link between Asia and Europe. How did a 200,000-tonne ship got stuck? The Suez Canal was originally engineered to handle much smaller vessels than the beached vessel, Ever Given which is also one of the worlds largest container ship. As per the New York Times report, the 200,000-tonne ship is about the length of the Empire State Building. But the channels of the waterway have been widened and deepened several times. However, poor visibility and high winds made Ever Givens piled up containers act like sails and are reportedly believed to have pushed the massive ship off the course, eventually leading to its grounding on March 23. The ship ran aground and become lodged sideways across the waterway on March 25 morning leaving other ships trapped on either side. It was not immediately clear what caused the giant container ship to become wedged on March 23 morning but a global shipping and logistics company GAC reportedly said that the ship had experienced a blackout. At the time, an Egyptian official, who spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity also blamed the strong winds that led to the ship being stuck in the Suez Canal resulting in one of the worst maritime traffic jams. Egyptian forecasters reportedly said that high winds and sandstorm had roiled the area on March 23 and the winds were gusting as much as 50kph or 30 mph. Despite the aggressive winds, it is still not fully clear how it alone pushed a fully laden vessel weighing nearly 200,000 tons. IMAGE: AP Dubai, May 30 (PTI) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday extended the suspension of passenger flights from India till June 30 to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The ban was initially imposed on April 25, after a surge in COVID-19 cases in India. In a statement posted on its website on Sunday, Emirates, the flag carrier of the UAE, said, it has suspended passenger flights from India effective April 24 until June 30. "Furthermore, passengers who have transited through India in the last 14 days will not be accepted to travel from any other point to the UAE," it said. However, "UAE nationals, holders of UAE Golden Visas and members of diplomatic missions who comply with the revised published COVID-19 protocols will be exempt for travel," the statement said. Emirates had earlier announced that the flight suspension would continue till June 14. PTI SCY SCY (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) On May 30, multi-millionaire Neftali Bennett moved another step closer to replace Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and marking an end to the long-running leadership of the veteran premier in the country. Bennett is a former tech entrepreneur who entered politics with his hardline right-wing and religious-nationalist rhetoric, as per the Times of Israel report. Throughout the country, the 49-year-old has made pitches to hard-right voters and is the leader of Yamina party. Bennetts party has also called for Israel to annex the parts of the occupied regions of the West Bank. Even though he shares his ideology with Netanyahu, the two have reportedly become increasingly opponents. In the aftermath of the 11-day offensive between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants, Bennett ultimately agreed to join centrist Yair Lapid in a coalition to oust Netanyahu who has been in power for at least 12 consecutive years along with a three-year term prior to that. Lapid has agreed to let Bennett serve as the next Prime Minister of Israel while sharing power. In a speech on Sunday, the 49-year-old also claimed that the leftist parties would support him to lead the government in a coalition. Who is Neftali Bennett? Bennett, the son of US-born parents, Jimm and Myrna Bennett. Also a former special forces commando, the 49-year-old lives with his wife Galit and four children in the central city of Raanana. He entered the political scene in Israel after selling his tech start-up reportedly for $145 million in 2005. In 2006, he was also the chief of staff to Netanyahu who was, at the time in opposition. However, Bennett left Netanyahus office in 2010 and became the head of the Yesha Council, which lobbies for Jewish settlers in the West Bank. In the following years, he took the charge of the far-right Jewish Home party which was tackling annihilation. Reportedly, Bennett then increased the Jewish Home partys parliamentary presence by four times and became known for making several controversial remarks on Palestinians. As per reports, in 2013, he said Palestinian terrorists should be killed, not released. Apart from acquiring a defence portfolio, Bennett has also served as Netanyahus economy minister as well as education minister. In 2018, he also rebranded the Jewish Home as Yamina and was even a part of Netanyahus coalition in that same year. However, that coalition government had collapsed. In May 2020, Bennett was not asked to join the Netanyahu-led unity government in Israel that marked their contempt despite the shared ideology. Throughout 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Bennetts right-wing rhetoric damped with an increased focus on the health crisis. IMAGE: AP Peshawar, May 30 (PTI) A Sikh man in Pakistan, who was missing since February after being abducted from his home, has been found by the police in a village in the countrys northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Avinash Singh, in his 20s, went missing from the Gulberg area of Peshawar Cantonment on February 28. According to police, Singh was found on Friday night from a village near Laachi Tehsil of district Kohat. He has been admitted to Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar as he was severely tortured by the abductors, they said. Four accused, including a woman, who were named in the case filed by Singhs father have been arrested. The family members of Singh said he was tortured by the abductors during his captivity. SSP Operations Peshawar Yasir Afridi and SP City Attique Shah visited Singh in the hospital and enquired about his health. All the legal formalities would be fulfilled in the case, Afridi said. Last month, members of the Sikh community protested in Pakistan's Peshawar city, demanding the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government find the missing youth. Speaking at the protest outside the Peshawar Press Club, community leader Sardar Parvinder Singh had said the missing youth was well-educated and his family had no ill-relations. Scores of protesters, including women and children, had demonstrated, holding banners and placards. They alleged Singh had been kidnapped by the anti-social elements. PTI AYZ MRJ MRJ (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) After Antigua & Barbuda's PM Gaston Browne alleged that that fugitive ex-diamantaire Mehul Choksi might have gone to Dominica on a 'romantic trip' with his girlfriend and was busted, and also that he may have been funding Antigua's Opposition, the country's Opposition leader Harold Lovell on Monday spoke to Republic Media Network. During his conversation, the Antigua Opposition leader denied knowing Choksi in any way. Harold Lovell said, "Our interest is our Constitution and law. I was very disappointed when Antigua PM said such things, where there is no evidence. There is absolutely no truth to it." Antigua Opposition leader speaks to Republic TV While stating that he had never met Mehul Choksi, Lovell clarified that no senior member of his party had contacted the fugitive ex-diamantaire or any of his family members. Pointing towards Antigua PM's own claim that he doesn't know Choksi, the Opposition leader said that it is an outrageous lie. "The PM has decided to put this in public but hasn't shown any evidence," he added. Remarking that Mehul Choksi had come to Antigua 2 months before the elections, Lovell said that the fugitive ex-diamantaire is alleged to have met Gaston Browne. The Opposition leader further mentioned that Choksi was allegedly spotted in an election rally with the Antigua Prime Minister. "I am saying on based credible reports they met before general elections," he said. Calling upon the Antigua Prime Minister to explain whether there is more to explain regarding the coincidence that Choksi came just before the elections, Lovell said that Choksi was given Antiguan citizenship while he was a citizen of India. Lovel said, "Choksi is the citizen of Antigua, but he found himself in Dominica. Why hasn't the captain and crew been detained? We aren't involved in that type of thing. He has never been brought before the magistrate in Antigua. If it is was lawful then we would have supported it. He was granted citizenship in 2018 before the elections. Photos suggest that something untoward took place." India pushes for extradition Mehul Choksi is under the scanner of both the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate. Along with his nephew Nirav Modi, he has been accused of allegedly siphoning off Rs 13,500 crore of public money from the Punjab National Bank (PNB), using letters of undertaking. Owner of the Gitanjali group, a retail jewellery company, Choksi secured the citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in November 2017 under the aegis of the Citizenship by Investment Programme and fled to the island nation in the first week of January 2018. India formally sought Choksi's extradition in August 2018 underlining the principle of reciprocity, the principle of dual criminality, and the United Nations Convention against Corruption to which both countries are signatories. In 2019, Antigua and Barbuda PM Gaston Browne was quoted as saying that the citizenship of Mehul Choksi will be revoked and will be extradited to India once all his legal options are exhausted. The current legal status of the fugitive diamantaire again came under question after he went "missing" in the island nation on May 23 from the island nation. The Dominican government officially confirmed that he was detained in the country after an Interpol Yellow Notice was issued. In another development, Republic TV accessed a picture of a pale-faced and red-eyed Choksi staring at the camera through the prison grill. On Sunday, Browne asserted that India had sent a private jet to Dominica carrying documents related to the deportation of Mehul Choksi, a claim yet to be confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs. Meanwhile, the United Progressive Party rejected the Antigua and Barbuda PM's claim that the fugitive funded its 2018 election campaign. Additionally, it recalled that Choksi was accorded the citizenship of the island nation under the Browne administration. (Image: Republicworld.com, Facebook- Gaston Browne) The group closed a private placement of special warrants for gross proceeds of $17.8 million, giving it the capital to "execute on our growth goals through the rest of this year and beyond, CEO Thomas Rosander said Rosander told shareholders that the gaming company spent its first quarter of 2021 building a solid foundation to grow Ltd (CVE:LUCK) ( ) filed its first quarter financial results showing the company ended the period with C$19.2 million in cash. In a statement, CEO Thomas Rosander told shareholders that the gaming company spent its first quarter of 2021 building a solid foundation to grow. We closed a private placement of special warrants for gross proceeds of $17.8 million, giving us the capital to execute on our growth goals through the rest of this year and beyond, Rosander said. We are focused on optimizing our product platform and customer acquisition funnel to increase ROI ahead of scaling up our marketing spend. In addition, we are strengthening our team and working with carefully selected partners as we continue to strive toward offering a world-leading esports betting product. Rosander joined the Calgary- and Isle of Man-based firm in May 2021 from Dunder Casino. Subsequent to the quarter, Real Luck has added VALORANT betting; increased the number of esports available at Luckbox to 14; announced DTC Eligibility after uplisting to OTCQB Exchange, and received nominations in the Innovative Start-up and Innovation In Esports categories at the EGRM Marketing and innovation awards. The company posted a net loss for the period of C$2.4 million. Real Luck Group Ltd, which trades as Luckbox, offers legal, real-money betting, live streams and statistics on 13 esports on desktop and mobile and is one of the first movers in the esports betting market and one of the few pure-play names. Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas Greenpeace India on Monday urged the World Trade Organization (WTO) to waive intellectual property and patent rights on Covid vaccines, saying equity and access gaps in inoculation rates of rich and poor countries is costing lives. In an open letter to the WTO, it also said India is facing a massive shortage of vaccines and the WTO''s decision on intellectual property and patent rights on vaccines could either strengthen the fight against the Covid pandemic or lead to a battle that cannot be won. The letter comes ahead of the WTO TRIPs (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) Council meet from June 8-9. "Nine out of 10 people in developing countries may not receive a vaccine in 2021. India is facing a massive shortage of COVID-19 vaccines necessary to tackle the pandemic. The decisions by the WTO and the member delegates will either strengthen the fight against the pandemic or condemn a large section of the world's population to fight a losing battle against it," said the Greenpeace letter addressed to WTO director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. It also said that big pharmaceutical companies were not willing to share the science and technology to augment the production of vaccines, delaying rollout in several countries. "The unwillingness of big pharmaceutical companies to share the science and technology that is essential to ramp up production is delaying vaccine rollout in the Global South. In fact, the World Health Organisation referred to it as a ''vaccine apartheid''," the letter said. The knowledge developed by these companies was significantly funded by public money hence, it is only logical that this knowledge is widely shared for the greater good, it said. "This is the time to record the power of humanity, not profits. A pandemic anywhere is a pandemic everywhere," the letter said. Greenpeace India said that the letter is open for citizens to endorse. "We urge the international community to stand with us and support India and South Africa''s demand to waive intellectual property and patent rights on vaccines. This is not just a health emergency but part of the larger climate and biodiversity crisis plaguing the globe. How the world responds to this pandemic will teach us what is possible for us as humanity - can we respond as a community?" the letter said. In October last year, India and South Africa had called for TRIPs waiver of certain intellectual property provisions of COVID-19 vaccines to the WTO. Both the nations championed for the developing and poor countries to get access to life-saving vaccines and therapeutics as soon as possible, Greenpeace India said. It said the global response to the "vaccine apartheid" as termed by the WHO reflects the inept nature of handling the global crisis by the countries of the world. Greenpeace India''s Senior Climate Campaigner Avinash Chanchal said that the scale and spirit of international collaboration to address this humanitarian concern is missing. "The response seems to indicate an approach of each unto themselves and a similar attitude reflects in the nature of the response to the on-going climate crises, he said. The WTO council meeting on vaccine equity is a global moment for nations also to signal their willingness to be part of journeys towards greater justice and cooperation between the Global North and South, Chanchal said. "The pandemic is not a singular event and needs to be seen as a part of many such moments of crisis that could indicate the nature of the evolving climate crisis as we struggle to stay below 1.5 degrees. The pandemic has offered an opportunity to reimagine our food systems, cities, mobility and access to basic facilities, he said. Chanchal added that the vaccine crisis is not unique to India alone and many other countries like Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Argentina are facing similar challenges. "These countries are equally vulnerable to climate change. The act of the multilateral organisations and leaders of nations now during this global crisis, be it with solidarity or insularity will signal to the world the willingness of the richer nations to act together and support the fight on climate change. It is a moment to build greater confidence and support to work together for a better, greener, equitable, sustainable world," he said. IMAGE: Twitter/Unsplash New Delhi, May 30 (PTI) The fire at merchant vessel X-Press Pearl has been showing increasing number of signs that it is under control on Sunday, stated the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) involved in this firefighting effort for the last six days near the coast of Sri Lankan capital Colombo. The vessel was holding about 325 metric tonnes of fuel in its tanks. Also, X-Press Pearl was loaded with 1,486 containers carrying about 25 tonnes of hazardous nitric acid and other chemicals. "At present, three ICG ships and four tugs deployed by Sri Lanka are involved in the operation and continuously fighting the fire spraying AFFF (aqueous film forming foams) and sea water using external fire fighting systems," the ICG's statement noted. The non-stop joint firefighting efforts have yielded positive results with increasing signs of fire being under control, it stated. "The smoke emanating from the burning vessel has turned from black to grey/white in colour and the smoke density has also reduced. The fire has been localised to a small area near the aft section of vessel," it added. The ICG stated its Dornier aircraft sorties are being undertaken daily from Madurai for aerial assessment of the situation. "Reports from the ships and aircraft indicate that there has been no oil spill. Further, with the careful and measured execution of firefighting operation, no change has been observed in trim and draught of the vessel indicating that the stability and watertight integrity of the vessel is intact," it mentioned. Initially, a fire occurred onboard X-Press Pearl, which is nine nautical miles from the Colombo port, on May 20 and it was brought under control within a day. A major fire ignited on board the vessel again on May 25 morning. PTI DSP KJ (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) US President Joe Biden, on May 30, announced his plans to call out Russias blatant human rights abuse in an upcoming summit that would witness the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin. While, Putin and Biden have traded barbs ever since Moscow detained opposition leader Alexei Navalny, however, in a speech to mark Memorial Day Holiday, Biden made it clear that America would not stand by and let Putin abuse those rights. The summit, which would mark Bidens first in-person meeting with Putin, is scheduled for June 16 in the Swiss city. "I'll be meeting with President Putin in a couple of weeks in Geneva, making it clear that we will not -- we will not stand by and let him abuse those rights," Biden said while elaborating on the summit. The relationship between the cold war foes has hit rock bottom in the recent past. Soon after taking office, Biden slapped fresh sanctions on Russia over what the US says was the Russian role in SolarWinds Cyberattack and meddling in the presidential vote. Additionally, Biden has openly slammed Putin for posting and later detaining his staunch critic Alexei Navalny. In February, their tiff caught the public eye after Biden called Putin a "killer. The Russian President responded by saying "it takes one to know one." Moscow and Washinton have also been warring upon Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's the Crimean Peninsula, election meddling, the status of Russian dominated Belarus amongst others. In April, the US announced the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats and slapped sanctions on over 30 individuals and key financial institutions. Navalny's sentencing In February, Navalny was handed a 2 1/2-year sentence that stemmed from a 2014 embezzlement conviction that he has rejected as politically motivated. Navalny had then filed a complaint against his prison, claiming articles were being cut out of newspapers he's subscribed to and that the IK-2 had failed to supply him with books of his choice. Last month, his doctors warned that the Putin critic was at risk of cardiac arrest and could die any minute. Elaborating on the same, his personal doctor Anastasia Vasilyeva, along with three others- cardiologist Yaroslav Ashikhmin, have argued that the potassium level in Navalnys blood was substantially above the average and could kill him. Image: AP Kathmandu, May 30 (PTI) Nepal's Opposition alliance on Sunday urged all state institutions not to support Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli government's "unconstitutional" and "anti-democratic" activities that could have a lasting impact on the country and people at a time when a writ petition is being heard by the Supreme Court challenging the dissolution of the House of Representatives. The alliance also expressed hope that the Supreme Court's verdict on the petitions against the dissolution of the lower house of Parliament will come in its favour, according to media reports. In a joint statement, leaders of the Opposition parties warned the government to refrain from undertaking any activity that could have a lasting effect on the country and people, The Himalayan Times reported. Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Communist Party of Nepal- Maoist Centre Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', leader of the disgruntled faction of CPN-Unified MarxistLeninist Madhav Kumar Nepal, co-chair of Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal Upendra Yadav and vice-chair of Rashtriya Janamorcha Durga Poudel signed the statement. The Opposition leaders also urged all the state organs and institutions not to support the Oli government in its "unconstitutional" and "anti-democratic" acts. "We are certain that the Supreme Court of Nepal will safeguard the Constitution and give verdict in our favour," the statement said. We had staked claim to the post of Prime Minister with the support of 149 lawmakers. The government cannot decide on dissolving the House in this case, reads a joint press statement of the Opposition alliance. At present, 136 votes are needed to form a majority government. The Opposition alliance moved the Apex Court demanding reinstatement of the House of Representatives and appointment of Sher Bahadur Deuba as the Prime Minister in line with Article 76 (5) of the Constitution. Others had also filed petitions against the dissolution of the House of Representatives. A Constitutional Bench of Nepal's Supreme Court on Friday heard 30 writ petitions against the dissolution of the lower house of Parliament. Sunday's hearing was mainly focused on the formation of the Constitutional Bench to hear the writ petitions which demand the restoration of the lower house of Parliament dissolved on May 22. Lawyers from both sides put forth their arguments over the questions raised by some members of the Bench, My Republica.com reported. President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved the 275-member House of Representatives on May 22 for the second time in five months and announced snap elections on November 12 and November 19 on the advice of Prime Minister Oli. She rejected the bids of both Prime Minister Oli and the Opposition alliance's claims to form a government. Oli and Nepali Congress President Deuba had staked separate claims to the premiership, saying the claims were insufficient. Embattled prime minister Oli on Friday urged all political parties to form an all-party government and hold fresh elections, as he tried to justify the controversial dissolution of the House of Representatives twice by the President, saying a "functionless" Parliament turned out to be the main source of instability in the country. Earlier on December 20, the President had dissolved the Parliament and called snap polls on April 30 and May 10. However, two months later, Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana-led Constitutional Bench on February 23 overturned the decision and reinstated the House of Representatives. Constitutional experts have criticised Oli and Bhandari for their complicity in trampling upon the Constitution. Nepal plunged into a political crisis on December 20 last year after President Bhandari dissolved the House and announced fresh elections on April 30 and May 10 at the recommendation of Prime Minister Oli, amidst a tussle for power within the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP). Oli's move to dissolve the House sparked protests from a large section of the NCP led by his rival 'Prachanda'. PTI NSA AKJ AKJ (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Further creating troubles for Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli in Nepal, the Opposition alliance on Sunday warned the government against undertaking any activity that could have a lasting impact and all state institutions from supporting such "unconstitutional" and "anti-democratic" activities that the government undertakes despite the warning. This comes at a time when a writ petition is being heard by the Supreme Court challenging the dissolution of the House of Representatives. Nepal's Opposition alliance urges institutions to not support activities of Oli govt In a joint statement released earlier in the day, the alliance first warned the government to refrain from undertaking any activity that could have a lasting effect on the country and people. It then went on to, warn all the state organs and institutions not to support the Oli government in its "unconstitutional" and "anti-democratic" acts. "We are certain that the Supreme Court of Nepal will safeguard the Constitution and give verdict in our favour," the alliance said in the statement and further added, "We had staked claim to the post of Prime Minister with the support of 149 lawmakers. The government cannot decide on dissolving the House in this case." Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Communist Party of Nepal- Maoist Centre Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', leader of the disgruntled faction of CPN-Unified Marxist-Leninist Madhav Kumar Nepal, co-chair of Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal Upendra Yadav and vice-chair of Rashtriya Janamorcha Durga Poudel signed the joint statement. Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolves Lower House On Saturday morning, Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolved the House of Representatives and announced that mid-term polls will be held on November 12 and 19. This came after Bhandari rejected the claims of both Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli and opposition leader Sher Bahadur Deuba for government formation. While Oli claimed that he had the support of 153 lawmakers including members of the Janata Samajbadi Party, Nepali Congress president Deuba submitted signatures of 149 parliamentarians comprising 27 members of the CPN-UML rival faction led by Madhav Kumar Nepal. This obviously did not add up as there are only 275 members in Nepal's House of Representatives. Based on the signatures and claims, the Nepal President affirmed that she is not going to appoint a PM as there is no concrete basis for both claimants to get a vote of confidence. After the decision was conveyed to Oli on Friday night, the latter conveyed a Cabinet meeting and recommended the dissolution of the Lower House. Bhandari took recourse to Article 76(5) which paves way for the dissolution of the Parliament and fresh polls if no one is able to garner the support of a majority of the lawmakers. Thereafter, the Opposition alliance moved to the Supreme Court demanding the reinstatement of the House of Representatives and appointment of Sher Bahadur Deuba as the Prime Minister in line with Article 76 (5) of the Constitution. A Constitutional bench of the apex court heard petitions related to the matter and during the hearing on Sunday, it focused on the formation of the Constitutional bench to hear the writ petitions, which are over 30 in number now. It is pertinent to mention here that earlier, on December 20, the President had dissolved the Parliament and called snap polls on April 30 and May 10. However, two months later, Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher Rana-led Constitutional Bench on February 23 overturned the decision and reinstated the House of Representatives. (Credit-PTI/AP) As many as four thousand Rohingya refugees, on May 31, staged unruly protests to highlight the poor living conditions on an island in Bangladesh where they were relocated from vast camps on the mainland. As many as 18,000 refugees have been, since December, shifted to Bhashan Char, a cyclone-prone silt island located 60 kilometres from the countrys coast. Battered by a constant influx, authorities aim to relocate a total of 100,00 from clamped Cox Bazar region under their Ashrayan 3 project. According to local police, the protest coincided with an inspection visit by the United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). As many as 4,000 stateless protesters threw bricks and chanted calls to be shifted elsewhere. While Dhaka has asserted that Bhashan Char is safe and better than Cox Bazar, refugees have reportedly claimed that they were tortured and beaten to relocate against their will. In 2017, a military crackdown led to over 7,30,000 ethnic Rohingya people crossing the border to enter Bangladesh, Later, investigations by United Nations discovered that the crackdown was made with genocidal intent. Since then, refugees in the camps are increasing, creating border troubles for Myanmar, Bangladesh and India. 'Least wanted minorities' The Rohingya people have been described as "one of the world's least wanted minorities" and "some of the world's most persecuted people" in the world. In February 1992, Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release, "In actual fact, although there are (135) national races living in Myanmar today, the so-called Rohingya people is not one of them. As per the UNHCR, over 742,000 refugees have fled to Bangladesh since 25 August 2017.'' "The Rohingya are a stateless Muslim minority in Myanmar. The latest exodus began on 25 August 2017, when violence broke out in Myanmars Rakhine State, driving more than 742,000 to seek refuge in Bangladesh. Most arrived in the first three months of the crisis. An estimated 12,000 reached Bangladesh during the first half of 2018. The vast majority reaching Bangladesh are women and children, and more than 40 per cent are under age 12. Many others are elderly people requiring additional aid and protection", UNHCR described the crisis in a statement. Image: AP As Sri Lankan Navy soldiers launched a rigorous initiative to clean the debris, plastic pollution washed ashore from the container ship MV X-Press Pearl that was caught ablaze on May 20, officials on Sunday launched a probe against the vessels crew for spilling a large amount of microplastic and carrying 25 tonnes of nitric acid on the ship before it entered the Colombo harbour. The still under fumes Singapore flagged cargo, anchored just outside the Colombo harbour [at 9.5 nautical miles 18 km northwest] spilled chemical granules used to manufacture plastic on the beach in Ja-Ela, that also washed on the beaches of Wattala to Negombo in the island nations suburbs. The container vessel had loaded at the port of Hazira in India on May 15, according to Sri Lankan press reports. Inspected the coastal area at #Uswatakeiyyawa that was affected by the debris from MV X-Press Pearl. I thank the @srilanka_navy and other volunteers who cleaned up all the beach areas affected from the debris from the vessel. pic.twitter.com/O1iIid6tJW Mahinda Rajapaksa (@PresRajapaksa) May 29, 2021 The coastline is contaminated with plastic pellets/ nurdles coming the debris of MV X-Press Pearl Plastic pellets the building blocks of any plastic item and are a type of primary microplastic that wreak havoc in the environment#mvxpresspearl #plasticpollution #srilanka #lka pic.twitter.com/INUV3ZVW2B The Pearl Protectors (@PearlProtectors) May 26, 2021 The scrap from the 186-meter (610-foot) burning vessel floated into Sri Lankas pristine beaches, some of which also polluted the Indian Ocean. The microplastic granules from the vessels 1,500 containers have caused one of the worst ecological disasters in Sri Lankas history prompting fishing bans. In the visuals that emerged, Sri Lankan soldiers were seen attired in Protective hazmat suits toiling to rapidly clean the plastic laden beaches, accumulating granules into sacks for safe disposal. Bulldozers scooped tonnes of the polythene pellets generally used in the packaging industry. Singapore registered X-Press Pearl vessel had been on fire for the past 11 days, and while the oil and debris from the ship carrying chemicals and cosmetics have caused a blanket of unmanageable marine pollution, there are looming fears of a major environmental disaster if the ship, which is still too hot from fire to get onboard or two, sinks. Fire flared onboard #MVXPressPearl has receded to a greater extent. Thermal infrared footage captured by #Gajabahu (P 626) of #srilanka_navy in the last couple of days depicts how fire stands on ill-fated ship. pic.twitter.com/mZ8AoKOYAa The Sri Lanka Navy (@srilanka_navy) May 30, 2021 Indian Navy leads collaborative effort with Sri Lankan Navy The Sri Lankan navy had been working under the collaborative efforts of the Indian Navy that deployed Vaibhav, Vajra and Samudra Prehari vessels of the Indian Coast Guard, firefighters, and salvagers from Dutch company SMIT to douse the fire on the cargo X-Press Pearl, which caused 40 kilometres (25 miles) oil spill. The concern, however, now remains to anchor the wrecked vessel into the deeper waters, which is made hard by the rough sea tide and powerful monsoonal winds. At least two of the ships crew members were badly injured and hospitalized, and one was diagnosed with COVID-19. The rest of the 25-member crew of Russian, Chinese, Philippine, and Indian nationals, all of whom rescued by the Sri Lanka Navy on 25 May, are now being investigated. #OperationSagarAraksha2 Dy Area Cdr Western Naval Area, Cmde Suresh Desilva @srilanka_navy came to see off @IndiaCoastGuard ship Vaibhav at #Colombo harbour today morning. Ship rejoined #FireFighting operations #MVXPressPearl. pic.twitter.com/xiwjiH424s Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) May 30, 2021 Status quo of fire-stricken #MVXPressPearl lying off Colombo harbour this morning. #srilanka_navy together with other stakeholders working at full force to mitigate damage to marine eco-system. pic.twitter.com/35IANdy5xf The Sri Lanka Navy (@srilanka_navy) May 27, 2021 Sri Lanka's Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) chief Dharshani Lahandapura told reporters that Sri Lanka was still accessing the intensity of the damage incurred to the marine ecosystem, but the plastic pellets had covered the entire coastline in the disaster that he described as "worst ever in course of his lifetime. Sri Lanka's Police Inspector-General ordered the Criminal Investigation Department to probe the environmental hazard and the cause of the mishap. The authorities were able to interrogate the 25-member crew that has recently completed the mandatory quarantine period on May 30. MEPA told the presser that the vessels captain was aware of the nitric acid leak onboard the cargo container. The UK government's decision to cut overseas aid spending gave rise to concerns to many in South Sudan, one of the world's poorest countries. The northeastern region of Pibor is at the centre of a humanitarian crisis and is on the brink of famine. According to a report by British broadcaster Sky News, with two thirds of children in South Sudan are malnourished. The UK was the second biggest donor of aid but has slashed its contribution to emergency food aid by around 30%, according to Sky. South Sudan has struggled since achieving independence 10 years ago. The country is poorly governed and has also been destabilized by tribal warfare and unprecedented floods. Speaking to Sky News, the World Food Program's South Sudan Country Director said that the international agency was at a point where they were "taking from the hungry to give to the starving" in an effort to avert a famine. The UK says South Sudan remains a top priority despite the impact of COVID-19 pandemic related cuts. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) US Senator Ted Cruz has called upon President Joe Biden to deliver more weaponry to Israel in the aftermath of the 11-day war. The Republican lawmaker along with Senator Bill Hagerty is currently in Israel to access the destruction caused by the conflict between the Benjamin Netanyahu led state and Islamist Fundamentalist group Hamas. More than 230 Palestinians, including 65 children and 12 Israelis, including a 5 year and a 16-year-old were killed in the conflict, as reported by the Associated Press. In a Tweet, Cruz asked Biden to "replenish" Israel' Iron Dome missile defence system, a promise that the Democratic leader made soon after the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. However, in recent times, the party has been divided on US support to Israel. Party members including Rep. Ilhan Omar and Rep. Rashida Tlaib have called upon Biden to sanction the zionist for their indiscriminate bombardment of the Gaza Strip. President Biden must replenish Israels Iron Dome missiles. pic.twitter.com/6NFWoFuoWb Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) May 30, 2021 Arms sale It is imperative to note that, last week, Cruz introduced a resolution approving arms sales to Israel after Democrats voiced concern and moved to block a $735 million sale of precision-guided weapons. Both Cruz and Hagerty are part of the US Senate's Foreign Relations Committee and will tour Israels southern cities, which were heavily targeted by Hamas, and sit down with Israeli leaders to reaffirm the Republican Partys unwavering support for security alliance with America. This comes as US State Secretary Antony Blinken visited Isreal on May 25 and vowed to rally international support to aid Gaza following the devastating 11-day war while also keeping any assistance out of Hamas reach. The top US official made the remarks standing next to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem as he kicked off his Middle Eastern Diplomatic Mission. Despite being Israels longest-standing ally and promising to replenish the countrys Iron Dome defence system, Washington, last week clarified that it would equally aid the Gaza Strip to rebuild itself. We know that to prevent a return to violence, we have to use the space created to address a larger set of underlying issues and challenges. And that begins with tackling the grave humanitarian situation in Gaza and starting to rebuild, Blinken told reporters. A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas-led militants in the Gaza Strip has held since May 21. At about 2:00 am (Israel Daylight Time), both the warring parties announced a ceasefire, ending the 11-day war. The truce witnessed a brief weak moment after as a scuffle erupted between Palestinians and Israeli Security Forces at the contested Al-Aqsa complex, however, the overall situation has remained stable. Image: AP The United States spied on the top politicians in Europe including German Chancellor Angela Merkel from 2012 to 2014 with the assistance of Danish intelligence, as reported by Danish and European media on May 30. Danish public broadcaster Danmarks Radio (DR) said that the United States National Security Agency (NSA) had listened to Danish internet cables to spy on top politicians and even senior officials in Germany, Sweden, Norway and France. The report also stated that the NSA took the benefit of surveillance collaboration with Denmark military intelligence unit FE to carry out the task. According to DR, the Danish Defence Minister Trine Bramsen was informed of the US spying in August 2020. She acquired the position in June 2019. She revealed to the broadcaster that systematic eavesdropping of close allies is unacceptable." However, as per reports, it remains unclear if Denmark authorised the United States to use its surveillance system in order to spy on its European neighbours. DR revealed the information regarding American intelligence eavesdropping on officials following an investigation that it led in collaboration with Swedish broadcaster SVT, Norway's NRK, Germany's NDR, WDR and Suddeutsche Zeitung, and France's Le Monde. Main officials that US intelligence spied on? As per the DR report, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, then foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and also the then-opposition leader Peer Steinbruck were among those the NSA had spied on during those two years. In the same time period, the US intelligence was capable of accessing SMS text messages, telephone calls, and even internet traffic including searches, chats and other online messaging services. The Danish broadcaster also stated that the spying was detailed in a secret which was an internal FE working group report and its code name was Operation Dunhammer. It was reportedly then presented to FE top management in May 2015. This information was obtained by DR through at least nine of its sources who had the access to FE information who said that their revelations were independently confirmed by several other sources. FEs director at the time of US spying was Lars Findsen. As per reports, US spying, if confirmed, was going on at the time after the 2013 Snowden affair. The Snowden affair was triggered when former NSA contractor Edward Snowden uncovered thousands of classified intelligence documents that revealed the massive and broad US surveillance put in place following the 9/11 terror attacks. During that time, it was found out that the US was eavesdropping on its own citizens. IMAGE: AP US Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas): I understand from whats been testified to the Forest Service and the BLM [Bureau of Land Management], you want very much to work on the issue of climate change. We know theres been significant solar flare activity, and so is there anything that the National Forest Service or BLM can do to change the course of the moons orbit, or the Earths orbit around the sun? Obviously that would have profound effects on our climate. Jennifer Eberlein, associate deputy chief for the National Forest System, responded that she would have to follow up with you on that one, after a brief pause. Gohmert: Well, if you figure out a way that you in the Forest Service can make that change, Id like to know. A woman in the United States has claimed that she was fined a hefty amount for talking loudly on her phone while walking on a sidewalk. Diamond Robinson, a black woman was given a $385 ticket for talking loudly on her mobile, reported by Fox2Detroit News. She has shared the details of the incident on her Facebook account. Woman fined for 'talking loudly' The incident took place on May 26 when a woman in Michigan Diamond Robinson was approached by one of her neighbours who asked her to stop speaking on the phone loudly. The neighbour, a white woman, reportedly asked her, "Do you think that you can get off your phone or talk lower?" In the post, she mentioned that she told her neighbour to stop talking to her walked away. After several minutes, three Eastpointe police officers reached there and soon she started a live session on Facebook to document what had actually happened on the day. She added that the policemen threatened to take her to jail. She ended the post by saying, "I hope I am not the next victim of Black Lives Matter." In the live video, she said, "I am not doing anything. I am on the phone walking up and down the block that I pay taxes on. I am confused. One of the responding officers said he was writing her a ticket for "being a public nuisance." She responded that she was not accepting it but the police officer places the ticket in mailbox. "I get a ticket for being a public nuisance because I'm talking too loud on my phone", Robinson said in the video. In a statement on May 28, the Eastpointe Police Department said officers arrived at the neighbourhood after receiving a noise complaint. They tried to speak with Robinson about why they were called, but she refused to participate in the investigation. The officers believed that the disorderly behaviour would continue when they left. They then "opted to use the least intrusive resolution for the situation by issuing a civil infraction citation" rather than issuing her a misdemeanour violation or arresting her. IMAGE: THEVITAMEME/Twitter Note: We've recently updated our online systems. If you can't login please try resetting your password. You must login with an email address. If you don't have an email associated with your account email please call (208) 542-6777 for help. We get it. You don't want to see the ads. We'd just ask you to understand that those ads help us pay the bills and our reporters. Please, consider white-listing the Standard Journal in your ad-blocker or, even better, purchase a subscription so that you can help support quality local journalism. The ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on unveiled new plans to boost flagging birth rates and reverse population aging, raising the official limit on the number of children per couple from two to three. The move came five years after the CCP scrapped a historic policy limiting most couples to just one child, which gave rise to decades of human rights abuses, including forced late-term abortions and sterilizations, as well as widespread monitoring of women's fertility by officials. The new policy was announced as CCP general secretary Xi Jinping chaired a meeting of the Politburo geared towards addressing the aging of the Chinese population. "China will support couples that wish to have a third child," state news agency Xinhua reported. The Politburo concluded that "education and guidance should be provided to promote marriage and family values among marriage-age young people," it said, adding that tax and housing incentives would also be in the pipeline for couples wanting to have children. Among the support measures planned by the government include improvements to prenatal and postnatal care, a universal childcare service, and reduced education costs for families. China's fertility rate stood at around 1.3 children per woman in 2020, compared with the 2.1 children per woman needed for the population to replace itself. Raising kids in China is a costly business, with parents stretched to find money for even one child's education. While state-run schools don't charge tuition until the 10th year of compulsory education, they increasingly demand nominal payments of various kinds, as well as payments for food and extracurricular activities. There are signs that the people who do most of the mental, physical and emotional work of child-bearing and raising may not readily step up to solve the government's population problems, however. Government interference In a poll posted to the official Xinhua news agency account on the Weibo social media platform, 29,000 out of 31,000 respondents said they wouldn't consider having more children. The poll was later removed, Reuters reported. Zhang Jianping, a rights activist from the eastern province of Jiangsu, said government interference in people's private lives was never a good idea. "It was wrong to impose curbs on births in the past, and it equally wrong to encourage more births ," Zhang told RFA. "When an economy develops to a certain level, a population will naturally start to shrink." "Birth rates are falling in other places, including Taiwan and Canada, but they aren't intervening," Zhang said. "Actually, some developed countries don't need to intervene to achieve rising birth rates, because they offer free medical care and education." "So we are just piling one error on top of another." Shanghai-based retired professor Gu Guoping said that while couples -- single people aren't allowed to have children -- may be able to afford to have a child, they often can't also afford to raise that child. "It's getting too expensive to raise just one kid now, let alone two or even three," Gu said. "Ordinary people don't make enough." Retirement age extension Gu said that people were far more willing to have kids back in the 1950s and 1960s, when there was far less income disparity between families. "There weren't such big differences in income [back then]," he said. "Who is going to have a second or third kid now, even if you say they can?" The new childbirth policy comes in tandem with plans to delay retirement for the working-age population, Xinhua reported, with people stopping work at 65 rather than at 60. The move comes amid growing concerns about how a shrinking working-age population will fund the pensions of a growing number of older people. Reactions to the policy on the social media platform Weibo were mixed. "Have children if you want, don't if you don't: it's your business," user @wxw2021 commented on a news story about the policy announcement, while @Xiaoche_Xiaowu said: "Could you find me a spouse first?" @Xinxing1007 wanted to know: "Are they thinking about raising salaries?" while @Three-year-old_Wo wanted to know: "Will there be any subsidies?" @Taiyangda_3168 said the policy had "come at the right time," while @Miya36510 commented that "Housing prices and education policies need to keep in step" with the new rules. Reported by Qiao Long and Fok Leung-kiu for RFA's Mandarin and Cantonese Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Authorities in Beijing are forcing dissidents and rights activists to leave town ahead of the politically sensitive anniversary of the bloodshed, which ended weeks of student-led protests in Beijing and other Chinese cities in the spring of 1989. "They've been in contact a few times already, and I have to leave town for ," Zha, who once tried to stand as an independent candidate against the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in local People's Congress elections, told RFA. "I can't stay here in Beijing over the next few days, just like every year on ," he said. "I will have to leave town for CCP centenary on as well." The Tiananmen Mothers victims' group of more than 100 family members issued its annual statement on , calling on the CCP to move ahead with compensation, a historical reassessment of the 1989 student movement and subsequent massacre of unarmed civilians by the People's Liberation Army (PLA), and for those responsible to be brought to justice. ", 1989, the People's Liberation Army dispatched tanks and soldiers with live ammunition to shoot and crush to death unarmed students and residents of Beijing," the group said. "Since that tragedy took place, 32 years have gone by, and still our citizens are prevented from commemorating those who died in public," it said. "Younger people don't even know about the massacre in that year, or they don't believe it happened." Tiananmen Mothers member Zhang Xianling, whose 19-year-old son Wang Nan was gunned down by the PLA in Beijing, said the group's demands have remained constant. "The first is that we want to hear the truth, and the second is that we demand compensation," Zhang told RFA. "The third is accountability." "We have, of course, proposed ways to talk to the government about that, and we understand if they can't accept our demands immediately," she said. "They won't be resolved overnight." Meanwhile, in the southwestern province of Sichuan, writer Tan Zuoren has been warned off giving media interviews ahead of the anniversary. "I had to go out of town for three days last year, and I haven't been told I have to do that this year," Tan told RFA. "But I can't speak out or give media interviews in the days around ." Forced vacations Beijing-based dissident Ji Feng, who took part in the 1989 student movement, said he was being forced to leave town by police from his hometown in the southwestern province of Guizhou. "They came from Guizhou at just after 2.00 p.m.," Ji said. "One was the secretary of the [CCP's] political legal affairs committee of Tongzi county; another was a captain in the state security police, and another was a former state security police captain." "They wanted to talk about where I was going ... We have to leave ," Ji said. Meanwhile, friends and relatives of retired Guizhou University professor Yang Shaozheng said he had likely already been taken out of town on an enforced "vacation" ahead of the anniversary. In Hong Kong, the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China said it would reopen its Memorial Museum, displaying a photo exhibition to mark the crackdown. Alliance spokesperson Richard Tsoi said the Alliance was making the move after police rejected its application for an annual candlelight vigil gathering in Hong Kong's Victoria Park. "We believe that the [opening of the] Memorial Hall is completely within the law," Tsoi said, in reference to a draconian national security law imposed by the CCP on Hong Kong last year, which bans public criticism of the authorities. "We will be on our guard, so as to deal with any provocations or challenges that may arise," Tsoi told reporters. Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Chan Yun Nam for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. A Ryanair flight from Dublin to Krakow was diverted to Berlin after the crew were warned of a "potential security threat" on the plane, the Ireland-based budget airline says. In a May 31 statement, Ryanair said German air traffic control warned the crew of the potential threat on May 30, prompting the captain to follow procedures and land in Berlin, the nearest airport, where passengers were taken off the plane. "Extensive security checks of passengers and all baggage" were performed by German police, who determined there was no danger, the airline said. The 160 passengers were eventually flown to Krakow on a spare plane after a seven-hour delay. German tabloids Bild and BZ said that there had been a bomb threat, but neither the police nor Ryanair confirmed those reports. The incident comes after Belarus dispatched a fighter jet earlier this month to intercept a Ryanair flight from Greece to Lithuania and forced it to land in Minsk, because the Belarusian authorities claimed they had received information there was a bomb aboard the plane. Following the landing, opposition journalist Raman Pratasevich and his girlfriend, Sofia Sapega, a Russian national, were taken off the aircraft and detained. No bomb was found on board. Belarusian authorities claimed that they had received an e-mail warning them about the existence of explosives on the flight. The move sparked international outrage and demands for Pratasevich's release. The European Union has since banned flights from Belarus. After meeting some of the passengers of the May 23 Ryanair flight in Lithuania, EU commissioner Thierry Breton on May 31 said that Europe "has been under attack with this act of state piracy. We will not leave this unpunished," Breton told AFP, adding that the EU was working on additional economic sanctions on Belarus. The United States has imposed sanctions against Belarusian state-owned enterprises over the air incident, while most European countries have urged their aircraft to avoid Belarus airspace and banned Belarus carriers from their skies. Also on May 31, exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed possible EU economic sanctions with Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid during a visit to Tallinn. The regime of authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka is now a threat to regional and European security, Tsikhanouskaya told a joint press conference. Kaljulaid promised that during her presidency at the UN Security Council, Estonia would do everything possible to "raise the issue of Belarusas much as possible." During their press conference, Tsikhanouskaya and Kaljulaid were dressed in white and a bouquet of white and red flowers was on display -- the colors of the flag used by the Belarusian opposition. With reporting by AP, dpa, and AFP A court in Bosnia-Herzegovina has sentenced former Security Minister Sadik Ahmetovic to six months in prison for abuse of office. The Sarajevo court on May 31 ruled that Sadik Ahmetovic abused his position by providing a fictitious job to a man at cost to the state budget in 2011-12. Adnan Bektic, the man who acquired the illegal salaries and per diems, was ordered to give back a total of $9,600 to the state. Ahmetovic said he would appeal the verdict in a case he has described as politically motivated. Bosnia, which is among the most corrupt countries in Europe, is seeking entry into the European Union. The devastating Bosnian War in 1992-95 ended in a U.S.-brokered peace agreement that divided the Balkan country into two entities -- the Bosniak-Croat federation and Republika Srpska -- held together by joint central institutions. The UN's nuclear watchdog agency said on May 31 that Iran has failed to explain traces of uranium found at several undeclared sites and that it continues to breach enrichment limits spelled out in the 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers. The news, outlined in two separate reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), could complicate talks currently under way in Vienna to revive the deal. One report by IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi said that Tehran has failed to provide the necessary explanation for the presence of the nuclear material particles at any of the three locations where the agency has conducted complementary accesses [inspections]." Most of the activity in question dates back to the early 2000s, before the Iran nuclear agreement, and has long been a center of inquiry about Iran's past nuclear program. Another report estimated Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium at 3,241 kilograms, or around 16 times the limit set out in the 2015 deal with world powers. Of that stockpile, it said Iran has produced 62.8 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 20 percent purity and 2.4 kilograms enriched up to 60 percent purity. Under the nuclear deal, Iran is allowed to enrich uranium up to 3.67 percent purity, far below the 90 percent purity needed for a nuclear weapon. "Sixty percent is almost weapons grade," Grossi told the Financial Times. The IAEA hasn't been able to access data important to monitoring Iran's nuclear program since late February when Tehran started restricting international inspections of its facilities, according to the Vienna-based organization. The IAEA and Iran earlier acknowledged the restrictions limited access to surveillance cameras at Iranian facilities, but the report issued on May 31 indicated they went much further. Iran started limiting inspections in a bid to put pressure on the government of U.S. President Joe Biden to lift crippling sanctions reimposed after then-President Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran unilaterally in 2018. Since the U.S. withdrawal from the pact, Iran has been steadily violating its various restrictions, including on the types of centrifuges it's allowed to use, the amount of enriched uranium it is allowed to stockpile, and the purity to which it is allowed to enrich. Based on reporting by AFP, dpa, Reuters, and AP Iran says substantial progress has been made in talks with world powers to revive a landmark nuclear deal, but critical issues remain unresolved. Iran and the six powers have been holding talks in Vienna since April to work out steps that Tehran and Washington must take on sanctions and nuclear activities to return to full compliance with the 2015 nuclear agreement. "Each round of talks in Vienna could have been the final round. We should not rush. We have made significant progress but key issues remain," Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told a televised weekly news conference in Tehran on May 31. "There has been no stalemate on the Vienna talks," he added. Speaking to state television from the Austrian capital, Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Abbas Araqchi, said the negotiations were "very complex" and that the sides "have now reached the main issues of dispute." Under the accord, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iran pledged to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for an easing of international sanctions. The deal was put on hold three years ago after then-U.S. President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the pact and reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran's economy. In response, Tehran has steadily overstepped the agreement's limits on its nuclear program designed to make it harder to develop an atomic bomb -- an ambition Tehran denies. President Joe Biden, who was inaugurated in January, has said the United States will return to the pact if Tehran first resumes compliance with its strict limits on uranium enrichment, a process that could allow Iran to build nuclear weapons. "All sanctions should be lifted and then it should be verified by Iran...then we will reverse our nuclear steps," Khatibzadeh said. An unnamed diplomat, briefed by Western officials involved in the talks, said that "an agreement that would clarify the obligations of Tehran and Washington to move forward" will be announced in Vienna this week. With reporting by Reuters, AFP, AP, IRNA, and dpa Iran says ongoing talks on reaching a "common understanding" with regional rival Saudi Arabia are taking place in a good atmosphere. Last month, media reports revealed that Iranian and Saudi officials met in Baghdad in April, their first high-level meeting since Riyadh cut diplomatic ties with Tehran in 2016. Ties between the two countries were cut in 2016 after Iranian protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions following the kingdom's execution of a revered Shi'ite cleric. "Talks are still continuing in a good atmosphere," ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said at a press conference on May 31. "We hope these talks can achieve a common understanding between Iran and Saudi Arabia." The talks in Baghdad, facilitated by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi, remained secret until the Financial Times reported that a first meeting was held on April 9. Khatibzadeh confirmed the talks on May 10, saying their purpose was "both bilateral and regional," but stressed it was "too soon" to disclose any details. "De-escalation and [establishing] ties between two great Islamic countries in the Persian Gulf region is to the benefit of both nations," he said at the time. Iran in late April welcomed a "change of tone" from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman after he called for a "good and special relationship" with Tehran. The regional rivals have backed opposite sides of several regional conflicts, from Syria to Yemen, where a Saudi-led military coalition is fighting Huthi rebels. Iran backs the Huthis, who are battling the coalition that intervened in Yemen's war in support of an internationally recognized government in 2015. With reporting by AFP Former Kyrgyz Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov has been detained as part of an investigation into corruption during the development of the Kumtor gold-mine project. The State Committee for National Security said on May 31 that Babanov was detained on the basis of evidence obtained during the investigation. It did not give any details of the evidence. The giant Kumtor gold project has been the focus of international attention in recent months after the government moved to temporarily take over operations at the mine -- which is run by Canada's Centerra Gold -- for what President Sadyr Japarov said was a necessary move to remedy environmental and safety violations. According to a new law approved on May 14, the government can take control for up to three months of any company that operates under a concession agreement in Kyrgyzstan if that firm violates environmental regulations, endangers the local environment or lives of people, or causes other significant damage. Centerra's Kyrgyz subsidiary, Kumtor Gold Company (KGC), Kyrgyzstan's biggest taxpayer, is the only firm in the former Soviet republic that operates under a concession agreement. The head of a Kyrgyz state commission investigating alleged wrongdoing at the Kumtor mine said on May 17 that his group concluded that the agreement on giving the mining concession to Centerra Gold must be revoked due to what he called "corruption" and "violations of safety and environmental regulations." Centerra has called Kyrgyzstan's actions "wrongful and illegal." On May 16, the Canadian firm said it had "initiated binding arbitration to enforce its rights under long-standing investment agreements with the government." It also accused Kyrgyz law enforcement of intimidation -- including police visits to the homes of several senior KGC managers and a May 15 raid of KGC's office in Bishkek. Japarov's sudden rise to power in October 2020 after being freed from jail in the midst of a political crisis was particularly bad news for Centerra. As an opposition politician during the past decade, Japarov had led an unsuccessful bid in parliament and on the streets to nationalize the mine. He oversaw several chaotic rallies against the company -- including a 2013 rally in which a provincial governor was kidnapped, the basis of Japarov's 2017 arrest and 11-year prison sentence on hostage-taking charges. Canada, Britain, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development have all criticized Kyrgyzstan's moves against Centerra. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said personnel at Belarus's diplomatic mission to the alliance will have their access restricted at its headquarters in the wake of the forced landing of a passenger plane by Minsk and the arrest of an opposition journalist who was on board the plane. "We have decided to restrict the access of Belarusian personnel to the NATO headquarters based on our assessment of security measures at the headquarters," Stoltenberg told reporters on May 31 on the eve of a NATO defense and foreign ministers meeting. The move is said to involve a Belarusian ambassador and four other diplomats. "They can still enter, but only as visitors with a day pass and an escort," a NATO official was quoted as saying. Belarus is not a member of NATO but has maintained a diplomatic mission to the Western military alliance since 1998. Belarusian personnel can attend seminars and meetings at the alliance and in NATO countries as part of a Partnership for Peace cooperation program that tackles issues such as arms control and crisis management. The forced landing of a Ryanair flight from Greece to Lithuania on May 23 by Belarus and the arrest of journalist and opposition activist Raman Pratasevich and his girlfriend, who was traveling with him, has caused international outrage. NATO has called for an independent international investigation into the incident, saying this unacceptable act seriously violated the norms governing civil aviation and endangered the lives of the passengers and crew. "This is not only something which is violating international norms and rules, but also a direct attack on the freedom of expression and the free and independent press, Stoltenberg said, welcoming sanctions imposed on Minsk by EU and NATO member states. Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters that Moscow -- Belarusian authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenkas chief supporter -- will continue to provide support to Minsk in the face of Western sanctions. "We definitely will [provide support to Belarus]. We are both part of the Union State," Ryabkov said, without specifying what measures Moscow could take. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been pushing Lukashenka in recent years to take steps toward the integration of their economies in order to cement a 20-year-old agreement to form a union state. Lukashenka has rebuffed the pressure, but unprecedented street protests over a presidential election in August 2020 and subsequent Western sanctions have weakened his negotiating position with the Russian president. NATO foreign and defense ministers meeting in Brussels on May 31 will focus on preparations for a summit to be held in the Belgian capital on June 14. The ministers are also to discuss issues such as the alliances engagement in Afghanistan, as well as developments in Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia, Stoltenberg said. The meeting comes amid a low point in relations between the NATO allies and Russia, Belarusian authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenkas chief supporter. "What we see is a pattern of Russian behavior where Russia over the last years has invested heavily in new modern military capabilities from conventional to nuclear weapon systems," Stoltenberg said, adding that Moscow has been willing to use military force against neighbors in Georgia and Ukraine, continuing to destabilizeeastern Ukraine, and illegally annexing Crimea. "And then we've seen more Russian military presence in the high north, in the Barents Sea, and in the Baltic Sea, Kaliningrad, the Black Sea, and also down to the Mediterranean and Middle East. And this is one of the main reasons why NATO over the last years have increased the readiness of forces." Stoltenberg was responding a question about Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigus announcement earlier on May 31 that his country would deploy around 20 new military formations and units near its western borders by the end of the year to counter what he claimed was a growing threat from the transatlantic alliance. With reporting by Reuters, AP, TASS, and AFP The former executive director of Open Russia, a pro-democracy movement founded by Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, was removed from a plane in St. Petersburg and detained in the latest crackdown on opposition forces in the country. Andrei Pivovarov was taken in for questioning in St. Petersburg and detained for repeated alleged violations of the law on so-called undesirable organizations, according to a message transmitted through his lawyer on Telegram late on May 31. They just said that a case was opened against me under Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code for cooperation with an undesirable organization, which is nonsense, Pivovarov said in the letter. He said authorities planned to take him later to Krasnodar, a city in southern Russia, for as yet unknown reasons. There was no immediate comment from Russian authorities. Pivovarov was taken off a plane heading to Warsaw as it was taxiing on the runway at Pulkovo Airport. Open Russia said on May 27 that it had decided to end its operations to protect its members from the risk of being prosecuted. Activists of the Russia-based civic organization have regularly faced pressure from the authorities since its designation as an "undesirable organization" by Russian prosecutors in 2017, including administrative and criminal charges. The "undesirable organization" law, adopted in May 2015, was part of a series of regulations pushed by the Kremlin that squeezed many nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations that received funding from foreign sources -- mainly from Europe and the United States. Pakistan and Uzbekistan have exchanged goods through war-torn Afghanistan for the first time, in a move hailed as a milestone for regional economic integration. A Pakistani cargo truck transported medicine from the port city of Karachi on April 9 to the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, via Kabul. It arrived on May 4. An Uzbek cargo truck then took a shipment of leather products from Tashkent on May 9 and arrived at the Afghan-Pakistani border (Torkham crossing) on May 11. It then was trucked to Faisalabad on May 13. The shipments are part of five planned trial runs aimed at testing the viability of various routes in the region, where trade has been hampered by the decades-old conflict in Afghanistan and longstanding diplomatic tensions between Kabul and Islamabad. The project has received technical and financial support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The agency said the initiative is intended to boost regional trade integration and connectivity. The shipments were made under the Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) Convention, a customs agreement that facilitates the international transport of goods. The multilateral treaty eliminates the need to pay customs duties and taxes. Afghanistan rejoined the TIR after a 30-year suspension in 2013, while Pakistan joined in 2017. William Byrd, a development economist at the United States Institute of Peace, a Washington-based think tank, says the pilot project is an encouraging development but more a proof of concept than a milestone. If this gets taken forward by expanding to other Central Asian countries and is scaled up over time in terms of the volume of transit trade, there will be important benefits for both Pakistan and Central Asia, says Byrd. If this transit trade develops on a larger scale, it will also increase the economic stakes of neighboring countries in Afghanistans peace and stability. Afghanistans neighbors have a long history of funding proxy groups in the decades-long conflict. Pakistan is the Talibans main foreign backer, while Iran and Russia have expanded ties with the militant group in recent years. 'New Trade Era' Abdul Razak Dawood, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khans adviser on commerce and investment, says the pilot project has been very successful. Our objective is to have greater connectivity with our western and northern neighbors, Dawood told RFE/RLs Radio Mashaal. So, we are very encouraged. We want to do more [trade]. Dawood said Islamabad expects to sign preferential trade arrangements (PTAs) -- which could include lower or even no tariffs -- with Uzbekistan and Afghanistan in the coming months. Pakistan has been dealing with a struggling economy and energy crisis for years and has long sought access to markets in resource-rich Central Asia. Pakistani media reports said Islamabad wants to import more Uzbek goods, including coal, fertilizers, and textiles. The Pakistani transport company Best Trans Pvt and Uzbek freight-forwarding company Asad Trans -- the two firms involved in the project -- plan to boost the number of trucks carrying cargo to Pakistan and Uzbekistan to 50 by the end of the year. Insecurity A 'Severe Hurdle' Observers say the biggest hurdle for regional economic connectivity is the war in Afghanistan, where violence has intensified since the announcement last month that U.S. and other Western forces would be withdrawing. There are widespread fears of an intensified civil war if the Taliban attempts a forcible takeover of the country following the foreign troops' complete withdrawal, which is due by September 11. It is unclear if the Taliban gave its backing to the Pakistan and Uzbekistan cargo route, which passes through territory controlled by the militant group. The Taliban commands or contests around half of Afghanistan. If insecurity worsens and violence further escalates in the wake of the U.S. troop withdrawal, that could become the most severe hurdle both for economic activity in Afghanistan more generally and for regional connectivity, says Byrd. Byrd says other hindrances to greater regional trade include widespread corruption at border crossings in the region as well as numerous checkpoints on Afghan highways where various powerholders extort fees from transporters. Foad Ahmadi, the spokesman for the Industry and Commerce Ministry, told RFE/RLs Radio Free Afghanistan that the cargo route between Pakistan and Uzbekistan will allow Afghanistan to become a roundabout for regional trade. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has repeatedly talked up his country's potential as a hub of regional connectivity. But experts say the pilot project offers fewer tangible benefits to landlocked Afghanistan. For Afghanistan it is crucial to develop its own economy, including in particular agro-processing, construction, and, over a longer period, mineral extraction and exports that are currently subject to widespread informal mining and smuggling out to Pakistan and Iran, says Byrd. On the export side, Afghan products need to be permitted to transit more seamlessly through neighboring countries, notably Pakistan. Pakistan has banned Afghanistan from transporting goods through its territory to India, Islamabads archrival. In response, New Delhi and Kabul launched an air freight corridor in 2016 to provide greater access for Afghan goods to the Indian market. New Delhi, Kabul, and Tehran have also established a trade route through Iran's strategic Chabahar Port. The trade route has lessened Afghanistans reliance on Pakistan and has allowed India to open a sea route to Afghanistan. New Delhi also gained access to natural resources in the Central Asian republics. As a result, Afghanistans trade with Pakistan has plummeted in recent years as Iran has become Afghanistans biggest trading partner. 'Political Points' Landlocked Uzbekistan would be one of the biggest beneficiaries of greater regional trade. Uzbekistan's access to marine shipping is very limited, and Tashkent has sought to secure a direct link to seaports in Pakistan and Iran. In February, Afghan, Pakistani, and Uzbek officials signed a road map on the construction of a railroad from Afghanistans northern city of Mazar-e Sharif, near the Uzbek border, to Kabul and the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar. Tashkent has signed a flurry of agreements with its southern neighbors to enhance regional trade. But Uzbek companies say many hurdles remain. The head of an Uzbek transport and logistics company, speaking on condition of anonymity, told RFE/RLs Uzbek Service that the Pakistan-Uzbekistan route was an opportunity for Tashkent and Islamabad to score political points. In fact, Uzbekistan does not have any intergovernmental agreements on the acceptance, registration, and dispatch of goods with either Pakistan or Afghanistan, he said. When we address the Transport Ministry about these issues, officials always tell us the same thing: We are working on it. Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny asked a court on May 31 to halt the hourly nighttime checks he has been subjected to in his penal colony, saying the measure amounts to torture. Speaking to the court in a video link from prison, Navalny said that he has done nothing that would warrant the authorities' decision to designate him as a flight risk that has resulted in the checks. I just want them to stop coming to me and waking me up at night, he told the Petushinsky District Court in the Vladimir region. What did I do? Did I climb the fence? Did I dig up an underpass? Or was I wringing a pistol from someone? Just explain why they named me a flight risk!" The Kremlin foe argued that the nighttime checks effectively amount to torture, telling the judge that you would go mad in a week if subjected to such regular wake-ups. The court adjourned the hearing until June 2. Navalny, one of Russian President Vladimir Putins most vocal critics, was arrested in January upon his return from Germany, where he had spent five months recovering from a nerve-agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin -- accusations that Russian officials reject. He is serving a 2 1/2-year prison sentence on embezzlement charges that he says were trumped up because of his political activity. The opposition leader went on a 24-day hunger strike in prison to protest the lack of medical treatment for severe back pain and numbness in his legs, ending it last month after getting the medical attention he demanded. While he still was on hunger strike, Navalny was moved from a penal colony east of Moscow where he was serving his sentence to the hospital ward of another prison in Vladimir, a city 180 kilometers east of the capital. He still remains at that prison, where he said the nighttime checks continue, although they are less intrusive. With Navalny in prison, prosecutors have asked a Moscow court to designate his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) and his network of regional offices as extremist groups. A bill, which has sailed quickly through the Kremlin-controlled lower house of parliament, bars members, donors, and supporters of organizations designated as extremist from seeking public office. The parallel moves have been widely seen as an attempt to keep any of Navalny's associates from running in September's parliamentary elections. Navalny's regional headquarters have been instrumental in implementing a Smart Voting strategy -- a project designed to promote candidates who are most likely to defeat those from the ruling United Russia party in various elections. With reporting by AP The Russian online media outlet NEWSru has announced its closure, blaming the country's current "political situation," which has made it economically impossible to function, as advertisers shun independent sources of information. NEWSru, which has functioned primarily as a news aggregator in recent years, said in a statement on May 31 that regulations requiring media in Russia to label anyone the state regards as "extremists" or "foreign agents" when referencing them in their articles was increasingly impacting its bottom line. "We are stopping work for economic reasons, but they are provoked by the political situation in the country," the Moscow-based newsroom said on its website. NEWSru began operations in 2000, the year President Vladimir Putin started his first term in the Kremlin. The company said that the turning point came seven years ago as both Russian foreign policy and the domestic economic structure changed dramatically. Moscow seized Crimea from Ukraine in early 2014 and weeks later threw its support behind separatists in Ukraine's east, where some 13,200 people have been killed in an ongoing conflict. "Our picture of the day became so different from the picture favored by state [media] resources that major advertisers stopped cooperating with us after the events of 2014, while others began to be particularly wary this year," NEWSru said. The site opened as an Internet news portal for NTV in August 2000. When the channel became part of Gazprom-Media, the website remained under the control of Russian tycoon Vladimir Gusinsky and changed its domain name to NEWSru.com. NEWSru said Russia's recent declaration of several news outlets -- including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Meduza media portal, and the VTimes news site -- as "foreign agents" had impacted media and made it a possible target for the restrictions as well. "We had to label more and more respected people and sources of truthful information as foreign agents and extremists. The current situation in the economy and in the legal field makes the high-quality work of NEWSru.com impossible," the company said. Russia's so-called "foreign agent" legislation was adopted in 2012 and has been modified repeatedly. It requires nongovernmental organizations that receive foreign assistance and that the government deems to be engaged in political activity to be registered, to identify themselves as "foreign agents," and to submit to audits. Later modifications of the law targeted foreign-funded media, including RFE/RL's Russian Service, six other RFE/RL Russian-language news services, and Current Time. The law, which has been further expanded to include individual reporters, is one of several Kremlin-backed measures aimed at restricting foreign-funded activities in Russia. A parallel measure known as the "undesirable organizations" law has forced the shutdown of a number of nongovernmental civil society groups in Russia, mainly from Europe and the United States. NEWSru said that the news archive it accumulated over 21 years will remain open and accessible to the public. "News from the recent past, without unnecessary interpretations and comments, convincingly shows how our recent history has evolved. It will not be possible to 'clean up' this history, no matter what resources the state is now spending to do so," it said. Cleaning-product brand Domestos has announced the winners of a competition for the worst school toilets in Russia, unleashing a wave of online criticism over the creaking condition of bathrooms across the country. Dozens of pictures of school toilets were submitted to the British brand's marketing campaign, ranging from decrepit squat toilets from Soviet times to numerous toilets offering users little-to-no privacy. "These are scary photos," Andrei Pivovarov, the executive director of Open Russia, a pro-democracy movement founded by Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, wrote on Twitter. The competition reveals "the monstrous disrespect for children on the part of the state, which has not been renovating schools for years," he said. Other users online condemned official corruption and waste, while some ridiculed President Vladimir Putin. "An anti-Russian, anti-Putin action was taken by the Domestos brand. Everyone saw the disgusting state of school toilets in great Russia," popular blogger Rustem Adagamov wrote on Twitter. "It would be necessary to figure out who is behind this action -- the CIA or the State Department?" he said, mocking Russian officials for blaming many domestic problems on the West. There were so many toilets in horrendous condition that Domestos increased the number of winners to six, each of which will receive toilet repairs. In comments under some of the submissions, participants complained that school toilets have not been repaired for years. In a number of pictures there are no partitions between toilets, tiles and plaster are falling off, and the toilets have clearly not been cleaned in a very long time. A toilet from the city of Gus-Khrustalny, in the Vladimir region, received the most votes. According to the author of the application, children take time away from school to go home to relieve themselves. All participating schools that took part in the promotion will receive a year's supply of Domestos cleaning products. More than 50 employees of the Russian Embassy in Prague reportedly flew back to Moscow over the weekend after the Czech Republic ordered their expulsion last month. How will the exodus affect Russia's espionage efforts in the heart of Europe? RFE/RL senior correspondent Tony Wesolowsky joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss. Human rights defender Narges Mohammadi says Iranian prison authorities use sexual abuse and harassment systematically to break the will of incarcerated women -- and that she herself has been a victim. Fear, shame, and a culture of avoidance may keep many victims of such practices from speaking out. But Mohammadi and other former detainees in Iran shared their experiences during a May 27 group discussion on the Clubhouse social-media app -- an online gathering that also was joined by the exiled Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi. I felt like a sheep who was thrown into the car, Mohammadi told the group about her forceful 2019 transfer from a prison in Tehran to the northwestern city of Zanjan. She said a prison director held her lower body, pushed her into a car, and sat on her legs -- then asked her to light a cigarette for him. Women Prisoners Targeted I cant diminish this to a physical assault, Mohammadi told the group. They [target] prisoners based on their gender. She says she also learned during her time in jail about other female prisoners being harassed and sexually abused -- including one woman who suffered from serious mental problems after being groped by her interrogator. I have to ask [judiciary chief Ebrahim] Raisi himself if I was required to light the cigarette for the prison chief, Mohammadi told the group. Did I have to smoke with the head of your prison? Mohammadi is the spokeswoman for the Defenders of Human Rights Center, an organization co-founded by Ebadi that is now banned in Iran. In October 2020, Mohammadi was released early from the 10-year prison sentence she received on charges stemming from her human rights work. Her release was prompted by concerns about her health as well as calls from the United Nations and international human rights groups. But less than a year later, she now faces a new sentence of 30 months in prison and 80 lashes on charges of spreading propaganda against Irans clerical establishment, defamation, and rebellion against the prison authorities. She says the sentence is a punishment for her defiance and refusal to remain silent about rights abuses -- including her participation in a prison sit-in protest against a deadly November 2019 crackdown by Iranian authorities against antiestablishment demonstrators. Mohammadi said that if a person as prominent as her can be so easily mistreated, she worries about the fate of female prisoners who dont have her public stature. Im a 48-year-old woman. People know me, she said. When I saw how they treated me, I kept thinking about how they treat younger [women] who are unknown and are kept in solitary confinement. Mohammadi said young female detainees are often forced by prison authorities to undergo virginity tests. Other female prisoners in recent years also have accused interrogators of sexual harassment and psychological abuse. Jailed ecologist Niloufar Bayani wrote letters to authorities detailing how she was tortured during 1,200 hours of interrogation. She says her interrogators threatened her with rape and death, made her imitate the sounds of wild animals, and forced her to take part in their sexual games. Silence Doesn't Bring Change The Clubhouse app has provided a new platform for Iranians to connect and discuss wide-ranging issues and, sometimes, to challenge officials who participate in real-time discussions. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ebadi, a human rights lawyer in Iran for many years before she was forced into exile, told the May 27 Clubhouse meeting that women should be encouraged to name and shame their abusers. Many are not ready to speak out about these things due to their reputation or because they dont have any hope for justice, Ebadi told the online meeting. Narges [Mohammadi] should be praised for speaking out loud and giving others courage to speak up, Ebadi said. Silence doesnt change anything. Several other former prisoners also spoke about experiences of abuse and harassment at the hands of their jailers. Sexual Intimidation Human rights activist Maryam Shafipour said she was constantly worried about sexual assault after one of her interrogators threatened her, saying: I can keep you here and do what I want with you." He would thrust the lower part of his body on my chair and make noises, said Shafipour, who was jailed in 2014 in connection with her human rights activities. Mahvash Sabeti is a teacher and poet who spent nearly a decade at Tehrans Evin prison on charges linked to her work running affairs of the Bahai community in Iran -- a persecuted religious minority whose faith is not recognized in the Islamic republic. Sabeti, who was released from prison in 2017, said she regularly faced gender humiliation there. In all the phases of the interrogations, we were looked at as a woman, a second sex, she explained. When they asked me to cooperate and I refused, I was told: Youre a woman. You have no courage. Old Scars, Years Of Trauma The most painful accounts came from women who were jailed during the years shortly after Irans 1979 revolution. Banou Saberi spoke of being raped in 1982 by three men in the desert near the central Iranian city of Isfahan who said they were charged with enforcing Islamic law. She said that after her arrest in 1986, her interrogators used her rape as a threat to pressure her and her family, including her husband, who was executed in 1988. They told my husband that I was a prostitute and I invented this [rape] claim to cover up the fact that I wasnt a virgin when we got married, Saberi recalled. Even after her release, she said Iranian authorities would routinely summon her and insult her with sexual slurs. Saberi now lives in the United States. She said she still feels traumatized as a result of the psychological abuse she experienced in an Iranian prison more than three decades ago. "Until a few years ago, whenever I would rent a house, I would look at the closet to see if it was big enough for me to sleep in it at night because I felt so unsafe," she told the group while sobbing. Monireh Baradaran, a former political prisoner who has published a prison memoir about her years in prison from 1981 to 1991, recounted how her chador fell off her head while she was being flogged by an interrogator. She said her interrogator shouted at her because he could see her hair. Under Islamic laws enforced in Iran after the 1979 revolution, women must cover their hair and body in public. "I remember that I passed out," she said. "When I regained consciousness, the first thing I heard was the interrogator telling me: 'You are shameless! Cover yourself up.'" Baradaran said that during her years in prison, women were equal to men when it came to torture. But she said female prisoners would also face additional pressure because of their gender. Some prisoners have said that they endured rape in Iranian prisons during the 1980s. There also have been rape allegations from women arrested in 2009 during the states crackdown on mass street protests over a disputed presidential election result. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: EDITOR'S NOTE: Larry Obhof was the former president of the Ohio Senate from 2017 to 2020. He represented Ohios 22nd Senate District (consisting of Medina, Ashland, and Richland Counties, as well as portions of Holmes County) from 2011-2020. As we celebrate Memorial Day this year, please remember the purpose of the holiday. Memorial Day is about much more than cookouts or getting an extra day off of work. We should never forget what we are recognizing. We are honoring the hundreds of thousands of men and women who gave all that they had, including their lives, to protect our freedom and security. The Book of John tells us that Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. American history is replete with heroes who did just that. These people were our family, our friends, and our neighbors. They each chose something greater than themselves. They gave their lives to protect our way of life and to promote the values of liberty and democracy in foreign lands. Make no mistake, we owe these heroes a debt that we can never repay. We live in the most free and most prosperous country in the history of the world. Each of us has opportunities that our forebears could have only imagined. But those freedoms were not granted to us by luck or by some accident of history. They were given to us by our brothers and sistersand they came at a heavy price. Hundreds of thousands of brave Americans spilled their blood and gave their lives to make it happen. Memorial Day caps of a month of remembrance. Earlier this month we marked the sacrifices of first responders and more specifically, police officerswith National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day. Now, this weekend, we remember and honor the military men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our nation. Memorial Day gives us the opportunity to remember their boldness, their courage and their sacrifice. But we must do more than that. We must strive to keep faith with them and should honor their sacrifice through our actions every day. Our state and federal governments should do everything they can to support Gold Star Families. As individuals, we should live the ideals that our soldiers were defending, by promoting liberty and equality in our daily lives. And as a community, we should prove our gratitude by stepping up to support our veterans, our first responders, and the families of our fallen soldiers. Enjoy the holiday weekend, and whatever parades, barbecues, and family visits that entails. But do not forget what the holiday is for, and who you are honoring. And when the holiday has passed, continue to honor the brave men and women who sacrificed so much for our country through your daily actions. A restrictive voting bill in Texas that was on the verge of reaching Republican Gov. Greg Abbotts desk failed to pass Sunday night after Democrats walked out of the House chamber before a midnight deadline Rutland, VT (05701) Today Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 54F. Winds light and variable. Help Our Community Please help local businesses by taking an online survey to help us navigate through these unprecedented times. None of the responses will be shared or used for any other purpose except to better serve our community. The survey is at: www.pulsepoll.com $1,000 is being awarded. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. Thank You! Take The Survey Peterborough - Eva H. Sacharuk died, peacefully, at her home in Peterborough, N.H. on June 1, 2021. Before moving to Peterborough in 2019, she was a long-time resident of Wenham, Massachusetts where she raised her family with her husband Serge since 1960. Eva is survived by her loving husban A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Close (Photo : Britta Pedersen-Pool/Getty Images) BERLIN, GERMANY DECEMBER 01: SpaceX owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk arrives on the red carpet for the Axel Springer Award 2020 on December 01, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. Elon Musk said SpaceX's ocean spaceport, Deimos, is under development and could start operating next year. The structure will serve as a launch and landing pad for Musk's SpaceX Starship spacecraft, which he plans to take to Mars. Earlier this year, SpaceX purchased two oil rigs off the coast of Texas to serve as "floating" launchpads for the Starship. The platforms have been given the names Deimos and Phobos, which are the names of two Mars' moons. The latest Starship prototype made a successful ascent and landing earlier this month. According to the BBC, the reusable vehicle might prove a "game-changer for space travel." SpaceX's Ocean Spaceport: Deimos Musk, SpaceX CEO, confirmed the establishment of the spaceports and a possible first look on his Twitter account after a fan posted the rendered design on social media. The image depicts a standing Starship on an offshore platform in the middle of the ocean, with the facility preparing for its launch. Ocean spaceport Deimos is under construction for launch next year https://t.co/WJQka399c7 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 30, 2021 SpaceX is expected to expand its Mars mission, especially now that it has already accomplished a feat with its SN15 Starship, the most successful prototype to be launched then land. The majority of its spacecraft prototypes have exploded upon impact. ALSO READ: SpaceX Broadband Project: Starlink Constellation Impractical And Not Sustainable, Competitor Warns The success of SpaceX's SN15 prototype has opened several avenues, particularly a trip to Mars in the coming years. As the Starship progresses under construction, SpaceX and Musk's aim of making humans a "multi-planetary species" could soon be nearing completion. SpaceX's Starship aims to continue its development as it hopes for a launch in July. Meanwhile, NASASpaceFlight has cited Twitter user @BocaChicaGal post that Musk's company might also be building a new component needed for its "Super Heavy" rocket booster, a massive and essential part to push the SpaceX Starship towards Mars. Mary (@BocaChicaGal) spots a new thrust puck for Super Heavy arriving at SpaceX Starbase! Pics: https://t.co/AGnpZ7XDFk Going to be a lot of Raptors on the aft end of the big booster! pic.twitter.com/MBVmnp5NXQ Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) May 29, 2021 Elon Musk Lowkey 'Purchased' Bought Two Oil Rigs for Future Starship Launches Earlier This Year Twitter users said SpaceX has made recent acquisitions a few months ago, implying the company has already pushed Musk's ideas. Launch photographer Jack Beyer stated on Twitter that he'd seen an oil rig named Deimos near the Port of Brownsville, Texas. "Based on job postings and [Elon Musk's] tweets, I'm willing to bet that SpaceX is involved," tweeted Beyer. Michael Baylor of NASASpaceflight.com swiftly weighed in on the story, tweeting that SpaceX had bought the two oil rigs previously known as ENSCO 8500 and ENSCO 8501 for $3.5 million each. According to another tweet from Baylor, their names were changed to "Phobos" and "Deimos" in September 2020. These were named after two of Mars' moons, Inverse said. Lone Star Mineral Development LLC appears to have acquired ownership of Deimos and Phobos. RELATED ARTICLE: SpaceX to Reuse Dragon Spacecraft Fleet After Rocket Booster from NASA Crew-1 'Leaned' Check out more news and information on SpaceX on Science Times. Interview: CPC achievements beacon for people across world, says British party official Xinhua) 14:30, May 31, 2021 BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- China's achievements in ending absolute poverty and defeating COVID-19 under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) are "a beacon" for the people of the world, a senior official of the Communist Party of Britain (CPB) has said. "The achievements of the Communist Party of China are not just for the people of China. They are as a beacon for people across the world," CPB International Secretary John Foster told Xinhua in a recent interview via video link. Foster said China's accomplishments were striking during his several visits to the country in recent years, and he was particularly "amazed at many of the technological achievements in industries, from artificial intelligence to aeronautics to space." But the most important achievement is on the ground, Foster said, recalling "the villages and towns" he has visited in China where he saw how people's living standards had been improved. Foster said he was particularly impressed by how the goals outlined by the CPC during his visits have all been achieved, one after the other. "The goal that was set for the previous year (2020) was the elimination of absolute poverty," and it has been achieved in the context of COVID-19, he said. Foster stressed that China's ability to so effectively bring the pandemic under control is a testament to the country's governing system and the role of the CPC. "Because as we understand it, the ability of China to overcome the pandemic depends very much on the strength of the links between the Communist Party as a mass party organized in villages and towns with the mass of the people," the senior official noted. The CPC leads China "from a perspective of developing socialism in its own country and mutually beneficial relationships with other countries," Foster added. He said China's dedication to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind is equally important, and some Western countries' antagonism towards China is "unhelpful and very dangerous." Foster said he believes that for world peace and development, the "Beijing Initiative" adopted in 2017 at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting is of great importance. "We call on political parties around the world to join us in building world peace, contributing to global development and safeguarding the international order," the initiative said. The initiative calls for establishing mutually beneficial relationships built upon common interests and understanding while respecting differences, according to Foster. During the meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed that political parties from different countries should explore the building of a new type of party-to-party relations that seeks to expand common ground while reserving differences and enhances mutual respect and mutual learning. "It was innovative in so far as it brought together parties from across the world with differing political perspectives, not communist parties or socialist parties alone, but a whole range of parties," Foster said. He believes that Xi's proposal "could bind countries together and develop a level of mutual understanding that has not previously existed." (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) Close The problem with most existing chemical pesticides is that they contain harmful chemicals, both to human health and the environment - and a new formula opens up possibilities for safer and greener alternatives. A new study looks at organic byproducts from beer production as well as manure generated by farmlands as a potential strategy in disinfesting soils, while also preserving healthy soil with microorganisms, and eventually increase crop yields. This marks the latest attempt to both reduce waste from agricultural industries and reduce the use of harmful chemicals in pesticides. Researchers present their findings in the report "Biodisinfestation With Agricultural Byproducts Developed Long-Term Suppressive Soils Against Meloidogyne incognita in Lettuce Crop" published in the latest issue of Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. ALSO READ: Pesticides Are The Reason Bees Are Not Getting Adequate Sleep Pesticides from Agricultural Byproducts The study, led by researchers from the Neiker Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development in Spain, used rapeseed cake and beer bagasse or spent beer grains, mixed together with fresh cow manure as potential organic biodisinfestation treatment materials. In a news feature from Frontiers, lead author Maite Gandariasbeitia explains the choice of rapeseed cake and beer bagasse as their potential organic treatments because both materials have shown positive results based on previous studies. "Their high nitrogen content promotes the activity of beneficial microorganisms in the soil, which helps to break down organic matter like manure and kill off nematodes and other parasites which damage crops," Gandariasbeitia explains in the Frontiers feature. The lead author also explains how nematodes (commonly known as roundworms) have adverse effects on crop yields, especially since root-knot nematodes are common soil parasites. According to the American Phytopathological Society, these worms can penetrate the plant's root tissues, laying their eggs there. This in turn causes galls, or knot-like swellings on the crop root, hence their name. These roundworms hinder the plant's development and its ability to efficiently absorb nutrients in plants. In their study, researchers mixed beer bagasse and rapeseed cake into the soil with fresh cow manure as a potential treatment strategy in disinfesting the soil and culling nematode populations. After the first batch of crops after treatment, researchers found that there was a significant reduction in the formation of galls or swellings in the plant roots. Scaling up the Study for Practical Applications Crop plots were also able to generate increased yields of around 15 percent compared to the untreated control plots after a monitoring period of one year. Furthermore, the organic matter treatment improved populations for beneficial microorganisms in these plots, evidenced by the improved soil respiration rate. Through these studies, researchers effectively demonstrated that agricultural byproducts - rapeseed cake and beer bagasse in this case - are effective treatments for the destructive root-knot roundworms as well as with other soil parasites. This leads to higher crop yields and promotes sustainable systems through the use of agricultural byproducts that would otherwise be discarded by the agricultural industry. However, Gandariasbeitas notes that further research is still needed in order to explore other potential organic treatments that could yield similar results. "There are still many questions to answer so that we can gain a better understanding of what happens in the soil during and after these biodisinfestation treatments," the researcher adds. RELATED ARTICLE: Beer Company Creates Edible 6-Pack Rings to Feed Marine Life Check out more news and information on Pesticides in Science Times. I think some people are getting a bit too emotional because of Covid-19 now that they are lashing out at simply anything and everything. Blame the gover... 1 week ago A manhunt continued into Memorial Day for three masked suspects who opened fire early Sunday morning outside a Miami banquet hall, killing two men and wounding 21 others, in a shooting authorities said had spread terror and grief through their communities. That anguish was reinforced Monday by a grieving father who interrupted a news conference just as the Miami-Dade Police Department's director, Alfredo Freddy Ramirez III, was decrying the weekend's gun violence and appealing for the community's help in tracking down the shooters. You killed my kid with no reason, the distraught man yelled out as he was escorted away from cameras. Police would later confirm that the man, Clayton Dillard, is the father of one of two 26-year-old men who were gunned down outside the banquet hall that was hosting a rap concert. That is the pain that you see. That is the pain that affects our community right there before you, Ramirez said. On Monday, police released a snippet from surveillance video that showed a white SUV driving into an alley at the strip mall housing the El Mula Banquet Hall in northwest Miami-Dade, near Hialeah. The video shows three people getting out of the vehicle, one gripping a handgun, while the other two carried what police described as assault-style rifles. That's when the gunmen sprayed bullets indiscriminately into the crowd, even though police said the assailants had specific targets in mind. Ramirez told the Miami Herald that the shooters waited between 20 and 40 minutes before attacking shortly after midnight. Police said some in the crowd returned fire. The video shows the three men returning moments later and driving off into the darkness. In all, 23 people were shot. In addition to the two fatalities, three others were in the hospital in critical condition. Because of privacy laws, police were not releasing the names of any of the victims. The SUV used in the shooting was later found Monday submerged in a canal about 8 miles (13 kilometers) east of the banquet hall. Police said the vehicle was reported stolen two weeks ago. Sundays shooting came a little more than a day after a drive-by shooting claimed the life of one person outside another venue about 13 miles (about 21 kilometers) away in the Wynwood area. Six others were injured. Some witnesses likened the scene to a war zone after a barrage of dozens of bullets sent people scurrying in the night. This is a weekend when we should be out remembering, enjoying time with loved ones, and instead were here mourning, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said at Monday's press conference. These despicable shootings in Northwest Miami-Dade and in Wynwood are shameful acts of violence that have left innocent people dead and injured, Cava said. Police said the two shootings were unrelated. Police said Sunday's shooting appeared to stem from rivalries between two groups, but declined to refer to those groups as gangs." Businessman and TV personality Marcus Lemonis, star of The Profit, pledged $100,000 toward a reward fund to help authorities capture the suspects. ___ Calvan reported from Tallahassee, Fla. PARIS (AP) French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday suggested France will pull troops from Mali if the countrys institutional instability persists and inhibits the fight against Islamic extremists. Macron told a news conference that our priority in Mali is the fight against terrorism and the presence of our forces on the ground is not enough in this fight. It also requires the strengthening of stable and legitimate institutions. France has more than 5,000 troops in Africas Sahel region. Macron's comments come a day after West African leaders suspended Mali from their regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, over what they said amounted to a coup last week. ECOWAS called for a new civilian prime minister to be nominated immediately, a new inclusive government to be formed and the 18-month transition of power leading to February 2022 elections to be carried out, saying a monitoring mechanism will be put in place to assure this. Neither France nor its partners are committed to getting involved (in Mali) if the ECOWAS demands are not respected, Macron said. Germany, which has several hundred soldiers taking part in the U.N. stabilization and European Union training missions in Mali, sees the need to continue those deployments, Chancellor Angela Merkel said in the joint news conference with Macron via videoconference. She added, however, that there were red lines including the need to hold elections and for there to be no contact with Islamist forces, including by Malis current president. She and Macron had agreed to have a very, very close exchange about developments in Mali and if there is a situation (...) in which we see red lines are crossed, then we will coordinate our actions closely. A power vacuum amid a 2012 coup detat unleashed years of chaos in Mali and allowed Islamic extremists to seize control of northern towns. Ultimately, a French-led military operation ousted the jihadis from strongholds in 2013, but they have regrouped and since expanded their reach. The workers union at the Franco-Japanese joint venture plant Renault Nissan Automotive India Private Ltd has decided not to report for duty on Monday till Covid-19 safety measures are put in place. In a statement issued here, Renault Nissan India Thozhilalar Sangam (RNITS) said, its Executive Committee considered the apprehension of workers about their safety and not wanting to risk their lives. According to the Union, the company management was not inclined to reduce production by cutting down the footfalls to maintain the social distance inside the plant. The Union said, social distance is not maintained in the car plant's body shop conveyor line. That apart, the management did not give the Union any acceptance to their demand of rehabilitation measures for the family members of the workers who died due to the Covid-19 and with respect to the medical treatment for affected workers. "So far 200 workers alone have been vaccinated with the 1st dose of the vaccine and they also have not developed immunity. The union's request for operating line 1 in 3 shifts and line 2 in 2 shifts so as to ensure social distancing through reduced footfall, has not been accepted by the management," RNITS has written to the company management. Last week, the RNITS had declared an indefinite boycott of work from May 26 onwards till Covid-19 safety measures are implemented in the factory. "Five workers have died and about 850 have been infected with the coronavirus at Renault Nissan Automotive since last year," K. Balaji Krishnan, President RITS had earlier told IANS. Later Renault Nissan Automotive decided to close down the plant for five days -- May 26 to May 30- and restart production on May 31. BRUSSELS (AP) The NATO military alliance is restricting access to its headquarters for a group of Belarus officials in the wake of Minsks decision to divert a Ryanair passenger plane to arrest a dissident journalist earlier this month. We have decided to restrict the access of Belarusian personnel to the NATO headquarters based on our assessment of security measures at the headquarters, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters Monday. LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) A large number of students were abducted Sunday and one person was killed at a school in Nigerias north central Niger State, a police spokesman said. Nigerian media, including the independent Channels TV, said about 200 students were abducted at the Salihu Tanko Islamic School in Tegina in the local government area of Rafi. Wasiu Abiodun, the Niger state police spokesman, confirmed the incident, though without giving a number for those abducted. He said the abduction was carried out by armed bandits on board motorcycles in their numbers. The gunmen fired indiscriminately and abducted a yet to be ascertained number of children, he said, adding that the gunmen shot one person dead in the process. All tactical teams have been mobilized to rescue the victims and the police will ensure that the children are rescued unhurt, he said. The incident is the latest in a series of mass abductions in Nigerian schools by armed gangs who collect money for ransom. Armed groups have carried out raids on schools in northern Nigeria, kidnapping hundreds of students since December. The worst incident this year occurred at the Government Girls Secondary School Jangebe in February, when 279 girls were abducted and later released. Many schools have been forced to close due to the frequent incidents. On Saturday, 14 university students and staff who had been abducted from Greenfield University in Kaduna state on April 20 were released after spending more than a month in captivity. JERUSALEM (AP) U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz on Monday accused President Joe Biden of being soft on Israel's foes and inviting further violence during a deadly 11-day war that left Israelis rattled and turned parts of the Gaza Strip to rubble. One of four prominent Republicans in Israel in the conflict's aftermath, Cruz told The Associated Press in an interview that the Democratic president's policies, including a call for Israel to wind down the war, had emboldened Hamas' militant rulers. He said the U.S. owes Palestinians no humanitarian aid as long as there's a danger of that money flowing to Hamas. The longer Joe Biden shows weakness to Hamas or Hezbollah or Iran, the more youre going to see terrorist attacks escalating, Cruz said after a day of touring Israels Iron Dome rocket-defense system and and viewing damage in Ashkelon. Cruz also refused to rule out another run for president in 2024, keeping alive the prospect of a new Republican brawl for the party's presidential nomination and perhaps a rematch with former President Donald Trump. The fighting erupted May 10 when Hamas launched a barrage of rockets at Jerusalem after weeks of protests and clashes over Israels policing of a flashpoint holy site. Before the cease-fire took effect May 21, Hamas had fired over 4,000 rockets toward Israeli cities, while Israeli warplanes struck some 1,000 targets in Gaza. More than 250 people were killed, the vast majority of them Palestinians living in the seaside enclave ruled by Hamas. Israel blames Hamas for the heavy civilian casualties because Hamas launches attacks from residential areas. Throughout the fighting, Biden and many other world leaders maintained that Israel has a right to defend itself even as concern and protests in places like Turkey, Pakistan and Britain mounted over the crippling use of force leveled at Gaza. Cruz's remarks were a stark departure from a once-customary practice of refraining from talking domestic politics while overseas, particularly about the sitting U.S. commander in chief. At least two of the four American Republicans visiting Israel this week have apparent presidential ambitions and all are in hot pursuit of support from pro-Israel evangelical voters that form a core part of the GOP's base. Besides Cruz, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who also served as Trump's CIA director, tweeted Sunday that he was in Tel Aviv attending the retirement party of Mossad chief Yossi Cohen. Great to be with good friends in Tel Aviv! Pompeo tweeted. Sen. Lindsay Graham was also touring damage caused by rocket fire and meeting with Israeli leaders. No one has done more for Israel than you, Sen. Lindsey Graham, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday. Graham, standing next to him, held up a sign that said, More for Israel. In a tweet later, he explained, to help protect and defend from Hamas rocket attacks. On Tuesday, Graham will tour rocket damage in Israel, he said in a press release. Netanyahu enjoyed warm relations with Trump, alienating many segments of the Democratic Party. His relations with Biden have been cordial, but cooler. Cruz and Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., toured the rubble in Ashkelon where a Hamas-fired rocket hit an apartment and killed the caregiver of an older woman. Cruz tweeted photos. Hagerty, who was Trump's ambassador to Japan, also criticized the various steps taken by Biden to reverse Trump's policies. Biden, for instance, has pledged some $360 million in aid to the Palestinians, including money to help repair war damage in Gaza. Trump cut off nearly all U.S. aid to the Palestinians. Any monies that go to the Gaza Strip that are quote, intended for infrastructure, can be easily diverted by Hamas, Hagerty, seated next to Cruz, said. Where Hagerty was diplomatic, Cruz was blunt. Appeasing terrorists doesn't produce peace," he said of Biden. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Asked whether he'd rule out running for president, Cruz demurred, replying that the 2016 campaign was the most fun I've ever had in my life." ALERT Wildfire Network Firefighters on Monday battled and contained a wildfire that ignited in the Santa Cruz Mountains, sending clouds of smoke rising from near China Grade Road in the footprint of last years devastating CZU Lightning Complex fires. The blaze, named the Grade Fire, by late morning Monday had consumed about 5 acres and was spreading slowly, according Cal Fire spokeswoman Cecile Juliette. Smoke was reported in the area at about 9:30 a.m., and two crews and a water tender had been sent to the area. The fire was located near China Grade Road and Butano Truck Road, northwest of Boulder Creek, Juliette said. Scientists are increasingly confident that vaccines provide long-lasting protection against the coronavirus and that boosters will not be necessary for at least a year, perhaps much longer. The vaccines are holding up well against all coronavirus variants so far. That means boosters probably wont be needed anytime soon to protect against variants. Even more promising, it suggests that unlike influenza, the coronavirus may not require seasonal shots to keep up with mutations. Theres also growing evidence that the immune system retains a long memory for fighting off the virus after infection or vaccination. People who received the first shots in clinical trials more than a year ago are still showing signs of strong protection. Other signals of long-term effectiveness, such as the presence of certain types of immune cells found in the bone marrow, are promising as well. Even so, many vaccine experts say, theres still a lot of uncertainty about the durability of coronavirus vaccines. But losing vaccine protection is probably something most people wont have to worry about for quite some time. I expect we will have to be revaccinated eventually, but I dont think its going to be in a year-or-two time frame, said Dr. Joel Ernst, an infectious disease expert at UCSF. Obviously we dont have a long period of observation, because we havent had the vaccines that long. But so far Im reassured that the vaccine-induced immunity seems to be pretty durable. When the first vaccines were approved in the U.S. last fall, scientists and public health officials were astounded by how powerfully protective they were. The first two vaccines, made by Pfizer and Moderna, were more than 90% effective at preventing mild illness in Phase III clinical trials, and those results have held up in the real world. But the studies were only a few months old when the vaccines were approved, so there was no way to know how long the protection would last. And in December and January, new variants of the virus began to emerge that seemed to be at least somewhat resistant to the vaccines. That raised further concerns that the vaccines would need to be boosted, possibly as early as this fall. Neither of those concerns has turned into a problem, though. The Phase III trial participants still seem to be well-protected, now nearly a year from their first shots. Metrics to measure immunity have hardly waned over time, infectious disease experts say, and more important, those early participants havent been getting sick at rates that would suggest vaccines are failing. A few variants do indeed lower the effectiveness of the vaccines. But the vaccines are so strong that it doesnt matter they still work just fine. So far all the variants are susceptible to vaccine-induced immune responses. Even though some are less susceptible, theyre still within the range we expect for very good protection, said Dr. Catherine Blish, a Stanford infectious disease expert. It is possible that new variants would emerge that would be worse, in which case that would accelerate the booster schedule. But I think at this point, we can all feel comfortable that we have at least a year and perhaps longer before we have to worry. Which is great, she added. Id love to be able to get through this fall and winter knowing that we are going in with pretty good protection. There are several markers scientists consider for vaccine durability. The one most frequently referred to for coronavirus vaccines is antibody protection the amount and type of neutralizing antibodies, the proteins that kill the virus before it can cause infection, that are produced by the immune system in response to vaccination. Antibodies are a useful marker of vaccine strength partly because theyre easy to detect and analyze from blood samples. Studies have found that the coronavirus vaccines produce an impressive antibody response that drops sharply soon after vaccination, then holds steady over time. Thats to be expected it wouldnt be efficient, or even safe, for the blood to retain high doses of antibodies. Youd have to worry about clogging. Wed be taking up a lot of space if everything youve encountered was floating in your blood, said Dr. Jay Levy, a UCSF infectious disease expert and longtime HIV researcher. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle But vaccines dont only trigger antibody production. They also prompt the body to form types of immune cells that can fight off infection themselves or quickly manufacture more antibodies if a person comes into contact with a virus again. Those cells tend to lodge quietly in the bone marrow and the lymph nodes, making them harder for scientists to study to get a more complete picture of the immune response from vaccines. Those studies are starting to come out, though. One small study, results of which were published last week in Nature, found protective levels of those memory cells in the bone marrow of most participants many months after vaccination. Another hopeful sign of long-lasting immunity is the presence of similar memory cells from people exposed to other viruses years or even decades after infection or vaccination. People who were infected with the coronavirus that caused the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome pandemic, known as SARS, still had those memory cells nearly 20 years later, according to one study. Scientists even found evidence of lingering immune response to the 1918 influenza in survivors nearly a century later. But many infectious disease experts are wary of comparing this coronavirus to immune durability with other viruses even other coronaviruses. Infection with the coronavirus that causes SARS may confer lasting protection, but other coronaviruses that cause only mild symptoms associated with the common cold are able to reinfect people over and over again. Its a little dangerous to make those analogies, said Dr. Robert Siegel, a Stanford virologist. He agrees, though, that it appears the vaccines will prove effective for at least a year or two long enough that people who are vaccinated can take a breather from the pandemic before worrying about when they might be vulnerable again. Siegel said boosters may end up being targeted to certain groups rather than as a blanket approach. People who are immune-compromised and didnt have a strong reaction to initial vaccination may need another shot sooner than others, for example. Or public health officials may decide that people who got the somewhat less effective one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine should get a booster before anyone else. But its also important to consider the global landscape, Siegel said. With such powerful vaccines widely available in the U.S. and already more than half the population at least partially vaccinated, it might not be ethical to deliver boosters until other parts of the world have started to catch up. Maybe if vaccines were unlimited, people would want a booster, Siegel said. But right now, immunity is good enough that from an ethical standpoint, we should be sending vaccines to people who dont have them. Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday As the Valley Transportation Authority mourns the nine employees shot to death last week by one of their own, the transit agency announced Sunday that its light-rail service is suspended until further notice. VTA officials announced that bus bridges would run along all light-rail routes, with a less frequent Sunday service schedule through Memorial Day. Thank you for your patience while we navigate this unprecedented difficult time, the agency, which operates in Santa Clara County, said in a tweet Sunday. In 2019, pre-pandemic, the VTA light-rail system carried 8.3 million riders. The agency said customers can call 408-321-2300 for alternative trip plans or email customer.service@vta.org. As investigators continue the search for clues into what motivated Wednesdays mass shooting and how it could have occurred, family and friends have been memorializing the transit workers who fell in the fusillade of bullets, still trying to comprehend the loss of loved ones who went to work one day and never came home. Authorities say Samuel James Cassidy, described by investigators as a disgruntled employee, drove to his workplace at the San Jose VTA light-rail yard Wednesday and opened fire. Police said the gunman carried an arsenal of three semiautomatic handguns and 32 high-capacity magazines of ammunition as he proceeded to launch 10 minutes of mayhem. The bullets killed nine of his co-workers before he fatally shot himself, authorities said. The last act of one of the victims, Paul Delacruz Megia, 42, may have been trying to save other co-workers. A native of the Philippines, he was remembered Friday evening as a loving father of three children and a stepson who craved adventure. Several relatives and friends gathered outside Mountain House Branch Library in San Joaquin County, where Megia and his family lived since 2008, and shared memories of his infectious smile and laugh, easygoing nature, and weekends spent exploring the outdoors. VTA employees, many wearing white T-shirts with the faces of their deceased co-workers, wiped tears from their eyes. One, Cecilia Crowder, sobbed as she described the morning of the shooting. Megia, an assistant superintendent at the VTA Light Rail Division, had just arrived for work, Crowder said. He told her to go in his office and lock the metal door, saying, Please dont let anybody in, Crowder recalled. Within a few minutes, she said, she heard gunshots. Im really sorry. Paul saved me, she said through tears. Im very blessed for him. Matthias Gafni is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: matthias.gafni@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mgafni Just in time for Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer, temperatures as high as the 90s and 100s are expected to make people sweat and seek shelter or shade in the inland Bay Area. At the coast and closer to the bay, however, the weather will be perfect for barbecues and trips to the beach with temperatures ranging from the 60s at the coast to the 70s and 80s around most of the bay. Todays a great day to be on the coast or close to the bay, said Gerry Diaz, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. But it wont be so comfortable inland, especially east of the Oakland hills and in the North Bay. Its expected to reach 101 degrees in Concord, 104 in Vacaville, 95 in Napa and 99 in Livermore. The weather service has issued a heat advisory beginning at noon Monday and continuing until 9 p.m. Further inland in the Central Valley, where temperatures could near 110, a severe weather warning has been issued and will continue until Tuesday evening. To cope with the heat, people are advised to drink lots of water, limit outdoor activities, seek shade or air conditioned areas and avoid leaving pets or children in cars. Those headed to the beaches are advised to beware of rip currents and cold water temperatures. While the skies should be sunny across the Bay Area, moisture from the Pacific will cool the coast and reach around the bayshore to keep temperatures from getting too hot, Diaz said. But people wont have to go far to see a difference. In San Francisco, temperatures are expected to be in the low to mid-60s at Ocean Beach to the mid- to upper 70s in downtown San Francisco. In the East Bay, highs are expected to be in the mid- to upper 70s in Berkeley and Oakland but near or over 100 in Concord and Livermore. Just going a few miles will make the difference between the 70s and the 90s, Diaz said. The holiday weekend heat wave is expected to dissipate on Tuesday as more marine moisture creeps inland. The good news for the Bay Area is that the sea breezes will gradually come back, Diaz said, with temperatures expected to dip by about 10 degrees in the hottest areas on Tuesday. Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan Retired judge and politician Sen. Quentin Kopp is rarely stuck for words, but he stood speechless while viewing a banner titled Fortress San Francisco at the War Memorial Veterans Building. At 92, I thought I knew everything, he finally said. But I didnt know there were 120 military bases in the Bay Area during World War II. True, it was not Kopps war. The former state senator and onetime member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors served as an Air Force captain in the Korean War. But not that many World War II veterans are left, and educating veterans of subsequent wars, along with the general public, is the mission of The End of World War II and the Birth of the United Nations: A Hope for Peace. The project uses eight large square banners, bearing text and illustrations, to tell a history of the war and its aftermath. The canvas banners hang on the walls in the War Memorial Veterans Building lobby. The project, sponsored by the San Francisco Performing Arts Foundation, details the role played by the greater Bay Area, much of it unfamiliar to successor generations who now live around the region: the local construction of war supply ships; the embarkation of troops at Fort Mason; the start of the United Nations. San Francisco was the center of gravity for the United States during the War in the Pacific, said Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Mike Myatt, 80, whose war was Vietnam, where he earned the silver star for valor in combat. The United Nations Charter was signed right here in this building. That symbolic moment in the Herbst Theatre happened June 26, 1945. The opening of the banner exhibit initially was intended for its 75th anniversary. A grand opening featuring civic and military pomp had been planned for Memorial Day 2020, with the Veterans Building as the terminus point for the parade. But that was before COVID-19 locked down the entire San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center. It has now been closed for two Memorial Days. Loath to wait another year, the exhibit organizers held a small reception Friday afternoon to unveil the banners beneath the lobbys lofty ceiling. There was no band. There was no color guard, and there was no pomp. Instead, there were 20 people who had spent 17 months planning this. They stood in a circle wearing masks, the veterans accessorizing the look with their American Legion caps. The lone World War II veteran on the committee, Wally Levin, could not attend and was represented by his son. Hung between the huge archways were the eight banners, each telling a specific story, including America Enters the War, Women and Minorities and Fear Undermines Liberty, in chronological order as viewers move around the room. Even though it is a year late, people can still take the opportunity to learn about San Francisco in support of the Pacific War, Myatt said. This is for the youth in San Francisco today who have no idea about the Bay Areas involvement in World War II. Three young people stood in the circle as the general made his remarks. They were Regina Padron, 24, from El Paso, Texas; Meagan Floris, 28, from Vancouver, British Columbia; and Julia Fernandez, 22, from the Philippines. They were graphic arts students at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, which took on design of the banners as a class project. That was in February 2020, before everybody got sent home when school went virtual. Working from home, the students created a logo of a peace dove with the words Hope for peace, end of World War II, birth of the United Nations. Also in the logo are the years 1945-2020, which perhaps should be stretched in both directions: Events depicted on the banners go back to 1941, and the project blew right through 2020 and into 2021, with Padron, Floris and Fernandez continuing on the banners for two semesters after the 2020 school year ended. Even when COVID hit and we were in different time zones and different countries, we persevered to bring the exhibit to life, said Padron, who worked on it while waiting out the virus in Mexico. The text supplied by the organizers was just a start. Each of the eight banners took a deep dive into musty old primary sources, like newspapers and magazines. The images had to be traced back to the Library of Congress and the National Archive. It was three semesters of work, plus summer on their own time. When the three students arrived to see the fruition of their project, it had already been a big day: graduation day for Padron and Floris. To see those banners on the wall was surreal, said Fernandez, who rode the train up from her parents house in Gilroy. With graphic design, you are always working on a computer screen, so to see them come to life reminds me of the power and impact that design can truly bring into the world. Fernandez, who grew up in Manila, Indonesia and China, has a semester to go. Shes planning to enroll in U.S. history as an elective. Before working on the project, she had known the United Nations was important but did not know how or where it started. As an international student, I wasnt made to study American history, she said. I particularly enjoyed learning about San Francisco and its significance in the war. It made me proud that I am living in the place where all of these things happened. The banners are permanent, though they will eventually move to a corridor upstairs. First to view the exhibit will be concertgoers to see the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra at Herbst Theatre on June 11. They will have plenty to keep them occupied before the show and during intermission. If I discovered one fact I didnt know, said Kopp, they will discover five or six. Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@samwhitingsf Actress Juhi Chawla has filed a suit against the implementation of 5G in India. She says that while she is not against technology and uses it as well, she feels that its important to address the problems it causes to environment. The first hearing was held on Monday. "We are not against the implementation of technological advancements. On the contrary, we enjoy using the latest products that the world of technology has to offer, including in the field of wireless communications. However, whilst using the latter kind of devices, we are in a constant dilemma, because after doing our own research and studies regarding the RF radiation from wire-free gadgets and network cell towers, we have sufficient reason to believe that the radiation is extremely harmful and injurious to the health and safety of the people," she says. The actress' argument revolves around the belief that if the telecommunications industry's plans for 5G come to fruition, no person, no animal, no bird, no insect and no plant on Earth will be able to avoid exposure, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to levels of RF radiation that are 10x to 100x times greater than what exists today. These 5G plans threaten to provoke serious, irreversible effects on humans and permanent damage to all of the Earth's ecosystems. An official statement shared by Juhi's spokesperson reads: "The present suit is being instituted in order to seek a direction from this Hon'ble court to the arrayed Defendants, to certify to us and, therefore, to the public at large, that 5G technology is safe to humankind, man, woman, adult, child, infant, animals and every type of organisms, to flora, to fauna, and in support thereof, to produce their respective studies regarding RF radiation through mobile cell towers, and if not already conducted, to also conduct an efficient research, and without participation of private interest, and to subsequently furnish the report and declare whether or not the implementation of 5G in India would be safe, keeping un regards the health and safety of the present and future citizenry on India, including little children and infants, as well as infants of generations to come." The California Supreme Court, which rarely overturns death penalty verdicts these days, takes up an issue Wednesday that could lead to reversals of hundreds of the states pending death sentences and perhaps all 704 of them. In an appeal by a Los Angeles man sentenced to death for two gang-related murders in 2004, the justices have taken the rare step of asking both sides, and other interested parties, to file arguments on a question raised by the defense: Whether procedures in California capital cases have allowed prosecutors to sidestep state laws requiring jurors to decide, by a unanimous vote, that the evidence supports a death sentence. In response, Gov. Gavin Newsom, who declared a moratorium on executions after taking office in 2019, became the first California chief executive to file arguments challenging the states application of the death penalty. Several district attorneys, including those in San Francisco and Los Angeles, have filed similar briefs, opposing the views of most county prosecutors. Law professors and activists on both sides of the issue have also weighed in. The ruling, due within 90 days, could shape the future of capital punishment in California, which narrowly survived repeal efforts at the ballot box in 2012 and 2016. The decision could have devastating effects on hundreds of hard-won judgments for horrible crimes, said a court filing by Kent Scheidegger, legal director of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, which supports the death penalty, and author of a voter-approved 2016 ballot initiative aimed at speeding up executions. Newsoms filing, prepared by two UC Berkeley law professors, said a decision tightening the rules for jury deliberations in death penalty cases will reduce racial discrimination and arbitrariness in capital sentencing. California, which has the nations largest Death Row, has not executed anyone since 2006, when a federal judge found that the states lethal injection procedures were so flawed that they posed an undue risk of a prolonged and torturous death. The court will hear an appeal by Donte McDaniel, who was 24 when he and a companion, Kai Harris, entered a Los Angeles apartment in April 2004 to demand money for a gang-related drug sale, according to prosecutors. Harris fatally shot two people, and McDaniel shot and wounded two others. Both were convicted of two murders and sentenced to death in 2009. Harris separate appeal is pending. The seven-member court includes five justices appointed by opponents of the death penalty four by Gov. Jerry Brown and a fifth, Martin Jenkins, by Newsom. But the court seldom finds flaws in death verdicts: Since the start of 2020, it has upheld 22 of the 25 death sentences it has considered, all but two of them unanimously. That made it even more striking when the court asked opposing attorneys last summer to file a new round of arguments in response to an issue raised by McDaniels public defenders. It involves how a jury that has convicted a defendant of a capital charge such as murder during a robbery, rape or kidnapping, murder of a police officer or multiple murders decides whether to impose a death sentence. Under state laws passed in 1977 and 1978, jurors must decide whether the crime involved aggravating factors for example, that the murder was gang-related, had multiple victims, was motivated by the victims race, religion or nationality or was particularly heinous, atrocious or cruel, or that the killer had committed other murders. Then they must weigh those against any factors in the defendants favor, like mental problems and outside pressures, and decide whether the verdict should be death or life without parole. But although the final verdict must be unanimous, jurors need not agree on the reasons. The court will consider whether jurors instead should have to find, unanimously, that the crime involved specific aggravating factors, and, separately, that a death sentence was justified. Both decisions would have to be beyond a reasonable doubt, the standard that currently applies to criminal convictions but not to sentencing decisions. McDaniel and the groups of defense attorneys and law professors who support him contend the California Constitution and the states fundamental criminal law, first passed in 1872, both entitle defendants to verdicts based on a jurys determination of the facts unanimous and beyond a reasonable doubt and that the death penalty rules violate that standard. For the last 30 or 40 years, weve been saying (in trial procedures and court rulings) that the death penalty is a moral issue, not subject to (proof) beyond a reasonable doubt, Rory Little, a law professor at UC Hastings in San Francisco and co-author of a pro-defense court filing, said in an interview. Every now and then, a court discovers that its been wrong. In a death penalty system characterized by arbitrariness and discrimination, the court should require the highest possible procedural protections before a jury imposes a death sentence, said a court filing by six district attorneys, including Chesa Boudin of San Francisco and George Gascon of Los Angeles. If the court finds the current jury procedures invalid, it would decide whether those flaws could have affected McDaniels death verdict. If so, he would probably be re-sentenced to life without parole, since Gascon, unlike his predecessors in the nations most populous county, will not seek the death penalty. The bigger question is how broadly such a ruling would apply. It would presumably affect other condemned prisoners whose appeals have not yet been argued before the court about 285, according to the state attorney generals office. Their murder convictions would remain intact, but they would be entitled to new penalty trials. California also has nearly 420 inmates whose death sentences have been upheld by the state Supreme Court and who have filed further appeals in federal court, though 31 of them have been turned down by the U.S. courts as well. All were sentenced under the same jury procedures challenged in McDaniels case and could argue for new penalty trials. But courts are sometimes unwilling to apply new rulings retroactively to past cases, even if they now consider the proceedings unfair, said Robert Weisberg, a Stanford law professor and co-director of the schools Criminal Justice Center. He cited the U.S. Supreme Courts April 2020 ruling that found two states, Louisiana and Oregon, violated defendants constitutional rights by allowing convictions by jury verdicts of 11-1 or 10-2, a system that the court described as a remnant of white supremacy. Two weeks ago, the court ruled that last years decision did not apply to those whose cases had already become final by April 2020, leaving thousands of defendants with convictions by non-unanimous juries. Although the California court is not required to follow the high courts reasoning, Weisberg said, the state court may agree that so-called procedural decisions, changing the rules for fair trials in criminal cases, cannot be used to challenge convictions obtained under the former rules. Even a far-reaching pro-defense ruling in McDonalds case would not empty the states Death Row. A handful of district attorneys, including Boudin, Gascon, Jeff Rosen of Santa Clara County and Tori Verber Salazar of San Joaquin County, oppose the death penalty, but most county prosecutors are willing to seek death sentences. And penalty retrials in capital cases often yield the same verdict as the original trials. I think this will change the result in cases where jurors harbor a reasonable doubt about the penalty, said UC Hastings Little. Not in the worst cases. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko Regarding GOP poised to block probe of attack (Nation, May 28): Its clear that the Republican leadership doesnt want the truth to come out about the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol. They cant even keep their farcical claims straight. Some GOP senators say the protest was non-threatening, like a tourist visit. But five people died. And tourists dont bring bats, poles, bear spray and body armor. Other Republicans say the rioters were antifa and Black Lives Matter protesters posing as MAGAs. But the FBI and even the insurrectionists themselves shoot down that phony excuse. As for the Republican leaders, both House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell initially condemned the insurrection and placed the blame squarely on former President Donald Trump for inciting the violence. Now they shamelessly follow the dictates of the defeated, disgraced, twice-impeached lying loser in Mar-a-Lago. It would be nice to know the truth, and whether any GOP congressmen were involved. But truth has been in short supply on the Republican side of the aisle since November 2016. Gary Cavalli, Danville Outsource the beef Regarding The thirstiest crops (Letters, May 27): Reading that letter about cattle feed crops in our state using half of our total water supply each year that it takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef it occurred to me that it might be a good idea to outsource our beef production to states like Missouri and others in the area who get too much rain. Raising cattle feed there might even help use up some of their excess supply of water and maybe reduce flooding. Chad Krimmel, San Francisco Guns arent just tools Regarding Killers arsenal apparently legal under state law (May 28): As an avid cyclist and amateur woodworker, I have a garage literally filled with tools of all kinds. That being said, I was taken aback by the comments of online magazine 2A News publisher Craig DeLuz after the recent Valley Transit Authority workplace massacre in my hometown of San Jose. DeLuz states, somewhat quaintly, that, We need to talk about root causes as opposed to going after the tools that people use. It doesnt work. In a country that has 4% of the worlds population, 42% of its firearms, and now counts 232 mass shootings, to characterize firearms as mere, tools is both disingenuous and more gun-advocate obfuscation. In May 2019, 50 New Zealanders were murdered in Christchurch, followed six days later by the country banning virtually all automatic and semiautomatic firearms, followed by the citizens voluntary surrender of more than 10,000 guns, followed by no more mass shootings. When the tools in my garage are implicated in the next uniquely American mass casualty event, I will give consideration to DeLuz and the National Rifle Associations meaningless, and deliberately distracting, sound bites. Barry Goldman-Hall, San Jose Wrong move by Texas With the latest mass shooting in San Jose that left 10 people dead, including the gunman, gun control advocates are clamoring for tighter restrictions for gun ownership. In Texas, they have chosen another direction. There lawmakers are in the process of removing one of its last major gun restrictions. They have approved laws allowing people to carry handguns without a license and the background check and training that go with it. The Republican-dominated Legislature approved the measure, sending it to Gov. Greg Abbott, who has said he will sign it. What part of mass shootings, senseless killings and needless loss of life do they fail to understand in Texas? When Edward Martell went to court in 2005 to plead guilty to selling and manufacturing cracks, he thought his life was over. However, Bruce Morrow, a Michigan judge decided to give him a second chance. Martell, then 27, had had several run-ins with the law until he was arrested in a counternarcotics operation. When he pleaded guilty to selling and manufacturing crack, he knew he could face 20 years in jail. Judge Morrow saw young Martell and understood the circumstances that had led the young man to life in crime. So he gave him a three-year probation sentence and a challenge: to return to that same court with an achievement. Last week, according to The Washington Post , Edward returned to the same courthouse as Bruce Morrow, but this time to fulfill his promise: to be sworn in as a lawyer in the same courtroom where he pleaded guilty. "It was kind of a joke, but [Edward] understood that I believed he could be whatever he wanted," Judge Morrow told The Washington Post . After his first meeting with the magistrate, Edward earned a high school degree and then a scholarship to study law. He always kept in touch with the judge who had inspired him. Martell underwent a strict background check in order to join the Michigan Bar Association, but the board determined that his past should not determine his future. That's how Martell, now 43, returned to court to become a lawyer. That is the power of mentoring. Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved We've been exploring San Francisco neighborhood by neighborhood in 2021, diving deep into different areas of the city for a month at a time. In May, we told stories of the Presidio, a neighborhood so unique, many would argue it's not even a neighborhood at all. The 1,500-acre expanse is actually a former military post that was turned over to the National Park Service in 1994. Today, the national park features trails, forests, a golf course, restaurants, the Walt Disney Family Museum and even businesses like Lucasfilm. Plus, it features views galore. Read on for a roundup of the story's we've written about the Presidio, and, if you're looking to get outside this summer, the Presidio is a fantastic place to be. Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE These were the Presidio's first SF residents. They didn't have neighbors for 8 years. When Marc Kasky and his wife, Cat Carr, moved into their house in the Presidio in 1995, they were the first residents that had lived there since the military moved out. But this isnt your typical apartment hunting story. Kasky was the executive director of Fort Mason in 1994 when he took a meeting with the person from the U.S. Army in charge of transitioning the land to the park service. He didnt think much of the meeting until one year later, when the landlord of his North Beach apartment told him he was selling the building and he had to get out. Kasky decided to check on what was going on with the housing in the Presidio, and sure enough, that same man thought maybe he could help him. He gave Kasky the keys to a house near the Main Post and told him to go check it out and he would see what he could do. Luckily, Kasky had a history in seeing the potential in dilapidated spaces and said theyd take it. Kasky knew the situation may not be long term, but it seemed like too unique an opportunity to pass up. We got a one-year lease and I thought if we got a second year it would be worth what we did to get in here just to live in a national park in San Francisco for two years. What a gift. But first, they had to renovate. Read more from SFGATE editor Tessa McLean. Grant Marek/SFGATE Here's what it's like to spend the night in the Presidio at one of San Francisco's only campgrounds I startle awake to the sound of a two-second *beep*, groggily turn over in my sleeping bag, and re-close my eyes. Then I hear it again. *beep* Seven more seconds of silence. *beep* I fumble around the tent for my phone to check the time its 1 a.m. I peer out across the moonlit Rob Hill Campground in search of the offender (*beep*), look back at my still soundly sleeping 9-year-old daughter, Kennedy (*beep*), then reach for the tent zipper and venture out into the night. Its a Wednesday (or I guess, a Thursday morning?) in April and were camping for the first time ever in San Francisco at the citys oldest campground an idyllic 4-acre plot at the highest point of the Presidio featuring four unique campsites, just two of which are open to the public (the other two are reserved for the Camping at the Presidio program). Find out the source of that noise and learn more from SFGATE editorial director Grant Marek. National Park Service/Handout 'UNION SPY': The forgotten tale behind the Presidio's most intriguing grave If you walk the serene rows of the San Francisco National Cemetery in the Presidio, you may eventually come upon an unusual tombstone. Carved into its aging marble face are the words: PAULINE C. FRYER UNION SPY How a Civil War spy came to be buried in San Francisco is a forgotten tale of adventure, intrigue and tragedy. Pauline Cushman Fryer began life as Harriet Wood, a tomboyish daughter among seven sons in New Orleans. As a teenager, she was bit by the acting bug and set off on her own to New York City in the 1850s to pursue a career on the stage. Harriet Wood sounded a little dull to her ear, so she changed her name to Pauline Cushman, the moniker that would soon make her one of Americas most famous women. Read more from SFGATE managing editor Katie Dowd. Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE The challenges of running a restaurant hidden in a national park Running a restaurant has plenty of challenges. From slim margins to labor shortages, its a tough business especially during a pandemic. But Sessions at the Presidio, the restaurant hidden on the east side of San Franciscos national park, faces a few issues that most other restaurants in the city would never experience. For starters, some people dont even realize its open to the public. Juan Bueno, the director of operations for Skywalker Ranch (which operates the restaurant), said since the space is tucked within the Letterman Digital Arts Center, people will often tentatively walk up to the front door and ask if theyre allowed in. Some people, on the other hand, pass by them altogether, likely due to the tall wall of eucalyptus trees that obscures the view of the building from the gate at Chestnut and Lyon. For those that do make it past the gate and into the restaurant, it could be because theyre a George Lucas fan. The campus, which houses the headquarters for Lucasfilm and LucasArts, is always a popular spot for Star Wars enthusiasts to visit plus, the popular Yoda statue is there. Read more from SFGATE editor Tessa McLean. Chris Preovolos We toured inside the Presidio's stunning former military homes If you've ever been to San Francisco's Presidio, you've no doubt seen the beautiful homes nestled within: rich brick mansions, bright white duplexes, veranda-fronted bachelors' quarters. The homes are stunning and were quite the selling point for the U.S. military, which maintained an active fort there until 1994. "It was the premier post anywhere in the nation," Presidio Trust Federal Preservation Officer Rob Thomson said. "Getting assigned here was a really big deal." Virtually tour the homes and read more from SFGATE managing editor Katie Dowd. DianeBentleyRaymond/Getty Images Locally extinct butterflies are fluttering again in San Francisco's Presidio There may be no corner of San Francisco with more diverse animal life than the Presidio. The park is home to over 200 species of birds, fence lizards, gray foxes; even coyotes are given room to have their pups on the trails. And now one small species, missing from the park since the 1970s, is thriving there again. The colorful variable checkerspot butterfly is back, thanks to a project started in 2017 by wildlife managers at the Presidio Trust. Read more from SFGATE editor Andrew Chamings. Elizabeth Conley/AP HOUSTON (AP) Two men were killed and two more were injured when a man opened fire in a crowded Houston nightclub early Monday, authorities said. Houston police chief Troy Finner said investigators are trying to confirm that the gunman is among the dead, and that he was fatally shot by an off-duty sheriffs deputy working security at the club. Two people were killed and more than 20 injured after gunmen with assault rifles and handguns began "shooting indiscriminately into a crowd" at a concert in the Miami area early Sunday, police said. The shooting unfolded after 12:30 a.m. at El Mula Banquet Hall near Hialeah, said Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III, director of the Miami-Dade Police Department. Three people approached the venue, which was being rented out for a concert, in a white Nissan Pathfinder and began shooting in what he described as a "targeted and cowardly act of gun violence." The gunmen then fled the scene, police added. Two people were declared dead at the scene. More than 20 victims with injuries were taken to hospitals, police said in a news release. Later on Sunday, Ramirez said three people were in critical condition. Authorities estimated that 20 to 25 people were shot. No arrests had been made as of Sunday, and no suspects had been identified. Investigators have urged those in the community with any knowledge about the gunmen and their whereabouts to come forward. Ramirez told WPLG authorities were "battling a code of silence" in trying to find more information. "These are cold blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice," Ramirez tweeted. "My deepest condolences to the family of the victims." Police have not released the victims' identities. The shooting comes amid several gun massacres in the country in recent months, including the Wednesday attack by a public transit worker who fatally shot nine people at a light-rail facility in San Jose before killing himself. Sunday's shooting is the second significant gun attack in the area over Memorial Day weekend. One person was killed and seven were injured in a Friday night shooting. El Mula Banquet Hall had promoted the event on Instagram as a Memorial Day weekend album-release party featuring music from local rappers, hookah, billiards and dancing. One grieving father urged people to share what they know about the shooting. Clayton Dillard told WSVN that his son Clayton Dillard III was killed, and that people who know the identities of the shooters "had better turn them in." Angelica Green told WPLG that her 24-year-old son was among those shot early Sunday. He told her the suspects arrived in ski masks and hoodies and "just started shooting up the crowd." "He called us frantic, saying he had been shot, that it hurts and that he loves us," she said. "He said the guys came with ski masks and hoodies, and just started shooting up the crowd." Marcus Lemonis, star of the CNBC show "The Profit," tweeted that he was offering a $100,000 reward to help authorities find and convict the attackers - an offer that was welcomed by authorities and local officials. "Together, with the help of the community, we can find those responsible for the senseless murders," the Miami-Dade Police Department wrote on Twitter. Community leaders joined state and local officials in expressing outrage over the shooting, vowing to hold those responsible accountable while also pushing for a broader discussion about addressing the underlying causes of violence to prevent future shootings. "It's on all of us to demand a community where all our families can live in safety and peace," Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, a Democrat, said. "Enough is enough - no more innocent lives stolen." Many family members and friends awaited word of their loved ones outside Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami early Sunday, local media reported, with some participating in a prayer circle. A father told WSVN that his 19-year-old daughter was injured in the shooting and that she was in surgery at Jackson Memorial. "Words can't explain how I feel right now," Chad Harris told the outlet. "We're just praying." - - - The Washington Post's Christine Armario contributed to this report. NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) Two deputies were hurt early Sunday morning when a drunken driver slammed into two police vehicles on a South Carolina interstate, authorities said. The Berkeley County deputies were released from the hospital a few hours after after the 1:10 a.m. crash on Interstate 26 east near the College Park Road exit, the Berkeley Sheriff's Office said. KINSHASA, Congo (AP) Armed attacks on two different villages overnight in Congos eastern Ituri province killed at least 49 people, local government officials said Monday. Armed men besieged a camp for displaced people in the Bahema-Boga chiefdom early Monday, killing at least 29 people, according to the administrative secretary of that area, Gaston Babunya, who said the toll will likely rise. YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) Seven apple varieties previously believed to be lost or extinct have been found in eastern Washington state, including several on land near the communities of Pullman, Colfax and Moscow. The Lost Apple Project and the Temperate Orchard Conservancy announced the latest discoveries this month. Founded by Dave Benscoter, the Lost Apple Project has partnered with the Whitman County Historical Society to identify and preserve heritage apple trees and orchards in Washington and Idaho. The groups have found 29 apples once thought to have disappeared, the Yakima Herald reported. The latest seven apples were discovered in old orchards in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The Almota apple, which has pale yellow skin striped with red, was located southeast of Pullman on land farmed by Roy Druffels family. The Almota was a seedling first discovered in the late 19th century by Charles Moys near Pullman. The Ivanhoe, described as having green or slightly yellow skin with reddish blush, was found west of Pullman at the site of what was once the Pullman Country Club. The Eper apple variety was found 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Colfax. The apple is small with greenish-yellow skin and red stripes. It is believed to be one of 34 fruit varieties imported from Hungary in the 1890s by the U.S. government and obtained by George Ruedy, owner of the Colfax Nursery in Colfax. The Iowa Flat, a yellow apple with red blush and red streaks, was found near Orchard Avenue in Moscow. It most likely originated in Iowa and in 1901 appeared in an experimental orchard in Farmdale, Illinois. Other varieties were found near Salem and the community of Flora in Oregon and in Waitsburg in Walla Walla County. A Nashville, Tenn., hat store is facing backlash after announcing on social media that it was selling yellow patches similar to the Star of David with the words "NOT VACCINATED," sparking widespread condemnation, a protest and severed business ties. Iconic hat company Stetson announced Saturday it will stop selling its merchandise at HatWRKS, the company at the center of the controversy. Goorin Bros., another prominent hat company, also announced that its distribution with HatWRKS would end immediately. "Stetson condemns antisemitism and discrimination of any kind," the company said in a statement. "As a result of the offensive content and opinions shared by HatWRKS in Nashville, Stetson and our distribution partners will cease the sale of all Stetson products." The incident, which came after a Republican congresswoman compared the House's mask rules to the Nazis' oppression of Jews, is the latest flare-up over vaccines in the United States and follows a recent spate of anti-Jewish attacks connected to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The Instagram post advertising the badges has since been deleted by the company, but not after many people, including descendants of Holocaust victims, weighed in on the matter. Author Min Jin Lee called the badges "immoral & hurtful." "It is an anti-Semitic gesture in a time of rising anti-Semitism," she wrote on Twitter. "Our *chronic* ignorance of history, science & law allows Americans to continuously harm ourselves & others." Gigi Gaskins, who is listed as HatWRKS's owner in public records, apologized Saturday on Instagram for the merchandise resembling the badges the Nazis forced Jews to wear during the Holocaust. "In NO WAY did i intend to trivialize the Star of David or disrespect what happened to millions of people," she said. "My hope was to share my genuine concern & fear, and to do all that i can to make sure that nothing like that ever happens again." Previously, Gaskins had said people should be "outraged by tyranny" in the world and blamed her detractors for not understanding what is happening around them. In another post, she alluded to concerns about coronavirus restrictions and stated that she was a "target of the mob." Protesters gathered outside the store Saturday with a large sign that read "No Nazis in Nashville." Others sang that they didn't want the hats or the hate. "To me, it's willful ignorance," Roger Abramson, an attorney, told WSMV. "The information is out there. People are willfully ignoring facts, information and history because it doesn't fit what they want to believe or it doesn't fit some narrative they have." The company's Instagram feed shows several posts expressing hostility and misinformation on vaccination, comparing wearing masks to government suppression of citizens. More than a dozen posts were marked by Instagram as false since November. The controversy over the Star of David patches comes after recent comments from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who in a podcast compared Democrats requiring masks to be worn on the House floor to the treatment of Jews during the Holocaust. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and other Republicans condemned Greene for the comparison. "Marjorie is wrong, and her intentional decision to compare the horrors of the Holocaust with wearing masks is appalling," he said in a statement. "The Holocaust is the greatest atrocity committed in history. The fact that this needs to be stated today is deeply troubling." Spanish Flu - COVID19 Covid-19 started 16-18 months ago, and ever since has been devastating the world. As a matter of fact, it is not the first pandemic that occurred in the world. Covid-19 started 16-18 months ago, and ever since has been devastating the world. As a matter of fact, it is not the first pandemic that occurred in the world. One of the first pandemics is dated back to 541 AD when there was an outbreak of the contagious Plague of Justinian. However, the most welldocumented pandemics in history is the Spanish flu which started in 1918 and is believed to have infected 500 million people, a little less than one-third of the world population. It killed approximately 50 million people, which is even more than World War I, which killed 20 million people. These pandemics became the storm which uprooted the world and every facet of society. They also came with an element of randomness. After the 541 AD pandemic came the bubonic plague in 1346, followed by the sixth Cholera pandemic in 1899 and the Spanish flu, Asian flu and Hong Kong flu in 1918, 1957 and 1968, respectively. There was also a Swine flu outbreak in 2009. Renowned historian, Patrick Zylberman rightly said, The virus might have attacked democratically, but the society it attacked was hardly egalitarian. Since we are all aware of this fact, it is essential to adjust and act according to the current requirement of the local people who are affected. During the course of these several pandemics, there are a plethora of things which people have learnt the hard way. Many innocent children were orphaned, adults were unemployed and depressed, and the elderly were left to provide for themselves. Cholera, which is an acute diarrheal disease that can take lives within hours if left untreated, caused an outbreak in Jessore, India in 1817 due to contaminated rice. This illness killed a myriad people, due to salient factors which were not accounted for back then. One of them being lack of awareness, the other being detection of the illness and lastly, hygiene. During the outbreak, an astonishingly large amount of people were not educated about the disease and its effects on ones health. Due to this, they continued with their lives and so did the spread of the disease. Furthermore, lack of the ability to detect, isolate and treat worsened the situation. Lastly, another factor which greatly affected this pandemic in particular was hygiene. The disease is caused due to the drinking of water or eating of food contaminated by an infected person. After Cholera came the Spanish flu. The first confirmed cases of the flu originated in the United States. Alfred W. Crosby, author of Epidemic and Peace, 1918, stated that the contagion of the H1N1 virus is Kansas. The entire world suffered medically, financially and socially during these atrocious times of crisis. One noticeable and salient learning from the Spanish flu outbreak was to never hide the truth from the public and maintain complete transparency. Do you know how the flu got its name? The reason is that back in the 1900s, when the spread of the disease had increased, the actual data was not revealed to the public in many countries. What was revealed was superficial data which was obviously not reliable and made the public think that the situation was under control. However, this was not the case in Spain. There, the government believed in releasing accurate data to the public. This made the native people as well as those from other countries believe that the situation in Spain was much worse in comparison to other countries; hence giving the outbreak its name. The condition worsened in those countries where the truth was sugar-coated and the people too stopped taking precautionary measures, leading to a severe outbreak. Another major revelation during the Spanish flu outbreak was that nonpharmaceutical precautionary measures such as masks, sanitizers and social distancing are actually effective. For instance, there was a backlash against taking precautionary measures in San Francisco in late 1918 and early 1919. This backlash occurred when the outbreak was at one of its peaks. This is because people were fed up. Some libertarians and activists even suggested that this was a breach and violation of their freedom and fundamental rights. This not only led people to avoid masks but also prevented the government to make masks mandatory. This shows that human behavior is rather predictable and their response to pandemics of this enormity is not new-found. Finally, coming to the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, we all wonder what made this disease, which has already galloped out of control, so deadly. We knew all along that a pandemic was imminent. However, it is human nature to pay lesser attention to things in the future which may leave a drastic impact on us. Although some pre-planning would have benefitted us, we can change for the better now as well. Lessons which we can learn from to possibly reduce spread and panic are as follows. The Cholera pandemic taught us to educate and inform people about the disease and being able enough of detecting the illness, containing it and rightfully treating it with proper medical guidance. This outbreak made us realize the actual importance and necessity of living in a hygienic fashion. The Spanish flu also left us with valuable learnings. We must understand that truth and transparency are of key importance, social distancing and masks work, and lastly, we must trust the medical experts and epidemiologists who can analyze the situation and then take necessary action. Judging by the immense amount of advancement in medical facilities, infrastructure and technology, we can overcome this too by following simple measures and committing to being self-aware and also making others aware in the process. These lessons may sound straightforward, but they actually require to be understood by everyone to prove to be functional and fruitful. Therefore, let us make sure that the egregious history does not repeat itself and take the lives of another 50 million people. Let us have faith in the experts and listen to them rather than argue with them. Let us learn from our past mistakes and failures and come out of this situation victorious as ever. Ishana Sharma Grade 8 Cathedral & John Connon School, Mumbai A nation slowly emerging from social distancing measures imposed by the coronavirus pandemic honored generations of U.S. veterans killed in the line of duty on a Memorial Day observed without the severe pandemic restrictions that affected the day of tribute just a year ago. Memorial Day parades and events were held in localities large and small across the country Monday, many resuming after being canceled last year as the pandemic hit with full force. At Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, President Joe Biden delivered a solemn speech honoring the 1 million Americans killed in service of the nation and challenged that nation to carry on that fight by defending its democracy. This nation was built on an idea, Biden said. We were built on an idea, the idea of liberty and opportunity for all. Weve never fully realized that aspiration of our founders, but every generation has opened the door a little wider. The struggle for democracy is taking place around the world democracy and autocracy. The struggle for decency, dignity, just simple decency, Biden declared. This year's remembrances were as painful, if less restrictive, as those held on Memorial Day 2020, when Americans settled for small processions and online tributes instead of parades. The pandemic last year forced communities to honor the nations military dead with modest, more subdued ceremonies that also remembered those lost to the coronavirus. With restrictions lifting, Americans paid tribute in public gatherings this year and like last year, they also remembered the thousands of veterans who died from COVID-19. Still, there were some vestiges: An early morning wreath laying ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona was shared virtually. That wasn't the case at a long-delayed veterans and airmen's reunion in West Hills, California, a Los Angeles suburb where veterans gathered face to face for the first time Monday since their weekly reunions were shut down 14 months ago by the pandemic. This is a special group of veterans who are trying not to be homebound, Ed Reynolds, a Vietnam War and Air Force veteran, told KTLA-TV. "It's good to see these faces again. It's sort of emotional," he said, visibly emotional himself. Reynolds said some 12 members of the group had died over the past year, though none of them from COVID-19. For a select few, the Memorial Day weekend marked the final farewell, decades in the making, of the remains of fallen heroes from World War II. They included two Kentucky men U.S. Navy Fireman 3rd Class Welborn L. Ashby, who was killed at 24, and U.S. Navy Seaman 2nd Class Howard Scott Magers, killed at 18 who perished in the December 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Some 2,403 Americans died in the attack. Magers remains arrived in Barren County on Saturday after they were identified by the federal Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. He was laid to rest with full military honors, the Daily News reported. A Memorial Day service was being held for Ashby in Beaver Dam, followed by burial at Centertown Cemetery with full military honors, including a Missing Man flyover by vintage planes. In Tennessee, the body of U.S. Marine Capt. Glenn Walker, one of more than 1,100 Marines killed in the 1943 Pacific Battle of Tarawa, is coming home, his family told The Tennessean this weekend. The family plans a reunion and burial in July. I get emotional when I think of the life he could have had, said Walkers nephew Lane Martin. The good is that weve reached out to family all over the country and drawn us back together. In Florida, former President Donald Trump joined in remembering the countrys fallen heroes. The depth of their devotion, the steel of their resolve, and the purity of their patriotism has no equal in human history, Trump said in a statement posted on his website. About 20 miles north of Trump's Mar-a-Lago compound in Palm Beach, Florida, flags bearing Trump's name whipped in the breeze as dozens of boats held a Memorial Day parade along the waters of Jupiter. In Denver, veterans and their families paid silent tribute among thousands of polished marble headstones, each meticulously adorned with an American flag, at Fort Logan National Cemetery a scene marked at national cemeteries across the nation. But in Southern California, authorities said a huge American flag and several smaller flags were stolen from Los Angeles National Cemetery over the weekend. The theft of the flag, which measures 25 feet by 200 feet (7.6 meters by 9.1 meters), cannot detract in the slightest way from the honor and respect we pay on this Memorial Day to those service men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, said Les' Melnyk, a spokesperson for the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration. Monday's commemorations were held as new data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that new cases of COVID-19 are plunging and that more than 40% of the U.S. population has been fully vaccinated. With the declines, most states have been reducing or dropping most social distancing restrictions. As of Saturday, the rolling seven-day average of new cases in the U.S. had dropped to 18,913, according to the CDC the first time that average had dipped below 20,000 a day since March 2020. ___ Associated Press writers Calvin Woodward in Arlington, Virginia, Travis Loller in Nashville, Tennessee, Bobby Caina Calvan in Tallahassee, Florida, Amy Taxin in Los Angeles and Cedar Attanasio in Santa Fe, New Mexico, contributed to this report. Hektor Pustina/AP TIRANA, Albania (AP) Albania's parliament on Monday decided to hold an extraordinary session next week on the impeachment of the countrys president for allegedly violating the constitution. The session will be held June 9 following a report by an investigative committee, which last week concluded that President Ilir Meta violated 16 articles of the constitution before Albanias April 25 general election and should be removed from office a year earlier than his term ends. MILAN (AP) The head of Italys central bank said Monday the eurozones third-largest economy could grow 4% this year, after shedding 9% during the pandemic year of 2020. In the Bank of Italy governor's annual report on the economy, Ignazio Visco cited indications of industrial production regaining momentum and plans for fresh investments by companies alongside progress in the vaccination plans, which together could help accelerate the recovery. He noted that Italian firms were in better shape going into the pandemic than the financial crisis more than a decade ago, and that significant European and government support measures were helping to spur the economy. Italy is slated to be the largest single recipient of EU recovery funds, which Visco said offers us the chance to improve how the public sector works, and to stimulate private enterprise and modernize the economy. The first country in the West hit by the virus, Italy suffered a whopping 12% decrease in economic production during the first six months of 2020. The economic impact was lighter during the fall surge, Visco noted, even if the health crisis was more severe, due both to more moderate restrictions and economic support from the government. Consumption dropped by nearly 11% during 2020, as even families reporting no decrease in income held back and put more into savings, Visco noted. With the economic picture still uncertain, personal savings last year doubled, while the drop in spending was four times higher than the overall decline in available earnings. With the normalization of the health situation and less uncertainty, the high levels of savings accumulated could gradually translate into a rise in consumption, he said. Visco said significant weaknesses in Italys social welfare system were laid bare by the pandemic. He cited shortcomings in Italys job assistance centers, saying 1 in 10 Italians find work through job placement centers compared to 7 in 10 in Germany. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Belgium will bring home its ambassador to South Korea amid public anger over his wife's alleged assault of two employees at a shop in Seoul. The Belgium Embassy said the countrys minister of foreign affairs, Sophie Wilmes, decided it was in the best interest of bilateral relations to end Ambassador Peter Lescouhiers tenure this summer. He has been the envoy in Seoul for three years. While Lescouhier served his country with dedication, "the current situation doesnt allow him to further carry out his role in a serene way, the embassy said Monday. The Belgian government also waived the diplomatic immunity of Lescouhiers wife, Xiang Xueqiu, so that she could be investigated by South Korean police, the embassy said in a Facebook post. However, South Koreas Foreign Ministry said her immunity was only partially waived and she still had protection from criminal trials or punishment. Lescouhier earlier this month issued an apology on behalf of his wife, saying in an Instagram video that she might have had her reasons to be angry at the way she was treated in that shop but committing physical violence is totally unacceptable. The embassy said Xiang has met privately with the two shop employees and apologized. According to South Korean media, Xiang reacted angrily when a shop employee asked about the jacket she was wearing, suspecting that it could have been stolen. Security camera video showed her shoving and slapping an employee in the face and hitting another on the head. The incident drew widespread anger, prompting thousands of people to sign petitions on South Koreas presidential website calling for the wife to be expelled from the country. South Korea is a signatory to the Vienna Convention, which grants diplomats and their families protection against criminal prosecution, although the immunity can be voluntarily waived. The embassy didnt provide a specific date on when Lescouhiers term will end or name a replacement. SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) A Bosnian court on Monday sentenced the Balkan countrys former security minister to six months in prison for corruption. The Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday ruled that Sadik Ahmetovic abused his position for illegal financial gains at cost to the state budget. ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Building ventilation systems bring in lots of outdoor air, but they arent designed to rely exclusively on fresh air. Instead, its a balancing act: filtering and conditioning inside air while replacing some of it with outside air. Fine-tuning it all is the challenge facing many businesses, including Twin Cities software company LuminFire. Its space is ultra-modern and open plan couches and bistro tables abound, while cubicles are scarce. But CEO Tim Cimbura says the welcoming space has been largely empty because of the pandemic. Most LuminFire employees have been working from home. Cimbura wants them back, in person, crafting ways to help companies increase efficiency. Something magical happens when people are actually meeting face-to-face, Cimbura said. To help facilitate that, Cimbura spent $5,500 on an industrial-scale air filtration machine to augment the conventional ventilation system in his building, Minnesota Public Radio News reported. The machine itself is on wheels, about half the size of a refrigerator and able to move from one area to another. Its primary component is a high-efficiency particulate air or HEPA filter, and it operates on standard 110 power. Its an investment we made in the health of our employees and the health of potential clients. When they come in and they see that this unit is here, they just know that we care about them, said Cimbura. St. Paul-based ISO-Aire built the unit Cimbura bought. More and more places needed this technology to make the places safe again and for people to feel safe again coming into work, said ISO-Aire sales and marketing manager Kevin Albers. We work with hospitals, schools, businesses so thats how we got exposed to this because one of our leading health care customers came to us, he said. They needed help for an isolation room application, and we came up with this. Albers says his companys technology is a good solution for businesses with heating and cooling systems that cant handle HEPA grade filtering or exchange enough outside air with inside air. Amy Satterfield is also in the air handling business. She works for a company called the Institute for Environmental Assessment and says many businesses are trying to figure out the best approach to improving air quality. There is a lot of confusion, and its really hard for people to navigate what is the right path, Satterfield said. Satterfield does not sell filtering or air exchange products. She consults businesses and schools on ways to improve air handling. She says the first place to start is whats already in place. Theres a lot of facilities with really great systems that just need to be verified and checked, and there are a lot of systems that are maybe installed incorrectly, Satterfield said. Dan Tranter, the indoor air supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Health, agrees: a thorough inspection is a good idea. See what is going on with the system. Is it working properly currently? he said. Tranter says looking for ways to increase airflow is also a good idea. He and Satterfield agree that many systems cannot handle the strain of high-efficiency filters. Their blowers arent powerful enough and can burn out. Sometimes those filters simply block air from entering. Both say portable filters such as those sold by ISO-Aire can be effective. Tranter warns, though, that the market is flooded with companies offering air disinfection systems. He says businesses need to do their due diligence to make sure they get whats right for them. Tranter has long been focused on clean air and says the way the pandemic has more people thinking about air quality is a good thing. We kind of tend to take for granted the air were breathing, and now theres a little more attention on this issue, said Tranter. YUCCA VALLEY, Calif. (AP) A suspect has died and a Southern California sheriff's deputy was shot Monday in a chase in a desert community east of Los Angeles, authorities said. Deputies tried to pull over a motorcycle that didn't have a license plate Monday in the community of Yucca Valley, about 120 miles (193 kilometers) east of Los Angeles, the San Bernardino County sheriffs department said in a statement. Top BJP leaders including BJP organization secretary B.L. Santhosh and UP in charge Radha Mohan Singh will be in Lucknow on Monday and Tuesday to hold crucial meeting with the chief minister and other party leaders of the state. The visit of the leaders has further fuelled speculations of a cabinet reshuffle and reversal of roles for some leaders. According to a party source, Santhosh and Radha Mohan Singh will be holding a series of meetings with chief minister Yogi Adityanath and senior leaders in the party and the government. State general secretary Govind Narain Shukla said that the two leaders would review past programmes, the panchayat elections and also the upcoming assembly elections. Sources, however, said that the two leaders would also discuss in detail, the Covid management of the Yogi Adityanath government and would suggest ways to negate the adverse publicity that the BJP has got on the lack of medical infrastructure, deaths due to shortage of oxygen and disposal of dead bodies. "There will be detailed discussion on the elections of zila panchayat chairpersons that will take place in mid-June. We will make all possible efforts to ensure that our candidates get elected as zila panchayat heads," said a party functionary. State BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh, deputy chief minister Keshav Maurya and Dinesh Sharma, state organizing secretary Sunil Bansal will be present in the meetings. LOS ANGELES (AP) Californians headed to campgrounds, beaches and restaurants over the long holiday weekend as the state prepared to shed some of its coronavirus rules. Southern California beaches were busy with families barbecuing and children playing in the sand and surf. Business owners said they were scrambling to hire workers to keep up with the stream of customers eager to get out since virus cases have fallen and vaccinations have risen. It feels very, very close to normal, Bob Alfera, a resident of seaside Santa Monica, told KCBS-TV. The surge in travel and recreation comes as California prepares to relax social distancing and masking rules in two weeks as long as coronavirus cases remain low. California was the first U.S. state to impose a statewide shutdown when the virus emerged in March 2020 and the nations epicenter for the disease in early 2021. But the state has reported a significant turnaround. In recent weeks, newly reported infections in California have fallen below 1,000 on some days and the states positivity rate has been 1%. The state is now expected to end its tier system for business operations on June 15. Already, about 90% of Californias population is in the lower two of the state's four tiers guiding business activities. Large-scale indoor events will have vaccination or negative test requirements until at least October. The change in pandemic-related rules comes as Californians gear up for summertime fun. At Los Angeles International Airport, travel reached a 2021 record on Friday with more than 78,000 passengers passing through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints, airport officials said. Daily passenger traffic is still about half of what it was two years ago but has been steadily increasing, the Los Angeles Times reported. Its been a long year, and to see people coming back to the airport is a great change of pace, said Heath Montgomery, an airport spokesperson. Just in time for Memorial Day, a local veterans' group that met weekly until the pandemic halted in-person gatherings finally got a long-awaited reunion. Members got together in West Hills for coffee and donuts and to catch up on the year gone by, Ed Reynolds, a veteran with Wings over Wendy's, told KTLA television. It's good to see these faces again, he said, his voice cracking. It's sort of emotional. LONDON (AP) Handwritten notes that show one of historys greatest scientific minds in action are going up for auction in London. Pages containing Isaac Newtons jotted revisions to his masterwork, the Principia, are expected to sell next month for between 600,000 pounds and 900,000 pounds ($850,000 and $1.3 million), auctioneer Christies said Tuesday. Published in 1687, Newtons Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy set out the laws of gravitation and motion and is considered a scientific watershed. A first edition of the book sold at auction for $3.7 million in 2016. Thomas Venning, head of books and manuscripts at Christies in London, said the book reinvented our understanding of the universe. The page and a half of notes for a planned second edition includes comments and diagrams by Scottish mathematician and astronomer David Gregory. The two scientists met and corresponded while Newton worked on revising the Principia in the 1690s. Venning said that when he was working on the revisions, Newton was fizzing with the energy of one of the greatest minds the world has ever seen." And we can see that at work, the speed with which hes writing, the ferment of ideas coming out from his pen, he said. Keith Moore, head librarian at the Royal Society the scientists club where Newton was president in the 18th century said Gregory kept up a written dialogue with Newton. He met Newton and that partnership, almost, between the two of them, resulted in refining Newtons thinking. Newton eventually gave up on the revisions, but ultimately produced a new edition in 1713. The document will go under the hammer at Christies in London on July 8. What a collector in the autograph world is looking for is the greatest minds in history, talking about their greatest achievements, Venning said. Its very, very rare to have that combination. And thats what you have in this particular manuscript. FITZGERALD, Ga. (AP) A towering sculpture of a chicken that stands higher than the tallest dinosaur is taking shape in rural south Georgia. The framed outline of the giant chicken standing 62 feet (19 meters) tall now towers above nearby homes in the city of Fitzgerald. The finished product will be a gargantuan topiary, meaning the chicken will be sculpted from living plants growing on its frame like a huge garden lattice. Leaders Fitzgerald announced plans for the chicken sculpture in 2019 as a feature to bring tourists to the city of 9,000 people. Mayor Jim Puckett said the coronavirus pandemic caused some construction delays, and the Tennessee-based artist known as Topiary Joe needed some down time to recover from surgery. But Puckett said he's in no rush. This is not a model kit that you just snap together. No ones ever built a 62-foot steel chicken before," Puckett told WALB-TV. He added: This is going to be fantastic when its finished. The Fitzgerald chicken will be taller than the famous Big Chicken in Marietta, which measures 56 feet (17 meters) tall. It will also edge the tallest known dinosaur, Sauroposeidon, which stood about 59 feet (18 meters). City officials are paying for the multistory chicken with penny sales tax dollars that were earmarked for tourism projects. The plans call for a room inside the base of the chicken that can be rented to visitors. The mayor says he's heard from newlyweds interested in booking it for a honeymoon suite. Johanna Geron/AP PRAGUE (AP) Czech police recommended again on Monday that Prime Minister Andrej Babis should be indicted over alleged fraud involving European Union subsidies. Pragues prosecution office said it has received the results of the updated police investigation into Babis possible involvement in the $2 million fraud. Prosecutors now have to decide whether to file charges against Babis or dismiss them. HOBOKEN, N.J. (AP) Authorities say the death of a woman whose body was found in a New Jersey parking garage is being treated as suspicious. The Hudson County prosecutor's office said Monday that the body was reported just after 6 a.m. Sunday in the Hoboken garage. WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) The leaders of New Zealand and Australia downplayed their differences over China and urged more investigation into the origin of the coronavirus Monday after their first face-to-face meeting in more than a year. The two leaders also indicated an Australian-born mass murderer would remain imprisoned in New Zealand. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison met with his New Zealand counterpart, Jacinda Ardern, in the tourist resort of Queenstown. Morrison was the first major world leader to visit New Zealand since both countries closed their borders last year to keep out the virus. Australia has taken a hard stance against China in recent years and the relationship between the nations has deteriorated. New Zealand has opted for a more diplomatic approach at times, which some say is too soft. But Morrison said he and Ardern had similar philosophies. Australia and New Zealand are trading nations, Morrison said. But neither of us would ever trade our sovereignty or trade our values. We have stood side-by-side to defend and protect and promote these values. Not just on the beaches of Gallipoli but in Afghanistan and so many other places around the world." Ardern said New Zealand maintained a strong and principled stance toward China on human rights and trade, and its positions were very similar to Australias. She said New Zealand remains a committed member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance with Australia, the U.S., Britain and Canada. That is not in question, not in doubt," she said. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the two leaders had made irresponsible remarks" about Chinas internal affairs concerning Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and the South China Sea, which China claims virtually in its entirety. The two were guilty of seriously violating international law and basic norms of international relations, and grossly interfering in Chinas internal affairs," Wang said at a daily briefing. Morrison said Australia works closely with New Zealand in the Five Eyes partnership and many other international forums. I think as great partners, friends, allies, indeed family, there will be those far from here who would seek to divide us," Morrison said. And they will not succeed. Morrison said it was self-evident there was increased strategic competition between the U.S. and China but that didn't need to lead to conflict. Both leaders said they hope the World Health Organization will continue its investigation into the origins of the pandemic. It's got nothing to do with global politics," Morrison said. "This has nothing to do with anything other than ensuring that the global pandemic, which has caused such havoc around the world, stealing lives and livelihoods, that we understand how this occurred so we can do everything we possibly can to ensure that it does not happen again. New Zealand and Australia opened a quarantine-free travel bubble last month, allowing Morrison's visit to take place. Both leaders said the next logical step in the gradual reopening of their borders would be to expand the bubble to include some other South Pacific island nations. The two leaders also indicated that Australian white supremacist Brenton Tarrant, who two years ago slaughtered 51 worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, would continue serving his sentence of life without parole in New Zealand. Ardern said the guidance on where he should be imprisoned needed to come from survivors and loved ones, and the informal feedback she'd received from them was in favor of him staying in New Zealand. And I understand that, Ardern said. There's something about the proximity in ensuring that the sentence that was handed down is served. Morrison said he, too, wanted to respect the wishes and interests of those affected. VENTURA, Calif. (AP) A judge ruled a former deputy in Southern California is guilty of sexual misconduct with an inmate after the woman reported the encounter to jail staff in 2019. Ventura County Superior Court Judge Gilbert Romero said Leonard Lopez, 49, pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges, including being a peace officer engaged in a sexual act with an inmate and entering a cell occupied by an inmate of the opposite sex, the Ventura Country Star reported. Coronavirus developments around New England: ___ RHODE ISLAND The clerks office at federal court in Providence is scheduled to reopen to the public on a limited basis on Tuesday. The office will be open for in-person filings and inquiries from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the office said in a statement. The staff has been fully vaccinated, but visitors will still be required to have their temperature taken with a contactless thermometer; answer health screening questions; and wear a mask. The court will continue to conduct proceedings in eligible criminal and petit offense cases by video or telephone conference. ___ NEW HAMPSHIRE Even though society and the economy are reopening, some New Hampshire residents are still dealing with food insecurity because of by the coronavirus pandemic. The address the problem, Sewa International, a Hindu faith-based humanitarian organization, handed out 1,000 boxes filled with 30 pounds of healthy, fresh foods to families in Nashua on Sunday, WMUR-TV reported. City leaders and volunteers said since the pandemic began, they have seen a sharp rise in demand for help feeding families. This is a very essential program for many families, especially families that are still struggling with the aftereffects of COVID. Maybe theyve lost their jobs, theyre not able to get nutritious food every day, Sewa chapter coordinator Subba Raju Datla said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture offered the food to the nonprofit. ___ MASSACHUSETTS Even though Massachusetts has lifted most pandemic restrictions on businesses, many are still weighing whether to require employees to be vaccinated or wear masks at work. A recent survey by the Newton-Needham Regional Chamber may provide some clues. The organization, which represents businesses in communities west of Boston, surveyed about 450 members last week about their back-to-work protocols, The Boston Globe reported. Nearly 30% of businesses said they will mandate that employees wear masks. A similar number will not, and about one-third remained undecided. Also, 23% will require employees who return to the workplace to be vaccinated, while nearly 40% said they will not. Smaller business with fewer than 20 workers were more likely to require employee vaccinations. The chamber surveyed a range of businesses including retail, technology firms, and insurance companies. At Needham-based Kaplansky Insurance, workers wont need to be vaccinated to come into the office. However, those who are not vaccinated will need to wear a mask, said Jennifer Soares, an assistant vice president. ___ MAINE Maine public health officials reported 42 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Monday, the lowest one-day total since late October. It was the second consecutive day of fewer than 100 cases. Also, for the fifth consecutive day, the Maine Centers for Disease Control did not report any virus-related deaths. Nearly 60% of the state's eligible population is now considered fully vaccinated, according to the latest data. Almost 77% of state residents age 50 or older are fully vaccinated, but only about 42% of people between 12 and 49 are and most of the new cases are in that lower age group. ___ VERMONT The Brattleboro Select Board is scheduled to discuss whether to lift the town's indoor mask mandate at Tuesay's meeting. The board recently asked for data and feedback from community members on lifting a mask order put in place in May 2020, The Brattleboro Reformer reported. Town Manager Peter Elwell wrote in a memo last week that state Department of Health statistics indicate Brattleboros vaccination is comparable to the statewide rate and that new cases in Brattleboro are declining. The two-week rolling average of new confirmed cases in Brattleboro has declined during May from 17 to 10 to 4 to 3, he wrote. The board is also scheduled to discuss how to host future meetings remotely or in person. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) For years, Florida has been reminding motorists not to use flashing hazard lights while driving. Well starting soon, feel free to flash away but only on the highway. And only in heavy rain or fog. Hardly noticed in a 38-page transportation bill passed by state lawmakers last month were two lines that change an often-discussed and rarely followed driving law. Beginning July 1, unless Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoes the measure, Florida drivers will be allowed to use hazard lights on roads with speed limits at or above 55 mph when the conditions create extremely low visibility. The law rebuts years of messaging by state traffic officials, who have been telling drivers on social media, on highway signs and in news stories not to use those lights in the rain. If driving in rain is too dangerous, pull off the road, warned the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles in a 2015 tweet. DO NOT activate hazard lights while still traveling. For years, the Florida Highway Patrol has warned motorists that using hazard lights while driving is confusing, that troopers look for the flashing lights to see if a driver needs help, and that hazard lights can override the cars turn signals, making it dangerous to change lanes. The lights were only supposed to be used when stopped on the side of the road or during a funeral procession. (For drivers who have trouble finding their cars signaling devices, the hazard lights are activated by the button with the red triangle, usually found on the center console.) But Floridas law was an outlier. Just 10 states prohibit using hazard lights while driving, according to AAA. And many drivers disobey the law during the states extreme thunderstorms, which can come out of nowhere and reduce visibility to just a few feet. Those drivers include Sen. Ed Hooper, R-Palm Harbor, the lawmaker responsible for changing the law this session. I will admit Ive done it more than once, said Hooper, a retired firefighter. I turn those lights on just so I dont get rear-ended. He said heavy storms on the highway can be so nerve-wracking that pulling over feels dangerous. Theres been many times youre driving, and youve got the death grip on the wheel, youre doing 30 mph on the highway, and you cant see anything in front or behind you, and youre not really sure where you can pull over, Hooper said. Despite representing a reversal in public safety policy that affects every Florida motorist, the change garnered hardly any discussion by other lawmakers and no objection from state transportation officials. They didnt weigh in at all, which was kind of a surprise, Hooper said. One of the only lawmakers to raise concerns was Rep. Matt Willhite, D-Wellington. It just seems silly that were legitimizing or legalizing whats against the law currently just because people get nervous driving, he said Tuesday. Instead of changing the law, he said, the state should be enforcing it. Since July 1, 2018, police in Florida have issued about 460 citations for improperly flashing lights on a vehicle, according to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. (A spokesperson for the department, which includes the Highway Patrol, did not weigh in when asked about the change to the law.) Willhite, who is also a firefighter, said emergency workers know that hazard lights signal a dangerous situation or a disabled vehicle on the side of the road. Maybe we shouldnt call them hazard lights, Willhite said. We can rename them, Im a scared driver, I dont want to follow the law. Delhi CM Kejriwal Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday took a dig at Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar over his comment on the vaccination issue, saying his government's aim is to "save lives, not vaccines". Taking a potshot at Khattar, Kejriwal said only vaccines can save lives of people so the sooner vaccines are administered, the more people are likely to be safe. "Khattar Sahib, only vaccine will save people's lives. The sooner the vaccine is administered, the more people will be safe. My aim is not to save the vaccine, but to save people's lives," Kejriwal tweeted. Kejriwal's remarks came after Khattar criticised the Delhi government's decision to stop vaccination for people in the 18-44 age group -- being covered under the Central government's third phase of the vaccination drive. Khattar had alleged that the entire objective behind Kejriwal government's decision was to create drama. The Haryana Chief Minister had advised Kejriwal to manage vaccine inoculation in a better manner since Delhi has been getting more vaccine compared to other states. "We can also end our vaccine stocks in one day by inoculating 2 lakh people in one day. But we are managing it by inoculating 50,000 to 60,000 people per day. If we would manage like this our vaccination process will continue. So, Kejriwal should follow these...," Khattar said. Kejriwal on May 23 announced the decision to stop inoculation of younger adults in the 18-44 age group, saying that the city was running out of stocks. He also appealed to the central government to increase the Capital's allocation of vaccines against the coronavirus disease Delhi received 1.6 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines this month, and its allocation for June has been halved to around 800,000, Kejriwal then said, adding that at this rate, it will take the city 30 months - or two-and-a-half years - to inoculate its entire adult population of around 15 million adults. Kejriwal had reiterated that Delhi needs around 8 million doses per month to vaccinate all adults in the next three months. FORT JACKSON, S.C. (AP) The U.S. Armys largest basic training facility, located in South Carolina, is holding ceremonies to commemorate Memorial Day. Members of leadership at Fort Jackson in Columbia will hold a small event Monday to include remarks by Fort Jackson Commander Brig. Gen. Milford H. Beagle, Jr., according to officials. There will also be a wreath presentation, patriotic music from the 282nd Army Band and a 21 gun salute. Due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event is by invitation only. MOSCOW (AP) The head of a Russian opposition group that announced its shutdown last week said he was pulled off an airliner and detained by police Monday. Andrei Pivovarov, the leader of Open Russia, said his flight was already taxiing for takeoff at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airpo when it was halted and he was removed. A post on his Twitter account later said he had been taken to the Investigative Committee offices on suspicion of managing an organization that has been determined to be undesirable. A conviction for such activity could carry a prison sentence of up to six years. Pivovarov announced last week that Open Russia was ceasing operation to protect its members from prosecution. Open Russia was financed by tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who moved to London after spending 10 years in prison in Russia on charges widely seen as political revenge for challenging President Vladimir Putins rule. A 2015 Russian law made membership in undesirable organizations a criminal offense. The government has used the law to ban about 30 groups. An earlier law obliges non-governmental groups that receive foreign funding and engage in activities loosely described as political to register as foreign agents. Authorities have described the laws as a response to alleged Western efforts to undermine Russia, but critics describe them as part of the Kremlins efforts to stifle dissent. The government has intensified its crackdown on the opposition as the country is preparing for a September parliamentary elections and the popularity of the main Kremlin-backed party, United Russia, has waned. Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Putins most determined political foe, was sentenced to that 2 1/2 years in prison in February after his return from Germany, where he spent five months recuperating from nerve agent poisoning he blamed on the Kremlin. Russian officials have rejected the accusations. HOUSTON (AP) A Houston police officer was released from the hospital Monday morning after being shot the night before while working an off-duty job at an apartment complex. Police are searching for the man who shot Officer John Brown, 33, on Sunday night. HOUSTON (AP) Residents of the East Aldine neighborhood of Houston are tired of their homes flooding during hurricanes and of worrying every time it rains because their streets and waterways don't drain well. Like the rest of the Houston area, East Aldine was hammered in 2017 by Hurricane Harvey, which caused an estimated $125 billion in damage throughout the state but nowhere more than in the nation's fourth-largest city and surrounding Harris County. East Aldine residents had to flee their homes through chest-high water, many carrying their children on their shoulders as they sought higher ground. The working class, predominantly Latino neighborhood that straddles Houston and unincorporated parts of the county was flooded again two years later during Tropical Storm Imelda. Whether you flooded or not, whether you had to evacuate or not, you are traumatized by the fact that rain is coming and you dont know whats going to happen and you dont know how its going to impact your family, Shirley Ronquillo, a community activist who grew up in East Aldine, said Thursday. That's why she and many other Houston residents were outraged when a state agency recently announced that Houston wouldn't get a cent of the initial $1 billion in federal funding that was promised to Texas following Harvey to help pay for flood mitigation projects, including drainage improvements and the widening of bayous. The Harris County government was also iced out, though four smaller cities in the county were awarded a total of $90 million. The awarding of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funding led to a rare show of solidarity by local Democratic and Republican officials, who condemned how the Texas General Land Office, or GLO, picked its winners and losers. Ronquillo called it a slap in the face to communities of color who have historically been denied assistance. Some officials and residents accused the GLO of playing politics, given that Houston and Harris County are Democratic strongholds in a state controlled by the GOP and have been at odds with the state's Republican leaders since Harvey over issues related to recovery funding. The land office said the competition for the initial distribution of funding was fair and not political, and that it used scoring criteria based on HUD guidance. But a HUD spokesman, Michael Burns, said the federal agency didnt require the criteria used by Texas and that it believes all areas of the state, including Houston and Harris County, should receive the resources they need to recover from Hurricane Harvey. Faced with the criticism, Land Commissioner George P. Bush a Republican grandson of former President George H.W. Bush said he would ask HUD to approve $750 million for Harris County, though none of it would be given directly to Houston and it's unknown if HUD would approve that outlay. Bush suggested that red tape requirements and complex regulations under President Joe Biden's administration were responsible for Houston and Harris County not being awarded any of the funds. During a news conference Thursday, some Democratic members of Houston's congressional delegation accused Bush of politicizing the awards process by criticizing the Biden administration even though delays in establishing rules to use the funding and the creation of criteria for awarding it happened during the Trump administration. The lack of flood mitigation funding has left many Houstonians seething. During a meeting of the Harris County Commissioners Court last week, Pastor Rick Martinez, with Bethel Community Church in the East Aldine area, said residents were being used as political pawns and he asked GLO officials to visit his community after the next storm. Drive on past as our children are wading in disgusting flood waters, all because not a dime was spent to improve our drainage systems, said Martinez, a lifelong Republican whose church has flooded during four hurricanes and tropical storms in the last 20 years. The lack of flood mitigation funding is also aggravating a $1.4 billion shortfall Harris County faces in fully funding flood control projects that Houston-area voters approved in 2018 in response to Harvey. During a tour of East Aldine and surrounding neighborhoods, Ronquillo, 42, highlighted the streets that flood when it simply rains and how the bottom of her SUV is rusting because she keeps having to drive through high water. Standing along Halls Bayou, a few blocks from her home, she said the lack of funding would likely endanger the families who live along the waterway, which has experienced major flooding 14 times since 1989. Many of these families cant afford flood insurance and have little savings because theyre focused on day-to-day survival, said Ronquillo, who co-founded the community group Houston Department of Transformation. In the Allen Field subdivision north of East Aldine, houses and mobile homes are raised 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 meters) off the ground because of perpetual flooding. But many residents, including Dolores Mendoza, are being forced to move because of a mandatory flood buyout program. Six generations of Mendozas family have lived in the subdivision and she would rather stay, but the flooding is getting a lot worse. Her home is near Greens Bayou, and the open drainage ditches that line her street are often clogged by debris and do little to remove water when it floods. Heavy rainfall last week made the roads leading to her home impassable. Mendoza, a 34-year-old accountant, said the GLOs funding decision was frustrating but not surprising because people dont really understand what it really is like out here. With the lack of support from the state, the fear is that once again, were not going to get the funding that we need and therefore we will continue to flood, Ronquillo said. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70 EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (AP) An Illinois developer has planned a $20 million industrial building in northwest Indiana with nearly 250,000 square feet of space. The Homerlee Business Park will be located in East Chicago, Indiana, less than a mile from Interstate 90 and near the Interstate 80/94 expressway, The (Northwest Indiana) Times reported Sunday. The project is being marketed as close to the Illinois border with easy access to downtown Chicago and major airports. PEPLO, Greece (AP) As the world begins to travel again, Europe is sending migrants a loud message: Stay away! Greek border police are firing bursts of deafening noise from an armored truck over the frontier into Turkey. Mounted on the vehicle, the long-range acoustic device, or sound cannon, is the size of a small TV set but can match the volume of a jet engine. Its part of a vast array of physical and experimental new digital barriers being installed and tested during the quiet months of the coronavirus pandemic at the 200-kilometer (125-mile) Greek border with Turkey to stop people entering the European Union illegally. A new steel wall, similar to recent construction on the U.S.-Mexico border, blocks commonly-used crossing points along the Evros River that separates the two countries. Nearby observation towers are being fitted with long-range cameras, night vision, and multiple sensors. The data will be sent to control centers to flag suspicious movement using artificial intelligence analysis. We will have a clear pre-border picture of whats happening, Police Maj. Dimonsthenis Kamargios, head of the regions border guard authority, told the Associated Press. The EU has poured 3 billion euros ($3.7 billion) into security tech research following the refugee crisis in 2015-16, when more than 1 million people many escaping wars in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan fled to Greece and on to other EU countries. The automated surveillance network being built on the Greek-Turkish border is aimed at detecting migrants early and deterring them from crossing, with river and land patrols using searchlights and long-range acoustic devices. Key elements of the network will be launched by the end of the year, Kamargios said. Our task is to prevent migrants from entering the country illegally. We need modern equipment and tools to do that. Researchers at universities around Europe, working with private firms, have developed futuristic surveillance and verification technology, and tested more than a dozen projects at Greek borders. AI-powered lie detectors and virtual border-guard interview bots have been piloted, as well as efforts to integrate satellite data with footage from drones on land, air, sea and underwater. Palm scanners record the unique vein pattern in a persons hand to use as a biometric identifier, and the makers of live camera reconstruction technology promise to erase foliage virtually, exposing people hiding near border areas. Testing has also been conducted in Hungary, Latvia and elsewhere along the eastern EU perimeter. The more aggressive migration strategy has been advanced by European policymakers over the past five years, funding deals with Mediterranean countries outside the bloc to hold migrants back and transforming the EU border protection agency, Frontex, from a coordination mechanism to a full-fledged multinational security force. But regional migration deals have left the EU exposed to political pressure from neighbors. Earlier this month, several thousand migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in a single day, prompting Spain to deploy the army. A similar crisis unfolded on the Greek-Turkish border and lasted three weeks last year. Greece is pressing the EU to let Frontex patrol outside its territorial waters to stop migrants reaching Lesbos and other Greek islands, the most common route in Europe for illegal crossing in recent years. Armed with new tech tools, European law enforcement authorities are leaning further outside borders. Not all the surveillance programs being tested will be included in the new detection system, but human rights groups say the emerging technology will make it even harder for refugees fleeing wars and extreme hardship to find safety. Patrick Breyer, a European lawmaker from Germany, has taken an EU research authority to court, demanding that details of the AI-powered lie detection program be made public. What we are seeing at the borders, and in treating foreign nationals generally, is that its often a testing field for technologies that are later used on Europeans as well. And thats why everybody should care, in their own self-interest, Breyer of the German Pirates Party told the AP. He urged authorities to allow broad oversight of border surveillance methods to review ethical concerns and prevent the sale of the technology through private partners to authoritarian regimes outside the EU. Ella Jakubowska, of the digital rights group EDRi, argued that EU officials were adopting techno-solutionism to sideline moral considerations in dealing with the complex issue of migration. It is deeply troubling that, time and again, EU funds are poured into expensive technologies which are used in ways that criminalize, experiment with and dehumanize people on the move, she said. The London-based group Privacy International argued the tougher border policing would provide a political reward to European leaders who have adopted a hard line on migration. If people migrating are viewed only as a security problem to be deterred and challenged, the inevitable result is that governments will throw technology at controlling them, said Edin Omanovic, an advocacy director at the group. Its not hard to see why: across Europe we have autocrats looking for power by targeting foreigners, otherwise progressive leaders who have failed to come up with any alternatives to copying their agendas, and a rampant arms industry with vast access to decision-makers. Migration flows have slowed in many parts of Europe during the pandemic, interrupting an increase recorded over years. In Greece, for example, the number of arrivals dropped from nearly 75,000 in 2019 to 15,700 in 2020, a 78% decrease. But the pressure is sure to return. Between 2000 and 2020, the worlds migrant population rose by more than 80% to reach 272 million, according to United Nations data, fast outpacing international population growth. At the Greek border village of Poros, the breakfast discussion at a cafe was about the recent crisis on the Spanish-Moroccan border. Many of the houses in the area are abandoned and in a gradual state of collapse, and life is adjusting to that reality. Cows use the steel wall as a barrier for the wind and rest nearby. Panagiotis Kyrgiannis, a Poros resident, says the wall and other preventive measures have brought migrant crossings to a dead stop. We are used to seeing them cross over and come through the village in groups of 80 or a 100, he said. We were not afraid. ... They dont want to settle here. All of this thats happening around us is not about us. ___ Associated Press writer Kelvin Chan in London contributed to this report. ___ Follow Derek Gatopoulos at https://twitter.com/dgatopoulos and Costas Kantouris at https://twitter.com/CostasKantouris ___ Follow APs global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration JERUSALEM (AP) Israels defense minister on Monday distanced himself from comments made by his military chief after Israel bombed a Gaza Strip high-rise housing an Associated Press office and other news outlets, saying the remarks were not meant to be taken literally. In an article published on the website of Channel 12 news over the weekend, the military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi, was quoted as saying that the building was destroyed justly and he did not have a gram of regret. The article claimed that the Hamas militant group that rules Gaza used various floors of the Jalaa Tower for significant electronic warfare meant to disrupt Israeli air force GPS communications. The article then said Kohavi had told a foreign source that AP journalists drank coffee each morning in a cafeteria in the buildings entrance with Hamas electronics experts, whether they knew it or not. The AP called the comments patently false, noting that there was not even a cafeteria in the building. Asked about Kohavis comments, Defense Minister Benny Gantz told foreign journalists that the military chief was only speaking in figurative terms. When the chief of staff talked about it, he was trying to portray the atmosphere, not the actual aspects," Gantz said. Gantz again alleged that there was Hamas infrastructure in offices that operated from this building. Asked to respond to Gantz's comments, the military spokesman's office also said Kohavi's statements were meant to be figurative. It was never claimed that AP journalists were knowingly interacting with Hamas personnel. On the contrary, due to the nature of Hamas' activities, AP journalists had no means of knowing that Hamas personnel were in the building, it said. The chief of the general staff explained the possible circumstances of such an encounter where the terrorist organization Hamas embeds itself within the civilian population and uses civilian buildings for military purposes, it said. The Israeli army gave occupants of the building one hour to evacuate before the May 15 airstrike. No one was injured, but the high-rise was flattened into a pile of rubble. The AP has said it had no indication of a Hamas presence in the building and was never warned of any possible presence before that day. It has called for an independent investigation and urged Israel to make public its intelligence. Gantz said Israel has shared its intelligence with the U.S. government. But he indicated that Israel has no intention of making the information public, saying it did not want to divulge its sources. DEAL, N.J. (AP) A Jersey shore community is backing off its latest attempt to restrict parking near the beach to residents only. Deal's Board of Commissioners was scheduled to vote Tuesday morning on an ordinance that would limit parking on several streets nearest the beach to residents only. They would be given a placard to display in their vehicles allowing them to park on the street on summer weekends. But that move, like numerous others before it, drew widespread opposition from beach access advocates, residents of nearby towns and elected officials who say it would violate state law requiring that beaches be equally accessible to all. That law is based on the Public Trust Doctrine, a legal concept stretching back to the Roman emperor Justinian that the tidal waters are the common property of all, held in trust by the state. Parking is a key component of New Jersey's beach access law. The boroughs website gave no reason for the decision to postpone final consideration of the ordinance, which had been scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday. Messages seeking comment were left with borough officials on Monday. Postponing the ordinance is a mere tactic," said Andrew Chambarry, an attorney who has been battling Deal on beach access issues for years. "Deal will likely, based on its past history, introduce a new ordinance at some point to limit parking in this area. What we really need is our state legislators to introduce a bill requiring public parking in beach towns to be consistent with the Public Trust Doctrine, and for the DEP to have the teeth to enforce it," he said. The state Department of Environmental Protection, which enforces beach access laws, said it was examining the proposed law, but had not publicly announced any action regarding it. For decades, local governments in some Jersey Shore towns and elsewhere around the country have used a variety of tactics to keep outsiders off their sand. One of the most effective methods has been restricting parking near the beach. The practical effect in shore towns like Deal, a wealthy enclave popular with New York doctors, lawyers and business executives, has been that people who dont live within walking distance of the sand are often not able to use it. The ongoing federally funded replenishment of beaches along the coast by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers comes with a requirement that adequate parking be provided near the taxpayer-funded sand. But Deal has a long history of wanting to keep its beaches to itself. It would ticket or arrest surfers before a court decision ended the practice. It toyed with selling parking permits for streets near the beach for $100 apiece before backing down. And it tried, yet again, to restrict summer weekend parking in streets closest to the ocean. ___ Follow Wayne Parry at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/31/2021 -- According to a new market research report "IoT in Utilities Market by Component (Platform, Solutions (Asset Monitoring and Management and CIS and Billing), Services), Application (Electricity Grid Management Water and Wastewater Management), Region - Global Forecast to 2024" published by MarketsandMarkets, the Internet of Things in Utilities Market size expected to grow from USD 28.6 billion in 2019 to USD 53.8 billion by 2024, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.5% during the forecast period. The use of IoT in grid technology is accelerating the integration of renewable energy resources, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectricity into the electrical grid and further in the gas and water utility segment across the world. Factors, such as the rising trend of deregulating the utility industry, and need for operational efficiency and control are expected to increase the growth of the market. The lack of standards for interconnectivity and interoperability can restrain the growth of the market. Browse in-depth TOC on "IoT in Utilities Market" 108- Tables 42- Figures 155- Pages Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=116054824 Asset monitoring and management solution to account for the largest market size during the forecast period IoT-enabled asset monitoring solutions are a combination of all processes, assets, workflows, and analytics into a single solution, which offer centrally consolidated tracking, monitoring, and analytics system for asset-intensive sectors, such as utilities, mining, oil and gas, and healthcare. Asset monitoring and management solutions include the management of utility meters, predictive asset maintenance, and control operations of assets. Asset management for utilities help in the optimum and sustainable management of water and gas pipelines. In order to achieve the organizational strategic plan, the associated performance, risks, and expenditures over the lifecycle of assets are taken care of by asset management solutions. These solutions generally include type and asset tracking; work order creation; maintenance, repair, and operations inventory and procurement; asset tracking; and planned maintenance history. The electricity grid management application to account for the largest market size during the forecast period The use of IoT in the electricity grid offers an unprecedented opportunity to move the energy industry into a new era of reliability, availability, and efficiency, which will contribute in enhancing the overall economic and environmental health. An electricity grid having IoT capabilities has smart sensors, receivers, smart meters, and energy boxes which communicate with each other. In the traditional electricity grid, utilities would gain knowledge about an existing power failure through consumers. However, with the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) in place, utility providers are well-aware about the failure once the smart meter stops sending meter data, owing to the presence of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and two-way communication across all components. n This leads to lower response time and real-time information about maintenance-related issues, leading to better management of electricity distribution . Use of IoT in electricity grid is not limited to technology and utility operators but it helps consumers manage day-to-day energy consumption. Request Sample Pages @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=116054824 North America to account for the highest market share during the forecast period North America accounts for the highest market share in the IoT in utilities market. The region has always been at the forefront of smart grid technology adoption and a large share of the major utilities in the region are either fully deployed or in the implementation or planning stages of full-scale rollouts. In the coming years, continued growth in North America is expected to be largely driven by large investor-owned utilities across the US markets, which are yet to roll out smart meters for their customers. Moreover, large number of small cooperative and municipal utilities are expected to play a central role for growth penetration. The major IoT in utilities market vendors include IBM (US), Oracle (US), Verizon (US), Cisco (US), Vodafone (UK), Telit (UK), Landis Gyr (Switzerland), Itron (US), Schneider Electric (France), Huawei (China), Trimble (US), Aclara (US), Trilliant (US), Energyworx (Netherlands), HCL (India), Altair (US), Actility (France), Waviot (Russia), Rayven (Australia), Saviant Consulting (India), ABB (Switzerland), Siemens (Germany), Honeywell (US), and GE (US). 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, and strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: 1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com MnM Blog: https://mnmblog.org Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/iot-utility.asp LONDON, Ky. (AP) A Kentucky man who received a controversial pardon from then-Gov. Matt Bevin was rearrested Sunday, The Courier-Journal reported. Patrick Baker was convicted of killing Donald Mills. Mills' sister told the paper an agent with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives contacted her Monday to say Baker had been arrested again in connection with her brothers death. Baker was booked into the Laurel County Correctional Center in London just after 12:15 a.m. Monday, with the jail log listing his only charge as federal prisoner held-in transit/court/serveout. A spokesman with the Federal Bureau of Investigation did not immediately respond to an email Monday asking for more information on the charges. Bevin issued hundreds of pardons between his electoral defeat in November 2019 and his final day in office a month later. Baker's pardon was controversial because his relatives had held a fundraiser for the Republican governor in 2018. After his pardon, Baker appeared at a news conference in Lexington where his attorneys said he was innocent of the 2014 slaying in which he was convicted of posing as a law enforcement officer and killing Mills in the victims Knox County home. I did not kill Donald Mills and my family did not pay for my release, Baker said in a statement at the time. In January 2020, Kentucky's Republican attorney general asked the FBI to investigate Bevins' last-minute pardons. At least one other person helped by Bevin has also been rearrested. Dayton Jones was a few years into a 15-year sentence for sex crimes when Bevin commuted his convictions. Several months later, Jones was charged by federal prosecutors with producing child pornography. AKRON, Ohio (AP) A man was sentenced to four life terms without parole in a series of shooting deaths during robberies in Ohio about five years ago, including the death of a university student killed during a pizza shop robbery and a mother and son slain in their home. Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Alison McCarty sentenced 27-year-old Shaquille Anderson Friday to four consecutive sentences plus an additional 98 years in prison for his role in the murder of 21-year-old University of Akron student Zakaria Husein and three other people in robberies between December 2015 and June 2016. May these heartless acts weigh heavy on your heart, she told the defendant, who pleaded no contest and was convicted in Husein's death in February 2020. He agreed at the time to take the same step in the two other cases in exchange for life terms rather than the death penalty. Sentences in all thee cases, delayed for more than a year because of the pandemic, were imposed in separate hearings allowing relatives of the victims to speak either in person or by video. The Akron Beacon Journal reports that Anderson didnt speak due to his pending appeals and showed no emotion during the three hours of hearings. Husein was killed during a December 2015 robbery at his family business, Premium New York Style Pizza. Surveillance video from inside the store showed a man wearing a mask demand money and shoot Husein before fleeing with the cash. Ammar Husein, Zaks brother, said Anderson may have thought he had a tough life but it didnt compare to the conditions in Palestine, his familys native land. You were richer than everybody in the neighborhood where I came from, he said. Sonia Freeman, 48, and her son Christopher Lane-Freeman, 28, were shot to death by three men during a May 2016 robbery in their West Akron apartment. Christian Dorsey, 24, was found shot to death on a street after a June 2016 robbery. May you rot behind prison walls for the rest of your life and have a painful death, said Roslyn Carter, cousin of Sonia Freeman and second cousin of Christopher Lane-Freeman. We will forever live in pain ... You didnt have to do it but the devil in you made you. Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh called the defendant the worst of the worst," adding in a statement that his reign of terror impacted several families who will feel the pain of what he did for years." MEXICO CITY (AP) A study published by a childrens rights group in Mexico Monday suggests there has been a disturbing pattern at as many as 18 schools and childcare centers where multiple adult employees allegedly collaborated among themselves and used eerily similar tactics and practices to sexually abuse pupils between the ages of three and seven. In one case uncovered in 2018, 11 adults at one pre-school allegedly abused 49 children aged between 3 and 5, by inserting water-filled syringes into their bodily orifices, a practice found over and over in other cases. The 11 offenders are accused of committing the abuse in a coordinated fashion, according to the report by the civic group Center for The Defense of Childrens Rights. Children were forced to watch adults performing sexual acts or touch or abuse other kids. In many cases, the similar use of disguises or specific staging of the abuse suggested a broader pattern. The cases identified are notably different from the unfortunately numerous cases of child sexual abuse committed by individual teachers against one or more students, the report states. These cases demonstrate patterns of criminal behavior characterized by organized aggressions committed by multiple adults perpetrated in mass scale within the premises of a given school. Evidently this situation raises questions as to how these perpetrators came to work in the same school? How were they assigned to this post and by whom? How did their coordinated action come to be? Did they arrive to this post knowing each other or did their coordination arise once working in the school? the report asks. We have identified patterns of criminal behavior that raise the possibility that numerous primary and pre-school facilities have been coopted and used to commit on-line child sexual abuse, the report states. Asked about the report, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador pledged Monday to provide an accounting of how the government is combating such cases. A lot of work is being done, all these reprehensible, appalling acts that involve the abuse of children are being combated, it is an ongoing activity, Lopez Obrador saying he would instruct the appropriate authorities to report on how children, the most vulnerable segment of the population are being protected from these attacks. Some of the cases in which the Centers lawyers have participated have resulted in convictions of abusers. For example, in one 2011 case, six school employees were convicted and received lengthy prison sentences. But the lawyers were struck both by the brazenness of the abusers, and a pattern that seemed to be repeated at other schools. For example, the report states that in the 2011 case, those found guilty include the schools principal, four teachers, and the school janitor. The patterns in the abuse and extreme violence are repeated in multiple schools. The abuse takes place within the school and perpetrators do not seem to hide when committing the repeated abusive behavior. So the legal team reviewed 37 cases found to possibly match the criminal patterns we identified. Of these cases we were only able to attain greater detail as to the narratives of the children in 18 schools that confirmed similar patterns. But the report says that police investigations are poorly coordinated with prosecutors, and tend to prosecute abusers as individuals, without looking at whether even more accomplices were involved. Organizational links between similar cases are impossible to detect if each school is investigated in an isolated manner, the report says. Fragmentation guarantees criminal organizations that it is technically impossible to detect any participation other than the material offenders in any given case. Moreover, many of the victims report there were cameras present during the abuse, raising the possibility the abuse was being filmed or photographed for later distribution. We considered that a possible hypothesis of the production of child pornography should be investigated, according to the report. FLINT, Mich. (AP) The Michigan Supreme Court is taking a look at the 2007 fatal shooting of a Flint teenager who was accused of being a snitch. Four men are serving life sentences for the death of Robert Person, who was 14. The Supreme Court said it will hear arguments over whether three had their rights violated when a transcript of a witness interview wasn't produced before trial. Ed White/AP DETROIT (AP) A large mural honoring a firefighter and other Detroit public employees who died from COVID-19 has been unveiled next to a fire station. Capt. Franklin Williams of the fire department dominates the painting. But there are images of a bus driver who made an emotional plea for protection from COVID-19 before he caught the virus, and 5-year-old girl Skylar Herbert, who was the daughter of a firefighter and police officer. JERUSALEM (AP) A constellation of Israeli political parties seeking to unseat longtime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened Monday to hash out power-sharing agreements two days before a deadline. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid said at a meeting of his Yesh Atid party that a great many obstacles stood before a prospective government. But he said the various members of the anti-Netanyahu coalition are trying to see if we can find in the coming days wise compromises for the sake of the big aim. Lapid was tasked by the countrys figurehead president with forming a government earlier this month after Netanyahu failed to do so in the aftermath of the March 23 elections, the fourth in two years. On Sunday, Naftali Bennett, head of the small, hard-line nationalist Yamina party, said he would work with Lapid to form a broad unity government and save the country from a tailspin and return Israel to its course. Lapid has already secured the support of two smaller liberal parties and a secular ultranationalist faction. Bennett and Lapid have until Wednesday to hammer out a deal in which the pair split the premiership with Bennett serving the first two years and Lapid the following two. No political party has ever won an outright majority in Israel's 120-seat parliament, the Knesset, forcing smaller factions to band together to form a coalition with more than 61 seats. If Lapid and his allies which range from hard-line nationalists to liberal Zionists and a small Islamist party can overcome their differences and seal a deal, it would spell the end of Netanyahu's rule, for the time being. Netanyahu is Israels longest-serving prime minister, having held office since 2009, as well as a brief stint in the late 1990s. Despite his Likud party being the largest faction in the Knesset, he has become a divisive figure. Israel has held four parliamentary elections in the past two years, all seen as a referendum on his fitness to rule. The long-serving prime minister has held onto power despite being indicted on charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in 2019. Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing and has refused to step down from office while on trial. After Bennett announced his intention to join forces with Lapid, Netanyahu lashed out in a nationally televised speech, saying that such a government is a danger to the security of Israel, and is also a danger to the future of the state. Lapid responded to Netanyahu's remarks on Monday, saying they were reckless and dangerous, that of a man who has lost the brakes." If you want to know why were determined to (bring) a change of government in Israel, go listen to that speech by Netanyahu, Lapid said, referring to Netanyahu's claim that a government without him would be dangerous and growing calls to violence by some against the prime minister's political opponents and others. Lapid pointed to the security details assigned to the prime minister's political rivals, reporters and state prosecutors in Netanyahu's corruption trial. On Sunday, the Knesset Guard approved assigning a personal bodyguard to senior Yamina party politician Ayelet Shaked amid increasing threats of physical violence. Protesters outside Shaked's home held signs that read Leftist traitors. Bennett received a personal security detachment earlier this month. Gideon Saar, a former member of Netanyahu's Likud party who split away ahead of the March elections, said his New Hope was doing everything in our power to reach a compromise and form a government, but that such an outcome remained uncertain. Saar railed against the incitement against politicians seeking to assemble a coalition without Netanyahu, saying the prime minister and his people are engaging in wild de-legitimization of a government that has yet to arise. COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) A new law in South Carolina allows the state education superintendent to fire the entire school board in districts where too many schools have been rated as underperforming. The law, signed by Gov. Henry McMaster after easily passing the House and Senate, goes into effect in July 2022. It allows the superintendent to declare a state-of-education emergency in school districts where 65% or more of the schools are rated underperforming for three straight years on the Department of Education's annual school report cards. If the State Board of Education agrees with the superintendent on the emergency declaration, the district's school board is all fired and state officials will get at least six years to take over the district and try to improve it. The state is currently running districts in Allendale County for a second time as well as in Williamsburg County and Florence District 4. Current Education Superintendent Molly Spearman said the experiences so far led her to ask lawmakers to add the provision to get rid of school board members. In the three districts that we have declared a state of emergency, there was negligence by some of the school board members, and those same members continued to be a distraction while we were there working, Spearman said in an interview with The State newspaper. Thats when it became apparent to me that the best solution would be to dissolve those boards. If a district shows three years of progress, an interim board is chosen by the education superintendent, governor and local legislators. The board serves for at least three years before local school board elections can start again. The law is unclear about whether Spearman can get rid of the boards in districts the state is already running. Education department officials are asking lawmakers to clarify that next year. The South Carolina School Boards Association may sue if the boards in districts already under state control are fired because actions in those districts weren't taken under the new law, spokesperson Debbie Elmore said. Elmore said her association is also reviewing other parts of the law for possible legal action. Williamsburg County School District Chairperson Marva Cannion said it wouldn't be fair to remove her from office because she was elected in 2018 on promises to improve the district after the state took over. Were just sitting here waiting to see what the state decides, Cannion, a retired special education director, told the newspaper. They are aware we want to serve and be part of the solution and not the problem. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Fires in New Mexicos Gila National Forest have burned nearly 70 square miles (175 square kilometers) after lightning strikes earlier this month. One of the blazes is mostly under control, officials said Monday. The Doagy Fire in western New Mexico is now 86% contained, National Forest spokeswoman Marta Call said. The blaze has burned around 20 square miles (52 square kilometers) on federal land in the Gila National Forest. A separate fire in the same forest also started after a lightning strike this month, the Forest Service said. The Johnson Fire has burned around 46 square miles (120 square kilometers). Fire officials didn't include a containment estimate in a Monday update. Fire officials say they will allow burning that is healthy for forests, but are monitoring the threat the Johnson Fire may pose to the nearby Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, a treasured pre-Colombian settlement preserved in rock. Trails into the Gila will close to the public on June 1 to protect public safety. A much smaller fire started Friday outside of Cuba, in northern New Mexico. The cause remains unknown. The fire could threaten local property and oil infrastructure, the Forest Service said. Fire season in New Mexico is on track to be even hotter and drier than usual, with lower flow in many of its rivers. ISLAMABAD (AP) A Pakistani television station Monday took a prominent journalist off air, removing him as host of a popular talk show after he criticized the countrys powerful military, the journalist and rights groups said. The development comes just days after the journalist, Hamid Mir, made a fiery speech at a rally in support of a fellow reporter, Asad Ali Toor, who was beaten up by three unidentified men in his apartment in Islamabad. Geo News TV did not comment on the changes regarding its Capital Talk, a five-days-a-week program during which Mir would invite guests to debate current events in the country. Journalists and press freedom advocates often accuse Pakistans military and its agencies of harassing and attacking journalists. The government insists it supports freedom of speech. In a statement on Twitter, Amnesty International denounced the ban on Mir and asked Pakistani authorities to protect free speech. Censorship, harassment, and physical violence must not be the price journalists pay to do their jobs," it said. Also on Monday, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan denounced Geo News for taking Mir off air. It said the action against him comes after he spoke fervidly against the escalation of curbs on freedom of expression in the country. Local journalists groups, which document attacks or violations against journalists in Pakistan, say the period from May 2020 to April 2021 saw 148 such attacks. Mir confirmed his removal in a text message to The Associated Press. He later tweeted that it was nothing new for him. I was banned twice in the past, said Mir, who had also in the past been fired by Geo News. Mir was attacked in 2014 in the port city of Karachi, when a gunman critically wounded him. His family at the time blamed the country's intelligence service for orchestrating the attack. The perpetrator was never publicly known. Geo News' move drew swift condemnation by journalists, politicians, and members of civil society groups. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists asked the TV station to explain whether the step was taken under government pressure. The station's owner, Mir Shakilur Rehman, was arrested last year in a decades-old case related to allegations of tax evasion in a real estate purchase. He was freed months later on a court order. Toor, the journalist beaten in his apartment, works for the Aaj News Pakistani TV. He later told police his attackers claimed they were from the Inter-Services Intelligence. However, the spy agency days later distanced itself from the attack. On Friday, Mir along with dozens of Pakistani journalists attended a rally in Islamabad to condemn the attack on Toor. So far, authorities have not arrested anyone in connection with the attack and police say they are still investigating. Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/31/2021 -- Advance Market Analytics recently released Telecom Service Assurance Market research with more than 100 market data tables and figures spread through Pages are easy to understand TOC in "Telecom Service Assurance Market research", so you can get a variety of ways to maximize your profits. Telecom Service Assurance Market predicted until 2026. Definition: The global telecom service assurance market is projected to witness a high growth in near future owing to rising demand for service quality and noteworthy increase in the number of cellular subscribers. Though, there is a seismic shift in the Telecom world of Service Assurance and is prompting the sector to change. Nowadays, it is not enough to provide traditionally expected consumer needs such as billings, technical support, customer service, network fixers as companies are expected to provide differentiated customer services. Major Players are: CA Technologies (United States),Ericsson (Sweden),Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) Company (United States),NEC Corporation (Japan),Accenture (United States),Amdocs Inc. (United States),Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. (China),IBM (United States),Oracle Corporation (United States),Tata Consultancy Services Limited (India) Free Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts @: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/37240-global-telecom-service-assurance-market The titled segments and Market Data Break Down are illuminated below: Deployment Mode (On-Premises, Cloud Based), Services (Professional Services, Managed Services), Enterprise Size (Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Large Enterprises), System (Probe Monitoring, Fault and Event Management, Quality and Service Management, Network Performance Monitoring, Workforce Management) Research objectives: - To study and analyze the Telecom Service Assurance Market size by key regions/countries, product type and application, history data from 2015 to 2020, and forecast to 2026. - To understand the structure of Telecom Service Assurance Market by identifying its various sub segments. - Focuses on the key Telecom Service Assurance Market players, to define, describe and analyze the value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in next few years. - To analyze the Telecom Service Assurance Market with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market. - To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks). - To project the size of Telecom Service Assurance Market, with respect to key regions. - To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches and acquisitions in the market. Enquire for customization in Report @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/37240-global-telecom-service-assurance-market Market Trends: Growing Need for High Optimization and Augmented Cost Savings Market Drivers: Rising Demand for Service Quality Noteworthy Increase in the Number of Cellular Subscribers Challenges: Slow Adoption Rate in Developing Nations Opportunities: Advent of Highly Technical and Complex Technologies Region Included are: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Oceania, South America, Middle East & Africa Country Level Break-Up: United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, South Africa, Nigeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Germany, United Kingdom (UK), the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Turkey, Russia, France, Poland, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Australia and New Zealand etc. Research Parameter/ Research Methodology: - Primary Research: Key sources are industry professionals in the Telecom Service Assurance industry, including management organizations, processing organizations, and analytics service providers that manage the value chain of industry organizations. We interviewed all major sources to collect and certify qualitative and quantitative information and to determine future prospects. In the extensive primary research process conducted for this study, industry experts such as CEOs, vice presidents, marketing directors, technology and innovation directors, founders and key executives from several of the industry's leading Telecom Service Assurance companies and organizations, we conducted interviews to acquire and verify both quantitative aspects. Secondary Research: Secondary research studies critical information about the industrial value chain, core pool of people, and applications. We also helped market segmentation based on the industry's lowest level of industry, geographical markets and key developments in market and technology-driven core development. Strategic Points Covered in Table of Content of Telecom Service Assurance Market: Chapter 1: Introduction, market driving force product Objective of Study and Research Scope the Telecom Service Assurance market Chapter 2: Exclusive Summary the basic information of the Telecom Service Assurance Market. Chapter 3: Displaying the Market Dynamics- Drivers, Trends and Challenges of the Telecom Service Assurance Chapter 4: Presenting the Telecom Service Assurance Market Factor Analysis Porters Five Forces, Supply/Value Chain, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent/Trademark Analysis. Chapter 5: Displaying the by Type, End User and Region Chapter 6: Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the Telecom Service Assurance market which consists of its Competitive Landscape, Peer Group Analysis, BCG Matrix & Company Profile Chapter 7: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by manufacturers with revenue share and sales by key countries in these various regions. Chapter 8 & 9: Displaying the Appendix, Methodology and Data Source Key questions answered: - - Who are the Leading key players and what are their Key Business plans in the Telecom Service Assurance market? - What are the key concerns of the five forces analysis of the Telecom Service Assurance market? - What are different prospects and threats faced by the dealers in the Telecom Service Assurance market? - What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors? Full Copy Telecom Service Assurance Market Report @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/reports/37240-global-telecom-service-assurance-market **Actual Numbers & In-Depth Analysis, Business opportunities, Market Size Estimation Available in Full Report. Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia. Contact Us: Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager) AMA Research & Media LLP Unit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJ New Jersey USA 08837 Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218 sales@advancemarketanalytics.com Connect with us at https://www.linkedin.com/company/advance-market-analytics https://www.facebook.com/AMA-Research-Media-LLP-344722399585916 https://twitter.com/amareport CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) Conservation projects in the Pecos River area got a boost this year as about $1.5 million in grants were awarded to organizations in southeast New Mexico and West Texas to restore habitats and maintain the health of the river. The Pecos Watershed Conservation Initiative, a consortium of private companies and government agencies created in 2017, released its fourth annual grant funds last week providing dollars for seven projects along the river. The funds were matched by about $3 million from participating organizations, the Carlsbad Current-Argus reported. Last year, about $1.8 million was awarded to eight projects, matched with $3.7 million. Partners in the initiative included oil and gas companies such as Chevron, Occidental Petroleum and XTO Energy and federal government agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management. In a joint statement, the initiatives corporate members said the funding was intended to improve communities that host oil and gas extraction, such as those in the Permian Basin that spans southeastern New Mexico and West Texas along with the Pecos River Valley. Our people are on the ground every day in the Pecos, living and working, so it is essential that the initiatives investments provide real benefits to local communities, landscapes and wildlife, read the statement. By strengthening the health of existing habitats along the Pecos River and its tributaries in eastern New Mexico and West Texas, by improving the management and function of native grasslands, and by protecting some of the last remaining populations of native fish and other aquatic species found only in the Chihuahuan Desert, we are achieving this goal. BLM New Mexico Acting Director Melanie Barnes said the projects were needed to support the diverse ecosystems in the Pecos River area, restore native grasslands and combat invasive species. Controlling invasive species brings restored grasslands and improved water quality and availability and modifying restrictive fencing brings unobstructed movement across these landscapes for both large and small game animals, Barnes said. Both of these efforts are management priorities for public lands. Between the 2020 and 2021, the 15 projects awarded funding led to the leasing of more than 13,000 acre-feet of water to support restoring aquatic habitats, restoration of about 26 square miles (67 square kilometers) of grasslands in the Chihuahuan Desert, while improving grassland management of 36 square miles (93 square kilometers). More than 60 miles (96 kilometers) of new fencing safe for native pronghorns was to be installed, while hydrology was restored at four habitat sites. ___ What projects along the Pecos River were funded for 2021? New Mexico Texas hornshell mussel: A project to improve stream flows in the Delaware and Black rivers for the native Texas hornshell mussel through the Carlsbad-based nonprofit CEHMM was granted $250,000 and was fully matched for total funds of $500,000. The project supported water transactions during times of low-flow and developed a long-term plan to maintain healthy river flows. Blue Springs: The Carlsbad Soil and Water Conservation District was awarded $207,519 and matched $208,694 for a total of $416,213 for a project to improve the Blue Springs riparian area in Eddy County on the Black River. The project will see the removal of invasive salt cedar and Russian olive trees to enhance soil and vegetation in the area. New Mexico Plains Pronghorn: About 8 square miles (20 square kilometers) grassland habitat for the New Mexico Plains Pronghorn will be restored with a $105,041 grant and $1.6 million in matching funds for a total budget of about $1.7 million. Mesquite brush would be controlled and at least 5 miles of pronghorn-friendly fence would be installed. Texas Bird surveys: Bird monitoring will continue using new automated telemetry to study non-breeding ecology, movement and survival rates of Chihuahuan Desert grassland birds like the Spragues pipit and chestnut-collared longspur. The project by the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies was granted $236,000, fully matched for a total of $472,000. Pecos River flow: This project by Texas Water Trade looks to restore habitats on the river for multiple avian and aquatic species by addressing water quality and scarcity issues for both wildlife and agricultural purposes and the impacts of orphan oil and gas wells in Pecos County. The project was granted $299,331, matched with $266,500 for total funding of $495,831. Grassland restoration: In northern Hudspeth County, $250,000 was granted and matched for a $500,000 budget to restore at least 9 square miles (23 square kilometers) of dry-mixed prairie along the river, expanding native grasslands and eradicating invasive brush to improve habitats for species like the pronghorn. Another grassland restoration project in Brewster and Jeff Davis counties by the Big Bend Soil and Water Conservation District was granted $105,041 and garnered about $1.6 million for a total fund of about $1.8 million. JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) Indonesian police said Monday they have arrested 11 suspected Islamic militants accused of plotting attacks at several Christian churches in easternmost Papua province. On Friday, the elite counterterrorism squad arrested 10 suspects in several raids in Papuas Merauke district after receiving information about planned attacks in the province, a predominantly Christian region in Muslim-majority Indonesia, Merauke police chief Untung Sangaji said. The arrests led police to another suspect who was detained Sunday, and led them to seize items from various locations including chemicals for explosives, modified air guns able to fire real bullets, jihadist books and documents on planned attacks, he said. Sangaji said those arrested are suspected of being members of Jemaah Anshorut Daulah, which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group and carried out a series of suicide bombings in Indonesia. They allegedly planned to attack churches in several places in Merauke, Sangaji said. He declined to provide more details, saying that the investigation is still underway. He said some of the suspects are believed to have links to a suicide attack outside a Roman Catholic cathedral during Palm Sunday Mass in March in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi, that wounded 20 people. Arrests of suspected Islamic militants are rare in Papua, a former Dutch colony in the western part of New Guinea that is ethnically and culturally distinct from much of Indonesia. It was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 after a U.N.-sponsored ballot that was seen as a sham by many. In late 2019, police arrested seven suspected militants in Jayapura, the capital of Papua province, who had fled from a counterterrorism crackdown on other Indonesian islands. Indonesias last major militant attack was in May 2018, when two families carried out suicide bombings on churches in Surabaya, killing a dozen people including two young girls whose parents involved them in one of the attacks. Police said the father was the leader of a local affiliate of Jemaah Anshorut Daulah. Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim nation, has carried out a sustained crackdown on Islamic militants since bombings on the tourist island of Bali in 2002 killed 202 people, mostly foreigners. New threats have emerged in recent years from Islamic State group-inspired radicals who have targeted security forces and local infidels instead of Westerners. BEIRUT (AP) Dozens of medical workers in rebel-held northwest Syria on Monday protested a decision to grant President Bashar Assad's government a seat on the executive board of the World Health Organization. They said Assad is responsible for bombing hospitals and clinics across the war-ravaged country. The decision to give Syria a seat came a decade into the countrys devastating civil war that has left untold numbers of civilians including many health care workers dead and injured. The selection of Syria at a little-noticed session Saturday of the WHOs annual assembly which brings together all member states of the U.N. health agency has evoked outrage in opposition-held Idlib province. Rifaat Farhat, a senior health official in Idlib, said the move contradicts all international and humanitarian laws. Syria was among 12 WHO member states that were chosen to appoint new members for the 34-member board in an assembly vote that faced no debate or opposition. Syria will take up the seat for the executive boards next session, which begins Wednesday. The revelation was highlighted by the advocacy group UN Watch, which keeps tabs on perceived hypocrisies and other shortcomings of the world body and its affiliated organizations like WHO. The board is largely a technical group whose role is to carry out the decisions of, and advise, the assembly, which is made up of all WHO member states and has been meeting since May 24. We reject the idea that our killer and he who destroyed our hospitals be represented on the executive board, read a banner carried by some of the protesters in Idlib on Monday. Some two dozen medical staff members protested outside the main health department. Citizen journalist Salwa Abdul-Rahman, who is based in Idlib province the last rebel stronghold in the country said he worried a representative of the government could work on cutting medical assistance to the region that is home to millions of people. Syria's war has left half a million people dead and driven millions out of the country since the conflict erupted in 2011. Investigators working for the U.N.s main human rights body and international advocacy groups have reported that the Assad government and its allies like Russia and Iran have been responsible for the destruction of health care facilities as part of the years of fighting. Hundreds of medical facilities have been bombed, mostly in government airstrikes; half the hospitals and health centers are functioning only partially or not at all, while 70% of the medical personnel have fled the country. A WHO emergency appeal for Syria issued in March said at least 12.4 million people are in need of assistance in Syria, and the essential health service infrastructure such as hospitals and health care centers are in a state of disrepair. By the end of December, it said, only half of the countrys assessed public hospitals were reported to be fully functioning. Up to half of Syrias health care workforce has left the country. ___ Associated Press writer Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed to this report. EVERETT, Wash. (AP) The Washington state Supreme Court this month unanimously rejected the notion that a man who skipped his court date could be presented as evidence that he felt guilty about the original crime. State Supreme Court justices agreed that criminalizing a single missed court date could disproportionately harm people of color, poor people or people without reliable transportation or scheduling conflicts due to child care or work, The Daily Herald reported. The ruling came less than a year after the state Legislature revised the bail jumping law, which gives people more time to respond to a warrant. Samuel Slater, 27, had one unexcused absence in his case, which predated the new law. Records show Slater was convicted of violating no-contact orders five times in five years, multiple driving offenses and domestic violence charges. He pleaded guilty in 2016 to assault in Washington state. A judge ordered him not to have contact with the woman, who was not identified, but he showed up within a day of being let out of jail. He was charged in 2017 with alleged felony violation of a no-contact order and felony bail jumping after missing a court date later in the year. Slater's attorney, Frederic Moll, asked for separate trials on the counts. Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Anita Farris, a former public defender, found that the charges could be tried together for judicial economy reasons and that they were cross-admissible, meaning one could be used to prove the other. Judge Ellen Fair presided over the trial and agreed with Farris. State Court of Appeals judges also agreed. During the trial, deputy prosecutor Adam Sturdivant repeatedly noted how the defendant missed his court date, asking: If he didnt do it, why didnt he show up for trial call a year ago? Slater was found guilty on both counts and sentenced to more than two years in prison and a year of probation. The Supreme Court found that the Snohomish County judges decision allowed Sturdivant to make improper comments to the jury about Slaters propensity to violate orders. Attorney James Herr argued in February that the trial was not about the charge, but instead about the missed court hearing. The state Supreme Court acknowledged there are other valid reasons why people might miss court dates. And judges have said there are alternatives to ensure people avoid skipping court including warrants, higher bail or stricter release conditions. The ACLU of Washington, the Washington Defender Association, Columbia Legal Services and the King County Department of Public Defense signed a legal brief supporting Slater's case. The state Supreme Court overturned Slaters convictions and ruled that the case must be returned to Snohomish County, where prosecutors can decide whether to try the case again. If so, there would need to be two separate trials. It is unclear if Snohomish County prosecutors will proceed again. MOSCOW (AP) Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny asked a court Monday to halt the hourly night-time checks he has been subjected to in his penal colony. Speaking to the court in a video link from prison, Navalny charged that he has done nothing that would warrant the authorities' decision to designate him as a flight risk that has resulted in checks. I just want them to stop coming to me and waking me up at night-time, he told the judge in remarks that were broadcast by the independent Dozhd TV. What did I do: Did I climb the fence? Did I dig up an underpass? Or was I wringing a pistol from someone? Just explain why they named me a flight risk!" He argued that the hourly night-time checks effectively amount to torture, telling the judge that you would go mad in a week if subjected to such regular wake-ups. The court later adjourned the hearing until Wednesday. Navalny, the most determined political foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was arrested in January upon his return from Germany, where he had spent five months recovering from a nerve agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin accusations that Russian officials reject. In February, he was handed a 2 1/2-year sentence for violating terms of a suspended sentence stemming from a 2014 embezzlement conviction, which he says was politically motivated. He went on a 24-day hunger strike in prison to protest the lack of medical treatment for severe back pain and numbness in his legs, ending it last month after getting the medical attention he demanded. While he still was on hunger strike, Navalny was moved from a penal colony east of Moscow where he was serving his sentence to the hospital ward of another prison in Vladimir, a city 180 kilometers (110 miles) east of the capital. He still remains at that prison, where he said the night-time checks continued, although they were less intrusive. With Navalny in prison, prosecutors have asked a Moscow court to designate his Foundation for Fighting Corruption and his network of regional offices as extremist groups. A bill, which has sailed quickly through the Kremlin-controlled lower house of Russian parliament, bars members, donors and supporters of extremist groups from seeking public office. The parallel moves have been widely seen as an attempt to keep any of Navalny's associates from running in September's parliamentary election. BERLIN (AP) A Ryanair flight from Ireland to Poland diverted to Berlin after the crew were warned of a potential security threat on the plane, the airline said Monday. German air traffic control warned the crew of the Dublin-Krakow flight of the potential threat on Sunday, Ryanair said in a statement, without elaborating. It said the captain followed procedures and diverted to Berlin, the nearest airport. PERIDOT, Ariz. (AP) Several small beige-colored buildings sit along the entrance to the hospital on the San Carlos Apache reservation. People were being screened for COVID-19 symptoms before they could go inside. Lately, only one of the screening buildings remains as coronavirus cases declined in the southeastern Arizona community. The San Carlos Apache Tribe has seen a dramatic turnaround over the past year when one-third of its on-reservation population was infected with the coronavirus. The average number of positive COVID-19 cases is down to less than 1% a week, according to the the San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corp. Early education campaigns, an emergency declaration, and other safety precautions helped the community prepare even before it reported its first case, according to the Arizona Republic. We were blessed to have that time, said Victoria Began, chief executive of the health care corporation. As testing failed to keep up with demand across the state, San Carlos Apache ensured anyone who sought testing could get it and ramped up vaccine distribution without a need for mass vaccination events. The tribe has more than 17,000 members, about 13,000 of whom live on the reservation. The Tribal Emergency Response Commission that handles natural disasters and pandemics helped guide the Tribal Council with decisions related to the coronavirus, said tribal Chairman Terry Rambler. It also worked with health officials and the police department. When cases spiked, Rambler said the tribe set up checkpoints at the reservation boundaries to keep visitors out, issued a stay-at-home order and imposed regulations on businesses operating in the community. A mask mandate remains. The tribe also set up an alternative care site at the Apache Gold Casino Resort for people who needed to isolate from their families or quarantine. The effort was recognized by the National Indian Health Board. No one went home if they tested positive, said Tara Kitcheyan, chief patient experience officer for the San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corp. They were provided a safe space to isolate and heal. The alternative care site shut down at the end of March as the infection rate hit record lows. The health care corporation worked to stock up on equipment and increase hospital units ahead of the pandemic reaching the reservation. Hundreds of COVID-19 patients in need of higher levels of care were transferred to hospitals off the reservation, a pattern similar within other tribes. As of May 24, officials reported 4,052 positive COVID-19 cases and 68 deaths, or about a 1.7% death rate much lower than other areas, Began said. The loss of tribal citizens was compounded by the tightknit nature of the community. Kitcheyan said the health care corporation adapted along the way while ensuring that traditional Apache medicine was available to patients as well and tweaking guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine distribution to fit the tribes needs. I think thats what has made this a successful turnout, Kitcheyan said. We listen to our community. The tribe has vaccinated its citizens at a quicker pace than the state, starting in December. The goal is to achieve 80% herd immunity, or 10,800 of those who live on the reservation. The tribe is more than three-quarters there. The tribe saw a massive drop in positive COVID-19 cases by the end of January, followed by single-digit numbers in cases daily. Its amazing what weve done to help our people because our population is so small in comparison to the rest of the world, said Isaiah Belknap, chief executive mentee with the San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corp. We had to do everything we can, he added. We had to fight and be innovative. SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) For generations Marcus Whitman has been widely viewed as an iconic figure from early Pacific Northwest history, a venerated Protestant missionary who was among 13 people killed by the Cayuse tribe near modern-day Walla Walla, Washington, in 1847. But this past year has seen a continued reappraisal of Whitman, whose actions have increasingly been viewed as imperialistic and destructive. The Washington Legislature voted to strip his likeness from the U.S. Capitol. Students at Whitman College in Walla Walla demonstrated recently to demand another Whitman statue be removed from campus. A new book says a well-known story about Whitmans efforts to save the Northwest from British rule was fabricated. The developments come amid a nationwide movement, following George Floyds death last year, to shed Confederate monuments and depictions of historical figures who mistreated Native Americans. Statues of colonizers have been targeted in several states. Marcus Whitman is known for leading a small group of missionaries in 1836 into what was then Oregon Country, a region about the size of Alaska. He established the Whitman Mission at Waiilatpu, near the Walla Walla River. The mission was in the territory of the Cayuse Tribe, which was wary of the white settlers. Whitman and his wife, Narcissa, were strict Calvinists who preached a demanding version of Christianity that proved unpopular with the tribe. In more than a decade of effort, they managed to convert only two members of the tribe, said Blaine Harden, an author and former New York Times and Washington Post reporter who wrote the newly published Murder at the Mission about the massacre. Whitman was a mediocre missionary, Harden told The Associated Press. But the mission became an important stop along the Oregon Trail from 1843 to 1847, and the Cayuse became suspicious that the white settlers were coming to take the land. After a few years, the Whitmans lost interest in the Cayuse and spent their time trying to convert white settlers. Whitman eventually decided the Native Americans needed to give way to the settlers. An 1847 measles outbreak killed half the local Cayuse. The illness also broke out in the mission, but more white settlers survived. Some of the Cayuse blamed the devastation on Whitman and his wife. The Cayuse had a tradition of killing failed medicine men, Harden said, and Whitman, a medical doctor, was warned to leave the area. The Cayuse attacked the mission and killed the Whitmans and 11 others. The deaths shocked the nation. After the massacre, the settlers of the region sent a delegation to Washington, D.C., and used the massacre to motivate Congress to make the Oregon Country an official part of the United States, completing the continental nation, Harden said. Prior to that, the region that became the states of Oregon, Washington and Idaho had been jointly held with the British, Harden said. The killing of Whitman was the trigger that made Walla Walla part of the United States, he said. Twenty years after the massacre, fellow missionary Henry Spalding manufactured a false story about Whitman. Spalding contended Whitman had traveled to Washington, D.C., and persuaded President (John) Tyler to stop the British plot to steal the Oregon Territory from the United States," Harden said. There is no evidence Whitman actually did this, Harden said. But Spalding relentlessly promoted that story, and it became the popularly accepted myth, Harden said, printed in history books for decades. The myth was debunked in 1900 by a Yale professor and dropped from wide use. Whitman's name still adorns landmarks across the Pacific Northwest, including many schools, streets, a hotel in Walla Walla, a county in eastern Washington, a national forest in Oregon and a glacier on Mount Rainier. In 1953 a heroic statue to Whitman was placed in Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C., as one of two representing Washington state. He is standing, wearing buckskin garments and holding a thick Bible and saddlebags. Some people grumbled about the false story of Whitman's achievements even then, Harden said. Harden noted that Whitman College has taken concrete steps for decades to distance itself from the Whitman myth. That includes moving a statue identical to the one in Statuary Hall to a remote corner of campus. The college in 2016 voted to change its mascot from the Missionaries to the Blues, in honor of a nearby mountain range. There are no plans to change the name of the elite college. Washington legislators had been working for several years to replace Whitman's statue in Statuary Hall. This year they chose deceased Native American fishing and environmental activist Billy Frank Jr. for the honor. The measure's prime sponsor, Democratic state Rep. Debra Lekanoff, is the only Native American in the Washington Legislature. Her strategy was to praise Frank without criticizing Whitman, to avoid antagonizing supporters of the missionary. Gov. Jay Inslee in April signed the bill, beginning the process of putting a statue of Frank in the U.S. Capitol. We expect to send our best from the state of Washington to be memorialized in the United States Capitol in Statuary Hall, Inslee said at the bill signing ceremony. We cant send the Nisqually River or Mount Rainier, but we can send Billy Frank Jr. Meanwhile, Whitman students have been working to remove a Whitman statue from campus, including at an April demonstration. Sophomore Gillian Brown told the school newspaper she was uncomfortable with the way the statue glorified Whitman's legacy. Even when I first came to Whitman and they took us to the monument, I thought, This guy is a colonizer. Hes not someone to be celebrated," Brown told the Whitman Wire. The issue is still up in the air. The campus statue is owned by the city of Walla Walla, college spokeswoman Gina Ohnstad said. The city is working on a process to allow residents to submit formal requests for the removal of public art. ___ This story has been corrected to accurately spell Ohnstad. BOSTON (AP) Several people have died in traffic crashes on Massachusetts roads over the holiday weekend, authorities said. A car and a tractor-trailer crashed on Sandwich Road in Bourne at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday, police said. The woman driving the car died and the truck driver was not injured. It appears as if the car crossed the centerline, police said. In a separate case, a car and an SUV collided on Interstate 95 in Woburn at about 8:45 p.m. Sunday, state police said in a release. Both vehicles were heading north when, for reasons still under investigation, the car veered to the right and struck a guardrail, then crossed back into the travel lanes and into the path of the SUV. The driver of the car, a 37-year-old Needham man, was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead, state police said. And in Everett at about 12:30 a.m. Monday, a woman died when her vehicle struck a parked car, and a tree before crashing into the front porch of a home, according to a statement from the Middlesex district attorney's office. A passenger was hurt but no one in the home was injured. No names were released. Beijing enacts anti-food waste regulation: newspaper Xinhua) 14:32, May 31, 2021 A diner takes pickles made of cauliflower roots and Chinese cabbage at a canteen of a central government institution in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 26, 2020. Departments of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the central government have been urged to take the lead in practicing strict economy and reducing food waste. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Catering service providers in Beijing who encourage, mislead or force consumers to order too much food may face fines of up to 10,000 yuan (about 1,570 U.S. dollars), China Daily reported Monday, citing a regulation passed by the municipal legislature. The regulation, aimed at preventing food waste and promoting a simple, green and low-carbon life-style, came into effect after being adopted at a session of the municipal legislature last week. According to the new regulation, catering service providers should not set a minimum consumption amount and should clearly state service items and their charging standards. It said food delivery platforms should remind consumers to order the proper amount of food. Catering service providers that provide food through online platforms should indicate necessary information on webpages to promote smaller meals or set meal options. Those who violate the regulation and refuse to rectify their behavior will face fines ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 yuan. Chinese lawmakers in April voted to adopt an anti-food waste law. The law, designed to help establish a long-term mechanism to prevent food waste, is vital to ensure national food security. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) General Capital Limited, the NZX listed financial services group has announced its financial results to 31 March 2021. Mr. Rewi Bugo, Chairman said, We are pleased with the achievements made by the Group in an uncertain and challenging year. We started the financial year in the early stages of the global Covid-19 pandemic and with New Zealand just beginning its Level Four lockdown. At that time, it was difficult to predict where we would be now, but we are pleased that the Group has navigated well through the headwinds. Key Points for the 31 March 2021 Group financial statements are: Total Assets Up 33% to $68.2m Revenue Up 34% to $4.9m Term Deposits Up 40% to $57.9m Net Profit after tax Down 37% to $82k Mr. Brent King, Managing Director said, As highlighted in our annual meeting in September 2020, the initial conservative responses that the Group made, in particular holding higher cash reserves in our finance business, General Finance Limited, were costly to both revenue and profitability but did allow us to manage our risks effectively. At its peak, cash reserves represented approximately 50% of General Finance Limiteds total assets. We actively grew our lending book in the third quarter of the March 2021 financial year, returning us to a more profitable base. The advisory business, Investment Research Group Limited (IRG), had a good year with significant revenue from advisory engagements. The listing application that IRG is engaged to prepare for Greenfern Industries Limited (Greenfern) has faced delays but is expected to result in revenue for the Group prior to 30 September 2021. The Group expects to release its 2021 Annual Report in the last week of June 2021 and to hold its annual shareholders meeting in late July 2021. General Finance has grown very strongly since 31 March 2021 and we are finding solid investor support and profitable lending opportunities, said Mr. King. Please see the links below for details General Capital continues on its strong growth path Results Announcement March 2021 Source: General Capital Limited Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. 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Related News: Tower Limited (NZX: TWR) Update on Financial Impact of Canterbury Floods SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited (NZX: SKC) Earnings Guidance for FY21 Result 11th June 2021 Morning Report Precinct Properties New Zealand Limited (NZX: PCT) Announces $284 Million Revaluation Uplift 10th June 2021 Morning Report Me Today Limited (NZX: MEE) Opening of Offer to Retail Investors Mercury NZ Limited (NZX: MCY) FY2021 EBITDAF Guidance Revised to $460 Million 9th June 2021 Morning Report SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited (NZX: SKC) AUSTRAC ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATION 8th June 2021 Morning Report TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) Police are investigating a separate shooting and a fatal boating accident that occurred in the Grand Lake area in northeast Oklahoma over Memorial Day weekend. The Grand River Dam Authority police said in a statement a woman was shot in the neck late Saturday night at the Eagle Bluff Resort along the Illinois River. The woman was taken to an area hospital, and her condition was not immediately known. A 19-year-old woman was taken into custody in connection with the shooting, and an investigation is ongoing. NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) The suspect in a fatal shooting in North Attleborough last week is heading to court on Tuesday to face murder and weapons charges. Adam Walker, 33, whose last known address was in East Providence, Rhode Island, is scheduled to be arraigned in Attleboro District Court in connection with the death of Peter Schifone, according to the office of Bristol District Attorney Thomas Quinn III. LEESBURG, Va. (AP) A northern Virginia gym teacher is fighting his suspension after he spoke out at a school board meeting against proposed policies to address transgender students by their preferred pronouns. Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal group, wrote a letter Friday to Loudoun County Public Schools on behalf of Leesburg Elementary teacher Tanner Cross. The letter demands Cross' reinstatement. PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) Top officials from the United States and the European Union on Monday visited Kosovo to urge the tiny Western Balkan country to resume talks on the normalization of ties with its former war foe Serbia. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew Palmer started a three-day visit by meeting with opposition Kosovo Democratic League party leaders. The EU envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, already arrived in Pristina on a two-day visit to meet with the countrys top politicians. Kosovos new government, led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who took office in March, has said it's focused in fighting the pandemic and that talks with Serbia are not high on its list of immediate goals. EU-facilitated negotiations to normalize ties between Serbia and its former province started a decade ago and stalled last year. Lajcak and Palmer met in Brussels last week to talk about Western Balkans and the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. They will have a joint news conference on Tuesday. Both Washington and Brussels have clearly said that normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo are essential for their further integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions. Serbia and Kosovo have both applied for EU membership one day and Kosovo aims at NATO membership too. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a decade after a 1998-1999 war between separatist ethnic Albanian rebels and Serb forces. The war ended after a 78-day NATO air campaign that drove Serb troops out and a peacekeeping force moved in. Most Western nations have recognized Kosovos sovereignty, but Serbia and allies Russia and China dont. Tensions over Kosovo remain a source of volatility in the Balkans. Rahmat Gul/AP LONDON (AP) Britain said Monday it will make it easier for Afghans who worked with British troops to settle in the U.K., amid rising fears for their safety as foreign forces leave Afghanistan. More than 1,400 Afghan interpreters and their relatives have already moved to Britain under a resettlement scheme. The government says about 3,000 more are expected to come under new rules which broaden eligibility and make it easier for people to bring their families with them. CAIRO (AP) The bodies of three children who apparently were among Europe-bound migrants drowned in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya washed ashore in the North African country, the U.N. children agency said Monday. The bodies were found last week near the coastal town of Zuwara, over 100 kilometers (60 miles) west of the capital of Tripoli, UNICEF said. Among the bodies were a 6-month-old child and a 3-year-old child, it said. Too many children are needlessly losing their lives in deadly migration routes as they search for safety and better life, it said. There has been a spike in crossings and attempted crossings from Libya to Europe in recent weeks, with smugglers taking advantage of the calm sea and warm weather. UNICEF said more than 9,650 migrants and refugees, including over 480 children, were intercepted and returned to Libya so far this year, an increase of 91% among children from the same period in 2020. Earlier this month at least 10 bodies of migrants washed up in western Libya after two shipwrecks resulted in the presumed drowning of about 30 people. An additional 70 migrants are presumed dead from two other shipwrecks off Tunisia in May. UNICEF estimated more than 632 people, including children, have died attempting to cross the sea from Libya this year. Libya has in recent years emerged as the dominant transit point for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East. The oil-rich country plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. In recent years, the European Union has partnered with Libyas coast guard and other local groups to stem the dangerous Libya-Italy crossings. Rights groups, however, says those policies leave migrants at the mercy of armed groups in squalid detentions centers rife with abuses. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) A bowhunt for deer in one West Virginia city that began several years ago has become a lifeline for local food pantries and community kitchens. When hunters first proposed an urban deer hunt in Morgantown about a decade ago, the idea was to control the population. Collisions with cars were commonplace and the deer were seen as a pest that ate people's shrubs and flowers, the Dominion Post reported. Some residents were wary of letting archers hunt in the city, but the program has proven itself. Bowhunters have had no accidents while hunting more than 950 deer and harvesting about 9,500 pounds (4,300 kilograms) of ground venison. Some of the meat is used by the bowhunters while the remainder is donated to organizations such as the Trinity Episcopal Church, Pantry Plus More, the Caritas House and the Ronald McDonald House. Trinity Episcopal serves free lunches Monday through Friday and uses the donated venison about twice a week, Kitchen Manager Jim Chapman said. The donated meat lasts the entire year and has become an important way for them to offer high-protein meals without having to purchase expensive meat products. Some days the venison goes into meatballs. Other days, it could be used to make spaghetti sauce. I just cant state enough that we rely on that first hunt that provides us with so much venison, Chapman said. Its a truly wonderful thing that they provide for us. Morgantowns Urban Archery Hunt includes a group of about 60 volunteers. It runs from the first Saturday in September through Dec. 31, as well as the last two weeks of January. All volunteers must be experienced bowhunters and complete the National Bowhunter Education Foundation course, as well as an archery proficiency test. We place so much emphasis on safety (and) we place so much emphasis on doing things the right way, said Paul Crumrine, the hunts volunteer coordinator. And our results speak for themselves. Crumrine said they hope to grow the program and bring its benefits to surrounding communities. Were looking at Westover, and Granville would be nice, Crumrine said. We just see a lot of deer in those areas where theyre not being hunted. John Cox's month of May consisted of his widely mocked 1,000-pound bear stunt, an investigation over the use of said bear and an order from a judge to pay $100,000 in overdue bills related to his failed 2018 gubernatorial bid. Caitlyn Jenner's month of May consisted of several bad things, and Doug Ose's month of May consisted of well, nothing really. Meanwhile, former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer the only other high-profile Republican running in the Gavin Newsom recall election had a pretty good month by most standards. He unveiled a middle class tax cut plan he touted as "the largest middle class tax cut" in the history of California, avoided negative headlines and drew high praise during an appearance on "Ruthless," a popular conservative podcast that regularly features prominent Republican politicians. Jenner pulled a no-show on the podcast a week prior. "We need serious people to fight what the left is up to and as soon as we sort of made that statement, we had a whole bunch of people in California reach out to us to say, 'Have you checked out Mayor Kevin Faulconer?'" said podcast co-host Josh Holmes, former chief of staff to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. "Because this might be the guy." When compared with Cox and Jenner, Faulconer has been decidedly serious. The mayor's "Ruthless" appearance could help him consolidate support among California Republicans, and Faulconer likes to highlight the fact that San Diego's voter registration statistics (only 25% of registered voters are Republicans, the rest are Democrats or independents) line up with the statewide stats. But with a recent Policy Institute of California poll showing that 57% of voters oppose the recall at this juncture, it is fair to ask if Faulconer's moves will matter in the end. Even if Faulconer emerges as the clear leader at the bottom of the ballot, the question of who will replace Newsom becomes irrelevant if less than 50% of voters vote to recall their governor at the top of the ballot (click here for more on how the process works). However, Dr. Isaac Hale, a lecturer in political science at UC Davis, said that if Faulconer who was elected twice in Democratic San Diego and has a history of bipartisanship emerges as the likely replacement, it could possibly alter voters' thinking when they vote on the first question of whether to recall Newsom. "Potentially," Hale said when asked if Faulconer's rise could kneecap the Newsom team's talking points that voting "yes" on the recall would give way to a Republican in the mold of Donald Trump, who is highly unpopular in California. "If you're the Newsom campaign, you're really happy right now to see recall support divided among four Republicans, especially when one of them is Faulconer, who styles himself as a moderate and can appeal to independents and Democrats. And the theatrics of Cox and Jenner aid his talking points." The Newsom team has leaned hard into their "stop the Republican recall" messaging, painting recall supporters as right-wing extremists even though Democrats as prominent as Christine Pelosi have warned against doing so. The Faulconer campaign strongly pushed back on Newsom's messaging. "This recall is powered by Californians from across the political spectrum - Democrats, Republicans, Independents - who have had enough of Gavin Newsom's incompetent leadership and elitist agenda," Faulconer press secretary Gustavo Portela said in a statement. "Our campaign is building momentum because we're focused on the issues that matter most: reducing homelessness, cutting taxes on the middle class, and restoring affordability." Nonetheless, Newsom's strategy appears to be working, as Hale notes that "every poll since February has shown a strong majority opposing the recall." Faulconer not only needs things to right for him, but he also needs something to go badly for Newsom, which is not impossible to imagine," he said. "Were heading into an immense drought, a possibly very bad fire season, and things could go poorly with COVID school reopenings in the fall. Earlier this week, the Los Angeles Times published a story highlighting the threat fire/power outage season poses to Newsom's political fortunes. "It could be a major issue, Republican strategist Dave Gilliard told the LA Times. People will ultimately hold him responsible for the state of California, and if they cant turn their lights on right around the time theyre voting, theyre going to be thinking about that. Hale agrees. "Right now, the recall looks like uphill battle for the Republican candidates," he said. "But Newsom is definitely not out of the woods yet." You are now listening to the sounds of the New Generation. A podcast created for those who desire a new way of gaining information rather than reading a traditional newspaper. In our show we will discuss everything from sports, pop culture, politics, and local news. To stay up to date on our latest episodes every week be sure to follow us on your favorite podcast service. And dont worry, we keep it short. Synlait Milk Limited has increased its forecast base milk price for the 2020 / 2021 season to $7.55 kgMS from $7.20 kgMS. Synlaits opening forecast for the 2021 / 2022 season is $8.00 kgMS. Synlait CEO John Penno commented: Commodity prices have continued to outperform our expectations, predominantly due to strong Chinese demand, combined with a relatively stable FX rate, meaning we are pleased to increase our forecast for this season and next. Forecasts are based on the best information available to Synlait at the time. Synlait will continue to monitor movements and keep its farmer suppliers up to date. Synlaits final milk price for the 2020 / 2021 season will be confirmed when the company releases its full year 2021 result on Monday 27 September. The 2021 / 2022 season forecast will be updated at the same time. Please see the links below for details Synlait forecast milk price update Source: Synlait Milk Limited Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Tower Limited (NZX: TWR) Update on Financial Impact of Canterbury Floods SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited (NZX: SKC) Earnings Guidance for FY21 Result 11th June 2021 Morning Report Precinct Properties New Zealand Limited (NZX: PCT) Announces $284 Million Revaluation Uplift 10th June 2021 Morning Report Me Today Limited (NZX: MEE) Opening of Offer to Retail Investors Mercury NZ Limited (NZX: MCY) FY2021 EBITDAF Guidance Revised to $460 Million 9th June 2021 Morning Report SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited (NZX: SKC) AUSTRAC ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATION 8th June 2021 Morning Report While many business leaders are drawn to vaccine passports as a solution to bring their workforces back to the office full-time, global market research firm Forrester predicts that 70 per cent of US and European companies will pivot to a hybrid work model post-pandemic. San Francisco: As offices set to reopen after the pandemic and vaccination drive, only 30 per cent of companies in the US and Europe will embrace a full return-to-office model, according to a new report. Microsoft and Google have already laid out detailed plans for a hybrid workplace. "By shifting conversations to focus on the working environments that best suit employees' needs moving forward, organisations can ensure that their employees feel they are being heard and that they have the autonomy and tools to do their jobs effectively," said Keith Johnston, VP and group research director at Forrester. In a hybrid model setup, at least some employees can work anywhere they want for two or more days a week while coming into the office on the remaining workdays. According to Forrester, 55 per cent of US employees say they hope to work from home more often, even after the pandemic ends. "Nearly 47 per cent of US workers and 54 per cent of European workers believe vaccines will not completely stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus," the findings showed. Only 39 per cent of US workers and 34 per cent of European workers feel that their employers have a plan in place to provide vaccination. "Two-thirds of workers in both regions are not comfortable with employers collecting their personal data specific to the pandemic," the report showed. As of Monday morning, Nepal overall coronavirus caseload and death toll stood at 557,124 and 7,272, respectively. Kathmandu, May 31 (IANS) New coronavirus infections have been declining in Nepal in recent days, however, the country is still facing many challenges as the daily infections remain high. The Himalayan country reported 8,000-9,000 cases on most days in May before a decline was witnessed in the last few days since the second wave of the pandemic started in early April, reports Xinhua news agency. The tally has fallen since May 26 below 7,000 cases per day, with 4,311 infections recorded on May 9. Nepali health officials and experts, however, are cautious about the downward trend. Nepal's health facilities had been pushed to their limit when the coronavirus infected more than 8,000 people each day for many days and left many dead, and hospitals had to turn away patients due to a lack of medical oxygen and beds. The authorities have enforced a lockdown in most districts of the country which in no doubt has helped stabilize new infections. Likewise, an increasing supply of oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, other medical equipment and hospital beds through joint efforts of the government, private sector, non governmental organisations and foreign governments has also contributed to the eased situation, according to officials. "Our assessment is that the case loads are still in the peak and it will remain so for some time before declining," said Krishna Prasad Paudel, director of the epidemiology and disease control division under the Health Ministry. "It is necessary for Nepal to continue the existing measures of lockdown and social distancing along with testing and isolating the infected people to bring down the cases for a longer term," he told Xinhua on Sunday. According to Home Ministry, the prohibitory measures have been enforced in 75 of 77 districts in the country. Even though a sign of slowing has been seen mostly due to the prohibitory measures, less focus on contacts tracing, low testing and lack of vaccine could lead to another wave, cautioned officials and experts. "The government data show a decreasing trend of Covid-19 but I don't believe the prevalence of Covid-19 infections has come down. Because of under-testing, the cases appear to have gone down," said Binjwala Shrestha, an assistant professor with Tribhuvan University. "Over half of the samples are tested in Bagmati Province where capital Kathmandu lies, so the cases reported don't reflect the reality," she told Xinhua on Sunday. According to Paudel, the central government is facing the challenge of mobilising local governments for contact tracing, testing and isolating the infected. In the early days of the second wave, some cities bordering India, including Nepalgunj and Butwal, were badly affected along with the Kathmandu Valley. Now, the cases have spread to other parts of the country. There is also another challenge of not having enough human resources to operate health facilities. "Like other health facilities, human resources of the medical sector are also concentrated in the Kathmandu Valley, which will be a challenge to cope with a potential surge in cases outside the capital city," said Paudel. Nepal was among the few countries to start a vaccination drive early, and since January it has provided the first dose to 2.11 million people, while another 654,851 have received both, with people inoculated twice accounting for 2 per cent of the total population of some 30 million, according to the Ministry of Health and Population. According to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, his government has been holding discussions with all countries which produce Covid-19 vaccines about supplying jabs to the Himalayan nation. --IANS ksk/ "Taliban have had no contact with Mullah Haibatullah for the last 12 months. There is no information available whether he is alive or dead? No one had heard his voice and no one had met him. Intelligence information proves it," the Pajhwok news quoted him saying. Citing the intelligence reports, Afghanistan's National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib said during a press conference on Saturday that Taliban leaders had not been in contact with their supreme leader for one year. According to senior Afghan intelligence, army and NATO officials, most decisions of the Taliban regarding peace and security are being taken by the group's deputy leader, Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of the infamous Haqqani network, known for working hand-in-glove with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). But the Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid told Pajhwok Afghan News that Mullah Haibatullah was alive and was doing his job. Mujahid said that all their leaders and officials are in contact with the supreme leader. They take his advice on all important issues and share their reports with him. He added that Akhundzada is in a safe and secure place, and his absence in public was driven by security reasons. There have been several reports that senior leaders of the Taliban are in a safe hideout near Quetta under the protection of the Pakistani army. Few weeks ago, members of the Taliban negotiating team had travelled to some undisclosed locations near Quetta for further consultations with their senior leaders, but the absence of the top leader's name stood out. Three months ago, there were media reports that Akhundzada had been killed in a bomb blast in a mosque in Quetta. His brother and a number of people of his seminary had apparently also suffered casualties in the incident, which is said to have taken place in April 2020. The Taliban had rejected the report. Taliban leader Ahmadullah Wasiq said on Twitter: "This is false news and baseless rumours have no truth. Spreading such rumours and false news is a failed propaganda attempt by the enemy's intelligence services. The enemy wants to hide its defeats in such rumours and distract the people's minds." However, it is not unknown for the Taliban to hide the death of its leaders. Mullah Omar's death in Pakistan in 2013 was kept hidden from the public by the Taliban for about two years. The group confirmed the death in July 2015 only after Afghanistan's spy agency went public with the development. Mullah Omar's successor, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, was killed in a US drone strike in Balochistan, in May 2016. Akhundzada was named the new head of the Taliban days later. He was previously the Taliban's chief justice and most of the decisions and fatwas were made by him. It is no secret that scores of top Afghan Taliban leaders are based in Pakistan. The top leadership council is called the "Quetta Shura" because most of its members are based in Quetta. This year, Salaam Times raised the issue about the whereabouts of the Taliban supremo. It said that no voice clip of the Taliban's leader had been released since a year and his Eid messages were all in written form. (This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/ According to the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry's Covid-19 data on Monday, the recovery rates of all the eight northeastern states -- Sikkim (72.24 per cent), Mizoram (74.58 per cent), Nagaland (74.90 per cent), Meghalaya (77.10 per cent), Manipur (81.41 per cent), Arunachal Pradesh (85.54 per cent), Assam (85.97 per cent) and Tripura (86.17 per cent) -- are well below the national recovery rate of 91.60 per cent. The Covid-19 related death ratios in four of the states -- Nagaland (1.68 per cent), Sikkim (1.65 per cent), Meghalaya (1.60 per cent) and Manipur (1.59 per cent) -- are worse than the national average of 1.17 per cent. However, the four other -- Tripura (1 per cent), Assam (0.81 per cent), Arunachal Pradesh (0.43 per cent) and Mizoram (0.31 per cent) -- are faring better. Local health officials attributed the worsening Covid situation in the region due to holding of various local body and Assembly elections, lack of seriousness among a section of people about the disease, governments delaying tough steps to prevent its spread, besides patients seeking admission in hospitals and Covid Care Centres at the last stage. An Assam health official said that a good number of deaths in the state took place either in home isolation or due to late reporting in the hospitals. "There are many cases in which people rushed to hospital at the last hour when oxygen saturation drastically comes down or the patients' other serious problems crop up. We are bringing down home isolation and emphasising on institutional quarantine," the health official, who declined to be identified, told IANS. All the northeastern states are also facing huge shortages of Covid vaccines with only 15 to 18 per cent people having received one dose so far. Besides day and night curfew and 'lockdowns', all the eight northeastern states have taken various steps to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, including closer or restricted functioning of government, semi-government, private offices, educational institutions, commercial and business establishments, banning of public transport and all kinds of gatherings. With diverse causes and effects, doctors, experts and social activists have suggested forming study groups for an in-depth study of the disease in the region where four states - Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh - are dominated by the tribals. Speaking to IANS, renowned physician Pradip Bhowmik noted that it was being seen in "the second wave that during the post-Covid period, many patients are being affected by pneumonia and other diseases". "Unlike in the first wave, a large number of young people and children are being infected by the coronavirus. In the second wave, the recovery rate is very slow and the death rate is higher in the region," he said. Bhowmik, who is an expert in hepatitis and has worked on the disease in the northeastern states and Bangladesh, also said that it is being observed that Indian strains of the virus are more dangerous then the UK and Brazilian variants. He also contended that genetically tribals' immunity is always better but they are also falling prey to Covid-19, necessitating a serious study. Mizoram, where the first Covid-19 death was reported on October 28, 2020, six months after the northeast region's first coronavirus fatality in Assam and seven months after India's first in Karnataka, has recently formed a study panel to examine the causes of the spread of the contagious disease, state Health and Family Welfare Secretary R. Lalramnghaka told IANS. The Meghalaya government has also constituted an 11-member consultative committee headed by Chief Secretary M.S. Rao to recommend improving awareness on preventive measures, strategy to deal with the surge in Covid-19 positive cases, and measures to improve vaccination coverage, particularly among the vulnerable groups. With the surge of Covid cases, the Tripura government last week appointed two senior IAS officers -- Shailesh Kumar Yadav and Vishal Kumar, both doctors turned bureaucrats -- for Covid management in four districts each. The Assam government on Monday announced it would conduct "Assam Community Surveillance Programme-Phase III" this year too, entailing medical teams visiting every household of the villages to track Covid cases across the state. The four-month long programme would start from Tuesday. A 23-year-old woman, who had returned to Manipur from the UK in March, became the first coronavirus case in the entire northeastern region. She was also the first to recover in the region. The first coronavirus death in the region was in Hailakandi district of southern Assam on April 10, 2020, when a middle-aged man, who had visited abroad, succumbed. (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) --IANS sc/vd Third Age Health Services, a medical service provider for the aged care sector, has reported an increase in net profit after tax from continuing operations of 6.8 per cent and record revenues for the full year ending 31 March 2021. Revenue for the year reached a new record of $5.5 million, up 4.4 per cent on the previous year - resulting in pre tax profit of $1.6 million. The company has repaid all bank debt during the period, helping to position the primary care provider for future acquisitions of medical practices that support growth in their core business. CEO Michael Haskell says it has been a solid year for Third Age. He says having successfully completed the listing, the business is well positioned for further growth - both organically and via an acquisition based expansion programme. Our share offer to wholesale investors prior to our NZX listing was oversubscribed. We were able to distribute a special dividend to shareholders in March." Growth from the two sectors we operate in has continued with the number of patients we care for increasing over the second half of 2021. We believe the current trajectory will see us achieve another positive result in the coming financial year, he says. Dividend The board is pleased to declare a final dividend of 3.91 cents per share taking the total dividend for the year to 18.28 cents per share. We will continue to target our dividend policy of 75 per cent of net profit after income tax from continuing operations being distributed to our shareholders. Please see the links below for details Third Age Health preliminary full year announcement Third Age Health full year dividend Source: Third Age Health Services Limited Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Tower Limited (NZX: TWR) Update on Financial Impact of Canterbury Floods SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited (NZX: SKC) Earnings Guidance for FY21 Result 11th June 2021 Morning Report Precinct Properties New Zealand Limited (NZX: PCT) Announces $284 Million Revaluation Uplift 10th June 2021 Morning Report Me Today Limited (NZX: MEE) Opening of Offer to Retail Investors Mercury NZ Limited (NZX: MCY) FY2021 EBITDAF Guidance Revised to $460 Million 9th June 2021 Morning Report SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited (NZX: SKC) AUSTRAC ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATION 8th June 2021 Morning Report SIBU, May 31 (Sin Chew Daily) -- Sibu Hospital receives four sets of high flow nasal cannula donated by Yayasan Sin Chew and Buddhist group Fo Guan Shan as more confirmed COVID-19 cases are reported in Sarawak. Sibu Hospital director Dr Nanthakumar Thirunavukkarasu received the machines worth almost RM100,000 last Wednesday. Last year, Yayasan Sin Chew and Fo Guang Shan contributed medical equipment in two batches, including a medical device for anesthesia worth RM240,000, to the same hospital. Due to shortage of ventilators, the four sets of high flow nasal cannula were put to use immediately. The arrival of four sets of high flow nasal cannula have helped ease the situation as patients diagnosed with COVID-19 take turns to use the ventilators at the hospital. Dr Betty Lee Leh Sieng, who heads the hospital's anesthesiology department, expressed gratitude to Yayasan Sin Chew and Fo Guang Shan for supporting the hospital. Both Yayasan Sin Chew and Fo Guang Shan launched the "Help COVID-19 4.0" campaign on May 10 this year to raise funds for the purchase of medical device and respiratory equipment to save those down with COVID-19. "Help COVID-19 4.0" is the third relief campaign launched by Yayasan Sin Chew and Fo Guang Shan since the COVID-19 pandemic erupted in March last year. Yayasan Sin Chew vice chairman Siew Nyoke Chow, who was in charge of overall planning, said many kindhearted donors were willing to help hospitals in East Malaysia. The "Help COVID-19 3.0" campaign launched by Yayasan Sin Chew, Fo Guang Shan and Chi Hui Tang last October donated medical equipment to various hospitals in Sabah after a spike in COVID-19 cases as a result of the state election. "The third wave started in April and the coronavirus spread fast in the longhouse communities, causing a spike in confirmed cases in Sarawak. "Sibu is hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. We learned from media reports that the ventilators contributed to Sibu Hospital earlier were not able to function. Hence, we decided to contribute four units of high flow nasal cannula to the hospital," she said. By Zethy Suhaidah / Sharan Raj / Dr Khor Swee Kheng Fyodor Dostoyevsky, the famous Russian author, once said that "the degree of civilization in a society is revealed by entering its prisons". As Malaysia has always claimed that we are a civilized society, we must therefore do more for the people in our prisons. In this article, we share several facts and statistics about how Malaysia's prison infrastructure coped with COVID-19, explore the inadequate landscape of healthcare in prisons, and propose three specific ways to improve healthcare for individuals in custody. Prisons are overcrowded, but there are ways to decongest them The facts about over-crowded prisons are sobering, even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. According to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), Malaysian prisons are extremely overcrowded with total inmates exceeded 40% from its intended capacity.1 There is also an injustice to the overcrowdedness, with 25% of those in prison being pre-trial detainees (in other words, they are not convicted of a crime but yet are still in prison).2 A 2019 study shows that prisoners suffer from tuberculosis and hepatitis B more than the general population.3 COVID-19 accelerated these trends of poor health. On 4th April 2021, the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee confirmed that the spike in COVID-19 positive cases in Sarawak was due to a 40% increase of prison and detention cluster in that state.4 On a per capita basis throughout Malaysia, prisoners are 5.5 times more likely to acquire COVID-19.5 This should not surprise us, as years of overcrowding led to poor sanitation and living conditions in prison. Inmates are kept in close proximity with each other, rendering physical distancing near impossible. Thus, conditions were perfect for COVID-19. An important solution to reduce the risk of COVID-19 among prisoners is to decongest prisons, and one important decongesting solution is to decriminalize drug offenses. In 2018, more than 55% of Malaysia's 65,222 inmates were drug offenders. The Drug Dependents (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 1983 sends anyone in possession of drugs straight to prison, almost regardless of circumstances. This punitive aspect to drug abuse is not in keeping with most countries (like Czechia, Germany, Portugal or Sweden) which seek to rehabilitate drug users rather than punish them. In June 2019, the Pakatan Harapan government proposed to decriminalize drug usage to allow drug addicts to be treated as medical patients rather than criminals. This is a welcome move, making Malaysia consistent with drug use policies and laws around the world. The proposal has been on halt since the PN government took over in early 2020. Decriminalizing drug offenses will reduce the unnecessary imprisonment of drug offenders, improve living conditions in prisons and treat drug offenders more humanely, and reduce their interactions with "true criminals" like those who committed theft, robbery or assault. This move will also dramatically reduce prison overcrowding, which is an important step to improve the safety of prisoners during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare in prisons is inadequate We must also understand the custodial health landscape in order to reduce COVID-19 in Malaysian prisons. The Prison Department is guided by the Prison Act 1995. Under Section 14 in the Prison Act, every prison should have a medical officer and a dental officer. However, given the overcrowded nature of prisons, according to the 2018 Prison Department Statistics, the ratio of doctor to prisoner is 1:1000. By comparison, the population to doctor ratio is 1:454. The small number of doctors cannot provide adequate healthcare for the large number of prisoners, and that could lead to poor quality healthcare. Complicating the issue is a potential conflict of interest for medical personnel working in prisons. Traditionally, a doctor's main (or sole) responsibility is to treat their patients. However, a SUHAKAM report in 2017 stated that the medical officers in prisons have a dual responsibility, with their primary obligation being towards the Prison Department (their employers) instead of the prisoners (their patients). This could lead to potential ethical conflicts. Additionally, prison health professionals received little to no formal training in prison health care and medical ethics. Custodial or prison medicine is a unique specialty with specific training provided for these doctors in developed countries like in Europe. The best interests of the patient might be undermined in prison situations that are highly-securitized. Therefore, the Prison Department has the responsibility to train prison doctors on medical ethics and human rights to ensure fair healthcare and to de-securitize their healthcare services wherever possible. There are practical solutions to improve prison health We propose three specific and practical solutions to improve the health of inmates in Malaysian prisons, especially in light of COVID-19. 1. The efforts of the All Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia for the Reform of All Places of Detention (APPGM), a bipartisan collaboration of MPs and civil society groups, should be accelerated. They have previously urged the government to consider a policy reform on drugs possession for justice, efficiency and health reasons.6 The federal government spends about RM540 million per annum to maintain prisons including prison staff remuneration. Treating drug abusers as a medical condition will reduce prison overcrowding translating to better health and lower operational costs. 2. Existing low-risk and non-felony detainees including those awaiting trial should be released. In October 2020, the Director-General of Prisons executed a pilot project to reduce certain low-risk detainees to reduce prison congestion. We propose that the details of this pilot project be released to the population to reassure them, and that this project be scaled up if it is successful. Separately in July 2020, the Prison Department announced a target to rehabilitate and release around two thirds of inmates before 2030.7 However, the statistics of the progress should be regularly released so the public can judge its success. The release of this group of low-risk inmates would decongest prisons and allow better living conditions. 3. The healthcare services in Malaysian prisons needs to be improved. There should be an adequate ratio of doctors, dentists, pharmacists and nurses on a per capita basis, at least equal to that of the Malaysian population. The Ministries of Health and Education can combine to send adequate numbers of health professionals to undergo additional professional masters, diplomas or certificates in custodial medicine or prison health, so that health professionals will be better equipped for a highly-unique population. 4. We propose greater transparency of statistics for prison health, including disease burden and financial statistics. At the moment, there are no publicly available statistics on the healthcare spending for each prisoner in Malaysia. Therefore, we are unable to analyze its adequacy, appropriateness or relevance of spending categories. At the very least, healthcare spending for each prisoner in Malaysia should be on par with the average for the general population. COVID-19 has exposed the underlying issues in prisons, a topic which was previously taboo. By reducing prison overcrowding and by providing adequate healthcare services to prisoners, we can protect them, reduce COVID-19 infections, increase the chances of drug offenders beating their addictions, while preserving the dignity of our civilized society. Prisoners in Malaysia are like the rest of us, fully endowed with human rights which the government and society must respect and protect. We must protect them, and there are ethical, pragmatic and politically acceptable ways to do so. References: 1 Malay Mail: Suhakam: Prisons overcrowded by 40pc maximum capacity, creating perfect storm for Covid-19 outbreaks 2 PrisonStudies.org: Malaysia 3 Amer Hayat Khan and others, "Incidence and Risk Factors Associated with Tuberculosis Treatment Outcomes Among Prisoners: A Multicentre Study in Malaysia" Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practices, Volume 27, Number 3 (May 2019) 4 Bernama: Tembok cluster in Sri Aman highest contributor of infections in S'wak 5 Business Insider: Prisoners are 5 times more likely to get COVID-19 than the overall population 6 IDPC: Malaysia: Citing prison overcrowding, group urges reform to rehabilitate minor drug users 7 Malay Mail: Prisons Dept D-G: Malaysia's parole system effective in reducing recidivism (Zethy Suhaidah is trained in law and specialises in health law; Sharan Raj is a human rights activist and environmental activist; Dr Khor Swee Kheng is a physician specializing in health policies and global health.) By Tay Tian Yan, Sin Chew Daily Unhappy with the change of her father's vaccination appointment, a Chinese woman angrily slammed Khairy at the Sunway vaccination center. She raised her voice and and said agitatedly, "Because of you people I had to resort to doing something shameful to resolve this issue." Everyone was losing their heads, not knowing what to do with the sudden outburst. Khairy politely told the woman to calm down and started to find out what she wanted before asking the staff to help handle the matter. Investigation later found that the woman's father had inserted the wrong IC number when providing his particulars. The issue was subsequently resolved. Instant dissolution of a potential clash won the minister tons of thumbs-up after the video went viral on social media. Khairy used to give people an impression that he was young and brash but his EQ has obviously picked up following years of ups and downs in politics. At a time when the PN government is suffering from generally poor public image with many of the ministers heavily slammed by people, Khairy's performance is unusually good. When he was first appointed the science, technology and innovation minister, few knew about the importance of this portfolio. Some felt even if he did perform well, he would at most be manning an under-budgeted, understaffed department housed in a very modest office. Indeed, in our power-first government structure, his ministry was perceived as more of ornamental value. Khairy did not get appointed a ministerial position because of Umno's recommendation but Muhyiddin saw his representation in the country's youth community. More importantly, he does not belong to the Najib/Zahid camp. When Muhyiddin put up his cabinet, he did not foresee that the coronavirus pandemic could become so serious as it is now, and he was actually not prepared to hand over such a momentous responsibility to Khairy. Khairy's position was not even this important, say, six months back. The mainstay of the country's anti-COVID strategy for much of the past one year plus has been on quarantine and treatment with the hope of breaking the infection chain through the enforcement of control measures and the provision of screening tests and treatment, while trying to avert an economic crash, of course. As such, other than the prime minister himself, the other very important persons at the forefront of the battle against the virus have been the two senior ministers Ismail Sabri and Azmin Ali, along with health DG Noor Hisham Abdullah. Unfortunately our defense line against the virus fell apart subsequently, allowing the virus to spread very rapidly in our community and putting our healthcare system on the brink of collapse. Both Sabri and Noor Hisham do not seem to be able to come up with any effective solution to tackle the spike in new infections. The only thing that can save the country now is the vaccine. Khairy has been tasked with the mission of coordinating the country's vaccine supply and national vaccination program. In most other countries, such a job is normally not handled by the science minister but the health minister. Apparently human factor is at play here. As vaccine is now the single most crucial factor in the country's war against the virus, Khairy has become the key person in this whole thing. Decisions on vaccine supply and immunization will determine how successful the country's anti-virus strategy will be, as well as the young minister's political future. No doubt we had a slow start in vaccine procurement firstly due to the wait-and-see attitude of the government and then the lengthy vetting process of NPRA (National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency). Khairy has become a target of public censure as a consequence of inadequate vaccine supply and sluggish immunization rate. The many gray areas in vaccine supply such as confidential price negotiations with the suppliers and government monopoly in supply arrangements have evolved into political issues that have since aroused public skepticism. As pricing is classified information, people started to suspect whether the government had overpaid for the vaccines. As the deal was solely between the suppliers and the government, many felt the government was profiteering from a monopolized business. While these are the rules and norms prevailing in the international vaccine market, in a country where public faith in the government is pathetically low, the same have developed into big political issues. By virtue of his position, suer enough Khairy has no way to avert the issues but to confront them. On the donation of two million doses of vaccines in Penang, he ordered an immediate probe to dismiss the allegations and prevent the issue from snowballing into a much bigger one. As for the vaccine supply, based on the schedule, the supply should increase significantly in June, and 16 million doses are expected to arrive in Malaysia by July, with more to come to meet and even exceed the country's needs. The rate of immunization has come under heavy public censure and many question whether the goal of herd immunity could be achieved before the year ends. If only 20,000 or even 50,000 or 100,000 doses are to be administered each day, indeed we won't reach the herd immunity goal before the end of the year, as Khairy has pledged. But, with more vaccination centers being set up, including the repurposed large convention centers, we can look forward to some 150,000 inoculations each day beginning next week, and perhaps 200,000 or more. This will put us ahead of most regional countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, with the only exception of Singapore. Then achieving the herd immunity goal by the end of this year is not completely impossible. Of course, even with the vaccines at hand, there is still this challenge to get more people to get inoculated. What is of critical importance now is not the number of new infections reported each day or whether a total lockdown will be enforced and be effective, or whether daily new infection numbers will drop soon. The crucial thing now is the speed with which the national vaccination program is executed. The vaccines must outrun the virus. We can only flatten the curve if we have more people immunized against the virus! This is a race between Khairy and the vaccines, and the entire nation is watching him! Let's put our political differences aside for the time being. While we must still keep a close eye on him to make sure he does his job well, more so we must join in the race and run with him in order to keep the virus at bay. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! The local boss of UK wagering giant Entain has warned Tabcorp that a standalone TAB business could be worth far less than the cash offers on the table by the time a demerger is completed. The $11 billion Tabcorp is weighing up three offers for its betting business - cash bids of $3.5 billion from Entain and private equity group Apollo, and a $4 billion cash-and-scrip offer revealed on Friday from the Matthew Tripp-backed betting technology group BetMakers - against the option of splitting its betting and lotteries division into two separate ASX-listed companies. The local boss of Ladbrokes owner Entain says its offer gave Tabcorp shareholders certainty. Credit:Getty Images Speaking publicly about its bid for the first time on Monday, Entain Australias chief executive Dean Shannon said Tabcorp should accept its $3.5 billion bid for the TAB bookmaking and media business or risk losing more ground to online competitors if it opts for a demerger. Thats going to take some time to play out, Tabcorp is losing market share - whats it going to be worth by the time we get to a demerger? said Mr Shannon, who runs the Ladbrokes and Neds betting brands locally. Theres also proposed sanctions against those engaged in cyber attacks against the US, with particular reference to China, and transparency requirements and the threat of withdrawal of funding from colleges that have Confucius Institute partnerships with Chinese colleges and universities. Along with the $US360 billion of the continuing Trump administrations tariffs on Chinas exports to the US, which the Biden administration appears in no hurry to revisit, the bill would represent a quite dramatic escalation of US efforts to improve its competitiveness against China. Its also another very expensive program within an unprecedented spending splurge by the new administration, which unveiled a proposed $US6 trillion budget last week. The bill has a core of bipartisan support in the Senate, albeit that new proposals like another measure that focuses on the trade imbalance with China keep being added. It might face tougher hurdles in the House but the legislation reflects a bipartisan hostility towards China and a determination to protect and improve Americas position in the key economic battlegrounds of the 21st century while trying to suppress Chinas efforts to challenge it. It also reflects the experience of the pandemic, which exposed economic vulnerabilities, and not just in America, to global supply chains and the global over-reliance on semi-conductor manufacturers in Taiwan and South Korea in particular. While there has been some pushback from US businesses to some of the proposed measures particularly one that would crack down on technology transfers and some conservatives oppose the extent of the central direction in the bill and the creation of new bureaucracies to manage the programs, the congressional quibbles are over detail rather than direction. Xi Jinpings China is feeling pressure from the United States and Europe. Credit:AP The bill, if enacted, would overlay the pre-existing trade war between the US and China. While the new US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Chinas vice premier Liu He have had an initial conversation in which the Trump tariffs and the current truce were discussed, there is no suggestion the Biden administration will lift the tariffs or the requirement under the truce agreement that China increase its purchases of US products by $US200 billion in 2020 and 2021. Even though its imports from the US have been growing, Chinas has met only about 60 per cent of its commitments under the truce and its trade surplus with the US has been blowing out as the US economy bounces back from last years pandemic-induced depths. The legislation reflects a bipartisan hostility towards China and a determination to protect and improve Americas position in the key economic battlegrounds of the 21st Century while trying to suppress Chinas efforts to challenge it. The US isnt the only front where Chinas ambitions are being resisted. The European Union has followed up its freezing of a trade pact it tentatively signed with China very late last year (after China sanctioned some EU officials in response to the EUs own sanctions on Chinese individuals over human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Hong Kong) with a leaf out of the Trump administrations trade war manual. It is drafting legislation that would penalise imports and investment from industries overseas that receive subsidies. While the measures could apply to any country, the biggest exporter to Europe and the economy where state subsidies are central to its economic plans and international ambitions is China. Along with penalties for subsidised imports, there would be restrictions on the ability of companies that receive subsidies investing in EU companies and, as is occurring around the globe, efforts to reduce the EYs dependence on international supply chains for strategic products. Those include healthcare products, energy, raw materials and others related to Europes response to climate change. It is estimated (by the EU) that China supplies about half the products where the EU has plans to increase its self-sufficiency. The European Union has followed up its freezing of a trade pact it tentatively signed with China very late last year with a leaf from the Trump administrations trade war manual. Credit:EPA The abrupt change in the EUs attitude towards China from embracing an investment agreement in the dying days of the Trump administration to freezing it may relate to Chinas sanctioning of EU officials but it also owes something to the thawing of relations between the EU and the US under Biden. Biden has made restoring US relations with its key post-war partners and allies relations badly damaged during the Trump years a priority. Loading The US and the EU have been holding talks that could see the US lift tariffs on European steel and aluminium exports imposed by Trump in 2018 on national security grounds, which provoked retaliatory tariffs from the EU. Further EU tariffs on US exports were planned but have been suspended pending the outcome of the talks, which are occurring against a backdrop of much warmer relations between the US and Europe. Thus the two major Western economic blocs are adopting measures that are likely to adversely impact Chinas ability to fulfil its aspirations, albeit that the EUs actions are nowhere near as overt or as overtly hostile as Americas. Banks are slammed by Democratic lawmakers for charging too much overdraft fees during the pandemic though the total figure of overdraft revenue fell in 2020 for the first time in six years. JPmorgan claimed that they have waived approximately $400 million in overdraft fees. But the senate Elizabeth Warren criticised them for gathering nearly $1.46 billion in such fees in 2020. Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 11th June 2021 Morning Report 10th June 2021 Morning Report 9th June 2021 Morning Report 8th June 2021 Morning Report 4th June 2021 Morning Report 3rd June 2021 Morning Report 2nd June 2021 Morning Report 1st June 2021 Morning Report 28th May 2021 Morning Report 27th May 2021 Morning Report When I spoke with Sadhguru he was in a camper van in El Paso, Texas, trucking around the United States on his book tour. I was instantly relieved. This was a long way from Osho, the Rolls Royce guru or Bikram with his fleet of Bentleys. The humility of it made me excuse moments where the book goes beyond the limitations of my ordinary Western brain, like when he writes about sitting in a cave and perceiving the energy of a dead monk whose left leg was amputated nineteen hundred years earlier. So, I suspended my disbelief and listened as he explained that karma is often misunderstood, especially in the Western world. For example, we often talk about good karma and bad karma, as if theres someone sitting on their throne in the sky pointing their finger at each of the 7.8 billion of us and doling out rewards or punishments for our thoughts and actions. People dumb it down to a simple reward and punishment But karma is neither good nor bad, Sadhguru says. Karma is the residual impressions of all the actions we perform, physically, mentally, emotionally and energetically. From the moment we are born till this moment, he explains, all that we have seen, all that we have heard, every thought or emotion we have experienced and action we have performed or not performed inaction matters too has a consequence on the person that we have become. The person that we are is also the result of our connection to one another, to the world around us and to our history as humans. If you ate what a parrot eats for the next 10 years, would you become a parrot? The evolutionary memory will make sure you stay a human being no matter what crazy thing you do, he says. Similarly my physical structure is my genetic memory. You might have forgotten what your great, great, great grandmother looked like but her nose might be sitting on your face. Your body remembers. From the perspective of karma, this means that the outcomes in our lives are the consequence of our own behaviours, the behaviours of those around us and of those who have come before us. Despite this, we can learn to control one significant aspect of our karma from this point onwards. What the world throws at us is not always our choice, what we make of it is 100 per cent our choice... So this is the karma. Karma by Sadhguru The quality of our life is not determined by what we have[it is] determined by how we experience it This choice every human being has at every moment of their life. His book aims to help us mortals choose a more joyful inner landscape regardless of our circumstance. He remains joyful despite 15 to 20 people he knows very well dying each day as a result of the pandemic ravaging India. If you want to become part of the solution, you dont succumb to the misery do you want to infect the world with your misery or with your joy? Simplistic as this may seem and he acknowledges he hasnt always been blissful, but spent many years under a huge black cloud of anger at all the injustice in the world intention matters and the concept of karma captures this, according to Sadhguru. Dr Khalsa, a researcher in mind-body medicine, agrees. We dont have a term in the West for that, Khalsa says. If you drive a Hummer youre polluting the atmosphere. Ultimately thats going to come back and hurt you or your ancestors. It happens on global levels and it happens on personal levels. He adds: Its become part of parlance in the West. I think the West has adopted a number of constructs from other cultures which are now part of Western dialogue. The term guru is another one of these somebody is a fashion guru, a beauty guru or a guru of the stockmarket. The Indian term originally referred to someone who is a spiritual teacher or a master, but Khalsa points out anyone can call themselves a guru. Theres no academy, theres no registry, theres no government agency that determines who is a guru. Ive seen people who suddenly decide that they want to call themselves a guru and Im saying Hey, wait a minute? Allwell says there are a lot of false gurus out there. There are also gurus who started out from a pure place and as they become more powerful things change, she adds, suggesting choose your guru wisely. But, she believes Sadhguru is the real deal, a sentiment echoed by Khalsa who says he is considered by many as bonafide. Sadhguru insists he is not part of the guru club: Misuse and corruption are in every industry there are bad police, bad journalists, bad politicians, there are unfortunately bad gurus too. An action taken 24 years ago however has had lasting karmic consequences, complicating the reputation of this guru too. In 1997, Sadhguru was accused by his father-in-law of murdering his 33-year-old wife Vijaykumari, mother of his then-7-year-old daughter. The accusation came after Vijaykumaris body was cremated before her father arrived to say goodbye. To complicate matters, Sadhguru said her death was the result of mahasamadhi during meditation. Theres no academy, theres no registry, theres no government agency that determines who is a guru. Ive seen people who suddenly decide that they want to call themselves a guru and Im saying Hey, wait a minute? Dr Khalsa, a researcher in mind-body medicine Mahasamadhithe coveted goal of many a spiritual seeker [is] a practice where accomplished yogis with mastery over their life process consciously choose to exit their physical body at an auspicious time, Sadhguru wrote in an email after our interview. The police report, which dismissed the case, said a doctor present at the time of death noted Vijaykumari most likely died of a heart attack. Khalsa explains mahasamadhi is a common term used in India and is based on the belief that yogis can self-regulate internal states, controlling their metabolic rate and, through practice, choose to leave their physical bodies at will to merge with the infinite. Samadhi the term used for transcendence is a real, biological state that can be induced through contemplative practices like meditation, Harvard Medical Schools Khalsa says, and mahasamadhi is seen as the next step. Whether someone chooses to die or died because their body gave out you cant validate that in anyone. Good guru, bad guru, good karma, bad karma? It is as hard to reduce the human as it is the concepts. Khalsa says Sadhguru remains one of the three biggest gurus in India and in the world and seems copasetic, but remains human. Oftentimes you see a guru say dont worship me, worship what I teach because what I teach is coming from that state of consciousness... Im a human being and Im subject to my own frailties and weaknesses so dont follow me as a person, follow the teachings, Khalsa says. Its very complicated to be a human being. Christian Porter has discontinued his high-stakes defamation claim against the ABC just days after the parties agreed to attend mediation behind closed doors. Federal Court Justice Tom Thawley had granted an order on Thursday restraining Mr Porters former barrister, high-profile defamation silk Sue Chrysanthou, SC, from acting for the federal Liberal minister in the defamation case on the basis that she had previously advised a potential witness for the ABC. Christian Porter in Parliament on May 27. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen In a statement on Monday, the ABC said Mr Porter has decided to discontinue his defamation action against the ABC and [journalist] Louise Milligan over an online story published on February 26 this year. All parties have agreed to not pursue the matter any further. No damages will be paid, the broadcaster said. Police are trying to piece together the final moments of a Sydney mans life whose body was found in a park pond in the citys south last month. Detectives are treating the death of 42-year-old Scott Bradshaw, from Brighton Le Sands, as suspicious. Police are investigating the suspicious death of Sydney man Scott Bradshaw. Credit:NSW Police Officers were notified about Mr Bradshaws disappearance on April 30 after he failed to attend pre-arranged appointments. Police searched Rockdale Bicentennial Park on May 3, finding Mr Bradshaws vehicle in a nearby car park and his body partially submerged in a large pond surrounded by bushland. Queenslanders with mild respiratory symptoms are being urged to get tested for COVID-19, as more cases are detected in Victoria. The southern state announced five new cases associated with the latest cluster on Monday, with two aged care homes in Melbourne directly affected after staff members also worked at an aged care provider where a positive coronavirus case was identified. Queensland recorded no new coronavirus cases on Monday, either locally acquired or in hotel quarantine, with just 14 active cases in the state. However, Health Minister Yvette DAth was urging people to get tested if they had any symptoms. They arent messiahs though, just a bunch of noisy boys struggling to cut through. The Labor Party needs a well-functioning team with a person who knows its not about them but does get heard. There is no question popular, unflappable Plibersek would be better at this than Anthony Albanese. She has good recognisability, believability and trust. And when we measured such things, she was the preferred leader for Labor on many occasions. Just two minutes ago, in the Resolve Monitor, Plibersek scored as high as Albanese in the likeability ratings but has about half of his unfavourable ratings. Plus shes good at the outreach. People within her party say she has friends across the factions and her regular appearance on Alan Jones and on Queenslands 4BC reveals a person who is a worker bee as well as a deadset queen. As one of Australias foremost political leadership researchers, Emeritus Professor Carol Johnson of the University of Adelaide, says: Tanya Plibersek is a really good communicator and has the ability to cut through and, unfortunately for the Labor Party, Albanese has had huge problems cutting through. Loading Why is the party throwing away the power of this influential politician? To answer, said one insider, youd have to ask Penny Wong this question: Why are you devoted to keeping a likely losing male Labor leader in a position of power? Why cant you be like John Button? For those of you who need reminding, John Button told Bill Hayden he couldnt lead the ALP to victory in 1983. As this particular insider said, Wong should take her beloved friend aside and tell him what his best friends wont tell him. Politicians arent known for bloodless coups but any other scenario would have a high transaction cost, say insiders. Mind you, the knifing of Turnbull didnt seem to affect the voting public in any serious way. There is a cost benefit analysis for Labor and one that it needs to calculate right this minute. For those who keep saying Plibersek cant win Queensland, let me introduce you to another capable Labor type, three times state champ, Annastacia Palaszczuk. A 24-storey tower nearing completion at The Block in Redfern is among locations being considered as the states first quarantine facility for international students when they return to NSW. The 600-bed, $100 million Scape student accommodation development is in line to house the first intake of overseas students while nearby accommodation provider Iglu, which has inner-city locations, has also thrown its hat in the ring, industry sources who are familiar with the proposal say. The Scape student accommodation development at The Block in Redfern is nearing completion. Credit:Nick Moir While he declined to make any comment on the government application process for the pilot, Scape co-founder Craig Carracher said the building had been re-engineered with airflow systems, door sensors and contactless access points to help combat the spread of COVID-19. We feel The Block at Redfern is probably one of the best and safest buildings for quarantine, but its not suitable for anyone else other than students. Its designed for students and it will be delivered for students, Mr Carracher said. The fresh outbreak in aged care emerged on Sunday after a staff member at Arcare Maidstone, aged in her 50s, tested positive. Hers is a mystery case with no known connections to the other existing infections from the outbreak that has plunged Victoria into lockdown and grew to 45 cases on Monday morning. Arcare aged care facility in Maidstone. Credit:Scott McNaughton Arcare residents are self-isolating as were people who live at BlueCross Western Gardens in Sunshine and the Royal Freemasons centres in Melbourne and Footscray, after staff also worked at the Maidstone home. The Footscray facility returned to normal operations on Monday afternoon after the staff member who had worked there and at the Arcare centre returned a negative coronavirus test. Loading On Monday evening management of Jewish Cares Gary Smorgon House in Caulfield announced that it would be putting residents into isolation after a staff member also worked at another home where a worker tested positive. Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said three of Mondays newest cases relate to outbreaks in the private residential aged care sector. The first is the son of the staff member at Maidstone. He does not work at the facility. The second is a staff member at the same facility who worked alongside the initial case. She was not vaccinated and also worked at another aged care facility, the Bluecross Sunshine aged care centre. That facility is now in lockdown. The third case is a woman in her 90s who is a resident at the Arcare Maidstone facility in the unit where the positive staff member worked. She was inoculated and is asymptomatic and has been taken to hospital. The fact this outbreak has crept into a number of private residential aged care facilities is obviously a very great concern, Mr Foley said. Aged Care Services Minister Richard Colbeck said the federal government had now started funding providers across Melbourne so workers could only work at one site. The funding for homes to pay staff who ended up out-of-pocket would continue for two weeks and could be extended, he said. Providers are asked to ... ensure staff are only working at one residential aged care facility during this time, Mr Colbeck said. Lockdown restrictions currently in place in Victoria say that where practicable, care facility workers should be limited to working at one facility. After five months of single-site regulations, the federal government dropped the requirement in November because it did not believe there should be rules in place banning casual staff in aged care from accessing work wherever they could find employment. Victorias Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton looks on as acting Premier James Merlino speaks to the media on Monday. Credit:Getty This Single Site Funding Support was also implemented in homes in Brighton, Doveton, Glen Waverley, McKinnon, Mordialloc and Moorabbin in January, and for five days in February. Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said it was massively risky to have staff working across multiple aged care facilities and it should be minimised as much as possible. The question as to how it is effectively enforced, supported financially or otherwise in terms of policy, is a question for the Commonwealth, Professor Sutton said. Acting Premier James Merlino stressed that private aged care was the responsibility of the federal government and pointed out that workers in the public sector were not allowed to work across multiple sites. We have been able to have 100 per cent of aged care workers [in public aged care homes] in metropolitan Melbourne who are not working across multiple sites, he said. Lisa Fitzpatrick, state secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, said the single-site working rule for staff had been maintained in all publicly run aged care homes in Victoria. The Commonwealth, because it involved providing funding to private providers, they took their eye off the ball, didnt provide the funding, and single-site employment wasnt an ongoing requirement in the private sector, Ms Fitzpatrick said. The reality of working in private aged care across the country is that full-time employment is rarely gained because providers insist on offering short shifts at peak activity times only, Ms Fitzpatrick said. Its why our nurses and carers are forced to work across multiple sites if they want full-time work. One of the senior doctors involved in last years response to the deadly aged care outbreaks in Victoria, Associate Professor Michael Murray, said funding to assist aged care staff to work at a single site needed to continue until at least the end of the year or when there were high rates of community vaccination. People work across multiple facilities because they need to eat and live, said Associate Professor Murray, the former geriatrician lead of the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre. If you gave them an alternative in this still low-paid sector, Im quite confident that they would choose not to, but if you dont give them an alternative or you withdraw the funding more fool us. Theyre at more risk than probably any other group in terms of being infected, and theyve got the least choices. Sean Rooney, chief executive of Leading Age Services Australia, encouraged aged care workers to not work at more than one home. A worker at the Blue Cross Western Gardens facility in Sunshine on Monday. Credit:Eddie Jim Well do anything we can to encourage workers not to work across multiple sites, Mr Rooney said. The sector is complying with all requirements stipulated by the Department of Health with regards to single site worker arrangements. The infection of the staff member of the Arcare home in Maidstone came even though she had been given her first vaccine shot on May 12. On Sunday Mr Hunt said 53 of the 76 residents at the Arcare home had agreed to be vaccinated and would receive their second doses on Monday. Florence and Graham Hansen, are both residents at Arcare Maidstone. Barbara Hansens parents, Florence and Graham, are both residents at Arcare Maidstone. Ms Hansen told The Age they first were alerted to the outbreak by a call from the centre at 10.30 on Saturday night. Loading Her parents have been at the facility for three years. Its a really well-run facility, obviously this is not quite what we wanted to hear, she said. Her parents had received a dose of the Pfizer before the lockdown and received their second dose on Monday. In a letter sent out on Sunday, BlueCross chief executive Robert Putamorsi said testing of staff at their Western Gardens facility revealed a staff member, who was a close contact of a care worker who tested positive while working at a different aged care facility, had COVID-19. Mr Putamorsi said 76 per cent of residents have received their first vaccine dose. Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas has defended his governments economic performance after a scathing analysis from a respected economist that found the states residents were poorer than those of any other jurisdiction except South Australia. Former ANZ chief economist Saul Eslake found Victorians were lagging behind most other states and territories on household disposable income and economic productivity, and accused the Andrews government of inflicting even deeper economic damage with the incompetence of its handling of the pandemic. On Sunday Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas revealed a $250 million relief package to support workers who are affected by Melbournes seven-day lockdown. Credit:Paul Jeffers Mr Eslake told The Age on Monday that he had been surprised by his finding, from an analysis of Bureau of Statistics data that Victoria had become a relatively poor state with annual disposable household income per person $5300 less than NSW. Two other economists who spoke to The Age used different data and arrived at different conclusions about the states economic health. A major overhaul is coming for WAs hotel quarantine operations, after the McGowan Government agreed to hire a private health logistics company to provide all doctors and nurses to the system. Healthcare Australia, which is already contracted to the New South Wales and Victorian governments, recruits and trains medical staff specifically to manage and treat people in hotels. The Health Department has appointed Healthcare Australia to provide end-to-end health support services, including all GPs, nurses and nursing assistants, outgoing State Health Incident Controller Robyn Lawrence said. WAs hotel quarantine system is headed for an overhaul. Credit:Nine Using their staff will allow public health care workers to return to frontline hospital duties. Mr Anderson had been skippering his 11.4-metre yacht on a trip with three friends in their 30s and his daughter from WAs South West to Exmouth when they hit rough waves on Sunday en route to Sandy Cape, just north of Jurien Bay. Department of Transport data shows the waves got as high as five metres near the area. I was watching every angle of where breaking waves might be because there were lots of breakers in the area, Mr Anderson said. Just as everything seemed clear ... a set wave came in and it took us out. The wave knocked the boat flat [and] so knocked the mast down to 90 degrees from where it should be. Myself and my daughter Ruby were up in the cockpit, and we got knocked out of the boat into the water. Mr Anderson bashed his forehead on part of the boat as he came off, leaving a deep gash, and had to unwrap a rope from his neck he became tangled up in as confusion took hold. He grabbed his daughter and held on tight as he told her when to hold her breath as the pair ducked under the breakers which continued to roll over them. She wasnt going to go under and I wasnt going to lose her, Mr Anderson said. When I came up, she went dad your head, I said dont worry about that. The three other crew members were soon up on the deck and threw life jackets and the EPIRB to the dad and daughter before safely making it into the water themselves as five minutes later the boat sank, overcome by more waves. First I couldnt believe that it went down so quickly and it was like something out of a movie with the mast kind of actually just went down in a matter of minutes, Mr Anderson said. Its hard to really piece my thoughts together because it all happened so fast. The boat gone, the conversation turned among the sailors to what would happen next. At first the group stayed together but Mr Anderson said there was some miscommunication and he and Ruby drifted apart from the rest of the crew. Glenn Anderson copped a nasty bump to his head when he was swept off his yacht on Sunday. Credit:The West Australian/Iain Gillespie He could not keep up with the others and tow Ruby against a southerly current which soon separated the survivors. Mr Anderson said he figured his and Rubys best chance was to go with the current and try and get inside the reef and into safer waters. All the while the worried dad was trying to make sure his daughter did not fall asleep and kept her head above water. I could tell she was becoming hypothermic and initially quite dehydrated, because she was quite seasick on the lead-up to it and hadnt been eating or drinking for quite some time either, Mr Anderson said. Probably in the last half-an-hour to an hour was when she really started to go downhill and I could tell by the change in the voice and the way she was speaking and she seemed a little bit delirious, saying all she wanted to do was get water. The RAC Rescue chopper helped in the rescue. Credit:Facebook At about 1.50pm the 32-year-old man, a 35-year-old woman and the 32-year-old woman with the EPIRB were rescued by the fisheries boat. Meanwhile Mr Anderson and Ruby were wasting energy waving at boats and the spotter plane which went past but too far away to spot the struggling duo. Wed seen the plane fly over about 20 times and we waved every time but obviously its hard to spot two people floating in the water from that angle, he said. The pair continued to make their way to shore and were seen by rescuers from Federation Beach south of Jurien Bay at about 3.40pm before being picked up by the fisheries vessel. Mr Anderson said all he felt was relief, but the danger was not over for Ruby, who the paramedics pumped full of fluids and flew to Perth in the RAC Rescue Helicopter along with her dad. [Ruby] could barely speak and barely say her own name, he said. She improved dramatically throughout that ride, I cant speak highly enough of the ambulance and the paramedic team. Ruby was taken to Perth Childrens Hospital, where she is on the mend, while Mr Anderson went to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. by Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne Media recently reported that the plaque erected to commemorate the opening of new electronic library at Attorney General (AG) Department which was carried wordings in Sinhala , English and Chinese languages, not in Tamil and later removed it to replace with corrected version . This incident has prompted me to write about a historical recordings of a stone pillar erected by Chinese Admiral Zheng-He at Galle harbour on 15th February 1409. This pillar was erected during one of his grand voyages to Sri Lanka, India and to African continent , more than 500 years ago. Admiral Zhang He had his voyages before the European powers came to our side of World (Portuguese Explorer Vasco De Gama came to Sri Lanka in 1505). Chinese Admiral Zheng-He came to Sri Lanka almost a century before Vasco De Gama. This stone pillar text concerns offerings he made to Lord Buddha, Allah and Hindu God Vishnu to make peaceful World for him (Chinese) to do trade and business in Sri Lanka. Now this historical pillar is preserved in the Colombo National Museum. What he offered to our Buddhist temples, Mosques and Hindu temples is fascinating to read and whole list was inscribed on this stone pillar in three languages. Interestingly, even though the stone pillar was erected in Galle harbour ( or in Beruwala ancient harbour) by Chinese Admiral Zheng , the three languages inscribed on it were Tamil, Persian and Chinese. Sinhala language was strangely omitted. Zhang-He was a Chinese mariner, explorer, diplomat, fleet admiral , and court eunuch China's early Ming Dynasty. He was originally born as Ma He or Ma Sanbao in a Muslim family and later adopted the surname Zheng conferred by the Yongle Emperor. Born to c. 1371 in Kunyang, near Kunming, Yunnan province, China. He did seven historical voyages to do trade and gather knowledge from outsides World . Admiral died in 1433, at the age of 62 years, during his last voyage near Calicut [now Kozhikode], India). His remains were dropped to Davys Jones locker ( buried at sea) off Corramandal coast of India. Admiral Zheng-He Zheng-He was a long-time advisor and ally of Zhu Di, later to become the Yongle Emperor [reign 1402-1424]. The future admiral had been one of many boys gathered in Yunnan and castrated to serve as eunuchs by the Ming general Fu Youde (1327-1394) in his pacification of that province during the Ming Dynastys war against remnants of the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty. Ma He was assigned to serve the retinue of Zhu Di, and over time showed his usefulness, especially in battle where the tall, broad-shouldered eunuch was a powerful and imposing figure. Ma He demonstrated his loyalty in 1402 when Zhu Di went to war with his nephew the Jianwen Emperor [r. 1398-1402] over control of the Ming throne. On becoming the Yongle Emperor, Zhu Di gave his eunuch ally a new surname, Zheng. He was assigned to built a fleet and explore the outside World . Emperor was keen in developing sea trade with outside World at that time. Admiral Zheng-Hes fleet was unbelievably large. He had ships (sailing ships) more than 120 meters in length ( longer than present day Sri Lanka Navys flag ship) and with five decks. Unconfirmed stories say these ships crew grew fresh vegetables on top deck and had a piggery in bottom bilge deck where pigs were fed with leftover food of the crew during passage. These ships were floating fortresses/ towns. Admiral Zhang He had more than 100 of this size ships and same number of smaller size ships and his fleet consists of 217 ships and 28,000 sailors/marines. In comparison , Columbus in 1492 had only three ships and 90 sailors. Colombuss flag ship Santa Maria was only 30 meters in length . Those 100-odd big ships of Chinese Admiral Zhang He (treasure ships) had carried precious cargo like silk cloths, gold/ silver coins, porcelain Vases and plates to trade with outside World. Stone pillar When Admiral Zhang-He first visited Sri Lanka in 1405 at Beruwala harbour, which was a thriving harbour for Arab traders at that time, he paid an visit to Kotte Kingdom and climbed Sri Pada to pay his respects. His first visit only limited to India and Sri Lanka. In his second voyage in 1411, he had a conflict with Kotte kingdom and our King Alakeshwara tried to attack his ships. Admiral launched an counter attack with his expeditionary forces and captured King Alakeshwara and his followers. Then he was replaced with King Parakramabahu VI in Kotte Kingdom and ordered gratifications to Chinese Emperor. Then he sailed with captured Sinhalese prisoners, including King Alakeshwara to China. The ancient records says, when Admiral Zhang-He presented captured King Alakeshwara and his followers to Yongle Emperor ( third Emperor of Ming dynasty) , the Emperor has advised Admiral that we are on these voyages to improve our trade and businesses, not to wage war. Please take them back to Sri Lanka in your next voyage and ordered. Admiral took them back to Sri Lanka in his next voyage. They were looked after well during their stay in China. The same sentiments you heard from present day Chinese leaders in their new belt and road (BRI) initiative - We are for trade and investment: not to wage War. After his 6th Voyage to outside World Admiral Zhang He was of the view that, There is nothing China can learnt from outside World. True enough China was very much advanced compared to outside World at that time. This report by Admiral and change ruling Dynasty of China made her to scrap her fleet after Admiral Zhang Hes last voyage ( in which he died at sea) and that money was channeled to built Great Wall to stop Mongolian invaders. The forbidden city also was built during this period and capital of China also shifted from city of Nanjing to Beijing. This great Chinese Admiral Zheng-He spent 28 years of his adult life on voyages. In 1911, S.H. Thomlin, a British engineer working in Galle along the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka, found a stone tablet lying in a culvert. The old stela was a strange document, inscribed in three languages Persian, Chinese and Tamil praising and giving thanks to Allah, the Lord Buddha, and the Hindu god Tenavarai-Nayanar. (God Vishnu). Lost for centuries, this trilingual inscription was a relic from a long-ago visit to Sri Lanka by the great Chinese admiral Zheng-He (1371-1433). Later this pillar was shifted to Colombo National Museum. Zheng Hes Ship alongside Columbuss Santa Maria I am a seafarer, not an historian. Can some one enlighten me on why Sinhala language was not used in this pillar ? Why it was used as a culvert until British engineer found it. ? Were Sinhalese were upset and angry then as there is no inscription in Sinhala ( as we see today Tamil politicians were angry as no inscription in Tamil in plaque erected at Attorney General Department ?). Let us have more discussions on this interesting subject. I am failing in my duty if I do not mentioned my research assistant, my son Ravi junior for some of these historical details. Thanks junior ! Keep researching. I will definitely consider a pay rise to you next month, dear son. (The writer retired from Sri Lanka Navy, and served as Chief of Defence Staff in Sri Lanka ) Disappointment and dismay are once again our response in aged care with news that the federal government rollout of the immunisation program for residents and staff is behind their initial schedule. To compound the situation, with another COVID outbreak and another lockdown in Victoria, there is a potential risk of deaths occurring in older people in aged care. The words of our leaders ring hollow, and a task that they justifiably had given top priority was not met. The excuses and obfuscation around what happened has the same pattern we saw last year with the horrific situation of the second wave of COVID and the hundreds of deaths in aged care. It seems little has been learnt from the royal commission hearing about engaging with and respecting the value of staff and residents. Two staff members and a resident at Arcare Maidstone aged care facility have tested positive to the virus. Credit:Scott McNaughton The first phase of Australias national COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan commenced to much fanfare in late February. It was a sound and appropriate decision that phase 1a prioritised aged care, where there are about 200,000 residents and about another 300,000 aged care staff. As we know almost 40 per cent of all COVID deaths across the world have been in aged care. We know there were initial delays with obtaining the full 10 million Pfizer vaccine doses ordered. By early April the federal health department confirmed the government had received 1 million doses, more than enough to vaccinate every aged care resident in every home in Australia. In the wake of the Upper Hunter byelection, attention within Labor has turned to key demographics it needs to win back and the need to win over blue-collar and regional voters is again being emphasised. Forgotten in this conversation has been Labors problems connecting with the growing number of culturally diverse voters in metropolitan areas. Australia is a proudly multicultural country, but the full extent of its diversity is not fully appreciated. Thirty-nine per cent of Australians have a cultural background that is not Anglo-Celtic or Indigenous with 21 per cent having ancestry from a non-European country. Michael Daley did not show on the weekend that he understood why remarks that came to light during the last state election were racist. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Asian Australians are estimated to be 14.7 per cent of the population, about the same proportion of the US population that is African American. That proportion is even higher in metropolitan areas, the 2016 census indicating that 28 per cent of residents in the Sydney metropolitan area had Asian ancestry, likely even higher now. The fact that Michael Daley is a contender for the NSW Labor leadership is symptomatic of a wider failure by the party to take the cultural diversity of the electorate seriously. Oversight of coal and coal seam gas projects impact on water resources would be handed to the states under the federal governments push to cut green tape and speed up environmental assessments. The water-trigger law was introduced by the Rudd-Gillard government in mid-2013 as a federal backstop to state planning assessments. It requires large-scale coal and CSG developments that could affect groundwater to be evaluated by an independent expert panel, which then provides advice to the federal environment minister. A sign in a farmers paddock on the Liverpool Plains, where Shenhua Watermarks coal project was bought out by the NSW government after the miner failed to submit management plans required under the water trigger. Credit:Dean Sewell But under the federal governments proposed one-touch approval system, bilateral agreements would allow state governments to administer Commonwealth environmental laws, including the water trigger, when assessing the environmental impacts of major projects. The architect of the water trigger, former independent New England MP Tony Windsor, said putting states in charge of responding to advice from the water-trigger experts spelled a return to a chickens and the fox scenario. NSW Labor MPs want the stalemate over the partys leadership resolved this week in order to avoid a membership ballot as Kogarah MP Chris Minns became the second candidate in the race for the job. A full rank-and-file ballot will be necessary if the deadlock between Mr Minns and former leader Michael Daley is not sorted out this week, which would require one candidate to withdraw. NSW Labor MP Chris Minns says he would bring generational change if elected leader of the party. Credit:James Alcock Mr Minns, who has contested the leadership twice before, confirmed on Monday he would nominate, insisting he was the best person to bring generational change to the party. Mr Daley, who led Labor to the 2019 state election, announced his nomination on Sunday, arguing he would be the only MP capable of healing the party in the wake of recent turbulent times. People say a week is a long time in politics, but the week-long shutdown in Victoria is going to feel like an eternity for the hundreds of thousands of Victorians who will lose shifts and pay this week. Because unlike previous lockdowns, there is no JobKeeper support and no moratorium on rent evictions to stop them experiencing significant hardship from being unable to work due to the COVID-19 restrictions. As a mother with two primary school-aged children back at home for remote learning, it is easy to forget that with the ability to work from home, we are far from the most impacted by this latest lockdown. That many Victorians live precariously close to the line of being able to afford three full meals a day, keep their homes warm and put a roof over their head. One lost shift is felt acutely, and a week without work will be a body blow from which many will not easily recover. When Australia was plunged into the first lockdown over a year ago, the federal government stepped in and rolled out an unprecedented level of support for households and businesses. The rate of JobSeeker for the unemployed was doubled and the JobKeeper scheme was introduced, heavily subsidising the wages of more than 3.5 million workers that would have otherwise suffered a large fall in income or unemployment. In addition, state governments offered their own stimulus support but their capacity to spend is well below that of the federal government, due to constitutional limits on revenue raising and spending. In total, the federal government spent more than $300 billion to stop the health crisis turning into a humanitarian and economic crisis with far-reaching consequences. But when the tap was turned off to much of this support in March, Australians unable to work from home and without access to holiday leave or sick leave were left carrying the risk and cost of future lockdowns. Lockdowns, that with the snail-paced speed of the vaccine rollout and quarantine arrangements that have never been fit for purpose, will continue to be inevitable. Singapore: Banned by the United States and Australia and shut out by other Western nations, Huawei is ramping up its 5G push into south-east Asia with Malaysia shaping as next in line to welcome the Chinese giant. A lightning rod in the geopolitical rivalry and technological arms race between the US and China, the controversial telecom equipment supplier has been widely ostracised since the Australian government in 2018 blacklisted it from its 5G network and former US president Donald Trump pressured Britain and European nations to exclude it from their rollouts on national security grounds. A man looks at his mobile phone in front of Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Huawei is tipped as the frontrunner to build the countrys 5G network. Credit:AP Its sidelining in the West, as well as by India and Japan, has made south-east Asia an even more important market for the company. While it has been edged out in Singapore and shunned by Vietnam, it did strike a deal with Indonesia last December and is now the front-runner to build Malaysias nationwide 5G network. Kian Ming Ong, who was deputy minister of international trade and industry in the Malaysian government until the Pakatan Harapan coalition collapsed last year, told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that fears about Huaweis technology being susceptible to Chinese state espionage were not shared by Malaysia. Moscow: A former director of Open Russia, an opposition group linked to exiled former oil tycoon and Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, has been removed from a plane in St Petersburg and arrested, a monitoring group reported on Tuesday. OVD-Info, a group which monitors police action against opposition figures, said Andrei Pivovarov was arrested at Pulkovo airport and was being transferred to the Investigative Committee. Andrei Pivovarov, the head of OVD-Info, a group which monitors police action against opposition figures, was arrested at Pulkovo airport. Credit:Facebook Open Russia said on Thursday it had decided to end its operations in Russia to protect its members from the risk of being jailed. Russia declared the London-based group undesirable in 2017, effectively banning its activities. Its allies in Russia continued their activism under the same name, but as a separate legal entity to try to protect themselves from prosecution. But the walkout in Texas is likely only a fleeting victory: Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who had declared new voting laws a priority in Texas, barely waited for every Democrat to flee the House floor before declaring that he would order a special session to finish the job. And hes already begun punishing lawmakers, saying on Monday that he would veto the part of the state budget that funds legislators salaries. Docking Democrats pay in retribution: Texas Governor Greg Abbott. Credit:AP No pay for those who abandon their responsibilities, Abbott tweeted. He has not said when he will drag lawmakers back to work. I understand why they were doing it, said Republican state Representative Briscoe Cain, who carried the bill in the House. But we all took an oath to Texans that we would be here to do our jobs. Coming in at 67 pages long, the Texas bill would have reduced polling hours, empowered poll watchers and scaled back ways to vote. It included a ban on drive-through voting centres and 24-hour polling places, both of which were used last year around Houston, reflecting how Republicans went after Texas largest Democratic stronghold. Many were ideas that Democrats had spent months fighting, but they protested that others were added in at the last minute. That included not just new early voting for Sunday but also a provision that could make it easier to overturn an election. A group opposing new voter legislation gather outside the House Chamber at the Texas Capitol. Credit:AP Under the bill, a judge could void a candidates victory if the number of fraudulent votes cast could change the outcome, regardless of whether it was proved that the fraud actually had affected the result. Its the sort of provision that could allow a favourable judge to side with a candidate who makes broad claims of fraud with little specific evidence as Trump did with virtually no success. Democrats and voting groups were particularly alarmed about it because the GOP has continued to embrace Trump even after he tried to overturn the 2020 election on phony claims of extensive fraud. Hours before the vote was set to take place on Sunday, Democrats packed into a back room with Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan. State Representative Nicole Collier, the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, speaks at a news conference at the Texas Capitol against the voting restrictions. Credit:AP We werent getting satisfactory answers about why the bill had gotten so much worse, Democratic state Representative Gina Hinojosa said. Most of us walked away from that meeting understanding that this was our only option. But even before then, Hinojosa said, momentum toward a walkout was building. She said a meeting of black and Hispanic lawmakers in the House made clear there was an anger, a sadness, an intolerance about letting the bill pass. Another option was running out the clock but that carried more risk: Hinojosa said Democrats received word that any effort to filibuster the bill would lead to Republicans cutting off debate and holding a vote. It was the first time in nearly 20 years that Democrats had staged a quorum break in Texas. The meltdown of the Texas bill was a rare victory for Democrats in a year that has seen 14 states enact new laws tightening voting restrictions, according to the Brennan Centre for Justice, a voting rights group. These laws have typically been muscled through by Republican-controlled state legislatures and signed swiftly by GOP governors. The Democrats potential remedy to the wave of restrictions a sweeping national voting bill is bogged down in Congress. Smith Mountain Lake residents Brenda Gay Shumaker and her husband Doug celebrated 50 years of marriage at the amphitheater of the Smith Mountain Lake State Park on a recent Saturday afternoon. MIR-SAT1, Mauritius first satellite to be launched on 3 June Space in Africa report that Mauritius's first satellite, MIR-SAT1, is scheduled to be launched on Thursday, 3 June, onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching the CRS2 SpX-22 mission to the International Space Station at 5:29 PM (UTC). MIR-SAT1 (Mauritius Imagery and Radio Satellite 1) was designed by a team of Mauritian Engineers and an experienced Radio Amateur from the Mauritius Amateur Radio Society in collaboration with experts from AAC-Clyde Space UK. Mauritius was the winner of the 3rd round UNOOSA/JAXA KiboCube Programme in 2018. JAXA awarded the nation the opportunity to build and deploy a 1U Cube Satellite through the International Space Station (ISS). In February, MIR-SAT1 was handed over to JAXA to be deployed from the Japanese Experiment Module (Kibo) KiboCUBE on the ISS. The primary objective of the MIR-SAT1 is to acquire satellite technology through the design process, design review, assembly, integration and testing. In parallel, the MRIC has set up a ground station located at its premises in Ebene, which will serve to control and operate the MIR-SAT1. This Ground station will also allow the receipt of data and telemetry from other satellites. The Ground Station is being equipped with a FlatSat module, a replica of the 1U, enabling engineers to simulate all the required manoeuvres before sending the command to the CubeSat. The FlatSat Module is a key tool for the Mauritian Engineers to design future CubeSats after the MIR-SAT1. This is the second time an African country will launch a satellite in 2021, after Tunisia placed its first satellite, Challenge One, in orbit in March. The satellite will accompany the NASA/SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Dragon cargo resupply mission (CRS-22) to the International Space Station. It will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida, at 1:29 p.m. EDT (1729 GMT). The launch will be streamed live here. https://africanews.space/mir-sat1-mauritius-first-satellite-to-be-launched-on-3-june/ ~ Knops knowingly violated RMR rules of order ~ The Hague, Netherland:--- Based on the proposal of demissionair State Secretary Knops to further delay liquidity support to St. Maarten, the Kingdom Council of Ministers (RMR) on Friday, May 28, 2021, has reversed its decision approved on April 23, 2021. This decision to grant St. Maarten the much-needed 39 million guilders due since April 1, 2021, was meant to cover the months of April, May, and June. Knops felt that it was within his right to go against the decision based on allegations of corporate governance issues at the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA), even though this had not formed part of the conditions to receive this tranche. With this confirmation by a majority of the RMR, the precedent has been set for Knops to arbitrarily take decisions outside of the RMR, which is a violation of the rules of order a clear example of how the democratic deficit is used against St. Maarten and the other small countries in the Kingdom. Prime Minister Jacobs questions the legality of this decision based on the fact that it goes against the rules of order of the RMR - particularly in Article 12 sub 2 which deals with the decision making within the RMR and states that under no circumstances will a minister or state secretary act against a decision of the council. The reversing of a decision of the RMR further challenges the legitimacy of the RMR and the integrity of the decisions taken. During the RMR, when it was evident that the council members of the Dutch Government would vote along with Knops, Prime Minister Jacobs requested a voortgezet overleg as per the Kingdom Charter to continue the discussion in a smaller setting. Unfortunately, by law, this setting also places the requesting party at a disadvantage with the Netherlands having a 3 to 1 voting majority. In the voortgezet overleg that took place later that day, Prime Minister Jacobs together with Minister Irion further elucidated the needs of the most vulnerable for the liquidity which was already two months overdue. Jacobs also highlighted the fact that the conditions had been met since March and that it is unjust to add new conditions at this juncture. The first delay at the end of March also had absolutely nothing to do with the already agreed-upon conditions. It was clear that there was no real interest to listen to reason nor negotiate. "It is quite evident that the Government of the Netherlands continues to move the goal post for much-needed liquidity support. This hurts the people of Sint Maarten who need it the most; the very same people that Knops has stated he aims to assist, stated Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs. Fact is, St. Maarten has a right to the execution of the decision of April 23, 2021. By withholding the execution of the decision and adding the additional condition, Knops acted against the council's own decision of April 23, which was made upon his recommendation. Furthermore, the ministers within the RMR who voted with Knops are also complicit in the violation of the rules of order through their support of his actions. The Government of St. Maarten is not the only entity of this opinion. On Wednesday, May 26, during the Kingdom Relations committee live debate in the Second Chamber, several members questioned Knops on the situation regarding the liquidity support for St. Maarten. They queried the legality of his linking good governance at the airport to the already approved fifth tranche liquidity support. One member called the move 'unwise and unjust' and further cautioned that everyone has to stick to their agreements and that the Netherlands must set an example. While Knops continued to claim that he did not act against the rules by withholding liquidity support, he did admit that the conditions were met by St. Maarten but did not address the violations of the rules of order in his responses. Nevertheless, the Government of St. Maarten continues to work towards establishing good governance at the airport, as a top priority. As shareholder, the government of St. Maarten is taking the necessary steps to structurally improve corporate governance within the confines of St. Maarten's current legal framework. This trajectory was indeed well underway before the fated letters were publicized. To that effect, Prime Minister Jacobs and Finance Minister Irion met with Schiphol executives this past week while in the Netherlands. During this meeting, a follow-up to virtual meetings held over the past weeks, Schiphol confirmed their willingness to continue with the cooperation and support at the airport seeing that the Shareholder is living up to its responsibilities to address the corporate governance issues at PJIA. They have also clarified that their participation is based on governments request, and will do all they can to assist St. Maarten in ensuring the agreement is lived up to including the requested training for Airport staff. It has become the modus operandi of Knops to use the democratic deficit to push through his demands where it regards the smaller countries, especially during times of acute need. The relationship between the Netherlands and the smaller countries only suffers further as a result of this culture of overreaching that is validated in the Kingdom Council meetings. St. Maarten has met all the conditions for the release of the fifth tranche of liquidity support and will continue to let our voices be heard in this matter, even as we seek a swift resolution in the interest of the people of St. Maarten who will suffer the most from these unnecessary and even unlawful delays, concluded Prime Minister Jacobs. PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department in the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), would like to inform the public that COVID-19 Drive Through Testing Site in Pointe Blanche has extended hours. Starting Monday, May 31 the hours will go into effect as follows: Monday- Friday 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM, Saturday drive through testing at CPS Offices at the Vineyard Office Park Building 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Clients of CPS Youth Health Care and the Baby Wellness Clinic are hereby informed, that the latter has been experiencing some challenges with the telephone network. Clients of CPS Youth Health Care and Baby Wellness Clinic can reach both entities (temporarily) by calling 520-4163 between the hours of 8:30 AM to 5.00 PM (Mon-Fri) or persons can call 914 and request to be transferred to the Baby Wellness Clinic. Both agencies apologize for any inconvenience caused and ask for your patience as the telephone system is upgraded. PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament George Pantophlet says that the United Nations General Assembly met some 65 years ago in several sessions. The discussions related to whether the Netherlands were permitted to cease providing information under Article 73 e of the charter of the United Nations. According to the Member of Parliament, what was also highly disputed during those meetings were the Kingdom Charter and specifically its effects on the then territories of Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles. The countries, though having the same documents in hand still came up with different interpretations. While some countries such as Brazil and the United States to name a few saw the Kingdom Charter as a document that entails the mechanisms for full self-internal governance and was convinced then that the documentation submitted by the Netherlands Government (Dutch) made it quite clear that the two Caribbean countries enjoyed full autonomy, others saw it as too much influence of the Netherlands in the internal affairs of the countries. The Member of Parliament continues by saying that some countries such as the Philippines questioned the need for the charter. The anti- Kingdom charter proponents identified articles that clearly infers the dominance of the Netherlands. Another representative from the country of Iraq questioned the functioning of article 44 of the Kingdom Charter as some of the clauses in more particular in paragraphs 1 (b) and (c) gave the Netherlands Government the power of veto on matters falling outside the scope of Kingdom affairs. We are often reminded by some persons that the people voted to remain within the constellation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. But the remaining part of the Kingdom in the peoples understanding was on the premise of equality as is stated in the Kingdom Charter. The very fact that the Dutch government used the term Kingdom of the Netherlands and not Kingdom of the Netherlands Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles should have been seen as a warning sign by us. One of the concerns of the Venezuelan delegation was and he quotes that the Assembly had to decide whether the Kingdom Charter conferred on the Netherlands Antilles and Surinam a full measure of self-government in which case and in which case only the obligations of the administering Power under chapter XI would have already lapsed end of quote. Another country (India) dealt with the issue of the Queen. And he quotes; Despite the use of the word Kingdom the Netherlands Antilles and Surinam were governed by the Queen of the Netherlands, not by the Queen of the Antilles and or Surinam. The difference was important. Where the head of one of the partners was, without any change of status, the head of the other, the position was not one of the partnership but dependence end of quote. In his understanding, the Netherlands held no discussions as to whether the then territories of the Netherlands Antilles and Surinam wanted to have a monarch as a head of state. It was a condition si qua non. India also made reference to article 51 of the Kingdom Charter saying that in any really self-governing territory the right to dissolve this responsibility should be vested in the territorial parliament. It also concluded that the status conferred on Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles did not give them a full measure of self-government or make them independent sovereign states. Several countries also congratulated the Netherlands (Ecuador) and he quotes The government of the Netherlands was also to be congratulated on its respect for its moral legal obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and on its loyalty to the Organization in submitting to it the case for cessation of the transmission of information under Article 73 of the Charter end of quote. The use of the term country for me is inaccurate and I concur with others and in this case, a delegate from Ecuador who said and I quote; The use of the vague term countries in case of Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles was undoubtedly deliberate. They did not possess that power of self-determination, which was essential for a sovereign state end of quote. He wants to highlight other cardinal points that were brought up during these meetings which took several days. The USSR (Russia) mentions and he quotes. Although the countries internal affairs were to be conducted in accordance with the country constitutions the supreme power was not in the hands of the country parliaments but of the Governors appointed by the King end of quote. Some of the statements made highlighted the reality of a Democratic Deficit. When he wrote this article, there was a meeting to be held with the First Chamber (Eerste Kamer) to discuss the 10 years old Dispute Regulation but that was canceled at the last minute. And also for St. Maarten very critical meeting on the liquidity support suffered the same fate. Equal in word but not in reality. ~ Says financial controller had limited info ~ PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Sunday called for an update on the Ombudsmans inquiry into the awarding of garbage contracts to five companies for the next five years. He said though the Minister of VROMI has gone quiet on the issue, it remains unresolved with several questions unanswered. The MP explained that at least two companies filed complaints at the Ombudsman who in turn contacted the Minister with several inquiries based on those concerns. This was also confirmed by the Minister. The MP said he understands that the Minister has since responded to the Ombudsman with information that was not sufficient or clear enough for the Ombudsman to issue a final report. Judging from how the Ombudsman has worked in the past, the fact that we have not heard from the Ombudsman means that there are still issues that are unclear and there is still a serious lack of information from the government. I know government often hopes that people forget, but a process was started. What is going on with this process? What are the concerns of the Ombudsman and are they basically the same as the companies who complained about the bidding process? MP Emmanuel asked. In fact, he continued, it is reported that the financial controller of VROMI informed the Minister/COM that she was not provided with the final evaluations mentioned above or the financial information thereof. The controller reportedly signed off on the advice based on a reported pre-approved extra budget presumably in the 2021 budget since there are no funds available now or in the 2020 budget for an extra two million. One would think that a financial controller should be provided with all information before signing off on advice that commits the government for two million extra. So the question is based on what did the controller sign off? Who approved that extra two million and how was this justified by the Minister? Also, what did the Governor have to say about this? You could not use 2020 as a basis, so the budget of 2021 has to be in play somehow, Emmanuel said. The Minister painted a picture as if the companies who complained were just unhappy or bitter that they were not awarded a parcel. He also tries to imply that I was somehow stirring trouble. Both the companies and I simply want clarity on a process that is unclear although the Minister said they made improvements to the process. Well, those so-called improvements have led to confusion and the involvement of the Ombudsman who also has a right to conduct a deeper investigation if the Minister does not provide clear answers and summon everyone who was involved in the process to get clarity, the MP said. As far back as January 2021, several persons associated with the bidding for the new contracts contacted the MP with serious complaints and accusations about the bidding process. He then raised several of these concerns publicly to ensure that proper procedures were followed and the process wasnt corrupted. He has since questioned the scoring breakdown of the bids if the complete agreed upon advice was sent to the Governor of St. Maarten for approval, how was an additional two million found by a cash strapped government to increase the garbage contracts total, why one company was granted three parcels, who formed part of the evaluation committee for the bids and what were their original evaluation of the bids and several other questions. ~Global experts with more than 150 years of experience combine to provide insights to islandpreneurs~ PHILIPSBURG:--- Islandpreneur Live 2021 is the second annual signature virtual experience hosted by Produce Wealth Revolution (PWR) Agency. On June 3rd 4th, more than 15 global experts will share their expertise with island-based entrepreneurs to support them in building smart, digital, and global businesses. Sessions include workshops, masterclasses, roundtables, and even a live podcast recording with venture-capitalist turned youtuber with almost 3 million subscribers, Evan Carmichael. Mr. Carmichael has raised $500k to $15m in funding for different businesses. Now he empowers entrepreneurs to create movements that make a difference and has written four (4) best-selling books, while being featured by Forbes. Islandpreneur Live is designed to provide the best and most actionable insights to island-based entrepreneurs so they can accelerate growth and build resilient businesses. Experts will be covering topics such as innovation, export, branding, monetization, finance, resilience, strategy, and networking. Some of the organizations being represented are Dutch Caribbean Securities Exchange (DCSX), Centrale Bank van Curacao en Sint Maarten (CBCS), Altus Branding N.V., Island Innovation, Global Entrepreneurship Network, The Rep Network, Tech Beach, Facebook, and Microsoft. One of the key global experts includes the daughter of the soil and data science manager of Facebook, Yinka Badejo. Ms. Badejo is a data analyst with an undergraduate degree in mathematics and graduate degrees in operational research and systems engineering and has worked in aviation, railway, and most recently the Director of Analytics of Ernst & Young. Ms. Badejo is conducting a workshop on innovation doing a deep dive on how to use purpose as a strategy to innovate. Islandpreneur Live includes a workshop by CBCS on Financial Resilience. This workshop will look at ways to recover quickly financially from shock while highlighting some of the trends that will support financial resilience on the islands. CBCS will also contribute to the roundtable, Is the Future of Islands Digital? where different perspectives will be shared on the digital transformation of islands how it will impact the quality of life. The latest addition to the speaker circuit is Small Medium Business (SMB) Lead at Microsoft Caribbean, Yamile Bustamante Allen. Ms. Allen will give a keynote on Digital Entrepreneurship and what that means for islandpreneurs in the region. Microsoft is committed to supporting economic resilience by supporting digital native businesses. There will be a virtual awards ceremony, Islandpreneur Awards followed directly with a roundtable discussion with the awardees. These awards recognize contributors to islandpreneurship from around the world. Awardees include the queen of podcast, Heneka Watkis-Porter based on Jamaica, and Jeff Hoffman, Chairman of Global Entrepreneurship Network, and co-founder of Priceline.com. This virtual experience is geared to ensure island-based entrepreneurs have the right insights to accelerate growth and expand their network. This would not be possible without strategic partners, TelEm N.V., Prime Distributors, Dutch Caribbean Securities Exchange, Centrale Bank van Curacao en Sint Maarten, and all the experts. Space is limited and registration starts at $37 per person. To register go to www.experiencepwr.com or https://islandpreneur-live-21.heysummit.com and to learn more email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday afternoon the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard received a notification from the Korps Politie St. Maarten (KPSM) that someone who was swimming at Bobby's Marina went missing. A Metal Shark patrol that was already patrolling the sea, went to the location to help search for the missing person. Unfortunately, the man was not found and the search was called off for the night. This morning the lifeless body of the man was found on the west side of Great Bay during a search action of a Metal Shark patrol. The lifeless body of the elderly man was handed over to the KPSM. The Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard wishes the family of the deceased strength in this difficult time and may he rest in peace. Man drowns in Great Bay Beach On Saturday, May 29, at approximately 5:50 pm, the Police Dispatch Center received a notification that an 81-year-old man with an initial O.A. went swimming at Great Bay Beach and was not seen since. Police and Coast Guard initiated a search for the missing man in Great Bay and surrounding areas. The Coast Guard continued the search late into the evening, but there is was no sign of the man. The search was halted due to the darkness. In the morning of Sunday, May 30, the Coast Guard took up the search again. At approximately 8:30 am, they located the mans body in the water near Divi Little Bay Beach Resort. A preliminary investigation was conducted by detectives and the police doctor concluded that the victim had drowned. The Sint Maarten Police expressed its condolences to the families of the deceased. KPSM Press Release. PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI, is happy to announce that it has once again hosted another successful webinar on the topic of Business Planning for Business Loans. This webinar was held last week Thursday, May 27th, and had as the main presenter Mr. Edsel Gumbs of Qredits. Mr. Gumbs delivered a phenomenal presentation on brainstorming your initial business idea, conducting market research, preparing your business plan, estimating your projections, selling your business idea, and the application process for the NRPB grant/loan. Over 242 individuals registered to be part of this webinar. To date since the commencement of our Webinar Series 2021, COCI has been receiving on average 132 registrants per webinar. Each webinar ends on a high note with attendees wishing for more time and calling on a repeat. The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) continues to call upon the business community, entrepreneurs, business enthusiasts, and the general public to seize the opportunity of our free COCI Business Webinars Series 2021. The Chamber has been conducting these information sessions in the form of workshops since 2019. However, given the current situation of a global pandemic and the need for business support, the Chamber has digitalized its sessions in the form of ZOOM webinars. Our ongoing COCI Business Webinars are geared towards the growth and development of our businesses through capacity building. Since March, our webinars are usually held once a month (sometimes twice) and are from 19:00 20:00 PM. Recordings of the webinars can be viewed via the Chambers social media platform Facebook. On Thursday, June 3rd, 2021 COCI will be hosting an extraordinary webinar on the topic Hurricane Awareness and Disaster Planning since we have now entered the Hurricane Season. The Chamber wishes that business owners and citizens attend this webinar to gather as much knowledge as it pertains to the Hurricane Season and best practices as it relates to disaster planning. Topics that would be covered include the formation of tropical cyclones, naming of storms, disaster definition, and types, governmental legislation pertaining to roles and responsibilities, information of the EOC and ESF groups. This webinar will also be live stream on our Facebook platform. The presenters of this upcoming webinar would be Mr. Paul Martens- Head of Disaster Management and Mr. Joseph Isaac- Head of the Meteorological Office. Algiers, 31 May 2021 (SPS) - The Algerian newspaper, Bladi News, published today, Monday, an interview with the Sahrawi Ambassador in Botswana and the SADC organization, Mr. Malainin Lakhal, in which he addressed a number of issues related to the continuation of the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara, and the blackmail campaigns waged by the Makhzen against various countries, including Spain, to force Madrid to accept the illegal occupation of Western Sahara. The Sahrawi Ambassador affirmed that the international community had tolerated Morocco so much, and encouraged it to continue its expansionist policies, which pushed Rabat to use immigration, drugs and other cards to put pressure on its neighbors, adding that the Spanish and European position is still weak and should be reviewed to put the Makhzen in its right place as a criminal system and as a failed state that is collapsing. The following is the full read of the interview, as published by the newspaper: The Makhzen practices terrorism against everyone, and its leaders are outlaws The European position is weak and must be revised to put the Makhzen in its right place Interviewed by: Fouad. H What are the latest developments in the Saharawi issue? Lakhal: It can be said that the Saharan issue has witnessed successive developments during the past few months, especially since the Polisario Front returned to the armed struggle, and announced the end of its commitment to the OAU-UN ceasefire after the Moroccan armys flagrant violation of it on November 13, 2020, by targeting civilians in the Guerguerat region. Since that date, we have seen how the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union, and many countries have moved, whether through attempts to intervene to stop the war, or after the former US President, Trump, announced his recognition of the illegal Moroccan occupation of parts of our homeland, here too, many countries and organizations have had to express their rejection of this proclamation, simply because it contradicts international law, and is also dangerous to international relations and represents a dangerous precedent that could destroy decades of attempts to build international relations on the basis of law, and respect for peoples right to freedom, independence and sovereignty over their homelands and wealth. On the African level, we noticed that the recent African Union summits strongly dealt with the Saharan issue, contrary to what the Moroccan occupation regime had hoped for, and despite the Makhzen continuing its policy of volte-face and rejection of reason and respect for the law. Morocco seems to increasingly be isolated because of this policy, and we have all seen how it is managing its diplomatic relations with many countries of the world with the logic of threat and intimidation, and the use of dangerous blackmailing cards threatening international stability and security, such as immigration, terrorism, drugs, and smear media campaigns against countries such as Spain, Algeria, Germany, Iran, and any country that neutrally expresses support for international legality in the Western Sahara issue. These are in a way the most important feature of recent developments. What is the role that the major countries play in the file? Lakhal: It can be said frankly that some major countries bear the greater part of the responsibility for the continued illegal and military occupation of parts of Western Sahara by Morocco, and it is possible here frankly to point at certain countries by finger without any reservation, such as France, for example, which protected, and continues to protect Morocco from within the Security Council, and in the European Union, and continues to influence many French-speaking African countries in particular, to prevent them from any kind of support or even neutrality in the Western Sahara issue, which is a resounding outrage not only for Paris public claims of respecting law, democracy and human rights, but worse betrays its support to the violation of all these slogans by its North African protectorate, and it is also shameful from these countries that are subject to the French-Moroccan dictates in this case of clear decolonization from which the African Union adopts a clear position. The United States of America also bears a large part of the responsibility for the continued occupation by Morocco of western Sahara, why? Because the United States of America is supposed to be the penholder within the UN Security Council regarding the drafting of decisions related to the Saharawi conflict since Washington became a Guarantor of the OAU-African settlement plan in 1991, along with the rest of the Security Council members and other influential international powers, which asked the Sahrawis to cease fire thirty years ago and promised them to organize a referendum for self-determination. The United States of America has not yet fulfilled this promise, nor honoured its commitment to the Sahrawi people and to the Polisario Front, and we have even witnessed how Trump overturned during the last month of his term the American position despite its shortcomings, an illegal move that was however criticized by all American politicians familiar with the question, such as James Baker, John Bolton, and Christopher Ross, having worked on the issue directly, but also members of Congress, the Senate, and many others. We cannot forget, of course, Spain and its historical, moral and political responsibility for this situation that we are living as Sahrawis, since the Spanish state failed to fulfill its responsibility to eliminate colonialism from our country, leaving it to Moroccan ambitions. On this basis, we can also talk about other international bodies that bear responsibility for the continuation of the situation, either for their silence, or for ignoring and evading their international responsibilities, such as the European Union, for example, etc. On the other hand, we should not forget to praise many countries, governments and organizations that have had enough courage to express at least honorable positions such as the African Union, the countries of the SADC, Russia, China, Algeria, Kenya, Ethiopia and other African countries, Germany, Scandinavian countries, and New Zealand, Ireland, Italy, Mexico and many others. Countries and organizations that refuse to accept Moroccan attempts and insist on the necessity of respecting international legality in decolonizing Western Sahara. Many of, those explicitly condemn any attempt to legitimize the Moroccan occupation and consider it a violation of international law and threat to international relations and multilateralism. In light of the recent diplomatic crisis between Rabat and Madrid, many observers of the conflict see that Morocco is using immigrants in its political conflicts, how do you explain that? Lakhal: Unfortunately, everyone knows precisely that the Moroccan Makhzen is a bullying system, a system run by drug dealers and money laundering dealers, an outlaw system and a very dangerous one to everyone, not only dangerous to the Maghreb region, but a real threat to the security and stability of the African continent, and the security and stability of Europe And thus the security and stability of the entire world, and threatens international law. Everyone knows that this system trades in drugs and exploits its incomes, which were estimated by the centers specialized in drugs and organized crime at the United Nations and in the United States of America, for example, in 2017, to more than 23 billion dollars. Do you know where and how this huge amount of money is used? Do you know how and where it is laundered through Moroccan banks, among which is the Kings Personal Bank which has thousands of branches in many African countries? Everyone knows this, for this I was personally not at all surprised by the use of migration by Morocco against Spain and Europe, and I was not surprised at the sacrifice by the Makhzen of the lives of thousands Moroccans including thousands children, youth and women who were thrown into one of the worst pictures of international blackmail in front of medias, which unfortunately did not read the event as it should, and is still searching for its causes and backgrounds in the wrong directions, while the only real cause that should be stressed is to expose this bullying mafia system to the world, and press it to put an end first to exploiting the miseries of the Moroccan people who are starved, impoverished, and oppressed, and also put an end to the criminal military occupation of Western Sahara. The real thing is here. We have a mafia system that must be eliminated in order to liberate the Moroccans from it and empower them to rule and control their land and their wealth. How will this diplomatic crisis affect the Western Sahara conflict? Lakhal: I do not think that this is a diplomatic crisis, and it has nothing to do with any kind of diplomacy or politics. This is a cheap blackmail process practiced by the Makhzen against everyone, and not only against Spain, and we should stand against it, even if we as peoples and governments are forced to strike at the hands of the Makhzen with all the power we have. We should never submit to or accept this blackmail, nor the continuation of the illegal occupation of Western Sahara. On the other hand, I believe that this blackmail, and this Moroccan thuggery now targeting Spain is in the end a healthy phenomenon because it reveals this system for what it is to the peoples and governments of the region and the world, and highlights the truth and essence of the Makhzen as a rogue state that practices state terrorism not only against its own people and against the Sahrawi people, but against everyone. From this point of view, I personally believe that the Makhzen is now struggling like any wounded animal, and is hammering the last nails into its coffin with its own hands and with its arrogance and usual childishness. This system will soon disappear, because it is no longer sustainable, and it should be eliminated in all possible ways before it destroys Morocco itself as a country, and destroys the region. In the midst of the crisis between Rabat and Madrid, with the aim of putting pressure on the European Union to change its stance on the Saharawi issue, Vice President of the European Commission Margaretis Chenas sent a strong message to the Moroccan authorities saying that no one can blackmail us, from the diplomatic side, how can this message be read? Lakhal: By God, personally, I still did not see any strong position from the European Union. I consider that the European Union bears a great responsibility in encouraging Morocco to adopt its dangerous policies. We all remember how the European Union was until recently describing Morocco as a strategic partner and praising Moroccan democratic achievements, praising Morocco as a model of stability, and moderation and so on. Even on Western Sahara issue, we have seen how the European Union has conspired in signing trade agreements with Morocco at the expense of Western Sahara and in violation of the law and the provisions of the European Court itself. We have seen how the Europeans poured hundreds of millions of dollars into the pockets of the corrupt regime in Morocco so that the king would buy new palaces and yachts and scatter bribes on corrupt people around the world to buy off their silence and support, instead of being used to relieve the suffering of Moroccans. So, in my opinion, the current European position is still weak, and still not enough, and it should be reviewed, and Morocco should be dealt with clearly and directly to put it in its right place, as a corrupt and failed system that should be eliminated. As for contenting itself with modest reactions and threats, while continuing to cover up Moroccan violations of international law, and abuses of human rights in Morocco proper and in Western Sahara, this is shameful and unacceptable. What is the future scenario for the Western Sahara conflict? Lakhal: There is only one scenario, which is the end of the Moroccan occupation and its total evacuation from the Western Sahara because the Moroccan presence in our homeland is rejected by the Sahrawi people, but also by international legality, morality, history, geography and logic. Now, what raises the real concern is the search for possible scenarios after the fall and end of the monarchy in Morocco? What will happen in Morocco? And how will the Moroccan people be able to save their country from the disaster that the Alawite regime and its associates, the drug dealers and manipulators of terrorism are pushing Morocco to? In any case, we wish all the best for the Moroccan brothers, but I personally urge them to pay attention to the coming disaster, and to unite against this system to save their homeland from being lost because of a bunch of amateurs who shoot in all directions and against everyone, and for the most trivial reasons. (SPS) 062/090 Coming from a family with baldness , Giovanni Bojanini decided to change his imminent future and undertake a business that until then was not so relevant and specialized: the treatment of alopecia . The entrepreneur knew that his destiny was marked by genetic inheritance: he did not see his father with hair; his brother at 23 was already showing signs of alopecia, and he was already beginning to lose hair significantly. Back then, around 1994, there were no medical advances that there are today. What's more, Bojanini assures that there were not even alternatives to address a problem that today affects 50% of men who are 40 years old or younger, and 3 out of 10 women in their 50s. Graduated in dermatology 27 years ago, he began his work in the field and decided to take the first step and open a laboratory and clinic in the name of his family . NEW MILFORD On the day of her senior prom, Brooke Thibodeau wasnt sitting at home prepping for the big night. Instead, the 17-year-old was at her Eagle Scout Court of Honor being recognized for reaching the highest rank within Scouts BSA, a rank which, until this year, had never been possible for a young woman. Later that night, the New Milford High School senior traded her Eagle neckerchief, patch, and badge for a black and blue Victorian-esque ballgown, deftly moving from one once-in-a-lifetime event to the next. Thibodeau is in the first group of women in Connecticut and the country to become an Eagle Scout, as young women were only allowed to join Scouts BSA, formerly Boy Scouts of America, starting in 2019. While she technically reached this rank in October of 2020 after passing a board review, the national program processed the paperwork Feb. 8, 2021, and the ceremony with local and state officials took place on May 8. I'm proud of what I've done. And I'm happy and ready to encourage other young women that want to pursue this challenge, Thibodeau said. Only 6 percent of scouts make it to Eagle rank, and now 12 young women joined the 238 young men who became Eagle Scouts in Connecticut this year, according to data from Suzanne Schulz, marketing and development specialist at the Connecticut Yankee Council of the Scouts BSA. Nationwide, roughly 1,000 young women were recognized for achieving the rank of Eagle this year. Theyre going to adventure camps, they're climbing, theyre BMX biking. They are doing everything that the boys are doing and they're doing really, really well, said Schulz. Schulz, who conducted interviews with the young women in Connecticut who became Eagle Scouts this year, said she was struck by Thibodeaus poise, authenticity, and eloquence. In fact, she was so impressed with Thibodeau that she has asked her to speak at a womens event later this summer. Since 2019, Thibodeau has worked fast and hard to make it to this milestone. While it takes some boys as long as four years, she had a much shorter time frame to get it done. Her father, Michael Thibodeau, said that his daughters weekends were filled with meeting badge requirements, which she completed happily and efficiently. I do wish I would have had more time with the program, more time to explore opportunities outside of my troop and go see some cool places, Thibodeau said, who has only had about two years with New Fairfield Troop 179. Her father, an adult troop leader, said this first group of women has been especially impressive in meeting their goals. They were eager and ambitious and really took to it quite quickly, he said. As soon as Scouts BSA opened up to women, Thibodeau knew she wanted to join. Shed spent much of her childhood watching her two brothers go through the program, hearing about their activities and trips. Her older brother is an Eagle Scout and younger brother is on his way there. When I first heard that girls would be allowed to join, I was really excited, she said. The level of activities just really werent the same. [My brothers] were going on hikes and camping and all that stuff, and I was staying inside most days. I wanted to go out and do that. In two years, Thibodeau has noticed a difference in herself. Shes less shy, has developed a strong leadership style and has more confidence. I really had to overcome my shyness and develop my develop my sense of leadership rather quickly, Brooke said. As one of the oldest in her local troop, she was constantly called upon to mentor and advise the younger girls whether that was on the proper way to tie a certain knot, or what was safe and not safe to climb on a hike. Its not surprising, then, that her steady presence among her troop led the other girls to give her a nickname: Mother. We've received multiple comments from the other parents of the other scouts in her troop about what a mentor and role model that Brooke and been for the other other girls, Michael Thibodeau said. The New Fairfield Troop 179 started off with only a handful of girls, and now has 20 scouts. Becoming an Eagle For her Eagle Scout project, which must be completed to achieve the highest rank, Thibodeau decided to make four benches for Steep Rock Associations Johnson Farm Preserve. She used her own knowledge of geometry and trigonometry to design the benches herself, and then worked with the unwieldy black locust wood to construct the benches. With help from other scouts and adult leaders, she completed the project To fund the project, Thibodeau spent many hours selling hand-sewn masks on New Milfords town green during the pandemic. She said the leadership skills she has learned through the Scouts program will follow her throughout her life. But shes also learned important technical skills: lighting fires, camping, basic safety skills. Next year, shes heading to UConn to study engineering and physics. And while Michael Thibodeau is extremely proud of Brookes accomplishments, hes also grateful for another gift her experience has given: time with his teenage daughter. Usually they start to become little more distant from family members, but we had the opportunity to spend weekly meetings together in activities and service projects and camp-outs once a month, he said. It was a whole new way for us to connect with each other and have other opportunities to become close. And when asked what her advice would be to younger women who might be interested but intimidated to join Scouts BSA, Thibodeau had a simple yet profound answer. For anyone, boy or girl or whoever, just do what you want to do because at the end of the day, that's really what matters. STAMFORD About two years after a decision to demolish the citys former police headquarters, it may actually happen. The Board of Representatives first agreed to raze the asbestos-ridden building on Bedford Street which housed the Stamford police force starting in 1956 in April 2019, just a month before officers stepped into their new headquarters next door. But opposition from city representatives bubbled up once Mayor David Martins administration put forth specific details. A year later, board members argued that the circumstances had changed when they decisively struck down a $135,000 demolition and abatement contract for the property. Instead of demolishing the building, which was estimated to cost roughly $3.3 million, representatives argued the city could sell the contaminated building and harness the funds for other municipal projects. Fast forward another year to March 2021 and the mayor appealed to the Operations Committee for a related proposal to cinch an environmental monitoring contract after retaining a much lower bid for demolition from Stamford Wrecking. Even though the projected cost sank from $3.3 million to $867,000, the representatives sang a similar tune and wondered whether the city was making the best choices with taxpayer dollars. Before we spend money that can be used for better purposes and save our taxpayers money, I ask my colleagues on this board to think carefully before they vote in favor of this, Rep. John Zelinsky, D-11, said during the discussion. Reps. Terry Adams, D-3, and Benjamin Lee, D-15, among others, floated the idea of selling the property demolished or not to bring in more money for the city. Martin, however, remained steadfast in his commitment to keeping 805 Bedford St. as a city asset, primarily because of the locations strategic importance to the city. This is right on the corner between the courthouse and the (new) police station, the mayor told them in March. And although I have no specific plans for this property, and no one has come up with anything thats very specific, we have no intention of selling this. Others took offense with the administrations decision to move forward on a demolition contract after the full board struck it down the year before. I dont get how you could end up in this place, Rep. Dennis Mahoney, R-20 said, coming back to us for an approval on something we kind of already told you we didnt want to proceed on in this way. After a Tuesday night presentation from Martin and City Engineer Lou Casolo before the board Operations Committee, and the hours-long discussion that followed, the board is poised to take the demolition plunge soon. Two months after the initial talks, Martin laid out the basics for the board to sway them towards demolishing the former HQ. The mayor maintained that demolishing the building now would save taxpayers money in the long run, partially because of the deal the city secured with Stamford Wrecking. Martin argued there were smaller cost savings, too, just from discontinuing maintenance services for the building. An appraisal from real estate company Cushman and Wakefield said if Stamford sold the building as-is contaminated building and all it could expect the property to be worth $1.175 million. The more changes the city makes on the property, the more money it could reel in, according to the real estate appraisal. Interior asbestos remediation of the building, which Casolo pointed out is an expensive undertaking that would result in an unstable structure, would make it worth $1.7 million. If city officials chose to level the building and rezone the property, they could expect to make either $2.2 or $4.5, depending on how dense they made the lot. If the building is sold, then a clean property will attract more bidders resulting in a more competitive bidding, Martin said. But even in light of that argument, Martin wants to keep the building, which the city would turn into green space until it establishes future plans. Committee members, namely Rep. Nina Sherwood, D-8, seemed particularly interested in finding a new, public safety-focused use for the lot. My vote tonight, voting in favor of this, would be because I think that the city should look into the possibility of moving central fire, moving EMS, and having an alternative 911 center, she said Tuesday. City officials have eyed that possibility before, and Sherwood added that consolidation could open up other city properties for sale in the future. I still cant get around spending taxpayers money to put in a green space, said Rep. Jeff Stella, D-9. And then, a year from or two years from now, were selling this. Though the Operations Committee voted in favor of demolishing the existing structure five members voted for demolition, and four abstained theres still more debate to be had. The boards impending vote only gives the city permission to raze the building, while the propertys future still hangs in the balance. Even if the full Board of Representatives gives demolition the green light, the board will hold a public hearing eventually to decide whether it keeps or sells the police station property. The entire board must vote on the environmental monitoring contract at its June 7 full-body meeting. veronica.delvalle@hearstmediact.com Its been just more than a year since authorities took Peter Manfredonia into custody in connection with two deaths, an assault, a home invasion and a kidnapping after a multi-state manhunt following an alleged crime spree in Connecticut. The crimes the 2015 Newtown High School grad and University of Connecticut student was accused of began in Willington on Friday, May 22, 2020 the start of Memorial Day weekend. He was taken into custody in Maryland five days later. Manfredonia, who has three separate cases pending from two incidents in Willington and one in Derby, is next expected in court on July 1 at 2 p.m. for the Willington case. For the Derby case, the next court hearing is July 14 at 11:30 a.m. The hearings will be held remotely, court records show. His alleged crime spree started at 9 a.m. on May 22 in Willington. Police responded to a Mirtl Road home and found two men suffering from injuries after being assaulted. One of the victims, Ted DeMers, died from his injuries. John Franco, a neighbor who intervened when he saw DeMers being attacked, was critically injured but survived. The next day, authorities named Manfredonia as a potential suspect in the Willington attacks. By night, state troopers notified the landlord of Manfredonias Storrs apartment building that they broke down the door to search his unit. He lived in the apartment alone and had been there about four months. On May 24, Willington police were called to a Tunrpike Drive residence by a homeowner who told officers he was held against his will by Manfredonia before he stole the victims food, guns and truck. The victim was uninjured. At 6:45 a.m. on May 24, the Willington mans truck was found near Osbornedale State Park in Derby. Police traced Manfredonias movements from the park to a residence on Roosevelt Drive using surveillance footage and found the body of Nicholas Eisele, also a 2015 Newtown High grad. Manfredonia allegedly kidnapped Eiseles girlfriend and fled in her car, allowing her to drop him off at a New Jersey truck stop near the Pennsylvania border. From there, he hailed a rideshare. Late afternoon on May 24, authorities reported sightings of Manfredonia in East Stroudsburg, Pa. On May 25, an advisory was issued to law enforcement agencies in Pocono Summit, Pa., for Manfredonia. His attorney took to the media to urge Manfredonia to surrender to authorities. Police in Duryea, Pa., reported a possible sighting of Manfredonia around 11:15 p.m. on May 26. On May 27, Pennsylvania authorities reported Manfredonia had been possibly sighted at a convenience store in Chambersburg. At 9:42 p.m. on May 27, Connecticut State Police announced Manfredonia was taken into custody at a truck stop in Hagerstown, Md. More than one-third of the worlds heat deaths each year are due directly to global warming, according to the latest study to calculate the human cost of climate change. But scientists say that's only a sliver of climate's overall toll even more people die from other extreme weather amplified by global warming such as storms, flooding and drought and the heat death numbers will grow exponentially with rising temperatures. Dozens of researchers who looked at heat deaths in 732 cities around the globe from 1991 to 2018 calculated that 37% were caused by higher temperatures from human-caused warming, according to a study Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change. That amounts to about 9,700 people a year from just those cities, but it is much more worldwide, the study's lead author said. These are deaths related to heat that actually can be prevented. It is something we directly cause, said Ana Vicedo-Cabrera, an epidemiologist at the Institute of Social and Preventative Medicine at the University of Bern in Switzerland. The highest percentages of heat deaths caused by climate change were in cities in South America. Vicedo-Cabrera pointed to southern Europe and southern Asia as other hot spots for climate change-related heat deaths. Sao Paulo, Brazil, has the most climate-related heat deaths, averaging 239 a year, researchers found. About 35% of heat deaths in the United States can be blamed on climate change, the study found. Thats a total of more than 1,100 deaths a year in about 200 U.S. cities, topped by 141 in New York. Honolulu had the highest portion of heat deaths attributable to climate change, 82%. Scientists used decades of mortality data in the 732 cities to plot curves detailing how each citys death rate changes with temperature and how the heat-death curves vary from city to city. Some cities adapt to heat better than others because of air conditioning, cultural factors and environmental conditions, Vicedo-Cabrera said. Then researchers took observed temperatures and compared them with 10 computer models simulating a world without climate change. The difference is warming humans caused. By applying that scientifically accepted technique to the individualized heat-death curves for the 732 cities, the scientists calculated extra heat deaths from climate change. People continue to ask for proof that climate change is already affecting our health. This attribution study directly answers that question using state-of-the-science epidemiological methods, and the amount of data the authors have amassed for analysis is impressive, said Dr. Jonathan Patz, director of the Global Health Institute at the University of Wisconsin. Patz, who wasnt part of the study, said it was one of the first to detail climate change-related heat deaths now, rather than in the future. ___ Read stories on climate issues by The Associated Press at https://apnews.com/hub/climate. ___ Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) When Eduardo Rey celebrated his 69th birthday at home with 10 family members in Uruguay's capital, he didn't suspect it would start a mortal race to find medical care amid a surging pandemic Two days after the party, the farmer came down with a fever, was coughing and felt weak. At first he and his family thought nothing of it, but then a relative who had been at the party tested positive for the coronavirus. When Rey tested positive his family tried repeatedly to get help from a doctor on the public health care telephone, but they couldn't get one to visit his home. His family eventually took him to a hospital themselves but they were told his lungs were badly damaged. On April 21, a month after his birthday, Rey died of respiratory insufficiency in an ICU in Montevideo, joining more than 3,000 people who have died of COVID-19 in Uruguay since March. While the number may seem small for other countries, it is huge in this South American country of just 3.5 million inhabitants and gives it one of the highest per capita coronavirus death rates in the world, according the Our World in Data. It is a sharp turnaround for Uruguay, which for most of 2020 seemed to have the virus under control. Like many other countries, it declared a health emergency in March 2020 and the government quickly took precautionary measures, including closing its borders, limiting public transportation and closing shopping malls and offices. Authorities rushed to control outbreaks, isolating infected people and having medical personnel track their previous contacts. But by mid-2020, authorities started reopening and for months there were no major changes. Then in November infections began to surge with the country being hard hit by the highly contagious P.1 variant, first identified in neighboring Brazil. The saturation of the country's health care system began. So far, about a third of Uruguay's people have been fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, the country has reported more than 280,000 coronavirus cases and more than 4,000 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic began up until this March only about 1,000 people had died. If you do not limit the mobility, do not do more PCR tests and do not track the contacts, the vaccine alone wont help, said Zaida Arteta, an infectious disease expert and general secretary of the Uruguayan Medical Union. Arteta said for the number of cases to drop, vaccination has to reach a high percentage of the population. President Luis Lacalle Pou, who has refused to tighten lockdown restrictions, has said his pandemic policy is that of responsible liberty, meaning every individual is responsible for avoiding the virus. But people are not limiting their social interactions. A case in point is Rey's birthday party. His wife, Graciela Diaz, recalls her husband's first symptoms. We didnt give them such an importance, she said. When Rey didnt improve, his family called the public health system phone number to report cases and request a doctor's visit. When they got through, they were told that if he hadn't been diagnosed with COVID-19, they couldn't assign anybody. By April 1st, he had tested positive for the coronavirus, and Diaz called the line again, but nobody answered. After several attempts, she decided to explain her husband's situation to different doctors, and they recommended asthma medication. She kept calling the help line. Finally a doctor picked up and told her that he couldn't go to her home because there were 900 people before her husband and his case did not seem worrisome because he was already taking medication. But the doctor also suggested: If you see that he gets worse, call 911, she recalled. The family finally decided to take Rey on their own to a hospital and he was immediately accepted on April 3. They were told that all of one of Rey's lungs and a quarter of the other were damaged. Inside the hospital, he was infected by three bacterium, Diaz said. His condition never improved. He was taken to the ICU, where he died. Uruguay has doubled the ICU beds to 1,022 during the pandemic. Last week, 785 out of them were occupied. Some of the sick in Uruguay were never able to get health care while others saw their condition deteriorate so quickly they never made it to a hospital. Martin Dure became sick on March 17, and five days later he began having serious problems breathing. His sister, Graciela, said they called the official coronavirus assistance line 17 times, but nobody was sent. Dure died that same night in his bed. A doctor came hours later only to confirm his death. Uruguay's Health Services Administration, in charge of the help line, said eight people were assigned to the telephone switchboard, but last week they hired 50 medical students to help answer the increasing calls. The slow or deficient response by the system literally puts lives at risk because the disease evolves rapidly, said Dr. Jaqueline Ponzo, an Uruguayan epidemiologist. Some experts attribute the rising number of cases and the speed of the infections to the increasing social mobility and the P.1 variant. We dont know how it will evolve the P.1 variant, said Arteta, the infectious disease expert. Its an uncertain scenario. by Tinty Nasser Muthaliff This nation will remain the land of the free, only so long as it is the home of the brave. -Elmer Davis. He was one of the most feared of by the LTTE terrorists, and the most senior officer victimized by the Great Betrayal of Sri Lankan history, the infamous Millennium City incident, 2002. It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived. General George S. Patton (US Army WW-II) He sent shocks to the very core of the LTTE. The terrorists somehow knew that their top ranks are in grave danger. Someone was after them; a ghost, a demon, a zombie, who knows who! The LTTE leaders were stuck in fear when S. P. Thamilselvans vehicle was attacked, when their colonels Karuna, Jeyam and Balraj were targeted, and when their colonels Charles and Cheliyan were killed in ambush, and all those happened in LTTE controlled areas! Known to only a very few individuals in the country, the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol, or in other words, the Demon Brigade, a black ops unit of Sri Lanka Army was pursuing the LTTE terrorist leaders. Major Tuan Nizam Muthaliff was their commander. He was leading the 1st Battalion of Sri Lanka Army Military Intelligence Corps, the most feared, against the terrorists. Tuan Nizam Muthaliff was born in 1966, and he was an old boy of D. S. Senanayake College, Colombo. As far back as in 1986, when young Nizam was 20 years and working at Hotel Triton, Ahungalla as a Receptionist, he was selected to join the Army. His initial training was at the Military Academy, Diyatalawa. After the successful completion of the training in 1987, he started his military career by joining the Operation Wadamarachchi as an Intelligence Officer, and completed a number of very successful Intelligence operations. Consequently, he was selected to attend the Officers Training in Pakistan. There his exceptional performance won him the opportunity to dine with General Zia-ul-Haq, the President of Pakistan that time. At the end of the training he received the BEST CADET award out of many officers from different countries. His duty in the Eastern Province was a remarkable period. He numbered the days of many LTTE terrorists during that time. Those were the days of the demon to the LTTE terrorists in the Eastern Province. Every night that was passed, was considered a gift by the LTTE cadres. Because Muthaliff was out there in the darkness! He was with his team, looking for terrorists, and bringing them down one by one; about 10 to 15 each night. He would say to his colleagues in the camp not to try to look for him if he was found missing in the nights. Ill be back!, he would say, when he disappears in to the darkness; and in the early morning twilight he returns to tell his colleagues in the camp where and where to collect the terrorist corpses. A cold wave of panic swept across the LTTE. Terrorist leaders froze just by hearing the name of Major Muthaliff. A remarkable breakthrough in Major Muthaliffs career was arresting the suicide-bomber who was sent by LTTE to kill him. He not only arrested the terrorist, but also turned the guy gradually into an anti-terrorist and got him to carry out attacks against the LTTE. Major Muthaliff became the Head of Military Intelligence at Vavuniya in 1999. His reconnaissance operations penetrated deep into the defenses of the terrorists like the rays of the sun cutting through the darkness, and began attacking the LTTE elites in their own camps. Senior Sea-Tiger commander Gangai Amaran (killed at Mullaitivu, 1990), and the founder and leader of LTTE air wing Vaithilingam Sornalingam alias Colonal Shankar (killed at Oddusuddan, 2001) were brought down by the LRRP attacks lead by Major Muthaliff. He took war right into the Tigers living room! When the renegade DIG Kulasiri Udugampola exposed the safe house of LRRP located at the Millennium City housing scheme, Athurugiriya, the LTTE started a massive manhunt killing almost all members of the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol including its informers. Many of Muthaliffs friends and well-wishers offered to take him and his family to another country, considering the safety of his life. But the Major refused them all. If we leave the country now, our children too would have to go to war!, was his answer. Due to the inevitable threat to his life, he was transferred from Vavuniya to Colombo in 2004. On the fateful morning of 31st May 2005 he was on his way to duty, when the fatal attack on him was carried out by the LTTE at Polhengoda Junction. Major Tuan Nizam Muthaliff laid his life down for the motherland. Hazleton, PA (18201) Today Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low 58F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low 58F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. Ashtabula, OH (44004) Today Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Published: 31 May 2021 Preliminary data: Turnover of construction enterprises was on level with the year before in April According to Statistics Finland's preliminary data, the working day adjusted turnover of construction enterprises was on level with the year before in April 2021. Annual change in working day adjusted turnover of construction, % (TOL 2008) Turnover increased compared with the previous month According to the preliminary data, seasonally adjusted turnover in construction increased by 1.4 percent in April 2021 from March. In March, seasonally adjusted turnover increased by 0.4 per cent and in February turnover was on level with one month ago. Change in seasonally adjusted turnover of construction from the previous month, % (TOL 2008) The calculation of indices of turnover of construction is based on the Tax Administrations data on self-assessed taxes, which are supplemented with Statistics Finlands sales inquiry. The monthly turnover of construction enterprises can have even large variations due to invoicing practices. The final invoice for major projects may be recorded in the sales of one month, even if the project had required the work of several months or years. The factors caused by the variation in the number of weekdays are taken into account in adjustment for working days. This means taking into consideration the lengths of months, different weekdays and holidays. In addition, seasonal variation is eliminated from seasonally adjusted series, on account of which it makes sense to compare observations of two successive months as well. The data for the latest month are preliminary and are released at a delay of around four weeks. The data may become significantly revised particularly in coming months. Source: Index of turnover of construction, Statistics Finland Inquiries: Lauri Pullinen 029 551 3043, Maija Sappinen 029 551 3348, rakennus.suhdanne@stat.fi Head of Department in charge: Katri Kaaja Publication in pdf-format (230.3 kB) Updated 31.05.2021 Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Index of turnover of construction [e-publication]. ISSN=1798-5935. April 2021. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 13.6.2021]. Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/rlv/2021/04/rlv_2021_04_2021-05-31_tie_001_en.html Monday, 31 May 2021 19:09:04 (GMT+3) | Istanbul In April this year, Turkeys scrap imports have again increased both month on month and year on year. The import volume in April alone came to 2.481 million mt, up approximately 11 percent month on month, according to the data provided by the Turkish Steel Producers' Association (TCUD). The full order books of Turkish mills have resulted in higher import scrap tonnages and it is observed that mills are also extending their delivery terms. During the January-April period, Turkey's steel scrap import volume increased by 25.6 percent on year on year to 8.799 million metric tons. The value of these imports exceeded $3.568 million, up 80 percent year on year. Looking at Turkeys scrap imports in April in detail, the EU maintained its number one position among suppliers of Turkeys scrap imports with a 56.8 percent share, followed by the US with 14.1 percent and then the UK with 11.6 percent. It is noteworthy that Turkeys scrap imports from the US indicated a 7.8 percent decrease year on year in the first four months of 2021. The main sources of Turkeys scrap imports in January-April 2021 can be seen in the table below: Imported tonnage Jan-April 2021 (thousand mt) Change year on year (%) US 1,241 -7.8 EU 5,002 +36 CIS 803 +23.5 UK 1,021 +20.2 Others 731 +51.9 Total 6,318 +25.6 The number of bookings for May shipments is expected to be higher than for April shipments and to indicate a rise year on year. Turkeys scrap imports had totaled 1.168 million mt in May 2020 and 8.173 million mt in the January-May period of the same year. 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 (336) European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic, Commissioner for Interinstitutional and Prospective Relations, said on Monday he was very impressed with Romania's vulnerability resilience activity, citing the forthcoming Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre, which is to be opened on the same day in Bucharest, agerpres reports. In a speech at the 2021 Atlantic-Black Sea Security Forum, hosted by the Aspen Institute in Romania, held under the motto "Democratic Security and Resilience in the Age of Competition of the Great Powers," the European official stressed that the European Union and NATO must be better prepared, as we are in a time when we are moving away from multilateralism and moving towards a multipolar world, in which great powers are in competition. The Vice President of the European Commission has shown that he understands why Romania sees the Black Sea as a crossroads of geopolitical competition, not only because of its energy or transport infrastructure, but also because of the interests of the great powers. Sefcovic said the EU should no longer allow companies and start-ups to be taken over by economic giants outside Europe.Maros Sefcovic participated together with NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana and Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu in the panel "Responding to Challenges - NATO and the EU in a Post-Pandemic World."The debate started with the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic is reshaping the world, both by accelerating existing trends and by emerging new challenges, increasing competition and shaping new attitudes. The world is moving at an accelerating pace, and international organizations, NATO and, above all, the EU, must adapt to new realities and increase the resilience of both their members and organizations as a whole. Thinking in perspective, acting at the same time at present is the main challenge of the two institutions, and the initiation of the processes of adaptation, action and anticipation has become of paramount importance.The European Commissioner recalled the four areas of action in the field of resilience as a new compass for EU policies - the social and economic dimension, the geopolitical dimension, the ecological dimension and the digital dimension. In his view, the EU's commitment to becoming more resilient to vulnerabilities will help strengthen its strategic autonomy, and a stronger European Union also means a stronger North Atlantic Alliance. oreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu, speaking today at the 3rd Atlantic-Black Sea Security Forum, declared that Romania wants to involve in the activity of the Euro-Atlantic Resilience Center (E-ARC) that opened today in Bucharest not only the best Romanian experts, but also experts from EU and NATO members, as well from partner countries in the region, agerpres reports. According to Aurescu, E-ARC - a project Romania has been working on for nine months now - is a body that will not compete with other centers of excellence, but will focus on specific areas. "We will focus on: societal resilience, on our partners' resilience in terms of negative interference from outside the European and NATO space. If we want to be resilient, our neighbors and partners in the neighborhood should be resilient as well, we must help them build their own capacities to withstand and respond to risks, challenges and threats. We will focus on the resilience of infrastructure: communications infrastructure, transport infrastructure. We will also focus on areas of interest, such as the response to emerging and disruptive technologies; all these will be structured in seven working groups within the E-ARC. We will try to attract not only the best Romanian experts in the field, but also experts from the EU and NATO member states and from our partners in the region," the Foreign Minister explained the activity of E-ARC in a nutshell.According to Aurescu, the working groups will carry out their activity in a "systemic, interconnected manner" where transport infrastructure is crucial not only for society but also for the economy and military mobility."As far as communication is concerned it is absolutely obvious: cyber security and the resilience of communication networks is very important to ensure the efficiency of the response in a crisis situation. We will also have a group to handle the continuity of governance and the ability to cope with crises. All these groups will work in a systemic, interconnected manner," he said.The Minister stressed the importance of promoting best practices and counteracting inappropriate reactions, noting that during the pandemic there were also certain unilateral approaches or individualistic behaviors."Resilience means first and foremost getting in the best shape the good reactions we had during the crisis: more solidarity, more international cooperation. At European level - setting up the EU4Health program; at NATO level - see what the response was to the needs of member states and partners, and the NATO Pandemic Response Trust Fund was very effective in helping allies and partners. We used NATO airlift capabilities to transport medical equipment. For example, Romania was the first member country of the Alliance to use the strategic air transport capabilities to bring essential medical equipment from South Korea during the pandemic, and then we helped others because we were the first EU country to use the RescEU Mechanism and we helped member states and partners," said Aurescu.The 3rd Atlantic-Black Sea Security Forum - Democratic Security and Resilience in the Era of Great Power Competition is an event organized by the Aspen Romania Institute in partnership with the Bucharest office of the German Marshall Fund of the US. Attending the event were also NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana and European Commission Vice President for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, Maros Sefcovic. ICR London will organize, starting with Tuesday, a series of events on the occasion of the launch, in English, of the volume "Nostalgia" by Mircea Cartarescu, translated by Julian Semilian and published by the prestigious Penguin Classics. On Tuesday, Mircea Cartarescu's birthday, an exhibition with photos selected by the writer from his personal archive will be posted on the ICR London online channels, revealing moments from his childhood, adolescence, family life or his great literary encounters, according to a statement from ICR London sent on Monday. Organized in partnership with the British publishing house, the series of events will continue on June 7, with a discussion hosted by cultural journalist Miriam Balanescu, meant to map the literary generation of the '80s, having as guests three of its exponents: Mircea Cartarescu, Magda Carneci and Matei Visniec. On June 10, renowned English writer, journalist and literary critic Boyd Tonkin, former chairman of the Man Booker International Prize jury and tireless supporter of foreign language literature in Britain, meets Mircea Cartarescu for the first time in public, in a conversation about the short story volume "Nostalgia." Two other events complete the series: a visual essay on Bucharest in the 1980s with images by architect and photographer Andrei Pandele, as well as the screening of a short film about Mircea Carrtescu, entitled "The Anxiety of Time", by artist and filmmaker Stefan Constantines in 2007. All events will be streamed on ICR London's online channels: Facebook page, YouTube channel and website, reports agerpres. President Klaus Iohannis emphasized that, through competence, sacrifice and loyalty, military reservists contributed to the prestige of the public institutions with attributions and responsibilities in the domain of security and defence., agerpres reports. "Each year, on the occasion of the Day of the Military Reservist, our thoughts of appreciation and respect go towards our fellow countrymen that put their entire activity in service of the Homeland, fulfilling the specific tasks of military service at the highest professional standards," said the head of state. In a message sent on the Day of the Military Reservist, Klaus Iohannis mentions that "only those who have served as active servicemen can accurately convey to youths who desire to embrace the military career the way in which, together with their comrades, they will experiment a unique level of challenge and personal development.""You continue to enjoy considerable public admiration and that's exactly why you're essential to encourage, from the position you are in now, young generations to join institutions in the national security system. Only those who have served as active servicemen can accurately convey to youths who want to embrace the military career the way in which, together with their comrades, they will experiment a unique level of challenge and personal development. At the same time, serving as their model, you can instill healthy life values and principles, such as trust, respect, devotion, dignity, honor, discipline, professionalism and solidarity. I congratulate you for the positive changes you've made in the places you were active and I thank you that, despite the rigors and trials inherent to military service, you did not hesitate to make sacrifices and remain in the service of the country, promoting national values and military traditions," said the President. NATO and the European Union represent a unitary platform regarding the approach of resilience, declared, on Monday, the deputy of NATO secretary general, Mircea Geoana, within the third edition of the Atlantic-Black Sea Security Forum, event organized by the Aspen Institute Romania, in partnership with the Bucharest office of German Marshall Fund of the US, agerpres reports. "It is very important for NATO and EU to rely on each other," Geoana said, adding that he came to Bucharest in order to be present at the inauguration of the Euro-Atlantic Center for Resilience (E-ARC). According to him, the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the world, the European community, as well as the transatlantic one."We began looking more closely at the way in which we can ensure that this hint of resilience could be developed and approached and how we could better help the nations that are part of the Alliance," Geoana added.He reminded in context that the leaders of NATO countries will reunite on June 14 in a summit in Brussels, where the Secretary General of the North-Atlantic Alliance will speak about its new future."I believe that NATO and the European Union represent a unitary platform in order to ensure that we are approaching resilience in a very integrated way. (...) It is very important for us to work together," the NATO official added, who believes that NATO and the EU need to adapt to the new realities.The Aspen Institute Romania, in partnership with the Bucharest office of German Marshall Fund of the US, organized its third edition of the Atlantic-Black Sea Security Forum - Democratic Security and Resilience in the Era of Great Power Competition, a high level international event, which is taking place during the period of May 31 - June 2, in a hybrid format.The event, which debuted on Monday at the Military National Circle, enjoyed the support from the Ministry of National Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs - institutional partners, NATO - co-sponsor, the UK Aspen Institute and True Story Project.This year's edition referred to the technological progress and their impact on security, with an emphasis on resilience, considering the strategic challenges from the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea areas, as well as the adjacent regions.Within the debates, there was an expression of appreciation that the newly begun decade proposes a new reality, focused on a reviewed definition of security, now a global and comprehensive concept, and the latest global evolutions, such as the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, shows that we are living in a inter-connected world in which the security of democracies that have a set of common values depends on a common approach.As such, public policies need to be centered on the resilience of the entire society and cooperation, with the purpose of combating common threats, those were some of the conclusions of the event in Bucharest, where Bogdan Aurescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, took the floor in the first part, Maros Sefcovic, Vice President of the European Commission, Florin Pogonaru - chairman of the Romania Aspen Institute, MEP Cristian Busoi, Christina Verchere - OMV Petrom, where the moderator was Alina Inayeh, the representative of German Marshall Fund of the United States - Bucharest Office.Atlantic - Black Sea Security Form addresses and serves decision-makers, experts and the general public, offering a regional platform for debating economic and security policies. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has responded with "the greatest ability to adapt" as it is currently facing "the most challenging security environment in a generation," NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana said on Monday in Bucharest, agerpres reports. "We are facing the most challenging security environment in a generation and NATO has responded with the greatest ability to adapt our collective defense in a generation, because when the world changes NATO changes too," Geoana told a press conference delivered together with Romanian Defense Minister Nicolae Ciuca, Chief of Defense Staff, Lieutenant General Daniel Petrescu, and Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach. The statements come against the backdrop of NATO's ongoing Steadfast Defender 21 exercise in Romania, which - the Deputy Secretary General emphasized - had been "planned since long, is not targeted against anyone and it is strictly defensive". Also, Geoana said, the exercise "is not only an example of NATO's force, but also of its transparency," whereas the Alliance is capable and ready to defend all its allies, if necessary.The Defense Minister spoke about Romania's involvement in the joint defense in the region. "At every Alliance summit after the Ukraine crisis Romania has come up with a proposal to strengthen the Eastern Flank," Nicolae Ciuca said. At a possible NATO-Russia Council meeting, the recent developments in Ukraine will be subject number one to be discussed, Mircea Geoana, NATO's deputy secretary general, said on Monday, adding that a few days ago he made a proposal for such a meeting to the Russian side, which turned it down, agerpres reports. "Regarding the agenda of a possible NATO-Russia Council meeting, Ukraine is number one item on the agenda, because we are not just talking about the mobilisation of troops a few weeks ago, but it started in 2014 with the illegal annexation of Crimea, the war in Eastern Ukraine, with the militarisation of Crimea and its use as a springboard for the projection of power, not only in the wider Black Sea region, but also in the Mediterranean, and many other destinations. We have to talk about that because that is a subject matter that make us take deterrence measures and measures to defend our lands and populations," said Geoana. He attended a joint news conference with Romania's Defence Minister Nicolae Ciuca, Chief of Defence Daniel Petrescu, and the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee Stuart Peach.According to Geoana, the Russian Federation has refused a council meeting with NATO."Personally, in the last year or so, I repeatedly sent a few requests to the Russian side about the NATO-Russia Council meeting, because that is the other way around. (...) Unfortunately, so far, Russia has not responded positively to the Russia - NATO Council meeting," Geoana said.About NATO's relationship with Russia, Geoana said NATO was adapting. "Yes, Russia's actions are destabilising. Unfortunately, we see a Russia that is becoming more repressive internally in terms of political opponents and more aggressive externally. (...) We are adapting to such realities," he added.In his turn, Defence Minister Ciuca, mentioned that "the Black Sea region is a hot spot, taking into account the Russian military mobilisation in Crimea and the Black Sea and all other issues discussed.""Any threat to Romania is a threat to the Alliance," he said.Romania's Chief of Defence pointed out that Romania has a new national defence strategy."I think it reflects very well how we see this situation in the region. That National Defense Strategy clearly states that actions in Crimea, the militarisation of the area and its illegal annexation have consequences on the way we see national security in the Black Sea region," said Petrescu. NATO Deputy Secretary-General Mircea Geoana has welcomed Romania's decision to set up the Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre (E-ARC), voicing his conviction that it would "make a significant contribution" to deepening the debate and operationalising resilience at the societal level. "I am welcoming Romania's decision to set up this centre. It is a useful and necessary decision. I am also glad that this international centre is not offered exclusively to the relationship with NATO, but to this indispensable strategic partnership between NATO and the EU. A few months ago, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had his first meeting with the College of Commissioners, at the invitation of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Among the topics I identified and deal with specifically at the NATO level, in the NATO-EU relationship, the subject of resilience comes out first. Therefore, this centre has the vocation, the purpose and the utility, the effectiveness to provide expertise, to generate ideas, to work with the private and non-governmental sectors and to be able to create a system in which resilience at the societal level is strengthened," Geoana told the opening of the E-ARC headquarters in Bucharest on Monday. He conveyed NATO secretary general's congratulations to Romania, saying the establishment of the centre was "an admirable endeavour" and voiced his belief that it would "make a significant contribution to deepening the debate and operationalising resilience" at the societal level. "In two weeks' time, on June 14, NATO leaders, the President of Romania, all NATO leaders will return to the issue of resilience and we hope to have the approval of our NATO leaders to go on with an additional commitment to resilience to carry on this debate, because the ongoing pandemic has taught us complex lessons, lessons that this kind of permanent adaptation at the NATO level forces us to internalise and operationalise. This endeavour is not a simple effort of governments at the national or local level. The concept has developed even today: we are talking about an effort of resistance at the societal level, which means that the relationship with the private sector, with the non-governmental sector, with society, with our citizens is as important as the effectiveness at governmental or intergovernmental level," he added. Geoana also voiced his confidence that the subject of resilience and the contribution of the E-ARC will also benefit Romania's partners. "We cannot be safe and stable in Europe, North America , the transatlantic or European world if our neighbourhoods are fragile. Therefore, I believe and encourage that perhaps an additional vocation of this centre is to support NATO and EU partners who need support and resilience and the fight against fragility," he said. Geoana went on to say that resilience "is part of NATO's DNA," mentioning that 72 years ago NATO's founders defined this concept for the first time in Article 3 of the Washington Treaty,. "As an institution, as a concept, it is at the heart of what we represent as a community of shared values and interests in Europe, in a transatlantic partnership with our strategic partners in the US and Canada. In those moments of the Cold War, resilience had a certain meaning and a certain scope, but NATO still has in its genetic code another permanent gene, that of adaptation, of adaptability, of evolution. And today, in Bucharest, through the exceptional effort of the Romanian state officials, we are once again witnessing an endeavour of continual adaptation," said Geoana. The Black Sea natural gas extraction project is four years late now, and Romania should amend its legislation so that other projects will not end up the same way, OMV Petrom CEO Christina Verchere said on Monday, agerpres reports. She participated in the third edition of the Atlantic - Black Sea Security Forum organised by the Aspen Romania Institute in partnership with the Bucharest office of the German Marshall Fund of the US. Verchere indicated the European funds as a huge opportunity for Romania, but in order to attract them, she argued, legislation must be amended.The energy transition is coming, the road has been set, she said, adding that now we need to see how we can make it a reality, with all the local and regional context. European funds are one of the components, she said, and legislation is the other. She mentioned to the point the fact that the development of the Black Sea is four years overdue as far as OMV Petrom is concerned, pending legislation amending, a move, a change the company is waiting for, so that the same the same fate will not wait other projects that are to come. In order for Romania to be able to access funds, said Verchere, amend legislation and turn the projects into real projects.She mentioned that OMV Petrom needs for Romania's offshore drilling legislation to be amended in order for the company to move forward with Black Sea projects, and 2021 is a crucial year in this regard.We need this gas for Romania, she said, as part of the energy transition process, for energy security and for Romania's economic prosperity. We are lagging behind and we must change that for Romania and the Romanian citizens, added Verchere. Approximately 101,300 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, with over 33,700 means of transportation (among which 8,900 freight vehicles) have carried out the control formalities through the border points at the level of the entire country, in the last 24 hours, the Romanian Border Police announced on Monday. According to a press release sent to AGERPRES, approximately 48,500 people were at the entry point, with 15,500 means of transportation, and 52,800 people were at the exit point, with 18,200 means of transportation. The Hungarian border was crossed by approximately 39,000 people with 16,200 means of transportation (2,700 freight vehicles), of which for the exit point there were approximately 21,300 people with 9,900 means of transportation (2,100 freight vehicles).Regarding specific activities, in the competence areas - crossing points and "green border" - the border police has identified, in the last 24 hours, 60 illegal actions (26 infractions and 34 fines) made by both Romanian citizens, as well as foreign citizens.There were discovered, independently or in collaboration with other institutions, undeclared goods which were about to be brought in the country illegally, which surpassed the border cap or were suspected of being counterfeit, with a total value of 463,900 RON.The total value of applied fines goes to up approximately 18,200 RON.In the last 24 hours, 64 foreign citizens were denied access in the country, who did not fulfill the conditions specified by the law, and also 11 Romanian citizens were denied to exit the country because of various legal reasons. The Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre will enjoy the full support of the Romanian government, will generate real added value, beneficial to Romania and NATO and EU partners, Romania's Prime Minister Florin Citu said on Monday. "It gives me great pleasure to participate in the opening of the Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre, an institution operating under the authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an institution that, I can assure you, will enjoy the full support of the government, and mine. Setting up the centre is a natural consequence of the importance that the issue of resilience has accumulated in recent years, a particularly complex issue that must be closely monitored as a result of its impact on society in general, and also on state institutions in particular," Citu told the opening ceremony of the headquarters of the Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre (E-ARC) in Bucharest. He said the centre would enjoy a "solid and varied baggage of expertise." "I share the view that resilience must be conceptualised from a perspective that allows for operational conclusions. Strengthening resilience has become a national imperative from a NATO and EU perspective. The centre will enjoy a strong and varied background of expertise, which will undoubtedly generate added value benefitting Romania and its partners," added the prime minister. President Klaus Iohannis and Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu inaugurated the E-ARC headquarters. Also attending the opening was NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana and European Commission Vice President for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight Maros Sefcovic. On 19 May, the Romanian government passed a decision on the establishment and operation of the Euro-Atlantic Resilience Centre. The Incoming Romania Association (AIR) welcomes the government's decision to lift the COVID ban on the entry of foreigners to the country, agerpres reports. "This is a beneficial measure for all of us and is, in fact, the signal for the resumption of international tourism in Romania. From now on foreign tourists are allowed to Romania, under observance of the decisions of the National Council for Emergency Situations on entry to our country depending on the epidemiological situation of the departure country. The foreign partners of Romanian incoming agencies were waiting for this measure to promote again Romania as a tourist destination and resume sales of tourist packages for this destination. This sends a strong external signal that Romania is a safe and secure tourist destination," AIR said in a release today. "We are looking forward with confidence to the further easing of restrictions that should bring us closer to normality and to the optimal conditions for running tourism services in Romania. The responsibility for getting involved and offer safe, quality tourist services in Romania now belongs to all the actors in the hospitality industry. Romania is confidently waiting for its guests to discover a beautiful tradition-inspired forward-looking dynamic country! Just send tourists over!," the representatives of the Incoming Romania Association said.According to the latest data provided by the National Institute of Statistics, foreign arrivals to Romania registered at border checkpoints stood at 317,800 in March this year, down 22.4 percent from the year-ago period. Road and air transport were the dominant arrival modes used by incoming travelers, accounting for 86.9 percent and 8.8 percent, respectively, of the total number of arrivals.Arrivals in tourist accommodation establishments this March amounted to 431,300, up by 78.1 percent compared to March 2020; Romanians accounted for 94.2 percent of this figure, and foreigners for 5.8 percent. Chinese tech giant Huawei's program strengthens ICT skills of Zimbabwean students Xinhua) 14:50, May 31, 2021 HARARE, May 30 (Xinhua) -- A group of 30 students from Zimbabwe's universities on Friday completed a week-long virtual learning workshop with Huawei Zimbabwe as part of the Chinese telecom giant's Seeds for the Future program. The Seeds for the Future program is envisioned as Huawei embraces Corporate Social Responsibility in its global mission which aims to nurture young ICT professionals in host countries. In addition, the program seeks to cultivate digitally resilient young people who have the skills needed to be competitive in the 21st century. The hands-on intensive learning experience took the participating students on an exciting journey that equipped them with valuable knowledge on cutting edge technologies such as 5G, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing among others from top industry experts and professionals from Huawei. The participating students were also able to experience Huawei products and services through virtual tours, presentations and exchanges with Huawei executives. The students had the opportunity to take part in virtual visits to historic sites in China. Beneficiaries of the event described the program as an eye-opener that has given them a new ICT perspective and broadened their career paths. One of the outstanding students, Ronaldo Chiureki, a Civil Engineering student at the University of Zimbabwe, promised to use what he learned to contribute to the development of the ICT sector in Zimbabwe, stressing that the program had been a life changer. "We did Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, 5G, cybersecurity, and a course on leadership," he said. "The one on leadership was my favorite because it helped me discover that you need purpose, you need something that keeps you going, and also it doesn't work saying that I have a dream, you have to make that a reality, something like I have a plan, I have a goal, and I actually changed my attitude from something like I have a dream to something like I have a goal." Another outstanding student, Takudzwa Tarutira, a telecommunications student at TelOne Center for Learning, said China provides a learning template to Zimbabwe's ICT players. "If we can continue engaging with the giants like Huawei, we can be able to tap their knowledge, they can be able to give us the knowledge that they have and the experience such that we as Zimbabweans can be able to adopt the technologies that China is using for the betterment of our ICT industry," he said. Best female student Mitchelle Rivha, a University of Zimbabwe Computer Science student, challenged women to penetrate the ICT and engineering sectors which are heavily male-dominated. "More ladies should get into the engineering sector, they should come to the sciences and experience it because they too can do it," she said. "If anyone else can do it, then they (girls) too have the power and the capacity to do it. I believe they can also achieve as much as the boys can achieve." Jeremiah Chakaamba, one of the best performers and a University of Zimbabwe student, said Zimbabwe has so much to benefit from adopting advanced technologies. "Taking 5G for example, if it comes to Zimbabwe right now, we are talking about driverless cars, we are talking about telemedicine, a doctor might be in India but doing an operation here in Harare, those are the possibilities that are offered by 5G, and I am very glad to be part of this program," he said. Eighty undergraduate students from different universities have benefited from the Seeds for the Future program since it was launched in Zimbabwe in 2015. Huawei Zimbabwe has been operating in the southern African country since 1999 and has played a significant role in upgrading Zimbabwe's ICT infrastructure. (Web editor: Guo Wenrui, Liang Jun) Romania will receive today the largest Pfizer BioNTech vaccine shipment so far, as 1,091,610 doses of serum will be flown to the Otopeni, Cluj-Napoca and Timisoara airports, the National COVID-19 Vaccination Coordination Committee (CNCAV) informs. The manufacturing company ensures the transport to the storage centers - land transport included - under optimal safety conditions, with the vaccines packed in special dry ice containers and sealed in foil, reads the CNCAV release. To date, Romania has received 7,913,159 doses of Pfizer vaccine, 6,184,534 of which have already been used to immunize the population, agerpres reports.CNCAV also informs that 559,200 doses of AstraZeneca Vaxzevria vaccine, which entered the country on Sunday, will arrive on Monday in Bucharest at the "Cantacuzino" National Institute for Medical-Military Development Research, by land transport.The doses will be stored at the National Storage Center and will be distributed in the next period to the regional centers across the country, the CNCAV release states.Romania has received so far 2,438,800 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, 792,026 of which have already been administered to the population beginning February 15. MILAN (AP) Milans famed Teatro alla Scala on Monday announced a 2021-22 season of 13 operas, seven ballets and numerous concerts as Italys most important theater looks toward a gradual removal of pandemic restrictions. Audiences returned to La Scala last month, and, in the next significant step, the theater will remove flooring form the main seating area where the full orchestra has been playing at a social distance on risers and with plexiglass dividers separating woodwind and brass musicians. It will be the end of this horrendous experience, said La Scalas music director, Riccardo Chailly. The conductor has been placed about 30 meters from musicians, and the musicians have been spaced at a distance where they can't properly hear each other to play, especially challenging during complicated executions, Chailly noted. It means creating music of 100 musicians without the possibility of hearing. This hasnt been emphasized enough. The orchestra made a huge effort, and no one fell into emotional excess, Chailly said, giving them both praise and thanks. People live with GERD for years; treated ulcers are only symptomatic for weeks. Thats the main reason you dont hear people complaining of ulcers so much anymore. Dear Dr. Roach My son is 23 and was diagnosed with a tic disorder, but was given blood pressure pills that are known to help with tics. Do you have any more information about this disorder? S.H. Answer Tourette syndrome is the most common cause of persistent tics. These tics may be vocal, such as a simple sound like a grunt or moan, or more complex, like a word or phrase. Although people with Tourette are often portrayed in the media as shouting obscenities, this occurs in less than 20% of cases. Tics may also be simple motor actions, such as eye blinking or shoulder shrugging, or again more complex, such as kicking, jumping or an unusual gait. Tourette is common (1 in 200 people), and is much more common in males than females. It is most often diagnosed in childhood and must appear before age 18. Tourette syndrome commonly occurs in combination with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Treating these in combination with Tourette may be critical. Gelber said one of the problems is that "we're one of the few places open, but we're also a very attractive destination. So simply, too many people are coming." "The virus is still here," he reminded everyone when speaking with CNN's Kate Bolduan on Friday. "The volume of people that have been coming here is very unprecedented, and some who are coming are looking to sort of act out." The mayor said there will be "an enormous saturation of police officers" on patrol over the long weekend. We need to know where this virus came from, expert says Amid the relief of high vaccination rates and declining infections, experts are turning their attention to identifying the origin of the virus. Experts previously said that the virus was most likely transmitted from an animal. But after a US intelligence report found that several researchers at China's Wuhan Institute of Virology fell ill in November 2019, former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration Dr. Scott Gottlieb said last week that there is "growing circumstantial evidence" that Covid-19 may have come from a lab. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian rejected the report at the time and accused the US of "hyping up the lab leak theory." A calming effect Ransom declined to speak with the Post-Dispatch about her rise in the judiciary, but her colleagues told the newspaper that her appointment as the states first Black Supreme Court judge shouldnt overshadow her diverse legal career. Still, they noted that she likely will bring a unique perspective to the bench amid a nationwide racial justice movement following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020. St. Louis University law professor Patricia Harrison, a friend of Ransoms, said the St. Louis community and country are realizing that we need to have African American people in leadership roles in our government, in our judiciary. They need to be an important presence because their work is just as valuable, if not more valuable in this current climate, for our children to have role models such as her for our entire community. Steve Harmon, president of the Mound City Bar Association, said he wasnt surprised Ransom got the job based on her qualifications, but sees the appointment as part of Parsons efforts to make inroads with Black constituents and political groups in Missouri. Harmon said its thrilling to have a second African American serve the high court the other being Chief Justice Draper, who was appointed in 2011. The country is still divided with the GNA (UN created Government of National Accord) controlling the least territory while the HoR (the last elected government that disagreed with the formation of the GNA) now busy dealing with the remaining Islamic terrorists and smuggling gangs, as long as the Turkish mercenaries make no threatening moves. Most of the Syrian Arab mercenaries employed by the Turks are fine with the lack of fighting, but they are often moved around a lot, often to confront local militias aligned with the GNA and known more for their rapacity than effectiveness in combat. This ceasefire made it possible for the two rival Libyan governments to work on a merger agreement. In February Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh was selected to head (as prime minister) the unified GNU (Government of National Unity). Dbeibeh is from Misrata, where he was born in 1959, and was educated in Canadian universities before returning to become a successful businessman in the 1980s. During the 2011 revolution Dbeibeh favored the Moslem Brotherhood but was perceived as doing so mainly to protect his family and business interests. He is known to have used corrupt behavior to keep his businesses going during the decade of fighting but is trusted enough to form the temporary government and attempt to organize the December elections. The main obstacle to holding the elections is the Turks, who are demanding that their presence in Libya be legitimized and the agreements they made with the GNA in late 2019 be recognized as legal. The GNU prime minister has found acceptable (to GNC and HoR) candidates to head all 26 of the new government ministries. Similar negotiations proceed about moving the GNU capital to Sirte. The LNA forces in Sirte refuse to leave without some guarantees that the Turk mercenaries stationed not far on the coast road that goes through Sirte, will not speed into Sirte and claim to be the new permanent security force. Pro-Turkey media suggest money problems, with at least one of the LNA militias in Sirte demanding a bonus (or bribe) before they will leave The composition of the GNU security forces is still unsettled, as is the status of foreign troops, especially the hated Turks. A related issue is the legality of the treaty the GNA signed with the Turks in late 2019. This agreement has Libya and Turkey agreeing to claim and exploit offshore oil and gas discoveries in the waters between Libya and Turkey. Even the UN opposes this deal because it violates numerous existing treaties that established rules for how this division of offshore resources is done. The GNA-Turkey deal is similar to the claims China is making in the South China Sea. Greece refuses to negotiate with the Turks over this and is instead appealing the UN and international tribunals that handle such disputes. The Chinese violations of international law in the South China Sea were judged by an international tribunal which declared China was acting illegally. China ignored the ruling and continues to militarize the South China Sea. Turkey is no China and does not have the means to enforce its claims. The Greeks, and many Turks, know it. The Turks do have the means to remain in Libya because the UN and NATO are unwilling to try and force the Turks out. Most Libyans agree that it is crucial to Libyan unity to get the Turks out of Libya. The HoR government in the east (based in Tobruk) agreed to support the GNU with the understanding that security would be a priority and that the status of LNA (Libyan National Army) founder and leader Khalifa Haftar be respected. The Turks, Islamic militias and GNA diehards hate Haftar and want him gone if not imprisoned. Most Libyans oppose that because Haftar suppressed Islamic terrorism in Libya and nearly united the country under the HoR before the desperate GNA made a deal with the Turks. To further complicate matters the HoR has long been supported by Russia, Egypt and the Gulf Arabs while the GNA has received support from Iran. The Turks have also worked with Iran in Syria and against Kurdish separatists in general. Both Turkey and Iran support Islamic terrorists when it suits their purposes. The most acceptable solution to the security issue seems to be regional security commands that would put Haftar led forces in charge of security in some regions. The Turks have not been cooperative and tolerate rogue militias as long as Turkish interests are respected. The Turks adopted a similar attitude in Syria, where they are also considered a major obstacle to ending the civil war there. And then there is Somalia, where the Turks have become a major obstacle to peace. The reality is that the main task of the GNU is to eliminate the independent militias, get the foreign troops out of the country and create a new national army. The HoR already has a version of that with its LNA, which still controls most of the country and would have unified Libya in 2020 had not the GNA brought in the Turks. The current (since 2000) Turkish government is Islamic and increasingly unpopular with Turkish voters. This government is facing reverses in upcoming Turkish elections and many Turks fear their government will rig the elections to remain in power and get Turkey involved in foreign wars. These are unpopular with most Turks, which is why the Turks do most of their fighting with mercenaries in Syria, Libya, Somalia and elsewhere. The Turks are increasingly the main obstacle to unity and peace in many trouble spots where they have intervened. The Turkish activities in Libya are becoming the only obstacle to unity in peace. That is because most of the other problems have been, or are being, solved. For example, at the end of 2020 the Libyan Central Bank changed the official exchange rate from 1.35 dinars per dollar to 4.48 dinars per dollar. This eliminated a major source of corruption involving the Central Bank. The official 1.35 dinars per dollar exchange rate made sense before the 2011 revolution because the value of the dinar was realistic then, meaning there were no opportunities for a black market that offered realistically priced dollars. In any nation where there is a currency black market because of an unrealistic exchange rate for foreign currencies, it is common for central bank officials to take bribes from local firms or powerful politicians or bureaucrats seeking dollars to pay for imports or overseas travel. This unrealistic exchange rate was a major source of corrupt behavior. The NOC (National Oil Company) and the HoR government both cited the exchange rate problem as one of the many reasons the GNA government had to go. Until 2020 the UN was unable to persuade the GNA, which controlled the Central Bank, to curb the exchange rate corruption. The unpopular GNA saw currency manipulation as a major source of income. That changed in late 2019 when the GNA did what it had no legal right to do and signed a treaty with Turkey to obtain Turkish military aid, which included thousands of Arab mercenaries the Turks were using in Syria. The backlash from Libyans, and other Arabs, was sufficient to get the GNA and HoR to finally agree on terms for elections and merging the two governments. One of the HoR demands, that the UN backed, involved agreement on a long-sought list of anti-corruption measures. These meant reforms on how oil income was collected and spent. Before the late 2020 reforms went into force, the NOC (National Oil Corporation) was refusing to turn over any oil revenue to the Central Bank until the bank installed an accounting system that was transparent and clearly specified who gets the money and how the money is spent. There have been a growing number of complaints about corruption, like with the distribution of dollars obtained from oil sales by the Central Bank, often in cooperation with GNA officials. In 2019 the HoR government complained that the GNA had sought, with some success, to deprive the LNA of much oil income it was entitled to. This was taking place at the time when the LNA had upgraded oil facility security to the point where full production could be achieved. The GNA had never been able to achieve much security anywhere, except in Tripoli. Even with full and sustained oil production there were also continuing problems with corruption in how oil income was spent. Most of those reforms have gone into effect and have cost many corrupt Libyan leaders and businessmen a lot of money and there are still efforts to get around the reforms. The illegal presence of the Turks is one GNA corrupt action that defies solution because the Turks refuse to leave and no one outside Libya is willing to try and force them. The Libyan people smugglers, unlike those in Turkey, have more options. One of them is to move their departure port operation to neighboring Tunisia. This has already happened but not all the Libya based smuggler groups have been able to make (or afford to make) the move yet. The UN continues to make futile gestures against the Turks, and the other armed foreigners in Libya. The UN demands dont work because the UN has no way to enforce compliance. Individual Arab and European countries, especially Egypt and France, are trying to negotiate a deal with Turkey that would get the Turkish mercs out of Libya. That wont be cheap and the negotiations are mainly about how much it will cost in cash and concessions. May 27, 2021: The Russian National Oil Company (Gazprom) and a German firm (Wintershall) revealed that they had quietly resumed (in late 2020) oil exploration and extraction efforts in Libya. Several other foreign firms have done the same because they believe the late 2020 ceasefire will continue and that the Turks have shown no enthusiasm for resuming combat. Turkeys main motivation is to not misbehave as that might persuade NATO or Arab nations to intervene, and do it with UN approval. This does not mean the Turks have been idle. They have been assisting the existing LCG (Libyan Coast Guard) in stopping people smugglers from getting their clients to Europe. The Turks dont really care about the smugglers. In part this was because back in Turkey the government tolerates people smugglers arranging (for a fee from the illegal migrant) to get Arabs, Africans or Asians from Turkey to Europe. The Turks found that they seal or unseal their borders and have kept them sealed as long as the EU (European Union) pays the Turks lots (billions of dollars) plus other considerations to keep the border sealed. The LCG itself is something of a mercenary outfit that is not controlled by anyone in Libya. The LNG was founded and sustained by Italy, which pays the LCG to keep illegal migrants from reaching Italy. That only works if someone, like the LNA, was willing to protect the presence of the LCG near smuggler ports, especially Sabratha (a coastal city 66 kilometers west of Tripoli). The Turks are now in a position to take over the supervision and support of the LCG. Initially Turkish Navy warships are actively searching for smuggler boats full of illegal migrants headed to Europe. The Turks seize the illegals and turn them over to the LCG which continues to get paid by Italy for putting those illegals back in Libya, where they are detained until they agree to return to their home countries. Turkey wants to use the illegals coming out of Libya the same way they have manipulated the movement of illegals (most of them refugees from Syria) in Turkey who want to hire smugglers to get them into Europe. The EU pays Turkey to keep its borders closed but occasionally Turkey will let some get through as a reminder of how badly the EU needs the Turks. Controlling illegals leaving Libya would enhance the lucrative Turkish threat to Europe. The EU is already spending a lot of money on Libya, mainly to ensure that the national elections are held by the end of 2021. The Turks are already getting more legitimate export business from Libya, with those non-military items imported from Turkey nearly doubling in value in 2021 compared to 2020. Like Russia, Turkey seeks to invest in Libya. But while the Russians are welcomed, the Turks, as former Imperial rulers of Libya, are not. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2021 / TUP Capital Inc. (TSXV:TUP.P) (the "Company"), a capital pool company formed pursuant to Policy 2.4 of the Corporate Finance Manual of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"), is pleased to announce that it has completed its initial public offering (the "Offering") pursuant to which it has issued 7,500,000 common shares in the capital of the Company (each, a "Share") at a price of $0.10 per Share pursuant to a final prospectus dated May 3, 2021 (the "Prospectus"). In connection with the Offering, the Company paid a cash commission of $75,000, representing 10% of the gross proceeds of the Offering, and a corporate finance fee of $15,000 plus applicable taxes to the Company's agent, Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. ("Echelon"). In addition, Echelon and certain sub-agents in connection with the Offering were issued an aggregate of 750,000 non-transferable compensation options, each of which is exercisable into one Share at a price of $0.10 per Share until May 31, 2026. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for examination and possible participation in, or acquisition of, assets or businesses with a view to completing a "Qualifying Transaction", as defined in Policy 2.4. Following the closing of the Offering, the Company has 11,900,000 Shares issued and outstanding, of which 4,400,000 Shares have been placed in escrow pursuant to an escrow agreement dated May 3, 2021 among the Company, TSX Trust Company, as escrow agent, and certain shareholders of the Company. The Shares were listed for trading on the TSXV effective as of 5:01 p.m. on Friday May 28, 2021 and trading in the Shares on the TSXV is expected to commence effective as of market open today. The Company has also granted an aggregate of 1,189,996 incentive stock options to certain directors, officers and technical consultants, as outlined in the Prospectus, each of which is exercisable into one Share at a price of $0.10 per Share until May 31, 2031. On behalf of the board of directors of the Company: Paul Barbeau Chief Executive Officer Telephone: 613-232-1567, extension: 201 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. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects with respect to the Company and include statements regarding the expected timing of commencement of trading on the TSXV and the Company's expected use of proceeds of the Offering. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including that the Company may be unable to identify a Qualifying Transaction or that matters may arise that delay the timing of commencement of trading. Because of these risks and uncertainties, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward looking statements. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that any will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date of this release. Except as required by applicable laws, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. SOURCE: TUP Capital Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CSOP Asset Management Limited (CSOP) is proud to announce the listing of CSOP Huatai-Pinebridge CSI Photovoltaic Industry ETF (stock ticker: 3134.HK) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (the HKEX). As the first pair of ETFs under the HKEX and the Shanghai Stock Exchange (the SSE) ETF Cross-Listing Scheme, 3134.HK will track the performance of the CSI Photovoltaic Industry Index (the index), before deduction of fees and expenses, by investing in the Huatai-Pinebridge CSI Photovoltaic Industry ETF1 listed on SSE via the QFI status. With listing price at around HKD 8 per share, trading lot of 100 and management fee of 0.99%, CSOP Huatai-Pinebridge CSI Photovoltaic Industry ETF will start to trade on 1 June, 2021. Upon inception, 3134.HK has received around RMB 53 million initial investment. On the same day, the feeder ETF investing in CSOPs HKEX listed ETF - CSOP Hang Seng TECH Index ETF (stock ticker: 3033.HK) will also list on the SSE. The feeder ETF has already raised RMB 1.17 billion which will flow to 3033.HK before listing, boosting 3033.HKs overall size and strengthening its leading status as the largest Hang Seng TECH index ETF in the world.2 Currently 3033.HK has assets under management over HKD 10 billion.3 This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210531005062/en/ 3134.HK) (Graphic: Business Wire)" /> 3134.HK) (Graphic: Business Wire)" /> CSOP Huatai-Pinebridge CSI Photovoltaic Industry ETF (stock ticker: 3134.HK) (Graphic: Business Wire) Clean energy and carbon neutrality define the futures of mankind. China has put the carbon emission reduction into the 14th five-year plan formulation, with ultimate goal of achieving carbon neutrality in the long term.4 To materialize the goal, photovoltaic (PV) is the key solution to clean energy. PV refers to producing electricity from sunlight that can be used to power equipment or to recharge a battery. The whole PV industry chain includes the materials in the upstream, PV cells and modules in the midstream, and PV system in the downstream. PV is one of the high-conviction sectors in China with huge growth potential. In 2020, PV electricity generation increased 16.1% YoY, marking 3.47% of overall electricity generation.5 In 2020, PV electricity cumulative installed capacity reached 253GW, in 2035, PV electricity is expected to reach 600GW, more than doubling in cumulative installed capacity.6 With PV technology evolution, the cost of PV electricity will decrease significantlyhence, PV can become the major electricity source in the future. China is also the leading country in the PV industry regarding semiconductor materials, PV cells and modules, and PV system production.7 Weighted by free-float market capitalization, the CSI Photovoltaic Industry Index comprehensively contains 50 most representative China A-shares companies, capturing the performance of the whole PV industry chain from upstream to downstream. Rebalanced semi-annually, the index invariably ensures the most representative PV-related stock inclusion.8 As the end of 31 March, 2021, the index has market cap of RMB 1.568 trillion and return of 100.84% over the prior 12 months.9 To live smarter, healthier and greener has always been the development theme of human beings. As a leading ETF issuer in Hong Kong, CSOP not only provides ETFs/ETPs satisfying investors basic investment demands for asset allocation and trading, but also acts as a pioneer portraying the future of investment. The launch of 3134.HK is one of the strokes CSOP has been making to draw the blueprint of human future. Among the future thematic ETFs CSOP launched, CSOP Hang Seng TECH Index ETF (3033.HK) and CSOP Yinhua CSI 5G Communications Theme ETF (3193.HK)10 outline how human can live smarter; CSOP Huatai-Pinebridge CSI Photovoltaic Industry ETF (3134.HK) maps out in which human can live greener; and there will be more CSOP ETFs coming to the market, enabling investors to envisage the future of human beings," says Melody He, Managing Director, Head of Business Development and Product Strategy & Solutions. -End- About CSOP Asset Management Limited CSOP Asset Management Limited (CSOP) was founded in 2008 as the first offshore asset manager set up by a regulated asset management company in China. With a dedicated focus on China investing, CSOP manages public and private funds, as well as providing investment advisory services to Asian and global investors. In addition, CSOP is best known as an ETF leader in Asia. As of 31 March 2021, CSOP has more than USD 10 billion in assets under management. For further information, please contact CSOP Asset Management Limited Larry Wang / 3406 5613 / larry.wang@csopasset.com Tina Shu/ 3406 5675/ tina.shu@csopasset.com This material has not been reviewed by the Securities and Futures Commission. Issuer: CSOP Asset Management Limited Please refer to the offering documents for the index provider disclaimer. IMPORTANT: Investment involves risks. Investment value may rise or fall. Past performance information presented is not indicative of future performance. Investors should refer to the Prospectus and the Product Key Facts Statement for further details, including product features and risk factors. Investors should not base on this material alone to make investment decisions. The CSOP Huatai-PineBridge CSI Photovoltaic Industry ETF (the Sub-Fund) is a sub-fund of the CSOP ETF Series OFC (Company), which is a public umbrella open-ended fund company established under Hong Kong law with variable capital with limited liability and segregated liability between sub-funds. The Sub-Fund is a passively managed index tracking exchange traded fund (ETF) authorised under Chapters 7 and 8.6 of the Code on Unit Trusts and Mutual Funds. The shares of the Sub-Fund (the Shares) are traded on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the SEHK) like stocks. SFC registration and authorisation do not represent a recommendation or endorsement of the Company or the Sub-Fund nor do they guarantee the commercial merits of the Company or the Sub-Fund or their performance. They do not mean the Company or the Sub-Fund is suitable for all investors nor do they represent an endorsement of its suitability for any particular investor or class of investors. The Sub-Fund is not principal guaranteed and your investments may suffer losses. There is no assurance that the Sub-Fund will achieve its investment objective. The Sub-Fund invests substantially in the Master ETF, and may therefore be subject to the risks associated with the Master ETF. The performance of the Sub-Fund depends on the price of the Master ETF. The ability of the Sub-Fund to meet its investment objective is also largely dependent on the Master ETF. The trading price of the Shares on the SEHK is driven by market factors such as the demand and supply of the Shares. Therefore, the Shares may trade at a substantial premium or discount to the Sub-Funds NAV. Given the Sub-Fund invests substantially in the Master ETF as a feeder fund, the Sub-Fund may also be subject to the risks associated with the Master ETFs investments. Companies related to the photovoltaic industry or photovoltaic industrial chain may be subject to significant volatility in growth rates due to rapidly changing market conditions and/or participants, more advanced or new technologies, new competing products and/or enhancements in existing products. The photovoltaic industry is heavily dependent on patents and intellectual property rights and/or licences. The profitability of companies related to the photovoltaic industry may be adversely impacted by the loss or impairment of these intellectual property assets. Mainland China is considered as an emerging market and investing in mainland China market may be subject to greater economic, political, tax, foreign exchange, regulatory, volatility and liquidity risks than investing in more developed countries. Please note that the above listed investment risks are not exhaustive and investors should read the Prospectus and the Product Key Facts Statement in detail before making any investment decision. _______________________ 1 Source: Huatai-PineBridge CSI Photovoltaic Industry ETF is not authorized by the Securities and Futures Commission for direct offering to the public in Hong Kong 2 Source: CSOP Asset Management Limited 3 Source: Bloomberg, as of 31 May, 2021 4 Source: China 14 Five Year Plan 5 Source: National Energy Administration 6 Source: National Energy Administration and Xinhua Net 7 Source: International Renewable Energy Agency 8 Source: China Securities Index Co. Ltd 9 Source: China Securities Index Co. Ltd 10 CSOP Yinhua CSI 5G Communications Theme ETF is a feeder fund. Its master fund, Yinhua CSI 5G Communication ETF, is not authorized by the Securities and Futures Commission for direct offering to the public in Hong Kong. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210531005062/en/ For further information, please contact CSOP Asset Management Limited Larry Wang / 3406 5613 / larry.wang@csopasset.com Tina Shu/ 3406 5675/ tina.shu@csopasset.com Source: CSOP Asset Management Limited PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: The Combined General Meeting of Korian (Paris: KORI) shareholders was held on 27 May 2021, chaired by Mr Jean-Pierre Duprieu. In light of the Covid-19 health crisis, and in accordance with the provisions set out in Ordinance No. 2020-321 published on 25 March 2020 as amended and extended by Ordinance No. 2020-1497 of 2 December 2020 and Decree No. 2021-255 of 9 March 2021, the General Meeting was held behind closed doors, without shareholders or other persons entitled, and was broadcast live on the website www.korian.com. The General Meeting adopted all 23 resolutions submitted to its vote. The General Meeting approved the financial statements for the financial year 2020 and decided to pay a dividend of 0.30 per share with an option for payment of the said dividend in new shares of the Company. This option is open from 8 June to 25 June 2021 inclusive and, for shareholders who make this choice, the new shares will be issued at a unit price of 30.14. The payment in cash and the delivery of the new shares will take place on 1st July 2021. The General Meeting voted in favour of the compensation of Executive Corporate Officers paid during or awarded for the financial year 2020. The General Meeting also approved the information on the compensation of Corporate Officers contained in the Report on Corporate Governance and the compensation policy for Corporate Officers for the financial year 2021. The shareholders approved the reappointments of Predica Prevoyance Dialogue du Credit Agricole SA, Holding Malakoff Humanis SA and Mrs Catherine Soubie as Directors for a period of three years and ratified the co-optation of Mr Guillaume Bouhours as Director for the remainder of his predecessors term of office, i.e. until the end of the General Meeting that will be convened to vote on the financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2022. They also renewed the mandate of Mazars SA as joint principal Statutory Auditor for a period of six financial years. The shareholders also voted in favour of the financial delegations and authorisations granted to the Board of Directors and the amendments to the Articles of Association, mainly in order to comply with the new legal and regulatory provisions. At the end of the General Meeting, the Board of Directors decided, within the context of the 18th resolution voted by the General Meeting, to buy back Korian shares over the next eighteen months for a maximum amount of 787,786,125 and up to a limit of 10% of the shares comprising the share capital(1). Full voting results as well as presentations to shareholders are available on the website www.korian.com. Next events: 28 June 2021 Capital Markets Day 29 July 2021 Half-year results and SFAF audio webcast meeting About Korian Korian, the leading European care services group for elderly and fragile people. www.korian.com Korian has been listed on Euronext Paris Section A since November 2006 and is included in the following indices: SBF 120, CAC Health Care, CAC Mid 60, CAC Mid & Small and MSCI Global Small Cap Euronext ticker: KORI - ISIN: FR0010386334 Reuters: KORI.PA Bloomberg: KORI.FP (1) Korian's Universal Registration Document filed with the AMF (Autorite des Marches Financiers) on 21 April 2021 includes, on pages 364 and 365, all the information required to be included in the description of the share buyback programme as provided for by Article 241-2 of the AMF's General Regulations. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210531005224/en/ INVESTOR RELATIONS Sarah Mingham VP Investor Relations & Financing sarah.mingham@korian.com Tel: +33 (0)1 55 37 53 55 Carole Alexandre Deputy Head of Investor Relations carole.alexandre@korian.com Tel: +33 (0)7 64 65 22 44 MEDIA Jean-Marc Plantade Head of Press Relations jean-marc.plantade@korian.fr Tel: +33 (0)7 62 90 32 58 Cyrille Lachevre Deputy Head of Press Relations cyrille.lachevre@korian.fr Tel: +33 (0)7 61 53 54 86 Marjorie Castoriadis Head of Media Relations marjorie.castoriadis@korian.fr Tel: +33 (0)7 63 59 88 81 Source: Korian VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 31, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Finning International Inc. (TSX: FTT) (Finning, the Company, we, our or us) will host a virtual Investor Day on June 14 starting at 11:00 AM Eastern Time. The event will feature presentations by members of our leadership team and provide an overview of our strategy to drive product support revenue, further reduce costs, and reinvest to compound growth. Following the presentations, participants will have an opportunity to ask questions using the webcast portal or the dial-in numbers. To participate in our 2021 Investor Day, please register for the webcast at https://www.finning.com/en_CA/company/investors/events-presentations/2021-events-presentations/investor-day.html You can also access the event by dialing one of the following numbers: Toll-free in Canada and the US: (833) 227-5839International: (647) 689-4543Conference ID: 6047706 The Investor Day presentations will be posted on our website and will be available on live webcast. The webcast and accompanying presentations will be archived on our website following the event. The live event is expected to last about 3 hours until approximately 2:00 PM Eastern Time. Finning is the world's largest Caterpillar equipment dealer delivering unrivalled service to customers for nearly 90 years. Finning sells, rents and provides parts and service for equipment and engines to help customers maximize productivity. Headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., the Company operates in Western Canada, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and the United Kingdom and Ireland. Contact Information: Investor RelationsAmanda HobsonSenior Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasury(604) 331-4865amanda.hobson@finning.com www.finning.com Source: Finning International Inc TORONTO, May 31, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jade Power Trust (Jade Power or the Trust) (TSXV:JPWR.UN) is pleased to report its first quarter 2021 financial results. All amounts are expressed in Canadian Dollars unless otherwise noted. Highlights Energy generation from operations of 43,821 MWh for the first quarter of 2021 compared to 50,209 MWh for the first quarter of 2020 due to less windy conditions, which negatively impacted energy generation by the Trusts wind assets. Revenue of $5.0 million for the first quarter of 2021, compared with $5.4 million for the first quarter of 2020. Net income of $1.7 million or $0.01 per trust unit (each, a Unit ) for the first quarter of 2021 compared to a net income of $1.5 million or $0.01 per Unit for the first quarter of 2020. ) for the first quarter of 2021 compared to a net income of $1.5 million or $0.01 per Unit for the first quarter of 2020. Adjusted EBITDA of $2.9 million1 or $0.01 per Unit for the first quarter compared to $3.2 million or $0.01 per Unit for the comparable quarter in 2020. (see reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA under Non-IFRS Measures) Operating cash flows of $3.7 million or $0.02 per Unit after net changes in working capital compared to $1.5 million or $0.01 per Unit for the first quarter of 2020 reflecting an increase in proceeds from the sale of Green Certificates as a result of a 23% increase in Green Certificates sold during the first quarter. (see reconciliation of operating cash flows after net changes in working capital under Non-IFRS Measures) Full repayment of the Trusts debt facility in January 2021. J. Colter Eadie, Chief Executive Officer of Jade Power commented Although less resulted in lower energy generation for the quarter, we are pleased with our cash flow generation for the quarter from the sale of Green Certificates. Our balance sheet continues to strengthen with a significant amount of debt retired during the first quarter. Our projects continue to be resilient throughout the pandemic - a testament to the strength of our operating model and infrastructure. ____________________________ 1 Includes foreign exchange gains (losses). For further information please contact: Ravi Sood Chairman +1 647-987-7663 rsood@jadepower.com J. Colter Eadie Chief Executive Officer +40 736-372-724 jceadie@jadepower.com Betty Soares Chief Financial Officer +1 416-803-6760 bsoares@jadepower.com About Jade Power The Trust, through its direct and indirect subsidiaries in Canada, the Netherlands and Romania, has been formed to acquire interests in renewable energy assets in Romania, other countries in Europe and abroad that can provide stable cash flow to the Trust and a suitable risk-adjusted return on investment. The Trust intends to qualify as a mutual fund trust under the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the Tax Act). The Trust will not be a SIFT trust (as defined in the Tax Act), provided that the Trust complies at all times with its investment restriction which precludes the Trust from holding any non-portfolio property (as defined in the Tax Act). All material information about the Trust may be found under Jade Powers issuer profile at www.sedar.com. Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release contain forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as anticipates, plans, proposes, estimates, intends, expects, believes, may and will. The forward-looking statements are founded on the basis of expectations and assumptions made by the Trust. Details of the risk factors relating to Jade Power and its business are discussed under the heading Business Risks and Uncertainties in the Trusts annual Managements Discussion & Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2020, a copy of which is available on Jade Powers SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Trust. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, Jade Power 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 TSXV nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. NON-IFRS MEASURES The Trust has included certain non-IFRS measures to supplement its consolidated financial statements, which are presented in accordance with IFRS: The following is a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA per Unit: Three months ended March 31, March 31, 2021 2020 Net income (loss) for the period from continuing operations $ 1,747,982 $ 1,501,373 Add-back: Financing (recovery) costs 228,404 713,702 Income tax expense (recovery) - 12,378 depreciation 963,504 928,133 Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations $ 2,939,890 $ 3,155,586 Adjusted EBITDA per Unit from continuing operations $ 0.01 $ 0.01 The following is a reconciliation of operating cash flow after changes in net working capital per Unit: Three months ended March 31, March 31, 2021 2020 Net used in operating activities from continuing operations $ 3,667,674 $ 1,523,682 Weighted average number of Units 231,216,256 231,487,195 Operating cash flow from continuing operations per Unit $ 0.02 $ 0.01 The Trust believes that these non-IFRS measures, together with measures determined in accordance with IFRS, provide investors with an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the Trust. Non-IFRS financial measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other entities. The data is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Management's determination of the components of non-IFRS and additional measures are evaluated on a periodic basis influenced by new items and transactions, a review of investor uses and new regulations as applicable. Any changes to the measures are duly noted and retrospectively applied as applicable. Source: Jade Power Trust Perla Osp Asgeirsdottir, Managing Director of Risk Management at Landsbankinn, has resigned her position with the Bank and ceased employment. Perla has been Managing Director of Risk Management at Landsbankinn since 2010. Perla developed a robust, efficient and reliable risk management platform for the Bank, including the implementation of real-time information on risk across the Banks entire operation. I feel proud to leave the Bank after 11 eventful years, having gained extensive experience and worked with amazing people. Strategy and governance, including risk management, is of the highest standard at Landsbankinn, making it the best bank in Iceland, says Perla Osp Asgeirsdottir. Perla is a strong leader who has steered risk management through extensive changes with foresight and confidence. We have had an excellent work relationship, most recently working together on the Banks new strategy and solutions related to the pandemic. On behalf of the Banks employees and directors, I thank Perla for her good work and wish her every success in the future, says Lilja Bjork Einarsdottir, CEO of Landsbankinn. For further information contact: Runar Palmason, Public Relations, pr@landsbankinn.is MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, May 31, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Microbix Biosystems Inc. (TSX: MBX, OTCQB: MBXBF, Microbix), a life sciences innovator and exporter, announces the appointment of SDT Molecular Pte Ltd (SDT) as distributor of Microbixs quality assessment products (QAPs) for four Asia-Pacific territories. Under an agreement between the parties, SDT has been appointed as distributor of Microbixs QAPs for Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, and its home base of Singapore. SDT will thereby provide customer service, sales and marketing, distribution, and related logistical support for Microbixs QAPs in these four Asia-Pacific territories. SDT brings advanced technologies and innovative products to healthcare professionals, hospitals, and clinical laboratories to improve the lives of patients. SDT has a strong track-record in molecular diagnostics, with specific focus on infectious and genetic diseases and with experience in development, manufacturing, distribution, and customer support via a team of highly-trained technical salespeople. SDT is also accredited for Good Distribution Practice for Medical Devices (GDPMDS) with SOCOTEC Certification International. Microbixs QAPs line now consists of over 70 products to help support the accuracy of various diagnostic tests for infectious diseases. Most recently, Microbix has added QAPs to support the accuracy of molecular (e.g., RT-PCR) diagnostic tests for the three most common variants of concern of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19 disease) the so-called Brazilian, South African, and UK variants. It is important to patient-care for public health authorities to know whether test accuracy is impacted by these variant strains, and the extent of their prevalence in the population. In addition to Microbixs leading SARS-CoV-2 molecular-test and antigen-test QAPs, SDT is particularly interested in Microbixs QAPs for support of accuracy of testing for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and Mycoplasma genitalium (MGEN) two infections of great importance in sexual health and reproductive health testing. SDT notes that it has clinical laboratory customers performing these tests but that have been unable to access the necessary quality sample or control materials. Phil Casselli, SVP of Sales and Business Development of Microbix stated, SDT approached us looking for products to complete their IVD test offerings. Learning about their technical competence, and that they have customers specifically looking for the products we have commercially available, confirmed to me that SDT is a perfect partner for the region. We are excited to see them hit the ground running. Tan Shirley, founder and CEO of SDT also commented, With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen and foresee growing demand in quality control reagents for infectious diseases, especially as more diagnostic laboratories and manufacturers are being established. Therefore, we strongly believe that Microbixs QAPs will complement our portfolio and we look forward to working with Microbix to provide our customers with a complete solution to their diagnostic testing for infectious diseases. About Microbix BiosystemsMicrobix develops proprietary biological technology solutions for human health and well-being, with about 90 skilled employees and sales growing from a base of over $1 million per month. It makes a wide range of critical biological materials for the global diagnostics industry, notably antigens for immunoassays and its laboratory quality assessment products (QAPs) that support clinical lab proficiency testing, enable assay development and validation, or help ensure the quality of clinical diagnostic workflows. Microbix antigens enable the antibody tests of over 100 international diagnostics companies, while its QAPs are sold to clinical laboratory accreditation organizations, diagnostics companies, and clinical laboratories. Microbix QAPs are now available in over 30 countries, distributed by 1WA (Oneworld Accuracy Inc.), Alpha-Tec Systems, Inc., Diagnostic International Distribution SpA., Labquality Oy, The Medical Supply Company of Ireland, R-Biopharm AG, SDT Molecular Pte Ltd, and Seegene Canada Inc. Microbix is ISO 9001 and 13485 accredited, U.S. FDA registered, Australian TGA registered, Health Canada establishment licensed, and provides CE marked products. Microbix also applies its biological expertise and infrastructure to develop other proprietary products and technologies, most notably viral transport medium (DxTM) to stabilize patient samples for lab-based molecular diagnostic testing and Kinlytic urokinase, a biologic thrombolytic drug used to treat blood clots. Microbix is traded on the TSX and OTCQB, and headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.Sales or distribution inquiries should be directed to customer.service@microbix.com. Forward-Looking InformationThis news release includes forward-looking information, as such term is defined in applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, discussion of the distribution agreement or SDT, the referenced product lines, Microbixs business and business results, goals or outlook, risks associated with financial results and stability, development projects such as those referenced in its corporate presentation, regulatory compliance and approvals, sales to foreign jurisdictions, engineering and construction, production (including control over costs, quality, quantity and timeliness of delivery), foreign currency and exchange rates, maintaining adequate working capital and raising further capital on acceptable terms or at all, and other similar statements concerning anticipated future events, conditions or results that are not historical facts. These statements reflect managements current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Companys control. Accordingly, actual future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. All statements are made as of the date of this news release and represent the Companys judgement as of the date of this new release, and the Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking information. Please visit www.microbix.com or www.sedar.com for recent Microbix news and filings. For further information, please contact Microbix at: Cameron Groome, CEO(905) 361-8910 Jim Currie, CFO(905) 361-8910 Deborah Honig, Investor RelationsAdelaide Capital Markets(647) 203-8793 ir@microbix.com Copyright 2021 Microbix Biosystems Inc. Microbix, DxTM, Kinlytic, and QAPs are trademarks of Microbix Biosystems Inc. Source: Microbix Biosystems Inc. Condemnation of the companies Neo Medical SAS and Neo Medical SA for counterfeit Neo Medical prohibited from importing and marketing its Pedicle Screw Kits in France Destruction of the Inventories of Neo Medical SAS of Pedicle Screw Kit under control of bailiff. Eragny-sur-Oise, France, May 31st, 2021 at 8:35 a.m. CET Safe Orthopaedics (FR0013467123 ALSAF), a company specialised in the design, manufacture and marketing of ready-to-use technologies for back surgery, with a particular focus on the treatment of emergency vertebral fractures, announced the judgment of May 28, 2021 rendered by the 3rd Chamber of the Judicial Court of Paris in the infringement case against Neo Medical. Having discovered that the French and Swiss companies Neo Medical were importing and offering for sale on French territory products which, according to Safe Orthopaedics, reproduced the characteristics of the claims of one of its patents, Safe Orthopaedics sued the companies Neo Medical in front of the Paris Court of Justice for infringement and unfair competition. Excerpt from the judgment: "On May 28, 2021, the Judicial Court of Paris ruled publicly by judgment made available at the clerk's office, contradictory and in first instance and has: - Rejected the NEO MEDICAL companies' request for cancellation of the infringement seizure reports carried out on November 17, 2017 in the healthcare institutions - Rejected the request for cancellation of claims 1 to 13 of the SAFE ORTHOPAEDICS patent - Declared that the NEO MEDICAL companies, by importing, distributing and marketing in France products reproducing the characteristics of claims 1 to 5, 11 and 13 of the SAFE ORTHOPAEDICS patent, have committed acts of infringement to the detriment of SAFE ORTHOPAEDICS. As a consequence, the Paris Court of First Instance has: - Prohibited NEO MEDICAL from importing and marketing the PEDICLE SCREW KIT products on French territory under a fine - Ordered the destruction under penalty and under the control of a bailiff of the PEDICLE SCREW KIT products remaining in stock in the premises of NEO MEDICAL S.A.S, - ordered the NEO MEDICAL companies to communicate certain information enabling the exact amount of the damages suffered by SAFE ORTHOPAEDICS to be determined..." Pierre Dumouchel, Chairman and CEO of Safe Orthopaedics commented: "The Paris Court confirms the strength of our patents, as did the European Patent Office, and requires our competitor to withdraw its technologies that were found to be counterfeit. We are delighted with this decision, which defends our know-how and our distribution in the French market, estimated at around 100M. We will continue to protect our innovations, which are the result of the ideas of committed surgeons, and the financial interests of our shareholders who recognize our uniqueness and invest in our international expansion. About Safe Group The Safe Group is a French medical technology group that brings together Safe Orthopaedics, a pioneer in ready-to-use technologies for spinal pathologies, and Safe Medical (formerly LCI Medical), a subcontractor of medical devices for orthopaedic surgery. The group employs approximately 150 people. Safe Orthopaedics develops and manufactures kits combining sterile implants and single-use instruments, available at all times to the surgeon. These technologies are part of a minimally invasive approach aimed at reducing the risk of contamination and infection, to the benefit of the patient and with a positive impact on hospitalisation times and costs. Protected by 18 patent families, SteriSpineTM kits are CE marked and FDA approved. Safe Orthopaedics is headquartered in the Paris region (95610 Eragny sur Oise - France) and has subsidiaries in the UK, Germany, the USA and the Lyon region where the manufacturing company is located. For more information: www.SafeOrthopaedics.com Safe Medical (formerly LCI Medical) produces implantable medical devices and ready-to-use instruments. It has an innovation centre and two production sites in France and Tunisia, offering numerous industrial services: design, industrialisation, machining, finishing and sterile packaging. Supported by the French recovery plan in 2020, the company is investing in additive printing and will be operational in 2022 with this new technology. For more information: www.safemedical.fr Contacts Safe Orthopaedics Francois-Henri Reynaud Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Tel: +33 (0)1 34 21 50 00 investors@safeorthopaedics.com Press Relations Ulysse Communication Pierre-Louis Germain / +33 (0)6 64 79 97 61 / plgermain@ulysse-communication.com Bruno Arabian / +33 (0)6 87 88 47 26 / barabian@ulysse-communication.com Attachment A New State Is On Its Way To Legalize Marijuana Connecticut legislators are working on passing a cannabis bill to legalize marijuana in the state. This bill is now being backed by the governor which has been passed on Friday in another committee. This approval could be setting it up for a floor vote this upcoming week. This piece of legislation arrives as Gov. Ned Lamont's office and legislative administrators work to resolve differences. House Majority Leader Jason Rojas stated this past week that the plan was to reach an agreement by the week's end. As well as having an expectation of "acting on it sometime next week" in the Senate. The Appropriations Committee pushed through the governor's proposal. Which was also passed in the Judiciary Committee last month. The latest development sets the scene for a floor vote in the Senate. This is where the bill could be revised to reflect a new agreement. Which has been both backed by Lamont and lawmakers. But time is running out to clear this reform bill in the upcoming legislative session, which will be over June 9. As well both parties are involved in the negotiations of the legal process. To which they said they'd favor avoiding tackling the issue in a special session. Even though that has been brought up as a backup plan. "SB 888 continues to make its way through the legislative process having now cleared its second major committee with a solid majority voting in support of legalization," DeVaughn Ward, senior legislative counsel at the Marijuana Policy Project, said in an interview. "It's another indication that the legislature is quickly moving to pass legalization prior to the June 9th end of session deadline." Connecticut Will Vote To Legalize Cannabis House Speaker Matt Ritter said this week that his confidence about the prospects of passing the bill has increased. Which is being based on talks he's had with associates. "I've sort of been struck by just having conversations as words gets out that the majority leader's working group is making progress with the governor's office--and I'm struck by the number of people who I thought were noes previously, or maybe who are kind of getting there," he said. Ritter said that he now feels there's a 57-43 chance that the legislation is approved, whereas he previously gave it a 50-50 chance. Ritter also states that he now feels there's a 57-43 probability that the legislation is passed. Yet at one time he once gave it a 50-50 projection. Discussions with the governor's office to agree on terms have mostly focused on social equity. As Rojas states the policy is about "ensuring that entrance of the marketplace is able to be accessed by communities and individuals who live in the communities who have been most impacted by the war on drugs." Meanwhile, the governor of Connecticut this past Monday made states about the bill. The governor and legislative administrators are having "good, strong negotiations," and there's "broad agreement" on policies regarding public health and safety. There's "growing agreement" concerning the use of tax revenue from cannabis sales to reinvest in communities. Mainly for those disproportionately harmed by prohibition and the war on drugs. Final Thoughts On Connecticut Passing Cannabis Reform This Session If a legalization proposal isn't passed in 2021, Lamont stated earlier in May that the issue could ultimately go before voters. "Marijuana is sort of interesting to me. When it goes to a vote of the people through some sort of a referendum, it passes overwhelmingly. When it goes through a legislature and a lot of telephone calls are made, it's slim or doesn't pass," the governor said. "We're trying to do it through the legislature. Folks are elected to make a decision, and we'll see where it goes. If it doesn't, we'll probably end up in a referendum." Ritter similarly said last year that if the legislature isn't able to pass a legalization bill, he will move to put a question on the state's 2022 ballot that would leave the matter to voters. According to recent polling, if legalization did go before voters, it would pass. Sixty-four percent of residents in the state favor legalizing cannabis for adult use, a survey from Sacred Heart University that was released last week found. Pushing For Cannabis Reform In A New State A competing legalization measure from Rep. Robyn Porter (D), which is favored by many legalization advocates for its focus on social equity, was approved in the Labor and Public Employees Committee in March. Lamont, who convened an informal work group in recent months to make recommendations on the policy change, initially described his legalization plan as a "comprehensive framework for the cultivation, manufacture, sale, possession, use, and taxation of cannabis that prioritizes public health, public safety, and social justice." But while advocates have strongly criticized the governor's plan as inadequate when it comes to equity provisions, Ritter said in March that "optimism abounds" as lawmakers work to merge proposals into a final legalization bill. Rojas also said that "in principle, equity is important to both the administration and the legislature, and we're going to work through those details." To that end, the majority leader said that working groups have been formed in the Democratic caucuses of the legislature to go through the governor's proposal and the committee-approved reform bill. The post Connecticut Is Set To Vote On Cannabis Reform appeared first on Marijuana Stocks | Cannabis Investments and News. Roots of a Budding Industry.(TM). COMTEX_387576830/2683/2021-05-30T20:02:58 Is there a problem with this press release? Contact the source provider Comtex at editorialpr@comtex.com. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 31, 2021) - ScreenPro Security Inc. (CSE: SCRN) ("ScreenPro" or the "Company") is is pleased to report that it has filed on SEDAR its financial statements ("FS") and related management discussion and analysis ("MD&A") for the period ending March 31, 2021 ("Q1 2021"). Q1 2021 Financial Summary The Company recorded Q1 2021 revenue of $6,880,325. The Company incurred a net loss of $4,892,781 which included one-time, non-cash listing expense of $3,155,025 and higher than normal profesional services fees of $892,361 related to our public listing. As a result, our adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $1,664,752. "We delivered a powerful start to our very first quarter as a public company with excellent revenue results and we foresee strong growth ahead. Adjusting for one-time listing expenses and related costs, the results were very encourging for a brand new business. The management is working on and will execute on a new Post 2022 plan while working on reducing our operating costs in the short term that should show progress over the next few quarters. We are confident in our outlook for the rest of 2021 with new products that leverage our core business that bring innovative and unique solutions to the current and post pandemic world," Andrew Ryu, CEO of the Company. The following is selected financial information for the period ending March 31, 2021, along with comparative results. Please refer to the Q1 2021 Filing in its entirety, which is available under ScreenPro's profile at www.sedar.com. All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted: Q1 2021 From Incorporation to November 2020 % Change Total revenues $6,880,325 $581,643 1,083% Net loss $4,892,781 $1,040,231 370% Loss per share - basic $0.03 $0.03 0% EBITDA ($4,819,777) ($994,462) 385% The following reconciles the net income, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (non IFRS): Q1 2021 Q3 &Q4 2020 March 31, 2021 Net loss $4,892,781 $1,040,231 Add: income tax provisions (recovery) $0.00 $0.00 Add: depreciation & amortization $73,004 $45,769 EBITDA (non IFRS) ($4,819,777) ($994,462) Add: share based compensation - $548,500 Add: one time listing fees and expenses $3,155,025 - Adjusted EBITDA (non IFRS) ($1,664,752) ($445,962) Q1 2021 Q3 &Q4 2020 Dollar Change Percent Change Total Assets $6,673,936 $1,702,088 $4,971,848 292% Total Liabilities $2,304,398 $807,627 $1,496,768 185% Please refer to the note at the end of this news release concerning non-IFRS financial measures. Q1 Highlights and Subsequent Events The Company's revenue reached $6,880,325 in Q1 2021. The Company completed its acquisition of 100% of GoStop is a COVID-19 digital reporting passport developed with a privacy preserving approach that will enable people to use the alerting software and downloadable software with authentication certificates. The Company received orders for an additional 3 Film & TV productions, 1 in Toronto and 2 in Vancouver. The Company provided services to 22 production companies, 7 in Toronto and 15 in Vancouver. The Company announced that it has commenced a new business line providing rapid antigen testing for individuals and corporations with its newly approved Health Canada Rapid Antigen tests. The Company announced that it had partnered with a large streaming service company in the world. The Company announce that it has opened its first COVID-19 testing clinic in partnership with Concierge Medical Consultants, Inc. located in Coal Harbor, Vancouver. Outlook The Company announced that it has entered into a Letter of Intent on May 11, 2021, to acquire the assets of CENTRED Ventures, LLC., a US based travel wellness medical technology company. Centred connects travelers to leading and emerging wellness brands in over 200 cities worldwide, utilizing a vertically integrated platform with an app, website, physical locations, e-commerce, health and wellness, and loyalty programs. In addition to this, Centred has established relationships with the airport authorities in the UAE where all travelers to the region will be sent the Centred App to upload their proof of a negative Covid-19 test before boarding the flight. ScreenPro sees tremendous opportunities to cross sell its covid tests and services to the over 200 cities that Centred has relationships with. The Company continues to attract business from the film & tv productions with feature-length movies, episodic series productions, and pilot season quickly ramping up in Toronto and Vancouver, and with multiple mutant variants, the Company will continue expanding the COVID-19 screening business. About ScreenPro ScreenPro is a Screening and Medical Technology company. ScreenPro provides turnkey screening solutions with alerting software, GoStop. ScreenPro's unique access to multiple manufacturers of high quality test kits and its strategic partnership with Labs in Vancouver and Ontario allows ScreenPro to be a nationwide provider of a full-service testing solutions across Canada. In addition, ScreenPro has its own nursing professionals, and access to high quality PPEs to ensure that its clients are protected in all aspects of their testing needs. GoStop's passport was developed with a privacy preserving approach that will enable individuals to use the alerting software and downloadable app with authentication certificates. The alerts can be scheduled on an on-demand, daily, weekly, or monthly basis and can be used also for vaccine scheduling. For additional information on ScreenPro and other corporate information, please visit the Company's website at www.screenprosecurity.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") nor it's Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information please contact: Jamie Hyland, Director Email: info@screenprosecurity.com P. (604) 442-2425 Forward Looking Statements: Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forwardlooking information, including statements relating to expectations regarding the future development of ScreenPro's business. Forwardlooking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forwardlooking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forwardlooking information. The actual results of ScreenPro could differ materially from those anticipated in this forwardlooking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which ScreenPro operates, prevailing economic conditions, changes to ScreenPro's strategic growth plans, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of ScreenPro. Management of ScreenPro believes that the expectations reflected in the forwardlooking information herein are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forwardlooking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forwardlooking information contained in this news release represents ScreenPro's expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. ScreenPro disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation. ### To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/85766 Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 31, 2021) - Steppe Gold Limited (TSX: STGO) (OTCQX: STPGF) is pleased to share that Executive Vice President & Director, Aneel Waraich, and Senior Vice President & CFO, Jeremy South, will be participating in a virtual fireside chat hosted by Alliance Global Partners' Managing Director and Head of Metals and Mining Research, Jake Sekelsky on Thursday, June 3rd, 2021 at 10 am EST. As Asia's newest gold producer, the Steppe team is thrilled to share their story with Alliance Global Partners' investors. After achieving one year of production amidst a global pandemic, with solid cashflow in the bank and newly-doubled resource estimates of 2.45M oz Au Eq, Steppe Gold is embarking on its Phase 2 expansion plans this year. Learn More and Register for the Upcoming Fireside Chat HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jFWPkCUSRN6E1Q1NGlUeQA Figure 1 To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6562/85730_adc5c41c6449a881_002full.jpg About Steppe Gold Limited Steppe Gold (TSX: STGO) (OTCQX: STPGF) is Mongolia's premier precious metals company, holding a portfolio of gold and silver projects covering over 20,000 hectares, including the Altan Tsagaan Ovoo Project (ATO Project) and the Uudam Khundii (UK) property. For Further information, please contact: Bataa Tumur-Ochir, CEO and President Shangri-La office, Suite 1201, Olympic street 19A, Sukhbaatar District 1, Ulaanbaatar 14241, Mongolia Tel: +976 7732 1914 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/85730 A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress flies over Adazi Military Training Base, Latvia, June 13, 2016. (Nicole Keim/U.S. Air Force) KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany U.S. long-range strategic bombers were flying a Memorial Day mission over all 30 NATO countries in Europe and North America, officials said Monday. The B-52H Stratofortress aircraft, deployed to Moron Air Base, Spain, were expected to fly with aircraft from more than 20 allies, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa said in a statement. Its the second time a bomber task force deployed to Europe has conducted such a mission since the U.S. began deploying bombers to the region in 2018, USAFE said. The mission is called Operation Allied Sky. Todays mission is an awesome demonstration of NATO air superiority, Gen. Jeff Harrigian, NATO Allied Air Command and USAFE-AFAFRICA commander, said in Mondays statement. The U.S. Air Forces eight-engine bombers, based out of Barksdale Air Force Base, La., arrived at Moron Air Base two weeks ago. Four B-52s from the 2nd Bomb Wing and over 200 personnel deployed on a short-notice tasker, Air Force Maj. Marisa King, 96th Bomber Task Force director of operations, said in a video statement last week. On Monday, the long-range heavy bombers were expected to conduct aerial refueling and integration flights with the aircraft of several allies over Europe, from Turkey to Norway. KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft based at RAF Mildenhall, England, were expected to support the mission, which also included a North American leg over the U.S. and Canada, supported by aircraft from those countries. The last time U.S. bombers conducted an overflight of all 30 allies was in August, and that effort involved six B-52s out of Minot Air Force Base, N.D., escorted by some 80 fighter jets at various stages. Since 2018, U.S. bombers deployed to Europe have taken part in more than 200 sorties with allies and partners, mainly as a deterrent response to Russias military resurgence. Early last week, the Barksdale-based bombers worked with Hungarian Gripens, Italian Eurofighters and F-16s from Greece, Romania and Bulgaria during simulated target training in the Black Sea region. The bombers later flew with RAF Eurofighter Typhoons and Hellenic F-16s over the east Mediterranean Sea before conducting counter-maritime exercises with P-8A Poseidon aircraft from U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africas Patrol Squadron 40. The bomber rotation comes as the alliance conducts a series of large-scale exercises across Europe involving thousands of troops. It also follows Russias deployment last month of thousands of troops to the border area along Ukraine, which raised concern among NATO allies. Bomber missions demonstrate the credibility of our forces to address a global security environment that is more diverse and uncertain than at any other time in our history, Harrigian said in Mondays statement. news@stripes.com Twitter: @starsandstripes Black troops in Pennsylvania during the Civil War. (Library Company of Philadelphia) It's when Maurice Imhoff dons his vintage Union Army soldier uniform that he feels most connected to history. With his navy blue wool jacket, a wooden rifle with a bayonet fixed into the muzzle, and a gold eagle breastplate across his chest, he represents an often forgotten group of soldiers the United States Colored Troops. "These men, once they got the opportunity, they stood up and took the call to action," Imhoff said. "They picked up the rifle, picked up the flag, and they led the way towards freedom and to free others." Though Civil War reenactors are most often thought of as older men, Imhoff, 19, is a high school senior who graduates in June. He is a member of the 102nd U.S. Colored Troops Company C, a reenactment group in Jackson, Michigan composed of mostly high school students. They honor Michigan's only regiment in the colored troops, which was comprised of nearly 1,000 Black soldiers from Detroit, including men who were born in slave states. The original 102nd engaged with Confederate forces numerous times in the Deep South. As the nation marks Memorial Day and pays tribute to those who died during military service, some also remember the Black soldiers who fought on the Union side during the Civil War. Undeterred by racism, thousands of Black soldiers answered President Abraham Lincoln's call to fight for the United States and their freedom. When the Civil War began in 1861, Black men throughout the free states were eager to volunteer, but federal law prohibited them from serving in the Army, said Kelly Mezurek, a history professor at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio. Mezurek is a leading expert on African American service in the Civil War. It wasn't until Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, that Black men could participate in combat. This federal legislation freed slaves living in Confederate states and permitted African Americans to fight in the United States military. Ulysses Grant, the Union's commanding general, wrote a letter to Lincoln expressing his support of African American troops. He and Lincoln understood that liberating Black people from slavery gave the Union an advantage on the battlefield. "By arming the negro we have added a powerful ally," Grant wrote to Lincoln in August 1863. "They will make good soldiers and taking them from the enemy weaken him in the same proportion they strengthen us." But even after federal law allowed African Americans to fight in the war, there were still white citizens who were displeased with their participation. To make the transition more palatable, Lincoln established segregated regiments with white officers overseeing the Black units. In May 1863, four months after Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, the War Department created the Bureau of Colored Troops, which established more than 100 African American regiments. Even after they were accepted into the Army, Black soldiers still had to prove their valor on the battlefield to win the respect of white America, said Joseph Glatthaar, a professor at the University of North Carolina who specializes in American military history. The colored troops played critical roles in pivotal battles, including at New Market Heights, where 14 soldiers in the colored troops were awarded Medals of Honor; and the Battle of Appomattox, also in Virginia, which effectively ended the Civil War. "We saw courage and determination in their coal-black faces," Army Captain Luman H. Tenney, who fought alongside the colored troops at Appomattox, wrote in his April 1965 diary entry. He believed the Black men deserved the right to vote because of their service. "Give them the ballot, for they [ensured] victory that day." And the value of the colored troops extended beyond their gallantry on the battlefield. Many of the Black regiments also protected wagon trains, railroad cars and prisoners of war, Mezurek said. "The contribution of these men is so significant that if we only look at what battles did they turn the tide of, we miss everything," she said. "The contributions were they showed up, they were there, and they did their job, and they did it well for the United States of America. We need to do better at recognizing why we have this country today is partly because of those men." By the end of the Civil War, there were almost 200,000 colored troops, roughly 10% of the Union Army. After the Civil War, Lincoln acknowledged the significant role the colored troops had in securing a Union victory. "Without the military help of the black freedmen, the war against the south could not have been won," he said. Reenactors work to preserve those soldiers' legacies, said Algernon Ward Jr., the President of the 6th Regiment United States Colored Troops Reenactors New Jersey. With reenactments stalled due to the pandemic, the group still travels to schools to talk about the colored troops and recently participated in a flag placement ceremony to honor the buried colored troops in New Jersey. Ward worries that there aren't many young people interested in the history of the colored troops. But the Michigan high school group does more than don uniforms for re-created battle scenes. The students recently raised $3,200 for a highway sign in Detroit honoring the original 102nd regiment. "If it wasn't for us reenactors, who would be around to commemorate them?" Ward said. "We need the next generation to keep their memories alive." (c)2021 USA Today Visit USA Today at www.usatoday.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Brielle was my best friend. She was the only person I trusted with everything and the only person I knew I could always talk to. Brielle was the kind of girl that would bend over backwards to help anyone without even hesitating. She was the kind of girl that lit up a room and made everyone smile as soon as she walked in. She was the kind of girl that always made everyone laugh. She was the kind of girl many people aspired to be like. Union Army Lt. Col. James J. Smith and officers of the 69th New York Infantry (Irish Brigade) pose for a photo during the Civil War. (Library of Congress) There are nearly 150 Civil War memorials in more than 130 cities and towns across Maine, honoring the approximately 9,400 Mainers who died in the war and the veterans who survived, as well as the more than 360,000 other Union soldiers who died nationwide. These memorials can fade into the background as people go about their lives. Even fewer people may notice the five-pointed star that adorns the majority of Maines Civil War memorials. The star isnt a simple decoration its the emblem of the Grand Army of the Republic, the fraternal and advocacy organization composed of Civil War veterans, founded just a few years after the war ended. In many ways, it was the precursor to organizations like the American Legion and the VFW. And as a national organization with considerable political clout, it was largely responsible for making Memorial Day a federal holiday and for the creation of the vast majority of Maines Civil War memorials. You can honestly say that if there was not a Grand Army of the Republic, we would not have had Memorial Day as a federal holiday as early as it happened, said Brian Swartz, a Bangor author and Civil War historian. There might have been some local efforts, but [it was] really the first veterans organization to really flex its political muscle. The Grand Army of the Republic was founded in 1866, largely in response to the poor treatment by the government of Civil War veterans, most of whom did not receive a pension nor medical care once the Department of War demobilized the military in 1865. These were like veterans coming back from Vietnam. Their families didnt understand the experiences theyd been through and endured, Swartz said. These men were brothers to each other. Theyd watched people they had very close friendships with die in battle. And they were receiving no help at all. Aside from their work to ensure proper care and compensation for war veterans, among the first efforts the organization put its muscle behind was the creation of Memorial Day. In 1868, the organizations commander-in-chief John Logan proclaimed May 30 as the day Americans would pay tribute to war casualties, missing-in-action and deceased veterans. Though there was a long tradition of decorating the graves of war dead, the 1868 proclamation was the first national recognition of a specific day as a day to remember the dead. From 1868 until 1970, it was celebrated on May 30. That year, the date was changed to the last Monday in May to allow for a three-day weekend, a move that some veterans thought cheapened the solemnity of the occasion. In Maine, one of the major projects of the state and local Grand Army of the Republic posts and their associated womens auxiliaries was to raise money for and build Civil War memorials. The majority of these monuments were erected between 1870 and 1920, and vary widely in size and style. Some are simple granite obelisks, like the town of Hermons memorial now located near Hermon Elementary School, or the Hallowell monument. Some show a soldier standing proudly, as in the towns of Bath, Blue Hill, Caribou and Corinna. And some are unlike any others, like the memorial at the Grand Army of the Republic lot at Mount Hope Cemetery in Bangor, which features a reconstruction of a Civil War-era fort and several cannons. These memorials also served as a way for Civil War veterans to remember the friends they lost that are still down there, Swartz said. There are many, many Mainers who went into unmarked graves down south. Well never find them. Among the organizations other major projects was advocacy for the creation of a medical facility for veterans in Maine. In part through their work, the countrys first veterans facility, Togus, was developed in the town of Chelsea. By the 1940s, membership had dwindled. Maines last surviving Civil War veterans were Melvin Jellison of Clifton and Zachary McLaughlin of Phillips, both of whom were Grand Army of the Republic members and who died within a few months of each other in 1947. With the death of the countrys last surviving Civil War veteran in 1956, the Grand Army of the Republic was dissolved. The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War was its heir, and that organization still has around 6,400 members in 2021. Though its been 65 years since the last Civil War veteran was alive, the work of the Grand Army of the Republic is still visible in every corner of the nation from the countless organizations that seek to serve veterans that it inspired, to the war monuments that dot the landscape, to the fact that we observe Memorial Day in the first place. Someone might see that five-pointed star, and they wont know what that means, Swartz said. But it symbolizes the brotherhood the boys felt, and the work they did to ensure their legacy was never forgotten. __ (c)2021 the Bangor Daily News (Bangor, Maine) Visit the Bangor Daily News (Bangor, Maine) at www.bangordailynews.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu speaks during a meeting with high-level military officials in Moscow, Monday, May 31, 2021. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP) MOSCOW The Russian military will form 20 new units in the country's west this year to counter what it claims is a growing threat from NATO. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made the announcement Monday at a meeting with top military officials. He pointed to a growing number of flights by U.S. strategic bombers near Russia's borders, deployments of NATO warships and increasingly frequent and massive drills by alliance forces. He charged that such actions "destroy the international security system and force us to take the relevant countermeasures." "We will form another 20 units and formations in the Western Military District until the year's end," Shoigu said He added the military units in Western Russia have commissioned about 2,000 new pieces of weaponry this year. Last month, a massive troop buildup in Russia's south and southwest near the Ukrainian border raised concerns in Ukraine and the West, which urged Moscow to withdraw its forces. Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014 following the ouster of the country's Moscow-friendly president and then threw its weight behind separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine. More than 14,000 people have been killed in seven years of fighting in eastern Ukraine. Russia has recalled some troops from its western part after sweeping maneuvers in April, but Shoigu ordered them to leave their weapons behind for Russia's Zapad (West) 2021 military exercises in September. He noted Monday that preparations for the exercises, which will be conducted jointly with Belarus, are now in their final stage and emphasized that the maneuvers have an "exclusively defensive character." Last week, Russia offered political support to its ally Belarus, which diverted a Ryanair plane flying from Greece to Lithuania on a ruse to arrest a dissident journalist. The European Union denounced the flight's diversion as piracy and responded by barring the Belarusian flag carrier from its airspace and advising European airlines to skirt Belarus' airspace. Palestinian protesters hurl stones at Israeli security forces amid clashes in Jerusalem's Old City on Saturday, May 8, 2021. (Emmanuel Dunand/AFP via Getty Images/TNS) JERUSALEM (Tribune News Service) In a city where streets bear the names of biblical prophets, what's foretold is almost always an echo of the past. Every conflict, including the one lately ended between Israel and Palestinian militants, reads as if an ancient passage from a worn and troubled book. And Jerusalem, as always, is at the story's heart. The alleys are tight, the tragedies many. Prayers of one faith mingle with those of another. Hot desert air warms cool stone walls. Today's battles have new voices, but there is familiar enmity over the future of the city where Jesus once walked, where black-clad Orthodox Jews sway in worship at the Western Wall, and the call of the muezzin drifts over spires and rooftops. With its contested core of holy sites, Jerusalem was the symbolic touchstone of the 11-day round of bloodshed in May between the Israeli military and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Going forward, the city remains the emotional center of gravity in the ongoing struggle. The latest armed confrontation, which cost more than 260 Palestinian lives and 12 on the Israeli side, ended with a May 21 cease-fire. The truce has held so far. But rival bonds to the city the elusive treasure, claimed by both sides as their capital will almost certainly spark another battle. "Everything paramount to the conflict can be found in Jerusalem," said Menachem Klein, an Israeli scholar who has written about the historical entwining of Jewish and Palestinian lives in the city. Palestinians and their supporters attribute the latest outbreak of fighting in large measure to a concerted push by increasingly emboldened Jewish settlers, backed by legal mechanisms and the weight of the Israeli state, to change the demographics of Jerusalem a process they liken to an ever-tightening belt of displacement. "Dispossession is central to the Palestinian struggle, and Jerusalem is a microcosm of that," said Tareq Baconi, a researcher with the International Crisis Group. Proponents of "judaizing" the city believe that the Palestinian share of the city's population around 40% of its nearly 1 million inhabitants is incompatible with millennia of Jewish history and tradition. To ensure Jewish primacy, they want to see that shrink, and the Jewish share grow. "My goal is one: to bring Jews back to the Jewish homeland and the Jewish capital," said Aryeh King, Jerusalem's deputy mayor and a prominent settler leader. Anyone else is welcome to live in the city, he said "as long as they accept that this is our holy place." In a yearslong push that plays out daily, settler groups are establishing footholds in crowded, predominantly Palestinian neighborhoods such as Silwan, set in a steep valley southeast of the Old City, and Sheikh Jarrah, a short distance to the north of the old walls, where the prospective eviction of Palestinian families helped fuel the fighting that broke out May 10. In both neighborhoods, Jewish newcomers hoist giant Israeli flags over fortified ramshackle buildings only feet or inches from Palestinian neighbors. Ugly clashes routinely erupt, with Israeli police intervening, often forcefully, on settlers' behalf. At night, a huge blue Star of David glows over Silwan. "Is it from a dimly lit stone that wars flare up?" the late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish asked in a still-apt verse titled "In Jerusalem." The poem ends with the speaker's shouted encounter with an Israeli soldier. Tensions over the city prompted a warning last week from the visiting U.S. secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken, who told Israeli officials that confrontations between Israeli police and Palestinians in and near holy sites in the Old City, coupled with looming evictions in Sheikh Jarrah, could set off a new round of conflict. The U.S. message, according to Israeli officials familiar with the talks, was received with irritation by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Early in the latest spasm of fighting between Israel and Hamas, both sides made clear Jerusalem's central role in the conflict, which saw the militants fire thousands of rockets at Israeli towns and cities. Most of the Hamas-launched projectiles were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile-defense system, but the fighting briefly paralyzed bustling Tel Aviv, the country's commercial capital, and in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes meant to decimate the command structure of Hamas left whole city blocks in ruins. The Palestinian dead included more than 60 children. Before the fighting began, Hamas demanded an end to what it called Israeli provocations in and near the Old City's Aqsa mosque compound, which was raided by Israeli police during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Israel's bombardment of Gaza began hours after Palestinian militants' opening salvos on May 10 took rare aim at Jerusalem, and the Israeli military operation was code-named "Guardian of the Walls." Hamas, which governs Gaza, called its own campaign "Sword of Jerusalem." By explicitly linking its rocket attacks to Israeli actions in Jerusalem, Hamas sought to position itself not the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank's governing entity, which is internationally recognized but scorned by many Palestinians as the protector of the city's Muslim holy sites, and by extension, of larger Palestinian interests. Though focused on Jerusalem, the conflict did little to alter the parameters of the intimate, close-quarters struggle waged in and near the Old City. "What was resolved by this fighting? Absolutely nothing," said Dahoud Ghoul, a 37-year-old Palestinian from Silwan whose family is battling in court to prevent Jewish settlers from taking over a plot of family land. In the meantime, he said, he despairs. "All my dreams are here, but while there is this theft occurring, they are only dreams," he said. At the same time, Jewish activists vowed to redouble efforts to win unfettered access to the raised plateau in the Old City that Jews revere as the Temple Mount and Muslims venerate as Haram al Sharif, or Noble Sanctuary, the third-holiest site in Islam. "Why should Hamas fire rockets at Israel because a couple hundred Jews are walking around on the Temple Mount?" said Yisrael Medad, a U.S.-born Jewish activist. On the status of both the sacred plateau and the city as a whole, he said bluntly: "We can never agree." For all that can appear constant and unchanging in Jerusalem the curve of an ancient stone arch, the gnarled roots of an olive tree the cycle of conquest has gone on for centuries. "The city has been destroyed, rebuilt, destroyed, and rebuilt again," the late Israeli literary giant Amos Oz wrote in his 2004 memoir, "A Tale of Love and Darkness." "Conqueror after conqueror has come, ruled for a while, left behind a few walls and towers, some cracks in the stone, a handful of potsherds and documents, and disappeared," Oz wrote. But despite its timeless quality, the struggle for Jerusalem is rooted in specific aspects of Israeli law, which negates Palestinian rights to property owned before the 1948 Mideast war that led to Israel's creation. At the same time, Jewish ownership of property that was Jewish before 1948 is protected something that Palestinians say is a cause of corrosive inequity. Yasser Barakat, a venerable Palestinian antiquities seller in the Old City, pulled out a book with intricate architectural drawings of one of his family's homes in a lush Jewish neighborhood in West Jerusalem. There is no hope of ever reclaiming it, he said but what rankles more for him is newcomers who cite prewar claims of their own in Palestinian neighborhoods. "They say, 'God promised me this,'" he said. "They only take, and take, and take." Bernard Avishai, a Jewish Canadian-born academic and author who is a close friend of Barakat, said he feared for the Jerusalem they both love. In the aftermath of the latest fighting, he likened the city to a volcano "ready to blow." Some longtime observers of the conflict, though, consider Jerusalem a source of not only peril, but opportunity. Eliezer Yaari, a native of the city who was one of Israel's best-known television broadcasters before devoting himself to civil-society work and writing, is among those who picture Jerusalem as an eventual entity somewhat akin to the Vatican, with protocols meant to protect the rights of all religious faiths. "I think Jerusalem could be the solution, because if we solve Jerusalem, the conflict is over," said Yaari, 71, an Israeli fighter pilot in his youth. "If you can solve Jerusalem, you can solve anything." (c)2021 the Los Angeles Times Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. British troops with NATO-led Resolute Support Mission forces in Kabul, Afghanistan, on March 25, 2020. (Rahmat Gul/AP) LONDON Britain said Monday that it will make it easier for Afghans who worked with British troops to settle in the U.K., amid rising fears for their safety as foreign forces leave Afghanistan. More than 1,400 Afghan interpreters and their relatives have already moved to Britain under a resettlement scheme. The government says about 3,000 more are expected to come under new rules which broaden eligibility and make it easier for people to bring their families with them. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said that "with Western powers leaving Afghanistan, the threat is increasing and has increased, including targeted attacks by the Taliban." He told Sky News "it's absolutely right that we stand by" people who risked their lives to help British troops. "They sacrificed a lot to look after us, and now we're going to do the same," he said. At the peak of the post-2001 deployment there were almost 10,000 British troops in Afghanistan, mostly in Helmand province in the south. Britain ended combat operations in 2014, but about 750 troops remain in the country to train Afghan forces. They are due to leave by September along with U.S. and other NATO troops, ending a deployment launched against al-Qaida and Taliban forces in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin introduces President Joe Biden during the National Memorial Day Observance at the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery, Monday, May 31, 2021. (Alex Brandon/AP) WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service) Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin slammed Sen. Ted Cruz on Monday for accusing the Army of projecting an image of pansies because of its inclusive recruiting policies, asserting that the Texas Republicans rhetoric only emboldens adversaries. China and Russia would like to capitalize on talking points like that, the Pentagon chief told CNN in a Memorial Day interview, insisting the U.S. military will never be soft. Earlier in May, Cruz complained that woke policies have undermined military readiness, amplifying conservative complaints about a recruiting ad that featured a female soldier raised by two moms. Holy crap, Cruz wrote in a tweet. Perhaps a woke, emasculated military is not the best idea. He escalated his attack by complaining of a woke cancer afflicting the military. We have the greatest military on earth, but Dem politicians and woke media are trying to turn them into pansies, he asserted. Pansy has long been a slur for gay and weakling, and Cruz has used it repeatedly in recent weeks. I think were doing a great job in terms of recruiting the right kinds of people, providing access to people from every corner, every walk of life in this country, Austin told CNN, insisting that diversity must be a part of who we are. Austin served as commander of Central Command, vice chief of staff of the Army and commanding general of US forces in Iraq before President Joe Biden tapped him to lead the Pentagon. The Senate confirmed him 93-2, with support from both Cruz and Texas senior senator, both Republicans. The uproar began with a viral video that contrasts the Army ad, featuring a soldier who marched for gay rights as a girl, with an uber-macho Russian recruitment ad that shows chiseled soldiers doing push ups, paratroops jumping from planes, and a sniper taking aim in the snow. Cruzs holy crap assessment was a comment on that video as he retweeted it. LGBTQ advocates and Democratic veterans have accused Cruz of amplifying Kremlin propaganda. He has insisted that its a distortion to interpret his comments as attacking the military, rather than the progressive ideology reflected in the ad that features Cpl. Emma Malonelord. This is the story of a soldier who operates your nations Patriot Missile Defense Systems, she says in the partly animated video. It begins in California with a little girl raised by two moms. Young Emma is seen playing violin and marching for gay rights. I like to think Ive been defending freedom from an early age, she says. A top high school student and a sorority girl, Malonelord explains she needed my own adventures, my own challenge. And after meeting with an Army recruiter, I found it a way to prove my inner strength and maybe shatter some stereotypes along the way. A few hours after Cruzs holy crap tweet, Lt. Gen. Ted Martin, deputy commander of the Training and Doctrine Command, which includes the Armys Recruiting Command, issued a barely veiled rebuke, pointing his Twitter followers to the Malonelord ad with the hashtag WeHaveTheBestPeople. Biden ended a ban on transgender troops. Austin has ordered diversity and inclusion training and focused on rooting out extremism in the ranks, moves that some conservatives take as an affront. Ted Cruz attacks a US Army soldier for telling her story, says he prefers Russians. Because Ted Cruz is a sedition-loving traitor, asserted Vote Vets, which promotes progressive candidates who served in uniform. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat who lost two legs when the helicopter she was flying in Iraq was shot down, also referred to the Jan. 6 mob that invaded the Capitol as Cruz led an effort to overturn Trumps defeat. She accused him of pushing white supremacist propaganda and denigrating the United States military that protected him during the riot. 2021 The Dallas Morning News Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Former President George W. Bush walks to greet veterans during a Memorial Day service in Kennebunkport, Maine, on Monday, May 31, 2021. (Robert F. Bukaty/AP) Former President George W. Bush attends a wreath-laying ceremony near two chairs honoring his late parents, former President George H. W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush, in Dock Square during a Memorial Day service in Kennebunkport, Maine, on Monday, May 31, 2021. (Robert F. Bukaty/AP) KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine Former President George W. Bush spent his Memorial Day morning in Maine at a brief honor service before paying tribute to his late parents. He marched with members of the American Legion Post 159 to a service on a bridge linking Kennebunk and Kennebunkport. He then went to downtown Kennebunkport near the spot where his parents often watched the town's Memorial Day parade. Two chairs with the names of former President George H. W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush were temporarily placed in their honor, even though the parade was not held this year. George H.W. Bush was a decorated Navy pilot in World War II. He died in December 2018. Barbara Bush died in April 2018. The younger Bush, a pilot in both the Texas and Alabama Air National Guards, also took some time to thank several local veterans for their service. Buy Photo Motorcyclists taking part in the Rolling to Remember ride through Washington, D.C. pass the U.S. Capitol on May 30, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes) WASHINGTON Dreary weather couldnt stop thousands of motorcyclists from gathering in the nations capital Sunday to honor veterans over Memorial Day weekend during Rolling to Remember 2021. Donning leather jackets and American flags, the motorcyclists most of them veterans themselves gathered at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium early Sunday before riding west through the city to loop around the national mall for the event, which was organized by the veterans service organization AMVETS. While just a tenth of the expected 100,000 motorcyclists showed for the event, AMVETS national communications manager Miles Migliara said he saw nothing but smiles from attendees, who braved stormy skies for the 2021 event after last years ride was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. People are, more than anything, looking for things to safely return back together. Combine that with something people are passionate about, and its just a great match up, Migliara said. You could see it in those who came out today. The annual ride overcame several logistical hurdles in its 32nd year to come to fruition on Sunday. The Defense Department on April 30 rejected organizers requests to use the Pentagons parking lot as the staging area for the ride as they had in prior years, citing the ongoing pandemic and the size of the expected crowd as the reason. While the rides route and staging facilities look different, the mission maintains the same, AMVETS national commander Jan Brown told the crowd gathered at the stadium before the ride. The ride was meant to raise awareness for veteran suicides and to demand accountability for the 80,000-plus POWs and MIAs, and to continue to fund the Defense POW-MIA Accountability Agency, Brown said. Supporters from as far as California and Maine came to the event to help the cause and remember the fallen, Migliara said. Its been at times very chaotic over the last few weeks, more than worth it to see how many people come up to (AMVETS leadership) and thank them over and over for keeping this tradition rolling, Migliara said. We are really looking forward to next year (being) bigger and better. Doornbos.caitlin@stripes.com Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos ST. PAUL, Minn. For 78 years, Pvt. Ben John Livingstons life was as blank and mysterious as his unmarked grave. On Saturday, just in time for Memorial Day, his grave at the Markville Cemetery in northeastern Minnesota was adorned with a brand new veterans marker and visited by a Roseville woman whose quest to bring him recognition for his service helped heal her own heart in the process. I am satisfied and happy and I think he can rest easy now knowing he has not been forgotten, said Deborah Costandine, who has been researching Livingstons history for the past few years to honor an uncles dying request. There are people out there who knew and loved him, she told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Livingston was a member of the Leech Lake Reservation. To honor his traditions, Costandine sprinkled tobacco around his grave, burned sage to cleanse away any negative energy and hung a dream catcher to filter out any bad dreams. The ritual was just as healing for Costandine, whose father was abused as a child in an Indian school and repeated the cycle in his own family. Its such a relief, she said. This is something good. Piecing together Livingstons life has been like putting together the far-flung fragments of an exploded puzzle. Costandine searched newspaper archives, Indian census rolls, U.S. Army records and court documents to try to understand who he was, yet there are still several missing pieces. Livingston was born Feb. 26, 1916, in Leech Lake Township, Cass County, Minn. At least thats what his Army draft card says. The Indian census from 1916 lists him as being born July 9. A court document uses the February birthday but lists 1917 as the year. The Indian census shows Livingston was born to John and Mable Livingston. The youngest of three, he had a sister named Lizzie and a brother named Lewis. All of his family members had Ojibwe and English names. But his is only recorded in English. His father was drafted to serve in World War I. His mother died when he was young. He was adopted by another Native American family. That mother and his sister died of tuberculosis. Livingston attended two Indian schools while growing up: in Odanah, Wis., at age 8 and later in Pipestone, Minn. When he was 15, he quit school and went to work. It was during this time he lived with Costandines uncle, George, and Georges mother Della Costandine. George grew up believing Livingston was his blood-relative cousin. It was Georges family who was listed in his Army records as his emergency contact and it was Georges family who retrieved his body and gave him a proper burial in the Markville Cemetery in Pine County, Minn. And it was George who in his 80s began thinking back over his life and remembered that Livingston never got a marker for his grave. This bothered him. When youre older, you do kind of ponder and reflect on things, said Nita Fitsgibbons, Georges daughter. They live in Colorado. He was 12 years old when Ben died. He felt he was just dropped off and kind of forgotten. George asked his daughter to make sure Livingston got a headstone. She got things started but hit a wall when she learned that Livingstons military records had been destroyed by a fire. Costandine, who had always looked to Georges family as the stable, fun family she wished she had, jumped in to help. Together, they were able to find enough information to justify Livingston getting a veteran grave marker. Its been really cool to make one of my dads dreams come true, Fitsgibbons said. Livingstons death was as mysterious and tragic as his life. He was drafted into the U.S. Army three months after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. He was 26 or 27. His draft card describes him as a 5-foot, 10-inch Indian with brown hair and eyes who looks young for his age. Court documents describe him as being an engineer, but what exactly he did in the Army was lost in 1973 when his records, kept at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Mo., were lost in a fire. All that is known now is that he was on a train in Canada on furlough when he died. Sandwiched between a War Bonds advertisement and a story about Hitler is a brief in the Star-Phoenix newspaper March 9, 1943, about a soldier who froze to death on a train in Saskatchewan. The United States soldier whose frozen body was found Friday on the tender of an eastbound train was identified as Pte. Ben Jack Livingston, 26, it reads. An inquest March 16 reported that he died by misadventure from alcoholism and exposure to cold while riding between the engine and tender of C.N.R train No. 2 between 12:25 oclock and 1:53 oclock on the morning of March 5. He boarded the train at Edmonton with other soldiers. He had a ticket to ride, which was found in his pocket. But at a train station partway through the journey, he tried to disembark wearing no shoes, hat or coat. When asked where he was going, the soldier had not acted normally, the Star-Phoenix reported March 23, but said the train might blow up. He was escorted back onto the train for departure. At a later stop, a train worker found his lifeless body. As a mental health practitioner and certified peer, I wonder what Ben was feeling, thinking and experiencing in that moment, Costandine said. Was he experiencing the effects of PTSD? Did the roar of the coal-driven locomotive and the alcohol fuel a dissociative flashback to combat? Well never know but he was obviously frightened enough to find a place he felt safe, outside of the train and in the coal tender. It took two more years before Livingstons body was laid to rest in the rural cemetery. The Askov American newspaper reported that on Aug. 9, 1945, Livingston was buried with military honors. Caretakers of the cemetery said they often wondered who was buried in the unmarked grave. Now, the world knows. It was Ben John Livingston. Orphan, Ojibwe, engineer and veteran. Im glad it worked out, Costandine said, waving the sage smoke over his grave Saturday. Im glad that George has some peace, too. She hopes to get the names of Livingston, his brother and father on the Leech Lake Wall of Warriors. To Livingston, she said, I feel like I got to know you better. Be at peace. From left: Jimmy McDowell, Glenn Martin, Lane Glenn, and Bill McDowell pose for a picture holding memorabilia of their uncle at Wilson County Memorial Park in Lebanon, Tenn., on Thursday, May 27, 2021. The body of a U.S. Marine captain killed in World War II is coming home to Tennessee, more than 70 years after a body misidentified as Capt. Glenn Walker was buried there. (Andy Humbles, The Tennessean/AP) LEBANON, Tenn. The body of a U.S. Marine captain killed in World War II is coming home to Tennessee, more than 70 years after a body misidentified as Capt. Glenn Walker was buried there. Walker was killed in 1943 at age 26 during the Battle of Tarawa, one of more than 1,100 Marines who died during the fight for control of that Pacific island, the Tennessean reported. Remains of 532 Marines were recovered after the war in 1946, Hattie Johnson, head of the Marine Corps POW/MIA section, told the paper. Walker's two dog tags were found near remains that reportedly had a dental match for Walker. Those remains and the dog tags were returned to Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1947 and laid to rest at Wilson County Memorial Park at a family plot. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency was given authorization in 2016 to investigate and dig up 94 sets of remains that were never identified and had been buried in Hawaii. Among them was Walker. Lane Martin, Walkers nephew who lives in Lebanon, initially thought the voice message from Johnson in March 2020 saying the remains sent to Wilson County werent actually his uncles was a hoax. I think its great its resolved, Martin said. But I also think about my mother and grandmother not knowing. It would never happen today with todays science, Johnson said of the misidentification. Im happy for service members who are being returned for proper burials and homecomings they so rightly deserve. I know his mother went to her grave believing her son was buried next to her. But she was buried next to a serviceman. Now the job is to find out who that service member is. Walker graduated from the University of Tennessee and was attending Harvard Law School when he volunteered for the Marine Corps. He had been awarded a Purple Heart at the Battle of Guadalcanal before he was killed. He was a true blue hero, said another nephew, Jimmy McDowell, of Lebanon. Walker's final return home was delayed by COVID-19 but his remains are now tentatively scheduled to be delivered to Nashville on July 22, with full military honors conducted at the airport, Johnson said. The family is planning a memorial service and Martin expects around 70 family members to attend. I get emotional when I think of the life he could have had, Martin said. The good is that weve reached out to family all over the country and drawn us back together. Were gathering pictures and letters he wrote. Well display as much of the artifacts that we can, and well go to the gravesite. But it will be a huge family reunion. Buy Photo Army veteran Bernie Klomanek of Mineral, Va. remembers the fallen during a Memorial Day visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 31, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes) Memorial Day ceremonies that were canceled by the pandemic in 2020 returned to the National Mall Monday, with veterans, their families, service members and the general public gathering to honor the nation's fallen. At the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where the names of the more than 58,000 Americans who died during the Vietnam War are engraved on the iconic wall, keynote speaker Karl Marlantes noted that "everybody here on this wall chose to risk their lives. Their lives were sacrificed because of (a combination of) bravery and bad luck. You veterans know, youre in a wrong hole when the shells come in, thats it, he continued. But everybody on this wall risked their lives, and that was the important act. At the National World War II Memorial, a half-dozen members of the "Greatest Generation" were on hand to pay tribute to those who died in the struggle against the Axis powers more than three-quarters of a century ago. Buy Photo World War II veteran Harold Radish, center, and Superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks Jeffrey Reinbold place a wreath during a Memorial Day ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 31, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo Memorial Day tributes at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 31, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo Memorial Day tributes at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 31, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo A visitor to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., pays his respects on Memorial Day, May 31, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo Memorial Day at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 31, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo Memorial Day tributes at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 31, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo Memorial Day tributes at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 31, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo Memorial Day tributes at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 31, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo The sun casts a shadow on a book containing information on the location of names on the Vietnam wall, May 31, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo The color guard arrives for a Memorial Day ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 31, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo World War II veteran Les Jones salutes as the national anthem is played during a Memorial Day ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 31, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo World War II veteran Callan Francis Saffel salutes as the national anthem is played during a Memorial Day ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 31, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo After a year of canceled events due to the pandemic, the public returned for a Memorial Day ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 31, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo World War II veteran Callan Francis Saffell takes part in a Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 31, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo A bugler plays taps during a Memorial Day ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 31, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo A bugler plays taps during a Memorial Day ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 31, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes) The Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington is fenced off on May 31, 2021, as construction begins on a wall listing those killed in the 1950-1953 war, (Joe Gromelski) Buy Photo With the Lincoln Memorial as a backdrop, members of the public meet participants in a Memorial Day ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., May 31, 2021. (Joe Gromelski/Stars and Stripes) Four veterans who were regular attendees at ceremonies at the memorial and passed away in recent months were singled out for recognition: Col. Frederick Clinton, Dr. Jack Goldstein, Ewing Miller and Herman Zeitchick. Relatives of Zeitchick were among the participants in the wreath-laying ceremony. The National Korean War Veterans Memorial was closed on Memorial Day, as work has begun on a memorial wall listing the names of the fallen, both Americans and Korean augmentees to the U.S. Army. news@stripes.com How can you tell if your building was constructed under the latest and greatest building codes? If it was built in 2002 or later, you should have the best or close to it, since the code gets updated every three years. If your building was built before then, it likely does not meet highest standards unless it was damaged by a storm and had to be upgraded. Vietnam veteran Gerry Wright has spearheaded the installation of an Agent Orange monument, funded entirely by donations, in the veterans park in his hometown. (Mark Mirko/Hartford Courant) HARTFORD, Conn. (Tribune News Service) As a young soldier in Vietnam, Gerry Wright stood on the back of a 5-ton tanker truck spraying roadside foliage. Just doing what I was told no hat, no shirt, no gloves, Wright, 72, said in a recent interview. But the U.S. Army veteran said he brought the toxic effects of Agent Orange home and has, like thousands of his fellow veterans, suffered various ailments ever since. The military recognizes 14 diseases caused by the chemical, including cancers and severe psychological and neurological problems. Three new conditions were added to the list of presumptive conditions by Congress just last year, though many have died waiting for their approval and related benefits. The diseases affect both the 2.8 million veterans believed to have been exposed to Agent Orange, and their children and grandchildren. To raise awareness and honor all those who were exposed to the herbicide, Wright has spearheaded installation of a monument in the veterans park in his hometown of Andover. An unveiling and dedication is set for Saturday. U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney and four Vietnam veterans, including former state Veterans Affairs Commissioner Linda Schwartz, are to speak. The ceremony also is to include several color guards, the singing of the national anthem by a Vietnam veteran and taps played by another veteran of the war. Raised on a dairy farm in New York state, Wright served as a combat engineer in Vietnam from May 1969 to December 1970. His unit built roads, and part of the process was to spray herbicide along the roadway to kill thick foliage the enemy could use for cover. Superiors told him and other soldiers that the stuff they were dispensing in 2,500-gallon tankfuls was harmless to humans, Wright said. But when wind blew the spray back at him, his nose burned, he said. He also developed sores, but it wasnt until he returned to the States that the full effects became apparent, Wright said. During the mid-1960s, U.S. chemical companies made and shipped large quantities of herbicides to Vietnam to wither enemy cover and crops, according to the U.S. Veterans Administration. About 12 million gallons of Agent Orange were shipped to Southeast Asia from 1965-70, before the Department of Defense suspended its use and then incinerated remaining stockpiles in 1977. In 1984, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that a byproduct of the manufacturing process for Agent Orange was associated with ill health, including cancer, in exposed animals and humans, according to the VA. The Agent Orange Act of 1991 established a presumption of service connection for certain diseases in veterans exposed to the defoliant. Over the years, Wright said other veterans of his unit got sick and some died of heart disease, cancer and other illnesses. Wright, who also served in the Connecticut National Guard from 1982-99 and retired as a first sergeant, said his ailments have included muscle loss and weakness, neuropathy and atrial fibrillation. He said he is being treated under his veterans benefits. Wright said he felt so strongly about Vietnam veterans who were sprayed and betrayed that he took to the road after selling his businesses in Bolton, the Happy Hauler Towing and Recovery and Happy Hauler RV Storage. In 2018, he drove an orange Honda Goldwing trike around the nation, gathering signatures on a petition to expand treatment for Agent Orange. In Ennis, Texas, Wright said he saw an Agent Orange monument and decided Connecticut should have a similar memorial. He contacted Nolans Hamden Monument Co. in Hamden and ordered the inscribed stone. More than enough donations came in to cover the $21,500 cost, and Wright said he used some of the extra money to plant flowers, trees and grass around the monument this year. The installation also includes brick walkways with individually inscribed bricks paid for by donors. Everyone who donated is part of that monument, Wright said. jleavenworth@courant.com. 2021 Hartford Courant Visit courant.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Mathew Z. Rosiere, 37, of Fond du Lac, unexpectedly passed away on Friday, June 4, 2021. He was born on May 18, 1984, in Pawnee, OK, the son of Michael Z. Rosiere and Sandra K. Kennedy. While he was in high school, he was active in football and wrestling. Mathew loved hard rock music, played Weather Eye with John Maunder When I was seven years old, I moved from Nelson to the small town of Takaka when my father George Maunder was appointed Manager of the Bank of New Zealand. We lived in the Bank building and from the balcony I, as a seven-year-old, watched the Takaka river flood across the nearby farm and on several occasions the water went onto Commercial Street. At that early age I asked two questions: why did it rain and what were the consequences of the flooding. Now in my 89th year I still have questions but also some answers. Some of the answer to the complexities of the climate are given in my recently published book Fifteen shades of climate... the fall of the weather dice and the butterfly effect The following are extracts form the book, notably the Preface and pages 3-4 Climate Change 2020 and the Villach Conference of 1985 Preface The explosive nature of the climate has brought about a significant challenge for those of us who are climate scientists to provide details of what is currently happening, why is it happening, and what is going to happen in the next month, year, and decade. An equal challenge is for media, including the social media, to present this information in a coherent manner, so that society, and political leaders at all levels - from the UN down to the local level, make appropriate decisions, whether this involves solar energy, burning of coal, forest management, hydro electricity, electric cars, veganism, nuclear power, the building of sea walls, moving to a better climate, learning to live with whatever climate Nature provides, or even who to vote for in the next election. There are many aspects of climate that could be written about, and this book includes most subjects that are commonly discussed in the media, which should be of interest to the public at large. As always there are continual developments in the climate scene and readers may wish to follow the current research by a simple Google search of any topic such as methane, sea level changes, winter temperatures in New Zealand, or an answer to such a question as Are hurricanes increasing or decreasing in frequency? The information in this book aims to provide a need to know background on weather and climate matters, climate change, and global warming with the aim to promote a better understanding of these matters. In my 89 years, I have been involved in a wide range of activities in the climate business; from watching a river overflow into the small town of Takaka, Golden Bay, New Zealand when I was eight years old and asking why it happened, and was it good or bad; to the realms of several national meteorological services and universities, to the weather business, and the World Meteorological Organization. Essentially, my book is a collection of specific activities and writings on the questions of climate, climate change, climates variability (natural or otherwise) and climate politics over the years. In this regard I am reminded of the physicist Leo Szilard (1898-1964) who once announced to his friend Hans Bethe that he was thinking of keeping a diary: I dont intend to publish, I am merely going to record the facts for the information of God. Dont you think God knows the facts? Bethe asked. Yes said Szilard. He knows the facts, but he does not know this version of the facts.* From Hans Christian von Baeyer, author of Taming the Atom, (from the preface paragraph in A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson, A Black Swan Book, 2004) Climate change 2020 and the Villach Conference of 1985 Among the many climate science meetings I have attended, the most significant, at least in terms of climate change is concerned, was my involvement in the UN sponsored International Conference held in the beautiful town of Villach, Austria, in October 1985. One hundred experts from 30 countries attended the meeting (in contrast to 10,000 to 20,000 who now attend such meetings), and I was privileged to be the only New Zealander invited. We were all there as experts - and not representing our respective organisations - in various fields of science, endeavouring to do the best we could in looking at the complexities of climate science. This conference predated by three years the establishment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) established by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The first session of the IPCC was held in Geneva in November 1988. Among the principal findings of the Villach Conference was that while other factors, such as aerosol concentration, changes in solar energy input, and changes in vegetation, may also influence climate, the greenhouse gases are likely to be the most important cause of climate change over the next century. At that time, even though I was partly responsible for the writing of the above paragraph, I along with a few of my colleagues, had some misgivings about this phrase, and were somewhat surprised that within a year human-induced global warming caught the imagination of much of the world. Indeed today, not a day goes by without some mention of global warming, climate change, emission trading schemes etc., all terms which up until 1980s were the preserve of academic text books. Despite this concern, a colleague of mine from Australia, Bill Kininmonth, who in 2004 wrote a book called Climate Change - A Natural Hazard has mentioned to me on several occasions that I have changed from being a gamekeeper and become a poacher. Whether that is true is a matter of opinion. However, irrespective of my personal views on the matter, it is clear that there are two main views held by climate scientists and others on the subject of global warming and climate change. First, those who are mainly involved in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and many or most government scientists, plus others, such as Al Gore, and many politicians and most journalists who consider that humans activities, including domestic animals, are the prime cause of recent changes in the climate. Second, those - in the main some university scientists, many retired climatologists, and a minority of politicians and journalists, who consider that nature is the main cause of changes in the climate. Thirty years ago, it was unconceivable that the New Zealand or any Government would have a Minister of Climate Change; indeed back then, as weather forecasters and climatologists we just got on with our job of making the best possible weather forecast and providing the best climate advice to all those who requested information, without guidance or interference from the government of the day. How things have changed. The book is available through the web site amazon.com. Just Google fifteen shades of climate for details. www.amazon.com/dp/B08NDR1GFD?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860 Bay of Plenty Our client has projects underway in Tauranga and looking for scaffolders.You might be new to the industry or have a few years... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz Is there anything worse than someone taking advantage of our beloved democracy in order to dismantle the administrative state? Our conniving governors signing of an anti-American voting law says it all. He knows he cannot win on the merits, and so is willing to nefariously lift himself up any way he can, including by assaulting the foundation of democracy. I hope people see this for what it is: a dangerous person seeking to gain authoritarian power and not caring how he does it. Thank you for Reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and Purchase a Subscription to continue reading. vigsom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NSEW Posts: 2,779 Thanked: 7,993 Times Re: Is it ethical on the part of carmakers to work during the lockdown? Quote: Allterrain Originally Posted by car factories were allowed to operate under the guise of "continuous Process Industry" which were exempted! Tier-1 and Tier-2 suppliers are also working as they are suppliers to these "Continuous Process Industries". Now labor unions are up in arms and refusing to cooperate. 1. Having spent most of my life in manufacturing, and being on the job even during the infamous pneumonic plague in 1994 and two bouts of floods, I can say that all this noise created by employees is unwarranted. 2.What is important is to keep the wheel churning, but with all due precautions, like , say, operating the unit with 50% staff, with all due precautions in place. It will be interesting to see if employees are willing to see their units shut, and forego their pay for that period. 3. Think about it - hospital staff don't say they won't work, neither do shopkeepers or other service providers. NDRF does not shy away from relief operations in the most challenging situations, and nor do the forces. The show must go on, although with adequate precautions. Yes, these are tough times, and risks are high, but shying away from work isn't the solution. Essential or non-essential services- threat to loss of life in the pandemic is the same. 4. Look around and one would see that the number of people who adhere to safety protocols in Covid is less than 10%. I was in TN twice, for extended periods over the last eight months, and all I saw was zero compliance to basic Covid protocols; same story almost everywhere. There is no way an automotive assembly line can come anywhere close to "continuous process". However, here are a few points that I have to put across.1. Having spent most of my life in manufacturing, and being on the job even during the infamous pneumonic plague in 1994 and two bouts of floods, I can say that all this noise created by employees is unwarranted.2.What is important is to keep the wheel churning, but with all due precautions, like , say, operating the unit with 50% staff, with all due precautions in place. It will be interesting to see if employees are willing to see their units shut, and forego their pay for that period.3. Think about it - hospital staff don't say they won't work, neither do shopkeepers or other service providers. NDRF does not shy away from relief operations in the most challenging situations, and nor do the forces. The show must go on, although with adequate precautions. Yes, these are tough times, and risks are high, but shying away from work isn't the solution. Essential or non-essential services- threat to loss of life in the pandemic is the same.4. Look around and one would see that the number of people who adhere to safety protocols in Covid is less than 10%. I was in TN twice, for extended periods over the last eight months, and all I saw was zero compliance to basic Covid protocols; same story almost everywhere. Last edited by vigsom : 28th May 2021 at 10:18 . The regional government is to create a new Andalusian Cybersecurity Centre. It will have an investment of 60 million euros over the next three years and will be responsible for defining and implementing the regional government's cybersecurity strategy from 2022 to 2025. This was announced this Monday (31 May), by the Juntas spokesman, Elias Bendodo, and the director of the Andalusian Digital Agency, Raul Jimenez, who attended a cybersecurity conference organised by the company Check Point in Malaga. The physical location of the new centre has not been specified by either of the two since "it has not been decided yet," according to Andalusian government sources. The announcement has been enthusiastically welcomed by representatives of companies related to the sector who were present at the conference. The founder of Virustotal and head of Google's cybersecurity team based in Malaga, Bernardo Quintero, has congratulated the Junta for the "holistic approach" with which it has designed this body and Jose Miguel Ruiz Padilla, from Ingenia, said that finally "the bull has been grasped by the horns" for a public institution to face the enormous challenge that cybersecurity will pose in the coming years marked by the digital revolution. Elias Bendodo explained that the digitisation strategy proposed by the Junta must go hand in hand with a cybersecurity strategy; hence the commitment to create a centre that leads the defence against cybercrime that will provide service not only to the public sector, but also to the public and businesses. Bendodo said it was aimed to "forge alliances with the private sector" to launch this centre. "If something characterises this government, it is the unapologetic commitment to public-private collaboration, especially in areas such as digitisation, which requires continuous learning," he said. Bendodo stressed that the Junta has the objective that digitisation "becomes the driving engine of the economy" in the region. "Andalucia is not going to be late to the party. We will be leading the process and moving forward so that Andalucia becomes the technological base of southern Europe. Malaga is, on its own merits, becoming a benchmark with the location of research and development departments of companies such as Telefonica, Vodafone, Google and Ericsson, he said. Raul Jimenez said that among the strategic objectives of the cybersecurity centre will be "to extend the protection to all public sector entities in the region, not only to those that depend on the Junta, but to town halls, councils and universities". It also aims to "improve the digital skills of the public and prepare future professionals for work in the cybersecurity sector". Last year in Libya, autonomous drones targeted some human soldiers during the conflict. Even though the deaths are still unconfirmed at the moment, these "killer robots" could do more damage than we could have ever imagined. The experts have a warning that these automated flying machines could now be widespread. How Weaponized Drones Affect The Global Warfare Last March, the United Nations released a report addressed to what happened in Tripoli, New Scientist reported last week. While there is no official confirmation that a death has been recorded, it would be the first casualty made in the hands of the autonomous drone if that is true. During the conflict, Khalifa Haftar of the Libyan National Army was caught up in a conflict with the government forces. The Kargu-2 attack quadcopter has reportedly attacked one of Haftar's men who tried to retreat from the battlefield. According to the UN Security Council's Panel of Experts on Libya, the killer robots have been programmed to inflict damage to specific targets. They could be controlled without any data connectivity requirement. Particularly, the lethal autonomous weapons systems work as an automatic operator that fires bullets. It relies on the approach of finding, locking down, and firing the target. Moreover, the drone was also known to have the self-destructing capability. The panel said that when it collides with the target, it will leave a "highly effective" impact on the unarmed human. In addition, the "significant casualties" have been noted, as the Haftar-led army has been exposed to a series of aerial attacks. Read Also: Northrop Launches Sky Chain Viper Gun, Suicide Drone for Future Vertical Lift Effort of the Army Turkey's Kargu-2 functions as a loitering drone that depends on real-time image processing responsible for finding and attacking the targets. It also makes use of a machine learning algorithm for its system control. STM, the weapon manufacturer based in Turkey, said that the autonomous killer robots are designed to engage with anti-terrorist groups. Moreover, it can be operated using two modes-- the manual and the autonomous. Experts have been wary that the creation of these kamikaze drones could bring an unexpected impact on humanity. Several Groups Want to Ban the Use of Autonomous Weaponized Drones According to the Unconventional Weapons and Technology Division under the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism research affiliate, Zachary Kallenborn, the appearance of the killer robots could dictate a lot of what could happen during a war. Kallenborn added that the deployment of the Kargu-2 has opened a new opportunity for autonomous warfare--and this means that humans could now be easily slain by AI-powered drones. Meanwhile, non-governmental orgs and human rights groups have been alerted about the growing deployment of killer drones. However, the UN members stated that the legal regulations about the ban of the lethal autonomous weapons systems are not necessary due to the limitations of the current technology, Gizmodo reported. Related Article: Deadly Viruses, Killer Robots Could Someday Force Humanity Into Extinction: Report This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joseph Henry 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Screenshot From Pexels Official Website) Google Android Privacy Issue Revealed Through Court Documents | Collecting Data Despite Users Choosing 'NO' Google Android privacy issue has just been revealed through certain documents showing just how much data the company collects despite getting a "no." The company has never been one to directly be associated along with privacy in a positive light despite the company admittingly trying to improve their image. Google Data Collection Perhaps the scrutiny and legal sanctions against the company has also affected its popularity in contrast to Apple that enjoys its championing of privacy practices. According to the story by SlashGear, this, however, might actually be quite new for Google as certain unredacted documents shown in an Arizona lawsuit reveal how hard it was for users to keep their location private. There is no secret as of the moment that just like Facebook, Google has also made quite a profit through information and data. Just like Facebook, it now also has suffered the consequences of the companies' encompassing reach. Something that remains a secret is how some strategies are used in order to get the data despite users choosing "no." Google Android Privacy Issue Arizona reportedly sued Google some time last year due to its data collection practices and how the company still continued collecting location data from users' Android phones despite the data sharing being disabled. Documents that were presented as evidence were ordered to be unredacted some time last week at the general behest of certain groups insisting that the information was actually in the public's interest. Unsurprisingly, however, that was indeed what happened and it revealed just how much Google had allegedly deceived not only users but also some other Android phone makers in order to dissuade them from actually making the privacy settings easier to understand and spot. Google's employees and executives testified that the company was gathering location data despite users choosing the Wi-Fi location and even from certain third-party apps that do not actually have any relation to Google. Read Also: Google Pixel 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra | What Do They Have In Common? No Comment from Google nor LG Google also reportedly made things much harder for users as spotting the privacy settings were made more difficult. The company also convinced certain OEMs like LG to still follow suit. Neither LG nor Google gave a comment to the report by Business Insider. As of the moment, Google is now doing the exact opposite, at least when it comes to what the public sees. Android 12 is now set to make everything a whole lot easier in order to find those particular settings and control them in order to see which apps are using what type of capabilities. This would hopefully include Google's own services and apps as well. Of course, that change in direction might have also been quite motivated partly due to profits and like a certain employee remarked, Google's alleged disrespect and disregard for privacy is how Apple was eating its own lunch. The Google Android privacy issue is still slowly opening up as the companies have not yet given any reply Related Article: Google Messages New Feature Leaks Show Pin and Star Messages This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Urian B. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Intel has a lot of surprises for this year, and it looks like that we are finally getting a 5G-focused improvement for the computer processors. The chip manufacturer has recently released a faster and better set of semiconductors -- the 5G M.2 module to hasten the newly-produced laptops en route to the company's Intel 5G solution 5000. Because the last Computex did not happen last year due to the pandemic, the announcement was delayed--but the surprise has paid off well. Intel 5G M.2 Module Provides a Good Solution for Laptop Makers The Computex 2021 in Taiwan is the most awaited event for chip enthusiasts particularly those who are always on the lookout for the best GPUs and CPUs ahead of the market launch. Intel, which has presented during the virtual event, has "quietly" released a new way that would make use of the latest technology for the current laptops. The module called the 5G M.2 is said to be packed with highly innovative chips that will fit the needs of the gadget manufacturers. It was in August 2020 when Intel tested this module. What's amazing with this addition is the capability of the new-gen processors to reach more megahertz for the laptops. The ultrabook CPUs could be one of your choices if you want to own a U-Series laptop. Intel has been keen that what it is doing would be regarded as a huge technological leap. Through the thin-and-light laptop CPUs i5-1155G7 and i7-1195G7, the old September models, i5-1135G and i7-1185G7 have received an unexpected upgrade that all should witness. Read Also: Intel Side-Channel Attack Exposes Processors' Vulnerability to Data Theft It is expected that the new processors would be launched later this 2021, CNET reported on Sunday, May 30. What Makes Intel's Ultrabook CPUs Special? Thanks to the revamped Turbo Boost Max 3.0, the i7-1195G7 has been made into a monster processor packed with a higher frequency rate. This is where the wonder of the 5GHz enters, and we could not say "no" anymore to the low-quality chips that we have previously used. According to XDA, Intel boasted that its chips are now much better compared to the Ryzen 7 5800U due to its 25% performance advantage. The chipmaker this time wants to push its limits to the fullest, as it added that its current CPUs can withstand long gaming hours without compensating the gaming performance. On the other hand, there are rumors which suggest that AMD has been developing the RDNA 2.0 for its CPUs. However, we haven't yet heard any news about the official date of its integration into the processors. Indeed, the Intel 5G Solution M2. module is only the start for the processor manufacturer to boost the 5G modem adoption. Together with MediaTek, the company has successfully received a global certification process for its operation. This year, the Related Article: Intel Quietly Launches Tiger Lake B-Series Desktop CPUs This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joseph Henry 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The cloud formation in the Martian environment is more unusual compared to what we see on Earth. Clouds only appear on the red planet during the coolest period of the year. NASA's Curiosity rover has spotted that there were some of them popping up in the sky. The team has captured picture-perfect shots which tells us that Mars can also be colorful sometimes. Team Behind NASA's Curiosity Rover Observes the 'Early' Clouds In NASA's announcement last week, the crew that controls the Curiosity spacecraft has detected the sign of a cloud formation from the recently-saved photos. Although the team has no expert in the study of clouds, the important discovery could pave the way for them to conclude that the Martian clouds are mysteriously different. The international space agency said that the majority of the clouds seen on the red planet are made up of water ice. They are also identified at 37 miles or 60 kilometers (altitude). Additionally, the team said that the clouds could potentially contain frozen carbon dioxide since they are positioned at a cooler and higher height. NASA continued that its scientists continue to study the cloud's altitude and they will also conduct more analysis about the images shot from the Curiosity rover--to determine the dry-ice and the water-ice clouds. Read Also: NASA Mars Ingenuity Helicopter Endures Sixth Flight Despite Malfunction 'Mother of Pearl' Clouds Give Color to the Planet The study does not end in merely recognizing the early clouds. NASA said that what they saw was a beautiful mix of various colors coming from the iridescent and noctilucent clouds. As shown in the photos below, the noctilucent type of cloud has been displayed. The formation imitates the appearance of the "twilight" clouds which are said to become darker after the sun descends. Scientists from NASA gathered the information from the captured images from the rover for the estimation of the noctilucent clouds' altitude, Gizmodo reported on Monday, May 31. The Curiosity rover team shot the images through the MastCam which flashes minute glimpses of the colorful glow of the Martian clouds. The "mother of pearl" clouds or the iridescently-shimmering formation has given Mars a colorful pattern that we should behold. "If you see a cloud with a shimmery pastel set of colors in it, that's because the cloud particles are all nearly identical in size," Space Science Institute atmospheric scientist Mark Lemmon said during the NASA announcement. Sometimes, it would take a long time before we see beauty in something. For instance, all we could think of Mars is its reddish soil and the bland craters on its surface. Little did we know that there's more to looking to these common things that we use to generalize the red planet. Lemmon added that the case of the cloud formation on Mars can happen after all of the clouds grow at the same rate. Related Article: NASA's MOXIE Automated System Will Produce 'Breathable' Oxygen for Humans in Mars This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joseph Henry 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The National Police have arrested a 25-year-old Austrian man accused of a shooting a man in Marbella because of a disagreement over a debt. The victim was seriously injured after suffering three gunshot wounds to the lower extremities. The incident happened on Gitanilla beach in San Pedro de Alcantara on 29 August 2020, and the victim was rushed to hospital after the shooting. Police investigations revealed that the victim had gone to the beach in relation to a debt but the man, who has been arrested, was accompanied by friends and he allegedly opened fire on the young man. Officers located the man a week ago in a luxury suite in an hotel in Estepona. The suspect was arrested for his alleged involvement in attempted murder, the illegal possession of weapons and using false documentation to evade police. According to the investigation, he used vulnerable third parties to rent the vehicles in which he moved around, and he changed his address with regularity. A 26-year-old Spanish man was also arrested for a covering up a crime, as well as a 52-year-old, allegedly a drug addict, who rented the vehicles in his name and an employee of a car rental company for falsifying documents. The court in Marbella has taken over the case and has sent the investigated man to prison without bail. Carla Brown often prays as she administers the COVID vaccine, asking God to help her find more people who want the shot so she doesnt waste her precious supply. I say, Father, give me another arm, the hospice nurse said. And I have not wasted one dose. Brown, who travels through Scotlandville and surrounding areas in her red Toyota Scion to get the life-saving vaccine to the people who need it most, works full-time at Canon Hospice, a palliative care agency in the city, while continuing to inoculate people in her free time. +10 As Baton Rouge tries to fix racial disparities in coronavirus vaccines, churches step into the gap Elaine Guerin, 70, from Baton Rouge, is a breast cancer survivor who became cancer free in July of 2020. She was hesitant about taking the COV Her story began a year ago, at the age of 62, when she unknowingly brought the coronavirus home to her family. Brown, who worked as a nurse at a psychiatric hospital at the time, watched in horror as her husband, father and brother fell ill with the virus in the early months of the pandemic. All three required hospitalization. Her father and brother made it home. Her husband of 21 years who years earlier survived a gunshot wound to the head and two cancer diagnoses did not. David Brown died in July 2020 after an extensive hospital stay. His wife was unable to see him in his final moments because of COVID restrictions. A lot of us front-liners brought it home, she recounted. After my husband died, and me knowing I was the cause of his death, I felt I had to do something and not let his death be in vain. A personal mission What began as a personal mission to educate people about the dangers of the virus has transformed into an all-out effort to vaccinate as many people as she can all to honor her husbands memory. The summer after his death, armed with her grief and a new passion to protect others in her community, Brown began to knock on doors, starting with her next-door neighbors. Then, to families a few streets over from her house. She told them about her experience with the virus and how to protect themselves as cases began to soar. It was full blown after May," she said. It was wildfire. As a Black woman in the medical field, Brown saw how the coronavirus disproportionately affected her community. She knew that many of her neighbors considered the virus a hoax, or didn't trust the medical establishment, and so stayed home with locked doors after they became infected. There was a lot of fear, she said. Thats why education to me was so important. In the meantime, determined to help other families find closure when facing the death of a loved one, Brown quit her job at the psychiatric hospital and joined the team at Canon Hospice. Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up When the vaccine became available, Brown learned from the elderly people she was caring for that they had problems registering for the injection, lacked basic information from inadequate internet access, required transportation or were simply afraid of getting the vaccine. She also saw that the vaccination numbers in rural and impoverished areas were low. +15 In rural Louisiana, officials look for answers to improve lagging vaccination rates Franklin, a city of roughly 7,000 on the banks of Bayou Teche, employs about nine firefighters, and Chief Chuck Bourgeois said the nature of t I said, My god, I have to do something, she recalled. "Just because its a poor community doesnt mean these people dont want to live. Give them a fighting chance. Brown again returned to her door-to-door beat, helping elderly people register for the vaccine and then driving them to their appointments though she longed to be able to administer the vaccine herself. Shot caller Browns efforts soon garnered national media attention, alerting local leaders to her work. East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome invited Brown to join her Vaccine Equity Taskforce. And when Brown applied to become a vaccine vendor to administer the shots herself, Broome contacted the Louisiana Department of Health to expedite her application. +7 With Black vaccination rates lagging, Louisiana churches become inoculation hubs Nearly a year after the first COVID-19 case was discovered in Louisiana, signs of pandemic were still omnipresent at Mount Pilgrim Baptist Chu Together with Bordelons Super-Save Pharmacy on Plank Road that has served the north Baton Rouge community for decades, Brown helped vaccinate almost 1,000 people since March. She organized mass vaccination events, particularly serving Scotlandville and surrounding areas. While other members of the Covid Crusader team she formed help at the pharmacy or with vaccination events, Brown and another employee at Canon Hospice, Missy Hasting, continue to drive around finding those who cant otherwise make it to these events, such as the elderly, people without transportation and the bed-bound. Both women have stories about the virus in their own lives and how they fared with the vaccine. Those personal accounts have proved critical in convincing skeptics to get the jab. In the Black community theres kind of a fear of medicine and science, so we felt like it was very important for people to see us as medical professionals who look like them, Hasting explained. "We can both give personal testimony about what we went through in dealing with the vaccine its nothing compared to the actual virus. While they have made considerable progress, Brown said two events have forced her to redouble her efforts: the Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause, which frightened more people about getting the shot, and the state lifting its mask mandate, which Brown said has led some people to act as though the pandemic is over and they are invincible. You have too many big holidays coming up and we do not need a superspreader again, Brown said. We should not let down our guard. We still should keep those safety features in place. Its not out of that superspreader zone just yet. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landrys newly disclosed role as a paid board member for his top political allys oil services company is raising questions about whether Landry is following a state law that instructs the attorney general to devote his full time to the Attorney Generals office and bars him from doing any outside legal work. Landry reported the board membership for the first time on his 2020 financial disclosure, filed this month with the Louisiana Ethics Board. The attorney general reported making between $50,000 and $100,000 last year as an independent board member for Harvey Gulf LLC, which is run by board chairman and CEO, Shane Guidry. The arrangement is unusual in many respects: Guidry is a major donor to Landry, who has also hired Guidry to serve as a special agent/investigator for the Attorney Generals office. No other current statewide elected official reported serving on the board of a private firm. +4 Jeff Landry hired political ally Shane Guidry, now reports $50K+ as board member for his company The close relationship between Attorney General Jeff Landry and his top political ally Shane Guidry recently added a new layer: Landry took a Landrys biography on the Harvey Gulf website says he helps the company comply with all applicable laws and regulations, while Guidry explained in a recent interview that Landry advises Harvey Gulf to ensure the company doesnt run afoul of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. I had a vacancy to sit on that seat and I couldn't think of a better person than my good friend Jeff Landry who knows those laws quite well, Guidry said. But in Louisiana, the attorney general is bound by a state statute that says he cannot practice law outside of his office, and that he must devote his full time to being attorney general. The attorney general shall not engage in the private practice of law during his term of office, but shall devote his full time to the duties of the office of the attorney general, the state statute reads, in its entirety. The attorney general is also subject to state ethics laws that say that public servants have to be judicious about receiving payments and gifts other than their state salaries. Landrys paid position on the Harvey Gulf board may violate those rules, according to several experts. Guidry said Landry spends a few hours a month on his work for the Harvey Gulf board, one of several outside income sources the attorney general claims. Landry also claims full ownership of two staffing firms. He has not answered detailed questions about how much of his time is occupied by running those firms. Its difficult to ascertain from a review of public records how much time Landry spends on official duties versus outside ventures. His public calendars are often empty, with the exception of media appearances, often on right-wing channels, including One America News Network and Newsmax. For example, his calendars over a three-month period late last year showed 27 media appearances, compared to 23 meetings or conference calls with his staff members. The majority were weekly conference calls with his communications team. A request for Landrys swipe card records of coming and going from his office only turned up five records, though his spokesman said his staff normally waves him into the office. +2 Whistleblower in Attorney General Jeff Landry's office comes forward, alleges more misconduct Assistant Attorney General Matthew Derbes has resigned from Attorney General Jeff Landry's office after he said that Landry has targeted him f Landrys email log likewise yields little insight into his work as AG. For instance, when the newspaper requested all messages between Landry and five of his top aides for a week in July, the office produced only five emails, all general messages broadcast to or received by a wide audience. Officials said they were withholding another 22 messages because they were either work product or confidential intra-agency correspondence. A request for a second week of emails produced similar results. The office shot down a request for a years worth of messages as too burdensome. Landry did not answer detailed questions sent to his spokesman for this story. Guidry did not return calls for this story. Former Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, who lost a bruising reelection campaign to Landry in 2015, says Landrys membership on the Harvey Gulf board appears improper. Caldwell said that attorney generals should not practice law beyond their office, particularly if they are peddling their title as attorney general to tout their credibility as a lawyer. I would never have done that; its a pretty clear conflict of interest, Caldwell said. 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 When Landry took office in 2016, he followed through with a vow to clean up the "appearance of corruption in his office by getting rid of contracts that Caldwell doled out to private attorneys, many of them campaign donors. Landry said then that even if the contracts did not violate the state Ethics Code, he wanted to go a step further because we believe its improper and creates a bad perception. But if the appearance of impropriety is important to Landry, he should nix his Harvey Gulf board membership and give back any money hes gotten from it, said Rafael Goyeneche, president of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, a nonprofit criminal justice watchdog. At the very least, youre looking at potentially an ethics violation, Goyeneche said. At the very least, I think Landry, out of an abundance of caution to prevent even the appearance of impropriety should pay back any income or compensation he received from Harvey Gulf and apologize. He also ought to self-report it to the Ethics Administration. If he doesnt have an opinion, he needs to get it now. Caldwell agreed that Landry should have sought an ethics opinion before taking a seat on the Harvey Gulf board, and that his board membership should be very carefully monitored. Landry has not answered questions about whether he sought Ethics Board guidance on the board membership. But the board typically posts advisory opinions that people have sought on various topics, and none has been issued to Landry on the subject. Guidry told the newspaper that Landry had called an ethics lawyer in 2019 before taking the position, but he did not remember who it was. Pat Magee aide to Jeff Landry resigns amid second sexual harassment complaint Pat Magee, a top aide to Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, resigned Thursday as a second sexual harassment complaint against him came to While Landry continues to derive income from his work outside of the office, he also put an end to that practice for attorneys who work under him, in 2016. Caldwell had allowed it, as long as the work didnt present a conflict. Landry said then that his employees could perform outside legal work in the future only if they were finishing a case that they had already taken on. But that was purely a policy change, rather than the state statute that bars outside work by the AG himself. That statute says you cant practice law and you have to devote your full-time duties to being attorney general, Goyeneche said. And according to Shane Guidry, hes practicing law, giving him legal advice. And even if Shane is misinterpreting that, to serve on that board, he has to work a couple of hours a month. That means hes not devoting his full-time efforts to being attorney general. Landry draws a salary of $110,000 as attorney general. That means his Harvey Gulf gig could pay nearly as much as his job as the states top law enforcement officer. Exclusive: Jeff Landry-owned firm imported workers with the help of a felon who broke immigration laws Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, who has railed against loose borders and lax immigration policies during his four years as the states Landry also reported earnings topping $200,000 apiece from his staffing companies, UST Environmental Services and Evergreen Contractors. But while Landrys disclosure made clear that he was working for the money he receives from the Attorney Generals Office and from Harvey Gulf, he described his other earnings as dividends. The law can be vague on what constitutes practicing law. But a 2018 opinion from Landrys office to the Lafourche Parish president advised him that state statute says practicing law includes advising or counseling another as to secular law if done for consideration, reward, or pecuniary benefit, directly or indirectly, in the present or future. Elizabeth Carter, a professor at LSUs Paul M. Hebert Law Center, who advises attorneys on ethics issues, said its pretty clear-cut. Louisiana law prohibits the Attorney General from engaging in the private practice of law and requires him to devote his full time to serving the state as Attorney General, she said. Carter, who stressed that she was not speaking on behalf of LSU, added: Mr. Landrys financial disclosure and your previous reporting indicate that he is paid more than $50,000 a year to provide advice relating to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, she added. If Mr. Guidrys statements in your previous reporting accurately describe Mr. Landrys role, it certainly appears that Mr. Landrys position as a board member violates the spirit of Louisiana Revised Statute 49:256. Landry has sought to reassure the public that his work at Harvey Gulf is kosher. His biography on the companys website says he participates on the Harvey Gulf Board purely in a personal capacity and outside his work and efforts on behalf of the State of Louisiana. In keeping with the highest ethical and moral standards, Landrys Board service is separate and apart from his official duties. Caldwell disputes that such independence is possible. Thats ridiculous for anybody to even sit on a board as an attorney general of that type it is very, very problematic and is probably unethical for that to occur, Caldwell said. Theres too much skewed influence to sit on any kind of board like that in a representative capacity. The Louisiana House last week voted 96-0 to ask state highway leaders if they could craft a short-term fix for daily traffic problems on the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge. The aim is to have two dedicated eastbound lanes leaving the bridge, which now has one eastbound lane, one for the Washington Street exit and lots of backups. "I'm just asking them to give me a reason why we cannot do this," said Rep. Chad Brown, D-Plaquemine and sponsor of the resolution that outlines the request. "We are just asking them to study the feasibility," he told the House. But Shawn Wilson, secretary for the state Department of Transportation and Development, said while a long-term fix is on the way a temporary one makes little sense. "We know exactly what needs to happen," Wilson said. "We are in the process of doing that." +2 First look at possible crossings for new Mississippi River bridge nearly two years away The public will get its first look at 15 possible crossings for a new bridge across the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge in the spring of 2022 Wilson said an ongoing project to widen Interstate 10 from La. Hwy. 415 to the Interstates 10/12 split will include two eastbound lanes off the bridge, and likely be in place by 2024. "That is three years," Brown replied during a House committee hearing on the proposal. "All I get from my constituents every day is we need to do something and it appears we are not," he said. The bridge, which is used by about 100,000 cars and trucks daily, is one of the most problematic traffic spots in a city known for traffic jams seven days a week. New Mississippi River bridge? At least four more years to even begin construction, top officials say The state is at least four years away from starting construction of a new bridge across the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge even if financing Eastbound traffic leaving the bridge causes one of the biggest chokepoints during afternoon rush hour. Motorists on the inside lane leaving the bridge find themselves headed for Washington Street, and start wedging their way into the eastbound lane. Any kind of accident on or near the bridge they are common can cause backups that extend for miles. Brown said motorists on La. Hwy. 1 can spend anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes to travel three miles. U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge, said he is sympathetic to Brown's argument. 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 +2 Top on Garret Graves' list for massive federal spending bill? Mississippi River bridge money U. S. Rep. Garret Graves said money to help build a new bridge across the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge will be his top priority in any mas "It is a conversation we have had on and off for a few years," Graves said of his exchanges with Wilson on the topic. Graves also said the opening of a new exit off I-110 South, Terrace Avenue, was touted as a way to lessen the need for the Washington Street exit. The congressman played a key role in landing the $8.8 million in federal dollars for the work. The Terrace exit allows motorists to get to Washington Street without having to cross three lanes of traffic, including cars and trucks leaving the bridge. "I really don't know where the pushback is coming from," Graves said. Brown's proposal House Concurrent Resolution 36 is awaiting action in the Senate Transportation Committee. Push for new Baton Rouge bridge 'a slow process;' tolls could partially finance $1B project Nearing the two-year mark, a state panel trying to find ways to build a new bridge across the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge has little to s It is set to be heard on Tuesday after the full Senate adjourns for the day. Brown said he is not pressing for the Washington Street exit to be closed "even though that is what many people want." Doing so would spark pushback from area residents, and political controversy. Wilson said the state cannot simply eliminate an exit on a coast-to-coast interstate. He also said state officials have accelerated work near the bridge. "We will actually deliver on what Rep. Brown has proposed," Wilson said. "This project is well on its way to success. "It is going to be a dynamic, award-winning design and construction project. It is what I call the Big Dig of the South only we are not digging." Trying to come up with a short-term fix, he said, "would deviate from the overall plan." Wilson said he intends to provide an update for Baton Rouge area lawmakers after the Legislature adjourns the regular annual session on June 10. Brown's resolution asks DOTD officials to study the issue, then provide a report to the Legislature by Feb. 1, 2022. "All I am doing is asking the department to come up with a design if they can or tell us why it is not feasible," Brown said. If theres one thing most Louisianans agree on, it is this: the value and necessity of restoring and protecting our coast. The Concordia Aids association (Concordia Antisida), one of the most renowned charities in Marbella, has closed after almost three decades of work, due to lack of funding. Established in 1994, the association attended the needs of people affected by HIV who required specialised services. During an era in which persons diagnosed with this virus suffered not only its consequences but also stigmatisation and social rejection, this philanthropic project provided essential care to patients and their relatives, such as by opening a day centre in San Pedro Alcantara in April 1997. The association had been on the brink of collapse for some time. Although it organised different fundraisers every year, it struggled economically, prompting the provincial authority to donate 100,000 euros in January 2019 to prevent its closure. The majority of our financing has always been private, explained Princess Marie-Louise of Prussia, who was the associations president from its inception until its final day. Due to the economic crisis that has been affecting our country for various years, and on the top of that the one provoked by the pandemic, we no longer have the funds to continue supporting people with HIV or those without homes or the families in need in Marbella and San Pedro who made use of our facilities, she said, adding that the more than 100 beneficiaries in the area and their families were going to suffer due to lack of support. After the closure of the non-governmental organisation was announced at a meeting 27 May, the town hall's delegate for social rights in San Pedro, Begona Rueda, regretted the news and said that those who previously made use of the associations services could count on economic support from the council. We worked a lot together, said Rueda, though conceded that it would be impossible for the council to carry out the great support work carried out by Concordia. Nonetheless, she stated that people with HIV/Aids would continue to be assisted by the medical team and nurses in the addiction centre and added that there are prevention talks in schools given by the council. If anything added glamour to the work of the Aids association it was their traditional summer galas. The discrete Princess Marie-Louise of Prussia was always at the head of them, attending to the details, together with her husband, Count Rudy. Among the invitees were dukes or marquises and familiar faces from the jet-set Marbella scene, such as Gunilla von Bismarck and her ex-husband, Luis Ortiz. The former couple Philippe and Nina Junot, Sophie de Hasburgo, princes of Yugoslavia, Hubertus de Hohenlohe and other members of European nobility also attended the parties, in addition to actors such as Dolph Lungren, dancers such as Joaquin Cortes and designers such as Javier Larrainzar. With Concordia closed, the era in which Marbella summers set the pace of high society also comes to an end. Letters: The staggering fraud of the 2020 election is covered up by Democrats, media Corporate history is littered with the remains of executives who have been forced out on the back of profit downgrades. So you have to wonder whether Nuixs chief executive and chief financial officer can survive the companys second one in six weeks. Whether Nuix boss Rod Vawdrey or its head of finance Stephen Doyle deserve to go becomes almost academic. A series of snafus, governance problems, a bit of bad luck and an overhyped listing has created a toxic cocktail for the company which has seen its share price fall by 75 per cent from its high in January. It needs a circuit breaker - and a purge of the most senior executives might be the boards most effective arsenal. Nuix CEO Rod Vawdrey issues a fresh revenue downgrade. Credit:Ben Rushton Last weeks attempt by Nuix to clean up its image by ditching its ties with controversial former chairman Tony Castagna was way too little, way too late. It did so in the days following confirmation by the Federal Police that Castagna was being investigated in relation to possible breaches of the Corporations Act. Data forensics outfit Nuixs board is under pressure to put its senior management on notice after the company posted a second successive downgrade to its prospectus forecasts since listing in December. The downgrades have now wiped around $3 billion of its market valuation amid growing shareholder acrimony. At least two class action specialist firms are investigating a potential shareholder lawsuit over the botched listing which priced the stock at $5.31. A Nuix spokesman declined to comment when asked by the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age if they still had confidence in chief executive Rod Vawdrey and chief financial officer Stephen Doyle. Nuix CEO Rod Vawdrey issues a fresh revenue downgrade. Credit:Ben Rushton However, Cyan Asset Managements Dean Fergie, who decided not to invest in Nuix due to concerns about the companys opaque business model, said some heads had to roll. A lacklustre session took the Australian sharemarket further away from record highs even as commodities prices improved and the Reserve Bank repeated its intention to keep ultra-accommodative policy settings in place. The ASX 200 shed another 0.3 per cent on Tuesday to close at 7142.6. The market improved from a session low of 7117.5 after lunch and at one point was flat as energy firms chased an oil price jump, and investors sifted through an encouraging dump of economic data. The ASX 200 fell another 0.3 per cent on Tuesday. Credit:Louise Kennerley Iron ore miners BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals also offered resistance throughout the day, but in the end were offset by losses for the major banks and biotech CSL. Energy firms rose by a collective 1.3 per cent after the OPEC+ alliance forecast a tightening global oil market ahead of a production policy meeting. Brent crude prices reached $US70 per barrel during the day for the first time in two weeks. Surprisingly strong GDP partials triggered a string of upgrades ahead of Wednesdays national accounts print, while better than expected building approvals data and soaring house prices added to a narrative of burgeoning economic strength. That said, market watchers remain wary that improving conditions will make the Reserve Bank reassess support measures that have been very kind to equities markets. The RBA kept the cash rate at a record low 0.1 per cent on Tuesday and made no change to its yield curve control or quantitative easing programs. The benchmark index initially improved to flat on the policy status quo, but again lost ground late in the day. Betashares ETFs senior economist David Bassanese said a lack of excitement on Tuesday was likely because of uncertainty over Melbournes ongoing coronavirus lockdown, though there also remained concerns that the RBA will begin to remove support programs. Basically were all waiting to see what they do next month. Most economists expect theyre going to extend their stimulus... but given the strength of the economy its certainly not a done deal that theyre going to do that, Mr Bassanese said. In a way the very strong data were seeing, the strong house prices, its very good news, but it could also increase the chances well see the RBA start winding back some of those support measures. Tribeca Alpha Plus portfolio manager Jun Bei Liu said there was perhaps a bit of fatigue in the market after a strong performance in May. The index closed at a fresh record high on Friday and poked above 7200 for the first time in history on Monday before cooling off. Its the last month before the end of the financial year so perhaps were seeing a bit of fatigue, a bit of profit taking, a few people adjusting their positions, Ms Liu said. That said, the fundamentals are still strong, and you only have to look at todays data and the outlook for corporate earnings. It bodes well for the second half of the year. There was little offshore direction on Tuesday with Wall Street closed for Memorial Day and Londons stock exchange closed for a bank holiday. A former Bandidos bikie has been charged after police allegedly uncovered a clandestine drug lab, weapons, jetskis and two classic cars during raids at a home and storage sheds in Sydneys west. Jared Treloar, 39, was arrested after officers executed a search warrant at a house at Werrington Downs on Thursday morning, allegedly finding more than $34,000 cash, a large number of anabolic steroids, an expandable baton, and a slingshot. Police found allegedly found a clandestine laboratory concealed in storage sheds in Sydneys west. Credit:NSW Police The man who police say is a former Bandidos bikie member was refused bail and appeared at Penrith Local Court the same day. Later that day, police searched three storage sheds at St Marys, allegedly locating about $300,000 worth of the prescription drug Xanax. A man who was thrown out of a four-wheel drive after a vehicle rollover at Bribie Island has died. Police believe the driver lost control of the Toyota Hilux at Ocean Beach, Woorim, about 4.30pm on Sunday. Police were investigating. The passenger, an 18-year-old Burpengary man, was thrown from the vehicle. He died at the scene. The search for surf ski rider Jordan Kelly has entered its fourth day, after he went missing in the water off North Stradbroke. Mr Kelly, 26, was skiing with friend Jack McDonald, 28, at South Passage Bar on Saturday when they began having difficulty staying on their surf skis. Jordan Kelly has gone missing off North Stradbroke after surf skiing with a friend. Credit:Internet Mr McDonalds surf ski began taking on water and as a result, they both clung on to Mr Kellys ski until 8.30pm when Mr Kelly drifted away. Mr McDonald, who was suffering from mild hypothermia, made it to land alone at Amity Point. National Police officers have arrested two women - a doctor and her receptionist at a private medical clinic in Malaga province - for allegedly issuing fake negative PCR tests results. It is claimed that the receptionist would find clients, at 200 a time, who needed a negative PCR certificate to allow them to travel to other countries more freely and circumvent some of the worldwide coronavirus movement restrictions. The police verified that the holders of the fake documents had not given any samples at any time and, after collating all the printed and digital evidence, officers raided the private clinic and arrested the two women. The pair are both accused of falsifying documents. An increasing number of Victorias mass vaccination centres are offering Pfizer shots for people aged in their 40s who walk in off the street, as thousands rush to immunisation hubs for protection against the COVID-19 outbreak. The state government has insisted its coronavirus vaccine hotline is improving following a widespread meltdown of the booking system last week as it expanded eligibility for the vaccine at short notice to people in their 40s, causing confusion and delays. People queue to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton on Monday. Credit:Eddie Jim However, late on Monday afternoon some calls to the hotline were still not reaching operators, and callers were again being hit with a busy signal before being hung up on. The push to speed up the vaccine rollout by accepting walk-ins for Pfizer without appointments came as acting Premier James Merlino warned Victorias COVID-19 crisis may well get worse before it gets better, with 11 new locally acquired cases confirmed on Monday. Victoria and the Commonwealth have reactivated their joint Victorian Aged Care Response Centre to co-ordinate the crisis response and address weak spots in the vaccine roll-out. Professor Wallace told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald that although the government had not used laws passed at the start of the pandemic to mandate vaccinations across healthcare and nursing home staff, healthcare services under their own COVID-19 plans could prevent anyone who had not been vaccinated from having direct contact with patients and residents. Essentially what the hospitals do is take them out of that environment, Professor Wallace said. He said more than 90 per cent of Victorian public sector health and aged care workers were vaccinated against COVID-19. Stephen Parnis, an emergency medicine physician and former Victorian president of the Australian Medical Association, backed the hardline stance. If you are a health worker and you refuse or are unable to be vaccinated, I dont think you can work facing patients, he said. The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee recommended in January that COVID-19 vaccinations be strongly encouraged among aged care staff but not mandatory. At the time of the advice, evidence about the effectiveness of the vaccines in preventing transmission of the virus was still emerging. Mr Hunt said he had asked the committee to review precisely that question and provide fresh advice to national cabinet. The pandemic has exposed the fault lines in Australias residential care system, which is regulated by the federal government and predominantly provided by private operators. Victoria provides more public sector aged care than any other state, with about 5700 beds. Professor Wallace said vaccination rates were about 90 per cent in these homes but he had no visibility about vaccination rates of staff in private nursing homes, which provide 85 per cent of beds. In an attempt to fill in the gaps, the federal government is considering asking aged care workers to self-report whether they have been given a vaccination. Loading NSW Health Services Union secretary Gerard Hayes said the record-keeping of vaccination rates across aged care staff was haphazard. We know we arent where we want to be but we dont know where we are, he said. In Victoria, Health Workers Union secretary Diana Asmar said that without reliable vaccination data, aged care was flying blind. Mr Hunt said about 85 per cent of aged care residents across the country have chosen to be vaccinated. Every day, were pushing to make sure that as many people are vaccinated as possible, he said. Labors federal aged care services spokeswoman Clare ONeil said that before the government decides to make vaccines mandatory for aged care workers, it has to have a clear plan for vaccinating them. What everyone wants to see is clear targets put in place for this crucial area of our workforce, she said on ABCs Afternoon Briefing on Monday. What is the point of vaccinating hundreds of thousands of aged care residents when the people who are coming in and out of the facilities every day have not been vaccinated? The Andrews government in March last year passed a mandatory vaccination law for health and aged care workers. Although the legislation was drafted with influenza in mind, former health minister Jenny Mikakos said that once a COVID-19 vaccine was available, it would be added to the schedule of mandatory jabs. Loading Mr Wallace confirmed that, despite the laws being in place for 14 months, the government had not made use of them for either flu or COVID-19 vaccinations. The Victorian government has also chosen not to use the sweeping emergency powers of the Chief Health Officer to direct aged care staff in public and private nursing homes to be vaccinated for COVID-19. On May 27, the day the lockdown was announced, acting Chief Health Officer Allen Cheng reissued directions for all staff in care facilities but did not stipulate a need for vaccinations. Health Minister Martin Foley said the CHOs exercise of emergency powers, where possible, needed to reflect nationally consistent policies. With previous variants, we are more used to transmission really occurring in the home, in the workplace or where people know each other [and are] really having a lot of contact, or those big social settings, said Mr Weimar. Because of these highly contagious individuals, Mr Weimar especially urged anyone who visited the following exposures in particular to get tested as soon as possible. A general view of Bay Street in Port Melbourne, one of several shopping strips and centres flagged by health authorities. Credit:Getty Images Craigieburn Central Bay Street in Port Melbourne Clarendon Street in South Melbourne Pacific Epping, (also known as the Epping Plaza) Epping North Shopping Centre Broadway shopping strip in Reservoir Were really keen to see people come forward who have been to some of these busier shopping centres where we have seen a number of positive cases move around a number of times, Mr Weimar said. Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton flagged an additional eight exposure site locations of concern in an email update on Tuesday afternoon. Graham Streets, Port Melbourne South Melbourne Market, South Melbourne High St, Epping Station St, Lalor Footscray Market Dandenong Market Sanctuary Lakes Shopping Centre and Stockland Point Cook A mystery case of coronavirus that emerged in a Melbourne aged care worker on the weekend has now been genomically linked to the South Australian hotel quarantine outbreak. Health Minister Martin Foley said the Arcare Maidstone Aged Care case had been linked to the South Australian case that leaked out of hotel quarantine and seeded Victorias most recent outbreak. The genomic sequencing has confirmed that that case is directly linked to the South Australian hotel outbreak, Mr Foley said. That is at least confirming in our mind that this is over one related cluster, from the South Australian hotel. At the last count on Monday, there were four cases connected with aged care; two staff members, one resident and one son of a staff member. Several homes were forced to close, as aged care staff had again been allowed to work across multiple sites. Loading The state government announced on Tuesday that all aged care and disability workers will be able to jump the queue to access a COVID-19 jab at all Victorian vaccination centres. None of the new community cases are connected to aged care. Several homes were forced to close, as aged care staff had again been allowed to work across multiple sites. Mr Foley said all staff and residents at Blue Cross Sunshine aged care had tested negative. He said some aged care facilities remain under strict infection and prevention measures. The Health Departments official tally of new cases for the past day is nine because it contains six cases that the government reported on Monday, as those results came back after midnight yesterday. There are now more than 340 exposure sites listed by health authorities and the additions are increasingly a list of places people are permitted to go during lockdown: supermarkets and grocery stores. There are several sites at Brimbank Shopping Centre and some in South Melbourne, including at the South Melbourne Market. A statement from the Chief Health Officer, released on Monday evening, said there was a continued focus on small community grocery stores across Melbournes suburbs. Victorian authorised officers and Australian Defence Force personnel are carrying out the doorknocking checks. Those caught breaching the order to isolate can be fined for not staying home but only after a second breach, according to the government guidelines. A fine of $4957 can be issued to a person found to have breached the requirement to isolate or quarantine for a second or subsequent time, the Victorian governments COVID-19 website reads. Late on Tuesday, West Australian health authorities revealed COVID-19 had spread within one of the states quarantine hotels. WAs Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson said genomic sequencing had shown a positive case from May 23, a man who had come from Colombia, was linked to a second man staying in a neighbouring room at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Perth, who tested positive on May 31. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Just hours after being born this month a baby boy became a statistic; another Aboriginal child taken into state care. His mother, 23-year-old Mila*, says her son was removed by child protection services just after he was born at Perths largest public hospital. The family argue it never should have happened. Aboriginal families say the system is hard to navigate and not culturally appropriate. Credit:Michael Clayton-Jones It is understood the state government worried Mila was unfit to look after the new baby, given her older child was already in care. Despite resolving the health and safety issues that resulted in her first child being removed, Mila did not regularly engage with the case worker the government had assigned her during her second pregnancy, resulting in Mila being regarded as non-compliant. Mila said she could have been a fit mother; the department just didnt know it. Advocates argue Milas case exposes a pernicious pressure point in the system the way the states Department of Communities, which is responsible for both child protection and housing, engages with Aboriginal people. Advertisement While the department is frustrated by individuals who refuse to engage, Aboriginal clients and advocates say many of the departments policies are not culturally appropriate. Without workable systems, Aboriginal families are being reprimanded more regularly than non-Indigenous families which can leave them homeless, separated from their children, or both. Where public housing and child protection policies intersect is a key example, according to people that work in this space. Links between housing and child removal The vacancy rate in Perths private rental market is at its lowest in 40 years, rental prices are rising and, as a result, the line for public housing is growing. There were 16,660 applications on the public housing waitlist at the end of April. The state government says these people face an average wait time of 100 weeks, or almost two years, for a property. After a COVID-19-related moratorium on evictions prevented much of the usual turnover in properties in 2020, housing advocates say the state government has become tougher on evictions to free up homes and decrease the number of people on the highly scrutinised waitlist. Jennifer Kaeshagen founded the First Nations Homelessness Project to keep Aboriginal children in Perth out of state care by preventing evictions. The concept is simple and effective - its project team work with tenants to clean and repair properties ahead of inspection. Advertisement It has worked with 344 households containing about 1000 children, since 2017, preventing all but 11 of those cases from eviction. Indisputably, public housing evictions lead to children being removed from their families, she said. Children are removed from abusive or neglectful parents, but they may also be removed if parents cant provide an adequate home. Ms Kaeshagen said the department had been exerting more pressure on families and was less willing to negotiate alternative supported outcomes since the moratorium on evictions was lifted at the end of March. Recently in dialogue with a housing official while advocating for a family who were facing eviction I was told, even after one of the family members attempted suicide after receiving the termination notice, with the waitlist as high as it is now, there will be no other outcome here but eviction, she said. The family was ultimately evicted. First Nations Homelessness Project at an eviction prevention busy bee. Founder Jennifer Kaeshagen (far left) and team leader Mona Yarran (fourth from left). Credit:FNHP Advertisement Long-time legal advocate Betsy Buchanan said Aboriginal families were highly vulnerable to losing their children due to public housing issues. She said she believed an eviction generation of Aboriginal children was emerging. A lawyer by training, Ms Buchanan is credited with setting up the first community legal centre in Western Australia in the 1970s and has since worked as an advocate, primarily to prevent Aboriginal people from being evicted from their homes. Its a vicious cycle. You can lose your kids because of an issue with your house and then getting your kids back without a house is close to impossible, Ms Buchanan said. In Milas case, the department informed her of their intention to take her son into care at the same time as she was faced with eviction from her public housing unit for a $3000 debt for damage to the property caused by her violent ex-partner and three strikes for behavioural complaints. The housing stress contributed to her inability to attend to child protections requests, she said. [My case worker] put stress on me, calling me up and telling me to do this and that when I was pregnant but I didnt get to do it because I was about to give birth, I couldnt get in there and I was stressed about losing my house, she said. While Mila had suspicions the actions by the housing and child protection units of the department were linked, it is understood her housing situation was not a motivator for child protections decision. Advertisement After WAtoday asked questions about the housing matters, the department said it had reassessed the situation and was no longer pursuing an eviction. Department of Communities deputy director general Rachael Green said the department offered support to help people access and retain housing. Where a tenant is at risk of eviction, department housing officers will increase their contact with the client and link them with relevant support services to help address the issues impacting their tenancy, Ms Green said. Loading In most cases, where engagement occurs, clients can remedy their termination notice. Calls for more appropriate approaches In April, the University of Western Australia released research on Aboriginal homelessness in WA. It found Aboriginal people waited an average 308 days for housing after receiving a priority listing. Advertisement The Vice Chancellors remuneration, which nears the $1 million mark, edged above seven figures in 2020 due to annual leave accruals. Despite being part of a senior executive pay freeze, she was the highest paid VC in the state, according to each public universitys 2020 annual report. Murdoch University is the smallest public university with 17,335 full-time students, while Curtin University is the biggest with 59,222 students, yet its interim vice chancellor went from a maximum of $990,000 to $580,000 during COVID-19. How WA universities pay packets compare to other WA chiefs Murdoch: VC $1 million, revenue $392 million ECU: VC $900,000, revenue $480 million Curtin: interim VC $570,000, revenue $903 million UWA: interim VC* $700,000, revenue $993 million Woodside CEO $2.74 million, revenue $3.6 billion Fortescue Metals Group CEO $1.85 million, revenue $16.5 billion Wesfarmers CEO $1.39 million, revenue $30.8 billion WA Premier $355,681, state revenue $34.1 billion Australian Prime Minister remuneration $549,250, national revenue $472.4 billion *UWAs new vice chancellor began in July 2020 and was not factored in the annual report. Murdoch had the worst debt of WAs four public universities, with a $6.3 million operating deficit in part due to $16 million spent on redundancies and severances, down from $24.3 million profit last year. It had already set about cutting $30 million in operational costs and a further $25 million in jobs. Consequently, academics and teaching staff have had to weather cuts to lectures and their jobs being put at stake, while those whose careers were pinned to either the humanities or science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) found themselves demoted from academic researchers to teaching-only roles. For many, who wish to remain anonymous due to the fear instilled over whistleblowing, the spending was outrageous. What arrogance, what conceit! said one frustrated academic. They said staff were still struggling to overcome the loss of more than 100 colleagues, with classes severely understaffed and no solutions in sight for covering the load in the second semester. They said while students worked to overcome reduced academic support, and while even minor requests for funding for the core business of teaching and research were dismissed, Chancellor Gary Smith and VC Leinonen were appearing to parade their new logo. Others described it as meaningless, wasteful and really bizarre, with morale being so low that most people, including students, preferred to stay away from campus. Loading Circling the drain is about it, they said. The National Tertiary Education Union of WA said staff had concerns that power at the university was being increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few highly-paid executives and it would be irreversible. Its highly unusual and highly discourteous to the incoming VC for the outgoing VC to embark on the number of structural changes that have already happened, and continue to be rolled out, on the eve of her departure, said Catherine Moore, secretary for NTEU WA. Changing roles to higher levels (PVC to DVC) seems unnecessary during a time when the university is crying COVID-poor. And yet they have found $1.8 million for re-branding. Murdoch University new logo. According to staff calculations the cost of the VC, two new DVCs and a new logo is the equivalent of a large university department, complete with professors, senior lecturers, academic staff and laboratory equipment. The new logo was labelled an embarrassment since its coined future focus was at odds with the cancellation of the subjects in chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, biology, engineering, marine science, theatre, drama, religious and Indigenous studies. To what future are we looking? An inquiry should be held as the students of today are being sold short in the provision of their education, and the nation is being robbed of its future, they said. It is no longer good enough for state and federal government ministers to claim that universities are autonomous bodies. Universities are funded by public money, public money that is being wasted on vanity projects while neglecting the important activities of a university. Action needs to be taken now. Professor Leinonen has continually denied WAtodays repeated request for an interview, but in a press release about the logo, she claimed the university, staff and students have thrived. We are now well positioned to build on this momentum, and we are developing a portfolio of academies that will attract more and new students to prepare them for new jobs for the future, she said. Loading Chancellor Smith too backed the spend on the logo, saying: It represents opening doors to an education for more people, teaching beyond the classroom walls and lighting the fire of curiosity in our students. He has continually voiced his support for Professor Leinonen, her agenda and the universitys senior executive team that drove it. It has been by no means an easy year, but their actions continue to position the university to remain watchful for new opportunities that will emerge as we carefully plan for the threat of COVID-19 to subside, he said in the annual report. As Victoria lives through day three of a full lockdown that its been promised will last a week, blame shifting over who is responsible for the latest COVID outbreak and who should pick up the bill has reached fever pitch. The reality is complicated. The first known case picked up the virus in hotel quarantine in South Australia. But there are serious questions over the vaccine rollout, the management of aged-care facilities and the Victorian contact tracing capability. Today on Please Explain, The Ages state political editor, Annika Smethurst, joins Tory Maguire to discuss the latest on Victorias snap seven-day circuit-breaker lockdown. Our supporters power our newsrooms and are critical for the sustainability of news coverage. Aged care workers could be forced to get vaccinated against COVID-19 if they want to continue working in the sector, as the federal government scrambles to immunise residents and workers in the face of accusations it has failed to protect older Australians. More than three months into the vaccine rollout, a quarter of Australias aged care facilities are still waiting for second doses, while six homes have still not received any vaccines. The Victorian outbreak grew to 54 active cases on Monday, including two aged care workers and a 99-year-old resident in two different facilities. Health Minister Greg Hunt said the AHPPC has been asked to review its decision to not mandate COVID-19 vaccines for aged care workers. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The federal government promised in February it would vaccinate the vast majority of aged care residents and workers in the first six weeks of the rollout, after 655 aged care residents died from COVID-19 in Victorias deadly second wave last year. But Labor says the federal government has failed to protect the most vulnerable given vaccinations for aged care and residential disability residents were meant to be completed by Easter, and there were no longer vaccine supply issues. Queenstown: Jacinda Ardern has moved to quash speculation of a splintering between her government and Australia over China policy, stressing there is no more important relationship than the trans-Tasman alliance. The New Zealand prime minister faced a barrage of questions while standing alongside Australian counterpart Scott Morrison in Queenstown on Monday about the growing perception her government had drifted from the strong stance of its allies had taken against Beijings growing assertiveness and economic coercion in the region. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in Queenstown on Monday. Credit:Joe Allison/Getty Images The topic of China dominated the face-to-face annual bilateral meeting between the nations two leaders, which took place at the picturesque south island tourist destination on Monday. Ms Ardern said she had not detected any difference in the positions on trade or human rights between herself and Mr Morrison and said New Zealand remained very committed to the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partnership. Christian Porter and the ABC were competing so hard on Monday to claim victory in their defamation fight they forgot to name the clearest winner. Prime Minister Scott Morrison wins from an outcome that keeps the former attorney-general out of the courts on an allegation he raped a woman in January 1988. Prime Minister Scott Morrison (left) wins from an outcome that keeps former attorney-general Christian Porter out of the courts. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen There will be no further defamation action against the ABC that allows Porter to enter the witness box and deny the claims against him under oath. Morrison and the Coalition would have paid the price for a court case that dragged out the scandal and overlapped with the next federal election campaign, especially if the Prime Minister seeks to go to the ballot box in Spring. Asian-Australian members of NSW Labor are warning a return to Maroubra MP Michael Daley as party leader would damage relations with multicultural communities, insisting he does not understand the gravity of comments he made about Asians with PhDs. A group of Asian Australians including Labor councillors, elected party officials and rank-and-file members have signed a joint statement opposing Mr Daleys plans to nominate as party leader. Former NSW Labor leader Michael Daley says he made mistakes but will never repeat them. Credit:James Alcock The statement, co-signed by 18 Labor members, warns that a second Daley leadership will deliver to the community a message that is out of touch with Labors values. Mr Daley confirmed on Sunday he would nominate for party leader, paving the way for a membership ballot against Kogarah MP Chris Minns, who will nominate on Monday. Spain will soon allow international cruise ships to dock in its ports again after they were banned because of the coronavirus control measures. The government has announced in the Official State Gazette (BOE) that as of 7 June passenger ships from other countries will be able to dock in Spanish ports. The measure will allow the reactivation of a sector that has been stagnant since the beginning of the pandemic, fifteen months ago. The decision comes as some Spanish ports, such as Malaga, had already planned to resume cruise ship activity from 15 June but only for itineraries within Spain. The Spanish General Directorate of Merchant Shipping said, The favourable evolution of the pandemic in Europe, where the majority of international cruise passengers with a stopover in Spanish ports come from; the increase in the number of people vaccinated against Covid; and the decrease in the coronavirus incidence rate in the regions make it possible to cancel the ban on international cruises in Spain." The Port of Malaga said it is confident that it will be able to recover international cruise activity by autumn after the interest shown by the main shipping companies in meetings that it has been holding during the enforced break. However, the port authorities pointed out that it takes time to set up the berths for the ships, and reorganise itineraries that normally would be planned two years in advance. Spain will join other countries that have re-established cruise activity for some months, including important competitors such as Italy. Only last week more than sixty associations and companies in the sector demanded that the government lift the ban on international cruises ship docking in Spain. The police association has warned the state government against imposing a ring of steel around Melbourne should it lift coronavirus restrictions from regional Victoria, calling last years road blocks a flawed strategy blighted by loopholes. As authorities ponder their next steps after the states outbreak grew by 11 cases to 51 on Monday, police association secretary Wayne Gatt said it was his strong view that police checkpoints on every main road in and out of Melbourne should not be repeated. Ring-of-steel roadblocks became a fixture on Melbournes perimeter for four months in 2020. Credit:Jason South Instead, Mr Gatt suggested mobile police checks on both freeways and smaller roads as a superior approach that would be like breath testing on steroids, where the looming threat of being caught by a roving police officer would deter those considering breaking the rules. Last years model was not effective, nor was it efficient, Mr Gatt said. Our advice in debriefing that operation to both Victoria Police and the state government has been clear: if in the future government policy required some form of separation to be policed, there are much better ways of doing it that are far less labour intensive and far more effective. West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has hinted that some of the states iron ore-driven surplus windfall would be spent on health as hospitals continue to record high levels of ambulance ramping and staff complain about emergency room pressure. Mr McGowans comments came the same day both Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital called code yellow emergencies, meaning they were stretched beyond capacity. Ambulance ramping hours were up for May. Government revenue for the nine months to March 31 was up more than $3.6 billion thanks to an increase of $2.1 billion in mining royalties, fuelled by higher than expected iron ore prices. The iron ore price has remained well above government estimates but asked whether he expected the operating surplus to be greater than the predicted $3.1 billion by July, Mr McGowan said health spending would impact the final figure. The controversy erupted in March after Strasbourgs Green mayor accepted a request from Sahin for a 2.5 million subsidy out of a total budget of 32 million. While the rest of France bans public funding of new religious buildings, the regions of Alsace, where Strasbourg is located, and Moselle can allow it owing to a separate status dating back to when it was part of Germany. While the mayor said she was merely rubber-stamping a project already approved by her predecessors, it prompted Gerald Darmanin, Macrons tough-talking interior minister, to accuse her of funding an organisation that supports political Islam and had links with the Turkish state. French President Emmanuel Macron, centre, and his wife Brigitte Macron, in red, visit the Great Mosque of Xian during a visit to the Great Mosque of Xian in northwestern China in 2018. Credit:AP Moreover, he said Milli Gorus was guilty of refusing to sign Macrons Charter for the Principles of French Islam, which accepts Islams compatibility with the values of the French republic and gender equality and rejects political Islam and the notion of apostasy. Sahin said the association only declined because its representatives were not consulted and had been presented with a fait accompli, as if we were brigands that must now promise to abide by French laws. He said: We have always abided by French law and our prime enemies are Islamic extremists. Loading Furious at the setback for Macrons ambitions to create an Islam of France, Darmanin seized the funding request as a gift horse, said Fouad Douai, in charge of the upkeep of the nearby grand mosque of Heyritz, which successfully received state funding in 2000. By not signing the charter, Milli Gorus provided him with the perfect opportunity to crack down on them. Meanwhile, the Green mayor made a blunder in good faith by starting her mandate with such a touchy subject while there was an ongoing nationwide row over Islam, he said. It was manna for extremists, with on the one hand Muslim ones able to say, You see, look how they treat us and on the other those who claimed the town hall was funding radical Islam. Darmanin ordered a legal challenge to the planned subsidy, while Gabriel Attal, a government spokesman, even claimed the association, which has chapters around the world including in Australia, had no reason to organise activities or to exist in France. Loading Hopefully this opens everyones eyes and the separatism law will soon be passed, tweeted the interior minister. Approved by MPs in the National Assembly in February, and beefed up in the Senate in April, the bill notably requires all associations to commit to upholding republican values if they accept state subsidies. It cracks down on religious funding from countries such as Turkey, Qatar or Saudi Arabia by obliging associations to declare donations over 10,000 and have their accounts certified. The right-wing senate majority later added bans on face coverings including for parents accompanying children on school outings. However, the centrist Macron camp opposed the move and it will now return to parliament for a final vote. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkeys firebrand president, recently branded the planned law a guillotine of French democracy that was openly in contradiction of human rights, freedom of religion and European values and called for its withdrawal. The Macron camp accused him of meddling in domestic affairs. Sahin has denied any backing or funding from the Erdogan camp. We have not received a single centime from the Turkish state, he said. Samim Akgonul, head of the Turkish studies department at Strasbourg university, said he believed the truth lay somewhere in between. There was no doubt that Milli Gorus was politicised but it was increasingly autonomous and not close to Erdogan - it had backed the Turkish opposition in the last elections - although that could help explain why donations had run dry. The French governments opposition to granting it state aid highlighted a paradox, he added. A French association asking for funding from a French town is arguably proof of Milli Goruss growing autonomy and integration into an Islam of France. If you deny this mosque foreign funding but at the same time say it cant have state funding, what can it do? At the mosque, 25-year-old engineer Omer Turhan, said: I have studied in the UK and its far easier to practise ones faith there in peace. Here, there is growing pressure from the far-right. Prague: A Russian charter plane took home dozens of Russian embassy staff, abruptly ending what Czech officials say was a decades-old practice by Moscow of using a disproportionately huge mission in Prague as a base for its spy activities. The Czechs sent home 123 Russian staff and family members from the embassy on flights on Saturday and Monday (Sunday and Tuesday AEST), on top of 18 staff already branded spies and expelled in April, when Prague accused Moscow of blowing up an arms depot in 2014. Employees of the Russian embassy in Prague and their families arrive to board a Russian government plane at Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague, Czech Republic. Credit:Getty Under a new agreement, Russia and the Czech Republic will each limit the size of the others embassy to just seven diplomats and 25 support staff. Russia has denied a role in the Czech arms depot explosions, in which two people were found dead. The Russian embassy did not respond to emails and phone calls seeking an explanation for why its mission in a country of 10.7 million people had been so big. Van Buren, AR (72956) Today Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 75F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 75F. Winds light and variable. Instant unlimited access to all of our E-Editions and content on thechronicleonline.com. The Chronicle E-Edition Newsletter emailed to you each week, the night before the paper hits the street! This subscription is for NEW or RENEWING online subscribers. (The charge will appear as "Country Media Inc." on your credit card statement) China's insurance companies bet on old-age care communities People's Daily Online) 15:06, May 31, 2021 Over the past few years, China's leading insurance companies, from Taikang and Ping An to New China Life, have ramped up their investment in building communities for the elderly. "At present, 10 insurance institutions have invested in 47 old-age care community projects with a total of more than 84,000 beds," revealed Cao Deyun, executive vice president and secretary-general of the Insurance Asset Management Association of China. An elderly woman enjoys leisure time with a nursing worker at the Tangshan Anxin Medical Pension Manor in Guye District of Tangshan City in north China's Hebei Province, March 24, 2021. (Xinhua/Mu Yu) Cao added that more than 234 billion yuan ($36.64 billion) has been invested by insurance companies in the upstream and downstream medical and health industries of the elderly care service sector through direct and indirect equity investment. The presence of large-sized insurance institutions' investment in the sanatoria industry can be seen beyond first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Taikang Life Insurance Company entered the field of health care in 2007, and just two years later, it was qualified to invest in the pilot old-age care community. At present, the companys elderly care communities, distributed throughout 22 key cities from the core areas of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region, Yangtze River Delta, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, southwest region and central China, are able to accommodate about 55,000 senior citizens. Thus far, seven of these communities have been put into operation with a total of nearly 4,500 elderly residents. In May this year, Ping An Life Insurance unveiled a plan to build its first high-end elderly care community. With the increase in the aging population, insurance will play a vital role in supplementing the country's social security system, explained Yang Zheng, chairman and CEO of Ping An. Following this industry trend, New China Life Insurance also established its own brand in the sanatoria industry, and established elderly communities in China's key cities, explained Li Quan, president of New China Life Insurance. This trend of China's insurance companies betting on old-age care communities can be attributed to the bright prospects of the market, explained Wang Xujin, head of the Insurance Research Center of Beijing Technology and Business University. At the same time, Wang pointed out that as the duration of liability from insurance companies is extended, the insurance funds need to be used for long-term investment, and the silver economy is a golden opportunity for such an investment. The results of the seventh census released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recorded 264.02 million in the group aged 60 and above, up 5.44 percent from 2010 and accounting for 18.70 percent of the countrys total population. Among them, there were 190.64 million people aged 65 and above, or 13.5 percent of the total population. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) A free exhibit featuring World War II propaganda was put together by Texas A&M Anthropology students and is available for viewing in the Forsyth Galleries in the Memorial Student Center as of April 23. RENSSELAER - Mary Ellen Murin, of Rensselaer, formerly of West Oneonta, passed away on Thursday, June 10, 2021. She was 88 years old. Mary Ellen was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. She graduated from Linden High School, Linden, New Jersey in 1950. She attended Trenton State Teachers College i Click the image to the left and log in to get your exclusive reader perks. Its official, Robert Pattinson has been named THE Most Beautiful Man in the World according to brand new scientific research. New scientific reports claim that Twilight star Robert Pattinson is more handsome than Idris Elba, Henry Cavill and even Brad Pitt according to the Golden Ratio of Beauty. Every year reports come forward claiming which celebrities are more attractive than the rest, and they all seem to have some form of scientific backing. Last year, The Daily Mail consulted a facial cosmetic surgeon to use a scientific equation called the Golden Ratio of Beauty Phi to find out who the Most Beautiful Woman in the World is. The results came in, and Gigi Hadid was graced with the title. Now, the focus has been turned onto the men of Hollywood. Dr Julian De Silva has used the same scientific equation to decipher who the Most Beautiful Man in the World is and of course, its Robert Pattinson. Robert got the top rating, meanwhile Henry Cavil came in second, Bradley Cooper in third and Brad Pitt at number four. The Golden Ratio of Beauty Phi was used by artists and architects in the Renaissance period to determine beauty. To use it, the length and width of someones face is measured and the results are divided. The equation, apparently, is based on symmetry. It argues that the closer the ratios of a face or body are to the number 1.618 (Phi), the more beautiful someone is. Its safe to assume that this method of measurement should be taken with a pinch of salt, but we cant argue that Rob Pattinson is up there on our list of most handsome celebs unlike Prince William who was wrongfully crowned as The Sexiest Bald Man earlier this year which we will ACTIVELY dispute. Robert Pattinson is a different story however and we isnt mad about it! The P4 laboratory on the campus of the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, in China's central Hubei Province, on May 27, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) 11 Critical Questions Now That the Lab Leak Theory Is Politically Correct Commentary It only took a year, but the always-plausible theory that the Chinese coronavirus originated with a leak from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) has finally gone to credible from conspiracy among our Ruling Class. What changed? The most remarkable thing about this episode is how little there is in known new evidence to have effectuated this seismic shift, making this the most damning episode for our betters since Russiagate. Weve long known that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from the earliest days of the outbreak had done everything it could to prevent an investigation into the origins of the pandemicstonewalling, silencing, and obfuscatingand then, of course, sought to cynically exploit the pandemic while the world suffered. Weve long known that WIV engaged in research into bat-based coronaviruses, and in dangerous gain-of-function exercises. Weve known since at least five months ago, when the still-Trump-led State Department put out a fact sheet regarding activity at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, that there was evidence several Wuhan researchers became sick in fall 2019, before the first identified outbreak case, with symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and common seasonal illnesses. The primary changes seem to be that prominent scientists and science reporters started challenging the groupthink of their peers, additional reporting further corroborated the plausibility of their arguments in favor of lab leak, and the Biden administration seemed to awaken from its slumber and deference to the CCP-dominated World Health Organization (WHO), calling for a 90-day intelligence community (IC) review into the origins of the pandemiconly after news broke it had quashed the Trump State Department-led probe into a lab leak, just as momentum was picking up behind it. The failure to seriously consider the lab leak theory was particularly epic because it was borne of the dereliction of duties of the political class tasked with defending our national interest, the should-be apolitical scientific community over which it exerts control, which failed to sufficiently test the hypothesis, and that of a media that has readily admitted it refused to do so because the likes of President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Sen. Tom Cotton, among others, said it might be so. An election season might have had something to do with it as well. Making this failure even more outrageous is that in effect, our Ruling Class did the CCPs bidding by obscuring focus from the WIV and Chinas culpability in the spread of the pandemic. Beijing has been doing the same since the earliest days of the pandemic because the more closely the regime is linked to this global disaster, the greater the risk to its hegemonic ambitions. Now that the lab leak theory has been deemed politically correct, here are 11 questions that need to be asked about this entire saga. What else changed in this past month that suddenly made the lab leak theory credible, when theres been a dearth of new evidence as to its viability? President Trump has been out of office for several months, so this is no longer about using what was once a conspiracy theory as a political tool against his administration. Are we really to believe that some prominent people dissented from other prominent people, and thats why the dam finally broke? And why is no one curious about this, and simply chalking it up to the breaking-up of groupthink? Now, we see reports coming out suggesting evidence COVID-19 was actually man-made. Was this evidence previously known? If this really is a case of unbelievable political, scientific, and journalistic malpractice, will any heads roll? They didnt with Russiagate, so Im not optimistic. With the Biden administration ordering a 90-day IC review of the origins of the coronavirus, what exactly would our intelligence operatives and analysts expect to find in the next 90 days that they wouldnt have known already? Shouldnt we assume the smoking guns are already long-past buried? Are we confident we would have the power to unearth the truth, given the threats that would exist to those on the Chinese side who could blow the whistle? Why should Americans have confidence in the ICs visibility into China in the first place, when our spy network there was liquidated during the Obama administration years, and that aside, our leaders have persistently misjudged Chinas capabilities and ambitions historically? What was the Office of the Director of National Intelligence doing putting out a statement about its current view on the origins of the coronavirus pandemic just after the Biden administration called for the 90-day review? Why would it not have kept mum until it conducted its review? Even if there are smoking guns to be found, and even if our IC was capable of finding them, why should Americans have confidence we would get straight reporting on it? The IC was tasked with investigating foreign election interference associated with the 2020 election. When the ICs analytic ombudsman conducted an independent review of its analysis, he found that intelligence officials politicized their work. They treated China and Russia differently. According to the review: Given analytic differences in the way Russia and China analysts examined their targets, China analysts appeared hesitant to assess Chinese actions as undue influence or interference. These analysts appeared reluctant to have their analysis on China brought forward because they tended to disagree with the [Trump] Administrations policies, saying in effect, I dont want our intelligence used to support those policies. Will China be held to a different standard here? And to what extent will the review be impacted by the soft-on-China Biden administration leading it? To what extent was our government culpable in using our tax dollars to fund work at the WIV, including gain-of-function research, and potentially involving Chinese military work, have those ties been fully disclosed, has any related information been covered up, and overall, again, will anyone pay a price for it? What did the Biden administration know and when did it know it about the plausibility of the lab leak theory? Presumably, it had all the information and intelligence the Trump administration did on Jan. 20, so why is there only movement now? What is the whole truth about why the Biden administration quashed the Trump State Department-led inquiry into the lab leak theory? Knowing of the CCPs control over the WHO, why did the Biden administration almost immediately rejoin it, without preconditions, lavishing on it hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars, and let it conduct a so-called investigation into the pandemics origins that was quite obviously going to be a China-orchestrated sham from the jump? Were the Biden administration to assess that the coronavirus leaked from the Wuhan lab, would it punish the CCP for its lying, deception, and the outrageous ways it has sought to exploit this pandemic? Did Joe Biden ever challenge General Secretary Xi Jinping about any of the foregoing? In April 2020, I wrote a piece at American Greatness, in which I dubbed the coronavirus pandemic our Tiananmen Test. The Test was as follows: With the CCP inflicting incalculable costs in blood and treasure through its unique role in spreading the coronavirus, and its related menacing behavior, will we demand reparations, or will we let the regime off scot-free, emboldening it, and encouraging it to act with impunity and still more reckless abandon in its quest for hegemony going forward? In 1989, when presented with the image of Tank Man, we did something even worse than turning our back on him. Our immediate response to the CCPs massacre of democracy protesters was toothless. Ultimately, we proceeded still further to embrace the communist regime, effectively rewarding its villainy by integrating it into the global economic, financial, and geopolitical system. This time, Americansand peoples the world overwere the victims of the CCPs malevolence. We cannot afford to fail this test. We must use every element of national power to hold the CCP to account, or China will be confident it can get away with far worse, and achieve its desire to supplant and dominate America. It will have drawn so much American blood, destroyed so much American treasure, and pushed America worst of all into sacrificing so much of its liberty, and paid no price for it. These are the stakes the free world today faces. Ben Weingarten is a fellow of the Claremont Institute and co-host of the Edmund Burke Foundations The NatCon Squad. He is the author of American Ingrate: Ilhan Omar and the Progressive-Islamist Takeover of the Democratic Party and is currently working on a book on U.S.China policy and its transformation under the Trump administration. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Police in Raleigh said Maria Elizabeth Pena-Echeverria was charged with murder and is being held in the Wake County Detention Center. (Wake County Sheriff's Office) 18-Year-Old Woman Charged After Man Found Fatally Injured in NC Cemetery An 18-year-old woman was charged with murder in connection to the death of a 69-year-old male who was found fatally injured in a North Carolina cemetery, authorities said over the weekend. Police in Raleigh said Maria Elizabeth Pena-Echeverria was charged with murder and is being held in the Wake County Detention Center. Officials told WNCN that they responded to Mt. Olivet Cemetery after receiving a 911 call at around 10 p.m. on Friday. Police arrived and discovered a man who was seriously injured, although they did not say how he was hurt, according to the report. The man, named James Lacy Taylor, was declared dead at a local hospital, WNCN reported. Authorities did not disclose a motive in the case. Campus police at North Carolina State University put out a bulletin about two men and a woman leaving the cemetery on Friday evening, with witnesses saying that the suspects left in an extended cab pick-up truck and an old four-door sedan, WTVD reported. The cemetery is adjacent to Schenck Forest, which is managed by North Carolina State University. Campus Police had put out an alert Friday night saying witnesses saw a woman and two men leaving the scene. Other details about the case are not clear. An investigation into the matter is ongoing. The Associated Press contributed to this report. MAPHALALENI Some chiefs believe the electorate have the power to summon a Member of Parliament if they feel they no longer serve them in the august House. Interestingly, both chiefs are from royal kraals under Maphalaleni Constituency where, Mabulala Maseko is a Member of Parliament (MP). The chiefs claimed that they had sleepless nights since they heard about the call for change by some MPs. The change that these MPs want relates to the appointment of the prime minister (MP). They want the PM to be elected by the people so that he/she could be accountable to them. Chief Mashila Dlamini said as far as he was concerned, chiefs had powers to summon legislators to answer before the electorate as and when the need arose. King This, he said was because elections, which started with nominations, commenced at the royal kraals which were administered by the chiefs on behalf of the King. Whenever the King commissions the Elections and Boundaries Commission to lead elections for MPs, he always makes it clear that he wants people with integrity so that they can form government. I believe that as chiefs, we have powers to summon MPs to the royal kraals if the electorate deem it fit to recall them, Dlamini said. Dlamini said chiefs had a responsibility to ensure that their subjects followed the will of the electorates as opposed to formulating their own ideas when they got to the august House. He was speaking in relation to the call for change by Siphofaneni MP Mduduzi Simelane, Hosea MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Ngwempisi MP Mthandeni Dube. The trio is calling for the amendment of the Constitution, wherein they want the people to have a say in the appointment of PM. The trio wants the prime minister to be elected by the people, starting from the royal kraal to the regional level. The MPs believe that the election of the premier by the people would end the alleged abuse of power in the name of higher authorities. They stated that they did not believe that people were appointed to higher positions to frustrate emaSwati as it happened in the past. Dlamini asked how could MPs who had been elected to form government, which was led by an appointed prime minister call for change. Is that what the electorate from Hosea, Siphofaneni and Ngwempisi sent them to do in Parliament? asked Dlamini. It will be better if what the trio is doing is what their electorate sent them to do, he said. He said Maphalaleni Royal Kraal was ready to take action if they received a complaint about their MP. However, he said the royal kraal was pleased by the constituency team starting from bucopho, indvuna yenkhundla to the MP. He said chiefs had the responsibility to call their subjects to order if they went astray. The Supreme Court of the United States in Washington on May 7, 2019. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) 24 State AGs Urge Supreme Court to Review New Jersey Law That Limits Magazine Capacities A coalition of state attorneys general is urging the Supreme Court to review a court decision that upholds New Jerseys ban on gun magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds. Twenty-four state attorneys general filed a friend of the court brief on May 28, arguing that New Jersey has criminalized citizens for possessing weapons that are commonly used in self-defense, and such a ban is inconsistent with the Second Amendment. The filing was spearheaded by Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich and Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry. The group says that the magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds are permitted in 43 states and are considered standard equipment for many commonly used handguns designed for self-defense. Under the 2018 New Jersey law, it is illegal to produce, transport, sell, or otherwise dispose of magazines with more than a 10-round capacity, which has been characterized as a large-capacity magazine. The law was upheld by the 3rd Circuit last year after a New Jersey gun association and two individuals challenged the ban. The association asked the full court of the 3rd Circuit to hear the case, but the review was denied in an 86 vote. The plaintiffs are now asking the Supreme Court to hear the case. New Jersey lawmakers are operating in total ignorance of our ability to protect ourselves and our families, Brnovich said in a statement. We hope the Supreme Court will hear this case and reverse this misguided attempt to erode our rights. In the brief, the attorneys general also argued that the 3rd Circuits ruling is inconsistent with prior Supreme Court rulings on the Second Amendment. The Third Circuit erroneously applied an interest balancing testan approach this Court already rejectedwhen considering whether New Jerseys ban of the Affected Magazines violates the Second Amendment, the attorneys wrote (pdf). The New Jersey attorney generals office didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. Other states that signed onto the brief include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming. The Biden administration is seeking to further tighten gun restrictions and introduce measures across the country seeking to control the sale and use of guns and firearm parts such as magazines. President Joe Biden has previously declared shootings a public health crisis. The Justice Department (DOJ) on May 7 issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that the department said would modernize the definition of frame or receiver and close a regulatory loophole related to ghost guns. Following a mass shooting in San Jose, California, last week, Biden issued a statement calling on Congress to take immediate action and heed the call of the American people, including the vast majority of gun owners, to help end this epidemic of gun violence in America. New York City firefighters salute in front of a memorial on the side of a firehouse adjacent to One World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial site during ceremonies on the 18th anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York on Sept. 11, 2019. (Craig Ruttle/AP Photo) 9/11 Plus 20: Lessons Not Learned How 19 Islamic terrorists entered the United States with 'relative ease' Commentary When these attacks occur, as they likely will, we will wonder what more we could have done to stop them. That was National Counterterrorism Coordinator Richard Clarke, in a May 29, 2001 memo to National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and her deputy Stephen Hadley. The statement, which warned that hundreds of Americans might be killed, may be found in The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, published in 2004. It is perhaps obvious to state that terrorists cannot plan and carry out attacks in the United States if they are unable to enter the country. That is from the introduction to 9/11 and Terrorist Travel: Staff Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. This document was released separately from Commission report. As the staff report shows, by this time 20 years ago, the al Qaeda team demonstrated the relative ease of obtaining a U.S. visa and gaining admission into the United States. The hijackers began to acquire U.S. visas in April 1999, two years and five months before the attack. Consular officers had no information about fraudulent travel stamps that are associated with al Qaeda, and were not trained in terrorist travel tactics. Three hijackers were known as al Qaeda terrorists in early 2000, but their biographical information was not communicated to border authorities for watch listing at U.S. consulates and the border. The hijackers successfully entered the United States 33 of 34 times, with the first arriving on Jan. 15, 2000, at Los Angeles International Airport. All others entered through airports on the East Coast, including 11 entries through New York area airports and 12 through Florida airports. The terrorists included 14 muscle hijackers, trained to gain entry to the cockpit and subdue passengers. Tourist visas guaranteed them six months of legal stay, more than enough for Sept. 11, 2001. The six-month tourist stays also assured the hijackers of sufficient time to obtain identification to board the planes on 9/11. Fourteen of 15 operatives, and all of the pilots, easily acquired one or multiple forms of U.S. state-issued identification. The staff report charts terrorist operations such as the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993. Terrorist Ramzi Yousef and Ahmad Ajaj traveled under aliases using fraudulent documents American officials failed to discover. The terrorists primary tool for remaining in the United States was immigration fraud, such as the bogus political asylum stories concocted by Ajaj and Yousef, mastermind of the 1993 operation. Others simply overstayed their visas. Those visas were issued by the State Department, which in some cases speeded up the process and approved incomplete applications. The reasons for these visa policies in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Germany have never been adequately explained but as Terrorist Travel notes, with its reputation as a friend of foreigners, State was an easy target. The Immigration and Naturalization Service had little contact with the intelligence community, so information on terrorists failed to reach the Border Patrol, which also lacked access to the terrorist watchlist. More than two years after 9/11, many immigration inspectors had never been interviewed by the FBI or DOJ and many remained unaware that they had admitted a hijacker. Smoke pours from the twin towers of the World Trade Center after they were hit by two hijacked airliners in a terrorist attack in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. (Robert Giroux/Getty Images) Prior to 9/11, the Terrorist Travel report notes, no agency of the U.S. government thought of border security as a tool in the counterterrorism arsenal. Indeed, even after the 9/11 hijackers easily gained admission, border security still is not considered a cornerstone of national security policy. Commission staff believed it must be made one, but it wasnt. For years, Americans were told the nation harbored 11 million illegals, but according to scholars at Yale and MIT, the true number may exceed 22 million, more than the populations of Romania, 19,237,691; Chile, 19,116,201, and Sri Lanka, with 21,214,349 people. Those illegally present are called undocumented. But to remain in the United States requires the use of false documents, immigration fraud, and bogus political asylum storiesthe same tactics deployed by the 9/11 terrorists. The conventional wisdom in Washington is that the preferred destination for refugees, particularly from the Middle East, is the United States, rather than other countries in the region. Likewise, Central Americans are encouraged to come to the United States rather than Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia or even Cuba, which has a population of only 11,236,616. Former President Donald Trump made some effort to tighten the border and deport violent criminal illegals. Those efforts are now being reversed by President Joe Biden, on record that illegals are already Americans. With the border and rule of law effectively canceled, the migrants stream in by the thousands, from countries all over the world. American officials cannot verify their true identity and have no clue of their intentions. If legal immigrants and legitimate citizens have a problem with this policy, then it would be hard to blame them. The same goes for anyone who lost a father, mother, son, daughter or friend on Sept. 11, 2001. Before 9/11, border security was not considered a cornerstone of national security. Nearly 20 years later it still isnt, and the conditions that prevailed now exist on a wider scale. To paraphrase Richard Clarke, when these attacks occur, as they likely will, American officials will know why they failed to stop them. 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. Billingsley serves as a policy fellow with the Independent Institute. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. A deck crewman has covered up Loyce Deen while a decision is being made what to do with the aircraft, which sustained heavy battle damage. (Courtesy CDR Michael Cosgrove (Ret.), son of Robert D. Cosgrove via NavSource) A Personal Memorial Day Memory: Introducing Loyce Deen of Altus, Oklahoma Commentary Pop, the uncle who raised me, carried with him for more than half a century a haunting memory from his time aboard the aircraft carrier Essex in World War II. Anti-aircraft fire had killed a turret gunner during a sortie. Pop, whose job it was to repair and prepare planes for the next mission, went up to inspect the plane as soon as it landed. What he encountered was a gruesome sight: the decapitated body of the turret gunner in a blood-soaked turret. The captain of the Essex dispatched the ships chaplain to ask Pop if the plane could be patched up enough to fly again. Pops reply to the captain, via the chaplain/messenger, was: Yes, but with all this blood in the tropical heat, it will stink to high heaven. I recommend we bury this man in the plane in which he had given his life for his country. When the chaplain relayed Pops message to the captain on the bridge, the captain turned to Pop and gave him the thumbs-up signal. The subsequent burial at sea was unique. It was the only time during World War II that a still-flightworthy aircraft was used as a coffin. The burial scene was included in the 1950s series Victory at Sea. Pop saw it for the first time when the series was rebroadcast in the 1990s. Seeing that footage from onboard the Essex kicked Pops disturbing memories into overdrive. For years afterward, he would often retell that vivid story late at night after consuming copious quantities of Jim Beam. The story didnt end for me with Pops passing in 1999. Several years later, I stumbled onto a website about the airman who was buried in his plane. (The website, by the way, includes the footage of the burial at sea.) Suddenly, I knew the mans name, his family background, and details of his military service. The man who lost his life on that aircraft that day was Loyce Edward Deen of Altus, Oklahoma. The fatal flight took place on Nov. 5, 1944, in the Battle of Manila. The three-crew plane was the Grumman TBM (torpedo bomber) V-15. The young Oklahoman seems like the kind of neighbor, classmate, friend, and comrade in arms that everybody would love to have. Loyce was his parents seventh child. He was followed four years later by one last sibling, a brother with Downs syndrome. Loyce was very close to his kid brother, but sadly, this brother died when Loyce was in 8th grade. Three years later, his mom had a stroke. Loyce helped care for her until she passed away about a month later. In 1942, Loyce joined the Navy. On Oct. 24, 1944, his foot was wounded by shrapnel in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Heroically, he simply wrapped his foot and continued to fight on both the 24th and 25th. At month-end, Loyce had the option of recuperating on a hospital ship until his foot mended. Instead, he insisted on staying with his two crewmates, pilot Lt. Robert Cosgrove and Radioman Donald Digby Denzek. Character, courage, loyalty, and loveLoyce Deen had them in spades. It was people like him who made the United States great. The next week, on Nov. 5, at the age of 23, Loyce was killed instantly by anti-aircraft fire during a sortie. One memorable detail is the stoicism of Loyces crewmates. Denzek reported to Cosgrove over the intercom that Deen was hit bad. Hit badwhat a compassionate and wise euphemism. Denzek didnt want to grieve or distract Cosgrove with the distressing news of their friends death when the 24-year-old pilot still faced the nerve-wracking task of flying a damaged aircraft two anxious hours back to the Essex. I feel like I knew Loyce Deen, even though our lifespans didnt overlap and Ive never met anyone who actually knew him. Knowing him has made a significant difference in my life. The most important male relatives in my life all saw combat in either World War II or Vietnam, butthank you, Lordnone was killed in action. For most of my life, then, Memorial Day was always more of a general than a specific remembrance. That all changed when I found the Loyce Deen website. (Thank you, Gregg Mastriforte, webmaster.) My Memorial Days are now fuller and more meaningful than before because of the dramatic way in which Loyce crossed paths with Pop. Im sure the descendants of Loyces brothers and sisters know what a good man and great hero their great-uncle was. Through this article, I hope many more people will know about him. On Memorial Day 2021, this solemn, reverential holiday, may all patriotic Americans honor the memory of tens of thousands of Americas bestpeople like Loyce Deenwho gave their lives that we and countless others might live in liberty. Thank you, Loyce. God bless you. And God bless all the other Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Mark Hendrickson, an economist, recently retired from the faculty of Grove City College, where he remains a fellow for economic and social policy at the Institute for Faith and Freedom. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. U.S. Marines moving positions during battle in Garapan, during the Pacific Campaign of World War II, on Saipan, circa 19431945. (U.S. Marine Corps/Getty Images) A Soldier Fights so That Others Might Live Commentary The Medal of Honor citation says it all: As the perimeter began to be overrun, it became increasingly difficult for Captain Salomon to work on the wounded. He then saw a Japanese soldier bayoneting one of the wounded soldiers lying near the tent. Firing from a squatting position, Captain Salomon quickly killed the enemy soldier. Then, as he turned his attention back to the wounded, two more Japanese soldiers appeared in the front entrance of the tent. As these enemy soldiers were killed, four more crawled under the tent walls. Rushing them, Captain Salomon kicked the knife out of the hand of one, shot another, and bayoneted a third. Captain Salomon butted the fourth enemy soldier in the stomach and a wounded comrade then shot and killed the enemy soldier. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Captain Salomon ordered the wounded to make their way as best they could back to the regimental aid station, while he attempted to hold off the enemy until they were clear. Captain Salomon then grabbed a rifle from one of the wounded and rushed out of the tent. After four men were killed while manning a machine gun, Captain Salomon took control of it. When his body was later found, 98 dead enemy soldiers were piled in front of his position. So who was Benjamin L. Salomon, the man who practically single-handedly took on the entire Imperial Japanese Army on Saipan on July 7, 1944, and fought to his last breath so that others might live? The first and last answer is, he was an American, doing what Americans have always done bestfighting for the country he loved. Born in Milwaukee in 1914, Salomon studied at Marquette University and the University of Southern California, where he attended dental college and went into private practice. Drafted in the fall of 1940, shortly after FDR instituted the first peacetime draft in U.S. history, Salomon was inducted as a private into the U.S. Army. The young dentist quickly proved adept at marksmanship with both rifle and pistol, and was quickly promoted to sergeant and given command of a machine-gun unit. With Americas entry into the war after Pearl Harbor, Salomon was promoted to first lieutenant anddespite his talent for war and against his wishestransferred to the Dental Corps. Now, a member of the 105th Infantry Regiment and promoted to captain, Salomon hit the beach on the island of Saipan in the Marianas Islands. Under heavy, desperate Japanese resistance, there wasnt much work for a dentist, so Salomon volunteered to replace his battalions surgeon, who had been wounded. Saipan was critical to the Japanese defense of their home islands, and they were prepared to make the Americans pay dearly for every inch of it. The Japanese commander, Yoshitsugu Saito, had ordered his troops to fight to the last man, and each to kill at least 10 Americans before falling. Whether we attack or whether we stay where we are, there is only death. However, in death there is life. I will advance with you to deliver another blow to the American devils and leave my bones on Saipan as a fortress of the Pacific, he said. The Medal of Honor citation puts the dire situation into context. The Regiments 1st and 2nd Battalions were attacked by an overwhelming force estimated between 3,000 and 5,000 Japanese soldiers. It was one of the largest attacks attempted in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Although both units fought furiously, the enemy soon penetrated the Battalions combined perimeter and inflicted overwhelming casualties. In the first minutes of the attack, approximately 30 wounded soldiers walked, crawled, or were carried into Captain Salomons aid station, and the small tent soon filled with wounded men. This was war at its most elemental. The Japanese, with no hope of help and nowhere to run, hid in caves by day and attacked by night. The Army and Marines fought the most brutal war imaginable, with flamethrowers and bayonets and bare hands, in addition to rifles, sidearms, and machine guns. The Japanese would attack in waves, kamikazes of the infantry, attempting to overrun the American positions as the GIs pressed forward. Salomons mobile hospital was set up near the front lines in the early dawn of July 7, just meters between the forward foxholes and the sea. The Japanese burst out of their concealed positions and sent the Americans reeling back. The hospital was soon filled with the wounded as the fighting raged all around it. Salomon realized his position was untenable and ordered the wounded evacuated while he stayed behind to cover them. It was at this point that his ability with guns and weaponry came into play. Everybodys dead out there, he was reported to have said. I can do these guys more good out there than I can in here. Ill hold them off until you get them to safety. See you later. When they found his body, it was riddled with bullet and bayonet wounds, many of them apparently inflicted after death by the enraged enemy. Where Saito had demanded that each of his men kill 10 Americans, one dauntless American had killed more than 100 Japanese. Salomons Medal of Honor was delayed by bureaucratic misinterpretation of the Geneva convention, which outlaws identified medical personnel from taking up arms; Salomon was wearing a Red Cross armband when he died. But in fact, doctors are allowed to fight in defense of their wounded and so, on May 1, 2002nearly 58 years after his heroic actionsPresident George W. Bush officially awarded the medal posthumously to Captain Benjamin Lewis Salomon. The citation concludes: Captain Salomons extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army. And, it must be added, upon all Americans who put their country before themselves. Do we still have such men today? Michael Walsh is the editor of The-Pipeline.org and the author of The Devils Pleasure Palace and The Fiery Angel, both published by Encounter Books. His latest book, Last Stands, a cultural study of military history from the Greeks to the Korean War, was recently published. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a joint press conference with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on May 21, 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Appeals Court Blocks Biden Admin From Prioritizing Grants Based on Race and Sex A federal appeals court this week blocked the Biden administration from prioritizing grants in its restaurant relief program on the basis of race and gender. In a 2-1 ruling, the 6th Circuit Court granted an injunction to a restaurant that sued the Small Business Administration to challenge its use of race and sex preferences when distributing its $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Funds. The court held that prioritizing women, and socially and economically disadvantaged business owners for the first 21 days of the application period violated the equal protection clause. Judge Amul Thapar, who wrote the majority opinion, ruled that the federal government lacks a compelling interest to use race preferences in awarding the grants. He also wrote that even if the government had a compelling interest, its scheme fails to be narrowly tailored to the interest because race-neutral alternatives exist. Because these race-neutral alternatives exist, the governments use of race is unconstitutional. Aside from the existence of race-neutral alternatives, the governments use of racial preferences is both overbroad and underinclusive. This is also fatal to the policy, Thapar wrote for the majority (pdf). The ruling comes in a case brought by Jakes Bar and Grill, a restaurant that is jointly owned by Antonio Vitolo, who is white, and his wife, who is Hispanic. The judge noted that if Vitolos wife owned 1 percent more of the restaurant, it would then be eligible for priority processing. He then argued that the policy is plagued with other forms of underinclusivity. Consider the requirement that a business must be at least 51% owned by women or minorities. How does that help remedy past discrimination? Black investors may have small shares in lots of restaurants, none greater than 51%. But does that mean those owners did not suffer economic harms from racial discrimination? Thapar wrote. Indeed, the restaurant at issue, Jakes Bar, is 50% owned by a Hispanic female. It is far from obvious why that 1% difference in ownership is relevant. Yet the government fails to explain why that cutoff relates to its stated remedial purpose, he added. The dissenting judge, Judge Bernice Bouie Donald, argued that the majority opinion undermines a principle that the Supreme Court allows for race-based classifications to remediate past discriminations. The majoritys reasoning suggests we live in a world in which centuries of intentional discrimination and oppression of racial minorities have been eradicated. The majoritys reasoning suggests we live in a world in which the COVID-19 pandemic did not exacerbate the disparities enabled by those centuries of discrimination, Donald wrote. The majoritys reasoning suggests that we live in a world in which Congress passed the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) not to aid the nations economic recovery, but to arbitrarily provide special treatment to racial minorities and women. The SBA did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times request for comment. This comes in the same month that a federal judge in Texas granted a request for a temporary restraining order to block the Biden administration from enforcing the same policy. The plaintiff, a cafe owner, has since asked the court to dismiss his lawsuit. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey answers a question about the arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine in Arizona, while Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ listens, in Phoenix, Ariz., on Dec. 2, 2020. (Ross D. Franklin, Pool/AP Photo, File) Arizona Governor Vetoes 22 Bills, Including Election Integrity and Anti-Critical Race Theory Legislation Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey vetoed 22 bills on May 28, including measures relating to election integrity and critical race theory, arguing that lawmakers need to focus on passing a budget. Today, I vetoed 22 bills. Some are good policy, but with one month left until the end of the fiscal year, we need to focus first on passing a budget. That should be priority one. The other stuff can wait, Ducey wrote on Twitter. The governor, a Republican, said he wont sign any more bills until a budget is passed. Republicans in the state, including Arizona GOP Chairwoman Kelli Ward, noted that some of the bills that were vetoed include an election integrity measure and a bill that would prohibit entities from using taxpayer funds to promote the quasi-Marxist critical race theory (CRT). According to the Arizona Legislatures website, House Bill 2792which would bar the mass mailing of ballots to residents who didnt request themwas vetoed on May 28 by the governor. The measure would make it a felony for an election official to send a ballot to a voter who hadnt requested it. Another bill that was vetoed by Ducey, Senate Bill 1074, would prohibit the critical race theory training of government workers that presents any form of blame or judgment on the basis of race, ethnicity, or sex, reported the Arizona Mirror. Ducey also vetoed Senate Bill 1514, which would have made the states Department of Housing provide emergency shelter for homeless senior residents in Maricopa County, among other pieces of legislation. The governor also vetoed measures proposed by Democrats in the legislature, including two bills that would establish new testing and inspection requirements for marijuana dispensaries, the Mirror reported. House Speaker Rusty Bowers, a Republican, described Duceys May 28 executive actions as disappointing. Truthfully, Im not happy about it, but its a civics lesson reminder that it takes 31-16-1 to be successful here. Sometimes we forget about the one, Bowers told the Arizona Mirror. I believe that the proposed budget is good, and Im determined to keep working with our diverse caucus until there is unity to move forward. Im optimistic that will happen soon. Ward was more forceful in her criticism. Twenty-two bills that the legislative branch worked all session on. Bills that went through the process & passed & went to the executives desk. This tyrannical approach is dangerous to what #WeThePeople in AZ support #ElectionIntegrity #StopCRT, Ward wrote on Twitter. But Ducey wrote that the state will have the opportunity to make responsible and significant investments in K-12 education, higher education, infrastructure, and local communities, all while delivering historic tax relief to working families and small businesses. Once the budget passes, Im willing to consider some of these other issues. But until then, I will not be signing any additional bills. Lets focus on our jobs, get to work and pass the budget, he said, without making reference to election measures or critical race theory. However, state Rep. Mark Finchem, a Republican currently running for Arizonas Secretary of State office, said on War Room Pandemic that the state legislature didnt pass the budget because it has so much pork in it, youd think we were going to a barbecue, accusing Ducey of acting as a petty dictator. The governors office didnt respond to a request for comment by The Epoch Times by press time. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speak during a joint press conference held at The Nest in Queenstown, New Zealand, on May 31, 2021. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is on a two-day visit to New Zealand attending the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders' Meeting. (AAP Image/Peter Meecham) Australia, NZ Present United Front on China, Warning Against Those Who Seek to Divide Us The prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand are presenting a united front on the issue of China, warning against actors seeking to divide the trans-Tasman allies by creating points of difference between them. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison joined his New Zealand counterpart, Jacinda Ardern, at the Annual Leaders Summit in Queenstown to discuss a range of issues, including COVID-19, increased engagement in the Pacific, trade, and peace in the Indo-Pacific. The leaders sought to assuage concerns of a division between the nations on their differing approaches to the China relationship. At no point in our discussions today did I detect any difference in our relative positions on the importance of maintaining a very strong and principled perspective on issues around trade, on issues around human rights, Ardern told reporters at a joint press conference with Morrison in Queenstown. We have been broadly positioned on exactly the same place on these issues consistently. Morrison warned of actors who would seek to divide us. They will not succeed. I have no doubt there would be those who would seek to undermine Australia and NZ security, be seeking to create points of difference that are not there, he said. When asked about the possibility of military conflict in the Indo-Pacific region, Morrison said, The world is being characterised by increased strategic competition between the United States and China; that is a self-evident fact. But I would say, our shared view is that such strategic competition does not need to lead to increased likelihood of conflict or other pressures, whether they be coercion of any nature or interference, he said. What we both pursue, in the many ways we work together, is a free Indo-Pacific. The prime ministers followed up their talks with an extensive joint statement affirming the need to uphold sovereignty in an era of increasing strategic competition. The prime ministers reaffirmed their resolve and shared respective approaches to countering foreign interference and agreed the importance of building resilience across all sectors of society, including in education, infrastructure, research, electoral processes, media and communities, it stated. They also expressed concerns over Beijings increased militarization of the South China Sea and the takeover of Hong Kong. On the weekend, New Zealand Trade Minister Damien OConnor indicated that the Ardern government would join Australias barley dispute against China at the World Trade Organisation. The Morrison government brought the action against China following its imposition of 80 percent tariffs on barley exports to the country. The Chinese Ministry for Commerce says the move was in response to Australia dumping barley into the China market; Australia disputes the claim. The overt display of support from New Zealand comes in the wake of criticism of the Ardern governments approach to China, which has been described as too subtle for international observers to notice. Chinese military vehicles carrying DF-41 ballistic missiles roll during a parade to commemorate the 98th anniversary of the founding of Communist China in Beijing, Chin, on Oct. 1, 2019. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo) Beijings Mouthpiece Calls for Equipping PLA With More Nuclear Weapons to Intimidate the US Chinese state-owned media outlet Global Times has urged the regime to equip the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) with the largest possible number of nuclear warheads and missiles in a short time, to make the U.S. elites tremble when they think about fighting with China. We must prepare for a tense ending to the United Statess and Chinas relationship, Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the Global Times, wrote in a May 28 editorial. Once this happens, having a big stock of DF-41, JL-2, and JL-3 missiles will be a pillar of strength to support Chinas will to fight. The DF-41 is Chinas solid-fueled, road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile, and the JL-2 and JL-3 are Chinas intercontinental-range, submarine-launched ballistic missiles. All three of these missiles can carry nuclear warheads. Hus comments are in response to Kurt Campbell, President Joe Bidens Indo-Pacific policy coordinator, who recently said the United States and China are competitors. In a May 26 speech, Campbell told an online event hosted by Stanford University: The dominant paradigm [with China] is going to be competition a period that had been broadly described as engagement has come to an end. Campbell said in the speech that the Beijing regimes behavior is shifting toward harsh power, or hard power, which signals that China is determined to play a more assertive role. To support his opinion, Campbell mentioned Chinas recent clashes with India regarding the border and against Australia in trade, as well as the aggressive diplomacy style the regime has launched worldwide. In the responding editorial, Hu expressed a wish that the United States could reduce its hostility toward China. We should use our power and their intolerable risk to force them to calm down. Visitors are on a tour of the 816 Nuclear Military Engineering installation in the mountains of Fuling district, in southwestern Chinas Chongqing Municipality, on Feb. 21, 2017. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images) Zhang Tianliang, a U.S.-based current affairs commentator, said on his media channel on May 28 that he thinks the reason why Hu published the threat theory is that the Beijing regime is worried that the Biden administration will implicate it for its role in the pandemic. On May 26, Biden said that the U.S. intelligence community believes there are two likely scenarios that may have caused the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus outbreak in China, noting that a significant number of officials believe the virus was spread due to a laboratory accident. Zhang points out that Hu took the same action last year when the Beijing regime was alarmed on May 3, 2020, when then-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo revealed that significant evidence linked the CCP virus to a Wuhan laboratory, and the international community asked for an investigation into the origin of the virus. On May 8, five days after Pompeos comments, Hu called for the production of at least 1,000 warheads and 100 DF-41 missiles in an editorial. Hu claimed that nuclear weapons would threaten the United States into being more friendly to China. A woman visits an exhibition center located in the retired atom bomb base at the Jinyintan Grassland in Xihai, capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Haibei in northwestern Chinas Qinghai Province, on Oct. 19, 2006. (China Photos/Getty Images) Chinese people dont buy into Hus threat theory. Liu Xiaofei, a military commentator from the School of International Relations at Chinas Huaqiao University, said on May 30 that the United States wont fear China even though China has more nuclear warheads because Chinas weapons are far inferior. Chinese netizens posted on Hus WeiboChinas social media platformthat Russia has more nuclear warheads than the United States, but still is weaker than the United States. Also, they note that a large number of the children of Chinese senior officials and military senior commanders are in the United States, making it unlikely that the parents could launch missiles against cities where their children live. President Joe Biden speaks at a Memorial Day event at Veterans Memorial Park at the Delaware Memorial Bridge in New Castle, Del., on May 30, 2021. (Patrick Semansky/AP Photo) Biden Marks Son Beaus Death With Grave Visit, Remarks to Military Families Ahead of Memorial Day WILMINGTON, DelawarePresident Joe Biden marked the sixth anniversary on Sunday of his son Beaus death with a visit to his gravesite and a speech about grief to military families and veterans, on the eve of the Memorial Day holiday commemorating the countrys military dead. Biden and his wife, Jill, visited Beau Bidens grave in Delaware and attended church at the cemetery in the presidents home state on a cold, overcast day. The president spoke later to military families and veterans at Veterans Memorial Park about his loss, and theirs. We must remember the price that was paid for our liberties. We must remember the debt we owe those who have paid it, and the families left behind. My heart is torn in half by the grief, Biden said. Beau Biden, a former Delaware attorney general, died of brain cancer in 2015 at age 46. As many of you know, this is a hard day for us. Six years ago today, Hunter lost his dad and I lost my son, Biden said, referring to his grandson Hunter, who was also in attendance. The moment that we celebrate it is the toughest day of the year. Were honored, but its a tough day. It brings back everything, he said. President Joe Biden stands as a rendition of the national anthem is performed during a Memorial Day event at Veterans Memorial Park at the Delaware Memorial Bridge in New Castle, Del., on May 30, 2021. (Patrick Semansky/AP Photo) Beau Biden had served a year-long tour in Iraq as a member of the Delaware Army National Guard, and the president has speculated that toxins from military burn pits used to dispose waste there may have caused the cancer. Thank you for allowing us to grieve together today, Biden told the crowd, which included people who lost an immediate relative in military action, and veterans. I know how much the loss hurts, Biden said. I know nothing I can say to ease the pain. I just know that each year it gets a little bita little bit easier. An honor guard stands at attention during a Memorial Day event attended by President Joe Biden at Veterans Memorial Park at the Delaware Memorial Bridge in New Castle, Del., on May 30, 2021. (Patrick Semansky/AP Photo) Memorial Day, established after the Civil War in the 1860s, is marked by laying flowers and American flags on the graves of the military dead. Biden plans to return to Washington on Monday to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. By Jeff Mason Security personnel stand guard outside the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan as members of the World Health Organization (WHO) team investigating the origins of COVID-19 make a visit to the institute in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 3, 2021. (Hector Retamal /AFP via Getty Images) Bidens Wuhan Cover-Up Commentary Reeling from the revelation that the Biden administration shut down a State Department investigation into the origins of COVID-19, the Biden team is now trying to cover up their cover-up. Lets examine what they were covering up in the first place, why it matters, and how the administration is now pretending to take action while not actually doing anything. Late last year, the Trump administration, under the supervision of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, began a State Department probe into how COVID-19 got unleashed into the world, causing a global pandemic with millions of deaths and ruined economies and lives in its wake. The investigation sought to determine whether COVID-19 came from the Wuhan meat market, as originally reported, or the Wuhan virology lab that operates under the control of the Chinese Communist Party. As we now know, this is a legitimate inquiry and an open question. Unknown to the American public, and indeed to people around the world, it turns out that the Wuhan virologists, in collaboration with virologists from the United States and other countries, were all doing so-called gain of function research. In plain language, this means creating deadly viruses, or more precisely, taking deadly viruses and making them more contagious and more lethal in the lab. Isnt it incredible that were just now, more than a year into the global epidemic, finding out about this? Imagine the level of deception from the scientific community, not to mention the U.S. government and the media, thats necessary to keep the public in the dark about something so chillingly relevant to their lives. Digital media literally banned and censored people for even hinting that COVID-19 might be a virus from a lab, branding such views debunked and conspiracy theories. The Pompeo investigation, however, went beyond the question of where the virus came from. It was also aimed at examining a second, no less chilling, question: Did the communist Chinese regime deliberately release COVID-19 as a biological weapon? To begin to answer this question, Pompeos team was searching for evidence of collaboration between Chinas biological weapons program and the virologists at Wuhan. Now, consider the importance of these inquiries and also their implications. How would the U.S. government and the world respond if it turned out that COVID-19 was indeed used as a biological weapon? The Chinese regime certainly had the opportunity. It also had a possible motive, to bring down Donald Trump in particular and the U.S. economy in general, and to improve Chinas relative position in the world. Finally, who can doubt that the Chinese Communist Party is unscrupulous enough to be willing to do something so heinous? Yet this is precisely the investigation that the Biden team secretly terminated. Their rationale was that Trumps investigation was biased, it reinforced what Trump himself said about the origins of the virus, and it cherry-picked facts to support a preconceived theory. Since we dont know what the Pompeo team found, its impossible to evaluate these accusations. What we do know, however, is that the Biden team has its own preconceptions. Biden himself is compromised by his familys highly lucrative business dealings in China. The Biden family has benefited from deals valued at billions of dollars, and Hunter Bidens alleged laptop contains the clear suggestion that the big manBiden himselfwas getting a share. While it goes too far to say Biden is owned by China, its hardly an exaggeration to suggest that hes financially obligated to China. So its hardly a surprise that Biden seeks to protect the Chinese regime from its responsibilitywhether direct or indirectfor COVID-19. However, under fierce pressure from the disclosure of the cover-up, the Biden administration is now feigning a renewed investigative inquiry. Biden says he has asked the U.S. intelligence community to redouble their efforts to find out where exactly the virus came from. Yet when pressed to say what he would do to force the Chinese regime to provide access and data that it has long denied investigators, the Biden team basically said that their man would do nothing. Rather, he was hoping the World Health Organization, the very institution whose efforts have been controlled and rebuffed by Chinese authorities, would come up with something new. The bottom line is that the Biden administration seems to have no genuine interest in forcing the issue. They seem more determined to have a thorough investigation of Jan. 6which is completely unnecessary, since we know what happened on that daythan they do to thoroughly investigate an urgent matter of global health and U.S. national security. Even if, by some miracle, the truth came out, and it turned out China was directly responsible, what would Biden do? Im pretty convinced the answer is nothing. How exposed, how vulnerable, how unsafe we all are in the hands of this administration. Dinesh DSouza is an author, filmmaker, and daily host of the Dinesh DSouza podcast. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. MANZINI Are jobs, quality education and healthcare too much to ask for? This is the question asked by some members of the youth, who are now advocating for change in terms of the way the country is governed. They asked themselves this question after listing the issues they have been complaining about to government for a long time. In a nutshell, the youth said they wanted quality education, decent jobs, adequate health service and access to land without the condition of being married. They also said they wanted accountability and transparency from those in power. The Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS) President Colani Maseko said the social ills under the current system of governance were too many. He said they had been complaining about these for a while now and the alleged police brutality, which they were protesting against, amplified the frustration within them about the above mentioned issues and exposed what was happening with government under the current system of governance. Investing He said instead of investing in the youth by strengthening the education sector and employment, government was allegedly spending millions of Emalangeni buying weapons to fight the youth every time they raised issues. Therefore, he said so long as the country continued to disregard young people, particularly students, it would not go anywhere and that was their worry. He added that the statement which was made by Sigwe Member Parliament (MP) David Cruiser Ngcamphalala, who is also the Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development, where he said MPs were not elected by people from social media and they should be ignored, illustrated the gravity of how much government allegedly undermined young people. In that regard, he said as the youth, they believed such politicians were allegedly seeking political promotions at their expense as young people. He said they believed that parliamentarians, who represented the masses, should be embarrassed that the same government they worked for did not prioritise the youth. Thereafter, the president of the union of students said the reason they were advocating for change as SNUS was because they believed that in a democratic government, the youth should be prioritised as they were the future of the country. Our issues will be addressed. We will be given opportunities to lead in some political and administrative posts, unlike in the current system, Maseko said. Concerned New York Parent Sets Up Website to Speak Up for Education Following Viral Letter A concerned parent in New York has set up a website to speak up for education after pulling his daughter out of The Brearley School in New York City in April over the schools obsession with race and appalling lack of leadership by appeasing an anti-intellectual, illiberal mob. Following his first viral letter in April, Andrew Gutmann, whose daughter attended the elite all-girls private school, penned a second open letter in May sharply criticizing the schools obsession with race and adoption of critical race theory, which is rooted in the Marxist theory of class struggle but applied to race. He now vows to continue to fight for our childrens educations, for free speech, and against indoctrination, cancel culture and critical race theory. He wrote that he was gratified by the overwhelmingly supportive emails and messages that I have personally received for his first letter to 650 families of the school. Gutmann said that before he sent the first letter, he had no idea how pervasive and entrenched critical race theory had become in our schools, including public and religious schools, and many parents were dealing with the same issues as our family, with captured and close-minded administrations and racist, age-inappropriate and indoctrinating curriculums. He wrote that children as early as kindergarten are being asked to draw self portraits, with explicit instructions to focus exclusively on accurately depicting their skin tone, and young adults at elite medical schools spending weeks of instruction on transgender issues and antiracism in lieu of pediatrics and geriatrics. He said that these educational problems cannot be fixed until we eradicate the insidious cancer that is cancel culture, citing the Biden administrations recent plan to promote critical race theory in Americas schools with federal grant money. He criticized the appalling stench of cowardice emanating from the corporate boardrooms in the United States, which he said is literally under assault by the proponents of critical race theory, by the purveyors of cancel culture and by the high priests of wokism. This is not an academic debate between liberals and conservatives or a political skirmish between Republicans and Democrats, he wrote. This is a fight for the soul and for the future of our country. If we lose this battle, I fear that we risk losing the freedoms and the prosperity we take for granted, and eventually I believe our country will fracture. Gutmann, 45, is a former investment banker-turned-software developer and entrepreneur who now leads his familys chemical business. On his newly launched website, he has set up a for Brearley Parents page for parents to submit or co-sign letters to the administration and Board of Trustees, as a way of organizing for maximum effectiveness. Court Rules Efforts to Recall Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Can Proceed A Michigan court ruled that several recall efforts against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer can proceed after the governor had argued that they were not appropriate. The Michigan Court of Appeals on May 27 ruled (pdf) that the states Board of State Canvassers correctly approved several petitions that were at issue. Whitmer and Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, both Democrats, had challenged the recall petitions. They were initiated over Whitmers executive orders that were issued during the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic. The court affirmed that six petitions that were being challenged by the states executive branch could go ahead, but it remanded one due to an error and said it may be corrected. According to the order, the court made a reference to an argument made by Whitmers counsel saying that one of the COVID-19-related recall petitions lacks clarity because it uses ambiguous and undefined terms, particularly with its reference to bars.' The Governor argues that the word bars is ambiguous because dictionaries define the term not only as an establishment that sells alcoholic beverages, but also as a counter at which food or beverages are served, or a shop that sells nonalcoholic beverages, such as coffee, the court said. It added later that we reject this argument and noted that any person invited to sign the petition would very likely envision a reference to a conventional tavern, where people can purchase and consume alcoholic beverages, when faced with the wording, closing indoor service at bars. A Whitmer campaign spokesman, Mark Fisk, told MLive that the governor plans to file an appeal. We plan to appeal this disappointing decision, and we fully intend to beat back these irresponsible partisan attacks against the governor in the courts, on the streets, or at the ballot. This is part of a massive and coordinated attack by Republicans trying to make the governor fail, and our campaign will strenuously oppose these efforts so the governor can keep saving lives, reopening our economy and creating jobs, Fisk told MLive. In recent days, Whitmer has courted controversy after she and her staff members allegedly violated COVID-19 orders. Whitmer was photographed at a bar in East Lansing in mid-May while not wearing a mask amid a group of people, which would violate the states Department of Health and Human Services May 15 order that forces 6-feet social distancing. Whitmer apologized for the incident, and the state has since rescinded the health order. The Epoch Times has contacted her office for comment. Cyberattack Paralyses JBS Meatworks Across Australia and North-South America A cyberattack has paralysed the worlds largest meat processing company JBS with operations shutting down in Australia and further stoppages expected across North and South America. Australian subsidiary, JBS Australia, was forced to close its operations on Monday and cancel its beef and lamb processing orders as a response. CEO Brent Eastwood confirmed the attack and said the attack on JBSs information technology systems has impacted meat sales and lot feeding operations, with incoming cattle unable to be inducted without the IT systems operational. Six sites in Australia, across Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania, have shut down, with stoppages in North America and South America expected as well, Eastwood told meat industry news site Beef Central. The company is still trying to assess the extent of the damage and could not comment on when operations would come back online. Thousands of employees have also been stood down without pay in response according to Matt Journeaux, secretary of the Australian Meat Industry Employees Union Queensland. The meat in the sandwich is that this is a concerted effort against Australian business, and the workers will suffer as a result of that, he told ABC Radio Brisbane. Theres six sites in Queensland that will be affected and around the nation, there would be significantly more, he added. In most processing facilities, the workers are on daily hire arrangements, and unfortunately, if they dont work, they dont get paid. Cyberattacks have become an increasing concern, with governments diverting increased funding to bolster security around the sector. Government departments and major businesses are major targets. In May 2020, major logistics firm Toll Group was subject to a month-long ransomware attack by Russian-based hackers. While in May this year, the Russian-based Nobeliumwho was behind the SolarWinds cyberattackbegan a new campaign targeting over 150 government agencies, think tanks, and non-government organisations. U.S. fuel pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline also had to shut its entire networkthe source of nearly half the U.S. East Coasts fuel supplyafter a ransomware attack. The shutdown has raised fears of a price spike at the gas pumps ahead of peak demand summer driving season if it persists and has drawn attention to how critical U.S. energy infrastructure is vulnerable to hackers. Australias Parliament is also investigating an attack that shut down its email system in May. Dante Alighieri: All About Love When the Beatles crooned Love is all you need in 1967, they coined an anthem for the flower power age, but when Dante Alighieri composed The Love that moves the sun and the other stars, he created the theme song of the Renaissance and beyond. Worldwide celebrations are underway for the 700th anniversary of Dante Alighieris death, the Italian philosopher poet whose early amorous ditties would give way to an epic poem capable of uniting a scattered nation, inspiring generations of artists, and reflecting a universal human story. Dante Alighieri, often simply referred to as Dante, was born in Florence Italy in 1265, and as a scion of a distinguished house, he followed the usual track of medieval young influencers: military duty in a few skirmish battles with neighboring towns, a stint at the University of Bologna (then merely a century old), and participation in public political life. But neither war nor statesmanship drew Dante; his path lay in the art of poetry. Influenced by courtly troubadours of France and Sicily, he moved swiftly away from writing in Latinstill the official language of the Italian peninsulato the Italian vernacular, the dialect of the people. Dante was soon attracted to a set of young poets pioneering a sweet new style of popular verse that employed accessible language, catchy meter, and sang of love, love, love. He enjoyed fame and fortune until the vicissitudes of medieval politics ousted him from Florence. Dante spent the final 20 years of his life in exile, dependent on benevolent benefactors, and experiencing the bitter taste of others bread, until he settled in Ravenna under the protection of Guido da Polenta, where he died in 1321. It was during this turbulent period of his life that the poet errant composed the Divine Comedy, a poem of one hundred stanzas, called cantos, divided into three books: Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise. He developed a rhyme system called terza rima, an interlocking musical rhythm that propelled readers through an imaginary journey through the horrors of Hell, the sufferings of Purgatory, and the joys of Heaven. Written in the vernacular, the work crafted timeless images out of words, raising Italian to a language of literature, while forging a common tongue for the fractious populace of the numerous city states freckling the peninsula. Dante demonstrated how the beauty of words could draw people together instead of causing pain and estrangements. The Divine Comedy, although a masterpiece of the Middle Ages, was inspired by the ancient Mediterranean literary traditions of Homer and Virgil, the latterwho famously wrote that love conquers allacting as guide for the first part of Dantes journey. Yet, while the Aeneid recounted the story of the Roman people, and the Iliad that of the Greek states, Dantes poem transformed the human condition itself into an epic tale, proposing an existential heroism that could be transmuted from age to age. Certainly the window dressing of the Divine Comedy features a fair amount of medieval insider gossip, but his spiritual journey would resonate with people far beyond his own borders. Dante, a believer, moved in an age of faith: his heroes are saints and his framework Christian, yet his story captures the collective imagination. Caught in the snares of his own ambitions and desires, Dante describes himself as alone in a dark wood, having lost the right way. Paralyzed by fear, hounded by personal demons, the poet bares himself in a fashion that every human being can relate to. Dantes salvation comes through love, not the amorous dalliances he sang of as a boy, but the transformative self-giving love that confers meaning and purpose. The Divine Comedy is a love song about a man who learned to love more than himself. Dante as Inspiration As Dante painted pictures with words, so artists found inspiration in the images evoked by his poetry. Its most fertile terrain was Florence, where a repentant populace raced to embrace its rejected son. Chapel frescoes reconstructed the Inferno while Botticelli turned his genius to illustrating the entire poem. Michelangelo Buonarroti not only dabbled in poetry and knew the Divine Comedy by heart but referenced the work several times in his masterpiece: The Last Judgment. The Last Judgment, 15361541, by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel. (Public Domain) But amazingly, long after the lights dimmed on the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation gave way to the Enlightenment, Dantes work continued to leaven secularized society. France, fascinated by the Inferno as are most Dante neophytes, seized upon the romantic tale from Canto V of Paolo and Francesca, adulterous lovers killed in flagrante delicto and buffeted for all eternity by the winds of their passion. Dantes own evident sympathy for the pair appears to lessen the gravity of their sin, which inspired French painters to depict everything from the romance of the furtive first kiss, to two lithe spirits whose eternal torment is portrayed as a graceful ballet. In 1855, engraver Gustave Dore took on the herculean project of illustrating the entire opus. Finding no publisher, he took on the expense himself. Dore was gratified by not only the enthusiastic reception of the first book but by a telegram from his publisher reading, Success! Come quickly! I am an ass! The 135 drawings are, to this day, the most recognizable illustrations of the poem, where the engravers pen beat in perfect time with the poets words. Scratching the Inferno scenes out of heavy dark lines, Dore evoked tangled nature and lurking demons. When Farinata degli Uberti emerges from the abyss of heretics in Canto X, the haughty figure is surrounded by darkness, emphasizing his choice of prideful isolation. Dante and Virgil enter the Infernal city of Dis where Farinata Degli Uberti rises from the flames. A Gustave Dore woodcut illustration from Canto X of The Divine Comedy: The Inferno. (Public Domain) Light increases in the images of Purgatory, flickering over more energetic strokes, underscoring the dynamic aspect of repentant souls working toward a goal. But Dores Paradise is a wonder to behold. Tiny lines cluster to form the exquisite, ethereal figures of saints and angels. Light permeates everything. Dore captures the rapturous power of love, drawing into the contemplation of mystery a harmonious marriage of poetry and pictures. Dante and Beatrice gazing at Empyrean, in Canto XXXI of Dantes Paradise, illustrated by Gustave Dore. (Public Domain) Thanks to Miltons Paradise Lost, the English knew of the Divine Comedy, and the first full translation of the poem was made in 1802. This was followed by a translation by Henry Francis Cary, which would be illustrated by William Blake, who produced 102 watercolor illustrations before his death in 1827. Blakes images exude vitality with splashy color and naive figures, but they lack the majesty of Dore. The Pre-Raphaelite movement also dedicated many a canvas to the subject, complementing Dantes descriptive verse with lavish imagery. Dante Running From the Three Beasts by William Blake. In 1824, artist John Linnell commissioned Blake to illustrate Dantes Divine Comedy. (Public Domain) Dante disembarked in the New World thanks to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Longfellow, who spent many years in Europe, had started translating sections of the Divine Comedy as early as 1839. His admiration for the work inspired his own 1855 opus, the Song of Hiawatha, the first epic poem of the United States. As Dante had sought to unify Italians through language, Longfellow aspired to knit together the new inhabitants of North America and its indigenous people by composing a love story set among Native American tribes against a backdrop of its natural beauty. A 2013 edition of Longfellows translation of Dantes Divine Comedy. Love, that in gentle heart is quickly learnt, Dante wrote, proposing that no one is immune to the power of love. Longfellow translated that spirit into the nascent literature of the United States, as well as opening access for American students to read Dantes work. With myriad translations in poetry or prose, and depictions from etchings to animations, Dantes poem reveals that indeed, love is a many-splendored thing. Elizabeth Lev is an American-born art historian who teaches, lectures, and guides in Rome. District Attorney Wont Seek New Death Sentence Against Scott Peterson: Court Papers A district attorney in California said that prosecutors wont seek the death penalty against Scott Peterson, who was convicted and sentenced for murdering his pregnant wife, Laci, roughly two decades ago. According to the Stanislaus County district attorneys office, prosecutors will drop efforts to try to restore the death penalty sentence, reported CNN. It was thrown out last year by the California Supreme Court. District Attorney Birgit Fladager said in her filing in San Mateo Superior Court that the family of Laci Peterson has no doubt Scott Peterson killed her and the couples unborn son Connerand they said he deserves the death penalty, reported The Associated Press. However, they dont wish to pursue the punishment because this process is simply too painful to endure once again, said Fladager in the filing. Peterson (left) was convicted in 2005 of murdering his wife Laci (right) when she was 8-months-pregnant with their son Conner. (Modesto Police Department) The People have met and discussed with the victims family what a new penalty trial would involve, pursuant to their rights under Marsys Law, the court documents stated. While the family of Laci and Conner believe there is no doubt that defendant is guilty of these crimes and that his conduct warrants the death penalty and defendant is deserving of the punishment of death, the family has decided this process is simply too painful to endure once again. Peterson has long maintained his innocence, and a judge is considering whether to grant him a new trial because a juror didnt disclose that she had sought a restraining order against her boyfriends ex-girlfriend. If the new trial isnt sought, Peterson will face life imprisonment. Peterson was convicted of the first-degree murder of his wife and the second-degree murder of the couples unborn son during a highly publicized trial in 2004. Do You Have His Medals? Commentary He was six-foot-four-inches tall. Born May 11, 1919, in Houston, Texas, Harold Johnson would have been a giant among the English during World War II. This American war hero gave his medals to a little boy who sat next to him on a train on the first leg of his journey home from England. He completed 40 missions navigating B-24 bombers over Germany and France. That was the ticket home for U.S. Army Air Corps flyers. He died in a tragic road accident on June 11, 1951, leaving his wife and three young daughters without their father. His now grown children would like to find that little English boy. To learn more about her fathers war service, Mary Lou Johnson Ridinger recently toured the 390th Memorial Museum in Tucson, Arizona. Mary Lou and her late husband Jay George Ridinger rediscovered Mayan jade in the jungles of Guatemala 40 years ago. Tall, blonde, and Texan Mary Lou makes the same impression on diminutive Guatemalans her father must have made on the English decades before. Mary Lou described how the Johnsons got to Texas, saying great-grandfather Peter Johnson emigrated from Denmark in 1870. He landed in Galveston. That was the port of entry for Danish ships. There were a lot of Danish immigrants in Texas. Towns had newspapers printed in Danish and Norwegian. Great-grandfather likely was a farmer. Grandfather Fred Johnson was a Houston city slicker who married Florence Smith from Texas. I have a feeling my grandmother invented her own first name, Florence, Florence Smith. Smith is the most common name in America, Smith and Johnson, Mary Lou reminisced. Although she lost her father when she was only a young girl, Mary Lou has vivid memories of her dad after he returned from the war. The family moved to New Mexico when Mary Lou was 2 years old. Mary Lou remembers that her father took them out hunting Indian artifacts. They lived in Albuquerque. The family had an old Spanish ranch near Pecos, New Mexico. We were only there May through September because of the snow, Mary Lou explained, the family tale warmed with memories of her father. I got to sit on the front fender of the car to open gates. I fell off once. I was about four, four-and-a-half. It was a rich fantasy life for me and my sister Georgie. There was Cow Creek. We had Treasure Island. The water was only one-foot deep but we were sure we were explorers. Wed go to Lookout Point or Treasure Island. The ranch had five cabins. My sister and I have a lot of fond memories. Top-Left: Lt. Harold Johnson stands with Air Corps friends. Center-Left: Lt. Johnson during World War II. Bottom-Left: Lt. Johnson (C) stands with friends in November 1942. Top-Right: Lt. Johnson (L) in North Africa in 1943. Bottom-Right: Lt. Johnson (Front-Center) is seen in Norwich, England, in 1944. (Courtesy of Mary Lou Ridinger) For Mary Lou and her sister Georgeann, called Georgie, their memories of dad ended too soon. Their little sister Christina was only 1 years old when their father was killed in a tragic automobile crash. Dad taught me how to ride a bike about a week before he died. We lived in Albuquerque. My sister and I had a room in the attic of the farm. Dad read to us every night. Dad went to law school. He got his law degree one-week before he died. He was 31 years old. Every family has memories. Cherished moments that remain. Pictures that linger. Thoughts that seem long forgotten that go away then return at odd times and in different ways. After his return from service, Harold Johnson studied law at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. He would sit in a big wing chair. Mary Lou and her sister Georgie perched on the wings of the chair above his head. They brushed his hair while he studied. Johnson had to quit the University of Texas to enlist for military service in the fall of 1942. He was in flight training when he married on Feb. 12, 1943. After the ceremony, the 23-year-old cadet got on a train to return to flight training in Tucson with the U.S. Army Air Corps. Mary Lou says the choice of the Air Corps may have been because his new brother-in-law and best friend was a flight instructor in Tucson. It didnt work out as planned. Johnson washed out of flight school. He was on his way to becoming a pilot when he pissed off his flight instructor. He then took training to become a navigator. He was sent to North Africa. The Allies had the Germans on the run by then and dad was shipped to Norwich, England a month later, Mary Lou related. Describing their visit to the 390th Bomb Group museum in Tucson, Mary Lou says, When we saw the navigators seat on the B-24 in the 390th Museum, it was facing backwards in front of the pilot and co-pilot. On one mission dad got up to talk to the pilot. When he came back his seat was blown to bits. Top-Left: Lt. Harold Johnson poses with his wife, Betty. (Courtesy of Mary Lou Ridinger) Top-Right: Mary Lou Ridinger holds a photograph of her family. Her father, Lt. Johnson, was killed shortly after this picture was taken. (Myriam Moran, 2014) Bottom: Mary Lou Ridinger stands next to a memorial wall for her father, Lt. Johnson. (Myriam Moran, 2014) Johnson was stationed in Wendling, England. Airmen would take the train into Norwich for rest and recreation. When they did 40 missions they could go home. That was all they had to do, bombing over Germany and France. On July 7, 1944, Johnson got home. Mary Lou recounted the story of her fathers train ride from Norwich to London. Dad was so relieved that hed done his duty and he was going home. He didnt send a telegram to my mom. He wanted to surprise her. We think he was being sent home the last week in June 1944. He would have gone from Wendling to Norwich then London. A little English boy sat next to him on the train. The young lad asked the tall Texan about his medals and whether hed dropped bombs on Germany. My father gave the boy his medals. We have a photo of my father being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. When he was discharged from service, dad was a captain. Captain Harold Johnsons family would like to find that little English boy. They would like to know what their father told him on the train. They would like to learn what happened to the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with Three Clusters their father had been awarded for his courage and valor in World War II. They would like to share memories with this child of so long ago that by chance sat next to their father on the first leg of his journey home. And perhaps know a little more about a man who died when they themselves were only children. That little English boy would be an older man now, Mary Lou said. Are you the little boy on the train who was given Captain Harold Johnsons medals? Perhaps his family or friends who may have been told about the encounter so long ago? Please write the editor and let us know. There are three daughters of this war hero who would like to meet you. Mary Lou Ridinger (2nd L), daughter of Lt. Harold Johnson, is pictured with her family, including her son, daughter, grandson, and granddaughter. (Myriam Moran, 2014) John Christopher Fine is a marine biologist with two doctoral degrees, has authored 25 books, including award-winning books dealing with ocean pollution. He is a liaison officer of the U.N. Environment Program and the Confederation Mondiale for ocean matters. He is a member of the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences in honor of his books in the field of education. He has received international recognition for his pioneering work investigating toxic waste contamination of our land and water. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Tourists are seen at the Tidal Basin across from the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, on March 19, 2019. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Elites Choose Ugliness in Federal Architecture, No Matter What the People Prefer Commentary The firing of Justin Shubow and three other members of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (they refused to resign, having committed no fault) reveals something disturbing about democracy as its at present constituted: namely how easily elites may override the express preferences of the majority of citizens, even in matters non-political. Shubow was the progenitor of President Donald Trumps executive order that, henceforth, the classical style of architecture should be the default style of all new federal buildings. This was soon condemned as dictatorial by the architectural lobby, although it was nothing of the kind. It didnt decree that all buildings in America should be built in this style, only new federal ones, a tiny proportion of the total: unlike the modernist architects of the past who wanted to dictate the style of architecture for the whole world, and to a surprising and horrifying extent succeeded, with devastating effects on the beauty of cities everywhere. Ideally, it shouldnt have been necessary or even advisable to issue such an executive order: good architecture should emerge from a whole culture, spontaneously, as a manifestation of a widespread aesthetic sensibility. Unfortunately, we dont live in a world like that; and it often seems as if the people with the least aesthetic sensibility of all are precisely those who most need it, namely the architects. They have done everything possible to make the world uglier than it was before they set to work on it. What is curious about the revocation of Trumps executive order and the sacking of Subow et al. is that a large majority of Americans would prefer federal buildings to be in the classical style, rather than in the various, largely hideous styles favored by the architectural cabal. A larger majority of Republicans than Democrats prefer the classical style, but nevertheless, the majority of Democrats who prefer it is very substantial. Here, at least, or at last, is a subject upon which the partisans of both parties can agree. Its surely odd, then, that a government that calls itself democratic, and Democratic, should turn its back on a policy that is consonant with the tastes and wishes of the majority of the people, and remove the very public servants who would oversee its implementation. Now, its perfectly true that the government cannot simply do what the majority of the population wishes in any and all circumstances. From time to time, the majority of the population may wish for something extremely foolish or even wicked. An electoral dictatorship is to be avoided, as the framers of the Constitution very well knew. But if ever there were a case in which it would be safe to follow the instincts and wishes of the people, this would be it. To see why, one has only to make the painful comparison between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials on the one hand, and the Eisenhower Memorial on the other. Its sobering to recall that the Jefferson Memorial is far from ancient; it was inaugurated almost within living memory. In other words, the almost complete collapse of architectural taste and ability has been sudden. You see it in Paris, too, where hardly a single building constructed after World War II doesnt detract greatly from, or even destroy for a considerable distance, the beauty of the city. As for the City of London, its name should be changed to Dubai-on-Thamesexcept that this would now be an insult to Dubai. Why would the administration reverse a popular policy under no pressing necessity to do so? The first reason, obviously, is that the policy was proposed by its hated and despised predecessor, from which it wants to appear the polar opposite in all things, irrespective of what they are. The second, probably more important, is that it has an elective affinity with the architectural elite which despises the opinion of the majority as ignorant, ill-informed, and uncomprehending, exactly the charges leveled against those whose who didnt vote for it. The fact that this ignorant, ill-informed, and uncomprehending public has no problem whatever in comprehending the Taj Mahal or Notre Dame doesnt give them pauseperhaps it thinks that in 500 years time, its own work will finally be appreciated by a more enlightened public. But how does the administration think it can get away with it? The answer is, easily. The fact is that, when voters go to the polls, they vote for a package, not for a single item. Its unlikely that the question of the architectural style of future federal buildings ranks very high in their concerns, and therefore, they arent going to choose whom to vote for on its basis alone, however much they might prefer the style of such buildings to be classical. Therefore, the administration is better off pandering to a powerful activist lobby, that of most architects, than complying with the wishes of a large majority. There are constant asymmetrical struggles in modern democracies. There are lobbies on the one hand that are single-minded and focused on a single question. If thwarted, they have the capacity, and the determination, to make a lot of trouble for those in power. There are large numbers of people on the other hand whose views differ from those of the lobbies, but for whom each of the subjects of the lobbies interest is just one thing among many others, and rarely the most important thing at that. It follows that lobbies may easily prevail over the wishes of the majority, even when the latter are perfectly reasonable, indeed meritorious. In a modern democracy, therefore, there is a constant triumph of what people dont want. How important is the question of architecture? In my opinion, verybut not everyone agrees. When I grow agitated over some monstrosity or other (which means that I am often agitated when I venture out because there are so many of them), my wife tells me to calm down. What is done is done, she says, and cannot be undone. But that is precisely the point. Its true that some of these monstrosities, perhaps, could be demolished, but not all of them, so that we are in effect condemning future generations to live in unnecessary ugliness. Perhaps, growing up with it, they will not realize it, so it will not matter. Perhaps, then, my wife is right after all: but yet, however hard I try, I cannot feel that she is. Theodore Dalrymple is a retired doctor. He is contributing editor of the City Journal of New York and the author of 30 books, including Life at the Bottom. His latest book is Embargo and Other Stories. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The Royal Hobart Hospital in the CBD of Tasmania's capital city, Hobart, on Tuesday, November 16, 2020. (AAP Image/Chris Crerar) Gas Leak in Tasmanian Salmon Facility Leaves 20 People Hospitalised More than 20 people have been hospitalised following a gas leak at a Tasmanian salmon processing factory. The incident occurred at Tassals Strathblane facility near Dover in southern Tasmania, with staff evacuating the premises at approximately 11:30 a.m. on May 30. An initial assessment by the Tasmania Fire Service found the gas leak was likely caused by carbon monoxide from the operations of forklifts inside the processing facility. Robert Flanagan from the Australian Workers Union told ABC Radio Hobart said the forklift in question was not fit for purpose. We dont understand how that couldve happened, and we have been in discussions with the company yesterday [May 30] afternoon regarding the matter, through into the evening. Twenty people were taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) for assessment, with six remaining overnight in a stable condition after having suspected carbon monoxide poisoning. On arrival [the crews] found that people had evacuated the building and there were some people that presented there with some respiratory illness and some people that had been vomiting, Acting District Officer Barry Bones said, reported the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). A few people started to present with more illness, and thats a classic way this gas affects people. Most people were treated by Tasmania Ambulance as a precautionary measure. Its just to make sure that people dont go downhill. According to the Tasmania governments Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS) website: Carbon monoxide is generally not produced in harmful concentrations when fuels burn properly. But faulty or poorly maintained appliances may produce carbon monoxide. Some symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, nausea, dizziness, breathlessness, collapsing, and losing consciousness. WorkSafe Tasmania said it is investigating the incident. Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff thanked emergency services who provided care to employees requiring medical attention. Id like to acknowledge the Hobart Private Hospital for working so quickly to activate plans for making the emergency room available to cater for the extra patient volume as a result of this incident, Rockliff said. In a statement, Tassal said it has since been given clearance by authorities to recommence operations. AAP contributed to this report. A Black Lives Matter banner hanging over the U.S. Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina in a file photo. (U.S. Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina) GOP Bill Aims to Ban Black Lives Matter, Political Flags From Embassies Republican lawmakers have introduced a proposal that would prohibit U.S. embassies and consulates from flying political flags, such as those associated with the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, after a number of diplomatic missions displayed the BLM flag on the anniversary of George Floyds death. Called the Stars and Stripes Act of 2021 (pdf), the measure was introduced by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) and co-sponsored by a number of GOP members of Congress, including new Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.). Our beautiful American flag should fly over our U.S. embassies around the worldnot the flag of a political organization founded by Marxists, Stefanik said in a statement, referring to the reported links between BLM founders and Marxism. A number of U.S. embassies and consulates flew the BLM flag on May 25, the anniversary of Floyds death, following authorization from Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The U.S. consulate in Thessaloniki, Greece, for example, raised the BLM flag on its official flagpole just under the U.S. national flag, saying in a statement that the move was to honor Floyd and stand in solidarity with other nations to advance racial justice, a key priority within U.S. foreign policy. We raise this flag to mark one year since the murder of George Floyd we honor Mr. Floyd and stand in solidarity with other nations to advance racial justice, a key priority within U.S. foreign policy #BLM pic.twitter.com/IdApjPaJYR US Consulate Thess (@USConsulateThes) May 25, 2021 The U.S. embassy in Athens, Greece, posted a video showing the BLM flag obscuring the official embassy seal. We raise this banner in honor of George Floyd, murdered one year ago today, in solidarity with people around the globe seeking a world without racial discrimination and a future with equal opportunity for all. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/cVIkfH5Yra U.S. Embassy Athens (@USEmbassyAthens) May 25, 2021 The Biden administration has made racial equity and support for underserved communities a national security priority, with a State Department memo (pdf), first reported on by Foreign Policy several days ahead of the anniversary of Floyds death, reinforcing this objective as the context for authorizing the display of BLM flags. This effort is a top priority for the Administrations domestic and foreign policy; the United States cannot credibly message on human rights abroad if it does not address these same issues at home, the memo reads. The document gave chiefs of U.S. diplomatic missions permission to display BLM flags and banners during calendar year 2021, if appropriate in light of local conditions, noting that this is an authorization, not a requirement. The Department supports the use of the term Black Lives Matter in messaging content, speeches, and other diplomatic engagements with foreign audiences to advance racial equity and access to justice on May 25 and beyond, the memo states. We encourage posts to focus on the need to eliminate systemic racism and its continued impact. The GOP bill would ban the display of any flags or banners at any U.S. diplomatic or consular posts with the exception of six: the flag of the United States; the flag of the country where the post is located; the flag of a U.S. state or territory; a departmental or secretarial flag; the flag of an armed force of the United States; and a flag meant to honor prisoners of war or those designated as missing-in-action. It is inappropriate for President Biden and Secretary Blinken to authorize and encourage the display of inherently political flags that are in no way affiliated with the U.S. Government over American embassies overseas, Malliotakis said in a statement. The American flag is a beacon of freedom and hope for oppressed peoples around the world; it should be the primary flag flown above our embassies and that is what my legislation seeks to accomplish. A Black Lives Matter banner is seen hanging over the U.S. Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina in a file photo. (U.S. Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina) GOP Representative Proposes Bill Banning Black Lives Matter Flags at US Embassies A New York congresswoman has introduced a bill that would ban Black Lives Matter flags and other political flags from being flown at U.S. embassies around the world. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) introduced the Stars and Stripes Act of 2021 after Black Lives Matter flags were seen, according to photos, being flown outside embassies. It is inappropriate to authorize and encourage the display of inherently political flags that are in no way affiliated with the U.S. government over American embassies overseas, Malliotakis said in a statement on May 28. Her office noted that Black Lives Matter, which was founded by several self-described Marxists, has a number of partisan political demands on its website, including barring former President Donald Trump from holding office in the future, expelling GOP lawmakers who voted against certifying the election results earlier this year, defunding the police, and passing left-wing criminal justice reform legislation. The congresswoman further noted that the American flag, for some, represents a beacon of freedom and hope for oppressed peoples around the world and should be the only flag flown at embassies. Whats more, she claimed, the directive to fly Black Lives Matter flags is an insult to members of the U.S. armed forces during Memorial Day. It is absolutely ridiculous, the New York Republican added, that legislation is needed to correct this issue. The Black Lives Matter flags were reportedly flown to show support to mark the one-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd. His death, which led to the murder conviction of a former Minneapolis police officer, sparked demonstrations, violence, and riots across the United States last year. The Epoch Times has contacted the Department of State for comment about reports of an internal directive to fly the flags. Photos uploaded online show the Black Lives Matter flags and banners hanging or being flown at embassies around the world. Its not clear how many embassies put up the banners or flags. Previously, the State Department authorized the flying of LGBTQ flags in May, which reversed a Trump-era policy prohibiting the move. In recent days, Black Lives Matter has faced intense scrutiny over one of its founders finances and real estate portfolio. Black Lives Matter, in statements to The Epoch Times, said that co-founder Patrisse Cullors did not misuse any funds or donations and described the reports as part of a right-wing smear campaign. But last week, Cullors told The Associated Press that she will be departing the organization, claiming that the move was planned in advance. According to AP, Black Lives Matter took in about $90 million last year following Floyds death. Black Lives Matter has also faced significant criticism from the family members of black people whose names were chanted during protests last year. Tamika Palmer, the mother of Breonna Taylor, alleged that local activists used her daughters officer-involved death to benefit themselves. I have never personally dealt with BLM Louisville and personally have found them to be fraud [sic], Palmer wrote in a Facebook post earlier this year. MBABANE You are stuck with your choice of Member of Parliament until his term ends! The lack of legislation authorising the electorate to recall their Parliament representative renders the former powerless. This is because members of the Seventh Parliament removed a clause which sought to give the electorate powers to recall them in the event they are not satisfied with their execution of duty in office. The clause which was removed was called the Power of recall, which was in the Constitution Bill. As a result, only the King has powers to call for the prorogation or dissolution of Parliament and the electorate is stuck with their representatives until 2023. The call for the electorate to recall their MPs comes after the ongoing debate about how the late University of Eswatini Law student, Thabani Nkomonye, died with suspicions that the police may have had a hand in it. Particular As a result, some members of the public, in particular on social media, took it upon themselves to call and send messages to quiet MPs, in particular with regard to the silence on the #JusticeForThabani movement. Some of the members of the public called for their MPs to step down because they were not doing anything for them in Parliament unlike Hosea MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Siphofaneni MP Mduduzi Gawuzela Simelane, who were perceived to be the only vocal and active MPs. The silent MPs have further been threatened with non-reelection come 2023, which is when the next national elections are expected to be held. A political recall is the process by which citizens can remove elected officials from office before the end of their term. This process typically includes the circulation of petitions by recall organisers, the evaluation of signatures by election officials, and a public vote if the petitions are deemed to have sufficient valid signatures. According to a former member of the Seventh Parliament, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the clause of the power of recall was viewed by the elected members as unfair to them. He said the power of recall had no room in a democratic situation. He said the removed clause gave voters the ability to terminate the term of a MP due to inability to represent them and replace that person with another representative. The former MP said he voted against the proposal and hoped that it would be opposed again should the Constitution be amended or such a clause be piloted again. He stated that the power of recall was directed at the then 55 (now 59) elected members of the House of Assembly and did not include appointees. He revealed that it was also quiet even on those 10 people appointed by the House of Assembly into Senate. Government Must Release All Records of Pandemic Response Spending Pork barrel spending in pandemic response means more oversight should have been built into Bill C-13 Commentary The COVID-19 Emergency Response Act was created in order for the government to be able to move quickly in response to the unfolding crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bill C-13 was introduced in Parliament on March 24, 2020, and received royal assent the very next day. Opposition and government members worked together in a rare display of unity to bring the bill into force. A process that usually takes months was done in a few days. But with documents now coming to light that demonstrate some very questionable government expenditures under the guise of pandemic response, it appears that the opposition parties should have pressured for more oversight measures within the bill before giving it such quick approval. It is understandable why the Liberal government sought the authority and ability to move quickly with spending measures in response to the pandemic. We were in the early stages of an unfolding and unprecedented emergency. There simply wasnt time for extended parliamentary debates on every government action that may be required as issues developed. We didnt know how long outbreaks would last, how seriously they would impact business and health care facilities, or how much government response would be required in order to address situations. It is easy to see why the opposition parties did not want to appear as if they were hindering government efforts to provide pandemic relief. The nation was gripped with fear as a pandemic swept the world in a way unseen in generations. Citizens would not have responded favourably if it appeared that opposition parties were playing political games and obstructing any measures that would aid people and businesses during this crisis. Opposition party leaders were in a tough position, and they chose to pass Bill C-13 with virtually no scrutiny. In hindsight, this may have been a poor choice on their part. Whenever there is a crisis, opportunists spring out of the woodwork in hopes of taking advantage of it. The COVID-19 pandemic is proving to be no exception to this rule. Members of Parliament issued a House order last October demanding the release of over a million records related to pandemic spending. To date, only less than 1 percent8,000of these records have been disclosed, and within them there is evidence of rampant mismanagement and questionable lobbying efforts. Just imagine what is hiding within the 992,000 or so remaining documents. There was an utter feeding frenzy of lobbying for government contracts as over $600 billion was borrowed and disbursed by the government with little to no oversight thanks to the emergency powers that had been granted. According to Blacklocks Reporter, which broke the story, there were countless sole-sourced contracts with advance payments made. One former Liberal MP was part of a consortium of companies that got a $237 million contract for ventilators that were unapproved at the time and ended up each costing about $10,000 more than the original U.S. model on which they were based. A lobbyist won a $118 million contract for a client after boasting of getting things done. A Liberal Party-connected lobbyist contacted the cabinet seeking a contract for his son. The examples are numerous and galling. The need for speed with the government does not have to preclude the need for oversight. Surely some of the larger contracts issued could have been subjected to some cursory examination by an all-party committee before they were issued. Opposition MPs demonstrated that they were willing and able to work co-operatively with the government in light of the emergency. They could have done so in an oversight committee just as well as they did in Parliament when they gave the government sweeping spending powers. In a period of crisis, it is vital that a government be held more accountable in its actions, not less. Opposition parties were derelict in their role to provide constructive critique to the government, as they chose to give the government a pass on spending rather than risk losing political points with the electorate. Sometimes making the right choice is more important than making the best political choice, and that applies more than ever during an emergency. There is no getting the toothpaste back into the tube now. All that opposition parties can do is continue to pressure the government to release its records of spending and to work on holding the government accountable after the fact. In light of what little we have seen, it is a pretty safe bet that some bombshells still await within the hundreds of thousands of records that are being withheld by the Privy Council Office. What we can do though is to learn from this. While this pandemic appears to be winding down, we can be assured that one day, the world will face a sweeping crisis of some sort again. Not only should emergency plans be created with a swift reaction to a crisis in mind, but they should also have accountability measures built into them. We also need to ensure that every possible dollar spent goes toward the actual crisis rather than into the pockets of unprincipled contractors and lobbyists. This is a mistake that we must never repeat. Cory Morgan is a columnist and business owner based in Calgary. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. A woman holds up a paper with the words #Save47 outside of the West Kowloon court building in Hong Kong on May 31, 2021. (Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times) Cases of 47 Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Figures May Move to High Court, With Possible Life Sentence The 47 Hong Kong pro-democracy opposition figures, who were charged with conspiracy to commit subversion under the citys draconian national security law, may have their cases moved to a higher court where they could face heavier sentences. At the West Kowloon court building on May 31, Judge Victor So ruled that the court case will resume on July 8, with the possibility that the case will be transferred to the High Court. The judge also rejected the bail application of one of the defendantsformer district counselor Tiffany Yuen. Charges against the activists under the national security law that Beijing imposed last year are punishable with life in prison. The 47 opposition figures were arrested and charged in late February, and only 11 of them were subsequently granted bail. The remaining 36, including Yuen, had been held in custody for three months before the May 31 court session. Included among the 11 granted bail was Helen Wong, a former Hong Kong lawmaker. People show their support for the 47 pro-democracy opposition figures outside of the West Kowloon court building in Hong Kong on May 31, 2021. (Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times) On May 31, Wong left the court building without speaking to reporters. Before leaving, she waved to supporters, who shouted Hongkongers, add oil, a phrase that means keep it up in Chinese. Aside from Yuen and Wong, others accused of subversion include former lawmakers Claudia Mo, Leung Kwok-hung, and Alvin Yeung. Shortly after the court session, Benedict Rogers, co-founder and chief executive of London-based NGO Hong Kong Watch, and Samuel Chu, managing director of the Washington-based Hong Kong Democracy Council, took to Twitter to express their dismay. The opaque nature of the court proceeding is deeply alarming. The NSL [national security law] has thoroughly infected every courtroom and every ruling in the Hong Kong judiciary, Chu wrote. There is no chance that anyone would receive a fair trial in this environment. Rogers agreed with Chus assessment in a post of his own. Unbelievably outrageous and unjust. The world cannot stand by while the Chinese Communist Party regime does this to Hong Kong, Rogers wrote. We need action urgently. We need Magnitsky sanctions now, he said. Hong Kongs freedoms have been on a rapid decline since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) imposed the national security law on Hong Kong in July last year. The law criminalizes vaguely defined crimes such as subversion and secession with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. People queue up to vote in an unofficial primary for pro-democracy candidates ahead of legislative elections in September, in Hong Kong on July 12, 2020. (Vincent Yu/AP Photo) The Case When the 47 were charged in February, it drew international condemnation, including from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. The subversion charge against the 47 opposition figures was in connection to their participation in an unofficial primary vote held by Hong Kongs pan-democracy camp in July 2020, two months ahead of the scheduled Legislative Council (LegCo) elections. The objective behind the vote was for the camp to field the most promising candidates to run for legislative officewith the goal to ultimately secure a majoritymore than 35 seatsin the 70-seat LegCo. Over 600,000 Hong Kong residents cast ballots in the primary, which was held on July 11 and July 12, 2020. The LegCo elections, initially scheduled for Sept. 6, 2020, were eventually postponed by Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, who at that time cited the local surge in CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus infections, which causes the disease COVID-19. The next LegCo elections are currently scheduled for Dec. 19. The LegCo has recently been expanded to 90 seats after it passed an electoral reform bill. Critics have condemned the bill for curbing the citys democratic representation, because the number of seats directly elected by Hong Kong citizens has been reduced from 35 to 20. People hold up five fingers to support the 47 pro-democracy opposition figures outside of the West Kowloon court building in Hong Kong on May 31, 2021. (Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times) Before the May 31 court session began, more than 100 people lined up outside the courthouse to hear the case. Some of them showed their support for the activists by dressing in black, the color associated with the anti-CCP, pro-democracy movement that started in June 2019. Others gestured with five fingers, representing the five demands, including universal suffrage, that Hong Kong protesters have been calling for in their movement. Some flashed their cellphones, which was a common act when protesters held indoor or evening protests since the start of the movement. Ryan Neelam, Australias deputy consul-general in Hong Kong, speaks to reporters outside of the West Kowloon court building in Hong Kong on May 31, 2021. (Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times) Several consular representatives in Hong Kong also showed up to hear the case, including Johannes Harms from Germany, Joakim Ladeborn from Sweden, Rogier Hekking from the Netherlands, and Ryan Neelam from Australia. We are here to observe the court proceedings because when these people were arrested, our foreign ministry expressed strong concerns. And we are here in line with the transparency of the judicial system in Hong Kong to observe what happens today, Neelam, who is Australias deputy consul-general in Hong Kong, told local media. Other local activists who attended the hearing included Emily Lau, former chairman of the citys opposition Democratic Party, as well as retired bishop Cardinal Joseph Zen. The Hong Kong bureau of The Epoch Times contributed to this report. Frank Coburn poses with his daughter while recovering from a double lung transplant at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. (Courtesy of Frank Coburn) Huntington Beach Man Receives Nations First Minimally Invasive Double-Lung Transplant A Huntington Beach mans life was saved after he received the nations first minimally invasive double-lung transplant surgery. Frank Coburn, 57, had trouble breathing for years. With previous doctors diagnosing him with asthma, no medication was helping his case. Then, in March 2020, he received more tests and was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, a type of interstitial lung disease. This was unfortunate news for Coburn, who said he soon discovered that people only have about two to five years to live after such a diagnosis. In the coming months, Coburns oxygen levels significantly decreased and he had to be connected to oxygen part-time. Last December Coburn contracted COVID-19, which made matters worse. Once I got COVID, literally within 24 hours I was hooked on my oxygen full time, because I couldnt keep my oxygen levels above about 90, Coburn told The Epoch Times. Id have these coughing spasms that would last for anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half, where it was really, really bad. Several times in the middle of the night when Id be downstairs coughing, I wondered if my wife would come down and find me dead on the floor. Getting close to death its daunting to say the least. Frank Coburn hugs Dr. Pedro Catarino who performed lifesaving lung surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. (Courtesy of Frank Coburn) Coburn said his pulmonologist, who had originally diagnosed his pulmonary fibrosis, had really pushed his insurance company to send him to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles because of its lung transplant program. That, Coburn said, changed everything. He believed firmly that I needed to be in [Cedars-Sinais] lung transplant program, and Im so thankful, he said. I can tear up when I think about how thankful I am for several people along the way, but this doctor was one that really pushed to make sure that I got out to Cedar-Sinai. Coburn underwent numerous tests in February to determine whether he would qualify for a lung transplant. After learning he qualified, Coburn on March 10 he was put on the lung transplant list. By March 15, he received a call that a pair of lungs was available from a donor. His surgery was performed March 16, with his surgeon ultimately deciding to proceed with a new minimally invasive technique that had been developed in Germany. It was the first time the procedure was completed in the United States. A typical lung transplant is done through a clamshell incision with or without support from a heart/lung machine, Coburns surgeon, Dr. Pedro Catarino, told The Epoch Times. Franks operation was done through bilateral mini-thoracotomies without any support from a heart lung machine. The mini-thoracotomy technique is technically demanding and requires special minimally invasive instruments, He said. Catarino is the director of aortic surgery in the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai. The surgeon said the new minimally invasive technique will now be the default at Cedars-Sinai, though some patients will still need a larger incision. He said Coburn was a good candidate for the surgery due to his good health prior to contracting lung disease. We think this technique will really benefit older, more frail, patients who might otherwise have struggled after a standard lung transplant, Catarino said. According to Coburn, the decision was made on the surgery table to use the new technique. He only realized a few days later, when he emerged from the fog of surgery and looked down and wondered where his incisions were. They were so small they were hard to spot, he said. Coburn also said hes beyond thankful to the donor and their family for giving him the gift of life, and the ability to continue being with his wife of 30 years and his two daughters. I was always a donor before, but boy, this really brought it home just what it means and how big of a deal it is, he said. I was just one person that this donor helped live, you know? Their heart probably helped somebody else, and their eyes could have saved somebody elses eyesight; its just an amazing thing. Not only does he feel lucky to have the new lungs, but Coburn said the team at Cedars-Sinai, from the surgeon to the nursing crew to the support staff, all did a phenomenal job. Coburn said that life after surgery has been good, and that the biggest change for him is being able to take full deep breaths again without enduring a coughing spasm. I can breathe better than I did 20 years ago, he said. Lab Leaks Happen All the Time, Virus Origins Need Investigation, Former FDA Commissioner Says Dr. Chris Gottlieb, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said on May 30 that uncovering the true origins of the CCP virus is key to helping identify potential gaps in safety protocols and reduce the risk of future pandemics. Speaking on CBSs Face the Nation, Gottlieb said that lab leaks happen frequently and that accurately pinpointing how the pathogen came to infect humans has important implications for safety measures that could prevent another outbreak. These kinds of lab leaks happen all the time, actually, Gottlieb told the outlet. Even here in the United States, weve had mishaps. And in China, the last six known outbreaks of SARS-1 have been out of labs, including the last known outbreak, which was a pretty extensive outbreak that China initially wouldnt disclose that it came out of a lab. Gottlieb said the theory that the CCP virus leaked from a lab, rather than making a natural jump from animal to human, has been building steam. Weve done an exhaustive search for the so-called intermediate host, the animal that could have been a host to this virus before it spread to humans. We have not found such an animal, Gottlieb said, adding that the theory that the virus emerged at a food market in Wuhan, China, has also been fully disproven. The case for the lab leak theory is further buoyed by circumstantial evidence pointing to known issues at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), the facility at the heart of the controversy, he said. We know that that lab was poorly constructed, had poor controls, Gottlieb said. We know the lab was engaging in very high-risk research, including infecting transgenic animals, animals with fully human immune systems. We know they were working with SARS-like viruses that have never been disclosed before. And now we have new evidence that some lab workers became infected right at the time that this virus was believed to be first introduced. A recent report in The Wall Street Journal cited unnamed U.S. government sources familiar with a previously undisclosed U.S. intelligence report indicating that three researchers at the Wuhan institute were hospitalized in November 2019 with symptoms consistent with seasonal flu and COVID-19. The CCP has denied any connection between the viruss origins and the Wuhan lab, and has pushed the natural zoonotic hypothesisthat the virus was transmitted to humans from an animal host, though, as Gottlieb noted, no intermediate host has been found. In addition, the Chinese regime has claimed that the virus originated outside of China. At a May 24 press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian accused the United States of releasing the virus from the Fort Detrick military base in Maryland. Amid questions about the origins of the CCP virus, the WIV has refused to share its raw data, safety logs, and lab records about its work on coronaviruses in bats. China could provide evidence that would be exculpatory here, Gottlieb said. That evidence would include giving access to blood samples from the Wuhan lab staff, as well as other lab records, including some of the original viral source strains. Theyve refused to do that, Gottlieb said. He also said the COVID-19 outbreak speaks to the need for viewing public health through the lens of national security, and urged U.S. intelligence services to become more involved. Traditionally weve relied on international conventions and scientists working together, multilateral agreements to try to assess the risks and try to uncover these kinds of outbreaks. I think we also need to get better surveillance in place and use our tools of national security to help engage in that mission as well, Gottlieb said. His remarks come amid mounting calls for a phase two probe into the virus origins that would be authorized by the World Health Organization (WHO), after the health agencys first report into the matter was met with widespread criticism. The United States and more than a dozen other nations raised concerns about the phase one WHO study, pointing to the studys significant delay and Chinas refusal to share crucial raw data. President Joe Biden announced on May 26 that he has ordered a closer intelligence review of what he characterized as two equally plausible scenarios regarding the origins of the CCP virusone natural, the other a lab leak. Location Off Should Mean Location Off: Google Lawsuit Over Data Collection Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich says that Google continues to collect location data even after users turn off tracking on their smartphones and other devices, citing concerns from company employees about its data-collection practices, in the latest update of a lawsuit against the tech giant. According to documents that were submitted in court by Brnovichs office last week, emails that were sent among Google engineers expressed concerns about the companys location data collection efforts after an Associated Press report in 2018; the engineers suggested that they believed the AP article was correct. So there is no way to give a third-party app your location and not Google? This doesnt sound like something we would want on the front page of the [New York Times], one employee allegedly stated in a newly unredacted section (pdf). I agree with the article. Location off should mean location off, not except for this case or that case, another Google employee stated. One employee, according to the documents, stated that real people who use Googles products just think in terms of location is on, location is off because that is exactly what you have on the front screen of your phone. Brnovich, a Republican, told Fox News that the documents suggest Google knew that it was collecting users information and that such a revelation would upset customers. What weve uncovered so far, I believe, shows that Google themselves understand and appreciate that what they are doing is something that is sneaky and something that would piss off consumers if they knew about it, he said over the past weekend. So the fact they are trying to hide what they are doing, they are being sneaky about it, and using every trick in the arsenal to stop this from seeing the light of day is all consumers need to know about Googles intentions. Google officials didnt respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment by press time. The Attorney General and our competitors driving this lawsuit have gone out of their way to mischaracterize our services, Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda told news outlets after the new documents were released. We have always built privacy features into our products and provided robust controls for location data. We look forward to setting the record straight. Brnovich sued the Mountain View, California-based tech giant last year. The suit also accuses the firm of also pressuring smartphone maker LG and other phone manufacturers into hiding privacy settings that users often used. After Google tested Android versions that made privacy settings easier to find, consumers used them frequently, which the company viewed as troubling, according to the new court documents. Google then buried the privacy features within the settings menu. The reality is that the stuff weve uncovered is shocking, Brnovich added to Fox. It just confirms that Google is doing everything it can to spy on everyone it can, without providing any sort of notice to anyone. According to the documents, employees at Google sent emails that appeared to note that users were growing frustrated by the firms data collection efforts. Fail #2: *I* should be able to get *my* location on *my* phone without sharing that information with Google, one employee said in the unredacted documents. This may be how Apple is eating our lunch, the same employee added. The P4 laboratory building at the Wuhan Institute of Virology is shown in Wuhan, China, on May 13, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) Reporters Say Wuhan Lab Leak Theory Was Disregarded Because It Came From GOP A number of reporters from mainstream media outlets have recently admitted that the Wuhan lab leak theory was originally dismissed because it came from Republicans. Jonathan Karl, ABC News Washington correspondent admitted to ABCs This Week host on Sunday that the lab leak theory was not taken seriously because it came from the Trump administration but, now serious people are saying it needs a serious inquiry. Yes, I think a lot of people have egg on their face, Karl said. This was an idea that was first put forward by Mike Pompeo, secretary of state, Donald Trump, and look, some things may be true even if Donald Trump said them. Because Trump was saying so much else that was just out of control he said flatly this came from that lab, and it was widely dismissed but now serious people are saying it needs a serious inquiry. Besides Trump and Pompeo, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) argued that the origin of the virus should be investigated because it does not appear to have come from the animal market, as claimed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Cotton told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, in a February 2020 interview, that the CCP has not been honest about when they first knew of the virus and the United States cannot trust CCP officials about the origin of the virus. Heres what we do know, this virus did not originate in the Wuhan animal market. Epidemiologists who are widely respected from China have published a study in the international journal The Lancet have demonstrated that several of the original cases did not have any contact with that food market. The virus went into that food market before it came out of that food market, said Cotton. So we dont know where it originated, but we do know that we have to get to the bottom of that. We also know that just a few miles away from that food market is Chinas only biosafety level four super laboratory that researches human infectious diseases. Now, we dont have evidence that this disease originated there, but because of Chinas duplicity and dishonesty from the beginning, we need to at least ask the question, added Cotton. New York Times reporter David Leonhardt also said on Sunday that many journalists disregarded the lab leak theory because Cotton proposed it. I think people made this mistake. I think a lot of people on the political left and a lot of people in the media made the mistake. They said, wow if Tom Cotton is saying something, it cant be true. Or they assumed that. And thats not right, he said on CNN. In addition, NBCs Chuck Todd from Meet the Press admitted that investigation into the origin of the virus got neglected because of politics and anti-Republican sentiment. The WHO has dismissed the idea for months, most scientists scoffed at it, and for many, the lab leak idea got tangled up in politics, said Todd. Mainstream media outlets are now giving the idea of the lab leak theory credibility and urging for a new probe into the origin of the virus, pointing to Chinas refusal to share crucial raw data. President Joe Biden announced on May 26 that he has ordered a closer intelligence review of what he characterized as two equally plausible scenarios of the origins of the CCP virusone natural, the other a lab leak. A member of the Joint Services Honor Guard is reflected on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial prior to a wreath laying ceremony to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, in Washington on March 29, 2016. In 2012, President Barack Obama signed a presidential proclamation declaring March 29 Vietnam Veterans Day. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Memorial Day Regret: I Did Not Serve Commentary Like many of my generationand this is not an excuse, merely, shall we say, a chronological notationI never served in the military. Indeed, thinking myself morally and politically opposed to the Vietnam War, I did what I could to avoid the draft. 1964, the year of my college graduationI was only twenty that June, or was it still Mayit never entered my head I could possibly volunteer for the Army, Navy, Marines, or Air Force. I was going to graduate school, my trusted 2-S exemption in hand. My only sacrifice, if you can call it that, was that I had to forego a dream I now see as more than a little pretentious, to go to film school in France. My draft board insisted on domestic study so off I went to the Yale School of Drama for a somewhat dubious MFA in playwriting and dramatic literature. This left me plenty of time to join the ranks on the Washington Mall shouting Hey, hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today? and Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh, Viet Cong is going to win!, not to mention the ever-popular Off the pig! I could never get myself to say the latter, aware that we were largely privileged middle class (and sometimes more) college kids attacking working class police. The hypocrisy was pretty clear even then. The joke went Whatre you gonna do if someone breaks into your house? Call a hippie? (That fifty-year old joke still pertains.) I remember having many arguments about the war, even screaming ones, with my father who served as a flight surgeon in WWII, although not in theater as they say, but domestically. A couple of years later, when I got married young, my exemption continued. On graduation from Yale, I still could avoid the draft. I didnt even have to burn my card. Or fake an asthma attack. Or bother to chant Hell, no, we wont go! although I probably did on occasion. Im not here to debate the Vietnam War. Thats already been done ad infinitum. And my own political views have long since shifted. What I want to point out is that many of us standing around our barbecues today, flipping ribs, and downing a Sam Adams, do so in a bit of bad faith. That includes me. In many of usagain that includes meis the lingering thought that the reasons we did not serve were not entirely idealistic. A touch of cowardice might have been buried somewhere not too far below the surface. Maybe more than a touch. It was so convenient to be against the war. It got you out of a lot of things. But I remember being startled when one of my college classmates actually died over there not more than a month after we graduated. I didnt know him well. He was in a couple of my classes as a freshman and then we went our separate ways. And he was in ROTC, something I obviously abjured. There were others shortly thereafter. I read about them in the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine. Like the first one, they were usually students I didnt know well, not from my set. They didnt work on the college paper, as I did, or the literary magazine. They didnt act in undergraduate productions of Shakespeare or Tennessee Williams. Now, for the most part, that generation that did not serve has taken over. Its been a long time since we have had a president who was in the military. Bill Clinton was typical of the type who did not serve, a protestor elevated to commander-in-chief. Does he have any twinges on Memorial Day? I wonder. What about Donald Trump, who is so pro-military but did not serve? What does he feel about his lack of service now? It would be interesting to hear. I wouldnt be surprised if he shares my uneasiness. Its rather obvious Joe Biden, who of course never served as well, cares about our fallen in only a perfunctory political manner, laying a wreath and so forth. (At least he does thatunlike his clueless Vice-President.) Instead, this Memorial Day our president is concentrating on what happened in Tulsa 100 years ago, issuing an extremely lengthy, detailed presidential proclamation on the subject that you can be certain Bidenthe plagiarist who barely made it through law schooldid not write himself. It seems Memorial Day is just another opportunity for him to stoke the already-raging flames of racial enmity in our country. Oh, well For me, and I assume for others of my generation, it is a time for reflection. But it wont stop meand shouldnt stop usfrom celebrating our great country. And enjoying ourselves. 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. Mothers of Tamir Rice, Breonna Taylor Criticize Black Lives Matter: Benefitting Off the Blood of Our Loved Ones The mothers of several people whose names have been invoked by Black Lives Matter activists panned the groups co-founder, Patrisse Cullors, for benefitting off the blood of their family members. Cullors announced last week that she would be departing the organization, coming after reports disclosed her finances and real estate holdings. They are benefiting off the blood of our loved ones, and they wont even talk to us, Samaria Rice, the mother of a 12-year-old boy, Tamir Rice, who was shot by police in Cleveland, told the New York Post. Rice added that she contacted Black Lives Matter to help in re-opening a federal investigation into her sons death in 2014, exchanging several emails with Cullors years ago before nothing came of it. I dont believe she is going anywhere, Rice said of the BLM co-founder. Its all a facade, she continued. Shes only saying that to get the heat off her right now. Lisa Simpson, whose son was also killed in a Los Angeles Police Department officer-involved incident in 2016, also criticized the organizations co-founder. Now she doesnt have to show her accountability, Simpson, 52, told the newspaper in reference to Cullors move to leave the organization. She can just take the money and run. In an interview with The Associated Press, Cullors said that recent criticism and reports about her finances were not the reason why shes leaving Black Lives Matter, saying she wants to focus on other endeavors including a book and a TV deal with Warner Bros. Whats more, Cullorswho previously called herself a trained Marxist and has praised Chinese Communist Party founder Mao Zedongalleged that the articles about the multiple homes she owns that are reportedly worth millions of dollars are part of a right-wing smear campaign. The Epoch Times has contacted Black Lives Matter for comment. Black Lives Matter revealed to AP that the group took in $90 million after George Floyds death, which sparked nationwide Black Lives Matter demonstrations, riots, and related violence last year. But, according to Simpson, Black Lives Matter raised $5,000 for her sons funeral and she never received any of the money. In March, both Rice and Simpson panned Black Lives Matters leadership. We never hired them to be the representatives in the fight for justice for our dead loved ones murdered by the police, their statement said, the Post reported. The activists have events in our cities and have not given us anything substantial for using our loved ones images and names on their flyers. We dont want or need yall parading in the streets accumulating donations, platforms, movie deals, etc. off the death of our loved ones, while the families and communities are left clueless and broken. The mother of Breonna Taylor, meanwhile, criticized local Louisville Black Lives Matter activists earlier this year for using her daughters death for their benefit. I could walk in a room full of people who claim to be here for Breonnas family who dont even know who I am, Tamika Palmer said in the since-deleted Facebook post. Ive watched yall raise money on behalf of Breonnas family who has never done a damn thing for us nor have we needed it or asked so talk about fraud. Its amazing how many people have lost focus. Despite compelling evidence that ivermectin can reduce COVID19 deaths, the WHO refuses to recommend this drug for the virus. (kcube - Baytur/Shutterstock) Mounting Evidence Supports Use of Ivermectin A growing list of clinical trials suggest millions could have been saved if ivermectin was commonly used to treat COVID When it comes to the treatment of COVID-19, many Western nations have been hobbled by the politicization of medicine. Throughout 2020, media and many public health experts warned against the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), despite the fact that many practicing doctors were praising its ability to save patients. Most have been silenced through online censorship. Some even lost their jobs for the sin of publicly sharing their successes with the drug. HCQ had been approved for use on COVID-19 under an emergency use authorization (EUA) like that used to fast-track the approval of the vaccines now being taken by millions of Americans. But the EUA for HCQ was withdrawn shortly after a high-profile study published in The Lancet claimed the drug had no benefit in treating COVID and may be harmful. The Lancet study has since been retracted because the datasets used were found to be extremely unreliable. Other studies had found HCQ could have a beneficial impact on COVID. Another decades-old antiparasitic drug that may be even more useful than HCQ is ivermectin. Like HCQ, ivermectin is on the World Health Organizations list of essential drugs, but its benefits are also being ignored by public health officials and buried by mainstream media. Ivermectin is a heartworm medication that has been shown to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro. In the United States, the Frontline COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) has been calling for widespread adoption of ivermectin, both as a prophylactic and for the treatment of all phases of COVID-19. Dr. John Campbell interviewed Dr. Tess Lawrie about the drug and its use against COVID-19. Lawrie is a medical doctor and doctorate researcher who has done a lot of work in South Africa. Shes also the director of Evidence-Based Medicine Consultancy Ltd., which is based in the United Kingdom. She helped organize the British Ivermectin Recommendation Development (BIRD) panel and the International Ivermectin for COVID Conference, held on April 24. Ironically, as a consultant to the World Health Organization and many other public health organizations, her largest clients are the very ones who are now actively suppressing the use of this drug. Ivermectin Useful in All Stages of COVID What makes ivermectin particularly useful in COVID-19 is that it works both in the initial viral phase of the illness, when antivirals are required, as well as the inflammatory stage, when the viral load drops off and anti-inflammatories become necessary. According to Dr. Surya Kant, a medical doctor in India who has written a white paper on ivermectin, the drug reduces replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by several thousand times. Kants paper led several Indian provinces to start using ivermectin, both as a prophylactic and as a treatment for COVID-19 in the summer of 2020. Lawrie bases her recommendation to use ivermectin on several studies and reviews, including her own. She points to a scientific review by Dr. Andrew Hill at Liverpool University, funded by the WHO and UNITAID and published on Jan. 18. It found ivermectin reduced COVID-19 deaths by 75 percent and increased viral clearance. This finding was based on a review of six randomized, controlled trials involving a total of 1,255 patients. Lawrie also did her own meta-analysis, published on Feb. 8, which found a 68 percent reduction in deaths. Here, 13 studies were included in the analysis. This, she explains, is an underestimation of the beneficial effect, because they included a study in which the control arm was given HCQ. Since HCQ is an active treatment that has also been shown to have a positive impact on outcomes, its not surprising that this particular study didnt rate ivermectin as better than the control treatment (which was HCQ). Lawrie added two new randomized controlled trials to her February analysis that included data on mortality and published an updated analysis on March 31 showing a 62 percent reduction in deaths. When four studies with high risk of bias were removed during a subsequent sensitivity analysis, the reduction in deaths increased to 72 percent. Sensitivity analyses are done to double-check and verify results. WHO Still Refuses to Recommend Ivermectin Curiously, when the WHO finally updated its guidance on ivermectin at the end of March 2021, they gave it a thumbs-down, saying more data are needed. They only recommend it for patients who are enrolled in a clinical trial. Yet, they based their negative recommendation on a review that included just five studies and showed a 72 percent reduction in deaths. Lawrie points out discrepancies in this WHO analysis, such as two studies deemed by Lawrie and outside sources to have a high risk of bias due to issues such as uncertainty in how patients were randomized for the control group. In contrast, these studies were listed by the WHO team to have a low risk of bias. Whats more, in the WHOs summary of findings, they include data from seven studies, which combined show an 81 percent reduction in deaths. The confidence interval is also surprisingly high, with a 64 percent reduction in deaths on the low end, and 91 percent on the high end. Whats more, their absolute effect estimate for standard of care is 70 deaths per 1,000, compared to just 14 deaths per 1,000 when treating with ivermectin. Thats a reduction in deaths of 56 per 1,000 when using ivermectin. The confidence interval is between 44 and 63 fewer deaths per 1,000. Despite that, the WHO refuses to recommend this drug for COVID-19. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, a WHO representative to the Philippines, commented that using ivermectin without strong evidence is harmful because it can give false confidence to the public. As noted by Daniel Horowitz in an April 1 article in The Blaze: That sure sounds a lot like telling people if they wear a mask indoors, they wont get COVID. Tragically, when they invariably do get the virus, the global health elites have nothing to treat them with. Doctors Urge Acceptance of Ivermectin to Save Lives In the United States, the Frontline COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) has also been calling for widespread adoption of ivermectin, both as a prophylactic and for the treatment of all phases of COVID-19. FLCCC President Dr. Pierre Kory, former professor of medicine at St. Lukes Aurora Medical Center in Milwaukee, has testified to the benefits of ivermectin before a number of COVID-19 panels, including the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs in December 2020, and the National Institutes of Health COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel on Jan. 6. As noted in a statement released by the FLCCC in December 2020: The data shows the ability of the drug Ivermectin to prevent COVID-19, to keep those with early symptoms from progressing to the hyper-inflammatory phase of the disease, and even to help critically ill patients recover. Dr. Kory testified that Ivermectin is effectively a miracle drug against COVID-19 and called upon the governments medical authorities to urgently review the latest data and then issue guidelines for physicians, nurse-practitioners, and physician assistants to prescribe Ivermectin for COVID-19. Kory noted that numerous studiesincluding peer-reviewed randomized controlled trialsverified the significant benefits of ivermectin to prevent or treat COVID in the earlier or later stages of the disease. After appearing before the National Institutes of Health COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel in January, the group released a statement that noted that with dozens of clinical trials now published around the world, it was possible to reliably assess clinical efficacy. Data from 18 randomized controlled trials that included over 2,100 patients demonstrated that Ivermectin produces faster viral clearance, faster time to hospital discharge, faster time to clinical recovery, and a 75 percent reduction in mortality rates, the statement noted. A one-page summary of the clinical trial evidence for ivermectin can be downloaded from the FLCCC website. A more comprehensive, 31-page review of trial data has been published in the American Journal of Therapeutics. At the time of this writing, the number of trials involving ivermectin has risen to 55, including 28 randomized controlled trials. A listing of all the ivermectin trials done to date, with links to the published studies, can be found on c19Ivermectin.com. The FLCCCs COVID-19 protocol was initially dubbed MATH+ (an acronym based on the key components of the treatment), but after several tweaks and updates, the prophylaxis and early outpatient treatment protocol is now known as I-MASK+ while the hospital treatment has been renamed I-MATH+, due to the addition of ivermectin. The two protocols are available for download on the FLCCC Alliance website in multiple languages. The clinical and scientific rationale for the I-MATH+ hospital protocol has also been peer-reviewed and was published in the Journal of Intensive Care Medicine in mid-December 2020. NIH Loosens Restrictions, FDA Warns Against Prophylactic Use In mid-January, the NIH did revise its guidelines on ivermectin, in large part thanks to the data presented by Kory and others. However, while the NIH no longer warns against its use, they also do not outright recommend it, and they didnt grant ivermectin emergency use authorization. As a result, many patients in the United States still struggle to access the drug, as many doctors are unwilling to prescribe it off-label against health officials recommendations. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has adopted an even less favorable stance. In March, the FDA issued a consumer warning people to not use ivermectin as a prophylactic. But that warning was unusual in part because it focused on people who were taking forms of the drug intended for horses, which are much larger and need more potent doses. The FDA also hasnt approved ivermectin for prevention of or treatment for SARS-CoV-2. The International Ivermectin for COVID Conference From April 24 to 25, Lawrie hosted the first International Ivermectin for COVID Conference online. Twelve medical experts from around the world shared their knowledge during this conference, reviewing mechanism of action, protocols for prevention and treatment, research findings, and real-world data. They also discussed how to treat what has been dubbed long-hauler syndrome. All of the lectures, which were recorded via Zoom, can be viewed on Bird-Group.org. In her closing address, Lawrie stated: The story of Ivermectin has highlighted that we are at a remarkable juncture in medical history. The tools that we use to heal and our connection with our patients are being systematically undermined by relentless disinformation stemming from corporate greed. The story of Ivermectin shows that we as a public have misplaced our trust in the authorities and have underestimated the extent to which money and power corrupts. Had Ivermectin being employed in 2020 when medical colleagues around the world first alerted the authorities to its efficacy, millions of lives could have been saved, and the pandemic with all its associated suffering and loss brought to a rapid and timely end. Lawrie criticized politicians and others who have tried to dictate the treatments doctors use, describing it as an attack on the doctors ability to uphold the Hippocratic oath. She urged her fellow physicians to uphold their moral and professional duty to do no harm and always do the best for their patients, even in the face of the apparent corruption of various arms of the medical system. During the conference, Lawrie proposed that doctors around the world join together to form a new people-centered World Health Organization. Never before has our role as doctors been so important because never before have we become complicit in causing so much harm, she said. Dr. Joseph Mercola is the founder of Mercola.com. An osteopathic physician, best-selling author, and recipient of multiple awards in the field of natural health, his primary vision is to change the modern health paradigm by providing people with a valuable resource to help them take control of their health. This article was originally published on Mercola.com. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives to speak to the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, on May 30, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Pool via AP) Netanyahu Could Lose PM Job as Rivals Attempt to Join Forces A former ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said he would seek to form a coalition government with the Israeli leaders opponents, taking a major step toward ending the rule of the longtime premier. The dramatic announcement by Naftali Bennett, leader of the small Yamina party, set the stage for a series of steps that could push Netanyahu and his dominant Likud party into the opposition in the coming week. While Bennett and his new partners, headed by opposition leader Yair Lapid, still face some obstacles, the sides appeared to be serious about reaching a deal and ending the deadlock that has plunged the country into four elections in the past two years. Its my intention to do my utmost in order to form a national unity government along with my friend Yair Lapid, so that, God willing, together we can save the country from a tailspin and return Israel to its course, Bennett said. Yemina party leader Naftali Bennett speaks to the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, on May 30, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Pool via AP) The pair have until Wednesday to complete a deal in which each is expected to serve two years as prime minister in a rotation deal, with Bennett holding the job first. Lapids Yesh Atid party said negotiating teams were to meet later Sunday. Bennett was a former top aide to Netanyahu who has held senior Cabinet posts. He is a former leader of the West Bank settlement movement and heads a small party whose base includes religious and nationalist Jews. Bennett said there was no feasible way after the deadlocked March 23 election to form a right-wing government favored by Netanyahu. He said another election would yield the same results and said it was time to end the cycle. A government like this will succeed only if we work together as a group, he said. He said everyone will need to postpone fulfilling part of their dreams. We will focus on what can be done, instead of fighting all day on whats impossible. If Bennett and Lapid and their other partners can wrap up a deal, it would end, at least for the time being, the record-setting tenure of Netanyahu, the most dominant figure in Israeli politics over the past three decades. Netanyahu has served as prime minister for the past 12 years and also held an earlier term in the late 1990s. In his own televised statement, Netanyahu accused Bennett of betraying the Israeli right wing and urged nationalist politicians not to join what he called a leftist government. A government like this is a danger to the security of Israel, and is also a danger to the future of the state, he said. Netanyahu is now on trial over corruption charges that he denies. In order to form a government, a party leader must secure the support of a 61-seat majority in the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament. Because no single party controls a majority on its own, coalitions are usually built with smaller partners. Thirteen parties of various sizes are in the current parliament. As leader of the largest party, Netanyahu was given the first opportunity by the countrys figurehead president to form a coalition. But he was unable to secure a majority with his traditional religious and nationalist allies. After Netanyahus failure to form a government, Lapid was then given four weeks to cobble together a coalition. He has until Wednesday to complete the task. While Bennetts Yamina party controls just seven seats in parliament, he has emerged as a kingmaker of sorts by providing the necessary support to secure a majority. If he is successful, his party would be the smallest to lead an Israeli government. With Wednesdays deadline looming, negotiations have kicked into high gear. Lapid has reached coalition deals with three other parties so far. If he finalizes a deal with Bennett, the remaining partners are expected to quickly fall into place. They would then have roughly one week to present their coalition to parliament for a formal vote of confidence allowing it to take office. Epoch Times staff contributed to this report Bee'ah, a UAE-based leader in integrated environment and waste management, said it has collaborated with UK-based Chinook Sciences to set up the regions first waste-to-hydrogen project in the UAE, which will also boast a green hydrogen generation plant and a hydrogen vehicle fuelling station. The waste-to-hydrogen project is an evolution of Beeah and Chinook Sciences $180 million waste gasification to energy project and addresses the increased market demand in the region for new sources of renewable energy such as green hydrogen. Chinook Sciences Chairman and CEO Dr. Rifat Chalabi, who is on a visit to the UAE, signed the agreement in the presence of Salim Al Owais, Chairman of Bee'ah, and a delegation of senior officials from both entities. The project is envisioned to be the first of many such facilities, established through the long-standing collaboration between the two sides. With an innovative approach of having the waste-to-hydrogen plant adjacent to the fuelling station, this project will overcome the challenges of costly transportation of hydrogen, said the statement from Beeah. The fuelling station will use green hydrogen generated from the waste-to-hydrogen plant from non-recyclable plastic waste and waste wood. The green hydrogen will be fed into the fuelling station to power hydrogen vehicles, it added. On the deal, Al Owais said: "Green hydrogen will be a vital pillar of our future energy landscape and Beeah has been looking into this market for some time now and Chinook in alignment with our long-term strategy to develop new, sustainable energy solutions." "As a sustainability leader, Beeah is keen to further support the UAE in its hydrogen economy ambitions, energy diversification and decarbonisation efforts," he stated. Dr Chalabi said: "We are very excited to use Chinook Sciences patented Rodecs gasification and pyrolysis technology in the UAE, which breaks down hydrocarbons from waste through advanced thermal treatment to release and recover green hydrogen." "When the green hydrogen is used in vehicles, it emits only water and no carbon emissions," he noted. Dr Chalabi said through the use of Chinooks Rodecs technology, the cost of green hydrogen from the plant shall be very competitive and has the potential to be equal to or even less than the cost of diesel and gasoline." "At maximum production capacity, the plant shall be capable of fuelling 1,000 hydrogen-powered large vehicles per day," he added. Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO of Bee'ah, which is operational in the UAE, KSA and Egypt, said: "As a waste management leader in the Middle East, we are proud to pursue the first waste-to-hydrogen solution in the region. This project will showcase the potential of waste-to-hydrogen." The UAE has previously announced its aim to become a major hydrogen producer, and to reduce carbon emissions by 24 per cent by 2030. Plans include investment in green hydrogen, which is produced using renewable energy, like solar power as well as using carbon-capture technologies to create what is known as blue hydrogen. "Beeah has always recognised the value of energy recovery from waste and through this new project, we aim to support a circular economy across multiple fronts throughout the region," he added. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (R) poses for a photo with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison ahead of their annual talks in Queenstown, New Zealand, on May 31, 2021. (Joe Allison/Getty Images) New Zealand Backs Australia in Trade Spat With China Ahead of Ardern-Morrison Meeting Australias Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrived in New Zealand on Sunday for high-level talks hours after the countrys government chose to support Canberra in its dispute with China on barley tariffs, signalling good will to work on differences in how to approach Beijing. Quarantine-free travel between Australia and New Zealand began last month, allowing Morrison and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to meet face to face for the first time in 15 months. The talks were likely to be challenged by differences over China, the biggest trading partner of both countries, with Australia at loggerheads with Beijing and New Zealand taking a more accommodating approach. The Chinese regime has in recent months moved to restrict imports of Australian products such as barley, wine and beef, with the World Trade Organisation saying on Friday it would establish a dispute settlement panel to resolve the barley row. Ahead of Morrisons visit, New Zealand Trade Minister Damien OConnor said his government was backing Canberra in the spat. New Zealand is participating in this dispute as a third party because it raises systemic issues of importance to the effective functioning of the multilateral rules-based trading system, local media cited OConnor as saying. New Zealand was not asked to join as a third party, however we have been a third party in over 60 WTO cases since 1995 and its not unusual for us to join actions disputes when we see challenges to international trade rules. Australias ties with China have sunk to their lowest point in decades in the past 18 months after Morrison led calls for a global enquiry into the origins of COVID-19 and Australia barred Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies Co from its 5G network. New Zealands economic ties with China have been strengthening, with the two countries this year upgrading their free trade agreement. New Zealand also said last month it was uncomfortable with expanding the role of the Five Eyes, a post-war intelligence grouping that also includes the United States, Britain, Australia and Canada. This raised speculation that Wellington did not back the groups recent criticisms of Beijing. The Five Eyes have been stepping up with criticism of the Chinese regime over issues of Hong Kong and the treatment of Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Formal talks between Ardern and Morrison, expected to be dominated by China and its growing influence in the region, are to take place on Monday. Epoch Times staff contributed to this report New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison swap football jersey's during a dual prime ministers press conference in Queenstown, New Zealand on May 31, 2021 (Joe Allison/Getty Images) New Zealand to Back Australias WTO Barley Dispute with China New Zealands Trade Minister Damien OConnor has indicated the Ardern government will join Australias dispute at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against China. The backing from New Zealand (NZ) came on the eve of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrisons visit to the country for high-level talks on a range of issues including a quarantine-free travel zone between the two countries, re-engagement with the Pacific in the wake of COVID-19, and China. OConnor told local media, New Zealand is participating in this dispute as a third party because it raises systemic issues of importance to the effective functioning of the multilateral rules-based trading system. New Zealand was not asked to join as a third party, he added. However, we have been a third party in over 60 WTO cases since 1995, and it is not unusual for us to join actions and disputes when we see challenges to international trade rules. The more overt display of support from NZ comes in the wake of increased criticism of Jacinda Arderns governments approach to China, which has been described as too subtle for international observers to notice. In contrast, Australiawhich lies just across the Tasman Seahas been engaged in a year-long trade dispute with China, which has attracted criticism of Beijing from U.S. and UK officials. Beijing instigated its economic coercion campaign against Australia after Foreign Minister Marise Payne called for an independent investigation into the origins of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, more commonly known as the novel coronavirus. The Chinese regime subsequently slapped tariffs and suspended Australian exports to the country, including coal, beef, wine, barley, lobster, timber, lamb, and cotton. The tariffs on barley are costing importers around 80 percent and are undergoing dispute resolution at the WTO. Russia and Canada have already joined the action citing interest in how a ruling will impact global barley markets. Jeffrey Wilson, research director of the Perth USAsia Centre, said NZs participation in the action was not an empty gesture and could influence the final decision. As third party submissions are fully considered in WTO judgements, NZs involvement can materially change the outcome. Now, will the U.S., Japan and EU join too? he wrote on Twitter. Beijing implemented the tariffs claiming Australian businesses were dumping excess barley product into the Chinese market. Australia disputes the claim, and in its WTO submission (pdf), cited over 30 different issues with how Chinese authorities handled its anti-dumping investigation and its implementation of tariffs. China incorrectly defined the product under consideration and also incorrectly defined the like products, it stated in its submission. China initiated investigations without sufficient evidence, China failed to examine or review the accuracy and adequacy of the evidence provided in the application, and China failed to reject the application or terminate promptly the investigation given the lack of sufficient evidence it continued. Ohio Sheriff Ends Relationship With DHS to Prevent Release of Illegal Immigrants Into Community A sheriff in Butler County, Ohio, on May 26 announced that his office is ending its relationship with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to prevent the Biden administration from releasing illegal immigrants into the community. In a news release on May 26, Sheriff Richard K. Jones office said that it has notified the agency that it will no longer accept detainees at the Butler County Jail, effective immediately. Jones is also terminating a contract with ICE that has since 2003 allowed it to house illegal immigrants while they are awaiting immigration hearings, the release states. I stand by Corrections Facility and my Staff! Jones said on Twitter. He said he believes Butler County Jail staff operate an efficient correctional facility and that federal officials continue to add unreasonable and cost prohibitive mandates to hold these illegal immigrants. With the crisis at the border getting worse, it concerns me that the feds will ship detainees to my facility, then release them to the streets of my community under some technicality. Its better to just end this arrangement now, than to let that happen, Jones said in a written statement. He added: Unlike this current administration, Im still a firm believer that our government should strictly enforce the immigration laws and I will continue to promote that stance at every opportunity. According to the sheriff, there are currently some 50 ICE detainees in the county jail, and the agency has 60 days to remove them, FOX 19 reported. They gotta house them somewhere, but theyre not going to house them here. Im not going to drink the Kool-Aid, Sheriff Jones said. ICE didnt immediately respond to a request for comment by The Epoch Times. The decision comes as arrests and detentions at the U.S.Mexico border hit record levels last month, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data published on May 11. Immigration arrests and detentions at the southern border last month rose by 3 percent from March, to 178,622the highest one-month total in 20 years, CBP data show. Last months figures, however, marked the first month since President Joe Biden took office that the CBP didnt record a major month-on-month jump in the number of border arrests and detentions, despite reaching record levels. While the Biden administration has called the unprecedented surge in numbers a challenge, neither the president nor the vice president has visited the border. On April 25, when a reporter asked Harris why she hasnt visited the southern border, she replied, Im not going to play political games. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on May 4, After coming into office, our administration immediately jumped into action to address the influx of migrants at the bordersomething that began during and was exacerbated by the Trump administration. Orange County Agency to Sue State Over Housing Mandates An agency representing Orange County cities says it will sue the government department responsible for approving state-imposed housing quotas in California. The Orange County Council of Governments (OCCOG) has been meeting in closed session for nearly six months to discuss the legal matter. The board revealed to the public on May 27 that it had voted unanimously to sue the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) over its latest Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) plan. Recent changes to the way state-imposed housing quotas are calculated have tripled required zoning provisions for new housing units in the county, increasing them from about 400,000 in the current 8-year RHNA cycle to more than 1.3 million in the next cycle, which begins in October 2022. Fred Galante, general counsel for OCCOG, told The Epoch Times that the HCD used incorrect measures to calculate the allocation. HCD did not apply the right law to establish the Regional Housing Needs Assessment. It may be that the conclusion is that its too high, but really its just their failure to follow the law, Galante said. The attorney noted that he was limited in what he could reveal about the pending filing. At this time, I really am not at liberty to say much more than what was just reported out in the open session, specifically that the board directed our office to file a petition for writ of mandate against HCD challenging its application of the statutes and the RHNA methodology, Galante said. The RHNA methodology determines zoning quotas for housing, divided among 191 cities in the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) region. The area includes the counties of Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, and Imperial. More than a dozen Orange County cities appealed the RHNA housing allocations earlier this year but were unsuccessful in getting the quotas reduced or reallocated to other areas. OCCOG Chair Trevor ONeil, who represents Anaheim on the SCAG Regional Council and has been a staunch proponent of local control over zoning and housing quotas, told The Epoch Times hes not able to comment on pending litigation. According to its website, the OCCOG is a sub-regional agency that leads the development of the countys planning documents, allowing it to compete for state and federal funding. OSHA Suspends Requirement That Employers Report Vaccine-Related Injuries In order to encourage American workers to get vaccinated, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has suspended the legal requirement for employers to report work-related injuries resulting from vaccinations aimed at combating the CCP virus, which causes the disease COVID-19. OSHA enforces the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The statute covers most private sector employers and their workers, in addition to some public sector employers and workers in the 50 states and certain territories and jurisdictions under federal authority. Those jurisdictions include the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Wake Island, Johnston Island, and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands. This suspension of the law by OSHA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), doesnt change the liability faced by employers under workers compensation laws or under civil personal injury laws, according to the nonprofit group Liberty Counsel. Earlier in May, the OSHA website stated that employers could be held liable if they required employees to receive COVID-19-related injections as a condition of employment and said employees then experienced adverse reactions. According to Liberty Counsel, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section of OSHAs website stated: If you require your employees to be vaccinated as a condition of employment (i.e., for work-related reasons), then any adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine is work-related. The adverse reaction is recordable if it is a new case under 29 CFR 1904.6 and meets one or more of the general recording criteria in 29 CFR 1904.7. But visitors to the same websites FAQ section now see a different message, which reads: DOL and OSHA, as well as other federal agencies, are working diligently to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations. OSHA does not wish to have any appearance of discouraging workers from receiving COVID-19 vaccination, and also does not wish to disincentivize employers vaccination efforts. As a result, OSHA will not enforce 29 CFR 1904s recording requirements to require any employers to record worker side effects from COVID-19 vaccination through May 2022. We will reevaluate the agencys position at that time to determine the best course of action moving forward. Liberty Counsel apparently inferred from the changed guidance that the White House influenced the decision to drop enforcement of the reporting requirement from a year. No doubt receiving pressure from the Biden administration, OSHA suspended the enforcement requirement to record adverse injuries or death from COVID shots until May 2022 in order to push the COVID shots. This politically motivated change by OSHA is unprecedented, the group stated in a release. Liberty Counsel founder and Chairman Mat Staver criticized the decision to change the OSHA guidance. Employers that require employees to take a COVID shot may be held liable for adverse injuries and death. The fact that OSHA will not enforce recording requirements does not alter the legal liability of employers who require, coerce, or incentivize employees to take COVID shots, he said in a statement. OSHAs suspension of the recording requirement so as not to discourage experimental COVID shots reveals that the Biden administration could care less about the collateral damage being caused by the COVID shots. The people can see this biased agenda. They are not stupid. OSHA confirmed in a statement to The Epoch Times why it suspended the reporting requirement. OSHA reconsidered its policy in recognition of federal agencies ongoing work to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations, a Department of Labor spokesperson said. The agency does not want to give any appearance of discouraging workers from receiving COVID-19 vaccination or disincentivize employers vaccination efforts. None of the available COVID-19 shots are approved or licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Liberty Counsel noted. They have instead been classified as an emergency use authorization (EUA), which means their use cant be required. The FDA acknowledges on its website that it must ensure that recipients of the vaccine under an EUA are informed, to the extent practicable given the applicable circumstances that they have the option to accept or refuse the vaccine, and of any available alternatives to the product. EUA authority under section 564 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, permits the FDA to take steps to protect public health against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats including infectious diseases, by facilitating the availability and use of medical countermeasures needed during public health emergencies. When the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declares that an EUA is needed, as it did on March 27, 2020, regarding the ongoing pandemic, the FDA may authorize otherwise unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in an emergency to diagnose, treat, or prevent serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions caused by CBRN threat agents when certain criteria are met, including there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives. Yourgo village in Chushul in eastern Ladakh, ten kilometers from Pongong Tso lake where India-China faced an intense standoff until February. The border villages don't have internet and this has made things difficult for the population during lockdown. (Courtesy Kunchok Stanzin) Pandemic Woes at 13,000 Feet in Villages on Conflicted India-China Border in Eastern Ladakh NEW DELHIThe COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated the persisting problems faced by people living in high-altitude, trans-Himalayan villages on the India-China border in eastern Ladakh, which have witnessed intense conflicts over the past year. The Epoch Times spoke with Konchok Stanzin, the councilor of the Chushul constituency, which consists of 12 villages on the de facto border and includes the area near the Pangong Tso lakeone of the main epicenters of the past years tensions. Eight villages in Stanzins constituency are on zero-border, which means Chinese villages are visible from these locations, with four villages sitting adjacent to the Indian border villages. The pandemic and resultant lockdown have added to the difficulties faced by the people residing in this inhospitable terrain, just as theyre emerging from extreme, isolating winter conditions and the tensions of the past years standoff with China, which eased in February following high-level talks ensured military disengagement. Fear of renewed conflict remains high as snow melts and summer sees the Chinese maintaining some of their newly gained positions in the region. Health and education remain the two areas of concern for citizens in the region, Stanzin said. Prior to Ladakh becoming a federally governed territory in 2019, a job assignment there was considered a punishment, because of the harsh conditions. A special constitutional measure in 2019 created two federally governed territories, referred to as Union TerritoriesJammu and Kashmir, which shares a disputed border with Pakistan, and Ladakh, which rests on a conflicted border with China. The 13,000-foot altitude region of Chushul is of extreme strategic value for India, as it includes an important airstrip. The Chinese tried to capture the region during the 1962 war between the two countries. Sparse Internet The lockdown has exposed the inadequacies of the internet in the area, which came to the region only this year and is still only sparsely available. [It was possible in] Chushul only this year because the foundation work of Jio [Indian telecommunication company] was done last year. But the rest of the villages are equally important because these are also zero-border villages, said Stanzin, adding that 4G connectivity covers only 20 to 30 percent of the entire Ladakh region at present, whereas the Chinese villages visibly have two internet towers. The lockdown made things particularly tough for young children because of the need for online schooling. Many villages in the region either dont have internet or have only 2G connectivity, according to Stanzin. As a result, children are required to travel three to nine miles one way to reach local government offices, called Panchayat ghars, to download their coursework. Children study at Mann Panchayat Ghar (local council office) in the Chushul sector on the India-China disputed border in Ladakh on May 25, 2021. Under lockdown, schools are closed and theres no internet in the village, so children have to travel miles to the council office to download their lessons. (Picture courtesy Kunchok Stanzin) Because of COVID-19, we have online classes. All schools are closed. Because we dont have internet in Chibra, we arent able to attend online classes. We request the government to get us internet so that we can study like all other children, said Kunsal Zangmo, a 4th-grader from a village called Chibra in a video shared by Stanzin with The Epoch Times. Another child, 7th-grader Jigmat Stobdan, said since everyone comes to the Panchayat ghar for the internet, there is an overload on the services offered there, and he hasnt been able to get connected to his classroom. I have been marked absent and the teachers scold me. I request that our villages be provided 4G towers, said Stobdan in the video. Stanzin said there are Panchayat ghars or village council offices at Yourgo, Maan, Satoo, and Chushul villages in his constituency, where children from other villages come to download their lessons. Children are the most disadvantaged in this situation, because in normal times they study in Leh City. But during lockdown, they had to return to their villages in these remote border regions [where there is no internet], said Stanzin. If 4G connectivity happens in every village, all children will be able to attend to their lessons. A wide view of the Panchayat ghar or the village council office and the trans-Himalayan terrain in Mann village in Chushul sector in eastern Ladakh. (Picture courtesy Kunchok Stanzin) Health and Infrastructure The population density in Chushul is very low, and there are only 2,959 people in 12 villages. Fourteen people in the area are currently COVID positive and in quarantine, according to Stanzin. Stanzin himself is currently under quarantine after testing positive in Leh, the capital city of Ladakh. He said theres a primary health center in his constituency, and each village has a health sub-center which are staffed and working. Health workers are trying their level best. They are trying to give all health facilities in border areas, the way people get in other towns, said Stanzin, noting that they have oxygen concentrators and there are local doctors as well as outsourced doctors. Every village has four to five asymptomatic people, he said. Contact tracing is being done and testing is happening. Asymptomatic people are being shifted to the COVID care center. The region was facing problems in vaccinating its people early in the countrys vaccination effort, but now vaccines have arrived even for those in the 18-plus age group, said Stanzin. However, transporting critical cases for intensive care in Leh hospitals continues to remain a challenge, as transportation by road at such high altitudes in emergency situations is very difficult. Because just one week ago, we shifted a COVID patient from Chamtang to Leh in a helicopter of the Indian Airforce, said Stanzin, noting that its not simple to place such requests, and there should be single-window mechanisms in such situations. Villagers in the 60-plus age group show their vaccination certificates at the Medical sub-center in Spangmik village in the Chushul sector in eastern Ladakh, on April 22, 2021. (Picture courtesy Kunchok Stanzin) He demanded that the Indian government build a helipad in every border village, keeping in mind the situation, the high altitude, and the strategic importance of the region. Stanzin said the villages in this region are extremely significant because, while the Chinese can infiltrate the rest of the empty regions of the area, they cant do so in the villages on the border. The pandemic has delayed the construction of buildings and roads in the region, because the labor cant move to the region from Leh and local laborers cant move to the construction sites because of the lockdown, according to Stanzin. Stanzin expects the situation to be better after June 6 if the administration gives some relaxation for this. Students of Dalton School perform at Hearst Plaza, Lincoln Center in New York City on Sept. 21, 2014. (Thos Robinson/Getty Images for Shinnyo-en) Parents Outraged Over Contents of First-Grade Sex-Ed Lesson at NYC Private School Parents at an elite private school in Manhattan are furious to learn that their children had been shown sex-ed video clips explaining the concept of masturbation and why their family members should not touch them without consent, a new report says. First-grade students at Dalton School, an institution with a price tag of about $50,000 per year, watched clips from the animated series AMAZE during a sex-ed lesson last fall, according to the New York Post. The lessons were taught by Daltons director of health and wellness, Justine Ang Fonte, who has recently faced criticism for teaching an explicit pornography literacy course to junior students at the Colombia Grammar & Preparatory School nearby. Parents took issue with Fontes graphic lesson about self-touching. She reportedly assured parents that the idea was teaching kids not to touch themselves in public, and that she didnt use the word masturbation. Some parents also took issue with another portion of the lesson where students were taught that even their own parents or grandparents should not touch them without permission. While some believe that teaching about consent can help children better protect themselves from potential abuse, others argue that it went a little extreme. Literally parents are supposed to say to their kids, May I hug you? said one Dalton parent, according to the Post, which noted that all parents featured in its report specifically asked to remain anonymous due to fear of retaliation. Im paying $50,000 to these [explicit] to tell my kid not to let her grandfather hug her when he sees her? a parent said to another parent. In a statement to the Post, a Dalton spokesperson said as part of the schools comprehensive Health curriculum for students, the lesson included two evidence-based and age-appropriate videos approved for students four years and older and align with nationally recognized methodologies and standards. We consistently review our Health curriculum, making sure that the content is developmentally appropriate and, if necessary, we adapt our curriculum accordingly, the spokesperson said. The controversy comes after Columbia Prep held a workshop titled Pornography Literacy: An Intersectional Focus on Mainstream Porn for some 120 students in the junior class. The presentation, led by Fonte, reportedly included explicit images of partially naked women, popular search tags and genres on pornographic websites, and how young women make a profit using suggestive or pornographic photos and videos. Photos: The Profound Bond Between Mongolias Last Eagle Keepers and Their Mighty Birds Venturing to Mongolia to meet the countrys last remaining nomadic eagle keepers, Russian photographer Daniel Kordan turned his reverence into a series of incredible photographs. Kordans work, a breathtaking mixture of epic landscape photography and intimate portraiture, exemplifies the bond between the keepers and their birdsan elusive 1,000-year-old tradition that runs the risk of dying out. Today, fewer than 300 men keep falconry in western Mongolias Altai region alive. Skilled handlers train young birds of preygolden eagles are preferred, although they are hard to trainto assist in hunting foxes and hares for meat and fur. The practice is known to the nomads as berkutchi. Once the domain of the noble classes, berkutchi has become a right of passage for young Mongolian men of the region, reported My Modern Met. Im fascinated by nomad culture, Kordan, who used local guides to connect with nomad families, told the outlet. Its an elusive culture, almost extinct nowadays, he added. But these people try to keep the tradition and pass it on through generations. All nomad families are connected, the photographer said. After meeting one family, doors opened; a Russian native, Kordan was able to speak easily with the elders who know Russian from Soviet times. Eagle keepers forge a profound bond with their winged companions, and their lives are inextricably intertwined. A day in the life of a keeper, said Kordan, begins early with meal preparation; caring for horses, sheep and goat herds; and making furs to fend off the bitter cold. In winter, nomad groups migrate thousands of kilometers across the Gobi Desert to warmer climes, deconstructing and reassembling their ger tents as they go. Thats lots of endurance and work, he told the outlet. Perhaps most surprising, Kordan said, was his realization that the Mongolian nomads enjoy their lives, despite hardship. Caring for one bird can last over a decade. These mighty predators are usually released back into the wild when they turn 10 to 12 years old. The bond with the bird is so strong! Kordan said. Actually, even the eyes and the look of the eagle and its master resemble each other. Engrossed by the possibilities of photography since growing up in a beautiful lake region near Moscow, Kordan graduated art school and studied quantum physics before taking up residence behind the lens. Nature is my inspiration, he states on his website. In venturing to Mongolia and capturing his subjects on film, Kordans respect for eagle keeping grew exponentially. Now, the photographer, who leads workshops and expeditions himself, hopes that others will choose to help preserve these unique traditions. The talented photographer oversees guided tours on camelback and an annual eagle-keeping festival, a smaller event than the nomads own berkutchi festival that has come to attract thousands of tourists. Kordans festival is an opportunity for visitors to witness and photograph scenic displays of Mongolian falconry for themselves. Im very happy that I can support nomadic culture in this way, he told My Modern Met. We need to respect our ancestors, and continuing to preserve traditional culture definitely makes our lives better and filled with purpose. Check more of Kordans fascinating work below. Enjoy! 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 Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to the media during a press conference following a national cabinet meeting at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on April 22, 2021. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) PM Urges Victorian Govt to Take Responsibility for Lockdown Amid States Calls for More Funding The federal government has rejected a proposal by the Victorian Labor government for a new wage subsidy for those affected by the states fourth lockdown, arguing that it is currently providing financial support to Victorian businesses and families. We will continue to support Victoria to get Victoria open and do everything we can to ensure Victoria does not close itself again, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on May 30. The Commonwealth Government has put $45 billion directly into Victoria to support. And we will continue to support Victoria through the pandemic leave payment, through the emergency cash assistance, through the social security system supported by JobSeeker. While JobKeeker ended in March, Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas has urged the federal government to reintroduce the government support payment for the weekand for the commonwealth to match the Victorian support package dollar for dollar, or put forward an alternative. This comes as the Victorian Labor government announced a $250 million business support package for Victorians affected by the lockdown, which is expected to cost the Victorian economy $700 million. It had previously been estimated to cost $1 billion. We asked multiple times for the federal government to support workers during this period and the unrelenting answer has been no, Pallas said. Victorian workers deserve more from the federal government, and I am beyond disappointed that the answer from the Prime Minister and the [federal] Treasurer has been no. But, the PM said that the short lockdowns in Queensland during March, and in Western Australia during April, saw the two-state governments assume responsibilities for the effects of the lockdowns. The Morrison government believes Victorian leaders must take primary responsibility for the lockdown response, reported The Age. In response, Pallas said while Victorias lockdown was longer than those that occurred in Queensland and Western Australia, he said this was the first post-JobKeeper lockdown thats gone on for any period of time so there is no support whatsoever for working people. Federal Budget Calibrated Accordingly Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has defended the federal governments economic support provided to all Australian states during the pandemic. The economic impact of the Victorian outbreak is not insignificant but the budget just over two weeks ago did anticipate further outbreaks would occur, he said in a Facebook post on May 30. Our budget measures were calibrated accordingly, with the budget providing an additional $41 billion of COVID-related economic support. Should extended lockdowns be avoided and outbreaks contained the national economy can continue its strong recovery. Frydenberg said $1500 pandemic leave disaster payments were available, as well as loss carry-back for businesses, adding that direct economic support delivered to Victoria was around three times what has been delivered by the state government. Moreover, industry groups, such as the Australian Retailers Association, have welcomed the Victorian Labor governments $250 million package but urged both the state and federal governments to introduce broader subsidy schemes, especially for affected small businesses and casual workers. The safety net of JobKeeper no longer exists and there are numerous small businesses that are at breaking point and face an uncertain future, Australian Retailers Association CEO Paul Zahra told the Australian Financial Review. The virus remains an ongoing threatoutbreaks can still occur and future state-imposed lockdowns are a possibility. With that being the case, we need to ensure government lifelines remain in place. Victoria has recorded five new locally acquired cases of the CCP virus, taking the states latest outbreak to 45 infections. Acting Premier James Merlino said no decision has been made on whether the states seven-day lockdown will end on Thursday evening as planned. AAP contributed to this report. Pompeo and Sen. Paul Warn About Wuhan Lab Still Up and Running Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo voiced warnings to the public over the weekend that the Wuhan Institute of Virology remains functional and that controversial activity may have happened there. Im very worried that this stuff still goes on and that the U.S. governments been funding it, Paul said in an appearance on Fox. Last week, an amendment introduced by Paul to ban the use of U.S. tax dollars to fund gain-of-function research in China passed in the Senate, with every Democrat voting in favor of it. This unanimous vote led Paul to think that they either have relevant information or that the information pointing at the theory of the virus coming out from the lab will grow stronger. A year ago, anybody who mentioned the possibility that this virus came out of the Wuhan lab was dismissed as crazy right-wing kooks, [or] conspiracy theorists, Paul said, but that now you have the left starting to wonder about it, and when I introduced my amendment to say we should quit funding this research in China, it ended up getting every Democrat on board. its making it more transmissible to humans and often times making it more deadly in humans. Senator @RandPaul with a message every American should hear about what may be happening inside the Wuhan Lab pic.twitter.com/xHPnlS91aO Jeanine Pirro (@JudgeJeanine) May 30, 2021 He continued: Last weeks revelation that three workers in the Wuhan lab were sick with a COVID-like illness in November well before the Chinese admitthis is a big deal, and so I think nobody is denying anymore the possibilitywe dont know for certain, but weve got a lot of evidence pointing to this lab now. On a separate appearance on the news network, Pompeo said that there is a connection between the lab and the Chinese military and that the Wuhan lab is still functioning, possibly engaging in the same type of experiments. That virology lab is still up and running. Its still probably conducting the same kinds of research it was conducting that may have well led to this virus escaping from that laboratory, Pompeo said, noting that there is enormous evidence that the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) Virus, which causes COVID 19, leaked from the Chinese laboratory. Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 27, 2021. (Tal Atzmon/The Epoch Times) What I can say for sure is this: we know that they were engaged in efforts connected to the Peoples Liberation Army inside of that laboratory, so military activity being performed alongside what they claimed was just good old civilian research. They refuse to tell us what it was, they refuse to describe the nature of either of those, they refused to allow access to the World Health Organization when it tried to get in there. Not long ago, posts that suggested that the virus originated in a lab were banned and labeled as disinformation on many social media platforms. Aster DM Healthcare, a leading healthcare provider in the region, has signed an agreement with biotechnology leader Roche Diagnostics as the strategic partner across UAE, KSA, Qatar and Oman to provide advanced diagnostics solutions. The partnership between these two leading healthcare companies will enable Aster DM Healthcares hospitals, clinics and laboratories across the region to adopt the latest diagnostic innovations and solutions that would bring-in fast and efficient systems to support doctors in providing optimal treatment solutions to their patients. This also includes the provision of antibody Covid-19 testing, digital solutions, as well as automated laboratory solutions that will further enable Aster facilities to deliver high-quality and precise patient results in the shortest time possible, while boosting capabilities to drive operational efficiency essential to meet the rising demand for diagnostics in this pandemic and beyond. Alisha Moopen, Deputy Managing Director at Aster DM Healthcare, said: At Aster, we are determined to stay ahead of the curve in offering the best medical solutions to our patients and equip our doctors with the most advanced systems to be able to do so. The partnership with Roche Diagnostics in the Middle East underscores our dedication to supporting countries, patients and medical fraternity across the region through providing the latest healthcare solutions relating to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. This is a part of our core strategy to introduce smart systems that encourages early and accurate detection that can facilitate timely medical intervention essential to prevent unwanted disease outcomes. The establishment of this collaboration is a testament to Roche Diagnostics dedication towards supporting countries across the Middle East to further elevate their standards of healthcare and bring in the latest innovations to serve patients better, said Harald Wolf, General Manager at Roche Diagnostics Middle East during the signing at the Aster DM Healthcare Headquarters in Dubai. This partnership will further align our commitment to upscale and expand healthcare opportunities and services to all residents across the UAE, KSA, Oman and Qatar, he added. Stavros Chisimellis, Head of Gulf region, Agencies Business & Distribution at Roche Diagnostics Middle East, said: At Roche Diagnostics, we put patient-care at the heart of all our endeavours. Through this collaboration with Aster DM Healthcare, we aim to accelerate the process of providing the highest quality healthcare and the latest diagnostic solutions to all citizens and residents here in the UAE and across the Middle East. The Aster laboratory consolidation project is aimed at integrating future-ready systems within the companys expansive network of 13 hospitals, 106 clinics and laboratories in the GCC. Aimed at driving precision in diagnostics with speed and operational efficiency, the project will further strengthen the companys ability to identify and immediately serve patient needs. Through the use of Roches latest diagnostic solutions Aster DM Healthcares facilities will be able to enhance capacity to test for multiple diseases by taking minimal samples from patients. This will especially be of help for more vulnerable patients such as the elderly, children, and those living with conditions such as haemophilia or other blood diseases where taking a blood sample is cumbersome and could potentially be dangerous. Furthermore, the partnership will allow both Aster Hospitals and Roche to continue fulfilling its commitment towards the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of various disease areas, including cardiovascular health, womens health, infectious diseases. In doing so, the companies aim to support the welfare of the regional community and provide patients across the Middle East with world-class healthcare. - TradeArabia News Service Larry Elder: On reparations: John F. Kennedy vs. Robert F. Kennedy When did the civil rights movement go off the rails? The answer is when proponents went from justly demanding equal rights to unjustly demanding equal results. As to exactly when this occurred, thats more difficult to answer. But consider statements, made five years apart, from the Kennedy brothers, John F. and Robert F. Neither brother was asked about nor used the word reparations. But during an August 1963 news conference, a reporter asked President John Kennedy about special dispensation for blacks: Mr. President, some Negro leaders are saying that, like the Jews persecuted by the Nazis, the Negro is entitled to some kind of special dispensation for the pain of second-class citizenship over these many decades and generations. What is your view of that in general, and what is your view in particular on the specific point that they are recommending of job quotas by race? JFK replied, I dont think that is the generally held view, at least as I understand it, of the Negro community, that there is some compensation due for the lost years, particularly in the field of education. What I think they would like is to see their children well educated so that they could hold jobs and have their children accepted and have themselves accepted as equal members of the community. So I dont think we can undo the past. In fact, the past is going to be with us for a good many years in uneducated men and women who lost their chance for a decent education. We have to do the best we can now. That is what we are trying to do. I dont think quotas are a good idea. I think it is a mistake to begin to assign quotas on the basis of religion or race or color, or nationality. Five years later, Sen. Robert Kennedy announced his candidacy for president. He said, I run to seek new policiespolicies to end the bloodshed in Vietnam and in our cities, policies to close the gaps that now exist between black and white. Policies to close the gaps that now exist between black and white? In 1940, 87 percent of blacks lived below the poverty level. By 1960, that number dropped to 47 percenta 40-point drop in 20 years, the greatest 20 years of economic growth for black Americans in history. Brown v. Board of Education, which struck down separate but equal, was not decided until 1954. This sharp decline in black poverty preceded the Civil Rights Act of 1964. John Kennedy was right. We cannot undo the past. But by teaching Black people to see themselves as victims deserving of reparations from todays white oppressors, we can certainly make the present and future worse. Radar Footage of 9 UFOs Swarming US Navy Ship Confirmed True by Pentagon A video showing at least nine UFOs swarming a U.S. warship has been confirmed to be authentic by the Pentagon after the footage was made public by a UFO expert. I can confirm that the video you sent was taken by Navy personnel, and that the UAPTF (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force) included it in their ongoing examinations, a Pentagon spokesperson told an NBC correspondent. 2019 US Navy warships were swarmed by UFOs; heres the RADAR footage that shows that. Filmed in the Combat Information Center of the USS Omaha / July 15th 2019 / this is corroborative electro-optic data demonstrating a significant UFO event series in a warning area off San Diego. pic.twitter.com/bZS5wbLuLl Jeremy Corbell (@JeremyCorbell) May 27, 2021 The ship was in a warning area off the coast of San Diego, California, on July 15, 2019, reported investigative filmmaker Jeremy Corbell, who released the video on May 27. The video was filmed in the Combat Information Center of the USS Omaha by the Visual Intelligence Personnel team, according to Corbell. He claims that the unique, never-before-released 43 seconds of video footage shows a group of unusual craft captured through electro-optics data, a technology that guides radar that is usually installed on aircraft, ships, and ground bases. In the video, one operator is heard saying: Track 781 just sped up to 46 knots. 50 knots. Closing in. Then one of the objects seems to speed up to 138 knots. Holy [expletive]. Theyre going fast. Oh, its turning around. The equivalent of 138 knots is 158 miles per hour. According to Corbell, one of the USS Omaha crewmen said: The most impressive evidence we witnessed was their endurance. The event lasted over an hour with all contacts just disappearing. We were never able to discern where they departed to. Corbell claimed that there were actually 14 UFOs involved in the incident, recorded in footage that he said wouldnt be made public. He further noted that the number could be much higher since some of the craft disappeared from the tracking system, possibly because they submerged into water or went up to an altitude beyond the Navy machines detection capability. This type of cross-platform information confirmation from sensor data is unique and rare, Corbell noted, adding that its corroborative of a previously released unclassified video that shows a spherical UFO allegedly filmed by the Navy, which at the end of the recording, dives into the water. The US Navy photographed & filmed spherical shaped UFOs & advanced transmedium vehicles; here is some of that footage. Filmed in the Combat Information Center of the USS Omaha / July 15th 2019 / warning area off San Diego @ 11pm PST. No wreckage found. No craft were recovered. pic.twitter.com/tK1YTG8sJ7 Jeremy Corbell (@JeremyCorbell) May 14, 2021 Representatives from the Pentagon didnt respond to a request for comment by The Epoch Times by press time. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) speaks during a press conference following a House Republican caucus meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington on April 14, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Rep. McCaul Calls CCP Virus Origin Worst Cover-Up In Human History Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on Sunday said it was more likely than not that COVID-19 originated from a lab accident, calling it the worst cover-up in human history. I do think its more likely than not it emerged out of the lab, most likely accidentally, McCaul said during an appearance on CNNs State of the Union. Let me say, this is the worst cover-up in human history that weve seen resulting in 3.5 million deaths, creating economic devastation around the globe. His remarks come amid calls for a deeper probe into the origins of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus following widespread concerns that the pandemic may have been sparked by a laboratory accident in Chinas central city of Wuhan. President Joe Biden has ordered the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) to ramp up efforts to investigate the viruss origins. Infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci admitted last week that hes now not convinced that COVID-19 developed naturally, and called for a deeper investigation into its origins. Early reports about an outbreak of the CCP virus first appeared in Wuhan in late 2019, when a cluster of cases was reported by state-controlled media to be linked to a local wet market. More than a year later, the origins of the virus remain unknown, although the possibility that the virus leaked from a laboratory at Chinas Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) is now receiving wider recognition. The Wall Street Journal reported on May 23 that three researchers at the WIV were hospitalized in November 2019 with symptoms consistent with seasonal flu and COVID-19. The newspaper cited unnamed U.S. government sources familiar with a previously undisclosed U.S. intelligence report. That was suppressed by the Chinese Communist Party, McCaul said, referring to the hospitalizations of the three researchers. McCaul said Bidens calls for a deeper probe into the origins of the CCP virus were long overdue, and called on the United States to pull our supply chain out of China as a punitive response. My response to this whole thing is supply chain. We need to pull our supply chain out of the region, that being medical supply, rare earth mineral supply, the lawmaker said. He also warned that the presidents investigation could be inconclusive because they [Beijing] have destroyed everything at the lab. White House press secretary Jen Psaki, said on May 24 that the Biden administration has repeatedly called for the WHO to support an expert-driven evaluation of the pandemics origins that is free from interference or politicization. Now, there were phase one results that came through. We were notduring that first phase of the investigation, there was not access to data, there was not information provided. And now, were hopeful that WHO can move into a more transparent, independent phase two investigation, Psaki said. Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report. Republican Joe Gale Seeks Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Nomination Joe Gale, one of the few Republican commissioners in the Greater Philadelphia region, has announced his run for the 2022 Pennsylvania gubernatorial race. An advocate for traditional values and an avid supporter of former President Donald Trumps policies, he told The Epoch Times that the only path to victory is with a candidate who is pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-small business, pro-shale, pro-pipeline, pro-Trump and, most importantly, not controlled, influenced, or endorsed by Republican Party bosses. The Republican Party cannot go backward to move forward. To continue advancing the Trump movement, we must remain committed to draining the swamp within the GOP, which is best accomplished by winning Republican primaries with true conservative outsider candidates like myself, he said. Running a moderate, or a Democrat-lite Republican, in hopes of attracting Independent and Democrat voters is a proven recipe for disaster, he added. The GOP tried this in 2008 with John McCain and again in 2012 with Mitt Romney. Both candidates failed miserably. Those races did little more than shift the political spectrum to the left, which alienated conservatives and made a radical liberal like [former] President [Barack] Obama falsely appear moderate. Gale said. Gales push toward succeeding Gov. Tom Wolf, who is in his second and final term, has been in large part driven by the current governors policies in addressing the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. For over a year, we have watched in horror as a novel coronavirus from mainland China has taken lives, destroyed families andwith the help of Democrat Governor Tom Wolfs authoritarian lockdown and shutdown ordersdecimated countless jobs and private enterprises, Gale said. In addition to what he said have been disastrous actions taken by Wolf, Gale believes that China is responsible for wreaking havoc on the Pennsylvania economy over the past year and is one of the biggest threats to our nation. Millions of Americans have experienced firsthand the turmoil and troubles that Chinas communist regime has maliciously exported to the United States. And no one has been hit harder than the people of Pennsylvania as I travel the commonwealth, I hear from businesses, both big and small, that have struggled with Chinese competitors who infringe upon their intellectual property rights, Gale said. Gale also plans on securing jobs for teenagers and middle-class families, while strengthening small businesses. He said that the $15 federal minimum wage increase recommended by many Democrats would result in hurting the very people its supposed to help the minimum wage has done little more than price entry-level teenage workers out of the job market. The effort to make the minimum wage a de facto living wage that supports a working family has only resulted in higher unemployment rates across the board as small businesses cannot afford to pay more than what a low-level skill is worth. Gale also would bring both corporate and gasoline taxes down, which are now the second highest in the nation and, he noted, have adversely impacted Pennsylvanians. To address the high rates of violence and homicides in the state, Gale said that the state needs more police on the streets and more firearms in the possession of law-abiding citizens. Regrettably, Democrats and their allies in the mainstream media have turned law enforcement officers and responsible gun owners into villains and criminals into heroes. I will fight those who aim to defund the police and take away the right of Pennsylvanians to defend themselves and their families. When I become governor, the days of granting leniency to the perpetrators of violent crime and homicide will be over. Besides Gale, four more Republicans have declared for the Republican primarys nomination: former congressman Lou Barletta, restaurant owner and former Corry Mayor Jason Monn, Pittsburgh attorney Jason Richey, and cardiothoracic surgeon Nche Zama. So far only one Democratic candidate, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro, is running for Pennsylvania governor. Lily Sun contributed to this report. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) is seen at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on April 13, 2021. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images) Sen. Capito: Republicans, Democrats Inching Toward Each Other in Infrastructure Negotiations Republicans and Democrats are slowly getting closer in negotiations on a major infrastructure package, a top GOP negotiator says. Democrats used a budget tool called reconciliation to ram through the COVID-19 relief package earlier this year but have not turned to the tool for infrastructure because there is a hunger for bipartisanship, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) said on May 30, citing how President Joe Biden told people during his inaugural speech that he would govern for voters from both parties. He has expressed to me and to our group numerous times his desire to work with us and to negotiate a package. And I think thats what you see, in fact, that were inching towards one another, she said on Fox News Sunday. I understand theres a deadline here. I understand at some point if we dont get therebut it wont be because we didnt try. And its worth it. Its worth it to show this country we can work together, we can reach compromise for the good of everybody. Capito has been a top Republican negotiator on the package, meeting multiple times with Biden to try to hammer out a deal. Bidens infrastructure plan started out at $2.3 trillion and included $400 billion to boost care for the elderly and disabled. After Republicans criticized some of the provisions, such as the care portion, and delivered a $928 billion plan that drew praise from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Biden offered a slimmed-down $1.7 trillion proposal. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on May 30 that theres certainly been major movement and a lot of good conversations. Theres movement in the right direction, but a lot of concerns. Certainly have some concerns about some things that are not in their counteroffer that are really important in terms of speaking to the climate imperative and the climate consequences of our transportation decisions, what we need to do around transit, as well as things like taking care of veteran hospital infrastructure, and other things we really believe we need to do right now, he said on ABCs This Week. Still, the conversations will continue with the president, with members of Congress, and we remain very hopeful that we can get to a good place, he said. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg arrives for a news conference after touring the construction site atop the new Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge in Washington on May 19, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) The Senate is in recess until June 7. GOP senators told reporters on May 28 that staff members were in touch and there were no meetings set up for the week of May 30. One major sticking point has been the differing definitions of infrastructure, with Bidens inclusion of nontraditional provisions in his proposal. We disagree on the definition of infrastructure, and weve been working with the president to bring it back to the physical core idea of infrastructure that weve worked so well on in the past, whether thats roads and bridges, waterways, ports, lead pipes, transit, airports, and also the new infrastructure, which is we must have everywhere a broadband. Those are great categories I think that we can work together on, Capito said. While Capito thinks Democrats want to reach a bipartisan compromise, a number of Democratic senators have encouraged party leaders to ram the package through by using budget reconciliationan option the White House has left open. I think waiting any longer for Republicans to do the right thing is a misstep. I would go forward, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said on CNNs State of the Union. President Biden has a huge, bold agenda of so much he wants to do for the economy and the American people. Democrats should respond and vote together now through reconciliation to get it done, and then move on to the rest of the bipartisan agenda. Sen. Johnson: No COVID-19 Vaccine Because High Levels of Antibodies Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) isnt getting a COVID-19 vaccine for now because he still has high levels of antibodies against the disease. Johnson and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) both contracted COVID-19, which is caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, last year. In my case, I just recently had an antibody test, and I have the same level of antibodies as the doctor who prescribed me the test, who had just gotten two doses of Moderna, Johnson told Epoch TVs American Thought Leaders. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this month advised against using antibody testing to determine immunity from the CCP virus. Antibody tests can play an important role in identifying individuals who may have been exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and may have developed an adaptive immune response. However, antibody tests should not be used at this time to determine immunity or protection against COVID-19 at any time, and especially after a person has received a COVID-19 vaccination, Tim Stenzel, director of the Office of In Vitro Diagnostics and Radiological Health in the FDAs Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in a statement announcing the new guidance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people who recovered from COVID-19 get a vaccine. Thats because experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19, the agency stated. A growing body of research, though, indicates that those who had COVID-19 and recovered retain immunity for months, and potentially years. Transmission electron micrograph of SARS-CoV-2, or CCP virus particles, isolated from a patient. Image captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. (NIAID) Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for example, found that people who recovered still had a strong immunity to the disease five to eight months after infection. Missouri researchers recently found that people retained immune cells producing antibodies for months after recovery. Last fall, there were reports that antibodies wane quickly after infection with the virus that causes COVID-19, and mainstream media interpreted that to mean that immunity was not long-lived, senior author Ali Ellebedy, an associate professor of pathology and immunology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, said in a statement. But thats a misinterpretation of the data. Its normal for antibody levels to go down after acute infection, but they dont go down to zero; they plateau. Here, we found antibody-producing cells in people 11 months after first symptoms. These cells will live and produce antibodies for the rest of peoples lives. Thats strong evidence for long-lasting immunity. Johnson lamented what he sees as official guidance from the government that doesnt line up with the science on the issue. For some reason, now the FDA has come out with a guidance or report saying that if you have antibodies, thats no proof of immunity. Why is the FDA, CDC, and NIHs default position on those of us that have been previously infected, that chances are you probably dont have immunity? Why would they say that? Its just not true, he said. Almost every other virus that we know that once youve had the disease, youre immune from it, and certainly if you have an active case of the disease, you sure dont want to get the vaccine, and yet we have this big push to vaccinate everybody, regardless of medical need or potential harm that might come of possibly vaccinating somebody whos been previously infected or currently having a case of COVID. Paul has offered a similar view, saying he will not get a vaccine until he sees evidence that people who have already had the infection are dying in large numbers, or being hospitalized or getting very sick. Johnson pointed to a recent study from Israel. Researchers there found that protection against infection, hospitalization, severe illness, and death were similar in percentage between those who had received a COVID-19 vaccine and those who had COVID-19 and recovered. Our results question the need to vaccinate previously-infected individuals, they wrote. Theres a study just published out of Israel that shows that those of us that were previously infected have as good if not better immunity than the vaccine, and that would make a lot of sense, Johnson said. The vaccine is really designed based on the spike proteins to identify those; when youve had the disease, your immune system identifies the entire coronavirus, which is why people with the SARS 1 17 years later appear to be immune to SARS 2 even though SARS 2 is only 80 percent genetically identical to SARS 1. So the common sensejust basic medicinewould indicate that if youve already been infected with the virus, your immune system is going to be pretty capable of warding off a reinfection. A man crosses the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) logo in the lobby of CIA Headquarters in Langley, Va., on Aug. 14, 2008. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Shouldnt Americas Spies Already Know Where COVID Came From? Commentary President Joe Biden has given the U.S. intelligence community 90 days to figure out where COVID-19 came from. Really? American taxpayers just might wonder what they are getting for their $80 billion that funds the nations mammoth intelligence bureaucracy each year. Shouldnt the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)the creme-de-la-creme of the intelligence communityalready know about COVID? In fact, shouldnt they have known in late 2019 when the virus first appeared? That is the CIAs job after allto know whats going on in China and what Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party leadership are thinking and doing. Hopefully, the CIA prioritizes China over, say, Slovenia. Perhaps the CIA just isnt very good at spying. And thats its principal duty: to obtain secrets by persuading foreigners to betray their countries or organizations for Americas interests. Yes, this isnt always easy. Nonetheless, it is what the CIA is supposed to do. One does hear it argued (or better saidused as an excuse) that China is a hard target. And it is. Chinas Ministry of State Securitys successes in rolling up CIA agent networks in recent times have created colossal intelligence disasters. But being hard is a poor excuse. The intelligence targets most important to the United States are usually the most difficult. Imagine an airline pilot suggesting he shouldnt be expected to land in a 30-knot crosswind because it would be difficult. Some nationalities are recruitable by the dozen in an afternoon, with a decent lunch and a little money. Russians and Islamic terrorists? Not so easy. Chinese? Not easy but not impossible. Operating inside China is tough. But the Chinese do travel overseas. And in dictatorships like China, ones position and even life can be precarious. Indeed, many Chinese of means and power are looking for overseas bolt-holes and places to stash their wealth and their relatives. A woman walks past the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco, on July 23, 2020. (Philip Pacheco/AFP via Getty Images) These are cracks for CIA officers to exploit. It takes patience and effort. But if promotion in the agencys directorate of operations (which does most of the recruiting) is still based on scalpsregardless of whose head they come off ofguess which targets get the attention? The easy ones. And a little ahem deception to jump-start a career isnt unheard of. One recipient of the agencys top case officer award offered sage advicewith a straight facethat You should go to an agent meeting with the intelligence already written, and Its okay to write what an agent would have said. In other words, make it up. Or in plainer English, lie. As for fake recruitments, there probably isnt a current or former CIA case officer alive who cant rattle off a few examples. Another problem with the China target (and other hard ones) is language. Learning Chinese takes time and thats dead time the way promotion boards look at it. Best to head off to Africa and rack up some easy scalps. Adding to the spying challenge, after 9/11, the CIA got into paramilitary operations big time. Thats a lot easier than pursuing and convincing hard targets to give you information. Paramilitary work is also a lot of funlike being in the military, but without most of the rules and you only do the fun stuff. No parades, no inspections, no PowerPoint torture, and no seminars on sexual harassment and woke reeducation sessions. Paramilitary operations have their uses, but they are not the CIAs core purpose. And one suspects the CIA relies excessively on liaison services. Thats dumbing things down. Instead of gathering intelligence on your own, you let the local intelligence services do the work for you. Its easier and eliminates the risk of being caught spying in another country (a risk thats part of the intelligence game and always has been). But youre also a supplicant, dependent on foreign intelligence services. Youll only know what they knowand of that, only what they tell you. And their interests are not always Americas interests. One also marvels that nobody seems to notice or at least do much about all this. Congress has oversight responsibility for the CIA. But as one CIA officer commented a while back, there is little to worry about from Capitol Hill: Tell them some stories, give them a little show-and-tell, and they think theyre dealing with Mr. Bond himself. And it didnt help when the then-director of national intelligence, retired Lt. Gen. James Clapper, who became one of President Donald Trumps fiercest critics, in 2013 delivered what he later called a clearly erroneous if least untruthful answer to the Senate Intelligence Committee when testifying about government surveillance of U.S. citizens. Then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper (L) and then-CIA Director John Brennan chat before testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Feb. 9, 2016. (Molly Riley/AFP/Getty Images) This doesnt exactly make a citizen brim with confidence in the intelligence communitys ruling class or in the U.S. Air Forces three-star generals. And its not just Clapper. Take one former CIA director and another former acting director on whose watches the CIA missed the rise of ISIS, for starters. Both were analystsand sub-par ones at that. They werent case officers in the field trying to recruit and obtain intelligence. Of course, there is no shortage of sub-par case officers either. So how did they get to the top? Its depressing, but both were creatures of a CIA culturemost prevalent at, but not confined to, headquarterswhere sycophancy, laissez-faire backstabbing, and smoke-and-mirrors achievement are better for ones career than producing intelligence on Americas most dangerous enemies. As for the current director of national intelligencenow running the whole showshes a former CIA employee but with a stunning lack of experience, and zero on the operational end. Not surprisingly, the good officers, of whom there are still some and who could get things on track, go to great lengths to avoid headquarters assignments. Theres also no possible way they would be selected to the top positions and threaten what is a juicy employment racket. In fairness, the CIA presumably is doing some useful work collecting information the old-fashioned way. And the agency rightly doesnt publicize it. But when the question of where the coronavirus came from and what the Chinese leadership knew is still a mystery to the CIA (and the rest of the intelligence community)one marvels at such majestic incompetence. And none of the GS-15s, SESs, and SISs running the show seem the least bit embarrassed that when their country most needed them, they failed. One doubts that U.S. intelligence can be fixed without a flamethrower. Grant Newsham is a retired U.S. Marine officer and a former U.S. diplomat and business executive who lived and worked for many years in the Asia/Pacific region. He served as a reserve head of intelligence for Marine Forces Pacific, and was the U.S. Marine attache, U.S. Embassy Tokyo on two occasions. He is a senior fellow with the Center for Security Policy. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. President Joe Biden (R) and South Korean President Moon Jae-in participate in a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington on May 21, 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) South Korean Expert: Moon Jae-ins Pro-US Statement a Result of Domestic Anti-CCP Pressure News Analysis A South Korean military expert has said it remains to be seen whether South Korean President Moon Jae-ins stance toward the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will change after his visit to the United States. Moon concluded his four-day visit to the United States on May 22. The two countries signed a joint statement that for the first time mentioned the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea issues, surpassing the Korean publics expectations of a government that has, to date, been in lockstep with the CCPs influence efforts. On May 21, U.S. President Joe Biden met with Moon at the White House and published a joint statement on issues of mutual concern, including the Korean Peninsula, peace in the Indo-Pacific, and U.S.-South Korea relations. The statement said the two countries oppose any action that threatens, disrupts, or undermines the rules-based international order and are committed to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region. It stressed the importance of preserving peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, and the importance of the QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) between the United States, Japan, India, and Australia to contain the CCP. The statement also ended the South Korea Ballistic Missile Range Guidelines signed in 1979, lifting the 800 kilometer (497 mile) limit on the range of South Korean missiles. That would put Beijing, which is 950 kilometers (590 miles) from South Korea, within range of its missiles. South Korean media said that this move paves the way for the country to improve its own strength and control the CCP. South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo reported that Moon returned to South Korea on the evening of May 23. On his way from Washington to Atlanta, Moon posted a message on social media saying that he had had the best visit and the best meeting ever, which had achieved more than expected results. Moons remarks mean that he has agreed to readjust the alliance between South Korea and the United States over the past four years. The South Korean government, which has been adhering to a vague strategy, has decided to refocus on the U.S. in the face of the U.S.-China conflict, the report quoted a diplomat saying. Declining Approval Ratings Force Moon to Change Kim Tae Woo, a professor of military science at Konyang University in South Korea, told The Epoch Times that Moons declining domestic approval rating was one of the main reasons for his recent pro-American statements. According to the Chosun Ilbo newspaper, a poll released on April 30 showed that Moons approval rating had dropped below 30 percent for the first time to 29 percentthe lowest since he took office. Many South Koreans have long been dissatisfied with Moons pro-CCP policies. After the outbreak of the CCP virus last year, 1.45 million Koreans signed an impeachment petition calling for Moons ouster. President Moon Jae-ins policy toward the novel coronavirus shows that he is more like the president of China than the president of the Republic of Korea, the impeachment document said. According to a recent Pew Research Center survey, the percentage of South Koreans who now have a negative view of China has risen from 37 percent in 2015 to 75 percent in 2020, with 80 percent of young people having a negative view. Moon Made No Breakthroughs With Pro-CCP Stance The South Korean government has been communicating with the CCP through diplomatic channels about the Korea-U.S. summit, Koreas Yonhap News Agency revealed, citing sources at the Blue House. Senior officials from the Blue House said that although mention of the Taiwan Strait appeared for the first time in the Korea-U.S. joint statement, it was only an in principle statement of a basic position. Citing public opinion, Yonhap News Agency reported that, although Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian and Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming expressed dissatisfaction with the South Korea-U.S. statement, it was generally believed that the tone and wording of the statement were far from as harsh as the one that came out of the U.S.-Japan summit. According to Kim, The U.S.-Japan statement issued in April drew strong protests from the CCP and differed significantly from the U.S.-South Korea statement. The former focused on the Chinese and North Korean nuclear issues, and directed their cooperation in a specific way, while the U.S.-South Korea statement used a lot of diplomatic rhetoric to reach consensus on the Chinese and North Korean nuclear issues. About the CCPs response to the joint statement, Kim said, At this stage, the CCP is just using diplomatic rhetoric when criticizing the U.S.-South Korea statement. It may believe that the Moon administration will not turn its back on it. If the South Korean government is serious about implementing this statement in the future, then the CCP will step up and take action. But of course, we cannot be pushed around by it, he added. Another concern of the public is whether there will be a change in Moons Three Noes promise to the CCP. In October 2017, to assuage the CCPs dissatisfaction with South Koreas THAAD anti-missile system, Moon made a Three Noes promise to Beijing, including not making additional deployments of THAAD, not joining the U.S.-led regional missile defense system, and not accepting a trilateral military alliance between the United States, South Korea, and Japan. Judging by the CCPs reaction, Moons Three Noes promise to China has not been affected. While the joint statement talks about trilateral cooperation between the U.S. and Japan, it doesnt make any commitments. Implementation of the Declaration Remains to Be Seen Kim said that judging only from the content in the joint statement, the declaration should still be considered productive. But whether it was sincere is hard to say and remains to be seen. I was very unhappy that Moon has been sitting on the fence between the United States and China in order to seek close ties with North Korea and the CCP, Kim said. After reading the joint statement, I changed my view upon seeing that the alliance still exists. But based on what the Moon administration has done over the past four years, it remains to be seen how trustworthy South Korea-U.S. statements can be. When it comes to Moons China policy, Kim said, Taiwan is a very sensitive topic for Beijing. The U.S.-Japan statement drew strong protests from Beijing because of this issue. Now, the U.S.-South Korea statement has included some of the CCPs most sensitive issues, such as Taiwan and the South China Sea. Although there is no direct mention of the CCP, the statement refers to it. Its surprising that Moon, who has stuck to appeasement all the time, would adopt this. On the future of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, Kim said that the issue will be decided by the South Korean election next year. If South Koreans choose socialism and are willing to accept pro-Communist and pro-North Korean forces, the United States will reconsider the alliance, so South Koreans ought to make a correct judgment [next year]. Epoch Times reporters Yeonjae Lee and Lisa Bian contributed to this report. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Police investigate a crime scene after two people were shot in Chicago on June 15. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) Survey: Majority Say Violent Crime in the US Getting Worse, Half Doubt Bidens Ability to Solve It A Rasmussen Reports survey released Friday found that while the majority of likely Democrat and Republican voters agree violent crime in the United States is getting worse, the groups confidence in Bidens ability to solve this problem differs greatly. According to the poll, 65 percent of likely voters said violent crime is getting worse, 22 percent said it is staying about the same, 10 percent said its better, and 3 percent were unsure. This view is consistent across party lines, with 72 percent of Republicans, 65 percent of independents, and 59 percent of Democrats saying violent crime is getting worse in the country. However, the opinions diverged when voters were asked to specify their confidence in the current president to solve the violent crime issue, with 77 percent of Democrats indicating confidence in Biden compared to only 20 percent of Republicans. Overall, 50 percent expressed little confidence in Bidens ability to handle, with 35 percent saying they are not at all confident and 15 percent saying they are not very confident. Forty-six percent expressed at least some confidence in Biden. The survey was conducted on May 25-26 on 900 likely voters. The sampling error is +/- 3 percent with a 95% level of confidence. According to the National Fraternal Order of Police, murder rates have skyrocketed in cities where the government has defunded the police. As of May 25, the murder rate in Philadelphia was up 40 percent, in Minneapolis 56 percent, in Portland 800 percent, in New York City 22 percent, in Chicago 22 percent, in Los Angeles 27 percent, and in Washington D.C. 35 percent. In separate data compiled by analyst Jeff Asher, who studied crime rates in more than 50 cities, found that Chicago recorded nearly 750 homicides in 2020, about 55 percent more than in 2019. Los Angeles had 343 homicides, a 33 percent jump from 2019, while New York saw 437 homicides, a 39 percent increase from 2019. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on May 26 a new three-pronged initiative to help combat the surge of violent crime in several U.S. cities in the wake of George Floyds death last summer. Garlands strategy consists of directing the Justice Departments 94 U.S. attorneys offices to adopt a set of principles focused on improving the departments approach to reducing violent crime, such as improving community relations and investing in prevention programs. The initiative will also require U.S. attorneys offices to work closely with state, local, federal, tribal, and community partners to address violent crimes seen over the summer, such as murders, shootings, and robberies. The current Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program also will be updated. Included in Bidens initial infrastructure plan, was a $5 billion request to Congress for community violence prevention programs over eight years. Bidens proposed solution targets gun-related deaths in low-income urban neighborhoods. Biden has vowed to enact gun control with or without Congresss help to bring down the death from mass shootings, gang-related and one-on-one gun murders, and gun suicides. While Democrats support such measures, Republicans say they oppose Bidens gun control policies because they punish law-abiding citizens who get their guns legally, while criminals get around the system. During an April press conference to announce his executive action on gun control, he said laws like universal background checks and red flag laws (that take guns away from those deemed mentally unfit) are not unconstitutional. Gun violence in this country is an epidemic, and its an international embarrassment, said Biden. President Biden wants to let violent criminals go free but take guns from law-abiding citizens, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said in a social media statement. Janita Kan contributed to this report. A man sits on a rock overlooking the Taipei 101 tower and the Taipei skyline on the top of Elephant Mountain on January 7, 2020, in Taipei, Taiwan. (Carl Court/Getty Images) Taiwan Calls on Australia to Restart Free Trade Agreement Talks Taiwan wants the Australian government to resume free trade agreement talks after they were halted several times from pressure by Beijing. The Director-General of the Brisbane Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) Edward Tao told The Australian that it would be a good opportunity for the two countries, who have both suffered economic coercion from Beijing. Like Australia, we also have experienced economic bullying from China and are fearful about what it will do, Tao said. Last year, they stopped our export of pineapples to the mainland. Tao said the country, which has the same population as Australia on an island half the size of Tasmania, was the number one buyer of Australian products on a per capita basis. Australia runs a very healthy trade surplus with Taiwan of about $9 billion and trade is set to increase over the coming years, he said, adding that Australia is seen as a safe and friendly investment environment. Tao said Taiwan is also wary of Beijings increasingly aggressive attitude and noted that Xi Jinping, who is a very different leader compared to his predecessors, wants to leave behind a legacy. We are very aware of the real threat from China and that the situation is getting heated, but we hope that sensible heads prevail, he said. Beijing Interference with an Australia-Taiwan FTA Australias official stance currently adheres to Beijings One China policy, meaning it does not formally recognise Taiwan as a sovereign state nor have official diplomatic relations. However, in 2016, talks between the then-Turnbull government and Taiwan were put on hold after Beijing exerted pressure to stop the trade agreement. The China-Australia FTA had just been signed a year prior, in 2015. Former Liberal Senator David Leyonhjelm told The Australian Financial Review in 2017 that during the period Andrew Robb was trade minister, 2013 to 2016, that an FTA with Taiwan, was in due course. However, it was never realised by the Turnbull government after the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reportedly threatened former Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop against pursuing an FTA with Taiwan. The Chinese government made it clear to me that circumstances had changed between Taiwan and mainland China, and that China would not look favourably on Australia seeking to pursue a free trade agreement with Taiwan, as New Zealand had done some years ago, Bishop told Fairfax media in 2018. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen delivers a speech during National Day celebrations in front of the Presidential Building in Taipei, Taiwan on Oct. 10, 2020. (Chiang Ying-ying/AP Photo) Now, Taiwanese diplomats and officials are again calling on Australia to strengthen the ties between the two countries as warnings of war in the Asia-Pacific region become louder. In December 2020, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen expressed her hope to sign an economic cooperation agreement with Australia. We welcome our Australian friends to rediscover Taiwan, and also encourage Taiwanese to rediscover Australia, to promote more bilateral cooperation and exchanges, Tsai said, according to the official translation. We also hope that Taiwan and Australia can negotiate and sign an ECA [Economic Cooperation Agreement] and continue to deepen our partnership. Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu also called for broader relations and stronger ties as Australia has diversified away from China after a year of economic coercion from Beijing. Looking at your neighbour, New Zealand, they already have an FTA with Taiwan. They are taking away lots of trade opportunities from Australia, Wu told the AFR on May 6. So maybe Australia will think about how to strengthen relations, trade relations with Taiwan, by signing an ECA with Taiwan. Taiwan is Australias seventh-largest export market and the tenth-largest trading partner overall. Currently, Australia has or is negotiating for, FTAs with all its top ten trading partners, except Taiwan. HE Massimo Baggi, Ambassador of Switzerland to the UAE and Bahrain, recently visited the Swiss diagnostic service provider Unilabs branch in Abu Dhabi, where he was received by Mohammed Daoud, CEO, Unilabs Middle East, and Fernando De Gorgolas - General Manager of International Business Unilabs. During the visit, Ambassador Baggi was briefed on the latest digital, laboratory and medical technologies that Unilabs offers in addition to its advanced capabilities that make its top-notch lab tests unique, in accordance with international best practices. For his part, Ambassador Massimo Baggi said: With its Swiss precision and state-of-the-art technology, Unilabs integrates well into the impressive infrastructure that the UAE has put in place to curb the spread of the pandemic. The presence of Unilabs in Abu Dhabi is another great example of Switzerlands many contributions to overcoming this global challenge and we are happy to support their efforts. The CEO of Unilabs Middle East welcomed the visit of the Swiss Ambassador, lauding his ongoing efforts to strengthen the cultural, economic and social relations between Switzerland and the UAE, which resulted in supporting their conducive business environment for companies. He emphasized that Unilabs is striving to convey a positive image of the efficiency of Swiss laboratory services. Daoud also introduced the guest to the diagnostic capabilities and high operational capacity of Unilabs in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, highlighting their advanced resources in conducting reliable PCR tests through an integrated electronic system. He made it clear that Unilabs techniques contribute to accelerate the results of Covid-19 tests, which will help limit its spread of the pandemic in the UAE. Our lab techniques are also supporting the high production capacity of the laboratory system in the UAE, and the upward trend in the number of lab tests targeted by the UAE as part of its commitment to protecting the health of society,. "We are proud to play our full role in supporting the remarkable efforts being made by the UAE health authorities, with their precautionary measures setting a global model to be emulated in dealing with the Covid-19 crisis.", Daoud said. He revealed that Unilabs has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to integrate Unilabs Covid-19 test into the IATA electronic document for travellers, making it one of the first global laboratory networks to be incorporated into that electronic document. Unilabs network has also obtained an ISO certification from the Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC), becoming the first private lab institution to be awarded such a global accreditation in the UAE, the CEO of Unilabs Middle East added. Furthermore, our network has provided new and innovative technologies to improve, accelerate and expand the scope of testing in the UAE, Daoud further said, adding that the company has a new technology to automate routine laboratory analysis to help simplify solutions and reduce the risk of human error. And to reduce the health risks that may face patients and employees, Unilabs has also established more than 200 Covid-19 test units, drive-thru and walk throw, in addition to some Covid-19 tests being conducted at the nearly 1,000 collection centres.TradeArabia News Service Voters enter and exit the Austin City Hall during the presidential primary in Austin, Texas, on March 3, 2020. (Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images) Texas Democrats Walk Out of House Chamber to Block Voting Law Texas Democrats abandoned the House floor on the night of May 30 in an effort to prevent the passage of a sweeping election overhaul bill that had already passed the state Senate. The Democrat lawmakers managed to defeat the bill temporarily by breaking the quorum needed to hold a final vote on it. According to the state House rules, at least 100 members are required to be present for the chamber to conduct business. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican who supports the bill, responded to the Democrats move in a statement on May 30, vowing to call a special session to revisit the bill. I declared Election Integrity and Bail Reform to be must-pass emergency items for this legislative session. It is deeply disappointing and concerning for Texans that neither will reach my desk. Ensuring the integrity of our elections and reforming a broken bail system remain emergencies in Texas. They will be added to the special session agenda. Legislators will be expected to have worked out the details when they arrive at the Capitol for the special session, Abbott wrote. State Rep. Chris Turner, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, appeared to be the main impetus for the walkout. According to several media outlets, Turner had sent a text message informing other Democrats to leave the chamber discreetly ahead of the midnight deadline. The Democrat lawmakers then confirmed their move following the walkout saying that they had used their last tool to kill the bill. We denied the quorum that they needed to pass this bill and we killed that bill, Turner told reporters on May 30. One of the many great traditions of the African-American church in this country is Souls to the Polls. Republicans were determined to take that away. The Texas House Republican Caucus responded to the move, condemning the actions of their colleagues. The Texas House Republican Caucus condemns the actions of their colleagues in the Texas House, who chose to vacate their constitutional responsibility and leave millions of Texans without resolution on key issues in the final hours of the legislative session, the statement said. These individuals quit on their constituents and they quit on Texas. The Caucus is fully committed to taking all necessary steps to deliver on election integrity and bail reform, two issues flagged by our governor as emergency items. The bill was approved in the Senate largely along party lines after an overnight debate stretched into the morning of May 30, according to local media. The measure would grant more power to poll watchers by giving them more access inside polling areas, while creating new penalties against election officials who restrict poll watchers movements. The proposal would also allow a judge to void the outcome of an election if the number of fraudulent votes could change the result. Officials who send mail-in ballots to people who didnt request them could also face criminal penalties, should the bill be enacted into law. President Joe Biden has also weighed in on the bill, characterizing the voting integrity law as an attack against the right to vote. Its wrong and un-American. In the 21st century, we should be making it easier, not harder, for every eligible voter to vote, Biden said in a statement. I call again on Congress to pass the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. And I continue to call on all Americans, of every party and persuasion, to stand up for our democracy and protect the right to vote and the integrity of our elections. Florida and Georgia have both passed bills that add measures to protect the sanctity of the ballot box and to add security to other methods of voting. The laws have faced significant pushback from Democrats who say the bills amount to voter suppression. Jack Phillips contributed to this report. Coleman Thomas Blevins, 28, of Kerrville, Texas, was arrested on May 28, 2021. (Courtesy of Kerr County Sheriff's Office) Texas Police Arrests Man Accused of Plotting Mass Shooting at Walmart A Texas man suspected of plotting a mass casualty shooting at a Walmart has been arrested and charged with making a terroristic threat, authorities announced. Coleman Thomas Blevins, 28, was arrested on May 28 in Kerrville by specially trained personnel with the Kerr County Sheriffs Office (KCSO) after a seven-day operation led investigators to believe the suspect was a threat to national security, according to a KCSO news release. Authorities intercepting a message from Blevins that indicated he was preparing to proceed with a mass shooting. Through the period of investigation, KCSO investigators made contact and conversed with Mr. Blevins, confirmed his affiliation and networking with extremist ideologies, the release says. In the message, Mr. Blevins made a specific threat that included Wal-Mart, it added. Working with the FBI, KCSO Investigators confirmed Mr. Blevins capability of following through with the threat and moved immediately to arrest him. After authorities took him into custody, a search warrant was executed at the home of Blevins and officials recovered an arsenal of various items, including weapons. In that warrant service, firearms, ammunition, electronic evidence, concentrated THC, and radical ideology paraphernalia, including books, flags, and handwritten documents were seized, police said. Seized items found inside the home of 28-year-old Coleman Thomas Blevins in Kerrville, Texas, following a search warrant on May 27, 2021. (Courtesy of Kerr County Sheriffs Office) Blevins was booked in the Kerr County jail where he remains on a $250,000 bond. He is currently on active felony probation and is prohibited from possessing firearms. KCSO officials said the FBI or other federal authorities could pursue federal charges in the case. This case reminds us that we need to always be vigilant. Many think that cant happen here, and it was well on the way to happening, KCSO Sheriff Larry Leitha said. Our investigators did outstanding work in this case, and possibly saved many lives. The plot interrupted in this case is unthinkable, he said. We appreciate the assistance of all our law enforcement partners, including the FBI, DPS, KPD, and Secret Service. Wed like to remind the publicif you see something, say something. The KCSO, working with other law enforcement professionals, will continue to stop threats to our community, and bring those responsible to prosecution. From NTD News The Citizens Hall at the heart of the Royal Palace of Amsterdam serves to orient people in the world, the galaxy, and the universe. (Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam) The Royal Palace of Amsterdam at the Center of the Universe Larger Than Life: Art that inspires us through the ages The Royal Palace was originally the Town Hall of Amsterdam, created in the 17th-century golden era of Holland. It was a time when Amsterdam and its fleet of ships held a dominant trading position, attracting great wealth to the nations capital. When the population grew fivefold, a new town hall was needed to serve the people. Jacob van Campen was the appointed architect. He designed in the Dutch classical style, drawing on the proportions and spatial designs found in classical architecture. Located in the center of Amsterdam facing Dam Square, the Palace is a harmoniously balanced sandstone building, with the facades focal point being a central bay topped by a domed tower. The Palace was built upon exactly 13,659 wooden poles, which were made from Norwegian spruce and driven into soft ground to carry the weight of the building. Bearing Amid the Cosmos At the apex of the west facade, Atlas, a Titan from Greek mythology, stands holding the universe. He reappears in the interior, overlooking Citizens Hall. Each of the four archways leading into the hall from the galleries is ornamented with one of the four elements: wind, water, earth, and firethe ingredients of all matter in the universe. On the marble floor are two large, centrally positioned maps inlaid with brass. One outlines the earths landmasses, and the other is a star chart of the Northern Hemisphere revealing the galaxy beyond. The Hall creates an empowering moment for guests, acting as a compass and providing bearing amid the cosmos. Artworks throughout the Hall then tell the story of Amsterdam as the center of the universe, which today reminds visitors of the prominence the city once held on the world stage. For two centuries, the Royal Palace of Amsterdam was the largest secular building in Europe and was called the Eighth Wonder of the World. (Ratundo/Shutterstock) The Citizens Hall at the heart of the Royal Palace of Amsterdam serves to orient people in the world, the galaxy, and the universe. (Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam) This relief represents the desire for a just Amsterdam, where avarice and envycharacteristics of thieves and murderersare not tolerated. The skeleton with its hourglass symbolizes Time and the revelation of Truth. In the end, Justice and Truth will always prevail. Superchilum/CC BY-SA 4.0) Inlaid with brass on the marble floor, this centrally positioned map outlines the earths landmasses. When not in official use, the Royal Palace is open to the public. King Willem-Alexander (C) attends the opening of the exhibition Universe of Amsterdam, Treasures From the Golden Age of Cartography on June 28, 2019. (FRANK VAN BEEK/AFP via Getty Images) The sculptures and reliefs appear in the Tribunal, the place where criminals met their fate, with judgment and punishment handed down. When offenders were sentenced to death, they were hanged on the second floor. (frankmlee/Shutterstock) Tulips from North Holland fill Dam Square, in front of the Royal Palaces Dutch classical facade. National Tulip Day is an event held in January each year. (Neirfy/Shutterstock) An 18-foot-tall statue of Atlas stands on the rooftop and in the main hall, carrying the universe on his shoulders. Atlas symbolizes the universe and the important position Amsterdam held during the Golden Age. (Jane Rix/Shutterstock) In the Vroedschapskamer (room of the council), amid the rich interior decoration, the painting over the mantel by Govert Flinck would have reminded the council of King Solomon, who here is asking God for wisdom in leading his people. (Benning & Gladkova/Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam) In 1806, Louis Bonaparte, Emperor Napoleons brother, became king of Holland and soon after took the Town Hall as his Royal Palace. The architect J.T. Thibault supervised its redecoration in the Empire style. (Kit Leong/Shutterstock) King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima. When the Dutch regained control of Holland, King William I adopted the Palace, and from 1813 to the present, it has been used by the royal family. Today, it functions mainly for state visits, award ceremonies, New Years receptions, and other official events. The building also plays a role in royal marriages and in the abdications and inaugurations of monarchs. (RDV) The Town Hall in Amsterdam, painted in 1668, by Dutch painter Jan van der Heyden, found in the Louvre, Paris. (Public Domain) James Howard Smith, an architectural photographer, designer, and founder of Cartio, aims to inspire an appreciation of classic architecture. Trump: Biden Is Destroying Our Country With Failed Border Policies Former President Donald Trump on Saturday accused Joe Biden of destroying the United States with his administrations failed border policies, in a wide-ranging interview that also saw him criticize the president for his handling of issues in the Middle East and China. If he would have done nothing, we would have had right now the strongest border in history, Trump said in an interview with Dick Morris on Newsmaxs Dick Morris Democracy. All he had to do is nothing. Since assuming office on Jan. 20, President Joe Biden has rescinded a number of his predecessors immigration and border policies. Republican lawmakers have long argued that the burgeoning crisis is a result of Bidens move to overturn several Trump-era immigration policies that helped curbed the flow of illegal border crossings. This includes his predecessors cornerstone Migrant Protection Protocol, which effectively ended the problematic catch and release policy, significantly stemming the number of illegal immigrants at the southern border in 2019. In a return to Obama-era policies, the Biden administration is again releasing unaccompanied illegal immigrant minors into the country. Lawmakers argue that Bidens act sent a signal to prospective migrants to once again travel to the United States. Illegal immigrants just released from detention through catch and release immigration policy stand at a bus station before being taken to the Catholic Charities relief center in McAllen, Texas, on April 11, 2018. (Loren Elliott/Reuters) The Biden administration, meanwhile, has sought to shift the blame onto the previous administration, with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas saying that the previous government had dismantled the orderly, humane, and efficient way of allowing children to make their claims under United States law in their own country. I had everything worked out with the other countries, whether its Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Trump said Saturday. And even Mexico, stay in Mexico. In other words, these people ought to stay in Mexico, and they couldnt get into our country. And he ended that. Its just crazy what they did. Trump also claimed in his interview with Newsmax that the Northern Triangle countries are opening their prisons. Their prisoners are coming in, their murderers, their drug addicts, and drug dealers, by the way. And the human traffickers are coming in. And were accepting them, because theyve opened up the borders, Trump said. The question is do they do it out of incompetence, which I happen to think, or they do it because they really believe open borders are good for this country? Which they are not. He added: We wont have a country. They are destroying our country. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data published on May 11, arrests and detentions at the U.S.Mexico border hit record levels last month. Illegal immigrants, mostly from Central America, are dropped off by Customs and Border Protection at a bus station in the border city of Brownsville, Texas, on March 15, 2021. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images) Immigration arrests and detentions at the southern border last month rose by 3 percent from March, to 178,622the highest one-month total in 20 years, CBP data show. Last months figures, however, marked the first month since Biden took office that the CBP didnt record a major month-on-month jump in the number of border arrests and detentions, despite reaching record levels. While the Biden administration has called the unprecedented surge in numbers a challenge, neither the president nor the vice president has visited the border. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on May 4, After coming into office, our administration immediately jumped into action to address the influx of migrants at the bordersomething that began during and was exacerbated by the Trump administration. Press Secretary Jen Psaki holds a press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S. May 24, 2021. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters) The former president also mentioned the violence between Hamasa designated terrorist group since 1997and Israel this month, saying whats happened to Israel is one of the great injustices. If you look back 10 or 12 years ago, Israel was so protected by Congress. Congress loved Israel. Now, especially if you looked at the House, the House doesnt like Israel. The House is protective of anything other than Israel, Trump said. Members of the progressive group that has come to be known as the SquadReps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), and Rashida Tlaib D-Mich.)have come under fire in recent days for their controversial anti-Israel comments on Twitter as violence intensified, before a ceasefire agreement was eventually reached on May 20. The 11-day conflict started when Hamas launched rockets into Israel over a court case to evict several Palestinian families in East Jerusalem that triggered riots. Whats gone on with the House with AOC and Omar and all of these people and Pelosi, they are not in favor of Israel, and yet the Jewish vote goes to the Democrats, Trump added. The White House and Squad members didnt immediately respond to requests for comment by The Epoch Times. Janita Kan contributed to this report. President Donald Trump salutes as he participates in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery to commemorate Memorial Day and honor those who have died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces in Arlington, Va., on May 25, 2020. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images) Trump Pays Tribute to Americas Fallen in Memorial Day Statement Former President Donald Trump issued a Memorial Day statement honoring the fallen as unrivaled heroes who gave their lives to protect our sacred freedoms and whose timeless legacy lights the path of Americas glorious destiny. Trump made the remarks in a May 31 statement highlighting the debt of gratitude owed to fallen warriors of the U.S. armed forces and praised the depth of their devotion, the steel of their resolve, and the purity of their patriotism. On this Memorial Day, we remember the fallen heroes who took their last breaths in defense of our Nation, our families, our citizens, and our sacred freedoms, Trump said. They made the supreme sacrifice so that our people can live in safety and our Nation can thrive in peace. It is because of their gallantry that we can together, as one people, continue our pursuit of Americas glorious destiny. We owe all that we are, and everything we ever hope to be, to these unrivaled heroes. Trump also called the legacy of those fallen soldiers immortal and our loyalty to them eternal and everlasting. Americas warriors are the single greatest force for justice, peace, liberty, and security among all the nations ever to exist on earth, Trump said. God bless our fallen Soldiers, Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, Airmen, and Marines. Trumps statement came as President Joe Biden attended a commemorative ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. All those we honor today gave their lives for the country, but they live forever in our hearts, Biden said. Biden praised the generations of service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the country and its ideals. We must honor their sacrifice by sustaining the best of America while honestly confronting all that we must do to make our nation fuller, freer, and more just, he said. Biden was joined by First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Over 1 million American service members have died in wars and other combat actions since 1775, according to the most recent Congressional Research Service report (pdf) on U.S. military operations casualties. UK Accelerates Afghan Resettlement Plan as Troops Withdraw A resettlement plan for Afghans who have supported British armed forces will be accelerated, the UK government has confirmed. The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), announced in December 2020 and launched on April 1, is designed to protect Afghan staff who are at risk of retaliation from the Taliban after British troops withdraw from Afghanistan. The UK has around 750 troops in Afghanistan as a part of a 10,000-strong NATO mission. U.S. and NATO troops have been leaving the country since May 1, and the withdrawal is set to be completed in a few months. Following the decision to begin the withdrawal of military forces from Afghanistan, the prime minister has agreed with the Ministry of Defence, Home Office, and Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to rapidly accelerate applications through the policy, the UK government said in a statement. Speaking to media on May 31, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the risks are increasing for Afghan staff as Western troops leave. Some have been under considerable danger. And weve already resettled a few hundred of those people, Wallace said. With the changes now with the Western powers leaving Afghanistan, the threat is increasing and has increased with targeted attacks against Afghans by the Taliban. Wallace said he wouldnt call it an evacuation, but its absolutely right for the UK to assist these people. I wouldnt classify this as evacuation. This is allowing people a route to the United Kingdom for safety, the people that have helped and supported the British armed forces and the British government over the many, many years in Afghanistan who feel they are in danger, he said. And its absolutely right we stand by those people. Wallace said he very much hopes the British population will also support these people [who] have taken great risks often to protect our men and women of our armed forces. Wallace said the plan is expected to help hundreds of Afghan staff members. But when you add in the families, its over 3,000, he said. Under ARAP, any current or former Locally Employed Staff assessed to be at serious risk of threat to life will be offered priority relocation to the UK regardless of their employment status, rank or role, or length of time served, the government guidelines read. Local staff who work or worked in the public eye and who could be at risk as the security situation evolves will be relocated to the UK on a routine basis, and those not eligible to move will be offered other support such as security advice and relocation within Afghanistan. The policy will be open indefinitely. Veteran Army officer Ed Aitken, founder of the Sulha Alliance campaign group, said he was pleased with the plan, but warned that there was a low bar for rejecting those who previously risked their lives to support British troops. We are pleased with where we are, but there are concerns there are some glaring gaps where there are going to be parts of this community who are left vulnerable and wont be included under this policy, Aitken, who undertook two tours of Helmand Province, told BBC Radio 4s Today program. Those dismissed from their post, which amounted to 1,010 of those employedaround 35 percent, according to Aitkenwont be eligible for relocation, except on a case-by-case basis. Describing the scale of those who had their employment terminated as a problem with HR management, he said: If you compare the bar for asylum seekers to be rejected from asylum in the UK, the bar is incredibly high. Now if you compare that bar for rejecting Afghan interpreters, it is clearly trying to be set quite low, the idea that minor offences [can prevent access to the plan]. The UK is the only country with such a resettlement plan in place, although the United States is reportedly working on a similar plan. U.S. President Joe Biden announced on April 14 that hell withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11. NATO announced on the same day that it would start withdrawing its troops from May 1 and complete the withdrawal within a few months. Jack Phillips and PA contributed to this report. A medical worker takes a swab sample from a resident to be tested for the CCP coronavirus in Wuhan, China, on May 14, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Unconfirmed Chronic Patients With Mild CCP Virus Symptoms Struggle to Survive in China In China, there are groups of individuals who have exhibited mild COVID-19 symptoms since December 2019, when the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus first emerged in Wuhan. They have repeatedly tested negative in nucleic acid tests, although their conditions have persisted for months. They continue to suffer harrowing symptoms, but their requests to be committed for formal treatment have been consistently brushed aside. These suspected COVID-19 patients are active on Chinas Q&A platform Zhihu and have shared their symptoms: among them are dry coughing, chest tightness, fever, abundant phlegm, weakness, wandering pain, and diarrhea. Some have Wuhan contact history; others dont. Most of their symptoms began in January or February 2020, when infections began to surge and spread from Wuhan, the epicenter, to other parts of China and beyond. Struggling Desperately to Be Confirmed as COVID-19 Patients Li Jun (a pseudonym), a resident of Haikou city, the capital of Hainan Province in southern China, recently recounted his story to the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times. Li used to live an untroubled life with his wife and 4-year-old daughter, earning a considerable annual income of 200,000 yuan (about $31,300). However, his life took a bad turn after he traveled through Wuhan on business in late December 2019. On Jan. 20, 2020, more than 20 days after returning to Haikou, he began to develop a sore throat. The next day, he was hit with a fever that lasted five days. To his surprise, no medicine or injection could cure the fever during that period. Ive never experienced that since my childhood, Li said. After his fever subsided, he had difficulty breathing at night when he got up, and he was sweating a lot. Since then, I developed all sorts of strange symptoms. I could feel a taste of iron rust in my mouth when I drank water or had meals. This situation lasted half a month. Later, I ceased to feel thirst or temperature. For example, I couldnt feel a low fever even if I was experiencing it. Also, since then, I have night sweats every night. His wife and daughter began to show similar symptoms. His wifes fever lasted even longernine days, while their daughter began to experience a dry cough, feel weak, and she laid in bed listlessly. Li learned from reports that Dr. Li Wenliang, an early whistleblower about the pandemic, also suffered from night sweats after he was confirmed as a COVID-19 case. After learning that, Li began to identify himself as a COVID-19 patient. On Feb. 6, a local hospital conducted a nucleic acid test for him upon his request; the result was negative. He reported the case of his family in a letter to the provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Unfortunately, his letter wasnt taken seriously, he said. In March, he starting feeling joint pain all over his body and became so weak that he had trouble going up or down stairs. Pain killers were useless to me, too, Li said. As his coughing worsened, Li received a CT scan and a DNA test. The results came back normal except for a bit of emphysema, which is unlikely to have caused such serious symptoms. Lis symptoms have developed in an endless manner; currently, hes experiencing chest pains and muscle atrophy. His wife is coping with similar symptoms. The whole family received hospital care four times last year, with each session lasting 15 to 20 days. Currently, they stay at the Hainan Cancer Hospital. To continue their treatment, they had to sell their property in June last year to cover their medical costs. So far, their expenses have amounted to more than 400,000 yuan (about $62,600). Im in deep despair, Li said. Weve spent a lot of money. And my wife and I cannot work. Its really sad. Were struggling desperately to be confirmed as COVID-19 patients, Li told the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times. Or we cannot get relevant formal treatment. Right now, Im extremely hopeless. Wuhan Has the Most Patients of This Kind Patients such as Li Jun are part of communities on WeChat, a Chinese messaging app, where they share their stories. According to Lis estimate, Wuhan is home to about 40 percent of such patients. He believes there are many people with similar symptoms in other parts of China, too. Liu Hua (a pseudonym), a resident of Wuhan, recalled that she had cold-like symptoms on Jan. 23, 2020, the historic day when the megacity of 11 million people was thrown into harsh lockdown. She soon found her cold to be odd, since no medicine worked. She, too, developed symptoms common in the community: low fever, chest pain, coughing, phlegm, and heart arrhythmiaalong with negative nucleic acid tests. She told the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times that there are many patients like her in Wuhan and beyond. She noted that the members in a chat group she once joined peaked at 500; the group was created by a local doctor, who categorized them for digital surveys. Liu eventually left the group because its atmosphere was a bit too discouraging for her. Mistaken for Anxiety Disorder Suspected COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms have been frequently passed off as anxiety or mental disorder sufferers by doctors and people around them. Can anxiety cause coughs? Li Jun said. Li Yan (a pseudonym), a nail specialist, was interviewed by the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times. Im in unbearable pain; I live every day as if I were going to die, she said. She said she became infected in December last year at the outbreak of the pandemic in Dalian city, Liaoning Province. She said her symptoms come in cycles, involving weakness, muscle soreness, a feeling of foreign matter in the throat, fever, chest pain, and others. However, doctors regarded her condition as an anxiety disorder because all her nucleic acid tests have come back negative. Shes had to leave work due to her illness. People like me are all deemed crazy by our families. Only we ourselves know how uncomfortable we feel. Nobody speaks up for us. Every day I wish to die. Perhaps I can only live to 27, she said. Zhou Yu (a pseudonym), a hotel waitress in Qi County, Henan Province, says she doesnt remember how she became ill, though her initial sign was discomfort in the throat. Her condition worsened in May and July 2020: dry and itchy sore throat, coughing, low fever, weakness, and muscle soreness. What surprised her most was that her mother and her children developed the same symptoms. She didnt realize that her illness was infectious. She believes she contracted COVID-19. They [doctors] all think Im crazy, Zhou said. They said neither nucleic acid tests nor blood tests show Im a COVID-19 patient. Just slight chronic inflammation. And they suggest I see a psychologist. Currently, her immunity is so low that shes hit with a cold every three or five days. Again, neither intravenous injection nor medicine works for her. I cant take it anymore, she said. Gu Xiaohua contributed to this report. Victorian Labor Govt Wants Judge to Dismiss Lockdown Class Action Claims The Victorian Labor government has asked a judge to dismiss legal claims of economic loss and mental injury by individuals and businesses who were impacted during the states second wave, describing the claims as futile. The class actions, which workers and businesses have brought, claim that the states handling of hotel quarantine, which allowed the CCP virus to leak into the community, was negligent and caused foreseeable loss. The claims, however, do not argue that restrictions should not have been imposed. In the worker class action, the lead plaintiff, Jordan Roberts, who was made redundant from his job in Tullamarine on Aug. 14, 2020, during Victorias stage four restrictions, is filing a lawsuit against the state for economic loss and psychiatric injury. The lead plaintiff in the business class action, Anthony Ferrara of 5 Boroughs NY Pty Ltd, which owns a New York-inspired restaurant at Keilor Park, has filed for economic loss due to Melbournes 112-day lockdown last year. Speaking at Victorias Supreme Court on May 31, government lawyer Rachel Doyle SC told Justice John Dixon that the class actions failed to identify specifics and argued that that led to this led to this led to that. Its our submission that the answer is there is no real prospect of success, and it would be futile to proceed, she said. Doyle added that the plaintiffs legal arguments were incoherent in their reliance on the end of a long line of dominoes. Nevertheless, Carbone Lawyers, who are representing Jordan Roberts, claim his retrenchment could be traced back to stage three and stage four restrictions, which are alleged to have resulted from then-Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos, and Jobs Minister Martin Pakula, reported The Age. Genomic testing indicates that a significant proportion of the CCP virus cases that sparked Victorias second wave could be linked back to Victorias hotel quarantine program. The Honourable Jennifer Coate AO speaks during COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry in Melbourne, Australia, on July 20, 2020. (James Ross Pool/Getty Images) Government lawyer Rachel Doyle told the Supreme Court that Victorias Premier Daniel Andrews acknowledged a failure with the hotel quarantine program and asked Justice Dixon to bear that in mind when it comes to the overall duty of care and the breach of it in this case. The two cases, which could cost the state billions of dollars, continues to be argued in Victorias Supreme Court. In August 2020, Quinn Emmanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, a law firm based in Sydney, launched a class action (pdf) seeking compensation against the Andrews government to all businesses who suffered economic losses due to stage three and stage four lockdowns. In March 2021, public housing residents filed a class action against the Andrews government for allegations of assault and negligence that occurred during the two-week lockdown in July 2020. AAP contributed to this report. People wearing face masks are seen at the entrance of the Menarock Life aged care facility, where a cluster of some 28 new infections had been reported, in the Melbourne suburb of Essendon on July 14, 2020. (William West/AFP via Getty Images) Westpac Wants To Help With Vaccine Rollout Westpac chief executive Peter King wants the corporate sector to be allowed to step in and help Australias flagging vaccine rollout. The bank boss said vaccinations were critical to getting lives back to normal and warned closing international borders and relying on lockdowns in response to outbreaks was unsustainable. I understand there are varying views among Australians with regards to vaccines, he wrote in The Australian on Monday. But from my perspective, given the need to help protect our families and friends when further outbreaks occur, as well as the economic costs to communities, we need as many Australians as possible to get vaccinated as fast as possible. His comments reflect a growing frustration by some in the business community as Australia lags behind other nations and the Morrison government comes under fire for delivering mixed messages on the rollout. The government has been accused of contributing to the patchy vaccine take-up by repeatedly suggesting the national rollout is not a race. Labor frontbencher Bill Shorten said Victorias fourth coronavirus lockdown proved the rollout was now a race, with growing fears of an outbreak spreading through an aged care home. There has been a degree of complacency, not just by the government, but perhaps among Australians, he told ABC News on Monday. Shorten said waiting until an outbreak occurred before seeking a vaccination was not the right approach. Dont wait until a lockdown to get vaccinated, he said. Simple common sense says if there is COVID anywhere, it could affect any of us at any time. Shorten questioned the motives of people who refused vaccines, with 15 per cent of aged care residents declining to give their consent. Even if you think youre bulletproof, just think about your neighbour down the hallway or your worker whos caring for you, he said. This is not just about yourself, its about the community, and weve got to think about the collective good, not just your own particular world view. Shortens comments on Monday echoed Federal Health Minister Greg Hunts sentiments on Sunday. In a press conference in Canberra, Hunt reminded people if they have elderly family members to speak to them about getting vaccinated or to consent to their elderly family members being vaccinated. We would encourage all of those families who have elder Australians who are part of their network, that are within aged care to consent to allow them to be vaccinated or if the consenting person is the resident themselves. Vaccination can save your life. It can protect you, he said. The National Museum of Qatar, part of Qatar Museums, has announced that it has signed an MoU with Microsoft to enhance the Museums digital-transformation plans and deliver state-of-the-art smart exhibits. The agreement will also help foster the development of a dedicated section that will collaborate with Microsofts AI digital centre to enhance digital learning experiences for schools and families, using technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI). Ahmad Musa Al-Namla, CEO of Qatar Museums said: Enhancing Qatar Museums digital technologies has always been a key part of our audience strategy but events over the last eighteen months mean we have accelerated our efforts. New ways of using AI, augmented and virtual reality will ensure Qatar Museums maintains its role in preserving our heritage and culture while providing global audiences with access to see and experience our exhibitions. Sheikha Amna bint Abdulaziz bin Jassim Al Thani, Director of the National Museum of Qatar added: Our co-innovation project with Microsoft will allow us to accelerate our vision of being an emitting museum, sharing with our audiences a new platform for engagement and learning. Next-generation technology like AI can enliven museums for visitors and immerse them in heritage landscapes and collections as never before. Through NMoQ and Microsofts partnership we will be able to transcend museum walls, nurture emerging talents in schools and create novel, joint - training opportunities that bridge museums and technology. Microsoft specialists will work with the Museums stakeholders to determine the Microsoft technologies best suited to its digital transformation needs. We are proud to partner with the National Museum of Qatar to accelerate their digital transformation towards museums of the future and innovate with the power of Microsoft cloud to create unique immersive experiences for all and anywhere showcasing the pride and great Qatar cultural heritage to the world, said Lana Khalaf, Country Manager, Microsoft Qatar. We are keen through this strategic partnership to transform and create through the trusted, intelligent Azure cloud the ideal place for National Museum of Qatar to let its imagination be its guide to engage visitors, empower employees, optimise operations and reinvent the heritage domain for all Qataris, Lana added. It is envisioned that National Museum of Qatar aims to move to the trusted, intelligent, versatile Microsoft Cloud, where tools like Minecraft, Paint 3D and Microsoft Teams will be explored for their ability to bring education to life to museum visitors. Workshops will further establish the efficacy and direction of projects such as a Digital Library Solution, as well as the leverage of augmented-reality, virtual-reality, and mixed-reality solutions. Microsoft will also provide widespread digital-skilling sessions for museum employees across Qatar. Microsoft is soon to open a dedicated Azure cloud location in Qatar to serve the digital transformation needs of all Qatari enterprises, regardless of scale or industry. The new locally delivered cloud services will adhere to Microsofts trusted cloud principles of security, privacy, compliance and transparency, empowering organisations meet their customers needs through the benefits of cloud computing, while still meeting data residency, security and local certification requirements.-- TradeArabia News Service HOUSTON (AP) Religious leaders, musical guests, spoken word artists and politicians gathered for a concert in Houston, the home town of George Floyd, to commemorate the anniversary of his death. Pastors Remus E. Wright and Mia K. Wright welcomed the Floyd family on Sunday at The Fountain of Praise, a church that held one of his funeral services, and more than 450 live viewers on Facebook. Its been an incredible year and a very emotional year, so much grief and loss, so much angst and anxiety, worldwide protests, the insurrection at the Capitol, but I guarantee you one thing that none of us will forget May 25, 2020, the day that George Floyd's life was taken from us, Mia Wright said. Floyd, who was Black, died last year after a white Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck, pinning him to the ground for about 9 1/2 minutes as Floyd pleaded for air. Floyds death sparked worldwide protests and calls for change in policing in the U.S. Chauvin was fired after Floyd died and was later convicted of murder and manslaughter in his death. The tragedy of his murder becomes even more profound as your strength in seeking justice sparked a reckoning too long overdue, voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams said of the Floyd family. Among the guests were Democratic politicians U.S. Rep. Al Green, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston Vice Mayor Pro-Tem Martha Castex-Tatum and Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis and musical guests Trae Tha Truth, Grammy-nominated artists Gene Moore Jr. and Major and Grammy Award-winning gospel singer Tamela Mann. The concert being held by the George Floyd Foundation is among events being held across the nation to mark the anniversary. The foundation was launched by Floyds siblings in his honor to help combat racial inequities in Black and brown communities. On behalf of our family, we thank you for lending your voices tonight, but also for the past year which has been a landmark movement in our nation and the world, George Floyd Foundation President and Floyds first cousin Shareeduh McGee said, thanking every celebrity, athlete, politician, artist, pastor educator, media personalities, corporations and more. Tonight, we say thank you. ___ Find APs full coverage of the death of George Floyd: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd TULSA, Okla. (AP) Hundreds gathered Monday for an interfaith service dedicating a prayer wall outside historic Vernon African Methodist Episcopal Church in Tulsa's Greenwood neighborhood on the centennial of the first day of one of the deadliest racist massacres in the nation. National civil rights leaders, including the Revs. Jesse Jackson and William Barber, joined multiple local faith leaders offering prayers and remarks outside the church that was under construction and largely destroyed when a white mob descended on the prosperous Black neighborhood in 1921, burning, killing, looting and leveling a 35-square-block area. Estimates of the death toll range from dozens to 300. Barber, a civil and economic rights activist, said he was humbled even to stand on this holy ground." You can kill the people but you cannot kill the voice of the blood." Although the church was nearly destroyed in the massacre, parishioners continued to meet in the basement, and it was rebuilt several years later, becoming a symbol of the resilience of Tulsa's Black community. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018. As the ceremony came to an end, participants put their hands on the prayer wall along the side of the sanctuary while soloist Santita Jackson sang Lift Every Voice and Sing." Traffic hummed on a nearby interstate that cuts through the Greenwood District, which was rebuilt after the massacre but slowly deteriorated 50 years later after homes were taken by eminent domain as part of urban renewal in the 1970s. Among those who spoke at the outdoor ceremony were Democratic U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee of California, and Lisa Brunt Rochester and U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, both from Delaware. Rochester connected the efforts toward reparations in Tulsa with a wider effort: pending House legislation that would create a commission to study and propose reparations for African Americans. Were here to remember, to mourn, to rebuild equitably, Rochester said. Through the course of a drizzly afternoon, visitors wearing rain gear walked along Greenwood Avenue, photographing historic sites and markers. Many took time to read plaques on the sidewalk, naming numerous Black-owned buildings and businesses that were destroyed during the 1921 massacre, and indicating whether they had ever been rebuilt. Monday's slate of activities commemorating the massacre was supposed to culminate with a Remember & Rise" headline event at nearby ONEOK Field, featuring Grammy-award-winning singer and songwriter John Legend and a keynote address from voting rights activist Stacey Abrams. But that event was scrapped late last week after an agreement couldn't be reached over monetary payments to three survivors of the deadly attack, a situation that highlighted broader debates over reparations for racial injustice. In a statement tweeted Sunday, Legend didn't specifically address the cancellation of the event, but said: The road to restorative justice is crooked and rough and there is space for reasonable people to disagree about the best way to heal the collective trauma of white supremacy. But one thing that is not up for debate one fact we must hold with conviction is that the path to reconciliation runs through truth and accountability." On Monday night, the Centennial Commission planned to host a candlelight vigil downtown to honor the victims of the massacre, and President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Tulsa on Tuesday. ___ For more AP coverage of the Tulsa Race Massacre anniversary, go to https://apnews.com/hub/tulsa-race-massacre TULSA, Okla. As we mark 100 years since the Tulsa Race Massacre, we take a look at what exactly happened during the 18 hours of destruction in the Greenwood District, also known as Black Wall Street. Following the Red Summer of 1919, there needed to be an igniter or an event tossed on the embers, and that trigger event happened on May 30, 1921. It was an incident that involved two teenagers. Dick Rowland, believed to be 19 years old at the time, was in an elevator in a downtown building with Sarah Page, 17. He's going into the one place, that Drexel building, where he can, he can go to the restroom, Dr. Dewayne Dickens said. He opens it, he gets in, seems to have stumbled on the walkway and grabs her hand. She screams, maybe, maybe hit him in response to, Youre on me or whatever. And someone hears this in the Renberg building, so they hear this and this is reported as an attack. And so this creates the narrative going through the community that a Black man has attacked a white woman. The local newspaper, the Tulsa Tribune, ran an article claiming Rowland had assaulted the 17-year-old white elevator girl. Page had refused to press charges, but the article read like a call to action with the headline saying, "Nab negro for attacking girl in an elevator. Many survivors remember a second article in the Tribune that day. To date, no copies of the second article headline exist anymore. In fact, all microfilmed copies of the Tulsa Tribune from that day have been purged, adding to the conspiracy of silence. No matter what the headline said, it enflamed a large presence at the courthouse where Rowland was. The white community comes in big numbers when he's arrested because of this, and the Black community comes and basically, there's a back and forth between the communities of Go home, we'll take care of this, there's concern that maybe this will not be taken care of in the right way. And there were lynchings that had occurred, not just for Black people, but for white people as well, so the Black community is concerned and they wanted to watch out for Dick Rowland, not necessarily because they loved Dick Rowland, but because they did not want to see another Black person who was lynched for something that he did not do. And those who did know him say this was not some kind of character he would have, Dickens said. The two groups would meet in mayhem shooting with one another. Newspapers claimed only Black people were armed, but the only person at the time to be wounded by gunfire was a Black man. He was shot in the abdomen, writhed in pain while a white mob blocked medics from taking him to a hospital. Onlookers would look as that man died in the street, and things went from bad to worse within a few minutes. There was a machine gun on standpipe hill and they were firing down on men, women and children, wholesale murder, Alicia Latimer, African American Resource Center Coordinator, said. Even the Black churches weren't spared. Rumors swirled about ammunition being stored at Mount Zion Baptist Church. The church, dedicated just a month before, was gutted. The entire Tulsa Police Department was called out, and they were stationed in a line between Black and white Tulsa. Their orders were pretty simple keep Black people from coming back into white Tulsa. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma National Guard was put on standby. Shortly after midnight, a telegram was sent to the military authorities in Oklahoma City. It read, "A race riot developed here. Several killed unable to handle the situation. Request that National Guard forces be sent by special train. Situation serious." As the National Guard made its way to Tulsa by train from Oklahoma City, a fierce gun battle was raging in Greenwood. With hands held high, Black men, women and children were corralled like animals into the convention hall. All this while planes were being used as weapons against them. Many refute the claims that planes were used, but historians are certain something was being dropped from the sky. By midday, on June 1, Black Wall Street had been destroyed. The bodies of loved ones were never recovered. Those who thought they were part of the American dream lived real-life nightmares. And the conspiracy of silence became their reality. The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Awareness (I.D.E.A) Book Club at the Edwardsville Public Library takes the traditional discussion and Q&A, and adds a speaker as the capstone for each book in a series that highlights equity issues. Our hope is to increase awareness through reading, discussion and presentations by subject matter experts. The book discussions are led by library staff, and we have partnered with Edwardsville - SIUE Community Destination Group to bring you these speakers to add a new dimension to the traditional book club. Our first book in the series was The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein, and we are in the middle of our second book, The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead. I have learned quite a bit by reading these books; for example, The Color of Law opened my eyes to how our cities and schools became segregated. The Nickel Boys, a novel based on the real story of a reform school in Florida, is a thought-provoking journey highlighting institutional racism. Some people that I speak to about this programming say that they are tired of hearing about racial equity or feel that the topic is too political or even say that they dont think there is a need for action. I dont think anyone can deny that we have racial tension in this country, and the purpose of this programming is just to create awareness of our history the history we share as White and Black Americans. When we all understand where the tension comes from, we may be in a position to move forward together. NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (AP) Officials at a college in Conneticut received a complaint of a noose hanging from a construction site on campus but determined that the looped cable was not in fact a noose. A construction crew working on campus hung an American flag from a cranes cable in recognition of Memorial Day, Central Connecticut State University President Zulma R. Toro said in a news release quoted by the Hartford Courant. The cable has a steel loop at its end." WOOD RIVER Madison County was nearing 200,000 COVID-19 vaccinations on Friday. On Friday the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 199,871 COVID-19 vaccinations so far in the county. IDPH officials said 97,748 county residents or 36.96% of the countys population are now fully vaccinated for COVID-19. The MCHD no longer releases daily COVID-19 vaccination numbers. The Telegraph will continue to report Madison County vaccination data as released by the IDPH. Multiple COVID-19 vaccination clinics are now available through the MCHD. Recently added MCHD vaccination clinics include the Alton Moose Lodge at 526 E. Delmar Ave., Godfrey, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 1, and June 1-5 at Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville. To schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment in Madison County, visit www.madisonchd.org and click on the green appointments bar at the top of the page. People needing help scheduling appointments may call 618-692-8954, Ext. 2, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday-Friday. HSHS Medical Group also will offer Pfizer vaccines 8 a.m. to noon on Friday, June 9, at HSHS Medical Group Multispecialty Care, 1188 S. State Route 157, Suite 100, in Edwardsville. The vaccine is available to community members 12 years and older. A parent or guardian must accompany those age 12-17 when they receive the vaccine, and Pfizer is the only type of COVID vaccine available to those in that 12-17 age range. Appointments are preferred; call 844-216-4707. As of midnight Thursday 11,175,656 vaccines have been administered in Illinois. The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 58,378 doses. On Friday the IDPH reported 36.12% of the residents in Jersey County were fully vaccinated according to the IDPH. Other fully vaccinated rates were 30.38% in Calhoun County, 34.93% in Macoupin County and 26.5% in Greene County. More Information Vaccinations Total: 199,871 Fully: 97,748 (36.96%) Source: IDPH COVID-19 cases by county Madison - 30,303 (500 deaths) Jersey - 2,645 (50 deaths) Calhoun - 524 (5 deaths) Greene - 1,386 (48 deaths) Macoupin - 4,933 (113 deaths) Montgomery - 3,770 (74 deaths) St. Clair - 28,083 (517 deaths) Clinton - 5,775 (90 deaths) Bond - 2,081 (24 deaths) Monroe - 4,370 (94 deaths) Randolph - 4,147 (84 deaths) Washington - 1,648 (25 deaths) Source: IDPH & MCHD COVID-19 cases by ZIP code 62002 (Alton) - 3,566 62010 (Bethalto) - 1,361 62067 (Moro) - 319 62035 (Godfrey) - 2,082 62037 (Grafton) - 195 62012 (Brighton) - 780 62014 (Bunker Hill) - 363 62052 (Jerseyville) - 1,698 62095 (Wood River) - 1,272 62084 (Roxana) - 164 62048 (Hartford) - 132 62087 (South Roxana) - 182 62018 (Cottage Hills) - 317 62024 (East Alton) - 943 62025 (Edwardsville) - 3,752 62034 (Glen Carbon) - 1,480 62062 (Maryville) - 986 62294 (Troy) - 1,947 62040 (Granite City/Pontoon Beach) - 4,537 62234 (Collinsville) - 3,650 62249 (Highland) -2,193 62281 (St. Jacob) -425 62097 (Worden) - 300 62088 (Staunton) - 747 62069 (Mt. Olive) - 317 62033 (Gillespie) -538 62626 (Carlinville) - 979 62016 (Carrollton) - 435 62044 (Greenfield) - 183 62092 (White Hall) - 396 62082 (Roodhouse) - 275 62047 (Hardin) - 181 62022 (Dow) - 131 For a complete list of cases by ZIP code, visit https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/covid19-statistics. Source: Illinois Department of Public Health See More Collapse Late Thursday the MCHD reported 25 new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases, as well as 907 tests and six COVID-19 patients in county hospitals, one on a ventilator. To date the county has recorded 30,303 cases and 328,695 tests. No additional COVID-19 related deaths were reported, leaving the total at 500. The IDPH on Friday reported 982 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 21 additional COVID-19 related deaths statewide. To date, the IDPH has reported 1,380,261 cases, including 22,739 deaths. Statewide there were 1,216 COVID-19 patients in hospitals on Thursday night, including 314 in intensive care units and 172 on ventilators. The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from May 21-27 was 1.9%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity for the same period was 2.3%. The MCHD on Thursday reported a three-day positivity rate of 2.7%, a seven-day rate of 2.6% and a 10-day rate of 2.62%. For more COVID-19 information, visit https://coronavirus-response-madcoil.hub.arcgis.com/, www.madisonchd.org or Facebook @madisonchd. Also visit www.co.madison.il.us or Facebook @madisoncountyil for more vaccination news and daily updates. For The Telegraphs online vaccine tracker, visit https://www.thetelegraph.com/coronavirus-vaccine-tracker-alton-illinois/. For additional vaccine locations visit https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/vaccination-location. Local and statewide information also is available at www.dph.illinois.gov. Click the coronavirus banner. For health-related questions about COVID-19, people also can call the IDPH hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov. From left, Mohamed Ibrahim, Ruth Aganya, Habiba Rashid and Ahmed Jaffer Mohamud of Minnesota Council of Churches Mankato Refugee Services. The past year led to expanded programming and a new position in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hitachi ABB Power Grids, a global technology leader headquartered in Switzerland, is supplying Andritz Hydro with state-of-the-art technology for grid connection and stabilisation for a unique pumped storage hydroelectric power plant, under construction in the Hajar Mountains in the UAE. The Hatta pumped-storage power station, a first-of-its-kind project in the Arabian Gulf region, is being developed by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa). When commissioned in early 2024, it will provide up to 250 MW of clean, renewable and flexible energy, said the statement from the global technology giant. Leveraging its extensive know-how in grid connections and power electronics, Hitachi ABB Power Grids will deliver two AC excitation systems, based on power electronic converters. The systems will ensure variable speed operations of the reversible rotating units. The Swiss group will also supply an integrated solution to connect the plant to Dewas 132 kV network. The pumped-storage hydroelectric power station comprises of a lower reservoir near the Hatta (Al Hattawi) dam with 1,716 million gallons of water capacity, and an upper reservoir built into the mountain about 300 m higher with up to 880 million gallons of water storage capacity, said the statement from Hitachi ABB Power Grids. During off-peak hours turbines will pump water about 4 km from the lower to the upper reservoir, using power drawn from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park. Stored water will then be released to the lower reservoir during peak-load hours, driving turbines to quickly generate electricity to meet peak demand, it stated. This strategic project will help to diversify the energy mix in the UAE in line with goals set out in the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy. "We are honoured to be part of the development of the Arabian Gulfs first hydropower plant, said Dr Mostafa AlGuezeri, Managing Director of Hitachi ABB Power Grids in the UAE, Gulf, Near East and Pakistan. "The state-of-the art technology provided to Andritz Hydro, uses a PCS8000 converter for the AC excitation, enabling the machine to run at variable speed," he noted. This ensures optimal operational efficiency and variable power operation in pump mode without compromising transient behavior of the machine, said Dr Al Guezeri. Instant unlimited access to all of our content on thenewsguard.com. The News Guard E-Edition Newsletter emailed to you each week, the night before the paper hits the street! This subscription is for NEW or RENEWING online subscribers. (The charge will appear as "Country Media Inc." on your credit card statement) Sterling Heights, MI (48312) Today Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. Listen to article With the House of Representatives recent invitation to the general public, executive and judicial bodies, traditional institutions, political parties, civil society organizations, professional bodies and all other stakeholders, to public hearing on the ongoing amendments to the nation Nigeria 1999 Constitution, the process has graduated from mere rhetoric to reality. According to the statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Umar Puma, titled Constitution review: Reps to Begin Zonal Public Hearings 1st June, It is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday in the six geopolitical zones. The Senate had already begun a parallel exercise. While this awareness is viewed as welcoming, the question that is as important as the public hearing itself is; what will be our inputs as well as expectations as Nigerians? What are those areas that Nigeria and Nigeria have expressed concerns? And most importantly, how do we have the constitution amended in ways that will lead to nation restructuring? To act as a guide, President Muhammadu Buhari while delivering a nationwide broadcast on Monday 1st, January 2018, noted that no human law or edifice is perfect. Whatever structure we develop must periodically be perfected according to the changing circumstances and the countrys socio-economic developments. Identifying those imperfections and catalyzing the process of reforming this changing circumstance as muted by the president should be the preoccupation of all at the present circumstance. For sure, the above is imperative as the current posturing has made the government at the centre become the dispenser of goodness by proxy while leaving the federating states idle and lazy which is against the spirit of the federal system of government and the expectation of the masses. This is the time for Nigerians to remember vividly some recently over-used words in the nations political space- words such as, namely; true federalism, fiscal federalism, restructuring and resource control among others. By the constant use of those word, what the masses are saying and wanting in my understanding is that the padding of the second schedule of the exclusive legislative list, of our 1999 constitution with sixty-eight (68) items has made Abuja suffer political obesity and need to shed some weight via power devolution What the people are saying is that the over blotted exclusive list has made our nation to currently stand in an inverted pyramid shape with more power concentrated at the top and the base not formidable enough making collapse inevitable if urgent and fundamental steps are not taken. What the proponents of restructuring are saying is that the majority of the items are too trivial for the Federal Government to handle and should serve the greater good of the people if left in the hands of both the state and the local government. This is the hub of the masses' expectations. Items such as; Police and some government security services, mines and minerals; including oil fields, oil mining geological surveys, control of parks, stamp duties, public holidays, taxation of incomes, profits and capital gains, and insurance among others to my mind should find their ways back to the states and the local councils. Another area of interest to watch as it has caused concerns among Nigerians in the past is a chapter with a very long list of what ordinarily could have been very beneficial to the citizenries and at the same time solve the multifaceted challenges bedeviling the nation if it were at par with the provisions and status enjoyed by similar items as contained in chapter four. But, as expected, this portion for no clear reason shares the same body and spirit with chapter four but not equal in essence. How do we make the exercise a rewarding one? Lets cast a glance at Felix N.C. Oragwus memorandum, entitled; Critical Steps towards the Resolution of Nigeria as a True Federation. The memorandum proposed the Steps for Consideration that will help Nigeria develop and grow in real Unity, Peace and real economic progress. STEP ONE. There is now the need to eventually consider a New Name for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In this respect, Nigeria may be renamed,United States of Nigeria (USN). Please see the UK of Great Britain. This may erase the ugly History or Memory of Nigerias forced Amalgamation without the consent of the different / distinct ethnic Nationalities comprised in Nigeria and located along the Length and Breadth of the River Niger, by Lord Fredrick Lugard, the first Governor General of Nigeria, 1914-1918, acting on the Authority of British Imperial Power and Colonial Diplomacy.This transaction taken without the consent and agreement of ethnic Nationalities concerned. STEP TWO: Suggested TERMS of UNION for Nigeria as a True Federation: The Terms of Union are already well spelt out early in 1951 during the British Colonial sponsored National Conference of Representatives of the ethnic Nationalities comprising Nigeria, at Ibadan, South West Nigeria, to restructure the amalgamated Unitary Administration of Nigeria operating since 1914. The Restructuring Conference of 1951 was attended by the True Representatives of the ethnic Nationalities comprised inNigeria, namely Sir Ahmadu Bello leading the Representatives of Northern Region of Nigeria (now 19 States of Northern Nigeria), Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe leading the Representatives of Eastern Region of Nigeria (now the 5 States of Igbo land and the States of AkwaIbom (Ibibio/ Anang) and Cross River State (Efik / Ogoja) land,and Chief Obafemi Awolowo leading the Representatives of South West Nigeria (now, the 6 Yoruba States of Western Nigeria and the present Edo and Delta States, respectively. The Conference was chaired by the British Colonial Secretary, then Sir Oliver Littleton. The Terms of Union of the Nation State of Nigeria, arrived at the Ibadan Conference which successfully kept Nigeria together in relative peace, should be adopted with necessary Amendments. The Highlights of these Terms of Union that operated from 1952-1965, are as follows, namely, The Federal (Central) Government is to operate as a Coordinating Government and not as a Controlling Government, but has the exclusive Responsibility for the mutually agreed Common National Services, such as Armed Forces, Nigerian Police, Citizenship, Customs, , Central Bank of Nigeria, / National Currency, Immigration, Foreign Affairs including Foreign Trade, National Education Standards, but not Educational Institutions (Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Levels, which are the sole Responsibilities of the Federating Regional Governments), National Scientific, Technological and Industrial Goods Standards including Agricultural / Mineral Commodity Export Standards, Trunk A Roads or Interconnecting High ways of Nigerian Federation, but (as Stated in the Document) any other Responsibility not specified for the Federal (Central) Government, is a matter for the Federating Regional Governments. For more Details, readers can also see the Report of Nigerian Conference at Ibadan, Western Nigeria, 1951, attended by the Political Leaders of Nigerias Federating Regions, led respectively by Sir Ahmadu Bello for Northern Nigeria, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe for South East Nigeria and Chief Obafemi Awolowo of Western Nigeria which include Mid -West Nigeria (now Edo and Delta States) and Chaired by the then British Colonial Secretary, Sir Oliver Littleton. I wish Nigeria and Nigerians good luck on this task!!! Listen to article Fidelity Bank remains committed to putting smiles on its customers faces by enriching their lives through its ongoing savings loyalty program. To mark this years Childrens Day, the bank doled out N150, 000 to 62 Sweet Account (SWEETA) holders across the country, a whopping total of N9.3 million. As part of its efforts to deepen customer engagement, the bank readjusted its approach with respect to the loyalty scheme. Under the auspices of the loyalty scheme, the bank presented cheques to the beneficiaries of the loyalty scheme at various childrens events organised by Bounty Kiddies Bites & Event, Katsina; Zeelove Event Management; Pamvilla Primary & Secondary School; Refiner School; Ilupeju Junior & Senior Secondary School; Orphanage Home, IDP camp throughout Katsina, Niger, Abuja, Lagos, and so on. Commenting on this initiative, Fidelity Bank CEO, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe pointed out that all round quality education remains a strong anchor in raising tomorrows children and breeding exceptional children who can compete globally. This is why we have decided to contribute our quota as a bank by offering school fees support to select Nigerian children. Mrs. Onyeali-Ikpe urged well-meaning Nigerians and corporate entities operating in the country to continue to support positive causes that would ensure a secure future for children. In the same vein, Richard Madiebo, Head of Product Development, encouraged prospective and existing customers to open SWEETA accounts for their children and wards to participate in this initiative. It is worthy to note that the bank has given out N4.1bn to 10,280 customers (7,367 FPSS & 2,913 SWEETA) from the inception of the loyalty scheme to date. In keeping to its promise of rewarding N500,000 extra income and N150,000 School Fees Support to all active FPSS and SWEETA holders every quarter, the bank conducted random electronic selection of the loyalty beneficiaries across Regional banks/branches for quarter ended March 31, 2021. During the week, the bank conducted a virtual cluster loyalty selection for Fr. Hillary Group of St. Peters Catholic Church, Awka, and Mrs. Ngozi Cynthia was the recipient of N500, 000 in extra income. Listen to article Special Report: Onitsha-Nigeria, Monday, May 31, 2021 Executive Summary: The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, a leading research and investigative rights group is in possession of graphic details of how soldiers, police and other Nigerian security operatives presently deployed in the East madly, wildly, hatefully and falsely label and abduct innocent citizens especially the citizens of Igbo Ethnic Nationality and Christian faith and spill their bloods for gallantry. These have led to not less than 170 open killings, secret abduction and permanent disappearance or feared unlawful execution in custody of no fewer than 550 and general arrest/abduction of not less than 2100. The arrested/abducted are presently held in different open and secret dungeons located within and outside the East and among those outside the East are Makurdi Prisons in Benue State where over 300 were recently found to have been transferred and kept. Others are conventional and unconventional military, police and SSS detention facilities in Abuja, Niger State and other undisclosed locations in the North. They are also in Owerri, Awka, Port Harcourt and Abakiliki State CIDs and Prison or Correctional facilities such as Owerri Prisons holding over 130 including 107 remanded days ago. Shockingly, in the past one week or Monday 24thto Sunday 30th May 2021, not less than 30 open and secret killings by soldiers and police have taken place with most taking place in Imo State where scores of corpses have been freshly traced to the mortuaries of the Government Medical Centers. The slain are all victims of extra-judicial killings including innocent citizens killed after the act at crime scenes and falsely labeled for gallantry. The findings above cover the first five months of 2021 or January to May 2021. Summarily, Intersociety had investigated and found as follows: That: soldiers, police and other security operatives have since January 2021 openly shot and killed over 170 persons in the two regions out of the number, at least 145 are innocent citizens or victims of extrajudicial killings while 25 others are combatively involved. That: the named security agencies have abducted over 2100 and falsely labeled over 90% of them ESN hoodlums/terrorists including over 300 dumped recently in far away Makurdi Prisons in Benue State, over 70 dumped at Awka State CID and over 107 others recently remanded in Owerri Prisons after mobile court mumbo jumbo arraignment. That: soldiers accounted for most of the abductions and disappearances including not less 550 citizens disappeared since January 2021 or suspected victims of unlawful executions. That: over 90% of those paraded by soldiers and police as ESN hoodlums/terrorists are innocent; and same goes for over 90% of the slain bodies tagged ESN hoodlums killed in gun duel with security forces. They are victims of after the act crime scene shootings and killings. It is on unarguable and empirical record that the security forces of Nigeria are presently rated one of the worst in the world in terms of lack of professional knowhow, secular or pluralistic composition and adherence to human rights principles during their operations. As a matter of fact, the Nigerian security forces disastrously lack technical knowhow including technical policing and soldiering or e-policing and e-soldiering and mental competence; otherwise called man-machine-mental policing and soldiering such as intelligence and mental and technology based crime detection and investigation. The security forces of Nigeria are also acutely hateful and Islamist in their composition and operational approaches. This further explains why they channel all their energies and resources towards clamping down citizens of the two regions including abducting, killing and maiming them in large numbers, but turn blind eyes on others especially members of the countrys Muslim population with particular reference to their criminal elements. Totality of the above is therefore responsible for the referenced atrocious conducts. The most alarming of it all is the abandonment of all rules of engagement governing conflict or war time and peacetime operations and crude resort to jungle justice and atrocity conducts. Even in armed conflict, killing of wounded soldiers or combatants and prisoners of war is internationally outlawed and perpetration of same is clear act or of war crimes. But in ongoing security operations in the Southeast and South-south Nigeria, thousands of innocent citizens have been targeted for false labeling and abduction. Hundreds have also been shot and killed or maimed. The abductions and killings are officially sanctioned by Nigerias Inspector General of Police, the Defense Headquarters and the Chief of Army Staff. In all, it is correct to say that there is ongoing mass persecution in the East targeted at Igbo Christian citizens, singled out and dubbed IPOB/ESN hoodlums. End of the Summary Details Of Abducted And Slain Innocent Citizens Falsely Labeled ESN Hoodlums/Gunmen Eze Avurum, 64 years old and his cousin-Dominic Ekechukwu: Eze Awurum and Dominic Ekechukwu (his maternal cousin) and Eze Awurums daughter; all from Umuneke-nta, Ugiri in Isiala Mbano, Imo State were abducted in Aba on 12thMay 2021 by soldiers of 144 Battalion of 14 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Ohafia. Eze Awurum was publicly paraded hours later by the Army and falsely labeled ESN second-in-command. Their abduction took place at the residence of Citizen Dominic Ekechukwu which was also burnt down. They, including Eze Awurums daughter, were taken away but his daughter (Oluomachi) was released after three days Since then, Citizens Eze Awurum and Dominic Ekechukwu have remained in Army captivity at Abacha (Mogadishu) Barracks and contrary to the Armys claims, Mr. Eze Awurum was framed up by his communitys Traditional ruler (Eze Onyenagbaru) over a dispute involving a parcel of ancestral land leading to him being abducted and framed as ESN second-in-command. Abducted John Chinonso John Chinonso, 24 Years Old: He is from Nchoko Dikenafai Community in Ideato South, Imo State and living at Apiti Street by Hardel Junction, Orji-Uratta in Owerri North, Imo State. An orphan living with his elder brother orphan, Citizen Chinoso owns and manages DADDYFRESH BARBING SALOON at Ogboru Umuchoke by Hardel Bus Stop, Uratta. He had responded to his elder brothers call for him to close his shop and return home before dawn owing to precarious security situation in Owerri and environs and as he was going home in the evening of Tuesday, 25th May 2021 at about 4pm, the police patrol personnel blocked and arrested him at gunpoint. Citizen John Chinonso was same evening paraded alongside four others as ESN hoodlums attempted to burn down Orji Police Station. Chukwudi Okoro, 29 years old: He is a Shuttle Bus transporter/owner, plying Owerri-Orji route with his apprentice-apprentice. He is from Akabo-Amata in Orji, near Owerri, Imo State. His wife, Chioma, is heavily pregnant for seven months. Citizen Chukwudi Okoro and his apprentice-driver were heading home in early evening of 25th May 2021, having closed early as a result of precarious security situation in Owerri and environs including rising wave of Army and Police abductions and extrajudicial killings. They immediately sighted riotous police patrol personnel shooting indiscriminately around Orji and environs, forcing Citizen Chukwudi Okoro to jump out of his Shuttle Bus in fear and ask his driver to take the Bus to the drivers house so that he could find a safer route to his house. He barely trekked meters when the police patrol personnel blocked and arrested him at gunpoint. He was arrested and paraded same evening alongside four others as ESN hoodlums that attempted to burn down Orji Police Station. Abducted Casmir Ibegbulem Casmir Ibegbulem, 40 years old: He is a father of one, expectant father of another and a Permit Holder staff of LNG Company at Bonny Island in Bayelsa State and a native of Ogwa Community in Mbaitoli, Imo State. Citizen Casmir Ibegbulem returned for the burial of his in-law, which eventually took place on Friday, 28th May 2021. He was in Owerri on Tuesday, 25thMay 2021 to pick up personal items needed when police patrol personnel bounced on him at gunpoint and arrested him. He was paraded same evening alongside four others as ESN hoodlums that attempted to burn down Orji Police Station. Citizen Casmir Ibegbulem is married to Onyekachi who is pregnant for seven months. Alozie Daberechi and Chigaemezu Sabastine: They are Owerri based traders and indigenes of Imo State and one of them, Alozie Daberechi (fair colored and in blue jeans, spotted second to the right in a photo released by the police) is dealing on plumbing materials at Ogbosisi (Timber) Market in Owerri. The two were arrested by police patrol operatives on their way home in the early evening of Tuesday, 25th May 2021 and paraded same evening alongside three others as ESN hoodlums that attempted to burn down Orji Police Station. Ugbo Casmir Nnaemeka & Ojukwu Ukonu: They differently reside at World Bank Housing Estate, New Owerri and Igwe Allen Okoro Street, Off MCC Road, Owerri and were maliciously arrested differently on trumped up allegations on 13thMay (Ojukwu Ukonu) and 14th May 2021 (Casmir Nnaemeka Ugbo) by the operatives of the anti kidnapping squad of the Imo State Police Command. The two had served in various capacities in the administration of former Governor Rochas Okorocha and are still aides working for the former Governor. Citizens Ugbo Casmir Nnaemeka and Ojukwu Ukonu are fathers of children living with their wives and differently hail from Umuezike Obibi-Ochasi in Orlu, Imo State (Nnaemeka Casmir) and Obinocha-Nkwere in Nkwere, Imo State (Ojukwu Ukonu). Surprisingly, on Friday, 28th May 2021, the Imo State Police Command released a false and malicious statement: Police Arrest Four (Five) Additional ESN Hoodlums That Attacked Imo Prison (Correctional) Headquarters, Others. The Police Command not only named the duo alongside two (three) others as ESN hoodlums bur also falsely claimed to have arrested them on Thursday, 27th May 2021 during a coded raid operation to fish out ESN hoodlums. Available evidence has not only rubbished police claims but also incontrovertibly showed that they have been arrested and detained since 13th and 14th May 2021, a period of two weeks before the Police latest false claims and labeling. Smith Amadikwa: Citizen Smith Amadikwa is 44 years old father of kids and happily married to Hon Mrs. Ebere Amadikwa, a former Leader of the Obowo Local Government Legislative Council under former Governor Rochas Okorocha and they reside at Umuagu Seven & Half Junction, Obowo and hail from Umuagu in Obowo. According to his wife, Smith Amadikwa was arrested and detained since 12th May 2021 after he had gone in company of his wife to catch up with an appointment at Owerri Shoprite/ Samsung from where he was arrested by the Imo State Police Command. His wife had waited for him in vain in their car to join her back home. Citizen Smith Amadikwa also served under Okorocha administration and presently owns and runs Smiths Comedy Show. He is also a well known Master of Ceremony and Movie Actor. He was among the four (five) names falsely labeled ESN hoodlums that attacked Imo State Prison Headquarters by the Imo State Police Command on 28th May 2021 which also falsely claimed to have arrested him alongside others on Thursday, 27th May 2021 as against 12th May 2021 when he was arrested. Engineer Ikechukwu Okomah Engineer Ikechukwu Okomah, 50 Years Old: He is a graduate of Engineering from the Enugu State University, class of 1996 and Masters Degree holder in Chemical Engineering and a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers as well as a licensed petroleum dealer and an executive member of IPMAN (independent petroleum marketers association of Nigeria). Married with kids and living with his wife, he is from Ubahaezike, Awo Idemmili in Orsu Local Government Area, Imo State and resides at MCC Road, Uratta, Owerri and religiously, he is a member of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement of Nigeria of St Mathews Catholic Church, MCC Road, Uratta, Imo State and also owns and runs a big pig farm in his Community. He was maliciously accused and arrested on 19th May 2021 by the anti kidnapping squad of the Imo State Police Command and shockingly on Friday, 28thMay 2021, was co-labeled by the Imo State Police Command as ESN hoodlums that attacked Imo State Prison Headquarters, which also falsely claimed to have arrested him alongside three (four) others on Thursday, 27th May 2021. Abducted Emeka Mbonu (Mescana) Emeka Mbonu (Mescana), 39 Years Old & Ibe Chisom Amadi: Emeka Mbonu is a father of three kids and happily married, residing at MCC Road/Amawire, Owerri. He is presently into real estate and was a staff of Owerri Capital Development Authority under former Governor Rochas Okorocha. He hails from Osina in Ideato North, Imo State and was arrested and detained by the operatives of the Imo State Police Command since 13th May 2021 and was co-labeled ESN hoodlums that attacked Imo State Prison Headquarters. The Police also falsely claimed to have arrested him alongside three (four) others on Thursday, 27thMay 2021. It must be noted that Citizens Ikechukwu Okomah and Emeka Mbonu were arrested and originally framed and accused of possessing firearms (Dane guns and pump action guns used by their street vigilantes) from where the Police changed and accused them of being ESN hoodlums that attacked Imo State Prison Headquarters. Citizen Ibe Chisom, on his part, is a Port Harcourt based father of three and a surveyor who was arrested by police/SSS since 18th March 2021 and whisked away with his white Toyota Camry car. He had returned from Port Harcourt to his Umuodiya, Umuegwum in Mbaise, Imo State for a funeral ceremony when he was arrested around 12noon and since then he has not been seen or located. In Aba, Abia State, the following citizens have been arrested and held since January 2021: Michael Tochukwu Orji (trader), 22, from Isu, Ebonyi State, held by soldiers since 25th Jan 2021. Before he was transferred to State CID, Umuahia, Citizen Tochukwu Orji said he witnessed the killing by soldiers of five other abductees at Ngwa High School base of 144 Battalion; Prince John, arrested since January and held at State CID, Umuahia; Chukwuma Nwokike, 57 years old, from Umueze-Osisioma Ngwa, held since 26th April 2021; Jude Chukwu (artist), 60 years old from Umulolo-Okigwe, held since 23rd Feb 2021; Chinaza Gideon, 30 years old, from Obowo in Imo State, arrested on 26th May 2021; Michael Ukpai, from Edda, Afikpo in Ebonyi State and Precious Uwaoma and five others, arrested by soldiers on 26th May 2021 and held till date at Mogadishu Barracks, Abuja. Gallantry By Spilling Innocent Bloods Apart from hate and crude policing and soldiering, Nigerian security forces presently deployed in the East are indiscriminately and recklessly showcasing gallantry by spilling innocent bloods. Having carefully watched and studied the patterns used by violent non state actor entities and counter measures used by security forces especially soldiers and police, it is our incontrovertible finding that the security forces are wantonly killing innocent citizens and labeling them falsely. This is to the extent that most of the claims made by soldiers and police of neutralizing ESN hoodlums are found to be highly questionable and discreditable. In other words, most of those the security forces claimed to have been killing non state actor and state actor engineered attacks on security personnel and Government facilities are innocent members of the public deliberately and hatefully killed to showcase false gallantry. This is technically referred to as after the act crime scene killings. This is in addition to most of the arrests made after such attacks. For instance, in recent attacks in Orlu, out of eleven bodies displayed as slain bodies of ESN hoodlums gunned down at gun battle; only five were combatively involved and six others were innocent citizens including passersby and Keke riders; likewise in Awka where out of seven bodies displayed, only two were combatively involved and five others were innocent citizens. In the foiled attack targeted at Army Roadblock at Ariaria Junction area of Aba on 23rd/24thApril 2021, the attackers had retreated and safely escaped only for soldiers to turn the scene to lethal shooting spree, killing no fewer than seventeen innocent citizens and falsely labeling them ESN hoodlums killed in gun battle by gallant troops. Intersociety has successfully traced the mortuary where many of them were dumped and among the slain innocent citizens were Citizens Ifeanyi Thomas (Aba based shoe maker) and 28 years old from Ozuitem, Bende in Abia State; Okoro Arums (Aba based shoe maker) and 26 years old from Amasiri, Ebonyi State and David Chukwuka (Aba based shoe maker) and 21 years old from Igboeze North, Enugu State. Also the latest claims by the Imo State Police Command of killing of four hoodlums and arresting others who killed Gulak, at Afor-Enyiogugu Junction in Aboh Mbaise; are not independently credible as some local eyewitnesses have disclosed that most of the slain and the injured are innocent citizens shot and killed while scrambling for the illicitly distributed onions. Late Citizen Mathew Maduakolam Opara-Oliver, 45 Years Old: Married with kids and a Company director dealing on Aluminum products with his office situated POWA plaza at Fire Service by Mbaise Road, Owerri. He hailed from Oziri, Inyishi in Ikeduru, Imo State and was gunned down by soldiers at Orji on 25thMay 2021 on his way back from a business trip. In the evening of 28thMay 2021 at Ogbosisi Market, Owerri, 24 years old Akachukwu Nwadike was severally and severely stabbed with knives by police personnel from the Imo State Police Command and later taken away alongside about twenty others. The riotous police personnel had violently stormed the Market and smashed windscreens of over ten parked private and commercial vehicles. The Police later claimed that they raided the Market on account of discovery of illegal petroleum deport. Yesterday night, 30th May 2021 at Diamond Spot part of Amakohia in Owerri, there were reports of abduction by soldiers of not less than ten young men, bundled and taken to unknown destinations. Instances are too many to be mentioned. In all these, we have received over 100 phone calls and messages from members of the public testifying in favor of the abducted and slain citizens named above. Intersociety hereby calls on the Nigeria Police Force and Nigerian Army to immediately and unconditionally release all the citizens named above and desist from perpetration and perpetuation of such dastardly acts including frame-ups and trumped up allegations or charges, spilling of innocent bloods as a mark of gallantry, abductions and disappearances, extrajudicial killings and other forms of genocidal operations going on in the East Signed: Principal Officers: Emeka Umeagbalasi, Criminologist/Board Chair Barr Chinwe Umeche Barr Chidimma Udegbunam Contacts: Phone/WhatsApp: +2348174090052, Email: [email protected] , Website: intersociety-ng.org Communities For some pastors, the past year was a sign from God it was time to quit Government accused of concealing vaccine data THAILAND: The Rural Doctors Society has accused the government of concealing information about the real situation facing supplies of the AstraZeneca vaccine promised for this week. CoronavirusCOVID-19healthVaccine By Bangkok Post Monday 31 May 2021, 08:52AM A health worker holds a syringe and a vial of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul. Suphat Hasuwankit, president of the Rural Doctors Society, posted on the societys Facebook page that a source told him the government now has to order 500,000 doses of the vaccine from South Korea to supply its mass vaccination campaign which kicks off on June 7, instead of sourcing from local production. The government had to pay a lot more money for the AstraZeneca vaccine from South Korea simply to fulfil its promise that the AstraZeneca vaccinations will be available on time, Dr Suphat said. And as the government had previously promised up to 1.8 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will arrive in the first batch in June, people who have already booked their vaccination appointments may end up getting Sinovac jabs instead, he said. As COVID-19 vaccine supplies remain insufficient worldwide due to low global manufacturing capacity, vaccine makers are handling vaccine orders strictly in chronological order, while some urgent orders are accepted with extra charges. Currently, only the Sinovac vaccine has been obtained by Thailand in an urgent manner, he said. Dr Suphat said that as the government has a limited amount of the AstraZeneca vaccine, it has instructed hospitals to get 12 doses from each vial, instead of the 10 doses that the label recommends. The idea is to increase the number of people who receive the vaccine by 20% while using the same amount of the vaccine, he said. Given the vaccination situation, Thailands COVID-19 outbreak will remain serious for several more months, while June is likely to be particularly chaotic in terms of vaccination management, he said. Women warned of birth control pill vaccine risk THAILAND: Birth control pills run a risk of causing blood clots and women may consider stopping taking the pills before receiving jabs against COVID-19, says Siraya Kitiyodom, an obstetrician-gynaecologist at Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital. CoronavirusCOVID-19healthVaccine By Bangkok Post Monday 31 May 2021, 09:05AM Some European countries have warned women on birth control pills to delay receiving vaccinations until the effects wear off, which takes about one month. Photo: AFP In a live-streaming session on the issue, Dr Siraya said women who take contraceptive pills are more at risk of having blood clots than those who do not, because the pills contain hormones that can trigger blood clots. She said there is no evidence as to what effects the COVID-19 vaccine might have on the health of women taking the pills. Regardless, some European countries have warned women on birth control pills to delay receiving vaccinations until the effects wear off, which takes about one month. Dr Siraya said those who are on the pills and have concerns about potential effects may consider stop taking the pills or use other birth control methods to avoid risks. The risks of blood clots due to the COVID-19 vaccine and contraceptive pills are being discussed following the death of 32-year-old Naririn Angthong, a native of Yala, who died about two weeks after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine shot. Naririn died due to blood-clotting in her lungs on May 27 at Hat Yai Hospital, where she was vaccinated on May 14. Health authorities are probing to see if her death was linked to the vaccination. Thiravat Hemachudha, head of the Centre for Emerging Disease Health Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University, wrote on his Facebook page that people should stop taking migraine medications or drugs with similar effects before receiving vaccination. This was despite the minimal risk of suffering side effects after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. He also said women who take contraceptive pills should stop taking them at least 14 days before getting the jab, if possible. Free treatment for vaccine side-effects Meanwhile, the government has assured that individuals who suffer side-effects after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine will be able to receive treatments at private hospitals without being charged. Tares Krassanairawiwong, director-general of Department of Health Service Support (DHSS), yesterday (May 30) said the Public Health Ministry had issued an announcement declaring COVID-19 to be an emergency disease, which means every COVID-19 patient is entitled to free treatment at hospitals until they are healthy. The upsurge of new COVID-19 cases has created the need to achieve herd immunity through COVID-19 vaccinations. However, some people may get sick from side-effects after receiving the vaccines. As such, DHSS has revised its announcement to allow people who suffer side-effects to be treated at private hospitals without expense, Dr Tares said. The announcement ensuring free treatment was made on Dec 24. But waivers of medical costs at private hospitals for treating side effects was imposed on March 1. The latest announcement also added disbursements for transferring COVID-19 patients by air and sea, and PPE for health workers, he added. flydubai, the Dubai-based airline, said that it will operate three weekly flights to Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH) from June 15. The route will become flydubais second destination in Egypt alongside Alexandria Borg El Arab International Airport (HBE). The launch of flights to the popular resort city follows the launch of several holiday destinations brings the number of seasonal routes served by flydubai to seven destinations including Bodrum and Trabzon in Turkey, Batumi in Georgia, Mykonos and Santorini in Greece and Tivat in Montenegro. Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: As more countries gradually lift restrictions on international travel, we are excited to grow our network and give passengers more options to travel this summer. Sharm El Sheikh has been a popular holiday destination for many years and we expect to see strong demand for travel from the UAE and GCC. flydubai will restart its operations to Batumi in Georgia and Tivat in Montenegro from 25 June and both destinations offer UAE residents visa on arrival. Flights to Bodrum and Trabzon in Turkey will start from 04 and 24 June respectively with flights Mykonos and Santorini starting on 18 June. The carrier plans to start flights to Naples in Italy and Salzburg in Austria from July onwards. Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations (UAE, GCC, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent) at flydubai said: With demand for travel returning we can see from the enquiries that we are receiving that our customers are keen to travel again and are starting to make their travel plans. Sharm El Sheikh is another exciting destination for our passengers to visit for their summer holidays. Flights from Terminal 2, Dubai International (DXB) to Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH) will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 15 June. Return Business Class fares from DXB to SSH start from AED2,500 ($680) and return Economy Class fares start from AED1,300. TradeArabia News Service LES CAYES, Haiti (AP) Severe acute childhood malnutrition is expected to more than double this year in Haiti as the country struggles with the coronavirus pandemic, a spike in violence and dwindling resources, a UNICEF report said Monday. More than 86,000 children under age 5 could be affected, compared with 41,000 reported last year, said Jean Gough, UNICEF's regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean. I was saddened to see so many children suffering from malnutrition, she said after a weeklong visit to Haiti. Some will not recover unless they receive treatment on time. Severe acute malnutrition is considered a life-threatening condition. In a slightly less dangerous category, acute malnutrition in kids younger than 5 in Haiti has risen 61%, with some 217,000 children expected to suffer from it this year, compared with 134,000 last year. Overall, UNICEF said, about 4.4 million of Haitis more than 11 million inhabitants lack sufficient food, including 1.9 million children. Gough told The Associated Press during a recent visit to a hospital in the southern city of Les Cayes that UNICEF has only a one-month supply left of a special food paste given to children in need and is seeking $3 million by the end of June. Officials said the pandemic also has disrupted health services, with childhood immunization rates dropping from 28% to 44%, depending on the vaccine. The decrease has led to a rise in diphtheria cases as health workers brace for an expected measles outbreak this year. UNICEF noted that unvaccinated children also are more likely to die from malnutrition. Lamir Samedi, a nurse who works at a community health center in the southern town of Saint-Jean-du-Sud, said the target was to vaccinate 80% of children in the area, but they had yet to reach 50%. Among the children hospitalized is 11-month-old Denise Joseph, who lay quietly in a crib in Les Cayes after being diagnosed with tuberculosis two weeks ago. She never eats, said her grandmother, Marie-Rose Emile, who is caring for the infant since her mother also is ill. Emile is struggling to provide for the baby, saying she has barely harvested any beans, corn or potatoes this year. Gough, the UNICEF official, said she was discouraged by the dismal numbers of malnutrition and drop in childhood immunizations. She said more outreach services are needed because not enough people are visiting community health centers. Among those visiting a health center for the first time was 27-year-old Franceline Mileon, who brought her young child after hearing a health official with a bullhorn in her neighborhood announcing that a vaccination program had begun. She sat on a bench, coddling her baby, as she waited for a nurse to weigh her. Overall, UNICEF said it needs nearly $49 million this year to meet humanitarian needs in Haiti, adding that little of that amount has been pledged. The agency $5.2 million of that amount would go toward nutrition and $4.9 million for health, including childhood immunizations. ___ Associated Press video journalist Pierre Richard Luxama reported this story in Les Cayes and AP writer Danica Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Today Thunderstorms this evening, then skies turning partly cloudy after midnight. Low 73F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening, then skies turning partly cloudy after midnight. Low 73F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. Tomorrow Sun and a few passing clouds. High 92F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. ALTON Crowds lined the streets again for what is billed as the longest-running continuous Memorial Day Parade. The 154th Annual Alton Memorial Day Parade went through Upper Alton, spewing candy to large groups of children and adults who lined the route. As a sign of a return to normalcy after more than a year of COVID-19 restrictions, it is really special, according to Grand Marshal Dick Alford. I think it was a definite honor to even be considered, he said of his title. I was humbled to be asked. Getting ready to start the parade, his biggest concern was for a good turnout. I think we will (have a good turnout), he said. People are looking for things to do. He was not disappointed. Although the parade-watchers were not as deep in some places as previous years, the crowds were still large. Delano Ross was watching from College Avenue in front of Walgreens. He was there to show support. I have some people in my family who are military, so in support of them and past family members, he said. He added it was a nice day, and it was good to see the crowd. Ioannis Tsiogas was also happy to be there. Sitting on the shoulders of his uncle, Elias Stidham of Alton, he was excited about the candy. I usually come to the parade every year, except last year, Stidham said. Its actually pretty nice. COVID keeping everybody inside, its nice to get outside and be part of a big thing. The parade is sponsored by the East End Improvement Associations Parade Committee, and is co-sponsored by Upper Alton Association Inc., with assistance in staging by the Alton Area Optimist Club. Were actually having a real parade this year, said Steve Schwartz, a spokesman for the Improvement Association. However, they can still claim the title of continuous because although formally cancelled last year, organizers held a small vehicle parade. Thanks to the city of Alton we were able to do an abbreviated parade, Schwartz said. Several other parades in New York and Philadelphia had also claimed the honor of being continuous since 1868, but Schwartz did not know if they occurred last year. In 2020 a convoy of vehicles, including a police car, fire engine, military truck and another vehicle or two were supposed to make its way from the parking lot at Alton Middle School up College Avenue to Washington Avenue, then to North Alton Ceremony. However, a number of people either heard about it, or had planned to drive their decorated vehicles over the traditional parade route anyway, so it ended up with almost 40 vehicles, mostly private cars with flags and balloons attached. And while there were not the traditional thousands of spectators lining the streets, there were a few scattered here and there along the route. This year was very different, with Schwartz describing that difference as night and day. When you look around there is excitement, he said. In addition to a full parade, there were marching bands, various color guards, candy and all the traditional parade activities, including the Ainid Rolling Nobles. It feels great, said Brian Ragsdale, the unit president. Were finally getting back to what we like to do. It really feels good to get out and see everybody weve missed over the past year or so. He noted the year off gave them some time to do much needed repairs to their vehicles. That is important, because sometimes parts for their vehicles, all 1972 MDT Mud Bugs, are hard to come by. Part of the reason is that the U.S. Government banned the sale of three-wheeled ATVs in 1988, but the Rolling Nobles are considered a specialty unit. The vehicles they have were originally purchased in 1972 by the group and have been continuously used ever since. Many other groups that were unable to participate last year were also getting ready, with members saying they were very happy to be there. Cadet Major Marcus Jones of the Alton High School Air Force ROTC program said they were most definitely glad to be back in the parade. It feels good to finally be able to serve our community again, he said. Freshman Cadet Marissa Jones, in her first JROTC parade and a member of the color guard, was also excited. Ive been in parades before, but nothing quite like this, especially because Im part of the color guard for JROTC she said. Im very glad to be here. Its good to get out here, even if we dont have a full contingent of kids, said Lt. Col. Gerred Ayers, the units commander. He noted many of them did not have uniforms because with remote learning they were not able to be fitted yet. Im hoping by the fall we are back to normal, he said. Pack 73, a Cub Scout group from Evangelical Elementary School in Godfrey, was also getting ready to march. its amazing, said Cubmaster Natalie Schultz. Obviously there are obstacles, but we are excited to be back. The boys are excited to be back. She said with COVID, the past year has been a sad year, but things are improving. Theyre going to be going to camp very soon, she said. Of course there will be some changes due to COVID, but they like being together. Its their new normal. Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day began in May 1868 at multiple locations nationwide as a way to honor both Union and Confederate soldiers who died during the Civil War. Many times, the ceremonies and efforts were headed by women. This was especially true in the South, because so soon after the Civil War it might have been considered a violation of their loyalty oath, and treason, for former Confederate soldiers to organize memorials or wear uniforms. Altons parade is touted as being one of the first, and the longest continually running Memorial Day Parade in the country. Although relatively far from the battlefields (except early conflicts in St. Louis), Madison County does have a great deal of history related to the Civil War. The death of abolitionist minister and newspaper publisher Elijah Lovejoy in 1837 is considered one of the events that framed the eventual conflict. Alton also played a prominent role in the Underground Railroad. During the war thousands of Confederate prisoners were housed in a former federal prison in Alton, and many of them died of disease or injuries and were buried on an island in the Mississippi River that has since disappeared, or the North Alton Confederate Cemetery on Rozier Street. In addition, Madison County raised more than 4,000 men for the Union army. U.S. Sen. Lyman Trumbull of Alton, who served from 1855 to 1873, was the co-author of the 13th Amendment, which ended slavery in the U.S. It is also often pointed out that Memorial Day honors those who have died, while Veterans Day honors all those who served. EDWARDSVILLE A Highland woman faces multiple battery charges after incidents Wednesday and Thursday. Kortney A. Talbot, 23, of Highland, was charged May 28 with aggravated domestic battery and two counts of aggravated battery, all Class 2 felonies. The cases were presented by the Highland Police Department. According to court documents, on May 26 Talbot allegedly strangled a family or household member; and on May 27 she spit in a Highland police officers face. Bail was set at $50,000 for the domestic battery, and $73,000 for the aggravated battery charges. In an unrelated case, an Imperial, Missouri man faces both domestic and aggravated battery charges. Rodney M. Chestnut, 26, of Imperial, Missouri, was charged with aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony; and aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Wood River Police Department. According to court documents, on May 27 Chestnut allegedly struck a pregnant household or family member in the face with a closed fist, fracturing her nose. Bail was set at $50,000. Other felony charges filed May 28 by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include: Bernard P. Potochney Jr., 43, of Pocahontas, was charged with offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force. On May 28 Potochney allegedly was found to be in possession of a stolen 2020 Hyundai. Bail was set at $50,000. Kamm J. Hayes, 49, of Hazelwood, Missouri, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On May 27, Hayes allegedly was found to be in possession of between 5-15 grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $40,000. Kenneth O. Smith, 30, of Bethalto, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On May 25 Smith allegedly was found to be in possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $15,000. Joshua S. Blaine, 33, of Wood River, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On May 25 Blaine allegedly was found to be in possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $15,000. Jesse C. Bradshaw, 38, of Godfrey, was charged with three counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, all Class 4 felonies. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On May 27 Bradshaw allegedly was found to be in possession of less than 15 grams each of fentanyl, cocaine and alprazolam. Bail was set at $20,000. Alexander D. Radcliff, 19, of Alton, was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, both Class 4 felonies. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On May 27 Radcliff allegedly was found to be in possession of less than 15 grams each of cocaine and alprazolam. Bail was set at $15,000. Charles E. Clifton, 31, of Edwardsville, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On Aug. 28 Clifton allegedly was found to be in possession of less than 15 grams of cocaine. Bail was set at $15,000. Brandon L. Varner, 44, of Belleville, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On Aug. 28 Varner allegedly was found to be in possession of less than 15 grams of cocaine. Bail was set at $15,000. ACCRA, Ghana (AP) West African leaders suspended Mali from their regional bloc Sunday over what they said amounted to a coup last week, Ghanas foreign minister said after an emergency meeting to address the political crisis in Mali. The bloc, the Economic Community of West African States, is worried about the security implications for West Africa because of the continued insecurity brought about by the political upheavals in that country, Foreign Minister Shirley Attorkor Botchwey said. At the end of their summit, the heads of state of the ECOWAS member nations demanded that Malian authorities immediately release former transitional President Bah NDaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, who are being kept under house arrest. In their statement, the leaders condemned the arrests by Mali's military, which they said violated mediation steps agreed to last September, a month after a coup detat led by the same man who has now again taken power in Mali, Col. Assimi Goita. ECOWAS also called for a new civilian prime minister to be nominated immediately, a new inclusive government to be formed and the 18-month transition of power leading to February 2022 elections to be carried out, saying a monitoring mechanism will be put in place to assure this. In addition, the statement said, the head of the transition government, the vice president and the prime minister should not under any circumstances be candidates in the planned Feb. 27 presidential election. ECOWAS urged all international partners, including the African Union, the United Nations, and the European Union, to continue to support the successful implementation of the transition in Mali. The heads of state expressed strong and deep concerns over the present crisis in Mali, which is coming halfway to the end of the agreed transition period, in the context of the security challenges related to incessant terrorist attacks and the Covid-19 Pandemic with its dire socio-economic impacts, the statement said. Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo opened the summit in Accra on Sunday, saying ECOWAS must remain resolute in supporting the people of Mali to find a peaceful solution, and restore democracy and stability in the country. Malis constitutional court on Friday named Goita as the West African nations government leader days after he seized power by deposing the president and prime minister and forced their resignations. Their arrests last Monday by the military took place hours after a new Cabinet was named that left out two major military leaders. The court said Friday that Goita would take the responsibilities of the interim president to lead the transition process to its conclusion. The deposed interim president and prime minister had been appointed following the August 2020 coup led by Goita. The military coup against then President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita led to mediations by ECOWAS that were also led by Nigerias former leader, Goodluck Jonathan. The transitional government was set up with Goita as transitional vice president. Elections were to be held in February and March 2022. After taking power, Goita assured that the elections would still be held, though it wasn't clear what part the military would play in the government. The international community, including the African Union, has condemned the power grab. The U.N. Security Council has said the resignations of NDaw and Ouane were coerced. The U.S. has already pulled its security force support and other bodies, including the EU and France, are threatening sanctions. Goita has justified his actions by saying there was discord within the transitional government and that he wasnt consulted, per the transitional charter, when the new Cabinet was chosen. Akufo-Addo said Sunday that ECOWAS was committed to the peaceful transition in Mali, with the basic goal of restoring democratic government, and working for the stability of Mali and of our region. He acknowledged that a May 14 dissolution of the government by the transitional prime minister was worrying and the reappointment of the new, broad-based government on May 24 hours before the arrests generated considerable tension between various groups, particularly the military, as the former ministers for defense and security were not reappointed. Goita attended the summit after being named transitional president by the court. Presidents Umaro Sissou Embalo of Guinea Bissau, Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, Alassane Outtara of Ivory Coast, Adama Barrow of The Gambia and Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria were also in attendance, along with presidents from Burkina Faso, Niger, Togo and Liberia. The heads of state called for the immediate implementation of all the decisions made Sunday. Jonathan is expected to return to Mali within the week to engage stakeholders on these decisions. ___ Associated Press writer Carley Petesch in Dakar, Senegal, contributed to this report. Most con artists are just rolling the dice, laying traps they hope unwary consumers will stumble into. This one did his homework in targeting a specific victim and made off with more than $10,000 from a Chase bank account. The episode serves as a wake-up call for all of us to be very cautious when interacting with businesses, even when everything appears to be on the up and up. It also once again raises questions about how adequately Chase protects its customers. Denise Denton, 41, recently received a legitimate-looking fraud alert from Chase notifying her about a $505 purchase at Walmart. The text message asked her to confirm that the purchase was hers. I texted back to say I didnt know anything about it, the Texas resident told me. Then, almost immediately, I got a call from a Chase customer service representative. The call appeared to originate from Chase. The rep said he needed to secure Dentons checking account. He texted her a verification code to make sure she was the account holder. The rep also shared with Denton the last four digits of her Social Security number, which she confirmed. There was nothing suspicious, Denton said. How could anyone but Chase have so much information about me my name, my phone number, my Social Security number? Wait, its about to get much, much worse. Denton said that as she was speaking with the service rep, she opened the Chase banking app on her phone and changed her password. The guy immediately said he saw that my password was just changed. Not that Denton was particularly surprised. She was talking to Chase, after all. Of course they could see her account, including her new password. The rep quickly brought the call to a close. He said hed be sending a case number via email. And then he hung up. It was very abrupt, Denton recalled. Within seconds, she said, her husband, with whom she shares her Chase account, received a text from the bank notifying him that $10,600 had just been transferred elsewhere almost all their money. Lets pause a moment to appreciate the deviousness of this scam. The fraudster either was a Chase insider or had gone to great lengths to dupe his victim. He clearly had access to Dentons personal information, which could have been caught up in one of the hundreds of data security breaches reported each year. The fraudster, if not a Chase insider, also apparently had hacked Dentons phone or banking app (or both). The fact that he saw the password change in real time is perhaps the most alarming aspect of all this. This next part of the story will be familiar to anyone who remembers my other recent columns about Chase. In one, I wrote about a La Palma couple who discovered $22,000 was missing from their account. They said Chase gave them the run-around in recovering the funds until I got involved. Within days, their money was restored. Then there was an episode involving a Sherman Oaks man who nearly lost $60,000 to a scammer. But shortly afterward, the same fraudster returned and managed to make off with $19,000. Paul Benda, senior vice president of risk and cyber policy for the American Bankers Association, told me that scammers have increased their efforts to gather customer information that lets them hack accounts. When money goes missing, some banks appear to have more difficulty than others making customers whole. Chase has shown itself in recent months to be among the most reluctant to do this. That initial fraud alert arrived in Dentons phone on April 1 (I know April Fools Day). After the $10,600 was whisked from their account, she and her husband rushed to a nearby Chase branch to report the incident. The necessary paperwork, they were told, wasnt available. Theyd have to return about a week later to submit a written report. After they did that, they called Chase repeatedly to ask when their funds would be restored. The bank kept telling them to try again in a few days, Denton said. Gradually, she told me, it became evident that Chase suspected she was complicit in the fraud. How else to explain all the details the scammer knew about her and the degree of access he had to her account? So Denton set about proving her innocence. Using security data available on her Chase app, she saw that the $10,600 wire transfer didnt originate on her phone. It was made via the Chase.com website. I dont use the website, Denton said. I only use the banking app. Moreover, the records showed that the Chase site had been accessed with a Mac computer. That too provided a pretty solid alibi. Denton is an executive with Texas-based Dell, maker of personal computers and laptops that run the Windows operating system. I dont own a Mac, she said. All my computers are Dell. Nevertheless, Denton said, Chase refused to back down. So she contacted me last week to see if I could help. I in turn reached out to Chase and walked a company exec through the known facts. I suggested they try to corroborate Dentons story by checking on her history with the Chase.com website and whether shed ever accessed her account using a Mac. I pointed out that its unlikely shed have gotten in touch with me if she was perpetrating a crime. I also noted that shed reported the incident to the police, the Texas attorney general and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau not the typical moves of a bank robber. The whole thing appeared to have been an elaborate ruse by a con artist to obtain the password necessary to initiate an online cash transfer. A day later, Denton told me, Chase restored the $10,600 to her account. Gone was Chases concern that she was trying to pull a fast one on the bank. Instead, Denton said, a company official told her she did everything I should have done in a timely manner as a customer. Peter Kelley, a Chase spokesman, cited security reasons in declining to provide specifics about what the banks investigators learned. Unfortunately, our customer was a victim of an outside scam, he said. After reviewing the details of her situation, we reimbursed her. I asked if it seemed as though Chase customers often have to struggle to resolve incidents of fraud. Kelley said only that we deploy a number of measures to defend against and identify new security threats, and we work directly with our customers when they tell us of their concerns. If customers have questions about a call, text or email from the company, he said, dont provide any personal info. Call the number on your debit or credit card and ask to speak to someone about the inquiry, Kelley advised. Ask us to confirm if we sent you a communication. And if weeks or months pass without the company returning your money, you know where to find me. MADRID Josep Almudever, the last known survivor of the International Brigades who volunteered to fight in Spains Civil War in the hope that they could stop fascism, died May 23 in a hospital in Pamiers, in southwestern France. He was 101. His death was confirmed by his daughter Sonia Almudever. She did not specify the cause. Almudever was born in France to Spanish parents and held dual citizenship. He was a teenager living in Spain when Francisco Franco and other generals launched a military coup in July 1936 against Spains Republican government, which plunged the country into a three-year civil war. He had to lie about his age to enlist in a Republican militia, but he was soon wounded and sent home. It was also discovered that he had been too young to fight. After recovering from his injury, he managed to rejoin the conflict as a member of the International Brigades, in which tens of thousands of foreigners had enlisted in order to fight Franco. Almudever was one of many of the Brigades left-wing volunteers who viewed the conflict in Spain as a broader fight against the advance of fascism across Europe, since Franco was also receiving military support from Nazi Germany and Italy.Giles Tremlett, a British journalist and historian who published a book last year about the Brigades, said the death of Almudever brings the curtain down on what was a remarkable phenomenon of a transnational volunteer army, whose creation was compared at the time to what had happened during the Crusades. Foreigners traveled from all over the world to join the International Brigades, but Tremlett also noted that the Brigades included Spaniards from the onset of the war, some of whom helped fill a shortfall of people with specific skills, such as doctors or artillery engineers. Altogether, about 35,000 foreigners served in the Brigades over the course of the war, in a contingent that had as many as 42,000 soldiers at its peak and whose military organization was in part shaped by Soviet advisers. Many of the foreigners had to sneak into Spain to fight because their own countries remained neutral during the conflict, including the United States. (The last known American member of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade died in 2016.) Josep Almudever Mateu was born July 30, 1919, in Marseille, France, to parents who came from the eastern Spanish region of Valencia. His father, Vicente Almudever Mari, was a builder who had moved to France in search of work. His mother, Adela Mateu Paterna, was a homemaker who had been part of her familys traveling circus in her youth and who met her husband during one of their circus shows in France. After living in Marseille, the family briefly moved to Morocco but then returned to Spain because Almudevers mother fell seriously ill in 1931, just as the Republican government was taking office. Almudever was detained by Francos troops in Valencia in 1939, just as Franco was about to win the war, and was held in work camps and prisons until his release in 1942. Determined to continue the struggle against Francos new regime, he then joined an underground Communist labor union that was also helping guerrilla fighters in northeastern Spain. In 1947, after some fighters were caught and executed, he fled on foot across the Pyrenees mountains to the French town of Pamiers, where a brother lived. A year later, his wife, Carmen Ballester Vicens, managed to join him in France. Almudena Cros, president of the Association of Friends of the International Brigades, which was set up in Madrid in the 1980s, said she was 99% sure that Almudever was the last man standing and that there was no other surviving member of the Brigades. She said he had contributed greatly to promoting the historical importance of the Brigades, not least because he remained so sharp, forceful and clear when recalling his wartime experience. He loved whenever he could visit schools and speak to young people about the lesser-known aspects of our own Spanish history, she said. Almudever is survived by one of his three siblings, Vicente, who also fought on the Republican side during the civil war and is now 103. In addition to his daughter Sonia, his other survivors include four more children, 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. His wife died in 2006. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on Twitter that Almudever stood out because of his political engagement and perseverance, noting that he had not only fought for democracy and against dictatorship, but also then suffered postwar repression and exile. Ximo Puig, regional leader of Valencia, also paid tribute on Twitter to Almudever for fighting for the democratic convictions of all his people. Like his father, Almudever worked in the construction industry, while devoting much of his spare time to keeping alive the memory of the civil war, his daughter Sonia said. In 2014, Almudever published an autobiography, The Pact of Nonintervention, Poor Republic. In 2016, he joined Cros and her association on a tour of Spain to mark the 80th anniversary of the creation of the Brigades. In an interview that year with La Marea, a Spanish publication, Almudever said he still had shrapnel in his leg from the wound he suffered during the war. The civil war, he said, was lost because the Republican government was stabbed by his own French government and other nations that failed to support the Republicans against Franco. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. U.S. hindering global anti-epidemic cooperation a wicked deed 15:45, May 31, 2021 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily During the 74th World Health Assembly scheduled from May 24 to June 1, the international community generally looked forward to heightening global anti-epidemic cooperation so as to defeat the virus and resume economic growth at an early date. Photo taken in Brussels, Belgium on May 24, 2021 shows the live stream of the 74th World Health Assembly held at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) However, some U.S. politicians and media outlets recently brought up again irresponsible conjectures that the COVID-19 escaped from a Chinese lab, which had been proved untrue by scientific research, attempting to concoct a new round of conspiracy theories regarding the origins of the virus and pull a political trick to defame and scapegoat China for the outbreak. Such a wicked deed of the U.S. shows no respect for science and no sense of responsibility for people's lives, and will certainly wreck global anti-epidemic cooperation. Tracing the virus is a serious and complicated issue in science, and conclusions should only be reached on the basis of science. According to a report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) based on a joint WHO-China study of the origins of COVID-19 on March 30, the novel coronavirus is "extremely unlikely" to have leaked from a lab. The joint study, carried out by both Chinese and foreign experts, led to a consensus based on scientific research and facts, which means that its findings are objective, scientific, and authoritative. The foreign experts involved in the joint study, all selected by the WHO, come from 10 countries and the WHO. The members were representative and independent in the research, a sure thing beyond question. China has always been honest and sincere in tracking down the origins of the virus, and set an example of promoting international cooperation on finding the origins of COVID-19. Though faced with daunting tasks of controlling the pandemic at home, China invited WHO experts over for investigations into the origins of COVID-19 and provided necessary support for their work in Wuhan, an epicenter of the virus in the country, exhibiting an open, transparent, and responsible attitude. Many foreign experts said that China's openness was unexpected, and the trip to Wuhan showed surprising results. Many evidences, reports and studies suggest that the epidemic appeared in many regions around the world as early as the second half of 2019. It was reported that the virus may strike the U.S. earlier than the country officially reported the first confirmed case. While asking China to participate in comprehensive, transparent, evidence-based international investigations, the U.S. should certainly do the same. It should take a scientific attitude, work with the WHO immediately on the study of virus origins, conduct comprehensive, transparent, and evidence-based research at home, and actively respond to the concerns of the international society. Some U.S. politicians and media outlets have completely ignored facts and science, and paid no regard for the doubts in their way of tracing the virus and the painful failure in the domestic fight against the epidemic. Instead, they have been engaged in starting and spreading rumors, and even blatantly ordered intelligence agencies to dig into the source of virus. It is evident that they don't care about facts or truth, and have no interest in scientific and serious virus tracing. All they want is to stigmatize other countries and conduct political manipulation by taking advantage of the epidemic. The U.S.'s accusation that a Chinese lab leaked the virus is supported by "much conclusive evidence" as it used to accuse Iraq of having chemical weapons, as ironically put in an article published recently on the website of Russia Today, a Russian state-controlled international television network. The U.S. political manipulation has been opposed by the WHO and the international scientific community. On May 28, the WHO once again pleaded for a "depoliticized" investigation into the origins of the virus so that scientists can focus on research based on reliable evidences. Otherwise, the world will never find a correct answer to the origins of the virus. Only by respecting science can countries effectively trace the virus, and only by seeking cooperation can they eventually defeat the epidemic. Facts have proved that politicizing the epidemic, stigmatizing other countries, and political maneuvering haven't made the U.S. any stronger against the virus, but have only hindered international anti-pandemic cooperation and caused greater harm to people in the world. On such a major issue related to global public health security and people's lives, the U.S. chooses politics over science for their own self-interest. Its despicable act will never be accepted by the international community. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy.) (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) Two industry experts from leading UAE-based smart and green facilities management (FM) company Farnek will be speaking live and in-person at the Hotel Show, which opens today (May 31) at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Speaking for the first time since her recent appointment as head of housekeeping for Farneks new hospitality division will be Hege Aamo, who brings with her wealth of experience, having completed successful assignments in China, Latvia, the UAE, as well as her native Norway. Aamo will be sharing her thoughts with industry professionals about evaluating the advantages and challenges of outsourcing a housekeeping function. Having previously held executive positions with leading hospitality brands such as Madinat Jumeirah, Emirates Towers, Hyatt Regency and Radisson SAS, it is hardly surprising that Aamo is passionate about brand identity and values. It is absolutely vital that when hotels consider outsourcing, particularly in housekeeping, that the outside staff recruited must be highly trained in all areas of their job, thats fundamental. But it is just as important for the contracted staff to understand the essence of the brand they are working for and to become an integral part of the hotel team, not just a contracted worker in a uniform, she said. Joining Aamo onsite at the Hotel Show will be Javeria Aijaz, who is senior director of technology and innovation at Farnek. Award-winning Aijaz has been working on smart innovative strategies at Farnek for over a decade now with notable success. Besides developing a smart watch, facial recognition and a smart fleet management system, Aijaz is currently working with Etisalat and Huawei to build a smart 5G campus at Farneks new state-of-the-art accommodation in Jebel Ali. Aijaz will be speaking at the HITEC series of seminars about which high-tech cleaning tools live up to their hype. Commenting on Aamos appointment, Walter Knight, director of hospitality at Farnek, said: Hege will be a major asset to our division. She is a consummate professional and brings so much to the table beyond her undoubted talent and more than 20 years of experience." She is a leader as well as a mentor and I am looking forward to working with her on our first project the new Expo Village. Our scope of work consists of managing the reservation services, concierge, front office services and housekeeping, for the 2,273 apartments within the Expo 2020 site. - TradeArabia News Service SCRANTON Ken Hess doesnt see himself as much of a public speaker, so on Monday he stopped by his fathers grave for courage before addressing a Memorial Day crowd at Cathedral Cemetery in West Side. Hed never met his father, whose name he shares. Army Sgt. Kenneth Charles Hess died in a gunfight with hostile forces in Vietnam on Feb. 8, 1969, mere weeks before the 23-year-old solider from Throop was due to return home. He had shipped out to war before his wife gave birth. The infant Hess was 6 months old. Im sorry, this is tough for me, Hess, now 52, said to the crowd gathered Monday morning to honor the nations military dead. Its hard to understand death as a child, and what people give for this country and what people take for granted. Throughout the region Monday, veterans, family members and others gathered in ceremonies and parades so the sacrifice Hesss father and others made would be remembered. He was just one of countless heroes, he said. This isnt about my dad, this is about everybody that gave their life. And my story is the story of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands. In Mayfield, a parade through the borough stepped off from the American Legion post on Lackawanna Avenue. In Carbondale, organizers reported large crowds in attendance at Memorial Park. The weather held out, Mayfield Mayor Al Chelik said. A lot of our veterans turned out. At Veterans Memorial Park near Scranton High School, bagpipes mournfully sounded as a wreath was placed at a granite monument honoring the hundreds of area residents who died in combat. Engraved on the monument: Those Who Gave Their All. Forever Remembered. Memorial Day for veterans is almost everyday, said VFW Post 25 Commander James Kuchwara. We dont stop thinking about it. At Cathedral Cemetery, Vietnam War veteran Nick Colacicco, 71, said he and his family for years have replaced between 10,000 and 15,000 flags and veteran grave markers each year. Its an effort that takes all month, he said. Retired Lt. Col. Joseph Albert, commander for the Koch-Conley American Legion Post 121, said he could not fault those who dont pay the days significance the attention it deserves. And this is because Memorial Day is really only truly felt by the military community, he said. Our emotions are authentic, they are personal. And they are difficult to really explain to someone outside of the military space. In his remarks, Hess said he was about 10 years old when he made a discovery in the attic a box of medals and citations bearing the name Kenneth Hess. They were your fathers, his mother explained to him. Your father passed away when you were an infant. As the years went by, Hess began to do some research. His father wanted to be a career man, and joined the Army in 1962, he said. He spent time in Germany and completed a tour in Vietnam. He did not return alive from a second trip to Vietnam. In the late 1990s, his uncle tearfully hugged him and said your dad was a hero, he said. In recent weeks, Hess, a garbage collector in Dickson City, made local headlines after pulling 14 American flags from trash cans and bags in a two-day period and delivering them to the boroughs American Legion Post 655 for retirement. I did it so people respect and understand the meaning of what it is to grow up without a father to be thankful that I could grow up, he said. Hess said he was honored when Albert asked him to speak. He wanted to do something special, something that he didnt think he would ever do because he is not a speaker, he said. So he sat by his fathers grave and asked for courage. When I left, it was weird, a cardinal came flying by, right by the grave, he said through tears. And here today, I just want you guys to know, for the first time in my life, I can say I made my father proud. HARRISBURG With Pennsylvanias wide-open races for governor and U.S. Senate taking shape, Republican candidates with strong ties to Donald Trump are running and considered strong contenders for the partys nominations a powerful sign of the former presidents enduring popularity within the GOP. Within a few days of each other, Sean Parnell entered the race for U.S. Senate and Lou Barletta entered the race for governor. Trump had urged both men to run in prior bids for public office. Barletta explained the calculus for running under the Republican banner. Donald Trump is still the leader of the Republican Party and anybody who believes otherwise, they dont know what theyre talking about, and especially in Pennsylvania, Barletta told former Trump adviser Steve Bannon on Bannons podcast, War Room. Parnell and Barletta have ties to Trump that go deep. Barletta was co-chair of Trumps 2016 presidential campaign in Pennsylvania and a loyal ally on Capitol Hill when he was in Congress. He was Trumps endorsed candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018 and watched the Super Bowl that year with the then-president. He was one of Trumps hand-picked presidential electors in Pennsylvania last year and has hired veterans of Trumps campaign to run his own. Parnell, a regular guest on Fox News programs, got numerous Twitter and campaign stump shoutouts from Trump to boost his unsuccessful bid for U.S. House last year and landed a coveted speaking slot at the Republican National Convention. Parnell counts Donald Trump Jr. as a friend, and drew his praise on Twitter the day he announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate. If Trump is toxic for Republicans , as some in the party believe, it isnt showing, even after Trumps long and baseless campaign to discredit his 2020 election loss as a fraud and his role in whipping up supporters before they attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 in a stunning attempt to overturn the presidential election. Republican voters seem unaffected in their support for Trump-backed candidates, said Jim Lee, president of Susquehanna Polling and Research, whose polls include voter surveys and polls for Republican candidates. But Lee also described opposition among independent voters to Trump-aligned candidates as a brick wall with a couple layers of thickness to it. Whats an asset in a primary could potentially be a liability in the fall, Lee said. It was no mistake, perhaps, that the first attack Parnell faced from GOP rival Jeff Bartos was to try to fray his ties to Trump. The Bartos campaign quickly spooled out a Parnell missive on Twitter from 2016, when he criticized Trumps refusal to release his taxes. Asked about it, Parnell said he thought Trump could inoculate himself from that line of attack if he had. Parnell had campaigned for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida in the presidential primary that year, but his criticism didnt stop when Rubio dropped out. For instance, Parnell retweeted a headline saying Trump wouldnt disavow support from David Duke or the KKK. Parnell commented, I suppose I should be surprised but Im not. In another, he criticized Trumps embrace of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Im a guy that I call it like I see it, Parnell said in an interview about his criticism of Trump back then. You know, I do everything I can to call balls and strikes. I stand up to my party when I think that theyre wrong. And Im not afraid to stand up for what I believe. Trumps policies, by and large, were good for the country, Parnell said, and he grew to support what Trump represented after he saw Trumps popularity in Pennsylvania that year. Parnell and Barletta both say they want Trumps endorsement, but arent necessarily making their campaigns strictly about Trump: Their introductory campaign videos never mention him. Meanwhile, state Sen. Doug Mastriano who has all but declared his candidacy for governor is dangling himself as Trumps preferred candidate. A Trump adviser has stressed that Trump has made no endorsement. Some Republican Party officials doubt Trump will make an endorsement in a contested primary if it isnt clear who will ultimately win it. No politician wants to back a loser, they say. Still, an endorsement-free primary might be fine for Republican candidates who hope to capitalize in areas where Trump is less popular. Take southeastern Pennsylvania, where a critical mass of Republicans voted against Trump, helping Joe Biden to victory in November. In southeastern Pennsylvania, Donald Trumps endorsement would probably hurt a candidate as much as help them, said Jackie Kulback, chair of the Cambria County GOP. I mean, Pennsylvania is like two different worlds. Another headache for Republicans is getting many of Trumps voters to vote in elections when Trump isnt on the ballot. That is a worry in 2022, and even party officials who support Trump acknowledge that attracting Pennsylvanias moderate voters will be critical to general election victories. You can be the meanest, most hardcore, go-get-em Make America Great Again, radical Republican, and you can win a primary, said Dave Ball, Washington Countys GOP chair. But you cant win a general election because you cant pull in the center. ... I dont care how you cut it. You need votes. Follow Marc Levy on Twitter at https://twitter.com/timelywriter. SCRANTON Opponents of a transitional living facility opening in the 500 block of Wyoming Avenue filed an appeal in Lackawanna County Court to overturn the zoning approval of the plan. The citys zoning board on Feb. 3 approved a variance for Become Empowered, a nonprofit organization, to convert the top two floors of a former auto-glass shop at 529-31 Wyoming Ave. into a transitional living facility for up to eight women recovering from addictions. Neighboring businesses and property owners who objected during hearings on Dec. 11 and Feb. 3 argued the 500 block of Wyoming Avenue is a light industrial zone that has been on an upswing and is not an appropriate spot for a transitional living facility. Their attorney, William Jones, argued that the proposal failed to meet the criteria for a variance. The board voted 3-1 with Paul Marcks, Bob Morris and Shawn Walsh in favor, and Chairman Bob Gattens opposed to grant the variance. In a zoning appeal filed March 26 in county court, the plaintiffs, also represented by Jones, include D.G. Nicholas, owner of 601-607 Wyoming Ave.; James B. Nicholas, owner of 533-535 Wyoming Ave.; Paul Ezbianski, owner of Battaglias Sporting Goods, 501 Wyoming Ave.; and Mimi Equities LLC, a firm of Don Mammano, owner of 614 Wyoming Ave., a six-story former warehouse converted into a mixed-use, apartment/commercial-office building. The appeal mirrors objections raised during the hearings and claims the zoning board erred in allowing the variance. Building owner Gabriel Gilgallon and his sister, Angela Gilgallon, founder of Become Empowered, said in phone interviews they hope the zoning approval is upheld so the transitional living facility can open. While the appeal may take some time to fully play out in court, the Gilgallons said they do not plan to give up on the location and look elsewhere. We fully intend to stick it out. Were moving forward, Gabriel Gilgallon said. Calling the zoning appeal unfortunate, Angela Gilgallon said its very difficult to find transitional living facilities for women. Wheres there a will theres a way. If theres an obstacle, theres always a way to overcome the obstacle, she said. Americans have grown accustomed to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnells obstructionism. Even so, he broke new ground Friday, defeating the effort to create a nonpartisan commission to examine the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and Congress. Its not that McConnell has any doubt about who conducted that insurrection or about who inspired them. Heres part of what he had to say Jan. 6: Theres no question none that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day ... The people who stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president, and having that belief was a foreseeable consequence of the growing crescendo of false statements, conspiracy theories and reckless hyperbole which the defeated president kept shouting into the largest megaphone on planet Earth. Yet he rejected a commission, which was modeled after the commission that investigated the foreign terrorism of Sept. 11, 2001, telling colleagues that he believed it would hurt Republicans prospects in the 2022 midterm elections. Only six Republican senators Mitt Romney, Utah; Susan Collins, Maine; Bill Cassidy, Louisiana; Rob Portman, Ohio; Lisa Murkowski, Alaska; and Ben Sasse, Nebraska voted to seek the truth. Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania was among nine Republican senators who abetted the obstructionists by not voting. The final vote was 54-35 in favor of the commission, but 60 votes were needed for passage because of the filibuster rule. It demonstrated not only the Republican caucus commitment to the big lie that former President Donald Trump somehow had been cheated out of reelection, and the filibusters role in unwarranted minority rule. Timothy Seth Bryant Pennington was born on January 30, 1988 in Corbin, Ky. He departed this life on June 3, 2021 to be with his Lord and Savior, whom he accepted as a young boy at his church, West Corbin Baptist. Seth was assured of his salvation and knew where he would spend his eternity. S MARISSA BERGEL, Wheeler softball, senior: Bergel hit a two-out, two-run single in the seventh inning to lift Wheeler past Holy Cross, 9-7, in the Class S state tournament. The hit was part of a five-run rally in the inning. JOEY GUARNIERI, Westerly track & field, senior: Guarnieri placed first in two sprints at the Southern Division championships. He won the 100 (11.19) and the 200 (22.73). JOSH MOONEY, Stonington track & field, sophomore: Mooney placed first in the 110 hurdles at the Class M state meet in 14.65. He also finished second in the 300 hurdles (39.87) and second in the javelin (160-0). MARGARET WEEDEN, Chariho track & field, junior: Weeden finished first in the high jump at the Southern Division championships. Weeden cleared 5-1 and also placed sixth in the triple jump at 31-5. Vote View Results A Bank Holiday Monday morning is not the ideal moment for people who have been working from home to contemplate a return to the office. But sooner or later and unless new variants delay the unlocking, it will be sooner home workers will need to pack away their tracksuit bottoms and squeeze back into their suits. As the months have ticked by, WFH has become embedded. What started as an emergency health measure is now seen by some as a positive development that should be adopted permanently, but by others as a skivers' charter, 'shirking from home'. Battle lines are being drawn up. The home front: Sooner or later home workers will need to pack away their tracksuit bottoms and squeeze back into their suits My suspicion is that the pre-pandemic status quo will reassert itself sooner than we think, once we are confident the virus is in retreat. Most of us carried on going out to work even in the teeth of the lockdowns, though the experience was very mixed. WFH is socially divisive. Affluent professionals in the south were far more likely to have done so than those in less well-off areas in the north. The Office for National Statistics found that just over 46 per cent of people in London had worked from home at some stage during 2020, compared with only 14 per cent in Middlesbrough. Even among the professional classes, not everyone benefits. It's commonplace that WFH is damaging for the young, who miss out on mentoring, but congenial for more senior staff with established networks and a lovely big house with a book-lined study. Among large firms, the consensus is that 'hybrid' working will be the norm post-Covid, with staff coming in two or three days a week and offices acting as a space for collaboration. How, though, will they deal with the fact no-one will want to schlep in on a Monday or a Friday? Fights over who works which days are going to make the war zone that is the Christmas rota look amicable. Re-purposing offices as collaborative hubs sounds great but has a big flaw. Creative ideas spark spontaneously when colleagues are together. Eureka moments cannot be conjured up to order because it's 2pm on Wednesday and that's the designated weekly time. Many companies have got through the crisis by drawing on their accumulated social capital, the existing bonds and understanding between colleagues. That, however, is a rapidly depreciating asset. There is a difference between Zoom colleagues and real live ones, just as there is between Facebook friends and proper pals. Above all, people are being lulled into a false sense of security. Employers who encourage home-working are not being philanthropic: they have a beady eye on the bottom line. They think they can save overheads on office space and facilities such as providing and staffing a canteen and maybe by shedding UK staff and replacing them with new workers in cheap locations overseas. Traditional working has plenty of obvious drawbacks: the commute, the crowds, the presenteeism, the high property prices in London and other cities. It's certainly worthwhile reflecting, post-Covid, on how this can be improved and modernised. But the only reason to advocate continued home-working as a mainstream practice is if it would bring compelling benefits for firms, staff and the UK economy. WFH and furlough have supported the economy through a dark time but the risk is they create a culture of entitlement. Tifton, GA (31794) Today Scattered thunderstorms, some strong during the evening, will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms, some strong during the evening, will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Festivities were held in Turkmenistan on the occasion of Day of Turkmen Carpet, celebrated annually on the last Sunday of May. The main festive events took place at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan in Ashgabat that hosted the XXI meeting of the World Association of Connoisseurs of Turkmen Carpet, the international conference Turkmen Carpet Model of Beauty, as well as an exhibition of products of the Turkmen trade sector. The exhibition presented the achievements of the trade sector, textile and carpet industries. The XXI meeting of the World Association of Connoisseurs of Turkmen Carpet and the international conference Turkmen Carpet Model of Beauty heard the reports on the history, present day and prospects for development of the Turkmen carpet weaving art. Meetings, exhibitions, scientific conferences, art contests, concerts and other events dedicated to the national heritage - the Turkmen carpet - were held throughout the country in celebration of Day of Turkmen Carpet. TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2021 Instant unlimited access to all of our content on tillamookheadlightherald.com. The Headlight Herald E-Edition Newsletter emailed to you each week, the night before the paper hits the street! This subscription is for NEW or RENEWING online subscribers. (The charge will appear as "Country Media Inc." on your credit card statement) In this file photo from 2018, a group of veterans sits in the plaza of the Kingsport Veterans Memorial. UoH to be a part of Prestigious European Internationalization Project Hyderabad, May 31 (UNI) The University of Hyderabad (UoH) has been selected for a prestigious European Commission Project for its internationalization strategy. As part of a seven-country initiative led by the University of Zaragoza, Spain and the European Policy Development and Research Institute, Slovenia, The Harmony Project seeks to build capacities in each of the partner institutions to promote and improve access to its academic programmes for international students, the University said in a release here on Monday. The project called, Internationalization and Virtual Exchange: Borderless between EU and Asian Countries, involves institutions in Bulgaria, Lithuania, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and India. How Does Your Newspaper Get to You? INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The inaugural harvest of genetically modified salmon began this week after the pandemic delayed the sale of the first such altered animal to be cleared for human consumption in the United States, company officials said. Several tons of salmon, engineered by biotech company AquaBounty Technologies Inc., will now head to restaurants and away-from-home dining services where labeling as genetically engineered is not required in the Midwest and along the East Coast, company CEO Sylvia Wulf said. Thus far, the only customer to announce it is selling the salmon is Samuels and Son Seafood, a Philadelphia-based seafood distributor. AquaBounty has raised its faster-growing salmon at an indoor aquaculture farm in Albany, Indiana. The fish are genetically modified to grow twice as fast as wild salmon, reaching market size 8 to 12 pounds (3.6 to 5.4 kilograms) in 18 months rather than 36. The Massachusetts-based company originally planned to harvest the fish in late 2020. Wulf attributed delays to reduced demand and market price for Atlantic salmon spurred by the pandemic. The impact of COVID caused us to rethink our initial timeline ... no one was looking for more salmon then," she said. We're very excited about it now. Weve timed the harvest with the recovery of the economy, and we know that demand is going to continue to increase. Although finally making its way to dinner plates, the genetically modified fish has been met by pushback from environmental advocates for years. The international food service company Aramark in January announced its commitment to not sell such salmon, citing environmental concerns and potential impacts on Indigenous communities that harvest wild salmon. The announcement followed similar ones by other major food service companies Compass Group and Sodexo and many large U.S. grocery retailers, seafood companies and restaurants. Costco, Kroger, Walmart and Whole Foods maintain that they dont sell genetically modified or cloned salmon and would need to label them as such. The boycott against AquaBounty salmon has largely come from activists with the Block Corporate Salmon campaign, which aims to protect wild salmon and preserve Indigenous rights to practice sustainable fishing. Genetically engineered salmon is a huge threat to any vision of a healthy food system. People need ways to connect with the food theyre eating, so they know where its coming from," said Jon Russell, a member of the campaign and a food justice organizer with Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance. These fish are so new and theres such a loud group of people who oppose it. That's a huge red flag to consumers. Wulf said shes confident there's an appetite for the fish. Most of the salmon in this country is imported, and during the pandemic, we couldnt get products into the market, Wulf said. So, having a domestic source of supply that isnt seasonal like wild salmon and that is produced in a highly-controlled, bio-secure environment is increasingly important to consumers. AquaBounty markets the salmon as disease- and antibiotic-free, saying its product comes with a reduced carbon footprint and none of the risk of polluting marine ecosystems like traditional sea-cage farming carries. Despite their rapid growth, the genetically modified salmon require less food than most farmed Atlantic salmon, the company says. Biofiltration units keep water in the Indiana facilitys many 70,000-gallon (264,979-liter) tanks clean, making fish less likely to get sick or require antibiotics. The FDA approved the AquAdvantage Salmon as safe and effective in 2015. It was the only genetically modified animal approved for human consumption until federal regulators approved a genetically modified pig for food and medical products in December. In 2018, the federal agency greenlit AquaBountys sprawling Indiana facility, which is currently raising roughly 450 tons (408 metric tons) of salmon from eggs imported from Canada but is capable of raising more than twice that amount. But in a shifting domestic market that increasingly values origin, health and sustainability, and wild over farmed seafood, others have a different view of the salmon, which some critics have nicknamed Frankenfish. Part of the domestic pushback revolves around how the engineered fish is to be labeled under FDA guidelines. Salmon fishermen, fish farmers, wholesalers and other stakeholders want clear labeling practices to ensure that customers know they're purchasing an engineered product. USDA labeling law directs companies to disclose genetically-modified ingredients in food through use of a QR code, an on-package display of text or a designated symbol. Mandatory compliance with that regulation takes full effect in January, but the rules dont apply to restaurants or food services. Wulf said the company is committed to using genetically engineered labeling when its fish are sold in grocery stores in coming months. In November, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria in San Francisco affirmed that the FDA had the authority to oversee genetically engineered animals and fish. But he ruled that the agency hadn't adequately assessed the environmental consequences of AquaBounty salmon escaping into the wild. The company argued that escape is unlikely, saying the fish are monitored 24 hours a day and contained in tanks with screens, grates, netting, pumps and chemical disinfection to prevent escape. The companys salmon are also female and sterile, preventing them from mating. Our fish are actually designed to thrive in the land-based environment. That's part of what makes them unique, Wulf said. And were proud of the fact that genetically engineered allows us to bring more of a healthy nutritious product to market in a safe, secure and sustainable way." ___ 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. WASHINGTON (AP) Far more Americans are receiving unemployment benefits than the last time the jobless rate was at the current 6.1%, thanks to a major expansion of the federal safety net that has provided aid to millions of people out of work. Yet many businesses and Republican officials say all that jobless aid has contributed to worker shortages in some industries, which is why most GOP-led states are moving to cut off the federal support. About 15.8 million people received unemployment aid through one of several benefit programs during the week of May 8, the latest period for which data is available, according to a Labor Department report Thursday. Thats nearly eight times as many people as received jobless payments in August 2014, when the unemployment rate was where it is now and roughly the same proportion of adults had jobs. The primary reason for the expansion is that the government created two emergency programs in last spring's pandemic relief legislation. About three-quarters of all unemployment beneficiaries nearly 12 million people are receiving aid through one of those federal programs. One of them provides payments to the self-employed and gig workers, who had never been eligible for jobless aid before. The other program benefits people who have been unemployed for more than six months. Both are scheduled to end Sept. 6. Yet 20 states have announced this month that they will cut off the emergency aid early, beginning as soon as June 12, according to an Associated Press analysis, including Texas, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina. As a result, about 2.5 million people will lose all their unemployment benefits by early July. Those states are also ending an extra $300 weekly federal payment to the unemployed. Four other states, including Florida and Arizona, are ending the $300 payment only. Collectively, those cutoffs of aid coincide with a steady decline in the number of people applying for jobless benefits. The government on Thursday reported the fourth straight weekly drop, to 404,000, the lowest level since the pandemic erupted in March of last year. The decision by some states to end the aid early highlights the key role the benefits payments have played since the onset of COVID-19. Now, more people and a higher proportion of the jobless are receiving unemployment aid than in any past recovery, according to data that extends to the late 1960s. That expansion of aid, economists say, captured millions of people who in previous recessions had fallen through the cracks. Arindrajit Dube, an economics professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, suggested that the enhanced aid was a key reason along with three rounds of stimulus checks for most individuals why Americans' incomes, as a whole, actually rose during the recession despite the loss of millions of jobs. That is a success story," Dube said, "and I think thats something we should look at and recognize as a good thing." Another reason incomes rose is that so many people who lost jobs had been paid comparatively little, while higher-paid professionals who mostly worked from home generally kept their jobs. In fact, total wages and salaries have already rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, even though the economy has 8.2 million fewer jobs. In the fall of 2014, when the job market was in similar shape, just one-quarter of the unemployed were receiving aid. By then, emergency programs that provided benefits in the aftermath of the Great Recession for as long as 99 weeks had ended. And as the economy slowly improved, many states took steps to limit the availability of unemployment payments, such as reducing the duration of aid. Now, more Americans are actually receiving jobless benefits that are officially counted as unemployed, though that reflects quirks in the data. The government says 9.8 million people are unemployed. But that doesn't include several million who lost jobs in the pandemic and have stopped looking for work; they aren't counted as unemployed. As the economy improves, analysts say that the large proportion of people receiving benefits, along with the $300-a-week supplemental payment, may contribute to labor shortages. But jobless aid can also allow people the time to find work that is a good fit for their education and experience, which is helpful for the economy. You dont want someone to take the very first job that comes along, said Jason Furman, an economist at Harvard who was an adviser to President Barack Obama. You want them to take a job thats good for them. ... But you don't want them turning down multiple jobs, either. The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which mostly covers self-employed and gig workers, also allowed parents who were forced to quit and care for children in online schools to receive jobless aid. It essentially acted as a paid leave program, Furman said, which the U.S. doesn't otherwise require from employers, unlike in European countries. That program has also benefited many other Americans who had previously fallen through the cracks, including people who haven't worked enough hours to meet state requirements to qualify for unemployment benefits. Dube said his research has found little evidence that the extra $300 has prevented people from taking jobs. In lower-income states where the extra money is a larger boost, hiring has rebounded at the same pace as in other states, he said. But a separate study by economists at the San Francisco Federal Reserve concluded that the $300-a-week supplement had a modest effect, reducing the rate at which people out of work find jobs by about 3.5 percentage points. Companies in the restaurant, hotel, manufacturing, and construction industries have said they are struggling to find workers. States began announcing cutoffs to the extra benefits after April's jobs report showed a sharp slowdown in hiring, compared with March, despite a record level of job openings. Many unemployed remain reluctant to take jobs in restaurants, hotels and other service industries for fear of contracting COVID-19. And some women cant return to work without adequate child care, though that is now having a relatively small impact, according to recent research by Furman and economist Melissa Kearney. ALBANY As police revealed the identity of the latest victim of an explosion of deadly gun violence in the city, Mayor Kathy Sheehan said she had "complete confidence" in Police Chief Eric Hawkins' ability to lead the response and blamed the bloodshed on the proliferation of guns on the streets of Albany and other American cities. Devin McGlothan died at the scene of the 3 a.m. killing that occurred outside of Sabatinos Liquors at the corner of Quail Street and Elberon Place. He was the ninth person killed in Albany this year and the sixth person killed in May. So far there is no sign that anyone faces charges in connection with his death. This is about guns coming into our community. Weve taken two guns off the streets recently that came up from the South, she said. Police said they've confiscated 35 firearms this year including a 9 mm handgun reported missing in North Carolina that officers said they found Sunday on a man in Albany. At least part of the incident was captured by a security video camera that showed the victim interact with two armed men after he pulled up to the store in a vehicle and got out and began talking to them, a police source briefed on the homicide said. McGlothan apparently got into a struggle with the two suspects before he was shot. Police searched the victim's car after the shooting. Police said McGlothan was from East Greenbush, though he also has ties to Hamilton Street in Albany and an address in Schenectady. The block where he died is thick with restaurants and businesses serving the so-called "student ghetto" between the campuses of the College of Saint Rose and the state University of Albany's downtown campus. The killing happened amid a surge of gun violence in the city that's prompted police to seek outside help and activists to call for more broad efforts to improve the quality of life in the city and bring about long-term declines in violence. Sheehan acknowledged morale within the police force is "very challenged" but she insisted the police department could confront the violence, noting arrests were made in several of the recent killings. "We have a police chief and police officers who are taking more guns off the streets. Weve made very quick arrests in several of these homicides," she said, adding it was evidence Hawkins and the department was "dedicated and focused on doing all that they can to prevent violence and bring people to justice." VALATIE Three brothers from Valatie became casualties in three different wars. Each brother was wounded and or killed in a different war. The trio have been inducted into the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor at Vails Gate, New Windsor, near Newburgh. Army Pvt. Nathan P. Johnson, who was killed in World War II, Army Cpl. Clifford S. Johnson, who was killed in the Korean War, and Army Sgt. Norman S. Johnson all received a Purple Heart. Cliffords and Nathans Purple Hearts were awarded posthumously after they were killed in action. Army Cpl. Clifford S. Johnson, who was buried May 20 at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville, came from a truly patriotic family. New York Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Raymond Shields, state adjutant general, and the New York State Military Forces Honor Guard participated in the military graveside service. Four other brothers and a sister also served in the Army. Robert, Larry and Martin Johnson all served in the Army in World War II. Sister Gloriana Johnson served in the Army Nurse Corps. Malcolm Johnson served in the Armys 82nd Airborne Division during peacetime. Three brothers serving in three different wars, receiving Purple Hearts and being inducted into the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is highly unusual, said Tom Mullins of Green Island, a military historian and spokesman for The Rev. Francis Kelley Society, a military honor society. Its extremely rare to have three brothers receive a Purple Heart in three different wars, said Jim Greenfield, a Vietnam War veteran and North Greenbush historian. Nathan was wounded during a battle at the Kasserine Pass in Tunisia in World War II on Jan. 22, 1943. He died two days later. Clifford was killed during a Chinese People Volunteer Forces attack at the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea. He was first listed as missing in action on Dec. 6, 1950. He was serving as a field wireman with the Armys Headquarters Battery, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division. His unit was an element of the 1,777-soldier 31st Regimental Combat Team during the battle. A total of 1,392 ended being missing in action, unrecovered killed or prisoners of war, according to Army records. That team was part of a United Nations force of 30,000 troops who were attacked by more than 120,000 Chinese soldiers. Johnsons task force did manage to fight off attacks of the Chinese 80th and 81st divisions before trying to break away from the attackers on Dec. 1, 1950. The Chosin battle went from Nov. 27, 1950 through Dec. 13,1950. He was listed missing in action until his remains were accounted for by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency on April 16, 2020. His remains were among 55 sets given to President Donald Trump during his visit to North Korea in 2018. The Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used DNA from surviving family members to identify Clifford. Clifford enlisted in the Army on Oct. 3, 1949. He earned a Purple Heart, an Army Good Conduct Ribbon, an Army Good Conduct Medal, a Combat Infantryman Badge, a Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, a Republic of Korea Presidential Citation, a Korean War Service Medal, and an Army Presidential Unit Citation. Norman was wounded while serving as an infantryman with Company C, 4th Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division at Dak To during a recon mission in the Vietnam War on Nov. 28, 1967. He also served as an infantryman with the 9th Infantry Division during a second Vietnam War tour. A cousin, Army Pvt. Clarence Johnson, also of Valatie, was killed in the Battle of Metz in France in World War II. Clifford and Clarence were awarded high school diplomas posthumously from the Ichabod Crane School District during a ceremony at the Valatie Elks Lodge on April 13. Clifford is survived by his sister Clara Sanzo of Defreestville and his brother, Nathan of Coco Beach, Fla. Scholarships The American Legion Mohawk Post 1450 of Halfmoon has selected the recipients of its annual Robert Neilson, Stan Stage, and Tim Stewart American Studies scholarships. The awards, totaling $5,000, are granted based on American studies, academic records and class standing, extracurricular activities, and community service, according to Sam Gallucci, post spokesman. The recipients are: Margaret Schanz, Shenendehowa High School; Michael Roos, Shenendehowa High School; More Information News of your troops and units can be sent to Times Union, Terry Brown, Duty Calls, Box 15000, Albany, NY 12212 or brownt@gmail.com. See More Collapse Lucas Rivera, Shenendehowa High School; Maya Agosti, Shenendehowa High School; Givanna Bianchi, Scotia-Glenville High School; Jake Houle, Waterford-Halfmoon High School. ESSEX COUNTY To Mike Hopmeier, it felt like an old-time country barn-raising. Hopmeier is president of a northern Virginia counterterrorism consulting firm who turned a Cold War thermonuclear missile site in the Adirondacks into a research laboratory. Not surprisingly, Hopmeier needed bandwidth, and lots of it. But when Spectrum checked out his location on a lonely road south of the mountain called Poke-O-Moonshine, the company gave him an estimate of $50,000 to a lay a half-mile of fiber to his lab. Hopmeier figured there had to be a better way. On his road were a handful of other homes and businesses, populated with people of varying skills and one common need: connection to high-speed internet. So for about a fifth of the money Spectrum wanted, Hopmeier bought a used Vermeer trencher, a fearsome piece of equipment that resembles a small bulldozer with an oversized chainsaw blade in front. A neighboring sawmill owner knew how to operate heavy equipment, and other residents knew how to do wiring, or at least use a shovel. SLIC Network Solutions, a small but innovative North Country communications company, agreed to provide technical and engineering expertise. By the time winter set in, the job was largely complete. If you go back a hundred years, barns were the center of social life, and thats what (broadband) is today, Hopmeier said. The community had a vested interest in getting this done, and they came together like they would have for a barn-raising. Hoping other people might be able to do the same, Hopmeier is keeping the Vermeer, and plans to rent it out to communities for a nominal fee. In his view, all Adirondackers are in this together. The Adirondack broadband project has been years in the works, and when the pandemic came along it exacerbated the difference in communication and lifestyle between the fiber haves and have-nots. Schools went remote, and businesses turned to videoconferencing. Some even staked their lives on the theory that it was safer living in the middle of the woods with the bears and the coyotes than in the crowded cities. COVID-19 has shown that broadband is not just a convenience it is a necessity, said Dave Wolff, a founding board member of AdkAction and a leading advocate for regional broadband. And people will do crazy things to get it. An incomplete plan In 2015, Gov. Andrew Cuomo launched a $500 million initiative, pledging that 99.9 percent of New Yorkers would be connected to broadband by 2018, unleashing a swarm of bids, contracts and bucket trucks as communication companies took advantage of state subsidies to reach customers whose rural locales had previously made them unprofitable and therefore irrelevant to large corporate providers. Even with state help, however, the Adirondack Park is filled with hills and hollows that the big carriers still wouldnt touch. It is along these sparsely populated byways that Adirondackers have had to get creative, parking their cars alongside public hotspots; amplifying feeble cell signals; allowing a neighbor in need to patch in to a home network; switching devices on and off to conserve every last drop of bandwidth; and beaming a signal from one camp to another across a lake with dishes no bigger than a dinner plate. The battle has been made harder by communication companies still prone to cherry-picking customers, and by untenable prices for those on the wrong side of a line. Adirondack Explorer In a white clapboard building that serves as the Lewis Town Hall, Supervisor Jim Monty has made broadband his own personal mission. Hes spent hours hunting down anomalies in which companies try to count easy hookups toward state-mandated quotas designed to serve hard-to-reach homes. Monty is optimistic the job will be done in time, but it will take hard and persistent work of individuals, nonprofits, local governments and flexible companies like SLIC, which installed public wi-fi at the town hall when the pandemic hit. At times, residents would line up to catch the signal there. Even so, lack of broadband in the home was a tremendous disadvantage, Monty said. Teachers were required to teach from home, but some of them didnt have access. Two teachers, in fact, delivered their lessons not from the classroom or their homes, but from Lewis Town Hall. Montys assistant, Susie Ewald, was also among the community members who brought her kids to town hall to patch into the wi-fi. Like many on her road, she had bought a Verizon Jetpack, a piece of hardware that helped amplify a signal. It was a reasonable but imperfect solution that worked better for some, depending on their location. The kids on our street all had different results from the same solution, Ewald said. Some went with satellite service, but reported poor results and on days when kids stayed home due to snow, that dish would scarcely work at all. Broadband flows a bit like water, and with a slow connection the results are similar to turning on the dishwasher while someone is in the shower. Ewald said her boys had an online textbook so large that when one of them was using it to study, there wasnt enough bandwidth left in the house to do anything else. Like many in the Adirondacks, Ewald said, wed heard broadband was coming, but we didnt know when. That made it hard to know how much of an investment to make in what would ultimately be a temporary solution. Her family limped along until March, when a lineman knocked on her door with good news. Tough luck Jay Mountain Road is an improvement over a Jeep trail, but not by much. In spite of that, or maybe because of it, the area collectively known as The Glen is home to an interesting assemblage of artists, farmers, writers and craftspeople who like having one foot in and one foot out of the modern world. Janelle Schwartz lives high up the mountain pass, which grows increasingly rustic as it ascends. Like a castaway who excitedly spots a plane, Schwartz watched as fiber trucks crept from pole to pole, getting ever closer to her home. Then, when less than a mile away from her house, they stopped and turned around. They said Oh, were so sorry you would have loved it, she said. To extend fiber to her house would have cost $30,000, so Schwartz said shes hoping her community might come up with a solution similar to Hopmeiers. Her family has also put down a deposit to tap into Starlink, tech mogul Elon Musks experiment with a constellation of internet-beaming satellites. With no cell service either, Schwartz and her daughter would huddle in her truck outside the Wells Memory Library in Upper Jay for the kind of service that most people take for granted. Like many on the fringes of communication, Schwartz knows all the pull-offs, parking lots, side roads and cemeteries where a bit of cell service can trickle through the mountains and she can park to patch in. Schwartz works at Craigardan, an educational retreat and farm store located near Elizabethtown that has broadband issues of its own. Word is that fiber will come, but no one knows when, and in the meantime, satellite internet that the nonprofit relies on has to be rationed. When Craigardan hosts a Zoom meeting, all other cell phones and laptops must be switched off so as not to bleed precious drops of connectivity from the call. No one knows how many people in the Adirondacks lack broadband, and thats a significant part of the problem. The big communications companies wont reveal their customer lists, saying they're proprietary, and theres no perfect way to ask. You cant just send out an email and say, If you didnt get this, raise your hand, AdkActions Wolff said. So advocates are mapping the North Country, in some cases going door-to-door to see who has service and who doesnt. To complicate the matter, sometimes communities show up in state and company databases as being connected when in fact they are not. Newcomb Supervisor Robin DeLoria said the Tahawus community that included a clubhouse and 18 homes was mislabeled, which caused it to be bypassed when the rest of the town was wired. Tahawus was connected to the web by telephone lines, and was so slow the mail servers were timing out before any of the residents could download their mail, DeLoria said. If we wanted to watch a movie, we got a DVD, said Robert Cummings, an educational consultant who lives in Tahawus. As with other communities, residents were quoted an exorbitant sum to lay fiber the two miles from State Route 28N. Cummings credited DeLoria with hounding the state until Frontier ran a wire along existing poles. That might seem like an easy and cheap solution, but the politics of utility poles are stickier than might be expected. SLIC Network Solutions was born of the Nicholville Telephone Co., founded on the northern rim of the Adirondacks in 1902. It specializes in bringing broadband the last mile into peoples homes, which according to Vice President Kevin Lynch often involves creativity and working with individuals, communities and small businesses to serve areas that are not densely populated enough to attract larger carriers. We focus on unserved areas, (and) really see rural broadband as a game-changer, Lynch said. Besides helping on projects such as Hopmeiers, SLIC has provided hotspots in schools and town parking lots and run fiber to lakeshores, where a signal can be beamed from home to home like a flashlight across the water. Weve put wireless on a grain silo so kids could do their homework, Lynch said. Residents have cheered their line workers like arriving cavalry. Its a great feeling to know you're so welcomed, he said. But sometimes its almost like theres a war on fiber optics, Lynch said. Owners of utility poles can charge thousands of dollars to those who want to rent space to run a line, and since the state has ordered universal broadband coverage, those owners have decided there is money to be made and raised their fees accordingly. The state itself has prevented rural homeowners from getting broadband, Lynch said, most notably by changing the way lines are taxed on private property and allowing the Department of Transportation to charge for lines put down in a highway right of way. Before the DOT tax, we were marginally profitable, Lynch said. Now there are (projects) that we cant afford to do. Fiber is an economic driver for employment, Lynch said. Weve been able to hire people we wouldnt have been able to hire had it not been for broadband. Other companies are learning the same thing. If theres a silver lining (to the pandemic), its the recognition that we can work remotely in this country, Lynch said. The first question Realtors get asked up here is whether a prospective new home has high-speed internet. In Tahawus, Cummings said his neighbors include an investment adviser, two architects and a literary agent. In his own line of work, fiber has allowed him to meet remotely. This is a second-home community, he said. But lo and behold, when fiber came, people decided they wanted to spend a lot more time here. A version of this story was first published by AdirondackExplorer.org, a nonprofit news organization covering issues within the forest preserve. The Biden Administrations call for $80 billion in rail spending has supporters of passenger and freight train services optimistic about the chances for improvements to their tracks and other infrastructure needed to keep the trains running on time. But in New York, some worry that the Empire State may be at a disadvantage since, federal documents suggest the state is lagging in its planning and wish list for federally funded improvements. The Federal Railway Administration in 2008 started requiring states every four years to submit State Rail Plans outlining their long-term visions for improvements. The requirement to file a new plan every four years was later dropped, but New Yorks plan nonetheless hasnt been updated since 2009 when David Paterson was governor. Other states have routinely updated their State Rail plans but New York has not, said Bruce Becker, communications director and former president of the Empire State Passengers Association, which advocates for better inter-city train service. The call for $80 billion in rail spending, is part of the $2.3 trillion infrastructure package that Biden is pushing for and which he is trying to push through Congress. If theres a passed infrastructure plan it would make it much more difficult to get funding for that plan if the items werent up-to-date, added Gary Prophet, the Passengers Association president. Not having a plan in place and discussed at the federal level when other people do puts us at a disadvantage, said Bob Provost, president and CEO of New York State Tourism. We compete with other states for money, added Tom Martinelli, chief content officer of New York By Rail and member of Empire State Developments tourism advisory committee. Other states, including North Carolina, Vermont, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, have updated their plans more recently. California and Massachusetts, for instance, have put in plans as recently as 2018. The state Department of Transportation said in a prepared statement noted that they issued a state rail freight plan (different than an overall plan) in 2019 and have completed a number of projects in recent years. Those include a double track between Albany and Schenectady, which cleared up what had been a bottleneck; signal improvements along the Albany-New York City line and a fourth track at the Rensselaer train station. And the FRA notes that Congress in recent years hasnt funded projects included in existing State Rail Plans. That, however, can be seen as a chicken-or-egg argument, said Prophet. That is to say that without funding available the plans become less relevant. But when the funding is ready, states need to be ready with their plans. Either way, rail supporters are hoping for the state plan soon in order to get New York in a good position to compete for federal dollars. And lawmakers are continually looking ahead chasing what has been the decades-long dream of truly high speed rail. Recently, Buffalo Democratic Sen. Tim Kennedy, for instance, sponsored a bill to create a committee to explore high speed rail and a hyperloop in New York State. Championed by Elon Musk, a hyperloop, which is in the planning and theoretical stage, would transport passengers in sealed semi-vacuum tubes which could allow airline-like speeds. Others note that, with true high speed rail being talked about for decades, planners should be more realistic, aiming for track improvements that will allow noticeable but not dramatic increases. Increasing connections between train stations and upstate tourism spots, bike accommodations and offering good ticket prices are important too, Martinelli explained during a recent meeting. We need to manage expectations, he said. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU Federal authorities were warned seven years ago that cancer patients at Stratton VA Medical Center were unduly suffering and at risk of dying prematurely because they were being given drugs in violation of medical protocol. At least one patient may have died as a result of the alleged practices, which included giving certain drugs to patients whose medical backgrounds did not fit the criteria for use of both experimental and FDA-approved drugs, according to hospital records. The allegations were made by Jeffrey Fudin, a clinical pharmacy specialist at the medical center who forwarded his complaints to hospital officials and investigators for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, according to documents obtained by the Times Union, interviews with hospital staff and court records. The new information raises questions about how thoroughly federal officials investigated the troubled cancer program at the Albany VA hospital, and whether Fudin, who is a doctor of pharmacy specializing in pain management for cancer patients and a pharmacist who supported him at the time were retaliated against for making the claims. Hospital officials contend Fudin's allegations, which centered on former VA oncologist Dr. William Hrushesky, are not related to a federal criminal investigation that began last year and centers on the VA's cancer research program. But some hospital workers dispute that, contending veterans in the cancer program unwittingly may have been used as guinea pigs for years. Hrushesky did not return telephone calls seeking comment. He left the Albany VA approximately three years ago and is now director of research at Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia, S.C. The federal criminal investigation that began last year focuses on two researchers whom authorities said may face possible manslaughter charges if it can be shown they altered medical records of cancer patients, including those of as many as five who may have died after being given experimental drugs. The researchers, Dr. James Holland and Paul H. Kornak, no longer work at the VA and have declined comment. Authorities also are investigating whether Kornak should have been hired as a clinical researcher at the VA in 1999. At the time, his medical license had been revoked, and in 1993 he pleaded guilty to federal mail fraud charges in connection with the alleged forgery of a medical license application, records show. Linda Blumenstock, a spokeswoman for the Albany VA, declined comment on Fudin's allegations and the current investigation. A spokesman for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C., declined comment Friday. Cancer research programs are lucrative for hospitals, which generally are reimbursed for patient care and the programs' other expenses by drug companies. On a national level, medical research programs at VA hospitals top $1 billion annually. Federal investigators are exploring whether researchers at the Albany VA may have benefitted financially or professionally from enlisting patients in cancer drug programs there, law enforcement officials said. But it's not clear how far back the investigation reaches. VA officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said the alleged problems in the hospital's cancer program predate Holland and Kornak, who was hired in 1999 on Hrushesky's recommendation. In a memorandum to the VA's inspector general in August 1996, Fudin claimed that there "may be a financial inventive" behind the alleged violations of medical protocol in the hospital's cancer treatment program. He noted that in some cases veterans were being drawn into experimental drug studies "without informed consent," which resulted in "needless premature patient suffering and/or death." But while many of the patients at that time were being given FDA-approved drugs, rather than drugs still being tested in research studies, Fudin said the way they were being dispensed was arguably experimental, records show. He claimed some patients were being given drugs in unapproved mixtures or for types of cancers that were not meant to be treated by a certain drug. Fudin, who lives in Delmar, declined repeated requests for comment. But some of his claims are outlined in a federal whistleblower lawsuit that he filed against the VA three years ago. He alleges that VA officials retaliated against him at work, including cutting certain medical privileges, after he voiced his concerns about the cancer-drug program. Fudin's attorney, Ronald Dunn, said he could not comment on Fudin's claims or discuss the details of the alleged retaliation against his client. Fudin was fired from his job several years ago. A federal administrative judge for the Merit Systems Protection Board, which hears whistleblower suits for federal employees, reinstated Fudin's job and awarded him back pay. Fudin has returned to work, but the VA is appealing the judge's decision. Dunn also is the attorney for Anthony Mariano, Fudin's former supervisor in the hospital pharmacy. Mariano, who lives in Albany, declined comment. But records contained in Mariano's own lawsuits against the VA allege that he also faced years of retaliation by top VA officials -- including having his desk moved to an empty psychiatric wing, where employees were told not to speak with him and where he had no computer or phone, according to his lawsuit. "These cases are good examples of the kind of subtle retaliation that goes on in a lot of workplaces," Dunn said, declining further comment. But aside from the alleged retaliation against Fudin and Mariano, their cases raise questions about whether top VA officials, including federal lawmakers, knew about potential problems in the VA's cancer programs or did anything to stop them. For instance, records show that in October 1996, several months after Fudin and Mariano voiced their concerns, a pharmacy "site team" from Washington, D.C., arrived at the Albany VA and began an investigation of the pharmacy program. Fudin and Mariano claimed they were subjected to intense scrutiny and accused of mismanaging the pharmacy and of violating standard medical procedures. Hospital insiders said the site teams are commonly referred to among VA workers nationwide as "hit teams." "They would send in these guys from Washington to basically make life miserable for any whistleblower. Their mission would be to force the person out or find something minor they may have done wrong and turn it into a reason for firing them," said a VA physician, speaking on condition of anonymity. "There is a lot at stake. If drug companies learn that a hospital's research program has problems, they pull their funding." In 1999, Kenneth W. Kizer, the VA's undersecretary for health, implemented systemwide review procedures in the VA system's medical research program. The reviews were in response to congressional outcries about the alleged use of VA patients as guinea pigs at a Los Angeles hospital. Despite the overhaul, which included procedures in the Albany VA's research program, problems apparently persisted. Last year, a Texas company, Ilex Oncology, told Albany VA officials that it believed one of its cancer drugs was being used improperly in the hospital's research program. Hospital officials said they requested an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration. In November, FDA investigators reported serious record-keeping flaws following a 50-day review of the Albany VA's cancer research program. The FDA report said medical records appeared to have been altered to conceal serious ailments of patients used in drug studies. Also, cancer bone scans, heart scans, prostate cancer checks and other tests were not done on patients even though study records showed they had been. In other cases, some patients' drug doses were incorrect, supervision was lax and patients with hearing problems received medications that may have worsened the condition, the FDA report said. As a result, a federal prosecutor in Albany and an investigator with VA's Inspector General Office are conducting a criminal investigation. Their work includes sifting through hospital records and interviewing staff and the families of former patients, according to law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation. But physicians familiar with the Albany VA program said the allegations uncovered last year are similar to what Fudin alleged was taking place seven years ago. "It's the same thing," said a VA doctor who spoke on condition of anonymity. "It was done a different way, but they put patients in studies who did not have the proper bloodwork (and) would've otherwise been excluded from the study." The current federal probe is examining the relationship between researchers and four drug companies that funded cancer studies at Stratton. Investigators seek to determine if anyone could have benefited financially or professionally by having more patients included in programs, a law enforcement official said. The House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations asked the General Accounting Office to conduct an independent inquiry of the VA's cancer research program. MOSCOW (AP) Russia's military will form 20 new units in the country's west this year to counter what it claims is a growing threat from NATO, the defense minister said Monday. Sergei Shoigu made the announcement at a meeting with top military officials. He pointed to a growing number of flights by U.S. strategic bombers near Russia's borders, deployments of NATO warships and increasingly frequent and major drills by alliance forces. He charged that such actions destroy the international security system and force us to take the relevant countermeasures." We will form another 20 units and formations in the Western Military District until the year's end, Shoigu said He added the military units in Western Russia have commissioned about 2,000 new pieces of weaponry this year. Asked Monday about Russias plans, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg noted that Russia over the last years has invested heavily in new, modern military capabilities, from conventional to nuclear weapon systems and "has been willing to use military force against neighbors, in Georgia, in Ukraine. This is one of the main reasons why NATO over the last years has increased the readiness of (its) armed forces, he told reporters before Tuesday's meeting of the alliance's foreign and defense ministers. Currently, thousands of NATO troops, several warships and dozens of aircraft are taking part in military exercises stretching across the Atlantic, through Europe and into the Black Sea region. NATO says the war games aren't aimed at Russia, but the Steadfast Defender 21 exercises are simulating the 30-nation military organizations response to an attack on any one of its members. It will test NATOs ability to deploy troops from the U.S. and keep supply lines open. Last month, a troop buildup in Russias south and southwest near the Ukrainian border raised concerns in Ukraine and the West, which urged Moscow to withdraw its forces. Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014 following the ouster of the country's Moscow-friendly president and then threw its weight behind separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine. More than 14,000 people have been killed in seven years of fighting in eastern Ukraine. Russia has recalled some troops from its western part after sweeping maneuvers in April, but Shoigu ordered them to leave their weapons behind for Russia's Zapad (West) 2021 military exercises in September. He noted Monday that preparations for the exercises, which will be conducted jointly with Belarus, are now in their final stage and emphasized that the maneuvers have an exclusively defensive character. Last week, Russia offered political support to its ally Belarus, which diverted a Ryanair plane flying from Greece to Lithuania as part of a ruse to arrest a dissident journalist. The European Union denounced the flight's diversion as piracy and responded by barring the Belarusian flag carrier from its airspace and advising European airlines to skirt Belarus' airspace. ___ Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this report. EAST GREENBUSH A tanker truck hauling 8,000 gallons of jet fuel rolled over on American Oil Road in the Port of Rensselaer Monday afternoon, sending firefighters rushing to determine if fuel was leaking out of the tanker, town police said. The state Department of Environmental Conservation had been called to the scene to join the investigation and to help the East Greenbush Fire Department's response to the unfolding trouble, authorities said. Fire Chief Jeff Tooker said the tanker is not leaking but fumes are venting from the tank, which is how the container is designed to handle a wreck of such a nature. The hauling company, J.P. Noonan Transportation, dispatched another tanker from Cape Cod, Mass., to pump out the jet fuel. Once it's emptied, the damaged tanker can be righted. It is not expected that the recovery operation will be completed by Tuesday morning. The J.P. Noonan Transportation truck was traveling north at about 2 p.m. Monday on American Oil Road with its load of jet fuel when it rolled onto its side, police said. The cause of the crash was not immediately available. The driver escaped from the vehicles cab without injury, police said. The truck was headed to Dalton, Mass. J.P. Noonan Transportation is based in West Bridgewater, Mass. Fire police closed off American Oil Road at the intersection with Sun Oil Road as firefighters dealt with the tanker. The southern portion of the Port of Rensselaer is located in the town of East Greenbush with its northern section is the city of Rensselaer. The tanker was carrying the jet fuel from a terminal at the end of American Oil Road. The road ends near the Hudson River. The East Greenbush portion of the port has numerous fuel tanks along American Oil Road. There are wetlands throughout the surrounding area. American Oil Road passes near the Papascanee Island Nature Preserves northern area. Ownership of the 156-acre preserve was recently transferred to the Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of the Mohican Indians by the Open Space Institute. The Troy Fire Department hazardous materials truck arrived at the site of the leaking tanker to assist. Troy serves as a HAZMAT team for Rensselaer County. The countys emergency management officials also were at the site. WASHINGTON After an early departure from the 2020 field, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand wants to run for president again, but not in 2024, she said. "It was such an inspiring experience I hope that some day I get to do it again," the Democrat said in an interview this week. " I dont know when. Its not something immediate. Its something far in the future. Gillibrand launched her campaign for president, framing herself as a "young mom" focused on helping America's families, but she failed to break out of a crowded campaign field and terminated her run in August 2019 when she did not qualify for the third presidential debate. Looking back, Gillibrand says "it wasn't my time and it was very clear, very early." "It was the moment that was right for President Biden," Gillibrand said. "It was the perfect moment for him because he has decades of experience. He is someone who is perceived to be extremely bipartisan." The skills she learned on the campaign trail more public speaking, identifying common ground she's putting to work in the Senate now, Gillibrand said. Her eight-year push to reform the way the U.S. military handles sexual assault cases has more support than it has in years, with 65 bipartisan co-sponsors backing the bill enough to overcome a filibuster in the Senate. Behind the scenes, she's been working to swing Republican hold-outs with her colleague Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, maneuvering for a floor vote on the legislation as soon as possible. Her other top priority, passing a national paid family and medical leave program, is tucked in Biden's American Families Plan. Biden and Republicans are attempting to strike a bipartisan deal over the plan and his infrastructure proposal, but Democrats are pushing to pass the proposals in some form this year. Once a more conservative Democrat, she's evolved into a liberal who now advocates for overturning the Senate fillibuster to accomplish top Democratic priorities without the need for the Republican votes required under the current Senate composition. Serving in the Senate since 2009, Gillibrand says she feels more "empowered" by the skills she picked up on the campaign trail and "energized" to serve in the Senate. After growing up in Albany, Gillibrand became an attorney and represented New York's 20th District in Congress from 2007 to 2009. When in New York, Gillibrand still lives in the Albany home of her mother, Polly Rutnik, although she said she's house hunting in the North Country near Saranac Lake. Gillibrand quickly dismissed the idea of running for president again in 2024 and described her next campaign as "probably very far in the future." To be successful, Gillibrand will need to develop a distinctive message and unique, dedicated constituencies, something she failed to do in 2020, said Clifford Brown, a government professor at Union College. Shes got to do something that sets herself apart in an authentic way," Brown said. She's got to go beyond 'Im a nice person who has a nice set of policies.' She is a very highly qualified person. She has a lot of experience. She has a lot of positive assets. I remember thinking at the beginning of the thing, she would go a lot farther. A few of Gillibrand's Senate colleagues encouraged her to climb in the party and to seek the presidency again. "She is one of the more extraordinary leaders I have worked with in my career and she is beyond presidential timber in my eyes," said Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., who also sought the Democratic presidential nomination last year. Booker said he's focused now on his Senate term and he declined to speculate about a future run of his own. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of neighboring Connecticut, said Gillibrand has "deep insight and great compassion." The Times Union is marking the 10th anniversary of its annual Top Workplaces report, produced in partnership with Philadelphia-based Energage. This is also a milestone year for five companies among the 2021 honorees that have made the list for 10 consecutive years. A strong mission, employees feeling independent and empowered to do their work, well-established and productive career growth programs, and generous employers who understand the need for some flexibility with working hours are common themes employees and executives from the five companies say make their workplace remain desirable over the years. The five 10-year winners include AutoMate by DealerSocket, a private automotive software company; nonprofits CAP COM Federal Credit Union and Healthcare Association of New York State, Greenman-Pedersen Inc., a private construction engineering company; and Teal, Becker and Chiaramonte, a private accounting firm. When I heard of the accomplishment I wasnt surprised, said Pasquale Scisci, the managing shareholder at Teal, Becker and Chiaramonte. We treat our staff extremely well and they treat us even better I think it is relatively simple. Provided Mission driven When asked why employees loved their place of work they consistently started with the fact that they believed in the companys mission and felt like the work they did made an impact. We are doing great work. We are in the business of improving healthcare for our members, said Bea Grause, the president of Healthcare Association of New York State. Our mission is really about improving the hospital's ability to deliver healthcare to everyone who walks through their doors, and that mission-driven focus to improve care for everyone I think really resonates with a lot of people. At CAP COM, Joanne DAmbrosio, a project and operations training administrator who has spent 26 years working at the credit union, was always drawn to the mission of serving members. The message of serving members really drew me in, DAmbrosio said. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people all working towards the same goal makes it an enjoyable place to work. At Auto/Mate, the interview process involves looking for people who can not only do the job, but whose values align with the companys core values, said David Druzynski, the vice president of people and culture at the company. When you get people together and you all share the same sense of values and everybody has a strong focus on the mission that is when you all have each others backs and our customers' backs, Druzynski said. Employees feel empowered and respected When Steve Zadoorian, an almost 24-year Auto/Mate veteran and current senior vice president of operations and customer care, first started he would sometimes work late. At the end of the day, he would see one of the owners taking the trash out to the dumpster. What you learn from that is that there is no job beneath you in an organization Zadoorian said. You learn that everyone is in this together to keep the office clean. It is a silly little thing but it goes a long way in the culture. As you bring more people on board and show them they are very valuable to the organization, they contribute and give back, Zadoorian said. To build a great company, you let people have a say, you let people take ownership, you let them grow and learn. Kenya James, senior director of marketing at HANYS who has been with the nonprofit for nine years, has always been moved to work hard because she feels her ideas are valued and she's given the freedom to execute on them. The team was so excited about opening new doors and looking for someone to grow with, James said. I like the with aspect about it. You are talking with the CEO and other senior leadership and it is just team conversations, versus talking to you as an employee in terms of what you are going to do. Instead, it is what we are going to do together. Provided Professional growth opportunities A company that provides a job that can become a career for employees, or help them shape a career from their experience at the company, is essential to being a Top Workplace, say employees from the five winning companies. Continuing professional education classes, leadership programs, and one-on-one mentoring are crucial to making employees feel like they can grow in their role, and in turn, be happy in their job. The organization enabled people, myself included, to move into different roles within the organization that allowed me to grow and expand, said Zadoorian. There werent any limits on what I could do, undertake, or learn about the automotive industry, about business, about finance. I was allowed autonomy to do that. Last month at TBC, a shareholder with 30 years of experience was on a call with Ryan McEvoy, a TBC partner with 12 years at the firm, when one of McEvoys clients was going through a challenge the more experienced shareholder had been through dozens of times. The biggest advantage our firm has is we have very, very, very talented people at the top of the firm that have a ton of experience, McEvoy said. And all of them that Ive dealt with want to help you, they want you to gain the knowledge they have and the life experience. Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union All the owners of the company really want to help all of their staff grow and succeed and go as high as they want to go here, McEvoy said. That one-on-one time where they are willing to train and share their expertise with you, I think they realize that is good for the firm but they really genuinely want people to succeed in their professional career. They really care. At GPI, the company is open to having staff pursue career paths that otherwise wouldnt be an option in many other firms, said Fred Mastroianni, the vice president of business development. For example, my second tour I was hired to manage the Highway Department staff and after a few years in that position, I transitioned to Marketing/Business Development and at the same time I was still able to manage civil/highway projects, Mastroianni said. Having worked with other firms, I truly appreciate how GPIs flexibility allows me to use my skills where it is most beneficial to me and the company. Provided Flexible employers After a year marked by hardships and tough leadership decisions due to the pandemic, employees praised their employers' ability to be flexible and understand their lives outside of work. The company has been very flexible with employees in dealing with personal/family issues that came along with the virus, said Mastroianni. We are not an 8 a.m.-to-5 p.m. company but instead GPI gives the employees the flexibility to work around personal/family issues. At TBC, a lot of people had child care challenges during the past year, McEvoy said. The leadership really went out of their way to make sure everyone can take care of their personal life, McEvoy said. Leadership has been a big proponent on the flexible work schedule, which may become the new work schedule, who knows, said Matthew Clement, a financial consultant for CAP COM. They also encouraged us to take mental breaks, to step away, to take breaks because [this year] was a lot. They understood that work-life balance, that it is not just about their bottom line. Correction: Kenya James has been with the nonprofit HANYS for nine years. An earlier version of this story had an incorrect number. Pete and Ruth Coury are shown on May 27 in Vienna, W.Va. The couple will celebrate their 80th wedding anniversary on May 31. The couple eloped May 31, 1941, in Oakland, Md., the day after Ruth graduated from high school. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Democrats who have transformed Virginia at whiplash speed over the past two years will be defending their full control of the statehouse this fall [May 31, 2021] Asysco: the short-term benefits of traditional re-hosting can be offset by the costs of future development COEVORDEN, Netherlands, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Asysco, a leading service provider with over 40 years of experience in legacy mainframe modernization, has recently moved to offer an alternative to traditional re-hosting solutions. Its proposition is built around a unique methodology that allows organizations to re-host and re-factor at the same time. Traditional mainframe re-hosting is a popular option for businesses who want to right-size their mainframe environment and get rid of the high cost of mainframe maintenance. Many business leaders believe that this approach will quickly, and in a low-risk way, help save money and is the first logical step on their journey to Cloud. However, enterprises who seek flexibility and control over the transformation process often find themselves trapped in a long, pricey process that doesn't allow them to move at the pace they need. 'Working with a number of enterprises, what we're noticing is that a typical re-hosting project can quickly turn out to be a significant investment. The legacy environment must be emulated, which means additional software is used one that locks businesses in. You've freed yourself up from mainframe, only to lock yourself in again' explains Herman Eggink, Chief Commercial Officer at Asysco./p> Asysco offers its customers and partners an alternative to traditional re-hosting: the next generation re-hosting. This next generation rehost allows continued development of the original source code and also tackles code transformation right from the outset using a unique conversion engine that transforms code at speed and minimizes mistakes. Using a unique landing platform, enterprises can be quickly up and running in their new environment, with code ready from day one. Without the need for any emulation that locks enterprises into vendor specific technologies. 'Our process gives you total flexibility over your roadmap: mix and match re-host and refactoring in one approach without the lock-ins. We do not force anyone to choose one specific approach like traditional re-hosting solutions. This allows you to modernise at your pace in the way that suits your organisation's needs in just one project' adds Eggink. 'Based on the technology Asysco offers around the IBM mainframe, the ability to migrate to a truly .NET based system while continue to program in COBOL made us decide to go with Asysco. This way our COBOL programmers would still be able to support the system our customers rely upon.' Diamond Marketing Solutions More information on why traditional rehosting creates more problems than it solves can be found in the recent Asysco opinion piece 'Why rehosting might not be the fix it seems', available here. For more information, please contact: Asysco P. Centen info@asysco.com +31 (0)524 515386 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/asysco-the-short-term-benefits-of-traditional-re-hosting-can-be-offset-by-the-costs-of-future-development-301301744.html SOURCE Asysco [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] Blueberries Medical Reports 2021 Q1 Financial Results and Provides Corporate and Operations Update TORONTO, May 31, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blueberries Medical Corp. (CSE: BBM) (OTC: BBRRF) (FRA: 1OA) the Canadian parent of Blueberries S.A.S. (BBSAS), the premier Latin American licensed cultivator and producer of medicinal cannabis and medicinal-grade cannabis extracts, (together the Company or "Blueberries"), is pleased to report its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. Today, Blueberries has filed its unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements and related management's discussion and analysis, both of which are available on Blueberries profile at www.sedar.com. Blueberries today also announced the appointment of Mr. Guillermo P. Rodriguez as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) effective June 1, 2021, following the resignation of Ian D. Atacan, the Company's CFO. Facundo Garreton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer stated, On behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire Blueberries team, I would like to thank Ian for his contributions as our CFO during Blueberries critical phases, from the start-up, infrastructure build and now commercialization, and for his dedication and professionalism during the global challenges that the Company has faced over the past year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also want to recognize Ian for his leadership and ensuring a smooth transition and continuity in the role of CFO to his successor, Guillermo. Guillermo Rodriguez Biography Guillermo P. Rodriguez has a vast experience for over more than 20 years as CFO in different industries and markets, specifically at technological & international companies doing business globally. Prior to joining Blueberries, Mr. Rodriguez held the CFO position for several years at companies like NEC Argentina, the Argentinean branch of the Japanese Telco company, and also at UOL-Sinectis a Brazilian ISP and media company, and he was the Vice President of Finance Worldwide of IT Convergence, and lately and for the last 10 years, he was the Chief Executive Officer at SETSA, a real-state company doing business in Argentina with more than 220,000 sf of office building developed in Buenos Aires. Guillermo is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and has a Business Administration Degree from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Mr. Garreton said, We wish Ian the absolute best in his new ventures, and we are pleased to welcome Guillermo to Blueberries management team. Given his broad financial, accounting and taxation background, and his leadership skills, we are confident that Guillermo will play a key role in leading the company together with the rest of the management team to set and deliver the strategies and targets. Financial Highlights All financial information in this press release is reported in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated. "We are continuing to build Blueberries on three fundamental pillars, said Jose Maria Forrero, President, Latin American Operations, Operate with Excellence - Ensuring a low cash-burn rate with low-risk exposure. Connect with Demand - Our sales to Peru have already commenced, while the launch of magistral formulations is imminent. And finally: Differentiate - Building on our vertically integrated infrastructure, we are looking for B2B and B2C commercial opportunities where we can leverage our competitive advantages. I am also happy to announce that Blueberries partner Fundacion Laboratorio de Farmacologia Vegetal (LABFARVE) has received the certification of Good Elaboration Practices for Magistral Preparations with Cannabis (GEP). Through the active collaboration agreement with LABFARVE, the Company is now capable to manufacturing cannabis-based magistral formulations for the Colombian domestic market. Blueberries expects completing its initial prescriptions of full-spectrum, high CBD formulations within days. Three months ended March 31, (Expressed in Canadian Dollars) 2021 2020 Revenues $ 23,120 $ - Cost of sales (1,195 ) - Gross profit $ 21,925 $ - Expenses Pre-operating expenses $ (114,171 ) $ (251,646 ) General and administrative expenses (159,953 ) (1,083,299 ) Depreciation and amortization (217,026 ) (175,892 ) Finance expense (62,489 ) - Other expense (23,345 ) (23,047 ) Foreign exchange loss (35,266 ) (135,470 ) Current and deferred income tax - - Net loss $ (590,325 ) $ (1,669,354 ) Other Comprehensive Loss Foreign currency translation adjustment (193,806 ) (174,243 ) Comprehensive loss $ (784,131 ) $ (1,843,597 ) Loss per share - basic and diluted $ (0.004 ) $ (0.013 ) As at March 31, As at December 31, 2021 2020 Total assets $ 7,408,411 $ 7,270,212 Total liabilities 3,297,923 3,380,433 Total equity 4,110,488 3,889,779 Financial Highlights Commentary Revenues - Blueberries commercial operations are still in early stages with introductory sales of cloned cuttings of its cultivars to associate growers. The Company did not have revenues during the three months ended March 31, 2020. Pre-operating expenses - Since the Company is in early stages of commercial operations, material operational costs are included under pre-operating expenses, which are non-capital expenditures relating to Blueberries cannabis cultivation and extraction operations. During 2020, due to COVID-19, the company implemented voluntary salary reductions for personnel in management positions, which is reflected in the lower pre-operating expenses in 2021. General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses An analysis of selected G&A expenses is as follows: Three months ended March 31, 2021 2020 Share based compensation (31,160 ) 502,944 Marketing and investor relations - 35,498 Director and management fees 57,000 140,155 Legal 333 43,585 Consulting 17,746 107,063 Salary, wages, and benefits 63,779 150,783 Audit and accounting (8,817 ) 22,388 General office 14,808 47,097 Travel 41 10,088 Filing and transfer agent fees 24,902 13,802 Insurance 17,615 4,054 Other 3,705 5,842 Total general and administrative expenses 159,953 1,083,299 Share based compensation - During the first quarter of 2021, 3,099,998 unvested options were forfeited resulting in a reversal of stock-based compensation of $251,982. Director and management fees - The year-on-year decrease reflects savings measures implemented due to COVID-19 pandemic, with certain directors and officers leaving the company. The Company continues to manage its costs and focuses its resources on commercial and revenue-generating activities. Legal fees - The Q1, 2021 legal fees reflect a one-time cash credit of $24,303 that was recovered from previously unclaimed HST/GST amounts. The fees incurred in 2021 and 2020 mainly relate to procurement of legal services for private placements, ongoing administrative matters and legal counsel regarding the structure and format of potential business ventures the Company is pursuing. Consulting Includes advice and assistance on operations, quality management, facility development, financial and technical counsel, human resources services, and regulatory compliance. The reduction of consulting fees from 2020 to 2021 are due to the Company having incurred start-up related consulting fees in 2020, mainly engagement of new services by the company at the start of the operations on compliance with EU-GMP standards. The 2021 consulting fees are also lower because of savings realized by financial services being internalized. Salary, wages, and benefits - Include payroll, training, benefits, and severance costs of employees in Colombia. The year-on-year decrease reflects the Company continuing to manage its costs, including head count, and focusing its resources on commercial and revenue-generating activities. Audit and accounting fees - Include cost of audit, accounting and taxation services provided by the Companys external auditor and other third parties. The Q1, 2021 audit and accounting fees reflect a one-time cash credit of $23,192 that was recovered from previously unclaimed HST/GST amounts. General office expenditures - Include office and equipment rent, utilities, communication, and cleaning services. The year-on-year decrease reflects savings measures implemented due to COVID-19 pandemic. Blueberries closed its Toronto and Bogota offices, with significant monthly rental fee savings. Travel The decrease in travel expenses from 2020 to 2021 is due to tighter cost control on discretionary expenses and the impact of COVID-19 travel restrictions. Finance Expense - The finance expense consists of accrued interest of $32,500 on the convertible debenture and the accretion of convertible debt liability of $29,989. About Blueberries Medical Corp. Blueberries is a Latin American licensed producer of naturally grown premium quality cannabis with its primary operations ideally located in the Bogota Savannah of central Colombia. The Company is led by a specialized team with proprietary expertise in agriculture, genetics, extraction, medicine, pharmacology and marketing, Blueberries is fully licensed for the cultivation, production, domestic distribution, and international export of CBD and THC-based medical cannabis in Colombia. Blueberries combination of leading scientific expertise, agricultural advantages and distribution arrangements has positioned the Company to become a leading international supplier of naturally grown, processed, and standardized medicinal-grade cannabis oil extracts and related products. Additional information about the Company is available at www.blueberriesmed.com. For more information, please contact: Jose Forero, President, Latin American Operations jforero@blueberriesmed.com Tel: +57 310 345 8808 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 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: commencement of commercial production of CBD-dominant oils and products, successful implementation of full GMP standards at its extraction facility to allow for additional export potential to international markets, achieving additional milestones is contemplated, or at all, ability to expand distribution networks, ability to expand and upgrade the Companys cultivation facilities in Colombia, internal expectations, expectations regarding the ability of the Company to access new Latin American and international markets, the ability to attract and retain new customers, and future expansion plans including development of the cultivation, production, industrialization and marketing of cannabis for commercial and scientific purposes. 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: fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; expectations regarding the size of the Colombian and international medical cannabis market and changing consumer habits; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; plans for expansion; political and social uncertainties; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; and the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on cultivation, production, distribution and sale of cannabis and cannabis related products in Colombia, Argentina and elsewhere; and employee relations. 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. Additional information regarding the Company, and other risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's business are contained under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Listing Statement dated January 31, 2019 filed on its issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] COMPUTEX 2021 Virtual: Month-Long Exhibition Showcasing the Tech Ecosystem Now Open COMPUTEX kicked off this year's month-long #COMPUTEXVirtual on May 31 with James Huang, TAITRA Chairman, highlighting the not-to-be-missed events. Michelle Johnston Holthaus, Intel (News - Alert) Executive Vice President, Chief Revenue Officer, discussed accelerating digital transformation and how to release a new era of innovation when the world is most looking forward to innovation. On the same day, Arm CEO Simon Segars discussed the role of technology in the post-pandemic. Using examples from Arm's ecosystem partners, Segars demonstrated how technology could be a remarkable force for good that will be critical to the world's recovery and create a more sustainable and secure future. Breaking away from traditions, COMPUTEX 2021 Virtual is an all-virtual exhibition, using AI platforms and leading the way to create a prosperous technology ecosystem. "COMPUTEX was born in the 1980s when the technology industry took off. At that time, together with entrepreneurs from around the world, Taiwan pursued disruptive innovation and created an industry supply chain that paved the way for the Internet and digital economy that we have today. It has been one year into the pandemic, and we continue to push forward with innovation and navigate in the new normal. As Taiwan stands at the center of the global technology ecosystem, we will never cease to build, connect, integrate, innovate, and push forward with the latest technologies. Today, I am honored to announce the opening of #COMPUTEXVirtual. No matter where we are, let COMPUTEX connect us for a better future," said James Huang, TAITRA Chairman. COMPUTEX 2021 Opening Keynote by Intel is led by Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer Michelle Johnston Holthaus (News - Alert) with the theme of "Innovation Unleashed". Intel talks about sustainability awareness of enterprises under the raging global pandemic and how we continue to work with global partners to promote digital transformation; Intel not only response to the global market demand quickly and flexibly with the IDM 2.0 business model, but it also continues to promote innovation with 5G and its Open Architecture. We will also unveil new products leading in performance and enrich people's user experience. Arm CEO Simon Segars' keynote titled "Sparking the World's Post-Pandemic Recovery" demonstrated how technology can be a remarkable force for good that will be critical to the world's recovery and create a more sustainable and secure future. The combination of computing in the age of AI will accelerate how we tackle complex challenges surrounding climate change, security, and equitable access to technologies and connectivity. Sgars indicated that long-term investments in research and development are the key to shaping that future. Arm has invested significant resources in its next-generation architecture. Armv9 will enable partners to solve hard problems in the next decade of compute related to security, compute efficiency, and AI-enabled services, all while fighting climate change at the same time. A Variety of Events for an All-New Virtual Experience COMPUTEX 2021 Virtual offers live demonstration of the latest solutions on 5G, AI & IoT, Edge Computing, High-Performance Computing (HPC), Gaming, and Innovations and Startups. The month-long online exhibition also includes a variety of events, including the #COMPUTEXVirtual online exhibition, COMPUTEX CEO Keynote, COMPUTEX Keynote, COMPUTEX & InnoVEX Forum, and COMPUTEX Matchmaking, giving attendees direct access to the leading tech manufacturers and the latest technology trends. The exhibition also enables the exhibitors to effectively seize business opportunities through the online matchmaking platform. The #COMPUTEXVirtual online exhibition features Tech Insights, Virtual Displays, Matchmaking and Networking, and Hyper-Personalized Recommendations. #InnoVEXVirtual, the exclusive exhibit for startups, offers vibrant synergy on the other hand. #COMPUTEXVirtual is now open until June 30 midnight. Register now for free at: https://virtual.computextaipei.com.tw/ For more updates: COMPUTEX website: https://www.computextaipei.com.tw/ InnoVEX website : https://www.innovex.com.tw/ About COMPUTEX TAIPEI (also called COMPUTEX): Established in 1981, COMPUTEX is one of the leading global ICT, IoT, and startup tradeshows with a complete supply chain and IoT ecosystems. Co-organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and Taipei Computer Association (TCA), COMPUTEX, based upon Taiwan's complete ICT clusters, covers the whole spectrum of the ICT industry, from established brands to startups and from ICT supply chain to IoT ecosystems. With strong R&D and manufacturing capabilities and IPR protection, Taiwan is a strategic destination for foreign companies and investors looking for partners in global technology ecosystems. Follow COMPUTEX on its website at www.computextaipei.com.tw and Twitter (News - Alert) @computex_taipei using the hashtag #COMPUTEX. About COMPUTEX 2021 Virtual: As a pioneer in technology, COMPUTEX has been at the forefront in embracing digital transformation. In 2021, the show will go online. Together with the key global technology players, the organizer of COMPUTEX, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) introduces #COMPUTEXVirtual (including its global startups and innovations showcase #InnoVEXVirtual), an AI-driven virtual platform, and aims to deliver an exceptional virtual exhibition experience beyond the distance. About TAITRA: Founded in 1970, TAITRA is Taiwan's foremost nonprofit trade promoting organization. Sponsored by the government and industry organizations, TAITRA assists enterprises to expand their global reach. Headquartered in Taipei, TAITRA has a team of 1,300 specialists and operates 5 local offices in Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as 63 branches worldwide. Together with Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC) and Taiwan Trade Center (TTC), TAITRA has formed a global network dedicated to promoting world trade. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210530005044/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] dynaCERT Announces Appointment of Stephen Kukucha to its Board of Directors dynaCERT Inc. (TSX: DYA) (OTCQX: DYFSF) (FRA: DMJ) ("dynaCERT" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Stephen Kukucha to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Stephen adds numerous and significant new strengths to dynaCERT's dedicated team in many aspects of our Carbon Emission Reduction Technology ("HydraGEN Technology"). Hydrogen Economy Leaders Collaborating dynaCERT's Board of Directors is fully committed to maintaining a Canadian leadership role in the new Hydrogen Economy while collaborating meaningfully with other top-ranked industry leaders, such as Stephen, to further supplement and broaden the marketability of the Company's clean-technology line of products currently available to the global market and to enhance our Company's optimal corporate governance. Leadership of Hydrogen Technology Stephen is an investor, lawyer and corporate advisor who brings over 20 years of knowledge, experience and achievements in the Hydrogen and Clean Technology Industry to his role as a Director of dynaCERT. Stephen is currently a partner at PacBridge Partners (www.pacbridgepartners.com) which provides early-stage and growth capital to companies seeking to build and scale their business, including environmental technology. Stephen has served on numerous industry boards throughout his career in Clean Technology and the New Hydrogen Economy. In Canada, he served as Vice-Chair, Fuel Cells Canada and Chair, Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance. Stephen is also a Board Member of Sustainable Development Technology Canada, SDTC, which is funded by the Canadian Federal government and invests in Clean Technology in Canada. As well, Stephen led the External Affairs Group at Ballard Power Systems (News - Alert) and co-founded both a renewable power company and two strategic advisory firms. In the United States, Stephen served on the Steering Team & Planning Committee of the California Fuel Cell Partnership and was a Member of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Advisory Panel of the US Department of Energy, Director of the National Hydrogen Association (U.S.) and also a Director of the US Fuel Cells Council. Stephen Kukucha, new director of dynaCERT, stated, "The advanced technology of dynaCERT presents a significant opportunity for substantial, near term benefits for both adopters and the environment. I look forward to introducing dynaCERT's innovative HydraGEN Technology solutions and products to leaders in the Logistics, Transportation, Trucking, Rail and Marine Industries. dynaCERT's technology, software and product solutions can be difference makers as both leading companies and governments work to find solution to a net-zero economy." Jim Payne, CEO of dynaCERT, stated, "I warmly welcome Stephen who brings to dynaCERT the high profile, the applauded stimulus and his unwavering dedication to prominently supplement our sales and marketing penetration. It is a great honour of dynaCERT's Board of Directors to work side by side with a proficient and highly respected Canadian industry authority such as Stephen. This great distinction is backed by our commitment at dynaCERT to constantly improve and drive our devoted team with the utmost industry doyens who share our corporate mission and corporate culture. We all look forward to our noteworthy association together in the weeks, months and years to come as we continue to grow and expand our technology for today and into the future of the new Hydrogen Economy." The Company also announces today the resignation of former board member Elliot Strashin and thanks him for his numerous years of service on the Board of Directors of the Company. Elliot continues as loyal shareholder and a strategic co-owner of a newly active dynaCERT dealer focussing on sales of dynaCERT's Clean Technology innovations in the significant mining industry of China featuring the heavy-duty C-Series of dynaCERT's line of HydraGEN Technology and commences as a consultant to dynaCERT, thereby continuing to provide global insight and international reach on a planetary scale. Yesterday, the Company also issued, in its customary annual grant, 7,850,000 five-year stock options to its employees, consultants, officers and directors at an exercise price of fifty cents. About dynaCERT Inc. dynaCERT Inc. manufactures and distributes Carbon Emission Reduction Technology for use with internal combustion engines. As part of the growing global hydrogen economy, our patented technology creates hydrogen and oxygen on-demand through a unique electrolysis system and supplies these gases through the air intake to enhance combustion, resulting in lower carbon emissions and greater fuel efficiency. Our technology is designed for use with many types and sizes of diesel engines used in on-road vehicles, reefer trailers, off-road construction, power generation, mining and forestry equipment, marine vessels and railroad locomotives. Website: www.dynaCERT.com. READER ADVISORY Except for statements of historical 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. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance of achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is 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 anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success for new products and technologies; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of products and services; changes in technology and changes in laws and regulations; the uncertainty of the emerging hydrogen economy; including the hydrogen economy moving at a pace not anticipated; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements; and the other risk factors disclosed under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the release. On Behalf of the Board Murray James Payne, CEO View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210531005037/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] Human Rights Advocates and Legal Experts Deliver Blueprint for New International Corporate Accountability Law in Canada Today the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability (CNCA) released draft model legislation that provides lawmakers with a blueprint for writing into Canadian law the corporate duty to respect human rights and the environment. The draft model law, if adopted, would require Canadian companies to prevent human rights and environmental harm throughout their global operations and supply chains. Similar laws are in place or being developed in several countries. Canada, however, is falling behind. Instead of legally requiring companies to respect human rights and the environment, Canada encourages them to voluntarily take measures to do so. "All around the world, people are being harmed by the business practices of Canadian companies and their subsidiaries, subcontractors and suppliers," said Jean Symes, from the feminist social justice organization Inter Pares. "We are calling on Canadian lawmakers to catch up to global leaders y adopting our model legislation, a comprehensive law that would help respond to the widespread and egregious abuses linked to Canadian companies including forced labour, sexual violence, and murder." Under the CNCA's proposed law, if a company causes harm or fails to do its human rights and environmental due diligence, those affected would have the statutory right to bring a civil lawsuit against that company in Canadian court. "Canadian businesses that are already doing what's needed to protect human and environmental rights will welcome this legislation," said Hassan Yussuff, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. "Those that aren't will now be held accountable for their failure to act." Over 150 organizations and unions that work with people impacted by the activities of Canadian companies in 32 countries around the world have endorsed the CNCA's proposed law. "The CNCA's proposal stands in stark contrast to the modern slavery reporting law currently being examined by the Canadian Senate," said Catherine Coumans, co-manager at MiningWatch Canada. "The proposed law released today moves beyond reporting and requires companies to change their behavior - and stop profiting from human rights and environmental harm - or face significant consequences." The CNCA released a draft of the model Corporate Respect for Human Rights and the Environment Abroad Act at a virtual press conference in Ottawa today. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210531005294/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] Noema Pharma to Attend Investor Conferences in June and July 2021 BASEL, Switzerland, May 31, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Noema Pharma (Noema) AG, a Swiss clinical-stage company targeting orphan neurological disorders, today announces it will attend several investor conferences during June and July. Luigi Costa, Chief Executive Officer, and George Garibaldi, Chief Medical Officer, will present the latest developments at Noema Pharma following the oversubscribed Series A financing round conducted in December 2020, in which Noema raised CHF54 million ($59 million USD) to fund further development of its promising clinical-stage pipeline. Details of the conferences: Jefferies Virtual Healthcare Conference, virtual, June 1-4, 2021 Luigi Costa and George Garibaldi will meet with investors in one-on-one meetings from June 1 to June 3, 2021. On Friday, June 4, Luigi Costa will present from 10:30 to 10:55 am CET / 4:30 to 4:55 am EST. Kempen Life Sciences Crossover Conference, virtual, June 16, 2021 Luigi Costa and George Garialdi will meet with investors in one-on-one meetings Emerging Biotech Company Showcase, virtual, June 23, 2021 Luigi Costa and George Garibaldi will be presenting and available for Q&A LifeSci Partners Summer Private Company Symposium, virtual, July 21-23, 2021 Luigi Costa and George Garibaldi will meet with investors in one-on-one meetings About Noema Pharma Noema Pharma (www.noemapharma.com) is a Swiss-based company targeting orphan neurological disorders characterized by imbalanced neuronal networks. The company is developing four mid-clinical-stage therapeutic products in-licensed from Roche and with strong safety packages. Lead product NOE-101, an mGluR5 inhibitor, is Phase 2b-ready for two indications: persistent seizures in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) and severe pain in Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN). NOE-105, a PDE10A inhibitor, is in preparation for Phase 2b testing to treat Tourette Syndrome. The Company is undertaking validation studies in undisclosed indications for two additional clinical-stage assets, NOE-109, an mGluR2/3 inhibitor, and NOE-115, a triple re-uptake inhibitor. Noema Pharma was founded with the leading venture capital firm Sofinnova Partners. Investors include Polaris Partners, Gilde Healthcare, Invus and Biomed Partners. Contacts Noema Pharma Luigi Costa Chief Executive Officer info@noemapharma.com Investors & Media LifeSci Advisors Guillaume van Renterghem gvanrenterghem@lifesciadvisors.com +41 (0) 76 735 01 31 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] Notice To Attend Extraordinary General Meeting In SciBase Holding AB (publ) BOLIDEN, Sweden, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The shareholders of SciBase Holding AB (publ), reg.no 556773-4768 (the "Company") are hereby summoned to an extraordinary general meeting on Wednesday 16 June 2021. The meeting will be held through postal voting only. The board of directors has, in light of continued spread of the coronavirus and in accordance with the Swedish Act (2020:198) on temporary exceptions to facilitate the execution of general meetings in companies and other associations, decided that the extraordinary general meeting shall be held without physical presence of shareholders, proxies and/or external parties and that the shareholders shall have only the opportunity to vote by mail prior to the meeting. The Company welcomes all shareholders to exercise their voting rights at the meeting through postal voting as described below. Information on the resolutions passed at the meeting will be published on Wednesday 16 May 2021, as soon as the result of the postal voting has been finally confirmed. PARTICIPATION A Shareholder wishing to attend the meeting shall: be recorded in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB on Tuesday 8 June 2021 ; and ; and notify the Company of its intention to attend the meeting not later than on Tuesday 15 June 2021 by submitting a complete voting form and, where applicable, proxies, registration certificates and other corresponding authorization documents in accordance with the instructions under the heading "Information on postal voting" below. To be entitled to attend the meeting, shareholders whose shares are nominee-registered must, in addition to giving notice of attendance to the Company by casting their postal vote, register such shares in their own names so that the shareholder is recorded in the share register as of Tuesday 8 June 2021. Such registration may be temporary (so called voting right registration) and request for such registration shall be made to the nominee in accordance with the nominee's routines in such time in advance as decided by the nominee. Voting rights registrations effected no later than the second banking day after 8 June 2021 (i.e. 10 June 2021) will be considered in the preparation of the share register. INFORMATION ON POSTAL VOTING Postal voting The shareholders may exercise their voting rights at the meeting only by voting in advance, so-called postal voting, in accordance with Section 22 of the Swedish Act (2020:198) on temporary exceptions to facilitate the execution of general meetings in companies and other associations. A special form shall be used for postal voting. The form will be available on the Company's website, http://investors.scibase.se/.The postal voting form is considered as the notification of participation at the annual general meeting. The completed voting form must be received by Eversheds Sutherland Advokatbyra AB no later than Tuesday 15 June 2021. The form may be submitted by post to Eversheds Sutherland Advokatbyra AB Attn: Rasmus Laws, Box 14055, 104 40 Stockholm or via e-mail to rasmuslaws@eversheds-sutherland.se. The shareholder may not provide special instructions or conditions in the voting form. If so, the vote (i.e. the postal vote in its entirety) is invalid. Further instructions and conditions are included in the form for postal voting. The shareholders may request in the postal voting form that a resolution on one or several of the matters on the proposed agenda below should be deferred to a so-called continued general meeting, which cannot be conducted solely by way of postal voting. Such general meeting shall take place if the meeting so resolves or if shareholders with at least one tenth of all shares in the Company so requests. Proxy voting A shareholder represented by proxy shall issue a power of attorney which shall be dated and signed by the shareholder. If the shareholder postal votes by proxy, the power of attorney shall be enclosed to the form. If issued by a legal entity, the power of attorney shall also be accompanied by registration certificate or, if not applicable, equivalent documents of authority. Power of attorney forms for those shareholders wishing to postal vote by proxy will be available on the Company's website http://investors.scibase.se/. PROPOSED AGENDA The Board of Directors' proposed agenda for the meeting: Opening of the meeting Appointment of chairman of the meeting Preparation and approval of the voting list Approval of the agenda for the meeting Appointment of one or two persons to verify the minutes of the meeting Determination of whether the meeting has been duly convened Resolution on approving the Board of Director's resolution on a directed share issue Closing of the meeting PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS Appointment of Chairman of the meeting (item 2) The Board of Directors proposes that Johan Engstrom (Eversheds Sutherland) is appointed as the chairman of the meeting. Preparation and approval of voting list (item 3) The voting list which is to be prepared based on the meeting's share register and postal votes received is proposed as voting list for the meeting. Election of one or two persons to verify the minutes (item 5) The Board of Directors proposes that Rasmus Laws (Eversheds Sutherland), or, if unable to attend the meeting, any of the persons assigned by the Board of Directors, shall verify the minutes. The persons verifying the minutes shall also control the voting list and that received postal votes are correctly reflected in the minutes. Resolution on approving the Board of Director's decision on a directed share issue (item 7) The Board of Directors in the Company proposes that the meeting approves the Board of Directors' decision from 31 May 2021, to issue not more than 239,000 shares. As a result of the new share issue, the share capital may increase by not more than SEK 11,950. The resolution shall otherwise be governed by the following terms and conditions. The right to subscribe for the shares shall, disapplying from the shareholders' preemption rights, be vested in the Company's board member Matt Leavitt . The reasons for disapplying the shareholders' preemption rights are to raise capital in a cost and time effective manner as well as o make it possible for the Board member Matt Leavitt to invest and thus achieving alignment with the Company's shareholders. The shares shall be issued at a subscription price of SEK 5.20 per share. The subscription price has been determined following negotiations at arm's length with investors and it is the Board of Directors' assessment that the price reflects current market conditions and demand. The share premium shall be transferred to the unrestricted premium reserve. Subscription for the shares shall take place on the date of the resolution of the issue. Payment for subscribed shares shall take place within two days from the date of the shareholders' approval of the share issue at a general meeting in the Company. The Board of Directors shall be entitled to extend the subscription and the payment period. The new shares entitle the holder to dividend from the date on which the shares are entered in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB. The Board of Directors or a person appointed by the Board of Directors shall be authorized to make any minor adjustments required to register the resolution with the Swedish Companies Registration Office and Euroclear. The resolution proposed under this item must be approved by shareholders representing not less than nine tenths (9/10) of the votes cast and shares represented at the meeting. OTHER Shareholders' right to request information Shareholders have the right to request information from the Board of Directors and the CEO in accordance with Chapter 7 Section 32 of the Swedish Companies Act regarding conditions that may affect the assessment of a matter on the agenda and conditions that may affect the assessment of the Company's financial situation. The Board of Directors and the CEO shall disclose such information if the Board of Directors considers that this can be done without significant damage to the Company. The disclosure obligation also applies to the Company's relationship with another group company, the group accounts and such matters as mentioned above with regard to subsidiaries. Requests for such information must be submitted in writing to the Company no later than ten days before the meeting, i.e. no later than 6 June 2021, to the Company's address SciBase Holding AB (publ), Box 3337, 103 67 Stockholm, Sverige, Sweden or by e-mail to info@scibase.com. The information is provided by the Company by keeping it available on the Company's website www.scibase.com and at the Company at the above address no later than five days prior to the meeting, i.e., 11 June 2021. The information is also sent to shareholders who have requested it and who have provided their address. Processing of personal data For information regarding how your personal data is processed in connection with the meeting, please refer to the privacy policy on Euroclear Sweden AB's website: https://www.euroclear.com/dam/ESw/Legal/Privacy-notice-bolagsstammor-engelska.pdf. Number of shares and votes in the Company The total number of shares in the Company at the time of issuance of this notice is 54,780,086. An additional 13,456,021 shares are currently subject to registration. The Company does not hold any of its own shares. Documents Documents pursuant to the Chapter 13, section 6 of the Swedish Companies Act will be available at the Company's office and website two weeks prior to the meeting. Copies of the documents will be sent by mail upon request to shareholders' stating their address. The board of directors' proposals are set out in full in the notice. Stockholm, May 2021 SciBase Holding AB (publ) The Board of Directors For mor information, please kontakta: Simon Grant, CEO SciBase Tel: +46 72 887 43 99 Email: simon.grant@scibase.com Certified Advisor: Avanza Tel: +46 8 409 421 20 Email: ca@avanza.se About SciBase och Nevisense SciBase AB is a global medical technology company based in Stockholm, Sweden that develops unique point-of-care devices for the evaluation of skin disorders such as skin cancer and atopic dermatitis. SciBase's first product, Nevisense, helps clinicians detect melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer. Further development has led to Nevisense also being used as a tool to assess the skin barrier and non-melanoma skin cancer. Nevisense is based on substantial research and has achieved excellent results in the largest clinical study ever conducted on the detection of malignant melanoma. Nevisense is CE marked in Europe, has TGA approval in Australia and an FDA approval (PMA) in the United States. SciBase technology is based Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) combined with Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms that interpret the varying electrical properties of human tissue to detect malignancies and abnormalities. SciBase Holding AB is listed on First North Growth Market ("SCIB"). Further information is available at www.scibase.com. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/scibase/r/notice-to-attend-extraordinary-general-meeting-in-scibase-holding-ab--publ-,c3357621 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/12371/3357621/1425369.pdf SciBase Holding AB (publ) - Notice to EGM 16 June 2021 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] OneLogin and Multipoint Group Signs Distribution Agreement in MEA Market DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, May 31, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OneLogin , a global leader in identity and access management (IAM), and Multipoint Group , a Cyber Strong solutions distributor, announced the signing of a distribution agreement to further grow its footprint in the MEA market. The partnership enables Multipoint Group to distribute OneLogin services in the MEA area through its Dubai office. This agreement is part of OneLogin accelerated growth in the EMEA market and in line with the expansion of Multipoint and OneLogin's partnership toprovide a secure, seamless experience for both end-users and administrators. Multipoint's highly qualified and certified team will work closely with OneLogin to successfully increase the company's presence in the MEA. OneLogin's Trusted Experience Platform enables customers to log in quickly and efficiently across all applications, leveraging HydraBoost to authenticate more sessions than any leading competitor. With two HydraBoost regions in the U.S., OneLogin can coordinate two million evenly distributed requests per minute for a single tenant. This announcement comes on the heels of the OneLogin announcement of being Named a Technology Leader in Access Management in Kuppinger Cole's Leadership Compass Report 2020. The company is also a Leader in the 2020 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Access Management. Vishal Bhatia, Business Operations Manager, Multipoint MEA, said: "OneLogin brings to companies in the MEA area market-leading capabilities to secure access to the app, users, and devices across the organization. OneLogin does that with ease of use that enables fast adoption and quicker ROI. OneLogin is a great addition to our Cyber Strong portfolio in UAE and the greater MEA market." About Multipoint Multipoint GROUP is a leading distributor of IT security and Internet technology solutions, providing channel partners in EMEA area with reliable, supported solutions from world-leading hardware and software vendors. Multipoint has offices in Israel, UAE, Romania, Greece & Cyprus and Serbia. The company was founded by Ricardo Resnik in 2009, as Managing Director and partner. For more information visit: www.multipoint-group.com Contact: Ricardo Resnik MULTIPOINT Group Hacharoshet 2, PO Box 2440 Kefar Saba HaSharon, 4464002 07-470-2701 http://multipoint-group.com/ ricardo@multipoint-group.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 30, 2021] Korean Skincare Brand AXIS-Y Shares 3 ways of business growth in the Year of COVID SEOUL, South Korea, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AXIS-Y, a Korean skincare brand based out of Seoul shares how and why they managed a successful brand launch throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Consumers may have seen AXIS-Y while scrolling through their Instagram feed or all over their TikTok For You Page (FYP) since the AXIS-Y TikTok hashtag has a staggering 84M views. Launched in early 2019, the now-viral K-beauty company emerged into an entirely new market after the COVID outbreak in early 2020. Where did this company come from, and how were they able to build their brand in the midst of a worldwide pandemic? How AXIS-Y is able to stand out in a saturated market The year 2020 brought many unprecedented challenges for people worldwide, and AXIS-Y's brand mission of emphasizing self-care and community in skincare came at the right time. "Maskne'' became a new concern for many, including people who never struggled with skin concerns in the past. Additionally, worldwide morale fell as travel, social gatherings, and "normal" life was restricted or completely banned. AXIS-Y's commitment to self-care became even more important during this time, and this opened the door for the brand to grow. A commitment to community and AXIS-Y's next chapter AXIS-Y's commitment to their community is apparent through their multiple "community" campaigns. One recent example of this is their "5.5 Skincare Community Day" taking place on May 5, inspired by the ideal pH level (5.5) of the skin. Through their official Instagram account, the brand asked their followers what organization meant the most to them. Based on these responses, AXIS-Y chose and donated to the World Wildlife Fund upon recognizing the community's interest in environmental protection. Through SNS channels and online surveys, AXIS-Y uses the relationship they have built with their loyal fanbase to not only develop their brand image, but also formulate their products. Throughout 2021, AXIS-Y will be creating their next line of skincare products alongside their community. This line will be a collaboration between both the brand and the consumer, featuring a fully transparent look into the development process. Although the company emerged into a very uncertain market and social climate, AXIS-Y is able to experience unprecedented growth through adaptability, empathy, and the genuine goal to connect with and listen to their community. Focusing on formulas AXIS-Y's "611 line" consists of innovative formulas containing 6 natural ingredients, 1 core ingredient, and 1 skincare patent technology. This unique approach to skincare came at an opportune time as people worldwide grew more concerned with what ingredients go into their skincare products. The brand's current 611 formula is especially effective for warm, humid climates leading to rapid growth especially in Southeast Asia. Additionally, during a time where people were unable to enjoy normal life, the need to emphasize self-care grew. A solid skincare routine is well-known for being an important method of self-care, and AXIS-Y made it their goal to emphasize this point. Ahead of the trends AXIS-Y's ability to stay on top of media and skincare trends and their strategic use of social media marketing allowed them to sell over one million units of their Mugwort Pore Clarifying Wash Off Pack in just three months across 20 regions. Strategically thought-out partnerships with content creators and leading skincare experts within the community brought AXIS-Y's products into the spotlight while also speaking to the reliability and quality of the products themselves. By keeping a close eye on the industry and striving to recognize potential trends before they even emerge, AXIS-Y was able to make an impactful first impression on the skincare community. SOURCE AXIS-Y [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 30, 2021] OPAS: A Game-Changer in Post Covid-19 Landscape PORTLAND, Ore., May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- We believe that it's safe to say that Covid-19 will likely be one of the defining events of 2021, and it will further have implications that will keep surfacing for years to come. The situation is drastically changing, and the amount of people that are deemed safe to gather in a place has reduced from thousands to hundreds to ten. Movie theaters, bars, restaurants, and gyms in most major cities are shutting down. And that's not all; many office workers are facing new challenges that involve working from home. Post Covid-19 and the changing trends of online shopping People are coming to terms with the realities of the post-Covid-19 world, and they understand how difficult it will be for things to go back to normal. To say that we're living in an unprecedented time feels like an understatement. One of the main responses we've seen to how people are approaching this period of uncertainty and isolation is in severe overnight changes to their shpping behaviors, and that's not all; the latest travel restrictions have also stopped person-to-person exchanges. From bulk buying to online shopping, people are changing what they're buying how and when. Amid this uncertainty, OPAS has emerged as a one-stop shop for all your shopping needs, no matter where you're living in the world. What can OPAS do for you? The post-Covid-19 landscape doesn't leave much room for international shipping. The main reason for this is the new healthcare regulations. Stores that are operating on a smaller scale don't have the personnel or experience needed to handle post-Covid-19 international shipping. OPAS will make sure that you get what you want, no matter where you live. Shopping from the US amid the pandemic has never been easier, thanks to OPAS. OPAS will provide you your own US address so your purchases can get shipped there. Once you have everything you want in your virtual mailbox, you can easily log into your account and request to have your items shipped to your original address in your native country. No Sales Tax? YES OPAS can do that for you Almost every package forwarding company will charge you Sales Tax. Therefore, on every purchase, you will be charged sales tax. OPAS can get you your favorite products without having to pay any sales tax. How is that possible? OPAS is located in the state of Oregon, which has NO SALES TAX. So any product that you've shipped to your OPAS address will have no sales tax. This will allow you to save almost 7% to 10% on your purchases compared to other package forwarding companies. OPAS has emerged as a game-changer for industries and individuals who aren't willing to compromise on the things they want. OPAS will hand pack each of your products, making sure that they will stay in perfect shape when it reaches your doorstep. SOURCE OPAS [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 30, 2021] IntSights Teams Up with Cyberworld to Deliver Enterprise-grade Threat Intelligence in Hong Kong and Macau HONG KONG, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IntSights, the threat intelligence company focused on providing threat intelligence for all, today announced its further expansion in the Asia Pacific region through a strategic distributor partnership with Cyberworld. IntSights will extend its full range of solutions, including the External Threat Protection (ETP) Suite, to value-added resellers, system integrators, and enterprises in Hong Kong and Macau. IntSights is devoted to helping enterprises act on early warnings, track suspicious domain changes, and stop attacks before they hit the network with its best-in-class advanced threat protection and intelligence solution. Enterprises can leverage the recently launched IntSights Extend a browser extension that provides enriched threat intelligence over any browser to identify and prioritize vulnerabilities and other indicators of compromise (IOCs) within existing tools and webpages, and analyze and investigate any threat. Cyberworld is an established IT product distributor in Hong Kong with a proven track record in providing security and network infrastructure solutions for global industry leaders. With this milestone, IntSights will tap Cyberworld's extensive experience and understanding of the Hong Kong and Macau markets to grow its channel base and accelerate customer acquisition in the region. "IntSights stands out with its best-of-breed threat intelligence solution that seamlessly integrates ith existing security stacks without the added complexity and disruption," said Jansen Uy, Regional General Manager of Cyberworld Asia Limited. "The threat environment is constantly evolving, and we are confident that through our partnership with IntSights, we can now empower enterprise customers to proactively identify, guard against, and take down threats before they happen." "We are excited to partner with Cyberworld to deliver tailored, actionable real-time threat intelligence capabilities that do not require the heavy resources demanded by traditional security solutions," said Wilson Lee, General Manager for APAC at IntSights. "Cyberworld is well-positioned with its cybersecurity expertise in the local market and broad network of reseller partners in the region. We are focused to bring the benefits of IntSights solutions to enterprise customers in Hong Kong and Macau, while helping them maximize return on their security investment." About IntSights IntSights focuses on providing threat intelligence for all by enabling organizations of any type or size to gain the full benefits of external threat intelligence, no matter the scope or sophistication of their threat intelligence program. Unlike any other solution on the market, IntSights takes the complexity out of threat intelligence and delivers instant value without the heavy lift or sizable resource allocation that traditional threat intelligence solutions require. Designed to scale, IntSights provides frictionless integration of our real-time cyber threat intelligence with existing security infrastructure, allowing enterprises to maximize return on investment. IntSights has offices in Amsterdam, Boston, Dallas, New York, Singapore, Tel Aviv, and Tokyo. To learn more, visit intsights.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. About Cyberworld Asia Limited Founded in 1991, Cyberworld (Asia) Ltd. has steadily established as a reputable IT products distributor in Hong Kong and obtained trust from both our valued customers and suppliers alike. We focus on distributing Network Infrastructure, Network Security, Network Access Control, Application Security, Web Security and Data Management and Security etc. We distribute the best-of-breed IT solutions from industry leaders and committed to providing professional support and service to our customers at competitive prices. We strive to be our customer's number one choice for all their IT requirements in every sense. Our professional sales and technical staff provide customers with pre-sales and post-sales support along every step. Moreover, we cooperate with our valued-partners such as systems integrators and vendors in marketing campaigns to further enhance sales. Our success is achieved through customer satisfaction and understanding. We know that in today's market, it is important to bring in quality solutions to suit our customers' needs in a timely and professional manner. To learn more, please visit our LinkedIn and Facebook page. SOURCE IntSights [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 30, 2021] P&G Encourages Women To Talk About Imposter Syndrome in #RealDeal campaign with Lazada JAKARTA, Indonesia, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG), a leading fast-moving consumer goods company launches a new #RealDeal campaign with Lazada, Southeast Asia's leading e-commerce platform to raise awareness around Imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is the feeling of inadequacy despite's one capabilities. According to a study by the US National Library of Medicine[1], up to 82% of the general population experiences imposter syndrome in different periods of their lives. Statistics from the 2019 Imposter Syndrome Study[2], also shared that 1 out of 2 women experience imposter syndrome on a daily or regular basis, attesting to the fact that women often doubt their own abilities through feelings of fraud and belittlement of their own experiences and expertise. Dr Lim Boon Leng, Psychiatrist from Dr BL Lim Centre for Psychological Wellness shared that "Imposter Syndrome should be taken seriously. Women who experience imposter syndrome need to come to the realization that people value their expertise, and they can focus on growing through the process. Additionally, they can speak to someone they trust to help them realise that their fears are unfounded." Although imposter syndrome is prevalent in our society, it is less talked about in Asia. This campaign aims to shed light on this through a short film (Alternative Vimeo Link), telling the real life story of Singaporean entrepreneur, Ms Yeo Wan Qing, founder of social enterprise Hatch, who overcame imposter syndrome by being open to those around her about the struggles she was facing. Alexandra Vogler, P&G e-commerce Senior Director, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, said, "P&G is deeply committed to equality and inclusion. Through this campaign, we want to bring to light the inner struggles that go unnoticed among women experiencing Imposter Syndrome. Through this short film, we hope to inspire people to start conversations about Imposter Syndrome, and support one another in overcoming it." Beyond the film, the campaign will also come to life on Lazada across five Southeast Asian markets including Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam in May and June, with a wide range of exclusive offers on P&G products such as Olay, Pantene and Oral-B celebrating female shoppers. Campaign Details Country Go-live dates Lazada Campaign Page Promotion Mechanics Philippines 3 - 5 May Link Special Deals up to 42% off! Vietnam 5 - 7 May Link Up to 49% Off & Free Gifts for Every Order! Indonesia 31 May Link Up to 45% off, 165k in vouchers and free gifts! Thailand, Singapore Dates coming soon To be announced To be announced About Procter & Gamble P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always, Ambi Pur, Downy, Dynamo, Febreze, Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Olay, Oral-B, Pampers, Pantene, Safeguard, SK-II, Tide, Vicks, and Whisper. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands. [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7174434/ [2] Josa, 2019. Ditching Imposter Syndrome. Beyond Alchemy Publishing, United Kingdom. SOURCE Procter & Gamble [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The 5th WCO Global AEO Conference, held over three days from 25 to 27 May 2021, concluded successfully with over 3,917 registered participants from 158 World Customs Organization (WCO) Member administrations and stakeholders representatives around the world. During the intensive discussions some 80 prominent experts shared their insights with the global Customs community. The event, hosted virtually by Dubai Customs and the Federal Customs Authority (FCA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with support from the Korea Customs Service and various sponsors, achieved its objectives of re-establishing the importance of Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programmes and helping to shape the vision of AEO 2.0. Under the theme AEO 2.0: advancing towards new horizons for sustainable and secure trade, the Conference kicked off with a high-level discussion that identified the strengths and weaknesses of the AEO concept and provided a glimpse into the future of AEO 2.0.The second session looked at the importance of Coordinated Border Management (CBM) and of other government agency (OGA) cooperation. It was followed by the third panel discussion on expanding AEO programmes to e-commerce operators which emphasized the need to include these entities, particularly in the current environment where consumers have become more dependent on e-commerce. The WCO Secretary General, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, acknowledged that one of the main challenges with current AEO programmes was a lack of harmonization due to various factors, including the level of automation, physical security, environmental aspects and the question of a guarantee. He went on to say that it was critical to harmonize AEO application, validation and authorization processes through increased use of technology. Addressing the question of how to achieve higher volumes of trade while maintaining the resilience of supply chains in the post-pandemic era, speakers underscored the role of technology and the importance of human resources. Focus was placed on the crucial need to ensure that the whole system becomes contactless, including the entire trade documentation process. Representatives from inter-governmental organizations stressed the importance of Customs and the Post working together to strengthen the supply chain, especially in the e-commerce domain. On Day 2, participants had an opportunity to take part in eight dynamic sessions looking at the technical aspects that could and should be considered for AEO 2.0. The various sessions addressed the importance of digitalization, leveraging new technologies, emerging threats and the significance of data exchange. A number of sessions also identified partnership as a critical aspect that required further development and enhancement. The need to expand AEO programmes to new economic operators, the importance of engaging with OGAs and the potential of AEO implementation to enhance agricultural security were also emphasized. On Day 3, the Conference looked at building trust for genuine partnerships in AEO programmes and Mutual Recognition Arrangements/Agreements (MRAs) and at the vital capacity building needs to ensure that Customs and business are able to flourish. The speakers stressed that AEO was key to facilitating and securing trade but that implementing an AEO programme required trust. Customs administrations should therefore try to establish a meaningful dialogue with private sector stakeholders, understand their concerns and fully inform them of what to expect from an AEO programme. It was pointed out that Customs, other border agencies and the private sector need to continuously assess and further develop their human capital to ensure that the latter possesses the required skills. In the case of AEO programmes, it is not only a question of knowledge or competences but also of ensuring that staff show an aptitude for engagement and communication and that their skills in these areas are developed on an ongoing basis. The outcomes of the discussions over the past three days have highlighted the importance of the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards as a unique instrument designed to secure and facilitate global trade, especially through sound partnerships with AEO companies and OGAs, and that reinforcing this collaboration to enhance supply chain sustainability and expedite the post-pandemic recovery is critical. The Conference came to a successful conclusion with closing remarks by Mr. Pranab Kumar Das, WCO Director for Compliance and Facilitation, and H.E. Dr Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dubai, UAE. Mr. Das congratulated Dubai Customs and the FCA of the UAE for organizing this impressive virtual event, the first Global AEO Conference to be held in the WCOs North of Africa, Near and Middle East region. [May 31, 2021] Binomo announces launch of special events and incentives for new users ISLAMABAD, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Online trading platform Binomo hosts one million investors from 133 countries every day, including Pakistan. Binomo, which has taken firm steps to support investor candidates in Pakistan, has decided to offer special opportunities to new users. As the whole world is rapidly becoming digital; technology itself becomes a source of additional income. Especially in the second half of 2020, the number of investors in the world stock exchanges increased progressively. According to data from Pakistan Stock Exchange, 250 thousand new individual investors joined the investment ecosystm in 2020. Hosting one million investors from 133 countries every day, Binomo is now preparing to launch a special event for Pakistan and encourages individual investors to that has no idea how to make an investment and evaluate their savings. "Special opportunity for Pakistanis" "Binomo handles 36 million transactions per week worldwide. We are confident that this number will increase when we teach more people how to invest," Binomo Special Projects Manager Anne Kmel explained. "We will launch special events to benefit our Pakistani users who have a 'first move' by the end of June. Those who join our platform with the code 'PKR100' will be given 100%+ to their first-time deposits." Intends to encourage Pakistan to invest Mentioning that there are some important points that should be followed before starting to invest, Kmel shared the steps to avoid risks and said, "The first step to be taken when starting to invest is to be aware that being an investor can be learned and to be always open to learning. After that, it is crucial to decide on the amount to invest, start with developing a strategy and do not forget the risks. When entering the investment ecosystem, the existence of risks should be accepted first." Stating that they, as Binomo, facilitate the exploration of the investment world and play an instructive role in this process, Anne Kmel said, "We aim to increase the right decisions in investment by providing professional level trainings, analytical services, customer support and brokerage services. We offer the opportunity to invest in more than 60 assets according to account type, from world exchanges to foreign currency and commodities. We pave the way for people who have not invested before, but want to take a step in this way, to start trading with minimum investments, provide guidance." Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1518170/Binomo.jpg Contact: Tulay Genc info@b2press.com +31 30 799 6022 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] CGTN: China gears up for sci-tech development, focusing more on self-reliance BEIJING, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Almost two weeks ago, China succeeded in its first Mars landing, attracting world's attention to the important milestone in China's space exploration. On Friday, science and technology as strategic support to national development, focusing on self-sufficiency and innovation, was once again highlighted in the country's development roadmap with the convention of the 10th national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology in Beijing. Sci-tech self-sufficiency and self-reliance Accelerated efforts are needed in building China into a leading country in science and technology and achieving sci-tech self-reliance and self-sufficiency at higher levels, said Chinese President Xi Jinping while addressing the meeting attended by about 3,000 people. Noting the importance of making breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields, President Xi stressed building a modern science and technology system with the innovation confederations led by leading enterprises, supported by universities and institutions, and coordinated innovation entities. He pointed out that it is necessary to spur on the problem solving in major sci-tech tasks, targeting the most urgent and pressing problems, and proceed from the immediate and long-term needs of the country. Basic and original research are critical in expandig new cognitive frontiers, he added. China's pursuit of independence in scientific innovation is reflected in its various achievements, including the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, the space exploration including lunar and Mars probes and the construction of China's own space station, and the deep-sea manned submersible Fendouzhe. The country has also developed its own high-speed railway technologies, 5G communication technologies and artificial intelligence. He also stressed the role of national laboratories and scientific research institutions, high-level research universities, and leading enterprises in science and technology, calling on them to make more strategic and key scientific and technological achievements and strive to solve major scientific and technological problems that affect China's overall development and long-term interests. Important are efforts in cultivating top-notch scientific and technological personnel with global influence, steadily supporting a number of innovation teams, and training more high-quality technical and skilled personnel, Xi said. Innovation-driven development strategy President Xi restressed the importance of innovation in the pursuit of developing and shaping the new development advantages mentioned in China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for national economic and social development and the long-range objectives through to the year 2035. In 2016, the Chinese government set the target to make China one of the most innovative countries by 2020 and a leading innovator by 2030, as well as a leading global S&T power by the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 2049. Efforts are needed in deepening the reform of the sci-tech system and form a basic system that supports all-around innovation, Xi said, adding that full play should be given to the role of the state as an organizer of major scientific and technological innovations. The Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, as national strategic scientific and technological forces, should play a leading role, Xi noted, adding that the China Association for Science and Technology should shoulder the responsibility of the bridge between the government and the scientific and technological workers. He called for efforts to get deeply engaged in global scientific and technological governance in areas such as public health and climate change, and make Chinese science and technology to contribute more to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. The Chinese president also extended greetings to sci-tech workers across the country ahead of China's national sci-tech workers' day, which falls on May 30. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-05-28/Xi-Jinping-stresses-sci-tech-self-strengthening-at-higher-levels-10Dr6N2aiu4/index.html SOURCE CGTN [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] Bibel TV Extends Capacity Agreement with SES on ASTRA 19.2 degrees East The Bibel TV Foundation, Germany's leading Christian-oriented free-TV station, has extended its partnership with SES (News - Alert) in a new multi-year contract that secures additional capacity for the Foundation to broadcast its channel on SES's satellites in its prime TV neighbourhood at ASTRA 19.2 degrees East. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210530005045/en/ Bibel TV Extends Capacity Agreement with SES on ASTRA 19.2 degrees East (Photo: Business Wire) With this multi-year agreement, viewers in the region will be able to receive Bibel TV's full programming 24 hours a day. Bibel TV will broadcast via ASTRA 19.2 degrees East in SD and HD, giving Bibel TV access to a wider audience across broadcast standards. "During the pandemic and times of social distancing, people are increasingly seeking refuge and stability in their faith. Bibel TV streams Germany's largest church services directly into living rooms, giving people the ability to actively practice their faith, even if they are unable to attend a physical church service. We are delighted that the continued distribution of our programming via SES's ASTRA satellites will give many people the opportunity to access our TV channel," said Beate Busch, Program Director and Deputy Managing Director of Bibel TV. "As the leading satellite TV provider in Germany, we pride ourselves in delivering content to homes in best picture quality, whether in SD or HD standards. Our partnership with Bibel TV underscores the importance of live broadcasting, as thanks to the power of satellite and its ability o broadcast to millions in the moment, viewers of Bibel TV will be able to stay connected with their churches in a safe and reliable way," said Christoph Muhleib, Managing Director of ASTRA Deutschland, part of SES. Follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram Read our Blogs > Visit the Media Gallery > About SES SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the world's only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the world's leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SES's video network carries over 8,200 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 361 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210530005045/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] DAWINKS: Korean Fintech Company becoming the flagbearer of Digital Foreign Remittance, ATM, and POS in the world SEOUL, South Korea, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- When the world is witnessing the peak of digitization in times of pandemic, DAWINKS has been successful in shaking up fintech technology. For the past 16 years, the company has already established a significant market for its KYC and adult authentication service based on its patented technology for detecting ID cards and passport-related frauds/forgery. On being asked about their upcoming plans, the CEO has recently revealed the company's two-fold future strategy about the development of ComboScan and Blockchain DIGITAL (CRYPTO) ATM and POS. ComboScan are developed to be used at more than 650 locations, including airports, casinos, sports, government organizations, financial establishments, convenience stores, etc. These scanners would help in exposing counterfeited and false IDs and passports. On the other hand, the launch of a DPEC ( Digital Payment Exchange currency) platform is supposed to establish a Digital ATM equipped with KYC authentication and POS (QR Pay) service to ease the processes like payment, settlement, currency exchange, and remittance. The most eye-catching feature about this platform is crypto and all the above-said operations related to it. Facilitates Foreign Nationals: So what do these technologies mean to ordinary people? Well, foreign remittance has been a massive problem for workers, students, and tourists. DAWINKS has acknowledged this issue and tried to simplify the ways for them. Most foreign workers are employed in SMEs in Korea. They do not get enough time to visit banks during business hours and arry out their salaries to their families living abroad. The same has been the case with international students. Aggrieved by the cumbersome process, they mostly end up in the offices of brokers who charge hefty sums for overseas remittance. Tourists visiting Korea, too, have a similar grievance. Since Korean 'Won' is not an internationally recognized currency, foreign nationals often have to exchange their home currency to USD and then again to 'Won' while visiting Korea. All these processes are considerably time-consuming and pose various risks. More Precise AI-Based Verification: DAWINKS's direct, digital, 24/7 ATM infused with KYC verification and AML compliance will make currency exchange (including crypto) more convenient than its current stage. The KYC authentication is combined with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to devise a more reliable and secure identification model, which has made its way through the ICT regulation sandbox and received an official confirmation letter for the service. As already mentioned, DAWINKS has been in the fintech industry for almost 16 years, and with the development of the new non-face-to-face digital unmanned bank, it is planning to hit the global market. According to Market Data Forecast, the crypto ATM market size is estimated to grow to 176.8 million USD by 2025 with an average CAGR of 54.7% over this period, making it one of the fastest-growing sectors in financial technology. Thus, Capturing the attention of various businesses such as BOTS, Inc. (BTZI: US) a publicly traded company recently announced the acquisition of Bitcoin ATMs network in the US. DAWINKS plans to be at the forefront of this mass-market adoption of digital assets. It has already received welcoming responses from numerous countries, including the US, Philippines, Vietnam, India, Malaysia, UAE, and Nicaragua. The CEO has appealed for attention, support, and advice from all the countries who find their technology promising and wished for worldwide cooperation. While fueling their dream of 'completely changing the world's payment market' with their top-notch fintech technologies, DAWINKS is emerging as a flag bearer of DPEC tech in the upcoming time. Media Contact Details: Company name : DAWINKS Co.,Ltd Contact Email : support@dwtoken.io Company Website : https://dwtoken.io/ View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dawinks-korean-fintech-company-becoming-the-flagbearer-of-digital-foreign-remittance-atm-and-pos-in-the-world-301302277.html SOURCE DAWINKS Co., Ltd [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] Prepaid Card Global Market Report 2021: COVID-19 Impact and Recovery to 2030 - ResearchAndMarkets.com The "Prepaid Card Global Market Report 2021: COVID-19 Impact and Recovery to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Major players in the prepaid card market are American Express (News - Alert) Company, BBVA Compass Bancshares Inc., Green Dot Corporation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Kaiku Finance LLC., Mango Financial Inc, NetSpend Holdings Inc, PayPal (News - Alert) Holdings Inc, UniRush LLC, and Master Card Incorporated. The global prepaid card market is expected to grow from $12.99 billion in 2020 to $13.87 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8%. The growth is mainly due to the companies rearranging their operations and recovering from the COVID-19 impact, which had earlier led to restrictive containment measures involving social distancing, remote working, and the closure of commercial activities that resulted in operational challenges. The market is expected to reach $21.22 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 11.2%. Major players operating in the industry are undertaking various strategic initiatives such as partnerships and collaborations which are gaining significant popularity in the prepaid card market. Companies are collaborating with other market players to offer prepaid cards with flexible credit limits to attract a large consumer base for a prepaid card. For instance, in November 2020, MobiKwik collaborated with American Express (Amex) card network to introduce its first virtual prepaid payments card with a flexible credit limit. With the launch of the prepaid payment card, MobiKwik becomes the first non-bank in India to issue cards. The prepaid card market covered in this report is segmented by type into general-purpose reloadable card, prepaid gift card, government benefit card, payroll card, others, by card type into an open-loop prepaid card, closed-loop prepaid card, by application into retail establishments, corporate institutions, government, others. In March 2019, Prepaid Financial Services Limited, a London-based financial services company acquired a physical prepaid card portfolio of Barclycard in the UK for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition will enable Prepaid Financial Services Limited to offer an enhanced service to existing and future Payroll and Corporate clients. Barclaycard is a UK-based financial services company that helps consumers, retailers, and businesses to make and take payments flexibly, and to access short-term credit and point of sale finance. Increasing use of prepaid cards as a substitute for traditional bank cards is a key factor driving the growth of the prepaid card market. A prepaid card is not connected to a bank checking account or a draught account for a credit union share, instead, users invest money in advance deposited in the prepaid card account. According to the 2019 Federal Reserve Payments Study, the number of prepaid debit card payments increased to 13.8 billion with a value of $0.38 trillion in 2018. Prepaid cards are similar to debit cards and permit the consumer to spend money up to the amount loaded on the card for making purchases, gas bills, shopping, and paying online bills. Therefore, increasing usage of prepaid cards is expected to propel the growth of the prepaid card market in the coming years. The increasing incidents of fraudulent cases are expected to hamper the growth of the prepaid card market in the coming years. Fraud losses are sustained on all credit, debit, prepaid general-purpose, and private label payment card distributed around the world by payment card issuers, retailers, purchasers of card purchase from retailers, and acquirers of card transactions at ATMs. For instance, global fraud losses totaled $27.85 billion in 2018 and are expected to grow to $35.67 billion in five years and $40.63 billion in 10 years. Therefore, the increasing incidents of fraud restraints the growth of the prepaid market. Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Prepaid Card Market Characteristics 3. Prepaid Card Market Trends and Strategies 4. Impact of COVID-19 on Prepaid Card 5. Prepaid Card Market Size and Growth 5.1. Global Prepaid Card Historic Market, 2015-2020, $ Billion 5.2. Global Prepaid Card Forecast Market, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion 6. Prepaid Card Market Segmentation 6.1. Global Prepaid Card Market, Segmentation by Type, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion General-Purpose Reloadable Card Prepaid Gift Card Government Benefit Card Payroll Card Others 6.2. Global Prepaid Card Market, Segmentation by Card Type, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion Open Loop Prepaid Card Closed Loop Prepaid Card 6.3. Global Prepaid Card Market, Segmentation by Application, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion Retail Establishments Corporate Institutions Government Others 7. Prepaid Card Market Regional and Country Analysis 7.1. Global Prepaid Card Market, Split by Region, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion 7.2. Global Prepaid Card Market, Split by Country, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2020, 2020-2025F, 2030F, $ Billion Companies Mentioned American Express Company BBVA Compass (News - Alert) Bancshares Inc. Green Dot Corporation JPMorgan Chase & Co. Kaiku Finance LLC. Mango Financial Inc NetSpend Holdings Inc PayPal Holdings Inc UniRush LLC Master Card Incorporated TSYS Ebay Visa Inc. The Western Union (News - Alert) Company For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/6s80rd View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210531005091/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] Fideuram - Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking and REYL & Cie Receive Regulatory Approval to enter into Strategic Partnership - The European Central Bank (ECB) and FINMA approve the strategic partnership between Fideuram Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking and REYL & Cie - As part of the transaction, Fideuram ISPB will merge its Swiss banking subsidiary Intesa Sanpaolo Private Bank (Suisse) Morval into REYL & Cie, further enhancing its leading position in the Swiss banking market. - The resulting Geneva-based entity will retain the REYL & Cie legal name and count close to 400 employees, AUM approaching CHF 25 Bln ( 23 Bln) and regulatory shareholders' equity of about CHF 210 Mln ( 190 Mln) - The parties will release a new logo combining their respective brands MILAN and GENEVA, May 31, 2021 /CNW/ -- The European and Swiss financial regulatory bodies, ECB and FINMA, have approved the strategic partnership between Fideuram Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking (Fideuram ISPB), the private banking division of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group, and REYL & Cie, a diversified and entrepreneurial banking group headquartered in Geneva. Fideuram ISPB contributes to REYL & Cie its Swiss banking subsidiary Intesa Sanpaolo Private Bank (Suisse) Morval (ISPBM). The legal merger of REYL & Cie and ISPBM is expected to be finalized by year-end. The parties will release a new logo combining their respective brands. The partnership enables Fideuram - ISPB to strengthen significantly its international wealth management activities and to continue playing a leading role in the ongoing consolidation of the Swiss financial sector. It confirms its choice of Switzerland as the main hub for its international private banking activities. Following the closing of the transaction, REYL & Cie will retain its Geneva headquarters and grow into a sizeable international banking group with close to 400 employees, AUM approaching CHF 25 Bln ( 23 Bln) and regulatory shareholders' equity of about CHF 210 Mln ( 190 Mln). With its entrepreneurial DNA and innovative business model, REYL & Cie will continue driving its successful 360 organic growth strategy, centred on delivering innovative solutions to clients transversally across five business lines: Wealth Management, Entrepreneur & Family Office Services, Corporate Advisory & Structuring, Asset Services and Asset Management. Recent initiatives such as Asteria Investment Managers and Obviam (Swiss regulated asset managers dedicated to impact investing), or Alpian (a recently incubated aspiring digital bank for mass affluent clients) will benefit greatly from the strategic partnership. Fideuram - ISPB will control 69% of REYL & Cie's capital, while partners Francois Reyl, Pasha Bakhtiar, Nicolas Duchene, Thomas Fontaine, Christian Fringhian and Lorenzo Rocco di Torrepadula will collectively retain a 31% stake. The partners remain committed over the long-term and will be responsible for day-to-day management and strategy implementation. "The deal with REYL - comments Tommaso Corcos, CEO of Fideuram - Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking - reaffirms our international growth strategy by consolidating one of the best Private Banks in the Eurozone and by having Switzerland as the base of our network abroad. The combination of skills, experience, innovation capabilities and a common culture of customer service, constitutes the cornerstones on which to build a new leading international bank, serving our most demanding clients. To accelerate business synergies between the companies, Nicolas Duchene, deputy CEO and Partner of REYL, will also take the role of General Manager of Intesa Sanpaolo Private Bank Suisse Morval, on an interim basis, until the companies' legal merger." "The closing of the transaction says Francois Reyl, CEO of REYL & Cie marks a new chapter in REYL's corporate history that will open a realm of new development possibilities for both parties. We are convinced that Fideuram Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking's quality and financial power associated with REYL's entrepreneurial spirit and innovation capability will create the perfect conditions to achieve success in the current environment. We look forward to forming lasting bonds with our new colleagues and working as one team, building together a leading international private banking group and reinforcing our value proposition for the benefit of our clients." About Fideuram ISPB and ISPBM Headquartered in Milan, Fideuram Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking is the no.1 Italian domestic private banking player and a key affiliate of Intesa Sanpaolo Group, consolidating all of Group's private banking activities. As at 31 March 2021, Fideuram ISPB had 3,107 employees, 5,743 private bankers, AUM of CHF 292.4 Bln ( 264,1 Bln) and Net Inflows of over CHF 1.9 Bln ( 1.7 Bln) entrusted by more than 800,000 clients. ISPBM traces its foundation back to 1974, by the Zanon Valgiurata family, headquartered in Geneva with offices in Lugano, London, Monaco, Bahrain, the Cayman Islands, Buenos Aires and Montevideo; ISPBM was incorporated into Fideuram in 2018. As at 31 March 2021, ISPBM managed assets of approximately CHF 5.7 Bln ( 5.1 Bln) and employed 172 professionals. About REYL Founded in 1973 by Dominique Reyl, the REYL Group is a diversified and entrepreneurial banking group with offices in Switzerland (Geneva, Zurich, Lugano), Europe (London, Luxembourg, Malta) and the rest of the world (Singapore, Dubai). As at 31 December 2020, REYL manages assets in excess of CHF 15.5 billion ( 14 Bln) and employs more than 245 professionals. Developing an innovative approach to banking, REYL serves a clientele of international entrepreneurs, family offices and institutional investors through its Wealth Management, Entrepreneur & Family Office Services, Corporate Advisory & Structuring, Asset Services and Asset Management business lines. Media contacts: Fideuram - Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking Pierantonio Arrighi Head of Media Relations Wealth Management Tel: (+39) 02 87963119 pierantonio.arrighi@intesasanpaolo.com REYL Jerome Koechlin Head of Communications Tel: (+41) 22 816-8177 jkoechlin@reyl.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fideuram--intesa-sanpaolo-private-banking-and-reyl--cie-receive-regulatory-approval-to-enter-into-strategic-partnership-301302307.html SOURCE REYL Group [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] L-com Debuts Passive DWDM Mux and Demux Cassettes and 19" Rack-Mount Units IRVINE, Calif., May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- L-com, an Infinite Electronics brand and a preferred manufacturer of wired and wireless connectivity products, announced today that it has introduced a new series of Dense Wave-Division Multiplexing (DWDM) Mux, Demux and Mux/Demux products to address growing metro and regional transport, PON, GPON and FTTx applications. L-com's 20 new DWDM Mux and Demux products consist of both LGX cassettes and 19" rack-mount units that were designed to maximize fiber usage by reducing the fiber count from the central office/head-end and to increase bandwidth between switches, routers and other equipment without requiring additional investment in fiber infrastructure. The PDW1 series LGX plug-in units feature 4 and 8 channel options, 100 GHz spacing, LC connectors with a UPC polish as well as express channel and 1% optical power monitor ports. The PDW3 models feature a 19" rack-mount design with a space saving 1U height. These units provide two fiber, combo mux/demux operation with 20 channels, 100 GHz spacing, LC UPC connectors and 1% monitor ports in addition to express channel capability. These new DWDM mux/demux products offer industry standard wavelength configurations and are designed for use in inside plant (ISP) applications. "Our new lineup of passive DWDM mux/demux products allows our customers to save money and valuable space by greatly reducing the number of fibers required to connect sites and equipment in their networks. One big benefit of using DWDM technology is that it increases bandwidth by allowing multiple data streams to be sent simultaneously over a single fiber," said Paul Hospodar, Product Line Manager. L-com's new Passive DWDM Mux and Demux products are in-stock and available for same-day shipping. About L-com: L-com, a leading manufacturer of wired and wireless connectivity products, offers a wide range of solutions and unrivaled customer service for the electronics and data communications industries. The company's product portfolio includes cable assemblies, connectors, adapters, antennas, enclosures, surge protectors and more. L-com is headquartered in North Andover, Mass., is ISO 9001: 2015 certified and many of its products are UL recognized. L-com is an Infinite Electronics brand. About Infinite Electronics: Based in Irvine, Calif., Infinite Electronics offers a broad range of components, assemblies and wired/wireless connectivity solutions, serving the aerospace/defense, industrial, government, consumer electronics, instrumentation, medical and telecommunications markets. Infinite's brands include Pasternack, Fairview Microwave, L-com, MilesTek, ShowMeCables, NavePoint, INC Installs, Integra Optics, PolyPhaser, Transtector, KP Performance Antennas, RadioWaves & Aiconics. Infinite Electronics serves a global engineering customer base with deep technical expertise and support, with one of the broadest inventories of products available for immediate shipment. Press Contact: Peter McNeil L-com 17792 Fitch Irvine, Calif. 92614 978-682-6936 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/430629/L_com_Global_Connectivity_Logo.jpg SOURCE L-com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] Kathy Baig, ing., will preside over the Engineers Canada Board in 2022-2023 MONTREAL, May 31, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - The Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec (OIQ) is proud to announce that its President, Kathy Baig, Eng., MBA, ASC, FEC, DHC, will become president of the Engineers Canada Board in May 2022. She will serve a one-year term following Danny Chui, FEC, P.Eng., who has just begun his one-year term in this office. Ms. Baig is currently serving her third term as President of the OIQ, which will end in June 2022. Engineers Canada is the national organization that supports the twelve provincial and territorial organizations responsible for regulating the engineering profession in Canada. "Engineers Canada performs an important function across the country and I thank my colleagues for their confidence. While continuing my duties as President of the Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec, I am very much looking forward to preparing for this new office next year," commented Kathy Baig. Ms. Baig, who was elected President of the OIQ in 2016, is now in her third and final two-year term in this ffice. She has been a member of the Engineers Canada board of directors since 2015. In the coming year, she will support the organization's acting president, Mr. Chui, in her capacity as "President-Elect" of Engineers Canada. About the Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec The Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec turned 100 years old in 2020. It has a membership of some 65,000 engineering professionals in all fields, except forest engineering. Its mission is to regulate the practice of engineers and support the development of the profession in the interest of protecting the public. For more information, go to oiq.qc.ca. For a quick update on OIQ news, join its virtual communities: Facebook: facebook.com/oiq.qc.ca Twitter: twitter.com/OIQ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/ordreingenieursqc/ YouTube: youtube.com/user/ordredesingenieurs Instagram: instagram.com/ordreingenieursqc/ SOURCE Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] Let's Talk Interactive and Soldier on Recognize Telehealth's Impact on Veteran Mental Health CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- At Memorial Day, Let's Talk Interactive, Inc., (LTI) a leader in customizable telehealth solutions, and Soldier On, a nonprofit organization committed to ending veteran homelessness, are celebrating the impact their telehealth program has had on veterans in just over one year of their partnership. Since Soldier On started utilizing LTI's telehealth solutions in March 2020, the organization has hosted over 4,500 sessions. Soldier On's Executive Director of Clinical Services and Certified Teletherapy Provider, Kevin Cahill, has conducted 28 percent of them. Kevin also uses LTI for consultations with the Veterans Treatment Court, Hampshire County Jail, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Berkshire Housing Association on a weekly basis. Monthly he uses the telehealth technology to consult with Soldier On's Supportive Services for Veteran Families programs and has also hosted a staff training on PTSD with over 50 attendees. "I am able to meet with up to 25 veterans per week, up from roughly 13 per week before we leveraged LTI's telehealth services," said Cahill. "LTI's partnership came at the right time for us, just before COVID-19 required social distancing precautions, which prevented us from meeting in person with veterans. The technology not only enabled us to continue to provide behavioral telemental health services but allowed us to meet more often. The technology also provides more eye contact and facial cueing, because you're not monitoring the rest of the body." Soldier On will be lveraging additional telehealth solutions -- including new kiosks -- as the organization continues to expand its services and veteran housing throughout the Northeast. "We are able to give veterans access to mental health support at their fingertips by leveraging LTI's HIPAA-compliant online software in kiosks, televisions, smartphones, computers and tablet technology," said Bruce Buckley, CEO of Soldier On. "As a result, we're continuing to help them overcome mental health hurdles from PTSD, trauma and addiction, and ultimately lead a productive, independent life." Soldier On continues to grow its impact. The agency has partnered with WinnDevelopment and this fall will be opening the new Gordon H. Mansfield Veterans Community in Tinton Falls, NJ, which will provide 70 units of permanent housing for military veterans. Soldier On's programs impact an estimated 3,200 veterans annually across four states, including Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. As Soldier On grows its presence throughout the region, LTI's technology will enable the nonprofit to support all of its permanent housing residents with life skills, substance abuse counseling, and other groups. About Let's Talk Interactive, Inc. Let's Talk Interactive, Inc. is a complete end-to-end Telehealth solutions provider and recipient of Zoom Video Communications, Inc's global inaugural Trailblazer Award. LTI arms medical and behavioral health professionals with cutting-edge Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA) video conferencing software, kiosks and medical carts, network solutions, virtual clinics, and proprietary safe and secure online video conferencing capabilities while giving those in need instant access to care through its innovative technology platform. The company's telemedicine solutions enable providers to offer care at any time, from any location in the world and patients to directly connect to a licensed professional in real-time. For more information about LTI, visit https://letstalkinteractive.com. About Soldier On Soldier On is a nationally recognized non-profit organization governed by a full-time President, CEO and a volunteer Board of Directors. We work in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs and other agencies to provide veterans with shelter and support in an environment that offers dignity, integrity, and, most importantly, hope. Our mission is to offer a continuum of care that includes immediate and long-term housing with services delivered where they live. Soldier On's ultimate goal is to provide formerly homeless veterans with permanent, supportive, sustainable housing - assisting them in their transition from homelessness to homeownership. Media Contact: Caitlin Wolf caitlin@letstalkinteractive.com 410.935.2363 Related Images soldier-on-lets-talk-interactive.png Soldier On + Let's Talk Interactive View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lets-talk-interactive-and-soldier-on-recognize-telehealths-impact-on-veteran-mental-health-301302052.html SOURCE Let's Talk Interactive [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP and Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Announce Proposed Settlement in the Esperion Therapeutics Securities Settlement The following statement is being issued by Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP and Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC regarding the Esperion Therapeutics Securities Settlement: UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION KEVIN L. DOUGHERTY, Individually and ) Civ. No. 2:16-cv-10089-AJT-RSW on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated, ) CLASS ACTION Plaintiff, ) SUMMARY NOTICE OF PROPOSED vs. ) SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTION ESPERION THERAPEUTICS, INC., et al., ) Defendants. ) ) ) ) TO: ALL PERSONS AND ENTITIES THAT PURCHASED OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRED ESPERION THERAPEUTICS, INC. ("ESPERION" OR THE "COMPANY") COMMON STOCK FROM AUGUST 18, 2015 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 28, 2015, INCLUSIVE ("CLASS" OR "CLASS MEMBERS"), AND WERE ALLEGEDLY DAMAGED THEREBY THIS NOTICE WAS AUTHORIZED BY THE COURT. IT IS NOT A LAWYER SOLICITATION. PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY AND IN ITS ENTIRETY. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that a hearing will be held on August 23, 2021, at 3:00 p.m., before the Honorable Arthur J. Tarnow at the Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse, 231 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit, MI 48226, or at such other location or via telephonic or video appearance as determined by the Court, to determine whether: (1) the proposed settlement (the "Settlement") of the above-captioned action as set forth in the Stipulation of Settlement ("Stipulation")1 for $18,250,000 should be approved by the Court as fair, reasonable and adequate; (2) the Judgment as provided under the Stipulation should be entered to dismiss the above-captioned action with prejudice; (3) to award Class Counsel attorneys' fees and expenses out of the Settlement Fund (as defined in the Notice of Pendency and Proposed Settlement of Class Action ("Notice"), which is discussed below) and, if so, in what amounts; (4) the Class Representatives' request for reimbursement in connection with their representation of the Class pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 78u-4(a)(4) should be approved and, if so, in what amounts; and (5) the Plan of Allocation should be approved by the Court as fair, reasonable and adequate. This Litigation is a securities class action brought on behalf of those Persons or entities who purchased or acquired Esperion common stock during the period between August 18, 2015 and September 28, 2015, inclusive, against Esperion and Tim Mayleben (collectively, "Defendants") for, among other things, allegedly misstating and omitting material facts about information concerning the drug approval process for Esperion's cholesterol-lowering drug. The Class Representatives allege that these purportedly false and misleading statements inflated the price of Esperion stock, resulting in damage to Class Members when the truth was revealed. Defendants deny all of the Class Representatives' allegations. IF YOU PURCHASED OR ACQUIRED ESPERION COMMON STOCK BETWEEN AUGUST 18, 2015 THROUGH AND INCLUDING SEPTEMBER 28, 2015, YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE SETTLEMENT OF THIS LITIGATION. To share in the distribution of the Settlement Fund, you must establish your rights by submitting a Proof of Claim and Release form ("Proof of Claim") by mail (postmarked no later than September 24, 2021) or electronically (no later than September 24, 2021). Your failure to submit your Proof of Claim by September 24, 2021, will subject your claim to rejection and preclude your receiving any of the recovery in connection with the Settlement of this Litigation. If you are a Member of the Class and do not request exclusion therefrom, you will be bound by the Settlement and any judgment and release entered in the Litigation, including, but not limited to, the Judgment, whether or not you submit a Proof of Claim. If you have not received a copy of the Notice, which more completely describes the Settlement and your rights thereunder (including your right to object to the Settlement), and a Proof of Claim, you may obtain these documents, as well as a copy of the Stipulation (which, among other things, contains definitions for the defined terms used in this Summary Notice) and other Settlement documents, online at www.EsperionSecuritiesSettlement.com, or by writing to: Esperion Securities Settlement Claims Administrator c/o Gilardi & Co. LLC P.O. Box (News - Alert) 43390 Providence, RI 02940-3390 Inquiries should NOT be directed to Defendants, the Court, or the Clerk of the Court. Inquiries, other than requests for the Notice or a Proof of Claim, may be made to Class Counsel: ROBBINS GELLER RUDMAN & DOWD LLP Ellen Gusikoff Stewart 655 West Broadway, Suite 1900 San Diego, CA (News - Alert) 92101 Telephone: 1-800-449-4900 KAHN SWICK & FOTI, LLC ALEXANDER BURNS 1100 Poydras Street, Suite 3200 New Orleans, LA 70163 Toll-Free: 1-866-467-1400 IF YOU DESIRE TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THE CLASS, YOU MUST SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR EXCLUSION SUCH THAT IT IS RECEIVED BY AUGUST 2, 2021, IN THE MANNER AND FORM EXPLAINED IN THE NOTICE. CLASS MEMBERS WHO HAVE NOT REQUESTED EXCLUSION FROM THE CLASS WILL BE BOUND BY THE SETTLEMENT EVEN IF THEY DO NOT SUBMIT TIMELY PROOF OF CLAIM. IF YOU ARE A CLASS MEMBER, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT TO THE SETTLEMENT, THE PLAN OF ALLOCATION, THE REQUEST BY CLASS COUNSEL FOR AN AWARD OF ATTORNEYS' FEES NOT TO EXCEED 32.5% OF THE $18,250,000 SETTLEMENT AMOUNT AND EXPENSES NOT TO EXCEED $1,000,000 INCLUDING THE PAYMENT TO THE CLASS REPRESENTATIVES IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR REPRESENTATION OF THE CLASS NOT TO EXCEED $15,000 IN THE AGGREGATE. ANY OBJECTIONS MUST BE FILED WITH THE COURT AND SENT TO CLASS COUNSEL AND DEFENDANTS' COUNSEL BY AUGUST 2, 2021, IN THE MANNER AND FORM EXPLAINED IN THE NOTICE. DATED: May 6, 2021 BY ORDER OF THE COURT UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN 1 The Stipulation can be viewed and/or obtained at www.EsperionSecuritiesSettlement.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210531005005/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Remember Veterans at Memorial Day Events Today By West Kentucky Star Staff Paducah Ballard County Crittenden County Graves County Livingston County Lyon County Marshall County Massac County WESTERN KENTUCKY - There will be several Memorial Day events on Monday across western Kentucky to honor and remember veterans. Here is a list of events that are open to the public on Monday:The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 337 will host its 38th annual Memorial Day program Monday at 7 p.m. at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Dolly McNutt Memorial Plaza.A celebration to honor veterans will be held at 10 a.m. in the Court House yard. Veteran Tommy Wells will be the speaker.A second celebration will be held at the Wickliffe City Cemetery at 2 p.m. Wreaths will be placed on the graves of George Lane and Willard Poole, who were the last two veterans buried there.There will be a dedication of the Veterans Memorial on Canal Street at 2 p.m. two blocks from the Cave In Rock Ferry. Rolling Thunder, the VFW and American Legion will be in attendance.American Legion Post 26 will host its annual Memorial Day commemoration at 10 a.m. in Harmon Park. This years event will honor those veterans who passed away during the period between April 1 and October 15, 2020. Those veterans were not able to receive military burial honors because of the pandemic.Burna American Legion will host its annual ceremony at 8 a.m. at the Legion Memorial. Refreshments will be provided. Retired Col. David Coleman of Paducah is this year's keynote speaker at Burna and also at Mapleview on Monday.Lyon County American Legion Post 68 is sponsoring its 6th annual Flags of Honor dedication on Monday.This will be the 6th year for the Flags of Honor display at the Eddyville City Park. The flags will be flown from Memorial Day to the Fourth of July. The flags are dedicated in honor of or in memory of all veterans.After the Fourth of July, the flags are taken down, folded properly and returned to the person who made the dedication. Along with the flag the person also receives the identification tag from the flagpole and a certificate of appreciation. There will also be a Dedication Ceremony in the park on Memorial Day at 10:00 a.m. with guest speakers.Dedication forms will be in the Post 68 newsletter and are available at the American Legion building during any of their functions such as Bingo, Fish Fries, etc. A new flag is $25. If you have a flag that was flown at one of the previous displays, it can be reused this year. It must be in serviceable condition and costs $15.The annual Memorial Day Service is at 11 a.m. at Mike Miller Park. The guest speaker is Garry Smethers of the Marshall County Veterans Support Group.The annual Memorial Day ceremony in Metropolis will take place at 11 a.m. in Veterans Park next to the Metropolis Public Library. [May 31, 2021] Kontrol Delivers Two BioCloud Units to Health Canada for Testing and Adds Middle East Distribution Partner TORONTO, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Kontrol Technologies Corp. (NEO: KNR) (OTCQB: KNRLF) (FSE: 1K8) ("Kontrol Technologies" or "Kontrol" or the "Company") a leader in smart buildings and cities through IoT, Cloud and SaaS technology is pleased to announce that it has delivered two BioCloud units to Health Canada for testing and has added a Middle East distribution partner with regional exclusivity. Testing with Health Canada The two BioCloud units were delivered in May 2021 to Health Canada's National Microbiology Level 4 laboratory. The testing is carried out at the request of several interested government agencies and at no cost to Kontrol. The testing is anticipated to include efficiencies and detection of SARs-COV-2 and its variants under various control conditions. Testing has commenced with results anticipated in July 2021. Upon receipt of final testing and results the Company will announce and publish those results on its website, subject to any regulatory approval which may be required. New Distribution Kontrol BioCloud has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with the Royal Health Group, following a recent positive pilot completion as per the press release dated May 25th, 2021. The Royal Health Group is led by Dr. Mohammed Al Seiari, a recognized health care leader in the United Arab Emirates ("UAE"). The Royal Health Group provides COVID-19 testing facilities and other health care services throughout the region. "We are very impressed with the BioCloud technology," said Dr. Mohammed Al Seiari. "The BioCloud technology can play an important role in supporting the detection of viruses and pathogens which can help provide the confidence we need to return to normal as the global economy seeks to re-open." Under the terms of the agreement Royal Health Group will have regional exclusivity for the UAE and the parties will negotiate the minimum number of annual units of BioCloud sales required to maintain the exclusivity. The exclusive period is for one year with an option to renew. Kontrol BioCloud is an air quality technology and not a medical device. The Company is not making any express or implid claims that its product has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain the COVID-19 (or SARS-2 Coronavirus). About Kontrol BioCloudTM BioCloud is a real-time analyzer designed to detect airborne viruses. It has been designed to operate as a safe space technology by sampling the air quality over time. With a proprietary detection chamber that can be replaced as needed, viruses are detected, and an alert system is created in the Cloud or over local intranet. BioCloud has been designed for spaces where individuals gather including classrooms, offices, retirement homes, hospitals, mass transportation and others. Additional information about Kontrol BioCloud can be found on its website at www.kontrolbiocloud.com About Kontrol Technologies Corp. Kontrol Technologies Corp., a Canadian public company, is a leader in smart buildings and cities through IoT, Cloud and SaaS technology. Kontrol Technologies provides a combination of software, hardware, and service solutions to its customers to improve energy management, air quality and continuous emission monitoring. Additional information about Kontrol Technologies Corp. can be found on its website at www.kontrolcorp.com and by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com Neither IIROC nor any stock exchange or other securities regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "likely", "should", "would", "plan", "anticipate", "intend", "potential", "proposed", "estimate", "believe" or the negative of these terms, or other similar words, expressions, and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy. Where Kontrol expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is based on assumptions made in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. Such assumptions include, without limitation, that sufficient capital will be available to the Company and that technology will be as effective as anticipated. However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected, or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, but are not limited to, that sufficient capital and financing cannot be obtained on reasonable terms, or at all, that technologies will not prove as effective as expected, that customers and potential customers will not be as accepting of the Company's product and service offering as expected, and government and regulatory factors impacting the energy conservation industry. Kontrol BioCloud is an air quality technology and not a medical device. The Company is not making any express or implied claims that its product has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain the COVID-19 (or SARS-2 Coronavirus). Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements and the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made as at the date hereof and are based on the beliefs, estimates, expectations, and opinions of management on such date. Kontrol does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any such forward-looking statements or any forward-looking statements contained in any other documents whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required under applicable securities law. Readers are cautioned to consider these and other factors, uncertainties, and potential events carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kontrol-delivers-two-biocloud-units-to-health-canada-for-testing-and-adds-middle-east-distribution-partner-301302325.html SOURCE Kontrol Technologies Corp. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] Hyperlink InfoSystem Has Developed an Innovative Solution For Zydus Cadila To Safeguard Patients Against Fake Medicines PARIS, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In the age of advanced technology and improved healthcare, there is always a solution to meet an unresolved issue, one of them being fake medication. The number of counterfeit medicines and injections is rising. To address this issue, one of the top app developers in India Hyperlink InfoSystem has developed a mobile app for Zydus Cadila which is named as Zydus Verify. Zydus Cadila is an India-based well-renowned pharmaceutical company that has launched a remarkable solution to address the current issue of helping patients consume genuine medicines. Zydus Cadila collaborated with Hyperlink InfoSystem to solve this issue with its advanced IT solutions. This top-notch IT company has implemented a unique scratch code printed on the medicine packaging surface. Scanning this scratch code enables the patients to authenticate if their medicine or injection is genuine or fake. All that needs to be done is scratch the code and scan it to verify the medicine. The founder and CEO of Hyperlink InfoSystem, Harnil Oza says, "When you combine Healthcare, Pharma with IT, Technology you create magic. Awareness of all kinds is necessary, especially in this Gen Z era, people demand a high level of technology to meet their requirements. Our client has appreciated this incredibly unique idea to resolve the issue of today's health sector. Zydus is the first company in the world to make something like thi. Moreover, it should not be overlooked that counterfeit medicines can be detrimental to one's health and it can be life-threatening too. However, we are glad that with our robust mobile app, the situation will be quite controlled in the near future. This solution will also save lots of human lives," he added. How does the Zydus Verify app work? A unique scratch code is printed over each medicine package. The code needs to be scratched and scanned by the customer. Once the app is downloaded, they need to enter that unique code in the Zydus Verify app (after downloading it from App Store or Play Store). or Play Store). The app then shows a pop-up if or not the medicine is genuine or fake. Check Zydus Verify Website here: https://zydusverify.com/ App Available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. About Zydus :- Zydus Cadila is an innovative, global pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of healthcare therapies, including small molecule drugs, biologic therapeutics and vaccines. The group employs nearly 25,000 people worldwide, including 1,400 scientists engaged in R & D, and is dedicated to creating healthier communities globally. About Hyperlink InfoSystem:- Hyperlink InfoSystem is an IT company headquartered in Ahmedabad. It focuses on mainly App development, software development, IOT development AI and data science Hyperlink infosystem has clients all over the world, and more than 450 + employees. Harnil Oza, CEO and founder of Hyperlink infosystem is a firm believer of innovation. Innovating Technologies combining the modern world Vs. traditional world which can help in making life easier which is what Hyperlink infosystem is focused on. Contact Details: Hyperlink InfoSystem Harnil Oza +1-805-744-1224 info@hyperlinkinfosystem.com New York Address: One World Trade Center 285 Fulton Street suite 8500, New York, NY 10007, United States London Address: Level 30, The Leadenhall Building 122 Leadenhall Street, London EC3V 4AB Mumbai Address: Level 8, Vibgyor Towers C 62, G Block Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400098 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hyperlink-infosystem-has-developed-an-innovative-solution-for-zydus-cadila-to-safeguard-patients-against-fake-medicines-301302328.html SOURCE Hyperlink Infosystem [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] A Time to Celebrate the Students! Insight School of Indiana Class of 2021 Ready to Move Forward After a school year like no other, Insight School of Indiana (ISIN), an online public school serving students throughout the state since 2008, will celebrate its graduates online with a commencement ceremony on June 1st. The virtual ceremonies will begin at 6 pm EST. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210531005002/en/ "While other schools may have struggled with online learning throughout the year, both Hoosier and ISIN never missed a day of instruction, which kept our students motivated, excited, and moving forward," said ISIN Head of School Tina Walker. "Their achievements deserve to be shouted from the stands at the Indy 500, and we're happy to provide a range of solutions that helps all our Indiana families." This year ISIN will graduate over 105 students. Approximately 7 students will graduate with a cumulative GPA above 3.5 and nearly $650,000 worth of college scholarships have reportedly been awarded to the Class of 2021. Collectively, the graduating class reports it has been accepted to colleges and universities across Indiana and beyond, including Xavier, Iniana State, Anderson, Indiana University (News - Alert) , Wabash, Hanover, Franklin, Ivy tech and Ball State. ISIN will feature Hunter Faulkner as the Valedictorian. Hunter has received many offers with full rides but has not yet committed to a school at this time. The Salutatorian is Gabriel Lewis for ISIN. Gabriel plans to attend Ivy Tech in the fall respectively. The keynote speakers will be Kevin P. Chavous, Stride's President, Academic Policy and External Affairs, Dr. Shaun McAlmont, Stride's President of Career Learning Solutions, and Indiana Governor, Eric J. Holcomb. Prior to the pandemic, students enrolled in virtual school for a number of reasons-some were looking to escape bullying, some may have fallen academically off track, and others were looking for an alternative to the traditional classroom setting. ISIN students access a robust online curriculum in the core subjects and a host of electives and attend live virtual classes taught by state-certified teachers. Details of the graduation ceremonies are as follows: WHAT: Insight Academy of Indiana 2021 Graduation Ceremony WHEN: Tuesday, June 1st 2021, 6:00pm EST CONTACT: For any questions about the celebrations, please contact Angie Baker at anbaker@k12.com. For media inquiries, please contact Ken Schwartz at kschwartz@k12.com. About Insight School of Indiana Insight School of Indiana (ISIN) is a tuition-free, public charter school authorized by Ball State University that serves students in grades 7-12. As part of the Indiana public school system, ISIN is tuition-free and provides families the choice to access the curriculum and tools provided by K12, a Stride Company (NYSE: LRN). Stride offers learners of all ages a more effective way to learn and build skills for their future. For more information about ISIN, visit: in.insightschools.net. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210531005002/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] For its 100th Anniversary, The Laughing Cow Celebrates the Power of Laughter MONTREAL, May 31, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - For its 100th anniversary, The Laughing Cow, Bel Group's very first brand, is proud to celebrate the power of laughter and its positive impact on our lives. Starting today, Canadians are invited to share the sound of their laughter on a web application to bring joy to those who need it the most. On this occasion, The Laughing Cow is committed to supporting two Foundations that share this same objective. This marks the beginning of a movement that is part of Bel Canada Group's mission: to engage socially in the long term with the community. Thanks to its visionary spirit, The Laughing Cow has maintained its relevance throughout the world, with 121 portions now being produced every second. Popular with all generations, the brand accounts for 13% of the snack cheese sales volume among Canadian households. The Laughing Cow has been present in the Canadian market for over 60 years and, since 2007, this beloved brand has been proudly made in Quebec with the collaboration of Fromagerie Bergeron. The Superpower of Laughter The Laughing Cow is celebrating its 100th anniversary with laughter and the positive impact of laughter on our lives. Starting May 31, 2021, Canadians are invited to record their laughter and the laughter of their loved ones on the web application at 100ytlc.com. "The Laughing Cow combines nutritional value with a creamy texture that is sure to make you smile! Celebrating the power of laughter for the brand's 100th anniversary, especially during these extraordinary times, is a fitting tribute to the Bel Group's charitable values, which advocate innovation for healthier and more responsible food for all," said Marie-Eve Robert, Vice President of Marketing for Bel Canada Group. In honour of this occasion, The Laughing Cow will donate a total of $75,000 to the Dr. Clown Foundation and SickKids Foundation, two charities that bring help and joy to those who need it the most. The centennial laughter of The Laughing Cow is quite a story! In 1921, just after the war, Leon Bel, the son of the owner of a well-known artisanal cheese factory at the foot of the French Alps, discovered the potential of a new Swiss product: processed cheese. It was economically viable, and easy to transport and store. Leon Bel was convinced. This is the story of how he embarked on his industrial adventure and founded the Fromagerie Bel, which later became the Bel Group, and the brand The Laughing Cow. The name was inspired by the emblem of his military unit, a hilarious ox, nicknamed Wachkyrie, in reference to The Valkyrie, Wagner's opera that was dear to the German enemy at the time. For 100 years, The Laughing Cow has been a quality product that offers unique, innovative small triangular portions to promote healthy eating and provide a beneficial solution to waste. Today, the brand represents 34% of Bel Canada Group's sales and the brand has achieved a 19.7% penetration in the overall Canadian market, representing nearly 3 million households. About The Laughing Cow The Laughing Cow was created in 1921 in France. The Laughing Cow is consumed in more than 120 countries, making it the world's fourth largest processed cheese brand. It has been available on the Canadian market for over 60 years and this core line has been proudly made in Quebec, in St-Nicolas, with the collaboration of Fromagerie Bergeron, since 2007. With its creamy texture, The Laughing Cow is an ideal snack, combining a portion of laughter with a portion of nutrition. For more information, visit www.thelaughingcow.ca. About Dr. Clown Foundation The Dr. Clown Foundation brings joy to the most vulnerable people in our community. Since 2002, the Dr. Clown Foundation has been developing its personal relationship approach that is focused on improving the quality of life of hospitalized children, students in specialized schools, hospitalized patients of all ages and seniors in care facilities. The Foundation runs two separate programs: Dr. Clown, designed for schools and hospitals, and La Belle Visite, intended for seniors. Both aim to create caring and respectful relationships that bring a breath of joy into environments we visit. For more information, visit fondationdrclown.ca. About SickKids Foundation Established in 1972, SickKids Foundation raises funds on behalf of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and is the largest charitable funder of child health research, learning and care in Canada. Its vision is simple: Healthier Children. A Better World. SickKids believes fighting for the health and well-being of children is one of the most powerful ways to improve society. They understand that sometimes the most effective tool isn't a machine or new scientific procedureit's laughter, music, and art. That's why SickKids therapeutic clowns, music therapists, and art therapists treat the whole child: mind, body, and spirit. But they're not done yet. SickKids is still fighting to save lives, find new cures and to provide world-class care for overall health and well-being. It's a massive challenge, but one that has to be met. For more information, please visit www.sickkidsfoundation.com. About Bel Canada Group Bel Canada Group is a subsidiary of Bel Group a global family-run company piloted by its fifth generation of family leadership. Bel is the world's top player in the cheese portions category and a major player in the healthy snacking market in nearly 120 countries. The Bel Canada Group subsidiary was established in 2005 to promote the development of the Group's activities in Canada and it currently employs 200 people, including 60 at its head office in Montreal. Its main brandsBoursin and The Laughing Coware produced in Canada through subcontracting partnership agreements with local dairy processors. Babybel is also produced at the Sorel-Tracy plant since 2020. For more information, visit www.bel-canada.ca. SOURCE Bel Group [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] ProStar announces that Kraemer North America has Signed a Service-Level Agreement (SLA) GRAND JUNCTION, Colo., May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ProStar Holdings Inc ("ProStar" or the "Company") (TSXV: MAPS) (FSE: 5D00), a world leader in Precision Mapping Solutions, and developer of PointMan, announced today that Kraemer North America, a top-ranked U.S. national heavy civil contractor with operations throughout the U.S., has signed a service-level agreement (SLA) for ProStar's newest cloud and mobile Precision Mapping Solution, PointMan Pro. "PointMan Pro is just a better way to do data collection and reduce risks and liabilities associated with the construction of our critical infrastructure projects," said Dustin Kelsey, Project Manager at Kraemer. "I can see other infrastructure construction firms, both large and small, following in our footsteps and adopting PointMan." Kraemer North America becomes the first major U.S. infrastructure construction firm to adopt ProStar's newest solution, PointMan Pro, which was released in March following over two years of development. Kraemer North America business operations span coast to coast, and the firm serves three primary infrastructure markets, including transportation, rail, and marine. "This is another major milestone for ProStar as Kraemer is the first major construction company to adopt our newest solution," stated Page Tucker, CEO and founder of ProStar. "The adoption of PointMan Pro by Kraemer proves that PointMan can replace onerous and antiquated business practices that have been well entrenched by the construction industry for several decades." About Kraemer Kraemer North America is a privately held general contractor headquartered in Plain, Wisconsin with regional offices located in Minnesota, Colorado, Washington, and Utah. Established in 1911, the company's roots were founded in the construction of challenging bridges and highways across the U.S. Today, Kraemer is a full service heavy civil contractor with a national reputation for quality and safety. Kraemer serves three primary markets, including: transportation, rail, and marine. About ProStar (TSXV: MAPS) (FSE: 5D00) ProStar is a world leader in Precision Mapping Solutions. ProStar's flagship product, PointMan, is natively cloudand mobile and is offered as a Software as a Service (SaaS). ProStar's solutions seamlessly connect the field with the office and provides the ability to precisely capture, record, display, and manage critical infrastructure data in real-time, including roads, railways, pipelines, and utilities. Some of the largest entities in North America have adopted ProStar's solutions, including Fortune 500 construction firms, subsurface utilities engineering (SUE) firms, utility owners, and government agencies. ProStar has strategic business partnerships are with the world's leading geospatial technology providers, data collection equipment manufacturers, and their dealer networks, including Trimble Juniper Systems, Bad Elf, Vivax-Metrotech, Radiodetection , and Subsite Electronics. The Company has made a significant investment in creating a vast intellectual property portfolio that includes 19 issued patents in the United States and Canada, with more pending. The patents protect the methods and systems required to digitally capture, record, organize, manage, distribute, and display the precise location of critical infrastructure, including buried utilities and pipelines. ProStar's Executive management team has extensive experience in the management of both early stage and Fortune 500 technology companies in the private and public sectors. The leadership team includes Vasa Dasan, former CTO of Sun Microsystems, Carl Lashua, previous Chief Information Officer of HSBC Canada and Europe, and Matthew Breman, prior Executive for Disney. For more information about ProStar, please visit www.prostarcorp.com. Alex Moore Investor Relations 970-822-4792 Investorrelations@prostarcorp.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 or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Such information includes, without limitation, information regarding the terms and conditions of the Company's future plans. Although the Company believes that such information is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "postulate" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to: the state of the financial markets for the Company's securities; the state of the technology sector; recent market volatility; the COVID-19 pandemic; the Company's ability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; and other risks and factors that the Company is unaware of at this time. The reader is referred to the Company's recent Information Circular filed on SEDAR on November 20, 2020 for a more complete discussion of applicable risk factors and their potential effects, copies of which may be accessed through the Company's issuer page on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The 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 law. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/prostar-announces-that-kraemer-north-america-has-signed-a-service-level-agreement-sla-301302103.html SOURCE ProStar Corp [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] Uzbekistan to Join P4G Partnership and Hold Green Energy Conference for Developing Countries SEOUL, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Uzbekistan plans to host an international conference "Green Energy for Developing Countries" next year. It was announced by the President of the country Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the International Summit "Partnership for Green Growth and Global Goals - 2030" (P4G), which took place via video conference on May 30-31 in Seoul. The P4G Seoul Summit is the third of four major international conferences on the environment this year. It comes between the Leaders Summit on Climate hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden in April, and the 26th U.N. Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) to be held in November in Glasgow. The two-day forum in Seoul was attended by heads of state and government, high representatives of leading countries of the world, heads of international organizations, including the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The participants discussed such issues as coping with the consequences of climate change, "green" recovery and ensuring carbon neutrality, as well as the achievement of the SDGs and the implementation of the provisions of the Paris Agreement on climate. According to President Mirziyoyev, the pandemic has shown an inextricable link between human health and the environment, economic and social progress. "We can no longer ignore the signals that nature itself sends us," he said. Central Asia is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate chage. Over the past 30 years, the average annual temperature in Central Asia has increased by about 1 degree C. The region is experiencing rapid melting of glaciers, a decrease in the flow of the main rivers and biodiversity in the region, problems with greenhouse gases and large-scale air pollution. The severe consequences of global climatic changes are felt in the Aral Sea region, where an ecological catastrophe of a global scale has occurred. "No one doubts that countries' actions to achieve green development goals should be more active and more effective. We have no other choice," Shavkat Mirziyoyev said at the Seoul Summit. At the national level, Uzbekistan is pursuing a consistent policy aimed at transitioning to a green economy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change. According to its obligations under the Paris Agreement, Uzbekistan will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10% of GDP by 2030, and this figure may rise. The new national strategy for the transition to a "green" economy provides for an increase in the share of renewable energy sources in electricity generation to 25%. In the coming years, it is planned to build five solar and three wind power stations. National strategies are anticipated to mitigate the effects of climate change, develop renewable and hydrogen energy, accelerate the transition to a green economy, and more. At the same time, the Uzbekistan President emphasized the importance of joining the efforts of the international community to advance "green" and sustainable development. Uzbekistan was the first in the region to join the Global Green Growth Institute and intends to open its office in the country. The country is also ready to join and become a full member of the P4G partnership. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also proposes to hold an international conference "Green Energy for Developing Countries" next year, as well as launch a special program to attract young people to create a "green" economy to form a culture of green consumption. The President also thanked international partners for their full support of Uzbekistan's initiative, the recently adopted special resolution of the UN General Assembly on declaring the Aral Sea region a zone of environmental innovation and technology. It was proposed to continue active joint work in this direction, including within the framework of the specially created UN Trust Fund, the Global Green Growth Institute, on the platform of the P4G Partnership and other international institutions. Uzbekistan Ambassador Said Rustamov said: "Climate change is one of the key areas of the UK-Uzbek cooperation agenda. A high level delegation of Uzbekistan is to take part in the 26th UN Climate Summit (COP-26) in Glasgow this year. At the summit, the Uzbekistan delegation intends to share its views on climate change problems, the country's ongoing efforts to combat global warming and draw attention to the acute environmental problems it faces, primarily in the Aral Sea region." Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1522147/president_P4G.jpg View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/uzbekistan-to-join-p4g-partnership-and-hold-green-energy-conference-for-developing-countries-301302373.html SOURCE Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, London [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 31, 2021] EML CTO Jason Nadler's Childhood Admiration For Bill Gates Comes Full Circle With EML's Move To Microsoft Azure Jason Nadler is Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at EML Payments Limited (ASX: EML) (S&P/ASX 200). With a background in business and technology, he understands complex technical problems and solutions in the market. He translates this into how best it equates for the FinTech's current and future customers. To enable accelerated growth through scalability, security, and automation, his team utilises the company's global reach to provide reliable systems with innovative, market-leading strategies. In the following conversation, Jason reveals that ''we are a Microsoft (News - Alert) shop.'' This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210531005171/en/ Jason Nadler, CTO at EML. (Photo: Business Wire) What makes Microsoft Azure attractive to a FinTech CTO? ''We develop and run our technology stack in Microsoft technologies. Specifically, we use the . NET (News - Alert) Framework, which is a Microsoft programming language. All of our programmes, applications, and everything we develop runs in data centres known as on-prem or on-premises data centres. We physically rack and wire up the machines our technology runs on instead of simply uploading to the cloud where that level of interaction isn't needed. We could have considered the other main competitors in the space, but since we already had a strong connection with Microsoft, it made sense to stay. We were already developing in Microsoft technologies and using them for our corporate infrastructure. So, the terminology and system understanding was already engrained within all of our offices. It's a seamless integration to Microsoft Azure.'' What are you doing to help EML's Accelerator Strategy ucceed? ''We're giving our 3 primary regions, North America, Europe and Australia, a more consistent experience for our clients worldwide. We're excited to serve an enhanced developer experience. What does that mean? When companies want to use our technology, they have their 'techies' or developers investigate the functionality we offer. 40 years ago, you might have been lucky enough to have received a tri-fold pamphlet about a product! Today, techies can simply check out our APIs for themselves to see how we offer our technology to companies around the world to help enhance their business. It's easy to connect to our developer portal, integrate our technology, test it and experience how seamless we've made the entire process. We're using Microsoft and the toolset in Azure to accelerate this and our other go-to-market capabilities.'' What does embracing the cloud look like? ''As you know, our production systems are in on-prem data centres and on equipment that we manage. Moving forward, our new development will have more of a cloud-based foundation. We'll also migrate many existing systems to the cloud. The benefit is the ability to scale in an expedited fashion. With Microsoft Azure, we'll no longer have to decide what equipment to buy, place orders, or wait for arrival, then configure and migrate. We can instantly procure additional infrastructure with the click of a mouse and move applications to it to go live the same day.'' What has been your most memorable day at EML? ''EMLCON2019 in Sydney was incredible. The ability to get our clients from all over the globe into one collective space and to see our business partners connect on how they utilise our technology and how it enables their businesses to succeed and grow was an exciting time. EMLCON2020's virtual event was an enormous success, and I'm looking forward to EMLCON2021 later this year.'' What motivates you? ''Growing up, I went to huge schools, so I had to work extremely hard to have a chance to succeed. That work ethic from a young age gave me an edge in laser focusing on what it takes to propel an idea forward. My family were small business owners, and I also saw how dedicated they were to working hard to succeed. Additionally, there's great motivation in helping people out and giving someone a kickstart to get them safely on their journey or life path. I looked up to Bill Gates (News - Alert) when I was a boy. He's one of the giants of technology. Not only has he revolutionized technology, but he used his success to drive humanity forward.'' Finally, when Jason was a young kid, he dreamed of being an FBI Agent. Not surprisingly, in his role as CTO, he is super focused on security protocols. ''That's one of the major benefits of Microsoft. All of the different tools provided within Azure help secure our systems, and we love to examine the insights we gain from the analytics.'' About EML Payments Limited EML provides an innovative payment solutions platform, helping businesses all over the world create awesome customer experiences. Wherever money is in motion, our agile technology can power the payment process, so money can be moved quickly, conveniently and securely. We offer market-leading programme management and highly skilled payments expertise to create customisable feature-rich solutions for businesses, brands and their customers. Come and explore the many opportunities our platform has to offer by visiting us at: EMLPayments.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210531005171/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] After swiping $42 MILLION bucks from KCPD . . . Mayor Q denies that he's "defunding" police and maintains that his reallocation will help foster accountability. Accordingly . . . DEAR MAYOR Q: WHEN WILL THE PUBLIC KNOW HOW THIS 42 MILLION BUCKS WILL BE SPENT?!? So far only a few dedicated newsies are even asking about the cash that's already burning a hole in Mayor Q's pocket. Just to quickly round up Mayor Q's record on accountability and that of the council majority who passed this effort . . . - Northland council members were excluded from discussions of this policy and there are growing concerns about a secret meeting to organize this coup d'etat without the required quorum. - There was no public testimony allowed before this ordinance was passed. - So far, despite protestations about accountability. Neither Mayor Q nor his supporters have offered any indication of how this cash will be spent except in the most general terms. Meanwhile, deets regarding cash are just one of many legal questions that will be posed in an upcoming hearing for a lawsuit filed by the police commish in order to block this power move. Developing . . . The sound of gunfire echoing through an East side neighborhood alerted police to the latest deadly Kansas City crime scene. It was a noticeably quiet weekend but this overnight murder hints at more trouble on the way. Check the report from KCPD on what is, unofficially, the 62nd homicide so far in this cowtown compared to 68 at this time last year . . . This morning just before 2am officers were called to 37th and Montgall on a sound of shots call. While en route to the call it was updated to a shooting call. On arrival officers were directed to a vacant lot mid block south of 37th and Montgall. They located an adult male there just off the street who had been shot, and was unresponsive. EMS responded and transported the victim to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Detectives will be canvassing the surrounding area for any witnesses and crime scene investigators will be processing the scene for any evidence. If anyone saw anything or has any information they are asked to contact the homicide unit directly at 234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case or any unsolved homicide in Kansas City. Update with local news reporting . . . 1 person shot, killed early Monday morning KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City, Missouri, police are investigating after a person was found shot at 37th Terrace and Montgall Avenue early Monday morning. The call initially came in around 2 a.m. The victim was taken to a hospital where he later died. Shooting death marks 62nd homicide in Kansas City this year KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- A man's overnight shooting death marks Kansas City's 62nd homicide of the year. Officers were called just before 2 a.m. Monday to 37th Street and Montgall Avenue. When they arrived to a vacant lot, they found a man just off the street who had been shot and unresponsive. One man is dead after shooting at 37th and Montgall Ave. Kansas City, Missouri police are investigating an early morning homicide at 37th and Montgall Avenue.Police got a call around 2 a.m. of a shooting in the area. When police arrived, they found a man shot. Developing . . . The Intercept is one of our favorite publications but they're omitting an important detail in their latest report with a local connection. ERIC KING EARNED PRISON TIME FOR AN ALLEGED 'FIRE BOMBING' OF KANSAS CITY CONGRESSMAN CLEAVER'S OFFICE!!! To be fair, nobody was inside the office and his "Molotov cocktail" was a plastic water bottle . . . Nevertheless, threatening a member of Congress has always garnered serious consequences. What's more important, even if it's not fair and really gut wrenching to read, is that this guy is reportedly getting beaten from both sides in lockup . . . Eric King has faced chronic, targeted harassment, as well as severe emotional and physical torture, from BOP officers and known white supremacists working together, for over two years while held in solitary confinement, Lauren Regan, one of Kings attorneys with the Civil Liberties Defense Center, said in a statement. We reasonably believe this treatment has been in retaliation for his political views and First Amendment-protected activity. The life lesson for the rest of us is to stay upon the straight and narrow and realize that FEDERAL PRISON IS NO JOKE and sounds like a pretty atrocious place that this dude earned because of a haphazard attack that backfired and caused the local activist incalculable suffering. Read more . . . We remember when hottie Rosie was a rising star model and now she's a housewife amid the current reign of the Insta-Influencer. Things change and right now, in order to help our blog community keep up, we share more than a bit of pop culture, community news and top headlines. Check-it . . . Kansas City COVID Recovery Rises With Balloon Glow Balloon Glow Illuminates World War I Museum And Memorial As Kansas City Reopens Kansas Citians took advantage of accommodating weather - and the lifting of COVID-19 precautions - to swamp the World War I Museum and Memorial grounds on Sunday for a hot-air balloon glow. Organizers say more than 30,000 people gathered to watch 12 hot air balloons inflate and illuminate their colorful fabric bags, called envelopes. Growing Kansas City Good Deeds The Young family saw a need and did something to help their community KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Somethings growing in the heart of Kansas City's Ivan Hoe neighborhood Fresh fruit and vegetables are sprouting right at the corner of 39th Street and Wayne Avenue. This urban farm was a hobby for the Young family, farmers say it's now a source for the community. Urban Market Renaissance An Idea Whose Time Has Come The Black Pantry Kansas City has the best tag line - "Kansas City's Dopest General Store." Owner Brian Roberts saw the need in 2019 and 2020 for a one-stop-shop for consumers to find products sold by Black-owned and run businesses. "Wouldn't it be convenient to have one place to shop instead of looking all over town," he mused. Ignoring Worthless Clicks Hide Your Instagram Likes-and Be Free Humans love to assign value to things: the price of a gallon of milk ($3.55), the merit of a movie (89 percent on Rotten Tomatoes), the worth of an hour's work ($15 minimum, in California). Prez Biden Remembers Lost Son For Biden, a deeply personal Memorial Day weekend observance NEW CASTLE, Del. (AP) - President Joe Biden marked his first Memorial Day weekend as commander in chief by honoring the nation's sacrifices in a deeply personal manner as he paid tribute Sunday to those lost while remembering his late son Beau, a veteran who died six years ago to the day. Texas Messing With Democracy Texas Democrats Walk Out, Stop Republican's Sweeping Voting Restrictions AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Democrats pulled off a dramatic, last-ditch walkout in the Texas House of Representatives on Sunday night to block one of the most restrictive voting laws in the U.S. from passing before a midnight deadline. Searching For Pandemic Clues Former deputy national security advisor: 'I think we can' find COVID-19's origin Former Deputy National Security Advisor Matthew Pottinger said that he believes it is possible to ascertain the origins of COVID-19 during a discussion of the Wuhan lab origin theory on Sunday. Prep For China Baby Boom China easing birth limits further to cope with aging society BEIJING (AP) - China's ruling Communist Party will ease birth limits to allow all couples to have three children instead of two to cope with the rapid rise in the average age of its population, a state news agency said Monday. Nobody Wins Tequila Slap Fight Kendall Jenner's tequila brand is facing cultural appropriation claims. Experts say it's complicated Kendall Jenner has swapped her Pepsi for her very own beverage brand: 818 Tequila. The 25-year-old model's latest business venture, a new brand of "best-tasting tequila," was met with backlash from the Latinx and Mexican-American communities. The criticism?Another white celebrity cashing in on an industry and culture to which she has no proximity. Growing Local Noodles I wanted heirloom wheat for my restaurant's ramen noodles. So, my 73-year-old father hit the field Every time a bag of wheat from Japan was delivered to the back door of Ramen Bowls, the restaurant I co-own in Lawrence, Kansas, I had the same thought: Wouldn't it make more sense for my business - not to mention the planet - if I could get my hands on some local heirloom wheat to mill and use to make wheat noodles for the ramen shop? Kansas Faux Weed Sparks Sales Legal substance that looks like weed, smells like weed but isn't weed flying off Kansas CBD store shelves WICHITA, Kan. - Delta-9 is what we all know as marijuana and it's obviously illegal here in Kansas. The only molecular difference between legal Delta-8 and illegal Delta-9 is their chromosome structure and their potency. "It's about 50 to 75 percent weaker than the normal stuff, so you don't get high but you get all [...] Katie Weather Smile Today!!! Showers likely for Memorial Day in Kansas City Hide Transcript Show Transcript YEAH SO HOT. IT'S NOT AT ALL NOT YET TOWARDS THE END OF THE WEEK. YOU'LL SEE IT HERE IN THE NINE DAY FORECAST. DOES HEAT UP AGAIN, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S COLD AND RAINY IN KANSAS CITY ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY. IT IS 60 DEGREES. Maroon 5 - Memories is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. A KICK-ASS TKC READER contradicts hope that new a new ordinance will help curb illegal Kansas City drag racing and "sideshows" organized online. Here's the word . . . "A big FU this weekend to new ordinance, @MayorLucasKC @kcpolice as the street racing was bigger than ever on Saturday evening in downtown & in front of Union Station plus the biker caravans running red lights all thru town. Many endangered." Accordingly, we rewatch this clip and notice a street racer nearly hit a cop . . . WATCH: Dangerous sideshow captured on camera in Kansas City Just before 10 p.m. Saturday near Union Station in Kansas City, dozens of cars gathered in a nearby intersection, did donuts and participated in a side show.Within minutes, police showed up and the crowd scattered. Street racing nearly injures KCPD officer, despite new ordinance KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Street racing is an increasingly dangerous problem that's picking up speed in Kansas City, Missouri, despite its city council passing an ordinance Thursday to ban the side shows and their audiences. "A lot of people have contended that yeah we should just provide a place for people to do this. Moreover, this Swope Park clip reveals a dangerous scene over the weekend wherein stunt drivers swerved into the crowd . . . Developing . . . As we blogged previously, police broke up this social media circus quickly thanks to new tools from Mayor & council. However . . . TAKE A PEEK AT CAR CRASH CHAOS AMID KANSAS CITY 'SIDESHOW' DRIFTING!!! That's always the problems with these events . . . Organizers and stunt car performers are amateurs and often endanger onlookers and themselves. Take a peek . . . Developing . . . featured MEMORIAL DAY The story of the HMT Rhona gets the documentary treatment @IsaacAvilucea on Twitter Isaac Avilucea is The Trentonians main municipal scribe. A two-time prior restraint winner and testicular cancer survivor, he relishes his reputation as the "Mean Girls" reporter that followed his 18-day stay at the now-defunct North Adams Transcript. Biden Remembers War Dead at Arlington Cemetery By The Associated Press WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden honored Americas war dead at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day by laying a wreath at the hallowed burial ground and extolling the sacrifices of the fallen for the pursuit of democracy.The president was joined on Monday by first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff in a somber ceremony at the Virginia cemetery's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is dedicated to deceased service members whose remains have not been identified.His face tight with emotion, Biden walked up to the wreath, cupping it in his hands in silent reflection and making the sign of the cross. Later, he called on Americans to commemorate their fallen heroes by remembering their fight for the nation's ideals.This nation was built on an idea," Biden said in an address at Arlington. We were built on an idea, the idea of liberty and opportunity for all. Weve never fully realized that aspiration of our founders, but every generation has opened the door a little wider.He focused much of his speech on the importance of democracy, saying that it thrives when citizens can vote, when there is a free press and when there are equal rights for all.Generation after generation of American heroes are signed up to be part of the fight because they understand the truth that lives in every American heart: that liberation, opportunity, justice are far more likely to come to pass in a democracy than in an autocracy," Biden said.Then Bidens stopped by a row of gravestones after the ceremony, holding hands and speaking with a family.On Sunday, Biden addressed a crowd of Gold Star military families and other veterans in a ceremony at War Memorial Plaza in New Castle, Delaware. Earlier in the day, he and other family members attended a memorial Mass for his son Beau Biden, a veteran who died of brain cancer six years ago to the day. Front Lines Editors note: Front Lines is a monthly feature profiling individuals who, as first responders, help others in a crisis. They may be police officers, firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians or volunteers. Suggestions for Front Lines can be emailed to Patrick Buchnowski at pbuchnowski@tribdem.com. Terre Haute, IN (47803) Today Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. A poster for 2021 Silk Road Week [For chinadaily.com.cn] 2021 Silk Road Week will be held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, from June 18 to 24, it was announced at a news conference at the China National Silk Museum on Thursday. Zhao Feng, secretary-general of the Silk Road Week Academic Committee and director of the China National Silk Museum, briefed attendees on the history of Silk Road Week and the schedule for this year's events. During the seven days, museums and cultural agencies along the Silk Road will hold various activities such as exhibitions, meetings and performances to promote the Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit, and to celebrate the addition of the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor of the Silk Road to UNESCO's World Heritage list. Themed "Cultural diversity and sustainable development", the event will feature exhibitions, academic conferences and livestreams by more than 100 cultural agencies around the world. It is sponsored by the National Cultural Heritage Administration and the Zhejiang provincial government. Highlights of the event will include a themed exhibition titled Creation From Creature: Plants and Animals and on the Silk Roads, which will display natural life, species and arts. It will also include the Silk Road Museum Directors' Forum, which will introduce the Silk Road collections and future plans for theme exhibitions and global development, as well as a three-day international seminar of the various branches of the Silk Road, which is expected to discuss the current status of Silk Road research in the recent years. The Silk Road Online Museum, created by the China National Silk Museum and more than 40 museums from home and abroad, will be launched on June 18 in a bid to promote knowledge, integration and collaboration of museums. This will break the limitation of offline space for physical collections, boost the exchange of resources and promote the spirit of the Silk Road, organizers say. In addition, the national museum will issue a report on the archaeological discoveries and academic achievements of the Silk Road for 2020. (Source: chinadaily.com.cn) Up to 6,023 enterprises were set up and 531 projects worth a total of 364.8 billion yuan ($57.3 billion) were signed in Anhui Pilot Free Trade Zone as of the end of April. The FTZ has carried out all its 112 pilot tasks and proposed 52 innovative measures in such areas as business environment, sci-tech innovation, financial services and regional coordination. The zone drew on valuable experience of FTZs in Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, especially their seeking support from the central government, and sorted out 22 items for being empowered. Six departments, including the Anhui Provincial Development and Reform Commission, the Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Anhui Province and the Anhui branch of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, have introduced polices to back the zone. The FTZ also sped up the development of Industrial clusters. 16 state-level innovation platforms, for instance, were built in the Hefei area of the FTZ, attracting investment of 51.7 billion yuan. A launching ceremony of the seventh print edition of the Cihai, a large-scale dictionary and encyclopedia of the Chinese language, was held in a Shanghai bookstore on Dec. 19, 2020. [Xinhua/Liu Ying] SHANGHAI, May 27 (Xinhua) An official online version of the Cihai, a large-scale dictionary and encyclopedia of the Chinese language, was released on Thursday. The online version was designed for laptops and smartphones, offering built-in access from the WeChat and Xuexi Qiangguo apps. It is based on the seventh and newest print edition of the dictionary and contains about 130,000 entries. Some of the entries are enriched by pictures, audio, and even videos. First published in 1936, the Cihai is a milestone in China's history of publication and lexicography. (Source: Xinhua) Hi there, I've learned so much from this forum the past four months. I have a few remaining questions before my family of five (2 adults, 3 14-yr-olds) heads to Utah for 9 nights. We fly round trip out of Las Vegas, arriving early morning and spending our first night in St. George. We then have 4 nights Moab, 2 nights Torrey, 1 night Bryce, and 2 nights Zion, departing LAS early evening (5 pm). We will pack our patience and try to focus on just being happy to be out of our state for the first time in a long time. All lodging, excursions and rentals are booked. Still need to buy National Parks pass. We plan to pick up a cooler and food probably in Moab, but maybe we should do that before we leave St. George. Open to suggestions. My main remaining questions: 1. It looks like Google Maps has us taking I-15N and I-70E to get from St. George to Moab (Springhill Suites). It looks like there aren't many towns/stops along I-70E. Any suggestions on if we should fill up gas and stop and use restrooms before we get to a stretch of time where there isn't much/anything available? 2. We have three full days in Moab (4 nights). I did add the Hummer Sunset Excursion based on all the positive feedback here. I'm worried I've overpacked our Moab days. Day One: Arches AM & Hummer Tour (6:15 pm). Day Two: Canyonlands AM & Canyoneering (3:30 pm). Day Three: 8 am morning 1/2 day rafting; nothing else this day. With water levels low, and my thrill-seeking teens (not me) along, I'm considering cancelling the rafting tour. Then we could move Arches to Day Three and Canyonlands to Day One and only do Canyoneering (which will be hot, we know) on Day Two. I know it's personal preference and decision that only I/we can make, but if anyone has feedback on how long Canyonlands takes and how tired they are after a morning there, I'm all ears! I solicited the kids' opinions, and they would be fine either way. 3. I need help with Capitol Reef. We have 2 nights, so one full day planned for here. Things on my hiking list/must see list right now: Sunset Pt, Gooseneck Pt for sure. Then I'm stuck. Cohab Canyon or Cassidy Arch or both? Hickman Bridge? Grand Wash? And I haven't looked at the map, so not sure what order to do everything in, but I can figure that part out if I narrow my list. And are there bathrooms in several locations throughout CRNP? Good picnic location for lunch? We are not pie people (I have no idea why not because they sound amazing), so I'd mostly stop at Gifford's for the historical piece of it. Could we stop there later then? We'll be driving a rental minivan, if that makes a difference for this park. I think most all my other questions have been answered by looking at other posts the past few months. Thanks so much for any suggestions. I plan to report back in late June/early July! I just got back from my honeymoon and had the best experience visiting Costa Rica. The best part of our trip was finding Mariana, a local contact. Mariana has lived in CR for more than 20 years and she really went the extra mile with all the help she provided. We avoided crowded and tourist places and experienced Costa Rica as a true local. Going through different sites, Guanacaste was the most recommended region to visit, but considering that my husband and I had already gone there, we were skeptical about going to places where few reviews were available. Here goes the itinerary (considering we only had 9 nights to do the trip): 1. San Jose: We arrived and got picked up by a driver who took us to a Local Store where we have already rented a car (with Mariana's recommendation we got a very good discount). The drive from the airport to the Local Shop was free of charge. We went to the hotel and dropped our luggage off and went to a spectacular restaurant named "Nuestra Tierra". Amazing local food with only local people around. 2. Next morning, we drove for three hours to a local town called Monteverde and stayed at Hotel Belmar in the Nicoya Suite. 100% recommendable. It has a breath-taking view and an outdoor jacuzzi in my suite's balcony. Food there was also very good. The whole experience is expensive but worth every single dollar. Activities in Monteverde were quite fun. One day we decided to stay and enjoy the hotel as it has its own crops. We took a 3 hours tour and had good wine. Another day we went to the forest to do canopying; again Mariana recommended very good options and made it easy for us to understand benefits and cons of each one. The last day, we had a once-in-a-lifetime experience as we had dinner at a Tree House. It was the most expensive place we ate at, but it is worth every penny. After three days we left Monteverde and drove for 5 hours to one of the most amazing places I've ever been at: Mal Pais. Do not expect white beaches, but the ambiance, the food, and the hotel were just phenomenal. We stayed at casa chameleon for 4 nights (stay the 4 nights, it is worth it) and I can say it has been the most beautiful hotel I've ever been at; cosy, private, and not that expensive. We stayed at a Villa with plunge pool, totally worth it. Instead of driving back through the same road to San Jose, we took a ferry which was by itself a great experience. Mariana gave us all the instructions on how to buy tickets and where to buy them at a reduced price. Back in San Jose, we went to a very nice restaurant called Grano de Oro (we were supposed to go to another restaurant but Mariana texted us that it was closed and recommended this one). You need to visit it! Amazing entrees and desserts! In the end, I highly recommend you visit CR avoiding the crowded and full-of-tourist places to really enjoy it in a very different way. Hello, I am Lucy from Spain. I read some posts about my question but still it's not very clear for me. I will go to Mozambique in July and I need to go straight away (if it's possible) to Zavora. I arrive 7 am on a Saturday in Maputo, and I read in some posts that the bus leaves at 5 am. So I would not catch it. I read that there is also one at 10, but in another post they said that no, there's no more, so It's not clear. I am also wondering because I didn't see this in any post, how do you get to the bus station? If from the airport I should take a taxi.. how much usually they charge.. or if there is a bus to go to the main bus station.. I tried to find a website also to see the schedule of the buses but I don't know which one it is. To see if weekends have the same schedule. I also thought about looking for a private transport company at least to go to the bus station without problem, and have a local waiting for me in the airport, who can explain me where I should go, the times, and guide me a little.. But I don't know if it's worth it, which company and I also prefer to look all the the options. if someone could explain me what I should do since I arrive it would be VERY helpful. I go alone and I don't want to see myself lost and walking around in the airport.. or if I lose the bus, wondering where I sleep or where I go the same day that I arrive. It would be amazing to find more tourists that will do the same route and don't go alone, but this I will only see it once I am there.. Thank you so much for your help!! Instant unlimited access to all of our content on triplicate.com. The Triplicate's E-Edition Newsletter emailed to you each week, the night before the paper hits the street! This subscription is for NEW or RENEWING online subscribers. (The charge will appear as "Country Media Inc." on your credit card statement) New York State Assemblyman Jake Ashby (R,C,I-Castleton) in the Assembly Chamber (take before the pandemic). 'Mother of the graves' devotes her life to army of fallen heroes. [For China Daily] For four decades, Xu Zhaoying carried out a mission of compassion. At a sprightly 84, she insisted on climbing the hills behind her house to tend to the graves of martyrs of the Red Army in Xing'an County of Guilin in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Geographically isolated from urban areas, You'an Village, Xu's hometown, can only be reached after a two-hour drive deep into the mountain. With few neighbors and little arable land to farm, she lived a humble life but refused to move although her son asked her to many times. To some people, living near graves can be the stuff of nightmares, but Xu feels the proximity provides comfort. A batch of Red Army soldiers, heavily outnumbered, sacrificed their lives in Xing'an in the Battle of the Xiangjiang River during the Long March, a strategic retreat from 1934-36. Hundreds of heroes lost their lives here due to the overwhelming numbers of the Kuomintang army. At that time, it was forbidden for local farmers to offer any help to the Red Army. Otherwise, they would be punished by the Kuomintang army. However, local farmers believed the Red Army was highly disciplined and strived to improve the lives of the people. It was dangerous for local farmers to offer food, deliver materials to the Red Army, or even help them escape. Xu's father was one of the farmers who risked their lives to save injured soldiers and built tombs for the dead in a bamboo forest. "The battle then was so fierce that the Red Army suffered great losses. My father buried the martyrs on the hills secretly and took us to sweep their tombs every year," says Xu. Xu's father couldn't figure out the identity of the martyrs. To Xu's pride, her father never gave in even when he was threatened with death for his courage and sympathy. "From my father's behavior, I learned at an early age that the Red Army was fighting for us so that the people can change their own fate. In my eyes, they are uncles and brothers," she says. After Xu's father passed away, Xu and her mother decided to build a house around the tombs in 1981 to make sure these unknown heroes would be remembered. Xu never left the house even after she got married. "My mother didn't receive any education when she was young because of poverty, but she has a firm faith and encourages us to stay strong in life," says Xu Shanhui, son of Xu Zhaoying. The elderly woman lived alone for years after her husband passed away and her children started new lives outside. Her son asked and pleaded with Xu to move downtown with him or near him to enjoy a better life. But the "mother of the graves" remains adamant. "It is impossible for me to leave the heroes behind," she says."As long as I can breathe, I will keep them company." In recent years, the local government has attached great importance to the settlement of martyrs' remains and has built a memorial park. Besides, the government also helped renovate the tombs behind Xu's house. According to the local officials, Xu is quite independent and never receives any financial help from the government even though the impoverished family has experienced hardships. "Just think about how the Red Army had suffered, and see what a great victory we have today. The spirit of the Red Army should never be forgotten and it will inspire our offspring," Xu says. (Source: China Daily) Writer and performer Kyle Hernandez of Trinidad is receiving death threats, following a performance he did on local television station WESN, where he seemed to insult not only Tobagonians but the national bird of the island. 19/05/2021 Institucional The University of Barcelona will hold on Wednesday June 2, the 9th Environmental Session, jointly organized with Torres Family and the meteorologist and lecturer of Physics of the UB Tomas Molina. Under the motto Money from Europe, will it help us to break with the current indifference regarding climate change?, the meeting will gather twelve experts willing to analyse how European funds could unblock the government and societys lack of actions regarding climate change. This new edition of the Environmental Session will take place in the Paranimph of the Historical Building of the University of Barcelona with the attendance of fifty people, and will be live-streamed on the Youtube channel of the University. This is the first linked event to the Conference on the Future of Europe (COFE), to be held in Catalonia. This time, there will be a participative process through an online questionnaire, available in the European Union platform, through which citizens can give their opinion on which should be the priorities to fight against climate change. The results of this questionnaire will be published during the session. Participants in the session are representatives of the different administrations, to explain the strategies and action plans against climate change: Beatriz Yordi, director of European and International Carbon Markets of the Directorate-General for Climate Action, will participate on behalf of the European Commission; Hugo Moran, Secretary of State for Environment at the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographical Challenge will participate on behalf of the Spanish Government; Albert Castellanos, secretary-general of the Department of Vice-Presidency and Economy and Finance, will represent the Catalan Government, and Eloi Badia Casas, councillor of Climate Emergency and Ecological Transition, will represent the Barcelona City Council. Moreover, the voice of society will be represented by influencers such as Carlota Bruna, instagrammer and ambassador of the European Climate Pact; Josep Perello, leader of OpenSystems, professor of the UB and founding member of the Open Science Office of Barcelona, and Javier Pena, influencer of the climate crisis and founder of Hope! After the speeches, a debate will take place to talk about mobility in Catalonia, promoted by European funds, with the participation of Adrian Fernandez, head of mobility at Greenpeace Spain; Salvador Sedo, director of Sustainable Development at Work Development; Jose Maria Baldasano, emeritus professor of Environmental Engineering at the UPC and doctor in Chemical Sciences at the UB, and a representative of the automotive industry in Catalonia. The conclusions of the 9th Environmental Session will be presented by Laura Rahola, head of Communication at the Representation of the European Community in Barcelona, just before the closing ceremony, which will be held by Joan Guardia, rector of the University of Barcelona; Miguel A. Torres, president of the Torres Family, and Tomas Molina. As part of these sessions, there will be the award ceremony of the 7th Torres & Earth Award to environmental innovation, which aims to share and honor the studies, projects, experiences and initiatives that help the preservation of the environment. Program and registrations at www.jornadesambientals.com. Russia will form 20 new units in the Western Military District that borders Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic countries, and Finland. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said this at a meeting with top military officials today, Ukrinform reports with reference to Kommersant. The actions of our Western colleagues destroy the international security system and force us to take the relevant countermeasures. We are constantly increasing our military strength. We will form another 20 units and formations in the Western Military District until the years end, Shoigu said. He added that the military units in western Russia have commissioned about 2,000 new pieces of weaponry this year. As reported, Ukraine informed the OSCE that Russia continues to keep up to 100,000 servicemen, about 1,300 tanks, 3,700 armoured vehicles, up to 1,300 artillery systems, and 380 rocket systems along the border with Ukraine and in the temporarily occupied Crimea. In early April, the Russian Federation amassed a group of about 110,000 troops near the eastern borders of Ukraine and in the occupied Crimea, raising concerns of the Ukrainian authorities and Western partners. Later, Russia announced the withdrawal of its troops from Ukraines borders under the pretext of successful completion of exercises, but at the same time leaves its military presence and technical equipment near Ukraines borders and in the temporarily occupied territories of eastern Ukraine and Crimea. ish The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine and Microsoft Ukraine have signed a memorandum that provides for cooperation in the field of IT modernization and enhancement of cybersecurity in the energy sector. The memorandum provides for the possibility of cooperation in the field of IT modernization, digitalization of information systems of institutions, and enhancement of the level of cybersecurity of enterprises in the industry. The Energy Ministrys joint work with Microsoft will also assist the energy sector in implementing innovative technologies, analytics, and collaboration tools in the industry, exchanging expertise for the implementation of international cybersecurity programs and standards, as well as cloud technologies. "Cooperation between the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine and Microsoft is an important step for the energy sector. The introduction of innovative technologies will help boost the efficiency of the Ministry of Energy and, accordingly, improve the management of the industry as a whole. We also expect our joint work with Microsoft Ukraine to enhance the level of cybersecurity of the Ministry," Deputy Minister of Energy for Digital Development, Digital Transformations, and Digitalization Yevhen Vladimirov said, Ukrinform reports. It is noted that Microsoft plans to continue to "cooperate with all other users, including those working in the energy sector, and implement innovations that will meet business demand for a future with zero carbon emissions." ol The Council of Exporters and Investors at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO) have signed a memorandum that will facilitate cooperation between Ukrainian and Slovak enterprises. The document was signed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Senik and State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic Jan Oravec, who visited Ukraine as part of an official delegation led by Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Eduard Heger, Ukrinform reports with reference to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "The parties praised the results of the Slovak Prime Minister's visit to Ukraine and discussed ways to implement the agreements reached. In particular, they coordinated further steps to develop cooperation in such areas as trade, energy, investment, agriculture, transport, military and technical cooperation," the report reads. The interlocutors agreed to hold a meeting of the Joint Commission on Economic, Industrial, Scientific and Technical Cooperation by the end of 2021. Senik also informed his interlocutor about the implementation of e-government and informatization projects, as well as the introduction of digital services in our country. The Ukrainian side thanked for humanitarian assistance provided to combat COVID-19 within the framework of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the Visegrad Group. In 2020, trade turnover between Ukraine and the Slovak Republic amounted to USD 1,391.9 million. ish Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba does not support the holding of negotiations within the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk. He said this on the air of Savik Shuster's Freedom of Speech TV program on Friday evening, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "I do not even see a hypothetical scenario for trips to Minsk and I do not support the idea of continuing these talks in Minsk," Kuleba said. According to him, so far there are no technical, logistic or political conditions for traveling to Minsk and negotiating there again. "This issue is not on the agenda at all for one simple reason all meetings are held online ... I think that in the near future this issue will not require a solution," the minister said. As Ukrinform reported, the head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Leonid Kravchuk, considers it obvious to change the Minsk format and to search for another city for holding meetings due to recent events in Belarus. On May 23, Ryanair Flight 4978, traveling between Athens and Vilnius, Lithuania, was forced to land in Minsk by Belarusian authorities. Roman Protasevich, an opposition journalist and a founder of the Telegram channel Nexta on board, was arrested. European leaders agreed to impose sectoral sanctions on Belarus and to bar EU airlines from flying over the country. Ukraine suspended flights to Belarus since May 26. ish NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine calls on strategic partners and all stakeholders to prevent the lifting of U.S. sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 project. This was said in a statement by Naftogaz. Naftogaz of Ukraine only partially supports the open appeal of the Center for Liberal Modernity to the Federal Government and democratic parties of Germany, as it considers unacceptable the call for a compromise on lifting U.S. sanctions. "The risks of abandoning sanctions from the new U.S. administration were clear. We expected the new administration would seek certain compromises with Germany, in as much as it is an important NATO partner for them. In turn, Germany, at least until the autumn elections, will try to complete the construction of Nord Stream 2 as soon as possible and put pressure on the United States. As this risk was obvious, I expected my predecessors to plan steps ahead," said Naftogaz CEO Yuriy Vitrenko. Given the high likelihood of new threats, Naftogaz appeals to state authorities, public activists, and the expert community to take immediate public initiative and call upon strategic partners and all stakeholders to prevent the lifting of U.S. sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 project. As reported earlier, Naftogaz is strengthening its management team to achieve qualitative changes in cooperation with stakeholders, carry out real and complex reforms, as well as find new tools to counter the Nord Stream 2 project. During a meeting on May 28, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Eduard Heger said they were convinced that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project undermines energy solidarity between European countries. ish Thirteen criminal cases against Crimean Tatars are currently pending before the Southern Military District Court of Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Thirteen criminal cases against Crimean Tatars are currently pending before the Southern Military District Court. This is only the first instance. Three more criminal cases are being considered by a court of appeal, the Crimean Solidarity informs with reference to lawyer Edem Semedliayev, Ukrinform reports. According to him, a large group of people is defendants in the cases. For example, 25 people are defendants in the second Simferopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case, so the investigation divided them in groups of five. According to the lawyer, three hidden witnesses were interrogated within the case of group of his client. As noted, these people are not eyewitnesses to the events, but agents of the state. Once again, we make certain that these are the agents of the state who were simply classified by the investigation to prevent us from finding out their personal data. They say only what is written in the protocol, they say what they were told to say, and their answers to the questions put by lawyers are either I dont remember or some other memorized phrases, the lawyer noted. ol Clwyd South MP praises the team behind the highly successful The Boat at Erbistock The MP for Clwyd South has praised the team behind the highly successful The Boat at Erbistock On Friday 14 May Simon Baynes MP, made a socially distanced visit to the venue to hear more about the benefits of the owners substantial investment in refurbishing and reinvigorating this much-loved riverside inn. The grade-II listed inn was built in the 17th century, and is located where the ferry used to cross the River Dee. The Boat at Erbistock and its team of chefs pride themselves on using local produce to create a wide range of British classics and spicy world food. They have a specialist wine list and also stock a selection of beers from local breweries across Wales, Shropshire and Cheshire. Graham Price, the co-owner of The Boat at Erbistock, said: After being shut for nearly 6 months its great to be opening up again and it was a very pleasant surprise to have Simon take such a genuine interest in what we have been through and are trying to do here. Commenting after his visit, Mr Baynes, said: It was a real pleasure to visit the team at The Boat at Erbistock, in its beautiful setting by the River Dee, to see how they were preparing to re-open following the Covid lockdown and to wish them every success as people in Wales can now eat inside pubs and restaurants again. I was very impressed in particular to hear about how The Boat at Erbistock supports the local economy by employing up to 40 different members of staff and buying its produce from local businesses. In these trying economic times, its always heartening to see local businesses supporting each other and buying local. Id encourage people locally to visit the inn now that its reopened, and perhaps try their own gin, The Spirit Of Erbistock, made on site in their Lady Dee still. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba believes that the Eastern Partnership is currently not a format that can efficiently meet Ukraine's national interests and intends to discuss its future with the EU. "In its current form, the Eastern Partnership is not a format that can efficiently meet the national interests of the Ukrainian state. Therefore, we will talk to the European Union about the future of the Eastern Partnership, but we will not enter into this dialogue until we synchronize our vision with parliamentarians," Kuleba said a joint meeting of the Verkhovna Rada committees on Ukraine's integration into the European Union and on foreign policy and inter-parliamentary cooperation, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. The minister added that he would take part in the next meeting of the parliamentary committee and hoped for a substantive conversation. "It is becoming increasingly difficult to imagine how the Eastern Partnership can function in its current format against the background of the events in Belarus, against the background of the recent armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In Ukraine's opinion, we should focus on solving our national tasks of European integration, we should clearly coordinate positions with those countries that share the goals of European integration," Kuleba stressed. As noted, the foreign ministers of Moldova and Georgia recently visited Kyiv, together with whom the Associated Trio was established in Kyiv to coordinate actions on the track of European integration, including the neighborhood policy and the Eastern Partnership format. "We should reap the maximum strategic benefits for Ukraine from European integration, and this process should be structured in such a way as not to distract the European Union from achieving Ukraine's strategic goal of EU membership," Kuleba added. As reported, the ministers of foreign affairs of Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova Dmytro Kuleba, David Zalkaliani, and Aureliu Ciocoi signed the memorandum on the establishment of the Associated Trio for joint successful European integration in Kyiv on May 17. ol First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzheppar invited Montenegros leaders to take part in the Crimean Platform summit in August. I briefed Ljubomir Misurovic, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro about Crimean Platform, reiterated the invitation to Montenegros leadership to take part in the summit on August 23, Dzheppar posted on Twitter. As noted, the parties also discussed Russias illegal blockade of the Kerch Strait, the situation of Ukrainian political prisoners held by Russia, and the ban on the activities of the Mejlis of Crimean Tatar People. The 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 occupation regime, and achieve the de-occupation of Crimea. The first Crimean Platform summit is scheduled for August 23, 2021. ol The U.S. State of Texas recognized at the local level the Holodomor of 1932-33 as the genocide of the Ukrainian people and declared November 2021 as the month of remembrance of the victims of this tragedy. The House of Representatives of the 87th Texas Legislature hereby recognize November 2021 as Ukrainian Genocide Remembrance Month and urge the states residents to reflect on the Holodomor and honor the memory of those who perished, reads the Resolution No.253 of the House of Representatives of the State of Texas, published on the official website of the Legislature. It is noted that the decisions were supported by 142 local legislators and none voted against. The U.S. Committee for Ukrainian Holodomor Genocide Awareness thanked Ukraine Honorary Consul Greg Buchai for his efforts and endeavors in promoting Holodomor awareness in the state of Texas. Thus, the Committee stressed, Texas became the 23rd American state that has recognized the Holodomor of 1932-33 in Ukraine as genocide. As reported, at the end of 2018, both chambers of the U.S. Congress recognized the Holodomor in Ukraine as genocide. At the same time, a final decision by the administration is needed for the United States to ultimately recognize this tragedy as genocide. Recognition at the level of every state reinforces this position and raises awareness about the crimes of the Stalinist regime against the Ukrainian people. ol Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a decree on the establishment of the Presidential University of the Future. The head of state signed the document during the all-Ukrainian forum "Ukraine 30. Education and Science" in Kyiv on Monday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "I am pleased to sign a decree on the establishment of our university, the Presidential University of the Future," Zelensky said. According to him, this university should become a higher education institution that will "prepare the people of the future, gather the best teachers in one place and train specialists who will be able to solve important state tasks to protect our state in very important, priority and most relevant areas." Zelensky said that the university would train specialists in information and cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, aerospace, energy, and biotechnology. "Our goal is the best conditions, the best teachers, the best students from all over Ukraine, who will study for free and then work in the state. They will work here and establish themselves here in Ukraine for the benefit of our state, for the protection of every Ukrainian," Zelensky said. op The development of dual education in Ukraine is an important area for the government, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said. He stated this at the All-Ukrainian Forum "Ukraine 30. Education and Science" in Kyiv on Monday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "It's obvious that dual education is the future. Therefore, we want children, as the president said, not only to receive theory [] but also to come out practically trained. Therefore, in fact, an element of dual education in the vocation sphere is critically important and critically necessary," Shmyhal said. He stressed that close cooperation with educational institutions is successful, because then the business receives trained specialists who have not only high-quality theoretical knowledge, but also practical skills. He noted that a positive signal in this context was a decree signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky on the establishment of the Presidential University of the Future. "We want to compete for an extremely high quality of education for our children not only in vocational education, but also in higher education - when several hundred children at the beginning and several thousand children in the future will be able to receive quality basic education both in theory and in a balanced manner in practice," Shmyhal added. Zelensky signed a decree on the establishment of the Presidential University of the Future during the All-Ukrainian Forum "Ukraine 30. Education and Science" in Kyiv on May 31. On May 11, Zelensky announced the opening of a new university in Ukraine to train specialists in the sphere of security. Subsequently, following a meeting at the President's Office, it emerged that Ukraine by September 2023 planned to build a national university that should become an innovative educational space for training professionals in the latest technologies. op As part of the recently launched trilateral format of enhanced cooperation on European integration between Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova, the prime ministers of the three countries signed a joint letter to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen regarding the provision of COVID-19 vaccines. This was reported by the press service of the Government portal. "In the letter to the President of the European Commission, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili, and Acting Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova Aureliu Ciocoi asked the European Commission to develop an EU Vaccine Transfer Mechanism for the Eastern Partnership countries on the same principle that has recently been applied to the Western Balkans," the report reads. Such an approach, combined with other efforts by partner countries, would help to avoid vaccine shortages and ensure that the required number is available within a reasonable timeframe. The Associated Trio is convinced that only the combined efforts of all partners will help restore the balance of vaccination rates in the Member States and EU partner countries, which, in turn, will help to overcome the epidemic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as soon as possible. As reported, on May 17, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia David Zalkaliani, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Moldova Aureliu Ciocoi signed a memorandum on the establishment of the Associated Trio for the joint successful European integration of the three countries. ish How does a father who has spent years apart from his two daughters prepare for a reunion? Girmay put on his best suit and held a big balloon that said I Love You as he waited for them to land at Amsterdam airport. Girmay had not seen Kyara, 14, and Sara, 12, since he fled Eritrea in 2014 and came to the Netherlands. Since then, they had lived first with their stepmother and then with their paternal grandmother, before fleeing from Eritrea to Ethiopia in 2018. Back in 2014, Girmay never imagined he would have to wait seven years before he would see his daughters again. I missed them every day, he said, pacing up and down the arrivals hall concourse at the airport. He was accompanied by his two other children, Sinit 8, and Yodit, 6, who would be meeting their half-sisters for the first time. Kyara and Sara were finally given the green light to join their father in the Netherlands earlier this month after years of family reunification procedures during which they were supported by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Dutch Council for Refugees (Vluchtelingenwerk Nederland). Family reunification is key to fulfilling refugees fundamental human right to family unity. It provides a legal route for refugees to be with their families, avoiding the need for dangerous land and sea crossings. But the process can be lengthy, taking a toll on families, especially children, and hindering their integration in host countries. In the Netherlands, it takes a year on average, but can take longer, especially when documentation is lacking. Many Eritreans, including Girmay, struggle to obtain the required documents for their families. Girmays case was also delayed because he lacked written consent from the girls mother or a certificate to prove her death from natural causes in 2011. The recent conflict in Ethiopia and the COVID-19 pandemic further delayed the process. For families who have been through a years-long bureaucratic process, the final hurdle can be raising the necessary funds to cover their loved ones travel costs. "The first global airmiles fund that provides practical help." Fortunately for Kyara and Sara, the cost of their commercial flight from the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, to Amsterdam was covered by Miles4Migrants. The US-based charity uses donated airline frequent flyer miles to help people impacted by war, persecution, and disaster bring their loved ones to the countries where they have found refuge. The girls case was the first to be referred to the charity by UNHCR since the two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in January. It constitutes an innovative solution to realizing the right of family unity for refugees who have the legal approval to travel for a reunion but cant afford the airfare, said Anna Gekht of UNHCRs Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Service. Its the first global airmiles fund that provides practical help with refugee family reunification. I would call upon everyone to consider donating their miles through the Miles4Migrants website, she added. "I look forward to a beautiful future." Finally, Kyara and Sara walked through the arrivals gate and the family hugged each other tightly. There were no words, only astonishment that this long-awaited moment had finally arrived. Girmays wife had prepared a special meal for the family at their home as a way of starting their new life together. I am happy Kyara and Sara can continue their education here. I look forward to a beautiful future for them in safety, free from worries, said Girmay. This story is one of many that can be supported through donations to the Miles4Migrants airmiles bank. For more information on how to donate miles please visit: https://miles4migrants.org/campaign-unhcr/. Spare parts clutter every corner of the auto-repair shop in the bustling centre of Shiraz, in the Islamic Republic of Irans southern Fars province, where Abbas Balkhi leans under the hood of a car making careful adjustments until the rev of the engine sounds just right. Abbas is an Afghan refugee born in Iran who has been passionate about cars since his childhood. When walking in the street with my father, I would stop by every car and try to peek under them to see the engine, said the 31-year-old mechanical whiz. His father Mohsen, 60, also recalls that his son would disassemble every electronic device he could get his hands on, only to put them back together perfectly afterwards. We used to call him wrench-boy his hands were like tools; they could fix anything. Abbas dreamt of becoming a qualified engineer, but at 12 had to drop out of school to work in his uncles tailoring workshop to help his family make ends meet. He was making a meagre living and, as his fathers health worsened, he knew he would not be able to support his familys growing needs this way. It was only when he attended courses at Irans Technical and Vocational Training Organization, with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, that he reconnected with his passion for mechanics and found a way to make a decent living. See also: Renewed commitment needed to support displaced Afghans and their hosts Abbas was so talented that he soon earned an apprenticeship in one of Irans largest automobile companies, where he worked for two years, gaining invaluable skills in the real world of business. This is where he met Danial Hosseini, a 25-year-old Iranian who was completing an internship there. We used to joke about who was more skilled, said Danial. Then we decided instead of competing, we should join our strengths. They cemented their friendship and their entrepreneurial partnership by eventually opening and running the auto-repair shop together. Refugees have the talent, passion and skills to succeed and help their host community along the way, said Indrika Ratwatte, UNHCRs Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, who met Abbas and Danial on a recent week-long visit to Iran. The Government of Iran is and has been doing all it can to assist refugees, but support from the international community needs to be strengthened and amplified to allow refugees to thrive, not just survive. As the reputation of Abbas and Danial as trusted young mechanics in Shiraz grew, so did their business. Today, with the support of UNHCR, the auto-repair shop has expanded and employs 11 mechanics, of whom seven are refugees. "It is important for me to train younger refugees." Even through the COVID-19 pandemic, they have managed to keep the workshop open by helping customers at the gate and disinfecting every surface before they get to work enabling the employees to keep their income through the tough economic downturn currently impacting Iran. Soleiman, 18 years old, is one of the Afghan refugees learning the ropes with Abbas and Danial. I am happy that I can support my family with this job I hope that someday I can open my own shop and become the best mechanic in the city. It is important for me to train younger refugees and give them the skills and knowledge that I have acquired, so that they too can become independent and self-reliant, said Abbas. Soleiman, 18, is one of seven refugees who work at the repair shop alongside local Iranian mechanics. UNHCR/Hossein Eidizadeh Abbas Balkhi, 31, is an Afghan refugee who was born in Iran and now co-owns an auto-mobile repair shop in Shiraz, Iran, UNHCR/Hossein Eidizadeh Soleiman inspects an engine at the repair-shop where he currently works as an apprentice. UNHCR/Hossein Eidizadeh Iranian co-owner Danial Hosseini (right), 25, shows Soleiman (left), 18, how to repair an engine component. UNHCR/Hossein Eidizadeh Danial checks the electrical wiring on a customer's car. UNHCR/Hossein Eidizadeh Iran hosts almost one million Afghan refugees, as well as some 2 million undocumented Afghans and some 600,000 Afghan passport-holders. Despite existing challenges, the Government of Iran has shown great solidarity with refugees by giving them access to basic services, including in education and health. Refugees also have the right to work in Iran but, as in many parts of the world, they often remain one of the most vulnerable segments of society. In Iran, UNHCR supports vocational training and livelihoods activities for refugees, enabling them to build their confidence and acquire marketable skills. This in turn helps them better support their families in the host country and, when the conditions become conducive and they wish to return, in their home country. "We are lucky to have found safety in Iran." Mohsen, whose family fled Sar-e-Pol in Afghanistan 38 years ago, is thankful for the opportunities Iran has given him, but worries for the future of his country at this historic and critical juncture. My heart breaks for all the children who lost their parents during the many years of war, he said. We are lucky to have found safety in Iran but what will happen to Afghans who may need to flee in future? Afghanistan today has a population of nearly 35 million people. Millions are displaced within the country and millions more sought safety across borders in the past, with the majority of current refugees living in Iran and Pakistan. UNHCR is also calling on the international community to increase support for Iran, which for over 40 years has shouldered the responsibility of hosting Afghan refugees on its territory. So far, UNHCR in Iran has only received 8 per cent of the USD 97.9 million needed to support refugee programmes. A young Afghan refugee at her home in the Shahid Beheshti settlement in Sarvestan, Shiraz, in the Islamic Republic of Iran. UNHCR/Hossein Eidizadeh UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is calling for a renewed commitment from the international community to stand in solidarity with millions of Afghans who are anxious about their future, and with the host countries that have provided safety to millions of Afghan refugees fleeing successive waves of violence over more than four decades. Now more than ever, we need to stand by displaced Afghans who have borne the cost of years of conflict, and assure them that they have not been forgotten, said Indrika Ratwatte, UNHCRs Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, who concluded a week-long visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran. It is the responsibility of all international actors to continue working with Afghanistan to secure a lasting peace, and to continue supporting countries hosting Afghan refugees. Iran hosts almost one million Afghan refugees, in addition to some 2.6 million undocumented or Afghan passport holders living in the country. Despite their own challenges, the Government of Iran has shown exemplary humanity and solidarity with refugees. The world must not forget contributions that Iran has made for millions of Afghan refugees, for over 40 years. The government has led by example by including refugees in their national education and health systems, and allowing refugees to work and access bank services. UNHCR also appreciates the governments commendable efforts to include refugees in the national COVID response, added Ratwatte. Iran, through its inclusive approach to refugees has empowered Afghans who will one day be able to rebuild their home country. Afghanistan today has a population of some 35 million people. Millions are internally displaced within the country with 100,000 people having been displaced in the past four months of this year alone. Millions more have had to seek safety across borders over the years, with the majority living in Iran and Pakistan as refugees. Urgent humanitarian assistance to the millions of Afghan refugees and their host communities is imperative to stabilize these communities that have been affected by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. UNHCR is concerned that a further increase in violence in Afghanistan will lead to exponential internal displacement and potentially lead to more Afghans being forced to seek safety in neighbouring countries and beyond. Afghan refugees have witnessed many twists and turns within Afghanistan during the last four decades but have not given up hope that they will one day be able to return home in safety and dignity. Over the years they have built resilience and resolve to stand on their own feet. UNHCR is committed to continue its support to Afghans, both inside and outside of Afghanistan. The lack of resources and funding has, however, constrained the ability of UNHCR and the Government of Iran to maintain and increase their humanitarian efforts. UNHCRs funding appeal for Iran of US$97.9 million for 2021 is, so far, only 8 per cent funded. For more information on this topic, please contact: In Tehran, Farha Bhoyroo, [email protected], +98 912 132 7183 In Kabul, Mohammad Nader Farhad, [email protected], +93 791 99 00 18 In Bangkok, Kasita Rochanakorn, [email protected], +66 64 932 0803 In Geneva, Babar Baloch, [email protected], +41 79 513 9549 Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 01:03:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Airport staff members transport the first batch of Chinese Sinovac vaccine raw materials unloaded from a plane at the Cairo International Airport in Cairo, Egypt, on May 21, 2021. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) May 30 marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt. "China and Egypt have always supported each other over the past 65 years, and as COVID-19 is sweeping the world, the two countries are ushering in a chapter of friendship in the new era," Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang says. CAIRO, May 30 (Xinhua) -- "China and Egypt have always supported each other over the past 65 years, and as COVID-19 is sweeping the world, the two countries are ushering in a chapter of friendship in the new era," Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang said in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua. May 30 marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt. The two countries' concerted efforts in fighting the pandemic have vividly epitomized the China-Egypt health community and laid a solid foundation for building a China-Egypt community with a shared future, Liao told Xinhua, noting Egypt has constantly expressed its sincere support for China in various ways and through pragmatic actions. Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang (1st L, Center) and Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed (2nd L, Center) attend a ceremony to mark the arrival of the first batch of Chinese Sinovac vaccine raw materials and a new shipment of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines at the Cairo International Airport in Cairo, Egypt, May 21, 2021.(Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) In March 2020, Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed visited China's capital Beijing to convey Egypt's solidarity with China in combating the coronavirus. On May 9, 2021, Zayed announced that Egypt will start locally producing China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine in June at the plants of the Egyptian Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA). "Besides, China was one of the earliest and largest donors to Egypt during the pandemic," Liao said, explaining that China has provided Egypt with four batches of anti-epidemic supplies and conducted multiple video conferences between the experts of the two countries. China has also established a cooperative hospital mechanism and helped Egypt set up a face mask production line, he added. On May 21, Egypt received the first batch of raw materials of Sinovac vaccine, making Egypt the first country on the African continent to cooperate with China in the production of the COVID-19 vaccine. The pandemic has not hindered bilateral economic and trade exchanges. According to Liao, the import and export of goods between China and Egypt reached 14.57 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, marking a record high despite the impact of the epidemic. "In the first quarter of this year, the bilateral trade volume totalled 4.18 billion dollars, a year-on-year increase of 32.1 percent," Liao said, noting China has become the country with the most active and fastest-growing investment in Egypt in recent years. Paddlers compete during the dragon boats friendly racing to mark the occasion of founding the EDBF, in Cairo, Egypt, on March 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) According to the embassy, China's new direct investment in Egypt reached 190 million dollars in 2020, with investment stock in Egypt exceeding 1.2 billion dollars. In the first quarter of this year, China's new direct investment in Egypt amounted to 83 million dollars, jumping by 134 percent. People-to-people exchanges between the two countries have also remained robust. Events such as the China-Egypt symphony online concert and the progress made in the joint archaeological project at the Temple of Montu in Egypt's Luxor exemplified the deep China-Egypt friendship and the integration of the two civilizations, Liao said. "The Chinese language has been officially included in Egypt's primary and secondary school education system," the Chinese ambassador added. China and Egypt, both major developing countries and representatives of emerging markets, have treated each other with sincerity and helped each other in the journey of national development, Liao stressed, noting the deep synergy between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Egypt's Vision 2030 has yielded fruitful results in bilateral cooperation. Some 50 km east of Egypt's capital Cairo, China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) is making all-out efforts to build a Central Business District (CBD) in Egypt's new administrative capital despite COVID-19 challenges. Workers upload a batch of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines onto a truck in Cairo International Airport, Egypt, Feb. 23, 2021. (Xinhua/Wu Huiwo) "Our two countries share similar dreams, philosophies and missions," Liao said, adding since the establishment of diplomatic ties 65 years ago, bilateral relations have withstood the test of the changing international situation, and mutual political trust has gone even deeper. The all-dimensional China-Egypt ties have covered various fields, setting a good example for solidarity and win-win cooperation between China and Arab, African countries, he noted. "Facing the current uncertainties of the international situation, China is ready to work with Egypt in all fields to inject more stability and positive energy into the world," Liao concluded. Tripura Forest: JFMC members face great economic crisis in state 12 Jun 2021 | 11:52 PM Udaipur, Jun 12 (UNI) Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC), a group formed with few members in order to protect forest in reserve area, reported the members face great economic crisis and also noticed the lack of monitoring by high officials of Forest Department, Government of Tripura. see more.. FP dealer alleged of serving low quality lentil: CM's COVID relief package 12 Jun 2021 | 11:46 PM Amabssa, (Tripura), Jun 12 (UNI) In an effort to malign the Chief Minister's COVID Relief Package of edible items a leftist fair price shop dealer alleged of providing low quality lentil in the bordering subdivision of Kamalpur in the northern Tripura district of Dhalai on Saturday. see more.. Meghalaya senior journalist Sameer Sohliya no more 12 Jun 2021 | 11:46 PM Shillong, Jun 12 (UNI) Senior Meghalaya journalist, Sameer Sohliya, passed away following health complications at his residence here on Saturday. He was 48. see more.. Manipal fee waiver for students bereaved due to Corona 12 Jun 2021 | 11:33 PM Gangtok, Jun 12 (UNI) Sikkim Manipal University, Sikkim, has announced providing full fee waiver, as Scholarship to Students, who have lost their earning family members, i.e. parents due to Coronavirus. It will be applicable for entire remaining course. It has come as a great relief to students in problem. see more.. Register for a FREE account to keep reading! Register now for a FREE account to keep reading. No cost and no credit card required! Access up to 5 articles per month when you register, or get unlimited access to all of our content online starting at $1.99 now! Already registered? Click the log in link below Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 01:11:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Evacuated residents take refuge at a shelter in Sake, about 26 kilometers north of Goma, capital of North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on May 30, 2021. At least six cases of cholera were reported Sunday among the displaced people in the city of Sake after the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano nearby on May 22. (Photo by Alain Uyakani/Xinhua) KINSHASA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- At least six cases of cholera were reported Sunday among the displaced people in the city of Sake, about 26 kilometers north of Goma, capital of North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), after the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano nearby on May 22. According to the announcement by local authorities, the six confirmed cases of cholera are currently being treated on site by the team of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders. These cases are reported among thousands of people living in Sake and others from Goma who have taken refuge in schools and churches in the region, following the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano. With the risk of a fresh eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano, the authorities redirected the majority of the inhabitants of Goma last Thursday to the city of Sake, which is said to have taken in more than 180,000 displaced people from Goma, according to the United Nations. Lack of water, toilets and other sanitary facilities are believed to have led to the outbreak of cholera cases. According to MSF, the city of Sake is an endemic area of the cholera epidemic and with the displacement of the population, there is a great risk of the outbreak of the disease on the ground if humanitarian aid and other care do not arrive quickly. Enditem For full access, please log in, register your subscription or subscribe. Try for 99 a month for two months, cancel or pause anytime. Milledgeville, GA (31061) Today Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 31st May, 2021) H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum today opened the ninth edition of GISEC, the middle East and Africa regions most influential and connected cybersecurity event. The event, which runs from 31st May to 2nd June 2021, brings together international industry experts at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) for a deep-dive into the current global cybersecurity landscape and an exploration of next-generation solutions to combat surging international cybercrime. During his visit to GISEC, Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed toured the exhibitions various local and international pavilions featuring exhibitors from over 30 countries. He was briefed on the latest solutions and technologies offered by some of the worlds leading companies in this field. As part of the tour, H.H. visited the Dubai Electronic Security Centre stand, where he was briefed about the Centres key efforts and initiatives. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed also witnessed the launch of the electronic system TIRS developed by the Centre to detect security vulnerabilities on websites, which contributes to reinforcing Dubais position as the city with the worlds safest cyberspace. The introduction of the new system is part of the implementation of the Dubai Cyber Index launched by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council in 2020 with the aim of enhancing cybersecurity and protecting the digital assets of government entities in the emirate. The system, entirely designed and developed by an Emirati team, is capable of detecting security gaps on websites of government entities and notifying the entities to address these vulnerabilities. H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed visited the pavilions of the US, UK, Singapore, France, Germany and Russia and the stands of leading global firms in the sector. He was accompanied by Major General Talal Hamid Belhoul Al Falasi, Director-General of the State Security Department in Dubai; Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA) and Dubais Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM); Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA); and Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani, Director General of the Dubai Electronic Security Centre. Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai World Trade Centre Authority (DWTCA) and Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) said: "We would like to thank H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his support for GISEC. The UAE has taken an extremely proactive approach in the fight against cybercrime. The collaborative, forward-thinking strategy of the UAEs government plays an essential role in protecting its digital infrastructure. The UAE Cyber Security Council, Dubai Police, the Dubai Electronic Security Centre, the Investment Corporation of Dubai, AECert, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, Smart Dubai and other supporting government entities play a critical part in combating cybercrime and their participation in GISEC will help foster an engaging and meaningful discussion on vital cybersecurity issues." More than 150 global cybersecurity brands, from countries including the USA, UK, Singapore, France, Germany and Russia, are showcasing cutting-edge technologies at GISEC. Leading international and regional innovators such as Microsoft, Huawei, Spire Solutions, Teletrust, BluVector and Digital14 are presenting solutions for tackling growing threats resulting from a rise in remote working and accelerated digitisation. "The threat landscape has completely evolved over the past year as workplaces and industries have transformed to adapt and survive. In 2020 alone, almost six billion malware threats were blocked on endpoints protected by microsoft Defender globally," said Sayed Hashish, General Manager, Microsoft UAE. "Our participation in GISEC speaks of our efforts to deliver operational resilience to businesses as they continue to adopt hybrid models within their corporate IT infrastructures and accelerate their digital transformation agendas. The UAE has made strides in areas of cyber security with its goal to protect businesses in the country, and we look forward to supporting this journey by bringing the best of our innovations and expertise to protect their digital estates." As Dubai continues to lead the way for a safe return to physical events, anchored by DWTCs proven health and safety protocols, visitors to GISEC 2021 will benefit from a packed three-day conference programme featuring 180 renowned industry speakers analysing the most pressing cybersecurity issues. CISOs, CIOs, CTOs, regulators and policymakers across government, finance, healthcare, telecom, energy and utilities will set forth innovative strategies for a robust, cyber-resilient ecosystem that inspires trust in the digital economy. Changemakers taking to the conference stage over the next three days include: Dr. Mohamed Al-Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security, UAE Government; Matthias Schranner, former FBI hostage negotiator and Founder & CEO, Schranner Negotiation Institute; Tonu Tammer, Executive Director, Estonian Information System Authority; Alexander Halushchenko, Chief Inspector, Office of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, among others. GISEC is organised in close partnership with the UAEs most prominent entities in the cybersecurity sector, including the UAE Cyber Security Council, Dubai Electronic Security Centre, Dubai Police, Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, Smart Dubai, the Investment Corporation of Dubai, ADNOC Refining and AECERT. The UAE Cyber Security Council will host the inaugural Global Cybersecurity Congress, during which dedicated conference tracks will examine the cybersecurity landscapes in Saudi Arabia and Africa. The 2021 GISEC Inspire Conference will focus on the importance of women in the industry. GISEC 2021 will take place amid strict COVID-19 prevention protocols that have enabled DWTC to prove its capability to curate the safest in-person business environment and deliver world-class events with the highest safety protocols. In February, DWTC welcomed tens of thousands of visitors at Gulfood 2021 - the first live global food trade event for 12 months, where 98 percent of visitors recorded a safe or very safe experience. On-site registration for GISEC 2021 will not be available; registration must be completed in advance via www.gisec.ae Tehran, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st May, 2021 ) :Iran's foreign ministry said Monday that the Islamic republic is continuing talks with Saudi Arabia in a "good atmosphere," in the hope of reaching a "common understanding". Media reports last month revealed that Iranian and Saudi officials met in Baghdad in April, their first high-level meeting since Riyadh cut diplomatic ties with Tehran in 2016. "Talks are still continuing in a good atmosphere," ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said at a press conference. "We hope these talks can achieve a common understanding between Iran and Saudi Arabia," he added. Paris, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th May, 2021 ) :Japanese star Naomi Osaka was Sunday threatened with disqualification from the French Open if she continues her media boycott, officials said. "We have advised Naomi Osaka that should she continue to ignore her media obligations during the tournament, she would be exposing herself to possible further Code of Conduct infringement consequences," said a statement from the four Grand Slam tournaments. "As might be expected, repeat violations attract tougher sanctions including default from the tournament."World number two Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam title winner and sport's highest-earning female athlete, was fined $15,000 on Sunday for refusing to hold a press conference after her opening win against Patricia Maria Tig. Paris, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st May, 2021 ) :Germany's Alexander Zverev battled back from two sets down to beat compatriot and qualifier Oscar Otte 3-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-0 and reach the French Open second round on Sunday. Last year's US Open runner-up, a two-time Roland Garros quarter-finalist, will next face either Russian Roman Safiullin or Spain's Carlos Taberner, who are also both qualifiers. The 24-year-old Zverev was in serious danger of following fourth seed Dominic Thiem out at the first hurdle, but found his groove in the third set and then raced to victory. It was his seventh win from as many five-set matches at Roland Garros. (@FahadShabbir) Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan Affairs Ali Amin Khan Gandapur on Monday categorically rejected the propaganda of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) that federal government had caused delay in upcoming general elections of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st May, 2021 ) :Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan Affairs Ali Amin Khan Gandapur on Monday categorically rejected the propaganda of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) that Federal government had caused delay in upcoming general elections of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). In his reaction to the news conference of PPP senior leader, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, the minister said neither his ministry nor federal government had made any request regarding postponement of AJK polls. The National Command Operation Center (NCOC), as an independent institution, makes its own decisions based on ground realities about the pandemic, he clarified. Lauding the role of NCOC, the minister said it was a reflection of national efforts against the coronavirus pandemic. The Opposition instead of blaming others, should correct its own ranks. The nation is fed up from their family politics, he said. The minister said the people have recognized their ugly face and have rejected them in 2018 general elections. It also lost elections in GB and now defeat would be their fate in the AJK elections, he added. He said that the situation on PPP side was that it did not have candidates to contest 50 percent seats in the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir polls. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf will also form a government in AJK with two-thirds majority as it had demonstrated in GB election, he maintained. Gandapur added that the role of Prime Minister Imran Khan in highlighting the Kashmir had been remained unprecedented, adding that his vision, clear-cut policy on Kashmir and public relief initiatives like issuance of Health Card has won the hearts of Kashmiris. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Fears of looting are gripping the eastern DR Congo city of Goma, whose inhabitants fled last week after warnings that the dreaded Mount Nyiragongo volcano could be on the verge of a catastrophic second eruption Goma, DR Congo, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st May, 2021 ) :Fears of looting are gripping the eastern DR Congo city of Goma, whose inhabitants fled last week after warnings that the dreaded Mount Nyiragongo volcano could be on the verge of a catastrophic second eruption. Holdouts have reported cases of homes and stores being looted after the exodus, although the phenomenon seems less widespread than when Nyiragongo last kicked into life 19 years ago. Around two-thirds of Goma's population of 600,000 fled, many of them heading to Sake, around 25 kilometres (15 miles) to the west, or the adjoining Rwandan border town of Gisenyi to the east. "There were burglaries overnight," said Augustin Kambale, an inhabitant of Buehene, a district in northern Goma where a laval flow from Nyiragongo came to halt on May 23, less than a day after the volcano awoke. "Thieves got into our place. They broke down the door and the window. They looted the television, tables, everything," he said. "We came home and found just a few clothes still lying on the floor," Kambale said. "The same thing happened opposite us -- a store was completely looted." In Mapendo, a district abutting the Rwandan border, local youth leader George Rwagaza said "there's been no lack of isolated burglaries, although we haven't noted any major losses." He added that thanks to stepped-up patrols by security forces, "there is a certain sense of security". Goma lies just a dozen kilometres (nine miles) from Nyiragongo, Africa's most active and most-feared volcano. When it erupted in 2002, lava flowed like a river across the city before ending in Lake Kivu. Looting during that eruption was widespread, and of the 100 or so people who died during the episode, many were killed during pillaging. Police officials reached by AFP refused to give details other than to say that security forces had been deployed. The military governor, General Constant Ndima, gave the evacuation order last Wednesday. He pointed to fears of a potentially disastrous eruption under Lake Kivu. Ndima insisted that evacuated districts would be "secured" by troops and police. Thirty-two people died from lava burns or asphyxiation after the volcano's May 23 outburst, and two more died in accidents during the exodus. Residents in Buhene, Bujumbu and Murara districts said the police presence there was sketchy during the day and at night. - Vigilantes - In some areas, citizens have organised their own surveillance. "Some young people have been staying behind in homes. People fled but they've left someone to keep an eye on property, which explains why there have been fewer burglaries than in 2002," a local leader said. "The crime rate in Goma is relatively high in normal times and there has been looting in the last few days," said a senior official with an NGO. "But local people have got together to have young people stay behind to keep an eye out." "The situation is critical in some areas," said a young man in the Trois Lampes district, tending to his ageing mother who refused to leave her home. "You see people you don't know going around among the empty houses. I go on patrol with friends, with machetes and knives. When police meet us at night, they give us a word of encouragement." Plaice Nzilamba, a civil society leader in North Kivu province, warned of the risk of vigilante justice. "Brigades of young people have sprung up to apprehend criminals," he said. "But unfortunately, some of them have been finishing off the thieves they catch."Troops with MONUSCO, the UN's peacekeeping mission in the DRC, are helping out by staging joint patrols with national security forces, MONUSCO's bureau chief in Goma, Omar Aboud, told AFP. Nighttime security worries have been heightened by lack of electricity -- a high-voltage cable was brought down by the lava flow. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 03:53:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BOGOTA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Five policemen died after the helicopter in which they were traveling crashed in a rural area of the Colombian department of Bolivar on Sunday, Colombian President Ivan Duque said. "We deeply regret the death of five heroes of our Colombian Police, attached to the Anti-Narcotics Police, in the helicopter accident that occurred in the municipality of Cantagallo, south of Bolivar, in events that are under investigation," the president wrote on Twitter. "The area of the accident has already been secured by the police in Cantagallo, south of Bolivar, and Army troops for rescue efforts. (We express our) solidarity with the families of our heroes who always gave everything for their country," Duque said. Enditem French police on Monday detained in southwest France a former soldier who fled into a forest after firing on the security forces in an incident that sparked a massive manhunt, officials said Paris, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st May, 2021 ) :French police on Monday detained in southwest France a former soldier who fled into a forest after firing on the security forces in an incident that sparked a massive manhunt, officials said. The government's top official in the Dordogne region, Frederic Perissat, told a press conference in Le Lardin-Saint-Lazare that the suspect was shot and wounded by police, and had been taken into custody. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Twitter that the man had been "neutralised" and praised the security forces for their actions. The Palestinian Hamas movement is ready for urgent negotiations with Israel on prisoner exchange, Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip and political bureau chief, said on Monday RAMALLAH (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 31st May, 2021) The Palestinian Hamas movement is ready for urgent negotiations with Israel on prisoner exchange, Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip and political bureau chief, said on Monday. Sinwar made his statement a few hours after the head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service visited the Gaza Strip. "The process of exchange of prisoners has been moving forward recently, but it has stalled due to the lack of a stable government of the occupiers ... we are ready for urgent negotiations," Sinwar told reporters. The Hamas leader in Gaza Strip also said that various Palestinian groups will be holding meetings in Cairo in the next few days. Kyrgyzstan said Monday it had detained a former prime minister over corruption at the country's largest gold mine, the centre of a legal dispute with Canadian firm Centerra Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st May, 2021 ) :Kyrgyzstan said Monday it had detained a former prime minister over corruption at the country's largest gold mine, the centre of a legal dispute with Canadian firm Centerra. The giant Kumtor gold mine is the Central Asian country's largest foreign investment project and accounts for around a tenth of the economy. Kumtor was operated by Centerra Gold but Kyrgyz authorities suddenly seized the mine, prompting the Toronto Stock Exchange-listed company to turn to an international court. Kyrgyzstan's rubber stamp parliament earlier this month passed a law allowing authorities to temporarily seize the mine and appoint "external management" to remedy address environmental and safety problems. On Monday, the country's security service said it had detained a popular former prime minister, Omurbek Babanov, as part of a probe into corruption "at various stages of the development" of the Kumtor project. Babanov, 51, served as prime minister in 2011-12. Centerra said this month it was "no longer in control of the Kumtor Mine and can no longer ensure the safety of the mine's employees or operations" after government officials entered the mine and raided company offices in Bishkek on the weekend of May 15-16. The escalation came after a state commission said Kyrgyzstan was seeking over $4 billion (3.2 billion Euros) in environmental and unpaid tax claims from Centerra, which has denied any wrongdoing. Kyrgyzstan has since appointed its own management team to run the mine but President Sadyr Japarov said last week the government had not ruled out reaching a deal with Centerra. As an opposition politician, Japarov led an unsuccessful bid to nationalise the mine both inside parliament and on the streets, where he oversaw several rallies against the company. He rose to power in October during a political crisis that saw him first freed from jail where he was serving time for hostage-taking. Japarov has always insisted that the conviction was triggered by his opposition to Centerra. Babanov was one of Japarov's main rivals in last year's power struggle that prompted then-president Sooronbay Jeenbekov to resign, allowing Japarov to become leader. Centerra said this month that it has filed for international arbitration against Kyrgyzstan in a bid to defend its star asset. This is the third time the two parties have locked horns in international courts. Two previous disputes were solved with new revenue-sharing agreements for the mine. Several thousand Rohingya staged "unruly" protests Monday against living conditions on a cyclone-prone island off Bangladesh where they were moved from vast camps on the mainland, police said Dhaka, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st May, 2021 ) :Several thousand Rohingya staged "unruly" protests Monday against living conditions on a cyclone-prone island off Bangladesh where they were moved from vast camps on the mainland, police said. Since December, Bangladesh has shifted 18,000 out of a planned 100,000 refugees to the low-lying silt island of Bhashan Char from the Cox's Bazar region, where some 850,000 people live in squalid and cramped conditions. Most of them had fled a brutal military offensive in neighbouring Myanmar in 2017 that UN investigators concluded was executed with "genocidal intent". Monday's protest involved up to 4,000 people, police said, and coincided with an inspection visit by officials from the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR). "The Rohingya who are there became unruly the moment the UNHCR representatives landed (on the island) by helicopter today," local police chief Alamgir Hossain told AFP. (@FahadShabbir) Anthony Fauci, the director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, said it was too early to declare victory over the coronavirus, despite a falling number of cases MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 31st May, 2021) Anthony Fauci, the director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, said it was too early to declare victory over the coronavirus, despite a falling number of cases. "We don't want to declare victory prematurely because we still have a ways to go. But the more and more people that can get vaccinated, as a community, the community will be safer and safer," he told The Guardian newspaper. He said that the danger of emerging coronavirus variants that can diminish the effectiveness of existing vaccines would persist as long as there was "some degree of activity" around the world. The Johns Hopkins University estimates that daily cases have more than halved since the start of this month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 59.1% of US nationals aged 12 and over had been vaccinated at least once as of last Friday. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will join his NATO counterparts for an online meeting that will take place on Tuesday, the country's foreign ministry said on Monda MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 31st May, 2021) Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will join his NATO counterparts for an online meeting that will take place on Tuesday, the country's foreign ministry said on Monday. "H.E. Mr. Mevlut Cavusoglu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, will participate, via video teleconference (VTC), in the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting that will be held on 1 June 2021," the ministry said in a statement. According to the ministry, the meeting will discuss the preparations for the 2021 leaders summit and the 2030 Reflection Process, which is supposed to boost the alliance's political role. The sides will also take stock of the security situation in the Euro-Atlantic region, as well as other NATO issues. The NATO leadership summit is scheduled to be held on June 14 in Brussels. Valdosta, GA (31601) Today Scattered clouds with the possibility of an isolated thunderstorm developing late. Low 71F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Scattered clouds with the possibility of an isolated thunderstorm developing late. Low 71F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. An elderly person searches for food among used food packages in Milan (ANSA) The Vatican holds its third webinar ahead of the UN Food Systems Summit, and calls for world leaders to recognize and address the negative effects which conflict has on food insecurity. By Devin Watkins How many mothers and fathers go to sleep at night worrying that they will not have enough food to feed their families the next day: food for all. The Holy Sees final webinar, in a series of three, kicked off with those words of Pope Francis, recalled in a video launching the event held on Monday. The Food for Life, Food Justice, Food for All webinar series was held ahead of the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, which takes place in the Autumn. Organized by the Secretariat of State, the series saw several Vatican offices join forces, including the Permanent Mission to FAO, IFAD, and WFP, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, and the Vatican Covid-19 Commission. Rising food insecurity Hunger is not new in the world. We have all heard about it or experienced it firsthand, said Cardinal Peter Turkson, in his opening remarks. The Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development lamented statistics which show that hunger has increased in recent years. He said over 60 million people became food insecure in 2019, a trend which was sure to deepen due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Some experts say 130 million more people were undernourished in 2020, compared to the previous year. Looking to the future, Cardinal Turkson said one projection indicates around 840 million people will face hunger by 2030, despite the UNs Development Goal to eliminate hunger by then. Food insecurity, said the Cardinal, entails not only a lack of food, but rather indicates a network of economic, political, and production factors which intertwine to prohibit hungry people from accessing the abundance of food available in the world. He said solutions to the food crisis must address the multitude of factors which lead to food insecurity, and create a global food system which is robust and sustainable. Indeed, the peace of the world depends on how we deal with hunger in the world, said Cardinal Turkson. Conflict and hunger The Director of the UNs Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Qu Dongyu, then joined the webinar via video link. He recalled the many crises which contribute to food insecurity, and especially highlighted the role of conflict in causing hunger. One of the greatest challenges of our time, he said, is to help countries in conflict work toward peace and therefore food security. In areas around the Sahel in Africa, he added, relationships between pastoralists and farmers have degenerated in recent years, leading to continuous conflicts which hamper food production and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of several nations. These conflicts, and many others, urged Dr. Qu, must be addressed in order to break the cycle of violence and hunger. Economic forces The webinar then turned to economic and financial aspects which affect food production and distribution. Stefano Zamagni, the president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, focused his remarks on the global food supply chain. Professor Zamagni spoke about a long-running trend in agribusiness throughout the world, saying too many farms and agribusinesses have grown too-big-too-fail at the expense of smaller farmers. He added that the global food supply chain would be more secure if there were more small farms and fewer massive ones. Prof. Zamagni went on to lament financial deregulation, which he said has led to speculation in commodity markets and a consequent weak-link in the food supply chain, since prices have grown more volatile. He added that cities will also have an important role to play in creating a circular food system, which could contribute to reducing demand and freeing up resources for others. Hunger in Africa A perspective on food insecurity from the African continent was offered by Fr. Fabio Mussi, the director of Caritas Yagoua, in Cameroon. Fr. Fabio said continued attacks by Boko Haram have left many people hungry and food insecure. Over 5 million people were added to those ranks in the past year alone, he said. Caritas Yagoua, which serves the Cameroonian Diocese, therefore decided to focus their efforts on malnourished children, offering them food and vitamin supplements. The Churchs local humanitarian organization also discovered a local treeMoringa oleifera, or the Drumstick treewhich can be harvested to create a type of flour rich in essential nutrients. Caritas Yagoua has launched a project to feed thousands of people in the region with this newfound, nutritious food. However, Fr. Fabio noted, widespread promotion at a political level is required for the discovery to truly assist in feeding the millions of Cameroonians who daily face hunger. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. To subscribe, click here. Already a subscriber? Click here. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 05:39:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Rescue vessels work at the site of the grounded container ship Ever Given on the Suez Canal, Egypt, March 28, 2021. (Suez Canal Authority/Handout via Xinhua) Egypt's Suez Canal Authority said the black box of the grounded giant container ship Ever Given proves that the ship's captain is fully responsible for the incident. ISMAILIA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's Suez Canal Authority (SCA) announced on Sunday the captain of Ever Given was fully responsible for the grounding of the huge cargo vessel that blocked the canal for six days in March. "It is due to the captain's repeated orders in a very short time," Captain al-Sayed Shuaisha, head of the SCA's investigation team, told reporters at the SCA's headquarters in the Suez-Canal city of Ismailia. In April, the Egyptian authorities seized Ever Given, one of the largest container ships in the world. The 400-meter-long, 200,000-ton giant vessel ran aground across the canal on March 23 and halted the canal's traffic for six days. Rescue vessels and excavators work at the site of the grounded container ship Ever Given on the Suez Canal, Egypt, March 28, 2021. (Suez Canal Authority/Handout via Xinhua) "The data from the ship's black box proves that it is not the error of the SCA's mentors," Shuaisha said, adding that the data showed three other ships crossed shortly before the Ever Given. On May 25, Egypt offered to cut its compensation claim down from 916 million U.S. dollars to 550 million dollars against the impounded vessel after the SCA obtained the estimated financial value of the goods on the ship. On Saturday, an Egyptian economic court postponed the trial on the ship to allow for further negotiations on the compensation value. Linking the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, the Suez Canal lost between 12 to 15 million U.S. dollars in daily revenues during the blockage, according to statistics of the canal authority. Conor McNamara, Managing Director at AWS Southeast Asia On May 19, Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced that creator of alternative food delivery app Robinhood has selected AWS as its preferred cloud provider to increase agility, innovation, and efficiency. The Robinhood app from developers Purple Ventures has leveraged the breadth and depth of AWS unmatched portfolio of cloud services including containers (Amazon EKS), databases (Amazon Aurora MySQL), and computers and machine learning (Amazon SageMaker), making it the first in Thailand that does not levy application or gross profit fees on small food vendors, a sector that is struggling financially during the pandemic. Srihanath Lamsam, managing director of Purple Ventures said, AWS enables us to scale our technology infrastructure as we grow, which supports our plans to onboard more delivery riders and restaurants in Bangkok and to expand to other cities to support even more small food vendors across the country. The tie-up was revealed at the AWS Summit Online ASEAN 2021 the biggest technology event in Southeast Asia. On the same day, UnionBank of the Philippines announced a partnership with AWS to migrate its IT infrastructure from on-premises to the worlds leading cloud by next year, thus creating new digital banking experiences accessible from mobile phones. Banks across Southeast Asia are adopting the cloud to exceed their customers expectations, pursue new opportunities opened by evolving regulations, and address challenges presented by the ongoing pandemic. These firms ultimately recognise the cloud as a business and technology enabler. Conor McNamara, Managing Director ASEAN, AWS said, We saw a notable acceleration in the pace of adoption, and broadening of the customer bases, as well as an acceleration in the overall rate of customers starting their journey on AWS. In this trend, XL Axiata one of Indonesias largest telco operators along with Petronas, Zalora, Moderna, ICS Compute, and hundreds of others are also gaining success with AWS. ICS Compute in Indonesia took on 50 new projects by co-selling with AWS that contributed 90 per cent of the partners overall business in 2020. XL Axiata meanwhile changed its strategy to reimage business modes, reimage operations, and reimage ways of working, team synergy, simplicity, and exceptional performance. Yessie Yosetya, chief of Information and Digital Officer at XL Axiata said, To deploy this strategy we are embracing the cloud transformation journey. Partnering with AWS will enable XL Axiata to continue innovating for sustainable business growth. To give builders of tomorrow the flexibility they need to build and run any workload, anywhere, with the benefits of the cloud, AWS continues to develop new products and services to provide the possible broadest and deepest portfolio to meet partners and customers demands in ASEAN. Many Amazon products are available to support customers such as Forecast, Kendra, DevOps Guru, Lockout, Connect, HealthLake, and more. More than 100,000 customers currently use AWS for machine learning. Conor added that his group is going to launch the upcoming AWS Region in Jakarta as it looks to better services, and the needs of its fast-growing community of Indonesian customers. AWS is keen on localisation of its service offerings by providing local language support for services such as translate and transcribe for Thai, Vietnamese, Malay, and Bahasa speakers. AWS has also diverse partner community in ASEAN that can support partners the best. Presently, 90 per cent of Fortune 100 companies and the majority of Fortune 500 companies are utilising AWS Partner Network solutions and services. Moreover, it currently has 20 partner competences in ASEAN across a range of specialisations. AWS has been actively investing in ASEAN since 2009, when it opened the first office in Singapore, and since then has established offices in seven cities across six countries. Last year, outposts were launched across several ASEAN countries, thus allowing its customers to run AWS infrastructure and services on premises for a truly consistent hybrid experience. Besides startups, AWS has played an important role in the success of many ASEAN unicorns, including Razer and Zilingo. Small- and medium-sized businesses and public sector groups are other targets for AWS. Such businesses form the backbone of the ASEAN economy, employing more than 80 per cent of the regional workforce and contributing to over half of regional GDP. We are committed to digitalising one million SMBs in the region over the next three years, Conor elaborated. We will partner with both our consulting and technology partners to provide easy-to-use and packaged solutions that can help accelerate this mass digitalisation agenda. He added that AWS is still at a relatively early stage in the investment curve for the region. We have plans to continue to invest across all of these dimensions in the months and years to come, Conor said. Specifically, the programme has offered 15,000 glasses of milk to the obstetrics and pediatrics hospitals in the northern provinces of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang, and more than 50,000 glasses of milk to Ho Chi Minh City Children Hospital and Children Hospital No.1 based in the city. FrieslandCampina has continued its milk support to those directly hit by the health crisis In addition, FrieslandCampina has also boosted cooperation with the Centre for Supporting Community Development Initiatives in a scheme to give 380,000 glasses of milk to poor patients in Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces of Binh Duong and Ben Tre. The milk from FrieslandCampina has provided more energy for doctors and nurses who are working around the clock to treat patients. The milk has also helped supplement the nutrition of pregnant women and child patients. The obstetrics and pediatrics hospitals have always been receiving special attention from FrieslandCampina because they are often home to pregnant women and babies who are quite sensitive to diseases and need comprehensive healthcare services. Currently, the isolation area of the obstetrics and pediatrics hospital in Bac Ninh is treating and taking care of 38 kids and 12 pregnant women, including 27 F0 cases, with the rest being F1 and F2 cases. Doctor Dao Khac Hung, director of the Bac Ninh Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, said, Amid the hospitals great concentration on fighting the pandemic, it is in critical need of indispensable foodstuffs and equipment for treating and taking care of patients. Thus, FrieslandCampina s products have been practical, timely, and precious. Doctor Le Cong Tuoc, director of the Bac Giang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, also said, "FrieslandCampinas products are not just material support, they also show a great deal of affection and love. The fight against COVID-19 will last very long, with numerous difficulties lying ahead. However, the hospitals medical staff do not feel alone as they have always been supported by not only FrieslandCampina but also other enterprises and the whole community. FrieslandCampinas programme on presenting milk to hospitals and the community has been effectively implemented since the first days Vietnam launched its fight against the health crisis. Ta Thuy Ha, director of Consumer Dairy under FrieslandCampina Vietnam, said, Joining hands with hospitals and the community amid the COVID-19 pandemic is not only a story of affection and solidarity, it is also a demonstration of FrieslandCampina Vietnams social responsibility which has been well maintained over the past 25 years in Vietnam. We call for all individuals and enterprises to stay united to help reduce the difficulties of millions of families, doctors, and nurses throughout the country. This will help people have better health and confidence in defeating the pandemic. Hanois Noi Bai International Airport will stop welcoming passengers from abroad from June 1. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi - Hanois Noi Bai International Airport will stop welcoming passengers from abroad from June 1 amid rising COVID-19 infections in the capital. The suspension will last until June 7, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) said in an urgent dispatch sent to airlines, the Southern and Northern Airports Authorities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Department, and the Ministry of Public Securitys Immigration Department. It also decided to extend the suspension at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City to June 14 instead June 4, as announced earlier. The decision was made based on directions given by the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. On May 27, the CAAV ordered the suspension of foreign arrivals at Tan Son Nhat in response to the recent detection of a COVID-19 cluster in the southern city. As of 12pm on May 31, Vietnam had documented a total of 5,733 domestic infections, with 4,163 cases since the latest outbreak hit the country on April 27. The country has sealed its borders since March last year but still grants entry to diplomats, foreign experts, and repatriated Vietnamese. Hanoi has documented 209 infections since April 29. It shut down all food and beverage establishments as well as hair salons and beauty parlours from May 25 to contain the outbreak. Meanwhile, HCM City has introduced social distancing measures for at least two weeks, starting on May 31. An empty street in Ho Chi Minh City in the first day of social distancing According to Nguyen Tan Binh, director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, the city has now recorded 379 COVID-19 infection cases. Since May 26, the city reported 133 infections, 126 of whom are related to a religious mission. Accordingly, social distancing measures following the government's Directive No.16/CT-TTg dated March 31, 2020is being imposed in Go Vap district, where the religious mission is based, and District 12's Thanh Loc ward. A large number of infections have been recorded in these areas. The rest of the city will follow instructions from Directive No.15/CT-TTg dated March 27, 2020. Directive 15 requires the suspension of social events, bans gatherings of 20 people or more in one place and of 10 people or more outside workplaces, schools, and hospitals. A minimum distance of two metres between people in public places should be ensured. Directive 16 imposes stricter measures. It does not allow gatherings of more than two people in public and asks people to only leave home for emergencies, buying food and medicine, and working in factories, production facilities, and businesses that involve essential goods and services. Binh noted that the city now has an alarming 13 COVID-19 infections per million residents. Investments into Vietnamese startups down by half in 2020 The figure was revealed in the Vietnam Innovation and Tech Investment Report 2020 by Do Ventures and the Vietnam National Innovation Center (NIC), a unit of the Ministry of Planning and Investment.The decrease is mainly attributable to to the absence of outsized deals that were already closed last year by later-stage companies. "Nevertheless, the total number of deals fell only slightly by 17 per cent as we recorded 60 deals in the second half of 2020, virtually equal to the same period in 2019. After the slowdown during the first quarter, venture capital investing began to pick up from the second quarter," said the report. The persistence of early-stage investments is significant to the health of the broader venture capital ecosystem. As more than half of the recorded deals were conducted by local funds, local capital availability in the Vietnam market has proved to be one of the key supports for early-stage entrepreneurs to keep thriving during these uncertain times. Accordingly, payment and retail went on being the dominant sectors of large amount funding thanks to their fundamental roles in the growth of the internet economy. Employment (HRtech) and real estate (proptech) continued seeing rising interest, while education (edtech), healthcare (medtech), and business automation (SaaS) have gently gained favour from drastic changes in consumer and business behaviours. The interest in the Vietnam market was unwavering regardless of the global crisis, as the number of investors entering the country in 2020 went through only a minor drop compared to last year. The most active investors still came from Vietnam, South Korea, and Singapore, while there was a remarkable fall in the number of Japanese investors. Though the Vietnamese tech investment landscape experienced an inevitable hit due to the global crisis, Vietnamese entrepreneurs have done their best with available resources during an unprecedented time. Challenges could always be interpreted as opportunities that welcome the birth of new disruptive business models. Furthermore, the governments increasing efforts to foster the internet economy and create a conducive business environment to attract foreign investors will stand Vietnamese startups in good stead when investment activities progressively resume at the normal pace. Vu Quoc Huy, director of NIC said that NIC is researching and proposing to develop a legal environment for innovation in Vietnam, as well as other specific policies, programmes, and regulatory sandbox to support innovative businesses. The recently released Vietnam Innovation and Tech Investment Report 2020 aims to equip investors with information about the innovation and tech investment activities in Vietnam, thereby enhancing both domestic and foreign capital inflows. On the same note, Vy Le, general partner of Do Ventures, said that the entire 2020 was brimming with challenges and the situation probably will not change soon. However, there are always opportunities in every difficulty. In particular, it is the Vietnamese founders ability to rise above obstacles and bring in new values to society. Australia's renowned travel guide Lonely Planet has selected the seven best road trips in Vietnam, spanning from the countrys north down to its southern reaches. Hai Van Pass (Photo: Getty) Heading the list is the 20-km Hai Van Pass, which connects the central province of Thua Thien-Hue and the central city of Da Nang, with jungle-clad mountains on one side and cliffs plunging down to the East Sea on the other. The pass offers visitors a trip amid a dramatic setting, which makes it one of the most widely Instagrammed places in the world. Statistics from Pentagon Motor Group (PMG) put the Hai Van Pass at fourth out of the 10 most checked-in destinations in the world, with more than 52,000 photos. A view of Ha Giang Loop (Photo: The_prabster) Ma Pi Leng Pass, meanwhile, is widely regarded as the most scenic stretch of the 350-km Ha Giang Loop in northern Ha Giang province, with emerald Nho Que River cutting through a landscape of jagged mountains. Visitors are reminded to factor in half a day to enjoy a quiet boat trip along the river and a spot of swimming. Ban Gioc Waterfall (Photo: Shutterstock) Also among the best road trips in Vietnam is the 80-km drive between Cao Bang and the cascading Ban Gioc Waterfall on the border with China. The route takes adventurers through some of the most pristine pastoral land found in the countrys north. Lush farmlands, villages of stilt-houses, and crystal-clear lakes all feature on the itinerary. Da Lat city (Photo: zingnews.vn) Fourth on the list goes to the 134-km drive between Da Lat in the central highlands and Nha Trang on the south-central coast. From the cool climes of the highlands down to sunny beaches, this short road trip is known for its changing scenery and various microclimates. The Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho drive typically allows visitors to lose themselves down tiny riverside laneways and by ways (Photo: Getty) At the fifth place is the 70-km trip from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho in the Mekong Deltas Tien Giang province. The drive typically allows visitors to lose themselves down tiny riverside laneways and byways. Here, life moves at a very different pace compared to the buzzing streets of Ho Chi Minh City. A beach in Con Dao islands (Photo: Getty) Isolated from the mainland for many years, the Con Dao islands are one of the countrys most impressive natural wonders. Con Son, the largest and only inhabited island in the archipelago, has just one main road, which stretches along its spine, making a motorbike trip both the best way to take in the rural splendour and the best way to beach hop between gorgeous deserted sands. Dam Trau is the only beach in Vietnam among the worlds top 25 beaches, as selected by Travel+Leisure magazine. Vietnam owns a great number of beautiful landscapes spanning from the north to the south (Photo: Unsplash) And finally, the Ho Chi Minh Highway connects Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and is one of the best road trips the country has to offer. Driving a motorbike along the 1,880-km route takes about two weeks and is an exciting experience for adventurers of all stripes. The dining tables are partitioned at Nikkiso Vietnam Co., Ltd. to keep workers safe during lunch. Photo: Le Toan Today morning (May 31), Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Duong Anh Duc, and Ho Chi Minh City Industrial and Export Processing Zones (EPZs) Management Authority inspected the implementation of the prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic at three enterprises at Tan Thuan EPZ, including Organ Needle Co., Ltd., Mtex Vietnam Co., Ltd., and Nikkiso Vietnam Co., Ltd. According to the representative of Mtex Vietnam Co., Ltd., besides implementing the mandatory preventive measures published by the EPZs management board, the company also has sanctions for violators. Specially, employees who do not wear masks will not be allowed to enter the workplace. Repeated violations will result in a disciplinary hearing with a potential penalty of contract termination. Workers concealing their illness by making false declarations will also be dismissed. In addition, the company has designated an area to be used as a temporary isolation spot for workers showing symptoms of fever, coughing, and breathing difficulties. At the same time, the company strictly handles all cases of non-compliance with pandemic prevention regulations. Currently, the company's production is gradually recovering and is getting better than at the end of 2020. The company representative said that orders are available for the next three months, however, the company is short on both production capacity and workers to keep up with the schedule. Nevertheless, pandemic preventive measures and control remain a top priority to ensure the safety of workers and maintain production, avoiding production interruption. Workers arriving to Tan Thuan EPZ in the morning. Photo: Le Toan The board reviewing COVID-19 prevention measures at Mtex Vietnam Co., Ltd. Photo: Le Toan Preferential capital has become a driving force and a fulcrum in the people's journey to overcome poverty and achieve prosperity, especially in the current context of the COVID-19 outbreak. VBSP transaction points in communes, wards, and towns across the country have been strictly implementing COVID-19 preventive measures Since the beginning of 2021, COVID-19 has been affecting all residents of Hoa Binh province which is 60km northwest of Hanoi, including poor households and other policy beneficiaries of VBSP. Especially, since May 10, the province announced social distancing in Hoa Binh city and took drastic measures to prevent and control the pandemic situation. According to Nguyen Minh Hung, director of VBSPs Hoa Binh branch office, the high poverty rates in the province have lead to soaring needs for preferential loans for local people. In order to timely convey policy capital to poor households and other policy beneficiaries during COVID-19, VBSP has implemented diverse solutions, especially, strictly implementing the 5K message of the Ministry of Health at communal transaction points. Wearing a mask, disinfecting hands, and keeping a distance are all things that Bui Van Phong, head of the Saving Group in Mac hamlet, Tan My commune, Lac Son district often reminds members when coming to conduct transactions. According to Phong, in the past, most households in the hamlet were poor or near-poor, only dreaming of economic development but without the capital to act. Since receiving preferential loans from VBSP, people's life has changed a lot. Many households got wealthy through the effective use of policy capital. Despite the current pandemic complications, policy capital is still disbursed in a timely manner, which is a motivation for people to overcome difficulties and continue to develop. VBSP Hoa Binh branch and those in other localities have erected partitions to ensure safe transactions between bank staff and customers in light of the MoHs 5K recommendation Not only members of Phong's group receive special care from policy credit, in recent years, most poor and near-poor households in Hoa Binh province have made steady progress towards leaving poverty thanks to the continuous companionship of policy capital. One such beneficiary is the family of Bui Thi Un, a poor household in De hamlet, Bac Phong commune, Cao Phong district. In the past, when she got married, her family faced mounting hardships as they lived in a makeshift house on bamboo stilts. Their income depended chiefly on farming and working as hired labour. With effective implementation of lending programmes, policy credit continues to be an important fulcrum in poverty reduction, contributing to speeding up the progress of the national target programme on building new rural areas. It all turned to the better when we got a loan to build this house. After that, VBSP continued to lend us money to raise buffaloes, allowing my family's life to be less difficult," said Un. Since the beginning of the year, thousands of poor households and other policy beneficiaries in Hoa Binh province have received preferential loans. Accordingly, the total outstanding loan balance of policy credit sources in the first four months of 2021 in Hoa Binh province reached more than VND598 billion ($26 million), committed ot 17,155 customers. Up to now, the total balance in the province has surpassed VND3.49 trillion ($151.74 million), to more than 125,000 borrowers. Through policy credit sources, 1,256 workers have been given jobs, 25 students have received loans, 34 workers have been granted loans for foreign work, and over 8,700 clean water and sanitation projects have been renovated and rebuilt. With the effective implementation of lending programmes, policy credit continues to be an important fulcrum in poverty reduction, speeding up the progress of the national target programme on building new rural areas in difficult areas, pushing illegal credit while helping the poor and other policy beneficiaries overcome the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Berlin Vietnam continues to be one of the most interesting potential markets in the Asian-Pacific region, together with India, economist Daniel Muller from the German Asia-Pacific Business Association (OAV) has said. Talking to the Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Germany, Muller stated that the Vietnamese economy has recovered significantly and dynamically, reflected through a year-on-year increase of 29.5 percent in the trade turnover in the first four months of 2021, with 206.5 billion USD the highest in the past 10 years. However, in the second quarter, it is difficult for the country to achieve the growth rate as high as that of the first quarter, given the new COVID-19 outbreak, which will hinder the re-opening of its borders. He predicted Vietnams economic growth rate would be equivalent to the average level of previous years. In the medium term, the German expert affirmed that the industrial sector will continue to be the main driving force of Vietnam's economy. If Vietnam continues to expand its policies to attract foreign direct investment and accelerate digital transformation, Vietnam will have good opportunities to participate more in global supply chains, for example, in electronics, computing and automotive industries, he stressed. In these industries, Vietnam should develop a strategic development plan, in which it should connect well with potential foreign investors. Economist Daniel Muller from the German Asia-Pacific Business Association (Photo: VNA) To cope with long-term challenges, the Government should adjust the relationship between the State and businesses to conform to international standards so as to make the public-private partnership more effectively, he added. Regarding the economic relationship between Vietnam and Germany in the first half of 2021, Muller said that forums and communication channels have helped deepen the economic ties. The European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) plays an important role and is a good opportunity to promote economic cooperation between the two countries businesses. In January 2021, the OAV coordinated with the German Ministry of Economy and the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade to establish the Joint Committee on Germany-Vietnam Economic Cooperation (JEC). JEC will regularly hold discussions, with focus on the progress of implementing the EVFTA. Regarding the prospect of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), the German expert said that Germany is interested in this pact, thanks to an increase in Germany's direct investments in Vietnam. However, it is not known exactly when the EVIPA will be ratified by the German Parliament and other EU member parliaments, he added. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 09:02:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ABUJA -- Nigerian police on Sunday said a group of gunmen killed one resident and abducted some students following an attack in the country's north-central state of Niger. Adamu Usman, police chief in Niger state, told Xinhua on phone the school children were abducted after the unidentified gunmen attacked the Salihu Tanko Islamiya School in Tegina, a town in the Rafi local government area of the state. (Nigeria-Students abduction) - - - - JERUSALEM -- Israeli nationalist lawmaker Naftali Bennett announced on Sunday that he has accepted a coalition deal with centrist Yair Lapid to form "the government of change" to oust Benjamin Netanyahu, the country's longest-serving prime minister. Bennett, leader of the small pro-settler Yamaina party, said in a statement that he and Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, will work to put together a coalition government following the March 23 elections. (Israel-Kingmaker-Coalition Deal) - - - - BOGOTA -- Five policemen died after the helicopter in which they were traveling crashed in a rural area of the Colombian department of Bolivar on Sunday, Colombian President Ivan Duque said. "We deeply regret the death of five heroes of our Colombian Police, attached to the Anti-Narcotics Police, in the helicopter accident that occurred in the municipality of Cantagallo, south of Bolivar, in events that are under investigation," the president wrote on Twitter. (Colombia-Helicopter-Crash) - - - - NAIROBI -- Kenya said Sunday it had extended night curfew by 60 days while maintaining the ban on political gatherings amid risks posed by new coronavirus strains. The extension on night curfew that commences from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. and the prohibition on large gatherings are part of public health measures aimed at curbing the spread of the virus. (Kenya-COVID-19-Night Curfew Extension) Enditem Vietnam is looking to enhance its COVID-19 vaccine supplies This was announced by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the webinar connecting all cities and provinces across the country to discuss pandemic prevention solutions. The PM asked relevant authorities to use all means available to them, from diplomatic negotiations to mobilising enterprises, to purchase vaccines. He also asked relevant authorities to study options for the domestic manufacturing of vaccines. At the same time, he assigned the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Defence to look into buying technology for vaccine production. Besides, it is necessary to enhance telecommunication activities to keep the community updated about the importance of vaccination in controlling and preventing the pandemic. Previously, the European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) also proposed the Vietnamese government to allow foreign-invested enterprises to purchase vaccines from their own resources for their employees in order to decrease the burden on the stage budget while simultaneously accelerating the national vaccination programme. According to EuroCham, four out of five enterprises interviewed (around 79 per cent) said that they could afford purchasing vaccines for their employees. Members of EuroCham can supply the worlds leading equipment and international specialist knowledge to serve for the national COVID-19 vaccine injection programme, said Alain Cany, chairman of EuroCham. At the same time, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry called enterprises, manufacturing facilities across the country to arrange funds to buy COVID-19 vaccines for their employees. BIZ MBBank allows customers to sell foreign currency automatically Founded in 2014, Ant Groups origins begin with digital payment service Alipay. As of now, based on a strong technological foundation, Ant Group has expanded into many other financial services and even erodes the profits of Chinese traditional financial institutions. A contender to one of the major banks now, Ant Groups roots reach back to digital payment service provider Alipay. Since then, utilising its strong technological foundation, Ant Group has expanded into many other financial services and even erodes the profits of Chinese traditional financial institutions. Ant CEO Eric Jing said in 2017 that Ant Group named itself after a small insect because it serves the little guys. However, the next few years showed that with digital transformation as the catalyst, ants can beat elephants, according to Business Insider. In Vietnam, as fintech companies receive initial success, traditional banks are accelerating the digital transformation by developing new products and services. Several years ago, e-banking systems were mostly for account inquiries and domestic fund transfers. However, now, more robust products and services have been launched online to support tax payment, bill payments, as well as payroll and terms deposit management. Notably, even corporations can now open a bank account without visiting any physical branch. That being said, the number of digital products and services for export-import activities remains limited. Realising this gap, some commercial banks have pioneered new features such as international payment and trade finance on online channels to enhance customer experience. Military Bank (MB) is one of the outstanding players in this competition. The online international payment feature on BIZ MBBank, which was officially launched in July 2020, received a warm welcome from customers. The feature meets a variety of customers demands related to international payment, including making transfers, buying foreign currency, creating amendment/tracing/cancellation, submitting required documents, and making transfer inquiries. Customers can conduct these activities online without spending time at brick-and-mortar counters. In addition, MB is one of the four banks in Vietnam to apply the SWIFT gpi initiative, which helps speed up transactions. Courtesy of SWIFT gpi, customers are allowed to benefit from real-time transaction tracing without additional costs. Compared to conducting international transfers at counters, the process is significantly less time-consuming via BIZ MBBank, courtesy of automation. Customers can also save time and costs on paperwork and transportation. Those choosing to make transactions with MB can access favourable exchange rates without any conditions. Being one of the very first companies to use online international payments on BIZ MBBank since the first days, Epi Viet Nam Technologies Co., Ltd. highly appreciates the experience BIZ MBBank has offered their customers. Both the bank and corporates are able to benefit from online international payment. It helps eliminate duplicated steps, enhancing efficiency and speeding up the overall processing time," said Nguyen Thi Thuong, finance director at Epi Viet Nam. It used to take us hours to process paperwork and get the SWIFT messages. Since the launch of international payment on BIZ MBBank, the entire processing time has been reduced to less than an hour," she added. This particularly comes in handy in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, to enhance customer experience, BIZ MBBank allows customers to sell foreign currency automatically. The process is 100 per cent automatic, enabling customers to exchange foreign currencies into Vietnam Dong as soon as they approve the transactions. MB is also planning to launch a new feature called chat box to provide customers with tailored and unique experiences. MB has been known for its transformative initiatives in offering international payment trade finance products in the market. In December 2020, MB successfully executed the complete life cycle of two blockchain-enabled import letters of credit (LCs) over the CONTOUR network. With these pioneering actions, MB is constantly affirming its position in the digital transformation race, especially in developing products for corporates and those conducting export-import activities. President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (Photo: VNA) Hanoi Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on May 30 sent a letter to his US counterpart Joe Biden to discuss bilateral relations, especially the enhancement of cooperation in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. In the letter, the Vietnamese leader welcomed and thanked the US for its commitment to donate 4 billion USD to the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) initiative, noting that Vietnam has received two batches with about 2.5 million doses of vaccine from this mechanism. COVAX is really a precious and timely assistance that has helped Vietnam and many other developing countries in responding to the pandemic when vaccine supply sources have still been limited, he wrote. President Phuc also applauded the USs commitment to contribute an additional 80 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to the joint efforts of the international community amid complicated developments of the pandemic in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. He expressed his hope that the US will continue to support Vietnam and other countries in COVID-19 vaccine supplies, while suggesting that the two sides strengthen cooperation in COVID-19 vaccine research, production and technology transfer. President Phuc affirmed that Vietnam always attaches great importance to the Comprehensive Partnership with the US, and believed that based on the spirit of friendly cooperation, both sides will continue to promote bilateral relations in a more intensive and practical manner, thus benefiting people of both nations and contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. Earlier, in recent phone talks with leaders of other countries such as China, Russia and Japan, leaders of the Vietnamese Party, State and Government also asked for the countries assistance in accessing vaccine supplies and cooperation in researching and transferring COVID-19 vaccine production technology. Approximately 200 youth representatives in Vietnam joined the event online. The event was attended by the UNDP resident representative in Vietnam, Caitlin Wiesen, and the COP26 president-designate, Alok Sharma, during his official visit to Vietnam. Vietnamese youth has submitted the fist special report titled Youth for climate action in Vietnam to COP26 president-designate Alok Sharma The special report titlled Youth for climate action in Vietnam was co-written by 20 young authors from diverse backgrounds, representing approximately 900 youth from the three regions of North, Central, and South Vietnam. According to the report, youth face four major bottlenecks in undertaking climate action, including financial constraints; a lack of support from stakeholders; skills limitations; and technological limitations. To unblock these bottlenecks, the report recommends 10 accelerators which include establishing a youth network for climate and launching a climate learning hub. These accelerators were incorporated into a roadmap towards COP26 and action goals for 2022-2025 to enhance the contribution from the youth to Vietnams Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The dialogue with the COP26 president-designate offered the unique opportunity for the youth representatives to handover the special report to the president-designate in person, share their views on climate change, as well as discuss actions to advance the youth agenda in the lead up to the upcoming Global Youth Summit in Milan, Italy in September 2021 and the COP26 in Glasgow, UK in November 2021. The youth representatives that participated in the dialogue also proposed innovative ways to strengthen youths role in the national and international climate agenda. Key discussion points also included Vietnamese youths mobilisation for the COP26 and beyond as part of the global momentum-building Youth4Climate: Driving Ambitions programme. In her opening remarks, Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP resident Representative in Vietnam, noted, Youth are a powerhouse of passion, creativity, and innovation. As recommended in the youth report, we invite all partners to join in aligning programmes and mechanisms to accelerate an enabling environment where youth can fully assume their role as agents of change for climate action. Echoing this view, Pham Van Tan, deputy director general of the DCC, also said,Responding to climate change requires the efforts of all ministries, sectors, local agencies, businesses, individuals, and communities, among which the youth plays an essential role. Every action, even the smallest, has an immense impact, contributing to changing awareness and creating motivation for the participation of the whole society. The COP26 president-designate Alok Sharma sent a message to Vietnamese youth, stating, This is a passionate report which speaks from the heart of youth, sets out some very clear ideas about what we ought to be doing together to tackle climate change. The future does indeed belong to young people around the world. Thats why its vital that your voice is heard loud and clear. This report is also one which speaks with passion the passion of youth. Whatever policies world leaders come up with, whatever plan they have, they must always think of the planet first. Frankly, thats also the message that comes through your report. It is the report that says pick the planet. Hoang Ngoc Xuan Mai, who is a lead author of the report, shared, The co-authors and I are more excited than ever to push through the bottlenecks and enhance youth climate action in Vietnam. We see climate change not only as an existential threat but also as an accelerator for innovations. We invite everyone, no matter how old they are, to read the report and take bold actions for the planet. Khang A Tua, a Hmong youth climate leader who participated in the roundtable, also said, Through discussions with stakeholders, we would like to affirm the importance of mobilising youth from every corner to respond to climate change in Vietnam with the right policies and capacity-building tools. As a first step, I am excited to see climate policy-makers, both national and global, willing to cooperate with young people in climate action. G20 Health Summit on May 21 looked set to call for voluntary licensing and technology transfers to enable a rapid increase in vaccine production, but sidestepped a push from the United States and other nations to waive valuable patents for shots. US pharma giants Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson instead said that they will supply around 3.5 billion vaccine doses at cost or discount to middle- and low-income countries this year and next. A representative of Pfizer told VIR, Pfizer and BioNTech are firmly committed to equitable and affordable access for COVID-19 vaccines for people around the world. He added that in all agreements, the pair are deploying a tiered pricing structure for high, middle, and lower middle-income countries. High and middle-income countries will pay more than low/lower-middle income countries, but at a value that is significantly discounted from our normal benchmarks during the pandemic. Low/lower-middle income countries will pay a not-for-profit price. Pfizer, however, gave no comments to VIR about whether or not it supports the call from the Peoples Vaccine Alliance on need to urgently end monopolies of COVID-19 vaccine patents. Pfizer has confirmed supply of 2.5 billion doses in 2021, but aims to produce three billion doses this year, and will continue to make investments and process improvements to enable more capacity next year. Two billion doses will be delivered to low- and middle-income countries over the next 18 months through bilateral agreements and deals with supranational organisations as well as in partnership with the COVAX vaccine-sharing programme. Pfizer remains firmly committed to support Vietnam in its fight against the pandemic. We are in discussions with the Vietnamese government to make our Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine available for use in the country, he attributed. We look forward to working with governments, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and other stakeholders on solutions that will address the challenges of vaccine access that do not undermine the intellectual property system and vaccine production, or negatively impact public health. Like Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson at the summit also did similar pledge. Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel announced up to 95 million doses for 2021 and up to 900 million for 2022, including through the COVAX programme. Paul Stoffels, vice chairman of Johnson & Johnson, said the company had a deal with COVAX for up to 200 million doses in 2021, and was discussing the potential supply of an additional 300 million. Meanwhile, French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi, which is collaborating with Britains GSK, is proceeding with clinical trials of their COVID-19 jab, raising hopes it could be added to the worlds vaccine arsenal. A Sanofi spokesperson told VIR, Our priority is on the science that is needed to develop vaccines that are safe and effective. We are committed to develop effective COVID-19 vaccines and to manufacture them on a massive scale. We are also committed to working with governments, partners, and payers to ensure that when new vaccines are approved, we make them accessible and affordable for people across the world. Nonetheless, the waiver of patents for COVID-19 vaccines might be the key to boost production and allow for a more equitable distribution of shots across the globe. It was reported at the summit that over 80 per cent of the first billion shots went to wealthy countries, compared to just 0.2 per cent for low-income nations. Earlier this month, the US backed proposals by South Africa and India at the WTO to temporarily break up these monopolies and lift the patents on COVID-19 vaccines. This move has the support of over 100 developing countries. In spite of this, other wealthier nations are still blocking the proposal, putting the interests of pharmaceutical companies first. Winnie Byanyima, executive director of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS, said: While the companies making massive profits from COVID-19 vaccines are refusing to share their science and technology with others in order to increase the global vaccine supply, the world continues to face the very real risk of mutations that could render the vaccines we have ineffective and put everyone at risk all over again. Ahead of the summit, the Peoples Vaccine Alliance announced that at least nine people have become billionaires since the beginning of the pandemic, thanks to the excessive profits being made by pharmaceutical corporations with monopolies on vaccines. The new billionaires have a combined net wealth of $19.3 billion, enough to fully vaccinate all people in low-income countries 1.3 times. Topping the list are the CEOs of Moderna and BioNTech. PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA Foreign policy experts said senior State Department official Wendy Shermans visit to Phnom Penh was in anticipation of Cambodias chance to chair ASEAN next year and likely the Biden Administrations attempt at engaging with the region. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman this week will be the first senior U.S. diplomat official from President Joe Bidens government to visit Southeast Asia, making stops in Indonesia, Cambodia, and Thailand. In Phnom Penh, the Deputy Secretary will hold a series of meetings, reads a State Department media release about Shermans visit to Phnom Penh. More details are provided for her interactions in other countries. Cambodian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Koy Kuong said Sherman is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Hun Sen and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn when she arrives in Phnom Penh on June 1. I do not have detailed information on the agendas, but the discussion will mainly focus on bilateral issues they can also exchange information on a number of areas, Koy Kuong told VOA Khmer. Koy Kuong did not provide details of the meeting and issues on the agenda, but suggested that relations were good and nothing had changed in the two countrys bilateral relationship. On the aspects of democracy and human rights in Cambodia, we are committed to constantly making improvements, said Koy Kuong. John D. Ciorciari, an associate professor at the University of Michigan, said a visit by the senior State Department staffer could be motivated by strong Chinese influence in the country. The Biden administration aims to reinvigorate ASEAN, and repairing relations with Phnom Penh makes sense, as Cambodia is next years ASEAN chair, Ciorciari said in an email. Cambodias relations with the U.S. turned sour after the former accused the western democracy of conspiring with an opposition party to topple the government. The U.S. has increasingly raised allegations that Ream Naval Base in the south of the country was being equipped for a Chinese military presence. It seems likely that Phnom Penh is included in the itinerary because of serious U.S. concern about the Chinese military presence at Ream Naval Base, said Gregory Poling, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Both Phnom Penh and Beijing have denied the speculation of a possible Chinese military presence in Cambodia. At the same time, China has become a significant export destination for Cambodian agriculture products and a big infrastructure investor in the Southeast Asian country. Prime Minister Hun Sen last week made very clear that China was probably the countrys closest ally, during remarks he gave at the Nikkeis International Conference on the Future of Asia last week. He dared critics to suggest alternatives to Chinas investment and aid, and for alternatives to a steady supply of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines, which were aiding a quick vaccination program in Cambodia. The U.S. has carrots to offer Cambodia, including vaccine access directly and through the Quad initiative, but that wont be delivered in any numbers until the fall at the earliest, Poling said. That certainly puts the U.S. in a bind as Cambodia is in desperate need of vaccines now to confront the growing wave of infections in the country, and China is very publicly delivering vaccines while the US and the Quad still are not. According to some analysts, the U.S. fears that Cambodias over reliance on China could impact its leadership over ASEAN next year, including finalization of the South China Sea Code of Conducts. Sherman and her colleagues no doubt recall the fiasco when Cambodia last chaired ASEAN in 2012, blocking the foreign ministers communique in an apparent favor to Beijing, said John D. Ciorciari of the University of Michigan. That points to the second reason for her visit: an effort by the Biden administration to stop or even reverse Cambodias slide into a closer embrace of China. The president of Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous region of Tanzania, has said his government will soon import COVID-19 vaccines. This puts the region at odds with the national government, which has yet to approve any COVID vaccine. Opposition parties are urging the government to allow vaccinations to begin. Zanzibars President Hussein Mwinyi said Saturday that he will allow COVID-19 vaccines to be administered in the semi-autonomous region. He said the vaccinations, when they begin, will be both optional and safe. Mwinyi said there will be nobody who will be forced to get a vaccination they dont want. He added we should not accept peoples sayings that if you get vaccinated would die; all over the world, people have been vaccinated. He said we will bring in the vaccine and those who want it will be vaccinated and those who dont won't take the shot. Former Tanzanian president John Magufuli, who died in March, denied the presence of COVID-19 in the country and dismissed the vaccines as unproven and risky. The new president, Samia Hassan, accepts that the disease exists and has said she is looking to import vaccines. But still, weeks have gone by without any sign of vaccines being delivered to or administered in Tanzania. Rights activists like Deogratias Mahinyila say its high time the government to follow the worlds approach in handling the infections. He says what is being done in Zanzibar and here on the mainland should be done quickly and go with this pace. Mahinyila adds that Tanzania is not an island; whatever we are doing should match with other countries in the world how they are handling this. Some citizens say vaccinations will reduce the fear of infections. Dar es Salaam resident Jackline Thomas thinks the government should speed up allowing vaccination to be brought in Tanzania "because we all know that vaccination is the main weapon to avoid a person getting ill." She says if a person gets the COVID-19 vaccine, that means the infections will not spread and we wont live under fear. After more than a year of pandemic, Tanzania still has no figures on the numbers of COVID-19 cases or the deaths caused by the disease. Zanzibars president says hell import the vaccines by Saturday, although the details of the plan remain unclear. The World Health Organization is asking for 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine for African countries to administer second doses to those who have received their first shot. After three weeks of declining rates of COVID-19 infections in Africa, the World Health Organization is reporting an increase in cases. It says its latest figures of more than 4.7 million cases, including 128,000 deaths indicate a 17% rise over the previous week. WHO regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti says she is concerned, but that it is too soon to tell whether Africa is on the cusp of a third wave. While it is too soon to say if Africa is seeing a resurgence, however, we are seeing increases in a number of countries, we are monitoring the situation very closely. And we see that we are balancing on a knifes edge," she said. "So this makes the rapid rollout of COVID-19 vaccines all the more important. Moeti says South Africa accounts for nearly one-third of the 65,000 new cases reported by WHO. She says she fears new variants of the virus circulating in South Africa may be spreading into neighboring countries. She notes Namibia and Zambia are among 11 African countries experiencing more cases. So far, 28 million COVID-19 doses of different vaccines have been administered in Africa, a continent of 1.4 billion people. Moeti says Africa needs at least 20 million second doses of the Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine by mid-July to give everyone who has received the first dose full immunity. Africa needs vaccines now. Any pause in our vaccination campaigns will lead to lost lives and lost hope," she said. "Another 200 million doses are needed so that the continent can vaccinate 10% of its population by September this year. Moeti appeals to countries that have vaccinated their high-risk groups to share their excess doses with Africa. She notes France is the first country to donate tens of thousands of doses to Africa from its domestic supply. WHO says the European Union has pledged more than 100 million doses for low-income countries and the United States has promised to share 80 million doses with lower-income countries. Other wealthy countries have said they will follow suit. Democracy itself is in peril here at home and around the world, U.S. President Joe Biden warned Monday in remarks to commemorate the Memorial Day holiday. Biden made the comment after he, along with Vice President Kamala Harris and the nations top military officials, took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. What we do now, how we honor the memory of the fallen, will determine whether or not democracy will long endure, the president said, in a veiled reference to the January 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol by those seeking to overturn the results of last Novembers election in which Biden, a Democrat defeated incumbent Republican President Donald Trump. Senate Republicans on Friday blocked a House-approved bill to create a bipartisan commission to investigate the rioting. Biden, as he has done numerous times, spoke of a struggle for the soul of America that is animated by the perennial battle between our worst instincts which we've seen of late and our better angels. As the country observed the annual holiday honoring its war dead, Biden, at the cemetery located just south of Washington, also referenced the right to vote freely and fairly and conveniently. Hours prior to the presidents speech, Democrats walked out of the Texas House chamber to prevent Republicans from passing a bill that would create new limitations to voting in the second most-populous U.S. state. The right to vote, the right to rise in the world as far as your talent can take you, unlimited by unfair barriers of privilege and power such are the principles of democracy, the president said. In his 22-minute speech honoring the fallen, Biden also called for the media to pursue the truth, founded on facts, not propaganda. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, preceded Biden in remarks at the cemeterys memorial amphitheater. The previous day, in his home state of Delaware, Biden addressed a crowd of veterans and families of fallen service members. We must remember the price that was paid for our liberties. We must remember the debt we owe those who have paid it, and the families left behind. My heart is torn in half by the grief, he said. Bidens Sunday remarks came on the sixth anniversary of the death of his son Beau, who served as a major in the Delaware Army National Guard, including a tour of duty with U.S. forces in Iraq, before dying of cancer in 2015. I know how much the loss hurts, Biden said. I know the black hole it leaves in the middle of your chest. It feels like you may get sucked into it and not come out. The United States has commemorated Memorial Day to honor its war dead at the end of May since 1868 after the Civil War. The national holiday is now held each year on the last Monday in May. To coincide with the holiday, flags are placed by the headstones at Arlington National Cemetery and at many of the other national cemeteries across the country, where many who served in the U.S. military are buried. The holiday also marks the unofficial start of summer and what traditionally has been a busy travel season in the United States. While travel suffered last year because of coronavirus restrictions, this year, Americans are looking to get back to their pre-pandemic routines. More than 1.8 million people went through U.S. airports on Thursday and Friday, according to the Transportation Security Administration. The American Automobile Association said it expected a 60% jump in travel this Memorial Day from last year, with 37 million Americans planning to travel at least about 80 kilometers from home, mostly by car. The travel boom comes despite higher prices for gasoline. The price index for typical Memorial Day activities rose this year about 4.3%, faster than the overall consumer price index, according to the Reuters news agency. It listed higher prices over pre-pandemic rates for cookout fare such as hamburgers and hotdogs, as well as higher prices for dinner and drinks out, amusement parks, concerts and car rentals. Prices are below pre-pandemic levels for airfare and hotels. Prices for many goods have been rising because of surging consumer demand, as well as supply issues for both materials and labor. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 10:54:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COPENHAGEN, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Danish Defense Intelligence Service (FE) has given the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) open internet access to spy on senior politicians of neighboring countries, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Denmark's national broadcaster DR News reported on Sunday. DR News, in collaboration with Swedish, Norwegian, German and French media, found out some "startling conclusions" in a secret internal investigation on the FE dubbed as "Operation Dunhammer" which was concluded in May 2015. A significant conclusion in the Dunhammer report, according to DR News, is that the NSA has purposefully obtained data and thus been able to clandestinely spy on targeted heads of state, as well as neighboring Scandinavian leaders, top politicians, and high-ranking officials in Germany, Sweden, Norway, and France. Danish Minister of Defense Trine Bramsen responded to media reports by sending an email to DR News, saying that the government will not "enter into speculation about any intelligence matters from the press or others ... systematic wiretapping of close allies is unacceptable." However, the governments of Norway and Sweden are pressing the Danish government and demanding immediate answers about the alleged NSA espionage through Danish cables. "We demand to be fully informed about matters concerning Swedish citizens, companies and interests. And then we have to see how the answer sounds from a political side in Denmark," Swedish Minister of Defense Peter Hultqvist told state broadcaster SVT on Sunday. However, according to DR News' report, the information about the NSA's espionage through cooperation with the FE should already have been known by the defense minister as details were included in a four-volume statement that Bramsen received from the FE in August 2020. In the statement, the FE was accused of obtaining and passing on information about Danish citizens, according to local media. The defense minister in a press release has harshly criticized the failure by the FE's management to follow up on or investigate further signs of espionage within the area of the Ministry of Defense. There are indications that the FE has "initiated operational activities in violation of Danish law," said the minister. Then FE head Lars Findsen was also suspended from service along with two other colleagues. Enditem The National Transitional Justice Working Group (NTJWG) has expressed concern over a plaque which was unveiled at the Bhalagwe mass grave site in Kezi, Matabeleland South, was stolen by suspected state security agents last week. In a statement, the group said it stands with the people of Kezi, Ibhetshu Likazulu and other victims of Gukurahundi in condemning this act and calls on all Zimbabweans to take a stand against the destruction of memorial sites and structures. The NTJWG specifically calls upon the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) to launch an investigation into the destruction of the plaque and hold the perpetrators of this callous act accountable. Furthermore, the NTJWG implores the NPRC to provide the people of Kezi with counselling services and any other necessary support as this incident has likely re-traumatized them. The unveiling of the plague was done during a memorial service held in memory of all the people, who lost their lives during the Gukurahundi era. Over 20,000 people were killed by the Fifth Brigade, according to the Catholic Commission for Peace and Justice, which compiled a book about the atrocities titled Breaking the Silence, Building True Peace: A Report on the Disturbances in Matabeleland and the Midlands, 1980 to 1988. The plaque was unveiled by Chief Fuyane with the support of Ibhetshu Likazulu, an NTJWG stakeholder that pursues justice for victims of Gukurahundi. The NTJWG condemns this theft and views it as an attack on the memory of the estimated 20,000 people who lost their lives during Gukurahundi, their families and survivors who continue to grapple with the trauma of this excruciating period. This theft is particularly concerning as it is the second incident of this nature with the first having occurred in 2018 when a similar plaque at Bhalagwe was destroyed. Back then, villagers consisting of victims, survivors, and families of victims of Gukurahundi atrocities were threatened and warned against participating in erecting similar structures. These incidents are indicative of intolerance and a deliberate effort to rewrite history by erasing the lived experiences of victims and survivors. The NTJWG said memorial sites and structures such as this are a key part of truth recovery and preservation through memorialisation initiatives. Given Zimbabwes history of violence and conflict, memorialisation is an urgent and pertinent issue that must be prioritised. The NTJWG said Gukurahundi is part of Zimbabwes history which, though heinous, must not be forgotten. Plaques such as the one unveiled at Bhalagwe are important reminders of what happened in the past which must fill every Zimbabwean with a desire to play their part to guarantee non-recurrence of human rights violations such as Gukurahundi. Therefore, this theft is an unacceptable act that undermines the nations efforts to realise national peace, reconciliation, and healing and it must not go unpunished. National Peace and Reconciliation Commission chairperson, Sello Nare, was unreachable for comment as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone. President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has denied any involvement in the Gukurahundi atrocities, has urged Zimbabweans to freely discuss the issue. An attempt to exhume some of the remains of the Gukurahundi victims in the past two years was abandoned following sharp criticism by local people, who claimed that the government was tempering with exhibits of the victims of the massacres. Public outreach program also being conducted by the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission were abandoned following conflicts between some representatives of the victims and commissioners. In its website, the National Transitional Justice Working Group describes itself as a platform established by various non-state Zimbabwean transitional justice stakeholders to provide the interface between transitional justice stakeholders and the official transitional justice processes in Zimbabwe. NTJWG says it envisions a peaceful, just, accountable and democratic society. We have re-opened our newspaper office to the public in Stowe. Our South Burlington and Morrisville offices remain closed, except by appointment. Face masks are mandatory, and appropriate social distancing must be practiced, at all locations. Please email or call us with questions, news or updates; and read our local coronavirus coverage. Read News The Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives remembered fallen heros on Monday in a service to honor the lives lost on the front lines. Members who attended the service also got an inside look at the new Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives, located at the old Limestone County Event Center. Major General Robert Rasch said, Its not just a day the pool opens, its a day where we actually, solemnly remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. Athens resident, Chris Spain, said walking through the museum with his family is the best way to teach his children about the sacrifices our heros made. This has shown some of the greatest triumphs and tragedies in the worlds history," said Spain. Today gives you a stark reminder of what people have gone through to give us what we have every day. Athens Mayor, Ronnie Marks, is a Vietnam veteran himself. Marks said he hopes the museum continues to educate younger generations. Its important we tell those young people the difference between honoring and remembering as opposed to just saying, thank you for your service, said Marks. The Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives' new location is not yet open to the general public. A child is recovering from injuries after a van crashed into a Hazel Green business Saturday night. State troopers confirmed it happened at One on One Flooring and Design. The four-year-old was taken to the hospital, underwent surgery, and is expected to be OK. The business told WAAY 31 the store was closed Saturday night, so no one was inside when the car slammed into the side of the warehouse. No arrests have been made. ALEA is assisting in the investigation. There are multiple Memorial Day Services across North Alabama Monday honoring the nation's fallen heroes. In Huntsville, Mayor Tommy Battle will be joined by Redstone Arsenal Senior Commander Lt. General Donnie Walker at Veterans Memorial Park at 9am for a ceremonial wreath-laying. The names of 105 men and women who sacrificied their lives for the country will be read at 10am in Moulton. The ceremony is organized by the American Legion. In Limestone County, the lives of fallen veterans since last Memorial Day will be honored at the former Limestone County Event Center on Pryor Street in Athens at 11am. Madison's American Legion Post 229 will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at 11am. The event is at Madison Veterans Park. Also at 11am, the Florence-Lauderdale County Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at 11am at Veterans Memorial Park, just north of the Wilson Dam. The Rosetown Memorial American Legion Post #542 will hold a tribute at 10am at the Roselawn Cemetary Veterans Memorial - Soldiers' Rest. It is requested that attendees bring their own chairs and social distance. Valhalla Funeral Home will hold their annual ceremony at 10am. It took more than seven decades for U.S. Army Cpl. Henry "Lewis" Helms to make it home. The DeKalb County, Alabama, native was laid to rest with full military honors on Saturday in Ringgold, GA. U.S. Army Cpl. Henry "Lewis" Helms U.S. Army Cpl. Henry "Lewis" Helms After a tour of duty in World War II, Helms returned home after his family moved to Georgia. His next calling: Korea, the "forgotten war" where he re-enlisted in 1948 and eventually deployed with D Company, 1st Battalion (Bn), 32nd Infantry (1/32INF), 7th Infantry Division (ID). Helms fought in one of the bloodiest battles of the Korean War; the 17-day Battle of Chosin Reservoir, commonly called the "Frozen Chosin" for its bitterly cold conditions that American troops had to endure. American forces were outnumbered four to one by the Chinese. Helms' unit was attacked by enemy forces. At just 24 years old, Corporal Helms was declared missing in action and presumed dead on Dec. 2, 1950. His remains could not be recovered. Helms was one of nine children. His only surving sibling Evelyn Snyder only remembers a string necklace tied to an old dime that her older brother Henry Lewis made for her. "It's something that I've got from him, so it's pretty, pretty special," beamed Snyder. Snyder held on to that memory and prayed for a miracle that one day her older brother would return home. Just a few short weeks ago, Snyder's prayers were answered. She received a phone call from the U.S. military that her older brother was finally returning home for good. DNA analysis matched samples given by Helms family members. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) recently announced that Helms was accounted for April 16, 2020, but Covid-19 delayed the process of finally returning his remains home. Helms' remains were in box 39 of the 55 boxes of repatriated Americans that North Korea turned over to the U.S. They arrived in August of 2018, just a few days after a summit between former President Donald Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. "Just knowing that he was on American soil. That was wonderful," said Snyder. Now home, the final chapter of Henry Lewis Helms' life can be told for generations to come. "Sometimes, you've got to give everything you've got and he did," said Regina Worley, Helms' niece. "I want my whole family to always know what he did. I want everybody to know that." Helms' funeral and graveside service was attended by family, friends and even strangers who paid tribute to a young man who gave up his lifelong dreams by paying the ultimate sacrifice. Veteran Michael Dowd drove all the way from Decatur, Illinois for a brief moment to remember, so that a fallen soldier is never forgetten. It was worth it," said Dowd. "When you do something like that for your country, your family, there's no greater love to express yourself for this country and the flag." Helms' name is recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, along with the others who are still missing from the Korean War. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for. He is also memorialized at the Ringgold City Hall MIA/POW monument. One Madison business needs your help identifying the thief or thieves who stole catalytic converters Saturday morning. We Chunk Junk posted on its Facebook page photos taken from its security system showing a man get out of a white car and walk towards dump trucks. The business told WAAY 31 six converters were stolen from three different trucks. The financial loss is unknown at this time but the business is bracing to take a significant hit. If you have any information, contact the Madison County Sheriff's Office. Decatur, IL (62521) Today Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mainly clear skies after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mainly clear skies after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 11:27:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close File photo taken on Feb 19, 2020 shows German Chancellor Angela Merkel attending a press conference in Berlin, capital of Germany. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi) The NSA has purposefully obtained data and thus been able to clandestinely spy on targeted heads of state, as well as neighboring Scandinavian leaders, top politicians, and high-ranking officials in Germany, Sweden, Norway, and France, the report has found. COPENHAGEN, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Danish Defense Intelligence Service (FE) has given the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) open internet access to spy on senior politicians of neighboring countries, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Denmark's national broadcaster DR News reported on Sunday. DR News, in collaboration with Swedish, Norwegian, German and French media, found out some "startling conclusions" in a secret internal investigation on the FE dubbed as "Operation Dunhammer" which was concluded in May 2015. A significant conclusion in the Dunhammer report, according to DR News, is that the NSA has purposefully obtained data and thus been able to clandestinely spy on targeted heads of state, as well as neighboring Scandinavian leaders, top politicians, and high-ranking officials in Germany, Sweden, Norway, and France. Photo taken on Feb. 19, 2020 shows the Pentagon seen from an airplane over Washington D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Danish Minister of Defense Trine Bramsen responded to media reports by sending an email to DR News, saying that the government will not "enter into speculation about any intelligence matters from the press or others ... systematic wiretapping of close allies is unacceptable." However, the governments of Norway and Sweden are pressing the Danish government and demanding immediate answers about the alleged NSA espionage through Danish cables. "We demand to be fully informed about matters concerning Swedish citizens, companies and interests. And then we have to see how the answer sounds from a political side in Denmark," Swedish Minister of Defense Peter Hultqvist told state broadcaster SVT on Sunday. However, according to DR News' report, the information about the NSA's espionage through cooperation with the FE should already have been known by the defense minister as details were included in a four-volume statement that Bramsen received from the FE in August 2020. People walk past the Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, Denmark, March 17, 2020. (Photo by Anders Kongshaug/Xinhua) In the statement, the FE was accused of obtaining and passing on information about Danish citizens, according to local media. The defense minister in a press release has harshly criticized the failure by the FE's management to follow up on or investigate further signs of espionage within the area of the Ministry of Defense. There are indications that the FE has "initiated operational activities in violation of Danish law," said the minister. Then FE head Lars Findsen was also suspended from service along with two other colleagues. Pantheon Institute is seeking an enthusiastic, student-focused candidate with basic office computer skills, previous experience in a Student Services role, and excellent communication and organizational skills for an entry level student services position. Fluency in Italian and English required. Canadian or American nationality preferred. Salary commensurate with educational background and experience. Two brown bears from the Whipsnade zoo were shot after escaping from their enclosure. Whipsnade Zoo Chief described the break away as an immediate threat to human life that forced the keepers to shoot them dead amid backlash from animal lovers who do not use tranquiliser darts. Strong winds resulted in the fall of a tree forming a makeshift bridge between the fence of the brown bear enclosure and that of a neighboring wild boar. Also read: Young whale stuck in Londons Richmond Lock Bridge put down The bears Snow White and Sleeping Beauty - both female - were euthanized after they found their way to the neighboring enclosure and viciously attacked a male boar. Malcolm Fitzpatrick, the zoo curator at Bedfordshire released a statement describing the bears as strong and dangerous predators further saying it was an incredibly upsetting day. He went on to say that a full investigation on the incident will be conducted. Also read: UK and France send patrol boats to Jersey amid fishing row ZSL Whipsnade defends the swift response as purposefully driven to protect people, guests, and other animals. He further described the situation as an immediate threat to human life. He argued that the decision not to have the bears tranquilized was rational as this takes 20 minutes before it kicks in. Nevertheless, social media users were up in arms over the zoos drastic actions. ZSL is the international charity that runs both the Whipsnade and London zoos. It was founded in 1826. Mr. Fitzpatrick also described the European brown bears to be strong and dangerous predators. Further mentioning how their emergency response team arrived at the site of the incident and made a quick judgment call. It turns out that the injured boar too will get equal care, same as the zoo staff members involved in the incident. Also read: Celebrations across the UK as coronavirus lockdowns ease It took only 18 minutes from the time of the incident for the situation to be brought under control. There is still no mention of whether the zoo remained open to the public at this time. A third bear, Cinderella who remained in her enclosure, was secured in her indoor den as the fallen tree was removed. Social media animal rights activists have recently come under fire for shooting those bears. They insisted that their actions prevented further loss of life. Also read: The UK to limit the use of AstraZeneca to under-30s after possible link to blood clots grow It is not often that a brown bear attacks a human. Usually, they avoid human contact altogether. Less than 40 bear attacks are recorded annually, with the majority of Europes attacks happening in Romania. Also read: Angelina Jolie sells Winston Churchill painting for 7m CNN reports that Whipsnade Zoo will celebrate her 90th birthday on Sunday. Activities such as trails, arts, and craft and treasure hunt will carry on for a week as of May 29. There are over 3500 animals in the zoo including cheetahs, lemurs, and penguins. According to Bear Conservation, the European brown bear is the largest species of bear, and its females range in weight from 100 to 250 kilograms (220 to 551 pounds). Italy reports lowest daily tally of covid-19 fatalities since mid-October as pressure on hospitals continues to drop. Italy registered 44 coronavirus-related deaths on Sunday 30 May, down from 83 the day before, the health ministry announced. The daily tally was the lowest figure since 14 October, when 43 fatalities were recorded, according to news agency ANSA. The number of people with an active coronavirus infection fell by 3,670 to 236,296, while the number of new covid infections dropped to 2,949 from 3,351. Italy continues to make progress with its coronavirus vaccination programme, administering 34.2 million vaccine doses, with 11.8 million people - almost 20 per cent of the population - fully vaccinated, the health ministry said. The news comes as three Italian regions - Friuli Venezia Giulia, Molise and Sardinia - move into the lowest-risk 'white zone' category under Italy's colour-coded system of coronavirus restrictions, with more regions set to follow in the coming weeks. The health ministry also extended an entry ban for people travelling from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka - until 21 June - as a precaution against the Indian variant of the coronavirus. The travel ban does not apply to Italian citizens. On Friday Italy's national health institute (ISS) announced that the national 'R' reproduction number had fallen to 0.72 from 0.78 the week before, according to the latest covid-19 data. The incidence rate in Italy dropped to 47 coronavirus cases for every 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 66 the previous week. For official information relating to the covid-19 situation in Italy - in English - see the health ministry website. Photo: Via del Corso Rome. Credit: Angelo Cordeschi / Shutterstock.com. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang addresses the 2021 Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Seoul Summit via video link in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2021. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) China is willing to work with all other parties to promote green recovery for a better future for mankind, Premier Li Keqiang said via video link at the 2021 Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Seoul Summit on Sunday. Li said the green and sustainable development of the world is facing severe challenges as the global economy becomes more unstable with mounting uncertainties amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic. Members of the international community should help each other and work together to ensure that development and green transformation go hand in hand, reinforce each other and facilitate the upgrading of the quality of development, he said. As the largest developing country, China is making arduous and exceptional efforts to achieve the modernization goal by the middle of this century while realizing low-carbon and green development, he said. China has promised to strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Li said that China will establish and improve an economic system featuring green and low-carbon circular development, to promote a comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development. The premier called for joint efforts from the international community to fight COVID-19, improve global health governance and ensure stable global industrial and supply chains. He also stressed efforts to promote green and low-carbon transformation. After the pandemic, countries should not return to the old high-pollution and high-emission path of development, but should seek a win-win approach of economic development and ecological and environmental protection, grasping new opportunities to achieve high-quality development, Li said. He called on the international community to pay great attention to the concerns and appeals of developing countries and increase technological, financial and capacity support to help them achieve a green and low-carbon transformation. He said that it is necessary to maintain the multilateral trade rules system with the World Trade Organization as the core, be alert to new green trade barriers, and oppose unilateralism and trade protectionism. The 2021 P4G Seoul Summit was hosted by the Republic of Korea. Leaders of more than 60 countries and international organizations attended the virtual event. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 12:42:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds talks with Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence Simon Coveney in Guiyang, capital city of southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 30, 2021. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin) GUIYANG, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday held talks with Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence Simon Coveney in Guiyang, capital city of southwest China's Guizhou Province. Wang said that China-Ireland relations have been maintaining healthy and stable development and have become increasingly mature. The two sides could give full play to their respective advantages to strengthen international cooperation against the COVID-19 pandemic and maintain smooth and stable industrial and supply chains, so as to help accelerate the recovery of the global economy. China attaches importance to Ireland's unique role and influence in international and regional affairs, Wang said, adding that Ireland is a stable and strong force in the European Union, and it's believed that Ireland will continue to play a positive role in developing healthy and steady China-EU relations. For his part, Coveney said that Ireland is an honest friend to China in the EU and is willing to be a reliable partner. The Irish side is looking forward to the further improvement and development of EU-China relations. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 14:12:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Yao Lan, Hong Xuehua HONG KONG, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Like any other normal day for Nikmatul Rosidah, she gets off the subway pushing a blue shopping cart and heads directly into an Indonesian grocery store at Hong Kong's Tai Wai market. "Are you Rosidah?" "Are you the YouTuber?" Several Indonesians at the market recognize Rosidah, raising their voices with excitement while talking with her in Bahasa. The story dates back to 2014, when a two-minute video of Rosidah's daughter trying to blow out a birthday candle went viral on social media. Rosidah, 42, who came to China's Hong Kong as a domestic helper 20 years ago, never pictured her life unfolding like this. By sharing her family life, home-made food and diversified cultures presented against the backdrop of Hong Kong, Rosidah has become one of the few top influencers on the online video-sharing platform YouTube, who has managed to find a sense of belonging and a home in Hong Kong, the place that has infused energy and flavor into her channel. "It is for fun and I enjoy it. If nobody watches it, I can watch it by myself in the future," Rosidah, who now earns about 35,000 Hong Kong dollars per month (about 4,400 U.S. dollars) and has 1.47 million subscribers on her channel, told Xinhua. Over the past seven years, she has uploaded a total of over 1,500 videos that were all edited on her phone. She recorded the videos to document her family's memorable moments and uploaded them to the internet to save storage space on her phone. She had no clue that she would become famous even in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. "Basically she came to Hong Kong as a domestic helper and walked out of Hong Kong as a YouTuber," said Rosidah's husband Paul Dobson, 55, who comes from Canada. Rosidah bumped into her husband while riding an escalator in Kowloon Tong station during the Chinese New Year in 2004. They got married and had three children in Hong Kong. She is one of the few domestic helpers who chose to stay. Recalling her years working as a domestic helper, Rosidah said she had adapted herself to Hong Kong by imitating people by saying "zou-san," good morning in Cantonese, in the wet market. "I felt welcomed in Hong Kong," she said. Twenty years on, all of Rosidah's friends whom she met at the domestic helpers' training center went back to Indonesia. On camera has become her way of staying in touch with her "friends" in her mother tongue during her busy life as a housewife. "She's at home with the kids, so sometimes she has the camera set up," said Dobson. "It's like she's talking to her friends that aren't here." Despite the language and cultural differences, Rosidah's recipes uploaded on her YouTube channel have been passed on to numerous Hong Kong families through Indonesian domestic helpers, connecting people from different backgrounds. "When she started making the bread, other helpers started baking the bread because they could understand her language. Their employers became so happy that a couple of farmers would give their helper so many vegetables to bring to our house all the time," Dobson said. As China's international financial hub Hong Kong has been admitting foreign domestic helpers since the early 1970s, followed by a prolonged labor shortage after years of rapid economic growth and the changing needs of local households' domestic services in an aging society, according to the Research Office of the Legislative Council Secretariat of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). With the majority of them being females from the Philippines and Indonesia, the group in Hong Kong has been growing, as the ratio of foreign domestic helpers to overall workforce, according to the statistics compiled by the Census and Statistics Department of the HKSAR government, has almost doubled from 5.3 percent to 9.3 percent from 1996 to 2016. Hong Kong, as the backdrop of Rosidah's channel, has been the glue for people who are looking for dreams or memories. Like most people, Rosidah's first impression of Hong Kong was shaped by the movies of Jackie Chan or Andy Lau, while her channel is another version of Hong Kong for those who have not been here. For those who have already left, it is a time machine that can bring them back to the old days. "I can see Hong Kong without going to Hong Kong;" "I really miss the atmosphere of Hong Kong, from cooking to everything;" "I have lived in Hong Kong for 10 years, and this video can satisfy my longing for the atmosphere there," people commented under her videos. "Hong Kong is really a magnet for her channel. It gives them something to work towards," added Rosidah's husband, saying that Hong Kong, as a highly-reputed place of China, gives people more possibilities and hope of a better life. Talking about the future, Rosidah is hoping to have a bigger kitchen colored white and a separate cooking place for spicy food. "It does not have to be very big. Hong Kong size is okay," she smiled. Both having spent almost half of their lives in Hong Kong, the couple said they would get homesick during long trips away but felt cured once they set foot in Hong Kong's airport. During the interview with Xinhua, the smell of egg tart sneaked in from the Dobsons' kitchen, a mini space that takes only three steps from the door to the furthest side. The family of five were sitting together, eating and talking, with a camera set up beside, in their village house surrounded by trees in Hong Kong's Sha Tin district. After 20 years, Rosidah can still recall the time when she first came to Hong Kong alone, when she could not speak a single word of Cantonese. Now as a mother of three and the beloved wife of her Canadian husband, she is becoming a part of Hong Kong's fabric, the international city with pineapple buns, fish eggs and Siu Mai, and the place she calls home. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 16:22:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MACAO, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Macao's total merchandise import swelled by 265.7 percent year on year to 13.74 billion patacas (about 1.72 billion U.S. dollars) in April 2021, the special administrative region's statistical service said on Monday. The latest report from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) showed that the imports of gold jewelry, perfumes, handbags and wallets and beauty, cosmetic and skincare products rocketed by 4,814.0 percent, 1,395.1 percent, 1,165.5 percent and 1,137.4 percent respectively, whereas that of other textile made-up articles declined by 56.2 percent. Merchandise trade deficit in April totaled 12.68 billion patacas. From January to April this year, the total value of merchandise import expanded by 116.6 percent year on year to 43.43 billion patacas. Merchandise trade deficit totaled 38.91 billion patacas for the first four months of 2021, up by 22.48 billion patacas from a year earlier. Analyzed by place of origin, merchandise import from the European Union and the mainland in the first four months increased by 156.7 percent and 95.1 percent to 14.13 billion patacas and 14.05 billion patacas respectively year on year. External merchandise trade totaled 47.95 billion patacas from January to April 2021, up by 102.5 percent from a year earlier. (1 pataca equals 0.1251 U.S. dollar) Enditem Brian Gregory Robling of Washington, 23, passed away Monday, June 7, 2021. Brian was born July 11, 1997, in Washington, to Amber (Robling) Whiteman and Michael Bernard. He graduated from Washington High School in 2016. Brian is survived by his parents; his son, Zyler Mehrer of Washington; da Trusted local news has never been more important, but providing the information you need, information that can change sometimes minute-by-minute, requires a partnership with you, our readers. Please consider making a contribution today to support this vital resource that you and countless others depend on. The ACT is leading all states and territories on the percentage of private aged care residents who have been fully vaccinated as of Monday, with 83 per cent of all residents having received their second dose. The figures come from the federal government, which is responsibile for vaccinating older Australians in private facilities across the country. Tasmania is next, with 70.1 per cent of aged care residents vaccinated. Queensland is third on 69.7 per cent. About 68 per cent of aged care residents are fully vaccinated in NSW, while in Victoria that figure is 57 per cent. South Australia is trailing the pack on 50 per cent. Meanwhile 119,139 vaccine doses were administered nationwide on Monday, health department data shows. Victoria comprised just over a third of that tally 40,389 doses while Tasmania had its highest turnout yesterday with 4400 people opting in. Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo: At least 55 people have been killed in two attacks on villages in eastern Congo, the United Nations said, in potentially the worst night of violence the area has seen in at least four years. The army and a local civil rights group blamed the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamist armed group, for raiding the village of Tchabi and a camp for displaced people near Boga, another village. Both are close to the border of Uganda. President Felix Tshisekedi declared a state of siege in Congos North Kivu and Ituri provinces on May 1. Credit:AP Albert Basegu, the head of a civil rights group in Boga, said on Monday, local time, that he had been alerted to the attack by the sound of cries at a neighbours house. When I got there I found that the attackers had already killed an Anglican pastor and his daughter was also seriously wounded, Basegu said. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 17:20:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TAIPEI, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan on Monday reported 274 new local COVID-19 infections, 73 backlogged local cases and 15 new deaths, the local disease monitoring agency said. It is the 16th consecutive day that the number of new local infections on the island has exceeded 200. Of the new local cases, 129 were male and 145 were female. The onset of symptoms occurred between April 29 and May 30. Among the 73 backlogged cases, 36 were male and 37 were female, aged below five to over 80, the agency said. The 15 fatalities included nine men and six women, who passed away between May 21 and May 29. On the same day, Taiwan also reported four new imported COVID-19 cases from India and South Africa. Since mid-May, Taiwan has seen a spike in local infections amid strained medical resources. Given the severity of local transmissions, Taiwan has extended its level-3 alert for COVID-19 to June 14. The total number of confirmed cases on the island since the epidemic began has risen to 8,511, including 7,321 local cases. A total of 124 deaths have been reported, the agency said. Enditem Louisville, KY (40203) Today Sunny to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, with mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. Huckston Johnson, of Plainfield, Indiana, says he wants toiletries -- not toys -- for his birthday this year. The 4-year-old plans to make bags of supplies to turn over to the Plainfield Police Department. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 19:05:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with school children as he attends a tree-planting activity in Tongzhou District in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2019. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping extended festive greetings to children across China ahead of International Children's Day that falls on June 1. When writing back to students of a primary school in east China's Jiangsu Province on Sunday, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, urged them to learn the Party's history and to have a firm faith to follow the Party from a young age. 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. Help us understand what you value in community conversations so we can make our digital offerings more useful. This survey will only take a few minutes to complete. By taking the survey, you'll be entered into a drawing for one of three $100 gift cards to your choice of the following businesses: Hooked on Toys and Sporting Goods, Safeway/Albertsons, FredMeyer and Target. Click here to take survey OGDEN, Utah (AP) If not for a special pot of federal COVID-19 relief funding meant to help foster kids and young adults who have left the system, Olivia Kilfoyle worries about what could have been. Thanks to the funding, she recently moved in to an Ogden apartment, has a place to call home. Without the help part of some $343.5 million in all meant to help foster kids and former foster youth around the country contend with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic she worries she may have joined the ranks of the homeless, the Standard-Examiner reported. Maybe she would have had to move in to her car or find space on friends and acquaintances couches. It put me in a safe place, said Kilfoyle, 21, a former foster child now living on her own. Now, state officials who help foster kids and those who have aged out of the system are putting out a call. Utah received $2 million of the $343.5 million and funds are still available for those in need. Please get in contact if youre out there and need help, said Aubrey Adams, who aids the population as a program administrator with the Utah Department of Human Services Division of Child and Family Services. The pandemic has impacted many. But according to a survey and study by the University of Pennsylvanias Field Center for Childrens Policy, Practice and Research, the effects were particularly pronounced on older foster kids and those who who aged out of foster care during the pandemic, those aged 18-23. More specifically, it created instability in the living arrangements of many, financial uncertainty and food insecurity. May being National Foster Care Month, the message about helping those who have relied on the system is particularly apt. Almost half of the participants reported COVID-19 having a negative impact on their employment, including being laid-off, no longer having reliable gig work or having hours/income severely cut, reads the University of Pennsylvania report. Two-thirds of the participants reported that COVID-19 was having a major negative impact on their educational progress or attainment. Slightly more than half of the participants reported symptoms of depression or anxiety. Whats more, the pandemic created a sense of isolation among a population that can already feel alone and vulnerable. About one-third of the participants reported wishing they had connections with more people to help them or they felt they were on their own or almost entirely on their own during the crisis, the report said. Kilfoyle said she was contending with an uncertain work situation at a gas station and convenience store as the pandemic was at its worst. The hours were uncertain and some staffers wouldnt show, prompting the business to unexpectedly close early at times. Eventually she quit the job, which nearly led to homelessness as she shuttled between relatives and acquaintances homes, none of them ideal situations. Kilfoyles parents died when she was young, leading to her involvement with the foster system. She remembers how her car broke down, how her glasses broke, the difficulties in maintaining contact with caseworkers given all the COVID-19 safety protocols. Then last January, she contracted the virus. I kind of struggled for a long, long time, Kilfoyle said. The COVID-19 funding, though an extra allocation to the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program, managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families gave her a nudge in the right direction. The money helped her get temporary digs at a hotel and, now, an apartment in central Ogden. She moved in to the apartment just last week and is still in the process of furnishing it. For me, its just helped me stay in housing, said Kilfoyle, now employed at a big-box retailer in Ogden. Kilfoyle echoes Adams message, urging other foster kids and those aged out of the system to tap into the funding. She also knows reaching the population can be tough. Many dont know the funding is out there, she said, and many dont avail themselves of programming meant to help them. A lot of kids dont know they have any help at all, Kilfoyle said. Funds, Adams said, can help with back rent, apartment deposits, car repairs and more. Money is also available to help with certain expenses related to schooling. The relief funds are meant for those who are 14 and older and still in foster care. Its also geared to those no longer in care who are 18 and older but who received care at some point after the age of 14. Through September, former foster youth aged up to 27 can access program funding, but that reverts to those aged up to 23 on Oct. 1. 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. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 19:08:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- An article by Chinese President Xi Jinping on the learning of the histories of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the People's Republic of China, the nation's reform and opening up, and socialist development, will be published Tuesday. The article by Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will be carried by this year's 11th issue of the Qiushi Journal. Stressing the importance of learning these histories, Xi urged all Party members and cadres to take the lead in striving for the two centenary goals and realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation. Party members and cadres should guide the public, especially the young people, to be firm believers and followers of socialism with Chinese characteristics and make achievements in fully building a modern socialist China, Xi noted. Xi said the history learning will help people of all ethnic groups strengthen their sense of identity with the great motherland, Chinese nation, Chinese culture, CPC and socialism with Chinese characteristics. Enditem Police in South Florida are looking for suspects involved in a pair shootings that brought a deadly start to the Memorial Day weekend. A shooting early Sunday outside a Miami banquet hall killed two people and injured at least 20 others. The banquet hall had been rented out for a concert. A police official says three people got out of an SUV and opened fire on the crowd outside. A separate shooting on Friday night killed one and injured six others about 13 miles away. Authorities were calling on the public to help identify the shooters. The Texas Senate has pushed the state one step closer to becoming the largest in the nation where the GOP is making voting harder following the 2020 elections Viewed of Take Five - This is your final free article during this 30 day period.Stay in touch with all of the news from Winchester, Frederick and Clarke. Sign up today for complete digital access to The Winchester Star. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 19:11:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. - - - - MOSCOW -- Russia has reported 8,475 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 5,071,917, the country's monitoring and response center said on Monday. The nationwide COVID-19 death toll rose by 339 to 121,501 on Sunday, while the number of recoveries grew by 6,715 to 4,684,585. - - - - PHNOM PENH -- Cambodia's COVID-19 case tally has surged to 30,094 on Monday after 690 new cases were reported nationwide in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said in a statement. The new cases included 635 locally transmitted and 55 imported, the statement said. - - - - ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan recorded 2,117 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 43 new deaths in the last 24 hours, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) said on Monday morning. The new infections raised the total tally to 921,053, including 841,241 recoveries and 59,033 active cases across the country, the NCOC said in a statement, adding that 3,947 patients are in critical condition. - - - - MANILA -- The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported 6,684 new COVID-19 infections on Monday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 1,230,301. The death toll rose to 20,966 after 107 more patients died from the viral disease, the DOH said. - - - - NEW DELHI -- India's COVID-19 tally surpassed the 28-million mark on Monday, reaching 28,047,534 with 152,734 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said. The daily spike of new cases has been falling over the past couple of weeks. The cases registered in a day have fallen to the lowest level in the past 50 days. The daily cases breached the 150,000-mark on April 11. Enditem MONTREAL - Canada won't be rushed into reopening its border with the United States to non-essential travel, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday as new COVID-19 case counts continued to drop in much of the country. A greeter wears a face mask as people wait for a table at a restaurant in Old Montreal, Sunday, May 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes MONTREAL - Canada won't be rushed into reopening its border with the United States to non-essential travel, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday as new COVID-19 case counts continued to drop in much of the country. Calls for a reopening plan have started to intensify as vaccine coverage has increased on both sides of the border. The White House said last week it had not decided when or how to reopen the border with Canada, but business groups and lawmakers including Vermont Gov. Phil Scott and New York Rep. Brian Higgins have urged both countries to come up with a plan. Trudeau said Monday that while many people are eager to see the border reopen, any easing of restrictions needs to be done carefully and with Canadians' safety in mind. "Were on the right path, but well make our decisions based on the interests of Canadians and not based on what other countries want," he told a news conference in Ottawa. Trudeau suggested 75 per cent of Canadians need to be vaccinated and daily cases need to continue to decline across the country before his government would be willing to ease travel restrictions. "We all want to reopen, we all want to go back to travelling to see friends, take vacations, go on trips," he said. "But we dont want to have to close again, tighten up again because theres another wave." The land border has been closed to non-essential travel since March 2020, and the measure was recently extended until June 21. Trudeau's words came as Ontario and Quebec reported their lowest numbers of new COVID-19 infections in months. Quebec reported fewer than 300 new COVID-19 cases for the first time since mid-September, with 276 new infections and one more death attributed to the novel coronavirus. Several regions in Quebec were downgraded to orange from red on the province's pandemic-alert system, allowing high school students to return full time to in-person classes and gyms and indoor restaurant dining to reopen. Ontario reported 916 new cases of COVID-19, which is its lowest daily total since February. The last time that province reported fewer cases was on Feb. 17, with 847 new infections. Many Ontarians aged 80 and up became eligible Monday to move up their second doses of COVID-19 vaccine after the government said last week it would shorten the minimum interval between shots to four weeks. Some health units, however, said they wouldn't be able to immediately offer earlier second doses due to supply challenges. Meanwhile, Nunavuts chief public health officer said Monday that the territory will ease restrictions in Iqaluit later this week thanks to falling cases and high vaccine uptake. The decision means schools can reopen for part-time in-class learning and people can gather in groups of five indoors and groups of 25 outdoors. And case counts also continued their downward trend in Nova Scotia, which reported 17 new infections, while Saskatchewan reported its lowest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations since late November, with 108. Manitoba announced it has approved administering Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines as booster shots for residents who got Oxford-AstraZeneca for their first dose. Dr. Joss Reimer, who is leading the province's vaccine rollout, said the decision was made following the results of a study from Spain and after similar decisions had been made in Quebec and elsewhere. In contrast to some other provinces, Manitoba has continued to struggle with high COVID-19 infection rates. The province reported more than 300 new infections on Monday and Dr. Brent Roussin, the chief provincial public health officer, said there were still too many people in intensive care, which he said was putting pressure on the health system. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31, 2021. With files from Holly McKenzie-Sutter, Emma Tranter and Kelly Geraldine Malone David Sowemimo always dreamed of becoming a lawyer. He dreamed about it as a young boy in Nigeria. He dreamed about it when he came to the University of Manitoba as an international student when he was 17. He dreamed about it when he ultimately majored in labour studies for his undergrad degree, and he still dreamed about when he moved to Calgary to work in the insurance industry. It was in Alberta where he met lawyers who encouraged him to follow his passion to, at the very least, write the LSAT, which he passed. He still remembers the day he was accepted into law school at his alma mater, U of M, and sharing the news with his mom, who lives in Nigeria. "It was such a big moment," he says. "That day will stick in my mind for a really long time. Because I really didnt see it happening. A lot of people told me wasnt going to happen." Working today as an injury lawyer in Edmonton, Sowemimo, 35, realized his dream. And now, he wants to help other Black students realize theirs. The new David Sowemimo Law Entrance Scholarship is a $6,000 scholarship that will be awarded annually to a Black undergraduate student enrolled full time in the juris doctor degree program in the Faculty of Law at the U of M. Its the first scholarship of its kind at the university. Sowemimo always wanted to create a scholarship to encourage Black students to pursue a law career, as soon as he became established as a lawyer. But 2020 felt like precisely the right time to get the ball rolling in many ways, Sowemimo says. The murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer and the Black Lives Matter protests it sparked the world over put a renewed focus on Black rights. "I thought it was the best time to put it together to raise some awareness on the lack of diversity in the legal profession," he says. Sowemimo knows first-hand the barriers faced by many prospective Black law students. "The first would be financial. And there is this mystery surrounding the legal profession, and surrounding lawyers more so for people of colour and folks from underrepresented communities. You just dont see enough people of colour that are lawyers or judges. It seemed it was so far away for me, until I just put together the confidence, the determination to get it done." Its hard to see yourself in a space if you dont see other people who look like you, speak like you, or share some of the same experiences as you, which is why more representation in law school and throughout the legal profession is critical. After all, as he points out, practising law is about working with people. "Youre dealing with people with different stories, different backgrounds, different exposure to the legal system," he says. And that context matters. "So, you know, the police pull up, pull you over theres an anxiety that you feel right away as a person of colour, as a Black man," he says by way of example. "Those are experiences that I think the folks in the legal profession need to have an understanding of as they go through representing people, helping people in legal profession. Its really important to have folks that understand those experiences, those lived experiences, in the legal profession as judges as well just so they understand where people are coming from, where defendants are coming from." He adds that courthouses can be intimidating places, especially for recent immigrants for whom there may be language barriers. "Seeing someone that looks like you who approaches you, explains the process and demystifies the grandiosity of the courthouse that really helps. That goes a long way." Sowemimo was one of just two Black law students when he graduated from U of M with his juris doctor degree in 2015. "I just kept my head down throughout law school, and I just kept working I tried very hard to avoid the noise that comes with law school. Person of colour or not person of colour, you have a lot of anxiety associated with law school, with going to court and all that stuff. But then being a person of colour, theres added anxiety anxiety to perform and to succeed, and to make sure you dont let everybody down." Going forward, Sowemimo says changes in the articling process would go a long way in changing the culture. (Law students must article with a law firm for a year.) "There is a strong element of subjectivity to selecting the successful candidates. Ive heard of students that had to change their names because they werent white enough, because they were not getting callbacks. Ive heard of students that have had a lot of really bad experiences through that process," he says. "An option is to have an anonymous selection process where you have just the phone numbers of the candidates on their resumes, and their transcripts. "Sometimes you have to go for dinners. You have to go for cocktails and events with firms before they select you and, in most cases, the conversation revolves around your travel. The partners travel in Costa Rica. The recent immigrant from the low-income community its just not the kind of conversation we can have. In many cases, you feel lost in that process, because you dont really fit into what the firms are looking for." When Sowemimos eponymous scholarship was announced, many people reached out to him on social media, inspired by the story. "People have sent me messages saying that theyve always wanted to go to law school, but they thought they couldnt do it. And now theyre going to register for the LSAT." Such a scholarship would have made a big difference for him if it had existed when he was a first-year law student, and not just financially. "It would tell me that somebody did it; I can do it." Hes thrilled to be that person for future students. "I just want to encourage anyone that wants to do it to go forward and do it, and dont let anyone hold you back," he says. "Usually, people try to transfer their own insecurities to you when you tell them you want to do something like that. So if thats the passion that someone has, just go for it." jen.zoratti@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @JenZoratti A lot can happen on an empty lot. For a long time, on the one at the southeast intersection of Logan Avenue at Princess Street, nothing did. A lot can happen on an empty lot. For a long time, on the one at the southeast intersection of Logan Avenue at Princess Street, nothing did. It was bought in a tax sale from the city in 2010 by CentreVenture Development Corp., which subsequently had demolished a collection of decrepit buildings on the site and marketed the 22,387 square feet at the northern edge of Chinatown. A few developers took bites at the apple, but decided a nibble was enough. Not a lot was happening. Then, in 2017, the corporation issued a request for proposals, hoping a developer would look past the dandelions sprouting up from the ground and see an opportunity for the once-industrial corner. Ravi Joshi was intrigued. "We won the RFP, and we started putting the plans together for the site," said Joshi, the president of Aembit Developments, which bought the land from CentreVenture. The company connected with Winnipeg architect Verne Reimer to draw up designs for an 88-unit apartment building. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The project at the corner of Princess Avenue and Logan Street is expected to be completed by the end of this year. "I think we saw potential in the fact that it was an empty lot, that it had good proximity to Red River College, good access to public transportation, that it was within walking distance to everything," said Joshi. Then came more waiting, about three years worth: zoning changes, urban design review, an appeal from a neighbouring property against a variance for the construction of a multi-family dwelling (which was denied), and a wait for the financing via Canada ICI and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. In the summer of 2020, Joshi says, the financing came together, and Aembits first project in Winnipeg was finally able to get off the ground. (The project is a joint-venture between Joshis Raviia Capital, CIAO Developments and Greenview Developments, out of Calgary). The five-storey building, dubbed Soho Flats so called in a nod to the famed London neighbourhoods proximity to Chinatown, said Joshi started construction last year and will be complete by the end of 2021. Over the past three months, due in large part to the project using prefabricated exterior walls and building components from Carberrys Riverbend Building Supply, the wood-framed building has shot up remarkably fast. "Its our first time using prefab and it was quite surprising to see it go up," said Joshi. "This was bang, bang, bang." The roof should be up by mid-June, he added. A rendering of the northwest corner of the five-storey Soho Flats. (Verne Reimer Architecture) The buildings amenities include 24-7 laundry on each floor with on-site card reloading stations, a fully automated and secure parcel delivery system, pet friendly policies, on-site car-share through Peg City Car Co-Op, and available outdoor gated parking. It is also designed to exceed the national energy code for buildings by approximately 28 per cent. Reimer said the building isnt too flashy, and its designed to play along with, not against, the dominant building types in that part of the Exchange, with an exterior white-grey-black gradient accented by splashes of red. "Im a big fan of background buildings," he said. "Youre not trying to do too much, be too ostentatious. You want a well-designed building to add to the fabric of the city." Along with the Peace Tower apartment building across the street, and a series of converted warehouses into apartments and condo buildings, the northern segment of Princess Street has and will continue to undergo a housing revitalization, Joshi said, with Aembits project paving the way for future development of rental housing. Because of its financing through the CMHC and its benefits from the federal national housing strategy, Joshi said rents must be set at at least a 10 per cent discount over established market rents for the city. Units range from $900 on the lower end to around $1,400 on the higher end, Joshi said. According to the January 2021 rental market report for Winnipeg by the CMHC, the average rent for a bachelor unit is $757, with $991 for a one-bedroom unit, and $1,262 for a two-bedroom unit. The average overall rent is $1,107, per that report, and will likely be even higher by the time the new apartment block is leasing. Target residents include students and employees at nearby Red River College and other workers downtown. (Verne Reimer Architecture) Joshi said the rents were "not necessarily geared to income," and that part of the purpose of the national strategy is to expand available housing stock to create more affordability in the long run while offering below market-rate rents. He did say the development company would look at dropping the entry level rents and amortizing the differential, recognizing a need for more affordability in the area, buttressed by community organizations such as Siloam Mission and Union Gospel Mission, which work with people living below the poverty line, many of whom experience homelessness. Technically, the building will be in the citys Point Douglas Ward, where the median household income after tax was $44,437 in 2020, about $15,000 less than the city-wide median according to WRHA data. In the downtown community area, the median income after tax was $39,626. The growing desire for income-geared housing in communities across the city, specifically in lower-income areas, far exceeds the construction of those units, the CMHC said in its report; about two in five households in those areas spend more than 30 per cent of their net income on housing per year, a proportion that grows as rents increase and wages do not keep pace. "This development is a good example of much of the investment in housing in Manitoba through the National Housing Strategy going to projects that do not meet the needs of those who are hardest hit by the affordable housing crisis," said Josh Brandon, a community animator with the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg. "These units are well beyond the reach of households in poverty," Brandon said, adding that at those monthly rates, household incomes would need to be at least $36,000 or at most $52,000 annually to meet federal affordability guidelines. Projects geared to income should be prioritized, as should community-owned housing, he added, otherwise, new developments may push out lower income residents, "making the neighbourhood even less accessible for families living in poverty." Joshi said target residents for the building include students and employees at the nearby Red River College campus and other workers downtown. The units range in size from around 420 square-feet to 900 square-feet, and will be value-packed, he said. The units completed construction will coincide roughly with the long-awaited groundbreaking of the "creative hub" at the Marketlands development by CentreVenture at the former site of the Public Safety Building and Civic Centre Parkade. That development will also feature over 100 units of affordable housing in addition to market-rate housing. However, some critics of that project have also questioned whether "affordable" is an accurate label when considering the financial realities of many downtown and core residents. With construction set to finish by the end of this year, Joshi expects the building to be ready for occupancy by January or February, by which time he has optimism that students will be returning to Red River College and the downtown neighbourhood he was intrigued by years ago will have thriving businesses and lots of foot traffic. ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca HANOI, Vietnam (AP) Vietnam plans to test high-risk groups in its largest city for the coronavirus and imposed more restrictions Monday to deal with a growing COVID-19 outbreak. An athlete is inoculated with China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at a hotel turned into a temporary vaccination center on Friday, May 28, 2021 in Manila, Philippines. Several Filipino athletes, coaches and other delegates were vaccinated Friday in preparation for their travel to the Tokyo Olympics and Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) HANOI, Vietnam (AP) Vietnam plans to test high-risk groups in its largest city for the coronavirus and imposed more restrictions Monday to deal with a growing COVID-19 outbreak. People in Ho Chi Minh City are only allowed to leave home for necessary activities and public gatherings of more than 10 people are banned for the next two weeks, the government announced. Prior to the order, the city, also Vietnam's economic hub, shut down non-essential business last Thursday when cases started to increase. Vietnam News Agency said the city authority is planning to test high-risk groups in the population of 9 million with a testing capacity of 100,000 samples a day. People ride motorcycles in Hanoi, Vietnam Monday, May 31, 2021. Vietnam plans to test all 9 million people in its largest city for the coronavirus and imposed more restrictions Monday to deal with a growing COVID-19 outbreak. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh) The newspaper also said police had filed a case Sunday against the couple who head a Protestant church mission for spreading dangerous infectious diseases, citing poor health protocols applied at the premises. At least 145 cases of coronavirus infection have been reported with links to the Revival Ekklesia Mission, a Protestant sect, and the city district of Go Vap, where the church is based, has been locked down. Vietnam has since banned all religious events nationwide. The newspaper said church followers gathered in small space for singing and chanting without proper distancing and mask wearing. Ho Chi Minh city police said the mission has 48 registered members. The report said the husband and wife accused in the case were responsible for leading and organizing activities at the church. They were not identified and are not under arrest. A Muslim couple wearing face mask and face shield while waiting for vaccine for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a vaccination centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Monday, May 31, 2021. An exhibition center in Malaysia has been turned into the country's first mega vaccination center as the government aims to speed up inoculations amid a sharp spike in infections. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) Since the end of April, a surge in COVID-19 has spread to 31 municipalities and provinces in Vietnam with over 4,000 cases, almost double the total number that the country reported since the beginning of the pandemic. Some recent patients in Vietnam were infected with a hybrid of the virus variants first found in India and the U.K., the health minister said Saturday. Nguyen Thanh Long said the hybrid might spread more easily and could be responsible for Vietnam's recent surge. Viruses often develop small genetic changes as they reproduce, and new variants of the coronavirus have been seen almost since it was first detected in China in late 2019. The World Health Organization categorized the U.K. and the Indian variants, along with two others first found in South Africa and Brazil, as variants of concern because they appear to be more contagious. Vietnam has vaccinated 1 million people with AstraZeneca shots. It has a deal with Pfizer for 30 million doses to be delivered later this year. It is also in talks with Moderna that would give it enough shots to fully vaccinate 80% of its 96 million people. Elsewhere in Asia and the Pacific: Thailand is redoubling efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus in labor camps, factories and markets as the number of new reported cases surged Monday to the highest level so far. A government spokesman said public health authorities met with labor and industry officials to discuss better ways to curb infections that are concentrated in crowded, high-risk places. The government reported a record 5,485 new cases on Monday, with nearly 2,000 in prisons. Confirmed deaths increased by 19, bringing the total to 1,031 since the pandemic began. Concern over the rising numbers prompted the government to overrule a plan by Bangkoks governor to ease some pandemic restrictions in the capital, including the reopening of parks. The plan, which was to take effect on Tuesday, will be postponed 14 days. Thailand had managed to keep outbreaks largely under control, at great economic cost especially for tourism, because foreign visitors were largely banned from entering the country. That changed in early April, when a cluster of cases centered on Bangkok bars and clubs spread as many people traveled during the weeklong Thai New Year holiday. The total number of confirmed cases has now risen to 159,792, of which 82% occurred during the latest surge. Singapores Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Monday that controls to lower coronavirus infections were working, while announcing a move to vaccinate students after a spate of transmissions in schools and learning centers. Lee said controls banning dining out and severely limiting social gatherings were on track to be relaxed after June 13. He urged the public to remain vigilant and only leave home if they must. The government imposed the tighter controls this month after a number of local coronavirus cases were linked to malls, hospitals and the airport, up from virtually none earlier in the year. Nearly three quarters of the city-states 760,000 seniors have received at least one dose of the vaccine or booked their appointments. Now the jabs which have been offered to those aged 40 and older will be extended to students 12 and older from Tuesday. Malaysia opened its first mega vaccination center on Monday as the government sought to accelerate inoculations amid a worsening outbreak. Located in an exhibition center in the biggest city Kuala Lumpur, the center can vaccinate up to 8,000 people a day. Officials say more such mega centers will be opened nationwide but some critics urged the government to instead set up smaller centers at district levels to improve its outreach. Malaysia begins a near total lockdown starting Tuesday, the second time in over a year. Most social and economic activities, except for 17 essential sectors, will be shut down for at least two weeks as the government struggles to contain a worsening pandemic. Daily virus cases hit a record high of 9,020 on Saturday before easing to 6,824 Monday. Malaysias total infections have surged to 572,357 while deaths are more than 2,600, both rising five-fold compared to the whole of last year. Science Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said Monday the government is assessing the suitability of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. So far Malaysia has only approved the use of Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines. More than 12 million people have registered but less than 10% of the countrys 33 million population have been vaccinated so far. Hong Kong authorities on Monday appealed to the private sector to offer incentives to help ease COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, and warned that those who do not get vaccinated may face more stringent restrictions should the city face a new outbreak. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said at a news conference that she has written letters to over a hundred real estate developers and retail outlets, urging them to offer incentives that could boost the citys vaccination campaign. The move comes as Hong Kong faces vaccine hesitancy, with just 20% of its population vaccinated since the end of February despite widespread access to inoculations. Vaccine registrations surged over the weekend after a real estate developer put a $1.4 million apartment up as a grand prize in a lucky draw, together with other prizes, open to all Hong Kong permanent residents who have been vaccinated. Although its been a very short period of a couple of days, but we have seen some positive results, Lam said. On Sunday, about 26,900 people made online bookings to receive the vaccinations, more than double the 12,600 on Friday, the day that the lucky draw was announced. This story has been updated to correct that testing is planned for high-risk groups in Ho Chi Minh City, not the full population. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California state lawmakers are grappling with a particularly 21st-century problem: What to do with the growing number of shopping malls and big box retail stores left empty by consumers shifting their purchases to the web. This Thursday, May 27, 2021, photo shows an empty shopping cart in an empty parking lot at the closed Sears in Buena Park Mall in Buena Park, Calif. California state lawmakers are grappling with a particularly 21st-century problem: What to do with the growing number of shopping malls and big-box retail stores left empty by consumers shifting their purchases to the web. A possible answer in crowded California cities is to build housing on these sites, which already have ample parking and are close to existing neighborhoods. Even before the pandemic, big-box retail stores struggled to adapt as more people began buying things online. In 2019, after purchasing Sears and Kmart, Transformco closed 96 stores across the country, 29 in California. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California state lawmakers are grappling with a particularly 21st-century problem: What to do with the growing number of shopping malls and big box retail stores left empty by consumers shifting their purchases to the web. A possible answer in crowded California cities is to build housing on these sites, which already have ample parking and are close to existing neighborhoods. But local zoning laws often don't allow housing at these locations. Changing the zoning is such a hassle that many developers don't bother trying. And it's often not worth it for local governments to change the designations. They would prefer to find new retailers because sales taxes produce more revenue than residential property taxes. However, with a stubborn housing shortage pushing prices to all-time highs, state lawmakers are moving to pass new laws to get around those barriers. A bill that cleared the state Senate last week would let developers build houses on most commercial sites without changing the zoning. Another proposal would pay local governments to change the zoning to let developers build affordable housing. There has always been an incentive to chase retail and a disincentive to build housing, said Sen. Anthony Portantino, a Los Angeles-area Democrat who authored the bill to pay local governments. There is more dormant and vacant retail than ever. If successful, it's believed California would be the first state to allow multi-family housing on commercial sites statewide, said Eric Phillips, vice president of policy and legislation for the California chapter of the American Planning Association. Developers who use the law still would have to obey locally approved design standards. But Phillips said the law would limit local governments' ability to reject the projects. That's why some local leaders oppose the bill, arguing it undermines their authority. City leaders have the requisite local knowledge to discern when and which sites are appropriate for repurposing and which are not, wrote Mike Griffiths, member of the Torrance City Council and founder of California Cities for Local Control, a group of 427 mayors and council members. It's a familiar battle in California. While nearly everyone agrees there is an affordable housing shortage, state and local leaders face different political pressures that often derail ambitious proposals. Last year, a bill that would have overridden local zoning laws to let developers build small apartment buildings in neighborhoods reserved for single-family homes died in the state Senate. Sen. Anna Caballero, a Democrat from Salinas and author of this year's zoning proposal, said her bill is not a mandate. Developers could choose to use the bill or not. The Senate approved the measure 32-2, sending it to the state Assembly for consideration. Its always a challenge when youre trying to do affordable housing, because there are entrenched interests that dont want to negotiate and compromise, and were working really hard to try to break through that, she said. Im trying to give maximum flexibility to local government because the more that you start telling them how they have to do it, the harder it becomes for them to actually do it. Even before the pandemic, big-box retail stores were struggling to adapt as more people began buying things online. In 2019, after purchasing Sears and Kmart, Transformco closed 96 stores across the country including 29 in California. The pandemic, of course, accelerated this trend, prompting major retailers like J.C. Penney, Neiman Marcus and J. Crew to file for bankruptcy protection. An analysis by the investment firm UBS shows online shopping will grow to 25% of all retail sales by 2025. The analysis predicted that up to 100,000 stores across the country could close. Local governments and developers in California are already trying to redevelop some retail sites. In Salinas, a city of about 150,000 people near the Monterey Peninsula, city officials are working to rezone a closed Kmart. In San Francisco, developers recently announced plans to build nearly 3,000 homes in the parking lot that surrounds Stonestown Mall a sprawling, 40-acre site that has lost some anchor retail tenants in recent years. Still, the idea of repurposing shopping centers has divided labor unions and affordable housing advocates, putting one of the Democratic Party's core base of supporters against backers of one of their top policy goals. Housing advocates love the idea, but they dont like how Democrats want to do it. Both proposals in the Legislature would require developers to use a skilled and trained workforce to build the housing. That means a certain percentage of workers must either be enrolled or have completed a state-approved apprenticeship program. Developers have said while there are plenty of trained workers available in areas like San Francisco and Los Angeles, those workers are scarce in more rural parts of the state, potentially delaying projects in those areas. California needs to build about 180,000 new housing units per year to keep up with demand, according to the state's latest housing assessment. But its only managed about 80,000 per year for the past decade. Thats one reason the states median sales price for single-family homes hit a record high $758,990 in March. At a time when were trying to increase production, we dont believe we should be limiting who can do the work, said Ray Pearl, executive director of the California Housing Consortium, a group that includes affordable housing developers. Robbie Hunter, president of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, dismissed that argument as just greedy developers trying to maximize their profits. He said there is no construction project in California that has been delayed because of a lack of workers, adding: We man every job. When there is a demand for workers, we rise with the demand, Hunter said. Labor unions appear to be winning. A bill in the state Assembly that did not initially require a skilled and trained workforce stalled in committee because it did not have enough support. The legislation is SB 6 and SB 15. BEIJING (AP) Chinas manufacturing held steady in May, a survey showed Monday, adding to signs a post-pandemic rebound is leveling off. A worker arranges the business suits at Shandong Daiyin Textile and Garment Group factory in Tai'an in east China's Shandong province on Saturday, May 29, 2021. China's manufacturing held steady in May, a survey showed Monday, adding to signs a post-pandemic rebound is leveling off. (Chinatopix via AP) BEIJING (AP) Chinas manufacturing held steady in May, a survey showed Monday, adding to signs a post-pandemic rebound is leveling off. A monthly purchasing managers index issued by an industry group and the national statistics agency stood at 51 on a 50-point scale on which numbers above 50 show activity increasing. That was little-changed from Aprils 51.1. Measures of production and imports rose while new orders and employment declined, according to the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing and the National Bureau of Statistics. That indicated market demand is insufficient, economist Zhang Liqun said in a statement released by the Federation. Chinese manufacturers benefited from the relatively early reopening of the economy in 2020, while exporters got a boost from global demand for masks and other medical supplies. They have gained global market share while foreign competitors still face anti-disease restrictions on business. Chinas economic growth surged to 18.3% over a year earlier in the first three months of 2021 as consumer and factory activity revived. But forecasters warned the explosive rebound was ending because the gain compared with the previous quarter at the end of 2020 was just 0.6%. Consumer spending is back above pre-pandemic levels but has recovered more slowly than manufacturing and exports. Now that the economy is already above its pre-virus trend, we think the pace of growth will wane this year, said Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics in a report. MILAN (AP) Two former owners of a troubled steel plant in southern Italy were convicted Monday of toxic pollution that prosecutors say cost hundreds of lives. They were each sentenced to more than two decades in prison. FILE - In this file picture taken on Aug. 17, 2012, a partial view of the ILVA steel plant is seen in Taranto, Italy. Brothers Fabio Riva and Nicola Riva, the former owner and managers of the Ilva steel plant in the southern city of Taranto, once Europes largest, were convicted of criminal association aimed at provoking an environmental disaster, poisoning the food supply and willful omissions of workplace safety measures. They were sentenced to 22 years and 20 years, respectively. Two other managers were also found guilty in the case and sentenced to more than two decades, among the 24 former managers convicted in the five-year trial. (AP Photo/Paola Barisani) MILAN (AP) Two former owners of a troubled steel plant in southern Italy were convicted Monday of toxic pollution that prosecutors say cost hundreds of lives. They were each sentenced to more than two decades in prison. Brothers Fabio Riva and Nicola Riva, the former owner and managers of the Ilva steel plant in the southern city of Taranto, once Europes largest, were convicted of criminal association aimed at provoking an environmental disaster, poisoning the food supply and willful omissions of workplace safety measures. They were sentenced to 22 years and 20 years, respectively. Two other managers were also found guilty in the case and sentenced to more than two decades, among the 24 former managers convicted in the five-year trial. The former governor of Puglia, Nichi Vendola, was convicted of aggravated bribery, accused by prosecutors of having put undue pressure on an environmental official to soften his position on the toxic emissions. That official, Giorgio Assennato, meanwhile, was found guilty of not reporting Vedolas pressure, and was sentenced to two years in prison. Assennato has denied being pressured by Vendola, a left-wing politician who also denied wrongdoing and said the verdict had trampled the truth. Vendola has vowed to appeal. Verdicts aren't considered final in Italy until two levels of appeal are exhausted. PEPLO, Greece (AP) As the world begins to travel again, Europe is sending migrants a loud message: Stay away! A police officer works inside the operation center at the village of Nea Vyssa near the Greek - Turkish border, Greece, Friday, May 21, 2021. An automated hi-tech surveillance network being built on the Greek-Turkish border aiming at detecting migrants early and deterring them from crossing, with river and land patrols using searchlights and long-range acoustic devices. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) PEPLO, Greece (AP) As the world begins to travel again, Europe is sending migrants a loud message: Stay away! Greek border police are firing bursts of deafening noise from an armored truck over the frontier into Turkey. Mounted on the vehicle, the long-range acoustic device, or sound cannon, is the size of a small TV set but can match the volume of a jet engine. Its part of a vast array of physical and experimental new digital barriers being installed and tested during the quiet months of the coronavirus pandemic at the 200-kilometer (125-mile) Greek border with Turkey to stop people entering the European Union illegally. A new steel wall, similar to recent construction on the U.S.-Mexico border, blocks commonly-used crossing points along the Evros River that separates the two countries. Nearby observation towers are being fitted with long-range cameras, night vision, and multiple sensors. The data will be sent to control centers to flag suspicious movement using artificial intelligence analysis. We will have a clear pre-border picture of whats happening, Police Maj. Dimonsthenis Kamargios, head of the regions border guard authority, told the Associated Press. The EU has poured 3 billion euros ($3.7 billion) into security tech research following the refugee crisis in 2015-16, when more than 1 million people many escaping wars in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan fled to Greece and on to other EU countries. The automated surveillance network being built on the Greek-Turkish border is aimed at detecting migrants early and deterring them from crossing, with river and land patrols using searchlights and long-range acoustic devices. Key elements of the network will be launched by the end of the year, Kamargios said. Our task is to prevent migrants from entering the country illegally. We need modern equipment and tools to do that. Researchers at universities around Europe, working with private firms, have developed futuristic surveillance and verification technology, and tested more than a dozen projects at Greek borders. A view of a steel wall at Evros river, near the village of Poros, at the Greek-Turkish border, Greece, Friday, May 21, 2021. An automated hi-tech surveillance network being built on the Greek-Turkish border aiming at detecting migrants early and deterring them from crossing, with river and land patrols using searchlights and long-range acoustic devices. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) AI-powered lie detectors and virtual border-guard interview bots have been piloted, as well as efforts to integrate satellite data with footage from drones on land, air, sea and underwater. Palm scanners record the unique vein pattern in a persons hand to use as a biometric identifier, and the makers of live camera reconstruction technology promise to erase foliage virtually, exposing people hiding near border areas. Testing has also been conducted in Hungary, Latvia and elsewhere along the eastern EU perimeter. The more aggressive migration strategy has been advanced by European policymakers over the past five years, funding deals with Mediterranean countries outside the bloc to hold migrants back and transforming the EU border protection agency, Frontex, from a coordination mechanism to a full-fledged multinational security force. But regional migration deals have left the EU exposed to political pressure from neighbors. Earlier this month, several thousand migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in a single day, prompting Spain to deploy the army. A similar crisis unfolded on the Greek-Turkish border and lasted three weeks last year. Greece is pressing the EU to let Frontex patrol outside its territorial waters to stop migrants reaching Lesbos and other Greek islands, the most common route in Europe for illegal crossing in recent years. Armed with new tech tools, European law enforcement authorities are leaning further outside borders. Not all the surveillance programs being tested will be included in the new detection system, but human rights groups say the emerging technology will make it even harder for refugees fleeing wars and extreme hardship to find safety. Patrick Breyer, a European lawmaker from Germany, has taken an EU research authority to court, demanding that details of the AI-powered lie detection program be made public. What we are seeing at the borders, and in treating foreign nationals generally, is that its often a testing field for technologies that are later used on Europeans as well. And thats why everybody should care, in their own self-interest, Breyer of the German Pirates Party told the AP. He urged authorities to allow broad oversight of border surveillance methods to review ethical concerns and prevent the sale of the technology through private partners to authoritarian regimes outside the EU. Ella Jakubowska, of the digital rights group EDRi, argued that EU officials were adopting techno-solutionism to sideline moral considerations in dealing with the complex issue of migration. It is deeply troubling that, time and again, EU funds are poured into expensive technologies which are used in ways that criminalize, experiment with and dehumanize people on the move, she said. Migration flows have slowed in many parts of Europe during the pandemic, interrupting an increase recorded over years. In Greece, for example, the number of arrivals dropped from nearly 75,000 in 2019 to 15,700 in 2020, a 78% decrease. But the pressure is sure to return. Between 2000 and 2020, the worlds migrant population rose by more than 80% to reach 272 million, according to United Nations data, fast outpacing international population growth. At the Greek border village of Poros, the breakfast discussion at a cafe was about the recent crisis on the Spanish-Moroccan border. Many of the houses in the area are abandoned and in a gradual state of collapse, and life is adjusting to that reality. Cows use the steel wall as a barrier for the wind and rest nearby. Panagiotis Kyrgiannis, a Poros resident, says the wall and other preventive measures have brought migrant crossings to a dead stop. We are used to seeing them cross over and come through the village in groups of 80 or a 100, he said. We were not afraid. ... They dont want to settle here. All of this thats happening around us is not about us. Associated Press writer Kelvin Chan in London contributed to this report. Follow Derek Gatopoulos at https://twitter.com/dgatopoulos and Costas Kantouris at https://twitter.com/CostasKantouris Follow APs global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration CENTERTOWN, Ky. (AP) The remains of two Kentucky men who died 80 years ago during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor were returned to the commonwealth this week for burial. HM1 Luna Clarke salutes as the remains of Seaman Second Class Howard Scott Magers are buried at Merry Oaks United Methodist Church Cemetery in Smiths Grove, Ky., on Saturday, May 29, 2021. (Marlow Hazard/Bowling Green Daily News for AP) CENTERTOWN, Ky. (AP) The remains of two Kentucky men who died 80 years ago during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor were returned to the commonwealth this week for burial. U.S. Navy Fireman 3rd Class Welborn L. Ashbys niece Paula Kern told The Courier Journal that her mother had always been haunted by the uncertainty surrounding Ashby's death. The family was told the 24-year-old was declared to have lost his life, but the Navy could not locate the body. Martha Christian was 13 at the time. In the 1990s she travelled to Hawaii, lowering her feet into the cold waters of Pearl Harbor and weeping for her lost brother. In 2011, she donated DNA to help with the identification of remains, but Christian died in 2017, two years before Ashbys remains were positively identified by the federal Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. A Memorial Day service was planned for Ashby in Beaver Dam, followed by a burial at Centertown Cemetery with full military honors, including a Missing Man flyover by vintage planes. Paula Kern said shell be thinking about her mother and her long quest to have her brother returned home to Kentucky. Its what she would have wanted. And we want that closure too, Kern said. We cant forget all those weve lost. Ashby was 24 when he died in the Dec. 7, 1941, attack that launched the United States into World War II one of 2,403 Americans killed. U.S. Navy Seaman 2nd Class Howard Scott Magers, killed at 18, was another. Magers remains arrived in Barren County on Saturday after they were identified by the federal Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. He was laid to rest with full military honors. Magers' three brothers and one sister have all died, but sister-in-law Betty Magers, now 91, still lives in the Merry Oaks area and remembers a young Howard Magers, the Daily News reported. My parents had a general store in Hays, said Betty Magers. He would come real often to the store. We had a juke box, and he liked to play the song South of the Border by Gene Autry. He was real friendly and always pleasant. Im just happy that he can be home. BERLIN (AP) Officials from around the globe begin three weeks of grueling climate talks Monday that will involve grappling with a number of thorny political issues without the benefit of face-to-face meetings, due to pandemic restrictions. FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2021 file photo, emissions from a coal-fired power plant are silhouetted against the setting sun in Independence, Mo. Officials from around the globe begin three weeks of grueling online climate talks organized by the U.N. climate office in Bonn, Germany. The talks will involve grappling with a number of thorny climate and political issues, without the benefit of face-to-face meetings, due to pandemic restrictions. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) BERLIN (AP) Officials from around the globe begin three weeks of grueling climate talks Monday that will involve grappling with a number of thorny political issues without the benefit of face-to-face meetings, due to pandemic restrictions. The U.N. climate office in Bonn, Germany, has designed a schedule of virtual sessions that will see negotiators share the burden of joining meetings before dawn, during the afternoon or late at night depending on their respective time zones. This is not ideal at all, said Marianne Karlsen, who chairs one of the two international bodies holding talks. We wanted to have all these interactions that we have when we are in an in-person setting, but we do not have any other options. Tosi Mpanu Mpanu, who chairs the second body at the talks, said that although negotiators would not be able to encourage each other with a friendly tap on the shoulder, he hopes that we're going to be engaging on substantive issues and really try to make progress." FILE - In this Nov. 28, 2019 file photo, smoke and steam rise from a coal processing plant in Hejin in central China's Shanxi Province. Officials from around the globe begin three weeks of grueling online climate talks organized by the U.N. climate office in Bonn, Germany. The talks will involve grappling with a number of thorny climate and political issues, without the benefit of face-to-face meetings, due to pandemic restrictions. (AP Photo/Sam McNeil, File) Negotiations will focus on resolving some of the outstanding issues arising from the 2015 Paris climate accord, including rules for international carbon markets, harmonizing countries' timeframes for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing aid to developing nations. Progress on all of those issues is seen as key to making the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, in November a success. However, due to concerns about the format, no official decisions are expected at the virtual talks that run until June 17. We need to show up in Glasgow with decisions ready to be taken, said the head of the U.N. climate office, Patricia Espinosa. In particular, a pledge to provide $100 billion in financial support each year to poor countries to tackle climate change has yet to be fulfilled. The $100 billion has become one element that is crucial to building trust, but it goes beyond the $100 billion, Espinosa told reporters. The Glasgow summit will be a crucial test for international efforts to curb global warming before it reaches critical levels in the coming decades. Signatories of the Paris accord agreed to limit the rise in average temperatures to well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit), ideally no more than 1.5 C (2.7 F), by the end of the century compared with pre-industrial times. But with global warming already at about 1.2 C (2.2 F), scientists say drastic steps are needed to cut the amount of carbon dioxide and other planet-heating gases released into the atmosphere. We are not on a trajectory that it compatible with 1.5 degrees by the end of the century, Espinosa warned. Her office has given countries that missed last year's deadline for submitting new emissions reduction goals until July 31 to do so, if they want those targets included in a key scientific report that will provide the basis for further talks in Glasgow, she said. Concerns have been expressed that unless the coronavirus pandemic is firmly beaten back by fall, the U.N. summit could be delayed for a second time, or held online, a format that many developing countries object to. But former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who is President Joe Biden's special envoy on climate change, has said he expects the Glasgow summit to go ahead. I absolutely do, Kerry told The Associated Press in mid-May. "And I think great steps will be taken to help make sure it does. I think its very important that it does. Follow AP's climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 19:20:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The "Agricultural Village," a project located in the plain of Baalbek in eastern Lebanon, helps alleviating the suffering of hundreds of people by providing job opportunities amid the current economic crisis. Hundreds of workers, including technicians, engineers, and farmers, arrive in the project site every morning to work in various fields, each according to their specialization. The project, the first of its kind in Lebanon, was launched on a small plot of land as a plantation that uses organic fertilizers to grow seedlings for distribution among farmers at cost prices. Rami Lakkis, supervisor of the project, told Xinhua that the village has expanded to include additional services such as agricultural training, a department for marketing the produce, a restaurant and cafe, and an agricultural academy. The idea of establishing an agricultural village in the plain of Baalbek came up two years ago with the help of a large group of activists who work with the Lebanese Association for Studies and Training. Lakkis said that the absence of official agricultural and industrial strategies prompted civil society organizations to explore solutions that would reduce the burden on farmers by helping them reduce the cost of production, market their produce and raise their income. The project, which adopts a multi-tasking approach, expanded from 10,000 square meters to 37,000 square meters, with parts of the area being used for plastic tents, training and research centers, and experiment and production fields. Lakkis noted that the Agricultural Village has succeeded greatly in providing seedlings, training and guidance to farmers, and in coordinating joint agricultural activities by providing processing tools for agricultural products such as tomato paste, various types of jams, and wine. "We have also succeeded in securing financial support for more than 250 families, valued at 250,000 euros ... we have provided job opportunities for 100 permanent employees, 400 part-time agricultural workers and 15 agricultural engineers," he said. Wassim el-Sheikh, a farmer in his 40s, said he is happy that he got a job at the village amid the current harsh living conditions. Ahmed Al-Khalif, a cleaner employee, said that he found a permanent job at the village, which will enable him to support his family. For his part, Mohammad Borji who is in charge of plantations at the village, explained that plantations operate throughout the year, and provide various types of seedlings at cost prices to farmers, whereby over 1.5 million seedlings are distributed in each agricultural season. Ali Hammoud, director of the marketing department of the village, told Xinhua that the success of the various projects is now attracting a big number of farmers, visitors and merchants, pointing out that the village's production of vegetables and grains is being reserved in advance. Agriculture plays an important role in Lebanon's economy as it contributes to 7 percent of the country's GDP, and secures income for about 15 percent of the population. Enditem ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Newfoundland and Labrador is hoping to cut its deficit nearly in half, aided in part by an oil rebound. Premier Andrew Furey addresses the media in the Woodward Hanger at St. John's Airport Tuesday, May 4, 2021. Newfoundland and Labrador's Liberals will unveil a budget Monday, their second in less than a year but this time, it comes from a majority government. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Newfoundland and Labrador is hoping to cut its deficit nearly in half, aided in part by an oil rebound. The province tabled its second pandemic budget Monday, with a projected deficit of $826 million about $800 million less than the previous years shortfall. Fiscal hopes are pegged partly on an anticipated increase in oil royalties totalling almost $500 million. Though the deficit is projected to shrink, the province's net debt is expected to climb to $17.2 billion, up from $16.4 billion in the last budget. Still, borrowing is down to $1.7 billion from $3 billion last year. The province has set aside more than $1 billion to pay for debt-servicing costs this fiscal year, Finance Minister Siobhan Coady said. This budget really does set a path forward for Newfoundland and Labrador, Coady told reporters. I think we all recognize ... the status quo is no longer possible. The budget is called Change starts here, and it follows a controversial report tabled earlier this month by the provinces economic recovery team, which is chaired by Moya Greene, the former head of Canada Post and of Britain's Royal Mail service. The Greene report estimated the provinces overall financial exposure at $47.3 billion, once the debt carried by province-owned corporations is factored in. Monday's budget calls for a rigorous review of several of those corporations while settings out a year-by-year target toward a surplus in six years. Coady said she intends to get there primarily through a streamlining of government services. "We're not expecting mass layoffs," she said. The budget foretells an end to the provinces English school district, with a promise to begin integrating its operations into the Department of Education. The stand-alone francophone school district, so far, will remain intact, though the Greene report recommended its dismantling. The budget also states the government will immediately begin restructuring its energy corporation, Nalcor Energy, which has overseen the burdensome Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project in Labrador. The project was sanctioned in 2012 and has since essentially doubled in cost to $13.1 billion. A yearlong public inquiry into exactly what went wrong with the project began in 2018, and the final, blistering report blamed Nalcors top managers at the time. Provincial ownership of a western Newfoundland ski hill, a liquor corporation and stakes in offshore oil projects are also under review. The $68.4 million in funding provided to Memorial University to maintain its tuition freeze will be eliminated over five years, beginning in 2022-2023, the budget says. Income taxes will go up for high-income earners, beginning with a 0.5 per cent increase for people making $135,974 a year. People making $250,000 a year will see a 2.5 per cent increase, while anyone making more than $1 million will pay 3.5 per cent more a year. Greg London, Eastern Canada tax service leader for BDO Canada, said it's unclear exactly how many people in the province make those salaries, especially past the $250,000 level. Still, he commended the province for the move to create tax brackets and taxation levels for incomes above $200,000, something he said most provinces haven't done. The province is also introducing a sugary drinks tax, pegged at 20 cents per litre, and smokers will pay roughly three cents more per cigarette. London said the government likely chose not to increase HST because of the vulnerability brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The HST hits everyone, he said in an interview Monday. "Then all of a sudden you're talking about people that are really hanging on by a thread." NDP Leader Alison Coffin said she feels the budget ignores those people and ties the province's future to the volatile offshore oil industry. She was hoping for at least an increase to income support levels, she said in an interview Friday. Both the NDP and the Progressive Conservatives said the plans to slash spending by hundreds of millions in the 2022-2023 fiscal year are concerning. Todays budget is foreshadowing for huge cuts in spending in next years document," Tory leader David Brazil said in a news release Friday. The provinces offshore oil sector cast a long shadow over the improved deficit outlook Monday, with news just last week that the Terra Nova oilfield may be completely shut down, despite an offer of $175 million in government money to keep it going. Coady said there are other oil discoveries to be made. The Greene report had urged a transition to a green economy." When asked why the budget touted a reduced deficit based on anticipated oil revenues, instead of shifting away from dependence on oil, Coady was again insistent. We are making the transition from oil, she said, adding that as that transition played out, oil will remain a large part of the provinces economy. Oil accounted for nearly 21 per cent of the provinces GDP in 2019, according to the budget documents. Mondays budget was the second from Premier Andrew Fureys Liberals, though it was their first budget since they won a majority in March. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31, 2021. ISLAMABAD (AP) A Pakistani television station Monday took a prominent journalist off air, removing him as host of a popular talk show after he criticized the countrys powerful military, the journalist and rights groups said. FILE - In this March 14, 2017, file, photo, Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir sits in his office in Islamabad, Pakistan. A Pakistani television station on Monday, May 31, 2021, took Mir off air, removing him as host of a popular talk show after he criticized the countrys powerful military. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed, File) ISLAMABAD (AP) A Pakistani television station Monday took a prominent journalist off air, removing him as host of a popular talk show after he criticized the countrys powerful military, the journalist and rights groups said. The development comes just days after the journalist, Hamid Mir, made a fiery speech at a rally in support of a fellow reporter, Asad Ali Toor, who was beaten up by three unidentified men in his apartment in Islamabad. Geo News TV did not comment on the changes regarding its Capital Talk, a five-days-a-week program during which Mir would invite guests to debate current events in the country. Journalists and press freedom advocates often accuse Pakistans military and its agencies of harassing and attacking journalists. The government insists it supports freedom of speech. Pakistani journalist Asad Ali Toor, center, who was beaten and injured by three unidentified men in an attack, speaks during a demonstration called by journalists union to condemn the attack on journalists, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Friday, May 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) In a statement on Twitter, Amnesty International denounced the ban on Mir and asked Pakistani authorities to protect free speech. Censorship, harassment, and physical violence must not be the price journalists pay to do their jobs," it said. Also on Monday, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan denounced Geo News for taking Mir off air. It said the action against him comes after he spoke fervidly against the escalation of curbs on freedom of expression in the country. Local journalists groups, which document attacks or violations against journalists in Pakistan, say the period from May 2020 to April 2021 saw 148 such attacks. Mir confirmed his removal in a text message to The Associated Press. He later tweeted that it was nothing new for him. I was banned twice in the past, said Mir, who had also in the past been fired by Geo News. Mir was attacked in 2014 in the port city of Karachi, when a gunman critically wounded him. His family at the time blamed the country's intelligence service for orchestrating the attack. The perpetrator was never publicly known. Geo News' move drew swift condemnation by journalists, politicians, and members of civil society groups. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists asked the TV station to explain whether the step was taken under government pressure. The station's owner, Mir Shakilur Rehman, was arrested last year in a decades-old case related to allegations of tax evasion in a real estate purchase. He was freed months later on a court order. Toor, the journalist beaten in his apartment, works for the Aaj News Pakistani TV. He later told police his attackers claimed they were from the Inter-Services Intelligence. However, the spy agency days later distanced itself from the attack. On Friday, Mir along with dozens of Pakistani journalists attended a rally in Islamabad to condemn the attack on Toor. So far, authorities have not arrested anyone in connection with the attack and police say they are still investigating. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) A special Sri Lankan police team has begun investigating a fire on a ship anchored off its capital, as the government seeks to take legal action against the vessel's owners over the incident, which has caused severe marine pollution, officials said Monday. A Sri Lankan navy soldier clad in a protective suit walks on the mounds of debris that washed ashore from the burning Singaporean ship MV X-Press Pearl which is anchored off Colombo port at Kapungoda, out skirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, May 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) A special Sri Lankan police team has begun investigating a fire on a ship anchored off its capital, as the government seeks to take legal action against the vessel's owners over the incident, which has caused severe marine pollution, officials said Monday. The fire on the MV X-Press Pearl has been burning since May 20, ravaging the ship, which officials said is only about five months old. Navy spokesman Capt. Indika de Silva said the flames are still burning but have been reduced to small spot fires in the aft of the ship. Firefighting tugboats continue to spray the vessel, with support from vessels from the Sri Lankan navy and Indian coast guard. Police spokesperson Ajith Rohana said a special 10-member team from the police Criminal Investigation Department has been assigned the probe. It is to question the ship's captain and chief engineer on Monday. The vessels 25-member crew was evacuated on May 25 after an explosion. It includes Philippine, Chinese, Indian and Russian nationals. The navy believes the fire was caused by chemicals being transported on the Singapore-flagged ship. It was carrying 1,486 containers, including 25 tons of nitric acid and other chemicals that were loaded at the port of Hazira, India, on May 15. The fire has destroyed most of the ships cargo. Debris including several tons of plastic pellets used to make plastic bags from the burning ship has washed ashore and is causing severe pollution on beaches. The government has banned fishing along about 80 kilometers (50 miles) of the coast. Authorities have also warned residents not to touch the debris because it could be contaminated with harmful chemicals. The governments Marine Environment Protection Authority says chemicals have mixed with the seawater and could cause severe damage to marine species and coral reefs. Local television channels are showing dead fish, turtles and other marine life that has washed ashore in recent days. The X-Press Pearl was anchored about 9.5 nautical miles (18 kilometers) northwest of Colombo and waiting to enter its port when the fire began. X-Press Feeders, the operator of the ship, said on Sunday that the vessels hull remains structurally intact and there has been no loss of oil into the ports waters. TORONTO - TekSavvy Solutions Inc. says it wants the federal government to order a Competition Bureau investigation into the telecom industry in light of recent CRTC decisions. CRTC Chair Ian Scott is seen at the start of the first day of hearings on mobile wireless service, Tuesday February 18, 2020 in Gatineau, Que. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld TORONTO - TekSavvy Solutions Inc. says it wants the federal government to order a Competition Bureau investigation into the telecom industry in light of recent CRTC decisions. The independent internet provider formally petitioned the Trudeau cabinet late last week to overturn a CRTC decision that will see smaller ISPs charged more for wholesale internet, likely raising prices for their customers. The petition calls for cabinet to overrule the CRTC decision, remove CRTC chairman Ian Scott and order the Competition Bureau to look into activities by Canada's phone and cable companies. It comes after the CRTC last week reversed a 2019 decision that would have substantially lowered the wholesale internet prices charged by phone and cable companies to piggyback on larger companies' networks. The CRTC has previously said it won't comment on the ruling. Dozens of independent operators, including TekSavvy, buy access to the phone and cable networks, and then sell the internet and other services to homes and businesses. Under last week's CRTC ruling, they will be charged a higher rate first set in 2016 rather than the lower prices from the 2019 decision. The Competition Bureau issued an email statement on Monday that said it can only disclose investigations under certain circumstances, and wouldn't comment directly on TekSavvy's request. "The Bureau has and continues to be active in the telecommunications sector, including reviewing mergers, intervening in many recent CRTC telecommunications proceedings and assessing competitive dynamics in the industry through its broadband market study (issued in August 2019)." TekSavvy vice-president Andy Kaplan-Myrth said his company filed the complaint to cabinet because recent CRTC decisions set back efforts to support smaller competitors, whose presence in the market tends to lower overall prices. He said TekSavvy had previously lodged a complaint directly with the Competition Bureau, but now thinks there should be a broader telecommunications sector investigation in light of CRTC decisions and a proposed merger of Rogers with Shaw Communictions. "This is actually not a big ask, right?" Kaplan-Myrth said in an interview. "I think there's a possibility that they'll at least be interested in investigating it." Kaplan-Myrth said that, in TekSavvy's view, last week's wholesale internet rates decision was such a complete reversal that it raises questions about the CRTC chairman's leadership. He also said an unrelated, but similar, CRTC decision in April will leave most competition in the wireless sector in the hands of phone and cable companies while leaving out smaller rivals. The Ottawa-based Public Interest Advocacy Centre, a non-profit organization that often appears before the CRTC, agrees there's reason for the government to change the commission's decision. "PIAC agrees with TekSavvy that this CRTC decision is problematic and should be rescinded," executive director John Lawford said an email statement Monday. The group did not comment on the role of the CRTC chairman. A spokesman for the minister that oversees the CRTC, Competition Bureau, and other federal bodies on Monday referred to a statement issued Thursday after the CRTC's decision on internet wholesale prices. "Affordable, high-quality internet access is a necessity," the statement by Inovation, Science and Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne reads in part. It concludes by saying the cabinet "will be reviewing the (CRTC) decision and its implications to ensure they align with our policy priorities." A previous cabinet review by Champagne's predecessor, Navdeep Bains, suggested that the CRTC hadn't met all of the government's priorities but left it to the agency to review its own work. The CRTC said in Thursday's decision that it would keep most 2016 prices, with a few modifications, rather than start another review that would divert CRTC resources from other issues. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31, 2021. KAMLOOPS, B.C. - A First Nations teacher says the discovery of the remains of 215 children buried at the site of a former residential school in British Columbia is a triggering event for students who regularly learn about the history of wrongs against Indigenous people. The former Kamloops Indian Residential School is seen on Tkemlups te Secwepemc First Nation in Kamloops, B.C. on Thursday, May 27, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Snucins KAMLOOPS, B.C. - A First Nations teacher says the discovery of the remains of 215 children buried at the site of a former residential school in British Columbia is a triggering event for students who regularly learn about the history of wrongs against Indigenous people. Rick Joe said a provincewide kindergarten-to-Grade 12 curriculum includes lessons on everything from respect for First Nations culture to the legacy of residential schools and missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, so students hearing about the remains found last week in Kamloops will need support. "This is very triggering. I have been asking for our school counsellors, for administrators and for youth care workers to take that extra time to check in on the Indigenous members," he said Sunday. Joe is particularly concerned about First Nations foster children who are overrepresented in the child welfare system and include those whose families were forcibly taken to residential schools like the one in Kamloops, the largest such facility in Canada until 1969, when its operations were transferred from the Catholic Church to the federal government. The facility was then run as a day school until it was closed in 1978. Joe, who is a high school teacher in Chilliwack and works with First Nations students, said he has seen the sadness of generations of racism turned into anger among those he mentors. He said young students will have to contend with intergenerational trauma, for which they'll need support in coming days as more details emerge about the buried children who were believed to be as young as age three. Joe was at a previously scheduled meeting of teachers on Saturday when the discovery was being discussed, and said he knew he had to call for some kind of action by educators to raise awareness of the pain inflicted on Indigenous Peoples. "Everyone's going to hurt, not just First Nations or Aboriginal children," he said. He made a motion at a scheduled meeting of educators on Saturday that teachers wear orange and gather to walk into their schools together at the start of each day this week and that flags be lowered to half mast. Teri Mooring, president of the B.C. Teachers' Federation, said the union endorsed the call and teachers will be taking action to show students there needs be a response to the heart-wrenching discovery. Mooring said school administrators and support staff should also be included in sensitivity training when it comes biases that lead to racism, which is part of the education system, the same as in other parts of society. She said the teachers' collective agreement includes a move to work toward increasing hiring of Indigenous teachers as universities offer more education programs for those looking to enter teaching as a career. Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation has said the discovery in Kamloops was confirmed with the help of ground-penetrating radar and that more bodies may be found because the entire school grounds have not yet been searched. Eric Simons, a PhD student in anthropology at the University of British Columbia, said the radar would have identified 215 grave shafts, not actual bodies, as well as changes in the soil, with some of it being more compressed. Simons said he's been working with a First Nation at the site of a residential school on Penelakut Island where children's remains are believed to have been buried between 1890 and 1975, when the facility was closed. Much more work is left to be done at the site on one of the Gulf Islands in B.C., he said of the island previously known as Kuper Island, before it was renamed about a decade ago in honour of the Penelakut First Nation. It's hard to say what next steps will be taken to try and identify remains at the former residential school in Kamloops, and each First Nation would decide on how to deal with the burial site depending on their cultural protocols, Simon said. The flag at Vancouver city hall and park board facilities was lowered Sunday to half-mast, as were flags in various other communities and on federal and provincial buildings. Mayor Kennedy Stewart said he would be speaking with the province's Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Minister on Sunday evening to discuss how the city and B.C. could work together to "advance reconciliation and truly begin to reckon with the full history of genocide in Canada." "The legacy of this violence remains with us to this day, and it is incumbent upon all non-Indigenous Canadians to not only atone for this legacy but also help with the hard work of reconciliation," he said in a statement. The Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation said B.C. residents are mourning alongside the Secwepemc and all families impacted by residential schools."In responding to this situation, the province is taking our lead from the Tkemlups te Secwepemc. We offer them our full support," the ministry said in a statement. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2021. By Camille Bains in Vancouver Maria Cefali is combining her passion for running with her passion for helping others. Opinion Maria Cefali is combining her passion for running with her passion for helping others. Cefali is about to wrap up 5K Every Day in May, a fundraising event she created in support of Sleep in Heavenly Peace Winnipeg. The charity builds and delivers handmade beds to local children. Maria Cefali volunteers with Sleep in Heavenly Peace Winnipeg and is finishing up her 5K Every Day in May fundraiser for the charity. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) Cefali has run 5 km each day this month in the hopes of raising $5,000 enough to make 14 beds for 14 Winnipeg children who are currently sleeping on the floor. The 44-year-old River Heights resident, who describes herself as a fair weather runner, came up with the challenge in part to get back into her outdoor running routine now that winter is over. "The accountability of the fundraiser has forced me to run, but also to get outside and explore new neighbourhoods," she says. Cefali lost her job in the hospitality industry when the pandemic hit Manitoba last year. When she found out about SHP Winnipeg, the thought of doing something to help children while using the skills shes acquired through her background in marketing and communications appealed to her. She started volunteering as SHP Winnipegs director of communications and donor relations in May 2020. Volunteering with SHP Winnipeg put things in perspective for Cefali during her unemployment. It also allowed her to meet new people and make new friends. "I didnt want to feel sorry for myself, so I wanted to make sure I was giving back," she says. "Its been absolutely magical, it really has been." Cefali has run a different route in a different neighbourhood every day, allowing her to be a tourist in her hometown. Shes documented the various parks and attractions shes visited on SHP Winnipegs Facebook page. Perhaps most importantly, the fundraiser has allowed her to raise awareness about the fact that there are children in Winnipeg without beds to sleep on. "This is why Im doing it," she says. "I want people to know, and if they are impacted by it, I want them to help SHP and make a donation." SHP Winnipeg president Jim Thiessen is thankful to Cefali for doing the fundraiser. "Marias project is incredible," he says. "Its an amazing act of generosity on her part." He recalls being impressed with Cefali when they met for the first time last year. "I instantly got the impression that this was (someone) who was all about giving back to the community and trying to make a difference," he says. SHP Winnipeg has built 230 beds since it started in January 2020, 100 of which have been installed. The beds are distributed along with brand new mattresses and bedding to children between the ages of three and 17. In recent months, public health restrictions have slowed the non-profits progress. SHP Winnipeg is planning to get back to distributing beds, and holding public build events to make more beds, once restrictions are eased. Anyone interested can contribute to Cefalis fundraiser at https://gofund.me/4f4f099a. A new bed for a child is more than just a piece of furniture, according to Cefali. It gives the child a sense of self-worth and dignity, and communicates to them that they are worthy of having a space of their own to relax and rest. Every dollar raised will be spent in Winnipeg, and Cefali encourages donations of all sizes. "Dont think its a small donation," she says. "Its an incredible donation." If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com The Jewish service organization Bnai Brith is seeking hate-crime charges in connection with a tense demonstration in Winnipeg earlier this month which saw pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protestors clash near the Manitoba legislature. The Jewish service organization Bnai Brith is seeking "hate-crime charges" in connection with a tense demonstration in Winnipeg earlier this month which saw pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protestors clash near the Manitoba legislature. On May 15, hundreds of people rallied along Broadway for two separate demonstrations organized in response to fighting in the Middle East between Israel and militant groups in Gaza. The "emergency protest for Palestine" and the "rally for Israel" quickly converged, with hundreds of protestors on the pro-Palestine side outnumbering the pro-Israel side, which had fewer than 100 supporters. On Sunday, Bnai Brith issued a press release calling for members of the pro-Palestine demonstration to be criminally prosecuted. The Jewish service organization also called for a "political response" from local officials. "In one video, the crowd is seen dancing and cheering to an Arabic song being played through a speaker set. The song contains anti-Semitic lyrics such as Get lost, you son of a Jew!" the organization said in a written statement. "It also asserts that Jews have no rights here, and that they will get nothing on this land but gunpowder. In another video, protestors are seen chanting in favour of the Hamas terrorist group Bnai Brith has reported these matters to the Winnipeg Police Service." The WPS was unable to be reached for comment Sunday. On May 21, a ceasefire was declared in the latest round of fighting in the ongoing conflict, bringing to end 11 days of violence which saw more than 250 people killed most of whom were in Gaza. During the May 15 rally in Winnipeg, someone on the pro-Palestine side threw water bottles at the Israeli side and a young woman was hit in the head. At one point, an Israel flag was set on fire in the middle of the street. One of the organizers of the pro-Palestine demonstration alleged a young woman had been punched in the head by a pro-Israel protestor. While there were accusations of violence on both sides, the WPS said at the time that no arrests had been made. A significant police presence was dispatched to the rallies to separate the demonstrations from each other. "It is unacceptable that anti-Jewish taunts and support for a banned terrorist group be expressed outside the Manitoba legislature," said Michael Mostyn, chief executive officer of Bnai Brith Canada, in the press release. AstraZeneca shots flew off the shelves last month, when Manitoba offered them to everyone aged 40 and up. AstraZeneca shots flew off the shelves last month, when Manitoba offered them to everyone aged 40 and up. Its an extremely effective COVID-19 vaccine, but its been hampered by a rare blood-clot condition, unclear expiry dates and supply-chain issues. Heres the latest on what those who have already their first AstraZeneca dose should know. I got my first AstraZeneca shot, what happens next? Stay tuned. "All I can say is this is the primary focus of the (medical) team at the moment; they are actively working through the data to come up with a decision," Johanu Botha, co-lead of Manitobas vaccine implementation task force, told reporters Friday. Up until Friday, the guidance from Canadas immunization panel was that doses of all vaccines should be administered 12 weeks apart, except for people with frail immune systems or frontline workers with frequent exposure to COVID-19. Canadas reasoning was in part to ensure more of the population got partial protection from a first dose, due to limited vaccine supply and high COVID-19 spread. And the World Health Organization has suggested giving the second dose after eight to 12 weeks, as research suggests the body creates more antibodies and thus a better immune response, though a dose four weeks after the first shot is still considered safe. On Friday, Canadas immunization panel recommended provinces get doses out fast, because more vaccines are coming in and a partially vaccinated population is still vulnerable to more contagious COVID-19 variants. Up until this weekend, doses were nearing expiry, adding to the multiple variables Manitoba officials are wading through as they decide how to use AstraZeneca shots. Can I get my second dose before 12 weeks? Yes, in some circumstances. You should discuss this with your doctor or health-care provider. People with weaker immunity to COVID-19 are being prioritized for their booster shot because they are likely to have a weaker response with just the one shot. All three vaccines being used in Canada have a minimum period for booster shots; your second AstraZeneca shouldnt come sooner than four weeks after the first, in order for your immune system to produce an adequate response. Will my booster shot be a different vaccine? Canada is still analyzing studies about people who get one form of vaccine and another for their second dose. That means having a first shot of a viral-vector vaccine such as AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson, and a second shot of an mRNA vaccine, such as Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna or vice-versa. Initial studies show its safe to mix these shots, but we still dont know if doing so provide better or worse immunity. Provinces such as British Columbia have said theres a strong chance people who had an AstraZeneca shot will have the chance at getting a Pfizer or Modena booster this summer. AstraZeneca remains a remarkably effective vaccine on its own, and Britain has relied on two doses of the shot to start retuning to normal life. What is my risk of a blood clot from the second dose? Rare. A reaction called vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia, dubbed VITT, occurs in one of every 50,000 to 100,000 people who receive AstraZeneca. There were just under 1.7 million AstraZeneca shots given in Canada as of May 22, while as of Thursday, 27 people have had VITT and 15 have had a clot but are still under analysis. Five people have died from VITT in Canada. Some researchers have suggested that if you didnt have this rare reaction after the first dose, youre even less likely to get one after the booster shot, but studies are still being completed. VITT symptoms can appear in the first 28 days from getting the shot, and you should go to an emergency room if you experience them. Those symptoms include a severe, long-lasting headache, blurred vision and difficulty speaking, chest pain, a swollen or cold limb, and multiple, small purple bruises. Between 20 and 50 per cent of those who get VITT die from it. But the condition remains much more rare than numerous daily activities. Where can I find shots? Youd probably best phone the clinic or pharmacy where you got your first AstraZeneca dose. The provinces online registry lists clinics that have shots, but its not always accurate. Your doctor might also know of places with jabs left. How many doses have expired? None in Manitoba so far. As of Friday, the province estimates about 4,600 AstraZeneca doses are being held by its partners, overwhelmingly pharmacies and doctors offices. No doses remain in the provinces central storage. On Friday, the province estimated fewer than 3,000 of those doses had an end-of-May expiration date, while the rest were set to expire in June. Yet the next day, May 29, Health Canada agreed to an AstraZeneca request to extend the expiration date. The company said the original expiry dates were precautionary, and presented data showing the shots remain effective for longer. Quebecs health department told media it has let doses go to waste, while Newfoundland and Labrador has sent some shots back to the federal stockpile after stopping the vaccine for first doses. "Were working across jurisdictions right now to ensure that as many of those doses as absolutely possible can be used to vaccinate Canadians," Brig.-Gen. Krista Brodie told reporters Thursday. "Should we arrive at expiry dates then the remaining doses will be disposed of, in accordance with public health best practices." Canada obtained part of its AstraZeneca shots by pulling from COVAX, a global body whose primary aim is to get developing countries vaccinated. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca You may not have noticed, given the decided lack of press coverage, but on May 10 the State of the Urban Forest Report was finally released by the city of Winnipeg. Its a kind of forest health report card, step one in the development of the citys 20-year Urban Forestry Strategy. Opinion You may not have noticed, given the decided lack of press coverage, but on May 10 the State of the Urban Forest Report was finally released by the city of Winnipeg. Its a kind of forest health "report card," step one in the development of the citys 20-year Urban Forestry Strategy. And just like your kids report card, this one can sometimes be a little bit difficult to interpret. So let me walk you through it, to illustrate why an A+ in one subject doesnt necessarily mean you pass the grade. The first A+ goes to the report itself, which is blessedly short and amazingly concise, compared to other recently released city documents. And its clear as a bell on one key message: city trees are valuable natural assets and should be included as essential infrastructure in city asset management plans. Two gold stars for that. Id also give the report a gold star for assigning a dollar value to the services and benefits our trees provide. When you add up just three of the services calculated pollution capture, carbon storage and reduced energy costs via heat mitigation you wind up with a grand total of more than $6 billion in tree benefits. Great news? Well, it is, until you consider what is not clearly indicated in the report: that almost 50 per cent of that $6 billion is based on the services provided by our mature elm and ash canopy. And therein lies the rub. Over the next 10 to 20 years we may lose most, if not all, of those mature trees, thanks to the threats posed by Dutch elm disease, emerald ash borer and cottony psyllid, as well other factors including climate change, an aging tree population and yes, you guessed it inadequate urban forestry budgets. So, given the current threats, how do we measure up against other metropolitan centres that all face the same, or similar, problems? In terms of tree canopy cover, Winnipeg beats all other western cities, hands down, at 17 per cent. But before you celebrate, consider this: cities in the U.S. and around the world are now aiming for canopy cover targets of 30 to 50 per cent to ensure climate resilience and maximize tree benefits. Torontos canopy cover is already at 28 per cent, and the city plans to hit 40 per cent by 2050. On the financial front, our budget may look bigger than other western cities, but thats not much of an accomplishment given that our tree canopy is around double the size. Whats more telling is what we spend per tree. Compared to Toronto, which is also fighting Dutch elm disease, we shell out just $34 per public tree, while Toronto spends a whopping $57. And if you take out the costs associated with DED management, we spend just $15 per tree. Calgary spends double that. But the failing grades really mount up when you compare Winnipegs record on basic tree maintenance, such as pruning, tree removals and replacements. On the pruning front something thats essential to maintain tree health almost every other city listed in the report is on a five-to-seven-year pruning cycle. We prune our trees every 31 years. Finally, and perhaps not surprisingly, when compared to Toronto, we have half the tree density per hectare and even less than that at street level. The report also notes that tree loss in Winnipeg was observed six times more frequently than tree gains. Which brings me to the most puzzling statistic in the report: according to the authors, Winnipeg has experienced only a one per cent loss in tree canopy cover since 2005, dropping from 18 per cent to 17 per cent. I live in central Winnipeg, and based on my observations and those of my colleagues in Trees Please Winnipeg, the loss of mature trees in neighborhoods from Elmwood and Riverview to the West End has been a lot higher than one per cent. And its mature trees that really count when it comes to delivering maximum services and benefits. So why is there no statistical breakdown of mature canopy loss in the report? That omission leads me to my final point. While the State of the Urban Forest Report is excellent in many respects, providing us with new and essential data, it fails, in my opinion, on one key front: a seemingly steadfast refusal to connect the dots, provide essential comparisons and break down key statistics to give us a clear picture of the urgent threats facing our mature urban forest. Perhaps those connections will be more clearly laid out in the upcoming 20-year Urban Forestry Strategy. I certainly hope so, because the sooner the general public is clearly informed about the urban forest crisis and city councillors have the indisputable evidence needed to act swiftly to adequately fund the maintenance, protection and expansion of our public canopy, the better. Erna Buffie is interim chair of Trees Please Winnipeg, a coalition of resident and community groups lobbying for sustainable infrastructure funding for urban forests. Check out their website at treespleasewinnipeg.com. In November 1948, Rev. Fergus John OGrady wrote Indigenous parents a letter in his role as principal of the Kamloops Indian Residential School. In November 1948, Rev. Fergus John OGrady wrote Indigenous parents a letter in his role as principal of the Kamloops Indian Residential School. "It will be your privilege this year to have your children spend Christmas at home with you. The holidays will extend from December 18th to January 3rd." He then said two rules must be followed: "the transportation to the home and back to the school must be paid by the parents" and "the parents must bring the children back to the school strictly on time." If that wasnt demeaning enough, Rev. OGrady then concluded with a threat: "I ask you to observe the above regulations in order that this privilege of going home for Christmas may be continued." OGrady made "educating" Indians his career. After six years at Kamloops and expanding its programming to high school, he was made principal of Williams Lake Indian Residential School. In 1956, he was announced in the national Catholic newspaper The Indian Missionary Record as the first Bishop of Prince George due to being "an outstanding worker in the field of Indian education." OGrady would then lead local missionization projects involving dozens of Indigenous communities. In 1986, the year he retired, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of British Columbia. A 2017 newsletter from the Diocese of Prince George celebrated him, calling him "a man of extraordinary vision incapable of talking down to anyone." Well, anyone besides Indian parents. "Priests who served with Bishop OGrady," the newsletter claims, "describe his vision as a path to the right solution." Well, it turns out that OGrady was not just a leader in Indian education but deaths as well. This past Thursday, May 27, news broke that the remains of 215 Indian students some as young as 3 were buried on the grounds of Kamloops residential school. In a statement, Tkemlups te Secwepemc Kukpi7 (chief) Rosanne Casimir said that ground penetrating radar was used to find the children after community members and researchers started searching "in the early 2000s." "To our knowledge," Casimir states, "these are undocumented deaths" and "affects communities across British Columbia and beyond." A search of the Kamloops school grounds continues. I wonder what the Catholic church thinks of Bishop OGrady now. I wonder what UBC thinks. I wonder what you think. I know what Indigenous peoples think: we know about lost children. Virtually every single Indigenous community has stories of lost brothers, sisters, aunties, and uncles. At Truth and Reconciliation Commission events, empty chairs would be held to symbolize them, undocumented and lost but remembered through names and by family. In the final report by the TRC, the commissioners document 3,201 deaths in residential schools but state that this is a conservative number due to lost, destroyed, and inaccessible documents held by the churches, schools, and government departments. In the final report by the TRC, the commissioners document 3,201 deaths in residential schools but state that this is a "conservative number" due to lost, destroyed, and inaccessible documents held by the churches, schools, and government departments. That number cannot be anything but a fraction. From 1906-09, Dr. Peter Bryce, the chief medical officer for Indian Affairs, studied the situation of Indian children in residential schools and found disease, crowded and unsanitary conditions, and poor construction led to rampant sickness and a rate of 8,000 deaths per 100,000 students. This doesnt account for students who died later or while trying to escape, or the many murders that happened with tragic regularity. A more accurate number is probably more than 15,000 mostly buried in unmarked and unrecorded graves on or near residential schools. The TRC tried to uncover and pinpoint unmarked burial sites, even though this was outside of its mandate. On page 46 in volume 4 of the final report, it states commissioners asked the federal government to undertake an investigation but were refused. The commission did, however, do research on the issue. On Sunday, they released a report by Dr. Scott Hamilton from Lakehead University. In the report are archival maps and Google earth images of indentations in the ground where cemeteries potentially lie (in fields "overgrown with grass, weeds, or woody vegetation" according to the report) or covered by buildings and roads. The neglect and coverup of Indian student cemeteries happened in Canada with frightening regularity (one example Ive written about previously is in Brandon now covered by a trailer park). There are more. Much more. The Hamilton report states that many unmarked graves "lie abandoned and largely forgotten" recommending that "the federal government initiate multi-lateral engagement to identify strategies and procedures for the ongoing documentation, maintenance, commemoration, and protection of Indian Residential School Cemeteries." The problem, of course, is that governments have had countless opportunities to do this if they listened to doctors, researchers, and Indigenous peoples but they refused to do so. Maybe they will listen now. I saw CNN covered the Kamloops story this week. Cemeteries of Indian students have been lost due to neglect, poor-record keeping, and racism. The lives within them simply didnt matter to churches and governments. The perpetrators were too busy finding "a path to the right solution." With thanks to University of Ottawa historian Daniel Ruck for contributions to this column. niigaan.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 19:36:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People wait to receive the COVID-19 vaccines at a vaccination center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 31, 2021. Malaysia on Monday reported 6,824 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total tally to 572,357. Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a press statement that three of the new cases were imported and 6,821 were locally transmitted. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua) KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia on Monday reported 6,824 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total tally to 572,357. Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a press statement that three of the new cases were imported and 6,821 were locally transmitted. An additional 67 deaths from the coronavirus epidemic were reported, bringing the death toll to 2,796, showed the official data. An additional 5,251 recovered patients were discharged from hospitals, bringing the total number of recoveries to 490,038 or 85.6 percent of all cases. Of the currently 79,523 active cases, 851 are being held in intensive care with 422 of them in need of assisted breathing. Malaysia is due to start a two-week total lockdown on Tuesday, in an effort to contain the recent spikes of new cases. All economic and social activities are not allowed except for the essential services. Enditem When it comes time to make big decisions on how to respond to the pandemic, where is Premier Brian Pallister getting his technical and scientific advice? Editorial When it comes time to make big decisions on how to respond to the pandemic, where is Premier Brian Pallister getting his technical and scientific advice? There are certainly many qualified experts within government in areas such as public health, epidemiology and emergency management and they should be applauded for their dedication to the pandemic effort. However, if Mr. Pallister is basing all of his pandemic-response decisions on their advice, then why are so many equally qualified experts outside government at odds with those decisions? Throughout the pandemic, prominent physicians, scientists and other health-care professionals have sounded the alarm about a pandemic response that seems inherently reactive, and almost never proactive. As the Pallister government has demurred over lockdowns and instead chosen small tweaks to social and economic restrictions, these outside experts have demanded more be done, much earlier, to stop or moderate the intensity of the various waves of COVID-19 that have crashed upon Manitoba. Perhaps its a reflection of the premier himself. Renowned for his self-confidence, Mr. Pallister has rarely shown interest in outside advice. The premier has forged ahead with his strategy, seemingly oblivious to the warnings from non-governmental experts. But heres the thing: in almost every instance, the outside experts have been right in their predictions of the tragic consequences of the Pallister governments pandemic strategy. The physicians and scientists who have openly challenged government have been batting nearly 1,000 in terms of predicting both the timing and the magnitude of the second and third waves of the pandemic. Mr. Pallister may not listen to them, but there is clearly value in what they are saying. Given that he wont listen to outside experts of his own, its unlikely the premier will look to the example set by other countries. But if he did, for example, look to a country like New Zealand, he would see the enormous value of bringing in the best experts from outside government. In the first few weeks of the pandemic, the Kiwi government established an independent technical advisory committee comprising the best medical and scientific minds in the country. That committee served as the architect of New Zealands elimination strategy, which has made it one of a handful of countries to truly contain COVID-19. These experts not only informed government policy. They were allowed to speak openly to the public about their ideas and offer reviews of government performance. That, in turn, helped build overwhelming public support for restrictions and other invasive pandemic-management strategies. Mr. Pallisters only retort to the outside criticism is to claim, almost always without factual basis, that Manitobas pandemic response is the best, the toughest, the strictest and the best managed in the country. However, these claims have been repeatedly undermined by hard epidemiological evidence showing we have suffered more cases and deaths than we should have for a province of this size. The premier has argued that what his government has done represents its best effort. If thats the case, then he must open his ears and mind to the chorus of outside experts who are telling him, in urgent terms, that his best is not good enough. Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery Minister Audrey Gordon says she's waiting for Manitoba Justice to investigate a recent event held at Springs Church of which she is a member before commenting further on whether or not it violated public health orders. Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery Minister Audrey Gordon says she's waiting for Manitoba Justice to investigate a recent event held at Springs Church of which she is a member before commenting further on whether or not it violated public health orders. After the Free Press reported photos of a Springs College graduation ceremony with up to 20 young people gathered indoors and not wearing masks were circulating online, the Tory MLA for Southdale took to social media to denounce the flouting of pandemic rules. "Like many Manitobans, I was very disappointed to learn of a graduation ceremony at Springs College (the Winnipeg church and college share facilities) that was held in clear violation of our public health orders," Gordon said online, posted May 22. "Anyone who chooses not to follow public health orders is disrespecting their family, their friends, their community and the front-line health-care workers who are doing everything in their power to care for those in need." At a news conference Monday, to announce funding for drug treatment centres, Gordon said she had not had any discussions with leadership at the Lagimodiere Boulevard church, of which, she said, she remains a member. When asked why, as a cabinet minister in government, she hasn't discussed her concerns with church officials, Gordon said she respects the investigation underway by Manitoba Justice, and will not get involved while it is ongoing. "There is a process underway through the ministry and the department of justice to carry out a very comprehensive and thorough investigation of the Springs College graduation ceremony," Gordon said. "I want to respect that process and allow the steps to unfold and a decision to come forward." carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca If she could, Urooj Danish would tell her father this: Whatever I am today is because of you, Papa. If she could, Urooj Danish would tell her father this: "Whatever I am today is because of you, Papa." In the last 14 months, COVID-19 has both erected barriers between nations and bound them together in common suffering. No place remains untouched, and for migrants and their children, that has sometimes meant experiencing family losses to the virus from afar. "This pandemic made me realize that family is everything," said Urooj, who is the office manager for the Manitoba Islamic Association. Her father had been battling prostate cancer for four years before he tested positive for COVID-19 on April 11, 2020. He was doing well, but his immune system had been damaged. That day, he had the strength to walk himself into the hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Urooj couldnt believe it when he died just five days later. "It was devastating," she said, adding her husbands family tried to comfort her here. Her six younger siblings had been in Karachi with her father before he went to the hospital. She was the only one so far away. "I was guilty that I was unable to help him, because that was the time he needed me and my other siblings the most," she said. It wouldn't have mattered if she had been in Karachi; her siblings couldnt visit either. They called the doctors and pleaded to see their father, but were unsuccessful. For them, the pandemic had rendered a few kilometres the same as a few thousand, in Urooj's case. Because of her family's experience, she said, its difficult for her when people are dismissive of the pandemics effects. "I dont want anybody to go through this experience," she said. "Once you will go through this, then you will know how it feels but I dont want to say that to anybody." Urooj prefers to stay positive to honour her father. "When you do the right thing, the world will know," her father once told her. "Im just trying to make him proud every single day, and I miss him every single day," she said. Simarpreet Singh, a 27-year-old PhD student at the University of Manitoba, lives with his parents. Much of his family lives in multigenerational homes in New Delhi. "Family has always been there for us," said Singh. "That is one of the most important parts in my immediate family, is just taking care of each other." When he says "immediate family," it seems defined more broadly than some use it and includes great-aunts. When Singhs great-aunt in New Delhi contracted COVID-19, he watched his father struggle. "He was devastated when she was hospitalized and then transferred to the ICU," said Singh, adding his father braced for the worst. Singhs great-aunt was old he wasnt sure of her age and had diabetes. She never left intensive care. Singh watched helplessly from afar as India plunged deeper into its devastating COVID-19 crisis. Many family members there contacted the virus. Many recovered, but some died. Worries compounded for those living in multigenerational homes, he said. Becoming infected likely meant infecting other family members. "It has been really difficult," he said. "Just, you know, feeling hopeless." Singh said hes been using his education as a scientist to teach his family about the virus and how to protect themselves. And he wants others to do what they can to avoid his familys trauma. "I urge people to get vaccinated, so they dont lose a loved one," he said. Neuman Kiamco prayed in the dark of his hospital room last summer as fireworks lit up the sky outside the window. Fourth of July celebrations were underway in the Chicago suburb around MacNeal Hospital, but Kiamco had nurse Sylvia Acosta whod been a co-worker before becoming his caretaker draw the blinds to shut them out. Acosta was surprised, she later told Kiamcos sister Jeanette Perez, because Kiamco was usually upbeat, full of jokes, mischievous. But now he asked her to pray for him. "I think he kind of knew that he was not getting better," said Perez, who lives in Winnipeg. On July 5, Kiamco was moved to a new hospital, sedated and put on life-support. He died seven weeks later at the age of 48. Kiamco and Perez grew up in the Philippines with their three siblings before they scattered around the globe to Canada, the United States, Australia and Norway. During his seven weeks on life-support, Perez and her siblings talked every day through Facebook Messenger, but the pandemic kept them from travelling to be with him. "We were very helpless," said Perez. "We wanted to do everything for him, but (there was) nothing we can do. We cant do anything. Not even go to his apartment and put everything together." Like many other families, they held their vigil on a computer screen, in two dimensions, absent the depth owed to full life. When Kiamco told Perez hed been infected, she thought he was joking or teasing her. That was their mode of communication. But now that hes gone, Perez said she wishes theyd sometimes spoken more directly. "We didnt really say that we love each other or that we care about each other. I think I would have told him that I cared about him more than he knows probably," she said. "I think he knows that I do care about him because I call him and I text him, but I would just let him know." After he passed, his belongings were sent to Perez and her one brother in Canada. Perez rummaged through the things and found an old DVD with a short home video on it of a family reunion in the Philippines. Kiamco played Sweet Child O Mine on the guitar and their mother, who died in 2003, danced. "It really struck me how a very short video really meant a lot to us. We couldnt go back to that time, and we saw it, and hes already gone, and we said, Oh, whats this its a treasure that we found." Now every Saturday, Perez sets up a camera. She tunes up her ukulele and plays. fpcity@freepress.mb.ca When she became the teacher for all of the third grade remote learners this year, Miescke said, I thought, How am I going to make a connection with them across a computer screen when were doing something thats so foreign to all of us? Her solution was to forget about the screen, and teach as if they were in front of her, as they had been for a quarter century before. The parents who nominated her to be the Baraboo School Districts Distinguished Elementary Teacher of the Year said she turned remote learning into a joy for their children, infusing young students weary of computers and staying home with a new love for learning. She never pushed him and let him open up when he was ready, one mother wrote of her son who had lost his love for school over many months of quarantine. He soon began to laugh and smile again. He leaves his classes motivated and excited, knowing he can do anything he sets his mind to. Returning to teaching has been healing, Miescke said. The kids asked about her super-duper short hair when they first logged on and saw her last fall, and she shared about what she had been through the year before and why she continues to need treatment. Her vulnerability opened a door for her students to be vulnerable, too. Miescke had just gotten the OK from her doctor to return to the classroom next school year when, at an after-school staff meeting in the east library on May 25, her parents, husband, kids and grandkids surprised her as she learned she had been named this years Distinguished Elementary Teacher. Woreck said Memorial Day is not about division, but about reconciliation and coming together to honor those who gave all. He read from a letter he wrote while deployed in Afghanistan in 2009. Woreck told a story in the letter about a 37-year-old man who graduated basic training and wouldve needed an age waiver to enlist. The man was quiet and was given a hard time in a basic training unit of men in their teens or early 20s. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} A few weeks in, the recruits were asked why they joined the military: a good paying job, to travel the world, to get college benefits. However, the man spoke up, to many for the first time, to say that it was the only way he could be buried with his father at Arlington National Cemetery. Beaver Dam Common Council President Cris Olson told the story of Carl Matuszeski, a Korean War veteran who died in March 2020. Olson met Carl, his neighbor over the fence, in 1999 when he was a teenager. Carl always had words of advice for Olsons father about different projects like on the truck or when getting the chainsaw started to trim trees. Matuszeski was a mechanic for decades, and he also served his church and was a dedicated volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul after retirement. He took an Honor Flight to Washington DC in 2015. When a service member dies, we say they gave their last full measure of devotion on behalf of our country. What that means is the fallen service member, having paid for the defense of our nation with their life can give nothing more, said Lt. Col. Jeremy Duffy, commander of the Recruiting and Retention Battalion with the Wisconsin National Guard. Theres not enough money in the entire world to pay the debt we owe to those who died for our country. The city of Portage held a small ceremony on Monday morning, at Blue Star Park, to honor the men and women who died serving the United States in combat. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1707 and American Legion Post 47 worked together to make this event possible. Thank you for being here as we honor our fallen military members who died in service to our nation, Duffy said. He said the history of Memorial Day dates back to 1868 following the Civil War. Duffy spent 10 years as an enlisted soldier before joining the National Guard. He was the events key note speaker. He joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard in 1996 after serving in the naval aviation service during the Bosnian Conflict in 1994. He has since in a variety of theaters with multiple deployments and has been awarded the Bronze Star, Air medal, and Meritorious Service Medal. Highs yesterday reached 68-75 followed by lows this morning of 48-55. Temperatures as of noon are 62-70, headed for 72-80. Skies will be mostly to partly cloudy to today with mostly east to southeast & south winds. Lows tonight should drop to 55-59. An isolated shower or two is possible tonight-Tuesday, otherwise it looks mostly cloudy to partly cloudy with light east to southeast & south wind. Highs of 74-80 are expected. Some scattered showers are possible Wednesday with mostly cloudy to cloudy skies & highs 71-77 with east wind. Any severe weather will occur in the warmer, unstable air south & southwest of our area Wednesday from Arkansas to southwestern Ohio. This particular computer model is drier Thursday, but I'd like to keep potential of a few showers & storms in the forecast with highs 77-82. Main area of severe weather risk should be south & east of the viewing area, however. June 4-11 we are dominated by heat, humidity & a few storms at times. Highs in the 90s are expected with heat indices +100. There is risk of severe weather around June 12, then brief bout of cooler, comfortable air (highs 74-79) before heat & drier weather again rapidly dominate with a couple storms at times. The Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico to near Bay of Campeche will need to be monitored for likely tropical development. There will be a couple times where the "Ring of Fire" sets up in the area with severe weather risk in late June. June overall look hotter & drier than normal. July is still trending hotter & drier than normal. We will monitor the tropics for development of tropical depression, tropical storm &/or hurricane. If it can make it up here, it would bring great relief with soaking rainfall. August looks hotter & drier than normal, however, the tropics remain the wildcard with rainfall. Watch for first 100 or 100s in occurrence since 2012 this summer in the viewing area. September looks cooler & drier than normal. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 19:40:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BELGRADE, May 31 (Xinhua) -- For Nikola Stanojevic, a musician from Belgrade, life is getting back to normal after months of disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "My parents received China's Sinopharm vaccine in February, and that really made me less worried and tense," he said. Like Stanojevic and his family, recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is picking up pace in Serbia as the Balkan country continues to make headway in inoculating its people with vaccines from China. As one of the first European countries to authorize the use of China-developed vaccines, Serbia has shot ahead of most countries on the continent in rolling out its vaccination program. The China-developed vaccines have showed reliability that "no one could have expected in difficult times and circumstances," Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said at the reception of the latest batch of Chinese vaccines last week. RECOVERY IN PROGRESS Trust in Chinese vaccines has helped secure Serbia an early recovery. Schools in Serbia already opened on April 19, and the week before saw the opening of shopping malls, with bars and restaurants also resuming business. Earlier this month, noting that Serbia has been one of the leading countries in mass vaccination, Brnabic announced that the country plans to fully reopen by June 21. In July, Serbia is scheduled to hold the Exit music festival, one of the most influential music events in Eastern Europe, which each year attracts artists and visitors from around the world. Exit said Serbia's Ministry of Health will provide "a few thousand vaccine doses for festival international artists and visitors as a way to aid countries that currently have vaccine shortages." "Exit festival, which our country is globally proud of, happening this July will be one of the important symbols of Serbia's victory over the pandemic," Brnabic was quoted as saying on Exit's web page. The government's confidence comes from the country's rapid progress in its vaccination program and relatively abundant vaccine supply. According to recent data from the Serbian government, the country has vaccinated more than 45 percent of its adult population, a rate higher than most European countries. While the number of those vaccinated is still not enough to reach herd immunity, the country has plenty of vaccines available at the moment, Brnabic noted. CHINESE VACCINES INDISPENSABLE Of all the assistance Serbia received from others in fighting the pandemic, Chinese vaccines played an indispensible role. Last week, another batch of Chinese Sinopharm vaccines arrived at the Belgrade airport, giving another boost to the country's vaccine drive. It was the eighth such flight to deliver vaccines, Brnabic said when receiving the latest supply, expressing her gratitude for the delivery of millions of doses "in the shortest possible time." "Serbia was the first European country to use Chinese vaccines," visiting Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic said Friday in China, adding that the most vital step in the two countries' anti-COVID cooperation was the production of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine in Serbia. Serbia's faith in Chinese vaccines is undergirded by scientific research. According to a study published last week in The Journal of the American Medical Association, two inactivated vaccines developed by China's Sinopharm have shown to be safe and effective against COVID-19 in phase-3 human trials. The China National Biotec Group, a subsidiary of Sinopharm, said in a statement that it is the world's first published phase-3 study of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines. In addition to vaccines, China has also offered Serbia other kinds of help. According to the Serbian government, Serbia received 58 planes that brought equipment donated by China and Chinese companies since the start of the pandemic. Support from China also included advice of the best Chinese experts and doctors who helped Serbia combat COVID-19 and technological equipment for Serbian hospitals, doctors, and nurses. "I would like to express gratitude, not only my personal gratitude, but also the gratitude of the Republic of Serbia, our president Aleksandar Vucic, and all the people of Serbia for the firm and consistent support and help from China," Selakovic said. RELIABLE CONTRIBUTOR China has been providing assistance to many countries including Serbia since the begining of the pandemic, all in an effort to build a global community of health. Last year, in a phone conversation with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China and Serbia have once again demonstrated their brotherly bond and sincere friendship with concrete actions to end COVID-19. Echoing Xi's words, Brnabic said China's help illustrates the partnership, strength, seriousness and credibility of the two countries' relations. "Serbia will never forget this." Serbia is not the only country which has received anti-COVID support from China. Official data shows that notwithstanding limited production capacity and enormous demand at home, China has honored its commitment by providing free vaccines to more than 80 developing countries in urgent need and exporting vaccines to 43 countries. "China has offered vaccines to different countries," Selakovic said. "The countries who accepted the offer have shown all the others that it is not an issue of geopolitics but humanity." Enditem Cole Zielinskis death, the man who went missing in the Saginaw Bay and his body was later discovered by a fisherman, has been ruled a drowning following an autopsy, according to Bay County Sheriff Troy Cunningham. Woodward, OK (73801) Today Locally heavy thunderstorms during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 69F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Locally heavy thunderstorms during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 69F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. The region known as the Maghreb is an area in northwest Africa. The word Maghreb literally means west in the Arabic language. This name makes sense since it lies to the west of the Arabian Peninsula, which is the original homeland of the Arabs. Today, the Maghreb encompasses the countries of Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and the disputed region of Western Sahara. Some also add Mauritania to the region. Interestingly, the name for Morocco in Arabic is also Maghreb, thus, it should not be confused with the Maghreb region. Geography Map of the Maghreb and Sahel regions. The Maghreb consists of two defining regions, the Sahara Desert in the south and the Atlas Mountains in the north. The Sahara Desert covers the overwhelming majority of territory belonging to Mauritania, Western Sahara, Algeria, and Libya. It also covers the southern half of Tunisia. The dunes that the Sahara is famous for are mostly found in Algeria and Libya. The Atlas Mountain Range, which stretches from Morocco all the way to Tunisia, has a number of plateaus that receive steady rainfall of more than 100 mm per year, in a region where steady rainfall is very difficult to come by. The mountains are very difficult to traverse because of the extremely high peaks that they feature. The tallest peak in the Atlas Mountains is called Jbel Toubkal and is located in southwestern Morocco. It measures 4,167 meters in height. In ancient times, the Atlas Mountains served as a kind of border between the coastal Maghreb and the Saharan Maghreb. History Ruins of the Volubilis Roman basilica in Morocco. The earliest recorded history of the Maghreb goes back to when it was the domain of the Phoenicians, who migrated from their homeland in modern-day Lebanon to establish ports on the Maghreb coast. One of those ports was Carthage, which later emerged as a powerful empire that controlled the northern part of modern-day Tunisia, most of the Maghreb coast, the Canary Islands, a southern portion of modern-day Spain, the Mediterranean islands of Corsica and Sardinia, and part of the Mediterranean island of Sicily. This empire, however, was only informal, as there was no central government for the entire expanse of Carthaginian territory. The Carthaginian Empire lasted from 575 to 146 BCE. For many years, it was in a struggle for supremacy against another emerging superpower of the time, the Roman Republic, the precursor to the Roman Empire. The so-called Punic Wars, of which there were three, were the wars fought between the Romans and the Carthaginians. The long struggle between the two empires ended in the Third Punic War when the Romans occupied and destroyed Carthage itself. The Roman conquest of Carthage was a turning point in history. For starters, it shifted the path of civilizational development from Africa to Europe. In addition, it turned Rome from a regional power into a global power. This forced the Romans to develop a complex system of administration because of the vast new territory that they had to control. The methods of administration that the Romans developed to govern its enlarged imperial realm came to shape the administrations of modern nation-states, including the United States. Arab And Turkish Rule The Arabs introduced camels to the Maghreb region. The Roman Empire would rule the Maghreb for many centuries. But in the 7th century CE, another empire emerged that would go on to conquer the entire region and change it forever. This new empire was the Islamic Caliphate. In the mid-7th century CE, Arab invaders entered North Africa. By the end of the century, they had brought almost all of the coastal Maghreb under their control. During this time, traditional Indigenous leaders were replaced by Arab leaders. The Arabs carried the new religion of Islam with them, which would eventually become the dominant religion in the Maghreb. Arab rule in the Maghreb would continue into the 16th century, when the Turks began conquering parts of the region. They eventually took over nearly the entire Maghreb, except for Morocco. The Arab and Turkish invasions of the Maghreb introduced new wildlife to the region. One particular animal, the camel, would change the way trade was conducted in the region forever. Due to the camels ability to withstand the harsh conditions of the Sahara Desert, a trans-Saharan trade route was established, which increased intercontinental communication between Africa and Western Asia. It was the prosperous trading in the Maghreb that ultimately attracted European powers to the region. At first, the Europeans simply tried to establish trade relations using the coastal territories of the Maghreb as their entry points into the larger regional trade market. Later, however, the Europeans switched their intentions from trade to conquest. European Colonization And Decolonization French colonial architecture in Algiers, Algeria. Image credit: Oguz Dikbakan/Shutterstock In the first quarter of the 19th century, European powers began taking over parts of the Maghreb. France eventually became the dominant colonial power in the region. The French began their conquests in the region by seizing control of what is now the coastal area of Algeria. By the early 20th century, they controlled most of the Maghreb and West Africa. Spain had seized territory in present-day Western Sahara and the northern coast of Morocco, while Italy conquered what is now Libya. After World War II, a wave of nationalism swept Europes overseas colonies, including those within the Maghreb. Libya was the first country in the region to gain independence, followed by Tunisia and Morocco. Algeria gained independence in 1962, following an often bloody revolt against French rule. Spain withdrew from what is now Western Sahara in 1976, after which Morocco immediately claimed sovereignty over it, a claim that was rejected by people in the enclave leading to armed resistance. The conflict in Western Sahara remains unresolved to this day. In 2011, a popular uprising took place in Tunisia, leading to the overthrow of the countrys long-time dictator and the establishment of a democratic government. That same year, in neighboring Libya, an armed rebellion took place, in which Western powers under the leadership of NATO intervened militarily to help bring an end to the rule of Muammar Gaddafi, who had led Libya since 1969. Fighting in Libya continues, however, between militias vying for control of the country. Demographics People walking in Algiers, Algeria. Image credit: Oguz Dikbakan/Shutterstock The population of the Maghreb is about 100 million. An additional 4.5 million people can be added if Mauritania is included as part of the region. Algeria is the most populous country in the Maghreb, with about 43.8 million people living within its borders. Not too far behind is Morocco, with an estimated 36.9 million people. Tunisia has approximately 11.8 million inhabitants, while Libya has around 6.8 million. The disputed enclave of Western Sahara is the least populous of the Maghreb region, with less than 600,000 people living in it. Most of the people living in the Maghreb are of Arab, Berber, or mixed Arab and Berber heritage. The Berbers, more properly called the Imazighen (Amazigh in singular form), are the original inhabitants of the Maghreb, having been in the region before the Arab invasions began in the 7th century CE. There are several subgroups of Berber peoples, who speak different Berber languages. Although stereotyped as nomads, most Berbers are actually farmers. For a long time, Europeans referred to northwest Africa as the Barbary Coast, denoting the presence of the Berbers in the region. A Berber farmer in Morocco. Both Arabic and Berber languages are spoken in the Maghreb, though it is the former that dominates. It should be noted, however, that the Arabic language is not uniform throughout the Maghreb region, nor is it uniform in other parts of the Arab world. The two most common varieties of Arabic spoken in the Maghreb are Hassaniya Arabic and Maghrebi Arabic, the latter of which has more than 70 million speakers, making it the most prevalent type of Arabic in the region. But Maghrebi Arabic can be further divided into national dialects spoken by Moroccans, Algerians, Tunisians, and Libyans. As a legacy of colonialism, French is still used, spoken, and understood in countries of the Maghreb that were once under French rule. SMYRNA, TN (WSMV) - Dive teams from several agencies have recovered several components of an airplane that crashed into Percy Priest Lake as well as human remains, Rutherford County EMA officials said on Sunday afternoon. Dive teams from Rutherford County Fire Rescue, Metro Nashville Office of Emergency Management, Metro Nashville Police Department and Wilson County Emergency Management have been searching a debris field in Percy Priest Lake between the Weakley Lane bridge and Lamar Hill boat ramp since the crash occurred just after 11 a.m. Saturday. MIDDAY UPDATE: Percy Priest Lake Small Jet Crashhttps://t.co/G12NI69TrkNTSB on scene as lead investigating agency, partnering with the Federal Aviation Administration and local officials. pic.twitter.com/96ywsCe2q4 Rutherford County Fire Rescue (@RCFireRescue) May 30, 2021 The debris field is approximately a half of a mile wide, said Rutherford County Fire Rescue Captain and Incident Commander John Ingle in a news release. Multiple agencies remain on the scene of the crash. Drone operations continue over the debris field and airspace traffic has been restricted at the crash site and within a radius of one nautical mile, 500 feet altitude. Plane with 7 passengers crashes into Percy Priest Lake; all presumed dead A Cessna C501 private plane crashed near the Fate Sanders Marina on Weakley Lane Saturday morning, according to the FAA. The National Transportation Safety Board has their lead investigator on the scene now. The NTSB is the lead investigating agency with assistance from the FAA and local officials. NTSB has enlisted the help of other agencies including Cessna aircraft to assist with the investigation. According to NTSB officials, the entire investigation can take up to one to two years to complete. On scene operations will remain active until dark on Sunday night. Search and recovery operations will begin again on Monday morning. Officials urge civilian boaters to stay away from the areas marked by public safety boats. Recovery efforts are ongoing on the lake from the Weakley Lane bridge to the Lamar Hill Boat Ramp, said Ingle. We are asking all civilian boaters to stay clear of those areas. Lamar Hill boat ramp and Fate Sanders Recreation area are closed until further notice. The Cessna C501 plane crashed shortly after takeoff from the Smyrna Airport just after 11 a.m. Saturday. Officials said seven people were on board the plane when it crashed. One person has been confirmed dead and the others are presumed dead. The plane, registered to JL & GL Productions LP in Brentwood, was headed to Palm Beach, FL, when the crash occurred. Late Saturday night, Rutherford County EMA released the name of the passengers William J. Lara, Gwen Shamblin Lara, Jennifer J. Martin, David L. Martin, Jessica Walters, Jonathan Walters and Brandon Hannah, all of Brentwood, TN. All of the victims were part of the leadership team of Remnant Fellowship Church in Brentwood. Gwen Lara was the founder of Remnant Fellowship Church and Weigh Down Ministries. Remnant Fellowship Church released a statement late Sunday evening, confirming the deaths of the Church leaders. A teen, who has been missing from Chattanooga since October 2019, was located earlier this week in Alabama. Daphne Westbrook, who is 18, was found safe in Samson, Alabama, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said. Westbrook, the subject of an Endangered Child Alert issued under the Holly Bobo Act earlier this week, has been missing since Oct. 7, 2019, TBI said. +2 Endangered Child Alert issued for missing Chattanooga teen An endangered child alert has been issued for a teen missing from Chattanooga since 2019. Daphne Westbrook was pulled over for expired tag and a bad taillight Thursday night. She told the officer she was headed to the beach. TBI previously said Daphne Westbrook might have been with John Westbrook, 42. The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office wants him for aggravated kidnapping and custodial interference. TBI did not comment on John Westbrook's whereabouts. The death of a young student in Argentina last week laid bare a health care system that is totally devastated by the coronavirus pandemic now sweeping that nation. Lara Arreguiz, a 22-year-old veterinary student from the northeastern city of Santa Fe on the Parana River, died of COVID-19 on May 21 following a tragic chain of events that lasted eight days and left her lying for many hours on a hospital floor, while waiting for a bed to become available. She died two days later, drowning with fluid-filled lungs. A photograph of her lying on the floor before being admitted to the hospitaltaken by Claudia Sanchez, her motherwent viral on social media. Lara Arreguiz, 22, lying on hospital floor before her death from COVID (Credit Claudia Sanchez, Lara's mother) Laras death adds to the list of young adult victims of the Manaus and South African variants of the COVID-19 virus, which are more virulent, more transmissible and more likely to severely affect the lungs. Among the latest young victims are not just those with underlying risk factors, such as Lara, but otherwise healthy and young individuals. On April 26, 35-year-old Joel Rutigliano, a rugby player, died in the city of La Plata, after a 19-day battle with the disease. In early May two sisters, Aldana, 21, and Marina, 29, both biology students died within days of each other in Entre Rios, across the Uruguay River. Sol Casella, 23, a journalism student at Lomas de Zamora University near Buenos Aires, died on May 1. Lara began showing symptoms of the disease on May 13. Yet she was not diagnosed with a COVID-19 infection until May 17; given antibiotics and sent home. The antibiotics were ineffective, and two days later, her parents took her to Iturraspe Hospital in Santa Fe. Attempting to explain this chain of events, the head of Iturraspe Hospital, Francisco Villano, said that the Laras photo revealed only an aspect of what was going on. Villano insisted that Lara had been under constant medical supervision. Exhaustion of hospital personnel Villano was quoted by Santa Fes Diario Uno: She entered the hospital last Monday, was admitted and was seen by doctors 30 minutes later. She spent almost six hours in an isolation room and underwent tomography. An ambulance arrived and was sent to Iturraspe. At the time there were no beds available, even in private clinics. I am not suggesting that we are perfect, but let us keep in mind that the degree of saturation, the amount of work and the exhaustion of hospital personnel are important. We also need to take care of them; that is what is most essential. He pointed out that hospital employees have been working with not enough rest for a year and a half. He stated that we are seeing very young people, this young woman suffered from Type 1 diabetes, which put her at the highest risk level. These are young patients. In fact, we have two pregnant patients, 27 and 30, both on respirators. The hospital has only 40 beds equipped with respirators, which are constantly in use. Most of our beds only become vacant when a patient dies. At this point in the pandemic we face conditions of 60 percent mortality, compared with 40 percent in the previous wave. Patients require mechanical respirators 48 to 72 hours after symptoms begin. The May 6 Spanish language BBC News-Mundo published statements from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) that confirm Villanos age observations. In Argentina and across Latin America, Adults of all agesincluding the youthare becoming gravely ill; and many are dying, declared Carissa F. Etienne, head of the PAHO. According to that organization, death rates doubled in Brazil for people between 40 and 50 years of age and tripled for those between 50 and 60. In Chile, the rate of hospitalization of people under 39 years of age has shot up by 70 percent in recent months. The same goes for Argentina, in which the average age for those being admitted to intensive care is now 52, compared to averages of 70 and 75 in 2020. Some [like Lara Arreguiz] suffer from high-risk conditions, others dont, declared Rosa Reina, head of the Argentine Intensive Therapy Society. They remain in intensive care for an average of 15 to 20 days; 70 percent require respirators. When they gain admission to the hospital, they already are in a very serious condition. Even though Argentina managed its first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with a near total lockdown, which lasted 234 days, the reopening of the economy this year rapidly resulted in a second and deadlier wave with a daily average that exceeds 30,000 new cases, a number four times higher than at the beginning of the year. According to statistics from the Health Ministry, a total of 3.7 million infections have been recorded and 77,108 deaths as of May 30, undoubtedly a major undercount, according to PAHO and the World Health Organization. By total cases, Argentina is ninth in the world, behind countries with much higher populations, such as Italy and the United Kingdom. Currently its two-week average of daily cases per 10,000 inhabitants is over 49, placing it ahead of most other South American nations, including Brazil. On the day before Lara Arreguizs death, the administration of Argentine President Alberto Fernandez imposed a nine-day partial lockdown in most regions of the country in response to the new flare-up of COVID-19 cases, pending a decision on what further measures to take across this nation of 40 million inhabitants. Argentinas Health Care Crisis Even before the pandemic, Argentinas health care system was already reeling from three decades of attacks, beginning with the imposition of privatization and austerity measures dictated by Wall Street and approved by the International Monetary Fund in 1991. By almost any measurevaccinations, tuberculosis testing, office visits, pregnancy care, etc.the system has become a skeleton of its former self. As Argentine society entered a deep economic recession in 2018, hospitals began confronting diseases most associated with poverty and hunger. When the pandemic hit, this broken health care system was unable to provide the necessary care. In the Buenos Aires metropolitan area, ICU bed occupancy in private clinics is between 95 and 100 percent. In the public hospitals, the occupancy rate is 79.7 percent. Only 91 out of 450 beds are available for critically ill patients. The new wave of COVID-19 infections this year combined with the nature of the new COVID-19 variants, have increased demand for oxygen by more than 300 percent in April, a shortage that is already having deadly effects. In many clinics nurses are being ordered to ration oxygen for their patients. RTHK: Europe demands answers after US-Danish spying claims France, Germany and other European countries demanded answers on Monday following reports the US spied on its allies using Danish underwater cables, as questions mounted over whether Denmark knew about the operation. In an investigative report on Sunday, Danish public broadcaster Danmarks Radio (DR) and other European media outlets said the US National Security Agency (NSA) had eavesdropped on Danish underwater internet cables from 2012 to 2014 to spy on top politicians in France, Germany, Norway and Sweden. The NSA got access to text messages, telephone calls and internet traffic including searches, chats and messaging services - including those of Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, then-foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and then-opposition leader Peer Steinbruck, DR said. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday they expected explanations from both Washington and Copenhagen. "This is not acceptable between allies, and even less between allies and European partners," said Macron after the two leaders talked via video conference. "There is no room for suspicion," said Macron, as he stressed the value of the ties between Europeans and Americans. "That is why what we are waiting for complete clarity," from both Denmark and the US, he added. "We are awaiting these answers." Merkel said she "could only agree" with Macron's comments, adding she was "reassured" by Danish Defence Minister Trine Bramsen's condemnation of any such spying. Bramsen, who took over the defence portfolio in June 2019, has neither confirmed nor denied DR's report, but said that "systematic eavesdropping of close allies is unacceptable". Denmark's neighbours also demanded explanations. "It's unacceptable if countries which have close allied cooperation feel the need to spy on one another," Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg told public broadcaster NRK. She said Norway had asked Denmark "for all the information they have". Swedish Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist said he had been "in contact with Denmark's defence minister to ask if Danish platforms have been used to spy on Swedish politicians". DR said the NSA had taken advantage of a surveillance collaboration with Denmark's military intelligence unit FE to eavesdrop. But it was unclear whether Denmark knew at the time that the US was using the cables to spy on Denmark's neighbours. Denmark's military intelligence unit has refused to comment on the revelations. The US State Department and the NSA also declined requests to comment on the affair. US eavesdropping on European leaders is, however, not new. In 2013, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden revealed thousands of classified documents exposing the vast US surveillance put in place after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Among other things, the documents showed the US government was spying on its own citizens and carrying out widespread tapping worldwide, including of Merkel's mobile phone. However, if the Danish-US spying is confirmed, it went on during and after the 2013 Snowden affair. In 2014, following the Snowden scandal, a secret internal working group at FE began looking into whether the NSA had used the Danish-US spying collaboration - called XKeyscore - to spy on Denmark's allies, DR said. The group's report, codenamed Operation Dunhammer, was presented to top FE management in May 2015. What happened after that is not yet known. Bramsen was however informed of the spying in August 2020, according to DR. Shortly after that, FE director Lars Findsen, his predecessor who was in the post until 2015 Thomas Ahrenkiel, and three other FE employees were removed from their positions - no full explanation was made public. At the time, the government said an audit had raised suspicions that FE was conducting illegal surveillance between 2014 and 2020. In November 2020, DR revealed that the US had used the Danish cables to spy on the Danish and European defence industries from 2012 to 2015. A month later, Denmark's justice ministry ordered a commission of inquiry into FE's operations. Its conclusions are due at the end of 2021. Snowden, who now lives in Russia, called on Twitter for "full public disclosure" from Denmark and the US. The latest revelations are "new pieces of the puzzle," said Thomas Wegener Friis, an intelligence expert and professor at the University of Southern Denmark. "It's exactly the same kind of scandal as the one with German services helping the Americans to spy a few years ago." Denmark is one of the United States' closest European allies and sent troops to fight in Iraq. It is the only Nordic country that is both a member of NATO and the EU. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2021-05-31. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. By Su Xiaohui Illustration: Liu Rui/GT One notable feature of the US' China policy since Biden took office is its wooing of allies and partners. As a recent National Interest article argued, "The global influence of the United States rests on the confidence of its allies and partners." Kurt Campbell, the US coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs on the National Security Council, said on Wednesday at an event hosted by Stanford University that the era of US engagement with China, "has come to an end." He acknowledged that the US will need to dispel fears of American decline in Asia, and offer a "positive economic vision" for the Indo-Pacific region. The underlying message is that Washington is well aware of its allies' fears of American decline in Asia. In the Indo-Pacific region, Washington cannot out-compete and confront China by itself. This propels Washington to bring its allies into its orbit to serve for US strategic interests. That said, Washington pays importance to the weight of its allies simply because of the decline of American prestige and credibility. The functioning of the US alliance system in the past attributed to the absolute superiority of the US. But as the US strength encounters relative decline, especially when it views China as an imaginary enemy that could challenge its hegemony, Washington is becoming anxious. What is worse for the US is that the world has become multipolar, and the interests of many countries are connected. The US is not capable of reversing the multipolarization trend and cutting off the connection of interests between China and other countries - that's to say, the cost of the US to contain China is rising. It was so with the Trump era, and it is the same under the current Biden era. In terms of foreign policy, the Biden administration is not much different from the previous Trump one - all aim to serve US national interests. It means the US demands more from its allies than it needs to give. The US' selfishness has been fully exposed during the pandemic - particularly when it hoarded vaccines and was reluctant to share with its allies and neighbors. When India suffered from the latest wave of surges, the US only showed indifference and was propelled to make some gestures under international pressure. Brent Christensen, director of the American Institute in Taiwan, skipped the question of whether the US would send vaccines to Taiwan, but only noted that the infection numbers in the island remained quite low. The indication was clear. Washington only needs allies and partners to help achieve its goal of sustaining its hegemony and suppressing China. Washington will find that consolidating its leadership via its alliance system is a short-sighted approach. The clique will become more and more exclusive, and its allies will find that Washington cannot provide what they really need. They need not only security, but also development opportunities and prosperity from regional integration. But these are contrary to the US' clique tactics. That's why regional countries, including Australia and Japan whose relations with China are worsening, actively pushed forward and signed up to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. These countries want to reduce the risks of solely relying on the US for security via multilateralism. The "positive economic vision" for the Indo-Pacific region crafted by Campbell will hardly become true. For US allies and partners, it is difficult to take a side between China and the US. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has stressed on several occasions that Singapore will not take a side. Even when Australia attaches itself tightly on the US anti-China crusade, it has to take into consideration the economic interests with China. Two weeks ago, Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said that he's still waiting to hear from his Chinese counterpart as he seeks to resume trade. That said, the US does not really care about its allies' comprehensive interests - it simply traps them into a predicament. The US cannot achieve its goal of maintaining its hegemony, while it is its allies that foot the bill. Washington keeps hyping up the "China threat" to seek its absolute security. This affects the security of others, bringing about greater senses of insecurity for itself. This vicious circle is hardly sustainable. The author is deputy director of the Department for International and Strategic Studies, China Institute of International Studies. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 19:54:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Health workers conduct investigation to trace chains of infection to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Suva, Fiji, May 26, 2021. (FIJI SUN/Handout via Xinhua) -- Cambodia's case tally crosses 30,000-mark with 690 new cases; -- India's tally crosses 28 mln as daily cases fall; -- Pakistan reports 2,117 new cases, 921,053 in total. HONG KONG, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia-Pacific countries on Monday: SUVA -- Fiji on Monday reported 38 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total tally to 438 in the Pacific island country. A COVID-19 patient receives medical treatment at a hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on May 24, 2021. (Photo by Sanaullah Seiam/Xinhua) KABUL -- Afghanistan recorded 30 new deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, taking the coronavirus death toll to 2,974 in the Asian country, the Ministry of Public Health reported. The ministry also reported 1,566 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 during the cited period, bringing the total tally to 73,256, including 12,652 active cases, the ministry said in a statement. A man receives his second dose of Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination site in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on May 26, 2021. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua) PHNOM PENH -- Cambodia's COVID-19 case tally has surged to 30,094 on Monday after 690 new cases were reported nationwide in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said in a statement. The new cases included 635 locally transmitted and 55 imported, the statement said. A man receives a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in Rawalpindi, Punjab Province, Pakistan, on May 19, 2021. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal) ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan recorded 2,117 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 43 new deaths in the last 24 hours, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) said. The new infections raised the total tally to 921,053, including 841,241 recoveries and 59,033 active cases across the country, the NCOC said in a statement, adding that 3,947 patients are in critical condition. A resident is inoculated with a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine inside a hospital in Manila, the Philippines, on May 12, 2021. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) MANILA -- The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported 6,684 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 1,230,301. The death toll rose to 20,966 after 107 more patients died from the viral disease, the DOH said. A municipal worker sprays disinfectant in Hyderabad, India, on May 29, 2021. (Str/Xinhua) NEW DELHI -- India's COVID-19 tally surpassed the 28-million mark, reaching 28,047,534 with 152,734 new cases reported in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said. The daily spike of new cases has been falling over the past couple of weeks. The cases registered in a day have fallen to the lowest level in the past 50 days. The daily cases breached the 150,000-mark on April 11. Aerial photo taken on April 19, 2021 shows a flight carrying the first batch of passengers from Australia after the opening of quarantine-free travel arriving in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Mark Tantrum/Xinhua) WELLINGTON -- New Zealand reported one new case of COVID-19 in managed isolation and no new cases in the community. Students take body temperature checks before the school opening ceremony in a high school in the Vietnamese capital city of Hanoi on Sept. 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Tao Jun) HANOI -- Vietnam reported 61 new COVID-19 cases from 6 p.m. local time Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday, raising the total confirmed cases in the country to 7,168, according to the Ministry of Health. The new cases, which are all community transmissions, include 43 in the northern epidemic hotspot Bac Giang province, 15 in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi and three in the northern Lang Son province. Girls wearing face masks play on swings in a park in Seoul, South Korea, May 21, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang) SEOUL -- South Korea reported 430 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Sunday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 140,340. The daily caseload was down from 480 in the previous day, marking the lowest in 63 days since March 29. The daily average caseload for the past week was 554. On Saturday, massive demonstrations took place in all 28 Brazilian states against the government of fascistic President Jair Bolsonaro and its criminal response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The total number of protesters nationwide may have exceeded 100,000, according to organizers estimates. In Sao Paulo, the countrys largest metropolis, the estimated number in the streets was over 80,000 people. In Porto Alegre, capital of Rio Grande do Sul, there were around 30,000. Thousands more also protested in Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Brasilia and in smaller numbers in more than 100 other cities. In Recife, the demonstration was violently repressed by the Military Police under the command of Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) Governor Paulo Camara in the state of Pernambuco. The police fired tear gas canisters and rubber bullets at the demonstration. Three people were wounded by the shots, and two of them, hit in the eye, were partially blinded. People march in a protest against the government's response in combating COVID-19, demanding the impeachment of President Jair Bolsonaro, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, May 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) These were the largest demonstrations in Brazil since 2019, when students and teachers marched nationally against the cuts in the education budget implemented by Bolsonaro in his first year in office. They coincide with the mass uprising in the neighboring country Colombia, where there have been uninterrupted and radicalized protests, also opposing a right-wing governments handling of the pandemic and the social crisis. While these are the first mass demonstrations against the response of capitalist governments to the global pandemic, they express the growing social anger within the working class all over the world over similar conditions. In Brazil, the protests were called by social movements linked to the Workers Party (PT) and its pseudo-left satellite Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL). Among these movements is the Frente Povo sem Medo (People without Fear Front), led by PSOL leader Guilherme Boulos. The dimension of the protests, however, expresses the growth of social opposition beyond the narrow political limits imposed by these organizations. After an official COVID-19 death toll of more than 460,000 Brazilians and with nearly 2,000 people continuing to die daily from the disease, there is immense accumulated anger in broad sections of the population. The horror caused by the pandemic is added to the explosive growth of the social crisis over the last year. Tens of millions of workers have been thrown into unemployment or have lost their sources of income, expanding the ranks of Brazilians in misery and hunger. Many of the demonstrators in different Brazilian cities marched with handmade banners and placards, some of which bore names and photographs of parents, grandparents and siblings lost to COVID-19, charging the government with murder. Others demanded vaccines and government aid against hunger, denounced police violence and demanded the ouster of Bolsonaro, accusing him of being genocidal. The protests were also fueled, more immediately, by the investigation of the governments handling of the pandemic by a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI). The COVID-19 CPI installed in the Senate in early May has exposed the Bolsonaro governments sabotage of the vaccination campaign, having turned down offers from Pfizer and the Butantan Institute. Last week, the director of the Butantan Institute, Dimas Covas, said in testimony to the CPI that the Bolsonaro government refused in October 2020 an offer of 100 million doses of the Coronavac vaccine that were to be delivered by May of this year. A study by epidemiologist Pedro Hallal, professor at UFPel (Federal University of Pelotas) and coordinator of the largest epidemiological study on the coronavirus in Brazil, calculated that with these vaccines, the country could have prevented at least 80,300 deaths. These revelations reinforce the widespread perception within the population that the COVID-19 catastrophe in Brazil is the result of a deliberate policy of social murder that continues to be pursued by the countrys fascistic president, increasingly through dictatorial methods. The PT and PSOL leaderships which called Saturdays demonstrations are seeking to channel this growing discontent behind a corrupt policy tied to the bourgeois state. In an interview with El Pais published on Saturday, the PSOLs Guilherme Boulos clarified how he is seeking to steer the demonstrations behind the political trajectory of the CPI. The CPI creates a political environment that can lead to the corrosion of [Bolsonaros] social and parliamentary base. So the demonstrations can play a key role of opening the way for an impeachment, he said. This statement should be seen in the context of Boulos efforts to align his politics with those of the most reactionary sections of the political establishment in an unprincipled opposition to Bolsonaro. In late 2020, Boulos told Jacobin that it should be seen favorably that sectors of the old Brazilian right wing are distancing and disassociating themselves from Bolsonarism. He advocated an anti-Bolsonaro alliance ... in which all those who share this flag should participate. Following this line, Boulos met in April with the leader of the fascistic Republicanos (to which Bolsonaros sons are affiliated) asking help to sell his image as a moderate politician to the more right-wing sectors of the bourgeoisie. Regardless of whether they propose impeachment or waiting for the 2022 elections, in which they are pushing for a return to power of former PT President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the political way out presented by the PSOL and PT involves a dirty deal within the framework of the capitalist state. Their opposition to Bolsonaro poses no alternative to the catastrophic situation of the pandemic in Brazil. A serious investigation of the Bolsonaro administrations implementation of the murderous herd immunity policyunlike that being carried out by the political forces leading the CPIwould reveal that the local governments of the PT, the Maoist Communist Party of Brazil (PcdoB), and PSB, as well as of traditional right-wing parties like the PSDB were direct accomplices. The public health institution Fiocruz warned in a bulletin last week that a third wave of the pandemic is rising as a result of the adoption of return to normalcy measures across the country. This exposes the fact that the PT and its allies are unable to promote a scientific response to the pandemic, which involves confronting capitalist interests with a broad-based lockdown and economic compensation for all working families. These same political forces, through the unions they control, are systematically sabotaging the struggles of the working class against the pandemic and the decline in living conditions. The CUT, led by the PT, and the other union federations collaborated with the reopening of workplaces and isolated the strikes that broke out in opposition to their leadership. This happened in the strikes at the Petrobras refineries against privatization and the outbreaks of contamination among the oil workers; in the school systems of Sao Paulo and other states, where teachers went on strike for months against the deadly reopening of the schools; in the strikes of bus drivers and other transportation workers all over the country, which have intensified since the beginning of the year; in the Ford and LG factories, where thousands of workers were ordered to sign sell-out agreements accepting the closure of their plants; and in the many hospitals where, without the support of the unions, health professionals stopped their essential work in the face of deadly conditions. Despite the individual participation of workers in different cities, the working class as a social force was not mobilized in Saturdays protests against Bolsonaro. There is an immense contradiction between the interests of the tens of thousands who have taken to the streets in Brazil, as well as the workers who are fighting in their workplaces, and the corrupt leaderships that claim to represent them. A true response to the pandemic, to the social crisis and the attacks against democracywhich are being promoted by Bolsonaro and the Brazilian ruling classrequires the mobilization of the working class as an independent social force united across national boundaries. To carry this struggle forward, the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) is calling for the formation of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC). Most importantly, it calls upon every worker, youth and intellectual reaching revolutionary conclusions from the present catastrophic conditions to contact us and join the struggle to build a socialist and internationalist party in Brazil. A May 23 report prepared by the human rights organization Justicia y Paz stated that fascistic paramilitary groups, which operate in concert with the far-right and US-backed regime of Colombian President Ivan Duque, have created torture sites and mass graves in an attempt to suppress protests in the city of Cali, which has been the epicenter of continuing countrywide demonstrations. The report described chop houses in Ciudad Jardin, a neighborhood of Cali, where protesters kidnapped by fascists were tortured and dismembered. Residents, the document asserts, were generally too frightened to denounce these chilling crimes, for they knew that they had the sanction of the police and the state. The report went on to describe mass graves, where the bodies of many young people were taken, in the cities of Yumbo and Buga. It noted: The people who have shared their testimony indicated that the youths were detained, some of them have been reported missing by their friends or families, and in Guacari, in Buga, 45 minutes from Cali, they were executed. Some of the survivors of the executions were found with gunshot wounds in health centers and today are terrified and in hiding. Protesters clash with police in Madrid, on the outskirts of Bogota, Colombia, Friday, May 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia) Thousands of people involved in protests have been arbitrarily detained and often subjected to brutal treatment, sometimes including torture. Of these, hundreds have been disappeared. The Ombudsmans Office of Colombia had reported 548 missing persons as of May 7. In Cali alone, human rights groups reported 206 missing persons as of May 20. The corpses of murdered protesters have begun to turn up in rivers, some showing signs of torture, others dismembered. In one particularly grisly instance, the severed head of a missing protester was found in a plastic bag. Other bodies have been found alongside abandoned roadways. Among those murdered was Beatriz Moreno Mosquera, a Buenaventura teacher and syndicalist, whose body was found bearing signs of torture. Even as it employs such gruesome and outright fascistic methods against the predominantly peaceful protests, the Duque administration is escalating state repression. Duque announced on May 28, which marks a month since the demonstrations began, a maximum deployment of the military and police in the western province of Valle del Cauca and its capital Cali. Thirteen demonstrators were killed on that day alone in Cali. In employing the military and paramilitary forces, including for kidnappings and murder, the Colombian oligarchy is adopting the tactics of the decades-long US-backed counterinsurgency war during which hundreds of thousands of mostly peasants were killed and disappeared. These methods of brute force and terror mark an escalation in the efforts to suppress protests involving millions of youths and workers against social inequality and the homicidal response of the government to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed over 88,000 lives in the country, according to official figures. Protests began on April 28, triggered by a proposed tax reform which would shift the burden of the pandemic onto poor and working-class Colombians while protecting the wealth of the countrys oligarchy, who form the main constituency of the Duque regime. Although the tax reform was ultimately withdrawn in the face of the growing unrest, the demonstrations quickly escalated into a generalized outpouring of anger against corruption, police brutality and the governments mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, among other longstanding social grievances. The protests grew to massive proportions, with as many as 15 million Colombians out of a population of 50 million taking part in demonstrations in one form or another. According to Human Rights Watch, there have been 63 credible reports of deaths since the start of the protests, which is higher than the 45 deaths reported by the Colombian Ministry of Defense. The majority of the dead have been gunned down with live ammunition by the National Police, the Mobile Anti-Disturbance Squadron (ESMAD) and fascistic paramilitary forces who work in concert with the security forces. Many thousands have been injured. One favored tactic of the security forces has been aiming nonlethal projectiles at the faces of protesters, often causing severe injuries, including blindness. The NGO Temblores reports at least 46 protesters with eye mutilations as of May 20. In addition, at least 22 women have reported being sexually assaulted at the hands of the police. In the city of Popayan, a 17-year-old girl committed suicide after she denounced the ESMAD officials, who had detained her, of sexual assault. This triggered angry protests and the burning down of the local police jail. The bourgeois press in Colombia has imposed an unofficial blackout on the protests to cover up the crimes of the state. The government has also taken to cutting off power and internet access to targeted areas, allowing their forces to move in and commit atrocities under cover of darkness. The bloody details of the repression have nevertheless been captured on hundreds of cellphone videos that have been uploaded to social media. One video uploaded to Twitter shows a block of working-class homes going up in flames, apparently after police fired tear gas canisters into the buildings. In another instance, police fired tear gas into a hospital. The ruling capitalist oligarchy is seeking to defend its wealth and privileges at any cost. The vicious repression meted out by the state, on the one hand, and the desperate anger fueling the protests, on the other, reflect the enormous social tensions that exist within this deeply unequal country, in which 42.5 percent of the population live below the poverty line. VICE interviewed a doctor who runs a makeshift clinic in Cali that provides medical aid to protesters wounded by police. In reference to the Cali youths who have formed defensive groups to confront the police, known as the Front Line, he said, The people putting themselves on the line are the people who have nothing. They feel that since they already have nothing, theres nothing they can take away from them. One of these Front Line youths told VICE, Were young people who removed our blindfolds and can now see the truth. Were sick of the lack of opportunity, of the inequality, of this society of rich people that sees us as delinquents because we rebelled and decided to act against this situation. The heroic determination of the Colombian workers and youth in the face of deadly state repression stands in stark contrast to the duplicity and cowardice of those claiming to represent them. The major trade unions and the pseudo-left organizations, organized in a National Strike Committee, have been involved in talks with the Duque regime in an effort to bring an end to the protests. The Catholic Church and the UN are also involved. The National Strike Committees demands have focused on reformist measures such as the dismantling of the ESMAD, greater opportunities for students and a basic income. This promotion of illusions in half-measures is meant to distract workers from the irreconcilable class conflict that lies at the heart of Colombian capitalism. The Committee has also carefully avoided mobilizing workers in key industries, thereby deliberately isolating the protest movement. By their actions, the trade unions and the pseudo-leftrepresenting sections of the affluent middle classwhatever their rhetoric, demonstrate that they serve as auxiliaries of the Colombian state in protecting the interests of the oligarchy and its US imperialist sponsors. Workers at Ford Chicago Assembly Plant have faced significant hardship during the eight-week shutdown of the factory due to the global shortage of critical computer semiconductor chips. The plants 5,700 hourly workers have been on temporary layoff since April 12. The plant builds the Ford Explorer, the Police Interceptor Utility, and the Lincoln Aviator. Currently, production is set to resume on a reduced schedule starting the week of June 7. During the layoff workers were supposed to have received roughly 75 percent of their regular pay through state unemployment aid and company-administered Supplemental Unemployment Benefits (SUB pay). However, workers complained of delays in receiving these benefits. In addition, temporary workers are not even eligible for SUB under terms of contracts negotiated by the United Auto Workers and must rely on totally inadequate state unemployment benefits. Chicago Assembly Plant workers assembling cars on the production line in 2019 [Credit: Ford media] Operating on the just-in-time supply chain model, Ford and other automakers had no stockpile of chips and thus were not prepared for the disruption caused by the pandemic. As in all aspects of the pandemic, autoworkers have been forced to bear the brunt of the impact of the lack of planning and international cooperation endemic under capitalism. Even as work partially resumes at CAP, Stellantis is moving to cut half of its workforce at its Belvidere Assembly Plant near Rockford, Illinois on June 1. Autoworkers at CAP and other assembly plants contacted by the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter expressed their frustration with loss of income they have faced due to the layoffs A longtime worker at CAP said, We get paid 75 percent of our [regular] pay. I think its hard for every person here. Most people didnt get any pay for five weeks. Money is very much on the short side. But when we do go back to work full time, you better have your running shoes, he added, anticipating efforts to speed up the lines to make up for lost production. A forklift driver at CAP said, I have a dependent and Im getting the max, but its still $400 less than what Im used to making. Im glad to get a break, too, but I hate not being able to save. I was in the process of buying a house, [but I] ended up losing the house because I didnt qualify for financing while on unemployment. A Ford Kansas City worker expressed solidarity with the Chicago Assembly workers. Workers at Fords Kansas City Assembly Plant, who build the Ford F-150 truck, are also temporarily laid off through the weeks of May 31 and June 7 and are expected to resume work on a reduced schedule the week of June 14. Ive talked to workers here who are laid off at my plant and say they arent sure how they are going to survive because their unemployment checks dont cover their bills. I tell them, There needs to be a better way. The union is not going to help us. We have to come together and form a committee because the ruling class is not going to let up. Moves are now afoot in Illinois to eliminate the $300 weekly federal supplement to state unemployment benefits. Earlier this month Illinois Manufacturers Association President and CEO Mark Denzler sent a letter to Democratic Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, imploring him to end the enhanced COVID-19 unemployment benefits, which currently arent set to expire until September 6. Business leaders claim the supplement is serving as a deterrent to workers re-entering the labor market. Denzler also asked the governor to reinstate work search requirements. Ford employee, secures the engine and transmission to the subframe of an all-new 2020 Explorer at Chicago Assembly Plant. [Credit: Ford media] Denzler also complains about what he describes as a perception problem that manufacturing is dirty and dangerous. But manufacturing plants are often dirty and unsafe. At CAP, workers frequently have to deal with the rat infestation that plagues the plant. Giant manufacturing facilities are also vectors for the transmission of COVID-19. It is not known precisely how many workers have been infected with COVID-19 at CAP, or how many deaths can be traced back to in-plant infections as a result of Fords prioritization of profits over workers health and safety during the pandemic. According to the Cook County Medical Examiner, over 5,200 people have died from COVID-19 in the city of Chicago, with hundreds of coronavirus deaths recorded in the neighborhoods adjacent to the far south side Hegewisch neighborhood where the Ford plant is located. Countless workers and their families have been forced to risk their health and lives to keep the revenues of the auto companies afloat during the pandemic while they are asked to tighten their belts during the semiconductor shortage. Meanwhile, UAW executives have seen no reduction to their six-figure salaries despite the layoffs. UAW Local 551, which covers CAP workers, sits on $2.2 million in total assets and collected $4.4 million in dues and agency fees last year. While most autoworkers make poverty wages, the Treasurer of Local 551 Steve Roman took in $114,000 last year. The UAW has indicated that it is considering supporting the abandonment of mask requirements in the plants, saying in a recent statement, We are working to clearly understand these new CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines and coordinating with the companies. Masking and other limited and inadequate safety protocols were only implemented last year after autoworkers at key plants in the US, Canada and Mexico staged wildcat work stoppages over the lack of COVID safety protections. Now the last of these wholly inadequate measures will likely soon be scrapped. The CDCs anti-scientific and politically motivated claim that it is safe to lift mask mandates is contradicted by their own data, which shows that only 40.2 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated. On Saturday, Illinois public health officials reported an additional 802 COVID-19 cases and 37 COVID deaths, bringing the total number of cases to 1,381,063 and the total number of deaths to 22,776 in the state since the start of the pandemic. The new strains of the virus are also more transmissible and pose risks to even those who are vaccinated. In last years founding statement of the Ford Chicago Assembly Rank-and-File Safety Committee, CAP workers demanded the most rigorous protection from the virus, and they insisted that their health and lives are more important than Fords profits. Autoworkers need a coordinated international strategy to fight the multinational auto companies for safety and better wages. Multinational corporations like Ford cannot be fought on a nationalist or local basis. The layoffs over the chip shortage take place amid a rising tide of worker militancy. Volvo Truck workers in Dublin, Virginia are fighting to oppose the UAW-Volvo sellout agreement. Ford workers in Indias southern state of Tamil Nadu staged a sit-in protest on Thursday to shut down production and demand leave and health benefits as the deadly coronavirus surge ravages the country. Hyundai and Nissan autoworkers in India shut down plants in India over safety as well. The demands of not just Ford workers in the US and India, but all autoworkers everywhere, cannot be won as long as workers struggles are isolated by the nationalist and pro-capitalist trade unions. The wealth of society is created by workers and must be put under the control of rank-and-file workers themselves on the basis of production for human need, not private profit. The World Socialist Web Site, the International Committee of the Fourth International, and its affiliated Socialist Equality Parties are committed to fighting for the international unity of the working class in the struggle against the capitalist system, which subordinates every human need to the anarchy of private profit. The formation of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees will facilitate the coordinated political struggle of, by, and for the worlds workers to secure the social rights of all. If you are an autoworker at Chicago Assembly or elsewhere, contact the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter today to join an existing rank-and-file committee at your plant or to build one. The Biden administrations Department of Justice (DoJ) argued in federal court Friday in support of the police-military sweep of Lafayette Park in front of the White House last June 1, carried out on the orders of President Donald Trump. The sweep targeted more than 1,000 peaceful demonstrators against police violence who filled the park one week after the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Police used pepper balls and smoke grenades, as well as clubs and shields, to drive out the demonstrators. After the violent police attack, which included the dispatch of federal paramilitary police into the square, Trump staged his notorious walk across the square from the White House, accompanied by several cabinet members and General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Biden speaks at The Queen Theater, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, in Wilmington, Del. [Credit: AP Photo/Matt Slocum] After crossing the park, Trump stood in front of St. Johns Episcopal Church, brandishing a Bible. He was photographed and filmed in an appearance that became a photo-op used endlessly in the media, particularly Fox News and other pro-Trump outlets, and in campaign commercials. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on behalf of the protesters against the Trump administration, singling out then-Attorney General William Barr, who apparently gave the actual order to clear the park. A hearing on a motion by the government to dismiss the lawsuit was held before Federal Judge Patricia Dabney Friedrich on Friday. The Biden administration argued for dismissal of the protesters lawsuit on two grounds. The first was the claim that the changeover to a new administration made the lawsuit moot, because Biden, unlike Trump, was not hostile to the demonstrations against police violence, and therefore there was no danger of a recurrence of the events of June 1. The second argument was that the clearing of Lafayette Park was justified for reasons of presidential securityexactly the same claim made by Attorney General Barr in ordering the violent police sweep in the first place. Barr and other government officials had immunity from liability, the Biden administration argued, because they were performing necessary functions to secure a space for the president. Arguing that presidential security is paramount, Department of Justice attorney John Martin told the court, No officer has ever been denied immunity for clearing an area before an appearance by the president, adding, Federal officers do not violate First Amendment rights by moving protesters a few blocks, even if the protesters are predominantly peaceful. DoJ attorney David Cutler cited a 2004 Supreme Court ruling that Secret Service agents could not be sued for damages by antiwar protesters, who claimed their free speech rights were violated when they were moved two blocks away from a restaurant where President George W. Bush was having dinner. Cutler argued that, similarly, the plaintiffs in the Lafayette Square case seek to hold the attorney general personally liable for damages for actions taken to ensure a safe perimeter for the president of the United States. This argument seemed to resonate with Judge Friedrich, who remarked, To me, it seems quite obvious that you need to clear the square that he needs to walk through before he reaches the church. Why is that not reasonable for the defendants to do? Lawyers for the ACLU argued that the government defense was so sweeping and absolute that it would authorize brutality with impunity. ACLU-DC Legal Director Scott Michelman declared that the government could have used live ammunition to clear the park, and nobody would have a claim against that as an assault on their constitutional rights. Another attorney appearing in the case, Randy Mastro of the high profile corporate law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, pointed to what he called shifting explanations for the order to clear Lafayette Park. The reasons given at various times included enforcing a curfew (which had not yet taken effect), stopping violence (although no violence had occurred until it was initiated by the police), and self-defense by the police (although there was no evidence of any attacks on them). Now we hear defendants saying, Oh, this was about security for the president, Mastro said, but no defendant suggests the president was at any time in any danger. He pointed to the real motivation demonstrated by Trumps own statements in calling on governors and mayors to dominate your city and your state, and threatening, In Washington, were going to do something people havent seen before. The conduct here was so flagrantly unlawful and so obviously unconstitutional that it requires a remedy, Mastro continued. And we are here today, your honor, to do everything we can to see that nothing like this ever happens again in our country. Given Mastros backgroundhe was legal counsel to Rudy Giuliani during his two terms as mayor of New York, and at one point deputy mayor for operations, the day-to-day administrator of the cityhe is hardly the most likely candidate for the role of outraged defender of democratic rights. But the actions of Trump on June 1 clearly sent a shock wave through the US ruling elite, as the president threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807, declare martial law, and mobilize the military against the demonstrations over police violence. Both General Milley and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper balked at the suggestion that the military should be called out onto the streets, a stance which apparently led to Espers firing after Trump lost the presidential election. It is not a surprise that Judge Friedrich, a longtime Republican, should show great sympathy for claims of executive power. She worked as an associate White House counsel in the Bush administration, where she defended extreme methods of interrogation, including torture. She was appointed to the federal bench by Trump in 2017, and her nomination was ratified 97-3 by the Senate, with most Democrats joining a unanimous Republican vote. Far more significant is the support for Trump and Barr by the Biden Justice Department. During the election campaign, Biden adopted a posture of sympathy towards the protests over the George Floyd murder. But now, in court, Bidens legal representatives take their stance on the side of the would-be military dictator and his legal front man. The previous week, the Justice Department sided with the position previously adopted by the Trump administration in refusing to release a legal memorandum to Barr on how to handle the 2019 release of the Mueller report into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. The Biden DoJ sided with Trump on the grounds of preserving executive branch secrecy. In both cases, the Biden administration has in effect claimed that the president is above the law, entitled to keep documents secret from congressional and public scrutiny, and to order police violence against peaceful protesters. The Network of Action Committees for Safe Education met last week against the backdrop of a nationwide campaign in Germany to reopen the economy, which threatens the lives and health of countless students and their families. With their announcements to return to face-to-face teaching and regular classes at schools as soon as possible, the federal and state education ministers are threatening to sabotage the temporary drop in the number of coronavirus cases in Germany. The infection incidence rate is still at a much higher level than at the peak of the first wave. Educators, teachers, and parents are predominantly unvaccinated, while there is virtually no vaccine available for children and adolescents. David O'Sullivan (credit: WSWS media) Anyone who stands up against this policy of deliberate contagion faces consequences ranging up to dismissal. This is illustrated by the fate of London bus driver David OSullivan, a founder of the London Bus Rank-and-File Committee. He was sacked by his employer Metroline, with the help of the Unite union, after he informed and warned his colleagues about the risk of infection in the Cricklewood depot. In David OSullivans defence, the Network of Action Committees for Safe Education unanimously passed the following resolution, calling for his immediate reinstatement: The Network of Action Committees for Safe Education strongly condemns the sacking of London bus driver David OSullivan by Metroline with the assistance of the Unite union. David OSullivan was sacked for courageously fighting to mobilise his colleagues against the risk of infection on the buses. By the time the London Bus Rank-and-File Committee called a walkout at Cricklewood in January, Londons 26,000 bus drivers had already suffered 45 dead drivers and hundreds of infected TFL workers. The struggle for safe education is inextricably linked to the struggles of bus and train drivers. Like the TUC in Britain, unions like the GEW in Germany have done everything they can to block resistance to the profit-driven herd immunity policy. We, therefore, stand in solidarity with the brave bus drivers in London and demand that David O Sullivan be reinstated immediately and receive full compensation. We will do all we can to support the campaign in his defence and publicise it among teachers, students, and parents. Send us messages of solidarity and join in building the action committees for safe jobs and education. The adoption of the resolution was preceded by a lively discussion centred on the perspective of an independent movement of the international working class against the global pandemic and its profiteers. In her introductory speech, Katja Selin of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) emphasised that the number of new infections had decreased mainly due to closed schools and vaccinations. However, she said, this development was being jeopardised by the reopening orgy being pushed by all the establishment parties. For example, the federal state of Thuringia, which is governed by the Left Party, has presented a draft for an amended pandemic regulation stipulating that restaurants, pubs and bars may also open their indoor rooms if the incidence rate is below 50 per 100,000. In addition, hotels, saunas, gyms, and swimming pools are to be allowed to resume operations. Several states want to fully reopen their schools before the summer holidays. Selin said, As has been the case throughout the pandemic, the current reopening policy of the ruling class aims to increase the profits of big business at the expense of the health and lives of tens of thousands of families. The 15 months of the pandemic so far have proved one thing: What has meant death and misery for workers and their families has provided a bonanza for a small elite at the top of society. The billionaires have increased their fortunes by more than 60 percent worldwide. For them, the pandemic is good business. As the World Socialist Web Site has aptly explained, the DAX and Wall Street are getting fat on death. Next to speak was Thomas Scripps, assistant national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party in Britain and a writer for the World Socialist Web Site. He said that the European working class is at a decisive point in the pandemic. While only 15 percent of Europeans are fully vaccinated, European governments are cancelling the most basic hygiene measures. This is having disastrous consequences. In the UK, the number of cases linked to the so-called Indian variant rose by 160 percent in one week and is now arguably the dominant strain of the virus in this country. He added, The mutation of a virus is indeed a natural, biological process. But it is the political decisions of the British ruling class and other governments around the world that have enabled the virus to evolve; that have allowed it to spread across the planet; and that are now allowing it to spread unhindered within certain social groups at a great rate. The two speakers concluded that only intervention by the international working class based on a socialist programme would be able to put an end to the pandemic. To implement a rational and internationally coordinated health policy, a political struggle against the ruling class and capitalism was necessary in every country. Many other participants spoke about the social devastation of the governments pandemic policy, the importance of the resolution and the need for action united on a class basis. Nadine from Lower Saxony reported on the enormous pressure being put on parents to send students back to schools. Parents who tried to protect their children were prevented from doing so by all possible means. Despite citing numbers, data, studies and legal paragraphs, she said she had only managed to get her vulnerable children out of attending classes in person with the greatest of efforts. Despite this, her son has now received a citation because of absences. Since December, Nadine says, she has had to carry out her childrens lessons herself, as the schools technical equipment was not adequate for online instruction. Beatrix, who also lives in Lower Saxony, shared this experience and assured the previous speaker that she was not alone in her situation. The future of countless children, she noted, was being destroyed by the consequences of the ruling class coronavirus policy. According to a British study, about 7 percent of all underage infected children had developed so-called Long COVID symptoms. In Germany, a total of 1,522 children and young people under the age of 20 had to be hospitalised because of Long COVID by May 16, 2021, and five percent had to receive intensive medical treatment. During the discussion, several young people stressed the importance of action committees at schools. Students, they reported, were being blackmailed into coming to school by maintaining pressure to perform. For example, high school graduates received little support outside of face-to-face classes to prepare for their final exams. Other participants stressed that the crisis was far from over. This was shown by the events in Britain, where the B.1.617 variant is spreading rapidly despite a high vaccination rate. The current elimination of protective measures would also lead to the more infectious virus strains spreading further on a global scale. In his concluding speech, SGP member K. Nesan referred to the resolution again and explained the role of action committees in the international class struggle. It is a strategic issue for the international working class to campaign for the unconditional rehiring of OSullivan. Nesan, who is also a founding member of the Network of Action Committees for Safe Workplaces, noted that the pandemic was a global problem to which there could be no individual response. The importance of the committees is to offer a perspective to all workers who feel isolated. The problems reported by the previous speakers reflect the problems of millions of people worldwide. The majority of workers are against the policies of their governmentsbut the trade unions are the main support of every government. He said it was therefore crucial to expose the reactionary role of the trade unions, which had been shown in Germany, particularly in the struggle of WISAG workers at Frankfurt Airport against dismissals and wage theft. These are developments that are taking place worldwide. In Sri Lanka, plantation workers have formed several action committees and pushed through their demands. In the US, in the last few weeks, rank-and-file committees of Volvo workers have written an open letter to the United Auto Workers union saying they are no longer willing to accept the unions policies. Nesan explained that the trade unions also played a central and despicable role in the threat of war. The strategy of the bourgeoisie is to wage war against its competitors. The USA is preparing a war against China and Russia. In Germany, all the establishment parties are planning how to continue and intensify the war course after the elections. As in past and future class struggles, the trade unions have the task of sabotaging the growing resistance of the working class. The action committees serve to give workers their own voice to defend their interests. Armed with a socialist perspective, workers and youth must begin to take action themselves. Visit here to find out more and join the campaign for David OSullivans reinstatement. You can donate to OSullivans legal defence here. The World Socialist Web Site is publishing statements in support of the Pike River Families Committee, which represents 23 of the 29 families of the men who died in the 2010 Pike River coal mine disaster in New Zealand. The families are fighting to overturn the Labour Party-led governments decision to end an underground forensic investigation of the mine. The government aims to prevent the recovery and examination of evidence that could be used in criminal prosecutions of those responsible for the disaster. More than a decade after the explosions at Pike River, no one has been brought to justice. Successive governments, union bureaucrats and state agencies have protected the companys executives and managers, whose negligence turned the mine into a death trap. The WSWS urges readers around the world to read and share our statement, Justice for the 29 miners killed at New Zealands Pike River!, and send messages of support for this crucial fight. To read previously published statements from readers around the world, click here, here and here. Former miners in the UK have contributed statements here. Rescue workers enter the Pike River mine at Greymouth, New Zealand, Tuesday, June 28, 2011. (AP Photo/The Press via NZPA, Iain McGregor, Pool) Hassan, New Zealand: I am just wondering, if any of the men who died in the mine was the son, father or brother of one of the high-ups, would this case have gotten to where it is today? Is human life so insignificant as long as it is not one of theirs? Also, New Zealanders going silent about this case not being handled properly are a big accomplice to the criminals. Albert Einstein once said, The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. Each New Zealander should put themselves in the shoes of the Pike River Families and feel the pain. Hopefully this will get them to fight with the families for their simple and basic rights. Barry Gardner, Australia: My heart is very saddened that the families and loved ones of those poor souls who lost their lives in the Pike River mining disaster have not been paid their due justice, for it is said that delayed justice is no justice! The families of those lost in this tragedy are owed an explanation, and indeed, those responsible for sending these miners to their graves through negligence and greed for profit should be held accountable! No government, no corporation is free from blame if workers lose their lives on the job through neglect or unsafe work practices. Accountability and justice must be seen to be done. Kill A Worker, Go To Jail! Ivan, New Zealand: The whole thing smacks of political expediencyalways has. It is heartless to not make the breakthrough and try to at least uncover what went wrong (I have my theories). It is also, to my way of thinking, criminal on a number of levels. Don Spicer, New Zealand: Come on Labour, lets get this little bit more over with, and get to the bottom of this disaster. 29 men went to work and never came home. They worked in a dangerous workplace. That was known by those at the top, and they got away with it. We need to find out just what caused this explosion. Ira Williams, New Zealand: I support having a thorough investigation into what happened at Pike River, and finding out what went wrong, so they can be held accountable and to stop this happening again. But most of all, for the grieving family members left behind, I support them being heard and getting answers to their questions. Mark Michael, Australia: Workers lives continue to be lost and then dismissed, because we do not rate when profit is paramount. Justice for the Pike River miners will be a victory for all workers who have given too much, if not their lives, to the profiteers. Yours in Solidarity Kylie Blake, New Zealand: As I see it: they should continue to go in, dig the evidence out, and have the right people charged. I reckon the government is not producing all the evidence they have, like videos. Wheres Andrew Little today? Hes hiding under a rock, because he knows hes in trouble. Personally, Im happy to go down there and move a whole heap of rocks. Theres no coal fire still burning, theres no dangerous gasses down there. Its just the government saying this, that and everything else, to cover it all up. We need to go in there and get our boys back. Theyre still in there, and I reckon that they were still alive after the explosion. If you go back a few years ago, to when they were drilling holes and dropping down cameras, there was a pallet sitting there that wasnt burnt, and a plastic bucket that was sitting there. If this was a coal fire, with hundreds of degrees, then wood would have burnt and plastic would have melted. Eric Roil, New Zealand: I think the government should let Mines Rescue go further into the mine so they can maybe find evidence to help bring those responsible to justice. Eileen Whitehead, Australia: Greedy capitalists have been getting away with murder for far too long. These mining tragedies should not be happening in the twenty-first century. No-one should die at their workplace! I sincerely hope there will be some form of recompense, but it won't remove the pain from your loss. Carole Gibb, New Zealand: Not proud to be a New Zealander at the moment. Labour and all societies in NZ need to do the right thing: get the evidence of a disgraceful, shocking experience for all us New Zealanders. I dont know how this government can live with itselfat least they are living. Do the correct, moral thing, everyone can get behind and get the coverage up and get this story the justice it deserves, so we can be proud to be from New Zealand. Nancy Little, UK: The miners have always been suppressed, whether its coal, copper, tin, lead. Always kicked in the teeth. Stand and fight for your rights. x Pinson, Alabama resident Giovanni Loyola is suing a Jefferson County sheriffs deputy for excessive force and civil rights violations he experienced last year, alleging that handcuffs were secured too tightly resulting in the amputation of his left hand. On February 16, 2020 a then 25-year-old Loyola was at his mothers house in the suburb of Birmingham, when three Jefferson County sheriffs deputies arrived after multiple calls were made of two men arguing and brandishing weapons. The lawsuit alleges Deputy Godber (first name unreleased) grabbed Loyola by the wrist and forcefully removed him from the house. Deputy Godber, without answering and without asking permission to enter the home, reached inside the doorway, grabbed Plaintiff by the wrist and jerked him outside the home and down the steps, the complaint says. Giovanni Loyola (Photo: Jon Goldfarb) After having forced the 55, 132-pound man down the steps and slamming him against a car before throwing him to the ground, Godber punched Loyola in the face. Godber then placed Loyolas hands behind his back, securing them with handcuffs that were unbearably tight. Ten months later Loyola had his left hand amputated. According to the lawsuit, Loyola, at the time of the incident, complained of the tightness of the handcuffs and that he was losing feeling in his left hand. His pleas with the arresting officer to loosen them were ignored. On April 27, a Birmingham law firm representing LoyolaWiggins, Childs, Pantazis, Fisher, and Goldfarbfiled an initial complaint and an amended complaint the following day. According to court documents, Godber was served with the lawsuit May 3 and was given until May 24 to respond. The handcuffs remained tightly on Plaintiffs wrists until they were removed hours later at the jail, the amended complaint read. After Plaintiff got out of jail on February 28, 2020, his left wrist was still in tremendous pain. Upon Loyolas release from jail, he immediately went to Christ Health Center in Pinson to have his left hand examined. A physician noted blood flow severely restricted, furthering stating surgery was required. Loyola was then admitted to Ascension St. Vincents East Hospital in Birmingham. Upon arrival, Loyolas fingertips were grey. According to notes from the emergency department, there was concern for necrosis. Deputy Godber handcuffed Plaintiffs wrists so tightly that Plaintiff immediately lost sensation in one hand, and Deputy Godber refused to loosen the handcuffs even after Plaintiff told him that they were too tight and were causing him pain. These actions and inactions constituted unreasonable and excessive force, Loyolas attorneys argued. Loyola visited the hospital over the next 10 months to address restrictive blood flow and chronic pain. According to the lawsuit, complications in blood circulation ultimately resulted in the amputation of his left hand. Loyolas attorney continued, As a result of Deputy Godbers actions, Plaintiff suffered injuries including deprivation of liberty, physical injuries including the loss of his hand, pain and suffering and emotional distress, and lost future earning potential. Creola, Alabama A former Creola, Alabama officer Gary Davis, a 22-year veteran of the force, has been accused of placing a rope around an inmates neck and choking him, according to court documents. Records showed the inmate was handcuffed and lying on the floor on his stomach. Davis struck the inmate in the head and kicked him in the face. Police Chief Frank Hammond was interviewed by NBC 15s Rachael Wilkerson but refused to go into detail about the incident. However, the indictment revealed the incident happened inside the jail on April 21. Hammond said Davis was a Creola officer for five months and often stepped in as chief when he was not available. In the weeks leading up to the one-year anniversary of the Memorial Day police murder of George Floyd, Republican Mayor Don Nelson in the midst of popular anger over police brutality made the strategic decision to terminate Davis on May 3. Davis has been charged with two counts of assault and was held on $21,000 bond. Montgomery, Alabama Gary Moncrief, a 32-year-old African American man, died on May 18 after being shot by police outside a Microtel Inn & Suites in Montgomery, Alabama. The incident began around 6:30 a.m. when officers were called to the 100 block of Courtland Drive in reference to a domestic violence incident, according to Montgomery Police Captain Saba Coleman. The following day, Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey issued a statement saying he did not expect any officers would face charges, reporting that the womans teenage son reported his mother had been abducted at gunpoint. He saw Moncrief come into the house with a gun, chase his mother into the bathroom, heard a gunshot, then saw him pulling his mother out of the house by her hair, Bailey said. According to court records filed in February, an active order of protection was filed against Moncrief by the woman after an assault was carried out against her and her teenage son. Warrants were issued for Moncriefs arrest on charges of kidnapping and reckless endangerment, according to Bailey. The woman told police that Moncrief demanded she go with him to Georgia but was able to convince him to return to Montgomery. The victim advised that Moncrief consistently would take the gun he had in his possession and put it to his head and ask, Is this what you want me to do?, Bailey continued. She also advised that he repeatedly, on multiple occasions, said, Im not going back to jail. She dropped him off at the Microtel on Chantilly Parkway, Bailey said. She was contacted by the Montgomery Police Department and was able to verify that Mr. Moncrief was located inside the Microtel. Attorney Michael Strickland, representing Moncriefs estate and family, said during a news conference on May 19, that the Montgomery Police Department (MPD) approached Moncriefs mother regarding the kidnapping allegations. When officers asked Janice Moncrief if she would bring her son to police for questioning, according to Strickland, that is precisely what the mother was attempting to do when she witnessed her sons killing. According to Strickland, officers arrived at the hotel in an unmarked SUV around 8:15 p.m. Janice Moncrief, along with her sister and a friend, Denita Moncrief and Tamara Acree, went to the hotel, parking near the entrance. Based on video footage from the hotel, Moncrief left his second-floor room with both hands occupied: a cellphone in one hand and an electronic cigarette in the other. It was clear, according to Strickland, Moncrief did not have a firearm in his hands. Strickland said that Moncriefs mother reached across the backseat to unlock the rear door of the car for him, whereupon he started to get inside. At virtually the same time, an unmarked, black MPD SUV quickly approached the car. Strickland said Moncrief didnt alter his actions and continued to climb into the backseat of the car. Im telling you that this is what the video shows, Strickland said. Its not my interpretation. According to Bailey, however, upon the officers arrival, Moncriefs body was slumped over in the backseat. The video shows an officer get out of the SUV with what looks to be some sort of an assault rifle, and he begins to fire into the car, Strickland said. He gives no commands to Gary. He barely pauses. He just starts to fire into the vehicle. According to Bailey, You also see simultaneous to that glass flying out the back windshield of the car. Bailey continues, Seconds after that, a Montgomery police officer points a rifle at the vehicle ... presumably the officer fires his weapon after hearing the gunshot coming from inside the car. Three rounds, according to Bailey, were fired by the officer. However, four bullet holes were left on Denita Moncriefs car: one in the drivers side rear window where Moncrief entered the vehicle, one on the left side of the back windshield, one in a rear passenger window, and another on the rear fender. Moncriefs fatal gunshot wound, according to a preliminary autopsy report from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, came from the front, Bailey said, alleging the cause of Moncriefs death a suicide. Strickland said he later viewed Moncriefs body, having observed a single bullet wound on the back of his head and an exit wound on his forehead. The Moncrief family and several supporters joined attorneys Strickland and Dwayne Brown on the steps of the Heflin-Torbert Judicial Building. I stand here today not because I want to. I stand here today to speak for my nephew, Denita Moncrief said. He didnt deserve it. The moment we got there to get him to safety so he could tell his story, he was cheated of that time. According to Moncrief, no shots came from the car. Lets be really honest, we wouldnt be here if shots came out of that car. Moncrief continued, Im begging on behalf of my sister. Thats a pain that no one should have to bear. ... Can you imagine being a parent and your child takes their last breath on your shoulder? Why does she deserve that? This unfortunately was a situation in which Mr. Moncrief was murdered, Brown said. There was no reasonable threat that he posed to any law enforcement official or anybody else. ... Why does this continue to happen to African American men? As the World Socialist Web Site noted April 19: Racism is a factor in many police murders and accounts for the fact that blacks and Native Americans are killed at a rate disproportionate to their share of the national population. However, a previous analysis of police violence data by the World Socialist Web Site found that when the economic and social demographics of the cities and counties where people are killed by police are taken into account, the glaring racial disparities that are the focus of the media and the Democrats largely disappear. Overwhelmingly, it is workers and young peopleof every skin color, gender, sexuality and national originwho are the victims of the police. This phenomenon is an outgrowth of the social and economic conditions in the United States. Both Democratic Mayor Steven Reed, who is black, and Bailey said they were compelled to hold a news conference on May 19, addressing the suspicions surrounding the case, to tell the facts. Reed claimed Stricklands and Browns address was a false narrative, accusing the two attorneys of capitalizing on the pain and suffering of the Moncrief family. Theyre pimps and hustlers, Reed said. Theyre the latest charlatans, theyre the latest shysters, theyre the latest hustlers. Strickland and Brown sent a statement to the mayors office denouncing the attacks, calling for an investigation to be conducted by the Department of Justice. Schools throughout Britain are reporting cases of Covid-19. This accelerated from May 17, when Boris Johnsons Conservative government lifted most restrictions as part of stage three of its roadmap to reopen the economy completely next month. The number of outbreaks is increasing daily, despite the rollout of the vaccination programme. Most worrying is the fact that the more transmissible B.1.617.2 variant first identified in India has become the dominant strain. Parents take children to a primary school in Bournemouth, UK following the reopening of schools nationally. March, 2021 (credit: WSWS media) Department of Education figures show school attendance figures in England are falling, associated with the spread of the virus. On May 20, 91 percent of state school pupils were in class compared to 92 percent on May 12. That week, 87 percent of pupils were in secondary schools, a fall from 89 percent the previous week. In primary schools, attendance fell from 95 percent on May 12 to 94 percent. On May 20, 82,000 pupils were sent home after contact with a coronavirus case compared to 65,000 the previous week. Falling attendance in schools follows the governments decision to lift the requirement to wear face coveringsthe main protection afforded to educators and pupils since schools reopened early March. The government took this decision despite prior knowledge that the new variant was spreading in schools. Previously, teachers and pupils in secondary schools were required to wear masks in classrooms. In primary schools, mask wearing was optional but not recommended for pupils. Mask wearing is now limited to communal areas excluding classrooms. Eight hotspots have been identified across the UK: North Tyneside, Bolton in Greater Manchester and Blackburn and Burnley in the north west of England, Kirklees in West Yorkshire, Leicester in the East Midlands, Bedford in south England and Hounslow in London. Outbreaks in schools, however, are not confined to these areas, suggesting that the new variant is endemic across the UK and out of control. According to the parent-led advocacy group SafeEdForAll, between March 8 and May 24, Greater Manchester had 104 outbreaks in primary and secondary schools, the highest in the UK. Hampshire followed with 94. The outbreaks were slightly higher in primary than secondary schools. In Bolton, forced to introduce surge testing and mask wearing, case rates in five to nine and 10 to 14 year-olds made up a third of new infections in the area in the week ending May 14. This is a reversal of the trend as the pandemic began, when most cases were found in the above 80 age group. The B.1.617.2 variant is affecting younger people, underlining the criminal complacency of the government which insisted children were at low risk of catching, spreading and becoming seriously ill with the virus. Bolton school Kings Leadership Academy sent 200 pupils home until after half term June 4 and years 10 and 11 at Little Lever School are remote learning. Smithills School partially closed Year nine and fully closed Year seven. In nearby Whitefield, Bury Phillips High sent 40 Year 11 pupils home. Several schools in Wigan were also affected. Also in the region, Year 9 and Year 10 students from Newman RC College in Oldham are remote learning after a number of positive cases. Another Lancashire school closed its gates until June 7 after pupils tested positive. Cases at Haslingden High School and Sixth Form were identified in all classes, a surge from one the week previous. On the Lancashire coast Lytham St Annes High School moved students in years 7, 8, 9 and 10 to remote learning for the three days before the half term May 28. In Teesside in the northeast, the King's Academy in Coulby Newham shut after identifying several coronavirus cases across different year groups. Teachers and children from years one, two, three, four and six in Whale Hill Primary School were sent home after several teachers tested positive. Schools in Scotland have also had outbreaks. Edinburghs Holyrood RC High School recently reported a positive case. Half the classes at Davidson's Mains Primary School Edinburgh were sent home, and 17 teachers were self-isolating until the end of May. In Rutherglen Lanarkshire, a positive case was identified at Trinity High, though the school remains open. Previously 10 schools across Fife, Scotland reported positive cases, after which several pupils were sent home. Children and staff in two bubbles at St Chads Primary and Highfields Primary in Lichfield, Staffordshire were offered tests after the new variant was found. Outbreaks are not confined to the cities. Nine students at Malvern College, a private boarding school in rural Worcestershire, had to isolate in a spare boarding house following an outbreak. Hampshire County Council reported recent cases in the Costello, Castle Hill and Aldworth schools, forcing bubbles to be sent home. Bedford Academy switched to remote learning on May 24, after a local surge in cases associated with Indian variants. These included seven cases of variant B.1.617.2 discovered in Bedford schools. With the fourth highest rate in England, the borough council introduced surge testing in four areas. In Gloucestershire, southwest England, Pillowell Community Primary School sent a bubble home. Finlay Community School in Gloucester sent its reception class home because of an oubreak. Abbeymead Primary School in Gloucester closed to the end of May. After confirming positive cases in Year 11, Thorpe St Andrew Secondary School in Norwich, southeast England sent pupils home for online learning. Schools in Wales are reporting cases. Millbank Primary in Cardiff closed May 19 until further notice after 23 staff and five pupils tested positive. At West Park Primary School, Porthcawl, 25 pupils tested positive for coronavirus and 219 other pupils and 12 staff members went home to self-isolate. Classes affected were Year 1, nursery, reception, and years 2 and 3. The response of the education unions is limited to demanding the government publish data about the spread of the new variantbolstering the illusion that schools can open safely during the pandemic. The unions have done everything to s tymie opposition by parents and educators demanding school closures until the virus is suppressed. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), said, The government must be proactive to ensure that transmission in schools, particularly in relation to the new variant, is not allowed to proceed unchecked. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders said, It is essential that there is full transparency about the impact of the new variant in schools and colleges so that the level of risk is clear and any necessary protective measures can be taken. Jon Richards, head of education at the largest public sector union Unison said, The Government should release the data and keep schools safe. While there are any concerns about safety, face coverings must return. At the beginning of the year, the National Education Union released its Education Recovery Plan aimed at keeping schools open. From last summer, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer backed the government in insisting that schools reopen, no ifs, no buts, no exceptions. A paper in the Lancet medical journal published May 18 provides further proof that schools are among the main vectors along with workplaces for the spread of the virus. The Lancet concluded, The full reopening of schools in September 2020 was associated with an increase in COVID-19 cases and outbreaks in educational settings across England. The data was compiled from an online questionnaire conducted November 2020 by schools, which reported an outbreak (more than two laboratory-confirmed cases within 14 days) to Public Health England. The school outbreaks in the first half of the autumn term, affecting two percent of primary and 10 percent of secondary schools, represented 32% of all outbreaks reported to PHE across all settings (care homes, hospital, prisons, workplaces, food outlets and other). The Socialist Equality Party calls on educators and parents to join the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee to take forward the fight to ensure safe workplaces, including the closure of education settings and the provision of billions of pounds for the resources required for remote learning. This struggle can only be successful if it is led independently of the trade unions and as part of a united struggle with workers in all sectors for a socialist response to the pandemic against capitalisms subordination of lives to profit. 25 years ago: Czech vote blow to right-wing Vaclav Klaus, photograph from 2006 On June 2, 1996, the ruling right-wing Civic Democrats of Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus lost its majority in parliament in the Czech elections. It was the first balloting since the 1993 split between Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The Civic Democrats barely edged out the opposition Social Democrats, 29.6 percent to 26.4 percent, but Klaus and his two coalition partners, the Christian Democrats and the Civic Democratic Alliance, held only 99 seats out of 200, down from 112 in the previous parliament. The balance of the vote was split between the Communist Party, which took 10.3 percent, and the neofascist Republican Party, which gained 8 percent. The Social Democrats, who campaigned against the disparities of wealth and poverty created by Klauss policies of privatization and unrestrained encouragement of the capitalist market, quadrupled their vote over 1992. But Social Democratic leader Milos Zeman said after the vote that he would not force the ouster of Klaus as prime minister and reaffirmed his support for the Czech Republic joining both NATO and the European Union. This country needs democracy and a market economy, he told reporters. There is no way of going back. By early July, Klaus had submitted a proposal for a new coalition cabinet to President Vaclav Havel. Klaus agreed to negotiate support in Parliament from the opposition Social Democrats. The Social Democrats would fill the chairmanship and other important positions in Parliament. 50 years ago: USSR launches Soyuz 11 mission to Salyut space station Georgi Dobrovolski (left), Vladislav Volkov (center), and Viktor Patsayev (right), on Soviet commemorative stamp On June 6, 1971, the Soviet Union launched the Soyuz 11 mission to board the worlds first space station, Salyut 1. While successfully docking and completing their mission at the station, the three-man crew tragically died while preparing to reenter earths atmosphere. Soyuz 11 was the second attempt at entering the Salyut space station. A Soyuz 10 mission had made an attempt in April but was forced to abort after the crew was unable to properly dock the shuttle onto the space station. After launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome spaceport, the Soyuz 11 crew arrived at the space station and successfully docked on June 7. The three menGeorgy Dobrovolsky, Vladislav Volkov, and Viktor Patsayevthen crossed into station to begin their 22-day stay aboard Salyut 1. At the time this was the longest continuous stay in space. Once on board the space station, the crew began checking Salyut 1s systems and making necessary repairs. During their time on the station, the astronauts conducted many experiments and made significant discoveries related to prolonged time in space. In addition to biological experiments, the Soyuz 11 crew performed studies related to weather and Earth resources. According to Boris N. Petrov, a leading expert in the Soviet Academy of Science, the data returned to earth by Soyuz would be used by students of agriculture, land reclamation, geodesy, and cartography, as well as by meteorologists to improve forecasting. Writing in remembrance of the crew in July for Pravda, Petrov said, The experience of the cosmonauts work has shown that the Salyut manned station is a space laboratory well adapted for experiments in orbital flight conditions. Such stations are opening broad prospects for the continuation and development of the research carried out by the first Salyut crew.. .. Ahead lie new flights into space and the creation of new inhabited orbital stations of the Salyut type. Undoubtedly, even larger and more complex manned multipurpose and specialized space stations will be built. But the significance of the work carried out by the first crew of the first manned orbital station. .. will never fade. On June 29, after their experiments had been concluded, the crew undocked from the space station and began the return trip to earth. Before descending into the atmosphere, a breathing ventilation valve failed as the descent module separated from the service module. As a result, the breathable air was rapidly vacated from the craft and the crew suffocated. The shuttles automated systems successfully piloted the shuttle back to Earth where it was picked up by the Soviet recovery teams who discovered the three astronauts dead inside. Dobrovolsky, Volkov, and Patsayev remain the only people ever to have died in space, rather than during launch or reentry, as in multiple American space disasters. 75 years ago: Italy abolishes monarchy in popular referendum Victor Emmanuel III in 1919 In a national referendum on June 2, 1946, the Italian population voted overwhelmingly in favor of abolishing the monarchy, a bastion of reaction that had been fatally compromised by its close ties to the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini. The House of Savoy, an ancient royal dynasty dating back to the year 1003, had ruled Italy since its unification in 1861. King Victor Emmanuel III had played a crucial role in Mussolinis ascension to fascist ruler, anointing him as prime minister following the fascist march on Rome in 1922. The monarchy was complicit in all of Mussolinis crimes, including the outlawing of socialist and communist opposition, the persecution of Jews and other minorities, brutal massacres in Italys colonies, and participation on the side of the Nazis in World War II. Victor Emmanuel had deposed Mussolini in 1943, as the fascist regime crumbled amid Allied advances and popular opposition. Italy would be divided between a rump fascist republic ruled by Mussolini and supported by German troops, and a legitimist regime tied to the Allies, until liberation from the Nazis in April, 1945. Aware that his tactical falling out with Mussolini had not altered popular hostility to the monarchy and its collaboration with fascism, Victor Emmanuel agreed to a referendum on the future of the institution. On the eve of the poll, in May 1946, he abdicated, handing the throne to Crown Prince Umberto. In a turnout of almost 90 percent of eligible voters, more than 54 percent of the population voted to do away with the monarchy. The yes vote was far higher in centers of the industrial working class, reaching 68 percent in Milan, almost 70 percent in Genoa, and over 80 percent in Bologna. In elections for a Constituent Assembly on the same day, the Christian Democrat party won 207 out of 556 seats. It would form a coalition government with the social democrats, who had secured 115 positions, and the Communist Party, which had 104 parliamentary representatives. The entrance of the Communist Party into the capitalist government was in line with the counter-revolutionary program of the Stalinist bureaucracy in the USSR. In exchange for a sphere of influence in Eastern Europe, it had struck a deal with Britain and the US to suppress revolutionary upheavals in Western Europe, and to ensure the restabilization of capitalist rule. 100 years ago: Coup attempt in Vladivostok Semyonov On June 4, 1921, a cabal of White Guard officers proclaimed the Cossack general Grigory Semyonov to be the supreme ruler in Vladivostok, the Pacific port city of the Russian Far East. Semyonovs officers were quickly overcome by forces loyal to Spiridon Merkulov, who had come to power only a few days earlier in the city and established the so-called Provisional Priamurye Government, which ruled the city until another coup in 1922 replaced it. The government that Merkulov overthrew was known as the Far Eastern Republic, based in Chita, which was led by Mensheviks and Social Revolutionaries. The Bolsheviks had cooperated with this regime out of a reluctance to provoke American and Japanese troops, who then controlled much of Siberia. The Far Eastern Republic served as a buffer state between the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and the Japanese occupiers. Japan recognized the state in 1920. Nevertheless, Japanese troops had disarmed the FER troops in Vladivostok and allowed the White Guard coup to succeed. The Bolsheviks, who had substantial influence in the Vladivostok working class, were driven underground. Both anti-Bolshevik groups vying for power had their origins in the now-defeated White armies that had fought the Bolsheviks from 1918 on. Semyonov was one of the most grotesque figures of the Russian Civil War. An ataman, or Cossack leader, his forces, according to one historian, ruthlessly liquidated all Reds, terrorized the population, prostituted themselves to the Japanese Army, antagonized the American Expeditionary Force. A notorious anti-Semite, Semyonov handed out copies of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a forgery by the Tsarist secret police that purports to be a plan for Jewish world domination. Semyonov went into exile in Japan and the United States after the establishment of Soviet power in Siberia and returned to East Asia during the Second World War. He was captured by Soviet forces in Manchuria in 1945 and executed in 1946. The Texas Senate passed a bill Sunday morning that will further restrict voting rights in the state ranked as the most restrictive in the US in a recent study by Northern Illinois University. As of this writing, the Texas House of Representatives was poised to approve the bill and Republican Governor Greg Abbott was expected to sign it into law before the end of the day. Both houses of the state legislature are controlled by the Republican Party. Senate passage of the bill came after a week of closed-door discussions. It was then rushed to the floor late Saturday evening for overnight debate and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick suspended a Senate rule that requires a bill to be public for at least 24 hours before a final vote is held. The bill passed in the Senate by a vote of 18 to 13. Texas is the latest of several states to pass anti-democratic laws attacking voting rights in the aftermath of the 2020 elections and Trumps attempted coup of January 6, 2021. The fascist mob attack on the US Capitol, incited and supported by Trump and facilitated by the leadership of the Republican Party, was aimed at overturning the election of Joe Biden and maintaining Trump in power. Baseless claims of massive vote fraud and a stolen election provided the rallying cry for the mobilization of far-right militia forces that overran the Capitol in an attempt to block the certification of Bidens winning margin of electoral votes. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, pauses for reporters as senators rush to the chamber for votes ahead of the approaching Memorial Day recess, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, May 26, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) The same pretext is now being used to limit mail balloting, impose or strengthen voter ID requirements, cut back on early voting, enable partisan state legislatures to override vote counts by election authorities, and give a green light to far-right poll watchers to intimidate working class voters and election workers. To date, Iowa, Florida and Georgia are the most notable states to have passed such laws, but a total of 389 bills have thus far been introduced in 48 states, according to the Brennan Center. The Texas bill, known as S.B. 7, bars election officials from mailing absentee ballots to voters unless directly requested, making it a felony to do so. It places restrictions on absentee voters, requiring them to provide a drivers license number or the last four digits of their social security number on the ballot and the envelope. It also makes it more difficult for disabled voters to acquire and submit absentee ballots. The bill curbs early voting on Sundays, an obvious attempt to disrupt community voter drives organized by Black churches, often referred to as Souls to the Polls. S.B. 7 makes it a crime to refuse poll observers access to voting sites or block their ability to fully watch the process, stating that poll watchers must be able to sit or stand near enough to see and hear the election officers. One provision makes it easier for partisan poll watchers to pursue legal action if they claim they were obstructed from fully observing the voting process. In the months leading up to the November 2020 election, the Trump election campaign set up a website at armyfortrump.com. The site appealed to Trump loyalists to enlist in the Army for Trump and receive training to monitor the polls in working class and Democratic districts. Trump tweets the link to his campaign to enlist an army of poll-watchers (@realdonaldtrump) Additionally, the bill includes a provision, added at the last minute, that grants judges the authority to void an election if the number of allegedly fraudulent votes cast could alter the result of an election, regardless of whether it is proven that voter fraud actually influenced the outcome. Nor would it matter for whom the invalid votes were cast. The passage of S.B. 7 has further exposed the feckless nature of the Democratic Partys response to the national assault on voting rights waged by the Republican Party. In Georgia, the Democratic Party and the national media promoted the illusion that corporate intervention against Republican voting laws would halt the Republican attacks on democratic rights. This has been proven false. Despite dozens of corporations issuing statements against the Georgia law, nothing has changed. Now in Texas, where companies like American Airlines, Dell and Microsoft have criticized the bill, corporate pressure campaigns have once again accomplished nothing but channel working class opposition into the dead end of impotent appeals to ruthless corporate exploiters. In addition, the Democratic Party has used the Republican bills to promote its own congressional voting bill, known as the For the People Act, or H.R. 1. President Biden responded to the Texas bill by stating, I call again on Congress to pass the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. H.R.1 is branded as a restoration of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and a solution to the assault on voting rights. In reality, it is nothing of the sort. The main purpose of the For the People Act is to protect the Democratic Partys electoral interests while presenting a false appearance of defending democratic rights. The bill does include some measures to make it easier to vote, including automatic voter registration, expanded early voting, and the overturning of state laws banning felons, including those who have served their sentences, from voting. However, the bill in its present form has virtually no chance of passage in the Senate, where the Democrats need to obtain the votes of at least 10 Republicans to overcome a filibuster. If anything emerged from the Senate, it would be an even more watered-down bill. The rest of the bill has little to offer the working class. Nothing in the bill would stop the Texas law from granting courts the authority to annul election results, nor would it stop partisan poll watchers from carrying out voter intimidation. The bill does not even mention poll watchers or observers, let alone legislate against their weaponization against voters and election workers. Large sections of the bill are devoted to addressing gerrymandering, campaign finance and election security, not with the aim of resolving these issues but of deflecting them. The bills provisions on gerrymandering do nothing to actually prevent political redistricting. Instead, it requires states to form independent redistricting commissions to direct the congressional redistricting process. These supposedly independent commissions are not actually independent, but rather unelected bodies of preselected candidates approved by the two capitalist parties. The bill purports to address many popular complaints about the influence of corporate money in federal elections. This is done through a public campaign financing option for federal elections. Candidates in federal elections would be eligible to receive grants matching small donations up to six times their value. However, the source of funding is a tax on corporate litigation with no established budget, meaning corporate donations will continue to dominate electoral politics. Additionally, participating candidates may still receive donations from political action committees. The bill also advances the Democratic Partys anti-Russia campaign, through which it seeks to place further restrictions on third party and left-wing political organizations. H.R.1 would require online platforms with at least 50 million users to create a database of all requests for political advertisements, including a copy of the ad and the purchaser. The bill would also require political committees to notify the FBI of any connections with foreign political parties and require the FBI to submit an annual report to Congress on the connections between political committees and foreign contacts. This section could be used to justify federal surveillance of any political organization with foreign contacts, including socialist or antiwar groups that coordinate with co-thinkers internationally. Such requirements are justified on the grounds of preventing foreign interference in US elections, but in reality are intended to further suppress any alternative to the two-party capitalist stranglehold on American politics. This is underscored by the mantra of the Biden administration and the Democratic leadership on the paramount need for bipartisan unity with the increasingly fascistic and Trump-controlled Republican Party. The defense of democratic rights, including the critical right to vote, cannot be entrusted to the Democratic Party, which has proven itself neither able nor willing to defend democratic rights, beginning with its acceptance of the theft of the presidential election in 2000 and its support for police state measures in the name of the war on terror. Now it is seeking to cover up the role of the Republican Party and high-level officials in the military, police and intelligence agencies in the plot to overturn the 2020 election and install Trump as a dictator. Its greatest fear by far is that the exposure of this ongoing conspiracy will have massive social and political consequences, breaking the stranglehold of the two-party system over the working class and threatening the entire capitalist system. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 20:06:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KABUL, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock planned to provide 1.1 billion afghani (14 million U.S. dollars) in loan to over 14,000 farmers, the ministry announced on Monday. "Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock is going to lend 1.1 billion afghani to 14,300 farmers via Agricultural Development Fund (ADF), these loans are given for periods of three to five years," the ministry said in a statement posted on its website. On Sunday, the ministry signed agreements with four local finance companies, First Microfinance Bank, OXUS Afghanistan, FINCA-Afghanistan and Tarh-e-Naw Company, under which, the four loan provider agencies will provide loans to farmers and agricultural activities. Emal Arman, technical director for the ministry's Agricultural Development Fund (ADF), was quoted in the statement as saying that "the institution has approved 13.2 billion afghani since its inception. Of that amount, more than 10.4 billion afghani has been lent to 55,066 farmers in 32 provinces of Afghanistan's 34 provinces." He noted that loans have been distributed in various agriculture fields, including agricultural trades, cooperatives associations, livestock farms, fish farming, poultry, fresh and dried fruit processors, exporters, flour mills, agricultural equipment companies, local farms and companies as well as importers of chemical fertilizers and other agricultural entrepreneurs. The Afghan government has taken measures to invest in the agricultural sector as overall agricultural production dramatically declined in recent years due to drought as well as persistent fighting and instability in rural areas. Enditem GREENE COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) --Once the age opened up for ages 12 to 19 to get the COVID-19 vaccine many places started preparing for many kids to come in. That includes health departments, pharmacies, and even hospitals. The Greene County General Hospital started vaccinating kids when the age limit opened up. At first many kids signed up, but the numbers have slowly declined. One local parent spoke with News 10 on why she decided to get her kids vaccinated. When vaccines opened up for kids age 16 and older, the hospital visited three out of five schools in Greene County to get kids vaccinated. Since the age has expanded, and schools have ended, the hospital is still seeing kids come into their vaccine clinic. Stacy Burris with the Greene County General Hospital told News 10, "The schools were so happy to have us in and doing that. I think that they see this as a way to move on as well. and not have to quarantine everyone that comes in close contact with a positive." Burris is also a parent. She said her kids were the first to get vaccinated when the age changed. She told News 10 at first she was hesitant about getting her kids vaccinated, but she soon changed her mind once medical professionals gave her the all-clear. Burris said, "Once I had their kind of 'okay' with it, as a parent I was like all right that's enough for me. and I am fully vaccinated, so now my entire family is fully vaccinated. and we are just really happy to be moving on." Burris said she's thankful that she and her family can now look into the future and slowly put the pandemic behind them. She told News 10 that she's happy she got her kids vaccinated, but it's definitely a choice you have to think of carefully. She said, "I just feel that it was the right decision for my family. you know everyone can make their own decisions for their families, but it's worked out well for my family." Burris said to help you make an informed decision you should listen to trusted medical professionals. INDIANA, (WTHI) - Some Hoosier Democrats are pushing for a higher minimum wage. They want a rate of 15-dollars an hour. The Indiana senate democrats renewed their calls for a higher minimum wage this week. It would gradually increase from the current rate of 7.25 to 15 dollars. The minimum wage in Indiana hasn't changed in the past 12 years. State senator Eddie Melton representing the Gary area says this change needs to happen sooner than later. "Raising the minimum wage would improve our economy create a better life outcome for the working class Hoosiers across this entire state. Everyday people recognizing low wages are a problem, that's why the majority of Americans support raising the minimum wage to a livable wage." Americans like James Bigsby, he reflected back on his days in college when he made a low wage. "It was just not enough especially when you're trying to pay for books and do all those things. it was just tough ya know." Even with the cost of living going up... ISU economics professor Robert Guell says the Indiana senate democrats will have a tough time trying to pass the increase. "Indiana republicans could propose a number a minimum wage increase to a number that was in the 10 or 11 range and that could pass." Indiana resident Erik P. Davenport SR. says if businesses can't pay above minimum wage they shouldn't have a lot of employees. "If you can't afford to pay better wages then only you and your family should work there and stay a mom and pop." Senator Melton's house bill 334 would've brought the legislation closer to a reality, but it didn't even receive a hearing. "To myself and our caucus this solution is a win-win opportunity for Hoosiers across the state in Indiana but the general assembly has failed to act on that," says Senator Melton. If re-introduced in the next session, the proposal would still have to go past both chambers before going to the governor. Charleston, WV (25301) Today Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. 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. Charleston, WV (25311) Today A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds light and variable. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 20:06:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- A total of 18,639 individuals have been nabbed for illegal border crossing since December 2020, up 248 percent year on year, China's National Immigration Administration said Monday. Since the Ministry of Public Security launched a special campaign late last year, authorities have investigated 6,732 criminal cases involving actions that jeopardize border security and arrested 17,285 suspects nationwide, up 156 percent and 202 percent year on year respectively. Targeting criminal networks and organizers behind the scenes, Chinese police and border authorities have busted 242 groups disrupting border security, 42 dens functioning as transfer stations, 889 vehicles as well as 256 agencies and enterprises employing illegal immigrants. An official with the administration said Chinese police and border authorities will further strengthen the crackdown on border control-related crimes and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of exiting and entering the country of Chinese nationals and foreigners. Enditem A woman reads a book in Powell's Bookstore in downtown Portland, Oregon. On Thursday, the American Booksellers Association said that membership increased from 1,635 to 1,701 since May 2020, the additions a combination of brand new stores and existing stores that had not previously been part of the independents trade group. While association CEO Allison Hill and others had feared that hundreds of stores could go out of business during the 2020-21 holiday season, the ABA so far has only tallied 14 closings in 2021, along with more than 70 last year. 100 years ago, Tulsa Race Massacre destroyed a community Monday marks the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in American history. A white mob's attack on the city's affluent Greenwood neighborhood, home to about 10,000 people and a business district known as "Black Wall Street", left the community in ruins. While the true death toll may never be known, it is estimated that hundreds were killed and injured. A century later, the legacy of that weekend is still being felt. And after being reduced to whispers and left out of history books for decades, the victims' stories are being told. An African American photographer looking at the ruins of the Midway Hotel in Tulsa. Americans hit the road on a chilly Memorial Day Memorial Day weekend, often considered the unofficial start to summer, got off to a frosty start for many in the Northeast as millions of Americans prepared to travel despite the pandemic and a rise in gas prices. However, this holiday may offer a semblance of normalcy as CDC director Rochelle Walensky gave the OK for vaccinated Americans to "enjoy your Memorial Day." Originally known as Decoration Day, a Civil War-era tradition in which loved ones decorated the graves of soldiers at the end of May, the federal holiday now pays tribute to the fallen soldiers who died in uniform. "Memorial Day shouldnt just be a day to remember," writes retired Navy SEAL commander Mike Hayes for USA TODAY Opinion. "It should be a day to change our understanding of service." In Opinion: My dad criticized the Vietnam War while he was a POW. Here's what he'd tell troops today. Search for suspects continue after Miami-area shooting leaves 2 dead, 20 injured Story continues Authorities in South Florida are continuing to search for suspects after two people died and at least 20 others were injured early Sunday during a shooting outside a banquet hall. The gunfire erupted at the El Mula Banquet Hall in northwest Miami-Dade County, near Hialeah, police said. Three people came out of an SUV and opened fire on the crowd outside, Miami-Dade police director Alfredo Freddy Ramirez III said. Camping World CEO and TV personality Marcus Lemonis expressed his support for a search, tweeting that he was offering a $100,000 reward to help authorities "arrest and convict the suspect/suspects." As of Sunday afternoon, police had not released the names of the victims. Naomi Osaka advances, fined at French Open The French Open continues Monday after four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka emerged victorious in her first round matchup against Patricia Maria Tig. Afterward, Osaka did not speak to the media as she indicated earlier in the week. She was subsequently fined $15,000 and the French Open warned she "would be exposing herself to possible further Code of Conduct infringement consequences." Osaka could be subject to being kicked out of the tournament and "trigger of a major offence investigation that could lead to more substantial fines and future Grand Slam suspensions." Before the tournament, Osaka announced she would not be speaking to media, saying that it was a mental health issue, which creates a self-doubt with players who are forced to talk to the media after a loss. The French Open resumes Monday, including a matchup featuring seventh seeded Serena Williams, who will face Irina Camelia Begu. Texas Dems walk out, killing GOP elections bill Amid national attention over Republican efforts to rewrite Texas election laws, House Democrats killed Senate Bill 7 late Sunday by walking off the floor in the middle of debate, breaking quorum and forcing the House to adjourn. The restrictive voting bill, known as the Election Integrity Protection Act, was on the edge of Republican Gov. Greg Abbotts desk before failing to pass after Democrats walked out before a midnight deadline. Abbott swiftly said he would call a special session to again try passing the voting bill since the regular legislative session ends Monday. Before walking off the floor, Democrats had tried to derail SB 7 by raising parliamentary objections, arguing that the bill and a companion resolution needed because the measure grew substantially in a conference committee violated House rules. When those maneuvers fell short, Democrats disappeared, then forced a vote that showed only 86 House members present, short of the 100 needed for a quorum. Texas GOP lawmakers unveil sweeping version of elections bill This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Memorial Day, Tulsa Race Massacre, French Open: 5 things to know Monday BEIRUT (AP) Ex-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn sat before French investigative judges in Beirut who questioned him for several hours Monday over suspicions of financial misconduct. His defense lawyers called it a very important day for the auto magnate-turned-fugitive. The meeting marked the first opportunity for Ghosn to defend himself against the French allegations - including spending on lavish parties and private planes since his 2018 bombshell arrest in Japan and escape to Lebanon a year later. It is an occasion that Mr. Ghosn has waited for a long time to show that the accusations brought against him are baseless, Jean Yves Le Borgne, a member of Ghosn's defense team, told reporters in Beirut. He said the questioning was expected to last several days. The questioning at the Palace of Justice in Beirut lasted about six hours, including a lunch break. Ghosn did not make any comments to reporters and Lebanese security forces kept journalists away from the gate where he entered and exited the courthouse. Ghosn is campaigning to clear his name against multiple legal challenges in France after Japanese accusations triggered scrutiny of his activities there. In a wide ranging interview with The Associated Press last week, he said he hopes the visit by French investigators to Lebanon will be his first real opportunity to defend himself. He also said he had much more confidence in the French legal system than the Japanese system he had fled. Ghosn has not so far been charged with anything in France, but could be, given preliminary accusations of fraud, corruption, money laundering, misuse of company assets, or aggravated breach of trust. The French investigators are looking into the financing of lavish parties Ghosn threw at the Versailles Palace complete with period costumes and copious Champagne as the head of the Renault-Nissan car alliance. They're also examining 11 million euros in spending on private planes and events arranged by a Dutch holding company, and subsidies to a car dealership in Oman. Story continues Ghosn told the AP he has done nothing wrong and hopes the investigations are eventually dropped. Ghosn was arrested in Japan in November 2018 on accusations of financial misconduct and was kept in solitary confinement for months without being allowed to speak with his wife. He fled to Lebanon a year later in a Hollywood-style escape that stunned the world. Meanwhile, several associates are in jail or on trial in Japan and Turkey, in cases related to his financial activities or escape. Jean Tamalet, one of two French lawyers representing Ghosn along with one Lebanese attorney, said Monday's meeting was the very first time of justice for Ghosn since being arrested in Japan, adding that it was the first time he could explain himself in front of judges with his lawyers seated near him and after preparing his defense. So it was a very important day for him today and he was very happy to give all the answers to all the questions asked by the French judges, he said. In a statement earlier Monday, Ghosns lawyers said their client will be questioned by French investigating judges, in the context of legal proceedings organized by the Lebanese judicial authorities. The statement added that the hearing is a voluntary step taken by Ghosn. Ghosns defense team said they have already identified serious procedural irregularities in the French dossiers." The defense team said abnormalities, which undermine the judicial process, are the result of the peculiar methods of the Japanese investigation that was the primary source for building the French cases. It is an unusual move for French magistrates to question a suspect abroad. Ghosn, who was given sanctuary by Lebanese authorities, grew up in Lebanon and has Lebanese citizenship. Lebanon will not extradite him. Monday's interrogation comes days after Ghosn was questioned by French investigators as a witness in a different case a probe into Renaults pollutant emissions, according to two Lebanese officials. Renault, along with other carmakers, is facing an investigation that dates back to 2017 over cheating on emission tests, a charge the company denies. It follows earlier investigations by French anti-fraud authorities who found abnormally high emissions from some of Renaults diesel engineered cars. Ghosn had been with Renault since 1996, until its alliance with Nissan in 1999. Along the Mississippi River in Louisiana, land where Black people were once enslaved on plantations is now being poisoned by petrochemical plants that have given the place a new name: Cancer Alley. In the fall of 2019, Robert Taylor told a Poor Peoples Campaign gathering there about the toll of watching his family and neighbors die. Taylors daughter has a rare disease that her doctor told her she had a 1 in 5 million chance of contracting. She has since learned that three other neighbors are dying of the same disease. Robert Taylor talks about his family struggles with chemical poisoning. His daughter contracted a rare disease, and so did her neighbors. Four hundred miles north in Memphis, Tennessee, Black residents invited the Poor Peoples Campaign to support their organizing to stop the Byhalia Pipeline. The proposed crude oil pipeline would repeat the systemic racism of the 1970s urban renewal by running the line through Memphis African American communities. In this place where Ida B. Wells once challenged the lies used to justify lynching, Black Memphians are again resisting lies that would harm their community. More than 150 years after slavery was abolished in the United States, descendants of enslaved Americans continue to challenge systemic racism because they experience the ongoing impact of Americas original sin on the very land where it first occurred. But slaverys legacy doesn't stop in those communities. Neighborhoods of color across the country are hit by industrial waste and air pollution and deprived of green spaces at significantly higher rates than white communities. Poverty, redlining (a practice that segregated housing) and the overwhelming lack of diversity in the environmental space keep the cycle of pollution and community destruction concentrated in Black America. In fact, whites in America experience 17% less air pollution than they cause. Black people experience 56% more than their consumption causes, according to a 2019 study. Follow the family lines of the Great Migration to Chicago, Illinois, and Flint, Michigan, and you find African American communities where families can buy unleaded gas but not unleaded water. There, too, welfare-rights unions have joined the Poor Peoples Campaign because their members work two and three jobs but still cannot afford a decent home for their families. In recent weeks, our partners on the Southeast side of Chicago won a struggle to keep a processing plant from moving from predominantly white Lincoln Park into their neighborhood. Story continues The Poor Peoples Campaign has joined with grassroots movements across the USA to highlight the 140 million Americans who are poor or low-income in the richest nation in the history of the world. While poverty touches every race, creed and culture, 60% of African Americans are poor or low-income (compared with 33% of white Americans) because the promise of 40 acres and a mule was never fulfilled for the formerly enslaved. Whether you live in St. James Parish, Louisiana, or Flint, Michigan, the nations failure to pay reparations continues to echo through the African American community. Black people have been denied the fruit of our labor through Jim Crow laws, convict leasing and the redlining and urban renewal that have destroyed Black neighborhoods. Todays racial wealth gap is clear evidence that reparations are needed. For generations, an economic system built by white male property owners has consolidated more and more wealth in the hands of a few, leading to income inequality that hurts people of every race. A tax on that accumulated wealth to repay the descendants of the people who have been systematically abused by this economy would do more than render justice too long denied. It would give Black Americans the opportunity to demonstrate how wealth can be invested in ways that benefit the whole and help us imagine a world where no one needs to live in poverty. The Rev. William J. Barber II is the president of Repairers of the Breach and co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chemicals, pipelines killing Black communities. Poor of color dying. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 20:17:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The spokesman of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Monday that the talks between Tehran and Riyadh to settle issues continue in a "constructive" climate. Saeed Khatibzadeh refrained from commenting on the details of the talks, saying that "it is not common for the details of the negotiations to be reported in the media before an agreement is reached." However, "the talks are taking place in a constructive atmosphere, and we hope to reach a conclusion," he said. Asked whether Iran plans to send pilgrims to the annual Hajj ceremonies in the city of Mecca of Saudi Arabia in the current year, he said that "we are consulting on this issue and waiting for the results." On May 10, Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Iran and Saudi Arabia had been holding talks in Iraq to defuse tensions between the two countries. Enditem May 30EAU CLAIRE One of Michael Konetz's fondest memories of his UW-Eau Claire education was a six-month study abroad opportunity in 2018 in Marburg, Germany. "My language skills grew so much in my time there," Konetz says. "It was really hard to leave." Konetz, a December 2020 graduate who majored in German education with a minor in teaching English to speakers of other languages, will have a chance to return to Germany this year after being named a 2021-22 recipient of a Fulbright English teaching assistantship. With the teaching assistantship through the U.S. Department of State's international education exchange program, Konetz will spend the school year in an as-yet-unknown city in the western German state of Hessen from September 2021 until June 2022. "I've always had an interest in teaching abroad, especially in Germany," says Konetz, a Milwaukee native. "I thought it would be a great opportunity to go back to Germany and teach and gain new experiences in a country I love being in." Another recent UW-Eau Claire graduate, Mary Kate Schneeman of Mendota Heights, Minnesota, is an alternate for an English teaching assistantship in Germany. Schneeman, an English linguistics major and German minor who graduated this month, studied abroad in Marburg in spring 2020. UW-Eau Claire has for several years been among the top master's universities in the nation for the number of students who receive Fulbright grants. "This was a particularly competitive Fulbright year, so it is very exciting to have Michael get an award and Mary Kate still be under consideration," says Cheryl Lochner-Wright, a senior study abroad coordinator for UW-Eau Claire's Center for International Education and the campus Fulbright program advisor. "Fulbright received a huge number of applications, and many countries carried forward some of last year's grantees who were unable to take up their awards due to COVID-19, effectively reducing the number of awards available. Given that, the fact that seven of nine UW-Eau Claire applicants made it to the semi-finalist round is amazing." Story continues Konetz, who is an English as a second language teacher in the Milwaukee suburb of Greenfield with a goal of being a German teacher, was excited to learn he was a Fulbright winner. He praised UW-Eau Claire faculty members who he says helped make it possible. "My German professors were amazing; they were so supportive of me," Konetz says. "They were a big part of me winning the award." Joshua Brown, associate professor of German and linguistics, says his former student always wanted to learn more about the German language and related cultures. The Fulbright experience in Germany will give Konetz exposure to a variety of teaching contexts that will help him in his ESL and German teaching career, Brown says. "I was thrilled to hear the news that Michael had been chosen for a Fulbright teaching opportunity," Brown says. "He follows a long line of German language students who have received Fulbrights, many of whom are still teaching in those same schools today." Brown recalls meeting Konetz when the then-high school student was visiting UW-Eau Claire. "I was already struck then by his passion for language education," Brown says. "He has a real zeal for wanting others to feel that same way about language learning as he does which makes him an excellent educator." Konetz believes his Fulbright teaching assistantship will give him new insights into teaching English. "I'm really excited to go back and teach," Konetz says. "One of my goals is to show the importance of German culture on the United States. When I return, I can be a stronger teacher and create authentic classes about German culture from my experiences." See Full Image Gallery >> Two Lamborghini Urus crossovers have completed a month-long journey across Japan. Conceived as a marketing stunt, the pair traveled over 4,000 miles, collecting some truly breathtaking scenery along the way. The idea of a long-distance drive to promote a new vehicle has been a long-held tradition in Japan. It was a much bigger achievement back in the 1960s, when Japan's expressway system was just getting underway. Many local roads were still rough, and it was considered uncommon for cars to drive all-out at high speeds for sustained lengths of time. Nowadays, it's not particularly difficult for any modern car to complete such treks, especially when you're talking about a 641-horsepower, 626-pound-foot luxury SUV. In fact, it must be quite the exercise in restraint in modulating the 4.0-liter V8, capable of a 190 mph top speed, since the highest speed limit in Japan is about 75 mph and speed cameras are everywhere. Still, it was a chance for Lamborghini to capture some beautiful photos along the way. The Urus almost looks out of place against ancient shrines and lush bamboo forests. They even paused to shoot at Himeji Castle in Bizen City and Shirakawa village in Gifu Prefecture, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. From snowy mountains to rocky coastlines, cherry blossom-lined avenues to massive steel bridges connecting Japan's islands, the variation in backdrops is something to behold. The two Urus vehicles used in the trip were finished in Giallo Inti (yellow) and Blu Astraeus (dark blue), both featuring a customizable Lamborghini paint option called Pearl Capsule. Created by Lamborghinis Centro Stile design department, it basically adds a black finish to the roof, spoiler and front air dam. Cabin-wise, Pearl Capsule adds two-tone coloring, hexagon stitching on the seats with carbon fiber and black anodized aluminum details throughout the interior. The option can also be paired with Arancio Borealis (orange) and Verde Mantis (green) exterior colors. Story continues The trip started in far western Japan on the island of Kyushu, then traced the country's northern coast along the Sea of Japan up to the northernmost island of Hokkaido. Then it snaked down the Pacific coast to its final destination of Tokyo. Related video: (Bloomberg) -- Singapore real estate startup PropertyGuru Pte has agreed to acquire all of the shares in REA Group Ltd.s operating entities in Malaysia and Thailand, marking the biggest acquisition in its 14-year history. PropertyGuru will take over iProperty.com.my and Brickz.my in Malaysia and thinkofliving.com and Prakard.com in Thailand from Australias REA Group, the Southeast Asian company said in a statement on Monday. As part of the deal, REA, which is majority-owned by Rupert Murdochs News Corp. empire, will get an 18% equity interest in PropertyGuru and appoint a director to its board. No price has been disclosed for the deal. We are investing in these markets as they emerge out of Covid in the coming years, Chief Executive Officer Hari V. Krishnan said in an interview with Bloomberg TVs Haslinda Amin and Rishaad Salamat. Some of the macro mega trends like urbanization, digitization, the emergence of the middle class, remain in place. The announcement comes after a flurry of deal-making by the most valuable startups in the region. Ride-hailing and payments giant Gojek and e-commerce leader Tokopedia announced earlier this month they will combine their businesses to create the largest internet company in Indonesia. Close Gojek rival Grab Holdings Inc. last month agreed to go public in the U.S. through a combination with Altimeter Growth Corp. in the largest-ever merger with a blank-check company. For PropertyGuru, the deal will likely reduce competition in Malaysia and Thailand where the company has been competing against REAs affiliates. Krishnan said the firm will keep the existing brands and invest in their development for the foreseeable future. The CEO declined to provide a specific timeframe for going public. The company regularly reviews the potential for an initial public offering after scrapping plans to list on the Australian stock exchange in October 2019 on concerns over its targeted valuation of A$1.36 billion ($1 billion). In September, it announced S$300 million ($220 million) in new funding from existing backers TPG Capital LP and KKR & Co Inc. Story continues If the opportunity is right and if we feel our assets would be valued by public market investors, we will take it public, he said. But todays announcement is more about building the core capability set for business and investing heavily into Malaysia and Thailand. Malaysia Announces 2-Week National Lockdown Amid Virus Fight The transaction, which is expected to close in July, is conditional on REAs divestment of its 27% stake in PropertyGurus rival 99 Group, which it has a joint venture with in Singapore and Indonesia. Discussions are well progressed in relation to the divestment, according to REAs stock exchange filing on Monday. 99 Group CEO Darius Cheung told Bloomberg News that his company is currently in discussions with investors to raise funds, some of which will be used to acquire REAs 27% stake in 99. This move allows us to free from the shackles of having our most significant shareholder being a public company, Cheung said, adding that he plans to enter Malaysia to compete against PropertyGuru. The Malaysian and Thailand businesses are expected to contribute A$15 million to REAs revenue in the fiscal years of 2021, though they will probably reduce its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization by about A$11 million, according to the REA filing. REA shares fell as much as 0.7% in Australia on Monday. Launched in 2007 to help Singapore residents search for real estate online, PropertyGuru has become a household name in the property-crazed city-state. Today, its the largest real estate marketplace in Southeast Asia with operations spanning countries including Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. (Updates with CEOs comments and 99 Group comments from third paragraph) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2021 Bloomberg L.P. Local spotlight Freedom from Fear project provides guidance, support for victims of hate crimes Amanda Ray / Yakima Herald-Republic Dori Peralta Baker, left, and Paul Tabayoyon, both with the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition of Yakima County, set Freedom from Fear cards and whistles on a table Thursday, May 27, 2021, during a vaccination clinic at the Filipino Community Hall in Wapato, Wash. Amanda Ray / Yakima Herald-Republic A bag that includes a Freedom from Fear card and whistle is seen Thursday, May 27, 2021, during a vaccination clinic at the Filipino Community Hall in Wapato, Wash. The card includes steps to take if you or someone you know has been a victim of a hate crime. Amanda Ray / Yakima Herald-Republic Paul Tabayoyon with the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition of Yakima County holds a Freedom from Fear card Thursday, May 27, 2021, during a vaccination clinic at the Filipino Community Hall in Wapato, Wash. The card includes steps to take if you or someone you know has been a victim of a hate crime. Amanda Ray / Yakima Herald-Republic Dori Peralta Baker, left, and Phillip Miranda, right, help Ruben Dabalos choose an Asian Pacific Islander Coalition of Yakima County shirt Thursday, May 27, 2021, during a vaccination clinic at the Filipino Community Hall in Wapato, Wash. Amanda Ray / Yakima Herald-Republic A sign that reads Free COVID-19 vaccines is seen on the bottom right of the Filipino Community Hall in Wapato, Wash., on Thursday, May 27, 2021. The community hall hosted a free COVID-19 mobile vaccine clinic led by Columbia Safety. As a child, Paul Tabayoyon walked several blocks to McKinley Elementary. He and some of the other students at the Yakima school carried whistles in case they faced trouble along the way. It creates a very large sound very quickly, Tabayoyon said, drawing the attention of anyone nearby who could help. A loud whistle is something almost everyone can use, he added. Tabayoyon is community outreach coordinator for the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition of the Yakima Valley, which promotes diversity, racial equality and immigrant rights in the Yakima Valley and Central Washington. It is one of seven Asian Pacific Islander Coalition chapters in the state. The organization is providing whistles to seniors who may be in danger due to rising anti-AAPI sentiment. AAPI stands for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Handing out whistles is part of the organizations Freedom from Fear project. The coalition is also distributing cards with information on how to report hate crimes and incidents and who to contact, including law enforcement, medical and mental health professionals. Volunteers handed out the cards and whistles during a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the historic Filipino Hall in Wapato on Thursday. We had to do something to make sure our community is aware, Tabayoyon said. On March 16, eight people were murdered at three massage parlors in the Atlanta area. Six of those killed were Asian American women. The slayings occurred amid an increasing wave of discrimination fueled by the COVID-19 virus, which was first identified in China. According to the group Stop AAPI Hate, hate incidents against AAPIs have risen sharply, with more than 6,600 reports collected by Stop AAPI Hate between March 2020 and March 2021. Hate incidents include hate crimes and incidents of violence or discrimination. In particular, AAPI women and girls report these hate incidents 2.2 times as often as AAPI men; and AAPI non-binary people have also reported experiencing heightened incidents of hate, the organization said in a May 20 report. In the Yakima Valley, smashed windows and racist graffiti at Yakimas Minado Buffet in March 2020 has been the most high-profile case of anti-AAPI discrimination. While there arent multiple documented cases, and no one has been injured, we know from word of mouth through the community a lot of people are really hesitant to file reports, Tabayoyon said. He encourages anyone who has experienced such incidents to report them to police, city officials and the AAPI Coalition. The incidents become part of a national registry when reported to the coalition, he said. Its important to report any incidents and for witnesses to stand up for others when they see them happening. Our communities grow when they work together. We all have the right to not have fear in our own community, Tabayoyon said. His grandfather, also named Paul Tabayoyon, was the first of his family who came from the Philippines, he said. His grandfather was witness to anti-Asian sentiment in Yakima in the early to the late 1920s. In 1927, anti-Filipino riots in Yakima resulted in deaths. His grandfather relocated to Wapato and was the secretary when the Filipino Community Hall was built there. In early June 1942, more than 1,000 Yakima Valley residents of Japanese descent were forced from their homes in and around the city of Yakima and Yakima Countys Lower Valley to incarceration at Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Wyoming and other centers. The Yakima Buddhist Church and its Bussei Kaikan are across the street from the Filipino Community Hall. Family history is very important. What I realize is that allows me to understand so many issues, Paul Tabayoyon said. Thats what really drives me to get involved in these communities. Along with the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition of the Yakima Valley distributing the Freedom from Fear cards and whistles at gatherings, representatives are also providing them to businesses that want to provide them to guests. Tabayoyon recommends contacting the group through its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/APICYKM or reaching him by email at pjtabayoyon@gmail.com for cards, whistles or other information. I would be willing to deliver any materials to anyone, he said. 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. Many questioned Judge Jimmie C. Edwards III wanting to put Montgomery Countys new Veterans Memorial Park in what they considered a ditch at Texas 105 and Interstate 45 in Conroe. But thats exactly where Edwards, a Marine, Vietnam veteran, former county judge and former state representative, wanted it to be. He knew the highly visible location would draw many to the park, creating not only a local memorial but a national platform to honor both local soldiers and those who served from across the country. He lead the effort to form a Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Commission in early 2017 with the plan to move the former Veterans Memorial Park that was dedicated in 1976 to a more visible location. On Memorial Day morning, through Edwards determination and dedicated leadership, his vision became a reality as the members of the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Commission dedicated Phase 1 of the park before a large audience of supporters. With the help of the good citizens of Montgomery County we have created a gift to the nation, Edwards told the large crowd gathered Monday. I was told there was no way 13 incorporated cities (in the county) will come together to support this. I said Yeah they will, and they did. Montgomery Countys original Veterans Memorial Park was located next to the Montgomery County Tax Office in downtown Conroe. It was dedicated in 1976 when President Gerald Ford made a campaign stop in Conroe. But Edwards wanted more for the 166 fallen soldiers of Montgomery County and for those who served their country. He launched the idea to move and expand the park in January 2017. The cooperation of several state agencies, local and state officials, many volunteers and local businesses getting involved brought the park to its dedication on Monday. Edwards said many of their contractors worked 24/7 in preparation for the memorial dedication. Music from the Conroe Jazz Connection welcomed visitors as Duke Coon, a Conroe city councilman and Navy veteran, and Howard Wood, a Marine veteran, kicked off the ceremony as emcees for the morning. Multiple memorials were dedicated Monday including The Founders Monument for those involved in the parks creation; The Remembered Whispers Monument which is a tribute to Women Airforce Service Pilots in Worlds War II; Victory Lane; Victory Row, The Line which features the submitted names of veterans, the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Monument and The Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Monument. Special readings and poems, patriotic music from the Jazz Connection, a flyover from the Commemorative Air Force, Houston Wing and cannon salutes from The Lone Star Volunteers and Rolling Thunder were special highlights of the day. It was an emotional moment when the Remembered Whispers monument was dedicated to the WASPS. Several of their family members held photos of their WASP loved one at Mondays ceremony. Retired Army Lt. Col. Roxy Montgomery spoke about getting to meet many of these feisty ladies most who were in their 90s when she helped with legislation and their ceremony for their Congressional Gold Medal in Washington D.C., in 2010. These women heeded their countrys call to serve and did so proudly with honor and vigor, Montgomery said. Then the names of WASP casualties were read with a bell sounding after each name. Also, the name of each Montgomery County fallen soldier was read, followed by the sounding of a bell after their name. Celeste Graves, 101, from Magnolia worked with and was friends with many WASP members. Graves wrote the book, A View from the Dog House, which covered the early days of the Womens Ferrying Training Detachment training program, which eventually became the WASP program. The had to have 200 hours of flying time. They paid all their expenses. You dont hear that, but I want you to hear that, Graves said. The first three classes and half of the fourth class were trained in Houston. They went to Sweetwater once they ran out of room in Houston, Graves said. I do want you to know about that first class. They were the guinea pigs. If they had failed, then there wouldnt have been so many, she said. Another emotional moment came when 12 young men and women were sworn into the Army as a part of the ceremony. Multiple local officials spoke and had parts in the ceremony as did veterans and active Marine Maj. Courtney Boston. Today is more than a simple holiday. she said. Its more than a day off from work, its more than getting to the store to get that for-sale item. Although the beer will be cold and the barbecue delicious, lets remember that today is about the service of these members who in Abraham Lincolns words gave their last full measure of devotion. For Henry Calyen, Vietnam veteran and member of the Veterans Park Commission, Monday was a day to honor his brothers who fell in battle. There were so many guys who were better soldiers than I who didnt make it back, he said. I cherish this moment and I cherish them for their service. Some gave some but some gave all. Its been a privilege, said Edwards of leading the charge to expand and move the park. The ceremony closed with a solemn playing of Taps by Steve Kloesel, a Conroe High grad and Caney Creek High School band director. The Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park is meant to be a living park. Names will be added to The Line in cycles. To include a name for The Line, visit honoredmission.org. The deadline for the next cycle is Oct. 15. The next dedication for The Line will be on Veterans Day. The next phase of the park will include building an education center at the park. Visit honoredmission.org for more information. shernandez@hcnonline.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 20:29:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Forces loyal to Yemen's government on Monday moved military reinforcements to southern border areas in an attempt to discourage the Houthi rebels from intruding into southern regions, a military official told Xinhua. "Units of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which is part of Yemen's government, dispatched armored vehicles and infantrymen to the border areas of the country's southern province of Lahj," the local military source said on condition of anonymity. "Moving troops to a number of border positions in Al Qabbaytah district came in response to intelligence tips that armed groups were planning a large-scale attack through the territory against the southern provinces," the source said. "The intelligence tips generated alarm in Aden about the possibility that the rebel forces would carry out attacks against the country's southern provinces," he added. Another official of the Aden-based STC confirmed to Xinhua that "new local military factions backed by regional countries also increased their presence in key areas in the neighboring province of Taiz." "A new round of intense fighting might erupt in southern Yemen as many military factions began mobilizing and moving according to their regional backers," the official said anonymously. "The recent developments might threaten the United Nations efforts that aimed at achieving permanent de-escalation and pushing the Yemeni warring factions into peace negotiations," he added. On Sunday, Martin Griffiths, the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, arrived at the International Airport in Sanaa, Yemen's capital which is still controlled by the Houthi rebels. Griffiths began holding meetings with senior Houthi leaders on his first visit to the capital in a year to explore suggestions including a statewide cease-fire in the war-ravaged Arab country. A recent UN-brokered negotiation between Yemen's warring sides and other relevant parties has failed to reach a cease-fire agreement. Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. The Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015 to support Hadi's government. Enditem 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. YORK A written plea of not guilty was entered into York County District Court this past week by Dalvon L. Robinson, 31, of High Point, N.C., in a case involving the possession of 13 pounds of high grade marijuana and THC products. According to court documents, a trooper with the Nebraska State Patrol was on regular duty on Interstate 80, in York County, when he initiated a stop of a vehicle due to a traffic violation. Robinson was the driver of that vehicle. According to the troopers affidavit filed with the court, Robinson said he was traveling from Oregon to Ohio and then to North Carolina. The trooper was advised there was an active arrest warrant for Robinson out of Florida. A service dog with the patrol alerted to the presence of narcotics and a search was conducted. Located in the back row seats of the van was a plastic bag containing two heat-sealed bags of THC edibles, the troopers affidavit says. Located in the rear cargo area of the van were a suitcase and a duffel bag inside these were 13 heat-sealed bags containing 12.5 pounds of marijuana; four packages containing 4.8 ounces of THC wax; and 7.8 ounces of edibles. The total amount was 13 pounds. NEW DELHI: The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday announced that it has extended the COVID-19 curfew in the state till June 10. The announcement was made by Chief Minister's Office, according to ANI Curfew imposed in Andhra Pradesh has been extended till June 10th, said Chief Minister's Office, according to ANI. COVID19 | Curfew imposed in Andhra Pradesh extended till June 10th, says Chief Minister's Office (File pic) pic.twitter.com/JRAaU1Ps7O ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2021 The total COVID-19 recoveries in Andhra Pradesh crossed the 15-lakh mark on Sunday, resulting in a drop in the number of active cases as fresh positives too continued their downward slide for more than a week now. Earlier today, Uttarakhand and Bihar government extended the COVID-19 lockdown today. In view of declining cases of coronavirus, some states and UTs like Haryana, Odisha, Telangana and Sikkim have extended the COVID-induced lockdown, while some others including Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir have announced the easing of restrictions in districts with less active cases. Despite relaxations, night curfew and weekend shutdown will remain in force in some states and UTs. Many states, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Goa, have extended the lockdown or restrictions for a week to a fortnight in June, while some of them like Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh have also announced a certain relaxation in the curbs due to a decline in new cases and positivity rate. While shops have been permitted to open for more hours, malls have also been allowed to function at some places with certain conditions. However, education institutions will continue to remain closed. Amid declining cases of coronavirus, India reported 1,52,734 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, the lowest daily rise in cases in the past 50 days. The country also reported 3,128 deaths in the past 24 hours. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare data released at 8 AM in the morning, there were 2,38,022 discharges during the last 24 hours. With this, Indias cumulative caseload now stands at 2,80,47,534 and the total fatalities linked to COVID have reached 3,29,100. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a total of 21,31,54,129 people have been vaccinated so far. More than 21.31 crore vaccine doses have been administered since Indias inoculation drive began in January, the ICMR said. Live TV New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said that the national capital will get the first batch of Russias anti-COVID vaccine, Sputnik V, after June 20. The chief minister further said that the makers of the Sputnik vaccine have assured to send a consignment to the national capital after June 20. We will get a batch of Sputnik V after June 20th. Currently, it is in importing phase, I think its production will begin in August in India, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said. "We have been assured that after June 20 we will get some doses by the makers. Right now they are importing the vaccine and will start manufacturing in August. A part of the doses imported from Russia will be provided to Delhi," Kejriwal said in an interaction with reporters. We will get a batch of Sputnik V after June 20th. Currently, it is in importing phase, I think its production will begin in August in India: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal pic.twitter.com/rXqe1LXqBx ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2021 It may be recalled that Russia`s Sputnik V got approval from the Subject expert committee (SEC) for Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA), making it the third COVID-19 vaccine to get clearance in India. Sputnik V has been imported to India by Dr Reddy`s Laboratories and will be manufactured locally by the pharmaceutical major in the coming months. The Delhi Government has been in talks with Dr Reddy`s Laboratories for the supply of the `Sputnik V` vaccine. According to sources, Chief Minister Kejriwal wrote to the pharmaceutical major on May 15 for the supply of the vaccine to Delhi. The vaccination drive in Delhi had started on a large scale on May 3, however, vaccination for the 18-44 age group has been halted in the national capital as it has run out of vaccines. Asked about the challenges faced by his government in the ongoing Covid vaccination drive, the chief minister apprised about certain problems in the online portal, which he said will be fixed soon. He said the government will also begin working on feedback provided by the public. Kejriwal also appealed to the Centre to work with states to unitedly fight against Covid-19."This is not the time to fight with states. It is time to help them...It is time to fight COVID. I appeal to Centre to unite with states and fight COVID as team India," Kejriwal said. The Delhi Chief Minister earlier today inaugurated a free vaccination facility for journalists and their family members. "We have started this facility to vaccinate journalists and their family members for both above 45 years and 18-44 years age categories," Kejriwal said. Elaborating on the facility, Dr Tanisha Negi said, "This centre has been opened for media personnel and their families. We have two sites, one for the 18-44 years age bracket and the other for the above 45 years category. This way the entire family can be covered. The beneficiaries need to register with Aadhar cards and Press IDs." Negi also specified that Serum Institute`s Covishield vaccine will be provided at the facility and a second dose will be given after three months. "We have all healthcare facility available here. There will be nurses and I will be present. We have one ambulance to take care of any emergency if arises," she added. Live TV The RBI on Monday said it has cancelled the licence of Shivajirao Bhosale Sahakari Bank, Pune as the lender does not have adequate capital and earning prospects. As per data submitted by Shivajirao Bhosale Sahakari Bank, more than 98 per cent of the depositors will receive the full amount of their deposits from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), the RBI said in a release. On liquidation, every depositor would be entitled to receive deposit insurance claim amount of his/her deposits up to a monetary ceiling of Rs 5 lakh from the DICGC. Giving details, the RBI said the bank does not have adequate capital and earning prospects and as such, it does not comply with certain provisions of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. "The continuance of the bank is prejudicial to the interests of its depositors," it said, adding that the bank with its financial position would be unable to pay its present depositors in full. While cancelling the licence, effective close of business hours on Monday, the RBI said public interest would be adversely affected if the bank is allowed to carry on its banking business any further. The Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Maharashtra has also been requested to issue an order for winding up the bank and appoint a liquidator. The release further said consequent to the cancellation of its licence, Shivajirao Bhosale Sahakari Bank is prohibited from conducting the business of banking, including acceptance of deposits and repayment of deposits, with immediate effect. Live TV #mute In a big relief for the cryptocurrency community, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a clarification stating that banks and other regulated entities are not in a position to mention its 2018 circular on cryptocurrencies as it has been put away by the Supreme Court (SC) in March 2020 and it remains invalid now. In a notification, RBI said, "It has come to our attention through media reports that certain banks/ regulated entities have cautioned their customers against dealing in virtual currencies by making a reference to the RBI circular DBR.No.BP.BC.104/08.13.102/2017-18 dated April 06, 2018. Such references to the above circular by banks/ regulated entities are not in order as this circular was set aside by the Honble Supreme Court on March 04, 2020, in the matter of Writ Petition (Civil) No.528 of 2018 (Internet and Mobile Association of India v. Reserve Bank of India)." The apex bank of the country further added, "Banks, as well as other entities addressed above, may, however, continue to carry out customer due to diligence processes in line with regulations governing standards for Know Your Customer (KYC), Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Combating of Financing of Terrorism (CFT) and obligations of regulated entities under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, (PMLA), 2002 in addition to ensuring compliance with relevant provisions under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) for overseas remittances." Previously, through an email, HDFC Bank and State Bank of India had said that those who are dealing with virtual currencies will face account suspension citing a 2018 circular from the Reserve Bank of India. Notably, the circular was struck down by the Supreme Court in March 2020. Live TV #mute Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced special measures for rehabilitating children who have been orphaned due to COVID-19. Taking to his social media accounts on Sunday (May 30), CM Kumar said his government would provide monthly stipends for the bereaved children, boarding facility for those left with no caretaker, and give special impetus to education of orphaned girls. "Boys and girls who have lost their mothers and fathers, with at least one parent succumbing to COVID-19, will get a sum of Rs 1,500 every month from the state government till they attain the age of 18 years," Kumar said. He said the aid will be provided under his government's 'Baal Sahaayta Yojana', meant for needy children. The CM further stated that "boys and girls who are left with no guardian to bring them up will be provided shelter at Baal Griha (children's homes). Priority will be accorded to get such orphaned girls admitted to Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya schools". The state, which remained relatively less affected by the pandemic last year, has been devastated by the second wave that infected more than five lakh people and claimed over 4,000 lives. Live TV Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay retired from his office and simultaneously appointed Chief Advisor to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday (May 31). Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in a media briefing announced that she has appointed Alapan Bandopadhyay as her chief advisor for the next three years. Meanwhile, HK Dwivedi has been appointed as the chief secretary of the state. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to withdraw the Centre's order recalling Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay, and asserted her government "cannot release, and is not releasing" the top bureaucrat. In a five-page letter, Mamta Banerjee urged prime minister Narendra Modi to reconsider the Centre's decision recalling the chief secretary after giving him a three-month extension. Banerjee said she was shocked by the Centre's decision and termed the order as "unilateral", and pointed out that it had been done "without any prior consultation" with the state government. "This so-called unilateral order is an unreasoned volte-face and by your own admission, against the interests of the state and its people. "I humbly request you to withdraw, recall, reconsider your decision and rescind the latest so-called order in the larger public interest. I appeal to your conscience and good sense, on the behalf of the people of West Bengal," Banerjee said in her letter to PM Modi. Live TV Aligarh: The toll in the Aligarh hooch tragedy climbed to 36 on Monday with 11 more deaths being confirmed by the district authorities amid apprehension that it may rise further. Viscera samples of 35 other people, who are suspected to have died after consuming spurious liquor, have been sent for examination to confirm the cause of death, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Bhanu Pratap Kalyani said. Meanwhile, 10 persons allegedly involved directly and indirectly in the trade of illicit liquor were arrested on Monday as raids continued for the third successive day all over the district. Senior Superintendent of Police Kalanidhi Naithani told the media that with Monday's arrests, the total number of persons arrested since Friday has reached 30. This includes 11 persons who had been booked on Friday. Of the 12 persons who had been named in three different reports on Friday, now only one person is still eluding the police. Questioning of those arrested is also going on which could lead to more arrests. Among those arrested on Monday are some persons, who were involved in the manufacture of alcohol-based products. A large number of vehicles owned by persons involved in the illicit liquor trade have also been seized. Police parties are checking roadside eateries to ensure that no illicit liquor is sold through such outlets. The SSP said the process of confiscating the properties of those found to be involved in the illicit liquor trade has also started. In a statement issued in Lucknow, the UP government said Circle Officer Gabhana Karamveer Singh has been suspended, while a clarification has been sought about the incident from Circle Officer Khair Shiv Pratap Singh and Circle Officer (City-3) Vishal Chaudhary within three days. Former Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA from Aligarh Zameerullah Khan produced before the media the families of 12 people who he claimed died over the past three days after consuming the spurious liquor and whose post-mortem was not conducted. He demanded that the state government provide compensation to all such families. CMO Kalyani said, "A total of 71 bodies have arrived at the post-mortem house from Friday to Monday forenoon. Liquor poisoning has been confirmed as the cause of death for 36 of these people." The post-mortem of the remaining 35 bodies has also been conducted. Though these people are also suspected to have died of liquor poisoning, the cause of death will be confirmed once the viscera report comes, he said. BJP Lok Sabha MP from Aligarh Satish Gautam accused the district authorities of "protecting some corrupt officials in the excise department and attempting to implicate some innocent businessmen". He said he would raise the issue with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The MP, who had claimed on Sunday that the death toll in the hooch tragedy had crossed 35, said the district magistrate cannot "escape responsibility" of identifying and listing the names of those who have lost their lives in this tragedy. Gautam also denied reports that he is "using his influence to protect some businessmen who are close to him". "Let the police investigate such cases with a free hand and catch the real culprits. But I will not allow any official to cover up his lapses by diverting attention and framing innocent people," he said, adding that he will meet the CM shortly to apprise him of the situation. District Magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh did not comment on the MP's allegations. SP leader Zameerullah Khan demanded that compensation be given to all such families. In one case, Khan claimed, a woman whose husband was among the hooch tragedy victims who were cremated without a post-mortem has been running from pillar to post with her four-day-old child to seek compensation. "Can such victims be denied ex-gratia relief on vague technical grounds?" he asked. The SP leader further claimed there are similar cases in several other villages and they should be investigated immediately to prevent further agony for the bereaved families. Other opposition parties also alleged discrepancies in the official death toll. President of the Bahujan Samaj Party's Aligarh unit Ratandeep Singh said he has also written to the district magistrate regarding the 12 cases from Lodha, Rait and Sujaapur villages in which the alleged hooch tragedy victims' last rites were conducted "without a post-mortem examination". He claimed there are several such cases that can only be traced by conducting a detailed survey of the affected villages. Congress leader Pradeep Mathur alleged that the local administration is hiding facts and the number of deaths is "much higher". He also accused the state government of "patronising" the liquor mafia. In a statement, SSP Naithani said two inspectors under Tappal police station were suspended on Sunday after reports were received that liquor shops are operating freely in their area. Similarly, the station house officer of Akrabad police station and another inspector were suspended after it came to light that a factory manufacturing spurious liquor had been operating in their area for the past six months, he said. UP Additional Chief Secretary (Excise) Sanjay Bhoosreddy said Joint Excise Commissioner, Agra Zone, Ravi Shankar Pathak has been suspended and Joint Excise Commissioner, Lucknow, Dheeraj Singh has been given the additional charge. Deputy Excise Commissioner, Aligarh, O P Singh has also been suspended. Deputy Excise Commissioner Vijay Kumar Mishra has been given the additional charge. Action has also been initiated against seven other officials, he said. Commissioner, Aligarh Division, Gaurav Dayal held a high-level meeting to review the situation and instructed officials to continue raids and take stern action against the liquor mafia. Meanwhile, three people in Chandana locality under Kuwarsi police station area here fell ill early this morning after consuming liquor. They were rushed to the hospital in a serious condition, the police sources said. As of Sunday, 11 of the 12 people, including kingpin Anil Chaudhary, booked in connection with the hooch tragedy had been arrested, according to police. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 20:37:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG -- Malcolm Clarke, an Oscar-winning director from Britain, said on Monday that Hong Kong is wildly misunderstood and misrepresented by the Western media, when recalling his film-shooting experience in the unrest-hit financial hub in 2019. Speaking remotely to a forum here, Clarke said he was "disgusted by the way that the so-called free press in the West" reported Hong Kong. Some revered news outlets "just willfully dumbing down the story and making the story effectively ... a zero-sum game," he said. - - - - TEHRAN -- The spokesman of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Monday that significant progress has been made in the ongoing nuclear talks in the Austrian capital of Vienna, but a number of key issues remain to be solved. "There are no deadlocks in the Vienna talks and we have reached key issues," Saeed Khatibzadeh said in his weekly press conference. His remarks were made a reference to the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the P4+1, namely Britain, China, France, Russia plus Germany, aimed at the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, commonly known as the Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. - - - - PYONGYANG -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday slammed the United States for lifting all restrictions on South Korean missiles, saying the move was "a stark reminder" of U.S. hostile policy towards the DPRK. "The United States, doggedly branding the measures taken by the DPRK for self-defence as violation of UN 'resolutions,' grants its allies unlimited right to missile development. It is engrossed in confrontation despite its lip-service to dialogue," said an article carried by the official Korean Central News Agency. - - - - BEIJING -- China's achievements in ending absolute poverty and defeating COVID-19 under the leadership of the Communist Party of China are "a beacon" for the people of the world, a senior official of the Communist Party of Britain (CPB) has said. "The achievements of the Communist Party of China are not just for the people of China. They are as a beacon for people across the world," CPB International Secretary John Foster told Xinhua in a recent interview via video link. Enditem New Delhi: In a bizarre incident, a 23-year old man in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a buffalo and a calf. He was caught in the act by the buffalo owner Rumal Singh and was held after he lodged a complaint at Meerut's Jani village Police Station. The accused, Sumit Singh, has been booked under Section 377 and Section 11 (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960) of the Indian Penal Code. The complainant said that Sumit Singh continuously sexually assaulted his buffalo and its calf. Rumal Singh also saw the accused doing it during the daytime on May 29 and caught him with the help of neighbours. Meanwhile, the police has said that five people from the neighbourhood have been made witnesses and the statements of witnesses will be recorded. Live TV Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Monday (May 31) formed a three-member Committee for rehabilitation of victims of post-poll violence after Assembly polls. The committee will comprise one representative each from State Human Rights Commission, National Human Rights Commission, Member Secretary and State Legal Services Authority. The Committee may coordinate with police and arrange for rehabilitation of people to the places they have a right to. If there is any dispute, that will have to be seen. A five-judge larger bench of Calcutta High Court was hearing the PIL seeking an investigation into West Bengal post-poll violence. Several incidents of violence have been reported at various places after the declaration of the Assembly poll results on May 2. In another development in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to withdraw the Centre's order recalling Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay, and said her government "is not releasing" the top bureaucrat. In a five-page letter, Mamata Banerjee urged the prime minister to reconsider the Centre's decision to recall the chief secretary after giving him a three-month extension. Banerjee said she was shocked by the Centre's decision and termed the order as "unilateral", which was issued "without any prior consultation" with the state government. The Centre, in a surprise move, had on May 28 night sought Bandyopadhyay's services and asked the state government to immediately release the top bureaucrat. Bandyopadhyay, a 1987-batch IAS officer of the West Bengal cadre, was scheduled to retire on Monday after completion of 60 years of age. However, he was granted a three-month extension following a nod from the Centre to work on COVID management. In a communique to the state government, the Personnel Ministry on May 28 said the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the placement of the services of Bandyopadhyay with the Government of India as per provisions of the Indian Administrative Service (cadre) Rules, 1954, "with immediate effect". It also directed Bandyopadhyay to report to the Department of Personnel and Training, North Block, New Delhi by 10 am on Monday. (With Agency Inputs) Live TV New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday (May 31) will resume its hearing on a plea seeking cancellation of Class 12 board examinations conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) amid the surge in COVID-19 cases across the country. Earlier on May 28, the Apex Court bench comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari had said it would hear the plea. The bench has asked petitioner Advocate Mamta Sharma to serve the advanced copy of the plea to respondents including Centre, CBSE, and CISCE. According to the petition, Conducting Class 12 board examinations online or offline not feasible because of an unprecedented pandemic. Delay in the declaration of Class 12 results will hamper students taking admission to foreign universities. CBSE and CISCE must devise an objective methodology to declare the results within the specified time else it will affect nearly 12 lakh students." The bench had asked petitioner Mamta Sharma whether she has served the copy of the plea to the advocate representing the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). When the petitioner said she will serve the copy of the plea to the parties, the bench observed, "You do it. We will have it on Monday (May 31)." The bench said in its order, "We permit the petitioner-in-person to serve an advance copy on the standing counsel for the respondent(s), namely, central agency, CBSE, ICSE and also the office of the Attorney General for India," adding, "List this matter on Monday, i.e. May 31, 2021, at 11 AM." On April 14, the CBSE had announced the cancellation of class 10 exams and the postponement of class 12 exams in view of the surge in coronavirus cases. The CBSE also proposed conducting the exams between July 15-August 26 and the result to be declared in September. The board also proposed two options: conducting regular exams for 19 major subjects at notified centers or conducting shorter duration exams at respective schools where students are enrolled. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education earlier sought detailed suggestions from the states and Union Territories till May 25 on the proposals discussed in a high-level meeting held on the issue. (With Agency Inputs) New Delhi: Slamming the opposition, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday said a false narrative is being created over the Central Vista redevelopment plan and asserted that it is not a "vanity project", but a necessity. Hitting out at 60 former bureaucrats over their open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi against the project, Puri said, "They are not educated fools, but they are a disgrace to the country." Citing some parts of the letter during a press conference, Puri, whose ministry is executing the Central vista redevelopment project, said these former civil servants have alleged that the government is building a new parliament building because of "superstitious beliefs". He said in 2012, the then Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar's OSD had written to Union urban development secretary for a new Parliament building and former Union minister Jairam Ramesh had also advocated for a new building. He said in 2012, it had been said that there was need of a new Parliament building. But in 2021, these 60 former civil servants are saying the government is constructing a new building because of "superstitious beliefs". "They (60 former civil servants) are not educated fools, and they are a disgrace to the country," the minister said. "I will not put my signature on a letter which talks about superstitious beliefs...," he said. Without naming anyone, Puri said on May 18, the letter had been written by 60 former bureaucrats, including a former cabinet secretary and a foreign secretary. "This is a motivated, ill-intentioned...Criticism. They hide themselves behind social activists," he said. Talking about the new prime minister's residence, Puri said no design has been finalised for it and only two projects -- the Parliament building and Central Vista Avenue -- are currently being executed at a cost of around Rs 1,300 crore. Hitting out at the opposition, the Union minister said he has been noticing that a false narrative is being created over the central project, and added that no heritage building will be "touched". "This is not a vanity project, and this is a project of necessity," Puri told reporters. The minister attacked the Congress for alleging that a "Modi mahal (Modi palace) is being constructed under the Centre Vista Redevelopment project that will be executed at a cost of Rs 20,000 crore. "Where has this Rs 20,000 cost come from?. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not live in new PM residence forever...Whoever is the be PM will live there," he said. He said former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had lived in Teen Murti Bhavan which was later turned into a museum. "In 2014, this was the BJP-led NDA government which had first stopped converting former prime minister's residences into museums..." he said. Describing the Central Vista Avenue redevelopment, which entails construction activities on Rajpath and the surrounding lawns from the India Gate to the Rashtrapati Bhawan, as a "vital and essential" project of national importance, the Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed the plea against it saying it was "motivated" and filed with "ill-intent" and "lack of bonafides". While allowing the construction activity to continue, a bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh imposed cost of Rs one lakh on the petitioners who wanted the work to be halted in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, observing that it was "not a genuine public interest litigation". The redevelopment of the Central Vista, the nation's power corridor, envisages a new Parliament building, a common central secretariat, revamping of the 3-km Rajpath from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate, new prime minister's residence and office, and a new Vice President Enclave. New Delhi: In a major victory for the Centre, the Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a plea for halting the construction work of the Central Vista project. While allowing the construction work for the ambitious project, the high court said that it was a "vital and essential" national project. A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh dismissed a plea seeking to halt the Central Vista project during the coronavirus pandemic, saying the petition was "motivated" and "not a genuine PIL". Delhi HC dismisses a plea seeking direction to suspend all construction activity of the Central Vista Avenue Redevelopment Project in view of the second wave of the COVID19 pandemic. The court imposed Rs 1 lakh fine on petitioners & says it's a motivated plea. It was not a PIL pic.twitter.com/vsIzqFjWLW ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2021 Delhi High Court while refusing to stay construction work, said as the workers are staying on the site, there is no question of suspending the construction work for the project. The DDMA order in question nowhere prohibits the construction work, the high court said. The bench also imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on the petitioners. The court said under the contract awarded to the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, work had to be completed by November 2021 and, therefore, it should be allowed to continue. It said the legality of the project was already upheld by the Supreme Court. Central Vista Project It is an ambitious project of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre, which aims to redevelop a 3.2-km stretch called the Central Vista that lies at the heart of Lutyens Delhi built by the Britishers in the 1930s. The project involves demolishing and rebuilding several government buildings, including iconic landmarks, and constructing a new Parliament at a total cost of Rs 20,000 crore. In 2019, the central government announced the redevelopment project to give a new identity to the power corridor of India. The plan envisages the construction of a new parliament, prime minister and vice-presidents residences along with 10 building blocks that will accommodate all government ministries and departments. The project, which is estimated to be completed by 2024, is being executed by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Central Vista Redevelopment Project is estimated to cost Rs 20,000 crores. Out of this, around Rs. 1,000 crores will be used for the construction of a new Parliament Building. Key highlights of the Central Vista project -The new Parliament Building Complex, which will be triangular in shape, will spread over 64,500 square metre -The new Parliament building is described as the pivot of the Central Vista project design. -It is to be much bigger than the existing Parliament building and will be able to house 1,224 Members of Parliament. -The Lok Sabha chamber will have a seating capacity of 888 MPs while the Rajya Sabha chamber will accommodate 384 MPs. -The increased capacity of the chambers has been provisioned for keeping in mind future increases in the number of MPs. -Currently, the Lok Sabha has 545 MPs and the Rajya Sabha 245. -All MPs will have separate offices in the new building. -The new Parliament building will have a grand Constitution Hall showcasing India's democratic heritage. -The Constitution Hall will showcase the original copy of the Constitution -There will be a visitors gallery digitally displaying India's democratic heritage. -The existing Parliament House building will continue to be in use by retrofitting it to provide more functional spaces for parliamentary events. -The new Parliament building will be equipped with the latest digital interfaces as a step towards creating 'paperless offices'. -A monitoring committee having members from the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the CPWD, the NDMC and the architect/designer of the project will monitor the construction work. -The new Parliament building complex is expected to be complete by 2022. -Central Vista project has a work completion deadline of 2024 when the next Lok Sabha election will take place. Live TV CGBSE board exams 2021: The Class 12 Chattisgarh CGBSE board exam is all set to be held from Tuesday, i.e from June 1 to June 5. The students will be allowed to appear for the Class 12 CGBSE board exams 2021 from home. The examination will be conducted in-home mode from June 1. This decision has been taken in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and the safety of over 2.86 lakh students across the state. The class 12th students will be given five days from June 1 to 5 to collect question papers. Students can submit the answer sheets within five days from the date of collection of question papers. If students, an official statement issued in this regard said, are unable to submit the answer booklets within the five days-time, they will be marked absent in the exam. The students will also have to mark their attendances while submitting the answer booklets to the examination centres. The CGBSE statement also said that the board will not accept any answer booklets through posts or any other medium. Students have also been advised to wear masks and follow social distancing rules while visiting the exam centres to submit the answer booklets. The Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education (CGBSE) has released the admit card for students of class 12 board. Along with the CGBSE 12th hall ticket for regular courses, the board has also released the admit cards of vocational courses. Candidates can download the admit card from the official website of CGBSE at https://cgbse.nic.in. Check out these steps to download the admit card for class 12 CGBSE HSC board exams 2021: STEP 1: Visit the official website of CGBSE - https://cgbse.nic STEP 2: On the homepage, click on 'Admit Card - Higher Secondary Main Examination - 2021' STEP 3: A new page will appear on the screen STEP 4: Click on 'Class 12 main admit card 2021' STEP 5: Fill in your Roll Number, Name and Father's name on the space provided STEP 6: Your class 12th CGBSE admit card will be displayed on your screen Download the hardcopy and take the printout. Live TV New Delhi: Many recovered COVID-19 patients are getting repeat RT-PCR/antigen tests done as a part of the pre-operative protocol for non-urgent or elective surgeries, but experts from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Task Force (NTF) for COVID-19 are advising against it. As per a report in The Times of India (TOI) on Monday (May 31, 2021), the ICMR and NTF experts advise against repeating RT-PCR/antigen tests within 102 days of COVID-19 recovery, while pointing out that there are non-viable dead-virus particles present in an individuals body, for a while after recovering. These non-viable dead-virus particles can cause a false positive test result. The experts also added that surgeons should consider performing a non-urgent surgery on a COVID-recovered patient after at least six weeks of recovery date, adding that this will ensure faster healing. At present, Covid reinfection is confirmed only after 102 days of diagnosis. So, retesting within this time frame is not advisable, TOI quoted infectious diseases expert Sanjay Pujari, a member of the task force, as saying. Also, a minimum period of six weeks prior to non-urgent surgery is recommended for COVID-recovered patients who were symptomatic. As for emergency surgeries in recovering or recovered patients, these must be done immediately with due precautions, Pujari said. The experts also added that a COVID-recovered patients preoperative risk assessment needs to be individualised, while taking into consideration surgical intensity and risk-benefit ratio for the delay of the procedure. Residual symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath and chest pain are common in patients who have had Covid. These symptoms can be present for more than 60 days after diagnosis, Pujari said. Guilenies by the American Society of Anaesthesiology (ASA) also state that COVID-19 can have long-term effects on the heart function of an individual, and so a thorough preoperative evaluation is a must ahead of surgery. The ASA experts also added that surgeons need to place special attention on cardiopulmonary systems. Sanjay Kolte, President of Poona Surgical Society was quoted in the reports as saying, Retesting recovered patients within 102 days from Covid diagnosis only adds to anxiety and is a wastage of money. Importantly, surgeons should adopt universal precautions while performing elective surgery rather than insisting on RTPCR reports. The suggestive wait time for the COVID-recovered patients can vary from four to twelve weeks. For instance, experts believe that the procedure on an asymptomatic patient can be performed after four weeks, whereas for a COVID-recovered patient who was admitted to an ICU, the wait can be as long as twelve weeks. Earlier, ICMR had stated that there is a possibility of a swab test returning a positive result after detecting non-viable remnants of the virus, even after the infection has cleared the system. Live TV New Delhi: The national capital will begin unlocking on Monday (May 31, 2021) after being under complete lockdown for 42 days. Even though the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has extended the curfew on the movement of individuals except for essential activities till June 7, it has allowed companies to resume business. Apart from essential activities, personnel and associated staff, offices, factories and constructions will gradually open with staggered shifts. The unlocking process in the national capital begins a day after it recorded 78 coronavirus-related deaths, which is the first time in nearly a month-and-a-half that daily deaths in Delhi fell below 100. The city had recorded 81 deaths on April 13. Delhi's death toll now stands at 24,151. Delhi also reported 946 fresh cases that took its COVID-19 tally to 14,25,000, of which, 12,100 are active coronavirus cases. Delhi Health Bulletin - 30th May 2021 #DelhiFightsCorona pic.twitter.com/bRxnk5EjKo CMO Delhi (@CMODelhi) May 30, 2021 The following additional activities will be allowed outside the containment zones during the curfew period in Delhi: i. Operations of manufacturing and production units within closed premises in Approved Industrial Areas. ii. Construction activities within their work sites. iii. The owners of manufacturing and production units, the owners/contractors/employers of construction activities will be responsible for ensuring strict compliance of the following directives: -- Only asymptomatic workers and employees will be allowed at the workplace. -- Staggering of work/business hours will be followed at workplace in order to ensure proper social distancing between workers, adequate gaps between shifts, staggering the lunch breaks of staff etc. -- COVID Appropriate Behaviour shall be strictly followed by all workers/employees at workplace viz. wearing of face masks, maintaining social distancing, no spitting at a public place, no consumption of pan, gutkha, tobacco and liquor at the workplace. -- Provision of thermal screening, hand wash and sanitiser preferably with touch-free mechanism will be made at all entry and exit points and common areas. -- Frequent sanitization of the entire workplace, common facilities and all points which come into human contact like door handles etc shall be ensured, including between shifts. iv. The owners of manufacturing/production units, the owners/employers/contractors of construction activities will be responsible for strict compliance of aforesaid instructions/directives at the workplace. In case of any violation, concerned manufacturing/production unit or construction activity will be closed, besides strict penal action would be taken against the violator(s) as well as the owner of manufacturing unit or owner/ employer/ contractor of construction work activity, as the case may be. v. The movement of workers/employees shall be allowed only on the possession of e-pass (in soft or hard copy), which can be obtained by the owners/employers/contractors by submitting an online application with details of workers/employees on the website www.delhi.gov.in. vi. All District Magistrates shall ensure random RT-PCR / RAT testing in sufficient numbers at these manufacturing I production units/construction sites on regular basis. vii. All District Magistrates and their counterpart district DCPs shall deploy Special Teams for regular inspection of these manufacturing I production units as well as construction sites for ensuring the effective compliance of COVID Appropriate Behaviour by all workers/ employees. In view of the unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases with a high positivity rate and in order to break the transmission chain of the virus, the Delhi government had first imposed a curfew on the movement of individuals on April 19. Read the official order here! Live TV New Delhi: Four decades ago China brought the controversial one-child policy in a bid to control its massive population. Today, it is mulling to bring a three-child policy after its two-child policy, which was implemented only a few years ago, failed. Zee News Anchor Aditi Tyagi on Monday (May 31) discussed Chinas policies over the years to regulate its population. She explained why the country, which once propagated one-child policy is moving towards three-child policy. China is the first country in the world to enact a stringent law regarding population control - the one-child policy in 1979. This policy remained in force in China for 37 years. In 2016, it brought the second-child policy. Now the country is going to bring third-child policy which means people will be able to give birth to three children. The Chinese stand on population control in the last few decades has completely changed. Why does China now want to increase the population? The first reason is the historical decline in the rate of population growth in China. When China brought the one-child policy in 1979, its national birth rate was 5.9 percent. But due to the policy, by the year 1990, the national birth rate was reduced to 1.7 percent. When the second-child policy came to China in 2016, it did not make any difference. Today China's national birth rate has come down to just 1.3 percent. To keep the population stable, the national birth rate must be at least 2.1 percent. That is why the falling birth rate is a matter of concern for China. The second reason is the decreasing number of people of working age. For the economic progress of any country, it is necessary that the number of people between 15 years and 60 years should be sufficient. In China, the population of this age category is rapidly decreasing. In the last 10 years, the share of people of this age has decreased from 70 percent to about 63 percent, while the population of old people is increasing rapidly. For any country, getting old is not a healthy sign and that is why these figures are worrying China. Why was China's second-child policy not successful? The biggest reason for this is the lack of interest in marriage among the people there. A lot of young people are not getting married in China anymore. In addition to this, the youth have to struggle for jobs too. In view of this, the pressure on the government to retire men at the age of 60 and women at the age of 50 has increased. If we talk about India, the challenge before it today is not to increase the population but to control the population. In the year 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his speech from the Red Fort on the occasion of August 15, that India will face many problems due to the population explosion. He had also said that those who have small family, contribute in the development of the country which is a form of patriotism. Today, when China has come up with a policy of three children and wants to increase its population, India should also look into this subject and take concrete steps towards population control. Live TV New Delhi: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday urged the Rajasthan health minister to probe reports of alleged wastage of COVID vaccine in the state on priority. India's COVID-19 vaccination drive is being conducted across the country since January 16. The government of India is working closely with all the states and union territories to make this drive a success and help counter the pandemic effectively, the health ministry said. In a letter to Raghu Sharma, the Union health minister said a media report has highlighted that more than 500 vials of COVID-19 vaccines were found dumped in the waste bins of 35 COVID vaccination centres in the state which is not acceptable and must be investigated. In almost all districts, vaccine wastage is more than the national average which is less than 1 per cent, Vardhan said as he drew Sharma's attention to some media reports about alleged high vaccine wastage in a few districts of the state. "Therefore, I would urge you to look into the issue of vaccine wastage on priority especially in the high wastage districts in the state," the minister said, adding that the media report "regarding 500 vials found in waste bins which you would also agree is not acceptable" should also be investigated. "I would request you to advise all concerned state/districts officials to ensure sufficient planning to optimise vaccine utilisation and reduce avoidable wastage," Vardhan said. "I am confident that under your guidance, the state shall take all necessary actions to monitor the vaccine usage, including the wastage and ensure smooth implementation of COVID-19 vaccination drive," he added. Live TV Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 20:48:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JERUSALEM, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed their first tax treaty, the Israeli Ministry of Finance announced in a statement on Monday. "The treaty is an important pillar in the relationship between the two countries, providing certainty to investors and encouraging investment and business cooperation," the statement said. Israel and the UAE signed a historic normalization deal at the White House on Sept. 15, 2020. Along with clauses related to non-discrimination, exchange of information, and prevention of abuse, the treaty provides reduced tax rates to avoid double tax payments. The treaty, which is subject to the ratification of the Israeli government and parliament, is due to take effect on Jan. 1, 2022. "The tax treaty, along with an investment protection agreement and memoranda of understanding signed by the two countries, lays the groundwork for increasing economic cooperation," the ministry said. Enditem New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday (May 31) asked the Central government and Delhi government to come out with a policy on the distribution of the medicine Amphotericin B drug, used for treating black fungus. A Division Bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Jasmeet Singh asked if a person is 80 years old and other is 35 years old and a cruel choice has to be made, then "will you give it to 80 years old or to whom who has two children to support". The High Court said every life matter but the decision has to be made. It said that decision can not be left to the doctor as there chances that the medical professionals may be "lynched" and said that political leadership will have to take a decision in consultation with medical experts. The Court expressed unhappiness with leaving it to the doctors to decide whom to give medicine and said this is a bullet you (government) will have to bite. The Bench noted that there is a scarcity of medicine and authorities can not distribute two doses to everyone. The Court listed the matter for further hearing on Wednesday. The High Court is hearing the issue related to the shortage in supply of medicine for curing the black fungus. Bengaluru: A total of 1,250 black fungus (Mucormycosis) cases have been reported in Karnataka so far, informed the state health department on Monday (May 31). Of the 1,250 affected patients, 1,193 are still under treatment, according to news agency ANI. While 18 patients have been discharged so far, 39 people have succumbed to the fungus, stated a bulletin released by the health department on Sunday. Bengaluru Urban Khurda district accounted for the most number of infections with 521 cases. While 508 people are still under treatment in the state capital, 10 people have recovered and 3 patients have died so far. Meanwhile, Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Sunday said that Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda held talks with more than eight companies for black fungus medicine. "About 80,000 vials are in the market. The state has received 8-10 thousand vials so far. There were 1,250 cases of black fungus in the state. 30-35 deaths took place due to the infection. The medicines are being distributed to black fungus infected persons who were admitted to either a government hospital or a private hospital," the Karnataka Health Minister, K Sudhakar said. Live TV New Delhi: On a day when the NDA government at the centre completed seven years in office, Congress leader Ashok Chavan on Sunday (May 30, 2021) praised Bharatiya Janata Party's Nitin Gadkari and said that he is the right man in the wrong party. The Maharashtra Minister said that he often talks about Nitin Gadkari and that he is an efficient minister. "There are many issues which are related to basic amenities and infrastructure of Maharashtra. Gadkari takes those subjects seriously. I publicly praise his way of working either by writing articles or via tweets. But praising him does not mean that I support him politically. After all, he is a minister in the NDA government. So all I will say is that he is the right man but in the wrong party," Chavan said. Asked if he had a favourite minister in the NDA government, Chavan replied that 'good words' could only be spoken about Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. The former Chief Minister of Maharashtra said that Gadkari maintains a 'dialogue with other parties despite ideological differences'. Chavan also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government and said that it has failed to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. He alleged that the Centre has taken all decision-making powers into its hands, but now after the outbreak of coronavirus, it is blaming the state governments. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: The Etawah administration in Uttar Pradesh has found a novel idea to promote the COVID-19 vaccination drive. Etawah administration have issued a notices that say "No liquor without vaccine certificate" have been prominently displayed outside liquor outlets in Sefai in Etawah district. The notices were put up at the direction of Etawah Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Hem Kumar Singh. ADM Singh, along with district police officials, inspected liquor outlets in Sefai after the Aligarh hooch tragedy where over 50 people died after consuming spurious liquor over the weekend. ADM Hem Kumar Singh directed liquor outlets to display notices clearly stating that alcohol will not be sold to anyone who is yet to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Owners of liquor outlets were also warned against selling liquor to customers without verifying their vaccination certificates. However, Etawah district excise official Kamal Kumar Shukla said no order has been issued to stop the sale of liquor to those who are yet to receive the jab. He went on to add that the district administration`s efforts to shore up inoculations must be encouraged but there are no orders mandating vaccine certificates for the purchase of liquor. The Etawah ADM`s order comes days after the district magistrate of Firozabad had said salaries of government employees will be withheld unless they receive the jab. Uttar Pradesh has set a target of administering one crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines in the month of June. In order to achieve this target, district officials in the state are implementing novel ideas to promote vaccination. Live TV Chennai: A good number of young Indians are ready to register, wait, pay and get the Covid-19 vaccine, but vaccination slots are not so easy to get. Cut to a different world and it's not just vaccines that are free, if lucky, you could end up winning anything from gold coins, bikes, washing machines, induction cooktops, among other home appliances. A group of NGOs is going the extra mile to help battle vaccine hesitancy and ensure that the entire eligible population of a fishing hamlet gets vaccinated. Located about 50 km from Chennai, is the scenic fishing hamlet of Kovalam. The primary occupation of its over 16,000 population is, of course, fishing, tourism and promoting water sports. However, things havent been going well for the village and its residents since the pandemic struck. According to Kovalam residents and surfers Sekar and Dharani of SurfTurf, there were not many Covid-19 cases in their village, but their livelihoods were badly hit. The inflow of tourists came to a halt, restrictions on sporting activities were in place and there was no means to hold Surfing festivals that attract huge crowds to the village. This was made worse by misinformation and rumors that are spreading fast on social media they told Zee media. When vaccines were available, the villagers simply refused to take the jab, they added. A group of NGOs working in the village during the pandemic set up helplines and catered to the needs of residents by home-delivering essentials, groceries, masks, immunity boosters and much more. But, as vaccines became available, even getting the eligible elders to sign up was a herculean task. Thats when an idea struck them - to offer not just vaccines for free, but also provide the villagers some goodies that would cheer them up or improve their life - it could be anything from a plate of biryani to even a brand new motorbike. STS Foundation, in partnership with CN Ramdas and Chiraj Trusts has a two-pronged strategy to boost vaccination in the village - to offer short term incentives like mobile phone recharges and a plate of biryani on a daily basis, along with long term bumper prizes such as gold coins, washing machines, refrigerators, bikes, induction stoves, LPG cooktops via a lucky draw etc. The villagers are also provided free pick up and drop to the vaccination center. Everyone taking the jab receives a token and a counterfoil, which would be later used for the bumper lucky draw. Of over 6400 people eligible to take the jabs, we have successfully enrolled 640 persons and given the first dose to more than 200 persons over the last two days. As word spreads fast in the village, we are expecting a flurry of registrations and hope to have the entire eligible population vaccinated as soon as possible J Sundar, Trustee, STS Foundation told Zee media. "Weve set up helpline numbers for people to call and tele-register, so that we can enlist them for vaccination. With the current availability, we are doing up to 100 shots per day and hopefully, this will increase, he added. The NGOs partnering with the people of Kovalam and the Health department wish to put this beautiful coastal hamlet and surfing hotspot on the map for being a model vaccination village," he added. Jaipur: As the declining trend in COVID-19 cases continued, the Rajasthan government on Monday issued guidelines to start the "unlock" process by easing certain restrictions from June 2. According to the guidelines for the modified lockdown, exemption for various activities will be given only in areas where the positivity rate is less than 10 percent or the use of oxygen, ICU and ventilator beds is less than 60 per cent. All government offices of the state will open from 9:30 AM to 4 PM with the presence of 25 per cent employees till June 7, and after that with 50 per cent employees. At the same time, private offices can be opened up to 2 PM with the presence of 25 per cent employees. Intra-district movement of private vehicles will be allowed from 5 AM to 12 noon from Tuesday to Friday. After June 8, traffic will be allowed in the entire state from 5 AM to 12 noon. The weekend curfew will remain in force every Friday afternoon from 12 noon to 5 AM Tuesday till the number of active cases in the state reduces to 10,000. "Public discipline curfew" will continue on the rest of the days from 12 noon to 5 AM the next day. Live TV Kolkata: The West Bengal assembly elections were no less than a big battle for the state. We have seen many politicians jumping from Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In one such incident, TMC leader Dipendu Biswas has written a letter to TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee seeking her forgiveness on Monday (May 31). Dipendu Biswas is a lawmaker from the North 24 Parganas Basirhat Dakshin constituency. At the beginning of March 2021, he moved to BJP as he was not given an electoral ticket by Mamata Banerjee. The elections are over and TMC has come in power once again and looking at this, Dipendu Biswas is looking forward to joining the party again. He has written a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee saying that he took a wrong decision by jumping the party and wants to return to the party. Apparently, nearly a dozen of ex-TMC leaders have recently had a change of heart and has written letters to Chief Minister and top party officials in a bid to return. Live TV New Delhi: The UP Secondary Education Council on Saturday (May 29, 2021) announced to promote the class 10 students after it cancelled the examination due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The move is also going to help over 4.62 lakh students who had flunked in the year 2020, according to a Hindi daily. A 'Hindustan' report claimed that the decision will also benefit the students who didn't take the exam. Last year, over 30 lakh students had registered for the UP Board class 10 examination, of which, 27.7 lakh students had appeared in the exam, while 2.5 lakh didn't take it. More than 23 lakh students had cleared the exam. All students of classes six, seven, eight, nine and 11 have also been promoted to the next class. Earlier on May 29, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma had said that the council's decision to cancel class 10 examinations would benefit over 29.94 lakh students. The decision is in line with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which too had decided to cancel the class 10 board exam in April due to the coronavirus situation in the country. Meanwhile, the detailed examinations scheduled for class 12 UP board examinations will be announced soon and is likely to be conducted in the second week of July if circumstances are conducive. "As in the past, this year also, the examinations will be held in 15 working days," the Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister had informed. Elaborating on the nature of the class 12 examination, he had said that the duration will be of one-and-half hours and the students will have the freedom to answer any three questions out of 10. "To maintain social distance among students, the number of examination centres have been increased," the minister said, adding a total of 26,10,316 students have registered themselves for the class 12 board examination in Uttar Pradesh. Live TV New Delhi: With a focus on the COVID-19 crisis, BRICS or Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa's foreign ministers will meet on Tuesday (June 1) virtually at 4 pm. The meeting is being hosted by India as the chair of the grouping this year. Present in the meeting will be India's external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar, Brazil's FM Carlos Alberto Franco Franca, Russia's FM Sergey Lavrov, China's FM Wang Yi and South Africa's FM Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor. The ministry of external affairs in a release said, "Ministers are expected to exchange views on the Covid-19 pandemic situation, the need for strengthening and reforming the Multilateral System...Countering Terrorism." The ministers will discuss the finalization of "outcome documents" for the 13th BRICS summit that will take place later this year. New Delhi's focus as the chair of the grouping will be to come up with practical measures to meet the Sustainable Development Goals using technological tools. This is the 3rd time India is holding the BRICS Chairship after 2012 and 2016. This year marks the 15th anniversary of BRICS and the theme is BRICS@15: Intra BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation, and Consensus. BRICS Foreign Ministers started meeting in standalone format since 2017 when the grouping was led by Beijing, and India is hosting the 5th such meeting. The 2021 chair of the BRICS will be China. All in All, BRICS represents 41% of the global population, 24% of the global GDP, and 16% of global trade. Geneva: World Health Organisation (WHO) has awarded Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan with `WHO Director-General Special Recognition Award` for his accomplishments in the area of tobacco control. Every year, WHO recognises individuals or organisations in each of the six WHO Regions for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control. This recognition takes the form of the WHO Director-General Special Recognition Award and World No Tobacco Day Awards. On the occasion, WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Vardhan`s leadership was instrumental in the 2019 national legislation to ban E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products."Pleased to award @drharshvardhan, Indian Health Minister, with the special recognition for tobacco control. His leadership was instrumental in the 2019 national legislation to ban E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Thank you, Minister," Tedros tweeted. Pleased to award @drharshvardhan, Health Minister, with the special recognition for tobacco control. His leadership was instrumental in the 2019 national legislation to ban E-cigarettes & heated tobacco products. Thank you, Minister! https://t.co/VsDIL5ATFS #WorldNoTobaccoDay pic.twitter.com/IthC31PJau Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) May 31, 2021 Meanwhile, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare today chaired an event to mark World No Tobacco Day and led the pledge by everyone present to abstain from tobacco. He expressed his satisfaction that with the persistent efforts of the Centre and State governments, the prevalence of tobacco use has decreased by six percentage points from 34.6 per cent in 2009-10 to 28.6 per cent in 2016-17. The 2021 theme and campaign of World No Tobacco Day is -- "Commit to Quit". Very pleased to award @UniofBath Tobacco Control Research Group with the special recognition for tobacco control for their efforts to expose tobacco industry attempts & tactics to weaken, block or delay tobacco control. https://t.co/VsDIL5ATFS #WorldNoTobaccoDay pic.twitter.com/7VoYLHdQmo Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) May 31, 2021 Moreover, the WHO also honoured Tobacco Control Research Group, the University of Bath from the UK for its efforts in the area of tobacco control."We are incredibly honoured to receive a special recognition award from the @WHO Director-General for the World No Tobacco Day 2021 awards. A huge thanks to WHO, to @PartnershipFree for nominating us and all who support our work," the group had said in a tweet last week after the award was announced. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 20:49:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The past five years have been the best for the development of human rights in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a Chinese official said Monday. People's living conditions have improved remarkably and great achievements have been made in the fight against poverty in Xinjiang, Li Xiaojun, an official with the State Council Information Office, told a press conference. Xinjiang has achieved great progress in human rights development, and finger-pointing by some countries is purely out of thin air, Li said. China's ethnic minorities have enjoyed the best years in recent decades in terms of economic and social development, ethnic unity, culture, education, protection of freedom of religious belief and many other aspects. Enditem New Delhi: Actor Kartik Aaryan seems to be losing multiple big movie offers in a spree, the latest being Aanand L Rais untitled next. According to a report in Hindustan Times, Kartik Aaryan was roped in a gangster movie by filmmaker Aanand L Rai but is no longer the part of the project. Kartik was in advanced level of talks with Aanand, and had read the script and heard the narration, too. But, before he could sign on the dotted line, things fell apart, a source told Hindustan Times. Without taking names, Aanand L Rai told HT, As a production house, we work on several scripts and pitch it to actors - thats the process. Actors keep meeting you, you keep telling them what you are working on, they express their desire to collaborate. And then, depending upon the subject, you decide if you should approach them. But that doesnt mean you have signed them. Actor Ayushmann Khurrana has replaced Kartik in Aanand L Rais next. I have a story which we will soon make with Ayushmann, revealed Aanand. And according to sources the star is not even aware that he has been replaced. This will be the third big project that Kartik Aaryan will be losing. He was first ousted from Karan Johars Dostana 2 due to creative differences. Aaryan later opted out of Shah Rukh Khan production house Red Chillies film 'Freddy' over creative differences according to the Times of India. On the work front, Kartik will next be seen in Bhool Bhulaiya 2, Dhamaka, and an untitled film with Luv Ranjan. Mumbai: Bollywood star Madhuri Dixit Nene took to social media on Sunday (May 30) to express pride and happiness on her elder son Arin graduating from high school. The actress took to Instagram on Sunday and wrote, "A proud moment for Ram and I, as Arin graduates from high school with flying colours. Congratulations Arin and to the graduating class of 2021. We appreciate how hard this year has been for all of you and we salute your resilience, strength, hardwork , and focus to rise above the situation and succeed. So, follow your passion and understand that one day you will have the power to make a difference, use it well. Wishing you success in everything you do. Love you always. #ProudParent #ClassOf2021 #GraduationDay." The actress also shared a video where she is seen preparing her son for his graduation day and how he is rejoicing. In March this year, Madhuri made an Instagram post to celebrate her son's 18th birthday. She wrote, "My baby is officially an adult. Happy 18th birthday, Arin. Just remember that with freedom comes responsibilities. From today the world is yours to enjoy, protect and brighten. Make good on all the opportunities that come your way and live life to the fullest. Hope your journey is an unforgettable adventure. Love you." New Delhi: Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has made some changes in the rules for its PF account holders and failing to adhere to the rule will majorly affect your EPF contribution. The new rules will be applicable from June 1,2021. Linking of PF account with Aadhaar According to the new EPFO rule, every account holder should have his or her PF account linked to the Aadhaar Card. It will be the responsibility of the employer to ask the employees to verify their PF account. If by June 1, the employees fail to do so, then they may suffer several losses --one such being that the employer contribution to the PF account may also be stopped. A notification in this regard has also been released by EPFO. What is the new rule all about? The EPFO has implemented new rules under section 142 of the Social Security Code 2020. The regulatory body has clearly instructed the employers that from June 1, if a PF account is not linked to Aadhaar or UAN is not Aadhaar verified, then its ECR-Electronic Challan cum Return will not be filled. This means, though employees can see their own PF account contribution, they will not be able to get the employer's share. How to link EPF account with Aadhaar Login to your EPF account at the unified member portal Click on the KYC option in the Manage section You can select the details (PAN, Bank Account, Aadhar etc) which you want to link with UAN Fill in the requisite fields Now click on the Save option New Delhi: Several rules that have a major impact in the lives of common man are going to change from February. These rules range from stringent bank cheques rules to EPFO-Aadhaar linking to name a few. Since these rules are going to affect your everyday life, it is important to know more about these changes in detail. Bank of Baroda cheque payment rules As per Bank of Baroda notification, stringent rules of cheque payment is going kick in from June 1. Bank of Baroda has said that from June 1, the bank is going to make Positive Pay confirmation mandatory. Under this, if the payment of more than Rs 2 lakh is made through cheque, then the customer will have to confirm again. The transaction will be completed only when this process completes. Otherwise the cheque will be cancelled. EPFO-Aadhaar link According to the new EPFO rule, every account holder should have his or her PF account linked to the Aadhaar Card. It will be the responsibility of the employer to ask the employees to verify their PF account. If by June 1, the employees fail to do so, then they may suffer several losses --one such being that the employer contribution to the PF account may also be stopped. A notification in this regard has also been released by EPFO. Income taxs e-tax filing site The official e-tax filing site of the Income Tax Department will not work from June 1 to June 6 because the tax department is moving to a new modern platform. The IT department's new website http://INCOMETAX.GOV.IN will kick start on June 7. YouTube Tax Though not applicable to all the YouTubers, however if you are an Indian YouTuber, gaining views from US audiences for your, you will be liable for a 15 percent tax on your earnings (for the said viewership) by the video making platform. Costlier Air Travel Civil Aviation Ministry on Friday (May 28) has increased the lower limit on fares of domestic air travel by 15%. The revision of rates will come into effect from June 1, according to an official order by the ministry. Live TV #mute New Delhi: Social media giants like Google and Facebook have started updating their website in adherence to the new Indian IT rules pertaining to appointment of Grievance Officer. The new rules mandate that the intermediaries, including social media intermediaries, must establish a grievance redressal mechanism for receiving/resolving complaints from the users or victims. A Live Hindustan report, quoting government sources said that big social media companies like Google, Facebook and WhatsApp have started to share the details with the Ministry of Information Technology (IT) as per the new digital rules. The new rules require prominent social media intermediaries to be appointed as Grievance Redressal Officers, Nodal Officers and Chief Operating Officers and it is necessary for these officers to be appointed in India and they stay here Citing Industry sources, Live Hindustan report said Facebook and WhatsApp have shared compliance reports with the Ministry of Electronics and IT and information about the appointment of new complaint officers is being updated on these forums. On February 25, the Centre framed the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021, in the exercise of powers under section 87 (2) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and in supersession of the earlier Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules 2011, which has come into effect from May 26. KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that her government wont release Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay for Central duty as he is needed for the COVID-19 management in the state. The Chief Minister stated this in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which she said, "West Bengal Govt can't release and is not releasing its Chief Secretary at this critical hour." The West Bengal Chief Minister also urged the PM requesting to withdraw, recall, reconsider the decision and rescind the latest so-called order. The TMC chief said that she shocked and stunned by unilateral order recalling the states Chief Secretary in her letter to the PM. "I must confess that I have been shocked and stunned by the unilateral order dated 28 May 2021 sent to us by the Government of India, asking us to release Alapan Bandyopadhyay IAS, Chief Secretary, West Bengal, so that he may join the Government of India on 31 May 2021, the normal date of his superannuation," Banerjee said in her letter, calling the order "legally untenable, historically unprecedented and wholly unconstitutional". "West Bengal Govt can't release & is not releasing its Chief Secretary at this critical hours," West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to PM requesting to withdraw, recall, reconsider the decision & rescind latest so-called order ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2021 Mamata also stated that she presumed that the earlier order, issued by the Centre was made in consultation with the state government extending Chief Secretary's tenure for three months from June 1, stands. She further outlined that the All-India Service and laws framed for it have federal cooperation as the cornerstone of its legal architecture. Mamata, however, added that she did not understand what happened between the Centres order allowing extension to Chief Secretary on May 24 and then its unilateral order 4 days later. West Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay, whose sudden transfer order from the Centre days before his retirement has snowballed into a major controversy. As the Bengal government has made its stand clear, it is unlikely that he will report to the Department of Personnel and Training on Monday. As of now, he is yet to get the nod from the state government, a highly placed source said. Bandyopadhyay was very much present at the state secretariat 'Nabanna' even on a Sunday, the sources said. The Centre, in a surprise move, had on Friday night sought Bandyopadhyay's services and asked the state government to immediately release the top bureaucrat. Bandyopadhyay, a 1987-batch IAS officer of the West Bengal cadre, was scheduled to retire on May 31 after completion of 60 years of age. However, he was granted a three-month extension following a nod from the Centre to work on Covid management. In a communique to the state government, the Personnel Ministry on Friday said the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the placement of the services of Bandyopadhyay with the Government of India as per provisions of the Indian Administrative Service (cadre) Rules, 1954, "with immediate effect". It also directed Bandyopadhyay to report to the Department of Personnel and Training, North Block, New Delhi by 10 am on Monday. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Saturday called the Centre's decision to recall Bandyopadhyay as "unconstitutional" and "illegal", and appealed to the Union government to withdraw its order. Live TV Beni: At least 55 people were killed overnight in two attacks on villages in eastern Congo, the United Nations said on Monday, in potentially the worst night of violence the area has seen in at least four years. The army and a local civil rights group blamed the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an Islamist armed group, for raiding the village of Tchabi and a camp for displaced people near Boga, another village. Both are close to the border of Uganda. Houses were burned and civilians abducted, the U.N. office for humanitarian affairs said in a statement. Albert Basegu, the head of a civil rights group in Boga, told Reuters by telephone that he had been alerted to the attack by the sound of cries at a neighbour`s house. "When I got there I found that the attackers had already killed an Anglican pastor and his daughter was also seriously wounded," Basegu said. The Kivu Security Tracker (KST), which has mapped unrest in restive eastern Congo since June 2017, said on Twitter the wife of a local chief was among the dead. It did not attribute blame for the killings. "It`s the deadliest day ever recorded by the KST," said Pierre Boisselet, the research group`s coordinator. The ADF is believed to have killed more than 850 people in 2020, according to the United Nations, in a spate of reprisal attacks on civilians after the army began operations against it the year before. In March the United States labelled the ADF a foreign terrorist organisation. The group has in the past proclaimed allegiance to Islamic State, although the United Nations says evidence linking it to other Islamist militant networks is scant. President Felix Tshisekedi declared a state of siege in Congo`s North Kivu and Ituri provinces on May 1 in an attempt to curb increasing attacks by militant groups. Uganda announced earlier this month that it had agreed to share intelligence and coordinate operations against the rebels but that it would not be deploying troops in Congo. BEIJING: China said on Monday (May 31, 2021) that married couples may have up to three children, a major policy shift from the existing limit of two after recent data showed a dramatic decline in births in the world`s most populous country. Beijing scrapped its decades-old one-child policy in 2016, replacing it with a two-child limit that failed to result in a sustained surge in births given the high cost of raising children in Chinese cities - a challenge that remains. "To further optimise the birth policy, (China) will implement a one-married-couple-can-have-three-children policy," the official Xinhua news agency said in a report following a Politburo meeting chaired by President Xi Jinping. The policy change will come with "supportive measures, which will be conducive to improving our country`s population structure, fulfilling the country`s strategy of actively coping with an ageing population and maintaining the advantage, endowment of human resources", Xinhua said. It did not specify the support measures. "People are held back not by the two-children limit, but by the incredibly high costs of raising children in today`s China. Housing, extracurricular activities, food, trips, and everything else add up quickly," Yifei Li, a sociologist at NYU Shanghai, told Reuters. "Raising the limit itself is unlikely to tilt anyones calculus in a meaningful way, in my view," he said. In a poll on Xinhua`s Weibo account asking #AreYouReady for the three-child policy, about 29,000 of 31,000 respondents said they would never think of it while the remainder chose among the options: "I`m ready and very eager to do so", "it`s on my agenda", or I`m hesitating and there`s lot to consider. The poll was later removed. "I am willing to have three children if you give me 5 million yuan ($785,650)," one user posted. Shares in birth- and fertility-related companies surged. SLOWING GROWTH Early this month, China`s once-in-a-decade census showed that the population grew at its slowest rate during the last decade since the 1950s, to 1.41 billion. Data also showed a fertility rate of just 1.3 children per woman for 2020 alone, on a par with ageing societies like Japan and Italy. China`s politburo also said it would phase in delays in retirement ages, but did not provide any details. Fines of 130,000 yuan ($20,440) were being imposed on people for having a third child as of late last year. "I`m super happy," said Su Meizhen, a human resources manager in Beijing, who is pregnant with her third child. "We won`t have to pay the fine and we`ll be able to get a hukou," she said, referring to the urban residence permit that enables families to receive benefits including sending their children to local public schools. London: Amid demands for a fresh probe into the origins of COVID-19, a new study has found that Chinese scientists created the virus in a lab in Wuhan, then tried to cover their tracks by reverse-engineering versions of the virus to make it look like it evolved naturally from bats. The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 virus has no credible natural ancestor and was created by Chinese scientists who were working on a Gain of Function project in a Wuhan lab, the Daily Mail reported on Sunday, citing a new research paper by British professor Angus Dalgleish and Norwegian scientist Dr Birger Sorensen. The new research claims that scientists took a natural coronavirus backbone found in Chinese cave bats and spliced onto it a new spike, turning it into the deadly and highly transmissible COVID-19. The paper also quotes that researchers found "unique fingerprints" in COVID-19 samples that they say could only have arisen from manipulation in a laboratory. Authors Dalgleish and Sorensen wrote in their paper that they had prima facie evidence of retro-engineering in China for a year, but were ignored by academics and major journals, reported DailyMail.com. The study alleged "deliberate destruction, concealment or contamination of data" at Chinese labs and notes the silencing and disappearance of scientists in China who spoke out about the activities. The research, which has been obtained by DailyMail.com, is expected to intensify the ongoing debate on China's role in creating the virus that has claimed thousands of lives. In the 22-page paper which is set to be published in the scientific journal Quarterly Review of Biophysics Discovery, Dalgleish and Sorensen pieced together how Chinese scientists, some working with American universities, allegedly built the tools to create the coronavirus. Incidentally, Gain of Function projects, which involves tweaking natural viruses to make them more infectious, had been outlawed by former US President Barack Obama. In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Sorensen said that four amino acids on the spike have a positive charge, which causes the virus to tightly cling to the negatively charged parts of a human, becoming more infectious.Because these positively charged amino acids also repeal each other, it was rare to find even three in a row in naturally occurring organisms, while four in a row is `extremely unlikely, he said. "The laws of physics mean that you cannot have four positively charged amino acids in a row. The only way you can get this is if you artificially manufacture it," Dalgleish told DailyMail.com. "The implication of our historical reconstruction, we posit now beyond reasonable doubt, of the purposively manipulated chimeric virus SARS-CoV-2 makes it imperative to reconsider what types of Gain of Function experiments it is morally acceptable to undertake," they wrote. In the paper, the scientists wrote that a natural virus pandemic would be expected to mutate gradually and become infectious but less pathogenic, which did not happen in the case of COVID-19. Dalgleish and Sorensen claimed that after the pandemic began, Chinese scientists took samples of the COVID-19 virus and retro-engineered it, making it appear as if it had evolved naturally. "We think that there have been retro-engineered viruses created. Theyve changed the virus, then tried to make out it was in a sequence years ago," Dalgleish told DailyMail.com. The scientists also highlighted that Chinese scientists who wished to share their knowledge have not been able to do so or have disappeared. Sorensen said that he believes the virus escaped from lower security areas of the institute, where he believes Gain of Function research was performed, reported DailyMail.com. "We have seen lab leaks and we know it's happening. We also know from the reports we`ve seen, that coronavirus is worked on in Biosafety Level 2 or 3 labs. If they do Gain of Function in such labs, what do you expect?" he said. In February 2020, Botao Xiao, a molecular biomechanics researcher at South China University of Technology, published a paper claiming "the killer coronavirus probably originated from a laboratory in Wuhan," highlighting safety issues at the institute. However, he withdrew the paper weeks later after Chinese authorities denied any accidents at the lab. Dalgleish further told DailyMail.com that he believed China's resistance to the theory that COVID-19 is a man-made, escaped virus comes from scientists fearful that the revelation would shut down their field. "This looks like a weak defence to protect the discipline so that this type of genetic engineering will not be interfered with. I make no bones about it. The Gain of Function engineering should have been banned ages ago," he said. Despite former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove saying publicly that the scientists theory should be investigated, they said their research was dismissed by major scientific journals that were adamant that the virus jumped naturally from bats, reported DailyMail.com. However, leading academics, politicians and the media have now begun to contemplate the possibility that COVID-19 escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in China - where experiments included manipulating viruses to increase their infectiousness in order to study their potential effects on humans. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden on May 26 said he has asked the US intelligence community to "redouble their efforts" to come to a conclusion on the origins of COVID-19 and report back to him within 90 days. China state media rejected the idea that COVID-19 had originated there and said that it is "a conspiracy created by US intelligence agencies". (With inputs from news agencies) Seoul: The US` termination of a guideline that limits the range of South Korean missiles to 800 kilometers (450 miles) demonstrates Washington`s hostile policy towards Pyongyang and aims at triggering an arms race on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea`s international affairs critic, Kim Myong Chol was quoted as saying by the state media. Last week, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and US President Joe Biden agreed during a meeting in Washington to end the flight range guidelines that were issued in 1979, when South Korea was given US technologies and components for developing its own missiles. As a result of two revisions in 2001 and 2012, the permitted range of South Korean missiles was increased from the initial 180 kilometers to 300 kilometers and then 800 kilometers. According to an article by Kim Myong Chol in KCNA, the scrapping is "apparently deliberate and hostile act," the latest in a series of steps by the US to revise missile guidelines, following the removal of the warhead weight limit, which "clearly shows who is behind the escalation of tension" in the region. The move also sparked "a disturbing opinion" that South Korea can now develop any type of missiles, even a hypersonic one, in the shortest possible period, the article said, adding that it will accelerate the arms race on the Korean peninsula and in its surrounding areas, as well as hinder North Korea`s development. "Lots of countries now view the U.S. key DPRK policy, namely `pragmatic approach` and `maximum flexibility` produced by the Biden administration with much effort as just trickery," Kim Myong Chol noted. The article went on to say that while the US was branding the measures Pyongyang claims to take for self-defense as a violation of UN resolutions, it granted its allies unlimited right to missile development -- "a stark reminder of the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK and its shameful double-dealing." "The target of the DPRK is not the ROK army but the US," Kim Myong Chol said, adding that Washington only uses Seoul to attain its hegemonic purpose. The article also called on the international community to take note of Washington`s grave and provocative acts against the DPRK just under its nose," not just the US allegations concerning Pyongyang`s violation of the UN resolutions. ALSO READ: COVID-19 has no 'credible natural ancestor, was created in Wuhan lab, claims new study Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 20:57:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- China has always supported international anti-pandemic cooperation and has made active efforts to this end, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Monday, adding China firmly opposes using the pandemic as a political stunt or even interfering in China's internal affairs. According to reports, Taiwan authorities expressed gratitude to the Japanese government for its recent decision to study the supply of COVID-19 vaccines to the island. "Currently, Japan is still unable to ensure its own adequate supply of vaccines," spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a press briefing. Under such circumstances, the Japanese government announced that it would study providing vaccines to Taiwan, which was questioned by many including media and people on the island, Wang said. Wang stressed that that vaccine assistance should return to its original purpose of saving lives and should not be reduced to a tool for political self-interest. Two local branches of the Red Cross Society of China in Fujian Province have expressed willingness to donate COVID-19 vaccines to Kinmen and Matsu, which are attached to Taiwan, to battle the recent resurgence of infections. The offer, however, was refused by Taiwan's mainland affairs council. Noting the Chinese mainland has repeatedly expressed its willingness to do its utmost to help Taiwan compatriots cope with the epidemic, Wang said Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authority, proceeding from political self-interest, turned a blind eye to the goodwill of the mainland, and even maliciously slandered and smeared the mainland in every way to block its vaccine shipments to Taiwan. "This is a disregard and trampling on the life and health of Taiwan compatriots," the spokesperson added. Enditem Colombo: Disclosure of procurement price of China`s Sinopharm vaccine in Sri Lanka has sparked a row after reports emerged that Colombo had to shell out a higher per-dose price than its fellow South Asian country Bangladesh. According to the Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka is paying USD 15 per dose for the Sinopharm vaccine, which is USD 5 higher than what Bangladesh paid. Contrary to media reports, Channa Jayasuma, the country`s Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals State Minister Professor, said there is "no such an agreement to give the vaccine at USD 10 for Bangladesh." The minister said they had been informed by the Chinese Embassy and the Sinopharm company that there is no such agreement to give the vaccine at USD 10 for Bangladesh. Jayasuma`s claims stand in contrast with what Bangladesh`s Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, a Cabinet Division official, said earlier this week that Dhaka was purchasing the vaccine at USD 10 per dose. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka`s Director-General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena also defended the government`s procurement price, saying that they had obtained the Sinopharm vaccines at the minimum cost. "We have procured the vaccines with the minimum cost we could and at a competitive price," he said. "The prices of COVID-19 vaccines range from USD 18 to USD 40. The prices are subject to changes due to numerous reasons," the Health DG underlined. Besides Sri Lanka, the Bangladesh government has also approved the purchase of millions of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from China. From June onwards, shipments will arrive in Bangladesh in three phases, with five million doses in each consignment, bdnews24 reported. Bangladesh had started its inoculation drive against coronavirus with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine procured from India at USD 5 per dose. As things stand, the Chinese vaccine is set to cost Bangladesh double the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot from the Serum India of India. Similarly, Sri Lanka is reported to have purchased one dose of AstraZeneca vaccine for USD 5.50, which is almost one-third the price being offered by Beijing. ALSO READ: Would hold talks with India if it restores Jammu and Kashmir's pre-Aug 2019 status, says Pakistan PM Imran Khan Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 21:07:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KINSHASA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- More than 40 people were killed Sunday night in attacks blamed on rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in two villages in the eastern province of Ituri in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to local authorities. The attacks occurred in the villages of Tchabi and Boga, southwest of Bunia, Ituri's capital. At least 45 bodies have been found at the scene of the attacks, member of Ituri provincial parliament Wilson Mugara told Xinhua over the telephone. Jules Ngongo, spokesman for the DRC army in Ituri, confirmed the attacks in both villages, but said he is waiting for the latest assessment on casualties. Local media said the toll is likely to rise as searches for the bodies of more victims continue, and that the attackers also burned down houses and abducted several residents. Since the beginning of this year, members of the ADF, originated in Uganda and active in this part of the country for decades, have increased their attacks in Ituri, and the Beni territory, in neighboring North-Kivu province. On April 30, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi declared a state of siege in the two provinces. Enditem By Danil Bochkov A Russian Air Force Tu-214 flies over Offutt Air Force Base, April 26, 2019. /AP Editor's note: Danil Bochkov is an expert with the Russian International Affairs Council. He graduated cum laude with a master's degree in economics from MGIMO-University under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia and a master's degree in world economy from the University of International Business and Economics in China. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN. The U.S. has just announced that it will not rejoin the Open Skies Treaty (OST) placing blame on Russia, which supposedly "damaged" the treaty and failed to "take any actions to return to compliance." It was expected since Joe Biden's administration has demonstrated neither intention nor interest in revisiting it. The Kremlin has expressed disappointment over the decision. Last year Moscow stressed, that its dismantling would cause "less openness, less trust and security" - so it does. As Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov outlined, the U.S. had been given enough time to reconsider the "wrong" decision, and should true interest in buttressing the treaty had prevailed Washington could have rejoined immediately. If one recalls the developments around the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) accord, which was almost buried by Donald Trump administration's inaction, Joe Biden a vocal proponent of its prolongation prioritized the issue and brought it to the negotiation table with President Vladimir Putin right after his inauguration. Paradoxically, President Biden was very optimistic about the OST during his presidential campaign saying in May 2020 that by withdrawing from the OST, Donald Trump "has doubled down on his short-sighted policy of going it alone and abandoning American leadership" and disrupted alliances. Commenting on long-existing criticism of Moscow as a spoiler of the treaty's provisions then president-candidate Biden stressed, that the "Russian violations should be addressed not by withdrawing from the Treaty, but by seeking to resolve them" via its thorough implementation. A lot of other American politicians and security experts from the leading think tanks such as Brookings have spoken up for the OST prolongation as a cornerstone of global security and one of few remaining confidence-building measures. In 2018 then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis insisted that the treaty was in his country's "best interest." Now the only remaining pillar for keeping the U.S. and Russia from falling into a new arms race is the newly prolonged New START treaty. The problems around OST arose after 2014, which could be explained by the dramatic nose-diving of U.S.-Russia bilateral relations following the Ukraine crisis. Then the U.S. started blaming Russia for violating provisions of the treaty by refusing flight over some territories such as the Kaliningrad region, which borders several NATO allies. A U.S. Air Force OC-135 aircraft used for surveillance of Russia under the Open Skies Treaty. /AFP Some other blockages of U.S. monitoring missions occurred from time to time with Moscow's excuses based on military exercises or travel by important Russian officials. Washington responded by limiting Russian reconnaissance missions over Hawaii and some military bases, as well as confining flights over Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. Mutual criticism was growing, which resulted in the U.S. decision to withdraw from the treaty in November 2020. It gave Moscow a legal pretext to copy the suit, which followed later in January. On May 19, the Russian lower Parliament voted for denouncing the treaty a decision that now expects upper Parliament resolution and will proceed to the President for final revision. The timing shows that Russia did not want to scrap the agreement and has been pinning hopes that the U.S. could reconsider all for vain. After the U.S. pullout, Moscow was calling on remaining member-states to provide it with written guarantees that no imagery data gathered by other members would be shared with the U.S. NATO allies, including Germany and France, failed to reach compromise within the deadlines set by Moscow by rebuffing Russia legally-bounding conditions. It seems that European treaty signatories did not want to irritate the U.S. and lose their most powerful NATO ally's affection even over security matters. Now some of them regret the U.S. move with Berlin saying that it keeps considering OST an "important element of the arms control architecture." Within the U.S., strong lobby in U.S. Senate, mostly Republicans, pushed that organizing reconnaissance flights is incomparably expensive with using cutting-edge sensors of the satellites, though other specialists debunk the argument saying that operating, maintaining, and replacing the OC-135B is still cheaper. And those advocating for scraping OST do not consider the fact that not all U.S. allies have enough technological capability to use satellites for this purpose. However, for U.S. officials in favor of the treaty, they argue that remaining active would provide an opportunity for regular personal exchanges between top military officers, which increases trust and "provides invaluable information" on emotional intelligence level. Besides, the U.S. benefited more from the treaty using quotas of all its NATO allies to fly over Russia, which accounted for about one-third (with the combination of flights over Belarus) of all flights, while Moscow allocated just 12 percent of its total flyovers for the U.S. territory. Between 2002 and 2016, the U.S. flew 196 times over Russian territory while Russia did with its 71 total flights over the U.S. Though being crucial for arms control and ensuing trust in the bilateral relationship, the OST seems to have little impact on the Putin-Biden summit planned for June 16, since both sides are too away from moving to trust-building, being more concentrated on repairing the long disrupted relations. Irreversible bury of the treaty would not be beneficial for the overall atmosphere of the meeting, but do not damage it either. Putting arms control aside both leaders have other pressing issues of mutual and global concern to talk about. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 21:12:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- The China-developed vaccines have showed reliability that "no one could have expected in difficult times and circumstances," Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said at the reception of the latest batch of Chinese vaccines last week. -- Support from China also included advice of the best Chinese experts and doctors who helped Serbia combat COVID-19 and technological equipment for Serbian hospitals, doctors, and nurses. -- Official data shows that notwithstanding limited production capacity and enormous demand at home, China has honored its commitment by providing free vaccines to more than 80 developing countries in urgent need and exporting vaccines to 43 countries. BELGRADE, May 31 (Xinhua) -- For Nikola Stanojevic, a musician from Belgrade, life is getting back to normal after months of disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "My parents received China's Sinopharm vaccine in February, and that really made me less worried and tense," he said. Like Stanojevic and his family, recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is picking up pace in Serbia as the Balkan country continues to make headway in inoculating its people with vaccines from China. As one of the first European countries to authorize the use of China-developed vaccines, Serbia has shot ahead of most countries on the continent in rolling out its vaccination program. People wait to receive COVID-19 vaccines in Belgrade, Serbia on Jan. 25, 2021. (Photo by Nemanja Cabric/Xinhua) The China-developed vaccines have showed reliability that "no one could have expected in difficult times and circumstances," Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said at the reception of the latest batch of Chinese vaccines last week. RECOVERY IN PROGRESS Trust in Chinese vaccines has helped secure Serbia an early recovery. Schools in Serbia already opened on April 19, and the week before saw the opening of shopping malls, with bars and restaurants also resuming business. Earlier this month, noting that Serbia has been one of the leading countries in mass vaccination, Brnabic announced that the country plans to fully reopen by June 21. In July, Serbia is scheduled to hold the Exit music festival, one of the most influential music events in Eastern Europe, which each year attracts artists and visitors from around the world. Exit said Serbia's Ministry of Health will provide "a few thousand vaccine doses for festival international artists and visitors as a way to aid countries that currently have vaccine shortages." "Exit festival, which our country is globally proud of, happening this July will be one of the important symbols of Serbia's victory over the pandemic," Brnabic was quoted as saying on Exit's web page. The government's confidence comes from the country's rapid progress in its vaccination program and relatively abundant vaccine supply. A man receives an injection of Chinese COVID-19 vaccine in Majdanpek, Serbia, on April 6, 2021. (Photo by Wang Wei/Xinhua) According to recent data from the Serbian government, the country has vaccinated more than 45 percent of its adult population, a rate higher than most European countries. While the number of those vaccinated is still not enough to reach herd immunity, the country has plenty of vaccines available at the moment, Brnabic noted. CHINESE VACCINES INDISPENSABLE Of all the assistance Serbia received from others in fighting the pandemic, Chinese vaccines played an indispensible role. Last week, another batch of Chinese Sinopharm vaccines arrived at the Belgrade airport, giving another boost to the country's vaccine drive. It was the eighth such flight to deliver vaccines, Brnabic said when receiving the latest supply, expressing her gratitude for the delivery of millions of doses "in the shortest possible time." Workers unload a container of China's Sinopharm inactivated coronavirus vaccines at the Belgrade Airport, Serbia, Jan. 16, 2021. (Photo by Predrag Milosavljevic/Xinhua) "Serbia was the first European country to use Chinese vaccines," visiting Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic said Friday in China, adding that the most vital step in the two countries' anti-COVID cooperation was the production of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine in Serbia. Serbia's faith in Chinese vaccines is undergirded by scientific research. According to a study published last week in The Journal of the American Medical Association, two inactivated vaccines developed by China's Sinopharm have shown to be safe and effective against COVID-19 in phase-3 human trials. The China National Biotec Group, a subsidiary of Sinopharm, said in a statement that it is the world's first published phase-3 study of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines. In addition to vaccines, China has also offered Serbia other kinds of help. According to the Serbian government, Serbia received 58 planes that brought equipment donated by China and Chinese companies since the start of the pandemic. Support from China also included advice of the best Chinese experts and doctors who helped Serbia combat COVID-19 and technological equipment for Serbian hospitals, doctors, and nurses. People play chess at Kalemegdan Park in Belgrade, Serbia on May 26, 2021. (Photo by Wang Wei/Xinhua) "I would like to express gratitude, not only my personal gratitude, but also the gratitude of the Republic of Serbia, our president Aleksandar Vucic, and all the people of Serbia for the firm and consistent support and help from China," Selakovic said. RELIABLE CONTRIBUTOR China has been providing assistance to many countries including Serbia since the begining of the pandemic, all in an effort to build a global community of health. Last year, in a phone conversation with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China and Serbia have once again demonstrated their brotherly bond and sincere friendship with concrete actions to end COVID-19. Echoing Xi's words, Brnabic said China's help illustrates the partnership, strength, seriousness and credibility of the two countries' relations. "Serbia will never forget this." Serbia is not the only country which has received anti-COVID support from China. Official data shows that notwithstanding limited production capacity and enormous demand at home, China has honored its commitment by providing free vaccines to more than 80 developing countries in urgent need and exporting vaccines to 43 countries. "China has offered vaccines to different countries," Selakovic said. "The countries who accepted the offer have shown all the others that it is not an issue of geopolitics but humanity." (Video reporters: Sun Nan, Luo Fei, Wu Siyang, Shi Zhongyu; Video editor: Lin Lin) Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 22:02:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close The UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths (C) speaks to the press at the Sanaa International Airport after concluding a two-day visit to the Houthi rebel-held Yemeni capital, in Sanaa, Yemen, May 31, 2021. Martin Griffiths said Monday that the blockade on Sanaa airport and Hodeidah seaport should be lifted. Griffiths arrived in Sanaa on Sunday and met with Houthi chief Abdulmalik al-Houthi, according to Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) SANAA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths said Monday that the blockade on Sanaa airport and Hodeidah seaport should be lifted. "Obstacles should be lifted to allow fuel and goods reaching the Yemenis," Griffiths told reporters at Sanaa airport after concluding a two-day visit to the Houthi rebel-held Yemeni capital. "There is a need for a cease-fire, reopening roads for the movement of the Yemeni people and returning normal life to Yemen," Griffiths said, adding that he will re-discuss this issue with the Yemeni government and Saudi officials. Griffiths arrived in Sanaa on Sunday and met with Houthi chief Abdulmalik al-Houthi, according to Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. Al-Houthi told Griffiths that the blockade is "a collective punishment," calling for the United Nations to press on the Saudi-led coalition to lift it. "It is the right of the Yemeni people to obtain fuel, medical supplies and foodstuffs, and this humanitarian issue cannot be exchanged for the cease-fire," al-Houthi was quoted by al-Masirah TV as telling Griffiths during their meeting. Griffiths also told the reporters at Sanaa airport that the Houthi offensive on the government-controlled Marib impedes peace efforts and endangers millions of lives. The Iran-backed Houthis began in February a major offensive against the Saudi-backed Yemeni government army to capture the oil-rich province of Marib, which hosts nearly 2 million internally displaced people. The United Nations has warned the offensive on Marib could lead to a major humanitarian catastrophe. Griffiths' recent brokered negotiation between Yemen's warring sides and other relevant parties has failed to produce a cease-fire agreement. Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. The Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015 to support Hadi's government. The war has killed tens of thousands of Yemenis, displaced 4 million and pushed Yemen to the brink of famine. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 23:40:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Head of Mission and Force Commander of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Stefano Del Col reiterated on Monday the UNIFIL's continued support for Lebanon and its people, according to a statement by the UNIFIL. "We have donated equipment, expertise, and training to hospitals, schools and communities, and will continue to do so as long as it takes," Del Col said to mark the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers at the mission's headquarters in Naqoura in southern Lebanon. Del Col paid tribute to the UN peacekeepers around the world for their selfless service in pursuit of lasting peace. Remarking on the tens of thousands of young peacekeepers currently serving around the world, Del Col said each of them makes a crucial contribution to international peace and security. During the ceremony, Del Col and Maroun Kobayati, representative of the Lebanese Armed Forces, laid wreaths in tribute to fallen peacekeepers. Since 1978, 322 UNIFIL peacekeepers have given their lives to the cause of peace in southern Lebanon. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 23:43:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DHAKA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The Bangladeshi government will resume registration for COVID-19 vaccination after more doses reached the country from China, Health Minister Zahid Maleque announced Monday. Due to the vaccine shortage in the country amid a delay in the arrival of shipments from India, Bangladesh suspended the registration for jabs in May. Against this backdrop, the Bangladeshi government on May 27 approved the purchase of a batch of COVID-19 vaccines from China. The approval came after Bangladesh began administering the China-donated COVID-19 vaccines to its medical students last Tuesday. About 1,000 medical students from the country's four top leading medical colleges took their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine thanks to the first batch of China-donated vaccines. Bangladesh's drug regulator in late April authorized the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use. Also with the support of the Bangladeshi government, China's "Spring Sprout" vaccine program was launched last Saturday to inoculate Chinese nationals living in Bangladesh. Bangladesh reported 1,710 new COVID-19 cases and 36 new deaths on Monday, making the tally at 800,540 and death toll at 12,619, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-01 00:01:02|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- China will support couples who wish to have a third child, as the aging of the country's population has been increasing in extent in recent years. -- Chinese people aged 60 or above accounted for 18.7 percent of the country's total population in 2020, 5.44 percentage points higher than that in 2010. -- The new policy, aimed at raising China's fertility rate, meets the needs of building a birth-friendly society. BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- China will support couples who wish to have a third child, according to a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held on Monday. Implementing the policy and its relevant supporting measures will help improve China's population structure, actively respond to the aging population, and preserve the country's human resource advantages, the meeting said. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, chaired the meeting to hear reports on major policy measures to actively address the aging of the population during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). The meeting reviewed a decision on improving birth policies to promote long-term balanced population growth. A nurse guides a pregnant woman who made a reservation for regular check via cell phone at Fujian Provincial Maternity and Children's Hospital in Fuzhou, capital of east China's Fujian Province, June 12, 2018. (Xinhua/Song Weiwei) China has a large population, and the aging of its population has been increasing in extent in recent years, the meeting said. According to the latest census data, Chinese people aged 60 or above accounted for 18.7 percent of the country's total population in 2020, 5.44 percentage points higher than that in 2010. China's increasing elderly population will reduce supply in the labor force while increasing the burden on families' elderly care and the pressure on the supply of basic public services, said Ning Jizhe, head of the National Bureau of Statistics. Chen Yuwen's phone kept ringing on Monday afternoon, as friends bombarded her with tons of messages about the third-child policy. "People knew that I wanted to have a third child, so they all came to tell me the good news," said Chen, 36, a mother of two in Shanghai. Her elder son is eight years old and her younger son is almost four. Chen used to be a project manager in a Fortune 500 company. After having her kids and putting time and passion into raising them, she started posting on the microblog Sina Weibo. She is now an influential figure on mother-child content with 2.4 million followers. Chen currently writes maternal and child-related content on Weibo. She once wrote on Weibo why she wants another baby. "Raising my second child gave me confidence," she said. "These two kids interact and bond with each other every day, which is precious." Chen said that when she and her husband grow old, the children can take care of each other. "The process of raising kids is not easy, but it is also a special, emotional and irreplaceable experience," she said. Chen Youhua, a sociology professor at Nanjing University, said the third-child policy is a swift move aimed at raising China's fertility rate. An increasingly elderly population will increase the cost of labor and the pressure on the social security net, therefore hurting the vitality of the economy and the momentum of economic growth, said the professor. "The new policy meets the needs of building a birth-friendly society. It will help make parents more willing and less concerned about having more children, and enable them to raise children well," he added. Children take part in the tug-of-war game at a kindergarten in Changxing County of Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, Dec. 25, 2020. (Xinhua/Xu Yu) Monday's meeting also acknowledged the progress of major birth policies adopted by the Party's central authorities since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012. China in 2013 allowed couples to have a second child if either parent was an only child, and in 2016 allowed married couples to have two children, phasing out the one-child policy. The meeting demanded efforts to implement a third-child policy in accordance with the law and to advance birth policies' alignment with relevant economic and social policies. Education and guidance should be provided to promote marriage and family values among marriage-age young people, the meeting said. Efforts are needed to improve prenatal and postnatal care services, develop a universal childcare services system, promote fairness in education, increase the supply of quality educational resources, and reduce family spending on education. China should also continue to implement its current reward and assistance system as well as preferential policies for families with one child and rural families with only two daughters who were born before the implementation of the two-child policy. The meeting urged efforts to deepen the national medium and long-term population development strategy and regional population development planning to promote long-term and balanced population development. Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-01 00:12:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RABAT, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's COVID-19 tally rose to 519,216 on Monday as 108 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours. The country's coronavirus death toll hit 9,147 with four new fatalities added during the last 24 hours, while 231 people are in intensive care units, according to a statement by the Ministry of Health. The total number of recoveries from COVID-19 in Morocco increased by 163 to 507,125, the statement said. The COVID-19 fatality rate in Morocco stands at 1.8 percent and the recovery rate at 97.7 percent. Meanwhile, 8,674,931 people have received so far the first vaccine shot against COVID-19 in the country, and 5,468,470 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 Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-01 00:56:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JUBA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese transitional government's lead negotiator Monday expressed hope of finalizing a peace deal with Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) at the ongoing talks in South Sudan's capital Juba. Khalid Omer Yousif, minister for cabinet affairs of Sudan's transitional government, expressed optimism of inking a final peace deal with the opposition group led by Abdel Aziz Al-Hilu. "We have reservations on the proposal of the SPLM-N but we will continue to negotiate for a final peaceful settlement of the conflict," Yousif told journalists in Juba. In October 2020, the SPLM-N refused to sign the peace deal between the Sudan government and five other armed oppositions in Juba as it demanded a democratic and secular state with freedom of religion. Kuku Jakdol, SPLM-N spokesperson, said that the government's response to their demands has so far been positive, raising hopes of concluding the peace process. "We have received the government's response and it is highly positive, that means we will revisit our reservations and in the next few days we will find a lasting solution," said Jakdol. South Sudan President Salva Kiir last week launched the resumption of the peace talks between the Sudanese transitional government and the SPLM-N under his mediation. Tut Gatluak, head of South Sudan mediation team in the Sudanese peace talks, revealed that the talks between the parties are progressing well, adding that he expects the two sides to finalize the talks with a peace deal. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-01 03:34:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VALLETTA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Malta has launched its own digital certificate for those fully vaccinated against COVID-19, allowing them to travel more easily, Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Monday. Those who received both shots of a two-dose vaccine, or one in the case of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, can download their certificate 14 days after the last dose, Abela told a press conference on the eve of the country's reopening of its tourism business. The certificate will be used to facilitate travel, visits to the elderly in homes and the restart of certain "restricted" social and cultural events. Abela said that those who hold the certificate will not need to do a PCR test when entering Malta from abroad, while those who do not will have to do such a test before boarding their flight. Anyone traveling into Malta must produce a vaccine certificate or a negative PCR test before boarding or pay 120 euros to get a COVID-19 test on arrival at the airport. Abela said that almost 210,000 people were now fully vaccinated. He expressed confidence that the country was "moving towards normality." "The pandemic is not over but the signs in Malta are good," Abela said. He said Malta would also join the EU's Digital COVID-19 Certificate when this becomes available. This covers three different certificates: vaccination, negative test result or recovery from the coronavirus. Those with the vaccine certificate will also, from July 1, be allowed to stay outside without a mask as long as they are either alone or with another fully vaccinated certificate holder. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-01 04:27:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DUBLIN, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Overseas travel to Ireland continued to recover in the February-April period of this year, showed the figures released by the country's Central Statistics Office (CSO) on Monday. In April, a total of 69,400 passengers arrived in Ireland from overseas, up 13 percent from 61,400 in March and up nearly 27 percent from 54,800 in February. Compared with April 2020 when the country was hit hardest by the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the April 2021 figures for overseas passenger arrivals represented a 331-percent increase. The CSO figures also showed that in April 2021, nearly 89 percent of international travelers arrived in Ireland by air, with the remaining people arriving in the country by sea. Of all the overseas passengers arriving in Ireland in April, 21,600 persons or 31 percent of them came from Britain not including its Northern Ireland, followed by the Netherlands, Spain and Poland. In the first four months of this year, the number of international passenger arrivals in Ireland totaled 293,700, down nearly 91 percent year on year. "This illustrates the ongoing dramatic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international travel to Ireland," said Gregg Patrick, a statistician with the CSO. The Irish government recently announced that starting from July 19, it will start operating the European Union (EU) Digital COVID Certificate for travel within the EU and the European Economic Area, if the public health situation at the time permits. More than 2.6 million doses of COVID vaccines had been administered in Ireland, according to the figures provided by Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin Friday while announcing the relaxation of the COVID-19 restrictions in the country. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-01 04:41:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Egypt rejected on Monday the statements of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed that Ethiopia will build a number of dams across the country. In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Ahmed's statements reveal once again that Ethiopia is dealing in bad faith with the Nile River and other international rivers that it shares with neighboring countries. On Sunday, Ahmed announced that Ethiopia will build more than 100 small and medium dams in various states of the country in the coming fiscal year. "Egypt has always recognized the right of all Nile Basin countries to establish water projects and exploit the resources of the Nile River in order to achieve development for its brotherly peoples. But these projects and facilities must be established after coordination, consultation and agreement with the countries that may be affected, especially the downstream countries," said the ministry statement. The statements of the Ethiopian Prime Minister are nothing but a continuation of the regrettable Ethiopian approach that ignores the international law that regulates the use of international rivers, it added. Egypt and Sudan have been raising concerns about Ethiopia's decision to unilaterally carry out the second filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) later this year, as what it did last year, without reaching a legally binding agreement on the rules of filling and operating the dam. Both Egypt and Sudan seek to form an international quartet of the African Union, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations to mediate a desired agreement. 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 also raised similar concerns over the dam. Over the past few years, the tripartite talks on the rules of filling and operating the giant hydropower dam, with a total capacity of 74 billion cubic meters, have been fruitless, including those hosted earlier by the United States and the African Union. Enditem Tianzhou 2, a robotic cargo ship, blasts off on a Long March 7 carrier rocket at the Wenchang Space Launch Centerin in Hainan, on May 29, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua] Astronauts on the upcoming Shenzhou XII mission will engage in spacewalks outside the Tianhe core module of China's Tiangong space station, a key figure in the nation's manned space endeavor said. Yang Liwei, the first Chinese in space and now deputy chief planner of the country's manned space program, told China Central Television on Sunday in Wenchang, Hainan province, that during their three-month journey with Tianhe, two of the three-member crew, whose names have yet to be disclosed, will exit from the core module to examine, maintain or repair equipment. The astronauts will be launched in June with the Shenzhou XII spacecraft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China to dock with the currently unoccupied Tianhe module. Tianhe, the biggest and heaviest spacecraft China has made, was put into a low Earth orbit on April 29 by a Long March 5B heavy-lift rocket, which blasted off at the Wenchang Space Launch Center. Crew members of the Shenzhou XII and the next three manned spaceflightsShenzhou XIII, XIV and XVwere selected from those in the first and second groups of astronauts, Yang said. He added that the Shenzhou XII crew is all male, but there will be a woman in each of the next three missions. Shenzhou XIII is scheduled to fly to Tianhe in October, carrying three astronauts for a six-month mission inside the core module. Shenzhou XIV and XV are expected to take place in 2022, with each crew team staying in space for half a year. All astronauts in the next four spaceflights are undergoing intensive training, Yang said. The official said spacewalks will regularly occur as the Chinese astronauts will need to assemble the Tiangong station and examine and maintain the colossal craft. Currently, only astronauts in the Shenzhou VII mission, launched in September 2008, made spacewalks. Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-01 04:47:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The UNICEF said on Monday that it was saddened by the death of three illegal immigrant children off the Libyan coast. "UNICEF is sad to confirm that last week bodies of three children, including 6-months-old & 3-years-old children, were washed up on the shores of Zuwara, a coastal city in Libya situated 102 km west of Tripoli," UNICEF said in a statement. "Too many children are needlessly losing their lives in deadly migration routes as they search for safety and better life," the statement added. UNICEF called for immediate action at all levels to protect the safety of children in Libya, and for collective efforts to provide safer alternatives to sea crossing. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 10,154 illegal immigrants, including women and children, have been rescued at sea and returned to Libya by the Libyan Coast Guard so far this year. A total of 173 illegal immigrants have died and 459 others gone missing on the Central Mediterranean route so far in 2021, according to IOM. Libya has been plagued by insecurity and chaos since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, making it the a preferred point of departure for illegal immigrants wanting to cross the Mediterranean Sea toward European shores. Rescued migrants end up inside overcrowded reception centers across Libya, despite repeated international calls to close them. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-01 05:24:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN -- The spokesman of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Monday that significant progress has been made in the ongoing nuclear talks in the Austrian capital of Vienna, but a number of key issues remain to be solved. "There are no deadlocks in the Vienna talks and we have reached key issues," Saeed Khatibzadeh said in his weekly press conference. (Iran-Nuke Talk-Progress) ---- CAIRO -- Egypt rejected on Monday the statements of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed that Ethiopia will build a number of dams across the country. In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Ahmed's statements reveal once again that Ethiopia is dealing in bad faith with the Nile River and other international rivers that it shares with neighboring countries. On Sunday, Ahmed announced that Ethiopia will build more than 100 small and medium dams in various states of the country in the coming fiscal year. (Egypt-Ethiopia-Dam) ---- TEHRAN -- Iran on Monday reported 11,042 new COVID-19 cases, taking the country's total infections to 2,913,136. The pandemic has so far claimed 80,156 lives in Iran, up by 217 in the past 24 hours, the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education reported. A total of 2,458,684 people have recovered from the disease or been discharged from hospitals across the country, while 4,160 remain in intensive care units, according to the ministry. (Iran-COVID19) ---- JERUSALEM -- Israeli archaeologists have discovered a magnificent and rare 2,000-year-old Roman basilica, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said on Monday. The basilica complex, largest of its kind found inside Israel, was unearthed in a national park located at the southwestern city of Ashkelon. "The basilica was founded by Herod the Great and one historical source suggests that his family came from Ashkelon," the IAA said. (Israel-Archaeology-Basilica) Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 19:09:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ABUJA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Eleven students who were part of those kidnapped following an attack in Nigeria's north-central state of Niger on Sunday have been released, a government official said Monday. Mary Noel-Berje, a spokeswoman for the state government, said in a statement that authorities are yet to confirm the exact number of students taken away after unidentified gunmen attacked the Salihu Tanko Islamiya School in Tegina, a town in the Rafi local government area. "The released children were regarded as too small and could not walk a long distance, and this prompted the kidnappers to release them," Noel-Berje said. The state government is "still searching and conducting a house-to-house headcount to ascertain the exact number of children abducted at Tegina," she said. Adamu Usman, the state's police chief, told Xinhua that several gunmen on motorcycles stormed the town on Sunday afternoon, shooting indiscriminately and killing one resident in the process. He declined to give the exact number of students kidnapped during the attack. Local media reported over 200 students of the school were kidnapped by the gunmen. The school is an unconventional one where parents send their children on a daily basis to receive Islamic education, according to local broadcaster Channels Television. Niger police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun told Xinhua that security agencies are yet to ascertain how many children were abducted from the school. An investigation has been launched to that effect. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 21:22:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Tafara Mugwara, Zhang Yuliang HARARE, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese greeting phrase "ni hao" -- which translates into English as "hello" -- is becoming widely understood by many school children in Zimbabwe as more schools introduce Chinese language classes to cater to the growing demand for the language. At Gateway High School, a private school in Zimbabwe's capital of Harare, Chinese as a language is becoming a popular optional choice among students. Despite his young age, 14-year-old Matthew Chimudzi is confident that mastering the Chinese language will open countless doors of opportunities and broaden his career horizons. "What excites me about learning the Chinese language is knowing that one day I will be able to fluently speak Mandarin and I will be able to communicate with people in China, and I may be able to go to university in China," he told Xinhua. Chimudzi is in the elementary Chinese language class of 20 students at Gateway School. Challenging himself by learning Chinese might be an exciting adventure, but he admitted that learning the world's most spoken language by the number of native speakers is not a walk in the park. "It's difficult but I don't find that challenging because I just persevere in the subject," he said. Valerie Nyamugama, another elementary Chinese language student at Gateway, said "I chose to learn Chinese because I wanted to learn a different culture and different way to talk in a different language." The 14-year-old girl believes that with China's increased global footprint, mastering the Chinese language means more advantages in the competitive job market. "I expect to get more job opportunities because of the Chinese language, I feel like it's gonna go forward because I feel like China is taking over most things," she said. Patience Rusere, a Chinese teacher at Gateway School, said there has been an increased uptake of the Chinese language since it was introduced at the school in 2018. Rusere noted that a number of her students want to study in China when they finish high school. "Some have been saying it would be an advantage for them to learn the language whilst they are still young and can easily and freely remember the language. When they get to go to university, perhaps they might even skip the one year of doing a language course," said Rusere. The fascination with Chinese culture also attracts many students to the language, the teacher said. Rusere graduated with a bachelor's degree in Chinese from the University of Zimbabwe Confucius Institute in 2018. She said mastering the Chinese language has opened up career opportunities for her, although the learning process has been a challenging journey. "But with encouragement, and persistence and keeping on trying and practicing especially when it comes to character writing, there is no trick to it rather than just practicing your characters every day, up until you understand and grasp them and they become a part of you," she said. Given the increased economic engagement between Zimbabwe and China which has seen more young people choosing China as the preferred study destination, the popularity of Chinese among Zimbabwean students will likely continue to grow. While learning Chinese might seem to be a formidable task to many people, Chinese learners say all it takes to master the language is dedication, time, and a suitable learning environment. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 21:50:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HARARE, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's extensive gold deposits have remained largely under-explored, thereby limiting growth of the industry, an official said Monday. Chamber of Mines chief executive Isaac Kwesu told a parliamentary portfolio committee on mines and mining development that the country had not carried out any meaningful exploration on gold deposits over the past 10 years. "We have significant, extensive gold deposits in Zimbabwe, although we have not been exploring much," Kwesu said. "There has been low exploration count, which has been undermining the identification of new opportunities specifically in the gold sector." Kwesu said the country also lacks modern exploration techniques. "The country has remained largely under-explored and has not been using modern exploration techniques, thereby limiting the discovery of new, richer deposits and this tends to slow down development and growth of the gold industry to a larger extent," Kwesu said. Zimbabwe, he said, needs to replace old gold mines with new mines and this can only happen through discovery of new gold ores. The Zimbabwean government has earmarked the mining sector to reach a 12 billion U.S. dollar market value by 2023, with gold expected to contribute about 4 billion dollars. Zimbabwe sees the mining sector as the main driver for the economy. Gold is one of the country's major foreign currency earners, along with platinum and tobacco. While the country's gold output plummeted to an all-time low of 3 tonnes in 2008, production of the precious mineral has steadily risen over the years, reaching a peak of 35 tonnes in 2018. Yet it fell to 27.66 tonnes in 2019 and further down to 19.05 tonnes last year. Kwesu said the gold sub-sector faces a number of challenges, among them inadequate foreign currency and power cuts. He, however, expressed confidence in the potential of the gold sector to rebound and surpass previous peak levels, driven by booming prices on the international market. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-01 01:19:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, May 31 (Xinhua) -- A World Bank official on Monday urged African countries to prioritize domestic resource mobilization as compared to debt in financing their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Carmen Reinhart, vice president and chief economist of World Bank Group, told a virtual forum that the pandemic has created additional social spending requirements, noting that it is an opportunity for Africa to develop innovative ways to increase domestic resource mobilization by expanding their revenue bases. Reinhart told the Nairobi-based African Economic Research Consortium's 54th biannual plenary session on the pandemic and public finance in Africa that most African countries entered the pandemic with limited fiscal space and higher debt levels, and are now facing prolonged economic downturns as conditions have not normalized. The World Bank official said the prospects for tourism and other cross-border activities are unlikely to fully recover until the global pandemic situation is considered to be appropriate for normal flow of international business and travel to restart. She observed that Africa's gross domestic product per capita is unlikely to recover to pre-COVID-19 levels this year due to a number of factors, including the unequal access to large-scale vaccinations in the continent as compared to some developed countries. Njuguna Ndung'u, the executive director of African Economic Research Consortium, said that the COVID-19 has exposed structural vulnerabilities of most African nations in a variety of fields ranging from health financing, social safety nets and economic diversification, and some African countries have fared better than others, depending on their initial fiscal and economic conditions before the COVID-19 pandemic. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-18 14:36:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's State Emergency Commission (SEC) on Tuesday said that more than 34,500 Mongolian nationals stranded abroad due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been repatriated so far. Following its suspension of international commercial flights, Mongolia has brought back 27,753 nationals on 170 chartered flights from different parts of the world so far, the SEC said in a statement. Meanwhile, 6,788 nationals have returned home on buses or trains from virus-hit countries so far, the commission said. The Asian country suspended international passenger flights in February 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It is planning to reopen its air border early next month for international passenger flights, according to the government. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 15:20:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MANILA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Philippine police said two people were killed and seven others injured when a small speeding truck hit a car on a highway in Quezon province early on Monday. Police said the accident occurred around 1:30 a.m. local time in Gumaca town, approximately 200 km southeast of the Philippines' capital Manila, and that the car, after being hit by the truck, crashed into a concrete street post. Police said two of the car passengers died on the way to the hospital. The car driver and the rest of the car passengers were injured and hospitalized, police said, adding they have detained the truck driver. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 16:28:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close An Afghan woman works in an industrial park in Herat province, Afghanistan, on June 1, 2021. Peace and security in Herat city has facilitated investors to pour their capital into more than 300 plants. In the industrial park of the western Herat province, more than 300 factories and plants are operational to produce a variety of items ranging from food stuff to detergent and construction materials. (Photo by Arif Karimi/Xinhua) HERAT, Afghanistan, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Peace and security in Afghanistan's western Herat city has facilitated investors to pour their capital into more than 300 plants. In the industrial park of the western Herat province, more than 300 factories and plants are operational to produce a variety of items ranging from food stuff to detergent and construction materials. Three more plants with 10 million U.S. dollars investment were inaugurated recently in Herat to create more job opportunities for the locals here. "Investment from one hand provides job opportunities and from the other hand, speaks of investors' trust and economic development of the country," Minister of Industries and Commerce Nisar Ahmad Faizi Ghoryani said. Ghoryani called on investors to invest in the country, assuring that the government would continue to support private sector and investment in each fields. Presently, around 14,000 people, 30 percent of them women, have been working in more than 300 plants in Herat, head of Herat's Industrialists Association Hamidullah Khadim said. Khadim also noted that the newly opened three factories have hired more than 500 workers. "The newly inaugurated plants produce milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream and cookies," Khadim told Xinhua recently. Describing unemployment and poverty as the main source of social problems, Khadim observed that a militant group could easily recruit jobless and poor people to fight the establishment. "Investment in any field to increase local products and create job opportunities, from one hand reduces the country's dependence and from the other hand, alleviates poverty as many people hired in the plants earn livelihood at this critical stage when militancy and fighting continue in parts of the country," Khadim said. The western Herat province with Herat city as its capital 640 km west of Kabul has been regarded as a peaceful province in the militancy-battered Afghanistan. Jalil Ahmad Faizy, a businessman who runs an ice cream factory, said that his company besides producing ice cream also began producing cheese and would further develop its products. "More than 250 persons, about half of them women, have been working in my firm that produces ice cream, cheese, yogurt and supplies its products across Afghanistan," Faizy said. Expressing confidence in the Afghan forces in ensuring security, Faizy said that the withdrawal of the U.S.-led forces from Afghanistan won't affect the investment process, calling on all domestic and foreign firms to invest in Afghanistan. Sumira Ahmadi, an ice cream company worker, said, "More investment in Herat means creating more jobs which is tantamount to alleviating poverty." Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 17:05:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan recorded 2,117 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 43 new deaths in the last 24 hours, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) said on Monday morning. The new infections raised the total tally to 921,053, including 841,241 recoveries and 59,033 active cases across the country, the NCOC said in a statement, adding that 3,947 patients are in critical condition. The death toll from COVID-19 has risen to 20,779, said the NCOC. The eastern Punjab province is the worst hit region by the coronavirus epidemic in Pakistan, with 339,686 confirmed cases including 9,999 deaths. Pakistan has started to ease its COVID-19 restrictions with the overall COVID-19 positivity rate having remained below 5 percent for the 7th day on Sunday. Punjab's education department has announced opening educational institutions by June 7 and issued a notification on Sunday for schools to open for 10th-grade and 12th-grade students from Monday. Enditem A missile displayed during a media day for the 71st anniversary of Armed Forces Day at Daegu Air Base in Daegu, ROK, September 27, 2019. /Getty The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday criticized the recent termination of a pact between the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) that capped the development of the ROK's ballistic missiles, calling it a "stark reminder" of Washington's hostile approach to Pyongyang. "The U.S., doggedly branding the measures taken by the DPRK for self-defense as violation of UN 'resolutions,' grants its allies unlimited right to missile development. It is engrossed in confrontation despite its lip-service to dialogue," an article published by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. "The termination step is a stark reminder of the U.S. hostile policy toward the DPRK and its shameful double-dealing," the article written by international affairs critic Kim Myong Chol said. "Lots of countries now view the U.S. key DPRK policy, namely 'pragmatic approach' and 'maximum flexibility' produced by the Biden administration with much effort as just trickery." The criticism came more than a week after a summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and ROK President Moon Jae-in in Washington, during which the two leaders agreed to use diplomacy to resolve the nuclear standoff on the Korean Peninsula and to terminate all "missile guideline" restrictions on the flight range and warhead weight of the ROK's missiles. ROK President Moon Jae-in (L) speaks during a joint press conference with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 21, 2021. /Getty Denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang have stalled since a summit between Biden's predecessor Donald Trump and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi collapsed in February 2019. Pyongyang has stressed that it will not return to talks until Washington ends a policy the DPRK views as "hostile." The Biden administration said on April 30 that it will push for a "calibrated, practical approach" toward the DPRK. Pyongyang said Biden intends on maintaining a "hostile policy." The missile restrictions on the ROK were first introduced in 1979 as Seoul sought to secure U.S. missile technologies for its own missile development. In return, the ROK agreed to limit the maximum flight range of its missiles to 180 kilometers and the weight of warheads to 500 kilograms. Washington and Seoul revised the guidelines four times through last year to extend the range to 800 km, scrap the limit on warhead weight and lift the ban on using solid fuel for space launch vehicles. With all the restrictions terminated, the ROK can develop and possess any type of missile, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and advanced submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), a report by the ROK's Yonhap News Agency noted. The KCNA article slammed the decision as a "serious blunder." "It is a serious blunder for it to pressurize the DPRK by creating asymmetric imbalance in and around the Korean Peninsula as this may lead to the acute and instable situation on the Korean Peninsula now technically at war," it said. "The target of the DPRK is not the ROK army but the U.S.," it added. "We will counter the U.S. on the principle of strength for strength and good faith in kind." Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 17:39:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WELLINGTON, May 31 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern met with her Australian counterpart Scott Morrison for the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders' Meeting on Monday in Queenstown, the first face-to-face meeting between them since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. They discussed a range of issues from trade, climate change to COVID-19 response and cooperation. It was their first in-person meeting since February last year, partly thanks to the two-way quarantine-free travel bubble across the Tasman Sea. "The Australia-New Zealand relationship is unique in its closeness; we are partners and allies, and we share a relationship of family, of whanau (community). Through our single economic market, our people-to-people ties and our shared interests in the region and the world, Australia and New Zealand stand together," said a joint statement released by the two prime ministers. They agreed to continue cooperation on COVID-19 vaccines, including research and development. The prime ministers undertook to support efforts to ensure the free international movement of medical goods, including vaccines and vaccine components. They noted opportunities to collaborate on initiatives to extend travel options for Pacific neighbors when safe to do so, including through the trans-Tasman quarantine-free travel zone, so as to reconnect with the wider world, the statement said. Ardern and Morrison agreed to sustain close and valuable cooperation on climate change, including in the Pacific and on agricultural emissions, it said. They reiterated their support for the multilateral trading system, and the importance of a well-functioning World Trade Organization in promoting sustainable global economic growth and prosperity, including as part of the COVID-19 recovery, it added. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 17:57:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JAKARTA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's State Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir said on Monday that Indonesia has received another batch of Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccine in bulk. "Today, we again received the arrival of Sinovac vaccine to be used by the Indonesian people," Thohir, who is also executive chairman of the Committee for COVID-19 Handling and Economic Recovery, told a virtual press conference at the Soekarno-Hatta airport in Tangerang district, Banten province. A total of 26.9 million Indonesian people have been administered COVID-19 vaccines, the minister noted, adding that the country is one of the countries in Southeast Asia with high vaccination rate. However, the minister said Indonesia is still falling behind such big nations as China and the United States in terms of vaccination, hoping the country with more than 270 million people would continue to increase the vaccination rate. According to him, the vaccination would help Indonesia stem the COVID-19 infections and accelerate efforts to recover the national economy. The government has been consistent from the start with programs on the taglines of Healthy Indonesia, Indonesia Works and Indonesia Grows, and thus handling of the vaccination and the COVID-19 pandemic is the most important task, Thohir added. The vaccine in bulk produced by China's biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech would be processed and filled by Indonesia's vaccine manufacturer Bio Farma. With this arrival, the total vaccine that Indonesia has received is 92,910,500 doses including 81.5 million in bulk. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 19:07:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SUVA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Fiji on Monday reported 38 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total tally to 438 in the Pacific island country. According to the Fijian Health Ministry, Fiji recorded 32 new cases on Monday and six others on Sunday night. Of the newly reported 38 cases, 15 cases were reported in the Navy cluster while nine cases detected in Nadi, Fiji's third largest city. In Fiji, 65,877 COVID-19 laboratory tests have been conducted during the current outbreak of COVID-19 starting in April, and 108,738 tests in total since testing started in the country in early 2020, excluding the 11,000 samples recently tested in Australia. The health ministry said that the rate of test positivity in Fiji stands currently at around 1.5 percent, marking an increase on an influx of cases in the central part of the country. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a positivity rate of less than 5 percent is one indicator that the epidemic is under control in a country. Meanwhile, the health ministry has analyzed data this week from 82 people in Fiji and found that they had 3,444 contacts. Permanent Secretary for the Health Ministry James Fong urged Fijians to keep in mind that the coronavirus is still among them and they must always exercise extreme care. Fiji has reported 167 recoveries, 267 active cases and four deaths from the pandemic since registering its first confirmed case in March last year. Currently, the Suva-Lami-Nausori containment zone maintains a curfew from 6:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. every day while the rest of the Viti Levu, Fiji's main island where the national capital Suva is located, started from Sunday a curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. every day. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 21:24:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COLOMBO, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigations Department on Monday said it had appointed a 10-member team of detectives to investigate the incidents surrounding the X-Press Pearl container ship, local media reported on Monday. According to the police, the Director-General of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) filed a complaint with the Harbour Police on May 23 over the environmental destruction caused by the fire onboard the foreign vessel. The police said the officers from the Criminal Investigations Department recorded statements from the captain and chief engineer of the vessel at the hotel in capital Colombo where the crew is undergoing quarantine. Statements will be recorded from the other crew members in the near future, the police said. The X Press Pearl ship is registered under the flag of Singapore and was carrying 1,486 containers with 25 tons of nitric acid and several other chemicals and cosmetics from the port of Hazira, India on May 15. The vessel sent out a distress call while being close to the Colombo Port on May 20, and soon caught fire resulting in the Sri Lankan Navy dispatching vessels to bring the fire under control. Sri Lanka's MEPA last week said a major environmental disaster was expected following the burning of the vessel and the impact was being assessed. General Manager of the MEPA Terney Pradeep said the coastal line from the south along the west coast had debris washed ashore and the public had been strongly advised not to touch any of the debris as it could contain hazardous material. The government said a large amount of marine life had been killed as a result of the pollution from the ship. The government has decided to pay a certain amount of compensation for the fishing community who had to suspend fishing activities incurring losses of their daily income and said this amount would be given to the fishing community as well as those involved in related industries. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 21:51:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JAKARTA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's anti-terror squad Densus 88 has arrested 10 terrorist suspects believed to be members of the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah group, who planned to bomb a church and two police stations in Merauke, Papua province. "They originate from Java island and Sulawesi island who have lived in Merauke district for a long time," the National Police's spokesman Inspector General Argo Yuwono said on Monday. They have pledged allegiance to the terror group ISIS and discussed their plans of bombing actions by social media WhatsApp and Telegram groups, Yuwono added. Densus 88 seized evidence such as air rifles, arrows, sharp weapons, and several chemicals. An investigation on the case is underway. Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) is a terrorist organization affiliated to ISIS, or the Islamic State group, which tries to establish a new state in the Middle East. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 12:09:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- China's achievements in ending absolute poverty and defeating COVID-19 under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) are "a beacon" for the people of the world, a senior official of the Communist Party of Britain (CPB) has said. "The achievements of the Communist Party of China are not just for the people of China. They are as a beacon for people across the world," CPB International Secretary John Foster told Xinhua in a recent interview via video link. Foster said China's accomplishments were striking during his several visits to the country in recent years, and he was particularly "amazed at many of the technological achievements in industries, from artificial intelligence to aeronautics to space." But the most important achievement is on the ground, Foster said, recalling "the villages and towns" he has visited in China where he saw how people's living standards had been improved. Foster said he was particularly impressed by how the goals outlined by the CPC during his visits have all been achieved, one after the other. "The goal that was set for the previous year (2020) was the elimination of absolute poverty," and it has been achieved in the context of COVID-19, he said. Foster stressed that China's ability to so effectively bring the pandemic under control is a testament to the country's governing system and the role of the CPC. "Because as we understand it, the ability of China to overcome the pandemic depends very much on the strength of the links between the Communist Party as a mass party organized in villages and towns with the mass of the people," the senior official noted. The CPC leads China "from a perspective of developing socialism in its own country and mutually beneficial relationships with other countries," Foster added. He said China's dedication to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind is equally important, and some Western countries' antagonism towards China is "unhelpful and very dangerous." Foster said he believes that for world peace and development, the "Beijing Initiative" adopted in 2017 at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting is of great importance. "We call on political parties around the world to join us in building world peace, contributing to global development and safeguarding the international order," the initiative said. The initiative calls for establishing mutually beneficial relationships built upon common interests and understanding while respecting differences, according to Foster. During the meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed that political parties from different countries should explore the building of a new type of party-to-party relations that seeks to expand common ground while reserving differences and enhances mutual respect and mutual learning. "It was innovative in so far as it brought together parties from across the world with differing political perspectives, not communist parties or socialist parties alone, but a whole range of parties," Foster said. He believes that Xi's proposal "could bind countries together and develop a level of mutual understanding that has not previously existed." Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 21:10:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias (R) meets with visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Athens, Greece, on May 31, 2021. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) ATHENS, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Greece and Turkey agreed to continue cooperation on a positive agenda to resolve pending bilateral issues, Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday in Athens. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will hold a meeting on the sidelines of the upcoming NATO summit on June 14 in Brussels, they announced during a joint press conference after their talks here. Cavusoglu paid a visit to Greece, following Dendias' recent visit to Turkey, as the two neighboring countries continue efforts to settle through dialogue longstanding differences over borders and other issues. "We are fully aware of the different, and in several serious issues, of the diametrically opposed positions that we and Turkey have," Dendias said during the press conference that was broadcast on Greek national broadcaster ERT. "The purpose of today's meeting was to attempt a process of reaching an initial understanding, and if possible, the gradual normalization of the situation in the long term," he said. During the latest round of talks the two sides agreed to enhance cooperation in economy and trade and to mutually recognize COVID-19 certificates, so that the citizens of Greece and Turkey who have been vaccinated or have a negative test, can visit the other side to facilitate tourism, Dendias said. There are many pending issues that need to be addressed and both sides believe that talks should be conducted on the basis of international law and shared interests, Cavusoglu said, according to ERT's translation. The Turkish official added that Turkey and Greece agreed to continue positive cooperation, ERT reported. During his visit, Cavusoglu was also received by the Greek prime minister. No statements were made after this meeting. Talks were held in a good atmosphere and both sides reiterated willingness to promote a positive agenda, Greek national news agency AMNA reported, citing Greek government sources. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 22:09:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NICOSIA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus' Chief Returning Officer on Monday updated Sunday's parliamentary election results, with the ruling Democratic Rally (DISY) party winning 17 seats in the 56-seat parliament. By declaring the 56 new members of the parliament at a special ceremony, Costas Constantinou, the chief election officer, said that seven out of the 15 parties which contested the election secured seats in the single chamber legislative. The left-wing Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) secured the second place with 15 seats, followed by the right-wing Democratic Party (DIKO) with nine seats. DISY and AKEL lost one seat each in the new parliament, and most of the votes lost by the big parties went to small parties. Political analyst Christoforos Christoforou told state radio CyBC that he was particularly concerned by the electoral success of the far-right National Popular Front (ELAM) which gained four seats, two more than in the previous parliament. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-01 01:48:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HELSINKI, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Finland's climate emission reduced by 5.5 percent in 2019 compared to the previous year, said the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) in a press release on Monday. The emissions trends of 2019 were encouraging, said Jyri Seppala, Director of the Center for Sustainable Consumption and Production at SYKE, in the press release. "I hope that this progress will continue in the coming years even after the coronavirus pandemic. There is a great need for ambitious municipal and regional emission reduction measures as Finland needs to achieve its carbon neutrality target and the EU's tightening emission reduction targets," said Seppala. According to the Government Program in 2019, Finland will be carbon-neutral by 2035, and the world's first fossil-free welfare society. This requires faster emissions reductions in all sectors. SYKE attributed the reduction in the emissions to increased wind power generation, cleaner electricity production, replacement of oil heating with other heating methods, and reduced use of fossil fuels and peat in district heating. In 2019, the main sources of emissions in Finland were road transport which accounted for 25 percent of the total emissions, followed by agriculture, district heating, and electricity consumption. SYKE is both a research institute and a center for environmental expertise, focusing on changes in the environment and seeking ways to control these changes. Every year, SYKE calculates the amount and development of climate emissions for all Finnish municipalities using a standardized calculation method. Enditem By Wang Zhehao and Lv Desheng BEIJING, May 31 -- The Peacekeeping Affairs Center under China's Ministry of National Defense and the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in China jointly hosted an online reception to commemorate the 19th International Day of UN Peacekeepers in Beijing on May 28. This is one of Chinas activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) in the United Nations. The UN Security Council passed a resolution to establish the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) on May 29, 1948, to oversee the implementation of the Armistice Agreement between Israel and Arab countries, which was the first UN peacekeeping operation. In 2002, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution to designate May 29 each year as the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers to commend those who have participated in and are participating in peacekeeping operations and to mourn those who have dedicated their lives to the cause of peace. So far, the UN has carried out 71 peacekeeping operations, and hundreds of thousands of peacekeepers from more than 120 countries have devoted themselves to this great and noble cause. UN peacekeeping operations have played an irreplaceable and important role in promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes and maintaining world peace. The Chinese military and police have participated in nearly 30 UN peacekeeping operations and dispatched more than 50,000 peacekeepers. At present, more than 2,500 Chinese peacekeepers are performing tasks in eight mission areas and the UN headquarters. China has become the second largest contributor to both peacekeeping assessment and UN membership fees, and the largest troop-contributing country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council. It is hailed by the UN as "a key force in UN peacekeeping operations". Representatives of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Ministry of National Defense (MND), as well as representatives of UN agencies, major troop-contributing and fund-contributing countries for UN peacekeeping operations, and International Committee of the Red Cross in China, attended the online reception. Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-01 05:51:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LONDON, May 31 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 members of the British armed forces have been referred to the country's terrorism prevention program, largely over concerns about far-right activity, The Guardian reported in an exclusive on Monday. The military personnel were among those investigated over the past two and a half years under Prevent, which is part of the national counter-terrorism strategy and aims to stop people being drawn into or supporting terrorism, The Guardian reported. "The referrals of so many serving military personnel to Prevent, and the general rise in violent far-right extremism in society as a whole, should act as a reminder of the ever present threat of (far-right) extremism and the need for the Ministry of Defence to increase its internal education and enforcement of its publicly stated rules," the reported quoted Nick Lowles, Hope Not Hate's chief executive, as saying. Hope Not Hate is a UK-based advocacy group that campaigns against racism and fascism. Stuart McDonald, Scottish National Party MP and a member of the House of Commons home affairs committee, said these figures are "really concerning." He noted that "there have been warnings in the recent past that the threat posed by violent rightwing extremists is not being treated seriously enough by the UK government." "It is still far from clear that this lack of focus and action has been rectified," he added. In 2018, British Army Lance Corporal Mikko Vehvilainen was convicted of being a member of the banned neo-Nazi group National Action. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 06:46:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Children's shoes and toys are placed on the staircase outside Vancouver Art Gallery during a memorial event for the 215 children whose remains have been found buried at a former Kamloops residential school in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, May 30, 2021. (Photo by Andrew Soong/Xinhua) OTTAWA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Canadian government lowered flags at half-mast on Sunday to commemorate the deaths of 215 Indigenous children whose remains were found in a former residential school in Kamloops city in the country. "To honor the 215 children whose lives were taken at the former Kamloops residential school and all Indigenous children who never made it home, the survivors, and their families, I have asked that the Peace Tower flag and flags on all federal buildings be flown at half-mast," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted on Sunday. The prime minister's order came a day after Stacey Laforme, chief of Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations (MCFN) in Ontario issued an open letter to Trudeau, urging his government to lower the flags and declare a national day of mourning. "We call on the Prime Minister to lower flags of this country and declare a national day of mourning for our children!" Laforme's open letter read on Twitter. "These children were forcibly taken by the state. They died at a church-run residential school and were buried without dignity." An online petition on Change.org has also been circulating, calling on the Trudeau government to establish a national day of mourning in honor of the 215 children. As of Sunday afternoon, it has amassed nearly 9,000 signatures. On Thursday, the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation in Kamloops city in British Columbia province announced that ground-penetrating radar uncovered the remains of 215 children at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. The remains were confirmed with the help of a ground-penetrating radar specialist. Among the 215 children, some were three years old. The children were assumed to have been lost or runaway in Canada's residential school system. The Kamloops school operated between 1890 and 1969. The Canadian government took over the operation from the Catholic church to operate as a day school until it closed in 1978. At one point, the school was the largest in Canada's residential school system. Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission issued its final report on residential schools in 2015. The report detailed the harsh mistreatment inflicted on Indigenous children at the institutions, where at least 3,200 children died amid abuse and neglect. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-06-01 03:27:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close OTTAWA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday that his government will take further action in response to the discovery of the remains of 215 children in a former residential school in Kamloops city in western Canada. Amid calls for accountability and to go beyond lowering flags at federal buildings, Trudeau told a press conference that Canada's Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett and Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal will discuss what role his government should be playing. On Thursday, the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation in Kamloops city in British Columbia province announced that ground-penetrating radar uncovered the remains of 215 children at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. The horrific discovery prompted calls for a national day of mourning and saw people across Canada set up memorials. "As a dad, I can't imagine what it would feel like to have my kids taken away from me, and as prime minister, I am appalled by the shameful policy that stole Indigenous children from their communities," said Trudeau. "We promised concrete action, and that's how we'll support survivors, families, and Indigenous peoples," said the prime minister. "Sadly, this is not an exception or an isolated incident. We're not going to hide from that. We have to acknowledge the truth. Residential schools were a reality, a tragedy that existed here, in our country, and we have to own up to it," added Trudeau. Opposition MPs urged the Trudeau government to fully fund the investigation of other former residential school sites and to put more sustainable funding towards healing initiatives. Green Party Leader Annamie Paul said the terrible discovery once again highlights "the absolute genocidal tragedy of our residential school system," calling on the Trudeau government to demand the Catholic church apologize for its role in the residential school system. In 2015, Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission issued its final report on the inhumane mistreatment inflicted on Indigenous children at residential schools, concluding that they constituted a cultural genocide. The commission's register of confirmed deaths identified 3,200 students but work is still ongoing to uncover what could be thousands of more deaths that went undocumented. More than 150,000 indigenous children were reportedly forced into residential schools between the 1870s and 1996. The last residential school closed in 1996. Enditem by Joseph Shieber One of the heartening ramifications of the otherwise devastating Covid-19 pandemic has been the publics high level of trust in science and expertise. As a March 19-24 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center indicates, over even of low-trusting people surveyed trust public health officials to do an excellent or good job in dealing with the outbreak. In fact, even corporate Twitter accounts for shaved meat products can boost their following by amplifying the experts: This increased trust in scientific expertise is part of a growing trend. A Pew Research study in 2019 found that, since 2016, when less than of the public had A great deal of confidence that scientists act in the best interests of the public, by 2019 more than of the public expressed A great deal of confidence in the actions of scientists. The rising levels of trust in scientific expertise stand, however, in stark contrast to the current UIS Administrations flagrant disregard of science. Indeed, the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School and the Climate Science Legal Defense Fund have tracked 417 government attempts to restrict or prohibit scientific research, education or discussion, or the publication or use of scientific information since the 2016 election. Given this, it was puzzling for me to read stories like The Guardians April 23 article by Hannah Devlin and Sarah Boseley entitled Scientists criticize UK governments following the science claim. My immediate reaction was, If only US decision-makers even respected scientific expertise enough even to pay lip-service to it! Now, many of the points made in this article as well as a number of related opinion pieces and op-eds are good ones. For one, the fact that there are different forms of disciplinary expertise that may result in different perspectives and different analyses of the complex challenges posed by Covid-19. Epidemiologists, public health professionals, medical doctors, microbiologists, economists, political scientists, sociologists all have differing expert skills to bring to bear on the outbreak. Furthermore, the different expert cultures in these very disparate disciplines may lead practitioners within those disciplines to view the pandemic through distinct lenses making interdisciplinary communication quite challenging. A second potential worry is that appeals to science may merely be ploys by political decision-makers to set the stage for shifting blame onto scientific experts should the political decisions lead to poor outcomes. For example, Devlin and Boseley quote University of Edinburgh political scientist Prof Christina Boswell as worrying that, If things go wrong and the curve gets too steep it will be the scientific advice that is to blame. However, Im worried that the experts fretting about government appeals to science may themselves be sowing the seeds of a damaging backlash against scientific expertise. For example, in an April 28 op-ed in The Guardian, the University of Cambridge sociologist Jana Bacevic writes this in a critique of claims that government policies are shaped by the best science available: there is no such thing as the best science available. Scientists regularly disagree about different issues, from theoretical approaches to methodologies and findings, and decisions about what kind of scientific advice is taken into account are highly political. The individuals, disciplines and institutions that are invited to the table reflect the distribution of research funds, prestige and influence, as well as the values and objectives of politicians and policymakers. When it came to austerity, for example, the former coalition government ignored the warnings of many macroeconomists in favour of evidence that supported its worldview. If there is no magic money tree, there is certainly no magic best science tree either. There is a great deal to unpack just in this passage. One of the points Bacevic makes in it is that political considerations can affect which disciplines are asked to weigh in on policy decisions: decisions about what kind of scientific advice is taken into account are highly political. The individuals, disciplines and institutions that are invited to the table reflect the distribution of research funds, prestige and influence, as well as the values and objectives of politicians and policymakers. Another point is that political decision-makers can cherry-pick evidence to support their preferred positions, as in past instances in which government ignored warnings in favour of evidence that supported its worldview. What worries me, however, is the first line of Bacevics critique, the bald assertion that there is no such thing as the best science available and Bacevics support for this claim on the basis of the fact that scientists regularly disagree about different issues. These claims strike me as misleading at best, as well as dangerous in the aid and comfort they provide to those who would seek to ignore scientific expertise in reaching better policy decisions. First of all, in many cases its simply false that there is no such thing as the best science available. If I have type 1 diabetes, the best science available suggests that it should be managed with insulin therapy. The best science available suggests that the earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old and not, say, approximately 6,000 years old. The best science available suggests that the current global warming trends are real and human-caused. Suppose, however, that you think that Bacevic didnt intend to deny that there are some areas in which it makes sense to speak of the best science available, but rather that she instead meant to suggest that it makes no sense to speak in that way regarding research areas in which scientists disagree. The problem with this suggestion is that its always possible to find at least some scientists who disagree even about well-established phenomena. This is the basis of the familiar teach the controversy ploy by which opponents of settled science like anthropogenic climate change or evolution by natural selection attempt to advance their anti-science agendas. There are important subtleties that Bacevics rejection of the locution the best science available elides. In particular, as Matthew Yglesias put it in a piece for Vox, its important to recognize that the partisan clash over the science of coronavirus is not the same as that over issues like climate change and air pollution. Scientists have barely begun the work of understanding this virus, so they dont have decades of research and data to rely on to answer our questions. Scientists spend years gathering the data and information necessary to produce increasingly better answers to complex questions. We should be careful, in other words, to distinguish areas of science in which scientists have had the time to produce increasingly better answers to complex questions. However, the criteria for doing that arent as simple as finding areas of unanimity. In fact, the alternative to unsettled science isnt NO science, but more and better science. For example, it is hard to see how policy makers can proceed with medium- or long-term planning without models for how the pandemic will likely progress. We may well come to recognize that some models on which local, state, and federal government agencies have relied are poor. The correct way of coping with those less-than-ideal sources of information, however, is precisely the way that science teaches. Scientific thinking involves coping with uncertain information. No single source of data in scientific investigation is dispositive; no single piece of evidence cries out, Here I am, the answer to the question youve been exploring! Rather, scientific investigation always involves assessing evidence and weighing the extent to which it bears on the questions under consideration. The answer to the problem of bad faith uses of science or, in some cases, good faith uses of bad science on the part of politicians is this. Better scientific reasoning. Better statistical analyses. As Kelsey Piper, writing in Vox, recently put it: Ultimately, the problem may not be that some models are inaccurate. It was predictable that some models would be inaccurate, with the situation as confusing as it is. There are dozens of models, and ideally wed be doing something like aggregating them and weighting each according to how well it has performed so far in predicting the crisis. Somehow, I think its fitting that Steak-Umm should have the last word: by N. Gabriel Martin In 1869, less than two years after its confederation, Canada purchased Ruperts Land, the vast country stretching over a thousand miles from Lake Superior to the Rocky Mountains, from the Hudsons Bay Company (the company as it was called). Even before the sale took effect, the Canadian government sent surveyors to map 200 million acres[1] of the territory and divide it into plots ready for homesteaders to claim and farm. The Dominion Land Survey (DLS) and the Homestead Act empowered settlers to take ownership of 160 acre plots in exchange for a $10 fee and settlement duties such as maintaining residence, building a home, and cultivating part of the land. Today, the marks the DLS left on the country can be seen at a glance from 35,000 feet in the air. From the cruising altitude of an airliner, the prairie resembles a checkerboard, its geometrical exactness only disturbed by the faint contours of a river. Up until Canada bought the region, only the First Nations communities and Metis fur traders who lived there knew it in any detail. Earlier maps commissioned by the company identified major landmarks such as lakes and rivers, fur-trading posts, and First Nations communities, but that still left much of the place a terra incognito to anyone who didnt inhabit it. The DLS changed that, making it possible for politicians or Dominion Lands Office administrators to pinpoint accurately the location of a parcel of land as small as 10 acres anywhere on the Dominion grid.[2] The precision of the DLS was crucial to the project of the settlement of the Canadian West. Property was the only real inducement for settlers to move west from Ontario, and that depended on some system that could guarantee their claim to a prospective settler before they and their family embarked on the arduous journey. The gridwork of the DLS not only identified every spot in the region, it created new identities for it. What had only been a tiny portion of the blank space west of the Red River on the earlier company maps, but which local communities may have known as their communitys common wood lot where they could chop down what they needed, might now be designated SW1/4-S.36-T.4R.1W3, a 160 acre plot that some settler could claim. The DLS was a project of scientific discovery, and at the same time one of political intervention. This dual nature was discerned by the Metis community as soon as it was begun, and so the Red River Resistance (also called the Red River Rebelleion) of 1869 kicked off when Louis Riel and 17 other Metis stood on a surveyors chain and told him to leave the country claimed as the property of the French Half-breeds, and which they would not allow to be surveyed by the Canadian Government.[3]. In my latest post for 3 Quarks Daily, I wrote about the dismissal and disparagement of non-European knowledge as a justification for imperialism. But as important as the conceit of European epistemic superiority has been, and continues to be, to Europes colonising projects, there is also a simpler reason that the methods and techniques of Modern European science have taken hold throughout the world as the only ways to legitimately support truth-claims. The general preference for modern science, and the deprecation of any other ways of knowing, is not a consequence of the superiority of scientific knowledge across the board; it is due to the indispensability of modern science for the specific tasks of governing and exploiting colonies. One instance of the conflict between modern science and the forms of knowledge that it swept aside is the struggle over the Dominion Land Survey. The Metis were the descendants of First Nations women and the French-Canadian fur traders that they married. Although Metis often hunted, traded, and socialized with the First Nations tribes they descended from, they built their communities apart and at arms-length from both the company and the tribes. They were zealously independent, as their songs, such as The Buffalo Hunt by their national poet, Pierre Falcon, attest: We are Bois-Brules, Freemen of the plains, We choose our chief! We are no mans slave![4] Over the course of the 1800s they developed a cultural and political identity, calling themselves la nouvelle nation, Bois-Brules, Metis or Michif (which was the word for both the people and their language in that language). From the late 1810s, the semi-nomadic circuit of the Metis centered on Red River during the Summers, where families grew vegetables and sometimes grain. However, this was an interlude in a life spent roaming the plains to hunt Buffalo twice a year, once in Summer, and again in Winter, to fish, and to trade beaver pelts. They traveled by a mode of transportation they invented called the Red River Cart, pulled by horses or oxen. When they moved, it was all together as a family, alongside other families. The nomadic way of life was not only a necessity for the Metis, it was what they loved: the monotonous toil of the settlers had virtually no appeal. They lived, as George Simpson said, entirely by the chase. They liked the freedom of the Plains, the wind in their faces and the constant change that mobility brought writes Teillet.[5] The ambitions of the Canadian government to settle the newly purchased Ruperts Land in 1969 came into conflict with the Metiss migratory way of life, and it was the Dominion Land Survey and the Homestead Act that was the engine that brought government bureaucracy, and eventually the army, into the place where the Metis were often called Masters of the plain. Settlement was important to the Canadian government in order to firm up their tenuous claim to sovereignty over the Northwest. Its sovereignty faced a number of threats. For one, in the same year that Canada confederated, the United States purchased Alaska from the Russian empire. The Northwest had the potential, along with the entry into confederation of British Columbia, to realise the Canadian ambition of becoming a country that stretched from the Atlantic to the Pacific, but it also had the potential to make Alaska contiguous with the rest of the United States. The Canadian government feared encroachment from America, as well as the republican spirit of the Metis. These were among the reasons that the agricultural settlement of the prairies was a priority for the government. But the government also had sectarian and racist reasons to import a settler colonial population to dilute Metis control in the area. For generations, English colonialists had regarded the Metis as half-breeds whose very existence was indecent or unnatural. They were also regarded as politically suspect because of their Catholic and Francophone roots. They were regarded as too Indian, too Catholic and too French.[6] Nevertheless, it was the governments land-use policy, not an explicitly racist or sectarian one, that it used to break the back of the Metis nation. Canadas plan to develop agricultural settlement would require strict enforcement of property rights and boundaries. Homesteaders would be able to stake their claim to their 160 acres as their private property, and expect the government to defend it against encroachment. Only a precise and standardized mapping project of this sort would make it possible for the Dominion Lands Office, over 1000 miles away in Ottawa, to keep track of which 160 acre plots had been claimed, which were still available, who owned what property, and the boundaries between them. As a systematic study of the geography of the region, the DLS was an extraordinary scientific achievement, but that is not to say that it was an improvement upon the knowledge of the region that came before it. It was certainly an improvement on the maps that England and the company had commissioned previously, which only picked out major landmarks. Before the DLS, these maps were the only way that a bureaucrat or politician in London or Ottawa could know the place. But for those who inhabited the Northwest, the DLS could never hope to touch the exactness and detail of their knowledge. The Metis and First Nations who lived there knew all the important factors that Aaron Arrowsmiths Map of British North America laid out in 1844 (such as rivers and forts) but they also knew where the good fish runs were in June, where beavers could be trapped in the Fall, and most importantly, the migration patterns of the Buffalo. Their knowledge of the region was far deeper and more accurate. However, the DLS improved on the indigenous geographical knowledge in a few respects. For one thing, although the semi-nomadic ways of life and extensive communities of the Metis meant that their knowledge of the Northwest was extensive, the consistent methodology of the DLS allowed it to maintain roughly the same degree of precision across the entire country. For another, by using the standardised Geographic Coordinate System, it put it in a form that could be communicated without much distortion at a great distance. The coordinate system establishes points of reference with global significance. That is, someone who understands how to use the system can locate the first Meridian of the DLS, 972728.4, regardless of whether they have any familiarity with the surroundings. The points of reference used by Metis and first nations people to convey information to each other were of a kind that could only be understood by those who already had some familiarity with the terrain. For example, an 1801 map drawn by a company cartographer Peter fiddler on the basis of descriptions from a First Nations man named Ac Ko Moc Ki gives the locations of rivers flowing from the Rocky Mountains, along with the number of days a journey between them would take. The information would be almost meaningless to anyone who did not already know the area well enough to identify which river was which. However, for those who did know it well enough to be able to identify the river that they happened upon, Ac Ko Moc Kis information about the length of time it would take to get to the next river might not only be far more useful, but provide far better knowledge, than latitude and longitude coordinates. That is because the latitude and longitude of two points only indicates the distance between points. They dont tell us anything at all about the lay of the land or other factors that might have just as large an effect on what matterslength of travel. The benefits of many modern scientific innovations are of this type. Their essential function is in making knowledge available at a remove; They dont necesssarily make it any deeper, more comprehensive, or more accurate. Think about it this way: if Im giving you directions to my house, and youre already familiar with my neighbourhood, it might be enough for me to refer to local landmarks to guide you here. I can say, for instance: go straight until you see the cafe with a blue awning, turn right for four blocks, and then left until you get to the corner shop with a red sign. Because I can assume that you have a first-hand familiarity with concrete reference points in the surroundings, it is not necessary to standardize our points of reference in advance. Without precise measurement or standardized points of reference, I can still help you navigate the area just as effectively. In fact, increased precision would probably be a hindrance, as it would require you to think about the place in an unfamiliar way. However, that will be of little use if I want to explain the location of my house to a bureaucrat who has never been to my city, let alone my neighborhood.[7] The administration of empires required the development of new ways of knowing their territories, and therefore the invention of technologies such as geographic and demographic surveys. They would need to be able to make the geography comprehensible to someone who does not already have the kind of knowledge of the area that makes it possible to pick out points of reference as they go along. People know the earth in the ways that their way of life requires. Sociologists talk about knowledge as deriving from a particular habitusthe habits, skills, and disposition that they have learned. Similarly, Ludwig Wittgenstein argued that knowledge is relative to a particular form of life from which it derives meaning. For me, an urbanite in London, knowing the place I live means knowing the names of surrounding streets and which stores carry the good hummus and the single origin coffee that I like. For the Metis, it meant knowing whether they were grazing their ox on common land, which river led to the trading post, and the migration patterns of the Buffalo. It is a reflection of the chauvinism of modernism that we tend to consider non-scientific ways of knowing as practically-oriented in this senseconnected to, and deriving its meaning from a way of lifewhile denying the fact that scientific knowledge is as well. The notion that scientific knowledge is pure, theoretical, free of determination by a particular way of life, and therefore neutral and more objective ignores the way that it is shaped by practical, social, and political considerations of its own, as philosophers such as Michel Foucault and Feminist philosophers of science have argued.[8] For the Canadian government, knowing the earth meant making a permanent record of where a given plot of land is, and who owns it. It was in its suitability for this way of knowing the land that the DLS was superior, not in general. Because the aim of the DLS was to divide the region into plots for settlement, it carefully recorded some existing political boundaries, such as the boundary with the US, while creating others, such as the meridian lines (not to be confused with the meridian lines of the Geographic Coordinate System), and the potential property lines of future settlers. At the same time, it ignored political realities that it considered inconvenient or just irrelevant. It ignored the farms that Metis maintained, and the commons that they used to grow hay and harvest wood. The Metiss rectangular lots, arranged close together with their neighbours on small river frontages in order to allow access for transportation and fishing did not fit the regularity that was crucial to the DLS. In any case, the migratory lives of the Metis meant that they did not inhabit their farms year-round, and therefore did not meet the Homestead Acts definition of a settler. Most importantly, it ignored the fact that in July of that year the Metis had claimed an area centered around a 62 mile stretch of the Red River, from Fort Garry (now Winnipeg) down to the US border, for their nation. Its significant that the first clash of the Red River Resistance was against a scientific project. The Metis realized that the survey was not meant to gather knowledge simply for the sake of knowledge, but that it was in direct service to Canadas political ends. They were politically sophisticated and tactically adept enough to understand that their position would be weakened if they allowed Canada to make an incursion into their territory in the name of science. Therefore, standing on the survey chain was an important symbolic act, as well as a demonstration of the Metis nations power: it showed that the Metis understood that the survey was a kind of vanguard force, and that by permitting it to go ahead they would be ceding important political ground in their resistance against Canadas colonial incursion. The scientific endeavor of charting the Northwest cannot be disentangled from the political one of asserting Canadian sovereignty over it, but that does not mean that it was not a truly scientific project after all. The Dominion Land Survey is an extraordinary achievement, a paradigmatic example of the triumphs of modern science, and it is still in use today. In fact, rather than thinking that its essentially political aims disqualify the DLS as an objective, scientific project, we should think of it as typical of modern science. An examination of the DLS can show us the unique capacities of modern science, but it also shows us how much of modern science is, like any other knowledge, invested in the values and way of life of the people who it belongs to. Of course, modern science includes undebatable discoveries, such as the germ theory of disease or subatomic particles. However, it is not because modern science has allowed us to definitively prove that the earth revolves around the sun, or that the speed of light is a constant, that it has come to serve as our cultures sole legitimate basis for making truth-claims. Rather, scientific projects like Canadas land survey, or the other great 19th century geographical surveys in India, Australia, and the US, population and demographic surveys, are responsible for the honour we bestow on modern science as the sole arbiter of facts. It is this kind of science, which does not reveal to us the deepest mysteries of the universe, but instead can be used to measure ourselves and determine the character of our communities, which is most intertwined with our lives. However, this kind of science is not, for the most part, about discovering the unknown. Instead, it aims to supersede already existing ways of understanding and describing things. These conflicts result in factual disagreementssuch as whether the place where Riel and 17 other Metis stood on the surveyors chain was SW1/4-S.36-T.4R.1W3 as the survey might have had it, or Edouard Marions hay privilege, as the Metis community at Red River had it. To the extent that scientific knowledge of this kind is superior, it is only superior in a relative sensein a sense that is relative to certain epistemic priorities, and the political agendas and ways of life that establish them. For most things, like the Canadian prairies, the scientific way of knowing the world is not superior in every way, or even every way that matters, but it has come to appear unquestionably superior because of the world it helped to build and the victory of a way of life it helped to secure. In my next post at 3 Quarks Daily, I will continue this series explaining the ongoing success of modern science through its utility in imperialist projects by examining the World Banks development of a single metric, Disability Adjusted Life Years, to measure health and to measure the success of global health interventions. The increasing priority of quantification in global development and aid has not only undermined non-scientific, but often more suitable, ways of understanding public health crises. It has also led to misguided interventions and worse outcomes for the populations it is ostensibly meant to help. [1] Thomas Flanagan, Riel and The Rebellion: 1885 Reconsidered (Toronto: TUP, 2000), 29. [2] Robert B. McKercher and Bertram Wolfe, Understanding Western Canadas Dominion Land Survey System (Saskatoon: Division of Extension and Community Relations, University of Saskatchewan, 1986), 1. [3] Jean Teillet, The Northwest Is Our Mother (Toronto: Harper Collins, 2019), 278. [4] Songs of Old Manitoba, edited by Margaret Arnett MacLeod (Toronto: Ryerson Press, 1960), 20. [5] Teillet, 156. [6] James Morrison, The Robinson Treaties of 1850: A Case Study (The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, 1993), 7. by Joseph Shieber One of the tropes of the Covid-19 era is to revisit predictions made earlier in the pandemic, either to issue a mea culpa or to issue a self-congratulatory reminder to oneself or ones readers about a successful prediction. The past week or so has witnessed a flood of those sorts of posts centered around the question of whether Covid-19 might have escaped from a laboratory rather than from a local seafood market in Wuhan, China. Given the fact that this was only the most recent example in which some prominent scientific figures seemed to retract what had previously been treated as consensus, I nervously revisited my 3QD post from May 4, 2020, Lets Not Allow Our Renewing Trust in Science to Become the Latest Victim of Covid 19. In particular, I was concerned that my pushback against appeals to Trust the Science would not fit well with this additional evidence of the way in which scientists sometimes arrive at tentative results that are later called into question. For example, I was critical of the worry that appeals to Trust the Science might set the stage for shifting blame onto scientific experts should the political decisions lead to poor outcomes. For example, [an article in The Guardian quotes] University of Edinburgh political scientist Prof Christina Boswell as worrying that, If things go wrong it will be [painted as being] the scientific advice that is to blame. Having reread that May 4 post, however, I have to admit that I think it has aged pretty well. In order to say why, though, Ill have to dig a bit deeper into the current Lab-Leak Controversy. For most of 2020 and, indeed, up until a few weeks ago most media outlets rejected any discussion of the hypothesis that Covid-19 originated in a laboratory as conspiracist thinking. Writing in The Guardian on Saturday, Stephen Buranyi summarized the recent about-face this way: On Thursday, the [Joe Biden] ordered US intelligence agencies to redouble their efforts to find exactly when and how the virus jumped into humans, and the two scenarios he suggested were an infected animal, or a laboratory accident. Just last year, that second utterance would have got a person dismissed as a kook and a conspiracist; but an increasing number of mainstream figures, from those in the press to influential scientists and government officials such as US chief medical adviser, Anthony Fauci, are at least open to the idea that the pandemic may have started with a containment failure in China, or a souped-up virus experiment gone wrong. On her Substack, the excellent Zeynep Tufekci provides a useful summary of how the consensus hardened so quickly against the lab-leak hypothesis and in favor of the hypothesis that Covid-19 evolved naturally. Eliding some of the details and commentary provided by Tufekci, the process involved the following steps (quotes from Tufekci, numbering mine; for other summaries, see here and here): (1) Essentially, in early 2020, Trump and Senator Tom Cotton weighed in on the issue, after which it exploded in the fever swamps, with undeniable racism at play, advocating increasingly weird and unlikely scenarios (2) At the same time, a small but vocal group of scientists, some of whom had fairly active profiles on social media, provided a lot of content, quotes and viewpoints to the media, generally making themselves very accessible but with a particular point of view on this question. They also wrote strongly-worded opinion pieces for a few high-profile scientific outlets, essentially dismissing a version of whats getting called the lab leak hypothesis (3) Many top media outlets took this group of critics dismissal of a version of the lab leak hypothesis and then acted like that dismissal was universal and a scientific consensus, which it wasnt, or was conclusive, which it couldnt be simply because we dont know. We certainly didnt have the evidence we need to be so conclusive, especially not at the time (4) Then, for a whole year, the coverage implied that any question or statement skeptical of the lab leak critics, broadly defined, was essentially unscientific and could only be motivated by racism. Social media sites took down posts, and even news articles that made such claims (5) Next came the scolding fact-checks, painting all discussion of the lab leak as a possibility in any version as mere racism or just a conspiracy theory, suggesting that any attempt to have a sane conversation about a really important topic was, at best, aiding and abetting racists if not outright racist. Much of the smartest commentary about the changing consensus about whether the lab-leak hypothesis is now able to be discussed without being dismissed immediately as conspiracist misinformation has focused on this development as a major blow to the credibility of traditional media sources. For example, Matt Yglesias titled one of his Substack posts about these recent developments The Medias Lab Leak Fiasco. At various points in that post, Yglesias terms these developments evidence of a big media fuckup, a genuinely catastrophic media fuckup, and a case of gross irresponsibility on the part of at least some members of the media. Relatedly, in her posts on the topic, Tufekci repeatedly emphasizes the ways in which the recent reconsideration of the lab leak hypothesis reflect a failure on the part of the media. For example, in her Substack piece Checking Facts Even If One Cant, Tufekci laments: Without commenting on the plausibility of the different versions of the origin theories of COVID-19 (as I said, it deserves a separate considered piece, not off-hand remarks), can we at least acknowledge that what happened past year is no way to check any facts or even fight misinformation? If anything, all this overreach and hurry to declare everything a conspiracy theory or not following the science just helps erode what trust authorities or fact-checkers may have had in their pronouncements. Or in the post I cited earlier, How the Twitter/Media Feedback Loop Can Work to Undermine Our Understanding, Tufekci writes, Of course, these knee-jerk dismissals just makes the problem worse, because when the mainstream media ignores vital, debatable topics, the ones left speaking about the issue most vocally become the racists in the fever swamps. Commentary like this might well be correct as a diagnosis of the damage to media credibility resulting from the current developments. However, what the commentary ignores is the difficulty presented by the current media environment. To see what Im getting at, it would help to look at the ways in which the fever swamps have weaponized media coverage to spread disinformation more generally. And to see that, it would help to consider a toy case: lets imagine that you want to promote the idea that the post-Michelson/Morley consensus in physics is incorrect, and that light in fact does move through a luminiferous ether. (For a debunking of a recent attempt to argue in favor of the existence of luminiferous ether, see here.) It seems to me that there are a few control points at which academic and media institutions can prevent a crackpot view like the luminiferous ether theory from circulating widely: 1. The first is by not covering the theory at all. 2. The second is by covering the theory, but correctly identifying that it is a minority view that enjoys little to no support among experts (in the case of luminiferous ether, that would be an understatement!). 3. The third is by covering the theory, but explaining, in a way that is clear and accessible for the average reader, why the theory is incorrect. In the case of the lab leak theory, the critiques by Tufekci, Yglesias, and others focus on the latter two control points. With respect to both of those, the members of the media and fact-checkers did indeed fail abjectly. They failed with respect to the second control point because, although they did attempt to police the lab leak theory by claiming that it was a minority view that enjoys little to no support among experts, they were INCORRECT in making this claim. The May 14 letter in Science, Investigate the origins of Covid-19, signed by a number of prominent infectious disease specialists, immunobiologists, and epidemiologists, attests to the fact that there is as yet no scientific consensus regarding the origins of Covid-19. They failed with respect to the third control point because they were unable to explain, in a way that is clear and accessible for the average reader, why the theory is incorrect. This failure is due to at least two factors. First, those discussing the lab leak hypothesis were unable clearly to distinguish between its different versions. Some including most scientists open to the hypothesis take that hypothesis to involve an accidental release. Others mostly denizens of those fever swamps to which Tufekci refers take that hypothesis to involve the deliberate release of the virus. Second, there is not yet sufficient evidence to rule out either the natural evolution or lab leak hypothesis, at least the accidental release version. (There is little reason to countenance the deliberate release version of the lab leak view). For this reason, it is little wonder that members of the media and fact-checkers were unable to provide a clear and accessible explanation why the lab leak hypothesis is incorrect. We dont yet know that it IS incorrect! What criticisms like Tufekcis and Yglesiass fail to take into account is that the weaponization of the lab leak hypothesis in its more extreme versions by the online fever swamps and conservative media outlets like Fox News, OAN, and Newsmax short-circuited the ability of more responsible media organizations to employ the first control point: not covering the hypothesis at all. This is significant because not all stories are worth covering. The person in Germany who in the 2000s still thinks the luminiferous ether is real and who publishes papers on arXiv arguing for a reinterpretation of the Michelson-Morley experiment doesnt need coverage in The New York Times. Nor is it even the case that all true stories merit media coverage. The stereotypical example of this is the Dog bites man story: perhaps true, but uninformative. In the case of the lab leak hypothesis, the problem with the story isnt that it would be uninformative if it were true. Rather, the problem is that the story has no practical (i.e., policy) implications at all. Yglesias, in his The Medias Lab-Leak Fiasco post, is good on this. He notes: the stakes in the lab leak fight seem to be political. In 2014, Olga Khazan wrote an Atlantic article calling for stricter curbs on gain of function research at labs. Kelsey Piper wrote an article with a similar thesis in 2019 for Vox. If people believe the lab leak is true, that will bolster their case rhetorically. But I found Kelseys article persuasive when she wrote it and I will continue to think shes correct even if lab leak theory is eventually debunked. Then theres China policy. Lab leak theory could bolster anti-China politics. That being said, even if lab leak is false, its not that hard to find evidence for the proposition that the PRC regime is bad. They crushed Hong Kong. Theyre running concentration camps in Xinjiang. there is a difference between a factual controversy where a change in facts affects peoples views and a factual controversy that is mostly about raising or lowering the status of different people and arguments. And this, I think, is a case of the latter. I think that Yglesias is onto something here with his suggestion that the hypothesis that Covid-19 leaked from a Wuhan lab has no policy implications. Zero. However, Yglesias fails to appreciate the implications of someones talking about something that is itself of no practical import. If the outcome of a certain question has no practical import to your behavior or my behavior, then if I persist in talking about that question, it must be because I have some OTHER motive for being so persistent. In May, June or July of 2020, the pertinent questions had to do with lockdowns and mask-wearing. Whether Covid-19 originated in a bat in the wild or in a lab in Wuhan had no practical implications on either of these questions. For that reason, if someone in May, June or July of 2020, in the context of discussions of Covid-19, began raising the question of whether the virus leaked from a lab, it would be completely appropriate to ask the question: Why are you bringing this up now? Of course, it is possible to have an interest in the truth hypotheses simply because one has an interest in the truth. However, in the context of a pandemic, in which conversations about Covid-19 have implications for public behavior that can literally have life-or-death consequences, there is no such thing as just asking questions. As evidence for this, consider the fact that both Tufekci and Yglesias note that few, if any, actual experts were vocal in raising the possibility of the lab leak hypothesis in 2020. Heres Tufekci: many experts were quiet on the topic partly because they didnt want to die on this hill last year, and partly because many were actually eminent experts very very busy doing work on the pandemic itself. Heres Yglesias: Unless you like and admire Cotton and Pompeo and want to be known to the world as a follower of Cotton-Pompeo Thought, it is not very compelling to speak up in favor of a minority viewpoint among scientists. Why spend your day in nasty fights on Twitter when you could be doing science? What neither appreciate is what this means. Rather than implying that scientists were cowed by the woke twitterati, there is a simpler explanation: they were doing science, and were very very busy doing work on the pandemic itself. Pretty much anyone taking time out from that to discuss a hypothesis with absolutely NO practical import very likely had some sort of ulterior motive. Yglesias and Tufekci ignore this fact about the pragmatics of a discussion when they suggest that the media was acting on incomplete evidence in shutting down the discussion of the lab leak hypothesis as reflecting racist, conspiracist thinking. Given the context of the discussion in 2020, in other words, the members of the media (and fact-checkers) actually had rather STRONG evidence for thinking that those who discussed the lab leak hypothesis had racist or conspiracist motives in amplifying that hypothesis. That was certainly more plausible than supposing that most of those who amplified the lab leak hypothesis in 2020 were motivated by a pure love of the truth! (Again, remember that Tufekci and Yglesias both note that virtually NO actual experts publicly entertained the hypothesis in 2020.) Where the members of the media went astray was confusing the motivations of those who raised the lab leak hypothesis with the credibility of the hypothesis itself. It is certainly possible that someone with bad motivations or even bad arguments! could nevertheless stumble upon a true claim. Note that, as many areas emerge from the pandemic (although, unfortunately, many other areas are still threatened), the context of the discussion has shifted. As the threat from Covid-19 recedes and the need for large-scale public health interventions lessens, it becomes possible from a purely truth-interested perspective openly to ask, What happened? In this changed context, asking questions about the accidental release of Covid-19 from a laboratory no longer serves as evidence of racist or conspiracist thinking. Seen from the point of view of the pragmatics of communication, then, its not really surprising that a group of eminent scientists would now call for an investigation into Covids origins. by Raji Jayaraman I know someoneIll call him by his initials, KRwho is a Modi supporter. I have known KR for as long as I can remember. He is an intelligent, well-educated, well-travelled man. Now retired, he has a successful career behind him. He is Hindu, but he actively participated in the traditions and practices of other religions. Personally, I have great affection for him. Politically, we are now like oil and water. I usually avoid discussing politics with him because it inevitably ends in an argument: his view of Prime Minister Modi couldnt be further from mine. In order to understand why people like him continue to support Modieven now, as India is ravaged by the pandemicI did something that I hadnt done before. I asked him, and I listened without arguing. I have struggled to organize our hours-long conversation, but I think it can be distilled into three broad themes. The first is extraordinary reverence for Modi, which results in almost unconditional support for his policies. The second is visceral contempt for the opposition Congress party. The third is a suspicion of Muslims in todays India. Although I mention this third theme, I will not discuss it in this essay because its perplexity warrants a separate treatment. Here, I focus on the first two themes. First, the man himself: People support Modi because of his honesty, integrity, and nationalism. Modi is not corrupt. He is not interested in personal wealth. He is a man of integrity and he expects that of the people around him. Modi is a shrewd politician too. He has extraordinary oratory capacity and his level of absorption of facts is amazing. When I say he is a nationalist, I mean that he is interested in the nation as a whole. He is interested in Indias welfare. He has powerful ideas. His policies [such as providing latrines and bank accounts] are aimed at development for the whole nation. Everything he has done, he has done for all Indians. Even Modis fiercest critics would probably agree that he is not interested in amassing personal riches, and is a gifted politician and orator. In terms of policies, I begin by asking KR about demonitization where, in 2016, Modi announced that in a matter of hours, 500- and 1000-Rupee notes86 percent of the currency in circulationwould no longer be considered legal tender. This is a policy, which he knows I have strong objections to as an economist because evidence indicates that it missed its target of reducing corruption, and it hurt Indias poor, many of whom work in a cash-based economy. I also know that KR is deeply committed to the welfare of the poor, and that he abhors corruption. But his faith in Modi translates into faith in Modis policies. He doesnt believe that Modi would institute an ill-advised policy in the first place. Will any person who is sane want to implement a policy if he knows that it is definitely going to fail? Why would he? [Modi] thought that this policy was going to succeed. I really thought that demonitization was a master strokethat it would cut off all corruption. KR defends the policy by holding Modis opponents responsible for its shortcomings. Everyone had to be honest to make demonitization a success. Demonitization failed because people took advantage of the system. People used it to enrich themselves. The opposition and unscrupulous elements used it to convert their black money. On the current Covid crisis, where he has personally experienced loss, he defends Modis action and inaction as follows: Did we have a textbook prescription to decide on what is right, what is wrong? Could anyone have been 100%, 80%, 50% perfect? Besides, health, and law and order, are state government issues. The central government can only make recommendations; executive authority and responsibility lies with states. Also, you have to talk about the opposition when talking about the governments failures. When [Modi] suggested that campaigns [for state elections, which are thought to have contributed to the spread of Covid-19] be done online, they refused to accept it. Our discussion of other policies followed a similar pattern, best described in Sudhir and Katharina Kakars book, The Indians: Portrait of a People, which was published in 2007, well before Modi became prime minister. In it, the Kakars remark that in India, leaders take on an emotional importance independent of any realistic evaluation of their performance In contrast to most people in the West, Indians are generally more prone to revere than admire. It is not that Indians are not sceptical of authority figures. Indeed, their cynicism towards leaders, especially political leaders, is often extreme. It is only that when an Indian grants authority to a leader, his critical faculties disappear in the waves of credulity that wash over him[T]here is a complementary tendency to idealize the leader and look at him as a repository of all virtues, an almost superhuman figure deserving of their faith and respect. KRs reverence for Modi and credulity for his policies go hand in hand with cynicism regarding Modis opponents. Let me tell you why I instinctually support Modi. Because the people who are complaining, who are throwing this mud at him, are worth nothing. No matter what he does, everyone will criticize him. They are just waiting for him to make one major mistake and lose his popularity and support. Then, by default, useless nincompoops will get into power. That is what I dread more. The Congress Party. This dread comes from a conviction that, Congress is corrupt and has no competence to rule the country. Again, many will agree that corruption was a serious issue during the Congress/UPA regime, and that dynastic rule is not exactly meritocratic. The problem lies with the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. Nehru was not a democrat. He appointed his daughter as president of the Congress Party. He disbanded the first democratically elected communist government in Kerala. [Nehru] filled important posts with his trusted circle of elitist, foreign-educated, light-skinned people. He wanted international recognition and acceptance. He did not tolerate dissent or competition. Modi is trying to undo the damage the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty has done to India. In his view, the Modi government represents the first clean break from a millennium of colonial rule. Hindus and Indians suffer from an extreme inferiority complex. What others think of us determines our sense of self-worth. One reason for this is our basic philosophy. Vasudeva Kudumbakam: the whole world is one. Let knowledge come from everywhere and be assimilated to our system and society. We had eight-hundred years of Islamic rule, and another two-hundred years of British rule. English was thrust upon. We lost our Sanskrit. We lost our identity. This realization dawned on me late in life, when I started learning from contemporary scholarsboth Indian and non-Indian. Many of them are naturally Hindus. He speaks of his early career in 1960s India. We were trained to be clerks and made to believe that this is all we were good for. But I knew that the mill manager [in the company where I first worked] had been a blacksmith in Yorkshire. He came here as a manager! Another British export manager didnt even have a high school graduation. Many of the people that came here to rule us were riffraff. But we werent allowed to even think that. In many ways, the people who control Congress strike him as indigenous versions of the Yorkshire mill manager. They are a group of people who have been accorded privilege and power through no merit of their own; and they exude a sense of superiority and self-importance with which they try to mask their own incompetence. This makes KR contemptuous of their ill-gotten authority. The personal appeal of Modi, then, comes from the fact that he is cut from a different cloth. He was not born into privilege. He is not a blue-blooded Indian. He speaks English with a thick accent. He had nothing, he was no one, and yet, he has risen to the top of the country. He embraces his Indian, working-class origins, and is proud of being the Hindu he is. He carries himself with dignity. One doesnt have to share all of KRs positions, but reasonable people can sympathize with many of his sentiments. If idealization of the leader is one leg, and odium for the current opposition is another, then his recently acquired suspicion of Muslims completes KRs tripod of support for Modi. This third leg is the elephant in the room, because politically-fuelled anti-Muslim sentiment is arguably what catapulted Modi to national office in the first place. But it is complicated because KR comes from a family and a region of India that has not been marred by communal tensions, and he counts Muslims among his closest friends. Rather than give the topic short shrift, Ill leave the Muslim question for another essay. Let me conclude here by saying that listening to KR has made me pessimistic that Indias current crisis spells Modis downfall. Reverence breeds credulity, which means that Modis policy choices will not be questioned. Disdain for Congress and the absence of another viable opposition party means that he will pay no electoral penalty. Suspicion of Muslims persists. In other words, the tripod of his support remains largely intact even as India burns. BEIJING, May 28 -- On May 24, local time, the UN Security Council held an open debate themed United Nations peacekeeping operations: improving safety and security of peacekeepers proposed by China. Presided over by Ambassador Zhang Jun, permanent representative of China to the United Nations, the debate adopted a presidential statement drafted by China on the theme of improving the safety and security of UN peacekeepers. As Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for peacekeeping operations, has pointed out in a briefing to the UN Security Council, many peacekeepers have sacrificed in performing missions since the beginning of this year. The UN has been committed to revising the work instructions for peacekeepers to improve protection effectiveness. Mr. Lacroix also thanked China for its efforts in peacekeeping missions and for protecting the safety and security of UN peacekeepers. The World Health Organization is asking for 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine for African countries to administer second doses to those who have received their first shot. After three weeks of declining rates of COVID-19 infections in Africa, the World Health Organization is reporting an increase in cases. It says its latest figures of more than 4.7 million cases, including 128,000 deaths indicate a 17 percent rise over the previous week. WHO regional director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti says she is concerned, but that it is too soon to tell whether Africa is on the cusp of a third wave. "While it is too soon to say if Africa is seeing a resurgence, however, we are seeing increases in a number of countries, we are monitoring the situation very closely. And we see that we are balancing on a knife's edge," she said. "So this makes the rapid rollout of COVID-19 vaccines all the more important." Moeti says South Africa accounts for nearly one-third of the 65,000 new cases reported by WHO. She says she fears new variants of the virus circulating in South Africa may be spreading into neighboring countries. She notes Namibia and Zambia are among 11 African countries experiencing more cases. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson married his fiancee, Carrie Symonds, in a secret ceremony at Westminster Cathedral on Saturday, The Sun and Mail on Sunday newspapers reported. A spokeswoman for Johnson's Downing Street office declined to comment on the reports. Both newspapers said that guests were invited at the last minute to the central London ceremony, and that even senior members of Johnson's office were unaware of the wedding plans. Weddings in England are currently limited to 30 people because of COVID-19 restrictions. The Catholic cathedral was suddenly locked down at 1:30 p.m. and Symonds, 33, arrived 30 minutes later in a limo, in a long white dress with no veil, both reports said. Two people were killed and at least 20 injured Sunday when a gang of three shot indiscriminately into a crowd outside a concert in Miami, Florida, local police said. The mass shooting happened during the early hours at a billiards hall on a commercial estate near Miami Gardens, to the northwest of the coastal city's downtown. The venue was "hosting a scheduled event and several patrons were standing outside," Miami-Dade Police Department said in a statement. When a Nissan Pathfinder SUV approached the scene, it added, "three subjects exited the vehicle and began shooting indiscriminately into the crowd." The trio then got back in the car and fled the scene. Authorities expect that the rate of first-shot vaccination will surpass 12 percent by this weekend. Coronavirus vaccination is finally gaining speed in Korea. According to health authorities, 171,989 more people were inoculated last Saturday, most of them being given their first jab. That brought the total who have had their first shot to 5.24 million people or 10.5 percent of the population, while 2.13 million or 4.2 percent have had both jabs. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said of 18.38 million vaccine doses that are expected in the first half of the year, 11.64 million doses have already been delivered and the remainder will arrive by June. By the third quarter that will swell to 100 million doses and at the end of the year to 190 million. A shipment of Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccines for 1 million people provided by the U.S. will arrive this week, about double the doses for 550,000 people U.S. President Joe Biden pledged to President Moon Jae-in in Washington last week. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only a single shot but is just 67 percent effective. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved its use here on April 7. It will be given to 538,000 reservists over 30, about 137,000 defense and diplomatic personnel and 3.04 million civil defense forces between June 10 and 20. Another 414,000 active-duty service members under 30 will be given Pfizer shots. Meanwhile, the daily tally of new coronavirus infections stood at 430 as of Monday morning. About half of Koreans support drafting women into the military, a poll suggests. Equal conscription for men and women has become a talking point amid deteriorating gender relations in Korea, and remarkably more women than men now support it. In the Gallup Korea poll of 1,003 adults released on Sunday, 47 percent supported drafting only men into the military and 46 percent the drafting of both men and women. Among male respondents, 51 percent called for drafting men only and 44 percent both men and women. But among female respondents, the percentages were 43 percent and 47 percent. More than half or 51 percent of those aged 18-29, the current eligible age for military service, called for drafting both men and women compared to 37 percent who supported the conscription of men only. Among female respondents of the age group, the proportions were 48 percent for equal conscription and 35 percent for men only, compared to 54 percent and 40 percent among their male counterparts. President Moon Jae-in on Sunday pledged to boost Korea's greenhouse gas reduction target by 2030. At present, Korea is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 24.4 percent compared to 2017 levels, but Moon intends to raise that target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. He made the remarks at the opening of the two-day P4G Summit in Seoul, which was held online. P4G stands for Partnering for Green Growth and Global Goals 2030. The first summit was held in Copenhagen in 2018. "The Korean government will sharply expand its proportion of environmental and official development assistance support by 2025," he said and added the country looks forward to bringing the UN climate conference to Seoul. According to Busan police on Sunday, 38 complaints were filed by local residents about large groups of foreigners gathering in the area without wearing masks. Police estimate between 1,500 and 2,000 foreigners gathered in the area to celebrate the American military holiday. Around 2,000 U.S. soldiers and other foreigners gathered on Haeundae Beach in Busan on Saturday night to celebrate Memorial Day in flagrant violation of lockdown rules. Video clips of the party on social media showed large groups dancing on the beach either without masks or covering only a part of their faces at around 11:40 p.m. Many of them lit fireworks, which is also banned on beaches. Police converged at the scene, but their numbers were not enough to disperse the revelers, many of whom refused to leave. Haeundae district officials admitted they have only six staffers on duty at night to crack down on lockdown violators. The U.S. Forces Korea have been vaccinated since late last year and more than 70 percent of the 28,500 troops are now fully inoculated. But locals said they were afraid because they have no way of telling who has been vaccinated and who has not. On July 4 last year, another American holiday, U.S. soldiers on leave also converged at the beach and lit fireworks, some even aiming them at local residents. But police said no incidents of violence were reported this time. Haeundae district officials said they will make regular announcements at night in English informing visitors to the beach of social-distancing rules and ask U.S. military police for assistance. Zhang Chengzong: a walking encyclopedia of Shanghais revolutionary history By:Eastday | 2021-05-31 08:14 Editors note: This year, we are releasing a new series of stories themed on Red Finance: CPCs Financial History in Shanghai. Below is an article about Zhang Chengzong, a prominent revolutionary in Shanghais financial sector who made great contributions to the citys liberation. At Shanghais 81 Yuyuan Rd, the inconspicuous three-story house used to be where the Shanghai Municipal CPC Committee was seated, and is widely known as the former residence of Liu Changsheng. But what is lesser known is that a revolutionary named Zhang Chengzong also lived there. A bank clerk at that time, he led the secret work of the Shanghai CPC organization with Liu. Establishing a united frontline in the financial sector Zhang Chengzong was born in Ningbo in June 1910. At the age of six, he came to Shanghai to study. After that, his life was inseparable from Shanghai. In 1925, at the age of 15, Zhang was on the site when British police officers directed patrols to shoot at unarmed Chinese, causing dozens of deaths and injuries during the May 30th Incident. He said, The (May 30th) incident awakened me from the fantasy of pursuing comfort and superiority. In 1930, while working as a bank clerk in Xintai Bank, Zhang began to take part in patriotic movements. Afraid of being suppressed by the Kuomingtang government, Xintai Bank tried to persuade Zhang to stop his involvement in those movements. But the requirement was firmly refused. (In 1937, CCP member Zhang Chengzong established a Party branch in Xintai Bank. Pictured above is the former site of the bank at 148 Henan Rd.) The outbreak of the Mukden Incident in 1931 ignited the patriotic enthusiasm of employees in Shanghai's financial industry. In October 1936, Zhang was elected as a council member of the Shanghai Banking and Money Industry Amateur Association. The establishment of the Association united a large number of employees in the financial sector as Shanghai at that time was the financial center of the Far East. (Zhang Chengzong and his younger brother Zhang Kunzhai) In August 1937, Zhang joined the Communist Party of China. The following year, a Party Committee was established in Shanghais financial sector, and Zhang was the first Party secretary. Under Zhangs leadership, the Association expanded to over 15,000 members by June 1948. While uniting the people in the financial sector like a big family, it also encouraged them in their anti-Japanese patriotic actions. Getting ready for Shanghais liberation After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War in August 1945, Liu Changsheng and Zhang Chengzong were transferred back to Shanghai from the New Fourth Army to lead the work of the Shanghai Municipal CPC Committee. Their home was the three-story house at 81 Yuyuan Road. Lius family lived on the second floor while Zhangs family lived on the third floor. The only telephone in the house was in Zhangs home. Therefore, Liu often went to Zhangs house to discuss work under the pretense of using his telephone. (Wax figures of Liu Changsheng and Liu Xiao. The latter was then Party secretary of the Shanghai Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.) Before the New Fourth Army entered Shanghai, the two opened a rice shop as a secret liaison station, where Zhangs younger brother Zhang Kunzhai was disguised as the shop owner. (Zhang Chengzong, second from right, revisited the rice shop in 1993) To their great surprise, a special spy agency of the KMT moved to a house opposite the rice shop. Zhang and his comrades had to work more carefully in the more complicated and dangerous situation. Later, Zhang Chengzongs eldest son Zhang Yasheng also went to the shop to help with the intelligence work. (A group photo of the Shanghai Municipal CPC Committee before Shanghais liberation from the KMT) To prepare for the liberation of Shanghai, Zhang led a large number of investigations into Shanghais economic and market conditions. The Party members also compiled a set of volumes about major financial institutions and the financial market across the city, to help with the successful takeover of Shanghai. In fact, Shanghais economy was on the brink of collapse at the end of the Nationalist governments rule. It was thanks to Zhang and his comrades economic investigations that the economy was immediately brought back to stability. (Zhang Chengzongs article about the liberation and takeover of Shanghai) Later in an article, Zhang said, The liberation of Shanghai and the smooth takeover of the city was a great victory for the combination of Marxism-Leninism and Chinese reality, and a great victory for Mao Zedong Thought. It also crushed the imperialists assumption that the CPC could not successfully take over such a big city as Shanghai. Establishing Aj Group after a visit to Hong Kong After the Peoples Republic of China was founded, Zhang kept making contributions to the construction of Shanghai. In 1979, he led a delegation group to Hong Kong, kicking off an all-around cooperation and exchanges between HK and Shanghai. (A group photo of the delegation. Third from left is Zhang Chengzong) In 1979, Shanghai Aj Group was established with the joint efforts of HK, Macao and Shanghais industrial and business fields. It was the first privately-owned enterprise after the reform and opening up policy began. In 1996, Zhang Chengzong passed away in Shanghai at the age of 88. His eldest son Zhang Yasheng once recalled: After my father passed away, Zhao Qizheng came to my house to express his condolences, adding that my father was a walking encyclopedia to witness Shanghais revolutionary history as he participated in almost every major event. He was a witness and commander. Story by Zhao Ming, Kong Wenlong Translation: Wu Qiong Some photos provided by the Exhibition Hall of the History of CPCs Underground Organization in Shanghai & Former Residence of Liu Changsheng SHUTCM launches open day for international visitors residing in SH to experience TCM culture By:Zhao Chunyuan, Jiang Meiqing | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-05-31 17:00 On May 28, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SHUTCM) welcomed more than 110 international visitors currently residing in Shanghai from Japan, South Korea, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Morocco, Germany and Brazil for a TCM open day. Attracted by the Wechat promotion, the visitors, including TCM lovers, came closer to experience the international education of the University, and to feel the charm of TCM and Chinese culture. The open day consisted of course consultations, on-site experience and a campus tour, which were guided by faculty members from different language sections including Japanese, English, French and Korean. In the course consultations, the visitors first had TCM talks on health care, and one-on-one consultations on TCM diagnosis, as well as became informed on long-term and short-term programs, campus life, and career development with faculty members. Faculty members from School of Acupuncture and Moxibustion demonstrated acupoints and Tuina manipulations, and visitors were invited to experience these. The University also arranged an activity to make and taste Zongzi, which is pyramid-shaped sticky rice wrapped in bamboo leaves, in order to mark the coming Dragon-boat festival. The bamboo leaves used to make the Zongzi can clear heat and remove toxins, as well as stop bleeding. The glutinous rice is beneficial for tonifying Qi and strengthening the Stomach and the Spleen. The red beans can regulate Qi and meridians, clear heat and generate body fluids. Attracted by the food with medicinal functions, visitors made Zongzi and came up with different kinds of Zongzi made of rice and red beans. Zongzi with meat and Chinese dates stuffing were also provided for tasting. Julia was one of the visitors learning to make Zongzi for the first time in her life. She also has deep ties to Shanghai. My father is German and my mother is Shanghainese. I love Zongzi with salted egg yolk and pork made by my grandmother at home, said Julia. She is currently receiving her matriculation education at Tongji University. She also cherished the opportunity to take part in this activity, which gave her a chance to learn more about TCM and Chinese culture up close. A 15-minute scalp scraping experience in the Tuina experience area was very enjoyable for her. At the beginning, I felt some pain, but then I gradually felt very relaxed, said Julia. The scraping technique is one of the components of TCM, which is summarized in the practice of fighting disease. When scraping skin, it is necessary to apply a hydrophobic oil such as tea oil to soothe the pain. Guided by faculty members, the visitors visited Shanghai Museum of TCM, getting to know the TCM culture and knowledge. People from other countries are increasingly interested in TCM, which has significant advantages in terms of health care, treatment and rehabilitation, and they also want to learn more about TCM and the means of diagnosis and treatment, said Lin Xun, dean of the International Education College at Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He also pointed out that the college organized international visitors from different countries to experience TCM culture for the first time this year, with the aim of creating opportunities for more foreigners residing in Shanghai to learn more about TCM and Chinese culture," said Lin Xun. With the number and level of international students ranked top among all the TCM universities, the University has increasingly enhanced its teaching quality of international education, and cultivated international students with an adequate understanding and kindness to China. The University has launched three annual workshops for high-end TCM professionals along the Belt and Road countries to demonstrate the charm of Shanghai-styled TCM, and held social activities for international students named Discovery of the Beauty of TCM for two consecutive years. Canyon Lake on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. Many subdivisions in central Comal County get their water managed by the Canyon Lake Water Corporation. This water is sourced from both the Trinity Aquifer and surface water from the Canyon Lake Reservoir. MIKALA COMPTON | Herald-Zeitung New Braunfels Fire Department divers aboard Canyon Lake Fire/EMSs Marine 53 search for the body of Joel Jojo, 22, who disappeared while swimming in Canyon Lake Saturday morning. In recent times, the rise in steel prices has almost become the topic of most concern to everyone. Facing the continuous rise in steel prices, many leading steel stocks have seen a significant increase in performance, which has also triggered a large num... Press Release May 30, 2021 Bong Go open to constitutional amendments on economic provisions but says focus must remain on overcoming COVID-19; warns against changes aimed at benefiting politicians Senator Christopher "Bong" Go said he would support proposed constitutional amendments on economic provisions if it will benefit the Filipino people, protect their interests, and allow the country to better respond to future crises. In an interview given on Saturday, May 29, he noted however that while he is open, there may not be enough time to tackle the proposed amendments on the 1987 constitution as Congress will adjourn on June 5 and the priority now of the whole government is to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. "Iba ang sitwasyon ngayon. Talagang hirap ang ekonomiya dahil nasa pandemya tayo. Kung may babaguhin sa economic provisions, open ako. Para naman ito sa pag-eencourage ng mga foreign investors at pagkakaroon ng job opportunities. Kailangang bumangon ang ekonomiya dahil iba na ang sitwasyon natin sa new normal," he said. The Senator also warned against any revisions to the Constitution that disproportionately benefit politicians at the expense of the people. "Sang-ayon ako kung makakatulong ito para bumalik ang sigla ng ekonomiya. Pero hindi ako suportado dito kung ang makikinabang lang ang pulitiko. Hindi ako papayag. Doon lang tayo sa kung ano ang makakatulong sa mga kababayan natin, lalong-lalo na ang mga mahihirap," he reiterated. The House of Representatives formally began discussions on the proposed charter change last January 13. On Wednesday, May 26, the House approved on second reading Resolution of Both Houses No. 2 which proposes to "liberalize the restrictive economic provisions in the Constitution" in order to open the country to foreign investors and help the economy recover from the adverse impacts of the pandemic. House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco earlier reassured that all discussions in the Lower Chamber will be solely confined to the economic provisions and the entire process shall be transparent and fair. The business community has also expressed their support for the move, with Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Benedicto Yujuico saying that the proposed amendments will make the country more competitive, boost foreign direct investments, and "address monopolistic, uncompetitive behaviors and under-investments" in certain sectors. "The Constitution is for the people and by the people. Para sa akin, kung ano ang makakabenepisyo sa Pilipino ay susuportahan ko. Pinag-aaralan natin ang economic provisions dahil kailangan natin ng mga investments so we can recover and restore normalcy sa ating bayan," said Go. Press Release May 31, 2021 PNP move to share drug war records a good sign, De Lima says Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has welcomed the recent move by the Philippine National Police (PNP) to open its drug war records to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for review, roughly five years after the government's drug war campaign started. De Lima, the staunchest critic of Duterte's murderous war on drugs, said the investigation should uncover the whole truth, especially about the summary killings of thousands of poor Filipinos. "The openness of the current PNP leadership in sharing their drug war records is a good sign. Let's see how far the DOJ-led inter-agency panel would be willing to go to uncover the plain, unvarnished truth, and determine ultimate accountability for the EJKs," she said. "Hindi pwedeng tingi-tingi lang. Yung buong katotohanan dapat. Bakit naging lantaran at talamak ang pagpatay? Sino ang nag-udyok?" she added. Recently, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra reportedly announced that the PNP had agreed to open 61 case records where the PNP Internal Affairs Service had already found liability on the part of law enforcers. According to Guevarra, these cases were reviewed and evaluated by the PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS), an autonomous unit within the PNP dedicated to investigating erring policemen, using its own records and personnel. Gueverra said the purpose of the review is for the DOJ to determine which administrative cases could lead to possible criminal investigation. The lady Senator from Bicol, however, stressed that the PNP and DOJ should cooperate with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) by also sharing with the latter relevant drug war files for independent probe. "Mahalaga ang isang independent at patas na imbestigasyon ng CHR ukol sa mga EJKs, at malaki ang maitutulong ng mga records na ito mula sa PNP sa CHR para malaman ang katotohanan sa mga naiulat na pamamaslang. Kailangan dito ng tunay na kooperasyon, at hindi ningas-kugon lang na mga inisyatiba," De Lima said. It may be recalled that the CHR previously lamented that restrictions on access to police records hampered its investigations into cases where victims were killed by law enforcers for allegedly "fighting back" or "nanlaban." PNP Chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar reportedly said they are now leaving the decision to share the police's records on the war on drugs with the CHR to the justice department because it will be the one to review the records and not the police. Press Release May 31, 2021 Manifestation of Support for SBN 1907 re: Instituting Services and Programs for Learners with Disabilities in Support of Inclusive Education Sen. Leila M. de Lima 31 May 2021 For more than a year now, the COVID-19 pandemic has hampered our education system. Its insurmountable impact affected millions of educators, learners and their families, in many aspects. The challenges they continue to face linger every single day as they battle to survive and push their limits in attaining the best educational outcomes with their individual limitations. Hindi biro ang mga hamon sa gitna ng delubyo. The times have demanded from all of them great strength to surpass even greater challenges that have never in recent memory been seen. Sa pagitan ng noon, ngayon at bukas, kinailangan nilang pagdaanan, lagpasan at pagtagumpayan. Even before the pandemic, learners with disabilities already carried the burden of having to exert more effort to overcome their limitations in order to study, learn and participate in classes. Sa kabila ng mga balakid, palagian silang nagniningning upang ipamalas na hindi hadlang ang kapansanan sa pagtatagumpay. However well they adapt in life, however strong they can always stand in the middle of the storm to shine and always shine, the undeniable reality is that these learners have special needs that the State must not ignore, but rather address in a timely and effective manner. Despite this unfortunate reality, the present system leaves much to be desired especially when our educational system remains exclusive and inequitable, leaving many families with learners with disabilities behind having to fend for themselves. As a parent to a son and a grandparent to a grandson in the spectrum, I rise to strongly support the urgent passage of this measure. My experience raising my son, allowed me insight into the daily struggles and daily wins of families of children with special needs. So apt is the timing perhaps, even though still late in the coming, because I can only imagine how things have worsened with the new battlefronts that must be faced - those that have been brought about by this pandemic. This very noteworthy measure and reform in our educational system gives justice to the necessities of students with special needs which were unaddressed for decades until now. Sa pamamagitan ng panukalang ito ay malaking tulong ang maibibigay natin sa mga pamilya at mga estudyandeng may learning disabilities. The shift to a paradigm of Inclusive Education is in furtherance of the State's obligation to provide quality education to Filipinos with disabilities -- an obligation not only implicit in the constitutional right to education, but also expressly undertaken by the Philippine Government upon its ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008. I thank Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Pia Cayetano for shepherding this bill and I join everyone in this august chamber in pushing for its enactment. Thank you very much. YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. Ahead of the June 20 election of parliament, as required by law authorities released the number of voters: 2,581,093 people are registered in the voters register. YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. Armenias State Revenue Committee has signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of the United States Department of Justice, the SRC told Armenpress. The memorandum aims at deepening the cooperation between the two agencies for fighting against drug trafficking, money laundering-related crimes, etc. The document has been signed by SRC Chairman Edward Hovhannisyan and Regional Director of the DEA Middle East Region William Warren. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Defense Minister of Armenia Vagharshak Harutyunyan had a telephone conversation with Russian Defense Minister, Army General Sergei Shoigu on May 31, the Armenian defense ministry told Armenpress. The two ministers discussed the current situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and the ways of implementing the agreements which were reached during a meeting in Moscow last week. The officials also touched upon the main directions of the reforms which launched in the Armenian Armed Forces, the process of the Russian peacekeeping mission in Artsakh, the regional security issues and their joint actions for resisting them. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Defense of Armenia is denying the reports claiming that more Armenian servicemen have been taken captive by the Azeri military. On May 30, reports started circulating in Azerbaijani social media networks claiming that Armenian military servicemen have been taken captive upon crossing the Azerbaijani state border. Despite the fact that this report was swiftly denied by the Azerbaijani state agencies themselves, with the Azerbaijani state border guard service issuing a respective statement, some social media users and news outlets in Armenia continue circulating it. The Ministry of Defense is once again urging not to spread unverified, fake, and in this case even officially refuted information, the Ministry of Defense said. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan Press Release May 31, 2021 Drilon tells barangays: Shun politics Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon warned barangays against engaging in partisan politics. "Let us maintain the non-partisan nature of the barangays. Barangays must shun politics at all costs," Drilon said. Drilon issued the statement on Monday after a supposed letter of a barangay chairman in a village in Bulacan circulated in social media, which was supposedly asking the residents of Barangay Pagala in Baliwag, Bulacan whether they will support the candidacy of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. Drilon cited a prohibition under the Omnibus Election Code and Section 93 of the Local Government Code against engaging in partisan political activities. Drilon said that following the Commission on Election and Civil Service Commission Joint Circular 001-2016, only the President, Vice President, Members of the Cabinet, other elective officials except barangay officials, members of the AFP reserve corps are excluded from the coverage of the prohibition against engaging in electioneering of engaging in partisan political activities. "They cannot campaign or endorse the candidacy of any person. More so, they cannot use the resources of the barangays for political activities. That is a violation of the law," he added. He added that barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials are non-partisan by nature and practice. In fact, during the 2019 elections, the Department of Interior and Local Government asked the COMLEC to look into partisan activities of barangay and SK officials, saying they have committed election offenses. In a one-page letter, DILG Usec. Epimaco Densing endorsed complaints against 52 barangay and SK officials who were engaged in electioneering. The DILG has publicly said that barangay officials engaging in partisan political activities are violating the Omnibus Election Code. Drilon also appealed to politicians to stop using the barangays to score "pogi points" in the administration or further their political agenda. "Huwag na po nating gamitin ang barangays sa pulitika. Huwag nating bigyan ng kulay ang barangay. Let them remain apolitical," he said. Drilon urged the DILG to look into the incident in Barangay Pagala in Baliwag Bulacan and ensure that the barangays and its resources are not used for political activities. During the budget deliberation last year, Drilon expressed warning that there are items in the national budget that could be used "in aid of 2022 elections" such as the P19 billion anti-insurgency fund wherein P16.4 billion is distributed to more than 800 barangays in the country in a pre-election year. YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. Spokesperson of the Armenian foreign minister Anna Naghdalyan has announced her resignation today. I would like to inform that I no longer fulfill the duties of the spokesperson of the foreign ministry. I want to thank all media representatives, my colleagues at the foreign ministry and my team for the productive cooperation and support at this difficult and responsible period. I want to specifically thank Ara Aivazian and Zohrab Mnatsakanyan for the trust: it was a great honor to work with such experienced and patriotic diplomats. I would like to note also that I will continue my work in the diplomatic service, she said on Facebook. Anna Naghdalyan has been serving as foreign ministry spokesperson since October 10, 2018. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. The Parliament of Armenia will convene an extraordinary session on June 3 at the initiative of the government. The session will kick off at 11:00 with the agenda set by the government. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan Families could score free travel for a year under Qantas' vaccine plan. (Images: Getty). Australians who receive the COVID-19 vaccine could be eligible for huge travel incentives under a plan put forward by Qantas CEO Alan Joyce. Qantas, which has had its business largely grounded since the COVID-19 pandemic declaration in March 2020, is hoping free flights, points and credits will encourage Australians to get vaccinated. "We are looking at giving 1000 points flight vouchers, credits and we are going to offer ten mega prizes, at least one for each state and territory, where a family of four get unlimited travel on the Qantas and Jetstar network, anywhere in the network for a year," Joyce told Today. The prize program will launch in July, with up to 10 families to receive free travel for a year. Qantas first flagged the vaccine prize plan last week. Hotel business Accor Group is working with Qantas to offer free accommodation to the winning families. "We are trying our best to help with this rollout - it will be retrospective and will include anyone who has already been vaccinated and will apply to anybody that is vaccinated until the end of 2021," Joyce said. The carrier plans to resume international flights by the end of the year, however Australia has so far failed to meet its vaccination schedule. As of Friday, 473,000 people have been vaccinated in Australia, or around 1.9 per cent of the population. Joyce said corporate Australia has a bigger role to play in promoting the vaccine rollout. "I'm encouraging a 'Team Australia' moment where every corporate out there helps with this vaccine rollout and to reward people that have had the vaccine," he said. It comes as Victoria grapples with a worsening COVID-19 outbreak which has sent the state into a seven day lockdown. Vaccine incentives urged Greater incentives to get vaccinated would improve the rollout, however the incentives need to be targeted appropriately , Griffith University researchers Sameer Deshpande and Joy Parkinson said. Story continues They noted that in America, New York has offered free tickets to city attractions, while Alabama has offered two laps around the Talladega Superspeedway for vaccinated residents. Some organisations like supermarket chain Publix have offered vaccinated employees a US$125 gift card, while Uber and Lyft have offered free rides to and from vaccination hubs. Although it is too early to tell us how well these incentives are working, research on other vaccines has shown financial incentives increase adherence seven-fold, the researchers said. Its vital to listen to the public. Australians love fun, sport, spending time with family and friends, and travelling. Any incentive or strategy should consider these values. They suggested Australia consider offering free food and drinks as a way of encouraging younger and less at-risk people to get vaccinated. For other groups, gradually imposing barriers on recreational events like sporting games, festivals and shows for unvaccinated people would also work to incentivise vaccine takeup. Its also important that Australians have easy access to the vaccine, with the researchers calling for mobile vaccination vans at public transport hubs and on-site vaccine clinics in the office. Offering money to compensate for travel time, fuel and childcare needs would make vaccination more attractive too. Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly has backed the calls for vaccine perks, saying it was critical the Government consider every tool at its disposal. We really do need to look for incentives as many incentives as we can for people to become vaccinated, Kelly said. Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe to the free Fully Briefed daily newsletter. A frustrated Queensland resident says an irreplaceable, century-old artefact has been destroyed by staff from Australia Post, after her package was "thrown" at her door and arrived with obvious damage to the packaging. The woman, from Alexandra Hills near Brisbane, ordered a vinyl record from England which was snapped clean in half. She said the record - a 1927 Parlophone 78 of Allan Priora - was priceless to her, because not only was the famed Australian tenor an international star, he was also her relative. He happened to be my great uncle and this record was the very last copy of any of his recordings in existence anywhere in the world, she told Yahoo News Australia. The irreplaceable vinyl record was snapped in half while in transit to the Queensland address. Source: Facebook/Supplied The devastated customer said her family had been searching for Prioras records for years, and were excited to make the rare discovery online. My entire extended family were grateful that I was buying it to keep it in the family, and equally angered and upset that, although it had been kept safely all these years in the UK, it was then callously destroyed by some idiot in Australia Post," she said. I believe it was likely the delivery guy as he threw it against the door, called out Australia Post and bolted up the driveway at a million miles per hour. A mark on the package looks suspiciously like a heel print, the customer said, leading her to believe her precious package could also have been stood on. The woman said an Australia Post employee told her there had been no record of damage to the parcel upon arrival into Australia or her local Capalaba office. The customer claims the damage to the parcel on the right looks suspiciously like a boot print. Source: Facebook/Supplied When she contacted the company about the damage, she was told to lodge a claim form in a local office. They offered to repay the postage but that was all, she said. To add fuel to the fire, the customer received another damaged parcel just two days later - and this time the box was clearly marked "fragile". Story continues Sharing her disappointment to Facebook, she posted photos of the parcel and vented her frustration at the postal service. Yet another one!! Look where the damage is this time. Right on the word Fragile, she wrote. A picture of the box shows a large yellow and red fragile sticker, along with an additional, handwritten "fragile" warning. The parcel had been damaged only a centimetre or two above the word. Despite the marking on the box, the contents of the parcel were undamaged. Customers shocked by treatment of packages Other customers were horrified at the treatment of the packages. All freight handlers should have more responsibility to the customer. Especially when it comes to fragile items. To wait a week to receive your goods trashed is just not acceptable, one man said. A second parcel received just two days later was also damaged, right near the word 'fragile'. Source: Facebook/Supplied Outrageous Aust Post!!! Absolutely THE WORST mail service on the entire planet, another said. Several others said the onus was actually on the sender for not packaging the items correctly. After a series of negative experiences, the Queensland resident has vowed to never use Australia Post again. "I will never use Australia Post again because of their lack of staff training in how to handle packages, and their shifting of accountability to the customer," she told Yahoo News. "We are all heartbroken at their dismissal of us in regard to the broken record but they are completely indifferent about it." No fragile service at Australia Post Australia Post doesnt offer a service for fragile items, but says on its website well always try to handle items with care. Most items sent through AusPost come with up to $100 compensation for loss or damage. These claims are assessed on a case-by-case basis. If an item is valued over $100, customers have the option to purchase Extra Cover, which will provide compensation for loss or damage up to $5000. An Australia Post spokesperson said it was important to ensure a parcel was properly packed to keep it as safe as possible. Australia Post does not offer a 'fragile' service, but instead advises senders to package their items properly and take out insurance on expensive items. Source: AAP/File "Our people are working hard to deliver record volumes of parcels and the vast majority arrive safely. We always recommend that parcels are packaged appropriately, with adequate protection such as cushioning around the item to make sure it isn't damaged," the spokesperson said. "Customers with concerns about their delivery are encouraged to contact us on 13 POST for help and support." The company says despite not having an official service for delicate objects: well always try to handle items with care. How to package a fragile item On its website, Australia Post has included suggestions on how to best protect fragile items: Items should be individually wrapped in tissue paper or newspaper, and put back in the original box it came in (or a similar sized box). Then, the box should be wrapped in extra cushioning, such as bubble wrap, before its packed inside a sturdy mailing box. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. The US National Security Agency has used a partnership with Denmark's foreign intelligence unit to spy on senior officials of neighbouring countries, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, according to Danish state broadcaster DR. The findings are the result of an internal investigation in the Danish Defence Intelligence Service from 2015 into NSA's role in the partnership, DR said on Sunday, citing nine unnamed sources with access to the investigation. According to the investigation that covered 2012 and 2014, the NSA used Danish information cables to spy on senior officials in Sweden, Norway, France and Germany, including former German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and former German opposition leader Peer Steinbruck. Asked for comment on the DR report, a spokesperson for the German chancellery said it only became aware of the allegations when asked about them by journalists, and declined to comment further. Denmark, a close ally of the United States, hosts several key landing stations for subsea internet cables to and from Sweden, Norway, Germany, Holland and the UK. The internal investigation in the Danish Defence Intelligence Service was launched in 2014 following concerns about Edward Snowden's leaks the previous year revealing how the NSA works, according to DR. In Washington, the NSA did not immediately reply to a request for comment and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment. A spokesperson for the Danish Defence Intelligence Service declined to comment. "It is grotesque that friendly intelligence services are indeed intercepting and spying on top representatives of other countries," Steinbrueck told German broadcaster ARD. "Politically, I consider it a scandal." Sweden's Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist told Swedish SVT broadcaster that he "demanded full information on these things". Norway's Defence Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen told broadcaster NRK that "take the allegations seriously". A decision in August last year to suspend the head of the Danish Defence Intelligence Service and three other officials from their posts following criticism and accusations of serious wrongdoings from an independent board overseeing the unit, centred on the 2015 investigation, according to DR. The Danish government said last year it would initiate an investigation into the case based on information from a whistleblower report. That investigation is expected to be concluded later this year. The return of dozens of Iraqi families suspected of links to the Islamic State group from Syria to Mosul has sparked fears among residents who survived the horrors of IS rule. Around 300 people from some 90 families left the Kurdish-run Al-Hol camp in northeast Syria on Tuesday under Iraqi army escort, a Kurdish administration official told AFP on condition of anonymity. It was the first repatriation of Iraqi families from the camp, which is home to more than 60,000 people including relatives of IS fighters, and came as part of an agreement between Baghdad and the multinational coalition battling the jihadists. But the move has stirred up nightmares for many Mosul residents. For three years, Mosul was the heart of IS's self-proclaimed "caliphate". IS fighters imposed a strict interpretation of Muslim "sharia" law, banning music and smoking and meting out brutal punishments, including public beheadings, for those who violated their rules. "We are totally opposed to their return," said Omar, a 28-year-old soldier, whose father was killed by IS fighter. "Our future is dark and dangerous because the jihadists will live near us," said Omar, who declined to give his surname for security reasons. "They are a time bomb." - 'State's duty' - Iraq formally declared victory against IS in late 2017, a few months after ousting the jihadists from Mosul, the capital of Nineveh province. The Syrian Kurdish administration official said the departures marked a "first wave" of Iraqi families to leave Al-Hol. The families were sent towards Qayyarah, an area south of Mosul that is home to the Al-Jadaa camp. That camp hosts almost 7,500 displaced people and families of jihadists in two separate areas, the Iraqi ministry for the displaced says. "How can we accept their return while many people are still grieving for at least one member of their family who disappeared after being arrested by IS and whose body has never been found?" said Omar. Story continues Syria's Kurds have repeatedly urged the international community to repatriate foreign nationals held in the country's northeast, but the calls have largely fallen on deaf ears. Iraqis make up nearly half of Al-Hol's inhabitants, according to the United Nations. "It is the state's duty to receive repatriated Iraqis and settle them in existing camps before integrating them into their regions of origin," said Evan Gabro, minister for migration and the displaced. Qayyarah district administrative director Salah Hasan al-Jubburi sought to reassure residents. The families "do not represent a security danger, though I understand popular opposition since they come from Al-Hol," Jubburi said. - 'Extremist ideas' - He said most of the arrivals were women and children, and almost all were originally from neighbouring Anbar province, also a former jihadist bastion. "There are just four or five families that are originally from Nineveh," Jubburi said. Ali al-Bayati, member of Iraqi's human rights commission, said the residents' fears stemmed from a "lack of transparency". "Nobody knows if these people have been interrogated or if they were subject to an investigation," he said. "Before accepting them, (the authorities) should have ensured that none of them were charged or had committed crimes." Omar al-Husseini, a human rights activist from Mosul, expressed scepticism. "The government must be cautious" because the families have spent years in the Al-Hol camp under the influence of jihadists, he said. "Is the state able to integrate them and above all, protect society?" More than three years after Iraq declared IS defeated, nearly 1.3 million people remain internally displaced, one-fifth of them in camps, according to the UN. Iraqi authorities have accelerated the closure of camps in recent months, but the International Organization for Migration says many residents are unable to return home as they are often accused of links to IS. For Omar the soldier, life with the returnees will be "impossible". "They have kept their extremist ideas," he said. str-lk/sk/lg/hkb In 1955, in motor racings worst disaster, more than 80 people were killed during the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France when two of the cars colli They will be confronted with a man whose values and whose work ethic and whose output was so extraordinary, that 120-something years after his death, he is still commanding a spot on the 6 o'clock news, Eison said. Eison said that honoring Douglass at the airport is an important part of trying to unify Rochesterians over issues that Douglass believed in. To help solidify and bring together our local community. Our local community can be so fractured and so siloed and so separated that we need the values of Frederick Douglass in the same way that our community needed those values in the late 19th century," Eison said. Theres an effort now to raise $250,000 for the bronze statue of Douglass and an educational exhibit, and Eison is confident there will be enough support to make that happen. Kim, an adjunct professor at RIT's College of Art and Design, has expressed the need for urgency in the fundraising effort, since lead gifts made by the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities will expire by the end of the year. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The energy sector has been witnessing a crisis for quite some time. While the fossil fuel is blamed for contributing significantly in environmental pollution, the rising cost of motor fuels such as petrol and diesel are hitting the transport sector as well as the overall economy pretty hard. (Also Read: Toyota Mirai breaks world distance record set by Hyundai Nexo hydrogen car) In such a crisis scenario for the energy sector, when environmental degradation and climate change too are putting pressure on the industry, there is a search for cleaner and greener fuel alternatives. While electric vehicles seem to be an option to mitigate the tailpipe emission, there are concerns about how the electricity is produced. The majority of the electricity produced in India comes from thermal power, by burning coal. This means, while the tailpipe emission is reduced, the lithium-ion batteries or lead-acid batteries are running on electricity that is produced in a massive carbon-emitting process. In such a scenario, hydrogen fuel could be a cost-efficient, effective and long-term alternative to fossil fuels like petrol or diesel. While hydrogen fuel cell technology is one segment, on which several automakers around the world are working for quite some time, in India, hydrogen fuel cell technology is still in the prenatal stage. Countries like the US, Germany, South Korea, China and Japan have already deployed a fleet of hydrogen-fuelled commercial vehicles. The French government too aims to use hydrogen fuel cell technology in transportation. However, the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology in India is not sufficient, despite the country being one of the major automobile markets in the world. While the Indian government has been promoting hydrogen fuel cell technology as part of its push for greener and cleaner automobile fuel solutions. In the Union Budget 2021, alternative fuel options received a special mention by the finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman underlining the fact that green energy and future fuels are the way ahead to attain self-sufficiency for the country's energy requirements. Emphasising that, Prime Minister Narendra Modi too said that India needs to be industry-ready for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. However, despite hydrogen being a promising alternative fuel solution, there are several challenges for India to adopt this technology, at least in near future. Lack of infrastructure Infrastructure remains a major hindrance ahead of the growth of hydrogen fuel cell technology powered vehicles. In India, the hydrogen fuel cell dispensing fuel stations are only a few, which way lower than adequate to encourage the automakers and vehicle buyers to adopt hydrogen fuel cell technology powered vehicles. Higher safety concern Safety is a major concern around hydrogen fuel cell technology. Hydrogen fuel is highly flammable, even higher than fossil fuels like petrol or diesel. It is not necessary to store the fuel in hydrogen form only, but other hydrogen-generating sources like methane, propane, alcohols, or even regular gasoline too can create gaseous hydrogen in the vehicle itself. However, all of these come with respective flammability issues and the hydrogen itself is highly flammable as well, which brings the safety concern. The possibility of electric shock too is another safety concern around the hydrogen fuel cell technology. This system electro-chemically combines hydrogen with oxygen, both of which are flammable and generates electrical energy to power the vehicle and emits water instead of toxic tailpipe gases. Some hydrogen fuel cell motors run on voltages exceeding 350 volts. Considering the fact that anything greater than 50 volts can stop a human heart, there are great risks of electric shock from a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain. Not robust Unlike the gas or oil powertrains, the hydrogen fuel cell powertrains are not very robust, because of their delicate and intricate system. These powertrain technologies demand highly sensitive surroundings and environment, as very high or very low temperatures can result in the failure of the system. In a country like India, where it is too hot and humid at places during summer and extreme cold in the northern part of the country during summer, the chances of breakdown for these powertrains are pretty high. Quite expensive Hydrogen fuel cell powertrains are way much expensive than conventional internal combustion engine technologies. These powertrains use extremely rare earth metal like platinum, which results in the manufacturing of hydrogen fuel cells a lot more expensive than drilling transporting and refining fossil fuels. While it is expected that in future, hydrogen fuel cells will pay for themselves in terms of the amount of money they will save, but the steeper upfront costs certainly drive the investors away. LONDON (AP) The British government may require National Health Service workers to be inoculated against COVID-19 a contentious proposal that was immediately criticized by opposition leaders as counterproductive. The U.K. government's vaccine minister, Nadhim Zahawi, told Sky News on Sunday that officials were considering the move in hopes of preventing medical workers from spreading COVID-19 to their patients. The government has already asked the public to comment on a similar requirement for care home employees. Its absolutely the right thing and would be incumbent on any responsible government to have the debate, to do the thinking as to how we go about protecting the most vulnerable by making sure that those who look after them are vaccinated, Zahawi said. There is precedent for this. Obviously, surgeons get vaccinated for hepatitis B, so it is something that we are absolutely thinking about. British authorities are scrambling to protect their plans to lift all COVID-19 restrictions on June 21, allowing people to enjoy their summer holidays, amid concern about a fast-spreading variant that was first discovered in India. New infections and coronavirus-related deaths have risen over the past week, though the current figures are still a fraction of the levels reported during the January peak. Press Release May 31, 2021 Bong Go stresses urgent need to pass Department of Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos bill, says PRRD to certify this as urgent Senator Christopher "Bong" Go is seeking the support of his fellow lawmakers regarding the passage of Senate Bill No. 2234 which, if passed, will establish the Department of Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos. Authored and co-sponsored by Go, the bill is a consolidated version of his earlier proposed measure that aims to create the Department of Overseas Filipinos. Go also disclosed that he discussed the same with President Rodrigo Duterte in a bid to have the consolidated version be certified as urgent. The earlier version has been certified as urgent by the President. "Isa po ito sa ipinakiusap ko sa Senate leadership na pag-usapan na i-certify as urgent. Ipinaalam ko rin kay Pangulo at inaasahan ko na mapipirmahan ng Pangulo at maisalang na agad, mapag-usapan na sa plenaryo, dahil matagal na po ito," shared Go during a radio interview. The Senator said that overseas Filipinos need to have a department of their own that would cater to their needs and concerns and unburden them of the challenges caused by various global crises. At the same time, this is in recognition of their sacrifices for their families and contributions to the economy as modern day heroes. "Ako po, kahit anong pangalan, basta kapakanan ng mga kababayan natin ang importante dito. 'Di nababayaran ang lungkot, napakahirap mapalayo sa pamilya. Maikli lang ang buhay ng tao, napapalayo ka sa pamilya, napakalungkot pero kailangan nilang magtrabaho sa abroad," he said. "Bigyan na natin sila ng departamento, malaking tulong sila sa ekonomiya. I'm appealing po sa mga kasamahan ko, ipasa na natin ito. Para naman ito sa mga overseas Filipinos," he added. Filed on Tuesday, May 25, SBN 2234 is sponsored by Senator Joel Villanueva and co-sponsored by Senators Go and Ramon Revilla Jr. The proposed department will be primarily mandated to formulate, recommend and implement national policies, plans, programs and guidelines that protect overseas Filipinos, including OFWs, as well as promote their interests and resolve issues concerning them in a timely and effective manner. The DMWOF will be responsible for providing all relevant social and welfare services, including insurance, social work assistance and legal assistance, as well as administer reintegration and social service programs to overseas Filipinos. It shall also provide Assistance to Nationals services, especially during times of national emergencies, such as pandemic or war. "Bagong bayani kung ituring natin sila. Sana naman, suklian natin ang kanilang sakripisyo ng mas maayos at mabilis na serbisyo," said Go in previous statements. He affirmed the need for the establishment of a new department with an internal organization that allows the State to carry out its functions and mandates more efficiently and more responsive to the needs of concerned sectors amid challenging times. "Matagal na ako sa serbisyo publiko. Mahigit dalawang dekada akong nanilbihan kay Pangulong Duterte. Alam ko na kung watak watak ang mga ahensya, hindi ganun kabilis at maayos ang serbisyo ng gobyerno," noted Go. He argued that Congress must act quickly to streamline functions, improve coordination and make government more responsive to the needs of millions of overseas Filipinos who must contend with the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 crisis and global economic downturn, among others. Go expressed concern over the inefficiencies and inconveniences that occur should the bureaucracy continue to remain in its current state which affects the ability of the whole government to respond appropriately and deliver in a timely manner the assistance needed by constituents. Once certified again as urgent by the President, Go said that bill may pass the Senate floor before the State of the Nation Address of Duterte in July. "Hopefully po, maipasa po agad ito dahil kung mace-certify ito ng Pangulo, pwede na itong mapag-usapan ngayong linggo. At by the time na mag-SONA sa July 26, maging batas na ito," explained Go. "Hopefully, tulungan tayo ng mga kasamahan natin (sa Senado)," he added. The Flagstaff Business News for May 2021 carried an article headlined Destination Health Village Proposed for Fort Tuthill. I read the article with excitement until I realized Flagstaff would be taking its main healthcare provider out of the heart of Flagstaff. This new project would take Flagstaffs major healthcare provider to the far southern end of our city. The Flagstaff hospital is run by Northern Arizona Healthcare and is situated dead center in the heart of Flagstaff. It has major access east and west by Cedar Avenue, from the south on Switzer Canyon, San Francisco and Humphreys streets, and from the north on Highway 180. The article indicated NAH wants to create a health and wellness village when in fact the Flagstaff hospital is already surrounded by a health and wellness village. Flagstaffs main hospital is completely surrounded by a host of 27 medical providers and services. These providers occupy thousands of square feet and countless beautiful buildings strategically located around our excellent medical center. A separate concern is what happens to the existing shell if and when NAH moves, and what happens to the existing medical provider village if NAH moves. Will most be abandoned and become an eyesore as in other exodus communities? Birthday wishes Call 281-422-8302 or email david.bloom@baytownsun.com to wish someone a happy birthday. We will print your birthday wish on Page 2 of The Sun. Happy Birthday Wishes There are two sides of the pie: low-value care and care that people get in trouble if they dont get, said Oakes, who expects researchers to take advantage of all the data provided from COVID-19 on both types of care. One recent study looked at Veterans Affairs patients who had elective surgeries canceled because of COVID. The study found they were no more likely to visit hospital emergency departments than patients who had undergone those surgeries in 2018. Dr. Heather Lyu of Brigham and Womens Hospital and Harvard Medical School said much testing and care was cut back by patients fears of contracting COVID in a medical setting and because medical facilities and staffers were fighting just to keep up with COVID cases. There are some procedures, tests, and exams that cannot be delayed in any situation, Lyu said in an email. For example, she pointed to the screening, surveillance and treatment of cancer patients. However, she said other tests and treatments can be delayed or canceled without negative effects. Lyu oversaw a 2017 survey of 2,000 physicians, with half the doctors saying the percentage of unnecessary medical care was higher than 20.6% and half saying it was lower. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The family moved back to their farm north of Adams after Norma graduated. In August 1942, Norma was employed at the Crete Airport as a pilot. She began taking lessons to become a flight instructor with Bringham Flying Service. In September 1942, Norma was training in Lincoln with the Womens Air Corp. She earned her private pilot license in November 1942 which allowed her to give flying lessons. The Civil Air Patrol was created during WWII for wartime missions such as aircraft warning, courier service, missing aircraft searches, tow target and tracking missions and disaster relief. A CAP squadron started in Crete in March 1942, and Norma joined. Norma was involved with CAP recruiting missions, mapping and observation flights. She was also a member of the Aeronautical Association of Nebraska and the Women Flyers of America, Inc. On Oct. 7, 1943, Norma took a test flight with a mechanic, Frank Spinar Jr., on a plane he had been repairing. The plane crashed, and they were tragically killed. Norma's funeral was conducted by the CAP with 25 uniformed officials and students. Norma was buried in her CAP uniform. Gage County Historical Society Board Member Sheila Day, researched Adams after finding her grave at the Highland Cemetery. As of Sunday afternoon, police had not released the names of the victims, whose bodies were awaiting to be removed from the scene more than 16 hours after the shots rang out outside the banquet hall, which had been rented out for a concert. Police said the gunfire began when three people got out of an SUV shortly after midnight and shot into a crowd with assault rifles and handguns. The shooting was targeted, Ramirez said, but did not elaborate. More than two dozen people crowded behind yellow police tape and a line of squad cars as police continued their investigation into Sunday evening. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis joined in mourning, saying on Twitter he was praying for the recovery of the victims and pledged help from state authorities. We are working with local authorities to bring justice to the perpetrators. Justice needs to be swift & severe! DeSantis tweeted. Businessman and TV personality Marcus Lemonis, star of The Profit, took to Twitter to offer a $100,000 reward to help authorities capture the suspects. If passed, this bill will create unpredictability for the startups and development-stage companies in Colorados life sciences ecosystem, making it harder for them to raise funds, said Jennifer Jones Paton, the groups president and CEO. Investors will look elsewhere for opportunities. Nonetheless, the bill is expected to pass. Proponents said its unlikely a manufacturer could carve out specific drugs or states from its supply chain and pointed out that drug companies already sell their highest-cost drugs at lower prices to Medicaid, community health clinics and charity hospitals. The governors office is also implementing changes on its own. On July 1, it is formally launching a tool embedded in electronic medical records allowing doctors and other prescribers to see what patients with public or private health plans would pay for a medication. Bimestefer said 80% of prescribers in the state have the tool enabled, and 37% are using it ahead of the official start date. The state is also pursuing contracts with drug companies that would link prices to the effectiveness of the drugs, measured, for example, by whether they reduce hospitalizations or heart attacks. We also don't yet know why clownfish living in giant carpet anemones presented higher levels of thyroid hormones than those that didn't. That, according to Laudet, might have something to do with adapting to the harsher environment presented by that species of anemone, which is more toxic than the magnificent sea anemone and with shorter tentacles, providing less shelter. Laudet thinks it's possible that different thyroid hormone levels could also impact other factors in the life of clownfish, such as immunity, metabolism and appetite. "The problem is that we have a very poor understanding of the environment of the clownfish within their sea anemone. They probably are sensitive to things that for us are invisible," Laudet said. "My dream would be to be able to sense like a clownfish to better appreciate the difference between the two sea anemone species. I am convinced that for them it is huge!" Laudet added. Pauline Salis, the study's first author and a postdoctoral researcher at the Observatoire Oceanologique de Banyuls-sur-Mer, Sorbonne Universite Paris and the French National Centre for Scientific Research, spoke to CNN about how complementary approaches among the researchers benefited the study, which took four years to complete. This can determine the length of the spacewalk if these start to run out. Spacewalks of the future Spacewalks are crucial to maintain the space station, but the knowledge gained during these outings can inform the way astronauts approach repairs to their own spacecraft as we push the boundaries of exploration. With NASA's Artemis program, which aims to land the first woman and next man near the lunar south pole by 2024, humans will be staying on the moon for longer than the short visits Apollo astronauts experienced. As we explore the moon and eventually Mars, astronauts will need to be able to repair and maintain their suits, spacecraft and habitats. With Fincke's upcoming mission, he hopes to add another spacewalk to his already impressive list. He said each of his own spacewalks have been memorable, but some moments tend to stand out more than others. During one of his spacewalks, the two crew members finished solving a problem outside of the station and asked teams on the ground what they should do with their remaining time outside. They were asked to take photographs outside of the station because it's impacted by micrometeorites and other things in space -- something the ground team wanted to track. After taking power, Goita assured that the elections would still be held, though it wasn't clear what part the military would play in the government. The international community, including the African Union, has condemned the power grab. The U.N. Security Council has said the resignations of NDaw and Ouane were coerced. The U.S. has already pulled its security force support and other bodies, including the EU and France, are threatening sanctions. Goita has justified his actions by saying there was discord within the transitional government and that he wasnt consulted, per the transitional charter, when the new Cabinet was chosen. Akufo-Addo said Sunday that ECOWAS was committed to the peaceful transition in Mali, with the basic goal of restoring democratic government, and working for the stability of Mali and of our region. He acknowledged that a May 14 dissolution of the government by the transitional prime minister was worrying and the reappointment of the new, broad-based government on May 24 hours before the arrests generated considerable tension between various groups, particularly the military, as the former ministers for defense and security were not reappointed. The burial plot, opening and closing of the grave, and the headstone are free of charge for veterans, their spouses and eligible dependents, cemetery Director Pam Helbling-Schafer said. Caskets, urns and vaults are families' responsibility, to be purchased through a funeral home. Bismarck Funeral Home and Crematory owner Mike Nathe said an average casket burial in Bismarck-Mandan costs about $800-$1,000 to dig and close a grave, as well as $1,000 for the burial plot. Grave space costs the same for a cremation burial, but two urns can be interred in one grave, which costs $400-$600 to dig and close. Sen. Richard Marcellais, D-Belcourt, who is a U.S. Army veteran, brought the bill for the family benefit after previous, unsuccessful attempts. He said military service is hard on families, and the previous $550 burial fee for spouses and dependents "wasn't right." "It's really hard on them because they don't know what to expect every day during the time that you're serving overseas in a war zone," Marcellais said. He was stationed in Qui Nhon, Vietnam, as a communication specialist from 1968-69, away from his newlywed wife. He also spent 1 years at Fort Hood, Texas, before he was discharged in 1971. Press Release May 31, 2021 Transcript of interview of Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III with Karen Davila on ANC On the possibility of Bayanihan 3 not hurdling the Senate this week. Q: Technically you only have a few Senate session days left before you go on sine die. Let us get the real score with Bayanihan 3. Despite the House push it seems that there's an issue with lack of time and several other issues while people fear it may not pass. There is a Senate version but Tito Sen, ano po ba talaga ang totoo. Talagang bang aabot ang Bayanihan 3? SP Sotto: The Bayanihan 3 for this last week might not be able to hurdle it as far as the Senate is concerned because we have barely four days and there are a lot on our plates. We are going to finish the public service act, which is 90 years old, and so many other important measures like the foreign investments act, the department of overseas Filipinos act. The Bayanihan 3 has a counterpart in the Senate but we call it the Bayanihan to rebuild as one and it is principally authored by senator recto. There are differences and practically there is a very contentious issue in the Bayanihan 3 which is the, let me check it out again just to make sure. There is a kung ilang billions na being proposed for pension and we don't feel that it should be included in the Bayanihan 3. Nevertheless, as far as Bayanihan 2 is concerned, it is still on going, and there are unused funds. The program, the funds I understand, has only been 50% of the total allocation and out of the 50% that has been allocated, only 70% is used. So, aside from the time constraints there is difficulty on trying to finish out with Bayanihan 2 which we have extended until the end of the year. And then Bayanihan 3 with the differences from the Senate version and the House version, very doubtful in the next 4 days. Perhaps we can take it up in August when we resume from July 26. Q: Thank you for setting the record straight on that. The house has been pushing it and yet it doesn't look like it is flying. I'll ask you, is the fact that Malacanang is not pushing for Bayanihan 3 do you see this as the major factor in all this? the president didn't even certify it as urgent. SP Sotto: And in the last mini LEDAC meeting that we had a few days ago with Exec. Sec. Medialdea, and the top executives of government, and both the Houses of Congress' leadership, it was not included. I think that main reason is what I just told you, the Bayanihan 2 funding is still partly intact. There is difficulty in using it nationwide, it is not that easy. It is not easy to spend billions. Q: So paano po ito, the focus of 3 Bayanihan 3 in both versions was to focus on ayuda. From P2,000 in the house version bumaba ng P1000. I haven't seen yet the amended Senate version or is the Senate version. Paano po ang ayuda? Considering napahaba po itong ating Covid lockdown. Meron bang ibang solution para sa ayuda? SP Sotto: We will still fund it. P108 billion is the proposed total ayuda regardless of age or status. I think that is the house version and it will definitely reach the Senate. Now for the Senate, the priorities also include P110 billion for procurement of Covid-19 medications, vaccines, handling of the vaccines, hiring of health workers, testing and treatment under PhilHealth, and payment of actual hazard pay. If you recall there is this issue about hazard pay and they not being paid. And then also a P100 billion for worker's subsidies, capacity building for impacted sectors. Ano lang yun, it is a nice wording for ayuda. Q: Where would we get the money? SP Sotto: Well, there are unused funds and there are unprogrammed funds. Ang problema lang, when you say unprogrammed funds, as far as the Finance Committee is concerned or the department of finance is concerned, when you see unprogrammed funds, wala pang nakahanda, hindi pa identified ang kukunan but the unused funds will be available. (Unclear) we know for a fact that in the past so many years the average is hovering around P300 to P400 billion of unused funds. That is possible. Q: Are you satisfied with the government's vaccination rollout? I saw that you were already inoculated with Sinovac, that was over the weekend? SP Sotto: Yes, I was. We make sure first that, well initially, just to set the context straight, initially, we asked that the Senate employees be also vaccinated. We allotted a budget for them and we asked IATF to help us buy for the Senate employees, and that includes the Senate Electoral Tribunal, and the Commission on Appointments employees because we feel that they are part of the, not only not only the A1, or the A2, but because there are comorbidities among the Senate employees. And also, we are a vital segment of the government because you don't have a budget. We will not have the entire budget of the government if the Senate is not safe. With what happened was that we first allowed to the Senate employees, seniors, comorbidities, and then almost all of the Senate employees were already vaccinated, that was the time that we allowed the senators to be vaccinated if they wanted to be inoculated. Q: I wanted to ask you; you had no side effects whatsoever? SP Sotto: Well except for that day, the vaccine cold. Understandable because it was kept freezing right? So it was cold and then in the afternoon it felt a little like you know, I think it's more psychological. I felt a little heavy because I was vaccinated. No bad side effects or anything. Q: Did you personally choose Sinovac over the others? Because I know some Cabinet Secretaries, I think they did Pfizer at one point and you wanted Sinovac? SP Sotto: No, I told them what was available. I believe the experts when they say that the best vaccine is the one in your arm. So, whatever it is because again also I have been browsing through the research of health experts and epidemiologists, biologists, and what they say is that all these vaccines have 100% of efficacy as far as death is concerned. There is about 70-75% efficacy on the possibility of you being hospitalized. Then there is this 50 to 70% that might not get it anymore. I mean hindi ka mahahawa, and they are all the same. Q: Okay na yun, parang ganoon. SP Sotto: Kasi ang kwento ng iba, okay ang brand na ito, itong brand na ito, 96% efficacy, yung isa 50 percent lang, they are talking about death and they are talking about infection and being infected. That is a different thing. Q: And also, the circumstances on how the clinical trials were actually made is also different. But I wanted to ask you I know that your wife, si Mam Helen, accompanied you, nagpabakuna din po siya? SP Sotto: Yes, the Senate approved, in caucus, we approve the resolution that the senators, doon sa matitira sa binili namin, the Senators and their family can avail if they want to, doon sa mga natira. The reason is because even if you are inoculated and your whole household is not, especially your partner, it is quite dangerous. Q: in terms of the government's vaccination rollout what are your observations? do you believe herd immunity will be achieved by November this year or even by Christmas this year? SP Sotto: It's possible. It is possible especially if we cooperate. you see the rollout is having difficulty you know. The reason is because, I just don't want to criticize, I want to find out, bakit ang bagal? Apparently, lumalabas, the rich countries, the first-world countries, they pay double to get their vaccines right away. They pay double. Q: Supply is an issue. SP Sotto: ... all the other countries in Europe even Israel, halos dinidoble para lang mabili na nila agad, because they have the money for it. So, tayong mga tumatawad pa, remember they had a big fracas about the price? Tayong mga tumatawad pa, siyempre, ano lang yung mga available ang dumarating sa atin. So, ang dumarating sa atin, well, right now better. Dumarating pero nung umpisa, hirap na hirap tayo, merong sinasabi hindi pa darating ng June, hindi pa darating ng July, all this stuff. Nevertheless, right now they are rolling out whatever they have. The important thing is that they are not wasted because there are people scheduled or the availability is there and then people suddenly back out or some don't want to be inoculated. They believe the reports on social media it's a death thing that it is a death thing, you know. Kung anu-ano yung nababasa natin at sinasabing ganoon, but I'd rather believe the experts. Q: So, I mean with the current set up that we have, even if the vaccines arrive, naniniwala po kayo kakayanin natin ang 500,000 jabs a day? SP Sotto: That will be very difficult but that is the goal. We are just keeping our fingers crossed that we are able to do that, that the executive department or the IATF and the DOH are able to do that. That is the goal, I cannot say that it is possible. It is very difficult, that will be very difficult, but if you have guys like what is happening in Quezon City, they are coming out with about 16,000 a day, if it is duplicated in all the key cities, and then in the municipalities somehow, kahit mga 50 percent of that, that is possible. But you know who we are talking about numbers. These are merely numbers; it is different on what is on the ground. It is different as far as the ground is concerned. Q: So, we spoke about Bayanihan 3, you gave the lowdown that it does not look like it will make it. The other thing is changes to the constitution. This is interesting because the Lower House has already approved on second reading the resolution which proposes amendments only to some economic provisions. I have Cong. Joey Salceda saying that this is important for the country, it will improve the investment climate, and the Senate does not seem to open with this. SP Sotto: Again, we do not have time to tackle it now, we have four days left from today. The other thing is that again, in the mini LEDAC, the House did not even bring it up. Q: You mean Malacanang? SP Sotto: No, the House of Representatives when we discussed it. It was not in the top 10. Hindi naman certified, what can we do in four days? The LEDAC or the mini LEDAC, the executive secretary and the members of the executive department that were there, including the Secretary of Finance, they did not even mention it. So perhaps if we need to take it up, we can try to take it up in August. But then again, we are not talking about charter change. Really, I have to be very blunt about it. In the Senate, the way I up my colleagues, a big majority are not in favor of a charter change. I myself. But if we are talking of charter amendments, amendment, then that is possible. That is possible but charter change itself, doubtful. I really doubt it. Q: But do we need amendments? Clearly you are prioritizing now the public service act, the retail trade liberalization act, foreign investments act, would this be enough to actually improve investment climate? As Joey Salceda has said, that is why we need amendments to the constitution. SP Sotto: Spacing before thinking with the constitution, what we have on our plates right now, would be a good solution to some of these, like for example, we have already passed the amendments to the retail trade liberalization. We are awaiting the ratification after the bicam. That will practically give a better solution for not only investors but also the people itself, the MSMEs. And then the foreign investments act. Again, we are establishing the tax regime of Philippine offshore gaming corporations and the amendments to the public services act. With these, there is a possibility that we might be able to achieve the opening up of our market even though we have not changed the constitution because we are allowed by the constitution to do this. We are allowed to liberalize or retail trade and the public services act, and the foreign investments act. The foreign investments act kasi, we will look at it now, we are trying to bring down they allowed investments. (Unclear) $2.5 million ang kailangan nilang puhunan. We are trying to bring it down to say... this is also included in the retail trade. We are trying to bring it down, there is a suggestion of $300,000. But again, there was, Sen. Recto and Sen. Cayetano wanted at least $1,000,000. Wag naman daw (unclear) dahil baka yung mga barya-baryang maliliit na mga retail traders say pumasok na rin sa Pilipinas. Kawawa, mahihirapan naman yung mga atin. At least $1,000,000 mabibigyan pa rin yung mga (unclear) na yan. Q: So, the foreign investment act that would be one major aspect to it. What about in terms of in some industries the division of 60/40? Nandiyan pa rin ba yun? SP Sotto: Yes, it is being addressed in the foreign investments act. Q: What about land ownership? SP Sotto: No, we haven't touched that. That will be part of the proposal of the House, the concurrent joint resolution. Q: What about you personally? Do you believe that foreigners should be allowed to own land? SP Sotto: Yes, to a certain extent and what it is going to be used for because I believe also in what some people have said before, some time ago or during my fledgling years in the Senate. Hindi naman nila mailalabas sa Pilipinas yung lupa eh. Q: So, let them own it but with certain conditions? SP Sotto: Yes. Q: If they want to sell it, there are certain conditions possibly on the sale? SP Sotto: Conditions and limitations. Q: Okay, so you are open to it. I want to tackle one thing because what's interesting is no less than NEDA Sec. Karl Chua is requesting for the certification as urgent for the taxes for POGO. It seems then that POGO is here to stay. SP Sotto: Yes, and government can make a lot of money out of them. Q: Do you have the figures would you remember the figures estimated? SP Sotto: No, I am sorry I do not have the figures, but I think the government is trying to get 5% of their income. Q: Papasa po ba ito in your next five days? Papasa lahat ito, what you have just mentioned? SP Sotto: Best effort yan. There are the foreign investments act, the POGO, the amendments to the public services act, the department of migrant workers and overseas Filipinos, hybrid elections act, the expanded sol0 parents act, and that is setting of the BARMM elections, best effort lahat yan this week. Q: So, you are technically prioritizing on five, but you are all interpolating 8, did I count correctly? SP Sotto: Yes, but some of these are in the really advanced stage. As a matter of fact, perhaps one or two interpolators left and you know because of the foreign investments act, the public services act, and the department of migrant workers act, are all certified by Malacanang, even if we pass it on Thursday, which is an additional day that we have, if we pass it on Thursday on second reading, we may pass it on third reading. That is the importance of the certification of urgency by the president. It removes the three-day rule that the constitution has mandated. Q: So, sa lahat ng binanggit ninyo, if I remember correctly, ang certified lang as urgent dito, is the foreign investment act? SP Sotto: Yung public services act and then the department of migrant workers was also certified. Sec. Chua is already requesting for the certification of the POGO so may mga pag-asa lahat yan. Q: Yung lima, yung binanggit ninyo. You wanted also; you were passionate about itong Doktor para sa bayan act. What would make that different from the doctors to the barrios? SP Sotto: Well, the doctors to the barrios is that we are trying to get a doctor in each barrio but, where are we getting the doctors? That is the problem that I tried solving by the bill and it is now a law, the medical scholarship act or doctor para sa bayan act. Because this time, a Filipino me avail for scholarship of medicine proper. Remember the tertiary education that we passed before? It's up to the level of tertiary education, but when it comes to medicine proper, or even law proper, or the master's degrees, hindi kasama yun. Pero ito, ang medicine proper, nilagay na natin because, I came up with it, a medical return service program. Na kapag ikaw ay Pilipino, gusto mong mag doctor, kahit anong SUCs na nag o-offer ng medical scholarship, you may become a scholar, must be a Filipino citizen, residing in the Philippines and their family income must not be sufficient to support medical education. Maraming gustong mag doctor pero they end up taking up other courses because they don't have the money for it. This time, it's for free as long as you are qualified. It covers not only the tuition fee but also school related allowances for books, supplies, equipment, clothing, uniform allowance, we made sure that you are (unclear) can become a doctor. Pati mga medical review boards, Internet load... Q: So, in other words you're standing in school, grades, not an issue to get this scholarship? SP Sotto: No, as long as you are qualified. And then if there is no SUC offering medicine in your region or in your province, you may enter a private institution and government will pay for it. Q: Really? does the government have money for this? Tanong yan ng marami. Hindi mura maging doctor, SP Sotto: Yes, we made sure that we have allocated for the state universities and colleges. We allocated over P1 billion (unclear) fund for the development of medical schools. And then P250 million for medical scholarship return service program and another P150 million for establishment of medical schools in SUCs. Also, in the Department of Health we made sure that they had at least P464 million for that particular program. We want to have more doctors in the Philippines. Q: What is the target? did you have a target number a year in terms of production of doctors? SP Sotto: I will be talking off my hat if I give you a figure, we forgot. Q: And then is there a condition if the government funds you completely under scholarship? what are the conditions? Do you serve for free? Or in a government hospital for how many years? May ganoon po ba? SP Sotto: Yes, you have to serve for three years in the Philippines. You have deserved three years. If you want to serve more, another two years like for example 5, you will be given incentives. But you must serve three years. If you do not serve the three years, you go abroad after graduation or after internship, you have to pay back the government for what we spent for you. And then now we are trying to establish more schools, more medical schools. (Unclear) the Cebu Normal University has been allowed by CHED to be the medical school for the Vicente Sotto Medical Center in Cebu City. So yung mga ganoon, and then we are doing (unclear) in other cities so that there will be more SUCs that will offer medicine proper as a program. On the West Philippine Sea. Q: Is the president's analysts say, mixed signals causing harm to the country? Is the Philippines giving mixed signals with the West Philippine Sea dispute? SP Sotto: Perhaps what we can say is that the president is probably being literal about the arbitral ruling because in the arbitral ruling yes indeed it definitely favors the Philippines, but it does not give a way to enforce it. So, when he says that, people jump on him especially those against China. But then again me on a personal note, there are perhaps ways that we could avail of, or make use of, that will not really enforce the arbitral ruling but state our claim on a more productive way. For example, why don't we start explorations already in these contested areas that we know are ours, di ba? We should do that. We cannot do it alone because of the expenses, (unclear) other countries who are very interested. there are very interested groups willing to join us in a joint venture, even China itself. And if it's China, and I was talking to the ambassador of China, I said if ever we explore in this area, will you spend for it or will you help us spend for it? Are you willing for a 60/40 divide? I said 60 for the Philippines because that proves in the constitution that it is ours. He was very optimistic about it. And I understand that there are also British companies that are interested so why don't we do that? That's one. The other is that I came across an article written by Mely Saloja and Robert Bagares(?) saying that why don't we make our own map? (Unclear) made their own 9-dash line, I think that's a very good suggestion... Q: So even if the Permanent Court of Arbitration has already ruled in favor of the Philippines, you believe our own map like what China has been insisting on their 9-dash line that the PCA has junked and thrown and has said it's not true, has no legal basis, you believe that magkaroon tayo para ituro. SP Sotto: Oo, let's make our own. Let's insist on our own, and then God forbid that they cross the line, the MDT will kick in. The mutual defense treaty will kick in. So, I think it's just a matter of really setting our foot down and these are good suggestions, these are I think plausible, it should be done. As a matter of fact, I I'm toying with the idea of filing a bill that will ika nga ay linawin doon ang ating mga pag-aari. Q: Quite interestingly I read that you were supposed to have a meeting with the Chinese ambassador. You are saying natuloy na yun? SP Sotto: Oo, yeah. Q: What did you tackle during that meeting? Kailan po yun? SP Sotto: Last week. Q: So last week, what did you discuss? The possibility of a joint venture? SP Sotto: It was very cordial, yes, I mentioned that, and he was optimistic about it, I did not hear him say that it was not possible, and then well he was somehow explaining the fact that they were misunderstood. That we have more in common than any other country in the world. Things like that it was not really an official talk, so we were discussing (unclear) things. Q: The Senate made its voice clear with a resolution that a majority signed regarding what China has been doing in the West Philippine Sea. Napagusapan ninyo rin ba the presence of Chinese vessels there? SP Sotto: Yes, he was the one who brought it up. he said that they were merely trying to get cover from bad weather. Pinanindigan nila. They were all there because of that and they dispersed thereafter. They did that. But again, he knows for a fact also that there are other countries aside from the United States, there is Japan, Australia, Canada, UK, they are expressing strong support to the Philippines' failing of a diplomatic protest of the incursions. He knows that too and he says that ano ito, hearsay, he says that they are having problems with Taiwan and Vietnam and Japan, something like that. Q: Do you agree that the Philippines should go into bilateral negotiations with China? This was not the stand of the previous administration. SP Sotto: I think the word is negotiate, we must negotiate. It is difficult to go to war, we better negotiate. I think that is the best solution at this point. Q: Other than bilateral negotiations some have already suggested that we have not done enough for our allies. for example, naval patrols together with the United States. Until today the Philippines refuses to do that as it might aggravate China for example. Palagay ninyo panahon na para gawin yun? SP Sotto: I am not too sure about that. I think the Philippines, the department of National Defense, and even the Philippine Coast Guard are doing the patrolling. Q: Wala pang joint with the US? SP Sotto: Joint, there are as far as the Visiting Forces Agreement, but I am not aware of any patrolling at this point, bilateral. Bilaterally with the United States. We can explore that. Q: Do you agree what former Senate President Enrile said? He said be nonconfrontational, history will judge the president well. Be friends with China, yun ang sinabi niya. Do you agree with that? SP Sotto: Yes. we are not capable of getting into trouble. What we have to do really is just again, aside from negotiation, we must be more assertive lang. Be more assertive and if possible aggressive in our positions. But I do agree with what he is saying at this point, not now. Perhaps while we are negotiating then we try to build up our capabilities. Q: You said be more aggressive, be more assertive, do you think the president is frankly causing this problem because he swings one way today, another way the next day, and you have two Cabinet secretaries that are tough on China so there is not one specific stand that are tough on China that the Philippines are making? SP Sotto: Let me put it this way. Whatever some members of the executive department say, or the president say as far as I am concerned, I will support the position of the Department of Foreign Affairs. I think Sec. Teddy Boy Locsin has a very good grasp of the situation and what his suggestion is (unclear) matter. That is on my personal (unclear). Again, how do we be assertive or harder stance or aggressive? The two points that I just mentioned will be very important. One, let's do exploration on our own, if we are not capable then partnership and then we make our own map. We make our own map, as I said I am already contemplating on filing a bill that will (unclear) and it will institutionalize. On 2022 elections. Q: You made it clear that you are interested in gunning for the vice presidency, because after achieving the Senate Presidency, logically a higher position would be, I mean what do you think of that, either the vice presidency or the presidency? SP Sotto: That is if I do away with the other inclination which is to retire. Q: I doubt if you will retire. SP Sotto: I am still thinking about it. like for example, the office of the vice president is something else. If you recall that is the reason that I am, indeed, I have to admit that I am thinking about it, unlike the other politicians who say they are not running but on the day of the registration nangunguna sa pag ano. I am saying that I am thinking about it because in 1988 when I became vice mayor of Quezon City, (unclear) vice mayor of the Philippines during that time, vice me yours during that time especially the municipal vice mayors, we were just members of the council. (Unclear) us being too religious because they were praying for their mayor to be taken by the Lord. What I did was we upgraded it, I before the vice mayors league of the Philippines, we made the vice mayors presiding officers of the municipal councils, because during that time it was only the city vice mayors who were presiding officers of the council. So, I lobbied in the Congress then and the local government code with the help of Nene Pimentel and (unclear) in the House, incorporated it in the local government code. Q: Let's move on to you... SP Sotto: That's it, what would make me run? If we can upgrade the vice president into... Q: Like a more prominent role? SP Sotto: Correct like for example, if the vice president will be handling the problem on let's say illegal drugs and drug abuse, remove it from the plate of... Q: But didn't presidents do that? SP Sotto: No. The way it was done was that the PACC was given to Erap, which is the anti-crime commission. For example, the other time I think President Duterte wanted Vice President Leni Robredo to be co-chair of the illegal drugs but what happened? They concentrated on enforcement. That's the problem on illegal drugs, but a larger problem is on drug abuse. Illegal drugs is a different animal from drug abuse although related. You enlarge the program, and you enlarge the office of the vice president to be able to do that. If we can do that perhaps yes, I will consider. Q: I heard that there are possible presidential candidates who have spoken with you already. Sen. Lacson said that he has given you his word he will support you so he will not run against you. If he does decide to run it's either with you, in other words he has given his word that he will support you. Would you consider running for example with Mayor Sara Duterte? Or Sen. Bongbong Marcos, or even Leni Robredo. Or are there candidates that are hands off to you? SP Sotto: As of now, una, first of all, as of now I am still considering it. if i do consider it the number one on my list would be Sen. Lacson. i know his capabilities, I know what he can do for the country. Q: iIf he doesn't run? SP Sotto: If he runs for president, I will support him. Now we are questioned if he does not run, paguusapan pa ng (unclear) yan. Sen. Manny Pacquiao and I have been talking. Q: Papayag ka ba (unclear) with Sen. Manny? SP Sotto: We are still talking. as a matter of fact, there was a meeting supposed to be last night with Lacson and Sen. Pacquiao, the (unclear) group. Q: The PDP Laban has internal squabbles at the moment, and it depends on what happens tonight, my sources tell me that there is a group pushing for Sara Duterte to run for president. Kaya ba ng Pilipino na Duterte-Duterte ang pangulo? do you think that is good for the country? SP Sotto: The answer to your question is we will find out if it does happen in 2022. I really can't say. It has probably been successful in Davao; I don't know if it will be successful in the rest of the country. Q: On that note when will you make your announcement? SP Sotto: After the SONA, maybe. Maybe July, August or September or something. Q: August, September you would have made up your mind? SP Sotto: If I made up my mind, I will let you know. Q: Yung 1Sambayan, are you open to speaking with them? SP Sotto: Well, we have worked together in the Senate Electoral Tribunal, he (Carpio) was chairman, and I was member of the SET, we know each other we have common friends. We have not talked about anything. Q: Katulad ka ba ni Sen. Manny? Kasi sabi niya he wants to hear the Lord's voice. SP Sotto: That's good, kaya lang I hope it's...serious yung kanya... Sa Senado nung araw, when I became a senator in 1992, kasama ko sila Neptali, sina Maceda, si Orly Mercado, lagi niyang binabanggit sa akin yun, pag nag senador ka na, pag gabi, meron kang naririnig na boses, ang sinasabi nung boses, bumubulong sa iyo, sinasabi, ikaw ang susunod na pangulo ng Pilipinas. Joke namin yun. Q: Okay. Thank you, Senate President Sotto. Hawkins is a former chairman of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe and is the superintendent of the Sisseton Agency for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Keeble served in the South Pacific in World War II, where he earned several military honors, including a Bronze Star Medal and two Purple Hearts. He reenlisted in the National Guard during the Korean War and is quoted saying, "Someone's got to teach these kids how to fight." Hawkins described his stepfather's actions that led to Keeble becoming the only full-blooded Sioux Indian to receive the Medal of Honor. Hawkins accepted the medal from President George W. Bush in 2008. While in Korea, Hawkins said, Keeble's platoon was called in to support two others trapped in a crossfire. After three groups led by Keeble failed to break through enemy defenses, Keeble went alone, making his way through two enemy trenches and using taped-together hand grenades to destroy the enemy positions that created the crossfire. He succeeded, though he suffered gunshot wounds to the chest and the side of the head and had 83 pieces of grenade shrapnel pulled from his body afterward, Hawkins said. Keeble also lost a tooth. Hawkins said that men who served with Keeble told him that Keeble always put himself between the enemy and his men, and he gave more than he received. "I would also note that those allegations that you made to the court were not even addressed by the court and were unsubstantiated, which furthers the issue that there is the appearance of impropriety with you presiding over cases where I am counsel," Bergevin told Wojtaszek. Wojtaszek replied she remembered the letter. "I'm in a much different position now," she said. "And again, I have reviewed every judicial ethics opinion, and it is absolutely not a legal requirement that I recuse from your cases. And again, I know that I can be fair and impartial in matters with you in the case." Bergevin said she intended to pursue the matter with a written motion. "I know you to be an extremely competent and conscientious attorney," Wojtaszek told Bergevin. "I have examined my own conscience and know that nothing from our prior professional dealings would ever affect my ability to remain fair and impartial." The dispute over recusal came during an arraignment for Eric C. Abdulie, 61, of Niagara Falls, who was indicted on charges of criminal sexual act and menacing. He allegedly forced a woman to perform sexual acts at knifepoint in his home on Feb. 9. TIRANA, Albania (AP) Albania's parliament on Monday decided to hold an extraordinary session next week on the impeachment of the countrys president for allegedly violating the constitution. The session will be held June 9 following a report by an investigative committee, which last week concluded that President Ilir Meta violated 16 articles of the constitution before Albanias April 25 general election and should be removed from office a year earlier than his term ends. Earlier this month, 49 governing Socialist lawmakers asked for the investigative committee to decide whether to impeach Meta for failing in his constitutional duty to guarantee national unity by siding with the opposition in the election. The governing Socialist Party ended up winning 74 of parliaments 140 seats. A two-thirds majority is required to impeach Meta, and the Socialists don't have the numbers in parliament to meet that threshold. But if lawmakers do vote to remove him from office, the final approval comes from Albanias Constitutional Court within three months. Meta argues that the outgoing assembly is in a post-election transition period and therefore is ineligible to conduct such investigation activities. Currently, thousands of NATO troops, several warships and dozens of aircraft are taking part in military exercises stretching across the Atlantic, through Europe and into the Black Sea region. NATO says the war games aren't aimed at Russia, but the Steadfast Defender 21 exercises are simulating the 30-nation military organizations response to an attack on any one of its members. It will test NATOs ability to deploy troops from the U.S. and keep supply lines open. Last month, a troop buildup in Russias south and southwest near the Ukrainian border raised concerns in Ukraine and the West, which urged Moscow to withdraw its forces. Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014 following the ouster of the country's Moscow-friendly president and then threw its weight behind separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine. More than 14,000 people have been killed in seven years of fighting in eastern Ukraine. Russia has recalled some troops from its western part after sweeping maneuvers in April, but Shoigu ordered them to leave their weapons behind for Russia's Zapad (West) 2021 military exercises in September. April 1, 1968 was my first day in Vietnam, April Fools Day. How appropriate. I was 19 years old and was about to begin to witness a year of death and destruction. I was one of the lucky ones to return one year and 20 days later April 21, 1969. When I returned home to South Buffalo, I reunited with many of my neighborhood friends who proudly served their country. Many returned still teenagers with the scars and memories of combat in Southeast Asia. Many suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder that was not understood back in the 1970s. Now in my 70s, I look back and I see all the missing veterans from the old neighborhood who have passed before their time. Timmy shot four times and survived returned home and struggled for years before his untimely passing. Fitz, my friend and Marine Corps partner, survived Khe Sanh as a machine gunner also passed within a year after coming home. RIP Fitz. Now many more neighborhood veterans have been dying for over 50 years from the elephant in the room, Agent Orange. Our government sent us off to war and we served proudly yet we were betrayed as teenage warriors. TORONTO (AP) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday it s not an isolated incident that over 200 children were found buried at a former Indigenous residential school. Trudeaus comments come as Indigenous leaders are calling for an examination of every former residential school site institutions that held children taken from families across the nation. Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tkemlups te Secwepemc First Nation in British Columbia said the remains of 215 children, some as young as 3 years old, were confirmed this month with the help of ground-penetrating radar. She described the discovery as an unthinkable loss that was spoken about but never documented at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, the largest such school in the country. As prime minister, I am appalled by the shameful policy that stole Indigenous children from their communities, Trudeau said. Sadly, this is not an exception or an isolated incident,'' he said. Were not going to hide from that. We have to acknowledge the truth. Residential schools were a reality a tragedy that existed here, in our country, and we have to own up to it. Kids were taken from their families, returned damaged or not returned at all." From the 19th century until the 1970s, more than 150,000 First Nations children were required to attend state-funded Christian schools as part of a program to assimilate them into Canadian society. They were forced to convert to Christianity and not allowed to speak their native languages. Many were beaten and verbally abused, and up to 6,000 are said to have died. The Canadian government apologized in Parliament in 2008 and admitted that physical and sexual abuse in the schools was rampant. Many students recalled being beaten for speaking their native languages. They also lost touch with their parents and customs. Indigenous leaders have cited that legacy of abuse and isolation as the root cause of epidemic rates of alcoholism and drug addiction on reservations. Story continues Plans are underway to bring in forensics experts to identify and repatriate the remains of the children found buried on the Kamloops site. Trudeau said hell be talking to his ministers about further things his government needs to do to support survivors and the community. Flags at all federal buildings are at half-staff. Opposition New Democrat leader Jagmeet Singh called Monday afor an emergency debate in Parliament. This is not a surprise. This is a reality of residential schools, Singh said. 215 Indigenous kids were found in an unmarked mass grave,'' he said. Anytime we think about unmarked mass graves, we think about a distant country where a genocide has happened. This is not a distant country. The Kamloops school operated between 1890 and 1969, when the federal government took over operations from the Catholic Church and operated it as a day school until it closed in 1978. Richard Gagnon, archbishop of Winnipeg and president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, said he wanted to express our deepest sorrow for the heartrending loss of the children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. The National Truth and Reconciliation Commission has records of at least 51 children dying at the school between 1915 and 1963. The Commission identified about 3,200 confirmed deaths at schools but noted the schools did not record the cause of death in almost half of them. Some died of tuberculosis. The Commission said the practice was not to send the bodies of the students who died at the schools to their communities. The Commission also said the government wanted to keep costs down so adequate regulations were never established. This discovery is a stain on our country. It is one that needs to be rectified, Opposition Conservative lawmaker Michelle Rempel Garner said. Empty pairs of childrens shoes have been placed at memorials throughout the country. Perry Bellegarde, chief of the Assembly of First Nations, has said while it is not new to find graves at former residential schools, its always crushing to have that chapters wounds exposed. The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and the Saskatchewan government said they want Ottawa to help research undocumented deaths and burials at residential schools in the province. Federation Chief Bobby Cameron said finding the childrens remains and giving them proper burials is important to help First Nations communities and families find closure. The federation has compiled a list of initial sites where it hopes to complete radar ground searches. Sol Mamakwa, an opposition lawmaker with the New Democrat party in Ontario, also called on the government to search the grounds of other former residential schools. It is a great open secret that our children lie on the properties of former schools. It is an open secret that Canadians can no longer look away from, he said. Dr N K Arora, Chairman of Covid-19 working group under NTAGI By Shalini Bhardwaj New Delhi [India], May 31 (ANI): Amid a shortage of vaccines, India plans to do a study on mixing COVID-19 doses and to ascertain its efficacy in boosting the immune response to coronavirus. "India may in few weeks start testing the feasibility of a regimen that mixes two different doses of Covid vaccines to see if it helps boost the immune response to the virus," said Dr N K Arora, Chairman of COVID-19 working group under the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI). "We have heard the news that in some states people have received a vaccine of a particular brand as the first dose and a different vaccine brand as second dose two due to programmatic error. This is a program error. It shouldn't have happened and the frontline workers have been advised to be more careful but there are no safety concerns, these beneficiaries have been followed up, so there is nothing to be worried about," he said. "We also heard that in Karnataka, several health professionals went on to ask for additional doses on top of their complete schedule of two doses as they were worried about immunity and effectiveness of the vaccines," he added. Regarding the study on mixing COVID-19 doses, Dr Arora said, "We have heard recently that Europe, Spain and United Kingdom are also doing a study where two vaccines-- Covishield and Pfizer-- have been given on alternate days. Covishield as the first dose and the second dose of Pfizer or vice versa. This is called interchangeability studies". "Two vaccines may be given in different orders for three purposes. One is that these become convenient programmatically, but more important is that it shouldn't create any safety issues and the third is to ascertain if there is an immune advantage, whether the effectiveness of this mix and matching increases the protective efficacy of the vaccines. So, all these three things have to be taken care of simultaneously," he explained. The mixing of vaccine of Covid-19 has been discussed at the Covid-19 group, NTAGI and National Expert group on Covid-19 Vaccine Administration (NEGVAC). India's daily COVID-19 cases continue to decline further as 152,734 fresh infections were recorded in the last 24 hours. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India has reported the lowest single-day spike in over 46 days. (ANI) The "Global AVOD Forecasts 2021" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. AVOD expenditure for TV episodes and movies will climb by 144% between 2020 and 2026 to reach $66 billion across 138 countries. AVOD growth dipped to 'only' 9.2% in 2020, but high growth will resume from 2021. From the $39 billion additional revenues generated between 2020 and 2026, the US will contribute $21 billion and China $5 billion. Revenues will triple in India and the US. Asia Pacific will provide a third of the 2026 AVOD revenues, with North America supplying nearly half. The US became the largest AVOD country in 2019 as China saw expenditure fall by 9% due to its economic downturn. A combination of the coronavirus lockdown and the continued economic downturn led to China's AVOD dropping by a further 14% in 2020. China will not better its 2018 total until 2024, although growth will return from 2021. Simon Murray, Principal Analyst, said: "US AVOD revenues will triple between 2020 and 2026 to $31 billion. Rather than lose market share as other countries catch up, the US will grow its share of the global total from 37% in 2020 to 47% by 2026." The US has both the most developed OTT sector in the world and the most developed advertising market. Successful AVOD platform launches in the US will not necessarily thrive elsewhere. Key Topics Covered: Published in May 2021, this report and excel report contains comprehensive coverage of the global AVOD TV episode & movie sector for 138 countries, including: Executive Summary. Regional forecasts summary from 2010 to 2026 Comparison forecast tables. Individual country forecasts for each year from 2010 to 2026. Insight profiles for the top 10 countries (Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, South Korea, UK and USA) AVOD expenditure by country by year broken down by these categories: YouTube; Facebook; Other social media sites; Free-to-air broadcasters; Pay TV broadcasters; AVOD platforms; Other. Companies Mentioned Story continues Youtube Facebook Instagram For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/com10w View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210531005108/en/ Contacts ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press 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 (Bloomberg) -- Malaysian stocks dropped and the ringgit weakened after the government imposed a two-week nationwide lockdown to curb a relentless surge in Covid-19 infections. The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index fell as much as 1.6% on Monday, before paring losses to 0.7% at the close in Kuala Lumpur. The ringgit slid as much as 0.4% to 4.1480 per dollar, while 10-year bond yields rose three basis points to 3.25%. The government said on Friday that most businesses will be shut from June 1 except for essential economic and service sectors. The government is finally biting the bullet, said Alexander Chia, an analyst at RHB Investment Bank Bhd. Clearly, there are downside risks to FY21 earnings growth, even if it is essentially a postponement of growth to FY22. Malaysias return to a hard lockdown comes in the wake of record daily infections that saw cases top 9,000 on Saturday. A resurgence in virus outbreaks in Asia has spurred some countries including Vietnam and Singapore to tighten restrictions. A similar lockdown in Malaysia last year cost the country an estimated 63 billion ringgit ($15 billion). Vietnam tightened social distancing measures in Ho Chi Minh City for 15 days from May 31, while Singapore this month reissued some lockdown-like conditions that it put in place a year ago. Recovery Dims Malaysias lockdown will drag on the countrys recovery, with a good chance that 2Q GDP growth will contract on a sequential basis, said Khoon Goh, head of Asia research at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. We will likely see the ringgit continuing to underperform in the region, but its weakness is being put in check by a soft U.S. dollar. READ: Covid Zero Havens Find Reopening Harder Than Taming Virus Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is due to announce an aid package at 9 p.m. local time Monday, according to his Facebook post. Still, Mondays market drop pales in comparison with last year when the KLCI plunged as much as 5% a day after a nationwide lockdown was announced then. Story continues Expectations of a mild reaction is due to the availability of vaccines and a government plan to ramp up daily vaccination rates in the second half of 2021, Ivy Ng Lee Fang, an analyst at CGS-CIMB Securities, said in a report. Strong export sales, robust market liquidity, and low interest rates have also helped limit the market drop, she said. GDP Outlook Malaysias gross domestic product shrank 0.5% in the first quarter from a year earlier, the central bank said earlier in May, adding that it expects growth to remain within the 6% to 7.5% forecast range for the full year. Banks including Public Bank Bhd. and CIMB Group Holdings Bhd. dropped, while Maxis Bhd. and Supermax Corp. were among the biggest decliners in the benchmark gauge, falling more than 2%. Top Glove Corp. was the top gainer in the key stock gauge, up 1.8%. The Malaysian stock benchmark is down 6% from a December high as investor concerns about the impact of stricter curbs on movement weigh on riskier assets. The recovery plays in the cyclical sectors will require a longer term investment perspective with a focus on achieving a favorable entry price, said Chia of RHB Investment. The trading angle will remain an enduring theme in the coming quarters that continues to focus on small-mid caps with resilient growth attributes. (Updates with PMs broadcast in seventh paragraph) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2021 Bloomberg L.P. Kuwait Sunday agreed to end the decision not to issue family and business visas to Pakistanis, in place since 2011, Pakistans Interior minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said. The Gulf country in 2011 suspended issuance of family and business visas to citizens of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan and Afghanistan owing to security concerns in those countries. But the Arab country Rasheed said after meeting with the Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah on Sunday, has decided to scrap the decision. There has been a big development on the front of Kuwaiti visas that had been stopped for Pakistanis since 2011. Family and business visas between Pakistan and Kuwait will now be restored, he said on Twitter. Kuwait will also lift restrictions on technical visas in the fields of medicine and oil. Pakistani families and the business community faced great difficulties with the Kuwaiti visa ban, Rasheed tweeted. Restoration of worker visas will create new employment opportunities for Pakistanis and business visas will boost trade between the two countries. Pakistan began in March talks with Kuwait to restore the visa issuance to its citizens. CBC The Ontario government announced Saturday that the wait between the first and second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine can be shortened from 12 weeks to eight weeks. Patients can also now choose between a second dose of AstraZeneca or an mRNA vaccine, such as Pfizer or Moderna, with an eight to 12 week interval, the government said. The new policy on AstraZeneca doses comes into effect at 8 a.m. on Monday. All of the new options will be provided with the "informed consent" of a patient, the Ontar Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 31) The Department of Agriculture said it is hopeful that the World Bank will greenlight an additional $280 million (about 14 billion) funding this June for more agriculture enterprise and rural infrastructure subprojects under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP). The second additional financing (AF2) loan also features an 18.3 million (around 1 billion) co-financing grant from the European Union, the agency said in a news release on Sunday. We look forward to more enabled communities and expanded opportunities under the new normal with the approval of the AF2-EU, said Agriculture Secretary William Dar. Dar said the multilateral lender is expected to approve the loan on June 17, with formal loan signing slated for July. The loan is the second tranche of the $450 million credit line from the World Bank, which the governments Investment Coordination Committee approved in 2016. It aims to scale up activities and enhance the benefits and impacts of the PRDP, thus supporting the Duterte administrations COVID-19 economic recovery, said the DA. State authorities pitched the PRDP in 2014, then securing a $501 million loan from the Bank. As of end-April, the program has rolled out 1,091 projects in 88 provinces, according to Shandy Hubilla, national deputy project director of PRDP. It has benefited 766,200 households and conducted 132 value-chain analysis covering 76 agri-fishery and food commodities, Hubilla said. Meanwhile, over 1,200 kilometers of roads have been completed in terms of infrastructure under PRDP. The DA also reported more than 1,000 lineal meters of bridges, 98 pre-and post-harvest facilities, and improved irrigation or drainage services for 1,997 hectares of farmland. Over 400 enterprise sub-projects have likewise been completed, benefiting 81,000 households which belong to 567 proponent groups, the agency added. The key to the funding approval of AF2 is the outstanding assessment of completed PRDP subprojects, prior to the ongoing 12th World Bank Implementation Support Mission, from May 24 to June 10, 2021, with 400 participants all over the country, including top WB officials, said the DA. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 31) The Philippine government announced on Monday the extension of the ban on travelers coming from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. President Rodrigo Duterte approved the extension of the restrictions on travelers from the seven countries upon the recommendation of the national task force against COVID-19, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said. In a series of announcements from late April to mid-May, the country barred the entry of travelers from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates until May 31. This is to prevent the spread of the B.1617 "double mutant" variant of the coronavirus first discovered in India. Even with this directive, however, the Philippines on May 11 confirmed its first two cases of the B.1617 variant both returning overseas Filipinos who had no travel history from India. Since then, the country has detected a total of 13 people infected with the same variant. According to the Department of Health, there are also now at least 1,071 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant from the United Kingdom and 1,246 cases of the B.1.351 variant from South Africa. These are seen to have contributed to the spikes in infections in some areas. RELATED: High variant cases seen in some regions with COVID-19 spikes, but no third wave in PH yet DOH On Friday, neighboring country Vietnam also said it has detected a new variant described to be a combination of the ones found in India and the UK. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 31) -- A Makati court has found former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV guilty of libel over statements he made against then Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay in 2015, where he accused the latter of bribery and corruption. The Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 148 has fined Trillanes P100,000 and ordered to pay Binay 500,000 in moral damages. Trillanes claimed in various interviews in April 2015 that the magistrates of the Court of Appeals were bribed to stop the first suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman on Binay over alleged anomalies in the construction of Makati City Hall Building 2. In one of his statements, he accused Binay of being part of a family of syndicates. The former senator filed a resolution then to investigate the alleged justice for sale scheme. The local court ruled that Trillanes should not have relied on his assumptions and should have refrained from making such grave allegations against the private complainant and his family, until after the proper verification was completed and the appropriate resolution was filed before the Senate. Making and releasing the subject statements absent a serious verification and investigation is recklessness bordering on a disregard of what is true and false, read the court decision. The court also said that Trillanes cannot use the freedom of expression or speech as a defense, noting that: The exercise of any right enshrined in the Bill of Right comes with an equal burden of responsible exercise of that right. The recognition of a right is not free license for the one claiming it to run roughshod over the rights of others. It added that the former senator cannot use the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee resolution recommending the filing of charges against the Binays for their supposed involvement in corruption as his vindication in the libel case, pointing out that its different from his allegation involving Court of Appeals justices. For his part, Trillanes said he will do everything to overturn the courts ruling. That is the price to pay for standing up against very powerful people, he said in a statement. Regardless, we will not let this legal setback discourage us in pursuing our advocacy to purge our government of corrupt and abusive public officials. CNN Philippines' correspondent Anjo Alimario and multi-platform news writer Vince Ferreras contributed to this report Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 31) Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said 59 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Barangay Matandang Balara after the supposed superspreader events held in the area in the past weeks. In Area 7 of the barangay, where drinking sprees, a wedding reception, and a bible study took place, 54 people out of the initial 69 identified close contacts of attendees tested positive for the coronavirus. The local government is still waiting for the results of the RT-PCR tests of 160 others. Meanwhile, five persons present during the food distribution event of City Councilor Franz Pumaren were also found positive for COVID-19. They were part of the 600 attendees who underwent antigen testing. Belmonte said those who tested negative will still undergo RT-PCR testing. But she admitted the real problem was the lack of a list of participants in the event, the reason why the local government is calling on those who joined to get tested. "When I asked CESU (City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit), that's kind of a problem dahil kung sinasabing 6,000 (attendees), paano ba yun? Sabi niya, we have to work backwards, with the absence of the list, also with the anecdotal stories na many of these people who came are not even from Matandang Balara...All we can do is just invite more people to come forward and be tested for free for their peace of mind," Belmonte told CNN Philippines via Zoom. [Translation: When I asked CESU, that's kind of a problem because if they say 6,000, what then? They said, we have to work backwards, with the absence of a list, also with the anecdotal stories that many of these people who came are not even from Matandang Balara...All we can do is just invite more people to come forward and be tested for free for their peace of mind.] The mayor said charges will be filed against the homeowners association president in Area 7, while a show cause order will be issued to Barangay Matandang Balara chairman Allan Franza. Those who participated in the superspreader events will have to pay fines for violating city ordinances. Pumaren absolved On the food distribution event, the local government absolved Pumaren of any health protocol violations. Belmonte said Pumaren's response to the show cause order was consistent with the police report. Around 6,000 people participated in the activity in the afternoon of May 25. Pumaren said people were organized at the beginning. But when it rained, he said things went out of hand as everyone tried to seek shelter, eventually dispersing the organized queues. When the rain stopped, Pumaren said they immediately asked the people to line up again and observe physical distancing. He said there were around 100 marshals present during the activity, including police, local government employees, and volunteers. But Pumaren is not yet off the hook as the Interior Department's investigation is still on-going. Belmonte met with the Quezon City Council on Monday to create rules regarding the distribution of food packs by councilors. She said the distribution of ayuda to their constituents must be properly coordinated with different city departments and the barangays concerned to ensure that health and safety protocols are followed. As of Monday night, 27 areas in Quezon City are on lockdown to prevent further community transmission of COVID-19. Massive testing among residents is on-going. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 31) Washington is counting on its decades-old strong ties with Manila for the extension of the Visiting Forces Agreement, the Philippine envoy to the United States said on Monday. Ang relasyon natin dito sa Amerika ay matagal na: 75 years na ang ating diplomatic relations, 70 years na yung ating Mutual Defense Treaty, Ambassador Jose Manuel Babe Romualdez said during a Palace briefing. [Translation: Our relationship with America has been around for a long time: our diplomatic relations have lasted for 75 years, our Mutual Defense Treaty has been going on for 70 years.] They are hopeful that President (Rodrigo) Duterte will of course extend the VFA dahil [because] thats part of the Mutual Defense Treaty, that's part of the whole package, he pointed out. Romualdez also said the Department of Foreign Affairs had met with its American counterpart over the past few months to improve the VFA terms of agreement, adding the documents are now on the President's desk. Yung America syempre they would like us to continue with it pero handa naman sila kung di naman mangyari, eh of course theyre going to be disappointed, Im sure, he said. But they would like to see us really continue to have good relations. [Translation: Of course America would like us to continue with it but theyre ready in case it wont happen.] The envoy added that he feels this more now, considering the US has reached out on helping the Philippines in every way they can. Romualdez also revealed during the press briefing that the country is among the first recipients of the tens of millions of COVID-19 vaccines Washington will be distributing worldwide. US President Joe Biden is set to announce this week that 80 million shots will be made available across the globe, particularly to allied countries and nations in direst need of them, added the diplomat. https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/5/31/PH-US-covid-vaccine-donations.html When asked whether these promised doses will affect Dutertes decision on the fate of VFA, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque asked to wait for the shots to arrive first, noting that information such as how many doses are coming in to begin with is still unknown. The President has been pondering on the issue and has a bigger framework of analysis," Roque said. "Lets just await his decision because hes the only one who can decide on this matter. The envoy also shared that Biden has already written to Duterte not only on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of PH-US diplomatic relations, "but to also inform him about how strong the relationship between the United States and the Philippines will continue. He also mentioned that the US commander in chief has expressed hope to meet with Duterte at some point in time. While there are no scheduled talks between both presidents yet, Romualdez said the anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic ties could probably be more or less the trigger for this conversation to happen. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) The mayor of Iloilo City is appealing to the COVID-19 Inter-agency Task Force to extend the citys modified enhanced community quarantine status, due to expire on Monday, because of rising coronavirus infections. RELATED: IATF places Iloilo City under MECQ until end of May Mayor Jerry Trenas told CNN Philippines' Newsroom Weekend that the city's healthcare facilities are currently overwhelmed because all COVID-19 patients in Panay Island are being brought to the citys hospitals. "Sa ngayon, mahaba na ang waiting list (At present, the waiting list is long) The DOH hospital, state university hospital, and private hospitals need additional nurses. The state university hospital needs additional doctors aside from nurses," said Trenas. The mayor added that he had written a letter to the Health Department requesting for the augmentation of hospital personnel and bed capacity in the city due to the spike in COVID-19 cases. "(Health) Secretary (Francisco) Duque said the DOH regional office in Region 6 is still studying the matter and will make recommendations in the next few days," he said. The DOH Western Visayas Center for Health Development has yet to confirm if they received Trenas' letter. Trenas cited the gradual reopening of the economy and relaxed domestic travel protocols as the reasons why Iloilo City is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases. "Ang Iloilo City, which is the regional center both for trade and government, lahat pumupunta dito kaya tumataas ang mga kaso namin (Iloilo City, which is the regional center both for trade and government, is where all the people go, that's why our cases are rising)," he added. As of Sundays DOH count, Iloilo City recorded a total of 7,769 confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 1,489 are considered active. A local emergency operations center tallied 107 new cases in the city on May 29. The local government has placed the following areas under lockdown from May 28-31: Guzman-Jesena (portion of Block 1, JMI Village), Veterans Village (portion of Zone II), Bolilao (Block 47 Great Vision, Block 48 Angelica Store, Block 56), and Tabuc Suba (Tulihaw Street Modern Homes, #372 Maya Street, McArthur Drive). The Iloilo City Hall suspended its operations last May 24 after 26 workers contracted the coronavirus. Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur (CNN Philippines, May 31) Zamboanga Peninsula will be placed under modified enhanced community quarantine for the first half of June, a provincial governor in the region said. Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Victor Yu said the stricter community quarantine classification will be in effect from June 1-15 due to the surge in COVID-19 infections in the area. "The Regional Task Force informed us that their request was approved for the implementation of MECQ for Region 9. We were delighted as the MECQ is stricter compared to the GCQ," Yu said on Sunday. Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center (ZDSMC) and Integrated Provincial Health Office chief Dr. Anatalio Cagampang Jr. said the jump in cases in the province is alarming since the referral hospital could no longer accommodate additional COVID-19 patients. This comes even as the hospital increased its beds in the intensive care unit from three beds to six beds. Cagampang also noted a shortage of oxygen tanks as the hospital needs 144 tanks per day, but it only receives 100 to 120 tanks every other day from Cagayan de Oro City. In some cases, he added, families of the patients had to purchase oxygen tanks outside the hospital or sometimes borrow from other hospitals. Even the level 1 hospitals who do not accept severe COVID-19 cases were forced to accept to assist the ZDSMC. All hospitals and infirmaries in the province were overwhelmed already, Cagampang explained. Malacanang is expected to announce on May 31 the latest community quarantine classification for the rest of the country. The Philippines recorded 7,058 new COVID-19 infections on Sunday, pushing the nationwide tally to 1,223,627. Of the total cases, 53,757 or 4.4% are active infections. The Department of Health earlier said all regions in Mindanao are seeing a rise in cases, with faster increase of infections in Regions 10, 11, and Caraga. Soon, when you look to the moon, youll be gazing at the direction of a lunar art exhibit one that includes the works of various Filipino artists. The Lunar Codex, a digital and analog collection of artwork stored in time capsules, is scheduled to travel to the moon through two landers in unmanned operations. The launches are a part of the U.S. National Space Administrations (NASA) Artemis Program, a moon-bound human spaceflight program, whose initial phase includes the delivery of scientific equipment and commercial payloads. Through NASAs Commercial Lunar Payload Service (CLPS), the private sector can send packages into space. And in July 2020, via Astrobotic and DHLs MoonBox initiative, Filipino-Candian physicist and storyteller Dr. Samuel Peralta jumped at the chance. At first [it was] only to put something of mine on the Moon, to be a small part of the Artemis program, he shares. This wish is well-founded, after all, Peraltas fictional writings have been previously featured on Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller lists, and in his teens, his poetry earned him a Palanca award. The diversification of a personal project What was initially Peraltas personal payload filled with his acclaimed novels and writings eventually grew to include artwork from other artists, starting with the creations of his family members, his parents being renowned abstract artist Rosario Bitanga-Peralta and Palanca award-winning playwright Jesus T. Peralta. Moon Leaves by Rosario Bitanga-Peralta (1987). Due in part to the aptness of this works title and theme, Samuel Peralta thought it impossible not to include Moon Leaves on the Lunar Codex. Photo courtesy of SAMUEL PERALTA Also part of the initial compilation was his short story anthologies, which featured other writers. I saw that all the writers I included were so happy to be part of the project, so I included more and more until I basically outgrew the space I had, Peralta says. Eventually, he acquired more ridesharing space to make up the capsule he calls The Peregrine Collection, named after the Astrobotics Peregrine lander that carries the payloads. The Peregrine Collection is the first of the three moon-bound capsules, and it is currently onboard the lander awaiting launch in December 2021. It now represents work created by a diverse set of artists, coming from countries across multiple continents, including Canada, the United States, Singapore, Belgium, Australia and the Philippines. Early this year, the Lunar Codex received a substantial expansion when a second capsule was negotiated. Dubbed The Nova Collection, after Intuitive Machines Nova-C Lunar Lander, the capsule features a similarly diverse body of work but incorporates different methods of curation. We began working with organizations like The Bennett Prize whose foundation awards the largest prize to women artists in the world; by doing this, we had the benefit of curation by their awards jury, he says. For the Nova Collection, he again included some Filipino work with personal significance: a Malang piece, his first self-purchased artwork, and an Arellano inscape, an ode to a sentimental visit to Agnes Arellanos exhibit. The digitized images of the works are stored in a nickel microfiche time capsule that reportedly has the capability to last thousands of years. Flying Dakini by Agnes Arellano (2014). Photo courtesy of SAMUEL PERALTA Coming Storm by Mauro Malang Santos (1978). Photo courtesy of DR. SAMUEL PERALTA All in all, although I have a connection to each work through the editor, gallerist, curator, publisher, collector, and so on, divulges Dr. Peralta. About 90% of the Lunar Codex has been curated or co-curated by a professional with a background that more than complements my own. An achievement of today and tomorrow As it stands today, The Lunar Codex carries around 5000 creative works created by over 1500 artists. The project is also the first of its kind in various ways, the first to bring female-made art and figurative realist art to the moons surface. The Lunar Codex is the most expansive and diverse collection of contemporary art launched to the Moon, in terms of gender, styles, and nationalities, Peralta explains. Around fifteen of these artists are Filipinos (although there are bound to be more, given the scale of the project) in varying areas of practice: painters such as Ben Cabrera, writers such as Ivy Alvarez, musicians such as Francis Paul B. Peralta, and sculptors such as Michael Cacnio. Calesa by Michael Cacnio (2011). Photo courtesy of SAMUEL PERALTA More than its technical achievements and titles, the project is a testament to the creative resilience of humankind, especially in these turbulent times. The Codex is also a message-in-a-bottle to the future, so that travelers who find these time capsules might discover some of the richness of our world today, says Peralta. It speaks to the idea that, despite wars and pandemics and climate upheaval, humankind found time to dream, time to create art. And theres set to be even more art for future lunar travelers to discover. Just this month, Peralta acquired space on a 2023 launch, marking the Lunar Codexs third capsule. The collection is named Polaris, like the north star the one everybody seeks out when they look to the night sky. *** More on the Lunar Codex here. Remembrances of Leo Antonio C. Abaya (December 13, 1960 - May 26, 2021) are filled with memories of keen learning especially of him as a professor at the UP College of Fine Arts where he taught students who would go on to become some of the best Filipino contemporary artists working today and appreciations of his understanding of the world, which flowed through his numerous works, both in film and in art. As an artist, his practice involved painting, sculptures and objects, installations, and video. His works ruminated on the forces that govern our daily lives, such as the continued colonization of our bodies in Sense, Sate (2011) and the ramifications of a world run by data in Demograpi Atbp. (2018). His works are in institutions such as the Singapore Art Museum, the UP Art Collection, and the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art. Mebuyan Scapulars by Leo Abaya. Photo courtesy of TIN-AW ART MANAGEMENT As a production designer, Abayas work was instrumental in fleshing out the remarkable worlds of some of the best Filipino films today, such as Jose Rizal, Muro Ami, and Kubrador and won awards. He would later become a director himself with the Cinemalaya entry Instant Mommy starring Eugene Domingo. Here, colleagues and students remember the life and work of Leo Abaya, artist, production designer, and mentor. Tributes gathered by Carlos Quijon Jr. Gabi Nazareno, artist I didn't have the honor of being Sir Leo's student, because he was on sabbatical during my thesis year. But I learned so much during the times Ive worked with him on a few exhibits. I am grateful to have witnessed the quiet and selfless work Sir Leo has done in support of his fellow Boholano artists. He went out of his way in one exhibit's ingress, to mount a fellow artist's work. We went searching for a particular hanging provision late at night just so he could present the artist's work in the best way possible. Roan Alvarez, artist and educator Sir Leo was not just a great professor, artist, and mentor, he was a blessing to many. I first knew him as my visual studies professor before he became my thesis adviser. After college, I was fortunate enough to assist him in several of his projects. Id like to think that he believed in me more than I believed in myself. This thought kept me going. Ill always be grateful for the push and encouragement he gave me, even if it is in the form of a critique or words of validation. He taught me that a little encouragement goes a long way something that I have also put into heart as an educator. Noelle Varela, artist I was at his house days before his passing, he was the usual sir Abs wearing an apron, talking about his explorations with resin, waiting for packages and materials to arrive, talking about his deadlines, us figuring out how to go about one of his commitments and showing off his level 1600+ in Candy Crush. Until his last days, his exuberance towards his discoveries oozed within his being; creating was his life. Sir always had the enthusiasm and trust in us, young artists. Beyond the variety of art practices I discovered under Sir Abaya, the sense of respect and understanding of art and art practices between us, him and his friends, will continue to flourish. Marya Salang, Tin-Aw Art Management I first met Leo in 2009 for the first UP Fine Arts thesis exhibition at Tin-aw Art Gallery. Through the years, I have worked with him on a lot of exhibitions and personal projects. We would always argue with each other about deadlines especially when schedules are tight and a lot are happening. His final retort would always be, Marya, mangyayari yan. (Marya, it will happen.) When I learned that he would be making his film, Instant Mommy, I bugged him to be included in it. He just laughed at me. And then one day he called and told me that I will be an extra in the film. I kept asking him to send me the script so I can internalize. To shut me up, he finally said, Punyeta! Extra ka lang. Hindi ka lead. And we laughed so hard after that. Thats how Leo is. He makes things happen. Small dreams or grand projects, Leo made everything achievable. Arkipelago by Leo Abaya. Photo courtesy of TIN-AW ART MANAGEMENT Dawn Atienza, Tin-Aw Art Management Leo Abaya was a creative genie artist, teacher, curator and writer. He had two solo exhibitions with us in Tin-aw Art Gallery. In Sense Sate in 2011, he explored the idea of the body inundated by external stimuli and expanded our small gallery space with an illusion of a never-ending hallway. For Demograpi Atbp in 2018, he challenged viewers to look at societal and political truths through the language of metadata. Leo collaborated with Tin-aw for 50 exhibitions inside the gallery and in local and international art fairs. Although he did raise an eyebrow when we told him our crazy ideas, he never said a concept was impossible. We were able to dream big because we were confident that Leo would help us pull it off. The shows that Leo loved most though, were the thesis exhibits of his beloved students from the UP College of Fine Arts. Eya Beldia, writer and curator We were driving through the congested Manila maze, as we used to, talking and laughing about silly and serious things when I asked him about histories and futures in art, he said, When we start, we cant say that we know everything, thats ridiculous. Of course, you wish you knew more before you started. This is how it is, with Leo Abaya, a critical comment and in the same breath comforting confidence but who am I to say who he was or what hes done. I only know to gather his kwentos and wish I observed more and listened more but most of all I wish I asked more. For how do I traverse the world without a constant compass? And so I mindfully wait, like many, of yesterdays today and todays tomorrow until your sun to my moon eclipse once more. Where you are free Steph Palallos, artist Leo Abaya wore different hats and he wore each one well. I admired him for that, but I loved him more for being a beautiful soul. Take all of those professions away and you have the kindest, most generous, wittiest, and warmest human to walk this earth. He was my professor at the CFA. I was not a brilliant student; in fact, I never finished my MFA. But he never made me feel inadequate or a failure. He respected my journey and knew that I had to figure things out my way and left nuggets of advice along the way for encouragement. He was a friend first and not a hat-wearer. He saw me as me and that was enough. Patrick Flores, UP Vargas Museum Leo Abaya struck me as an artist of broad sympathies, which made him a great mentor to young artists who, like him, were exploring forms and ideas. He worked with them, it seemed to me, rather than lectured, thus remaining close to them after their studies. It became a lifelong relationship of kindred spirits. As an artist, Leo had a keen eye for the scene and the details of the materials, owing perhaps to his work in the cinema. He spoke to urgencies, but always with sensitivity and openness for discourse. His unfolding work for Kalibutan, the exhibition for ViVa 2020, condenses Leos aspirations: a diorama that became a cosmos, photography that morphed into poetry, locality that was the universe. Poignant and layered, miniature but so generous. Demograpi (installation view) by Leo Abaya. Photo courtesy of TIN-AW ART MANAGEMENT Pope Bacay, artist Choose what comes naturally to you. These were sir Leos words when I was trying to decide on a specific production problem during my thesis year with him as one of my advisers. Before I enrolled in his class, I always pictured sir Leo as a very strict (terror, as students would say) professor during my college days. When I finally got him for my thesis, he was strict but was also the most understanding. Sir Leos advice in art and even in life up to this day, still hold. As someone I respected and looked up to, his opinions and comments always mattered. And when it comes to art practice, they actually matter the most. Any conversation with Sir Leo is no wasted time be it lengthy ones at the gallery office or quick small talks in exhibit openings. Jun Villalon, The Drawing Room, Manila Leo Abaya and I shared a lot in common being the same age. We shared a connection through our talks, mostly about music, advertisements and commercials from the 70s and 80s. We both knew every nostalgic jingle, catchy song and promotional scene. He had worked in advertising and similarly, I had worked incorporate. We also shared the experience of being probinsyanos, eagerly discussing provincial life, mannerisms and how things felt as we found ourselves currently settled here in the big city. We really bonded during our trip to Venice, visiting the Biennale. Leo was a delight to be with. He knew so much, with wonderful insights on the citys rich art history and bustling contemporary art scene. He also loved eating, another thing we shared with gusto, as well as travelling. All these things, he shared with great generosity. Our next planned trip was the city of Paris, a trip that sadly Ill now have to make in his stead. Lee Paje, artist It was one of our walks in UP when he looked at me intently and out of the blue he asked, Bakit ako? Why I look up to you? Why I love you? Looking back and to answer that question again, how can I not? It is impossible to not admire and love someone whose good qualities expand beyond being an artist and a teacher. And now this question, how to honor the memory of a great person who has been a mentor, a dear friend, and a mother to me? I have been trying to write something profound about who he is and how his life has been a blessing. It is difficult. All the words are pale and bland. Missing Slider (detail) by Leo Abaya. Photo courtesy of TIN-AW ART MANAGEMENT Goldie Poblador, artist My life would not be what it is today without Sir Leo Abaya, or Sir A, as we called him at the College of Fine Arts. He was my thesis adviser, teacher, and beloved mentor who I turned to for advice and greatly influenced the trajectory of my career. Those of us who were lucky enough to call ourselves his students, were inspired by his work ethic, his knowledge and his generous heart. He encouraged each of us to pursue that which made us unique, no matter how seemingly absurd or ambitious our ideas were. He taught me to take risks, believed in me before anyone else did and helped form who I am today. He will be missed. Jezzel Wee, artist and educator There are no words to describe how grateful I am to have been his student, mentee and colleague. He has greatly influenced my perspective in art and in life. Sir Leo taught us to have sincerity and integrity in all of the things we do. He taught us to dig deeper, to look for reason and significance. Everything is interconnected. A brilliant, beautiful mind and human being. You will be missed by many. Mahal na mahal kita Sir Leo. Bea Alcala, artist Sir A once told us, I am not your pillow; I am the pea under your mattress. Referencing the Princess and the Pea, and putting it in the context of our art practice, the discomfort the pea brings determines if we are in tune with the subtleties we need to be sensitive to as creatives. He was tough because he valued his students interests at heart. His famous question so what, who cares could then mean that he simply cared enough to be hellbent ruthless if it meant bringing out the best in his students. He used his intellect as his primary tool to communicate, but I find he also imparted a piece of himself to us in the process. The way he moved our lives went way beyond his job description; traces of his life force manifested in the lives of his students, molding them to be kids of substance. Protests against Managese mines continue outside the US Embassy in Tbilisi By Veronika Malinboym Hunger-strikers from the village of Chiatura have taken to the capital and gathered outside the US Embassy in Tbilisi to protest against the Georgian Managese mine, which produces and exports ferroalloys and manganese ore in Western Georgia.The government and the company did not pay any attention to us, and we came here. Maybe we can somehow make our voice heard at the embassy. We are going to spend the night here and will be staying here until our demands are heard, one of the eight protesters told On.ge.Earlier this month, three residents of the Shukruti village in Chiatura of the Imereti region of Western Georgia saw their mouths shut to protest against the environmental damage caused by the Georgian Manganese mine.On May 20, Georgian Manganese announced that their contractor, Shukruti + Ltd., was ready to meet the demands of several residents of the village of Shukruti by involving the Samkharauli National Bureau of Expertise in the housing appraisal process. However, the company denies that its activities are causing damage to the nearby villages and refuse to pay compensation that the protesters demand stating that all the damage was caused by the mining carried out during the Soviet period and has already been compensated.Georgias Public Defenders Office has also responded to the Chiatura protests and called for then called on the relevant state agencies to ensure the protection of the local residents' right to housing and a healthy environment.Protesters in Chiatura believe that as a result of improper ore processing and extraction, the river Kvirila, air, and drinking water are polluted and the soil in the nearby areas becomes useless for harvesting foods. The protesters claim that the activity of the mine causes landslides and damages to the roads and houses located in its vicinity. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 31) The Health Department is recommending that the older workers get their first COVID-19 shot over the younger essential workers under the guidelines being drafted for the vaccination of the A4 cluster in June. "We have recommended that if there will be some form of prioritization and maybe we can do it by stratifying by age group, [we can consider] prioritizing those who are more aged, like we start from 50 to 60, then 40 to 50 and down the line," Health Undersecretary and Spokesperson Rosario Vergeire told CNN Philippines' The Source on Monday. By stratifying according to age group, essential workers who are most vulnerable to COVID-19 when going out can be protected first, Vergeire said. "We need to understand that although we know that essential workers are really important because they go out everyday, they are vulnerable as well because they risk getting infected when they need to go out," she also said. Last week, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases simplified the clustering of vaccinees to three main subgroups: private employees who physically report to work, government workers, and workers in the informal sector who work onsite and in private households. READ: IATF trims A4 priority group, orders dedicated vaccination lanes for A1-A3 The task force said local government units may also give preference to workers aged 40 and above over those aged 18 to 39 years old. Vaccination of the A4 group will start in NCR Plus 8 comprising Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao. As for the simultaneous inoculation of health workers (A1), senior citizens (A2), and persons with comorbidities (A3), this will continue in designated vaccination centers or "special lanes," Vergeire said. Citing vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., Vergeire said the country expects to receive 12 million more COVID-19 vaccines in June to get closer to its target of inoculating 70% of the country's population by yearend. Meanwhile, the inoculation of private sector employees may be delayed until July, according to Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion. Concepcion told CNN Philippines The Final Word that supply expected to arrive in June was rescheduled to mid-July as the Thailand plant producing the AstraZeneca vaccines the sector purchased just started gearing up its capacity. He said of the 17 million doses procured by the sector, 1.175 million doses are seen to arrive in July and another in August, with deliveries expected to continue from then on. The administration of vaccines will also be done in sites established by companies themselves. Despite the delay, Concepcion noted that some private companies have applied for vaccination of their personnel in their respective local governments and a number have received their COVID-19 shots already. When we start in July, that will be ramped up. We will have definitely some excess vaccines because some of our employees have taken their vaccines already We will donate these maybe to their families or if there is enough maybe we will even donate to the LGUs, he added. Concepcion said they are also looking into the implementation of the use of vaccine passes to provide more mobility to vaccinated persons. He said the private sector is discussing the matter and that a proposal will be submitted. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 31) President Rodrigo Duterte has certified as urgent on Monday two bills that are currently being tackled in the Senate plenary. Senate President Vicente Sotto III confirmed he received the President's note on the urgent bills to be passed during the Senate's plenary session on Monday. One priority measure Duterte wants senators to swiftly pass is Senate Bill 2232, which establishes a tax regime for Philippine offshore gaming operators. "We hope that through this measure we would not only generate the much needed revenues in the country but also place the industry under stricter government oversight," said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque. During the Senate plenary on Monday, the bill's sponsor Senator Pia Cayetano emphasized the measure is not primarily aimed at promoting gambling in the country. She said the bill seeks to tax POGOs as an additional revenue source for the government and to regulate industry licensees and its service providers. "This will also ensure that POGOs and service providers are clearly defined and that they comply with requirements to allow them to do business here. So we can track them and we can easily hold them accountable if they failed to comply with the requirements," said Cayetano. Senator Joel Villanueva asked Cayetano the basis for legalizing all gambling activities in the country. Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon responded that the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation acts as a regulator and operator as provided in its charter. "Gambling is basically contrary to public morals, I think that's accepted. In order to allow gambling in society, it must be licensed by the government. Who grants the license? It should be Congress," said Drilon. "This power of Congress is delegated to PAGCOR and PAGCOR is now exercising the functions of Congress." Drilon even cited jueteng, which he said PAGCOR can legalize based on its powers and functions provided in the agency's charter. He added that the said gambling activity continues to be illegal because Congress has not passed a law for its legality. Meanwhile, Duterte also certified as urgent Senate Bill 2234, which proposes to create the Department of Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos. "(This will) provide a more efficient, whole-of-government approach to protect the rights and promote the welfare and interest of overseas Filipinos," Roque added. Villanueva, who sponsored the bill in the plenary, said the proposed legislation will not encourage more Filipinos to work abroad. He added that it has a provision which provides reintegration programs for Filipino migrant workers. "This recognizes that the long-term plan for the OFWs is to be with their families and loved ones. Someday, there will come to a point in time that our kababayans will go abroad not because they are forced to. They will go abroad because of their choice," said Villanueva. The two bills are listed in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council's priority legislations for 2021. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 31) Filipinos who have completed their COVID-19 shots still need to wear face masks and face shields to further reduce the risk of transmission, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said on Monday. "If you ask me, this is my opinion, I would not recommend it at this point because of all the evidence that we have right now that even though we are vaccinated and fully vaccinated, we can still transmit the infection and we can still be infected," Vergeire told CNN Philippines' The Source, referring to doing away with masks and face shieds Vergeire also said the public must not compare the Philippines' progress in vaccination and pandemic response with other countries, since there are still a lot of months to go before much of the country's population can be given COVID-19 shots. "There is still no sufficient evidence that can say that we can really block transmission although good performance na tayo ngayon sa real data (we are showing a good performance in real date)," she said. "We still like to be very sure so when we implement this, we will not be at risk especially the vulnerable to COVID-19." Vergeire said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has created a small working group headed by the Department of Tourism and the Department of Foreign Affairs to discuss the policy on the mandatory wearing of face masks this week. She added that a group comprised of different medical groups, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Health Department has already recommended the continued use of face shields despite complaints about its supposed inability to prevent transmission. "Based on their study, although conditional recommendations, they still recommend the face shield plus the face mask with physical distancing. For now, we will retain this policy," Vergeire said. "I think it will be beneficial for our population. I think its okay for us to sacrifice a little rather than having difficulty in breathing and youre in the hospital because you got COVID-19," she added. On Sunday, the country logged 1,223,627 total COVID-19 cases, with 7,058 new infections. The death toll rose to 20,860 while 1,149,010 have recovered from the disease. The government has administered over five million doses, with over a million Filipinos who are fully vaccinated, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said in a radio interview on Sunday. The country aims to reach herd immunity with over 70% of its population vaccinated by yearend. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 31) Metro Manila and other provinces in the NCR Plus bubble cannot yet be considered a "safe zone" due to a slower decline in COVID-19 cases over the past days, Health Undersecretary and spokesperson Rosario Vergeire said Monday. In an interview with CNN Philippines' The Source, Vergeire said the healthcare utilization rate in NCR Plus, composed of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal, continues to fall under the moderate risk level. "That's why we always remind the public, even though we can see a decrease or a decline in the number of cases, we are still not yet at that safe level where we can say that we can be lax with our compliance," she said. According to Vergeire, after weeks of a steep decline in infections, cases in NCR Plus are now plateauing. "About two or three weeks ago, the decline was really steep, the decline was fast. But right now it's plateauing and we are seeing this because we are averaging right now for the NCR Plus bubble around 1,100 cases [a day]," she said. Vergeire pointed to increased people mobility following the gradual reopening of industries, as well as the surge in cases in some provinces outside the bubble, which may have contributed to a slow decline in cases. She said the Department of Health is monitoring an uptick in cases in some provinces in the Ilocos Region, Western Visayas, Mimaropa, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region and Caraga. She added that the healthcare utilization rate in these regions is nearing high-risk level. The DOH is already assisting areas in Visayas and Mindanao to expand their bed capacity by up to 50% as early as possible, Vergeire said. She also said more temporary treatment facilities need to be constructed to decongest hospitals already catering to severe COVID-19 cases. "We need to continue on. We [also] need to have ourselves vaccinated so we can eventually see that the decline in the number of cases will really be in safe zone for all of us," Vergeire said. The government is looking at allowing the opening of more businesses in areas under the general community quarantine for the month of June, to help more industries recover from the pandemic. The official quarantine status for NCR Plus and other provinces will be announced on Monday. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 31) The Health Department and one of its technical advisers on Monday said more evidence is needed to say whether the newly-detected COVID-19 variant in Vietnam is more transmissible or decreases the effectiveness of vaccines. "The reports are very sketchy. We haven't even seen the sequences yet," Infectious Diseases specialist Dr. Edsel Salvana told CNN Philippines' New Day on Monday, referring to the reported hybrid of the highly transmissible variants first found in India and the United Kingdom. Salvana, a member of the Health Department's technical advisory group, said the variant found in Vietnam cannot yet be considered one of concern. This, despite Vietnam Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long recently warned that the new variant is "very dangerous." READ: Vietnam detects hybrid of Indian and UK COVID-19 variants "We need to study very well whether this really is a hybrid or if it's really just another variant that acquired these mutations in the course of natural mutation. That does not necessarily translate to increased transmissibility or decreased susceptibility to our vaccines," he said. He added that instead of sharing "sensationalized" reports about the variant that may cause unnecessary panic among the public, Filipinos must instead double down on observing public health measures. In a separate briefing, Health Undersecretary and Spokesperson Rosario Vergeire expressed a similar sentiment but did not totally downplay the reports about the new variant. "I don't like to use the word 'sketchy,' but we need sufficient evidence," she said. Vergeire also told The Source that the public must wait for further information from the World Health Organization, since it is the one in charge of classifying COVID-19 variants. She added: "Whatever the type of variant may be, we still need to practice the minimum health protocols. That is the only way for us to get protected against these variants and of course have yourself vaccinated if you are eligible already." Meanwhile, Salvana compared the situation to the P.3 variant which was found in the Philippines, since the cases from this variant have "not yet skyrocketed." As of Saturday, the Philippines has already recorded 162 cases of the P.3 variant, which has mutations linked to the UK and South Africa COVID-19 variants. To date, the P.3 variant is still considered one under investigation. Meanwhile, the country logged 1,071 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant from UK, 1,246 cases of the B.1.351 variant from South Africa, and 13 cases of the B.1.617.2 variant first detected in India, the Health Department reported. The WHO has identified four variants of SARS-CoV-2 the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 that are of global concern so far. These include those that emerged first in India, in UK, in South Africa and in Brazil. The WHO defines a "variant of concern" as one found to have increased transmissibility or detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology; increase in virulence; or decrease in effectiveness of public health measures, medicine, or vaccines. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 31) Members of the ruling PDP-Laban party are pushing for President Rodrigo Duterte to run for office in 2022 as vice president. "As moderator of this national council meeting, may I move...that this national council shall adopt a resolution following the early resolutions made by the different chapters and different local governments all over the country to convince the PDP-Laban Party chairman, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, to run for vice president and to choose his running mate for President in the 2022 national elections," said Raul Lambino, PDPD-Laban's vice president for external affairs, told the council meeting held in Cebu on Monday. Lambino's motion was immediately seconded by other members of the party. Lambino said he had received petitions and resolutions from several local governments and also from some officials who were not even members of PDP-Laban. Earlier, Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnulfo Teves moved that the meeting be adjourned immediately, saying it bypassed processes under the party's rules. "Meron lang akong question. I feel very disappointed, and I am even angered, and I feel taken for granted being bypassed because Section 60...says that the Secretary General shall serve written notice, that I am the Secretary General of the PDP Laban Party, buhay pa ako, hindi naman ako incapacitated. Hindi ko maintindihan bakit hindi ako ang pinapirma sa sulat (notice)," Teves told his colleagues. [Translation: I have a question. I feel very disappointed, and I am even angered, and I feel taken for granted being bypassed because Section 60...says that the Secretary General shall serve written notice, that I am the Secretary General of the PDP Laban Party, I am alive, I am not incapacitated. I do not understand why I was not the one who was asked to sign the notice.] Teves was among those who attended the PDP-Laban national council meeting virtually via Zoom conference where he raised his hand for several minutes before he was finally recognized by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, PDP-Laban's vice chairman, who presided over the meeting. However, Eastern Samar Goveror Ben Evardone led the objection to Teves's call to adjourn and said, "We have convened this meeting in accordance with our Constitution." Meanwhile, in a separate statement on Monday, PDP-Laban executive director Ronwald Munsayac said the convenors of the Cebu meeting violated party rules. "Since the PDP Laban chairman is not incapacitated, suspended, resigned or expelled from the party, the vice chairman cannot usurp the functions of the chairman found in Article XVI, Section 4 of the PDP Laban constitution. The vice chairman cannot call for a meeting of the national council, since only the real chairman can.," he said. READ: Pacquiao to request meeting with Duterte over issues concerning PDP-Laban CNN Philippines correspondent Eimor Santos, senior digital producer Pia Garcia, and Cebu based correspondent Dale Israel contributed to this report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 31) The Philippines will have a share in the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines to be donated by the United States, according to the country's ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez. In a Palace briefing on Monday, Romualdez said the US will be distributing an initial 80 million vaccine doses to ally nations and those deemed to be most in need of the shots. "Tayo, nando'n na sa first batch that will be sent out [We're part of the first batch that will be sent out]," Romualdez said, adding, "But we still don't know how many will be given to us." He said the donation will come with "no strings attached" and is just part of America's efforts to help other countries fight the coronavirus. This June, the country expects more vaccines from US companies, including another 2.2 million Pfizer doses and the first shipment from Moderna containing 200,000 doses. In an interview with CNN Philippines earlier this month, Romualdez said the Philippines is aiming to buy up to 80 million doses from various American manufacturers. Besides reaching out to the US, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. previously said the government has also asked Israel for access to its unused supply of coronavirus shots. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 31) The Senate approved on third and final reading the proposed measure that seeks to establish services for learners with disabilities (LWDs), almost a week after passing the bill on second reading. All the 23 senators in attendance voted in favor of passing Senate Bill No. 1907 on Monday. The proposal declares that "no learner with disability shall be denied admission and inclusion in any public or private early or basic education school in the country to afford such learners with equitable opportunities to educational services and programs." The bill mandates the Department of Education to establish at least one Inclusive Learning Resource Center (ILRC) in all cities and municipalities. Existing Special Education centers will be renamed ILRC. The bill's principal sponsor, Sen. Win Gatchalian, emphasized the bill is a significant step for learners with disabilities to attend in a school that meets their specialized care and training. "This law will serve as a catalyst of a truly inclusive education system that is equipped to identify and serve the needs of each and every Filipino learner, no matter his/her circumstances," said Gatchalian in a plenary speech. The bill also requires DepEd to hire and train a supervisor, mobile teachers, and a team of professionals which will include educational psychologist, guidance counselor, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech and language therapist, reading specialist, and sign language specialist among others for each ILRC. Further, the bill institutionalizes the creation of a Bureau of Inclusive Education, an attached agency under DepEd that will ensure the implementation of services for learners with disabilities. An Advisory Council for Education of Learners with Disabilities will also be established under the bill. The council will be composed of representatives from various PWD sectors and a representative from the academe, who will meet with DepEd in formulating related policies. The Education Department is also mandated to undertake continuing research in designing programs to meet the needs of LWDs. Under the measure, LWDs with financial difficulties are also entitled to government-mandated financial and educational assistance programs. The House version of the bill was passed in December last year. As of the School Year 2017-18, the DepEd tallied 184,707 graded LWDs and 46,016 non-graded ones. Those LWDs who are considered as gifted and talented are around 74,346 in total according to the department's tally. LWDs who have "difficulty remembering, concentrating, paying attention, and understanding based on manifestation" comprise the largest bulk of graded students with 60,243. LWDs with "intellectual disability with diagnosis" have the biggest number of non-graded learners with 16,845. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 1) President Rodrigo Duterte granted on Monday the request of Filipino seafarers to get inoculated with Western-made COVID-19 vaccine brands. Duterte approved the plea of Filipino seafarer unions as most international shipping companies require their crew members to be vaccinated with Western-made COVID-19 vaccines before embarkation. "It is given to seafarers not because of their special breed, na kailangan mong bigyan, kung hindi kailangang mong bigyan dahil (we need to give these vaccines because) their work requires the vaccination of US-made or Western brands," said Duterte in his national address. In his privilege speech in the Senate plenary last week, Senator Bong Go revealed the dilemma confronting seafarers. A presentation made by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III read by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque during the meeting, showed that only 25% of crew changes took place during the COVID-19 pandemic. The seafarer unions also requested Duterte to simplify the procedures in the vaccination of Filipino seafarers, wherein the presentation of the seaman's book will fully identification requirements. The seafarers also requested that they be vaccinated in their respective towns before returning to Manila. Returning seafarers must be given their first shot upon release of negative swab tests and before they return to their home provinces. Duterte: No clear evidence to show Western brand vaccines 'superior' than other vaccine brands Despite approving the seafarers' requests, Duterte insisted that Western vaccine brands are not "superior" to other vaccine brands. "There is no clear evidence to show that itong mga (these vaccines made by) Pfizer at (and) Moderna are superior to Sinovac and Sinopharm. Puro bakuna 'yan (Those are all vaccines), generic," said the President. The President also downplayed fears that providing Western-made vaccines for seafarers violate the equal protection of laws constitutional clause since that is what the "nature of their work requires." Duterte also said that many countries are not complaining about the China-made Sinovac vaccine. "I have not heard any news or whatever to show there are complaints about the disparity and efficacy of this vaccine," he said. With the approval, seafarers are then exempted from Duterte's previous remark chastising some Filipinos for being picky in their COVID-19 vaccine brands. According to the Labor Department's data, the Philippines is one of the world's top suppliers of seafarers. Of the 1,647,500 recorded seafarers in the world, at least 25% or 460,000 are Filipinos. Deputy President William Rutos daughter June Ruto last week Thursday said I do to her Nigerian man, Dr Alexander Ezenagu, in an invite-only ceremony held at the DPs private residence in Karen. If you missed the photos, check them out here: All PHOTOS from DP Ruto Daughters Lavish Wedding During the ceremony, DP Ruto admitted it was difficult to give away his daughter to a Nigerian man. Ruto left guests in stitches as he expressed his supposed anxiety about June Ruto marrying a Nigerian man of Igbo ethnicity. He recounted the Kenyan governments push and pull with controversial Nigerian businessman Anthony Chinedu, who was deported from Kenya in 2013. It is both an exciting and anxious moment. It is not easy as a parent to give away your daughter. It is much more difficult if you are giving away your daughter to Nigerians. It is much more difficult when you are giving your daughter to Ibos, said Ruto amid laughter from the crowd. DP Ruo continued: Because when I first met Alex I told him a story of a guy called Chinedu who gave us a lot of trouble and I was told that man was an Igbo. So you can understandthis Chinedu fellow gave us so much trouble that we deported him to Nigeria and when we deported him he refused to get out of the aeroplane in Lagos for two days. Even after leaving him there, we found him in Kenya. Ruto gave the newlyweds his blessings and advised June Ruto to submit to her husband as she was now someones wife. It was cold, it was damp, but by all appearances, the hundreds who gathered in Boiling Springs for the return of VFW Post 8851s annual Memorial Day parade, ceremony and picnic on Sunday afternoon simply were glad to be there as a community once again. Last years Memorial Day events, like much else in 2020, were cancelled in Boiling Springs due to Gov. Tom Wolfs pandemic restrictions that were set in place on March 13 of that year. Instead, VFW Post 8851 held a Memorial Day commemoration limited to members and its auxiliary and closed to the general public in 2020. We are very proud that so many of you have come back here every year, but especially this year at the close of the pandemic and a return to normalcy, said Bill Hartman, VFW Post 8851 parade coordinator and South Middleton School Board director, told this years crowd. Sundays Boiling Springs events took place on the cusp of Pennsylvania lifting the remainder of its standing pandemic restrictions on Monday, except for masks. Mask mandates for unvaccinated Pennsylvanians also are poised for elimination either by June 28 or when 70% of the states eligible population becomes fully vaccinated. HARRISBURG With Pennsylvanias wide-open races for governor and U.S. Senate taking shape, Republican candidates with strong ties to Donald Trump are running and considered strong contenders for the partys nominations, a powerful sign of the former presidents enduring popularity within the GOP. Within a few days of each other, Sean Parnell entered the race for U.S. Senate and Lou Barletta entered the race for governor. Trump had urged both men to run in prior bids for public office. Barletta explained the calculus for running under the Republican banner. Donald Trump is still the leader of the Republican Party and anybody who believes otherwise, they dont know what theyre talking about, and especially in Pennsylvania, Barletta told former Trump adviser Steve Bannon on Bannons podcast, War Room. Parnell and Barletta have ties to Trump that go deep. Barletta was co-chair of Trumps 2016 presidential campaign in Pennsylvania and a loyal ally on Capitol Hill when he was in Congress. He was Trumps endorsed candidate for U.S. Senate in 2018 and watched the Super Bowl that year with the then-president. He was one of Trumps hand-picked presidential electors in Pennsylvania last year and has hired veterans of Trumps campaign to run his own. MOSCOW (AP) A revised version of Russia's national security strategy says that it may use forceful methods to respond to unfriendly actions by foreign countries, a top Kremlin official said in remarks published Monday, Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of the presidential Security Council, said that the document foresees that Moscow could take symmetric and asymmetric measures to thwart or avert unfriendly actions that threaten the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Russian Federation. In an interview published Monday by the government daily Rossiyskaya Gazeta that those primarily will be special economic measures, but also coercive forceful methods if necessary." Patrushev said that in comparison with the previous version of the strategy that was published in December 2015, the revised version of the document also emphasized information security as one of the top priorities. Russia's relations with the U.S. and its allies have been at post-Cold War lows over Moscow's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninusla, accusations of Russian interference in elections, hacking attacks and other irritants. Speaking in opposition was Planning and Zoning Commission member Karen Combs, who voted to recommend approval at the planning and zoning meeting. Combs said despite feeling uncomfortable as if she was being "railroaded" the commission went ahead and approved the special use permit and she herself had seconded the motion. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} "We had been through everything and I agree they crossed all their T's and dotted all their Is. I could not, not pass it to go through," Combs said. "However I am not in favor of this development going in the place it is." Combs said even though Meadows of Fredericktown is an upscale thing and is a good thing, she does not agree with the location and thinks there are much better places for it. The public hearing was then closed and the matter was voted on during regular session business. Before the vote, Pine Castle Association President Nathan Huckaba took his three-minute opportunity during public communications to make one last plea to the council members. He asked members of ward I and II to vote in line with the aldermen of ward III. "One is getting people better prepared for the inevitability of fire in areas like the wildland-urban interface. That includes new construction," he said. "And the second is getting our ecosystems better prepared for climate change and fire impacts." On the local level, individuals and communities need to create defensible spaces and evacuation plans, he said. On the government level, more resources need to go toward managing forests. "I think we've got one to two decades," Stephens said. "If we don't do this in earnest, we're frankly just going to be watching the forest change right in front of our eyes from fire, climate change, drought, insects, things of that nature." Part of the issue is that increasing wildfire resilience often requires trade-offs, said Erica Fleishman, professor at Oregon State University's College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. Cities or states could require defensible spaces around homes. Building codes could call for fire-resistant materials. That would drive up construction costs but also mean homes would be less likely to burn and need rebuilding, she said. "The insurance industry and the building industry and communities and lawmakers are all going to need to have the will to create these changes," she said. It took almost eight years for her adoptive parents to be able to give her safety and stability. Sarah was confused as a child, as it seemed no one truly loved her. "Why didn't you come to get me?" she would later ask her adoptive mother. Her foster parents, who became her parents, saved her life, she's come to realize. One of her blood sisters overdosed on drugs and died. That could have been her, had she not been released from the prison of poverty, abuse and mental illness. Zagorski is now an advocate for foster care and adoption, and a champion of foster parents. And so, she reflects: "My story didn't end in drug addiction, exploitation or suicide because foster care provided me the support I would need for a lifetime." We live in a culture that celebrates individual autonomy, and in the shadows are all kinds of stories of the damage that kind of attitude can bring with it. Birth mothers in troubling circumstances who choose adoption for their children are heroines. We need to celebrate mothers who make that choice. Vanuatu turns the Corner LETS USE THIS AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR THE FUTURE The general consensus among Kenyans on social media is that COTU boss Francis Atwoli has not done enough to have a road named after him. Kenyans first expressed their disapproval last Thursday when Nairobi Deputy Governor Anne Kananu renamed DikDik road in Kileleshwa, Nairobi after the outspoken trade unionist, albeit illegally since the renaming was not debated and approved by the assembly. A few days after the unveiling of Francis Atwoli Road, unknown persons pulled down its signpost, and photos soon hit the internet, sparking another wave of dissenting voices against the renaming. Atwoli on his part condemned the vandalism saying it amounted to impunity. In a country that believes in the rule of Law there are procedures and processes to be followed when unsatisfied, he said in a tweet on Sunday. Adding: I am against anarchy. However, the police will look into that. On Twitter, however, Kenyans approved the alleged anarchy saying whoever pulled down the Francis Atwoli road signpost deserved State commendation. Here are some of those reactions: Still thinking about this road named after Francis Atwoli, then I read an article written by one Nyagwoka. It really pisses me off. Atwoli has contributed immensely to misfortunes facing Kenyans due to sycophancy. He cant stand firm when his employers are struggling. Coward. pic.twitter.com/xatRvZEIoh Abuga Makori EGH, MBE (@abuga_makori) May 30, 2021 Whoever uprooted Francis Atwoli Rd Sign should send us the till number this Legend should be celebrated ALREADY PRONTO!!! . Maina wa Wangari (@WangariPatrick) May 30, 2021 That someone thought naming a road after Francis Atwoli was a great idea still beats me. We dont have roads named after our athletes but we thought he deserved a road. Eish, Kenya. Ominde Okoth (@IamOminde) May 30, 2021 #francisatwoli and the whole world is now happy pic.twitter.com/nEcIelWR2f Tatio Sanny (@saningotatio) May 30, 2021 Francis Atwoli deserves no recognition in Kenya to the extent of naming a road after him. What has he done apart from being Uhuru Kenyattas big mouth? There are kenyan heroes like Eliud kipchoge who put us in the world map. They deserve more. MK (@manyara90) May 30, 2021 So sad that rough winds had to do this to the latest development projects in the City. pic.twitter.com/b5cgIVJVuu Rodgers Kipembe Mpuru (@RodgersKipembe) May 30, 2021 Kenyans are awake, We should be having a Eliud Kipchoge road not the corrupt Francis Atwoli. A time is coming. pic.twitter.com/boE28pITNs Kipleting Kurgat (@kurgat_kiplee) May 30, 2021 Pulling down statutes and illegal road signs glorifying impunity is part and parcel of freedom of expression and right to demonstrate given under Articles 33 & 37 of The Constitution. Anne Kananu is in office illegally. Francis Atwoli represents what we should not remember. ^DoS https://t.co/iT5XbtvRKw pic.twitter.com/fhgBCkaH0e Nelson Havi (@NelsonHavi) May 30, 2021 What legacy does Francis Atwoli have to deserve a street named after him besides his foul mouth towards the DP? pic.twitter.com/xEGX76vLRD Local Man (@Kenny_kyp) May 30, 2021 Why would Francis Atwoli get a road named after him in Kileleshwa? What did he ever do to help those residents? Doesnt it make sense for him to name a road named after him in Industrial Area? Does he already know that he has done zero for workers so theyd vandalize it daily? Nahashon Kimemia (@nahashon87) May 30, 2021 Francis Atwoli Road down even before google maps is updated. Hatuezi kubali Jjinga. pic.twitter.com/tx5ADI8ran Steve Oti (@NyakwarWangah) May 30, 2021 We need to introduce sensible laws in this country. You cant name a road in a neighborhood without the permission of permanent residents living there. Residents of Kileleshwa should vote on whether they want the road named after Francis Atwoli esp those living along Dik Dik road Nahashon Kimemia (@nahashon87) May 30, 2021 Francis Atwoli road name a pork butchery after him and leave our roads alone pic.twitter.com/LkiM4e0Z2s KALENJIN FINEST (@koech_chinese) May 30, 2021 After deeply searching for heroes & heroines in whose honour to name roads, someone could only find Francis Atwoli. Thats how we institutionalise & celebrate mediocrity. pic.twitter.com/XXg0D9s8Y7 Tony Gitonga (@TonyMurega) May 30, 2021 Thank you nairobians you represented us well in Nairobi Francis atwoli deserves nothing pic.twitter.com/XC3yFuScxB Shemeji (@itskaris254) May 30, 2021 Whoever uprooted Francis Atwoli pole must be congratulated by all citizens! Lawrence (@LawrenceBosire3) May 30, 2021 Let us end the debate on the name for that road. Retweet for Francis Atwoli, like for dic dic. pic.twitter.com/lMQf5idOco Wa Kimani (@kimanikenya) May 30, 2021 If you uprooted the Francis Atwoli road sign, inbox me your number. i have 5,000 for you. pic.twitter.com/757netQoGX Wa Kimani (@kimanikenya) May 30, 2021 In a country where we give presidential recognition for someone because they carried githeri during elections, Francis Atwoli rd aint a bad idea afterall..mediocrity recognises mediocrity. pic.twitter.com/jW8ab4LrZq Patrick (@kaleftiE) May 30, 2021 Dik dik (Madoqua spp) is a small antelope fast approaching endangered species conservation status. Our children need to be educated about it, yet the Nairobi County has the audacity to erase the antelopes name and replace it with that of Francis Atwoli? This is mediocrity pic.twitter.com/No2x91DDxP Hussein Muslim, PhD (@Hus_Muslim) May 30, 2021 . Kenyans are brands of their own. So the Francis Atwolis comes down before I arrived at the scene to celebrate its removal? Please return Dik Dik signage as it was. The road leading to Atwolis house should be named after him, not a public one especially in Kileleshwa https://t.co/HPau44Apgy Nyaboke Mshamba (@Ellie_Ellie60) May 30, 2021 I support the uprooting of Francis Atwoli road sign. Atwoli is no legend neither can he be a role model in any society. We have people like Kipchoge Keino etc who deserve such honour. Nevertheless, any endeavour to rename roads must be acceptable by the sorrounding community. kenyan (@WilkinsChess) May 30, 2021 Better name it Embarambamba road than Francis Atwoli road Kiprono (@its_biko) May 30, 2021 Was Public participation conducted in that area before renaming that roadIf it goes through the court then it will be NULL AND VOID pic.twitter.com/FAKCopvFWY kevin rotich (@mrkevinrotich16) May 30, 2021 Removing the road sign in honor of Mr. Francis Atwoli is a LEGITIMATE and LAWFUL resistance against oppression and impunity of my BELOVED JUBILEE Govt. Ahmednasir Abdullahi SC (@ahmednasirlaw) May 30, 2021 Francis Atwoli should take this opportunity to reflect on what he has done as COTU boss and as a person! The backlash that his road sign has received is enough food for thought that may lead into a serious case of constipation. Alaaa! pic.twitter.com/pgF2rGQnna Titus Tito Kuria (@PapitoTito) May 30, 2021 ~What happened to that Francis Atwoli road should happen to all Kenyatta roads and avenues, Moi roads and Mama Ngina streets countrywide. Kenyans are tired of impunity and neocolonialism.. RICHARD MAHAMOUD (@RichiMahamoud) May 30, 2021 Breaking : Francis Atwolis signpost that had earlier been uprooted by unknown people has been restored back. pic.twitter.com/7Lzx2EsHfW kipkoech mitei Rober (@MiteiRober) May 30, 2021 We were really lucky to kind of fare this with another group and, because of COVID, a ton of different opportunities opened downtown when it came to rentals and commercial property pricing, Nesmith said. So I think that were kind of in this weird point where we actually are opening up the Honeycomb again, but also taking all the best things that I think we got from COVID and kind of like applying it to the space. When the Honeycomb reopens in June in the Glass Building, about a block off the Downtown Mall, Nesmith said theyll still have fewer, more-spaced-out chairs in the space. Masks will still be required, Nesmith said. I think that when the time comes, Ill require people to either show us their vaccination card or just keep wearing a mask, Nesmith said. Were small enough, appointment only and, to be completely honest, were busy enough that if that offends you, then thats such a red flag with your personality that wed rather not see you. While more businesses are returning to downtown, some never really closed, like Rock Paper Scissors. The stationery and gift shop remained open for the bulk of the pandemic, co-owner Heather Haynie said. Though a tent was overhead, the cold wind whipped the rain onto the guests as they watched a lone military trumpeter play taps at a memorial to Delawares fallen troops. Biden appeared to pay the chill no mind, remaining for the entirety of the 75-minute ceremony and mouthing the words to the closing rendition of God Bless America. When it was time, he snapped a salute to the wreath laid at the memorial. Biden had attended the ceremony nearly every year for decades, and it was at last years event when he emerged for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, spotted with a mask while laying a wreath. Hours before Sunday's ceremony, the president, first lady Jill Biden and other family members attended a memorial Mass for Beau Biden at their local church. After the service, the Bidens greeted well-wishers outside the church and, for the first time in more than a year, were able to receive warm hugs and handshakes at their home parish. The Bidens walked to Beaus grave, which is on the property of St. Joseph's on the Brandywine, and left flowers amid several American flags that had been placed on the well-manicured lawn next to the marker. RICHMOND Asking dogs to follow their noses wont work anymore in states that have legalized marijuana. As Virginia prepares to legalize adult possession of up to an ounce of marijuana on July 1, drug-sniffing police dogs from around the state are being forced into early retirement, following a trend in other states where legalization has led to K-9s being put out to pasture earlier than planned. In Virginia, the rush to take marijuana-detecting dogs out of service began even before lawmakers voted in April to accelerate the timetable for legalization. A separate law that went into effect in March prohibits police from stopping or searching anyone based solely on the odor of marijuana. Virginia State Police are retiring 13 K-9s, while many smaller police departments and sheriffs offices are retiring one or two dogs. Most are in the process of purchasing and training new dogs to detect only illicit drugs, including cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines. Some departments are unable to afford up to $15,000 to buy and train a new dog, so they are disbanding their K-9 units. The two countries are strategic partners, working closely to stem migration into Europe and on security issues. The Spanish mainland is across a waterway from Morocco, but two Spanish enclaves in North Africa share borders with Morocco. The presence of Ghali, who arrived in Spain in mid-April, has been tied to a sudden surge of more than 8,000 migrants many of them unaccompanied minors who crossed the border to Ceuta, one of the enclaves. Spain disagreed. If (Morocco) is saying that because of a foreign policy disagreement it stops respecting borders and allows a massive influx of migrants onto Spanish soil, that in my view is not acceptable, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Monday. Morocco has to keep in mind that it has no better ally in the European Union than Spain. For Morocco, the problem goes beyond foreign policy to the heart of its identity, part of which is anchored in the Western Sahara. This issue has exposed the hostile attitudes and harmful strategies of Spain regarding the Moroccan Sahara issue and revealed the collusion of our northern neighbor with the kingdoms enemies to undermine the territorial integrity of Morocco, the Foreign Ministry said. West Bengal: Huge swathes of farm land swamped in eastern India after cyclone May 31,2021 | Source: Reuters More than 96,000 hectares (237,221 acres) of agricultural land has been inundated in parts of an eastern Indian state hit by a powerful storm this week, officials said on Friday, a year after the coastal region was ravaged by a super cyclone. Cyclone Yaas swept in from the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday, triggering storm surges that broke through embankments in West Bengal state, particularly hitting hard the ecologically sensitive Sundarbans delta that stretches into neighbouring Bangladesh. Initial assessment by the West Bengal government showed that water had entered around 96,650 hectares of land that had standing crops, a state official said. "Fresh flooding were reported from many areas during high tides as the embankments have been left with gaping holes," West Bengal's fisheries minister, Akhil Giri, told Reuters. In the Sundarbans, still reeling from the damage wrecked by Cyclone Amphan last year, residents said wide swathes of farm land and fresh water ponds used for small-scale fisheries had been inundated. "The area is stinking with rotten fish and movement has become extremely difficult because of stagnant water," said Kanai Haldar, a resident of Raidighi in the Sundarbans, where spurs and dykes meant to hold back flood waters have been damaged. With climate change pushing up sea surface temperatures, the cyclonic storms that barrel in from the Bay of Bengal have become fiercer and more frequent, particularly in the last decade, according to researchers. read more Haldar, speaking to Reuters by telephone, said the damage caused by Yaas appeared more significant compared with last year's storm, because of the scale of sea water ingress, which often renders farm land temporarily unfit for cultivation. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday surveyed areas hit by the cyclone in West Bengal and neighbouring Odisha state, which was directly in the path of the storm but suffered less damage. "All possible assistance will be provided for the damage caused by Cyclone Yaas," Modi said. 2021 Reuters. Bangladesh: Utilizing the potential of fish farming by Alaul Alam May 31,2021 | Source: The Independent BD Bangladesh is a riverine country which is blessed with many big and small rivers along with many other water bodies including haor, baor, beel, jheel, etc. All these water bodies once were full of different species of indigenous fishes. There was a popular saying that fish and rice make a Bengali. Thousands of people in the rural areas used to live on fishing. But over the years due to drying up of many water bodies, growing use of pesticides in farm lands and water bodies, climate change and industrialization fresh water fishes have faced extinction. Sources said that indigenous fishes include around 265 species. Of them 140 species are the small ones. Over the years many of the small indigenous varieties have been endangered while some species of fishes have already disappeared from our water bodies. Though Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) is working to tackle the extinction of some homegrown fishes, if fresh water bodies are filled up and unless the fish population provides an uninterrupted atmosphere, it is tough to save them from being extinct. It is obvious that open water fish production has decreased to the great extent but over the last two decades, fish farming has been one of the growing sectors across the country. Before that, the word farming would mean cultivating different crops and that fish can be farmed was strange for the people. A report on Hakim Ali's fish farm in the early nineties shown on BTV by Shykh Seraj, one of the renowned agricultural activists and media personalities, made many interested in raising fish farming. It was the beginning of the history of fish farming in our country. These days the country sees a silent revolution in fish production. Official data show that the production in fish farming has increased threefold over the last two decades. As per the report of 2020, it is estimated that fish production has increased to 4.4 million tons which was only 1.8 million in the year 2000. Again, amid different sources of fish production almost 60 per cent comes from farmed fishing. Fish has been a great source of protein. Reports estimate that fishes have been one of the cheapest sources of protein for 170 million people in the country. We see abundance of fishes in the local market. Due to the availability and low price the poor people have the affordability to buy fish. Some reports state that once those who lived on fishing from the open water bodies have come out of their cocoons and involved in fish farming or fish trading mostly and they have changed their lot within some years. Fish farming in these days has brought the fortune for the village farmer. Many educated youths are also found involved in aquaculture to be self-reliant. Again, this sector has created employment opportunity for thousands of people. It is true that the mind of the educated youth has changed. To many, receiving education does not mean that they should have a job after completing their education. They have come out of the traditional intention and are trying to set up their individual identity with their acquired knowledge and skills. Many have understood that to serve the country and its people the youth should come out of their traditional thinking and engage them to create more scopes for the nation. It is evident that the educated youth are changing their lot dramatically being devoted to self-engaged farming. In this digitized age, technology has widened many more possibilities. Technology has helped to bring revolution in agriculture, medical science, communication and many more sectors. Fish farmers using technology grow more production. The educated youths in this sector have been experimenting updated approaches in fish farming following the modern strategies followed across the globe. In this connection, research institutes, scientists are playing a crucial role to provide the maximum services for the nation. Not only that, agriculture related programmes on TV channels contribute to disseminating field knowledge to make many enthusiastic in farming and aquaculture. Hridoye Mati O Manush hosted by Shykh Seraj has been a unique programme that helps and motivates thousands of people who are involved in different agricultural branches and the other interested to make farming. It is apparent that Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) saw their many successes over their long experimentation to invent interspecific hybridization in some carp species, which helps to boost fish production in the country. In the decades, some exotic species including the silver carp, grass carp, bighead carps, common carp and silver barb have become popular. Fish farmers find more profits within the quickest time by farming these species than those of the indigenous. On top of that, our present government is focused and due to their various measures this farming has been a boon for thousands of people. Recently Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the youths to engage themselves in self-employment activities for the country's development. She said, The youths can create self-employments by establishing fisheries farms and thus make them financially solvent instead of running after jobs. Obviously apart from making people self-reliant this sector is contributing to increasing the country's GDP. But one thing we must not be indifferent to that the non-organic fertilizers like urea, Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) and Muriate of Potash (MOP) are indiscriminately used in aquaculture. In most cases, the use of these harmful chemicals begins from the very preparation of the ponds for fishing. Even some toxic elements are used to feed the fish population which poses a serious threat for the humanity. Regrettably, our farmers are in most cases using excessive chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the field and they hardly use natural compost. These chemicals produce nitrous oxide emissions, which contribute to contaminating the environment posing a serious threat to the human being, livestock, wild and aquatic lives. Lastly, to see this sector highly potential there is hardly any alternatives to sharing more successful stories of the beneficiaries involved in fish farming amid the people. The youth should be given loans on easy term to encourage them in fish farming. More importantly, it is time to create more scopes both for the individuals and the country in a bid to strengthen the potential of fish farming. In addition to our faith community participation and donations from generous individuals, our ability to meet needs for rental, utility and transportation assistance were greatly enhanced by grants and businesses. On behalf of those We Care has served so far this year, we offer appreciation to United Way, the Corvallis Kiwanis Foundation, OSU Folk Club Thrift Shop Foundation, Samaritan Health Services, Varian Medical Systems and Devco Engineering, Inc. Lyn Martin, secretary, We Care Corvallis Cemetery association thanks ceremony participants The Mt. Union Cemetery Association would like to thank all the people and organizations who participated in the Armed Forces Day and Fallen Peace Officer Ceremony at the cemetery on May 15. It proved to be a very memorable and patriotic way to celebrate past and current service members and first responders serving across Benton County, and memorializing peace officers who have died in the line of duty. Special recognition was given to Reuben and Mary Jane Shipley, freed slaves who donated the original two acres of the cemetery to the community in 1861. She is involved in Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority and in campus leadership positions and programs. Giraud also works as a brand ambassador for Alexandre Family Farm, a California dairy and processor hosting sampling and in-store demonstrations. For the past year, Giraud has been busy representing Benton County, learning as much as she can about dairy products and dairy farming. While the pandemic has altered many of the events and activities typical of dairy royalty reign, Giraud has visited hundreds of students virtually and participated in a variety of virtual and limited in-person events. Rufas Kamau is a research and markets analyst at non-dealing forex broker, Scope Markets Kenya. He shares some valuable lessons about fx trading, money, and entrepreneurship that he has picked up along the way. Learning to manage my portfolio and earning profits by trading currencies and stocks online is my biggest milestone so far. It took me a long time to learn various strategies from the internet without a professional to guide me. In my early trading years (2013-2017), I would read books, tutorials, attend live webinars, listen to podcasts, and practice the information on my live account. Sometimes I would make profits, sometimes I would lose everything in my account. I never gave up. Eventually, I learned risk management and improved on my trading discipline. This is what transitioned me from a noob to the trader I am today. In my early trading days, I would depend on my forex trading account to pay bills and that did not go very well. In a bad trading month, I would find myself paying my bills from my invested capital. I used to invest my surplus income after spending. Lets say your monthly income is Sh70,000. Spending this money on your bills and then investing the remainder is not right. The best way includes determining the investment amount first, setting it aside, and then surviving on the balance. Before I realised this, my surplus income, the one destined for investment, would be sometimes negative. I once lost Sh2 million trading forex. I attribute the loss to my lack of discipline in my early trading years. I had built the portfolio up from Sh300,000 and was very excited to have reached Sh2 million. This made me overconfident, and I began taking bigger trades with larger risk exposure. I learned that your own emotions and expectations can be your enemy in trading. I still have a challenge saving money. This is because I tend to view every single shilling lying in my bank account as investable. I feel like this money should be making me more money. Sometimes I fall into liquidity traps when I have used my savings to buy a stock and then a cash emergency forces me to get a small loan from a bank or mobile app to survive. Step by step, I am learning to build an emergency fund. Investing early is like making your own gold in the backyard. New technologies are coming up every day that are changing the way we live and interact with each other. People who invest in these technologies are most probably going to be the millionaires of the future. Buying shares of these industry-changing leaders may create enormous wealth in the next 10-20 years. Dont invest in One day; make it Day one instead. State Texas Democrats abandon House floor, blocking passage of voting bill before final deadline Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune State Rep. Jessica Gonzalez, D-Dallas, speaks at a press conference at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in East Austin after Democrats broke quorum in opposition to Senate Bill 7, a sweeping GOP voting bill, late Sunday night. The sweeping overhaul of Texas elections and voter access was poised from the beginning of the session to pass into law. It had the backing of Republican leaders in both chambers of the Legislature. It had support from the governor. Democrats who opposed the bill, chiding it as a naked attempt of voter suppression, were simply outnumbered. But on Sunday night, with an hour left for the Legislature to give final approval to the bill, Democrats staged a walkout, preventing a vote on the legislation before a fatal deadline. Leave the chamber discreetly. Do not go to the gallery. Leave the building, Grand Prairie state Rep. Chris Turner, the chair of the House Democratic Caucus, said in a text message to other Democrats obtained by The Texas Tribune. Senate Bill 7, a Republican priority bill, is an expansive piece of legislation that would alter nearly the entire voting process. It would create new limitations to early voting hours, ratchet up voting-by-mail restrictions and curb local voting options like drive-thru voting. Democrats had argued the bill would make it harder for people of color to vote in Texas. Republicans called the bill an election integrity measure necessary to safeguard Texas elections from fraudulent votes, even though there is virtually no evidence of widespread fraud. Debate on Senate Bill 7 had extended over several hours Sunday as the Texas House neared a midnight cutoff to give final approval to legislation before it could head to Gov. Greg Abbotts desk to be signed into law. In between their speeches opposing the bill, Democrats seemed to be trickling off the floor throughout the night, a number of their desks appearing empty. During an earlier vote to adopt a resolution allowing last-minute additions to the bill, just 35 of 67 Democrats appeared to cast votes. Around 10:30 p.m., the remaining Democrats were seen walking out of the chamber. Their absence left the House without a quorum which requires two-thirds of the 150 House members to be present needed to take a vote. By 11:15 p.m. about 30 Democrats could be seen arriving at a Baptist church about 2 miles away from the Capitol in East Austin. The location for Democrats reunion appeared to be a nod at a last-minute addition to the expansive bill that set a new restriction on early voting hours on Sundays, limiting voting from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Over the last two days, Democrats had derided the addition dropped in during behind-closed-door negotiations raising concerns that change would hamper souls to the polls efforts meant to turn out voters, particularly Black voters, after church services. Standing outside the church, Democrats said the walkout came only after it appeared Democrats plan to run out the clock on the House floor with speeches wasnt going to work because Republicans had the votes to use a procedural move to cut off debate and force a final vote on the legislation. We saw that coming, said state Rep. Nicole Collier, a Fort Worth Democrat and chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus. Weve used all the tools in our toolbox to fight this bill. And tonight we pulled out that last one. With about an hour left before the midnight deadline, House Speaker Dade Phelan acknowledged the lost quorum and adjourned until 10 a.m. Monday morning. Midnight was the cutoff for the House and Senate to sign off on the final versions of bills that have been negotiated during conference committees. After adjourning, Phelan took aim at the Democrats and noted that their actions killed other legislation. Today, on the second to last day of session, a number of members have chosen to disrupt the legislative process by abandoning the legislative chamber before our work was done, Phelan said in a statement. In doing so, these members killed a number of strong, consequential bills with broad bipartisan support. State Rep. Eddie Morales of Eagle Pass was among a handful of Democrats who appeared to stay in the chamber. Morales said earlier in the day, House Democratic leadership had asked him to come up with a list of questions to ask during the chambers debate on SB 7. He stayed back, he said, because he was adhering to the original plan. I had those series of questions, and so I wanted to stay back and fight it, Morales said. I was gonna vote against it and I was gonna be there to actually attack the bill. SB 7 was one step away from the governors desk. It was negotiated behind closed doors over the last week after the House and Senate passed significantly different versions of the legislation and pulled from each chambers version of the bill. The bill also came back with a series of additional voting rule changes that werent part of previous debates on the bill, including new ID requirements for voting-by-mail, restrictions on Sunday early voting hours and a higher threshold for who can qualify to vote by mail based on a disability. But while Democrats were able to defeat the legislation Sunday, Abbott quickly made clear he expected lawmakers to finish the job during a special session. Election Integrity & Bail Reform were emergency items for this legislative session. They STILL must pass. They will be added to the special session agenda, he said in a post on Twitter. Legislators will be expected to have worked out the details when they arrive at the Capitol for the special session. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Senate, echoed the call for a special session to pass SB 7 and other Republican priorities that have died in the House. The Texas Senate passed all these priority bills months ago and we will again. The TxHouse failed the people of Texas tonight. No excuse, Patrick tweeted. Over the last few months, SB 7 has been at the forefront of Republicans broader efforts to further restrict voting after the state saw the highest turnout in decades in 2020. With Republicans in full control of state government, the odds that it would make it to the governors desk were always high. Still, the legislation evoked heated debates between Republicans and Democrats the last ones in the House and Senate taking a particular focus on the last-minute additions to the bill. The final version of the bill grew well beyond what the House and Senate originally passed into a wide-ranging 67-page bill with many additions that were only revealed to the full House and Senate on Saturday. Portions of the bill were specifically written to target voting initiatives Harris County used in the last election such as a day of 24-hour early voting, drive-thru voting and an effort to proactively distribute applications to vote by mail that were heavily used by voters of color. But under SB 7, those options will be banned across the state. It would set a new window for early voting from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and make it a state jail felony for local officials to send mail-in ballot applications to voters who did not request them. It would also be a felony to provide those applications to third-party groups, like the League of Women Voters, that get out the vote. It also expands the freedoms of partisan poll watchers, granting them free movement within a polling place, except for when a voter is filling out a ballot. It wasnt immediately clear when Abbott will call lawmakers to return for a special session, though lawmakers are expected to be back in the fall to redraw the states political maps. Patrick previously called for an additional special session in June. Heidi Ganahl is a businesswoman, entrepreneur, author and at-large member of the University of Colorado Board of Regents, to which she was elected as a Republican in 2016. The trans-Arctic submarine cable project - Arctic Connect - that has been under planning for several years by Russian operator Megafon and its Finnish partner Cinia has been suspended for further assessment. Russian news agency Interfax reported that the companies have decided to revise the project for the construction of an underwater fiber-optic communication line (FOCL). The Arctic Connect project with a capacity of 200 Tbit / s provides for the construction of an underwater fiber-optic link from Europe to Asia with a length of 10 thousand km along the bottom of the Arctic Ocean along the Arctic coast of Russia along the Northern Sea Route. The Arctic Connect was projected to cost up to 1.2 billion. In summer 2020, a Russian survey ship spent three months in remote Arctic waters to map possible underwater routes for the cable. Survey operations were to continue in 2021, and in the year 2023 the cable connection might be up and running, CEO of MegaFon Gevork Vermishyam said in summer 2020. In 2021, a tender on construction works was to be announced. That will not happen as the company now says it will revise the project. Reports quoting Ari-Jussi Knaapila, CEO of Cinia confirmed that even though the development phase of the project has progressed as planned and the funding for this phase has been secured, the key stakeholders have now decided to put the development project on hold. To correct some completely misleading information that appeared in the media, this suspension is not due to Cinia Alliance members as we believe that the opportunity still exists with great international interest. We decided to revise the structure and economics of the Arctic Connect project, it will take us time for such a regrouping all the developments of the project will be used in the future, if we decide to continue it, the news agency TASS reported quoting Megafon office sources. According to the newspaper Vedomosti, project suspension is related to protraction in talks with Japans Sojitz Corporation participating in construction co-funding. The Japanese Sojitz did not answer Vedomostis questions. In 2020 in Cuba 111,000 people died, and just 105,000 were born. The demographic crisis that the bureaucrats of the Cuban regime had anticipated for 2024 is already a reality. That is, the island's population is already dwindling. When announcing this information, Marino Murillo, in charge of compliance with the PCC Guidelines, left out something key: besides the fact that more Cubans now die than are born, each year between 40,000 and 44,000 people emigrate, the overwhelming majority of them of working age, according to the Center for Demographic Studies at the University of Havana (CEDEM). In other words, last year Cuba's total population did not contract by 6,000 (the difference between deaths and births) but rather some 50,000. It would be necessary to subtract the immigrants from this figure, but there were so few people crazy enough to do so that the figure is negligible. In short, the Cuban population, far from growing, is shrinking. In 2099, Cuba may have just 4.5 million inhabitants A country's fertility rate, also known as its replacement rate, is the number of children that women have, on average. Demographic science establishes that this average must be 2.1 children for every fertile woman in order for the population to remain stable, and not fall. In Cuba, since 1979 the fertility rate has not reached 2.1, and it is currently 1.7 - the lowest in Latin America, a region where it is 2.06 children per woman according to the UN Population Fund and ECLAC. The fertility of Cuban women is also under the world average of 2.2 children. In Mexico the rate is 2.2 children per woman, Argentina (2.3), Peru (2.4), Dominican Republic (2.4), Honduras (2.5), Paraguay (2.5), Ecuador (2.5) Panama (2.5), Bolivia (2.9) and Guatemala (3.0). The World Bank (WB) estimates that, with its current replacement rate, at the end of the century Cuba's population will be 4.5 million, less than half what it is now. In contrast, in Panama the population will shoot from 3.9 million today to 6.9 million by the end of the 21st century; and in Peru, it will rise from 33.2 to 51.8 million. Ecuador will increase from 16.7 million to 18 million; Mexico, from 126.6 to 145.9 million. The two main explanations given by the dictatorship for this population decline are that a low population growth rate is typical of advanced countries, which reflects the social development that Cuba has achieved thanks to the "Revolution." And that women have joined the workforce. These are specious arguments, and we will explain why. A catastrophic combination: more retirees plus fewer people producing To begin with, Cuba has the fastest-aging population in Latin America, yielding a dreadful equation featuring an inversely proportional relationship: in an increasingly poor country, on the brink of famine, the number of elderly is increasing while the population wanes, working to support the elderly and produce the goods and services that the country needs. Not only do Cuban women not have the 2.1 children necessary for population replacement, but also, because of emigration, the country is constantly losing part of its Economically Active Population (EAP), that which produces goods and services. Today the only population segment growing in Cuba is that made up of those over 60 years of age. They already constitute more than 21.3% of the population, according to the CEDEM. This figure is expected to rise to 25% by 2025, which will make Cuba the oldest country in all of Latin America. Why are fewer and fewer people reproducing on the island? For two reasons: 1) women do not want to have children destined to be poor and suffer from hunger and needs of all kinds; and 2) citizens of working age do not have opportunities to improve their stations in life, or to earn fair salaries, so they leave the country. Thus, Cuba is losing the most precious asset that every society has: its human capital. This is very serious. As the EAP gradually falls, Cuba will become poorer. Nor will it be possible to count on its emigrated human capital for the country's future reconstruction. Furthermore, with fewer people working, the state has fewer financial resources, so it neglects retirees and the elderly even more. Low fertility rates in the First World ... but much more production As for the Castroist explanation that a low fertility rate is synonymous with development, it must be recognized that in the First World women do have fewer children than in developing and poorer countries. According to the WB, in the European Union the fertility rate is 1.5. In Africa it is 4.7, and in Asia it is 2.32 births for every woman. In Spain it is 1.2, in Italy, 1.3; Germany, 1.5; France, 1.9; Sweden and the Czech Republic, 1.7. That is true, but in these developed nations a market economy prevails, and the economically active population generates resources to support those who no longer work sufficient for them to enjoy a high, or at least an acceptable, standard of living, in general. Moreover, in those nations many workers during their working lives manage to accumulate certain savings or assets, with a view to retirement. In fact, a good portion of the European and Canadian tourists who vacation in Cuba are retirees. These are people who, even after retiring, start their own businesses. They are self-financed, continue to be consumers, and boost the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of their countries, which strengthens their state social security systems. In Cuba all this is impossible. Those who retire never had the capacity to save, or the opportunity to invest or create businesses, and their properties are dilapidated or on the verge of collapsing. To make matters worse, they receive such meager pensions that they can hardly consume. They go hungry. Many of them wear tattered clothing. The "Revolution" turned its back on old Cubans a long time ago, and with Raul's "Ordering Task" they have been reduced to penury. When a Cuban worker retires, he becomes a burden for his own relatives, who have no way to help him. Many retirees wander the streets in ragged, dirty clothes, hungry, with sadness engraved on their faces. They sell anything they can, or rummage through garbage cans to get their hands on anything to augment their pension of a measly 1,548 pesos (64 dollars) a month, on average. They clean toilets in public bathrooms so that they can then pay 250 pesos ($10.42) for a chicken on the black market. In First World nations, the strategy to compensate for a low fertility rate is to encourage immigration, thereby expanding the labor force. But, who wants to go to Cuba, to suffer poverty and hunger, and where unemployment does not drop below 33%? What a vivid contrast. Before being "liberated from imperialism" by the Castros, Cuba was a magnet for immigrants. The statistics from the former Ministry of Finance show that in just 28 years, from the proclamation of independence in 1902 to 1930, 1.3 million immigrants landed on the island, including 774,123 Spaniards, 190,046 Haitians, 120,046 Jamaicans, 34,462 Americans, 19,769 English, 13,930 Puerto Ricans, 12,926 Chinese, 10,428 Italians, 10,305 Syrians, 8,895 Poles, 6,632 Turks, 6,222 French, 4,850 Russians, 3,726 Germans, and 3,569 Greeks. They all travelled to the Caribbean isle due to the country's economic boom, whether as investors, businessmen, professionals or employees. Today just the opposite is true. Socialist Cuba, coming apart at the seams, is one of the largest issuers of emigrants in the world, in proportion to its population. Many young people, with many years ahead of them as producers of wealth, leave the island, thus contributing to the well-being of other peoples, but not their own. The cruel military mafia in charge prevents them from doing so. In summary, the demographic crisis caused by Castroism is more serious than the dictatorship recognizes, and it will worsen if economic freedom, and all the others to which every human being has a right in modern times, are not restored. He was kind to everyone. He always wanted to help anyone in need, she said. He wanted to be there to help anyone with anything, from helping cut grass to helping pick up trash at the school to helping other people make friendsI just want people to remember that he was a wonderful young man. When asked what she would say to young men or women who have reconsidered their decision to join the military after what happened to her son, Sheila said if he had the chance to come back, hed do it the exact same way over again, even with knowing the outcome. He didnt die because he was in the Navy, she said. He died because a terrorist came in and wanted to kill people, wanted to hurt. To other families grieving on Memorial Day and every day in between, Sheila said she wants them to know her family remembers their loved one alongside their own lost hero. We remember all of them. We may not know them, but we remember them, she said. Enterprise Mayor William Cooper was an assistant principal at Enterprise High School when Watson was a member of the JROTC and remembers him as a good student with a bright future ahead of him. Youve probably never heard about LeRoy Tafoya, Jimmy Martinez or Tom Gonzales, but I think you should. All three were buddies with one another who grew up together in the town of Midvale, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. All three boys lived within three blocks of each other on Fifth, Sixth and Seventh avenues, and they were practically inseparable. They were the best of friends who spent countless hours together playing ball in a nearby sandlot ball field, as well as doing other boyhood activities. They did almost everything together, including making the ultimate sacrifice for their country. All three served in the military. Leroy was drafted into the Army, Tom enlisted in the Army and Jimmy enlisted in the Marine Corps. They were all sent to Vietnam at about the same time, and all three of them died in combat within a 16-day period in 1967. LeRoy was the youngest of the friends, but the first one to die. He was 19-years-old when he was killed in action on Nov. 22, which was also the fourth anniversary of the death of President Kennedy. Less than 24-hours later, on Thanksgiving Day, 20-year-old Jimmy was killed. Two-weeks later, on Dec. 7, the anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day, Tom was killed in action. Tom was also 20 when he died and a few days away from returning home. Collier was one of three Democrats picked to negotiate the final version, none of whom signed their name to it. She said she saw a draft of the bill around 11 p.m. Friday which was different than one she had received earlier that day and was asked for her signature the next morning. Texas is also set to newly empower partisan poll watchers, allowing them more access inside polling places and threatening criminal penalties against elections officials who restrict their movement. Republicans originally proposed giving poll watchers the right to take photos, but that language was removed from the final bill that lawmakers were set to vote on this weekend. Another new provision could also make it easier to overturn an election in Texas, allowing for a judge to void an outcome if the number of fraudulent votes cast could change the result, regardless of whether it was proved that fraud affected the outcome. Major corporations, including Texas-based American Airlines and Dell, have warned that the measures could harm democracy and the economic climate. But Republicans shrugged off their objections, and in some cases, ripped business leaders for speaking out. Here's what you need to know about the first FDA-approved drug for Alzheimers disease in nearly 20 years. What will it cost? What will insura The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a $116 million green loan with Lien Lap Wind Power Joint Stock Company (Lien Lap), Phong Huy Wind Power Joint Stock Company (Phong Huy), and Phong Nguyen Wind Power Joint Stock Company (Phong Nguyen) to build and operate three 48MW wind farms, totaling 144MW, in Quang Tri province. In last February, the total investment of over $250 million in these projects was approved. The project will generate an average of 422 gigawatt-hours of electricity and avoid an average of about 162 thousand tons of CO2 emissions annually. A gender action plan under the project will provide women from the local community with access to training on wind power operation and management. Lien Lap, Phong Huy, and Phong Nguyen are owned by Power Construction Joint Stock Company No.1 (PCC1) and RENOVA, Inc. PCC1 has nearly 60 years of experience in Vietnams power infrastructure sector, specializing in constructing power transmission networks and substations. It is among the largest hydropower developers domestically and is listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange. RENOVA is a Japanese renewable energy developer and operator of renewable energy power generation facilities including solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal power plants. Established in 2000, the company is listed on the first Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The loan forms part of a $173 million green loan project financing package arranged and syndicated by ADB as mandated lead arranger and bookrunner. It is ADBs first financing of a wind power project in Vietnam, and is certified by the Climate Bonds Initiative, which administers the international Climate Bond Standard and Certification Scheme. The ADB loan comprises a $35 million A loan directly funded by ADB and an $81 million syndicated B loan. Lien Lap, Phong Huy, and Phong Nguyen will add to ADBs extensive experience in large-scale renewable energy projects in Vietnam, and underlines our commitment to helping the country map a clean energy future, said ADB private sector operations department infrastructure finance division director for East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Jackie B. Surtani. This is a milestone project which demonstrates how private financing can be effectively mobilized to develop wind power projects in Asia and the Pacific. PCC1 Chairman of the board of directors and General director Trinh Van Tuan, said that this transaction is its first wind power project and the first time that they engaged with a group of international finance institutions and commercial banks. ADBs leadership in deal structuring, due diligence, and loan syndications is very crucial for the success of this transaction. ADB mobilized long-term US dollar limited-recourse financing from commercial banks and other development finance institutions that was unavailable locally. This was done through a combination of B loans and parallel loans. Parallel lenders include the Japan International Cooperation Agency and Export Finance Australia. B loan participants include Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, Bank of China Limited Macau Branch; Societe Generale, Singapore Branch; and Triodos Groenfonds N.V. Gabriel Akali, 33, quit his job at a horticulture farm in 2016 to venture into farming in Kakamega County. After several setbacks that saw him lose his savings, Akali found his sweet spot in orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. He has since been appointed a board member of the Sweet Potato Skill Sector Advisory Committee (SSAC). When did your love for farming start? I started farming in 2007 when I completed secondary school. I remember planting cabbages on the familys half-acre farm and they did so well, but I later got disappointed when I could not sell them due to lack of market. However, this did not discourage me, I still studied horticulture at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. After completing my education, I worked at a flower farm and joined another horticulture farm before quitting to farm. How was the transition to farming? A little bit rough. I knew farming was not a walk in the park but I was brave enough to pursue my goal. Besides losing cabbages, I had also tried my hand in sweet potatoes while still employed and failed terribly. I had requisite experience, so I believed. I invested in two tomato greenhouses in Kakamega in 2017, ploughing Sh400,000 into the business but diseases and bad weather conspired against me. Strong winds blew away the structure. I used to wake up at 3am and ask God tough questions. But I did not give up. Later, I moved into sweet potatoes under the name Gapephi Farm Ventures. Why sweet potatoes? Sweet potato is a climate-resilient crop. It requires less labor, unlike other crops. I started farming it when I had lost all my savings and it gave me hope in the industry. I am now doing other side things like greenhouse fabrication but all that is from the sweet potato business. I farm the orange-fleshed variety. Where do you get seedlings? GIZ, the German development organisation, which partners with Kalro-Kakamega, played a big role in me getting the first quality planting materials. Today, we source them from Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (Kephis) and other certified nurseries. How does one plant and manage sweet potatoes, from seedlings to harvest? You have to select a field that is well-drained. Deep cultivation to break the hardpan is necessary to avoid oblong tubers. Before doing anything, one has to decide on what the target market wants. We have so many varieties of sweet potato grow but broadly, you either are growing the processing variety or for local consumption ones. Processing varieties include Kabonde, Vitaa, Kenspot 3-5, American or Caroti and Irene. Local varieties include Haraka, Bungoma, Kenspot 1, Chebolol etc. I am mentioning names because many farmers dont know what to go for in the industry. Supermarkets want smooth-shaped varieties like Irene and American. Just before farmers decide to plant, they must have knowledge of varieties and where to sell them. After deciding on variety, raise beds 30cm high and 75cm to 90cm wide. Plant spacing is 30cm from plant to another and vines are planted in a slanting position. At least three nodes inside the soil and one node out but new technologies like rooted seedlings is still being studied. Normally they require moderate nutrient but good amounts of potassium and muriate of potash are good. In most cases, we advise farmers to rotate heavy feeder crops with sweet potato so that it can utilise the remaining nutrients. With the coming of the export market, soil testing becomes a critical component because we need optimal production. Weeding is done within the first month. By second month, the tubers start forming and very minimal activity should be happening around the root zone. What is your role as a board member of SSAC? To participate in the development and review process of the sweet potato value chain curriculum. You recently signed a sweet potato export contract, tell us about it I signed a sweet potato contract to export to European Union, what actualised my dream in farming. My plan is to get support and open a processing facility in Kakamega next year to enable us to export processed orange-fleshed tubers to Europe. I recently stopped doing actual production to focus on post-harvest handling and marketing. What big lessons have your learnt? A medic prepares an AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine shot at a healthcare facility in the central Quang Nam Province, April 23, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Dac Thanh. President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has written to U.S. President Joe Biden, seeking help for Vietnam to source Covid-19 vaccines and research and produce its own. In the letter sent on Sunday, he said the pandemic is raging again in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, and the U.S. should not only enable access to vaccines but also transfer technology for Vietnam to produce them, a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Phuc hailed the U.S. for its recent contributions to the global fight against the pandemic community. On May 17 Biden announced that by the end of June the U.S. would donate 80 million doses of vaccines after earlier pledging contributions of $4 billion to the Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access, or Covax, a global initiative backed by the World Health Organization to ensure equitable access to vaccines. Vietnam has so far received almost 2.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine via Covax out of the 38.9 million it has signed agreements for. The Ministry of Health met last Friday with a Moderna distributor to discuss supply of the U.S. companys Covid-19 vaccine to Vietnam in the shortest possible time. It has received 464,000 doses from AstraZeneca through contracts, and signed a deal to buy 31 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine this year. The ministry has also allowed its Center for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals (Polyvac) to buy an unknown number of doses of Russias Sputnik V vaccine. Vietnam is in the grip of a new wave of Covid transmissions, which in the past month has caused more than 4,000 infections in 34 cities and provinces, including Hanoi, HCMC and Da Nang. On the last Monday in May, Americans honor those members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives in service to their country. It is an occasion to remember the sacrifices made by the few to benefit the many, a recognition of their contribution to the defense of the Country and its ideals. First observed in the 1868, three years after the end of the U.S. Civil War, Memorial Day, then called Decoration Day, is not meant to recognize the anniversary of any specific battle or even war, but instead aims to urge citizens to remember the sacrifices of the fallen who have been laid to rest in their town, and to honor these war dead by decorating their graves with flowers and ribbons. On the day of that first Observance, some 5,000 people decorated the graves of 20,000 Civil War soldiers buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC, regardless of which side the fallen had fought for. The occasion became a custom that spread across the nation. Today, cities and towns across the country celebrate Memorial Day with parades that incorporate military personnel and members of veterans organizations. People visit cemeteries and memorials. And some wear a small red poppy in remembrance of the war dead. This tradition began during the First World War with a poem written by a soldier in memory of a friend who had died at Ypres, France in early May 1915, just as the bright red poppies were beginning to bloom in the fields and meadows, and on the graves of the fallen. And so, on every Memorial Day, small flags and bouquets of colorful flowers spring up on headstones and memorial plaques in cemeteries all over the country, decorating the graves of military heroes. And small red poppies worn in lapels or buttonholes represent soldiers who died protecting their country and what it stands for. They died defending a way of life, and values they believed in, and the honor they earned by their sacrifice abides with them forever. Please log in to keep reading. Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. While we supported AJR1 as the best option to raise revenue for the long term needs of this state, the deal reached by lawmakers that we were just informed of is a positive first step to a future where mining is finally paying what they owe in Nevada. We thank our partners at the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN) who fought for decades to get us here. It is because of them that we are even having this conversation. Starting with the special session last year, PLAN assembled and led a coalition of organizations and activists to tell lawmakers that we cant keep kicking this can down the road. Its past time to raise revenue for Nevada. As the COVID-19 pandemic showed, our communities are vulnerable to economic downturns that affect our tourism-reliant tax structure. Essential services get cut, and our students, educators, public sector workers, patients, and vulnerable communities suffer as a result. Vice-President got some blow-back this week when a tweet was sent from her official account saying "Enjoy the long weekend, with a photo of her in the sun. Fox News and other conservative outlets criticized the Vice President saying it was out of touch and dishonored veterans. However, some of the coverage did admit that it is unlikely the Vice President tweeted the comments herself. Since the initial tweet was sent, the Vice Presidents Twitter account has sent out another message which reads, Throughout our history our service men and women have risked everything to defend our freedoms and our country. As we prepare to honor them on Memorial Day, we remember their service and their sacrifice. While the Vice President does not have many close familial ties to the military, President Biden does. Earlier this week, President Biden gave an emotional speech in anticipation of Memorial Day where he mentioned the service of his late son Beau Biden. Although Beau Biden did not lose his life as a result of his service, the President opened his speech speaking about what Beau taught him about what it truly meant to serve your country. During the Presidents remarks, he told the story of a dinner at the White House that Beau and seventy other service members had been invited to. Until a call from a high-level General, Beau had refused to put on any of his decorations, including a Bronze Star. Through this anecdote, the President was able to illustrate the way veterans do not ask for anything in return for their services, and that their country owes them more, telling them You deserve so much more, you deserve so much more. The Presidents speech also spoke to the struggles of families with members on active duty, saying Every morning you wake up, you say that little extra prayer while youre drinking your coffee. You just spend a little more time wondering. The remarks ended with the President speaking to those who have lost fellow comrades in the line of duty saying Many of you likely have lost friends and colleagues in Afghanistan and Iraq. I know this is personal to you, especially as you head into Memorial Day weekend. We as a nation will always remember, and pay tribute to those we lost. NEW YORK, -- China has sped up its vaccination drive since the start of this year, which could "accelerate" Asia's recovery from COVID-19, the Wall Street Journal recently wrote. China's vaccination campaign is "roaring into action," comprising roughly half of the doses being distributed daily around the world, according to the Journal. "Faster Chinese vaccination could accelerate the return of sorely needed tourism to the battered economies of Southeast Asia," such as Thailand, which relies largely on Chinese tourists, said the article. Nearly 621 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered across China as of Saturday, China's National Health Commission said Sunday. -- During his visit to Tianjin Port in early 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for efforts to develop it into a world-class smart and green port, which can better serve the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region as well as the joint building of the Belt and Road. -- Despite the pandemic-induced impacts, Tianjin Port handled 18.35 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in 2020, up 6.1 percent from the previous year, ranking among the top 10 in the world. -- Located at the coastal area of Bohai, China's continental sea, Tianjin Port has a shorter distance from the country's inland ports, such as Alataw Pass in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Manzhouli and Erenhot in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region -- all important border ports along the Belt and Road. Therefore, sea-railway combined transportation has become a preferred choice that serves the Belt and Road. by Xinhua writers Wang Jinye, Wang Minghao, Li Laifang and Lyu Qiuping TIANJIN, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Under the scorching sun, a dockside crane in Tianjin Port lifted a container out of a vessel before the container was locked onto a tow truck and carried away. The entire process was going on in a manless operation zone at the port in north China's Tianjin Municipality, which aims to become a smart, green hub connecting the world via the Belt and Road Initiative. With 25 autonomous driving trucks and the driverless dockside and terminal cranes put into operation last year, the berth realized full automation in container handling after being upgraded from a traditional one, the first of its kind in the world. Photo taken on Jan. 17, 2021 shows an autonomous driving container truck in a manless operation zone at Tianjin Port of north China's Tianjin Municipality. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) During his visit to Tianjin Port in early 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for efforts to develop it into a world-class smart and green port, which can better serve the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region as well as the joint building of the Belt and Road. Currently, the port has trade ties with more than 800 ports in over 200 countries and regions. Despite the pandemic-induced impacts, Tianjin Port handled 18.35 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in 2020, up 6.1 percent from the previous year, ranking among the top 10 in the world. The freight turnover increased 2.4 percent year on year to over 435 million tonnes. SMART MODEL Liu Qi, a crane operator, no longer has to stay in the high-lift crane operating booth working 12 hours per shift. Thanks to the smart technology supported by China's Beidou Navigation Satellite System, he can now sit in the air-conditioned office and steer the joystick to remotely control the crane. "Gone are the days when I could barely move after leaning down for long hours to watch over the containers," said the 46-year-old Liu, as he focused on the six monitor screens in front of him. The screens enable him to have no blind spots in observation, which is much safer than before. Li Dan, 35, is among the first women hired for remote crane control. Li used to sort cargo at the port before she was trained for six months on cranes and operated them in the operation control room. Her salary then tripled to some 6,000 yuan (about 940 U.S. dollars) a month. "I was afraid of climbing up the 50-meter-tall crane at the beginning. It used to wobble in windy and stormy weathers," she said, adding that she had to hold herself from going to a toilet while in a crane booth. "No wonder we had no female crane drivers before." Now, each of the operators can control six terminal container cranes simultaneously. Partly because of the improved handling efficiency, 90 percent of the incoming vessels can directly dock at the 192 berths of the port upon arrival, without any waiting time, said Chu Bin, chairman of the board of the Tianjin Port (Group) Co., Ltd. (TPG). A newly-built smart port zone with three berths, located close by the manless operation zone of the port, will soon be put into use. With 12 driverless dockside cranes of different colors and 76 autonomous driving trucks equipped, the 5G-empowered berths have a designed handling capacity of 2.5 million TEUs every year. Chu said that the new port zone will save energy by 20 percent and cut operating costs by 25 percent. "The rainbow-colored port zone will become a new beautiful scenery." Photo taken on Jan. 17, 2021 shows a smart container terminal at Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin Municipality. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) OLD PORT, NEW AMBITION The sea transportation of Tianjin Port dates back more than 1,000 years to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), when grains were shipped via the port to the northern border army. After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the war-torn port was rebuilt and reopened in 1952. Back then, workers had to shoulder cargoes to load them on and off the vessels. Cheng Jingang, a former port loader, said that carrying brown sugar packs was the toughest work in winter. "The imported sugar was stiff in freezing weather, and countless trips carrying them often left our shoulders swollen," the 71-year-old retiree recalled. Cheng is delighted to see that his son, Cheng Weidong, did not have to go through similar misery while working. The junior Cheng, 42, is a tow truck driver at the port. Instead of simply driving, he also participates in the research and development to convert fuel trucks into electric ones as part of the port's green drive. "I have learned the CAD software for design and drafting, and the 3D printing also helps a lot," said the younger Cheng. To help cut carbon emissions, trains have replaced trucks to deliver large volumes of cargo to the port, including 100 percent of coal and coke. As a result, the number of trucks that come and go has reduced from 50,000 to 30,000 per day, which helps cut carbon emissions equivalent to those of 4 million cars, said Chu, the chairman. Thanks to the measures, pollutant emissions were cut by more than 3,000 tonnes last year. The port is also promoting clean energy, with rooftop solar panels and wind windmills to be installed. "By making use of wind and solar energy, we will strive to realize zero carbon emission in our port," said Chu. GLOBAL HUB Liu Yu, deputy publicity manager of the TPG, said the port could only harbor a 10,000-tonne vessel in the 1950s, and now, handling a 300,000-tonne ship is a piece of cake. Located at the coastal area of Bohai, China's continental sea, Tianjin Port has a shorter distance from the country's inland ports, such as Alataw Pass in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Manzhouli and Erenhot in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region -- all important border ports along the Belt and Road. Therefore, sea-railway combined transportation has become a preferred choice that serves the Belt and Road. Aerial photo taken on Jan. 11, 2021 shows a view of the Pacific international container terminal at Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin Municipality. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) Wu Da, deputy manager of Tianjin China-Railway United International Container Co., Ltd., said China-Europe freight trains now operate twice a week from and to Tianjin Port, with more than 10,000 containers delivered a year. "The sea-railway transportation of Tianjin Port has ensured the import and export of cargo between China and multiple cities in East, Central and West Asia, and Europe during the pandemic, contributing to the foreign trade and supply chain stability," he said. The total TEU number delivered by trains through the port surged from about 100,000 in 2015 to 805,000 last year. To meet the rising demand, Wu's company has planned to extend the railway line directly to the port and expand the cargo terminal. The number of container ship routes connecting Tianjin Port and the countries along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road has increased from over 30 in 2019 to about 50 now, and more than 60 percent of the port's total cargo turnover comes from ports of these countries. The port is also a pivotal shipping outlet in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area. Since 2014, when China initiated a key strategy to coordinate the development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, Tianjin Port and neighboring ports in Hebei Province have cooperated to make themselves a world-class port cluster. Aerial photo shows a container vessel sailing into Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) Leaving Tianjin Port, a vessel carrying timber imported from Germany, wheat from Russia and paper pulp from the United States headed to the Caofeidian Port in the coastal city of Tangshan, Hebei Province. Wu Zhiming, general manager of a timber trade company based in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, said his company used to hire trucks to deliver timber to Tangshan after the Germany-made spruce timber was shipped to Tianjin. "The branch sea route within the Bohai Sea has saved us 20 percent of logistic costs, with more reliable arrival time," said Wu, adding that they will have more cargo shipped via the route. Tianjin Port serves the megacities of Beijing and Tianjin, as well as the emerging Xiong'an New Area in Hebei. "The port not only serves the foreign trade and production, but also helps with consumption to cater to people's pursuit of better lives," said Chu, TPG chairman of the board. Cheng Zeming, the son of truck driver Cheng Weidong, is fascinated with the new autonomous driving container cranes at Tianjin Port. The 11-year-old said when he grows up, he would like to work in the port just like his father and grandfather. "With cutting-edge 5G and AI technologies, I can't imagine what the port will be like when my son starts to work," said Cheng Weidong. [ Editor: WXL ] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a meeting conflating the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, May 28, 2021. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) -- Sci-tech self-reliance and self-strengthening should always be considered a strategic support for national development, Xi said. -- Xi called for resolute efforts to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields. -- China's science and technology should make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for humanity, Xi said. BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping on Friday called for accelerated efforts in building China into a leader in science and technology and achieving sci-tech self-reliance and self-strengthening at higher levels. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing a meeting conflating the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), and the national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST). Sci-tech self-reliance and self-strengthening should always be considered a strategic support for national development, he said. Xi said scientific and technological development must target the global sci-tech frontiers, serve the main economic battlefields, strive to fulfill the significant needs of the country and benefit people's lives and health. Scientists and engineers must closely follow current trends, take the initiative, confront problems head-on, and overcome difficulties, he added. Xi said the meeting is an important occasion to discuss the country's plans for promoting sci-tech innovation and development, as China is on a new journey to fully build a modern socialist country. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, he extended congratulations to the meeting, and greetings to professionals serving at various sci-tech posts. A meeting conflating the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, May 28, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) Noting the CPC has always attached great importance to science and technology, Xi said sci-tech innovation has been placed at the core of China's overall development since the 19th CPC National Congress in 2017. He praised the progress made in sci-tech innovation, basic research, original innovation, strategic sci-tech and high-end industries, as well as the significant role of science and technology in containing the COVID-19 epidemic. Major progress has been made in basic research and original innovation, including quantum information, stem cells, and brain science. The Chang'e-5 probe has brought back the country's first samples collected from the moon. China's first Mars rover started exploring the red planet. China's high-end industries, including large passenger aircraft and magnetic-levitation train industries, saw fast development. Industries related to artificial intelligence, digital economy, 5G, and electric vehicles are thriving. Science and technology have provided firm support for the country's response to COVID-19. China succeeded in isolating the world's first novel coronavirus strain and also developed various medicines and vaccines. Xi urged China's sci-tech professionals to assume the responsibilities of the times and strive for sci-tech self-reliance and self-strengthening at higher levels. A meeting conflating the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, May 28, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) KEY TASKS IDENTIFIED Xi called for resolute efforts to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields. Sci-tech breakthroughs should tackle the most pressing issues with a focus on meeting the country's needs, both urgent and long-term, he said. Xi also called for enhancing the overall efficacy of the national innovation system, calling on national laboratories, national scientific research institutions, high-caliber research-oriented universities and leading sci-tech enterprises to shoulder their responsibilities in the drive. Xi stressed the need to advance the reform of the sci-tech system to form a basic system of supporting innovation in all aspects. The new system concentrating nationwide effort and resources on key national sci-tech undertakings should be improved in the context of the socialist market economy, while more autonomy should be given to research institutions, he said, adding that scientists must be further empowered to decide their technical routes and how to use research funds. Xi called for more participation in global sci-tech governance with a focus on issues such as climate change and human health, as well as more joint research and development with scientific researchers from other countries. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a meeting conflating the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, May 28, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) China's science and technology should make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for humanity, he said. In building a global center of talent, the country should strive to cultivate top sci-tech talent with global influence and more high-caliber technical and skilled professionals, he said. Highlighting the role of the two academies, Xi called on them to solve major original scientific problems and overcome challenges in core technologies in key fields that hinder China's development. Xi highlighted the duty of the CAST to rally sci-tech workers closely around the Party, urging the association to carry forward the spirit of scientists, and promote openness, trust, and cooperation with the international sci-tech community. "Members of the two academies are the treasure of the country, the source of pride of the people, and the glory of the nation," Xi noted, calling on them to respond to the Party's call, pursue excellence, and hold fast to academic morality and research ethics. Friday's event, attended by about 3,000 sci-tech professionals and officials, was presided over by Premier Li Keqiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng -- all being members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee -- also attended the meeting. Li Keqiang said Xi's speech made clear the major tasks in accelerating the building of China's sci-tech strength. The spirit of the speech must be thoroughly implemented. Chinese scientists were encouraged by Xi's speech. Liu Zhongmin, an academician of the CAE, said he expects a boom of innovation with more supporting policies rolled out. "Through self-reliance and self-strengthening, and by following the leadership of the Party, our country will make tremendous development achievements," said Wang Guodong, a professor at Northeastern University and also an academician of the CAE. "As a major country, China will contribute to humanity's wellbeing with its science and technology," Wang said. [ Editor: WXL ] Thanks to the recently unveiled census data from 2020, I've learned that I'm one of less than a million foreign residents who have spent the Covid year inside China. My assumption is that a lot more foreigners usually reside in China, when there are no travel and visa restrictions, but adding my being foreigner, I'm not just a fluent speaker, but also can read and write in Chinese. There is data indicating that more and more people in the West, in Asia, and in Africa are starting to learn Chinese, but I still consider myself a very small minority. Why did I start to learn Chinese, and how have I kept going all the way to my current level? This is my self-introduction: My first interest in China dates back to my undergraduate time around 2005: I remember clearly the small park in my hometown in Switzerland, where a small group of Swiss made use of the good weather to practice Tai Ji outdoors. I had never seen anything like it, but instantly felt that this was healthy, beautiful, and just what I needed. I've started practicing soon after, including some Gong Fu lessons, but it doesn't end there. Majoring in economics, I had a certain feeling that China might be on a good trajectory just by looking at some numbers, even though very little was reported in local newspapers about China at the time. Still, it felt like something worth exploring further, though I had absolutely no idea, how. Another aspect of economics, besides giving learners a feeling for numbers, is the fact that it's extremely abstract and dry especially in the early 2000's when behavioral economics was rare and the "homo economicus" was still the predominant model of neoclassic theory. Put it in layman's terms: it was insanely boring, sterile, and very far from how one instinctively felt that humans work in reality. So, I decided I would want to learn something unrelated to statistics, something irrational, something inspiring. I have always felt comfortable learning languages, and as a Swiss had learned French and English in high school, besides German and Swiss German, plus some Spanish classes I had taken during an exchange year in Florida, USA. If I was going to learn another language it would have to be a challenge, and it would not be one of the Indo-Germanic language family. Given that I was a politically active youth in a diverse network of socialists, anarchists, communists and syndicalists, Chinese had yet another attraction: the largest remaining socialist country. That's how I started to learn Chinese and I have never regretted it. Luckily I decided early on, I would rather learn slowly but thoroughly, taking the time to learn Chinese characters from the start. If you take away just one thing from this column, let it be this advice: If you learn Chinese, do make the effort to learn Chinese writing. It's the only way to get far, to go beyond daily small talk, to learn about Chinese culture, and it's simply beautiful, inspiring, amazing, and surprising, especially the moment when you go from deciphering single complicated characters, into feeling you start to read sentences, and suddenly it's like the text starts talking to you. From learning Chinese to going to China, it took me about a year, and after graduation the moment finally came, when I took a ship from Japan to Shanghai, two days on the sea, realizing I hadn't even booked a hotel in Shanghai, having prepared really nothing except time and a positive spirit. I met a French female ship engineer and a Dutch volunteer who had helped reconstruct a ship like the one used by Magellan and joined on leg of its journey around the world, when it came to East Asia. They told me how internet coffee is spelled in Chinese, unbelievably this was before smartphones were common and going online meant going to smoky, often dark and dirty places where many Chinese went for spending whole nights on video games. I found a hostel, I stayed a few days in Shanghai, and was blown away by the size, the speed, the noise, and the beauty of the wide streets, super modern skyscrapers, blue skies with white clouds, and the red flag with yellow stars in front of it. I really fell in love with China at that moment, although I still knew almost nothing about this country. I then took a green night train to the city of Kunming in the Southwestern province Yunnan, which was a 45h train ride, and in a mix of saving money and searching adventure, I chose to buy a hard seat ticket, rather than a sleeper carriage. During those 45h the lights were never turned off, people came and left, many were amazed and surprised at seeing a foreigner in this 4th class wagon, or seeing a foreigner at all. My one year of Chinese lessons didn't bring me very far, but it was enough for people to try to communicate with me. Deepest impressions are how the whole carriage would look at me, how one group taught me a version of the card game "bridge" to kill a few hours, how one can sleep with the head on the small table while sitting with glaring lights on, how they spat sunflower seed skins and cigarette buds on the floor (nowadays smoking is prohibited on all trains and strictly enforced, but it was a different world back then), how they would come with a broom every couple of hours to sweep the garbage out of the carriage, how a nose-flute player entered somewhere close to Kunming and I didn't know how much money to give him, with the whole carriage looking at me while he played a tune especially for me, and many other things. I've taken 2-3 more long-term train rides since, but this is definitely my most unforgettable train ride experience. Harald Buchmann experiences the traditional way of making tofu in a remote farming village in China.(Photo provided to Guangming Online) Skipping forward, I taught English in a small city in remote Northeast China, seeing farmers still using donkey drawn plows, visiting a farming village and their school as well. I've later spent a semester at the world famous Tsinghua University in 2012 to improve my high level Chinese (HSK6), I've started to read Chinese politics as well as ancient philosophy like Confucianism in original language, and I've learned a great lot about socialism of the 21st century, remembering clearly how the change of the Main Contradiction was announced in 2017, how I instantly knew this was a major change, and how it drove me to invest a lot of time reading up more on the latest political theory. Besides politics and international relations, I'm a big fan of Chinese tea culture, visiting farming villages and tea farms, seeing how the policies affect the countryside and the lives of ordinary people, how it connects to the Belt and Road, and how various Chinese interpret what's happening in their country and how the West responds to it. I often get accused of being a paid shill, troll, stooge or other insults, paid by the CPC to do propaganda, to which I have the following response: I'm a reflected, conscious, critically thinking, and deeply convinced supporter of the CPC without any payment. That doesn't mean I condone everything the CPC has ever done, or anyone acting in the name of the CPC is perfect. I haven't met any supporter of any political party in the world, who never criticized their favorite party, no matter how devout. The reason why I support this party, is because it is the one political organization which has during my lifetime reduced human poverty and suffering like no other organization in the history of mankind. It has a philosophy of peace, poverty reduction, environmental improvement, and economic development, which I would summarize in one word as: "sanity". There are constraints of the feasible, people are still poor and many problems aren't solved. But it is impressive to see the overall performance of this political institution, see its popularity, see its responsiveness to external changes and the overall changes of China. Again, I'm not a religious follower of the CPC, nor is China paradise on earth, but I hope to tell some stories in the future, of what I'm seeing on the ground, of what people around me tell me, where they come from, how their parents grew up, and compare those to stories from India, Africa, the Middle East and South East Asia. It's easy to take an upper middle-class family in California and say their lives are better than in a Chinese tier 3 city. I've interviewed a large number of truck drivers and spent a night in a truck, I've met many farmers, I've spoken with many uneducated workers, so I see China far beyond the white collar foreign-trained middle managers most expats get to see. My job also allows me to talk to white collar workers in Africa, the Middle East, and I've spent one semester of my masters in the Philippines, and did a project in India's Punjab region. So I do have some level of comparison when talking about China. This is what I will share, because I feel it's the part of China which isn't shared enough in English speaking media. I will focus on how things connect: philosophy, culture, politics, tea, farmers, workers, the life of simple people and the world of international relations. I am happy to respond to comments and feedback during this journey. (Contributed by Harald Simeon Buchmann, Swiss entrepreneur and political analyst, for Guangming Online) [ Editor: GSY ] Mary Wachira, 55, has made it her humanitarian mission to rescue mentally ill people from the streets. She shares her story via Saturday Magazine. ************************************* There is nothing that disheartens me other than walking the town streets and meeting mentally ill people that are neglected. I feel joyful taking them off the streets, having them treated, and reintegrating them with their families. That has been my mission for the last ten years. I was born 55 years ago in Nakuru and since the year 2000, I have been a passionate human rights defender, peacebuilder, and conflict management, reconciler. Im also a Catholic Justice and Peace Commissioner involved in volunteering and offering charitable services to most vulnerable persons with special needs especially those with mental disorders and those affected with substance use. The drive What drove me to target this group of vulnerable people is because they are not aware of themselves yet they suffer a lot. They are human beings and deserve human dignity like the rest of us. A question that bothered me was what I had done differently to deserve sanity of mind than this suffering lot? The answer has always been nothing, and its only by grace and mercy of God. I also discovered when these people are taken for treatment and rehabilitation; they regain their senses and live a normal life. And this serves as an inspiration. It has not been easy dealing with people with mental issues as Im all alone but my zeal and boldness have made me work with policemen, health officers, and well-wishers in this mission. I dont approach any mentally unstable person I see walking the street without first checking where they reside some have made dumpsites, trenches, or particular places like backstreets their habitats. I then get the police to transport and check them into the hospital for treatment. Get them back Treatment involves admission, and after discharge, I interrogate them to know their relatives and the process of reintegrating them with their families or relatives. In case they may not be accepted back by their families or are unsuccessful in going back, I look for well-wishers who are willing to support them while I provide them basic needsfood, clothing, and shelter. In some situations, I accommodate some, and Im currently about ten. It is not always smooth going as there are lots of challenges as well as joys. Sometimes I may not get the assistance Im looking for when I have a case that I need to take to the hospital and Im forced to look for alternatives as a solution. Take for example when I need the police help to handle a mental case. Some of the mentally ill are violent. You cant dialogue with a person who may not understand even their surroundings. When the police fail to show up to help capture or render the needed assistance like transport, I have to hire young men to do the arresting and look for private means to the hospital. And at the hospital, I may not get a waiver even under the neediest of situations. No waiver means no admission, only a jab, and the patient returns to the streets. This is disheartening as they do not heal. It is costly treating mental illness and this could be a reason many dont care about their mentally sick family members and abandon them. Success missions Success stories abound despite the challenges. Examples are where these mental cases respond to treatments, fully recover, and start relying on themselves. A recent example is where a mentally challenged male was admitted to Gilgil Mathari Mental Hospital and is now able to earn a living for himself. I can say assisting an insane person to get to his normal life is like coming back to life. Some people usually have misconceptions that mental issues are a result of dark forces like witchcraft, curses, genetics, and drug abuse. This is usually not the case. A mental disorder is an illness and not necessarily a drug and substance-related issue as many erroneously think. There are several underlying factors leading to mental situations like depression, poverty, loss of a parent or relative, untreated early cerebral diseases, untreated venereal and dipolar conditions, abandonment, conflict in families to name just a few. The stigmatisation of mentally challenged people or families with mentally ill members is what makes it difficult to address the issue. No wonder even after successful treatment, some families refuse to accept their kin back because they are embarrassed to be associated with the person. Its no wonder that mental facilities are littered with patients that have been abandoned for a long time. For those affected by drugs and substance abuse, I refer them to rehabilitation centers and many have made recoveries and can lead decent lives. U.S. diplomats welcome cooperation between Ukravtodor, Bechtel Corporation during construction of Kyiv bypass road The United States Embassy in Kyiv has congratulated Ukravtodor and the U.S. Bechtel Corporation on signing a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the implementation of a project to build a bypass road around Kyiv. Investment in infrastructure is key to our country's economic growth, the embassy said in a Twitter post published on Sunday. "This will help Ukraine become a more prosperous, democratic, & secure state," the U.S. diplomats said. As reported, on May 28, the State Road Agency of Ukraine (Ukravtodor) and U.S. Bechtel Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in the implementation of a project to build a bypass road around Kyiv. "The Kyiv bypass road is one of the key objects of the president's Big Construction program, because its creation will help solve the painful transport problems of Kyiv, improve international road traffic. Joint work of Ukravtodor and one of the leaders of infrastructure projects in the world will find the best technical and financial solutions for the implementation of the project," the press service said, citing Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov. The Pivdenne (Yuzhnoye) Design Bureau has signed a contract with the European company ISILaunch (the Netherlands) to launch the Sich-2-30 (2-1) spacecraft into orbit, Deputy Prime Minister for Strategic Industries Oleh Urusky said on his Facebook page on Monday. "The launch of the satellite should take place from the launch pad of SpaceX [the United States] using the Falcon-9 launch vehicle. It is ISILaunch that has a corresponding agreement with this American company, which is authorized to sell services for the removal of the accompanying payload on this launch vehicle and provide the corresponding engineering services and material parts," he said. According to him, an advance payment has already been made. "The launch of the spacecraft is planned for December 2021 [reserve January 2022]. However, I hope that this will happen in the year of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, and the task of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be completed," Urusky wrote. He also noted that at present the Pivdenne Design Bureau together with the National Space Facilities Control and Test Center is carrying out all the necessary work to prepare the launch of Sich-2-30 and the ground segment. "The launch and further use of this satellite will allow solving many urgent problems of socio-economic, environmental, informational, scientific and educational nature, as well as ensuring the realization of the interests of the state in the field of national security and defense," the Deputy Prime Minister said. As reported, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in April 2021 designated the Pivdenne Design Bureau as the customer for the launch of the Sich-2-1 remote sensing spacecraft and its insurance. Kolesnikov: Special status should be granted to all regions of Ukraine, not just Donbas A special status must be granted to all regions of Ukraine, and not only to Donbas, says Borys Kolesnikov, businessman and politician, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure in 2010-2012. "I would give all 25 subjects of our state a special status. What is special status? This, among other things, is the municipal police, which should be present in every Ukrainian city," Kolesnikov said in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency. According to Kolesnikov, Ukrainian should remain the state language, as enshrined in the Constitution, but all regional councils should also be given the right to introduce a second regional language. Commenting on the statements made by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on the possible holding of a referendum on Donbas, the politician said: "And the question should be put like this: are you for the territorial integrity of Ukraine?" Kolesnikov also believes that if elections are held in Donbas, Ukrainian politicians have a chance to gain the support of the majority of voters. "Why not? You think everyone is clapping their hands for what is happening there. I think that the pro-Ukrainian forces will even get the majority if they consolidate," the politician said. According to him, the main thing for people in Donbas is that they can visit their children and grandchildren in Ukraine, so that there are no explosions, so that Donbas again becomes the most dynamically developing region of Ukraine. "It is important for ordinary people that a pension received on time, there is an ability to work and study for their children and grandchildren, an absolutely peaceful life," stressed Kolesnikov. He also noted that the Ukrainian authorities hadn't made enough efforts to return Donbas. "Let's start small, so that Ukraine does not alienate the people who remain in the uncontrolled territory - these are our citizens!" Kolesnikov said. According to the politician, it is necessary to start the reintegration of this region with the restoration of regular passenger traffic. "Let's start with the little things. Passenger, rail and bus traffic is constant. Without humiliating transfers and checkpoints (checkpoints of entry and exit)," Kolesnikov noted. The politician is convinced that freezing the conflict mustn't be allowed. "This is the death of Ukraine. It will be falling apart," Kolesnikov said. Rector of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Volodymyr Buhrov, has said that the Academic Council of the university will deprive Alexander Lukashenko, whom the EU and the United States do not recognize as the legally elected president of Belarus, of the title of honorary doctor of the university on June 7. "I turned to the Academic Council to develop a procedure [deprivation of honorary titles], it really does not exist today. But already three commissions of the Academic Council have developed such a procedure. The grounds are violation of human rights, disrespect for the state of Ukraine. On June 7, there will be a meeting of the Academic Council of the University where two questions will be discussed: the approval of the procedure and the deprivation of the status of an honorary doctor of Alexander Lukashenko," he said at a press conference during the Ukraine 30. Education and Science All-Ukrainian Forum on Monday. Buhrov noted that knowing the opinions of the majority of members of the Academic Council, the issue of depriving Lukashenko of the title will be approved. As reported, Lukashenko was awarded an honorary doctor's diploma on November 5, 2009 by Leonid Hubersky, and the title itself was awarded on November 2, 2009. Odesa-based Court of Appeals dropped the charges against activist Serhiy Sternenko under the article of assault related to robbery against deputy of Lyman village council Serhiy Scherbych, and imposed a suspended sentence under the article on illegal handling of weapons. The court announced relevant ruling on Monday, having considered in essence the appeal against the verdict against the activists Sehiy Sternenko and Ruslan Demchuk in the case of the abduction of the deputy of Kominternivsky district council of Odesa region Serhiy Scherbych. "The verdict of Prymorsky District Court of Odesa in relation to Sternenko [...] to cancel in part of the conviction under Part 2 of Article 187 of the Criminal Code [assault related to robbery] and to close the proceedings in this part due to the failure to establish sufficient evidence of guilt [...] To release Sternenko [...] from serving the sentence under Part 1 of Article 263 of the Criminal Code [illegal handling of weapons] with a probation period of one year," the court said in the verdict. The court found unproven guilt of Sternenko in the commission of a crime under Article 187 of the Criminal Code, that is, in the commission of a robbery on Scherbych. The Court of Appeals found the victim's testimony in this part of the accusation untenable. "Under Part 2 of Article 187, the court closes the criminal proceedings [...] Sufficient evidence has not been established," the court said in its ruling. As for the charges under Article 146 of the Criminal Code (unlawful imprisonment or kidnapping of a person), the court confirmed it, but at the same time changed the motivation part, indicating the absence of selfish motives. At the same time, the statute of limitations for bringing to responsibility under this article has already expired, due to which the appellate court released Sternenko from serving his sentence. As regards the charges under Article 263 of the Criminal Code (illegal handling of weapons) Sternenko was found guilty, the court sentenced him to three years in prison with a replacement for one year of probation. On Wednesday, June 2, at 13.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference entitled "Did Zelensky manage to stabilize situation in country" based on results of a social survey, the attitude of Ukrainians to the opening of the land market, coronavirus, suspicion notices handed over to V. Medvedchuk and T. Kozak, the level of trust in politicians and the presidential ratings as of May 2021 will also be announced. Participants include Executive Director of the Ukrainian Institute for the Future Vadym Denysenko, Doctor of Sociology Oleksandr Shulga (8/5a Reitarska Street). The press conference will be available on the YouTube channel of Interfax-Ukraine. Admission of journalists requires registration on the spot. Head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service (GIS) Abbas Kamel visited the Gaza Strip on Monday to hold meetings with Palestinian factions, the state-owned news agency MENA reported. Attending the meetings with Kamel are ministers from the Palestinian Authority. Kamel, heading a security delegation, left for Israel and the Palestinian territories on Sunday to discuss means for the Egypt-brokered ceasefire in Gaza to hold. During his visit, he held talks with Chairman of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and his Defence Minister Benny Gantz. Egypt brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip, which came into effect on 21 May, ending 11 days of Israeli aggression on the enclave. The Israeli bombing campaign left more than 250 Palestinians dead, hundreds injured and homeless, while tens of residential and commercial buildings were demolished by Israeli air strikes. Short link: Head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service (GIS) Abbas Kamel on Monday inspected the suggested sites in Gaza Strip for the reconstruction process. This comes as per an Egyptian presidential initiative to allocate $500 million for the reconstruction of Gaza. Kamel, accompanied by a high-level delegation and a number of ministers from the Palestinian Authority, has arrived in Gaza on Monday morning to hold talks with Palestinian factions and leaders. The presidential initiative for the reconstruction of Gaza came a few days after an Egypt-brokered ceasefire came into effect in the strip on 21 May, halting 11 days of Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli aggression on the enclave destroyed hundreds of homes and displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians. Short link: Egypt and Djibouti reiterated the importance of reaching a legal and balanced deal between Cairo, Khartoum, and Addis Ababa on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in a way that protects the interests of the parties involved and preserves regional stability. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and his Djiboutian counterpart Ismail Omar Guelleh emphasised in a meeting in the Djiboutian capital on Thursday that the negotiating parties should display goodwill and have the political will necessary to reach a legally binding agreement. Negotiations on GERD have been on hold since January, with tensions running high as Addis Ababa plans to go ahead with the second filling of the controversial dam unilaterally whether a deal is reached with Cairo and Khartoum or not. Sisi told his Djiboutian counterpart that Egypt refuses any endeavour to impose fait accomoli policy through unilateral measures that don't take into account the interests of the downstream countries. Guelleh lauded Egypt's latest efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza between Palestinian factions and Israel to end the 11-day bombing of the besieged enclave. Egypt's involvement in de-escalation efforts stems from the country's historical responsibility towards the Palestinian cause, said President El-Sisi, who arrived in the East African country earlier on Thursday. Both presidents reiterated the necessity of engaging in a political settlement path to reach a fair, comprehensive, and lasting solution for the decades-old issue based on international references, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement. A simultaneous and mutual Egypt-brokered ceasefire was announced on Friday, stopping 11 days of fighting that has been deemed the most vicious since the 2014 Israeli 51-day assault on Gaza, as Israel upped aggression on the Strip with artillery and air strikes. The Israeli offensive on Gaza killed some 253 Palestinians, including 66 children and 39 women, and destroyed hundreds of homes. The death toll in Israel from rockets fired by Palestinian factions in the Strip stood at 13. Egypt has allocated $500 million for rebuilding Gaza by Egyptian construction companies. Horn of Africa challenges El-Sisi and Guelleh exchanged views on a host of regional issues, including those in East Africa and the Horn of Africa, the spokesman added. "The discussions reflected a mutual understanding between the two sides about means to resolve these issues," the statement added. El-Sisi and Guelleh reiterated the importance of the bilateral strategic partnership to fight terrorism and organised crime in the Horn of Africa, in addition to cooperation on the security of the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab Strait. The spokesman added that El-Sisi praised Guelleh's efforts in achieving economic development, security, and stability in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea. Bilateral ties El-Sisi reiterated Egypt's keenness to enhance support directed to development efforts in Djibouti, saying there are "wide prospects" to promote economic cooperation and trade exchange between the two African nations and reinforce cooperation in combating extremist ideology. Cooperation could also extend to transferring Egyptian expertise to Djibouti as well as providing technical support and capacity-building programmes for Djiboutian cadres, El-Sisi told Guelleh. Guelleh hailed Cairo's "sincere" efforts to support economic reform and development paths in Djibouti, Rady pointed out. The Djiboutian president praised the Egyptian private sectors contribution to the economic development process in Africa, expressing his aspiration to increase the participation of the Egyptian private sector in Djibouti. He also said that Egypt plays a pivotal role in shoring up stability in Africa. Short link: President Uhuru Kenyatta has sent a message of condolence to the family, friends and relatives of former Kibwezi MP Richard Kalembe Ndile who passed away Saturday night. In his message of comfort, the President described the late Kalembe, 57, as a witty, determined and practical politician whose rise in life was as a result of sheer hard work. It is unfortunate that death has taken from us the Hon Kalembe Ndile in his prime. He was a lively politician who loved and worked with everyone, and always held the interests of the country at heart, the President said. The Head of State recalled his interactions with the witty politician over the years saying, the late Kalembe excelled as a fighter for human rights especially the right to access land. With the death of Mheshimiwa Kalembe, our country has lost an astute fighter for human rights. We all remember how passionately he fought for the plight of squatters in the country, the President eulogised the former MP. The President wished the family of the departed politician Gods grace and comfort as they come to terms with his demise. The US will continue its diplomatic contacts in pursuit of a fair solution to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dispute, US State Departments Arabic language Spokeswoman Geraldine Griffith said late on Sunday. We are now in the first stage and we will continue our diplomatic partnership with the three countries [of Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia] to reach the most suitable solution to this crisis, Griffith told Extra News TV channel. Griffith said the US is working to find fitting solutions for the GERD dispute and is aware of the concerns of the three countries. The US is studying the issue and we know that there must be a settlement that is agreed by all parties, Griffith added. Addis Ababa has reiterated its plans to go ahead with the second filling of the massive dams reservoir as planned during the rainy season, which starts in July. The Ethiopian decision comes despite continued objections from Egypt and Sudan, the two downstream countries, to unilateral moved by Addis Ababa on the filling and operation of the GERD in the absence of a legally binding agreement between the three countries. Egypt and Sudan have repeatedly warned that Ethiopia's decision to proceed with the second filling of the dam without a deal seriously threatens the water interests of the two downstream countries. Griffith praised Egypt's efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, which stopped Israeli air strikes on the enclave. She said she wants boost cooperation with Egypt to maintain the Gaza ceasefire and dispatch humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in the Strip. Egypt brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza, which came into effect on 21 May, ending 11 days of Israeli aggression on the Strip. The Israeli bombing campaign left more than 250 Palestinians dead, hundreds injured and homeless, while tens of residential and commercial buildings were demolished by Israeli air strikes. Egypt has taken several political and diplomatic steps since then to consolidate the ceasefire, including sending security delegations to the warring sides. Egypt also announced the allocation of $500 million for the reconstruction of Gaza and opened many hospitals nationwide to receive injured Palestinians from Gaza. Short link: Egypt delivered 500 tons of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip on Monday in the third shipment sent by the state-owned Tahya Misr (Long Live Egypt) Fund to the enclave. The third delivery comes 10 days after an Egypt-brokered ceasefire to stop Israeli aggression on the Strip came into effect. According to an Egyptian cabinet statement, the shipment included 20 containers of vegetables, fruits, canned food, electricity tools, and shoes. The aid was delivered to the Palestinian people under the slogan We share for the sake of humanity." The motto was chosen to encourage all social work parties around the world to compete and exert more effort to achieve record numbers in charity and solidarity, the cabinet said. The convoy was prepared through contributions and in-kind donations by Egyptian companies working in various commercial and industrial fields, the statement read. The companies provided the contributions as part of an Egyptian initiative supporting the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi launched an initiative for the reconstruction of Gaza on 18 May, allocating $500 million for the process. The states Tahya Misr Fund allocated the account 037037-Reconstruction of Gaza in all Egyptian banks to receive contributions and donations in local and foreign currencies. The fund also receives contributions on its online website (www.tahyamisrfund.org). The Israeli air strikes against Gaza lasted for 11 days. It destroyed hundreds of buildings and displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians in the enclave. Short link: Head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service (GIS) Abbas Kamel conveyed President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis support to the Palestinians and their leaders during his visit to Gaza on Monday. Kamel met with Palestinian leaders and factions where he conveyed a message from President El-Sisi calling for an end to the Palestinian divisions. El-Sisi affirmed the necessity of unifying the Palestinian internal front under the umbrella of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which is led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The Egyptian president also called upon regional and international powers to support Egypts efforts in Gazas reconstruction. El-Sisi also affirmed Egypts effort to stabilise the Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire and pave the way for a resumption of the peace process in cooperation with international powers, headed by the United States. The leaders of Palestinian factions and national powers stressed respect for Egypts leading and historical role in supporting the rights of the Palestinian people. They also expressed their gratitude to the Egyptian president for the efforts exerted to support Palestinians rights. Kamel also inspected the suggested sites in Gaza Strip for the reconstruction process. The presidential initiative for the reconstruction of Gaza came a few days after an Egypt-brokered ceasefire came into effect in the strip on 21 May, halting 11 days of Israeli airstrikes. The Israeli aggression on the enclave destroyed hundreds of homes and displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians. A total of 56 trucks carrying humanitarian aid have arrived on Monday in the Gaza Strip as a gift from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and the Egyptian people The state-owned Tahya Misr Fund has already sent three convoys carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza over the past week. The third batch was delivered to Gaza on Sunday evening carrying 500 tons of food supplies and electricity tools. The total aid delivered by the three convoys is estimated at more than 4,000 tons. The three convoys were sent as per El-Sisis directives and initiative for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. The total aid carried in the three convoys was estimated at more than 4,000 tons. Search Keywords: Short link: A total of 52 tricks carrying humanitarian aid have arrived in the Gaza Strip as a gift from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and the Egyptian people to the strip dwellers. The state-owned Tahya Misr Fund has already sent three convoys carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza over the past week. The three convoys were sent as per El-Sisis directives and initiative for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. The total aid carried in the three convoys were estimated at more than 4,000 tons. Short link: A war of words has erupted over the management of the Nigerian economy in recent weeks, with Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki launching the first salvo, accusing the federal government of disastrous economic management, and alleging that the government is printing money to finance federal allocations. The economic conditions in the country are very bad and there is a lot of different thoughts and ideas. The finance minister, Zainab Ahmed responded to this case that the question presented by the Edo State governor is very unfortunate because it is not true. The information distributed at FAAC is induced income, and the dissemination of revenue is, in effect, public information. They distribute at FAAC and publish revenue provided by FIRS, Customs, and the NNPC. As a result, the claim that they printed money to distribute at FAAC is false. This is not the case. Governor Obaseki retaliated, saying that he stood by his comments as an investment banker. He put it this way in his rebuttal to the finance ministers statement: Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, should mobilize Nigerians to stop the countrys apparent fiscal decline. Rather than playing the ostrich, they advise the government to take immediate action to end the ongoing fiscal shambles and keep the current economic crisis from worsening. Despite their diametrically opposite viewpoints, it became obvious that one of Governor Obaseki and the finance minister was not telling the facts. As the crossfire erupted, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria remained quiet until he was caught on camera threatening Governor Obaseki and other governors who were bailed out in 2015/16 with urgent recovery action if they dont quit accusing the government of printing currency. The governments printing of money was neither refuted nor accepted. Backstory According to TheCable, an online publication, data showing the details of the February 2021 revenues exchanged by the three levels of government in March has been seen. According to the survey, the three levels of government (federal, state, and local) exchanged a total of N605.589 billion in March 2021. If the data stated by TheCable is right, it backs up the finance ministers claim that only revenue remitted to the federation account from revenue-generating agencies of account was exchanged during the March 2021 federal allocation, and that no printed money was distributed. In many responses from the government, the deficit is justified because of the increased popularity of the financial industries that is difficult for the government to track, or even impossible. The covid pandemic made either the crypto-industry or forex even more popular as it was giving people the opportunity to generate their profits. As a result, demand for Forex brokers in Nigeria was massively increased. The government often states that other than the advantages of those industries for people to raise their income, the main flaw is considered to be the absence of the possibility to track where the money from the country flows to. It should be remembered, though, that there are two sales pots. The federation account, into which all raised revenues are deposited, is the first pot, while the federal government (FG) budget is the second. The FGs share of income from the federation account is transferred to the FG budget pot. The finance minister reported that no printed money was deposited in the federation account pot, which is supported by data obtained by TheCable. The FG expected to deplete the FG spending pot by N7 trillion in 2021, but it also planned to invest N13 trillion from it. As a result, there is an N6 trillion deficit in this pot. So far, we know that Nigeria is printing money and that it is not being used to finance the federation account; but, we do not have evidence that the printed money is not being used to fund the FG budget deficit or for what other reasons it is being used. Possible Solutions The term constructive criticism refers to criticism that has viable alternatives. When people or organizations are having financial difficulties, they have two options for getting out of the bind. The first goal is to cut costs, and the second is to boost sales. This is a two-dose vaccine to give the government a fighting shot against financial covid infection. There are also many other important steps that should be taken in order to make positive changes. * Reduced governance costs The Nigerian government must move quickly to will the cost of governance. The Oronsaye Committee, which submitted an 800-page report with far-reaching suggestions about how the government should cut governance costs, must be granted full compliance right away. * Rich peoples taxes Nigeria is a world where billionaires do not pay taxes. Market women, okada riders, fishermen, artisans, and others are all required to pay taxes on a regular basis. Employees who are subject to PAYE must pay taxes on a regular basis. * Stop the $1.5 billion Port Harcourt refinery repairs The government must urgently halt the $1.5 billion refinery reconstruction project in Port Harcourt. Given the fact that government programs are never completed on time, this reconstruction could cost Nigeria $3-5 billion. * Power Its a shame that Nigeria, as a country with one of the worlds richest gas reserves, goes to certain lengths to produce the gas before igniting it rather than using it to generate energy. * Rail No industry can thrive with the present state of Nigerias transportation system. Nigeria has no motorable roads and, most particularly, no rail transportation. For starters, there is no reason why all 36 capitals can not be linked by rail today. Summing It Up Finally, to sum up, if the Federal Government implements the suggested remedies, the Nigerian economy will experience astronomical acceleration, which will be genuine rather than steroid-induced, as QE is. However, if the government continues to print money (QE) without rising output, they will undoubtedly find themselves on the path to Robert Mugabes Zimbabwe and a disastrous end to their economy. At all times, specialists and the general public agree on one mutual idea, this must be stopped. Head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service (GIS) Abbas Kamel on Monday conveyed to the Palestinian people President El-Sisis reiteration of Egypts support to them and their leaders. Kamel will meet Palestinian factions and leaders during his current visit to Gaza. Short link: Egypts Supreme State Security Criminal Court handed varying prison sentences to five students on Monday over charges of leading and joining the Daesh terrorist organization in Giza. The courts terrorism unit sentenced one of the students to life and another to 15 years in prison. It also handed 10-year prison terms to the remaining three defendants. They have been put under a five-year surveillance and placed on terrorism lists. The first defendant was charged with leading a terrorist group which planned to target members of the Armed Forces, police and judiciary, as well as Coptic Christians houses of worship and public facilities. He was also charged with endangering the safety of the society and its interests and security and obstructing state institutions from carrying out their duties, among other charges. Short link: Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and leading German shipbuilder Lurssen discussed on Monday efforts by the state to localise marine industries during a meeting in Cairo. According to a statement by the presidency, El-Sisi received Luerssen CEO Peter Lurssen in a meeting attended by the Egyptian navy commander Lieutenant General Ahmed Khaled and other officials from the navy. The meeting saw a briefing on Egypts efforts to upgrade shipyard arsenals and the training of human resources operating in the field. They also discussed developing infrastructure of the equipment needed in the vital industry to allow it to keep pace with the latest global technologies. Short link: The Senate Egypt's consultative upper house parliament approved a new bill on Monday setting up a fund to be spent on emergency medical expenses. A report by the Senate's Health and Population Committee said that the fund is designed to be spent on medical services not usually covered by the state budget. "The Fund will be devoted to spending on patients receiving treatment at emergency and intensive care units; buying drugs and medicine, and providing health care services to citizens who are on waiting lists," said the report. The Fund on Containing Medical Emergency Cases will be headquartered in Cairo and affiliated with the Prime Minister. Article six states that a council of trustees will be formed to establish the Fund's general policies. "The Council will also supervise the Fund's board of directors, issue the Fund's administrative and financial regulations, approve the Fund's budget and prepare an annual report on the Fund's performance to be submitted to the president of the republic," article six also says. Short link: Egypt and Jordan stressed on Monday the importance of having in place a political framework that would allow for the resumption of negotiations between Palestine and Israel on the basis of a two-state solution. According to a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry, FM Sameh Shoukry called his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Al-Safadi to discuss developments in the latest Palestinian crisis. The two officials agreed on the necessity of having a negotiating track on the basis of a two-state solution that involves the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Shoukry discussed Egypts intensive diplomatic efforts to stabilise the Cairo-brokered ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip. The ministers addressed ideas put forward on the reconstruction of Gaza and agreed on continued communication in coordination with the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), the statement said. The ministers affirmed the importance of continued efforts to support the PNA and improve the living conditions for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and West Bank in cooperation with international partners. They also discussed bilateral relations and other regional and international developments of mutual interest, the statement said. Since the deadly 11-day bombing of Gaza by Israel earlier in May, Egypt and Jordan have been closely coordinating to stabilise the situation in Palestine and secure a permanent de-escalation in Palestinian territories. Cairo and Amman, two vital regional partners, continue to consult to build on a Cairo-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The 11-day fighting has been deemed the most serious since 2014, as Israel hit Gaza with artillery and air strikes. At least 254 people were killed in Gaza with over 1,900 wounded, according to Palestinian health authorities, while the death toll in Israel stood at 13. Short link: Egypts Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has been showing full flexibility in compensation negotiations with the owner of the giant Ever Given vessel that blocked traffic in the strategic canal for six days in March and disrupted global trade, the authoritys chairman said on Monday. Osama Rabie, chairman of the SCA, told a delegation from the Indian Embassy in Egypt that the authority has spared no effort from its side to ensure the success of the talks, which continue despite an ongoing legal dispute between the SCA and the mega-ships Japanese owner Shoei Kisen over the impounding of the vessel by the authority. The visit by the diplomatic delegation aims to follow up on the conditions of the Indian crew members currently on board the impounded 400-meter ship in Ismailia. They were allowed on board the ship to check on the crew members, a statement by the SCA said, stressing the importance of providing for the needs of the crew and understanding related humanitarian aspects. Such an understanding has been demonstrated by allowing some of the crew members to return to India due to personal reasons in the past weeks, Rabie said. Mondays meeting comes one day after the SCAs commissioner-general of the investigation said a probe into the grounding of the Panamanian container ship put blame on the ships captain after an error in steering the vessel. A lawyer representing the ship's Japanese owner Shoei Kisen argued the SCA had been at fault for allowing the ship to enter the waterway amid bad weather, adding that the authority "failed to prove any fault by the ship. The exchange of blame over the crisis, which crippled the global supply chain in March for nearly a week, comes amid continuing legal dispute over the ship. On Saturday, a trial over the Ever Given was adjourned to 20 June to allow for further negotiations on the compensation value. The Ismailia Economic Court postponed the hearing upon the requests made by the lawyers representing the SCA and the ship owner. The lawyers said the postponement is meant to provide more time to reach an amicable solution to the ship crisis. The hearing came days after the SCA slashed its compensation claim of $916 million to $550 million to settle the current judicial dispute, with the mega-ship to be allowed to leave if nearly 40 percent of the sum is paid in cash. The Ever Givens insurers say the demanded sum is still too high, previously offering to pay $150 million in compensation for the six-day traffic halt. The ship ran aground across the canal on 23 March and was refloated on 29 March by a fleet of Egyptian tugboats and diggers, with the assistance of the tide. The vessel has since been anchored in a lake between two sections of the canal. Short link: Egypt slammed on Monday statements by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed over a plan to build over 100 dams across the country, describing the statements as a continuation of a regrettable approach that disregards the rules of international law. According to an official statement, Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez voiced Egypts rejection of the statements by Ahmed, adding that such statements show again Ethiopias ill intent over the Nile River. It said the statements reveal Ethiopias engagement with the Nile River and other international rivers it shares with neighboring countries as inland rivers that fall under its sovereignty and are exploited to serve its interests. He said that the intentions revealed in Ahmeds statements violate the rules of applicable international norms that regulate utilising international rivers and oblige Ethiopia to respect the rights of other riparian river states. The Egyptian statement comes one day after the Ethiopian PM said his country will build over 100 small and medium dams in various regional states in the coming new fiscal year. His statements came during the inauguration of the first phase of the Adama-Awash expressway, where he stressed that working together was the only means of resisting any forces against Ethiopia, according to the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA). Ahmeds statements risk an aggravation of tensions between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, which remain in deadlock in negotiations over the disputed Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) over the lack of an agreement on the filling and operation of the dam. Ethiopia plans to hold 13.5 billion cubic metres of water during the second filling of the GERDs reservoir in July, despite the objections of downstream countries Egypt and Sudan over the move in the absence of a legally binding instrument. A Sudanese official told Reuters last week that Ethiopia began filling the reservoir in early May, as further construction work on the GERD had allowed the second filling to begin. Ethiopia has denied that it began the second filling of the dam, yet remains unwavering in its plan for the filling over the summer, even without a deal with Egypt and Sudan. Ethiopias rejection of several proposals by Egypt and Sudan on the negotiation mechanism, which includes international quartet mediation, has led to the collapse of the Kinshasa talks sponsored by the African Union in April. The three countries have resorted to international diplomacy in the past weeks, briefing regional and international counterparts on their stances and developments in the latest deadlock in negotiations. Egypt has warned that the second filling will lead to tensions in the region and will cause instability in East Africa and the Horn of Africa. Egypts 100 million-plus population depends on the Nile for over 95 percent of its fresh water. Sudan fears the GERD will put the operation of its Roseires dam and the lives of 20 million Sudanese citizens at a very high risk if an agreement regulating the operation and filling of GERD is not reached before the second filling. It warned that it will take legal action if Ethiopia moves forward with the second filling of the GERD in July without first signing a legally binding agreement. Short link: Thousands of Ethiopians gathered in the nation's capital Sunday to protest outside pressure on the government over its brutal war in Tigray. Protesters at the rally in Addis Ababa carried banners that criticized the United States and others in the international community who are voicing concern over atrocities in Tigray, where Ethiopian forces are hunting down the region's ousted and now-fugitive leaders. Troops from neighboring Eritrea are fighting in Tigray on the side of Ethiopian government forces, in defiance of international calls for their withdrawal. But the protesters in Addis Ababa carried placards that said Ethiopian young people denounce the western intervention. Others said Ethiopia's sovereignty was at stake. The U.S. said last week it has started restricting visas for government and military officials of Ethiopia and Eritrea, who are seen as undermining efforts to resolve the fighting in Tigray, home to an estimated 6 million of Ethiopia's 110 million people. Besides the visa restrictions, Washington is imposing wide-ranging restrictions on economic and security assistance to Ethiopia. Atrocities including brutal gang-rapes, extrajudicial killings and forced evictions have been part of the violence in Tigray, according to victims, witnesses, local authorities and aid groups. Thousands of people are estimated to have died. The Ethiopian government called the U.S. action misguided and regrettable. The Ethiopian government will not be deterred by this unfortunate decision of the U.S. administration, said the statement tweeted by the ministry of foreign affairs. If such a resolve to meddle in our internal affairs and undermining the century-old bilateral ties continues unabated, the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia will be forced to reassess its relations with the United States, which might have implications beyond our bilateral relationship, said the statement. The crisis began in November after Ethiopia accused former leaders of the Tigray People's Liberation Front, or TPLF, of ordering an attack on an Ethiopian army base in the region. Troops sent by Ethiopia's leader, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, quickly ousted the TPLF from major cities and towns, but guerrilla fighting is still reported across Tigray. More than 2 million people have been displaced by the war. Short link: An Ethiopian aid worker died after being struck by a stray bullet in the country's northern Tigray region, his Italian employer said Monday, the ninth such death in the conflict there. Negasi Kidane, based in the Tigray town of Adigrat, was a longtime employee of the International Committee for the Development of Peoples, known by its Italian acronym CISP. "I can confirm that our Ethiopian colleague Negasi Kidane, head of the CISP office in Adigrat, lost his life last Saturday. He was accidentally involved in a fire fight on Friday evening and died on Saturday morning in the hospital," Sandro De Luca, the group's director and legal representative, told AFP in an email. He added that Negasi was "hit by a stray bullet." Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops into Tigray last November to detain and disarm leaders of the regional ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). He said the move came in response to TPLF attacks on federal army camps. Though he vowed military operations would be brief, nearly seven months later fighting continues, reports of atrocities are proliferating and world leaders are warning of a humanitarian catastrophe. As of last week eight aid workers had been killed in Tigray, according to a briefing at the UN Security Council by Mark Lowcock, the under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator. One of the victims was a "partner" with the US Agency for International Development (USAID). In a statement last week, USAID administrator Samantha Power said that killing was "reportedly by Eritrean and Ethiopian soldiers" and that it "was clearly intentional and is part of a troubling rise in harassment and violence against aid workers." CISP did not say who might have been responsible for Negasi's death. "Negasi worked with CISP for many years and we all remember him for the extraordinary commitment and ability with which he carried out the humanitarian aid activities that the communities of Tigray -- affected by hunger and conflict -- desperately need," the group said in a statement on its Facebook page. "While mourning for this tragedy, we cling to the hope that in Tigray the path of dialogue and reconciliation will be found soon." Short link: Malian strongman Colonel Assimi Goita returned home on Monday after West African leaders condemned a recent coup that cemented his grip on power and tasked him with naming a new prime minister. Dozens of supporters greeted Goita on his arrival, an AFP journalist said. At a crisis summit in Ghana, the ECOWAS leaders condemned a recent coup -- the second in nine months -- but stopped short of reimposing sanctions on the volatile Sahel country. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decided to suspend Mali from the 15-nation bloc. And the regional leaders urged Goita, an ex-special forces commander, to appoint a new civilian prime minister and to form a new "inclusive government". J. Peter Pham, a former US envoy to the Sahel, said that ECOWAS had acquiesced to a "fait accompli" and had tacitly recognised Goita as the head of state. The colonel first came to international attention on August 18, when he led the army officers who overthrew Mali's elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita for perceived corruption and his failure to quell a bloody jihadist insurgency. After the takeover, the military agreed to appoint civilians as interim president and prime minister under pressure from ECOWAS. But in a move that provoked diplomatic uproar, soldiers last week detained transitional president Bah Ndaw and prime minister Moctar Ouane, releasing them on Thursday while saying that they had resigned. Mali's constitutional court completed Goita's rise to full power on Friday by naming him transitional president. - No sanctions- The United States and Mali's former colonial master France have both threatened sanctions in response to the second coup. ECOWAS refrained from doing so, despite having imposed a trade and financial embargo on Mali after the coup in August. Nor did the West African bloc call for the reinstatement of transitional president Bah Ndaw. ECOWAS is still pushing for Mali to transition to civilian rule under a previously agreed timetable, however. The bloc suspended Mali from ECOWAS until February 2022, "when they are supposed to hand over to a democratically elected government," Ghana's Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey said after the meeting. Mali's junta said last week that it would continue to respect that timetable, but noted that it could be subject to change. With the junta going back on its previous commitment to civilian political leaders, doubts have been raised about this pledge. - Radical Islamism- French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche newspaper published Sunday that Paris "could not stay by the side of a country where there is no longer democratic legitimacy or a transition". On Monday his government backed ECOWAS's insistence on a presidential election in 2022 as an "absolute priority". France has some 5,100 troops deployed across Africa's arid Sahel region as part of its anti-jihadist force Barkhane. It first intervened in Mali in 2013 at the request of the government, to help quell a jihadist rebellion that broke out the previous year. The brutal Islamist insurgency is still raging in the vast nation of 19 million people, and has spread to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger. Macron also warned that France would withdraw its troops from Mali should the country lurch towards radical Islamism under Goita's leadership. Choguel Maiga, an opposition leader who is tipped to become the new prime minister, has close ties with the influential imam Mahmoud Dicko. Both men, as well as most of Mali's political elite, favour dialogue with Mali's jihadists in order to stem the bloodshed in the country. Paris has long opposed this policy. Short link: According to a press release published by Navantia on May 31, 2021, the company has committed to the delivery of 4 new frigates for the Hellenic Navy fleet and the modernization of the Hydra Class within the highly demanding Hellenic Navy schedule. The new frigates include their latest smart frigate design, the F-110, set to become the backbone of the Spanish Navy. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link Artist rendering of the future F110-class frigate for the Hellenic Navy (Picture source: Navantia) The F-110 embeds cutting-edge naval technologies along with its innovative production and operation capabilities. These innovations include full interoperability with European and US systems, latest-generation weapons, and the use of a digital twin that allows operational simulation and evaluation. Navantia will partner with the Greek shipbuilding industry and will boost the ecosystem of technology developers, engineering companies, industrial process contractors, and equipment and materials suppliers in Greece. As a core part of the program, the Spanish shipbuilder presented an ambitious technology and capabilities transfer (ToT) plan to revitalize Greek shipbuilding capability. The ToT plan not only involves industrial relationships but also building collaborations with universities and centers of excellence for innovation and workforce development. This plan is backed by the firms broad experience in developing capabilities for partner countries including Australia, Norway, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Navantia also plans to drive the necessary investment to redevelop Greek shipyard assets, helping to create a sustainable source of employment and economic growth for Greece. To strengthen its ties with the Greek industry, Navantia is launching an Industry Day web portal on the 9th of June to engage with the Greek shipbuilding and industrial ecosystem, onboarding local companies of all types and sizes. Its goals are presenting the program objectives, offering the opportunity for Greek companies to meet one-to-one with Navantia, and signing agreements for collaboration. The F110 class also known as the Bonifaz class is a multi-purpose, anti-submarine class of Aegis combat system-fitted heavy frigates under development for the Spanish Navy. The project is being co-developed by the Spanish Ministry of Defence and the state-owned company Navantia. The construction of the frigates is to begin by 2020 and is scheduled to be delivered between 2023 and 2027. The vessels displace 6100 tons and will have a crew of 150. The frigates will be equipped with a Spanish combat system, SCOMBA, developed by Navantia. This system acts as the vessels brain and integrates all the frigates sensors and weapons, such as surface sensors, EW and IFF supplied by Indra, Band S radar and Lockheed Martin vertical launcher, AAW SM-2 from Raytheon, the antisubmarine warfare systems, and SAES sonars but also the navigation and communications systems from Navantia Sistemas. The Hydra class is a group of four frigates in service with the Hellenic Navy. They were designed in Germany and are part of the MEKO group of modular warships, in this case, the MEKO 200 design. French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday suggested France will pull troops from Mali if the country's institutional instability persists and inhibits the fight against Islamic extremists. Macron told a news conference that ``our priority in Mali is the fight against terrorism and the presence of our forces on the ground is not enough in this fight. It also requires the strengthening of stable and legitimate institutions.'' France has more than 5,000 troops in Africa's Sahel region. Macron's comments come a day after West African leaders suspended Mali from their regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, over what they said amounted to a coup last week. ECOWAS called for a new civilian prime minister to be nominated immediately, a new inclusive government to be formed and the 18-month transition of power leading to February 2022 elections to be carried out, saying a monitoring mechanism will be put in place to assure this. ``Neither France nor its partners are committed to getting involved (in Mali) if the ECOWAS demands are not respected,'' Macron said. Germany, which has several hundred soldiers taking part in the U.N. stabilization and European Union training missions in Mali, sees the need to continue those deployments, Chancellor Angela Merkel said in the joint news conference with Macron via videoconference. She added, however, that there were ``red lines'' including the need to hold elections and for there to be no contact with Islamist forces, including by Mali's current president. She and Macron had agreed to have a ``very, very close exchange'' about developments in Mali and ``if there is a situation (...) in which we see red lines are crossed, then we will coordinate our actions closely.'' A power vacuum amid a 2012 coup d'etat unleashed years of chaos in Mali and allowed Islamic extremists to seize control of northern towns. Ultimately, a French-led military operation ousted the jihadis from strongholds in 2013, but they have regrouped and since expanded their reach. Short link: The number of Palestinian structures targeted for demolition or seizure by Israel increased by 90 percent in one year, according to a report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the occupied Palestinian territories, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Monday. In April, the Israeli occupation authorities demolished, forced people to demolish, or seized 23 Palestinian-owned structures across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. This resulted in the displacement of 13 people, including nine children, and otherwise affected the livelihoods, or access to services, of over 100 others, according to WAFA. All the structures were in Area C of the occupied West Bank or East Jerusalem and were targeted due to a lack of building permits, which are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain, stressed the OCHA. While the number of structures targeted in April is the second lowest this year, attributed to the start of the Muslim month of Ramadan on 13 April during which the Israeli occupation authorities traditionally halt most demolitions, the cumulative figure in 2021, as of end April, is 90 percent higher than its equivalent for the same period in 2020 (316 up from 166) and 129 percent higher for structures provided for humanitarian aid (110 up from 48). One of the structures, located in the herding community of Susiya in the Hebron district in the south of the West Bank, in addition to a cover for an agricultural structure in Al-Khader in Bethlehem, had been provided for humanitarian aid. In Khirbet Al-Ras Al-Ahmar, a small Bedouin community in the northern Jordan Valley, 21 donor-funded aid structures, including a 3.2km agricultural road, at a value of more than 60,000 euros, were served with stop-work orders. The community, which is located in an area designated by the Israeli authorities as a "firing zone" for military training, is at heightened risk of a forcible transfer. Also, in the northern Jordan Valley, an Israeli Settlement Regional Council handed several seizure orders against Palestinian-owned vegetable stalls in an Area C section of Bardala and Kardala villages in the Tubas district. Legal partners have filed an objection with the Israeli Civil Administration, arguing that the Regional Council lacks authority to issue such orders against Palestinians, and noted that the orders are based on Israeli civil law, which is not applicable in Area C, said the UN organisation. Ten structures were demolished in East Jerusalem, nine of them by the Jerusalem Municipality and one by the structures owner, following the issuance of a demolition order. Six of the targeted structures were in Al-Isawiyya neighbourhood, affecting the livelihoods of 18 people, including 10 children. Another three livelihood structures were located in the Beit Hanina neighbourhood. According to the affected families, the municipality demolished the structures before the expiration of the two-week notice given to them, as their lawyer was about to file an objection. Turkey's foreign minister was scheduled to meet the Greek prime minister and foreign minister on Monday, a day after raising tension in Athens with comments on the country's Muslim minority. Mevlut Cavusoglu had previously said the aim of his visit was to prepare for a bilateral meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a NATO summit in Brussels on June 14. But on Sunday, Cavusoglu's description of the minority as "Turkish" ahead of visiting the northeastern region near the Turkish border prompted an angry response from the Greek foreign ministry. "The Muslim minority in Thrace has about 120,000 Greek inhabitants," the ministry said in a statement. "Turkey's constant attempts to distort this reality, as well as the allegations of non-protection of the rights of these citizens, or of discrimination, are unfounded and are rejected in their entirety," it added. The status of Greece's Muslim minority is one of several points of contention between the two NATO allies. Relations also plunged last year during a face-off over energy deposits in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Greece has also accused Turkey of orchestrating an attempted incursion by thousands of asylum seekers last year. And Ankara's move last year to convert the revered Byzantine Hagia Sophia cathedral from a museum into a mosque also sparked fury from Athens. Turkey has often claimed that Greece fails to protect the rights of its Muslim minority, many of whom are of Turkish descent and Turkish-speaking. Cavusoglu had also raised the issue with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias during a heated press conference in Ankara in April. In turn, Dendias said Turkey was "violating" international law and Greece's sovereign rights, claiming that the Turkish airforce had conducted hundreds of illegal flights over Greek soil. Short link: . Israel's centrist opposition leader Yair Lapid was edging closer Monday to rallying a diverse political bloc around a common aim: to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu But building a coalition in Israel's notoriously fractured political landscape is no easy task. Here is a look at the issues. - Will an anti-Netanyahu coalition emerge? - Lapid's Yesh Atid ("There Is A Future") party took second place after Netanyahu's Likud party in March legislative elections, Israel's fourth within two years. After the combative right-wing premier again failed to cobble together a coalition, Lapid was tasked in May with forming a government. Former TV host Lapid has until just before midnight Wednesday to gather a majority of at least 61 lawmakers in the 120-seat Knesset. As of Monday morning Lapid had the support of 57 lawmakers, with his centrist base and members of the left making up 51. On Sunday he had crucially gained the support of nationalist hardliner Naftali Bennett, whose Yamina ("Rightward") party holds seven seats, although one of its MPs said he would not join the anti-Netanyahu camp. Lapid therefore needs four more backers and is looking for support among Israeli Arab parties, which have yet to announce their plans. Speaking on Monday, Lapid warned that "many obstacles" remain. "Maybe that's a good thing, because we'll have to overcome them together," Lapid told members of his party. "That's our first test -- to see if we can find smart compromises in the coming days to achieve the greater goal." - What unites the 'change' alliance? - The coalition would be a fragile grouping of multiple parties with deep ideological differences, united only in their common desire to topple Israel's longest-serving premier. It would include centrist groups such as Lapid's party and the Blue and White coalition led by former military chief Benny Gantz as well as historically powerful leftists Labor and Meretz. But Lapid has also rallied supporters on the right, starting with Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beitenu, a staunchly secular nationalist party backed by many immigrants from the former Soviet Union. It would also include the hawkish New Hope party, comprised of Likud defectors, and now the religious-nationalist Yamina bloc of Bennett, a former leader of Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank who opposes Palestinian statehood. The groups are bitterly opposed on a number of issues, including on the place of religion in politics. But they share "a genuine belief that Netanyahu is a danger to the country," said Jonathan Rynhold, a political science scholar at Bar-Ilan University near Tel Aviv. Their animosity is driven by the notion that Netanyahu has "put his personal interests ahead of the country," the professor said. Netanyahu, 71, is on trial for alleged fraud, bribery and breach of trust, charges he denies. In order to maintain unity and survive, said Rynhold, a new government would adopt "an agenda which is largely consensual", focusing mainly on less controversial issues in health, education and transport policy. - How about the peace process? - Israel's political drama comes shortly after the latest Israeli deadly aggression against the Palestinians in Gaza. It also follows years during which the Israeli-Palestinian peace process has stalled and Jewish settlements have been expanded in the occupied West Bank under hawkish Netanyahu. The issue not only angers Palestinians but also sharply divides Israel's political parties. The left supports the creation of a Palestinian state, while groups on the right want to annex the occupied West Bank. Rynhold said a multi-party "national unity government" shouldn't attempt major moves now to relaunch the peace process -- because of their divergent views, but also for unclear counterparts. The Palestinian Authority's president, Mahmud Abbas, is seen to lack legitimacy after more than 15 years in power, he said, while Hamas refuses to recognise the Jewish state. The new alliance would "reach an agreement on the status quo," Rynhold said. "But they will have to deal with managing the conflict so that there are not outbreaks" of violence as seen earlier this month. If fighting breaks out again, the parties are likely to stay united during times of military conflict, he said. "There is an Israeli consensus on the recent Gaza War. There has been an Israeli consensus on every war since 2000," Rynhold said. "It will get challenged, but they can pull it off." Short link: In a deepening diplomatic rift with Spain, Morocco's Foreign Ministry said Monday that the crisis between the two countries was ``about trust and mutual respect, which has been broken,`` a far larger issue than the presence in Spain of a rebel leader who is the enemy of the North African kingdom. The especially sharp statement suggested that Rabat and Madrid are far from resolving an increasingly nasty spat that started when Brahim Ghali, who heads the Polisario Front and the self-declared Sahrawi Democratic Arab Republic, showed up at a Spanish hospital for treatment of COVID-19. He checked in under a false identity, carrying a diplomatic passport from Algeria. The Polisario, based in southern Algeria, fights for independence of the Western Sahara, which Morocco annexed in the 1970s. But resolving the issue of the Polisario leader won't solve the problem with Spain, Morocco said. Ghali is making a virtual appearance in a Spanish court on Tuesday for alleged genocide allegations and other possible crimes that anti-Polisario groups accuse him of committing. ``The crisis is not related to a man's case. It does not start with his arrival nor does it end with his departure. First of all, it is about trust and mutual respect, which has been broken between Morocco and Spain,'' the ministry said. The two countries are strategic partners, working closely to stem migration into Europe and on security issues. The Spanish mainland is across a waterway from Morocco, but two Spanish enclaves in North Africa share borders with Morocco. The presence of Ghali, who arrived in Spain in mid-April, has been tied to a sudden surge of more than 8,000 migrants, many of them unaccompanied minors, who crossed the border to Ceuta, one of the enclaves. Spain disagreed. ``If (Morocco) is saying that because of a foreign policy disagreement it stops respecting borders and allows a massive influx of migrants onto Spanish soil, that in my view is not acceptable,'' Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Monday. ``Morocco has to keep in mind that it has no better ally in the European Union than Spain.'' For Morocco, the problem goes beyond foreign policy to the heart of its identity, part of which is anchored in the Western Sahara. ``This issue has exposed the hostile attitudes and harmful strategies of Spain regarding the Moroccan Sahara issue and revealed the collusion of our northern neighbor with the kingdom's enemies to undermine the territorial integrity of Morocco,'' the Foreign Ministry said. A series of questions the ministry posed underscored the deepening divide between the one-time close allies. ``How in this context can Morocco once again trust Spain? How can we know that Spain will not plot again with the enemies of the kingdom? Can Morocco really count on Spain not to act behind its back? How to restore confidence after such a serious mistake?`` the statement asked. The Moroccan statement raised the question of Madrid's problem with separatist Catalans, asking how Spain would have reacted ``if a figure of Spanish separatism had been received at the Royal Moroccan Palace.'' Ghali, now reportedly recovering from COVID-19, has not been received by Spanish authorities. Short link: Israel on Monday signed a tax treaty with the United Arab Emirates aimed at bolstering economic ties between the two countries as they pursue normalisation, the Israeli finance minister said. "This is a historic agreement that will stimulate the development of economic ties between the countries," Finance Minister Yisrael Katz said in a tweet announcing the deal. He said the agreement would "provide certainty and favourable conditions for extensive business activity". The deal, which must still be ratified by the Israeli parliament, is the latest move following the normalisation of ties between the two countries last year. With their economies hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, the UAE and Israel are hoping for rapid dividends from the US-brokered normalisation deal signed in September and known as the Abraham Accords. They have already signed several treaties, including on direct flights and visa-free travel, investment protection, science and technology. The Israeli finance ministry said the latest treaty stipulates lower taxes to encourage investment. The UAE was only the third Arab country to normalise ties with Israel, following Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco have since followed suit. The Abraham Accords swept away decades of consensus that there should be no relations with Israel until it makes peace with the Palestinians. Palestinians have condemned the agreements as "a stab in the back". Short link: . Greece and Turkey pledged on Monday to smooth differences which erupted into a public spat between their foreign ministers, announcing a meeting between President Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at next month's NATO summit The two historic rivals are at odds over many issues from competing territorial claims in the eastern Mediterranean to migrant boats and the status of Cyprus. They came close to armed conflict last year but have been trying to lower tensions. "We are fully aware of the different, and in some very serious issues, diametrically opposed positions that we have," Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said following a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Athens. "The purpose of today's meeting was to attempt an initial negotiation process and if possible, a gradual normalization of the situation over time." As recently as Sunday, the two countries traded barbs over the status of the Muslim minority in Greece. But the ministers were at pains to avoid a repeat of their open argument over sovereignty at a press conference in Ankara last month. Cavusoglu said Turkey wanted to improve economic ties with Greece and said there had been concrete steps on 25 articles in areas ranging from transport to energy, the environment, tourism and trade. He also said they had decided to recognise each other's COVID-19 vaccination certificates to permit travel between the countries. "I would like to say that, as Turkey, we have the will for these actions and I am happy to see the same will from Greece," he said. He said Erdogan and Mitsotakis were planning to meet at the NATO summit in Brussels on June 14. Short link: Egypts Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat received on Monday a delegation of the ExportImport Bank of Korea (KEXIM) that has started a seven-day visit to Egypt from 28 May to 3 June to negotiate financing various development projects in the transportation sector. The mission included representatives from the Korean Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Economic Development Cooperation Fund Evaluation Office of the KEXIM. The meeting comes within the framework of the Ministry of International Cooperation coordinating between international financing institutions, multilateral and bilateral development partners, and various national entities to secure development financing within the government of Egypts priorities. KEXIMs visit aims to plan meetings with several national authorities, in order to negotiate a number of projects, including the modernisation of the Luxor-Aswan railway signaling systems, and to discuss financing future projects that are aligned with Egypts priorities. During the meeting, Al-Mashat applauded the Egyptian-South Korean relations, particularly in light of the announcement that Egypt was selected as a strategic partner for the Republic of Koreas government in its plans for development cooperation in the region 2021-2025. The coming period will witness rounds of negotiations on partnerships and projects that fall under the strategic cooperation framework covering the next five years, said Al-Mashat. The ongoing development cooperation portfolio between Egypt and the Republic of Korea amounts to $473 million covering various sectors, chiefly higher education, information technology, and transportation, according to the international cooperation ministry. Short link: Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed on Monday the latest developments in the Palestinian territories, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), and Libya in a telephone call with US President Joe Biden, the Egyptian presidency said. According to the Egyptian presidency, Biden and El-Sisi discussed the latest developments in the Palestinian territories and ways to revive the peace process after the recent developments, as well as stabilising the ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian factions, which was brokered by Egypt with US support. The two presidents also discussed the international effort to reconstruct Gaza and the humanitarian aid it needs. President Biden said his country is ready to coordinate efforts with all international partners to support the Palestinian Authority and reconstruct Gaza. Biden also expressed his appreciation for the Egyptian efforts in securing the ceasefire, adding that he is looking forward to continuing coordinating and consultation on this matter. The Egyptian president also spoke about the latest developments concerning the GERD, where he welcomed the continuing US efforts in this issue. El-Sisi affirmed Egypts stance on protecting its water rights through reaching a fair and binding legal agreement between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan that includes clear terms and rules for the filling and operation of the GERD. President Biden said that Washington completely understands the extreme importance of such an issue to the Egyptian people, indicating that more efforts will be exerted to ensure the water security of Egypt. The two presidents agreed to boost diplomatic efforts in the upcoming period to reach an agreement that protects the water and development rights of all parties. They also discussed the latest situation in Libya and the importance of restoring the stability of the Libyan state and its institutions as well as the upcoming elections by the end of the year. The US president praised the Egyptian efforts in Libya which support the political process. Biden and El-Sisi also spoke about Iraq and the latest developments there. The two leaders also discussed bilateral relations between the United States and Egypt and ways to boost those relations. They also discussed the issue of human rights, with the two leaders agreeing that the US and Egypt will be committed to joining a transparent dialogue concerning human rights. The Egyptian president praised the strength of Egyptian-US strategic relations, adding that Egypt has continued to boost these relations within a framework of mutual interest and respect, the Egyptian presidency said. President Biden said his administration looks forward to boosting bilateral relations in all fields, especially given Egypts pivotal role regionally and internationally and its role in supporting security and stability in the Middle East. This is the second call between El-Sisi and Biden in a less than a week. The first was on Thursday following the announcement of the ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian factions in Gaza, which Egypt brokered. Following the telephone call, President El-Sisi issued a small statement on his social media account, where he said their conversation was characterized by understanding, honesty and transparency in all the issues that concern the two countries and the region. The Egyptian president also said that President Biden has an insightful vision and distinguished experience characterised by realism regarding all files, including the file of bilateral relations. El-Sisi added that Biden, with his sophistication and experience, is able to find radical solutions to all problems and challenges around the world and in the region. Short link: KYODO NEWS - May 31, 2021 - 21:01 | All, Japan The eldest son of a prominent Chinese historian who taught at a university in Japan's Hokkaido and is currently detained by Chinese authorities on suspicion of espionage is calling for his father to be released. "As a family, we can only hope that my father's innocence will be recognized as soon as possible and that he will be released from detention safely and in good health," said Yuan Chengji, 29, at a press conference in Tokyo on Monday. It has been more than two years since authorities in China detained 65-year-old Yuan Keqin, a former professor of East Asian political history at the Hokkaido University of Education, for alleged spying. While China has not disclosed the details of the indictment or the specific acts Yuan is accused of, according to the junior Yuan, his father has denied all charges of spying during his first meeting with a lawyer on May 9. "I want to continue asserting my father's innocence so that he will not be left alone in this struggle," said the junior Yuan. China last week rejected a request by family and friends for the senior Yuan's release, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian telling reporters, "A person who endangers national security will, of course, be punished by law." The senior Yuan, born in China's Jilin Province in 1955, studied law at Hitotsubashi University graduate school in Tokyo and is a permanent resident of Japan. He had been out of contact since June 2019, after he returned to China in May that year to attend a family funeral. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in March last year that he had been detained. In April this year, it said he had been prosecuted. Since his detention, Japanese scholars have carried out a campaign collecting signatures, urging the Chinese Communist-led government to release Yuan. Related coverage: China professor of Hokkaido university confessed to spying: Beijing Japan professors issue appeal for Chinese colleague missing in China Protect yourself to save others from corona massacre. Ishan Biswas The worldwide massacre of covid19 is unabated till the date. It is the biggest challenge for all the states including the northeast state Tripura also how to prevent this unseen killer foe immediately. The globe is trembling due to this constant massacre. The govt. is generating various precautionary measures but unless the public cooperate in implementation all these initiatives there will not be proper consequence. We have to approach unitedly with the administration to prevent this pandemic and save our country men. Prevent covid 19: How to protect yourself from the corona virus? Follow these simple precautions to reduce your chances of contracting covid19. The covid-19 pandemic has been a part of our daily lives since March 2020. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. As the vaccines continue their roll out, here are the simple steps you can take to help prevent the spread of covid-19 and protect yourself and others. Know how it spreads: Scientists are still learning about covid-19, the disease caused by the corona virus, but according to the CDC, this highly contagious virus appears to be most commonly spread during close (within 6 feet) person-to-person contact through respiratory droplets. The means of transmission can be through respiratory droplets produced when a person coughs or sneezes, or by direct physical contact with an infected person, such as shaking hands, hugging or embracing. The CDC also notes that covid-19 can spread by airborne transmission, although this is less common than close contact with a person. Some infections can be spread by exposure to virus in small droplets and particles that can linger in the air for minutes to hours. These viruses may be able to infect people who are further than 6 feet away from the person who is infected or after that person has left the space. These transmissions occurred within enclosed spaces that had inadequate ventilation. Finally, its possible for corona virus to spread through contaminated surfaces, but this is also less likely. As per to the CDC based on data from lab studies on covid-19 and what we know about similar respiratory diseases, it may be possible that a person can get covid-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this isnt thought to be the main way the virus spreads. Practice social distancing Since close person-to-person contact appears to be the main source of transmission, social distancing remains a key way to mitigate spread. The CDC recommends maintaining a distance of approximately 6 feet from others in public places. This distance will help you avoid direct contact with respiratory droplets produced by coughing or sneezing. In addition, studies have found that outdoor settings with enough space to distance and good ventilation will reduce risk of exposure. Wash your hands Practicing good hygiene is an important habit that helps prevent the spread of covid-19. Make these CDC recommendations part of your routine: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. Its especially important to wash: Before eating or preparing food Before touching your face After using the restroom After leaving a public place After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing After handling your mask After changing a diaper After caring for someone whos sick After touching animals or pets If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands with the sanitizer and rub them together until they feel dry. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Visit the CDC website for guidelines on how to properly wash your hands and use hand sanitizer. And see our video below on how soap kills the corona virus. Theres plenty of science behind this basic habit. Soap molecules disrupt the fatty layer or coat surrounding the virus. Once the viral coat is broken down, the virus is no longer able to function. In addition to hand-washing, disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. Wear a mask Face masks have become essential accessories in protecting yourself and others from contracting covid-19. The CDC recommends that people wear face coverings in public settings, especially since studies have shown that individuals with the novel corona virus could be asymptomatic or presymptomatic. Face masks are designed to provide a barrier between your airway and the outside world. By wearing a mask that covers your mouth and nose, you will reduce the risk of serving as the source of disease spread by trapping your own droplets in the mask, and also reduce the risk of getting sick via droplets that contain the coronavirus by blocking access to your own airways. Restrict your travel Traveling can increase the spread of covid-19 and put you at risk for contracting the disease. The CDC recommends avoiding non-essential travel to many international destinations during the pandemic. It also advises people to weigh the risks when it comes to domestic travel. Travel increases your chance of getting and spreading covid-19 states the CDC. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from covid-19. For people at risk for the complications of covid-19, such as those with underlying medical conditions or those who are older, its prudent to avoid travel. If you must travel, take safety measures, consider your mode of transportation, and stay up to date on the restrictions that are in place at your destination. Adhering to your states quarantine rules after traveling will help prevent the spread of covid-19. Watch for symptoms The symptoms of infection for the coronavirus are often similar to those of other respiratory virus infections, such as influenza. Symptoms can include: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, New loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea etc. With the covid-19 pandemic now coinciding with flu season, its important to recognize the differences in symptoms as well as get a flu shot. The medical community is concerned that if we have an increased number of influenza cases, it will strain the hospital system on top of whats already going on with the covid-19 pandemic. If you think you may have been exposed to a person with covid-19 and have symptoms, call ahead to a doctors office to see if you can get tested. All kinds of precautionary measures imposed by the administration should be obeyed with most care. In Tripura specially in rural areas people are Innocent, they have no idea over this infection tendency so various kinds of precautionary awareness must be generated amidst those villagers to prevent this covid-19 infection immediately. KYODO NEWS - May 31, 2021 - 23:47 | World, All, Coronavirus Leaders from countries and international organizations pledged to work together to pursue growth in a post-pandemic recovery in line with the Paris climate change accord, in a declaration adopted at the conclusion Monday of a climate change summit hosted by South Korea. The two-day P4G Seoul Summit, held mainly online under the theme of "Inclusive Green Recovery towards Carbon Neutrality," drew more than 60 leaders, such as South Korean President Moon Jae In and U.S. climate envoy John Kerry. "We acknowledge that green recovery should steer our efforts to rebuild the economy from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to limit the temperature increase to well below 2 C aiming for 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels, in line with the Paris Agreement," the declaration reads. "We will strive to pursue green recovery as an inclusive process that reflects a just transition, taking into account different national circumstances as well as socially and environmentally vulnerable communities," it adds. P4G is a shorthand for Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030, an initiative launched in 2017 by a group of countries, international organizations, corporations and civic groups to deliver on sustainable development goals set by the United Nations and on the 2015 Paris accord. It brings together 12 "middle power" countries such as South Korea, Denmark, Vietnam and Mexico. During a session on Monday attended by Moon, Kerry and others, the South Korean president suggested that the international community strengthen cooperation for achieving inclusive green recovery, while focusing on technology, financial resources and capacity building. In a video message on Sunday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, whose country bills itself as the "largest developing country," said that after the pandemic, countries should not return to the path of development with heavy pollution and high emissions, and that they must resist the impulse for extensive growth. Li also signaled that advanced countries must assume larger responsibilities than less developed countries. Moon, during his opening speech the same day, promised that South Korea will help developing countries that depend mostly on coal energy change their main energy source, pledging to substantially increase its official development assistance for climate change. The president said South Korea will serve as a "bridge" between advanced and developing countries. Moon also said his government will "carry out voluntary and preemptive policies so that a journey toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 could become a way for sustainable growth." The president also unveiled plans for South Korea to bid to host a U.N. climate change conference in 2023. Kerry called 2020 to 2030 "the decisive decade." "If we fail to make sufficient progress by 2030, it will become scientifically, physically...impossible to be able to make the reductions that get us to net zero by 2050," he said, adding, "We can do this, but we need the political will and the commitment." The second P4G summit followed the inaugural one held in Copenhagen in 2018. KYODO NEWS - May 31, 2021 - 14:30 | All, Japan An estimated total of 564 kilograms of hawksbill turtle shell were seized by Japanese customs authorities between 2000 and 2019, showing evidence of the continued smuggling of the animals and their parts despite a global trade ban on them for over four decades, the World Wide Fund for Nature said Monday. The WWF urged Japan to immediately review its current policy as the buying and selling of tortoiseshell items, called "bekko" in Japanese, are allowed in the country and that has driven illegal trade. "Japanese authorities should strengthen their domestic controls, international cooperation and use of advanced DNA forensics," the WWF, one of the world's largest and independent conservation organizations, said in a report after looking into official data with two other groups. They said the analysis also found that the major source region appears to have shifted from nations in Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia and Singapore, to Caribbean countries, including the Dominican Republic and Haiti, in recent years. The volume seized in 71 illegal importation incidents during the 20-year period by Japan Customs is equivalent to approximately 530 hawksbill turtles, according to the report compiled by the WWF, Traffic, a wildlife trade monitoring network, and the Japan Tiger and Elephant Fund. It said the primary method of transport was international mail, accounting for 93 percent of all incidents. The hawksbill turtle inhabiting tropical and subtropical waters is listed as "critically endangered" in the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List. Since 1977, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has banned all international commercial trade in the animals, their parts and derivatives. Japan ratified the convention in 1980 and introduced a zero import quota of raw tortoiseshell in 1993. But the domestic craft industry, possibly dating back to the 17th century, survived by using materials from stockpiles imported before 1993, according to the WWF. There is no regulation over trade or business dealing in finished products, it said. Their snapshot survey of closing bids containing "bekko" on a major online auction platform in Japan in 2019 alone found that at least 8,202 sales of hawksbill products, worth 102 million yen ($930,000), took place. "Since illegally sourced tortoiseshell is entering domestic supply chains, urgent reviews of manufacturers' stockpiles and domestic trade regulations are needed," the report said, asking also e-commerce firms to introduce a voluntary ban on all marine turtle products. KYODO NEWS - May 31, 2021 - 18:29 | All, Japan, Coronavirus The Japanese government on Monday approved Pfizer Inc.'s COVID-19 vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds, the first shot to be made available to children in the country. The age group will be able to receive shots free of charge in addition to those aged 16 and older already eligible, a health ministry panel decided at a meeting in the afternoon. Children aged 12 to 15 will not immediately begin getting the Pfizer vaccine, as Japan is still in the process of inoculating health care workers and people aged 65 and older. Only around 6 percent of the country's population of 126 million has been given at least one dose, a much lower share than other developed nations. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has vowed to ramp up the effort, promising to fully vaccinate the elderly by July, when the Tokyo Olympics are set to begin. The panel at the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare also approved easing storage guidelines for the Pfizer vaccine, allowing doses to be refrigerated at 2 to 8 C for up to one month after being taken out of the freezer rather than five days. The U.S. pharmaceutical giant had requested 12- to 15-year-olds be made eligible after a clinical trial involving 2,260 children showed a 100 percent efficacy rate. None given the shots developed COVID-19 symptoms, while 18 who were given a placebo did. The United States and the European Union earlier this month greenlit the vaccine for use in the age group, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration saying the "known and potential benefits...outweigh the known and potential risks." Japan authorized the Pfizer shot for people aged 16 and older in February and has agreements for enough doses for 97 million people as well as supply deals with U.S. biotechnology firm Moderna Inc. and British drugmaker AstraZeneca Plc. Moderna has also released clinical study results showing its vaccine to be effective on 12- to 17-year-olds, in addition to those aged 18 and older it is currently approved for use on. KYODO NEWS - Jun 1, 2021 - 00:02 | Japan, All, Coronavirus Japan plans to tighten its border control to prevent the spread of more contagious variants of the novel coronavirus, asking travelers from Vietnam and Malaysia to stay in government-designated facilities for six days after arrival, government sources said Monday. It will also set the quarantine period at such facilities at 10 days for travelers from Afghanistan and three days for those from Thailand and some U.S. states, the sources said. Japan has already imposed a travel ban on 159 countries and regions, restricting entry of foreign nationals, including those with resident status, who have been to those countries within the past two weeks, except under special circumstances. New Delhi: Former Calcutta High Court Judge CS Karnan has been released from Presidency Jail after serving six-month jail sentence. He had been in Coimbatore since May 9 when the apex court held him guilty for contempt of court and sentenced him to six months imprisonment. Karnan, 62, who retired on June 12 as Calcutta High Court judge, was arrested on June 20 by the West Bengal CID. Karnan has the dubious distinction of being the first sitting high court judge to be awarded a jail term by the apex court and also the first to have retired as a fugitive. A seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India J S Khehar, had on May 9 directed the West Bengal director general of police to take the then serving judge into custody immediately. Despite several attempts, Karnan has failed to get any relief from the apex courts vacation benches which has refused to hear his plea seeking a stay of its jail term order. He [Justice Karnan] is scheduled to be released tomorrow [Dec. 20]. I am coming to Kolkata to accompany him back to Chennai, Justice Karnans wife Saraswati Karnan had told PTI over the phone on Tuesday. Ms. Saraswati Karnan, a professor of economics in a Chennai college, said she had last met her husband at the Presidency Correctional Home in Kolkata a month-and-a-half ago. I found him in good spirits and health, she said. Justice Karnan had earned the dubious distinction of becoming the first sitting high court judge to have been sentenced to jail. The apex court had sentenced him to six months in jail for contempt of court on May 9. Justice Karnan was a serving judge of the Calcutta High Court at that time. A seven-judge Bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar, had asked the West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) to take Justice Karnan, who was on a warpath with the apex court for months, into custody. The Supreme Court had earlier issued a bailable warrant against the judge to secure his presence before it in connection with the contempt case. Justice Karnan had appeared before the apex court on March 31, a first in the countrys judicial history, and asked for restoration of his powers as a pre-condition for his re-appearance, but the plea was rejected. Justice Karnan, who enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu in 1983, was appointed a judge of the Madras High Court in 2009. He was transferred to the Calcutta High Court on March 11, 2016. He was transferred from the Madras High Court for his repeated allegations against and run-ins with the then Chief Justice and fellow judges of the court. With PTI Input For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Bengaluru: To attract IT giants for the Assam Global Investors Summit 2018, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonawal on Tuesday did a road show in Bengaluru and held meetings with heads of many IT companies. This will be the first investors meet to be held in Guwahati. The Assam Government has recently approved seven sectorial policies and procurement policies in IT, BT, start-ups and Tourism to attract investors. The summit will cast the spotlight on the state's readiness to become an ideal destination for investments capable of catering to the whole of India. Sonawal, while addressing media in Bengaluru said, With PM Modi considering the northeast region as the new growth engine, Assam is all set to place a positive proposal before its potential investors to invest in the state ensuring that the government would provide all possible support to them to develop their businesses. PM Modi will be inaugurating 2-day Advantage Assam - Global Investors Summit on February 2 in Guwahati. Ahmedabad: An FIR was registered today against Patidar quota agitation spearhead Hardik Patel and around 50 of his supporters for holding a roadshow on the city outskirts on December 11 without permission, police said. The Ahmedabad Police registered the case in connection with the roadshow held in Bopal area. "Hardik, who heads the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), and his supporters were booked under IPC section 188 for disobeying the police order," Bopal Police Inspector I H Gohil said. Hardik and his supporters, who were on their bikes, had organised a roadshow on December 11, despite being denied permission by the district authorities, he said. "Today, we have lodged an FIR against him and 50 other bikers for disobeying the police notification," Gohil said. This is the first FIR against Hardik after the state Assembly elections. Three days before the second phase of Gujarat Assembly polls, the rally-cum-roadshow on motorcycles and cars was organised, which started from Bopal and culminated at Nikol area on the other end of the city, covering a distance of around 15 km. While Bopal area falls under the jurisdiction of rural police, Nikol area is under the city police limits. After the roadshow, Police Commissioner A K Singh had expressed displeasure over Patel's move and said that legal action would be taken for holding the event without permission. Singh had denied permission to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi to hold roadshows in the city during the campaign which the leaders of the two parties had obeyed. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Pakistan based international terror outfit Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief and the Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, as every other citizen of Pakistan, can play an active role in finding a solution to the Kashmir conflict, opined Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday according to ANI. Bajwa was speaking on topics like counter-terrorism operations and foreign policy at in-camera session of the Senate Committee of the Whole in Islamabad. He said, Like every other Pakistani, Saeed can also take up the Kashmir cause. His statement comes just days after former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had called Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and JuD patriotic and expressed his willingness to forge an alliance with them for the safety and security of Pakistan. Saeed is the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba and has been designated a terrorist by the UN. He is carrying a USD 10 million bounty on his head. His JuD was declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014. Saeed, who was released by Pakistan from house arrest last November resulting in an angry reaction from the US, was the mastermind of the Mumbai terrorist attacks and is the leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba, PTI quoted State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert as saying. The United States had also strongly condemned his release and had called for his immediate re-arrest and prosecution warning that the release can have an impact on the bilateral ties between the two countries. The White House had asked Pakistan to immediately re-arrest and prosecute the Mumbai attack mastermind. (With Agency inputs) For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Washington: Describing India as a "leading global power", the US on Monday unveiled its new National Security Strategy (NSS) that said it will "deepen" America's strategic partnership with India and support its leadership role in Indian Ocean security and throughout the broader region. With an eye on China's One Belt One Road (OBOR) and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the US administration said it will help South Asian countries "maintain their sovereignty" as China increases its influence in the region. The NSS also seeks Pakistan to take decisive action against terrorists. "We welcome India's emergence as a leading global power and stronger strategic and defence partner," said the National Security Strategy unveiled by President Donald Trump. The 68-page document said the US will seek to increase quadrilateral cooperation with Japan, Australia, and India. "We will expand our defence and security cooperation with India, a Major Defence Partner of the United States, and support India's growing relationships throughout the region," the NSS said, noting that its vision for Indo-Pacific excludes no nation. India-US defence relationship was mentioned in the context of Indo-Pacific region, whereas it gave a very prominent role to India in South and Central Asia. "We will deepen our strategic partnership with India and support its leadership role in Indian Ocean security and throughout the broader region," according to the NSS which the White House said sets a positive strategic direction for the US that will restore America's advantages in the world and build upon our country's great strengths. The NSS said it will press Pakistan to intensify its counter-terrorism efforts, since no partnership can survive a country's support for militants and terrorists who target a partner's own service members and officials. Also Read: UN to vote on aid deliveries to Syria's rebel areas "The United States will also encourage Pakistan to continue demonstrating that it is a responsible steward of its nuclear assets," it said adding the US will continue to partner with Afghanistan to promote peace and security in the region. In an apparent reference to the OBOR and CPEC, the NSS said, "We will help South Asian nations maintain their sovereignty as China increases its influence in the region". The recent Chinese move in Sri Lanka and Maldives is seen as an effort on their part to encroach eat on their sovereignty with similar fears in Pakistan. India has objected to CPEC as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The US, it said, continues to face threats from transnational terrorists and militants operating from within Pakistan. "The prospect for an Indo-Pakistani military conflict that could lead to a nuclear exchange remains a key concern requiring consistent diplomatic attention," NSS said. US interests in the region include countering terrorist threats that impact the security of the US homeland and its allies, preventing cross-border terrorism that raises the prospect of military and nuclear tensions, and preventing nuclear weapons, technology, and materials from falling into the hands of terrorists, it said. "We seek an American presence in the region proportionate to threats to the homeland and our allies. We seek a Pakistan that is not engaged in destabilising behaviour and a stable and self-reliant Afghanistan," the NSS said. Insisting that it is committed to supporting the Afghan government and security forces in their fight against the Taliban, al-Qaeda, ISIS, and other terrorists, the NSS said the US will bolster the fighting strength of the Afghan security forces to convince the Taliban that they cannot win on the battlefield and to set conditions for diplomatic efforts to achieve enduring peace. "We will insist that Pakistan take decisive action against militant and terrorist groups operating from its soil," it said. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reached out to the people of cyclone Ockhi-hit areas of Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu and Kerala and assured them all possible help from the Centre to rebuild their lives and trace those missing. Modi said search operations to trace the missing fishermen in Kerala and Tamil Nadu would continue and expressed hope that all of them would come back home before Christmas. "I am here to assure you that India stands shoulder to shoulder with all those affected by Cyclone Ockhi. We will leave no stone unturned in the rescue and relief operations," said the Prime Minister, who addressed a gathering of fisher folk at Poonthura, a fishing hamlet near Thiruvanathapuram. "Some of our people are stranded in foreign nations. The Ministry of External Affairs and various embassies are working to bring them back. Some people also got stranded in parts of India's western coast. We have rescued many of them," he said. On a day-long hectic tour, Modi held high-level discussions with the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala and the administration of the union territory of Lakshadweep and reviewed the situation post-Ockhi. During the meetings, both Tamil Nadu and Kerala demanded a special financial package from the Centre to tide over the destruction caused by the natural calamity and wanted the cyclone to be declared as a national disaster. Modi, who reached Kavaratti, Lakshadweep's capital, on Tuesday morning, discussed with top officials and people's representatives the situation in the union territory. He also found time to meet some local people, the victims of the calamity, and interacted with them. Talking to PTI over phone, Lakshadweep administrator Farooq Khan said as per a rough estimate, damage caused due to the cyclone in the union territory, was to the tune of Rs 150 crore. "We are processing the cases of those affected by the cyclone Ockhi to get maximum relief for them. We have conveyed our requirements to the Centre," he said. Lakshadweep MP Mohammad Faizal said the administration has sought an immediate aid of Rs 150 crore for rebuilding the basic infrastructure damaged in the devastating cyclone. The MP said PM Modi has assured all central assistance to the island. Though there was no loss of life or injuries, roughly 1000 houses had been damaged in the island territory, the majority of which are in Minicoy, an official said. At Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, the Prime Minister held a high-level meeting in which Chief Minister K Palaniswami presented a memorandum seeking Rs 9,302 crore central aid. Palaniswami later told reporters that his government sought Rs 5,255 crore assistance towards implementing permanent rehabilitation measures in Kanyakumari and another Rs 4,047 crore to cater to other parts of the state, including state capital Chennai, affected by the North-East monsoon. At Poonthura, which bore the brunt of the cyclone, the Prime Minister gave a patient hearing to weeping women, children and men, who lost their kin and livelihood in the cyclone. "The whole country is with you in this time of sorrow. We will do everything to search for the missing fishermen," Modi said. "...We pray to God that before Christmas, all the missing persons return," the prime minister added. Modi later took part in a high-level meeting, in which Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan sought a special central assistance of Rs 7,340 crore for rehabilitation and rebuilding of cyclone affected coastal villages. Also Read| Cyclone Ockhi: PM Modi holds meeting with officials in Lakshadweep This package is besides the Rs 422 crore sought by the state under the National Disaster Relief Fund. The Prime Minister assured the state government that the package would be considered sympathetically, an official release said later. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. British intelligence agencies now believe it is "feasible" that the COVID-19 pandemic began with a coronavirus leak from a Chinese laboratory, a media report said on Sunday, prompting UK's Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi to demand that the WHO must fully investigate the origins of the deadly virus. The origins of the COVID-19 remain a widely debated topic, with some scientists and politicians maintaining that the possibility of a lab leak of the deadly virus exists. Western intelligence, including in Britain, at first considered there was only a "remote" chance that it had leaked from the laboratory, where research is conducted into bat-derived coronaviruses, including one closely associated with COVID-19. But there has since been a reassessment, and a lab escape is thought "feasible", the Sunday Times reported, citing sources. China's Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) is near the outbreak's known epicentre of Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, where the virus first emerged in late 2019 and became a pandemic. More than 168 million confirmed cases have since been confirmed worldwide and at least 3.5 million deaths reported. "There might be pockets of evidence that take us one way, and evidence that takes us another way. The Chinese will lie either way. I don't think we will ever know," said a western intelligence source familiar with UK involvement in the investigation. Agencies are believed to have few human intelligence sources in China. Gathering data there has focused on trying to recruit on the dark web, where Chinese employees can share secrets anonymously without fear of being caught, the paper said. Citing US diplomatic sources, the paper said there were concerns that if the origin could not be determined, this could happen again and we are one wet market or bio lab away from the next spillover. Speaking to Sky News on Sunday, Britain's Vaccines Minister Zahawi insisted that the WHO must be able to fully investigate the origins of the coronavirus. Zahawi said it's vital that the WHO is "allowed to conduct its investigation unencumbered" as it seeks to better understand how the initial outbreak began. "We should leave no stone unturned," he added. Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, said: The silence coming from Wuhan is troubling. We need to open the crypt and see what happened to be able to protect ourselves in the future. That means starting an investigation, along with partners around the world and in the WHO." Last week, US President Joe Biden ordered the US intelligence agencies to "redouble" their efforts in investigating the emergence of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic and report back to him in 90 days, amid growing controversy about the virus's origins from the WIV in China. His announcement came after a US intelligence report found several researchers at the WIV fell ill in November 2019 and had to be hospitalised -- a new detail that fuelled fresh public pressure on Biden to order a detailed investigation into the origin of the deadly virus. Former US president Donald Trump was among those who supported the theory that the virus might have escaped from a bio lab in China. Beijing has been vehemently denying that the coronavirus broke out in Wuhan and took exception to Trump's reference to it as China virus or Wuhan virus. China asserts that the COVID-19 broke out in different places in the world and China only reported the virus first. In a detailed article titled The origin of COVID: Did people or nature open Pandora's box at Wuhan' published in the prestigious Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists early this month, noted British science writer, editor and author Nicholas Wade raised several questions on the origin of the novel coronavirus. The evidence adds up to a serious case that the SARS2 virus could have been created in a lab, from which it then escaped, wrote Wade, who refers to SARS-CoV-2 virus as SARS2 in short. Earlier this month, a group of leading UK and US scientists called for more investigation to determine the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the theory of an accidental release from a lab in Wuhan. In May 2020, the World Health Assembly requested that the WHO director-general work with partners to determine the origins of SARS-CoV-2. The World Health Organisation conducted an investigation into the origins of the pandemic and concluded in a report that the risk of an accidental leak from the Wuhan Institute, where coronavirus research was being conducted on bats, was "extremely low." But the WHO probe has been criticised by the US, United Kingdom and other governments over its limited access to "complete, original data and samples." The WHO study was co-authored by 17 Chinese scientists, several of them from state-run institutions. Also read: 'COVID-26, COVID-32 likely unless we fully understand COVID-19 origins': US experts New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday has directed all district police chiefs to ensure the freedom of practising ones religion is protected after a Hindu group warned schools in the state not to celebrate Christmas. Additional director general of police (ADGP) Anand Kumar said, We have directed the senior superintendent of police (SSP) Aligarh to take strict actions against anyone trying to prevent one right to practise ones religion. The ADGP added that similar directives have been given to all state police chiefs. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliated Hindu Jagran Manch on Sunday had issued a circular threatening schools in Aligarh against celebrating Christmas. Also read: Tomb of 'Santa Claus' discovered in Turkey The circular warns the schools not to impose Christian celebrations on Hindu kids because these actions indirectly lead to religious conversion. Hindu Jagran Manch Aligarh mahanagar president Sonu Savita talking to media said, Such celebrations indirectly lead to religious conversion. Childrens mental conditions are also affected. He also said that they if schools do not stop celebrating Christmas in schools they will protest in large numbers. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Telecom company Vodafone has partnered with Transsion Holdings-owned Itel to launch an entry-level 4G smartphone, called the A20, which comes at an effective price of Rs 1,590. The new A20 competes with other budget smartphones like the JioPhone and Airtel Intex Aqua Lions N1 among others. The A20 is priced at Rs 3,690 but Vodafone will offer a cashback of Rs 2,100 to the customers that brings down the phone to Rs 1,590. The customers who want to buy the Itel A20 will need to make monthly recharges of Rs 150 for a period of 36 months (3 years). The reports say that the recharge can be either done as a one-time recharge or all at once. After the first 18 months, the customers will receive Rs 900 cashback in their M-Pesa wallets and Rs 1200 after the additional 18 months. The bundled offer is available upto March 31, 2018. Gaurav Tikoo, Senior VP, Marketing, Trassion India, said, At Itel, we are committed to making the 4G smartphone experience accessible to the masses as well as to boost the value proposition offered by all our products. Not only are we enhancing our 4G portfolio to achieve this aim, but are also entering into major strategic tie-ups to deliver greater value in our offerings. Our partnership with Vodafone reiterates this commitment. Its superior network coverage will perfectly complement the feature-intensive A20. We are confident that the partnership will drive 4G adoption across the country by maximizing the overall value for both Itel and Vodafone customers. Aslo Read: Micromax Bharat 5 launched at Rs 5,555 with 50 GB free data The Itel A20 runs on Android 7.0 Nougat and features a 4-inch XVGA (480X800) display. Powered by 1.3 GHz quad-core processor and coupled with 1 GB RAM and 8 GB storage, the smartphone features a 2-megapixel rear camera and 0.3-megapixel front camera. The dual-SIM smartphone offers a 1500mAH battery and will be available in three colours, Dark Blue, Champagne Gold and Silver. Recently, Airtel partnered with Intex to launch the Aqua Lions N1 at the price of Rs 1,649. Similarly, BSNL partnered with Micromax to launch Bharat 1 at Rs 2,200. New Delhi: A legislation to amend the Indian Forest Act to exempt felling and transportation of bamboo grown in non-forest areas from the state permit, was tabled in the Lok Sabha today. The Indian Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2017 -- which would omit bamboos growing in non-forest areas from the definition of treeswas introduced by Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan even as BJD leader B Mahtab raised concerns and opposed the legislation. Last month, the government had come out with an ordinance to amend the Indian Forest Act, 1927 in this regard. This bill would replace this ordinance. Prior to issuance of the ordinance, the definition of tree in the Act included palm, bamboo, brushwood and cane. Before the bill was introduced in the House, Mahtab opposed it saying the government wants to do away with the requirement of seeking permission from states for transportation of bamboo. Whom are you protecting?... You are protecting the interests of traders, Mahtab claimed as he opposed the Bill. In response, Vardhan said the apprehensions of the member are not right and the bill would help the farmers. Emphasising that the bill was one of the major reform moves, Vardhan said, there is nothing anti-people, it is farmer friendly and would help the economy in a big way. Vardhan introduced the bill as Congress and some other Left members were raising slogans against the Prime Minister for his remarks against Manmohan Singh during a Gujarat poll rally. According to the bills Statement of Objects and Reasons, section 2 of the Act would be amended to omit the word bamboos from the definition of tree, in order to exempt bamboos grown in non-forest area from the requirement of permit for felling or transit under the law. This would encourage bamboo plantation by farmers resulting in the enhancement of their income from agricultural fields, it said. As per the statement, bamboo, though taxonomically a grass, is treated as tree under the Act and attracts the requirement of permit for transit. Many states have exempted felling and transit of various species of bamboos within the states, the inter-state movement of bamboos require permit. The farmers are facing hardships in getting the permits for felling and transit of bamboos within the state and also for outside the state, which has been identified as major impediment of the cultivation of bamboos by farmers on their land, it noted. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday vowed to dislodge anti-farmer Shivraj Singh Chouhan government from Madhya Pradesh. Scindia announced he will not wear a garland until the Shivraj Singh-led BJP government in Madhya Pradesh is ousted. The BJP government in the state is anti-farmer and it fired bullets at them (during an agitation in June this year). Therefore, I have taken a vow that I will not wear a garland till I ensure an ouster of this government from the state, Scindia said. Scindia was on a three-day-visit to Madhya Pradesh for campaigning in Mungaoli constituency where by-election will be held following the death of Congress MLA Mahendra Singh Kalukheda. Also Read | Aiyar's 'neech' remark may have undone Rahul's gains in Gujarat: Moily Attacking Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Scindia said MP CM claims the people of Madhya Pradesh are his god and he worship them, but now a days he has lodged his god in jail. The Congress MP from Guna accused Shivraj government of doing atrocities on people of and said the Janta will teach him lessons in next upcoming assembly elections. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Secularism is "safe" in India because it is in the DNA of its people, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said on Tuesday and stressed on telling the new generation about Indian culture of living in harmony. He also said the duty of the majority community is to win over minorities and the duty of the minority community is to think in terms of nation first. Delivering the 10th annual lecture of the National Commission for Minorities, he said India has no history of attacking any country, while there were countries which attacked and looted it. Noting that Indian civilisation has survived despite such attacks and invasions because it always believed in harmony, he said the new generation should be reminded about the Indian culture and heritage. The theme of the lecture was 'Minorities in Nation Building'. "Let me make it very clear and share my thoughts. Secularism is safe in India not simply because of the Constitution... Secularism is safe in India because secularism is in the DNA of Indian people," Naidu said. He said when he was in politics, he had always said that one should keep the interest of the nation first, party next and self-last. Naidu, however, said unfortunately for some people the last has become the first. The vice president said there should be "no feeling of minority and majority". "We are all one... duty of majority community is to win over minority and the duty of the minority community also is to think in terms of nation first," he said. Stressing that "development with dignity" of all the people must be the agenda of the nation, he said bringing a bill in the Parliament won't change much unless there is political will and administrative skill. The vice president said the notion of pluralism, inclusion and peaceful co-existence have to be the cornerstones of Indian governance. He said the minority commission is mandated to suggest and devise appropriate measures for their socio-economic development of minorities. Also Read| Venkaiah Naidu on Vande Mataram row: Would you salute Afzal Guru if not your mother? The commission has the underlying principle of inclusive growth ensuring that the benefits of political democracy reach those who are likely to be left out, he added. Those present on the occasion included Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Bengaluru: Kaushik Majumdar, a physically challenged man has alleged harassment by Air India staff. Majumdar says he was allegedly stopped from boarding a flight from Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru on Sunday. Majumdar, a native of Kolkata, has been staying in Bengaluru for a decade now. On Sunday he was supposed to travel to Kolkata via Air India flight. He is using an electronic wheelchair since he has 85% orthopaedic disability. Majumdar said, "I reached airport and collected my boarding pass and took the bus to reach near the plane but when I was about to board the flight ground staff asked me to disconnect the battery of my wheelchair which I did but Air India staff was not satisfied with this and ordered me to remove the wire which is connected to the battery. I told them I can't remove that since this is a complex mechanism and I can't join them back. But the staff was adamant and didn't allow me to board the flight hence I had to come back home." However, Air India refuted these allegations saying the passenger was informed near the boarding desk to only remove the wire from the battery since battery operated wheelchairs are not allowed inside the aircraft as per DGCA rules. Air India issued a statement regarding the incident which says, "The passenger was informed by the counter staff at the check-in counter that the battery operated wheelchair is not permitted inside the aircraft and accordingly offered a wheelchair. At that time the passenger agreed to remove the battery at the boarding gate. After reaching the boarding gate AI official spoke to him about the need to remove the battery, however, the passenger refused to disconnect the battery. The same was informed to the commander of the flight and since the passenger was not agreeing to disconnect the battery he could not be accommodated on the flight. Air India strictly follows the laid down procedures and regulations regarding passenger safety. Majumdar says he had faced this kind of situation earlier as well since there are no proper guidelines and rules for these kinds of situations and this is the first time he was not allowed to fly. New Delhi: Union minister Giriraj Singh on Tuesday took a dig at Rahul Gandhi, saying that he was forced to visit temples to win votes in Gujarat as the Congress could no longer ignore sentiments of the majority community. "Earlier secularism was about appeasement of minorities but for the first time it meant that the majority community could no longer be ignored," he said outside Parliament. Targeting the Congress president, the Hindutva leader said Gandhi's party workers slaughtered a calf in Kerala to win votes but now he had to visit temples. Gandhi was like a man who kept jumping from one God to another but none came to his rescue, he said. Singh also attacked National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah after the latter targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his charges against his predecessor Manmohan Singh. The Union minister alleged that Abdullah had become a voice of Pakistan in India's Parliament. Sometimes he says Pak-occupied Kashmir should be given to Pakistan and sometime he supports separatists, Singh said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Ahmedabad: The new BJP government in Gujarat is likely to be sworn in on December 25, party sources said on Tuesday amid speculation that a new leader could be chosen to helm the state where it secured a narrow victory in the Assembly polls. BJP president Amit Shah had announced during the campaign that the party was fighting elections under Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and his deputy Nitin Patel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was, however, the face of the party in the keenly contested elections. "Due to the thin margin of victory this time, the party leadership may think of changing the chief minister," sources said. Modi and the central parliamentary board of the party will take the final call, they said. Asked who will be the next chief minister, Rupani told reporters, "The BJP fought this election in Gujarat with my face. But the final decision will be taken by the party's parliamentary board." BJP won 99 seats in the 182-member Assembly, securing seven seats more than the 92 needed for a simple majority, while the Congress and its allies won 80. December 25 is the likely date for the swearing-in as it is the birthday of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, sources said. After the 2012 elections, Narendra Modi had taken oath of office for the fourth time on December 25. The state's chief secretary, J N Singh, inspected the Sardar Patel stadium in Ahmedabad, the likely venue of the ceremony, on Tuesday. "We have come here to inspect the stadium as the oath-taking ceremony is likely to be held here," Singh told reporters. He, however, said the team will also inspect other venues like Mahatma Mandir and Sabarmati Riverfront, which has been the showpiece of the BJP's development politics. Modi had personally escorted Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, besides Japanese premier Shinzo Abe and his spouse to the Sabarmati Riverfront. Sources in the BJP said Modi, party chief Amit Shah as also chief ministers of BJP-ruled states are likely to attend the swearing-in ceremony. "After the election victory, there is a process. Observers will come from Delhi and preside over the meeting of newly elected MLAs to decide on the chief minister. After the meeting, the newly elected chief minister will stake claim to form government and the oath-taking ceremony will be held," state BJP spokesperson Jagdish Bhavsar said. Also Read| BJP set to form government in Gujarat, Himachal: Congress senior leaders loss their seats, says Amit Shah On Monday, the BJP had announced that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and party general secretary Saroj Pandey will be the observers for the selection of the new Gujarat chief minister. Observers are likely to visit Gujarat after December 21 to elect the new leader, party sources said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. London : A former British-born Pakistani-born terrorist has lodged a police complaint against his Ammi-Abbu. The former terrorist has accused his parents of training in radicalization since childhood. The 29-year-old former terrorist has revealed that Ammi-Abbu started training him from the age of 5 to fight for Islam and hate non-Muslims. Under the radical Salafi ideology, he was prepared for the war against Britain. He also claimed that he had also participated in the study session of Anwar al-Avalaki, belonging to the terror group Al Qaeda. Avalaki has been killed in a drone strike in Yemen. The former terrorist took his parents and said, "They told me that there is a war against Islam and I have to be prepared for war against this country. The former Islamic terrorist revealed that his siblings were as radical as he was when he grew up in the London Council. The former terrorist accused his parents of physical and mental abuse and claimed that he had not been in touch with them for the past five years. She had lodged a police complaint against her parents about two weeks ago after being fed up with the current situation. During these two weeks, he was questioned thoroughly by the police. He also said that his parents trained him to hate Britain, western countries, and non-Muslims. British-born Islamic extremist reports his parents to the police. Blames them for radicalizing him during his childhood. https://t.co/xPupfw1qrv Tarek Fatah (@TarekFatah) May 30, 2021 Also Read Another controversial statement by Baba Ramdev, says 'I should have sued IMA doctors' Singapore Ministry of Health reports 25 new confirmed Covid-19 cases NCPCR orders registration of FIR on Twitter as content of sexual abuse of children is on Twitter Bangladesh government has decided to extend the ongoing ban on public travel. The ban on land ports to India while further continue till June 14 in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Bangladeshs land border has been closed with India since April 26 amid the COVID-19 resurgence on infected cases. The neighborhood government decided to reopen the borders by May 31 which is now further extended, news agency ANI confirmed. This move of extension came after a decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the country`s foreign secretary on Saturday. The government has also decided to stop travel through two more land ports to stop the spread of the virus. The newly-closed land ports with India are Darshana of Chuadanga and Sona masjid of Chapainawabganj. However, Darshana port will be closed for one week, while Sona Masjid for two weeks. Though cargo movement will continue as usual. The land ports from Bangladesh have remained shut with India and the stranded Bangladeshis can return home from four other land ports namely Benapole, Agartala, Hili and Burimari. Dhaka Tribune reported that health authorities are concerned as the country say the infection rate shows upward trend in districts that share borders with or are close to India. Meanwhile, export-import of goods will be allowed. Bangladesh has registered 34 more COVID-19 deaths, taking the countrys toll to 12,583. The total number of infections now stands at 798,830. Also Read Southern Railway delivered 2114.21 Metric Tonnes LMO to Tamil Nadu, Kerala Israel Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi in Egypt for discussion on Gaza truce Telangana extends lockdown for another 10 days Ahead of its initial public offering (IPO), e-commerce logistics startup Delhivery has raised $277 million. The funding is expected to be its final one before the IPO scheduled for later this year. The logistics startup is now valued at about $3 billion. The Gurugram-headquartered startup said in a regulatory filing that it raised $277 million in what it expects to be the final funding round before the IPO. It also disclosed that the latest round is led by Boston-headquartered investment firm Fidelity. Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC, Abu Dhabi's Chimera, and UK's Baillie Gifford also participated. The 10-year-old startup counts SoftBank Vision Fund, Tiger Global Management, Times Internet, The Carlyle Group, and Steadview Capital among its list of investors. The company has so far raised about $1.23 billion. Delhivery had announced expansion of its footprint earlier this year with two new tech offices in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. At that point it had said that its strength would be increased to 500 employees in the country. Currently it has more than 350 employees. It has offices in Gurugram, Goa, Hyderabad, and Seattle in the US. The startup also has plans to invest $40 million in two years to expand and increase its fleet size as orders grow amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-founder and CTO Kapil Bharati had said that the expansion is to ensure that they stay ahead of the curve with tech and data science being the core business differentiators. Over 17,500 pin codes across 2,300 cities are serviced by the logistics platform. It has fulfilled 850 million transactions in these 10 years. From large and small e-commerce companies to SMEs and brands, Delhivery has over 10,000 direct customers. Also read: Delhivery's two co-founders exit logistics unicorn ahead of IPO Also read: Logistics firm Delhivery draws out expansion plans; to invest up to Rs 300 crore over 2 years The Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary is the perfect place for you to live your dream whether your interests lie in helping orphaned or injured African wildlife, researching cheetah and leopard or making a difference to the medical welfare of the under privileged Bushman community. The Sanctuary has 3 projects available to you: Wildlife, Research and Medical. The Medical project can be booked as an individual project or it can be combined with the Wildlife and Research projects, depending on the length of your stay. The main aim of the Bushman Clinic is to provide accessible affordable primary healthcare to the people living in the region of Epukiro in the east of Namibia. Background Namibia is a country blessed with breathtaking sceneries, magnificent vistas and the most diverse array of unique landscapes. Besides its beautiful land, Namibia is fortunate enough to possess healthy populations of wildlife; it is one of the few African nations where six species of large carnivores still occur: cheetah, leopard, lion, spotted hyena, brown hyena and wild dog. Wildlife Project If you are looking for a hands-on wildlife experience, then the Wildlife Project is right for you! Participation in the volunteer program provides employment to the local Bushman community and ensures the rescue, survival and rehabilitation of the wildlife that are housed in natural environments around the reserve. The Sanctuary currently provides safe haven to lion, leopard, wild dog, cheetah, baboon, meerkat, African wildcat, caracal, jackal and tortoise. The reserve on which the sanctuary resides is also home to all kinds of wildlife living in their natural environment, freely roaming the land including leopard, cheetah, kudu, oryx, hartebeest, duiker, warthog, ostrich, caracal, jackal, baboon, African wild cat, mongoose, meerkat, vulture, eagle, and various other bird species - the list is endless! Best Places to Visit in Russia Are you planning on a Vocation? Here are some places u can visit Tourist attractions in Morocco MOGADISHU: The Somali National Army said its forces have killed about 100 al-Shabab militants in recent operations in the Middle Shabelle region. In a statement on Sunday, Somali National Army chief Odowaa Yusuf Rage said the operations, which were carried out in the region to flush out al-Shabab terrorists from the area, have seen insurgents suffer heavy losses and several commanders killed, as per media reports. The army chief said the military operations, which are still underway in the Middle Shabelle region, will be intensified until the insurgents who have conducted terror attacks to kill and maim innocent residents will have been wiped out from the region. The Al Qaeda allied terror group has lost many areas previously under its control, but the militant group is still capable of staging attacks in Somalia. The latest operations come as government forces have intensified operations against al-Shabab in the central and southern regions. Al-Shabab has been designated as a terrorist organisation by Australia, Canada, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, the UK and the US. The US State Department has open bounties on several of the group's senior commanders. US: Major plane crash kills 7, including actor who played role of Tarzan Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu could lose PM job as rivals attempt to join forces Covid-19 curb: Myanmar extends suspension of international flights till June end MONTREAL, May 31, 2021 /CNW/ - Initiated by PwC Canada, the 14th annual Business Transfer Awards were celebrated via virtual gala this year. More than 160 people attended and joined honorary president, David Theoret, President and CEO of Roxboro, to celebrate these Quebec companies that have successfully completed their succession processes. lnspiring success stories Quebec has an abundant amount of great entrepreneurial and family succession success stories that deserve recognition. The competition organized by PwC Canada and its partners highlighted local companies that have distinguished themselves in various industries and showcased the strong entrepreneurial spirit that is driving the province. Co-chaired by Martin Deschenes, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Groupe Deschenes Inc., and Claude Auchu, Partner and CEO of lg2, the jury bestowed awards on a diverse group of six companies that are sure to inspire Quebec's business community. "Quebec is fortunate to have an impressive number of companies, all of which hold valuable expertise. As an entrepreneur, it is our responsibility to encourage the next generation to strengthen takeover initiatives," said David Theoret, President and CEO of Roxboro. "This support is essential to allow us to retain our expertise and talent here in Quebec. I am proud to be associated with the emerging medalists competition, which helps promote this cause that is dear to me and drives me." "For 14 years, the Business Transfer Awards has put a well-deserved spotlight on the unique and exceptional stories that demonstrate the depth and richness of Quebec's entrepreneurial landscape. My hope is that these stories can inspire others to do the same," said Yves Bonin, Partner and Leader of Private Company Services for Quebec at PwC Canada. "We must not forget in Quebec, nearly 100,000 businesses will soon be called upon to change leadership. In this context, the takeover is significant, and its success must be celebrated. Congratulations to the winners who will perpetuate our tradition of inspiring the next generation of tomorrow." Story continues This year, six companies were honoured in two different categories: Family Transfer category Gold medalists: Groupe Robin Nellie Robin, President Promoter, builder and manager of residential, commercial, institutional and hotel environments, Groupe Robin has 200 employees. The transfer of the company from the founder to the next generation was an elaborate process that took over nearly ten years. "Thanks to the vision of Robert [founder], the Robin Group has a solid foundation and strong family roots to shine and accommodate our customers at all stages of their lives," said Nellie Robin, President. "What I cherish the most is working with passionate teams, watching our colleagues grow and supporting them on their journey." Silver medalists: Odessa Canada Stephanie Perreault, Co-president Jean-Philippe Perreault, Co-president Founded in 1984, Odessa Canada imports and distributes specialized tires (agricultural, industrial, off-road, forestry, etc.) and stands out for its technical expertise, its desire for innovation and attentive customer service. "Despite the challenges, we managed to properly prepare all the steps to action the handover and the members of the family," says Stephanie Perreault, co-president. "These efforts are now being rewarded and recognized through this competition, which gives us the opportunity to share our experience and grow entrepreneurial success here", adds Jean-Philippe Perreault, Co-President. Bronze medalists: Ratelle Me Nicolas Preville-Ratelle, President Me Emmanuel Preville-Ratelle, Practice Leader With 65 employees, Ratelle provides services in civil, commercial, corporate, family and criminal law, as well as human resources. Its business transfer process took over six years, with the integration of new partners and the retirement of the founders. "This success is possible thanks to the confidence of our parents, Eveline Preville and Luc Ratelle, of our partners and our team. It also wouldn't be possible without the shared intention to ensure the continuity and sustainability of our family practice, and the desire to continue its tradition of legal excellence," says Me Nicolas Preville-Ratelle, President. Entrepreneurial Transfer category Gold Medalists: Levitts Foods Jean-Francois Desjardins, President One of the largest manufacturers of smoked meat in Canada, Levitts focused for several years on serving private labels. Its acquisition by former banker Jean-Francois Desjardins led to a complete restructuring, allowing the company to successfully develop its own brand and increase its profitability. "The efforts of all of our employees, the support of our customers and our investments in new technologies and automation have allowed us to bring the brand back to the forefront of grocery store shelves", said Desjardins, President. "Thank you for this award which demonstrates the passion of our people." Silver medalists: Duropac Jean-Francois Bourdeau, Chairman and CEO Olivier Bourdeau, Executive Vice-President and Director of Sales Founded in 1993, Duropac is an importer and distributor of flexible food packaging for frozen and refrigerated products. Faced with the lack of family succession, its founder turned to a father-son duo of buyers to ensure the sustainability of his business. "We are pleased with this recognition from the business community and the jury, but what we are most proud of is our team", said Jean-Francois Bourdeau, President and CEO. "It's never easy to experience a change of leaders, and for Duropac, this prestigious award recognizes the work of everyone", said Olivier Bourdeau, Executive Vice-President and Director of Sales. Bronze medalists: Acces Location + Luc Bertrand, President Acces Location + specializes in the rental and sale of lifting equipment, such as aerial platforms, hydraulic scaffolding and forklifts. Initially planning to sell his business upon retirement, the founder eventually finds a succession among his own partners and employees through a gradual transfer process executed with the utmost respect. "I am proud to see the company take on a new impetus for growth thanks to our strategic choices", said Luc Bertrand, President. PwC Canada, along with its contest partners, the National Bank, Fasken, the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, HEC Montreal, La Presse + and Koze - Marketing agency, would like to congratulate the winners of the 14th Business Transfer Awards. Please visit www.lesmedaillesdelareleve.com/en/ for further details. About PwC Canada At PwC, our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. More than 7,400 partners and staff in offices across the country are committed to delivering quality in assurance, tax, consulting and deals services. PwC Canada is a member of the PwC network of firms with more than 250,000 people in 158 countries. Find out more by visiting us at www.pwc.com/ca . 2021 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership. All rights reserved. PwC refers to the Canadian member firm, and may sometimes refer to the PwC network. Each member firm is a separate legal entity. Please see http://www.pwc.com/structure for further details. SOURCE PwC Management Services LP Cision View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2021/31/c4728.html By Maximilian Heath BUENOS AIRES, May 31 (Reuters) - Argentina said on Monday it had temporarily shut down 12 beef exporters over "irregular" operations and had seized over 220 tonnes of meat as tensions over the government's meat export ban deepen. Argentina, the world's No. 5 supplier of beef, has long been renowned for its high quality meat. But the government two weeks ago slammed the door on exports in a bid to bolster domestic supply amid runaway inflation. The ministry of agriculture said it had temporarily suspended the export activities of six companies after discovering "irregularities such as not liquidating foreign currency or having registered false addresses, among other charges." Officials said they had already shut down six firms on similar charges, for a total of 12, involving the seizure of 220 tonnes of meat. The ministry noted an additional five firms were also under investigation. Argentina is famed for its cattle ranches and cuts of steak, which are a central part of the local social fabric, with many gatherings of families and friends held around the "parrilla" barbecue grill at the weekend. However, rising meat costs have come under fierce scrutiny in recent months. Some consumers - already hit hard by three successive years of recession - say they are no longer able to afford beef. Inflation has sapped growth and spending power. The country has ramped up beef exports in recent years, especially to main-buyer China. The government blames fast-rising exports for stoking inflation. (Reporting by Maximilian Heath; Writing by Dave Sherwood; Editing by Bill Berkrot) SASKATOON, SK, May 31, 2021 /CNW/ - The Clearwater River Dene Nation (CRDN) of north-west Saskatchewan has erected a Security Checkpoint on Highway #955 that runs through its reserve to the uranium rich zones located just to the north of the community. The CRDN action is in response to the Government of Saskatchewan's (GOS) ongoing granting of approvals to uranium exploration companies in the absence of any meaningful consultation with the CRDN or consent of its Elders, Trappers and community members. Clearwater River Dene Nation Erects Security Checkpoint on Highway to Saskatchewan Uranium Fields The CRDN asserts the checkpoint is also required given the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to protect CRDN families at this critical time. The GOS is permitting exploration companies and their workforces access through the CRDN reserve and into lands north of Clearwater River occupied by CRDN families. The CRDN has experienced some of the highest rates of COVID exposure and infection of all First Nations in Canada. Allowing uranium exploration and development work to proceed on a business-as-usual basis at this time places CRDN community members' health and well-being at risk. Many CRDN community members have stated that they are concerned about how the spike in on the ground uranium exploration and airborne activity will impact moose, caribou and migratory bird nesting areas at this important time of the year when the young are being born. The sheer amount of activity is also having an adverse impact on CRDN families who are on the land at this time in their camps and cabins and seeking protection during the pandemic. Chief Teddy Clarke of the CRDN states, "the Government of Saskatchewan ran roughshod over the rights of the Dene People in this region for decades. The issuance of uranium mineral rights and granting of exploration permits and approvals of damaging uranium mines by the GOS all occurred without our People's meaningful involvement, participation or consent. This pattern of unacceptable behavior must come to an end, now." Story continues Other nearby First Nations have also felt compelled to take similar actions in recent weeks. Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) lends his support to the CRDN and states, "the strength of our people lies within the culture and traditions that are taught and passed on through the generations. Teachings that come from our lands and waters". Cameron continues, "the Dene people have Inherent and Treaty Rights to live on and use these lands and waters as their ancestors have for generations. Our Treaty Rights trump provincial laws and we will continue to fight with Chief Clarke and the Dene people to ensure that these lands and waters are here for the generations to come." Approximate Location of the CRDN in North-Western Saskatchewan (Source: Google Earth Projection: 2021) (CNW Group/Clearwater River Dene Nation) The CRDN feels that the Security Checkpoint is needed given the amount of uranium exploration activity now underway and that the community has little to no knowledge of the third parties entering its lands and conducting activities harmful to land, water, animals and the CRDN People. Walter Hainault, CRDN Band Manager adds, "governments allowed destructive uranium projects like the Gunnar Mine to go ahead that is now a toxic uranium legacy. They approved the Cluff Lake (Orano)uranium mine to the north of us and our people have mostly left the area due to their fears over radioactive contamination and as our cultural connection to the area was broken. We now have two major uranium mines being proposed in one of our Nation's most culturally important and vital areas the Patterson Lake Area. All this starts with the GOS granting uranium mineral tenures, rights and exploration permits in the absence of meaningful consultation or sound analysis of its impacts on our rights, culture or People. Our People are kind, patient and have shown good will, but that patience is running out". Given its concerns and the scope of uranium activity in CRDN lands, the CRDN retained JFK Law, a Vancouver based law firm, that has represented Indigenous People and Governments in regulatory proceedings, litigation and conflicts with the Crown and industry. The CRDN has also commenced community-based research involving Elders, Trappers and community members that exercise their rights and practice their culture in the Patterson Lake Area. "The CRDN will not permit what happened in the past to occur again and they will use all means at their disposal to protect the Treaty rights, culture and interests of the CRDN Elders, trappers and People. Our Elders, Trappers, community members and youth will have the last say over the way the land is used and how it is left for the future generations", states Chief Teddy Clarke. ***Please note that no interviews will be conducted at this time*** Clearwater River Dene Nation Logo (CNW Group/Clearwater River Dene Nation) SOURCE Clearwater River Dene Nation Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2021/31/c9051.html On Monday, Japans Financial Services Agency (FSA) issued a warning to crypto exchange Bybit over unregistered operations. Crypto derivatives exchange Bybit Fintech Limited has been officially warned by the FSA for running its operation without proper registration. Bybit functions as a crypto derivative exchange offering futures in digital currency, perpetual swaps, and a number of other contracts used by crypto traders. The warning alleges that Bybits operations are giving Japanese traders the ability to leverage the exchange and that the exchange has yet to register with the FSA. This marks the first warning the FSA has sent out in more than three years to a crypto exchange. The last being Binance back in 2018 for failing to meet similar registration requirements. Currently, Japan has more than two dozen crypto exchanges operating with proper registration under the FSA. This marks the second warning for Bybit, though the first in Asia. Earlier in the year, the United Kingdoms Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued a similar warning to Bybit. The FCA was a bit sterner with their wording, and Bybit halted all operations in the U.K. Despite these recent hurdles, Bybit still ranks in the top five in terms of the largest bitcoin (BTC) futures exchanges volume of trades. Japan not the only country cracking down The warning to Bybit comes during a time, where federal officials worldwide have begun scrutinizing cryptocurrency services more and more. South Korea, for example, will be rolling out a new 20% income tax on crypto transactions beginning in the 2022 tax year. This, like most of the new regulations, is not only about the country getting in on the profit, but also combating illegal or illicit activities using crypto as a shield. One of the biggest issues surrounding crypto trading worldwide is tax evasion, which has become a significant problem in the United States. For the 2020 tax year, which just ended a few weeks ago, the U.S. added crypto questions to tax returns in order to shrink the massive tax gap in the country. Charles Rettig, Commissioner for the IRS, believes that more than $443 billion in unpaid taxes may be attributed to virtual currencies. Other countries, such as China, have begun to regulate crypto mining operations, recently. This move has less to do with illegal activities or tax evasion than it has to do with environmental and infrastructure issues. Earlier in the month, China also banned national financial institutions from offering crypto-related services. The "East Africa LED Lighting Market: Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2021-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. East Africa LED lighting market reached a value of US$ 564.9 Million in 2020. Looking forward, the East Africa LED lighting market to exhibit strong growth during the next five years The market is currently being driven by several factors such as strong government support, declining prices of LED products, infrastructure growth, rising consumer awareness, etc. this report provides a detailed insight into the East Africa LED lighting market covering a comprehensive analysis on Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and other East African markets. The report finds that Kenya is currently the largest market for LED products in the region. A key reason behind this is that Kenya has the highest electricity access rate in East Africa with total access being an estimated 75% from both grid and off-grid solutions. The report has also analysed the market in terms of application and has found that out of commercial, industrial, residential and other application sectors, the commercial sector accounts for the largest share. Key Questions Answered in This Report: How has the East Africa LED lighting market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years? What are the key regional markets in the East Africa LED lighting industry? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the East Africa LED lighting industry? Which are the key applications in the East Africa LED lighting market? Which are the key product types in the East Africa LED lighting market? Which are the major distribution channels in the East Africa LED lighting market? What are the various stages in the value chain of the East Africa LED lighting market? What are the key driving factors and challenges in the East Africa LED lighting market? What is the structure of the East Africa LED lighting market and who are the key players? Report Scope Story continues Market Breakup by Country Kenya Tanzania Uganda Ethiopia Others Market Breakup by Application Commercial Industrial Residential Others Market Breakup by Product Type Street Lights LED Bulbs Panels Others Market Breakup by Distribution Channel Retail Stores Supermarkets/Hypermarkets Specialty Stores Others Competitive Landscape: The report has also analysed the competitive landscape of the East Africa LED lighting market along with the profiles of the key players operating in the market. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/l7idsc View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210531005122/en/ Contacts ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press 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 HONG KONG, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IntSights, the threat intelligence company focused on providing threat intelligence for all, today announced its further expansion in the Asia Pacific region through a strategic distributor partnership with Cyberworld. IntSights will extend its full range of solutions, including the External Threat Protection (ETP) Suite, to value-added resellers, system integrators, and enterprises in Hong Kong and Macau. IntSights Logo IntSights is devoted to helping enterprises act on early warnings, track suspicious domain changes, and stop attacks before they hit the network with its best-in-class advanced threat protection and intelligence solution. Enterprises can leverage the recently launched IntSights Extend a browser extension that provides enriched threat intelligence over any browser to identify and prioritize vulnerabilities and other indicators of compromise (IOCs) within existing tools and webpages, and analyze and investigate any threat. Cyberworld is an established IT product distributor in Hong Kong with a proven track record in providing security and network infrastructure solutions for global industry leaders. With this milestone, IntSights will tap Cyberworld's extensive experience and understanding of the Hong Kong and Macau markets to grow its channel base and accelerate customer acquisition in the region. "IntSights stands out with its best-of-breed threat intelligence solution that seamlessly integrates with existing security stacks without the added complexity and disruption," said Jansen Uy, Regional General Manager of Cyberworld Asia Limited. "The threat environment is constantly evolving, and we are confident that through our partnership with IntSights, we can now empower enterprise customers to proactively identify, guard against, and take down threats before they happen." "We are excited to partner with Cyberworld to deliver tailored, actionable real-time threat intelligence capabilities that do not require the heavy resources demanded by traditional security solutions," said Wilson Lee, General Manager for APAC at IntSights. "Cyberworld is well-positioned with its cybersecurity expertise in the local market and broad network of reseller partners in the region. We are focused to bring the benefits of IntSights solutions to enterprise customers in Hong Kong and Macau, while helping them maximize return on their security investment." Story continues About IntSights IntSights focuses on providing threat intelligence for all by enabling organizations of any type or size to gain the full benefits of external threat intelligence, no matter the scope or sophistication of their threat intelligence program. Unlike any other solution on the market, IntSights takes the complexity out of threat intelligence and delivers instant value without the heavy lift or sizable resource allocation that traditional threat intelligence solutions require. Designed to scale, IntSights provides frictionless integration of our real-time cyber threat intelligence with existing security infrastructure, allowing enterprises to maximize return on investment. IntSights has offices in Amsterdam, Boston, Dallas, New York, Singapore, Tel Aviv, and Tokyo. To learn more, visit intsights.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. About Cyberworld Asia Limited Founded in 1991, Cyberworld (Asia) Ltd. has steadily established as a reputable IT products distributor in Hong Kong and obtained trust from both our valued customers and suppliers alike. We focus on distributing Network Infrastructure, Network Security, Network Access Control, Application Security, Web Security and Data Management and Security etc. We distribute the best-of-breed IT solutions from industry leaders and committed to providing professional support and service to our customers at competitive prices. We strive to be our customer's number one choice for all their IT requirements in every sense. Our professional sales and technical staff provide customers with pre-sales and post-sales support along every step. Moreover, we cooperate with our valued-partners such as systems integrators and vendors in marketing campaigns to further enhance sales. Our success is achieved through customer satisfaction and understanding. We know that in today's market, it is important to bring in quality solutions to suit our customers' needs in a timely and professional manner. To learn more, please visit our LinkedIn and Facebook page. SOURCE IntSights TORONTO, May 31, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Second Harvest is pleased to announce that the initial work has started for the installation of a 9,000 square foot freezer-cooler at its new Etobicoke facility, thanks to a $150,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) Capital grant awarded in 2019. The new freezer-cooler will increase Second Harvests perishable food storage capacity by 500 per cent so the food rescue charity can continue prioritizing the rescue of fresh and frozen perishable foods, which provide essential nutrients that are frequently lacking in the diets of the economically vulnerable people served, particularly seniors. Seniors have a higher risk of food insecurity due to fixed incomes, increased medical and health expenses, decreased mobility, and special dietary needs. This expanded food storage capacity will have an impact on approximately 62,000 people in the community. In addition, Second Harvests new warehouse facility in Etobicoke will triple the charitys warehouse space, which will increase the amount of surplus food able to be rescued and redistributed to non-profit food programs and hubs. Quotes: This grant from the Ontario government will assist in supporting our most vulnerable members of our community by providing increased storage for perishable food. I want to thank all of the volunteers and staff at Second Harvest for their dedication to ensure our most vulnerable populations have fresh and nutritious food on their tables. Christine Hogarth, MPP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore "This Ontario Trillium Foundation Capital grant will enable Second Harvest to safely store more nutrient-dense, perishable surplus food so we can rescue and distribute it more effectively. Perishable foods like protein, produce and dairy are the most difficult for people on low incomes to access, and to have increased capacity to recover and store this healthy surplus has a direct impact on the people we serve. Increased storage also has an environmental benefit by ensuring that more healthy food stays out of landfill. Our deepest thanks to the Foundation for increasing our physical capacity so we can help people who are economically vulnerable meet their basic needs. Lori Nikkel, CEO, Second Harvest Story continues Quick Facts: The grant contributes to the installation of a 9,000 square foot freezer/cooler. The installation will increase Second Harvests perishable food storage capacity by 500 per cent. This initiative will have an impact on an estimated 62,000 people. Follow Second Harvest on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn @SecondHarvestCA The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canadas leading granting foundations. OTF awarded $115 million to 644 projects last year to build healthy and vibrant communities in Ontario. www.otf.ca Media Contact: Ashley Herod, Director of Marketing and Communications, Second Harvest: ashleyh@secondharvest.ca In the two-day online event, themes such as ESG, technology, capital markets, energy matrix, infrastructure, and macroeconomic scenario were addressed SAO PAULO, May 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The 22nd edition of the CEO Conference, organized by BTG Pactual, took place on May 25-26 in Sao Paulo, and brought together important members of the political and business world. This was the first virtual edition of the event, whose audience included investors, executives, bank customers, and journalists. Andre Esteves, senior partner at BTG Pactual, stressed that it is important for Brazil to continue to seek measures for putting it back on the path to development. According to him, approving reforms is one of the ways to lead the country to growth and increase the income of the country's population. "It just depends on us moving forward, evolving and creating a fairer society, with more jobs, higher income and more equal opportunities", said the executive. BTG Pactual CEO Roberto Sallouti, stressed that, throughout the event, a common effort and desire to resume Brazil's growth agenda was evident: "All the leaders who took part in our discussions are realistic about the challenges, but aware of the importance of advancing the reform agenda". First Day After the official opening by Andre Esteves, a senior partner at BTG Pactual, the first morning of the CEO Conference was attended by House Speaker Arthur Lira, the President of the Central Bank of Brazil Roberto Campos, and Federal Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco. In the afternoon, Gary Cohn, former director of the US National Economic Council and Vice Chairman of IBM, BNDES President Gustavo Montezano, CCR CEO Marco Cauduro, and Eletrobras CEO Rodrigo Limp, took part in the discussions. The program also included panels with market managers and debates on topics such as crypto assets, agritech, innovation in Latin America, and European banks. In the Tech Room, technology sector leaders and entrepreneurs discussed topics such as Cybersecurity & AI, Open Banking, and the presence of tech companies on B3, the Brazilian stock exchange. Story continues The first day of the event closed in a panel with Economy Minister Paulo Guedes, and BTG Pactual chief economist Mansueto Almeida. Second Day After the opening by BTG Pactual CEO Roberto Sallouti, the morning panels were attended by Suzano Papel e Celulose CEO Walter Schalka and Grupo Boticario Vice-Chairman Artur Grynbaum. The executives talked about the challenges for sustainability in the Brazilian market, with Mariana Oiticica, BTG Pactual co-head of ESG and Impact, as moderator. Next, economists Eduardo Loyo, Mansueto Almeida and Tiago Berriel debated on the path to economic recovery. Engie CEO Catherine MacGregor closed the morning's talks, discussing the future of the energy sector. At the Tech Room, leaders and entrepreneurs debated topics such as technology and credit solutions for SMEs, as well as challenges and opportunities in the credit fund industry. In the afternoon, the event was attended by Infrastructure Minister Tarcisio Freitas and Biologist Fernando Reinach. An interview with Andre Esteves, a senior partner at BTG Pactual, about the challenges and opportunities in the Brazilian economic scenario, closed the event. Cision View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/politicians-and-business-leaders-get-together-at-ceo-conference-organized-by-btg-pactual-to-discuss-capital-markets-and-economy-301302340.html SOURCE BTG Pactual Digital payments and financial services firm Paytm has been making headlines for its intended initial public offering (IPO), touted to be one of India's biggest, surpassing Coal India's IPO. The board of the company was scheduled to meet on Friday to deliberate on the Vijay Shekhar Sharma-helmed company's IPO plans. Latest developments suggest that the board has given its in-principle approval for the Rs 22,000 crore IPO. The IPO is scheduled to take place in the October-December quarter this year. The company is looking at an enterprise value of over Rs 2 lakh crore for the IPO, which is likely to be discussed at its board meeting scheduled for Friday. "The board of directors of Paytm has given in-principle approval for the mega IPO planned to be launched in October-December quarter. The company expects to raise around Rs 21,000-Rs 22,000 crore from the IPO. This will also give some of the existing investors to offload some of their stake," a source aware of the development told news agency PTI. Paytm is yet to make an official statement on the development. Paytm's is expected to be one of the largest IPOs in India if the company is able to achieve its target. Some of the company's bigwig shareholders include Alibaba's Ant Group (29.71 per cent), Softbank Vision Fund (19.63 per cent), and Saif Partners (18.56 per cent). Vijay Shekhar Sharma holds 14.67 per cent stake in the company. AGH Holding, T Rowe Price and Discovery Capital, Berkshire Hathaway also hold stakes in the company but that amounts to less than 10 per cent. Led by founder and Chief Executive Officer Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Paytm has been focusing on raising revenue and monetising its services over the past year. The firm has expanded beyond digital payments into banking, credit cards, financial services, wealth management and digital wallets. The company has tough competition from global players such as Walmart-owned PhonePe, Google Pay, Amazon Pay as well as Facebook-owned WhatsApp Pay in India. Also read: Biggest IPO ever! Paytm could pip Coal India in largest market debut Also read: Vijay Shekhar Sharma's Paytm eyes India's largest IPO debut in November GRAND JUNCTION, Colo., May 31, 2021 /CNW/ -- ProStar Holdings Inc ("ProStar" or the "Company") (TSXV: MAPS) (FSE: 5D00), a world leader in Precision Mapping Solutions, and developer of PointMan, announced today that Kraemer North America, a top-ranked U.S. national heavy civil contractor with operations throughout the U.S., has signed a service-level agreement (SLA) for ProStar's newest cloud and mobile Precision Mapping Solution, PointMan Pro. ProStar logo with tag (PRNewsfoto/ProStar Holdings Inc.) "PointMan Pro is just a better way to do data collection and reduce risks and liabilities associated with the construction of our critical infrastructure projects," said Dustin Kelsey, Project Manager at Kraemer. "I can see other infrastructure construction firms, both large and small, following in our footsteps and adopting PointMan." Kraemer North America becomes the first major U.S. infrastructure construction firm to adopt ProStar's newest solution, PointMan Pro, which was released in March following over two years of development. Kraemer North America business operations span coast to coast, and the firm serves three primary infrastructure markets, including transportation, rail, and marine. "This is another major milestone for ProStar as Kraemer is the first major construction company to adopt our newest solution," stated Page Tucker, CEO and founder of ProStar. "The adoption of PointMan Pro by Kraemer proves that PointMan can replace onerous and antiquated business practices that have been well entrenched by the construction industry for several decades." About Kraemer Kraemer North America is a privately held general contractor headquartered in Plain, Wisconsin with regional offices located in Minnesota, Colorado, Washington, and Utah. Established in 1911, the company's roots were founded in the construction of challenging bridges and highways across the U.S. Today, Kraemer is a full service heavy civil contractor with a national reputation for quality and safety. Kraemer serves three primary markets, including: transportation, rail, and marine. Story continues About ProStar (TSXV: MAPS) (FSE: 5D00) ProStar is a world leader in Precision Mapping Solutions. ProStar's flagship product, PointMan, is natively cloud and mobile and is offered as a Software as a Service (SaaS). ProStar's solutions seamlessly connect the field with the office and provides the ability to precisely capture, record, display, and manage critical infrastructure data in real-time, including roads, railways, pipelines, and utilities. Some of the largest entities in North America have adopted ProStar's solutions, including Fortune 500 construction firms, subsurface utilities engineering (SUE) firms, utility owners, and government agencies. ProStar has strategic business partnerships are with the world's leading geospatial technology providers, data collection equipment manufacturers, and their dealer networks, including Trimble Juniper Systems, Bad Elf, Vivax-Metrotech, Radiodetection , and Subsite Electronics. The Company has made a significant investment in creating a vast intellectual property portfolio that includes 19 issued patents in the United States and Canada, with more pending. The patents protect the methods and systems required to digitally capture, record, organize, manage, distribute, and display the precise location of critical infrastructure, including buried utilities and pipelines. ProStar's Executive management team has extensive experience in the management of both early stage and Fortune 500 technology companies in the private and public sectors. The leadership team includes Vasa Dasan, former CTO of Sun Microsystems, Carl Lashua, previous Chief Information Officer of HSBC Canada and Europe, and Matthew Breman, prior Executive for Disney. For more information about ProStar, please visit www.prostarcorp.com. Alex Moore Investor Relations 970-822-4792 Investorrelations@prostarcorp.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 or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Such information includes, without limitation, information regarding the terms and conditions of the Company's future plans. Although the Company believes that such information is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "postulate" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking information as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to: the state of the financial markets for the Company's securities; the state of the technology sector; recent market volatility; the COVID-19 pandemic; the Company's ability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; and other risks and factors that the Company is unaware of at this time. The reader is referred to the Company's recent Information Circular filed on SEDAR on November 20, 2020 for a more complete discussion of applicable risk factors and their potential effects, copies of which may be accessed through the Company's issuer page on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The 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 law. Cision View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/prostar-announces-that-kraemer-north-america-has-signed-a-service-level-agreement-sla-301302103.html SOURCE ProStar Corp Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2021/31/c3659.html Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- If the meme-stock mayhem were a movie -- and by all accounts it will be -- were now at the scene where the protagonists, after pulling off their first big mission, fight about what to do next.Emboldened by their initial success, the more daring would be anxious to ride again while the weather-worn veterans advise caution and, somewhere in between, a few characters cant decide which side theyre on.That scene is playing out now on the 10 million-member WallStreetBets forum, where Are stimulus checks paving the way for a universal basic income? As President Joe Biden commits to an expanded $3,000 child tax credit until 2025, some believe all these pandemic benefits signify a step forward in the conversation surrounding a universal basic income. Biden's stimulus checks bill, which upped the existing $2,000 credit to $3,000 and added a four-year extension, is expected to lift an additional 4.1 million children out of poverty, and Democrats in Congress are pushing to make this change permanent. Despite steadfast opposition, support is growing for dishing out guaranteed income payments to citizens regularly even after the COVID-19 crisis ends, with multiple cities already testing programs locally. Whether the relief money is being used for paying off debts, pay for household necessities or tucked away for unexpected emergencies, stimulus checks and other relief programs have opened the door to a conversation about universal basic income. What is universal basic income? Gage Skidmore./ Flickr Universal basic income (UBI) is meant to ensure a minimum income level, regardless of employment, so that all citizens can afford a basic standard of living. The government would hand out regular cash payments much like stimulus checks on a regular basis. Andrew Yang brought attention to this concept during his 2020 presidential run, when he recommended doling out $1,000 to American adults each month. However, the idea of guaranteed income is hardly novel. Centuries ago, English philosopher Thomas Moore proposed it in his 1516 book Utopia and Martin Luther King Jr. advocated for it in the 1960s to eradicate poverty. Recent reports have been suggesting the economic recession brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic may shows the need for a universal basic income. Beefed-up unemployment benefits were handed out to millions of Americans who lost their jobs during the pandemic. And Bidens expanded child tax credits are going out this July. Unemployment benefits and the labor shortage Artens / Shutterstock Not everyones onboard with the idea of a universal basic income. The Pew Research Center found that 78% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents oppose the federal government allocating $1,000 to each person, and 62% were strongly opposed. Story continues And some say all the unemployment benefits and government money that have gone out during the pandemic are already opening the doors to guaranteed income and may have led to the current labor shortage. "People are making more money sitting at home watching Netflix than they are at work, and they don't want to go back. I think one of the dangers that we've opened the door to is these stimulus checks are starting to feel like they might not go away," billionaire bond investor Jeffrey Gundlach told Yahoo! Finance, criticizing the free money thats been handed out by the government. Other experts think low wages, coupled with COVID-19 fears, are to blame. Lower-income workers, particularly in the hospitality industry, were hit hard by the pandemic. A University of Chicago study found 42% of those on benefits are receiving more than they did at their jobs. Middle- and higher-income earners, especially those working remotely, dont face the same hurdles. Several big businesses, including the Bank of America, have bumped up wages to attract more employees. So now may be the right time to negotiate a raise at your workplace, especially if you have been putting in some overtime during the pandemic. Some cities are already testing out monthly checks vetkit / Shutterstock On a more local level, several cities have begun to experiment with disbursing monthly checks to lower-income residents. Stockton, California did a guaranteed income program pilot in 2019. The city distributed $500 a month to 125 people for 24 months, and the results at the end of the experiment were overwhelmingly positive. The results showed recipients were more financially secure and many found full-time employment and came out emotionally healthier. We live in a time of pandemics, former Stockton mayor Michael Tubbs, who launched the pilot, told MIT Technology Review. Its not just COVID-19. Its an earthquake next month. Its wildfires. All these things are happening all the time not even mentioning automation. We have to have the ability for our folks to build economic resilience. About a half-dozen cities have conducted similar pilots, some are planning trials this year. Mayors in 30 cities across the country, as part of the Mayors for a Guaranteed Income Coalition, are pushing for unconditional, direct cash payments as well. What if you need money now? Doucefleur / Shutterstock The possibility of the government considering a universal basic income is still pretty far off if it happens at all. So if you need extra income now, here are some ways to help put a little more money in your wallet. /NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE U.S. OR TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES./ VANCOUVER, BC, May 31, 2021 /CNW/ - Tribe Property Technologies Inc. (TSXV:TRBE) ("Tribe" or the "Company") a leading provider of technology-enabled property management solutions, today announced its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Tribe Property Technologies - Community Living, Simplified (CNW Group/Tribe Property Technologies Inc.) Quarterly Business Highlights Reported record revenue and strong gross margin 2 percentage improvement Completed its going-public transaction, releasing $13.3 million of cash from its previously announced subscription receipts financings Began trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "TRBE" Appointed a new Board of Directors which now includes four external directors, Charmaine Crooks, Andrew Kiguel, Michael Willis and Raymond Choy, in addition to the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Joseph Nakhla Appointed capital markets veteran Jim Defer as Chief Financial Officer and re-positioned John Tims as Corporate Secretary Made significant progress in the integration of Gateway Property Management ("Gateway") including granting senior management roles in the Company to Gateway employees First Quarter Fiscal 2021 Summary Financial information is reported in Canadian dollars and in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). Tribe achieved revenue growth of 253% in the first quarter of 2021 over the same period in the prior year driven by the acquisition of Gateway which expanded the Company's geographical footprint in the condo management services sector to the provinces of Alberta and Ontario, as well as significantly increased the scale of Tribe's rental management business. Revenue was $3,786,129 representing an increase from $1,071,851 in the first quarter of 2020. Gross profit margin2 increased in both dollar terms and in percentage terms. Tribe recorded a net loss of $3,159,432, which included $1,634,456 of listing expenses and professional fees associated with the public listing. Adjusted EBITDA1, which management believes is a better proxy for the Company's cash flows, was a loss of $539,202. Story continues CEO Message "We are very pleased by Tribe's strong first quarter as a public company. We saw substantial revenue growth of over 250% compared to the same period last year which was driven by our acquisition of Gateway which expanded our market penetration into more homes and communities. As we embark on increasing our footprint in Canada, we are putting significant operational focus on service delivery from our seven offices across the country," stated Joseph Nakhla, Chief Executive Officer of Tribe. "Tribe will continue to make investments in our products for future growth, supporting the infrastructure required to digitize homes and simplify the complexities of the traditional, paper-based residential property management space. To complement our investment in our product and service offerings, we also plan to continue to employ an active acquisition strategy to identify and purchase attractive targets at accretive multiples, like the Gateway acquisition we made at the end of 2020. We have made significant progress in the successful integration of Gateway into Tribe and our recurring revenue base from software and services has grown substantially," continued Mr. Nakhla. Financial Highlights Three Month Comparative Results The Company reported revenue of $3,786,129, up 253% over the same period in the prior year of $1,071,851. The increase in revenue was primarily due to revenue generated via the integration of Gateway. The Company had a net loss of $3,159,432 for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to a net loss of $518,152 in the same period of 2020, including all costs attributed to the public listing in the quarter. Gross margin2 in the first quarter of 2021 was $1,768,489 (46.7%), which was higher than the $345,358 (32.2%) gross margin in the same period in the prior year. The increase in gross margin was a result of the addition of service contracts associated with the Gateway acquisition, and the increase in gross margin percentage was driven by economies of scale from a larger property management services business. Adjusted EBITDA1 was as follows: Three months ended March 31, 2021 Three months ended March 31, 2020 Net loss $ (3,159,432) $ (518,152) Add: Depreciation and amortization 318,593 99,970 Add: Interest expense 278,452 15,491 Add: Stock-based compensation 339,617 - Add: Listing expense and professional fees with the public listing 1,634,456 - Add: Income tax expense 57,103 - Add/subtract: Other (7,991) 735 Adjusted EBITDA1 $ (539,202) $ (401,956) Financial Position as of March 31, 2021 Working capital3 as of March 31, 2021 was $3,370,357 (which included cash and cash equivalents of $6,751,379). This is compared to negative working capital of $9,593,526 as of December 31, 2020 (which included cash and cash equivalents of $908,009). Financial Statements and Management Discussion & Analysis Please see the consolidated financial statements and related Management's Discussion & Analysis ("MD&A") for more details. The consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and related MD&A have been reviewed and approved by Tribe's Audit Committee and Board of Directors. Tribe recognizes that the majority of its investors are now accessing corporate and financial information either through pushed news services, directly from www.tribetech.com or SEDAR. Thus, Tribe has prepared this truncated news release to alert investors to its results and that a more detailed explanation and analysis is readily available in the MD&A. These reports have been filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and also posted at www.tribetech.com. Non-IFRS Measures The following and preceding discussion of financial results includes reference to gross margin, gross profit margin, Adjusted EBITDA and working capital, which are all non-IFRS financial measures. The measure of gross margin and gross profit margin2 is provided as management believes this is a good indicator in evaluating the operating performance of the Company. Adjusted EBITDA1 is provided as a proxy for the cash earnings from the operations of the business as operating income (loss) for the Company includes non-cash amortization and depreciation expense and share-based compensation which are classified as other operating expenses. The measure of working capital3 is provided as management believes this is a good indicator of the operating liquidity available to the Company. Financial Webcast The Company will hold a webcast to discuss its performance with the investment community at 5:30 a.m. PT on June 1, 2021. Webcast URL: https://onlinexperiences.com/Launch/QReg/ShowUUID=1B464CBC-61F8-4120-A143-610660AFF980 Audio Only Dial-In Toll Free Dial-In Number: +1(877) 701-0981 International Dial-In Number: +1(873) 415-0204 Conference ID: 8770659 About Tribe Property Technologies Tribe is a property technology company that is disrupting the traditional property management industry. As a rapidly growing tech-forward property management company, Tribe's integrated service-technology delivery model serves the needs of a much wider variety of stakeholders than traditional service providers. Tribe seeks to acquire highly accretive targets in the fragmented North American property management industry and transform these businesses through streamlining and digitization of operations. Tribe's platform decreases customer acquisition costs, increases retention and allows for the addition of value-added products and services through the platform. Visit tribetech.com for more information. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Joseph Nakhla" Chief Executive Officer Tribe Property Technologies Inc. Joseph Nakhla Chief Executive Officer 1155 West Pender Street, Suite 419 Vancouver, British Columbia V63 2P4 Phone: (604) 343-2601 Email: joseph.nakhla@tribetech.com 1 Non-IFRS measure that does not have a standardized meaning and may not be comparable to a similar measure disclosed by other issuers. Adjusted EBITDA is also not a measure recognized in accordance with IFRS and does not have a prescribed or standardized meaning by IFRS. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income or loss excluding the impact of listing expenses associated with the RTO, interest expense and finance costs, foreign exchange gains and losses, current and deferred income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, fair value gains and losses on investments, and other expenses. It should be noted that Adjusted EBITDA is not defined under IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures used by other entities. The Company believes Adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure as it provides important and relevant information to management about the operating and financial performance of the Company. Adjusted EBITDA also enables management to assess its ability to generate operating cash flow to fund future working capital needs, and to support future growth. Excluding these items does not imply that they are non-recurring or not useful to investors. Investors should be cautioned that Adjusted EBITDA attributable to shareholders should not be construed as an alternative to net income (loss) or cash flows as determined under IFRS. 2 Non-IFRS measure that does not have a standard meaning and may not be comparable to a similar measure disclosed by other issuers. Gross profit and gross profit margin do not have a standardized meaning under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. The Company defines gross profit as revenue less cost of software and services and software licensing fees, and gross profit margin as gross profit calculated as a percentage of revenue. Gross profit and gross margin should not be construed as an alternative for revenue or net loss in accordance with IFRS. The Company believes that gross profit and gross margin are meaningful metrics in assessing the Company's financial performance and operational efficiency. 3 Non-IFRS measure that does not have a standardized meaning and may not be comparable to a similar measure disclosed by other issuers. This measure does not have a comparable IFRS measure. The Company defines working capital as current assets less current liabilities. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws regarding the Company and its business, which may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the aims and goals of the Company; financial projections; growth plans including future prospective consolidation in the rental management sector; future acquisitions by the Company; beliefs of the Company with respect to the independent owner-investors market; and prospective benefits of the Company's platform. When or if used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to proposed financing activity, proposed acquisitions, proposed success of the Company's platform, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third-party information and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward- looking statements. The Company does not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. This news release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"). The Company has not registered and will not register the securities under the U.S. Securities Act. The Company does not intend to engage in a public offering of their securities in the United States. SOURCE Tribe Property Technologies Inc. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2021/31/c9703.html Nearly 10 years have passed since a transformation of the Interstate 95 corridor through the Fredericksburg area started. We are now in the midst of the most expansive stretch of the metamorphosis, with three major projects in full swing, forming a continuous work zone from North Stafford to State Route 3 in Fredericksburg. Things kicked off in August 2012 when work began on the conversion of a 29-mile stretch of free HOV lanes to electronically tolled lanes, from State Route 610 in Stafford County north to the Beltway. The toll lanes were initially tabbed HOT lanes, but that was changed to express lanes by the time they opened in December 2014. Then came an extension of those express lanes, farther south, followed by another lengthening that started in 2019 and continues today. The second extension will take the toll lanes to U.S. 17 in Stafford. Meanwhile, in 2018, work started on the southbound Rappahannock River crossing to expand that side of the interstate from three to six lanes between U.S. 17 and Route 3. Work on the northbound crossing project, which will add three new lanes on that side, started in October. Across the Fredericksburg area, state and nation, virus-related cases, hospitalizations and deaths continue to fall. Health officials always advise looking at the seven-day average of new daily cases, and in that vein, theres a marked difference between the first day of May and the last. On May 1, Virginia averaged 1,032 cases a day over a seven-day period. On May 31, that daily average had fallen to 348. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The Rappahannock Area Health District, which includes Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford, saw similar declines. On May 1, it averaged 64 cases a day for a seven-day period, and by May 31, the average had dropped to 16 cases a day, according to the Virginia Department of Health. At the start of May, there were 41 people being treated at the areas three hospitals for virus symptoms. As the calendar flipped to June, the local patient count dropped into the mid-teens. There were 17 local deaths reported in May, the same as in April, bringing the death toll in the Rappahannock Area Health District to 284 people. There initially was a spate of fatalities among younger people in the beginning of the month, suggesting they were more vulnerable because about 80 percent of seniors (age 65-plus) locally and statewide have been vaccinated, according to health officials. Afghanistan has run out of COVID-19 vaccine doses and is now waiting for new deliveries amid a spike in infections with a third wave of the pandemic. Health Ministry spokesman Dastagir Nazari said the vaccination process has been halted and only people who have had the first shot are currently being inoculated. Afghanistan has an estimated population of 37 million and has so far received 500,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from India and another 468,000 doses from the international vaccine-sharing program COVAX. The doses were used to vaccinate medical personnel, members of the armed forces, teachers, and media workers. Nazari said Afghanistan expects another 700,000 doses from China "in the near future," but there is no precise date for the deliveries. Afghanistan is supposed to receive vaccines for 20 percent of its population through COVAX, while the government has enough funds to buy doses to inoculate another 28 percent of Afghans. However, Nazari added, "like the majority of the underdeveloped countries," Afghanistan's efforts are being hampered by massive global vaccine demand, while the country is facing a surge in new infections. The Health Ministry on May 30 reported 929 new cases and 25 deaths for the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of registered cases to 71,690 with 2,944 fatalities. However, the actual number of infections is believed to be much higher due to limited public health resources and testing capacities. The decades-long conflict between the Taliban and U.S.-led forces has put additional pressure on the public health system of Afghanistan, one of the world's poorest countries. Nazari said that out of 1,500 intensive-care beds for the whole country, some 72 percent are already occupied by patients. With reporting by dpa The current period in Afghanistan has drawn comparisons to the 1990s in the country. As the United States withdraws its remaining troops, the Afghan political elite continues to fracture, and the government loses territory to a Taliban bent on challenging the legitimacy of the republic, India has found its Afghan policy at a crossroads. Amid the shifting contours of Kabuls political landscape, New Delhi is struggling to engage with the Taliban. Through much of the 1990s, Indias foothold in Afghanistan was largely confined to pockets in the northeast of the country controlled by the internationally recognized Afghan government. The latter increasingly comprised an assortment of parties identifying with ethnic minorities from the north that banded together under the banner of the Northern Alliance. But it was not until the U.S.-led military intervention in late 2001 that New Delhis forays into Afghanistan gained traction. India emerged as the largest regional and fifth-largest international donor to the country with development projects spread across all 34 provinces, working to dispel political association with the Northern Alliance. Less than a decade after the U.S. led intervention, the 2010 London Conference on Afghanistan made clear the question of not if but when and how the political rehabilitation of the Taliban would take place. India was reluctant to pursue this as it regarded the Taliban as a proxy of Pakistan, which makes it unpalatable for New Delhi. Ten years later, the 2020 Doha agreement between the Taliban and the United States dispelled any illusions New Delhi may have about the militants political future. Many in India viewed the agreement as a sell-out to the Pakistani military and a strategic defeat for the United States, which ceded much but got little in return. The agreement is seen as boosting the legitimacy of the Taliban, which continues to indulge in wonton violence and undermine the already-fragile government in Kabul while offering no guarantees to protect the gains made over the past two decades. Adapting To The Times Unlike in the 1990s, India now confronts a dramatically reconfigured geopolitical and social landscape as it seeks to recalibrate its strategy toward Afghanistan, which is poised for yet another political, military, and ideological transition. Indias primary concerns in Afghanistan are related to security. Tellingly, New Delhi describes the country as a contiguous neighbor . Closely echoing the language of Kabuls political elite, it maintains that the challenge of terrorism confronting the international community lies in Pakistan, where enduring peace is contingent on the ending of terror sanctuaries and safe havens operating across the Durand Line. Although the Doha agreement calls on the Taliban to provide guarantees to prevent the use of Afghan soil by any international terrorist groups or individuals against the security of the United States and its allies, it offers little solace for New Delhi. It fails to address regional terrorists networks such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, which have espoused a virulent anti-India agenda. Moreover, the Taliban has demonstrated little commitment to severing its ties with international terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda or the Haqqani network, which has targeted India in Afghanistan. The waters are further muddied by the rise of the Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan, which has attracted some Indian Muslims as well as disaffected commanders from the ranks of the Taliban. The deadly bombing of an Afghan Sikh and Hindu delegation waiting to meet with President Ghani in July 2018 by IS and the attack on a Kabul gurudwara in March 2020, in which one of the assailants was from Kerala, India, underscore Indias security concerns. The rhetoric echoed by Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi, who said India wants a peaceful Afghanistan and region , is betrayed by developments on the ground. Credible reports point to a regrouping of militants in Pakistans tribal areas, which is something opposed by many opposition groups in Pakistan who are under relentless crackdown. Such developments are likely to amplify security concerns for India. Regional Influences Through much of the 1990s, Moscow and Tehran were seminal to Indias efforts in channeling support to the anti-Taliban alliance in Afghanistan via Tajikistan. Today, as Russian and Iranian relations with Washington have frayed, both have moved swiftly to embrace the Taliban and closely coordinated their outreach in conjunction with Islamabad and Beijing. Neighboring Central Asian republics, too, have followed suit. This makes any attempt to support an anti-Taliban coalition exceedingly difficult for India. Furthermore, Beijings rise has whittled down Islamabads dependence on Washington and allowed for a reset in relations with Moscow and Tehran. There is no Northern Alliance left in Afghanistan. New Delhi must make the most of the strengths of its Afghan policy. Over the past two decades, it has forged a credible development partnership with Kabul. India should position itself as reliable partner for development, which will be seminal for economic reconstruction in any post-American Afghanistan. India can be an important mobilizer of resources and help build political consensus on the international stage. Second, India must work to strengthen constituencies within Afghanistan that mirror the tremendous sociopolitical changes Afghanistan has witnessed over the past two decades in access to education, freedom of expression, political mobilization, and exposure to the outside world. India has been a part of this transformative journey for thousands of Afghans through its educational and training programs. Third, India must strive to realize the full potential of the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed with Kabul in 2011. New Delhi should scale up its training for the Afghan security forces, sharing intelligence with the National Directorate of Security, and providing defense equipment. On the political front, India needs to cast its net far and wide to include an engagement with the Taliban. This would give both New Delhi and the Quetta Shura greater room for diplomatic and political maneuvering. While Indias skepticism with regard to the strategic autonomy enjoyed by the Quetta Shura is well founded, one must not forget India has engaged with a plethora of militant, separatist outfits patronized by Islamabad in the Kashmir valley. The rapidly changing political dynamic in Afghanistan leaves little room for complacency, and the onus is on New Delhi to seize the opportunity and ensure its voice is effectively heard and its security concerns are addressed. These views are the author's alone and do not represent those of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Colorado Springs, CO (80903) Today Mostly clear. Low 58F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph, becoming NE and decreasing to less than 5 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear. Low 58F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph, becoming NE and decreasing to less than 5 mph. Colorado Springs, CO (80903) Today Mainly clear. Low 58F. Winds SE at 15 to 25 mph, becoming NE and decreasing to 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low 58F. Winds SE at 15 to 25 mph, becoming NE and decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Nora Wall grew up in the Wild West of 1980s Miami. Her father was a big city cop, her mother a 911 dispatcher. Now, Wall has settled down in small town Iowa, and the subject is math. Six weeks ago, Wall moved to Osage from Chicago. She brings the company she founded, EduCalc Learning, with her. In a roundabout way, the Cedar Summerstock Theater drew Wall here. For three years, her youngest son Parker took part in these productions, and he fell in love with Osage and St. Ansgar. Wall would travel from Chicago to visit him. At the end of my first summer, I was heading back to Chicago but wishing I could stay in this small town, Parker said. It felt so much like home that I eventually did move here, and now my Mitchell County family has adopted us and given us a new chance at a beautiful rural life. Dyscalculia Nora Wall has owned her math teaching and tutoring company for 11 years. The business began when a pupil was recommended to her care. Just 1 percent of the U.S. population steps up to serve our country in uniform. Thats 1 percent of Americans that we call upon to sacrifice time away from friends and family to defend our nation from our adversaries. We owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to these Americans who give so much to protect our great nation and the freedoms we all enjoy. After 23 years of military service, I know firsthand the sacrifice our men and women in uniform make. On this Memorial Day, we must all take time to remember the servicemembers, and their families, who have paid the ultimate price laying down their life for our country. Iowa has lost 158 of our sons and daughters in Iraq and Afghanistan, two in Panama or Grenada, seven in the first Persian Gulf War, and 867 in Vietnam. The number of Iowans who sacrificed their lives for our county in the Korean and world wars is in the thousands. While each of these men and women deserves to be honored individually, this week I honored a few heroes on the Senate floor. Highlights Google Photos will stop its free unlimited storage for some media files starting June 1. The files uploaded post today will be counted towards the shared 15GB space across Gmail, Photos and Drives. There are some alternatives to Google Photos that you can use Google Photos is getting massive change, and that is in regard to the storage policy. The cloud storage service offered a free unlimited storage option to users for their high-quality photos to date. Starting June 1, the practice will no longer be followed, as Google will begin charging its customers for this storage. Google Photos has enjoyed a user base of more than a billion users for quite some time now. Android smartphone users have largely utilised the service, who always found it convenient to upload their photos and videos on the service, even more easily through routine sync. Such users will now have to be a bit more vigilant towards their uploads, thanks to the new policies of Google Photos. So, what are these changes that are coming into effect, how will they affect your existing data, what are the options you have going forward, we will try to answer all these questions here. What is changing with Google Photos? Google Photos allows you to upload images and videos in three quality formats - High quality, Original quality and Express quality. The last option is available only in select regions. To date, Google has allowed free unlimited storage for High-quality images and videos to Photos. In contrast, media files uploaded in Original quality count towards the free storage limit of 15GB, shared across Photos, Gmail, and Drive. Starting June 1, Google will count all the uploaded media files, irrespective of their upload quality, towards this 15GB storage limit. In case you reach your storage limit, you will have to delete some of your unused data or purchase more storage under the Google One plan to continue using the services. What will happen to the files already stored in Google Photos? Google says that the High quality and Express quality photos, and videos backed up on Photos before June 1, 2021, will not count towards the 15GB Google Account storage. This means these files can still be accessed post-June 1. Users will have their 15GB storage limit judged based on their other media file uploads (Original quality) before June 1 and all uploads post-June 1. What will happen to files you back up from June 1 onwards? All the media files uploaded to Photos starting June 1 will count towards the 15GB storage limit. Once the limit is reached, users can review and delete some of their data to make space or buy additional storage as part of a Google One plan. Note that this 15GB limit constitutes all your data with Google across services like Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos. What happens to your photos if your Google Photos storage is full? If your Google Storage is found to be full after June 1, you will not be able to back up any additional photos and videos. The existing data, however, will remain unaffected for over 24 months. Google says that your content may be impacted if your account is found to be over quota for more than 24 months. Over quota here means that you have used up more storage than the 15GB limit. How to change phone settings to stop automatic uploads to Google Photos? - Open the Photos app on your smartphone - Find Photos Settings under the three-dot menu on the top left, or in some versions, under your profile badge on the top right. - Open Backup & sync - Toggle the Backup & sync Off if it is On What if you want to buy more storage? You can easily buy more storage through any of the Google One plans. At present, Google offers six storage plans for a total of 100GB, 200GB, 2TB, 10TB, 20TB and 30TB storage space across Photos, Gmail and Drive. These plans can be opted for through monthly recurring payments. The 100GB plans, for instance, is available for Rs 130 per months. Similarly, the 200GB plan costs Rs 210 per month, increasing all the way up to Rs 9750 per month for the 30TB plan. Some of the plans also have an option of annual payments, which cuts down the payment of two months as a discount. The 200GB plan, for example, is available for Rs 2100 for a full year. What are the alternatives? There are several cloud storage services similar to those of Google. One of these is Apple One, which also bundles several services like Apple Music, Apple TV+ and more. Some others include Microsoft OneDrive, DropBox, Amazon Photos and many more. Most of these offer cloud storage at a similar price point as Google. As the pandemic recedes, so do our TV-watching hours. Here are 12 new series worth your time this season In an advisory, the health department stated residents, businesses, commercial and industrial water customers served by the Town of Chatham (including the Town of Chatham, service areas north of Chatham, customers in the Tightsqueeze area to include the High School, Middle School and the Dry Fork) service areas to use boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes as a safety precaution. Officials recommend bringing tap water to a boil for a minute and then allowing it to cool before using. Only boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, beverage and food preparation and making ice while the notice is in place. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water, the health department explained. Gods Pit Crew a Danville-based disaster relief organization handed out bottled water to residents Sunday at the former Old Dutch parking lot. By Sunday night, Inframark had installed a temporary patch to the broken line, Pace reported on Facebook. Im thankful that Inframark was able to get the leak fixed quickly, and we were able to have Gods Pit Crew and the fire department help with bottled and non-potable water for the town water customers, Matt Bell, a member of Chatham Town Council, told the Register & Bee on Monday. Uncertainty was raised to a new level last Thursday, when the Environmental Protection Agency announced that it will rewrite regulations involving the Clean Water Act in a way that could give states more power over pipelines. Realizing that it could not complete the stream crossings in time to finish the project by the end of this year, Mountain Valley announced another delay earlier this month, saying the pipeline would not be in service until summer 2022. It wont come soon enough for some property owners, who say that erosion on their land will continue until the pipeline is buried and the land above it is fully restored. Frances Meadows of Craigsville, West Virginia, implored FERC in a recent letter to please approve the necessary permits so this project can be finished up and reclamation can be completed and we can get on with our lives. Work restarts amid legal attacks Perhaps the biggest problem for Mountain Valley has been the mountain of legal documents from environmental groups. There were no big celebrations, like at the end of World War II, when the soldiers came home. Vietnam vets got protests. I cannot even fathom the toll it would take on these young men who served their country, Bryan Minish said, to also see the things they saw and lose friends that became family, and have the strongest of bonds fighting for each other and their country, to come home to that as well. James Minish once hitchhiked along Interstate 40 to the VA Hospital in Durham for help. Nothing helped, at first. He admitted to punching the walls at home. Later, as part of a vet support group, he met Dane Hill, a Yale graduate who had served with Special Forces and was editorial page editor at the Winston-Salem Journal. Dont you ever think about the ones you saved? Hill asked him one day. James Minish had not. He got our dads mind off of thinking about the guys that he couldnt save and thinking about the ones he did help save, Jamie Minish said. I believe this was the catalyst that got him in a more positive direction. Hill later committed suicide, which also affected their dad. The poll traced Trumps negatives to his personality exaggerating, bragging, bullying, lying. The big problem is the Big Lie Trumps claim he won the election and it was stolen from him. Carters poll asked if voters agree or disagree that Donald Trump actually won the 2020 election. Most Republicans, 64%, agreed. But 23% disagreed. Democrats disagreed by 93%-6%. Most important, independents disagreed by 61%-27%, more than 2-to-1. This isnt the only bad poll for Trump. The Washington Post reported that the National Republican Congressional Committees recent polling in core battleground districts found that Trumps unfavorable ratings were 15 points higher than his favorable ones . Nearly twice as many voters had a strongly unfavorable view of the former president as had a strongly favorable one. Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who has stood up to Trump over the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, said NRCC staffers left out that finding when they briefed at a party retreat in April. Republican leaders are in denial about the election, the Jan. 6 riot and, now, Trumps polls. If his poll numbers keep going down, will Republicans go down with him? Gary Pearce was a reporter and editor at The (Raleigh) News & Observer, a political consultant, and an adviser to Gov. Jim Hunt (1976-1984 and 1992-2000). He blogs about politics and public policy at www.NewDayforNC.com. Thats what got me this far, he said in that whispery voice of his. But now, those answers arent doing it for me. My thing was that, not just the guys I knew, but for the 58,000 that got blown away or that are missing, they deserve better than for me to just give up. But now, I kind of feel like they were the lucky ones. Its like being back in the corner and I dont know which way to go and the right way isnt working. And Ive tried the right way for so long. I think the only thing thats kept me really from doing something like killing myself so far is because I dont want to be that bad example, I dont want to go against what Ive been advocating all this time. Highlights Realme X7 Max 5G comes with a 6.43-inch full-HD+ Super AMOLED screen. There is support for HDR videos and up to 120Hz refresh rate. Realme X7 Max 5G features a 4500mAh battery with 50W fast charging. Realme X7 Max 5G is the latest smartphone from the company to add to the flurry of 5G phones in India. At its online event, Realme launched the X7 Max 5G as India's first Dimensity 1200-powered smartphone. This chipset is not a match for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, but it can take on some slightly lower chipsets, such as the Snapdragon 870. And that is something that is going to be enough for most customers. Realme X7 Max 5G will theoretically offer a premium experience without having to spend that kind of money. Alongside the X7 Max 5G, Realme also launched the new smart televisions. The Realme Smart 4K TVs now come with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos standards for streaming apps, such as Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar. With people staying more at their homes, the sales of large-screen devices have spurred and Realme is cashing in on that demand. Realme told me that its new televisions are much better in terms of picture quality, but one thing that may attract customers is the hands-free voice-activated operation, thanks to microphones on the TVs. Realme X7 Max 5G price in India Realme X7 Max 5G price in India is Rs 26,999 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage option and Rs 29,999 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage model. The phone comes in Asteroid Black, Mercury Silver, and Milky Way colour options. The first sale of the Realme X7 Max 5G starts at noon on June 4 on Flipkart and the Realme online store. The X7 Max 5G is also eligible for the Realme Upgrade Program, under which you can buy it for Rs 18,899 and Rs 20,999 for the two variants, respectively, for a year. Realme X7 Max 5G specifications The Realme X7 Max 5G is rebranded GT Neo if you take a look at the specifications. It has the same MediaTek Dimensity 1200 processor powering it, along with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard memory. Yes, the 6GB RAM option has not arrived in India. The X7 Max 5G uses a 6.43-inch full-HD+ Super AMOLED display with support for up to a 120Hz refresh rate. There are thin bezels all around the screen. It runs Android 11-based Realme UI 2.0. The focus of the Realme X7 Max 5G is on cameras. Apart from the main 64-megapixel Sony IMX682 sensor, you have an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle sensor and a 2-megapixel macro sensor on the back. Realme is no longer packing four cameras on its expensive phones, and it makes sense. The three sensors work in tandem with the improved camera app, Realme said. For selfies, the Realme X7 Max 5G brings a 16-megapixel camera inside the punch-hole on the display. The Realme X7 Max 5G has 5G connectivity on both SIM card slots, which the company said will support the bandwidth that will go live in India during the 5G rollout. Backing the Realme X7 Max 5G is a 4500mAh battery with support for 50W fast charging. The phone also uses VC Cooling technology for when the loads are high. The Realme X7 Max 5G is 8.4mm thick and weighs 179 grams. Todays Highlight in History: On May 31, 1921, a race riot erupted in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as white mobs began looting and leveling the affluent Black district of Greenwood over reports a Black man had assaulted a white woman in an elevator; hundreds are believed to have died. On May 31: In 1578, the Christian catacombs of ancient Rome were accidentally discovered by workers digging in a vineyard along the Via Salaria. In 1790, President George Washington signed into law the first U.S. copyright act. In 1859, the Big Ben clock tower in London went into operation, chiming for the first time. In 1889, some 2,200 people in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, perished when the South Fork Dam collapsed, sending 20 million tons of water rushing through the town. In 1935, movie studio 20th Century Fox was created through a merger of the Fox Film Corp. and Twentieth Century Pictures. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. In 1962, former Nazi official Adolf Eichmann was hanged in Israel a few minutes before midnight for his role in the Holocaust. In 1970, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake in Peru claimed an estimated 67,000 lives. In 1977, the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline, three years in the making despite objections from environmentalists and Alaska Natives, was completed. (The first oil began flowing through the pipeline 20 days later.) In 1989, House Speaker Jim Wright, dogged by questions about his ethics, announced he would resign. (Tom Foley later succeeded him.) In 2009, Dr. George Tiller, a rare provider of late-term abortions, was shot and killed in a Wichita, Kansas, church. (Gunman Scott Roeder was later convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 50 years.) Millvina Dean, the last survivor of the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic, died in Southampton, England at 97. In 2011, angered by civilian casualties, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said he would no longer allow NATO airstrikes on houses. Former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic was placed in a U.N. detention unit in the Netherlands to await trial on genocide charges. In 2014, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the only American soldier held prisoner in Afghanistan, was freed by the Taliban in exchange for five Afghan detainees from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (Bergdahl, whod gone missing in June 2009, later pleaded guilty to endangering his comrades by walking away from his post in Afghanistan; his sentence included a dishonorable discharge, a reduction in rank and a fine, but no prison time.) In 2016, a jury found former suburban Chicago police officer Drew Peterson guilty of trying to hire someone to kill the prosecutor who helped to convict him in the killing of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. In 2019, a longtime city employee opened fire in a municipal building in Virginia Beach, Virginia, killing 12 people on three floors before police shot and killed him; officials said DeWayne Craddock had resigned by email hours before the shooting. In 2020, tens of thousands of protesters again took to the streets across America, with peaceful demonstrations against police killings overshadowed by unrest; officials deployed thousands of National Guard soldiers and enacted strict curfews in major cities. Protesters in Washington, D.C., started fires near the White House amid increasing tensions with police, who fired tear gas and stun grenades. In tweets, President Donald Trump blamed anarchists and the media for fueling violence. The White House said it had sent to Brazil more than 2 million doses of a malaria drug touted by Trump as potentially protecting against the coronavirus; scientific evidence had not backed up those uses of the drug. The privately-owned spacecraft SpaceX delivered two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. Artist Christo, known for massive public arts projects that often involved wrapping large structures in fabric, died in New York at 84. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DECATUR Those warriors fortunate enough to return home and grow older gathered on Monday to remember those who remain forever young in cherished memory, comrades fallen in defense of their country. The Memorial Day service in Decaturs Fairview Park Pavilion was organized by the Macon County Veterans Assistance Commission. It was followed later in the morning with a Korean War Veterans Memorial Day commemoration in the shadow of the Korean War Memorial in Graceland Cemetery. Dozens had gathered under the vast canopy of the Fairview Park Pavilion for the proceedings there, where multiple wreaths were laid and the spring air was split with the sharp reports of a rifle fire salute from the Macon County Honor Guard. One of the Honor Guard members is 90-year-old Decatur man Gene Howell, one of the oldest surviving veterans in the area. He said he has watched as his local branch of the Korean War Veterans Association membership has dwindled down to around 45, the old soldiers fading away like the medal ribbons that they wear. This old warriors message for the generation of today is to always remember, and to understand that war is not something that lives and rages only in the pages of history books. The Korean War is not over with, he said. All weve got out there is a truce. And it was not a United States war but a war fought by the United Nations. And it could start over again at any time Howell, however, remains forever grateful that the cessation of those hostilities July 27, 1953 arrived in time to save him. Im very glad they had it, he said of the truce, cracking a smile. Total U.S. casualties from the Korean War are calculated at more than 36,000 dead and more than 92,000 wounded with another 7,564 listed as missing. The tragic statistics of other wars we ought not to forget includes World War I with more than 116,500 Americans dead and 204,000 wounded. World War II saw 405,000 deaths and almost 671,000 wounded. And the total list of the wars, battles and military operations that have involved our nation stretches from the American Revolutionary war of 1775-1783 up through the War in Afghanistan which continues through the present day. With so much spilled blood and suffered pain laid as sacrifices upon the altar of freedom, it can be hard to focus on a few examples to exemplify all. But the guest speaker at the Fairview Pavilion ceremony William Hanes, president of the Veterans Assistance Commission, called on the memories of three decorated Decatur Vietnam War heroes to step forward from the ranks of the fallen. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Hanes spoke of Army helicopter crew chief Michael Patrick Kelly with the 82nd Medical Detachment, Army Sgt. 1st Class Alan Lee Boyer, and 1st Lt. Loren Douglas Hagen. They were all classmates and graduates of the MacArthur High School Class of 1964 and all three volunteered for military service and all three were killed in action. Kelly, now buried in Graceland Cemetery, was cut down by machine gun fire on Easter Sunday, March 26, 1967, as he was trying to save wounded GIs by loading them onto his helicopter. On March 28, 1968, Boyer was part of a reconnaissance team in supposedly neutral Laos that ran into a large force of North Vietnamese soldiers. The Decatur man, having fought bravely, died when the rope ladder he was clinging to on a helicopter trying to extract him from the war zone broke, and he fell to the ground. Hanes said he was listed as missing for years and his Decatur parents died never knowing the fate of their beloved son. In 2016 a peace activist obtained Alans remains from a remains trader in Laos, he told the hushed crowd. The activist delivered the remains to the Defense Department where they were determined to be Alans. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Also lying in that hallowed national ground is 1st Lt. Hagen, who was killed Aug. 7, 1971, leading a reconnaissance team of just 14 soldiers deep inside North Vietnamese enemy territory. Hanes described how they had come under attack and, outnumbered 107 to one, repelled enemy onslaughts with Hagen rushing around under fire directing operations while fighting himself as well as helping and encouraging his hopelessly outgunned team. ... Undaunted by the enemy rockets and grenades impacting all around him, 1st Lt. Hagen was fatally wounded by enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire, said Hanes. He read from Hagens citation that accompanied the Medal of Honor he received posthumously. With complete disregard for his personal safety, 1st Lt. Hagens courageous gallantry, extraordinary heroism above and beyond the call of duty at the cost of his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon him and the United States Army. All three Decatur soldiers live now only in memory, emblematic of all those young people who paid with all of their tomorrows the cost of preserving the freedoms we cherish today. Let us remember these brave veterans and the others who have gone on ahead, Hanes said. God bless them, and God bless America. Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DECATUR Tommy Butts was a retired Decatur police officer who loved playing bass guitar in country music bands, loved life, and had planned to use one to celebrate the continuation of the other. Tragically for Butts, time ran out as he waited for a matching donor and the transplant that would have saved him from the kidney disease that claimed his life Sept. 17, 2019, at the age of 58. But the music event he had dreamed of as a way to say "thank you" if that donor had been found went ahead anyway on Sunday at the Decatur Civic Center. This time, however, the focus was on calling attention to the desperate need for more kidney donors and to raise money for the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois, which helps patients battling kidney disease. His widow, Sarah, organized Sundays event calling it Team Tommys Donor Roundup" and said the Tommy Team consisted of his family and friends. Getting to the point of being able to stage Sundays show, which featured the music of five live bands, had involved a long and difficult path as the date was twice put off due to the sudden arrival of a new disease, COVID-19. Sarah Butts, married to her husband for 30 years, isnt easily put off, however. The idea of this event actually started with him, said Butts, 50. He just loved country music and he would have loved this. So I took the reins and I hope I am doing him proud. The music went on throughout Sunday afternoon and took a novel approach to fundraising. Each band Feudin Hillbillys, Wreckless Whiskey, NCR, Brushville and the NATU Band played for an hour in the Civic Center arena. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Tips jars were left out and spectators, who paid $25 to get in, showed their monetary appreciation for each group. Whichever band raises the most money in one hour gets to be the opening act for a big band appearing at the Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater, said Butts. It was a nice incentive to dangle in front of any hungry country or rock band, but some musicians had personal reasons of their own for wanting to use their art to highlight a worthy cause. Natu Visinia is the lead guitarist of his namesake Natu Band and recalled how kidney disease claimed the life of his 61-year-old mother, Tiva Visinia, as she waited in vain for the right kidney donor. Same situation as Tommy, said the 35-year-old musician who has family in Clinton but lives in Tennessee today. And a lot of people are like that: They wait for years and years and just run out of time. So being here today and helping is something near and dear to my heart. Statistics from the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois show that 3,500 people in the state are waiting for a kidney donation but, in 2018, there were only 273 living kidney donors in the Land of Lincoln. Some 12 people die a day waiting for their chance at a new lease on life. I dont think a lot of people even realize how hard it is to get a kidney donation, said Allison McCue, Tommy Butts sister-in-law who was helping out on Sunday. We need to change that. Find out more by going to www.nkfi.org. Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid Love 0 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. The for-profit insurance companies running Illinois Medicaid collected hundreds of millions of dollars in extra profits during the COVID-19 pandemic much of it for services never provided to patients, an investigation by the Better Government Association has found. The windfall was the result of a payment system based on annual, per-patient estimates. While the number of patients in the states Medicaid program swelled as people lost their jobs, many deferred elective medical procedures during the pandemic. That meant the insurance companies spent a smaller percentage of their government revenue on direct medical services, a trend seen nationwide in which Medicaid providers made billions in extra profits. An analysis of the quarterly and year-end financial statements of Illinois five Medicaid insurance contractors called managed care organizations, or MCOs for short reveals the unprecedented surge in profits from April 2020 through December 2020. The Illinois COVID-19 lockdown began in March when Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued executive orders closing schools and some businesses. Three of the Medicaid companies Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, IlliniCare Health Plan and Molina Healthcare of Illinois reported a combined $282 million increase in profits in Illinois during that nine-month stretch when the pandemic was at its height, compared to the same period in 2019. The other contractors insurance giant Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and Aetna Better Health of Illinois, Inc. also reported large profits on a national scale, but the direct correlation is unclear because their figures include private patients, Medicare recipients or data from other states. The parent company of Illinois Blue Cross which covers the insurance carrier over five states reported its net income from all private and public plans rose by 75% to nearly $4 billion last year, records show. Presented with the BGAs findings, the top official at the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services said her office will investigate and work to recover some of the taxpayer money as part of a routine statewide accounting due in 2023. I dont think it is fair to take a partial-year look or a short-term look at something when all these numbers and all these projections are annual in nature, and theres still a lot of billings and reporting and reconciling to do, said Theresa Eagleson, director of HFS in an April interview with the BGA. If those numbers for calendar year 2020 end up bearing out, we will be recouping a significant amount of money from the plans, Eagleson said. Im not saying that we dont see this potentially occurring. Im saying we dont have a process in place to recoup it until ... all the information is in. In a followup email earlier this month, Eaglesons top spokeswoman said, purely as a snapshot in time, initial incomplete figures indicate HFS would recoup over $120 million from the insurance firms for calendar year 2020. Those funds will come through a program called a risk corridor that reallocates money if the companies exceed or fall short of targets for medical care. Illinois was one of the first states in the country to implement risk corridors during the pandemic to further restrict possible profit margins, said Jamie Munks, Eaglesons spokeswoman. We will recoup more from the health plans than we otherwise would have. The prospect of waiting two years for payback isnt fast enough for some state lawmakers. State Sen. Dave Koehler, a Democrat from Peoria, in December filed a bill to claw back 20% of all COVID-era profits from the Medicaid providers. Our two hospital systems here in Peoria verified that their revenues were down during the height of the pandemic because everybody was not doing electives, Koehler, an assistant majority leader, told the BGA. That bothers me. When his bill wasnt progressing to a floor vote, Koehler said he met for 45 minutes with Pritzker in March and made his case to recover 20% of the excess profits now. I said, We dont really have a managed care system in this state; we have a managed payment system. There is no care, Koehler said he told Pritzker. Koehler declined to discuss how Pritzker responded. Email traffic obtained by the BGA through a public records request suggests the Pritzker administration had already decided to scuttle Koehlers efforts. The governors office also has many concerns with the (bill) language, wrote Samantha Olds Frey, the states top Medicaid insurance lobbyist, in an email to company leaders Jan. 5. They asked that I send over our high level list of concerns, so they can review them and include them in their analysis. We are also working with HFS and our communications team to push back with the press, Olds Frey wrote in a separate email to industry executives. The emails illustrate the influence Medicaid contractors exert over Illinois agencies tasked with holding the insurance firms accountable for patient care and taxpayer savings, according to ethics and industry experts. It doesnt seem to be just or fair to the taxpayers of Illinois that these billions of dollars in payments would continue to flow to the MCOs during a time when theyre not providing the services and the state has a significant budget problem, said John Pelissero, a government ethics professor at the Loyola University Chicago, who reviewed the emails at the BGAs request. Renee Popovits, an attorney for Medicaid doctors and medical clinics who testified in March in favor of Koehlers bill, told the BGA that the insurance firms deserve to be adequately and appropriately compensated but not at this level of gross profits. The corporations pandemic-era profits surged as Illinois health care system was reeling and officials struggled to vaccinate citizens and protect elderly and disabled adults, Popovits noted. How can the state shut down churches, schools and businesses in the name of a public health emergency yet feel no urgency to redirect this money? she asked. Olds Frey, who heads the Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans, said her collaboration with the Pritzker administration to combat Koehlers bill helped ensure the solvency of the entire state Medicaid program. We continuously coordinate and calibrate with key stakeholders like the governors office, HFS, legislators, providers and members to ensure positive outcomes for Medicaid recipients, Olds Frey responded in an email to the BGA. Pritzker's press secretary Jordan Abudayyeh declined to provide details but said the governor and his staff routinely solicit feedback from all sides as they analyze the pros and cons of any issue. Nicole Huberfeld, a professor of health law at the Boston University School of Law, said the Illinois Medicaid contractors 2020 windfall profits could be erased by new expenses if citizens who deferred care soon demand it. Yes, there is an uptick of profits, but the MCOs are facing a potential rip tide of losses as COVID eases and people return to their doctors with pent-up demands for treatment, Huberfeld said. Three days after the BGA published this article, Koehler cited the BGA findings and called for legislative hearings into the insurance providers COVID-era Medicaid profits. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. If we are able to reallocate excess profits from these companies, we can help hospitals stay open and keep providing lifesaving care in our low-income and rural communities, Koehler said in a May 27 press release. Illinois began taking steps to privatize its modern Medicaid program in 2010 under then-Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat. Former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner accelerated those efforts, which were embraced by Pritzker, a Democrat. At the same time, consolidations reshaped the insurance sector focused on Medicaid. Today, a handful of publicly traded companies are in charge of one of the most vital functions of Illinois government: providing care to 2.6 million low-income people, including pregnant mothers, people with disabilities, nursing home residents and foster children, records show. Before Medicaid was turned over to private insurance companies, the state paid each doctor, clinic or hospital a fee for every Medicaid service rendered. Today, the state pays the insurance firms a fixed dollar amount per member each month, whether the patient received costly treatments or no medical services. Four of the five companies declined to respond to the BGAs written questions or requests for interviews. Blue Cross said its financial gains were largely limited to the first months of the pandemic. During the first half of 2020, we saw sharp declines in elective care utilization, as consumers were reluctant or unable to seek medical care due to stay at home measures, said Blue Cross spokeswoman Colleen Miller. In the second half of the year, the pendulum swung the other direction, and the deferral of care moderated with utilization levels eventually returning to nearly normal levels. During this period, benefit expenses also increased to cover pandemic-related costs, such as testing, diagnosis and treatment. Eagleson said the BGA's analysis is incomplete because it is focused only on the nine COVID months of 2020. If the entire year is considered, the same three Medicaid insurance firms reported combined losses last year and in 2019. In full context, it is plain that the plans are not making excess profits, Eaglesons spokeswoman wrote. Those state-level losses to which Eagleson referred dont reflect actual losses on a company-wide level because Illinois contractors pay hundreds of millions of dollars in management fees to their corporate parents. For instance, Meridian Health Plan of Illinois Inc. reported a 2019 loss of $77 million but only after paying a $287 million management fee to a subsidiary of its parent company, Centene Corp. Despite such state-level losses, Centene reported nationwide profits in 2019 of more than $1 billion, records show. Illinois officials and industry lobbyists said they opposed Koehlers clawback legislation because the state already has a mechanism in place to recover overpayments to the insurance companies. Under Illinois contracts, which totaled $16 billion last year, the insurance companies are required to spend 85% of all public revenues directly on medical services, leaving 15% for administrative costs, marketing, other expenses and profits. That 85% rule has come under scrutiny in recent years because of the states poor record enforcing it, loopholes in what constitutes medical services, and the states lack of transparency about how it holds the insurance companies accountable. The Illinois Auditor General found in 2018 that the state failed to account for the 85% rule for three years between 2012 and 2015. HFS acknowledged the failure and retroactively collected $90 million in excess payments stretching back to 2011, according to data HFS provided to the BGA. Critics of Illinois Medicaid system also said the state allows the insurance providers to meet the 85% rule by counting vaguely defined activities, such as quality improvement, as direct medical expenses. During 2019, for instance, Illinois five Medicaid insurance firms claimed they spent a combined $336 million on quality improvement, records show. Absent that expense, two of them would have fallen short of the 85% ratio and been forced to remit millions of dollars, state records showed. IlliniCare and Aetna, two of the five companies, recently merged. The HFS Eagleson said Illinois raised its ratio to 90% during the COVID-19 period last year to make sure taxpayers werent being fleeced. Several other states told the BGA they have already begun to recover undeserved profits from Medicaid providers. South Carolina currently estimates it will recoup $75 million from its far smaller $3.3 billion program following an audit of last years spending. These numbers are not finalized and are just approximate totals based on incomplete data, John Tapley, the state Medicaid program manager, told the BGA. Minnesota estimates that nearly $78 million may be returned by the MCOs running that states $7 billion Medicaid program in 2020, said Sarah Berg, spokeswoman for the states Department of Human Services. New Jersey won federal approval to amend its managed care contracts and estimates it will save $400 million for the period of January through June 2020, said Tom Hester, communications director of the states Department of Human Services. Illinois five Medicaid contractors all were subsidiaries of publicly traded insurance companies that compete to care for low-income people in states across the U.S. Their COVID-19-era profits were driven by a confluence of factors, government and industry officials said. The shutdown of Illinois economy swelled the states Medicaid rolls by 480,000 people as workers lost their jobs and lost their employer-sponsored insurance, state records show. Illinois paid the Medicaid providers for those additional clients. A federal emergency measure barred states from striking Medicaid recipients from the rolls, even if those patients werent getting care or simply couldnt be found. At the same time, many Illinois Medicaid recipients deferred elective medical procedures during the pandemic, according to records and interviews with industry experts. And at the pandemics outset, Illinois pushed out $100 million in payments that are usually withheld until the companies meet performance measures. The aim was to ensure the firms got through an unprecedented and unpredictable period when losses or gains might be staggering. Eagleson said her effort to financially support Illinois insurance providers was shaped in part by her experience wrangling yearslong Illinois budget shortfalls that forced social service contractors to cut services or borrow to function. We have to have financially viable plans. When the state cant pay its bills, they pay providers anyway, she said. Ben Winick, Eaglesons chief of staff, said only financially healthy Medicaid contractors can properly care for their clients. We do not want to see our plans making excessive profits, Winick said. But its also not set up for them to be losing money, either. They need to make money to be financially viable and be adequate partners. Kira Leadholm, a graduate student at Northwestern Universitys Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, contributed to this report as a research assistant. This story was produced by the Better Government Association, a nonprofit news organization based in Chicago. CHICAGO Illinois is poised to become the first state to require that public schools teach their students the history of Asian Americans, who have endured an increase in anti-Asian hate crimes amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The Illinois Senate passed the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History Act, known as the TEAACH Act, by a unanimous vote of 57-0 on Tuesday. The legislation, introduced in January by Illinois State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, D-Glenview, passed the state House in April. The House has to approve a Senate amendment before it will head to Gov. J.B. Pritzkers desk for his signature. The bill would require every elementary and high school in the state to devote a unit of curriculum to the history of Asian Americans in the United States, including in Illinois and the Midwest. School districts would have until the start of the 2022-2023 school year to comply. ___ The nonprofit news outlet Injustice Watch provided this article to The Associated Press through a collaboration with Institute for Nonprofit News. ___ The TEAACH Act requires schools to include in U.S. history courses the role that Asian Americans have played in advancing civil rights and highlight their contributions to the countrys development. State Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, who sponsored the bill in the Senate, said education is one part of a multipronged strategy to tackle the rise in discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Addressing the issue will also require better hate crime reporting, more representation in government, and training people to be better bystanders who intervene when they witness anti-Asian harassment, he said. Illinois Sen. Ram Villivalam the first Asian American in the Illinois Senate said laws like the TEAACH Act can help deter anti-Asian hate crimes and dispel the model minority myth that all Asian Americans are successful. We are also minorities, said Villivalam, who is Indian American. We need to make sure that our issues are also being taken in that same lens (as other minorities) and we stand together in solidarity. The TEAACH Acts backers expressed hope that the legislation could help combat stereotypes and ignorance about Asian Americans that they said dehumanize and marginalize the group and create an environment in which acts of hate and violence against Asian Americans are accepted. The bill gained momentum in the aftermath of a series of mass shootings, first at several Atlanta-area spas in March that killed eight people, including six Asian women, then at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis in April that killed four members of the Sikh community. Unfortunately, this really stark rise in anti-Asian violence has played a role in peoples willingness to take action, said Grace Pai, director of organizing at Asian Americans Advancing Justice ' Chicago, which helped draft the legislative language, worked closely with the bills sponsors, and coordinated outreach efforts. If the TEAACH Act is signed into law, the superintendent of the Illinois State Board of Education could prepare free teaching materials for local school boards to use in developing curricula about Asian American history. But the bill leaves most of the details up to individual districts and schools. One of the bills sponsors is Illinois State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, who became the first Asian American elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 2016. Mah was also one of the first Asian American studies professors at Northwestern University, after students went on a hunger strike to demand the creation of an Asian American Studies Program in the 1990s. Mah said she hopes teaching Asian American history in schools will help dispel the stereotype of Asian Americans as perpetual foreigners. During debate about the bill, she shared a story about sitting outside the Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston, when a group of middle-school-aged kids passed by and one of them asked, Who are the Ching Chongs? while the others laughed. Asian Americans tend to experience this othering, she said. People see us as not belonging to the country, not real Americans. Forever foreigners or a model minority Sohyun An, a professor of social studies education at the Kennesaw State University whose work is grounded in critical race theory, said the way that schools teach Asian American history has real-world implications. In 2016, An examined how Asian American history is taught in 10 states and found that history lessons about Asian Americans tend to focus almost exclusively on early Chinese immigrants and Japanese internment camps during World War II. These lessons reinforce stereotypes about Asian Americans as forever foreigners and teach students that Asian Americans are an economic and military threat to the United States, An said. These racist stereotypes of Asian Americans fueled the rise in anti-Asian violence during the pandemic, she said. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Whats being written in class, whats being included or not included or when theyre included, how theyre being represented its not just a scholarly or academic debate, An said. Its a life-and-death issue. Albert Chan, a history teacher in Skokie, a Chicago suburb, said a close read of American history shows that events such as the Atlanta-area shootings or the anti-Asian hate stoked by former President Donald Trump are nothing new. Since the 1800s, Asian Americans have been depicted as dirty and carrying diseases, and Asian women as sex workers, Chan said. Such characterizations have been used to stoke resentment against Asians living in America that has erupted into violence before. Its a resurgence of those old stereotypes, he said, that now explode into these acts of violence against Asian people. An said whats often missing in school curricula are lessons highlighting the history of Asian Americans fighting for civil rights, including the 1965 Filipino farmworker unionization, the 1885 California Supreme Court decision in Tape v. Hurley that desegregated schools for Chinese Americans, and the Yellow Power Movement of the 1970s. Instead, Asian Americans are depicted as a successful, hardworking, law-abiding, compliant minority, which serves to erase their long history of resisting oppression, An wrote in an article in the journal Theory & Research in Social Education. Education scholars call the lack of representation and accuracy in curricula curriculum violence. An said the phrase refers to the ways that lack of representation in school kills the spirit and humanity of nonwhite youth and sends a message to white students that others are racially inferior and unworthy of this country. The dominant white group (is) using the model minority myth to control minority groups who are suffering under a white supremacist system, An said. They are pitting minority groups against minority groups, so they are fighting each other when they should be united to fight against this whole system. Skokie teacher offers a model for Asian-American history Though the TEAACH Act doesnt dictate exactly how Asian American history must be taught in Illinois schools, Chans class at Niles North High School could be a model. Starting from the first Filipinos who set foot in America in 1587, Chan covers the mass migration of immigrants from various Asian countries, looks at laws that discriminated against them, and ends with Asian American activist movements. In his lessons, he unravels how Asian Americans have struggled to assimilate and survive in America, covering identity, stereotypes, and critical race theory. Chan first proposed an Asian American studies course in the north suburban school district in 2005, but it took until 2017 for Chan and a fellow teacher to generate interest and convince school administrators to approve a pilot class. Since then, the class has become a staple, with 40 students at Niles North taking the course this school year. Since 2019, Chan has also taught the course at Niles West High School. If you dont have access to people, knowledge, culture, all of the things that make you foreign become normalized, Chan said. The same is true when (students) see a lack of representation and invisibility of themselves and their people in the curriculum; they internalize that. Betty Huynh, a 17-year-old student at Niles North, said taking Chans Asian American studies course helped her contextualize and validate her lived experience of feeling like an outsider while simultaneously feeling the need to assimilate and stay within a box of Asian stereotypes that society imposed on her. Betty Huynh, a 17-year-old Niles North High School student helped organize to pass the TEAACH Act. Huynh said taking an Asian American Studies class helped validate and contextualize her lived experience as an Asian American. One time in summer school, she remembers other students asking why she was taking extra math classes because Asians are supposed to be good at math. In high school, she has felt an immense pressure to be a good student. There were moments in which students hovered over her shoulder because they thought she had the right answers to an assignment and yanked the paper from her hands, Huynh said. She ignored these microaggressions growing up because her parents would say, Dont talk about it, dont tell anyone about it because were in America. And its not really our country. And so we have to obey by their rules because weve been given this opportunity, she said. When I started taking Asian American studies, I finally realized that Ive ignored a lot of things growing up, Huynh said. Hunyh and other students who took Chans class organized with the HANA Center, a community organization focused on empowering Korean American and multiethnic immigrant communities, and lobbied to help get the TEAACH Act passed. They spoke to different student groups about the bill, collected witness slips, and successfully encouraged some of their state representatives to sign on as co-sponsors of the bill. Zaina Anarwala, a senior at Niles North, said she thinks the bill will reduce anti-Asian bias by teaching students about different groups of Asian Amerians and humaniz(ing) them. I think its really easy to direct your hate towards a group of people that you dont know about, Anarwala said. Huynh said she advocated for the TEAACH Act because she wants to educate others about how Asian Americans have been placed on a pedestal as exemplary minorities, when the reality is that they dont fit into that stereotyped image. Since organizing, she said, she is no longer afraid to voice her opinion. I never understood why I always felt different or like I didnt belong, Huynh said. Now I know how to be in control of my life and understand what it means to be Asian American. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 I had to sit down, she said. Bryant and Taylor, with unanimous consent of Tates four members, use the donation to establish a cooperative parish between seven different churches in Southwest Virginia, spanning from Saltville to Chilhowie to Marion, all of them in rural areas. Taylor explained that many small churches in the region have been struggling due to COVID-19 and a lack of new members. The seven churches in the new parish will work cooperatively with three pastors sharing ministry so they wont be isolated, said Taylor. Tates Chapel is geographically in the middle of the planned parish and Bryant hopes to use the church and its location to its full potential. The gift will allow Tates Chapel to hire a student intern from Emory & Henry College. New ministries are also planned. I have a dream of a recovery ministry in the area. Its so needed, she said, referring to programs that will aid those addicted to drugs and alcohol. Bryant is thankful for the gift and its potential to do good, but the donation has reminded her of the power of faithful church members, even when there are only four. Pope Francis encourages political leaders to work actively for the common good, to provide the means and resources needed to enable everyone to lead a dignified life and, when circumstances allow, to assist them in resuming their normal daily activities. It is concerning to see the virulence of the virus in India, and it is even more concerning to hear how those who have received vaccinations are still falling ill. Providing vaccines and stopping the pandemic is not only a humanitarian issue, but it is also the only way to prevent a new rise in the USA of cases and a continuing cycle of deaths. To be sure, if weve learned anything from this pandemic, its that were all interconnected. The virus knows no borders, and we must be bold, yet humble to eradicate it. As we come together with our families in the U.S. in the next few months, its my hope that our sisters and brothers overseas those who remain in isolation will not be forgotten. Too many families are searching for medical services, too many are searching for hospital beds, and too many are searching for the oxygen to keep their family members alive. My family has felt the consequences of the pandemic, and I know many other families have suffered around the world. Lets ensure no one else has to suffer the same fate. A soldier with ties to Hickory has become the caretaker of a uniform that belonged to a World War II airman who sacrificed his life for his crew. Sgt. Nathan Merique, 29, who grew up in Hickory and is now stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado, acquired the uniform of Lt. William Stenning, an airman from Illinois, about six months ago from a collector. Merique researched witness statements to learn more about Stennings story. Stenning was leading a squadron on a mission from Italy to Romania in April 1944. The squadron was roughly 75 miles from the target when German fighter planes attacked. The American squadron did not have cover from fighter planes. So Lt. Stenning got on the air phone in the plane and he told his men this was the last words to his crew he said, Were fighting for our lives, men, Merique said. Stenning pulled his plane out of the formation. Facing a merciless onslaught from the German planes, he ordered his crew to jump out of the plane. A number of airmen were able to evacuate in time. One of the men recalled being pushed out of the plane by a fellow airman seconds before the plane exploded. The other phase is that when I lead a chapel worship service, they are choosing to come into the chapel for worship or Bible study. And so for that group, Im their pastor. So in the military we say, Were a chaplain to all and a pastor to some. On how his military service has shaped his civilian ministry: The greatest benefit that the military has given me as a senior pastor is leadership training. So in the military there is an intentional effort to keep developing people so that they can assume greater responsibility; they can supervise other people under them; they know how to lead and think strategically. All of those training assignments and all of the school that I have done in the Air Force has made me a better pastor because its given me leadership training and supervisor training and strategic thinking, even extra counseling training, that I can carry all of those things over into my parish ministry. On his favorite memory of pastoring at Holy Trinity: I started in May of 2018, and the first, most memorable and fun experience here at Holy Trinity was vacation Bible school that summer in 2018. Some recent reading: Plotting for Peace by Daniel Larsen. Cambridge University Press I am amazed that so much history of the Great War of 1914 still concentrates on the Western Front and on the fighting there. I have many times here praised Adam Toozes superb The Deluge. This, instead of another wearsome run round the cliches, deals with the politics, diplomacy and economics of the war, and gives the Eastern Front proper prominence. Now a fascinating new book by Daniel Larsen Plotting for Peace (Cambridge University Press) also helps to redress the balance, away from howitzers and trenches, and towards understanding. Several things emerge from it. First is just how hard the USA tried to end what it regarded as a stupid war in a negotiated peace (in all previous ages the normal response to such a costly, bloody stalemate) . Second is how the crass and militarily futile German policy of unrestricted submarine warfare brought doom on the German Empire by infuriating American public opinion into support for the USAs entry into a European War (if Berlin had not done this, Wilson might well have forced a compromise peace on Britain, France and Germany). Next is the economic illiteracy of David Lloyd George and his Tory ally Andrew Bonar Law . Both simply did not understand how close Lloyd Georges spendthrift war policies came to driving the country to bankruptcy. Bonar Law learned how wrong he had been when he became Chancellor of the Exchequer and had the books explained to him by the Treasury. Lloyd George, who seems to have believed that Britain was bottomlessly rich and could call on credit without limit, probably never understood it at all. They were only rescued from the result of this idiocy by the skill of the Britains new York Bankers, J.P. Morgans , by plundering the gold reserves and Britains investments in the USA, - and by the USAs entry into the war. Once the United States had declared war on Germany, Britains vast debts ceased to matter until the war was won (even then, though Daniel Larsen does not deal with this part of the war, Germany almost won anyway, by engineering the overthrow of Russias new democracy in the Lenin putsch of October 1917, and switching vast armies from the Eastern to the Western Front for a Spring offensive in 1918 that very nearly succeeded). Herbert Asquith, his Foreign Secretary Edward Grey and his Chancellor Reginald McKenna, as well as the Tory Lord Lansdowne, emerge as reasonably sensible and wise, whereas Lloyd Georges ruthless and devious pursuit of supreme power is like something out a Shakespeare tragedy. But the main character is Edward House, Woodrow Wilsons envoy, who came so close to getting a negotiated settlement. Also prominent is Reginald Blinker Hall, the British Intelligence chief, whose adventures in reading German (and American) diplomatic traffic played their own part in scuppering plans for a settlement. In the background to the narrative, which mainly involves 1916, is the disastrous and futile British offensive on the Somme in July of that year, which few in power really expected to succeed (perhaps it is a good thing that the brave thousands who were sacrificed in it, and their wives and children, parents, brothers and sisters did not know this). Of course my belief is that Britain should never have entered this idiotic war the machinations employed to get us in are bitterly described in The Darkest Days: The Truth Behind Britains Rush to War 1914, by Douglas Newton, formerly Associate Professor of History at the University of Western Sydney, published by Verso, which I reviewed here https://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2014/08/how-the-lights-went-out-all-over-europe-but-did-they-need-to-go-out-here-.html and here https://hitchensblog.mailonsunday.co.uk/2014/08/1914-revisited-part-2-it-wasnt-about-us-.html And the events of 1916, in which our national leaders greatly overestimated the national wealth and power, and everyone else had to pay for their mistakes for decades afterwards, are the forerunner of the events of 1934, when Britain shamefully defaulted on her Great War debts to the USA (we still havent paid it, despite a widespread belief that we have) and of 1939-40, in which Britain again bankrupted itself and threw itself on the mercy of Washington, which turned out to be quite a chilly sort of mercy. Basic moral: Just because things happened that way, it doesnt mean they had to happen that way. Second moral. The 20th century didnt need to be that bad. Stupid, vain people made it that way. Balasubramanian Shyam joined the Indian Foreign Service in 2000. New Delhi [India], May 31 (ANI): B Shyam, presently the Consul General of India, Osaka-Kobe, Japan has been appointed as India's next Ambassador to the Republic of Iceland. An MEA release said he is expected to take up the assignment shortly. Balasubramanian Shyam joined the Indian Foreign Service in 2000. Shyam's first posting was in Cairo, Egypt as Third Secretary/ Language trainee, studying Arabic at the American University Cairo. This was followed by work as Second Secretary dealing with Media, and as Director (I/C), Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture in Cairo. Returning to Headquarters as Under Secretary (Iran-Afghanistan), and later as Under Secretary (Pakistan) gave exposure to India-Iran and India-Pakistan bilateral relations (2005-2007) from the HQ. Shyam was later posted to Colombo, Sri Lanka as First Secretary (Political) for three years. This was followed by a posting to Dhaka, Bangladesh as Commercial Counsellor from 2010-2013. Returning to N. Delhi in 2013, was Director (Pakistan) till 2015. The tenure with the Indian Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar was Deputy Chief of Mission for three years from 2015-2018. Shyam had joined as Consul General of India, Osaka-Kobe, Japan on August 1, 2018. (ANI) Mexico accuses Zara, Anthropologie & Patowl of cultural appropriation FILE PHOTO: The logo of the Zara store is seen in a mall at Vina del Mar MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexico has accused international fashion brands Zara, Anthropologie, and Patowl of cultural appropriation, saying they used patterns from indigenous Mexican groups in their designs without any benefit to the communities. Mexico's Ministry of Culture said in a statement Friday that it had sent letters signed by Mexico's Culture Minister Alejandra Frausto to all three global companies, asking each for a "public explanation on what basis it could privatize collective property." The Ministry of Culture said Zara, owned by Inditex, the world's largest clothing retailer, used a pattern distinctive to the indigenous Mixteca community of San Juan Colorado in the southern state of Oaxaca. "The design in question was in no way intentionally borrowed from or influenced by the artistry of the Mixtec people of Mexico," Inditex said in a statement sent to Reuters. Anthropologie, owned by URBN, used a design developed by the indigenous Mixe community of Santa Maria Tlahuitoltepec, while Patowl copied a pattern from the indigenous Zapoteco community in San Antonino Castillo Velasco, both in the state of Oaxaca, according to the Ministry of Culture. URBN and Patowl did not respond immediately to requests for comment. The extent to which fashion designers have profited from incorporating cultural designs without acknowledging their origins or fairly compensating communities has been a point of contention in recent years. In 2019, the Mexican government accused fashion house Carolina Herrera of cultural appropriation of indigenous patterns and textiles from Mexico in its collection. Carolina Herrera's parent company, Puig, did not respond immediately to requests for comment. In 2019, Herrera's creative director Wes Gordon reportedly said that the collection "pays tribute to the richness of Mexican culture." (Reporting by Ana Isabel Martinez and Sharay Angulo; Writing by Laura Gottesdiener; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Rosalba O'Brien) Navy Deputy Chief Vice Admiral MS Pawar (Photo/ANI) By Ajit Dubey New Delhi (India), May 31 (ANI): Navy Deputy Chief Vice Admiral MS Pawar, the officer who oversaw multiple important operations including the swift movement of naval assets after the Pulwama attack to keep the Pakistan Navy in check, relinquished office on superannuation on Monday. Pawar had assumed charge as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff on February 1, 2019, and was immediately tasked to undertake post-Pulwama attack operations. "Strategic assets, such as nuclear submarines were deployed in the operation in such a manner that Pakistan Navy was pressurised to stay away from any misadventure in view of the Indian response in Balakot aerial strikes on a terrorist camp," Navy officials said. A graduate of the National Defence Academy, the officer also looked after the Indian Navy's deployment in the Persian Gulf amidst US-Iran tensions, and the operations undertaken during the Galwan standoff between India and China, they said. Pawar also oversaw large scale relief operations, both within India and abroad, along with large scale search and rescue operations, and relief operations undertaken during the COVID pandemic such as Operation Samudra Setu I and II and multiple Sagar Missions. The Admiral has held various challenging Staff and Command assignments including the one of Navigating Officer of the Landing Ship Tank (Large) Magar during India's Peace Keeping Operation 'Pawan' in Sri Lanka. He was also the Fleet Navigating Officer of the Western Fleet during the Kargil War, and the Fleet Operations Officer of Western Fleet when the Indian Navy commenced anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. He has also commanded the missile boat Nashak as the commissioning CO, the missile corvette Kuthar, and the frigate Talwar. (ANI) The United States-based Vaccine Scientist-Pediatrician Author Dr Peter Hotez said in a press meet that it's "absolutely essential" to investigate Covid-19's origin. "There's going to be Covid-26 and Covid-32 unless we fully understand the origins of Covid-19." Hotez added. "We need a team of scientists, epidemiologists, virologists, bat ecologists in Hubei province for a six-month, year-long period," Hotez said in a live address as per a report in Times of India. In March, Hotez had praised India's Covid vaccine rollout saying that it had rescued the world with Also, in the meet former Trump Deputy National Security Adviser Pottinger discussed the possibility that Covid-19 leaked from a lab in Wuhan & whether the U.S. can get to the truth. "I think we can. It might take more than 90 days." Pottinger replied to the question whether we could ever get "a definitive answer" on Covid-19 origins without China's cooperation? Food and Drug Administration(FDA) commissioner in Trump administration Scott Gottlieb said that Information to support the theory that the Covid-19 virus may have escaped from a lab in Wuhan, China, has increased. Gottlieb is on the board of Pfizer Inc currently. He added that "China hasn't provided evidence to disprove that theory, while the search for signs that the virus emerged from wildlife hasn't yielded results." In a statement on Wednesday (26 May), US President Joe Biden ordered a renewed investigation into the virus's rise. He called the agencies to "redouble their efforts" and report to him again in 90 days whether it was more likely the virus crossed the species barrier from a natural reservoir or leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. HONG KONG (AP) The organizer of Hong Kongs annual Tiananmen Square candlelight vigil has opened its yearly exhibit of photographs and paraphernalia from the bloody 1989 crackdown in Beijing on those calling for democracy in China. The opening comes even as Hong Kong authorities have for the second year in a row banned the annual June 4 vigil, which normally draws tens of thousands of people into the streets. Authorities have cited the risk of the coronavirus, though the cancelation coincides with a broader crackdown on political activism and dissent in the city. Organized by the The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, the museum each year shows photographs from the 1989 democracy movement as well as pictures from past candlelight commemorations in Hong Kong. This year, visitors to the museum will also be able to lay flowers in remembrance of the victims who lost their lives in the massacre that took place on June 4, 1989. For decades, the semi-autonomous Chinese cities of Hong Kong and Macao were the only places in China where public commemoration of the crackdown was allowed. Authorities in Macao have also canceled their vigil for a second year. The current COVID-19 fuss has caused adverse effects on the business industry. However, as businesses transform seamlessly to accommodate changes caused by the pandemic, the e-commerce industry has experienced a boom for a niche of products. Even in a marketplace platform such as Amazon, sellers have noticed at least 8 products that customers frequently add to their carts. Buying Trends in 2021 Industry influencers often determine buying trends, and the current customer behavior is fast shifting towards trending products. Thankfully, social media has a hand in promoting buying trends for most products in 2020 and 2021. 8 Amazon Items That Are Flying Off The Shelves With thousands of products today, some people rely on social media recommendations and reviews that back bestsellers in the online market. In this regard, let us explore 8 Amazon Items you can feel confident purchasing this spring. 1. Little Green Machine One parents experience Home schooling parent Amy Sharony founded the school in 2016 with Suzanne Rezelman so that Sharonys daughter would be able to take classes with other students. Under the hybrid model, students attend classes together in-person twice a week and work independently three days a week. Lessons are led by teachers on in-person days who also assist students in self-directed work at home. Sharonys daughter, who graduated from high school last year, ended up opting out and sticking with traditional home schooling, but Sharony continued the hybrid model with her son and other families. There are now 12 students in junior high and 10 in high school, she said. In the coming year, junior high enrollment will reach 18 students. Last summer, Sharony said she received hundreds of emails from parents across the country asking about home schooling. They described watching their kids work 12 to 14 hours on virtual lessons. Some were frustrated at being in charge of online education without having power over content and instruction. Most parents just wanted their kids to go somewhere every day, and Sharony had to break it to them thats just not what the Academy is about. Thank you, Mr. Morris I have instructed my cousin Jimmy to hand over $750 in small, unmarked bills once he meets your henchmen at the airport and he has secured the trunks of cash that are rightfully mine. I want to make this perfectly clear: I want my trunks of cash. If there is a problem, Jimmy has been instructed to go to the airport, have you paged and deal with you personally. Believe me, you do not want this. Jimmy is prepared to meet you or your associates at hanger 3 within the next five days (not Sunday because he has a softball game). The timing is up to you, but you have five days. After that, I cant be responsible for the consequences. Every time she exhibits the trees, she said, she ends up with more pictures brought by people remembering loved ones. And an event like Memorial Day brings such a flood of photos that when this is over, I will cry, she said. Harold Redding, a veteran of the D-Day invasion of Normandy in World War II, is driven to the memorial frequently by his wife, Faye, although they usually dont get out of the car. On Monday, they had seats near the front. The couple live in Kernersville. We made 83 trips to various beaches to supply the Army and Marines, the old soldier said, recalling D-Day. I am thrilled to see people still coming out and that they remember all the ones who fought in all the wars. I think that if I could talk to all the men and women in the wars and ask them if it was worth it, all would give a resounding Yes to serving our great country. I would be glad to do it again. Redding served on an LST, one of the ships that landed tanks on the beach during the invasion. But his closest call, he said, was in the dock at London when the sudden silence from a German buzz bomb told him that one was coming down very close. The flying bomb, known as the V-1, was noted for the buzzing sound it made as it approached. Then there would be a moment of silence before people heard the explosion. Barbara Kluttz answered her cell on the third or fourth ring. Though out of the blue, the call wasnt terribly surprising, either. Usually around this time every year Ill get a slew of cards, Kluttz said. This time of year, of course, would be Memorial Day, a solemn holiday anointed by Congress to remember those Americans killed in war. Some of the cards come from people she knows or has at least met. Others, though, are sent by strangers expressing condolences for the 2005 loss of her son, Monta Ruth, a sergeant in the U.S. Army who was killed while serving in Iraq. And while those cards (and the odd phone call) can be reminders of the worst day of her life, the outreach serves another more uplifting purpose. The pains always there. It doesnt go away, Kluttz said. (The cards) tell me that nobody has forgotten about him. The names matter Many Americans keep a name or two in their head (or hearts) that they think about each Memorial Day. AJ Shabazz said the organization was started in 2009 as a tribute to Harry Smith, his uncle, a veteran who died in 2008. He said his uncle had a hard time navigating the Veterans Administration system, including health care. We help families navigate the VA system, Shabazz said of HARRY. We provide emergency services for veterans. Weve helped veterans as far as the state of Washington. It doesnt matter where they are located at. He said that being a partner with Happy Hill Neighborhood Association for this event is important to HARRY. We like to make sure that we honor those veterans who gave their life up for this country for us and U.S. residents to be able to live where we live, Shabazz said. If it wasnt for those folks, we wouldnt be able to do the things we do here in the country. We want to make sure that we always keep them honored and keep their legacy alive. The Happy Hill Neighborhood Association is revitalizing the Happy Hill community and trying to restore some of its rich history, said Saleem. As part of those efforts, the association is collaborating with Rising Ebenezer Baptist Church and Maurice Pitts Johnson, who has been taking care of Happy Hill Cemetery for years. Then he tried drive-in shows, which posed the same problem for stand-up comedy as online video calls: You dont hear their laughter," he said. "You need to remind them: If you like what Im saying, if you like the joke, please honk, he recounted. So people would honk at you, you tell a joke (and) they would honk at you. In some U.S. states, he performed at outdoor venues to a limited capacity audience. At others he performed indoors. In Arizona and Florida he performed in comedy clubs, where he said he felt nervous because it was before the vaccine was rolled out. Comedians need interaction were best in a room, with an audience, laughing, talking," he said. And this remote world took that away from us but again I think we adapted, a lot of people adapted. Jobrani, originally from Iran, moved to California at age 6 with his family. Like many Iranians they had fled the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution. He grew up in the San Francisco area. His acting credits begin just after the Sept. 11 attacks with a major role in the American action series 24, in which he played a member of an Afghan militant group hoping to detonate a nuclear bomb in Los Angeles. On Memorial Day, my family and I dont celebrate a holiday with a backyard barbecue or time at the park or beach. For us, and for fellow Gold Star families across the nation, Memorial Day is about honoring and remembering the beloved service member we have tragically lost. For many of us it is a reality once more of the empty seat at the dinner table, missed birthdays, missed hugs and missed smiles and laughs. Memorial Day is the time many of us visit Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place for many of the men and women who died while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. There are many meaningful ways to honor and remember our countrys fallen service members during Memorial Day. First, speak their names. This year speak aloud the names of and hold a moment of silence for those who have given their lives in service to our nation. Learn more about the history of Memorial Day to deepen your understanding and share these facts with family, friends and your community. If there are Memorial Day events in your community, plan to attend and speak the names of the fallen service members from your community. If there are no Memorial Day events in your community, take the lead and create one. You may be the very person needed in your community to start an important tradition of honoring our fallen service members. William Clark was not only an intrepid explorer, he was the author of treaties that removed more than 81,000 Indians from their homelands. Sen. Thomas Hart Benton was not just the populist voice of the West, he was the father of settler colonialism and an apologist for slavery. Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation but merely a few days before he had ordered the execution of 38 Dakota men, which remains the largest mass execution in the history of the United States. The 1904 St. Louis Worlds Fair was a festival of white supremacy, in which the organizers assembled living human beings in a zoo. And so on. My first reaction, honestly, was to bristle. Was every character in the American story a villain? Must one accept Marxist economic and social analysis to believe in social justice? Is every institution and achievement with injustice in its history fundamentally corrupt and worthless forevermore? With flowers and flags and a colorful balloon launch at the end, Lincoln on Monday saluted fallen veterans on a solemn, but celebratory Memorial Day. Veterans and their families, some bringing flowers and toting their own lawn chairs, dominated the crowd of several hundred that gathered at Wyuka Cemetery for the annual observance that was interrupted last year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Flags hung virtually motionless on a calm morning and a light, gentle drizzle fell during most of the ceremony, which was attended by a host of veterans wearing identifying service caps and jackets. There were the families of those being honored, a sprinkling of children and grandchildren, along with some solitary figures, most of them older. "We must continue to recognize those who have given the ultimate sacrifice," said retired U.S. Air Force Col. Kenneth "Joe" Brownell, director of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's military and veterans success center. "And we need to always honor those who carry on when family members are no longer with us." Girl Scouts from Troop 20568 placed roses on each grave at the Grand Army of the Republic Circle at Wyuka, all of which already had been decorated with a small American flag. As another legislative session draws to a close in the Nebraska Unicameral, it is worthy to note that the appointment of a new chair for one of our Legislatures standing committees has already been a game changer. I am referring to the election of Sen. Lynne Walz as the chair of the Education Committee, a position which her colleagues affirmed by the narrowest of margins as the session got underway in January. In recent years under a prior Education Committee chair, debate on education issues all too often disintegrated into disparaging attacks and overgeneralizations negatively characterizing Nebraska education and more broadly questioning the commitment of our state's tirelessly dedicated educators. Leadership matters. Senator Walz has reset the rhetoric on education debates and brought a principled and purposeful approach which dignifies the efforts of educators and values policy expertise. While bi-partisan support was a necessary ingredient to advance Senator Walz to the chair position, this is not to imply that Senator Walz had total success in pushing pro-education legislation. Further, he added that the family would like to go to dinner or to the grocery store together. They watch him like a hawk, Gamez said of the defendants parents. Additionally, the defendant could carpool to the Kenosha job with a relative, the attorney said. Under questioning from Judge Martinez, the defendant said he would be traveling around Kenosha County as well as Illinois as part of his landscaping duties. Gamez interjected and stressed that Vazquez would be constantly supervised while at work. Prosecution response Assistant District Attorney Brooke Erickson objected to any further bond modifications, with special reference to the removal of the GPS monitoring bracelet. I think thats inappropriate at this time, she said. She noted the seriousness of the charges the defendant is facing and added she had concerns for the safety of the community and the victim. As for the fact the defendant has no violations since being on house arrest, she said: That means the GPS is working, and we shouldnt take it off. WIND LAKE Deputies were dispatched to a report of two people that were drinking and possibly on drugs, causing a scene at about noon Saturday at B Lazy Diner, 7910 S. Loomis Road. According to a news release from the Racine County Sheriffs Office, a complainant believed the two were doing drugs in their vehicle. Deputies made contact with the vehicle at a nearby gas station. Deputies identified Donald Frasier, 24, of Norway, and Nicholas McNally, 23, of West Allis. It was apparent immediately to deputies that Frasier and McNally were impaired. During investigation, Frasier was arrested for operating while impaired, 1st offense. Later, during a search of the vehicle, deputies found what they believed to be a strip of acid, a pill bottle containing Xanax, and Adderall, a baggie of marijuana, scale and other drug packaging items, the release said. McNally told a deputy the drugs were his, the release said. He was then transported to the Racine County Jail and held there without incident. Frasier was transported to Ascension All Saints Hospital for further testing associated with his impaired-driving arrest, the release said. Canadian physician and Lt. Colonel John McCrae wrote those words on May 15, 1915, after presiding over the funeral of a friend and fellow soldier who died in the Second Battle of Ypres in the Flanders region of Belgium in World War I. The poem was published in the U.S. and Canada and across the world and quickly became synonymous with the sacrifice of soldiers who died in that war. Soldiers took it as a testament to their duty and those at home saw it as defining the cause for which their brothers and sons were fighting. 1. Yes. Its important to keep my child as safe as possible. We plan to take advantage. 2. Yes. With the school district dropping its mask mandate, its a necessary step. 3. No. Local COVID cases are dropping. There is no good reason to vaccinate my child. 4. No. There hasnt been enough data on vaccinated children. I think Ill hold off. 5. Unsure. I havent decided yet whether to take part in the vaccine clinics. Vote View Results International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol speaks during a session on energy during the P4G Seoul Summit, which was streamed online, Monday. Captured from P4G Seoul Summit live streaming By Nam Hyun-woo International organization and corporate leaders called for prompt action toward an energy transition Monday, saying that setting long-term climate goals and making immediate climate responses should be pursued at the same time. They urged this during a session of the P4G Seoul Summit, which had its second day of events and discussions following its opening Sunday. P4G stands for Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030, and its members are pursuing international cooperation for stronger environmental action. Along with the leaders of the 12 P4G member countries, representatives from more than 40 other nations and international organizations participated in the summit. The 12 nations are Bangladesh, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Africa, Vietnam and Korea. During the session titled "A Greener Planet with Innovative Energy Solutions," International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol said the world is seeing "a proliferation of net zero pledges from countries and companies" but there was "a huge gap between rhetoric and reality." "This year, instead of a sustainable recovery, we are heading for the second-largest increase in global emissions in history according to our numbers," Birol said during a speech streamed online. "To get to net zero emissions we will require nothing short of a total transformation of our energy systems." Birol compared global efforts to tackle climate changes to "a race to net zero," with countries starting in different places. He added that advanced economies needed to finish this race well before the others; however, he stressed it was a race against time, not against each other. "The first priority is to make the 2020s a decade of massive clean energy expansion, focusing on technologies like solar, wind, and electric cars, which are ready for the big time," he said. "But we also need to see a huge increase in innovation in order to have clean energy technologies. So we have twin challenges, make the most out of existing technologies, and push the button of innovation in order to make them part of our global energy system." Bloomberg L.P. CEO Michael Bloomberg stressed the importance of prompt action on climate change and cooperation between businesses, countries and societies. "No single business, city or nation can take on climate change alone, and we have to work together to build effective partnerships and raise our ambitions," Bloomberg said. "While it's critical to set goals for 2030, we also need to make progress now." Bloomberg mentioned Korea's recent decision to end overseas financing for coal-fired power plant projects as an example of prompt action. During last month's Leaders Summit on Climate, hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden, Korean President Moon Jae-in pledged that his government would end all public financing for overseas coal-fired power plants, as part of the country's commitment to global efforts to tackle climate change. Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Moon Sung-wook said that "efforts of individual businesses or countries alone will never be enough to get there," and thus "advanced and developing economies must work closely together to find creative and innovative solutions for carbon neutrality." Including one on energy, the P4G Seoul Summit held five thematic sessions on water, food, green cities and the circular economy. Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sigrid Kaag speaks during the Water Session of the P4G Seoul Summit, which was streamed online, Monday. Captured from P4G Seoul Summit live streaming Stressing the importance of offering nutritious meals to children during the summer months, the School District of West Salem announced the sponsorship of the Summer Food Service Program. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, provides nutritious meals to children during the summer, when free and reduced-price school meals are typically unavailable. Free meals will be made available to children 18 years old and younger. Persons over 18 years of age who are determined by a state or local public educational agency to be mentally or physically disabled and who also participate in a public or private non-profit school program during the regular school year may receive free meals as well. Meals will be available at the elementary school Monday through Friday from 11:45 am to 12:30 pm. The program will run from June 9- Aug. 13, but will be closedon July 5 for the holiday. This program fills a void created when school lunches are not available, said Emily Klunk, director of School Nutrition. Helping parents meet the nutritional needs of their children is the strength of this program. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 National AP How Tulsa massacre history went unremembered John Locher, Associated Press People watch the documentary "Rebuilding Black Wall Street," during a May 26 drive-in screening of documentaries during centennial commemorations of the Tulsa Race Massacre in Tulsa, Okla. Department of Special Collections, McFarlin Library, The University of Tulsa via AP Two armed men walk away from burning buildings as others walk in the opposite direction during the June 1, 1921, Tulsa Race Massacre in Tulsa, Okla. When the smoke cleared in June 1921, the toll from the massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was catastrophic scores of lives lost, homes and businesses burned to the ground, a thriving Black community gutted by a white mob. The nightmare cried out for attention, as something to be investigated and memorialized, with speeches and statues and anniversary commemorations. But the horror and violence visited upon Tulsas Black community didnt become part of the American story. Instead, it was pushed down, unremembered and untaught until efforts decades later started bringing it into the light. And even this year, with the 100th anniversary of the massacre being recognized, its still an unfamiliar history to many something historians say has broader repercussions. The consequences of that is a sort of a lie that we tell ourselves collectively about who we are as a society, who we have been historically, thats set some of these things up as aberrations, as exceptions of what we understand society to be rather than endemic or intrinsic parts of American history, said Joshua Guild, an associate professor of history and African American studies at Princeton University. Indeed, U.S. history is filled with dark events often involving racism and racial violence that havent been made part of the national fabric. Many involved Black Americans, of which the Tulsa Race Massacre is considered among the most egregious in its absolute destruction, but other racial and ethnic communities have been impacted as well. Americans not knowing about these events or not recognizing the full scope of the countrys conflict-ridden history has impacts that continue to reverberate, Guild said. If we dont understand the nature of the harm ... we cant really have a full reckoning with the possibility of any kind of redress, he said. Manisha Sinha, a professor of American history at the University of Connecticut, agreed. Its really important for Americans to learn from the past, because you really cannot even understand some of our current-day political divisions and ideas unless you realize that this conversation over both the nature and the parameters of American democracy is an ongoing and a really long one, she said. Terrible events that many Americans dont know about include long-ago history, such as the Snake River attack in Oregon in 1887, where as many as 34 Chinese gold miners were killed, and the 1864 Sand Creek massacre of around 230 Cheyenne and Arapaho people by U.S. soldiers in Colorado. Others are within the lifetimes of many Americans living today, like the 1985 bombing by Philadelphia police of the house that headquartered the Black organization MOVE, killing 11 people. As odd as it may sound, the mere fact that something happened isnt enough for it to be remembered, said Robin Wagner-Pacifici, a professor teaching sociology at the New School for Social Research, who has written about the MOVE bombing. You can never assume, no matter how huge an event may be in terms of its literal impact on numbers of people, that its going to be framed and recognized and move forward in time, in memory, by future publics or state apparatuses or political forces, she said. In Oklahoma, the massacre largely wasnt discussed until a commission was formed in 1997 to investigate the violence. For decades, the states public schools called it the Tulsa race riot, when it was discussed at all. Students now are urged to consider the differences between calling it a massacre or a riot. How an event is presented can make a difference, Wagner-Pacifici said. That could include whether its connected to other historical moments and what parts are emphasized or downplayed. All sorts of political forces and actors will kind of move in, to try to name it and claim it, in order either to tamp it down in its impact or to elaborate it in its impact, she said. She pointed to a current example: the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection by a predominantly white mob at the U.S. Capitol. Some Republicans have attempted to minimize or even deny the violence, and on Friday GOP senators blocked the creation of a bipartisan panel to investigate the attack. In Tulsa, word of unrest that started on May 31, 1921, and ran through the night and the next day made it to news outlets. Front-page stories and accounts from The Associated Press spoke of a race clash and armed conflict. But the aftermath of a community shattered - was relegated to inside pages at best before being swept under the rug. In one example, a story weeks later well inside the pages of The New York Times reported in passing that a grand jury in Oklahoma had determined the catastrophe was due to the actions of armed Black people and the white people who got involved were not at fault. It just shows that remembering is never just actually about remembering, Wagner-Pacifici said. Its always motivated, she said. Who remembers what about the past, who allows a past to be remembered, to be brought back to life and and in what ways ... its absolutely fundamental to who you decide you want to be in the present. We saw some horrific injuries and we know there was great sacrifice on their part, says Michael. Those are the people who really do the heavy lifting. We see ourselves as kind of the ancillary. Adds Jennifer of those who served in combat, They are very impressive people. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The couple did work overseas during their time in the Army, performing eye operations for residents of El Salvador. The experience, Michael says, was both stressful and incredibly rewarding. Trained on high-tech medical equipment stateside, the field hospitals in Central America were a stark contrast, with only basic equipment and, at times, lacking power. The need for eye care, Michael said, was profound, and Jennifer says some families would walk an entire day to get their loved ones to the hospital for surgery. Our patients were blind, they couldnt see at all, they couldnt function, Jennifer says. One of the beauties of eye surgery is the rapid results, providing near instant satisfaction for both the patient and the surgeon. It can take weeks before patients experience the impact of some surgeries, but those who undergo cataracts surgery can see improvement in their vision within a few days. Springfield, Ill. (AP) Illinois became the first state Sunday to pass a bill that will ban police from lying to youth during interrogations -- a practice that adds significantly to the risk of false confessions and wrongful convictions. It is expected to be signed into law by the governor in coming weeks. The original sponsors, state Senator Robert Peters and state Representative Justin Slaughter, garnered bipartisan support for the bill that culminated in a near-unanimous vote to pass it in both houses. House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, a Republican and former Chicago prosecutor, joined as a co-sponsor and helped propel the bills passage. Ill never be accused of being soft on crime, but Im more interested in seeking the truth than a conviction, Durkin said. I believe in fair play. We should never tolerate, under any circumstance, the use of deception to seek a statement or an admission by any defendant, let alone a juvenile. Though few Americans realize it, police regularly deceive suspects during questioning to try to secure confessions, from saying DNA placed them at the scene of a crime to claiming eyewitnesses identified them as being the perpetrator. Detectives also can lie about the consequences of confessing, saying, for instance, that admitting responsibility is a quick ticket home. Sen. Ron Johnson continues to fundraise despite holding off on a decision to run for re-election, raising more than half a million dollars in the first three months of the year. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on May 31, 2021 2021/05/31 AFP: According to the latest news report, China's Politburo decided in a meeting today to allow families to have up to three children in future. Could you enlighten us on the purpose and motivation of this new policy? Wang Wenbin: Please refer to competent authorities. Bloomberg: US Customs and Border Protection on Friday said it will detain imports of seafood from Dalian Ocean Fishing after an investigation showed the company operated under all 11 of the International Labour Organization's indicators of forced labor. Does the foreign ministry have any comment? Wang Wenbin: I have noted relevant reports. To our knowledge, the US Customs and Border Protection's claim of "forced labor, abuse of crew members and withholding of pay" is fabrication that is totally inconsistent with facts. Dalian Ocean Fishing Company Limited has never sold any products to the US, and there's nothing to detain in the first place. The so-called "forced labor" is completely groundless. So far as I know, the enterprise involved has always been law-abiding with strict and full-fledged management mechanism and a good reputation in the industry. Moreover, tuna fishing vessels normally enjoy high technical and modernization standards, and their operation are mostly automated, so there is no need for heavy manual labour. The so-called "abuse of crew members" is totally unfounded. Last year saw some media hype-up of the issue; in response, the enterprise involved immediately checked with the Indonesian crew working on the ship, all of whom said they had never been treated unfairly, let alone abused. Facts fully show that the allegation of "forced labor" is nothing but a lie concocted by the US side in an attempt to wantonly suppress Chinese enterprises. China firmly opposes such political manipulation, and calls on the US side to respect the basic facts and annul the wrong decision. China will take every measure necessary to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises. Beijing Daily: According to Japanese media reports, three local agricultural cooperatives in Fukushima, Japan, passed a special resolution on Friday expressing opposition to the government's decision to release nuclear contaminated water into the sea. The resolution criticizes the authorities and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) for breaching the previous agreement to not start any treatment of the contaminated water without the due understanding of the people concerned, as the government authorities failed to properly explain the matter to Japanese citizens as well as fishery workers. What is China's comment on this? Wang Wenbin: I have noted relevant reports. This is another proof that the Japanese government, turning away from its commitments and acting in ways inconsistent with its words, is extremely irresponsible in handling the disposal of the Fukushima nuclear contaminated water. Dumping the nuclear contaminated water cannot be the first option, still less should it be taken as the only option. China once again strongly urges Japan to take up its due responsibility for ecological safety and the health of all mankind, earnestly respond to the serious concerns of the international community, the neighboring countries and its own people, re-examine and revoke the wrong decisions, and voluntarily accept the substantive participation, verification and supervision of stakeholders and relevant international institutions. It must not start the discharge process before an agreement based on full consultation is reached with all stakeholders and relevant international institutions. Prasar Bharati: As per media report, Wang Jingyu was wanted by China over his online comments about clashes near China-India border last year. He was arrested by Dubai police and was later released after weeks of detention. Can you please confirm if China was seeking his extradition for his online comments over clashes between Chinese and Indian forces last year? And do you have more details to share? Wang Wenbin: I have noted relevant report. As we speak, competent Chinese authorities are investigating and handling the case in accordance with law. China Review News: According to media reports, the Japanese government said the other day that it would study the possibility of providing vaccines to Taiwan, to which the Taiwan authorities expressed thanks. Earlier heads of the Red Cross Society branches in Chinese cities Fuzhou and Xiamen expressed readiness to donate vaccines to Jinmen and Mazu in the Taiwan region, but the Mainland Affairs Council declined the offer. Do you have any comment? Wang Wenbin: Recently many counties, cities and groups in the Taiwan region have been calling for early access to vaccines from the mainland and some institutions have announced that they will receive donations from the mainland. All this demonstrates the Taiwan people's confidence in mainland vaccines. We expressed on many occasions the readiness to do our best to help Taiwan compatriots fight the virus.However, the DPP authorities, proceeding from selfish political calculations, turned a blind eye to the goodwill of the mainland, and even resorted to malicious smears and various other means to thwart the shipment of vaccines from the mainland to the island. This is running roughshod over the life and health of our compatriots in Taiwan. China always supports international cooperation in combating COVID-19 and has been taking active efforts in this regard. That being said, we are firmly against those who exploit the pandemic to put on political shows or even meddle in China's internal affairs. I've noticed that Japan can barely ensure adequate supply of vaccines at home. Under such circumstances, the Japanese government's announcement of considering providing vaccines to China's Taiwan region has drawn doubts from media and the public including in Taiwan. I would like to stress that vaccine assistance should be restored to its origin purpose, which is to save lives, and should not be reduced to a tool for selfish political gains. CCTV: Lately some in the US and the UK have been renewing efforts to hype up the "lab leak theory". Dr Mike Ryan, head of the WHO emergencies program, said on May 28 that "We would like for everyone out there to separate, if they can, the politics of this issue from the science. This whole process is being poisoned by politics". Do you have a comment? Wang Wenbin: Study of origins is a scientific issue that should not be politicized. Unfortunately, for some time, we have seen rhetoric and actions that stigmatize and label the virus, use study of origins to shift the blame to specific countries, wantonly criticize WHO experts on the study, and even draw on intelligence apparatus rather than rely on scientists to lead the study. These US acts which politicize origins study have gravely disrupted and undermined normal international cooperation in origins study and created difficulties and barriers for national efforts to fight the virus and save lives. We stand for a scientists-led study of origins featuring solidarity and cooperation, not an intelligence-led investigation stoking confrontation and sowing division. The process should not be dictated by any country's will. Upholding the principle of openness, transparency and cooperation, China has twice invited WHO experts in for joint study of origins. As the study of origins involve many countries and localities across the world, we call on other countries to follow our example and invite WHO experts in for similar studies to address international concerns. We urge a handful of countries including the US to immediately halt their politicization and stop sabotaging international cooperation in origins study for hidden political agenda. Bloomberg: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern "expressed grave concerns about the human rights situation" in China's Xinjiang and said that the United Nations and others should be allowed to make "meaningful" visits. Does the foreign ministry have any comment? Wang Wenbin: We have taken note of and are deeply concerned over the relevant statement. The leaders of Australia and New Zealand, with irresponsible remarks on China's internal affairs relating to Hong Kong and Xinjiang as well as the South China Sea issue, have made groundless accusations against China, grossly interfered in China's internal affairs and seriously violated the international law and basic norms governing international relations. China firmly opposes this. I would like to reiterate that Hong Kong is China's Special Administrative Region and its affairs are purely China's internal affairs. China will not waver in its determination and confidence to uphold the principle of One Country, Two Systems and safeguard the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. Nor will China waver in its resolve and will to reject any external interference in China's internal affairs. Xinjiang-related issues are about counter-violence, anti-separatism and de-radicalization, rather than human rights, ethnicity or religion. Xinjiang has not seen a single violent terrorist case in the past four years. Remarkable achievements have been made in economic and social development and improvement of people's livelihood. The rights and interests of people of all ethnic groups, including the Uyghurs, have been fully protected. These are the facts that are recognized by all those without bias. At present, the situation in the South China Sea is generally stable. China firmly upholds its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. At the same time, China is willing to properly handle maritime differences with relevant countries through consultation and negotiation to jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the region. There is never any problem with the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. We firmly oppose any groundless accusations against China under the pretext of the South China Sea issue. China maintains that the development of bilateral relations between countries in the region should help enhance mutual understanding and trust among countries in the region, and be conducive to peace and stability in the Asia Pacific, instead of targeting or damaging the interests of third parties, and much less forming enclosed small clique with ideology as the yardstick. It's not justifiable for relevant countries to say and do wrong things on issues bearing on the sovereignty and security of a third country, or interfere in its internal affairs under the guise of human rights. We once again urge relevant parties to stop making irresponsible remarks and act in ways that are conducive to bilateral relations and regional peace and stability, rather than the opposite. The Paper: A joint investigation by foreign media agencies revealed that the US National Security Agency (NSA) used a partnership with Denmark's foreign intelligence unit to spy on senior officials in Sweden, Norway, Germany and France between 2012 and 2014. Do you have any comment? Wang Wenbin: As facts have proven time and again, the US is the world's top empire of hacking and theft of secrets. With targets including not only competitors, but also its allies, the US is a real master of large-scale, indiscriminate tapping and theft of secrets. Even its allies find this "unacceptable". Ironically, this master of theft of secrets is using "clean network" as a cover and claiming to safeguard cyber security. This fully exposes that the US is not truly upholding cyber security, but suppressing competitors; it's not truly defending the security of allies, but maintaining its own hegemony. The US owes the world an explanation on whether what it does is consistent with its intelligence laws and the spirit of its trans-border data flow agreement with allies and whether it's "polluted network" or "clean network". We hope the international community will expose and reject the US cyber bullying and not be a cat's-paw for the illegal acts of this "empire of hackers". China Daily: According to reports, on May 28, 209 House Republicans sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi which reads, "We request that you instruct the appropriate Democrat committee chairs to immediately join Republican calls to hold the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) accountable for its role in causing the global COVID-19 pandemic. There is mounting evidence the pandemic started in a Chinese lab, and the CCP covered it up. If that is the case, the CCP is responsible for the deaths of almost 600,000 Americans and millions more worldwide". Does China have any comment? Wang Wenbin: Between January 14 and February 10 this year, with China's strong support, 17 international experts independently selected by WHO, overcoming the impact of COVID-19, formed a joint mission with Chinese experts to conduct near month-long field research in Wuhan, China. Upholding the spirit of openness, transparency and cooperation, the Chinese side arranged for visits to the Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control, the Wuhan Center for Disease Control and the Wuhan Institute of Virology at the joint team's request. During the visits, the team visited bio-safety laboratories, had in-depth and candid exchanges with experts there, and gained thorough knowledge of the management, standard operating procedures and recent virology research. On this basis, the joint team arrived at the conclusion through prudent science-based discussion that the hypothesis of "a laboratory origin of the pandemic was considered to be extremely unlikely". This conclusion and the process of the study is clearly recorded in the joint WHO-China study mission report. This is an authoritative and official conclusion based on science. However, some in the US, turning a blind eye to facts, science and the questionable study of origins and botched response at home, kept fabricating the lie that the virus was leaked from the WIV and unreasonably asking China to pay for their own inaction . This shows that they don't care about facts or truth and have zero interest in a serious science-based study of origins. Their aim is to use the pandemic to pursue stigmatization and political manipulation. They are being disrespectful to science, irresponsible to all lives, especially American lives, and counter-productive to concerted global efforts to fight the virus. The US keeps accusing China of cover-ups, but what about itself? There are so many questions about the earlier cases in the US which emerged before the officially-reported first case, the unexplained outbreaks of respiratory disease in northern Virginia in July 2019 and on the subsequent EVALI outbreaks in Wisconsin. Can the US practice what it preaches and be open and transparent and disclose detailed data and information on relevant cases at an early date? If the US is totally above-board, why not open up the suspicion-shrouded Fort Detrick for visits, investigations and research by international experts? I would like to stress again that the study of origins of COVID-19 is a matter of science, not a political tool. It should be conducted by scientists all over the world in collaboration, not by the intelligence community or a few finger-pointing politicians, because the latter would only disrupt and undermine normal international cooperation in origins study and create difficulties and barriers for countries' efforts to fight the virus and save lives. We urge a handful of countries including the US to immediately halt their politicization, stop sabotaging international cooperation in origins study for hidden political agenda and refrain from rejecting science to embrace conspiracy theories and sabotaging global solidarity and cooperation in fighting the pandemic for selfish gains. Reuters: Taiwan's DPP said today that China prevented Taiwan from getting vaccines. Do you have any comment on that? Wang Wenbin: The State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson has already responded to the relevant question, which you can refer to. As we have said many times, we stand ready to do our very best to help our Taiwan compatriots bring the epidemic under control and defeat the virus at an early date. The DPP authorities are extremely irresponsible to our Taiwan compatriots by using political manipulation to divert attention. They should immediately stop all kinds of slanders and smears on the mainland helping Taiwan compatriots in their fight against the epidemic, and take practical actions to remove man-made obstacles, so as to ensure the health and well-being of Taiwan compatriots. EAST HEMPFIELD TWP. SUPERVISORS The East Hempfield Township Board of Supervisors will virtually meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 2, via Zoom. Zoom info meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89893702800?pwd=WVhqOXY0MXlkNVNyNU1GZE4yaVg1dz09; 1-646-558-8656 or 1-301-715-8592, using meeting id: 898 9370 2800, passcode: 951511. Among the agenda items: - Hearing: Public hearing to on Comcasts past performance and future needs. - Consent agenda: (a) Brookside-Enterprise phase 6 final plan, Yellow Goose Road, approve recording, time extension No. 2; (b) Landis Farm phase 3 final plan, Nissley Road, approve escrow reduction No. 4; (c) 791 Stony Battery Road final plan, approved recording time extension No. 2; (d) invoices from all funds covering May 22 to June 4; (e) approval of minutes May 19. - Action items: (a) development services, Traditions of America, phase 3 final land development and lot consolidation plan, Miller Road. Approve the final plan and establish the projects financial security and stormwater management fees; Nolt Road cluster development preliminary plan, 3072 Nolt Road. Approve the modifications and the preliminary plan; (b) Lancaster Area Sewer Authority, request to adopt resolution to approve their articles of amendment; (c) Shenandoah Cable Television, LLC, cable franchise agreement and ordinance consideration; (d) Marietta/Good intersection, authorization to sign right of way acquisition plans for intersection improvement project. Authorize right of way for project, 1937, 1931 and 1925 Marietta Ave.; (e) Church Street resurfacing project, agreement to reimburse Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for accessibility ramp costs; (f) parking ordinance amendment; (g) Honey Run 5K Run, use of roadways on Aug. 22, 2022; (h) Zoning Hearing and Planning Commission recommendations to fill vacant alternate positions. LANCASTER CITY COUNCIL Lancaster City Council will meet virtually at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 1. Information on how to watch and participate, visit: cityoflancasterpa.com/city-council/. Among the agenda items: - Nominations: (a) Angela Thomas to Human Relations Commission; (b) Alexandra Rodrigues to Sign Commission; (c) Scott Gardner to Noise Control Board; (d) Ronald Ashby to Noise Control Board; (e) Tene Darby to Civil Service Board as an alternate member; (f) Amanda Ruiz to the Civil Service Board as an alternate member; (g) Donald Palmer to the Civil Service Board as an alternate member; (h) Lloyd Henry to the Civil Service Board. - Community Planning Committee: resolution amending the sewer control plan for Willow Valley mosaic project. - Finance Committee: resolution accepting a Redevelopment Capital Assistance Program grant for fire station construction. - Economic Development Committee: administration bill amending the tattoo ordinance. - Committee of the Whole: (a) increasing salaries for future council members; (b) increasing the salary of the mayor. LANCASTER CITY HISTORICAL REVIEW BOARD The City of Lancaster Historical Architectural Review Board will virtually meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 1. A link to join the on-line meeting will be posted on the City of Lancaster's website at cityoflancasterpa.com under Boards, Commissions and Authorities. Among the agenda items: - 213 N. Concord St.: Gene and Tanis Garber Shaw, owners. Install a new handrail on front entry steps. - 224 Lancaster Ave.: Jon Christopher and Jane Horst, owners, Yohe Architecture and Design, applicant. Replace two ground-floor windows on the buildings facade. Remove a doorway on the side elevation and install a new window opening. Install two new window openings on the first- and second-floor levels of the side elevation. Enlarge a two-story rear addition to project out from the buildings side elevation to include a new retaining wall beside a basement stairway. LANCASTER CITY PLANNING The Lancaster City Planning Commission will meet virtually at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 2. Information to attend, visit citys website. Among the agenda items: - Waiver of minor plan, 1151 S. Duke St., Flex-Cell Precision. Applicant is seeking a waiver of minor plan filling typically required for modifying a final plan prior to construction. - Time extension for unconditional approval, 100 Park City Center. The applicant is seeking a time extension of the one-year requirement for a conditionally approved plan to meet all conditions. LANCASTER COUNTY ELECTION Lancaster County Election Board will meet at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 2, at 150 N. Queen St., seventh floor, conference room No. 701. Among the agenda items: - New business: Resolution extending certification. If you blinked, you might have missed Jonathan Groff and his mother, Julie, riding on a tandem bike down Main Street during the Strasburg Memorial Day parade Monday morning. The duo, donning sunglasses and helmets, rode together on a bike decorated with flags and streamers while waving to the crowd. They wove back and forth along the route behind the car carrying the queen and alternate queen from the West Lampeter Fair. The Broadway, film and TV star can be seen in the LNP + LancasterOnline livestream at the 3:30 mark. Spectators also sounded off on social media after recognizing the star. According to an email from his mother, Julie, "Jonathan and I had fun riding in the parade, it was a family tradition when I was little ( I grew up in Strasburg). "I did it with my childhood friends and their kids when David and Jonathan were little. Now I ride with my granddaughters!" The parade was a short one, about 11 minutes long, and included Lampeter-Strasburg High School's band, classic cars, veterans from the area and other groups. Groff, a stage, film and TV actor, is a 2003 graduate of Conestoga Valley High School. He acted in local theater before moving to New York, where he earned Tony nominations for his work in "Hamilton" and "Spring Awakening" on Broadway. Last year, he starred as Seymour in an off-Broadway revival of the musical "Little Shop of Horrors." Groff can be seen in his role as King George III in the film version of "Hamilton," now streaming on Disney+. A bystander was hospitalized after being shot following an argument in East Petersburg on Sunday night, according to Northern Lancaster County Regional police. Thalia Garcia Ortiz, 27, of Reading, was charged with aggravated assault, discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of a child. Rashaun Jamar Taylor, 28, also of Reading, was charged with discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of a child. Those charges stem from a prearranged child custody exchange that turned into an argument at a home in the 2000 block of Lawnwood Court at 8:22 p.m., police said. Garcia Ortiz and Taylor entered a Subaru Legacy to leave the area after the altercation became physical. Garcia Ortiz then fired multiple shots from a 9mm handgun from the car in the direction of the home, according to the news release. One of the rounds passed through a window and struck a woman, who police said was an innocent bystander who was visiting the residence. Officers arrived at the residence the woman had sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot to her hip, according to the news release. The woman was taken to Lancaster General Hospital for treatment. Authorities began searching for Garcia Ortiz and Taylor, who were later found a short distance away with the help of Manheim Township police at around 7 a.m., police said. East Hempfield police and the Major Crimes Unit of the Lancaster District Attorneys Office also assisted. The vehicle and gun involved in the incident were secured as evidence. No other injuries were reported from the incident. The details of the incident remain under investigation, police said. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the NLCRPD Criminal Investigation Division by phone at 717-733-0965 or through CrimeWatch. Garcia Ortiz and Taylor were confined to Lancaster County Prison after they were unable to post bail of $500,000 and $150,000, respectively, court records show. They will both face preliminary hearings before Judge Briand Chudzik on June 14. Memorial Day typically is described as a day to honor American soldiers and sailors who died in service. But there is more to it than that. Memorial Day traditions are complex and have evolved over time. On Monday, many Lancaster residents will pause to honor all servicemen and women. Others will honor conscientious objectors who performed alternative service. Some will decorate the graves of ancestors who never served. Lancaster marked its first Memorial Day, originally designated Decoration Day, on May 30, 1868. General John A. Logan, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, formalized that date exclusively to honor Union soldiers who had died in the recent Civil War. At memorial services that spring in national cemeteries North and South and in community cemeteries in Lancaster and elsewhere in the North, thousands of loyal Americans spread flowers over Union graves. In later years, they added small flags. In the early years, it was an entirely partisan observation. In Lancaster in 1868, a rebellious man named Alexander Patton barred placement of a wreath on his brothers grave. When a woman tossed a small bouquet onto one of the few Confederate graves in Arlington National Cemetery in 1869, a Federal officer quickly trampled the flowers. Confederate Decoration days in the South were entirely separate affairs. Many southern states, where most Union and Confederate soldiers rest in their own cemeteries, continue to honor Confederate Memorial Day as well as American' Memorial Day. Lancaster hosted its first large-scale commemoration of Decoration Day in May 1869. Post 84, Grand Army of the Republic, coordinated a parade of other military units, fire companies and the Junior Order of American Mechanics to five Lancaster cemeteries. President James Buchanan and U.S. Rep. Thaddeus Stevens had died the previous year. Tombs had not yet been erected at their respective graves at Woodward Hill and Shreiners cemeteries, so citizens who followed the parade heaped flowers on displaced mounds of earth. The Lancaster Evening Express, a Republican newspaper, explained that Stevens had not been a soldier in the physical sense of the word, but praised him as the great moral hero of the war. It is unclear why Lancasters largely Republican citizenry memorialized the Southern-sympathizing Buchanan. He was a local resident who had served as president: that must have been sufficient reason to beflower his grave. Gradually, Decoration Day became known more generally as Memorial Day. Following the Spanish-American War in 1898 and especially World War I two decades later, Americans began recognizing not only those who had served in the Civil War but in all wars. In the early decades of the 20th century, Lancaster celebrated Memorial Day as a major patriotic holiday. School children carried irises and peonies to graves in local cemeteries. Then came the parade. Richard D. Altick described Memorial Day parades of the 1920s in his 1991 memoir, Of a Place and a Time: Remembering Lancaster. Altick said aging Civil War veterans wearing their distinctive slanted-front caps and a younger contingent of Spanish-American War veterans rode in open touring cars. Well before President Richard Nixon declared Memorial Day a national holiday in 1971, the emphasis on decorating deceased veterans graves had become an enlarged tribute to all deceased ancestors, regardless of military status. In recent years, primary emphasis has returned to the military dead, but this Memorial Day may be different. The viral pandemic has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans. Not all were veterans. All deserve to be recognized. Jack Brubaker, retired from the LNP staff, writes The Scribbler'' column every Sunday. He welcomes comments and contributions at scribblerlnp@gmail.com. THE ISSUE In 1868, three years after the Civil War ended, the leader of an organization of Union veterans established Decoration Day as Memorial Day originally was known as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. According to Utahs Deseret News, one of the very first Memorial Day celebrations may have been even earlier, on May 1, 1865, when Black workmen gathered at a Charleston, South Carolina, racecourse and club that the Confederates had converted into an outdoor prison. That newspaper cited Yale University historian David W. Blight, who said the men reinterred the bodies of Union prisoners of war buried there and decorated their graves; later that day, a parade led by 3,000 Black schoolchildren carrying armloads of roses was held. In 1971, Congress established that Memorial Day would be observed as a national holiday on the last Monday in May. Two years ago, as we gathered for Memorial Day parades and family gatherings, we were oblivious to the threat that was heading our way in the form of COVID-19. Last year, we were in the pandemics throes, marking a low-key national holiday without the patriotic parades, solemn cemetery ceremonies and other in-person events wed grown accustomed to attending each Memorial Day. Today, many of us are fully vaccinated and gathering once again with loved ones and friends; businesses have reopened; and COVID-19 infection rates and hospitalizations in Lancaster County, and across the United States, are declining. Each Memorial Day differs from another, but theyre all devoted to honoring the courageous men and women who died in service to this nation. They gave their lives for our democracy, trusting that it would be safe in our hands. We hope it is. We hope were worthy of their sacrifice. We must be. Because they and the families who loved them gave up everything for this nation. If you havent yet had a chance, we urge you to read Jeffrey L. Hudsons column in the Sunday LNP | LancasterOnline Perspective section about the men he calls the Marietta Dozen Mariettas 12 native sons who died during World War II. As Hudson, a former Lampeter-Strasburg High School social studies teacher and Marietta Borough Council member writes, These men along with millions of other Americans took part in the greatest armed conflict in human history. They fought, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt said in his 1941 State of the Union address, for a world founded upon four essential human freedoms: freedom of speech and expression; freedom of every person to worship God in his own way; freedom from want; and freedom from fear. They also fought, he wrote, to come home to the small river town in Lancaster County that never would forget their sacrifice. Next to their names on a Marietta memorial plaque are stars, signifying that they were killed in action. Staff Sgt. James Penwells plane collided with another and he was killed on March 27, 1944. It was his 23rd mission two shy of the number that would have allowed him to go home, Hudson wrote. Tech. Sgt. William Fuhrman was credited with shooting down two German planes before he was reported missing in action in November 1943. Cpl. Walter Grubbs bomber never came back from a raid over Tokyo, Hudson noted. John Buchanan was a salvage diver for the U.S. Army Engineer Corps and drowned in the Gulf of Mexico attempting to transfer between ships. Russell McKain was in an anti-aircraft battalion; he died in a truck accident on the way back from the rifle range. Sgt. Daniel Zink was killed in January 1944 as his unit crossed Italys Salerno River. Not long after D-Day in June 1944, Ralph Gohn was killed in action near Cherbourg, France. Charles Ressler who served with the 82nd Airborne Division died as his division consolidated its position after retreating from a failed Allied operation in the Netherlands. George Childs was killed while trying to resupply an attack on German fortifications in Germany. Sylvester Herchelroth died in Belgium, gunned down in a series of slaughters of more than 80 unarmed American soldiers that collectively became known as the Malmedy massacre. Grant Billet Snyder joined the Army two weeks after his 18th birthday, Hudson recounted. He fought in a tank battalion in North Africa and Italy and was only was 20 when he was killed during the Battle of Monte Cassino. And on Feb. 20, 1945, Marine William Mayer became the last man from Marietta killed in action when he was struck by mortar fragments on Iwo Jima, Hudson noted. Members of the Greatest Generation, Hudson reminded us, defeated fascism. In a world that was enveloped in darkness, they preserved the light and some like Snyder and the rest of the Marietta Dozen were willing to give up their lives to give us a chance at better ones. What could we possibly do to thank those who died for our country? We can remember them, first and foremost. Telling their stories, as Hudson so beautifully did in the Sunday Perspective section, seems to be a fitting tribute. Honoring their families is important, too. As U.S. Army National Guard Brig. Gen. David E. Wood (now retired) wrote in this newspaper in 2019, The families who have lost loved ones, our Gold Star families, continue to serve as a reminder that Memorial Day is not just a celebration of the past, but also of a very real present. And today at 3 p.m., wherever we are and whatever were doing, we can pause for the National Moment of Remembrance. The moment was created by a Delaware County native and Penn State graduate named Carmella LaSpada, founder of a nonprofit called No Greater Love. As that organizations website tells the story, LaSpada met a group of schoolchildren touring Washington, D.C., a few days before Memorial Day in 1996, and asked them what Memorial Day meant to them. When they responded, Its the day the pools open, she became determined to reinforce the meaning of Memorial Day and ensure that those who died for our country would not be forgotten. So she initiated the National Moment of Remembrance and worked to have it enshrined in law in 2000. Lets all mark this moment today. Its the very least we can do. EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR MONDAY, MAY 31, 2021 Brits Drive for Strategic Showdown of the U.S. vs. China and Russia May 30, 2021 (EIRNS)As the clock ticks down for the June 16 scheduled summit between Presidents Biden and Putin, the British are gearing up their efforts to sabotage the summit, and more broadly to orchestrate a deadly strategic showdown between the U.S. on the one side, and China and Russia on the other. Neither the White House nor the Kremlin believe that any major breakthrough will occur at the summitat best, each has stated for the record, an exchange of views will occur, and the lines of communication will remain open. But even that is far more than the British Empire can tolerate, and they are deployed accordinglyagainst both Russia and China. Even a cursory review of developments over the last 24 hours paints a clear picture: The drumbeat against Russia on the Belarusian detention of neo-Nazi Pratasevich is stepping up. The President of the EU Parliament David Sassoli has called for more sanctions against Russia, to help provoke regime-change. More Ukrainian terrorists have been arrested inside Russia, out to create chaos and topple Putin. British intelligence is taking the lead in the Wuhan lab leak concoction blaming China for the pandemic. And on and on. There are, of course, realists in the West who believe that the current confrontation course with China and Russia is both unnecessary and dangerously misguided. They occasionally are able to voice their views in the establishment media. But such realism, although laudable as a sentiment, will get exactly nowhere in preventing superpower confrontation and even warfare, unless it also takes on the actual cause of war: the collapsing trans-Atlantic economic and political system. As Lyndon LaRouche uniquely specified, the danger of war will persist until the City of London and Wall Street are put through bankruptcy reorganization, and a new international credit system is established to reverse the half-century decline in the planets Potential Relative Population Density through global infrastructure projects. The most pressing of these is the construction of a system of advanced health systems in every nation in the world, to turn the tide against the COVID-19 pandemic and to prepare for likely future viruses. As Schiller Institute President Helga Zepp-LaRouche stated in her most recent weekly webcast: British Empires MI6 Pushes Line That Wuhan Lab Spread COVID May 30, 2021 (EIRNS)Todays Daily Mail reports that British intelligence is working alongside their U.S. counterparts, under the headline, Wuhan Lab Leak Theory IS Feasible Says British Intelligence as Evidence Mounts That COVID Was Engineered by Chinese Scientists. U.S. President Joe Bidens order for a 90-day Intelligence Community investigation admits that there is no new evidence that the COVID-19 virus leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology lab. The report is open to being another WMD hoax with no evidence, and to add to the efforts to provoke a war. Mike Robinson, editor of the UK Column website, reminded EIR that former MI6 Chief Richard Dearlove, a leading Russiagate hoaxster, led the way in Wuhan lab campaign last year, telling the Telegraph on June 3, 2020: I do not think that this [pandemic] started as an accident.... It raises the issue, if China ever were to admit responsibility, does it pay reparations? I think it will make every country in the world rethink how it treats its relationship with China. On July 12, 2020, he told Sky News: I subscribe to the theory ... that its an engineered escapee from the Wuhan Institute (of Virology). The Daily Mail quotes Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and a leading hysteric against Russia and China, as saying: The silence coming from Wuhan is troubling. We need to open the crypt and see what happened to be able to protect ourselves in the future. That means starting an investigation, along with partners around the world and in the WHO. The Daily Mail article goes further: Meanwhile, an explosive new study claims Chinese scientists created COVID in a Wuhan lab, then tried to cover their tracks by reverse-engineering versions of the virus to make it look like it evolved naturally from bats. The papers authors, British Prof. Angus Dalgleish and Norwegian scientist Dr. Birger Srensen, wrote that they have had prima facie evidence of retro-engineering in China for a yearbut were ignored by academics and major journals. Dalgleish is a professor of oncology at St. Georges University, and virologist Srensen chairs the pharmaceutical company, Immunor. They said they tried to publish their findings but were rejected by major scientific journals, writes the Daily Mail, and: Even when former MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove spoke out publicly saying the scientists theory should be investigated, the idea was dismissed as fake news. The United States government is facing new pressure to solve a mystery: Are American diplomats and officials being attacked with microwaves or radio waves? The attack has been called the Havana Syndrome, because the first cases affected officials in 2016 at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba. People who are believed to be affected have reported pain in the head, losing balance and signs related to concussions. Some have needed months of medical treatment. Others have reported hearing a loud noise before experiencing the syndrome. A U.S. defense official said there are at least 130 cases across the government now under an investigation. The National Security Council is leading the investigation. Especially worrying are the discoveries of at least two possible incidents around Washington, D.C. One happened near the White House last November. As the number of cases grows, U.S. lawmakers and the people who may have been affected want answers. But scientists and government officials do not know who might be responsible, or even if the incidents were actually attacks. An official review by the U.S. government could have far-reaching impacts. If a U.S. enemy has been carrying out damaging attacks against U.S. officials, there would be calls for a serious counter-measure. For now, the Biden administration says it takes the problem seriously and is making sure those affected have good medical care. A bill introduced in both houses of Congress recently would raise payments for injuries suffered in the incidents. Mark Zaid is a lawyer representing several people who have experienced the syndromes. He and other critics say the U.S. government has not taken the problem seriously or provided those impacted with necessary medical support. Zaid received National Security Agency documents with information about attacks dating to the 1990s. The documents note an unknown hostile country possibly having a microwave weapon to weaken, intimidate, or kill an enemy over time. The government has a much better understanding of it than it has let on, Zaid said. William Burns is the director of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He told Congress that he would make sure the investigation gets to the bottom of what caused these incidents and who was responsible. So far, U.S. officials have not identified a possible country. A study looking at causes of the attacks was published last December by the National Academy of Sciences. The study identifies directed, pulsed radio frequency energy as the most probable cause. It says a radio frequency attack could change brain activity without causing severe structural damage. But the study could not make a certain judgment on how U.S. officials may have been hit. James Giordano is a neurology professor at Georgetown University. He has worked with the State Department on investigating the Havana cases. Giordano said there is evidence of brain injuries in several people, suggesting they may have been affected by radio waves. He identified two possible sources. One is a device used to directly target people. Another is a tool that used energy waves for intelligence gathering. That tool may have accidentally harmed the targeted people. Giordano said the attack outside the White House was very similar to the Havana cases. Other scientists disagree with the findings. Robert Baloh is a doctor from the University of California, Los Angeles. He argued that any possible weapon would be too large or require too much power to be used secretly. Baloh said the growing number of cases considered energy attacks is actually linked to mass psychogenic illness. A psychogenic illness is when people learn of others in their group with an illness and begin to feel sick themselves. Many people are hearing about it and thats how it gets spread, Baloh said. Marc Polymeropoulos is a former CIA officer, who suffered a brain injury in Russia in 2017. He believes the U.S. will find the cause of the incidents and who is responsible. If the U.S. finds a country responsible, Polymeropoulos said, theres going to be uncomfortable decisions on what to do. Im Jill Robbins. Nomaan Merchant, Robert Burns and Eric Tucker reported this story for the Associated Press. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story microwave n. a very short wave of electromagnetic energy syndrome n. a disease or disorder that involves a particular group of signs and symptoms concussion n. an injury to the brain that is caused by something hitting the head very hard intimidate v. to make (someone) afraid pulse n. a brief increase in an amount of electricity, light, or sound frequency n. the number of times that something (such as a sound wave or radio wave) is repeated in a period of time (such as a second) neurology n. the scientific study of the nervous system and the diseases that affect it uncomfortable adj. causing a feeling of physical discomfort Standardized tests are tests that aim to measure a students progress in a subject. The tests are returning to Americas schools this spring after the year-long pandemic. But millions of students will face shorter exams that carry less importance. And most families are being given the choice to not do testing at all. New guidelines With new guidelines from the Biden administration, states are using different testing plans. These plans aim to reduce the stress of tests while still getting some data on student learning. However, large numbers of students will go untested, meaning it will be unclear how much learning has been set back by the pandemic. Robin Lake is director of the Center on Reinventing Public Education at the University of Washington. We will end up with a highly imperfect set of data, Lake said. Lake added that the U.S. will have to follow and learn about the issue for at least the next few years, and maybe the next decade. The current debate is the latest in a series of battles over school testing among American parents and education leaders. As in the past, parents are divided. Some are demanding tests to get an idea of their childrens progress. Others see no need to put their children through the stress of a test. As a teacher, Jay Wamsted believes there is value in testing. But when his sixth-grade daughter Kira asked to not be tested this year, he saw no reason to object. He already knows she needs to catch up on math after months of online learning. And as a teacher at her school, he knew that many other students were not taking the tests either. I know shes a little behind, and I dont need that data, said Wamsted. Parent Abby Norman found her third-grade daughter crying in her bedroom the morning tests were set to begin at her school near Atlanta, Georgia. Priscilla, 9, had just returned to the classroom after learning from home. She was worried that she was not prepared. But she did well on the test. She was so nervous about this test that I dont care about at all, that does not matter to me, said Norman. Critics and supporters Those who oppose testing say it is the last thing students need after such a difficult year. Schools have other ways to study students progress, they say, and testing only takes away from classroom time. Testing supporters say that there is still value in collecting as much data as possible. Lake, at the University of Washington, said even imperfect results can be used to help students recover. In normal years, the federally required tests are used to study a schools performance and its students progress. In some states, students must pass certain tests to move to the next grade or graduate from high school. But this year, most states are measuring student growth and not making schools and students responsible for the results. After last years tests were canceled, there was hope that this years exams would give information about the pandemics effect on education. But different testing between states now makes a comparative study impossible, said Scott Marion, the executive director of the nonprofit Center for Assessment. The group helps states design and evaluate tests. Still, he believes the results will have value. As schools begin the long process to help students recover, he said, this years data will provide a starting point to measure against. Im John Russell. Collin Binkley reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story stress n. a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life, work, etc decade -- n. a period of 10 years grade -- n. the students in the same year of study at a school graduate -- v. to earn a degree or diploma from a school, college, or university evaluate v. to judge the value or condition of (someone or something) in a careful and thoughtful way Memorial Day is a national holiday observed in the United States on the last Monday in May. This year, Memorial Day is observed on May 31. It is the day when Americans honor the women and men who have died fighting in Americas wars. For most Americans, however, it is the unofficial start of summer. Carol Everhart is president of the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce. The organization often refers to the towns in Delaware as The Nations Summer Capital since people from Washington, D.C. will likely spend the summer along their beaches. Everhart said, We expect very, very high visits this summer. She pointed out that some could not wait to start their summer vacation after the year-long pandemic. People, she said, have visited the Delaware coasts as early as January, shortly after the start of the COVID-19 vaccination program. In 2019, the Delaware beaches had nearly 8 million summer visitors. With vaccination and without cloth face coverings or social distancing, Everhart said she expects to have as many as 9 million visitors this year. Memorial Day tradition Back in the nations capital of Washington, D.C., Memorial Day tradition continues with the observance at Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River. It is the most famous burial place in America. Before the pandemic, more than 4 million people visited the cemetery every year. The tradition began on May 30th, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers in the cemetery. It was called Decoration Day back then. Since 1948, on the Thursday before Memorial Day, soldiers from the 3rd US Infantry, The Old Guard, have placed small American flags in front of every headstone in the cemetery. Lines of simple white headstones mark the soldiers' graves. But the 80-hectare cemetery also serves as a burial place for people of national and historical importance. Two presidents are buried there, William Howard Taft in 1930 and John F. Kennedy in 1963. Other famous people buried at the cemetery include world champion boxer Joe Louis, North Pole explorer Robert E. Peary and the seven astronauts who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion. Nearly 4,000 former slaves are also buried at Arlington. One of them is James Parks. He dug the first graves in the cemetery. Other well-known memorials The best-known memorial in the nations capital, however, is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial which opened in 1982. In 1980, a group of former soldiers announced a competition to design a memorial. The winner was Maya Lin, a 21-year-old student at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Lin designed a memorial formed by two walls of black stone about 76 meters long. The walls meet to form a V. The names of more than 58,000 Americans killed or declared missing-in-action are cut into the stone. Almost any time of day, you can see people looking for the name of a family member or friend who died in the war. Once they find the name, many rub a pencil on paper over the letters to copy it. Many people leave remembrances at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. After the success of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Congress approved a memorial to the Korean War veterans which opened in July of 1995. The Korean War lasted from 1950 to 1953. The memorial honors those who died. It also honors those who survived. The Korean War has been called the last foot soldier's war. The memorial includes a group of 19 statues of soldiers. People who drive along a road near the memorial sometimes think the statues are real soldiers. The Women in Military Service for America Memorial opened in 1997. The memorial is near the entrance of Arlington National Cemetery. It recognizes the service of all the women who have taken part in the nation's wars. About two million women have served or currently serve in the armed forces. WW I and II memorials One of the lesser-known memorials on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is often called "the temple." The round stone structure honors people from the District of Columbia who died in World War One. The war was fought from 1914 to 1918. The memorial was completed in 1931. It is the only District of Columbia memorial on the National Mall. Between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument on the National Mall is the World War Two Memorial. The United States entered the war after Japan bombed the Navy base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7th, 1941. Sixteen million men and women served in the American military between 1941 and 1945. More than 400,000 died. The World War Two Memorial is built of bronze and granite. In the center, at ground level, is a round pool of water. Except in very cold weather, water shoots from a circle of fountains in the middle. When the sun is just right, rainbows of color dance in the air. Fifty-six stone pillars rise around the pool. They represent each of the American states and territories, plus the District of Columbia, at the time of the war. On two tall arches appear the names of where the fighting took place. One says Atlantic; the other says Pacific. There are not yet memorials for soldiers who died in Americas most recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The soldiers are buried in Section 60 of Arlington Cemetery. The section is often called the saddest place in America. On Memorial Day, Americans will stop for one minute at three o'clock local time for the National Moment of Remembrance to honor the soldiers who have died in service to the country, no matter what wars they served in. I'm Anna Matteo. And I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. Shelley Gollust, Jerilyn Watson, Christopher Jones-Cruise, and Hai Do wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story refer to v. to talk or write about someone or something Cognizant announced its nationwide drive to vaccinate more than 650,000 associates, their families, support teams and continue delivery of life[1]saving supplies to worst hit communities including 1000 oxygenated beds, ventilators, and vaccinations through USD 8.5 million (approximately 60 crores) in COVID relief funding. The efforts are a part of Operation C3 Cognizants COVID-19 rapid response program to combat the pandemic which is aimed at protecting the health and safety of associates, their families, and extends to enterprise and vulnerable communities. Rajesh Nambiar, Executive Vice President and Chairman, Cognizant India, said, We are committed to deploying all the resources available to us to help the country overcome this humanitarian crisis. Our first priority is to protect our associates, their dependents, and support teams during these challenging times. We have partnered with top-tier healthcare providers and hospitals with pan India presence to help ensure access to critical health services and vaccinations. Through our emergency funding to our foundation and UNICEF, we have mobilized lifesaving care for vulnerable and differently abled communities, including vaccinations. The vaccination drive for associates and families, launched in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Gurgaon, is expanded to 100 vaccination centers (CVCs) across 40 cities, and will be further extended. The vaccinations will be administered at Cognizants own facilities and through a network of hospitals managed by healthcare providers, including, Apollo, Columbia ASIA, Fortis and Manipal. Cognizant will cover the costs of vaccines, enable time-off and ensure vaccine reimbursements, where needed. Additionally, Cognizant India Foundation has collaborated with several NGOs and health authorities to mobilize delivery of 1000 oxygenated COVID care beds for free community, pediatric ICU units, over 7 lakhs personal protective equipment (PPE) for front line workers, and special vaccination camps for people with disabilities and their care-givers. More than 8000 people have received vaccinations in these camps so far in the ongoing drive. Cognizant has built several resources to support associates and their families in India, including a dedicated 24/7 emergency care helpline, virtual doctor consultations, COVID care hospital rooms with oxygen support, home quarantine care in 12 cities, enhanced insurance coverage, medical aid, and coverage for testing and vaccinations. The company has also rolled-out fully paid COVID leave for impacted associates or those serving as caregivers. To combat the deadly second wave, the company granted USD 2 million (approx. INR 15 crores) in emergency funding to UNICEF, USD 6.2 million (approx. INR 45 crores) to operationalize relief efforts through Cognizant India Foundation and Outreach programs. USD 300,000 (approx. INR 2.1 crores) has been donated by Cognizants India and global associates towards the relief efforts. The company through UNICEF is supporting the set-up of 25 oxygen plants for hospitals in the Northeast and Maharashtra. Honduran immigrant Keldy Mabel Gonzales Brebe entered the United States legally this month to join her children in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She had not seen them since 2017 when U.S. border officials separated the family under policy of the former administration of President Donald Trump. Keldy missed celebrating birthdays and holidays together. Her teenagers filled out and grew facial hair. There were times I thought I would never see them again, she said. Keldy fled Honduras with her sons after drug traffickers threatened their lives. She asked for asylum at the U.S. border. Instead, U.S. officials separated her from her children, put her in jail and then sent her back to Honduras. These actions were part of President Trump's policy to arrest all adults entering the country illegally. Her sons were detained temporarily and then permitted to go to live in Philadelphia with relatives. Keldys immigration story began on the north Caribbean shore of Honduras, a tourist area. Her husband was a guide, taking visitors on rainforest, wetlands, and river tours. She described herself as a middle-class housewife who prepared meals for the tourists who employed her husbands services. Criminal drug-trafficking groups controlled territory in the area. They demanded money of businesses and individuals in exchange for protection. The punishment for failing to pay was murder. Assassins killed four of Keldys brothers and sisters. After she spoke against the killers during a trial in 2011, she received many death threats. There was a price on her head, she was told. The whole family fled to Mexico in 2013 but the Mexican government returned them to Honduras immediately. Back in Honduras, they sought safety and secrecy in a rural mountain area. Her husband left for the U.S. again, this time reaching the state of Texas. Then, in 2017, neighbors warned Keldy that people were asking worrisome questions about her. So, she fled the country again with her sons. She crossed the border with her youngest son Erick, now 17, and her middle child Mino, now 19, in the fall of 2017. Keldy stopped a Border Patrol car to ask for asylum. The officials took her and her sons together to a detention center in Deming, New Mexico, 35 miles north of the border. They put restraints on her and separated her from the boys. Soon, the officials released the boys and family members paid for their flight to Philadelphia. Their older brother, Alex, now 21, became legally responsible for his brothers and cared for them while they went to school. He worked in the building industry. But Keldy was kept in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in El Paso, Texas, for a year and a half. Officials sent her to Honduras in January 2019. She returned to Mexico, waiting for a chance to enter the United States. Her family sent her money to live on. She video messaged with her boys. The memories of their graduations and other big moments during that time are painful because she could not be with them. Finally, last month, Linda Corchado, director of legal services at the non-profit Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, contacted her. Officials in the Biden administration were working to reunite families separated at the border. She told Keldy to get passport photos. Keldy entered Texas on May 4 in a car with Corchado. Then she flew to Philadelphia. A video shows the family reunion on May 4 in the Philadelphia home of a relative. Keldy cried while her children hugged her. "Hola mi amor, amor mio ("Hello my love, my love")," she said, her face buried in the arms of her sons. Keldy is thankful to be with her family, free from death threats in Honduras and the pain of separation. But there are many difficulties. Keldy's son, Mino, left school to help pay the rent on the house that six of them share. She wants to get a job but is caring for her seven-year-old niece who has special needs and her 75-year-old mother. She also cooks and cleans for the family. Keldy says she sees drug use and hears gun shots in their Philadelphia neighborhood. She is happy, now, to be with her children. She knows that it is more than many of her fellow migrants have. "Every day I pray to God for other mothers to be able to come in. They cry for their kids," she said. "They ask me 'do you know anything new?' and I tell them to have patience. And I tell them they will succeed." Im Jill Robbins. Claudia Torrens wrote this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story tourist n. a person who travels to a place for pleasure middle class n. the social class that is between the upper class and the lower class and that includes mainly business and professional people, government officials, and skilled workers assassin n. a person who kills someone (such as a famous or important person) usually for political reasons or for money hug n. to put your arms around someone especially as a way of showing love or friendship niece n. daughter of your brother or sister kid n. child What do you think of the practice of separating immigrant families? Does it happen where you live? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section Competing in his first basketball game of the season, sophomore Jaedyn Brown was summoned off the bench and provided Pullman with the shot in the arm the Greyhounds needed to sew up a 70-65 road victory against Clarkston in the second game of a Greater Spokane League doubleheader Friday at C Helen Duffy, back right, a West Oakland landlord holds up a sign decrying SB 91, a rent relief plan signed into law earlier that day by Gov. Gavin Newsom, during a vigil at the Elihu M. Harris, State of California office building in Oakland on Jan. 29, 2021. Housing advocates fear that the new plan will exclude vulnerable tenants and will not have equitable reach. Robert Nichols is the state senator for Senate District 3. First elected in 2006, Nichols represents 19 counties, including much of East Texas and part of Montgomery County. He can be reached at 699-4988 or toll-free at (800) 959-8633. His email address is robert.nichols@senate.texas.gov. FILE- In this Friday, Sept. 25, 2020 file photo, retired Col. Maj. Bah N'Daw, right, is sworn into the office of transitional president, and Col. Assimi Goita, left, head of the junta that staged the Aug. 18 2020 coup, is sworn into the office of transitional vice president, at a ceremony in the capital Bamako, Mali. Mali's military has released the transitional president and prime minister Moctar Ouane from detention Thursday May 27, 2021, after they resigned from their respective posts. At most public events including the farmers market, Keur Fatou has to make some ruthless decisions when it comes to paring down the menu. We have at least six different food items, Malick said, and at most events youre limited in terms of how many items you can bring, so we go off our previous experience. For Keur Fatou this means their two most popular dishes chicken yassa ($9.99), grilled chicken and caramelized onions served over vermicelli, and mafe ($9.99), a savory and meaty peanut butter-based stew served over white rice arent going anywhere. We always want to make sure that we always have those two, Gomez said. The veggie sauce ($9.99), a spicy tomato-based vegetable stew served over white rice, created by Keur Fatou for vegetarian and vegan customers, is a mainstay too. According to Gomez, the dish was specifically created for customers who want the flavor of chicken yassa, but not the meat. We created at least some sauce that does not contain meat but still has that flavor, she said. Queen Elizabeth II's cousin is to take Prince Philip's place at the Trooping of the Colour parade. According to the Daily Mail newspaper, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent will be alongside the 95-year-old monarch at the military ceremony in honour of the sovereign's official birthday on June 12, following the passing of the Duke of Edinburgh in April. Last year's Trooping of the Colour was largely scaled-back amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was held at Windsor Castle, with 20 members from the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards performing military drills on the lawn whilst the Queen watched on. Each soldier stood two metres apart from one another as per government guidelines. The Queen sat down under a marquee as she watched the ceremony from afar, much different from her usual spot with all of the royal family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, London. However, with the easing of lockdown restrictions, the 2021 spectacle is expected to feature far more military personnel. Meanwhile, the queen has a number of other engagements lined up, including meeting US President Joe Biden. A Madison high school designed to help teens who struggle with alcohol and drug addiction is moving from a space with so little privacy that students sometimes had to be taken out to cars for one-to-one support. Horizon High Schools old University Avenue space was essentially a one-room schoolhouse. It had one big classroom, one bathroom, one office and a main foyer. At times, one student would be meeting staff in the office while another student who was having a tough day would be talking to someone in the foyer. That left little flexibility if another student needed support. We would literally have to take them out in our cars, said school director Traci Goll, whose desk was out in the open in the entryway. The last time the school could meet in person before the COVID-19 pandemic, 16 students and five staff members were sharing one bathroom. Weekly drug tests added to the demand for the bathroom. Across Dane County, thousands of others commemorated the men and women who died while on duty in the U.S. military with some virtual events and other in-person ceremonies. From a parade and brats in Cross Plains to a ceremony in DeForest highlighting the 30-year anniversary of the start of the Gulf War, from a potluck and swing band in Mazomanie to a livestream of a wreath-laying ceremony in Madison, citizens throughout the area celebrated freedom and remembered the dead in a variety of ways. In Orfordville, more than 100 residents gathered outside of the local legion post in a field of American flags, each representing a deceased village resident who served in the Military. Four flags stood at the front for the Orfordville residents who died in active duty: Neal; U.S. Army Pvt. Kenneth Wells, who died in 1918; U.S. Navy Ensign Frederick Davis, who died during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941; and U.S. Army Pfc. Glen Young, who was killed in action in 1966. As the flags flapped in the wind and the crowd stood in silence, Wisconsin Legions First District Cmdr. Karl Stuvengen read off the names of the 194 veterans from Orfordville who have died. The reading was followed by a gun salute and the playing of taps. How to help Online: Donations to the Ben Jackson Foundation may be made at benjacksonfoundation.org. By mail: Checks may be sent to The Ben Jackson Foundation, P.O. Box 818, New Glarus, WI 53574. How to apply: To apply for a ticket home, visit benjacksonfoundation.org/apply. More info: Email Larry Jackson at larry@benjacksonfoundation.org. Capgemini has strengthened its collaboration with Ericsson to accelerate the deployment of 5G solutions, a key component of Intelligent Industry. As part of their ongoing collaboration, Capgemini has deployed the 5G (standalone) Industry Connect solution from Ericsson at its 5G Lab in Mumbai to enable industry innovation, experimentation and deployment of 5G and Edge technologies for clients across industries. As 5G is bringing a step-change in connectivity, services automation, autonomous devices and applications across every industry, Capgeminis 5G Labs for Industries are designed to help organizations from across sectors to pivot their business towards Intelligent Industry. The multidisciplinary team of experts at the Lab will accompany and support organizations in their exploration of the latest use cases; experiencing new perspectives on how 5G is transforming their industry; and in helping them to build, monetize, and strategize what 5G brings next for their business. Ericsson has deployed its Industry Connect solution at the 5G Lab. Ericsson Industry Connect is a plug and play, pre-packaged and pre-integrated dedicated network product with Ericsson pre-selected components. This solution can be deployed by industry customers requiring a fully private (i.e., on-premise) deployment for limited coverage areas, for example, in manufacturing or warehousing. In the 5G Lab, it will enable enterprises across different industry verticals like health, safety, manufacturing test out 5G use cases that can be applied by the industry. Spread over 1300 sq. ft, Capgeminis 5G Lab in Mumbai is a state-of-the-art facility that offers an agile and collaborative environment, which leverages best-of-breed technologies on network, cloud, edge computing, hardware and software solutions, in compliance with local regulations. The Lab will support Capgeminis global clients in 5G end-to-end transformation through three main offerings: 5G & Edge ideation catalyst program for 5G immersion and opportunity framing 5G & Edge use case acceleration platform to implement business use cases on a pre-packaged platform 5G & Edge Fab Lab to setup capabilities to operate a client-exclusive 5G Lab Ashwin Yardi, Chief Executive Officer India, at Capgemini and member of the Group Executive Committee said The Capgemini 5G Lab offers a ready to use platform for our customers to ideate, innovate and deploy use cases as they adopt new technologies which will enable them to accelerate their digital transformation journey towards Intelligent Industry. This 5G lab will support our global clients and cater to four main industry categories namely Smart Factory, Smart Utilities, Smart City and Smart Retail to enhance the relevance of the Labs use cases in the multisectoral paradigm. Nadine Allen, Head of Enterprise Business, Ericsson South East Asia, Oceania and India, said Industry Connect is a secure, easy to install, easy to manage turnkey Industry 4.0 solution providing 4G LTE as well as the latest 5G standalone cellular technology. We are delighted to collaborate with Capgemini to set up this 5G Lab in India to test potential 5G use cases for enterprises as the country prepares to launch 5G. Capgemini has a strong existing portfolio of use cases across industries and the 5G Lab offers live demos for some of those plus many more that are in development with global clients. These include: Autonomous Intralogistics AIV A customized Autonomous Intralogistics AIV (Automated Intelligent Vehicle) and a software solution deployed through 5G network and distributed intelligence achieved by cloud-edge architecture. This helps in real-time decisions that lets the vehicle navigate autonomously and reach a destination point, dynamically re-routing itself when faced with obstacles. Such solutions can be deployed across multiple sectors including smart factories, smart retail, and smart cities. Smart Health A real-time teleultrasound solution supported by a 5G network and AI that performs preliminary diagnosis for remote doctor assistance. This provides primary health centers with the platform capabilities to optimize patient health checks delivering multiple remote healthcare benefits. Smart Surveillance for Worker Safety A real-time surveillance solution enabled by 5G/Edge that performs intelligent monitoring and analysis to track and report security breach, fatalities, and other safety incidents through dashboards and real-time alerts to factory command and control center. Such solutions can be deployed at smart factories and smart buildings. Smart Retail A 5G enabled AR platform that helps customers to digitally test products to assist in buying decisions. Such solutions can be deployed in sectors such as fashion, retail, education, media and telehealth. A New York Times report in 2017 revealed that the military has, in fact, been gathering data for years from pilots who have reported unexplainable encounters with aircraft seemingly far more advanced than anything the United States has. A recent report by CBS 60 Minutes picked up and expanded on that thread, with additional video footage in which military pilots can be heard gasping and speculating as they track objects moving in ways the laws of physics cant account for. The Pentagon has formally acknowledged that the tapes are real. Most shocking is the revelation that the sightings, often in restricted airspace, are relatively common. The military is days away from having to lay the rest of its cards on the table, by order of Congress. The $2.3 trillion government funding package signed into law last December contains a mandate for U.S. intelligence agencies to report to Congress by June all they know about these unexplained phenomena. If theres a secret hangar in the Nevada desert with the frozen bodies of extraterrestrial pilots in storage, this is where it has to be acknowledged. But his efforts accomplished nothing worthwhile. They raised prices to American consumers while punishing American companies that use steel and aluminum. What the Tax Foundation described as one of the largest tax increases in decades now costs the typical American family more than $1,200 a year. The tariffs failed to create jobs in the steel industry, which shrank even before the pandemic, and produced only a tiny boost in aluminum jobs. But a study by economists at the consulting firm The Trade Partnership estimated they would eliminate some 145,000 jobs in other sectors. Our trading partners retaliated against U.S. companies with tariffs of their own. American farmers were hit so hard that Trump had to come up with $23 billion to cushion the blow. Nor did his strategy reduce our trade deficits. The overall U.S. trade deficit last year was the biggest since 2008. China has not given up the practices Trump was trying to stop. In my time overseas I came to the realization that there have been a number of soldiers no, friends- that I lost in battle. I still remember their faces, Ybarra said. Today is a day for their honor and remembrance. The Memorial Day service was full of rites and rituals of military honor. Somberly and with precise steps, wearing dark pants, a crisp white shirt and gloves and silver helmet, Joey Elliston walked to the Fallen Comrade Table, where he place the POW-MIA flag over the chair. The table was set as if for a meal, empty for the soldier who did not return home. It has various items of symbolism, such as a white tablecloth to represent pure intentions, a slice of lemon to represent bitter fate of the soldier and salt to represent the tears of the bereaved family. Daniel Spencers nieces Olivia Johnson and Madison Hairston, both third-graders, led the Pledge of Allegiance. The service was dedicated in memory of Daniel Spencer, Darrell Peay, Taylor Motley, William Wright and Phyllis Fleming, who had passed away during the past year. Spencer served in Vietnam; Peay was in the Navy and Army and served in Vietnam; Motley was a Marine and Vietnam veteran; Wright served 23 years in the Army and was a Vietnam veteran; and Fleming was among the first groups of women to serve in the Army. It could have begun with something as innocent as a stumble. We dont know why Sarah Page, the teenage elevator operator in a four-story building in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma, screamed. Some say the elevator didnt stop level with the floors, and Dick Rowland, a teenage shoeshiner, simply tripped and grabbed Pages arm to steady himself. Or perhaps it was something more nefarious well never know. What we do know is that is that a clerk for Renbergs Department Store heard Pages scream, called the police, and the front-page headline the next morning in the Tulsa Tribune declared, in the language of the times, Nab Negro for Attacking Girl in Elevator. By that night, Rowland was in jail, a mob of more than 2,000 white men intent on lynching him had gathered outside the courthouse, and some 75 Black men decided to arm themselves and go downtown to help deputies protect the courthouse. Angry men with guns rarely lead to anything good, and this was no exception. According to a timeline compiled by the Tulsa World, a white man confronted a Black man in the crowd and apparently tried to seize his gun. A shot went off and, according to spectators, all hell broke loose. Dean then asked everyone to gaze upon the fallen solider tribute and think about its significance. Retired Army Col. Alex R. Alpo Portelli was the guest speaker for this service. During his long and impressive military career, he served as chief of the Europe Division, ECJ5, HQUSEUCOM in Stuttgart, Germany, and served as the U.S. Army attache to the Kingdom of Norway. He has extensive European service with command and staff assignments encompassing three tours in Germany, two tours in Norway and tours in Honduras and Turkey. Here in McDowell, he is the president of the Rotary Club of Marion and chairman of the McDowell Local Food Advisory Council. In his speech, Portelli listed the numbers of Americans who gave their lives in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. He said the best way that a person can thank a veteran or pay tribute to a fallen warrior is to strive to become an American who is worth fighting and dying for. After his remarks, the NJROTC cadets performed the ceremonial folding of the American flag. Gordon Warburton played God Bless America on the bagpipes. The American Legion Post 56 Honor Guard gave a three-volley rifle salute. The service concluded with the playing of Taps and a gathering of all the veterans who were present. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Denmark's government on Monday asked the health authority to reconsider rulings against using the Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines, after struggling to keep its vaccination drive on schedule. The use of both vaccines was abandoned several weeks ago over concerns about rare, but severe cases of blood clots in some recipients. But the Danish authorities have had difficulty getting deliveries of the Moderna vaccine from the United States, forcing a revision of plans to have everyone vaccinated by September. At the moment, the estimated delay amounts to two weeks. Health Minister Magnus Heunicke told state broadcaster DR it was in this context that the government was asking the health authority to reconsider. The authority withdrew AstraZeneca from the country's vaccination programme in mid-April, and Johnson & Johnson in early May. It cited not just the health concerns but the fact that the epidemic appeared to be under control and there seemed to be sufficient supplies of the approved vaccines, Pfizer/BioNtech and Moderna. Denmark was the first European country to drop the two vaccines from its official campaign, but in May 20 it loosened the restrictions for anyone who was willing to take them. Explore further Denmark offers volunteers AstraZeneca, Johnson COVID jabs 2021 AFP A medical assistant prepares a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to be administered to a patient. Credit: Public domain image courtesy of Lisa Ferdinando, U.S. Department of Defense France on Monday opened up COVID-19 vaccines to all adults, a week before Germany, as Europe races to avoid another wave of infections caused by new virus variants. So far, 25.4 million people have received a first shot of a vaccine, representing about 38 percent of the population and nearly one in two adults. Until now, people over 50, workers in professions particularly exposed to the virus and younger adults with underlying health problems were given priority. With the country just beginning to bounce back from a severe third wave of infections, President Emmanuel Macron's government is keen to quickly expand the vaccine coverage to slow the spread of variants that could spell fresh disaster. Macron announced on Monday that he and his wife Brigitte had been vaccinated. "Like Brigitte and I, like 25 million French people have already done, let's get vaccinated! To protect ourselves, to protect our loved ones," tweeted Macron, who contracted COVID in December. Both France and Germany have over the past week imposed new restrictions on travel from the UK, to curb the spread of the Indian variant blamed for a surge of cases in parts of Britain. In a severe blow to the French tourism sector, British and other non-EU nationals travelling from the UK to France starting Monday have to provide a "compelling" reason to enter the country. Germany meanwhile has imposed a two-week quarantine for travellers arriving from the UK. Declining hesitancy As the French savour a degree of freedom following the reopening of cafes, restaurants and museums two weeks ago, initially high levels of vaccine hesitancy have begun to subside. A Cevipof poll conducted in early May showed that 65 percent of adults planned to get vaccinated, up from 48 percent in February. "I am fully convinced that we are going to see a lot of people getting vaccinated," said Professor Alain Fischer, the immunologist who heads the government's vaccination advisory board. The government is hoping that the 76.7 million vaccines that it is expecting to receive in June will help it meet demand. But with only around 500,000 appointments available each day, many people are forced to travel outside their town or even their region to secure highly-coveted Pfizer or Moderna shots. AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson jabs, which have struggled to find takers, are only open to those aged 55, after rare cases emerged of deadly blood clots in a very small number of younger people. 'Quiet summer'? After an initially slow start to its immunisation drive in January, when it was criticised as one of Europe's laggards, France is aiming to close the gap with its neighbours. Britain, which has led the vaccine race in Europe, has given more than 39 million people a first shot and 25 million have had a second dose. Germany, which was also slow to get off the mark, has also powered up its immunisation drive in recent weeks. Over 49 million shots of vaccine have been administered in Germany, and that figure is expected to rapidly increase when vaccines are made available to all Germans aged 16 and over from June 7. Chancellor Angela Merkel has also said vaccines will be offered to children over the age of 12. In France, a third month-long lockdown ending in April is credited with taming a third wave of infections this spring that flared partly due to the spread of the UK variant. The number of COVID-19 patients in intensive care fell to under 3,000 at the weekend, the lowest level since January. The situation emboldened the government to reopen sidewalk cafes and restaurants after seven months on May 19, along with museums, cinemas, theatres and non-essential shops. The next stage of the loosening of restrictions comes on June 9, when cafes and restaurants will be allowed serve clients indoors and a nationwide 9 pm curfew is pushed back to 11 pm. "If the fall-off continues between now and June 9... we will have a quiet summer," Arnaud Fontanet, an epidemiologist at the Institut Pasteur in Paris told the Journal du Dimanche weekly. So far the coronavirus has claimed 109,431 lives in France. Explore further France closing in on 20 million target in Covid vaccination drive 2021 AFP NIH researchers discovered a new form of ALS that begins in childhood. The study linked the disease to a gene called SPLTC1. As part of the study, NIH senior scientist Carsten Bonnemann, M.D., (right) examined Claudia Digregorio (left), a patient from the Apulia region of Italy. Credit: NIH/NINDS. In a study of 11 medical-mystery patients, an international team of researchers led by scientists at the National Institutes of Health and the Uniformed Services University (USU) discovered a new and unique form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Unlike most cases of ALS, the disease began attacking these patients during childhood, worsened more slowly than usual, and was linked to a gene, called SPTLC1, that is part of the body's fat production system. Preliminary results suggested that genetically silencing SPTLC1 activity would be an effective strategy for combating this type of ALS. "ALS is a paralyzing and often fatal disease that usually affects middle-aged people. We found that a genetic form of the disease can also threaten children. Our results show for the first time that ALS can be caused by changes in the way the body metabolizes lipids," said Carsten Bonnemann, M.D., senior investigator at the NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and a senior author of the study published in Nature Medicine. "We hope these results will help doctors recognize this new form of ALS and lead to the development of treatments that will improve the lives of these children and young adults. We also hope that our results may provide new clues to understanding and treating other forms of the disease." Dr. Bonnemann leads a team of researchers that uses advanced genetic techniques to solve some of the most mysterious childhood neurological disorders around the world. In this study, the team discovered that 11 of these cases had ALS that was linked to variations in the DNA sequence of SPLTC1, a gene responsible for manufacturing a diverse class of fats called sphingolipids. In addition, the team worked with scientists in labs led by Teresa M. Dunn, Ph.D., professor and chair at USU, and Thorsten Hornemann, Ph.D., at the University of Zurich in Switzerland. Together they not only found clues as to how variations in the SPLTC1 gene lead to ALS but also developed a strategy for counteracting these problems. The study began with Claudia Digregorio, a young woman from the Apulia region of Italy. Her case had been so vexing that Pope Francis imparted an in-person blessing on her at the Vatican before she left for the United States to be examined by Dr. Bonnemann's team at the NIH's Clinical Center. Like many of the other patients, Claudia needed a wheelchair to move around and a surgically implanted tracheostomy tube to help with breathing. Neurological examinations by the team revealed that she and the others had many of the hallmarks of ALS, including severely weakened or paralyzed muscles. In addition, some patients' muscles showed signs of atrophy when examined under a microscope or with non-invasive scanners. Nevertheless, this form of ALS appeared to be different. Most patients are diagnosed with ALS around 50 to 60 years of age. The disease then worsens so rapidly that patients typically die within three to five years of diagnosis. In contrast, initial symptoms, like toe walking and spasticity, appeared in these patients around four years of age. Moreover, by the end of the study, the patients had lived anywhere from five to 20 years longer. "These young patients had many of the upper and lower motor neuron problems that are indicative of ALS," said Payam Mohassel, M.D., an NIH clinical research fellow and the lead author of the study. "What made these cases unique was the early age of onset and the slower progression of symptoms. This made us wonder what was underlying this distinct form of ALS." The first clues came from analyzing the DNA of the patients. The researchers used next-generation genetic tools to read the patients' exomes, the sequences of DNA that hold the instructions for making proteins. They found that the patients had conspicuous changes in the same narrow portion of the SPLTC1 gene. Four of the patients inherited these changes from a parent. Meanwhile, the other six cases appeared to be the result of what scientist call "de novo" mutations in the gene. These types of mutations can spontaneously occur as cells rapidly multiply before or shortly after conception. Mutations in SPLTC1 are also known to cause a different neurological disorder called hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type 1 (HSAN1). The SPLTC1 protein is a subunit of an enzyme, called SPT, which catalyzes the first of several reactions needed to make sphingolipids. HSAN1 mutations cause the enzyme to produce atypical and harmful versions of sphingolipids. At first, the team thought the ALS-causing mutations they discovered may produce similar problems. However, blood tests from the patients showed no signs of the harmful sphingolipids. "At that point, we felt like we had hit a roadblock. We could not fully understand how the mutations seen in the ALS patients did not show the abnormalities expected from what was known about SPTLC1 mutations," said Dr. Bonnemann. "Fortunately, Dr. Dunn's team had some ideas." For decades Dr. Dunn's team had studied the role of sphingolipids in health and disease. With the help of the Dunn team, the researchers reexamined blood samples from the ALS patients and discovered that the levels of typical sphingolipids were abnormally high. This suggested that the ALS mutations enhanced SPT activity. Similar results were seen when the researchers programmed neurons grown in petri dishes to carry the ALS-causing mutations in SPLTC1. The mutant carrying neurons produced higher levels of typical sphingolipids than control cells. This difference was enhanced when the neurons were fed the amino acid serine, a key ingredient in the SPT reaction. Previous studies have suggested that serine supplementation may be an effective treatment for HSAN1. Based on their results, the authors of this study recommended avoiding serine supplementation when treating the ALS patients. Next, Dr. Dunn's team performed a series of experiments which showed that the ALS-causing mutations prevent another protein called ORMDL from inhibiting SPT activity. "Our results suggest that these ALS patients are essentially living without a brake on SPT activity. SPT is controlled by a feedback loop. When sphingolipid levels are high then ORMDL proteins bind to and slow down SPT. The mutations these patients carry essentially short circuit this feedback loop," said Dr. Dunn. "We thought that restoring this brake may be a good strategy for treating this type of ALS." To test this idea, the Bonnemann team created small interfering strands of RNA designed to turn off the mutant SPLTC1 genes found in the patients. Experiments on the patients' skin cells showed that these RNA strands both reduced the levels of SPLTC1 gene activity and restored sphingosine levels to normal. "These preliminary results suggest that we may be able to use a precision gene silencing strategy to treat patients with this type of ALS. In addition, we are also exploring other ways to step on the brake that slows SPT activity," said Dr. Bonnemann. "Our ultimate goal is to translate these ideas into effective treatments for our patients who currently have no therapeutic options." Explore further FDA clears investigational drug for ALS gene therapy trials More information: Childhood amyotrophic lateral sclerosis caused by excess sphingolipid synthesis, Nature Medicine (2021). www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01346-1 Journal information: Nature Medicine Childhood amyotrophic lateral sclerosis caused by excess sphingolipid synthesis,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-021-01346-1 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Sunday that South Africa would re-impose stricter measures against COVID-19 fearing the whole country will soon face a third wave of the pandemic. Four of the nation's nine provinces, including Gauteng which boasts Johannesburg and Pretoria and has the biggest population, are already battling a third wave of infections, Ramaphosa said. "It may only be a matter of time before the country as a whole will have entered a third wave," he said. South Africa is officially the worst-hit country on the continent with more than 1.65 million cases and 56,363 deaths. "The number of infections has begun to rise sharply in several parts of the country," the president said as hospital entries also climb. "Delaying the spread of the virus is especially important now to allow as many people as possible to be vaccinated before the third wave reaches its peak," he said. From Monday, the night curfew will start an hour earlier from 11 pm while non-essential shops, bars, restaurants and gyms will have to shut at 10 pm. Gatherings, including political and faith events, will be limited to 250 people outdoors and 100 indoors. Only a little more than one percent of the population has been vaccinated so far and the campaign to jab elderly people started just last week. The government, under fire for failing to buy vaccines quickly, says it has paid for doses to cover 40 million of the 59 million South Africansor enough to reach herd immunity. Ramaphosa has repeatedly condemned "vaccine apartheid" with rich countries buying up most of the vaccine doses. "As the African continent we are pushing ahead with efforts to expand our vaccine manufacturing capacity with a view to be self-sufficient in vaccine production," he said. South Africa and India are campaigning for an end to patent rights on coronavirus vaccines to help every country to manufacture its own supplies. The G7 summit of rich nations will discuss the issue at a summit in Britain next month. 2021 AFP Healthcare workers push on a mobile stretcher a person suspected of having COVID-19, into the CASMU 2 Hospital, in Montevideo, Uruguay, Friday, May 21, 2021. More than 3,000 people have died of COVID-19 in Uruguay since March. While the number may seem small for other countries, it is huge in this country of 3.5 million inhabitants and gives it one of the highest per capita coronavirus death rates, according the Our World in Data. Credit: AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico When Eduardo Rey celebrated his 69th birthday at home with 10 family members in Uruguay's capital, he didn't suspect it would start a mortal race to find medical care amid a surging pandemic. Two days after the party, the farmer came down with a fever, was coughing and felt weak. At first he and his family thought nothing of it, but then a relative who had been at the party tested positive for the coronavirus. When Rey tested positive his family tried repeatedly to get help from a doctor on the public health care telephone, but they couldn't get one to visit his home. His family eventually took him to a hospital themselves but they were told his lungs were badly damaged. On April 21, a month after his birthday, Rey died of respiratory insufficiency in an ICU in Montevideo, joining more than 3,000 people who have died of COVID-19 in Uruguay since March. While the number may seem small for other countries, it is huge in this South American country of just 3.5 million inhabitants and gives it one of the highest per capita coronavirus death rates in the world, according the Our World in Data. It is a sharp turnaround for Uruguay, which for most of 2020 seemed to have the virus under control. Like many other countries, it declared a health emergency in March 2020 and the government quickly took precautionary measures, including closing its borders, limiting public transportation and closing shopping malls and offices. Authorities rushed to control outbreaks, isolating infected people and having medical personnel track their previous contacts. Graciela Diaz shows a photo of her husband, Eduardo Rey with his granddaughter, at her home in Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, May 26, 2021. On April 21, a month after his birthday, Rey died of respiratory insufficiency in an ICU in Montevideo, joining more than 3,000 people who have died of COVID-19 in Uruguay since March. Credit: AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico But by mid-2020, authorities started reopening and for months there were no major changes. Then in November infections began to surge with the country being hard hit by the highly contagious P.1 variant, first identified in neighboring Brazil. The saturation of the country's health care system began. So far, about a third of Uruguay's people have been fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, the country has reported more than 280,000 coronavirus cases and more than 4,000 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic beganup until this March only about 1,000 people had died. "If you do not limit the mobility, do not do more PCR tests and do not track the contacts, the vaccine alone won't help," said Zaida Arteta, an infectious disease expert and general secretary of the Uruguayan Medical Union. Arteta said for the number of cases to drop, "vaccination has to reach a high percentage of the population." In this April 12, 2021 file photo, a patient sits inside an ambulance as she waits to be admitted to the Hospital Espanol, a public clinic that has been exclusively dedicated to the treatment of C0VID-19 patients since the start of the pandemic, in Montevideo, Uruguay. Some of the sick in Uruguay have never able to talk to a doctor while others saw their health deteriorate so quickly they never made it to a hospital. Credit: AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico, File President Luis Lacalle Pou, who has refused to tighten lockdown restrictions, has said his pandemic policy is that of "responsible liberty," meaning every individual is responsible for avoiding the virus. But people are not limiting their social interactions. A case in point is Rey's birthday party. His wife, Graciela Diaz, recalls her husband's first symptoms. "We didn't give them such an importance," she said. When Rey didn't improve, his family called the public health system phone number to report cases and request a doctor's visit. When they got through, they were told that if he hadn't been diagnosed with COVID-19, they couldn't assign anybody. By April 1st, he had tested positive for the coronavirus, and Diaz called the line again, but nobody answered. After several attempts, she decided to explain her husband's situation to different doctors, and they recommended asthma medication. Graciela Diaz sits in her home in a rural area near Montevideo, Uruguay, Wednesday, May 26, 2021. Diaz, whose husband died of respiratory insufficiency in an ICU in Montevideo, joining more than 3,000 people who have died of COVID-19 in Uruguay since March, recalls her husband's first symptoms. "We didn't give them any importance," she said. Credit: AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico She kept calling the help line. Finally a doctor picked up and told her that he couldn't go to her home because there were 900 people before her husband and his case did not seem worrisome because he was already taking medication. But the doctor also suggested: "If you see that he gets worse, call 911", she recalled. The family finally decided to take Rey on their own to a hospital and he was immediately accepted on April 3. They were told that all of one of Rey's lungs and a quarter of the other were damaged. Inside the hospital, he was infected by three bacterium, Diaz said. His condition never improved. He was taken to the ICU, where he died. Uruguay has doubled the ICU beds to 1,022 during the pandemic. Last week, 785 out of them were occupied. Some of the sick in Uruguay were never able to get health care while others saw their condition deteriorate so quickly they never made it to a hospital. In this March 18, 2021 file photo, a healthcare worker prepares to test a child for COVID-19, on the outskirts of Montevideo, Uruguay. More than 3,000 people have died of COVID-19 in Uruguay since March. While the number may seem small for other countries, it is huge in this country of 3.5 million inhabitants and gives it one of the highest per capita coronavirus death rates, according the Our World in Data.. Credit: AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico, File In this March 16, 2021 file photo, a woman wearing a mask to curb the spread of the new coronavirus crosses the main avenue in Montevideo, Uruguay. For most of 2020 Uruguay seemed to have the virus under control. Credit: AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico, File In this Feb. 4, 2021 file photo, a healthcare worker conducts arapid COVID-19 tests at a homeless shelter in Montevideo, Uruguay. The country has reported more than 280,000 cases and more than 4,000 deaths since the pandemic began. Credit: AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico, File A man gets a shot of the Sinovac vaccine for COVID-19 at a public hospital in Montevideo, Uruguay, Friday, May 14, 2021. "If you do not limit the mobility, do not do more PCR tests and do not track the contacts, the vaccine alone won't help," said Zaida Arteta, an infectious disease expert and general secretary of the Uruguayan Medical Union. Credit: AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico In this March 1, 2021 file photo, students leave the classroom for a break on their first day back to in-person class amid the COVID-19 pandemic at a public school in Montevideo, Uruguay. President Luis Lacalle Pou, who has refused to tighten lockdown restrictions, has said his pandemic policy is that of "responsible liberty," meaning every individual is responsible for avoiding the virus. Credit: AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico, File In this March 8, 2021 file photo, healthcare workers prepare doses of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at a public hospital in Montevideo, Uruguay. With a high death rate, Uruguay is battling to contain the virus. Credit: AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico, File Martin Dure became sick on March 17, and five days later he began having serious problems breathing. His sister, Graciela, said they called the official coronavirus assistance line 17 times, but nobody was sent. Dure died that same night in his bed. A doctor came hours later only to confirm his death. Uruguay's Health Services Administration, in charge of the help line, said eight people were assigned to the telephone switchboard, but last week they hired 50 medical students to help answer the increasing calls. "The slow or deficient response by the system literally puts lives at risk because the disease evolves rapidly," said Dr. Jaqueline Ponzo, an Uruguayan epidemiologist. Some experts attribute the rising number of cases and the speed of the infections to the increasing social mobility and the P.1 variant. "We don't know how it will evolve the P.1 variant," said Arteta, the infectious disease expert. "It's an uncertain scenario." 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. A team representing Madayn Research Chair at Sultan Qaboos University and Madayn Industrial Academy organised field visits to a number of factories in Nizwa Industrial City to explore the challenges and obstacles facing the companies and factories, and identify a range of possible solutions. Headed by Prof. Abdullah Al Badi, Chairman of Madayn Research Chair, the team visited three major companies representing different industries to identify the obstacles related to water and wastewater treatment as well as the challenges related to energy and its sources. Mohammed Al Ajmi, team member and representative of Madayn Industrial Academy, stated that the visits focused mainly on the sewage plant in Nizwa Industrial City, and the quality of the chemical and organic materials emerging from wastewater of each company that may contradict the specifications of the plant. During the visits to Nizwa Food Industries, Pragati Glass Gulf and Schlumberger, possible solutions were highlighted to support Madayn in accommodating the additional quantities of wastewater, wastewater treatment methods were underscored, as well as water samples were collected. The team will also organise visits to Raysut, Sur and Suhar Industrial Cities as part of the visits planned for this year. Madayn Research Chair at Sultan Qaboos University aims at building indigenous research capacity in areas related to industrial cities and free zones through providing quality research and studies in the field of industrial cities and free zones by conducting applied research, academic events, and outreach research activities that directly contribute to the Sultanates social and economic development. Established in 2019, Madayn Industrial Academy aims at providing training opportunities for the national cadres to enhance administrative, financial and technical skills and raise their productivity to contribute in providing value adding services to the investors in the industrial cities. The academy organises a series of programmes that address trending topics and challenges that are observed locally and globally, and thus provides scientific and practical training opportunities to the cadres in order to meet the needs of the industrial sector.TradeArabia News Service Many Americans have used telehealth and would turn to it for mental health care, a new online poll shows. Conducted by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) from March 26 to April 5, the poll found that 38% had used telehealth to consult with a health professional, up from 31% last fall. In all, 82% have used it since the start of the pandemic, the poll found. Most consultations were done via video (69%). Thirty-eight percent of respondents said they had used phone calls only. "The quick pivot to providing telehealth services at the start of the pandemic was vital to providing continued access to care, and this poll shows the important potential role for telehealth going forward," said APA President Dr. Vivian Pender. "Telepsychiatry especially helps those facing barriers such as lack of transportation, the inability to take time off work for appointments, or family responsibilities," she added in an APA news release. The poll found that confidence in telehealth is growing. Respondents were slightly more likely this year than last to say telehealth can provide the same quality care as in-person services (45% versus 40%), and that they would use telehealth for mental health services (59% versus 49%). In the new survey, 66% of 18- to 29-year-olds said they would do so, compared to 36% of seniors. Similar percentages (between 58% and 61% each) of Black respondents, Hispanic respondents and white respondents said they would use telehealth for mental health care. Overall, about 43% of respondents said they want to continue using telehealth when the pandemic is over and 34% said they'd prefer it to an office visitup from 31% in 2020. Acceptance was highest among 18- to 44-year-olds, at 45%. The survey also found that 57% of respondents would consider using a support line or online chat when struggling with personal difficulty and mental anxiety, and 7% said they had already done so. Only 21% would not consider it. The online poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. Explore further Telehealth use up markedly among Parkinson patients More information: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has more on The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has more on telehealth APA press release: www.psychiatry.org/newsroom/ne -Telehealth-Services 2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Montana Has a Supreme Problem. Our Supreme Court justices must think they are the executive branch and the legislative branch all rolled into one. They may even believe they are the new oligarchy in charge of Montana. Whatever their problem, it is manifesting itself in executive and legislative authority being usurped by Montanas Supreme Court. The examples are legion of our judiciary overstepping their authority. Consider this: can you imagine the Supreme Court of Montana threatening the Montana Attorney Generals state attorneys with disbarment if they continue to look into the Courts wrongful, maybe even illegal, activities? Montanas Attorney General Knudsen said, There is also some irony in accusing these fine attorneys of disrupting the administration of justice when their clients (the people) argument is that it is constitutionally, legally, and ethically improper for the court to attempt to administer justice in this matter. The real question is, what is our Supreme Court hiding? We had to get creative, we had to pivot, store manager Alex Brubaker said. Our readers and our customers have been incredible. It's a rainy weekend, but the bookstore is full. Minnesota lifted all statewide coronavirus restrictions for bars and restaurants Friday, though local governments can maintain their own social distancing and mask rules. About 50% of the U.S. population has now received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 40% of the population is fully vaccinated. Vermont boasts the nation's highest vaccination rate, with nearly 70% of its residents having received at least one dose. The governor is expected to drop all pandemic-related restrictions once 80% of Vermont's eligible population has received at least one dose, a milestone the state expects to hit next week. MIAMI (AP) Jesus Lopez says he feels like a stranger in the place he was born. He's from Guadalajara, Mexico, but his life was in Chicago. After 15 years in the city, he was deported a year ago during the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to go back because I belong there, that's where I have my friends, my family, said the 25-year-old, once a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that gives protections to immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. Lopez, who said he didn't renew his spot in the program because he couldn't afford it, hopes to benefit from new efforts by advocates, groups and attorneys to bring back immigrants they believe were unfairly deported from the United States. With President Joe Biden in office, one of the new proposals from advocates urges creating a centralized Department of Homeland Security office to consider requests from deported immigrants trying to reunite with their families in the U.S. We have deported hundreds of thousands of individuals, and to do that and not even have an effective safety valve to review bad decisions violates due process, said Nayna Gupta, associate director of policy for the National Immigrant Justice Center, the Washington-based nonprofit that proposed the idea. First case of Covid-19 in Palau detected; health officials classify it as 'historical case' with low-risk of spread From left, the Lotte Hotel Guam, Tsubaki Tower and Hotel Nikko Guam in Tumon are pictured on Thursday, May 27, 2021. Photo by David Castro/The Guam Daily Post Miami-Dade police officers collect evidence near shell case evidence markers where a mass shooting took place outside a banquet hall in Hialeah, Florida. AFP A healthcare worker leaves Houston Methodist Hospital as social distancing guidelines to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease are relaxed in Houston, Texas on May 4, 2020. REUTERS